€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****CANCER LETTERS***** Takaishi Y Ujita K Tokuda H Nishino H Iwashima A Fujita T Inhibitory effects of dihydroagarofuran sesquiterpenes on Epstein- Barr virus activation [published erratum appears in Cancer Lett 1992 Dec 24;67(2-3):215] In: Cancer Lett (1992 Jul 31) 65(1):19-26 ISSN: 0304-3835 To search for possible antitumor promoters, we carried out a primary screening of thirty-seven dihydroagarofuran sesquiterpenes from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook fil. var. regelii Makino and Euonymus sieboldianus Blume, using their possible inhibitory effects on the Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation which is induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in Raji cells. Some of these sesquiterpenes, triptofordin F-2 (Takaishi et al., 1988), 1,2,6,8,15-pentaacetoxy-9-benzoyloxy-4-hydroxy-beta-dihydroagarofuran and triptogelin A-1 (Takaishi et al., 1990) were observed to significantly inhibit the EBV-EA activation at low doses. Based on the results, the structural requirements for the activity of these compounds were discussed [corrected]. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Ujita K Takaishi Y Tokuda H Nishino H Iwashima A Fujita T Inhibitory effects of triptogelin A-1 on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13- acetate-induced skin tumor promotion. In: Cancer Lett (1993 Feb) 68(2-3):129-33 ISSN: 0304-3835 Dihydroagarofuran sesquiterpenes, which were isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook fil. var. regelii Makino and Euonymus sieboldianus Blume, showed inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation induced by 12-O- tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Triptogelin A-1, one of the active dihydroagarofuran sesquiterpenes, exhibited remarkable inhibitory effects on mouse skin tumor promotion in an in vivo two- stage carcinogenesis test. Interestingly, triptogelin A-1 was more effective when applied after TPA-treatment (post-treatment) than before TPA-treatment (pretreatment). The findings indicate that these dihydroagarofuran sesquiterpenes might be valuable antitumor promoters. Registry Numbers: 132536-78-8 (triptogelin A-1) 16561-29-8 (Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate) 57-97-6 (9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****CHEMICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN***** Kitanaka S Takido M Mizoue K Nakaike S Cytotoxic cardenolides from woods of Euonymus alata. In: Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) (1996 Mar) 44(3):615-7 ISSN: 0009-2363 Three cytotoxic cardenolides, acovenosigenin A 3-O-alpha-L- ramnopyranoside (1), euonymoside A (2) and euonymusoside A (3), were isolated from the woods of Euonymus alata (Celastraceae). The chemical structure of a new cardenolide, euonymusoside A (3) has been elucidated on the basis of extensive spectral analysis and enzymic hydrolysis to be acovenosigenin A (1 beta, 3 beta, 14 beta-trihydroxy- 5 beta-cardenolide) 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->6)-beta-D- glucopyranosyl(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside. All three showed potent cytotoxic activity against some neoplastic cell lines Registry Numbers: 143-62-4 (Digitoxigenin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ **CHUNG-KUO CHUNG YAO TSA CHIH CHINA JOURNAL OF CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA* Wang W Wang J Zhao D Liu H Zhou W Chen K [Comparison of Spatholobus suberectus Dum, Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb. and Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker on regulation of plasma lipid] In: Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih (1991 May) 16(5):299-301, 320 ISSN: 1001-5302 (Published in Chinese) The Spatholobus suberectus (SS) of hexue type, the Euonymus alatus (EA) of huoxue type and the Eupolyphaga sinensis (ES) of poxue type were selected and their influence on plasma lipid in the experimental hyperlipidemia quails was observed. The ES could raise plasma HDL- C/TC ratio and increase LCAT activity. The SS could raise plasma HDL2- C/HDL3-C ratio. The effect of EA on plasma HDL-C/TC, HDL2-C/HDL3-C and LCAT levels was between SS and ES. All the three huoxue huayu Chinese drugs could lower plasma HDL3-C level and slow down the progress of atherosclerosis to a certain degree. The above-mentioned results show that certain orders exist between the action range of huoxue huayu drugs and their effect on regulating plasma lipid. Registry Numbers: EC 2.3.1.43 (Lecithin Acyltransferase) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Gu Z [Pharmacognostical studies on the ethnic substitutes of duzhong derived from Euonymus spp.] In: Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih (1991 May) 16(5):262-7, 317 ISSN: 1001-5302 (Published in Chinese) Macro-and microscopic characters were observed on the more popular ethnic substitutes of dutzhong derived from 21 species of Euonymus (Celastraceae). A chart of major characters and a key to each species are given. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****CURRENT EYE RESEARCH***** Kivela T Characterization of galactose-containing glycoconjugates in the human retina: a lectin histochemical study. In: Curr Eye Res (1990 Dec) 9(12):1195-209 ISSN: 0271-3683 Seven specimens of morphologically normal formalin-fixed and paraffin- embedded human retina were studied using a panel of fourteen biotinylated lectins, all of which react with glycoconjugates containing galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine residues. Agaricus bisporus (ABA), Bauhinia purpurea (BPA), Phaseolus vulgaris (PHA-E), peanut (PNA) and Ricinus communis (RCA-I) agglutinins labeled photoreceptor cells prior to enzymatic predigestion. BPA and PNA bound specifically to cones. The plexiform layers reacted with ABA, BPA and PHA-E, while only ABA and PHA-E labeled the nuclear layers. After pretreatment with neuraminidase to remove terminal sialic acid, all five lectins, as well as Erythrina cristagalli (ECA), Helix pomatia (HPA) and Maclura pomifera (MPA) agglutinins labeled both rods and cones. Furthermore, the plexiform layers additionally reacted with ECA, PNA and RCA-I, and the nuclear layers with BPA and RCA-I after neuraminidase pretreatment. Retinal vascular endothelial cells consistently bound ABA, ECA, PHA-E and RCA-I, but they could also bind BPA, HPA, Bandeiraea simplicifolia (BSA-I), Dolichos biflorus (DBA) and Euonymus europaeus (EEA) agglutinins in unpretreated sections, as well as MPA, PNA, soybean (SBA) and Sophora japonica (SJA) agglutinins subsequent to predigestion with neuraminidase. The nonpigmented ciliary epithelium reacted with the same lectins as photoreceptor cells, but it was also labeled by DBA. Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) did not specifically bind to any intraocular structure. These findings favor the theory that, in unpretreated specimens, Gal(beta 1----3)GalNAc (BPA and PNA) is mainly responsible for labeling of cones, while Gal(beta 1---- 3/4)GlcNAc units, partly substituted with terminal sialic acid (PHA-E and RCA-I), explain labeling of rods. Following pretreatment with neuraminidase, further Gal(beta 1----3)GalNAc (BPA and PNA) and, especially, Gal(beta 1----3/4)GlcNAc (BPA, ECA, PHA-E, PNA and RCA-I) and alpha GalNAc units (BPA, HPA and MPA), the latter partly linked to the protein backbone, contribute to labeling of photoreceptor cells. Gal(beta 1----3/4)GlcNAc units may be mainly responsible for labeling of nuclear and plexiform layers. Finally, other related receptor sites (SBA and SJA), some of which are blood-group specific (BSA-I, DBA, EEA and HPA) are restricted to retinal vascular endothelia. Registry Numbers: EC 3.2.1.18 (Neuraminidase) 26566-61-0 (Galactose) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****HISTOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY***** Clark MA Jepson MA Hirst BH Lectin binding defines and differentiates M-cells in mouse small intestine and caecum. In: Histochem Cell Biol (1995 Aug) 104(2):161-8 M-cell surface glycoconjugate expression was investigated by applying a panel of lectins to whole fixed mouse Peyer's and caecal patches. While the majority of lectins failed to identify mouse M-cells, the lectin Euonymus europaeus differentially stained the surface of M- cells in both mouse Peyer's and caecal patches, and the lectins Ulex europaeus II and Bandeiraea simplicifolia I isolectin B4 identified M- cells in the Peyer's and caecal patch follicle associated epithelium, respectively. These three mouse M-cell markers failed to identify rat and rabbit Peyer's patch M-cells, although both Euonymus europaeus and Ulex europaeus II differentially stained M-cells in the periphery of rabbit caecal patch domes. These site and species related variations in M-cell surface glycoconjugate expression may reflect the local microorganism populations and will have important implications if orally delivered vaccines and drugs are to be targeted to M-cells via their surface glycoconjugates. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF PROTOZOOLOGY***** Gazzinelli RT Romanha AJ Fontes G Chiari E Gazzinelli G Brenner Z Distribution of carbohydrates recognized by the lectins Euonymus europaeus and concanavalin A in monoxenic and heteroxenic trypanosomatids. In: J Protozool (1991 Jul-Aug) 38(4):320-5 ISSN: 0022-3921 We observed a wide distribution of the carbohydrate epitopes galactosyl alpha(1-3)galactose (gal alpha1-3 gal), alpha-glucoside and alpha-mannoside in mono- and heteroxenic trypanosomatids by using fluorescein-labelled lectins of Euonymus europaeus (EE) and Concanavalin A (Con A) as well as sera from acute chagasic patients who have very high levels of anti-gal alpha(1-3)gal antibodies. The direct fluorescence test for gal alpha1-3 gal with EE was positive at minimum concentrations of 6 micrograms/ml for heteroxenic trypanosomatids and 0.7 micrograms/ml for monoxenic ones and for the plant parasite, Phytomonas. On the other hand, heteroxenic trypanosomatids that infect vertebrates bound ten-fold more Con A than monoxenic flagellates and Phytomonas. These data were confirmed in ELISA and Western Blot assays carried out with peroxidase-labelled EE and Con A. Euonymus europaeus recognized several glycoproteins in all trypanosomatids that we tested. Con A, however, recognized a glycoprotein cluster in heteroxenic protozoa, which ranging from 60- 120 kDa, seemed to lack monoxenic parasites and Phytomonas. These findings suggest that alpha-D-mannose and alpha-D-glucose might play an important role in the interaction between trypanosomatids and vertebrate hosts. Registry Numbers: 11028-71-0 (Concanavalin A) 26566-61-0 (Galactose) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****LABORATORY ANIMALS***** Roussel F Dalion J Wissocq JC Euonymus europaeus lectin as an endothelial and epithelial marker in canine tissues. In: Lab Anim (1992 Apr) 26(2):114-21 ISSN: 0023-6772 The Euonymus europaeus agglutinin (EEA) is an endothelial marker in mammalia. In canine tissues, 4 types of endothelial cells (general, nervous, arterial, hepatic) were identified by the presence of the EEA receptor and by its sensitivity to neuraminidase enhancement. In adult dogs, EEA binding saccharides had endothelial or epithelial distributions and reactivities similar to those described for human tissues. Different EEA reactivities were observed between fetal, neonatal and adult canine tissues mainly at the arterial level. These findings suggest that the development of the binding sites is not identical in dog and man. Related lectins and monoclonal antibodies were used to characterize the EEA binding site, and the probable structure of the EEA binding saccharide in endothelial cells appeared to be alpha Gal (1,3) beta Gal (1,4) GlcNAc. Registry Numbers: EC 3.2.1.18 (Neuraminidase) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS***** Willemsen PT de Graaf FK Age and serotype dependent binding of K88 fimbriae to porcine intestinal receptors. In: Microb Pathog (1992 May) 12(5):367-75 ISSN: 0882-4010 The porcine small intestine contains several polypeptides that could function as receptors for K88-positive Escherichia coli. The mucus fraction contained three proteins with molecular weights of 25, 35 and 60 kDa respectively, which showed a high affinity for K88- positive E. coli cells, whereas brush borders contained a 16 kDa protein and a set of proteins ranging from 40-70 kDa. Depending on the K88 serotype tested, differences in binding to these proteins were observed. In particular, E. coli cells carrying K88ad fimbriae exhibited only a rather weak binding to mucus proteins. The influence of age of the pig on the presence of K88 receptors was also investigated. One-week-old and 35-days-old post-weaning piglets were shown to contain K88 receptors in their mucus while these receptors were hardly detectable in the mucus of 6-month-old pigs. The presence of receptors in the brush border fraction was shown to be independent of age. The binding of K88 fimbriae to mucus proteins was blocked using a lectin of Euonymus europeaus which specifically recognizes the Gal alpha(1-3)Gal sequence, indicating that this disaccharide forms a significant part of the receptor structure. Registry Numbers: EC 3.2.1. (Glycoside Hydrolases) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PARASITE IMMUNOLOGY***** Gazzinelli RT Pereira ME Romanha A Gazzinelli G Brener Z Direct lysis of Trypanosoma cruzi: a novel effector mechanism of protection mediated by human anti-gal antibodies. In: Parasite Immunol (1991 Jul) 13(4):345-56 ISSN: 0141-9838 Anti-gal antibodies directed against a carbohydrate epitope present in mouse laminin (galactosyl alpha 1-3 galactose) and detected in high levels in sera from patients in the acute phase of Chagas disease are responsible for the direct lysis (DL) of Trypanosoma cruzi blood forms independent of either the classic or alternative complement pathways. Furthermore, the lectins Euonymus europaeus (EE) specific for the carbohydrates gal alpha 1-3 gal present a similar lytic activity against T. cruzi at the same concentrations of purified anti-gal antibodies. The DL activity was tested with several other lectins but Concanavalin A (Con A) specific for alpha-D-mannose and alpha-D-glucose was the only one also presenting lytic activity. The lectins and anti-gal antibodies lytic activity can be inhibited by specific carbohydrates suggesting that this phenomenon is related to the capability of these lectins or anti-gal antibodies to bind to a crucial surface component of T. cruzi. Moreover, the infectivity of T. cruzi blood forms to mice was clearly inactivated by incubation with acute chagasic sera (ACS) but not by ACS absorbed by immunoaffinity chromatography with mouse laminin, a strong evidence that high levels of anti-gal antibodies participate in the decline of the parasitaemia from the acute to the chronic phase in Chagas disease. Registry Numbers: 13168-24-6 (galactosyl-(1-3)galactose) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PLANTA MEDICA***** Baek NI Lee YH Park JD Kim SI Ahn BZ Euonymoside A: a new cytotoxic cardenolide glycoside from the bark of Euonymus sieboldianus. In: Planta Med (1994 Feb) 60(1):26-9 ISSN: 0032-0943 A new cytotoxic cardenolide glycoside, euonymoside A (1), was isolated from the bark of Euonymus sieboldianus. The structure of 1 was elucidated as acovenosigenin A-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->2)- alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside. The IC50 values of 1 against A549 (human lung carcinoma) and SK-OV-3 (human ovary adenocarcinoma) were 0.06 and 0.4 micrograms/ml, respectively. Registry Numbers: 143-62-4 (Digitoxigenin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****YAO HSUEH HSUEH PAO [ACTA PHARMACEUTICA SINICA]***** Yan XL Liao SX Liang HQ Zhou P [Studies on the chemical constituents of Euonymus mupinensis] In: Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao (1993) 28(9):684-9 ISSN: 0513-4870 (Published in Chinese) Eight compounds have been isolated from Euonymus mupinensis. Their structures were identified by means of physico-chemical and spectral analysis. They are wilforlide A (I), wilforlide B (II), olean-12-en- 3,29-diol (III), olean-3-oxo-29-ol (IV), stigmastan-3-one (V), stigmastan-3,6-dione (VI), beta-sistosterol (VII) and beta- sistosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (VIII). Compound IV is a new compound, named as mupinensisone. Compounds I-VIII were isolated for the first time from this plant. 13C-NMR chemical shifts of compounds V and VI were assigned for the first time. Registry Numbers: 152253-67-3 (mupinensisone) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€