HPLC-based activity profiling for GABA<Subscript>A</Subscript> receptor modulators from the traditional Chinese herbal drug Kushen (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sophora flavescens</Emphasis> root)

An EtOAc extract from the roots of Sophora flavescens (Kushen) potentiated γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-induced chloride influx in Xenopus oocytes transiently expressing GABA_A receptors with subunit composition, α ₁ β ₂ γ _2S. HPLC-based activity profiling of the extract led to the identification of 8-lavandulyl flavonoids, kushenol I, sophoraflavanone G, (−)-kurarinone, and kuraridine as GABA_A receptor modulators. In addition, a series of inactive structurally related flavonoids were characterized. Among these, kushenol Y (4) was identified as a new natural product. The 8-lavandulyl flavonoids are first representatives of a novel scaffold for the target.     

Isotope-selective IR multiphoton dissociation of CHClF2 in the presence of NO2

2 to the CHClF₂/He mixture irradiated by a Q-switched CO₂ laser leads to oxidation of the dissociation product according to the reaction: CF₂+NO₂→COF₂+NO. The resulting COF₂ with a ¹³C content near 50% is easy to convert to CO₂ or CO for further enrichment by a nonlaser process. We measured the dependence of the fraction of dimerised CF₂ on NO₂ pressure p_NO2 and the amount of NO₂ required to suppress dimerisation on the dissociation yield. Both agree with a kinetic model using known rate constants. For the range of the dissociation parameters (¹³CF₂ yield of 10% per pulse, isotope selectivity of 130) of practical interest, 95% of the CF₂ produced is oxidized at p_NO2≈1/2p_CHClF2. In the absence of NO₂, major (20%–35%) losses of CF₂ at the metal walls of the irradiation system were observed. Addition of NO₂ suppresses them. For comparison, we also used O₂ as a scavenger in CHClF₂ dissociation. NO₂ is by orders of magnitude more efficient. Received: 21 January 1997/Revised version: 23 March 1997     

Wet bone ablation with mechanically Q-switched high-repetition-rate CO2 laser

2 laser using a miniature water spray is demonstrated. An ablation threshold of 1.4 J/cm², an optimal energy density of 9–10 J/cm², and a corresponding specific ablation energy of 25–30 J/mm³ are found for pig thighbone compacta at λ=9.57 μm and a beam waist diameter of 0.5 mm. The water spray alleviates tissue carbonization even at high laser pulse repetition rates and increases ablation efficiency. Received: 9 March 1998/Revised version: 6 July 1998     

Cavity ring-down spectroscopy of molecularly thin iodine layers

Cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) has so far mostly been used for measurements in the gas phase. Only in 1999 was a first spectrum of condensed phase published. This spectrum was measured by using a coated plate between the cavity mirrors. Rather than using this method, our measurements were made using the cavity mirrors as a substrate. This way, the scattering losses could be reduced by approximately a factor of 100. In our measurements we investigated molecularly thin layers of iodine. The iodine spectra were taken in the frequency range from 16200 to 17200 cm^-1 using pulsed CRDS. Received: 14 April 2000 / Revised version: 26 July 2000 / Published online: 22 November 2000