Evomonoside: the cytotoxic cardiac glycoside from Lepidium apetalum

2-Phenylacetamide Isolated from the Seeds of Lepidium apetalum and Its Estrogen-Like Effects In Vitro and In Vivo

The aim of this study was to investigate the estrogen-like effects of 2-phenylacetamide (PA), which is the main compound isolated from the seeds of Lepidium apetalum Willd (LA). Results showed that LA and PA could promote the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. The mouse uterine weight test showed that, LA and PA could increase the uterus index of immature female mice, and the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and estrogen (E2). LA could increase the expression of ERα and ERβ, while PA could increase the expression of ERα, ERβ and GPR30 in the uterus and MCF-7 cells. In addition, co-incubation of the estrogen receptor blocker with LA or PA abolished the inductive effect of the proliferation. PA has estrogenic activities and was the material basis of LA that played the estrogenic effect. LA and PA might be used for the treatment of perimenopause syndrome in a novel application.

Bioactive compounds from Carissa spinarum

In our continuing efforts to find new antiherpetic agents from plants, an extract prepared from the stems of Carissa spinarum L. was found to possess appreciable activity against herpes simplex viruses (HSV I and II). A chemical study of this plant was then initiated, and this led to the isolation of 12 compounds, including a coumarin, two cardiac glycosides and nine lignans. These isolated compounds were evaluated for several biological activities, including antiherpetic, cytotoxic, antioxidant and antibacterial effects. The cardiac glycoside evomonoside was found to be the only antiherpetic principle, showing moderate activity against herpes simplex virus types I and II in the inactivation method. The lignans (-)-carinol, (-)-carissanol and (-)-nortrachelogenin exhibited cytotoxicity against breast (MCF7) and lung (A549) cancer cells. Moderate anti-DPPH free radical activity was observed for all the lignans. None of the isolates showed antibacterial activity.