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Background This study was aimed to investigate the pregnancy-interceptive activity of the stem bark of Wrightia tinctoria R.Br. (Family Apocynaceae) administered during the preimplantation, peri-implantation and early postimplantation periods by oral route in adult female Sprague���Dawley rats. Study Design The ethanolic extract of the stem bark and its serial fractions were administered to female rats on Days 1���7 or 1���5 postcoitum (Day 1: day of sperm-positive vaginal smear) by the oral route. At autopsy on Day 10 postcoitum, the number and status of corpora lutea and implantations were recorded. For estrogen-agonistic activity, immature rats ovariectomized 7 days earlier received the test extract or the vehicle once daily for 3 days and, at autopsy on Day 4, uterine weight, status of vaginal opening and extent of vaginal cornification were recorded. Results The ethanolic extract of the stem bark of W. tinctoria R.Br. inhibited pregnancy in 100% of rats when administered orally at a 250-mg/kg dose on Days 1���7 or 1���5 postcoitum. On fractionation, the hexane-soluble, chloroform-soluble, water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions showed 100% anti-implantation effect, while n -butanol-soluble fraction intercepted pregnancy in 75% of animals when administered in the Days 1���5 postcoitum schedule. In immature rat bioassay, the active ethanolic extract and its fractions exhibited moderate to potent estrogen-agonistic activity, which might be responsible for their contraceptive action in this species. Conclusions Findings demonstrate the antifertility activity of the ethanolic extract of the stem bark of W. tinctoria and its hexane-soluble, chloroform-soluble, water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions. Studies that pursue promising natural products (to identify contraceptive agents from natural sources lacking potent estrogenic activity) towards a fruitful conclusion for development/lead generation should continue.

From the ethanolic extract of stem bark of D. angustifolia three new compounds, a coumaroyl triterpene lactone, diospyrosooleanolide (1), a phenolic glycoside, diospyrososide (2) and a naphthalene glycoside, diospyrosonaphthoside (3) were isolated along with five known compounds (4-8). The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidences.

Resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock initiates profound changes in the liver that are likely to contribute to end organ damage and resultant dysfunction after shock. Extensive research in this area has indicated the potential of free radical scavenging strategy for better management of the pathophysiology following hemorrhage-resuscitation (H/R) injury. We studied the effect of a novel pharmacological agent, picroliv, on hepatocellular injury and redox status, as well as its possible mechanism of action in a H/R model in adult rats. Anesthetized rats were subjected to hemorrhagic shock by bleeding 30 mL/kg body weight. After 60 min of shock, rats were resuscitated with twice the shed blood volume of lactated Ringer's solution and were sacrificed 2 h after resuscitation. We observed that picroliv (12 mg/kg) pretreatment, given orally for 7 days, resulted in a significant decrease in serum aspartate transaminase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels. Picroliv also inhibited the lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide release that occurred after H/R and altered the activity of glutathione reductase in a favorable manner, thereby suggesting better antioxidant status. Picroliv significantly down-regulated the stress-sensitive transcription factor AP1 and decreased the level of c-fos mRNA as well as c-jun and c-fos proteins in liver tissue, indicating that its actions could be mediated through AP1 and associated signal transduction pathways. These findings suggest that picroliv has the potential to be developed as a protective agent against H/R injury.

Picroliv is a potent antioxidant extracted from the roots and rhizome of Picrorhiza kurrooa. It has been shown to impart significant hepatoprotective activities, partly by modulation of free radical-induced lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species are associated with tissue injury in post-ischemic acute renal failure. The efficacy of picroliv was assessed in an in vivo model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats at a dose of 12 mg/kg orally for 7 days. The animals were killed at various times after reperfusion. Increased lipid peroxidation and apoptotic cell number reflected the oxidative damage following renal IRI. Picroliv-pretreated rats exhibited lower lipid peroxidation, improved antioxidant status, and reduced apoptosis, indicating better viability of renal cells. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that picroliv pretreatment attenuated the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the glomerular region. These results suggested that picroliv pretreatment protects rat kidneys from IRI, perhaps by modulation of free radical damage and adhesion molecules.

A new alkaloid designated as ervatine, in addition to seven known alkaloids, viz. tabersonine, coronaridine, heyneanine, voacristine, voacristine hydroxyindolenine, hydroxyibogamine, and coronaridine hydroxyindolenine, were isolated from the fruit of Tabernaemontana heyneana Wall. Characterisation and structure elucidation of these compounds was made on the basis of their spectral analyses. The ethanolic extract and isolated alkaloids heyneanine and voacristine prevented pregnancy when administered during the preimplantation period in Sprague-Dawley rats. These were, however, found to possess significant uterotrophic activity.

A new diterpene acid with the abietane skeleton, designated as centdaroic acid, has been isolated besides seven other known compounds viz., a-atlantone, himachlol, a-amyrin acetate, lawsaritol, allohimachlol, oleanolic acid and centdarol from roots of Cedrus deodara. Characterisation and structure elucidation of these compounds has been made on the basi s of their spectral analyses. Cedrus deodara (Syn C. libani) occurs in North-West Himalayas, largely cultivated in India as an ornamental tree. The plant is used for the treatment of various diseases l . Bark is reputed to be astringent and febrifuge. Decoction of the wood is good remedy in fever, diarrhoea, dysentery and urinary diseases. Wood yields oleoresin and a dark coloured oil which are diaphoretic. Oil is used as folk medicine in ulcers, rheumatism, flatulence and leprosy. In the present paper, we report the isolation and structure determination of a new diterpene acid, abieta5,8, II , 13-tetraene-18-oic acid 8, from the roots of the Cedrus deodara.

The decompositions of the ammonium adducts of some sesquiterpene alcohols have been studied using collisional activation mass spectrometry. Losses of ammonia and water are the two primary fragmentation pathways of these adduct ions. Some of the isomeric pairs show differences in the abundances of the fragment ions, whereas others give similar ion abundances in the two isomers.

Three fatty acid glycosides, designated pescaprosides A, B, and E, have been isolated from Ipomoea pescaprae (family Convolvulaceae). Chemical studies on pescaproside E, the major product, led to its characterisation as a pentaglycoside of 11-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid. Its sugar chain was esterified with 2-methylbutanoic and lauric acids. The structure of the pentaglycoside has been established as O -α- l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)- O -[α- l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]- O -α- l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)- O -β- d - fucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)- O -α- l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 11)-oxyhexadecanoic acid.

Tissue repair and wound healing are complex processes that involve inflammation, granulation and tissue remodeling. Angiogenesis plays a central role in wound healing. Earlier, we have shown that picroliv, a natural product obtained from the roots of Picrorhiza kurrooa, up-regulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and of insulin-like growth factor in rats during hypoxia. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of picroliv in an ex vivo rat aorta ring model of angiogenesis. Picroliv enhanced the sprouting and migration of endothelial cells. We also investigated punch wound healing on days 4 and 7 after wounding by histology, morphometry and collagenization. The data showed improved re-epithelialization, neovascularization and migration of various cells such as endothelial, dermal myofibroblasts and fibroblasts into the wound bed after picroliv treatment. Immunohistochemical localization showed increased VEGF and alpha smooth muscle actin staining consistent with an increased number of microvessels in granulation tissue. These findings suggest that picroliv could be developed as a therapeutic angiogenic agent for the restoration of the blood supply in diseases involving inadequate blood supply such as limb ischemia, ischemic myocardium and wound healing.

Streblus asperLour is a small tree found in tropical countries, such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Various parts of this plant are used in Ayurveda and other folk medicines for the treatment of different ailments such as filariasis, leprosy, toothache, diarrhea, dysentery and cancer. Research carried out using differentin vitroandin vivotechniques of biological evaluation support most of these claims. This review presents the botany, chemistry, traditional uses and pharmacology of this medicinal plant.

Phytochemical investigation of Bacopa procumbens afforded two new phenolic glycosides 1 and 2, for the first time, along with 12 known compounds 3–14. Structures of these compounds were established based on spectral and chemical evidences.

A new triterpene, methyl 3-epi-betulinate in its native form and 4′,6′-dihydroxy-2′-methoxy-3′,5′-dimethyl chalcone along with ursolic acid, jacoumaric acid and arjunolic acid have been isolated from the aerial parts of Syzygium samarangense.

A new minor triterpene saponin was obtained from Bacopa monniera . Its structure was established as 3- O [α- l -arabinofuranosyl (1 → 3) α- l -arabinopyranosyl]jujubogenin by chemical and spectral studies.

The structure of new xanthone from Swertia chirayita has been established as 1,5-dihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxy xanthone (chiratol) on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence. Two other xanthones, i.e. swerchirin (1,8-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy xanthone) and 7- O -methyl swertianin (1,8-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy xanthone) have been isolated. Swerchirin was identified as the hypoglycaemic principle of the plant.

A new triterpenoid saponin, bacoside A3, a constituent of bacosides the saponin mixture of Bacopa monniera, was isolated and characterized. Its structure was established as 3-beta-[O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-O- [alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl(1-->2) ]O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]jujubogenin by chemical and spectral analyses. The cis-isomer of ebelin lactone was also obtained as one of the artefacts of the aglycone and its structure revised.

Oral administration of crude ethanolic extract of the serial parts of Ixora finlaysoniana Wall. ex G. Don to adult female rats at 250 mg/kg dose on days 1-5 or 1-7 post-coitum prevented pregnancy in 100% rats. The extract was also effective when administered on days 1 or 1-3 post-coitum, but the minimum effective dose increased with decreased duration of administration and was 1000 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg, respectively, in the two schedules. At lower doses, a significant reduction in implantation number and increased post-implantation resorption rate were observed in all the schedules. Almost complete resorption of all implantations was observed after administration of 1000 mg/kg dose of the extract during the peri-implantation period. A slight acceleration in tubal transport rate of embryos and delay in blastocyst formation were observed in rats treated postcoitally with the single anti-implantation dose of the extract. Significantly fewer embryos were recovered after their entry into the uterus. Except in one rat receiving 250 mg/kg dose of the extract on days 1-5, in which one apparently normal zona-free blastocyst was recovered from the uterus, uterine flushings of none of the nonpregnant animals contained any unimplanted embryos by day 10 post-coitum. In immature rat bioassay, the extract was found to possess estrogenic activity as evidenced by dose-dependent increase in uterine weight and cornification of the vaginal epithelium at doses ranging from 50-1000 mg/kg. At the 500 and 1000 mg/kg doses, it also induced premature opening of the vagina. Taking 100% increase in uterine weight as the parameter, the extract was found to be about 1.6X10(5) times less estrogenic than ethinylestradiol. The extent and duration of estrogenic responses exerted by single contraceptive dose of the extract were also markedly lower than that induced by ethinylestradiol. The extract was devoid of any estrogen antagonistic or synergistic activity and did not affect ovarian prenidatory estrogen or progesterone synthesis. The findings indicate that the extract at its contraceptive dose a) exerts a differential estrogenic response at the fallopian tube and the uterine levels, b) does not appear embryocidal, but causes slight asynchrony in development and tubal transport rate of pre-implantation embryos, which together with their loss through vagina after entry into the uterus, due to estrogenic action of the extract, might contribute to its anti-implantation action, and c) its anti-implantation and post-implantation resorptive actions are not mediated via altered ovarian function.Colony-bred immature (25-35 gm) and adult (180-220 gm) Sprague-Dawley rats were administered orally an 85% ethanolic extract of powdered aerial parts of Ixora finlaysoniana suspended in distilled water. The extract prevented pregnancy in 100% of rats at a dose of 250 mg/kg on days 1-5 or 1-7 post coitus. However, 1000 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg doses were required to achieve complete contraception increasing with decreased duration of administration of the extract. At sub contraceptive doses, a significant reduction in implantation and a marked increase in post implantation resorption rate were observed in all the schedules. Almost complete resorption of all implantations was observed at 1000 mg/kg dose of the extract administered on days 5-7 post coitus. Single oral anti implantation dose (1000 mg/kg) of the extract administered within 24 hours of coitus induced slight acceleration of tubal transport of embryos. Fewer extract-treated rat embryos were recovered from the Fallopian tubes compared with controls on days 4 and 5 to (p 0.01). 1 normal zona free blastocyst was also recovered from the uterine flushings of a rat treated with a 250 mg/kg dose on days 1-5 post coitus, but uterine flushings of none of the 43 remaining nonpregnant rats treated with the various doses on days 1, 1-3, 1-5, or 1-7 yielded any unimplanted embryos by day 10 post coitus. Doses ranging from 50 to 1000 mg/kg once daily for 3 consecutive days induced a dose-independent increase in uterine weight (p 0.001) vs. controls and cornification of the vaginal epithelium in bilaterally ovariectomized rats. Premature opening of the vagina was observed only at 500 and 1000 mg/kg doses. A single oral contraceptive dose of 1000 mg/kg induced a significant increase (p 0.05) vs. the control group in uterine weight and premature opening of the vagina and 40-60% vaginal cornification in all treated rats. In comparison, a single oral contraceptive dose (1.5 mg/kg) of ethinyl estradiol induced stronger and longer estrogenic responses; uterine weight gain at all time intervals was significantly more than with the extract.

Biologically active polysaccharides isolated from natural sources during the period January 1977 to December 1988 are reviewed. Besides biological activity, the recent techniques used in their isolation, purification and structure elucidation are discussed.

A study of the D 2 O chemical ionization mass spectra of certain flavonoids has shown that, besides the replaceable hydroxyl hydrogens, aromatic hydrogens also undergo exchange with deuterium. These exchanges depend on the nature of the substituents and are thus of analytical value in the identification of these compounds. It has been found that, under D 2 O chemical ionization conditions, aromatic hydrogens ortho and para to hydroxyl groups undergo exchange easily and that the methoxy group does not favour this exchange.

Four fatty acid glycosides, designated dichrosides A, B, C, and D, have been isolated from Ipomoea dichroa (family, Convolvulaceae). On chemical investigation, dichroside D was found to be a pentaglycoside of 11-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid, and the sugar chain is highly esterified with other fatty acids. The structure of the pentaglycoside has been established as 11-{ O -β- d -glucopyranosyl-(1→4)- O -[β- d -fucopyranosyl-(1→3)]- O -α- l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)- O -α- l - rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α- l -rhamnopyranosyl)oxy}hexadecanoic acid.

Two new steroids physanol A, 3β-benzoyloxy-6-oxo-stigmast-7,20-diene-11α-ol and physanol B, 3β-benzoyloxy-6-oxo-stigmast-7-ene-11α-ol have been isolated from the fruit of Physalis franchetti.

The structure of 3′- O -methylbatatasin III, a new bibenzyl of the East Himalayan orchid, Coelogyne ovalis , has been established on the basis of spectral and chemical data. Known 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene derivatives, a bibenzyl and sterols have also been isolated from the orchid.

Two new triterpene glycosides, glochidioside N and glochidioside Q were isolated from G. heyneanum, besides nine known compounds, glochidone, glochidonol, glochidiol, lup-20(29)-en-1β,3β-diol, epimachaerinic acid, β-amyrin, stigmasterol, sitosterol-β- d -glucoside and d -mannitol.

Various chemical and spectroscopic methods have been employed to elucidate the structure of centdarol as 2β,7β-dihydroxyhimachal-3-ene.

An investigation of Dodonaea viscosa afforded a new flavonoid having an isoprenoid side chain along with the seven known flavonoids: 5-hydroxy-3,6

Biologically active polysaccharides isolated from natural sources during the period January 1977 to December 1988 are reviewed. Besides biological activity, the recent techniques used in their isolation, purification and structure elucidation are discussed.

The constitution of bacogenin-A1, obtained from the acid hydrolysate of bacoside-A, has been established as 3,18-dihydroxy-20 → 25-epoxy-22(or 23)-methyl-24-nor-dammar-22-en-16-one. The treatment of di-O-acetylbacogenin-A1 with RuO4 led to a diol instead of the usual dioxo product.

Mallotin, a new C 32 triterpene from Mallotous stenanthus , has been isolated and its structure established as 24,24-dimethyl-lanosta-7,25-dien-3α-ol.

The structure of bacogenin A 3 , one of the sapogenins of the bacosides has been established by various chemical and spectral methods.

A new triterpenoid glycoside, glochidioside, has been isolated from Glochidion heyneanum . Its structure has been established as 3β[( O -β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)- O -α- L -arabinopyranosyl)oxy]-16β-benzoyloxy-olean-12-ene-21β,23,28-trio

The structure of viscosol, a new prenylated flavonoid isolated from the aerial parts of Dodonaea viscosa , was established on the basis of spectral studies as well as by the conversion of the flavonol penduletin into permethyl viscosol.

Two new epimeric triterpenoid acids, gymnosporic acid, 3β-hydroxy-(20 R )-lupan-29-oic acid, wallichianic acid, 3β-hydroxy-(20 S )-lupan-29-oic acid and a new diol wallichianol, (20 S )-lupane-3β,29-diol have been isolated from Gymnosporia wallichiana , in addition to β-amyrin, friedelin, 3β-hydroxy-29-norlupan-20-one and dulcitol.

Phytochemical investigation of Tithonia tagitiflora has led to isolation of six new germacranolides, tagitinins A, B, C, D, E, and F, β-sitosterol, and its β-D-glucoside. Among these, tagitinin F possesses antileukemic activity.

The aerial parts of DODONAEA VISCOSA afforded a new diterpenoid, dodonic acid, the structure and stereochemistry of which have been established by chemical and spectroscopic means.

By means of physicochemical studies bacogenin A2 has been shown to be an isomer of bacogenin A1 differing either in the configuration at C-20 o

A new sesquiterpene lactone, vestolide, of the guaiane series was isolated from the aerial parts of Vicoa vestita . Its structure was established on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence.

The isolation and identification of friedelin, lignoceryl alcohol, ferulic acid, lignoceryl ferulate, canophyllal, canophyllol and an unusual 2α, 3β dihydroxy triterpene, maslinic acid, have been described.