Prunella vulgaris: A comprehensive review of chemical constituents, pharmacological effects and clinical applications.

Prunella vulgaris (PV) is a perennial herb belonging to the Labiate family and is widely distributed in northeastern Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, and China. It is reported to display diverse biological activities including anti-microbial, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammation as determined by in vitro or in vivo studies. So far, about 200 compounds have been isolated from PV plant and majority of these have been characterized mainly as triterpenoids, sterols and flavonoids, followed by coumarins, phenylpropanoids, polysaccharides and volatile oils. This review summarizes and analyzes the current knowledge on the chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, mechanisms of action and clinical applications of the PV plant including its potential as a future medicinal plant. Although some of the chemical constituents of the PV plant and their mechanism of action have been investigated the biological activities of many of these remain unknown and further clinical trials are required to further enhance its reputation as a medicinal plant

Effects of long-term moderate exercise and increase in number of daily steps on serum lipids in women: randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN21921919]

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a 24-month period of moderate exercise on serum lipids in menopausal women. METHODS: The subjects (40–60 y) were randomly divided into an exercise group (n = 14) and a control group (n = 13). The women in the exercise group were asked to participate in a 90-minute physical education class once a week and to record their daily steps as measured by a pedometer for 24 months. RESULTS: Mean of daily steps was significantly higher in the exercise group from about 6,800 to over 8,500 steps (P < 0.01). In the control group, the number of daily steps ranged from 5,700 to 6,800 steps throughout the follow-up period. A significant interaction between the exercise group and the control group in the changes og total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and TC : HDLC ratio could be observed (P < 0.05). By multiple regression analysis, the number of daily steps was related to HDLC and TC : HDLC levels after 24 months, and the changes in TC and HDLC concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that daily exercise as well as increasing the number of daily steps can improve the profile of serum lipids

Amorphous Oxide Films of the Bi2O3-Fe2O3-PbTiO3 System Coexisting Ferromagnetism and Ferroelectricity Prepared by Gel-Coating

Magnetic and dielectric properties of films with the ternary oxide system Bi2O3-Fe2O3-PbTiO3 prepared by coating gel-solutions synthesized by the glycol-gel process on either glass plates or low resistivity Si-wafers were investigated. It was found that films with the Fe2O3-molar concentration around 70% exhibit ferromagnetic as well as ferroelectric behaviors simultaneously above room temperature retaining amorphous state from x-ray diffraction even after annealed at 700°C in air. The microstructure of the films was examined by EXAFS and was confirmed to be in a strongly disordered state. These pronounced properties are supposed to arise from a sort of excessively frustrated spin glasses

Chasmanine and its structure

The alkaloid chasmanine, C25H41O6N, isolated from A. chasmanthum contains four methoxyl and two hydroxyl groups as well as an imino-ethyl. It undergoes the usual pyrolytic reaction and the unsaturated product, pyrochasmanine, C25H39O5N, gives rise to an acid-catalyzed allylic rearrangement product, isopyrochasmanine. Pyrochasmanine, on treatment with lithium aluminium hydride, is demethoxylated. ...Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye