Search

A new skeleton of diterpenoid, 1,2,3,4,4α,9,10,10α-octahydro-(4α-hydroxyymethyl) -1,1-dimethyl-9-(1-methylethyl)-(2S,3S,4αR,9R,10αS)-2,3,5,7-phenanthrenetertrol, named plebeianiol A (1), along with four known diterpenoids (2–5), were isolated from Salvia plebeia R. Br. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis. In the bioactivity tests, compounds 1, 2 and 5 showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities with IC50 values of 20.0–29.6 µM. In addition, these three compounds had significant inhibitory effects on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages. Compounds 1–3 inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-induced macrophages with IC50 values of 18.0–23.6 µM. These results showed that compounds 1, 2 had significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and might provide basis for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative lesions and inflammation.

Ethyl rosmarinate (RAE) is one of the active constituents from Clinopodium chinense (Benth.) O. Kuntze, which is used for diabetic treatment in Chinese folk medicine. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of RAE on high glucose-induced injury in endothelial cells and explored its underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that both RAE and rosmarinic acid (RA) increased cell viability, decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and attenuated high glucose-induced endothelial cells apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, as evidenced by Hochest staining, Annexin V⁻FITC/PI double staining, and caspase-3 activity. RAE and RA both elevated Bcl-2 expression and reduced Bax expression, according to Western blot. We also found that LY294002 (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, or PI3K inhibitor) weakened the protective effect of RAE. In addition, PDTC (nuclear factor-κB, or NF-κB inhibitor) and SP600125 (c-Jun N-terminal kinase, or JNK inhibitor) could inhibit the apoptosis in endothelial cells caused by high glucose. Further, we demonstrated that RAE activated Akt, and the molecular docking analysis predicted that RAE showed more affinity with Akt than RA. Moreover, we found that RAE inhibited the activation of NF-κB and JNK. These results suggested that RAE protected endothelial cells from high glucose-induced apoptosis by alleviating reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and regulating the PI3K/Akt/Bcl-2 pathway, the NF-κB pathway, and the JNK pathway. In general, RAE showed greater potency than RA equivalent.

Impatiens cavaleriei X.X.Bai & R.X.Huang, sp. nov. from the Miaoling Mountains of Guizhou, belonging to I. sect. Uniflorae, is described and illustrated here. While I. cavaleriei morphologically resembles I. notolopha Maximowicz and I. undulata Y.L.Chen & Y.Q.Lu in ovate or ovate-elliptic leaves, yellow flowers and a cymbiform lower sepal, this new species can be easily distinguished by its comprehensive characteristics, including a slightly transparent capsule, lateral united petals clawed, 2-flowered, and seed surface with warty protrusions. A detailed description, color photographs and a provisional IUCN Red List assessment are provided along with discussions of the geographical distribution and morphological relationships of I. cavaleriei with similar species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]