Di- and Triterpenoids from the Leaves of Casearia balansae and Neurite Outgrowth Promoting Effects of PC12 Cells.

A bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Casearia balansae led to the isolation of six new cucurbitane-type triterpenoid derivatives (balanterpenes A-F, 1-6) and four new clerdoane-type diterpenoids (balanterpenes G-J, 7-10). The structures of 1-10 were established on the basis of extensive analysis of NMR spectroscopic data, X-ray crystallography, and experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. Compound 1 features a ring-expanded triterpenoid skeleton with the C-19 methyl involved in the ring formation, compound 6 possesses a rare hexanortriterpenoid scaffold, and compounds 7-10 may be four new diterpenoid artifacts presumably formed during the extraction and purification processes. Compounds 3 and 7-10 showed promoting effects on neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells with EC50 values in the range 2.9-10.0 µM.

New salicin derivatives from the leaves of Populus euphratica.

Chemical investigation of the leaves of Populus euphratica Oliv. led to the isolation and identification of 13 compounds for the first time, among which 6'-O-cis-cinnamoylsalicin (1) and 6'-O-benzoylsalicortinol (2) were new compounds. The spectral data of 6'-O-trans-cinnamoylsalicin (3) and salicortinol (4) were reported for the first time. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis and comparisons with literature values.

Analysis of multi-components of Radix Paeoniae Sinjiangensis and their antiplatelet aggregation effects / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To construct a library of the multi-components of Radix Paeoniae Sinjiangensis and explore the methods for its separation and characterization.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of Rhodiola rosea].

OBJECTIVE: To separate and identify the chemical constituents of n-BuOH extraction from the roots of Rhodiola rosea in Xinjiang. METHODS: The column chromatography was used to separate consituents. The structures were elucidated by chemical reactions and MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and 2D-NMR spectral data. RESULTS: Six compounds were isolated and identified as salidroside (I), kaempferol-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside(II), herbacetin-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyr-anoside(III), herbace-tin-7-0-(3"-O-beta-D-glucopyran-oside)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside(IV), 5, 7, 3', 5'-tetrahydroxy-flavanone(V), sucrose(VI). CONCLUSION: Compound V is isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Structure-activity relationships of phenylethanoid glycosides in plants of Cistanche salsa on antioxidative activity].

OBJECTIVE: To study the structure-activity relationships of phenylethanoid glycosides in plants of Cistanche salsa on antioxidative activity. METHODS: By the assay systems of DPPH*, the antioxidant activity of six phenylethanoid glycosides from plants of Cistanche salsa was determined to investigate the relationship between the antioxidant activities and phenylethanoid glycosides's structural characteristics. RESULTS: The antioxidative activity of phenylethanoid glycosides was variant with dose-dependent effect. The sequence of the strength of the antioxidative activity of the six components was shown to be 2'-Acetylacteoside > Acteoside > or = Tubuloside B > or = Isoacteoside > Echinacoside > Cistanoside A. CONCLUSION: The antioxidative activity of phenylethanoid glycosides is related to the number of phenolic hydroxyl, steric hindrance, 2-acetyl on the middle glucopyranose, and the location of phenolic hydroxyl. Additionally, it may be related to the alpha, beta-unsaturated ketone of phenl-2-propenoyl.

[Studies on the chemical constituents from Xinjiang Punica granatum].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents from Punica granatum. METHODS: The chemical constituents were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel and MCI-gel CHP 20P, Sephadex LH-20. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis and physical constants. RESULTS: Ten compounds were isolated and elucidated as: gallic acid (1), methyl gallate (2), ellagic acid (3), (+) catechin (4), isoquerecitrin (5), D-mannitol (6), ursolic acid (7), Oleanolic acid (8), beta-Sitosterol (9) and Daucosterol (10). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1-10 are isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Studies on chemical constituents from EtOAc fraction of Sorbus tianschanica].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Sorbus tianschanica. METHOD: The compounds were isolated and purified by recrystallization and chromatography with silica gel and resin. Their structures were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral analysis. RESULT: Seven compounds were isolated from the EtOH extraction and six structures were identified as benzoic acid (1), benzyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), ursolic acid (3), 2alpha-hydroxyursolic acid (4), hyperoside (5), quercetin-3-O-glucoside (6). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1-5 were isolated from S. tianschanica for the first time.

Effects of jingtian tongmai recipe on atherosclerotic plaque in rabbits / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the inhibiting effects of Jingtian Tongmai Recipe (JTTMR) in different dosages on atherosclerotic plaque using the arteriosclerosis rabbit model induced by high cholesterol diet supplemented with immunological injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-four healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into six groups: the normal control group, the model group, the Xuezhikang (XZK) treated group and the three JTTMR treated groups treated respectively with low (1.29 g/kg/day), medium (2.57 g/kg/day) and high (5.14 g/kg/day) dosage of JTTMR. Indexes including serum lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), and area ratio of aortic plaque/intima (PIR), and intima-media thickness ratio (IMT) were examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Comparison of blood lipids showed that serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were higher significantly in the model group than in the normal group (P<0.05); TC and LDL-C were lower in the XZK group and the JTTMR groups than in the model group (P<0.05); and these indexes were significantly lower in the medium dose JTTMR group than those in the low and high dose JTTMR groups (P<0.05); while no significant difference of TG between the model group, the JTTMR groups and the XZK group were observed (P>0.05). As for level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), that in the XZK group and high dose JTTMR group was higher than that in the other 4 groups (P<0.05). Comparison of CRP showed that it was higher in the model group than in the normal group (P<0.05), while the difference among the other 4 groups was insignificant (P>0.05). No plaque and increase of intima/media thickness was found in the normal group; either PIR or IMT were lesser in the JTTMR groups than those in the model group (P<0.05), and comparison among the three JTTMR groups showed those in the medium dose group was the least (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>JTTMR has arteriosclerosis inhibiting effect, which might be realized through its anti-inflammatory and lipids regulating actions, but the effects are not dose-dependent. The optimal effect is showed by using medium dose of JTTMR, equivalent to the dose used for human adult.</p>

[Studies on chemical constituents of cultivated Cistanche salsa].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of cultivated Cistanche salsa. METHODS: Compounds were isolated and purified on several chromatography, and then were identified by physico-chemical properties and structurally elucidated by spectral analysis. RESULTS: Seven compounds were isolated and identified as beta-sitosterol (I), daucosterol (II), beta-sitosteryl glucoside 3'-O-heptadecoicate (III), 8-hydroxygeraniol 1-beta-D-glucopyranoside (IV), 2-methanol-5-hydroxy-pyridine (V), betaine (VI), galactitol (VII). CONCLUSION: The chemical constituents of artificial cultivated Cistanche salsa are studied for the first time. Among them, compound III and IV are isolated from the plant for the first time, compound V is isolated from this genus for the first time.

Synthesis and in vitro antioxidant activity of homo- and heterocyclic diene derivatives of glycyrrhetol / 药学学报

Chemical modification was performed for improving the antioxidant activity of lead compound glycyrrhetinic acid (Ib). Two conjugated diene derivatives were prepared by reduction and dehydration reactions. Their in vitro antioxidant activities were studied using a cytochrome P450/NADPH reductase system from rat liver microsomes. The generation of microsomal free radicals was followed by oxidation of the DCFH-DA probe, while evaluating the capacity to inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. The initial result showed that the two homo- and heterocyclic diene derivatives--18beta-olean-11,13(18)-diene-3beta, 30-diol (IV) and 18beta-olean-9 (11), 12-diene-3beta, 30-diol (V) exhibited strong antioxidant activities, at a concentration of 1.0 mg x mL(-1), they inhibited free radical (ROS) formation by 45% and 41%, respectively. In the same conditions, the lead compound (Ib) and the reference vitamin E inhibited ROS activity by 31% and 32%. Our results suggest that the elimination of the 11-keto group and the chemical reduction of 30-carboxylic group into hydroxyl function can increase the antioxidant activity of Ib significantly.