Inhibition Effect of Eucommia ulmoides Leaf Extract on Interleukin 8 Production by A549 Cells.

Asthma is characterized by chronic inflammation of the airway mucosa. As Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. leaf extract (ELE) has been known to have anti-inflammatory properties, herein, we investigated the effect of ELE on interleukin (IL-) 8 production in A549 cells, a human airway epithelial cell line.

[Dexmedetomidine for endoscopic submucosal dissection in a patient with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Here we report an anesthetic management of a 74-year-old man with gastric cancer and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). We maintained spontaneous breathing during ESD under monitored anesthesia care with dexmedetomidine (DEX). ESD lasted 5.

[New lung isolation device, Fuggiano's bronchial blocker, facilitates lung isolation more effectively].

Background: One-lung ventilation and lung isolation are frequently required in thoracic surgery. In clinical practice, lung isolation is achieved by use of a double-lumen endotracheal tube and a bronchial blocker. A novel bagel shaped bronchial blocker, the Fuggiano's bronchial blocker, has been designed to prevent displacement of the blocker from its position in the bronchus.

[Tube introducer catheter as an adjunct to the airway scope for tracheal intubation in a manikin model].

Background: The Airway Scope (AWS) is a video laryngoscope and there are some problems associated with its use in insertion of the tracheal tube despite its ability to view the glottis. For the purpose of improving the problems, we devised the tube introducer catheter (TIC) for use with AWS.

Methods: Using the normal and fixed bent orotracheal tubes, wire-reinforced endotracheal tube, PORTEX and Phycon double lumen tubes, and Univent tube, TIC was attached to one of these tubes with AWS.

[Acute pulmonary edema in adult caused by tonsillar hypertrophy following removal of laryngeal mask airway].

Negative pressure pulmonary edema (NPPE) has been described after acute airway obstruction. In the following case, we observed a rare occurrence of pulmonary edema caused by chronic tonsillar hypertrophy in a woman following removal of laryngeal mask airway (LMA). A 38-year-old woman with breast cancer underwent mastectomy under general anesthesia using the LMA.

Studies on the constituents from the fruits of Phaleria macrocarpa.

From the fruits of Phaleria macrocarpa, icariside C(3) (1), phalerin (2), and mangiferin (3) were isolated and their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data. Icariside C(3) (1) showed a slow vasorelaxant activity against noradrenaline-induced contraction of isolated rat aorta. The structure of phalerin (2) was revised as 2,4',6-trihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-2-O-beta-D-glucoside.

Cyclonatsudamine A, a new vasodilator cyclic peptide from Citrus natsudaidai.

A new cyclic heptapeptide, cyclonatsudamine A (1), cyclo (-Gly-Tyr-Leu-Leu-Pro-Pro-Ser-), has been isolated from the peels of Citrus natsudaidai and the structure was elucidated by 2D NMR analysis and chemical degradation. Cyclonatsudamine A (1) relaxed norepinephrine-induced contractions of rat aorta, which may be mediated through the increased release of NO from endothelial cells.

Vasorelaxant effects of Acer nikoense extract and isolated coumarinolignans on rat aortic rings.

The organic extract of the heartwood of Acer nikoense Maxim. (Aceraceae) showed vasorelaxant activity on rat aorta with or without endothelium. Coumarin [scopoletin (1)] and coumarinolignans [cleomiscosin A (2) and aquillochin (3)] were isolated as major constituents from the organic extract of the heartwood of A.

Inhibitory effects of methyl brevifolincarboxylate isolated from Phyllanthus niruri L. on platelet aggregation.

A platelet-aggregatory inhibitor was isolated from the 50% MeOH extract of Phyllanthus niruri L. leaf. Its structure was determined to be methyl brevifolincarboxylate on the basis of the 1H-, 13C-NMR, and high-resolution mass spectral data.

Structure of a new cyclic nonapeptide, segetalin F, and vasorelaxant activity of segetalins from Vaccaria segetalis.

A new cyclic nonapeptide, segetalin F, has been isolated from the seeds of Vaccaria segetalis and the structure including absolute stereochemistry was elucidated by using 2D NMR and chemical means. A series of segetalins showed a vasorelaxant activity against norepinephrine (NE)-induced contractions of rat aorta.

Vasorelaxant activity of cyclic peptide, cyclosquamosin B, from Annona squamosa.

A cyclic octapeptide, cyclosquamosin B (2), isolated from the seeds of Annona squamosa showed a vasorelaxant effect on rat aorta. It showed a slow relaxation activity against norepinephrine (NE)-induced contractions of rat aorta with/without endothelium. It showed inhibition effect on vasocontraction of depolarized aorta with high concentration potassium, but moderately inhibition effect on NE-induced contraction in the presence of nicardipine.

Cycloleonuripeptides E and F, cyclic nonapeptides from Leonurus heterophyllus.

Two new cyclic nonapeptides, cycloleonuripeptide E, cyclo (-Ala-Pro-Ile-Val-Ala-Ala-Phe-Thr-Pro-), and cycloleonuripeptide F, cyclo (-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Leu-Pro-Phe-Tyr-Pro-Pro-), have been isolated from the fruits of Leonurus heterophyllus, and their structures were elucidated by 2D NMR analysis and chemical degradation. Cycloleonuripeptides E (1) and F (2) showed moderate vasorelaxant effects on rat aorta.

Daphmanidins E and F, alkaloids from Daphniphyllum teijsmannii.

Two new Daphniphyllum alkaloids, daphmanidins E (1) and F (2), have been isolated from the leaves of Daphniphyllum teijsmannii, and the structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Daphmanidins E and F showed a moderate vasorelaxant effect on rat aorta.

Vasorelaxant effects of methyl brevifolincarboxylate from the leaves of Phyllanthus niruri.

Methyl brevifolincarboxylate (1) isolated from the leaves of Phyllanthus niruri L. showed a vasorelaxant effect on rat aortic rings. Compound 1 exhibited slow relaxation activity against norepinephrine (NE)-induced contractions of rat aorta with or without endothelium.

Dichotomins J and K, vasodilator cyclic peptides from Stellaria dichotoma.

Two new cyclic peptides, dichotomins J (1) and K (2), have been isolated from the roots of Stellaria dichotoma, and their structures were elucidated by chemical degradation and extensive 2D NMR methods. Dichotomins J (1) and K (2) showed a moderate vasorelaxant effect on rat aorta.

4-benzyl-3-phenyl-5H-furan-2-one, a vasodilator isolated from Malbranchea filamentosa IFM 41300.

Screening of Malbranchea filamentosa IFM 41300 for bioactive compounds led to the identification of 4-benzyl-3-phenyl-5H-furan-2-one (1) as a vasodilator and erythroglaucin (2). The structure of 1 was established on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical investigations. Compound 1 inhibited Ca2+-induced vasocintraction in aortic rings pretreated with high K+ (60mM) or norepinephrine.

[Vasorelaxant effects of forsythiaside from the fruits of Forsythia suspensa].

The vasorelaxant effects of forsythiaside (compound 1) from the fruits of Forsythia suspensa on isolated rat aortic rings were studied. Compound 1 showed a slow relaxation activity against norepinephrine (NE)-induced contractions of rat aorta with/without endothelium. This compound did not affect contractions induced by a high concentration of potassium (K(+) 60 mM), while it inhibited NE-induced vasocontraction in the presence of nicardipine.

[Vasorelaxant activity of N-caffeoylamino acids].

Twelve N-caffeoylamino acids and N-cinnamoylamino acids were synthesized and their vasorelaxation activity against norepinephrine (NE)-induced contraction of rat aorta was examined. The following structure-activity relationships were found. 1) On the benzene ring, the caffeoyl structure is effective for vasorelaxation, while the cinnamoyl structure reduced vasorelaxation activity.

Adenine, an inhibitor of platelet aggregation, from the leaves of Cassia alata.

Adenine was isolated as a platelet aggregating inhibitor from the leaves of Cassia alata by HPLC using a triacontylsilyl silica (C(30)) column. The inhibitory effects of adenine and adenosine (positive control) on the platelet aggregation induced by collagen or adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) as an aggregating agent was evaluated with a platelet aggregometer using a laser-scattering method. As a result, the inhibitory effect of adenine was observed in the platelet aggregation induced by collagen (1.

HPLC quantification of kaempferol-3-O-gentiobioside in Cassia alata.

Kaempferol-3-O-gentiobioside, the major flavonoid glycoside in Indonesian Cassia alata was quantified in various parts of the plant. The mature leaf was found to contain the highest content of this metabolite. A decrease of the flavonoid content in the juvenile leaf during the period of October through December was also observed.