Two new saponins from the leaves of Panax notoginseng

Two new saponins, notoginsenosides Ng1 (1) and Ng2 (2), together with seven known compounds (3–9), were isolated from the leaves of Panax notoginseng. Their structures were elucidated by UV, IR, HRESIMS, and NMR experiments. Compounds 6 and 7 showed moderate cytotoxic activities against HCT-116, with IC₅₀ values of 4.98 and 0.64 μmol/L, respectively.     

Protective effect of Acanthopanax senticosus extract against endotoxic shock in mice

AIM OF THE STUDY: In this study, we evaluated protective effect of Acanthopanax senticosus extract (ASE) and a possible signaling pathway involved during endotoxic shock induced by intraperitoneal injection lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and D-galactosamine (D-GalN) in BALB/c mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were intraperitoneal administrated with ASE (100, 200 or 400mg/kg) prior to injection of 50 microg/kg LPS and 1g/kg D-GalN. The levels of tumor necrosis-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in serum and liver. Nitric oxide (NO) production in serum and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein level were investigated. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation in liver was determined. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of ASE pretreatment on infiltration of inflammatory cells into the heart, liver and lung of mice. RESULTS: Treatment of mice with ASE prior to LPS/D-GalN injection significantly improved the survival rate. ASE pretreatment inhibited the elevation of TNF-alpha in serum and liver. ASE also decreased iNOS level in liver and the overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) in serum. In addition, IL-10 levels in serum and liver were markedly enhanced. ASE pretreatment inhibited NF-kappaB activation in liver of mice. Moreover, infiltration of inflammatory cells into the heart, liver and lung of mice was also attenuated by ASE pretreatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that ASE protected mice against LPS/D-GalN-induced endotoxic shock involving inhibition of NF-kappaB activation, which caused down-regulation of TNF-alpha and involved up-regulation of IL-10. Acanthopanax senticosus may thus prove beneficial in the prevention of endotoxic shock.     

Korean red ginseng stimulates insulin release from isolated rat pancreatic islets

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Korean red ginseng (KRG), one of heat-processed Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), has a long history as herbal remedy for antidiabetic effect.

Aim of the study

The effect and mechanism of KRG on stimulation of insulin release were investigated in isolated rat pancreatic islets.

Material and methods

Pancreatic islets isolated from rats were used to evaluate the insulinotropic action of KRG. The effect of Ca on the insulinotropic action of KRG was investigated.

Results

The aqueous ethanolic extract of KRG (AEE-KRG) (0.1–1.0 mg/ml) significantly evoked a stimulation of insulin release at 3.3 mM glucose compared to the control. Experiments at different glucose concentrations (8.4 and 16.7 mM) showed that AEE-KRG significantly stimulated on its own whereas it did not potentiate insulin secretion induced by glucose. The extracellular Ca²⁺-free condition, a L-type Ca²⁺ channel blocker and an ATP-sensitive K⁺ channel opener significantly inhibited insulin secretion evoked by AEE-KRG.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that KRG displays beneficial effects in the treatment of diabetes at least in part via the stimulation of insulin release in a glucose-independent manner.     

New dammarane-type saponin from roots of Panax notoginseng

A new ginsenoside and 22 known compounds were isolated from the roots of Panax notoginseng (Araliaceae). The structure of the new compound was elucidated from 2D-NMR and other spectral evidence.     

A benzenoid from the stem of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthopanax senticosus</Emphasis>

Seven compounds were isolated from the stem of Acanthopanax senticosus by repeated column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated as isovanillin (1), (-)-sesamin (2), isofraxidin (3), (+)-syringaresinol (4), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5), eleutheroside B (6), and eleutheroside E (7) by spectral analysis. Among them, isovanillin (1) was isolated for the first time from the family Araliaceae.     

A New 24-nor-lupane-glycoside ofAcanthopanax trifoliatus

A new 24-nor-lupaneglycoside was isolated from the leaves of Acanthopanax trifoliatus. Based on spectroscopic data its chemical structure was determined as 24-nor-11alpha-hydroxy-3-oxo-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester.     

Chemical compositions and antimicrobial activities of essential oils extracted from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthopanax brachypus</Emphasis>

The essential oils from the flowers, leaves, barks, roots and fruits of A. brachypus were individually extracted by hydrodistillation, and their chemical constituents were isolated and characterized by means of gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 160 different constituents accounting for 86.45–96.54% of the total essential oils were identified, and 3 constituents were unidentified (< 0.8%), and significant qualitative and quantitative differences were observed among the oils, in which the yields varied between 0.61–1.83 (mL/100 g dried materials) under the same operational conditions. The oils from flowers, leaves, barks and roots consisted mainly of monoterpenes and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons as well as oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, while the fruit oil consisted mainly of fatty acids and esters. The antimicrobial activities of the essential oils was evaluated against 11 microorganisms (9 for bacteria and 2 for yeast) using agar disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. The bacteria, including gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria, were more sensitive to the oils than yeasts.     

Triterpenoidal saponins from the bark ofKalopanax pictum var.typicum

One new triterpenoidal saponin, saponin F(2) has been isolated from the bark of Kalopanax pictum Nakai var. typicum (Araliaceae), together with one known saponin, kizuta saponin K12 (1). On the basis of chemico-spectral evidences, the structure of 2 has been elucidated to be 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-->3)-alpha- L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha- L-arabinopyranosyl-23-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-O-alpha-L- rhamnopyranosyl(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosy l ester.     

A thiazole and two β-carboline constitutents fromPanax ginseng

From the ether soluble alkaloidal fraction ofPanax ginseng, 4-methyl-5-thiazoleethanol, norharman and harman were isolated. 4-Methyl-5-thiazoleethanol was isolated for the first time from natural resources.     

中药海桐皮的生药鉴别

报道市售中药海桐皮来源于6种不同植物:豆科植物刺桐Erythrina variegata L.var.orientalis(L.)Merr.,芸香科植物樗叶花椒Zanthoxylum ailanthoides Sieb.et Zucc.,朵椒Z.molle Rehd.,凹头花椒Z.kemsleyanum Makino.,五加科植物刺楸Kalopanax septemlobus(Thunb.)Koidz.和木棉科植物木棉Gossampinus malabarica(DC.)Merr.。对6种树皮的生药性状、组织构造和粉末特征进行了比较鉴定。