Evaluation of chemical composition and antiedematogenic activity of the essential oil of Hyptis martiusii Benth

Evaluations of the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants and their components have been the subject of many studies. Furthermore, the biological activities of various plant species have been reported in various pieces of literature. Hyptis martiusii Benth (Lamiaceae), popularly known as “mad balm” is commonly found in the North, Southeast, and Northeast of Brazil. Its leaves are used ethnobiologically as antiulcerogenic, antimicrobial, antitumor and as insecticide. This study aimed to analyze the chemical composition of the essential oil of H. martiusii Benth (OEHM) by GC/MS as well as its possible topical activity as an antiedematogenic. This is verified by the models of ear edema induced by single (acute edema) and multiple (chronic edema) applications of croton oil topically, and systemically verified through the model of paw edema induced by carrageenan 1%. Doses of 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg OEHM were used in all tests. Chemical analysis of the oil revealed the 1,8-cineole (34.58%) and δ-carene (21:58%) as major components present in the essential oil. On the model of ear edema, acute and chronic OEHM in all the tested doses showed no significant antiedematogenic activity (p < 0.05). The systemic model of paw edema induced by carrageenin showed that a dose of 100 mg/kg effectively reduced swelling by 55.37% in the second hour evaluation when compared to the saline group. The anti-inflammatory systemic effect can give greater bioavailability of the components present in the essential oil and your interference in cytokines and leukotriene, thromboxane and prostaglandin biosynthesis. It is therefore concluded that OEHM presents systemic antiedematogenic activity but not topical activity at these doses.     

Chemical composition,antibacterial and antifungal activities of flowerhead and root essential oils of Santolina chamaecyparissus L., growing wild in Tunisia

The antimicrobial properties of essential oil from various Santolina species have not been investigated enough in the previous studies dealing with the biological activities of medicinal plants. In Tunisia, Santolina chamaecyparissus L. (Asteraceae) is the only Santolina species recorded and is used as vermifuge and emmenagogue. The chemical composition, antibacterial and antifungal properties of essential oils from the flowerheads and roots of spontaneous S. chamaecyparissus growing in Tunisia and the chemical composition which leads to the Tunisian chemotype are investigated here for the first time. Essential oils isolated by hydro distillation from flowerheads and roots of S. chamaecyparissus were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Two methods served for antimicrobial assays of the essential oils: diffusion in a solid medium and micro-well dilution assay. Antifungal tests were carried out by the agar incorporation method. Sixty-seven constituents were identified from the essential oil of the flowerhead. The major constituents were: 1,8-cineole and β-eudesmol. Two non identified compounds were present at the highest concentration in root oil. Flowerhead oil was characterized by high contents in monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes oxygenated compounds. The flowerhead essential oil demonstrated potent of antibacterial properties against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC, with MIC of 0.625 μg/ml. These findings demonstrate that the flowerhead essential oils of S. chamaecyparissus have excellent antibacterial properties and for this reason they could contribute to decrease the problem of microbial resistance to antibiotics.     

Effect of Cynomorium total flavone on depression model of perimenopausal rat

PurposeTo observe the effect of cynomorium total flavone on the depression model of perimenopausal rat and to analyze the action characteristics of cynomorium total flavone on depression of rat with perimenopausal syndrome.MethodDuplicate the model of rat with perimenopausal depression based on the combined method of incomplete castration and chronic stimulation, and keep drug administration for 35d. And then measure related behavior indicators and the change of biochemical index level in serum and brains; measure the estrogen/androgen receptor (ER/AR) in related tissues and the ERmRNA expression in hypothalamus.ResultIt can be seen that cynomorium total flavone can significantly improve the behavior indicators of rat with perimenopausal depression; obviously or significantly change the level of related biomedical indexes in serum and brains of perimenopausal depressed rat; obviously or significantly increase the expression of ER/AR in related tissues of perimenopausal depressed rat; obviously or significantly increase the ERmRNA expression in hypothalamus.ConclusionCynomorium total flavone can adjust hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis by increasing E2, and make related biomedical indexes and hormone receptors tend to be normal, so as to relieve perimenopausal syndrome and perimenopausal syndrome with depression.     

Anti-oxidative effects of silkworm storage protein 1 in HeLa cell

Silkworm hemolymph contains unique proteins that exhibit anti-apoptotic activity in mammalian cells. Among them, 30 K protein, which is one of the major anti-apoptotic molecules in silkworm hemolymph, has been well investigated. However, little is known about the biological functions of storage protein 1 (SP1), another main protein in silkworm hemolymph. In this study, the anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative activities of SP1 were analyzed. A stable cell line expressing SP1 was constructed, which showed strong anti-apoptotic effect induced by staurosporine treatment. In addition, the cell line exhibited resistance to oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide. For practical applications of SP1, recombinant SP1 was produced in Escherichia coli, and the supplementation of recombinant SP1 into culture medium exhibited anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative activities. In addition, SP1 was found to be a cell-penetrating protein and localized in the cytosol as well as on the plasma membrane. The findings showed that SP1 itself is not an anti-oxidant; rather, it mediates intracellular anti-oxidative activity. In conclusion, the cellular resistance of SP1 to apoptosis and oxidative stress will provide a new strategy that could be utilized in the bio-industry for the production of biologics as well as for the development of anti-aging cosmetics.     

Novel degraded polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinol and new polyprenylated benzophenone from Hypericum sampsonii

Norhypersampsone A (1), a novel degraded polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinol (PPAP) derivative, 3-(2-hydroxy-7-methyl-3-methyleneoct-6-enyl)-5-isoprenyl-2,4,6-trihydroxybenzophenone (2), a new polyprenylated benzophenone derivative, and nine known compounds (3–11) were isolated from Hypericum sampsonii. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic techniques. Compound 1 represents a novel cyclohexenone monocyclic-PPAP formed by losing the fragment of C-2–C-4 and the side chains at C-3 and C-5 in the phloroglucinol ring. The results of the inhibitory effects of compounds 1–11 on the nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages showed that compounds 1, 6–8, and 10 exhibited weak activities with IC₅₀ values in the range of 20.3–37.1 μM.     

Pregnane alkaloids from Sarcococca ruscifolia and their cytotoxic activity

Six pregnane alkaloids were isolated from the root of Sarcococca ruscifolia. The structures of three new alkaloids, namely, sarcorucinine E–G (1–3), were elucidated using spectroscopic methods, while three known alkaloids, namely, epipachysamine D, pachysamine M, and sarcovagine D, were identified by comparing their spectral data with those of the compounds reported earlier. All compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against multiple types of cancer cells.     

Functionalities tuned enantioselectivity of phenylcarbamate cyclodextrin clicked chiral stationary phases in HPLC

The mixed chloro‐ and methyl‐ functionalities can greatly modulate the enantioselectivities of phenylcarbamate cyclodextrin (CD) clicked chiral stationary phases (CSPs). A comparison study is herein reported for per(4‐chloro‐3‐methyl)phenylcarbamate and per(2‐chloro‐5‐methyl)phenylcarbamate β‐CD clicked CSPs (i.e., CCC4M3‐CSP and CCC2M5‐CSP). The enantioselectivity dependence on column temperature was studied in both normal‐phase and reversed‐phase mode high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The thermodynamic study revealed that the stronger intermolecular interactions can be formed between CCC4M3‐CSP and chiral solutes to drive the chiral separation. The higher enantioselectivities of CCC4M3‐CSP were further demonstrated with the enantioseparation of 17 model racemates in HPLC.     

The Cultural-Historical Development of Mental Processes and the Theory of Stepwise Formation of Mental Actions and Concepts

The article examines the problem of the relationship between universal and specific forms of cultural–historical development of mental processes. From different methodological approaches, the author prefers an activity approach which emphasizes genetic primacy of external practical activity. This approach allows, according to the author, universality of internalization and at the same time ethnic uniqueness of mental processes. The article clarifies the problem of internalization through two practical examples: 1) the development of mental counting actions and 2) the process of human goal setting.     

Synthesis and anti-rhinovirus activity of novel 3-[2-(pyridinyl)vinyl]substituted -2H-chromenes and -4H-chromen-4-ones

Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are the most common cause of viral respiratory infections and their complications. So far, no anti-viral agent has been approved for prevention or treatment of HRV infections. Pursuing our researches on small molecules with anti-rhinovirus activity, in this paper we describe the synthesis and in vitro anti-HRV 1B and 14 properties of new [2-(2H-chromen-3-yl)vinyl]pyridines and 3-[2-(pyridinyl)vinyl]-4H-chromen-4-ones. Generally, the synthesized compounds interfered with the replication of both serotypes at the micromolar or submicromolar concentrations. Preliminary results on their mechanism of action, performed on selected (E)-2-[2-(2H-chromen-3-yl)vinyl]pyridine, indicate an interference with the early step(s) of HRV 1B and 14 replication, probably at the uncoating level.