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Biomedical subjects

Hong-Xi Xu

Publications and source records attributed to Hong-Xi Xu.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Complete NMR assignments of the antibacterial biflavonoid GB1 from Garcinia kola.

From the antibacterial fraction of the roots of Garcinia kola, 3'',4',4''',5,5'',7,7''-heptahydroxy-3,8''-biflavanone (GB1) was isolated as the major constituent, whose interesting conformations were studied on the basis of its 1D and 2D NMR spectra obtained at different temperatures and in different solvents. GB1 showed antibacterial activities against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) with MIC of 32 and 128 microg/ml, respectively.

Biflavonoids↗

The antibacterial principle of Caesalpina sappan.

Using a bioassay-directed purification scheme, the active antibacterial principle from Caesalpina sappan was isolated and identified to be brasilin. This compound showed potent activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, notably methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), multi-drug resistant Burkholderia cepacia as well as a number of other bacteria. The minimal inhibitory concentrations ranged from 4 to 32 microg/mL. The results from time-kill studies showed that brasilin is bactericidal against MRSA. The addition of brasilin to growing MRSA cells resulted in a rapid inhibition of incorporation of [(3)H] thymidine or [(3)H] serine into DNA and proteins, respectively. Exposure of MRSA to a sub-MIC level of brasilin for ten consecutive subcultures did not induce resistance to the compound. The Trypan blue dye exclusion test showed that brasilin lacked cytotoxicity against Vero cells. In conclusion, brasilin is an antibacterial principle from C. sappan and it has the potential to be developed into an antibiotic.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Antiviral flavonoids from the root bark of Morus alba L.

A prenylated flavonoid, moralbanone, along with seven known compounds kuwanon S, mulberroside C, cyclomorusin, eudraflavone B hydroperoxide, oxydihydromorusin, leachianone G and alpha-acetyl-amyrin were isolated from the root bark of Morus alba L. Leachianone G showed potent antiviral activity (IC(50) = 1.6 microg/ml), whereas mulberroside C showed weak activity (IC(50) = 75.4 microg/ml) against herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV-1). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

Acyclovir↗

Antiviral Chinese medicinal herbs against respiratory syncytial virus.

Forty-four medicinal herbs were tested for antiviral activities against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by means of the cytopathologic effect (CPE) assay. Twenty-seven of the 44 medicinal herbs showed potent or moderate antiviral activities against RSV with 50% inhibition concentration (IC(50)) ranging from 6.3 to 52.1 microg/ml, and with selectivity index (SI) ranging from 2.0 to 32.1. Further purification of the active extracts from Sophora flavescens Ait. and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi led to the identification of anagyrine (2), oxymatrine (7), sophoranol (10), wogonin (12), and oroxylin A (13) as the potent anti-RSV components.

Antiviral Agents↗

Molecular structures and antiviral activities of naturally occurring and modified cassane furanoditerpenoids and friedelane triterpenoids from Caesalpinia minax.

Further investigation of the active components of the chloroform fraction of the seeds of Caesalpinia minax led to the isolation of a new cassane furanoditerpenoid, caesalmin H (1), together with two known furanoditerpenoid lactones, caesalmin B (2) and bonducellpin D (3). Reduction of the naturally abundant caesalmin D (9), E (10) and F (11) resulted in three new furanoditerpenoid derivatives 4-6. Phytochemical study of the stem of the same plant and subsequent reduction afforded two friedelane triterpenoids (7-8), which were identified by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-2 and 4-8 were corroborated by single crystal X-ray analysis. The factors governing the reduction of cassane furanoditerpenoids and friedelane triterpenoids were investigated by correlating the crystallographic results with density functional theory. The inhibitory activities of 2-8 on the Para3 virus were evaluated by cytopathogenic effects (CPE) reduction assay.

Antiviral Agents↗

Quantification of Aconitum alkaloids in aconite roots by a modified RP-HPLC method.

The three Aconitum alkaloids, aconitine (1), mesaconitine (2) and hypaconitine (3), are pharmacologically active but also highly toxic. A standardised method is needed for assessing the levels of these alkaloids in aconite roots in order to ensure the safe use of these plant materials as medicinal herbs. By optimising extraction, separation and measurement conditions, a reliable, reproducible and accurate method for the quantitative determination of all three Aconitum alkaloids in unprocessed and processed aconite roots has been developed. This method should be appropriate for use in the quality control of Aconitum products. The three Aconitum alkaloids were separated by a modified HPLC method employing a C18 column gradient eluted with acetonitrile and ammonium bicarbonate buffer. Quantification of Aconitum alkaloids, detected at 240 nm, in different batches of samples showed that the content of 1, 2 and 3 varied significantly. In general, the alkaloid content of unprocessed roots was higher than that of processed roots. These variations were considered to be the result of differences in species, processing methods and places of origin of the samples.

Aconitine↗