Nortriterpenoids from the fruit stalk of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill.

Objective:The fruit stalk of Schisandra chinensis(Turcz.)Baill.(S.chinensis)has been found to contain bioactive components similar to the fruit of S.chinensis.Here,we report a recent discovery about new nortriterpenoids with a novel skeleton and anti-gastric cancer activity,which were isolated from the fruit stalk of S.chinensis.Methods:The chemical components of ethyl acetate extract from 70%ethanol extract from S.chinensis fruit stalk were separated,purified,and identified by liquid chromatography methods(silica gel,ODS,HPLC)and extensive spectroscopic analyses(NMR,IR,UV,MS,CD).Results:Two new nortriterpenoids,schilancitrilactone M and 25-hydroxyl schindilactone D(1 and 2),along with ten known nortriterpenoids(3-12)were isolated from the fruit stalk of S.chinensis.The isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activities against MGC-803 cells,and the results showed that compounds 6-8 possessed significant activities with IC50 of 9.01,11.77,and 2.74μmol/L,respectively.Conclusion:Twelve nortriterpenoids including two new compounds were isolated from the fruit stalk of S.chinensis for the first time.Among them,compounds 6-8 showed significant anti-gastric cancer activities.We postulated that the fruit stalk of S.chinensis could be used as an anti-gastric cancer drug.

Anti-proliferative Properties of Schinensilactone A,A Schinortriterpenoid with 7,8-Seco-1,8-cyclo Scaffold against Caco-2 by Inducing Cell Apoptosis from the Leaves of Schisandra chinensis

A novel schinortriterpenoid(SNT),schinensilactone A(1),characterized by a unique 7,8-seco-1,8-cyclo-schisanartane scaffold,was isolated from the leaves of Schisandra chinensis(Turcz.)Baill,together with a new SNT(schinensilactone B,2)and two known(3,4).Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.Furthermore,a hypothetical biosynthetic pathway for 1 was postulated due to its novel carbon skeleton.In addition,1 exhibited significant anti-proliferative activity against Caco-2 cells originat-ing from five different tumor cell lines,and its preliminary mechanism of action was investigated with respect to the expression of apoptosis-related proteins,including P53,Caspase 3,Bax,PUMA,and Bcl2.These biological activities would further our understanding of the food function of Schisandra chinensis leaves.

A Review: The Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Pharmacokinetics of Curcumae Longae Rhizoma(Turmeric)

Curcumae Longae Rhizoma(CLR)is the rhizome of Curcuma longa L.Pharmacological studies show that CLR can be used to treat cervical cancer,lung cancer,lupus nephritis,and other conditions.In this paper,we review botany,traditional application,phytochemistry,pharmacological activity,and pharmacokinetics of CLR.The literature from 1981 to date was entirely collected from online databases,such as Web of Science,Google Scholar,China Academic Journals full-text database(CNKI),Wiley,Springer,PubMed,and ScienceDirect.The data were also obtained from ancient books,theses and dissertations,and Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae.There are a total of 275 compounds that have been isolated from CLR,including phenolic compounds,volatile oils,and others.The therapeutic effect of turmeric has been expanded from breaking blood and activating qi in the traditional sense to antitumor,anti-inflammatory,antioxidation,neuroprotection,antibacterial,hypolipidemic effects,and other benefits.However,the active ingredients and mechanisms of action related to relieving disease remain ill defined,which requires more in-depth research and verification at a clinical level.

Exploring the Molecular Mechanism of Radix Astragali on Colon Cancer Based on Integrated Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Technique

Objective:The objective of this study was to study the mechanism of Radix Astragali on colon cancer by integrated pharmacology and molecular docking technique.Methods:Integrative pharmacology-based research platform of traditional Chinese medicine(TCMIP)V2.0 was used to obtain the chemical components and corresponding targets of Radix Astragali and the target information of colon cancer to create the main target network of drugs and diseases.Gene Ontology(GO),Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis was carried out using Hiplot website,and the interaction network of“Traditional Chinese Medicine-component-target-pathway”was established,and molecular docking with main targets was carried out for the key components.Results:Twenty-seven chemical constituents of Radix Astragali,their 254 corresponding targets,and 44 colon cancer-related targets were obtained.Through proteins interacting,70 nodes were obtained as core targets.GO analysis showed that it mainly acts on lipid metabolism,nuclear receptor activity,phagocytic cup,etc.KEGG pathway analysis showed that it was mainly enriched in the estrogen signaling pathway,C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,etc.The multidimensional network,quantitative estimate of the drug,and molecular docking showed that the main targets are AKT1,BCL2,and CDK6,and the key components involved are kumatakenin,astragaloside VIII,and choline.Conclusion:Kumatakenin,AstragalosideⅧ,Choline and other compounds of Radix Astragali may affect colon cancer by acting on AKT1,BCL2 and other targets,thereby regulating estrogen signaling pathway,C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and so on.Those will provide theoretical reference for future research on the material basis and mechanism of its pharmacodynamics.