The complete plastid genome of Terminalia myriocarpa Vaniot Huerck et Muell.-Arg (Combretaceae), a tropical rainforest indicator species in Southern China.

Terminalia myriocarpa Vaniot Huerck et Muell.-Arg is a tropical rainforest indicator species in Southern China. The chloroplast genome of T. myriocarpa was analyzed by high-throughput sequence technology, and its genetic relationship to related species was discussed. The chloroplast genome is 159,854 bp in length, with a total GC content of 37%. It has a typical chloroplast tetrad structure, including 88,015 bp of large single copy (LSC), 18,814 bp of small single copy (SSC), and 26,319 bp of inverted repeats (IR). A total of 130 genes were annotated, including 85 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 37 tRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated T. myriocarpa was closely related to Terminalia phillyreifolia.

Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants on Anti-insulin Resistance Bioactivity of DXMS-Induced Insulin Resistant HepG2 Cells.

ABSTRACT: Medicinal plants have a long history of use in China to treat diabetic symptoms. Ancient Chinese medical manuscripts and ethnobotanical surveys document plant remedies that continue to be actively used in China for the treatment of diabetic symptoms. Based on a systematic ancient Chinese medical manuscripts review in combination with ethnobotanical survey, 16 medicinal plants for the traditional treatment of diabetic symptoms were identified for the evaluation of anti-insulin resistance bioactivity. The biological activity of 16 medicinal plants was tested on dexamethasone (DXMS)-induced insulin resistant HepG2 cells. The result shows that 11 of the 16 medicinal plants enhanced glucose uptake of DXMS-induced insulin resistant HepG2 cells, thereby demonstrating their ability to increase insulin sensitivity, other five medicinal plants including Astragalus membranaceus were found ineffective. The study shows that ancient Chinese medical manuscripts and ethnobotanical surveys on plants for the prevention and treatment of diabetic symptoms provide a promising knowledge base for drug discovery to mitigate the global diabetes epidemic.

Sterols and Terpenoids from Viburnum odoratissimum.

ABSTRACT: A new stigmasterol type natural product, viburodorol A (1), along with eleven known sterols and terpenoids (2-12), were isolated from the aerial parts of Viburnum odoratissimum. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. It's noteworthy that compound 2, the major constituent of this plant, can significantly stimulate glucose absorption in insulin resistant HepG2 cells without affecting cell viability. Furthermore, this compound can also restore the glucose absorption in DXMS-induced insulin resistant 3T3-L1 cells.