Anti-rheumatoid arthritis potential of different fractions derived from of Coluria longifolia.

Coluria longifolia Maxim (C. longifolia) is a Chinese folk medication commonly used to treat arthritis and joint pain. Literatures have reported that C. longifolia has significant anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects. The aim of this research was to assay the effective fractions of C. longifolia (EFCL) against rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to elucidate its anti-RA mechanism on a preliminary basis. The rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was established. The therapeutic effects of different fractions in vivo were evaluated by body weight changes, a foot swelling score, inflammatory factors and histopathological examination. The mechanism of EFCL was investigated by activity of oxidative stress related enzyme, qPCR and Western blotting tests. In vivo results showed that total extraction (TE) and n-butanol fraction (NF) could significantly alleviate the symptoms of RA, decrease the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α (P < 0.01), and improve histopathological injury. The mechanism study showed that SOD level was significantly increased with MDA level decreased in the NF group. The upregulated proteins and mRNA expression levels of Nrf2, HO1 and NQO1 after TE and NF administration suggested that the anti-arthritic effect may be related to the Nrf2 signaling pathway and downstream HO1 and NQO1. In conclusion, this study confirmed that C. longifolia is capable of treating RA with NF as the main effective fraction. Its anti-RA action may be associated with Nrf2 signaling pathway and downstream HO1 and NQO1.

[Two new prenylated 2-arylbenzofurans from roots of Artocarpus heterophyllus and their anti-respiratory burst activities].

Two prenylated 2-arylbenzofurans were isolated from roots of Artocarpus heterophyllus, with a combination of various chromatographic approaches, including ODS, MCI, Sephadex LH-20, and semipreparative high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). They were identified as 5-[6-hydroxy-4-methoxy-5,7-bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)benzofuran-2-yl]-1,3-benzenediol(1) and 5-[2H,9H-2,2,9,9-tetramethyl-furo[2,3-f]pyrano[2,3-h][1]benzopyran-6-yl]-1,3-benzenediol(2) with spectroscopic methods, such as HR-ESI-MS, IR, 1D NMR, and 2D NMR, and named artoheterins B(1) and C(2), respectively. The anti-respiratory burst activities of the two compounds were evaluated with rat polymorphonuclear neutrophils(PMNs) stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA). The results showed that 1 and 2 exhibited significant inhibitory effect on respiratory burst of PMNs with IC_(50) values of 0.27 and 1.53 µmol·L~(-1), respectively.

Highland barley Monascus purpureus Went extract ameliorates high-fat, high-fructose, high-cholesterol diet induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating lipid metabolism in golden hamsters.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hepatocyte lipid accumulation is the main feature in the early stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Highland barley Monascus purpureus Went (HBMPW), a fermentation product of Hordeum vulgare Linn. var. nudum Hook. f. has traditionally been used as fermented foods in Tibet with the effect of reducing blood lipid in folk medicine. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated the protective effects and molecular mechanism of highland barley Monascus purpureus Went extract (HBMPWE) on NAFLD in syrian golden hamster fed with high-fat, high-fructose, high-cholesterol diet (HFFCD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: HFFCD-induced NAFLD golden hamster model was established and treated with HBMPWE. Liver index, biochemical index, and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining were observed. Liver metabolomics and western blot analysis were employed. RESULTS: Our study found that HBMPWE ameliorated HFFCD induced dyslipidemia, weight gain and elevated the liver index. In addition, HBMPWE treatment significantly attenuated lipid accumulation in the liver and modulated lipid metabolism (sphingolipid, glycerophospholipid). Our data demonstrated that HBMPWE not only regulated the expression of proteins related to fatty acid synthesis and decomposition (SREBP-1/ACC/FAS/AceS1, PPARα/ACSL/CPT1/ACOX1), but also regulated the expression of proteins related to cholesterol synthesis and clearance (HMGCR, LDLR, CYP7A1). CONCLUSIONS: HBMPWE improved NAFLD through multiple pathways and multiple targets in body metabolism and could be used as a functional food to treat NAFLD and other lipid metabolic disorders.

[Pueraria lobate advances in molecular pharmacognosy].

Molecular pharmacognosy is a science of classification and identification, cultivation and protection, and production of active ingredients of graduated drugs at the molecular level. The proposal of molecular pharmacognosy allows the research of crude drugs to advance from the microscopic level to the genetic level. Pueraria lobata root, as a medicinal and edible plant, has high application value and economic value. There are many varieties that are easy to cause confusion, and it is not easy to distinguish and identify according to traditional identification methods. Moreover, the research of P. lobate root at the genetic level is still relatively shallow. the study received extensive attention of scholars. This article reviews recent research on molecular identification of P. lobate, transcriptome sequencing, cloning and synthesis of functional genes of P. lobate root in recent years in order to provide references for further promoting the development and utilization of P. lobate root and its active ingredients.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of flavonoids from the flowers of Hosta plantaginea.

Hosta plantaginea was a traditional Chinese medicinal plant used to treat inflammation-related diseases with little scientific validation. Twelve flavonoids, including two new compounds namely plantanones A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the flowers of Hosta plantaginea. Their structures were elucidated by NMR and HRMS as well as comparison with literature data. All of the isolated compounds showed significant inhibitory activities against ovine COX-1 and COX-2 at a concentration of 50 µM, with inhibition ratios from 53.00% to 80.55% for COX-1 and from 52.19% to 66.29% for COX-2. Further detailed testing showed that compounds 1, 2, 4 and 12 inhibited the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes with IC50 values 12.90-33.37 µM and 38.32-46.16 µM, respectively. Moreover, the antioxidant effects of these isolates against DPPH free radical-scavenging were also evaluated in vitro, and a tight structure-activity relationship was discussed. Our results suggested that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of H. plantaginea flowers are partly attributed to these flavonoids.

[Comparison of chemical constituents in different parts of Gardenia jasminoides based on multiple wavelength HPLC-DAD].

Seven compounds(deacetylasperulasidic acid methyl ester, gardenoside, chlorogenic acid, geniposide, crocin-Ⅰ, crocin-Ⅱ, chikusetsu saponin Ⅳa)were determined simultaneously by multiple wavelength HPLC with diode array detector(DAD) in different parts of Gardenia jasminoides. The results showed that these components in different parts of G. jasminoides had a different distribution, and there was a large difference in content of each component. Geniposide was mainly distributed in fruits and leaves; chikusetsu saponin Ⅳa was mainly distributed in roots and stems; crocus glycosides existed mainly in fruits; chlorogenic acid had a higher distribution in leaves and stems; gardenoside had a higher distribution in leaves and roots, while ceacetylasperulasidic acid methyl ester had a higher distribution in roots and stems. Based on the analysis of the chemical composition and content difference in different parts of G. jasminoides, the basis for the comprehensive utilization and quality evaluation of resources of G. jasminoides was provided.

[Chemical Constitutes from Seeds of Plantago asiatica].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Plantago asiatica seeds. METHODS: The constituents were isolated from the seeds of Plantago asiatica by column chromatography over silica gel, MCI gel, macroporous resin HP-20, Sephadex LH-20, Polyamide and by preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of physical and chemical properties and spectral data. RESULTS: Five compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as acteoside (1), isoacteoside (2), decaffeoylacteoside (3), tetradecanoic acid (4), and bis (2-ethythexyl) benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate (5). CONCLUSION: Compound 5 is isolated from Plantaginaceae for the first time. Compounds 3 and 4 are firstly characterized in Plantago asiatica.

[Study on the liver-protective and choleretic effect of zhizi baipi soup and its disassembled prescription].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Zhizi Baipi soup and its disassembled prescription on protecting liver and improving choleresis and explore the regularity of Zhizi Baipi soup composition. METHODS: The model of mouse liver injury induced by carbon tetraehlofide (CCl4) was used to observe the effects of Zhizi Baipi soup and its disassembled prescription by oral adminstration, the bile volume was determinied by common bile duct drainage. RESULTS: Zhizi Baipi soup and each treatment group with gardenia could significantly inhibit the increased serum ATL and AST activities, reduce liver MDA level, and significantly promote the bile flow and bilirubin in bile in normal rats. CONCLUSION: Zhizi Baipi soup has effects on protecting liver and increasing bile secretion, its monarch drug, gardenia plays an important role in the decoction, the effect of eliminating dampness and heat are mainly ascribed to the synergic effect of gardenia and phellodendron.

[Determination of geniposide and croein-1 in different breed of fructus gardeniae].

OBJECTIVE: To determinate geniposide and croein-1 in Fructus Gardeniae from different breeds. METHODS: RP-HPLC method was adopted. The chromatographic separation was performed on an Eclipse XDB-C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm, Agilent). The mobile phase was a mixture of acetonitrile-0.1% phosphoric acid aqueous solution in gradient elution. The wavelength of 238 nm and 440 nm was selected to determinate geniposide and crocins simultaneously. RESULT: The contents of geniposide and croein-1 in different breeds of Fructus Gardeniae are different. CONCLUSION: This method is simple and repeatable, and could be used for the quality control of Fructus Gardeniae.