Two new antimicrobial monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from the roots of Rauvolfia yunnanensis.

Two new monoterpenoid indole alkaloids 3-hydroxylochnerine (1) and 10-hydroxyvinorine (2) were isolated from the roots of Rauvolfia yunnanensis. Their structures were elucidated based on the analysis of spectroscopic data and ECD calculation. Both compounds exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, and their activities were comparable to the well-known antibacterial drug berberine.

Potential therapeutic use of plant flavonoids in AD and PD.

Background: Millions of people suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) worldwide. Due to their complex pathology, no effective pharmacological treatment has been found to date, despite extensive research. Developing new, effective therapeutic agents to cure these disease remains a major challenge. Although the cause of AD and PD remains illusive, numerous studies indicates that oxidative stress and neuro-inflammation lead to neurodegeneration in the central nervous system and play vital role in AD and PD morbidity and progression. Flavonoids, which are found widely in nature, exhibit anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutative, anti-microbial, and neuroprotective properties, so have potential to treat these two kinds of diseases. Methods: In this review, we focus on the anti-oxidative and neuroprotective action of flavonoids in attenuating Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and how they might be harnessed in the development of new pharmacological agents to treat these two diseases. Result: Some flavonoid compounds, like hesperidin, naringin, naringenin, tangeretin, nobiletin, silibinin, Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, displayed to be effective in both AD and PD. Conclusion: Considerable studies have demonstrated the anti-AD and anti-PD effects of flavonoids through various in vitro and in vivo models. However, more rigorous studies are needed to be done for flavonoids to develop into effective drugs and apply them to clinical practice.

Resina Draconis Reduces Acute Liver Injury and Promotes Liver Regeneration after 2/3 Partial Hepatectomy in Mice.

AIM: To investigate the protective effects and possible mechanisms of action of resina draconis (RD) on acute liver injury and liver regeneration after 2/3 partial hepatectomy (PH) in mice. METHODS: 2/3 PH was used to induce acute liver injury. Mice were divided into three groups: sham, vehicle + 2/3 PH, and RD + 2/3 PH. Resina draconis was administered intragastrically after 2/3 PH into the RD + 2/3 PH group, and the same volume of vehicle (1% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose) was injected into the vehicle + 2/3 PH group and sham group mice. The index of liver to body weight (ILBW) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were assayed to evaluate liver regeneration. Blood and liver tissues were collected for serological and western blotting analysis. RESULTS: Resina draconis protected against 2/3 PH-induced acute severe liver injury and promoted liver regeneration as shown by significantly increased ILBW compared with that of controls. 2/3 PH increased serum AST and ALT levels, which were significantly decreased by RD treatment, while 2/3 PH decreased serum TP and ALB, which were increased by RD treatment. In the RD + 2/3 PH group, PCNA expression was significantly increased compared with the 2/3 PH group. Further, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), TNFα, and EGFR levels were increased in the RD group at postoperative days 2 and 4 compared with the those in the 2/3 PH group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that RD ameliorates acute hepatic injury and promotes liver cell proliferation, liver weight restoration, and liver function after 2/3 PH, probably via HGF, TNFα, and EGFR signaling.

Effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on mouse neural stem cell differentiation in vitro / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Application of neural stem cells (NSCs) is of great current interest in neuroscience, but NSCs origin is very limited. And they always differentiate into a large percentage of glial cells and small percentage of neurons in natural differentiation process, so researchers should take effective measures to promote NSCs differentiation into certain offsprings. Previous studies have shown that ginseng saponin ingredients, such as Rb1 and Rg1, have certain influence on NSCs differentiation, but it is unclear whether Rg3 plays a role on NSCs differentiation. OBJECTIVE:To preliminarily investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on mouse NSCs differentiation into neurons and astrocytes in vitro. METHODS: The fetal cortices of embryonic 14 days (E14) C57BL/6 mice were isolated for culturing primary NSCs. Then passaged NSCs were identified by their purity with NSCs specific antibodies, Nestin and Sox2, by immunofluorescence staining. NSCs were induced for 3 days in the differentiation medium containing ginsenoside Rg3 of different concentrations (blank control, 50 and 250 nmol/L). After that, immunofluorescence staining was used to identify differentiated neurons with neuronal specific antibody, Tuj1, and differentiated astrocytes with astrocyte specific antibody, GFAP. Then, we calculated and statistically analyzed Tuj1+/DAPI and GFAP+/DAPI percentages in the three different groups. Besides, real-time PCR assay was used to test Tuj1 and GFAP mRNA expression in the three groups after 3 days of differentiation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Primary and passaged NSCs were successfully cultured and almost of cells were positive for both Nestin and Sox2, so these high-purity NSCs could be used in the following experiments. Immunofluorescence staining and statistical analysis results showed that compared with the blank control and 250 nmol/L groups, 50 nmol/L group had an obviously increased neuronal percentage after 3 days differentiation (P < 0.01), while the blank control and 250 nmol/L groups had no significant difference (P > 0.05); compared with the blank control group, 50 and 250 nmol/L groups had significantly increased astrocyte percentages (P < 0.05), whereas there was no obvious difference between 50 and 250 nmol/L groups (P > 0.05). The results of real-time PCR assay were similar with the above immunofluorescence results. In conclusion, 50 nmol/L ginsenoside Rg3 can enhance mouse NSCs differentiation into neurons and astrocytes, while 250 nmol/L ginsenoside Rg3 can only promote mouse NSCs differentiation into astrocytes.