In this study, we designed and synthesized 12 novel aloperine derivatives with different core structures. Among them, compound 3 with a ten-membered ring core was obtained through a special ring expansion reaction after γ-H Huffman elimination of quaternary ammonium salt, and the structure was verified by X-single crystal diffraction. Furthermore, their antiviral activity against human β-coronavirus HCoV-OC43 was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. Quaternary ammonium salt 2a and 3 had a good inhibitory effect against HCoV-OC43, and 2a had the highest anti-HCoV-OC43 activity with an EC₅₀ values of 3.77 μmol·L^-1 and a SI value of over 53.1. Schrӧdinger molecular docking results showed that both 2a and 3 might display their anti-HCoV-OC43 activity by directly acting on host TMPRSS2 and SR-B1. The results expanded the structural types of endocyclic aloperine and the function against coronavirus, and provided useful scientific data for the development of pharmaceutical applications of these compounds.

OBJECTIVEDiabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), an important cause of heart failure, is characterized by microvascular pathologies and interstitial fibrosis. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent, which can differentiate into cardiomyocytes and vascular endothelial cells. They also secrete angiogenic and antiapoptotic factors. However, little information is available about the effect of MSCs transplantation on diabetic heart.

METHODSMSCs were isolated from bone marrow of isogenic adult rats and cultured ex vivo. Eight weeks post streptozotocin injection, saline or exogenous MSCs labelled with 4'6-Diamidino-2-Phenylindole (DAPI) were injected into the femoral vein of diabetic rats and examined 4 weeks later by echocardiography, histopathologic analysis, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, zymography analysis for activities of MMP-2 and Western blot analysis for troponin T.

RESULTSLeft ventricular posterior wall thickness and myocardial arteriolar density as well as the TIMP-1 mRNA and MMP-2 activity were significantly decreased in DCM group (P < 0.01 versus control group respectively), these changes were significantly attenuated by MSCs transplantation (P < 0.05 versus DCM). MSCs transplantation also significantly reduced fibrosis and downregulated MMP-9 mRNA in diabetic myocardium.

CONCLUSIONIntravenous MSCs transplantation could attenuate LV remodeling in DCM rats.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cardiomyopathies ; etiology ; metabolism ; therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; metabolism ; Troponin T ; biosynthesis ; Ventricular Remodeling

Female ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Middle Aged

In order to study the physicochemical characteristics of cytosolic PrP (CytoPrP) and evaluate its possible influence on cell viability, a recombinant plasmid expressing human CytoPrP eukaryoticly was constructed and transfected into human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y transiently. Proteinase-resistant activities of CytoPrP were evaluated by a proteinase K (PK) digestion and cytotoxic effects of CytoPrP were tested by MTT assay and Trypan Blue cell-counting. The presence of CytoPrP in cytoplasm after transfection was controlled by the presence of protease inhibitor. Compared with wild-type PrP, CytoPrP possessed relatively stronger PK-resistant activities. Obvious cytotoxic effects were observed in the cells after inducement of CytoPrP in cytoplasm by protease inhibitor, showing a dose-dependent manner. The results provide useful scientific evidences for further studies of potential role of CytoPrP in pathological mechanism of prion disease.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; Cytosol ; chemistry ; Endopeptidase K ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Prions ; genetics ; physiology ; Transfection

Objective:To isolate and purify the chemical constituents from Goodyera schlechtendaliana, and lay a foundation for further research on the effective materials of the plant. Method:The dried grass of G. schlechtendaliana(10 kg)was heated by 95% EtOH for reflux extraction for 4 times at 85℃. The extract liquids were combined, decompressed and concentrated to obtain the crude extract. The crude extract was then suspended in distilled water and extracted with petroleum ether,EtOAc and n-BuOH in turn to obtain corresponding fractions. Silica gel,Sephadex LH-20,ODS and semi-preparation high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used for the separation and purification of EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions. The structures of compounds obtained were identified by ¹H-NMR,¹³C-NMR,MS,physicochemical properties and reference literature. Result:Ten compounds were isolated and identified as 2,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-9,10-dihydroxyphenanthrene (1),1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene (2),protocatechuic acid (3),p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (4),p-hydroxybenzoic acid (5),quercetin (6),vanillin(7),daucosterol (8),adenine (9) and adenosine (10). Conclusion:Compounds 1-10 were obtained from the genus of Goodyera for the first time.

Depression is a debilitating psychiatric disorder with a huge socioeconomic burden, and its treatment relies on antidepressants including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Recently, the melatonergic system that is closely associated with the serotonergic system has been implicated in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression. However, it remains unknown whether combined treatment with SSRI and melatonin has synergistic antidepressant effects. In this study, we applied a sub-chronic restraint stress paradigm, and evaluated the potential antidepressant effects of combined fluoxetine and melatonin in adult male mice. Sub-chronic restraint stress (6 h/day for 10 days) induced depression-like behavior as shown by deteriorated fur state, increased latency to groom in the splash test, and increased immobility time in the forced-swim test. Repeated administration of either fluoxetine or melatonin at 10 mg/kg during stress exposure failed to prevent depression-like phenotypes. However, combined treatment with fluoxetine and melatonin at the selected dose attenuated stress-induced behavioral abnormalities. Moreover, we found that the antidepressant effects of combined treatment were associated with the normalization of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) signaling in the hippocampus, but not in the prefrontal cortex. Our findings suggest that combined fluoxetine and melatonin treatment exerts synergistic antidepressant effects possibly by restoring hippocampal BDNF-TrkB signaling.
Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Depression ; Drug Synergism ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Fluoxetine ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Melatonin ; pharmacology ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Restraint, Physical ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

To evaluate the anti-HIV-1 activities of 5 benzophenones non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) such as DY1203, DY1204, DY1119, DY1208 and DY1209 in vitro, the cytotoxicity of 5 compounds were tested on C8166, MT-4, H9 and PBMC with the MTT assay. The anti-HIV-1 activities of compounds were evaluated on laboratory-adapted strain, drug-resistant strains and primary isolated strains by p24 antigen expression ELISA. The inhibition of HIV-1 recombinant reverse transcriptase activity was assessed by ELISA assay. Among 5 compounds, DY1203 and DY1204 showed low cytotoxicities with CC₅₀ greater than 200 μg·mL^-1. DY1119, DY1208 and DY1209 showed strong anti-HIV-1 activities against HIV-1_IIIB, HIV-1_74V, HIV-1_RF/V82F/184V, HIV-1_{NL4-3 gp41(36G) N42S}, HIV-1_KM018, HIV-1_TC-1 and HIV-1_Wan. However, NNRTIs drug-resistant strain HIV-1_A17 showed different resistance to these compounds. The 5 compounds proved active against HIV-1 recombinant reverse transcriptase. DY1208 is expected to become a new lead compound for its high therapeutic index. The results can provide new information for HIV-1 drug research and promote the development of new HIV-1 drugs.

Traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) processing is a traditional pharmaceutical technology unique to China,which is an important means to ensure the safety and effectiveness of clinical medication. As China' s intangible cultural heritage,it contains a wealth of wisdom. With the evolution and optimization of processing methods,Indigo Naturalis,an ancient dye,has gradually become an effective medicine for the treatment of high fever in children,colitis,psoriasis,and leukemia. However,the quality of Indigo Naturalis pieces is difficult to be fundamentally improved due to the unique traditional processing method,complex technology,unclear principle,and outdated equipment. After spending 20 years in exploring the inheritance,innovation,and transformation of ancient lawtheory-principle-technology-equipment-quality control in Indigo Naturalis processing,our research group has basically expounded the processing principle and realized the modern expression and industrial transformation of traditional technology. As China enters a new era,the TCM industry has begun to undergo the high-quality transformation. It is urgent to carry out new excavations and improve the processing,quality,and clinical application of Indigo Naturalis pieces,to better inherit and innovate traditional processing technologies and meet people's demand for high-quality TCM health services.
Child ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Indigo Carmine ; Indigofera ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Psoriasis

A new rapid, quality control method based on quantitative water tests has been established for the quality evaluation of Indigo Naturalis. The Turbiscan stability index (TSI) of 26 batches of Indigo Naturalis was measured by a stability analyzer. The parameters, including the method by which the ingredients are added, their particle size, amount, and the testing temperature, were systematically optimized and the methodological indexes such as repeatability and stability were determined. The content of indigo and indirubin in 26 batches of Indigo Naturalis was determined by high performance liquid chromatography and the total ash was measured. The correlation analysis between the active ingredients, total ash content and TSI value of Indigo Naturalis was determined by SPSS 26.0 and Origin 2021. This research shows that the best way to prepare samples for testing is to add 0.2 g of Indigo Naturalis powder which has passed through a No. 7 sieve but failed to pass through a No. 9 sieve to a glass bottle containing 20 mL pure water by a funnel and scan at 25 ℃ with a stability analyzer. Consistency analysis showed that the content ranking of indigo and indirubin is opposite to the TSI value, and the content ranking of total ash is generally consistent with the TSI value. Correlation analysis showed that the correlation coefficients of indigo and indirubin content and TSI value were -0.850 and -0.801, respectively, and R² was 0.72 and 0.64. The correlation coefficient between total ash content and TSI value was 0.724, R² was 0.52. Using the change in TSI value of Indigo Naturalis powder in water, this study establishes the range of classification of Indigo Naturalis decoction pieces and the content of relevant components, which can be used to authenticate Indigo Naturalis and evaluate its quality.