A comprehensive review of the botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Murrayae Folium et Cacumen.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Murrayae Folium et Cacumen (MFC) is a plant considered to be a traditional Chinese medicine with culinary value as well. The dry leaves and twigs of Murraya paniculata and M. exotica are used to treat stomach aches, rheumatism, toothaches, swelling, and insect and snake bites. They are also used to prepare spicy chicken dishes. Aim of the review: This review comprehensively summarizes the available information on the botanical characterization, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of MFC. Methods: Relevant scientific literature up to August 2023 was included in the study. Chinese and English studies on MFC were collected from databases, including PubMed, Elsevier, Web of Science, Springer, Science Direct, Wiley, ACS, and CNKI (Chinese). Doctoral and Master's dissertations were also included. Results: In total, 720 compounds have been identified and reported in the literature, including flavonoids, coumarins, alkaloids, sterols, phenylpropenols, organic acids, spirocyclopentenones, and volatile oils. Flavonoids and coumarins are the two most important bioactive compounds responsible for these pharmacological activities. MFC has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-depressant, potential anti-Alzheimer's disease, chondroprotective, and analgesic properties. The pharmacological effects include interrupting the STAT3/NF-κB/COX-2 and EGFR signaling pathways, downregulating EpCAM expression, inhibiting NF-κB and ERK signals, inhibiting the EP/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway and miR-29a/Wnt/ß-catenin signaling activity, and upregulating Foxo3a expression. Conclusion: This review demonstrates that the chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity of MFC support its use in traditional Chinese botanical medicines. MFC contains a wide range of chemical compounds. Flavonoids and coumarins promote strong pharmacological activity and, are low-toxicity natural phytomedicines that are widely used in medicine, food, ornamentation, and cosmetics, making MFC a promising compound for development and use in the treatment of several medical conditions.

[Construction of the stable cell line expressing the mouse recombinant enamelin gene].

OBJECTIVE: To construct a mouse recombinant enamelin eukaryocyte expression system, and establish the stable cell line which can produce the protein continuously. METHODS: The mRNA transcript from the 3-day mouse jaw was extracted. and the enamelin gene fragment amplified with RT-PCR techniques. Then the PCR product was cat with two restriction enzymes, and subcloned into the eukaryotic gene expression vector pcDNA3.1TM/mycj His(-)B.The recombinant plasmid was transformed into E.coli DH5alpha bacterial cells, and harvested with plasmid midi kit. The recombinant expression plasmid was transferred to the HEK 293A eukaryocyte cells, cultured selectively with 800 mg/L G418, and examined with SDS-PAGE and Western Blot at the protein level. RESULTS: The mouse enamelin gene was cloned to the eukaryotic expression plasmid successfully by sequence measuring. After the recombinant plasmid was transferred into the HEK 293A cells, about 32,000 enamelin protein was checked out by SDS-PAGE and Western Blot. CONCLUSION: The recombinant eukaryocyte expression plasmid and the stable cell line were established. This is a basic research to obtain high-yeild biologically active enamelin protein, which may facilitate further investigation of its function.

Mixed Micelles of Doxorubicin Overcome Multidrug Resistance by Inhibiting the Expression of P-Glycoprotein.

With the goal of overcoming multidrug resistance, DSPE-PEG (polyethylene glycol 2000 grafted with distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine) and TPGS (d-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate) were combined, each with a different inhibiting mechanism for P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression, to create mixed micelles with the purpose of encapsulating the water-soluble drug, doxorubicin (Dox). As the molar ratio of Dox/DSPE-PEG/TPGS was 1:1:0.2, the encapsulation efficiency and particle size of the micelles were 98.2% and 12.8 nm respectively. Compared to Dox/DSPE-PEG micelles, Dox/DSPE-PEG/TPGS mixed micelles demonstrated enhanced in vitro cytotoxicity, drug uptake, and apoptosis for drug resistant H460/TaxR cancer cells. Western blot results showed that the expression level of P-gp significantly decreased as H460/TaxR cells were incubated with Dox/DSPE-PEG/TPGS mixed micelles. The anti-tumor efficacy in vivo was evaluated using H460/TaxR-bearing mice and showed that Dox/DSPE-PEG/TPGS mixed micelles were more effective at inhibiting tumor growth than Dox/DSPE-PEG micelles and free Dox solution. It was also found that the high efficacy of mixed micelles was associated with the ability to induce dramatic apoptosis of the tumor cells. In summary, through combining different P-gp inhibiting mechanisms, mixed micelles could be a promising nanocarrier for anti-cancer drugs in overcoming multidrug resistance.

Preparation and application of cellulose triacetate microspheres.

Cellulose triacetate was prepared via reacting of a mixture of acetic anhydride and acetic acid containing sulfuric acid as catalyst with ramie fiber obtained from a biomass of ramie. The cellulose triacetate with a degree of substitution (DS) 2.93 of the ramie fiber was obtained. The honeycomb-like cellulose triacetate microspheres with an average diameter of 14 microm were made from the cellulose triacetate solution. The optimum conditions for preparing the microspheres were determined as cellulose triacetate/dichloromethane ratio 1:7 (w/w), and 0.75% sodium dodecylsulfonate. The cellulose triacetate microspheres were characterized using FT-IR, NMR, XRD, and SEM. Application of the microspheres as an adsorbent for removing disperse dyes in water was investigated under the temperatures from 15 to 50 degrees C, pHs from 4 to 9, and the weight of cellulose triacetate microspheres from 0.03 to 0.09 g. The cellulose triacetate microspheres exhibited a 16.5mg/g capability to remove DR dye from water at 50 degrees C and pH 7.