Antibacterial alkaloids from Artabotrys crassifolius Hook.f. & Thomson

Chloroform extract of bark of Artabotrys crassifolius Hook.f. & Thomson exhibited antibacterial activities against both American Type Culture Collection and clinical bacterial strains in vitro with zones of inhibition ranging from 7 to 14 mm. Further analysis of this extract yielded artabotrine, liridine, lysicamine and atherospermidine. Artabotrine displayed a broad array of antibacterial activity mostly against Gram-positive bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 1.25 μg/mL to 5 μg/mL. Of note, artabotrine, liridine and lysicamine are bactericidal against Gram-negative extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella with MIC values equal 2.5, 2.5 and 10 μg/mL, respectively, and minimum bactericidal concentrations values equal to 2.5, 5 and 20 μg/mL.     

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil from aerial parts of Teucrium flavum L. subsp. flavum growing spontaneously in Tunisia

The objectives of this study were to chemically characterise and evaluate the antioxidant potential of the essential oil from Teucrium flavum L. subsp. flavum growing spontaneously in Tunisia. The volatile oil was extracted by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts in a Clevenger type apparatus. Forty constituents were identified via GC and GC-MS analysis. β-caryophyllene (32.5%) and α-humulene (17.8%) were the most abundant components. The evaluation of free radical scavenging activity using stable DPPH free radical showed that the volatile oil exhibits a moderate antioxidant activity and reduces DPPH to 50% at EC₅₀ value of 1230 μg mL^? 1.     

Separation of five compounds from leaves of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees by off‐line two‐dimensional high‐speed counter‐current chromatography combined with gradient and recycling elution

An off‐line two‐dimensional high‐speed counter‐current chromatography method combined with gradient and recycling elution mode was established to isolate terpenoids and flavones from the leaves of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees. By using the solvent systems composed of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water with different volume ratios, five compounds including roseooside, 5,4′‐dihydroxyflavonoid‐7‐O‐β‐d ‐pyranglucuronatebutylester, 7,8‐dimethoxy‐2′‐hydroxy‐5‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyloxyflavon, 14‐deoxyandrographiside, and andrographolide were successfully isolated. Purities of these isolated compounds were all over 95% as determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Their structures were identified by UV, mass spectrometry, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. It has been demonstrated that the combination of off‐line two‐dimensional high‐speed counter‐current chromatography with different elution modes is an efficient technique to isolate compounds from complex natural product extracts.     

Development of a method to screen and isolate potential α‐glucosidase inhibitors from Panax japonicus C.A. Meyer by ultrafiltration,liquid chromatography,and counter‐current chromatography

A new assay based on ultrafiltration, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry was developed for the rapid screening and identification of the ligands for α‐glucosidase from the extract of Panax japonicus. Six saponins were identified as α‐glucosidase inhibitors. Subsequently, the specific binding ligands, namely, notoginsenoside R₁, ginsenoside Rb₁, chikusetsusaponin V, chikusetsusaponin IV, chikusetsusaponin IVa, and ginsenoside Rd (the purities were 94.18, 95.43, 96.09, 93.26, 94.50, 93.86%, respectively) were separated by counter‐current chromatography using two‐phase solvent systems composed of tert‐butyl methyl ether, acetonitrile, 0.1% aqueous formic acid (3.8:1.0:4.4, v/v/v) and the solvent system composed of methylene chloride, isopropanol, methanol, 0.1% aqueous formic acid (5.8:1.0:6.0:2.2, v/v/v). The results demonstrate that ultrafiltration, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry combined with high‐speed counter‐current chromatography might provide not only a powerful tool for screening and isolating α‐glucosidase inhibitors in complex samples but also a useful platform for discovering bioactive compounds for the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus.     

Micro‐ and Nano‐Technologies for Lipid Bilayer‐Based Ion‐Channel Functional Assays

Ion channel proteins provide gated pores that allow ions to passively flow across cell membranes. Owing to their crucial roles in regulating transmembrane ion flow, ion channel proteins have attracted the attention of pharmaceutical investigators as drug targets for use in the studies of both therapeutics and side effects. In this review, we discuss the current technologies that are used in the formation of ion channel‐integrated bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) in microfabricated devices as a potential platform for next‐generation drug screening systems. Advances in BLM fabrication methodology have allowed the preparation of BLMs in sophisticated formats, such as microfluidic, automated, and/or array systems, which can be combined with channel current recordings. A much more critical step is the integration of the target channels into BLMs. Current technologies for the functional reconstitution of ion channel proteins are presented and discussed. Finally, the remaining issues of the BLM‐based methods for recording ion channel activities and their potential applications as drug screening systems are discussed.     

Separation of Photosynthetic Pigments by High-performance Liquid Chromatography: Comparison of Column Performance,Mobile Phase,and Temperature

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been commonly used as method of separating and identifying photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophylls and carotenoids because of such advantages as speed, high resolution and sensitivity. In this technique, high separation relies largely on the type of column material. This study compared the efficiency of five reverse-phase columns, C8, C18, C18 monolithic, π-NAP, and cholester, for separation of photosynthetic pigments at several fixed conditions of mobile phase and temperature. This investigation also analysed the parameters of Δt_R and t_R ratio for selected pigments and resolution for structural isomers, such as α- and β-carotene. Among above columns tested, cholester column is suitable for separation of pigments not only for a broad range of polarity, but also for hydrophobic pigments in a simple mobile phase. This finding can help in the selection of column and HPLC parameters in separating photosynthetic pigments.     

Bioremediation of Aged Petroleum Oil Contaminated Soil: From Laboratory Scale to Full Scale Application

Large quantity of aged petroleum oil contamination such as dehydrated oil sludge, generated in the disposal process of oil-containing sewage in Indonesia. This study aims to investigate the OSCS removal by mean of bioremediation technique. Results found that petrofilic consortia and biosurfactants addition increased the removal efficiency up to 46% and 85%, respectively. At full scale application, this technique succeed in removing of 46 g TPH per kg soil from 4 883 m³ of OSCS during 16 mo of treatment. These results suggest that petrofilic consortia and biosurfactants addition stimulate the biodegradation and overcome the limitation of OSCS degradation process.     

Peptide-derived from Seahorse Exerts a Protective Effect against Cholinergic Neuronal Death in in vitro Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Hippocampus trimaculatus are highly valued and the most heavily traded seahorse species for traditional medicine purposes in many Asian countries. One of the main interesting features in H.trimaculatus is their richness in protein which can be hydrolyzed into bioactive peptides. In the previous study, H. trimaculatus was hydrolyzed using commercial enzymes, the peptides responsible for neuroprotective activity was identified as HTP-1. In the present study, in vitro co-culture system of neuronal (PC12) cells and Aβ₄₂ oligomer-stimulated murine microglia cells (BV2 cells) were used to test neuroprotective effects of HTP-1. The co-culture system showed that HTP-1 protected PC12 cells from BV2 neurotoxic responses. In addition, the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by HTP-1 were confirmed. The PI3K/Akt activation was found to be mediated through transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) induction by HTP-1. Furthermore, this signaling pathway was found to up-regulate the expression of pro survival protein expression in PC12 cells. Collectively, HTP-1 has potent protective effect against neuronal cells death in in vitro model of Alzheimer's disease.     

Forecasting the integration of immigrants

In this research, we develop and introduce a theoretical and mathematical forecasting framework of immigrant integration using immigrant density as a single driver. First, we introduce the integration concepts we aim at forecasting. Thereafter, we introduce a theoretical and mathematical model of the relationship between integration and immigrant density. Based on this model, we develop a methodological forecasting framework. We test the framework using immigrant integration data from Spain. We produce the forecasts, and conduct the proper evaluation of them. Finally, we conclude with a brief discussion of the wider implications of our results.