Arundinosides I-IX and graminifolosides A-B: 2R-benzylmalate and 2R-isobutylmalates derivatives from Arundina graminifolia (D.Don) Hochr. with antioxidant, cytocompatibility and cytoprotective properties.

Phytochemical investigation of the underground parts of Arundina graminifolia D.Don Hochr was conducted leading to the isolation of nine new glucosyloxybenzyl 2R-benzylmalate and two new glucosyloxybenzyl 2R-isobutylmalate derivatives. The compounds were purified using chromatographic techniques and their structures were deduced based on spectroscopic techniques including nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution mass spectrometry as well as comparing with previous literature. The antioxidant activities of the isolated compounds were also evaluated. The compounds showed potent antioxidant activities in the ABTS radical scavenging, DPPH radical scavenging and FRAP activities. Furthermore, the isolated compounds were observed to exert minimal cytotoxic effects against RAW 264.7 cell, suggesting biocompatibility as well as cytoprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide induced cell toxicity.

New glucosyloxybenzyl 2R-benzylmalate derivatives from the undergrounds parts of Arundina graminifolia (Orchidaceae).

Phytochemical investigation of the underground part of the blossoming tropical orchid Arundina graminifolia led to the isolation of six new glucosyloxybenzyl 2R-benzylmalate derivatives named arundinosides L-Q (1-6) together with 5 known compounds arundinosides D-F, J and K (7-11). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic data analysis. The anti-α-glucosidase and antioxidant activities of the isolated compounds were determined. The result indicated that compounds 4-6 and 9 showed moderate to weak α-glucosidase inhibitory effects as well as moderate antioxidant effect.

Skin Changes During Ageing.

The skin provides the primary protection for the body against external injuries and is essential in the maintenance of general homeostasis. During ageing, resident cells become senescent and the extracellular matrix, mainly in the dermis, is progressively damaged affecting the normal organization of the skin and its capacity for repair. In parallel, extrinsic factors such as ultraviolet irradiation, pollution, and intrinsic factors such as diabetes or vascular disease can further accelerate this phenomenon. Indeed, numerous mechanisms are involved in age-induced degradation of the skin and these also relate to non-healing or chronic wounds in the elderly. In particular, the generation of reactive oxygen species seems to play a major role in age-related skin modifications. Certainly, targeting both the hormonal status of the skin or its surface nutrition can slow down age-induced degradation of the skin and improve healing of skin damage in the elderly. Skin care regimens that prevent radiation and pollution damage, and reinforce the skin surface and its microbiota are among the different approaches able to minimize the effects of ageing on the skin.

Glycation Damage: A Possible Hub for Major Pathophysiological Disorders and Aging.

Glycation is both a physiological and pathological process which mainly affects proteins, nucleic acids and lipids. Exogenous and endogenous glycation produces deleterious reactions that take place principally in the extracellular matrix environment or within the cell cytosol and organelles. Advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation begins by the non-enzymatic glycation of free amino groups by sugars and aldehydes which leads to a succession of rearrangements of intermediate compounds and ultimately to irreversibly bound products known as AGEs. Epigenetic factors, oxidative stress, UV and nutrition are important causes of the accumulation of chemically and structurally different AGEs with various biological reactivities. Cross-linked proteins, deriving from the glycation process, present both an altered structure and function. Nucleotides and lipids are particularly vulnerable targets which can in turn favor DNA mutation or a decrease in cell membrane integrity and associated biological pathways respectively. In mitochondria, the consequences of glycation can alter bioenergy production. Under physiological conditions, anti-glycation defenses are sufficient, with proteasomes preventing accumulation of glycated proteins, while lipid turnover clears glycated products and nucleotide excision repair removes glycated nucleotides. If this does not occur, glycation damage accumulates, and pathologies may develop. Glycation-induced biological products are known to be mainly associated with aging, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes and its complications, atherosclerosis, renal failure, immunological changes, retinopathy, skin photoaging, osteoporosis, and progression of some tumors.

Arundinosides A-G, new glucosyloxybenzyl 2R-benzylmalate derivatives from the aerial parts of Arundina graminifolia.

Seven new glucosyloxybenzyl 2R-benzylmalate derivatives, arundinosides A-G (1-7) were isolated from the aerial parts of the bamboo orchid Arundina graminifolia. This is the first occurrence of this class of compounds in the genus Arundina. Their planar structures and absolute configuration were determined by extensive NMR spectroscopic data as well as chemical conversion. Their neuroprotective properties were also evaluated on their potential ability to reduce the beta amyloid damage on PC12 cell model.

Dendrobium: Sources of Active Ingredients to Treat Age-Related Pathologies.

Dendrobium represents one of the most important orchid genera, ornamentally and medicinally. Dendrobiums are sympodial epiphytic plants, which is a name they are worthy of, the name coming from Greek origin: "dendros", tree, and "bios", life. Dendrobium species have been used for a thousand years as first-rate herbs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). They are source of tonic, astringent, analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory substances, and have been traditionally used as medicinal herbs in the treatment of a variety of disorders, such as, nourishing the stomach, enhancing production of body fluids or nourishing Yin. The Chinese consider Dendrobium as one of the fifty fundamental herbs used to treat all kinds of ailments and use Dendrobium tonic for longevity. This review is focused on main research conducted during the last decade (2006-2016) on Dendrobium plants and their constituents, which have been subjected to investigations of their pharmacological effects involving anticancer, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective and immunomodulating activities, to report their undeniable potential for treating age-related pathologies.

Isolation of novel stilbenoids from the roots of Cyrtopodium paniculatum (Orchidaceae).

Four new stilbenoids, named cyrtopodinone (1), cyrtopodinol (2), and coeludols A and B (3-4) were isolated from the roots of Cyrtopodium paniculatum, together with 21 known stilbenoids derivatives (5-25). Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis including extensive 1D and 2D-NMR techniques. The cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds were tested on human glioblastoma U-87MG cell line with fluorescence-based image cytometry. Only four compounds (18, 19, 22 and 25) displayed moderate cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 45.2, 39.9, 58.2 and 48.0µM, respectively.

Two New Stilbenoids from the Aerial Parts of Arundina graminifolia (Orchidaceae).

Two new phenanthrene derivatives, a phenanthrenequinone named arundiquinone (1) and a 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene named arundigramin (2) together with a known lignin dimer (3) and seven known stilbenoids (4-10) were isolated from the aerial parts of the Asian orchid Arundina graminifolia. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including extensive 1D, 2D NMR (heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC), heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation spectroscopy (HMBC), and HR-ESI-MS techniques, as well as comparison with respective literature reports. The cytoprotective activity of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their ability to reduce beta amyloid induced toxicity on undifferentiated PC12 cells. Compound 8 showed moderate cytoprotective activity at 0.5 µmol/L (71% of cell viability) while the other compounds showed no significant activity at the highest concentration tested.

Chemical Constituents from the Aerial Parts of Cyrtopodium paniculatum.

We report the first phytochemical study of the neotropical orchid Cyrtopodium paniculatum. Eight new compounds, including one phenanthrene 1, one 9,10-dihydro-phenanthrene 2, one hydroxybenzylphenanthrene 3, two biphenanthrenes 4-5, and three 9,10 dihydrophenanthrofurans 6-8, together with 28 known phenolic compounds, mostly stilbenoids, were isolated from the CH2Cl2 extract of its leaves and pseudobulbs. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods.

[The Escouflaire Laboratories].

Escouflaire antiasthmatic cigarettes and powders knew certain success during almost one century. The medical use of solanaceae with bronchodilator properties helped relieve numerous asthmatics. The Belgian pharmacist Charles Adolphe Escouflaire (1857-1909), pharmacist from the university of Leuven, Belgium, awarded his diploma in 1879. He created his antiasthmatic products in his pharmacy of Ath and established in 1885 a pharmaceutical laboratory. He registered trademarks under the brand name Zematone for its antiasthmatic cigarettes. His products will be rapidly known and sold all over the world. The discovery of a complete box of medical cigarettes in the Czech Republic allows us to evoke his products, the distributor F. S chnöbling in this country, the modes of display and uses. This article redraws the history of the laboratory under the direction of three generations of the Escouflaire family. The laboratory will expand after WWII with production factories in Baisieux and Blandain before definitely close in 1974.

Purification of vandaterosides from Vanda teres (Orchidaceae) by stepwise gradient centrifugal partition chromatography.

Vandaterosides are polar glucosyloxybenzyl eucomate derivatives found in Vanda teres (Orchidaceae), which display biological activities that slow the skin ageing process. In order to obtain larger quantities to allow us to go further in the bioassays, the hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts (leaves and stems) of V. teres were fractionated by centrifugal partition chromatography, combining isocratic, gradient, and dual elution modes. The first fractionation was performed on the extract maintained in the stationary phase as water saturated in butanol, while increasing the polarity of the mobile phase by changing the proportions of ethyl acetate/1-butanol/water, in order to obtain two enriched fractions. Vandateroside I was then purified by isocratic mode with ethyl acetate/ethanol/water (46:14:40), while vandateroside II was obtained by combining isocratic elution with ethyl acetate/isopropanol/water (30:20:50) followed by a multiple dual mode with ethyl acetate/ethanol/water (46:14:40). In this manner, hundreds of milligrams of vandateroside I and II were recovered from 10 g of V. teres extract.

[Cosmetic innovations in the Guerlain patents deposited in the XIXth century]. / L'innovation en cosmétique au travers des brevets déposés au XIXe siècle par Guerlain.

The XIXth century was the century of the development of hygiene, cosmetics industry, chemistry and modern pharmacy. After the French revolution, a new legislation establishes a law of recognition of the property of the inventors on their inventions. This paper describes the content of patents and certificates deposited in the XIXth century at the INPI, french national institute of the industrial property, by the creators of Guerlain, a luxury brand of perfumes and cosmetics. This paper allows to discover the variety of the inventions which recovers whitening lotion, soaps, ingenious devices and new perfume substances.

Identification of phenanthrene derivatives in Aerides rosea (Orchidaceae) using the combined systems HPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS and HPLC-DAD-MS-SPE-UV-NMR.

INTRODUCTION: In our continued efforts to contribute to the general knowledge on the chemical diversity of orchids, we have decided to focus our investigations on the Aeridinae subtribe. Following our previous phytochemical study of Vanda coerulea, which has led to the identification of phenanthrene derivatives, a closely related species, Aerides rosea Lodd. ex Lindl. & Paxton, was chosen for investigation. OBJECTIVE: To identify new secondary metabolites, and to avoid isolation of those already known, by means of the combined systems HPLC-DAD(diode-array detector) with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HRMS/MS) and HPLC-DAD-MS-SPE(solid-phase extraction)-UV-NMR. METHODS: A dereplication strategy was developed using a HPLC-DAD-HRMS/MS targeted method and applied to fractions from A. rosea stem extract. Characterisation of unknown minor compounds was then performed using the combined HPLC-DAD-MS-SPE-UV-NMR system. RESULTS: The dereplication method allowed the characterisation of four compounds (gigantol, imbricatin, methoxycoelonin and coelonin), previously isolated from Vanda coerulea stem extract. The analyses of two fractions permitted the identification of five additional minor constituents including one phenanthropyran, two phenanthrene and two dihydrophenanthrene derivatives. The full set of NMR data of each compound was obtained from microgram quantities. CONCLUSION: Nine secondary metabolites were characterised in A. rosea stems, utilising HPLC systems combined with high-resolution analytical systems. Two of them are newly described phenanthrene derivatives: aerosanthrene (5-methoxyphenanthrene-2,3,7-triol) and aerosin (3-methoxy-9,10-dihydro-2,5,7-phenanthrenetriol).

Fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in wound healing.

(Myo)fibroblasts are key players for maintaining skin homeostasis and for orchestrating physiological tissue repair. (Myo)fibroblasts are embedded in a sophisticated extracellular matrix (ECM) that they secrete, and a complex and interactive dialogue exists between (myo)fibroblasts and their microenvironment. In addition to the secretion of the ECM, (myo)fibroblasts, by secreting matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, are able to remodel this ECM. (Myo)fibroblasts and their microenvironment form an evolving network during tissue repair, with reciprocal actions leading to cell differentiation, proliferation, quiescence, or apoptosis, and actions on growth factor bioavailability by binding, sequestration, and activation. In addition, the (myo)fibroblast phenotype is regulated by mechanical stresses to which they are subjected and thus by mechanical signaling. In pathological situations (excessive scarring or fibrosis), or during aging, this dialogue between the (myo)fibroblasts and their microenvironment may be altered or disrupted, leading to repair defects or to injuries with damaged and/or cosmetic skin alterations such as wrinkle development. The intimate dialogue between the (myo)fibroblasts and their microenvironment therefore represents a fascinating domain that must be better understood in order not only to characterize new therapeutic targets and drugs able to prevent or treat pathological developments but also to interfere with skin alterations observed during normal aging or premature aging induced by a deleterious environment.

[Marie-Victor Ernest Baudrimont, a famous pharmacist from Compiègne, France]. / Marie-Victor Ernest Baudrimont, pharmacien compiégnois.

Ernest Baudrimont is a pharmacist born in Compiègne in 1821. He is the nephew of the pharmacist chemist Alexandre Baudrimont and is from a family of Compiègne pharmacists. First prize and gold medal in 1846 of the School of Pharmacy in Paris, he obtained in 1852 his Ph D in pharmacy for a dissertation on the formation and composition of mineral waters, and in 1864 is Ph D of physical sciences for a dissertation on the chlorides and bromides of phosphorus. Hospitals Chief Pharmacist in 1854, he had his first position at the Sainte Eugénie children's Hospital, today Trousseau hospital in Paris, position he held until 1875 prior to his appointment as Director of the Paris Civilian Hospitals central Pharmacy. Member of the french Botanical Society, the Society of Medical Hydrology, secretary of the Society of Pharmacy, he was also associate professor of Pharmacy at the School of Pharmacy of Paris. His scientific publications focus on the mineral chemistry i.e he described the nature of white phosphorus; mineral waters and some plants chemistry. One of the major contributions of Ernest Baudrimont was his involvment to the successive editions of the dictionary of the alterations and falsifications of foodstuffs of A. Chevallier. Member of the french Academy of Medicine in 1881, he died in Paris in September 1885.

[Augustin Delondre and Friedrich AuguIst Flückiger : an unpublished correspondence 1868-1869]. / Augustin Delondre et Friedrich August Flückiger : une correspondance inédite 1868-1869.

This article describes an unpublished correspondence between Augustin-Ambroise Delondre (1823- 1879), son of the famous pharmacist Augustin - Pierre Delondre and Friedrich August Flückiger, Swiss pharmacist (1828-1894), professor between 1873 to 1892 of the Chair in pharmacy at the university of Strasbourg and considered as the father of pharmacognosy. This set of 9 unique hand- written letters (1868 and 1869) allows to have an clearer idea of their scientific and human relations.

The role of the myofibroblast in tumor stroma remodeling.

Since its first description in wound granulation tissue, the myofibroblast has been recognized to be a key actor in the epithelial-mesenchymal cross-talk that plays a crucial role in many physiological and pathological situations, such as regulation of prostate development, ventilation-perfusion in lung alveoli or organ fibrosis. The presence of myofibroblasts in the stroma reaction to epithelial tumors is well established and many data are accumulating which suggest that the stroma compartment is an active participant in tumor onset and/or evolution. In this review we summarize the evidence in favor of this concept, the main mechanisms that regulate myofibroblast differentiation and function, as well as the biophysical and biochemical factors possibly involved in epithelial-stroma interactions, using liver carcinoma as main model, in view of achieving a better understanding of tumor progression mechanisms and of tools directed toward stroma as eventual therapeutic target.

11th Annual LVMH Recherche Symposium: skin rejuvenation.

The 11(th) Annual LVMH Recherche Scientific Symposium was held in London on October 27(th), into the warmth of the distinguished British Library, with nearly 150 industry and research attendees. The meeting organized by LVMH Recherche was centered on the theme of skin rejuvenation. The current state of play for rejuvenation research was summarized, and then advances in the science of skin aging and rejuvenation therapies were discussed in detail. Personalized genomics and current and prospective translational therapies were presented, followed by a clever linking of multiple global theories towards a cohesive plan for future goals in rejuvenation research.

Glucosyloxybenzyl eucomate derivatives from Vanda teres stimulate HaCaT cytochrome c oxidase.

Eucomic acid [(2R)-2-(p-hydroxybenzyl)malic acid)] (1) and three new glucopyranosyloxybenzyl eucomate derivatives, vandaterosides I (2), II (3), and III (4), were isolated and identified from the stems of Vanda teres. Their cellular antiaging properties were evaluated in a human immortalized keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) by monitoring their effect on cytochrome c oxidase activity, implicated in mitochondrial respiratory function and cellular energy production. Eucomic acid (1) and vandateroside II (3) increased cytochrome c oxidase activity and/or expression, without enhancing cellular mitochondrial content. These two V. teres biomarkers apparently contributed to stimulate respiratory functions in keratinocytes. Since aging and its pathologies may be ascribed to a decline in mitochondrial functions, these biomarkers have the potential to become new natural ingredients for antiaging preparations to remedy age-related disorders such as skin aging.

Whitening efficacy of plant extracts including orchid extracts on Japanese female skin with melasma and lentigo senilis.

The purpose of this study was to assess the in vivo efficacy of a cosmetic formulation containing plant extracts including orchid extracts, compared to 3% vitamin C derivative formulated with the same excipient, in Japanese female adult volunteers with melasma and/or lentigo senilis. The ethics committee of Osaka National Hospital approved the protocol of the study. Before recruitment, selection and inclusion of a volunteer in this study, signed informed consent was obtained from each volunteer after she was given clear and precise information on the study, enabling her to appreciate the aim of the study and the consequences of her consent. Forty-eight female volunteers aged 30-60 years applied the plant extracts and vitamin C derivative to one side of the face. After repeated application for 8 weeks, efficacy was evaluated clinically by colorimetric measurements and subjectively using a questionnaire. After 8 weeks of treatment, both the clinical evaluations by a dermatologist and the questionnaire surveys by volunteers indicated that the cosmetic formulation containing plant extracts was significantly effective in improving the size, brightness, color intensity, clarity, visibility and global appearance of the pigmented spots, and also the luminosity complexion and skin clarity of the face. The good agreement between the results of clinical evaluations and those of questionnaire surveys showed that the orchid-rich plant extracts possess efficacy similar to vitamin C derivative in whitening the skin as well as melasma and lentigo senilis on the face of Japanese women.