Vitis thunbergii Sieb. and Zucc. var. taiwaniana Lu is an endemic plant in Taiwan used as a dietary supplement for bone health. In this study, human chondrocytes were induced to produce COX-2, MMP-3, -13, and PGE(2) by LPS. An (18)F-FDG microPET imaging system was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory arthritic effects in vivo. Six stilbenes, resveratrol (1), (+)-ε-viniferin (2), ampelopsin C (3), ampelopsin A (4), (-)-vitisin B (5), and (+)-vitisin A (6), were isolated from the stem part of V. thunbergii, which displayed the strongest PGE(2) inhibition. Among these compounds, 1 significantly decreased COX-2 activity, PGE(2), MMP-3, and -13 production in vitro, and (18)F-FDG uptake and serum PGE(2) in rabbits in vivo. Anti-inflammatory effects were enhanced through the combined usage of 1 and other oligostilbenes. Taken together, the synergistic effects of 1 and oligostilbenes resulted in stem part extracts with lower 1 content displaying the better anti-inflammatory arthritis effects.

Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson is a Chinese medicine which is used widely by traditional medicine doctors. Osthol is a major bio-activity compound of the herb. In this study, osthol was isolated from C. monnieri and its in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects studied. The results of the in vitro study showed: that osthol inhibited the growth of HeLa, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, with IC(50) values of 77.96 and 64.94 microm for 24 and 48 h, respectively; that osthol had lower cytotoxic effects in primary cultured normal cervical fibroblasts; and that increased DNA fragmentation and activated PARP in HeLa after treatment with osthol which could induce apoptosis. The results of the in vivo model showed that the survival days of the P-388 D1 tumor-bearing CDF(1) mice were prolonged (ILS% = 37) after osthol (30 mg/kg) was given once a day for 9 days. Based on these results, it is suggested that osthol could inhibit P-388 D1 cells in vivo and induce apoptosis in HeLa cells in vitro, and that osthol is good lead compound for developing antitumor drugs. However, C. formosanum Yabe of Taiwan's endemic plants contained little osthol, with no imperatorin, and its major components were different from that of C. monnieri. Therefore, it is suggested that C. formosanum also may possess economic worth.

Atractylenolide III was the major gastroprotective component of A. ovata in ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcer. It is suggested that the gastroprotective mechanism of atractylenolide III was via inhibition of the MMP-2 and MMP-9 pathway.