Prenylated flavonoids from seeds of Calopogonium mucunoides

The seeds of Calopogonium mucunoides furnished 7-O-γ,γ-dimethylallyl-8-methoxy-3′,4′-dioxymethylene-isoflavone, 7-O-γ,γ-dimethylallyl-3′-hydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavone, 7-O-γ,γ-dimethylallyl-3′,4′-dimethoxyisoflavone and 2S-di[6′',6′'-dimethylpyrano (2′',3′':7,8;2′',3′':4′,3′)]-flavanone whose structures were established by spectroscopic means involving the use of 400 MHz ¹H NMR with double irradiation and INDOR techniques.     

Variabilin,a 6a-hydroxypterocarpan from Dalbergia variabilis

Bark and wood of the creeper Dalbergia variabilis contain the previously described friedelin, O-acetyl-oleanolic acid, formononetin, 8-O-methylretusin, (+)-vestitol, (±)-mucronulatol, (+)- and (±)-medicarpin, besides (+)-variabilin [(6aR,11aR)-6a-hydroxy-3,9-dimethoxypterocarpan]. This structure was confirmed by the conversion of (+)-variabilin into di-O-methylcoumestrol.     

大豆异黄酮对骨质疏松大鼠模型的作用探讨

目的研究大豆异黄酮促进骨质疏松大鼠骨形成的作用及其肠道微生态的变化。方法从60只SPF级SD雌性大鼠中随机挑选50只建立去卵巢骨质疏松大鼠模型,余下10只为假手术组。将建模成功的大鼠随机分为5组,模型组、大豆异黄酮高、中、低剂量组(320 mg/kg、160 mg/kg、80 mg/kg的大豆异黄酮)、阿仑膦酸钠组(1 mg/kg阿仑膦酸钠),每日1次,治疗10周。比较治疗前后大鼠骨密度、血清1型前胶原N端前肽(P1NP)、骨碱性磷酸酶(BALP)、血清骨钙素(BGP)水平和肠道微生物变化。结果治疗后,模型组大鼠骨密度、血清P1NP、BALP、BGP水平均低于假手术组(P<0.05),阿仑膦酸钠组和大豆异黄酮高、中、低剂量组均高于模型组(P<0.05)。治疗后,阿仑膦酸钠组和大豆异黄酮高、中、低剂量与模型组比较股骨组织病变减轻;厚壁菌门、梭菌纲、芽孢杆菌纲、毛螺菌科、乳杆菌科、普氏菌科、肠球菌科、毛螺菌属、乳杆菌属、罗氏菌属、布劳特氏菌属、粪球菌属、普氏菌属水平相对丰度模型组均低于假手术组(P<0.05),阿仑膦酸钠组和大豆异黄酮高、中、低剂量组均高于模型组(P<0.05)。拟杆菌门、变形菌门、拟杆菌纲、γ变形菌纲、毛菌纲、拟杆菌科、肠杆菌科、拟杆菌属、别样棒菌属、肠杆菌属模型组均高于假手术组(P<0.05),阿林磷酸钠组和大豆异黄酮高、中、低剂量组均低于模型组(P<0.05)。LEfSe分析结果显示,与模型组比较,阿仑膦酸钠组和大豆异黄酮高、中、低剂量组治疗后丁酸球菌属、放线菌属、拟杆菌科、拟杆菌属水平降低,消化球菌科、韦荣氏菌科、普氏菌属水平升高。结论大豆异黄酮可提高骨密度,提高血清骨形成指标水平,促进骨质疏松大鼠骨形成,还可改善大鼠肠道菌群。     

Isoflavone glycosides from Derris scandens

Five isoflavone glycosides, named derriscandenosides A–E (1–5), were isolated from the stems of Derris scandens, together with ten known compounds comprising one isoflavone, two benzoic acid derivatives, three glucosyl isoflavones and four rhamnosyl-(1→6)-glucosyl isoflavones. The structures of the glycosides were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic data, especially of the acetate derivatives. Three known rhamnosyl-(1→6)-glucosyl isoflavones isolated from a crude fraction were retested for hypotensive activity with varying results.     

Dual Roles for Ste24p in Yeast a-Factor Maturation: NH2-terminal Proteolysis and COOH-terminal CAAX Processing

Maturation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae a-factor precursor involves COOH-terminal CAAX processing (prenylation, AAX tripeptide proteolysis, and carboxyl methylation) followed by cleavage of an NH₂-terminal extension (two sequential proteolytic processing steps). The aim of this study is to clarify the precise role of Ste24p, a membrane-spanning zinc metalloprotease, in the proteolytic processing of the a-factor precursor. We demonstrated previously that Ste24p is necessary for the first NH₂-terminal processing step by analysis of radiolabeled a-factor intermediates in vivo (Fujimura-Kamada, K., F.J. Nouvet, and S. Michaelis. 1997. J. Cell Biol. 136:271–285). In contrast, using an in vitro protease assay, others showed that Ste24p (Afc1p) and another gene product, Rce1p, share partial overlapping function as COOH-terminal CAAX proteases (Boyartchuk, V.L., M.N. Ashby, and J. Rine. 1997. Science. 275:1796–1800). Here we resolve these apparently conflicting results and provide compelling in vivo evidence that Ste24p indeed functions at two steps of a-factor maturation using two methods. First, direct analysis of a-factor biosynthetic intermediates in the double mutant (ste24Δ rce1Δ) reveals a previously undetected species (P0*) that fails to be COOH terminally processed, consistent with redundant roles for Ste24p and Rce1p in COOH-terminal CAAX processing. Whereas a-factor maturation appears relatively normal in the rce1Δ single mutant, the ste24Δ single mutant accumulates an intermediate that is correctly COOH terminally processed but is defective in cleavage of the NH₂-terminal extension, demonstrating that Ste24p is also involved in NH2-terminal processing. Together, these data indicate dual roles for Ste24p and a single role for Rce1p in a-factor processing. Second, by using a novel set of ubiquitin–a-factor fusions to separate the NH₂- and COOH-terminal processing events of a-factor maturation, we provide independent evidence for the dual roles of Ste24p. We also report here the isolation of the human (Hs) Ste24p homologue, representing the first human CAAX protease to be cloned. We show that Hs Ste24p complements the mating defect of the yeast double mutant (ste24Δ rce1Δ) strain, implying that like yeast Ste24p, Hs Ste24p can mediate multiple types of proteolytic events.     

Three prenylated flavanoids from Helichrysum athrixiifolium

Helichrysum athrixiifolium afforded in addition to known ones three new prenylated flavanoids, one chalcone and two flavanones.     

Increased aggressive behavior and decreased affiliative behavior in adult male monkeys after long-term consumption of diets rich in soy protein and isoflavones

Estrogen produced by aromatization of gonadal androgen has an important facilitative role in male-typical aggressive behavior that is mediated through its interaction with estrogen receptors (ER) in the brain. Isoflavones found in soybeans and soy-based dietary supplements bind ER and have dose- and tissue-dependent effects on estrogen-mediated responses. Yet, effects of isoflavone-rich diets on social and aggressive behavior have not been studied. We studied the effects of long-term (15 months) consumption of diets rich in soy isoflavones on spontaneous social behavior among adult male cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) (n = 44) living in nine stable social groups. There were three experimental conditions which differed only by the source of dietary protein: casein and lactalbumin (no isoflavones), soy protein isolate containing 0.94 mg isoflavones/g protein, and soy protein isolate containing 1.88 mg isoflavones/g protein. In the monkeys fed the higher amount of isoflavones, frequencies of intense aggressive (67% higher) and submissive (203% higher) behavior were elevated relative to monkeys fed the control diet (P's < 0.05). In addition, the proportion of time spent by these monkeys in physical contact with other monkeys was reduced by 68%, time spent in proximity to other monkeys was reduced 50%, and time spent alone was increased 30% (P's < 0.02). There were no effects of treatment on serum testosterone or estradiol concentrations or the response of plasma testosterone to exogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The results indicate that long-term consumption of a diet rich in soy isoflavones can have marked influences on patterns of aggressive and social behavior.     

高效液相色谱法测定大豆乳清提取物中大豆异黄酮的含量

建立了大豆乳清提取物中大豆异黄酮含量的高效液相色谱测定方法。采用Nova-Pak C₁₈（3.9×150 mm,4 μm）色谱柱;以甲醇：0.4%磷酸=30：70（v/v）为流动相分析染料木苷和黄豆苷;流速为0.7 mL·min^-1;柱温为30℃;检测波长为260 nm。试验结果表明,大豆乳清提取物中的大豆异黄酮含量为72.5%,其组成以染料木苷和黄豆苷为主,二者比例接近1∶1,苷元型大豆异黄酮未检出。染料木苷和黄豆苷的平均回收率分别为98.1%和98.4%,相对标准偏差（RSD）分别为0.7%（n=5）和0.8%(n=5)。该方法快速、准确、重复性好。