Methylglyoxal is a highly reactive precursor which forms advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs and methylglyoxal are known to induce various diseases such as diabetes, vascular disorders, Diabetes Mellitus (DM), and neuronal disorders. Juglans regia L is an important food commonly used worldwide, having nutritious components, including phenolic compounds. Since ancient times, Juglans regia L have been differently applied by various countries for health and in diverse diseases, including arthritis, asthma, skin disorders, cancer, and diabetes mellitus. However, the effect of diabetes-induced renal damage against AGEs remains unclear. This study evaluates the anti-glycation and renal protective effects of ethanol extract of Juglans regia L against methylglyoxal-induced renal tubular epithelial cell death. Exposure to methylglyoxal resulted in reduced cell viability in NRK-52E cells, but co-treatment with Juglans regia L extracts significantly increased the cell viability. In addition, we examined the anti-glycation effect of Juglans regia L extracts. Compared to the positive control aminoguanidine and Alagebrium, treatment with Juglans regia L extracts significantly inhibited the formation of AGEs, collagen cross-linking, and breaking collagen cross-linking. Taken together, our results indicate that Juglans regia L is a potential therapeutic agent for regulating diabetic complications by exerting anti-glycation and renal protective activities.

5-Hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and its derivatives were evaluated for insecticidal effect against Sitophilus oryzae and S. zaemais adults. This study was examined using fumigant method. Mortality was determined after 72 h of treatment. 5-Hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone showed strong (+++) activity at 5 mg and the 1,4-naphthoquinone showed strong (+++) and moderate (++) activity at 5 mg, against S. oryzae and S. zaemais, respectively. However, 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, and 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone had non-activity (-) at 5 mg. Based on the LD50 values, the compound most highly effect to S. oryzae was 1,4-naphthoquinone (0.012 mg/cm2), followed by 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (0.013 mg/cm2). However, against S. zeamais, 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (0.044 mg/cm2) was the most toxic compound, followed by 1,4-naphthoquinone (0.155 mg/cm2). These results suggest that the introduction of various functional group (hydroxy, methyl and methoxy) into the 1,4-naphthoquinone skeleton contributes to insecticidal activity. Accordingly, 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and 1,4-naphthoquinone could be used highly effective rice weevil control agents.

The rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae, is one of the most common storage pests worldwide of grocery shops, flour mills and warehouses. This study investigated to assess the contact and fumigant toxicities of Juglnas regia and its active component against the S. oryzae adults. Using the two different bioassays against S. oryzae adults, the methanol extract of J. regia at 20 mg had the moderate (++) activity and weak (+) activity using direct contact and fumigant method, respectively. The methanol extract was partitioned with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol and water fraction. Ethyl acetate fraction obtained from the methanol extract showed strong (+++) and weak (+) activity at 10 mg using direct contact and fumigant method, respectively. Ethyl acetate fraction was purified by silica gel column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (prep-HPLC). The structure of active component was analyzed by EI-MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectra, and was identified as C-21233. Purified C-21233 from ethyl acetate fraction had strong (+++) and moderate (++) activity using direct contact and fumigant method against S. oryzae adults. These results indicate that active component in J. reiga derived materials could be potential candidates as a contact and fumigant for managing S. oryzae adults. Further studies should be performed to the structure activity relationship of C-21233 and compared with its derivatives.