Anthraquinones, Cdc25B phosphatase inhibitors, isolated from the roots of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb

A new cytotoxic phenalenone derivative from Penicillium oxalicum

From the supernatant of the fermentation broth of Penicillium oxalicum, we isolated a previously undescribed peniciphenalenin G (1) and three known compounds 2-4. Their chemical structures were established through spectroscopic analysis as well as comparing with data in the literature. Compound 1 displayed a moderate cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ value 21.4 μM (positive drug regorafenib with IC₅₀ value of 8.2 μM) against Caco2 cells while compounds 2 and 3 showed weak cytotoxicities with IC₅₀ value of 52.1 and 39.2 μM, respectively.

Pharmacokinetic characteristics of emodin in polygoni Multiflori Radix Praeparata

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Polygoni Multiflori Radix Praeparata (Zhiheshouwu) has been a Wudang Taoist medicine for tonifying the liver and kidney, resolving turbidity and reducing lipid. Emodin is one of the active anthraquinones in Zhiheshouwu. Our previous studies showed that emodin (EM) and the other anthraquinones in Zhiheshouwu extract (HSWE) exerted similar inhibitory effects on liver cancer cells in vitro. However, it is still unknown if the other anthraquinones enhance pharmacokinetics (PK) of EM in HSWE in vivo.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, we compared the PK characteristics of EM alone with that in Zhiheshouwu aiming to explore which anthraquinones in HSWE contribute to the changed PK of EM in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Quality control of HSWE was determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The ratios of emodin to other anthraquinones, physcion (PH), chrysophanol (CH), rhein (RH), aloe-emodin (AE), emodin-8-O-β-D-glycoside (EMG), physcion-1-O-β-D-glycoside (PHG) and chrysophanol-8-O-β-D-glycoside (CHG) in HSWE were determined and analyzed using UPLC combined with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS). The PK parameters and intestinal tissue concentration of EM alone, EM in HSWE, or with other anthraquinones in SD rats were analyzed using UPLC/MS.

RESULTS

The quality of the Zhiheshouwu samples met the quality standard of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (Version 2020). The PK results showed that compared with EM alone, C_max (239.90 ± 146.71 vs. 898.46 ± 291.62, P < 0.001), T_max (0.26 ± 0.15 vs. 12.55 ± 1.33, P < 0.001), AUC_0-t (1575.09 ± 570.46 vs. 12154.96 ± 5394.25, P < 0.001), and AUC_0-∞ (4742.51 ± 1837.62 vs. 37131.34 ± 21647.39, P < 0.001) of EM in HSWE were decreased due to PH and EMG, while the values of V_d (380.75 ± 217.74 vs. 11.75 ± 7.35, P < 0.001), T_1/2 (10.81 ± 1.99 vs. 6.65 ± 2.76, P < 0.05) and CL (19.30 ± 7.82 vs. 2.78 ± 1.88, P < 0.001) of EM in HSWE were increased due to PH and AE. In addition, the intestinal tissue concentration of emodin in HSWE was decreased compared with that of EM alone in 20 and 780 min (25.37 ± 5.98 vs. 43.29 ± 4.16 and 26.72 ± 4.03 vs. 43.40 ± 14.19, respectively. P < 0.05) dominantly due to RH and PH.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, compared with treatment of EM alone, the AUC_0-t value of EM in HSWE was decreased with different ways in rats. PH shortened T_max, and increased V_d and CL. While AE prolonged T_1/2 of EM. This indicated that the other anthraquinones in HSWE changed the PK of EM in rats and participated in the complex effects of EM on liver cancer. Besides the other anthraquinones, other components (e.g., 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside) in Zhiheshouwu may contribute in the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions with EM for anti-liver cancer.

A comprehensive review of traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Reynoutria genus

Objectives

The genus Reynoutria belonging to the family Polygonaceae is widely distributed in the north temperate zone and used in folk medicine. It is administered as a sedative, tonic and digestive, also as a treatment for canities and alopecia. Herein, we reported a review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology reported from 1985 up to early 2022. All the information and studies concerning Reynoutria plants were summarized from the library and digital databases (e.g. ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Medline PubMed, Google Scholar, and CNKI).

Key findings

A total of 185 articles on the genus Reynoutria have been collected. The phytochemical investigations of Reynoutria species revealed the presence of more than 277 chemical components, including stilbenoids, quinones, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, phospholipids, lactones, phenolics and phenolic acids. Moreover, the compounds isolated from the genus Reynoutria possess a wide spectrum of pharmacology such as anti-atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, anticancer, neuroprotective, anti-virus and heart protection.

Summary

In this paper, the traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of genus Reynoutria were reviewed. As a source of traditional folk medicine, the Reynoutria genus have high medicinal value and they are widely used in medicine. Therefore, we hope our review can help genus Reynoutria get better development and utilization.

Transformation of Stilbene Glucosides From Reynoutria multiflora During Processing

The root of Reynoutria multiflora Thunb. Moldenke (RM, syn.: Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.) has been widely used in TCM clinical practice for centuries. The raw R. multiflora (RRM) should be processed before use, in order to reduce toxicity and increase efficiency. However, the content of trans-2, 3, 5, 4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (trans-THSG), which is considered to be the main medicinal ingredient, decreases in this process. In order to understand the changes of stilbene glycosides raw R. multiflora (RRM) and processed R. multiflora (PRM), a simple and effective method was developed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole/electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive plus orbitrap MS/MS). The content and quantity of stilbene glycosideshave undergone tremendous changes during the process. Seven parent nucleus of stilbene glycosides and 55 substituents, including 5-HMF and a series of derivatives, were identified in PM. 146 stilbene glycosides were detected in RRM, The number of detected compounds increased from 198 to 219 as the processing time increased from 4 to 32 h. Among the detected compounds, 102 stilbene glycosides may be potential new compounds. And the changing trend of the compounds can be summarized in 3 forms: gradually increased, gradually decreased, first increased and then decreased or decreased first. The content of trans-THSG was indeed decreased during processing, as it was converted into a series of derivatives through the esterification reaction with small molecular compounds. The clarification of secondary metabolite group can provide a basis for the follow-up study on the mechanism of pharmacodynamics and toxicity of PM, and for screening of relevant quality markers.

Pharmacokinetics, Tissue Distribution, and Excretion Characteristics of a Radix Polygoni Multiflori Extract in Rats

Although progress has been achieved in the pharmacological activity and toxicity of Radix Polygoni Multiflori (RPM), the chemical basis of its toxicity is still unclear. Here, we performed a multicompound pharmacokinetic analysis and investigated the tissue distribution and excretion characteristics of RPM components after oral administration in rats. The findings demonstrated that the active ingredients of the RPM extract were quickly absorbed after oral administration, with high exposure levels of emodin, 2,3,5,4′-teterahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (TSG), citreorosein, torachrysone-8-O-glucoside (TG), emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside (EG), and physcion-8-O-β-D-glucoside (PG). The tissue distributions of emodin, TSG, TG, EG, and PG were high in the liver and kidney. These components were the key contributors to the effectiveness and toxicity of RPM on the liver and kidney. Most of the active ingredients were mainly excreted through feces and bile, while a few were converted into other products in the body and excreted through urine and feces.

Emodin - A natural anthraquinone derivative with diverse pharmacological activities

Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methyl-anthraquinone) is a natural anthraquinone derivative that is present in numerous globally renowned herbal medicines. It is recognised as a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor and as an anticancer drug, active against various tumour cells, including lung, breast, liver, and ovarian cancer cells. Recently, its role in combination chemotherapy with various allopathic medicines, to minimize their toxicity and to enhance their efficacy, has been studied. The use of emodin in these therapies is gaining popularity, due to fewer associated side effects compared with standard anticancer drugs. Emodin has a broad therapeutic window, and in addition to its antineoplastic activity, it displays anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, muscle relaxant, immunosuppressive and antifibrotic activities, in both in vitro and in vivo models. Although reviews on the anticancer activity of emodin have been published, none coherently unite all the pharmacological properties of emodin, particularly the anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, immunosuppressive and hepatoprotective activities of the compound. Hence, in this review, all of the available data regarding the pharmacological properties of emodin are explored, with particular emphasis on the modes of action of the molecule. In addition, the manuscript details the occurrence, biosynthesis and chemical synthesis of the compound, as well as its toxic effects on biotic systems.

Screening of Quality Markers During the Processing of Reynoutria multiflora Based on the UHPLC-Q-Exactive Plus Orbitrap MS/MS Metabolomic Method

The root of Reynoutria multiflora (Thunb.) Moldenke (syn: Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.) is a distinguished herb that has been popularly used in traditional Chinese medicine. The raw Reynoutria multiflora (RRM) should be processed by steaming before use, and the processing time is not specified in the processing specification. Our previous studies showed that the efficacy and toxicity of processed Reynoutria multiflora (PRM) at different processing times were inconsistent. A comprehensive identification method was established in this study to find a quality marker of raw Reynoutria multiflora (RRM) and processed Reynoutria multiflora (PRM) with different processing times. Metabolomics based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole/electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive plus orbitrap MS/MS) was used in this study. Using the CD.2 software processed database, multivariate statistical analysis methods coupled with cluster analysis and heatmap were implemented to distinguish between RRMs and PRMs with different processing times. The results showed that RRM and PRMs processed for 4, 8, 12, and 18 h cluster into group 1, and PRM processed for 24 and 32 h into group 2, indicating that it can effectively distinguish between the two groups and twenty potential markers, made the highest contributions to the observed chemical differences between two groups. Among them, tetrahydroxystilbene-O-hexoside-O-galloyl and sucrose can be used to identify PRM processed for 24 h. Therefore, the properties of RRM changed after 24 h of processing, and the quality markers were screened to distinguish RRM and PPM. It can also be used as an important control technology for the processing of RM, which has wide application prospects.

High-Throughput Identification of Organic Compounds from Polygoni Multiflori Radix Praeparata (Zhiheshouwu) by UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS

Polygoni Multiflori Radix Praeparata (PMRP), as the processed product of tuberous roots of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., is one of the most famous traditional Chinese medicines, with a long history. However, in recent years, liver adverse reactions linked to PMRP have been frequently reported. Our work attempted to investigate the chemical constituents of PMRP for clinical research and safe medication. In this study, an effective and rapid method was established to separate and characterize the constituents in PMRP by combining ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS). Based on the accurate mass measurements for molecular and characteristic fragment ions, a total of 103 compounds, including 24 anthraquinones, 21 stilbenes, 15 phenolic acids, 14 flavones, and 29 other compounds were identified or tentatively characterized. Forty-eight compounds were tentatively characterized from PMRP for the first time, and their fragmentation behaviors were summarized. There were 101 components in PMRP ethanol extract (PMRPE) and 91 components in PMRP water extract (PMRPW). Simultaneously, the peak areas of several potential xenobiotic components were compared in the detection, which showed that PMRPE has a higher content of anthraquinones and stilbenes. The obtained results can be used in pharmacological and toxicological research and provided useful information for further in vitro and in vivo studies.

Heshouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.) Extract Attenuates Bone Loss in Diabetic Mice

This study investigated the effects and mechanism of Heshouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.) water extract (HSW) on diabetes-related bone loss in mice. HSW was orally administered (300 mg/kg body weight) to high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice for 10 weeks. HSW significantly alleviated mouse body weight loss and hyperglycemia compared with the control group, and elevated serum levels of insulin, osteocalcin, and bone-alkaline phosphatase. HSW supplementation also significantly increased the bone volume/tissue volume ratio and trabecular thickness and number, and decreased the bone surface/bone volume ratio and trabecular structure model index in the femur and tibia. Moreover, HSW significantly increased femoral bone mineral density. In addition, HSW down-regulated osteoclastogenic genes, such as nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1 and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5 (TRAP), in both the femur and tibia tissue, and reduced serum TRAP level compare to those of control mice. These results indicate that HSW might relieve diabetes-related bone disorders through regulating osteoclast-related genes, suggesting HSW may be used as a preventive agent for diabetes-induced bone loss.

Chrysophanol: A Natural Anthraquinone with Multifaceted Biotherapeutic Potential

Chrysophanol is a unique anthraquinone having broad-spectrum therapeutic potential along with ecological importance. It is the first polyketide that has been reported to be biosynthesized in an organism-specific manner. The traditional Chinese and Korean medicinal systems provide evidence of the beneficial effects of chrysophanol on human health. The global distribution of chrysophanol encountered in two domains of life (bacteria and eukaryota) has motivated researchers to critically evaluate the properties of this compound. A plethora of literature is available on the pharmacological properties of chrysophanol, which include anticancer, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, and antimicrobial activities. However, the pharmacokinetics and toxicity studies on chrysophanol demand further investigations for it to be used as a drug. This is the first comprehensive review on the natural sources, biosynthetic pathways, and pharmacology of chrysophanol. Here we reviewed recent advancements made on the pharmacokinetics of the chrysophanol. Additionally, we have highlighted the knowledge gaps of its mechanism of action against diseases and toxicity aspects.

Antitumor Research of the Active Ingredients from Traditional Chinese Medical Plant Polygonum Cuspidatum

In recent years, the utilization of Chinese native medicine and other plant extracts in the treatment of diseases has attracted extensive attention, especially in the area of malignant tumors. However, lots of herbal remedies active ingredients have not been found or have been discovered but not effectively developed and applied. Therefore, screening new Chinese medicine active components and determining their antitumor effects have become a new breakthrough in the prevention and treatment of tumor disease. In the past years, a large number of studies have demonstrated that Polygonum cuspidatum and its active components like resveratrol showed excellent antitumor activities, including our own antitumor studies about resveratrol in colorectal cancer. The purpose of this review is to summarize the research progress of Chinese herb Polygonum cuspidatum and its active components in tumor diseases and provide theoretical basis for further scientific experiments and clinical applications.

Tissue-Specific Analysis of Secondary Metabolites Creates a Reliable Morphological Criterion for Quality Grading of Polygoni Multiflori Radix

In commercial herbal markets, Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR, the tuberous roots of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.), a commonly-used Chinese medicinal material, is divided into different grades based on morphological features of size and weight. While more weight and larger size command a higher price, there is no scientific data confirming that the more expensive roots are in fact of better quality. To assess the inherent quality of various grades and of various tissues in PMR and to find reliable morphological indicators of quality, a method combining laser microdissection (LMD) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS) was applied. Twelve major chemical components were quantitatively determined in both whole material and different tissues of PMR. Determination of the whole material revealed that traditional commercial grades based on size and weight of PRM did not correspond to any significant differences in chemical content. Instead, tissue-specific analysis indicated that the morphological features could be linked with quality in a new way. That is, PMR with broader cork and phloem, as seen in a transverse section, were typically of better quality as these parts are where the bioactive components accumulate. The tissue-specific analysis of secondary metabolites creates a reliable morphological criterion for quality grading of PMR.

NP-StructurePredictor: Prediction of Unknown Natural Products in Plant Mixtures

Identification of the individual chemical constituents of a mixture, especially solutions extracted from medicinal plants, is a time-consuming task. The identification results are often limited by challenges such as the development of separation methods and the availability of known reference standards. A novel structure elucidation system, NP-StructurePredictor, is presented and used to accelerate the process of identifying chemical structures in a mixture based on a branch and bound algorithm combined with a large collection of natural product databases. NP-StructurePredictor requires only targeted molecular weights calculated from a list of m/z values from liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) experiments as input information to predict the chemical structures of individual components matching the weights in a mixture. NP-StructurePredictor also provides the predicted structures with statistically calculated probabilities so that the most likely chemical structures of the natural products and their analogs can be proposed accordingly. Four data sets consisting of different Chinese herbs with mixtures containing known compounds were selected for validation studies, and all their components were correctly identified and highly predicted using NP-StructurePredictor. NP-StructurePredictor demonstrated its applicability for predicting the chemical structures of novel compounds by returning highly accurate results from four different validation case studies.

The UCP2-related mitochondrial pathway participates in rhein-induced apoptosis in HK-2 cells

Rhein is one of the main active compounds in total rhubarb anthraquinones (TRAs) that were reported to cause nephrotoxicity. This paper explored the mechanism of how rhein induced apoptosis in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cells). In this study, rhein was found to induce apoptosis in HK-2 cells according to the results of annexin V/PI staining assay. The underlying mechanisms were investigated, and the mitochondria-mediated pathway was found to be critical. A series of related biological events were explored, including the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), the decrease of the ATP level, the release of cytochrome c (Cyt-c) from the mitochondrion to the cytosol, and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax. Furthermore, rhein significantly increased the levels of ROS and inhibited the expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2). UCP2 inhibition dramatically boosted oxidative stress and exacerbated rhein-induced apoptosis, whereas co-incubation with an ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could decrease rhein-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, our results have demonstrated that rhein induced apoptosis in HK-2 cells via the UCP2-related mitochondrial pathway and rhein might be a weak inhibitor of UCP2. Our findings provide new evidence that UCP2 plays an important role in the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

Nuclear Factor Kappa B Activation and Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor Transactivational Effects of Chemical Components of the Roots of Polygonum multiflorum

BACKGROUND

Polygonum multiflorum is well-known as "Heshouwu" in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. In Northeast Asia, it is often used as a tonic to prevent premature aging of the kidney and liver, tendons, and bones and strengthening of the lower back and knees.

OBJECTIVE

To research the anti-inflammatory activities of components from P. multiflorum.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The compounds were isolated by a combination of silica gel and YMC R-18 column chromatography, and their structures were identified by analysis of spectroscopic data (1D, 2D-nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry). The anti-inflammatory activities of the isolated compounds 1-15 were evaluated by luciferase reporter gene assays.

RESULTS

Fifteen compounds (1-15) were isolated from the roots of P. multiflorum. Compounds 1-5 and 14-15 significantly inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α-induced nuclear factor kappa B-luciferase activity, with IC50 values of 24.16-37.56 μM. Compounds 1-5 also greatly enhanced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors transcriptional activity with EC50 values of 18.26-31.45 μM.

CONCLUSION

The anthraquinone derivatives were the active components from the roots of P. multiflorum as an inhibitor on inflammation-related factors in human hepatoma cells. Therefore, we suggest that the roots of P. multiflorum can be used to treat natural inflammatory diseases.

SUMMARY

This study presented that fifteen compounds (1-15) isolated from the roots of Polygonum multiflrum exert signifiant anti inflmmatory effects by inhibiting TNF α induced NF κB activation and PPARs transcription. Abbreviation used: NF κB: Nuclear factor kappa B, PPARs: Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors, PPREs: Peroxisome proliferator response elements, TNF α: Tumor necrosis factor α, ESI-MS: Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, HepG2: Human hepatoma cells.

Application of Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with LTQ-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry for the Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Polygonum multiflorum Thumb. and Its Processed Products

In order to quickly and simultaneously obtain the chemical profiles and control the quality of the root of Polygonum multiflorum Thumb. and its processed form, a rapid qualitative and quantitative method, using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization-linear ion trap-Orbitrap hybrid mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS(n)) has been developed. The analysis was performed within 10 min on an AcQuity UPLC™ BEH C18 column with a gradient elution of 0.1% formic acid-acetonitrile at flow rate of 400 μL/min. According to the fragmentation mechanism and high resolution MS(n) data, a diagnostic ion searching strategy was used for rapid and tentative identification of main phenolic components and 23 compounds were simultaneously identified or tentatively characterized. The difference in chemical profiles between P. multiflorum and its processed preparation were observed by comparing the ions abundances of main constituents in the MS spectra and significant changes of eight metabolite biomarkers were detected in the P. multiflorum samples and their preparations. In addition, four of the representative phenols, namely gallic acid, trans-2,3,5,4'-tetra-hydroxystilbene-2-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, emodin and emodin-8-O-β-d-glucopyranoside were quantified by the validated UHPLC-MS/MS method. These phenols are considered to be major bioactive constituents in P. multiflorum, and are generally regarded as the index for quality assessment of this herb. The method was successfully used to quantify 10 batches of P. multiflorum and 10 batches of processed P. multiflorum. The results demonstrated that the method is simple, rapid, and suitable for the discrimination and quality control of this traditional Chinese herb.

Redundant synthesis of a conidial polyketide by two distinct secondary metabolite clusters in Aspergillus fumigatus

Filamentous fungi are renowned for the production of bioactive secondary metabolites. Typically, one distinct metabolite is generated from a specific secondary metabolite cluster. Here, we characterize the newly described trypacidin (tpc) cluster in the opportunistic human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. We find that this cluster as well as the previously characterized endocrocin (enc) cluster both contribute to the production of the spore metabolite endocrocin. Whereas trypacidin is eliminated when only tpc cluster genes are deleted, endocrocin production is only eliminated when both the tpc and enc non-reducing polyketide synthase-encoding genes, tpcC and encA, respectively, are deleted. EncC, an anthrone oxidase, converts the product released from EncA to endocrocin as a final product. In contrast, endocrocin synthesis by the tpc cluster likely results from incomplete catalysis by TpcK (a putative decarboxylase), as its deletion results in a nearly 10-fold increase in endocrocin production. We suggest endocrocin is likely a shunt product in all related non-reducing polyketide synthase clusters containing homologues of TpcK and TpcL (a putative anthrone oxidase), e.g. geodin and monodictyphenone. This finding represents an unusual example of two physically discrete secondary metabolite clusters generating the same natural product in one fungal species by distinct routes.

Review of clinical studies of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. and its isolated bioactive compounds

Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PMT), officially listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, is one of the most popular perennial Chinese traditional medicines known as He shou wu in China and East Asia, and as Fo-ti in North America. Mounting pharmacological studies have stressed out its key benefice for the treatment of various diseases and medical conditions such as liver injury, cancer, diabetes, alopecia, atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases as well. International databases such as PubMed/Medline, Science citation Index and Google Scholar were searched for clinical studies recently published on P. multiflorum. Various clinical studies published articles were retrieved, providing information relevant to pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics analysis, sleep disorders, dyslipidemia treatment, and neurodegenerative diseases. This review is an effort to update the clinical picture of investigations ever carried on PMT and/or its isolated bio-compounds and to enlighten its therapeutic assessment.

Medicinal plants combating against cancer--a green anticancer approach

Cancer is the most deadly disease that causes the serious health problems, physical disabilities, mortalities, and morbidities around the world. It is the second leading cause of death all over the world. Although great advancement have been made in the treatment of cancer progression, still significant deficiencies and room for improvement remain. Chemotherapy produced a number of undesired and toxic side effects. Natural therapies, such as the use of plant-derived products in the treatment of cancer, may reduce adverse and toxic side effects. However, many plants exist that have shown very promising anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo but their active anticancer principle have yet to be evaluated. Combined efforts of botanist, pharmacologist and chemists are required to find new lead anticancer constituent to fight disease. This review will help researchers in the finding of new bioactive molecules as it will focus on various plants evaluated for anticancer properties in vitro and in vivo.

Promotion effect of constituents from the root of Polygonum multiflorum on hair growth

Two new compounds, gallic acid ester of torachrysone-8-O-β-D-glucoside (1) and (E)-2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-xyloside (4), along with eight known compounds (2, 3, 5-10) were isolated from a 70% ethanol extract of Polygonum multiflorum roots. The structures were determined by (1)H and (13)C NMR, HMQC, and HMBC spectrometry. Extracts of P. multiflorum have been reported to promote hair growth in vivo. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of isolated compounds from P. multiflorum on promoting hair growth using dermal papilla cells (DPCs), which play an important role in hair growth. When DPCs were treated with compounds (1-10) from P. multiflorum, compounds 1, 2, 3, 6, and 10 increased the proliferation of DPCs compared with the control. Specifically, compound 2 (10 and 20 μM) induced a greater increase in the proliferation of DPCs than minoxidil (10 μM). Additionally, treatment of vibrissa follicles with compound 2 for 21 days increased hair-fiber length significantly. On the basis of this result, further investigation and optimization of these derivatives might help in the development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of alopecia.

Secondary Metabolite Production by the Basidiomycete, Lentinus strigellus, under Different Culture Conditions

The basidiomycete Lentinus strigellus was cultivated in three different culture media and the secondary metabolites produced under different culture conditions were isolated and identified. When cultivated in a liquid medium with peptone, L. strigellus afforded the benzopyrans, 2,2-dimethyl-6-methoxychroman-4-one, 4-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-6-methoxychromane and (3 R,4 S)-3,4-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-6-methoxychromane. The indole alkaloid echinuline and the anthraquinone fiscione, both unprecedented for the genus Lentinus, were isolated from the mycelium of the fungus. When cultured in Czapek medium enriched with potato broth, the fungus afforded the same benzopyrans except (3 S,4 S)-3,4-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-6-methoxychromane. Panepoxydone and isopanepoxydone were also isolated when the microorganism was grown in Czapek medium.

Metabolites from the endophytic mitosporic Dothideomycete sp. LRUB20

The endophytic mitosporic Dothideomycete sp. LRUB20 was found to produce pyrone derivatives, dothideopyrones A-D (1, 3, 4, and 5), together with seven known compounds, including questin (9), asterric acid (10), methyl asterrate (11), sulochrin (12), and eugenitin (13), 6-hydroxymethyleugenitin (14), and cis, trans-muconic acid (15). Dothideopyrone D (5) and its acetate derivative 6 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity. This is the first report on a naturally occurring muconic acid, which is commonly known as a biomarker in environments after exposure to benzene and phenol (or derivatives). Interestingly, the LRUB20 fungus could produce muconic acid in relatively high yield (47.8mg/L). The utility of endophytic fungi in the field of white biotechnology is discussed.