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Many ginsenoside biosynthesis-related genes have been identified in Panax ginseng. However, there is no report of the analysis of changes in gene expression induced methyl jasmonic acid (MeJA) using DNA microarray analysis. To identify the genes related to ginsenoside biosynthesis, we harvested P. ginseng adventitious roots at 0, 24, 72 and 120 h after MeJA treatment. At 120 h after MeJA elicitation, the contents of all ginsenosides increased compared to the control. We analyzed gene expression patterns in ginseng adventitious roots treated with MeJA using DNA microarray analysis and selected candidate genes related to ginsenoside biosynthesis, including genes encoding squalene synthase (SQS), squalene epoxidase (SE), dammarenediol-II synthase (DS), cytochrome P450 oxidase (CYP) and glycosyltransferase (GT). The expression patterns of these genes in MeJA-treated ginseng adventitious roots obtained by quantitative RT-PCR were consistent with those obtained by microarray analysis. Therefore, DNA microarray analysis is an efficient tool for selecting candidate genes associated with secondary metabolite biosynthesis in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stem wood of Machilus japonica Siebold & Zucc were extracted with 80 % aqueous MeOH, and the concentrated extract was successively partitioned with ethyl acetate (EtOAc), normal butanol, and water. From the EtOAc fraction, five procyanidins, procyanidin A1 ( 1), procyanidin A2 ( 2), procyanidin B7 ( 3), cinnamtannin B1 ( 4), and aesculitannin B ( 5), were isolated. Their chemical structures were identified through spectroscopic data analyses including NMR, MS, and IR. This is the first time any of these compounds have been isolated from this plant. The compounds were evaluated for inhibition activity on LDL oxidation. All of these compounds and the positive control, BHT, showed a very high inhibition effect with IC values of 0.94, 2.1, 1.8, 1.1, 1.0, and 1.9 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sprouts of red kohlrabi ( Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes) were extracted with methanol, and the concentrated extracts were successively partitioned with ethyl acetate, n-butyl alcohol ( n-BuOH), and HO. From the n-BuOH fraction, four phenylpropanoids were isolated through repeated silica gel and ODS column chromatographies. On the basis of physico-chemical and spectroscopic data including NMR, MS, and IR, the isolated compounds were identified as 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2 E-propenoic acid methyl ester ( 1), ( E)-sinapic acid methyl ester ( 2), ( E)-sinapoyl glucoside ( 3), and lawsoniaside B ( 4). Moreover, the compounds dose-dependently inhibited NO production in RAW 264.7 cells with IC values of 41.22 ( 1), 38.32 ( 3), and 22.65 ( 4) μM, respectively. With further studies, these compounds may be potentially useful in developing new anti-inflammatory agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new benzyl α-D-fructofuranoside ( 3), along with six known phenol compounds, benzyl- β-D-glucopyranoside ( 1), dihydrosyringin ( 2), syringin ( 4), triandrin ( 5), phillyrin ( 6), and neoolivil-4- O- β-D-glucopyranoside ( 7), was isolated from the roots of Brassica rapa ssp. campestris L. for the first time. The structures of the compounds were established on the basis of NMR, MS, and IR spectroscopic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of Panax ginseng (PG) on SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, we profiled gene expressions of both normal and PG-treated groups using cDNA microarray. We performed 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2- yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays to determine the effect on PG-induced cytotoxicity. The gene expression profiles in normal group were compared to PG-treated group using 24K human cDNA microarray. MTT assay showed that PG was not cytotoxic at the concentrations of 1–100 μg/mL in SH-SY5Y cells. Consequently, 210 genes exhibited differential expression levels between normal and PG-treated groups through cDNA microarray analysis, and it was found that 52 of the 210 genes were up-regulated while 146 of them were down-regulated by two-fold. PG may induce changes in the expression of genes in SH-SY5Y cells possibly relevant to signal transduction and cellular development. These results help to further understand the molecular framework of PG as a signal transduction inducer of neuronal cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the course of screening for reactive oxygen species scavengers from natural products, an antioxidant was isolated from the mycelial culture broth of Phellinus linteus and identified as hispidin. The hispidin content was reached its maximum level at 12 days after onset of inoculation. About 2.5 mg/mL of hispidin was produced by P. linteus in a yeast-malt medium (pH 5.8, 25°C). Hispidin inhibited 22.6 and 56.8% of the super oxide anion radical, 79.4 and 95.3% of the hydroxyl radical, and 28.1 and 85.5% of the DPPH radical at 0.1 and 1.0 mM, respectively. The positive control oc-tocopherol scavenged 25.6 and 60.3%, 74.6 and 96.3%, and 32.7 and 77.5% of each radical, respectively, at the same concentrations. However, hispidin showed no significant activity on the hydrogen peroxide radical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new hydroxy fatty acid, named bombyxmoric acid methyl ester ( 1), along with three known ones, 12(S)-methyl 12-hydroxyoctadeca-9Z,13E,15Z-trienoate ( 2), 13(S)-methyl 13-hydroxyoctadeca-9Z, 11E-dienoate ( 3), and 13(S)-hydroxyoctadeca-9Z,11E-dienoic acid ( 4), were isolated from Bombyx mori droppings. The structure of compound 1 was established as methyl 7-hydroxyoctadeca-8E,10Z,15E-trienote on the basis of spectroscopic methods including HR-EI/MS, IR, 1D, and 2D NMR experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new flavonolignan glucoside, tricin-4′- O-(erythro- β-guaiacylglyceryl)ether 9′′- O- β-D-glucopyranoside (9′′- O-glucopyranosyl salcolin B), was isolated from the aerial parts of Oryza sativa L. The structure of the compound was established on the basis of NMR, FAB-MS, and IR spectroscopic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new benzyl α-D-fructofuranoside ( 3), along with six known phenol compounds, benzyl- β-D-glucopyranoside ( 1), dihydrosyringin ( 2), syringin ( 4), triandrin ( 5), phillyrin ( 6), and neoolivil-4- O- β-D-glucopyranoside ( 7), was isolated from the roots of Brassica rapa ssp. campestris L. for the first time. The structures of the compounds were established on the basis of NMR, MS, and IR spectroscopic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]