[A new cytotoxic isoflavane from Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum].

Fourteen compounds were isolated from the ethanol extract of Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum by various chromatographic techniques, including column chromatographies on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic techniques as S-3'-hydroxy-7,2',4'-trimethoxyisoxane(1), 2-(2',4'-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-hydroxybenzofuran(2), 2-(2'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyphenyl)-6-methoxybenzofuran(3), 7,2',4'-trimethoxydihydroisoflavone(4), sativanone(5), 3,9-dimethoxy-6H-benzofuro[3,2-c]chromen-6-one(6),(6 aS,11 aS)-homopterocarpin(7),(6 aS,11 aS)-8-hydroxy-3,9-dimethoxypterocarpan(8),(6 aS,11 aS)-3,8,9-trimethoxypterocarpan(9), isodalbergin(10), isoliquiritigenin(11), butein(12), butin(13) and 3,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone(14). Among them, compound 1 was a new compound, while 2 and 3 were new natural products, 6, 8, 9 and 14 were isolated for the first time from Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum. Compounds 1-14 were tested for their cytotoxic activity against human hepatoma cell line BEL-7402, human gastric cancer cell line SCG-7901, human lung cancer cell line A549, human chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562 and HeLa human cervical cancer cellline by MTT method. Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxicity with IC_(50) values ranging from 2.85 to 11.62 µg·mL~(-1). In addition, 2, 11 and 12 showed weak cytotoxic activities.

2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromone derivatives: Promising α-glucosidase inhibitors in agarwood from Aquilaria filaria.

Twelve undescribed 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives, including one pair of enantiomers, together with eleven known ones, were isolated from the EtOAc extract of agarwood originating from Aquilaria filaria. All structures were elucidated by spectroscopic (NMR, UV, IR, MS) methods and compared with reported data in literatures. Twenty-one compounds were assessed for α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, which showed inhibition of α-glucosidase with IC50 values ranging between 7.8 ± 0.3 to 137.7 ± 3.0 µM (Acarbose, 743.4 ± 3.3 µM; Genistein, 8.3 ± 0.1 µM). Our results expanded the structural diversity of 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones from agarwood, and revealed the potential of 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones as α-glucosidase inhibitors.

Antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in patients with COVID-19.

We report acute antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in 285 patients with COVID-19. Within 19 days after symptom onset, 100% of patients tested positive for antiviral immunoglobulin-G (IgG). Seroconversion for IgG and IgM occurred simultaneously or sequentially. Both IgG and IgM titers plateaued within 6 days after seroconversion. Serological testing may be helpful for the diagnosis of suspected patients with negative RT-PCR results and for the identification of asymptomatic infections.

Polyethylenimine derivate conjugated with RGD-TAT-NLS as a novel gene vector.

To solve the contradiction between the cell toxicity and transfection efficiency of polyethylenimine (PEI) derivate in non-viral gene therapy, a novel gene vector, P123-PEI-R18 was synthesized by using biodegradable PEI derivate conjugated with trifunctional peptide RGD-TAT-NLS. The particle size of P123-PEI-R18/DNA was around 100-250 nm. The gene vector could condense DNA at the weight ratio of 2 and protect plasmid DNA from being dissolved in the blood circulation. Importantly, the complexes exhibited lower cell toxicity and higher transfection efficiency contrasted with PEI 25 kDa in vitro. P123-PEI-R18 holds high potential as a safe and efficient gene vector.