Neuroprotective properties of the Lilium brownii extracts in the experimental model of Parkinson's disease.

Lilium brownii (L. brownii) is a plant that can be used for both medicine and food. Its bulbs are commonly used to treat neurological disorders like depression, insomnia, and Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the mechanism by which it treats PD is not yet fully understood. This study aims to investigate the possible mechanism of L. brownii extract in treating PD and to compare the efficacy of ethanol and aqueous extracts of L. brownii. In this study, mice with PD induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride (MPTP) were given L. brownii extracts for 30 days, and the effects of both extracts were then evaluated. Our study demonstrated that both extracts of L. brownii effectively improved motor dysfunction in PD mice induced by MPTP. Additionally, they increased the number of neurons in the substantia nigra region of the mice. Moreover, both extracts reduced levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and ferrous ion (Fe2+), while increasing levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in serum. They also influenced the expression of proteins associated with the p62-Keap1-Nrf2 pathway. Interestingly, while both extracts had similar behavioral effects, the ethanol extract appeared to have a more significant impact on individual proteins in the p62-Keap1-Nrf2 pathway compared to the aqueous extract, possibly due to its higher phenolic acid glyceride content. In conclusion, L. brownii shows promise as an effective and safe treatment for PD.

Graphiumisides A-D, Monoterpene Glycosides from an Animal-Derived Endophytic Fungus Graphium sp. GD-11.

Four new monoterpene rhamnosides, graphiumisides A-D (1-4), along with four known steroid compounds (5-8) were isolated from the fermentation extract of animal-derived endophytic fungus, Graphium sp. GD-11. The chemical structures of all compounds were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS spectroscopic analyses, and other spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-4 exhibit a distinctive structure connected by one p-menthane type monoterpene and one L-rhamnose. This is the first report of monoterpene glycosides from Graphium sp. All compounds (1-8) were tested for cytotoxic activities against four cancer cell lines (HepG2, SMMC7721, SW480, and A549), and only compound 1 showed weak anti-tumor activity against SMMC7721 cells.

Two New Phenylpropanoid Compounds from Lilium Brownii and Their Anti-monoamine Oxidase Activity.

Baihe is a commonly used Chinese medicine for the treatment of neurological disorders. Clinically, the bulbs of Lilium brownii are used to act as Baihe. In the study, two new phenylpropanoid compounds including 3-O-acetyl-1-O-caffeoylglycerol (1) and 3-O-acetyl-1-O-p-coumaroylglycerol (2) were isolated from the bulbs of L. brownii. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic method and the effect on monoamine oxidase activity was determined using an enzyme labeling method. The results show 1 and 2 have anti-monoamine oxidase activity with 20.96 % and 22.31 % inhibition rates at 50 µg/ml, respectively.

Phellodendronoside A Exerts Anticancer Effects Depending on Inducing Apoptosis Through ROS/Nrf2/Notch Pathway and Modulating Metabolite Profiles in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: To reveal the potential mechanism of PDA on hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells in vitro. Methods: The cytotoxic activity, colony formation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and their associated protein analysis, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca2+ levels, proteins in Nrf2 and Ntoch pathways and metabolite profiles of PDA against hepatocellular carcinoma were investigated. Results: PDA with cytotoxic activity inhibited cell proliferation and migration, increased intracellular ROS, Ca2+ levels and MCUR1 protein expression in a dose-dependent manner, caused cell cycle arrest in the S phase and induced apoptosis via adjusting the levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase 3 proteins, and inhibited the activation of Notch1, Jagged, Hes1, Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins. Metabonomics data showed that PDA significantly regulated 144 metabolite levels tend to be normal level, especially carnitine derivatives, bile acid metabolites associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, and mainly enriched in ABC transporter, arginine and proline metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, Notch signaling pathway, etc, and proved that PDA markedly adjusted Notch signaling pathway. Conclusion: PDA exhibited the proliferation inhibition of SMMC-7721 cells by inhibiting ROS/Nrf2/Notch signaling pathway and significantly affected the metabolic profile, suggesting PDA could be a potential therapeutic agent for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.