ABSTRACT
Isotaxiresinol, the main lignan isolated from the water extract of wood of Taxus yunnanensis, was investigated for its effect on bone loss, on serum biochemical markers for bone remodeling and on uterine tissue, using ovariectomized (OVX) rats as the model of postmenopausal osteoporosis. After oral administration of isotaxiresinol (50 and 100mg/kg/d) for 6 weeks, bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in total and cortical bones were increased as compared to those of OVX control rats, and decreases of three bone strength indexes induced by OVX surgery were prevented. Serum biochemical markers for bone remodeling revealed that isotaxiresinol slightly increased bone formation and significantly inhibited bone resorption without side effect on uterine tissue. These results suggest that isotaxiresinol may be useful for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, especially for prevention of bone fracture induced by estrogen deficiency.
Subject(s)
Lignans/pharmacology , Lignans/therapeutic use , Osteoporosis/drug therapy , Taxus/chemistry , Animals , Body Weight , Bone Density/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Lignans/adverse effects , Lignans/chemistry , Molecular Structure , Ovariectomy , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Hypoglycemic effects of the H(2)O and MeOH extracts of the wood of Taxus yunnanensis were examined in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The H(2)O extract significantly lowered the fasting blood glucose level by 33.7% at a 100mg/kg dose on intraperitoneal administration. From the active H(2)O extract of the wood, three lignans, i.e., isotaxiresinol (1), secoisolariciresinol (2) and taxiresinol (3), were isolated as major components. These lignans were further tested for their hypoglycemic effects on the same experimental model. At a dose of 100mg/kg (i.p.), isotaxiresinol (1) reduced the fasting blood glucose level of diabetic rats by 34.5%, while secoisolariciresinol (2) and taxiresinol (3) reduced by 33.4% and 20.9%, respectively. The blood glucose lowering effects of 1 and 2 were stronger than the mixture of tolbutamide (200mg/kg) and buformin (1mg/kg) used as a positive control, which lowered fasting blood glucose level by 24.0%.
Subject(s)
Blood Glucose/metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Taxus/chemistry , Wood , Animals , Butylene Glycols/chemistry , Butylene Glycols/pharmacology , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/blood , Furans/chemistry , Furans/pharmacology , Hypoglycemia/chemically induced , Lignans/chemistry , Lignans/pharmacology , Male , Molecular Structure , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Genotoxicity of halogenated by-products obtained by chlorination of humic acid in water was evaluated in the presence of bromide ions (Br-). After the halogenated humic acid solution was made to flow through CSP800 cartridge, absorbed substances were eluted with dimethyl sulfoxide or acetone, and subjected to mutagenicity assays and to analysis of trihalomethanes (THMs). Mutagenic activity was measured by Ames tests using S. typhimurium TA100 strain without metabolic activation, and by the frequencies of micronuclei formation using cultured Chinese hamster lung cells (CHL/IU) in vitro. A powerful effect of bromide ions in chlorinated humic acid solutions was observed on the reverse mutation and micronuclei formations. The formations of total THMs and more brominated THMs were also enhanced in the presence of bromide ions. The ratio of [Br-/Cl-] regulated the composition and concentrations of THMs intensely, and the rate of substitution of Br- was greater than that of chloride ions (Cl-). The increments of the mutagenicity and total THMs formed in chlorinated solutions were observed in parallel with the concentration of Br- or Cl-. From the observations, it was concluded that the increasing mutagenicity might be caused by the increasing chlorinated and/or brominated by-products.
