Characterization of two polysaccharides having activity on the reticuloendothelial system from the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Two polysaccharides, called glycyrrhizans UA and UB, were isolated from the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer. They were homogeneous on electrophoresis and gel chromatography, and showed reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity in a carbon clearance test. Glycyrrhizan UA is composed of L-arabinose: D-galactose: L-rhamnose: D-galacturonic acid in the molar ratio of 20:14:1:3, and glycyrrhizan UB is composed of L-arabinose: D-galactose: D-glucose: L-rhamnose: D-galacturonic acid in the molar ratio of 12:10:1:10:20, in addition to small amounts of O-acetyl groups and peptide moiety, respectively. About 10% (glycyrrhizan UA) and 35% (glycyrrhizan UB) of the D-galacturonic acid residues exist as the methyl esters. Methylation analysis, carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance and periodate oxidation studies indicated their structural features.     

NMR and quantum chemical study on the OH...pi and CH...O interactions between trehalose and unsaturated fatty acids: implication for the mechanism of antioxidant function of trehalose

Trehalose is a disaccharide that attracts much attention as a stress protectant. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of the antioxidant function of trehalose. The spin-lattice relaxation times (T(1)) of (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra were measured to investigate the interaction between trehalose and unsaturated fatty acid (UFA). We selected several kinds of UFA that differ in the number of double bonds and in their configurations (cis or trans). Several other disaccharides (sucrose, maltose, neotrehalose, maltitol, and sorbitol) were also analyzed by NMR. The T(1) values for the (1)H and (13)C signals assigned to the olefin double bonds in UFA decrease with increasing concentration of trehalose and the changes reaches plateaus at integer ratios of trehalose to UFA. The characteristic T(1) change is observed only for the combination of trehalose and UFA with cis double bond(s). On the other hand, from the (13)C-T(1) measurements for trehalose, the T(1) values of the C-3 (C-3') and C-6' (C-6) are found to change remarkably by addition of UFA. (1)H[bond](1)H NOESY measurements provide direct evidence for complexation of trehalose with linoleic acid. These results indicate that one trehalose molecule stoichiometrically interacts with one cis-olefin double bond of UFA. Computer modeling study indicates that trehalose forms a stable complex with an olefin double bond through OH...pi and CH...O types of hydrogen bonding. Furthermore, a significant increase in the activation energy is found for hydrogen abstraction reaction from the methylene group located between the double bonds that are both interacting with the trehalose molecules. Therefore, trehalose has a significant depression effect on the oxidation of UFA through the weak interaction with the double bond(s). This is the first study to elucidate the antioxidant function of trehalose.     

Formation of a new crystalline silicate structure by grafting dialkoxysilyl groups on layered octosilicate

Dialkoxydichlorosilanes ((RO)2SiCl2, R = alkyl) react almost completely with interlayer silanol groups in a layered silicate octosilicate to create a new crystalline silicate structure consisting of new five-membered rings arranged regularly on both sides of the silicate layers. The introduction of dialkoxysilyl groups to the interlamellar region of layered silicates with regular reaction sites provides a new methodology for the design and construction of novel crystalline silicate frameworks by a soft chemical route.     

Five- and Six-Coordinate 2-Methyl-2-propanethiolato Complexes of Zirconium(IV): Synthesis and Structures of [Li(DME)(3)][Zr(SCMe(3))(5)] and [(THF)Li](2)Zr(SCMe(3))(6)

Five-coordinate and six-coordinate 2-methyl-2-propanethiolato complexes of zirconium, [Li(DME)(3)][Zr(SCMe(3))(5)] (1) and [(THF)Li](2)Zr(SCMe(3))(6) (2), were obtained from the ZrCl(4)/LiSCMe(3) reaction system. The control of the Zr coordination number, by the ether ligands, THF or DME, bound to Li, is demonstrated by the conversion of 2 into 1 upon dissolution in DME. 1 and 2 were crystallographically characterized. The structures are extensively disordered. Crystal data follow: 1, hexagonal P6(3)/m, a = b = 12.496(3) ?, c = 17.561(9) ?, Z = 2, V = 2375(1) ?(3), R = 5.0%, R(w) = 6.8%; 2, trigonal R32, a = b = 11.813(3) ?, c = 28.37(1) ?, Z = 3, V = 3428(1) ?(3), R = 5.2%, R(w) = 6.4%.     

Study on radiation-induced polymerization of vinyl monomers adsorbed on inorganic substances. I. Radiation-induced polymerization of styrene adsorbed on several inorganic substances

The radiation-induced polymerization of styrene adsorbed on silica gel, white carbon, silicic acid anhydride, zeolite, and activated alumina was carried out to elucidate the effect of properties of inorganic substances on the polymerization. The rate of adsorbed state polymerization on these inorganic substances was very fast in comparison with that of bulk-state polymerization. The amount of unextractable polymer depends on the specific surface area and chemical compositions of these inorganic substances. Inorganic substances which contain aluminum as a component element are more likely to be grafted than those which consist of SiO₂ alone. The molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of unextractable polymer and extractable polymer differ from one another in each inorganic substance. In case of silicic acid anhydride, unextractable polymer has smaller molecular weight than extractable polymer. These results suggest that unextractable polymer cannot be extracted due to chemical bonds with the inorganic surface.     

Reaction of 3,4-disubstituted 1,2,5-oxadiazole 2-oxides with dipolarophiles : Substituent and solvent effect on the reaction courses

A variety of symmetrically or unsymmetrically 3,4-disubstituttd furoxans such as dicyano, dialkyl, diacyl, bis(phenylsulfonyl), N.N'-dialkyldicarbamoyl, 3(or 4)-methyl-4(or -3)-phenyl(or nitro, ethoxy, phenoxy, phenylthio, pyrrolidinyl, phenylsulfonyl), 3(or 4)-ethyl-4(or -3)phcnyl, and 3(or 4)-ethoxy-4(or -3)-phenylsulfonylruroxan reacted with dipolarophiles in toluene or xylene at the refluxing temperature to give nitrone-type 1,3-dipolar cycloadducts, 5-substituted 1-aza-2,8-dioxabicyclo-[3.3.0]octanes and/or 3-substituted 2-isoxazoline 2-oxides. On the other hand, some of the furoxans gave 2-isoxazolines via nitrile oxide 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition in a toluene (or xylene)-DMF solvent at the refluxing temperature.     

Parathyroid hormone and bone mineral content in male and female patients receiving hemodialysis

Relative bone mineral content in the lumbar spine was measured by phantom B-MAs with the apparatus of computerized tomography in order to study the relationships between bone mineral content with age and parathyroid hormone in sera of randomized out- and in-patients and the hemodialysis patients. There exists a significant difference between male and female in the loss of bone mineral content of three groups.     

Enantioselective carbanion cyclization of 5-alkenyl carbamates induced by asymmetric lithiation with s-butyllithium/(−)-sparteine system

Treatment of (E)-6-phenyl-5-hexenyl carbamates with s-BuLi/(−)-sparteine is shown to afford the trans-1,2-disubstituted cyclopentane derivatives in high % ee, along with the bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes (bicyclization products).     

Preparation of Silicalite-1 Within Macroporous Silica Glass

Microcrystalline silicalite-1 was formed on the inner surface of macroporus silica glasses prepared by the sol-gel process. By heating a homogeneous precursor solution at 100°C under a hydrothermal condition, 2–5 m of plate-like particles of silicalite-1 were deposited. With an increase of mixing time of the precursor solution, the number of silicalite-1 particles increased, accompanied by the relative decrease of the particle size. Depending on the temperature and the duration of the heat-treatment of the macroporous silica, the amount of deposited silicalite-1 varied. Below 1000°C, the amount increased with the heat-treatment temperature, as a result of the competition between the precipitation of silicalite-1 and the dissolution of silica from the macroporous silica glass under a strongly basic condition. On the other hand, above 1000°C the amount of deposited silicalite-1 decreased in accordance with the decrease of the macropore diameter by the heat-treatment, because of the limited transport of the dissolved silicate species through the smaller macropores.     

Clinical evaluation of osteocalcin in sera of the patients with neoplasms of bone

The clinical significance of osteocalcin in sera of bone tumors were measured in sera of various kinds of bone tumors. The levels of osteocalcin were higher in bone tumors than those in normal subjects. Serum osteocalcin levels in hypercalcemic groups of bone metastasis and myeloma showed a remarkable increase in a parallelism with serum ALP and LDH levels. These results suggested to be directly or indirectly activated on osteoblast by bone tumors and to be synthesized osteocalcin in osteoblast.