Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) and longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) fruits have a succulent and white aril with a brown seed and are becoming popular worldwide. The two fruits have been used in traditional Chinese medicine as popular herbs in the treatment of neural pain, swelling, and cardiovascular disease. The pericarp and seed portions as the by-products of litchi and longan fruits are estimated to be approximately 30% of the dry weight of the whole fruit and are rich in bioactive constituents. In the recent years, many biological activities, such as tyrosinase inhibitory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-glycated, and anti-cancer activities, as well as memory-increasing effects, have been reported for the litchi and longan pericarp and seed extracts, indicating a potentially significant contribution to human health. With the increasing production of litchi and longan fruits, enhanced utilization of the two fruit by-products for their inherent bioactive constituents in relation to pharmacological effects is urgently needed. This paper reviews the current advances in the extraction, processing, identification, and biological and pharmacological activities of constituents from litchi and longan by-products. Potential utilization of litchi and longan pericarps and seeds in relation to further research is also discussed.
Fruit ; chemistry ; Humans ; Litchi ; chemistry ; Phytochemicals ; analysis ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Sapindaceae ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry

AIM: To investigate the chemical constituents of Allophylus longipes. METHODS: Compounds were isolated and purified by various chromatographic techniques and their structures were elucidated by physicochemical characteristics and spectral data. RESULTS: Twenty-five compounds were isolated and identified as cycloart-24-en-3β, 26-diol (1), 3-oxotrirucalla-7, 24-dien-21-oic acid (2), zizyberenalic acid (3), colubrinic acid (4), ent-4(15)-eudesmene-1β, 6α-diol (5), 4(15)-eudesmene-1β, 8α-diol (6), 4(15)-eudesmene-1β, 5α-diol (7), methyl asterrate (8), betulin (9), betulinic aldehyde (10), betulinic acid (11), 3β-hydroxy-5α, 8α-epidioxyergosta-6, 22-dien (12), 3-oxo-19α-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (13), ursolic acid (14), scopoletin (15), fraxidin (16), cleomiscosin A (17), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (18), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamaldehyde (19), 2',6'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyacetophenone (20), p-(aminoalkyl)-benzoic acid (21), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (22), 1-O-p-coumaroylglucose (23), β-sitosterol (24), and poriferast-5-ene-3β, 4β-diol (25). CONCLUSION All the compounds were isolated from Allophylus longipes for the first time.
Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Sapindaceae ; chemistry

Xanthoceras sorbifolia, an excellent oil-rich woody species, has high comprehensive economic value in edible, medicinal, and ornamental fields. The chemical composition, pharmacological effect, and quality control of X. sorbifolia were introduced, and its development and application were reviewed in this study. As revealed by the previous research, the main chemical constituents of X. sorbifolia were triterpenoids, flavonoids, fatty acids, phenylpropanoids, steroids, phenolic acids, organic acids, etc. It possesses pharmacological effects, such as neuroprotection, bacteriostasis, anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, analgesia, anti-HIV, and anti-coagulation. X. sorbifolia is widely applied in medical, food, chemical industry, and other fields, and deserves in-depth research and development.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Flavonoids ; Research ; Sapindaceae ; Triterpenes

AIMTo study the chemical constituents from the husk of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge. Repeated column chromatography on silica gel and preparative TLC were used to isolate the compounds whose structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic data (ESIMS, EIMS, 1D and 2D NMR).

RESULTSA new alkaloid was isolated and identified as: 2-methyl-6-(2', 3', 4'-trihydroxybutyl)-pyrazine (I), along with nine known compounds: cleomiscosin D (II), naringenin (III), eriodictyol (IV), kaempferol (V), quercetin (VI), rutin (VII), 5,7-dihydroxychromone (VIII), tyrosol (IX), 1-O-methyl-myo-inositol (X).

CONCLUSIONCompound I is a new alkaloid, compounds II, IV, V, VII - X were isolated from this genus for the first time.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Sapindaceae ; chemistry

To investigate the chemical constituents of seeds of Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm. , components were separated by means of solvent extraction and chromatography on C18, the structure of compound was determined by spectral analysis and chemical evidences. One saponin was obtained and identified as 28-O-isopentyryl-3beta, 16alpha, 22beta, 28-tetrahydroxyl-oleanane-3-O-[ alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl- ( 1-->3) -betaD-galactopyranosyl-( 1--->4' )]-3betaD-galacturonopyranoside, named paniculata saponin C. This saponin is a new compound.
Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sapindaceae ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Seeds ; chemistry

Four new compounds, alloeudesmenol (1), hanocokinoside (3), allotaraxerolide (4), and alloaminoacetaldehyde (5), together with two known compound, stigmastane-3β,4β-diol (2) and pinitol 6 (a and b) were isolated and identified from the whole plant of Allophylus africanus.
Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sapindaceae ; chemistry

The anti-malarial potential of different parts of Allophylus africanus P. Beauv and Tragia benthamii Baker were determined in vivo for suppressive, curative and cytotoxic activities in mice receiving 0.2 mL of a standard inoculum size of 1 × 10(7) infected erythrocytes of Plasmodium berghei (NK-65) intraperitoneally. The A. africanus extracts suppressed parasitaemia following administration to infected mice by 92.82%-97.81% on day 7 post-infection against 96.81% for chloroquine. The infected extract-treated animals had significantly moderate (P < 0.05) packed cell volume (PCV) compared with the infected, untreated animals. Phytochemical screening revealed a predominance of tannins, saponins, flavonoids and carbohydrates in all parts of A. africanus, and alkaloids instead of flavonoids in the extract of T. benthamii. The results suggest that the extract possesses considerable antimalarial activity. These results support further studies on A. africanus.
Animals ; Antimalarials ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Euphorbiaceae ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Malaria ; drug therapy ; parasitology ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Plasmodium berghei ; drug effects ; Sapindaceae ; chemistry

The present study was designed to investigate the bioactive constituents of Xanthoceras sorbifolia in terms of amounts and their antioxidant, DNA scission protection, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Simultaneous quantification of 10 X. sorbifolia constituents was carried out by a newly established ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry method (UHPLC-MS). The antioxidant activities were evaluated by measuring DPPH radical scavenging and DNA scission protective activities. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were investigated by using an assay with α-glucosidase from Bacillus Stearothermophilus and disaccharidases from mouse intestine. We found that the wood of X. sorbifolia was rich in phenolic compounds with the contents of catechin, epicatechin, myricetin, and dihydromyricetin being 0.12-0.19, 1.94-2.16, 0.77-0.91, and 6.76-7.89 mg·g(-1), respectively. The four constituents strongly scavenged DPPH radicals (with EC50 being 4.2, 3.8 and 5.7 μg·mL(-1), respectively) and remarkably protected peroxyl radical-induced DNA strand scission (92.10%, 94.66%, 75.44% and 89.95% of protection, respectively, at a concentration of 10 μmol·L(-1)). A dimeric flavan 3-ol, epigallocatechin-(4β→8, 2β→O-7)-epicatechin potently inhibited α-glucosidase with an IC50 value being as low as 1.2 μg·mL(-1). The established UHPLC-MS method could serve as a quality control tool for X. sorbifolia. In conclusion, the high contents of antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory constituents in X. sorbifolia support its use as complementation of other therapeutic agents for metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and hypertension.
Antioxidants ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Biphenyl Compounds ; metabolism ; Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; DNA ; drug effects ; DNA Damage ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Picrates ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Sapindaceae ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Wood ; chemistry ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To assess the inhibitory effect of the extract of Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge flower against benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and explore its possible mechanism. METHODS: MTT assay was used to examine the effect of the extract of Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge flower on proliferation of benign prostatic hyperplasia cells (BPH-1), and cell apoptosis and cell cycle changes following the treatment were analyzed using annexin V/PI double staining and flow cytometry. The protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, PI3K and AKT in the treated cells were detected using Western blotting. A rat model of BPH established by subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate was treated with the flower extract for 28 days, and pathological changes in the prostate tissue were observed with HE staining. The protein expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase3 and PI3K/AKT in the prostate tissue were detected with Western blotting. RESULTS: Within the concentration range of 125-1000 µg/mL, the flower extract of Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge significantly inhibited the proliferation of BPH-1 cells and caused obvious cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase; the apoptotic rate of the cells was positively correlated with the concentration of the flower extract (P < 0.05). Bcl-2, p-PI3K and p-AKT expression levels were significantly down-regulated and Bax and caspase-3 expression levels were significantly increased in the cells after treatment with the flowers extract (P < 0.05). In the rat models of BPH, the rats treated with the flowers extract at moderate and high doses showed obviously decreased expressions of p-AKT and Bcl-2 and an increased expression of Bax in the prostate tissue; a significantly lowered p-AKT expression was observed in the prostate tissue of rats receiving the low-dose treatment (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The flower extract of Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge has a inhibitory effect on BPH both in vitro and in rats, suggesting its potential value in the development of medicinal plant preparations for treatment of BPH.
Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Animals ; Prostatic Hyperplasia/drug therapy* ; Caspase 3 ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Flowers/metabolism* ; Sapindaceae/metabolism*

AIMTo observe the alterations in the biochemical and biophysical changes in the sperm membrane during sperm maturation in male rats treated with the water extract of the fruit pericarp of S. mukorossi.

METHODSAdult male Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged the aqueous extract of the fruit pericarp of S. mukorossi at a dose of 50 mg/kg/d for 45 days. On day 46, the sperm parameters were observed in different sections of the epididymis and the sperm superoxide dismutase and the lipid peroxidation was determined and compared with the controls. The testis and epididymis were routinely prepared for histological examination under the light microscope.

RESULTSNo significant differences in the sperm number and morphology were observed between the control and treated groups. However, a significant inhibition (P<0.05-0.01) of sperm motility in the caput, corpus and cauda regions of the epididymis was seen in the treated group. No significant histopathological changes were found in the testis and epididymis. The important finding was that in the treated animals, the spermatozoa showed an abnormal distribution of the superoxide dismutase activity, being minimum in the caput and maximum in the corpus, which was just opposite to that of the controls.

CONCLUSIONThe study provides a unique observation where the plant extract alters the sperm membrane physiology without change the testicular and epididymal morphology.

Animals ; Cell Membrane ; drug effects ; Epididymis ; cytology ; drug effects ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Plant Preparations ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sapindus ; Sperm Maturation ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism