• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1113-1120
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• 2010

This study investigated the efficacy of macelignan and hot water with Chinese traditional herb (CTH) extract on altering severe diabetic conditions in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice. Previously, the anti-diabetic effects of macelignan were partly reported as a PPAR $\alpha/\gamma$-dual agonist. Here, we futher studied whether a combination of macelignan and CTH had more beneficial effects or not. The macelignan and CTH compound significantly decreased fasting blood glucose and HbA1c compared to macelignan-treated mice, and also significantly improved postprandial glucose, insulin sensitivity, and plasma lipid profiles (FFA, and TG). On the other hand, insulin levels were not significantly changed compared to the diabetic control group. There were no significant changes in the concentrations of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol, but there were changes in HTR and AI. These results suggest that the macelignan and CTH compound ameliorates hyperglycemia and efficiently improves postprandial glucose, insulin sensitivity, and hyperlipidemia compared with macelignan in db/db mice. Moreover, the macelignan and CTH compound seems to be more potent in affecting diabetic complications than macelignan.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1301-1304
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• 2009

Macelignan is a bioactive compound isolated from nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) which has been traditionally used for the food and pharmaceutical purposes. In this study, the activities of macelignan against vegetative cells and spores of Bacillus cereus were evaluated in vitro. Our results showed that the vegetative cells of B. cereus were significantly inhibited in growth by macelignan with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of $4{\mu}g/mL$. The vegetative cells of B. cereus were completely killed with minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of $8{\mu}g/mL$ of macelignan. Killing time of macelignan against vegetative cells of B. cereus was very fast; endpoint of macelignan was reached after 4 hr of incubation at $4{\times}MIC$. Macelignan inactivated more than 3-log (99.9%) of spores/mL of B. cereus at the concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$. Macelignan was found to be effective against vegetative cells and spores of B. cereus. These results suggest that macelignan might be good to be developed as a food preservative.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2017

In our program to search for new AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activators from plants that exert potential anticancer property, we found that an EtOAc extract of Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) activated AMPK enzyme in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Two major diarylbutane-type lignans, macelignan and meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (MDGA), were isolated as active principles from this extract. Treatment of breast cancer cells with two compounds induced cellular apoptosis, evidenced by cleavage of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and Ser 15 phosphorylation of p53. Moreover, macelignan and MDGA significantly inhibited the colony formation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells on soft agar. Intraperitoneal injection of macelignan and MDGA (20 mg/kg) suppressed the tumor growth of 4T1 mammary cancer cells. These results indicate that the chemopreventive effects of two major diarylbutane-type lignans from Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) may be associated with induction of apoptosis presumably through AMPK activation.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.189-194
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• 1986

The single acute treatment of mice with the steam distillate, non-volatile ether extract and methanol extract from mace, arils of Myristica fragrans(Myristicaceae) caused a significant prolongation of hexobarbital-induced narcosis, an increase in strychnine toxicity as well as a significant decrease in hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme activities. On seven daily consecutive administrations, however, the duration of narcosis was markedly shortened and significant increases in the hepatic enzyme activities were shown. From the non-volatile ether fraction, macelignan, a new lignan, mp $70{\sim}72^{\circ}$ was isolated as an active principle.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1298-1303
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• 2015

Machilus thunbergii (Lauraceae) is an evergreen tree cultivated in Korea and Japan. M. thunbergii has long been used as a traditional medicine in Korea, China, and Japan to treat various diseases, including edema, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension. In this study, dried stem bark of M. thunbergii extracted in methanol and extract was partitioned into n-hexane, CHCl₃, and BuOH. The CHCl₃-soluble extracts chromatographed on silica gel column using a CHCl₃/acetone and n-hexane/EtOAc mixture to afford Compound 1 and 2. Two dibenzylbutane lignans, macelignan (1) and meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (2), were isolated from the CHCl₃-soluble extract of M. thunbergii stem bark. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic data analyses and a comparison with literature data. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated. Among these compounds, Compound 2 strongly inhibited the monophenolase (IC₅₀=10.2 μM) activity of tyrosinase. A kinetic analysis showed that Compound 2 was a competitive inhibitor. The apparent inhibition constant (K_i) for Compound 2 binding to free enzyme was 4.8 μM. Based on these results, it can be concluded that meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (2) is a potential candidate for the treatment of melanin biosynthesis-related skin diseases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.270-273
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• 1990

Antioxidant activity of diarylbutane type lignans was evaluated in TBA-reactant assay to elucidate the structure-activity relationship. The antioxidant potency of lignans increased with increasing the number of hydroxyl groups, with the exception of macelignan(I), which showed a more potent activity than demethyl meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid(III).

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.98-101
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• 2002

The phytochemical study of nutmeg, the seeds of Myristica fragrans Houttuyn (Myristicaceae) led to the isolation of three lignans, safrole (I), macelignan (III), and a 3,4 : 3',4'-bis(methylenedioxy)lignan (II). The compound II was identified by a mixture (1:1) of (8S, 8'R)- and (8S, 8'S)-forms of bis(3, 4-methylenedioxy)-8, 8'-neolignan by $^1$H-, $^{13}$ C-NMR and $^1$H-$^1$H COSY spectral data. The compound II was isolated for the first time from Myristica fragrans.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.265-268
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• 1990

The effects of lignans, related to macelignan, on hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzyme (DME) activity were evaluated to elucidate the structure-activity relationship in mice and rats. The compounds carrying the methylenedioxyphenyl nucleus were found to be the msot potent among compounds tested; which not only produced a marked inhibition of DME with a single dose but a significant induction with repeated treatments. Lack of the methylenedioxy group caused marked decrease in the activity, implying that a methylenedioxy group is essential and of major importance eliciting DME modifying activity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.3 s.142
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• pp.240-244
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• 2005

The methanol extract of the seed of Myristica fragrans (myristicaceae) demonstrated a potent inhibition on the proliferation of cultured human tumor cells such as A549 (non small cell lung), SK-OV-3 (ovary), SK-MEL-2(melanoma), XF498 (central nerve system) and HCT-15(colon). The MeOH extract was fractionated into three portions by serial solvent partition i,e., EtOAc soluble part, BuOH soluble part and remaining water layer. Among them, the EtOAc soluble part of the extract demonstrated a potent inhibition on the proliferation of cultured human tumor cells, Bioassay-guided fractionation of the EtOAc soluble part led to the isolation of six lignan constituents, i.e., safrole(1), machilin A (2), licarin B (3), macelignan (4), mesodihydroguaiaretic acid (5) and myristargenol A (6) as well as a large amount of myristic acid as active ingredients. Structures of the isolated active components (1-6) were established by chemical and spectroscopic means.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.206-211
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• 2006

The methanol extract from seed of Myristica fragrans (Myristicaceae) demonstrated a potent inhibition on the pro-liferation of cultured human tumor cells such as A549 (non small cell lung), SK-OV-3 (ovary), SK-MEL-2 (melanoma), XF498 (central nerve system) and HCT-15 (colon) in vitro. By the continuous effort to purify the active components responsible far the anti-proliferative effect on tumor cell lines, we have isolated eleven kinds of lignan components, i. e., safrole (1), machilin A (2), licarin B (3), macelignan (4), mere-dihydroguaiaretic acid (5), mγnstargenol A (6), methoxyeugenol (7), machilin F (8), licarin A (9), nectandrin B (10), and 2-(4-allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-ol (11) together with a novel furan fatty acid, (E)-3-(3-methyl-5-pentylfuran-2-yl) acrylic acid (12) from seed extract of M. fragrans. Chemical structures of the isolated components (1-12) were established bγ the aid of NMR spectroscopic analyses, i. e., COSY HMQC and HMBC. Each of the Isolates demonstrated a potent inhibition on the proliferation of cultured human tumor cells such as A549 (non small cell lung), SK-OY-3 (ovary), SK-MEL-2 (melanoma) and HCT-15 (colon) in vitro.