The action of valepotriates on the synthesis of DNA and proteins of cultured hepatoma cells.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Anton.
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Quercetin (3.3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) has previously been shown to inhibit cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases prepared from various cell homogenates and the function of intact human platelets. We now report that (1) high concentrations of quercetin raise platelet cAMP levels; and (2) quercetin potentiates the inhibitory effect of prostacyclin (PGI2) on ADP-induced washed human platelet aggregation and the elevation of platelet cAMP levels elicited by PGI2. These results suggest a role for cAMP in the mechanism of action of quercetin on blood platelets.
Quercetin and 12 other natural flavonoid aglycones inhibit washed human platelet aggregation and secretion of serotonin induced by ADP, collagen or thrombin. The inhibitory effect of flavonoids is of the same order of magnitude as IBMX and dipyridamole. The structural features required for a flavonoid to inhibit human platelet function are similar to those previously reported by us to inhibit cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. The inhibitory effect of flavonoids on human platelet function was diminished by saturation of the C-2, C-3 double bond, lack of the C-4 carbonyl, glycosylation at C-3 and a high number of hydroxyl substituents.
Haitian empirical medicine sprang from both European (16th to 19th century) and African (especially voodoo) traditional therapies. The use of medicinal herbs is highly developed. Our purpose was to list the plants held to be antifertility agents in the island. We identified about twenty species more or less currently used by the women as abortifacients or emmenagogues. The chemistry and active components of a few species are well-known. However, for most of them, some were partially studied, and no relation could be established between their chemical composition and their potential activities, and the rest are chemically unknown. We chemically screened extracts of Casearia ilicifolia, Eleutherine bulbosa, Rhoeo spathacea and Stemodia durantifolia, and identified flavonoids, triterpenes and sterols in the leaves of C. ilicifolia, and naphthoquinones, and a new anthraquinone, anthracene-9,10-dione-1,5-diol-4-methoxy-3-methyl-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester, in the bulbs of E, bulbosa. R. spathacea showed a stimulative activity on mouse uterus. Antifertility screening tests of C. ilicifolia and E. bulbosa showed activity in rats, but also probably toxicity.
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The inhibitory activity of 19 flavonoid molecules on cyclic AMP breakdown by a commercial beef heart phosphodiesterase preparation is reported. 7 compounds are active in the micromolar range, 2 of which have a potency equivalent to that of papaverine. Some structure activity relationships are drawn.
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A convenient and reliable reversed phase-HPLC method has been developed and validated for the quantitative determination of naphthoquinones present in the aerial parts of Impatiens glandulifera (Balsaminaceae) during two growing seasons (May to August 1998 and June to October 1999). Maximal content (0.8-1.1%) of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and its 2-methylated derivative was observed in flowers collected between July and August. The procedure was applied to compare the pigment content in three other species of Impatiens but showed 2.5-37 times lower levels than those found in I. glandulifera.
Flavonoids are ubiquitous polyphenolic compounds, found in vascular plants, which are endowed with a large variety of biological effects. Some of these effects have been assumed to result from interactions with the cell plasma membrane. In order to investigate the nature of these interactions a fluorescence study was performed with two flavonoids, currently used in one of the laboratories: apigenin and its homologous dimer amentoflavone. After preliminary assays with DPH in several types of phospholipid liposomes, the effects of these flavonoids on the membrane of mouse L929 fibroblasts were compared, using the non-permeant probe TMA-DPH. Amentoflavone, unlike apigenin, induced a static quenching effect, which denoted an important, but reversible, association of the molecule with the plasma membrane. In addition, amentoflavone treatment induced a dose-dependent increase in TMA-DPH fluorescence anisotropy, which could be interpreted as an increase in membrane lipidic order. For apigenin, the effect was much less important. Moreover, exploiting the capacity of TMA-DPH to label endocytic compartments, it was shown that, after association with the membrane, amentoflavone is not internalized into the cell. Possible correlations of these membrane effects with other biological properties are discussed.
The opioid antagonist, naltrexone, is reported, in single centre studies, to improve the clinical outcome of individuals with alcohol dependence participating in outpatient psychosocial programmes. This is the first multicentre controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of naltrexone as adjunctive treatment for alcohol dependence or abuse. Patients who met criteria for alcohol dependence (n = 169) or alcohol abuse (n = 6) were randomly assigned to receive double-blind oral naltrexone 50 mg daily (n = 90) or placebo (n = 85) for 12 weeks as an adjunct to psychosocial treatment. The primary efficacy variable was time to first episode of heavy drinking; secondary efficacy assessments included time to first drink, alcohol consumption, craving, and changes in the serum biological markers gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and aspartate and alanine aminotransferases. Compliance was assessed by tablet counts and, in the naltrexone-treated group, by measurement of urinary concentrations of 6-ss-naltrexol. Forty-nine (58%) patients randomized to placebo and 53 (59%) randomized to naltrexone did not complete the study. In intention-to-treat analyses, there was no difference between groups on measures of drinking. The median reduction from baseline of serum GGT (P: < 0.05) and the reductions in alcohol craving (Obsessive and Compulsive Drinking Scale: OCDS) were greater in the naltrexone group (P: < 0.05), from approximately half-way through the study. Of 70 patients (35 placebo; 35 naltrexone) who met an a priori definition of compliance (80% tablet consumption, attendance at all follow-up appointments), those allocated to naltrexone reported consuming half the amount of alcohol (P: < 0.05), had greater median reduction in serum GGT activity (P: < 0.05), and greater reduction in alcohol craving (OCDS total score: P: < 0.05; Obsessive subscale score: P: < 0.05), compared to patients in the placebo group. Use of naltrexone raised no safety concerns. Naltrexone is effective in treating alcohol dependence/abuse in conjunction with psychosocial therapy, in patients who comply with treatment.