Effects of Central Kalimantan plant extracts on intraerythrocytic Babesia gibsoni in culture. (33/289)

The inhibitory effects of 45 plant extracts selected from Central Kalimantan, Indonesia on Babesia gibsoni in vitro and their acute toxicity to mice were evaluated. Of these plant extracts studied, Arcangelisia flava, Curcuma zedoaria, Garcinia benthamiana, Lansium domesticum and Peronema canescens were found to have appreciable antibabesial activity with IC50 values from 5.3 to 49.3 microg/ml without acute toxicity in mice at the intraperitoneal dose of 0.7 g/kg of body weight.  (+info)

Astilbic acid induced COLO 205 cell apoptosis by regulating Bcl-2 and Bax expression and activating caspase-3. (34/289)

AIM: To investigate the effect of astilbic acid (3beta, 6beta-dihydroxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid, AA) on human colorectal carcinoma COLO 205 cell proliferation and apoptosis. METHODS: Proliferation of COLO 205 cells was measured by MTT assay. Content of DNA in COLO 205 cell was measured by modified diphenylamine assay. AA-induced morphological changes was observed with fluorescence microscope and transmission electron microscope. DNA fragmentation was visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis. Apoptosis rate and cell cycle distribution were determined by flow cytometric analysis. Expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were visioned by immunohistochemical analysis. The change of relative mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) in COLO 205 cell was analyzed with FCM after rhodamine 123 staining. RESULTS: The IC50 (96 h) of AA for inhibiting COLO 205 cell proliferation was 61.56+/-0.34 micromol/L. AA induced a marked concentration- and time-dependent inhibition of COLO 205 cell proliferation and reduced the DNA content in COLO 205 cell. Cells treated with AA 64 micromol/L showed typical morphological changes of apoptosis and DNA ladder pattern. The cell cycle was arrested in G0/G1 phase, and the apoptosis rate was 28.25 % for COLO 205 cells treated with AA 64 micromol/L for 48 h. Meanwhile the expression of Bcl-2 protein was decreased while that of Bax was increased and relative MTP was decreased as well. DEVD-CHO 1 micromol/L could increase the viability of COLO 205 cells treated with AA for 48 h. CONCLUSION: AA showed potent inhibitory activity on COLO 205 cells proliferation, and could induce COLO 205 cells apoptosis through disturbing DNA replication, down-regulating Bcl-2 expression, and up-regulating Bax expression, lowering relative MTP, and activating caspase-3 pathway.  (+info)

A new phenanthrene glycoside and other constituents from Dioscorea opposita. (35/289)

Phytochemical investigation of the rhizome of Dioscorea opposita has led to the isolation of a new phenanthrene glycoside, 3,4,6-trihydroxyphenanthrene-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), and five known compounds, soyacerebroside I (2), adenosine (3), beta-sitosterol (4), palmitic acid (5) and palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine (6). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 1D- and 2D-NMR. Compounds 1-6 exhibited no antifungal activity against the human pathogenic yeasts Candida albicans, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis.  (+info)

A new steroidal saponin from Dioscorea cayenensis. (36/289)

The new 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3beta,26-dihydroxy-20,22-seco-25(R)-furost-5-en-20,22- dione-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-[alpha- L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), along with the known methyl protodioscin (2), asperoside (3) and prosapogenin A of dioscin (4) were isolated from the rhizomes of Dioscorea cayenensis LAM.-HOLL (Dioscoreaceae). Their structures were established mainly on the basis of 600 MHz 2D-NMR spectral data. 4 exhibited antifungal activity against the human pathogenic yeasts Candida albicans, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis (MICs of 20.8, 6.25, 25 microg/ml, respectively), whereas saponins 1-3 were inactive.  (+info)

Two novel dicoumaro-p-menthanes from Gerbera piloselloides (L.) CASS. (37/289)

Two new type dicoumarins (dicoumaro-p-menthanes), named dibothrioclinins I (1) and II (2) were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Gerbera piloselloides (L.) CASS., collected in Yunnan Province, China. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of MS, 1D ((1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, DEPT and NOE) and 2D ((1)H-(1)H COSY, HMQC, HMBC) NMR spectral analyses. The relative structures of the two compounds were established by NOE difference spectroscopy and further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.  (+info)

Taccasterosides A-C, novel C28-sterol oligoglucosides from the rhizomes of Tacca chantrieri. (38/289)

Three novel C(28)-sterol oligoglucosides, named taccasterosides A-C (1-3), were isolated from the rhizomes of Tacca chantrieri (Taccaceae). Their structures were determined by detailed spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR data, and a few chemical transformations.  (+info)

Anti-angiogenic activity of convallamaroside, the steroidal saponin isolated from the rhizomes and roots of Convallaria majalis L. (39/289)

Angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in tumor growth and represents a key target for chemopreventive intervention. Despite the large number of existing angiogenesis inhibitors, there is still a great demand for new anti-angiogenic compounds. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of administration of convallamaroside, a steroidal saponin isolated from the lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis L.) to mice on tumor angiogenesis reaction induced by tumor cells. Angiogenic activity was evaluated by mice intradermal test. Convallamaroside showed a significant inhibitory effect on the number of new vessels induced in mice by human kidney tumor cells (p < 0.001). Similarly, administration of convallamaroside to mice decreased the number of new vessels induced by sarcoma mice cells (p < 0.001).  (+info)

The use of internal nitrogen stores in the rhizomatous grass Calamagrostis epigejos during regrowth after defoliation. (40/289)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The regrowth dynamics after defoliation of the invasive grass Calamagrostis epigejos were studied. As nitrogen (N) reserves have been shown to play an important role during plant regrowth, the identity, location and relative importance for regrowth of N stores were determined in this rhizomatous grass. METHODS: Plant growth, nitrate uptake and root respiration were followed during recovery from defoliation. Water soluble carbohydrates, nitrate, free amino acids and soluble proteins were analysed in the remaining organs. KEY RESULTS: Nitrate uptake and root respiration were severely reduced during the first days of regrowth. Roots were the main net source of mobilized N. The quantitatively dominant N storage compounds were free amino acids. Free amino acids and soluble proteins in the roots decreased by 55 and 50%, respectively, and a substantial (approximately 38%) decrease in stubble protein was also observed. Although the relative abundance of several soluble proteins in roots decreased during the initial recovery from defoliation, no evidence was found for vegetative storage protein (VSP). Furthermore, rhizomes did not act as a N storage compartment. CONCLUSIONS: Production of new leaf area was entirely reliant, during the first week after defoliation, on N stores present in the plant. Mobilized N originated mainly from free amino acids and soluble proteins located in roots, and less so from proteins in stubble. Presence of VSP in the roots was not confirmed. The data suggest that rhizomes played an important role in N transport but not in N storage.  (+info)