Identification by HPLC-PAD-MS and quantification by HPLC-PAD of phenylethanoid glycosides of five Phlomis species

The qualitative and quantitative determination of phenylethanoid glycosides in methanolic extracts of five species of the genus Phlomis (Lamiaceae) has been investigated using a new reversed-phase HPLC method combined with photodiode-array detection and electrospray/MS analysis. Forsythoside B, verbascoside, samioside, alyssonoside, isoverbascoside, leucosceptosides A and B and martynoside were detected. The quantification of the above constituents was performed using echinacoside as internal standard. Knowledge of the content of phenylethanoid glycosides contributes to the chemotaxonomy of the genus.     

Repetitive elements in mammalian telomeres suppress bacterial DNA-induced immune activation

Bacterial DNA contains immunostimulatory CpG motifs that trigger an innate immune response capable of promoting host survival following infectious challenge. Yet CpG-driven immune activation may also have deleterious consequences, ranging from autoimmune disease to death. We find that repetitive elements present at high frequency in mammalian telomeres, but rare in bacteria, down-regulate CpG-induced immune activation. Suppressive activity correlates with the ability of telomeric TTAGGG repeats to form G-tetrads. Colocalization of CpG DNA with Toll-like receptor 9 in endosomal vesicles is disrupted by these repetitive elements, although cellular binding and uptake remain unchanged. These findings are the first to establish that specific host-derived molecules can down-regulate the innate immune response elicited by a TLR ligand.     

Effect of suppressive DNA on CpG-induced immune activation

Bacterial DNA and synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing unmethylated CpG motifs stimulate a strong innate immune response. This stimulation can be abrogated by either removing the CpG DNA or adding inhibitory/suppressive motifs. Suppression is dominant over stimulation and is specific for CpG-induced immune responses (having no effect on LPS- or Con A-induced activation). Individual cells noncompetitively internalize both stimulatory and suppressive ODN. Studies using ODN composed of both stimulatory and suppressive motifs indicate that sequence recognition proceeds in a 5'-->3' direction, and that a 5' motif can block recognition of immediately 3' sequences. These findings contribute to our understanding of the immunomodulatory activity of DNA-based products and the rules that govern immune recognition of stimulatory and suppressive motifs.     

(6S)-Hydroxy-3-oxo-alpha-ionol glucosides from Capparis spinosa fruits

Two new (6S)-hydroxy-3-oxo-alpha-ionol glucosides, together with corchoionoside C ((6S,9S)-roseoside) and a prenyl glucoside, were isolated from mature fruits of Capparis spinosa. The structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic, chiroptic and chemical evidence. In addition, the 13C-resonance of C-9 was found to be of particular diagnostic value in assigning the absolute configuration at that center in ionol glycosides. The alpha-ionol derivatives are metabolites of (+)-(S)-abscisic acid.     

Neolignan glucosides from Phlomis chimerae Boiss

From the aerial parts of the plant Phlomis chimerae, a new neolignan glucoside, (-)-4-O-methyldihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-9'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) was characterized along with the known neolignan glucosides, (-)-4-O-methyldehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-9'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (= longifloroside A) (2) and (-)-dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3). The structure of the new compound was established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.     

Ionone,iridoid and phenylethanoid glycosides from Ajuga salicifolia

From the aerial parts of Ajuga salicifolia (L.) Schreber, a new ionone glycoside (3beta-hydroxy-7,8-dihydro-4-oxo-beta-ionol-9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside) was isolated, along with the known compounds, corchoionoside C, 8-O-acetylmioporoside, ajugol, harpagide, 8-O-acetylharpagide, lavandulifolioside and leonosides A and B. This is the first report of the occurrence of ionone glycosides and 8-O-acetylmioporoside in Ajuga species. Ajugol, lavandulifolioside, leonoside A and B were isolated for the first time from Ajuga salicifolia. The structures were elucidated by means of 1D-, 2D-NMR spectroscopy, and HR-MALDI mass spectrometry.     

Iridoids from Globularia dumulosa

Two new iridoids, 10-O-benzoylglobularigenin (1) and dumuloside (2) were isolated from the aerial parts of Globularia dumulosa together with seven known iridoid glucosides, davisioside (3), aucubin (4), melampyroside (5), catalpol (6), 10-O-benzoylcatalpol (7), alpinoside (8) and deacetylalpinoside (9). Three phenylethanoid glycosides, verbascoside, decaffeoyl-verbascoside, leucosceptoside A and three flavone glucosides, pectolinarigenin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, nepetin 7-O-B-D-glucopyranoside, demethoxycentaureidin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside were also isolated and characterized. The structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was performed by spectroscopic (UV, IR, HR-MALDIMS, 1D- and 2D NMR) methods.     

CpG DNA: recognition by and activation of monocytes

Unmethylated CpG motifs present in bacterial DNA rapidly trigger an innate immune response characterized by the activation of Ig- and cytokine-secreting cells. Synthetic oligonucleotides (ODNs) containing CpG motifs mimic this activity, triggering monocytes to proliferate, secrete and/or differentiate. Analysis of hundreds of novel ODNs led to the identification of two structurally distinct classes of CpG motif that differentially activate human monocytes. ODNs of the "K"-type interact with Toll-like receptor 9 and induce monocytes to proliferate and secrete IL-6. In contrast, "D"-type ODNs trigger monocytes to differentiate into mature dendritic cells.     

Investigation of the mechanism of nicotine-induced relaxation on the sheep sphincter of Oddi

Possible mechanisms for nicotine-induced relaxation were investigated in the isolated sheep's sphincter of Oddi. Sheep's sphincter of Oddi rings were mounted in tissue bath with modified Krebs-Henseleit solution and aerated with 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide. Tension was measured with isometric force transducers, and muscle relaxation was expressed as percent decrease of precontraction induced by carbachol. Nicotine (1 x 10(-5) to 3 x 10(-3) mol/L) produced concentration-dependent relaxation on sphincter of Oddi precontracted by carbachol (10(-6) mol/L). Nicotine-induced relaxation was 72.8 +/- 4.2% of precontraction with carbachol (10(-6) mol/L) (mean pD2 value, 3.76 +/- 0.05 mol/L). Nicotine-induced relaxation was not affected by N(w)-nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (3 x 10(-5) mol/L), methylene blue (10(-5) mol/L), indomethacin (10(-5) mol/L), hexamethonium (10(-5) mol/L), glibenclamide (10(-5) mol/L), 4-aminopyridine (10(-3) mol/L), tetraethylammonium (3 x 10(-4) mol/L), clotrimazole (10(-6) mol/L), 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB) (10(-6) mol/L), and anthracene-9-carboxylate (9-AC) (10(-6) mol/L), but potentiated by bupivacain (10(-5) mol/L). A calcium-antagonizing effect of nicotine was not observed. The results suggest that nicotine-induced relaxation of the sheep's sphincter of Oddi is not mediated by the release of prostaglandins, nitric oxide (NO), or a related substance; by the activation of potassium channels or chloride channels; or by the stimulation of nicotinic cholinoceptors. Potentiation of the nicotine-induced relaxation by bupivacain indicates that blockade of sodium channels may play a role in this relaxation.     

Effects of trace element levels on platelet aggregation

Platelet aggregation was measured by an optical method in 32 patients with iron-deficiency anemia at the time of diagnosis and after a period of supplementation with iron. Epinephrine- and adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation were lower in anemic patients than in the controls (p<0.05). After iron-supplementation therapy, these values showed no significant differences. If induced by collagen or ristocetin, platelet aggregation was the same for patients and controls, but increased after treatment of patients (p<0.05). The plasma zinc values did not show significant differences among the subjects included in this study. These results show that iron is involved in the enzymatic systems that regulate platelet aggregation. The exact nature of this interaction is still to be determined.