Cross-reactive mechanism for the false elevation of free triiodothyronine in the patients treated with diclofenac.

We report three cases of patients exhibiting a false elevation of serum free triiodothyronine (FT3) as a result of a cross-reaction with diclofenac. The first case is a 66-yr-old woman with a long history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The patient was receiving diclofenac for the treatment of her RA. The patient was subsequently diagnosed as having thyroid papillary adenocarcinoma and received a subtotal thyroidectomy. After the operation, the patient exhibited postoperative hypothyroidism except for a gradual elevation of FT3. The other two patients also exhibited an elevated serum FT3 level after the administration of diclofenac. Serum FT3 levels in these patients decreased to normal or below normal after diclofenac administration was discontinued. In the first case, the elimination of immunoglobulin from the sera using polyethylene glycol precipitation did not reduce the FT3 level. In our hospital, Vitros ECi (enhanced chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay) system and Vitros FT3 kit were used for FT3 assay. The patient's FT3 levels were normal or below normal when they were measured using other FT3 kits. FT3 was also detected when diclofenac was dissolved in a phosphate buffered saline. Therefore, we concluded that a cross-reaction between FT3 and diclofenac was the mechanism causing the false elevation of FT3 in these patients.

Jatamols A and B: Sesquiterpenoids of Nardostachys jatamansi Roots1.

From the roots and rhizomes of NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI, two new eudesmanes jatamols A and B were isolated, and their structures were determined by spectral analysis and chemical evidence.

Anti-complementary and hypoglycemic activities of the glycans from the seeds of Malva verticillata.

Seven polysaccharides and peptidoglycans obtained from the seeds of Malva verticillata were tested for anti-complementary activity. Remarkable activities were observed for MVS-I and MVS-IIA. The former is mainly composed of beta-1,3-linked D-glucan and of alpha-1,5-linked L-arabino-beta-3,6-branched D-galactan, and the latter is essentially alpha-1,5-linked L-arabino-beta-3,6-branched D-galactan. Further, considerable activities were observed for MVS-IIIA and MVS-IVA. Both glycans possess arabino-3,6-galactan moieties accompanying alpha-1,3-linked L-arabinopyranosyl, beta-1,4-linked D-xylosyl, and alpha-1,4-linked D-galacturonic acid units. In addition, the major neutral polysaccharide (MVS-I), the major peptidoglycan (MVS-V), and the polysaccharide-rich fraction (MVS-V-CH) obtained from MVS-V were tested for hypoglycemic activity. MVS-I especially showed remarkable activity, and MVS-V-CH also exhibited significant activity. From the viewpoint of structural features, the latter belongs to pectic substances.

Mechanisms of hypoglycemic activity of ganoderan B: a glycan of Ganoderma lucidum fruit bodies.

Ganoderan B increased the plasma insulin level in normal and glucose-loaded mice but elicited no effect on insulin binding to isolated adipocytes. Administration of ganoderan B elicited significant increases of the activities of hepatic glucokinase, phosphofructokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, decreased the hepatic glucose-6-phosphate and glycogen synthetase activities and did not affect the activities of hexokinase and glycogen phosphorylase. Ganoderan B reduced the glycogen content in the liver but had no influence on total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the plasma and liver.

Isolation and hypoglycemic activity of trichosans A, B, C, D, and E: glycans of Trichosanthes kirilowii roots.

The non-dialyzable portion of the water extract of the Oriental crude drug "karokon", the roots of Trichosanthes kirilowii, was found to reduce the plasma glucose level in mice. Activity-guided fractionation of this non-dialyzable portion led to the isolation of five glycans termed as trichosans A, B, C, D and E, showing hypoglycemic actions in normal mice. The main glycan, trichosan A, also exhibited activity in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice.

Sagittatins A and B, Flavonoid Glycosides of Epimedium sagittatum Herbs1.

Two new flavonoid glycosides sagittatins A and B were isolated from EPIMEDIUM SAGITTATUM and their structures were fully characterized by chemical and spectroscopic means.

Mechanisms of hypoglycemic activity of aconitan A, a glycan from Aconitum carmichaeli roots.

Aconitan A did not affect plasma insulin levels in normal, glucose-loaded and alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice and gave no influence on insulin binding to isolated adipocytes. Aconitan A exerted no effect on the activities of hepatic hexokinase, glucokinase, glucose-6-phosphatase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, whereas it significantly increased hepatic phosphofructokinase activity. Although the activity of hepatic glycogen synthetase showed a tendency to increase, the activity of liver phosphorylase and glycogen content were unchanged by aconitan A. Aconitan A did not change the total cholesterol and triglyceride contents of plasma and liver.

Anti-hepatotoxic activity of extracts and constituents of Buddleja species.

The aqueous extracts of three species of Buddleja which are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of liver ailments have shown an inhibitory effect against induced cytotoxicity of cultured hepatocytes. Fractionation of one of these extracts, from B. globosa leaves, resulted in the isolation of five iridoids, two phenylpropide glycosides, and a flavonoid glycoside. Two of the iridoids were found to be novel compounds, 7-p-methoxycinnamoylaucubin (1) and 7-p-methoxycinnamoylcatalposide (2). One of the phenylpropides, echinacoside, has not previously been reported from Buddleja. Testing of the isolated compounds in the cultured hepatocyte system indicated that the activity is most likely due to the flavonoid and phenylpropide constituents. Phenylpropide glycosides have not previously been shown to have a liver-protectant effect.

Schizonodiol, Schizonol, and Schizonepetosides D and E, Monoterpenoids of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Spikes1.

Four new monoterpenoids, shizonodiol, shizonol, and shizonepetosides D and E, have been isolated from SCHIZONEPETA TENUIFOLIA spikes along with the known flavonoids, diosmetin, hesperetin, and luteolin.

Anticomplementary activity of the constituents of Eucommia ulmoides bark.

A study was made on the anticomplementary activity of the lignoid and iridoid derivatives isolated from the bark of Eucommia ulmoides as well as the enzymatic hydrolysis products of the isolated iridoid glucosides.

Antihepatotoxic actions of Cochlospermum tinctorium rhizomes.

The antihepatotoxic activity of the rhizomes of Cochlospermum tinctorium was investigated using carbon tetrachloride- and galactosamine-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. Because the methanol and ethanol extracts of C. tinctorium rhizomes exhibited antihepatotoxic effects, the former was fractionated in order to elucidate the active constituents. Polyphenol compounds (gallic and ellagic acids) were detected in the active fractions and may account for much of the antihepatotoxic activity. Carotenoids could also be implicated in the activity of the total extracts.