Dracocephalum palmatum Stephan (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant used by the North-Yakutian nomads. From the crude ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of this plant, 23 compounds (phenylpropanoids, coumarins, flavonoids, and triterpenes) were isolated. Among these, eight compounds (salvianolic acid B, caftaric acid, cichoric acid, umbelliferone, aesculetin, apigenin-7-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside, isorhoifolin, and luteolin-4'-O-β-d-glucopyranoside) were detected for the first time in the genus Dracocephalum. Their structures were elucidated based on chemical and spectral data. The levels of most of the compounds detected in the cultivated sample were close to that of the wild sample, indicating the reproducibility of the biologically active compounds of D. palmatum through cultivation. Investigation into the biological activity of D. palmatum under in vitro conditions demonstrated that its extracts have a strong antioxidant effect due to the presence of high concentrations of phenolic compounds.

Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) is an oriental traditional medicine to treat anemia, dysmenorrhea, and migraine. However, its anti-lymphoma effect is yet to be tested. Here, we demonstrated that AGN and its major component decursin target Myc to suppress lymphomagenesis in vitro and in vivo. AGN inhibited cell viability in multiple B lymphoma cells, while sparing normal splenocytes and bone marrow cells. Increased cleaved PARP level and caspase 3/7 activity and the repression of survival-promoting AKT/mTOR and MAPK pathways downstream of BCR, were responsible for the pro-apoptotic effects of AGN. We found that Myc, a prominent downstream target of these signaling pathways, contributes to AGN-induced cell death. Moreover, co-treatment with AGN and a Myc inhibitor, JQ1 or 10058-F4 yielded synergistic cytotoxic activities against cancer cells with markedly reduced Myc expression. AGN downregulated Myc expression and suppressed tumorigenesis in Eμ-myc transgenic mice. The proapoptotic activities of AGN were recapitulated by decursin, indicating that the anti-tumor effect of AGN was mainly caused by decursin. These findings suggest that AGN and decursin possess potent anti-lymphoma activity, and combination therapies with AGN/decursin and a Myc inhibitor to target Myc more efficiently could be a valuable avenue to explore in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma.

Physiological and biochemical features of woody plants (Pinus sylvestris L. and Betula platyphylla Sukacz.) during transition from vegetative to frost-resistant state under conditions of extremely severe climate of Yakutia were studied. In P. sylvestris such transition was accompanied by a decrease in the content of chlorophylls long before first frosts and by an increase in the proportion of Xanth and simultaneous decrease in the content of β-carotene in needles during the first and second phases of hardening. In the period of preparation to dormancy, overwintering organs of both P. sylvestris (needles) and B. platyphylla (buds) accumulated the two groups of major dehydrins, with low mol wts of 15–21 kD and middle mol wts of 66–141 kD. Simultaneously, low temperature led to a great increase in the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) in lipids of P. sylvestris needles and B. platyphylla buds, primarily linoleic acid and also eicosenoic FAs differing in the extent of desaturation. Observed qualitative and quantitative changes in pigments, total proteins, dehydrins, and FAs during autumn hardening of P. sylvestris and B. platyphylla plants presume their important role in the development of resistance of these tree species to low-temperature stress (down to −60°C) in the cryolithic zone of Yakutia.

Dracocephalum palmatum S. and Dracocephalum ruyschiana L. contain a large number of target analytes, which are biologically active compounds. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in combination with an ion trap (tandem mass spectrometry) was used to identify target analytes in extracts of D. palmatum S. and D. ruyschiana L. originating from Yakutia. The results of initial studies revealed the presence of 114 compounds, of which 92 were identified for the first time in the genus Dracocephalum. New identified metabolites belonged to 17 classes, including 16 phenolic acids and their conjugates, 18 flavones, 5 flavonols, 2 flavan-3-ols, 1 flavanone, 2 stilbenes, 10 anthocyanins, 1 condensed tannin, 2 lignans, 6 carotenoids, 3 oxylipins, 2 amino acids, 3 sceletium alkaloids, 3 carboxylic acids, 8 fatty acids, 1 sterol, and 3 terpenes, along with 6 miscellaneous compounds. It was shown that extracts of D. palmatum are richer in the spectrum of polyphenolic compounds compared with extracts of D. ruyschiana, according to a study of the presence of these compounds in extracts, based on the results of mass spectrometric studies.

Dracocephalum palmatum Stephan (DPS), a medicinal plant used by Russian nomads, has been known to exhibit antioxidant properties. However, to the best of our knowledge, its anticancer effect has not been elucidated. The present study aimed to evaluate the tumor‑suppressive effect of DPS extract (DPSE) in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and the underlying mechanism. MTS assays and Annexin V staining were performed to assess the anti‑proliferative and apoptotic effects of DPSE, respectively. To reveal the underlying mechanisms, the levels of pro‑ and anti‑apoptotic Bcl‑2 members were analyzed by western blotting. Rescue experiments were performed to investigate the potential involvement of Myc in DPSE‑induced tumor‑inhibitory effects. Additionally, high‑performance liquid chromatography analysis was performed to analyze the components with anticancer effects. Exposure of multiple DLBCL cell lines to DPSE significantly decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis, whereas it had no effect on the survival of normal cells in vitro and in vivo. This indicates that its cytotoxic effect may be specific to cancer cells. Mechanistically, cell death induced by DPSE was dependent on the activation of caspase‑3/7 and the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. Treatment with the extract ameliorated the expression of anti‑apoptotic Bcl‑2 members Bcl‑xL and Mcl‑1, and upregulated that of pro‑apoptotic Bcl‑2 members Bax and Bak. These modulations led to the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, which culminated in the activation of executioner caspases‑3 and ‑7. Notably, overexpression of Myc inhibited DPSE‑induced cell killing, indicating the involvement of Myc in this process. Given that dysregulation of Myc is strongly associated with the pathobiology of DLBCL, the present study highlights the potential therapeutic efficacy of DPSE in patients with DLBCL with aberrant Myc expression. Furthermore, fractionation of DPSE by thin layer chromatography and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry‑based investigation of the fraction with bioactive compounds demonstrated that flavonoids may be responsible for most, if not all, of the anti‑lymphoma effect. Efforts to identify the bioactive flavonoids is currently underway.