Research Update:Nardostachys chinensis Batal and Nardostachys jatamansi DC.

  seminal trace...Nardostachys Jatamansi Extract,Jatamansi root ezxtract.Muskroot,spikenard extract.Gan Song.Ethanol extract of the roots of Nardostachys jatamansi DC.Nardostachys extract.Jatamansi alcoholic extract...

 


   Phytochemical info of Nardostachys.

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 Definition:Nardostachys are majorly composed of
 Chemical information disclosed as following table:


   Research Update:Nardostachys chinensis Batal and Nardostachys jatamansi DC.

  Screening of Indian medicinal plants for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity.:Phytother Res. 2007 Jul 18;21(12):1142-1145.Mukherjee PK, Kumar V, Houghton PJ.Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories, Franklin©\Wilkins Building, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK.

 The cholinergic hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has provided the rationale for the current pharmaco-therapy of this disease, in an attempt to reduce the cognitive decline caused by cholinergic deficits. Nevertheless, the search for potent and long-acting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors that exert minimal side effects in AD patients is still ongoing. AChE inhibitors are currently the only approved therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease; only a limited number of drugs are commercially available. Hydroalcohol extracts of six herbs, Andrographis paniculata, Centella asiatica, Evalvulus alsinoides, Nardostachys jatamansi, Nelumbo nucifera, Myristica fragrans used in Indian systems of medicine, were tested for in vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity based on Ellman's method in 96-well microplates using AChE obtained from bovine erythrocytes. The results showed that the hydroalcohol extract from Centella asiatica, Nardostachys jatamansi, Myristica fragrans, Evalvulus alsinoides inhibited 50% of AChE activity at concentrations of 100-150 microg/mL. Andrographis paniculata and Nelumbo nucifera extracts showed a weak inhibition of acetylcholinesterase with IC(50) values of 222.41 +/- 19.87 microg/mL and 185.55 +/- 21.24 microg/mL, respectively. Physostigmine was used as a standard and showed inhibition of acetylcholinesterase with an IC(50) value of 0.076 +/- 0.0042 microg/mL.

  Biochemical study on the protective potential of Nardostachys jatamansi extract on lipid profile and lipid metabolizing enzymes in doxorubicin intoxicated rats.:Pharmazie. 2007 May;62(5):382-7.Subashini R, Ragavendran B, Gnanapragasam A, Yogeeta SK, Devaki T.Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

 Nardostachys jatamansi is a medicinally important herb of Indian origin used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine for the treatment of various ailments. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract of Nardostachys jatamansi rhizomes on doxorubicin induced myocardial injury with respect to lipid metabolism in serum and heart of Wistar albino rats. Altered lipid metabolism alters the cardiac function which is mainly due to changes in the property of the cardiac cell membrane. Doxorubicin exhibits cardiotoxicity by inhibition of fatty acid oxidation in the heart. The rats treated with a single dose of doxorubicin (15 mg/kg) intraperitoneally showed an increase in serum and cardiac lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids and phospholipids), along with a significant rise in serum low density lipoproteins (LDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and drop in high density lipoproteins (HDL) levels, resulting in alteration of serum and cardiac lipid metabolizing enzymes. Pretreatment with a extract of Nardostachys jatamansi (500 mg/kg) orally for seven days to doxorubicin induced rats showed a significant prevention in the lipid status with the activities of the lipid metabolizing enzymes. Histopathological observations were also in correlation with the biochemical parameters. These findings suggest that the protective and hypolipidemic effect of Nardostachys jatamansi against doxorubicin induced myocardial injury in rats could possibly be mediated through its anti lipid peroxidative properties.

  Screening of selected Indian medicinal plants for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity.:J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Jan 19;109(2):359-63. Epub 2006 Aug 4.Vinutha B, Prashanth D, Salma K, Sreeja SL, Pratiti D, Padmaja R, Radhika S, Amit A, Venkateshwarlu K, Deepak M.Department of Pharmacognosy, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Hosur Road, Bangalore, India.

 Seventy-six plant extracts including methanolic and successive water extracts from 37 Indian medicinal plants were investigated for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity (in vitro). Results indicated that methanolic extracts to be more active than water extracts. The potent AChE inhibiting methanolic plant extracts included Withania somnifera (root), Semecarpus anacardium (stem bark), Embelia ribes (Root), Tinospora cordifolia (stem), Ficus religiosa (stem bark) and Nardostachys jatamansi (rhizome). The IC(50) values obtained for these extracts were 33.38, 16.74, 23.04, 38.36, 73.69 and 47.21mug/ml, respectively. These results partly substantiate the traditional use of these herbs for improvement of cognition.

  Search for antibacterial and antifungal agents from selected Indian medicinal plants.:J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Sep 19;107(2):182-8. Epub 2006 Mar 27. Kumar VP, Chauhan NS, Padh H, Rajani M.B. V. Patel Pharmaceutical Education and Research Development (PERD) Centre, Thaltej, Ahmedabad 380054, India.

 A series of 61 Indian medicinal plants belonging to 33 different families used in various infectious disorders, were screened for their antimicrobial properties. Screening was carried out at 1000 and 500 microg/ml concentrations by agar dilution method against Bacillus cereus var mycoides, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Twenty-eight plant extracts showed activity against at least one of the test organisms used in the screening. On the basis of the results obtained, we conclude that the crude extracts of Dorema ammoniacum, Sphaeranthus indicus, Dracaena cinnabari, Mallotus philippinensis, Jatropha gossypifolia, Aristolochia indica, Lantana camara, Nardostachys jatamansi, Randia dumetorum and Cassia fistula exhibited significant antimicrobial activity and properties that support folkloric use in the treatment of some diseases as broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. This probably explains the use of these plants by the indigenous people against a number of infections.

  Nardostachys jatamansi improves learning and memory in mice.:J Med Food. 2006 Spring;9(1):113-8. Joshi H, Parle M.Department of Pharmacognosy, SET's College of Pharmacy, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.

 Cure of cognitive disorders such as amnesia, attention deficit, and Alzheimer's disease is still far from being realized in the field of medicine. Nootropic agents such as piracetam, aniracetam, and choline esterase inhibitors like donepezil are being used for improving memory, mood, and behavior, but the resulting side effects associated with these agents have made their applicability limited. In Ayurveda, the roots of Nardostachys jatamansi have been clinically employed for their anti-ischemic, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, and neuroprotective activities. The present study was undertaken to assess the potential of N. jatmansi as a memory enhancer. The elevated plus maze and the passive avoidance paradigm were employed to evaluate learning and memory parameters. Three doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) of an ethanolic extract of N. jatamansi were administered for 8 successive days to both young and aged mice. The 200 mg/kg dose of N. jatmansi ethanolic extract significantly improved learning and memory in young mice and also reversed the amnesia induced by diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.) and scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.). Furthermore, it also reversed aging-induced amnesia due to natural aging of mice. As scopolamine-induced amnesia was reversed, it is possible that the memory improvement may be because of facilitation of cholinergic transmission in the brain. Hence, N. jatmansi might prove to be a useful memory restorative agent in the treatment of dementia seen in elderly persons. The underlying mechanism of action can be attributed to its antioxidant property.


  Attenuation by Nardostachys jatamansi of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced parkinsonism in rats: behavioral, neurochemical, and immunohistochemical studies.:Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2006 Jan;83(1):150-60. Epub 2006 Feb 28.Ahmad M, Yousuf S, Khan MB, Hoda MN, Ahmad AS, Ansari MA, Ishrat T, Agrawal AK, Islam F.Neurotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi 110062, India. mahmad7@jhmi.edu

 Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the commonest neurodegenerative diseases, and oxidative stress has been evidenced to play a vital role in its causation. In the present study, we evaluated whether ethanolic extract of Nardostachys jatamansi roots (ENj), an antioxidant and enhancer of biogenic amines, can slow the neuronal injury in a 6-OHDA-rat model of Parkinson's. Rats were treated with 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight of ENj for 3 weeks. On day 21, 2 microl of 6-OHDA (12 microg in 0.01% in ascorbic acid-saline) was infused into the right striatum, while the sham-operated group received 2 microl of vehicle. Three weeks after the 6-OHDA injection, the rats were tested for neurobehavioural activity and were sacrificed after 6 weeks for the estimation of lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione content, the activities of glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase, quantification of catecholamines, dopaminergic D2 receptor binding and tyrosine hydroxylase expression. The increase in drug-induced rotations and deficits in locomotor activity and muscular coordination due to 6-OHDA injections were significantly and dose-dependently restored by ENj. Lesioning was followed by an increased lipid peroxidation and significant depletion of reduced glutathione content in the substantia nigra, which was prevented with ENj pretreatment. The activities of glutathione-dependent enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase in striatum, which were reduced significantly by lesioning, were dose-dependently restored by ENj. A significant decrease in the level of dopamine and its metabolites and an increase in the number of dopaminergic D2 receptors in striatum were observed after 6-OHDA injection, and both were significantly recovered following ENj treatment. All of these results were exhibited by an increased density of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive (TH-IR) fibers in the ipsilateral striatum of the lesioned rats following treatment with ENj; 6-OHDA injection had induced almost a complete loss of TH-IR fibers. This study indicates that the extract of Jatamansi might be helpful in attenuating Parkinsonism.

  Protective effect of Nardostachys jatamansi on oxidative injury and cellular abnormalities during doxorubicin-induced cardiac damage in rats.:J Pharm Pharmacol. 2006 Feb;58(2):257-62.Subashini R, Yogeeta S, Gnanapragasam A, Devaki T.Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India

 Nardostachys jatamansi is a medicinally important herb of Indian origin. It has been used for centuries in the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine for the treatment of various ailments. We have evaluated the effect of N. jatamansi (rhizomes) on the biochemical changes, tissue peroxidative damage and abnormal antioxidant levels in doxorubicin (adriamycin)-induced cardiac damage. Preliminary studies on the effect of the graded dose of extract showed that 500 mg kg(-1) orally for seven days was found to be optimum and hence all further study was carried out with this particular dose. Rats administered doxorubicin (15 mg kg(-1), i.p.) showed myocardial damage that was manifested by the elevation of serum marker enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransaminase and alanine aminotransaminase). The animals showed significant changes in the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase) and lipid peroxidation levels. Pretreatment with N. jatamansi extract significantly prevented these alterations and restored the enzyme activity and lipid peroxides to near normal levels. Restoration of cellular normality accredits the N. jatamansi with a cytoprotective role in doxorubicin-induced cardiac damage.

  Anticonvulsant and neurotoxicity profile of Nardostachys jatamansi in rats.:J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Dec 1;102(3):351-6. Epub 2005 Aug 10.Rao VS, Rao A, Karanth KS.Department of Botany, 220 Bartram Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611, USA. vsrao@ufl.edu

 Ethanol extract of the roots of Nardostachys jatamansi DC. (Valerianaceae) was studied for its anticonvulsant activity and neurotoxicity, alone and in combination with phenytoin in rats. The results demonstrated a significant increase in the seizure threshold by Nardostachys jatamansi root extract against maximal electroshock seizure (MES) model as indicated by a decrease in the extension/flexion (E/F) ratio. However, the extract was ineffective against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures. Nardostachys jatamansi root extract also showed minimal neurotoxicity against rotarod test at doses that increased the seizure threshold. Further, pretreatment of rats with phenytoin at a dose of 12.5, 25, 50 and 75 mg/kg in combination with 50mg/kg of Nardostachys jatamansi root extract resulted in a significant increase in the protective index (PI) of phenytoin from 3.63 to 13.18. The dose response studies of phenytoin alone and in combination with Nardostachys jatamansi extract on the serum levels of phenytoin clearly demonstrated the synergistic action of both the drugs.

  Protective effect of Nardostachys jatamansi in rat cerebral ischemia.:Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2003 Jan;74(2):481-6.Salim S, Ahmad M, Zafar KS, Ahmad AS, Islam F.Neurotoxicology Laboratory, Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard University, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi 110062, India. fislam2001@yahoo.co.in

 The protective effect of Nardostachys jatamansi (NJ) on neurobehavioral activities, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), thiol group, catalase and sodium-potassium ATPase activities was studied in middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion model of acute cerebral ischemia in rats. The right MCA of male Wistar rats was occluded for 2 h using intraluminal 4-0 monofilament and reperfusion was allowed for 22 h. MCA occlusion caused significant depletion in the contents of glutathione and thiol group and a significant elevation in the level of TBARS. The activities of Na(+)K(+) ATPase and catalase were decreased significantly by MCA occlusion. The neurobehavioral activities (spontaneous motor activity and motor coordination) were also decreased significantly in MCA occlusion group. All the alternations induced by ischemia were significantly attenuated by 15 days pretreatment of NJ (250 mg/kg po) and correlated well with histopathology by decreasing the neuronal cell death following MCA occlusion and reperfusion. The study provides first evidence of effectiveness of NJ in focal ischemia most probably by virtue of its antioxidant property.

  Structure and stereochemistry of nardostachysin, a new terpenoid ester constituent of the rhizomes of Nardostachys jatamansi.:J Nat Prod. 2000 Nov;63(11):1531-3.Chatterjee A, Basak B, Saha M, Dutta U, Mukhopadhyay C, Banerji J, Konda Y, Harigaya Y.UGC Centre of Advanced Studies on Natural Products, Department of Chemistry, Calcutta University, 92, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Calcutta 700 009, India.

 The structure and stereochemistry of a new terpenoid ester, nardostachysin (1), isolated from the rhizomes of Nardostachys jatamansi, were established as the 7',8'-dihydroxy-4'-methylene hexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-1'-one-8'-methyl ester of 7, 9-guaiadien-14-oic acid, by spectral and chemical studies.


  Nardostachys jatamansi protects against liver damage induced by thioacetamide in rats.:J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Aug;71(3):359-63.Ali S, Ansari KA, Jafry MA, Kabeer H, Diwakar G.Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Hamdard University, -1100 62, New Delhi, India.

 Nardostachys jatamansi is a medically important herb of Indian origin used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine for the treatment of various ailments. In the present paper, a 50% ethanolic extract of the rhizomes of N. jatamansi is shown to possess hepatoprotective activity. Pretreatment of rats with the extract (800 mg/kg body wt, orally) for three consecutive days significantly ameliorated the liver damage in rats exposed to the hepatotoxic compound thioacetamide. Elevated levels of serum transaminases (aminotransferases) and alkaline phosphatase, observed in thioacetamide alone treated group of animals, were significantly lowered in N. jatamansi pretreated rats. Pretreatment of the animals with the extract also resulted in an increase in survival in rats intoxicated with LD90 dose of the hepatotoxic drug.

  Effects of Nardostachys jatamansi on biogenic amines and inhibitory amino acids in the rat brain.:Planta Med. 1994 Apr;60(2):114-7.Prabhu V, Karanth KS, Rao A.Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Karnataka, India.

 The effect of acute and subchronic administration of an alcoholic extract of the roots of Nardostachys jatamansi on norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and taurine were studied in male albino Wistar rats. The acute oral administration of the extract did not change the level of NE and DA but resulted in a significant increase in the level of 5-HT and 5-HIAA. A significant increase in the level of GABA and taurine was observed in the drug-treated groups when compared to the controls. A 15-day treatment resulted in a significant increase in the levels of NE, DA, 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and GABA. These data indicate that the alcoholic extract of the roots of N. jatamansi causes an overall increase in the levels of central monoamines and inhibitory amino acids.

  Jatamols A and B: Sesquiterpenoids of Nardostachys jatamansi Roots1.:Planta Med. 1991 Jun;57(3):282-3.

 From the roots and rhizomes of NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI, two new eudesmanes jatamols A and B were isolated, and their structures were determined by spectral analysis and chemical evidence.

  Hypolipidaemic effects of Curcuma longa L and Nardostachys jatamansi, DC in triton-induced hyperlipidaemic rats.:Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1988 Oct-Dec;32(4):299-304.Dixit VP, Jain P, Joshi SC.Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur.

 Fifty per cent ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa (tuber) and Nardostachys jatamansi (whole plant) feeding elevates HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio. The extracts also caused a significant reduction in the ratio of total cholesterol/phospholipids. Curcuma longa exhibited better cholesterol and triglyceride lowering activity [Ch = -85%; Tg = -88%] as compared to N. jatamansi in triton-induced hyperlipidaemic rats. In view of the protective action of HDL against heart disease and atherogenecity, C. longa consumption is recommended.

  Efficacy of some essential oils and their constituents on few ubiquitous molds.:Zentralbl Bakteriol Naturwiss. 1978;133(7-8):723-5.Sarbhoy AK, Varshney JL, Maheshwari ML, Saxena DB.

 Six essential oils of Mentha arvensis, Mentha piperita, Anethum sowa, Cymbopogon winterianus, Nardostachys jatamansi, and Commiphora mukul were selected and tested for their efficacy against Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. sulphureus, Mucor fragilis, and Rhizopus stolonifer. These oils were fungistatic or fungicidal to one or the other molds, depending upon the concentrations.


  Isolation and pharmacodynamic activity of the sesquiterpene valeranone from Nardostachys jatamansi DC.:Arzneimittelforschung. 1978;28(1):7-13. German. R¨¹cker G, Tautges J, Sieck A, Wenzl H, Graf E.

 The known sesquiterpene valeranone (= Yatamanson) was isolated from the subterranian parts of Nardostachys yatamansi (DC). It was pharmacologically investigated in animal experiments of sedative, tranquilizing and antihypertensive properties. In some experiments, typical for tranquilizers, certain activities could be demonstrated such as the prolongation of barbiturate hypnosis, the impairment of rotarod performance, an anticonvulsive activity on electric shock and potentiation of the body-temperature lowering activity of reserpine. In three other pharmacological models an anti-ulcer action was detected. In general the activity of valeranone was lower than those of the standard substances used. As regards the hypotensive property only a weak activity was demonstrated. In toxicological studies on rats and mice an oral LD50 of greater than 3160 mg/kg was found, which suggests the possibility of a therapeutically useful dose ratio.

  Study on the active components of Nardostachys chinensis.:Zhong Yao Cai. 2007 Jan;30(1):38-41. Chinese.Zhang X, Lan Z, Dong XP, Deng Y, Hu XM, Peng T, Guo P.Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China.

 To study on the active components of Nardostachys chinensis Batal, the compounds were isolated and purified by chromatographic methods, with their structures identified by spectral analysis and comparison with published data. 9 compounds were obtained and their structures were identified as acaciin, ursolie acid, octacosanol, kanshone A, nardosinonediol, nardosinone, aristolen-9beta-ol, oleanolic acid and beta-sitosterol. Acaciin, ursolie acid and octacosanol were obtained from Nardostachys chinensis Batal. for the first time. Acaciin and ursolie are the active components of antihiotics and anti-inflammatory.

  Biotransformation of Aristolane- and 2,3-Secoaromadendrane-Type Sesquiterpenoids Having a 1,1-Dimethylcyclopropane Ring by Chlorella fusca var. vacuolata, Mucor Species, and Aspergillus niger.:

 Biotransformation of the aristolane-type sesquiterpene hydrocarbon (+)-1(10)-aristolene (1) from the crude drug Nardostachys chinensis and of the 2,3-secoaromadendrane-type sesquiterpene lactone plagiochilide (2) from the liverwort Plagiochila fruticosa by three microorganisms, Chlorella fusca var. vacuolata, Mucor species, and Aspergillus niger was investigated. C. fusca var. vacuolata and Mucor sp. introduced oxygen function into the cyclohexane ring of aristolene while A. niger oxidized stereoselectively one methyl of the 1,1-dimethyl group on the cyclopropane ring of aristolanes and 2,3-secoaromadendrane to give C-12 primary alcohol and C-12 carboxylic acid. The possible metabolic pathway of the formation of new metabolites is discussed. The stereostructures of new metabolites were established by a combination of NMR spectroscopy including HMBC and NOESY, X-ray crystallographic analysis, and chemical reaction.

  Terpenoids from the roots and rhizomes of Nardostachys chinensis.:J Nat Prod. 2005 Jul;68(7):1131-3.Zhang Y, Lu Y, Zhang L, Zheng QT, Xu LZ, Yang SL.Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100094, People's Republic of China.

 A new diterpene, 10-isopropyl-2,2,6-trimethyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydronaphtha[1,8-bc]oxocine-5,11-diol (1), and a new monoterpene, 6-hydroxy-7-(hydroxymethyl)-4-methylenehexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-1(3H)-one, together with four known sesquiterpenes, delta1(10)-aristolene-9beta-ol, debilon, nardosinone, and kanshone A, were isolated from the roots of Nardostachys chinensis. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data, and the structure of 1 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis.

  Nardostachys chinensis glycoside induces characteristics of neuronal differentiation in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells.:Biol Pharm Bull. 2005 Apr;28(4):768-71.Liu JH, Yin F, Zheng XX.Natural Medicine Research Center, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, China. liujhmail@sina.com

 Rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells undergo neuronal differentiation in response to nerve growth factor. We show here that exposure of PC12 cells to Nardostachys chinensis glycoside induces the outgrowth of neurites, increases the activity of AChE, triggers cell cycle arrest in G1 and enhances the expression of growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43). Both the outgrowth of neurites and the increase in AChE activity are prevented partly by PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MEK1. These results suggest that N. chinensis glycoside induces the characteristics of neuronal differentiation in PC12 cells via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-related signal cascade.


  Repellency of aromatic medicinal plant extracts and a steam distillate to Aedes aegypti.:J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2004 Jun;20(2):146-9. Yang YC, Lee EH, Lee HS, Lee DK, Ahn YJ.Department of Advanced Organic Materials Engineering, Chonbuk National University, Chonju 561-756, Republic of Korea.

 The repellent activity of methanol extracts from 23 aromatic medicinal plant species and a steam distillate against female blood-starved Aedes aegypti was examined in the laboratory by skin test and compared with that of N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (deet). Responses varied according to plant species. At a dose of 0.1 mg/cm2, the repellency of extracts of Cinnamomum cassia bark (91%), Nardostachys chinensis rhizome (81%), Paeonia suffruticosa root bark (80%), and Cinnamomum camphora steam distillate (94%) was comparable to deet (82%). The duration of the effectiveness for extracts from C. cassia bark and N. chinensis rhizome was comparable to deet and lasted for approximately 1 h. Relatively short duration of repellency was observed in P. suffruticosa root bark extract and C. camphora steam distillate. The plants described merit further study as potential mosquito repellent agents.

  Nardosinone, the first enhancer of neurite outgrowth-promoting activity of staurosporine and dibutyryl cyclic AMP in PC12D cells.:Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 2003 Nov 12;145(2):177-83.

 Nardosinone was isolated as an enhancer of nerve growth factor (NGF) from Nardostachys chinensis [Neurosci. Lett. 273 (1999) 53]. Nardosinone (0.1-100 microM) enhanced dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP, 0.3 mM)- and staurosporine (10 nM)-induced neurite outgrowth from PC12D cells in a concentration-dependent manner. PD98059 (20 microM), a potent mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase inhibitor, partially blocked enhancements of dbcAMP (0.3 mM)- or staurosporine (10 nM)-induced neurite outgrowth by nardosinone. Nardosinone alone had no effect on the phosphorylation of MAP kinase. The dbcAMP-induced increase in phosphorylation of MAP kinase was not affected by nardosinone. Staurosporine almost unaffected the phosphorylation of MAP kinase, and nardosinone potentiated the staurosporine-induced neurite outgrowth without stimulation of the phosphorylation of MAP kinase. Since it is known that MAP kinase signaling is required for neurite outgrowth in PC12D cells, these results suggest that nardosinone enhances staurosporine- or dbcAMP-induced neurite outgrowth from PC12D cells, probably by amplifying both the MAP kinase-dependent and -independent signaling pathways of dbcAMP and staurosporine. It is also suggested that nardosinone enhances a downstream step of MAP kinase in the MAP kinase-dependent signaling pathway. Nardosinone is the first enhancer of the neuritogenic action of dbcAMP and staurosporine and may become a useful pharmacological tool for studying the mechanism of action of not only NGF but also both the neuritogenic substances.

  Nardosinone enhances nerve growth factor-induced neurite outgrowth in a mitogen-activated protein kinase- and protein kinase C-dependent manner in PC12D cells.:J Pharmacol Sci. 2003 Sep;93(1):122-5.

 The mechanism to enhance nerve growth factor (NGF, 2 ng/ml)-induced neurite outgrowth from PC12D cells by nardosinone isolated from Nardostachys chinensis was examined. It was shown that the potentiation of the NGF-induced neurite outgrowth by nardosinone was mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase-dependent, but was not accompanied by stimulation of NGF-induced increase in MAP kinase phosphorylation. Furthermore, this augmentation of NGF-induced neurite outgrowth was abolished by GF109203X, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. These results suggest that the enhancement of NGF-induced neurite outgrowth from PC12D cells by nardosinone involves activation of a down-stream step of the MAP kinase-dependent cascade of NGF coupled with PKC.

  Study on the volatile oil of Nardostachys chinensis.:Zhong Yao Cai. 2000 Jan;23(1):34-5. Chinese.Han Y, Xiao D, Xiang Y, Ye L, Cheng C.College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075.

 The volatile oil of Nardostachys chinensis Batal has been studied by GC-MS, and 21 compounds have been isolated and identified. The total content of the components are 88.51%. Major compounds have been identified as Calarene (29.44%). delta 1(10)-Aristolenone-2 (16.57%) and Jatamansinol (8.80%).

  Guaiane- and aristolane-type sesquiterpenoids of Nardostachys chinensis roots.:Phytochemistry. 2002 Apr;59(8):845-9.

 Two guaiane-type compounds, nardoguaianone J and K (1 and 2) and two aristolane-type compounds, kanshone F and G (3 and 4), were isolated from Nardostachys chinensis roots. The structures including the absolute configurations were elucidated by spectral means and by comparison of their CD spectra.


  Nardosinone, a novel enhancer of nerve growth factor in neurite outgrowth from PC12D cells.:Neurosci Lett. 1999 Sep 24;273(1):53-6.

 We isolated nardosinone as a neuritogenic substance from Nardostachys chinensis. Nardosinone did not exhibit the neurotrophic activity but caused a marked enhancement of the nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated neurite outgrowth from PC12D cells. Nardosinone-induced enhancement of the NGF-action was completely blocked by PD98059, a representative mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase inhibitor. The microscopic observations indicated that the neurites in response to nardosinone and NGF were quite long and were generally extended to the neighboring cells. These results suggest that nardosinone enhances the NGF-induced neurite outgrowth from PC12D cells probably by amplifying an up-stream step of MAPK kinase in the NGF receptor-mediated intracellular signaling pathway.

  Enhancement of the nerve growth factor-mediated neurite outgrowth from PC12D cells by Chinese and Paraguayan medicinal plants.:Biol Pharm Bull. 1999 Jul;22(7):752-5.

 It is very important to search for natural compounds possessing nerve growth factor (NGF)-potentiating activity. Extracts of 7 Chinese and 10 Paraguayan medicinal plants were examined for their effects on the NGF-mediated neurite outgrowth from PC12D cells to evaluate their NGF-potentiating activities. In the methanol extracts, Gymmopteris rufa (LINN.) BERNH, Ruta graveolens LINN. and Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora PENNELL markedly increased the proportion of neurite-bearing cells. In the case of ethyl acetate fractions, Equisetum giganteum LINN. produced the most powerful enhancement of the proportion of the neurite-bearing cells, and the activities were in the following decreasing order: Equisetum giganteum LINN., Gymmopteris rufa (LINN.) BERNH, Ruta graveolens LINN., and Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora PENNELL. In the water fractions, Imperata cylindrica, Ginseng Radix, Gymmopteris rufa (LINN.) BERNH, Gochnatia polymorpha (LESS) CAB and Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora PENNELL caused a weak enhancement of the proportion of PC12D cells with neurites. Of all the extracts and fractions, the methanol extract of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora PENNELL induced the longest neurites in PC12D cells. In the ethyl acetate and water fractions of Nardostachys chinensis, long neurites were observed although only a small proportion of PC12D cells had neurites. On the other hand, in the ethyl acetate fraction of Equisetum gigantheum LINN., while the length of the neurites was short, the proportion of neurite-bearing cells was largest among all the extracts and fractions.

  Cytotoxic sesquiterpenes from Nardostachys chinensis.:

 Five cytostatic sesquiterpenes, desoxo-narchinol-A (1), nardosinone (2), debilon (3), nardosinonediol (4) and kanshone A (5), were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Nardostachys chinensis (Valerianaceae). The steric structure of 1 was determined by nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs) and the exciton chirality method. All five showed cytotoxic activity against P-388 cells and the structure-activity relationship of 1 was also discussed.

  Gansongon, a New Aristolane Ketone from Nardostachys chinesis Batalin and Structure Revision of an Aristolenol.:Planta Med. 1987 Dec;53(6):556-558.Shide L, Olbrich A, Mayer R, R¨¹cker G.Pharmazeutisches Institut, Universit?t Bonn, Kreuzbergweg 26, D-5300 Bonn 1, Bundesrepublik Deutschland.

 A new instable aristolane type sesquiterpene ketone, gansongone ( 1), was isolated from the fresh underground parts of NARDOSTACHYS CHINESIS Batalin (Valerianaceae), growing in the province Sichuan (China). The structure of 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. The structure of the corresponding alcohol 2, which was also found in N. CHINENSIS and formerly regarded as 9-aristolene-1alpha-ol ( 5) has to be revised to l(10)-aristolene-9beta-ol ( 2) from results of 2D-NMR-spectroscopy and oxidation to 1. Besides 1 and 2, the following compounds have been identified in the ethanol extract of the fresh plant material of N. CHINENSIS: nardosinone, nardosinondiol, deoxonarchinol A, beta-sitosterol, oleanolic acid, ethyl beta- D-glucopyranoside.

  Nardonoxide, a New Nardosinane-Type Sesquiterpene Ether from Nardostachys chinensis.:Planta Med. 1987 Aug;53(4):332-334. Shide L, Mayer R, R¨¹cker G.Kunming Institut f¨¹r Botanik der Academica Sinica, Kunming, VR China.

 A new sesquiterpene ether, nardonoxide ( 1), with the nardosinane skeleton, was isolated from the underground parts of NARDOSTACHYS CHINENSIS Batalin (Valerianaceae), growing in the province Sichuan (China). The structure of 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 2D-NMR-spectroscopy.


  Scientific References:

  1.Research Update:Nardostachys chinensis Batal and Nardostachys jatamansi DC.