Pediatric lupus in Asia

Of all patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 15-20% are diagnosed during childhood, with disease onset prior to the age of 16 years. Because disease expression in SLE is influenced by environment factors and differs between racial and ethnic groups. The aims of this review were to describe prevalence, clinical manifestations, common infectious complications, and outcome of pediatric-onset SLE in Asia. The prevalence of pediatric-onset SLE was 6.3-19.3 per 100,000 in Asia. The ratio of female to male was 4.7-6.2. The mean age at diagnosis of pediatric-onset SLE was 8.6-13.5 years. The most common clinical features of pediatric-onset SLE in Asia were cutaneous rashes, arthritis, hematological involvement and nephritis. The occurrence of nephritis varies from 29% to 81%. The most common histopathology of lupus nephritis was diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis (WHO Class-IV) which occurred in 39.4-54% of case of lupus nephritis. Pediatric-onset SLE patients with infections have poor outcomes than uninfected patients. Gram-negative bacilli are the most common microorganisms responsible for bacteremia in Asian patients with SLE. Recurrent major infections predict poorer disease outcome and associated organ damage in pediatric-onset SLE. Improving the survival of SLE patients was reported in Asia in recent decades. The survival was 92% at the age of 5 years, 86% at 10 years and 79% at 15 years in children with SLE in Taiwan in 2008.

Size-effect induced short-range magnetic ordering in germanium nanostructures

Formation of ordered magnetic states in germanium nanostructures embedded in SiO2 has been investigated. Samples with the nanostructures were prepared by sputtering deposition on Si(100) substrates, followed by thermal annealing in vacuum. Transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and Raman spectroscopy have been used to characterize the samples. Magnetic measurements were performed using a superconducting quantum interference device. Size-effect induced magnetic orderings in the germanium nanostructures were found to be present at room temperatures and below. Superparamagnetic behavior was observed at temperatures above 230 K, whereas thermal excitation of spin reorientation and magnetic coupling has been revealed at temperatures below 60 K. Inverted hysteresis loops with negative remanences and multiple plateaus revealed the ferri- or antiferromagnetic nature of the coupling. Inter-domain coupling and effect of magnetic anisotropy will be discussed based on the experimental results and simulations with a spin reorientation model.

High pressure superconductivity in iron-based layered compounds studied using designer diamonds

High pressure superconductivity in iron-based superconductor FeSe(0.5)Te(0.5) has been studied up to 15 GPa and 10 K using an eight probe designer diamond anvil in a diamond anvil cell device. Four probe electrical resistance measurements show the onset of superconductivity (T(c)) at 14 K at ambient pressure with T(c) increasing with increasing pressure to 19 K at a pressure of 3.6 GPa. At higher pressures beyond 3.6 GPa, T(c) decreases and extrapolation suggests non-superconducting behavior above 10 GPa. The loss of superconductivity coincides with the pressure induced disordering of the Fe(SeTe)(4) tetrahedra reported at 11 GPa in x-ray diffraction studies at ambient temperature.

Relative bioavailabilities of organic zinc sources with different chelation strengths for broilers fed a conventional corn-soybean meal diet

An experiment was conducted to estimate relative bioavailability of Zn in 3 organic zinc sources with different chelation strength (Q(f)) compared with ZnSO(4). A total of 1,092, 1-d-old male broiler chicks were assigned randomly to 6 replicate cages (14 chicks per cage) for each of 13 treatments. Dietary treatments included the basal corn-soybean meal diet (27.82 mg of Zn/kg of DM) supplemented with 0, 30, 60, or 90 mg of added Zn as reagent ZnSO(4), or Zn sources with Q(f) of 6.5 (11.93% Zn; Zn AA C), 30.7 (13.27% Zn; Zn Pro B), or 944.0 (18.61% Zn; Zn Pro A)/kg, which are considered as weak, moderate, or strong Q(f), respectively. Bone Zn, pancreas Zn, pancreas metallothionein (MT) concentration, and pancreas MT messenger RNA (mRNA) were analyzed at 6, 10, or 14 d of age. The results showed that bone Zn, pancreas Zn, pancreas MT concentration, and pancreas MT mRNA increased linearly (P < 0.001) as dietary Zn concentration increased at all ages. At 6 d of age, pancreas MT mRNA differed (P < 0.001) among dietary Zn sources, and the same tendency was observed at 10 (P = 0.08) or 14 d (P = 0.06) of age. The R(2) for a linear model was greater on d 6 than d 10 or 14 for all the response criteria. Based on slope ratios from the multiple linear regression of pancreas MT mRNA concentration on daily intake of dietary Zn, the bioavailability of Zn AA C, Zn Pro B, and Zn Pro A relative to ZnSO(4) (100%) were 100.0, 121.1, and 72.3%, respectively, at 6 d of age. The results indicated that MT mRNA concentration in pancreas was more sensitive in reflecting differences in bioavailability among organic Zn sources than the MT concentration in pancreas or other indices. Moreover, the bioavailability of organic Zn sources was closely related to their Q(f).

Malignancies associated with dermatomyositis and polymyositis in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies showed that idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) carried an increased risk of cancers. However, no large-scale study of IIM has been conducted in the Chinese population.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to delineate the association of IIM and various cancer types from a nationwide database in Taiwan.

METHODS

We analysed the published national data from records of National Health Insurance claims. Cases of dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) from 2000 to 2005 and cancers registered in the catastrophic illness profile from 1997 to 2006 were collected. A nationally representative cohort of 1,000,000 enrollees was included for comparison.

RESULTS

In total, 136 patients (12.8%) among 1059 cases of DM and 46 persons (7.0%) among 661 cases of PM carried internal malignancies. Patients with DM tended to have cancers of nasopharynx, lung and breast. On the other hand, patients with PM tended to have breast, uterine cervix and lung cancers. Compared with the general population, DM gave a 10-fold increased risk for cancers, in which a 66-fold increased risk for nasopharyngeal carcinoma and a 31-fold increased risk for lung cancer were the two most significant. For patients with PM, a 6-fold increased risk for cancer was observed. Juvenile DM had a 16-fold increased risk for haematopoietic or lymphoid malignancy. Two thirds of comorbid malignancies were detected shortly after the diagnoses of IIM, within a mean of 1-2 years. Overall, younger patients with IIM carried the highest risk for malignancies, especially those in their twenties and thirties.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first large-scale study to report the associated malignancies and the cancer risk of IIM in Taiwan.

Medial antebrachial cutaneous neuropathy: a case report

Medial antebrachial cutaneous (MABC) neuropathy in the forearm is rare. We report here a case of this neuropathy after surgery for panniculitis excision. Examination revealed hypesthesia over left medial forearm at MABC nerve territory. Tineal's sign at the operation site of left medial arm was positive. Sensory nerve conduction studies showed reduced sensory nerve action potential amplitude which is compatible with an axonal neuropathy and interside amplitude ratio of 2.35. In the present case report, the sensory nerve conduction study is a useful tool in confirming MABC neuropathy.

An optimal dietary zinc level of broiler chicks fed a corn-soybean meal diet

An experiment was conducted to estimate the optimal dietary zinc level for broiler chicks fed a corn-soybean meal diet. A total of 384 one-day-old male broiler chicks were assigned randomly to dietary treatments for 21 d. These treatments included a basal corn-soybean meal diet (28.32 mg of Zn/kg) supplemented with 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, or 140 mg of Zn/kg in the form of reagent-grade ZnSO(4).7H(2)O. All treatments were replicated 6 times using 8 chicks per pen. Tissue Zn concentration, Zn metalloenzyme activity, metallothionein (MT) concentration, MT mRNA level, and Zn transporter-2 (ZnT-2) mRNA level were analyzed for choosing suitable criterion to determine the optimal dietary Zn level for broilers. Regression analysis was performed to estimate optimal dietary Zn level in the presence of quadratic or asymptotic responses. Results showed that weight gain and feed intake were increased with dietary Zn level (P < 0.05), and the maximum weight gain and feed intake were observed in the diet supplemented with 20 mg of Zn/kg (48.37 mg/kg, total dietary Zn). Pancreas MT and MT mRNA increased linearly with Zn supplementation. According to the asymptotic model, the optimal Zn requirement of chicks from hatch to 21 d of age was 59.15 mg/kg for pancreas Zn and 61.70 mg/kg for bone Zn respectively. Quadratic responses were exhibited by serum 5'-nucleotidase activity and pancreas Zn transporter-2 mRNA level, resulting in total optimal dietary levels of 80.50 and 84.09 mg/kg, respectively. Based on results from this study, the optimal dietary Zn level of chicks from hatch to 21 d of age is 84 mg/kg.

Raloxifene acutely reduces glutamate-induced intracellular calcium increase in cultured rat cortical neurons via inhibition of high-voltage-activated calcium current

There is increasing evidence indicating that estrogen replacement therapy produces neuroprotective actions but has undesirable side effects on the reproductive system. Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator that exerts estrogen agonist action in the brain while acting as an estrogen antagonist in the reproductive system. In the present study, we investigated whether raloxifene affected the glutamate-induced calcium (Ca2+) overload in rat cultured cortical neurons. The bulk cytosolic intracellular Ca2+ level was measured by using confocal microscopy with fluorescent Ca2+ probe fluo3. Whole-cell recording technique was used to observe the effects of raloxifene on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-evoked and voltage-activated Ca2+ currents in cultured cortical neurons. Pre-exposure of cortical neurons to raloxifene (0.5 microM-10 microM) for 3 min attenuated intracellular Ca2+ increase induced by application of glutamate (300 microM) for 1 min. The action of raloxifene was reversible after washout. ICI 182,780 and thapsigargin did not block the action of raloxifene. In whole-cell recording experiments, raloxifene (10 microM) significantly reduced the amplitude of the high-voltage-activated Ca2+ current but had no effect on NMDA-evoked Ca2+ current. The present study demonstrates that raloxifene acutely reduces glutamate-induced intracellular Ca2+ increase probably via inhibition of high-voltage-activated calcium channels.

[Effects of antiviral effects of agents and prognosis of chronic hepatitis B.]

BACKGROUND

To analyze the effects of difference antiviral agents and the effects of the treatments on long-term prognosis.

METHODS

Retrospective research method was applied.

RESULTS

About 40% of the patients were treated with interferon or lamivudine. After the treatment, in lamivudine group, the negative rate of HBV DNA was the highest. In the interferon group, the sero conversion rates of HBeAg/HBeAb were 22.9%. In the antiviral treatment patients, the disease progression and the occurrence of cirrhosis and liver cancer were much lower than those of the control groups. The mortality of cirrhosis and liver cancer in the HBeAg/HBeAb sero converted group was much lower than that of the group without HBeAg/HBeAb sero conversion groups (P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The antiviral effects of interferon and lamivudine were better than those of the other drug groups. The antiviral drugs could relieve the disease progression and reduce the mortality of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Increased expression of the natural killer cell inhibitory receptor CD94/NKG2A and CD158b on circulating and lesional T cells in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory cutaneous disorder characterized by activated T-cell infiltration. T lymphocytes bearing natural killer cell receptors (NKRs) have been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. However, the expression pattern of activating and inhibitory NKRs on T lymphocytes from psoriatic patients and its significance in psoriasis needs further study.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the pathogenesis of NKR-expressing T cells in psoriasis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The immunophenotypic profiles of NKRs, including CD56, CD16 (activating NKRs), CD158a, CD158b, CD94 and NKG2A (inhibitory NKRs), were analysed in peripheral blood T lymphocytes, as well as psoriatic lesional infiltrating T cells, by triple-fluorescence flow cytometry.

RESULTS

A significant increase of inhibitory CD8+ CD158b+, CD4 CD8 CD158b+ and CD8+ CD94/NKG2A+ T cells was found in the peripheral blood of patients with psoriasis when compared with controls. Tissue-infiltrating T lymphocytes expressing inhibitory receptors CD158b, CD94 and NKG2A were found in psoriatic lesions. There was a significant positive correlation between the increased percentage of circulating CD8+ CD94/NKG2A+ T cells and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, we demonstrated increased proportions of particular subsets of inhibitory CD158b+ and/or CD94/NKG2A+ T cells in patients with psoriasis. The elevation of these inhibitory NKR-expressing T cells was correlated with disease severity, which may signify the possibility of chronic antigen-driven stimulation and dysregulated cytokine production in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Role of breast tumour kinase in the in vitro differentiation of HaCaT cells

BACKGROUND

Breast tumour kinase (BRK) is a newly identified non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase from a metastatic breast tumour. Its biological functions are still under extensive investigation. The mouse homologue Sik (Src-related intestinal kinase) has been implicated in mouse keratinocyte differentiation; however, not much is known about the functions of BRK in human cutaneous biology.

OBJECTIVES

Using HaCaT cells as an experimental model, to explore the mutual relationships between BRK and differentiation of human keratinocytes.

METHODS

Archival paraffin blocks of normal and pathological skin were retrieved for examining the in vivo distribution of BRK. Its expression and subcellular localization were examined via indirect immunofluorescence, and quantitative changes were analysed by Northern and Western blots. The kinase activity of BRK was determined by its autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of exogenous substrate in the in vitro kinase assay. Using a retroviral infection method, we established stably transfected HaCaT cells expressing vector, wild-type BRK or a kinase-defective mutant (K219M). Expression of the differentiation marker keratin 10 (K10) was compared among these cells using semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results Histochemical examination showed that BRK was expressed exclusively in suprabasal keratinocytes. Its distribution was both cytoplasmic and intranuclear. An enhanced regional suprabasal expression pattern was observed in the confluent areas of cell cultures. The expression of BRK transcript and protein was up-regulated in prolonged confluence culture in a serum-dependent manner. Its kinase activity was activated shortly after the addition of calcium and ionomycin and returned to the basal level within 30 min. Overexpression of wild-type BRK moderately promoted the expression of K10 transcript while the kinase-defective BRK mutant exerted a prominent suppressive effect.

CONCLUSIONS

The in vivo distribution of BRK and its up-regulation during in vitro differentiation of HaCaT cells, together with the activation of its kinase activity by calcium/ionomycin and its influence on K10 expression, all indicate a role for BRK in the complex process of keratinocyte differentiation.

Vascular endothelial growth factor inhibits outward delayed-rectifier potassium currents in acutely isolated hippocampal neurons

In the present study, whole-cell patch-clamp recording was used to study whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) had a regulatory effect on the potassium-channel currents. The outward delayed-rectifier potassium currents (I(K)) were recorded in acutely isolated hippocampal neurons from 14-day-old rat brains. A local application of VEGF at the concentrations from 50 ng/ml to 200 ng/ml dose-dependently inhibited I(K). Administration of VEGF (100 ng/ml) to the neurons only for seconds could significantly reduce I(K) in 26 of 39 recorded cells. The currents could recover to 82.8+/-3.7% of the control level at 60 s after removing VEGF in the buffer. In the I-V curve analysis, VEGF negatively shifted the I-V curve of I(K); the inhibition was gradually enhanced as the membrane potential increased from -40 mV to 50 mV in 13 cells. Thus, the results reveal that VEGF inhibits I(K) in acute, reversible and voltage-dependent manners. Double staining combined with confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to simultaneously detect the distribution of VEGF receptors (flt-1 and flk-1) in the hippocampal section and isolated neuron. Results showed that flt-1-positive staining, but not flk-1, could be observed on the membrane of the hippocampal neuron in both preparations, suggesting the presence of neuronal membrane VEGF flt-1 receptors in the hippocampus. To investigate if the inhibition by VEGF on I(K) is related to the presence of flt-1 receptors, we further did flt-1-receptor immunostaining for the recorded neurons, which was labeled with Lucifer Yellow during the recording. Among nine recorded cells, five showing the inhibition by VEGF had detectable signals for flt-1 receptors on their membrane, whereas the other four showing no inhibition had no flt-1 receptors either. The results suggest that VEGF can acutely inhibit I(K) in the hippocampal neurons probably related to the presence of membrane flt-1 receptors in the neurons.

Bioaccumulation of nickel from aqueous solutions by genetically engineered Escherichia coli

This study constructed a genetically engineered Escherichia coli JM109 which simultaneously expressed nickel transport system and metallothionein to remove and recover Ni(2+) from aqueous solution. Bioaccumulation process was rapid and followed linearized Langmuir isotherm. A more than six-fold increase of Ni(2+) binding capacity was obtained by genetically engineered E. coli cells compared with original host E. coli cells. A pH assay showed genetically engineered E. coli cells accumulated Ni(2+) effectively over a broad range of pH (4-10). The presence of 1000 mg/L Na(+) and Ca(2+), or 50mg/L Cd(2+) or Pb(2+) did not have a significant effect on Ni(2+) bioaccumulation, while Mg(2+), Hg(2+) and Cu(2+) posed a severe adverse influence on Ni(2+) uptake by genetically engineered E. coli. Furthermore, genetically engineered E. coli cells did not require extra nutrients for Ni(2+) bioaccumulation.

A narcotic dose of carbon monoxide induces neuronal haeme oxygenase and nitric oxide synthetase in sheep

Twelve Romney ewes were exposed to either 1% carbon monoxide (CO) in air (n=6) or room air alone for 120 min and were killed 15 days later for histological and immunohistochemical examination. This dose of CO was narcotic and induced both haeme oxygenase and nitric oxide synthetase in brain neurons, but not in endothelial cells. The mechanism of the induction is not established here, but cellular theories of CO toxicity will need to be re-examined given these results.

The helicase-like domain of plant potexvirus replicase participates in formation of RNA 5' cap structure by exhibiting RNA 5'-triphosphatase activity

Open reading frame 1 (ORF1) of potexviruses encodes a viral replicase comprising three functional domains: a capping enzyme at the N terminus, a putative helicase in the middle, and a polymerase at the C terminus. To verify the enzymatic activities associated with the putative helicase domain, the corresponding cDNA fragment from bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) was cloned into vector pET32 and the protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by metal affinity chromatography. An activity assay confirmed that the putative helicase domain has nucleoside triphosphatase activity. We found that it also possesses an RNA 5'-triphosphatase activity that specifically removes the gamma phosphate from the 5' end of RNA. Both enzymatic activities were abolished by the mutation of the nucleoside triphosphate-binding motif (GKS), suggesting that they have a common catalytic site. A typical m(7)GpppG cap structure was formed at the 5' end of the RNA substrate when the substrate was treated sequentially with the putative helicase domain and the N-terminal capping enzyme, indicating that the putative helicase domain is truly involved in the process of cap formation by exhibiting its RNA 5'-triphosphatase activity.

[Determination of arsenium and lead in traditional Chinese medicines by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry]

The samples were processed by pressure dissociation method and by using HNO3-HClO4 as oxidant. The matrix modifiers were PdCl2 for As and (NH4)2HPO4 for Pb. The effects of matrix modifier quantity, ashing temperature, atomization temperature and element interference on the determination of arsenium and lead were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, arsenium and lead in traditional Chinese medicines were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The linear range of calibration curve was 0-300 ng.mL-1 and 0-80 ng.mL-1, the detection limit was 3.75 ng.mL-1 and 1.8 ng.mL-1, the sensitivity was 9.3 ng.mL-1 and 2.6 ng.mL-1, the mean recovery was 95.7% and 99.6%, respectively to As and Pb. The method is simple, rapid, sensitive, accuracy and of high practical application value.

Expression of 5-HT2A receptor mRNA in rat nucleus raphe magnus neurons after peripheral inflammation

AIM

Examine the expression of 5-HT2A receptor mRNA and co-localization of 5-HT2A receptor mRNA with 5-HT immunoreactivity in nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) neurons following carrageenan inflammation.

METHODS

In situ hybridization (ISH) and combining fluorescent ISH with immunofluorescent histochemical double staining technique were used in the present study.

RESULTS

5-HT2A receptor mRNA was expressed in moderate level in NRM neurons. Following carrageenan inflammation, the expression of 5-HT2A receptor mRNA in NRM was greatly increased. The peak occurred at 3 - 8 h and then there was a clear decrease at 24 h after injection of carrageenan. Only a few 5-HT2A receptor mRNA and 5-HT immunoreactive double labeled cells were observed in NRM, and the number of the double labeled cells had no obvious change following carrageenan inflammation.

CONCLUSION

The synthesis of 5-HT2A receptor was increased in non-serotonin rather than serotonin neurons of NRM during peripheral inflammation.

[Determination of mercury in hair and traditional Chinese medicines by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry]

The effects of various experimental conditions on the determination of mercury by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limit of mercury was 0.5 ng.mL-1, and the sensitivity was 1.1 ng.mL-1. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 0-40 ng.mL-1. The analytical procedure of mercury by pressure dissociation method was established by using HNO3, H2SO4 and H2O2(4 + 1 + 1) as oxidant, SnCl2 as reductant in acid medium. The analysis method was successfully applied to the determination of mercry in certified reference material of hair and traditional Chinese medicines, the relative standard deviations were 3.2%, 1.5% and 0.24% respectively. The recovery of mercury was 94.6%-102%. The results obtained were satisfactory. Air can been used as carrier gas instead of high purity argon.

Salicylates inhibit flavivirus replication independently of blocking nuclear factor kappa B activation

Flaviviruses comprise a positive-sense RNA genome that replicates exclusively in the cytoplasm of infected cells. Whether flaviviruses require an activated nuclear factor(s) to complete their life cycle and trigger apoptosis in infected cells remains elusive. Flavivirus infections quickly activate nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), and salicylates have been shown to inhibit NF-kappaB activation. In this study, we investigated whether salicylates suppress flavivirus replication and virus-induced apoptosis in cultured cells. In a dose-dependent inhibition, we found salicylates within a range of 1 to 5 mM not only restricted flavivirus replication but also abrogated flavivirus-triggered apoptosis. However, flavivirus replication was not affected by a specific NF-kappaB peptide inhibitor, SN50, and a proteosome inhibitor, lactacystin. Flaviviruses also replicated and triggered apoptosis in cells stably expressing IkappaBalpha-DeltaN, a dominant-negative mutant that antagonizes NF-kappaB activation, as readily as in wild-type BHK-21 cells, suggesting that NF-kappaB activation is not essential for either flavivirus replication or flavivirus-induced apoptosis. Salicylates still diminished flavivirus replication and blocked apoptosis in the same IkappaBalpha-DeltaN cells. This inhibition of flaviviruses by salicylates could be partially reversed by a specific p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor, SB203580. Together, these results show that the mechanism by which salicylates suppress flavivirus infection may involve p38 MAP kinase activity but is independent of blocking the NF-kappaB pathway.

Prolonged exposure to one percent carbon monoxide causes a leucoencephalopathy in un-anaesthetised sheep

A total of 15 Levine-prepared adult un-anaesthetised sheep were exposed to 1% carbon monoxide (CO) in air for between 45 and 150 min. This exposure caused a reversible increase in blood carboxyhaemoglobin concentration and heart rate, and a similarly reversible decrease in electroencephalographic frequency and level of consciousness. sheep were either normotensive or slightly hypertensive. Sheep brains were subsequently examined for histopathological changes at either 5 or 14 days post- exposure. No dead neurons or apoptotic cells were seen, but most sheep given a prolonged exposure to CO had some axonal damage and associated gliosis. This damage was concentrated about necrotic micro-foci in the peri-ventricular white matter. These results suggest that a leucoencephalopathy is a primary consequence of acute and sub-acute CO toxicity.

Three xanthones and a benzophenone from Garcinia mangostana

Investigation of the constituents of Garcinia mangostana has led to the isolation of four new compounds: three minor xanthones, garcimangosone A (1), garcimangosone B (2), and garcimangosone C (3), and a benzophenone glucoside, garcimangosone D (4). The structures of these four compounds were established by spectral (NMR and MS) and chemical methods.

Water-soluble glycosides from Ruta graveolens

An EtOH extract of the dried aerial parts of Ruta graveolens was suspended in water and then partitioned with EtOAc. Three new glycosides, 3'-sinapoyl-6-feruloylsucrose (4), methylcnidioside A (5), and methylpicraquassioside A (6), together with four known glycosides, 3',6-disinapoylsucrose (1), cnidioside A (2), rutin, and picraquassioside A (3), were isolated from the water-soluble part. Their structures were elucidated by interpretation of IR, MS, and 1D and 2D NMR spectra and comparison with literature data.