Chemical Profiles and Pharmacological Properties with in Silico Studies on Elatostema papillosum Wedd

The current study attempted, for the first time, to qualitatively and quantitatively determine the phytochemical components of Elatostema papillosum methanol extract and their biological activities. The present study represents an effort to correlate our previously reported biological activities with a computational study, including molecular docking, and ADME/T (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion/toxicity) analyses, to identify the phytochemicals that are potentially responsible for the antioxidant, antidepressant, anxiolytic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities of this plant. In the gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis, a total of 24 compounds were identified, seven of which were documented as being bioactive based on their binding affinities. These seven were subjected to molecular docking studies that were correlated with the pharmacological outcomes. Additionally, the ADME/T properties of these compounds were evaluated to determine their drug-like properties and toxicity levels. The seven selected, isolated compounds displayed favorable binding affinities to potassium channels, human serotonin receptor, cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), COX-2, nuclear factor (NF)-κB, and human peroxiredoxin 5 receptor proteins. Phytol acetate, and terpene compounds identified in E. papillosum displayed strong predictive binding affinities towards the human serotonin receptor. Furthermore, 3-trifluoroacetoxypentadecane showed a significant binding affinity for the KcsA potassium channel. Eicosanal showed the highest predicted binding affinity towards the human peroxiredoxin 5 receptor. All of these findings support the observed in vivo antidepressant and anxiolytic effects and the in vitro antioxidant effects observed for this extract. The identified compounds from E. papillosum showed the lowest binding affinities towards COX-1, COX-2, and NF-κB receptors, which indicated the inconsequential impacts of this extract against the activities of these three proteins. Overall, E. papillosum appears to be bioactive and could represent a potential source for the development of alternative medicines; however, further analytical experiments remain necessary.     

Pressurized hot water extraction of berberine, baicalein and glycyrrhizin in medicinal plants

Pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) using a laboratory made system was applied for the extraction of thermally labile and reasonably polar components such as berberine in coptidis rhizoma, glycyrrhizin in radix glycyrrhizae/liquorice and baicalein in scutellariae radix. PHWE was carried out dynamically at a flow of 1 ml/min, temperature between 95 and 140 °C, an applied pressure of 10-20 bar and extraction time of 40 min. Extraction by PHWE was found to give efficiencies comparable to Soxhlet extraction for baicalein in scutellariae radix and sonication for berberine in coptidis rhizoma, and glycyrrhizin in radix glycyrrhizae. Effects of ethanol added into the water used in PHWE were explored. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with methanol as solvent was used for extraction of baicalein in scutellariae radix. The marker compounds present in the various medicinal plant extracts were determined by gradient elution HPLC.     

Macrodasine A, a novel macroline derivative incorporating fused spirocyclic tetrahydrofuran rings containing a spiroacetal moiety

A novel indole alkaloid, viz., macrodasine A, incorporating fused spirocyclic tetrahydrofuran rings onto a macroline-like moiety, was obtained from a Malayan Alstonia species. The structure, which is also notable for the presence of an unprecedented spiroacetal moiety in an indole alkaloid, was established by spectroscopic analysis.     

Determination of copper in medicinal plants used as dietary supplements by atomic absorption spectrometry with direct flame solid analysis

An alternative device for the direct solid analysis (DSA) for copper determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is proposed. Copper was directly determined in commercial medicinal plants used as dietary supplements. The determination of copper in solid samples by DSA–FAAS was made by using a conventional air–acetylene flame. Between 0.05 and 1.5 mg of each test, sample was weighed directly into a small polyethylene vial connected to the device used for solid introduction into the flame. Test samples were introduced into the flame as a dry aerosol using a T-quartz cell set between the burner and the optical path. The T-quartz cell has a slit in the superior part by which the solid aerosol passes to the flame. A transient signal, evaluated as integrated absorbance, is produced and it is totally integrated in 2 s. Background signals always presented absorbance values less than 0.1. It was found a characteristic mass of 0.8 ng Cu and absolute limit of detection of 1.2 ng (3 s), or 1.2 μg g⁻¹ if a sample mass of 1 mg was used. Optimized conditions for air flow rate, flame stoichiometry, and so on were established as well. No excessive grinding of the samples was needed and samples with particle of size less than 80 μm were used throughout. No statistical difference between the results from the proposed system and those obtained by sample digestion and determination by conventional FAAS was observed. With the proposed procedure, more than 50 test samples can be analyzed in 1 h and it can be easily adapted to conventional spectrometers for FAAS.     

Gas Chromatographic Method for Routine Determination of Oleanolic and Ursolic Acids in Medicinal Plants

Summary A rapid and simple gas chromatographic method has been established for routine analysis of free oleanolic and ursolic acids in dried samples of medicinal herbs. Soxhlet extraction of triterpenes was followed by solid-phase extraction (SPE). Amounts of the compounds were measured by gas chromatography after silylation of the purified samples. Experiments were performed to establish the optimum conditions (e.g. solvent, and mode and duration of extraction) for calibration curve linearity, sensitivity, reproducibility, and recovery. The conditions used for derivatization and gas chromatographic analysis resulted in an improvement on literature data. The method devised enables accurate routine measurement of many samples in quite a short time (e.g. for chemotaxonomical screening, or quality control of herbal drugs). The practical application of the method was illustrated on five Lamiaceae species.     

Oxidative polymerization of aniline on the surface of insoluble solid poly(sulfo acids) as a method for the preparation of efficient biosorbents

Polyaniline coatings of the cation-exchange resin Dowex and a synthetic composite material based on silica gel surface-modified by a sulfated styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer were prepared by precipitative polymerization of aniline on the surface of the supports. The optimal conditions for the preparation of the polyaniline-containing material providing the formation of a thin polymeric coating on the support surface were determined. Aniline is predominantly consumed to the formation of a uniform polymeric coating about 3 nm thick with an increase in the concentration of sulfo groups on the support surface. The efficiency of using the polyaniline-containing sorbents for the preparative isolation of DNA from plant tissue lysates was demonstrated. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1123–1130, June, 2007.     

Radiotracer Investigation of the Copper Ore Concentration Process

One of the most difficult operations for control and identification in copper ore concentration process is grain classification in hydrocyclone batteries. In the paper radiotracer investigations of the classification process immediately give values of hydrocyclones parameters with higher accuracy than obtained from conventional methods. Presented paper includes the results of the investigation which was carried out in “Lubin” Copper Mine in Poland.     

Nuklearpharmaka — Ihre Entwicklung,Präparation und Anwendungsmöglichkeiten

Radioaktiv markierte Präparate haben in denletzten Jahren in schnell zunehmendem Maße Eingang in die klinische Medizin gefunden. Sie sind beieiner Reihe von Indikationen schon jetzt außerordentlich wertvolle Hilfsmittel bei der Diagnose, besonders bei der Prüfung von Organfunktionen.     

Biochemical study for the effect of henna (Lawsonia inermis) on Escherichia coli

Leaf samples of Lawsonia inermis (Li) were examined for their antimicrobial potential. Broth extracts in different concentrations were prepared and bioassayed in vitro for the growth of Escherichia coli. The growth of E. coli pathogen was inhibited to various degrees by increasing the concentration of the herbal powder. In addition to the observed alterations which were detected electrophoretically in the protein pattern, were activities of the amylase enzyme and glycoprotein fractions. The protein pattern has one common band of Rf 0.47 and two characteristic bands of Rf 0.36 and Rf 0.42 for E. coli sample. The quantitative mutation was observed in the bacteria with different concentrations of L. inermis compared with the control. Some types of proteins in E. coli completely disappeared upon being S.I affected. The amylase pattern showed one common band with Rf 0.037 and two characteristic bands with Rf 0.18 and Rf 0.37 for E. coli sample. The obvious quantitative mutation observed in bacteria with different concentrations of L. inermis compared with E. coli. The glycoprotein pattern recorded one common band at R₁ with Rf 0.94 for E. coli sample and bacteria inoculated with different concentrations of L. inermis. These results confirmed the antibacterial activity of henna leaves and supported the traditional use of the plant in therapy of bacterial infections and disturbances that occurred at the biochemical level. The broth extract of the L. inermis leaves showed obvious antibacterial activity against E. coli.     

煤中痕量元素在循环流化床锅炉中的迁移行为与富集特性

对天津市某电厂循环流化床(CFB)锅炉燃用的原煤及燃烧产物底灰、飞灰、细飞灰(≤50 μm)进行痕量元素含量的测定,分析了Be、Zn、Hg、V、Cr、Mn、Co、Ni、Cu、As、Se、Cd、Pb 13种痕量元素在燃烧过程中的迁移行为,揭示了痕量元素在CFB锅炉中的分配、富集特性。结果表明,CFB锅炉中,较低的炉温对于痕量元素的迁移富集产生了较大的影响。由相对富集系数得知,Be、V、Co、Se在底灰中耗散,在飞灰中富集,Zn、Mn倾向于在底灰中富集,元素Cd、Pb、Ni、Cu挥发性较强,在底灰和飞灰中均是耗散。As受钙氧化物影响,挥发性表现并不明显。Hg在底灰和飞灰中相对富集系数均很低,表明Hg在整个燃烧过程中以气态形式排放;Hg、As、Se、V、Cr、Mn、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、Pb均有向小颗粒物中富集的趋势。根据相对富集系数以及研究的13种元素在低温CFB锅炉中的迁移行为,将这些元素分为三类:A类(E_R<0.1),主要是以气态形式排放元素Hg;B类(0.1R≤0.85),较易挥发元素As、Be、Ni、Cu、Se、Cd、Pb、Co、V;C类(E_R>0.85),主要残留在固体产物中元素Zn、Mn、Cr。