Costusoside-I and costusoside-J,two new furostanol saponins from the seeds of Costus speciosus

The structure of costusoside I and costusoside J have been established as 3-O-{β-d-glucopyranosyl (1 → 2)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 2) [α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 4)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl}-26-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-22α-methoxy 25 R)-furost-5-en-3β, 26-diol and its 22-hydroxy compound respectively, isolated fron the seeds of Costus speciosus.     

Two New Species of the Genus Bupleurum (Umbelliferae) from China

Bupleurum is a genus largely distributed in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. In China 36 species, 17 varieties and 7 forms have hitherto been reported and most of them are used as Chinese traditional drugs under the name of Chai-Hu. Chai-Hu is one of the most popular drugs used ever since the ancient time and is prescribed principally in the treatment of fevers and influenza. In this article, the authors report two new species, B. kunmingense Y. Li et S. L. Pan and B. polyclonum Y. Li et S. L. Pan which were discovered in Yunnan Province based on morphological studies and preliminary phytochemical tests. The ultraviolet spectrums and thin layer chromatograms of the essential oil and the crude saikosaponins of the two new species are similar to those of B. chinense DC., the standard material medica of Chai-Hu. Moreover, two new saikosaponin spots located between saikosaponin a and c in TLC were discovered in the two new species, and this could be served as a chemical evidence for identification purpose. In the histochemistry examination, the reaction of saikosaponin with color developing agent in parenchyma of the roots of the two new species is obviously more significant than that of B. chinense DC. and this phenomenon has also been proved to be true by TLC of the crude saikosaponin extracts of these two new species. It is suggested that the two new species be used as a substitute ofhigh quality for Chai-Hu.     

饲料中灵芝提取物对异育银鲫生长、饲料利用、免疫应答及抗病的影响

通过生长实验探求饲料中添加灵芝提取物饲料对异育银鲫（6.720.11） g生长、饲料利用及免疫应答的影响,以及停止灵芝提取物饲料后,使用效果的持续性。在实验进行的第21天（D21）、第46天（D46）、第65天（D65）进行取样,结果表明所有的灵芝提取物组的特定生长率在饲喂65d后与对照组无显著差异（P0.05）。摄食率随着灵芝提取物在饲料中含量的增加而增加（P0.05）,饲料效率则有着相反的趋势（P0.05）。在D46和D65时,随着灵芝提取物的含量增高,吞噬活力略有增高,但无显著差异（P0.05）。在D21、D46和D65时,呼吸暴发活力随着灵芝提取物的含量增高而增高（P0.05）,在D21时,（0.6%-21d、0%-44d）处理组和（3%-21d、0%-44d）处理组其呼吸暴发活力高于对照组（P0.05）。在D65时,（0.6%-21d、0%-44d）处理组和（3%-21d、0%-44d）处理组其呼吸暴发活力仍高于对照组（P0.05）,但差异不显著。D21、D46和D65时,替代途径补体溶血活力随着灵芝提取物的增高而降低（P0.05）。所有处理组溶菌酶活力在D21时没有产生显著差异。在D46时,对照组溶菌酶活力比最高添加组低但高于低添加组（P0.05）,（3%-1d、0%-44d）处理组也仍高于对照组（P0.05）。在D65时,所有添加组的溶菌酶活力均低于对照组（P0.05）。在D65时,髓过氧化物酶活力随着灵芝提取物的添加剂量升高而升高（P0.05）,（0.6%-21d、0%-44d）处理组仍高于对照组（P0.05）。灵芝提取物的能提高白细胞呼吸暴发活力,且在在高剂量摄入21d后（D46时）,仍可以保持较高的活力,说明灵芝提取物对免疫应答有一定时间延续效应。随着灵芝提取物添加量的升高,异育银鲫在经爱德华氏菌攻毒后的存活率显著提高。最高存活率组为3%添加组,显著高于对照组（P0.05）。实验周期为65d时,饲料中灵芝提取物推荐添加剂量为3%。       

蒺藜皂苷对动脉粥样硬化大鼠动脉壁ICAM-1、VCAM-1、PPARα、PPARγ基因表达的影响

观察全草蒺藜皂苷（tribu saponin from Tribulus terrestris,STT）对实验性动脉粥样硬化（atherosclerosis,AS）大鼠动脉壁中ICAM-1、VCAM-1、PPARα和PPARγ基因表达的影响,以探讨STT抗AS的机制。应用高脂饲料饮食配合注射维生素D,建立SD大鼠AS模型,并设立正常组、模型组、辛伐他汀组和蒺藜皂苷低、中、高剂量组。采用半定量RT-PCR的方法检测各组动物动脉壁中ICAM-1、VCAM-1、PPARα和PPARγ基因的表达,分析造模及各给药大鼠ICAM-1、VCAM-1、PPARα和PPARγ基因表达的变化。与正常组相比,模型组ICAM-1和VCAM-1基因的表达量明显增加（P〈0．01）,而PPARα和PPARγ基因的表达量明显降低（P〈0．01）;与模型组相比,辛伐他汀及各STT药均能降低ICAM-1和VCAM-1基因的表达量（P〈0．01～P〈0．05）,并能增加PPARα和PPARγ基因的表达量（P〈0．01）。提示STT能下调实验性AS大鼠动脉壁ICAM-1和VCAM-1基因的表达及上调PPARα和PPARγ基因表达,这可能是STT抗AS的作用机制之一。     

脱乙酰壳多糖处理增加人参细胞皂苷的累积和皂苷合成关键酶基因的转录

脱乙酰壳多糖处理可以诱导人参细胞产生H2 O2 ,增加人参皂苷的累积 ,提高鲨烯合酶 (squalenesynthase,GSS)与鲨烯环氧酶 (squaleneepoxidase,GSE)基因的转录水平。质膜NADPH氧化酶的抑制剂DPI,H2 O2 的淬灭剂DMTU与DHC可以抑制脱乙酰壳多糖的这些效应 ,暗示脱乙酰壳多糖可以活化质膜NADPH氧化酶而产生H2 O2 ,H2 O2 进而作为第二信使诱导gss与gse基因转录以及皂苷的合成。质膜钙通道抑制剂LaCl3与内质网钙通道抑制剂RR ,以及蛋白激酶抑制剂K2 5 2a都能削弱脱乙酰壳多糖促进皂苷积累和gss、gse转录的效应 ,说明胞内Ca2 浓度的升高与蛋白质磷酸化都参与了脱乙酰壳多糖诱导的gss、gse的转录以及皂苷的合成     

Leucasin, a triterpene saponin from Leucas nutans.

A new saponin, leucasin, has been isolated from Leucas nutans and characterized on the basis of chemical investigation and spectroscopic studies as 3-O-[β- -glucopyranosyl(1→2)β- -glucopyranosyl]2,3β-dihydroxylup-20(29)-ene. Lupeol palmitate, sitosterol and stigmasterol were also isolated.     

Anti-hyperglycemic activity of a TGR5 agonist isolated from Olea europaea

Olive tree (Olea europeaea) leaves are well known for their effect on metabolism in particular as a traditional anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive herbal drug. These properties are until now only attributed to oleuropein, the major secoiridoid of olive leaves. Here we describe the isolation and the identification of another constituent implicated in the anti-diabetic effect of this plant, i.e. oleanolic acid. We show that this triterpene is an agonist for TGR5, a member of G-protein coupled receptor activated by bile acids and which mediates some of their various cellular and physiological effect. Oleanolic acid lowers serum glucose and insulin levels in mice fed with a high fat diet and it enhances glucose tolerance. Our data suggest that both oleuropein and oleanolic acid are involved in the anti-diabetic effect of olive leaves and further emphasize the potential role of TGR5 agonists to improve metabolic disorders.     

Enzymatic transglycosylation of ginsenoside Rg1 by rice seed α-glucosidase

Six α-monoglucosyl derivatives of ginsenoside Rg1 (G-Rg1) were synthesized by transglycosylation reaction of rice seed α-glucosidase in the reaction mixture containing maltose as a glucosyl donor and G-Rg1 as an acceptor. Their chemical structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis, and the effects of reaction time, pH, and glycosyl donors on transglycosylation reaction were investigated. The results showed that rice seed α-glucosidase transfers α-glucosyl group from maltose to G-Rg1 by forming either α-1,3 (α-nigerosyl)-, α-1,4 (α-maltosyl)-, or α-1,6 (α-isomaltosyl)-glucosidic linkages in β-glucose moieties linked at the C6- and C20-position of protopanaxatriol (PPT)-type aglycone. The optimum pH range for the transglycosylation reaction was between 5.0 and 6.0. Rice seed α-glucosidase acted on maltose, soluble starch, and PNP α-D-glucopyranoside as glycosyl donors, but not on glucose, sucrose, or trehalose. These α-monoglucosyl derivatives of G-Rg1 were easily hydrolyzed to G-Rg1 by rat small intestinal and liver α-glucosidase in vitro.     

白穗花的甾体皂甙

从中国特有植物白穗花（Speiranthagardenii（Hook．）Baill．）根茎中分离得到两个新的甾体皂甙。经化学和光谱方法鉴定其化学结构分别为22－甲氧基－（25R）－5β－呋喃甾烷－1β,3β,4β,5β,26-五羟基26－O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖甙（Ⅰ）和22-甲氧基-（25R）－5β-呋喃甾烷-1β,2β,3β,4β,5β,26-六羟基26－O－β-D-吡喃葡萄糖甙（Ⅱ）。