Aromatic compounds from Endocomia macrocoma.

Twenty-seven compounds, including a new diarypropane and two new lignans were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Endocomia macrocoma. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Cytotoxicity evaluation of the new compounds against five human tumor lines showed no inhibitory effects.[Formula: see text].

Myristigranol, a new diarylpropane derivative from the wood of Myristica fragrans.

Myristigranol, a new diarylpropane derivative, was isolated from the methanol extract of Myristica fragrans wood along with one diarylpropanoid and three stilbenoids. The isolated constituents were exhaustingly identified using the analyses of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques and comparison of the literatures reported as well. The antioxidant activity was also determined.

Partially purified extract and viscolin from Viscum coloratum attenuate airway inflammation and eosinophil infiltration in ovalbumin-sensitized mice.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Viscum coloratum Nakai is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various diseases, including hemorrhage, hypertension, and inflammatory diseases. A previous study demonstrated a partially purified extract (PPE-SVC) and viscolin from Viscum coloratum Nakai inhibited phosphodiesterase activity. In this study, we evaluated the anti-asthmatic effects of PPE-SVC and viscolin, from Viscum coloratum Nakai, in OVA-sensitized mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA). The mice were randomized into groups and treated with PPE-SVC, viscolin, or rolipram by intraperitoneal injection on 1h before each inhalation of OVA and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). RESULTS: PPE-SVC and viscolin suppressed AHR and reduced eosinophil infiltration of the lungs in OVA-sensitized mice. Moreover, PPE-SVC and viscolin inhibited chemokines, including CCL11 and CCL24, and Th2-associated cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. However, PPE-SVC and viscolin could not decrease IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels in cultures of OVA-activated spleen cells. CONCLUSION: PPE-SVC and viscolin attenuate airway inflammation and eosinophil infiltration in OVA-sensitized mice.

[Study on phenylpropanoids from Dregea sinensis var. corrugata].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Dregea sinensis var. corrugata. METHOD: The chemical constituents were isolated by various column chromatographic techniques. Structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR data. RESULT: Eight compounds were isolated and their structures were elucidated as syringaresinol (1), syringaresinol-O-3-D-glycopyranoside (2), 3, 4'-dimethoxyl-4, 9, 9'-trihydroxyl-benzofuranneolignan-7'-ene (3), 3, 4'-di- methoxyl-4, 9-dihydroxyl-9'-hydroethyl-benzofuranneolignan-7'-ene (4), conifer-aldehyde (5), sinapic aldehyde (6), 3-hydoxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-propan-1-one (7), 3-hydroxy-1-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propan-1-one (8). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1-8 were isolated from Dregea sinensis var. corrugata for the first time.

Phenylpropanes from Acorus tatarinowii.

In addition to a number of known compounds, four new phenylpropanes isoacoramone, (cis) epoxyasarone, (threo) 1',2'-dihydroxyasarone and (erythro) 1',2'-dihydroxyasarone were obtained from the roots of Acorus tatarinowii ("Shi-Chang-Pu" in Chinese). The later two isomers were obtained as a mixture. However, all the chemical shifts of the protons and carbons for these two components were assigned by 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques.

Induction of glutathione S-transferase pi as a bioassay for the evaluation of potency of inhibitors of benzo(a)pyrene-induced cancer in a murine model.

There is a growing need for short-term and cost-effective bioassay to assess the efficacy of potential chemo-preventive agents. We report that the induction of glutathione (GSH) S-transferase pi (mGSTP1-1) by a chemo-preventive agent can be used as a reliable marker to assess its efficacy in retarding chemical carcinogenesis induced by benzo(a)pyrene (BP), which is a widespread environmental pollutant and believed to be a risk factor in human chemical carcinogenesis. This conclusion is based on 1) the relative contribution of mGSTP1-1 of the liver and forestomach of female A/J mice in the detoxification of the ultimate carcinogenic metabolite of BP, (+)-anti-7,8-dihydroxy-9, 10-oxy-7,8,9, 10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene [(+)-anti-BPDE]; and 2) a positive correlation between the induction of hepatic and forestomach mGSTP1-1 by 5 naturally occurring organosulfides (OSCs) from garlic (diallyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, dipropyl sulfide and dipropyl disulfide) and their effectiveness in preventing BP-induced forestomach neoplasia in mice. In the liver, the combined contribution of other GSTs in the detoxification of (+)-anti-BPDE was far less than the contribution of mGSTP1-1 alone. Likewise, in the forestomach, the contribution of mGSTP1-1 far exceeded the combined contribution of other GSTs. Studies on the effects of OSCs against BP-induced forestomach neoplasia revealed a good correlation between their chemo-preventive efficacy and their ability to induce mGSTP1-1 expression in the liver (r = -0.89; p < 0.05) as well as in the forestomach (r = -0.97; p < 0.05). Our results suggest that the induction of mGSTP1-1 may be a reliable marker for evaluating the efficacy of potential inhibitors of BP-induced cancer in a murine model.

Modification of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes in rats treated with alkyl sulfides.

Natural compounds which elevate detoxification enzymes and/or reduce activating enzymes could be considered as good candidates to protect against cancer. In this work, we studied the modulation of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes in rats treated with dimethyl sulfide (DMS), dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), methylpropyl disulfide (MPDS), dipropyl sulfide (DPS), dipropyl disulfide (DPDS) and diallyl disulfide (DADS) issued from Allium species. Compounds containing methyl groups had little or no effect. Compounds with two propyl groups or two allyl groups provoked a pleiotropic response on drug-metabolizing enzymes. DPS, DPDS and DADS induced ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, methoxyresorufin O-demethylase and mostly pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase and decreased nitrosodimethylamine N-demethylase and erythromycin N-demethylase. These modifications of enzyme activities were accompanied by an increase of CYP 2B1,2 and a decrease of CYP 2E1, evidenced by immunoblotting. The same treatments stimulated some phase II enzyme activities such as glutathione transferase and UDP-glucuronyl transferases. This pattern of induction and/or inhibition of drug metabolizing enzymes was qualitatively similar to that elicited by the enzyme inducer, phenobarbital. The magnitude of the effects produced by DPDS was smaller than those produced by DADS and DPS. Our results suggest a possible protective effect of alkyl sulfides as well as diallyl disulfide, on the first step of carcinogenesis via the modulation of enzymes involved in carcinogen metabolism.