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Skeletal muscle atrophy is a debilitating response to several major diseases, muscle disuse and chronic steroid treatment for which currently no therapy is available. Since adiponectin signaling plays key roles in muscle energetics, we assessed if globular adiponectin (gAd) or the small molecule adiponectin mimetic 6-C-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3S)-(+)-5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxydihydroflavonol (GTDF) could ameliorate muscle atrophy. Both GTDF and gAd induced C2C12 myoblast differentiation. GTDF and gAd effectively prevented reduction in myotube area and suppressed the expressions of atrophy markers; atrogin-1 and muscle ring finger protein-1 (MuRF1) in models of steroid, cytokine and starvation -induced muscle atrophy. The protective effects of GTDF and gAd were routed through AMPK and AKT activation and thereby stimulation of PPAR gamma coactivator 1α and inhibition of forkhead box O transcription factors. Finally, GTDF and gAd mitigated dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy in vivo. Together, our results demonstrate that activating adiponectin signaling may be an effective therapeutic strategy against skeletal muscle atrophy., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Pre-clinical studies suggest mitigating effect of dietary flavonoid quercetin against cancer and other diseases. However, quercetin suffers from poor metabolic stability, which appears to offset its pharmacological efficacy. Recently, we isolated quercetin-6-C-β-D-glucopyranoside (QCG) from Ulmus wallichiana planchon that has greater stability profile over quercetin. In the present study, the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of QCG on prostate cancer cells were assessed. QCG inhibited prostate cancer cell proliferation by arresting cells at G0/G1 phase of cell cycle and induces apoptosis as evident from cytochrome c release, cleavage of caspase 3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Mechanistic studies revealed that QCG inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and Akt/mTOR cell survival pathways. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) was a critical mediator of QCG action as knockdown of AhR attenuated QCG-induced cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and inhibition of Akt/mTOR pathway in prostate cancer cells. Taken together, our results suggest that QCG exhibits anti-cancer activity against prostate cancer cells via AhR-mediated down regulation of Akt/mTOR pathway in PC-3 cells., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. and Société Française de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire (SFBBM). All rights reserved.)

Phytochemical investigation of seed coats of Pterospermum acerifolium afforded two phytoceramides (1, 2) and two acylated phytosterol glucosides (3, 4) together with five known compounds (5-9). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis using 1D, 2D NMR and Mass spectrometry. Compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 were assessed for their osteogenic activity using primary cultures of osteoblasts harvested from neonatal rat calvaria. Among these compounds, 1 and 2 markedly stimulated osteoblast differentiation assessed by alkaline phosphatase production and osteoblast mineralization by alizarin red-S staining., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Various phenolic C-glycosides were evaluated for their in vitro and in vivo antihyperglycemic activity employing glucose uptake by rat muscle cell lines (L-6) and low dosed-streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, respectively. Some of phenolic C-glycosides were isolated from Pterocarpus marsupium and Ulmus wallichiana and other were synthesized by unprotected sugar and phloroacetophenone using Sc(OTf)(3) in aqueous ethanol. Eight among tested compounds showed significant lowering of blood glucose level on low dosed-streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The compound 24 lowered the blood glucose levels by 34.9% and 33.6% during 0-5h and 0-24h, respectively, at the dose of 25mg/kg body weight which is comparable to standard antidiabetic drug metformin., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Evidences have suggested that Tectona grandis (TG) attenuates gastric mucosal injury; however its mechanism has not yet been established. The aim of present study was to evaluate the gastroprotective mechanism of ethanolic extract of TG (E-EtOH), butanolic fraction (Fr-Bu) and to identify its active constituents. Anti-ulcer activities were evaluated against cold restraint (CRU) and pyloric ligation (PL) induced gastric ulcer models and further confirmed through H(+) K(+)-ATPase inhibitory activity. Cytoprotective activity was evaluated in alcohol (AL) induced gastric ulcer model and further through PGE(2) level. E-EtOH and Fr-Bu attenuated ulcer formation in CRU. Moreover E-EtOH and Fr-Bu displayed potent anti-secretory activity as evident through reduced free acidity and pepsin activity in PL, confirmed further by in vitro inhibition of H(+) K(+)-ATPase activity. In addition cytoprotective potential of E-EtOH and Fr-Bu were apparent with protection in AL model, increased PGE(2) content and enhanced mucin level in PL. Phytochemical investigations of Fr-Bu yielded terpenoides and a phenolic glycoside, verbascoside. The anti-secretory mechanism of verbascoside mediated apparently through inhibition of H(+) K(+)-ATPase with corresponding decrease in plasma gastrin level, is novel to our finding. Gastroprotection elicited by TG might be through proton pump inhibition and consequent augmentation of the defensive mechanism., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Four new clerodane furano diterpene glucosides (amritosides A, B, C and D) were isolated as their acetates from Tinospora cordifolia stems. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic studies.

Phytochemical investigation of Bacopa procumbens afforded two new phenolic glycosides 1 and 2 , for the first time, along with 12 known compounds 3 - 14 . Structures of these compounds were established based on spectral and chemical evidences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pongamia pinnata fruits afforded three new furanoflavonoid glucosides, pongamosides A-C (1–3), and a new flavonol glucoside, pongamoside D (4). The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic studies. This is the first time that furanoflavone glucosides have been found as naturally occurring compounds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: (2S,3S)-Aromadendrin-6-C-β-d-glucopyranoside (AG) is a novel flavonol isolated from the extract of Ulmus wallichiana (Himalayan Elm). Extract of U. wallichiana is used as a traditional medicine for rapid fracture repair in India. We characterized the mechanism of action of AG in mouse bone cells by investigating its effect on the precursors of osteoblasts, osteoclasts and adipocytes. At nanomolar concentrations, AG increased differentiation of preosteoblasts obtained from neonatal mouse calvaria. The gene expression of osteogenic markers, including runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx-2), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), type I collagen and osteocalcin were elevated in the preosteoblasts. The extracellular matrix mineralization was higher in preosteoblast and bone marrow cells when AG was present in the medium. Furthermore, AG protected the differentiated osteoblasts from serum deprivation-induced apoptosis, and increased the expression of the anti-osteoclastogenic cytokine, osteoprotegerin. It inhibited osteoclast differentiation of bone marrow precursor cells to osteoclasts in the presence of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) and monocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). Additionally, in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, AG decreased the expression of genes involved in adipogenesis, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (CEBP/α), and induced apoptosis of differentiated adipocytes. Induction of adipogenic differentiation was also inhibited in the presence of AG. AG exhibited no estrogenic/antiestrogenic effect. Together, our data show that AG has potent osteogenic, anti-osteoclastogenic and anti-adipogenic effects, which may translate to a better skeletal outcome in postmenopausal osteoporosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]