Astraoleanosides E-P, oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins from the aerial parts of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge and their ß-glucuronidase inhibitory activity.

Historically, Astragalus membranaceus Bunge has been used as a beneficial medicinal plant, particularly in the Asian traditional medical systems, for the treatment of various human diseases such as stomach ulcers, diarrhea, and respiratory issues associated with phlegm. In this study, a phytochemical characterization of the aerial parts of A. membranaceusled to the isolation of 29 oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, including 11 new compounds named astraoleanosides E-P (6-9, 13, 14, 18-22), as well as 18 known ones. The structures of these compounds were elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Among them, astraoleanoside H (9) and cloversaponin III (15) demonstrated the most potent ß-glucuronidase inhibitory activities, with IC50 values of 21.20 ± 0.75 and 9.05 ± 0.47 µM, respectively, compared to the positive control d-saccharic acid 1,4-lactone (IC50 = 20.62 ± 1.61 µM). Enzyme kinetics studies were then conducted to investigate the type of inhibition exhibited by these active compounds. In addition, the binding mechanism, key interactions, binding stability, and dynamic behavior of protein-ligand complexes were investigated through in silico approaches, such as molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. These findings highlight the promising potential of triterpenoid saponins from A. membranaceus as lead compounds for ß-glucuronidase inhibitors, offering new possibilities for the development of therapeutic agents targeting various diseases where ß-glucuronidase plays a crucial role.

Undescribed Triterpenes from the Leaves of Syzygium myrsinifolium with Their α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase Inhibition Activity.

Two undescribed triterpenes, syzyfolium A (1) and syzyfolium B (2), together with twelve known compounds, terminolic acid (3), actinidic acid (4), piscidinol A (5), threo-dihydroxydehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (6), lariciresinol-4-O-ß-D-glucoside (7), icariol A2 (8), 14ß,15ß-dihydroxyklaineanone (9), garcimangosone D (10), (+)-catechin (11), myricetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (12), quercitrin (13), and 3, 4, 5-trimethoxyphenyl-(6'-O-galloyl)-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (14) were isolated from the leaves of Syzygium myrsinifolium. Their chemical structures were determined by IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Compounds 3 and 4 inhibited significantly α-glucosidase with IC50 values of 23.99 and 36.84, respectively, and compounds 1 and 2 inhibited significantly α-amylase with IC50 values of 35.48 and 43.65 µM, respectively.

Gac Fruit Oils Encapsulated by Palm Oil-based Monoacylglycerols: The Effect of Drying Methods.

Lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) are interesting wall-materials for encapsulation technology, in which monoacylglycerols (MAGs) are considered as potential ingredient for LLC formulation. This study, therefore, applied palm oil-based MAGs to encapsulate Gac fruit oils and compared the effect of two drying methods (freeze-drying and spray-drying) on the quality of products during storage. Wall-materials were prepared by ultrasound dispersing MAGs/water mixtures (40/60, w/w) into Pluronic solution (2%, w/w) to formulate LLC dispersions. Then, Gac fruit oils were encapsulated by freeze-drying and spray-drying. Various technologies were applied to characterize the properties of dispersions, the encapsulated powder morphology and the loading capacity. Obtained results showed that LLC dispersions made of palm oilbased MAG were micro- and nano-emulsions which were very convenient for encapsulating Gac fruit oils. For both drying methods, ß-carotene of Gac fruit oils was successfully entrapped by MAGs with a high loading capacity (200 µg ß-carotene/g powder). The degradation of encapsulated ß-carotene after four storage weeks was 10 - 40% and freeze-dried samples showed a better protection effect in comparison to spray-dried samples.

Ultrahigh-porosity Ranunculus-like MgO adsorbent coupled with predictive deep belief networks: A transformative method for phosphorus treatment.

Phosphorus is a nonrenewable material with a finite supply on Earth; however, due to the rapid growth of the manufacturing industry, phosphorus contamination has become a global concern. Therefore, this study highlights the remarkable potential of ranunculus-like MgO (MO4-MO6) as superior adsorbents for phosphate removal and recovery. Furthermore, MO6 stands out with an impressive adsorption capacity of 596.88 mg/g and a high efficacy across a wide pH range (2-10) under varying coexisting ion concentrations. MO6 outperforms the top current adsorbents for phosphate removal. The process follows Pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, indicating chemical interactions between the phosphate species and homogeneous MO6 monolayer. MO6 maintains 80 % removal and 96 % recovery after five cycles and adheres to the WHO and EUWFD regulations for residual elements in water. FT-IR and XPS analyses further reveal the underlying mechanisms, including ion exchange, electrostatic, and acid-base interactions. Ten machine learning (ML) models were applied to simultaneously predict multi-criteria (sorption capacity, removal efficiency, final pH, and Mg leakage) affected by 15 diverse environmental conditions. Traditional ML models and deep neural networks have poor accuracy, particularly for removal efficiency. However, a breakthrough was achieved by the developed deep belief network (DBN) with unparalleled performance (MAE = 1.3289, RMSE = 5.2552, R2 = 0.9926) across all output features, surpassing all current studies using thousands of data points for only one output factor. These captivating MO6 and DBN models also have immense potential for effectively applying in the real water test with error < 5 %, opening immense horizons for transformative methods, particularly in phosphate removal and recovery.

Acetylcholinesterase inhibition studies of alkaloid components from Crinum asiaticum var. sinicum: in vitro assessments by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations.

Alkaloids are among the most important and best-known secondary metabolites as sources of new drugs from medicinal plants and marine organisms. A phytochemical investigation of the whole plant of Crinum asiaticum var. sinicum resulted in the isolation of seven alkaloids (1-7), including one new dimeric compound, bis-(-)-8-demethylmaritidine (1). Their structures were elucidated using NMR and HR-ESI-MS. The absolute configuration of new compound 1 was established by circular dichroism spectroscopy. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in vitro. Among them, compound 1 exhibited the most potent AChE inhibition. Moreover, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were carried out for the most active compound to investigate their binding interactions and dynamics behavior of the AChE protein-ligand complex. Therefore, compound 1 may be a potential candidate for effectively treating Alzheimer's disease.

Purification of Coffee Polyphenols Extracted from Coffee Pulps (Coffee arabica L.) Using Aqueous Two-Phase System.

Coffee pulp is an abundant residue from the coffee industry, but it still contains large amounts of valuable compounds such as polyphenols. The extraction of polyphenols from coffee pulp by the conventional method is accompanied by contaminated compounds. This study, therefore, applied an aqueous two-phase system consisting of different ratios of ethanol/ammonium sulfate to eliminate impurities from coffee-pulp crude extract. The purification efficiency was evaluated via total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity and two major polyphenols in coffee pulps including chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. Results showed that phenolic compounds mostly predominated in the alcohol-rich phase in which the antioxidant activity was greatly increased after the purification process. Compared to un-purified crude-coffee extract, the antioxidant activity of the purified samples increased approximately 34%, which was assumed to occur due to the slight increase of chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy supported the effectiveness of the purification process by eliminating some impurities.

Controlled-Release Wedelia trilobata L. Flower Extract Loaded Fibroin Microparticles as Potential Anti-Aging Preparations for Cosmetic Trade Commercialization.

Background: Wedelia trilobata L. (WT), a common herbal plant in Vietnam, is popularly used as a strong antioxidant in Vietnamese folk medicine. However, limited studies have reported the application of WT flower in cosmeceutical area. Purpose: This study explored the potentials of WT loaded fibroin microparticles (FMPs-WT) as a novel anti-aging cosmeceutical product. Methods: The WT flower was firstly extracted by maceration with methanol, ethanol 60%, and ethanol 96%, and its chemical compositions and total polyphenol content were investigated. Then, the FMPs-WT were developed by desolvation method and physicochemically characterized. Finally, the product antioxidant activities were in-vitro determined using DPPH assay. Results: The optimal WT extract was the ethanol 60% extract, which contains polyphenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, and organic acids; with a total polyphenol content of 46.47 ± 2.32 mg GAE/g plant powder. The FMPs-WT were successfully formulated, with a distinct silk-II polymorph; varied sizes of 0.592 to 9.820 µm, depending on the fibroin concentrations and the WT extraction solvent; high entrapment efficiencies of >65%; and sustained-release patterns of polyphenol in pH 7.4 for >6 h. Regarding the antioxidant activity, the pure WT flower extracts possessed high scavenging actions with IC50 of 7.98 ± 0.40 µg/mL, comparable with the standard ascorbic acid (IC50 = 4.23 ± 0.21 µg/mL). Moreover, the FMPs-WT could retain the extract antioxidant capacity, and exert the effects in a timely manner, corresponding to its release profile. Conclusion: The FMPs-WT could be further investigated to become a potential anti-aging cosmeceutical product in the market.

A New Ceanothane-Type Triterpenoid Saponin Isolated from Gouania leptostachya DC. var. tonkinensis Pit. and Its Underlying Anti-Inflammatory Effects.

Metabolites from medicinal plants continue to hold significant value in the exploration and advancement of novel pharmaceuticals. In the search for plants containing compounds with anti-inflammatory effects, we observed that the ethanol (EtOH) extract obtained from the aerial components of Gouania leptostachya DC. var. tonkinensis Pit. exhibited substantial suppression of nitric oxide (NO) in vitro. In a phytochemical study on an EtOH extract of G. leptostachya, 11 compounds were purified, including one unreported compound namely gouanioside A (1). Their chemical structures were unambiguously determined through the use of various spectroscopic techniques, such as 1 and 2D NMR, IR, and HR-ESI-MS, and by producing derivatives via chemical reactions. The EtOH extract, fractions, and a new compound exerted inflammatory effects by altering NO synthesis in murine RAW264.7 macrophage cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. The underlying inflammatory mechanism of the new compound 1 was also explored through various in vitro experiments. The results of this study indicate the potential usefulness of new compound 1 from G. leptostachya as a treatment for inflammatory diseases.

Microwave-assisted extraction of pectin from jackfruit rags: Optimization, physicochemical properties and antibacterial activities.

While fruit biowastes pose an environmental hazard, they can be utilized as a source of beneficial biopolymers such as pectin. However, conventional extraction techniques require long processing time with low, impure yields, and microwave assisted extraction (MAE) can suffer from these drawbacks. Here, MAE was applied to extract pectin from jackfruit rags and compared with conventional heating reflux extraction (HRE). Response surface methodology was adopted to optimize pectin yield, based on pH (1.0-2.0), solid-liquid ratio (1:20-1:30), time (5-90 min), and temperature (60-95 °C). Pectin extraction by MAE required lower temperatures (65.99 °C) and shorter reaction times (10.56 min). Pectin HRE resulted in a product with amorphous structures and rough surfaces, while pectin-MAE was high crystalline with smooth surfaces. Although both pectin samples showed shear-thinning behavior, pectin-MAE exhibited higher antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Therefore, microwave assisted extraction was an efficient method to extract pectin from jackfruit rags.

Surgical outcomes and quality of life assessment of esophagectomy for cancer with colon conduit via retrosternal route.

PURPOSE: Colon conduit is an alternative to a gastric conduit for esophagectomy in patients that stomach is not available. Surgical technique is complex and has a high risk of morbidities and mortality. Outcomes of patients are still lacking in the literature, thus aims of this study are to evaluate the safety, feasibility and long-term functional outcomes of patients who underwent esophagectomy for cancer with colon conduit via retrosternal route. METHODS: Twenty-six patients underwent operation between August 2016 and June 2021 for malignancies. Minimally invasive esophagectomy and laparotomy were performed in accordance with the 2017 Japan Esophageal Society's guidelines. Colonic interposition was used for esophageal replacement. Outcomes were technical success, complications assessed using Clavien-Dindo classification, and patient's quality of life (QOL) based on EORTC-QOL-OES18 questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean age was 56.0 ± 9.9 years and 21 patients (80.8%) were men. Mean operating time was 432 ± 66 min. Technical success was 100%. The average number of resected lymph nodes was 26 ± 14. Twelve patients (46.2%) experienced postoperative complications: 7/12 were classified as grade I-II, 3/12 as grade III, 1/12 as grade IV, and 1/12 as grade V (death). Patient's QOL improved during the follow-up period with median (25-75th percentiles) global EORTC-QOL-OES18 score was 29 (17-34); 13 (9-21), and 9 (6-16) at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. During the follow-up period, there were 4 late complications, 3 lymphatic recurrences, 5 distant metastases, and 6 deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Colon conduit via retrosternal route after esophagectomy is feasible, safe, and could provide acceptable long-term functional outcomes.

Extraction and purification of anthocyanins from Peristrophe bivalvis (L.) Merr. leaf (Acanthaceae) using aqueous two-phase systems.

Peristrophe bivalvis (L.) Merr. (Acanthaceae) is a Vietnamese herb that is rich in anthocyanin, a natural colorant. However, the common extraction methods for this pigment often accompany with the presence of contaminated compounds. This study, therefore, focused on applying the aqueous two-phase system (ATPS), a green method for extracting and purifying anthocyanin in the leaf extract. The obtained results revealed that an ATPS composing from ethanol and ammonium sulfate with the concentrations of 32.5% and 25%, respectively, can recover 80% anthocyanin in leaf while eliminating 80% contaminated nitrogen compounds. Besides, the shelf-life of pigment in the purified extract was also elongated significantly in comparison with that in the crude extract.

Cross-Platform Detection of Psychiatric Hospitalization via Social Media Data: Comparison Study.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown the feasibility of using machine learning models trained on social media data from a single platform (eg, Facebook or Twitter) to distinguish individuals either with a diagnosis of mental illness or experiencing an adverse outcome from healthy controls. However, the performance of such models on data from novel social media platforms unseen in the training data (eg, Instagram and TikTok) has not been investigated in previous literature. OBJECTIVE: Our study examined the feasibility of building machine learning classifiers that can effectively predict an upcoming psychiatric hospitalization given social media data from platforms unseen in the classifiers' training data despite the preliminary evidence on identity fragmentation on the investigated social media platforms. METHODS: Windowed timeline data of patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder before a known hospitalization event and healthy controls were gathered from 3 platforms: Facebook (254/268, 94.8% of participants), Twitter (51/268, 19% of participants), and Instagram (134/268, 50% of participants). We then used a 3 × 3 combinatorial binary classification design to train machine learning classifiers and evaluate their performance on testing data from all available platforms. We further compared results from models in intraplatform experiments (ie, training and testing data belonging to the same platform) to those from models in interplatform experiments (ie, training and testing data belonging to different platforms). Finally, we used Shapley Additive Explanation values to extract the top predictive features to explain and compare the underlying constructs that predict hospitalization on each platform. RESULTS: We found that models in intraplatform experiments on average achieved an F1-score of 0.72 (SD 0.07) in predicting a psychiatric hospitalization because of schizophrenia spectrum disorder, which is 68% higher than the average of models in interplatform experiments at an F1-score of 0.428 (SD 0.11). When investigating the key drivers for divergence in construct validities between models, an analysis of top features for the intraplatform models showed both low predictive feature overlap between the platforms and low pairwise rank correlation (<0.1) between the platforms' top feature rankings. Furthermore, low average cosine similarity of data between platforms within participants in comparison with the same measurement on data within platforms between participants points to evidence of identity fragmentation of participants between platforms. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that models built on one platform's data to predict critical mental health treatment outcomes such as hospitalization do not generalize to another platform. In our case, this is because different social media platforms consistently reflect different segments of participants' identities. With the changing ecosystem of social media use among different demographic groups and as web-based identities continue to become fragmented across platforms, further research on holistic approaches to harnessing these diverse data sources is required.

Furostane Saponins from the Seeds of Allium ramosum and Their Lipid Accumulation Inhibitory Activity.

Three new furostane saponins, ramofurosides A-C (1-3), and two known saponins, fistulosaponin B (4) and (25R)-26-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-1ß,3ß,26-trihydroxyfurosta-5,20(22)-diene-1-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranoside (5) were isolated from the methanol extract of Allium ramosum seeds. Their structures were identified based on spectroscopic evidence and comparison with those reported in the literature. All compounds were evaluated for reduction of lipid accumulation in HepG2 cell lines. As a result, compounds 1 and 3 showed a significant reduction in total lipid content by 27.93±3.05 and 27.54±1.68 %, respectively, at a concentration of 100 µM.

Steroid glycosides isolated from Paris polyphylla var. chinensis aerial parts and paris saponin II induces G1/S-phase MCF-7 cell cycle arrest.

In our previous research on Vietnamese medicinal plants, we found that the ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis exhibited cytotoxic effects in vitro in the MCF-7 human cancer cell line. Here, we used combined chromatographic separations to isolate six compounds including a new steroid glycoside, paripoloside A (3), and five known compounds, from the butanol extract of the aerial parts of P. polyphylla. We unambiguously elucidated their structures based on spectroscopic data (proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance, heteronuclear single quantum coherence, heteronuclear multiple bond correlation, correlation spectroscopy, and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy data), and chemical reactions. Among the isolated compounds, paris saponin II (PSII) had the strongest cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Interestingly, PSII significantly increased the expression of p53, p21, p27, and Bax protein levels and significantly suppressed the expression of cyclin D1 and retinoblastoma protein. These data suggest that PSII may induce G1/S phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis pathway development in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the MCF-7 breast cancer cells mechanism of PSII was also investigated using molecular docking. Together, our results demonstrate that isolated compounds from P. polyphylla are promising candidates as breast cancer inhibitors.

Investigation of bioactive chemical constituents and anti-cancer activity of ethanol extract of Curcuma singularis Gagnep rhizomes.

Curcuma singularis Gagnep is a Vietnamese medicinal plant which has been commonly used in traditional and folk medicines for the treatment of different diseases. The goals of the present study are to investigate chemical composition and anti-proliferative activity of Curcuma singularis rhizome extract (CSE). The in vitro cytotoxicity of CSE was evaluated using WST-1 and LDH assays. The apoptosis induction was determined using nuclei DAPI staining and FACS assays. The main compounds of extract were identified and quantitatively analyzed using the validated HPLC method. The extract showed cytotoxic effects in various liver and breast cancer cells but had minimal effects on normal cells. It induced apoptosis on both Hep3B and SKBR3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, three sesquiterpene compounds, such as germacrone (3.25 ± 0.32 mg/g), ar-turmerone (1.12 ± 0.24 mg/g), and curcumol (0.31 ± 0.12 mg/g) were found as the main components of CSE. This is the first report on the in vitro cytotoxic effect of Curcuma singularis rhizomes against cancer cells.

Aplydactylonins A-C, three new sesquiterpenes from the Vietnamese sea hare Aplysia dactylomela and their cytotoxicity.

Aplydactylonins A-C (1-3), three new sesquiterpenes, were isolated from the Vietnamese sea hare Aplysia dactylomela. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated based on spectroscopic analysis, X-ray crystallography, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations of NMR and ECD data. Compound 2 exhibited cytotoxicity against HepG2, DU145 and A549 cells with respective IC50 values of 4.08 ± 0.63, 38.64 ± 1.04 and 12.33 ± 0.95 µM. In addition, HepG2 cells treated with 5 µM compound 2 for 48 h showed a significant increase in early apoptotic cells (P < 0.05) and increased caspase 3 activity (P < 0.01). Moreover, compound 2 induced sub-G1 phase arrest in HepG2 cells.

Bioactive chemical constituents, in vitro anti-proliferative activity and in vivo toxicity of the extract of Curcuma singularis Gagnep rhizomes.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Curcuma singularis Gagnep is a Vietnamese medicinal plant which has been commonly used as a medicinal remedy in traditional and folk medicines for improving health as well as for treating some diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, kidney failure. However, pharmacological effects, including anti-cancer activity and the safety of this plant has not been fully investigated. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the in vitro anti-growth activity of an extract derived from Curcuma singularis rhizome extract (CSE) against cell lines as well as determine its phytochemical composition. The other goal of our study was to assess the safety of CSE in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The main constituents in the extract were identified and quantitatively analyzed. The in vitro cytotoxicity of CSE was evaluated in several cancer and normal cell lines. The apoptotic activity of CSE and the expression of the apoptosis-related genes were investigated in AGS cells to clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms. The in vivo toxicity of CSE was assessed via acute and subacute oral studies on Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively according to the guidelines 425 and 407 of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The drug-related toxicity signs, mortality, body and organ weights were recoreded during the experimental period. In addition, the selected hematological and biochemical parameters, and histological alterations were determined at the end of the subacute toxicity test. RESULTS: Germacrone, ar-turmerone, and curcumol were three sesquiterpene components found in the extract. CSE showed cytotoxic effects in different cancer cells, but had minimal effects on normal cells. Apoptosis in AGS cells was caused by CSE in a concentration-dependent pattern through increase of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and release of cytochrome c, which leads to activation of caspase-3/-7, caspase-9, as well as cleavage of PARP. In the acute toxicity test, no signs of toxicity and no mortality were recorded in rats at both doses of 1000 and 5000 mg/kg. In the subacute toxicity study, CSE showed no drug-related adverse effects on water and food consumption, body and organ weights. CSE at a dose of 1000 mg/kg slightly increased WBC and platelet values in female rats, while it increased WBC values in male rats in all tested doses. The decrease of total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were found in female rats treated CSE at doses of 250 or 500 mg/kg. In addition, the increase of serum ALT and AST levels in rats treated at the dose of 1000 mg/kg were noted. No significant changes in histopathological structures of kidneys, spleen, heart and lungs, except liver tissue with minor modifications was found. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that CSE exhibited in vitro anti-proliferative effects on AGS cells by mainly activating the caspase-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. CSE also showed in vivo toxicity signals at the dose of 1000 mg/kg with proven minor hepatic injuries, which should be avoided the high dose for prolonged use. Curcuma singularis rhizomes may be used as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of gastric cancer with in vitro anti-cancer investigation and in vivo biological safety evaluation.

Inhibitory Effects of Cucurbitane-Type Triterpenoids from Momordica charantia Fruit on Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Production in Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells.

The bitter melon, Momordica charantia L., was once an important food and medicinal herb. Various studies have focused on the potential treatment of stomach disease with M. charantia and on its anti-diabetic properties. However, very little is known about the specific compounds responsible for its anti-inflammatory activities. In addition, the in vitro inhibitory effect of M. charantia on pro-inflammatory cytokine production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) has not been reported. Phytochemical investigation of M. charantia fruit led to the isolation of 15 compounds (1-15). Their chemical structures were elucidated spectroscopically (one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance) and with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The anti-inflammatory effects of the isolated compounds were evaluated by measuring the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin IL-6, IL-12 p40, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated BMDCs. The cucurbitanes were potent inhibitors of the cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12 p40, indicating promising anti-inflammatory effects. Based on these studies and in silico simulations, we determined that the ligand likely docked in the receptors. These results suggest that cucurbitanes from M. charantia are potential candidates for treating inflammatory diseases.

Advanced materials for immobilization of purple phototrophic bacteria in bioremediation of oil-polluted wastewater.

Oil pollution which results from industrial activities, especially oil and gas industry, has become a serious issue. Cinder beats (CB), coconut fiber (CF) and polyurethane foam (PUF) are promising immobilization carriers for crude oil biodegradation because they are inexpensive, nontoxic, and non-polluting. The present investigation was aimed to evaluate this advanced technology and compare the efficiency of these immobilization carriers on supporting purple phototrophic bacterial (PPB) strains in hydrocarbon biodegradation of crude oil contaminated seawater. The surface of these biocarriers was supplemented with crude oil polluted seawater and immobilized by PPB strains, Rhodopseudomonas sp. DD4, DQ41 and FO2. Through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the bacterial cells were shown to colonize and attach strongly to these biocarriers. The bacteria-driven carrier systems degraded over 84.2% supplemented single polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The aliphatic and aromatic components in crude oil that treated with carrier-immobilized consortia were degraded remarkably after 14 day-incubation. Among the three biocarriers, removal of the crude oil by CF-bacteria system was the highest (nearly 100%), followed by PUF-bacteria (89.5%) and CB-bacteria (86.3%) with the initial crude oil concentration was 20 g/L. Efficiency of crude oil removal by CB-bacteria and PUF-bacteria were 86.3 and 89.5%, respectively. Till now, the studies on crude oil degradation by mixture species biofilms formed by PPB on different carriers are limited. The present study showed that the biocarriers of an oil-degrading consortium could be made up of waste materials that are cheap and eco-friendly as well as augment the biodegradation of oil-contaminated seawater.

Bioactive compounds from the aerial parts of Hypericum sampsonii.

Hypericum sampsonii is an important medicinal plant used in Vietnam to treat many diseases such as backache, burns, diarrhea, and swelling. In order to study the chemical constituents in the aerial parts of H. sampsonii, five compounds, including two xanthones (1-2), and three benzophenones (3-5) were isolated from the aerial parts of the H. sampsonii with various chromatographic separations. Their chemical structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data such as 1D- and 2D-NMR, HR-ESI-MS. Their anti-inflammatory activities were investigated by measuring nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, the DPPH radical scavenging was evaluated. As the obtained results, compound 5 showed the strongest inhibitory activity against LPS-stimulated NO production in RAW264.7 cells with IC50 value ranging from 2.00 ± 0.34 µM.