Suppression of Oxidative Stress and Proinflammatory Cytokines Is a Potential Therapeutic Action of Ficus lepicarpa B. (Moraceae) against Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4)-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Local tribes use the leaves of Ficus lepicarpa B. (Moraceae), a traditional Malaysian medicine, as a vegetable dish, a tonic, and to treat ailments including fever, jaundice and ringworm. The purpose of this study was to look into the possible therapeutic effects of F. lepicarpa leaf extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver damage in rats. The DPPH test was used to measure the antioxidant activity of plants. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for the phytochemical analysis (GCMS). Six groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to the following treatment regimens: control group, CCl₄ alone, F. lepicarpa 400 mg/kg alone, CCl₄ + F. lepicarpa 100 mg/kg, CCl₄ + F. lepicarpa 200 mg/kg and CCl₄ + F. lepicarpa 400 mg/kg. The rats were euthanized after two weeks, and biomarkers of liver function and antioxidant enzyme status were assessed. To assess the extent of liver damage and fibrosis, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations of liver tissue were undertaken. The total phenolic content and the total flavonoid content in methanol extract of F. lepicarpa leaves were 58.86 ± 0.04 mg GAE/g and 44.31 ± 0.10 mg CAE/g, respectively. F. lepicarpa’s inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) for free radical scavenging activity was reported to be 3.73 mg/mL. In a dose-related manner, F. lepicarpa was effective in preventing an increase in serum ALT, serum AST and liver MDA. Histopathological alterations revealed that F. lepicarpa protects against the oxidative stress caused by CCl₄. The immunohistochemistry results showed that proinflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, prostaglandin E₂) were suppressed. The antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and free-radical scavenging activities of F. lepicarpa can be related to its hepatoprotective benefits.     

Hepatoprotective Effect of β-Chitosan from Gladius of Sepioteuthis lessoniana Against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Oxidative Stress in Wistar Rats

Chitosan has attracted much attention as a biomedical material, owing to its unique biological activities. In this study, hepatoprotective effect of β-chitosan obtained from the gladius of squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana was studied against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced oxidative stress and liver injury in rats. The rats that received β-chitosan along with the administration of CCl₄ showed significantly decreased plasma and tissue alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities and total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) contents, whereas the treatment with β-chitosan alone markedly increased rat hepatic and circulatory superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and decreased the malondialdehyde level. Histopathological observations recommended the marked hepatoprotective effect of β-chitosan. The CCl₄-induced alterations on circulatory and hepatic antioxidant defence system were normalised by β-chitosan, and it could be concluded that the hepatoprotective effect of chitosan may be due to its antioxidant and antilipidemic property. Therefore, β-chitosan could be considered as antihepatotoxic agent.     

Comprehensive analysis of the compound profiles of Folium Camelliae Nitidissimae extract by ultrafast liquid chromatography with quadrupole–time-of-flight mass spectrometry and hepatoprotective effect against CCl4-induced liver injury in mice

Folium Camelliae Nitidissimae (jinhuacha in Chinese, JHC) is a kind of caffeine-less tea with antioxidant, antitumor and antibacterial effects. Studies on the chemical profiles and hepatoprotective effects of JHC extracts have not been systematically conducted so far. This study comprehensively investigated the compound profiles of JHC extract by ultrafast liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. We also determined JHC's hepatoprotective effects against CCl₄-induced liver injury in mice. A JHC extract was administered orally to mice at 1.95 and 7.80 g/kg body weight once daily for 14 consecutive days prior to CCl₄ treatment. Eighty-four compounds including flavonoids, organic acids, catechins, coumarins, phenylpropanol, amino acids, anthraquinones, saponins and nucleosides in JHC extract were authentically identified or tentatively identified by comparing MS information and retention times with those of authentic standards or available references. JHC administration significantly decreased elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in mouse serum, inhibited hepatic malondialdehyde formation and enhanced glutathione and superoxide dismutase activities in the liver of CCl₄-treated mice. The histological observations also further supported the results. These results demonstrate that JHC contains various chemical compounds and its hepatoprotective effects against CCl₄-induced liver injury correlated with decreasing lipid oxidation are significant.     

Enhancement of bioavailability and hepatoprotection by silibinin through conversion to nanoparticles prepared by liquid antisolvent method

The current research was intended to establish the impact of Silibinin nanoparticles (SB-APSP) produced by the antisolvent precipitation with a syringe pump (APSP). The in-vivo bioavailability and hepatoprotective activity of SB-APSP were evaluated in experimental animals. To determine the pharmacokinetic parameters, silibinin and its nanoparticles were given orally to rabbits at a dose of 50 mg/Kg body weight. Blood samples were drawn at different time intervals and were analyzed using HPLC. The bioavailability of un processed silibinin was lower as compared to silibinin nanoparticles (3.45 ± 0.07 and 23.76 ± 0.07 µg/mL respectively). The AUC and C_max of SB-APSP were found to be 15.56 and 6.88 folds greater for nanoparticles when compared to silibinin. Hepatoprotective study in Male Sprague Dawley rats revealed that SB-APSP provide better recovery of the damaged liver cell induced by CCl₄. Histopathology of the liver revealed that SB-APSP provide better protection to the liver cells from the damage induced by CCl₄ and maintained the hepatic lobule histopathology more efficiently. It was concluded that the SB-APSP can more effectively protect the liver in experimental animals in a far better way compared to the un-processed Silibinin and could be used as an efficient hepatoprotective agent.     

Bioactivity-Guided Separation of Anti-Cholinesterase Alkaloids from Uncaria rhynchophlly (Miq.) Miq. Ex Havil Based on HSCCC Coupled with Molecular Docking

As an important source of cholinesterase inhibitors, alkaloids in natural products have high potential value in terms of exerting pharmacological activities. In this study, a strategy for targeted preparation of cholinesterase inhibitors in Uncaria rhynchophlly (Miq.) Miq. ex Havil (UR) by high-speed counter-current chromatography was provided. In the method, a two-phase polar solvent system composed of ethyl acetate/n-butanol/water (1:4:5, v/v/v) was used, which isolated five alkaloids from the UR extract for the first time. All alkaloids were identified by HR-ESI-MS and NMR as 7-epi-javaniside (1), vincosamide (2), strictosamide (3), cadambine (4), and 3α-dihydrocadambine (5). The poorly resolved compounds 2 and 3 were separated by preparative HPLC (prep-HPLC). Among them, compounds 1, 4, and 5 were firstly obtained from UR. The purity of these plant isolates was 98.8%, 98.7%, 99.2%, 95.7%, and 98.5%, respectively. Compounds 1–5 exhibited an inhibitory effect on acetyl-cholinesterase and butyryl-cholinesterase with an IC₅₀ from 1.47 to 23.24 µg/mL and 1.01 to 18.24 µg/mL. Molecular docking and inhibitory activities indicated that compound 1 showed stronger inhibitory activity on acetyl-cholinesterase and butyryl-cholinesterase.     

Study on Antitumor Plant Gymnosporia Trilocularis

The alcoholic extract of Gymnosporia trilocularis Hay. (Celastraceae) was found to exhibit antitumor activities against P388 lymphocytic leukemia and KB cell culture systems. From this extract β-amyrin ( 1 ), β-sitosterol ( 2 ) and its monoglucoside ( 6 ), stigmasterol ( 3 ) and its monoglucoside ( 7 ), campesterol ( 4 ) and its monoglucoside ( 8 ), maniladiol ( 5 ), dulcitol ( 9 ) and six yet unidentified principles ( 10–15 ) were isolated. The stereochemistry of C-16-OH of maniladiol ( 5 ) was confirmed spectroscopically by ¹H nmr to be equatorial. Of all the isolated compounds, the mixture of three steroid monoglucosides ( 6:7:8 =28:1.1:1) exhibited cytotoxicity (ED₅₀=2.6×10⁰ mcg/ml) and 5 showed only marginal effect (ED₅₀=2.1×10¹ mcg/ml) in KB test system.     

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of ethanol extract of Vitex glabrata on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats

This study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of the ethanol extract of Vitex glabrata (EEVG) in a CCl(4)-induced liver damage model in rats; and to isolate and characterise the bioactive constituent from EEVG. Hepatoprotective activity was evaluated by changes in the levels of the serum enzymes viz. AST, ALT, ALP and total bilirubin, and further by histopathological examinations of liver tissues. Antioxidant activity was measured in terms of superoxide dismutase, GSH, lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase and peroxidase levels in liver homogenate. The pentamethoxy flavonoid artemetin was isolated and characterised from EEVG. Artemetin and EEVG pre-treatment significantly (p?相似文献   

Theoretical Studies of Proton Transfer Reactions—Energy Barriers and the Marcus Equation

The reactants, ion-dipole complexes, transition states, and products for the proton transfer reactions HBCOH⁺ + OCXH → HBCO + ⁺HOCXH optimized at the SCF/4–31G* level of theory for B, X = F, Cl, H, CH₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂ and CCl₃ are studied. The intrinsic barrier ΔE*_BX correlates with the degree of the O-O bond contraction in the transition structure. Both intrinsic and overall barriers can be predicted with the aid of Marcus theory. Progressive degrees of chlorination of the alkyl group in B produce decreases in the barrier to proton transfer from HBCOH⁺ to OCXH and increases in the reverse transfer barriers. These changes can be quantitatively reproduced by the Marcus equation for all systems.     

Schizocalyx cuspidatus (A. St.-Hil.) Kainul. & B. Bremer extract improves antioxidant defenses and accelerates the regression of hepatic fibrosis after exposure to carbon tetrachloride in rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of leaves extract of Schizocalyx cuspidatus (A. St.-Hil.) Kainul. & B. Bremer on hepatic morphofunctional dysfunction induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Liver lesions were induced via intraperitoneal administration of CCl₄ every 48 h for 12 days. Forty-nine rats were randomised into seven groups: G1: CCl₄; G2: CCl₄ (animals euthanised 24 h after last CCl₄ application); G3: CCl₄ + DMSO; G4: SCE 400 mg/kg; G5: DMSO (700 μl); G6: CCl₄ + SCE 200 mg/kg and G7: CCl₄ + SCE 400 mg/kg. SCE administration resulted in reduction in hydroperoxide levels, lipidic droplets and necrosis compared to G1, G2 and G3. There was an increase in the amount of collagen fibres in G1, G2 and G3 compared to the groups. These results show that the extract of SCE leaves has great potential for the recovery of liver damage after the application of CCl₄.     

Low‐level Laser Therapy Ameliorates CCl4‐induced Liver Cirrhosis in Rats

This study investigated the effects of low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) in the liver function, structure and inflammation in a experimental model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)‐induced liver cirrhosis. Wistar rats were divided into Control, LLLT, CCl₄ and CCl₄+LLLT groups. CCl₄ groups received CCl₄ (0.4 g kg^?1; i.p.), three times a week, for 12 weeks. A 830 nm LLLT was performed with a continuous wave, 35 mW, 2.5 J cm^?2 per point, applied to four points of the liver (right and left upper and lower extremities, in the four lobes of the liver) for 2 weeks. Liver structure and inflammation (cirrhotic areas, collagen deposition, inflammation, density of Kupffer and hepatic stellate cells) and function (aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyltransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, total proteins and globulins) were evaluated. LLLT significantly reduced CCl₄‐increased aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.001), alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.001), gamma‐glutamyl transferase (P < 0.001) and lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.01) activity, as well as total proteins (P < 0.05) and globulins (P < 0.01). LLLT also reduced the number of cirrhotic areas, the collagen accumulation and the hepatic inflammatory infiltrate. Of note, LLLT reduced CCl₄‐increased number of Kupffer cells (P < 0.05) and hepatic stellate cells (P < 0.05). We conclude that LLLT presents beneficial effects on liver function and structure in an experimental model of CCl₄‐induced cirrhosis.     

Proton transfer in the 1,1-dinitroethane/n-dibutylamine complex

The ¹H NMR spectra of 1,1-dinitroethane/n-dibutylamine solutions in CCl₄ have been investigated. It is shown that two types of complexes, the CH … N hydrogen bond complex and the ion pair are present in the solution simultaneously, with slow exchange through proton transfer between them. The exchange rates, activation energy and enthalpy of proton transfer are determined. It can be concluded that the act of proton transfer from carbon to nitrogen and back is kinetically determined.     

Green biosynthesis of Pt-nanoparticles from Anbara fruits: Toxic and protective effects on CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in Wister rats

Platinum Nanoparticles (PtNPs) are synthesized from the Anbara fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and are characterized using various spectroscopic analytical methods. These PtNPs were used to study the Hepatotoxic and Hepatoprotective effects on acute liver damage caused by CCl₄ in Wister rats. Seventy-two rats of both sexes are divided into twelve groups and are treated with PtNPs and aqueous Anbara extract (AAE). Histopathological examinations were performed to identify the toxic effects on the vital organs of the rats. Hepatoprotective activity was monitored by observing the serobiochemical and hematological parameters and the intensity of hepatic marker enzymes alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the organs such as liver, intestine and kidney. Considerable experimental results were obtained when compared with the standard drug Silymarine. The PtNPs and AAE were proven to have protective activity of enzymes in the liver of Wister rats.     

Characterization of tri-o-methylcellulose by one- and two-dimensional NMR methods

Tri-O-methylcellulose was prepared from partially O-methylated cellulose and its chemical shifts (¹H and ¹³C), and proton coupling constants were assigned using the following NMR methods: (1) One-dimensional ¹H and ¹³C spectra of the title compound were used to assign functional groups and to compare with literature data; (2) double quantum filtered proton–proton correlation spectroscopy (¹H, ¹H DQF-COSY) was used to assign the chemical shifts of the network of 7 protons in the anhydroglucose portion of the repeat unit; (3) the heteronuclear single-quantum coherence (HSQC) spectrum was used to establish connectivities between the bonded protons and carbons; (4) the heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation (HMBC) spectrum was used to connect the hydrogens of the methyl ethers to their respective sugar carbons; (5) the combination of HSQC and HMBC spectra was used to assign the ¹³C shifts of the methyl ethers; (6) all spectra were used in combination to verify the assigned chemical shifts; (7) first-order proton coupling constants data (J_H,H in Hz) were obtained from the resolution-enhanced proton spectra. The NMR spectra of tri-O-methylcellulose and other cellulose ethers do not resemble the spectra of similarly substituted cellobioses. Although the ¹H and ¹³C shifts and coupling constants of 2,3,6-tri-O-methylcellulose closely resemble those of methyl tetra-O-methyl-β-D -glucoside, there are differences with regard to the chemical shifts and the order of appearances of the resonating nuclei of the methyl ether appendages and the proton at position 4 in the pyranose ring. H4 in tri-O-methylcellulose is deshielded by the acetal system comprising the β-1→4 linkage, and it resonates downfield. H4 in the permethylated glucoside is not as deshielded by the equitorial O-methyl group at C4, and it resonates upfield. The order of appearance of the ¹H and ¹³C resonances in the spectra of the tri-O-methylcellulose repeat unit (from upfield to downfield) are H2 < H3 < H5 < H6a < H3a < H2a < pro R H6B < H4 < pro S H6A ≪ H1 and C6a < C3a < C2a < C6 < C5 < C4 < C2 < C3 ≪ C1, respectively. Close examination of the pyranose ring coupling constants of the repeat unit in tri-O-methylcellulose supports the ⁴C₁ arrangement of the glucopyranose ring. Examination of the proton coupling constants about the C5-C6 bond (J_5,6A and J_5,6B) in the nuclear Overhauser effect difference spectra revealed that the C6 O-methyl group is predominantly in the gauche gauche conformation about the C5-C6 bond for the polymer in solution. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.* J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4019–4032, 1999     

Reactions of perfluorobenzocycloalkenes with ethyl cyanoacetate and methyllithium and some transformations of the products

Reactions of perfluorobenzocycloalkenes (Ar_FF) with methyllithium and ethyl cyanoacetate involved replacement of fluorine atoms in positions 3 and 4 of perfluorocyclobutabenzene, position 5 of perfluoroindan, and position 6 of perfluorotetralin by CH₃ and CH(CN)COOEt groups. Hydrolysis of the resulting esters Ar_FCH(CN)COOEt gave the corresponding perfluoroarylacetic acids Ar_FCH₂COOH which were converted into dichloroacetyl chlorides Ar_FCCl₂COCl by treatment with PCl₅. The reaction of Ar_FCCl₂COCl with SbF₅ produced trifluoromethyl derivatives Ar_FCF₃. Decarboxylation of Ar_FCCl₂COOH in DMF afforded dichloromethyl derivatives Ar_FCCl₂H which reacted with CsF on heating to form difluoromethyl analogs Ar_FCF₂H.     

Proton affinities of phenylalkylamines by the kinetic method

The kinetic method was used to determine the proton affinities of phenylalkylamines of general formula R¹R²C₆H₃CHR³(CH₂)_nNR⁴R⁵ where R¹ = H or OH; R² = H, F, NO₂, OH or OCH₃; R³ = H or OH; R⁴ and R⁵ = H and/or CH₃; n = 1−3. Amines were used as reference bases and the proton affinities of the phenylalkylamines were bracketed by a pair of reference bases that give rise, in the MIKE spectra of the heterodimer, to more or less intense signals than the compound under study. The influence of the aliphatic chain length and of the substituents on the aromatic ring, on the proton affinities of the phenylalkylamines is presented and discussed. The formation of an hydrogen bond between the amino group and the aromatic ring is proposed to explain the results obtained.     

Protective effect of total aralosides of Aralia elata (Miq) Seem (TASAES) against diabetic cardiomyopathy in rats during the early stage, and possible mechanisms

Total aralosides of Aralia elata (Miq) Seem (TASAES) from Chinese traditional herb Longya Aralia chinensis L was found to improve cardiac function. The present study was to determine the protective effects of TASAES on diabetic cardiomyopathy, and the possible mechanisms. Therefore, a single dose of streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in Wister rats. Diabetic rats were immediately treated with low, medium and high doses of TASAES at 4.9, 9.8 mg/kg and 19.6 mg/kg body weight by gavage, respectively, for eight weeks. Cardiac function was evaluated by in situ hemodynamic measurements, and patch clamp for the L-type Ca²⁺ channel current (I_Ca²⁺-L) and transient outward K⁺ channel current (I_to). Histopathological changes were observed under light and electron microscope. The expression of pro-fibrotic factor, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was monitored using immunohistochemistry staining. Compared with diabetic group, medium and high doses, but not low dose, of TASAES showed a significant protection against diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction, shown by increased absolute value of left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and maximum rates of pressure development (±dp/dt_max), and enhanced amplitude of I_Ca²⁺-L (P < 0.05). Histological staining indicated a significant inhibition of diabetes-caused pathological changes and up-regulation of CTGF expression (P < 0.05). The results suggest that TASAES prevents diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction and pathological damage through up-regulating I_Ca²⁺-L in cardiac cells and decreasing CTGF expression.     

Preparation and structure of chlorinated poly(vinyl flouride)

The low-temperature chlorination of poly(vinyl fluoride) (PVF) proceeds readily in CCl₄ suspension. The rate of chlorination is high initially, but the reaction slows down considerably when the chlorine content of the polymer reaches 40–50%. At long reaction times, polymers containing 62% chlorine (1.88 chlorine atoms per monomer unit) can be obtained. As the degree of chlorination increases, the solubility of PVF in organic solvents increases. Polymer crystallinity and polymer softening point decrease with chlorination. Polymers containing 40% chlorine appear to be completely amorphous by x-ray analysis. In this respect, PVF differs from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), where chlorination increases the softening point, and it resembles polyethylene where both crystallinity and softening point decrease with chlorination. ¹⁹F NMR analysis of the polymers indicates that up to a degree of chlorination of 1 chlorine atom per monomer unit, 50% of the substitution occurs on the α-carbon of the PVF molecule. This result is very different from the predominant β-chlorination of PVC reported by several workers. The chemical selectivity observed in the chlorination of PVF is in quantitative agreement with the results of free-radical chlorination of organic compounds and can be rationalized by considering the size and the electronic properties of the fluorine atom. The results of ¹H NMR analysis are also in support of a polymer structure where the chlorine atoms are distributed between α- and β-carbons. Based on a comparison of the ¹⁹F and ¹H NMR data, the average composition of chlorinated PVF at the 1 chlorine atom per monomer unit level can be represented as: C₂₀₀H₂₀₀F₁₀₀Cl₁₀₀ = (CH₂)₆₃(CHF)₅₀(CHCl)₂₄(CClF)₅₀-(CCl₂)₁₃.     

Further Daphniphyllum Alkaloids from the Leaves of Daphniphyllum macropodum Miq.

Five new polycyclic Daphniphyllum alkaloids, macropodumines F ( 1 ) and G ( 2 ), 17‐oxoyuzurimine ( 3 ), and macropodumines H ( 4 ) and I ( 5 ), were isolated from the leaves of D. macropodum Miq ., collected in Sichuan Province, China. The structures and relative configurations of the new compounds – as well as of four known, related alkaloids – were elucidated on the basis of in‐depth spectroscopic and mass‐spectrometric analyses, by chemical derivatization, and by comparison of spectroscopic data with those of known compounds.     

19F and 1H NMR of aldimines of fluoroamino acids with pyridoxal-5′-phosphate

¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectra were obtained for six Schiff bases (aldimines) formed by pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP) with four fluorinated or their two parent non-fluorinated α-amino acids (phenylalanine and α-aminobutyric acid). pK_A Values were derived from ¹H and ¹⁹F titration curves. The imine nitrogen of the aldimines is very basic (～13) and sensitive to the electron withdrawing effect of fluorine. The pyridine nitrogen is less basic in the aldimines (～7) than in PLP (8.12) and is less sensitive to the electron withdrawing effect of the fluorine than is the imine nitrogen. The phosphate group has a pK in the same range (～6) and the chemical shifts of some nuclei are sensitive to both pK values. Protonation of the aldimine causes the ¹H signal to shift downfield at the methyl protons of the pyridine ring and at the aldehydic proton of the aldimine for the high pK value (except for the aldimines prepared from the β-fluorophenylalanine), but upfield at the aromatic proton and at the aldehydic proton of the aldimine for the low pK. Protonation of the aldimine causes the ¹⁹F signal of an aryl fluorine to shift downfield but gives an upfield shift at a β-fluorine. These data are related to the highly conjugated electronic structure of the Schiff bases.