lignans and flavone

Forsythoneosides A-D (1-4), four unusual adducts of a flavonoid unit fused to a phenylethanoid glycoside through a pyran ring or carbon-carbon bond, and four new phenylethanoid glycosides (5-8) were isolated from the fruits of Forsythia suspensa, together with nine known compounds. The structures of 1-8, including their absolute configurations, were elucidated by spectroscopic data as well as experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism analysis. Compounds 2 and 4 inhibited PC12 cell damage induced by rotenone, and increased cell viability from 53.9 ± 7.1% to 70.1 ± 4.0% and 67.9 ± 5.2% at 0.1 μM, respectively.

Topics: Animals; Cardiac Glycosides; Circular Dichroism; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Flavones; Forsythia; Fruit; Glycosides; Lignans; Molecular Structure; Neuroprotective Agents; PC12 Cells; Rats

Phytoestrogens have a controversial effect on hormone-dependent tumours. Herein, we investigated the effect of the pumpkin seed extract (PSE) on estradiol production and estrogen receptor (ER)-α/ER-β/progesterone receptor (PR) status on MCF7, Jeg3, and BeWo cells. The PSE was prepared and analyzed by mass spectrometry. MCF7, Jeg3, and BeWo cells were incubated with various concentrations of PSE. Untreated cells served as controls. Supernatants were tested for estradiol production with an ELISA method. Furthermore, the effect of the PSE on ER-α/ER-β/PR expression was assessed by immunocytochemistry. The PSE was found to contain both lignans and flavones. Estradiol production was elevated in MCF7, BeWo, and Jeg3 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In MCF7 cells, a significant ER-α downregulation and a significant PR upregulation were observed. The above results after properly designed animal studies could highlight a potential role of pumpkin seed's lignans in breast cancer prevention and/or treatment.

Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cucurbita; Down-Regulation; Estradiol; Estrogen Receptor alpha; Estrogen Receptor beta; Female; Flavones; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lignans; MCF-7 Cells; Phytoestrogens; Plant Extracts; Receptors, Progesterone; Seeds; Trophoblastic Neoplasms; Up-Regulation

The methanol extract of the tubers of Polygonum perfoliatum L. afforded a new lignan: 8-oxo-pinoresinol (1), and five known compounds 3',5-dihydroxy-3,4',5',7-tetramethoxy-flavone (2), catechin (3), quercetin (4), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucuronide (5) and rutin (6). Their structures were established by MS, one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments. Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity against human mammary carcinoma (Bcap-37), human colon carcinoma (RKO), human hepatocellular carcinoma (SMMC-7721), human prostate carcinoma (PC3) and human erythroleukaemia (K562) cells.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Flavones; Humans; Lignans; Plant Extracts; Polygonum; Quercetin