Immunosuppressive sesquiterpenes from Buddleja daviddi

Hinokinin alleviates high fat diet/streptozotocin-induced cardiac injury in mice through modulation in oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis

Type 2 diabetes, a global health concern has been considered as major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Hinokinin, an emerging bioactive lignin, is reported to show wide range of pharmacological activities. However, the protective role and mechanisms of Hinokinin against type 2 diabetes-mediated cardiotoxicity are still remains unknown. An experimental type 2 diabetic mice model was created by treating animals with high fat diet for four weeks and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg body weight). Post-type 2 diabetic induction, animals orally treated with Hinokinin (20 or 40 mg/kg body weight) for six weeks. The type 2 diabetic mice exhibited a rise in blood glucose level as well as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c %), decrease in weekly body weights, decrease in food intake, reduction in absolute heart weight, fall in serum insulin level with altered lipid profile and cardiac functional damage. Diabetic mice treated with Hinokinin attenuated hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and cardiac dysfunction. In addition, Hinokinin ameliorated histological alterations, fibrosis and glycated proteins in HFD/STZ-induced mice. Type 2 diabetic condition in mice exacerbated oxidative stress, inflammatory status and apoptosis. Hinokinin treatment significantly assuaged oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis and elevated antioxidant defenses in diabetic heart. The underlying mechanisms for such mitigation involved the modulation of Nrf2/Keap1/ARE pathway, MAPKs (JNK, p38 and ERK 1/2) and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB mediated inflammatory pathways and mitochondrial-dependent (intrinsic) apoptosis pathway. In conclusion, the results of this study provided clear evidence that Hinokinin protects against HFD/STZ (type 2 diabetes)-induced cardiac injury by alleviating oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

An Ethnopharmacological, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review on Lignans from Mexican Bursera spp

The genus Bursera belongs to the family Burseraceae and has been used in traditional Mexican medicine for treating various pathophysiological disorders. The most representative phytochemicals isolated from this genus are terpenoids and lignans. Lignans are phenolic metabolites known for their antioxidant, apoptotic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-protozoal properties. Though the genus includes more than 100 species, we have attempted to summarize the biological activities of the 34 lignans isolated from selected Mexican Bursera plants.

Jaspiferin G, a new isomalabaricane-type triterpenoid from the sponge Jaspis stellifera

A new isomalabaricane-type triterpenoid, jaspiferin G (1), together with four known isomalabaricane-type triterpenoids, isogeoditin A (2), 13-(E)-isogeoditin A (3), jaspolide E (4), and 22,23-dihydrostellettin D (5), was isolated from the marine sponge Jaspis stellifera. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data ((1)H and (13)C NMR, (1)H(-1)H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and ROESY) and mass spectrometry.

Hinokinin, an emerging bioactive lignan

Hinokinin is a lignan isolated from several plant species that has been recently investigated in order to establish its biological activities. So far, its cytotoxicity, its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities have been studied. Particularly interesting is its notable anti-trypanosomal activity.

Humulane-type sesquiterpenoids from Pilea cavaleriei subsp. crenata

Nine new, uncommon humulane-type sesquiterpenoids (1, 2, 4, 6-11), together with two known derivatives, were isolated from extracts of the plant Pilea cavaleriei subsp. crenata. The structures of these compounds were fully elucidated by extensive analyses of spectroscopic data (MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR), use of the Mosher method, and by X-ray crystallographic analysis, in combination with chemical conversions. An ene reaction was discovered during the chemical transformations, which might provide an explanation for the wide distribution of the allylic hydroperoxide group in natural products.