Effects of photodynamic therapy using bisdemethoxycurcumin combined with melatonin or acetyl-melatonin on C. Albicans.

The current study aims to explore the efficacy of antifungal photodynamic therapy (PDT) on C. albicans biofilms by combining photosensitizers, bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), and melatonin (MLT) or acetyl-melatonin (AcO-MLT). Additionally, the relationship between different types of reactive oxygen species and PDT's antifungal efficacy was investigated. BDMC, MLT and AcO-MLT were applied, alone and in combination, to 48-hour C. albicans biofilm cultures (n = 6/group). Blue and red LED light (250 mW/cm2 with 37.5 J/cm2 for single or 75 J/cm2 for dual photosensitizer groups) were used to irradiate BDMC groups and MLT/AcO-MLT groups, respectively. For combination groups, blue LEDs and subsequently red LEDs were used. Drop plate assays were performed at 0, 1 and 6 h post-treatment. Colony forming units (CFUs) were then counted after 48 h. Hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen were measured using fluorescence spectroscopy and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Additionally, cell cytotoxicity was tested on human oral keratinocytes. Significant CFU reductions were observed with combinations 20 µM BDMC + 20 µM AcO-MLT and 60 µM BDMC + 20 µM MLT at 0 and 1 h post-treatment, respectively. Singlet oxygen production increased with the addition of MLT/AcO-MLT and had moderate-substantial correlations with inhibition at all times. Hydroxyl radical production was not significantly different from the control. Additionally, BDMC exhibited subtle cytotoxicity on human oral keratinocytes. PDT using BDMC + MLT or AcO-MLT, with blue and red LED light, effectively inhibits C. albicans biofilm through singlet oxygen generation. Melatonin acts as a photosensitizer in PDT to inhibit fungal infection.

Synthesis of the Dimeric Diarylheptanoids Alpinidinoid C and Officinine B Enabled by Blue-Light-Mediated Triple-Minisci-Type Alkylation.

The first syntheses of the Alpinia officinarum natural products alpinidinoid C and officinine B are reported. These unusual dimeric diarylheptanoids were accessed from a 3-substituted pyridine intermediate via a blue-light-mediated, triple-Minisci-type alkylation. Very few reports utilize N-(acyloxy)phthalimides (NAPs) in the construction of natural products, and the syntheses reported herein highlight the power of this methodology toward the orthogonal construction of highly substituted arenes.

Four new diarylheptanoids and two new terpenoids from the fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla and their anti-inflammatory activities.

Four previously unreported diarylheptanoids (1a/1b-2a/2b), one undescribed sesquiterpenoid (8), one new diterpenoid (12), and twelve known analogs were isolated from the fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla. The structural elucidation of these compounds was achieved through a comprehensive analysis of spectroscopic data, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and modified Mosher's method. Enantiomeric mixtures (1a/1b, 2a/2b, 3a/3b, 4a/4b, and 5a/5b) were separated on a chiral column using acetonitrile-water mixtures as eluents. Among them, compounds 3a/3b and 4a/4b were isolated as optically pure enantiomers in the initial chiral separation. Furthermore, most of the isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against the production of nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. Interestingly, 2 and 4 showed significant inhibitory activities against NO production with IC50 values of 33.65 and 9.88 µmol·L-1 (hydrocortisone: IC50 34.26 µmol·L-1), respectively. Additionally, they also partially reduced the secretion of IL-6.

Rational design of a poly-L-glutamic acid-based combination conjugate for hormone-responsive breast cancer treatment.

Breast cancer represents the most prevalent tumor type worldwide, with hormone-responsive breast cancer the most common subtype. Despite the effectiveness of endocrine therapy, advanced disease forms represent an unmet clinical need. While drug combination therapies remain promising, differences in pharmacokinetic profiles result in suboptimal ratios of free drugs reaching tumors. We identified a synergistic combination of bisdemethoxycurcumin and exemestane through drug screening and rationally designed star-shaped poly-L-glutamic acid-based combination conjugates carrying these drugs conjugated through pH-responsive linkers for hormone-responsive breast cancer treatment. We synthesized/characterized single and combination conjugates with synergistic drug ratios/loadings. Physicochemical characterization/drug release kinetics studies suggested that lower drug loading prompted a less compact conjugate conformation that supported optimal release. Screening in monolayer and spheroid breast cancer cell cultures revealed that combination conjugates possessed enhanced cytotoxicity/synergism compared to physical mixtures of single-drug conjugates/free drugs; moreover, a combination conjugate with the lowest drug loading outperformed remaining conjugates. This candidate inhibited proliferation-associated signaling, reduced inflammatory chemokine/exosome levels, and promoted autophagy in spheroids; furthermore, it outperformed a physical mixture of single-drug conjugates/free drugs regarding cytotoxicity in patient-derived breast cancer organoids. Our findings highlight the importance of rational design and advanced in vitro models for the selection of polypeptide-based combination conjugates.

Bisdemethoxycurcumin Augments Docetaxel Efficacy for Treatment of Prostate Cancer.

Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) is one of major forms of curcuminoids found in the rhizomes of turmeric. Docetaxel (DTX) is the standard of care for men diagnosed with androgen-independent prostate cancers. Here we report for the first time that BDMC could reinforce the effect of DTX against prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo. In vitro study, PC3 and LNCaP cells were cultured and treated with BDMC and DTX alone or in combination. The effects on cell viability were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Apoptosis was assessed by annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining, while cell cycle was assessed by PI staining. Bax, Bcl-2, caspase, poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP), cyclin B1 and CDK1 expression were assayed by Western blot. We found that a combination treatment of BDMC (10 µM) with DTX (10 nM) was more effective in the inhibition of PC3 and LNCaP cell growth and induction of apoptosis as well as G2/M arrest, which is accompanied with the significant inhibition of Bcl-2, cyclin B1, CDK1 expression and significant increase of Bax, cleaved caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP, than those by treatment of BDMC or DTX alone. Moreover, in vivo evaluation further demonstrated the superior anticancer efficacy of BDMC and DTX compared to DTX alone in a murine prostate cancer model. These results suggest that BDMC can be an attractive therapeutic candidate in enhancing the efficacy of DTX in prostate cancer treatment.

Discovery of Curcuminoids as Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitors from Medicine-and-Food Homology Plants.

Researchers are increasingly interested in discovering new pancreatic lipase inhibitors as anti-obesity ingredients. Medicine-and-food homology plants contain a diverse set of natural bioactive compounds with promising development potential. This study screened and identified potent pancreatic lipase inhibitors from 20 commonly consumed medicine-and-food homology plants using affinity ultrafiltration combined with spectroscopy and docking simulations. The results showed that turmeric exhibited the highest pancreatic lipase-inhibitory activity, and curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin were discovered to be potent pancreatic lipase inhibitors within the turmeric extract, with IC50 values of 0.52 ± 0.04, 1.12 ± 0.05, and 3.30 ± 0.08 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, the enzymatic kinetics analyses demonstrated that the inhibition type of the three curcuminoids was the reversible competitive model, and curcumin exhibited a higher binding affinity and greater impact on the secondary structure of pancreatic lipase than found with demethoxycurcumin or bisdemethoxycurcumin, as observed through fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism. Furthermore, docking simulations supported the above experimental findings, and revealed that the three curcuminoids might interact with amino acid residues in the binding pocket of pancreatic lipase through non-covalent actions, such as hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking, thereby inhibiting the pancreatic lipase. Collectively, these findings suggest that the bioactive compounds of turmeric, in particular curcumin, can be promising dietary pancreatic lipase inhibitors for the prevention and management of obesity.

BACE1 inhibitors from the fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla have efficacy to treat T2DM-related cognitive disorder.

The fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla (Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus, AOF) are one of the "Four Famous South Medicines" in China. In this study, beta-site amyloid protein precursor cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) was applied to explore the active components in AOF responsible for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-related cognitive disorder. As a result, 24 compounds including three unreported ones (1, 3, 4) were isolated from AOF. Compound 1 is an unusual carbon­carbon linked diarylheptanoid dimer, and compound 4 is the first case of 3,4-seco-eudesmane sesquiterpenoid with a 5/6-bicyclic skeleton. Four diarylheptanoids (3, 5-7), one flavonoid (9) and two sesquiterpenoids (14 and 20) showed BACE1 inhibitory activity, of which the most active 6 was revealed to be a non-competitive and anti-competitive mixed inhibitor. Docking simulation suggested that OH-4' of 6 played important roles in maintaining activity by forming hydrogen bonds with Ser36 and Ile126 residues. Compounds 3, 5, 9 and 20 displayed neuroprotective effects against amyloid ß (Aß)-induced damage in BV2 cells. Mechanism study revealed that compounds 5 and 20 downregulated the expression of BACE1 and upregulated the expression of Lamp2 to exert effects. Thus, the characteristic diarylheptanoids and sesquiterpenoids in AOF had the efficacy to alleviate T2DM-related cognitive disorder by inhibiting BACE1 activity and reversing Aß-induced neuronal damage.

Monoterpene-chalcone conjugates and diarylheptanoids isolated from the seeds of Alpinia katsumadai Hayata with cytotoxic activity.

Five undescribed monoterpene-chalcone conjugates (1-5), one undescribed hypothetical precursor of diarylheptanoid (6), two undescribed diarylheptanoids (7-8), and fourteen known compounds (9-22) were isolated from the seeds of Alpinia katsumadai. Their structures were elucidated through the interpretation of HRESIMS, NMR, ECD, and X-ray diffraction data. MTT assays on human cancer cell lines (HepG2, A549, SGC7901, and SW480) revealed that compounds 3-8, 11, and 13 exhibited broad-spectrum antiproliferative activities with IC50 values ranging from 3.59 to 21.78 µM. B cell lymphoma 2 was predicted as the target of sumadain C (11) by network pharmacology and verified by homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence assay and molecular docking.

Rational Design of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Curcuminoids Binding: Computational and Experimental Approaches for the Selection of Functional Monomers.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have emerged as bespoke materials with versatile molecular applications. In this study, we propose a proof of concept for a methodology employing molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to guide the selection of functional monomers for curcuminoid binding in MIPs. Curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin are phenolic compounds widely employed as spices, pigments, additives, and therapeutic agents, representing the three main curcuminoids of interest. Through MD simulations, we investigated prepolymerization mixtures composed of various functional monomers, including acrylamide (ACA), acrylic acid (AA), methacrylic acid (MAA), and N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP), with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker and acetonitrile as the solvent. Curcumin was selected as the template molecule due to its structural similarity to the other curcuminoids. Notably, the prepolymerization mixture containing NVP as the functional monomer demonstrated superior molecular recognition capabilities toward curcumin. This observation was supported by higher functional monomer molecules surrounding the template, a lower total nonbonded energy between the template and monomer, and a greater number of hydrogen bonds in the aggregate. These findings suggest a stronger affinity between the functional monomer NVP and the template. We synthesized, characterized, and conducted binding tests on the MIPs to validate the MD simulation results. The experimental binding tests confirmed that the MIP-NVP exhibited higher binding capacity. Consequently, based on MD simulations, our computational methodology effectively guided the selection of the functional monomer, leading to MIPs with binding capacity for curcuminoids. The outcomes of this study provide a valuable reference for the rational design of MIPs through MD simulations, facilitating the selection of components for MIPs. This computational approach holds the potential for extension to other templates, establishing a robust methodology for the rational design of MIPs.

Anti-Inflammatory, Wound Healing, and Anti-Diabetic Effects of Pure Active Compounds Present in the Ryudai Gold Variety of Curcuma longa.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) contains curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC). Nevertheless, curcumin is the most researched active ingredient for its numerous pharmacological effects. We investigated the impact of these curcuminoids found in Ryudai gold, an approved cultivar of Curcuma longa, on wound healing, inflammation, and diabetes. Sub-planter injections of carrageenan induced acute paw inflammation in rats. The wound-healing ability of 1% curcuminoids was examined by making a 6 mm round wound on the shaved dorsum of the mice with a biopsy punch. A single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) was used to induce diabetes in mice. Curcuminoids at a dose rate of 100 mg/kg body weight were used with feed and as a gastric gavage to treat diabetes and inflammation in experimental animals. Paw thickness was measured at 1, 3, and 6 h following carrageenan injection. After three hours, mean paw volume was 58% in carrageenan-injected mice, which was 35%, 37%, and 31% in the curcumin, DMC, and BDMC groups, respectively. Histopathology of the paw tissue demonstrated severe infiltration of inflammatory cells and thickening of the dermis, which were remarkably improved by the curcuminoids. The wound-healing abilities were significantly higher in the curcumin- (95.0%), DMC- (93.17%), and BDMC-treated (89.0%) groups, in comparison to that of the control (65.09%) group at day nine. There were no significant differences in wound-healing activity among the groups treated with 1% curcuminoids throughout the study. Streptozotocin-induced diabetes was characterized by an increased blood glucose (552.2 mg/dL) and decreased body weight (31.2 g), compared to that of the control rats (145.6 mg/dL and 46.8 g blood glucose and body weight, respectively). It also caused an increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT; 44.2 U/L) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST; 55.8 U/L) compared to that of the control group (18.6 U/L and 20.1 U/L, respectively). Histopathological examination of the liver showed that diabetes caused hepatic cellular necrosis, congestion of the central vein, and parenchymatous degeneration. However, all three curcuminoids significantly decreased blood glucose levels, ALT, and AST and improved the histopathological score of the liver. These results evidenced that not only curcumin but also DMC and BDMC have potent anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and anti-diabetic efficacy, and the Ryudai gold variety of turmeric could be used as a functional food supplement.

Zosterabisphenone B, a new diarylheptanoid heterodimer from the seagrass Zostera marina, induces apoptosis cell death in colon cancer cells and reduces tumour growth in mice.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumours worldwide. Diarylheptanoids, secondary metabolites isolated from Zostera marina, are of interest in natural products research due to their biological activities. Zosterabisphenone B (ZBP B) has recently been shown to inhibit the viability of CRC cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of ZBP B for targeting human CRC cells. Cell viability was determined using the MTT assay. Flow cytometry and Western blot analyses were used to assess apoptosis and autophagy. A CRC xenograft model was used to evaluate the in vivo effect of ZBP B. No cytotoxic effect on HCEC cells was observed in the in vitro experiments. ZBP B caused morphological changes in HCT116 colon cancer cells due to an increase in early and late apoptotic cell populations. Mechanistically, ZBP B led to an increase in cleaved caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, PARP and BID proteins and a decrease in Bcl-2 and c-Myc proteins. In the xenograft model of CRC, ZBP B led to a reduction in tumour growth. These results indicate that ZBP B exerts a selective cytotoxic effect on CRC cells by affecting apoptotic signalling pathways and reducing tumour growth in mice. Taken together, our results suggest that ZBP B could be a lead compound for the synthesis and development of CRC drugs.

Phenylphenalenones and Linear Diarylheptanoid Derivatives Are Biosynthesized via Parallel Routes in Musella lasiocarpa, the Chinese Dwarf Banana.

Here, we use transcriptomic data from seeds of Musella lasiocarpa to identify five enzymes involved in the formation of dihydrocurcuminoids. Characterization of the substrate specificities of the enzymes reveals two distinct dihydrocurcuminoid pathways leading to phenylphenalenones and linear diarylheptanoid derivatives, the major seed metabolites. Furthermore, we demonstrate the stepwise conversion of dihydrobisdemethoxycurcumin to the phenylphenalenone 4'-hydroxylachnanthocarpone by feeding intermediates to M. lasiocarpa root protein extract.

Diarylheptanoid glycosides from Dioscorea nipponica rhizomes.

A group of previously undescribed diarylheptanoids with mono/di-glucose substitution, diodiarylheptosides A-F (1-6), together with six known diarylheptanoids (7-12) were isolated from the rhizomes of Dioscorea nipponica. Their structures were established by comprehensive UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS and NMR analyses, and their absolute configurations were determined by a comparison of calculated and experimental ECD, some with optical rotations, after acid-hydrolysis. Moreover, bioassay results showed that compounds 3 and 11 exhibited stronger NO inhibitions on lipopolysaccharides-induced RAW 264.7 cells, with the IC50 values of 14.91 ± 0.62 and 12.78 ± 1.12 µM.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Diarylheptanoids.

In the quest for synthesizing biologically important natural products, medicinal chemists embark on an endless journey. This review focuses on the reports published towards the syntheses of diarylheptanoids, classifying them into linear, tetrahydropyran, diarylether, and biphenyl categories. The synthesis methods for each class from 2013 to 2023 are discussed, providing a comprehensive overview of the advancements in the field. Representative natural product examples are highlighted for each category. The review emphasizes the importance of diarylheptanoids in the realms of chemistry and medicine, showcasing their potential as valuable compounds for medicinal and synthetic chemists.

Innovative orthogonal two-dimensional reversed-phase liquid chromatography × supercritical fluid chromatography with a phenyl/tetrazole stationary phase for the preparative isolation of diarylheptanoids.

In this investigation, we successfully isolated and purified natural diarylheptanoids using an orthogonal offline two-dimensional RPLC × SFC approach, employing only the phenyl/tetrazole stationary phase. First, a styrene-divinylbenzene matrix medium pretreatment liquid chromatography system effectively processed chlorophyll-containing plant extract solution with a recovery rate of 33.8 %, obviating the need for concentration steps. Subsequently, an offline two-dimensional RPLC × SFC employing only the phenyl/tetrazole stationary phase achieved a remarkable 96.38 % orthogonality and was established and utilized in the preparative separation and purification of natural products. Finally, the constructed single stationary phase highly orthogonal RPLC × SFC system was successfully applied in the preparative separation and purification of natural diarylheptanoids from the Saxifraga tangutica target fraction and yielded four diarylheptanoids with purities exceeding 95 %.

SDH, a novel diarylheptane compound, alleviates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis by reducing Th1/Th2/Th17 induction and regulating the gut microbiota in mice.

Ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the rectum and colon to varying degrees, is linked to a dysregulated immune response and the microbiota. Sodium (aS,9R)-3-hydroxy-16,17-dimethoxy-15-oxidotricyclo[12.3.1.12,6]nonadeca-1(18),2,4,6(19),14,16-hexene-9-yl sulfate hydrate (SDH) emerges as a novel diarylheptane compound aimed at treating inflammatory bowel diseases. However, the mechanisms by which SDH modulates these conditions remain largely unknown. In this study, we assessed SDH's impact on the clinical progression of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis. Our results demonstrated that SDH significantly mitigated the symptoms of DSS-induced colitis, reflected in reduced disease activity index scores, alleviation of weight loss, shortening of the colorectum, and reduction in spleen swelling. Notably, SDH decreased the proportion of Th1/Th2/Th17 cells and normalized inflammatory cytokine levels in the colon. Furthermore, SDH treatment modified the gut microbial composition in mice with colitis, notably decreasing Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria populations while substantially increasing Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Patescibacteria. In conclusion, our findings suggest that SDH may protect the colon from DSS-induced colitis through the regulation of Th1/Th2/Th17 cells and gut microbiota, offering novel insights into SDH's therapeutic potential.

Phytochemical and pharmacological properties of the genus Alpinia from 2016 to 2023.

Covering 2016 up to the end of 2023Alpinia is the largest genus of flowering plants in the ginger family, Zingiberaceae, and comprises about 500 species. Many Alpinia are commonly cultivated ornamental plants, and some are used as spices or traditional medicine to treat inflammation, hyperlipidemia, and cancers. However, only a few comprehensive reviews have been published on the phytochemistry and pharmacology of this genus, and the latest review was published in 2017. In this review, we provide an extensive coverage of the studies on Alpinia species reported from 2016 through 2023, including newly isolated compounds and potential biological effects. The present review article shows that Alpinia species have a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities, most due to the activities of diarylheptanoids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolics.

Ru(II)-Arene Complexes of Curcumin and Bisdesmethoxycurcumin Metabolites.

Curcuminoids and their complexes continue to attract attention in medicinal chemistry, but little attention has been given to their metabolic derivatives. Here, the first examples of (arene)Ru(II) complexes with curcuminoid metabolites, tetrahydrocurcumin (THcurcH), and tetrahydrobisdesmethoxycurcumin (THbdcurcH) were prepared and characterized. The neutral complexes [Ru(arene)(THcurc)Cl] and [Ru(arene)(THbdcurc)Cl] (arene = cymene, benzene, or hexamethylbenzene) were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry, and the crystal structures of the three complexes were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Compared to curcuminoids, these metabolites lose their conjugated double bond system responsible for their planarity, showing unique closed conformation structures. Both closed and open conformations have been analyzed and rationalized by using density functional theory (DFT). The cytotoxicity of the complexes was evaluated in vitro against human ovarian carcinoma cells (A2780 and A2780cisR), human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7 and MCF-7CR), as well as against non-tumorigenic human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) and human breast (MCF-10A) cells and compared to the free ligands, cisplatin, and RAPTA-C. There is a correlation between cellular uptake and the cytotoxicity of the compounds, suggesting that cellular uptake and binding to nuclear DNA may be the major pathway for cytotoxicity. However, the levels of complex binding to DNA do not strictly correlate with the cytotoxic potency, indicating that other mechanisms are also involved. In addition, treatment of MCF-7 cells with [Ru(cym)(THcurc)Cl] showed a significant decrease in p62 protein levels, which is generally assumed as a noncisplatin-like mechanism of action involving autophagy. Hence, a cisplatin- and a noncisplatin-like concerted mechanism of action, involving both apoptosis and autophagy, is possible.

Anti-inflammatory effect of curcuminoids and their analogs in hyperosmotic human corneal limbus epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: To assess the efficacy of curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin [BDC]) and their analogs (tetrahydrocurcumin [THC], tetrahydrodemethoxycurcumin [THDC], tetrahydrobisdemethoxycurcumin) in reducing inflammatory cytokines and their toxicity to primary human corneal limbal epithelial cells, these cells were cultured and exposed to these compounds. METHODS: The PrestoBlue assay assessed cell viability after treatment. Anti-inflammatory effects on hyperosmotic cells were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction and significance was gauged using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's tests, considering p-values < 0.05 as significant. RESULTS: Curcuminoids and their analogs, at 1, 10, and 100 µM, exhibited no effect on cell viability compared to controls. However, cyclosporin A 1:500 significantly reduced cell viability more than most curcuminoid treatments, except 100 µM curcumin and BDC. All tested curcuminoids and analogs at these concentrations significantly decreased mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-17 A, matrix metallopeptidase-9, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 after 90 mM NaCl stimulation compared to untreated cells. Furthermore, proinflammatory cytokine levels from hyperosmotic cells treated with 1, 10, and 100 µM curcumin, 100 µM BDC, 100 µM THC, 1 and 100 µM THDC mirrored those treated with cyclosporin A 1:500. CONCLUSION: The anti-inflammatory efficiency of 1 and 10 µM curcumin, 100 µM THC, 1 and 100 µM THDC was comparable to that of cyclosporin A 1:500 while maintaining cell viability.

Diarylheptanoids with neuroprotective effects from Alpinia officinarum rhizomes.

Forty-three diarylheptanoids were isolated from Alpinia officinarum rhizomes among them eight ones (1-6) were undescribed compounds whose structures were identified by UV, IR, HRESIMS, and NMR. The neuroprotective effects of these diarylheptanoids were evaluated on H2O2-damaged SH-SY5Y cells. Compounds 7, 10, 12, 20, 22, 25, 28, 33, 35, 37, and 42 presented significant neuroprotective effects than that of the positive control (EGCG) at the concentrations of 5, 10 or 20 µM. Compounds 10, 22, 25, and 33 significantly reduced the ROS levels and inhibited the generations of MDA and NO in oxidative injured cells to display neuroprotective effects. This study lay the foundation for the application of Alpinia officinarum rhizomes.