Gannan Medical University

Benzofuran derivatives are important structural motifs found in natural products, often exhibiting significant biological activities. Ruta graveolens L. is a plant source known for containing diverse bioactive compounds.

This study aimed to isolate and characterize compounds from the aerial parts of R. graveolens, confirm their structures through synthesis, develop a novel synthetic methodology, and evaluate their potential anti-inflammatory effects and monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity.

The structures of benzofuran enantiomers were elucidated using integrated NMR, HRMS, and ECD analyses. (±)-Rutacycoumarins A and B were synthesized via a novel direct C3 alkylation of coumarin bearing phenolic hydroxyl groups. Biological evaluation assessed the anti-inflammatory effects of (±)-Rutacycoumarins A and B in LPS-stimulated HepG2 cells by measuring liver biomarkers and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and their inhibitory activity against monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B).

Two novel Z/E pairs of benzofuran enantiomers, (±)-Rutacycoumarins A and B, featuring fused cyclopropane motifs, were isolated and structurally confirmed. Their synthesis employed a novel catalytic EDA complex (DIPEA/potassium ethyl xanthate donor, NHPI ester acceptor). (±)-Rutacycoumarins A and B reduced liver biomarkers and pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-treated HepG2 cells, and all four enantiomers inhibited MAO-B.

This study isolated two novel benzofuran enantiomer pairs with fused cyclopropane motifs from R. graveolens Their structures were confirmed via a new catalytic EDA complex synthesis. Racemic mixtures reduced LPS-induced liver/cellular damage and cytokines in HepG2 cells, while all enantiomers inhibited MAO-B.

Nowadays, obesity has become a public health issue. Weight-adjusted waist circumference index (WWI) is gaining attention as a new obesity indicator. Evidence regarding the association between WWI and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality among the general adult population in the United States remains limited.

This retrospective cohort study analyzed 3,081 U.S. adults from the 1999-2018 NHANES database. Weighted Cox regression, trend chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and comprehensive predictive performance assessments were used to explore the association between WWI and all-cause/cardiovascular mortality, and validate WWI's predictive value versus BMI/waist circumference/body weight. Subgroup and interaction analyses were also performed.

WWI was positively associated with all-cause (Model 3 HR = 1.944, p < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (Model 3 HR = 1.854, p = 0.013), with a significant linear upward trend in mortality risks with increasing WWI quartiles (all p < 0.001). WWI had higher AUC than traditional indices, with significant DeLong test differences, stable long-term predictive performance, and superior net benefit in clinically relevant DCA threshold ranges.

This study demonstrates a significant association between WWI and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality among the general adult population in the United States, Our findings suggest that older people, women, low-income and low-educated people, smokers have higher WWI, and people with high WWI also have higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, Integrating WWI into clinical risk assessment may help identify high-risk populations and guide targeted interventions to reduce mortality risk.

Ischemic heart disease, as one of the major causes of morbidity worldwide, there is no effective therapy for preventing myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). Baicalin, a flavonoid glycoside extracted from the Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, yet its effects in MIRI remain unclear. In the study, pretreatment with Baicalin (100 mg/kg, i.p.) markedly alleviated I/R-induced cardiac dysfunction, as shown by reduced serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), and myocardial infarction. Baicalin also improved cardiomyocyte survival by increasing Bcl-2 and decreasing Bax and caspase-3/9 levels. In addition, Baicalin suppressed oxidative stress by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) while elevating glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Moreover, Baicalin inhibited the STING, NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, IL-18, and IL-1β expression in vivo and in vitro. Crucially, amidobenzimidazole (ABZI), a STING agonist, reversed the cardioprotective effects of Baicalin. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that Baicalin exerted cardioprotective effects by attenuating apoptosis and oxidative stress through suppression of STING/NLRP3 activation.