Five racemic phthalides from the aerial parts of Lycopodiastrum casuarinoides and their neuroprotective activities.

Five racemic phthalides (1-5), including four undescribed phthalides monomers [(+)-1, (+)-2, (-)-2 and (-)-3], four undescribed phthalide dimers [(+)-4, (-)-4, (+)-5 and (-)-5], together with two known compounds [(-)-1 and (+)-3], were isolated from the aerial parts of Lycopodistrum casuarinoides. Their chemical structures were delineated by extensive spectroscopic data (UV, 1D/2D NMR, HRESIMS), in combination with the comparison of the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra, calculated spin-spin coupling constants, and calculated NMR. All compounds were reported from Lycopodiaceae family for the first time.

Cell-permeable Tat-NBD peptide attenuates rat pancreatitis and acinus cell inflammation response.

Aim: To investigate the effects of Tat-NEMO-binding domain (NBD) peptide on taurocholate-induced pancreatitis and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated AR42J acinus cells inflammatory response in rats.

Methods: Sodium taurocholate (5%) was used to induce the pancreatitis model. Forty-eight rats from the taurocholate group received an intravenous bolus of 13 mg/kg Tat-NBD (wild-type, WT) peptide, Tat-NBD (mutant-type, MT) peptide, NBD peptide or Tat peptide.