Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of centaurium spicatum with hepatoprotective and mRNA enzymatic inhibition activities

Five compounds [1-5] were firstly reported from the genus Centaurium family Gentianaceae. They were identified as Lisianthoside 1, Secoxyloganin 2, Secologanin dimethyl acetal 3, 1, 8-Dihydroxy-3, 5, 6, 7-tetramethoxyxanthone [Demethyleustomin] 4 and 1-Hydroxy 3, 5, 6, 7, 8-pentamethoxyxanthone [Eustomin] 5. Structure elucidation was carried out with support of chemical and spectral analysis including 1D and 2D NMR experiments. All the isolated compounds showed promising antioxidant activity, liver microsomal enzymes reducing activity and CYP3A4 mRNA inhibition activity in the HepG2 cell line

Stimulation of melanogenesis by polyphenolic compounds from citharexyllum quadrangulare in b16f1 murine melanoma cells

Two polyphenolic compounds; 1, 3, 6-tri-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose [TGG] [1] and methyl gallate [2] have been isolated from the aerial parts of Citharexylum quadrangulare Jacq. They were isolated for the first time from the genus Citharexylum and their structures have been established on the basis of spectroscopic methods in addition to comparison with literature data. The stimulatory activity of the isolated compounds was investigated on melanin synthesis where they stimulate the intracellular synthesis of melanin in murine melanoma B16F1 cells in cultured cell lines. The melanin content was dramatically increased by these compounds in a dose dependent manner and at nontoxic concentrations where IC[50] of TGG was 20.4 microM and that of methyl gallate was 16.1 microM Moreover, the isolated compounds were tested for cyrotoxic activity where IC[50] of compounds [1] and [2] were 1.5 and 10.8 microM, respectively. Also, they exhibited higher radical scavenging activity than ascorbic acid in DPPH assay system with IC[50] of 1.5 and 10.8 microM for compounds [1] and [2] respectively. Dramatic stimulatory effect of the isolated compounds on melanogenesis might be applied to various conditions of hypopiginentation-related disorders like Vitiligo as an adjunctive therapy in addition to its safely use as an antioxidant. The obtained results indicated that these active compounds could be used safely in cosmetic purposes