Three new tetranorditerpenes from aerial parts of acerola cherry (Malpighia emarginata).

Acerola cherry is a world famous fruit which contains abundant antioxidants such as vitamin C, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolics. However, studies concerning bioactivity components from aerial parts of acerola (Malpighia emarginata) are scarce. In view of this, we have examined the constituents of aerial parts of acerola, and three new tetranorditerpenes acerolanins A-C (1-3) with a rare 2H-benz[e]inden-2-one substructure were isolated. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral studies and acerolanin C was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Furthermore, three new compounds have been studied for their cytotoxic activity.

A new bisxanthone from Hypericum japonicum.

A new bisxanthone, named jacarelhyperols D (1), was isolated from the whole plant of Hypericum japonicum. Its chemical structure was elucidated as 6-[1',5',6'-trihydroxy-2''-(alpha-hydroxy-alpha-methyl)ethyl-3'',4''-dihydrofuran (2'',3'',3',4') xanthone-3''-oxyl]-1,3,5-trihydroxy-xanthone on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.

[Studies on chemical constituents in bark of Larix olgensis var. koreana].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents in bark of Larix olgensis var. koreana. METHOD: The compounds were isolated with silica gel column chromatography and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis (IR, EI-MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR). RESULT: Eight compounds were isolated and identified as isopimaric acid (I), beta-sitosterol (II), 24R,5alpha-stigmast-3,6-dione (III), larixol (IV), ferulic acid (V), lariciresinol (VI), secroisolariciresinol (VII) and isolariciresinol (VIII). CONCLUSION: All the compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Studies on the chemical constituents in roots of Daphne odora var. atrocaulis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents from Daphne odora var. atrocaulis. METHOD: The chemical constituents were isolated and repeatedly purified by silica gel column chromatography and the structures were elucidated by the NMR spectra and physicochemical properties. RESULT: Sixteen compounds were obtained and nine of them were identified as beta-sitosterol, 4-hydroxy ethylbenzoate, (2E),-2-propenoic acid,3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-decosylester, genkwanin, 2,4-dihydroxypyrimidine, daphnetin, daphnoretin, 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone-3ol, daucosterol. CONCLUSION: Seven compounds were obtained from D. odora var. atrocaulis. for the first time.

[Studies on the lignans from Patrinia scabra].

AIM: To study the lignans from Patrinia scabra Bunge. METHODS: The constituents were separated and purified by column chromatography with silical gel, RP-silical gel and Sephadex LH-20. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectral data (IR, MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, HMQC and HMBC). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A new lignan was obtained and its structure was elucidated as 4-[1-ethoxyl-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy)benzyl]methyl- 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy)benzyl-3-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydro-furan (2), along with three known lignans, lariciresinol (1), isolariciresinol (3) and nortracheloside (4).

[DNA microarray analysis of protective mechanism of buyang huanwu decoction on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the effects of buyang huanwu decoction (BYHWT) on differentially expressed genes during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats with DNA microarray. METHOD: cDNA microarray chips containing 512 cDNAs were made by Biostar Genechip Inc. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with an filament. Saline or BYHWT was given p.o. after onset of cerebral ischemia and brains were removed after 24 h of recirculation for mRNAs isolation. A differential measurment of mRNAs from post-ischemic and BYHWT treated animals was performed with microarray. RESULT: Up-and down-regulated genes were 69 and 80 in ischemic group. Up-and down-regulated genes were 25 and 6 in BYHWT treated group. CONCLUSION: BYHWT regulates the differential expression genes after focal brain ischemia/reperfusion in rats, due to its mechanism of protecting cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

[Studies on chemical constituents in bulbs of Bolbostemma paniculatum].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents of the bulbs of Bolbostemma panicultum. METHOD: The compounds were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel, C18, Sephadex LH-20 separately and their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic technologies. RESULT: Eight compounds were isolated and identified as maltol(I), emodin(II), cucurbitacin B(III), cucurbitacin E(IV), stigmasta-7, 22, 25-triene-3-ol(V), stigmasta-7, 22, 25-triene-3-nonadecanoic acid ester(VI), stigmasta-7, 22, 25-triene-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(VII), stigmasta-7, 22, 25-triene-3-O-beta-D-(6'-palmitoyl) glucopyranoside(VIII). CONCLUSION: I-VIII were obtained from this plant for the first time; VI and VIII are new compounds.

Analysis of associated factors of attempting e-cigarettes use among senior high school students in Beijing City between 2019 and 2023 / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To analyze prevalence and associated factors of attempting e cigarettes use among senior high school students in Beijing City between 2019 and 2023, in order to providing references for the construction of smoke free senior high schools environments.@*Methods@#In 2019, 9 137 students from 44 senior high schools in Beijing City were monitored, including 27 general senior high schools and 17 vocational senior high schools. In 2023, the study included 6 709 students from 30 senior high schools comprising 21 general senior high schools and 9 vocational senior high schools. On site investigations using anonymous questionnaires were conducted. The monitoring content included demographic information, second hand smoke exposure, tobacco product use and tobacco awareness. Chi square test was used to compare the differences of various indicators in different groups, and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was adopted to analysis the influencing factors among senior high school students attempting to use e cigarettes between 2019 and 2023.@*Results@#In 2019, the rates of vocational senior high school and general senior high school students attempting to use e-cigarettes were 22.57% and 9.78%, respectively. In 2023, it decreased to 14.39% and 6.43%, respectively. In 2019 ( OR =1.59,95% CI =1.35-1.88) and 2023 ( OR =1.71,95% CI =1.38-2.11), vocational senior high school students both hold higher risk of attempting to use e-cigarettes,compared with general senior high school students. In 2019, non-indigenous senior high school students attempting to use e cigarettes were more than indigenous senior high school students ( OR = 1.28 , 95% CI =1.05-1.56). In 2019 ( OR =1.62, 95% CI =1.34-1.95) and 2023 ( OR =1.77, 95% CI =1.35-2.31), smoking anywhere in households increased the risk of attempting to use e-cigarettes among senior high school students. In both 2019 and 2023, not attempting to smoke cigarettes ( OR =0.24,95% CI =0.21-0.29; OR =0.15,95% CI =0.11-0.19), not currently smoking cigarettes ( OR =0.29,95% CI =0.22-0.40; OR =0.30,95% CI =0.17-0.53), not being exposed to secondhand smoke in school ( OR =0.62, 95% CI = 0.53 -0.72; OR =0.51, 95% CI =0.41-0.64) or in outdoor public places ( OR =0.74, 95% CI =0.63-0.86; OR = 0.62 , 95% CI =0.50-0.78) all reduced the risk of attempting to use e-cigarettes among senior hgih school students( P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#The influencing factors of attempts by senior high school students in Beijing City to use e-cigarettes are generally consistent between 2023 and 2019, with a focus on vocational senior high schools to ensure the continuity of intervention measures and promote the construction of smoke free senior high schools.

Norfriedelins A-C with acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity from acerola tree (Malpighia emarginata).

Three novel norfriedelanes, A-C (1-3), were isolated from the branches and roots of Malpighia emarginata . Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by 1D and 2D NMR techniques and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Norfriedelin A (possessing an α-oxo-ß-lactone group) and norfriedelin B (with a keto-lactone group) showed acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effects with the IC50 values of 10.3 and 28.7 µM, respectively.

Polygalasaponin G promotes neurite outgrowth of cultured neuron on myelin.

Myelin contains many axonal outgrowth inhibitory components which contribute to regeneration failure after neuronal injury in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). In an attempt to develop small molecular agents to promote axonal outgrowth, we screened a compound library purified from traditional Chinese herbs, and found a small molecular compound polygalasaponin G (PS-G), extracted from Polygala japonica, which has a potent neurotrophic activity on PC12 cells and cultured cortical neurons. We reported, to our knowledge for the first time, that PS-G could promote neurite outgrowth of neurons cultured on the myelin substrates and inhibit the activation of RhoA. Thus, our results could represent a therapeutic approach to improve axon regeneration after CNS injuries.

Antitumor activities of extracts and compounds from the roots of Daphne tangutica Maxim.

The antitumor activities of the crude extracts of Daphne tangutica Maxim. (Thymelaeaceae) and some compounds were investigated in vivo for the first time. The eight tested samples exhibited inhibition in mice transplanted with sarcoma S180. Of the eight samples, two samples DTE-2 (mixture of daphnodorin E and daphnodorin F) and DTE-3 (syringin) were noted to have the most marked antitumor activity.

Saponins from Polygala japonica and their effects on a forced swimming test in mice.

Five new triterpenoid saponins, polygalasaponins E (1), F (2), G (3), H (4), and J (5), along with eight known ones (6-13), were isolated from the aerial parts of Polygala japonica. Their structures were established by chemical and spectroscopic means. Forced swimming tests on mice showed that saponins 1 and 4 significantly reduce the immobility status by 58.1% and 51.3% at a dosage of 100 mg/kg administrated orally once daily for 5 days, respectively.

Lignans from bark of Larix olgensis var. koreana.

Six new lignans (2-7) were isolated from the bark of Larix olgensis var. koreana, and their structures were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic data. Seven known lignans were also obtained and identified as (+)-lariciresinol 9'-p-coumarate (1), (+)-lariciresinol, (-)-secoisolariciresinol, (+)-isolariciresinol, vladinol D, sesquipinsapol B, and ehletianol C. Compound 1 showed weak inhibition against K562, SHG44, HCT-8, A549, and PC-3M tumor cells with IC50 values of 2.9, 21.4, 32.9, 33.8, and 28.0 microg/mL, respectively.

New triterpenoid saponins from bulbs of Bolbostemma paniculatum.

Nine new triterpenoid saponins were isolated from the bulbs of Bolbostemma paniculatum (Maxim.) Franquet (Cucurbitaceae): 7beta,18,20,26-tetrahydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24 E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(3-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,18,20,26-tetrahydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(4-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,18,20,26-tetrahydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-(6-acetyl)glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(3-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(4-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-8-formyl-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(3-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-8-formyl-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3- O-alpha-L-(4-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 6'-O-palmitoyltubeimoside I. In addition, four known triterpenoid saponins: tubeimoside I, tubeimoside II, tubeimoside III and tubeimoside IV were isolated. The structures of the above compounds were elucidated based on spectroscopic studies, and the configuration of C-20 of tubeimoside IV was revised as S rather than R as reported in previous literature. The compounds were tested for their antiviral activity

Two new iridoids from Patrinia scabra.

From the roots of Patrinia scabra two new iridoids, 3-methylbutyric acid 7-hydroxy-7-hydroxymethyl-4-(3-methyl-butyryloxymethyl)-6-oxo-1,6,7,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-1-yl ester (1) and 6-hydroxy-7-methylhexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-3-one (2) have been isolated. Their structures were determined by means of NMR spectra and X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Pyrrole alkaloids from Bolbostemma paniculatum.

Three pyrrole alkaloids were isolated from Bolbostemma paniculatum. Their structures were elucidated as 4-(2-formyl-5-methoxymethylpyrrol-1-yl)butyric acid methyl ester (1), 2-(2-formyl-5-methoxymethylpyrrol-1-yl)-3-phenylpropionic acid methyl ester (2) and alpha-methyl pyrrole ketone (3) by spectroscopic techniques. Among them, 1 and 2 are new compounds.