Biflavanones, diterpenes, and coumarins from the roots of Stellera chamaejasme L. (1/40)

A new biflavanone (1) with a C-3/C-3" linkage, a new daphnane-type diterpene (2) acylated by an unsaturated fatty acid, and a new coumarin glycoside (3), along with six lignans, two phenylpropanoids, five flavonoids, two diterpenes, and three coumarins were isolated from the roots of Stellera chamaejasme L. (Thymelaeaceae). Elucidation of these secondary metabolites of S. chamaejasme L. supplied strong chemical verification of the close taxonomic relationships among the genera Stellera, Daphne, and Wikstroemia, all of which belong to the family Thymelaeaceae.  (+info)

Four new 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives from withered wood of Aquilaria sinensis. (2/40)

Four new chromone derivatives, 5-hydroxy-6-methoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone (1), 6-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)chromone (2), 8-chloro-2-(2-phenylethyl)-5,6,7-trihydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromone (3), 6,7-dihydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromone (4) were isolated from the MeOH extract of withered wood of Aquilaria sinensis, together with seven known constituents of agarwood.  (+info)

Rapid in vitro propagation of medicinally important Aquilaria agallocha. (3/40)

Aquilaria agallocha can produce fragrant agarwood used for incense, traditional medicine and other products. An efficient plant regeneration system was established via organogenesis from shoots developed from seedlings of Aquilaria agallocha. Shoots generated many buds on MS medium supplemented with 1.3 micromol/L BA (6-benzylaminopurine) in the first 7 weeks, and the buds elongated on MS medium with 1.3 micromol/L BA+0.5 micromol/L NAA (naphthaleneacetic acid) in another 7 weeks, 2.3 shoots 2 cm in length per explant were obtained within 14 weeks. Plantlets were rooted on 1/2 MS medium after being immersed in 5 micromol/L NAA for 48 h, 96.7% of the roots grew up two weeks later. All plantlets that survived acclimatization grew well in the pots.  (+info)

The cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects of 3-hydrogenkwadaphnin in K562 and jurkat cells is reduced by guanosine. (4/40)

3-hydrogenwadaphnin (3-HK) is a new daphnane-type diterpene ester isolated from Dendrostellera lessertii with strong anti-tumoral activity in animal models and in cultures. Here, prolonged effects of this new agent on proliferation and viability of several different cancerous cell lines were evaluated. Using [(3)H]thymidine incorporation, it was found that the drug inhibited cell proliferation and induced G1/S cell cycle arrest in leukemic cells 24 h after a single dose treatment. The cell viability of Jurkat cells was also decreased by almost 10 %, 31 % and 40 % after a single dose treatment (7.5 nM) at 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. The drug-treated cells were stained with acridine orange/ ethidium bromide to document the chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation. These observations were further confirmed by detection of DNA laddering pattern in the agarose gel electrophoresis of the extracted DNA from the treated cells. Treatment of K562 cells with the drug at 7.5, 15 and 30 nM caused apoptosis in 25 %, 45 % and 65 % of the cells, respectively. Exogenous addition of 25-50 microM guanosine and/or deoxyguanosine to the cell culture of the drug-treated cells restored DNA synthesis, released cell arrest at G1/S checkpoint and decreased the apoptotic cell death caused by the drug. These observations were not made using adenosine. However, the drug effects on K562 cells were potentiated by hypoxanthine. Based on these observations, perturbation of GTP metabolism is considered as one of the main reasons for apoptotic cell death by 3-HK.  (+info)

Induction of differentiation and apoptosis in three human leukemia cell lines by a new compound from Dendrostellera lessertii. (5/40)

It has previously been shown that Dendrostellera lessertii (Thymelaeaceae) has strong anticancer activity. In this study, the antileukemic activity of another new compound from the same plant extract is reported. Promyelocytic (NB4 and HL-60) and erythroleukemia (K562) cells were cultured in the presence of various concentrations of the new compound (0.5-3.0 mug/ml) for 3 d. The cell numbers were then determined by trypan blue exclusion test. The new compound inhibited growth and proliferation of NB4, HL-60 and K562 with IC50 values of 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 mg/ml, respectively. We also found that the new compound inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. At low concentrations and after 48 h of treatment, approximately 50%-70% of NB4 and HL-60 cells were differentiated to monocyte/macrophage lineage and approximately 30%-40% of the treated K562 cells were differentiated in the megakaryocytic lineage, as evidenced by morphological changes and nitro blue tetrazolium reduction assays. Results of Hoechst 33258 staining also indicated that the new compound induced NB4 and HL-60 cell apoptosis at their respective IC50 values after 72 h of treatment. Based on the present data, the new compound seems a good candidate for further evaluation as an effective chemotherapeutic agent acting through induction of differentiation and apoptosis.  (+info)

Capturing genomic signatures of DNA sequence variation using a standard anonymous microarray platform. (6/40)

Comparative genomics, using the model organism approach, has provided powerful insights into the structure and evolution of whole genomes. Unfortunately, only a small fraction of Earth's biodiversity will have its genome sequenced in the foreseeable future. Most wild organisms have radically different life histories and evolutionary genomics than current model systems. A novel technique is needed to expand comparative genomics to a wider range of organisms. Here, we describe a novel approach using an anonymous DNA microarray platform that gathers genomic samples of sequence variation from any organism. Oligonucleotide probe sequences placed on a custom 44 K array were 25 bp long and designed using a simple set of criteria to maximize their complexity and dispersion in sequence probability space. Using whole genomic samples from three known genomes (mouse, rat and human) and one unknown (Gonystylus bancanus), we demonstrate and validate its power, reliability, transitivity and sensitivity. Using two separate statistical analyses, a large numbers of genomic 'indicator' probes were discovered. The construction of a genomic signature database based upon this technique would allow virtual comparisons and simple queries could generate optimal subsets of markers to be used in large-scale assays, using simple downstream techniques. Biologists from a wide range of fields, studying almost any organism, could efficiently perform genomic comparisons, at potentially any phylogenetic level after performing a small number of standardized DNA microarray hybridizations. Possibilities for refining and expanding the approach are discussed.  (+info)

3-Hydrogenkwadaphnin induces monocytic differentiation and enhances retinoic acid-mediated granulocytic differentiation in NB4 cell line. (7/40)

Recently, we have reported that 3-hydrogenkwadaphnin (3-HK), a diterpene ester isolated from Dendrostellera lessertii (Thymealeaceae), is very effective against leukemia cell lines without any detectable effects on normal cells (Moosavi et al., 2005b). In this study, we report that 3-HK induces G1 cell-cycle arrest, differentiation and apoptosis in APL NB4 cell line. Indeed, the drug between 24 to 96 h induced 7-65% growth inhibition of NB4 cells. Cell viability was also decreased by 2-55% between 24 to 96 h treatments with the drug, respectively. These effects of the drug were also dose-dependent. According to flow cytomtry results, 3-HK (15 nM) induced a significant G1-arrest up to 24 h which was consequently followed with appearance of sub-G(1) peak at 72 to 96 h. Hoechst 33258 staining and DNA fragmentation assays confirmed the occurrence of apoptosis among the treated cells. On the other hand, NBT reducing assay, Wright-Giemsa staining, phagocytic activity and expression of cell surface markers (CD11b and CD14) confirmed that the inhibition of proliferation is associated with differentiation especially toward macrophage-like morphology. Interestingly, 3-HK at 5 and 10 nM enhanced the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in NB4 cells. Based on these results, 3-HK might become an ideal candidate for treatment of APL patients pending full exploration of its biological functions.  (+info)

Plasma membrane homing of tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase under the influence of 3-hydrogenkwadaphnin, an antiproliferative agent from Dendrostellera lessertii. (8/40)

Several mammalian enzymes are anchored to the outer surface of the plasma membrane by a covalently attached glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) structure. These include acetylcholinesterase, alkaline phosphatase (AP) and 5'-nucleotidase among other enzymes. Recently, it has been reported that these membrane enzymes can be released into the serum by the GPI-dependent phospholipase D under various medical disturbances such as cancer and/or by chemical and physical manipulation of the biological systems. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with two consecutive effective concentrations of 3-hydrogenkwadaphnin (3-HK, 3 nM) for 48 h enhanced membrane AP activity by almost 330% along with a 40% reduction in the AP activity of the cell culture medium. In addition, our data indicate that 3-HK is capable of inducing mainly the tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) isoenzyme, along with enhancing its thermostability. These findings, besides establishing a correlation between the antiproliferative activity of 3-HK and the extent of plasma membrane AP activity, might assist in the development of new diagnostic tools for following cancer medical treatments.  (+info)

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