Chemical constituents of Ajuga forrestii and their anti-ferroptosis activity.

Six new neoclerodane diterpenoids (1-6), along with ten known compounds (7-16), were isolated from Ajuga forrestii. Their structures were elucidated by HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, ECD calculation, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structure of a known neoclerodane diterpene ajudecunoid C (6) was revised based on the reported NMR empirical rules. All the isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on RSL3-induced ferroptosis in HT22 mouse hippocampal neuronal cells. Among them, compounds 8, 9, and 12 significantly inhibited RSL3-induced ferroptosis with EC50 values of 0.45 µM, 0.076 µM, and 0.14 µM.

Diterpenoids from the Whole Plants of Ajuga nipponensis and Their Inhibition of RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenesis.

Two new diterpenoids, ajudecunoid A (1) and ajudecunoid B (14), along with thirteen known diterpenoids, were isolated from the whole plants of Ajuga nipponensis Makino. Their structures were elucidated by the extensive spectroscopic analysis (UV, IR, MS, and NMR). The absolute configurations of ajudecunoid A (1) and ajudecunoid B (14) were defined through analysis of X-ray crystallography. Fifteen compounds were evaluated for inhibition of the formation of osteoclasts in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) cells. Two neo-clerodane diterpenoids ajuganipponin B (5) and (12S)-6α,19-diacetoxy-18-chloro-4α-hydroxy-12-tigloyloxy-neo-clerod-13-en-15,16-olide (12) showed significant inhibition of osteoclastogenesis with IC50 values of 0.88 and 0.79 µM, respectively. Here we firstly reported diterpenoids with anti-osteoclastogenesis activity from A. nipponensis.

[Study on stability and cutaneous permeation kinetics in vitro of positive-ionized liposome gel containing paeonol].

OBJECTIVE: To prepare positive-ionized liposome gel containing paeonol and study its stability and cutaneous permeation kinetics in vitro. METHODS: Prepared the liposome gel by dispersion-ultrasonic and gridding method, and studied the stability with the impact factor experiments. Compared the permeation rate of liposome gel with conventional gel in vitro using the Franz-diffusion cell. RESULTS: Mean diameter of the liposome was (132.7 +/- 14.1) nm with Zeta potential of (+33.54 +/- 1.95) mV and mean entrapment efficiency of (73.04 +/- 1.24)% (n=3), and the content of paeonol was (3.17 +/- 0.13) mg/g (n=3). The liposome gel had a promising appearance. It was stable at the humidity and the room temperature while was sensitive at the light and the temperature from 40 degrees C to 60 degrees C. The cumulative penetration amounts of the liposome gel was higher than that of the conventional gel (P < 0.05). Its cutaneous penetration rate and cumulative amounts in skin were higher than those of the conventional gel (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The positive-ionized liposome gel containing paeonol is stable and feasibly prepared. It can enhance the cutaneous permeation efficiency and guarantee the persistent release rate.

[AFLP analysis of genetic diversity of Alpinia officinarum].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic diversity and relationship of different Alpinia officinarum germplasm. METHOD: Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were developed to analyze genetic polymorphism in A. officinarun from eight resources. The amplified fragments were used as primary matrix with NTSYSpc-2.11F software to analyze the similarity between the A. officinarum germplasm and to construct the genetic phylogenetic tree. RESULT: A total of 1,120 fragments were genotyped using AFLP with eight prime combinations. Analysis identified 1,044 polymorphic fragments, accounting for 92.57% of the total detected variation. Genetic phylogenetic tree analysis indicates that three categories can be divided among the eight resources of A. officinanrum. CONCLUSION: Significant polymorphism and genetic diversity can be observed among A. officinarum germplasm resources.