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Background: Cordyceps militaris is recognized as a tonic in traditional Chinese medicine, and there have been documented findings on the anti-allergic properties of its extract derived from the fruiting body. Due to the limited availability of wild C. militaris, a specialized grain substrate has been devised for the solid-state fermentation of its fruiting bodies. However, the fermented grain substrate is considered waste and usually used as feeds for animals. To achieve the sustainable development goals, C. militaris-fermented grain substrate (CFGS) was collected to prepare CFGS extracts. Further, the anti-allergic properties of these extracts were assessed with the aim of exploring novel applications. Methods: The water extract and ethanol extract of CFGS were prepared, and their potential in alleviating allergic enteritis was assessed in mice with food allergy. Assessment of immunomodulatory effects included the measurement of serum antibodies and splenic cytokines. Additionally, influence of extracts on gut microbiota composition was examined through sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA gene from freshly collected feces of the mice. Results: Daily administration of the water and ethanol extracts, at doses of 50 or 250 mg/kg body weight, demonstrated a notable alleviation of allergic diarrhea and enteritis. This was accompanied by a decrease in mast cell infiltration in the duodenum and a reduction in allergen-specific IgE production in the serum. Both extracts led to a significant decrease in IL-4 secretion. Conversely, there was an increase in IFN-γ, IL-10, and TGF-ß secretion from splenocytes. Remarkably, allergic mice exhibited a distinct fecal microbiota profile compared to that of normal mice. Intriguingly, the administration of these extracts had varying effects on the fecal microbiota. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings collectively indicate the potential of CFGS extracts as promising candidates for functional foods. These extracts show promise in managing allergic enteritis and modulating gut microbiota.
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Zhang et al (Reports, 27 January 2017, p. 374) reported synthesis of a cyclo-N5- ion putatively stabilized in a solid-state salt by hydrogen bonding from surrounding counterions. We performed theoretical calculations suggesting that HN5 would be favored over the anion in the reported pentazolate salt via proton transfer.
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Under hydrothermal conditions, an open-chain N7 3- anion stabilized in a metal-organic framework (MOF) was achieved for the first time via the in situ reaction of 4-fluorobenzonitrile and sodium azide with Pb2+ ion as catalyst. The anion with C 2h symmetry in the MOF was studied by FT-IR, single-crystal XRD and theoretical calculations. Thermal analysis results demonstrated the stability of the anion in the MOF below 430 °C and a high energy content of 8.61 kJ g-1. The anion is also a good reducing agent. It can easily react with basic KMnO4 solution. Moreover, the present study indicates that the Pb2+ ion activates the azide rather than nitrile in the in situ reaction of nitriles with azides to form polynitrogen and this mechanism is a distinct contradiction with the previous results in which the nitrile reacts with azide in the presence of transition metal ions. Our findings may open a new avenue towards the synthesis and capture of polynitrogen compounds.
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The novel water-soluble poly(vinyl alcohol) with pendant rhodamine B moiety as colorimetric and fluorescene chemosensor for Hg(2+) ions was prepared by grafting poly(vinyl alcohol) using rhodamine B hydrazide and hexamethylenediisocyanate as fluorescent dye and coupling agent, respectively. Because of their good water-solubility, the polymers binding rhodamine B can be used as chemosensors in aqueous media. With the addition of Hg(2+) ions into the aqueous solution, visual color changes and fluorescence enhancements were detected. In addition, we also noticed that other metal ions such as Ag(+), Cd(2+), Co(2+), Cu(2+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ba(2+), Fe(2+), Ni(2+), Pb(2+), Cr(3+), Fe(3+) and Zn(2+) cannot induce obvious changes to the fluorescence spectra of the polymer chemosensors. The combination of water solubility and positive fluorescence response as well as color change are hence particularly promising for the practical utility of the sensors.