Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), is associated with the loss of neuronal cells, and it has been suggested that apoptosis is a crucial pathway in neuronal loss in AD patients. Recent evidence suggests that amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) induces neuronal apoptosis in the brain and in primary neuronal cultures. In this study, we investigated the impact of beta-asarone a...

In our previous paper we examined mutagenic and genotoxic activity of 4 α-asarone isomers 2-5 exhibiting relatively high hypolipidemic activity. In the present paper, we examined genotoxic activity of αasarone and its isomers as the ability to damage cellular DNA, evaluated in the comet assay. Additionally, mutagenic activity of α-asarone in Ames test has been examined. The Ames test for α-asar...

A sensitive and specific gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring (GC-MS/SIM) method has been developed for simultaneous identification and quantification of α -asarone, β-asarone, and methyl eugenol of Acorus tatarinowii Schott in rat plasma. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Restek Rxi-5MS capillary column (30 m × 0.32 mm × 0.25 μm), using 1-naphthol as i...

Macrophage apoptosis is salient in advanced atherosclerotic lesions and is induced by several stimuli including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. This study examined that α-asarone present in purple perilla abrogated macrophage injury caused by oxysterols via ER stress- and autophagy-mediated mechanisms. Nontoxic α-asarone at 1-20 μM attenuated 7β-hydroxycholesterol-induced activation of eukar...

Response surface methodology (RSM), based on a central composite design, was used to determine the best liquid-to-raw material ratio (10:3-15 mL/g), extraction time (1-3 h), and ethanol concentration (50%-100%) for maximum content of α-asarone from Perilla frutescens (PF) extract. Experimental values of α-asarone were 9.51-46.36 mg/g; the results fitted a second-order quadratic polynomial model...

β-Asarone (2, 4, 5-trimethoxy-(Z)-1-propenylbenzene) was obtained from Acorus calamus. Nitration of β-asarone with AgNO2/I2 in ether yielded 1-(2, 4, 5-trimethoxy phenyl)-2-nitropropene (1) but with NaNO2/I2 in ethylene glycol obtained 1-(2, 4, 5-trimethoxy phenyl)-1-nitropropene (2). Compound 2 was prepared for the first time and characterized using IR, (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, and GC-MS spectra a...

α and β asarones are natural constituents of some aromatic plants, especially species of the genus Acorus (Araceae). In addition to reports of beneficial properties of asarones, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity are also reported. Due to potential toxic effects of β-asarone, a limit of exposure from herbal products of ~2 μg/kg body weight/day has been set temporarily until a full benefit/risk as...

The aim of this research was to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil of Acorus calamus rhizomes, its insecticidal activity against the booklouse, (Liposcelis bostrychophila) and to isolate any insecticidal constituents from the essential oil. The essential oil of A. calamus rhizomes was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. A total of 32 components o...