Isolation and Identification of Benzochroman and Acylglycerols from Massa Medicata Fermentata and Their Inhibitory Effects on LPS-Stimulated Cytokine Production in Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells

Abstract

Massa Medicata Fermentata (MMF), known as Shenqu, is an important traditional Chinese medicine widely used to treat indigestion, vomiting, and diarrhea. In this study, a new benzochroman, 3(S)-3,4-dihydro-5,10-di-β-d-glucopyranoside-2,2-dimethyl-2H-naphtho(2,3-b)pyran-3-ol (1), and five known galactosyl acylglycerols (2–6) were isolated from a methanol extract from MMF. In addition, their chemical structures were determined by chemical and spectroscopic methods, which were compared with the previously reported data. Furthermore, the effects of isolated compounds on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells were investigated. Compounds 1–3 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the LPS-induced production of IL-6 and IL-12 p40, with IC50 values ranging from 1.6 to 10.2 μM. Compounds 2 and 3 also exhibited strong inhibitory effects on the LPS-stimulated production of TNF-α with IC50 values of 12.0 and 11.2 μM, respectively. The results might provide a scientific basis for the development of the active components in MMF, as well as for novel anti-inflammatory agents.

A Sample Preparation Technique Using Biocompatible Composites for Biomedical Applications

“…Currently, pathogen identification and therapeutic approaches play important roles in controlling infections. However, the traditional gold standard diagnostic method, i.e., culturing and colony counting, is limited by long waiting times (and thus wasted time), as culturing of most clinical bacterial pathogens requires 1–2 days (much longer times are required for several bacterial species), and low efficiency due to contamination and significant experimental error [4,5,6]. Rapid and effective detection technologies are especially and urgently needed for an early-stage diagnosis, at which time there are low concentrations of the target pathogen.…”