New oligomeric neolignans from the leaves of Magnolia officinalis var. biloba / 中国天然药物

Six new oligomeric neolignans including two trimeric neolignans (1 and 2) and four dimeric neolignans (3-6) were isolated from the leaves of Magnolia officinalis var. biloba. Their structures were determined based on HR-ESIMS and NMR data, as well as electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compound 1 is formed from two obovatol moieties directly linked to an aromatic ring of the remaining obovatol moiety, which is an unprecedented type of linkage between monomers. All isolates were assessed for their inhibitory effects on NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Compounds 1 and 3 showed significantly inhibitory activities with IC

Pathogenesis of NASH and Promising Natural Products / 中国天然药物

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common clinical condition that can lead to advanced liver diseases. The mechanism of the diaease progression, which is lacking effective therapy, remains obsure. Therefore, there is a need to understand the pathogenic mechanisms responsible for disease development and progression in order to develop innovative therapies. To accomplish this goal, experimental animal models that recapitulate the human disease are necessary. Currently, an increasing number of studies have focused on natural constituents from medicinal plants which have been emerged as a new hope for NASH. This review summarized the pathogenesis of NASH, animal models commonly used, and the promising targets for therapeutics. We also reviewed the natural constituents as potential NASH therapeutic agents.

Determination of α-glucosidase inhibitors from Scutellaria baicalensis using liquid chromatography with quadrupole time of flight tandem mass spectrometry coupled with centrifugal ultrafiltration / 中国天然药物

The present study aimed at identifying potential lead compounds for diabetes mellitus drug discovery. We developed a novel method involving centrifugal ultrafiltration separation subsequent liquid chromatography with quadrupole time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-Q/TOF-MS/MS) determination to screen α-glucosidase inhibitors in complex Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SBG) extract. By adding a second filter to the screening process, the level of non-specific binding of Compounds 1, 3, 10 and 11 was significantly decreased, and the level of non-specific binding of Compounds 5 and 15 also was reduced. As a result, five flavonoids identified as baicalein, baicalein, wogonin, chrysin, and oroxylin A, were rapidly found to interact with α-glucosidase and possess potent anti-α-glucosidase activity in vitro. Specific binding of ligands to α-glucosidase was demonstrated though the proposed method and the ligands could be ranked in order of affinity for α-glucosidase, which were corresponded to the order of inhibitory activity in vitro. In conclusion, our results indicated that the developed method is a rapid and effective screening method for rat intestinal α-glucosidase inhibitors from complex herbal medicines such as SBG.

A new Lycopodium alkaloid from Phlegmariurus fargesii / 中国天然药物

AIM@#To investigate the chemical constituents from the whole plants of Phlegmariurus fargesii.@*METHOD@#Compounds were isolated by repeated silica gel column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical correlation. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#A new Lycopodium alkaloid, lycopodine N-oxide (1), along with lycopodine (2), 8,15-dehydrolycopodine (3), 6α-hydroxylycopodine (4), deacetyllycoclavine (5), N-methylhuperzine B (6), lycodine (7), and phlegmarine (8), was isolated.@*CONCLUSION@#Compound 1 is a new Lycopodium alkaloid, and compound 3 was obtained from nature for the first time. Other alkaloids are isolated from this plant for the first time.

A pair of sulfonated diarylheptanoid epimers from Kaempferia galanga / 中国天然药物

AIM@#To discover new bioactive constituents from Kaempferia galanga L. (Zingiberaceae).@*METHODS@#The extract of K. galanga was divided into the chloroform and water-soluble portions. The latter fraction was successively subjected to column chromatography over a D101 macroporous adsorption resin, MCI, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative HPLC to obtain two compounds.@*RESULTS@#Two novel sulfonated diarylheptanoid epimers, namely kaempsulfonic acids A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the rhizomes of K. galanga. Their structures were established by analysis of spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by the comparison of experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy and the computational calculation method, combined with Mo2(OAc)4 induced circular dichroism (ICD).@*CONCLUSION@#The isolates 1 and 2 are new compounds and their absolute configurations were determined for the first time.

Comparison between pathological findings and MR diffusion-weighted imaging in primary hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the pathological basis of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DWI was performed in 15 patients with HCC treated by TACE within 24 - 48 hours before II-phase operation. The DWI findings of the liver lesions were analyzed and correlated with pathological findings including macroscopic observation, HE staining and immunohistochemical staining for bFGF.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The viable tumor area showed mostly hypersignal intensity (12/15), whereas coagulative necrotic lesions showed hyposignal (8/15) or isosignal intensity (6/15). The ADC values of zones of viable tumor and necrosis in tumor were (1.42 +/- 0.16) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s and (1.58 +/- 0.18) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively. There was a significant difference of ADC values between the two zones (t = 2.618, P < 0.05). (2) There was a significant difference in ADC values of viable tumor between well and poorly differentiated tumors (t = -2.646, P < 0.05). The distinction of ADC values of the whole tumor was significant among tumors with different degree of necrosis (chi(2) = 7.236, P < 0.05). (3) A negative correlation was observed between bFGF protein expression index and ADC values of viable parts of the tumors in the study group (r = -0.552, P = 0.033).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DWI shows certain characteristic features of the HCC after TACE, and can be used to distinguish viable and necrotic tumor tissues in HCC after TACE.</p>

Preliminary clinical application of percutaneous vertebroplasty / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical application of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP).@*METHODS@#PVP was performed in 21 cases of 37 vertebral lesions,including 14 osteoporotic compression fractures, 6 metastases, 1 hemangioma,and 17 lesions in thoracic vertebra and 20 in lumbar. The procedures of PVP were as follows: The needle was inserted via percutaneous transpedicular approach or percutaneous posterolateral vertebral approach; the needle tip was placed at the junction of the anterior located the one third of the vertebral body; intraosseous venography was performed; and last bone cement was injected at 2-10 mL. The technical success rate, clinical efficacy and complications were observed after the procedure. Results The procedure was successful in 18 cases with 31 lesions,and the success rate according to the number of cases and vertebral lesions was 85.7% (18/21) and 83.8% (31/37), respectively. After the procedure, the numbers of complete remission, partial remission, mild remission and no remission were 10, 5, 2 and 1, respectively; and the total effective rate was 94.4% (17/18). Progressive compression did not occur. Three patients had transient neuropathy and recovered after physiotherapy. Other complications were insignificant; no severe complications occurred. Conclusion PVP is an effective and micro-traumatic treatment for patients with benign and malignant lesions in vertebral bodies.

Study on flavonoids from leaf of Ipomoea batatas / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the flavonoid constituents of Ipomoea batatas.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The leaf was extracted with EtOH and partitioned with CHCl3, EtOAc and n-BuOH respectively. The chemical components of EtOAc fraction were isolated by silica gel and sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. The chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of physic-chemical properties and spectral data.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Five compounds were isolated and identified as: tiliroside (I), astragalin (II), rhamnocitrin (III), rhamnetin (IV) and kaempferol (V).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All of these five compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time.</p>