3, 4-seco-Isopimarane and 3, 4-seco-pimarane diterpenoids from Callicarpa nudiflora / 中国天然药物

A phytochemical investigation was carried out on the extract of a medicinal plant Callicarpa nudiflora, resulting in the characterization of five new 3, 4-seco-isopimarane (1-5) and one new 3, 4-seco-pimarane diterpenoid (6), together with four known compounds. The structures of the new compounds were fully elucidated by extensive analysis of MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculation of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra, and DFT calculations for NMR chemical shifts and optical rotations.

Metabolomic investigation of secondary metabolites of prepared slices of Glycyrrhiza uralensis with different degrees of honey processing / 药学学报

A metabolomics method was used to search for chemical markers in prepared slices of Glycyrrhiza uralensis with different degrees of honey processing. Coupled with these metabolomics analytical methods, ultra-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was used to generate global chemical profiles of the raw material of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and the prepared slices. The samples were collected in Shanxi, Hebei Zhangjiakou and Inner Mongolia. A total of 57 chemical components were identified in Glycyrrhiza uralensis by using the UNIFI theoretical database combined with the library of reference samples. Among them, 37 compounds were identified in positive ion mode and 56 compounds were identified in negative ion mode. Unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the chemical ingredients differed considerably depending on the extent of processing. Supervised orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to differentiate the moderate processing group and the raw group, and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used to differentiate the less, the moderate, and the excessive processing groups. The results showed that the contents of glycyrrhizic acid, licoricesaponin G2, and licoricesaponin E2 varied with the extent of processing. The content of these components increased after processing, and reached the highest level when the extent of processing was moderate (P < 0.05). Glycyrrhizic acid, licoricesaponin G2 and licoricesaponin E2 can be regarded as the chemical markers to differentiate the samples with different degrees of processing. These three compounds can be used to monitor the processing of Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

Three new carabrane sesquiterpenoid derivatives from the whole plant of Carpesium abrotanoides L / 中国天然药物

Dicarabrols B and C (1 and 2), two new carabrane sesquiterpenoid dimers, along with one new carabrane sesquiterpenoid (3) were isolated from the whole plant of Carpesium abrotanoides L. Their full structures were established by extensive analysis of HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopic data, and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Dicarabrol B possesses a novel C

Monomeric and dimeric sesquiterpene lactones from Artemisia heptapotamica / 中国天然药物

One new dimeric (1) and two monomeric sesquiterpene lactones (5 and 13), together with 10 known compounds (2-4, 6-12), were isolated from Artemisia heptapotamica collected in Almaty region of Kazakhstan. All compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. The structures of the new compounds were mainly achieved by extensive analysis of MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, and ECD spectrum as well. The inhibitory activities of all isolates against activation of NF-κB induced by LPS were assessed on a THP1-Dual cell model. Some of them showed strong inhibitory activity with IC values ranging from 2 to 25 μmol·L.

Protective Effects of Chaihu Shugan San () on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Rats with Insulin Resistance / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effects of Chinese medicine formulation Chaihu Shugan San (, CHSGS) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats with insulin resistance (IR) and its molecular mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: the control group, the model group, Dongbao Gantai group (, DBGT, 0.09 g methionine/kg), CHSGS high-dose group (CHSG-H, 12.6 g crude drug/kg), CHSGS medium-dose group (CHSG-M, 6.3 g crude drug/kg), and CHSGS low-dose group (CHSG-L, 3.15 g crude drug/kg). After establishing the NAFLD rat model and treatment for 8 weeks, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), free fatty acid (FFA), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS) contents in blood serum, and TC, TG contents in the hepatic homogenate were measured by an automatic biochemical analyzer, and a homeostasis model assessment was applied to assess the status of IR, insulin sensitivity index (ISI), and homeostasis model assessment for insulin secretion (HOMA-IS). The expression levels of adiponectin and leptin mRNA in liver tissue were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Pathological changes of livers were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining of paraffin section.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group, the serum levels of TC, TG, FFA, FBG, FINS, IRI, ISI, and the liver levels of TC and TG in CHSG-H, CHSG-M, CHSG-L groups showed significant declines (P<0.01 or P<0.05); the serum levels of HDL-C, HOMA-IS were significantly increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05); the expression of leptin mRNA was dramatically decreased and the expression of adiponectin mRNA was increased in the hepatic tissue (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The fatty deposition of liver cells could also be alleviated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CHSGS could up-regulate the expression of adiponectin mRNA and down-regulate the expression of leptin mRNA on the liver, suggesting the CHSGS had positive therapeutic effect on NAFLD in rats with IR.</p>

Research status of natural compounds combine with antifungal agents against drug-resistent Candida albicans / 中国中药杂志

To against the emergence of drug-resistent candidiasis, the studys of synergism of natural compounds combine with antifungal agents in vitro showed a continuous growth in recent years. The paper reviewed recent progresses to compare the synergetic effect by FICI method, and to conclude the synergetic mechanisms which have been confirmed as a reference for futher study.

Natural products chemistry research: progress in China in 2011 / 中国天然药物

This article reviews the progress made by Chinese scientists in the field of natural products chemistry in 2011. Selected compounds with unique structural features and/or promising bioactivities are described herein on the basis of structural types.

Natural products chemistry research 2010's progress in China / 中国天然药物

This article reviews the progresses made by Chinese scientists in the field of natural products chemistry in 2010. Selected compounds with unique structural features and/or promising bioactivities were described herein on the basis of structural types.

Effect of modified zhenzhu tiaozhi capsule on lipid peroxidation and endothelial functions in atherosclerotic rabbits / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the anti-atherosclerotic effect and its possible mechanisms of Modified Zhenzhu Tiaozhi Capsule (MZTC) in rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>50 rabbits were divided into five groups, i.e., the normal group, the model group, the simvastatin group (3 mg/kg), the high dose MZTC group (1.6 g crude drug/kg), and the low dose MZTC group (1.6 g crude drug/kg), respectively, ten in each group. The atherosclerosis (AS) model was established by feeding rabbits with high fat diet. Corresponding medicines were administrated on the basis of high fat diet for twelve successive weeks. Levels of blood lipids, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) were detected. The area of the aortic tunica intima plaque was determined. The pathological changes of the aorta were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group, serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), MDA, and atherosclerotic index (AI) were significantly lowered in the MZTC groups (P<0.05, P<0.01), while serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), SOD, and NO obviously increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and in the MZTC groups were obviously higher than those of the simvastatin group (P<0.01), and there was insignificant difference in other indices. The ratio of the aortic tunica intima plaque percentage to the total tunica intima area was also markedly lower than that of the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Results under light microscope indicated the pathological changes of the aorta was obviously attenuated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MZTC could inhibit the formation and development of AS plaque. Its mechanism might be associated with regulating lipids metabolism, antioxidation, and improving endothelial functions.</p>