Antidiarrhoeal activity of Cyperus rotundus

The methanol extract of Cyperus rotundus rhizome, given orally at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w., showed significant antidiarrhoeal activity in castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice. Among the fractions, tested at 250 mg/kg, the petroleum ether fraction (PEF) and residual methanol fraction (RMF) were found to retain the activity, the latter being more active as compared to the control. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) did not show any antidiarrhoeal activity.     

A new cytotoxic cembrane diterpene from the roots of Euphorbia pekinensis Rupr

A new cembrane diterpene, named (−)-(1S)-15-hydroxy-18-carboxycembrene, was isolated from petroleum ether extract of the roots of the Euphorbia pekinensis Rupr. To our knowledge, this compound is the first cembrane-type diterpenoid to be found in the family Euphorbiaceae. The structure was elucidated as (−)-(1S)-15-hydroxy-cembra -2E, 4Z, 7E, 11E-tetraen-18-oic acid by a combination of IR, HR-ESIMS, 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. (−)-(1S)-15-hydroxy-18-carboxycembrene showed cytotoxic activity against all five human cancer cell lines tested.     

Evaluation of cytotoxic activities of some medicinal polypore fungi from China

The petrol ether, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of eight medicinal polypore fungi from China were evaluated for cytotoxic activities using MTT-dye assay. All the petrol ether and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited cytotoxicity against human cervix epitheloid carcinoma cell lines (Hela) and human hepatoma cell lines (SMMC-7721). Cytotoxicity activity was also observed in the methanol extracts of Phellinus conchatus and Pycnoporus sanquineus, but the methanol extracts from Cryptoporus volvatus, Fomitopsis pinicola, Fomes hornodermus, Lenzites betulina, Trametes gibbosa and Trametes orientalis showed weak activity when compared with quercetin.     

Cytotoxic activity of some Asarum plants

The cytotoxic activity against some tumor cell lines of 16 commonly used species of Asarum was evaluated in this study. All of these plants were widely used in Asian countries as traditional medicines or folk medicines. Their inhibitory activities against four tumor cell lines (HL-60, BGC-823, KB and Bel-7402) were compared. It was observed that 10 of the tested extracts (eight ethanol extracts and two water extracts) among 32 extracts of these plants showed cytotoxic activity. Those 95% ethanol extractions from A. caudigerellum, A. forbesii, A. inflatum and A. maximum exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity, and 95% ethanol extracts or water extracts of A. sieboldii var. seoulense, A. himalaicum, A. splendens and A. crispulatum showed selective activity against one or two cells among the tested tumor cells. This is the first report of Asarum plants possessing cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines.     

Antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis flowers

The flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis showed interesting antibacterial activity against some gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms (chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts) and significant cytotoxic activity (petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts).     

Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of Aerva lanata

Aerva lanata whole plant showed interesting antimicrobial activities (ethyl acetate and methanol extracts) and significant cytotoxic properties (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts).     

Prenylated phloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum sampsonii

Six new acylphloroglucinol derivatives, sampsonols A-F (1–6), were isolated from the petroleum ether extract of the aerial parts of Hypericum sampsonii. The structures and relative configurations of sampsonols A-F were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. All these compounds were tested for their in vitro cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities. Sampsonols A and B (1 and 2) showed significant cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the range of 13–28 μM, whereas sampsonols C and F (3 and 6) showed potent inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages with IC₅₀ values of 27.3 and 29.3 μM, respectively.     

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of Ruta graveolens

The methanol, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and water-methanol extracts of Ruta graveolens were found to possess antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities.     

Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of Zanthoxylum budrunga

The petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol extracts of the leaves and barks of Zanthoxylum budrunga have been evaluated for their antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic properties.     

A new cytotoxic flavonoid from the fruit of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum

Constituents of the fruit of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) Ying (Sinopodophylli Fructus) were investigated. A new flavonoid, 8,2′-diprenylquercetin 3-methyl ether along with 9 known compounds were isolated and identified. Among them, the new compound 8,2′-diprenylquercetin 3-methyl ether exhibited cytotoxic activities against MDA-231 and T47D breast cancer cell lines, quercetin, kaempferol and rutin were isolated from Sinopodophylli Fructus for the first time.     

Antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of Miliusa velutina.

Goniothalamusin and two mixtures, acetogenins-A and acetogenins-B, isolated from a petroleum ether extract of the stem bark of Miliusa velutina exhibited significant antibacterial and cytotoxic activities.     

Pentacyclic triterpenes from the resin of Liquidambar formosana

Two new pentacyclic triterpenes and eight known pentacyclic triterpenes were isolated from the petroleum ether extract of Liquidambaris Resina. The structural elucidation of these compounds was determined by spectroscopic data interpretation. Their cytotoxic and antiplatelet aggregation activities were examined to find potent cytotoxic and antiplatelet aggregation compounds from natural resources. The results showed that 3-keto oleane triterpenes had strong cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-435S cancer cells and that 28-carboxyl oleane triterpenes possessed significant inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by ADP.     

Cytotoxic ellagitannins from Reaumuria vermiculata

Three ellagitannins and one disulfated flavonol were isolated from the aerial parts of Reaumuria vermiculata L. Besides that, 16 known compounds were characterized as well. The structures of all compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR and ESI HR-FTMS. The in vivo antioxidant activity using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method, of the extract, its column fractions and two of the isolated ellagitannins was accomplished. In addition, a possible cytotoxicity of the extract and two of the new ellagitannins on HaCaT human keratinocytes and the activity of both compounds against the prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) were also assessed, whereby a potent cytotoxicity with IC(50) less than 1μg/ml was determined for both compounds. Besides, the extract exhibited a potential cytotoxic effect against four different solid tumor cell lines, namely liver (Huh-7), colorectal (HCT-116), breast (MCF-7) and prostate (PC-3). The IC(50)s were found to be substantially low (ranged from 1.3±0.15 to 2.4±0.22μg/ml) with relatively low resistance possibility reaching to 0% in the case of Huh-7 cell.     

白蜡虫多糖免疫调节与抑制肿瘤活性

采用环磷酰胺诱导免疫低下小鼠模型,通过测定模型小鼠的炭粒廓清指数、吞噬指数、胸腺指数和脾指数考察白蜡虫多糖的免疫调节能力;对接种S180瘤细胞的小鼠采用口服和注射方式提供白蜡虫多糖,以抑瘤率考察白蜡虫多糖体内抑瘤活性;以生长率为指标考察白蜡虫多糖对人白血病细胞株、人肺癌细胞株、人胃癌细胞株及人肝癌细胞株等4种肿瘤细胞的抑制作用。结果显示:白蜡虫粗多糖(Cwps)和纯化多糖(Pwps)均能明显增加免疫低下小鼠碳粒廓清指数及吞噬指数,但对胸腺指数和脾指数无改善作用;体内抑瘤试验发现,白蜡虫多糖对小鼠体内S180有明显的抑瘤效果,但对离体肿瘤细胞生长却无明显抑制作用。研究结果表明:白蜡虫多糖能增加免疫低下小鼠的非特性免疫能力,具有体内抑制肿瘤作用,但对肿瘤细胞无细胞毒作用,揭示白蜡虫多糖通过提高小鼠免疫能力达到体内抑制肿瘤的功效。     

Antifungal activity of Ajuga remota

Successive petroleum ether, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of Ajuga remota aerial parts were tested in vitro for their antifungal activity. The petroleum ether fraction was found to be the most effective against the tested pathogens.     

Mast cell stabilising activity of Bacopa monnieri

Successive petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and water extracts of Bacopa monnieri were tested (in vitro) for mast cell stabilising effect. The methanolic fraction exhibited potent activity comparable to disodium cromoglycate, a known mast cell stabiliser.     

大戟狼毒不同部位提取物对朱砂叶螨的触杀活性

研究大戟狼毒不同部位不同溶剂提取物对朱砂叶螨的生物活性。结果表明:大戟狼毒根石油醚提取物杀螨活性高于根的其他溶剂和茎、叶不同溶剂提取物。该提取物对朱砂叶螨雌成螨有较高的触杀活性,质量浓度为1mg·mL-1时,24h后雌成螨的校正死亡率达到52.73%,对卵的效果相对较差,质量浓度为4mg·mL-1时卵的校正死亡率为55.21%。进一步对大戟狼毒根石油醚提取物进行萃取分离及生物活性跟踪测定发现:萃取物中石油醚相的活性明显大于氯仿相和甲醇相;对石油醚萃取物的柱层析分离最终得到16个流分,其中以第11个流分杀螨效果最好,质量浓度为1mg·mL-1时,24h后雌成螨的校正死亡率达到86.67%,质量浓度为4mg·mL-1时卵的校正死亡率为66.33%。     

Molluscicidal activity against Oncomelania hupensis of Ginkgo biloba

In search for molluscicidal active components, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and water extracts from Ginkgo sarcotesta were evaluated against the snail Oncomelania hupensis. The bioassay-oriented showed that the activity concentrates in the petroleum ether extract (LD(50) 7.81 ppm). Ginkgolic acids, isolated from the petroleum ether extract, exhibited strong molluscicidal activity (LD(50) 1.49 ppm), gingkgolic acid C15:1 having the strongest molluscicidal activity.     

柚木石油醚抽提物成分及其对心边材颜色的影响

为探究国产柚木抽提物对心材和边材颜色差异的影响,采用3种沸程的石油醚溶液分别对国产柚木的心材与边材进行抽提处理,利用气相色谱-质谱法分析抽提液的成分和含量,并以差异较大的抽提物溶液处理柚木边材,通过色度学参数表征柚木边材的变色情况,从而验证影响柚木心材和边材颜色的主要抽提物成分。结果表明:在3种沸程的石油醚抽提液中,柚木心材抽提物在成分种类数量和含量上均显著高于边材;不同沸程的石油醚对柚木心、边材中抽提物成分有一定的影响,其中30~60℃(低沸程)和60~90℃(中沸程)石油醚抽提物成分和含量的差异较小,而90~120℃(高沸程)石油醚抽提物的含量较高,约为中、低沸程抽提物含量的2倍;柚木心材抽提液中酚类、醌类、烯烃类物质的含量较多,但这些物质在边材中含量极低;4-叔丁基-2-苯基苯酚、2-甲基蒽醌(柚木醌)、全反式三十碳六烯(角鲨烯)是柚木心、边材抽提物含量差异最明显的物质。经角鲨烯溶液处理后的柚木边材表面颜色变黄,更接近心材颜色,因此,角鲨烯是导致柚木心边材颜色差异的重要抽提物成分。     

Cytotoxicity of withanolides isolated from Acnistus arborescens

A new withanolide identified by spectroscopic analysis as 12β-acetoxy-4-deoxy-5,6-deoxy-Δ⁵–withanolide D and Withanolide D, were isolated from the leaves of Acnistus arborescens. Cytotoxic activity of these two compounds against human tumor cell lines HT-29, MCF-7, MKN-45, HEp-2, HeLa, U-937 and two human normal fibroblast cultures, Fib04 and Fib05, were assessed. Withanolide D presented in vitro cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines at the low micromolar range (LC₅₀:1.0 to 1.69 µM) and showed a slightly lower activity against Fib04, suggesting moderated selectivity among tumoral and normal cells. No cytotoxic effect was observed for 12β-acetoxy-4-deoxy-5,6-deoxy-Δ⁵–withanolide D.