Search results for "Terpene"
showing 10 items of 816 documents
Characterization of γ-aminobutyrate type A receptors with atypical coupling between agonist and convulsant binding sites in discrete brain regions
2001
Abstract γ-Aminobutyric acid type A (GABA A ) receptor ionophore ligand t -[ 35 S]butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([ 35 S]TBPS) was used in an autoradiographic assay on brain cryostat sections to visualize and characterize atypical GABA-insensitive [ 35 S]TBPS binding previously described in certain recombinant GABA A receptors and the cerebellar granule cell layer. Picrotoxinin-sensitive but 1-mM GABA-insensitive [ 35 S]TBPS binding was present in the rat cerebellar granule cell layer, many thalamic nuclei, subiculum and the internal rim of the cerebral cortex, amounting in these regions up to 6% of the basal binding determined in the absence of exogenous GABA. Similar binding properties wer…
Effects of a water-soluble extract of rosemary and its purified component rosmarinic acid on xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in rat liver
2001
The effects of a water-soluble extract (WSE) of rosemary and its purified antioxidant rosmarinic acid (RA) on xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (XME) were studied in rat liver after dietary administration. The modulation of phase I enzymes such as cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A, 2B, 2E1, 3A, and phase II enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase (GST), quinone reductase (QR) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) was evaluated by measuring enzyme activities with specific substrates. Protein levels of CYPs and rGST A1/A2, A3/A5, M1, M2 and P1 were measured using antibodies in Western blots. Caffeic acid was also studied because it results from RA biotransformation in rat after oral administration. Ma…
Antispasmodic Effects and Structure−Activity Relationships of Labdane Diterpenoids from Marrubium globosum ssp. libanoticum
2009
Marrubium globosum ssp. libanoticum is a medicinal plant used in Lebanon to reduce pain and smooth muscle spasms. A chloroform extract obtained from M. globosum aerial parts reduced acetylcholine-induced contractions in the isolated mouse ileum. The purification of this extract identified, among 12 isolated labdane diterpenoids, four new compounds, named 13-epicyllenin A (4), 13,15-diepicyllenin A (5), marrulibacetal (9), and marrulactone (11). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. Compound 9, which exerted antispasmodic activity, is likely the active ingredient of the extract. Preliminary structure-activity relationships for this class of compounds are suggested.
Phytochemical and pharmacological studies on the acetonic extract of Marrubium globosum ssp. libanoticum
2006
A new natural labdane diterpene, marrulibanoside, was isolated from the acetonic extract of aerial parts of M. globosum Montbr. et Auch. ex Benth. ssp. libanoticum Boiss. (Lamiaceae). Its structure was determined by spectroscopic methods such as 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectrometry. Pharmacological studies have shown that the extract of M. globosum exerts anti-inflammatory effects in the rat paw oedema induced by carrageenin resulting in reduced paw swelling. This activity, which seems due to marrulibanoside, is a consequence of iNOS and COX-2 activities inhibition.
Betulinic acid protects against cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury in mice by reducing oxidative and nitrosative stress
2011
Increased production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion is a major cause for neuronal injury. In hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-KO) mice, 2h of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion followed by 22h of reperfusion led to an enhanced expression of NADPH oxidase subunits (NOX2, NOX4 and p22phox) and isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (neuronal nNOS and inducible iNOS) in the ischemic hemisphere compared with the non-ischemic contralateral hemisphere. This was associated with elevated levels of 3-nitrotyrosine, an indicator of peroxynitrite-mediated oxidative protein modification. Pre-treatment with betulinic acid (50mg/kg/day f…
Blocking signaling through the gp130 receptor chain by interleukin-6 and oncostatin M inhibits PC-3 cell growth and sensitizes the tumor cells to eto…
1999
BACKGROUND The mechanisms of drug resistance associated with advanced, hormone-independent prostate carcinoma are poorly understood. The human prostate carcinoma PC-3 cell line, derived from a metastatic tumor and lacking androgen receptors, represents a useful model to investigate drug resistance. METHODS The effects of oncostatin M (OM), antiinterleukin-6 (IL-6) treatment, or interference with the gp130-mediated signaling on etoposide- or cisplatin-mediated cytotoxicity were investigated. RESULTS Both endogenous and exogenous IL-6 and exogenous OM up-regulated cell growth and enhanced resistance of PC-3 tumor cells to both etoposide and cisplatin. The influence of IL-6 is controlled by tr…
Coffee and its chemopreventive components Kahweol and Cafestol increase the activity of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in rat liver—compariso…
2003
Abstract A lower rate of colon cancer was observed in consumers of coffee with a high content of the diterpenes Kahweol and Cafestol (K/C). In animal models, K/C have been found to protect against the mutagenic/carcinogenic effects of compounds such as 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), aflatoxin B1, and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. Thus far, such chemoprotection by K/C has been attributed to modifications of xenobiotic metabolism, e.g. enhanced detoxification by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT) and/or glutathione transferase (GST). In the present study, we investigated the potential of several coffee-related treatments (K/C [1:1], Cafestol-alone, Turkish coffee) …
Phospholipid breakdown and choline release under hypoxic conditions: inhibition by bilobalide, a constituent of Ginkgo biloba
1997
A marked increase of choline release from rat hippocampal slices was observed when the slices were superfused with oxygen-free buffer, indicating hypoxia-induced hydrolysis of choline-containing phospholipids. This increase of choline release was suppressed by bilobalide, an ingredient of Ginkgo biloba, but not by a mixture of ginkgolides. The EC50 value for bilobalide was 0.38 microM. In ex vivo experiments, bilobalide also inhibited hypoxia-induced choline release when given p.o. in doses of 2-20 mg/kg 1 h prior to slice preparation. The half-maximum effect was observed with 6 mg/kg bilobalide. A similar effect was noted after p.o. administration of 200 mg/kg EGb 761, a ginkgo extract con…
Anticonvulsant and antidepressant activity of the selected terpene GABA derivatives in experimental tests in mice
2006
The present study was designed to investigate the central nervous system activity of terpene GABA (and piracetam) derivatives designated as BF-1, BF-2, BF-3, BF-4, BF-5, BF-6. We assessed their anticonvulsant activity in the two main mouse models of seizures (MES-test, PTZ-test), an antidepressant-like effect in the forced swim test (FST), as well as an influence on spontaneous locomotor activity. Our study demonstrated the strong anticonvulsant activity of (1S,3R,7R)-(-)-3,8,8-trimethyl-4-aza-bicyclo[5.1.0]acetate-5-one hydrochloride (compound BF-2) in the PTZ-test. Activity of BF-2 was equipotent to ethosuximide (380 mg/kg, po) in the PTZ-test, when used at a dose of 100 mg/kg, po. No neu…
Anti-inflammatory compounds from Sideritis javalambrensis n-hexane extract.
1989
The anti-inflammatory activities of the n-hexane extract of Sideritis javalambrensis and several purified fractions were investigated using the carrageenan mouse paw edema test. Progressive fractionation led to the isolation of the active principles ent-16-hydroxy-13-epimanoyl oxide [1] and esters of tyrosol with palmitic, stearic, behenic, and lignoceric acids.