Hepatoprotective constituents of the seeds of Combretum quadrangulare

Hepatoprotective effect of MeOH, MeOH-H2O (1 : 1) and H2O extracts of Combretum quadrangulare seeds were examined on D-galactosamine (D-GalN)/tumor necrosis factor-\u3b1(TNF-\u3b1)-induced cell death in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes. The MeOH extract showed the strongest inhibitory effect on D-GalN/TNF-\u3b1-induced cell death (IC50, 56.4\u3bcg/ml). Moreover, the MeOH extract also significantly lowered the serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (sGPT) level on D-GalN/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury in mice. Bioguided separation of the MeOH extract led to the isolation of 38 compounds of various classes including triterpene glucosides, lignans and catechin derivatives. Among the isolated triterpene glucosides, lupane-type (1-3; IC50, 63.1, 59.8 and 76.2\u3bcM, respectively) and ursane-type (11, mixture of 12 and 14; IC50, 30.2 and 34.6\u3bcM, respectively) compounds exhibited strong hepatoprotective activity. 1-O-Galloyl-6-O-(4-hydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxy)benzoyl-\u3b2-D-glucose (26; IC50, 7.2\u3bcM), methyl gallate (28; IC50, 19.9\u3bcM), and (-)-epicatechin (31; IC50, 71.2\u3bcM) also had a potent hepatoprotective effect on D-GalN/TNF-\u3b1-induced cell death in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: N

Quadranosides VI-XI, six new triterpene glucosides from the seeds of combretum quadrangulare.

Six new triterpene glucosides, quadranosides VI-XI (1-6), belonging to three different [ursane- (1-4), oleanane- (5) and lupane-type (6)] triterpene classes, have been isolated from a MeOH extract of the seeds of Combretum quadrangulare KURZ (Combretaceae), together with nine known compounds, rosamutin (7), 28-O-\u3b2-D-glucopyranosyl-6\u3b2, 23-dihydroxytormentic acid (8), arjunetin (9), arjunglucoside II (10), combreglucoside (11), chebuloside II (12), vitexin (13), (+)-catechin (14) and (-)-epigallocatechin (15). The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: N

Quadranosides VI-XI, six new triterpene glucosides from the seeds of combretum quadrangulare.

Six new triterpene glucosides, quadranosides VI-XI (1-6), belonging to three different [ursane- (1-4), oleanane- (5) and lupane-type (6)] triterpene classes, have been isolated from a MeOH extract of the seeds of Combretum quadrangulare KURZ (Combretaceae), together with nine known compounds, rosamutin (7), 28-O-\u3b2-D-glucopyranosyl-6\u3b2, 23-dihydroxytormentic acid (8), arjunetin (9), arjunglucoside II (10), combreglucoside (11), chebuloside II (12), vitexin (13), (+)-catechin (14) and (-)-epigallocatechin (15). The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: N

New spirostanol steroids and steroidal saponins from roots and rhizomes of Dracaena angustifolia and their antiproliferative activity

The MeOH extract of Nam ginseng (roots and rhizomes of Dracaena angustifolia) afforded nine new compounds, including three spirostanol sapogenins, named namogenins A 12C (1 123), four spirostanol saponins, named namonins A 12D (4 127), a furostanol saponin, named namonin E (8), and a pregnan glycoside, named namonin F (9), along with another eight known steroidal saponins (10 1217). Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral analyses and chemical methods. All compounds were tested for their antiproliferative activity against murine colon 26-L5 carcinoma, human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma, and B-16 BL6 melanoma cells. Compounds 4, 5, and 10 showed potent antiproliferative activity against HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells, having IC50 values of 0.2, 0.3, and 0.6 \u3bcM, respectively, comparable to that of doxorubicin.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: N

Antiproliferative activity of cardenolides isolated from Streptocaulon juventas

Sixteen cardenolides, two hemiterpenoids, two phenylpropanoids and a phenylethanoid isolated from the roots of Streptocaulon juventas (LOUR.) MERR. were examined for their antiproliferative activity toward three human-derived (HT-1080 fibrosarcoma, lung A549 adenocarcinoma, cervix HeLa adenocarcinoma) and three murine-derived (colon 26-L5 carcinoma, Lewis lung carcinoma, B16-BL6 melanoma) cell lines. The cardenolides selectively and strongly inhibited proliferation of the HT-1080 (IC50 values, 0.054\u20141.6 \u3bcM) and A549 (IC50, 0.016\u20140.65 \u3bcM) cell lines. The characteristic morphological changes and ladder-like DNA fragmentation in those cells treated with the cardenolides indicated the antiproliferative activity was due to the induction of apoptosis.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: N

Antiproliferative activity of Vietnamese medicinal plants

Methanol, methanol\u2013water (1 : 1) and water extracts were prepared from seventy-seven Vietnamese medicinal plants and tested for their antiproliferative activities against human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells. Among them, fifteen extracts including seven methanol extracts of Caesalpinia sappan, Catharanthus roseus, Coscinium fenestratum, Eurycoma longifolia, Hydnophytum formicarum and Streptocaulon juventas (collected at two areas), six methanol\u2013water (1 : 1) extracts of Cae. sappan, Cat. roseus, Co. fenestratum, H. formicarum and S. juventas (at two areas), and two water extracts of Cae. sappan and S. juventas exhibited antiproliferative activities in a concentration-dependent manner. Their antiproliferative activities against human cervix HeLa adenocarcinoma, human lung A549 adenocarcinoma, murine colon 26-L5 carcinoma, murine Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and murine B16-BL6 melanoma cells were then examined. Co. fenestratum showed selective activity against lung carcinoma and/or lung metastatic cell lines, A549, LLC and B16-BL6, while H. formicarum and S. juventas showed selective activity against human tumor cell lines, HeLa and A549. Characteristic morphological change and DNA fragmentation indicated the antiproliferative activity to be due to the induction of apoptosis.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: N

Constituents of Caesalpinia crista from Indonesia

Ten new furanocassane-type diterpenes named, caesalpinins H-P (1-9) and norcaesalpinin F (10), were isolated from the CH(2)Cl(2) extract of the seed kernels of Caesalpinia crista, together with 13 known diterpenes. Their structures were determined based on the spectroscopic analysis. Among the isolated compounds, caesalpinin N (7) represents the first example of furanocassane-type diterpene possessing an aldehyde group at C-14.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: N

Antimalarial activity of cassane- and norcassane-type diterpenes from Caesalpinia crista and their structure\u2013activity relationship

Malaria is one of the most life-threatening infectious diseases worldwide and claims the millions of peoples life each year. The appearance of drug-resistance Plasmodium falciparum has made the treatment of malaria increasingly problematic, and thus, it is a dire need to search the new alternatives of current drugs. In the present study, 44 cassane- and norcassane-type diterpenes isolated from Caesalpinia crista of Myanmar and Indonesia were evaluated for their antimalarial activity against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum FCR-3/A2 clone in vitro. Most of the tested diterpenes displayed antimalarial activity, and norcaesalpinin E (28) showed the most potent activity with an IC50 value of 0.090 \u3bcM, more potent than the clinically used drug chloroquine (IC50, 0.29 \u3bcM). Based on the observed results, a structure\u2013activity relationship has been established.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: N