3.1. Biosynthesis from Jatrophanes 4313 3.2. Biosynthesis from Lathyranes 4314 4. Biological Activity 4314 4.1. Antiproliferative Activity 4314 4.2. Cytotoxicity 4316 4.3. Effects on the Cell Division 4316 4.4. DNA-Damaging Activity 4316 4.5. Modulatority of Multidrug Resistance 4316 4.6. Tumor Promoting Activity 4318 4.7. Pro-Inflammatory Activity 4318 4.8. Inhibition of Allergic Reactions 4318 4.9. Antimicrobial Activity 4319 4.10. Antidiarrheal Activity 4322 4.11. Antipyretic-Analgesic Activity 4322 4.12. Molluscicidal and Antifeedant Activities 4323 4.13. Inhibitory Activity on the Mammalian Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain 4323

Chemical and Pharmacological Research of the Plants in Genus Euphorbia

Natural Science Foundation of China[30000213, 30370160, 30670214]; National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program)[2009CB522300]; Chinese Academy of Sciences

Meliaceous limonoids: chemistry and biological activities.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common pathological conditions in both community and hospital settings. It has been estimated that about 150 million people worldwide develop UTI each year, with high social costs in terms of hospitalizations and medical expenses. Among the common uropathogens associated to UTIs development, UroPathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the primary cause. UPEC strains possess a plethora of both structural (as fimbriae, pili, curli, flagella) and secreted (toxins, iron-acquisition systems) virulence factors that contribute to their capacity to cause disease, although the ability to adhere to host epithelial cells in the urinary tract represents the most important determinant of pathogenicity. On the opposite side, the bladder epithelium shows a multifaceted array of host defenses including the urine flow and the secretion of antimicrobial substances, which represent useful tools to counteract bacterial infections. The fascinating and intricate dynamics between these players determine a complex interaction system that needs to be revealed. This review will focus on the most relevant components of UPEC arsenal of pathogenicity together with the major host responses to infection, the current approved treatment and the emergence of resistant UPEC strains, the vaccine strategies, the natural antimicrobial compounds along with innovative anti-adhesive and prophylactic approaches to prevent UTIs.

/pdf/uropathogenic-escherichia-coli-upec-infections-virulence-1kp5dk71ij.pdf

UroPathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) Infections: Virulence Factors, Bladder Responses, Antibiotic, and Non-antibiotic Antimicrobial Strategies.

Mechanistic analysis of solute transport in an in vitro physiological two‐phase dissolution apparatus

The phagocyte-microbe interactions in the immune system is a defense mechanism but when excessively or inappropriately deployed can harm host tissues and participate in the development of different non-immune and immune chronic inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune problems, allergies, some rheumatoid disorders, cancers and others. Immunodrugs include organic synthetics, biological agents such as cytokines and antibodies acting on single targets or pathways have been used to treat immune-related diseases but with limited success. Most of immunostimulants and immunosuppressants in clinical use are the cytotoxic drugs which possess serious side effects. There is a growing interest to use herbal medicines as multi-component agents to modulate the complex immune system in the prevention of infections rather than treating the immune-related diseases. Many therapeutic effects of plant extracts have been suggested to be due to their wide array of immunomodulatory effects and influence on the immune system of the human body. Phytochemicals such as flavonoids, polysaccharides, lactones, alkaloids, diterpenoids and glycosides, present in several plants, have been reported to be responsible for the plants immunomodulating properties. Thus the search for natural products of plant origin as new leads for development of potent and safe immunosuppressant and immunostimulant agents is gaining much major research interest. The present review will give an overview of widely investigated plant-derived compounds (curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechol-3-gallate, quercetin, colchicine, capsaicin, andrographolide, and genistein) which have exhibited potent effects on cellular and humoral immune functions in pre-clinical investigations and will highlight their clinical potential.

/pdf/plant-derived-immunomodulators-an-insight-on-their-5bt61oi1au.pdf

Plant-derived Immunomodulators: An Insight on Their Preclinical Evaluation and Clinical Trials

Prodrugs of triterpenoids and their derivatives.

Chlorahololides A and B, two potent and selective blockers of the potassium channel isolated from Chloranthus holostegius.

The first limonoid peroxide in the Meliaceae family: walsuronoid A from Walsura robusta.

Three new alkaloids, gelsebanine (1), 14α-hydroxyelegansamine (2), and 14α-hydroxygelsamydine (3), and a new extraction artifact , gelsebamine (4), together with 12 known alkaloids, were isolated from the stems and leaves of Gelsemium elegans. The structures of 1−4 were determined by spectroscopic methods, especially 2D NMR techniques. Compounds 1−4 were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against four tumor cell lines, and gelsebamine (4) selectively inhibited the A-549 human lung adenocarcinoma cell line.

Shang-Gao Liao

Papers

Prodrugs of triterpenoids and their derivatives.

Chlorahololides A and B, two potent and selective blockers of the potassium channel isolated from Chloranthus holostegius.

The first limonoid peroxide in the Meliaceae family: walsuronoid A from Walsura robusta.

Alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans.

Chuktabularins A-D, four new limonoids with unprecedented carbon skeletons from the stem bark of Chukrasia tabularis.