Nortriterpenoids and lignans from Schisandra sphenanthera

Nortriterpenoids, sphenadilactone C (1) and sphenasin A (2), together with four known lignans (3-6), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Schisandra sphenanthera. Their structures were elucidated by extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data and compound 2 was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 features a partial enol moiety and an acetamide group in its structure. In addition, compounds 1, 3-6 showed weak anti-HIV-1 activity with EC₅₀ values in the range of 15.5-29.5 μg/mL.     

Anti-liver fibrotic lignans from the fruits of Schisandra arisanensis and Schisandra sphenanthera

Three new polyoxygenated C₁₈-dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, arisanschinins M and N (1 and 2) and schisphenin A (3), together with eight related metabolites (4–11), were isolated from the fruits of Schisandra arisanensis and Schisandra sphenanthera, respectively. The structures of 1–3 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic and 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) analyses. The configuration of the biphenyl moiety in the octadiene ring was determined by circular dichroism (CD). Compound 1 possessed an unprecedented 3-(1-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-3-methyl-1,4-dioxo-2-one lactonide ring system attaching at C-6/C-14. Pharmacological studies revealed that compounds 3, 4, 6, 7, and 10 exhibited significant anti-hepatic fibrosis activity, while 9 and 11 showed cytotoxicity against HSC-T6 cells. The biogenetic pathway for compound 1 was also proposed.     

Phytochemical studies and biological activity of three Chinese Schisandra species (Schisandra sphenanthera,Schisandra henryi and Schisandra rubriflora): current findings and future applications

Phytochemistry Reviews - Schisandra chinensis (Chinese magnolia vine) is the best-known representative of the genus Schisandra, widely used in the official East-Asian, North American and European...     

华中五味子ISSR-PCR反应体系优化及引物筛选

系统研究了华中五味子ISSR PCR反应体系中的主要影响因子,确立华中五味子ISSR-PCR最适反应体系,并筛选出12条有效引物。单因子实验结果显示,华中五味子ISSR-PCR反应体系中各主要成分的适宜浓度范围为,Mg²⁺ 1.50~3.50 mmol·L^-1,dNTPs 0.10~0.35 mmol·L^-1,引物0.25~0.60 μmol·L^-1,Taq酶0.50~1.50 U。4因子3水平正交实验确立了最适反应体系,即20 μL体系中包含2.50 mmol·L^-1 Mg²⁺、0.20 mmol·L^-1 dNTPs、0.25 μmol·L^-1引物、1.50 U Taq酶、60 ng DNA模板、2.50 μL 10×PCR Buffer。本研究为华中五味子种质资源的评估及遗传多样性分析奠定基础。     

Intercarpellary growth of pollen tubes in the extragynoecial compitum and its contribution to fruit set in an apocarpous species, Schisandra sphenanthera (Schisandraceae)

? Premise of the study: Apocarpous plants possess carpels that are separated in the gynoecium. Extragynoecial compita, commonly occurring in basal angiosperms, have been proposed to have the potential to increase offspring quantity in apocarpous species through the intercarpellary growth of pollen tubes. To date, the impact of an extragynoecial compitum on fruit or seed set has not been studied in any species. This study investigated the pollen tube pathway between adjacent carpels and its contribution to fruit set in Schisandra sphenanthera. ? Methods: We investigated the fruit set ratio in the field and collected hundreds of gynoecia at their full flowering stage. Pollinated carpel ratio and pollen tube pathway observations were performed using fluorescence optics. ? Key results: Pollen grains germinated and tubes extended along the pseudostyle surface. Some of them turned and entered the ovules at the end of the stigmatic crest, whereas others subsequently grew into neighboring carpels through promontory connections located at the base of the unfused carpels. No tubes were found growing on the surface of the receptacle. More than 24 carpels could be fertilized by pollen tubes from one carpel through hand pollination. The pollinated carpel ratio was significantly lower than the fruit set ratio under natural conditions. ? Conclusions: Pollen tubes from one carpel can easily cross in the extragynoecial compitum between the adjacent carpels of S. sphenanthera, and this intercarpellary growth of pollen tubes can significantly increase the fruit set of apocarpous species, at least in S. sphenanthera.     

华中五味子（五味子科）雄花和雌花的形态发生

通过扫描电镜观察了中国特有种华中五味子（ＳｃｈｉｓａｎｄｒａｓｐｈｅｎａｎｔｈｅｒａＲｅｈｄｅｔ．Ｗｉｌｓ）,雄花和雌花的形态发生过程,雄花：花被片和雄蕊连续向顶发生,未见有雌性结构的分化,花药的分化先花丝,雄蕊始终螺旋状排列在柱状花托上,雌花：花被片和心皮也为２／５序列连续地螺旋状向顶发生,未见有雄性结构的分化,心皮原基近轴面基部边缘的活动不明显,心皮为对折型：胚珠原基在心皮近轴面上近边缘处发生     

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, Schisandra sphenanthera

Schisandra sphenanthera (Schisandraceae) is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant. In this study, nine polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed and characterized for the species. A genomic DNA enrichment protocol was used to isolate microsatellite loci and polymorphism was explored using 36 individuals sampled from a natural population. The observed number of alleles ranged from 2 to 10 with an average of 5.2. Expected and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.30 to 0.82 and 0.33 to 0.97, respectively. These microsatellites have been directly applied to both population and conservation genetic studies of S. sphenanthera.     

华中五味子抗氧化和细胞毒活性研究

我们研究了华中五味子的根、茎、叶、果实乙醇提取物对脂性自由基DPPH及超氧阴离子的清除作用,同时观察了四种不同提取物在体外对肿瘤细胞株的细胞毒作用。我们发现,华中五味子根的乙醇提取物清除自由基活性和对肿瘤细胞杀伤作用比茎、叶和果实的提取物都强,研究结果提示华中五味子的根可以作为抗氧化剂的新来源。     

华中五味子干燥材料DNA提取方法的研究

目的：建立一套适合从华中五味子硅胶干燥的幼芽中提取高质量DNA的方法,为进一步开展分子生物学研究奠定基础。方法：比较SDS法、SIX-CTAB法、SDS-CTAB法以及经过作者改进的CTAB法,运用紫外光谱和电泳分析方法测定所得DNA样品的纯度与完整性。结果：四种方法中改进CTAB法所得DNA纯度最高,完整性好,其A260/A280值为1．81,A260/A230值为2．13,经稳定性试验证明该方法稳定。结论：改进CTAB法是一套适合从华中五味子硅胶干燥的幼芽中提取高质量DNA的方法。     

LC-MS/MS法分析北五味子中的木脂素成分

建立了同时测定北五味子果实中6种木脂素含量的高效液相色谱-离子阱质谱方法。样品经正己烷提取,提取液过滤后通过旋转蒸发仪浓缩近干,用甲醇溶解,然后采用LC-MS/MS进行测定。6种木脂素在0.005～10.0 mg/g范围内呈良好线性,相关系数为0.9907～0.9998。6种木脂素的定量限为4.0×10-4～1.5×10-3mg/g,平均添加回收率为81.01%～92.45%,相对标准偏差为3.05%～7.98%。采用本文所建立的方法对北五味子果实进行测定,获得了很好的分离效果,分析结果令人满意。     

A study about drug combination therapy of Schisandra sphenanthera extract and Rapamycin in healthy subjects

To assess the effect of the drug combination of Schisandra sphenanthera extract (SchE) and Rapamycin (RAPA), 18 healthy subjects were given oral treatments of RAPA alone and with SchE. Pharmacokinetic investigations and indexes of hepatic and renal functions, as well as other indices of oral RAPA administration (2 mg), were performed both before and after the SchE treatment period. Whole-blood RAPA concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The research found that the mean whole-blood RAPA AUC(0-∞), C(max), and t(max) increased almost 2-, 2.1-, and 1.3-fold, respectively, and CL/F (-38.0%) decreased almost 1.6-fold in these subjects when RAPA was administered with SchE compared with oral RAPA administered alone. The results of this study proved that SchE can increase the oral bioavailability of RAPA and will add important information to the interaction area between drugs and herbal products.     

Deceit pollination and the effect of deforestation on reproduction in dioecious Schisandra sphenanthera (Schisandraceae) in central China

The fruits of Schisandra sphenanthera (dioecious) are used to produce ‘Nan-Wuweizi',an important Chinese medicine.However,long-term exploitation and habitat destruction have threatened these plants in ...     

Schisandra chinensis Peptidoglycan-Assisted Transmembrane Transport of Lignans Uniquely Altered the Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Mechanisms in Human HepG2 Cell Model

Schisandra chinensis (Turz Baill) (S. chinensis) (SC) fruit is a hepatoprotective herb containing many lignans and a large amount of polysaccharides. A novel polysaccharide (called SC-2) was isolated from SC of MW 841 kDa, which exhibited a protein-to-polysaccharide ratio of 0.4089, and showed a characteristic FTIR spectrum of a peptidoglycan. Powder X-ray diffraction revealed microcrystalline structures within SC-2. SC-2 contained 10 monosaccharides and 15 amino acids (essential amino acids of 78.12%w/w). In a HepG2 cell model, SC-2 was shown by MTT and TUNEL assay to be completely non-cytotoxic. A kinetic analysis and fluorescence-labeling technique revealed no intracellular disposition of SC-2. Combined treatment of lignans with SC-2 enhanced the intracellular transport of schisandrin B and deoxyschisandrin but decreased that of gomisin C, resulting in alteration of cell-killing bioactivity. The Second Law of Thermodynamics allows this type of unidirectional transport. Conclusively, SC-2 alters the transport and cell killing capability by a “Catcher-Pitcher Unidirectional Transport Mechanism”.     

An immunostimulatory polysaccharide (SCP-IIa) from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill

A water-soluble polysaccharide named SCP-IIa was isolated from the water extract of the fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill by means of ethanol precipitation, deproteination, anion-exchange and gel-permeation chromatography. The molecular weight of SCP-IIa was ascertained via HPLC, and immuno-modulating effect was evaluated using the immunosuppressed model induced by cyclophosphamide. SCP-IIa was a homogeneous form of polysaccharide, with an average molecular weight of approximately 7700 Da. The detected parameters showed that SCP-IIa increased the thymus and spleen indices, as well as the pinocytic activity of the peritoneal macrophages in immunosuppressed mice. The splenocyte proliferation assay showed that SCP-IIa, in combination with Con A or LPS, positively affected splenocyte proliferation. Moreover, the polysaccharide promoted hemolysin formation. The results suggested that SCP-IIa was involved in immunomodulatory effects leading to the exploration for SCP-IIa as a potential immunostimulant.     

木荷茎中木脂素类化学成分研究

为了研究山茶科植物木荷(Schima superbaGardn.et Champ.)茎中的化学成分,采用硅胶柱层析、Sepha-dex LH-20、HPLC等色谱方法进行分离,NMR和MS等波谱学方法进行结构鉴定,从木荷茎中分离鉴定了9个木脂素类化合物,分别为丁香脂素(syringaresinol,1)、pinoresinol(2)、落叶松脂醇(lariciresinol,3)、balanophonin(4)、3-acetoxymethyl-5-[(E)-2-formylethen-1-yl]-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran(5)、4,9-dihydroxy-3,5′-dimethoxy-4′,7-epoxy-8,5′-neolignane-9′-yl acetate(6)、二聚松柏醇(dihydrodehydrodico-nifery alcohol,7)、异落叶松脂素(isolariciresinol,8)和1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-O-(2-methoxy-4-omegahydroxypropylphenyl)propane-1,3-diol(9)。以上木脂素类化合物均为首次从该植物分离得到。     

Lignans from the roots of Echinops giganteus

Two new lignans, (+)-4-(3-methylbutanoyl)-2,6-di(3,4-dimethoxy)phenyl-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane and (+)-4-hydroxy-2,6-di(3,4-dimethoxy)phenyl-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, together with the known lupeol and sitosteryl beta-D-glucopyranoside, have been isolated from the roots of Echinops giganteus var. lelyi C. D. Adams (Compositae). The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral studies and comparison with published data.     

Modeling the synergy between HSV-2 and HIV and potential impact of HSV-2 therapy

Mounting evidence indicates that genital HSV-2 infection may increase susceptibility to HIV infection and that co-infection may increase infectiousness. Accordingly, antiviral treatment of people with HSV-2 may mitigate the incidence of HIV in populations where both pathogens occur. To better understand the epidemiological synergy between HIV and HSV-2, we formulate a deterministic compartmental model that describes the transmission dynamics of these pathogens. Unlike earlier models, ours incorporates gender and heterogeneous mixing between activity groups. We derive explicit expressions for the reproduction numbers of HSV-2 and HIV, as well as the invasion reproduction numbers via next generation matrices. A qualitative analysis of the system includes the local and global behavior of the model. Simulations reinforce these analytical results and demonstrate epidemiological synergy between HSV-2 and HIV. In particular, numerical results show that HSV-2 favors the invasion of HIV, may dramatically increase the peak as well as reducing the time-to-peak of HIV prevalence, and almost certainly has exacerbated HIV epidemics. The potential population-level impact of HSV-2 on HIV is demonstrated by calculating the fraction of HIV infections attributable to HSV-2 and the difference between HIV prevalence in the presence and absence of HSV-2. The potential impact of treating people with HSV-2 on HIV control is demonstrated by comparing HIV prevalence with and without HSV-2 therapy. Most importantly, we illustrate that the aforementioned aspects of the population dynamics can be significantly influenced by the sexual structure of the population.     

Lignans from the fruits of Forsythia suspensa

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the methanol extract of the fruits of Forsythia suspensa Vahl has led to the isolation of two new monoepoxylignans, forsythialan A (1) and B (2), together with a known tetrahydrofurofuran lignan, phillyrin (3). The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The antioxidant activities of these lignans have been assessed by evaluating their protective effects against peroxynitrite-induced oxidative stress. The compounds 1 and 2 showed protective effects against renal epithelial cell injury by 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), a peroxynitrite generator. The relatively stronger antioxidant activities of compounds 1 and 2 may be associated with the presence of aromatic hydroxy function.     

Lignans, an amide and anti-platelet activities from Piper philippinum

Investigation of the stem extract of Piper philippinum led to isolation of eight compounds, piperphilippinins I-VI (1-6), philippinamide (7), and (+)-bornyl caffeate (8), together with 26 known compounds. Among the isolates, (-)-3',4'-O,O-demethylenehinokinin (10) and 3,4-methylenedioxycinnamaldehyde (23) showed anti-platelet activities in vitro.