Aristololactams and aporphines from the stems of Fissistigma oldhamii (Annonaceae).

Two aristololactams, aristololactam GI (1) and aristololactam GII (2), and three aporphines, fissistigamide A (3), fissistigamide B (4) and fissistigmine (5), together with nineteen known alkaloids, one flavone and one anthraquinone were isolated from the ethanol extracts of the stems of Fissistigma oldhamii (Annonaceae). Their structures were elucidated primarily by analysis of NMR, IR, UV, MS and CD data. Alkaloid 1 is a chiral aristololactam formed from a phenylpropanoid derivative attached to a 3,4-dihydroxy aristololactam scaffold. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by comparing experimental and calculated ECD spectra. The anti-inflammatory activity of the crude extracts and the five alkaloids were tested by measuring the amount of TNF-α and IL-6 released from LPS stimulated RAW264 cell via ELISA. The results demonstrated that the CHCl(3)-soluble part and alkaloid 2 exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in vitro in both assays.

Hypnotic effect of jujubosides from Semen Ziziphi Spinosae.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, the seed of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa (bunge) Hu ex H.F. Chow has been widely used in treating insomnia and anxiety. AIM OF THE STUDY: In this study, we investigated the hypnotic effect of jujubosides, one of the major components (saponin) of Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, in both day and night period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After the administration of jujubosides (9 mg/kg once per day for 3 days), sleep parameters were examined by EEG and EMG analysis in normal rats and the action of jujubosides on pentobarbital-induced sleep assessed by the loss-of righting reflex. RESULTS: During daytime (9:00-15:00), jujubosides significantly increased the total sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep without significant influence on non-REM (NREM) sleep. During nighttime (21:00-3:00), jujubosides significantly increased the total sleep and NREM sleep especially the light sleep while showed no significant effect on REM sleep and slow wave sleep (SWS). In pentobarbital-treated mice, jujubosides significantly augmented the hypnotic effect of pentobarbital (45 mg/kg, i.p.), proved by increasing sleep time and this augmentative effect was potentiated by 5-hydroxytryptophan (2mg/kg, i.p.). Furthermore, jujubosides inhibited the para-chlorophenylalanine-induced suppression of pentobarbital-induced hypnosis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that the hypnotic effect of jujubosides on normal rats may be influenced by circadian rhythm and the serotonergic system may involve in the hypnotic effect of jujubosides. Jujubosides may be good source of lead compounds for novel hypnotics.

[Studies on chemical constituents from seed of Psoralea corylifolia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Psoralea corylifolia. METHOD: Chromatographic methods were used to separate compounds, and spectroscopic methods were used to determine the structures. RESULT: Five compounds were isolated and identified as furano (2", 3", 7, 6)-4'-hydroxyflavanone (1), psoralidin (2), genistein (3), psoralen (4), isopsoralen (5). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1 was a new compound named psoraleflavanone. And 13C-NMR data of compound 2 were assined for the first time.

Spinosin, a C-glycoside flavonoid from semen Zizhiphi Spinozae, potentiated pentobarbital-induced sleep via the serotonergic system.

Semen Zizhiphi Spinozae has been used extensively for the treatment of insomnia. This study investigated the effect and possible mechanism of action of spinosin (also known as 2''-beta-o-glucopyranosyl swertisin), a major constituent of semen Zizhiphi Spinozae, on sleep in mice. The present results showed that spinosin significantly and dose-dependently augmented pentobarbital (45 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced sleep, reflected by increased sleep time and reduced sleep latency assessed with the loss-of-righting reflex, and these effects were potentiated by the 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP, 2.5 mg/kg,i.p.). With a subhypnotic dose of pentobarbital (28 mg/kg, i.p.), spinosin significantly increased the rate of sleep onset and exhibited a synergistic effect with 5-HTP (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.). Pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA, 300 mg/kg, s.c.), an inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase, significantly decreased pentobarbital-induced sleep time, and spinosin significantly reversed this effect. The dopamine precursor L-3-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) reduced pentobarbital-induced sleep, an effect not significantly affected by spinosin. These results suggest that spinosin potentiated pentobarbital-induced sleep via a serotonergic mechanism.

[Structure identification of jujuboside E].

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of the seeds of Ziziphus jujuba Mill var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex. H.F. Chou. METHODS: To separate the constituents by using various kinds of chromatography methods and identify their structures on the basis of spectral analysis. RESULTS: Seven compounds were isolated. Their structures were established as jujuboside E (1), jujuboside B (2), jujuboside A (3), betulic acid (4), stearic acid (5), sucrose (6) and inosine (7). CONCLUSION: Compound 1 is a new compound named jujuboside E. Compounds 5, 6, 7 were isolated for the first time from this plant.

[Studies on the phenylpropanoids from Eucommia ulmoides].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents from the leaves of Eucommia ulmoides. METHOD: The constituents were isolated by chromatography method and the structures were identified on the basis of spectral analysis. RESULT: Six compounds, ursolic acid(1), beta-sitosterol(2), p-coumaric(3), caffeic acid ethyl ester(4), chlorogenic acid(5) and syringin(6) were obtained. CONCLUSION: Compound 3, 4, 5 were obtained from the plant for the first time.