Anti-inflammatory effect of oligostilbenoids from Vitis heyneana in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages via suppressing the NF-κB activation.

BACKGROUND: Vitis heyneana is widely distributed in the north of Vietnam, it has been used in Vietnamese traditional medicine as an agent for treatment of arthritis, bronchitis, carbuncles and inflammatory conditions, and menstrual irregularities. However, this plant has not been investigated in phytochemical constituents and biological effects, especially in the anti-inflammatory property. RESULTS: Bioassay-guided fractionation of the EtOAc soluble fraction from the aerial part of Vitis heyneana resulted in the isolation of a series of oligostilbenoids as piceid (1), 2-r-viniferin (2), betulifol A (3), vitisinol C (4), (-)-trans-ε-viniferin (5), α-viniferin (6), shoreaketon (7), amurensin B (8), vitisinol B (9), and cis-vitisin B (10). Compound 5 showed the most potent inhibitory activities by suppressing LPS-induced COX-2 expression and PGE2 production. This compound exhibited significantly reduced LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) release in a dose-dependent manner. These effects are accompanied with the inhibition of transcription factor NF-κB activation. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that trans-ε-viniferin exerts anti-inflammatory effects via suppression the NF-κB activation in RAW 264.7 cells.

Proteomic profiling of aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae responses to host-plant-mediated stress induced by defoliation and water deficit.

Abiotic and biotic host-plant stress, such as desiccation and herbivory, may strongly affect sap-sucking insects such as aphids via changes in plant chemicals of insect nutritional or plant defensive value. Here, we examined (i) water deprivation and (ii) defoliation by the beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata as stresses indirectly affecting the aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae via its host plant Solanum tuberosum. For plant-induced stress, aphids were reared on healthy vs. continuously stressed potato for 14 days (no watering; defoliation maintained at approximately 40%). Aphid performance under stress was correlated with metabolic responses monitored by profiling of the aphid proteome. M. euphorbiae was strongly affected by water stress, as adult survival, total aphid number and biomass were reduced by 67%, 64%, and 79%, respectively. Aphids performed normally on defoliated potato, indicating that they were unaffected or able to compensate any stress induced by plant defoliation. Stressed aphid proteomes revealed 419-453 protein spots, including 27 that were modulated specifically or jointly under each kind of host-plant stress. Reduced aphid fitness on water-stressed plants mostly correlated with modulation of proteins involved in energy metabolism, apparently to conserve energy in order to prioritize survival. Despite normal performance, several aphid proteins that are known to be implicated in cell communication were modulated on defoliated plants, possibly suggesting modified aphid behaviour. The GroEL protein (or symbionin) of the endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola was predominant under all conditions in M. euphorbiae. Its expression level was not significantly affected by aphid host-plant stresses, which is consistent with the high priority of symbiosis in stressed aphids.