The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of an ethanol extract of Coix lachryma-jobi (ECLJ) on glucose uptake and adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. ECLJ phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its downstream substrate acetyl-coenzymeA carboxylase in 3T3-L1 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, we discovered that compound C inhibits ECLJ-stimulated ACC phosphorylation. In addition, ECLJ exhibited a dose-dependent stimulation of glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 cells, and this increase was obviously attenuated by compound C. ECLJ also caused a decrease in the expression levels of adipogenesis factors such as fatty acid synthase, sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein-1c, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, and CAATT/enhancer binding protein α in a dose-dependent manner. Differentiation was examined by Oil red O staining activity after ECLJ treatment for 6 days. ECLJ decreased mean droplet size. These results suggest a possible role for AMPK in the process of adipose differentiation and that ECLJ targeted for adipocyte functions could be effective in improving the symptoms of metabolic syndrome.
Caesalpinia sappan Linn., belonging to family Caesalpiniaceae, is distributed widely in the tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia. 1 The dried heartwood of the plant, named Sappan Lignum, has been used in folk medicines as a blood tonic, expectorant, and has exhibited a wide range of activities, including anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent in folk medicine. 2,3 Previous phytochemical investigations on the heartwood of C. sappan, resulted in the isolation and identification of various types of compounds, including homoisoflavonoids, chalcones, dibenzoxocins, and brazilins. 4-8 Many of these components exhibited a variety of biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, 9,10 xanthine oxidase inhibitory, 7,10 antioxidant, 11 antidiabetic, 12 hepatoprotective, 13 and vasorelaxation activities. 14 To search for novel and bioactive compounds from C. sappan, this study focused on phenolics, and led to the isolation and identification of three compounds (1, 2 and 3). MATERIALS AND METHODS General experimental procedure The NMR spectra were measured using a Varian Unity-Inova 400 MHz spectrometer in DMSO-d 6 at 500 MHz for 1 H NMR and 125 MHz for 13 C NMR. Silica gel (63-200 mm; Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) and RP-18 (75 mm; Merck) were used for column chromatography. Thin layer chromatography was carried out on pre-coated silica gel 60 F254 plates and RP-18 F254 plates (both from Merck) and the plates were visualized by spraying with 10% H 2 SO 4 /EtOH solution followed by warming. Sample collection The heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan was collected in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2018. A voucher specimen
The genus Blumea, belonging to the family Asteraceae, comprises 80 species of small annual weeds. The plants of this genus are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The plants of this genus are mostly small annual weeds and are of great medicinal value. Some of these species are used as folk medicines for treating colds, fevers, blood diseases, dysentery, gynecological diseases. 1,2 These have provided a variety of constituents, including flavonoids, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, acetylenic thiophenes, triterpenoids, xanthenes, diterpenes, and essential oils. 1 Blumea lacera (Burn. f.) DC, a herbaceous weed named "Cai troi" in Vietnam, is mainly distributed in Lao Cai, Vinh Phuc and Ha Giang provinces in Vietnam. 3 It is also commonly found in China, India, Bangladesh, Australia and tropical Africa. 4 The plant has long been used in traditional medicine as expectorant, diuretic, astringent, antispasmodic, antipyretic, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, liver tonic and stimulant. 5,6 Previous biological studies have shown that extracts of B. lacera exhibit antiviral, 7 anti-leukemic 7 , antiulcer 6 and cytotoxic activities against several human cancer cell lines. 8,9 In addition, it has been reported that essential oil from this herb exhibit analgesic, hypothermic, and tranquilizing activities and cytotoxic activities against breast cancer cells and healing cuts. 6,10 Several investigations into the secondary metabolites of B. lacera have revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpene glycosides, phenol glycosides, sterols, essential oils, coniferyl alcohol derivatives, terpenoid ketones and steroidal glycoalkaloids. 4,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] To increase the value of this herb in terms of its potential application for medicinal purposes, it was considered necessary to investigate its chemical constituents and to understand their biological properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS General experimental procedureThe NMR spectra were measured using a Varian Unity-Inova 400 MHz spectrometer. The solvents used for extraction and isolation were of analytical grade solvents. Silica gel (63-200 mm; Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) and RP-18 (75 mm; Merck) were used for column chromatography. Thin layer chromatography was carried out on pre-coated silica gel 60 F254 plates and RP-18 F254 plates (both from Merck) and the plates were visualized by spraying with 10% H 2 SO 4 /EtOH solution followed by warming.
A new flavan-3-ol, (+)-afzelechin 5-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), together with 13 known flavonoids (1, 3-14), was isolated from the fruit peels of Wisteria floribunda. Their structures were assigned by detailed interpretation of NMR, MS, and CD spectroscopic data, as well as by comparing with published reports. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated compounds (1-14) was examined. Among them, compounds 3, 6, and 9 produced highest inhibitory effects on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced nuclear factor kappa-B activation in HepG2 cells with IC(50) values of 14.1, 16.5, and 11.9 μM, respectively. With the exception of compound 6, the compounds significantly inhibited the accumulation of pro-inflammatory inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 proteins in TNF-α-stimulated HepG2 cells at a concentration as low as 0.1 μM.
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