Determination of sulfite in Oriental herbal medicines

Sulfite was detected in 7 varieties of Oriental herbal medicines (Pueraria radix, Zingiberis rhizoma, Platycodon radix, Adenophora radix, Pinellia tuber, Astragalus radix, and Paeonia radix) on the Korean market. Sulfiting of commercial Oriental herbal medicines by fumigation with burning bituminous coal was simulated, and the accumulation of sulfite was investigated by using fresh Platycodon radix roots obtained from a growing field. The sulfite level reached a plateau in 9 h, and the maximum sulfite level found by the Monier-Williams (MW) method (AOAC 990.28) was 1020 ppm. The sulfite content in the simulated Platycodon radix sample determined by alkali extraction followed by ion-exclusion chromatography with electrochemical detection (AOAC 990.31) was approximately 17% lower on average than the MW results. Free-sulfite levels determined by acid extraction and ion-exclusion chromatography with electrochemical detection were between 19 and 49% of the MW results. The advantages of different methods for sulfite determination and the significance of the results are discussed.     

Two new compounds from Zingiber officinale

A new cyclic diarylheptanoid,1,5-epoxy-3-hydroxy-1-(3-methoxy-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-heptane (1),as well as a new monoterpene,10-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-hydroxy cineole (2) were isolated from the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were established based on their spectral data.In addition,the antioxidant activities of these compounds were also measured.     

Rb3In(H2O)Si5O13: a novel indium silicate with a CdSO4-topological-type structure

A novel indium silicate, Rb3In(H2O)Si5O13, has been synthesized using a high-temperature, high-pressure hydrothermal method and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure consists of five-membered rings of corner-sharing SiO4 tetrahedra connected via corner sharing to four adjacent five-membered rings to form a 3D silicate framework that belongs to the CdSO4 topological type. The InO6 octahedron shares five of its corners with five different SiO4 tetrahedra to form a 3D frame-work that delimits two types of channels to accommodate the rubidium cations. The sixth corner of InO6 is coordinated H2O. The structure is related to that of the titanium silicate ETS-10, and these are the only two metal silicates that have the CdSO4-topological-type structure. In addition, the crystal of Rb3In(H2O)Si5O13 shows an intense second harmonic generation signal. Crystal data: H2Rb3InSi5O14, monoclinic, space group Cc (No. 9), a = 9.0697(5) A, b = 11.5456(6) A, c = 13.9266(8) A, beta = 102.300(1) degrees, V = 1424.8(1) A3, and Z = 4.     

Loniceroside C,an antiinflammatory saponin from Lonicera japonica

A new triterpenoid saponin, loniceroside C was isolated from the aerial parts of Lonicera japonica. Its structure was established to be 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester by spectroscopic techniques and chemical transformations. Loniceroside C showed in vivo antiinflammatory activity against mouse ear edema provoked by croton oil.     

Three novel 5(6-->7)abeoabietane-type diterpenes from the bark of Taiwania cryptomerioides

Three new 5(6-->7)abeoabietane diterpenes with the uncommon skeleton of fused 6-5-6 rings were isolated from the bark of Taiwania cryptomerioides designated as taiwaniaquinone F (8), taiwaniaquinol C (9) and taiwaniaquinol D (10). Meanwhile, two known compounds, taiwaniaquinones A (1) and D (4), were also obtained. Their structures were determined principally from spectral evidence.     

Theoretical studies on the intramolecular cyclization of alkyl halide anions

The intramolecular cyclization reactions of alkyl fluoride and chloride anions¹ were investigated theoretically using the AM1 method. Formation of five-membered ring was the most reactive and that of three-membered ring was the least reactive process in both series. For the fluoride series the reactivity order of n = 5 > 6 > 7 > 4 > 3 was dictated by the enthalpy (ΔH≠) effect while for the chloride series the entropy (ΔS≠) effect was found to play somewhat greater role due to the much better leaving ability of the chloride anion leading to the reactivity order of n = 5 > 6 > 4 > 7 > 3. For both series, BEP principle held and the degree of bond formation was greater with the fluoride series owing to the poor electron acceptor ability of the cleaving bond.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of the fluoroquinolones norfloxacin and ofloxacin from orally treated-chicken breast muscles

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of the fluoroquinolones norfloxacin and ofloxacin from chicken breast muscles was examined. A liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection was used for the determination of the fluoroquinolones. Extraction conditions of the SFE were optimized by determining the extraction parameters to achieve a sufficiently high recovery of each fluoroquinolone in fortified-muscle samples. Recovery values for the extraction of the fluoroquinolones using the SFE ranged from 70 to 87%. Chickens were treated orally with each fluoroquinolone and their muscles were extracted at set time intervals for time-course determination of the fluoroquinolones in chickens. The SFE combined with liquid chromatographic analysis showed that the concentrations of the fluoroquinolones decreased gradually with time in the chicken muscles after oral treatment, giving a concentration less than 5 ng/ml in 120 h. No further sample cleanup procedures were required after the SFE. These results suggest that SFE method is an extraction method for the determination of norfloxacin and ofloxacin in chicken muscle.     

Zeb1 for RCP-induced oral cancer cell invasion and its suppression by resveratrol

Rab coupling protein (RCP) is upregulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and is correlated with the progression and survival of patients. However, the role of RCP in one of the aggressive types of HNSCC, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), remains elusive. In the present study, we identified the important role of Zeb1 in RCP-induced OSCC epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion. RCP induces Zeb1 expression, and silencing Zeb1 expression significantly inhibits RCP-induced OSCC invasion. In addition, Zeb1 upregulates MT1-MMP expression to promote OSCC EMT and invasion. Furthermore, we observed that the β1 integrin/EGFR/β-catenin signaling cascade mediates RCP-induced Zeb1 expression to promote OSCC invasion. Notably, we provide evidence that resveratrol (REV) strongly inhibits RCP-induced Zeb1 expression through blocking β1 integrin endosome recycling and EGFR activation, leading to suppression of RCP-induced OSCC invasion, demonstrating the important role of RCP in OSCC invasion and its reversion by REV. Collectively, the present study provides evidence for the first time that RCP aggravates OSCC invasion through increasing Zeb1 expression and subsequently upregulating MT1-MMP expression and that this process is reversed by REV, providing novel biomarkers and indicating the therapeutic potential of REV in OSCC.Subject terms: Oral cancer, Cell invasion     

An azo dye for photodynamic therapy that is activated selectively by two-photon excitation

Two-photon photodynamic therapy (TP-PDT) is a promising approach for the treatment of cancer because of its better penetration depth and superior spatial selectivity. Here, we describe an azo group containing cyclized-cyanine derivatives (ACC1 and ACC2) as a two-photon activated, type I based photosensitizer (PS). These small-molecule and heavy atom-free organic dyes showed marked reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating ability under physiological conditions, as well as fast loading ability into the cells and negligible dark toxicity. Live cell analyses with one- and two-photon microscopy revealed that these dyes showed higher ROS generation ability upon two-photon excitation than upon one-photon excitation via the type I process. The PSs have superior PDT properties compared to conventional Visudyne and 5-ALA under mild conditions. These characteristics allowed for precise PDT at the target region in mimic tumor spheroids, demonstrating that the developed TP PS could be useful in efficient PDT applications and in designing various PSs.

Azo containing dyes as a two-photon selective and type I based photosensitizers (PSs) were developed that exhibit excellent photodynamic therapy properties under mild condition.     

Amperometric Glucose Biosensor Based on Platinum Nanoparticles Combined Aligned Carbon Nanotubes Electrode

A sensitive amperometric glucose biosensor based on platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) combined aligned carbon nanotubes (ACNTs) electrode was investigated. PtNPs which can enhance the electrocatalytic activity of the electrode for electrooxidating hydrogen peroxide by enzymatic reaction were electrocrystallized on 4‐aminobenzene monolayer‐grafted ACNTs electrode by potential‐step method. These PtNPs combined ACNTs' (PtNPs/ACNTs) surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The highly dispersed PtNPs on ACNTs can be obtained. The enzyme electrode exhibits excellent response performance to glucose with linear range from 1×10^?5–7×10^?3 mol L^?1 and fast response time within 5 s. Furthermore, this glucose biosensor also has good reproducibility. It is demonstrated that the PtNPs/ACNTs electrode with high electrocatalytic activity is a suitable basic electrode for preparing enzyme electrodes.