No abstract

A saponin fraction from the stems of Yucca schidigera (Mohave yucca) exhibited potent growth-inhibitory activities against certain food-deteriorating yeasts, film-forming yeasts, and dermatophytic yeasts and fungi. From this fraction, a number of new anti-yeast monodesmosidic spirostanol saponins, named schidigera-saponins A1 (1), A2 (2), A3 (3), B1 (4), C1 (5),C2 (6); 25(R and S) schidigera-saponins D1 (7), D2 (8), E1 (12), F1 (13); and 25(S) schidigera-saponins D3 (9), D4 (10), D5 (11), and F2 (14) were isolated, together with several related known saponins, and the structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods (see Chart 1). The relationship between the antiyeast activities and the structures of these saponins is described.

Dihydroflavonol taxifolin and its glycoside, astilbin, from Engelhardtia chrysolepis were evaluated as antioxidants and radical scavengers. These dihydroflavonols inhibited superoxide anion production in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. Microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase was also inhibited by these flavonoids. Mitochondrial lipid peroxidation was inhibited only by the aglycon. Taxifolin protected peroxy radical-damaged mitochondria with no effect on enzyme activity. Furthermore, taxifolin and astilbin protected red cells against oxidative hemolysis. These dihydroflavonols were found to be effective for protecting subcellular systems and red blood cells against oxidative stress in vitro.

No abstract

The synergistic effect of local hyperthermia (LHT) with intratumor injection (i.t.) of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (DDP) was studied using a rodent model with implanted B16 melanoma tumors. The hindfoot of the C57BL/6 mouse bearing the tumor was placed in a water bath at 42.5 +/- 0.2 degrees C (intratumor temperature was at 42.3 +/- 0.1 degrees C) for 30 minutes just after local (i.t.) or systemic (intraperitoneal;i.p.) administration of DDP (1-3 mg/kg once in experiment I and 1-3 mg/kg three times in experiment II). The tumor growth ratio (TGR) at 7 days after treatment in the group given DDP 3 mg/kg (i.t.) with LHT was 1.1 in experiment I and 0.5 in experiment II, and there was a statistically significant difference in both experiments compared to findings in other groups (P < 0.01). The mean survival time was 42.1 days in experiment I and 50.2 days in experiment II, with a significant difference in the latter (P < 0.001). Thus regional injection chemotherapy given concomitantly with local hyperthermia promotes the anticancer effects and improves the prognosis without either severe renal injury or the promotion of hematogenic metastasis.

The effects of astilbin in Kohki tea, which is produced from the leaves of Engelhardtia chrysolepis Hance (Chinese name, huang-qui), and of an aglycone of astilbin, taxifolin, on the serum and liver lipid concentrations, and on the erythrocyte and liver antioxidative enzyme activities were determined with rats fed on a cholesterol-free diet. The total liver cholesterol concentration tended to be decreased by feeding with astilbin, and significantly decreased by feeding with taxifolin. The liver phospholipid concentration was decreased by feeding with both astilbin and taxifolin. In addition, astilbin and taxifolin lowered the serum and liver TBARS concentrations, but did not influence the serum and liver antioxidative enzyme activities, suggesting the possibility that these compounds acted to lower the TBARS concentration by their direct antioxidative action in vivo, almost without influencing the antioxidative enzyme activities.

No abstract

Abdominal wall hematoma is an uncommon cause of acute abdominal pain. We report a case of internal oblique hematoma caused by rupture of the subcostal artery in a 57-year-old woman. Ultrasonography (US) showed a hypoechoic mass in the right lateral abdominal wall. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a large soft tissue mass with extravasation of contrast medium located in the right internal oblique muscle. Angiography showed contrast extravasation from the subcostal artery, and transcatheter arterial embolization was performed successfully.