A new sesquiterpene lactone from Elephantopus mollis.

A methanolic extract of the whole plant of Elephantopus mollis was found to contain lupeol, lupeol acetate, epifriedelinol, molephantin, and 2-de-ethoxy-2-methoxyphantomolin, as well as a new sesquiterpene lactone determined to be 2-de-ethoxy-2-hydroxyphantomolin.

Demonstration of the myocardial salvage effect of lithospermic acid B isolated from the aqueous extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza.

Lithospermic acid B has been isolated to > 95% purity by high performance liquid chromatography from the aqueous extract of the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza. When infused at 5.5 mumoles/kg into the post-ischemic rabbit heart, it reduced by 62 +/- 10% (n = 8) the myocardial damage found in the saline control in a rabbit ischemia-reperfusion model.

Lithospermic acid B as an antioxidant-based protector of cultured ventricular myocytes and aortic endothelial cells of rabbits.

Lithospermic acid B, an active principle found in a Chinese herbal medicine for treating various heart ailments, was recently isolated, purified and demonstrated by us to salvage the postischemic rabbit heart from reperfusion injury. In this work, we further report that lithospermate B is able to protect each of two types of rabbit cardiocytes, namely ventricular myocytes and aortic endothelial cells against necrosis inflicted by oxyradicals generated pharmacologically with xanthine oxidase and hypoxanthine. Biochemically, the lithospermate B also inhibits the reduction of cytochrome c by superoxide radical anion. Thus, our in vitro data here are in concord with our earlier in vivo finding that lithospermic acid B is most likely an effective antioxidant-based myocardial protector.

[Effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza on the cardial ischemia in rats induced by ligation].

I.p. injection (5 g crude drug/kg) of water extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza to S.D. rats can prevent the acute cardial ischemia induced by the ligation of the coronary artery. The elevation of S-T segment in the electrocardiogram caused by the ischemia was greatly reduced in animals treated with Salvia miltiorrhiza compared with control group. The ischemia area in the left ventricle was significantly reduced and survival rate of the rats increased.

[Proliferation of lymphocytes T and B by prehispanolone LC-5504 of Leonurus hereterophyllus Sweet].

Leonurus hereterophyllus Sweet is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used to treat menstrual disturbances in woman. A new labdane diterpene, prehispanolone LC-5504, namely 9 alpha, 13R,15,16-diepoxy-labdane-14-en-7-one, had been isolated. The authors studied the synergism of labdane diterpene, prehispanolone LC-5504 and Con A and LPS on T cells and B cells proliferation of BALB/c female mice in vitro. They showed that: (1) proliferation of T cells was demonstrated by administration of LC-5504 of various concentrations together with Con A. This proliferation was 5-8 times stronger than that observed when Con A was used alone. Such effect on T cells was not observed when LC-5504 was used alone. (2) Proliferation of B cells was not observed whether LC-5504 was used alone or together with LPS.

[Prevention and treatment of isoproterenol induced ventricular fibrillation in rats by aqueous extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza].

Acute fatal ventricular fibrillation (VF) in male Sprague-Dawley rats was induced by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (1 mg or 5 mg/kg body weight) to two groups of rats of different body weights (525 +/- 21 g or 387 +/- 11 g) respectively. VF occurred in all control rats resulting in 96% death with only 4% spontaneously reverted and survived. Pretreatment of animals, with or without pentobarbital anaesthesia, with an aqueous extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM-H, i.p., 5 g herb/kg body weight) significantly reduced J-point displacement and VF induced by isoproterenol. Survival rate was significantly raised compared with the control (P less than 0.05). Immediate intravenous injection of SM-H (5 g herb/kg body weight) to poisoned rats which developed VF caused 71% of them to recover temporarily their sinus rhythm and significantly prolonged their survival time (P less than 0.05).

Prehispanolone, a novel platelet activating factor receptor antagonist from Leonurus heterophyllus.

1. Using an in vitro radioligand binding assay for the platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor, we have identified a novel, specific PAF antagonist, prehispanolone, from a Chinese medicinal herb Leonurus heterophyllus. 2. The presence of sodium ions inhibited specific [3H]-PAF binding to rabbit platelet membrane with an IC50 of 5.2 mM, decreased the inhibitory potency of PAF but increased the inhibitory potency of prehispanolone. 3. Prehispanolone and several of its derivatives inhibited the binding of [3H]-PAF to rabbit platelets with potencies closely resembling that of inhibition of PAF-induced aggregation. 4. The integrity of the tetrahydrofuran ring of prehispanolone is critical for its interaction with the PAF receptor. 5. By hydrogenating the dihydrofuran ring and replacing the keto group of prehispanolone with a hydroxyl group, we obtained a compound, LC5507, that is more stable and more active than prehispanolone as a PAF receptor antagonist.

Miltirone, a central benzodiazepine receptor partial agonist from a Chinese medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza.

Ten diterpene quinones, which inhibited the binding of [3H]flunitrazepam to central benzodiazepine receptors with IC50s ranging from 0.3 to 36.2 microM, were isolated from the ethereal extract of the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Among these natural products, miltirone has the highest potency (IC50 = 0.3 microM). It was orally active in an animal model used to predict clinical tranquilizing effects. Unlike diazepam, miltirone behaved as a partial agonist in the central benzodiazepine receptor binding and behavioural tests. Moreover, it produced no acute muscle relaxant effect and did not induce drug dependence and withdrawal reactions after chronic administration in mice.