Antiproliferative Activities of Diterpenes from Leaves of Isodon trichocarpus against Cancer Stem Cells.

Two new diterpenes named trichoterpene I (1) and trichoterpene II (2) were isolated from the extract from the leaves of Isodon trichocarpus together with 19 known diterpenes. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical properties. Among them, oridonin (3), effusanin A (4), and lasiokaurin (9) with the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl moiety showed antiproliferative activities against breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and human astrocytoma U-251 MG cells [i.

Plantainoside B in Bacopa monniera Binds to Aβ Aggregates Attenuating Neuronal Damage and Memory Deficits Induced by Aβ.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by dementia. The most characteristic pathological changes in AD brain include extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation and neuronal loss. Particularly, cholinergic neurons in the nucleus basalis of Meynert are some of the first neuronal groups to degenerate; accumulating evidence suggests that Aβ oligomers are the primary form of neurotoxicity.

Analysis of Active Compounds Using Target Protein Cofilin-Cucurbitacins in Cytotoxic Plant .

We examined a two-step target protein binding strategy that uses cofilin as the target protein to analyze the active constituents in . In the first step, we prepared the target protein, and used it to analyze the compounds binding to it in the second step. We used the methanolic extract of as a library of possible active compounds.

Inhibitory effects of cynaropicrin and related sesquiterpene lactones from leaves of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) on induction of iNOS in RAW264.7 cells and its high-affinity proteins.

The methanolic extract of the leaves of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) was found to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.

One-pot enantioselective synthesis of (S)-spirobrassinin and non-natural (S)-methylspirobrassinin from amino acids using a turnip enzyme.

The enantioselective synthesis of (S)-(-)-spirobrassinin, which features a unique sulfur-containing spirooxindole skeleton, was achieved by focusing on the phytoalexin generation in Brassicaceae plants. Specifically, (S)-(-)-spirobrassinin was obtained in a one-pot fashion from L-tryptophan through a reaction involving S-spirocyclization with various turnip enzymes and constituents, i.e.

Asymmetric Nitrogen-Containing Dimer from Aerial Parts of Mercurialis leiocarpa and Its Synthesis by Mimicking Generation Process through Radical Intermediates.

An asymmetric nitrogen-containing dimer, leiocarpanine A, was isolated from the aerial part of Mercurialis leiocarpa as a new compound. The new generation process of leiocarpanine A was estimated and a concise synthesis of leiocarpanine A could be detailed based on mimicking the generation process through the radical intermediates. In general, a lot of reaction step and organic reagents are required for the synthesis of asymmetric nitrogen-containing dimers.

Structures of Cyclic Organosulfur Compounds From Garlic ( L.) Leaves.

Five new cyclic organosulfur compounds, foliogarlic disulfanes A (), A (), and A () and foliogarlic trisulfane A () and A (), were isolated from the leaves of (garlic). The chemical structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical evidence including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Mass Spectrometry (MS). Compounds - were obtained as complex compounds with disulfane or trisulfane and tetrahydro-2-difuro[3,2-:2',3'-]furan-5(5a)-one.

Correction to: Inhibition of melanin production by anthracenone dimer glycosides isolated from Cassia auriculate seeds.

The article Inhibition of melanin production by anthracenone dimer glycosides isolated from Cassia auriculata seeds, written by Weicheng Wang, Yi Zhang, Souichi Nakashima, Seikou Nakamura, Tao Wang, Masayuki Yoshikawa and Hisashi Matsuda.

Accelerative effects of carbazole-type alkaloids from Murraya koenigii on neurite outgrowth and their derivative's in vivo study for spatial memory.

Murraya koenigii is a medicinal plant that contains several carbazole-type alkaloids as its characteristic constituents. Blood-brain barrier permeable constituents of M. koenigii accelerated neurite outgrowth in PC-12 cells.

Effects of Sanoshashinto on left ventricular hypertrophy and gut microbiota in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

In our previous study, we found that the methanolic extract of Sanoshashinto () (SHXXTM) exhibited significant vasorelaxant effects in vitro and antihypertensive effects in vivo, and baicalin and berberine were the main antihypertensive constituents in SHXXTM. We also speculated that the baicalin-berberine (BB) combination produced vasorelaxant effects by activating the NO/cGMP pathway, and the BK channel and the DAG/PKC/CPI-17 pathway were involved. In this study, we examined the vasorelaxant effects using helical strips of rat aorta pretreated with different activators or inhibitors.

Antihypertensive constituents in Sanoshashinto.

It has been reported that Sanoshashinto (SanHuangXieXinTang, ), which is composed of Rhei Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix, and Coptidis Rhizoma, exhibits vasorelaxant effects in vitro and lowers blood pressure of patients. Based on this discovery, in this study, a mixture containing those three materials and combinations of them were extracted with methanol, and the extracts were fractionated into different parts. Effects of all extracts and fractions on high concentration of potassium chloride (High K)- or noradrenaline (NA)-induced contractions of isolated rat aortic rings or helical strips were examined.

BBB-permeable aporphine-type alkaloids in Nelumbo nucifera flowers with accelerative effects on neurite outgrowth in PC-12 cells.

Blood-brain barrier (BBB)-permeable components in the methanolic extract of Nelumbo nucifera flowers showed accelerative effects on neurite outgrowth in PC-12 cells. Among the constituents isolated from N. nucifera flowers in our previous study, aporphine-type alkaloids, lirinidine, asimilobine, N-methylasimilobine, and pronuciferine, showed accelerative effects.

Biofunctional Effects of Thiohemiaminal-Type Dimeric Sesquiterpene Alkaloids from Nuphar Plants.

Dimeric sesquiterpene thioalkaloids from the rhizomes of Nuphar pumilum exhibited immunosuppressive effects using a sheep erythrocyte plaque forming cell (PFC) assay, as well as an anti-metastasis effect, and rapid apoptosis-inducing effects in tumor cell lines. In particular, dimeric sesquiterpene thioalkaloids with a hydroxy group (6-hydroxythiobinupharidine, 6,6'-dihydroxythiobinupharidine, 6-hydroxythionuphlutine B) showed substantial effects, whereas dimeric sesquiterpene thioalkaloids lacking the hydroxy group (thiobinupharidine, thionuphlutine B, 6'-hydroxythionuphlutine B, neothiobinupharidine, thionuphlutine B β-sulfoxide, neothiobinupharidine β-sulfoxide) and monomeric sesquiterpene alkaloids (nupharidine, 7-epideoxynupharidine, nupharolutine) showed weak activity. In this review, we summarize our studies of the biofunctional effects of these alkaloids.

Inhibition of melanin production by anthracenone dimer glycosides isolated from Cassia auriculata seeds.

The methanol extract of Cassia auriculata seeds was found to inhibit melanogenesis in B16 melanoma 4A5 cells under conditions of theophylline stimulation. Two new phlegmacin-type anthracenone dimer glycosides, auriculataosides A and B, were isolated from the active methanol fraction, and their inhibitory effects were observed in the concentration range of 0.03 to 0.

Anti-proliferative effect of auriculataoside A on B16 melanoma 4A5 cells by suppression of Cdc42-Rac1-RhoA signaling protein levels.

Auriculataoside A, an anthracenone dimer glycoside isolated from Cassia auriculata seed, shows anti-proliferative effects on cell line B16 melanoma 4A5 cells with an IC value of 0.82 μM. However, it shows no such effect on normal human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells.

Cyclic sulfur-containing compounds from Allium fistulosum 'Kujou'.

Sulfur-containing compounds, allicin and ajoene, etc., were isolated from Allium species. In a recent study, some sulfur-containing cyclic compounds were isolated from A.

Cytotoxicity of sesquiterpene alkaloids from Nuphar plants toward sensitive and drug-resistant cell lines.

Multi-drug resistance (MDR) is a critical problem in cancer chemotherapy. MDR causes the overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and mutations in tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes. To tackle this issue, in this study, we focused on Nuphar plants, which have been traditionally used as food.

Comparison of lawsone contents among Lawsonia inermis plant parts and neurite outgrowth accelerators from branches.

Lawsonia inermis L. (Lythraceae) is cultivated in many countries, including Japan, China, India and Egypt. Its leaves are well known as hair dye and exhibit antibacterial, anticancer, antifungal and anticonvulsant activities.

Rare Sulfur-Containing Compounds, Kujounins A and A and Allium Sulfoxide A, from Allium fistulosum 'Kujou'.

Three sulfur-containing compounds, kujounins A (1) and A (2) and allium sulfoxide A (3), were isolated from the acetone extract of Allium fistulosum 'Kujou'. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical evidence, including X-ray crystallographic data. Compounds 1 and 2 possess three rings and an acetal structure and were obtained as complex compounds having disulfide and monosaccharide moieties.

Neolignan and megastigmane glucosides from the aerial parts of Isodon japonicus with cell protective effects on BaP-induced cytotoxicity.

Six neolignan glucosides, named isodonosides I-VI, and a megastigmane glucoside named isodonmegastigmane I, were isolated together with 15 known compounds from the methanolic extract of aerial parts of Isodon japonicus cultivated in Tokushima, Japan. The chemical structures of the compounds were elucidated based on their MS and NMR spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of the neolignan and megastigmane glucosides were determined by derivatizations, by ECD (electronic circular dicroism) Cotton effect approximation, and by the modified Mosher's method.

Triterpenes with Anti-invasive Activity from Sclerotia of Inonotus obliquus.

The methanolic extract [inhibition (%): 61.2±3.8 (p<0.

Caffeic Acid Derivatives from Bacopa monniera Plants as Inhibitors of Pancreatic Lipase Activity and their Structural Requirements.

The methanol extract of whole Bacopa monniera plants inhibited pancreatic lipase activity in vitro. From this extract we have reported the isolation of 11 triterpene glycosides and 5 phenylethanoid- and/or phenylpropanoid- glycosides. In this paper, we describe the effects of the methanol extract and/or its constituents on pancreatic lipase activity and the isolation of an active constituent, desrhamnosyl isoacteoside.

Structure of a Coumaric Acid Analogue with a Monoterpene Moiety from the Flowers of Osmanthusfragrans var. aurantiacus and Evaluation of Cinnamic Acid Analogues as Nitric Oxide Production and Degranulation Inhibitors.

A coumaric acid analogue with a monoterpene moiety named floraosmanol A (1) was isolated from the flowers of Osmanthisfragrans var. aurantiacus. The chemical structure was elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence.