Phellinus is a kind of rare medicinal fungus that has a variety of physiological activities include anti-cancer, anti-liver fibrosisa, antioxidant and so on. Phellinus contains polysaccharides, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, pyrone, furan, alkaloids and other substances. Polysaccharide extracts of phellinus showed obvious antitumor effect and has been a hot research field in recent years. It was also found other extracts of phellinus such as ethyl acetate extract exhibited anticancer activity. Thus, the antitumor effect of different extract, especially the anti-cancer mechanism were discussed in this review.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Basidiomycota ; Cytokines ; analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; prevention & control

The objective of this study was to develop a method for the determination of taxol injection using near infrared transmission spectroscopy, turning out redetermination for injection from hospital pharmacy before using. Near infrared spectra (NIR) in the range of 12 000 approximation 4 000cm(-1) were recorded for the taxol injection manufactured during recent 24 months with different time. Calibration models were established using the partial least squares (PLS). Comparing different spectra pretreatments methods, dimension and spectra range, The study showed that spectra information cab be extracted thoroughly by delete a line method with dimension 6, spectra range 9002.5 approximately 4597.7cm(-1) ,standard error of the calibration sets(SEC) 0.035 and standard error of the prediction sets(SEP) 0. 059. Percent of prediction sets sample is less than +/- 2%. Results indicate that near infrared transmission spectroscopy method can be used to rapidly analyze the frequent and important drugs from hospital pharmacy.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Calibration ; Injections ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the level of occupational exposure to 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) in the pharmacy intravenous admixture service (PIVAS) of a hospital, and identify the sources of 5-Fu contamination.

METHODSThe 5-Fu concentrations in air, on the surface of different areas in PIVAS and personal protective equipments were detected using UV-vis spectrophotometry.

RESULTSThe 5-Fu in air could not be detected. The 5-Fu concentrations on five different surfaces of biological safety cabinets were (22.00 +/- 6.35), (13.99 +/- 2.46), (14.13 +/- 0.72), (7.25 +/- 1.19) and (9.87 +/- 1.23) ng/cm2, respectively, which were significantly higher than those [(3.14 +/- 0.04), (5.43 +/- 0.65), (2.26 +/- 0.17), (2.26 +/- 0.17) and (3.63 +/- 0.46) ng/cm2] of corresponding controls (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The 5-Fu concentrations of the floor under cabinets [(18.19 +/- 5.22) ng/cm2], the floor in front of cabinets [(10.25 +/- 2.57)ng/cm2], the office floor [(11.64 +/- 2.53) ng/cm2], the terrace floor [(99.89 +/- 14.06 ) ng/cm2], the floor beside trash can in dressing room [(24.54 +/- 0.23) ng/cm2] were significantly higher than those of control [(3.36 +/- 0.11 ) ng/cm2] (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The 5-Fu concentrations of the tables in preparation room [(7.22 +/- l.04) ng/cm2] and the tables in office [(11.81 +/- 1.18) ng/cm2] were significantly higher than those of control [(5.56 +/- 0.14) ng/cm2] (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The 5-Fu concentrations of the indoor handle in preparation room were significantly higher than those of controls (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). 5-Fu concentrations on the surfaces of outdoor handle and floor beside door in preparation room were not significantly increased compared with controls (P > 0.05). The 5-Fu concentrations on the surfaces of infusion bags, transfer box, transfer trays were significantly higher than those of controls (P < 0.05). The differences of 5-Fu concentrations between outer and inner masks and controls were not significant (P > 0.05). The 5-Fu concentrations of gloves of preparing and checking staffs were significantly higher than those of controls (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe preparing and checking process of 5-Fu and the treatment of medical wastes are major sources of 5-Fu contamination.

Paclitaxel and cephalomannine contents in wild Taxus cuspidata were determined by HPLC. The results indicated that paclitaxel and cephalomannine contents in T. cuspidate at the sunny side were slightly higher than that at the shadow side in the current-year and biennial branches. Paclitaxel and cephalomannine contents had no obvious regularity in leaves. Paclitaxel and cephalomannine contents were both the highest in the bark, then in the current-year branches, lower in the current-year leaves, and the lowest in the fruits. There were no remarkable correlation between stem diameter and paclitaxel and cephalomannine contents in the current-year branches and leaves. Significant difference was observed among samples collected in different period, and higher paclitaxel and cephalomannine concentrations were detected at the dormancy stage than that at the flower and fruit stages.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Paclitaxel ; analysis ; chemistry ; Plant Structures ; chemistry ; Taxoids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Taxus ; chemistry

Our work focuses on the quality control and structural identification of Photocyanine as a cancer therapeutic photosensitizer. Photocyanine is a mixture which contains four ZnPcS2P2 type substituted Phthalocyanine isomers. In order to obtain the single component from Photocyanine, the mixture of four isomers possessing the similar structures and chemical property had been isolated and purified. An HPLC method with a mixture of methanol-acetonitrile-ion-pair buffer as the mobile phase was applied to isolate the four isomers by means of a semi-preparative C18 column. To remove the salts which were mixed in the preparative product, a SPE C18 column was used to separate the salts by elution with water and then the marker component was eluted by methanol. Subsequently, a column of Sephadex LH-20 gel was applied to elute the crudes with methanol to desalination. The purity of the isolated compound was measured by TLC and four different isomers of phthalocyanine were obtained. The chemical structures of them were elucidated by 1H NMR spectra, gCOSY and NOE1D. An HPLC-DAD method was developed for simultaneously determination of four major isomers in Photocyanine with a C18 column (Grace Smart, 150 mm x 4.6 mm ID, 5 microm). The separation was carried out with a gradient program at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The mobile phase was a mixture of acetonitrile and ion-pair buffer (0.01 mol x L(-1) hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide and 0.01 mol x L(-1) potassium dihydrogen phosphate, adjusted the pH value to 6.8 with potassium hydroxide solution). The resolution values of four isomers were 2.5, 1.20, 1.33, and 1.8. Linear regression analysis for four compounds was performed by the external standard method. Four constituents were linear in the concentration range of 0.005 to 10 microg. The values of relative standard deviation (RSD) of intra-day were 0.12%, 0.66%, 0.99%, and 1.21%, respectively. The limits of detection for four compounds were 15 ng, 20 ng, 12 ng, and 25 ng, respectively. This method was simple, accurate and reproducible. The developed method can be successfully applied to analyze isomers in Photocyanine.
Antineoplastic Agents ; analysis ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Indoles ; analysis ; chemistry ; Isomerism ; Molecular Structure ; Organometallic Compounds ; analysis ; chemistry ; Photochemotherapy ; Photosensitizing Agents ; analysis ; chemistry ; Quality Control

This article studied the chemical constituents from the aerial part of Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana. The 60% ethanol extract was eluted with 95% ethanol though HP-20 macroporous adsorption resin column. 12 compounds, including (1) betulinic acid, (2)2, 2, 2'-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane bis (2, 3-epoxypropyl) ether, (3) eriodictyol, (4) trans-ε-viniferin, (5) (+)-cis-ε-viniferin, (6) kobophenol A, (7) ampelopsin A, (8) nepalensinol B, (9) cis-miyabenol C, (10) cis-vitisin B, (11) cis-gnetin H and (12) (+)-hopeaphenol, were separated by using normal phase silica gel, ODS, Sephdadex LH-20 column chromatographies and semi-preparative or preparative HPLC. Compounds 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 were separated from the genus Vitis for the first time and compounds 3, 7, 12 were separated from Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana for the first time. At a concentration of 50 μmol · L(-1), compound 6, 7 and 11 showed strong cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cell lines with the inhibition rate of 66.58%, 57.16%, 52.84%, respectively.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Vitis ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the constituents of the Annona squamosa and evaluate their anti-tumor activity.

METHODThe compounds were isolated and purified by various column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by spectral data analysis. Their anti-tumor activity was assayed by SRB method.

RESULTEleven compounds were obtained from the 95% EtOH extract. The structures were determined as: annosquamosin C(1),15, 16-epoxy-17-hydroxy-ent-kau-ran-19-oic acid (2),16,17-dihydroxy-ent-kau-ran-19-oic acid(3), annosquamosin A(4), ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (5), 19-nor-ent-kauran4-ol-17-oic acid (6),16-hydroxy ent-kau ran-19-oic acid (7), ent-15beta-hydroxy-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (8), annosquamosin B (9), ent-16beta, 17-dihydroxykauran-19-al (10), 16, 17-dihydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid me thyl ester (11). Compounds 1,2,3,5,9 showed different inhibitory activities against 95-D lung cancer cells,the effect of compound 5 was strongest with the IC50 value 7.78 micromol x L(-1); Compounds 2, 5, 9 showed inhibitory activities against A2780 ovarian cancer cells, the effects of compounds 2 and 9 were strong with the IC50 values being 0.89, 3.10 micromol x L(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompound 2 was firstly isolated from this family, while compound 8 and 10 were first found from this genus and the title species, respectively. The in vitro anti-tumor test showed compound 5 significantly inhibited 95-D lung cancer cells and compounds 2 and 9 exhibited remarkbale activity against A2780 ovarian cancer cells.

Nine triterpenes compounds were isolated from the male flowers of Eucommia ulmoides by recrystallization and chromatographic techniques over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and RP-18 gel. Their chemical structures were identified on the basis of spectral analysis and as 3-oxo-12-en-ursane-28-O-α-L-arabinofuranosyl (1 --> 6) -β-D-glucopyranoside (1), 2α, 3β-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid(28 --> 1) -β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2), ursolic acid (3), α-amyrin (4), uvaol (5), ursolic acid acetate (6), 3-O-acetate oleanoic acid (7), betulinic acid (8), and betulinol (9). Compound 1 was a new compound, and compounds 2, 4-7 were isolated from the Eucommiu genus for the first time. Cytotoxic activity was tested for all the compounds against K562 and HepG2 cells. The results showed that only compound 3, exhibited cytotoxic activity.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Eucommiaceae ; chemistry ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Triterpenes ; analysis ; pharmacology

Small-molecule compounds with rich sources have diverse structures and activities. The active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) provide new sources for the discovery of new antitumor drugs. Aconitum plants as Chinese medicinal plants have the effects of dispelling wind, removing dampness, warming meridian, and relieving pain. They are mainly used to treat inflammation, pain, rheumatism, and tumors, improve heart function, and dilate blood vessels in clinical practice. Diterpenoid alkaloids are the main active components of Aconitum plants, including C20-, C19-, C18-diterpenoid alkaloids and bis-diterpenoid alkaloids. Stu-dies have demonstrated that diterpenoid alkaloids can effectively treat lung cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer and other cancers. Diterpenoid alkaloids are considered as the most promising natural compounds against cancers. In this review, we summarized the chemical structures and antitumor activities of C20-, C19-, C18-diterpenoid alkaloids and bis-diterpenoid alkaloids extracted from plants of Aconitum, aiming to provide reference for further development of diterpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum as antitumor drugs.
Humans ; Aconitum/chemistry* ; Molecular Structure ; Alkaloids/analysis* ; Diterpenes/chemistry* ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry* ; Plant Roots/chemistry*

Spices have enjoyed a long history and a worldwide application. Of particular interest is the pharmaceutical value of spices in addition to its basic seasoning function in cooking. Concretely, equipped with complex chemical compositions, spices are of significant importance in pharmacologic actions, like antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumor, as well as therapeutical effects in gastrointestinal disorders and cardiovascular disease. Although increasing evidences in support of its distinct role in the medical field has recently reported, little information is available for substantive, thorough and sophisticated researches on its chemical constituents and pharmacological activities, especially mechanism of these actions. Therefore, in popular wave of studies directed at a single spice, this review presents systematic studies on the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities associated with common used spices, together with current typical individual studies on functional mechanism, in order to pave the way for the exploitation and development of new medicines derived from the chemical compounds of spice (such as, piperine, curcumin, geniposide, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, linalool, estragole, perillaldehyde, syringic acid, crocin).
Anti-Infective Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cardiovascular System ; drug effects ; Digestive System ; drug effects ; Spices ; analysis ; toxicity