Osteogenic activities of genistein derivatives were influenced by the presence of prenyl group at ring A.

Our recent report indicated that the crude extract from stem bark of Erythrina variegata L. (Leguminosae) (EV) exerted beneficial effects against osteoporosis induced by estrogen deficiency in vivo. Follow-up phytochemical study has isolated genistein-derivatives mainly in the form of prenylgenistein from this extract, including 6-prenylgenistein, 8-prenylgenistein, and 6, 8-diprenylgenistein.

[Progress on the studies of cyclic lipopeptides].

Cyclic lipopeptide, also named as acylpeptide, which was characteristic with novel structures, was paid more attention in the recent years. Cyclic lipopeptide showed various bioactivities including antibacterial, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, etc. Cyclic lipopeptide originated mainly from the second metabolites of microorganism, such as Cyanobacterium, Bacterium, Actinomyces, etc.

[Epimedium-derived flavonoids prevent ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats independent of its enhancement in intestinal calcium absorption].

Objective: To test our hypothesis whether a group of flavonoids (FE) derived from herbal Epimedium exerted its prevention of estrogen-deficiency-induced osteoporosis mainly through an enhancement in intestinal calcium absorption.

Methods: Forty-five 12-month-old female Wistar rats were randomly assigned into one sham-operated group and four ovariectomy (OVX) subgroups, i.e.

A novel semisynthesized small molecule icaritin reduces incidence of steroid-associated osteonecrosis with inhibition of both thrombosis and lipid-deposition in a dose-dependent manner.

Background: Intravascular-thrombosis and extravascular-lipid-deposition are the two key pathogenic events considered to interrupt intraosseous blood supply during steroid-associated osteonecrosis (ON) development. However, there are no reported candidate agents capable of simultaneously targeting these two key pathogenic events. The authors' published experimental studies have shown that Epimedium-derived flavonoids possess an anti-ON effect.

Four new biflavonoids from Selaginella uncinata and their anti-anoxic effect.

The 60% ethanolic extract of Selaginella uncinata (Desv.) Spring possessed potent anti-anoxic effect in the anoxic PC12 cell assay. A phytochemical study of its EtOAc-soluble part led to the isolation of four new and three known biflavonoids.

Two new ent-labdane diterpenoid glycosides from the aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata.

Two new ent-labdane diterpenoid glycosides were isolated from the aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata. Their structures were elucidated as 3-O-beta-D-glucosyl-14-deoxyandrographiside (1) and 3-O-beta-D-glucosyl-14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographiside (2) by means of 1D and 2D NMR spectral and chemical methods.

Synthesis of (+/-) homoisoflavanone and corresponding homoisoflavane.

The total synthesis of racemic 3-(4'-methoxybenzyl)-7,8-methylenedioxy-chroman-4-one, a homoisoflavanone with antimycobacterial activity isolated recently from Chlorophytum inornatum, was described. During this research, the first approach for the conversion of homoisoflavonoids into homoisoflavanes was also developed.

A pair of 3-epimeric physalins from Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii.

A pair of new 3-epimeric steroids possessing a rare 13,14-seco-16,24-cycloergostane skeleton, 3alpha-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-4,7-didehydrophysalin B (1), and 3beta-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-4,7-didehydrophysalin B (2) were isolated from the 60% EtOH extract of the stems and leaves of Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii.

Four new triterpenoid saponins from Ardisia gigantifolia Stapf. and their cytotoxic activity.

Four new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, cyclamiretin A 3beta-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)]-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (1), cyclamiretin A 3beta-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)]-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (2), cyclamiretin A 3beta-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-[beta-D-6-O-acetylglucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)]-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (3) and 3beta-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)]-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside]-16,28-dihydroxy-30-acetoxyoleana-12-en (4), along with one known triterpene saponin and ardisiacrispin A (5) were isolated from the rhizome of Ardisia gigantifolia. Their structures were established with the help of extensive spectroscopic techniques. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of compounds on tumor cells (MTT based) in vitro were evaluated, and compounds 1, 2, and 5 showed potent anti-tumor activities.

Total synthesis of bulbophylol-B.

The first total synthesis of bulbophylol-B (1) has been achieved with the longest linear sequence of 12 steps and an overall yield of 17.9% via a new and practical approach to construct the dihydrodibenz[b,f]oxepin skeleton employing Wittig, selective reduction, and intramolecular Ullmann reactions as key steps.

Polyketides from a marine sponge-derived fungus Mycelia sterilia and proton-proton long-range coupling.

A series of polyketide-originated metabolites (1-5) were isolated from a marine sponge-derived fungus Mycelia sterilia. Of these, 1-3 were new compounds. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods as (4R*, 5S*, 6S*, 8S*, 13R*)-1-(2,8-dihydroxy-1,2,6-trimethyl-1,2,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-naphthalen-1-yl)-3-methoxy-propan-1-one (1), 4,8-dihydroxy-7-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-6-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-naphthalen-1-one (2) and 1-methyl-naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (3).

[Determination of plasma protein binding rate of methyl protodioscin with ultrafiltration].

Objective: To study the plasma protein binding rate of methyl protodioscin.

Method: The ultrafiltration was employed to determine the plasma protein binding rate of methyl protodioscin. The plasma concentrations of methyl protodioscin were measured by HPLC-MS-MS.

Iridoid and aromatic glycosides from Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. and their inhibition of [Ca2+](i) increase induced by KCl.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of EtOH extract of the roots of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. resulted in the isolation of three new iridoid glycosides, i.e.

Flavonoids and a new polyacetylene from Bidens parviflora Willd.

Fifteen flavonoids, 1-7 and 9-16, and a polyacetylene, 8, were isolated from the ethanol extract of the dried whole plant of Bidens parviflora Willd. by various chromatographic techniques. Their structures have been elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and chemical studies.

Coumarins from campylotropis hirtella (FRANCH.) SCHINDL. and their inhibitory activity on prostate specific antigen secreted from LNCaP cells.

Campylotropis hirtella (FRANCH.) SCHINDL. was used as a folk medicine for the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in China.

Isolation and identification of urinary metabolites of berberine in rats and humans.

The urinary metabolites of berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from several Chinese herbal medicines, were investigated in rats and humans. Using macroporous adsorption resin chromatography, open octadecyl silane column chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography, we isolated seven metabolites (HM1-HM7) from human urine and five metabolites (RM1-RM5) from rat urine after oral administration. Their structures were elucidated by enzymatic deconjugation and analyses of mass spectrometry, (1)H NMR, and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy spectra.

Pro-apoptotic and microtubule-disassembly effects of ardisiacrispin (A+B), triterpenoid saponins from Ardisia crenata on human hepatoma Bel-7402 cells.

Ardisiacrispin (A+B) is a mixture of ardisiacrispins A and B, derived from Ardisia crenata with a fixed proportion (2:1). The present study was conducted to investigate its anticancer activity on human cancer cells and its underlying mechanism of action. The (IC50)s of ardisiacrispin (A+B) on proliferation of several human cancer cell lines were in the range of 0.

Protective effects of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) extract on restraint stress-induced liver damage in mice.

Our experiments showed that 18 h restraint stress could induce serious liver damage, with an increase in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level (107.68 +/- 3.19 U/L vs 18.

Lignans isolated from Campylotropis hirtella (Franch.) Schindl. decreased prostate specific antigen and androgen receptor expression in LNCaP cells.

Accumulating epidemiological data suggest that Asian men have lower incidences of prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) compared with American and European populations and may have benefited from their higher intake of phytoestrogens in their diet. However, how these phytochemicals affect prostatic diseases is still unclear. In this study, we isolated six lignans from a plant, Campylotropis hirtella (Franch.

Sesquilignans and dilignans from Campylotropis hirtella (Franch.) Schindl.

A new sesquilignan, erythro-Guaiacylglycerol-beta-O-4'-(5')-methoxylariciresinol, together with six known compounds including three sesquilignans and three dilignans, have been isolated from Campylotropis hirtella (Franch.) Schindl. that was used as traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia.

Triterpenoid saponins from Androsace umbellata and their anti-proliferative activities in human hepatoma cells.

Two new triterpenoid saponins, along with five known ones, were isolated from the EtOH extract of the whole plants of Androsace umbellata. The structures of the new triterpenoid saponins were identified as 3- O-[ beta- D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)- beta- D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-[ beta- D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)]- alpha- L-arabinopyranosyl]-3 beta-hydroxy-13 beta,28-epoxy-16-oxo-oleanan-30-al ( 1) and 3- O- beta- D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)- beta- D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)- alpha- L-arabinopyranosyl-3 beta-hydroxy-13 beta,28-epoxy-16-oxo-oleanan-30-al ( 2) on the basis of their spectral and chemical properties. All these compounds showed significant cytotoxic activities in human hepatoma cells.

Cardenolides from Antiaris toxicaria as potent selective Nur77 modulators.

Toxicarioside D (1), a new cardenolide, along with 10 other known ones, was isolated from the stem of Antiaris toxicaria LESCH. by bioassay-guided fractionation. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.

[Protective effects of Guangdong Liangcha grandes on restraint stress-induced liver damage in mice].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Guangdong Liangcha Keli on restraint stress-induced liver damage in mice.

Method: Thirty-five male C57BL/6J mice of 7 weeks old were divided into 5 groups randomly with 7 mice in each group: normal group, restraint stress group, 250 mg kg(-1) Vitamin C, Guangdong Liangcha Keli 500 mg kg(-1) and 250 mg kg(-1). After 18 hr restraint stress, the ALT acitivity in plasma, MDA level in plasma and liver, GSH content, GSH-PX and GST activities, NO level and ORAC value in liver were determined.