Studies on anti-allergic constituents in the leaves and stems of Anchientia salutaris var. martiana (Violaceae).

The anti-allergic active fractionation of hexane extracts of the leaves and stems of Anchietia salutaris var. martiana (family Violaceae) was performed by monitoring their activities with an in vitro bioassay system measuring the inhibitory effects on induced histamine release from guinea pig lung cells. Three known pentacyclic triterpenes (friedelin, alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin) were isolated, but these compounds were inactive. Aliphatic hydrocarbons and methyl esters of fatty acids (palmitic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic acids) were detected in active fractions. All compounds isolated were detected for the first time in this medicinal plant.     

Hyaluronidase inhibitors from Keiskea japonica

An extract of Keiskea japonica MIQ. showed an inhibitory effect on hyaluronidase activity. From the extract, four new phenylpropanoids, two new maltol glycosides, two new monoterpene glycosides, and two new phenolic compounds were isolated together with 19 known compounds. Among these constituents, two phenylpropanoids and a flavone glucuronide were revealed as hyaluronidase inhibitors.     

Synthesis of 3-substituted isocoumarins and their inhibitory effects on degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells induced by antigen

Eleven 3-substituted isocoumarins and a benzylidenephthalide were synthesized through thermal cyclization reaction of delta- and gamma-ketoamides, respectively. Subsequent deprotection of the hydroxyl groups of the resulting isocoumarin and benzylidenephthalide compounds afforded thunberginols A, B, and F, respectively, which originated from the processed leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla SERINGE var. thunbergii MAKINO. The synthesized isocoumarins and thunberginols were evaluated for their anti-allergic activity, in which thunberginol B exhibited the highest inhibitory potency on the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells induced by antigen. Structure-activity relationship studies were carried out to determine the necessary substituents on the 3-phenylisocoumarin skeleton for inhibitory activity.     

Hyaluronidase inhibitory rosmarinic acid derivatives from Meehania urticifolia

Nine new phenylpropanoids, rashomonic acids A-D (1-4) and meehaniosides A-E (5-9), along with four known compounds were isolated from Meehania urticifolia. The structure of each new compound was elucidated based on the results of spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 3-8 showed moderate hyaluronidase inhibitory activity with IC(50) values of 183-1049 μM.     

The chromonic phases of dyes

It has been shown that the lyotropic liquid-crystalline phases formed by certain dyes are structurally analogous to the chromonic N and M liquid-crystalline phases previously thought to be unique to certain anti-asthmatic/anti-allergic drugs. We suspect that these two groups of compounds will prove to be representatives of a large new class of mesogenic materials.     

The chromonic phases of dyes

Abstract

It has been shown that the lyotropic liquid-crystalline phases formed by certain dyes are structurally analogous to the chromonic N and M liquid-crystalline phases previously thought to be unique to certain anti-asthmatic/anti-allergic drugs. We suspect that these two groups of compounds will prove to be representatives of a large new class of mesogenic materials.     

Antioxidant and hyaluronidase inhibitory activities of diverse phenolics in Phyllanthus emblica

Fifty-eight phenolic compounds isolated from Phyllanthus emblica were screened and compared for their in vitro and in vivo antioxidant properties, as well as hyaluronidase (HAase) inhibitory activities. Among them, 20 compounds showed to be promising antioxidants due to the stronger scavenging activity in both DPPH radical and Danio rerio reactive oxygen species assays, while nine compounds were potential HAase inhibitors with 100-fold stronger activities than that of the positive control, DSCG. The structure activity relationship was discussed.     

Caffeic acid oligomers with hyaluronidase inhibitory activity from Clinopodium gracile

Eight new caffeic acid oligomers, clinopodic acids J-Q (1-8), were isolated from whole plants of Clinopodium gracile, together with nine known caffeic acid oligomers. The caffeic acid oligomers with two to four dihydrobenzofuran rings were isolated as natural products for the first time. Clinopodic acid M (4) showed the strongest hyaluronidase inhibitory activity, IC(50) (19 μM) among the 22 compounds isolated from this plant.     

Preparative separation of the flavonoid fractions from Periploca forrestii Schltr. ethanol extracts using macroporous resin combined with HPLC analysis and evaluation of their biological activities

A preparative separation method using macroporous absorptive resin coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography was developed for the separation of six fractions of the 80% ethanol extract of Periploca forrestii Schltr. The six ethanol fractions (5–95; A, B, C, D, E, and F) obtained were carefully analyzed to locate the corresponding peaks in the high‐performance liquid chromatography chromatogram of the total extract, which was established in a previous study. Furthermore, the biological activities, including antioxidant activities, acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory capacities, antihyaluronidase activities, and anti‐inflammatory effects, were evaluated in MH7A cells. The results demonstrated that fraction E could significantly prevent oxidation and inhibit hyaluronidase and acetyl cholinesterase. Finally, the main flavonoids in fractions A and E from P. forrestii Schltr. were purified, and the compounds were identified as chlorogenic acid, quercetin‐3‐O‐α‐L‐arabinopyranoside, and quercetin‐7‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside. The chemical structures were confirmed by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of these compounds against complete Freund's adjuvant‐induced secondary immune arthritis in rats were evaluated.     

固相萃取-超临界流体色谱-质谱联用同时快速测定中成药和保健食品中的12种抗过敏化学药物

建立了固相萃取-超临界流体色谱-质谱联用（SPE-SFC-MS/MS）快速检测中成药和保健食品中12种抗过敏化学药物的分析方法。样品经甲醇超声提取,Oasis MCX固相萃取柱净化。采用Waters Trefoil CEL1色谱柱（150 mm×3.0 mm,2.5 μ m）,以CO₂为流动相A,甲醇-氨水（100：0.1,v/v）为流动相B,进行梯度洗脱。流速为1.2 mL/min,柱温和背压分别为45℃和12.4×10⁶ Pa。12种抗过敏化学药物以电喷雾离子源在正离子或负离子模式下用多反应监测（MRM）方式进行监测,整个分析过程在10 min内完成。结果表明,12种化学药物在5~250 μ g/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数（r）均≥ 0.998,检出限（LOD）为0.141~0.262 μ g/L,定量限（LOQ）为0.703~1.308 μ g/L。3种加标水平（10、20和100 μ g/L）下,12种化学药物的平均回收率为76.1%~112.5%,相对标准偏差（RSD）为1.1%~8.3%。该法简便,灵敏性高,实用性强,可用于抗过敏类中成药和保健食品中非法添加抗过敏化学药物的检测。     

Comparative studies on conventional and microwave synthesis of some benzimidazole, benzothiazole and indole derivatives and testing on inhibition of hyaluronidase

We have synthesized twelve 2-substituted benzimidazole, benzothiazole and indole derivatives using on both microwave irradiation and conventional heating methods. The microwave method was observed to be more beneficial as it provides an increase of yield from 3% to 113% and a 95 to 98 % reduction in time. All compounds were tested by a stains-all assay at pH 7 and by a Morgan-Elson assay at pH 3.5 for hyaluronidase inhibitory activity at a concentration of 100 microM. The most potent compound was 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-phenylindole (12) with an IC(50) value of 107 microM at both pH 7 and 3.5.     

Synthesis of Allocolchicine Conjugates with a Cetirizine Analog

Conjugates of allocolchicine and a cetirizine analog have been synthesized as potential anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic drugs.     

Anti-Ageing Potential of S. euboea Heldr. Phenolics

In recent years, the use of Sideritis species as bioactive agents is increasing exponentially. The present study aimed to investigate the chemical constituents, as well as the anti-ageing potential of the cultivated Sideritis euboea Heldr. The chemical fingerprinting of the ethyl acetate residue of this plant was studied using 1D and 2D-NMR spectra. Isomeric compounds belonging to acylated flavone derivatives and phenylethanoid glycosides were detected in the early stage of the experimental process through 2D-NMR techniques. Overall, thirty-three known compounds were isolated and identified. Some of them are reported for the first time not only in S. euboea, but also in genus Sideritis L. The anti-ageing effect of the ethyl acetate residue and the isolated specialized products was assessed as anti-hyaluronidase activity. In silico docking simulation revealed the interactions of the isolated compounds with hyaluronidase. Furthermore, the in vitro study on the inhibition of hyaluronidase unveiled the potent inhibitory properties of ethyl acetate residue and apigenin 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside. Though, the isomers of apigenin 7-O-p-coumaroyl-glucosides and also the 4′-methyl-hypolaetin 7-O-[6′′′-O-acetyl-β-d-allopyranosyl]-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranoside exerted moderate hyaluronidase inhibition. This research represents the first study to report on the anti-hyaluronidase activity of Sideritis species, confirming its anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and anti-ageing effects and its importance as an agent for cosmetic formulations as also anticancer potential.     

Comprehensive two‐dimensional PC‐3 prostate cancer cell membrane chromatography for screening anti‐tumor components from Radix Sophorae flavescentis

Radix Sophorae flavescentis is generally used for the treatment of different stages of prostate cancer in China. It has ideal effects when combined with surgical treatment and chemotherapy. However, its active components are still ambiguous. We devised a comprehensive two‐dimensional PC‐3 prostate cancer cell membrane chromatography system for screening anti‐prostate cancer components in Radix Sophorae flavescentis . Gefitinib and dexamethasone were chosen as positive and negative drugs respectively for validation and optimization the selectivity and suitability of the comprehensive two‐dimensional chromatographic system. Five compounds, sophocarpine, matrine, oxymatrine, oxysophocarpine, and xanthohumol were found to have significant retention behaviors on the PC‐3 cell membrane chromatography and were unambiguously identified by time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Cell proliferation and apoptosis assays confirmed that all five compounds had anti‐prostate cancer effects. Matrine and xanthohumol had good inhibitory effects, with half maximal inhibitory concentration values of 0.893 and 0.137 mg/mL, respectively. Our comprehensive two‐dimensional PC‐3 prostate cancer cell membrane chromatographic system promotes the efficient recognition and rapid analysis of drug candidates, and it will be practical for the discovery of prostate cancer drugs from complex traditional Chinese medicines.     

δ-Lactam derivative from thermophilic soil fungus exhibits in vitro anti-allergic activity

From cultures of thermophilic soil fungus Humicola grisea var thermoidea, a δ-lactam derivative (3-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-5,6-dihydropyridin-2(1H)-one) that displayed anti-allergic activity was isolated, which was predicted by in silico computational chemistry approaches. The in?vitro anti-allergic activity was investigated by β-hexosaminidase release assay in rat basophilic leukaemia RBL-2H3 cells. The δ-lactam derivative exhibited similar anti-allergic activity (IC(50)?=?18.7?±?6.7?μM) in comparison with ketotifen fumarate (IC(50)?=?15.0?±?1.3?μM) and stronger anti-allergic activity than azelastine (IC(50)?=?32.0?μM). Also, the MTT cytotoxicity assay with RBL-2H3 cells showed that δ-lactam does not display cytotoxicity at concentrations lower than 50?μM. This study suggests that the δ-lactam derivative has the potential to be used as a lead compound in the development of anti-allergic drugs for clinical use in humans.     

Identification of Novel Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor Agonists from Botanical Compounds and Preliminary Evaluation of Their Anti-Osteoporotic Effects

As cannabinoid CB2 receptors (CB2R) possess various pharmacological effects—including anti-epilepsy, analgesia, anti-inflammation, anti-fibrosis, and regulation of bone metabolism—without the psychoactive side effects induced by cannabinoid CB1R activation, they have become the focus of research and development of new target drugs in recent years. The present study was intended to (1) establish a double luciferase screening system for a CB2R modulator; (2) validate the agonistic activities of the screened compounds on CB2R by determining cAMP accumulation using HEK293 cells that are stably expressing CB2R; (3) predict the binding affinity between ligands and CB2 receptors and characterize the binding modes using molecular docking; (4) analyze the CB2 receptors–ligand complex stability, conformational behavior, and interaction using molecular dynamics; and (5) evaluate the regulatory effects of the screened compounds on bone metabolism in osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The results demonstrated that the screening system had good stability and was able to screen cannabinoid CB2R modulators from botanical compounds. Altogether, nine CB2R agonists were identified by screening from 69 botanical compounds, and these CB2R agonists exhibited remarkable inhibitory effects on cAMP accumulation and good affinity to CB2R, as evidenced by the molecular docking and molecular dynamics. Five of the nine CB2R agonists could stimulate osteoblastic bone formation and inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption. All these findings may provide useful clues for the development of novel anti-osteoporotic drugs and help elucidate the mechanism underlying the biological activities of CB2R agonists identified from the botanical materials.     

Optimization of a high-performance liquid chromatography method for the separation and identification of six different classes of phenolics

Flavonoids are chemical moieties widely distributed in certain plants that are important biologically active constituents of a daily human diet, with significant pharmacological potential (anti-hepatotoxic, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-osteoporotic, and anti-tumor activities). Thus keeping in view the importance of this class of compounds, a rapid method for the separation and identification of fifteen phenols belonging to six different types of phenolics in a sole analysis has been developed and validated using selectivity, precision, recovery, and robustness as parameters. The method developed, which is rapid, accurate, and robust for the analysis of different classes of phenols, can be used in the quality control and standardization of plant extracts as well as herbal drugs, including compound herbal formulations.     

From BACE1 inhibitor to multifunctionality of tryptoline and tryptamine triazole derivatives for Alzheimer's disease

Efforts to discover new drugs for Alzheimer's disease emphasizing multiple targets was conducted seeking to inhibit amyloid oligomer formation and to prevent radical formation. The tryptoline and tryptamine cores of BACE1 inhibitors previously identified by virtual screening were modified in silico for additional modes of action. These core structures were readily linked to different side chains using 1,2,3-triazole rings as bridges by copper catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions. Three compounds among the sixteen designed compounds exerted multifunctional activities including β-secretase inhibitory action, anti-amyloid aggregation, metal chelating and antioxidant effects at micromolar levels. The neuroprotective effects of the multifunctional compounds 6h, 12c and 12h on Aβ???? induced neuronal cell death at 1 μM were significantly greater than those of the potent single target compound, BACE1 inhibitor IV and were comparable to curcumin. The observed synergistic effect resulting from the reduction of the Aβ???? neurotoxicity cascade substantiates the validity of our multifunctional strategy in drug discovery for Alzheimer's disease.     

Inhibitors of skin-tumor promotion. VIII. Inhibitory effects of euglobals and their related compounds on Epstein-Barr virus activation. (1)

Twelve euglobals from Eucalyptus globulus and their twenty-six related compounds were examined for their inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus activation by a short-term in vitro assay. The results showed that most of the euglobals having monoterpene structures, and euglobal-III (8) had strong inhibitory activity. Grandinol (18), homograndinols (19 and 20), and compounds 26, 27, 28, and 32 showed stronger inhibitory effects. Based on the results, the structural requirements for the activity of these compounds were discussed.     

Epilobium angustifolium L. as a Potential Herbal Component of Topical Products for Skin Care and Treatment—A Review

Epilobium angustifolium L. (EA) has been used as a topical agent since ancient times. There has been an increasing interest in applying EA as a raw material used topically in recent years. However, in the literature, there are not many reports on the comprehensive application of this plant to skin care and treatment. EA contains many valuable secondary metabolites, which determine antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and antiproliferative activity effects. One of the most important active compounds found in EA is oenothein B (OeB), which increases the level of ROS and protects cells from oxidative damage. OeB also influences wound healing and reduces inflammation by strongly inhibiting hyaluronidase enzymes and inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 cyclooxygenases. Other compounds that play a key role in the context of application to the skin are flavonoids, which inhibit collagenase and hyaluronidase enzymes, showing anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. While terpenes in EA play an important role in fighting bacterial skin infections, causing, among other things cell membrane, permeability increase as well as the modification of the lipid profiles and the alteration of the adhesion of the pathogen to the animal cells. The available scientific information on the biological potential of natural compounds can be the basis for the wider use of EA in skin care and treatment. The aim of the article is to review the existing literature on the dermocosmetic use of E. angustifolium.