This review summarizes the current knowledge on essential vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B5. These B-complex vitamins must be taken from diet, with the exception of vitamin B3, that can also be synthetized from amino acid tryptophan. All of these vitamins are water soluble, which determines their main properties, namely: they are partly lost when food is washed or boiled since they migrate to the water; the requirement of membrane transporters for their permeation into the cells; and their safety since any excess is rapidly eliminated via the kidney. The therapeutic use of B-complex vitamins is mostly limited to hypovitaminoses or similar conditions, but, as they are generally very safe, they have also been examined in other pathological conditions. Nicotinic acid, a form of vitamin B3, is the only exception because it is a known hypolipidemic agent in gram doses. The article also sums up: (i) the current methods for detection of the vitamins of the B-complex in biological fluids; (ii) the food and other sources of these vitamins including the effect of common processing and storage methods on their content; and (iii) their physiological function.

• MeSH
• Avitaminosis * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Thiamine MeSH
• Vitamin A MeSH
• Vitamin B Complex * MeSH
• Vitamin K MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

Vysokoškolská učebnice obsahující praktická cvičení, která se zaměřují na farmakognozii.

• MeSH
• Pharmacognosy MeSH

• Conspectus
• Farmacie. Farmakologie
• Učební osnovy. Vyučovací předměty. Učebnice
• NML Fields
• farmacie a farmakologie
• NML Publication type
• učebnice vysokých škol
• praktická cvičení

Three new alkaloids, bersavine (3), muraricine (4), and berbostrejdine (8), together with seven known isoquinoline alkaloids (1-2, 5-7, 9, and 10) were isolated from an alkaloidal extract of the root bark of Berberis vulgaris. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR techniques, HRMS, and optical rotation, and by comparison of the obtained data with those in the literature. The NMR data of berbamine (5), aromoline (6), and obamegine (7) were completely assigned employing 2D NMR experiments. Alkaloids isolated in sufficient amounts were evaluated for their in vitro acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), prolyl oligopeptidase, and glycogen synthase kinase-3β inhibitory activities. Selected compounds were studied for their ability to permeate through the blood-brain barrier. Significant human BuChE ( hBuChE) inhibitory activity was demonstrated by 6 (IC50 = 0.82 ± 0.10 μM). The in vitro data were further supported by computational analysis that showed the accommodation of 6 in the active site of hBuChE.

• MeSH
• Acetylcholinesterase metabolism   MeSH
• Alkaloids chemistry   isolation & purification   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Alzheimer Disease drug therapy   MeSH
• Berberis chemistry   MeSH
• Butyrylcholinesterase metabolism   MeSH
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors therapeutic use   MeSH
• Blood-Brain Barrier drug effects   MeSH
• Isoquinolines chemistry   isolation & purification   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy MeSH
• Plant Exudates analysis   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) is a multifunctional serine/threonine protein kinase that was originally identified as an enzyme involved in the control of glycogen metabolism. It plays a key role in diverse physiological processes including metabolism, the cell cycle, and gene expression by regulating a wide variety of well-known substances like glycogen synthase, tau-protein, and β-catenin. Recent studies have identified GSK-3β as a potential therapeutic target in Alzheimer´s disease, bipolar disorder, stroke, more than 15 types of cancer, and diabetes. GSK-3β is one of the most attractive targets for medicinal chemists in the discovery, design, and synthesis of new selective potent inhibitors. In the current study, twenty-eight Amaryllidaceae alkaloids of various structural types were studied for their potency to inhibit GSK-3β. Promising results have been demonstrated by alkaloids of the homolycorine-{9-O-demethylhomolycorine (IC50 = 30.00 ± 0.71 µM), masonine (IC50 = 27.81 ± 0.01 μM)}, and lycorine-types {caranine (IC50 = 30.75 ± 0.04 μM)}.

• MeSH
• Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta antagonists & inhibitors   metabolism   MeSH
• Inhibitory Concentration 50 MeSH
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

• Publication type
• Meeting Abstract MeSH

Alzheimer's disease is an age-related, neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by cognitive impairment and restrictions in activities of daily living. This disease is the most common form of dementia with complex multifactorial pathological mechanisms. Many therapeutic approaches have been proposed. Among them, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and prolyl oligopeptidase can be beneficial targets in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Roots, along with aerial parts of Argemone platyceras, were extracted with ethanol and fractionated on an alumina column using light petrol, chloroform and ethanol. Subsequently, repeated preparative thin-layer chromatography led to the isolation of (+)-laudanosine, protopine, (-)-argemonine, allocryptopine, (-)-platycerine, (-)-munitagine, and (-)-norargemonine belonging to pavine, protopine and benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline structural types. Chemical structures of the isolated alkaloids were elucidated by optical rotation, spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis (NMR, MS), and comparison with literature data. (+)-Laudanosine was isolated from A. platyceras for the first time. Isolated compounds were tested for human blood acetylcholinesterase, human plasma butyrylcholinesterase and recombinant prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitory activity. The alkaloids inhibited the enzymes in a dose-dependent manner. The most active compound (-)-munitagine, a pavine alkaloid, inhibited both acetylcholinesterase and prolyl oligopeptidase with IC50 values of 62.3 ± 5.8 µM and 277.0 ± 31.3 µM, respectively.

• MeSH
• Alkaloids chemistry   isolation & purification   pharmacology   MeSH
• Alzheimer Disease drug therapy   MeSH
• Argemone chemistry   MeSH
• Butyrylcholinesterase drug effects   MeSH
• Cholinesterases drug effects   MeSH
• Chromatography, Thin Layer methods   MeSH
• Enzyme Assays methods   MeSH
• Inhibitory Concentration 50 MeSH
• Enzyme Inhibitors chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Plant Roots chemistry   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy methods   MeSH
• Drug Discovery MeSH
• Plant Extracts chemistry   MeSH
• Serine Endopeptidases drug effects   MeSH
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work was to assess the possible beneficial effects of aqueous extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. calyces and anthocyanins isolated therefrom in an adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) model. METHODS: Rats were orally given, for 28 consecutive days, either adenine alone or together with either aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa calyces (5 and 10%) or anthocyanins (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of anthocyanin concentrate). For comparative purposes, two groups of rats were given lisinopril (10 mg/kg). KEY FINDINGS: When either H. sabdariffa aqueous extract or the anthocyanins isolated from it was administered along with adenine, the adverse effects of adenine-induced CKD were significantly lessened, mostly in a dose-dependent manner. The positive effects were similar to those obtained by administration of lisinopril. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained show that both H. sabdariffa and its anthocyanins could be considered as possible promising safe dietary agents that could be used to attenuate the progression of human CKD. This could have added significance as H. sabdariffa tea is widely consumed in many parts of Africa and Asia and is thus readily available.

• MeSH
• Adenine toxicity   MeSH
• Anthocyanins administration & dosage   isolation & purification   pharmacology   MeSH
• Administration, Oral MeSH
• Renal Insufficiency, Chronic drug therapy   physiopathology   MeSH
• Hibiscus chemistry   MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Lisinopril pharmacology   MeSH
• Disease Models, Animal MeSH
• Rats, Wistar MeSH
• Plant Extracts administration & dosage   pharmacology   MeSH
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH

• Publication type
• Meeting Abstract MeSH

• Publication type
• Meeting Abstract MeSH

Byl sledován vliv exogenní aplikace kyseliny jasmonové (JA) v kombinaci s vápníkem a verapamilem (blokátor vápníkového kanálu) na produkci flavonoidů a isoflavonoidů suspenzní kulturou Trifolium pratense L. Kultura byla kultivována při teplotě 25 °C a světelné periodě 16 hodin světlo/8 hodin tma na živném médiu podle Gamborga s přídavkem 2 mg.l-1 2,4-dichlorfenoxyoctové kyseliny a 2 mg.l-1 6-benzylaminopurinu. Nejlepší vliv kyseliny jasmonové na produkci flavonoidů a isoflavonoidů se projevil po 24hodinové aplikaci koncentrace 50 μmol.l-1. Maximální produkce elicitované suspenzní kultury byla zjištěna, když buňky byly ošetřeny vysokou dávkou vápníku (10 mmol.l-1). Přidání všech koncentrací verapamilu k suspenzní kultuře elicitované JA snížilo produkci flavonoidů a isoflavonoidů.

Effect of exogenously applied jasmonic acid (JA) in combination with calcium and verapamil (a calcium channels blocker) on the production of flavonoids and isoflavonoids in suspension cultures of Trifolium pratense L. was investigated. The culture was cultivated in Gamborg medium with an addition of 2 mg.l-1 of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2 mg.l-1 of 6-benzylaminopurine, at the temperature of 25 °C, 16-hr light/8-hr dark period. The best effect of jasmonic acid on the production of flavonoids and isoflavonoids was manifested after a 24-hour application of the 50 μmol.l-1 concentration. The maximum production of JA-induced suspension culture was observed when cells were treated with a high level of calcium (10 mmol.l-1). The addition of all concentrations of verapamil to JA-induced suspension culture decreased production of flavonoids and isoflavonoids.

• MeSH
• 2-Aminopurine analogs & derivatives   chemistry   MeSH
• Cell Culture Techniques methods   instrumentation   MeSH
• Technology, Pharmaceutical MeSH
• Flavonoids * chemistry   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Phytoestrogens * chemistry   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Isoflavones * chemistry   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Culture Media MeSH
• Culture Techniques methods   instrumentation   utilization   MeSH
• 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid chemistry   MeSH
• alpha-Linolenic Acid analogs & derivatives   chemistry   MeSH
• Membrane Transport Modulators MeSH
• Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases chemistry   MeSH
• Plant Growth Regulators chemistry   MeSH
• Plant Extracts chemistry   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Spectrophotometry methods   utilization   MeSH
• Trifolium * chemistry   MeSH
• Calcium chemistry   MeSH
• Calcium Channels chemistry   MeSH
• Verapamil chemistry   MeSH
• Publication type
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH