To study the chemical constituents of the fruits of Paliurus ramosissimus, various chromatographic techniques were used to separate and purify the chemical constituents. Three triterpenes have been isolated and purified by using various column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by their physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data. These compounds were determined as: 22S, 23R-epoxy-tirucalla-7-ene-3alpha,24, 25-triol (1), 21S, 23R-epoxy-21, 24S, 25-trihydroxy-apotirucalla-7-ene-3-one (2), 21R, 23R-epoxy-21-ethoxy-24S, 25-dihydroxy-apotirucalla-7-ene-3-one (3), separately. Compound 1 is a new compound, and the others were obtained from this genus for the first time.
Fruit ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Rhamnaceae ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVE: To explore the antitumor effects of ethanol extract from Ventilago leiocarpa Benth (EEVLB) on sarcoma 180 (S180) tumor-bearing mice and the potential mechanism. METHODS: Sixty mice were randomly assigned to 6 groups according to a random number table: normal group, model group, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) group (0.02 g·kg RESULTS: EEVLB with different concentrations achieved inhibition of tumor growth in vivo, wherein the high-dose group showed the most significant reduction in tumor weight and increased apoptosis of tumor cells (P<0.05). In addition, both net weight gain and spleen index of mice showed uptrend in EEVLB treatment groups (P<0.05). Besides, serum levels of IL-2 and IL-6, percentages of CD3 CONCLUSIONS EEVLB exhibits promising antitumor activity in vivo. This effect might be due to activation of apoptotic signaling pathway, increase of cytokine levels and enhancement of immune function in tumor-bearing mice.
Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Ethanol ; Mice ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use* ; Rhamnaceae ; Sarcoma 180/drug therapy*

Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) is a well-established method adopted by international pharmacopoeia for quantitative and purity analyses. Emodin is a type of anthraquinone, well known as the main active component of Fabaceae, Polygonaceae and Rhamnaceae. Purity analysis of emodin is usually performed by using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV method. However, it cannot detect impurities such as salts, volatile matter, and trace elements. Using the qNMR method, it is possible to determine the compound content as well as the nature of the impurities. Several experimental parameters were optimized for the quantification, such as relaxation delay, spectral width, number of scans, temperature, pulse width, and acquisition time. The method was validated, and the results of the qNMR method were compared with those obtained by the HPLC and mass balance analysis methods. The qNMR method is specific, rapid, simple, and therefore, a valuable and reliable method for the purity analysis of emodin.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Emodin ; Fabaceae ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Methods ; Polygonaceae ; Relaxation ; Rhamnaceae ; Salts ; Spectrum Analysis ; Trace Elements

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents from the fruits of Paliurus ramosissimus.

METHODThe constituents of P. ramosissimus were separated with various chromatographic techniques and their structures were elucidated by means of spectral analysis and physico-chemical properties.

RESULTNine compounds were isolated and identified as umbelliferone (1), scoparone (2), aurapten (3), bergapten (4), isopimpinellin (5), byakangelicin (6), xanthotoxol (7), isosakuranin (8), poncirin (9).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-9 were isolated from the fruits of P. ramosissimus for the first time.

Coumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Furocoumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Methoxsalen ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhamnaceae ; chemistry ; Umbelliferones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the rubrofusarin glucosides from whole plants of Berchemia polyphylla var. leioclada, and their scavenging activities for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated and purified via repeated silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis and the compounds were tested for their scavenging activities on DPPH radical.

RESULTThree rubrofusarin glucosides compounds were isolated and identified as rubrofusarin-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), rubrofusarin-6-O-beta-D-(6'-O-acetyl) glucopyranoside (2), rubrofusarin-6-O-alpha-L-rhamnosyl-(1-6) -O-beta-D-glucopyranside (3). Three isolated compounds showed strong scavenging activities on DPPH radical, the concentration of half elimination ratio( micromol x L(-1)) of VitC and Compounds 1-3 were 18.2, 40.5, 23.3 and 13.6, respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-3 were isolated from this plant for the first time and compound 2 was a new compound. They showed significant antioxidant activity, and the scavenging activity of compound 3 was a little stronger than that of VitC.

Biphenyl Compounds ; metabolism ; Free Radical Scavengers ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular ; Picrates ; metabolism ; Pyrones ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rhamnaceae ; chemistry

To study the chemical constituents from the root of Berchemia lineata (L.) DC., nine compounds were isolated from the EtOAc extract by using silica gel, RP-C18 silica gel column chromatography and preparative HPLC. Based on the spectroscopic analysis, their structures were identified as 5-hydroxy-7-(2'-hydroxypropyl)-2-methyl-chromone (1), (-)-(1'R, 2'S)-erythro-5-hydroxy-7-(1', 2'-dihydroxypropyl)-2-methyl-chromone (2), naringenin (3), eriodictyol (4), (+)-aromadendrin (5), (+)-taxifolin (6), (+)-catechin (7), (+)-epigallocatechin (8) and quercetin (9). Among them, compound 2 is a new chromone derivative. Compound 1 is a known chromone derivative and isolated from this genus for the first time. Compounds 3-9 are known flavonoids and isolated from this plant for the first time.
Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chromones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavanones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Rhamnaceae ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of H. dulcis on relieving alcohol toxicity by animal experiments.

METHODMale kunming mice were ovraiectomized and randomly divided into 5 groups: control group, model group, and aqueous extracts of H. dulcis group at 0.5, 0.25, 0.125 g x mL(-1). The acute alcohlism animals induced by gastral administration with "Er Guo Tou" and the alchol concentrations in serum were detected after treated with the extracts within 0.5-3 h by biochemical enzymes.

RESULTThe alcohol concentration in blood was up to the maximum in 0.5-1.5 h. However, the alcohol concentrations in blood of aqueous extract from H. dulcis group were decreased in 0.5-3 h. The activity of ADH in the liver in aqueous extract of H. dulcis group was increased in 2-3 h, while it was significantly increased in 1-1.5 h (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe aqueous extract of H. dulcis could reduce the alchol concentration in blood of animals and inrease the activity of ADH after given alcohol. It means the extract has the effect of relieving alcohol toxicity and preventing drunkenness through restraining the absorption of alcohol in the gastrointestinal tract and promoting the metabolism of alcohol in the liver.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; blood ; toxicity ; Liver ; enzymology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rhamnaceae ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of Flos Puerariae and Semen Hoveniae in treatment of alcoholic liver injury (ALI) based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. METHODS: The information of chemical constituents and targets of Flos Puerariae and Semen Hoveniae was collected from TCMSP and Swiss databases, and the threshold values of oral bioavailability (OB) ≥ 30%, drug likeness (DL) ≥0.18 were used to screen the potential active compounds. The GeneCard and DrugBank databases were used to obtain the targets corresponding to ALI. The common targets were queried using Venn Diagram, and the network of PPI and Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed through DAVID and Reactome database. Autodock Vina software was used for molecular docking of potential ingredients and key targets. RESULTS: A total of 21 potential active compounds and 431 therapeutic targets were gathered in Flos Puerariae and Semen Hoveniae, which involved 273 biological functions, 90 KEGG pathways and 362 Reactome pathways. The GO functions involved protein binding, ATP binding, etc.; the KEGG pathways mainly included PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway; the Reactome pathways contained signal transduction and immune system, etc. The results of molecular docking showed that 21 potential active ingredients had good affinity with the core targets Akt1, TP53 and IL-6. CONCLUSIONS The network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis demonstrate the synergetic effect of Flos Puerariae and Semen Hoveniae with multi-compounds, multi-targets and multi-pathways in the treatment of ALI; and also predict the possible medicinal substance, key targets and pathways, which provides clues for the new drug development and mechanism research.
Animals ; Computer Simulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Lepidoptera/chemistry* ; Liver/drug effects* ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/therapy* ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use* ; Rhamnaceae/chemistry* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Hovenia dulcis extract on mRNA expression of MMP-13 and TIMP-1 mRNA in hepatic tissue in experimental rats.

METHOD48 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: normal group (16) and model group (32), hepatic fibrosis was induced by CCl4 for 6 weeks in rats, 8 rats were sacrificed at the end of the 6th week from every group respectively, HE staining of hepatic tissue was performed; In the model group, rats randomly subdivided into 3 groups: spontaneous recovery group, control group and medication administration group, 8 rats were sacrificed at the end of the 12th week from every group respectively, the mRNA levels of MMP-13 and TIMP-1 in hepatic tissue were assayed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTThe mRNA expression of MMP-13 among the 4 groups were not statistically significant, but the mRNA expression of TIMP-1 among the 4 groups were statiscally significant. The levels of TIMP-1 mRNA were significantly increased in control group and medication administration group compared, with those in the model group (P < 0.05), and reverse effects of medication administration groups were significantly high than those of control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONInhibition of the mRNA expression of TIMP-1 may be the mechanism of reversing hepatic fibrosis H. dulcis, for thus collogen degradation system was recoveried gradually.

Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhamnaceae ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of the ethyl acetate extract of Semen Hoveniae (ESH) on liver microsomal cytochrome P450 isoenzyme in rats.

METHODThe rats were given orally the ESH in the doses of 0.14, 0.17, 0.2 g x kg (equivalent to the crude herb) for 10 days respectively. Rat liver microsomal cytochrome P450, NADPH-Cyt C reductase, erythromycin N-demethylase (ERD), Aniline hydroxylase (ANH), aminopyrine N-demethylase (ADM) activities were quantitated by UV chromatography. The levels of mRNA expression of CYP1A1, CYP2C11, CYP2E1 and CYP3A1 were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcripatase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTThe cytochrome P450 content, NADPH-Cyt C reductase activities and erythromycin N-demethylase (ERD) activities were not affected. Aniline hydroxylase (ANH) activities in liver were decreased by up to35.1%; aminopyrine N-demethylase (ADM) activitiesin liver were increased by up to 42.4%. The mRNA expression of CYP1A1, CYP2C11 and CYP3A1 were found to be increased markedly.

CONCLUSIONA specific effect of ESH on liver microsomal cytochrome P450 isoenzyme in rats was observed in this investigation. ESH had various effects on liver microsomal cytochrome P450 isoenzyme.

Acetates ; chemistry ; Aminopyrine N-Demethylase ; metabolism ; Aniline Hydroxylase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P450 Family 2 ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Male ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhamnaceae ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Steroid 16-alpha-Hydroxylase ; genetics ; metabolism