Cyclocarya paliurus tea leaves enhances pancreatic ß cell preservation through inhibition of apoptosis.

Leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus are a sweet tea traditionally used to treat obesity and diabetes in China. However, its protective mechanisms against hyperglycemia remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the extract of C. paliurus leaves significantly decreased body loss, food intake and blood glucose level, and increased blood insulin level, ß-cell number and insulin-producing ß cells in high-fat diet-low dose STZ-induced diabetic mice. In vivo and in vitro studies also showed the extract of C. paliurus leaves significantly inhibited pancreatic ß cell apoptosis by suppressing the expression of caspase 8, caspase 9 and cleaved caspase-3, as well as Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, down-regulating p38, ERK and JNK phosphorylation, and up-regulating Akt phosphorylation. These effects were significantly enhanced by inhibitor p-38 or ERK or JNK, and counteracted by inhibitor of PI3K. In addition, the extract of C. paliurus leaves also significantly improved hepatic steatosis, nephropathy and cardiac hypertrophy of diabetic mice. Taken together, these results provide the insight into the effects of C. paliurus leaves on pancreatic ß cell preservation in standing glucolipotoxicity. Therefore, C. paliurus tea leaves may be used as a new remedy for diabetes through enhancing pancreatic ß cell preservation by inhibiting ß cell apoptosis.

[Nrf2-NF-κB pathway axes, epigenetic regulation and traditional Chinese medicine (natural medicine) to treat type 2 diabetes].

Diabetes mellitus is a characterized by high blood sugar metabolic disease, is a lifelong disease with a high incidence of major hazards. Prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications has become a serious challenge and arduous task facing the world pharmaceutical researchers. Oxidative stress, Nfr2-NF-κB signaling axis related epigenomic genes have the apparent close relationship with type 2 diabetes,those have become one of the key focus and effective way to explore its pathogenesis, mechanism and drug screening. This paper systematically summarizes the current stage research regulating the key proteins, mRNA about Nrf2-NF-κB axis pathway and epigenomics for treatment of type 2 diabetes and the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine and natural medicine (component) in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, hoping to provide some innovative research ideas for finding new drugs of the treatment of diabetes from traditional Chinese medicine and natural medicine.

Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans and norlignans from fruits of Schisandra wilsoniana.

Seven new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, marlignans M-S (1-7), four new norlignans, marphenols C-F (8-11), and 21 known compounds (12-32) were isolated from the fruits of Schisandra wilsoniana. The structures of 1-11 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques and CD experiments. Compounds 1-11 were evaluated for their anti-HIV activities and showed EC(50) values in the range 2.97-6.18 µg/mL and therapeutic index values of 5.33-29.13.

Secolignans, neolignans and phenylpropanoids from Daphne feddei and their biological activities.

Two new secolignans and one new neolignan, named feddeiphenols A-C (1-3), together with eight known compounds (4-11), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Daphne feddei. Their structures were established on the base of spectroscopic methods, mainly extensive NMR, UV spectroscopy, and MS spectrometry. Compounds 1-11 were tested for their anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 activity and cytotoxicity. The results revealed that compounds 1, 2, 3, 7, and 9 showed therapeutic index (TI) values above 30, respectively, and the other compounds also showed weak anti-HIV-1 activity. Compound 1 showed modest cytotoxic activity. The other compounds also showed weak cytotoxic activity.

Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans from the fruits of Schisandra rubriflora and their anti-HIV-1 activities.

Two new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, rubrilignans A and B (1, 2), together with 17 known ones, were isolated from the fruits of Schisandra rubriflora. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Compounds 1 and 2 were also evaluated for their anti-HIV-1 activities and showed weak anti-HIV-1 activity with EC(50) values of 2.26 and 1.82 µg/ml, and therapeutic index values of 35.5 and 18.6, respectively.

Protective effect of a standardized Ginkgo extract (ginaton) on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury via suppressing the activation of JNK signal pathway.

A new standardized Ginkgo extract (ginaton) destined for i.v. injection was investigated in rats for its protective effect on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. We report on the elucidation of the downstream mechanism of action of JNK on the renal ischemia/reperfusion injury, which can be explained as the decrease in JNK phosphorylation at 20 min and c-Jun phosphorylation (Ser63/73) at 3h after renal ischemia. At the same time, ginaton attenuated the increased expression of FasL at 3h and caspase3 immunoreactivity at 6h after renal ischemia. Furthermore, ginaton significantly decreased renal epithelial tubular cell apoptosis induced by renal ischemia/reperfusion, alleviating renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. These results cumulatively indicate that ginaton could suppress the JNK-c-Jun-FasL-caspase3 signaling cascade, protecting renal tubular epithelial cells against ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis, which implies that antioxidants may be a potential and effective agent for prevention of the ischemic/reperfusion injury through the suppression extrinsic apoptotic signal pathway induced by JNK signal pathway.