Two novel alkaloids from Corydalis curviflora Maxim. and their insecticidal activity.

Background: Botanical pesticide plays an essential role in the control of agricultural pests. Corydalis curviflora Maxim. is used as a cholagogue and larvicide in the rural areas of Northwest China.

Action of trichostatin A on Alzheimer's disease-like pathological changes in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.

The histone deacetylase inhibitor, trichostatin A, is used to treat Alzheimer's disease and can improve learning and memory but its underlying mechanism of action is unknown. To determine whether the therapeutic effect of trichostatin A on Alzheimer's disease is associated with the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Kelch-like epichlorohydrin-related protein-1 (Keap1) signaling pathway, amyloid β-peptide 25-35 (Aβ) was used to induce Alzheimer's disease-like pathological changes in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Cells were then treated with trichostatin A.

Review of bioactive secondary metabolites from marine bryozoans in the progress of new drugs discovery.

Marine bryozoans play an important role for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds among marine organisms. In this review, we summarize 164 new secondary metabolites including macrocyclic lactones, sterols, alkaloids, sphingolipids and so forth from 24 marine bryozoans in the last two decades. The structural features, bioactivity, structure-activity relationship, mechanism and strategies to address the resupply of these scarce secondary metabolites are discussed.

New Cytotoxic Secondary Metabolites from Marine Bryozoan Cryptosula pallasiana.

A new sterol, (23)-methoxycholest-5,24-dien-3β-ol (), two new ceramides, (2,3,4,8)-2-(tetradecanoylamino)-4,8-octadecadien-l,3-diol () and (2,3,2',4,8)-2-(tetradecanoylamino)-4,8-octadecadien-l,3,2'-triol (), together with three known sterols (-), a lactone () and two ceramides (,), were isolated from the marine bryozoan , collected at Huang Island of China. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, chemical methods and quantum electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Among the isolated compounds, sterol possessed a rare side chain with a methoxy group at C-23, and a double bond between C-24 and C-25.

[Effects of Climatic Factors on Contents of Major Medical Components in Smilax china from Different Regions in Western Hunan].

Objective: To study the impact of climatic factors on the major medical component in Smilax china, and to supply a scientific and standard operation protocol on the introduction and cultivation.

Methods: Detect the content of major medical components, such as baicalin and astibin, in Smilax china from eight counties of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture. And establish their relationship with annual average temperature, Jan average temp, Jul average temp, valid accumulative temp (≥ 10 degress C), annual maximum temp, annual minimum temp, annual precipitation, annual sunshine amount, non-frost period and relative humidity by using the methods of partial least squares regression analysis (PLS).

The key target of neuroprotection after the onset of ischemic stroke: secretory pathway Ca(2+)-ATPase 1.

The regulatory mechanisms of cytoplasmic Ca(2+) after myocardial infarction-induced Ca(2+) overload involve secretory pathway Ca(2+)-ATPase 1 and the Golgi apparatus and are well understood. However, the effect of Golgi apparatus on Ca(2+) overload after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion remains unclear. Four-vessel occlusion rats were used as animal models of cerebral ischemia.

Bacillus crassostreae sp. nov., isolated from an oyster (Crassostrea hongkongensis).

A novel Gram-stain-positive, motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, endospore-forming, facultatively anaerobic rod, designated strain JSM 100118(T), was isolated from an oyster (Crassostrea hongkongensis) collected from the tidal flat of Naozhou Island in the South China Sea. Strain JSM 100118(T) was able to grow with 0-13% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2-5%), at pH 5.5-10.

Neritinaceramides A-E, new ceramides from the marine bryozoan Bugula neritina inhabiting South China Sea and their cytotoxicity.

Five new ceramides, neritinaceramides A (1), B (2), C (3), D (4) and E (5), together with six known ceramides (6-11), two known alkyl glycerylethers (12 and 13) and a known nucleoside (14), were isolated from marine bryozoan Bugula neritina, which inhabits the South China Sea. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated as (2S,3R,3'S,4E,8E,10E)-2-(hexadecanoylamino)-4,8,10-octadecatriene-l,3,3'-triol (1), (2S,3R,2'R,4E,8E,10E)-2-(hexadecanoylamino)-4,8,10-octadecatriene-l,3,2'-triol (2), (2S,3R,2'R,4E,8E,10E)-2-(octadecanoylamino)-4,8,10-octadecatriene-l,3,2'-triol (3), (2S,3R,3'S,4E,8E)-2-(hexadecanoylamino)-4,8-octadecadiene-l,3,3'-triol (4) and (2S,3R,3'S,4E)-2-(hexadecanoylamino)-4-octadecene-l,3,3'-triol (5) on the basis of extensive spectral analysis and chemical evidences. The characteristic C-3'S hydroxyl group in the fatty acid moiety in compounds 1, 4 and 5, was a novel structural feature of ceramides.

[Determination of huperzine A and semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis of lysine decarboxylase gene in different parts of Huperzia serrata from western Hunan].

Objective: To determine the content of huperzine A in the root, stem and leaf of Huperzia serrata from western Hunan, and analyze the relationship between the distribution of huperzine A and the expression of lysine decarboxylase gene in different parts of huperzia serrata.

Methods: The content of huperzine A in the root, stem and leaf of Huperzia serrata was determinated by HPLC, of which the chromatographic column was Diamonsil C18 (250 mm x 4.6 mm,5 microm), mobile phase was methanol-0.

The Golgi Apparatus: Panel Point of Cytosolic Ca(2+) Regulation.

The Golgi apparatus (GA), an intermediate organelle of the cell inner membrane system, plays a key role in protein glycosylation and secretion. In recent years, this organelle has been found to act as a vital intracellular Ca(2+) store because different Ca (2+) regulators, such as the inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor, sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) -ATPase and secretory pathway Ca 2+ -ATPase, were demonstrated to localize on their membrane. The mechanisms involved in Ca(2+) release and uptake in the GA have now been established.

Triterpenoid saponins with anti-myocardial ischemia activity from the whole plants of Clematis tangutica.

Four new triterpenoid saponins named clematangosides A-D (1-4) along with six known saponins (5-10) were isolated from the whole plants of Clematis tangutica. Their structures were determined by extensive spectral analysis and chemical evidences. All saponins were evaluated for their protective effects in hypoxia-induced myocardial injury model.

Triterpenoid saponins from the root of Anemone tomentosa.

Three new triterpenoid saponins, tomentoside A (1), B (2) and C (3), along with four known saponins (4-7) were isolated from the root of Anemone tomentosa. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 3-O-β-D-ribopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), 3-O-β-D-ribopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-β-D-xylopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) and 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence. In the oligosaccharide chains of compound 3, the characteristic D-galactose residue is a rare structural feature and secondly encountered among triterpenoid saponins from Anemone.

New cytotoxic oxygenated sterols from the marine bryozoan Cryptosula pallasiana.

Six new sterols (1-6), together with seven known sterols (7-13), were isolated from the CCl(4) extract of the marine bryozoan Cryptosula pallasiana, four (3-6) of which have already been reported as synthetic sterols. This is the first time that these compounds (3-6) are reported as natural sterols. The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of the extensive spectroscopic analysis, including two-dimensional (2D) NMR and HR-ESI-MS data.

Cytotoxic triterpenoid saponins from the rhizomes of Anemone taipaiensis.

Two new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, 1 and 2, and a new natural product, 3, together with five known saponins, 4- 8, were isolated from the rhizomes of ANEMONE TAIPAIENSIS. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and chemical evidences. Six saponins, 1, 2, 4- 7, which possessed a free carboxylic group at C-28, exhibited significant cytotoxicity against human leukemia HL-60 cells and human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep-G2 cells with IC (50) values in the range of 1.

Ceramides and cerebrosides from the marine bryozoan Bugula neritina inhabiting South China Sea.

From the marine bryozoan Bugula neritina inhabiting South China Sea, a new ceramide named (2S,3R,4E)-2-(14'-methyl-pentadecanoylamino)-4-octadecene-l,3-diol (1) and a new cerebroside named 1-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(2S,3R,4E)-2-(heptadecanoylamino)-4-octadecene-l,3-diol (6), together with one known ceramide (2) and three known cerebrosides (3, 4, and 5), were isolated. Their structures were deduced by extensive spectral analysis and chemical evidences. Compound 1 is branched with a methyl [-CH(CH(3))(2)] in the fatty acid moiety, which is a rare structural feature among ceramides.