[Shaofu Zhuyu Decoction attenuates fibrosis in endometriosis through regulating PTEN/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway].

The present study aimed to investigate the protective role of Shaofu Zhuyu Decoction(SFZY) against endometriosis fibrosis in mice, and decipher the underlying mechanism through the phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten(PTEN)/protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) pathway. Eighty-five BALB/c female mice were randomly assigned into a blank group, a model group, high-, medium, and low-dose SFZY(SFZY-H, SFZY-M, and SFZY-L, respectively) groups, and a gestrinone suspension(YT) group. The model of endometriosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of uterine fragments. The mice in different groups were administrated with corresponding groups by gavage 14 days after modeling, and the blank group and model group with equal volume of distilled water by gavage. The treatment lasted for 14 days. The body weight, paw withdrawal latency caused by heat stimuli, and total weight of dissected ectopic focus were compared between different groups. The pathological changes of the ectopic tissue were observed via hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Masson staining. Real-time PCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) and collagen type Ⅰ(collagen-Ⅰ) in the ectopic tissue. The protein levels of PTEN, Akt, mTOR, p-Akt, and p-mTOR in the ectopic tissue were determined by Western blot. Compared with the blank group, the modeling first decreased and then increased the body weight of mice, increased the total weight of ectopic focus, and shortened the paw withdrawal latency. Compared with the model group, SFZY and YT increased the body weight, prolonged the paw withdrawal latency, and decreased the weight of ectopic focus. Furthermore, the drug administration, especially SFZY-H and YT(P<0.01), recovered the pathological and reduced the area of collagen deposition. Compared with the blank group, the modeling up-regulated the mRNA levels of α-SMA and collagen-Ⅰ in the ectopic focus, and such up-regulation was attenuated after drug intervention, especially in the SFZY-H and YT groups(P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the modeling down-regulated the protein level of PTEN and up-regulated the protein levels of Akt, mTOR, p-Akt, and p-mTOR(P<0.01, P<0.001). Drug administration, especially SFZY-H and YT, restored such changes(P<0.01). SFZY may significantly attenuate the focal fibrosis in the mouse model of endometriosis by regulating the PTEN/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Six new monacolin analogs from red yeast rice.

Six novel monacolin analogs, monacolins V1-V6 (1-6), together with seven known ones (7-13), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of red yeast rice. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic methods, especially 2D NMR (1H-1HCOSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY/ROESY) and CD spectroscopic analyses as well as chemical derivation. Monacolins V2 (2) and V3 (3) represent the first examples of monacolins with 3-hydroxybutyrate substitute. The anti-inflammatory inhibitory activities against the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced NO production in BV-2 cells as well as antioxidant activities against rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation were evaluated.

[Trace phenolic compounds from Red Yeast Rice].

Trace chemical constituents from the ethyl acetate extract of Red Yeast Rice were investigated. Four phenolic compounds were isolated by various column chromatographies, and their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including UV, MS, IR and NMR. The four compounds were identified as 2-methyl-5-(2'R-methyl-4'-hydroxy-butyl)-cinnamic acid(1), 5-(2'-hydroxy-6'-methyl phenyl)-3-methylfuran-2-carboxylic acid(2), daidzein(3), and genistein(4). Compound 1 was new and 2 was firstly discovered from the genus Monascus, while 3-4 were obtained from Red Yeast Rice for the first time.

Anti-Inflammatory Prenylated Phenylpropenols and Coumarin Derivatives from Murraya exotica.

Three new prenylated phenylpropenols, exotiacetals A-C (1-3), 10 new coumarin derivatives, exotimarins A-I (4-13), and 35 known analogues (14-48) were isolated from the roots of Murraya exotica. The absolute configurations of the new compounds were assigned via comparison of their specific rotations, single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, Mosher's method, the ECD exciton coupling method, comparison of experimental and calculated ECD data, and the ECD data of the in situ formed transition metal complexes. Compounds 1-3, which possess an unprecedented hexahydro-1H-isochromen-1-ol system, are presumably biosynthesized from two prenylated p-coumaryl alcohol moieties via Diels-Alder [4+2] cycloaddition and cyclic hemiacetal formation reactions. Compounds 1, 28, 33, and 35 demonstrated inhibition against LPS-induced NO production in BV-2 microglial cells with IC50 values of 8.6 ± 0.3, 11.8 ± 0.9, 15.5 ± 0.9, and 16.9 ± 1.0 µM, respectively.

Antidepressant-like effects and mechanisms of flavonoids and related analogues.

Flavonoids, possessing a basic phenylbenzopyrone core, are important components of the human diet, and are found in many medicinal plants. Flavonoids include chalcones, flavanones and their derivatives. Synthetic and natural isolated flavonoids display an enormous number of biological activities such as antitumor, antiplatelet, anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant and anticonvulsant properties. This review article focuses on the antidepressant-like effect, structure-activity relationship and mechanism of action of total flavonoid extracts isolation from natural sources, flavonoid compounds and their related analogues.

Nitric Oxide Inhibitory Dimeric Sesquiterpenoids from Artemisia rupestris.

Twelve new dimeric sesquiterpenoids (1-12) were isolated from the dried whole plants of Artemisia rupestris. Their structures were determined using MS and NMR data, and the absolute configurations were elucidated on the basis of experimental and calculated ECD spectra. Compounds 1-9 are presumably formed via biocatalyzed [2+2] or [4+2] cycloaddition reactions. Stereoselectivity of the [4+2] Diels-Alder reaction dictated the formation of endo-products. The dimeric sesquiterpenoids exhibited moderate inhibition on NO production stimulated by lipopolysaccharide in BV-2 microglial cells, with IC50 values in the range 17.0-71.8 µM.

New sesquiterpene and thiophene derivatives from Artemisia rupestris.

A new sesquiterpene, rupestrisin A (1), and three new thiophene derivatives, rupestrienes A-C (2-4), were isolated from Artemisia rupestris. Their structures were determined by analyses of MS and NMR spectroscopic data, and the absolute configuration of 1 was established by calculated ECD spectra using time-dependent density functional theory. In in vitro bioassays, compounds 1-4 showed inhibitory effects on LPS-stimulated NO production in BV-2 microglial cells with IC50 values of 24.3, 20.3, 8.5, and 5.3 µM, respectively.

Biological Activity and Chemical Constituents of Essential Oil and Extracts of Murraya microphylla.

Murraya microphylla is the most closely related species to M. koenigii (Curry tree). Inspired by the traditional effects of M koenigii, the antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities of the essential oil and extracts of M. microphylla were evaluated for the first time. The light petroleum and chloroform extracts were found to be able to scavenge DPPH free radicals, inhibit linoleic acid peroxidation, and nitric oxide production, as well as to present cytotoxicity to the human cancer cell lines HepG2, Bel7402, Bel7403, and Hela, but the essential oil only showed moderate activities. Chemical analysis of the active extracts by LC-DAD-MS" indicated that carbazole alkaloids were the main constituents. GC-MS analysis of the essential oil resulted in identification of 91 constituents, representing 96.9% of the total oil, with (E)-caryophyllene (18.4%) and terpinen-4-ol (12.6%) as the major constituents. These results demonstrate that M microphylla has similar biological activities, as well as chemical constituents to M. koenigii, and the carbazole alkaloids were disclosed to be the main potential active components. A promising development as a flavor and potential therapeutic agent could thus be predicated for this plant.