Wunorlactones A-G, seven undescribed 7/8/5 and 7/8/3 carbon skeleton schinortriterpenoids from the stems and leaves of Schisandra chinensis, and their neuroprotective activities.

Schisandra chinensis is an important traditional Chinese medicine and its main bioactive components are lignans and schinortriterpenoids (SNTs). The aim of this study was to explore the biologically rich SNTs from the stem and leaves of S. chinensis (SCSL). Here, seven previously undescribed 7/8/5 and 7/8/3 carbon skeleton SNTs (1-7) were reported. Their structures were determined by NMR, UV, MS, ECD, and X-ray diffraction analyses, and the neuroprotective activities of these compounds on corticosterone-induced PC12 cell injury were evaluated. The results showed that 1, 5, and 7 (25 µM) had neuroprotective effects, and the cell viability was increased by 20.07%, 14.24%, and 15.14% (positive control: 30.64%), respectively. These findings increased the number of described SNTs in SCSL, and the neuroprotective activities of all compounds indicated their potential application in neurodegenerative diseases.

Six sesquiterpenoids from the stems and leaves of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat and their anti-asthma activities.

Six previously undescribed sesquiterpenoids, chrysanthterpenoids H-M (1-6), were isolated from the stem and leaves of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. Structure elucidation of isolated compounds was unambiguously determined based on extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses. Furthermore, computational prediction of ECD was used to propose the absolute configurations of the compounds. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-asthma effects on RBL-2H3 cells in vitro. The results showed that Compounds 2 and 3 significantly inhibited the release of ß-aminohexosidase and improved RBL-2H3 degranulation by chromogenic substrate and high-content imaging. These results suggest that Compounds 2 and 3 may exhibit anti-asthma activities.

[Research progress on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Trigonella foenum-graecum].

Trigonella foenum-graecum is an annual plant of the genus Trigonella in the Leguminosae family. It is widely distributed in China and has a long history of application. According to phytochemistry research, the seeds, stem, and leaves of this herb contain not only a variety of bioactive ingredients, including alkaloids, saponins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and phenols, but also abundant nutrients such as unsaturated fatty acids and amino acids and various trace elements. Pharmacological studies have shown that both the extract of T. foenum-graecum and its chemical constituents exhibit hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antitumor, antioxidative, antimicro-bial, and hepatoprotective activities. This paper reviews the research progress on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of T. foenum-graecum, which may contribute to further development, application, and clinical research of this herb.

Research progress on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Trigonella foenum-graecum / 中国中药杂志

Trigonella foenum-graecum is an annual plant of the genus Trigonella in the Leguminosae family. It is widely distributed in China and has a long history of application. According to phytochemistry research, the seeds, stem, and leaves of this herb contain not only a variety of bioactive ingredients, including alkaloids, saponins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and phenols, but also abundant nutrients such as unsaturated fatty acids and amino acids and various trace elements. Pharmacological studies have shown that both the extract of T. foenum-graecum and its chemical constituents exhibit hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antitumor, antioxidative, antimicro-bial, and hepatoprotective activities. This paper reviews the research progress on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of T. foenum-graecum, which may contribute to further development, application, and clinical research of this herb.

Study on Antioxidant Activity and Lipid-lowering Effect of Ethanol Extract and Its Different Solvent Extracts from the Stem and Leaves of Scutellaria amoena / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE：To study the antioxidan t activity and lipid-lowering effect of ethanol extract and its different solvent extracts from the stems and leaves of Scutellaria amoena . METHODS ：The stem and leaves of S. amoena was extracted with 95％ ethanol to obtain ethanol extract ，and then extracted with petroleum ，ethyl acetate and n-butanol to obtain corresponding different solvent extracts. Using vitamin C （Vc）as positive control ，the antioxidant activities of ethanol extract ，petroleum ether extract ， ethyl acetate extract and n-butanol extract from the stems and leaves of S. amoena were determined by hydroxyl radical ，superoxide anion radical and DPPH radical scavenging method ，and the IC 50 was calculated. Steatosis L 02 hepatocyte model was established with fat emulsion. Using fenofibrate （20 μg/mL）as positive control ，the effects of high and low concentration （100 and 50 μg/mL） ethanol extract ，ethyl acetate extract and n-butanol extract from the stems and leaves of S. amoena on the contents of TC and TG in cells were investigated. RESULTS ：The order of scavenging ability to hydroxyl radicals was n-butanol extract ＞ethyl acetate extract＞Vc＞ethanol extract ＞petroleum ether extract ；IC50 of them were 0.15，0.17，0.35，0.75，1.17 mg/mL，respectively. The order of scavenging ability to superoxide anion radical was Vc ＞n-butanol extract ＞ethyl acetate extract ＞ethanol extract ＞ petroleum ether extract ；IC50 of them were 0.034，0.55，0.75，3.32，3.73 mg/mL，respectively. The order of DPPH scavenging ability to DPPH radical was Vc ＞n-butanol extract ＞ethyl acetate extract ＞ethanol extract ＞petroleum ether extract ；IC50 of them were 0.003 2，0.028，0.033，0.048，0.057 mg/mL， respectively. The ethanol extract ，ethyl acetate extract and n-butanol extract from the stems and leaves of S. amoena could significantly decrease the contents of TC and TG in steatosis L 02 hepatocytes （P＜0.01）. The order of lipid-lowering ability was n-butanol extract （low dose ）≈fenofibrate＞ethyl acetate extract （high dose ）＞ethanol extract （high dose ）＞ n-butanol extract （high dose ）＞ethyl acetate extract （low dose ）＞ethanol extract （low dose ）. CONCLUSIONS ：The ethanol extract ， petroleum ether extract ，ethyl acetate extract and n-butanol extract from the stems and leaves of S. amoena show good antioxidant activity and lipid-lowering effect （except for petroleum ether extract ）. Ethyl acetate extract and n-butanol extract possess the strongest antioxidant activity and lipid-lowering effect.