The RBL-2H3 cell line is a commonly used histamine-releasing cell line used in inflammation, allergy and immunological research. Quite commonly, it is referred to in research papers as a mast cell line, despite the fact that it is derived from basophils. There is also a lack of consistency, both between different research groups using the same cell line and with both mast cell and basophil physiology. The review follows the development of the RBL-2H3 cell line from its inception and then goes on to assess the nature of the cell line in terms of its characteristics and its response to various stimuli. The relationship of this cell line to the various mast cell subtypes and basophils is discussed and it is concluded that while the RBL-2H3 cell line shares some characteristics with both mast cells and basophils, it is not fully representative of either.

While RBL-2H3 cells may be useful as a model for mast cell IgE-mediated degranulation, other aspects may not be representative and they may share similarities with basophils rather than with other histamine-releasing cell types.

RESUMO: "Atividade hipoglicemiante de duas espécies de Bauhinia brasileira: Bauhinia forfi cata L. and Bauhinia monandra Kurz.". Extratos aquosos das folhas de Bauhinia forfi cata L. e Bauhinia monandra Kurz (10% p/v) foram testados em camundongos normoglicêmicos, objetivando averiguar a sua atividade hipoglicemiante. Ambos os extratos mostraram atividade hipoglicemiante na metodologia empregada. Ainda, foi possível isolar de B. forfi cata L. dois fl avonóides, quercetina-3,7-O-dirhamnosido e kaempferol-3,7-O-dirhamnosido, sendo as estruturas estabelecidas por técnicas clássicas de RMN. Apenas o derivado da quercetina foi identifi cado no extrato aquoso de Bauhinia monandra por CLAE.Unitermos: Bauhinia forfi cata, Bauhinia monandra, Leguminosae, atividade hipoglicemiante, fl avonoides, CLAE. ABSTRACT:The hypoglycemic activity of aqueous extracts from Bauhinia forfi cata L. and Bauhinia monandra Kurz leaves (10% w/v) was evaluated in normoglycemic mice. Both extracts have shown hypoglycemic activity using this methodology. It was also possible to isolate two fl avonoids from B. forfi cata L., 3,7-di-O-α-rhamnopyranosylquercetin and 3,7-di-O-α-rhamnopyranosylkaempferol (kaempferitrin), whose structures were elucidated by usual NMR techniques. Only the quercetin derivative was identifi ed in B. monandra aqueous extract by HPLC.

HighlightsChemical separation is used for racemate resolution.NMR analyses are used for single enantiomer structure education.Intermolecular interactions are observed by X-ray study.

The indane skeleton is found naturally and in several therapeutic molecules in medicinal chemistry. During our work on the anti-inflammatory activity of naturally occurring and synthetic indanes, we have synthesized a novel indane scaffold that has been optimized for both anti-inflammatory activity and bioavailability. We have evaluated our lead molecule, PH46A, in in vivo models of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an area of considerable unmet clinical need; current therapies are often unable to control the course of the disease. The compound significantly reduced histological damage and serum amyloid A (SAA) levels in IL-10(-/-) colitis mice, was efficacious in the 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis model, and compared favorably with prednisolone in this model and supports its potential use to treat acute exacerbations of the disease. Further, the graded response to the compound may also lend itself to be used at a lower dose to maintain periods of remission.

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Plants of the genus Bauhinia are used in several countries worldwide for the treatment of diabetes, and several related species have been shown to have hypoglycaemic effects in vivo in both normoglycaemic and alloxan- and streptozotocin-treated animal models. In this study, the insulin-secreting cell line INS-1 was used to examine the effects of the crude ethanolic extract of leaves of B. variegata L. var. Candida Voidt and its major metabolite (6 S,7 E,9 R)-9-hydroxymegastigma-4,7-dien-3-one-9- beta-glycopyraroside (roseoside) on insulinotropic activity. The crude extracts and the major metabolite were shown to increase insulin secretion in a dose-dependant manner.

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