Yun-Li Zhao

Rapid translocation and pharmacokinetics of hydroxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes in mice

Determining the in vivo pharmacological profiles of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is essential for the promising biomedical applications of CNTs, such as drug delivery. Using iodine-131 tracing we studied the fundamental behavior of hydroxylated single-walled CNTs (SWNTols) shortly after they were introduced into the animal body (from 2 min to 1 h) by providing the biodistribution data and pharmacokinetic parameters. The distribution was slightly influenced by injection modes, but in any mode radioactivity was found all over the body within 2 min except brain. Liver, kidneys, stomach and lungs are the target organs with high uptake of SWNTols. The SWNTols content in several tissues, such as heart, lungs, and muscle is positively correlated with its content in the blood, showing clearly that the blood stream brings SWNTols to the whole body. This work presents the initial in vivo behavior of the water-soluble functionalized SWNTs, providing also the basic data to show opportunities and limitations for realization of the CNT-based drug vehicle.

Melosuavines A–H, Cytotoxic Bisindole Alkaloid Derivatives from Melodinus suaveolens

Eight new bisindole alkaloids, melosuavines A-C (1-3), having an aspidosperma-scandine linkage, melosuavines D-F (4-6), possessing an aspidosperma-aspidosperma skeleton, and melosuavines G and H (7 and 8) of the aspidosperma-venalatonine type, tenuicausine (9), and melodinine J (10) were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Melodinus suaveolens. The structures of 1-8 were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, and compounds 9 and 10 were identified by comparison with data in the literature. The relative configuration 9 was determined from the ROESY spectrum, and some NMR signals were reassigned. Compounds 1, 2, 4-6, 8, and 10 exhibited low micromolar cytotoxicity against one or more of five human cancer cell lines.

Antibacterial prenylbenzoic acid derivatives from Anodendron formicinum

A phytochemical investigation on the stems of Anodendron formicinum led to the isolation of eight prenylbenzoic acid derivatives. Three of these were new compounds, designated as formicinuosides A (1), B (2), and C (3). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, as well as by comparison with the reported spectroscopic data. This is the first report of chemical constituents from A. formicinum and their antimicrobial activities. Among the isolated compounds, compounds 4, 6 and 8 showed significant antibacterial activities against Providensia smartii with MIC values of 0.781 μg/mL. Moreover, compound 8 showed remarkable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli with MIC value of 0.781 μg/mL.

Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids from Inadequately Dried Leaves of Alstonia scholaris.

Six new indole alkaloids, named alstoniascholarines L–Q (1–6), together with nineteen known analogues were isolated from the inadequately dried leaves of Alstonia scholaris. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive analysis of spectroscopic data and by comparison of their physical and spectroscopic data with the literature values. In addition, the new alkaloids were tested for their cytotoxic and neurite outgrowth-promoting activities.

New Cytotoxic Tigliane Diterpenoids from Croton caudatus.

Three new tigliane-type diterpenoids were isolated from the methanolic extract of the twigs and leaves of Croton caudatus, trivially named crotusins A-C (1-3). The structures of compounds 1-3 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectral methods. These new compounds were highly oxygenated and heavily substituted. Cytotoxic activity against five human tumor cell lines was assessed for compounds 1-3 of which compound 3 showed significant inhibitory activity with IC50 values ranging from 0.49 to 4.19 µM against these cells, while crotusins A and B exhibited moderate activity.

Non-alkaloid constituents of Vinca major.

The present study was designed to investigate the non-alkaloid compounds from the leaves and stems of Vinca major cultivated in Yunnan Province, China. The compounds were isolated using chromatographic techniques. The structures were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic methods in combination with UV, IR, and MS analyses. The 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-scavenging activity of Compounds 1-7 were evaluated. One new iridoid glycoside (compound 1), together with 11 known compounds, were isolated from Vinca major. Compounds 1, 5, and 6 showed moderate DPPH-scavenging activity, with IC50 values being 70.6, 32.8, and 62.2 μmol·L(-1), respectively. In conclusion, compound 1 is a newly identified iridoid glycoside with moderate antioxidant activity.

Airways antiallergic effect and pharmacokinetics of alkaloids from Alstonia scholaris

BACKGROUND Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. (Apocynaceae), an important herbal medicine, has been widely used to treat respiratory tract diseases, such as cough, asthma, phlegm, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. PURPOSE To evaluate pharmacological effect of alkaloids from A. scholaris on ovalbumin induced airways allergic inflammatory model, and explore whether the dosing frequency is related to pharmacokinetics. STUDY DESIGN After oral administration of total alkaloids, the pharmacokinetic study of it was investigated. In addition, anti-allergic studies were carried out on ovalbumin-sensitized airways allergic inflammatory model of mice. METHODS The pharmacokinetics of total alkaloids (TA) was investigated in SD rat plasma by a fully-validated LC-MS/MS method. Then, an ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized airways allergic inflammatory model was established, in which mice were intra-gastrically administrated by 3 times a day (8.3 and 16.7mg/kg) based on the pharmacokinetic behavior of TA) and single (25, 50mg/kg) treatment regimen. Dexamethasone was used as a positive control for corticosteroid drugs. Cellular infiltration was assessed in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Expressions of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the BALF were determined, levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and eotaxin in serum were measured, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the serum and BALF were examined. Finally, histopathological examination in the lung was assessed by H. E. staining. RESULTS The time course of plasma concentration of 4 bioactive indole alkaloids fitted an open two-compartment model after oral administration of total alkaloids at doses of 10, 25, and 50mg/kg. The area under the curve and the maximum concentration values of four major alkaloids increased dose-dependently, and half-life suggested a short-lasting pharmacological effect. Then, an ovalbumin-provoked airways allergic inflammatory model indicated that the pharmacological effect of administration of total alkaloids 3 times a day was a little better than that of single dose daily. The percentage of eosinophils in BALF was reduced obviously and the pathological damage of lung was also attenuated. There was also a significant reduction in IL-4 and promotion in IL-10 in the BALF. Serum IgE and eotaxin expression also significantly decreased in treated animals. Furthermore, the activity of SOD elevated remarkably and lipid peroxidation product (MDA) decreased in the administrated mice. CONCLUSION The pharmacological effects administrated for 3 times a day had precedence over single dose daily, which was related to the prolonged retention time and the maintained plasma concentration. Moreover, scholaricine and vallesamine might be responsible for the treatment of allergic asthma, mainly in total alkaloids.

Antibacterial constituents from Melodinus suaveolens

To investigate the non-alkaloidal chemical constituents of the stems and leaves of Melodinus suaveolens and their antibacterial activities. Compounds were isolated and purified by repeated silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, RP18, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by comparison with published spectroscopic data, as well as on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. The antibacterial screening assays were performed by the dilution method. Fourteen compounds were isolated, and identified as lycopersene (1), betulinic aldehyde (2), 3β-acetoxy-22,23,24,25,26,27-hexanordammaran-20-one (3), 3a-acetyl-2, 3, 5-trimethyl-7a-hydroxy-5-(4,8,12-trimethyl-tridecanyl)-1,3a,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-4-oxainden-1-one (4), 3β-hydroxy-28-norlup-20(29)-ene-17β-hydroperoxide (5), 3β-hydroxy-28-norlup-20(29)-ene-17α-hydroperoxide (6), β-sitosterol (7), 28-nor-urs-12-ene-3β, 17β-diol (8), α-amyrin (9), ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (10), 3β-hydroxy-urs-11-en-28,13β-olide (11), betulin (12), obtusalin (13), and ursolic acid (14). Among the isolates, compounds 1, 2, 6, 8, 10, and 14 showed potent antibacterial activities against the four bacteria. This is the first report of the antibacterial activity of the constituents of Melodinus suaveolens.

Unprecedented sugar bridged bisindoles selective inhibiting glioma stem cells

Unlike reported bisindoles linked by single bond directly, alstoniasidines A (1) and B (2), from Alstonia scholaris featuring unprecedented skeleton with two indole moieties bridged by a sugar, represented a novel bisindole type having strictosamide-glucopyranose-picraline scaffold. Both compounds exhibited selective cytotoxicity against human glioma stem cells (GSCs) and induced caspase-3 dependent extrinsic apoptosis by increasing the expression of interleukin 1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and the cleaved caspase-3, while damaged the unlimited proliferation and self-renewal capacity of GSCs. This finding might provide new type of leads for the selective killing of human glioma stem cells.

Chemical constituents of Solanum coagulans and their antimicrobial activities.

The present study aimed at determining the chemical constituents of Solanum coagulans and their antimicrobial activities. The compounds were isolated by various chromatographic techniques and their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, chemical methods, and comparison with reported spectroscopic data. One new phenolic glycoside, methyl salicylate 2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), together with 12 known compounds (2-13), were isolated from the aerial parts of Solanum coagulans. Compound 1 was a new phenolic glycoside, and 2-6 were isolated from Solanum genus for the first time. The antimicrobial activities of the isolated compounds were also evaluated. Compound 7 showed remarkable antifungal activity against T. mentagrophytes, M. gypseum and E. floccosum with MIC values being 3.13, 1.56 and 3.13 μg·mL(-1), respectively.