Two Antioxidant Alkaloids from Portulaca oleracea L.

Two alkaloids, oleraceins F and G, were isolated from Portulaca oleracea L., and their structures were determined as methyl (2S)‐6‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)oxy]‐2,3‐dihydro‐5‐hydroxy‐1‐[(2E)‐3‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoyl]‐1H‐indole‐2‐carboxylate and methyl (2S)‐6‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)oxy]‐2,3‐dihydro‐5‐hydroxy‐1‐[(2E)‐3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoyl]‐1H‐indole‐2‐carboxylate, based on their spectroscopic data. Oleraceins F and G exhibited scavenging activity against 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, with EC₅₀ values of 21.00 and 37.69 μM , respectively.     

Computational study of FOX‐7 synthesis in a solvated reaction system

Ethene and two kinds of nitrating reagents (HNO₃ and N₂O₅) in a variety of solvents were included in respective molecular systems, and each underwent a two‐stage electrophilic and free radical nitro‐substitution reaction to obtain the corresponding nitroethene compounds. Subsequent halogenation (using Cl₂ and Br₂) and amination (using NH₃) were then performed in solvents, also by electrophilic and radical substitution, to produce the desired 1,1‐diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethene (FOX‐7) derivatives. The reaction energy barrier in the nitration stage for obtaining each kind of mononitro ethene exhibited a stepwise decreasing trend when the reaction was carried out in H₂O‐solvated and CH₃OH‐solvated systems, no matter what nitrating agent was used. Related energy barrier data showed that the nitration reaction is more feasible in an H₂O‐solvated than a CH₃OH‐solvated system. The modeling results suggested that N₂O₅ is the better agent for nitration to proceed in water, bromine is suitable for halogenation, and the bromine derivatives are convenient for further amination in an H₂O‐solvated system. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

The Effect of Controlled Dopant Concentration on the Performance of Blue Polymer Light‐emitting Diodes

The performance of a blue polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLED) was significantly improved by doping a controlled amount (<1%) of a hole transport molecule N,N′‐bis‐(1‐naphthyl)‐N,N′‐diphenyl‐1,1′‐biphenyl‐4,4″‐diamine (NPB) into the emitting layer. Hole carrier mobility of the blue emitting polymer, BP105 (trade name of The Dow Chemicals Co.), increased from 5.27 × 10^‐7 cm^‐2/Vs of the pristine BP105 to 1.80 × 10^‐6 cm^‐2/Vs with the addition of 1% NPB in BP105. The enhanced carrier mobility greatly promoted performance of a blue PLED device with a device structure of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/BP105+x% NPB/LiF/Ca/Al. Luminance increased from 573 cd/m² to 2,720 cd/m² at 6V and efficiency increased from 1.1 lm/W to 1.6 lm/W at 1,000 cd/m² with 1% NPB in BP105. The most important improvement was an increase in the lifetime of the blue device from 80 to 120 hours at an initial luminance of 400 cd/m². We found that by choosing the appropriate dopant with good energy alignment and controlled dopant concentration, the performance of a blue PLED device could be greatly improved.     

Intercompany Study to Evaluate the Robustness of Capillary Isoelectric Focusing Technology for the Analysis of Monoclonal Antibodies

Interlaboratory comparisons are essential to bringing emerging technologies into biopharmaceutical industry practice and regulatory acceptance. As a result, an international team including 12 laboratories from 10 independent biopharmaceutical companies in the United States and Switzerland was formed to evaluate the precision and robustness of capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) to assess the charge heterogeneity of monoclonal antibodies. The different laboratories determined the apparent pI and the relative distribution of the charge isoforms of a representative monoclonal antibody (rMAb) sample using the same CIEF method. Statistical evaluation of the data was performed to determine within and between-laboratory consistencies and outlying information. The apparent pI data generated for each charge variant peak showed very good precision between laboratories with percentage of RSD values of ??0.5%. Similarly, the percentage of RSD for the rMAb charge variants percent peak area values are ??4.4% across different laboratories with different analysts using different lots of ampholytes and multiple instruments. Taken together, these results validate the appropriate use of CIEF in the biopharmaceutical industry in support of regulatory submissions.     

Determination of Pilocarpine in Human Plasma by LC�CAPCI�CMS�CMS and Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study

A sensitive, specific and rapid high performance liquid chromatography?Catmospheric pressure chemical ionization source-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS-MS) method for the determination of pilocarpine in human plasma was developed and validated. The method is based on liquid?Cliquid extraction, followed by a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation, and detected by means of tandem mass spectrometry. The linear calibration curve covered a concentration range of 2?C500 ??g L^?1. The intra- and inter-day precisions for pilocarpine were <10% and the accuracies were between 90 and 110%. The method was applied successfully to a pharmacokinetic study involving 20 healthy Chinese male volunteers after oral administration of 6 mg pilocarpine.     

Three New Neolignans and One New Phenylpropanoid from the Leaves and Stems of Toona ciliata var. pubescens

Three new neolignans, (7S,8S,7′E)‐4,9‐dihydroxy‐3,7,3′,9′‐tetramethoxy‐8,4′‐oxyneolign‐7′‐ene ( 1 ), (7R,8S,7′E)‐4, 9‐dihydroxy‐3,7,3′,9′‐tetramethoxy‐8,4′‐oxyneolign‐7′‐ene ( 2 ), (7S,8S,7′E)‐5, 9‐dihydroxy‐3,7,3′,5′,9′‐pentamethoxy‐8,4′‐oxyneolign‐7′‐ene ( 3 ), and one new phenylpropanoid, threo‐5‐hydroxy‐3,7‐dimethoxyphenylpropane‐8,9‐diol ( 4 ), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Toona ciliata var. pubescens. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, especially 2D‐NMR, HR‐ESI‐MS, and CD data. The antiproliferative activities of these compounds against four tumor cell lines (A549, Colo 205, QGY‐7703, and LOVO) were also evaluated by MTT (=(3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide) method.     

New Dammarane‐Type Saponins from the Rhizomes of Panax japonicus

Phytochemical investigation of the rhizomes of Panax japonicus C. A. Meyer (Araliaceae) resulted in the isolation of two new dammarane‐type triterpenoid saponins, yesanchinoside R₁ ( 1 ) and yesanchinoside R₂ ( 2 ), together with one new natural product, 6′′′‐O‐acetylginsenoside Re ( 3 ). In addition, 25 known compounds, including 23 triterpenoid saponins, 4 – 26 , β‐sitosterol 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 27 ), and ecdysterone ( 28 ), were also identified. The known saponins 12, 15 , and 18 – 22 were reported for the first time from the title plant. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analyses, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR techniques, as well as acidic hydrolysis.     

Two New Steroidal Saponins from the Fresh Leaves of Agave sisalana

A new furostanol saponin, sisalasaponin C ( 1 ), and a new spirostanol saponin, sisalasaponin D ( 2 ), were isolated from the fresh leaves of Agave sisalana, along with three other known steroidal saponins and two stilbenes. Their structures were identified as (3β,5α,6α,22α,25R)‐3,26‐bis[(β‐D ‐glucopyrano‐ syl)oxy]‐22‐hydroxyfurostan‐6‐yl β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), (3β,5α,25R)‐12‐oxospirostan‐3‐yl 6‐deoxy‐α‐L ‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐[β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside ( 2 ), (3β,5α,6α,22α,25R)‐22‐methoxyfurostane‐3,6,26‐triyl tris‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside, cantalasaponin‐1, polianthoside D, (E)‐ and (Z)‐2,3,4′,5‐tetrahydroxystilbene 2‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosides. The last three known compounds were isolated from the fresh leaves of Agavaceae for the first time. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR experiments, and chemical techniques.     

Genotyping of two single nucleotide polymorphisms in 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase by multiplex polymerase chain reaction and capillary electrophoresis

Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, A1298C and C677T, were widely considered to be related with various neoplasia disorders. We established a simple and effective capillary electrophoresis (CE) method for detection of two SNPs in MTHFR gene simultaneously. DNA samples were amplified by multiplex PCR with universal fluorescence-labeled primer and analyzed by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP)-CE method. The CE method was performed using 1.5% hydroxyethyl cellulose in 1× TBE buffer containing 1 M urea. The PCR products after SSCP procedure were electrokinetically injected at −10 kV, 30 s. Separation voltage was −6 kV and the temperature was set at 20 °C. The optimal SSCP-CE method was applied to detect two polymorphisms in MTHFR gene of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients. Genotyping results were evaluated in terms of relationships between outcomes for ADHD patients after ALL chemotherapy and ALL disease. The SSCP-CE method and multiplex PCR with universal fluorescence primer were used as the fast technique for screening two SNPs in MTHFR gene, A1298C and C677T. The genotyping data were coincident with DNA sequencing. This SSCP-CE method was found feasible for detecting mutation of MTHFR gene in populations.     

Preparation and characterization of attapulgite-silver nanocomposites,and their application to the electrochemical determination of nitrobenzene

Microchimica Acta - The surface of attapulgite was cleaned, modified with 3-aminpropyltriethoxysilane, and then covered with silver nanoparticles. The structure and morphology of the modified...