€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****BIOCHEMISTRY***** Coscia CJ Guarnaccia R Botta L Monoterpene biosynthesis. I. Occurrence and mevalonoid origin of gentiopicroside and loganic acid in Swertia caroliniensis. In: Biochemistry (1969 Dec) 8(12):5036-43 ISSN: 0006-2960 [No Abstract Available] €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ **CHUNG-KUO CHUNG YAO TSA CHIH CHINA JOURNAL OF CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA* Niu B Guo J Chen J Ma J [Chemical constituents of Swertia tetraptera Maxim. var. xinglongensis Ji Ma et R. N. Zhao] In: Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih (1991 Sep) 16(9):549-50, 575 ISSN: 1001-5302 (Published in Chinese) Five natural products were isolated from S. tetraptera var. xinglongensis of which four were proved to be oleanolic acid, 1,3- dihydroxy-4,7-dimethoxyxanthone, 1-hydroxy-2,3,5-trimethoxyxanthone and beta-sitosterol. 1,3-dihydroxy-4,7-dimethoxyxanthone has been obtained for the first time from the genus Swertia. Registry Numbers: 22804-49-5 (1-hydroxy-2,3,5-trimethoxyxanthene) 23251-54-9 (1,3-dihydroxy-4,7-dimethoxyxanthone) 508-02-1 (Oleanolic Acid) 5779-62-4 (sitosterol) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Zhang Y Xu X Hou C Yang J [Chemical constituents of Swertia pubescens Franch] In: Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih (1996 Feb) 21(2):103-4, 128 ISSN: 1001-5302 (Published in Chinese) Four compounds were isolated from Swertia pubescens. They were identified as isoorientin, gentiopicroside, glucose and oleanolic acid by chemical and physical properties and spectral analysis. Registry Numbers: 20831-76-9 (gentiopicroside) 4261-42-1 (homoorientin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****DRUGS UNDER EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL RESEARCH***** Rafatullah S Tariq M Mossa JS al-Yahya MA al-Said MS Ageel AM Protective effect of Swertia chirata against indomethacin and other ulcerogenic agent-induced gastric ulcers. In: Drugs Exp Clin Res (1993) 19(2):69-73 ISSN: 0378-6501 The effect of Swertia chirata has been studied on experimentally induced gastric ulcers in rats. The ethanolic extract of chirata significantly reduced the intensity of gastric mucosal damage induced by indomethacin and necrotizing agents. It produced a significant decrease in gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. The extract inhibited acetylcholine-induced contraction of guinea pig ileum, suggesting its anti-cholinergic activity. Pretreatment of rats with the extract significantly prevented ethanol-induced gastric wall mucus depletion and restored the non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) content in the glandular stomachs. These findings support the use of chirata for the treatment of gastric ulcers in traditional medicine. Registry Numbers: 53-86-1 (Indomethacin) 64-17-5 (Alcohol, Ethyl) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS***** Riazuddin S Malik MM Nasim A Mutagenicity testing of some medicinal herbs. In: Environ Mol Mutagen (1987) 10(2):141-8 ISSN: 0893-6692 Extracts of four brands of a Pakistani local medicine called naswar and six indigenous herbs commonly used as medicine in children were tested for their ability to induce mutations to prototrophy in Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA98, TA100, TA1535, and TA1537. Petroleum ether extracts of one brand of naswar, namely green naswar of Peshawar, exhibited mutagenicity in all of the four tester strains. Organic extracts of three herbs, Saussurea lappa, Swertia chiraita, and Skimmia laureola, exhibited mutagenic activity in tester strain TA98. Green naswar of Bannu, grey naswar, red naswar, and the remaining three herbs, namely, Acorous calamus, Azadarachta indica, and Zanthozylum alatum, exhibited no mutagenic activity under the present experimental conditions. The abilities of green naswar of Peshawar and Saussurea lappa to induce mutations was shown to be related to the presence of cyclic aromatic compounds with molecular formulas C34 H44 O9 and C15 H18 O2, respectively. The experimental data are discussed as they relate to the potential hazards of such naturally occurring compounds and to synthetic compounds in excessive and uncontrolled use by the general public in villages in Pakistan. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****INDIAN JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY***** Saxena AM Bajpai MB Mukherjee SK Swerchirin induced blood sugar lowering of streptozotocin treated hyperglycemic rats. In: Indian J Exp Biol (1991 Jul) 29(7):674-5 ISSN: 0019-5189 Effect of Swerchirin (1:8 dihydroxy 3:5 dimethoxy xanthone) isolated from hexane fraction of Swertia chirayita on the blood sugar level of healthy and streptozotocin treated rats was studied. Streptozotocin was administered in citrate buffer (pH-4.5) intravenously / 35 and 65 mg/kg body wt to Charles Foster strain albino rats. Swerchirin (50 mg/kg, po) suspended in gum acacia was fed through cannula to the above rats and to a group of healthy rats. Blood sugar estimated at 0, 1, 3 and 7 hr after, indicated a very significant lowering in healthy and streptozotocin (35 mg/kg iv) but not in streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) treated rats. Registry Numbers: 18883-66-4 (Streptozocin) 521-65-3 (swerchirin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Chandrasekar B Bajpai MB Mukherjee SK Hypoglycemic activity of Swertia chirayita (Roxb ex Flem) Karst. In: Indian J Exp Biol (1990 Jul) 28(7):616-8 ISSN: 0019-5189 Hexane fraction of S. chirayita (250 mg/kg body wt.) induced significant fall in blood sugar and significant increase in plasma IRI simultaneously after single oral administration without influencing liver glycogen concentration in albino rats. On the other hand, daily administration for 28 days resulted in significant lowering of blood sugar and increase in plasma IRI along with a significant rise in liver glycogen. Intestinal absorption of glucose was not inhibited by hexane fraction. It is suggested that hexane fraction of S. chirayita possibly acts through its insulin releasing effect. Registry Numbers: 11061-68-0 (Insulin) 50-99-7 (Glucose) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Saxena AM Murthy PS Mukherjee SK Mode of action of three structurally different hypoglycemic agents: a comparative study. In: Indian J Exp Biol (1996 Apr) 34(4):351-5 ISSN: 0019-5189 The mechanism of dose-dependent hypoglycemic effect, the margin of safety and ED50 of three structurally unrelated compounds, tolbutamide (TB), centpiperalone (CP) and a swerchirin-containing fraction (SWI) from the plant Swertia chirayita, were investigated in experimental models. After a single oral administration of TB, CP and SWI to groups of normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced mild and severe diabetic rats, the blood sugar lowering effect and ED50 of the agents were determined. Plasma Immuno Reactive Insulin (IRI) levels and the degree of islet beta cell degranulation were assayed using RIA and histochemical staining, respectively, in normal rats treated with the agents. The percent blood sugar lowering, increase in IRI levels and beta cell degranulation were highest in CP treated normal rats (69, 124 and 75%, respectively). In addition, CP was the only agent found active in STZ-induced severely diabetic rats (P < 0.01). In STZ-mild diabetic rats, however, TB was more effective than CP and SWI. By analysis of data using Anova method, it is concluded that CP is more effective than SWI (P < 0.01) and TB. However, SWI an impure natural product showed better blood sugar lowering than tolbutamide which is a drug in use. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Saxena AM Bajpai MB Murthy PS Mukherjee SK Mechanism of blood sugar lowering by a swerchirin-containing hexane fraction (SWI) of Swertia chirayita. In: Indian J Exp Biol (1993 Feb) 31(2):178-81 ISSN: 0019-5189 Mechanism of blood sugar lowering by the crude/impure swerchirin (SWI) isolated from the hexane fraction of Swertia chirayita was investigated. Single oral administration of SWI (50 mg/kg, body wt) to fed CF rats induced about 60% (max.) fall in blood glucose by 7 hr post-treatment. This was associated with marked depletion of aldehyde- fuchsin stained beta-granules and immunostained insulin in the pancreatic islets. In vitro, glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis by muscle (diaphragm) was significantly enhanced by the serum of SWI- treated rat. At 100, 10 and 1 microM final concentration, SWI greatly enhanced glucose (16.7 mM)-stimulated insulin release from isolated islets. It is therefore concluded that SWI lowers blood glucose level by stimulating insulin release from islets of Langerhans. Registry Numbers: 521-65-3 (swerchirin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY***** Yamahara J Kobayashi M Matsuda H Aoki S Anticholinergic action of Swertia japonica and an active constituent. In: J Ethnopharmacol (1991 May-Jun) 33(1-2):31-5 ISSN: 0378-8741 The anticholinergic action of Swertia japonica, used in Japan as a bitter stomachic, was examined using in vivo experiments in rats in order to substantiate the presence or absence of antispasmodic properties. The methanol extract of Swertia japonica was found to be an effective anticholinergic given orally. Fractionation and purification of the methanol extract through column chromatography revealed that swertiamarin, found in the methanol extract in amounts of about 30%, was an active constituent with an anticholinergic action. Registry Numbers: 17388-39-5 (swertiamarin) 51-83-2 (Carbachol) 67-56-1 (Alcohol, Methyl) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Sekar BC Mukherjee B Chakravarti RB Mukherjee SK Effect of different fractions of Swertia chirayita on the blood sugar level of albino rats. In: J Ethnopharmacol (1987 Nov) 21(2):175-81 ISSN: 0378-8741 A 95% ethanol extract and four fractions of Swertia chirayita were tested for blood sugar lowering activity in rats when given orally at 250 mg/kg. The hexane fraction caused maximum lowering although the ethanol extract was clearly active. Of the four dose levels of the hexane fraction tested, 250 mg/kg was found to produce the optimum effect and 300 mg/kg did not evoke a better response. The optimum dose produced significant lowering of blood sugar in fed, glucose- loaded and tolbutamide-pretreated animal models, but not in fasted rats. Registry Numbers: 64-77-7 (Tolbutamide) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS***** Pengsuparp T Cai L Constant H Fong HH Lin LZ Kinghorn AD Pezzuto JM Cordell GA Ingolfsdottir K Wagner H et al Mechanistic evaluation of new plant-derived compounds that inhibit HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. In: J Nat Prod (1995 Jul) 58(7):1024-31 ISSN: 0163-3864 Swertifrancheside [1], a new flavonone-xanthone glucoside isolated from Swertia franchetiana, 1 beta-hydroxyaleuritolic acid 3-p- hydroxybenzoate [2], a triterpene isolated from the roots of Maprounea africana, and protolichesterinic acid [3], an aliphatic alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone isolated from the lichen Cetraria islandica, were found to be potent inhibitors of the DNA polymerase activity of human immunodeficiency virus-1 reverse transcriptase (HIV- 1 RT), with 50% inhibitory doses (IC50 values) of 43, 3.7, and 24 microM, respectively. They were not cytotoxic with cultured mammalian cells. The kinetic mechanisms by which compounds 1-3 inhibited HIV-1 RT were studied as was their potential to inhibit other nucleic acid polymerases. Swertifrancheside [1] bound to DNA and was shown to be a competitive inhibitor with respect to template-primer, but a mixed- type competitive inhibitor with respect to TTP. On the other hand, 1 beta-hydroxyaleuritolic acid 3-p-hydroxybenzoate [2] and protolichesterinic acid [3] were mixed-type competitive inhibitors with respect to template-primer and noncompetitive inhibitors with respect to TTP. Therefore, the mechanism of action of 1 beta- hydroxyaleuritolic acid 3-p-hydroxybenzoate [2] and protolichesterinic acid [3] as HIV-1 RT inhibitors involves nonspecific binding to the enzyme at nonsubstrate binding sites, whereas swertifrancheside [1] inhibits enzyme activity by binding to the template-primer. Registry Numbers: EC 2.7.7.6 (RNA Polymerases) EC 2.7.7.7 (DNA Polymerases) 1448-96-0 (protolichesterinic acid) 155740-03-7 (swertifrancheside) 30516-87-1 (Zidovudine) 9007-49-2 (DNA) 96-48-0 (4-Butyrolactone) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Ray S Majumder HK Chakravarty AK Mukhopadhyay S Gil RR Cordell GA Amarogentin, a naturally occurring secoiridoid glycoside and a newly recognized inhibitor of topoisomerase I from Leishmania donovani. In: J Nat Prod (1996 Jan) 59(1):27-9 ISSN: 0163-3864 A MeOH extract of Swertia chirata found to inhibit the catalytic activity of topoisomerase I of Leishmania donovani was subjected to fractionation to yield three secoiridoid glycosides: amarogentin (1), amaroswerin (2), and sweroside (3). Amarogentin is a potent inhibitor of type I DNA topoisomerase from Leishmania and exerts its effect by interaction with the enzyme, preventing binary complex formation. Registry Numbers: EC 5.99.1.2 (DNA Topoisomerase) 21018-84-8 (amarogentin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Wang JN Hou CY Liu YL Lin LZ Gil RR Cordell GA Swertifrancheside, an HIV-reverse transcriptase inhibitor and the first flavone-xanthone dimer, from Swertia franchetiana. In: J Nat Prod (1994 Feb) 57(2):211-7 ISSN: 0163-3864 The first flavone-xanthone C-glucoside, swertifrancheside, was isolated from Swertia franchetiana, and its structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis as 1,5,8-trihydroxy-3-methoxy- 7-(5',7',3'',4''- tetrahydroxy-6'-C-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-4'-oxy-8'- flavyl)-xanthone . This compound was a moderately potent inhibitor of HIV reverse transcriptase. Registry Numbers: EC 2.7.7.- (HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase) EC 2.7.7.49 (RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase) 155740-03-7 (swertifrancheside) EC 2.7.7.- (HIV-1 reverse transcriptase) EC 2.7.7.49 (Reverse Transcriptase) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES***** Ghosal S Sharma PV Jaiswal DK Chemical constituents of gentianaceae XXIII: tetraoxygenated and pentaoxygenated xanthones and xanthone O-glucosides of Swertia angustifolia Buch.-Ham. In: J Pharm Sci (1978 Jan) 67(1):55-60 ISSN: 0022-3549 The whole plant extract of Swertia angustifolia Buch.-Ham., collected at different stages of growth, contained 14 tetraoxygenated and five pentaoxygenated xanthones and xanthone 1-O-glucosides. Of the eight xanthone 1-O-glucosides isolated, five were previously unreported in nature. The xanthones are broadly based on 1,3,5,8- and 1,3,7,8- oxygenated systems, with an added oxygen function at C-4 in some compounds, and represent a number of methoxylated patterns. The content and relative abundance of the free xanthones and their 1-O- glucosides changed with plant growth. These results are the first demonstration of the variation in chemical characters in the different parts of a Swertia species during its ontogeny. The biolgocial significance of these results is appraised. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Ghosal S Sharma PV Chaudhuri RK Bhattacharya SK Chemical constituents of gentianaceae XIV: tetraoxygenated and pentaoxygenated xanthones of Swertia purpurascens Wall. In: J Pharm Sci (1975 Jan) 64(1):80-3 ISSN: 0022-3549 The whole plant of Swertia purpurascens Wall. (Gentianaceae) has been shown to contain five tetraoxygenated and three pentaoxygenated zanthones. These are identified as 1,5,8-trihydroxy-3- methoxyxanthone, 1,3,8-trihydroxy-5-methoxyzanthone, 1-hydroxy-3,7,8- trimethoxyxanthone, 1,3,7,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone, 1,3,5,8- tetrahydroxyxanthone, and 1-hydroxy-3,4,7,8-tetramethoxyxanthone by chemical and spectral evidence. Additionally, the crude mixture of natural xanthones has been shown to include two partially emthylated pentaoxygenated xanthones as minor entities, which yield 1-hydroxy- 3,4,7,8-tetramethoxyxanthone and 1-hydroxy-3,4,5,8- tetramethoxyxanthone on methylation. This is the first time that pentaoxygenated xanthones have been found in a member of the genus Swertia. 1-Hydroxy-3,4,7,8-tetramethoxyxanthone was previously known only as a synthetic compound. The total xanthones of S. purpurascens produce significant CNS stimulant actions, consistent with some therapeutic uses of the plant extract in the Indian system of medicine. The chemotaxonomic significance of the cooccurrence of various biogenetically related chemical characters in a single plant species is appraised. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****MEMORIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ***** Zhou J Bioactive glycosides from Chinese medicines. In: Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz (1991) 86 Suppl 2:231-4 ISSN: 0074-0276 Glycosides are the bioactive components of many famous Chinese medicines. Here reported are some bioactive glycosides we discovered from Chinese medicines in recent years. (1) Phenolic glycosides from Chinese medicines: Gastrodia elata, Aconitum austroyunanense and Helicia erratica, three bioactive phenolic glycosides were discovered and two of them have been developed into new drugs. (2) Terpenoidal glycosides: a) Monoterpenoid: the sweroside from Swertia moleensis has been developed into an anti-hepatitis drug; b) Diterpenoid: Phlomis betonicoides contains sweet glycosides; c) Triterpenoid: many biologically active triterpenoid glycosides were isolated from Panax plants and Siraitia grosvenorii. (3) Steroidal glycosides: a) C21- steroid: Cynanchum otophyllum and C. atratrum contain anti-epilepsy and anti-tumor glycosides; b) C27-steroid Hemostatic saponins were found in Paris polyphylla. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PLANTA MEDICA***** Bajpai MB Asthana RK Sharma NK Chatterjee SK Mukherjee SK Hypoglycemic effect of swerchirin from the hexane fraction of Swertia chirayita. In: Planta Med (1991 Apr) 57(2):102-4 ISSN: 0032-0943 A xanthone was isolated from the hexane fraction of the Swertia chirayita plant and identified as 1,8-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone (swerchirin). It has a very significant blood sugar lowering effect in fasted, fed, glucose loaded, and tolbutamide pretreated albino rat models. The ED50 for 40% blood sugar lowering in CF male albino rats (body weight 140-165 g) is 23.1 mg/kg/oral. The possibility of its application in clinical therapy for diabetes mellitus needs exploration. Registry Numbers: 521-65-3 (swerchirin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ el-Sedawy AI Shu YZ Hattori M Kobashi K Namba T Metabolism of swertiamarin from Swertia japonica by human intestinal bacteria. In: Planta Med (1989 Apr) 55(2):147-50 ISSN: 0032-0943 The biotransformation of swertiamarin [1, a seco-iridoid glucoside isolated from Swertia japonica (Schult.) Makino] by human intestinal bacteria was investigated. Three metabolites were isolated and identified as erythrocentaurin (2), 5-hydroxymethylisochroman-1-one (3), and gentianine (4) by spectroscopic methods. Through screening of various defined strains of intestinal bacteria (25 species), it was found that all these species had the ability to metabolize 1 to 2 and 3, whereas only a few species had the ability to produce 4. This is the first report to show that one of the metabolic intermediates of the secoiridoid compound is further transformed to a nitrogen- containing compound through metabolic processes by human intestinal bacteria. Registry Numbers: 17388-39-5 (swertiamarin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Basnet P Kadota S Shimizu M Namba T Bellidifolin: a potent hypoglycemic agent in streptozotocin (STZ)- induced diabetic rats from Swertia japonica. In: Planta Med (1994 Dec) 60(6):507-11 ISSN: 0032-0943 Hypoglycemic activity-guided fractionation led to the isolation of five known xanthones and two triterpenoids from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of Swertia japonica and their identification was based on spectroscopic methods. One of the triterpenes, thysanolactone, was first isolated from this plant. Among the xanthones, bellidifolin showed a potent and dose-dependent hypoglycemic activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats both in i.p. and p.o. administration. A comparative hypoglycemic activity of the other three xanthones together with bellidifolin was also studied. Registry Numbers: 2798-25-6 (bellidifolin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Kikuzaki H Kawasaki Y Kitamura S Nakatani N Secoiridoid glucosides from Swertia mileensis. In: Planta Med (1996 Feb) 62(1):35-8 ISSN: 0032-0943 Five new acyl secoiridoid glucosides along with three known secoiridoid glucosides, swertiamarin, 2'-O-acetylswertiamarin, and amarogentin, were isolated from the aerial parts of Swertia mileensis. The structures of these compounds were determined to be 2'- O-acetyl-4'-O-trans-feruloylswertiamarin, 2'-O-acetyl-4'-O-cis- feruloylswertiamarin, 2'-O-acetyl-4'-O-trans-p-coumaroylswertiamarin, 2'-O-acetyl-4'-O-cis-p-coumaroylswertiamarin, and 4'-O-trans-p- coumaroylswertiamarin from spectroscopic evidence. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Basnet P Kadota S Shimizu M Takata Y Kobayashi M Namba T Bellidifolin stimulates glucose uptake in rat 1 fibroblasts and ameliorates hyperglycemia in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. In: Planta Med (1995 Oct) 61(5):402-5 ISSN: 0032-0943 Bellidifolin, isolated from Swertia japonica, was found to be a potent hypoglycemic agent in STZ-induced diabetic rats by both oral and intraperitoneal administration. Bellidifolin significantly lowered the loaded glucose level in normal as well as diabetic rats. Bellidifolin also lowered blood triglyceride levels significantly. It stimulated glucose uptake activity in Rat 1 fibroblasts expressing human insulin receptors. Registry Numbers: 11061-68-0 (Insulin) 154-17-6 (Deoxyglucose) 18883-66-4 (Streptozocin) 2798-25-6 (bellidifolin) 50-99-7 (Glucose) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Rodriguez S Wolfender JL Hakizamungu E Hostettmann K An antifungal naphthoquinone, xanthones and secoiridoids from Swertia calycina [letter] In: Planta Med (1995 Aug) 61(4):362-4 ISSN: 0032-0943 A chemical and biological screening of 25 species of the Gentianaceae family has been undertaken. Both methanolic and dichloromethane extracts of Swertia calycina exhibited a strong antifungal activity against Cladosporium cucumerinum and Candida albicans. The compound responsible for this activity has been isolated and identified as 2- methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. It is the first naphthoquinone to be described in Gentianaceae species. LC-UV and LC-TSP-MS analysis of the crude extracts of Swertia calycina also allowed on-line identification of six known xanthones and secoiridoids. Registry Numbers: 14215-86-2 (sweroside) 2348-82-5 (2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****YAO HSUEH HSUEH PAO [ACTA PHARMACEUTICA SINICA]***** Zhou HM Liu YL [Structure of swertiamacroside from Swertia macrosperma C.B. Clark] In: Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao (1990) 25(2):123-6 ISSN: 0513-4870 (Published in Chinese) From the air-dried whole plant of SwerBia macrosperma C. B. Clark four compounds I-IV were isolated. One of them is a new caffeic acid disaccharide ester. Its structure was elucidated as 1-O-trans- caffeoyl-6-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranos ide, i. e. trans caffeic acid-1-O-rutinose ester on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic analysis, and named swertiamacroside (I). The other three known compounds were identified as mangiferin (II), bellidifodin (III) and bellidifodin-8-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (IV). Registry Numbers: 128585-97-7 (swertiamacroside) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Tan P Liu YL Hou CY [Swertiapunimarin from Swertia punicea Hemsl] In: Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao (1993) 28(7):522-5 ISSN: 0513-4870 (Published in Chinese) A new secoiridoid glycoside, swertiapunimarin (I), was isolated from the whole plant of Swertia punicea Hemsl. The structure was elucidated as 6'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylsweroside on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic analysis. The other seven known compounds were identified as sweroside (II), swertiamarin (III), oleanolic acid (IV), daucosterol (V), beta-sitosterol (VI), 2,3-dihydroxy-1,4- benzodicarboxylic acid (VII) and methylswertianin (VIII). Registry Numbers: 151140-40-8 (swertiapunimarin) 17388-39-5 (swertiamarin) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Tan P Liu YL Hou CY [Structure of swertiapuniside from Swertia punicea Hemsl] In: Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao (1992) 27(6):476-9 ISSN: 0513-4870 (Published in Chinese) A new xanthone glycoside, swertiapuniside (V), has been isolated from the whole plant of Swertia punicea Hemsl. The structure was elucidated as 1,5,8-trihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone-8-O-beta-D- glucopyranosyl (1-6)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside by means of chemical and spectroscopic data. Four other known xanthones mangiferin (I), bellidifodin (II), 1,3,5,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone (III) and swertinolin (IV) were also identified. Registry Numbers: 143986-29-2 (swertiapuniside) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Luo YH Nie RL [Studies on iridoid glycosides from Swertia angustifolia] In: Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao (1992) 27(2):125-9 ISSN: 0513-4870 (Published in Chinese) Five secoiridoid glycosides were isolated from Swertia angustifolia Buch. -Ham. ex D. Don. The structures of two new compounds, angustiamarin (I) and angustioside (II) with three known compounds sweroside (III), swertiamarin (IV) and epi-eustomoside (V) were elucidated by means of spectroscopic and chemical methods. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€