A lignan glucoside from Euphrasia rostkoviana

A new lignan glucoside has been isolated from Euphrasia rostkoviana. Its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic means and by correlation with dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol to be dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol- 4-β-d-glucoside.     

Effect of seabuckthorn leaf extracts on circulating energy fuels, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant parameters in rats during exposure to cold, hypoxia and restraint (C–H–R) stress and post stress recovery

The present study was carried out to study mechanism of adaptogenic activity of seabuckthorn leaf extract, administered orally in rats both in single and five doses at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight 30 min prior to C–H–R exposure. The efficacy of the extract was studied on circulating energy fuels, lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant parameters in rats on attaining the T_rec 23 °C during C–H–R exposure and after recovery (T_rec 37 °C) from C–H–R induced hypothermia. Single dose treatment in rats restricted rise in blood malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and decrease in glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) levels. Both single and five doses also restricted the rise in serum free fatty acids (FFA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels on attaining T_rec 23 °C during C–H–R exposure, suggesting more efficient utilization of FFA for energy production and better maintained cell membrane permeability. This suggested that the adaptogenic activity of the extract might be due to its anti-oxidative activity, maintained blood glucose levels, better utilization of FFA and improved cell membrane permeability.     

Xanthones of Swertia bimaculata

The whole plant of Swertia bimaculata Hf. & T. has been shown to contain four tetra-and five penta-oxygenated xanthones, three of which are previously unreported in nature. The xanthones are broadly based on 1,3,5- and 1,3,7-oxygenated systems with added oxygen functions at C₂, C₄ and/or C₈ positions and represent a number of methoxylated patterns. In addition, three xanthones have been found to be present in a bound form, the sugar moiety containing glucose and glucuronic acid. This is the first demonstration of the occurrence of xanthones and xanthone disaccharides in a Swertia species which are common to both Swertia and Frasera species. The results are thus of considerable phylogenetic significance.