Hypoglycemic activity of constituents from Astianthus viminalis in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Astianthus viminalis has been used as a medicinal plant for a long time owing to its many physiological actions such as anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activities. A new tetracyclic triterpenoid 3beta,19alpha-dihydroxyurs-12,20(21)-diene-28-oic acid (1), known constituents oleanolic acid (2) and ursolic acid (3), and the coumarins 7,8-dimethoxycoumarin (4) and 7-methoxycoumarin (5) were isolated from the chloroform extract of the leaves of A. viminalis.

Relaxant and antispasmodic effects of extracts of the orchid Encyclia michuacana on isolated guinea pig ileum.

The antispasmodic effects of hexane-, chloroform-, methanol- and water-extracts of the orchid Encyclia michuacana were studied in vitro on guinea pig ileum against three spasmogens: acetylcholine (Ach), histamine and barium chloride. The chloroform extract exerted a significant antispasmodic effect on ileum contractions induced by Ach, histamine and barium chloride (IC(50) = 90.64, 73.

Two new antibacterial norabietane diterpenoids from cyanobacteria, Microcoleous lacustris.

Two abietane diterpenes were isolated from cyanobacteria Microcoleous lacustris, 20-nor-3alpha-acetoxyabieta-5,7,9,11,13-pentaene and 20-nor-3alpha-acetoxy-12-hydroxy-abieta-5,7,9,11,13-pentaene. These compounds were assayed against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholerae, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Both compounds showed activity against S.

Psidium guajava: a review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology.

Psidium guajava, is an important food crop and medicinal plant in tropical and subtropical countries is widely used like food and in folk medicine around of the world. This aims a comprehensive of the chemical constituents, pharmacological, and clinical uses. Different pharmacological experiments in a number of in vitro and in vivo models have been carried out.

Effect on capillary permeability in rabbits of iridoids from Buddleia scordioides.

The methanol soluble fraction of the leaves of Buddleia scordioides after column chromatography resulted in the isolation of two known iridoid glucosides, catalpol and methylcatalpol. The structures were elucidated by extensive 1D-2D-NMR spectroscopy. The structure of methylcatalpol was confirmed by single-crystal x-ray diffraction.

delta-Lactone from Oedogonium capillare and their effects on rat ileum.

Antispasmodic activity-guided fractionation together with chemical analysis led to the isolation of one novel delta-lactone named oedogonolide from Oedogonium capillare. Identification was based on spectroscopic methods. The oedogonolide produces a significant antispasmodic effect on the contractions of the rat ileum induced by acetylcholine, histamine and barium chloride.