Studies on chemical constituents and bioactivities of alkaloids from zanthoxylum schinifolium / 中草药

Objective: To study the chemical structure and bioactivity of the alkaloids from Zanthoxylum schinifolium. Methods The alkaloids were isolated and purified by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, recrystallization, and semi-preparetive HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by physical and spectroscopic analysis. The cytotoxic activity of these compounds were tested by MTS. Results Nine alkaloids were obtained and identified as dictamnine (1), skimmianine (2), schinifoline (3), 6-methoxy-furanoquinolone (4), (+)-(S)-isoplatydesmine (5), (+)-(S)-araliopsine (6), (−)-(S)-ribalinine (7), (−)-(S)-edulinine (8), and (−)-(S)-6-acetonyldihydrochelerythrine (9). Conclusion Compound 4 is a new natural product and compounds 5—9 are isolated from this plant for the first time. Compound 9 has potential cytotoxicity towards HL-60, SMMC-7721, and A549.

A new coumarin isolated from root barks of Zanthoxylum schinifolium / 中草药

Objective: To study the anti-inflammatory components from the root barks of Zanthoxylum schinifolium. Methods: The compounds were isolated and purified by silica gel, MCI, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies, and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by physical and spectroscopic analysis. The anti-inf1ammatory activity was evaluated by the levels of NO in LPS-induced RAW264.7 tested by Griess reagent. Results: Four coumarins, namely zantholin A (1), 7-methoxycoumarin (2), isoscopoletin (3), and esculetin (4), were isolated from the root barks of Z. schinifolium. Compounds 1-4 exhibited anti-inflammatory activities on inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC50 values of (0.21 ± 0.03), (0.92 ± 0.16), (0.15 ± 0.02), and (0.26 ± 0.04) μmol/L, respectively. Conclusion: Compound 1 is a new compound, a rare terpenylated coumarin named zantholin A, and compounds 3 is obtained from this plant for the first time. All compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory activities.

Bioactive Constituents from the Leaves of Zanthoxylum schinifolium

Activity-guided separation of the methylene chloride-soluble fraction of the leaves of Zanthoxylum schinifolium, resulted in the isolation of four coumarinoids (1 - 4), two triterpenoids (5, 6) and three fatty acid derivatives (7 - 9) as active principles. Their chemical structures were identified as collinin (1), 8-methoxyanisocoumarin (2), 7-(6'R-hydroxy-3',7'-dimethylocta-2',7'-dienyloxy)-coumarin (3), (E)-4-methly-6-(coumarin-7'-yloxy) hex-4-enal (4), lupeol (5), epi-lupeol (6), phytol (7), hexadec-3-enoic acid (8) and palmitic acid (9), on the basis of spectroscopic (1D, 2D and MS) data analyses and comparing with the data published in the literatures. Compounds 1 and 7 showed potent cytotoxicity against Jurkat T cells with IC50 values of 45.58 and 47.51 microM, respectively. The others showed moderate activity with IC50 values ranging around 80.58 to 85.83 microM, while the positive control, auraptene, possessed an IC50 value of 55.36 microM.

Anti-Thrombogenic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Solvent Fractions from Leaves of Zanthoxylum Schinifolium (Sancho Namu) in Rats Fed High Fat Diet

This study was performed to investigate anti-thrombogenic, anti-inflammatory effects of n-BuOH (B) and CH2Cl2 (MC) fractions extracted from Sancho (Zanthoxylum. schinifolium) leaves in rats fed high fat diets. The experimental animal groups were consisted of eight including one 5% fat (N) and one 20% fat (H) without the test materials in diets and six H groups of feeding three levels (50, 100 and 150 mg/day) of the B and the MC fractions from Z. schinifolium, respectively. Plasma activated partial thromboplastin times and thrombin times of H group were decreased compared to the N group, but they were increased by feeding the MC fraction of 50 mg and over. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte 5'-lipoxygenase activities and leukocyte leukotriene B4 contents of the H group were significantly increased compared to the N group, but they were decreased in the 100 mg and 150 mg of B fraction or the 150 mg of MC fraction fed groups. Liver cytochrome P450, O2-, H2O2 and GSSG contents were increased by the high fat diet but decreased by feeding the B fraction or the MC fraction, while GSH content and glutathione S-transferase activity lowered by high fat diet were increased by feeding the two solvent fractions. The effects of the solvent fractions were evident at the level of 100 mg/day and over. The present results confirmed that two solvent fractions from the leaves of Z. schinifolium have enhancing effects on antithrombosis and anti-inflammation partly by antioxidant action and partly by direct modulation of the respective processeds. In conclusion, the n-BuOH and CH2Cl2 fractions from leaves of Z. schinifolium can be utilized as the proper ingredients of functional foods for preventing chronic degenerative disease.

Effects of Edible and Medicinal Plants Intake on Blood Glucose, Glycogen and Protein Levels in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

The hypoglycemic effects of four edible plants (Angelicae tenuissimae (A. ten.), Pleurospermum kamtschaticum (P. kam.), Adenophora remotiflora (A. rem.) and Zanthoxylum schinifolium (Z. sch.)) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 190-230 g were induced diabetes mellitus by the STZ injection (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein and were divided into six groups ; normal, STZ-control and four edible plant groups (A. ten., P kam., A. rem. and Z. sch. groups). Normal and STZ-control groups were fed a AIN-93 diet and four groups of STZ-induced diabetic rats were fed one of each experimental diets containing 10% of the edible plant powder for 4 weeks. Diabetic rats showed the lower weight gain compared to the normal rats. In experimental groups except P. kam., AST activities were close to normal. A. ten. group were lowered ALT activities slightly. The plasma glucose levels of the diabetic experimental groups were significantly decreased at 4th week. The plasma insulin levels in diabetic experimental groups were not significantly different compared to the STZ-control group. The liver glycogen levels in STZ injected rats were significantly lower in compared to the normal rats. However no significant differences were found in response experimental plants intake in diabetic rats. The muscle glycogen were not significantly different among all the groups.