Abrus precatorius Leaf Extract Stimulates Insulin-mediated Muscle Glucose Uptake: In vitro Studies and Phytochemical Analysis.

Diabetes mellitus, linked with insulin resistance and hyperglycaemia, is a leading cause of mortality. Glucose uptake through glucose transporter type 4, especially in skeletal muscle, is crucial for maintaining euglycaemia and is a key pathway targeted by antidiabetic medication. Abrus precatorius is a medicinal plant with demonstrated antihyperglycaemic activity in animal models, but its mechanisms are unclear.This study evaluated the effect of a 50% ethanolic (v/v) A. precatorius leaf extract on (1) insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and (2) related gene expression in differentiated C2C12 myotubes using rosiglitazone as a positive control, and (3) generated a comprehensive phytochemical profile of A. precatorius leaf extract using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry to elucidate its antidiabetic compounds. A. precatorius leaf extract significantly increased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, and insulin receptor substrate 1 and Akt substrate of 160 kDa gene expression; however, it had no effect on glucose transporter type 4 gene expression. At 250 µg/mL A. precatorius leaf extract, the increase in glucose uptake was significantly higher than 1 µM rosiglitazone. Fifty-five phytochemicals (primarily polyphenols, triterpenoids, saponins, and alkaloids) were putatively identified, including 24 that have not previously been reported from A. precatorius leaves. Abrusin, precatorin I, glycyrrhizin, hemiphloin, isohemiphloin, hispidulin 4'-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, homoplantaginin, and cirsimaritin were putatively identified as known major compounds previously reported from A. precatorius leaf extract. A. precatorius leaves contain antidiabetic phytochemicals and enhance insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in myotubes via the protein kinase B/phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway by regulating insulin receptor substrate 1 and Akt substrate of 160 kDa gene expression. Therefore, A. precatorius leaves may improve skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity and hyperglycaemia. Additionally, it is a valuable source of bioactive phytochemicals with potential therapeutic use for diabetes.

From Tea to Health: Exploring Abrus mollis for Liver Protection and Unraveling Its Potential Mechanisms.

Abrus mollis Hance is a characteristic medicinal herb which is used in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces of China for making soup, medicinal meals, and herbal tea to treat dampheat jaundice and rib discomfort. Current phytochemical study on A. mollis led to the isolation of four new flavones, mollisone A-D (1-4), and thirty two known compounds (5-36). Their structures were characterized by an extensive analysis of spectroscopic data including IR, UV, HR-ESI-MS, and 1D and 2D NMR, as well as electronic circular dichroism calculation. In addition, in order to initially understand their biological activities for traditional applications, in vitro antioxidant and hepatoprotective tests were carried out, whose results illustrated that 25 compounds had significant free radical scavenging ability, and compounds 13 and 16 exhibited protective activities on D-GalN-induced LO2 cell damage than the positive control. Moreover, network pharmacological analysis revealed that the hepatoprotective activity of A. mollis involved multitargets and multipathways such as PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and JAK-STAT pathways and various biological processes such as positive regulation of phosphorylation and regulation of kinase activity. These results suggested that this species could serve as a potential hepatoprotective agent for functional food or medicinal use.

Metabolomics analysis reveals the differences between Abrus cantoniensis Hance and Abrus mollis Hance.

BACKGROUND: Abrus cantoniensis Hance. (Ac) and Abrus mollis (Am), two edible and medicinal plants with economic value in southern China, belong to the Abrus genus. Due to its growth characteristics, Am often replaces Ac in folk medicine. However, the latest National Pharmacopeia of China only recommends Ac. The differences in the metabolite composition of the plants are directly related to the differences in their clinical efficacy. RESULTS: The difference in metabolites were analyzed using an untargeted metabolomic approach based on ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‒ESI‒MS/MS). The roots (R), stems (S) and leaves (L) of the two varieties were examined, and 635 metabolites belonging to 8 classes were detected. A comparative study revealed clear variations in the metabolic profiles of the two plants, and the AmR group had more active ingredients (flavonoids and terpenoids) than the AcR group. The metabolites classified as flavonoids and triterpene saponins showed considerable variations among the various samples. Both Ac and Am had unique metabolites. Two metabolites (isovitexin-2''-xyloside and soyasaponin V) specifically belong to Ac, and nine metabolites (vitexin-2"-O-galactoside, ethyl salicylate, 6-acetamidohexanoic acid, rhein-8-O-glucoside, hederagenin-3-O-glucuronide-28-O-glucosyl(1,2)-glucoside, methyl dioxindole-3-acetate, veratric acid, isorhamnetin-3-O-sophoroside-7-O-rhamnoside, and isorhamnetin-3-O-sophoroside) specifically belong to Am. CONCLUSIONS: The metabolite differences between Ac and Am cause the differences in their clinical efficacy. Our findings serve as a foundation for further investigation of biosynthesis pathways and associated bioactivities and provide guidance for the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine.

Three Undescribed Flavonoids and Amide from Abrus mollis Hance with Hepatoprotective Effects.

Through a phytochemical investigation of Abrus mollis Hance, a folk medicinal plant in China, we isolated and identified three undescribed compounds, including two flavonoids and one amides alkaloid, along with nine known from this plant. Their structures were elucidated by analyses of 1D, 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, ECD, and DP4+ analysis. Furthermore, we evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of all twelve compounds on D-GalN-induced Brl-3 A cells. According to the results, at a concentration of 25 µM, the cell survival rates were observed to be 71.92±0.34 %, 70.03±1.29 %, and 69.11±1.90 % for compound 2, 4, and 11, respectively. Further experimental studies showed that compound 2 (EC50 5.76±0.37 µM) showed more significant protective activity than the bicyclol.

A Comparative Study between Abrus cantoniensis and Abrus mollis: Flavonoids Profiles by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanism by Transcriptomics.

Abrus mollis (MJGC) has been used as a substitute herb for Abrus cantoniensis (JGC) in China. However, an in-depth comparison on their key metabolites and the mechanism of anti-inflammation between these two is not available. In this report, high pressure liquid chromatography equipped with mass spectrometry was applied to capture their flavonoid profiles; transcriptomics was adopted to analyze their anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The results showed that the main flavonoids in MJGC were vicenin-2, schaftoside and isoschaftoside, while those in JGC were vicenin-1 isomer and schaftoside isomer. The anti-inflammatory activity of JGC was slightly stronger than that of MJGC. The number of differential expression genes regulated by JGC was significantly higher than MJGC. JGC regulated 151 (42 up and 109 down) of inflammation related genes, while MJGC regulated 58 (8 up and 50 down) of inflammation related genes. The results of this study provided scientific evidence and guidance for the substitution of MJGC and JGC.

An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry identification and characterization of the active constituents from Abrus mollis Hance.

Abrus mollis Hance is a traditional Chinese medicine that is widely used to treat acute and chronic hepatitis, steatosis, and fibrosis. Its therapeutic qualities of it have long been acknowledged, although the active ingredients responsible for its efficacy and the mechanisms of its action are unknown. In this study, the chemical constituents absorbed into the blood from Abrus mollis Hance were assessed by using liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and the data was analyzed with the UNIFI screening platform. The results obtained were compared to existing chromatographic-mass spectrometry information, including retention times and molecular weights as well as known reference compounds. 41 chemical constituents were found in Abrus mollis Hance, and these included 16 flavonoids, 13 triterpenoids, five organic acids, and two alkaloids. Experimentally it was found that Abrus mollis Hance had a therapeutic benefit when treating α-naphthalene isothiocyanate-induced acute liver injury in rats. In addition, 11 blood prototypical constituents, including six flavonoids, three triterpenoids, and two alkaloids, were found in serum samples following intragastric administration of Abrus mollis Hance extracts to rats. This novel study can be used for the quality control and pharmacodynamic assessment of Abrus mollis Hance in order to assess its efficacy in the therapeutic treatment of patients.

In-vitro antiproliferative efficacy of Abrus precatorius seed extracts on cervical carcinoma.

Abrus precatorius is a tropical medicinal plant with multiple medicinal benefits whose seeds have not yet been studied against cervical cancer. Herein, we have assessed the antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of seed extracts (ethyl acetate and 70% ethanol) prepared from Soxhlet and Maceration extraction methods against Hep2C and HeLa Cells. We observed that the APE (Sox) extract had a significantly higher total flavonoid content, APA (Mac) extract had a high total phenolic content, and APA (Sox) extract had a high total tannin content. Further, HPLC analysis of extracts revealed the presence of tannic acid and rutin. Moreover, APA (Sox) exhibited the highest free radical scavenging activity. APE (Mac) had the best antiproliferative activity against Hep2C cells, while APA (Sox) had the best antiproliferative activity against HeLa cells. In Hep2C cells, APE (Mac) extract revealed the highest SOD, catalase activity, GSH content, and the lowest MDA content, whereas APA (Mac) extract demonstrated the highest GST activity. In HeLa cells, APA (Sox) extract showed the highest SOD, GST activity, GSH content, and the least MDA content, whereas APA (Mac) extract showed the highest catalase activity. Lastly, docking results suggested maximum binding affinity of tannic acid with HER2 and GCR receptors. This study provides evidence that A. precatorius seed extracts possess promising bioactive compounds with probable anticancer and antioxidant properties against cervical cancer for restricting tumor growth.

Abrus precatorius Leaf Extract Reverses Alloxan/Nicotinamide-Induced Diabetes Mellitus in Rats through Hormonal (Insulin, GLP-1, and Glucagon) and Enzymatic (α-Amylase/α-Glucosidase) Modulation.

BACKGROUND: Abrus precatorius is used in folk medicine across Afro-Asian regions of the world. Earlier, glucose lowering and pancreato-protective effects of Abrus precatorius leaf extract (APLE) was confirmed experimentally in STZ/nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats; however, the underlying mechanism of antidiabetic effect and pancreato-protection remained unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study elucidated antidiabetic mechanisms and pancreato-protective effects of APLE in diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: APLE was prepared by ethanol/Soxhlet extraction method. Total phenols and flavonoids were quantified calorimetrically after initial phytochemical screening. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was established in adult Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing 120-180 g) of both sexes by daily sequential injection of nicotinamide (48 mg/kg; ip) and Alloxan (120 mg/kg; ip) over a period of 7 days. Except control rats which had fasting blood glucose (FBG) of 4.60 mmol/L, rats having stable FBG (16-21 mmol/L) 7 days post-nicotinamide/Alloxan injection were considered diabetic and were randomly reassigned to one of the following groups (model, APLE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively; po) and metformin (300 mg/kg; po)) and treated daily for 18 days. Bodyweight and FBG were measured every 72 hours for 18 days. On day 18, rats were sacrificed under deep anesthesia; organs (kidney, liver, pancreas, and spleen) were isolated and weighed. Blood was collected for estimation of serum insulin, glucagon, and GLP-1 using a rat-specific ELISA kit. The pancreas was processed, sectioned, and H&E-stained for histological examination. Effect of APLE on enzymatic activity of alpha (α)-amylase and α-glucosidase was assessed. Antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties of APLE were assessed using standard methods. RESULTS: APLE dose-dependently decreased the initial FBG by 68.67%, 31.07%, and 4.39% compared to model (4.34%) and metformin (43.63%). APLE (100 mg/kg) treatment restored weight loss relative to model. APLE increased serum insulin and GLP-1 but decreased serum glucagon relative to model. APLE increased both the number and median crosssectional area (×106 µm2) of pancreatic islets compared to that of model. APLE produced concentration-dependent inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase relative to acarbose. APLE concentration dependently scavenged DPPH and nitric oxide (NO) radicals and demonstrated increased ferric reducing antioxidant capacity (FRAC) relative to standards. CONCLUSION: Antidiabetic effect of APLE is mediated through modulation of insulin and GLP-1 inversely with glucagon, noncompetitive inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, free radical scavenging, and recovery of damaged/necro-apoptosized pancreatic ß-cells.

Glucose lowering and pancreato-protective effects of Abrus Precatorius (L.) leaf extract in normoglycemic and STZ/Nicotinamide - Induced diabetic rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Abrus precatorius (L.) leaves are used as folk medicine by the local communities in the western region of Ghana to treat diabetes mellitus; however, this health claim remains unverified scientifically. OBJECTIVE: The study investigated glucose lowering and pancreato-protective effects of Abrus precatorius leaf extract (APLE) in normoglycemic and STZ/nicotinamide (NIC)-induced diabetic rats. METHOD: after preparation of APLE, it was subjected to phytochemical screening, proximate composition and elemental assessments by using standard methods. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and maltose, lactose and sucrose oral challenge were assessed in normoglycemic rats post-APLE. Morphological characteristics of glucose response curve (time of glucose peak and shape of glucose response curve) were determined. Subsequently, diabetes mellitus was experimentally established in normoglycaemic adult Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing 150-250 g) of both sexes by sequential injection of Streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg ip)-reconstituted in sodium citrate buffer and NIC (110 mg/kg ip)-reconstituted in normal saline (1:1 v/v) for 16 weeks. Except control rats (normal saline 5 ml/kg ip; baseline fasting blood glucose [FBG] of 6.48 mmol/L), rats having FBG (stable at 11.1 mmol/L or ≥ 250 mg/dL) 3 days post-STZ/NIC injection were randomly re-assigned to one of the following groups: model (STZ/NIC-induced diabetic rats), APLE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively po) and metformin (300 mg/kg po) and treated daily for 28 days. Bodyweight and FBG were measured on weekly basis. FBG was measured by using standard glucometers. On day 28, rats were sacrificed under chloroform anesthesia, blood collected via cardiac puncture; kidney, liver and pancreas surgically harvested. While the pancreas was processed, sectioned and H&E-stained for histological examination, fresh kidney and liver were homogenized for assessment of total anti-oxidant capacity. Median cross-sectional area of pancreatic islets of Langerhans was determined for each group by using Amscope. RESULTS: Cumulatively, APLE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively) dose-dependently decreased the initial FBG by 55.22, 76.15 and 77.77% respectively compared to model (-1.04%) and metformin (72.29%) groups. APLE treatment recovered damaged pancreatic ß-cells and also increased median cross-sectional area (x106 µm2) of pancreatic islets compared to that of model group. APLE significantly (P < 0.05) increased total anti-oxidant capacity (5.21 ± 0.02 AscAE µg/mL) of plasma, kidney and liver compared to model (4.06 ± 0.04 AscAE µg/mL) and metformin (4.87 ± 0.03 AscAE µg/mL) groups. CONCLUSION: APLE has demonstrated glucose lowering and pancreato-protective effects in rats and arrested the characteristic loss in bodyweight associated with diabetes mellitus. This finding preliminarily confirms folk use of APLE as an anti-diabetic herbal medicine, whiles providing a rationale for further translational studies on APLE.

Total saponins extracted from Abrus cantoniensis Hance suppress hepatitis B virus replication in vitro and in rAAV8-1.3HBV transfected mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hepatitis B, an infectious disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), is still a serious problem affecting global public health. Abrus cantoniensis Hance (AC), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has been used as a folk medicine for treating hepatitis in China from ancient times. However, its active ingredients are still unclear. AIM OF STUDY: Our previous study indicated that saponins extracted from AC (ACS) were the active anti-HBV ingredients in AC. This study aimed to further investigate the anti-HBV effect of ACS in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HepG2.2.15 cells which consecutively produce HBV DNA and HBV antigens were used for in vitro test, and C57BL/6 mice infected by a recombinant adeno-associated virus 8 vector carrying 1.3 copies of HBV genome (rAAV8-HBV1.3) were used for in vivo test. The histopathological changes and the immune indices were evaluated in mice model. Genechip was conducted to identify genes and pathways regulated by ACS in HepG2.2.15 cells. RESULTS: In this study, we confirmed that ACS treatment prominently inhibited production of HBV DNA, Hepatitis Be Antigen (HBeAg), and Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in HepG2.2.15 cells. ACS treatment also decreased serum HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA level in rAAV8-1.3HBV transfected mice, which is in accordance with the in vitro results. Moreover, HBV infection-induced liver inflammation was significantly relieved by ACS, which could be observed in H&E staining and immunohistochemistry of HBcAg. ACS treatment elevated IFN-γ level in mice serum and increased CD4+ T cell percentage in splenocytes. KEGG pathway analysis showed that phenylalanine metabolism pathway and tyrosine metabolism pathway were greatly regulated by ACS treatment. CONCLUSION: ACS exerted potent inhibitory effects on HBV replication both in vivo and in vitro, which may provide basis for its potential clinical usage.

Preventive Effects of Total Flavonoid C-Glycosides from Abrus mollis on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease through Activating the PPARα Signaling Pathway.

Abrus pulchellus subsp. mollis (Hance) Verdc. (Leguminosae) is a well-known edible plant usually added to soups and beverages. In this study, vicenin-2 (1: ), isoschaftoside (2: ), schaftoside (3: ), and their enrichment fraction, total flavonoid C-glycosides, derived from the extracts of A. mollis, were firstly found to prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease both in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro study, total flavonoid C-glycosides decreased the lipid accumulation in oleic acid-treated HepG2 cells. The mechanisms of total flavonoid C-glycosides are involved in the regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and its downstream, and the reduction of proinflammatory cytokines. In high-fat diet-induced fatty liver rats, total flavonoid C-glycosides decreased the levels of glutamic-oxalacetic transaminease and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, and decreased the lipid accumulation both in the liver and blood without affecting food intake. In addition, total flavonoid C-glycosides also increased the activities of the antioxidant enzyme system in vivo. In conclusion, total flavonoid C-glycosides are active components of A. mollis on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and can be used in functional food and supplements for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease prevention and treatment.

Isolation, Solid-state Structure Determination, In Silico and In Vitro Anticancer Evaluation of an Indole Amino Acid Alkaloid L-Abrine.

BACKGROUND: Abrus precatorius Linn. (Kunch in Bengali) is widely spread in tropical and sub-tropical regions. It is a typical plant species which is well-known simultaneously as folk medicine and for its toxicity. OBJECTIVE: Phytoceutical investigation of the white variety seeds of Abrus precatorius Linn. METHODS: Traditional extraction, separation, isolation, and purification processes were followed. The structure was elucidated by various spectral analyses and the solid-state structure of this indolealkaloid was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Docking interactions of L-abrine had been studied against ten major proteins, responsible for various types of cancers. In silico studies were done by Schrödinger Maestro, AutoDock4, PyMOL and AutoDock Vina. The protein structures were downloaded from Protein Data Bank. Sulforhodamine B (SRB) colorimetric assay was used for in vitro anticancer evaluation against four human cancer cell lines. RESULTS: An indole-containing unusual amino acid alkaloid had been isolated from the white variety seeds of Abrus precatorius Linn. In silico docking studies demonstrated significant antiproliferative activity against four human cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION: The solid-state zwitterion structure of the indole-containing alkaloid (α-methylamino- ß-indolepropionic acid, L-abrine) has been confirmed for the first time by X-ray crystallography. Highly promising in silico and in vitro results indicate that L-abrine may find its space in future anticancer drug discovery research.

Two pairs of enantiomeric propylated flavonoids and a new lignan from the aerial parts of Abrus precatorius.

Two pairs of novel enantiomeric flavonoids (1a, 1b and 2a, 2b), along with one new lignan (3), were isolated from the aerial parts of Abrus precatorius. All of these enantiomeric flavonoids featured an unprecedented propylated flavonoid skeleton representing a new family of flavonoid, and the new lignan was found to have an attractive arachidate ester side chain. Their structures were extensively elucidated by means of detailed NMR and mass spectroscopic analysis. Moreover, biological evaluation of antibacterial activity for these compounds against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli were conducted.

Nephroprotective properties of the methanol stem extract of Abrus precatorius on gentamicin-induced renal damage in rats.

Background The use of plants for the treatment and prevention of diseases in man and his animals has led to a renewed scientific interest in the use of medicinal plants for therapeutic purposes. The nephroprotective properties of methanol stem bark extract of Abrus precatorius against gentamicin-induced renal damage in rats was evaluated in this study. Methods Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into five equal groups. Group A was the negative control group while B was the positive control group which received gentamicin 100 mg/kg intra-peritoneally for 6 days. Group C were pretreated with 100 mg/kg extract for the 3 days and then concurrently with gentamicin 100 mg/kg for 3 days and group D were pretreated with 200 mg/kg extract for 3 days and then concurrently with gentamicin 100 mg/kg for 3 days. Group E received gentamicin intraperitoneally for 6 days followed by administration of 200 mg/kg of the extract for 3 days. Blood samples, kidneys and kidney homogenates were collected for haematological, biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. Results The results showed that no significant haematological changes were noted. The groups treated with extract exhibited significant increase in body weight gain. While group B significantly exhibited focal areas of inflammation, fatty degeneration, congestion of vessels, tubular necrosis and glomerular atrophy, the lesions were mild with the treated groups. Treated groups exhibited a dose dependent significant decrease in serum creatinine, urea, XO, NO and Myeloperoxidase, AOPP, Protein carbonyl, H2O2 generated and MDA levels when compared with group B. There were significant dose dependent improvements in SOD, GST, GSH, Protein thiol, and non-protein thiol levels in the treated groups when compared with group B. In immunohistochemistry, Group B exhibited over expression of CRP and NF-κB levels, and marked reduction in expression of Bcl-2 while the reverse was seen in the groups treated with methanol extracts of Abrus precatorius. Conclusion The methanol extract of Abrus precatorius plays a vital role against gentamicin induced renal damage by reducing levels of renal markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis, enhancing enzymatic and non enzymatic renal antioxidant system, alongside an increase in Bcl-2 and a decrease in NF-κB and CRP expressions.

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of the polyphenolic fractions isolated from the seed coat of Abrus precatorius and Caesalpinia crista.

Crude seed coat extracts from Abrus precatorius and Caesalpinia crista were purified into four different fractions namely phenolic acids, flavonols, flavanols and anthocyanin which were then examined for their polyphenol contents and antimicrobial potentials. The fractions derived from seed coat of A. precatorius were found more potent with high phenolic and flavonoid contents as compared to C. crista fractions. The significant antibacterial activity was observed against all strain tested by the fractions of both samples apart from anthocyanin fraction. It was interesting to note that the phenolic acid fractions of both samples was found more active against gram-negative bacteria, while gram-positive bacteria were found to be more sensitive towards flavonol fractions. The phenolic acid and flavonol fractions being potent antibacterial were selected to demonstrate the antifungal capacity of two samples. Among them, phenolic acid fraction of both samples was found active towards all the fungal strain.

Structure elucidation of sweet-tasting cycloartane-type saponins from ginseng oolong tea and Abrus precatorius L. leaves.

The composition of ginseng oolong a widely used tea product was investigated. A new sweet-tasting cycloartane-type saponin 3ß-O-[ß-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1→2)]-ß-D-6-acetylglucopyranosyl)-(20S,22S)-3ß,22-dihydroxy-9,19-cyclolanost-24-en-26,29-oic acid (9), along with five new compounds, was identified in the methanolic extract of the ginseng oolong tea. Structural elucidation was conducted by spectroscopic methods, including 1D- and 2D-NMR, HR-MS, HPLC-LITMS/MS. It was shown that these compounds have different sugar chains connected to the abrusogenin molecule. Then saponin profiles of four commercially available ginseng oolong samples and Abrus precatorius L. leaves were compared and the presence of three known abrusosides and six new acetyl and malonyl abrusogenin derivatives was proved. The original ginsenosides were not detected in the extract, therefore, abrusosides could serve as a replacement responsible for the sweet taste of the tea.

Antioxidant, antitumor and immunomodulatory activities of water-soluble polysaccharides in Abrus cantoniensis.

Abrus cantoniensis is a vegetative food in tropical areas of Asia and claimed as folk beverages and soups consumed for cleansing liver toxicants and preventing liver diseases. Polysaccharides (ACP-І and ACP-II) were extracted with hot water from A. cantoniensis, and isolated by DEAE cellulose chromatography. The chemical properties as well as antioxidant, antitumor and immunomodulatory activities of ACP-I and ACP-II were investigated. The results showed that the ACP-I (9.09kDa) contained only glucose and ACP-II (38.45kDa) consisted of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose and glucose. ACP-II exhibited higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and hydroxyl radical prevention capacity (HRPC) than ACP-I with ORAC values and HRPC values of 53.42±3.32µmol Trolox equiv./g DW and 34.84±5.07µmol Trolox equiv./g DW. Besides, in the wound healing assay, ACP-II exhibited potent migration inhibitory effects on MCF-7 cells. ACP-II could also significantly stimulate the proliferation of splenocytes and thymocytes, and enhanced NO production of peritoneal macrophages. These findings suggest that the polysaccharide ACP-II in A. cantoniensis could be served as a novel potential functional food.

The Effects of Different Purifying Methods on the Chemical Properties, in Vitro Anti-Tumor and Immunomodulatory Activities of Abrus cantoniensis Polysaccharide Fractions.

Abrus cantoniensis (Hance) is a popular Chinese vegetable consumed as a beverage, soup or folk medicine. To fully exploit the potential of the polysaccharide in Abrus cantoniensis, nine polysaccharide fractions of Abrus cantoniensis were isolated and purified (AP-AOH30-1, AP-AOH30-2, AP-AOH80-1, AP-AOH80-2, AP-ACl-1, AP-ACl-2, AP-ACl-3, AP-H and AP-L). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gas chromatography (GC) were used to characterize these Abrus polysaccharides fractions (APF). In vitro anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activities were also investigated and compared using the rank-sum ratio (RSR) method. Results demonstrated significant differences in the structure and bioactivities among APF, which were associated to the process used for their purification. Among the APF, AP-ACl-3 yield was 613.5 mg/kg of product and consisted of rhamnose (9.8%), arabinose (8.9%), fructose (3.0%), galactose (9.9%), glucose (4.3%), galacturonic acid (3.0%) and glucuronic acid (61.1%) with a molecular weight of 4.4 × 104 Da. Furthermore, AP-ACl-3 exhibited considerable bioactivities significantly preventing the migration of MCF-7 cells and stimulating lymphocyte proliferation along with nitric oxide (NO) production of peritoneal macrophages. AP-ACl-3 could be explored as a novel potential anti-tumor and immunomodulatory agent.

[One new truxillic amide compound from Abrus mollis leaves].

The butanol extract part was extracted and isolated with water, alcohol and different organic solvents from Abrus mollis leaves. 6 compounds were isolated and purified using various column chromatographies and identified with the spectral techniques such as UV, MS, TLC, HPLC and NMR. The structures of 6 compounds were trigonelline (1), praline (2), alanine anhydride (3), (Z)-N-(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)tyrosine (4), (E)-N-(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)tyrosine (5), and abrusamide C (6). Compound 6 is a new compound, and compounds 1-4 were isolated from the plant for the first time.

Simultaneous Detection of Flavonoids, Phenolic Acids and Alkaloids in Abri Herba and Abri Mollis Herba using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

INTRODUCTION: Abri Herba has remarkable properties, such as cleanup heat detoxification, dampness and activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis; as a result, it has been applied to treat acute or chronic hepatitis and mastitis. Abri mollis Herba is often used as Abri Herba. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was applied to compare the similarities and differences of the chemical compositions in the two types of medicinal materials. OBJECTIVE: To establish a high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous analysis of 15 flavonoids, two phenolic acids and three alkaloids in Abri Herba and Abri mollis Herba. METHODOLOGY: The chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column with a mobile phase of methanol (A), acetonitrile (B) and 0.5‰ acetic acid in water (C) using gradient elution. The detection of the target compounds was performed in multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using a hybrid quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with positive/negative ion-switching electrospray ionisation (ESI) source. RESULTS: The developed method is reliable, sensitive and specific. In addition, the method has been successfully applied to differentiate 15 batches of Abri Herba and 27 batches of Abri mollis Herba stems. Furthermore, a comparison of the contents among stems, roots and leaves from the same strain in seven batches of Abri mollis Herba and four batches of Abri Herba has also been performed. CONCLUSION: HPLC-MS/MS method is sensitive and selective and can be suitable for the reliable quality control of Abri mollis Herba and Abri Herba.