In vitro Anti-viral Activity of the Total Alkaloids from Tripterygium hypoglaucum against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1

Herpes simplex virus type 1 （HSV-1） is a commonly occurring human pathogen worldwide. There is an urgent need to discover and develop new alternative agents for the management of HSV-1 infection. Tripterygium hypoglaucum （level） Hutch （Celastraceae） is a traditional Chinese medicine plant with many pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammation, anti-tumor and antifertility. The usual medicinal part is the roots which contain about a 1% yield of alkaloids. A crude total alkaloids extract was prepared from the roots of T. hypoglaucum amd its antiviral activity against HSV-1 in Vero cells was evaluated by cytopathic effect （CPE） assay, plaque reduction assay and by RT-PCR analysis. The alkaloids extract presented low cytotoxicity （CC50 = 46.6μg/mL） and potent CPE inhibition activity, the 50% inhibitory concentration （ICs0） was 6.5 μg/mL, noticeably lower than that of Acyclovir （15.4μg /mL）. Plaque formation was significantly reduced by the alkaloids extract at concentrations of 6.25 μg/mL to 12.5 μg/mL, the plaque reduction ratio reached 55% to 75% which was 35% higher than that of Acyclovir at the same concentration. RT-PCR analysis showed that, the transcription of two important delayed early genes UL30 and UL39, and a late gene US6 of HSV-1 genome all were suppressed by the alkaloids extract, the expression inhibiting efficacy compared to the control was 74.6% （UL30）, 70.9% （UL39） and 62.6% （US6） respectively at the working concentration of 12.5μg/mL. The above results suggest a potent anti-HSV-1 activity of the alkaloids extract in vitro.

Star fruit extract and C-glycosylated flavonoid components have potential to prevent air pollutant-induced skin inflammation and premature aging

Air pollution adversely affects skin,leading to skin inflammation and premature skin aging.Plant derived antioxidant compounds have been considered to be promising in discovery of effective agents for the protection of skin from the damage by air pollutants.Our previous studies demonstrated that Averrhoa carambola fruit(known as star fruit)is rich in flavonoid C-glycosides with unique structures and potent antioxidant activity.Thus,the star fruit extract(SFE)and main flavonoid C-glycoside components,carambolasides I,J,and P(1-3),carambolaflavone B(4),and isovitexin 2″-O-α-l-rhamnoside(5),were investigated for the activity against air pollutant stress in human epidermis.As a result,SFE and compounds 1-5 exhibited significant inhibitory activity against protein carbonylation in oxidative-stressed stratum corneum with the best activity being shown by compound 3.SFE and compounds 2-5 were also active against engine exhaust-induced protein carbonylation in stratum corneum.When further evaluated,SFE and com-pound 3 significantly inhibited gene expression of the key inflammation mediators IL-1αand COX-2 in PM-stressed keratinocytes.The results indicated that SFE and the flavonoid C-glycosides are potentially effective against air pollutant-induced skin inflammation and premature aging.

Bioactive Diarylheptanoids from Alpinia coriandriodora

Eight new diarylheptanoids,coriandralpinins A-H(1-8),were isolated from the rhizomes of Alpinia coriandriodora,an edible plant of the ginger family.Their structures,including the absolute configurations,were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis and ECD calculations.Compounds 1-8 have a 1,5-O-bridged diarylheptanoid structure featuring polyoxygenated aryl units.When evaluated for intracellular antioxidant activity using t-BHP stressed RAW264.7 mac-rophages,all these compounds scavenged reactive oxygen species(ROS)in a concentration-dependent manner.Compounds 3 and 5 also showed inhibitory activity against NO release in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells.Six known flavonols,7,4′-di-O-methylkaempferol,7-O-methylquercetin,7,4′-di-O-methylquercetin,7,3′,4′-tri-O-methylquercetin,kaempferol 3-O-β-d-(6-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl)glucopyranoside,and 3-O-β-d-glucopyranuronosylquercetin were also isolated and characterized from the rhizomes.