Di Geng

Hepatoprotective effect of ethanol extract from Berchemia lineate against CCl4-induced acute hepatotoxicity in mice

Abstract Context: The roots of Berchemia lineate (L.) DC. (Rhamnaceae) have been long used as a remedy for the treatment of some diseases in Guangxi Province, China. Objective: The present study investigates the hepatoprotective effect of Berchemia lineate ethanol extract (BELE) on CCl4-induced acute liver damage in mice. Materials and methods: Effect of BELE administrated for 7 consecutive days was evaluated in mice by the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBIL), albulin (ALB), globulin (GLB), and total protein (TP) levels, as well as liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Moreover, histopathological examinations were also taken. Results: Compared with the model group, administration of 400u2009mg/kg BELE for 7u2009d in mice significantly decreased the serum ALT (56.25u2009U/L), AST (297.67u2009U/L), ALP (188.20u2009U/L), and TBIL (17.90u2009mol/L), along with the elevation of TP (64.67u2009g/L). In addition, BELE (100, 200, and 400u2009mg/kg, i.g.) treated mice recorded a dose-dependent increment of SOD (291.17, 310.32, and 325.67u2009U/mg prot) and reduction of MDA (7.27, 6.77, and 5.33u2009nmol/mg prot) levels. Histopathological examinations also confirmed that BELE can ameliorate CCl4-induced liver injuries, characterized by extensive hepatocellular degeneration/necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, congestion, and sinusoidal dilatation. Discussion and conclusion: The results indicated that BELE possessed remarkable protective effect against acute hepatotoxicity and oxidative injuries induced by CCl4, and that the hepatoprotective effects of BELE may be due to both the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and the increase of antioxidant activity.

Chemical Constituents from Illicium dunnianum

AIM：To investigate the chemical constituents of Illicium dunnianum. METHODS: Compounds were isolated and purified by carious chromatographic techniques and their structures were elucidated by physicochemical and spectral data. RESULTS: Eleven known compounds were isolated and identified as (2R, 3R)-3, 5, 7, 3, 5-pentahydroxyflavan (1), epicatechol (2), pinocembrin (3), (2R, 3R)-3, 5, 7, 3′, 4′-pentahydroxyflavan (4), (-)-epiafzelechin (5), quercetin-3-O-α- L-rhamnoside(6), methyl 2,5-dihydroxybenzoate (7), gallic acid (8), shikimic acid (9) and ethyl shikimate(10) and 4,5-Dimethoxy-6-(2-propenyl)-1,3-benzodioxole(11). CONCLUSION: Compound 1-8, 10 and 11 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Synthesis and Infrared Spectrum Characterization of Phenylalanine Chelated Calcium Complex

The preparation conditions in the water system of phenylalanine chelated calcium complex have been evaluated though single-factor tests and optimized by uniform design. Then the optimal parameters were obtained as follows: reaction temperature is 40 °C, reaction time is 182 min, the molar ratio of phenylalanine to calcium is 4.3 and pH = 9.0. Under the best conditions, the experimental result gives chelating rate = 87.40% that is 17.12% lower than the prediction = 104.52%.The infrared spectrum characterization has confirmed the formation of phenylalanine-Ca2+ chelates and the existence of chelate ring.

Chemical Constituents from Euphorbia helioscopia

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of Euphorbia helioscopia. METHODS: Compounds 1-10 were isolated and purified by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and Rp-18 chromatogarphy. Their structures were elucidated mainly by spectroscopic methods. RESULTS: Ten known compounds, helioscopinolide A(1), helioscopinolide B(2), scopoletin(3), scoparone(4), isoscopoletin(5), licochalone A(6), quercelin(7), 7, 4’-dihydroxy-5-methoxy flacanone(8), 2’, 4’-dihydroxy-6’-methoxydihydrochalcone(9) and pinocembrin(10), were isolated and structurally elucidated. CONCLUSION: Compound 3-5 and 8-10 were isolated from this plant for the first time. 2D NMR spectrum data of 2 were also reported in this paper.

Retraction Note: A New Acetophenone Trimer From Roots of Euphorbia ebracteolata

A new acetophenone trimer, named ebracteolatain C, along with two known diterpenoids was isolated from Euphorbia ebtacteolata. The structure of the compound 1 was elucidated as 1-[3, 5-bis-(3-acetyl-2, 6-dihydroxy-4methoxy-benzyl)-4, 6-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-phenyl]-ethanone on basis of spectroscopic methods.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Chitosan for 4-Nitrophenol Reduction

In this study, we report a straightforward route for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles by chitosan under moderate thermal treatment. Chitosan acted as both a reducing agent and a capping agent. The synthesized nanocomposites could function as effective catalysts for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride.

Flavonoids from Illicium dunnianum

AIM：To investigate the chemical constituents of Illicium dunnianum. METHODS: A series of flavonoids were isolated and purified by various chromatographic techniques and their structures were elucidated by physicochemical and spectral data. RESULTS: Ten known flavonoids were isolated and identified as isoliquiritigenin (1), 7, 4′-Dihydroxy-5-methoxy flavanone (2), 3-(2, 4-dihydroxybenzyl)-5,7-dihydroxychroman-4-one (3), (3R)-5, 7-dihydroxy- 3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)- 6-methyl-chroman-4-one (4), 2uf0a2, 5-dihydroxy-7-hydroxymethyl isoflavone (5), galangin (6), pinocembrin (7), kaempferol (8), 5,7,3′,4′-tetramethoxy catechin (9) and isorhamnetin (10). All of the compounds were isolated from this species for the first time.

Study on the Evaporation of Histidine-Water System

The evaporation rate of histidine-water system was measured and the influence of pressure, temperature, His concentration, pH value of solution and the existence of NH4Cl salt was investigated. The results showed that operating pressure and temperature have significant influence on evaporation rate. Increasing vacuum and temperature could increase the rate. In contrast, the rate value was insensitive to the change of concentration of His, solution pH value and the existence of NH4Cl salt at the operating pressure and temperature. In connection with the operating conditions, properties of the research system and evaporation vessel geometry factors, a new mass transfer coefficient model, based on the dimensional analysis of experimental data, was proposed with relative error of ±10%. Check results showed that agreement between model predictions and experimental data is quite reasonable. The results obtained appear to be used to predict evaporation rate of histidine-water system for industrial reference.

Syzygium Samarangense Leaf Mediated Biosynthesis of Gold Nanoparticles and its Application in Catalysis

In this study, we report one-pot biological fabrication of gold nanoparticles by a facile procedure using lixivium of Syzygium samarangense leaf without extra surfactant, capping agent, and/or template. The resulting gold nanoparticles showed good performance in the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol.

Anaerobic Solid State Fermentation of Porcine Blood

An anaerobic solid state fermentation (ASSF) of porcine blood by two ferment agents was investigated. The free amino acids (FAA) content was applied as reference indicator, response surface design of Box-Behnken (BBD) was used to select the optimum conditions of ASSF of porcine blood. The optimum conditions were determined as porcine blood moisture of 76.0%, fermentation time of 7d, fermentation temperature of 39.0±0.5 oC, addition of the components of the mixture as follows: wheat bran 10.8 g , corn flour 1.2 g, Active 99 ferment agent I 0.768 g, Active 99 ferment agent II 0.19 g, porcine blood 86.0 g, resulting in FAA content of 23.8 mg/g. Evaluation experiments revealed that FAA content of 22.9 mg/g, which was 96.2% of the predicted value using Eq.2, and achieved a 14-fold increase comparing with the 1.5 mg/g which is the FAA content of unfermented mixture. It was confirmed that the protein of porcine blood was degraded into small peptides by Sodium dodecyl sulfate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).