Sterols and Terpenoids from Viburnum odoratissimum

A new stigmasterol type natural product,viburodorol A(1),along with eleven known sterols and terpenoids(2–12),were isolated from the aerial parts of Viburnum odoratissimum.The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis.It’s noteworthy that compound 2,the major constituent of this plant,can signifi-cantly stimulate glucose absorption in insulin resistant HepG2 cells without affecting cell viability.Furthermore,this compound can also restore the glucose absorption in DXMS-induced insulin resistant 3T3-L1 cells.

A Triterpenoid Inhibited Hormone-Induced Adipocyte Differentiation and Alleviated Dexamethasone-Induced Insulin Resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

6a-Hydroxylup-20(29)-en-3-on-28-oic acid(1),a natural triterpenoid,was found to possess the ability in a dose-dependent manner inhibiting hormone-induced adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes,and restoring glucose consuming ability in dexamethasone(DXM)-induced insulin resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes.Compound 1 was also found to ameliorate DXM-induced adipocyte dysfunction in lipolysis and adipokine secretion.Mechanistic studies revealed that 1 inhibited adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes via down-regulating hormone-stimulated gene transcription of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor c and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein alpha which are key factors in lipogenesis,and restored DXM-impaired glucose consuming ability in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes via repairing insulin signaling pathway and activating down-stream signaling transduction by phosphorylation of signaling molecules PI3K/p85,Akt2 and AS160,thus leading to increased translocation of glucose transporter type 4 and transportation of glucose.

Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants on Antiinsulin Resistance Bioactivity of DXMS-Induced Insulin Resistant HepG2 Cells

Medicinal plants have a long history of use in China to treat diabetic symptoms.Ancient Chinese medical manuscripts and ethnobotanical surveys document plant remedies that continue to be actively used in China for the treatment of diabetic symptoms.Based on a systematic ancient Chinese medical manuscripts review in combination with ethnobotanical survey,16 medicinal plants for the traditional treatment of diabetic symptoms were identified for the evaluation of anti-insulin resistance bioactivity.The biological activity of 16 medicinal plants was tested on dexamethasone(DXMS)-induced insulin resistant HepG2 cells.The result shows that 11 of the 16 medicinal plants enhanced glucose uptake of DXMS-induced insulin resistant HepG2 cells,thereby demonstrating their ability to increase insulin sensitivity,other five medicinal plants including Astragalus membranaceus were found ineffective.The study shows that ancient Chinese medical manuscripts and ethnobotanical surveys on plants for the prevention and treatment of diabetic symptoms provide a promising knowledge base for drug discovery to mitigate the global diabetes epidemic.

neo-Clerodane diterpenoids from Salvia dugesii and their bioactive studies

Salvia dugesii is an invasive plant in Yunnan,China.To tentatively explore its utilization,a systematic phytochemical investigation was carried out on this plant,which led to the isolation of five new neo-clerodane diterpenoids,dugesins C-G(1-5),together with six known ones.Their structures were determined by comprehensive NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis.It was noteworthy that the eleven isolates,composed of five different carbocyclic systems derived from the neo-clerodane diterpenoid skeleton,were reported from the same plant for the first time.The anti-feedantial,cytotoxic,and antiviral activities of the isolates were evaluated.Dugesin F(4)was tested to be a non-toxic antiviral compound against influenza virus FM1.

Screening for potential biomarkers of traditional Chinese medicinechest impediment syndromesbased on plasma metabonomics

OBJECTIVE To have a systematic pathomechanism view of three chest impediment.syndromes of Qi Deficiency and Blood Stasis syndrome(QDBS),Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis syn.drome(QSBS),Cold Obstruction and Qi Stagnation syndrome(COQS) and further investigate the changed metabolome and related pathways for screening potential biomarkers in rat plasma.METHODS According to clinical pathogeny,three kinds of syndrome models were established to simulate the disease of chest impediment.Plasma metabonomics based on UPLC-Q-TOF/MS was applied in this research to detected small molecule metabolites for identifyingthe special potential biomarkers of three chest impediment syndromes,respectively.RESULTS Significant metabolic differences were observed between thecontrol group and three syndrome groups.Furthermore,three syndrome groups were distinguished clearly by pattern recognition method.The particular metabolites contributing most to the classification of three chest impediment syndromes were identified.In the QSBS group,the potential biomarkers could include 2-keto-glutaramic acid,L-methionine,L-homocysteic acid,octadecanamide,stearoylglycine,behenic acid,linoleylcarnitine,lysoPC(14:1(9 Z)),indoxyl sulfate and cholic acid.In the COQS group,they could be aminoadipic acid,palmitic amide,oleamide,lysoPC(P-16:0),lysoPC(P-18:0),lysoPC(20:2(11 Z,14 Z)),9-HETE and tauroursodeoxycholic acid.Moreover,4-pyridoxic acid,L-palmi.toylcarnitine,lysoPC(20:0),lysoPC(22:5(4 Z,7 Z,10 Z,13 Z,16 Z)),3-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid and arachidonic acid could be the potential biomarkers for the QDBS group.CONCLUSION Three chest impediment syndromes have their own potential biomarkers.Each special metabolite has its owndifferent metabolic pathway.Both metabolismof cysteine and methionine,and metabolism of alanine,aspartate and glutamate are the main pathways in regulation of metabolic disorders in QSBS syndrome.Lysine biosynthesis and degradation,fatty acid metabolism,and glycerophospholipid metabolism are the main pathways in regulation of metabolic disorders in COQS syndrome.Arachidonic acid metabolism,fatty acid metabolism,fatty acid elongation in mitochondria,and vitamin B6 metabolism are the main pathways in regulation of metabolic disorders in QDBS syndrome.These endogenous substances were indicated as the special potential biomarkers for three chest impediment syndromes and worth studying in depth.