Umbelliferose Isolated from Cuminum cyminum L. Seeds Inhibits Antigen-Induced Degranulation in Rat Basophilic Leukemia RBL-2H3 Cells

Cuminum cyminum L. (cumin) is an annual plant of the Umbelliferae family native to Egypt. We previously showed that the aqueous extract of cumin seeds suppresses degranulation by downregulating the activation of antigen-induced intracellular signaling molecules in rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells. However, the active substances in the extract have not yet been identified. Accordingly, herein, we aimed to ascertain the water-soluble substances present in cumin seeds that inhibit degranulation, which led to the identification of umbelliferose, a characteristic trisaccharide present in plants of the Umbelliferae family. Our study is the first to reveal the degranulation-suppressing activity of umbelliferose, and quantification studies suggest that cumin seed powder contains 1.6% umbelliferose. Raffinose, an isomer of umbelliferose, was also found to significantly suppress antigen-induced degranulation, but less so than umbelliferose. Both umbelliferose and raffinose contain sucrose subunits in their structures, with galactose moieties bound at different sites. These differences in structure suggest that the binding of galactose to the sucrose subunit at the α1-2 bond contributes to its strong degranulation-inhibiting properties.     

Preparation of ZrO2 ultrathin films as gate dielectrics by limited reaction sputtering—On growth delay time at initial growth stage

ZrO₂ thin films were produced by limited reaction sputtering process varying the deposition parameters. An interesting growth phenomenon was observed in the initial growth stage of amorphous samples, appearing to suppress film growth for the first several minutes. The structures of such ultrathin ZrO₂ films were investigated by high-resolution Rutherford backscattering (HR-RBS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results suggest that the existence of interfacial suboxides due to the adsorption-induced surface reaction and diffusion-induced internal reaction, lead to the deteriorated interfacial performance. The mechanism and effects of the growth delay time on the interfacial characteristics are discussed in detail.     

Electron-transfer polymers. XXIX. Copolymerizability of vinylhydroquinone derivatives

Ten vinylhydroquinone and one vinyl resorcinol derivatives are compared, particularly with respect to NMR spectra and copolymerizability with styrene. They are vinylhydroquinone dimethyl ether (I), vinyl-O,O′-bis(1-ethoxyethyl)hydroquinone (II), vinylhydroquinone di(2-pentyl)ether (III), 4-vinyl resorcinol bismethoxymethyl ether (IV), 2-vinyl-5-methylhydroquinone dimethyl ether (V), 2-vinyl-5-methyl-O,O′-bis(1-ethoxyethyl)hydroquinone (VI), 2-vinyl-6-methylhydroquinone dimethyl ether (VII), 2-vinyl-5-tert-butylhydroquinone dimethyl ether (VIII), 2-vinyl-5-chlorohydroquinone dimethyl ether (IX), 2-vinyl-3,6-dimethylhydroquinone dimethyl ether (X), and 2-vinyl-3,5,6-trimethylhydroquinone dimethyl ether (XI). All the vinyl protons have almost the same coupling constants. Though subtle distinctions are found among all the spectra, they can in general be put into two groups on the basis of the chemical shifts. Let the hydrogen on carbon-1 of the vinyl group be A, the hydrogen cis to A be B the hydrogen trans to A be C, then in the first group, (I) through (IX), the chemical shifts (τ) are (A) 3.02 ± 0.08, (C) 4.41 ± 0.05, and (B) 4.87 ± 0.07, and in the second group, (X) and (XI), they are (A) 3.30 ± 0.03, (C) 4.49 ± 0.01, and (B) 4.59 ± 0.03. It is supposed that in (X) and (XI) the vinyl group is out of the plane of the ring, because of the two ortho substituents, and this conformation is reflected in the NMR data. Ultraviolet spectra are consonant with this interpretation, since the λ_max of (X) and (XI) correspond closely with those of nonvinyl reference compounds, while those of (II), (V), and (VIII) are shifted to longer wavelengths. When these compounds are copolymerized separately with styrene, the behaviors are classifiable into the following three groups, where r₁ and r₂ are monomer reactivity ratios with styrene as the first monomer: (i) r₁ < 1 and r₂ < 1 for compounds (II) and (III) and the reference compound O,O′-dibenzoylvinylhydroquinone, (ii) r₁ < 1 and r₂ > 1 for compounds (I), (V), (VII), (VIII), (IX), and (iii) r₁ > 1 and r₂ = 0 for compounds (X) and (XI). These behaviors are correlated with the effect of electronegativity of groups on the stability of the radical at the growing end of the chain and with the simultaneous effects of steric hindrance.     

Tubular structures bearing channels in organic crystals composed of adamantane-based macrocycles

Five macrocyclic molecules (1–5) were efficiently synthesized from the dimerization and trimerization of di-substituted adamantane derivatives, which were composed of three different aromatic units and two different linker groups. Three single-crystals were obtained from these macrocyclic molecules, including a set of pseudopolymorphs (3a and 3b) of macrocycle 3 and another macrocycle 5 (5a). Single crystal X-ray analysis revealed that the three monocyclic compounds were rectangular or square in shape with solvent molecules in the cavity. Macrocycle 3 in 3a formed stacks to produce tubular structures with channels that assembled into three-dimensional networks through CH/π interactions.     

Optical resolution of new quinolone drugs by capillary electrophoresis with ligand-exchange and host-guest interactions

A method for the optical resolution of new quinolone drugs (NQs) by capillary electrophoresis has been investigated. The NQs were adequately resolved using a γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD)-Zn(II)- -phenylalanine ( -Phe) solution as the running solution. The resolution depended on the components of the running solution and their concentrations. When -Phe was used instead of -Phe, inversion of the migration order of the enantiomers was observed. The resolution mechanism is considered to be due to a ligand-exchange interaction of the NQs with Zn(II) and -Phe, in combination with a host-guest interaction of those with γ-CD.     

Recent progress of high-power negative ion beam development for fusion plasma heating

A negative-ion-based neutral beam injector (N-NBI) has been constructed for JT-60U. The N-NBI is designed to inject 500 keV, 10 MW neutral beams using two ion sources, each producing a 500 keV, 22 A D⁻ ion beam. In the preliminary experiment using one ion source, a D⁻ ion beam of 13.5 A has been successfully accelerated with an energy of 400 keV (5.4 MW) for 0.12 s at an operating pressure of 0.22 Pa. This is the highest D⁻ beam current and power in the world. Co-extracted electron current was effectively suppressed to the ratio of Ie/I_D⁻ < 1. The highest energy beam of 460 keV, 2.4 A, 0.44 s has also been obtained. To realize 1 MeV class NBI system for ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), demonstration of ampere class negative ion beam acceleration up to 1 MeV is an important mile stone. To achieve the mile stone, a prototype accelerator and a 1 MV, 1 A test facility called MeV Test Facility (MTF) were constructed. Up to now, an H⁻ ion beam was accelerated up to the energy of 805 keV with an acceleration drain current of 150 mA for 1 s in a five stage electrostatic multi-aperture accelerator.     

The core structure of ukonan A, a phagocytosis-activating polysaccharide from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, and immunological activities of degradation products.

The controlled Smith degradation of ukonan A, a phagocytosis-activating polysaccharide isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L., was performed. The reticuloendothelial system-potentiating, anti-complementary and alkaline phosphatase-inducing activities of ukonan A and its degradation products were investigated. Methylation analyses of both the primary and the secondary Smith degradation products indicated that the core structural features of ukonan A include a backbone chain mainly composed of beta-1,3-linked D-galactose, beta-1,4-linked D-xylose and alpha-1,2-linked L-rhamnose residues. All of the galactose units in the backbone carry side chains composed of alpha-L-arabino-beta-D-galactosyl or beta-D-galactosyl residues at position 6. Ukonan A has a remarkable effect on each of the three kinds of immunological activities. Periodate oxidation caused pronounced decrease or disappearance of the activities, but the controlled Smith degradation product having the core structure of polysaccharide showed considerable restoration of these activities.     

Characterization of cationic acid phosphatase isozyme from rat liver mitochondria.

Acid phosphatase isozyme was highly purified from rat liver mitochondrial fraction. The enzyme showed an isoelectric point value of above 9.5 on isoelectric focusing, and the apparent molecular weight was estimated to be 32000 by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration or 16000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of adenosine 5'-triphosphate, adenosine 5'-diphosphate, thiamine pyrophosphate, inorganic pyrophosphate, and phosphoprotein such as casein and phosvitin, but not of several phosphomonoesters, except for p-nitrophenyl phosphate and o-phosphotyrosine. The enzyme was not inhibited by L-(+)-tartrate, and was significantly activated by Fe2+ and reducing agents such as ascorbic acid, L-cysteine,and dithiothreitol. The enzyme was found to be distributed in various rat tissues including liver, spleen, kidney, small intestine, lung, stomach, brain and heart, but not in skeletal muscle.