Therapeutic potential of natural products in schistosomiasis-associated liver fibrosis.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that endangers human health and social development. The granulomatous reaction of Schistosoma eggs in the liver is the main cause of hepatosplenomegaly and fibrotic lesions. Anti liver fibrosis therapy is crucial for patients with chronic schistosomiasis. Although Praziquantel is the only clinical drug used, it is limited in insecticide treatment and has a long-term large-scale use, which is forcing the search for cost-effective alternatives. Previous research has demonstrated that plant metabolites and extracts have effective therapeutic effects on liver fibrosis associated with schistosomiasis. This paper summarizes the mechanisms of action of metabolites and some plant extracts in alleviating schistosomiasis-associated liver fibrosis. The analysis was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. Some plant metabolites and extracts ameliorate liver fibrosis by targeting multiple signaling pathways, including reducing inflammatory infiltration, oxidative stress, inhibiting alternate macrophage activation, suppressing hepatic stellate cell activation, and reducing worm egg load. Natural products improve liver fibrosis associated with schistosomiasis, but further research is needed to elucidate the effectiveness of natural products in treating liver fibrosis caused by schistosomiasis, as there is no reported data from clinical trials in the literature.

Corilagin alleviates atherosclerosis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via the Olfr2 signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.

Introduction: Atherosclerosis, a leading cause of global cardiovascular mortality, is characterized by chronic inflammation. Central to this process is the NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, which significantly influences atherosclerotic progression. Recent research has identified that the olfactory receptor 2 (Olfr2) in vascular macrophages is instrumental in driving atherosclerosis through NLRP3- dependent IL-1 production. Methods: To investigate the effects of Corilagin, noted for its anti-inflammatory attributes, on atherosclerotic development and the Olfr2 signaling pathway, our study employed an atherosclerosis model in ApoE-/- mice, fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet, alongside cellular models in Ana-1 cells and mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages, stimulated with lipopolysaccharides and oxidized low-density lipoprotein. Results: The vivo and vitro experiments indicated that Corilagin could effectively reduce serum lipid levels, alleviate aortic pathological changes, and decrease intimal lipid deposition. Additionally, as results showed, Corilagin was able to cut down expressions of molecules associated with the Olfr2 signaling pathway. Discussion: Our findings indicated that Corilagin effectively inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation, consequently diminishing inflammation, macrophage polarization, and pyroptosis in the mouse aorta and cellular models via the Olfr2 pathway. This suggests a novel therapeutic mechanism of Corilagin in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Labdane-type diterpenoids and sesquiterpenes from Curcuma aromatica and their nitric oxide inhibitory activity in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages.

One new labdane-type diterpenoid, 3ß,15-dihydroxylabda-8(17),12E-dien-16,15-olide (1) named curcumatin and twelve known compounds, coronarin D (2), isocoronarin D (3), (E)-labda-8(17),12-diene-15,16-dial (4), zerumin A (5), (E)-labda-8(17),12-dien-15,16-dioic acid (6), furanodiene (7), linderazulene (8), zedoarol (9), zedoarondiol (10), germacrone-1,10-epoxide (11), germacrone-4,5-epoxide (12), and zingiberenol (13) were isolated from the ethanol extract of the roots of Curcuma aromatica Salisb. Their structures were elucidated by 1D-, 2D-NMR spectroscopic analysis, HR-ESI-MS, and comparing with the NMR data reported in the literature. Compounds 2, 5, and 13 significantly inhibited the nitric oxide production effect in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC50 values of 8.8 ± 1.7, 4.0 ± 0.9, and 6.2 ± 0.4 µM, respectively.

Dysphagia and associated factors among patients with acute ischemic stroke in Vietnam.

Background: Dysphagia is considered an important issue in managing and treating acute stroke, but there are currently no studies investigating this issue, especially for patients with acute ischemic stroke in Vietnam. Thus, we conducted this study to determine the prevalence of dysphagia and associated factors of dysphagia in patients with acute ischemic stroke in Vietnam. Materials and methods: From June 2020 to January 2022, a cross-sectional study of patients with acute ischemic stroke was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Vietnam. The dysphagia was evaluated through a bedside screening test using the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS). Factors associated with dysphagia were analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of dysphagia in patients with acute ischemic stroke was 71.6%, in which the mild, moderate and severe dysphagia accounted for 37.5%, 12.4% and 21.7%, respectively. Dysphagia significantly associated with age group 50-59 (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2-4.2), age group 60-69 (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.04-3.4), age group >70 (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2-4.2), brainstem (OR = 4.0, 95% CI: 2.1-7.4), having communication disorder (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-7.4) and having facial paralysis (OR = 17.9, 95% CI: 12.0-26.8). Conclusion: Our study showed that the prevalence of dysphagia is high among patients with acute ischemic stroke in Vietnam. Intervention solutions should focus more on patient groups of higher age group, brainstem stroke, communication disorder and facial paralysis.

Polyacetylene and phenolic constituents from the roots of Codonopsis javanica.

Chemical investigation of the roots of Codonopsis javanica resulted in isolation of 12 compounds, including one new polyacetylene, codojavanyol (1), one new phenolic glycoside, codobenzyloside (7), and 10 known compounds, (2E,8E)-9-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)nona-2,8-diene-4,6-diyl-1-ol (2), lobetyol (3), lobetyolin (4), lobetyolinin (5), cordifolioidyne B (6), benzyl-α-L-arabinopyranosyl (1-6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (8), (Z)-8-ß-D-glucopyranosyloxycinnamic acid (9), syringin (10), syringaresinol (11), and tryptophan (12). Their structures were elucidated by 1 D and 2 D NMR and MS spectroscopic analyses in comparison with the data reported in the literature. The stereochemistry of the C-2' position of 1 was identified based on time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation. Among the isolates, compounds 3-5 were shown to have weak cytotoxicity toward three human carcinoma cell lines, including lung (A549), liver (HepG2), and breast (MCF7), with the induction of 41.4 to 55.6% cell death at the concentration of 100 µM.

Chemical constituents of essential oils from three Vietnamese species of Pinus / Constituyentes químicos de los aceites esenciales de tres especies Vietnamitas de Pinus

This paper reports the chemical composition of essential oils obtained from Pinus dalatensis Ferré, Pinus kwangtungensis Chun ex. Tsiang and Pinus armandii subsp. xuannhaensis L.K. Phan. The oils were studied by gas chromatograpgy (GC) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The main constituents of P. dalatensis were the terpene hydrocarbons namely α-pinene (38.2%), ß- pinene (25.3%), ß-myrcene (11.0%) and ß-caryophyllene (10.5%), while α-cedrol (19.2%) was the only significant compound of P. armandi subsp. xuannhaensis. P. kwangtungensis showed ß-pinene (26.3%), α-pinene (18.0%), limonene (16.1%) and ß-myrcene (10.4%) as the dominant compounds. The volatile constituents of P. dalatensis and P. armandi subsp. xuannhaensis are being reported for the first time.

En este artículo se reportan los constituyentes químicos de los aceites esenciales de Pinus dalatensis Ferré, Pinus kwangtungensis Chun ex. Tsiang y Pinus armandii subsp. Xuannhaensis L.K. Phan que se analizaron mediante cromatografía de Gases (GC) y por Cromatografía de Gases acoplada a la Espectrometría de Masas (GC-EM). Los principales constituyentes de P. dalatensis fueron los hidrocarburos terpénicos, a saber, α-pineno (38.2%), ß-pineno (25.3%), ß-mirceno (11.0%) y ß-cariofileno (10.5%). Por otro lado, α- cedrol (19.2%) fue el único compuesto significativo de P. armandi subsp. Xuannhaensis mientras que el aceite de P. kwangtungensis estuvo dominado por ß-pineno (26.3%), α-pineno (18.0%), limoneno (16.1%) y ß-mirceno (10.4%). Los constituyentes volátiles de P. dalatensis y P. armandi subsp. xuannhaensis se informa por primera vez.

ytotoxic Constituents of Mallotus microcarpus.

A new 3-methoxybenzensulfonic acid 4-0-0-D-glucopyranoside (1), and ten known compounds (2-11) were isolated from the methanolic extract of the stems of Mallotus microcarpus. The cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds was evaluated by the MTT method. 3-Methoxybenzensulfonic acid 4-Ο-ß-D- glucopyranoside (1) and methyl salicylate 2-rutinoside (5) showed strong cytotoxicity against EGFR-TKI-resistant human lung cancer A549 cells in comparison with camptothecin. Compound 1, leonuriside A (2), 3,4'-dihydroxypropiophenone 3-Ο-glucoside (6) and (lR,2S)-hovetrichoside A (10) inhibited the growth of human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line with IC50 values in the range of 0.48-1.78 µM. This is the first report on the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of M microcarpus.

Integrated Analysis of the Wood Oil from Xanthocyparis vietnamensis Farjon & Hiep. by Chromatographic and Spectroscopic Techniques.

In order to get better knowledge about the volatiles produced by Xanthocyparis vietnamensis, a species recently discovered in Vietnam, its wood oil has been analyzed by a combination of chromatographic (GC, CC) and spectroscopic (GC-MS, (13)C-NMR) techniques. Forty components that accounted for 87.9% of the oil composition have been identified. The composition is dominated by nootkatene (20.7%), 11,12,13-tri-nor-eremophil-1(10)-en-7-one (17.2%), γ-eudesmol (5.1%), nootkatone (4.7%), valencene (3.5%) and 13-nor-eremophil-1(10)-en-11-one (2.6%). The structure of two new compounds-10-epi-nor-γ-eudesmen-11-one and 12-hydroxy-isodihydroagarofuran-has been elucidated, while 11,12,13-tri-nor-eremophil-1(10)-en-7-ol is reported as a natural product for the first time. The composition of X. vietnamensis wood oil varied drastically from those of leaf oils, dominated by hedycaryol (34.4%), phyllocladene (37.8%) or by pimara-6(14)-15-diene (19.4%).

Chemical constituents of the Annona glabra fruit and their cytotoxic activity.

CONTEXT: Traditional Chinese medicines have attracted increasing interest as potential sources of novel drugs with a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities. Annona glabra Linn (Annonaceae) is used in traditional medicine as an anticancer drug. Phytochemical investigation of this plant led to the isolation of acetogenins, ent-kauranes, peptides, and alkaloids. In addition, compounds exhibited anticancer, anti-HIV-reserve, and antimalaria. OBJECTIVE: Isolation, structure determination, and cytotoxic activity evaluation of compounds from the methanol extract from A. glabra fruits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using chromatographic methods to isolate compounds from the A. glabra methanol extract. The cytotoxic activity of compounds was evaluated by a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. In addition, compounds which showed significant cytotoxic activity were chosen for further study apoptosis characteristics. RESULTS: One new, (2E,4E,1'R,3'S,5'R,6'S)-dihydrophaseic acid 1,3'-di-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside, and eight known compounds, (2E,4E,1'R,3'S,5'R,6'S)-dihydrophaseic acid 3'-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (2), icariside D2 (3), icariside D2 6'-O-ß-d-xylopyranoside (4), 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (5), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (6), blumenol A (7), cucumegastigmane I (8), and icariside B1 (9), were isolated from the fruits of A. glabra. Icariside D2 (3) was found to show significant cytotoxic activity on the HL-60 cell line with the IC50 value of 9.0 ± 1.0 µM and did not show cytotoxic activity on the Hel-299 normal cell line. The further test indicated that compound 3 induced apoptosis via alteration of expression of apoptosis-related proteins and decreased phosphorylation of AKT in HL-60 cells. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results suggested that the constituents from A. glabra may contain effective compounds which can be used as anticancer agents.

New ent-kauranes from the fruits of Annona glabra and their inhibitory nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages.

Three new ent-kaurane diterpenoids, 7ß,16α,17-trihydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid (1), 7ß,17-dihydroxy-16α-ent-kauran-19-oic acid 19-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside ester (2), 7ß,17-dihydroxy-ent-kaur-15-en-19-oic acid 19-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside ester (3) along with five known compounds, paniculoside IV (4), 16α,17-dihydroxy-ent-kaurane (5), 16ß,17-dihydroxy-ent-kaurane (6), 16ß,17-dihydroxy-ent-kauran-19-al (7), and 16ß,17-dihydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid (8) were isolated from the fruits of Annona glabra. Their chemical structures were elucidated by physical and chemical methods. All compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activity against nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. As the results, compound 3 showed potent inhibitory LPS-stimulated NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages with the IC50 value of 0.01±0.01µM; compounds 1 and 7 showed significant inhibitory NO production with the IC50 values of 0.39±0.12µM and 0.32±0.04µM, respectively.

Ent-Kaurane diterpenes from Annona glabra and their cytotoxic activities.

A new ent-kaurane glycoside, annoglabasin H (1), and three known ent-kauranes, annoglabasin E (2), annoglabasin B (3), and 19-nor-ent-kaurent-4-ol-17-oic acid (4) were isolated from the fruits of Annona glabra. Their structures were determined by the combination of spectroscopic and chemical methods, including 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy, as well as by comparison with the NMR data reported in the literature. The cytotoxic activities of these compounds were evaluated on four human cancer cell lines, LU-1, MCF-7, SK-Mel2, and KB. Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity on all tested human cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 3.7 to 4.6 µM.

Does clinical and radiological response predict complete tumor control in N2-N3 squamous cell head and neck cancer after non-operative management of the neck?

CONCLUSION: A complete clinical and radiological response observed following chemotherapy and radiotherapy is not predictive of the absence of residual disease. Moreover, salvage neck surgery does not always seem to be an effective strategy. Consequently, early neck dissection should be advised for patients with complete clinical and radiological response (CCRR) after chemoradiotherapy for tumors with N2-N3 disease. BACKGROUND: We retrospectively reviewed the outcome of 28 patients with N2-N3 disease treated initially with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A neck dissection was performed for all patients with residual disease in the neck. RESULTS: A CCRR in the neck was achieved in 25 of 28 patients. The remaining three patients with residual neck mass underwent a salvage neck dissection: the pathological examination confirmed the persistence of tumoral disease. No regional failure was observed in these three patients. In 25 patients considered to have CCRR in the neck, 5 patients (20%) developed regional recurrence. Successful salvage approach was not possible for any of these patients.