Two new withanolides from the whole plants of Physalis peruviana.

Two new withaphysalin-type withanolides (18-O-ethylwithaphysalin R and 5-O-ethylphysaminimin C, 1 and 2), along with twelve known withanolides (3-14), were purified and identified from Physalis peruviana L. The chemical structures of these new isolates were elucidated through analyzing spectroscopic and HRESIMS data. All the obtained metabolites were appraised for their potential antiproliferative activity against the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Compound 7 was discovered to exhibit potent activity with an IC50 value of 3.51 µM and compounds 2, 6 and 14 showed weak cytotoxic effect.

Rosanortriterpenes A-B, Two Promising Agents from Rosa laevigata var. leiocapus, Alleviate Inflammatory Responses and Liver Fibrosis in In Vitro Cell Models.

Rosanortriterpenes A-B (RTA and RTB), two nortriterpenoids, are characteristic constituents in the fruits of Rosa laevigata var. leiocapus. However, pharmacological studies on these compounds are still scarce. In the present study, we aim to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms associated with the effects of RTA-B in RAW264.7 macrophages and LO2 cells by detecting cell viabilities, nitric oxide (NO) production, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production. Simultaneously, the anti-inflammatory action mechanisms of these two compounds were illustrated through western blot assay. Besides, the antihepatic fibrosis activities of these compounds have also been explored. The results demonstrated that RTA and RTB inhibited the production of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 and suppressed liver fibrosis. RTA and RTB treatment also greatly inhibited the activation of NF-kappaB (NF-κB) pathway. Our study confirmed the promising anti-inflammatory and anti-liver fibrosis actions of RTA-B, suggesting that they might be developed as alternative and promising drugs for the treatment of hepatic inflammatory and fibrotic diseases.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Pterocephalus hookeri (C.B. Clarke) Höeck.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study evaluates the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of a Tibetan herb Pterocephalus hookeri (C.B. Clarke) Höeck to provide experimental evidence for its traditional use such as cold, flu and rheumatoid arthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Investigations on the analgesic effects of P. hookeri (C.B. Clarke) Höeck were carried out, including hot-plate test and acetic acid-induced writhing. The anti-inflammatory activities were observed by utilizing the following models: carrageenin-induced edema of the hind paw of rats, cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation in rats, acetic acid-induced permeability, and xylene-induced ear edema in mice. The effects of the administration of indomethacin were also studied. RESULTS: It has been shown that the ethanol and aqueous extracts significantly increased the hot-plate pain threshold and reduced acetic acid-induced writhing response in mice. The ethanol and aqueous extracts remarkably inhibited the increase in vascular permeability induced by acetic acid and ear edema induced by xylene. The ethanol extract also significantly decreased the carrageenin-induced rat paw edema perimeter and inhibited the increase of granuloma weight. CONCLUSION: The results show that the ethanol and aqueous extracts have both central and peripheral analgesic activities and as anti-inflammatory effects, supporting the traditional application of this herb in treating various diseases associated with inflammation and pain.

[High-throughput screening assay for groups of effective components extracted from Xiaoxuming Recipe].

OBJECTIVE: To present a new approach for the research of effective components extracted from compounds of traditional Chinese medicine and their action mechanisms by high-throughput screening assay. METHODS: We observed the anti-oxidation activities of 240 sequential components (L1-L120 and A1-A120) extracted from Xiaoxuming Recipe, the effects of these components on SH-SY5Y cells with H(2)O(2)-induced and L-glutamic acid-induced damages and the levels of resting calcium ion in neurocytes of rats. RESULTS: Some components (L1-L40, A100-A120) extracted from Xiaoxuming Recipe had the corresponding effects listed above. The combination of these components was regarded as the groups of effective components of Xiaoxuming Recipe in treating sequelae resulting from brain ischemia. CONCLUSION: Xiaoxuming Recipe has protective effect on brain-ischemia-induced damages through the actions of multiple components with multiple targets.