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Three new ( 1 - 3 ) and 25 known compounds were isolated from the crude extract of Cassia abbreviata . The chemical structures of new compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS. Cassiabrevone ( 1 ) is the first heterodimer of guibourtinidol and planchol A. Compound 2 was a new chalcane, while 3 was a new naphthalene. Cassiabrevone ( 1 ), guibourtinidol-(4α→8)-epiafzelechin ( 4 ), taxifolin ( 8 ), oleanolic acid ( 17 ), piceatannol ( 22 ), and palmitic acid ( 28 ), exhibited potent anti-HIV-1 activity with IC 50 values of 11.89 µM, 15.39 µM, 49.04 µM, 7.95 µM, 3.58 µM, and 15.97 µM, respectively.

Sargassum naozhouense is a brown seaweed used in folk medicine and applied for thousands of years in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, China. This study is the first time to investigate its chemical composition and antiviral activity. On the dry weight basis, this seaweed was constituted of ca. 35.18% ash, 11.20% protein, 1.06% lipid and 47.73% total carbohydrate, and the main carbohydrate was water-soluble polysaccharide. The protein analysis indicated the presence of essential amino acids, which accounted for 36.35% of the protein. The most abundant fatty acids were C14:0, C16:0, C18:1 and C20:4. The ash fraction analysis indicated that essential minerals and trace elements, such as Fe, Zn and Cu, were present in the seaweed. IR analysis revealed that polysaccharides from cultivated S. naozhouense may be alginates and fucoidan. The polysaccharides possessed strong antiviral activity against HSV-1 in vitro with EC(50) of 8.92 μg/mL. These results demonstrated cultivated S. naozhouense has a potential for its use in functional foods and antiviral new drugs.

Aim of the Study: Thladiantha dubia (Cucurbitaceae) has been used in Chinese manchu nationality folk medicine for treatment of various diseases, such as scrofula, carbuncle, lactation deficiency, etc. Its effects include softening hard masses, heat-clearing and detoxifying, reducing swelling, eliminating carbuncle, and promoting lactation. It has a history of use in the treatment of breast disorders and as an agent to increase lactation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-hyperplasia of mammary (HMG) effect of T. dubia root ethanol extract (TD-E) in estrogen combined with progestogen induced HMG rats., Materials and Methods: Forty virgin female Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank control, HMG model, Rupixiao Tablet (RPXT, positive control), and TD-E groups, 10 in each. Injection of estrogen and progestogen were given to establish rat models of HMG, RPXT and TD-E were given at the same time. Changes of nipple heights were measured; uterus and ovary index were calculated; sex hormone levels (LH, E(2), and P) in serum were estimated. Pathologic changes of MG in rats were also observed under light microscope., Results and Conclusion: TD-E could decrease the increased nipple height, reduce the numbers of MG lobules and relieve the pathologic changes of HMG in rats. It could also decrease E(2) and LH levels in serum compared with the control group, nipple height, uterus index, and the levels of E(2) and LH in the HMG model group increased significantly, the level of P decreased significantly. Compared with the HMG model group, nipple height, uterus index, and the levels of E(2) and LH in the TD-E group decreased, and no obvious effect on P content. The histopathological analysis suggested that TD-E obviously alleviated the degree of HMG. Those results suggest TD-E has protective and therapeutic effects on HMG rats induced by estrogen and progestogen., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill (Saururaceae) has been used in Chinese folk medicine for treatment of various diseases, such as edema, jaundice, gonorrhea, antipyretic, diuretic, and antiinflammatory agents., Aim of the Study: Our aim was to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antifibrotic effects of Saururus chinensis extract (SC-E) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced liver fibrosis rats., Materials and Methods: The SC-E (70 mg/kg) was administrated via gavage once a day starting from the onset of CCl(4) treatment (14 weeks) for subsequent 8 weeks. Evaluated with liver index, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hyaluronic acid (HA), hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), total lipoprotein (TP), albumin (ALB), hydroxyproline (HYP), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), laminin (LN), type III collagen terminal peptide (PC-IIINP), and type IV collagen (IV-C), as well as with histopathologic changes of liver., Results: SC-E effectively reduced the elevated levels of liver index, serum ALT, AST, HA, and hepatic MDA contents, enhance the reduced hepatic SOD activity in CCl(4)-treated rats. The histopathological analysis suggested that SC-E obviously alleviated the degree of liver fibrosis induced by CCl(4)., Conclusions: Those results suggest SC-E has protective and therapeutic effects on liver fibrosis induced by CCl(4).

A new tetrahydrofuranoketone lignan (1) and two new tetrahydrofuranoketone lignan glycosides (2, 3) were isolated from the ethanol extract of the aerial part of Mananthes patentiflora. The structure elucidations of these compounds were mainly established on the basis of 1D, 2D NMR and HR-mass spectroscopic analysis. All three compounds revealed potent antioxidant activities within the concentration range tested (0.08-50.0 microM).

Saposhnikoviae Radix (SR) was initially documented in Shennong Bencao Jing classics for its properties in dispelling wind, dissolving surface, relieving pain, and alleviating spasms. This herb is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to address conditions that affect the body's surface, by aiding in the expulsion of pathogens from the surface and alleviating pain associated with the immune response. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent allergic skin disorder, and the therapeutic effects of SR in dispelling wind and relieving the body's surface are consistent with the clinical symptoms commonly observed in AD. The anti-AD effects of SR were examined under three different growth patterns to identify active pharmacodynamic compounds. The results provide insight into the clinical efficacy of wild and cultivated SR. The efficacy of wild, wild-simulated, and cultivated SR was assessed in a mouse model of AD. In addition, the effects of wild and varying doses of cultivated SR were evaluated in mice with short-term AD symptoms. GC-MS and UPLC-MS/MS were used to analyze the chemical components of the three SR treatments and molecular docking was used to identify active components. A mouse model of AD was used to assess the pharmacodynamic effects of SR prepared by three different cultivation methods. The study found that all three SR preparations improved phenotypic markers and histopathological features in the AD mouse model. The efficacy of wild SR and wild-simulated SR was similar, although there was a significant difference between wild and cultivated SR. Both wild SR and various doses of cultivated SR ameliorated skin injuries and reduced inflammation in serum and skin tissues. Furthermore, skin thickness, inflammatory cells, mast cell infiltration, and IL-33 expression improved following treatment. Notably, wild SR, double-cultivated SR, and triple-cultivated SR demonstrated significant therapeutic effects. An analysis using GC-MS revealed the presence of 55, 52, and 43 volatile oils in the three SR preparations, with more common components observed between wild and wild-simulated SR. Fewer common components were evident between cultivated and wild SR. UPLC-MS/MS analysis identified a total of 37 compounds, with larger relative peak areas observed for the chromogenic ketones. Molecular docking studies revealed that certain compounds, such as n-propyl 9,12-octadecadienoate, (E)-9-octadecenoic acid ethyl ester, and various chromogenic ketones, such as cimifugin, 5- O -methyIvisamminol, hamaudol, 3′- O -acetylhamaudol, 3′- O -angeloyhamandol, adenosine and farnesylaceton, may be the major substances that distinguish the activities of SR with three different growth patterns. Variations in the anti-AD efficacy of SR with three growth patterns were identified, and their chemical composition differences were determined. These findings suggest that increasing the dosage of cultivated SR could potentially be a viable clinical alternative for atopic dermatitis treatment. [Display omitted] • The difference in effectiveness between WSR and WSSR is minimal, with WSR showing slightly stronger efficacy than CSR. • CSR at double and triple quantities has been proven to be an effective substitute for WSR. • The variation in pharmacodynamics among the WSR, WSSR and CSR was primarily attributed to volatile oils and chromones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: The fruit of Thladiantha dubia has been used in Chinese manchu nationality folk medicine for treatment of various pains, such as rheumatic pain, lumbocrural pain, and dysmenorrhea. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-rheumatic effect of Thladiantha dubia fruit crude polysaccharide (TF-P) fraction in rats. Materials and methods: TF-P was evaluated in mice for analgesic activity using acetic acid-induced abdominal contractions test and for anti-inflammatory activity using xylene-induced ear oedema model. Moreover, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was induced by injection of CFA into the subplantar surface of the hind paw of the male Wistar rats. Joint swelling was measured. In order to evaluate the effect of TF-P on disease progression, proinflammatory mediators (TNF-α and IL-2), and antioxidant indicators (SOD, MDA, and NO) were determined in rats induced by CFA. Pathologic changes of RA in rats were also observed under light microscope. Results and conclusions: In the present study, TF-P at the dose of 200mg/kg (according to the clinical traditional dosage) significantly reduced writhings and stretchings induced by the acetic acid in mice. TF-P significantly inhibited xylene-induced ear oedema in mice, compared with control group. TF-P significantly inhibited inoculated and non-inoculated joint swellings in rats induced by CFA. TF-P had no effect of body weight in rats. The histopathological analysis suggested that TF-P obviously alleviated the degree of RA rats. TF-P treated rats preserved a nearly normal histological architecture of the joint. Results of the present study confirm the use of Thladiantha dubia traditionally for the treatment of painful and inflammatory conditions. Those results suggest TF-P has protective and therapeutic effects on RA rats induced by CFA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]