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Abstract: From a MeOH extract of leaves of Grevillea robusta, seven compounds (1–7) were isolated. One known compound (7) was identified with a benzyl glucoside, icariside F2. The structures of the six of these, named grevillosides A–F (1–6), were elucidated on detailed inspection of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic data as glucosides of 5-alkylresorcinols. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Sixteen compounds were isolated from the MeOH extract of leaves of Myoporum bontioides. The five compounds hitherto unknown, were elucidated to be a chlorine-containing iridoid, named myopochlorin, and an iridoid glucoside, an acylated iridoid glucoside, a linear acetogenin glucoside, and an acyclic monoterpene glucoside, named myobontiosides A–D, respectively, by means of spectroscopic analyses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: From a 1-BuOH-soluble fraction of the MeOH extract of leaves of Euodia meliaefolia, collected in Okinawa, seven megastigmane glucosides, named euodionosides A–G, were isolated together with three known megastgmane glucosides, and two aliphatic and three phenolic compounds. Their structures were elucidated through a combination of spectroscopic analyses and application of the modified Mosher’s method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article reports on the investigation of the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of ethanol extracts from medicinal and edible plants cultivated in Okinawa and identification of a water-soluble inhibitor from the leaves of Nandina domestica (ND) or heavenly bamboo. The ND extract showed potent activity. The inhibitor in the extract was purified by assay-guided fractionation to give a simple phenol glucoside.

Abstract: From the leaves of Helicia cochinchinensis, collected on Okinawa Island, seven phenolic glucosides and two terpenic glucosides were isolated. Five of the phenolic glucosides were previously known, being identified with p-coumaric and ferulic acids glucosyl esters, rhodioloside, helicidiol, and naringenin 5-O-β-d-glucopyranoside. The structures of two other phenolic glucosides, named heliciosides A and B, were elucidated to be 5-O-β-d-glucosides of 3-hydroxyflavanone, namely aromadendrin and taxifolin, by means of spectroscopic analyses. The two terpenic glucosides were identified with ampelopsisionoside and icariside C1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The chemical investigation of leaves of Bridelia glauca f. balansae afforded six megastigmane glucosides, named bridelionosides A–F, along with seven known megastigmane glucosides. Their structures were determined by a combination of spectroscopic analyses and by application of the modified Mosher’s method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background and Objectives Virus inactivation and removal are important prerequisites to ensure the safety of plasma derivatives. For virus inactivation and removal in our coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) product, CROSS EIGHT M®, the production process consists of solvent–detergent (S/D) treatment, two chromatography steps and virus filtration with a 35-nm pore-size filter. However, the clearance of non-enveloped viruses was not as good as that of enveloped viruses because non-enveloped viruses are resistant to S/D treatment and are too small to be removed by the filter. In this study, in order to improve the viral safety of the FVIII products, we attempted to replace the 35-nm pore-size virus filter with a 20-nm filter. Materials and Methods The virus-filtration process was validated for the removal of enveloped and non-enveloped model viruses. Several factors that might affect the FVIII yield on filtration were investigated to obtain a higher recovery. The biochemical properties of the FVIII products produced with the 20-nm pore-size filter were compared with those produced by the 35-nm filter. Results Virus filters of 20-nm pore size effectively removed the small non-enveloped viruses when compared with the 35-nm pore-size virus filter. The permeability of FVIII through the 20-nm pore-size filter was inversely proportional to the concentration of FVIII at filtration, and directly proportional to the amount of postfiltration solution. No differences were observed in the biochemical properties of both FVIII products, such as the structure and stability of the FVIII, the contents and multimeric structure of von Willebrand factor (vWF), and FVIII activation by thrombin. Conclusions The virus-clearance efficiency of the FVIII product, CROSS EIGHT M®, was markedly increased, in particular against small non-enveloped viruses, by changing the virus filter pore size from 35 nm to 20 nm. It was possible to implement the 20-nm pore-size filter without variation of the biochemical properties or a serious loss of FVIII. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Trypanocidal constituents of Dracocephalum komarovi were investigated. Under guidance of the in vitro trypanocidal activity against epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas'' disease, two new diterpenes, dracocequinones A ( 1 ) and B ( 2 ), and two known triterpene acids, ursonic acid and ursolic acid, were isolated as trypanocidal constituents, in addition to previously reported diterpenes, cyclocoulterone ( 4 ), komaroviquinone ( 5 ), dracocephalone A ( 6 ) and komarovispirone ( 7 ). Furthermore a new diterpene, komarovinone A ( 3 ), was isolated, together with four known terpenes. Among these compounds, komaroviquinone ( 5 ) showed the most potent activity with minimum lethal concentration of 0.4μM. Structure elucidation of the new diterpenes 1–3 was described. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Six rearranged ent-kaurane diterpenes, tricalysiolides A–F, having the cafestol-type carbon framework were isolated from the wood of Tricalysia dubia (Rubiaceae). Their absolute structures were determined on the basis of the 2D NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallographic analysis, and chemical methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Eight ent-kaurane glucosides, named tricalysiosides H–O (1–8), were isolated from Tricalysia dubia. Tricalysioside H (1) possessed a hydroxyl group at the 1-position, to which the glucose moiety was attached. The structure was first elucidated by means of spectroscopic data analysis and finally confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Since acid hydrolysis of 1 gave d-glucose, the aglycone was proved to have an enantio-kaurane type skeleton. The structures of tricalysiosides I–O (2–8) were mainly elucidated from analysis of spectroscopic evidence. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Uzbekistan is one of the Turcic republics in Central Asia where a desert continental climate mainly prevailes in territories. Nevertheless, this expedition was carried out in the northeast and east higher lands, where flora is richer. The interviews were performed in seven villages of Toshkent and in neighboring provinces of Samarqand, Djizzax and at Urgut Bazaar of Samarqand. Altogether 177 folk remedies were recorded in the surveyed area. Among these folk remedies, 162 remedies were obtained from 79 different kinds of plant species that belong to 31 different families, whereas, 15 animal originated remedies that belong to 8 different animals are listed, which includes their vernacular and scientific names, indications and recipes for preparations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examines the cytotoxic screening of medicinal and edible plants in Okinawa, Japan and the identification of the main toxic constituent of Rhodea japonica. Cytotoxicity of two extracts from Rhodea japonia and Hypericum chinense.

A new antifungal flavanone, muscanone (1), was isolated along with known naringenin (2) from Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari (Burseraceae) by directing the fractionation of an EtOH extract of the air-dried trunk of C. wightii with microbial sensitivity assay. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined from EIMS, HREIMS, DEPT, 1H–1H COSY, HSQC and HMBC spectral data. Muscanone (1) was identified as 3-O-(1″, 8″,14″-trimethylhexadecanyl)naringenin and was found to be active against Candida albicans. The isolation, structure elucidation, NMR spectral assignments, and bioactivities of 1 and 2 are reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Extracts of the leaves, twigs, stems and roots of Lantana camara Linn. (Verbenaceae) were solvent-partitioned and screened for activity in the brine shrimp lethality test (BST). The active fractions yielded known oleanonic acid (1), lantadene A (2) and oleanolic acid (3), which were very toxic to brine shrimp larvae. Compounds 1-3 were not lethal to Spodoptera littoralis Biosduval (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stal. (Hemiptera: Coreidae) and Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae) when tested at 5000 µg/ml. Compound 2, however, suppressed the fecundity of C. tomentosicollis at this concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK)/ganciclovir (GCV) administration system is commonly used in gene therapy trials. We have evaluated the effect of ponicidin, a diterpenoid isolated from a plant, Rabdosia ternifolia, on the cell-killing activity of the anti-herpes drugs acyclovir (ACV) and GCV. Ponicidin preferentially activated HSV-1-specific TK but not cellular kinases. In HSV-infected cells, ponicidin significantly accumulated the phosphorylated metabolites of GCV and suppressed the extracellular release of GCV. These data suggested that the cytotoxicities of ACV and GCV in HSV-TK-expressing cells might be potentiated by ponicidin. After transfected with the HSV-1 TK gene, COS-1 and several human cancer cells became highly sensitive to the cytotoxic properties of the nucleoside analogs. When ponicidin at the concentration without antiviral activities (0.2 μg/mL) was combined with ACV or GCV, the cytotoxic levels in HSV-TK-expressing cells were enhanced by 3- to 87-fold and 5- to 52-fold, respectively, compared with the nucleoside alone. When the stability of the bioactivity of ponicidin in the blood of mice was evaluated, the substance showed relatively long-lasting effects on the potentiation of the anti-herpetic and cytotoxic activities of GCV after intravenous administration. These data suggest that the combined use of ponicidin with GCV will be effective for cancer gene therapy, because high cytotoxicity in viral TK-expressing cells should yield more rapid and enhanced tumor elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: From the stems of Croton cascarilloides collected in the Okinawa Islands, a structurally rare crotofolane-type diterpenoid (1) and a rearranged nor-crotofalane, a new skeletal diterpenoid (2) were isolated. The structures were determined by X-ray crystallographic analyses, establishing their absolute stereostructures for the first time. Compound 2 was probably biosynthesized from 1 through several steps, such as decarboxylation, oxidation, C–C bond migration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new diterpene, komarovispirone () with a spiro-octahydroindene skeleton, was isolated from Dracocephalum komarovi. The structure was elucidated by extensive analyses of spectral data. Komarovispirone () showed trypanocidal activity against epimastigote of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of American trypanosomiasis, with a minimum lethal concentration of 23 μM. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract A 67-year-old man with hepatitis C virus infection and histological features of chronic active hepatitis was treated with human recombinant interferon alpha-2b. He responded successfully to interferon with normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase and continuous eradication of hepatitis C virus. However, 4.5 years after the end of interferon therapy, hepatocellular carcinoma, 20 mm in diameter, was detected by routine ultrasonographic screening. The patient underwent surgical treatment for resection of the hepatocellular carcinoma. The non-cancerous liver tissue was histologically normal. This suggests that patients who have shown a complete response to interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C should be followed up closely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Lasianthus (Rubiaceae) consists of approximately 180 species, of which the greatest species diversity is found in tropical Asia. Some of the Lasianthus species have been used in folk medicine to treat tinnitus, arthritis, fever, and bleeding. Lasianthus verticillatus (Lour.) Merr. (Syn. Lasianthus trichophlebus auct. non Hemsl.) is a shrub, branchlets terete about 1.5–3 m in height. This paper studies the chemical composition of the leaves of L. verticillatus for the first time, which resulted in the isolation of five undescribed iridoid glucosides, lasianosides A–E (1–5), together with three known compounds (6–8). The undescribed structures of isolated compounds (1–5) were characterized by physical and spectroscopic data analyses, including one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR, IR, UV, and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectra (HR-ESI-MS). Furthermore, the electronic circular dichroism data determined the absolute configurations of the new compounds. The free radical scavenging properties of isolated compounds was assessed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, and their cytotoxicity was assessed toward human lung cancer cell line A549 by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. Among the isolated compounds, 3 and 4 displayed potent radical scavenging activities with IC50 values of 30.2 ± 1.8 and 32.0 ± 1.2 µM, which were comparable to that of Trolox (29.2 ± 0.39 µM), respectively, while 5 possessed moderate activity with an IC50 value of 46.4 ± 2.3 µM. None of the isolated compounds exerted cytotoxicity against human cell line A549. As a result, lasianosides C, D, and E have the potential to be non-toxic safe antioxidant agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]