To study the chemical constituents from the bark of Myrica rubra, fourteen compounds were isolated from the methanolic extract using various chromatographic techniques, including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified on the basis of chemical properties and spectroscopic data, as 3, 5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxymyricanol (1), myricanol (2), myricanone (3), myricanol 11-sulfate (4), myricitrin (5), quercetin (6), quercetin-3-rhamnoside (7), tamarixol (8), uvaol (9), ursolic acid (10), taraxerol (11), myricadiol (12), β-sitosterol (13) and β-daucosterol (14). Among them, compound 1 is a new compound, named as 3, 5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxymyricanol, compounds 8, 9 were isolated from the genus Myrica for the first time.
Diarylheptanoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Myrica ; chemistry ; Phytochemicals ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Bark ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of lead on the thyroid function of occupationally exposed workers.

METHOD157 workers occupationally exposed to lead in a smelting factory were investigated. The concentration of lead in air at workshop was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) and the levels of blood lead (PbB) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) by ZnPP meter, as well as the indexes of thyroid function, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T(3)), thyroxin (T(4)), free T(3) (FT(3)), and free T(4) (FT(4)) in serum by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSThe workers with higher level of blood lead (> 2.88 micro mol/L) showed lower levels of T(3) [(1.54 +/- 0.39) nmol/L] and FT(3) [(5.50 +/- 1.26) pmol/L] than those with lower blood lead level [PbB: (1.92 approximately 2.88) micro mol/L group, T(3): (1.71 +/- 0.45) nmol/L, FT(3): (6.12 +/- 1.64) pmol/L, P < 0.05]. There was no obvious effect of length of service on thyroid hormone of exposed workers.

CONCLUSIONHigher level of blood lead may cause certain damage to thyroid function by inhibiting deiodination of T(4). No obvious relation between length of service and thyroid function was found.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; toxicity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; physiology

This study is to investigate the protective effect of longistyline A against corticosterone-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells. While PC12 cells were exposed to 100 micromol x L(-1) corticosterone for 48 h, cell survival rate was reduced and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release increased. In parallel, corticosterone caused significant elevations of DNA fragmentation, [Ca2+]i and caspase-3 activity. However, when the PC12 cells were incubated with longistyline A (4.0, 8.0 and 16.0 micromol x L(-1)) in the presence of 100 micromol x L(-1) corticosterone for 48 h, the effects were evidently alleviated, but dose-dependent manner was not obvious. In summary, longistyline A could generate a neuroprotective effect against corticosterone-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells possibly by decreasing [Ca2+]i and caspase-3 activity.
Animals ; Cajanus ; chemistry ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Corticosterone ; toxicity ; DNA Fragmentation ; drug effects ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Neuroprotective Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Phenols ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of integrative medicine (IM) rehabilitation protocolon motor function, activity of daily living, and quality of life (QOL) in hemiplegia patients after stroke.

METHODSTotally 120 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were allocated to four groups using sealed envalope drawing, i.e., the rehabilitation group, the Chinese medical treatment group, the acupuncture group, and the comprehensive rehabilitation group, 30 cases in each group. Based on routine rehabilitative training, patients in the Chinese medical treatment group, the acupuncture group, and the compre-hensive rehabilitation group received standardized treatment based on syndrome typing, Shi's Consciousness-Restoring Resuscitation acupuncture, Chinese herbs + acupuncture comprehensive rehabilitatino protocol, respectively. The treatmet cycle consisted of 4 weeks with 24-week follow-ups. Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale(SS-QQL), and safety assessment were taken as main effect indices before treatment, at week 4 of treatment, at week 12 and 24 of follow-ups, respectively.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in FMA score, MBI score, SS-QOL score among the four groups before treatment (P > 0.05). These scores were significantly improved in the four groups at week 4 of treatment, week 12 and 24 of follow-ups, respectively (P < 0.05). Besides, FMA score and SS-QOL score were significantly improved in the comprehensive rehabilitation group at each corresponding time point, as compared with other treatment groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe comprehensive protocol could significantly improve motor function, activity of daily living in hemiplegia patients after stroke, and further improve their QOL. Its effect was better than other single treatment.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Hemiplegia ; rehabilitation ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Motor Skills ; Quality of Life ; Stroke Rehabilitation ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE To explore the hypolipidemic mechanisms of the total phenylpropanoid glycosides from Ligustrum robustum (Roxb.)Blume (LRTPG)in hamsters using proteomics technique. METHODS The hamsters were fed with a high fat diet to induce hyperlipidemia.Then LRTPG of high (1.2 g·kg-1),medium(0.6 g·kg-1)and low(0.3 g·kg-1)doses were administrated daily for 4 weeks.Then the concentrations of plasma and hepatic lipids were determined using enzymic methods.The total protein was extracted from livers of the model group and the group treated with the high dose of LRTPG for label-free quantitative proteomics. RESULTS LRTPG significantly reduced the concentrations of plasma and hepatic lipids in hamsters fed a high fat diet. The proteomics data showed that a total of 2231 proteins were identified,and 549 proteins were found to be differentially expressed between the model group and the group treated with LRTPG.Among the 549 proteins,93 proteins were up-regulated and 59 proteins were down-regulated, and 397 proteins were absent or not. And some of these proteins were much related to the lipid metabolism. Further, gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated metabolic process, transport, oxidation-reduction process, phosphorylation, signal transduction, lipid metabolic process were the main biological processes that those differentially expressed proteins participated. KEGG pathway analysis showed that those proteins were involved in several metabolic pathways including oxidative phosphorylation,non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway. CONCLUSION The proteomics study could provide valuable clues to help us to understand the hypolipidemic mechanisms of LRTPG much better.

AIMTo look for new active constituents from Chinese medicine "Sheng-ma", rhizome of Cimicifuga foetida L.

METHODSThe compounds were separated and purified by chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. Their structures were determined by spectral analysis and chemical reaction.

RESULTSEight compounds were obtained and identified as cimicifugic acid (1), esculetin (2), caffeic acid methyl ester (3), 4-O-acetyl-caffeic acid (4), sinapic acid (5), caffeic acid (6), ferulic acid (7), isoferulic acid (8).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 is a new compound, and compounds 2-7 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Caffeic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Cimicifuga ; chemistry ; Coumaric Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hydroxybenzoates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Phenylacetates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Umbelliferones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

AIMTo seek for new bioactive constituents from the aerial parts of Cimicifuga dahurica.

METHODSVarious column chromatographic techniques were employed for the isolation and purification of the ingredients. The structures were elucidated on the basis of 1H, 13CNMR, 1H-1H COSY, HMQC, NOESY and HMBC spectra and chemical reactions.

RESULTSTwo cyclolanostanol xylosides, cimidahuside C and D were isolated from the EtOAc section of EtOH extracts.

CONCLUSIONCimidahuside C(1) and D(2) are new triterpenoid xylosides.

Cimicifuga ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo find new active constituents from the aerial part of Cimicifuga foetida.

METHODVarious column chromatographic techniques were used for the isolation and purification of the principles. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data and chemical evidences.

RESULTFour 9,19-cycloartane triterpenoid saponins were obtained and identified as Cimifoetiside III (25-anhydrocimigenol-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside, 1), 25-O-acetyl-cimigenol xylopyranoside (2), 25-O-acetyl-cimigenol galactopyranoside (3), 7 beta-hydrocimigenol xylopyranoside (4).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 is new and compound 4 was isolated from this plant for the first time.

Cimicifuga ; chemistry ; Galactosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lanosterol ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo find new active constituents from Rhizome of Cimicifuga foetida.

METHODVarious column chromatographic techniques were employed for isolation and purification. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral and chemical evidences.

RESULTFour triterpenoid compounds were isolated and identified as 7,8-didehydro-27-deoxyactein(1), 24-O-acetylshengmanol-3-O-beta-D-xyl (23R, 24R)[2], cimigenol(3), cimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xyl(4).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 is a new compound, 2-4 were obtained from this medicinal material for the first time. The antiosteoporosis activity screening in vitro(by the method of SRB) indicates that Compounds 1, 2 and 4 can promote the proliferation for rat Osteoblastoma cell line (UMR106) at the concentration of 10(-9) kg.L-1.

Animals ; Bone Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cimicifuga ; chemistry ; Lanosterol ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Osteoblastoma ; pathology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

AIMTo look for new active constituents from the aerial part of Cimicifuga foetida L.

METHODSVarious column chromatographic techniques were used for the isolation and purification of the principles. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data and chemical evidences.

RESULTSFive 9,19-cycloartane triterpenoid saponins and one sitosterol saponin were obtained and identified as cimifoetiside I [12 beta-hydroxycimigenol-3-O-beta-D-galactoyranoside, (1)], cimifoetiside II [(23R,24R) cimigenol-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside, (2)], cimigenol-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (3), 12 beta-hydroxycimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (4), 12 beta-hydroxycimigenol-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (5), daucosterol (6).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1 and 2 are new and compounds 4 and 5 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Cimicifuga ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification