Simultaneous determination of catecholamines and amino acids by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with laser-induced fluorescence detection

A selective and sensitive method was developed for separation and simultaneous determination of catecholamines and amino acids by MEKC with LIF. Interestingly enough, such work has been firstly performed on catecholamines derivatized with 4-chloro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole and the detailed derivatization mechanism was discussed. After derivatization at 60 degrees C for 20 min, NBD-labeled catecholamines and amino acids were separated in a buffer system containing 10 mM sodium tetraborate-Na2HPO4, 20 mM SDS, and 10% v/v ACN at pH 9.75. SDS micelles were employed to improve the fluorescence intensity of catecholamine derivatives efficiently. Under optimum conditions, two catecholamines and 11 amino acids were separated in a short 13 min analysis time and the RSDs for migration time and peak area were less than 0.60 and 6.50%, respectively. The method was successfully applied for the quantification of catecholamines and amino acids in Portulaca oleracea L., human urine sample, and mixed injection sample.     

Anticomplement and antimicrobial activities of flavonoids from Entada phaseoloides

Seventeen flavonoids isolated from the extracts of the stem of Entada phaseoloides were investigated for their anticomplement (both classic and alternative pathways) and antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria (MRSA, MSSA, Standard Enterococcus and Bacillus subtilis), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeuroginosa) and the yeast-like pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. The anticomplement studies revealed a dose-dependent activity among isolated quercetin, luteolin, apigenin, galangin, 5,2',5'-trihydroxy-3,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone-2'-O-beta-D-glucoside (+)-3,3',5',5,7-pentahydroflavanone, (+)-dihydrokaempferol, (-)-epicatechin, (+)-catechin, naringenin, and 5,7,3',5'-tetrahydroxyflavanone, and the antimicrobial results indicated that quercetin, 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3'-methoxyflavonol and galangin produced the inhibitory activities against MRSA, MSSA, and Standard Enterococcus, while luteolin and rhamnocitrin displayed inhibition against only MRSA and MSSA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that describes the anticomplement and antimicrobial activities of the stem of E. phaseoloides.     

Chiral guanidine-catalyzed asymmetric direct vinylogous Michael reaction of α,β-unsaturated γ-butyrolactams with alkylidene malonates

The asymmetric direct vinylogous Michael reaction of α,β-unsaturated γ-butyrolactams with alkylidene malonates has been developed. Various 5-substituted 3-pyrrolidin-2-ones were obtained in high yields (up to 93%) with excellent stereoselectivities (up to 94% ee, 95 : 5 dr), using a novel bifunctional C(1)-symmetric guanidine organocatalyst embodied a secondary amine subunit.     

Influence of the cation size on the framework structures and space group centricities in AMo2O5(SeO3)2 (A = Sr, Pb, and Ba)

Two new quaternary mixed-metal selenites, SrMo(2)O(5)(SeO(3))(2) and PbMo(2)O(5)(SeO(3))(2), have been synthesized as crystals and pure polycrystalline phases by standard solid-state reactions using SrMoO(4), PbO, MoO(3), and SeO(2) as reagents. The crystal structures of the reported materials have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. SrMo(2)O(5)(SeO(3))(2) and PbMo(2)O(5)(SeO(3))(2) are isostructural and crystallized in the triclinic centrosymmetric space group P1? (No. 2). The reported materials exhibit chain structures consisting of MoO(6) octahedra and asymmetric SeO(3) polyhedra. Complete characterizations including IR spectroscopy and thermal analyses for the compounds are also presented, as are dipole moment calculations. In addition, the powder second-harmonic-generating (SHG) properties of noncentrosymmetric polar BaMo(2)O(5)(SeO(3))(2) have been measured using 1064 nm radiation. Through powder SHG measurement, we are able to determine that BaMo(2)O(5)(SeO(3))(2) has a SHG efficiency of approximately 80 times that of α-SiO(2). Additional SHG measurements reveal that the material is phase-matchable (type 1). A detailed cation size effect on the symmetry and framework structure is discussed.     

Highly regioselective synthesis of tetrahydro-2H-1,3-thiazin-2-ones via rhodium-catalyzed carbonylation of N-alkylisothiazolidines

[reaction: see text] The [Rh(COD)Cl]2- and KI-catalyzed carbonylation of functionalized N-alkylisothiazolidines in toluene gives the corresponding tetrahydro-2H-1,3-thiazin-2-ones in good yield. The carbonylation reaction occurred site-selectively at the S-N bond of the isothiazolidine ring. The reaction is believed to proceed via oxidative addition, followed by CO insertion and reductive elimination to form the tetrahydro-2H-1,3-thiazin-2-one derivatives.     

Identification and quantification of 13 components in Angelica sinensis (Danggui) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with pressurized liquid extraction

Angelica sinensis (Danggui in Chinese), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, is also used as a health food product for women's care in Europe and America. Therefore, the demand for Danggui is enormous throughout the world. Due to the shortage of Angelica sinensis, Angelica acutiloba and Angelica gigas are commonly used as the substitutes of Danggui in the market of southeast Asia. However, the three common Angelica roots showed variation in their genetic and chemical composition. Up to date, it is thought that ferulic acid, ligustilide and other phthalides such as butylidenephthalide are the biologically active components of Danggui. In this paper, the contents of 13 compounds including ferulic acid, Z-ligustilide, E-ligustilide, Z-butylidenephthalide, E-butylidenephthalide, 3-butylphthalide, 3-butylidene-4-hydroxyphthalide, senkyunolide A, 6,7-epoxyligustilide, senkyunolide F, senkyunolide H, senkyunolide I, and 6,7-dihydroxyligustilide were determined or estimated by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled with pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). The results showed that GC-MS coupled with PLE offered a simple, rapid and high sensitive method to analysis of components in Angelica root. And the contents of investigated compounds in Angelica sinensis, Angelica acutiloba and Angelica gigas, which are used as Danggui in China, Japan and Korea, respectively, were highly variant. It is thought that interaction of multiple chemical compounds contributes to the therapeutic effects of Chinese medicines. However, the overall clinical efficacy of these different Danggui has not been determined. Therefore, comparison of chemical components and pharmacological activities of different Angelica root is helpful to elucidate the mechanism of therapeutic effects of Danggui.     

Coulomb explosion of nitrogen and oxygen molecules through non-Coulombic states

We have systematically studied Coulomb explosion of nitrogen and oxygen molecules in intense 8 and 24 fs laser pulses. In the experiment, we explicitly separated all explosion pathways through coincident measurements. The high resolution kinetic energy releases (KERs) and the exotic angular distributions of atomic ions provide direct evidence that Coulomb explosion occurs through non-Coulombic states. In the theory, we calculated dissociation potential energy curves (PECs) of nitrogen and oxygen molecules and their multicharged molecular ions using multiconfiguration second-order perturbation theory. The results indicate that Coulomb potentials are close to the accurate PECs of multicharged molecular ions only when the internuclear distance is larger than 3 ?. In comparison with the experimental observations and the theoretical calculations, we determined the internuclear distance when Coulombic explosion occurs. It is near the equilibrium distance of the neutral molecules in the case of 8 fs laser pulses and expands gradually with the increase of the charge state of the molecular ions in the case of 24 fs laser pulses.     

5-(4-Hydroxy-2,3,5-trimethylbenzylidene) thiazolidine-2,4-dione attenuates atherosclerosis possibly by reducing monocyte recruitment to the lesion

A variety of benzylidenethiazole analogs have been demonstrated to inhibit 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX). Here we report the anti-atherogenic potential of 5-(4-hydroxy- 2,3,5-trimethylbenzylidene) thiazolidin-2,4-dione (HMB-TZD), a benzylidenethiazole analog, and its potential mechanism of action in LDL receptor-deficient (Ldlr-/-) mice. HMB-TZD Treatment reduced leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production significantly in RAW264.7 macrophages and SVEC4-10 endothelial cells. Macrophages or endothelial cells pre-incubated with HMB-TZD for 2 h and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) displayed reduced cytokine production. Also, HMB-TZD reduced cell migration and adhesion in accordance with decreased proinflammatory molecule production in vitro and ex vivo. HMB-TZD treatment of 8-week-old male Ldlr-/- mice resulted in significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesions without a change to plasma lipid profiles. Moreover, aortic expression of pro-atherogenic molecules involved in the recruitment of monocytes to the aortic wall, including TNF-α , MCP-1, and VCAM-1, was downregulated. HMB-TZD also reduced macrophage infiltration into atherosclerotic lesions. In conclusion, HMB-TZD ameliorates atherosclerotic lesion formation possibly by reducing the expression of proinflammatory molecules and monocyte/macrophage recruitment to the lesion. These results suggest that HMB-TZD, and benzylidenethiazole analogs in general, may have therapeutic potential as treatments for atherosclerosis.