New abietane and tigliane diterpenoids from the roots of Euphorbia fischeriana and their cytotoxic activities.

Three new abietane and two new tigliane diterpenoids were isolated from the roots Euphorbia fischeriana. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and quantum chemical calculation. Compounds 4 and 5 exhibited the inhibitory activities against human cancer cells HeLa and HepG2, with IC50 ranging from 3.54 to 11.45 µM.

[The effects and mechanism of caloric restriction on energy metabolism].

Caloric restriction (CR) is explored to limit the caloric intake without malnutrition. CR can affect the levels of various metabolites in organism, such as lipids, free fatty acids, ketones, bile acids and amino acids, etc, and is thought being able to extend the lifespan, postpone and reduce the incidence of age-related disorders (e.g., type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases). These effects are mainly attributed to the role of CR in energy metabolism. The mechanism of CR on energy metabolism is closely related to biological clock, hormonal production, gastrointestinal flora and inflammation. Here we briefly review the effects and mechanism of CR on energy metabolism.

[Limonoids from seeds of Azadirachta indica and their antibacterial activity].

Fifteen limonoids were isolated from 95% ethanol extracts of the dry seeds of neem( Azadirachta indica) by various column chromatography techniques including silica gel,Pharmadex LH-20 gel and ODS resin. Based on spectroscopic analysis,their structures were determined as nimbocinol( 1),17ß-hydroxynimbocinol( 2),1α,3α,7α-triacetylvilasinin( 3),7α-benzoyltrichilinin( 4),1,3-diacetyl-7-tigloyl-12-hydroxyvilasinin( 5),3-deacetylsalannin( 6),1-O-acetyl-1-detigloylsalannin( 7),2'( R),3'-dihydrosalannin( 8),2'( S),3'-dihydrosalannin( 9),2,3-dihydronimbolide( 10),6-homodesacetylnimbin( 11),gedunin( 12),7-deacetyl-7-epi-dihydrogedunin( 13),7-deacetoxy-7α-hydroxygedunin( 14) and nimbinene( 15). Compound 7 is a new natural product. 4,8,9,13 and 14 are isolated from the genus Azadirachta for the first time. Compound 2 showed inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis,with MIC values of 32 and 128 mg·L~(-1),respectively. Compound 10 showed moderate inhibitory activity against S. epidermidis with a MIC value of 64 mg·L~(-1). Compound 11 inhibited the growth of E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa,both with MIC values of 128 mg·L~(-1). Compound 15 exhibited inhibitory activity against P. aeruginosa,with a MIC value of128 mg·L~(-1).

[Limonoids from seeds of Azadirachta indica and their cytotoxic activity].

Eight limonoids were isolated from 95% ethanol extracts of neem(Azadirachta indica) seeds by various chromatographic methods. By comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literatures, these limonoids were determined as salannin(1), 1-detigloyl-1-isobutylsalannin(2), salannol-3-acetate(3), salannol(4), spirosendan(5), 1-detigloyloxy-3-deacetylsalannin-1-en-3-one(6), nimbin(7) and 6-deacetylnimbin(8). Compounds 2 and 5 were firstly isolated from this genus and 5 represented the only example of its type. And 6 is a new natural product. 6 showed inhibitory activity against HeLa and HL-60 cells, with IC50 of(21.61±4.37) and(27.33±5.74) µmol·L⁻¹, respectively. Both 7 and 8 mildly inhibited the growth of HeLa cells, with IC50 of (33.15±5.24) and (38.56±6.41) µmol·L⁻¹, respectively.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection among 71,435 women in Jiangxi Province, China.

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as an etiological factor for cervical cancer. Data on the prevalence and subtype distribution of HPV infection in Jiangxi Province are incomplete. In this study, we investigated HPV subtype distribution and prevalence in Jiangxi Province between August 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015. A total of 71,435 individuals ranging in age from 16 to 77 years were recruited. Cervicovaginal swabs were collected from each participant, and HPV screening was performed. Our results showed that the HPV prevalence was 22.49% in Jiangxi Province. Overall, 14.99% of individuals were positive for a single HPV type, and 7.49% were positive for multiple types. The most frequently detected low-risk genotypes were HPV-6, and high-risk genotypes were HPV-16, -18, -33, -52, and -58. The prevalence and type distribution of HPV infection exhibits regional and age differences; Yingtan had the highest incidence for high-risk HPV infection (32.00%), and peaks in the frequencies of HPV infections were seen for patients under 20 and over 60 years of age. In conclusion, we present data showing that the HPV prevalence varies significantly with age and regions in Jiangxi Province. These results can serve as valuable reference to guide Jiangxi cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination programs.

Chemical constituents from branch of Fraxinus sieboldiana.

Using a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, macroporous adsorbent resin, and reversed-phase HPLC, 115 compounds including diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, treterpenes, coumarins, lignans, fatty acid derivatives, and simple aromatic derivatives were isolated from an ethanol extract of branch of Fraxinus sieboldiana (Oleaceaue), and their structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1 D, 2D NMR and MS techniques. Among them, 41 compounds were new. In previous reports, we have been described the isolation, structure elucidation, and bioactivities of the 41 new compounds and 22 known orii including 8 coumarins, 4 phenolic and 12 phenylethanoidal glycosides. As a consequence, we herein reported the isolation and structure elucidation of the remaining 50 known compounds including 8- hydroxy-12-oxoabieta-9(11),13-dien-20-oic 8, 20-lactone(1), 6beta-hydroxyfcrruginol(2),(+)-pisiferic acid(3), (+)-pisiferal(4),(+)-7-dehydroabiet6none(5), 1-oxomiltirone(6), subdigitatone(7), linarionoside B(8), (9S)-linarionoside B(9), (3R,9R)-3-hydroxy-7,8-dihydro-beta-ionol 9-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside(10), ursolic acid(11), betulinic acid(12), euscaphic acid(13), (+)-syringaresinol(14), (+)-fraxiresinol(15), (+)-1-hydroxysyringaresinol(16), pinoresinol(17), medioresinol(18), 8-acetoxypinoresinol(19), epipinoresinol(20), (-)-olivil(21), (+)-cyclo-olivil(22), 3,3'-dimethoxy-4,4',9-trihydroxy-7,9'-epoxylignan-7'-one(23),(+)-1-hydroxypinoresinol 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (24), (+)-1-hydroxypinoresinol 4"-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(25),(+)-syringaresinol O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (26), liriodendrin (27), ehletianol D(28), icariside E5(29) (-)-(7R, 8R)-threo-1-C-syringylglycerol(30),(-)-(7R, 8S)-erythro-guaiacylglycerol (31),(-)-(7R, 8R)-threo-guaiacylglycerol(32), 3-(4-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-3-methoxy)-phenyl-2E-propenol(33),2,3-dihydroxy-l-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone(34), 2,3-dihydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-propanone (35), 3-hydroxy-l-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone(36), omega-hydroxypropioguaiacone(37), sinapyladehyde(38), trans-p-hydroxycinnamaldehyde(39), syringic acid(40), vanilic acid(41), vanillin(42), 4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (43), (24R)-24-ethyl-5alpha-cholestane-3beta,5,6beta-triol(44), beta-sitosterol(45), daucosterol(46), 2,6-dimethoxy-I,4-benzoquinone(47), 2,6-dimethoxy-pyran-4-one(48), 1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)uracil(49), and mannitol(50). Compouds 1-7,12,18,28-37,44 and 48 were obtained from the genus Fraxinus for the first time.

[Flavonoids from root of Machilus wangchiana].

Twelve flavonoids were isolated from an ethanol extract of Machilus wangchiana by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 and reversed-phase flash chromatography and HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic data analysis (IR, MS, and NMR) as (+)-catechin (1), (-)-epicatechin (2), 3'-O-methyl-(+)-catechin (3), 3'-O-methyl-(-)-epicatechin (4), 3, 5, 7, 2', 5'-pentahydroxy flavan (5), (-)-naringenin (6), (-)-eriodictyol (7), (-)-liquiritigenin (8), (2R,3R)-(+)-dihydrokaempferol (9), (2R,3S)-(-)-dihydro- kaempferol (10), (2R, 3R)-(+)-taxifolin (11), and quercetin (12). Compounds 1-10 are isolated from the genus Machilus for the first time.

Phenylpropene diglycosides from the bark of Machilus wangchiana.

Five new phenylpropene diglycosides (1-5), together with three known analogs, have been isolated from an ethanol extract of the bark of Machilus wangchiana. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. In the preliminary assay, compounds 2 and 5-8 reduced dl-galactosamine (GalN)-induced hepatocyte (WB-F344 cells) damage with 37-41% inhibitions at 10 µM.

Butanolide derivatives from the bark of Machilus yaoshansis.

Six new butanolide derivatives with long aliphatic side chains (1-6), together with 23 known lipophilic constituents, were isolated from the bark of Machilus yaoshansis. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. All the isolates were evaluated for cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Methoxylated fatty acids from the bark of Fraxinus sieboldiana.

Nine new fatty acid derivatives, including seven methoxylated (1, 2, and 4-8) and two hydroxylated (3 and 9) fatty acids, have been isolated from the ethanol extract of the stem bark of Fraxinus sieboldiana. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods including IR, MS, 1D, and 2D NMR experiments. The 3- or 9-methoxylated fatty acids are reported for the first time in nature.

[Expression of cannabinoid and opioid receptors in nervous as well as immune systems of Macaca mulatta and Tupaia belangeri].

To make Macaca mulatta and Tupaia belangeri as experimental animals for studying functions of opioid and cannabinoid receptors in drug addiction, we examined expression of the opioid and cannabinoid receptors in nervous and immune system of the two animals. We dissected normal adult M. mulatta and T. belangeri, collected tissues of cortex, cerebellum, brain stem, hippocampus, spinal cord, and spleen, and then applied the semi-quantitative PCR and real-time quantitative PCR methods to investigate the mRNA expression levels of the opioid and cannabinoid receptors in these tissues. In M. mulatta, the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) mRNA was expressed in the all tissues; in contrast, the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CNR2) mRNA was only present in the spleen. The mu opioid receptor (MOPR) was detected in all tissues, and the kappa opioid receptor (KOPR) was found in the cortex, cerebellum, brain stem, and spinal cord, but not in hippocampus and spleen. However, the delta opioid receptor (DOPR) was restrictively expressed in the hippocampus. In T. belangeri, CNR1 and CNR2 were expressed in the five regions of the brain. CNR2, but no CNR1, was also detected in the spleen. MOPR was expressed in all examined tissues, and its expression levels in the brain were higher than that in the spleen. DOPR and KOPR were not found in all tissues. Taken together, the expression profiles of cannabinoid receptors in human being, M. mulatta, T. belangeri, and rat were similar, and the expression patterns of the opioid receptors in M. mulatta were more close to human beings. The opioid and cannabinoid receptors were expressed in the tissues of nervous and immune systems of M. mulatta and T. belangeri, and both animals could be used for studying drug addiction. Macaca mulatta is still the best experimental animal for drug addiction research because it shows very similar expression profiles of these receptors to human beings.

Reactivity of a humanized antibody (hPankoMab) towards a tumor-related MUC1 epitope (TA-MUC1) with various human carcinomas.

Humanized antibodies against tumor-related antigens are now established reagents for in vivo diagnostics and for therapeutic approaches, and are increasingly developed. Humanized PankoMab (hPankoMab), a humanized form of PankoMab directed against a novel tumor-related MUC1 epitope (TA-MUC1), was recently developed for clinical application. In the present study, the reactivity of hPankoMab with various human cancers was systematically studied by immunohistochemistry on 137 surgical specimens, including lung, breast, gastric, colorectal, liver, cervical, kidney, thyroid, and other carcinomas, as well as on several non-epithelial malignancies. The study was performed on paraffin sections without antigen retrieval. hPankoMab reacted strongly with carcinomas originating from glandular or squamous epithelia, weakly with hepatocellular carcinomas, and not with sarcomas. The binding sites of hPankoMab in carcinomas were found around the whole cell surface and, in most cases, also in the cytoplasm of cancer cells.

Minor new constituents from Heteroplexis micocephala.

By using a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel and Pharmadex LH-20 and reversed-phase HPLC, two minor new compounds, labda-12, 14-dien-6beta, 7alpha, 8beta, 17-tetraol (1), 2, 3-cis-6-acetyl-5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethylvinyl)-2, 3-dihydrobenzofuran-3-ol angelate (2), and a minor new natural product 6-methoxy-4-methyl-3, 4-dihydro-2H-naphthalen-1-one (3) have been isolated from an ethanolic extract of Heteroplexis micocephala. Their structures were elucidated with spectroscopic data analysis including 2D NMR experiments.

(E)-N'-(4-Nitro-benzyl-idene)-4-(8-quinol-yloxy)butano-hydrazide.

In the title compound, C(20)H(18)N(4)O(4), conformation along the bond sequence linking the benzene and quinoline rings, which have a mean inter-planar dihedral angle of 2.7 (5)°, is trans-(+)gauche-trans-trans-(-)gauche-trans-trans. In the crystal structure, a pair of inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds links the mol-ecules into centrosymmetric cyclic R(2) (2)(8) dimers, which are aggregated via π-π inter-actions into parallel sheets [quinoline-benzene ring centroid separation = 3.6173 (16)-3.6511 (16) Å]. The sheets are further connected through weak C-H⋯O inter-actions, giving a supra-molecular two-dimensional network.