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Three new triterpenoids—spergulagenin B (1), spergulagenin C (2), and spergulagenin D (3)—were isolated from the aerial part of Glinus oppositifolius, along with 17 known compounds (4–20). The structures of these new compounds were identified by spectroscopic and MS analyses. Compounds 3, 5, 19, and 20 were evaluated for inhibition of nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with IC50 values of 17.03, 18.21, 16.30, and 12.64 μM, respectively. Compounds 3, 5, and 20 exhibited inhibitory effects on LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells with IC50 values of 18.35 ± 1.34, 17.56 ± 1.41, and 14.27 ± 1.29 μM, respectively.

Diabetes is an important chronic disease and the 4th leading cause of death in Taiwan. Hyperglycemia-induced oxidative and inflammatory damage are the main causes of chronic complications in diabetic patients. The red guava (red-fleshed guava cultivar of Psidium guajava L.) is a tropical fruit belonging to the Myrtaceae family and an important commercial crop in Taiwan. In this study, the protective effects of a diet containing red guava on inflammation and oxidative stress in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice were examined. The experimental group was divided into seven subgroups: normal (N), diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetes + red guava 1% (L), 2% (M), and 5% (H), diabetes + 5% red guava + anti-diabetic rosiglitazone (HR), and diabetes + anti-diabetic rosiglitazone (R). The mice were fed for 8 weeks and sacrificed by decapitation. Compared with the DM group, the experimental groups with diets containing red guava as well as rosiglitazone all showed significant improvements in blood glucose control, insulin resistance, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, cholesterol, c-reactive protein, TNF-α, and IL-10. Furthermore, the expression of inflammatory proteins, such as iNOS and NF-κB, was suppressed via activated PPARγ, and the expression levels of GPx3 and ACO increased. In summary, red guava can significantly suppress inflammatory and oxidative damage caused by diabetes and alleviate diabetic symptoms; thus, it exerts protective effects and has potential applications for the development of a dietary supplement.

Wild bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L. var. abbreviate Seringe), a common vegetable in Asia, is used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases, including inflammation. Extant literature indicates that wild bitter gourds have components that activate PPARα and PPARγ. This research probed the influence of adding wild bitter gourd to diets on inflammation responses in mice with sepsis induced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS. Male BALB/c mice were divided normal, sepsis, positive control, and three experimental groups. The latter ate diets with low (1%), moderate (2%), and high (10%) ratios of wild bitter gourd lyophilized powder. Before mice were sacrificed, with the exception of the normal group, intraperitoneal injection of LPS induced sepsis in each group; positive control group was injected with LPS after PDTC. This experiment revealed starkly lower weights in groups with added wild bitter gourd than those of the remaining groups. Blood lipids (TG, cholesterol, and NEFA) were also lower in comparison to the sepsis group, and blood glucose concentrations recovered and approached normal levels. Blood biochemistry values related to inflammation reactions indicated GOT, GPT, C-RP, and NO concentrations of groups with added wild bitter gourd were all lower than those of the sepsis group. Secretion levels of the spleen pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α tallied significantly lower in comparison to the sepsis group, whereas secretion levels of IL-10 anti-inflammatory cytokine increased. Expression level of proteins NF-κB, iNOS, and COX-2 were significantly inhibited. Results indicate wild bitter gourd in diets promoted lipid metabolism, reducing fat accumulation, and improving low blood glucose in sepsis. Addition of wild bitter gourd can reduce inflammation biochemical markers or indicators and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the body, hence improving the inflammation responses in mice with sepsis.

One lignanoid compound, isoamericanol B (1), along with four triterpenoid compounds—cis-3-O-p-hydroxycinnamoyloleanolic acid (2), trans-3-O-p-hydroxy cinnamoyloleanolic acid (3), cis-3-O-p-hydroxycinnamoylursolic acid (4), trans-3-O-p-hydroxycinnamoylursolic acid (5) have been isolated for the first time from the leaves of Elaeagnus oldhamii Maxim. Compounds 1–4 significantly inhibited the expression of NO (nitric oxide) produced in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The IC50 value for inhibition of nitrite production of compound 1 was about 10.3 ± 0.4 μg/mL. In the cell viability test, however, among compounds 1–4 compound 1 did not significantly change cell viability. Therefore, in this study compound 1 possessed anti-inflammatory effects. The result suggests compound 1 as a potential lead compound for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Three new sesquiterpenoids, 2α-hydroxy-3,3,6α,9β-tetramethyltricyclo[4,3,21,4]undecane (1), 11-acetoxyeudesman-4β-ol (4), and 2α,3β-dihydroxy-4β-methyl-6,8,10-cadinatriene (6), four known sesquiterpenoids (2, 3, 5, and 7), together with eight known diterpenoids (8–15), were isolated from the wood of Cunninghamia konishii. Their structures were determined by detailed analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison with the data of known analogues. Four sesquiterpenoids (1, 4, 5, and 6) and all the diterpenoids (8–15) were evaluated for inhibition of nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages and the results showed that compounds 10 and 15 exhibited moderate inhibitory activities against nitric oxide production.

Three new sesquiterpenoids, 2 -hydroxy-3,3,6 ,9 -tetramethyltricyclo[4,3,21,4]undecane (1), 11-acetoxyeudesman-4 -ol (4), and 2 ,3 -dihydroxy-4 -methyl-6,8,10-cadinatriene (6), four known sesquiterpenoids (2, 3, 5, and 7), together with eight known diterpenoids (8–15), were isolated from the wood of Cunninghamia konishii. Their structures were determined by detailed analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison with the data of known analogues. Four sesquiterpenoids (1, 4, 5, and 6) and all the diterpenoids (8–15) were evaluated for inhibition of nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 macrophages and the results showed that compounds 10 and 15 exhibited moderate inhibitory activities against nitric oxide production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]