Ten glycosidic compounds were isolated from an ethanol extract of Machilus wangchiana by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 and reversed-phase flash chromatography and HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic data analysis (IR, MS, and NMR) as icariside B1 (1), boscialin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), pisumionoside (3), isolariciresinol-9'-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (4), 5'-methoxyisolariciresinol-9'-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (5), lyoniresinol-9'-O-β-D-xylopyranoside (6), (E) -4-hydroxyphenylprop-7-ene 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), (E) - 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylprop-7-ene 4-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 6) -β-D-glucopyranoside (8), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylprop-8-ene 4-O-β-D-xylopyraosyl-(1 --> 6) -β-D-glucopyranoside (9), and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenylprop-8-ene 4-O-α-L-rhamnpyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-β-D- glucopyranoside (10), respectively.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lauraceae ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Ten dimeric phthalide racemates (1-10) were isolated from an aqueous extract of the Angelica sinensis root head (Guitou) by separation techniques of column chromatography over macroporous adsorbent resin, MCI resin, silica gel, and Sephadex LH-20, together with preparative thin-layer chromatography and reversed phase HPLC. The racemates were further separated into (+)-/(-)-1-(+)-/(-)-10 with chiral HPLC. Their structures including absolute configurations were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of spectroscopic data, combined with electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and NMR calculations as well as single crystal X-ray diffractions. Compounds (+)-/(-)-1-(+)-/(-)-10 are either new structure or new natural product, named (+)-/(-)-angelidipthalidic acids A-H [(+)-/(-)-1-(+)-/(-)-8] and (+)-/(-)-angelidipthalidols A and B [(+)-/(-)-9 and (+)-/(-)-10], respectively. Meanwhile, dimeric phthalide mono- and bis-lactone derivatives with 3.3′a,8.6′- and 3.6′,8.3′a-coupling patterns as well as determination of their relative configurations are discussed.

Four new triterpenoids, together with six known analogues, were isolated from an aqueous extract of the Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa seeds, by multiple column chromatographic separation methods using stationary phases of macroporous adsorption resin, MCI resin, normal phase silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and Toyopearl HW-40C as well as preparative thin-layer chromatography and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic data analysis, the new structures were trivially named jujubaceanothoside A (1), 23-epijujuboside A (2), and jujubosides J and K (3 and 4), while the known analogues were identified as jujubosides A-C (5-7) and II (8), alphitolic acid (9), and betulinic acid (10). The structure of 1 was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Five new megastigmanes (1-5) were isolated from a decoction of Uncaria rhynchophylla by separation techniques of column chromatography using a combination of multiple stationary phases, including macroporous adsorbent resin, MCI resin, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and Toyopearl HW-40F, and reversed phase HPLC. Their structures were characterized by spectroscopic data analysis of HR-ESI-MS, NMR, and CD, in combination with Mosher's mothed as well as ECD and NMR calculations. The new compounds were named uncarphyllonone A (1), uncarphyllonols A (2) and B (3), and uncarphabscisic acids A (4) and B (5). Although the structures of 3 and 4 were previously reported, the reported NMR spectroscopic data were incorrect or do not support the assigned structures in literatures. This is also the first report of discovery of new megastigmane natural products from the Uncaria genus.

Seventeen minor triterpenoid acids (1-17) were isolated from an aqueous decoction of Uncaria rhynchophylla by a combinatory application of column chromatography using multiple stationary phases, including macroporous adsorbent resin, MCI resin, Sephadex LH-20, Toyopearl HW-40C, silica gel, and C18 reversed phase silica gel, combined with separation techniques of flash chromatography (FC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Their structures were determined by analysis of HR-ESI-MS, UV, CD, and IR as well as 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, of which eight new compounds (1-8) are named successively uncarinic acids Q-X, while the structures of 2 and 7 were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. In the in vitro assays, 27-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (17) inhibited TGF-β-induced HSC-T6 cell activation at the concentration of 5 μmol·L^-1.

Congresses as Topic ; Humans ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial

To investigate the Fe2+ effects on root tips in rice plant, experiments were carried out using border cells in vitro. The border cells were pre-planted in aeroponic culture and detached from root tips. Most border cells have a long elliptical shape. The number and the viability of border cells in situ reached the maxima of 1600 and 97.5%, respectively, at 20-25 mm root length. This mortality was more pronounced at the first 1-12 h exposure to 250 mg/L Fe2+ than at the last 12-36 h. After 36 h, the cell viability exposed to 250 mg/L Fe2+ decreased to nought, whereas it was 46.5% at 0 mg/L Fe2+. Increased Fe2+ dosage stimulated the death of detached border cells from rice cultivars. After 4 h Fe2+ treatment, the cell viabilities were > or =80% at 0 and 50 mg/L Fe2+ treatment and were <62% at 150, 250 and 350 mg/L Fe2+ treatment; The viability of border cells decreased by 10% when the Fe2+ concentration increased by 100 mg/L. After 24 h Fe2+ treatment, the viabilities of border cells at all the Fe2+ levels were <65%; The viability of border cells decreased by 20% when the Fe2+ concentration increased by 100 mg/L. The decreased viabilities of border cells indicated that Fe2+ dosage and treatment time would cause deadly effect on the border cells. The increased cell death could protect the root tips from toxic harm. Therefore, it may protect root from the damage caused by harmful iron toxicity.
Iron ; toxicity ; Oryza ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Roots ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Seedlings ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development

To study the relationship of oxidative, antioxidative constituents and antioxidases in blood with chronic cholecystitis containing gallstone, levels of lipoperoxides (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), vitamin C(VC), vitamin E (VE) and β-carotene (β-CAR) in plasma as well as level of LPO, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in erythrocytes were investigated by spectrophotometric assay in 107 patients with this condition (PCg) and 100 healthy volunteers (HVs). Compared with HVs group, the average value of LPO and NO in plasma and that of LPO in erythrocytes of PCg group were significantly increased (P<0.0001), while that of VC, VE and β-CAR in plasma and the average activities of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px in erythrocytes were significantly decreased (P<0.0001). Linear regression and correlation analysis for 107 preoperative PCg showed that the value of LPO and NO in plasma and that of LPO in erythrocytes of PCg gradually increased (P<0.0001), representing a significant linear positive correlation. The value of VC, VE and β-CAR in plasma and that of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px in erythrocytes of PCg gradually decreased (P<0.0001), representing a significant linear negative correlation. Stepwise regression and correlation analysis for 107 preoperative PCg suggested that the closest correlation was observed between the course of disease and the value of NO and VC in plasma and that of SOD, GSH-Px and LPO in erythrocytes, r=0.7306, F=32.1408, P<0.0001. Compared with the preoperative PCg group, the average value of LPO and NO in plasma and that of LPO in erythrocytes of the postoperative PCg group were significantly decreased (P<0.0001). Furthermore, the average value of VC in plasma and that of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px in erythrocytes of the postoperative PCg group were significantly increased (P<0.0001), whereas no significant difference was found between their average value of VE and β-CAR in plasma. These findings suggested that oxidative stress was an aggravating pathological condition in PCg group. Therefore, we recommend that in treating PCg, antioxidants such as VC, VE, β-CAR should be given in order to alleviate their potential oxidative damages.

OBJECTIVE Interleukin (IL)-1β, one of the principal inflammatory cytokines mainly secreted by mono?cytes and macrophages, is produced by cleavage of the inactive pro-IL-1βprecursor by caspase-1 via the NLRP3 inflam?masome complex. The fruits of Garcinia cambogia (Clusiaceae) are widely developed as health products for anti-obese purpose. 14-deoxygarcinol (DOG) is a polyisoprenylated benzophenone from the fruits of G. cambogia, which showed potent anti-inflammatory effect in our previous study. The objective of this study was to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of DOG and its roles in alleviating adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance. METHODS The anti-inflammatory effect of DOG was evaluated on LPS plus nigericin-induced THP-1 macrophages. The expression of NLRP3 inflammasome complex proteins was analyzed by Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining and co-immu?noprecipitation. The pro-inflammatory cytokines levels were determined by ELISA kits. RESULTS DOG increased the expression of Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) deacetylase and enhanced its deacetylating activity to suppress the NLRP3 inflamma?some activation and IL-1βsecretion in THP-1 macrophages. Moreover, DOG attenuated macrophage conditioned medium-induced inflammatory responses in adipocytes and blocked THP-1 macrophages migration towards 3T3-L1 adipocytes. CONCLUSION DOG attenuated the inflammatory crosstalk between macrophages and adipocytes through SIRT2-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition, which might be used for the treatment of adipose tissue inflammation-related metabolic disorders.

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitory effects of insulin on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) nuclear translocation of vascular endothelial cells induced by burn serum and its correlative mechanism.

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in vitro and divided into 5 groups: blank control group (BC, ordinary culture without any stimulation), normal serum control group (NS, cultured with nutrient solution containing 20% healthy human serum), burn serum stimulation group (BS, cultured with nutrient solution containing 20% burn human serum), burn serum+insulin treatment group (BI, cultured with nutrient solution containing 20% burn human serum and 1x10(-7) mol/L insulin), inhibitor pretreatment group [IP, pretreated with 50 micromol/L protein kinase B (Akt) specific inhibitor LY-294002, then cultured with the same medium as used in BI group 30 minutes later] according to the random number table. Six hours later, the injury and apoptosis of HUVECs was respectively observed by the scanning electron microscope and determined by the flow cytometry. Meanwhile, the phosphorylation of inhibitor kappa B-alpha (p-IkappaB-alpha) and Akt (p-Akt) in cytoplasm, and the content of NF-kappaB-p65 in nucleus were determined with Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Compared with those in BC group, HUVECs in BS group shrank obviously with irregular nuclear structure, and intercellular links jagged or vanished. Slight change was observed in HUVECs structure in NS and BI groups, with the cell ductility and nuclear structure much better than those in BS group. (2) The apoptosis rates of HUVECs in BS group [(28.5+/-2.3)%], BI group [(22.3+/-1.8)%], and IP group [(29.7+/-2.4)%] were all obviously higher than that in BC group [(15.7+/-2.2)%, F=14.288, P<0.05 or P<0.01]. There was no significant statistical difference between NS group [(17.0+/-2.5)%] and BC group in apoptosis rate (F=14.288, P>0.05). The apoptosis rate of HUVECs in BI group was obviously lower than that in BS group (F=14.288, P<0.05). (3) Compared with those in BC group, the protein expressions of p-IkappaB-alpha in cytoplasm and NF-kappaB-p65 in nucleus were up-regulated, and the protein expression of p-Akt in cytoplasm was down-regulated in BS and IP groups. The expression levels of the three proteins in NS and BI groups were close to those in BC group.

CONCLUSIONSInsulin could inhibit the IkappaB phosphorylation, and then restrict NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and improve the vascular endothelial cells function accordingly through regulating phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/Akt pathway.

Apoptosis ; Burns ; blood ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Serum ; metabolism ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology