Jie Yang

Antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of extracts from Potentilla discolor Bunge on diabetic rats induced by high fat diet and streptozotocin.

AIM OF THE STUDYnPotentilla discolor Bunge, commonly found at the north temperate and boreal zone, has been used for diabetes in China for a long time. Flavonoids and triterpenoids are two major types of compounds in P. discolor. This study was designed primarily to investigate the effects of total flavonoids extract (TFE) and total triterpenoids extract (TTE) of P. discolor Bunge on blood glucose, lipid profiles and antioxidant parameters on diabetic rats induced by high fat diet and streptozotocin.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnHigh fat diet-fed and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated with the TFE and TTE for 15 days, respectively. A range of parameters were tested including fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin (SI), blood lipid profile, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glycosylated serum protein (GSP), and nitric oxide (NO).nnnRESULTSnDiabetic rats treated with TFE or TTE had decreased concentration of FBG and GSP compared with the control group. Meanwhile, the levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in the TFE or TTE treated diabetic rats were lower, and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) level was higher than in the control diabetic rats. Furthermore, the extracts treatment decreased the MDA and NO level, while increased SOD and GSH levels in diabetic rats. Histopathologic examination also showed that the extracts have protective effects on β-cells in diabetic rats which are supported by the increase of SI.nnnCONCLUSIONSnAll these experimental results highlighted the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties of the two extracts from Potentilla discolor Bunge on diabetes and its complications, possibly through a strong antioxidant activity and a protective action on β-cells.

Qualitative Analysis and Simultaneous Quantification of Phenolic Compounds in the Aerial Parts of Salvia miltiorrhiza by HPLC-DAD and ESI/MSn

INTRODUCTIONnThe increasing demands of roots and rhizomes of Salvia miltiorrhiza almost exhausted the wild Salvia sources in China. However, the content and composition of phenolic acids in the aerial parts of the plant and their potential to be used as a substitute has not been explored.nnnOBJECTIVEnTo evaluate the potential of the aerial parts of Salvia miltiorrhiza as new natural sources of phenolic acids.nnnMETHODOLOGYnHPLC coupled with diode array detection (DAD) and electrospray ionization multistage mass spectrometry (ESI/MS(n) ) has been used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds.nnnRESULTSnA total of 38 phenolic compounds were identified or tentatively characterized. A quantitative HPLC-DAD method allowing the simultaneously quantification of six phenolic acids was optimized and validated for linearity, precision, accuracy, and limits of detection and quantification. Calibration curves showed good linear regression (r² > 0.9991) within test ranges; the recoveries ranged between 95.64 and 101.67% and the RSDs were less than 3.01%.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe developed methods have been proved to be effective for the identification and quantification of phenolic acids in S. miltiorrhiza. The results obtained suggest that the aerial parts of the plant could be used as an alternative source of sage phenolics.

Bioactive flavones and biflavones from Selaginella moellendorffii Hieron.

Three new flavones named 5-carboxymethyl-4,7-dihydroxyflavone (1), its ethyl ester (2) and butyl ester (3) were isolated from the herb Selaginella moellendorffii Hieron., together with ten known compounds. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical analysis. Selected compounds were evaluated for their anti-HBV and cytotoxic activity. Among them, compounds 2 and 3 displayed inhibitory activity in vitro on hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) secretion of the Hep G2.2.15 cell line with IC(50) values of 0.17 mg/ml and 0.46 mg/ml, and on HBV e antigen (HBeAg) secretion with IC(50) values of 0.42 mg/ml and 0.42 mg/ml, respectively. Compounds 7, 8, 10 and 12 exhibited selective cytotoxicity against the three human cancer cell lines tested.

Antiatherogenic property of triterpenoids-enriched extract from the aerial parts of Salvia miltiorrhiza.

This study investigated the antiatherogenic activity and the chemical constituents of a triterpenoids‐enriched extract from the aerial parts of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. The extract displayed a significant, dose‐responsive antiatherogenic effect on LDLR−/− mice after a 24‐week application in a daily dose 50, 100, 200, 1000 mg/kg, respectively. Pronounced systemic inflammation and cutaneous xanthomatosis inhibition effects of the extract, combined with hypocholesteremic and plaque stable properties, were shown in this study. At 200 mg/kg in the high dose treated group, the percent inhibitions of two inflammatory markers in serum, CRP and MCP‐1, were 47.6 ± 4.2% and 36.8 ± 5.0%, and significant reductions in aortic atherosclerotic lesion areas were 62.3 ± 3.9% (en face) and 77.8 ± 3.1% (cross section) compared with the model group. No abnormal behavior or lethality were observed with the extract up to 1000 mg/kg. Fifteen triterpenoids were separated and identified from the extract. This study provided new evidence of the antiatherogenic property of S. miltiorrhiza correlated with triterpenoids by an antiinflammatory mechanism. Copyright

Structure determination of selaginellins G and H from Selaginella pulvinata by NMR spectroscopy

Selaginellins G (1) and H (2), two new selaginellin derivatives, were isolated from the whole plant of Selaginella pulvinata. Their structures were elucidated, and complete assignments of the 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic data were achieved by 1D and 2D NMR experiments (HSQC, HMBC, COSY and ROESY). Compound 1 displayed good antifungal activity against Candida albicans with an IC50 value of 5.3 µg/ml. Copyright

A novel flavanone from Ilex hainanensis Merr.

Chemical investigation of the leaves of Ilex hainanensis Merr. yielded a new flavanone named Huazhongilexone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, together with five known compounds, which included caffeic acid, quercetin, isoquercitrin, quercitrin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and rutin. All of the compounds were isolated from the plant for the first time. The structure of the new compound was determined on the basis of high resolution mass, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopies including ROESY. The antioxidant activity of the new compound was assessed using the DPPH spectrophotometric and IC50 value was 10.39 µmol L−1.

Chemical constituents from the stems of Celastrus orbiculatus

Abstract Aim To investigate the chemical constituents from the stems of Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. Methods The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and ODS column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physical characteristics and spectral data. Results Eleven compounds were obtained and their structures were identified as 3β-hydroxy-2-oxoolean-12-ene-22, 29-lactone ( 1 ), 2, 6-dimethoxybenzoquinone ( 2 ), 3-oxoolean-12-en-28-oic acid ( 3 ), 3-oxo-24-norolean-12-en-28-oic acid ( 4 ), 23-hydroxybetulonic acid ( 5 ), vanillic acid ( 6 ), 23-hydroxy-3-oxoolean-12-en- 28-oic acid ( 7 ), syringic acid ( 8 ), oleanolic acid ( 9 ), β-sitosterol ( 10 ), β-daucosterol ( 11 ). Conclusion Compound 1 is a new triterpene; compounds 2 - 5 and 7 were isolated from this genus for the first time and compounds 8 and 9 were firstly isolated from this plant.

Quality Evaluation of Potentilla discolor by High-performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Diode Array Detection and Electrospray Ionisation Tandem Mass Spectrometry

INTRODUCTIONnThe whole herb of Potentilla discolor has long been used for treatment of diarrhoea, malaria, haemoptysis and haematemesis in clinical applications. However, until now, there has been no literature regarding to the quality control of it.nnnOBJECTIVEnTo develop a simple and accurate HPLC-DAD (diode array detection)-ESI/MS(n) (electrospray ionisation multistage mass spectrometry) method for the identification of constituents in P. discolor and simultaneous quantification of its marker compounds.nnnMETHODOLOGYnSeparations were performed on a Shimpack C₁₈ column by gradient elution using acetonitrile:0.1% formic acid. The identification of constituents in P. discolor were achieved by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS(n) while six flavonoids and five triterpenoids were determined by HPLC-DAD at 360 and 210u2009nm, repectively.nnnRESULTSnA total of 23 compounds including 13 flavonoids and 10 triterpenoids were identified or tentatively characterised. A quantitative HPLC-DAD method allowing the simultaneously quantification of 11 marker compounds was optimised and validated for linearity, precision, accuracy, and limits of detection and quantification. The method was successfully applied to the quantification of 11 marker compounds in 10 samples of P. discolor collected from different provinces of China.nnnCONCLUSIONnThis developed method was validated as simple, precise and accurate, and could be used for effectively and comprehensibly evaluating the quality of P. discolor.

Composition of semivolatile compounds of 10 Cinnamomum species from China and Myanmar.

The semivolatile composition of stem-bark of 10 Cinnamomum species, collected from China and Myanmar, were obtained by extraction with diethyl ether and analyzed by GC-FID and GC–MS. Identification of the substances was made by comparison of standards, mass spectra, and retention indices with literature records. Total of 74 compounds were identified. All data were statistically processed with principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Cinnamaldehyde and α-cubebene were found as the common constituent of the investigated population. Except Cinnamomum multiflorum, volatile terpenoids were the main constituents of all taxa. Major constituent of C. multiflorum was phenylpropanoid. Cluster subset gave the information that chemical components variation was influenced by geographical sources. Here, the first information on the semivolatile composition of six never investigated species viz. C. multiflorum, C. obtusifolium, C. inunctum, C. chartophyllum, C. pathenoxylon, and C. glanduliferum. Furthermore, those species could be alternative source of bioactive compounds.

Structural determination of two new triterpenoids from Potentilla discolor Bunge by NMR techniques

Two new pentacyclic triterpenoids, 3α, 30‐dihydroxylup‐20(29)‐en‐27‐oic acid (1) and (20S)‐3α, 29‐dihydroxylupan‐27‐oic acid (2) were isolated from the whole herbs of Potentilla discolor Bunge. The structures of these two new compounds were elucidated, and complete assignments of the 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic data were achieved by 1D and 2D NMR experiments (HSQC, HMBC, 1Huf8ff1HCOSY and ROESY). Copyright