[Literature-based analysis of conversion of components in fermentation process of Sojae Semen Praeparatum].

Based on the systematic retrieval and the reported components of Sojae Semen Nigrum and Sojae Semen Praeparatum, this study conducted in-depth analysis of conversion of components in the fermentation process, and discussed types and possible mec-hanisms of conversion of chemical components, so as to provide the basis for studying technology, medicinal ingredients and quality standards. According to the analysis, there is a certain degree of conversion of nutrients(like protein, sugar, lipid), bioactive substances(like isoflavones, saponins, γ-aminobutyric acid) and other substances(like nucleosides, melanoids, biamines, etc) in the process of fermentation.

Knockdown of ribosomal protein S15A induces human glioblastoma cell apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: RPS15A is a ribosome protein that is highly conserved in many organisms from yeast to human. A number of studies implied its role in promoting cancer cell growth. METHODS: Here, we firstly conducted RPS15A gene expression analysis in brain cancer using Oncomine database and found RPS15A was remarkably overexpressed in glioblastoma (GBM) compared with that in normal tissues. Then, the expression of RPS15A was specifically silenced in GBM cell line U251 using lentiviral-mediated RNA interference technique. We further investigated the effect of RPS15A knockdown in U251 cells using MTT assay, colony formation test, and flow cytometry analysis. We detected the protein level of Bcl-2 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) as well as activation of caspase-3. RESULTS: Our results showed that the knockdown of RPS15A could inhibit cancer cell growth and colony formation in vitro, as well as induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and cell apoptosis. In addition, Western blot analysis indicated that the knockdown of RPS15A could significantly inhibit bcl-2 and activate caspase-3 and PARP. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest RPS15A may play an important role in the progression of GBM and lentiviral-mediated silencing of RPS15A could be an effective tool in GBM treatment.

Removal of arsenic from simulation wastewater using nano-iron/oyster shell composites.

In this paper, a nano-iron/oyster shell composite (NI/OS) was firstly prepared by an in-situ synthesis method to explore an efficient treatment technology for arsenic (As) contaminated wastewater. The micromorphologies and composition of the composite were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effects of the preparation parameters, as well as the treatment conditions, on the removal of As(Ⅲ) were also investigated. The characterization results showed that iron nanoparticles with a diameter of 60 nm were introduced into the composite by an in-situ reduction method. The physicochemical properties of the iron nanoparticles, such as diameter and aggregation, were influenced by the iron source more than the choice of reductant and temperature in the synthesis process, and these properties were closely related to the treatment performance of the composite. Under the suitable reaction conditions of a pH value of 6.8, a temperature of 20 °C, and an initial concentration of As(Ⅲ) of 1.8 mg/L, As(Ⅲ) was almost completely removed from the simulation wastewater.

Transient embolization with microspheres of polyhydroxyalkanoate renders efficient adenoviral transduction of pancreatic capillary in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Our previous study showed an efficient targeting of islets of Langerhans by adenoviral injection via the celiac trunk. Unexpectedly, none of the endothelial cells was infected given the direct contact between adenoviruses and the capillary wall. The present study intended to provide an efficient approach for adenoviral targeting of the microcapillary endothelial cells in the pancreas. METHODS: We prepared microspheres of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) with a size comparable to the diameter of capillary (5-10 µm). Scanning electron microscopy was applied to verify that adenoviruses carrying a green fluorescence protein gene were complexed with PHBHHx-microspheres after 30 min of co-incubation. The complexes were then injected into the pancreas of mice via the celiac trunk. RESULTS: Approximately 40% of endothelial cells in the pancreas were labeled 5 days after surgery. Islet cells were labeled occasionally, whereas labeling of the acinar and ductal tissues was barely detectable. Endothelium targeting was inefficient in other internal organs. Consistent with the reported superior tissue compatibility of PHBHHx, no discernable microspheres were found in all of the organs examined. Furthermore, splenocyte activation was dampened when adenoviruses were complexed with the microspheres. CONCLUSIONS: The present study has established an approach for efficient pancreatic capillary targeting by using microsphere-adenoviral complexes. This procedure could be invaluable for the treatment of capillary-related diseases.

Intra-arterial targeted islet-specific expression of Sirt1 protects ß cells from streptozotocin-induced apoptosis in mice.

Gene therapy provides a promising approach to curing diabetes. However, an effective route for islet-specific targeting has yet to be established. Toward this end, the pancreatic blood circulation system in Balb/c mice was determined by the injection of rhodamine-containing beads. The efficiency of islet targeting was then measured by the injection of adenoviral vectors carrying a green fluorescence gene via the celiac trunk (C.T.). The results showed that >95% of islets and about 60% of ß cells within the pancreatic body and tail could be labeled 3 days after surgery. α-Cell labeling was not as efficient, whereas labeling of nonendocrine tissues was barely detectable. For proof of principle, adenoviral vectors carrying a Sirtuin transgene were injected similarly to test the islet protection effect in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic model. The results demonstrated that overexpression of Sirtuin in STZ-treated mice reduced the level of ß-cell death and extent of glucose intolerance. This study reports on efficient islet-specific targeting by using adenoviral injection. This procedure could be invaluable to the treatment of diabetes and the study of islet biology.

Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms of Total Flavonoids from Mosla scabra against Influenza A Virus-Induced Pneumonia by Integrating Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification.

Influenza virus is one of the most common infectious pathogens that could cause high morbidity and mortality in humans. However, the occurrence of drug resistance and serious complications extremely complicated the clinic therapy. Mosla scabra is a natural medicinal plant used for treating various lung and gastrointestinal diseases, including viral infection, cough, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute gastroenteritis, and diarrhoea. But the therapeutic effects of this herbal medicine had not been expounded clearly. In this study, a network pharmacology approach was employed to investigate the protective mechanism of total flavonoids from M. scabra (MSTF) against influenza A virus- (IAV-) induced acute lung damage and inflammation. The active compounds of MSTF were analyzed by LC-MS/MS and then evaluated according to their oral bioavailability and drug-likeness index. The potential targets of each active compound in MSTF were identified by using PharmMapper Server, whereas the potential genes involved in IAV infection were obtained from GeneGards. The results showed that luteoloside, apigenin, kaempherol, luteolin, mosloflavone I, and mosloflavone II were the main bioactive compounds found in MSTF. Primarily, 23 genes were identified as the targets of those five active compounds, which contributed to the inactivation of chemical carcinogenesis ROS, lipid and atherosclerosis, MAPK signaling pathway, pathways in cancer, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, proteoglycans in cancer, and viral carcinogenesis. Finally, the animal experiments validated that MSTF improved IAV-induced acute lung inflammation via inhibiting MAPK, PI3K-AKT, and oxidant stress pathways. Therefore, our study demonstrated the potential inhibition of MSTF on viral pneumonia in mice and provided a strategy to characterize the molecular mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine by a combinative method using network pharmacology and experimental validation.

Lignans from Mosla scabra Ameliorated Influenza A Virus-Induced Pneumonia via Inhibiting Macrophage Activation.

The lower respiratory tract infection, induced by influenza virus, coronaviruses, and respiratory syncytial virus, remains a serious threat to human health that can cause a global pandemic. Thus, finding effective chemicals and therapeutic measures to advance the functional restoration of the respiratory tract after infection has been the emphasis of the studies on the subjects. Mosla scabra is a natural medicinal plant used for treating various lung and gastrointestinal diseases, including viral infection, cough, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute gastroenteritis, and diarrhoea. In this study, the antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of total lignans (MSTL) extracted from the plant were investigated in influenza A virus (IAV)-infected mice and RAW 264.7 macrophages. MSTL could not only protect the macrophages against IAV-induced pyroptosis but also could lighten the lung inflammation induced by IAV in vivo and in vitro. The network pharmacology analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes, mainly involving in EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, endocrine resistance, HIF-1 signaling pathway, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway, and FOXO signaling pathway, contributed to the IAV-induced alveolar macrophage dysfunction. It indicated that MSTL enhanced the function of alveolar macrophages and improved IAV-induced lung injury in mice.

Fabrication and Study on Magnetic-Optical Properties of Ni-Doped ZnO Nanorod Arrays.

Zn1-xNixO nanorod arrays were prepared on Si substrates by magnetron sputtering and hydrothermal methods at 100 °C. We studied the effects of doped concentration and hydrothermal growth conditions on the crystal structure, morphology, photoluminescence, and magnetic properties of Zn1-xNixO nanorod arrays. The research results show that the Zn1-xNixO nanorod have the hexagonal wurtzite structure without the appearance of the second phase, and all samples have a highly preferred orientation of a (002) crystal face. The Zn1-xNixO nanorod arrays exhibit obvious room temperature ferromagnetism with saturation magnetization at 4.2 × 10-4 emu/g, the residual magnetization is 1.3 × 10-4 emu/g and the coercive field is 502 Oe, and also excellent luminescent properties with seven times greater luminous intensity than that of ZnO nanorod arrays. The redshift of the ultraviolet emission peak was found by Ni2+ doping. We further explained the source and essence of the magnetic properties of Zn1-xNixO nanorod arrays and deemed that the magnetic moment mainly comes from the hybrid electron exchange of O 2p and Ni 3d state.

[Textural research on Zibei Xiqi in Bencao Gangmu Shiyi (a supplement to compendium of materia medica)].

OBJECTIVE: To research the origin of Zibei Xiqi which included in Volume 3 of < Bencao Gangmu Shiyi > (A supplement to the compendium of materia medica). METHOD: The origin of Zibei Xiqi was confirmed with textural, botanical characteristics research and drug name, therapeutic effects and so on. RESULT: The origin of Zibei Xiqi was confirmed. CONCLUSION: The Zibei Xiqi which is recorded in < Bencao Gangmu Shiyi > should be the immature herbs of Shuang Hudie [Tripterospermum chinense, Gentianaceae], and suggest to correct the original records of the drug name.

[Textural research on "Xuelihua" in "Bencao Gangmu Shiyi" (A Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica)].

To investigate the historical origins of folk herbal medicine 'Xuelihua', the origin of 'Xuelihua' was confirmed by textural, botanical characteristics research, investigation of therapeutic effects and field survey. The 'Xuelihua' which was originally recorded in 'Bencao Gangmu Shiyi' (A Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica) should be 'Riben Shegencao' (Ophirrhiza japonica) of Rubiaceae family.

Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Ni-Doped Zinc-Blende ZnO: A First-Principles Study.

The electronic structure, band structure, density of state, and magnetic properties of Ni-doped zinc-blende (ZB) ZnO are studied by using the first-principles method based on the spin-polarized density-functional theory. The calculated results show that Ni atoms can induce a stable ferromagnetic (FM) ground state in Ni-doped ZB ZnO. The magnetic moments mainly originate from the unpaired Ni 3d orbitals, and the O 2p orbitals contribute a little to the magnetic moments. The magnetic moment of a supercell including a single Ni atom is 0.79 μB. The electronic structure shows that Ni-doped ZB ZnO is a half-metallic FM material. The strong spin-orbit coupling appears near the Fermi level and shows obvious asymmetry for spin-up and spin-down density of state, which indicates a significant hybrid effects from the Ni 3d and O 2p states. However, the coupling of the anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) state show metallic characteristic, the spin-up and spin-down energy levels pass through the Fermi surface. The magnetic moment of a single Ni atom is 0.74 μB. Moreover, the results show that the Ni 3d and O 2p states have a strong p-d hybridization effect near the Fermi level and obtain a high stability. The above theoretical results demonstrate that Ni-doped zinc blende ZnO can be considered as a potential half-metal FM material and dilute magnetic semiconductors.

[Studies on the chemical constituents in herb of Ranunculus japonicus].

OBJECTIVE: To isolate and determine the chemical constituents from Ranunculus japonicus. METHOD: Compounds were isolated by column chromatography, and identified by MS, NMR data. RESULT: Nine compounds were obtained andelucidated as scoparone (1), tricin (2), protocatechuic acid (3), luteolin (4), anemonin (5), scopoletin (6), 5-hydroxy-6, 7-dimethoxyflavone (7), 5-hydroxy-7, 8-dimethoxyflavone (8), ternatolide (9), respectively. CONCLUSION: Compounds 1-9 were isolated from R. japonicus for the first time while compounds 7, 8 were separated from Ranunculus genus first time.

[Studies on the chemical constituents in herb of Ranunculus sceleratus].

OBJECTIVE: To isolate and determine the chemical constituents from Ranunculus sceleratus. METHOD: Six compounds were isolated and purified by extraction and different kinds of column chromatography. The structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectral analysis such as EI-MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, DEPT and NOEDS. RESULT: The structures were elucidated as stigmasta-4-ene-3,6-dione I, stigmasterol II, isoscopoletin III, scoparone IV, protocatechuic aldehyde V and protocatechuic acid VI, respectively. CONCLUSION: Compound I, III, IV, V and VI were isolated from R. genus for the first time.

Corticosterone mediates the inhibitory effect of restraint stress on the migration of mesenchymal stem cell to carbon tetrachloride-induced fibrotic liver by downregulating CXCR4/7 expression.

Recent studies have revealed that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have a great potential in therapeutic applications. The low efficiency of MSC recruitment and homing to sites of diseased organ tissue, however, remains a major hurdle in their application for treatment of diseases. Stress is commonly associated with various diseases. At the present time, little information is available about the effect of stress on MSC function. Here, we employed a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced mouse liver fibrosis model to investigate whether constraint stress affects the migration of MSCs to fibrotic liver. MSC homing to the fibrotic liver was significantly inhibited in mice with restraint stress. Restraint stress induced an elevation of corticosterone level in the serum. Blocking glucocorticoid signaling with either corticosterone-synthesis inhibitor metyrapone (MET) or glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486 attenuated restraint stress-induced inhibition of MSCs migration. The serum concentration of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) increased in mice treated with CCl4. Restraint stress had no influence on expression of SDF-1 and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the fibrotic liver. Culture with the serum of CCl4-treated mice or SDF-1 promoted MSC migration, which was suppressed by corticosterone. Exposure of MSCs to corticosterone decreased their expression of C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CXCR7). These results demonstrate that the inhibitory effect of corticosterone on MSC migration might be mediated via decreasing the expression of CXCR4 and CXCR7 in MSCs. Interventions targeting the interaction between corticosterone and its receptor improve migration and homing of MSCs in hosts receiving transplantation of these cells.

Evaluation of antiviral activity of compounds isolated from Ranunculus sieboldii and Ranunculus sceleratus.

Nineteen compounds isolated from Ranunculus sieboldii and Ranunculus sceleratus were tested for inhibitory effects on hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1). The results showed that apigenin 4'- O- alpha-rhamnopyranoside, apigenin 7- O- beta-glucopyranosyl-4'- O- alpha-rhamnopyranoside, tricin 7- O- beta-glucopyranoside, tricin, and isoscopoletin possessed inhibitory activity against HBV replication. Protocatechuyl aldehyde exhibited an inhibiting activity on HSV-1 replication. It is therefore suggested that further investigations on these bioactive compounds might be needed to discover and develop new antiviral agents.

Field survey of Glycyrrhiza plants in central Asia (2). Characterization of phenolics and their variation in the leaves of Glycyrrhiza plants collected in Kazakhstan.

A new prenylated flavanone, licoleafol, and a new prenylated dihydrostilbene, uralstilbene, together with four known compounds, 8-dimethylallyleriodictyol, sophoraflavanone B, gancaonin R, and 6-dimethylallyleriodictyol, were isolated from the leaves of Glycyrrhiza uralensis collected in Kazakhstan. HPLC analysis of the leaves of Glycyrrhiza plants collected in Kazakhstan showed that both G. uralensis-specific and Glycyrrhiza glabra-specific compounds were detected in the leaves of the morphologically intermediate-type plants, suggesting that the intermediate-type plant is a hybrid of G. glabra and G. uralensis. In addition, HPLC profiles of leaf extracts from offspring of intermediate-type plants were divided into the three types: the G. uralensis type, G. glabra type, and the intermediate type. From these results, it appears likely that the intermediate-type plant back-crosses with G. glabra and G. uralensis to generate a G. glabra-type plant and a G. uralensis-type plant, respectively.