Beneficial Effects of Hordenine on a Model of Ulcerative Colitis.

Hordenine, a phenethylamine alkaloid, is found in a variety of plants and exhibits a broad array of biological activities and pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. However, the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of hordenine in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) remain unclear. To address this, we examined the therapeutic effects of hordenine on dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced UC by comparing disease activity index (DAI), colon length, secretion of inflammatory factors, and degree of colonic histological lesions across diseased mice that were and were not treated with hordenine. We found that hordenine significantly reduced DAI and levels of pro-inflammatory factors, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ß, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and also alleviated colon tissue oedema, colonic lesions, inflammatory cells infiltration and decreased the number of goblet cells. Moreover, in vitro experiments showed that hordenine protected intestinal epithelial barrier function by increasing the expression of tight junction proteins including ZO-1 and occludin, while also promoting the healing of intestinal mucosa. Using immunohistochemistry and western blotting, we demonstrated that hordenine reduced the expression of sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1), sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1), and ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1), and it inhibited the expression of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) in colon tissues. Thus, hordenine appears to be effective in UC treatment owing to pharmacological mechanisms that favor mucosal healing and the inhibition of SPHK-1/S1PR1/STAT3 signaling.

Hydrophobic nano SiO2 as flow-enhancing additives and flame retardant synergizes with CaCO3 to suppress gas explosion.

The suppression effect of hydrophobic nano SiO2 of different concentrations as flow-enhancing additives synergizing with CaCO3 to inhibit gas explosions was systematically studied in a self-built LabVIEW-based explosion test platform. The results showed that the addition of hydrophobic powder can reduce the angle of rest and enhance the flowability of mixed powders, and improve the powder diffusion effect and storability. Meanwhile, changing the proportion and concentration of the mixed powders had a significant impact on the combustion reaction, so that the flame propagation velocity and explosion overpressure decreased significantly. However, excessive powder concentration will promote the combustion reaction at the initial stage of the explosion, and the synergistic inhibition effect of the two powders on explosions is better than that of a single powder. Based on the above results, the optimum suppression concentration and proportion were determined, the mechanism of suppressing gas explosion by a powder was analyzed, and the coupling relationship between flame velocity and pressure was summarized.