[Terpenoids from Toona sinensis].

Eight terpenoids(1-8) were isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of 80% ethanol extract of leaf of Toona sinensis through various column chromatographies on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, MCI and ODS. Their structures were elucidated as 8ß-hydroxypimar-15-en-19-oic acid methyl ester(1), cedrodorol B(2), 11ß-acetoxyobacunol(3), toonayunnanin D(4), toonaciliatone D(5), toonaciliatone A(6), cedrelone(7), and 11ß-hydroxygedunin(8) based on their chemical and physicochemical methods and spectroscopic data. Compound 1 was a new pimaradienediterpenoid and terpenoid 2-7 were isolated and identified from this plant for the first time. Compound 1 was tested in vitro for cytotoxic potential by employing MTT method and radical scavenging potential using DPPH test. As a result, 1 exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against three tested tumor cell lines(SMMC-7721, A549 and MCF-7) with IC_(50) values less than 40 µmol·L~(-1) and moderate radical scavenging activities with IC_(50) values of 74.3 µmol·L~(-1).

A potential novel antidepressant target based on phosphodiesterase 4: Research advances / 国际药学研究杂志

Depression is a prevalent and life-threatening mental disorder. Its mechanisms remain unclear. It was found that depressive disorders are closely related to monoamine neurotransmitters absence, down-regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and neurotrophic factors and dendritic complexity in brain. Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor rolipram produce antidepressant and memory-enhancing effects via intracellular cAMP signaling. However, its clinical utility is limited by the major side effect of emesis, which appears to be PDE isoform-specific. Therefore, this research is to investigate whether long-form PDED variants mediate antidepressant and cognition-enhancing effects, without causing emesis. This review summaries the PDE molecular structure, distribution and its antidepressant function, so as to illustrate the advantage of selective subtype inhibitor in the treatment of depression.

Effects of Ca2+ on photosynthetic parameters of Pinellia ternata and accumulations of active components in heat stress / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of exogenous Ca2+ on photosynthetic parameters of Pinellia ternate and accumulations of active components under high temperature stress.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The pigment contents of P. ternata leaves, photosynthesis parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of P. ternata leaves, the contents of guanosine, adenosine and polysaccharide in P. ternata tubers were measured based on different concentrations of exogenous Ca2+ in heat stress when the plant height of P. ternata was around 10 cm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The contents of total chlorophyll and ratio of chlorophyll a/b were relatively higher by spaying Ca2+. Compared with the control, spaying 6 mmol x L(-1) Ca2+ significantly enhanced the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration (Tr) and stomatal limitation (L8), but reduced intercellular CO2 concentration (C) in P. ternata leaves. With the increase of Ca2+ concentration, maximal PS II efficiency (Fv/Fm), actual photosynthetic efficiency (Yield) and photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) initially increased and then decreased, however, minimal fluorescence (Fo) and non-photochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ) went down first and then went up. The contents of guanosine and polysaccharide and dry weight of P. ternata tubers showed a tendency of increase after decrease, and the content of adenosine increased with the increase of Ca2+ concentration. The content of guanosine and polysaccharide in P. ternata tubers and its dry weight reached maximum when spaying 6 mmol x L(-1) Ca2+.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>With the treatment of calcium ion, the inhibition of photosynthesis and the damage of PS II system were relieved in heat stress, which increased the production of P. ternata tubers.</p>

Study on chemical constituents in total saponin from Trigonella foenum-graecum / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents in the total saponin from Trigonellf foenum-graecum.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The compounds were isolated by column chromatography on macroporous resin and silica gel and elucidated by physical and chemical evidences and spectroscopic analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Two compounds were obtained and identifiedas methyl-protodioscin and methyl-protodeltonin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Methyl-protodioscin and methyl-protodeltonin were isolated from this plant for the first time.</p>