Two novel terpenoids from the cultured Perovskia atriplicifolia.

Two new terpenoids, named biperovskatone B (1) and 1α- hydroxyl demethylsalvicanol quinine (2), were isolated from the cultured Perovskia atriplicifolia. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive analyses of the MS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Compound 1 was a novel diterpenoid dimer, containing two different rearranged 9(10 → 20)-abeoabietane type diterpenoid fragments. Compound 2 was a new icetexane diterpenoid with characteristic ortho-quinone carbonyl groups. Both compounds were assayed for their anti-HBV activity in vitro. Results suggested compounds 1 and 2 showed noticeable anti- anti-HBV activity, inhibiting the replication of HBV DNA with IC50 values of 10.78 and 8.61 µM, respectively.

Two new biphenyls from the stems of Garcinia tetralata.

Two new biphenyls (1 and 2) and three known xanthones (3-5) were isolated from the ethanol extract of the stems of Garcinia tetralata. Structural elucidations of 1-2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D- and 2D-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques. Compounds 1-2 showed anti-rotavirus activities with SI above 10.

Differential gene expression profiles between two subtypes of ischemic stroke with blood stasis syndromes.

Ischemic stroke is a cerebrovascular thrombotic disease with high morbidity and mortality. Qi deficiency blood stasis (QDBS) and Yin deficiency blood stasis (YDBS) are the two major subtypes of ischemic stroke according to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine. This study was conducted to distinguish these two syndromes at transcriptomics level and explore the underlying mechanisms. Male rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham group, QDBS/MCAO group and YDBS/MCAO group. Morphological changes were assessed after 24 h of reperfusion. Microarray analysis with circulating mRNA was then performed to identify differential gene expression profile, gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses were carried out to predict the gene function, gene co-expression and pathway networks were constructed to identify the hub biomarkers, which were further validated by western blotting and Tunel staining analysis. Three subsets of dysregulated genes were acquired, including 445 QDBS-specific genes, 490 YDBS-specific genes and 1676 blood stasis common genes. Our work reveals for the first time that T cell receptor, MAPK and apoptosis pathway were identified as the hub pathways based on the pathway networks, while Nfκb1, Egfr and Casp3 were recognized as the hub genes by co-expression networks. This research helps contribute to a clearer understanding of the pathological characteristics of ischemic stroke with QDBS and YDBS syndrome, the proposed biomarkers might provide insight into the accurate diagnose and proper treatment for ischemic stroke with blood stasis syndrome.

[Chemical constituents from Perovskia atriplicifolia].

An investigation on the chemical constituents of the 90% EtOH extract of Perovskia atriplicifolia led to the isolation of fifteen compounds from the EtOAc fraction. Based on the detailed spectral analysis (MS, 1D and 2D NMR), as well as comparison with the literatures, the structures of compounds 1-15 were determined as cirsimaritin (1), salvigenin (2), syringaldehyde (3), vinyl caffeate (4), 2α, 3α-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oicacid (5), 2α, 3α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oicacid (6), niga-ichigoside F1 (2α, 3ß, 19α, 23- tetrahydroxyurs - 12-en-28-oicacid- O-ß-D- glucopyranoside, 7), sericoside (8), 4-epi-niga-ichigoside F1 (2α, 3ß, 19α, 24-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oicacid O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, 9), 2α, 3ß, 24-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oicacid O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2) - ß-D-glucopyranoside (10), pruvuloside A (11), asteryunnanoside A [2α, 3ß, 23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oicacid O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-ß- D- glucopyranoside,12], rosmarinic acid methyl ester (13), ß-sitosterol (14), and daucosterol (15), respectively. Compounds 1-13 were isolated from the Perovskia genus for the first time. All the compounds were obtained from P. atriplicifolia for the first time.

The effect of staggered administration of zinc sulfate on the pharmacokinetics of oral cephalexin.

AIMS: To investigate the effect of zinc sulfate on pharmacokinetics of cephalexin when administered concurrently or at strategically spaced dosing times designed to avoid the potential interaction in healthy volunteers. METHODS: In this study, all subjects (n= 12) were randomized to receive the following four treatments, separated by a wash-out period of 7 days: cephalexin 500mg alone, concomitantly with zinc 250mg, 3h after zinc 250mg or 3h before zinc 250mg. RESULTS: All subjects completed the study safely. Zinc supplements administered concurrently with cephalexin significantly decreased the peak serum concentration (C(max) ), area under the plasma concentration-time curve from zero to infinity (AUC(0-∞) ) and the time for which the plasma concentration of the drug remained above the minimal inhibitory concentration of the pathogenic organism (T > MIC) of cephalexin [mean percentage decrease (95% confidence intervals) of 31.05% (22.09-40.01%), 27.40% (18.33-36.47%) and 22.33% (12.51-32.16%), respectively; P < 0.05] compared with administration of cephalexin alone. Also, administration of zinc 3h before cephalexin decreased the C(max) , AUC(0-∞) and T > MIC of the drug compared with administration of cephalexin alone [mean percentage decrease (95% confidence intervals) of 11.48% (3.40-19.55%), 18.12% (9.63-26.60%) and 23.75% (14.30-33.20%), respectively; P < 0.05]. In contrast, the pharmacokinetics of cephalexin was not notably altered by administration of zinc 3h after cephalexin dosing (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The significant interaction between zinc and cephalexin might affect the clinical outcome of cephalexin therapy. The dosing recommendation is that zinc sulfate can be safely administered 3h after a cephalexin dose.