A new coumarin from Juglans mandshurica Maxim induce apoptosis in hepatocarcinoma cells

An integrated approach of homogenization-ultrasound-assisted extraction followed by high-speed countercurrent chromatography for rapidly preparative separation naphthoquinones and diarylheptanes from Juglands mandshurica Maxim. exocarp

This research investigated the effectiveness of an integrated method for the extraction and separation of naphthoquinones and diarylheptanes from exocarp of Juglands mandshurica Maxim. (namely, green walnut husks). The target compounds were obtained by ultra-turrax homogenization (UTH) coupled with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) technology followed by high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC). The UTH-UAE extraction method achieved higher efficiency with 2.49- and 2.36-fold to those by UAE, and 1.39- and 1.34-fold to those by UTH in a short time. HSCCC was adopted for further separation and purification; six target compounds, namely, regiolone (RE), juglone (JU), myricatomento-genin (MG), galleon (GA), 2-oxatrycyclo[13.2.2.13,7]eicosa-3,5,7(20),15,17,18-hexaen-10-16-diol (OE), and juglanin A (JA), were separated with more than 95.37% purities and more than 84.71% final recovery rates, respectively. In this study, the integrated strategy of extraction and separation could get high purity compounds quickly, which would provide time and solvent saved method for the natural products separation from plants.

Juglans mandshurica Maximowicz as a traditional medicine: review of its phytochemistry and pharmacological activity in East Asia

OBJECTIVES

The conducted search reveals that Juglans mandshurica Maximowicz, called Manchuria walnuts, had many local uses that can be categorized into cancer, dermatosis and acesodyne.

KEY FINDINGS

Various metabolites including diarylheptanoids, naphthoquinones, and flavonoids (also their glycosides) were reported as bioactive metabolites. The isolated metabolites and extracts from J. mandshurica showed different biological activity including cytotoxicity, anti-inflammation, antimelanotic, anticomplement, anti-HIV, antimicrobial and anti-obesity activity.

SUMMARY

It is indicated that this review will add value to more scientific research on J. mandshurica and enhance the increased interest in the sustainable commercialization of J. mandshurica. It also leads to the validation of unverified ethnobotanical claims. Future studies on J. mandshurica would be focused to establish the links between the pharmacological activity, bioactive metabolites, and traditional uses.

Cytotoxic cycloartane triterpenoid saponins from Actaea vaginata and their mechanism of action

A further phytochemical investigation of the whole plants of Actaea vaginata afforded two new cycloartane triterpenoid saponins, (20S*,24R*)-15α,16β-diacetoxy-20,24-epoxy-9,19-cyclolanostane-3β,25-diol-3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside (1) and (20S)-15β,16β -diacetoxy-18,20-epoxy-3β,25-diol-24-oxo-9,19-cyclolanostan-3-O-β-D-xylo-pyrano-syl-25-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), together with four known compounds (3-6). Their structures were established on the basis of extensive analysis of NMR and HRESIMS data as well as by comparison with the reported data in the literature. All the isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited weak cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values of 36.10 and 27.39 μM, respectively. In addition, beesioside I (6) was found to significantly inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells. A closer examination of underlying mechanism revealed that beesioside I could increase the levels of ROS and caspase-3 and promote phosphorylation of JNK in the JNK signaling pathway. Molecular modeling studies also shed further light on how beesioside I interacted with the key protein kinase.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and clinical applications of Cortex Juglandis Mandshuricae: A comprehensive review

ETHNOPHARMALOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cortex Juglandis Mandshuricae (CJM) is the dry branch or stem bark of the Juglans mandshurica Maxim. and is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine in Asia and Africa. Its use was first recorded in Kaibao Bencao.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present review provides a deeper insight, better awareness and detailed knowledge of phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control, along with clinical applications of Cortex Juglandis Mandshuricae.

METHODS

The relevant information of Cortex Juglandis Mandshuricae was obtained from several databases including Web of Science, PubMed, and CNKI. The medical books, PhD and MSc dissertations in Chinese were also used to perform this work.

RESULTS

CJM has been traditionally used against a wide range of diseases, including dysentery, acute conjunctivitis, bacterial infections, and cancer. A total of 249 compounds have been isolated from CJM; they mainly include quinones and their derivatives, flavonoids, tannins, diarylheptanoids, triterpenoids, coumarins, phenylpropanoids, and volatile oils. These compounds exert anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, bacteriostatic, anti-complement, immunomodulatory, anti-parasitic activities. Specifically, the effects of juglone, alkaloids and unsaturated fatty acid CJM components against hepatic cancer occur through exertion of apoptosis through a mitochondria-dependent pathway. In addition, taxifolin and several tannins have been found to have anti-HIV activity, and (±)-juglanaloid A and (±)-juglanaloid B target Alzheimer disease. Quality control is monitored through identification of juglone, quercetin, and volatile oils. A clinical preparation of CJM, Compound Muji Granules, is used in the treatment of various liver diseases with good therapeutic effect.

CONCLUSION

While CJM has been used extensively as a folk medicine, the relationships between structure and activity remain unclear. More in vivo models are needed to study the pharmacological mechanisms of action and to assess potential toxic components, in addition to which the evidence used to demonstrate the quality standards of medicinal materials is clearly inadequate. Therefore, more in-depth research is needed to provide a reasonable scientific basis improve its clinical utilization.

Rapid qualitative profiling and quantitative analysis of Juglandis Mandshuricae Cortex and seven flavonoids by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry

Juglandis Mandshuricae Cortex is the bark of Juglans mandshurica Maxim., which has been used as a folk medicine plant in China and India. In this study, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry method was developed to clarify and quantify the chemical profiling of Juglandis Mandshuricae Cortex rapidly. A total of 113 compounds were characterized. Among them, seven flavonoids were simultaneously quantified in 15 min, including myricetin, myricetrin, taxifolin, kaempferol, quercetin, quercitrin, and naringenin. The method was validated for accuracy, precision, and the limits of detection and quantification. All calibration curves showed a good linear relationship (r > 0.9990) within test ranges. The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations were less than 2.16%. Accuracy validation showed that the recovery was between 95.6% and 101.3% with relative standard deviation values below 2.85%. The validated method was successfully applied to determine the contents of seven flavones in Juglandis Mandshuricae Cortex from seven sources and the contents of these places were calculated respectively. This method provides a theoretical basis for further developing the medicinal value of Juglandis Mandshuricae Cortex.

Coumarins and Gastrointestinal Cancer: A New Therapeutic Option?

Cancers of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are often life-threatening malignancies, which can be a severe burden to the health care system. Globally, the mortality rate from gastrointestinal tumors has been increasing due to the lack of adequate diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic measures to combat these tumors. Coumarin is a natural product with remarkable antitumor activity, and it is widely found in various natural plant sources. Researchers have explored coumarin and its related derivatives to investigate their antitumor activity, and the potential molecular mechanisms involved. These mechanisms include hormone antagonists, alkylating agents, inhibitors of angiogenesis, inhibitors of topoisomerase, inducers of apoptosis, agents with antimitotic activity, telomerase inhibitors, inhibitors of human carbonic anhydrase, as well as other potential mechanisms. Consequently, drug design and discovery scientists and medicinal chemists have collaborated to identify new coumarin-related agents in order to produce more effective antitumor drugs against GI cancers. Herein, we summarize the therapeutic effects of coumarin and its derivatives against GI cancer.

Juglans mandshurica Maxim.: A Review of Its Traditional Usages, Phytochemical Constituents, and Pharmacological Properties

Juglans mandshurica Maxim., also known as “Manchurian walnut” (Chinese) and “Onigurumi” (Japanese), is a medicinal plant widely distributed in Western and Central Asia, especially in China. It has been traditionally used to treat cancer, gastric ulcers, diarrhea, dysentery, dermatosis, uterine prolapse, and leukopenia. To date, more than 400 constituents including quinones (e.g. naphthoquinones, anthraquinones, naphthalenones, tetralones), phenolics, flavonoids, triterpenoids, coumarins, lignans, phenylpropanoids, diarylheptanoids, and steroids, were isolated and structurally identified from different plant parts of J. mandshurica. Among them, quinones, phenolics, triterpenoids, and diarylheptanoids, as the major bioactive substances, have been extensively studied and displayed significant bioactivity. Previous studies have demonstrated that J. mandshurica and a few of its active components exhibit a wide range of pharmacologically important properties, such as antitumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic, antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-melanogenesis activities. However, many investigations on biological activities were mainly based on crude extracts of this plant, and the major bioactive ingredients responsible for these bioactivities have not been well identified. Further in vitro and in vivo studies on the mechanisms of action of the pure bioactive compounds, and more elaborate toxicity studies as well as clinical studies are needed to ensure safety and effectiveness of the plant for human use. Taken together, the present review will provide some specific useful suggestions guide to further investigations and applications of this plant in the preparation of medicines and functional foods.