Common Names: nigaki
Scientists screened plant extracts from Chinese forests and found Amur honeysuckle and Nigaki to be effective against triple-negative breast cancer. These extracts reduced tumor weight by 60.5% and killed 70% of breast cancer cells, suggesting their potential as new cancer treatments.
In this study, researchers isolated eight new natural products from Picrasma quassioides leaves. They determined their structures and found that compound 6 showed weak inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase, which could be relevant for Alzheimer's disease. Molecular docking illustrated the interaction between compound 6 and AChE active sites.
Picrasidine J, a compound isolated from a plant, inhibits cell motility, migration, and invasion in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). It also inhibits the expression of serine protease KLK-10 and phosphorylation of ERK. This suggests that picrasidine J could be a promising anticancer compound for preventing HNSCC metastasis and progression.
Researchers identified natural compounds from Chinese herbal medicines that can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, providing potential treatments for COVID-19.
Canthin-6-one (CO) is a compound found in PQ that has anti-inflammatory properties. PQ has been shown to be neuroprotective, but the effects on astrocytes are unknown. Astrocytes are important in regulating neuroinflammatory responses in the CNS. Inflammatory astrocytes can cause BBB breakdown, which contributes to ND.
Researchers have discovered potential neuroprotective properties in Picrasma quassioides, a Chinese traditional medicine used for treating inflammation, fever, microbial infection, and dysentery. The extract from the stems was found to improve memory and cognitive abilities in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice and suppress neuroinflammation and reduce Aβ deposition. A systematic phytochemistry study led to the identification of six β-carboline alkaloids, seven canthin-6-one alkaloids, and five quassinoids, of which four β-carbolines and six canthin-6-ones exhibited potential neuroprotective activities in vitro. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited high affinity for both DYPKIA and BuChE through molecular docking experiments. These findings suggest the potential of Picrasma quassioides in developing AD treatments.
Scientists discovered eight new and 15 known quassinoids in the stems of Picrasma quassioides. These compounds were studied for their ability to protect against cell damage and were found to have neuroprotective properties. Specifically, the compounds appeared to suppress cell apoptosis and reduce caspase-3 activation. This study highlights the potential of quassinoids from P. quassioides as neuroprotective agents.