Novel Wide-Working-Temperature NaNO3-KNO3-Na2SO4 Molten Salt for Solar Thermal Energy Storage.

A novel ternary eutectic salt, NaNO3-KNO3-Na2SO4 (TMS), was designed and prepared for thermal energy storage (TES) to address the issues of the narrow temperature range and low specific heat of solar salt molten salt. The thermo-physical properties of TMS-2, such as melting point, decomposition temperature, fusion enthalpy, density, viscosity, specific heat capacity and volumetric thermal energy storage capacity (ETES), were determined. Furthermore, a comparison of the thermo-physical properties between commercial solar salt and TMS-2 was carried out. TMS-2 had a melting point 6.5 °C lower and a decomposition temperature 38.93 °C higher than those of solar salt. The use temperature range of TMS molten salt was 45.43 °C larger than that of solar salt, which had been widened about 13.17%. Within the testing temperature range, the average specific heat capacity of TMS-2 (1.69 J·K-1·g-1) was 9.03% higher than that of solar salt (1.55 J·K-1·g-1). TMS-2 also showed higher density, slightly higher viscosity and higher ETES. XRD, FTIR and Raman spectra SEM showed that the composition and structure of the synthesized new molten salt were different, which explained the specific heat capacity increasing. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulation was performed to explore the different macroscopic properties of solar salt and TMS at the molecular level. The MD simulation results suggested that cation-cation and cation-anion interactions became weaker as the temperature increased and the randomness of molecular motion increased, which revealed that the interaction between the cation cluster and anion cluster became loose. The stronger interaction between Na-SO4 cation-anion clusters indicated that TMS-2 molten salt had a higher specific heat capacity than solar salt. The result of the thermal stability analysis indicated that the weight losses of solar salt and TMS-2 at 550 °C were only 27% and 53%, respectively. Both the simulation and experimental study indicated that TMS-2 is a promising candidate fluid for solar power generation systems.

Polydatin suppresses VEGF-induced angiogenesis through binding with VEGF and inhibiting its receptor signaling.

Polydatin, also called piceid, is a stilbenoid glucoside of a resveratrol derivative. It derives mainly from the root and rhizome of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. Although the role of P. cuspidatum root in angiogenesis has been reported, the active chemical or chemicals responsible for such function is not known. Here, polydatin was proposed to bind VEGF, which therefore altered the functions of VEGF in angiogenesis. Several lines of evidence supported the pharmaceutical effects of polydatin in VEGF-induced angiogenesis. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells, polydatin inhibited VEGF-stimulated cell proliferation, cell migration, and tube formation. Moreover, polydatin showed suppressive effects on the subintestinal vessel formation in zebrafish embryos. In signaling cascades, polydatin application attenuated VEGF-induced phosphorylations of VEGF receptor 2 and JNK. Moreover, the VEGF-induced phosphorylations of Akt, eNOS, and Erk were significantly decreased in the presence of polydatin. In parallel, the formation of reactive oxygen species, triggered by VEGF, was markedly decreased under polydatin application. Thus, our results supported the angiogenic roles of polydatin, as well as its signaling mechanism in blocking VEGF-mediated responses. The current study provides support for the possible development of polydatin as a potential therapeutic agent for treatment and prevention of angiogenesis-related diseases.-Hu, W.-H., Wang, H.-Y., Kong, X.-P., Xiong, Q.-P., Poon, K. K.-M., Xu, L., Duan, R., Chan, G. K.-L., Dong, T. T.-X., Tsim, K. W.-K. Polydatin suppresses VEGF-induced angiogenesis through binding with VEGF and inhibiting its receptor signaling.

Biodiversity and antifouling activity of fungi associated with two soft corals from the South China Sea.

Bacteria in corals have been studied in detail in the past decades. However, the biodiversity and bioactivity of fungi in corals are still poorly understood. This study investigated the biodiversity and antifouling activity of fungi in soft corals Cladiella krempfi and Sarcophyton tortuosum from the South China Sea. A high diverse and abundant fungal community was found in the two soft corals. Furthermore, five isolates shared 83-95% similarity with their closest relatives, indicating that they might be novel species in genera Phaeoshaeria and Mucor. In addition, approximately 50% of the representative isolates exhibited distinct antifouling activity. In particular, isolates Fungal sp. SCAU132 and Fungal sp. SCAU133 displayed very strong antifouling activity against Bugula neritina, suggesting they can provide a potential resource for further investigation on isolation of novel antifouling metabolites. To our knowledge, this study is the first report to investigate the biodiversity and antifouling activity of fungi in C. krempfi and S. tortuosum.

Saponins from Clematis mandshurica Rupr. regulates gut microbiota and its metabolites during alleviation of collagen-induced arthritis in rats.

Gut microbiota and their metabolites (short-chain fatty acids, SCFAs) are associated with the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Total Clematis triterpenoid saponins (CTSs) prepared from Clematis mandshurica Rupr. possess therapeutic benefits for arthritic diseases. However, the poor pharmacokinetic properties of CTSs have obstructed the translation of these natural agents to drugs. Here, we examined the effects of CTSs on arthritis symptoms, gut microbiota and SCFAs in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Our results showed that the arthritis index scores of CIA rats treated with CTSs were significantly lower than those of the model group. Most importantly, CTSs moderated gut microbial dysbiosis and significantly downregulated the total SCFA concentration in CIA rats. Compared to the control group, CTSs treatment have no significant side effects on the gut microbiota and SCFA metabolism in normal rats. Two differential analyses (LEfSe and DESeq2) were combined to study the details of the changes in gut microbiome, and twenty-four marker taxa at the genus level were identified via a comparison among control, model and CIA rats treated with high doses of CTSs. In particular, the mostly significantly increased gram-negative (G-) and decreased gram-positive (G+) genera in CIA rats were well restored by CTSs. The observed SCFA concentrations demonstrated that CTSs tend to maintain the balance of the gut microbiota. The data presented herein suggest that CTSs could ameliorate arthritis-associated gut microbial dysbiosis and may be potential adjuvant drugs that could provide relief from the gastrointestinal damage caused as a side effect of commonly used drugs.

Simultaneous determination of short-chain fatty acids in human feces by HPLC with ultraviolet detection following chemical derivatization and solid-phase extraction segmental elution.

Short-chain fatty acids are currently the most studied metabolites of gut microbiota, but the analysis of them, simultaneously, is still challenging due to their unique property and wide concentration range. Here, we developed a sensitive and versatile high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection method, using pre-column derivatization and solid-phase extraction segmental elution, for the quantification of both major and trace amounts of short-chain fatty acids in human feces. Short-chain fatty acids were converted to 3-nitrophenylhydrazine-derived analytes, and then solid-phase extraction segmental elution was used for extraction of major analytes and enrichment of trace analytes. The method validation showed limits of quantitation ˂0.04 mM, and coefficient of determination > 0.998 at a wide range of 0.04-8.0 mM. The intra- and interday precision of analytes were all within accepted criteria, and the recoveries were 96.12 to 100.75% for targeted analytes in fecal samples. This method was successfully applied in quantification of eight analytes in human feces, which therefore could provide a sensitive and versatile high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection method for precise and accurate quantitation of short-chain fatty acids in human feces.

Ophiopogon Polysaccharide Promotes the In Vitro Metabolism of Ophiopogonins by Human Gut Microbiota.

Gut microbiota play an important role in metabolism of intake saponins, and parallelly, the polysaccharides deriving from herbal products possess effects on gut microbiota. Ophiopogonis Radix is a common Chinese herb that is popularly used as functional food in China. Polysaccharide and steroidal saponin, e.g., ophiopogonin, mainly ophiopogonin D (Oph-D) and ophiopogonin D' (Oph-D'), are the major constituents in this herb. In order to reveal the role of gut microbiota in metabolizing ophiopogonin, an in vitro metabolism of Oph-D and Oph-D' by human gut microbiota, in combination with or without Ophiopogon polysaccharide, was conducted. A sensitive and reliable UPLC-MS/MS method was developed to simultaneously quantify Oph-D, Oph-D' and their final metabolites, i.e., ruscogenin and diosgenin in the broth of microbiota. An elimination of Oph-D and Oph-D' was revealed in a time-dependent manner, as well as the recognition of a parallel increase of ruscogenin and diosgenin. Ophiopogon polysaccharide was shown to stimulate the gut microbiota-induced metabolism of ophiopogonins. This promoting effect was further verified by increased activities of ß-D-glucosidase, ß-D-xylosidase, α-L-rhamnosidase and ß-D-fucosidase in the broth. This study can be extended to investigate the metabolism of steroidal saponins by gut microbiota when combined with other herbal products, especially those herbs enriched with polysaccharides.

Prenylated Flavonoids from Roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Induce Differentiation of B16-F10 Melanoma Cells.

Roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis have been used as herbal medicine and natural sweetener. By activity-guided phytochemical investigation of the extracts from G.uralensis root, ten flavonoids, namely GF-1⁻GF-10, of which five were prenylated flavonoids, were found to show antiproliferative effects in melanoma B16-F10 cells. Three of the prenylated flavonoids, namely GF-1, GF-4 and GF-9, significantly induced the differentiation of B16-F10 cells; the inductions included increase of tyrosinase activity, tyrosinase protein, and melanin content. In GF-1 and GF-9 induced melanoma differentiation, the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK (mitogen activated potein kinase) was identified; while GF-4 could trigger the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Protein Kinase B) signaling. However, application of GF-6 to the melanoma cells did not induce differentiation; but which promoted cell apoptotic signaling, i.e., increase levels of cleaved-PRAP, cleaved-caspase 3, and cleaved-caspase 9. These results suggested that different types of prenylated flavonoids from G.uralensis might have potential anticancer effects against melanoma cells by acting through different signaling pathways.

The Extracts and Major Compounds Derived from Astragali Radix Alter Mitochondrial Bioenergetics in Cultured Cardiomyocytes: Comparison of Various Polar Solvents and Compounds.

Astragali Radix (AR) is a widely used "Qi-invigorating" herb in China for its tonic effects in strengthening biological tissues. The extract of AR contains abundant antioxidants, including astragalosides and isoflavonoids. However, very few reports have systematically measured the effects of the major components of AR on cell mitochondrial bioenergetics. Here, a systemic approach employing an extracellular flux analyzer was developed to evaluate mitochondrial respiration in cultured cardiomyocyte cells H9C2. The effects of different polar extractives, as well as of the major compounds of AR, were compared. The contents of astragaloside IV, calycosin, formononetin, and genistein in the AR extracts obtained by using water, 50% ethanol, and 90% ethanol were measured by liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC⁻MS). The antioxidant activities of the AR extracts, as well as of their major compounds, were determined by measuring the free radical scavenging activity and protective effects in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)-treated H9C2 cells. By monitoring the real-time oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in tBHP-treated cardiomyocytes with a Seahorse extracellular flux analyzer, the tonic effects of the AR extracts and of their main compounds on mitochondrial bioenergetics were evaluated. AR water extracts possessed the strongest antioxidant activity and protective effects in cardiomyocytes exposed to oxidative stress. The protection was proposed to be mediated via increasing the spare respiratory capacity and mitochondrial ATP production in the stressed cells. The major compounds of AR, astragaloside IV and genistein, showed opposite effects in regulating mitochondrial bioenergetics. These results demonstrate that highly polar extracts of AR, especially astragaloside-enriched extracts, possess better tonic effects on mitochondrial bioenergetics of cultured cardiomyocytes than extracts with a lower polarity.

Comparative Study of Different Acorus Species in Potentiating Neuronal Differentiation in Cultured PC12 Cells.

Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (ATR), the rhizome of Acorus tatarinowii Schott, is a common traditional Chinese medicine being used clinically for mental disorder. However, other Acorus species herbs are all having the same Chinese name 'Chang Pu', making the confusion in herbal market. Acori Graminei Rhizoma (AGR) and Acori Calami Rhizoma (ACR) are common adulterants of ATR. Here, we aim to provide a comparative analysis between ATR, AGR, and ACR in potentiating neuronal differentiation. Volatile oil, derived from Acorus species, was applied onto cultured PC12 cells, and various parameters were determined: (i) transcriptional activation of neurofilament promoters was determined by the promoter-driven luciferase activity assay; (ii) the neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells was captured and measured; and (iii) the neurofilament expression and its underlying mechanism were analyzed by western blotting. The co-treatment of ATR, AGR, or ACR volatile oil with low concentration of nerve growth factor (NGF) could potentiate the NGF-induced neuronal differentiation in cultured PC12 cells. In addition, application of protein kinase A inhibitor H89 in cultures blocked the induction of neurofilament. Among these three Acorus species, ATR volatile oil showed the highest NGF-induced induction in neurite outgrowth and neurofilament expression, as compared with that of AGR and ACR. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Xiao Cheng Qi Decoction, an Ancient Chinese Herbal Mixture, Relieves Loperamide-Induced Slow-Transit Constipation in Mice: An Action Mediated by Gut Microbiota.

Xiao Cheng Qi (XCQ) decoction, an ancient Chinese herbal mixture, has been used in treating slow-transit constipation (STC) for years. The underlying action mechanism in relieving the clinical symptoms is unclear. Several lines of evidence point to a strong link between constipation and gut microbiota. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and microbial metabolites have been shown to affect 5-HT synthesis by activating the GPR43 receptor localized on intestinal enterochromaffin cells, since 5-HT receptors are known to influence colonic peristalsis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of XCQ in alleviating clinical symptoms in a mouse model of STC induced by loperamide. The application of loperamide leads to a decrease in intestinal transport and fecal water, which is used to establish the animal model of STC. In addition, the relationship between constipation and gut microbiota was determined. The herbal materials, composed of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Rhizomes of Rheum palmatum L., Polygonaceae) 55.2 g, Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (Barks of Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils, Magnoliaceae) 27.6 g, and Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Fruitlet of Citrus aurantium L., Rutaceae) 36.0 g, were extracted with water to prepare the XCQ decoction. The constipated mice were induced with loperamide (10 mg/kg/day), and then treated with an oral dose of XCQ herbal extract (2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 g/kg/day) two times a day. Mosapride was administered as a positive drug. In loperamide-induced STC mice, the therapeutic parameters of XCQ-treated mice were determined, i.e., (i) symptoms of constipation, composition of gut microbiota, and amount of short-chain fatty acids in feces; (ii) plasma level of 5-HT; and (iii) expressions of the GPR43 and 5-HT4 receptor in colon. XCQ ameliorated the constipation symptoms of loperamide-induced STC mice. In gut microbiota, the treatment of XCQ in STC mice increased the relative abundances of Lactobacillus, Prevotellaceae_UCG_001, Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, Muribaculaceae, and Roseburia in feces and decreased the relative abundances of Desulfovibrio, Tuzzerella, and Lachnospiraceae_ NK4A136_group. The levels of SCFAs in stools from the STC group were significantly lower than those the control group, and were greatly elevated via treatment with XCQ. Compared with the STC group, XCQ increased the plasma level of 5-HT and the colonic expressions of the GPR43 and 5-HT4 receptor, significantly. The underlying mechanism of XCQ in anti-constipation could be related to the modulation of gut microbiota, the increase in SCFAs, the increase in plasma 5-HT, and the colonic expressions of the GPR43 and 5-HT4 receptor. Our results indicate that XCQ is a potent natural product that could be a therapeutic strategy for constipation.

Research progress of organic liquid electrolyte for sodium ion battery.

Electrochemical energy storage technology has attracted widespread attention due to its low cost and high energy efficiency in recent years. Among the electrochemical energy storage technologies, sodium ion batteries have been widely focused due to the advantages of abundant sodium resources, low price and similar properties to lithium. In the basic structure of sodium ion battery, the electrolyte determines the electrochemical window and electrochemical performance of the battery, controls the properties of the electrode/electrolyte interface, and affects the safety of sodium ion batteries. Organic liquid electrolytes are widely used because of their low viscosity, high dielectric constant, and compatibility with common cathodes and anodes. However, there are problems such as low oxidation potential, high flammability and safety hazards. Therefore, the development of novel, low-cost, high-performance organic liquid electrolytes is essential for the commercial application of sodium ion batteries. In this paper, the basic requirements and main classifications of organic liquid electrolytes for sodium ion batteries have been introduced. The current research status of organic liquid electrolytes for sodium ion batteries has been highlighted, including compatibility with various types of electrodes and electrochemical properties such as multiplicative performance and cycling performance of electrode materials in electrolytes. The composition, formation mechanism and regulation strategies of interfacial films have been explained. Finally, the development trends of sodium ion battery electrolytes in terms of compatibility with materials, safety and stable interfacial film formation are pointed out in the future.

Effect of Temperature and Impurity Content to Control Corrosion of 316 Stainless Steel in Molten KCl-MgCl2 Salt.

The corrosion resistance of 316 stainless steel (316SS) in molten KCl-MgCl2 salts was studied through static immersion corrosion at high temperatures. Below 600 °C, the corrosion rate of 316SS increased slowly with increasing temperature. When the salt temperature rises to 700 °C, the corrosion rate of 316SS increases dramatically. The corrosion of 316SS is mainly due to the selective dissolution of Cr and Fe at high temperatures. The impurities in molten KCl-MgCl2 salts could accelerate the dissolution of Cr and Fe atoms in the grain boundary of 316SS, and purification treatment can reduce the corrosivity of KCl-MgCl2 salts. Under the experimental conditions, the diffusion rate of Cr/Fe in 316SS changed more with temperature than the reaction rate of salt impurities with Cr/Fe.

Novel phenylpropanoids and isoflavone glycoside are isolated and identified from the carob pods (Ceratonia siliqua L.).

Two new phenylpropanoids (1 and 2) and one new isoflavone glycoside (3), along with nine known compounds (4 - 12), were isolated from the pod of Ceratonia siliqua L. Their chemical structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analyses (1 D and 2 D NMR, UV, IR, and HRESIMS) and compared with the literature data. In addition, all isolated compounds were evaluated in vitro for inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Compounds 4, 5, and 12 showed inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with IC50 values ranging from 15.0 to 50.2 µM.

Optimization of the processing technology of schizonepetae herba carbonisata using response surface methodology and artificial neural network and comparing the chemical profiles between raw and charred schizonepetae herba by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS.

In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) were used to predict and validate the optimal processing method of Schizonepetae Herba Carbonisata (SHC). The highest overall desirability (OD) value of the total flavonoids content (TFC), total tannin content (TTC), and adsorption capacity (AC) were used as response values. The optimal processing technology processing time lasted 10 min at a processing temperature of 178 °C and the herbs/machine had a volume of 77 g/5 L. The Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography/Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), combined with chemometrics, was used to investigate the changes of compounds in Schizonepetae Herba (SH) before and after being charred. A total of 104 compounds were tentatively identified in SH and 83 in SHC. Fifteen differential compounds were found between by chemometrics SH and SHC. Altogether, our findings can provide a practical approach to the processing technology of carbonizing by stir-frying SH.

Metabolic profile and dynamic characteristic of rhubarb during the vitro biotransformation by human gut microbiota.

Rhubarb is a popular food in the world with laxative effects and steamed pieces of rhubarb (SP) have been widely applied to treatment of constipation in China due to its safety and effectiveness. In the study, metabolism in vitro was conducted to study influence of gut microbiota between raw pieces of rhubarb (RP) and SP. The results showed obvious classifications in metabolic profile between RP and SP were revealed by chemometric analysis, and prompted gut microbiota affected metabolism of rhubarb. Furthermore, 16 characteristic components were identified to distinguish the differences in metabolism. Finally, quantitative analysis of 14 components were verified the regulation of gut microbiota on rhubarb and discovered concentration of components affected the rate of metabolism. The study indicated regulation by gut microbiota could be probably responsible for differences of laxative effects between RP and SP, providing new perspective for exploring mechanisms of effectiveness in clinical application for SP.

Trewioidesine A, an unsaturated fatty acid from rhizomes of Alchornea trewioides, shows synergy with NGF in inducing differentiation of pheochromocytoma PC12 cells.

A new unsaturated fatty acid trewioidesine A (1), together with seven known compounds (2 - 8) were isolated from the rhizomes of Alchornea trewioides (Benth.) Muell. Arg. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data interpretation (1 D and 2 D NMR, and HRESIMS). The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, confirming as trewioidesine A. The functionality of isolated compounds was tested in cultured PC12 cells, a cell line from rat pheochromocytoma. Trewioidesine A was the one showing robust activity in inducing neuronal differentiation: the induction was synergized when co-applied with nerve growth factor (NGF). In addition, a neurofilament 200 (NF200) promoter-luciferase (pNF200-Luc) reporter was used to evaluate the differentiating ability in the transfected PC12 cells for the isolated compounds. Trewioidesine A exhibited a strong NF200 promoter activation, and application of trewioidesine A with low dose of NGF significantly induced the promoter activity over 50%.

The water extract of Aloe vera prevents fluoxetine-induced multiple-drug resistance of E. coli by inhibiting reactive oxygen species formation and membrane permeability.

BACKGROUND: The medication of synthetic chemical is one of the main treatments for depressive disorders. Different lines of evidence reveal that a long-term exposure to anti-depressants, e.g., fluoxetine, is causing multiple-drug resistance (MDR) of gut microbiomes. The MDR bacterial strains in gut pose a threat to intestinal balance and treatment of future microbial infection. Effective strategies are thus in urgent need to prevent the anti-depressant-mediated MDR of gut microbes. PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the potential role of Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. (aloe; Liliaceae family) to prevent MDR of E. coli being co-cultured with fluoxetine. METHODS: The extract of A. vera was co-cultured with E. coli and fluoxetine to analyze the preventive effect of MDR. To figure out the mechanistic action, the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of key biomarkers, including outer membrane proteins (OmpF and OmpC), superoxidative stress activator (SoxS) and efflux pumps (AcrA/B-TolC), were determined in E. coli being treated with fluoxetine and aloe extract. In addition, the genetic mutation of transcriptional factors of these biomarkers was determined in the fluoxetine-treated E. coli. RESULTS: The water extract of A. vera showed considerable potential to reduce the number of fluoxetine-mediated MDR colonies. The extract robustly suppressed the formation of ROS in E. coli. However, thiourea and N-acetylcysteine, two well-known antioxidants, showed no activity in preventing the formation of bacterial MDR. Additionally, A. vera extract directly affected the fluoxetine-triggered early stress response of E. coli and the expression of downstream genes. Meanwhile, A. vera extract was able to inhibit the genetic mutation of SoxR gene in E. coli, as induced by co-cultured with fluoxetine. By fractionation of the aloe extract, the ethanol precipitate, composing mainly polysaccharides, showed robust activity in preventing the fluoxetine-mediated MDR. CONCLUSION: This study therefore suggested that the extract of A. vera could be an adjuvant agent to combat bacterial MDR during anti-depressant treatment.

Nanofiltration Membrane Characterization and Application: Extracting Lithium in Lepidolite Leaching Solution.

This study concerns the feasibility of extracting lithium and separating aluminum from lepidolite leaching solution by nanofiltration. Four commercial nanofiltration (NF) membranes (DK, DL, NF270, and Duracid NF) were chosen to investigate ion separation performance in simulated lepidolite leaching solution. Membranes were characterized according to FT-IR, hydrophobicity, zeta potential, morphology, thickness, pore size, and hydraulic permeability to reveal the effect of membrane properties on separation. NF membranes were investigated including the retention ratio of SO42- and Li+, the separation efficiency of Li+/Al3+, and the effect of other cations (K+, Na+, Ca2+) on the separation of Li+/Al3+. The results show that DK membrane displayed the appropriate permeate flux and extremely high Li+/Al3+ separation efficiency with a separation factor of 471.3 compared with other NF membranes owing to its pore size, smooth membrane surface, and appropriate zeta potential. Overall, it is found that nanofiltration has a superior separation efficiency of lithium and aluminum, which may bring deep insights and open an avenue to offer a feasible strategy to extract lithium from lepidolite leaching solution in the future.

Fermentation of Danggui Buxue Tang, an ancient Chinese herbal mixture, together with Lactobacillus plantarum enhances the anti-diabetic functions of herbal product.

BACKGROUND: Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), an ancient Chinese herbal decoction containing Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix at a ratio of 5: 1, is prescribed for menopausal women. Flavonoids and its flavonoid glycosides are considered as the major active ingredients within the herbal decoction; however, their amount is not controllable during the preparation. Besides, the aglycons within DBT are believed to have better gut absorption and pharmacological efficacy. METHODS: The herbal extract of DBT was fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum. The amounts of flavonoid glucosides and its aglycones in the fermented product were analyzed by using UPLC-MS/MS. In addition, in vitro assays were employed to evaluate the efficacy of the fermented DBT in regulating the activities of α-glucosidase, α-amylase and lipase, as well as their antioxidant capacity (DPPH and T-AOC assays) and anti-glycation property (BSA-methylglyoxal, BSA-fructose, and arginine-methylglyoxal models). RESULTS: The fermentation of DBT with L. plantarum drove a completed conversion of calycosin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside and ononin to calycosin and formononetin, respectively. The chemical transformation could be probably mediated by ß-glycosidase within the fermented product. Several in vitro assays corresponding to anti-diabetic functions were compared between parental DBT against its fermented product, which included the activities against α-glucosidase, α-amylase and lipase, as well as anti-oxidation and anti-glycation. The fermented DBT showed increased activities in inhibiting α-glycosidase, suppressing DPPH radical-scavenging and anti-glycation, as compared to the original herbal product. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that DBT being fermented with the probiotic L. plantarum could pave a new direction for fermentation of herbal extract, as to strengthen its pharmacological properties in providing health benefits.

The Chinese medicinal herbs of spleen-meridian property regulate body temperature in yeast-induced fever rats.

BACKGROUND: According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, the herbal property is the most important guiding principle of ancient medication in China. The classification of warm- and cold-stimulating TCM is defined mainly based on the effects of herbs in regulating body temperature; however, the underlying mechanism of such distinction has not been fully identified. METHODS: Here, four commonly used spleen-meridian herbs, Ginseng Radix and Astragali Radix as typical warm-stimulating herbs, and Nelumbinis Semen and Coicis Semen as typical cold-stimulating herbs, were selected to test their effects in regulating body temperature, as well as its triggered thermo-regulatory factors and energy related metabolites, in yeast-induced fever rats. RESULTS: The intake of Astragali Radix increased body temperature in yeast-induced fever rats; while Coicis Semen showed cooling effects in such rats. In parallel, the levels of cAMP, PGE2 and thermo-related metabolites, including choline, creatine, alanine, lactate and leucine, in the blood of yeast-induced rats were increased significantly by the intake of Astragali Radix. Oppositely, the cold-stimulating herbs, Nelumbinis Semen and Coicis Semen, showed cooling effects by increasing certain metabolites, e.g. histidine, tyrosine, lipid, myo-inositol, as well as AVP level. CONCLUSION: Here, we compared different effects of warm and cooling spleen-meridian herbs in the regulation of body temperature. By providing an intuitive comparison of thermo-regulatory factors and related metabolites after intake of selected herbs, the mechanism behind the warm and cooling effects of specific herbs were revealed.