Berberine enhances antidiabetic effects and attenuates untoward effects of canagliflozin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

The present study aimed at determining whether berberine can enhance the antidiabetic effects and alleviate the adverse effects of canagliflozin in diabetes mellitus. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were introduced, and the combined effects of berberine and canagliflozin on glucose metabolism and kidney functions were investigated. Our results showed that berberine combined with canagliflozin (BC) increased reduction of fasting and postprandial blood glucose, diet, and water intake compared with berberine or canagliflozin alone. Interestingly, BC showed greater decrease in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels and lower total urine glucose excretion than canagliflozin alone. In addition, BC showed increased phosphorylated 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (pAMPK) expression and decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) levels in kidneys, compared with berberine or canagliflozin alone. These results indicated that BC was a stronger antidiabetic than berberine or canagliflozin alone with less negative side effects on the kidneys in the diabetic mice. The antidiabetic effect was likely to be mediated by synergically promoting the expression of pAMPK and reducing the expression of TNFα in kidneys. The present study represented the first report that canagliflozin combined with berberine was a promising treatment for diabetes mellitus. The exact underlying mechanisms of action should be investigated in future studies.

Sesquiterpenoids from Farfugium japonicum and their inhibitory activity on NO production in RAW264.7 cells.

A new eremophilane sesquiterpenoid, namely, 3ß-angeloyloxy-6ß,8ß-dihydroxy-9ß-senecioyloxyeremophil-7(11)-en-12,8α-lactone, along with eight known sesquiterpenoids, was isolated from the rhizome of Farfugium japonicum. The structures of all isolates were identified based on analyses of spectroscopic data (HRESIMS, IR, 1D, and 2D NMR) and comparison with literature data. The inhibitory effects of compounds 1-4 on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccaride-activated mouse macrophages were also evaluated.

Sesquiterpenoids from Carpesium divaricatum and their cytotoxic activity.

In the course of searching for cytotoxic terpenoids from medicinal plants in China, two new eudesmane sesquiterpenoids, 5α-hydroxy-13-methoxy-7αH,11αH-eudesm-4(15)-en-12,8ß-lactone (1) and 1ß-hydroxy-7αH,11αH-eudesm-4(15)-en-12,8ß-lactone (2), along with fourteen known sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the whole plant of Carpesium divaricatum. The structures of new compounds were determined using spectroscopic methods, including IR, HRESIMS, and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity of selected sesquiterpene lactones against human oral epidermoid carcinoma (KB), human breast cancer (MCF-7) and human hepatoma (HepG-2) cells was also evaluated by MTT method.

Aqueous extracts of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi enhance the sensitivity of human colorectal carcinoma DLD-1 cells to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis via Tbx3 suppression.

Chemoresistance has imposed a great challenge for cancer therapy. Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) is one of the commonest Chinese herbs that has been used for thousand years. This study shows that the aqueous extract of FLL (AFLL) enhanced the sensitivity of DLD-1 colon cancer cells to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, Tbx3 expression was found to be suppressed by AFLL when the expression of tumor suppressor genes p14 and p53 were activated. Therefore, reduction of Tbx3 rescued the dysregulated P14(ARF)-P53 signaling, which in turn contributed to the sensitivity of DLD-1 cells to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. As a conclusion, the findings suggest that FLL has a potential of being an appealing agent for auxiliary chemotherapy in treatment of human colorectal carcinoma.

Sesquiterpenoids and other constituents from Senecio argunensis.

Three new sesquiterpenoids, isodauc-7(14)-en-6alpha,10beta-diol (1), 10beta-hydroxyisodauc-6-en-14-al (2), and (7S(*))-opposit-4(15)-en-1beta,7-diol (4), along with ten known compounds have been isolated from the aerial parts of Senecio argunensis. Their structures were established by means of detailed spectroscopic analysis including IR, HR-MS, and 1D NMR and 2D NMR data. The sesquiterpenoids were assayed against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Compounds 4 exhibited weak antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.

A new eremophilenolactone from Senecio nemorensis.

A new eremophilane sesquiterpene was isolated from the roots of Senecio nemorensis. Its structure was established as 10alpha-hydroxy-6beta-propionyloxy-1-oxoeremophila-7(11),8-dieno-12,8-lactone on the basis of spectral analysis.

[Determination of 1, 3-O-dicaffeoylglycerides from leaves of pineapple by HPLC].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a HPLC method for a new compound 1,3-O-dicaffeoylglycerides determination. METHOD: The separation was performed in a Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) with a mobile phase of 0.1% H3PO4: Acetontrile = 75 : 25 (v/v). The flow rate was 1.0 ml x min(-)1 and the temperature of column was 30 degrees C. RESULT: A satisfactory separation between 1, 3-O-dicaffeoylglycerides and impurity was obtained. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range from 0.051 6 microg to 0.516 microg, r = 0.999 9. The average recoveries was 97.1% (RSD 1.3%). The content of 1,3-O-dicaffeoylglycerides in pineapple leaves from three different batches were 0.033%, 0.034% and 0.031% respectively. CONCLUSION: The method has good selectivity, high recovery and reproducibility, and can be used for the analysis of 1,3-O-dicaffeoylglycerides in pineapple leaves and their quality control.

Brazilein, an important immunosuppressive component from Caesalpinia sappan L.

Caesalpinia sappan has been shown to have interesting immunosuppressive properties. Its heartwood has long been used in Chinese medicines for treating a variety of immune-mediated pathology and inflammatory disease. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the immunocompetence effects of brazilein on mice lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that brazilein and Caesalpinia sappan ethanol extract (SME) could distinctly inhibit the proliferation of T lymphocyte stimulated by Concanavalin A (Con A) and the proliferation of B lymphocyte stimulated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and brazilein could suppress mice humoral immune response by plaque forming cell (PFC) test. In addition, immune organs (thymus and spleen) in mice treated with brazilein were notably atrophied and weight loss in vivo (intraperitoneal injection, i.p.). In attempting to investigate the mechanisms of the immunosuppressive activity of brazilein, we discovered that brazilein can induce apoptosis in mice spleen lymphocytes by flow cytometry analysis and DNA fragmentation assay, which may be one of the pathways that brazilein inhibited immunocompetence of mice lymphocytes.

Bioactive compounds from the seeds of Punica granatum (pomegranate).

Two new compounds, coniferyl 9-O-[beta-D-apiofuranosyl(1-->6)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and sinapyl 9-O-[beta-d-apiofuranosyl(1-->6)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), were isolated from the seeds of Punica granatum (pomegranate), together with five known compounds, 3,3'-di-O-methylellagic acid (3), 3,3',4'-tri-O-methylellagic acid (4), phenethyl rutinoside, icariside D1, and daucosterol. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis. Compounds 1-4 exhibited antioxidant activity, which was evaluated by measurement of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) susceptibility to oxidation and by determination in vitro of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the rat brain.

Iridoids from Pedicularis kansuensis forma albiflora.

A new iridoid glycoside kansuenoside (1) and a new iridoid kansuenin (2), along with eight known compounds (3-10) were isolated from the whole plant of Pedicularis kansuensis forma albiflora Li. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Nine of them were assayed against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus.