Diterpenoids with diverse scaffolds from Vitex trifolia as potential topoisomerase I inhibitor.

Eleven new compounds, including six labdane (1-6), three halimane (7-9), and two clerodane (10-11) diterpenoids and 16 known analogues (12-27), were isolated from the leaves of Vitex trifolia. The structures of 1-11 were established by extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR and HRMS spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of compounds 3, 7, and 10 were assigned using X-ray diffraction.

Modulation of the pentose phosphate pathway alters phase I metabolism of testosterone and dextromethorphan in HepG2 cells.

Aim: The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is involved in the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and generation of NADPH, which plays a key role in drug metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of modulation of the PPP on drug metabolism capacity in vitro.

Methods: A pair of hepatic cell lines, ie, the cancerous HepG2 cells and normal L02 cells, was used.

Pharmacokinetic interactions between 20(S)-ginsenoside Rh2 and the HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir in vitro and in vivo.

Aim: 20(S)-Ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2) has shown potent inhibition on P-glycoprotein (P-gp), while most HIV protease inhibitors are both substrates and inhibitors of P-gp and CYP3A4. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential pharmacokinetic interactions between Rh2 and the HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir.

Methods: The effects of Rh2 on the cellular accumulation and transepithelial transport of ritonavir were studied in Caco-2 and MDCK-MDR1 cells.

Self-assembling nanomicelles of a novel camptothecin prodrug engineered with a redox-responsive release mechanism.

A novel amphiphilic camptothecin prodrug that spontaneously arranges into nanomicelles which preferentially release the cytotoxic drug under tumor-relevant reductive conditions is designed.

[Histological and morphological studies on the rhizomes of Curcuma].

Objective: To provide some new evidences for the identification of medicinal materials of Curcuma.

Method: Microscopic observation was made to characterize the rhizomes of Curcuma.

Result And Conclusion: There were no obvious histological and morphological differences among the rhizomes of Curcuma.