Hot Natural Products & Bioactive Compounds

1. Gypenosides (Gyp, Stevenleaf) induce apoptosis in human hepatoma cells through the up-regulation of Bax and Bak, and down-regulation of Bcl-2, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c and activation of caspase cascade.
2. Gypenosides induce ER stress and production of reactive oxygen species and Ca 2+ , change the ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax, followed by the dysfunction of mitochondria, cause cytochrome c release, activation of caspase-3 before leading to apoptosis, these results provide information towards an understanding of the mechanisms by which Gyp induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human tongue cancer cells.
3. Gypenosides can inhibit invasion and migration of human tongue SCC4 cells by down-regulating proteins associated with these processes, resulting in reduced metastasis.
4. Gypenosides imply their remarkable preventative and therapeutic potential in treatment of neurological diseases involving glutamate and oxidative stress.
5. The extensive antioxidant effect of gypenosides may be valuable to the prevention and treatment of various diseases such as atherosclerosis, liver disease and inflammation.

Caffeic acid has antidiabetic, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities, it can suppress ultraviolet B(UVB)-induced COX-2 expression by blocking Fyn kinase activity, inhibits HBV-DNA replication as well as HBsAg production, also reduces serum DHBV level in DHBV-infected duckling model. Caffeic acid may be used as designed novel therapeutic drugs for Parkinson's disease by inhibiting α-synuclein fibrillation.

Alpha-lipoic acid has become a common ingredient in multivitamin formulas, anti-aging supplements, and even pet food, it is well-defined as a therapy for preventing diabetic polyneuropathies, and scavenges free radicals, chelates metals, and restores intracellular glutathione levels which otherwise decline with age. Alpha-lipoic acid has therapeutic effects on joint inflammation and erosion in an animal model via NF-kappa B down regulation, it inhibits TNF-alpha induced NF-kappa B activation through blocking of MEKK1-MKK4-IKK signaling cascades. Lipoic acid is a novel treatment for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Glucosamine sulfate has environmental antibacterial activity. Glucosamine sulfate could as a safe symptomatic Slow Acting Drug for osteoarthritis, it can stimulate proteoglycan synthesis by chondrocytes and has mild anti-inflammatory properties, it is therefore as effective as ibuprofen on symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.

D-glucosamine hydrochloride has antimicrobial effect on the common 21 strains of food spoilage microorganisms, it could as preservative agent was used to preserve nature eleo juice. D-glucosamine hydrochloride also has antitumor, antiinflammaty, and anti-arthritis effects, it induces cell apoptosis by blocking of cell-cycle.

Rotundine provides remarkable protection against cerebral ischemia reperfusion damage, its mechanisms may be through its influence on NO、ET 1 and energy metabolism. Rotundine injection can ameliorate the damages by modulating the activities of different types of NOS. It combined with methadone treatment may be a better therapeutic method in treatment of heroin dependence.Rotundine (L-tetrahydropalmatine, L-THP) is a selective antagonist of dopamine D1 receptor with IC50 of 166 nM.

Triptolide has immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities, it induces apoptosis in tumor cells by blocking NF-KB activation and sensitizing tumor cells for TNF-a induced programmed cell death, it inhibits TGF-β1-induced cell proliferation and migration of rat airway smooth muscle cells, by suppressing Smad signaling and NF-κB ,respectively. Triptolide is an inhibitor of heat shock factor (HSF1), inhibits HSP90-CDC37 binding and induces acetylation of HSP90, and also inhibits MDM2 expression in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values range from 47 to 73 nM.

Tripdiolide has cytotoxic, and anti-rheumatic activities, it suppresses pro-inflammatory gene expression, may be effective therapy for lupus nephritis.