Lignan compounds from Stixis suaveolens

Two New Nitrogen-Containing Glycosides From Stixis scandens

Phytochemical investigation of a methanol extract of Stixis scandens stems and leaves led to the isolation of 3 nitrogen-containing compounds (1-3) and 6 phenolics (4-9), which included 2 new glycosides, one a phenolic amide glucoside, scandemide (1), and the other an indole alkaloid glycoside, stixilenin (2). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic (1D- and 2D-NMR) and spectrometric (HR-ESI-MS) analyses, and acid hydrolysis. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells.

In vitro antiviral activities of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Vietnamese traditional medicinal plants against Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus: a coronavirus family member

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes diarrhea in pigs leading to severe illnesses and high mortality rates. The development of medicinal agents to treat PEDV infection is therefore crucial. In this study, antiviral activities against PEDV of ethanol and aqueous extracts of 17 Vietnamese traditional medicinal plants were evaluated using the cytopathic effect-based assay. The results showed that 14 out of 17 medicinal plants could inhibit the cytopathic effect of PEDV. The ethanol extract of Stixis scandens was identified as the most active extract with its MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) being 0.15 μg/mL. Other plant extracts also displayed strong antiviral activity against PEDV, including Anisomeles indica, Pericampylus glaucus and Croton kongensis. The results demonstrate that certain medicinal plants have a high antiviral potential and may serve as a lead to develop novel pharmaceutical agents to cure PED as well as the diseases caused by other coronaviruses.