Leiocyclocin C and D, two cyclopeptides from Goniothalamus leiocarpus.

Two new cyclopeptides, leiocyclocin C (1) and D (2), were isolated from the seeds of Goniothalamus leiocarpus (Annonaceae). Their structures were determined as cyclo-(Gly1-Ser-Pro2-Tyr2-Gly2-Tyr1-Pro1-Pro3) and cyclo-(Gly1-Leu-Pro1-Gly2-Phe-Tyr-Pro2), respectively, by means of spectral and chemical methods.

[Clinical and experimental studies on treatment of menopausal syndrome with geng nian shu].

370 cases of menopausal syndrome (MS)patients with the Syndrome Differentiation of "Excessive Fire in the Heart and Liver" were studied and divided into 4 groups randomly, 3 of them were treated with Geng-Nian-Shu(GNS) of different forms administered double-blindly with placebo. The effective rates of 3 therapeutic groups were 80.3-91.3% and the placebo group 48.6%, the difference was statistically significant. FSH, LH, E2, Te, ACTH, corticosteroid, CA, TSH, FT3, FT4, and beta-EP were assayed before and after treatment. The results were as follows:ACTH, FT3, FT4 lowered after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01) respectively, CA and corticosteroid in urine and beta-EP in plasma somewhat lowered (P < 0.05). Assays of the vegetative nerve balance factors (Y) showed that patients changed from the state of sympathetic hyperfunction to normal after treatment. No statistical difference of FSH, LH, E2, Te before and after treatment was observed. Animal experiment: mono-amino-neurotransmitter in hypothalamus, beta-EP in pituitary gland and blood plasma, plasma ACTH, cAMP and serum TSH, FT3, FT4, FSH, E2, Te of normal and ovariectomized white rats were studied, and the effect of GNS on these parameters were observed. In ovariectomized white rats: (1) The amount of NE in the hypothalamus increased, and NE, 5-HT, DA, plasma cAMP, ACTH, serum FT3, beta-EP in pituitary gland markedly lowered in the treatment group. The differences were statistically Significant (P < 0.05-0.001). (2) Serum TSH increased with no statistical difference, it was not lowered in the treatment group. (3) No significant difference for FT4, plasma beta-EP was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Effect of endometriosis pill No. 2 on beta-endorphin and dynorphin in endometriosis].

In order to explore the correlation between endometriosis and beta-Endorphin, Dynorphin, the beta-Endorphin and Dynorphin levels in menstrual blood of normal women and patients with endometriosis, and the pituitary-hypothalamic beta-Endorphin and Dynorphin levels in animal models were determined. The results indicated: (1) The plasma beta-Endorphin and Dynorphin levels in patients with endometriosis were significantly lower than those in normal women (P < 0.05); the plasma beta-Endorphin levels in patients with endometriosis were significantly higher after treatment of Endometriosis Pill No. 2 (P < 0.05). (2) The pituitary and hypothalamic beta-Endorphin levels in untreated group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05); the hypothalamic beta-Endorphin in treated group were obviously higher than those in untreated group (108.35 +/- 35.38 and 66.63 +/- 14.29 respectively). The above-mentioned results presented evidence that the low beta-Endorphin and Dynorphin levels in endometriotic patients play a role in dysmenorrhea; the effect of Endometriosis Pill No. 2 in relieving dysmenorrhea was realized through an increase of plasma and hypothalamic beta-Endorphin levels. (3) The Pituitary and hypothalamic beta-Endorphin levels were significantly different between the animal models of endometriosis and normal control groups.

Triterpenoid saponins from Triplostegia grandiflora.

Four new oleanane triterpenoid saponins named triplosides D-G were isolated from the roots of Triplostegia grandiflora. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical degradation and spectral evidence. The saponins investigated were: oleanolic acid 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1----4)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1----3)-beta-D- xylopyranosyl(1----4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1----3)-beta-D- xylopyranosyl(1----3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1----2)-beta-D-xylopyranos ide, oleanolic acid 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1----6)-[beta-D- xylopyranosyl(1----4)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1----3)-beta-D- xylopyranosyl(1----4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1----3)-beta-D- xylopyranosyl(1----3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1----2)-beta-D-xylopyranos ide, oleanolic acid 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1----3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1----4)- alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1----3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1----3)-alpha-L- rhamnopyranosyl(1----2)-beta-D-xylopyranoside and oleanolic acid 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1----3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1---3)-alpha-L- rhamnopyranosyl(1----2)-beta-D-xylopyranoside, respectively. All of them have a common aglycone and are monodesmosides.

[Studies on the alkaloids of Cephalotaxus. VII. Structures and semi-synthesis of two anticancer cephalotaxine esters].

Two new alkaloids, namely neoharringtonine (1) and anhydroharringtonine (2) with significant antileukemic activity were isolated from Cephalotaxus fortunei Hook f.. Their structures have been established by spectral analyses and semi-synthesis. Seven known alkaloids, deoxyharringtonine (3), isoharringtonine (4), isocephalotaxinone (5), acetylcephalotaxine (6), cephalotaxine (7), harringtonine (8) and homoharringtonine (9), were also isolated and identified.

[Treatment of endometriosis with removing blood stasis and purgation method].

According to the method of differentiation of symptom complexes of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), endometriosis is a disease of blood stasis and mass in the lower portion of abdomen. 76 cases were treated by TCM prescription named endometriotic pill No 1 with rhubarb as the main ingredient. The chief functions of the rhubarb were removing blood stasis, disintegrating mass and purgation. The total effective rate was 80.26%. Among them, the effective rate of dysmenorrhea was 88.89%, that of pelvic pain was 66.72%, that of intercourse pain 72.12%, and diminishing in size of mass or nodule 22.15%; 3 cases of 22 infertility got pregnant (13.63%). The results revealed that the endometriotic pill No 1 yielded distinct improvement in the treatment of endometriosis, including clinical symptoms and signs, laboratory assay of blood rheology, serum Ig, subgroup of T lymphocyte (OKT system) and PG.