Isolation,Purification and Bioactivities of Polysaccharides from Irpex lacteus

Irpex lacteus has been widely used for treating chronic glomerulonephritis as a traditional Chinese medicine.Seven water-soluble polysaccharide fractions(ILN Ⅰ,ILN Ⅱ,ILN Ⅲ,ILA Ⅰ,ILA Ⅱ,ILB Ⅰ and ILB Ⅱ)w...     

Establishment of an immunoaffinity chromatography for simultaneously selective extraction of Sudan I, II, III and IV from food samples

The establishment of an immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC) for simultaneously selective extraction of four illegal colorants Sudan dyes (Sudan I, II, II and IV) from food samples was described. The IAC column was constructed by covalently coupling monoclonal antibody (mAb) against Sudan I to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B and packed into a common solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. It was observed that IAC column was able to separately capture Sudan I, II, III and IV with maximum capacity of 295, 156, 184 and 173ng, respectively. The extraction conditions including loading, washing and eluting solutions were carefully optimized. Under optimal conditions, the extraction recoveries of the IAC column for Sudan I-IV at two different spiked concentrations were within 95.3-106.9%. After 50 times repeated usage, 64% of the maximum capacity was still remained. Six food samples randomly collected from local supermarket without spiking Sudan dyes were extracted with IAC column and detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was found that there was no detectable Sudan II, III and IV in all six food samples, but Sudan I with the content of 2.7-134.5ngg(-1) was detected in three food samples. To further verify the extraction efficiency, other three negative samples were spiked with Sudan I-IV at the concentrations of 20ngg(-1) and 50ngg(-1), which were then extracted with IAC column. The extraction recoveries and relative standard deviation (RSD) were 68.6-96.0% and 4.8-15.2%, respectively, demonstrating the feasibility of the prepared IAC column for Sudan dyes extraction.     

Selective inactivation of serine proteases by nonheme iron complexes

Oxidative inactivation of the serine proteases trypsin and chymotrypsin by nonheme iron complexes is described. The nonheme ligands N4Py (1) and derivative 3CG-N4Py (2), which contains a pendant guanidinium group, were used as ligands for iron. Ferryl (Fe(IV)O) species derived from these ligands, [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+) (7) and [Fe(IV)(O)(3CG-N4Py)](3+) (8), inactivate trypsin and chymotrypsin by the oxidation of amino acid side chains. Ferryl 8 is most effective with chymotrypsin (IC(50) value of 26 μM for 8 vs 119 μM for 7). IC(50) values of 71 and 54 μM were obtained for trypsin with 7 and 8, respectively. Amino acid analysis confirmed that residues cysteine, tyrosine, and tryptophan are oxidized under these conditions. Trypsin is inactivated preferentially over chymotrypsin under catalytic conditions, where the enzyme was pulsed with H(2)O(2) in the presence of ferrous complexes [Fe(II)(OH(2))(N4Py)](2+)(5) and [Fe(II)(Cl)(3CG-N4Py)](2+) (6). Control experiments support the action of a unique oxidant, other than ferryls or hydroxyl radicals, under these conditions, where tyrosine residues are targeted selectively.     

Isolation of onosmins A and B, lipoxygenase inhibitors from Onosma hispida

Onosmins A (1) and B (2), lipoxygenase inhibitors, have been isolated from Onosma hispida. Their structures were established as 2-[(4-methylbenzyl)amino]benzoic acid (1) and methyl 2-[(4-methylbenzyl)amino]benzoate (2) through spectroscopic studies, including 2D-NMR. The known compounds apigenin (3), 6,4'-dimethoxy-3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone (4), 6,7-dimethoxy-3,5,4'-trihydroxyflavone (5) and apigenin 7-O-beta-D-glucoside (6) are also reported for the first time from this species. Compounds (1) and (2) inhibited lipoxygenase (LOX, EC 1.13.11.12) enzyme in a concentration-dependent fashion with IC50 values of 24.0 and 36.2 microM, respectively. Lineweaver-Burk as well as Dixon plots and their secondary replots indicated that the nature of inhibition was purely a non-competitive type, with K(i) values 22.0 microM and 31.1, respectively.     

Inhibitory effects of 3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxystilbene and 3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxybibenzyl, the constituents of Cassia garrettiana on antigen-induced histamine release in vitro.

3,3',4,5'-Tetrahydroxystilbene (I) and 3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxybibenzyl (II), isolated from the heartwood of Cassia garrettiana Craib (Leguminosae), showed inhibitory effects on antigen-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells in vitro. The inhibitory effect of I (IC50 = 30.2 microM) was much stronger than that of II (greater than 100 microM). Compound II, as well as I (IC50 = 7.3 microM) reported previously, also inhibited the histamine release from human peripheral basophils induced by anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) in vitro, and its IC50-value was 68.0 microM. These results suggest that the trans-olefin structure in the molecule may be necessary for I to have an inhibitory effect on histamine release. Considering that disodium cromoglycate did not show any significant inhibitory effect on anti-IgE-induced histamine release from human basophils, the strong inhibitory effects of I in both tests are of considerable interest.     

CCR5 antagonists as anti-HIV-1 agents. 1. Synthesis and biological evaluation of 5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxamide derivatives

A novel lead compound, N-(3-[4-(4-fluorobenzoyl)piperidin-1-yl]propyl)-1-methyl-5-oxo-N-phenylpyrrolidine-3-carboxamide (1), was identified as a CCR5 antagonist by high-throughput screening using [(125)I]RANTES and CCR5-expressing CHO cells. The IC(50) value of 1 was 1.9 microM. In an effort to improve the binding affinity of 1, a series of 5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxamides was synthesized. Introduction of 3,4-dichloro substituents to the central phenyl ring (10i, IC(50)=0.057 microM; 11b, IC(50)=0.050 microM) or replacing the 1-methyl group of the 5-oxopyrrolidine moiety with a 1-benzyl group (12e, IC(50)=0.038 microM) was found to be effective for improving CCR5 affinity. Compound 10i, 11b, and 12e also inhibited CCR5-using HIV-1 envelope-mediated membrane fusion with IC(50) values of 0.44, 0.19, and 0.49 microM, respectively.     

Development of selective inhibitors against plasma kallikrein.

Specific plasma kallikrein inhibitors were designed and synthesized and their structure-activity relationship was studied. trans-4-Aminomethylcyclohexanecarbonyl (Tra)-lysyl-4-ethoxycarbonylanilide inhibited plasma kallikrein and plasmin with IC50 values of 23 and 210 microM, respectively, indicating that this compound is fairly specific to plasma kallikrein. Tra-arginyl-4-ethoxycarbonylanilide inhibited plasma kallikrein and plasmin with IC50 values of 16 and 480 microM, respectively. Tra-homoarginyl-4-carboxyanilide inhibited plasma kallikrein and plasmin with IC50 values of 14 microM and 1 mM, respectively. Finally, Tra-Arg(Mts)-4-acetylanilide (ACA) exhibited potent and selective inhibitory activity against plasma kallikrein (IC50 value for plasma kallikrein: 2 microM and for plasmin: 42 microM).     

Anthecularin: a novel sesquiterpene lactone from Anthemis auriculata with antiprotozoal activity

Anthecularin (1), a minor sesquiterpene lactone with a novel ring system was isolated from Greek Anthemis auriculata (Asteraceae). Its structure was elucidated by means of NMR, HRMS, and X-ray crystallography. Anthecularin showed antitrypanosomal (IC50=10.1 microg/mL) and antiplasmodial activity (IC50=23.3 microg/mL) and inhibited two key enzymes of the plasmodial type II fatty acid biosynthesis pathway, PfFabI and PfFabG (IC50 values=14 and 28.3 microg/mL, respectively). A probable biogenesis of 1 is also proposed and discussed.     

Prevention of iron- and copper-mediated DNA damage by catecholamine and amino acid neurotransmitters, L-DOPA, and curcumin: metal binding as a general antioxidant mechanism

Concentrations of labile iron and copper are elevated in patients with neurological disorders, causing interest in metal-neurotransmitter interactions. Catecholamine (dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) and amino acid (glycine, glutamate, and 4-aminobutyrate) neurotransmitters are antioxidants also known to bind metal ions. To investigate the role of metal binding as an antioxidant mechanism for these neurotransmitters, L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), and curcumin, their abilities to prevent iron- and copper-mediated DNA damage were quantified, cyclic voltammetry was used to determine the relationship between their redox potentials and DNA damage prevention, and UV-vis studies were conducted to determine iron and copper binding as well as iron oxidation rates. In contrast to amino acid neurotransmitters, catecholamine neurotransmitters, L-DOPA, and curcumin prevent significant iron-mediated DNA damage (IC(50) values of 3.2 to 18 μM) and are electrochemically active. However, glycine and glutamate are more effective at preventing copper-mediated DNA damage (IC(50) values of 35 and 12.9 μM, respectively) than L-DOPA, the only catecholamine to prevent this damage (IC(50) = 73 μM). This metal-mediated DNA damage prevention is directly related to the metal-binding behaviour of these compounds. When bound to iron or copper, the catecholamines, amino acids, and curcumin significantly shift iron oxidation potentials and stabilize Fe(3+) over Fe(2+) and Cu(2+) over Cu(+), a factor that may prevent metal redox cycling in vivo. These results highlight the disparate antioxidant activities of neurotransmitters, drugs, and supplements and highlight the importance of considering metal binding when identifying antioxidants to treat and prevent neurodegenerative disorders.     

Terpenoids with a new skeleton and novel triterpenoids with anti-inflammatory effects from Garcinia subelliptica

Three novel phloroglucinol derivatives, garcinielliptones F (1), H (3), and I (4), and two novel terpenoids, garcinielliptones G (2) and J (5), with a new skeleton have been isolated from the seeds of Garcinia subelliptica. Their structures, including relative configurations, were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and computer-generated molecular modeling. Compound 1 showed potent inhibitory effects on the release of beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme from rat neutrophils that had been stimulated with formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP)/cytochalasin B (CB). This effect was concentration-dependent with IC(50) values of 26.9+/-2.6 and 20.0+/-1.3 microM, respectively. Compound 1 also showed a potent concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on superoxide anion generation in rat neutrophils stimulated with fMLP/CB, with an IC(50) value of 17.0+/-0.9 microM. Compound 4 showed a potent inhibitory effect on NO production in culture media of N9 cells in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC(50) value of 7.4+/-0.2 microM.     

Copper(II) binding to Cap43 protein fragments

The C-terminal 20 and 30 amino acid sequences of Cap43 protein were chosen as models to study their interactions with Cu(II) ions. The behaviour of the 20 amino acid Ac-TRSRSH6TSEG-TRSRSH16TSEG and 30 amino acid Ac-TRSRSH6TSEG-TRSRSH16TSEG-TRSRSH26TSEG peptides towards Cu(II) ions at different pH values and different ligand-to-metal molar ratios, was examined. Spectroscopic (EPR, UV-Vis) and potentiometric techniques were performed to understand the details of metal binding to the peptides. The study showed that, starting from pH 4.0, each 10 amino acid fragment T1R2S3R4S5H6T7S8E9G10 was able to independently coordinate a single Cu(II) ion. The coordination mode involved the imidazole nitrogen of histidine H6 residue, and three amidic nitrogens from histidine H6, serine S5, and arginine R4 residues, respectively.     

DNA binding and biological activity of some platinum(II) intercalating compounds containing methyl-substituted 1,10-phenanthrolines

This study documents the first detailed investigation into the relationship between molecular structure and biological activity of platinum(II) complexes containing methylated derivatives of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen). A series of square planar platinum(II) compounds incorporating methylated derivatives of phen, 4-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline (4-Mephen), 5-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline (5-Mephen), 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (4,7-Me2phen), 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (5,6-Me2phen) and 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (3,4,7,8-Me4phen) were synthesised and the relationship between their structure and biological activity investigated. The biological activity of these compounds was quantified using the in vitro cytotoxicity assay against the L1210 Murine leukaemia cell line. Large variation in cytotoxicities with different methylation was observed. The 5- and 5,6-methylated derivatives of phen displayed a greater biological activity, with IC50 values of 2.8 +/- 0.8 microM and 1.5 +/- 0.3 microM respectively, compared with the phen compound, with an IC50 value of 9.7 +/- 0.3 microM, while all the others were inactive with IC50 values over 50 microM. Binding constants were determined using circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) and induced circular dichroism (ICD). ICD was used to highlight any differences in the spectra. Viscometry studies and linear dichroism (LD) experiments indicate that the platinum(II) complexes intercalate although for [Pt(en)(4-Mephen)]Cl2 and [Pt(en)(4,7-Me2phen)]Cl2 this mode of binding appears to be concentration dependent. The binding of the platinum(II) complexes to the oligonucleotide d(GTCGAC)2 was studied using two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy. The addition of each metal complex to the hexamer d(GTCGAC)2 produced upfield shifts of the metal complex resonances, characteristic of intercalation. Through the observation of NOE cross-peaks, two-dimensional NMR studies provided insight into the site and groove preferences of these compounds when binding to DNA.     

Identification of homemade inorganic explosives by ion chromatographic analysis of post-blast residues

Anions and cations of interest for the post-blast identification of homemade inorganic explosives were separated and detected by ion chromatographic (IC) methods. The ionic analytes used for identification of explosives in this study comprised 18 anions (acetate, benzoate, bromate, carbonate, chlorate, chloride, chlorite, chromate, cyanate, fluoride, formate, nitrate, nitrite, perchlorate, phosphate, sulfate, thiocyanate and thiosulfate) and 12 cations (ammonium, barium(II), calcium(II), chromium(III), ethylammonium, magnesium(II), manganese(II), methylammonium, potassium(I), sodium(I), strontium(II), and zinc(II)). Two IC separations are presented, using suppressed IC on a Dionex AS20 column with potassium hydroxide as eluent for anions, and non-suppressed IC for cations using a Dionex SCS 1 column with oxalic acid/acetonitrile as eluent. Conductivity detection was used in both cases. Detection limits for anions were in the range 2-27.4ppb, and for cations were in the range 13-115ppb. These methods allowed the explosive residue ions to be identified and separated from background ions likely to be present in the environment. Linearity (over a calibration range of 0.05-50ppm) was evaluated for both methods, with r(2) values ranging from 0.9889 to 1.000. Reproducibility over 10 consecutive injections of a 5ppm standard ranged from 0.01 to 0.22% relative standard deviation (RSD) for retention time and 0.29 to 2.16%RSD for peak area. The anion and cation separations were performed simultaneously by using two Dionex ICS-2000 chromatographs served by a single autoinjector. The efficacy of the developed methods was demonstrated by analysis of residue samples taken from witness plates and soils collected following the controlled detonation of a series of different inorganic homemade explosives. The results obtained were also confirmed by parallel analysis of the same samples by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with excellent agreement being obtained.     

一枝蒿酮酸苄酯类衍生物的合成、体外抗流感病毒和单纯I, II型疱疹病毒活性研究

为了提高一枝蒿酮酸的生物活性, 以一枝蒿酮酸和取代苄醇为原料. 在偶联剂DCC/DMAP的作用下, 合成了10种一枝蒿酮酸苄酯衍生物2a～2j, 所合成的化合物均经过IR, 1H NMR, ESI-MS等分析方法进行了表征, 并对所合成的化合物2a～2j进行了初步的体外抗A, B型流感病毒和单纯I, II型疱疹病毒活性研究, 结果表明: 大部分化合物对A, B型流感病毒具有较强的抑制活性, 其中化合物2e抑制A3, B型流感病毒的IC50值分别为5.5, 5.5 μmol/L, 化合物2i抑制A型流感病毒IC50值为: 7.8 μmol/L, 化合物2e和2i可作为抗流感病毒的先导化合物; 大部分化合物在0.1 μg/mL浓度下对I, II型疱疹病毒具有显著的抑制活性．     

Potentiometric,spectrometric, thermal and conductimetric studies on some 3-phenyl-4-(arylazo)-5-pyrazolones and their complexes with divalent cobalt metal ion

3-phenyl-4-arylazo-5-pyrazolones (I-IV) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental, infrared (IR), ultraviolet and visible spectra (UV-Vis), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and Mass spectra. It has been proved that these compounds exhibit a keto-enol tautomerism in solution. The donor character of the substituent increases the enol form. The ionization constants of the investigated ligands have been determined potentiometrically and found to decrease in the order OCH(3)(IV)>CH(3)(III)>H(I)>Cl(II). The Co(II) complexes of the investigated 3-phenyl-4-arylazo-5-pyrazolones (I-IV) have been prepared and characterized by elemental and thermal analyses as well as by IR, UV-Vis, electronic transition, potentiometric, conductimetric and magnetic measurements. The data suggest octahedral geometry for Co(II) (1:1) complexes and tetrahedral for Co(II) (2:3) complexes.     

Ethyl Xanthate and Propyl Xanthate as Activators and Inhibitors of Mushroom Tyrosinase in Different Concentrations

The effect of ethyl xanthate(I) and propyl xanthate(II) on the kinetics of hydroxylation by mushroom tyrosinase (MT) has been investigated at 20°C in 10 mM phosphate buffer solution, pH 6.8. 4‐[(4‐Methyl‐phenyl)azo]‐phenol (MePAPh) was used as a synthetic substrate for the enzyme for cresolase reaction. The results show that ethyl xanthate and propyl xanthate can activate or inhibit the cresolase activity of mushroom tyrosinase depending on the concentration of these effectors. Both I and II act uncompetitive at relatively high concentrations (20‐50 μM). The inhibition constant (K_i) values for I and II are 13.8 and 11 μM, respectively. However, both I and II act as activators at relatively low concentrations (0‐11.5 μM). Activation of the enzyme in low concentrations of xanthates arises from increasing the affinity of binding for the substrate as well as increasing the enzyme catalytic constant. The activation constant (K_a) values for I and II are 1.88 and 2.68 μM, respectively. The enzyme has two distinct sites for both effectors. The first one is a high‐affinity activation site and the other is a low‐affinity inhibition site.     

Moving boundaries in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), moving boundaries I-IV (Table 1) form. They migrate isotachophoretically at displacement rates that increase in the order of I to II to III. Moving boundaries IV and V comprising Pyronin-SDS as a leading constituent are retarded at high gel concentrations in comparison with the isotachophoretically migrating species. Since analytes depending on their net mobilities stack within any of those moving boundaries, previous R(f) values and Ferguson plots may have to be revised.     

Selective scavenging property of the indole moiety for the nitrating species of peroxynitrite

The inhibitory effect on tyrosine nitration and oxidation of peroxynitrite was evaluated for more than 40 reagents including natural and synthetic compounds, and the inhibiting efficiency of each compound for nitration was compared with that for oxidation, to characterize its property as a peroxynitrite scavenger. In the presence of various concentrations of testing compounds, the nitrating and oxidizing activities were measured by monitoring the formation of 3-nitrotyrosine and dityrosine with an HPLC-UV-fluorescence detector. The IC(50) values for nitration and oxidation were determined, and the ratio of these two IC(50) values was calculated for each compound. Although the IC(50) values varied from compound to compound, it was revealed that the ratio of two IC(50) values (IC(50) for oxidation/IC(50) for nitration) was 1 in almost all the compounds tested, except five indole derivatives (L-tryptophan, melatonin, 5-methoxytryptamine, tryptamine, and tetrahydro-beta-carboline) and one synthetic selenium-containing compound ((2R,3R,4S)-2-amino-3,4-dihydroxy-5-phenylselenopentan-1-ol, ADPP). The indole derivatives showed a specific inhibitory effect on tyrosine nitration without affecting the oxidation. ADPP was confirmed to have a preferable inhibitory activity for tyrosine oxidation. It was suggested that compounds showing an IC(50) value ratio of 1 scavenged the common species for nitration and oxidation, while the indole derivatives and ADPP preferably scavenged the nitrating and oxidizing species, respectively. From a stopped flow study, it was also revealed that the nitrotyrosine formation was relatively slow, unlike an OH radical reaction. These results imply that the peroxynirite reaction at least partly proceeds through specific species for nitration.     

Reactivity studies of S-methylthiophenium tetrafluoroborates

The polarographic behavior of four S-methylthiophenium tetrafluoroborates, I-IV, has been investigated in Britton-Robinson aqueous buffers. The compounds under study were the S-methylbenzo[b]thiophenium (I), S-methylnaphtho[2,3-b]thiophenium (II), S-methyldibenzothiophenium (III), and S-methylnaphtho[2,1-b]thiophenium (IV) tetrafluoroborates which were obtained from the parent sulfur heterocycles by their reaction with methyl iodide and silver tetrafluoroborate in 1,2-dichloroethane, II and IV being new compounds. Compounds I-IV give two one-electron reduction waves and the more positive wave appears to be associated with an electron transfer from the electrode to the LUMO of the substrate as indicated by the experimental E_1/2 vs calculated LUMO values plot (Figure 2). The rates of demethylation of the ions I-IV with the iodide ion acting as the nucleophile have been determined in the Britton-Robinson buffer (pH 6)-acetonitrile solution at 24°. The results of the polarographic study and of the kinetic studies with the iodide ion confirm the high reactivity of S-methylthiophenium ions which originates in the antiaromatic destabilization of these structures.     

3-epicabraleahydroxylactone and other triterpenoids from camellia oil and their inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus activation

The structure of a triterpenoid isolated from the nonsaponifiable lipid (NSL) of the seed oil of the camellia (Camellia japonica L.; Theaceae) was established to be (20S)-3beta-hydroxy-25,26,27-trisnordammaran-24,20-olide (1; 3-epicabraleahydroxylactone) on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods. Six other triterpenoids isolated from the NSL were identified as 3-epicabraleadiol (2), ocotillol II (3), ocotillol I (4), dammarenediol II (5), (20R)-taraxastane-3beta,20-diol (6), and lupane-3beta,20-diol (7). Upon evaluation of the seven triterpenoids (1-7) with respect to their inhibitory effects on the induction of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in Raji cells, three compounds (5-7) showed potent inhibitory effects against EBV-EA induction (IC(50) values of 277-420 mol ratio/32 pmol TPA).