Tetranorclerodanes and clerodane-type diterpene glycosides from Dicranopteris dichotoma

The acetone extract of Dicranopteris dichotoma afforded two new tetranorclerodanes, 18-hydroxyaylthonic acid (1) and 18-oxo-aylthonic acid (2), and four new clerodane-type diterpene glycosides, (6S,13S)-6-O-[6-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 4)-alpha

Nortriterpenoids and lignans from Schisandra sphenanthera

Nortriterpenoids, sphenadilactone C (1) and sphenasin A (2), together with four known lignans (3-6), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Schisandra sphenanthera. Their structures were elucidated by extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic

Nortriterpenoids from Schisandra wilsoniana

Three new highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids, wilsonianadilactones A-C (1-3), together with twelve known ones, i.e., 4-15, were isolated from the leaves and stems of Schisandra wilsoniana. Their structures were established by means of extensive analysis o

Three new compounds from Kadsura longipedunculata

Two new tetrahydrofuran lignans, kadlongirins A and B (1, 2), a new cadinane-type sesquiterpenoid, 2,7-dihydroxy-1 1,1 2-dehydrocalamenene (3), together with seven known lignans, grandisin, fragransin B-1, vladirol F, kadsuralignan C, otobaphenol, isoanwu

Four new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans from Schisandra rubriflora

From the aerial parts of Schisandra rubriflora (FRANCH) REHD. et WILS., four new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, methylgomisin R (1), (+)-14-tigloylgomisin K-3 (2), 12-demethylwuweilignan I (3), schisandrene A (4), together with 13 known lignans, were isol

Anti-HIV-1 activities of compounds isolated from the medicinal plant Rhus chinensis

Aim of the study: Previously, we reported that the petroleum ether fraction, RC-1, and EtOAc fraction, RC-2, of the medicinal plant Rhus chinensis showed potent anti-HIV-1 activities. To address anti-HIV-1 constituents of RC-1 and RC-2, 17 compounds were

Synthesis of analogues of flazin, in particular, flazinamide, as promising Anti-HIV agents

Flazin isolated from the fruiting bodies of Suillus granulatus was found to possess weak anti-HIV activity (EC50=2.36 mu m, TI= 12.1). To establish a SAR study, 46 flazin analogues were synthesized, and their anti-HIV activities were evaluated in vitro. A

Trinorcucurbitane and cucurbitane triterpenoids from the roots of Momordica charantia

Five cucurbitacins, kuguacins A-E (1-5), together with three known analogues, 3 beta,7 beta,25-trihydroxycucurbita-5,(23E)-diene-19-al (6), 3 beta,25-dihydroxy-5 beta,19-epoxycucurbita-6,(23E)-diene (7), and momordicine I (8), were isolated from roots of

Effects of unconditioned and conditioned aversive stimuli in an intense fear conditioning paradigm on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal CA1 area in vivo

Repeated vivid recalls or flashbacks of traumatic memories and memory deficits are the cardinal features of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The underlying mechanisms are not fully understood yet. Here, we examined the effects of very strong fear conditioning (20 pairings of a light with a 1.5-mA, 0.5-s foot shock) and subsequent reexposure to the conditioning context (chamber A), a similar context (chamber B), and/or to the fear conditioned stimulus (CS) (a light) on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal CA1 area in anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. The conditioning procedure resulted in very strong conditioned fear, as reflected by high levels of persistent freezing, to both the contexts and to the CS, 24 h after fear conditioning. The induction of long-term potentiation ON was blocked immediately after fear conditioning. It was still markedly impaired 24 h after fear conditioning; reexposure to the conditioning chamber A (CA) or to a similar chamber 13 (CB) did not affect the impairment. However, presentation of the CS in the CA exacerbated the impairment of LTP, whereas the CS presentation in a CB ameliorated the impairment so that LTP induction did not differ from that of control groups. The induction of long-term depression (LTD) was facilitated immediately, but not 24 h, after fear conditioning. Only reexposure to the CS in the CA, but not reexposure to either chamber A or B alone, or the CS in chamber B, 24 h after conditioning, reinstated the facilitation of LTD induction. These data demonstrate that unconditioned and conditioned aversive stimuli in an intense fear conditioning paradigm can have profound effects on hippocampal synaptic plasticity, which may aid to understand the mechanisms underlying impairments of hippocampus-dependent memory by stress or in PTSD. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Enriched environment experience overcomes the memory deficits and depressive-like behavior induced by early life stress

Stress in early life is believed to cause cognitive and affective disorders, and to disrupt hippocampal synaptic plasticity in adolescence into adult, but it is unclear whether exposure to enriched environment (EE) can overcome these effects. Here, we rep

Morphine withdrawal modifies antinociceptive effects of acute morphine in rats

Repeated opioid use is known to cause tolerance of antinociceptive effects. Whether opioid abstinence modifies antinociceptive effects is unknown. Here we reported that morphine withdrawal for 18 h and 4 days after repeated morphine treatment largely redu

Morphine withdrawal affects both delayed-escape behaviour in Morris water maze and hippocampal NR2A/2B expression ratio

Repeated low-dose morphine treatment facilitates delayed-escape behaviour of hippocampus-dependent Morris water maze and morphine withdrawal influences hippocampal NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity. Here, we examined whether and how morphine wit

In vitro anti-HIV and -HSV activity and safety of sodium rutin sulfate as a microbicide candidate

Sodium rutin sulfate (SRS) is a sulfated rutin modified from the natural flavonol glycoside rutin. Here, we investigated its in vitro anti-HIV and -HSV activities and its cytotoxic profile. Fifty percent inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of SRS against HIV-1 X4 virus IIIB, HIV-1 R5 isolates Ada-M and Ba-L were 2.3 +/- 0.2, 4.5 +/- 2.0 and 8.5 +/- 3.8 mu M with a selectivity index (SI) of 563, 575 and 329, respectively. Its IC50 against primary R5 HIV-1 isolate from Yunnan province in China was 13.1 +/- 5.5 mu M, with a Sl of 197. In contrast, unsulfated rutin had no activity against any of the HIV-1 isolates tested. Further study indicated that SRS blocked viral entry and virus-cell fusion likely through interacting with the HIV- I envelope glycoprotein. SRS also demonstrated some activity against human herpes simplex virus (HSV) with an IC50 of 88.3 +/- 0.1 mu M and a Sl of 30. The 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) of SRS was >3.0 mM, as determined in human genital ME 180, HeLa and primary human foreskin fibroblast cells. Minimum inhibitory concentration of SRS for vaginal lactobacilli was >3.0 mM. These results collectively indicate that SRS represents a novel candidate for anti-HIV-1/HSV microbicide development. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

微囊藻毒素对几种淡水微藻的生长和光合活性的影响

微囊藻毒素(MC)是富营养化淡水水体中最常见的藻类毒素,而MC对藻类生长效应的影响却鲜见报道。通过模拟培养实验,研究了不同质量浓度的MC-RR对淡水藻类的生长和光合效能的影响。结果显示,100μg·L-1以下的MC-RR对产毒铜绿微囊藻Ds(MicrocystisaeruginosaDs)作用并不明显;相反,100μg·L-1MC-RR对铜绿微囊藻无毒株854(Microcystisaeruginosa854)有显著的杀藻效应,表明MC可能改变浮游植物种群中产毒与非产毒微囊藻的比例。MC-RR对其它藻类的

外源DMSO和ASA对微囊藻毒素胁迫下烟草细胞ROS生成和抗氧化系统的影响

采用2μg/mL微囊藻毒素-RR(MC-RR)、2μg/mL MC-RR+0.5%二甲基亚砜(DMSO)和2μg/mL MC-RR+2 mmol/L抗坏血酸(ASA)分别处理烟草悬浮细胞,研究上述各处理对烟草悬浮细胞活性氧(ROS)产生和抗氧化系统的影响。结果表明,与对照相比,MC-RR单独处理后烟草悬浮细胞中ROS、膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)和细胞内源ASA的含量及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)的活性明显升高,还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)的含量有一个先降后升的变化过程。在分别加入外源抗氧