Effects of an ethyl acetate extract of Daphne altaica stem bark on the cell cycle, apoptosis and expression of PPARγ in Eca­109 human esophageal carcinoma cells.

Daphne altaica Pall. (D. altaica; Thymelaeaceae) has long been used in traditional Kazakh medicine for the treatment of cancer and respiratory diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated the in vitro anticancer effects of D. altaica extract and its constituents in certain cancer cell lines; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understooD. The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the activity of an ethyl acetate extract of D. altaica (Da­Ea) by assessing its effects on cell morphology, cell apoptosis, cell cycle progression and the expression levels of peroxisome proliferator­activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in Eca­109 cells. Cell morphology was observed under a phase contrast microscope. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle progression were assessed by flow cytometry following Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) double staining and PI single staining, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ were determined by reverse transcription­quantitative PCR and western blotting, respectively. Compared with the control group, the percentage of apoptotic cells, cell cycle arrest at S phase and apoptotic morphological cell characteristics were increased in Da­Ea­treated Eca­109 cells. Furthermore, Da­Ea treatment upregulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ compared with the control cells. High­performance liquid chromatography with diode­array detection indicated that daphnetin­7­O­ß­D­glucoside, daphnetin, demethyldaphnoretin­7­O­ß­D­glucopyranoside and genkwanol A were the main constituents of Da­Ea. Collectively, the results suggested that Da­Ea displayed antiproliferative activities in Eca­109 cells by inducing apoptosis and S phase cell cycle arrest, as well as upregulating PPARγ expression levels.

Inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis in macrophage by cycloastragenol contributes to amelioration of imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation in mice.

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease, and the infiltrated macrophages in psoriatic skin lesions play a key role in the progression of this uncontrolled cutaneous inflammation. However, the current therapeutic strategies for patients with psoriasis are not satisfactory. Here, we report that cycloastragenol (CAG), a natural active small compound isolated from Astragalus membranaceus, significantly ameliorated imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasiform dermatitis in mice by targeting proinflammatory macrophages. CAG significantly reduced the clinical scores, decreased the epidermal thickness, and ameliorated the deteriorating histopathology observed in IMQ-induced mice. CAG treatment specifically reduced the dermal infiltration of macrophages, rather than of dendritic cells, neutrophils, or T lymphocytes, into psoriatic skin. CAG dose-dependently decreased the level of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1ß, TNF-α and IL-6, in murine psoriatic skin and serum, as well as in IMQ-stimulated, bone-marrow-derived macrophages. When compared to the control group, CAG significantly decreased IMQ-triggered NLRP3 inflammasome activation and gasdermin D-mediated cell pyroptosis in these proinflammatory macrophages. CAG also suppressed the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex. Taken together, the results show that CAG selectively modulates macrophage function by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis to ameliorate IMQ-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation in mice. Our findings also identify an effective drug candidate for the treatment of psoriasis.

Dihydrochalcone-derived polyphenols from tea crab apple (Malus hupehensis) and their inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase in vitro.

Three dihydrochalcone-derived polyphenols, huperolides A-C (1-3), along with thirteen known compounds (4-16) were isolated from the leaves of Malus hupehensis, the well-known tea crab apple in China. Their chemical structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis including NMR (HSQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COSY and ROESY), HRMS and CD spectra. Huperolide A is a polyphenol with a new type of carbon skeleton, while huperolides B and C are a couple of atropisomers, which were isolated from natural sources for the first time. The antihyperglycemic effects of the isolated compounds were evaluated based on assaying their inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase. As a result, phlorizin (4), 3-hydroxyphloridzin (5), 3-O-coumaroylquinic acid (12) and ß-hydroxypropiovanillone (15) showed significant concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase. Therefore, those compounds might be responsible for the antihyperglycemic effect of this herb, and are the most promising compounds to lead discovery of drugs against diabetes.

Two New Chromone Glycosides from the Roots of Saposhnikovia divaricata.

Five chromone glycosides were isolated from the water-soluble portions of 70% EtOH extract of the roots of Saposhnikovia divaricata, including two new chromone glycosides 1 and 2. The structures of the chromone glycosides were identified as (3'S)-3'-O-ß-d-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 6)-ß-d-glucopyranosylhamaudol (1), (2'S)-4'-O-ß-d-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 6)-ß-d-glucopyranosylvisamminol (2), 3'-O-glucopyranosylhamaudol (3), 4'-O-ß-d-glucopyranosylvisamminol (4), and 4'-O-ß-d-glucopyranosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol (5) on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, and the absolute configurations of the new compounds were elucidated by the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation and acid hydrolysis. The cytotoxic activities of the glycosides 1 - 5 against three human cancer cell lines (PC-3, SK-OV-3, and H460) were evaluated. The result showed that compounds 1 - 5 had weak cytotoxic activities against the human cancer cell lines with IC50 values in the range of 48.54 ± 0.80 - 94.25 ± 1.45 µm.

[Studies on chemical constituents in bark of Larix olgensis var. koreana].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents in bark of Larix olgensis var. koreana. METHOD: The compounds were isolated with silica gel column chromatography and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis (IR, EI-MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR). RESULT: Eight compounds were isolated and identified as isopimaric acid (I), beta-sitosterol (II), 24R,5alpha-stigmast-3,6-dione (III), larixol (IV), ferulic acid (V), lariciresinol (VI), secroisolariciresinol (VII) and isolariciresinol (VIII). CONCLUSION: All the compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Two new iridoids from Patrinia scabra.

From the roots of Patrinia scabra two new iridoids, 3-methylbutyric acid 7-hydroxy-7-hydroxymethyl-4-(3-methyl-butyryloxymethyl)-6-oxo-1,6,7,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-1-yl ester (1) and 6-hydroxy-7-methylhexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-3-one (2) have been isolated. Their structures were determined by means of NMR spectra and X-ray crystallographic analysis.

New triterpenoid saponins from bulbs of Bolbostemma paniculatum.

Nine new triterpenoid saponins were isolated from the bulbs of Bolbostemma paniculatum (Maxim.) Franquet (Cucurbitaceae): 7beta,18,20,26-tetrahydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24 E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(3-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,18,20,26-tetrahydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(4-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,18,20,26-tetrahydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-(6-acetyl)glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(3-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(4-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-8-formyl-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(3-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-8-formyl-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3- O-alpha-L-(4-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 6'-O-palmitoyltubeimoside I. In addition, four known triterpenoid saponins: tubeimoside I, tubeimoside II, tubeimoside III and tubeimoside IV were isolated. The structures of the above compounds were elucidated based on spectroscopic studies, and the configuration of C-20 of tubeimoside IV was revised as S rather than R as reported in previous literature. The compounds were tested for their antiviral activity

[Determination of flavoniod-glycosides in Yixintong pills by HPLC].

OBJECTIVE: To develop an HPLC method for determining flavoniod-glycosides in Yixintong pills. METHOD: Agilent ZORBAX Extend-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) was used with tetrahydrofuran-methanol-acetonitrile-water-acetic acid (30:3:4:120:3) as mobile phase. Detection wavelength was 330 nm. RESULT: Good linearities of rhamnosylvitexin and vetexin-glucoside were obtained within the range of 0.044-1.78 microg (r = 0.9999) and 0.042-0.85 microg (r = 0.9999); the average recoveries were 100.0% and 99.2%; RSD were 0.92% and 1.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This method can be used for quality control of Yixintong pills.

[Studies on chemical constituents in bulbs of Bolbostemma paniculatum].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents of the bulbs of Bolbostemma panicultum. METHOD: The compounds were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel, C18, Sephadex LH-20 separately and their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic technologies. RESULT: Eight compounds were isolated and identified as maltol(I), emodin(II), cucurbitacin B(III), cucurbitacin E(IV), stigmasta-7, 22, 25-triene-3-ol(V), stigmasta-7, 22, 25-triene-3-nonadecanoic acid ester(VI), stigmasta-7, 22, 25-triene-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(VII), stigmasta-7, 22, 25-triene-3-O-beta-D-(6'-palmitoyl) glucopyranoside(VIII). CONCLUSION: I-VIII were obtained from this plant for the first time; VI and VIII are new compounds.

[Studies on the lignans from Patrinia scabra].

AIM: To study the lignans from Patrinia scabra Bunge. METHODS: The constituents were separated and purified by column chromatography with silical gel, RP-silical gel and Sephadex LH-20. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectral data (IR, MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, HMQC and HMBC). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A new lignan was obtained and its structure was elucidated as 4-[1-ethoxyl-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy)benzyl]methyl- 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy)benzyl-3-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydro-furan (2), along with three known lignans, lariciresinol (1), isolariciresinol (3) and nortracheloside (4).

Pyrrole alkaloids from Bolbostemma paniculatum.

Three pyrrole alkaloids were isolated from Bolbostemma paniculatum. Their structures were elucidated as 4-(2-formyl-5-methoxymethylpyrrol-1-yl)butyric acid methyl ester (1), 2-(2-formyl-5-methoxymethylpyrrol-1-yl)-3-phenylpropionic acid methyl ester (2) and alpha-methyl pyrrole ketone (3) by spectroscopic techniques. Among them, 1 and 2 are new compounds.

[A new bibenzyl derivative from Bletilla striata].

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of Bletilla striata. METHODS: Various column chromatographies with silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 were employed for the isolation and purification. The structures of the compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral analyses and chemical methods. RESULTS: Three compounds were isolated from the roots of Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb. f. and identified as 5-hydroxy-4-(p-hydroxybenzyl)-3'-3-dimethoxybibenzyl (I), schizandrin (II), 4,4'-dimethoxy-(1,1'-biphenanthrene)-2,2',7,7'-tetrol (III). CONCLUSION: Compound I is a new bibenzyl derivative and II was isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Studies on immunocompetent constituents of Patrinia scabra Bunge].

Five compounds were isolated from the roots of Patrinia scabra Bunge separated and purified on sillica gel column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated on the physico-chemical properties and spectral data as lariciresinol(I), syringaresinol(II), scopoletin(III), quercetin(IV), ferulaic acid(V). All compounds were obtained from P. scabra for the first time. In vitro biological test of these compounds showed that syringaresinol was able to stimulate T and B lymphocyte proliferation.