Extract of Fructus Cannabis Ameliorates Learning and Memory Impairment Induced by D-Galactose in an Aging Rats Model.

Hempseed (Cannabis sativa L.) has been used as a health food and folk medicine in China for centuries. In the present study, we sought to define the underlying mechanism by which the extract of Fructus Cannabis (EFC) protects against memory impairment induced by D-galactose in rats. To accelerate aging and induce memory impairment in rats, D-galactose (400 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally once daily for 14 weeks. EFC (200 and 400 mg/kg) was simultaneously administered intragastrically once daily in an attempt to slow the aging process. We found that EFC significantly increased the activity of superoxide dismutase, while lowering levels of malondialdehyde in the hippocampus. Moreover, EFC dramatically elevated the organ indices of some organs, including the heart, the liver, the thymus, and the spleen. In addition, EFC improved the behavioral performance of rats treated with D-galactose in the Morris water maze. Furthermore, EFC inhibited the activation of astrocytes and remarkably attenuated phosphorylated tau and suppressed the expression of presenilin 1 in the brain of D-galactose-treated rats. These findings suggested that EFC exhibits beneficial effects on the cognition of aging rats probably by enhancing antioxidant capacity and anti-neuroinflammation, improving immune function, and modulating tau phosphorylation and presenilin expression.

RuCl3·3H2O catalyzed reactions: facile synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes under mild conditions.

RuCl3·3H2O was found to be an effective catalyst for reactions of indoles, 2-methylthiophene, and 2-methylfuran with aldehydes to afford the corresponding bis(indolyl)methanes, bis(thienyl)methanes, and bis(fur-2-yl)methanes in moderate to excellent yields. Experimental results indicated that mono(indolyl)methanol is not the reaction intermediate under these reaction conditions.

A general and simple diastereoselective reduction by L-Selectride: efficient synthesis of protected (4S,5S)-dihydroxy amides.

A general approach to (4S,5S)-4-benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-N-(4-methoxybenzyl) amides 10 based on a diastereoselective reduction of (5S,6RS)-6-alkyl-5-benzyloxy-6-hydroxy-2-piperidinones 6 and their tautomeric ring-opened keto amides 7 is described. The reduction with L-Selectride at -20 degrees C to room temperature afforded the products 10 in excellent yields and moderate to high syn-diastereoselectivities.