UrotensinⅡis the earliest active peptide detected from the teleost fish spinal cord, which is correlated with various risk factors of cerebrovascular diseases.This article reviews the latest advances in reasearch on urotensinⅡin cerebrovascular diseases,so as to provide assistance for urotensinⅡin the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases.

Biofilms are microbial communities which are enclosed within a matrix of exopolysaccharides produced by the bacteria,fungi and protozoa growing intimately on a living or inert surfaces.Further researches on bcterial biofilms formation and molecular machines,pathogenic mechanisms (especially drug resistance),detection and treatment maybe provide novel pathways to refractory infections caused by bcterial biofilms.

Chemical investigation of fruits of Mours alba L. lead to the isolation of fifteen compounds by various chromatographies such as silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, RP-C18 column chromatography. Their structures were determined to be: 1-[5-(2-formlfuryl) methyl] dihydrogen 2-hydroxypropane-1, 2, 3-tricarboxylate 2, 3-diethyl ester (1), 1-[2-(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl] pyrrolidin-2-one (2), divaricataester A (3), methyl 1-[2-(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (4), 1-[2-(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (5), L-pyroglutamic acid (6), L-pyroglutamic acid ethyl ester (7), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (8), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid ethyl ester (9), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (10), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid ethyl ester (11), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (12), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (13), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (14), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (15), respectively, based on the spectral analysis such as NMR, MS etc. Compounds 1-14 were isolated from this genus for the first time, among which 1 was a new compound.
Chlorogenic Acid ; isolation & purification ; Esters ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Furans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lactams ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Morus ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid ; isolation & purification ; Tricarboxylic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Twelve compounds were isolated from the herb of Chenopodium ambrosioides, and their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods as kaempferol-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (1), kaempferol-3,7-di-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (2), patuletin (3), quercetin-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (4), grasshopper ketone (5), 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (6), syringaresinol (7), benzyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (8), dendranthemoside B (9), N-trans-feruloyl tyramine (10), N-trans-feruloyl 4'-O-methyldopamine (11), and 4-hydroxy-N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethyl] benzamide (12). Among them,compounds 3, 6-8,10, and 12 were isolated from the genus Chenopodium for the first time, and compounds 2-12 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chenopodium ambrosioides ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents from Rhodobryum roseum.

METHODThe compounds were isolated and purified by recrystallization and chromatography with silica gel and sephadex LH-20 column. Their structures were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral analysis.

RESULTEight compounds were isolated and identified as apigenin (1), quercetin (2), oleanolic acid (3), 2alpha-hydroxyoleanolic acid (4), 2alpha-hydroxyursolic acid (5), protocatechuic acid (6), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (7), p-hydroxycinnamic acid (8).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-8 were isolated from R. roseum for the first time.

Apigenin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Bryopsida ; chemistry ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Catechin and its analogues are varied and distributed widely. They have significant bioactivity on clearing free radical, anti-cancer, anti-flammatory, anti-allergic, anti-mutation, anti-aging, improving liver function, and so on. Recently, catechins (GTC) in green tea have given rise to comprehensive attention all over the world, and will have a wonderful prospect. The progress in studies of the structures, spectrum characters, resources and bioactivities of catechin and its analogues has been reviewed.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common inherited disease with a high morbidity around 1/1000-1/400, characterized by progressive enlargement of fluid-filled cysts derived from renal tubular epithelial cells. Massive cysts gradually compress renal parenchyma destroying normal renal structures and compromising renal functions. Unfortunately, it will cause end-stage renal disease in most of the patients but without effective therapy now, who have to live on hemodialysis or kidney transplantation. Based on this present situation, it is of great significance to find early intervention to inhibit renal cyst development. The projective of this study was to investigate whether Ganoderma triterpenes (GT) can inhibit renal cyst development and study the related mechanism. METHODS and RESULTS First, we used MDCK cyst model, cultivated MDCK cells in vitro to form fluid-filled cysts surrounded by monolayer cells. GT inhibited MDCK cyst formation significantly, and inhibited cyst enlargement dose-dependently proving GT cyst inhibition in vitro. Then we used an embryonic kidney cyst model, wile-type mice kidneys were taken out on embryonic day 13.5 to form renal cysts stimulated with 8-Br-cAMP. GT inhibited embryonic kidney cyst development significantly in a dose-dependent and reversible manner proving GT cyst inhibition at organ level. Furthermore, we used two ADPKD mouse models with severe cystic kidney disease phenotypes. GT dramatically inhibited renal cyst development, decreased ADPKD mouse kidney volume and the cyst index inside proving GT cyst inhibition in vivo. By Western blot, we proved GT down-regulated Ras/MAPK signal pathway without detectable effect on mTOR signal pathway both in MDCK cells and two ADPKD mouse kidneys. CONCLUSION GT retard renal cyst development both in vitro and in vivo significantly. The related mechanisms were involved in GT promoting renal tubular epithelial cell differentiation, down-regulating intracellular cAMP level and Ras/MAPK signal pathway.

The chemical constituents of Poria cocos were studied by means of silica gel, ODS column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. Thirteen compounds were isolated from this plant. By analysis of the ESI-MS and NMR data, the structures of these compounds were determined as tumulosic acid (1), dehydrotumulosic acid (2), 3beta, 5alpha-dihydroxy-ergosta-7, 22-dien-6-one (3), 3beta, 5alpha, 9alpha-trihydroxy-ergosta-7, 22-diene -6-one (4), ergosta-7, 22-diene-3-one (5), 6, 9-epoxy-ergosta-7,22-diene-3-ol (6), ergosta-4,22-diene-3-one (7), 3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-trihydroxyl-ergosta-7,22-diene (8), ergosta-5, 6-epoxy-7,22-dien-3-ol (9), beta-sitosterol (10), ribitol (11), mannitol (12), and oleanic acid 3-O-acetate (13), respectively. Compounds 3-13 were isolated from the P. cocos for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; Poria ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo develop a method for determination of catechin and its analogues in Spatholobus suberectus.

METHODGallocatechin, catechin and epicatechin are used as reference substances. Chromatographic assay is performed on a C18 colum. The mobile phase is composed of methanol and acetic acid solution with gradient elution. Velocity of flow is 0.8 mL x min(-1) and the detection wavelength is 270 nm.

RESULTThe calibration curves of gallocatechin, catechin and epicatechin are linear within the range of 0.397 microg to 1.986 microg, 0.404 microg to 2.019 microg and 0.405 microg to 2.024 microg. The recoveries of them are 97.2%, 100.8% and 98.8%, and the RSD are 1.7%, 2.4%, 2.4% (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, rapid and suitable for the determination of catechin and its analogues in S. suberectus.

Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo study the active constituents in vine stem of Spatholobus suberectus.

METHODThe constituents of Spatholobus suberectus were systematically separated with various chromatographic techniques. The structures were elucidated by physico-chemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTEight compounds were isolated from S. suberectus, and were identified as: ononin (1), pruneitin (2), gallocatechin (3), catechin (4), epicatechin (5), syringic acid (6), vanillic acid (7) and daucosterol (8).

CONCLUSIONCompound 3, 4, 6, 7 were obtained from Spatholobus genus for the first time. Compound 4 has stimulation to proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cell.

Animals ; Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Gallic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Vanillic Acid ; chemistry ; isolation & purification