Cordyceps sinensis aqueous extract regulates the adaptive immunity of mice subjected to 60 Co γ irradiation.

Cordyceps sinensis (CS) is a traditional Chinese medicine that is known for treating various diseases, and particularly for exerting therapeutic effects in immune disorders. The adaptive immunoregulatory effects of CS aqueous extract (CSAE) on γ-irradiated mice have not been reported previously. The study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of CSAE in mice immunosuppressed by irradiation. We observed that CSAE administration significantly increased body weight and spleen index, as well as the number of white blood cells, lymphocytes, and platelets in peripheral blood, T and B lymphocytes in spleen tissue, and total serum immunoglobulins in irradiated mice, whereas total serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were decreased. Collectively, CSAE maintained the structural integrity of spleen tissue and repaired its damage in irradiated mice as shown by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and decreased the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling-positive splenocytes. Mechanistically, CSAE upregulated Bcl-2, and downregulated Bax and cleaved caspase-3 in spleen of irradiated mice. However, there were no significant differences in red blood cells and neutrophils in different groups. The results revealed that CSAE had protective effects against irradiation-induced immunosuppression, which was likely associated with an antiapoptotic effect and the regulation of adaptive immunity.

Protocatechualdehyde inhibits receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand-induced osteoclastogenesis and attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory osteolysis.

Inflammatory osteolysis as a consequence of chronic bacterial infection underlies several lytic bone conditions, such as otitis media, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, periodontitis, periprosthetic infection, and aseptic loosening of orthopedic implants. In consideration of the lack of effective preventive or treatments options against infectious osteolysis, the exploitation of novel pharmacological compounds/agents is critically required. The present study assessed the effect of protocatechualdehyde (PCA), a natural occurring polyphenolic compound with diverse biological activities including but not limited to antibacterial and antiinflammatory properties, on nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced bone loss in vivo. In the present study, it was found that PCA potently inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast formation, fusion, and activation toward bone resorption in a dose-dependent manner via the suppression of the ERK/c-Fos/nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1 signaling axis. It was further demonstrated that the in vivo administration of PCA could effectively protect mice against the deleterious effects of LPS-induced calvarial bone destruction by attenuating osteoclast formation and activity in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, these findings provided evidence for the potential therapeutic application of PCA in the prevention and treatment of infectious osteolytic conditions, and potentially other osteoclast-mediated bone diseases.

ß-D-Glucosyl-(1-4)-α-L-thevetosides of 17ß-digitoxigenin from seeds of Cerbera manghas L. induces apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.

ß-D-Glucosyl-(1-4)-α-L-thevetosides of 17ß-digitoxigenin (GHSC-73) is a cardiac glycoside isolated from the seeds of Cerbera manghas L. GHSC-73 reduced viability of HepG2 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner without decreasing the viability of Chang human liver cells and Swiss albino 3T3 fibroblasts, induced efficiently stimulated apoptosis in HepG2 cells as evidenced by DNA fragmentation, annexin V/PI binding assay and DAPI staining. This apoptotic process was accompanied by the activation of the effector caspase-3, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ(m)) and translocation of AIF from the mitochondrion to the nucleus in HepG2 cells. In addition, a broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) tested in this experiment partially prevent HepG2 cells from GHSC-73-induced cell death, but did not affect translocation of AIF from the mitochondrion to the nucleus after GHSC-73 treatment. Our results firstly show that GHSC-73 inhibits the growth of HepG2 cells through caspase-dependent and -independent apoptosis pathways.

Neriifolin from seeds of Cerbera manghas L. induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.

The effects of neriifolin, a cardiac glycoside from Cerbera manghas L. on various end-points of oncologic relevance (cell growth, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis in HepG2 cells) were investigated. Neriifolin reduced viability of HepG2 cells, induced S and G2/M phase arrests of the cell cycle, and stimulated apoptosis of HepG2 cells. Stimulation of HepG2 cells with neriifolin induced activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9, and up-regulated expression of Fas and FasL proteins. Based on these results, neriifolin could be considered a candidate for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hypoglycemic activities of A- and B-type procyanidin oligomer-rich extracts from different Cinnamon barks.

Procyanidin oligomers in Cinnamon are thought to be responsible for the biological activity in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). To clarify types of procyanidin oligomers in different Cinnamon species and investigate their different effects, the present study investigated procyanidin oligomers in polyphenolic oligomer-rich extracts of three Cinnamon samples by LC-MS methods, and their hypoglycemic activities were detected in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that two of the three samples from Cinnamomum cassia were rich in B-type procyanidin oligomers, and the other sample was rich in A-type procyanidin oligomers. The Cinnamon extracts were administered at doses of 200 and 300 mg/kg body wt. in high-fat diet-fed and low-dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice for 14 days. The results showed that blood glucose concentrations were significantly decreased in all Cinnamon extract groups compared with the control group (p<0.05). Administration of the Cinnamon extracts significantly increased the consumption of extracellular glucose in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells and normal HepG2 cells compared with the control group. These results suggest that both A- and B-type procyanidin oligomers in different Cinnamon species have hypoglycemic activities and may improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 DM.

A new triterpenoid saponin from Abrus precatorius Linn.

A new triterpenoid saponin, 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl subprogenin D (1), together with six known triterpenoids: subprogenin D (2), abrusgenic acid (3), triptotriterpenic acid B (4), abruslactone A (5), abrusogenin (6) and abrusoside C (7) were isolated from the leaves and stems of Abrus precatorius. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physical and NMR analysis, respectively. Compounds 5 and 6 showed moderate cytotoxicity against MCF-7, SW1990, Hela, and Du-145 cell lines. Compounds 1, 2 and 4 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Superoxide radicals scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of magnesium lithospermate B from Salvia miltiorrhiza.

In this study we investigated the superoxide radicals scavenging effect and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity by magnesium lithospermate B, which was originally isolated from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza (also named Danshen or Dansham), an important herb in Oriental medicine. Superoxide radicals were generated both in beta-NADH/PMS system and xanthine/ xanthine oxidase system. Magnesium lithospermate B significantly inhibited the reduction of NBT induced by superoxide radicals with an IC(50) of 29.8 microg/mL and 4.06 microg/mL respectively in the two systems. Further study suggested that magnesium lithospermate B can directly inhibit xanthine oxidase and exhibits competitive inhibition. Magnesium lithospermate B was also found to have the hypouricemic activity in vivo against potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricaemia in mice. After oral administration of magnesium lithospermate B at doses of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg, there was a significant decrease in the serum urate level when compared to the hyperuricemia control. In addition, magnesium lithospermate B significantly protected HL-60 cells from superoxide radicals-induced apoptosis in the xanthine/ xanthine oxidase reactions. This study provided evidence that magnesium lithospermate B exhibits direct superoxide radicals scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity.

Renierol from marine sponge Haliclona.SP.: a natural inhibitor of xanthine oxidase with hypouricemic effects.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of renierol, extracted from marine sponge Halicdona.SP., on xanthine oxidase (XO) and its hypouricemic effect in vivo. Renierol and a positive control, allopurinol, were tested for their effects on XO activity by measuring the formation of uric acid and superoxide radical from xanthine. Renierol inhibited XO in a concentration-dependent and competitive manner. IC(50) value was 1.85 microg.ml(-1) through the measuring of uric acid and was 1.36 microg.ml(- 1) through the measuring of superoxide radical. Renierol was found to have an in vivo hypouricemic activity against potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricaemia in mice. After oral administration of renierol at doses of 10, 20 and 30 mg.kg(- 1), there was a significant decrease in the serum urate level (4.08 +/- 0.09 mg.dl(- 1), P < 0.01), (3.47 +/- 0.11 mg.dl(- 1), P < 0.01) and (3.12 +/- 0.08 mg.dl(- 1), P < 0.01), when compared to the hyperuricaemic control (6.74 +/- 0.23 mg.dl(- 1)). Renierol was a potent XO inhibitor with hypouricemic activity in mice.

[Studies on phenylpropanoids from herbs of Eriophyton wallichii].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Eriophyton wallichii. METHOD: Compounds were separated and purified by column chromatographic methods, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. RESULT: Eight phenylpropanoids were isolated and identified as martynoside (1), leucosceptoside A (2), citrusin B (3), (+)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-4, 9-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), liriodendrin (5), velutinoside 11[ (6), jionoside B, (7), stachysoside D (8), respectively. CONCLUSION: The eight compounds were firstly isolated from E. wallichii.