Insecticidal and cytotoxic activities of extracts of Cacalia tangutica and its two active ingredients against Musca domestica and Aedes albopictus.

The insecticidal activities of extracts from different parts of Cacalia tangutica (Franch.) H.-M. and two active ingredients, friedelin and stigmasterol, against Musca domestica L., Aedes albopictus (Skuse), and Spodoptera litura (F.) cells (SL cells) are reported. Extracts from leaves, flowers, and roots are highly active against adult M. domestica and the fourth-instar larvae of Ae. albopictus. The foliar extract was the most active with LC50 values of 1.74 mg/g and 196.94 microg/ml against adult M. domestica and fourth-instar larvae of Ae. albopictus, respectively. Extracts from stems were the least active. Friedelin and rotenone were highly active and equitoxic to these two insect species. The LC50 value of friedelin in adult M. domestica 48 h after treatment was 129.27 microg/g. The activity of stigmasterol on these two insect species was not obvious. However, the cytotoxicity of stigmasterol to S. litura cells was significantly greater than that of either friedelin or rotenone. At 25 microg/ml, the mortality of cells 24 h after treatment with stigmasterol was 23.0%. In contrast, friedelin and rotenone at the same concentration produced 16 and 18% mortality, respectively. Our results indicate differences between cytotoxicity in vitro and insect toxicity in vivo.

Bilobalide promotes expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in rat astrocytes.

AIM: To study the effects of bilobalide on the expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rat astrocytes in vitro. METHODS: Semiquantification polymerase chain reaction (SQ-PCR) was used to investigate GDNF and VEGF mRNA expression in the astrocytes after bilobalide (5, 15, 50, 100 mumol.L-1) treatment. Immunohistochemistry method was used to detect GDNF and VEGF protein expression in cells treated with bilobalide 50 mumol.L-1 for 24 h. RESULTS: GDNF and VEGF mRNA increased markedly after astrocytes were treated with bilobalide 50 mumol.L-1 for 12 h. GDNF and VEGF protein were detected in the cytoplasm of astrocytes after the cells were treated with bilobalide 50 mumol.L-1 for 24 h. CONCLUSION: Bilobalide induced GDNF and VEGF expression in the cultured astrocytes.