A New Anthranquinone Glycoside from the Seeds of Cassia obtusifolia

A new anthraquinone glycoside, emodin-1-O-β-gentiobioside 1, together with threeknown compounds, chrysophanol-1-O-β-gentiobioside 2, physcion-8-O-β-gentiobioside 3, andchrysophanol-1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside4 was isolated from the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia. Its structure was elucidated on the basis ofspectroscopic evidence.

Two new glycosides from the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia

Two new glycosides, nor-rubrofusadn-6-O-β-D-（6＇-O-acetyl）glucopyranoside （1） and 1-desmethylaurantio-obtusin-2-O-β-D- glucopyranoside （2） were isolated from the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia and their structures were established by chemical and spectral evidences. 2009 Yong Qing Xiao. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Effect of EuCl_3 on Hairy Root Growth of Cassia Obtusifolia and Production of Its Active Principle

Treated with extremely low EuCl 3 (0 001, 0 01, 1 0 mg·L -1 ) in MS medium, the hairy root growth of Cassia obtusifolia was inhibited. The inhibition was strongest at the treatment with 0 001 mg·L -1 EuCl 3, and the dry weight of hairy roots was 22% lower than that of control. Treated with rather low EuCl 3 (10 mg·L -1 ) in Murashige and Skoog(MS) medium, the hairy root growth was enhanced, and the dry weight of hairy roots was 27% higher than that of control. In the each treatment with 0 001 to 1 0 mg·L -1 EuCl 3 in MS medium, the total content of six free anthraquinones was lower than that of control. While treated with 10 mg·L -1 EuCl 3, the total content of six free anthraquinones was 26% higher than that of control, 97% higher than the treatment of 1 0 g·L -1 EuCl 3. Treatment with 10 mg·L -1 EuCl 3 in MS medium enhances the growth of hairy root of Cassia obtusifolia and improves the total content and production of six free anthraquinones in them.

Two new glycosides from the genus of Cassia

Two new glycosides were isolated and characterized by spectral analysis from the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia and the leaves of Cassia angustifolia. The structure was elucidated as 1-hydroxyl-2-acetyl-3,8-dimethoxynaphthalene-6-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl- （1→2）-β-D-glucopyranoside and 2-acetyl-3-methyl-8-methoxyl-1,4-naphthoquinone-6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside.

Cassiae Semen improves non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through autophagy-related pathway

Objective:Cassiae Semen(CS,Juemingzi in Chinese)has been used for thousands of years in ancient Chinese history for relieving constipation,improving liver function as well as preventing myopia.Here we aimed to elucidate the anti-steatosis effect and underlying mechanism of CS against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Methods:High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)was used to identify the major components of CS water extract.Mice were fed with a high-fat and sugar-water(HFSW)diet to induce hepatic steatosis and then treated with CS.The anti-NAFLD effect was determined by measuring serum biomarkers and histopathology staining.Additionally,the effects of CS on cell viability and lipid metabolism in oleic acid and palmitic acid(OAPA)-treated HepG2 cells were measured.The expression of essential genes and proteins involved in lipid metabolism and autophagy signalings were measured to uncover the underlying mechanism.Results:Five compounds,including aurantio-obtusin,rubrofusarin gentiobioside,cassiaside C,emodin and rhein were simultaneously identified in CS extract.CS not only improved the diet-induced hepatic steatosis in vivo,as indicated by decreased number and size of lipid droplets,hepatic and serum triglycerides(TG)levels,but also markedly attenuated the OAPA-induced lipid accumulation in hepatocytes.These lipid-lowering effects induced by CS were largely dependent on the inhibition of fatty acid synthase(FASN)and the activation of autophagy-related signaling,including AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK),light chain 3-II(LC3-II)/LC3-1 and autophagy-related gene5(ATG5).Conclusion:Our study suggested that CS effectively protected liver steatosis via decreasing FASN-related fatty acid synthesis and activating AMPK-mediated autophagy,which might become a promising therapeutic strategy for relieving NAFLD.