ABSTRACT
Green-synthesized gold nanoparticles were utilized for the detection of organophosphorous pesticides. Heparin, one of glycosaminoglycans, was used as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The reaction conditions were optimized, and high resolution-transmission electron microscopic images revealed gold nanoparticles of various shapes. Organophosphorous pesticides in water were detected by simply mixing them with gold nanoparticles. NaCl induced a color change in the mixed solution from wine-red to purple-blue that was dependent on the pesticide concentration in the range of 10-1,000 ppb. Gold nanoparticles were immobilized on a silica gel matrix in order to prepare solid supports for removing pesticides. The incorporation of atomic gold and heparin bound to 2 g of silica gel was determined 4,058 ppm and 33 microg as measured by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrophotometry and carbazole assay, respectively. AuNPs-immobilized silica gel columns were successfully applied for removing fenthion in water confirmed by RP-HPLC and FT-IR analyses.
Subject(s)
Fenthion/analysis , Gold/chemistry , Heparin/chemistry , Malathion/analysis , Metal Nanoparticles , Organothiophosphorus Compounds/analysis , Pesticides/analysis , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Microscopy, Electron, Transmission , Pesticides/isolation & purification , Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
Schisandrin is the main active ingredient isolated from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis Baill. Recent studies have demonstrated that schisandrin exhibits anti-oxidative effects in vivo. In the present study, the effect of schisandrin on plasma nitrite concentration in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice was evaluated. It also significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema and acetic acid-induced vascular permeability in mice. Furthermore, schisandrin had a protective effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis. In vitro, our results are the first that show that the anti-inflammatory properties of schisandrin result from the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) release, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, which in turn results from the inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activities in a RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Cyclooctanes/pharmacology , Inflammation/drug therapy , Lignans/pharmacology , Polycyclic Compounds/pharmacology , Schisandra/chemistry , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification , Capillary Permeability/drug effects , Cell Line , Cyclooctanes/isolation & purification , Cyclooxygenase 2/drug effects , Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism , Dinoprostone/antagonists & inhibitors , Dinoprostone/metabolism , Fruit , Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects , Inflammation/etiology , Inflammation/physiopathology , Lignans/isolation & purification , Lipopolysaccharides , Macrophages/drug effects , Macrophages/metabolism , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred ICR , Nitric Oxide/antagonists & inhibitors , Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/drug effects , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/metabolism , Nitrites/blood , Polycyclic Compounds/isolation & purification , Sepsis/prevention & controlABSTRACT
This study examined the mechanisms underlying the effects of the vasorelaxation active substance (VAS), dimethyladenosine-5'-L-arabinose, and its partial purification fraction on nitric oxide synthase in improving erectile dysfunction with particular focus on the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP pathways. Two rat models, 9-month-old SD rats and 11-month-old SD rats, were given VAS (40 mg/kg per day) for 4 days, The aqueous fraction of silworm male pupae extract; semi-purified VAS (100 mg/kg per day) for 10 days, respectively. The NOS activities of the following three enzymes were examined: neuronal NO synthase (nNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor on endothelial cells (VEGF) and anti-inflammation effect of Tumor necrosis factor-α. The results showed increases in the nitric oxide synthase activities. Western blotting of the tissue homogenate showed an increase in the nNOS level in the brain and tongue, and an increase in the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) level in penis. However, there was little association with VEGF production in HUVEC endothelial cells and no relationship with TNF-α which showed low levels.
