Butein protects from PC12 cells apoptosis induced by methylglyoxal via inhibiting p53 signaling pathway / 中国药理学通报

Aim To study the effect of butein on apop-tosis of PC12 cells induced by methylglyoxal (MG) and its mechanism. Methods Being pretreated with different concentrations of butein, PC12 cells were damaged by 1.5 mmol·L-1MG. Cell viability and cell toxicity were evaluated by MTT and LDH assay. Cell apoptosis and death were analyzed by PI and Ho-echst 33342. The antioxidant gene and proapoptotic gene expressions were determined by RT-PCR. The protein expression of p53 was detected by Western blot. Results Being pretreated with 2.5~10 μmol· L-1butein for 1 h significantly increased the cell via-bility,decreased LDH release,and protected from cell nuclei shrinkage, condensation and cleavage by MG. Meanwhile, butein increased the gene expression of SOD2, decreased the gene expression of proapoptotic genes p53 and caspase-9, and lowered the protein ex-pression of p53. Conclusion Butein can protect ap-optosis of PC12 cells from MG in a dose-dependent manner,which is linked with antioxidation and inhibi-ting p53 and caspase-9 gene expression.

Spectrum-effect relationship between anti-HIV 1 activities and ultra-performance liquid chromatography fingerprints of Rheum species / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) fingerprints of Rheum species and their anti-HIV 1 activities.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Twenty two samples of 16 species belonging to genus Rheum from various sources were collected and analyzed in this study. Firstly they were assayed for the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) associated ribonuclease H (RNase H) activity. Secondly the fingerprints were established by an optimized UPLC method. Sample was analyzed by UPLC-TOF-MS/MS to identify major peaks. The possible relationship between UPLC fingerprints and anti-HIV 1 activities of Rheum species were deduced by mathematical statistics method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Samples of R. austral, R. austral, R. hotaoense exhibited good anti-HIV 1 activities with IC50 < or = 0.2 mg x L(-1). The correlation of anti-HIV 1 activities and fingerprints showed that three compounds were the main bioactive components, and their retention times were 4.74, 7.99, 21.18 min, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compounds in Rheum species with possible anti-HIV 1 activities were deduced by spectrum-effect relationship study. This study supported for study of medicinal plants in Rheum.</p>

Effective components against HIV-1 replicative enzymes isolated from plants / 药学学报

Plant active components characterized of many different structures and activities on multiple targets, have made them to be the important sources of inhibitors on HIV-1. For finding leading compounds with new structure against HIV-1, three key HIV-1 replicative enzymes (reverse transcriptase, protease and integrase) were used as screening models. The in vitro activities of 45 plant derived components isolated from Schisandraceae, Rutaceae and Ranunculaceae were reported. Within twelve triterpene components isolated, eight compounds were found to inhibit HIV-1 protease, in these eight active compounds, kadsuranic acid A (7) and nigranoic acid (8), inhibited both HIV-1 protease and integrase; Among fifteen lignans, meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (15) and kadsurarin (16) were active on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, and 4, 4-di(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenly)-2, 3-dimethylbutanol (13) active on HIV-1 integrase. All of the six alkaloids, seven flavones, and five others compounds were not active or only with low activities against HIV-1 replicative enzymes. Further studies of the triterpene components showing strong inhibitory activities on HIV-1 were warranted.

Argument on the correct Chinese name of genus Kadsura Kaempf.ex Juss / 药学学报

Family Schisandraceae is composed of two genera Schisandra and Kadsura, which are quite different in regard to the used part and medical function. Traditionally, the fruits of Schisandra plants were called 'Wuweizi' used as tonic for neurasthenia, antitussive, and sedative agents. The stems and roots of Kadsura plants, with names related to 'XueTeng', possess activating blood circulation and eliminating stasis and are used for the treatment of rheumatism, fractures and irregular menstruation. The dried fruit of Schisandra chinensis was recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 Edition) as 'Wuweizi', while the dried fruit of S. sphenanthera was recorded as an official origin of 'Nanwuweizi'. Historically, there was no evidence that the fruits of Kadsura plants were substituted as 'Wuweizi' either in ancient literatures or contemporary marketing. However, genus Kadsura is still popularly called 'Nanwuweizi' and plant K. longipedunculata is regarded as the origin of 'Nanwuweizi', thus this will cause confusion as well as misunderstanding of genus Kadsura. The authors recommended, therefore, the Chinese name of genus Kadsura should be 'Lengfantengshu' and K. longipedunculata with the name of 'Lengfanteng' in order to guarantee the drug authenticity.

Chemical study on ethyl acetate portion of Ehretia thyrsiflora, boraginaceae species of Kudingcha / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the chemical constituents of Ehretia thyrsiflora.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Compounds were isolated by using silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and RP-C18 chromatography; their structures were elucidated by means of spectral data analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Seven compounds were isolated and identified as methyl rosmarinate (1), caffeic acid (2), quercetin (3), kampferol (4), kaempferol 3-O-alpha-D-arabinoside (5), quercetin 3-O-alpha-D-arabinoside (6), and p-hydroxy benzoic acid (7).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All these compounds were isolated from E. thyrsiflora for the first time. Compounds 2-7 were isolated from genus Ehretia for the first time.</p>

Chemical constituents from stems of Schisandra propinqua / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents in the stems of Schisandra propinqua and evaluate their effects on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vitro by MTT assay.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The compounds were isolated and purified by various column chromatographic techniques and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis (ESI-MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR).</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Five compounds were isolated and identified as galgravin (1), veraguensin (2), octadecanoic acid 2, 3-dihydroxypropyl ester (3), hexadecanoic acid 2, 3-dihydroxypropy ester (4), tetracosanoic acid 2, 3-dihydroxypropyl ester (5).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All the compounds were isolated for the first time from the plant. 1, 2, 5 showed inhibiting effects on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMCs) proliferation in vitro.</p>