Antinephritis and radical scavenging activity of prenylflavonoids

Antinephritis activity of 5 prenylflavonoids similar to glabridin (1-5), isolated from Morus alba, Artocarpus communis, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and G. inflata, was evaluated in mice with glomerular disease (Masugi-nephritis). Oral administrations of artonin E (2) or licochalcone A (4) for 10 days (30 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) reduced the amount of urinary protein excretion compared to nephritic mice. ESR spectroscopy demonstrated that morusin (1) and licorisoflavan A (5) increased the radical intensity of sodium ascorbate by about two times. Morusin, licoricidin (3), licochalcone A and licorisoflavan A showed weak scavenging activity against superoxide anion radical.     

Artoindonesianin L, a new prenylated flavone with cytotoxic activity from Artocarpus rotunda.

A new prenylated flavone, named artoindonesianin L (1), was isolated from Artocarpus rotunda (Hout) Panzer (Moraceae). Its structure was elucidated as on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Along with this new compound, four known phenolic compounds were also isolated from this plant and identified as artonins M (2) and E (3), cycloartobiloxanthone (4) and artonin O (5). All these compounds showed significant cytotoxicity against murine P388 leukemia cells.     

In vitro antioxidant activity of Argyreia cymosa bark extracts

The Argyreia cymosa bark extracts were subjected to in vitro antioxidant activity with different methods. The petroleum ether extract has shown antioxidant activity in ABTS, nitric oxide, hydroxyl radical (by p-NDA) and lipid peroxidation methods. The ethyl acetate extract has shown antioxidant activity in DPPH, H(2)O(2) and hydroxyl radical (by deoxyribose) scavenging methods.     

Antioxidant activity of Filipendula hexapetala flowers

The antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Filipendula hexapetala flowers was assessed by the assay for ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), the assay for DPPH free radical scavenging ability (DPPH) and the assay for the influence of lipid peroxidation in liposomes, induced by Fe(2+)/ascorbate system and measured by the TBA test (LP). The activity of the investigated extract in all test-systems was found to be significant. The principal constituent responsible for the observed effects was isolated and identified as spiraeoside.     

Antioxidant, icthyotoxicity and brine shrimp lethality tests of Magonia glabrata

The ethanolic extract of the fruit bark from Magonia glabrata yielded shikimic acid, scopoletin, sitosterol glycoside and 2-O-methyl-l-inositol. Antioxidant, icthyotoxicity and brine shrimp lethality activities were observed in this extract. The major constituent, 2-O-methyl-l-inositol, was found to be inactive in two assays but showed moderate activity as a radical scavenger.     

Iridoid, phenylethanoid and flavonoid glycosides from Sideritis trojana

From the MeOH extract of Sideritis trojana, a new iridoid glycoside, 10-O-(E)-feruloylmelittoside (1) was obtained in addition to four known iridoid glycosides [melittoside (2), 10-O-(E)-p-coumaroylmelittoside (3), stachysosides E (4) and G (5)]. Moreover, five phenylethanoid glycosides [verbascoside (6), isoacteoside (7), lamalboside (8), leonoside A (9), isolavandulifolioside (10), three flavone glycosides (isoscutellarein 7-O-[6'-O-acetyl-β-allopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β-glucopyranoside (11), 4'-O-methyisoscutellarein 7-O-[6'-O-acetyl-β-allopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β-glucopyranoside (12), 3'-hydroxy-4'-O-methyisoscutellarein 7-O-[6'-O-acetyl-β-allopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β-glucopyranoside (13) and a benzylalcohol derivative (di-O-methylcrenatin) were obtained and identified. The structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR and HRMS data. All compounds were tested for their antioxidant activity by in vitro TEAC assay and some of them exhibited moderate activity (0.97-1.44 mM) when compared with the reference compound (quercetin 1.86 mM). Glycosides 6-13, the most active compounds in the TEAC assay, were also tested by flow cytometry to evaluate their ability to affect the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human prostate cancer cells (PC3).     

Two new cytotoxic isoprenylated flavones, artoindonesianins U and V, from the heartwood of Artocarpus champeden

Two new isoprenylated flavones, artoindonesianins U (1) and V (2), have been isolated from the heartwood of Artocarpus champeden together with three known isoprenylated flavonoids, 5'-hydroxycudraflavone A, cyclocommunin and artonin B. The structures of the new flavones were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Both compounds 1 and 2 showed strong cytotoxic activity against P-388 cell lines.     

Radical scavenging capacity of Agrimonia eupatoria and Agrimonia procera

The antioxidant activity of Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony) and Agrimonia procera (Fragrant agrimony) extracts was assessed by measuring in DPPH radical scavenging and ABTS(+) radical decolourisation reaction systems. Radical scavenging capacity of agrimony extracts varied in a wide range (9.1-97.5% in DPPH reaction and 6.7-79.5% in ABTS reaction) depending on the polarity of the solvent used to obtain the extract.     

Artoindonesianin L, a new prenylated flavone with cytotoxic activity from Artocarpus rotunda

A new prenylated flavone, named artoindonesianin L (1), was isolated from Artocarpus rotunda (Hout) Panzer (Moraceae). Its structure was elucidated as on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Along with this new compound, four known phenolic compounds were also isolated from this plant and identified as artonins M (2) and E (3), cycloartobiloxanthone (4) and artonin O (5). All these compounds showed significant cytotoxicity against murine P388 leukemia cells.     

Apoptotic and free radical scavenging properties of the methanolic extract of Gentianella alborosea

Gentianella alborosea ("Hercampure") is a Peruvian species used in folk medicine for the treatment of a variety of health disorders. We tested the free radical scavenging (DPPH) and induction of apoptosis on a human uterus tumor cell line (HeLa) by its methanolic extract. The results showed a noticeable radical scavenging activity and a dose-dependent apoptotic effect.     

Free radical scavenging activity of three Equisetum species from Fruska gora mountain

The scavenger activities of Equisetum arvense, Equisetum ramosissimum and Equisetum telmateia aboveground parts phosphate buffer (pH 7) extracts were evaluated using three different methods: DPPH assay, ESR and NO radical inhibition assay. Total reducing power was determined by FRAP assay. The E. telmateia extract demonstrated the most relevant scavenger and antioxidant properties. ESR signal of DMPO-OH radical adducts in the presence of E. telmateia phosphate buffer (pH 7) extract was reduced to 98.9% which indicated that E. telmateia could be a useful source of antioxidants with huge scavenger ability.     

Antioxidant activity of Pyrrosia petiolosa

The ethanol extract of Pyrrosia petiolosa showed an antioxidant activity as determined by free radical scavenging, superoxide radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation, and hydroxyl radical-induced DNA strand scission assays.     

Antiinflammatory activity of Polygala japonica extract

The antiinflammatory activity of the aqueous extract of Polygala japonica (AEPJ) was investigated in mice and rats to find the pharmacological basis for its ethnomedical use. The extract produced a significant inhibition of peritoneal and cutaneous vascular permeability induced by acetic acid and histamine, respectively and ear swelling induced by picryl chloride in mice at the dose of 25.0 mg/kg. Moreover, the extract markedly inhibited footpad edema induced by histamine in rats, and decreased prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) content in carrageenan-induced air-pouch at doses of 12.5 and 6.25 mg/kg respectively.     

Antioxidant and scavenger activities of Allium ursinum

The antioxidative properties of bulb, leaf and stalk of Allium ursinum were investigated. Activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase), quantities of malonyldialdehyde, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals and reduced glutathione and also the contents of total flavonoids, chlorophylls a and b and carotenoids were determined. The extracts from all plant organs exhibited antioxidant activity, the highest having been observed in the leaves. Furthermore, ESR signal of PBN-OH radical adducts in the presence of leaves phosphate buffer (pH 7) extract was reduced for 87.61%.     

Antimicrobial and free radical scavenging activities of Teucrium montanum

The antimicrobial and free radical scavenging activities of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water extracts of Teucrium montanum were investigated. Ethyl acetate, chloroform and n-butanol extracts expressed a wide range of inhibiting activity against both Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria. n-Butanol extract possessed potent DPPH free radical scavenging activity.     

Chemical constituents of Anacolosa pervilleana and their antiviral activities

In an effort to identify novel inhibitors of Chikungunya (CHIKV) and Dengue (DENV) virus replication, a systematic study with 820 ethyl acetate extracts of Madagascan plants was performed in a virus-cell-based assay for CHIKV and a DENV NS5 RNA-dependant RNA polymerase (RdRp) assay. The extract obtained from the leaves of Anacolosa pervilleana was selected for its significant activity in both assays. One new (E)-tridec-2-en-4-ynedioic acid named anacolosine (1), together with three known acetylenic acids, the octadeca-9,11,13-triynoic acid (2), (13E)-octadec-13-en-9,11-diynoic acid (3), (13E)-octadec-13-en-11-ynoic acid (4), two terpenoids, lupenone (5) and β-amyrone (6), and one cyanogenic glycoside, (S)-sambunigrin (7) were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive analyses of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry data. The inhibitory potency of these compounds was evaluated on CHIKV, DENV RdRp and West-Nile polymerase virus (WNV RdRp). Both terpenoids showed a moderate activity against CHIKV (EC(50) 77 and 86 μM, respectively) and the acetylenic acids produced IC(50) values around 3 μM in the DENV RdRp assay.     

In vivo antidepressant activity of sesquiterpenes from the roots of Valeriana fauriei Briq

Antidepressant activity-guided fractionation of the MeOH extract of Valeriana fauriei Briq. roots resulted in the isolation of two new germacrane-type sesquiterpenes (1-2) in addition to seven known ones (3-9). Their structures were elucidated as 1β,10α-dihydroxyl-8α-acetoxyl-10β,11,11-trimethyl-4-formyl-bicyclogermacren-E-4(5)-ene (1), 1β-hydroxyl-8α-acetoxyl-11,11-dimethyl-4-formyl-bicyclogermacren-E-4(5),10(14)-diene (2), bicyclo[8,1,0]5β-hydroxyl-7β-1acetoxyl-5α,11,11'-trimethyl -E-1(10)-ene-4α,15-olide (3), 8α-acetoxyl-3α,4α,10-trihydroxyl-guaia-1(2)-ene-12,6α-olide (4), 2-Ethylhexyl-4-hydroxybenzoate (5), 11αH-gemacra-1(10)E,4Z-diene-3-one-12,6α-olide (6), β-Sitoterol (7), isovaleric acid (8), isoborneol acetate (9), using a combination of UV, IR, mass spectroscopy, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The antidepressant activity of compounds 1-4 was investigated by the FST on mice. Among them, compounds 3 and 4 showed the significant antidepressant activity (*, P<0.01).     

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.     

Antioxidative and acute antiinflammatory effects of Torreya grandis

The present study was undertaken to investigate the antioxidative and antiinflammatory activities of the ethanolic extract of seeds of Torreya grandis (EST). Exposure of human dermal fibroblasts to the extract at 50 and 250 microg/ml showed significant protective effect against hydrogen peroxide (300 microM). EST not only protected cell survival from H(2)O(2)-induced toxicity, but also inhibited the H(2)O(2)-induced LDH release significantly. It was also found that EST at 100 and 1000 microg/ml showed scavenging activities of radicals and reactive oxygen species with 29.8% and 100.0% of inhibition against DPPH radical and 41.2% and 98.4% against superoxide radicals in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system, respectively. Topically applied EST dose-dependently inhibited arachidonic acid (AA)- and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced ear edema in mice.     

Anti-inflammatory,cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, COX-1 inhibitory and antioxidant effects of Dysophylla stellata Benth.

The n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of whole plants of Dysophylla stellata significantly inhibited edema when applied topically at doses of 0.5 and 1 mg/ear in TPA-induced ear edema assay in mice. Further, both the extracts were evaluated for COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory activities and showed 85.42 and 57.38%; and 71.79 and 89.27% inhibition at 50 µg/ml, respectively. Chromones (1 and 2) present in these extracts could be responsible for their COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory and anti-inflammatory activities. The ethyl acetate extract showed antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assay where as n-hexane extract found to be inactive.