Bioactive triterpene glycosides from the fruit of Stauntonia hexaphylla and insights into the molecular mechanism of its inflammatory effects.

Chromatography of the ethanol extract of the medicinal fruit Stauntonia hexaphylla resulted in the purification of 26 compounds (1-26), including two undescribed triterpene saponins 1 and 2 (hexaphylosides A and B). Their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic data, including IR, HR QTOF MS, 1H, 13C NMR, COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and TOCSY, and HPLC sugar analysis after acid hydrolysis. The anti-inflammatory effects of the high-purity constituents (1-26) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells were investigated by screening nitric oxide production. The NO inhibitory activity of compounds 6 and 10 with the IC50 values of 1.33 and 1.10 µM, respectively. The structure-activity relationships (SAR) of the isolated compounds were also analyzed. Furthermore, compounds 6 and 10 inhibited the protein expression inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 via Western blotting analysis. This showed that compounds 6 and 10 contributed to the anti-inflammatory effects of S. hexaphylla fruit, which could be developed as a natural nutraceutical and functional food ingredient.

A new rearranged abietane diterpene from Clerodendrum inerme with antioxidant and cytotoxic activities.

Eight compounds were isolated from the leaves of Clerodendrum inerme, including one new rearranged abietane diterpene, crolerodendrum B (1). Their structures were determined by means of spectroscopic methods including one-dimensional and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (1-D and 2-DNMR), high-resolution electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) and circular dichroism (CD). The DPPH radical scavenging and cytotoxic activities of isolated compounds against MCF7 (breast), HCT116 (colon) and B16F10 (melanoma) cancer cell lines were evaluated. Compounds 1, 3 and 4 exhibited strong DPPH radical-scavenging effects (ED50 values of 17.6 ± 2.1, 10.1 ± 0.8 and 11.3 ± 0.3 µM, respectively) and 4 showed strong cytotoxicity against the HCT116 cell line (IC50 = 3.46 ± 0.01 µM).

Tyrosinase inhibitory components from Aloe vera and their antiviral activity.

A new compound, 9-dihydroxyl-2'-O-(Z)-cinnamoyl-7-methoxy-aloesin (1), and eight known compounds (2-9) were isolated from Aloe vera. Their structures were elucidated using 1D/2D nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectra. Compound 9 exhibited reversible competitive inhibitory activity against the enzyme tyrosinase, with an IC50 value of 9.8 ± 0.9 µM. A molecular simulation revealed that compound 9 interacts via hydrogen bonding with residues His244, Thr261, and Val283 of tyrosinase. Additionally, compounds 3 and 7 were shown by half-leaf assays to exhibit inhibitory activity towards Pepper mild mottle virus.

Muurolane-type sesquiterpenes from marine sponge Dysidea cinerea.

Seven new muurolane-type sesquiterpenes, (4R,5R)-muurol-1(6),10(14)-diene-4,5-diol (1), (4R,5R)-muurol-1(6)-ene-4,5-diol (2), (4R,5R,10R)-10-methoxymuurol-1(6)-ene-4,5-diol (3), (4S)-4-hydroxy-1,10-seco-muurol-5-ene-1,10-dione (4), (4R)-4-hydroxy-1,10-seco-muurol-5-ene-1,10-dione (5), (6S,10S)-6,10-dihydroxy-7,8-seco-2,8-cyclo-muurol-4(5),7(11)-diene-12-oic acid (6), and (6R,10S)-6,10-dihydroxy-7,8-seco-2,8-cyclo-muurol-4(5),7(11)-diene-12-oic acid (7) were isolated from the marine sponge Dysidea cinerea. Their structures were determined by the combination of spectroscopic and chemical methods, including 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR, and CD spectra as well as by comparing the NMR data with those reported in the literature.

Inhibitory effects of novel E2F decoy oligodeoxynucleotides on mesangial cell proliferation by coexpression of E2F/DP.

Proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) is an important feature of several forms of glomerulonephritis. The transcription factor E2F coordinately regulates expression of genes required for cell proliferation, thereby mediating cell growth control. Here we investigated the role of E2F1 and E2F4 expression, with or without co-expression of DP1 or DP2, on cell proliferation in transiently transfected primary rat MCs. In transfected cells, cell proliferation induced by over-expression of E2F was significantly enhanced by co-expression of DP proteins. Previous studies showed that the transfection of decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) corresponding to E2F binding sites inhibits cell proliferation. Here we have developed a Ring-E2F (R-E2F) decoy ODN with a circular dumbbell structure and compared its effects with those of a phosphorothioated E2F decoy (PS-E2F decoy) ODN. The R-E2F decoy ODN showed enhanced stability in the presence of nucleases and sera, and inhibited E2F/DP-dependent promoter activity of cell cycle genes more effectively than the PS-E2F decoy ODN. Transfection of R-E2F decoy ODN resulted in strong inhibition of cell cycle gene expression and MC proliferation. Our data suggest that E2F/DP complexes play a critical role in the MC proliferation and that the R-E2F decoy ODN may be a powerful tool for inhibiting cell proliferation.