Bioactive sesquineolignans from the twigs of Litsea cubeba / 中国天然药物

In a continuing search for biological natural products with structure diversity from traditional Chinese herbs, five new sesquineolignans (1-5) were isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of the twigs of Litsea cubeba. Their structures were elucidated based on MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, as well as experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Compounds 1-5 showed moderate inhibitory effects against LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages, with IC

Chemical constituents from ethyl acetate soluble extraction of Litsea cubeba / 中国中药杂志

Chemical investigation on the constituents of the ethyl acetate soluble extraction of Litsea cubeba has resulted in the isolation and structure elucidation of thirty compounds, including one sesquiterpene(1), four monoterpenes(2-5), two γ-butyrolactone derivatives(6 and 7), seven tyramine derivatives(8-14), fifteen aromatic compounds(15-29), and one pyrone derivative(30) via various chromatographic techniques and spectroscopic data analysis(MS, IR, 1 D and 2 D NMR). Compounds 1-7, 13 and 14 were obtained from the genus Litsea for the first time.

Cytotoxic Lactones from the Pericarps of Litsea japonica

From the pericarps of Litsea japonica (Thunb.) Jussieu, eighteen butanolide derivatives (1 – 18) were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against HeLa, HL-60, and MCF-7 cells. Compounds 1 – 9 with 2-alkylidene-3-hydroxy-4-methylbutanolides structure exhibited cytotoxic activities against cancer-cell lines. Among them, compound 8 (litsenolide D₂) exhibited the most potent cytotoxicity against the tested cell lines, including HeLa, HL-60, and MCF-7, with IC₅₀ values of 17.6 ± 1.3, 4.2 ± 0.2, and 12.8 ± 0.0 µM, respectively. Compound 8 induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Annexin V/Propidium Iodide (PI) double staining confirmed that 8 effectively induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. To the best of our knowledge, we have reported cytotoxic activity of butanolides from L. japonica against these cancer-cell lines for the first time.

Aporphine alkaloids from Litsea greenmaniana / 中国中药杂志

A new aporphine alkaloid (1), together with five known analogues (2-6), has been isolated from the branch of Litsea greenmaniana by using various chromatographic techniques. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic data analysis ( MS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR) as 2,9-dihydroxy-1,10-dimethoxy-4,5-dihydro-7-oxoaporphine (1), laurotetanine (2), N-methyllaurotetanine (3), isodomesticine (4), isocorydine (5), and norisocorydine (6). Compound 1 was a new compound, and compounds 2-6 were obtained from this plant for the first time.

Efecto de la concentración de saponinas en la actividad hemolítica de extractos de ocho plantas de uso medicinal en Guatemala / Efecto de la concentración de saponinas en la actividad hemolítica de extractos de ocho plantas de uso medicinal en Guatemala

Las plantas se han utilizado desde tiempos antiguos para el tratamiento de todo tipo de afecciones, considerándose en el tiempo actual como una alternativa para la medicina tradicional natural que está fuera del alcance de la población en países como el nuestro. La presente investigación tuvo como principal objetivo determinar la actividad hemolítica in vitro de ocho plantas de uso medicinal en Guatemala (Byrsonima crassifolia, Bixa orellana, Lippia graveolens, Litsea guatemalensis, Petiveria alliacea, Phlebodium pseudoaureum, Smilax domingensis, Solanum nigrescens). Estudios previos han demostrado que estas plantas contienen saponinas, las cuales son un grupo de glucósidos solubles en agua y que contienen características tensoactiva, hemolíticas y citotóxicas (Bruneton, 2001). Se comprobó la presencia de saponinas en las ocho plantas estudiadas, por medio de pruebas cualitativas iniciando con la prueba de espuma. Posteriormente se realizó la identificación por medio de análisis cromatográfico, comparándose con estándares de saponinas esteroidales. La cuantificación de las mismas se realizó por medio de espectrofotometría obteniéndose para Byrsonima crassifolia 1.78%±0.222%, Bixa orellana 0.80%±0.04%, Lippia graveolens 0.21%±0.06%, Litsea guatemalensis 3.19%±0.10%, Petiveria alliacea 0.92%±0.04%, Phlebodium pseudoaureum 1.06%±0.05%, Smilax domingensis 0.21%±0.006% y Solanum nigrescens 1.42%±0.007%. La actividad hemolítica de los extractos de las plantas determinada cualitativamente en agar sangre, no se presentó en ninguno de los extractos estudiados, al compararla con un estándar de saponinas que presentó un halo de hemólisis de 4mm de diámetro. Así mismo se realizó otro ensayo cualitativo en tubo, el cual demostró la presencia de hemólisis en cinco de las ocho plantas de estudio, la cuales son Bixa orellana, Byrsonima crassifolia, Petiveria alliacea, Phlebodium pseudoaureum y Smilax domingensis La cuantificación de la hemólisis de los extractos en estudio, se realizó por medio de espectrofotometría a dos diferentes temperaturas, 25°C y 37°C y a diferentes concentraciones, en donde se obtuvo un mayor porcentaje de actividad hemolítica con los extractos de Solanum nigrescens, Petiveria alliacea y Bixa orellana. También se demostró que la hemólisis aumenta mientras aumenta la concentración del extracto. Se calculó para cada extracto la concentración a la cual ocurre el 50% de hemólisis (CH50), para establecer diferencias de hemólisis a dos temperaturas: 25°C y 37°C obteniendo una correlación entre la concentración de los extractos y la actividad hemolítica. A 25°C solamente Bixa orellana, Petiveria alliacea y Solanum nigrescens tienen importante actividad hemolítica; mientras que a 37°C tienen improtancia Bixa orellana, Litsea guatemalensis, Petiveria alliacea y Solanum nigrescens. En este estudio, la actividad hemolítica de las saponinas de las plantas pudo ser comprobada, sin embargo no ha sido específica por lo que es importante profundizar en el tema dentro de los límites de la lisis y la toxicidad a los eritrocitos, ya que son plantas de uso popular medicinal.

In vivo analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory potential in Swiss albino mice and in vitro thrombolytic activity of hydroalcoholic extract from Litsea glutinosaleaves

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro thrombolytic activity, and in vivo analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic potentials of different hydrocarbon soluble extracts of Litsea glutinosaleaves for the first time widely used in the folkloric treatments in Bangladesh. This work aimed to create new insights on the fundamental mechanisms of the plant extracts involved in these activities. RESULTS: In thrombolytic activity assay, a significant clot disruption was observed at dose of 1 mg/mL for each of the extracts (volume 100 µL) when compared to the standard drug streptokinase. The n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and crude methanolic extracts showed 32.23 ± 0.26, 37.67 ± 1.31, 43.13 ± 0.85, and 46.78 ± 0.9% clot lysis, respectively, whereas the positive control streptokinase showed 93.35 ± 0.35% disruption at the dose of 30,000 I.U. In hot plate method, the highest pain inhibitory activity was found at a dose of 500 mg/kg of crude extract (15.54 ± 0.37 sec) which differed significantly (P <0.01 and P <0.001) with that of the standard drug ketorolac (16.38 ± 0.27 sec). In acetic acid induced writhing test, the crude methanolic extract showed significant (P <0.01 and P <0.001) analgesic potential at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (45.98 and 56.32% inhibition, respectively), where ketorolac showed 64.36% inhibition. In anti-inflammatory activity test, the crude methanolic extract showed significant (P <0.001) potential at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (1.51 ± 0.04 and 1.47 ± 0.03 mm paw edema, respectively), where ketorolac showed 1.64 ± 0.05 mm edema after 3 h of carrageenan injection. In antipyretic activity assay, the crude extract showed notable reduction in body temperature (32.78 ± 0.46°C) at dose of 500 mg/kg-body weight, when the standard (at dose 150 mg/kg-body weight) exerted 33.32 ± 0.67°C temperature after 3 h of administration. CONCLUSIONS: Our results yield that the crude hydroalcoholic extract has better effects than the other in all trials. In the context, it can be said that the leaves of L. glutinosa possess remarkable pharmacological effects, and justify its traditional use as analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and thrombolytic agent.

Total flavonoids of litsea coreana decreases the cytotoxicity of oxaliplatin in TM3 Leydig cells via enhancing the function of gap junction / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of total flavonoids of Litsea Coreana (TFLC) on the gap junction (GJ) intercellular communication in TM3 testicular Leydig cells and whether TFLC can reduce the cytotoxicity of oxaliplatin (OHP) in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We detected the effect of TFLC on the dye spread of the in vitro cultured TM3 cells by parachute assay, observed changes in the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) total protein in the TFLC-treated TM3 cells by Western blot, and determined the effects of TFLC on the expression of Cx43 on the membrane of the TM3 cells by immunofluorescence assay and on the cytotoxicity of OHP by MTT assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TFLC obviously enhanced the GJ function with the increasing of the TFLC concentration in the TM3 cells. Western blot and immunofluorescence assay confirmed that TFLC significantly enhanced the expression of Cx43 total protein and Cx43 expression on the membrane of the TM3 cells. MTT assay showed that at a high cell density (confluent with GJ formation), 20 microg/ml TFLC enhanced the GJ function of the TM3 cells and reduced the cytotoxicity of OHP (P < 0.05), while at a low density (preconfluent with no GJ formation), TFLC exhibited no effect on the cytotoxicity of OHP (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TFLC increases the Cx43 expression and GJ function in normal TM3 Leydig cells, and the enhancement of GJ function reduces the cytotoxicity of OHP.</p>

Alkaloids from roots and stems of Litsea cubeba / 中国中药杂志

A phytochemical investigation on the roots and stems of Litsea cubeba led to the isolation of seven isoquinolone alkaloids. By spectroscopic analysis and comparison of their 1H and 13C-NMR data with those in literatures, these alkaloids were identified as (+)-norboldine (1), (+)-boldine (2), (+)-reticuline (3), (+)-laurotetanine (4), (+)-isoboldine (5), (+)-N-methyl-laurotetanine (6), and berberine (7), respectively. Among them, 7 was isolated from the genus for the first time. The evaluation of these compounds showed weak anti-inflammatory activity against NO production in RAW 267.4 and BV-2 cells.

A phytochemical and pharmacological advance on medicinal plant Litsea cubeba (Lauraceae) / 中国中药杂志

Litsea cubeba is one of aromatic medicinal plant belonging to family Lauraceae. The roots, stems and fruits of L. cubeba have been widely applied as folk medicines in some districts in China for relieving rheumatism and cold, regulating Qi (meridian) to alleviate pain. Previous studies revealed that this species contains major alkaloids, in specific aporphines, and minor flavonoids, lignans as well. Related pharmacological investigations demonstrated its activities and clinical applications on cardiovascular diseases, anti-cancer, against rheumatoid arthritis, relieving asthma and anti-allergic effects, as anti-oxidants, and so on. As an effort for further exploration of this bioactive ingredients and potential drug development, this paper summarizes most phytochemical and pharmacological results. Further, future prospects are also included.

Chemical constituents from Litsea greenmaniana / 中国中药杂志

A new compound (1), together with ten known compounds (2-11), have been isolated from the branch of Litsea greenmaniana by using various chromatographic techniques. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic data analysis as N-trans-3, 4-methylenecinnamoyl-3-methoxytyramine (1), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (2), N-cis-feruloyltyramine (3), (+)-sesamin (4), (+)-pinoresinol(5), cinnamophilin (6), dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (7), benzoic acid (8), 4-hydroxy ethylbenzoate (9), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde(10), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzyl alcohol (11). Compound 1 was a new compound, and compounds 2-11 were obtained from this plant for the first time.

Actividad biológica y composición química de especies del género Litsea en Mesoamérica: Una revisión / Biological activity and chemical composition of Litsea´s genus species in Mesoamerica: a review

El presente trabajo es una revisión sobre la actividad biológica de extractos naturales con potencial medicinal o agroindustrial, en el cual se muestra que las especies vegetales del género Litsea distribuidas en Mesoamérica podrían constituir una fuente importante en el desarrollo de potenciales medicamentos y como biocontroladores tales como antitumoral, antiviral, antimicrobiana, antiinflamatoria, antioxidante, y en control fitosanitario como insecticida, plaguicida y repelente., entre otras. El desarrollo de un producto natural involucra la selección de la especie empleando criterios etnobotánicos o por bioprospección, los métodos de extracción estudio químico para el aislamiento y elucidación estructural de las moléculas responsables de la actividad y pruebas biológicas realizadas mediante ensayos in vitro, in vivo, toxicológicos y clínicos...

Study on the mechanism of action of total flavonoids of Litsea coreana for reducing blood glucose level in rat with type 2 diabetes mellitus / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the possible mechanism of total flavonoids of Litsea coreana (TFLC) on reducing blood glucose level in rat with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male SD rats of T2DM allocated in two groups were treated with 400 mg/kg TFLC or metformin respectively via gastrogavage for 6 weeks. Blood routine biochemical indices in rats were measured; pathology of rats' liver was examined with HE stain under transmission electron microscopy; levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver homogenate were determined, and the expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in liver was detected using RT-PCR at the terminal of the experiment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Biochemical measuring showed that the glucose tolerance of rats after treatment was markedly improved in both groups. Meantime, levels of fast blood glucose (FBG), glycohemoglobin (HbA1c), fast blood insulin (FINS), free fatty acid (FFA), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as MDA level in liver were decreased, while levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in blood and SOD in liver were significantly increased in both groups after treatment, showing insignificant difference between two treatment groups. Light microscopic examination showed markedly fatty degeneration of liver, and electron microscopic examination found mitochondria swelling and endoplasmic reticulum breakage in liver of T2DM rats, but these changes were ameliorated to some extent after treatment. The elevated PTP1B expression in liver of T2DM rats was decreased in the TFLC treated group, but unchanged in the metformin treated group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TFLC can significantly decrease the blood levels of glucose and lipid and ameliorate oxidation stress in liver; its mechanism of action in improving insulin resistance might be related with its suppression on PTP1B expression in rat's liver to enhance the insulin signaling pathway.</p>

Study of antinociceptive and antioxidant activities of [Hyptis capitata, Litsea glutinosa and Vernonia patula three medicinal plants of Bangladesh

A number of Bangladeshi medicinal plants have been reported to possess antinociceptive and antioxidant activities. Many of which have been used in the preparations of the Unani and Ayurvedic traditional medicine. As a part of our on-going research for exploring the bioactivities of Bangladeshi medicinal plants. Bala [llyptis capitata], Kukur-Chita [Litsea glutinosa], and Bonmulo [Vernonia patula] have been studied for their antinociceptive and antioxidant activity together with the phytochemicals namely, alkaloids, flavonoids. steroids, and tannins. Except for L. glutinosa, the ethanolic extracts of V. patula and H. capitata significantly reduced the acetic acid induced writhing in mice. In DPPH free radical scavenging assay all the extracts showed mild to moderate activity, in which IC[50] of H. capitata and V. patula were > 100 micro g/ml and that of L. glutinosa was > 500 micro g/ml. All the extracts showed positive tests with Dragendorffs. Braemer's, and Liebermann-Burchardt's reagent but gave negative result with Shinoda's reagents, except for V. patula

Repellent activity of essential oils against cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattidae, Blattellidae, and Blaberidae) in Thailand.

Seven commercial essential oils extracted from the plant species Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf., Citrus hystrix DC., Curcuma longa L., Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers., Piper nigrum L., Psidium guajava L. and Zingiber officinale Roscoe, and naphthalene as a control, were evaluated for repellent activity against the three cockroach species Periplaneta americana (L.), Blattella germanica (L.) and Neostylopyga rhombifolia (Stoll) under laboratory conditions. The essential oil derived from Citrus hystrix showed the best repellency over other candidate essential oils and naphthalene. The essential oil of Citrus hystrix exhibited complete repellency (100%) against P. americana and B. germanica, and also showed the highest repellency (among the essential oils tested) of about 87.5% against N. rhombifolia under laboratory conditions. In the field, Citrus hystrix essential oil formulated as a 20% active ingredient in ethanol and some additives provided satisfactory repellency of up to 86% reduction in cockroaches, mostly P. americana and N. rhombifolia with a residual effect lasting a week after treatment. Citrus hystrix essential oil has good potential for being used as a cockroach repellent. Further improvements in efficacy and residual activity may be realized with appropriate formulations.