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Context: Solidago virgaurea L. (Asteraceae) is traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory for the treatment of various symptoms including cystitis. However, little is known concerning the constituents responsible for this activity and the mechanism of their action. Objective: To assess the anti-inflammatory activity of the phenolic-rich fraction of S. virgaurea aerial parts in rats, isolate and assess the activity of the major compounds present. Materials and methods: An HPLC method was developed for the analysis of the phenolic-rich fraction (EtFr). The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the EtFr and four isolated compounds (at 25 and 50 mg/kg) were assessed in adult male rats using the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema model. The levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a and IL-1b) were measured using ELISA. Results: 3,5-O-Dicaffeoylquinic acid (1), 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (2), 3,4,5-O-tricaffeoylquinic acid (3) and 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (4) were isolated from EtFr. Compound 3 (50 mg/kg) showed a highly significant activity in inhibiting the oedema volume after 3 h (88% of the activity of indomethacin at 10 mg/kg). The EtFr and the isolated compounds largely inhibited the excessive production of the inflammatory mediators TNF-a and IL-1b. Discussion and conclusion: This is the first report of 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3) in Solidago species. The tricaffeoylquinic acid (3) showed a significantly higher activity than the other three dicaffeoylquinic acids (1, 2, 4) and indomethacin in reduction of TNF-a and IL-1b concentrations (8.44 ± 0.62 and 5.83 ± 0.57 pg/mL compared to 12.60 ± 1.30 and 52.91 ± 5.20 pg/mL induced by indomethacin, respectively). ARTICLE HISTORY

In addition to four previously reported compounds: proximadiol (1), 5α-hydroxy-β-eudesmol (2), 1β-hydroxy-β-eudesmol (4) and 1β-hydroxy-α-eudesmol (5), two new sesquiterpenes, 5α-hydroperoxy-β-eudesmol (3) and 7α,11-dihydroxy-cadin-10(14)-ene (6) were isolated from the unsaponifiable fraction of the petroleum ether extract of Cymbopogon proximus STAPF. Isolation of compounds 2, 4 and 5 from the genus Cymbopogon is reported for the first time. The structure elucidation of these compounds was based primarily on 1D and 2D-NMR analyses.

The activating immune ligands, MICA/B, act as a "kill me" signal through the NKG2D receptor expressed on natural killer (NK) cells. Recently, the oncogenic miR-20a was found to mediate immune escape through repressing MICA/B levels in breast cancer (BC) cells. However, targeting miR-20a-MICA/B using natural compounds has rarely been investigated. Our group has successfully isolated 3'-O-acetylvitexin that showed cytotoxic effects against colon cancer cells but has never been evaluated in BC. Our aim is to investigate the effects of 3'-O-acetylvitexin on BC cell lines and to further elucidate its molecular mechanism of action. The results showed that 3'-Oacetylvitex in depicted a more pronounced dose-dependent repression of TNBC cellular viability, colonogenicity and migration capacity than Vitexin. 3'-O-acetylvitexin treatment resulted in a marked dose-dependent repression of miR-20a with a concomitant dose-dependent increase in MICA/B expression. In conclusion, 3'-O-acetylvitexin might act as a promising therapeutic agent for TNBC patients.

Phenolic Compounds from Eucalyptus maculata -[isolation and structure elucidation]. -(ABDEL-SATTAR, E.; KOHIEL, M. A.; SHIHATA, I. A.; EL-ASKARY, H.; Pharmazie 55 (2000) 8, 623-624; Dep. Pharmacogn., Coll. Pharm., Cairo 11562, Egypt; EN)

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A new diacetyl triterpene lactone, drosericarpone (2), was isolated from the hexane extract of the herb Cleome droserifolia, together with buchariol (1, a sesquiterpene oxide, isolated for the first time from Cleome species) and stigmasterol glucoside (3). The structures of 1-3 were identified by spectroscopic means.

Hydrodistilled oils of the fresh aerial parts of Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. cultivated in Egypt were prepared from samples collected along the four seasons. The percentage yields of these essential oils were 0.50%, 0.52%, 0.60%, and 0.47% of the dry weight for winter, spring, summer, and autumn samples. GC/MS analyses of all samples revealed a qualitative and quantitative variability in the oil composition. The total number of compounds identified was 46 among which 15 were common in all samples. The oxygenated compounds constituted about 45%, 46%, 63%, and 44% of the total composition of the oils for winter, spring, summer, and autumn samples, respectively. Carvone was the major constituent in spring, summer, and autumn samples (about 31%, 56%, and 35%, respectively), while limonene (ca. 26%) was the major constituent of the winter sample followed by carvone (ca. 25%). The essential oil of the highest yield (full-fl owering summer sample), with the highest oxygenated constituents and carvone contents, was screened for certain biological activities. It exhibited analgesic and acute anti-inflammatory activities (75% and 82% relative to indomethacin). It also showed a potent in vivo antioxidant activity (96% relative to vitamin E). In addition, it exerted moderate cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, and in vitro antioxidant activities. Moreover, the oil had a potent antifungal activity against Candida albicans (MIC = 4 μg/ml), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (MIC = 5.2 μg/ml), and Aspergillus niger (MIC = 6.8 μg/ml).