Flavonol glycosides with lipid accumulation inhibitory activity and simultaneous quantitative analysis of 15 polyphenols and caffeine in the flower buds of Camellia sinensis from different regions by LCMS.

A simultaneous quantitative analytical method for 15 major polyphenols, e.g. five catechins (1-5) and 10 flavonols (6-15), as functional constituents in the extracts of "tea flowers", the flower buds of Camellia sinensis (Theaceae), has been developed. The content of caffeine (16), which showed similar chromatographic behaviour under the analytical conditions, was also determined. To approve the validity of the newly developed protocol, thirteen extracts of the plant's flower buds collected from different regions, i.e. China, Taiwan, Japan and India, were evaluated. The results indicated that the assay was reproducible and precise, and could be readily underutilised for the quality evaluation of tea flowers on the basis of polyphenols' contents. It was noteworthy that the contents of two major constituents, kaempferol 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (10) and kaempferol 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-ß-D-galactopyranoside (11), varied by region where the flower buds were produced. A new flavonol glycoside, chakaflavonoside B (17), which was isolated in the course of this analytical study, was found to show oleic acid-albumin-induced lipid accumulation inhibitory activity.

Oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides with pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity from the pericarps of Sapindus rarak.

The methanolic extract from the pericarps of Sapindus rarak DC. was found to show pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity (IC50=ca. 614 microg/mL). From the extract, oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides, rarasaponins I-III (1-3), and raraoside A (4), were isolated together with 13 known saponins and four known sesquiterpene glycosides. Among them, several saponin constituents including rarasaponins I (1, IC50=131microM) and II (2, 172microM), and raraoside A (4, 151microM) inhibited pancreatic lipase activity, which were stronger than that of theasaponin E(1) (270microM).

Structures of acetylated oleanane-type triterpene saponins, rarasaponins IV, V, and VI, and anti-hyperlipidemic constituents from the pericarps of Sapindus rarak.

The methanolic extract and its saponin fraction (methanol-eluted fraction) of the pericarps of Sapindus rarak DC. were found to suppress plasma triglyceride elevation in olive oil-treated mice. From the active fraction, three new acylated oleanane-type triterpene saponins, rarasaponins IV (1), V (2), and VI (3), were isolated. The structures of 1-3 were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. The principle saponin constituents, hederagenin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (4) and hederagenin 3-O-(3,4-di-O-acetyl-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl)-(1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (5), showed inhibitory effects on plasma triglyceride elevation at a dose of 200 mg/kg, per os.

[Pleurodesis using autologous blood plus OK-432 for intractable spontaneous pneumothorax with high surgical risk].

Air leakage persisted from the lung in three cases of spontaneous pneumothorax. Pleurodesis with autologous blood ended in failure. Autologous blood plus OK-432 was instilled into the thoracic cavity from the chest drainage tube. Air leakage was stopped without serious side effects and the chest tube was removed uneventfully. Although the long-term outcome of this treatment is not known, pleurodesis using autologous blood plus OK-432 may be an effective way of treatment for spontaneous pneumothorax in cases with high surgical risk.

Exacerbated and prolonged allergic and non-allergic inflammatory cutaneous reaction in mice with targeted interleukin-18 expression in the skin.

Interleukin 18 induces both T helper 1 and T helper 2 cytokines, proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and IgE and IgG1 production. A role of interleukin 18 in inflammatory cutaneous reactions is still unclear, however. Here we generated keratin 5/interleukin 18 transgenic mice overexpressing mature murine interleukin 18 in the skin using a human keratin 5 promoter. In the contact hypersensitivity model, trinitrochlorobenzene elicited a stronger ear swelling in keratin 5/interleukin 18 transgenic mice compared with control littermate wild-type or immunoglobulin/interleukin 18 transgenic mice in which mature interleukin 18 was expressed by B and T cells under the control of the immunoglobulin promoter. Application of an irritant, croton oil, induced stronger and more sustained ear swelling in keratin 5/interleukin 18 transgenic mice than in immunoglobulin/interleukin 18 transgenic or wild-type mice. Repetitive topical application (weekly for six consecutive weeks) of trinitrochlorobenzene to their ears also elicited a stronger cutaneous inflammation in keratin 5/interleukin 18 transgenic mice than seen in immunoglobulin/interleukin 18 transgenic or wild-type mice. After these six trinitrochlorobenzene applications, the expression of interferon-gamma, interleukin-4, and CCL20 mRNA in the ear tissue was increased and dermal changes, such as acanthosis and eosinophilic, neutrophilic, and mast cell infiltration, were greater in keratin 5/interleukin 18 transgenic mice than in wild-type mice. Furthermore, the repetitive application elicited a significant increase in serum IgE levels and the number of B cells in the draining lymph node in keratin 5/interleukin 18 transgenic mice. These results suggest that overexpression of interleukin 18 in the skin aggravates allergic and nonallergic cutaneous inflammation, which is accompanied by high expression of T helper 1 and T helper 2 cytokines and chemokines in the skin.