Abstract: The invention features a method for inhibiting or reducing the deleterious effects of tobacco smoking including increased incidence of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, various lung disorders and the oxidative effects. The method includes the incorporation of an effective amount of a compound or a standardized plant extract that is that comprises an inhibitor of antioxidant stress due to the induction of phase 2 enzymes regulated by Nerf2 into tobacco or a tobacco product.

Abstract: An organic extract (PM-251) from a plant, Euphorbia hirta (Euphorbaceae) has been standardized. Agronomical standardization has been achieved on this plant by growing it in eastern North Carolina. Subsequently the PM 251 extract has been chemically and biologically standardized. The standardized extract has been tested for its efficacy as an anti-inflammatory product based on in vitro assays as well as in vivo (animal studies). The standardized extract has significant COX-2 (Cyclooxygenase) enzyme inhibition in vitro. PM-251 has proved to be a good anti-inflammatory agent in sub-acute rat models of inflammation in the doses of 100 mg/kbw, 200 mg/kbw and 400 mg/kbw body weights when given orally.

Abstract: The invention features a method for inhibiting or reducing the deleterious effects of tobacco smoking including increased incidence of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, various lung disorders and the oxidative effects. The method includes the incorporation of an effective amount of a compound or a standardized plant extract that is that comprises an inhibitor of NF-?B into tobacco or a tobacco product. In particular, it relates to useful NF-?B inhibitor diterpenes and compositions containing them for incorporation into tobacco or a tobacco product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of certain novel myriceric acid derivatives of the formula: which are inhibitors of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-?B) and inhibit the activity of the endothelin receptor for use in the treatment of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases and for cancers susceptible to an NF-?B inhibitor and an endothelin receptor inhibitor. The present invention also relates to compounds and methods useful to inhibit cell proliferation and for the induction of apoptosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to useful diterpenes and pharmaceutical compositions containing them of the formula: for use in the treatment of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases and for cancers susceptible to an NF-?B inhibitor and an endothelin receptor inhibitor. The present invention also relates to compounds and methods useful to inhibit cell proliferation and for the induction of apoptosis.

Abstract: A method for the identification of a composition useful in the treatment of an overweight or obese person to reduce the person's body mass index is provided which comprises obtaining an extract of an ethnobotanical plant, and evaluating the activity of the extract in an assay selected from the group consisting of a lipolysis assay, an assay that measures the amount of glycerol introduced by a cell into a suspension medium of the cell, an adipocyte differentiation assay, an assay that measures the level of the enzyme glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, an assay that measures the inhibition of differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes, an assay that measures the accumulation of lipid in an adipocyte, an assay that measures the de-differentiation of adipocytes into preadipocytes, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and composition for controlling rust disease in plants. Metabolites produced by Aphanocladium album mycoparasites are recovered and applied in an effective amount to plants at risk for acquiring rust disease More specifically, the application of the metabolite converts infective urediniospores that cause rust disease into non-infective teliospores. In a more specific aspect, the metabolite is reacted with another substance or under a specific reaction to result in a different compound which is also effective against rust disease.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions are made from extracts obtained from ethnobotanical plants for inducing apoptosis in selected cells. Therapeutically effective amounts of the composition are administered to a mammal. Assays are used to determine the efficacy of such extracts in inducing apoptosis.

Abstract: Aliquots of extracts from ethnopharmacological plants that have activity against the effects of sarafotoxins present in snake venom are isolated and identified as antagonists of endothelin using a fluorescence-based assay. A process is provided for the identification of an antagonist of an endothelin selected from the group consisting of endothelin-1, endothelin-2, endothelin-3 and mixtures thereof. The process comprises extraction of ethnopharmacological plants with a solvent followed by evaporation of the solvent to form an aliquot containing at least one component of the extract, optionally purifying and isolating one or more component by chromatography, and subjecting the aliquot or purified component to a competitive fluorescent binding assay using biotinylated endothelin-1, wherein the plants having activity against the effects of one or more sarafotoxins present in snake venom.

Abstract: A method for the identification of a composition useful in the treatment of an overweight or obese person to reduce the person's body mass index is provided which comprises obtaining an extract of an ethnobotanical plant, and evaluating the activity of the extract in an assay selected from the group consisting of a lipolysis assay, an assay that measures the amount of glycerol introduced by a cell into a suspension medium of the cell, an adipocyte differentiation assay, an assay that measures the level of the enzyme glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, an assay that measures the inhibition of differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes, an assay that measures the accumulation of lipid in an adipocyte, an assay that measures the de-differentiation of adipocytes into preadipocytes, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: 27-deoxyactein form is provided in high purity using a multi-step process. The plant of the Cimicifuga genus (e.g., the root portion) is contacted with an organic solvent to extract certain components, including triterpene glycosides, from that plant. The resulting extracted portion is subjected to a reduction step to convert some of the triterpene glycosides to 27-deoxyactein. The 27-deoxyactein is then isolated, preferably by chromatographic techniques. The present invention also provides a therapeutic composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the isolated 27-deoxyactein according to the above method.

Abstract: Triterpene glycosides are provided in using a multi-step process. The plant of the Cimicifuga genus (e.g., the root portion) is contacted with an organic solvent to extract certain components, including triterpene glycosides, from that plant. The resulting extracted portion is subjected to a reduction step to convert some of the triterpene glycosides to compounds such as 27-deoxyactein. Optionally, compounds such as 27-deoxyactein then are isolated, preferably by chromatographic techniques. The present invention also provides a therapeutic composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the triterpene glycosides provided according to the above method.

Abstract: Active compounds including sclareol-like and sclareolide-like compounds are usefull in methods of treating a wide variety of conditions and disorders, including those disorders caused by microbial (e.g., fungal and bacterial) infections, as well as those conditions and disorders caused by other mechanisms (e.g., activation of the adenylyl cyclase system). Pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations comprising these active compounds are also useful in treating these disorders. One disorder that may be treated by the methods and formulations of the present invention is acne.

Abstract: Active compounds including sclareol-like and sclareolide-like compounds are useful in methods of treating a wide variety of conditions and disorders, including those disorders caused by microbial (e.g., fungal and bacterial) infections, as well as those conditions and disorders caused by other mechanisms (e.g., activation of the adenylyl cyclase system). Pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations comprising these active compounds are also useful in treating these disorders. One disorder that may be treated by the methods and formulations of the present invention is acne.

Abstract: A method for purifying sclareolide comprises a separation step wherein debris, e.g., microbial cell debris is removed, and further comprises extracting an organic solution of sclareolide with an acid solution, followed by an extraction of the partially purified sclareolide with a basic solution, thus yielding sclareolide of very high purity.

Abstract: A method of isolating and purifying cucurbitacin is described. The method involves providing a cucurbitacin-containing liquid obtained from plant matter containing cucurbitacin, which liquid is then sequentially extracted with a non-polar solvent and then a moderately polar solvent. In a preferred embodiment, the cucurbitacin is purified by flash-column chromatography.

Abstract: A method for isolating phenethyl alcohol in high yield is provided by fermenting L-phenylalanine within a fermentation bath to provide phenethyl alcohol. The fermented phenethyl alcohol is then contacted with an ion-exchange resin to extract the phenethyl alcohol.

Abstract: Methods of inhibiting the production of mycotoxins in plants, crops, animal feedstuffs and foodstuffs are described. Also described are methods of treating microbial infection in plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microorganism capable of producing alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). The microorganism of the invention is a non-yeast mold obtained from the kale plant. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mold is Geotrichium candidum IMI 369326. The microorganism of the invention is particularly useful in the green note processing industry as a substitute for yeast. For example, the microorganism is useful as a substitute for yeast in a process of converting a leaf aldehyde to a leaf alcohol.