[A new cucurbitane glycoside from Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora].

Chemical constituents from the ethanol extract of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora were isolated and purified by column chromatography. Their structures were identified by HR-MS, 1D and 2D-NMR, and their cytotoxicity was assessed by CCK-8 assay. Four compounds were isolated and identified as follows: 2ß-D-glucosyloxy-3ß,16α,20ß-trihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosterol-5,25-diene-22-one(1), 2ß-D-glucosyloxy-3ß,16α,20ß-trihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosta-5,24-diene-22-one(2), 25-acetoxy-2ß-glucosyloxy-3ß,16α,20ß-trihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosta-5-ene-22-one(3) and 25-acetoxy-2ß-glucosyloxy-3ß,16α,20ß-trihydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosta-5,23-(E)-diene-22-one(4). Compound 1 represents a new cucurbitane glycoside. The half inhibitory concentrations of the 4 compounds exceeded 100 µmol·L~(-1) against four tumor cell lines, indicating no significant cytotoxicity.

The relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein at admission and post stroke depression: a 6-month follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: A large body of evidence suggests that stroke and depression are accompanied by activation of inflammatory pathways. Thus, the primary purpose of this study was to assess the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) to the presence of post stroke depression (PSD). METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-six ischemic stroke patients admitted to the hospital within the first 24 hours after stroke onset were consecutively recruited and followed up for 6 months. Clinical information was collected. Serum Hs-CRP levels were measured at baseline. Based on the symptoms, diagnoses of depression were made in accordance with DSM-IV criteria for depression at 6-month after stroke. RESULTS: At 6-month, ninety-five patients (42.0%) showed depression at 6 months after admission and in 69 patients (30.5%) this depression was classified as major. In the 69 patients with major depression, our results showed significantly higher Hs-CRP levels (1.54[IQR, 0.79-2.27]mg/dL vs. 0.43[IQR, 0.31-1.27]mg/dL, P<0.0001) at admission than patients without major depression. After adjusting for NIHSS on admission and all other recorded confounders, Hs-CRP still was an independent predicator of PSD with an adjusted OR of 1.339 (95% CI, 1.231-1.456; P<0.001). Further, in our study, we found that an increased risk of PSD was associated with serum Hs-CRP levels ≥0.85mg/dL (adjusted OR 7.830, 95% CI: 4.193-14.620) after adjusting for above recorded confounders. CONCLUSION: Elevated Hs-CRP serum levels at admission was found to be associated with depression 6-month after stroke, suggesting that these alterations might participate in the pathophysiology of depression symptoms in stroke patients.