Ligustilide, a phthalide compound extracted from Umbelliferae plants such as Angelica sinensis and Ligusticum chuanxiong, has been proven to possess various pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-ischemic stroke injury, and anti-Alzheimer's disease properties. In recent years, it has shown great potential, particularly in the treatment of locomotor system diseases. Studies have shown that ligustilide has significant therapeutic effects on various locomotor system diseases, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, femoral head necrosis, osteosarcoma, and muscle aging and injury. Its mechanisms of action include enhancing the differentiation ability of osteoblasts(OBs), inhibiting the formation ability of osteoclasts(OCs), downregulating inflammatory factors, promoting the synthesis of extracellular matrix(ECM), improving local blood supply to the femoral head, balancing lipid metabolism, inhibiting the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells, inducing cell cycle arrest, enhancing glucose utilization in skeletal muscle, and regulating autophagy and apoptosis. However, its clinical application is severely limited by drawbacks such as structural instability, poor water solubility, and low bioavailability. Currently, formulation techniques such as dripping pills, micropills, inclusion complexes, and liposomes are being used to improve its stability and water solubility, thereby enhancing its therapeutic efficacy. This article summarized the effects, mechanisms of action, and pharmacokinetics of ligustilide monomers and preparations in the treatment of locomotor system diseases in China and abroad in recent years, aiming to provide reference and guidance for further development and application of ligustilide in this field.
Humans ; 4-Butyrolactone/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Angelica sinensis/chemistry* ; Osteoporosis/metabolism* ; Ligusticum/chemistry*

OBJECTIVES: To find a method to distinguish exogenous gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) from endogenous GHB by establishing ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) based on exosome for quantitative detection of GHB in the rat blood. METHODS: Adult male SD rats were divided into 1 h, 5 h, 10 h administration group and control group. After 1 h, 5 h and 10 h of single precursor of GHB gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) intraperitoneal injection in administration groups, 5 mL blood was collected from the abdominal aorta. Meanwhile, the control group was given a same dose of normal saline, and 5 mL blood was collected at 1 h. Among the 5 mL blood, 0.5 mL was directly detected by HPLC-MS after pretreatment, and exosomes were extracted from the remaining blood by differential centrifugation and detected. RESULTS: The concentration of GHB in the control group was (87.36±33.48) ng/mL, and the concentration with administration at 1 h, 5 h and 10 h was (110 400.00±1 766.35) ng/mL, (1 479.00±687.01) ng/mL and (133.60±12.17) ng/mL, respectively. The results of exosome detection showed that no peak GHB signal was detected in the control group and the 10 h administration group, and the concentrations of GHB at 1 h and 5 h administration groups were (91.47±33.44) ng/mL and (49.43±7.05) ng/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS GHB was detected in blood exosome by UPLC-MS, which indicated that exogenous GHB could be detected in plasma exosomes, while endogenous GHB could not be detected, suggesting that this method may be used as a basis to determine whether there is exogenous drug intake.
4-Butyrolactone/chemistry* ; Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Exosomes/chemistry* ; Hydroxybutyrates/chemistry* ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Oxybate/analysis* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods*

Two new isomeric modified tripeptides, aspergillamides C and D (compounds 1 and 2), together with fifteen known compounds (compounds 3-17), were obtained from the marine sponge-derived fungus Aspergillus terreus SCSIO 41008. The structures of the new compounds, including absolute configurations, were determined by extensive analyses of spectroscopic data (NMR, MS, UV, and IR) and comparisons between the calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Butyrolactone I (compound 11) exhibited strong inhibitory effects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein tyrosine phosphatase B (MptpB) with the IC being 5.11 ± 0.53 μmol·L, and acted as a noncompetitive inhibitor based on kinetic analysis.
4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aspergillus ; chemistry ; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical ; Dipeptides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Indoles ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; Peptides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Polyketides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Porifera ; microbiology ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; chemistry

Ten batches of Angelica sinensis from three producing areas( Tuoxiang,Minxian and Weiyuan of Gansu province) were selected as the research objects,and processed into raw A. sinensis,A. sinensis with alcohol,and A. sinensis with soil respectively through the standard processing methods. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography( UPLC) was used to establish fingerprint for three processed products of A. sinensis,and determine the contents of 9 phenolic acids and phthalide compounds. The similarity was analyzed with Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine,which showed that the chromatographic peaks of the same processed samples of A. sinensis were basically similar,with all similarities greater than 0. 950. The difference between different processed products and their control spectra was not obvious,with all similarities also higher than 0. 950.On the basis of using principal component analysis( PCA) and OPLS-DA to seek the difference components between groups,the improved distance coefficient method can be used to effectively distinguish the three processed products of A. sinensis by fingerprint similarity. At the same time,the determination method of nine phenolic acids and phthalide in A. sinensis was established by UPLC,and the comparison between different processed products was carried out. The results showed that the content of various components was changed as compared with the raw A. sinensis. The contents of coniferyl ferulate and ligustilide in the A. sinensis with alcohol were increased significantly,and the content of coniferyl ferulate was obviously increased in A. sinensis with soil. The method established in this paper can effectively distinguish different processed products of A. sinensis and determine the content of the main components in them.
4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Benzofurans ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coumaric Acids ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Hydroxybenzoates ; analysis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Principal Component Analysis

The present study carried out a phytochemical investigation on the root barks of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz, leading to the isolation and characterization of two new aromatic ring butyrolactone derivatives, dasycarpusphenol acid A (1) and dasycarpusphenol acid B (2). Their structures were elucidated by using spectroscopic techniques and HR-FAB-MS. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited antioxidant activity, with their IC values being 28.95 and 41.76 mg·mL, respectively.
4-Butyrolactone ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Dictamnus ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

A quantitative analysis method of multi-components with a single marker (QAMS) for simultaneous determination of six marker compounds (one from phenolic acids and five from phthalides) in Chuanxiong Rhizoma was established by applying HPLC and using butylidenephthalide as the internal reference substance. And also the feasibility and accuracy of the established method for quality evaluation and application of Chuanxiong Rhizoma were investigated and validated. The analysis was performed with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile - 0.2% aqueous formic acid. The flow rate was 1.0 mL . min-1 and the column temperature was maintained at 30 °C. The detection wavelengths were set at 252 nm (for ferulic acid, Z-ligustilide, and butylidenephthalide) and 266 nm (for senkyunolide I, senkyunolide A, and coniferyl ferulate), separately, and 20 µL was injected for analysis with gradient elution. The results showed that there were no significant differences observed between the HPLC-QAMS method and the external standard method (RSD <5%). The relative correction factors were credible (RSD < 5%) in changed chromatographic conditions. The established HPLC-QAMS method can be accurately used for simultaneously evaluating and controlling the quality of Chuanxiong Rhizoma with multi-components.
4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; Acetonitriles ; Benzofurans ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coumaric Acids ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; standards ; Hydroxybenzoates ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry

Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes severe and persistent infections in immune compromised individuals and cystic fibrosis sufferers. The infection is hard to eradicate as P. aeruginosa has developed strong resistance to most conventional antibiotics. The problem is further compounded by the ability of the pathogen to form biofilm matrix, which provides bacterial cells a protected environment withstanding various stresses including antibiotics. Quorum sensing (QS), a cell density-based intercellular communication system, which plays a key role in regulation of the bacterial virulence and biofilm formation, could be a promising target for developing new strategies against P. aeruginosa infection. The QS network of P. aeruginosa is organized in a multi-layered hierarchy consisting of at least four interconnected signaling mechanisms. Evidence is accumulating that the QS regulatory network not only responds to bacterial population changes but also could react to environmental stress cues. This plasticity should be taken into consideration during exploration and development of anti-QS therapeutics.
4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; metabolism ; Iron ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; physiology ; Quorum Sensing ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; Virulence

A new γ-alkylated-γ-butyrolactone, named melongenolide A (1), along with nine known compounds were obtained from the roots of Solanum melongena, and their structures were identified as melongenolide A (1), (+)-syringaresinol (2), (+)-lyoniresinol (3), 5,5'-dimethoxy lariciresinol (4), (+)-(7R,8R)-4-hydroxy-3,3',5'-trimethoxy-8',9'-dinor-8,4'-oxyneoligna-7, 9-diol-7'-aldehyde (5), kaempferol-3-O-(2″,6″-di-O-p-trans-coumaroyl)-β-glucoside (6), arjunolic acid (7), vanillic acid (8), scoparone (9), and β-sitosterol (10). Compounds 2, 6, and 7 showed potent inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, with IC50 values being 5.62 ± 0.86, 11.47 ± 0.98, and 27.75 ± 1.26 μmol·L(-1), respectively.
4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; isolation & purification ; Animals ; Furans ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Kaempferols ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lignans ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Solanum melongena ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

A simple and quick method is described for the determination of ferulic acid, senkyunolide I, senkyunolide H, senkyunolide A and ligustilide in rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong. The 5 active ingredients in the sample was extracted using 40% ethanol and analyzed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Chromatography separation was performed using Agilent 1100 series HPLC system with a Symmetry C18 column and gradient elution with a mixture of three solvents : solvent A, acetonitrile, solvent B, methanol and solvent C, 1% aqueous acetic acid, 0 min to 5 min A: B: C 20: 40: 40, 5 min to 30 min A: B: C 60 to 100 : 0 : 40 to 0. The effluent was monitored using a VWD detector set at 321 nm (0-4.3 min) and 275 nm (4.31-30 min). The flow rate was set at 1 mL x min(-1) and the injection volume was 10 microL. The column temperature was maintained at 35 degrees C. The calibration curve was linear (r > or = 0.99) over the tested ranges. The average recovery was 94.44%-103.1% (n = 6). The method has been successfully applied to the analysis in different harvest periods of L. chuanxiong samples. In this paper, single-factor randomized block design to study the 5 components content of L. chuanxiong on ten collecting stages. For the L. chuanxiong collected from April 15th to May 30rd, the content of 5 ingredients increased primarily, and then decreased. Determine the appropriate harvest time has important significance to the promotion of the quality of L. chuanxiong.
4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Acetic Acid ; chemistry ; Acetonitriles ; chemistry ; Benzofurans ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Coumaric Acids ; analysis ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Methanol ; chemistry ; Solvents ; chemistry ; Time Factors

Z-Ligustilide, a major phthalide isolated from a widely used traditional Chinese medicine Ligusticum chuanxiong, possesses various pharmacological activities including neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and vasorelaxing effects. However, it is unstable and inclined to degrade in natural conditions, which limits its study and application greatly. In this study, degradation behavior of Z-ligustilide and its degradation products stored at room temperature under direct sunlight were investigated and structure elucidated by HPLC-UV, UPLC-QTOF-MS and NMR. Z-ligustilide degradation and total five degradation products were generated and detected. Two degradation products were unequivocally identified as senkyunolide I and senkyunolide H by comparison with reference compounds. Another two degradation products were further isolated by semi-preparative HPLC and structure elucidated as (E)-6, 7-trans-dihydroxyligustilide and (Z)-6, 7-epoxyligustilide by 1H and 13C NMR, respectively. The degradation pathways of Z-ligustilide were finally proposed. Oxidation, hydrolysis and isomerization are the major degradation reactions.
4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Benzofurans ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Hydrolysis ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization