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Methyl pothoscandensate ( 1), a new molecular skeleton of ent-18(4→3)-abeokaurane, along with eight known compounds was isolated from the whole plant of Pothos scandens. The structure of the new compound was established by spectroscopic techniques and confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The inhibitory activity of selected compounds against porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV) was measured by the cytopathic effect (CPE) method. Compound 1 showed weak effect on PRRSV with an IC50 value of 40.3±8.3 μ M ( TI=15.7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linum usitatissimum L. (flax) has been cultivated for more than 2,000 years in China. Throughout the history of its cultivation, flax was mainly used for oil and medicine. It was not until the last 100 years that fibre flax began to be cultivated and used. This paper discusses the distribution, cultivation and use of flax in China especially in the past, based on literature reviews and ethnobotanical surveys for its traditional uses. The modern distribution of wild flax species in China is also presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new compounds, a xanthonoid and a flavonoid C-glycoside, were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the dried herb of Comastoma pedunlulatum. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated, respectively, as 1,8-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone 1-O-[2-(4′-hydroxy-3′,5′-dimethoxy-E-cinnamoyl)]-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1-6)-β-d-glucopyranoside (1) and 6″-O-acetylisoorientin (2) on the basis of their spectroscopic and physicochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Chemical examination of the EtOAc extract from the aerial parts of Aeschynanthus bracteatus led to isolation of four phenylethanol glycosides, aeschynanthosides A–D (1–4), and 55 known constituents, including 8 phenylethanoids, 23 phenols, 5 lignans, 7 flavonoids, 9 terpenoids, and 4 others. Their structures were elucidated mainly by detailed spectroscopic studies and comparison with published data. All 59 compounds were isolated for the first time from an Aeschynanthus species. The isolates were also tested for inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Aeschynanthoside D (4) and naringenin (41), within the concentration arrange tested (50–100μg/mL), showed very weak dose-dependent effects with the inhibition rate of 24.2%, 35.4%, 66.0%, and 9.5%, 40.1%, 65.0%, respectively, relative to positive controls. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new monocyclofarnesane-type sesquiterpenoid, hostasolide A ( 1), along with five known compounds, lyciumide A, feruloyltyramine, dimethyl 4,4'-dihydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxy-β-truxinate, 4-hydroxy3-methoxybenzaldehyde, and 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid, were isolated from the whole plant of Hosta ensata. The structure of compound 1 was determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The inhibitory activities of compound 1 against acetylcholinesterase, human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells, and human breast cancer MCF-7 cells were also evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Chemical composition and bioactivity of Acer truncatum seeds were investigated. • Oil yield, fatty acids and nervonic acid content varied greatly among locations. • Fifteen compounds from the seed residue were putatively identified in A. truncatum. • Seed residue showed cytotoxicity in human cancer cells and anti-AChE activity. • Prioritize Inner Mongolia samples for further study and product development. Acer truncatum , an ornamental, medicinal, and edible plant, is a tree endemic to China and now widely cultivated throughout Asia, North America, and Europe. It has been developed as an industrial crop from its traditional use as a substitute for tea. The oil from its seeds is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (FA), especially in nervonic acid (NA). However, studies on the chemical components and bioactivities of the seeds are limited, and comparative studies of seeds collected from different locations are even more limited. Therefore, A. truncatum seeds were collected from 12 different locations in China to investigate the chemical composition, cytotoxicity, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition of A. truncatum seed oil (ATO) and Acer seed residue extracts (ASR). The oil yields varied about five-fold among different locations from 7.27% to 35.05%. Nine fatty acids were identified and relatively quantified, and myristic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and a NA isomer [C24:1(15 E)] were the dominant fatty acids. The NA isomer has not been reported previously in A. truncatum , and NA levels ranged from 0.66 to 14.86 mg/μL of ATO. This is the first GC–MS study to focus on the FA differences of A. truncatum collected from different locations. Using UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis, 15 compounds were putatively identified from ASR, including N -acetyl-D-tryptophan, nonanedioic acid, 10 E -heptadecenoic acid, pregnanolone, phosphatidylglycerol (34:2), and phosphatidylinositol (34:1), which have not been reported in Acer prior to this study. The flavonoids miscanthoside and isovitexin/vitexine were also newly identified in A. truncatum. Furthermore, five samples each of ATO and ASR were selected to estimate the cytotoxic activities against four human tumor cell lines (A-549, SMMC-7721, MCF-7, and SW-480) and the AChE inhibitory activity. All ASR were cytotoxic on all tested cells and exhibited higher inhibitory activity than ATO at 100 μg/mL. ASR exhibited stronger cytotoxicity on SMMC-7721 with IC 50 from 29.46 to 52.55 μg/mL. Similarly, the ASR exhibited higher AChE inhibitory activity than the ATO. All ASR significantly inhibited AChE activity, and the inhibition rates were close to 90% at 20 μg/mL. The IC 50 values for the ASR ranged from 0.124 to 0.232 μg/mL. Overall, the results of this study indicate that ATO is abundant in FAs and NA, but the contents of ATO varies by location. ASR are rich in bioactive components with cytotoxic and AChE inhibitory activities. These findings suggest that ATO and ASR could be a promising resource in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was performed to examine the quality of planning and treatment modality using a CyberKnife (CK) robotic radiosurgery system with multileaf collimator (MLC)-based plans and IRIS (variable aperture collimator system)-based plans in relation to the dose–response of secondary cancer risk (SCR) in patients with benign intracranial tumors. The study population consisted of 15 patients with benign intracranial lesions after curative treatment using a CyberKnife M6 robotic radiosurgery system. Each patient had a single tumor with a median volume of 6.43 cm3 (range, 0.33–29.72 cm3). The IRIS-based plan quality and MLC-based plan quality were evaluated by comparing the dosimetric indices, taking into account the planning target volume (PTV) coverage, the conformity index (CI), and the dose gradient (R10% and R50%). The dose–response SCR with sarcoma/carcinoma induction was calculated using the concept of the organ equivalent dose (OED). Analyses of sarcoma/carcinoma induction were performed using excess absolute risk (EAR) and various OED models of dose–response type/lifetime attributable risk (LAR). Moreover, analyses were performed using the BEIR VII model. PTV coverage using both IRIS-based plans and MLC-based plans was identical, although the CI values obtained using the MLC-based plans showed greater statistical significance. In comparison with the IRIS-based plans, the MLC-based plans showed better dose falloff for R10% and R50% evaluation. The estimated difference between Schneider's model and BEIR VII in linear-no-threshold (Lnt) cumulative EAR was about twofold. The average values of LAR/EAR for carcinoma, for the IRIS-based plans, were 25% higher than those for the MLC-based plans using four SCR models; for sarcoma, they were 15% better in Schneider's SCR models. MLC-based plans showed slightly better conformity, dose gradients, and SCR reduction. There was a slight increase in SCR with IRIS-based plans in comparison with MLC-based plans. EAR analyses did not show any significant difference between PTV and brainstem analyses, regardless of the tumor volume. Nevertheless, an increase in target volume led to an increase in the probability of SCR. EAR showed statistically significant differences in the soft tissue according to tumor volume (1–10 cc and ≥10 cc). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the phytochemical studies of Comastoma pedunculatum. It states that 14 compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the dried herbs including flavonoid glycoside, coumarin, and phenolic acid. Silica gel chromatography to separate each fraction with gradient elution. Results show that the compound 1, white crystals as identified as ursolic acid, compound 2, white powder as 3α,24-dihydroxy ursolic acid, and compound 7, yellow powder as swertisin.

The article presents information on the Arisaema species found in the guangxi zhuang autonomous region of China. It informs that the Arisaema species are deciduous herb and about 20 centimetres tall. The chromosome number is 26 for the species and its cataphylls are dark purple in colour with snakeskin pattern.

Nudibaccatumins A (Ia) and B (Ib) are evaluated for their XO inhibitory activity without showing a significant effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the morphological, karyotypic, and pollen morphological study of Tupistra hongheensis (Ruscaceae)from Yunnan, China. It offers information on Tupistra hongheensis found on limestone cliff, under evergreen forest. It states that tupistra should be considered as endangered (EN) species.