The increase in oxidative stress and inflammatory responses associated with neurodegenerative diseases has drawn considerable attention towards understanding the transcriptional signaling pathways involving NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) and Nrf2 (Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-like 2). Our recent studies with immortalized murine microglial cells (BV-2) demonstrated effects of botanical polyphenols to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) and enhance Nrf2-mediated antioxidant responses (Sun et al., 2015). In this study, an immortalized rat astrocyte (DI TNC1) cell line expressing a luciferase reporter driven by the NF-κB or the Nrf2/Antioxidant Response Element (ARE) promoter was used to assess regulation of these two pathways by phytochemiscals such as quercetin, rutin, cyanidin, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, as well as botanical extracts from Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), Sutherlandia frutescens (Sutherlandia) and Euterpe oleracea (Açaí). Quercetin effectively inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB reporter activity and stimulated Nrf2/ARE reporter activity in DI TNC1 astrocytes. Cyanidin and the glycosides showed similar effects but only at much higher concentrations. All three botanical extracts effectively inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB reporter activity. These extracts were capable of enhancing ARE activity by themselves and further enhanced ARE activity in the presence of LPS. Quercetin and botanical extracts induced Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression. Interestingly, Ashwagandha extract was more active in inducing Nrf2 and HO-1 expression in DI TNC1 astrocytes as compared to Sutherlandia and Açaí extracts. In summary, this study demonstrated NF-kB and Nrf2/ARE promotor activities in DI TNC1 astrocytes, and further showed differences in ability for specific botanical polyphenols and extracts to down-regulate LPS-induced NF-kB and up-regulate the NRF2/ARE activities in these cells.

No abstract

Chem., 41, 2835Chem., 41, (1976.2-Furylmethyltrimethylamrnonium iodide was caused to react with cyanide, under special conditions, to yield a mixture of 2 (27%) and 3 (5%): E. L. Eliel and P. E. Peckham.

No abstract

The photodimer 5,6,6aa,6bfl,7,8,12bfl, 12ca-octahydrodibenzo[a,i]biphenylene is obtained as the major product from the benzophenone-sensitized photolysis of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene. The preparation, purification, and spectral data of the compound are described. Crystals of the compound are orthorhombic, space group Pbca. The cell dimensions are: a = 14.638 (5), b = 11.09 (1), c = 17.536 (8) A (at -160°C).The structure was determined by direct methods and refined with least-squares calculations based on 2704 data collected at -160°C. The final R value is 0.047. The molecule has approximately twofold symmetry. The central cyclobutane ring is planar and has one elongated bond of 1.579 (2) A.