Two new compounds from the roots of Pueraria peduncularis and their molluscicidal effects on Pomacea canaliculata

Two oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins named pedunsaponin D (1) and pedunsaponin E (2) were isolated from the roots of Pueraria peduncularis. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated based on chemical and physicochemical evidence as follows: pedunsaponin D, 3-O-β-glucopyranosyl-(1-3)-β-glucuronopyranosyl-3β,15α,23α-trihydroxy-11,13(18)-oleanadien-16-one (1); pedunsaponin E, 3-O-β-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-β-glucopy ranosyl(1-2)[β-glucopyranosyl(1-3)-β-glucuronopyranosyl]-3β-hydroxy-16-oxoolean-12-en-30-oic acid (2). The two compounds showed moderate molluscicidal activity.[Formula: see text].

Glsnf1-mediated metabolic rearrangement participates in coping with heat stress and influencing secondary metabolism in Ganoderma lucidum

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/Sucrose-nonfermenting serine-threonine protein kinase 1 (Snf1) plays an important role in metabolic remodelling in response to energy stress. However, the role of AMPK/Snf1 in responding to other environmental stresses and metabolic remodelling in microorganisms was unclear. Heat stress (HS), which is one important environmental factor, could induce the production of reactive oxygen species and the accumulation of ganoderic acids (GAs) in Ganoderma lucidum. Here, the functions of AMPK/Snf1 were analysed under HS condition in G. lucidum. We observed that Glsnf1 was rapidly and strongly activated when G. lucidum was exposed to HS. HS significantly increased intracellular H₂O₂ levels (by approximately 1.6-fold) and decreased the dry weight of G. lucidum (by approximately 45.6%). The exogenous addition of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) and ascorbic acid (VC), which function as ROS scavengers, partially inhibited the HS-mediated reduction in biomass. Adding the AMPK/Snf1 inhibitor compound C (20 μM) under HS conditions increased the H₂O₂ content (by approximately 2.3-fold of that found in the strain without HS treatment and 1.5-fold of that found in the strain under HS treatment without compound C) and decreased the dry weight of G. lucidum (an approximately 28.5% decrease compared with that of the strain under HS conditions without compound C). Similar results were obtained by silencing the Glsnf1 gene. Further study found that Glsnf1 meditated metabolite distribution from respiration to glycolysis, which is considered a protective mechanism against oxidative stress. In addition, Glsnf1 negatively regulated the biosynthesis of GA by removing ROS. In conclusion, our results suggest that Glsnf1-mediated metabolic remodelling is involved in heat stress adaptability and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in G. lucidum.

Novel cucurbitane-type triterpene saponins from Hemsleya amabilis

The rhizomes of the medicinal plant Hemsleya amabilis (Cucurbitaceae) yielded three new cucurbitane-type triterpene saponins xuedanosides K-M (1-3) by silica gel column, ODS column, and pre-HPLC techniques. The structure was determined by spectroscopic analysis and examined alongside existing data from prior studies. Compounds 1-3 were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against HeLa and HCT-8 human cancer cell lines and showed significant cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values of 2.01-14.56 and 8.94-27.48 μM, respectively.

[Effect of asiaticoside on hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia in neonatal rats and related mechanism]

OBJECTIVE

To study the protective effect of asiaticoside against hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia in neonatal rats based on the microRNA-155 (miR-155)/suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1) axis.

METHODS

Neonatal rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a low-dose asiaticoside group (10 mg/kg), a middle-dose asiaticoside group (25 mg/kg), a high-dose asiaticoside group (50 mg/kg), and a budesonide group (1.5 mg/kg), with 12 rats in each group. All rats except those in the control group were exposed to a high concentration of oxygen for 14 days to establish a neonatal rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The low-, middle-, and high-dose asiaticoside groups were given asiaticoside at different doses by gavage, and those in the budesonide group were given budesonide aerosol treatment. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe lung tissue development and measure radial alveolar count (RAC) and mean linear intercept (MLI). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) detection kits were used to measure the levels of SOD and MDA in lung tissue. ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of miR-155 and SOCS1 in lung tissue. Western blotting was used to measure the protein expression of SOCS1 in lung tissue.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the model group had the symptoms of bronchopulmonary dysplasia such as a disordered structure of lung tissue, enlargement of alveolar fusion, uneven alveolar septa, enlargement of average alveolar space, and a reduction in alveolar number. The model group also had significant increases in MLI, MDA level in lung tissue, serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and miR-155 level in lung tissue (P<0.05) and significant reductions in RAC, SOD level, and mRNA and protein expression of SOCS1 in lung tissue (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the low-, middle-, and high-dose asiaticoside groups and the budesonide group had significant improvement in the above symptoms of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, significant reductions in MLI, MDA level in lung tissue, serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and miR-155 level in lung tissue (P<0.05), and significant increases in RAC, SOD level, and mRNA and protein expression of SOCS1 in lung tissue (P<0.05). Asiaticoside improved the above symptoms and indices in a dose-dependent manner. There were no significant differences in the above indices between the high-dose asiaticoside and budesonide groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Asiaticoside can alleviate inflammation injury induced by hyperoxia in neonatal rats and improve the symptoms of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in a dose-dependent manner, possibly by down-regulating the expression of miR-155 and up-regulating the expression of SOCS1.

Two new dammarane triterpenes isolated from Cleome khorassanica Bunge & Bien with cytotoxicity against DU-145 and LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines

From the aerial parts of Cleome khorassanica Bunge & Bien, a new 3-oxo-4-oxa-A-homo-25,26,27-trinordammarano-24,20-lactone triterpene (1), a new natural product 20,25-dihydroxy-3-oxodammarane triterpene (2), together with known 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,8,3',4',5'-heptamethoxyflavone (3), have been isolated and characterized. The chemical structure of the new compounds was determined by 1D and 2D NMR and HR tandem MS measurements. All three compounds were subjected to biological tests for evaluation of their cytotoxicity against prostate (DU-145 and LNCaP) cancer cells. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 showed cell growth inhibition in a dose dependent manner against DU-145 and LNCaP cells.

[Effect of asiaticoside on hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia in neonatal rats and related mechanism]

OBJECTIVE

To study the protective effect of asiaticoside against hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia in neonatal rats based on the microRNA-155 (miR-155)/suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1) axis.

METHODS

Neonatal rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a low-dose asiaticoside group (10 mg/kg), a middle-dose asiaticoside group (25 mg/kg), a high-dose asiaticoside group (50 mg/kg), and a budesonide group (1.5 mg/kg), with 12 rats in each group. All rats except those in the control group were exposed to a high concentration of oxygen for 14 days to establish a neonatal rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The low-, middle-, and high-dose asiaticoside groups were given asiaticoside at different doses by gavage, and those in the budesonide group were given budesonide aerosol treatment. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe lung tissue development and measure radial alveolar count (RAC) and mean linear intercept (MLI). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) detection kits were used to measure the levels of SOD and MDA in lung tissue. ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of miR-155 and SOCS1 in lung tissue. Western blotting was used to measure the protein expression of SOCS1 in lung tissue.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the model group had the symptoms of bronchopulmonary dysplasia such as a disordered structure of lung tissue, enlargement of alveolar fusion, uneven alveolar septa, enlargement of average alveolar space, and a reduction in alveolar number. The model group also had significant increases in MLI, MDA level in lung tissue, serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and miR-155 level in lung tissue (P<0.05) and significant reductions in RAC, SOD level, and mRNA and protein expression of SOCS1 in lung tissue (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the low-, middle-, and high-dose asiaticoside groups and the budesonide group had significant improvement in the above symptoms of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, significant reductions in MLI, MDA level in lung tissue, serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and miR-155 level in lung tissue (P<0.05), and significant increases in RAC, SOD level, and mRNA and protein expression of SOCS1 in lung tissue (P<0.05). Asiaticoside improved the above symptoms and indices in a dose-dependent manner. There were no significant differences in the above indices between the high-dose asiaticoside and budesonide groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Asiaticoside can alleviate inflammation injury induced by hyperoxia in neonatal rats and improve the symptoms of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in a dose-dependent manner, possibly by down-regulating the expression of miR-155 and up-regulating the expression of SOCS1.

Cucumol B, a new triterpene benzoate from Cucumis melo seeds with cytotoxic effect toward ovarian and human breast adenocarcinoma

Phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of Cucumis melo L. (Cucurbitaceae) seeds furnished a new triterpene benzoate derivative: cucumol B (1) and four known flavonoids: quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (2), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), quercetin (4), and luteolin (5). Their structures were identified by UV, IR, 1D (¹³C and ¹H), 2D (HSQC, ¹H-¹H COSY, HMBC, and NOESY) NMR, and HRESIMS spectral as well as comparing with literature data. Compound 1 has been assessed for the in vitro cytotoxic effect against SKOV-3, MCF-7, and HCT-116 cell lines. It had selective and potent effect toward SKOV-3 and MCF-7 cell lines with IC₅₀s 2.05 and 0.41 μM, respectively, in comparison to doxorubicin (IC₅₀s 0.32 and 0.05 μM). However, it showed moderate activity toward HCT-116 cell line with IC₅₀ 8.27 μM.

Insecticidal Effects of Triterpene Glycosides Extracted From Holothuria atra (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) Against Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) is economically important in many countries. Many biopesticides have been developed and studied to control this pest species; however, few natural products from marine organisms have been studied for their pesticidal efficiency. This study compared the acute contact toxicity of solvent extracted from the viscera of Holothuria atra and isolated triterpene glycoside compounds on third-instar S. litura. Our results showed that crude methanolic extracts were the most toxic to the larvae (LC50 ~ 10.37 mg/ml) compared with other crude extracts and contained the bioactive compound 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (LC50 ~ 6.01 mg/ml). All crude extracts and isolated triterpene glycoside compounds inhibited carboxylesterase activity. The efficiency and effectiveness of H. atra extractions and triterpene glycoside compounds against S. litura indicate their potential use in integrated pest management programs and the overall value of marine species as natural sources of insecticidal compounds.

New Dammarane-type Saponins from Gynostemma pentaphyllum

Six new dammarane-type saponins, gypenosides CP1-6 (16), along with 19 known compounds 7⁻25, were isolated and characterized from the aerial parts of Gynostemma pentaphyllum. Among these compounds, eight dammarane-type saponins, 2, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, and 15, exhibited the greatest antiproliferative effects against two human tumor cell lines (A549 and HepG2).

Pentacyclic triterpenes: New tools to fight metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome is a combination of dysregulated cardiometabolic risk factors characterized by dyslipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, inflammation, obesity as well as hypertension. These factors are tied to the increased risk for type-II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases including myocardial infarction in patients with metabolic syndrome.

PURPOSE

To review the proposed molecular mechanisms of pentacyclic triterpenes for their potential use in the metabolic syndrome.

METHODS

PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar database were searched from commencement to April 2018. Following keywords were searched in the databases with varying combinations: "metabolic syndrome", "pentacyclic triterpenes", "transcription factors", "protein kinase", "lipogenesis", "adipogenesis", "lipolysis", "fatty acids", "gluconeogenesis", "cardiovascular", "mitochondria", "oxidative stress", "pancreas", "hepatic cells", "skeletal muscle", "3T3-L1", "C2C12", "obesity", "inflammation", "insulin resistance", "glucose uptake", "clinical studies" and "bioavailability".

RESULTS

Pentacyclic triterpenes, such as asiatic acid, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, α,β-amyrin, celastrol, carbenoxolone, corosolic acid, maslinic acid, bardoxolone methyl and lupeol downregulate several metabolic syndrome components by regulating transcription factors, protein kinases and enzyme involved in the adipogenesis, lipolysis, fatty acid oxidation, insulin resistance, mitochondria biogenesis, gluconeogenesis, oxidative stress and inflammation.

CONCLUSION

In vitro and in vivo studies suggests that pentacyclic triterpenes effectively downregulate various factors related to metabolic syndrome. These phytochemicals may serve as promising candidates for clinical trials for the management of metabolic syndrome.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) mediated regulation of bacosides biosynthesis and transcriptional correlation of HMG-CoA reductase gene in suspension culture of Bacopa monnieri

Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. is a well documented nootropic plant, extensive known for alleviating symptoms of neurological disorder, along with other symptomatic relief. This property is attributed to the active phytocompounds, saponins (bacoside A) present in the plant. However, lack of stringent validation guidelines in most of the countries bring to the market, formulations differing in phytocompounds yield, thereby suggesting possible variation in therapeutic efficacy. The in-vitro suspension cultures of the Bacopa monnieri, provide an ease of scale-up, but regulating saponin yield is a stringent task. The aim of the study is to explore the effects of different concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 ppm) of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) (24 nm in size), in regulating growth rate, bacoside yield and transcriptional profile of HMG CoA reductasegene in the suspension cells of Bacopa monnieri. Results showed a linear correlation between Bacoside A yield and ZnO NP concentrations with around 2 fold increase in total bacoside A concentration at 1 ppm. Also, ZnO NP supplemented suspension cells showed variation in the specific growth rate. Neuroprotective properties, analyzed using methanolic extracts of suspension cells again obtrude the extract of ZnO NP supplemented (0.75 ppm and 1 ppm) culture for better response in alleviating oxidative stress mediated damage to neuronal cells. ZnO NP supplemented system showed lower expression of HMG CoA reductasegene (the rate limiting step in bacoside A biosynthesis) but higher concentration of bacoside A, suggesting possible role of ZnO NP in isoprenoid pathway than MVA pathways.

Modeling and simulation of different and representative engineering problems using Network Simulation Method

Mathematical models simulating different and representative engineering problem, atomic dry friction, the moving front problems and elastic and solid mechanics are presented in the form of a set of non-linear, coupled or not coupled differential equations. For different parameters values that influence the solution, the problem is numerically solved by the network method, which provides all the variables of the problems. Although the model is extremely sensitive to the above parameters, no assumptions are considered as regards the linearization of the variables. The design of the models, which are run on standard electrical circuit simulation software, is explained in detail. The network model results are compared with common numerical methods or experimental data, published in the scientific literature, to show the reliability of the model.

Gold nanourchins and celastrol reorganize the nucleo- and cytoskeleton of glioblastoma cells

The physicochemical properties and cytotoxicity of diverse gold nanoparticle (AuNP) morphologies with smooth surfaces have been examined extensively. Much less is known about AuNPs with irregular surfaces. This study focuses on the effects of gold nanourchins in glioblastoma cells. With limited success of monotherapies for glioblastoma, multimodal treatment has become the preferred regimen. One possible example for such future therapeutic applications is the combination of AuNPs with the natural cytotoxic agent celastrol. Here, we used complementary physical, chemical and biological methods to characterize AuNPs and investigate their impact on glioblastoma cells. Our results show that gold nanourchins altered glioblastoma cell morphology and reorganized the nucleo- and cytoskeleton. These changes were dependent on gold nanourchin surface modification. PEGylated nanourchins had no significant effect on glioblastoma cell morphology or viability, unless they were combined with celastrol. By contrast, CTAB-nanourchins adversely affected the nuclear lamina, microtubules and filamentous actin. These alterations correlated with significant glioblastoma cell death. We identified several mechanisms that contributed to the impact of AuNPs on the cytoskeleton and cell survival. Specifically, CTAB-nanourchins caused a significant increase in the abundance of Rock1. This protein kinase is a key regulator of the cytoskeleton. In addition, CTAB-nanourchins led to a marked decline in pro-survival signaling via the PI3 kinase-Akt pathway. Taken together, our study provides new insights into the molecular pathways and structural components altered by gold nanourchins and their implications for multimodal glioblastoma therapy.

Synergy between Ursolic and Oleanolic Acids from Vitellaria paradoxa Leaf Extract and β-Lactams against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: In Vitro and In Vivo Activity and Underlying Mechanisms

Combining antibiotics with resistance reversing agents is a key strategy to overcome bacterial resistance. Upon screening antimicrobial activities of plants used in traditional medicine, we found that a leaf dichloromethane extract from the shea butter tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) had antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with further evidence of synergy when combined with β-lactams. Using HPLC-MS, we identified ursolic (UA) and oleanolic acids (OA) in leaves and twigs of this species, and quantified them by HPLC-UV as the major constituents in leaf extracts (21% and 6% respectively). Both pure triterpenic acids showed antimicrobial activity against reference and clinical strains of MRSA, with MICs ranging from 8-16 mg/L for UA to 32-128 mg/L for OA. They were highly synergistic with β-lactams (ampicillin and oxacillin) at subMIC concentrations. Reversion of MRSA phenotype was attributed to their capacity to delocalize PBP2 from the septal division site, as observed by fluorescence microscopy, and to disturb thereby peptidoglycan synthesis. Moreover, both compounds also inhibited β-lactamases activity of living bacteria (as assessed by inhibition of nitrocefin hydrolysis), but not in bacterial lysates, suggesting an indirect mechanism for this inhibition. In a murine model of subcutaneous MRSA infection, local administration of UA was synergistic with nafcillin to reduce lesion size and inflammatory cytokine (IL-1β) production. Thus, these data highlight the potential interest of triterpenic acids as resistance reversing agents in combination with β-lactams against MRSA.

Preliminary study on fabrication, characterization and synergistic anti-lung cancer effects of self-assembled micelles of covalently conjugated celastrol-polyethylene glycol-ginsenoside Rh2

The aim of this study was to develop an amphipathic polyethylene glycol (PEG) derivative that was bi-terminally modified with celastrol and ginsenoside Rh2 (Celastrol-PEG-G Rh2). Such derivative was capable of forming novel, celastrol-loaded polymeric micelles (CG-M) for endo/lysosomal delivery and thereby synergistic treatment of lung cancer. Celastrol-PEG-G Rh2 with a yield of 55.6% was first synthesized and characterized. Its critical micellar concentration was 1 × 10-5 M, determined by pyrene entrapment method. CG-M had a small particle size of 121.53 ± 2.35 nm, a narrow polydispersity index of 0.214 ± 0.001 and a moderately negative zeta potential of -23.14 ± 3.15 mV. Celastrol and G Rh2 were rapidly released from CG-M under acidic and enzymatic conditions, but slowly released in normal physiological environments. In cellular studies, the internalization of celastrol and G Rh2 by human non-small cell lung cancer (A549) cells treated with CG-M was 5.8-fold and 1.8-fold higher than that of non-micelle control. Combinational therapy of celastrol and G Rh2 using CG-M exhibited synergistic anticancer activities in cell apoptosis and proliferation assays via rapid drug release within endo/lysosomes. Most importantly, the celastrol in CG-M exhibited a long elimination half-life of 445.3 ± 43.5 min and an improved area under the curve of 645060.8 ± 63640.7 ng/mL/h, that were 1.03-fold and 2.44-fold greater than those of non-micelle control, respectively. These findings suggest that CG-M is a promising vector for precisely releasing anticancer drugs within the tumor cells, and thereby exerts an improved synergistic anti-lung cancer effect.

Poly-epsilon-caprolactone nanoparticles enhance ursolic acid in vivo efficacy against Trypanosoma cruzi infection

Despite affecting millions of people worldwide, Chagas disease is still neglected by the academia and industry and the therapeutic option available, benznidazole, presents limited efficacy and side effects. Within this context, ursolic acid may serve as an option for treatment, however has low bioavailability, which can be enhanced through the encapsulation in polymeric nanoparticles. Therefore, herein we developed ursolic acid-loaded nanoparticles with poly-ε-caprolactone by the nanoprecipitation method and characterized them for particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity, encapsulation efficiency, morphology by scanning electron microscopy and thermal behavior by differential scanning calorimetry. Results indicated that an appropriate ratio of organic phase/aqueous phase and polymer/drug is necessary to produce smaller particles, with low polydispersity, negative zeta potential and high drug encapsulation efficiency. In vitro studies indicated the safety of the formulation against fibroblast culture and its efficacy in killing T. cruzi. Very importantly, the in vivo study revealed that the ursolic acid-loaded nanoparticle is as potent as the benznidazole group to control parasitemia, which could be attributed to improved bioavailability of the encapsulated drug. Finally, the toxicity evaluation showed that while benznidazole group caused liver toxicity, the nanoparticles were safe, indicating that this formulation is promising for future evaluation.

Microbial modulation of bacoside A biosynthetic pathway and systemic defense mechanism in Bacopa monnieri under Meloidogyne incognita stress

Plant-associated beneficial microbes have been explored to fulfill the imperative function for plant health. However, their impact on the host secondary metabolite production and nematode disease management remains elusive. Our present work has shown that chitinolytic microbes viz., Chitiniphilus sp. MTN22 and Streptomyces sp. MTN14 singly as well as in combination modulated the biosynthetic pathway of bacoside A and systemic defense mechanism against Meloidogyne incognita in Bacopa monnieri. Interestingly, expression of bacoside biosynthetic pathway genes (3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase, and squalene synthase) were upregulated in plants treated with the microbial combination in the presence as well as in absence of M. incognita stress. These microbes not only augmented bacoside A production (1.5 fold) but also strengthened host resistance via enhancement in chlorophyll a, defense enzymes and phenolic compounds like gallic acid, syringic acid, ferulic acid and cinnamic acid. Furthermore, elevated lignification and callose deposition in the microbial combination treated plants corroborate well with the above findings. Overall, the results provide novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of priming by beneficial microbes and underscore their capacity to trigger bacoside A production in B. monnieri under biotic stress.

[Application of FTIR and Active Ingredients Quantitative Analysis on Quality Control of Dai Medicine Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br.]

FTIR fingerprint of the leaves and immature stems of Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. was established as a content determination method for the detection of picrinine, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid. Different medicinal parts were identified based on principal component analysis, while exploring the influence of immature stems for the leaves and the application of FTIR and HPLC in the Dai quality control in order to speed up the pace of Dai medicine modernization. Infrared spectroscopy of different batches samples were collected and the data was preprocessed as to automatic baseline correction, smooth, ordinate normalization, second order derivative, and then to PCA, all the datum in triplicate. For content determination of picrinine, mobile phase was acetonitrile (40) water (contain 0.1% ammonia water) (60) and the wavelength was set at 287 nm. For ursolic acid and oleanolic acid, the mobile phase was mixture (12∶88) of 0.1% formic acid in water (A) and methanol (B). Wavelength was 210 nm. As the results, the original spectrum difference was not obvious for leaves and stems. Pretreatment spectroscopy had a significant variation on absorption peak number and intensity in 3 000～2 800 and 1 800～500 cm(-1). The results of PCA showed that, the leaves and stems were separated; in addition the difference of different batches leaves was bigger than the stems. The mean contents of picrinine, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid in leaves were 0.79，8.47，7.51 and 0.21，1.78，1.67 mg·g(-1) in stems, respectively. The content of ursolic acid and oleanolic acid is higher than picrinine, but ursolic acid and oleanolic acid content had no obvious difference. Mean content of three ingredients in leaves is much higher than in stems. Picrinine content in leaves was 3.8 times of immature stems, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid content were 5.1 and 4.2 times of immature stems, respectively. The variety of picrinine content in different batches samples was biggest, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid content was relatively stable. The overall quality of leaves has an obvious difference compared with the immature stems, so the leaves of A. scholaris mix with immature stems could not be as Dai medicine in Dai clinic. Infrared spectroscopy combined with chromatography can quickly identify different medicinal parts and evaluate overall quality of Dai medicine, which can apply to quality control of Dai medicine.

Bioactive Pentacyclic Triterpenoids from the Leaves of Cleistocalyx operculatus

Thirteen new pentacyclic triterpenoids, cleistocalyxic acids A-K (1, 2, 4, 5, and 7-13) and cleistocalyxolides A (3) and B (6), and 15 known analogues (14-28), based on taraxastane, oleanane, ursane, multiflorane, and lupane skeletons, were isolated from the leaves of Cleistocalyx operculatus. The structures of 1-13 were elucidated by analysis of their spectroscopic data and ECD/TDDFT computations. Cleistocalyxolide A (3), presumed to be derived from the known taraxastane-type compound 14, has a rare rearranged triterpenoid backbone. Cleistocalyxic acid B (2) displayed cytotoxicity against HepG2, NCI-N87, and MCF-7 cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 3.2 to 6.5 μM, and cleistocalyxic acid D (5) was active against HepG2 and NCI-N87 cells with values around 5.0 μM. The noncytotoxic cleistocalyxic acid E (7) inhibited production of IL-6 by 68.1% and TNF-α by 53.7% in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages at a concentration of 2 μM.

Triterpenoids from the branch and leaf of Abies fargesii

Eighteen triterpenoids, abifarines A-R, including fourteen previously unknown and four artifacts, together with six known ones, were isolated from the branch and leaf of Abies fargesii. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis. The relative configurations of abifarines A and F were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis with Mo Kα irradiation. All compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against the mouse cancer B16 cell line, and human cancer HepG2 and MCF7 cell lines. (24R)-cycloartane-3β,24,25-triol and (24R)-cycloartane-3β,24,25,28-tetrol showed moderate anti-proliferative effect for B16 and HepG2 cell lines with IC50 values of 32.9, 19.5 μM and 26.4, 21.5 μM, respectively.

Larvicidal activity of natural and modified triterpenoids against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

BACKGROUND

Insecticide resistance to commonly used substances demands new molecules for the chemical control of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti. Because natural product sources have been an alternative to obtain larvicidal compounds, the aim of this study was to evaluate the triterpenoids betulinic (BA) and ursolic (UA) acids and their semi-synthetic derivatives against larval Ae. aegypti. BA, UA, ten derivatives modified at the C-3 position and a positive control (diflubenzuron) were evaluated. Larvicidal assays were carried out with early fourth-instar larvae, and mortality was observed between 48 and 96 h. Doses from 200 to 10 ppm were used to calculate lethal concentrations (LCs).

RESULTS

Natural compounds, i.e. UA and BA, had the lowest LCs (LC50 of 112 and 142 ppm respectively), except for the modified compound 2b (LC50 of 130 ppm). Larvicidal activity increased significantly from 48 to 96 h for all the compounds evaluated, ranging from 20 to 50% after 48 h and from 48 to 76% after 96 h. Some derivatives, e.g. 2a and 2d, had up to a three-fold larvicidal activity increase from 48 to 96 h.

CONCLUSION

BA, UA and their derivatives showed larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti larvae, increasing significantly from 48 to 96 h. The presence of a hydroxyl group is essential for larvicidal potential in these triterpenoids. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

[Sodium Aescinate Induced Apoptosis of BGC-823 and AGS Cells by Inhibiting JAK-1/STAT-1 Signaling Pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the mechanism of sodium aescinate on the apoptosis of gastric cancer BGC-823 cells and AGS cells.

METHODS

CCK-8 assay was used to detect the cell viability of cancer cells; cells morphological changes were observed by inverted microscope; changes in nuclear morphology were observed by fluorescence inverted microscope after DAPI staining; cells apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry; Western blotting was used to detected the phosphorylation of JAK-1 and STAT-1; laser confocal microscopy was used to observed the nuclear translocation of STAT-1.

RESULTS

Sodium aescinate inhibited cells proliferation in a concentration dependent manner, and changed the cells morphology and nuclear morphology, significantly up-regulated the apoptosis rate of gastric cancer BGC-823 cells and AGS cells, and down-regulated the phosphorylation of JAK-1, STAT-1 protein, inhibited the nuclear translocation of STAT-1.

CONCLUSION

Sodium aescinate inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis in the gastric cancer BGC-823 cells and AGS cells, and this process can be implemented by inhibiting the JAK-1/STAT-1 signaling pathway.

[Chemical Constituents from Fruiting Bodies of the Basidiomycete Postia balsamea]

OBJECTIVE

To study the chemical constituents from fruiting bodies of Postia balsamea.

METHODS

The fruiting bodies of Postia balsamea was extracted,the compounds were isolated by silica gel column chromatography. The structures were elucidated by the spectral analysis.

RESULTS

Seven compounds were isolated and identified as botulin ( 1),( 22 E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxy-ergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol( 2),( 22 E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxy-ergosta-6,9( 11),22-trien-3β-ol( 3),( 22 E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-dien-3β-ol( 4), betulinic acid( 5),( 22 E,24R)-ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol ( 6) and stearic acid( 7).

CONCLUSION

All the compounds are isolated from this species for the first time.