The antidepressant effect of 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol 2-naphthoate through monoaminergic,GABAergic system and BDNF signaling pathway

Abstract

Gastrodigenin, also known as 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (HBA), is one of the main components of Gastrodia elata, which is a perfect lead compound of natural products. In order to get new active compounds, we modified the structure of HBA through esterification with carboxylic acid, and got a series of derivatives in which 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol 2-naphthoate (NHBA) showed stronger antidepressant activity than HBA. In this paper, we firstly evaluated the antidepressant activity of NHBA by tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST). Then, we carried out the biochemical assay and western blot to determine its mechanism. The results displayed that NHBA could increase the content of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, γ-aminobutyric acid, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) in mice brain. It suggested that NHBA exhibited an antidepressant-like effect through monoaminergic system, GABAergic system and BDNF/TrkB signaling pathways.     

Direct Dynamic Evidence of Charge Separation in a Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cell Obtained under Operando Conditions by Raman Spectroscopy

Interfaces play an important role in enhancing the energy conversion performance of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The interface effects have been studied by many techniques, but most of the studies only focused on one part of a DSC, rather than on a complete solar cell. Hence, monitoring the interface evolution of a DSC is still very challenging. Here, in situ/operando resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopic analyses were carried out to monitor the dynamics of the photovoltaic conversion processes in a DSC. We observed the creation of new species (i.e., polyiodide and iodine aggregates) in the photosensitization process. We also obtained molecular‐scale dynamic evidence that the bands from the C=C and C=N bonds of 2,2′‐bipyridyl (bpy), the S=C=N bonds of the NCS ligand, and photochemical products undergo reasonably strong intensity and frequency changes, which clearly demonstrates that they are involved in charge separation. Furthermore, RR spectroscopy can also be used to quickly evaluate the performance of DSCs.     

Lithium dioxobis[trioxoiodato(V)]vanadate,Li[VO2(IO3)2]

The title compound represents a new structure type, in which distorted VO₆ octa­hedra are bridged by iodate groups to form infinite two‐dimensional [VO₂(IO₃)₂]⁻ layers that are separated by octa­hedrally coordinated Li⁺ cations.     

Unraveling the Impact of Gold(I)–Thiolate Motifs on the Aggregation‐Induced Emission of Gold Nanoclusters

Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) provides an efficient strategy to synthesize highly luminescent metal nanoclusters (NCs), however, rational control of emission energy and intensity of metal NCs is still challenging. This communication reveals the impact of surface Au^I‐thiolate motifs on the AIE properties of Au NCs, by employing a series of water‐soluble glutathione (GSH)‐coordinated Au complexes and NCs as a model ([Au₁₀SR₁₀], [Au₁₅SR₁₃], [Au₁₈SR₁₄], and [Au₂₅SR₁₈]^?, SR=thiolate ligand). Spectroscopic investigations show that the emission wavelength of Au NCs is adjustable from visible to the near‐infrared II (NIR‐II) region by controlling the length of the Au^I‐SR motifs on the NC surface. Decreasing the length of Au^I‐SR motifs also changes the origin of cluster luminescence from AIE‐type phosphorescence to Au⁰‐core‐dictated fluorescence. This effect becomes more prominent when the degree of aggregation of Au NCs increases in solution.     

细胞体系中内噪声对弱信号检测的积极作用

在小尺度的生物化学反应体系中内噪声是普遍存在的,本文采用化学Langevin方程研究了细胞体系中内噪声对弱信号检测的作用. 研究发现, 在Hopf分岔点附近, 当弱信号非常小以至于不能独立地激发细胞内的钙尖峰振荡时, 内噪声能够帮助细胞内的钙振荡信号越过一个域值, 并且在一个最佳的内噪声强度下, 内噪声、内噪声诱导的钙振荡和弱信号之间会产生共振现象, 由此极大地增强了细胞体系对弱信号的检测能力. 由于内噪声是通过细胞尺度变化而改变的, 因此这种现象也说明了在对弱信号检测行为中最佳细胞尺度的存在. 研究还发现最佳的细胞尺度与真正的细胞体积是相吻合的, 并且基本不随外界刺激的改变而改变, 这具有重要的生物学意义.     

双氢青蒿素衍生物的研究进展

从醚类、酯类、杂原子取代C-10-O类等单活性基团衍生物和双活性基团衍生物两大类结构出 发,综述了1997后合成的双氢青蒿素衍生物及其合成方法,在生理活性研究方面发现双氢青蒿素衍生物除具有抗疟活性外,还具有抗肿瘤、抗血吸虫、抗孕、提高免疫力等其他生物与生理活性.     

Supramolecular Assembly of TPE-Based Glycoclusters with Dicyanomethylene-4H-pyran (DM) Fluorescent Probes Improve Their Properties for Peroxynitrite Sensing and Cell Imaging

Two red-emitting dicyanomethylene-4H-pyran (DM) based fluorescent probes were designed and used for peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) detection. Nevertheless, the aggregation-caused quenching effect diminished the fluorescence and restricted their further applications. To overcome this problem, tetraphenylethylene (TPE) based glycoclusters were used to self-assemble with these DM probes to obtain supramolecular water-soluble glyco-dots. This self-assembly strategy enhanced the fluorescence intensity, leading to an enhanced selectivity and activity of the resulting glyco-dot comparing to DM probes alone in PBS buffer. The glyco-dots also exhibited better results during fluorescence sensing of intracellular ONOO⁻ than the probes alone, thereby offering scope for the development of other similar supramolecular glyco-systems for chemical biological studies.     

Capillary Electrophoresis of the Active Ingredients of Dioscorea bulbifera L. and its Medicinal Preparations

A method based on capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection has been developed for the separation and determination of epicatechin, isovanillic acid, vanillic acid and myricetin in Dioscorea bulbifera L. and its medicinal preparations. The effects of working electrode potential, pH and concentration of running buffer, separation voltage and injection time were investigated. Under optimum conditions, the analytes could be separated in a 40 mmol L^?1 borate buffer (pH 8.7) within 15 min. A 300 μm diameter carbon disk electrode has a good response at + 0.95 V (vs. SCE) for all analytes. The response was linear over three orders of magnitude with detection limits (S/N = 3) ranging from 3.0 × 10^?8 g mL^?1 to 1.0 × 10^?7 g mL^?1. The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of real samples.     

Pinkment: a synthetic platform for the development of fluorescent probes for diagnostic and theranostic applications

Reaction-based fluorescent-probes have proven successful for the visualisation of biological species in various cellular processes. Unfortunately, in order to tailor the design of a fluorescent probe to a specific application (i.e. organelle targeting, material and theranostic applications) often requires extensive synthetic efforts and the synthetic screening of a range of fluorophores to match the required synthetic needs. In this work, we have identified Pinkment-OH as a unique “plug-and-play” synthetic platform that can be used to develop a range of ONOO⁻ responsive fluorescent probes for a variety of applications. These include theranostic-based applications and potential material-based/bioconjugation applications. The as prepared probes displayed an excellent sensitivity and selectivity for ONOO⁻ over other ROS. In vitro studies using HeLa cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages demonstrated their ability to detect exogenously and endogenously produced ONOO⁻. Evaluation in an LPS-induced inflammation mouse model illustrated the ability to monitor ONOO⁻ production in acute inflammation. Lastly, theranostic-based probes enabled the simultaneous evaluation of indomethacin-based therapeutic effects combined with the visualisation of an inflammation biomarker in RAW 264.7 cells.

Pinkment, a resorufin based ONOO⁻ selective and sensitive ‘plug and play’ fluorescence-based platform for in vitro and in vivo use, enables facile functionalisation for various imaging and theranostic applications.     

Metal–Organic Frameworks Based Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

In view of the clean and sustainable energy, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) based materials, including pristine MOFs, MOF composites, and their derivatives are emerging as unique electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Thanks to their tunable compositions and diverse structures, efficient MOF-based materials provide new opportunities to accelerate the sluggish ORR at the cathode in fuel cells and metal–air batteries. This Minireview first provides some introduction of ORR and MOFs, followed by the classification of MOF-based electrocatalysts towards ORR. Recent breakthroughs in engineering MOF-based ORR electrocatalysts are highlighted with an emphasis on synthesis strategy, component, morphology, structure, electrocatalytic performance, and reaction mechanism. Finally, some current challenges and future perspectives for MOF-based ORR electrocatalysts are also discussed.