Effect of the extracts from Aristolochia indica Linn. on interception in female mice.

The crude petroleum ether, chloroform and alcoholic extracts from the roots of Aristolochia indica (Linn.) showed 100% interceptive activity in mature female mice at the single dose of 100 mg/kg body wt. The follow-up studies with the chloroform extract showed the most significant effect in the basic part and two acidic fractions at the single dose levels of 50 mg/kg body wt. No toxic effect was observed at the dose levels used.     

Chemical investigation ofPluchea lanceolata II. Identity of pluchine with betaine hydrochloride

Zusammenfassung Die Struktur von Pluchin, einer quaternären Base ausPluchea lanceolata, wurde als die des Betainhydrochlorids aufgeklärt. Damit sind auch die mit Pluchin beobachteten biologischen Wirkungen verständlich.     

Chemical investigation ofpluchea lanceolata I. Isolation of a new quaternary base,pluchine

Zusammenfassung Es wird über die aktiven Prinzipien einer Pflanze, die in Indien zu Medizinalzwecken verwendet wird (Pluchea lanceolata I.), berichtet.     

Chemical investigations ofAlangium lamarckii III. Isolation of steroids and terpenoids from the leaves

Zusammenfassung Es wird über die Isolierung und Charakterisierung von Inhaltsstoffen, vermutlich Steroide, aus einer indischen Pflanzenart,Alangium lamarckii, berichtet. Medizinische Zubereitungen aus dieser Pflanze werden für verschiedene Indikationen, z.B. auch antiinflammatorische, verwendet.     

Essential role for Nix in autophagic maturation of erythroid cells

Erythroid cells undergo enucleation and the removal of organelles during terminal differentiation. Although autophagy has been suggested to mediate the elimination of organelles for erythroid maturation, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain undefined. Here we report a role for a Bcl-2 family member, Nix (also called Bnip3L), in the regulation of erythroid maturation through mitochondrial autophagy. Nix(-/-) mice developed anaemia with reduced mature erythrocytes and compensatory expansion of erythroid precursors. Erythrocytes in the peripheral blood of Nix(-/-) mice exhibited mitochondrial retention and reduced lifespan in vivo. Although the clearance of ribosomes proceeded normally in the absence of Nix, the entry of mitochondria into autophagosomes for clearance was defective. Deficiency in Nix inhibited the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)), and treatment with uncoupling chemicals or a BH3 mimetic induced the loss of DeltaPsi(m) and restored the sequestration of mitochondria into autophagosomes in Nix(-/-) erythroid cells. These results suggest that Nix-dependent loss of DeltaPsi(m) is important for targeting the mitochondria into autophagosomes for clearance during erythroid maturation, and interference with this function impairs erythroid maturation and results in anaemia. Our study may also provide insights into molecular mechanisms underlying mitochondrial quality control involving mitochondrial autophagy.     

A new ester glucoside from the bark ofTecomella undulata

Zusammenfassung Isolierung und Strukturaufklärung eines neuen Esterglukosides aus der Rinde vonTecomella undulata.