Antiosteoporotic effects of benzyl benzoate glucosides from Curculigo orchioides in ovariectomized rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antiosteoporotic effects of benzyl benzoate glucosides from Curculigo orchioides (COBG) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. METHODS: A total of 70 female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to sham-operated and OVX model groups. The OVX rats were further divided into six subgroups treated by gavage with vehicle, 1 mg/kg of nylestriol, 6, 18 and 54 mg/kg of COBG and 3.0 g/kg of ethanol extract of Curculigo orchioides respectively for 12 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The sections of tibia were prepared for histomorphometric analysis. The biomarkers in serum and urine were determined using reagent kits. RESULTS: Ovariectomy induced the bone loss and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue with the activities of increased serum alkaline phosphatase and loss of calcium through the excretion in urine, and decreased levels of antioxidant in serum (P<0.05, P<0.01). Administration of 6, 18 and 54 mg/kg of COBG significantly increased the BMD, improved the microarchitecture of bone tissue, prevented the depletion of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, inhibited the increase of malondialdehyde in serum and reduced the excretion of urine calcium in OVX rats (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: COBG could prevent the bone loss through improving the antioxidant status, which offers a potential new therapeutic drug for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Phosphorescent chemosensor for Hg2+ and acetonitrile based on iridium(III) complex.

A new phosphorescent chemosensor for Hg(2+) and acetonitrile (MeCN) based on iridium(III) complex Ir(dpp)(2)(dtc) (Ir1, dppH = 4,6-diphenylpyrimidine, dtcH = diethyl dithiocarbamic acid) was realized. Upon addition of a tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution of Hg(2+), the dichloromethane (DCM) solution of Ir1 gave a visual color change and significant fluorescent quenching. When MeCN was added, a new fluorescent emission emerged, which constituted a selective MeCN phosphorescent chemosensor. Complex Ir1 has been developed as an AND logic gate with Hg(2+) and MeCN as inputs.