Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Herbicidal Activity, and SAR Study of Novel -(Arylmethoxy)-2-chloronicotinamides Derived from Nicotinic Acid.

Nicotinic acid, also known as niacin, is a natural product, which is widely found in plants and animals. To discover novel natural-product-based herbicides, a series of -(arylmethoxy)-2-chloronicotinamides were designed and synthesized. Some of the new -(arylmethoxy)-2-chloronicotinamides exhibited excellent herbicidal activity against (bentgrass) at 100 μM.

[Study on improvement provided by water extracts of Polygoni Multiflori Radix and Polygoni Multiflori Radix Praeparata on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice induced by MCD].

This study aims to observe the improvement of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH) after using water extracts of Polygoni Multiflori Radix and Polygoni Multiflori Radix Praeparata and explore their preliminary mechanism. Mice were fed with methionine-choline-deficent diet(MCD) for 6 weeks for modeling, and mice were orally given with 50, 100, 200 mg·kg~(-1) of Polygoni Multiflori Radix water extract(PMRWE) or Polygoni Multiflori Radix Praeparata water extract(PMRPWE) at the last 4 weeks. During the whole experimental procedure, the body weight changes of the mice were monitored and recorded.

Scutellarein alleviates the dysfunction of inner blood-retinal-barrier initiated by hyperglycemia-stimulated microglia cells.

Aim: To investigate the alleviation of scutellarein (SN) against inner blood-retinal-barrier (iBRB) dysfunction in microglia cells stimulated by hyperglycemia and to elucidate the engaged mechanism.

Methods: Microglia BV2 cells were stimulated by using 25 mmol/L D-glucose. The same concentration of mannitol (25 mmol/L) was applied as an isotonic contrast.

The Development of Diabetic Retinopathy in Goto-Kakizaki Rat and the Expression of Angiogenesis-Related Signals.

The Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat is a genetic model of type 2 diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes. In this study, we observed the development of DR in GK rats and the expression of some angiogenesis-related signals.

Chlorogenic acid prevents acetaminophen-induced liver injury: the involvement of CYP450 metabolic enzymes and some antioxidant signals.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a polyphenolic compound, is abundant in fruits, dietary vegetables, and some medicinal herbs. This study investigated the prevention of CGA against acetaminophen (AP)-induced hepatotoxicity and its engaged mechanisms. CGA reversed the decreased cell viability induced by AP in L-02 cells in vitro.

The involvement of p62-Keap1-Nrf2 antioxidative signaling pathway and JNK in the protection of natural flavonoid quercetin against hepatotoxicity.

Quercetin, one of the most abundant dietary flavonoids, is reported to have protective function against various hepatotoxicant-induced hepatotoxicity. The present study aims to investigate the critical role of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) antioxidative signaling pathway in the protection of quercetin against hepatotoxicity. Quercetin prevented the cytotoxicity induced by a variety of hepatotoxicants including clivorine (Cliv), acetaminophen (APAP), ethanol, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), and toosendanin (TSN) in human normal liver L-02 cells.

Protection of Flos Lonicerae against acetaminophen-induced liver injury and its mechanism.

This study aims to observe the protective action of Flos Lonicerae (FL) aqueous extract against acetaminophen (AP)-induced liver injury and its mechanism. Results show that FL decreases AP-increased serum alanine/aspartate transaminases (ALT/AST) activity, as well as total bilirubin (TB) amount, in mice. Histological evaluation of the liver further confirms the protection of FL against AP-induced hepatotoxicity.

Ferulic acid prevents liver injury and increases the anti-tumor effect of diosbulbin B in vivo.

The present study is designed to investigate the protection by ferulic acid against the hepatotoxicity induced by diosbulbin B and its possible mechanism, and further observe whether ferulic acid augments diosbulbin B-induced anti-tumor activity. The results show that ferulic acid decreases diosbulbin B-increased serum alanine transaminase/aspartate transaminase (ALT/AST) levels. Ferulic acid also decreases lipid peroxide (LPO) levels which are elevated in diosbulbin B-treated mice.

Ethanol extract of Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl ameliorates diabetic retinopathy and its mechanism.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common and serious complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). The present study investigates the amelioration of ethanol extract of Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl (DC) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DR and its engaged mechanism. Retinal immunofluorescence staining with cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) demonstrated that DC (30-300 mg/kg) decreased the increased retinal vessels in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

A neuroprotective mechanism of YGY-E in cerebral ischemic injury in rats.

Aims: To investigate the anticerebral ischemic properties of YGY-E (apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosy l-4'-O-α-L-rhamnopy-ranosid, a flavonoid glycoside extracted from plant phoenix-tail fern), focusing on its effects on neuronal apoptosis.

Methods: In vitro YGY-E treatment was examined in primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation (H-R) injury. In addition, in vivo effects of YGY-E on neuronal apoptosis were measured by Hoechst staining and in situ DNA end labeling (TUNEL).

The difference of glutathione antioxidant system in newly weaned and young mice liver and its involvement in isoline-induced hepatotoxicity.

Cellular glutathione antioxidant system plays important roles in counteracting hepatotoxins-induced oxidative stress injury. The present study was designed to observe the differences of this system in newly weaned and young mice liver and its involvement in the susceptibility to isoline-induced liver injury. Our results showed that liver reduced glutathione (GSH) amounts were higher in newly weaned mice than young mice.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloid clivorine induces apoptosis in human normal liver L-02 cells and reduces the expression of p53 protein.

Clivorine, a pyrrolizidine alkaloid, is a potent toxic compound extracted from a Chinese medicinal plant Ligularia hodgsonii Hook. We have previously shown that clivorine inhibited human normal liver L-02 cells proliferation and induced p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation. The aim of this study is to further observe the mechanism of clivorine-inhibited L-02 cells growth.