A new monoterpene glycoside, 6'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylalbiflorin (1), and four known compounds; albiflorin (2), 6'-O-benzoylalbiflorin (3), paeoniflorin (4) and benzoyl paeoniflorin (5), were isolated from the methanolic extract of the roots of Paeonia lactiflora Pall.. Their chemical structures were completely elucidated using a combination of 2D NMR techniques (COSY, HMQC and HMBC) and HRESI-MS analyses. To investigate the bioactivities of these compounds, their effects on the differentiation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were tested. Compound 1 (0.01-10 microM) significantly increased the alkaline phosphatase activity and nodules mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells compared to those of the control (P<0.05). These results suggest that newly isolated compound 1 has a direct stimulatory effect on bone formation in vitro and may contribute to the prevention for osteoporosis.

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Context:Paramignya trimera (Oliv.) Burkill (Rutaceae) has been used to treat liver diseases and cancer. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of this medicinal plant and its components have not been elucidated.Objective: This study investigated chemical constituents of the P. trimera stems and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects of isolated compounds.Materials and methods: Cytotoxicity of isolated compounds (5–40 μM) toward BV2 cells was tested using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) for 24 h. Inhibitory effects of isolated compounds (5-40 μM) on nitrite and PGE2 concentrations were determined using Griess reaction and PGE2 ELISA kit, respectively (pretreated with the compounds for 3 h and then stimulated for 18 h with LPS). Inhibitory effects of compounds (5-40 μM) on iNOS and COX-2 protein expression were evaluated by Western blot analysis (pretreated with the compounds for 3 h and then stimulated for 24 h with LPS).Results: Seven coumarins were isolated and identified as: ostruthin (1), ninhvanin (2), 8-geranyl-7-hydroxycoumarin (3), 6-(6′,7′-dihydroxy-3′,7′-dimethylocta-2′-enyl)-7-hydroxycoumarin (4), 6-(7-hydroperoxy-3,7-dimethylocta-2,5-dienyl)-7-hydroxycoumarin (5), 6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran (6), and luvangetin (7). Compounds 1–4 and 7 inhibited NO and PGE2 production in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells, with IC50 values ranging from 9.8 to 46.8 and from 9.4 to 52.8 μM, respectively. Ostruthin (1) and ninhvanin (2) were shown to suppress LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 protein expression.Discussion and conclusion: The present study provides a scientific rationale for the use of P. trimera in the prevention and treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases. Ostruthin and ninhvanin might have potential therapeutic effects and should be considered for further development as new anti-neuroinflammatory agents.

Five new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans isolated from the stems of Kadsura induta. Their anti-inflammatory activities were studied by molecular docking and inhibition of NO production in LPS activated-RAW264.7 cells.

Momordica charantia is used to treat various diseases, including inflammatory conditions. Previous reports indicated that the extract of this plant inhibits activation of nuclear transcription factor-jB (NF-jB) but activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR). Additionally, cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides are the main bioactive components of the fruit of M. charantia. Therefore, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of 17 cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides (1-17) isolated from this plant. Their inhibition of NF-jB and activation of PPAR activities in HepG2 cells were measured using luciferase reporter and PPAR subtype transactivation assays. Compounds 6 and 8 were found to inhibit NF-jB activation stimulated by tumor necrosis factor-a (TNFa) in a dose-dependent manner. With 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) values of 0.4 lM, compounds 6 and 8 were more potent inhibitors than the positive control, sulfasalazine (IC50 = 0.9 lM). Compounds 4, 6, and 8 also inhibited TNFa-induced expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA. However, only compound 13 significantly increased PPARc transactivation.