Glycyrrhizae Radix suppresses lipopolysaccharide- and diazepam-induced nerve inflammation in the hippocampus, and contracts the duration of pentobarbital- induced loss of righting reflex in a mouse model
This study aimed to examine whether Glycyrrhizae Radix effectively influences the duration of the pentobarbital-induced loss of righting reflex, which may increase in a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nerve inflammation and diazepam-induced γ-aminobutyric acid receptor hypersensitivity. Furthermore, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of Glycyrrhizae Radix extract on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells, in vitro. Treatment with Glycyrrhizae Radix significantly decreased the duration of pentobarbital-induced loss of righting refl ex in the mouse model. Furthermore, treatment with Glycyrrhizae Radix si...
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - April 28, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Therapeutic effects of a standardized-flavonoid Diospyros kaki L.f. leaf extract on transient focal cerebral ischemia-induced brain injury in mice
This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective and therapeutic effects ofDiospyros kaki L.f. leaves (DK) on transient focal cerebral ischemic injury and underlying mechanisms using a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of mice. The animals received the MCAO operation on day 0. The daily administrations of DK (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o) and edaravone (6 mg/kg, i.v), a reference drug with radical scavenging activity, were started 7 days before (pre-treatment) or immediately after the MCAO operation (post-treatment) and continued during the experimental period. Histochemical, biochemical, and neurological chang...
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - April 28, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Crotofolanes, rearranged crotofolanes, and a novel diterpene: isocrotofolane from Croton cascarilloides, collected in Okinawa
AbstractTo this day, since about 50% of all medicines are derived from natural sources, natural product chemistry, especially the search for biologically active natural components, remains extremely important (Newman and Cragg in J Nat Prod 83:770 –803, 2020). In this review, we deal with our continuing research work for promising constituents from plants collected in the Ryukyu Archipelago. The isolation of islands in the archipelago by the sea or by straits gives rise to endemic plant species that are unique to the islands. The structural diversity of the constituents produced by this unique flora is of great scientifi...
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - April 21, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Crotofolanes, rearranged crotoforanes, and a novel diterpene: isocrotofolane from Croton cascarilloides, collected in Okinawa
AbstractTo this day, since about 50% of all medicines are derived from natural sources, natural product chemistry, especially the search for biologically active natural components, remains extremely important (Newman and Cragg in J Nat Prod 83:770 –803, 2020). In this review, we deal with our continuing research work for promising constituents from plants collected in the Ryukyu Archipelago. The isolation of islands in the archipelago by the sea or by straits gives rise to endemic plant species that are unique to the islands. The structural diversity of the constituents produced by this unique flora is of great scientifi...
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - April 21, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Effects of Ephedra Herb extract on the expression of EGFR-activating mutations and c-Met in non-small-cell lung cancer cell line, H1975, and its combined effects with osimertinib
AbstractWe previously reported that the combined application of Ephedra Herb extract (EHE) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), erlotinib, is effective in suppressing the growth of erlotinib-resistant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line, H1993, xenograft tumor, and cell proliferation, and that EHE downregulates c-Met and wild-type EGFR in H1993 cells. However, it was unclear whether EHE could affect EGFR with active mutations. Clinically, advanced NSCLC patients who are eligible for EGFR-TKI treatment are those with detected EGFR with activating mutations. Therefore, it is i...
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - April 12, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Inhibitory effect of Bofutsushosan (Fangfengtongshengsan) extract on the absorption of fructose in rats and mice
In this study, the inhibitory effect of BTS extract on the absorption of fructose from the intestine was investigated in vivo. The extract of BTS was orally administered to rats at doses equivalent to 25-fold of the daily dose for humans. One minute after sample administration, fructose was orally administered and blood samples were collected from the jugular vein 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 4 h after the administration of fructose. The absorption of fructose from the intestine was significantly reduced by treatment with BTS extract, and this in vivo study reproduced previous in vitro results. Subsequently, the blood samples we...
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - April 11, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Inhibition of A β aggregation by naphtho-γ-pyrone derivatives from a marine-derived fungus, Aspergillus sp. MPUC239
AbstractAlzheimer ’s disease (AD) is an important human disease that mainly causes cognitive impairments. Growing evidence has shown that amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide plays a key role in AD pathogenesis in what is known as the Aβ cascade hypothesis. This hypothesis suggests the importance of suppressing Aβ aggregatio n and Aβ production. The latter process is governed by β-site APP Cleaving Enzyme1 (BACE1) and γ-secretase. We, therefore, focused on Aβ aggregation inhibitory activity, initially assessing numerous extracts derived from our marine-derived fungus collections. One EtOAc extract derived from anAspergillus sp...
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - April 10, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Integerrima A –E, phenylethanoid glycosides from the stem of Callicarpa integerrima
AbstractFive new phenylethanoid glycosides integerrima A-E (1-5) were isolated from the stem ofCallicarpa integerrima for the first time. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. In addition, cytotoxicity, anti-adipogenic and antioxidant activities were evaluated. All the phenylethanoid glycosides would be nontoxic to the normal human hepatocytes LO-2 and pre-adipocytes 3T3-L1 cell lines, significantly promote the proliferation of normal hepatocytes, thus displaying the potential for hepatoprotective. Integerrima A (1), C (3) and D (4) exhibited selectively moderate cytotoxic activity against t...
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - March 31, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Correction to: Discrimination of Curcuma species from Asia using intron length polymorphism markers in genes encoding diketide-CoA synthase and curcumin synthase
(Source: Journal of Natural Medicines)
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - March 29, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Ecological and pharmacognostical characteristics in Ephedra saxatilis in the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley of southeastern Tibetan Plateau, China
AbstractIn the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, China (29 °07′49.5"N, 92 °41′11.0"E, 3256 m above sea level), we found anEphedra saxatilis community in the xeric steppe with shrubland vegetation habitat of the broad alluvial plain of the river with soil having relatively higher water-soluble cation (Ca2+, 8.62; K+, 1.94; Mg2+, 2.38 mmol/100 g dry soil weight) and nitrogen (NO3−, 21.78; NH4+, 1.82 mmol/100 g dry soil weight) content. The ranges of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in 13E. saxatilis samples were as follows: ephedrine, not detected –3.03 of dry weight (%...
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - March 20, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Three new meroterpenoids from Sargassum macrocarpum and their inhibitory activity against amyloid β aggregation
AbstractAmyloid β (Aβ) is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Aβ aggregation in the brain is considered the cause of AD. Therefore, inhibiting Aβ aggregation and degrading existing Aβ aggregates is a promising approach for the treatment and prevention of the disease. In se arching for inhibitors of Aβ42 aggregation, we found that meroterpenoids isolated fromSargassum macrocarpum possess potent inhibitory activities. Therefore, we searched for active compounds from this brown alga and isolated 16 meroterpenoids, which contain three new compounds. The structures of these new compou...
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - March 18, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Genetic identification of the original plant species for Mentha Herb listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia and analyses of their essential oil composition
In this study, 43 Mentha Herb products collected from the Japanese market and two plant samples of the original species of Japanese Mentha Herb harvested in China were identified by sequence analyses of therpl16 regions in the chloroplast DNA, and the composition of their ether extracts was analyzed by GC –MS. Almost all samples were identified asM. canadensis L., and the main component of their ether extracts was menthol, although there were variations in their composition. However, there were some samples thought to be derived from otherMentha species, even though their main component was menthol. For quality control o...
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - March 18, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Correction to: Suppressive effects of processed aconite root on dexamethasone-induced muscle ring finger protein-1 expression and its active ingredients
(Source: Journal of Natural Medicines)
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - March 16, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Correction to: The ability of callus tissues induced from three Allium plants to accumulate health-beneficial natural products, S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides
(Source: Journal of Natural Medicines)
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - March 15, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Acacetin attenuates the pancreatic and hepatorenal dysfunction in type 2 diabetic rats induced by high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin
In conclusion, the experimental results demonstrated that acacetin improved the lipids and glucose lev els, and hepatorenal antioxidant capacity, as well as ameliorated hepatorenal dysfunction in type 2 diabetic rats, and the potential mechanism might be associated with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.Graphical abstract (Source: Journal of Natural Medicines)
Source: Journal of Natural Medicines - March 9, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
