ARHGAP17 enhances 5-Fluorouracil-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells by suppressing Rac1.

Colon cancer is a common cause of death in the world, and its main cause of therapy failure is chemoresistance. Apoptosis is de-regulated in colon cancer and is one key mechanism of cancer treatment. We recently reported that reduced expression of ARHGAP17, a Rho GTPase activating protein, correlated with a poor prognosis of colon cancer patients.

The effect of Piper laetispicum extract (EAE-P) during chronic unpredictable mild stress based on interrelationship of inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis cytokines and neurotrophin in the hippocampus.

Backgroud: The Piper laetispicum C.DC. (Piperaceae) is a traditionally used herb in China for invigorating circulation and reducing stasis, detumescence and analgesia, which is distributed in the southern part of China and the southeastern part of Asia.

Three new xanthones from the resin of Garcinia hanburyi.

Three new xanthones, 22,23-dihydroxydihydrogambogenic acid (1), 12-hydroxygambogefic acid A (2), and hanburixanthone (3), along with thirteen known compounds were isolated from the resin of Garcinia hanburyi. The structures of the new compounds were determined by detailed analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra and by comparison with related model compounds. All compounds were tested for their cytotoxicities against A549, HCT116, and MDA-MB-231, and most of them showed significant effects on the cell lines.

Cytotoxic alkoxylated xanthones from the resin of Garcinia hanburyi.

Three new xanthones, garcinolic acid (1), 10α-ethoxy-9,10-dihydromorellic acid (2), and 10α-ethoxy-9,10-dihydrogambogenic acid (3), along with six known compounds were isolated from the resin of Garcinia hanburyi. These compounds were tested for their cytotoxicities against A549, HCT116, SK-BR-3 and HepG2, and showed high inhibitory effects on the cell lines.

3-Eth-oxy-carbonyl-2-hy-droxy-6-meth-oxy-4-methyl-benzoic acid.

The title compound, C(12)H(14)O(6), a substituted isophthalic acid monoester which was isolated from the lichen Thamnolia vermicularis var. subuliformis, displays intra-molecular carbox-yl-meth-oxy O-H⋯O and hy-droxy-carboxyl O-H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter-actions. The terminal methyl group of the ethyl ester is disordered over two sets of sites with occupancies of 0.

A new lignan and other constituents from Zanthoxylum armatum DC.

A new lignan (1), named armatumin, along with 25 known compounds, was isolated from Zanthoxylum armatum. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated using spectroscopic methods. Compounds 7, 8, 11, 13, 16, 20 and 21 were first isolated from Z.

Simultaneous determination of ten active components in 12 Chinese Piper species by HPLC.

Piper is a genus that is recently valued for the treatment of central nervous system diseases. The major constituents, amides and lignans, are responsible for the antinociceptive and antidepressant activities. This study developed a RP-HPLC-UV method for the simultaneous determination of eight amides and two lignans in twelve different species of Piper.

Studies on antidepressant and antinociceptive effects of ethyl acetate extract from Piper laetispicum and structure-activity relationship of its amide alkaloids.

Piper laetispicum C.DC. (Piperaceae), is an endemic climbing, glabrous plant distributed in the southern part of China.

Molecular analysis of Leonurus species in China based on ITS and matK sequences.

The genus Leonurus has long been recognized as a natural group, but its interspecific relationship has not yet been studied in the light of sequence data. The ITS regions and matK sequences of all subgenera of Leonurus in China were amplified, sequenced and investigated. Phylogenies generated by maximum parsimony and neighbor-joining methods and division of the genus into two major clades.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of ethyl acetate fraction from Zanthoxylum armatum in mice.

Zanthoxylum armatum DC. is a traditional Chinese medicine that is prescribed to alleviate pain and treat inflammatory disorders. This species is distributed mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of China.

Pharmacokinetics of laetispicine and its brain distribution in rats.

Laetispicine, which is a novel amide alkaloid isolated from the stem of Piper laetispicum, has been proven to possess antidepressant and antinociceptive effects. This study examined the pharmacokinetic characteristics of laetispicine in plasma and brain distribution in rats by a simple sensitive HPLC-UV method. The separation was performed on a reverse-phase ODS column (250 mm x 4.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of Coleus forskohlii].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents in the aerial parts of Coleus forskohlii.

Methods: The compounds were isolated by various column chromatographic methods, and their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods.

Results: Twelve compounds were isolated and identified as chamaecydin (1), 6 alpha-hydroxydemethylcryptojaponol (2), alpha-cedrene (3), oleanolic acid (4), forskolin G (5), forskolin J (6), 1,6-diacetyl-9-deoxyforskolin (7), forskolin A (8), forskolin H (9), 6-acetyl-1-deoxyforskolin (10), betulinic acid (11), beta-sitosterol (12).

New isoprenylated 2-arylbenzofurans and pancreatic lipase inhibitory constituents from Artocarpus nitidus.

Two new isoprenylated 2-arylbenzofurans, artonitidin A (=(2'R)-2',3'-dihydro-2'-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-5',7-bis(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)-2,4'-bi-1-benzofuran-6,6'-diol; and artonitidin B (=5-[6-hydroxy-7-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)-1-benzofuran-2-yl]-4-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)benzene-1,3-diol; together with 14 known compounds, were isolated from the stems of Artocarpus nitidus Trec. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Norartocarpin, cudraflavone C, brosimone I, artotonkin, albanin A, and artopetelin M showed inhibitory effects on pancreatic lipase with IC(50) values ranging from 1.

[Phylogeny relationship and molecular identification of ten Huperzia species (Huperziaceae) based on matK gene sequences].

Objective: To study the phylogeny relationship and molecular identification of 10 species from Huperzia (Huperziaceae) based on matK gene sequences data.

Method: Total DNA of nine species from Huperzia was extracted; matK gene sequence was amplified by PCR. PCR product was directly sequenced after purification.

ITS sequence analysis used for molecular identification of the Bupleurum species from northwestern China.

Radix Bupleuri (Chaihu), a famous Traditional Chinese Medicine, is derived from the dried roots of Bupleurum chinense DC. and B. scorzonerifolium Willd.

[Nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 1 sequences of 4 Leonurus species].

Objective: To analyze the nuclear ribosome DNA (nrDNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of 4 Leonurus species, and the possibility of using them for molecular authentication of the crude drugs from the genus.

Methods: The nrDNA ITS sequence (including ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, ITS2, and partial 18S rDNA and 26S rDNA) of L.

[ITS sequence of 9 Bupleurum species and its application in identification of Chaihu (Radix Buplurei)].

Objective: The study the patterns of rDNA ITS sequence variation of 9 medicinal species of genus Bupleurum in China to find the DNA molecular markers for identification of these crude drugs.

Method: The ITS regions of these species were amplified by PCR and sequenced, and their sequences were analyzed by DNAssist Version 2.2.

[Antidepressant amides from Piper laetispicum C. DC].

Aim: To investigate the antidepressant constituents of Piper laetispicum C. DC.

Methods: The compounds were enriched by column chromatography on silica gel.

[Pharmacological studies on extracts from Piper boehmeriaefolium var. tonkinense].

Objective: To study sedative, analgesic, antidepressant and anti-inflammatory effects of the extracts from Piper boehmeriaefolium var. tonkinense.

Method: EtOAc soluble constituents and EtOH soluble constituents were administered 50, 100 mg x kg(-1) to mice respectively.