Desmodianone H and uncinanone B, potential tyrosinase inhibitors obtained from Lespedeza maximowiczii by using bioactivity-guided isolation.

A new bioactive compound, namely desmodianone H(1), and another known compound uncinanone B(2) were first isolated using bioactivity-guided isolation from the leaves of Lespedeza maximowiczii and structures were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of their nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry data. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited strong inhibitory effects on mushroom tyrosinase activity.

LC-MS-based chemotaxonomic classification of wild-type Lespedeza sp. and its correlation with genotype.

In this study, 39 specimens belonging to Lespedeza species (Lespedeza cyrtobotrya, L. bicolor, L. maximowiczii, and Lespedeza cuneata) (Leguminosae) were classified phenotypically and genotypically. We constructed a phylogenetic tree based on the combined nrDNA (internal transcribed spacer; ITS) and cpDNA (trnL-trnF) sequences with the aim of classifying the genotypes. Samples were mainly divided into three genotypes. Samples of L. cyrtobotrya and L. bicolor were mixed in a single branch, whereas samples of L. maximowiczii and L. cuneata were clustered within species, respectively. We performed a liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling analysis to classify the phenotypes. Multivariate statistical analyses such as principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) were used for the clustering pattern analysis and distance analysis between species, respectively. According to the PCA and HCA results, leaves were classified into four phenotypes according to species. In both the genetic and chemotaxonomic classification methods, the distance between L. cyrtobotrya and L. bicolor was the closest between species, and L. cuneata was the farthest away from the other three species. Additionally, orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis was employed to identify significantly different phytochemicals between species. We classified L. cyrtobotrya and L. bicolor by identifying significantly different phytochemicals. Interestingly, leaves and stems showed different phenotypic classifications based on the chemotaxonomic classification. Stem samples of the other three species were mixed regardless of species, whereas L. cyrtobotrya stem samples were clustered within species. The phenotypic classification of leaves coincided more with the genotypic classification than that of stems. Key message We classified four wild-type Lespedeza sp. by analyzing the combined nrDNA (ITS) and cpDNA (trnL-trnF) sequences. We also classified leaves and stems of Lespedeza sp. by applying liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy-based metabolite profiling.

Azorella compacta methanolic extract induces apoptosis via activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase.

Azorella compacta Phil. (AC) is an alpine medicinal plant used traditionally for antibacterial treatment. Recent studies have revealed that this plant also has anti­diabetic effects, but that it is toxic. The present study investigated the underlying mechanisms of action of AC extract against human leukemia HL60 cells. Apoptosis induction was measured by MTT assay, fluorescence microscopy, DNA fragmentation assay, flow cytometric analysis, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses. It was found that AC extract inhibited the growth of HL60 and other cancer cell lines in a dose­dependent manner. The cytotoxic effects of AC extract on HL60 cells were associated with apoptosis characterized by DNA fragmentation and dose­dependent increases in Annexin V­positive cells, as determined by flow cytometric analysis. AC­extract­induced apoptosis was accompanied by activated/cleaved caspase­3, caspase­9 and poly(adenosine diphosphate­ribose) polymerase (PARP). The increases in apoptosis were also associated with decreases of the apoptosis-inhibitor B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl­2), upregulation of pro­apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) protein and downregulation of anti­apoptotic Bcl extra large protein. Furthermore, western blot analysis of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-associated proteins indicated that treatment with AC extract increased the levels of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38. In addition, the expression of Bax and cleaved PARP was blocked when AC treatment was performed in the presence of MAPK inhibitors. It was therefore concluded that AC induced apoptosis in human leukemia HL60 cells via an intrinsic pathway controlled through MAPK-associated signaling.

Anti-inflammatory effects of methanol extract of Canarium lyi C.D. Dai & Yakovlev in RAW 264.7 macrophages and a murine model of lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury.

Canarium lyi C.D. Dai & Yakovlev (CL) is a member of the Anacardiaceae family. To the best of our knowledge, no studies on its anti-inflammatory effects have yet been reported. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of CL on inflammation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) mice. CL attenuated the production of LPS-stimulated inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1ß, and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Furthermore, CL suppressed phosphorylation of the inhibitor κB-α (IκB-α), p38, c-Jun terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), as well as the translocation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 subunit into the nucleus. For the in vivo efficacy, the effect of CL on a mouse model of LPS-induced acute lung injury was assessed. CL treatment of the mice significantly inhibited the inflammatory cell recruitment and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF). CL-treated mice also showed a marked inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and phosphorylation of IκB and p65. In addition, CL attenuated lung histopathological changes in LPS-induced ALI mice. In conclusion, our results suggest that CL is a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including pneumonia.