A comparative study of Mentha arvensis L. and Mentha haplocalyx Briq. by HPLC.

We have developed a new method to simultaneously determine five marker compounds in Menthae Herba via HPLC/PDA - including hesperidin (1), rosmarinic acid (2), diosmin (3), didymin (4) and buddleoside (5). The newly developed method was successfully used to analyse for two species (Mentha arvensis L. and Mentha haplocalyx Briq.) of Menthae Herba, and the satisfactory results were obtained from the validation of developed method. The pattern analysis could greatly discriminate between M. arvensis L. and M. haplocalyx Briq. In conclusion, the proposed HPLC/PDA method is suitable for quality evaluation of Menthae Herba.

DNA Topoisomerase Inhibitory Activity of Constituents from the Fruits of Illicium verum.

Three new compounds, a sesquilignan (1) and two glucosylated phenylpropanoids (2, 3), and seven known compounds (4-10), were isolated from the fruits of Illicium verum HOOK. FIL. (Illiciaceae). The structures of 1-3 were determined based on one and two dimensional (1D- and 2D-) NMR data and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra analyses. Compounds 3, 5, 6, and 8-10 exhibited potent inhibitory activities against topoisomerase II with IC50 values of 54.6, 25.5, 17.9, 12.1, 0.3 and 1.0 µM, respectively, compared to etoposide, the positive control, with an IC50 of 43.8 µM.

Jellyfish extract induces apoptotic cell death through the p38 pathway and cell cycle arrest in chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells.

Jellyfish species are widely distributed in the world's oceans, and their population is rapidly increasing. Jellyfish extracts have several biological functions, such as cytotoxic, anti-microbial, and antioxidant activities in cells and organisms. However, the anti-cancer effect of Jellyfish extract has not yet been examined. We used chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells to evaluate the mechanisms of anti-cancer activity of hexane extracts from Nomura's jellyfish in vitro. In this study, jellyfish are subjected to hexane extraction, and the extract is shown to have an anticancer effect on chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells. Interestingly, the present results show that jellyfish hexane extract (Jellyfish-HE) induces apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. To identify the mechanism(s) underlying Jellyfish-HE-induced apoptosis in K562 cells, we examined the effects of Jellyfish-HE on activation of caspase and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), which are responsible for cell cycle progression. Induction of apoptosis by Jellyfish-HE occurred through the activation of caspases-3,-8 and -9 and phosphorylation of p38. Jellyfish-HE-induced apoptosis was blocked by a caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD. Moreover, during apoptosis in K562 cells, p38 MAPK was inhibited by pretreatment with SB203580, an inhibitor of p38. SB203580 blocked jellyfish-HE-induced apoptosis. Additionally, Jellyfish-HE markedly arrests the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase. Therefore, taken together, the results imply that the anti-cancer activity of Jellyfish-HE may be mediated apoptosis by induction of caspases and activation of MAPK, especially phosphorylation of p38, and cell cycle arrest at the Go/G1 phase in K562 cells.

n-Butyl-α-D-fructofuranoside Isolated from Ulmus davidiana Enhances Nrf2 Activity Through Activation of JNK.

BACKGROUND: The root bark of Ulmus davidiana Nakai (Ulmaceae), a traditional Korean medicinal plant, is used for treating inflammatory diseases. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the Nrf2-activating effect of U. davidiana and identified a novel Nrf2 activator from its constituent compounds. METHODS: Cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assay, and the Nrf2 activity was examined by luciferasereporter assay and western blot analysis. The expression of Nrf2-dependent antioxidant genes was estimated by RT-PCR. The signal pathway related to Nrf2 activation was analyzed by treating specific signaling inhibitors. Anti-inflammatory effects were determined using an NO assay and western blot analysis. RESULTS: Ulmus davidiana and its constituent compounds, including catechin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, α-nigerose, n-butyl α-D-fructofuranoside (NBF), and procyanidin B3, enhanced the transcriptional activity of Nrf2. Of these compounds, only NBF possessed a distinctive structure and exhibited ROS-independent Nrf2 activation. In addition, NBF significantly increased the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and the expression of Nrf2-dependent detoxifying enzymes, including HO-1 and NQO-1, in dose-dependent manner. The Nrf2 activation induced by NBF was mediated by the phosphorylation of JNK. Consequently, pretreatment with NBF inhibited the LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory genes. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report on the Nrf2-activating effect of U. davidiana and NBF. Given the importance of Nrf2 as a negative regulator in various inflammatory diseases, NBF could be considered as a novel candidate for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Chondroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of ChondroT, a new complex herbal medication.

BACKGROUND: Ganghwaljetongyeum (GHJTY) is a complex herbal decoction comprising 18 plants; it is used to treat arthritis. In order to develop a new anti-arthritic herbal medication, we selected 5 out of 18 GHJTY plants by using bioinformatics analysis. The new medication, called ChondroT, comprised water extracts of Osterici Radix, Lonicerae Folium, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Clematidis Radix, and Phellodendri Cortex. This study was designed to investigate its chondroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects to develop an anti-arthritic herb medicine. METHODS: ChondroT was validated using a convenient and accurate high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array (HPLC-PDA) detection method for simultaneous determination of its seven reference components. The concentrations of the seven marker constituents were in the range of 0.81-5.46 mg/g. The chondroprotective effects were evaluated based on SW1353 chondrocytes and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) expression. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effects of ChondroT were studied by Western blotting of pro-inflammatory enzymes and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. RESULTS: ChondroT enhanced the growth of SW1353 chondrocytes and also significantly inhibited IL-1ß-induced MMP-1 expression. However, ChondroT did not show any effects on the growth of HeLa and RAW264.7 cells. The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells, which was significantly decreased by pre-treatment with ChondroT. In addition, ChondroT reduced the activation of NF-kB and production of inflammatory mediators, such as IL-1ß, IL-6, PGE2, and nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that ChondroT exerted a chondroprotective effect and demonstrated multi-target mechanisms related to inflammation and arthritis. In addition, the suppressive effect was greater than that exhibited by GHJTY, suggesting that ChondroT, a new complex herbal medication, has therapeutic potential for the treatment of arthritis.

Two new quinones from the roots of Juglans mandshurica.

Two new quinones, 1-hydroxy-5-pentyl-anthraquinone (1) and 4-(5-hydroxy-1,4-dioxo-1,4-dihydro-naphthalen-2-ylamino)-butyric acid methyl ester (2), together with two known quinones, 5-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-ethylamino)-(1,4) naphthoquinone (3) and juglone (4) were isolated from the roots of Juglans mandshurica (Juglandaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data. Compound 3 was isolated from the Juglans genus for the first time. Compounds 1-4 exhibited significant cytotoxicity towards cultured MDA-MB231, HepG2 and SNU638 cells with IC50 values ranging from 4.46 to 88.47 µM.

DNA Topoisomerase Inhibitory Activity of Constituents from the Flowers of Inula japonica.

Fourteen compounds were isolated from the flowers of Inula japonica THUNB. (Asteraceae), including two new compounds, (1S,2S,4S,5S,8S,10R)-2-acetoxy-4,3-dihydroxy-pseudoguai-7(11)-en-12,8-olide (1) and (1S,2S,4S,5S,8S,10R)-2,4,13-trihydroxy-pseudoguai-7(11)-en-12,8-olide (2), and twelve known compounds, budlein B (3), 6ß-hydroxytomentosin (4), 6-deacetoxybritanin (5), 4-epipulchellin (6), britanin (7), tomentosin (8), (+)-dihydroquercetin (9), (-)-syringaresinol (10), quercetagetin 3,4'-dimethyl ether (11), luteolin (12), britanin G (13) and inuchinenolide C (14). Structures of 1 and 2 were determined based on one and two dimensional (1D)- and (2D)-NMR data and Mosher's esterification method. Compounds 9 and 12 showed inhibitory activities toward DNA topoisomerase I with IC50 values of 55.7 and 37.0 µM, respectively, compared to camptothecin (CPT) with an IC50 of 24.5 µM. Compounds 7-9 and 11-14 exhibited more potent inhibitory activity against topoisomerases II with IC50 values of 6.9, 3.8, 3.0, 6.9, 10.0, 14.7 and 13.8 µM, respectively, than that of etoposide (VP-16) with an IC50 of 26.9 µM. Compounds 4-7 and 10-14 exhibited weak cytotoxicities to the selected cancer cell lines.

Simultaneous analysis of seven marker compounds from Saposhnikoviae Radix, Glehniae Radix and Peucedani Japonici Radix by HPLC/PDA.

A new combination of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method coupled with photodiode array (PDA) analysis has been developed for the simultaneous quantitative determination of seven major components in Saposhnikoviae Radix (SR), Glehniae Radix (GR) and Peucedani Japonici Radix (PR), namely peucedanol 7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1), prim-O-glucosylcimifugin (2), cimifugin (3), 4'-O-ß-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol (4), bergapten (5), sec-O-glucosylhamaudol (6), and imperatorin (7). Clear separation of these seven components were achieved on a Phenomenex Kinetex C18 (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) column by gradient elution of water (A) and methanol (B) as mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min and the UV detector wavelength was set at 254 nm. The method was successfully used in the analysis of SR, GR, and PR with relatively simple conditions and procedures, and the results were satisfactory for linearity, recovery, precision, accuracy, stability and robustness. The results indicate that the established HPLC/PDA method is suitable for the classification of SR, GR, and PR.

meso-Dihydroguaiaretic acid attenuates airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in an ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma.

meso-Dihydroguaiaretic acid (MDGA), which is a dibenzylbutane lignin isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of Saururus chinensis, has various biological activities, including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and neuroprotective effects. However, no report has examined the potential anti-asthmatic activity of MDGA. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of MDGA on asthmatic responses, particularly airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine model of asthma. Intragastric administration of MDGA significantly lowered the productions of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, tumor necrosis-α (TNF-α), eotaxin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and immunoglobulin (Ig)E in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), plasma, or lung tissues. Histological studies showed that MDGA inhibited OVA-induced inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus production in the respiratory tract. Moreover, MDGA markedly attenuated the OVA-induced activations of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), extracellular-signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). Together, these results suggest that MDGA effectively inhibits airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion by downregulating the levels of T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules, and inhibiting the activations of NF-κB and MAPKs.

Protective Effects of Manassantin A against Ethanol-Induced Gastric Injury in Rats.

Manassantin A, a neolignan isolated from Saururus chinensis, is a major phytochemical compound that has various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, neuroleptic, and human acyl-CoA : cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitory activities. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of manassantin A against ethanol-induced acute gastric injury in rats. Gastric injury was induced by intragastric administration of 5 mL/kg body weight of absolute ethanol to each rat. The positive control group and the manassantin A group were given oral doses of omeprazole (20 mg/kg) or manassantin A (15 mg/kg), respectively, 1 h prior to the administration of absolute ethanol. Our examinations revealed that manassantin A pretreatment reduced ethanol-induced hemorrhage, hyperemia, and epithelial cell loss in the gastric mucosa. Manassantin A pretreatment also attenuated the increased lipid peroxidation associated with ethanol-induced acute gastric lesions, increased the mucosal glutathione (GSH) content, and enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1ß were clearly decreased in the manassantin A-pretreated group. In addition, manassantin A pretreatment enhanced the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and reduced the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) overproduction and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) phosphorylation. Collectively, these results indicate that manassantin A protects the gastric mucosa from ethanol-induced acute gastric injury, and suggest that these protective effects might be associated with COX/PGE2 stimulation, inhibition of iNOS production and NF-κB activation, and improvements in the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory status.

Methyl Protodioscin from the Roots of Asparagus cochinchinensis Attenuates Airway Inflammation by Inhibiting Cytokine Production.

The present study was designed to find pharmacologically active compound against airway inflammation from the roots of Asparagus cochinchinensis. The 70% ethanol extract of the roots of A. cochinchinensis (ACE) was found to inhibit IL-6 production from IL-1ß-treated lung epithelial cells (A549) and the major constituent, methyl protodioscin (MP), also strongly inhibited the production of IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α from A549 cells at 10-100 µM. This downregulating effect of proinflammatory cytokine production was found to be mediated, at least in part, via inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and c-Jun activation pathway. When examined on an in vivo model of airway inflammation in mice, lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced acute lung injury, ACE, and MP significantly inhibited cell infiltration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid by the oral treatment at doses of 100-400 mg/kg and 30-60 mg/kg, respectively. MP also inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1ß in lung tissue. All of these findings provide scientific evidence supporting the role of A. cochinchinensis as a herbal remedy in treating airway inflammation and also suggest a therapeutic value of MP on airway inflammatory disorders.

Simultaneous quantitation and validation of method for the quality evaluation of Eucommiae cortex by HPLC/UV.

A new HPLC/UV method has been developed for the simultaneous quantitative determination of four major components in Eucommiae cortex, namely geniposidic acid (1), geniposide (2), pinoresinol di-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (3), and liriodendrin (4). Simultaneous separations of these four components were achieved on a J'sphere ODS C(18) column (250 × 4.6 mm, 4 µm). The elution was done using water with 0.1% phosphoric acid (A) and acetonitrile with 0.1% phosphoric acid (B) in a two-step elution of the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and a wavelength of 230 nm. The method was validated for linearity, recovery, precision, accuracy, stability and robustness. All calibration curves showed good linear regression (r(2) > 0.999) within the test ranges. This method showed good recovery and reproducibility for the quantification of these four components in 85 species of Eucommiae cortex. The intra-day and inter-day precisions were lower than 0.53% (as a relative standard deviation, RSD) and accuracies between 93.00 and 106.28% for all standards. The results indicate that the established HPLC/UV method is suitable for quantitation and quality evaluation of Eucommiae cortex.

Progress in Studies on Rutaecarpine. II.--Synthesis and Structure-Biological Activity Relationships.

Rutaecarpine is a pentacyclic indolopyridoquinazolinone alkaloid found in Evodia rutaecarpa and other related herbs. It has a variety of intriguing biological properties, which continue to attract the academic and industrial interest. Studies on rutaecarpine have included isolation from new natural sources, development of new synthetic methods for its total synthesis, the discovery of new biological activities, metabolism, toxicology, and establishment of analytical methods for determining rutaecarpine content. The present review focuses on the synthesis, biological activities, and structure-activity relationships of rutaecarpine derivatives, with respect to their antiplatelet, vasodilatory, cytotoxic, and anticholinesterase activities.

Quality evaluation and pattern recognition analyses of bioactive marker compounds from Farfarae Flos using HPLC/PDA.

The flower bud of Tussilago farfara L., called Farfarae Flos, has traditionally been used in Oriental medicine for the treatment of bronchitis and asthma. To establish a standard for quality control as well as the reliable identification of Farfarae Flos, the contents of five standards, rutin (1), isoquercetin (2), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3), tussilagone (4), and tussilagonone (5), were determined by quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/photodiode array (PDA) analysis. The five standards were separated on a YoungJinBioChrom Aegispak C18-L (250-mm×4.6-mm, 5-µm) column by gradient elution using 0.03% trifluoroacetic acid in water (A), with acetonitrile (B) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min, and the UV detector wavelength was set at 220 nm. The method was successfully used in the analysis of Farfarae Flos from different geographic origins with relatively simple conditions and procedures, and the results demonstrated satisfactory linearity, recovery, precision, accuracy, stability, and robustness. The HPLC analytical method for pattern recognition analysis was validated by repeated analysis of 62 Farfarae Flos samples. This result indicated that the established HPLC/PDA method is suitable for quantitation and pattern recognition analyses for the quality evaluation of Farfarae Flos.

Two new conjugated ketonic fatty acids from the stem bark of Juglans mandshurica.

The present study was designed to isolate and characterize novel chemical constituents of the stem bark of Juglans mandshurica Maxim. (Juglandaceae). The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by various chromatographic techniques. The structures of the compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral data (1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, CD, UV, and IR) and by the comparisons of spectroscopic data with the reported values in the literatures. Two long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (1 and 2) were obtained and identified as (S)-(8E,10E)-12-hydroxy-7-oxo-8,10-octadecadienoic acid (1) and (S)-(8E, 10E)-12-hydroxy-7-oxo-8,10-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (2). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the isolation and structural elucidation of the two new conjugated ketonic fatty acids from this genus.

15,16-Dihydrotanshinone I suppresses IgE-Ag stimulated mouse bone marrow-derived mast cell activation by inhibiting Syk kinase.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: 15,16-Dihydrotanshinone I (DHT-I), isolated from the dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bung, which is traditionally used to treat cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases agent in Chinese medicine. DHT-I has been reported to have a broad range of biological activities, including antibacterial activity, and has been used to treat circulatory disorders, hepatitis, inflammation, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-allergic inflammatory effects of DHT-I on degranulation and on the generation of eicosanoids, such as, prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4), in IgE/Ag-stimulated bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-allergic inflammatory activity of DHT-I was evaluated using BMMCs. The effects of DHT-I on mast cell activation were investigated by following degranulation and eicosanoid generation using ELISA and immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation techniques. RESULTS: DHT-I at a concentration of 20µM markedly inhibited degranulation and the generation of PGD2 and LTC4 in IgE/Ag-stimulated BMMCs (about 90% inhibitions, respectively). Analyses of FcεRI-mediated signaling pathways demonstrated that DHT-I inhibited the phosphorylations of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) and linker for activation of T cells (LAT), and inhibited downstream signaling process, including [Ca(2+)]i mobilization induced by the phosphorylation of phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1), and the activations of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the Akt-nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. CONCLUSIONS: DHT-1 inhibits the release of allergic inflammatory mediators from IgE/Ag-stimulated mast cells by suppressing a FcεRI-mediated Syk-dependent signal pathway. This result suggests DHT-I offers a novel developmental basis for drugs targeting allergic inflammatory diseases.

Hexane Extract of Orthosiphon stamineus Induces Insulin Expression and Prevents Glucotoxicity in INS-1 Cells.

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia, a characteristic feature of diabetes, induces glucotoxicity in pancreatic ß-cells, resulting in further impairment of insulin secretion and worsening glycemic control. Thus, preservation of insulin secretory capacity is essential for the management of type 2 diabetes. In this study, we evaluated the ability of an Orthosiphon stamineus (OS) extract to prevent glucotoxicity in insulin-producing cells. METHODS: We measured insulin mRNA expression and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in OS-treated INS-1 cells after exposure to a high glucose (HG; 30 mM) concentration. RESULTS: The hexane extract of OS elevated mRNA expression of insulin as well as pancreatic and duodenal homeobox-1 of INS-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The hexane OS extract also increased the levels of phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, Akt phosphorylation was elevated by treatment with 100 and 200 µmol of the hexane OS extract. Three days of HG exposure suppressed insulin mRNA expression and GSIS; these expressions were restored by treatment with the hexane OS extract. HG elevated peroxide levels in the INS-1 cells. These levels were unaffected by OS treatment under both normal and hyperglycemic conditions. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the hexane extract of OS elevates insulin mRNA expression and prevents glucotoxicity induced by a 3-day treatment with HG. This was associated with the activation of PI-3K and Akt.

Quality evaluation and pattern recognition analyses of marker compounds from five medicinal drugs of Rutaceae family by HPLC/PDA.

To establish a standard of quality control and to identify different origins for the Rutaceae family [Citri Unshiu Peel (CU), Citri Unshiu Immature Peel (CI), Ponciri Immature Fructus (PI), Aurantii Immature Fructus (AI), and Aurantii Fructus (AU)], 13 standards including rutin (1), narirutin (2), naringin (3), hesperidin (4), neohesperidin (5), neoponcirin (6), poncirin (7), naringenin (8), isosinensetin (9), sinensetin (10), nobiletin (11), heptamethoxyflavone (12), and tangeretin (13) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/photo-diode array (PDA) analysis. A YMC ODS C18 (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) column was used and the ratio of mobile phases of water (A) and acetonitrile (B) delivered to the column for gradient elution was applied. This method was fully validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, stability, and robustness. The HPLC/PDA method was applied successfully to quantify 13 major compounds in the extracts of CU, CI, PI, AI, and AU. The pattern recognition analysis combined with LC chromatographic data was performed by repeated analysis of 27 reference samples in the above five Rutaceae oriental medicinal drugs. The established HPLC method was rapid and reliable for quantitative analysis and quality control of multiple components in five Rutaceae species with different origins.

Quality evaluation of Perillae Folium by HPLC/PDA.

To establish a standard of quality control for Perillae Folium (Lamiaceae Family), four standard compounds including rosmarinic acid, elemicin, perillaldehyde, and dillapiole were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/photodiode array (PDA). The four standards were analyzed with a Phenomenex Kinetex C18 (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) column by gradient elution using 0.1 % formic acid in water and methanol as the mobile phase. The standards were quantified by HPLC/PDA from Perillae Folium, which included the leaf and twig of Perilla frutescens L. Britton var. acuta (Thunb.) Kudo or Perilla frutescens Britton var. crispa Decne. The method was successfully used in the analysis of Perillae Folium, and the linearity, recovery, precision, accuracy, stability, and robustness were satisfactory according to the validation results. In Perillae Folium samples, the average contents (wt%) of rosmarinic acid, elemicin, perillaldehyde, and dillapiole were 0.540, 0.059, 0.050, and 0.056 %, respectively. The results indicate that the established HPLC/PDA method is suitable for the quantitation and quality evaluation of Perillae Folium.

Inhibitory effects of quercetagetin 3,4'-dimethyl ether purified from Inula japonica on cellular senescence in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Cellular senescence contributes to tissue and organismal aging, tumor suppression and progress, tissue repair and regeneration, and age-related diseases. Thus, aging intervention might be beneficial for treatment and prevention of diverse age-related diseases. In the present study, we investigated whether four compounds purified from Inula japonica exert inhibitory activity against cellular senescence induced by adriamycin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Among them, compound 4 (quercetagetin 3,4'-dimethyl ether) showed inhibitory activity against cellular senescence, which was confirmed by senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal) activity, p53 and p21 protein levels, and intracellular ROS levels. Compound 4 also reduced SA-ß-gal activity in HUVECs under replicative senescence. These results suggest that compound 4 represses cellular senescence in HUVECs and might be useful for the development of dietary supplements or cosmetics that alleviate tissue aging or age-related diseases.