A phenylpropanoid glycoside with antioxidant activity from Picria tel-ferae.

A phytochemical study on Picria tel-ferae resulted in the isolation of a phenylpropanoid glycoside (1), which was reported for the first time from this plant. The structure of compound 1 was identified as 1-O-3,4-(dihydroxyphenyl)- ethyl-beta-D- apiofuranosyl- (1-->4)-alpha-L-rharmnopyranosyl- (1-->3)-4-O-caffeoyl- beta-D-glucopyranoside on the basis of spectroscopic analyses. In addition, it was found that 1 exhibited a remarkable inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation initiated by either a free radical [AAPH; 2,2'-azobis-(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride] or generated hydroxyl radical (Fe2+/ascorbate). These findings, together with those of previous studies, suggest that P. tel-ferae possesses abundant phenylpropanoid glycosides, and the plant might be used beneficially in the treatment of oxidative stress-related human diseases.

Cytotoxic lignans from the stem bark of Magnolia officinalis.

Three new lignans, 4'-methoxymagndialdehyde ( 1), 4'-methoxymagnaldehyde B ( 2), and 4'-methoxymagnaldehyde E ( 3), were isolated from hexane- and EtOAc-soluble fractions of the stem bark of Magnolia officinalis, together with eight known compounds ( 4- 11). The structures of compounds 1- 3 were determined on the basis of spectroscopic and physicochemical data analysis. Compounds 1- 11 were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic activity against the K562, HeLa, and A549 cancer cell lines. Among the compounds tested, compound 1 showed the most potent cytotoxic activity against these cancer cell lines, with IC50 values of 3.9, 1.5, and 3.7 microg/mL, respectively.

Magnoflorine from Coptidis Rhizoma protects high density lipoprotein during oxidant stress.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the beneficial properties of magnoflorine, an alkaloid isolated from coptidis rhizoma, on protecting human high density lipoprotein (HDL) against lipid peroxidation. Magnoflorine exerts an inhibitory effect against Cu2+-induced lipid peroxidation of HDL, as showed by prolongation of lag time from 62 to 123 min at the concentration of 3.0 microM. It also inhibits the generation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the dose-dependent manners with IC50 values of 2.3+/-0.2 microM and 6.2+/-0.5 microM since HDL oxidation mediated by either catalytic Cu2+ or thermo-labile radical initiator (AAPH), respectively. Separately, Cu2+ oxidized HDL lost the antioxidant action but the inclusion of magnoflorine/Cu2+ oxidized HDL can protect LDL oxidation according to increasing magnoflorine concentration. The results suggest that magnoflorine may have a role to play in preventing the HDL oxidation.

A new naphthopyrone from the root of Pleuropterus ciliinervis.

A new naphthopyrone, pleuropyrone A (1), together with (-)-lyoniresinol 3a-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2) and (+)-lyoniresinol 3a-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3) was isolated from the roots of Pleuropterus ciliinervis. The structure of pleuropyrone A (1) was determined to be 2,5-dimethyl-8-hydroxynaphthopyrone 10-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside by spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR. Compounds 2 and 3 showed moderate antioxidant activity.

Stilbenes from the roots of Pleuropterus ciliinervis and their antioxidant activities.

Two stilbene glycosides, pieceid-2"-O-gallate and pieceid-2"-O-coumarate, were isolated from the MeOH extract of the roots of Pleuropterus ciliinervis Nakai (Polygonaceae), together with two known compounds, resveratrol and pieceid. Their structures were determined spectroscopically, particularly by 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. The antioxidant activities of stilbenes isolated were determined in vitro against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, superoxide radicals and by determining their lipid peroxidation inhibitory activities. Among the compounds isolated, pieceid-2"-O-gallate had the most potent inhibitory scavenging effect on DPPH, superoxide radicals and upon lipid peroxidation inhibition with IC50 values of 16.5, 23.9 and 5.1 microM, respectively.

Androstane alkaloids from musk of Moschus moschiferus.

Two androstane alkaloids were isolated from the musk of Moschus moschiferus. The structures were elucidated to be 3alpha-ureido-androst-4-en-17-one (1) and 3alpha-ureido-androst-4-en-17beta-ol (2) by two-dimensional NMR analysis (HMQC, 1H-1H COSY, HMBC, and NOESY).

Evaluation of musk by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

We report the development of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the quantitative analysis of a unique musk protein (MP-1) in musk samples. Musk defatted with ethyl acetate/methanol (9:1, v/v) was dipped in cold water and ammonium sulfate was added to the supernatant up to 85% saturation. The resulting precipitate was applied to a Bio-Gel P-100 chromatography. The fraction eluted at the void region was collected and it was consecutively purified by affinity chromatography on a DEAE Affi-Gel Blue and on anion-exchange columns containing DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B. This protein was determined to be homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under denaturing conditions with an apparent molecular weight of 35000 Da and was called as musk protein-1 (MP-1). Polyclonal antibodies of MP-1 were produced by injecting it into a rabbit. These antibodies were reactive to the aqueous extract of musk and the pure antigen. The ELISA could be applied to detect nano gram quantities of the antigen in musk samples. This method made it possible to distinguish musk samples from different origins.