Neuroprotection of aucubin in primary diabetic encephalopathy

Hippocampal neuronal apoptosis accompanied by impairment of cognitive function occurs in primary diabetic encephalopathy. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective mechanism of the iridoid glycoside, aucubin, using rats (n=8). Diabetes mellitus was induced in the rats by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight). After 65 d, half of the DM rats were administered aucubin (5 mg/kg; i.p.) for 15 d, yielding treatment DM A. A third group of rats received no strepto- zotocin or aucibin, and served as controls (CON). Encephalopathy was assessed using Y-maze be- havioral testing. Rats were euthanized on Day 87, and hippocampi were excised for visual (light and transmission electron microscopic) and immunochemical (Western blot; immunohistochemical) as- sessments of the CA1 subfield for apoptosis and expression of regulatory proteins Bcl-2 and Bax. Treatment responses to all the parameters examined (body weight, plasma glucose, Y-maze error rates, pyramidal cell ultrastructure, proportions of apoptotic cells, levels of expression of Bcl-2 and Bax, and survivability of neuronal cells) were identical: there were highly significant differences between DM and CON groups (P<0.001), but the effects were significantly moderated (P<0.01) in DM A compared with DM. These findings confirm the association of apoptosis with the encephalopathic effects of diabetes mellitus, and suggest a major role of the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax in the regulation of apop- totic cell death. All of the results suggest that aucubin could effectively inhibit apoptosis by modulating the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax genes.     

Iridoid glucosides from Pedicularis

Pedicularis palustris contains the iridoid glucosides aucubin and gardoside methyl ester, and five hydroxy derivatives of 8-epi-deoxyloganin, together with boschnaloside and three hydroxy derivatives of boschnaloside. From P. silvatica, plantarenaloside, 8-epiloganin and euphroside have been isolated. Euphroside is also present in P. lapponica, in addition to aucubin and mussaenoside. Chemical evidence for the structure of euphroside is presented. Pedicularioside is shown to be identical with penstemoside, and the former name is thus redundant.     

双水相体系萃取分离杜仲叶中桃叶珊瑚甙的研究

建立了由高分子化合物聚乙二醇(PEG4000)与葡聚糖40000(D40)形成的双水相体系萃取分离杜仲叶中桃叶珊瑚甙的新方法.考察了萃取体系相图,研究了PEG4000/D40质量分数、样品溶液加入量、pH值和温度等因素对双水相成相及桃叶珊瑚甙萃取率的影响.结果表明:PEG4000的质量分数为11%,D40质量分数为8%、样品溶液加入量为8 g,温度为60℃,溶液pH为7时,双水相体系对桃叶珊瑚甙有较高的萃取率,重复三次可达到66.32%,而且萃取得到的桃叶珊瑚甙产品的纯度达到48.67%,远远高于粗提物中的8.750%.     

On-line identification of unstable iridoids from Jamesbrittenia fodina by HPLC-MS and HPLC-NMR

HPLC-UV-MS analysis of the methanol extract of Jamesbrittenia fodina (Wild) O. M. Hilliard (Scrophulariaceae) revealed the presence of different iridoid cinnamic esters; however, isolation of these constituents was prevented by instability problems. HPLC-UV-MS and HPLC-NMR analysis of the mixtures obtained after a tentative isolation indicated that, in the first instance, instability was due to a light-induced cis/trans isomerisation of the cinnamic moieties. Further investigation of related compounds showed an additional instability problem linked to other chemical transformations. A detailed HPLC-NMR-MS study of these fractions demonstrated that the modifications occurred on the rhamnose moiety of these iridoids. It could be concluded that the second type of instability was attributable to transesterification of the cinnamic moiety on the rhamnose unit. The recording of stop-flow HPLC-NMR spectra for specific HPLC peaks permitted the direct monitoring of these transformations. Based on these on-line data, six new unstable aucubin derivatives were efficiently characterised.     

Detrimental effects of plant compounds on a polyembryonic parasitoid are mediated through its highly polyphagous herbivore host

Plant defensive compounds can have sometimes severe deleterious effects on both herbivores and their natural enemies. Iridoid glycosides (IGs) are defensive compounds that are well established as deterrent to several generalist herbivores and generalist predators. Trichoplusia ni Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is exceptional among generalist herbivores for its ability to tolerate and thrive when feeding upon IG‐producing plant species; however, it is not known whether the compounds themselves have a harmful effect on T. ni and whether the effects in turn affect its oligophagous endoparasitoid Copidosoma floridanum Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). To examine these effects, a semi‐purified extract of the IG‐containing plant Plantago lanceolata L. (Plantaginaceae), containing the IGs aucubin and catalpol, was added to artificial diets at 0, 1, 5, or 10% diet dry weight. These diets were fed to both C. floridanum‐parasitized and unparasitized T. ni. Diets higher in IGs tended to be more toxic to both parasitized and unparasitized larvae: host larvae that did survive were slightly smaller and took longer to develop on higher IG diets and total clutch size and survival of the parasitoid C. floridanum were greatly reduced as the host's dietary intake of IGs increased. Only small amounts of aucubin were detected inside the T. ni hemocoel, suggesting that the negative effect of these compounds on C. floridanum is due to nutritional quality of the host being reduced rather than direct toxic effects of the compounds.     

杜仲雄花中次生代谢物合成积累的动态变化

对杜仲(Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.)雄株不同花期雄花中次生代谢产物含量进行分析测定,并对杜仲雄花次生代谢的生理基础及不同花期次生代谢产物含量差异进行了探讨.研究结果表明,雄花在不同花期次生代谢产物含量均有差异.总黄酮含量在花蕾期最高(4.010%),始花期最低(2.422%),从盛花期到末花期逐渐上升;桃叶珊瑚苷和绿原酸含量均在花蕾期最高(分别为2.351%和1.075%),盛花期最低(分别为1.463%和0.503%),至末花期含量上升;京尼平苷酸含量在始花期最低(0.217%),从盛花期开始逐渐升高,至末花期高达1.403%;次生代谢产物总量也以花蕾期为最高(7.420%).杜仲雄花的花蕾期和盛花期是兼顾质量和产量的最佳采摘期.     

Complex Formation of Microbial Alkaline Protease Inhibitor (S-SI) with Subtilisin BPN′ and Its Properties

Microbial alkaline protease inhibitor, S–SI, was investigated on the interaction with subtilisin BPN′ Inhibitory equivalent of S–SI to subtilisin BPN′ was determined that one molecule of S–SI (MW = 23,000) inhibited two molecules of subtilisin BPN′ (MW = 27,700). The S–SI-subtilisin BPN′ complex was isolated by gel filtration on Sephadex G–100 and rhombic crystals were obtained. DIP- and ZAGPCK-subtilisin BPN′ did not form such complex with S–SI. Homogeneity of the complex was determined by disc electrophoresis. The isoelectric point of the complex was pH 5.5. Assay of S–SI dissociated and amino acid analysis of the complex indicated that one subunit (a half molecule) of S–SI was combined with one molecule of subtilisin BPN′ From molecular weight determination, it was clarified that the complex was composed of one molecule (consist of 2 subunits) of S–SI and two molecules of subtilisin BPN′.     

Aucubin prevents steroid-induced osteoblast apoptosis by enhancing autophagy via AMPK activation

Steroid-induced osteoblast apoptosis is a crucial pathological process in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH). Autophagy can resist apoptosis and AMPK plays an important role in autophagy regulation. Aucubin from the small tree Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., which has a long history of use in orthopaedics and traumatology in Asian medicine, can promote bone formation, but whether it can slow or prevent steroid-osteoblast apoptosis is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the pathogenesis of SONFH and how the osteoblast responds to aucubin under the dexamethasone stimulation. In human femoral head osteonecrosis specimens, we found that the autophage and apoptosis level were increased, and the AMPK signalling was crucial to autophagy. We observed that aucubin could prevent dexamethasone-induced apoptosis in osteoblasts by enhancing the level of autophagy. Further, we confirmed that the regulatory effect of aucubin on autophagy and apoptosis was achieved by activating AMPK signalling. We have demonstrated a mechanism of disease progression and shown that aucubin could enhance autophagy through AMPK signalling to prevent osteoblast apoptosis. These findings provide a basis for the further investigation of the potential therapeutic role of aucubin in the SONFH.     

杜仲不同采收期及不同部位中桃叶珊瑚苷的含量测定

以高效液相色谱法,测定杜仲不同采收期及不同部位中桃叶珊瑚苷的含量。结果发现4~9月采集的样品中桃叶珊瑚苷的含量以4月份最高,以后逐渐降低。杜仲各部位桃叶珊瑚苷含量:内皮>叶>枝>栓皮,内皮中的含量明显高于其他部位。