Chemical tagging of a drug target using 5-sulfonyl tetrazole.

Irreversible modification is one of the most promising strategies to identify cellular receptors of bioactive small molecules. Here we report that receptor proteins can be chemically tagged using a 5-sulfonyl tetrazole probe. 5-Sulfonyl tetrazole easily accepted nucleophilic attack of thiol groups, while 5-sulfinyl tetrazole did not. These functional groups were introduced into probe molecules of a natural product. Cyclosporine A, an immunosuppressant produced by a microbe, was derivatized to possess 5-sulfonyl tetrazole and a tag group, which enabled chemical tagging of cyclophilin A, the cellular receptor of cyclosporine A. Cyclosporine A derivative possessing 5-sulfinyl tetrazole could not tag cyclophilin A. This technique will allow efficient identification of cellular receptors of bioactive small molecules.

Evaluation of volatile components from spikenard: valerena-4,7(11)-diene is a highly active sedative compound.

Valerena-4,7(11)-diene and beta-maaliene were isolated from spikenard for the first time, and the effects of inhaling these compounds were investigated. Both compounds reduced the locomotor activity of mice dose-dependently, even at a low dose. Valerena-4,7(11)-diene had a particularly profound effect, with the strongest sedative activity observed at a dose of 0.06%. Caffeine-treated mice that showed an area under the curve (AUC) for locomotor activity that was double that of controls were calmed to normal levels by administration of valerena-4,7(11)-diene. The continuous sleep time of pentobarbital-treated mice was prolonged by about 2.7 times with valerena-4,7(11)-diene, an effect similar to that of chlorpromazine administered orally.

Sedative activity of hexane extract of Keampferia galanga L. and its active compounds.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: It is well known that fragrance impacts behaviors and autonomic functions, and is increasingly used as relaxant, carminative, as well as sedative in aromatherapy. Kaempferia galanga L. is one of the popular traditional aromatic medicinal plants used in tropics and subtropics of Asia including China, Japan and Indochina. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of present study was to investigate sedative effects of hexane extract of Kaempferia galanga L.and 2 active aromatic compounds (compound 1: ethyl trans-p-methoxycinnamate and compound 2: ethyl cinnamate ) included in the extyract by means of inhalation in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sedative activity was assessed by inhalation of the hexane extract and two major aromatic compounds. RESULTS: Inhalation of hexane extract at the doses of 1.5 and 10mg showed significant reduction of locomotor activity, indicating considerable sedative and relaxant effects. Compound 1 and 2 were proved to possess sedative effects at 0.0014mg and 0.0012mg respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the promising application of Kaempferia galanga L. and its constituents in aromatherapy.

Anticarcinogenic compounds in the Uzbek medicinal plant, Helichrysum maracandicum.

An ethanol extract of Helichrysum maracandicum showed antiproliferative activity against cultured cells of SENCAR mouse in an in vitro assay, and activity-guided fractionation of the extract resulted in the isolation of isosalipurposide as an active substance. Naringenin chalcone, the aglycone of isosalipurposide, also showed strong antiproliferative activity. An in vivo assay of two-stage carcinogenesis on mouse skin revealed that epidermal application of isosalipurposide resulted in delayed formation of papillomas. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase was suppressed by the administration of naringenin chalcone or isosalipurposide, which might be related to the anticarcinogenic activity.

Sedative effects of vapor inhalation of agarwood oil and spikenard extract and identification of their active components.

Agarwood oil and spikenard extract were examined for their sedative activity using a spontaneous vapor administration system. It was shown that inhalation of agarwood oil vapor sedated mice. The main volatile constituents of the oil were found to be benzylacetone [agarwood oil from a Hong Kong market (1)], or alpha-gurjunene and (+)-calarene [agarwood oil made in Vietnam (2)]. A hexane extract of spikenard contained a lot of calarene, and its vapor inhalation had a sedative effect on mice. Individual principles benzylacetone, calarene, and alpha-gurjunene were administered to mice, which reproduced the result of the corresponding oil or extract. However, the most effective dose of the compounds was lower than their original content in the oil and extract (benzylacetone 0.1%, calarene 0.17%, alpha-gurjunene 1.5%).

cDNA isolation and functional expression of myrcene synthase from Perilla frutescens.

cDNA cloning of a monoterpene synthase from Perilla frutescens whose steam-distilled oil contains 92.9% perillaketone, was performed by the PCR method using primers designed based on limonene synthase. The full-length nucleotide sequence of this cDNA consisted of 1978 bp including a 1827-bp translational region encoding a deduced protein of 608 amino acids, which was similar to that of limonene synthase from P. frutescens (85% identity). Functional expression of this clone in Escherichia coli yielded an active monoterpene synthase enzyme, which converted geranyl diphosphate into 53.8% myrcene, 20.9% sabinene, 19.8% linalool and 5.5% limonene. As for the extraction of reaction products, we performed SPME (solid phase micro extraction) as well as conventional solvent extraction, and compared these two extraction methods.

Four new 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives from withered wood of Aquilaria sinensis.

Four new chromone derivatives, 5-hydroxy-6-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone (1), 6-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)chromone (2), 8-chloro-2-(2-phenylethyl)-5,6,7-trihydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromone (3), 6,7-dihydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromone (4) were isolated from the MeOH extract of withered wood of Aquilaria sinensis, together with seven known constituents of agarwood.