Behavioral, neurochemical and neuroendocrine effects of the ethanolic extract from Curcuma longa L. in the mouse forced swimming test.

Curcuma longa L. (turmeric) has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine as a treatment for mental disorders including depression. The studies described here were undertaken to determine the behavioral, neurochemical and neuroendocrine effects of the ethanolic extract from Curcuma longa using the forced swimming test (FST) in male ICR strain of mice. The ethanolic extract was found to reduce the duration of immobility in the mouse FST when orally administered for 21 days. The extract markedly attenuated swim stress-induced decreases in serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, noradrenaline and dopamine concentrations, as well as increases in serotonin turnover. Furthermore, the ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa significantly reversed the swim stress-induced increases in serum corticotropin-releasing factor and cortisol levels. Under these conditions, the ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa was partly different from fluoxetine and amitriptyline. These results suggested that antidepressant properties of the ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa was mediated through regulations of neurochemical and neuroendocrine systems and it may be a useful agent against depression.

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of bioactive triterpenes in Perilla frutescens.

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. (Lamiaceae), a famous traditional Chinese medicine, has been used for the treatment of various diseases. To evaluate the quality of P. frutescens, a simple, rapid and accurate high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for the assessment of three bioactive triterpene acids: tormentic acid (TA), oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA). The HPLC system used an Spherisob octadecylsilyl silica (ODS) column with acetonitrile and aqueous H(3)PO(4) as the mobile phase and detection at 206 nm. The method was precise with relative standard deviations for these three constituents that ranged between 0.6-1.5% (intraday) and 0.7-2.6% (interday). The content of these three phytochemicals in the leaves of P. frutescens growing at eight different locations of China was determined to establish the effectiveness of the method.

[Selective isolation of anethole from volatile oil of Foeniculum vulgare Mill by inclusion crystalline with chela-shape host].

AIM: To isolate the components from the volatile oil of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. METHODS: According to the function of molecular recognition of supramolecular chemistry, chela shape molecule, trans-1, 2-biphenyl-1, 2-acenaphthendiol was used as host molecule and the volatile oil of Foeniculum vulgare Mill as guest molecule. Trans-1, 2-biphenyl-1, 2-acenaphthendiol can recognize the components that endowed with interactional complementarity and form inclusion compound as crystals. RESULTS: The anethole in the volatile oil was selectively included as trans-1,2-biphenyl-1,2-acenaphthendiol which was obtained in pure state from the inclusion compound by Kugelrohr vacuum technology. The formation of inclusion compound was confirmed by means of IR and powder XRD. The structure of the selectively isolated component was elucidated as trans-anethole by means of IR, 1HMMR and MS. CONCLUSION: The experimental results showed that the method is simple, rapid and selective for isolation anethole from volatile oil of Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

Two new triterpenoid saponins from Aralia subcapitata.

Two new oleanane-type saponins, subcapitatoside B and C were isolated from the roots of Aralia subcapitata. On the basis of chemical and spectral evidences, subcapitatoside B and C were established as oleanolic acid 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(l-->3)-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl- (1-->2)]-beta-D3--galactopyranoside, and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (1-->3)-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, respectively.

[Studies on the flavonol glycosides from the seeds of Vaccaria segetalis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the seeds of Vaccaria segetalis. METHOD: Chromatography and spectral analysis were used to isolate the constituents and elucidate their structure. RESULT: Three compounds were isolated from alcohol extract of the seeds of V. segetalis, and identified as apigenin-6-C-arabinosylglucoside(1), apigenin-6-C-glucosylglucoside(2), vaccarin(3). CONCLUSION: Compound 1 and 2 were isolated from the seeds of this plant for the first time.

[Studies on chemical constitutents in seeds of Allium tuberosum Rottl].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents in the seed of Allium tuberosum. METHOD: Chromatography and spectral analysis were used to isolate the constituents and elucidate their structures. RESULT: Five compounds were isolated from the alcohol extracts of the seeds and identified as nicotianoside C, (22S)-cholest-5-ene-1 beta, 3 beta, 16 beta, 22-tetrol-1-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-16-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, daucosterol, adenosine and thymidine. CONCLUSION: All the compounds were isolated from the seed of this plant for the first time.