Pinusolide and 15-methoxypinusolidic acid attenuate the neurotoxic effect of staurosporine in primary cultures of rat cortical cells

Plant Disease Control Efficacy of Platycladus orientalis and Its Antifungal Compounds

Plants contain a number of bioactive compounds that exhibit antimicrobial activity, which can be recognized as an important source of agrochemicals for plant disease control. In searching for natural alternatives to synthetic fungicides, we found that a methanol extract of the plant species Platycladus orientalis suppressed the disease development of rice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae. Through a series of chromatography procedures in combination with activity-guided fractionation, we isolated and identified a total of eleven compounds including four labdane-type diterpenes (1-4), six isopimarane-type diterpenes (5-10), and one sesquiterpene (11). Of the identified compounds, the MIC values of compounds 1, 2, 5 & 6 mixture, 9, and 11 ranged from 100 to 200 μg/mL against M. oryzae, whereas the other compounds were over 200 μg/mL. When rice plants were treated with the antifungal compounds, compounds 1, 2, and 9 effectively suppressed the development of rice blast at all concentrations tested by over 75% compared to the non-treatment control. In addition, a mixture of compounds 5 & 6 that constituted 66% of the P. orientalis ethyl acetate fraction also exhibited a moderate disease control efficacy. Together, our data suggest that the methanol extract of P. orientalis including terpenoid compounds has potential as a crop protection agent.

Platycladus orientalis leaves: a systemic review on botany, phytochemistry and pharmacology

Platycladus orientalis leaves (Cebaiye) have been used for thousands of years as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). According to the theory of TCM, they are categorized as a blood-cooling and hematostatic herb. In clinical practice, they were usually prescribed with heat-clearing herbs to reinforce the efficacy of hemostasis. The review provides the up-to-date information from 1980 to present that is available on the botany, processing research, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of the leaves. The information is collected from scientific journals, books, theses and reports via library and electronic search (Google Scholar, Pubmed and CNKI). Through literature reports, we can find that the leaves show a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, disinsection, anticancer, diuretic, hair growth-promoting, neuroprotective and antifibrotic activities. Diterpene and flavonoids would be active constituents in P. orientalis leaves. Many studies have provided evidence for various traditional uses. However, there is a great need for additional studies to elucidate the mechanism of blood-cooling and hematostatic activity of the leaves. Therefore, the present review on the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and toxicity has provided preliminary information for further studies of this herb.

Neuroprotective effects of triterpene glycosides from glycine max against glutamate induced toxicity in primary cultured rat cortical cells

To examine the neuroprotective effects of Glycine max, we tested its protection against the glutamate-induced toxicity in primary cortical cultured neurons. In order to clarify the neuroprotective mechanism(s) of this observed effect, isolation was performed to seek and identify active fractions and components. From such fractionation, two triterpene glycosides, 3-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1-2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl(1-2)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]olean-12-en-3β,22β,24-triol (1) and 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1-2)-β-d-galactopyranosyl(1-2)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]olean-12-en-3β,22β,24-triol (2) were isolated with the methanol extracts with of air-dried Glycine max. Among these compounds, compound 2 exhibited significant neuroprotective activities against glutamate-induced toxicity, exhibiting cell viability of about 50% at concentrations ranging from 0.1 μM to 10 μM. Therefore, the neuroprotective effect of Glycine max might be due to the inhibition of glutamate-induced toxicity by triterpene glycosides.

Protective effects of standardized Thuja orientalis leaves against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells

Although the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unknown, recent studies have suggested that oxidative stress (OS) and apoptosis, as a result of mitochondrial defects, may play important roles in its pathogenesis. 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), a neurotoxin commonly used in models of PD, induces selective catecholaminergic cell death, mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial defects. This study investigated the protective effect of Thuja orientalis leaves (TOFE), a well-known oriental traditional medicine, on 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and Hoechst staining showed that TOFE attenuated the cell damage caused by 6-OHDA stress. TOFE showed strong radical scavenging effects in 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethyl-benzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assays, and it reduced the intracellular ROS and extracellular nitric oxide production induced by 6-OHDA. Additionally, TOFE blocked the reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential, the release of cytochrome c, and the activation of caspase-3. Moreover, TOFE decreased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK), which has pro-apoptotic functions. Taken together, TOFE might protect SH-SY5Y cells from 6-OHDA through the downregulation of OS and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis, and regulation of pERK.

Oligonucleotide microarray analysis of apoptosis induced by 15-methoxypinusolidic acid in microglial BV2 cells

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We conducted a genome wide gene expression analysis to explore the biological aspects of 15-methoxypinusolidic acid (15-MPA) isolated from Biota orientalis and tried to confirm the suitability of 15-MPA as a therapeutic candidate for CNS injuries focusing on microglia.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Murine microglial BV2 cells were treated with 15-MPA, and their transcriptome was analysed by using oligonucleotide microarrays. Genes differentially expressed upon 15-MPA treatment were selected for RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) analysis to confirm the gene expression. Inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis by 15-MPA were examined by bromodeoxyuridine assay, Western blot analysis of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase and flow cytometry.

KEY RESULTS

A total of 514 genes were differentially expressed by 15-MPA treatment. Biological pathway analysis revealed that 15-MPA induced significant changes in expression of genes in the cell cycle pathway. Genes involved in growth arrest and DNA damage [gadd45alpha, gadd45gamma and ddit3 (DNA damage-inducible transcript 3)] and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (cdkn2b) were up-regulated, whereas genes involved in cell cycle progression (ccnd1, ccnd3 and ccne1), DNA replication (mcm4, orc1l and cdc6) and cell proliferation (fos and jun) were down-regulated. RT-PCR analysis for representative genes confirmed the expression levels. 15-MPA significantly reduced bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, increased poly-ADP-ribose polymerase cleavage and the number of apoptotic cells, indicating that 15-MPA induces apoptosis in BV2 cells.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

15-MPA induced apoptosis in murine microglial cells, presumably via inhibition of the cell cycle progression. As microglial activation is detrimental in CNS injuries, these data suggest a strong therapeutic potential of 15-MPA.

General, regiodefined access to alpha-substituted butenolides through metal-halogen exchange of 3-bromo-2-silyloxyfurans. Efficient synthesis of an anti-inflammatory gorgonian lipid

A variety of alpha-substituted butenolides were efficiently prepared from 3-bromo-2-triisopropylsilyloxyfuran via lithium-bromine exchange and in situ quench with carbon or heteroatom electrophiles. The inherent flexibility of this methodology is illustrated by a short and efficient synthesis of an anti-inflammatory marine natural product.