Isolation, identification, and quantification of triterpene saponins in the fresh fruits of .

This study is to develop a method for isolation, identification, and quantitative determination of dammarane-type triterpene saponins in the fruits (PNF). The saponins were isolated by a serious of chromatographic methods, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence and comparison with those of literature reports. Quantitative assay was performed on an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-UV (UPLC-UV) method.

New malonylginsenosides from the fresh fruits of Panax notoginseng.

Four new malonylginsenosides, malonylnotoginsenoside Fe (1), malonylnotoginsenoside Ra (2), malonylgypenoside LXXV (3), and malonylginsenoside Mc (4), together with two known analogues, malonylfloralginsenoside Rc (5) and malonylginsenoside Rc (6), were isolated from the fresh fruits of Panax notoginseng. Their structures were determined by MS and NMR experiments. The anti-proliferative activities of the malonylginsenosides (1-6) against SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line were evaluated using the MTT assay.

Orobanche cernua Loefling Attenuates Ultraviolet B-mediated Photoaging in Human Dermal Fibroblasts.

UV radiation is the primary cause of skin photoaging, which results in an increase in matrix metalloproteinases and degradation of collagen. Developing new natural antioxidant as photoprotective agents has become a popular area of research. Orobanche cernua Loefling is a parasitic plant that is rich in phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs).

A new phenylethanoid glycoside from Orobanche cernua Loefling.

A novel phenylethanoid glycoside, 3'-O-methyl isocrenatoside (1), along with two known compounds, methyl caffeate (2) and protocatechuic aldehyde (3), were isolated from the fresh whole plant of Orobanche cernua Loefling. All the isolated compounds (1-3) were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including IR, MS and NMR data. The cytotoxic activities of these compounds were evaluated.

Tetramethylpyrazine alleviated cytokine synthesis and dopamine deficit and improved motor dysfunction in the mice model of Parkinson's disease.

It was previously reported that cytokines and neurotoxins released from activated inflammatory cells induced the loss of projecting dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, which triggered the pathogenesis of PD. The present study investigated the effect of treatment with tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on the central cytokine synthesis, striatal dopamine content and glutamatergic transmission, and behavioral performance in the rotarod task in mice injected with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Treatment with TMP significantly improved the behavioral performance in the rotarod task in mice injected with MPTP.

Association of ALOX5AP gene single nucleotide polymorphisms and cerebral infarction in the Han population of northern China.

Background: To explore the association of ALOX5AP single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotype with the occurrence of cerebral infarction in the Han population of northern China.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 236 patients of Han ancestry with a history of cerebral infarction and 219 healthy subjects of Han ancestry with no history of cerebral infarction or cardiovascular disease. Applied Biosystems(®) TaqMan(®) SNP Genotyping Assays for SNP genotyping were used to determine the genotypes of 7 ALOX5AP SNP alleles (rs4073259, rs4769874, rs9315050, rs9551963, rs10507391, rs9579646, and rs4147064).

IL-6-174 G/C and -572 C/G polymorphisms and risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Associations between interleukin 6 (IL-6) polymorphisms and Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain controversial and ambiguous. The aim of this meta-analysis is to explore more precise estimations for the relationship between IL-6-174 G/C and -572 C/G polymorphisms and risk for AD. Electronic searches for all publications in databases PubMed and EMBASE were conducted on the associations between IL-6 polymorphisms and risk for AD until January 2012.