Anti-inflammatory activity of 4′,6,7-trihydroxy-5-methoxyflavone from Fridericia chica (Bonpl.) L.G.Lohmann

Abstract

Fridericia chica, Bignoniaceae, is a tropical tree-creeper used as a traditional remedy for a number of diseases, highlighting inflammation. Our objective was to corroborate the popular anti-inflammatory use of the hydroethanolic extract from the leaves (HEFc) and of its isolated 4′,6,7-trihydroxy-5-methoxyflavone (5-O-methylscutellarein) [1], described here for the first time. Quantitative analysis indicated 8.77?±?0.23?mg/g of this compound in the extract. Neither HEFc nor [1] was cytotoxic in vitro. In LPS-induced peritonitis in mice, oral pre-treatment with HEFc or [1] led to decreased leukocyte migration to the peritoneal cavity and a reduction in the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα and IL-1β). Also, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was enhanced following treatment with [1]. Overall, these results validate the traditional use of Fridericia chica as anti-inflammatory, and indicate that the compound 5-O-methylscutellarein may participate in this effect.     

植物叶片厚度日变化的微分方程模型

对植物叶片厚度精密测量的日变化时间序列给出了微分方程模型,经数值例子的拟合发现,该模型对叶片厚度日变化的时间序列有很好的拟合精度,从而对研究植物叶片厚度的精密测量、预测与控制等都具有一定的参考价值和实用性.     

用清除有机自由基DPPH法评价竹叶提取物抗氧化能力

通过对1,1-二苯基苦基苯肼(DPPH)溶液吸收光谱、DPPH溶液反应体系的研究,得出以下结论,分光光度法测定DPPH溶液反应体系的测定波长为518.4 nm,反应体系为4.00 mL 257.7 mg·L-1的DPPH溶液中加1 mL不同浓度的抗氧化剂,反应体系加入抗氧化剂后反应时间为40 min;用上述方法研究评价合成抗氧化剂叔丁基对苯二酚(TBHQ)和2,6-二叔丁基对甲酚(BHT)对DPPH自由基清除率和浓度的关系,以IC₅₀值(清除率为50%时,抗氧化剂的浓度值)作为评价指标,测得合成抗氧化剂和效果最好竹叶提取物样品IC₅₀值分别为,TBHQ(21.14 mg·L-1),BHT(42.09 mg·L-1),M40(108.40 mg·L-1),M40等竹叶提取物可以作为天然抗氧化剂进行开发。     

不同消化方法对测定酸枣叶中部分金属元素含量的比较研究

使用常规湿法和干法消化方法对酸枣叶进行预处理,用火焰原子吸收法测定了其中的Ｃｕ、Ｆｅ、Ｚｎ、Ｍｎ、Ｓｒ、Ｃａ、Ｍｇ等七种金属元素的含量。结果表明,不同消化方法对某些元素产生的影响不同,损失度也有所差别,为样品预处理方法的选择提供了参考数据,也为进一步研究酸枣叶中金属元素的存在形态打下了基础。     

黄瓜子叶身与子叶柄的生理特性差异及其不同培养反应

与黄瓜子叶身相比,无论是子叶离体培养前还是离体培养后, 在苗龄 3d～ 9d其间,子叶柄始终具有较低的呼吸强度和较大的 A260nm物质渗漏 ,而且,两者间差异随苗龄而改变,这表明子叶柄和子叶身的细胞透性、呼吸活性存在显著差异,这些差异可能与子叶离体培养时只有子叶柄部位才能分化花芽有某种联系.     

Tissue distribution comparison between healthy and fatty liver rats after oral administration of hawthorn leaf extract

Hawthorn leaves, a well‐known traditional Chinese medicine, have been widely used for treating cardiovascular and fatty liver diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic basis treating fatty liver disease by comparing the tissue distribution of six compounds of hawthorn leaf extract (HLE) in fatty liver rats and healthy rats after oral administration at first day, half month and one month, separately. Therefore, a sensitive and specific HPLC method with internal standard was developed and validated to determine chlorogenic acid, vitexin‐4′′‐O‐glucoside, vitexin‐2′′‐O‐rhamnoside, vitexin, rutin and hyperoside in the tissues including heart, liver, spleen, kidney, stomach and intestine. The results indicated that the six compounds in HLE presented some bioactivity in treating rat fatty liver as the concentrations of the six compounds varied significantly in inter‐ and intragroup comparisons (healthy and/or fatty liver group). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of mastication time on the low strain properties of short pineapple leaf fiber reinforced natural rubber composites

Pineapple leaf fiber (PALF), used as a reinforcing agent, does not have good adhesion to natural rubber (NR) due to the difference in their polarities. As a result, the degree of reinforcement of NR imparted by PALF remains low compared to that in a polar rubber like acrylonitrile butadiene (NBR). One of the factors that determines the adhesion between the rubber and the reinforcement is the rubber molecular weight. Thus, the aim of this paper is to demonstrate that the stress at very low strains of short pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) reinforced natural rubber (NR) can be significantly increased by lowering the matrix molecular weight. This can be achieved by increasing the matrix mastication time. The composites studied here contain a fixed amount of PALF at 10 part (by weight) per hundred rubber (phr). The PALF fibers were both untreated (UPALF) and sodium hydroxide treated (TPALF). Mastication times of 2, 4, 8 and 16 min were used. Stress-strain curves of PALF reinforced NR prepared with different mastication times were then compared. The most affected region of the curve is in the low strain region. The slopes of the stress-strain curves (moduli) increase with increasing mastication time, indicating better fiber-rubber interaction. The maximum stress achieved at 10% strain is almost 370% that obtained with the usual short mastication time (2 min). The effect remains up to very high strains, although becoming smaller as the strain is increased. Hence, we demonstrate that, by using long enough mastication time, stress-strain curves and stress at low strain of PALF reinforced NR can be improved without the need of any other adhesion promoters.     

Effect of the γ-radiation on phenol fractions obtained from the leaves of Echinodorus macrophyllus Mich.

Echinodorus macrophyllus Mich. (Chapéu-de-couro) is popularly used as diuretic, anti-arrhythmic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-rheumatic agents. Leaves of this species are largely commercialized and show high level of microbiological contamination (bacteria and fungi). This work describes the effect of the ⁶⁰Co γ-radiation on the phenol fractions obtained from the leaves of E. macrophyllus. trans-Ferulic acid, (E)-caffeoyltartronic acid, 6-C-(1-hexitol)-apigenin, and 6-C-(1-hexitol)-luteolin were isolated by preparative HPLC. HPLC chromatograms showed concentration changes of some phenolic constituents, suggesting the formation of radiolytic products. The phenol fractions were active against Bacillus subitilis and Staphylococcus aureus and showed high antioxidant activity. However, the antibacterial and antioxidant activities reduced when the absorbed dose was increased.     

Analytical FT‐Raman spectroscopy to chemotype Leptospermum scoparium and generate predictive models for screening for dihydroxyacetone levels in floral nectar

Leptospermum scoparium (Mānuka) is the source of nectar for Unique Mānuka Factor (UMF) honey. The chemical component of interest to this study is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is the precursor for the chemical methylglyoxyl which is the main chemical responsible for the UMF activity in Manuka honey. Screening commercially bred plants for increased DHA synthesis in L. scoparium is a critical factor in growing the Manuka Honey industry in New Zealand. FT‐Raman spectroscopy, in combination with principal component analysis and partial least squares regression analysis, was investigated as an analytical tool for building a screening model for DHA in the nectar of L. scoparium. Leaf samples of seven cultivars of the species L. scoparium were collected in an attempt to correlate metabolic factors in the plant with DHA synthesis in the nectar. Leaf material was analysed using Fourier transform‐raman spectroscopy (FT‐Raman). The DHA levels in nectar samples of the same cultivars were measured using standard LC‐MS methods. This study showed that the application of multivariate analysis of FT‐Raman spectra from leaf material is a useful tool to screen for DHA potential in L. scoparium. The PLS regression shows that we can screen for DHA concentrations in the range of 3300–7600 mg/kg plus or minus 20% standard error and can distinguish low medium and high DHA synthesis in the group of plants studied. The model for predicting DHA concentrations is influenced by a significant contribution from the spectral variance due to beta‐carotene and other highly scattering compounds that are not directly correlated with UMF. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.