Bafouoside C, a new triterpenoid saponin from the roots of Cussonia bancoensis Aubrev. & Pellegr.

A new triterpenoid saponin named bafouoside C 3-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 ! 4)-[b-D-galactopyrano-syl-(1 ! 2)]-b-D-glucuronopyranosyloleanolic acid 28-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl ester; (1), together with five known compounds 3-O-b-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 ! 2)-b-D-glucuronopyranosyloleanolic acid (2), 23-hydroxyursolic acid (3), 28-O-a-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 ! 4)-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 ! 6)-O-b-Dglucopyranosyl-23-hydroxyursolic acid (4), 3-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl-23-hydroxyursolic acid (5), and 3- O-a-L-arabinopyranosyl-23-hydroxyursolic acid (6), were isolated from the roots of Cussonia bancoensis Aubrev. & Pellegr. Their structures were established on the basis of 1D- and 2D NMR data, mass spectrometry and chemical methods. The NMR data of the known compounds, as far as we know, are herein reported for the first time in CD3OD. Compound 3 exhibited a weak cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB 231 human breast adenocarcinoma, A375 human malignant melanoma, and HCT116 human colon carcinoma cell line

Cussonia arborea Hochst (Araliaceae): Ethnobotany, Pharmacology and Phytochemistry

Background:  C. arborea belonging to Araliaceae family is used traditionally to cure many alien diseases including gonorrhoeae infection, diarrhea, malaria, and diabetes mellitus. The plant has been examined on the basis of scientific in vitro and in vivo evaluations possessing the major pharmacological activities including antimicrobial, antibacterial, antihyperglycemic,  antiplasmodial and anticancer properties. Aim of the study: In the present paper, we reported the isolation and characterization of secondary metabolites from the methanol extract of the stem bark of Cussonia arborea Hochst after a short review of the traditional and pharmacological studies done on this important medicinal plant. Materials and methods: MeOH extract of stem bark of C. arborea was suspended in water and successively extracted with EtOAc and n-BuOH. The EtOAc extract (18 g) was subjected to repeated column chromatography to yield seven (1-7) compounds. Their structures were determined by means of NMR, and published data. Results: The isolated compounds were identified as: protocatechuic acid (1), mixture of 3,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (2a) and 3,23-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (2b) in ratio 5/4, 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosylolean-12-en-28-oic acid (3), 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosylolean-12-en-28-oic acid (4), β-resorcylic acid (5), mixture of 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-23-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (6a) and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-23-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (6b) in ration 4/1, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-3β-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (7). Compounds 3, 4, 5, 7, 2b and 6b are herein reported for the first time in this plan

Antioxidant C-glycosylflavones of Drymaria cordata (Linn.) Willd

A new C-glycosylflavone, drymaritin E (6-C-(3-keto-β-digitoxopyranosyl)-4'-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-7-methoxyl-5,4'-dihydroxylflavone) 1 was isolated from the oily upper phase (SU) of the MeOH extract from aerial parts of Drymaria cordata together with two known compounds (cassiaoccidentalin A 2 and anemonin 3) and an inseparable mixture of two known C-glycosylflavones 5,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone-6-C-(2''-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside 4a and 5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavone-6-C-(2''-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside 4b. The alkaline hydrolysis of 3 led to a new hemisynthetic derivative, sodium anemonate (sodium 2-((1'E) 2'-sodium-carboxylate-vinyl)-5-oxo-cyclohex-1-ene carboxylate) 3a. The chemical structures were determined by spectroscopic methods ((1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, (1)H-(1)H COSY, HMBC, HSQC, and NOESY) and mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). C-glycosylflavones had significant free radical-scavenging activities on the radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). However, SU and compounds 3 and 3a exhibited no activity. In particular, compound 1 exhibited a concentration-dependent radical scavenging activity on DPPH with EC50 of 31.43 µg/mL

EmTIP, a T-Cell Immunomodulatory Protein Secreted by the Tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis Is Important

Background Alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by the metacestode of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, is a lethal zoonosis associated with host immunomodulation. T helper cells are instrumental to control the disease in the host. Whereas Th1 cells can restrict parasite proliferation, Th2 immune responses are associated with parasite proliferation. Although the early phase of host colonization by E. multilocularis is dominated by a potentially parasitocidal Th1 immune response, the molecular basis of this response is unknown. Principal Findings We describe EmTIP, an E. multilocularis homologue of the human T-cell immunomodulatory protein, TIP. By immunohistochemistry we show EmTIP localization to the intercellular space within parasite larvae. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot experiments revealed the presence of EmTIP in the excretory/secretory (E/S) products of parasite primary cell cultures, representing the early developing metacestode, but not in those of mature metacestode vesicles. Using an in vitro T-cell stimulation assay, we found that primary cell E/S products promoted interferon (IFN)-γ release by murine CD4+ T-cells, whereas metacestode E/S products did not. IFN-γ release by T-cells exposed to parasite products was abrogated by an anti-EmTIP antibody. When recombinantly expressed, EmTIP promoted IFN-γ release by CD4+ T-cells in vitro. After incubation with anti-EmTIP antibody, primary cells showed an impaired ability to proliferate and to form metacestode vesicles in vitro. Conclusions We provide for the first time a possible explanation for the early Th1 response observed during E. multilocularis infections. Our data indicate that parasite primary cells release a T-cell immunomodulatory protein, EmTIP, capable of promoting IFN-γ release by CD4+ T-cells, which is probably driving or supporting the onset of the early Th1 response during AE. The impairment of primary cell proliferation and the inhibition of metacestode vesicle formation by anti-EmTIP antibodies suggest that this factor fulfills an important role in early E. multilocularis development within the intermediate host

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P < 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)