Phospholipids of the ripening seeds ofSophora japonica

The change in the class and fatty acid compositions of the phospholipids during ripening of the seeds of the Japanese Pagoda tree (buds, flowers, unripe and ripe seeds) have been studied. It has been found that the ripening of the seeds is accompanied by complex transformations in the phospholipid complex indicating the important role of phospholipids in the processes of biosynthesis.Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances, Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, Tashkent. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 281–284, May–June, 1985.     

Triterpene glycosides ofSophora japonica seeds

We have isolated from the seeds of Sophora japonica the known soyasaponogenol B-3-[O--D-glucopyranosyl-(12)-O--D-glucopyranuronoside] (adzukisaponin II), soyasapogenol B [3-O--galactopyranosyl-(12)-O--L-glucopyranuronoside] (soyasaponin III), soyasapogenol B 3-(O--L-rhamnopyranosyl-(12)-O--L-glucopyranosyl-(12)-O--D-glucopyranuronoside] (adzukisaponin V), soyasapogenol B 3-(O--D-rhamnopyranosyl-(12)-O--D-galactopyranosyl-(12)-O--D-glucopyranuronoside] (soyasaponin I), and the new glycoside (1) — soyasapogenol B 3-[O--D-glucopyranuronoside]. The structure of this glycoside has been established on the basis of the results of enzymatic, complete, and partial hydrolyses and¹³C NMR spectra.Simferopol' State University and Kursk State Medical Institute, Kursk. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 709–713, September–October, 1995. Original submitted March 3, 1995.     

Gravimetric and spectrophotometric method for the quantitative determination of triterpene glycosides in the fruit ofSophora japonica and other plants

For the quantitative determination of triterpene glycosides in the fruit of the Japanese pagoda tree,Sophora japonica, and of other plants, gravimetric and spectrophotometric methods of analysis with an error of the determination of the total glycosides of about 10% are proposed.Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 68–70, January–February, 1977.     

Separation and determination of rutin and quercetin in the flowers ofSophora japonica L. by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection

Summary Capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection has been evaluated for the simultaneous determination of rutin and quercetin. The cyclic voltammogram, hydrodynamic voltammogram, and the effects of pH, concentration of buffer and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and amount of organic modifier on the separation and the detection were studied. The optimized conditions were: detection potential 1.2V, separation at 12 kV, 5 s at 15 kV for sample injection, running electrolyte 20 mmol L⁻¹ borate buffer, pH 8.8, containing 40 mmol L⁻¹ SDS and 10% acetonitrile. The detection limit of the method was low, 0.001 and 0.0005 mg mL⁻¹, for rutin and quercetin, respectively; the linear ranges were wide −0.005–0.5 and 0.005–0.4 mg mL⁻¹, respectively. The variations in peak current and migration time for eight consecutive injections of a standard solution containing 0.1 mg mL⁻¹ of each compound were 4.78 and 3.63%, and 6.50 and 2.59% for rutin and quercetin, respectively. The levels of the two compounds in traditional Chinese herbal drugs were easily determined.     

Chemical structure characterization of polysaccharide from Osmunda japonica Thunb and its inhibitory activity on uterine fibroids

The active component polysaccharide of Osmunda japonica Thunb was extracted and its chemical structure was detected by FT-IR, 1D-NMR and 2D-NMR spectra, in order to have a positive preventive and therapeutic effect on uterine fibroids. The physicochemical properties of Osmunda japonica Thunb polysaccharides (OPP) were analyzed, and the results showed that OPP was heteropolysaccharides composed of six monosaccharides. Ara and Glc were the main monosaccharides of the polysaccharide, with a molecular weight of 252.54 ± 10.84 kDa. The main chain was connected by 1,3-linked Araf, which had a high degree of branching, and was connected to the branch at the O-2 and O-3 positions. The mice model of uterine fibroids was established by the estrogen load method. The coefficient of the uterus in the mice model increased significantly, irregular nodular processes were observed in the uterus, focal hyperplasia appeared in the smooth muscle layer, cell enlargement, disordered arrangement of smooth muscle cells, and endometrial hyperplasia was obvious. Furthermore, this work found that the serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) concentrations in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P < 0.01), indicating successful modeling. OPP decreased serum E2 and P levels in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, OPP had an obvious inhibitory effect on uterine fibroids in estrogen-loaded mice.     

Isolation and structural characterization of a low-molecular-weight pectic polysaccharide SHPPB-1 isolated from sunflower heads

A novel low-molecular-weight pectic polysaccharide was isolated from sunflower heads that are a useless side product produced from sunflower oil processing. The low-molecular-weight pectic polysaccharide was purified by using an optimized four-step procedure and named as SHPPB-1. The molecular weight of SHPPB-1 is about 1.69× 10⁴ Da. Structure characterizations of SHPPB-1 by monosaccharide composition, methylation analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy showed that SHPPB-1 is consisted of 1,4-linked α-D-GalpA and 1,4-linked 2-OAc-5-COOMe-α-D-GalpA with rare α/β-D-Rhap, α/β-D-Manp, and α/β-D-GalpA. This was combined with NMR spectroscopic analysis to propose a structure of SHPPB-1 as: →4)-[α/β-D-monosaccharide-(1→3)]-α-D-GalpA-(1→4)-2-OAc-5-COOMe-α-D-GalpA-(1→ .     

Triterpene glycosides ofFatsia japonica. I. Isolation and structure of glycosides fromFatsia japonica seeds

The known triterpene glycosides hederagenin 3-O--L-arabinopyranoside, hederagenin 3-O-\-D-glucopyranoside, oleanolic acid 3-O--sophoroside, hederagenin 3-O--sophoroside, and their 28-O--gentiobiosyl esters, respectively, in addition to the new triterpene glycoside 3-O--sophorosyl-28-O--L-rhamnopyranosyl-(14)-O--gentiobiosyl hederagenin are isolated fromFatsia japonica (Araliaceae) seeds. The structures of these glycosides are established using chemical and spectral methods.Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 131–133, March–April, 2000.     

Isolation of antibacterial diterpenoids from Cryptomeria japonica bark

The aims of the present study were to determine the antibacterial activity of bark extract of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don and to isolate potential antibacterial constituents. The results showed that the ethanolic extract of C. japonica bark possessed a good antibacterial activity. Nine compounds including seven diterpenoids (ferruginol (I), isopimaric acid (II), iguestol (III), isopimarol (IV), phyllocladan-16alpha-ol (V), sandaracopimarinol (VI) and sugiol (VII)) and two steroids (beta-sitosterol (VIII) and beta-sitostenone (IX)) were isolated from active subfractions; beta-sitostenone was isolated for the first time from this plant. Among these compounds, ferruginol possessed the strongest antibacterial activity and had MIC values ranging from 6.3 to 12.5 microg mL(-1) against all bacteria tested. Isopimaric acid was also an antibacterial natural product. Cryptomeria japonica bark extract and its diterpenoids, ferruginol and isopimaric acid, have the ability to inhibit the bacterial growth and can be used as the source for natural bactericides.     

Isolation of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris from fruit juices

K agar, a novel isolation medium developed for the food industry, was compared with other acidified media for isolation of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores. Spores were inoculated into apple juice, orange juice, and a fruit juice blend and then isolated on the following media: K agar, pH 3.7; semi-synthetic medium, pH 4.0; orange serum agar, pH 3.5; and minimal salts medium, pH 4.0. Media were incubated at 24, 35, 43, and 55 degrees C. Highest recovery of spores was obtained with either K agar or semi-synthetic medium, incubated at 43 degrees C. The effect of heat shocking spores at different times was also determined; heat shocking at 80 degrees C for 10 min was considered appropriate. Peptone, previously shown to inhibit A. acidoterrestris, was not inhibitory when present in K agar. A collaborative trial with 9 laboratories was undertaken to determine the repeatability and reproducibility of counts on K agar. K agar prepared from individual components was compared with dehydrated K agar prepared by International BioProducts (Redmond, WA). There were no significant differences between log mean counts for the 2 media for each of the juices analyzed at both the high and the low inoculum levels. Repeatability and reproducibility values were not significantly different either within juices, within trials, or across all samples tested in both trials. K agar is suitable for isolation of A. acidoterrestris spores from fruit juices.     

Development and characterization of new insulin containing polysaccharide nanoparticles

A nanoparticle insulin delivery system was prepared by complexation of dextran sulfate and chitosan in aqueous solution. Parameters of the formulation such as the final mass of polysaccharides, the mass ratio of the two polysaccharides, pH of polysaccharides solution, and insulin theorical loading were identified as the modulating factors of nanoparticle physical properties. Particles with a mean diameter of 500 nm and a zeta potential of approximately −15 mV were produced under optimal conditions of DS:chitosan mass ratio of 1.5:1 at pH 4.8. Nanoparticles showed spherical shape, uniform size and good shelf-life stability. Polysaccharides complexation was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transformed infra-red spectroscopy. An association efficiency of 85% was obtained. Insulin release at pH below 5.2 was almost prevented up to 24 h and at pH 6.8 the release was characterized by a controlled profile. This suggests that release of insulin is ruled by a dissociation mechanism and DS/chitosan nanoparticles are pH-sensitive delivery systems. Furthermore, the released insulin entirely maintained its immunogenic bioactivity evaluated by ELISA, confirming that this new formulation shows promising properties towards the development of an oral delivery system for insulin.     

Structural properties and antioxidant activities of polysaccharide from fruit bodies of Pholiota nameko

A polysaccharide named PNP was extracted and purified from Pholiota nameko. The total sugar content of PNP was 95.29% and the molecular weight was 1.89 × 10³ kDa. The structural features of PNP were investigated by the combination of chemical and instrumental analysis such as UV spectrophotometer, specific rotation determination, FT-IR, methylisation analysis and Congo red. The results showed that the optical rotation of PNP was +120° and that it had a triple-helical structure. Besides, PNP was mainly composed of glucose and mannose at the molar ratio of 4.24:1.00. The backbone of PNP was composed of (1→3)-linked-Glc and (1→3)-linked-Man whereas the branches of (1→3,6)-linked- Glc, (1→3,6)-linked-Man and T- Glc. Consistenting with the results of UV–Vis spectra, FT-IR spectroscopy and ¹H NMR, indicated that PNP was a complex of polysaccharides and polyphenols. In vitro antioxidant results suggested that PNP was processed with certain scavenging capacity.     

Development and characterization of new insulin containing polysaccharide nanoparticles

A nanoparticle insulin delivery system was prepared by complexation of dextran sulfate and chitosan in aqueous solution. Parameters of the formulation such as the final mass of polysaccharides, the mass ratio of the two polysaccharides, pH of polysaccharides solution, and insulin theorical loading were identified as the modulating factors of nanoparticle physical properties. Particles with a mean diameter of 500 nm and a zeta potential of approximately −15 mV were produced under optimal conditions of DS:chitosan mass ratio of 1.5:1 at pH 4.8. Nanoparticles showed spherical shape, uniform size and good shelf-life stability. Polysaccharides complexation was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transformed infra-red spectroscopy. An association efficiency of 85% was obtained. Insulin release at pH below 5.2 was almost prevented up to 24 h and at pH 6.8 the release was characterized by a controlled profile. This suggests that release of insulin is ruled by a dissociation mechanism and DS/chitosan nanoparticles are pH-sensitive delivery systems. Furthermore, the released insulin entirely maintained its immunogenic bioactivity evaluated by ELISA, confirming that this new formulation shows promising properties towards the development of an oral delivery system for insulin.     

Oxasilacyclopropane. Isolation and characterization

A crystalline oxasilacyclopropane was isolatedby the reaction of photochemically induced dimesitylsilylene with 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-indanone, and the exact structure of the oxasilacyclopropane was confirmed by X-ray crystal analysis.     

Voltammetric characterization on the hydrophobic interaction in polysaccharide hydrogels

Cyclic voltammetric (CV) investigations on the properties of microdomains in polysaccharide hydrogels, methyl cellulose (MC) and kappa-carrageenan (CAR), coated on glassy carbon electrodes were reported in which methylene blue (MB), tris(1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt(III) (Co(phen)3(3+/2+)) cations, and ferricyanide/ferrocyanide (Fe(CN)6(3-/4-)) anions were used as electroactive probes. Information on the patterns and strength of intermolecular interactions in these polysaccharide hydrogels can be inferred from the net shift of normal potentials (E degrees'), the change of peak currents (ip), the ratio of binding constants (K(red)/K(ox)) for reduced and oxidized forms of bound species, and the apparent diffusion coefficients (D(app)) of probe in hydrogels. The transition of hydrophobic interaction in MC hydrogel with temperature was manifested by the CV method, which is in agreement with the evolution of the storage modulus (G') during gelation. It was also found that, in addition to inducing the change of E degrees' and ip of these probes used, the hydrophobic-hydrophilic nature of the microenvironment in hydrogels coated on the substrate electrodes greatly influenced the peak-peak separation (DeltaEp) of MB and the redox reversibility of Fe(CN)6(3-/4-) via modulation of both the heterogeneous electron-transfer process at the gel-substrate interface and the charge-transfer process in hydrogels. The results imply that the CV method is of significant benefit to the understanding of the gelation driving forces in the polysaccharide hydrogels at a molecular level.