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Three new diterpenoids, euphopanes A–C (1–3), including one ent-isopimarane (1), one ent-abietane (2) and one cembrane (3), along with five known compounds (4–8) were isolated from the roots of Euphorbia pekinensis. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations of compounds 1–3 were determined by ECD calculations. All the isolates were screened for the cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines (C4-2B, C42B/ENZR, and MDA-MB-231), and compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed significant cytotoxicity against human prostate cancer cells C4-2B with IC50 values of 14.3, 16.9, and 15.3 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical investigation of Strychnos nitida has led to the isolation of three new racemic pyridocarbazole alkaloids, (±)-stritidas A-C (1–3) and three known monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (4–6). Compounds 2 and 3 represent the first examples of pyridocarbazole alkaloids featuring an N-2-hydroxyethyl moiety. Their structures were determined by combined spectroscopic data (MS, UV, IR and NMR) and chemical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore the role and potential mechanisms of chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) in coronary artery lesions in a mouse model of Kawasaki disease (KD)-like vasculitis., Methods: Four-week-old male SPF-grade C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group and a model group, with 10 mice in each group. The model group mice were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5 mL of lactobacillus casei cell wall extract (LCWE) to establish a mouse model of KD-like vasculitis, while the control group mice were injected with an equal volume of normal saline. The general conditions of the mice were observed on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day after injection. Changes in coronary artery tissue pathology were observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The level of CHI3L1 in mouse serum was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression and localization of CHI3L1, von Willebrand factor (vWF), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in coronary artery tissue. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of CHI3L1, vWF, vascular endothelial cadherin (VE cadherin), Caspase-3, B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and phosphorylated NF-κB (p-NF-κB) in coronary artery tissue., Results: The serum level of CHI3L1 in the model group was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P <0.05). Compared to the control group, the expression of CHI3L1 in the coronary artery tissue was higher, while the expression of vWF was lower in the model group. The relative expression levels of CHI3L1, Bax, Caspase-3, NF-κB, and p-NF-κB were significantly higher in the model group than in the control group ( P <0.05). The relative expression levels of vWF, VE cadherin, and Bcl-2 were lower in the model group than in the control group ( P <0.05)., Conclusions: In the LCWE-induced mouse model of KD-like vasculitis, the expression levels of CHI3L1 in serum and coronary arteries increase, and it may play a role in coronary artery lesions through endothelial cell apoptosis mediated by inflammatory reactions.