Acute and sub-chronic toxicity of Cajanus cajan leaf extracts.

Context: The leaves of Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. (Fabaceae) have diverse bioactivities, but little safety data are reported.

A Triterpenoid Inhibited Hormone-Induced Adipocyte Differentiation and Alleviated Dexamethasone-Induced Insulin Resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

6α-Hydroxylup-20(29)-en-3-on-28-oic acid (1), a natural triterpenoid, was found to possess the ability in a dose-dependent manner inhibiting hormone-induced adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and restoring glucose consuming ability in dexamethasone (DXM)-induced insulin resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Compound 1 was also found to ameliorate DXM-induced adipocyte dysfunction in lipolysis and adipokine secretion. Mechanistic studies revealed that 1 inhibited adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes via down-regulating hormone-stimulated gene transcription of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein alpha which are key factors in lipogenesis, and restored DXM-impaired glucose consuming ability in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes via repairing insulin signaling pathway and activating down-stream signaling transduction by phosphorylation of signaling molecules PI3K/p85, Akt2 and AS160, thus leading to increased translocation of glucose transporter type 4 and transportation of glucose.

Total aglycones from Marsdenia tenacissima increases antitumor efficacy of paclitaxel in nude mice.

Marsdeniae tenacissimae Caulis (MTC) is a Chinese herbal medicine used mainly for treatment of cancer, whose pharmacologically active constituents responsible for its in vivo activity and clinical efficacy have not been clearly elucidated. In this study, total aglycones of MTC (ETA) showed the ability to sensitize KB-3-1, HeLa, HepG2 and K562 cells to paclitaxel treatment. More inspiringly, ETA markedly enhanced the antitumor activity of paclitaxel in nude mice bearing HeLa or KB-3-1 xenografts.