Increasing the Level of IRS-1 and Insulin Pathway Sensitivity by Natural Product Carainterol A.

Carainterol A is a eudesmane sesquiterpenoid extracted from Caragana intermedia. We have reported that carainterol A showed potent glucose consumption activity in C2C12 muscle cells and the db/db mouse model. However, the mechanism of the hypoglycemic effect of carainterol A remains elusive. In this article, we present a network pharmacology approach to predict the target and signaling pathway of carainterol A which was subsequently validated in HepG2 cells. It was demonstrated that carainterol A could increase the protein levels of IRS-1 and the downstream protein kinase AKT phosphorylation at a low micromolar level. These findings suggest that carainterol A can be a valuable lead compound and a promising chemical probe for the insulin signaling pathway.

Determination of heparin using ciprofloxacin-Tb3+ as a fluorescence probe.

A new spectrofluorometric method was developed for the determination of trace amounts of heparin (Hep). Using ciprofloxacin (CIP)-terbium (Tb3+) as a fluorescent probe, in a buffer solution of pH 7.20, Hep can remarkably enhance the fluorescence intensity of the CIP-Tb3+ complex at lambda = 545 nm; also, the enhanced fluorescence intensity the Tb3+ ion is proportional to the concentration of Hep. The optimum conditions for the determination of Hep were also investigated. The dynamic range for the determination of Hep is 0.1 - 1.2 microg ml(-1) with a detection limit of 6.89 ng ml(-1). This method is simple, practical and relatively free of interference from coexisting substances, and can be successfully applied to assess Hep in biological samples. By the Rosenthanl graphic method, the association constant and binding numbers of heparin with the probe are 2.44 x 10(5) l mol(-1) and 19.7. Moreover, the enhancement mechanisms of the fluorescence intensity in the CIP-Tb3+ system and the CIP-Tb3+-Hep system have also been considered.

Determination of adenosine disodium triphosphate (ATP) using oxytetracycline-Eu3+ as a fluorescence probe by spectrofluorimetry.

A new spectrofluorimetric method was developed for determination of adenosine disodium triphosphate (ATP). We studied the interactions between oxytetracycline (OTC)-Eu3+ complex and adenosine disodium triphosphate (ATP) by using UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectra. Using oxytetracycline (OTC)-Eu3+ as a fluorescence probe, under the optimum conditions, ATP can remarkably enhance the fluorescence intensity of the OTC-Eu3+ complex at lambda = 612 nm and the enhanced fluorescence intensity of Eu3+ ion is in proportion to the concentration of ATP. Optimum conditions for the determination of ATP were also investigated. The linear ranges for ATP are 8.00 x 10(-8)-1.50 x 10(-6) mol L(-1) with detection limits of 2.67 x 10(-9) mol L(-1). This method is simple, practical and relatively free interference from coexisting substances and can be successfully applied to determination of ATP in samples. The mechanism of fluorescence enhancement between oxytetracycline (OTC)-Eu3+ complex and ATP was also studied.