In a continuing study of the fermented noni (Morinda citrifolia) juice exudates, five compounds, heptanyl 2-O-β-D-xylofuranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), n-butyl β-D-glucopyranoside (2), (1S)-(3-ethenyl-phenyl)-1,2-ethanediol (3), (2S)-2-hydroxybutanedioic acid (4), and daucosterol (5) were isolated from the buthanol partition of the extract. The structures of the isolates were identified by 1D and 2D NMR, and MS experiments, as well as by comparison of their data with the published values. Among the isolates, compounds 1 – 3 were isolated for the first time from the plant species. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cancer chemopreventive potential based on their ability to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced NF-κB activity, and quinonone reductase-1 (QR1)-inducing effect.
Exudates and Transudates* ; Morinda* ; Nitric Oxide ; Plants ; Rubiaceae ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in premature infants. Therefore, an early diagnosis and treatment of a hemodynamically significant PDA are very important. A widened pulse pressure is considered to be a well known clinical sign of a PDA in older infants and children; however, whether this is also applicable in the case of preterm infants remains to be confirmed. The aims of this study were to investigate the change in blood pressure (BP) before and after medical treatment of a PDA with indomethacin and to evaluate if the change in the pulse pressure in preterm infants with a medically treated PDA could be used as a reliable clinical predictor of a hemodynamically significant PDA. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between January 2005 and June 2009, a retrospective analysis was performed in preterm infants with a hemodynamically significant PDA (PDA group, n=72) and preterm infants without a PDA (control group, n=72) at the Chonnam National University Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The PDA was closed by treatment with indomethacin. The BP was compared between the two groups over the seven days after the first dose of indomethacin. RESULTS: In preterm infants with a hemodynamically significant PDA, the mean systolic (55.1+/-6.0 mmHg) and diastolic BPs (31.4+/-6.2 mmHg) were lower than those in the controls (mean systolic BP 58.0+/-6.4 mmHg, mean diastolic BP 34.7+/-6.0 mmHg) before indomethacin treatment. When the ductus arteriosus was successfully closed by indomethacin treatment, there was a gradual increase in both the systolic and diastolic BPs without any change in the pulse pressure. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that a widened pulse pressure is not a useful clinical sign of a hemodynamically significant PDA in preterm infants. However, low systolic and diastolic BPs may be useful clinical signs of a hemodynamically significant PDA in preterm infants. If the systolic and diastolic BP is low, a PDA should be considered and echocardiography should be performed for early diagnosis and treatment.
Blood Pressure ; Ductus Arteriosus ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Early Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Indomethacin ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Retrospective Studies

This study focused on investigation of the immunosuppressive inhibitory effect through determination of IL-2 production of nine compounds (1 − 9) isolated from Chlamydomonas sp. KSF108. Among them, compounds 1, 5, and 6 displayed moderately inhibitory effects on IL-2 production at a concentration of 100 μM. In addition, the related ones including cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant activities were also elucidated. 6 further displayed cytotoxic activity against the MCF-7 cell line, with an IC50 value of 17.2 μM and 4, 6 − 7, and 9 possessed significant DPPH radical scavenging activity, with IC50 values ranging from 3.1 to 4.4 μM. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the bioactivity of isolated chemical constituents from the genus Chlamydomonas. Compounds 1 and 5 investigated for the first time in the activity of immunosuppressivity and 6 may come to serve as the most important marker in broad-spectrum activities of the secondary metabolites identified from C. sp. KSF108.