Benzoxazinoids from Scoparia dulcis (sweet broomweed) with antiproliferative activity against the DU-145 human prostate cancer cell line.

Sweet broomweed (Scoparia dulcis) is an edible perennial medicinal herb widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Four compounds, (2R)-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one 2-O-ß-galactopyranoside [(2R)-HMBOA-2-O-Gal], 3,6-dimethoxy-benzoxazolin-2(3H)-one (3,6-M2BOA), 3-hydroxy-6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone (3-OH-MBOA), and scutellarein 7-O-ß-glucuronamide, along with eight known compounds, including two 7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3(2H)-one 3-O-hexopyranosides [(2R)-HMBOA-2-O-Glc and (2R)-HDMBOA-2-O-Glc], 6-methoxy-benzoxazolin-2(3H)-one (MBOA), acteoside, sodium scutellarin, p-coumaric acid, and two monosaccharides (fructose and glucose), were isolated from the aqueous extract of S. dulcis. Antiproliferative activities of the six benzoxazinoid compounds against the DU-145 human prostate cancer cell line were assayed, and one of these displayed an IC50 of 65.8 µg/mL.

One-pot tandem copper-catalyzed library synthesis of 1-thiazolyl-1,2,3-triazoles as anticancer agents.

One-pot multicomponent synthesis to assemble compounds has been an efficient method for constructing a compound library. We have developed one-pot tandem copper-catalyzed azidation and CuAAC reactions that afford 1-thiazolyl-1,2,3-triazoles with anticancer activity. By utilizing this one-pot synthetic strategy, we constructed a library of 1-thiazolyl-1,2,3-triazoles in search of the potent lead compound. Furthermore, 1-thiazolyl-1,2,3-triazoles were evaluated for anticancer activity against the multidrug-resistant cancer cells MES-SA/Dx5. Most of the 1-thiazolyl-1,2,3-triazoles revealed cytotoxic effect against cancer cells at micromolar to low micromolar range. Testing some of the most potent compounds (5{4,2-4} and 5{5,1-3}) against the normal cell line Vero showed no significant toxicity (except 5{4,2}) to normal cells. This result indicates that compounds 5{4,3-4} and 5{5,1-3} possessed good potency and selectivity to cancer cells over normal cells.

Structure and functions of gamma-dodecalactone isolated from Antrodia camphorata for NK cell activation.

The preserved fungal species Antrodia camphorata has diverse health-promoting effects and has been popularly used in East Asia as a traditional herb. We isolated a volatile compound from the culture medium of A. camphorata and identified it as gamma-dodecalactone (gamma-DDL). Cytomic screening for immune-modulating activity revealed that gamma-DDL can activate human NK cells to express the early activation marker CD69. Further experiments showed that gamma-DDL not only can induce NK cells to express CD69 but also stimulate NK cells to secrete cytotoxic molecules (FasL and granzyme B) and Th1 cytokines (TNF-alpha and INF-gamma). Measuring the distribution of gamma-DDL in the subcellular compartments of NK cells revealed that gamma-DDL has been converted to 4-hydroxydodecanoic acid (an acyclic isomer of gamma-DDL) in a time-dependent manner in the cytoplasm. Synthetic (R,S)-4-hydroxydodecanoic acid activated NK cells to express CD69 mRNA within 10min, in contrast to gamma-DDL, which activated NK cells to express CD69 within 50min. This faster activation suggests that gamma-DDL has converted to 4-hydroxydodecanoic acid and to stimulate the NK cells to express CD69. Optically pure (R)-(+)-4-hydroxydodecanoic acid and (S)-(-)-4-hydroxydodecanoic acid were obtained via: (1) synthesis of its diastereomeric esters of (R,S)-4-hydroxydodecanoic (R)-(-)-2-phenylpropionate; (2) separation of diastereomers via preparative HPLC, and (3) subsequent hydrolysis of the obtained optical pure ester of (R)-(+)-4-hydroxydodecanoic acid (R)-(-)-2-phenylpropionate and (R)-(-)-4-hydroxydodecanoic acid (R)-(-)-2-phenylpropionate, respectively. Further assays of NK cells activation using each enantiomer showed that only the (R)-(+)-4-hydroxydodecanoic acid can activate NK cells.

Effects of non-invasive cortical stimulation on skilled motor function in chronic stroke.

Stroke is a leading cause of adult motor disability. Despite recent progress, recovery of motor function after stroke is usually incomplete. This double blind, Sham-controlled, crossover study was designed to test the hypothesis that non-invasive stimulation of the motor cortex could improve motor function in the paretic hand of patients with chronic stroke. Hand function was measured using the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTT), a widely used, well validated test for functional motor assessment that reflects activities of daily living. JTT measured in the paretic hand improved significantly with non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), but not with Sham, an effect that outlasted the stimulation period, was present in every single patient tested and that correlated with an increment in motor cortical excitability within the affected hemisphere, expressed as increased recruitment curves (RC) and reduced short-interval intracortical inhibition. These results document a beneficial effect of non-invasive cortical stimulation on a set of hand functions that mimic activities of daily living in the paretic hand of patients with chronic stroke, and suggest that this interventional strategy in combination with customary rehabilitative treatments may play an adjuvant role in neurorehabilitation.