ABSTRACT
A new flavonol, 6-[1-(p-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]rhamnocitrin (3) together with two known compounds, kaempferol (4) and 7-O-methyl aromadendrin (5) were isolated from the kino of Eucalyptus citriodora and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR spectra. Rhamnocitrin (1), 6-[1-(p-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-7-O-methyl aromadendrin (2), previously isolated from this plant and compounds 3-5 were tested for inhibitory activity against 15-lipoxygenase. All compounds exhibited moderate to strong inhibitory activities, of which compounds 2, 3 and 5 showed stronger inhibitory activity (IC50 19.7 ± 0.5, 29.3 ± 0.9 and 31.4 ± 1.0 µM, respectively) than the positive control quercetin (IC50 37.5 ± 0.8 µM).
Subject(s)
Eucalyptus/chemistry , Flavonols/chemistry , Flavonols/pharmacology , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase , Lipoxygenase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Quercetin/pharmacology , Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray IonizationABSTRACT
The antioxidant and antityrosinase activities of the ethanolic extract of mulberry twigs (EEMT) were investigated. The results showed that EEMT exhibited radical scavenging and reducing activity, as well as ferrous ion-chelating activity. In addition, EEMT also protected phospholipids against free radicals, indicating that EEMT could protect biomolecules from oxidative damage. Meanwhile, in the range of 0-60 µg/ml, the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of EEMT increased with increase in sample concentration, and was superior to that of the ethanolic extract of mulberry root bark (EEMR). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was employed to determine the phenolic components, revealing that maclurin, rutin, isoquercitrin, resveratrol, and morin were present in EEMT. Acting as an antioxidant and a tyrosinase inhibitor, these bioactive constituents could contribute to the protective effects of EEMT. Overall, the results showed that EEMT might serve as a natural antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitor.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/pharmacology , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Monophenol Monooxygenase/antagonists & inhibitors , Morus/chemistry , Plant Bark/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Chromatography, High Pressure LiquidABSTRACT
The antioxidant activities of vanillin and vanillic acid isolated from Origanum vulgare are investigated. These compounds may serve as agents for antimelanogenesis. Vanillic acid is a stronger antioxidant than vanillin, in terms of free radical scavenging activity, reducing power and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The inhibition of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in H(2)O(2)-treated BNLCL2 cells by vanillic acid exceeds that of ascorbic acid (AA) or trolox. In B16F0 cells stimulated with alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), vanillic acid reduced cellular tyrosinase activity, DOPA oxidase and melanin contents, as well as down-regulated expressions of melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related proteins 2 (TRP-2) and TRP-1. Vanillin did not express inhibition of tyrosinase activity. These results supported that vanillic acid is a significantly stronger antioxidant than vanillin and exhibited stronger antimelanogenesis performance because of the structural presence of the carboxyl group.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/pharmacology , Benzaldehydes/pharmacology , Melanins/metabolism , Origanum , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Vanillic Acid/pharmacology , alpha-MSH/pharmacology , Animals , Cell Line , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Survival/drug effects , Cells, Cultured , Fibroblasts/cytology , Fibroblasts/drug effects , Fibroblasts/metabolism , Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects , Liver/cytology , Liver/drug effects , Liver/metabolism , Male , Melanins/antagonists & inhibitors , Melanoma, Experimental/metabolism , Melanoma, Experimental/pathology , Mice , Mice, Inbred ICR , Models, Animal , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/metabolismABSTRACT
To improve the transfection efficiency of polycations with DNA, we synthesized poly(ester-co-urethane)(PEU-g-PEI800) with short chain PEI800 in the side chain, and poly(ester-co-urethane)(PEU) without short chain PEI800. Both PEU-g-PEI800 and PEU, readily self-assembled with plasmid DNA (pCMV-betagal) in a HEPES buffer, were characterized by dynamic light scattering and zeta-potential. The results reveal that PEU-g-PEI800 and PEU were able to self-assemble particles with DNA and yield nano-sized complexes (<200nm) with positive charge at N/P ratios of 20/1 and 120/1, respectively. The degradation studies indicate that the half-life of PEU-g-PEI800 and PEU in the HEPES buffer were 14 and 35h at pH 7.4, respectively. Titration studies were performed to determine the buffering capacities of the polymers. The COS-7 cell viabilities in the presence of PEU-g-PEI800/DNA, PEU/DNA, and PEI25k/DNA were studied. In addition, The PEU-g-PEI800/DNA complexes were able to transfect COS-7 cells in vitro with a high efficiency comparable to a well-known gene carrier PEI25k. The results indicate that PEU-g-PEI800 is an attractive cationic poly (ester-co-urethane) for gene delivery and an interesting candidate for further study.
