Two new triterpenoids namely, 3α-hydroxyferna-7, 9(11),22-trien-12-one (1) and 3α-acetoxyferna-7, 9(11)-dien-22-ol (2) along with two known compounds 3α,16α-dihydroxyferna-7,9(11)-dien-12-one (3) and 3α,16α-dihydroxyferna-8-en-11-one (4) were isolated from Lonicera quinquelocularis. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and modern spectroscopic techniques. All the compounds showed good a...

A novel factor of interest for growth/plasticity in the brain is pregnane xenobiotic receptor (PXR). PXR is a liver factor known for its role in xenobiotic clearance and cholesterol metabolism. It is expressed in the brain, suggesting a potential role for plasticity, particularly involving cholesterol-based steroids and neurosteroids. Mating induces synthesis of neurosteroids in the midbrain Ve...

Fifteen compounds, which included six chiral lignans and nine phenolic glycosides, were separated from the butanol fraction of Averrhoa carambola L. root and identified. All of the compounds, namely 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, benzyl-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, (+)-5'-methoxyisolariciresinol 3α-O-β-D-gluco-pyranoside, (+)-isolariciresinol 3α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, koaburaside, ...

Herein, we present a new strategy for the preparation of a broad range of brassinosteroid biosynthetic precursors/metabolites differing by the ring A fragment. The protocol is based on the use of readily available phytohormones of this class bearing a 2α,3α-diol moiety (epibrassinolide or epicastasterone) as starting materials. The required functionalities (Δ2-, 2α,3α- and 2β,3β-epoxy-, 2α,3β-,...

Painful peripheral neuropathy belongs to major side-effects limiting cancer chemotherapy. Paclitaxel, widely used to treat several cancers, induces neurological symptoms including burning pain, allodynia, hyperalgesia and numbness. Therefore, identification of drugs that may effectively counteract paclitaxel-induced neuropathic symptoms is crucial. Here, we combined histopathological, neurochem...

The major metabolite of progesterone, 3α-OH-dihydroprogesterone (3α-OH-DHP), is the most potent endogenous positive modulator of central nervous system GABAA receptors. Acute intravenous administration of 3α-OH-DHP to virgin female rats potentiates arterial baroreflex sympathoinhibitory responses. The current experiments tested the possibility that circulating 3α-OH-DHP potentiates central GABA...

The present study sought to characterize the role of macrophage inflammatory protein-3α (MIP-3α) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with early recurrence or metastasis after primary pulmonary resection. Follow-up examinations were conducted for 203 NSCLC patients with primary pulmonary resection for two years post-operatively, and data was also collected for 20 healthy subjects. Ser...

The aim of this work was to investigate the role of chemokines in proliferation and migration of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). Out of the 80 cytokines surveyed by a human cytokine antibody array, three chemokines, macrophage inflammatory protein-3α (MIP-3α), macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β), and interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10), showed elevated expression in TSCC ...

BACKGROUND Over-activity and elevated expression of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) has been implicated in the etiology of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. Administration of specific GSK-3 inhibitors to diabetic or obese rodent models improves glycaemic control and insulin sensitivity. However, due to the indiscriminatory nature of these inhibitors, the relative contribution of the tw...

BACKGROUND Testosterone and its metabolites have important roles in learning and memory. The current study has conducted to assess the effect of pre-training, post-training and pre-probe trial intrahippocampal CA1 administration of 3α-anderostanediol (one of the metabolites of testosterone) and indomethacin (as 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme blocker) on acquisition, consolidation and re...