Three 2,3-diketoquinoxaline alkaloids with hepatoprotective activity from Heterosmilax yunnanensis / 药学学报

Three 2,3-diketoquinoxaline alkaloids were isolated from Heterosmilax yunnanensis Gagnep. Their structures were determined through 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, UV, and IR as 1-[5′-(3″-hydroxy-3″-methyl) glutaryl] ribityl-2,3-diketo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6,7-dimethylquinoxaline (1), 1-[2′-(3″-hydroxy-3″-methyl) glutaryl]ribityl-2,3-diketo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6,7-dimethylquinoxaline (2), and 1-ribityl-2,3-diketo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6,7-dimethylquinoxaline (3). Compounds 1 and 2 are novel compounds, and 3 was isolated from H. yunnanensis for the first time. The hepatoprotective activity of these three compounds was evaluated, with compound 3 showing promising hepatoprotective activity.

Isolation and identification of chemical constituents from Disporum cantoniense (III) / 中草药

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from Disporum cantoniense. Methods: Separation was carried out by ion exchange chromatography, medium pressure MCI column chromatography, ODS column chromatography, gel column chromatography, preparative and semi preparative liquid chromatography; The structures of the compounds were identified by modern spectral techniques such as mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. Results: Eleven compounds were isolated and identified as 2’-β-D-glucopyranosyloxybenzyl-6-α-L-(4’-O-acetyl)-rhamnopyranosyloxy-2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoate (1), 4’,7- dihydroxyflavone (2), palmatine (3), marmesinin (4), 4’-O-β-D-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol (5), nodakenetin (6), 2-aminopyridine (7), tenuifoliside A (8), neosakuranin (9), 2″-O-rhamnosylicariside II (10) and baohuoside I (11). Conclusion: Compound 1 is a new compound named disporumoside, compounds 2-11 are isolated from the genus of Disporum for the first time.

Five new polyhydroxylated furostanol saponins from the rhizomes of Tupistra chinensis / 中国天然药物

Five new polyhydroxylated furostanol saponins were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Tupistra chinensis, and their structures were determined as tupistrosides J-N (1-5), together with four known furostanol saponins (6-9), on the basis of physico-chemical properties and spectral analysis. Among them, compounds 3 and 5 showed cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines SW620 with IC values of 72.5 ± 2.4 and 77.3 ± 2.5 μmol·L, respectively. Compound 4 showed cytotoxicity against human cancer cell line HepG2 with IC value of 88.6 ± 2.1 μmol·L.

A New Steroidal Glycoside from Allium macrostemon Bunge

A phytochemical investigation of Allium macrostemon Bunge (Liliaceae) afforded the new pregnane steroidal glycoside, named allimacroside F (1), along with three known glycosides, benzyl-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), phenylethyl-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), (Z)-3-hexenyl-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (4). The identification and structural elucidation of a new compound (1) was carried out based on spectral data analyses (¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-¹H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) and HR-FAB-MS.

The genus Liriope: Phytochemistry and pharmacology / 中国天然药物

Liriope (Liliaceae) species have been used as folk medicines in Asian countries since ancient times. From Liriope plants (8 species), a total of 132 compounds (except polysaccharides) have been isolated and identified, including steroidal saponins, flavonoids, phenols, and eudesmane sesquiterpenoids. The crude extracts or monomeric compounds from this genus have been shown to exhibit anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities. The present review summarizes the results on phytochemical and biological studies on Liriope plants. The chemotaxonomy of this genus is also discussed.

Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activities of Psidium guajava and Aloe vera.

This paper aimed to study the antioxidant properties of two Nigerian plants Psidium guajava (guava) Myrtaceae and Aloe vera Liliaceae plants which have a broad application in phytomedicine. The plants were assessed by quantifying their individual chemical contents and their 1:1 (mass/mass) homogenous combination (guava+A. vera) simultaneously. The non-antioxidant phytochemical quantified included total alkaloids. There was a significant difference in the total alkaloids content (measure on dry weight basis, mg/g) in the analysed plant materials in the order of guava (111.13±0.45)>guava+A. guava (65.99±0.37)>A. vera (22.86±0.15). The antioxidant properties measured were the levels of total phenol, tannin, total flavonoid, total saponin, vitamin C, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging ability and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). P. guajava recorded significantly higher (p<0.05) antioxidant phytochemicals contents than A. vera except for vitamin C where it recorded significantly lower (p<0.05) value. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the vitamin C contents of A. vera and the combined plant materials, guava+A. vera. Guava had also significantly higher (p<0.05) DPPH scavenging ability (0.056 mg/ml), and TEAC (12.51±0.40 mM/gdw) than A. vera. The combined plant materials guava+ A. vera showed synergistic properties in the DPPH free radical scavenging ability (0.15 mg/ml) and antagonistic activity in the TEAC (4.58±0.17 mM/gdw). This study suggests that while guava may be a better antioxidant than A. vera when used separately, the combined plant materials produces synergistic

Inhibitory effect of extracts from asparagus filicinus rhizome on proliferation of human osteosarcoma cells / 重庆医学

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of extracts from asparagus filicinus rhizome on prolifieration of human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells and its molecular mechanism .Methods MTT assay was used to detect the cytotoxic activity and growth inhibition of three different extracts from asparagus filicinus rhizome against Saos-2 cells ;plate colony formation assay was per-formed to detect active fraction of asparagus filicinus rhizome on the anchorage dependent growth of Saos-2 cells ;the cell cycle alter-ation was determined by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry analysis ;the alteration of protein expression level of COX-2 was determined by using Western blotting .Results Ethyl acetate fraction of asparagus filicinus rhizome (AF-A) exerted the potent cytotoxicity on Saos-2 cells(IC50 =26 .7 μg/mL);AF-A induced the inhibitory effect on the anchorage dependent growth of Saos-2 cells in a dose dependent manner(P<0 .05);Saos-2 cells treated by AF-A at the concentration of 30 .0 and 100 .0 μg/mL for 48 h induced the increase of percentages of S phage from (31 .8 ± 4 .8)% in the control group to (43 .7 ± 2 .5)% and(51 .9 ± 1 .9)% ,the difference showing statistical significance (P< 0 .05) .Western blotting showed that AF-A at different concentrations decreased COX-2 protein expression .Conclusion AF-A posseses the inhibitory effect on the proliferation and growth of human osteosarcoma cells in vitro ,and its mechanism might be associated with the induction of S phage arrest and the inhibition of COX-2 protein ex-pression level .

Epicotyl morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of Lilium polyphyllum (Liliaceae).

Dormancy-breaking and seed germination studies in genus Lilium reveal that the majority of Lilium spp. studied have an underdeveloped embryo at maturity, which grows inside the seed before the radicle emerges. Additionally, the embryo, radicle or cotyledon has a physiological component of dormancy; thus, Lilium seeds have morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). A previous study suggested that seeds of Lilium polyphyllum have MPD but the study did not investigate the development of the embryo, which is one of the main criteria to determine MPD in seeds. To test this hypothesis, we investigated embryo growth and emergence of radicles and epicotyls in seeds over a range of temperatures. At maturity, seeds had underdeveloped embryos which developed fully at warm temperature within 6 weeks. Immediately after embryo growth, radicles also emerged at warm temperatures. However, epicotyls failed to emerge soon after radicle emergence. Epicotyls emerged from >90% seeds with an emerged radicle only after they were subjected to 2 weeks of cold moist stratification. The overall temperature requirements for dormancy-breaking and seed germination indicate a non-deep simple epicotyl MPD in L. polyphyllum.

Chlorophytum laxum, R.Br. (Liliaceae): A threatened medicinal herb of soliga tribe from B.R.Hills, Karnataka, India.

B. R. Hills has numerous medicinal plants in which some of the plants are used Soliga tribe to cure different ailments as a folk medicine .Chlorophytum laxum,R.Br. is one of the important medicinal plant in this area, is commonly called “Bhoomi sakkare” .The over exploitation of this plan for its medicinal property, the plant is under threaten condition. Hence, urgent need to conserve the plant through tissue culture technique.

Factors influencing rapid clonal propagation of Chlorophytum arundinaceum (Liliales: Liliaceae), an endangered medicinal plant

Chlorophytum arundinaceum is an important medicinal plant and its tuberous roots are used for various health ailment treatments. It has become an endangered species in the Eastern Ghats, and a rare medicinal herb in India, due to its excessive collection from its natural habitat and its destructive harvesting techniques, coupled with poor seed germination and low vegetative multiplication ratio. In order to contribute to its production systems, an efficient protocol was developed for in vitro clonal propagation through shoot bud culture. For this, multiple shoots were induced from shoot bud explants on Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with 2.5-3.0mg/L BAP, 0.01-0.1mg/L NAA and 3% (w/v) sucrose. Inclusion of Adenine Sulphate (25mg/L) in the culture medium improved the frequency of multiple shoot production and recovered the chlorotic symptoms of the leaves. Media having pH 5.9 and 4% sucrose showed significant improvement on shoot bud multiplication and growth. In vitro flowering was observed when the subcultures were carried out for over four months in the same multiplication media. Rooting was readily achieved upon transferring the shoots on to half- strength MS medium supplemented with 0.1mg/L IBA and 2% (w/v) sucrose. Micropropagated plantlets were hardened in the green house, successfully established, and flowered in the field. This method could effectively be applied for the conservation and clonal propagation to meet the demand of planting materials. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (1): 435-445. Epub 2011 March 01.

Chlorophytum arundinaceum es una planta medicinal importante y sus raíces se utilizan en diversos tratamientos contra enfermedades. Se ha convertido en una especie en peligro de extinción en el Ghats Oriental y una hierba medicinal rara en la India, debido a la recolecta excesiva en su hábitat natural y la manera destructiva de cosecharla, asociado con una mala germinación y pobre multiplicación vegetativa. Para contribuir con sus sistemas de producción, se desarrolló un protocolo eficiente para la propagación clonal in vitro a través del cultivo de brotes. Para ello, los retoños múltiples fueron inducidos a partir de sus brotes en un medio Murashige y Skoog enriquecido con 2.5-3.0mg/L de BAP, 0.01-0.1mg/L de NAA y el 3% (w/v) sucrosa. La inclusión de sulfato de adenina (25mg/L) en el medio de cultivo mejoró la frecuencia de producción de brotes múltiples y se recuperaron los síntomas de clorosis de las hojas. Los medios con un pH de 5.9 y 4% de sucrosa mostraron una mejoría significativa en la multiplicación y crecimiento de las yemas. En la floración in vitro se observó cuando los subcultivos se llevaron a cabo durante más de cuatro meses para los mismos medios de multiplicación. El enraizamiento se logró fácilmente al transferir los brotes a un medio MS de intensidad media enriquecido con 0.1 mg/l de IBA y 2% (w/v) de sucrosa. Las plántulas micropropagadas maduraron en el invernadero, se establecieron exitosamente y florearon en el campo. Este método se podría aplicar para la conservación y propagación clonal con el fin de satisfacer la demanda de material de siembra.

Avaliação da atividade mutagênica e antimutagênica da Aloe vera em teste de Allium cepa e teste de micronúcleo em linfócitos humanos binucleados / Evaluation mutagenic and antimutagenic activity of Aloe vera in Allium cepa test and micronucleus test in human binucleated lymphocytes

Algumas das substâncias presentes nos vegetais podem ter efeitos mutagênicos, enquanto outras podem atenuar ou anular estes efeitos. Estima-se que mais de 200 substâncias ativas façam parte do gel de Aloe vera, sendo que os polissacarídeos chegam a 30 por cento, e muitos dos benefícios terapêuticos, nutricionais e cosméticos são a eles atribuídos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o efeito mutagênico e antimutagênico da solução de Aloe vera, em teste de Allium cepa e teste de micronúcleos em linfócitos humanos binucleados. Para as soluções, as folhas de Aloe vera foram trituradas, filtradas e esterilizadas. O teste de Allium cepa foi constituído de oito tratamentos e o de linfócitos, de cinco (com quatro repetições). Observou-se que na dose usual, a solução de Aloe vera não foi mutagência para o sistema de teste vegetal e nem para o humano. Já na dose dez vezes mais concentrada provocou um efeito citotóxico e mutagênico em Allium cepa. Em células vegetais a solução foi antimutagênica apenas quando colocada depois do paracetamol, enquanto que nas células humanas, essa ação se manifestou quando a solução foi utilizada ao mesmo tempo com o paracetamol.

Some of the substances in plant may have mutagenic effects, while others may cancel or mitigate these effects. It is estimated that more than 200 active substances compose the gel of Aloe vera, and the polysaccharides increases in 30 percent, and many of the therapeutic benefits, nutrition and cosmetics are allocated to them. The objective of this study was to determine the mutagenic and antimutagenic effects of the Aloe vera solution in Allium cepa test and the micronuclei test in human binucleated lymphocytes. For solutions, the leaves of Aloe vera were crushed, filtered and sterilized. The Allium cepa test was composed of eight treatments, and the lymphocytes of five (with four repetitions). It was observed that at the usual dose, the solution of Aloe vera was not mutagenic for the plant test system and not for humans. At a dose ten times more concentrated caused a cytotoxic and mutagenic effect in Allium cepa. In plant cells the solution was antimutagenic only when placed after paracetamol, while in human cells, this action was manifested when the solution was used at the same time with paracetamol.

Potenciais interações entre fármacos e produtos à base de valeriana ou alho / Potential interactions between drugs and valerian or garlic herbal medicines

Atualmente, as potenciais interações entre fármacos e plantas medicinais e/ou medicamentos fitoterápicos são objetos de inúmeros estudos. Tais estudos são motivados pelo fato de que a fitoterapia é amplamente utilizada em associação com diversos fármacos. Nesta revisão, as informações sobre as principais interações entre produtos elaborados com valeriana ou alho foram localizadas, avaliadas e sistematizadas. Verificou-se que tais plantas podem alterar os perfis farmacocinéticos e/ou farmacodinâmicos de diversos fármacos, podendo provocar conseqüências graves aos pacientes. A valeriana pode aumentar os efeitos adversos dos benzodiazepínicos, reduzir a biodisponibilidade dos fármacos metabolizados pelo sistema P450-CYP3A4 e provocar hemorragias graves quando utilizada juntamente com anticoagulantes orais e antiplaquetários. O alho pode aumentar a biodisponibilidade dos relaxantes musculares, potencializar os efeitos terapêuticos e adversos dos hipoglicemiantes, provocar hemorragias quando administrado juntamente com anticoagulantes orais e antiplaquetários e reduzir a biodisponibilidade dos anti-retrovirais inibidores de protease. Porém, tais potenciais interações não são consensos na literatura, visto que há limitações metodológicas e diferenças significativas entre os estudos localizados. Mesmo assim, o uso de produtos à base de valeriana ou alho, associado com determinados fármacos, deve ser adequadamente monitorado por um profissional da área da saúde.

At present, potential herbal-drug interactions are subject of great interest, because herbal medicines are often administered in combination with synthetic drugs. The aim of this paper was to review the literature in order to identify reported interactions between valerian or garlic herbal medicines and drugs, as well as to evaluate and summarize this information. Valerian or garlic herbal medicines could modify pharmacokinetics and/or pharmacodynamic profiles of several drugs and might lead to serious clinical consequences. Valerian could increase the adverse effects of benzodiazepines and could decrease the bioavailability of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4. Furthermore, valerian could cause severe bleeding when taken with oral anticoagulants and/or antiplatelet agents. Garlic could increase the bioavailability of muscle relaxants, could increase the therapeutic and adverse effects of hypoglycemic agents, could cause bleeding when taken with oral anticoagulants and/or antiplatelet agents, and could decrease the area under the plasma concentration curve of protease inhibitors. However, such potential herbal drug interactions are not consensual, because the reported studies present several limitations and significant differences among them. Therefore, concomitant use of herbal medicines and drugs has to be properly monitored by health care professionals.

Isolation and identification of chemical constituents in Hemerocallis fulva (Ⅱ) / 中草药

Objective To study the chemical constituents in the roots of Hemerocallis fulva. MethodsCompounds were isolated from the CHCl3and n-butanol fraction of the EtOH extract by repeated column chromatography and their structures were identified by spectral analysis and physicochemical properties. Results From the CHCl3 and n-butanol fraction of the EtOH extract in the roots of H. fulva,ten compounds were isolated and identified as terresoxazine (Ⅰ),11-keto-?-boswellic acid (Ⅱ),hopane-6?,22-diol (Ⅲ),hecogenin (Ⅳ),stigmast-4-en-3?-ol (Ⅴ),stigmast-4-en-3-one (Ⅵ),?-feruloyloxy acid (Ⅶ),(E)-3,4-dihydroxyl cinnamic acid (Ⅷ),(E)-p-methyl cinnamic acid (Ⅸ),and vanillic acid (Ⅹ). Conclusion Compounds Ⅰ-Ⅳ,and Ⅶ are isolated and identified from the plants of Hemerocallis L. for the first time.

UV spectral identification of Fritillaria walujewii / 中草药

Object To develop a method for the identification of Fritillaria walujewii Regel by UV spectrum. Methods UV spectrum of the absolute alcoholic extract of F. walujewii was determined and compared with that of four other similarly treated Fritillaria species. Results The UV spectrum of F. walujewii was consistently different with that of the other four species. Conclusion UV spectrum can be used to differentiate F. walujewii from other species of Fritillaria.