Cinnamaldehyde Derivatives Inhibit Coxsackievirus B3-Induced Viral Myocarditis

The chemical property of cinnamaldehyde is unstable in vivo, although early experiments have shown its obvious therapeutic effects on viral myocarditis (VMC). To overcome this problem, we used cinnamaldehyde as a leading compound to synthesize derivatives. Five derivatives of cinnamaldehyde were synthesized: 4-methylcinnamaldehyde (1), 4-chlorocinnamaldehyde (2), 4-methoxycinnamaldehyde (3), α-bromo-4-methylcinnamaldehyde (4), and α-bromo-4-chlorocinnamaldehyde (5). Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and HeLa cells infected by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) were used to evaluate their antiviral and cytotoxic effects. In vivo BALB/c mice were infected with CVB3 for establishing VMC models. Among the derivatives, compound 4 and 5 inhibited the CVB3 in HeLa cells with the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations values of 11.38 ± 2.22 μM and 2.12 ± 0.37 μM, respectively. The 50% toxic concentrations of compound 4 and 5-treated cells were 39-fold and 87-fold higher than in the cinnamaldehyde group. Compound 4 and 5 effectively reduced the viral titers and cardiac pathological changes in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, compound 4 and 5 significantly inhibited the secretion, mRNA and protein expressions of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in CVB3-infected cardiomyocytes, indicating that brominated cinnamaldehyde not only improved the anti-vital activities for VMC, but also had potent anti-inflammatory effects in cardiomyocytes induced by CVB3.

Determination of Oleanolic Acid and Ursolic Acid in the Fruits of Ligustrum Iucidum Ait.of Shanxi by HPLC / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To determine oleanolic acid(OA)and ursolic acid(UA)from Fructus Ligustri Lucidi in diffrernt habitat and various growing stages.Method We picked the fruits of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi in Otober in five cities of Shanxi,and in August,September,October,November and December in Xi'an.Removed impurities and storaged the fruits under room temperature.By HPLC with Waters 600 as its chromatographic system,and Lichrospher C_(18)(4.6mmx250mm,5?m) column was applied with CH_3CN-CH_3OH-H_2O-H_3PO_4-(C_2H_5)_3N(50:30:20:0.02:0.04)as its mobile phase,the flow rate was 1 mL/min.The standard working curve was made to determine the contents of OA and UA at different habitat and different time spot from samples.Result The contents of OA and UA were highest in Ankang city.During prolonging growing stages,the highest contents of OA and UA were October and August,respectively.They both reduced to the lowest point in December.Conclusion The contents of OA and UA changed in different habitat and diffrernt growing stages of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi. It was suggested that we should mainly base on the highest contents to select the harvest time according to our demands.

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetic study of genistein in Beagle dogs / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the pharmacokinetics of genistein at different doses in Beagle dogs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Suspended in 0.5% CMC-Na solution, genistein was orally administered to Beagle dogs at doses of 2.67, 5.34 and 10.68 mg.kg(-1). At various time intervals, 1.5 mL of blood was drawn from the femoral vein of dogs in their front legs. The plasma was treated with beta-glucuronidase. The genistein in plasma was extracted twice by vortexing with 2.0 mL mixture of methyl tert-tubtyl ether and pentane (v/v = 8:2). The organic phase was removed into the tubes and then evaporated in ventilation cabinet. The residue was dissolved in 50 microL of methanol. 20 microL solution was drawn and detected by high-performance liquid chromatography. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by 3P97 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The plasma drug concentration-time data were fitted to the two-compartment model. When the dose was 2.67 mg.kg(-1), the MRT and AUC of parent compound were 52.9 min and 6.7 mg.min. L(-1), respectively. When the dose rose to 5.34 mg.kg(-1), the MRT and AUC of parent compound became 224.8 min and 26.1 mg.min.L(-1), respectively. However, when the dose increased to 10.68 mg .kg(-1), the MRT and AUC of parent compound increased to 267.7 min and 33.2 mg.min L(-1), respectively. The AUC of glucuronidated genistein was 33.9, 70.1 and 140.5 mg.min.L(-1) at the dose of 2.67, 5.34 and 10.68 mg.kg(-1), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Due to significant first pass metabolism, the drug was mainly existed in the form of glucuronidated genistein in the plasma. With the increase of dose, the absorption of genistein became saturated and the half life prolonged.</p>