[Pollution Characteristics, Source, and Health Risk Assessment of Metal Elements in PM2.5 Between Winter and Spring in Zhengzhou].

A total of 18 metal elements in ambient PM2.5 in Zhengzhou were continuously determined using an online heavy metal observation instrument in January and April, 2021, and the changes in element concentrations were analyzed. Metal elements were traced via enrichment factors, positive matrix factorization (PMF), and a characteristic radar chart. The US EPA health risk assessment model was used to assess the health risks of heavy metals, and the backward trajectory method and the concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT) method were used to evaluate the potential source regions of health risks. The results showed that the element concentrations were higher in spring, and the sum of Fe, Ca, Si, and Al concentrations accounted for 89.8% and 87.5% of the total element concentrations in winter and spring, respectively. Cd was enriched significantly, which was related to human activities. The concentrations of Pb, Se, Zn, Ni, Sb, and K in winter and Cr, Ni, Fe, Mn, V, Ba, Ca, K, Si, and Al in spring increased with the increasing pollution level. The results of PMF and the characteristic radar chart showed that the main sources of metal elements in winter and spring were industry, crust, motor vehicles, and mixed combustion, with industry and mixed combustion pollution occurring more often in winter and crust pollution occurring more often in spring. Significant non-carcinogenic risks existed in both winter and spring with more severe health risks in winter, and Mn caused significant non-carcinogenic risks. The health risks in winter were mainly influenced by Zhengzhou and surrounding cities and long-distance transport in the northwest, and the health risks in spring were mainly influenced by Zhengzhou and surrounding cities.

Chemical constituents of Kopsia officinalis and their antagonizing high glucose-evoked podocyte injury activity.

Four new indole alkaloids (1-4) and twenty known compounds (5-24) were isolated from the leaves and stems, and fruits of Kopsia officinalis. Their structures were confirmed by means of spectroscopic methods. All these isolates were evaluated for their antagonizing high glucose-evoked podocyte injury activity for the first time, and compounds 5-8 showed potent activity with EC50 values of 3.0-12.0 µM.

Cytotoxic steroids from the leaves of Dysoxylum binectariferum.

Four new cholestane-type (1-4) and two new ergostane-type (5, 6) steroids were isolated from the leaves of Dysoxylum binectariferum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR techniques. The absolute configurations were established by comparison with the literature and Mo2(OAc)4-induced electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. All the isolates were evaluated for cytotoxicity against A549 (lung carcinoma), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), and HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) human cancer cell lines. Three of the new cholestane-type steroids displayed potent antiproliferative effects on the tumor cells with IC50 values ranging from 1.5 to 9.6µM, whereas the two new ergostane-type (5, 6) steroids were deemed inactive.

Cytotoxic dammarane-type triterpenoids from the stem bark of Dysoxylum binecteriferum.

Fourteen new dammarane-type triterpenoids (1-14) and 11 known analogues were isolated from the stem bark of Dysoxylum binecteriferum. The absolute configurations were established by comparison with the literature or by Mo2(OAc)4-induced electronic circular dichroism data. All isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against three human cancer cell lines as well as their inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells. Compounds 4 and 8 displayed moderate cytotoxicities against HepG2 with IC50 values of 6.5 and 8.0 µM, respectively.

Chemical constituents of a marine-derived endophytic fungus Penicillium commune G2M.

Cultivation of the endophytic fungus Penicillium commune, which was isolated from the semi-mangrove plant Hibiscus tiliaceus, afforded one new compound 1-O-(2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoyl)-glycerol (1) along with thirteen known products, including 1-O-acetylglycerol (2), N-acetyltryptophan (3), 3-indolylacetic acid methyl ester (4), 1-(2,4-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)ethanone (5), 2-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid (6), (4R,5S)-5-hydroxyhexan-4-olide (7), thymidine (8), uracil (9), thymine (10), ergosterol (11), beta-sitosterol (12),beta-daucosterol (13), and ergosta-7,22-dien-3beta,5 alpha,6 beta-triol (14). The structures of these compounds were established by detailed NMR spectroscopic analysis, as well as by comparison with literature data or with authentic samples.