[A new phenylethanol glycoside from Baphicacanthis Cusiae Rhizoma et Radix].

The 95% ethanol extract of Baphicacanthis Cusiae Rhizoma et Radix was purified by multi-chromatographic methods including microporous resin, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and C_(18) reversed-phase column chromatography. Fourteen compounds were isolated and structurally identified, including five phenylethanoid glycosides, five phenylpropanoids, one lupinane triterpene, two alkaloids, and one flavonoid, listed as follows: 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-(2-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxo-1-propanol B(1), threo-2,3-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzene)-3-methoxypropanol(2), 2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-ethanol-1-O-[3,4-O-di-acetyl-(1→3)-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-ß-D-glucopyranoside(3), verbascoside(4), 2″,3″-di-O-acetyl martynoside(5),(+)-pinore-sinol(6), diospyrosin(7), daidzein(8), wiedemannioside B(9), buddlenol A(10), 2″-O-acetyl martyonside(11), lupeol(12), indirubin(13), and tryptanthrin(14). Compound 3 was a new phenylethanoid glycoside, and the other 10 compounds were isolated for the first time from Baphicacanthis Cusiae Rhizoma et Radix except compounds 12, 13, and 14.

[A new spirocyclic cycloartane triterpenoid from Souliea vaginata].

The 70% ethanol extract of the whole plant of Souliea vaginata was purified by multi-chromatographic methods including macroporous resin,silica gel,Sephadex LH-20,and C18-reversed-phase column chromatography. A new spirocyclic cycloartane triterpenoid was isolated and identified as( 16 R*,20 R*,23 S*,24 R*,25 S*)-16,23: 23,26-diepoxy-15α,24,25-trihydroxy-9,19-cycloart-3ß-O-ß-D-xylopyranoside( 1),and named as soulieoside S. Its planar structure and relative configuration were determined by spectroscopic techniques including 2 D NMR and HRESI-MS. As one of the main components of S. vaginata,compound 1 was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory activity by a lipopolysaccharide( LPS)-stimulated NO production model in RAW264. 7 macrophages,but it didn't show NO production inhibitory effect.

Benzofurans from Eupatorium chinense enhance insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes and suppress inflammatory response in RAW264.7 macrophages.

Fourteen acetylbenzofuran derivatives, including three undescribed carbon skeletons with a newly formed hexane or benzene ring on the other side of the benzofuran ring, (±)-eupatonin A (1), (±)-eupatonin B (2), and eupatonin C (3), two new benzofurans (-)-12ß-hydroxygynunone (4) and (+)-12-hydroxyl-13-noreuparin (5), as well as 9 known ones (6-14), were isolated from 95% ethanol extract of the roots of Eupatorium chinense. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and quantum chemical DFT and TDDFT calculations of the NMR chemical shifts and ECD spectra, which helped in the determination of the relative configurations of 1 and 2 and the absolute configurations of 4 and 5, respectively. 1 and 2 were further identified to be racemic mixtures by chiral HPLC analysis. All compounds were evaluated for insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in differentiated C2C12 myotubes. Compounds 1, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, and 13 markedly enhanced insulin-mediated glucose uptake. (±)-Eupatonin A (1) activated the IRS-1/Akt/GSK-3ß signaling pathway and enhanced insulin stimulated GLUT4 membrane translocation in C2C12 myotubes. On LPS stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, several compounds exhibited significant inhibitory effect on NO production with IC50 values ranging from 4.94 to 9.70 µΜ. (±)-Eupatonin A (1) again dose-dependently suppressed LPS-induced NO production and decreased the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), through inhibiting NF-κB activity.

Triterpenoids from Cyclocarya paliurus that Enhance Glucose Uptake in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Four previously undescribed compounds, including three rarely occurring seco-dammarane triterpenoid glycosides and a pentacyclic triterpenic acid, were isolated from a 70% ethanol extract of the leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus (Juglandaceae), along with eleven known triterpenoids. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic techniques, including 2D NMR and HRESIMS, as well as chemical methods. Among them, several triterpenoids enhanced insulin stimulated glucose uptake in both 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C2C12 myotubes. Furthermore, compound 1 dose-dependently increased glucose uptake through activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-p38 pathway. Collectively, triterpenoids from C. paliurus could be developed as insulin sensitizers, which might have therapeutic potential for insulin resistance and hyperglycemia.

Terpenoids from Curcuma wenyujin increased glucose consumption on HepG2 cells.

Thirty four terpenoids, including two new cadinane-type sesquiterpenoids containing conjugated aromatic-ketone moieties, curcujinone A (1) and curcujinone B (2), were isolated from 95% ethanol extract of the root tubers of Curcuma wenyujin. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, especially 2D NMR and HRMS techniques. The relative and absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were identified by quantum chemical DFT and TDDFT calculations of the 13C NMR chemical shifts, ECD spectra, and specific optical rotations. All compounds and extracts were evaluated for their anti-diabetic activities with a glucose consumption model on HepG2 Cells. The petroleum fraction CWP (10µg/mL) and compounds curcumenol (4), 7α,11α-epoxy-5ß-hydroxy-9-guaiaen-8-one (5), curdione (17), (1S, 4S, 5S 10S)-germacrone (18), zederone (20), a mixture of curcumanolide A (25) and curcumanolide B (26), gajutsulactone B (27), and wenyujinin C (30) showed promising activities with over 45% increasing of glucose consumption at 10µM.

Salvianolic acid A inhibits calpain activation and eNOS uncoupling during focal cerebral ischemia in mice.

BACKGROUND: Salvianolic acid A (SAA) is obtained from Chinese herb Salviae Miltiorrhizae Bunge (Labiatae), has been reported to have the protective effects against cardiovascular and neurovascular diseases. HYPOTHESIS: The aim of present study was to investigate the relationship between the effectiveness of SAA against neurovascular injury and its effects on calpain activation and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling. STUDY DESIGN: SAA or vehicle was given to C57BL/6 male mice for seven days before the occlusion of middle cerebral artery (MCAO) for 60min. METHODS: High-resolution positron emission tomography scanner (micro-PET) was used for small animal imaging to examine glucose metabolism. Rota-rod time and neurological deficit scores were calculated after 24h of reperfusion. The volume of infarction was determined by Nissl-staining. The calpain proteolytic activity and eNOS uncoupling were determined by western blot analysis. RESULTS: SAA administration increased glucose metabolism and ameliorated neuronal damage after brain ischemia, paralleled with decreased neurological deficit and volume of infarction. In addition, SAA pretreatment inhibited eNOS uncoupling and calpain proteolytic activity. Furthermore, SAA inhibited peroxynitrite (ONOO-) generation and upregulates AKT, FKHR and ERK phosphorylation. CONCLUSION: These findings strongly suggest that SAA elicits a neurovascular protective role through the inhibition of eNOS uncoupling and ONOO- formation. Moreover, SAA attenuates spectrin and calcineurin breakdown and therefore protects the brain against ischemic/reperfusion injury.

Five new cycloartane triterpenoids from Beesia calthifolia.

Phytochemical study on rhizomes of Beesia calthifolia resulted in the isolation of five new (1-5) and three known (6-8) cycloartane triterpenoids possessing a hemiketal or ketal group at C-24 from the EtOAc fraction of 95% ethanol extract. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods, especially HRMS and 2D NMR techniques. Compounds 3 and 4 showed potential hepatoprotective activities against D-galactosamine induced human hepatic L02 cell damage.

Effects and molecular mechanisms of the antidiabetic fraction of Acorus calamus L. on GLP-1 expression and secretion in vivo and in vitro.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The radix of Acorus calamus L. (AC) is widely used in diabetes therapies in traditional folk medicine from America and Indonesia, and we have previously reported that the ethyl acetate fraction of AC (ACE) acts as an antidiabetic through insulin sensitizing, insulin releasing and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities. The present study is designed to investigate the effects and molecular mechanisms of ACE on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) expression and secretion related to its hypoglycemic effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The hypoglycemic effect of ACE (100mg/kg, i.g.) was confirmed by testing blood glucose levels or via oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced hyperglycemic mice, db/db diabetic mice and diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. Plasma insulin, GLP-1 levels and intestinal GLP-1 related gene expression were determined in STZ-induced and db/db diabetic mice. The in vitro effects of ACE (12.5µg/ml) on the expression and secretion of GLP-1 were detected in NCI-H716 intestinal L-cells, and the correlation between ACE and molecules in the Wnt signaling pathway was further explored. RESULTS: ACE (100mg/kg) significantly lowered fasting blood glucose in STZ-induced and db/db diabetic mice and improved the OGTT in DIO mice. Insulin releasing and islet protective effects, along with the increased secretion of GLP-1, were observed. The expression of proglucagon gene (gcg) and post-translational processing gene prohormone convertase 3 (pc3) and the GLP-1 content in the culture medium of L-cells notably increased after the ACE treatment (12.5µg/ml). At the same time, ß-catenin nuclear translocation occurred, and its downstream protein cyclin D1 was activated, showing the involvement of Wnt signaling. CONCLUSIONS: ACE might activate Wnt signaling to increase the gene expression of gcg and pc3 and exert incretin effects, including insulinotropic and islet protection, to lower blood glucose levels via elevated GLP-1 secretion either directly or indirectly.

Terpenoids from Cichorium intybus.

A new sesquiterpenoid, 1alpha,5alpha-epoxy-4alpha-hydroxyl-4beta,10beta-dimethyl-7alphaH,10alphaH-guaia-l1(13)-en-12-oic acid (1), and four known compounds, lactucin (2), 1beta-hydroxy-7alphaH,8,11betaH-eudesm-3-en-8,12-olide (3), 13,14-seco-stigma 9(11),14(15)-dien-3alpha-ol (4), and bacosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5) were isolated from Cichorium intybus L. Their structures were determined on the basis of detailed analysis of their 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. Compounds 2 and 4 showed strong activities against the A2780 cell line with IC50 values of 1.81 and 0.07 microM, respectively.

[Chemical constituents of Acorus calamus].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents contained in Acorus calamus. METHOD: The chemical constituents were separated and purified by various chromatographic methods including silica gel, ODS, HPLC and Sephadex LH-20, and their structures were identified on the basis of analysis on spectroscopic data. RESULT: Ten compounds were separated from A. calamus and identified as 1beta, 4beta, 7alpha-trihydroxyeudesmane (1), bullatantriol (2), teuclatriol (3), threo-1', 2'-dihydroxyasarone (4), erythro-1', 2'-dihydroxyasarone (5), (+)-de-4'-O-methyleudesmin (6), (+)-de-4'-0-methylmagnolin (7), (+)-eudesmin (8), (+)-magnolin (9) and beta-sitosterol (10), respectively. CONCLUSION: Compounds 1-2,4-9 were separated from this plant for the first time. Specifically, compounds 1-2,6-9 were obtained from Acorus genus for the first time.

Development of the fingerprint for the quality of Radix Linderae through ultra-pressure liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

An ultra-pressure LC (UPLC) method has been developed and validated for the quality evaluation of a traditional Chinese medicine (Radix Linderae) by chemical fingerprint analysis with chromatograms collected at two wavelengths (260 and 320 nm). Eleven characteristic peaks in the fingerprints were identified by comparing their retention times, UV spectra and ESI-MS/MS data with those of the reference substances or the data in the literatures. Both correlation coefficient of similarities in chromatograms and relative peak areas of common peaks were calculated for quality expression of the Radix Linderae samples collected from different areas in China. The results showed high variation of relative peak area and correlation coefficients among the samples collected from various habitats, which indicated that the quality consistency of Radix Linderae is still a problem worthy of serious concern.

Insulin releasing and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity of ethyl acetate fraction of Acorus calamus in vitro and in vivo.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The radix of Acorus calamus L. (AC) is widely used in the therapy of diabetes in traditional folk medicine of America and Indonesia, and we previously reported the insulin sensitizing activity of the ethyl acetate fraction of AC (ACE). AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the insulin releasing and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity of ACE in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Insulin releasing and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory effects of different fractions from AC were detected in vitro using HIT-T15 cell line and alpha-glucosidase enzyme. Furthermore, effects of ACE orally on serum glucose were detected in fasted and glucose/amylum challenged normal mice. RESULTS: AC and ACE increased insulin secretion in HIT-T15 cells as gliclazide did. As in vivo results, ACE (400 and 800 mg/kg) significantly decreased fasting serum glucose, and suppressed the increase of blood glucose levels after 2g/kg glucose loading in normal mice. In addition, ACE as a mixed-type inhibitor inhibited alpha-glucosidase activity in vitro with an IC(50) of 0.41 microg/ml, and 100mg/kg of it clearly reduced the increase of blood glucose levels after 5 g/kg amylum loading in normal mice. CONCLUSIONS: Apart from its insulin sensitizing effect, ACE may have hypoglycemic effects via mechanisms of insulin releasing and alpha-glucosidase inhibition, and thus improves postprandial hyperglycemia and cardiovascular complications.

Protective effects of steroids from Allium chinense against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in rat cardiac H9C2 cells.

Allium chinense, a traditional herbal medicine, has been used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases for hundreds of years. In this study, A. chinense steroids (ACSs) including three steroidal glycosides and their parent aglycones were isolated from the bulbs of A. chinense. For the first time, their cardioprotective effects were evaluated in cultured rat cardiac H9C2 cells by pretreatment with ACSs for 24 h before exposure to 0.2 mm H(2)O(2). The results showed the cell viability decreased markedly when H9C2 cells were incubated with 0.2 mm H(2)O(2) alone for 2 h, while the cell lipid peroxidation (estimated by the excessive production of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde) and intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) increased significantly. The addition of 20 microm (below the toxic concentration) of ACSs notably attenuated the cellular injury induced by H(2)O(2). The effects of ACSs in our experiments were similar to those of nimodipine, a clinically applied calcium channel blocker. Preliminary analysis of the structure-activity relationship indicated that ACSs with a spirostane-type skeleton exhibited stronger protection than that with a furostane-type skeleton, and glycosylation of the steroids could substantially lower the protective activities. The above results suggested the protective effects of steroids originated from A. chinense on the oxidative injury of H9C2 cells and ACSs may have potential for preventing cardiac injuries induced by oxidative stress.

Sesquiterpene lactones from the root tubers of Lindera aggregata.

Phytochemical investigation of the root tubers of Lindera aggregata resulted in the isolation of five new sesquiterpene lactones, linderagalactones A-E (1-5), along with eight known sesquiterpenoids, 3-eudesmene-1beta,11-diol, hydroxylindestenolide, strychnistenolide, hydroxyisogermafurenolide, atractylenolide III, linderane, neolinderalactone, and linderalactone. The structures and relative configurations of 1-5 were determined by spectroscopic methods, especially HRESIMS and 2D NMR techniques. The absolute configurations of 1-4 were defined by comparison of quantum chemical TDDFT calculated and experimental ECD spectra. Linderagalactone A (1) is a halogenated sesquiterpene lactone possessing a unique rearranged carbon skeleton. Linderagalactone E (5), linderane, hydroxylindestenolide, and linderalactone showed hepatoprotective activity against H2O2-induced oxidative damages on HepG2 cells with EC(50) values of 67.5, 167.0, 42.4, and 98.0 microM, respectively.

Cycloartane triterpenoids from Kleinhovia hospita.

Four new cycloartane triterpenoids, together with the known gardenolic acid B, were isolated from Kleinhovia hospita. The triterpenoids (1-3) contain a unique 21,23-diacetal side-chain, while compound 4 contains two alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone moieties. Their structures and relative configurations were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR and IR. These compounds showed promising hepatoprotective effects on nitrofurantoin-induced cytotoxicity in human liver-derived Hep G2 cells.

Insulin sensitizing activity of ethyl acetate fraction of Acorus calamus L. in vitro and in vivo.

UNLABELLED: Acorus calamus L. (AC), family Araceae, have been used in the Indian and Chinese systems of medicine for hundreds of years. The radix of AC is widely used in the therapy of diabetes in traditional folk medicine of America and Indonesia. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the insulin sensitizing activity and antidiabetic effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of AC (ACE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Glucose consumption mediated by insulin was detected in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells. Diabetes and its complications related indexes were monitored after orally administrating to genetically obese diabetic C57BL/Ks db/db mice daily for 3 weeks. RESULTS: ACE (12.5 and 25 microg/ml) increased glucose consumption mediated by insulin in L6 cells (p<0.05 and p<0.01). In db/db mice, ACE (100 mg/kg) significantly reduced serum glucose, triglyceride, reinforce the decrease of total cholesterol caused by rosiglitazone (at least p<0.05), and markedly reduced free fatty acid (FFA) levels and increased adiponectin levels (p<0.01 and p<0.05) as rosiglitazone did (p<0.05 and p<0.001). Serum insulin was decreased but not significantly. In addition, ACE decreased the intake of food and water, and did not increase body weight gain whereas rosiglitazone did. CONCLUSIONS: Owing to the ability of insulin sensitizing, ACE has the potential to be useful for the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular complications without body weight gain.

Alkaloids from Lindera aggregata.

Eight alkaloids, including a new compound, (+)-norboldine acetate (1), and seven known ones, (+)-norboldine (2), (+)-boldine (3), (+)-laurotetanine (4), (+)-N-methyllaurotetanine (5), (+)-reticuline (6), (-)-pronuciferine (7), and pallidine (8) were isolated from the roots of Lindera aggregata. The structures of these alkaloids were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods, especially 2D NMR techniques, which also allowed the first full NMR assignments of alkaloids 2, 4 and 5. Among them, the 1D NMR chemical shifts of (+)-norboldine (2) showed a remarkable environmental sensitive behavior. All the alkaloids were tested in cytotoxicity assays against L1210 and K562 tumor cell lines; only (+)-norboldine (2) showed weak activity against the L1210 cell line.

[Progress on antineoplastic constituents derived from polypore fungi].

Polypore fungi is a cluster of important pharmacological fungi with significant antitumor activity. In recent years, the antineoplastic constituents from polypore fungi have been comprehensively studied. Through investigating the domestic and overseas studied paper, the antitumor active constituents derived from polypore fungi including high molecular weight compounds such as polysaccharides, glycopeptides, glycoproteins, lectins, and lipid soluble low molecular weight compounds such as terpenoids, steroids, phenolics, benzopyranones, were reviewed. In addition, the significance in the exploitation of new drug for antitumor by the application of polypore fungi was discussed at the end of this paper.

[Studies on chemical constituents from herbs of Taraxacum mongolicum].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents of the herbs of Taraxacum mongolicum. METHOD: The chemical constituents were isolated by various column chromatographic methods and their structures elucidated mainly by NMR and MS evidences. RESULT: Forty-four components were obtained and identified were as artemetin (1), quercetin (2), quercetin-3', 4', 7-trime-thyl ether (3), luteolin (4), luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), luteolin-7-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (6), genkwanin (7), isoetin (8), hesperetin (9), genkwanin-4'-O-beta-D-lutinoside (10), hesperidin (11), quercetin-7-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->6) -beta-D-glucopyranoside (12), quercetin-3, 7-O-beta-D-diglucopyranoside (13), isoetin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl- 2'-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (14), isoetin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2'-O-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (15), isoetin-7- O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2'-O-beta-D-xyloypyranoside (16), caffeic acid (17), furulic acid (18), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (19), 3, 5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (20), 3, 4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (21), 4, 5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (22), 1-hydroxymethyl-5-hydroxy-phenyl-2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (23), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (24), p-coumaric acid (25), 3, 5-dihydroxylbenzoic acid (26), gallic acid (27), gallicin (28), syringic acid (29), 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (30), caffeic acid ethyl ester (31), esculetin (32), rufescidride (33), mongolicumin A [6, 9, 10-trihydroxy-benzoxanthene-1, 2-dicarboxylic acid] (34), mongolicumin B [1 l-hydroxy-2-oxo-guaia-1 (10), 3, 5-trien-8, 12-lactone] (35), isodonsesquitin A (36), taraxacin (37), sesquiterpene ketolactone (38), taraxasteryl acetate (39), phi-taraxasteryl acetate (40) and lupenol acetate (41), palmitic acid (42), beta-sitosterol (43), and stigmasterol (44). CONCLUSION: Four compounds (14, 15, 34 and 35) were new compounds, compounds 1, 3, 6-13, 20-22, 30 and 31 were isolated from this genus for the first time, while compounds 18, 23-29, 32 and 37-42 were obtained from this species for the first time.

A new dibenzofuran and other constituents from Ligularia caloxantha, a Chinese medicinal plant.

A new dibenzofuran named 1,2,4-trimethyl-7,8-dimethoxy-dibenzofuran (1), together with seven known compounds, euparin (2), 2,5-diacetyl-6-hydroxy-benzofuran (3), 2-acetyl-5,6-dimethoxy-benzofuran (4), gummosogenin (5), lupeol (6), stigmasterol (7) and (E)-2,5-dihydroxy-cinnamic acid (8), were isolated from the roots of Ligularia caloxantha, a Chinese medicinal plant. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.