The combination of naproxen with herbs having a range of pharmacological effects is a potential alternative to improve their bioactivity and limit their adverse effects. Inspired by magnolol, an active constituent found in the bark of Magnolia officinalis, we therefore evaluated the efficacy of naproxen (N) plus magnolol (M) in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced skin inflammation. During application, treatment with N and M significantly reduced skin inflammation, and the combination of N and M resulted in a synergistic effect. Further mechanistic investigations clearly demonstrated that A3 (N:M = 1:3, mol mol−1) markedly suppressed TPA-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and COX-2 expressions, inhibited NF-κB activity, downregulated IκBα and IκB kinase (IKK) activities, and inhibited PI3K/Akt and PI3K/PKC signaling pathways. These results indicated that a combination of N and M effectively inhibited TPA-induced skin inflammation via blocking PI3K/Akt/IKK and PI3K/PKC/IKK signaling pathways.

The flowers of Edgeworthia gardneri are consumed as an herbal tea in Tibet with potential health benefits. To complement the current knowledge regarding the chemical composition and antihyperglycemic activity of the flower of E. gardneri, two new phenolics, gardnerol A and B (1 and 2), along with 19 known phenolics were isolated from the flower of E. gardneri. All isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase. Compound 5, identified as the major constituent of the flower of E. gardneri, showed a significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and acted as a competitive inhibitor. The oral administration of compound 5 at a dose of 300 mg/kg significantly reduced the postprandial blood glucose levels of normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Furthermore, compound 5 significantly decreased the fasting blood glucose levels in STZ-induced diabetic mice.

The efficient α-monoarylation and tandem arylation–insertion of malonates with arynes, generated by fluoride-induced elimination of Kobayashi’s silylaryl triflates, are described. The reactions led to the formation of α-arylmalonates in up to 88% yield with high chemoselectivities and diarylmethane derivatives in good yields under mild conditions.