Jing Hao

Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Wampee (Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels) Peel

Antioxidant activities of wampee peel extracts using five different solvents (ethanol, hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol and water) were determined by using in-vitro antioxidant models including total antioxidant capability, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and superoxide scavenging activity. Ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity compared to other fractions, even higher than synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT). In addition, the EAF exhibited strong anticancer activities against human gastric carcinoma (SGC-7901), human hepatocellular liver carcinoma (HepG-2) and human lung adenocarcinoma (A-549) cancer cell lines, higher than cisplatin, a conventional anticancer drug. The total phenolic content of wampee fraction was positively correlated with the antioxidant activity. This is the first report on the antioxidant and anticancer activities of the wampee peel extract. Thus, wampee peel can be used potentially as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidants and a possible pharmaceutical supplement.

Two new prenylated xanthones and a new prenylated tetrahydroxanthone from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana

Two new prenylated xanthones and a new prenylated tetrahydroxanthone, garcimangosxanthone A-C (1-3), along with fourteen known xanthones were isolated from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited in vitro cytotoxicity against A549, LAC and A375 cell lines with IC(50) values of 5.7-24.9 microM, which were comparable to those of doxorubicin.

Autophagy is induced by 3β-O-succinyl-lupeol (LD9-4) in A549 cells via up-regulation of Beclin 1 and down-regulation mTOR pathway.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the antitumor activity of a new derivative of lupeol-3β-O-succinyl-lupeol (LD9-4) and the molecular mechanism underlying cell death in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. The results revealed that LD9-4 inhibited A549 cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner, with an IC(50) value of 5.78 ± 0.48 μM after cells exposed to LD9-4 for 72 h. Markers indicative of apoptosis (cell cycle arrest, phosphatidylserine externalization and Hoechst33258 staining) were uniformly negative in LD9-4 exposed cells. Interestingly, transmission electron microscope, MDC staining and LC3 level determination all confirmed that autophagy was induced in LD9-4 treated A549 cells. Furthermore, we found that LD9-4-induced autophagy in A549 cells was associated with the increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species and the decrease of phosphorylated mTOR and p70S6K levels. In the meanwhile, both mRNA and protein levels of Beclin 1 were up-regulated in a time-dependent manner. Our data suggest that autophagy is induced by LD9-4 in A549 cells, and the accumulating reactive oxygen species, up-regulation of Beclin 1 and inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway are involved in this process.

Anthraquinone Glycosides from the Roots of Prismatomeris connata

Abstract Aim To study the anthraquinone glycosides and their cytotoxicity from the roots of Prismatomeris connata . Methods The chemical constituents were isolated by Diaion HP-20 resin, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and ODS column chromatography and the structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis. The cytotoxic activity was evaluated by MTT method. Results Six known anthraquinone glycosides were obtained and their structures were identified as 1- O -methylrubiadin 3- O -β-primeveroside ( 1 ), damnacanthol 3- O -β-primeveroside ( 2 ), rubiadin 3- O -β-primerveroside ( 3 ), lucidin 3- O -β-primeveroside ( 4 ), 1, 3-dihydroxy-2-(methoxymethyl) anthraquinone 3- O -β-primerveroside ( 5 ), and digiferruginol ω-gentiobiose ( 6 ). Conclusion All the compounds were isolated from this genus for the first time.

A new coumarin from Sarcandra glabra

Sarcandracoumarin (1), the first coumarin having a 1-phenylethyl substituent at the C-3 position, was isolated along with eleven known phenolic compounds from the water extract of Sarcandra glabra. Its structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compound 1 exhibited moderate or weak cytotoxicity against several tumor cell lines.

A new quassinoid from fruits of Brucea javanica

A new minor quassinoid named bruceine M (1), together with 12 known quassinoids (2–13), was isolated from the fruits of Brucea javanica (Simaroubaceae). Their structures were determined by interpretation of NMR and HR-ESI-MS data. The structures of the known compounds were confirmed by comparison of their spectral data with those reported in the literatures. In vitro cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds against cancer cell lines Bel-7404, MCF-7 and A549 was evaluated. Compounds 4, 6 and 9 exhibited significant growth inhibitory activity against three cancer cell lines.