Jiangli Zhao

Aqueous two-phase extraction, identification and antioxidant activity of anthocyanins from mulberry (Morus atropurpurea Roxb.)

Aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE), identification and antioxidant activity of anthocyanins from mulberry (Morus atropurpurea Roxb.) were investigated in this study. The optimal differential partitioning of mulberry anthocyanins (MAY) and sugars was achieved in a system (pH 4.5, temperature=35±1°C) composed of 30% (w/w) ethanol, 20% (w/w) concentration of ammonium sulphate, 10% (w/w) mulberry juice and 40% (w/w) water. The multiple partitioning indicated a single ATPE step could isolate the majority of anthocyanins, while removing near to 90% of the free sugars. The composition of the MAY extracted by ATPE had no obvious changes, and five anthocyanins were identified by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The ATPE extract showed a relatively high antioxidant ability compared to that by the conventional extraction. Our results indicated that ATPE was a valuable method for the removal of the majority of free sugars, which held great promise in the purification of natural anthocyanin pigments.

Sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsant activities of the ethanol fraction from Rhizoma Pinelliae Praeparatum.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Rhizoma Pinelliae Praeparatum is the product of raw Rhizoma Pinellia processed with alkaline solution and Licorice, which had been widely used for treatment of insomnia in traditional Chinese medicine. The present study aimed to investigate the sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsant activities of ethanol fraction from Rhizoma Pinelliae Praeparatum (EFRP) and to determine whether these effects were related to GABAergic mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS The sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsant activities of EFRP were investigated with locomotion activity, pentobarbital-induced sleeping and nikethamide (NKTM)-induced convulsion tests, respectively. Additionally, the effects of flumazenil (an antagonist of GABA(A) receptor) and L-malic acid (blocker of synthetic enzyme for GABA) on the hypnotic activity of EFRP were evaluated. RESULTS EFRP at dose of 12 g/kg significantly inhibited the locomotion activity of mice. EFRP showed synergic effect on pentobarbital-induced sleeping by increased numbers of mice falling asleep, reduced the sleep latency and prolonged the sleeping time. L-malic acid and flumazenil inhibited the augment effects of EFRP on pentobarbital-induced sleeping. EFRP promoted a significant protection to NKTM-induced convulsion, by prolonged the death latency and decreased mortality. CONCLUSION EFRP possessed sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsant activities and these activities may be related to the GABAergic system.

Anti-diabetic properties of chromium citrate complex in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

The chromium citrate complex [CrCIT] was synthesized and its structure was determined by infrared, UV-visible and atomic absorption spectroscopy, elemental and thermodynamic analysis. Anti-diabetic activity, oxidative DNA damage capacity and acute oral toxicity of [CrCIT] were investigated and compared with that of chromium trichloride hexahydrate. [CrCIT] was synthesized in a single step reaction by chelating chromium(III) with citric acid in aqueous solution. The molecular formula of [CrCIT] was inferred as CrC(6)H(5)O(7)·4H(2)O. The anti-diabetic activity of the complex [CrCIT] was assessed in alloxan-diabetic rats by daily oral gavage for 3 weeks. The biological activity results showed that the complex at the dose of 0.25-0.75 mg Cr/kg body weight could decrease the blood glucose level and increase liver glycogen level in alloxan-diabetic rats. [CrCIT] had more beneficial influences on the improvement of controlling blood glucose, serum lipid and liver glycogen levels compared with CrCl(3)·6H(2)O. Furthermore, [CrCIT] did not cause oxidative DNA damage under physiologically relevant conditions, and [CrCIT] did not produce any hazardous symptoms or deaths in acute oral toxicity test, showing the LD(50) value for female and male rats were higher than 15.1 g/kg body weight. The results suggested that [CrCIT] might represent a novel and proper chromium supplement with potential therapeutic value to control blood glucose in diabetes.

Extraction, purification and characterisation of chondroitin sulfate in Chinese sturgeon cartilage

BACKGROUND Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis), a rare species, is an important fishery resource in China. To save this species from overfishing, damming and pollution, artificial propagation has been developed rapidly in recent years. However, the cartilage from Chinese sturgeon, which contains an abundance of chondroitin sulfate (CS), is currently discarded as solid waste after consumption of the fish. The aim of this study was to investigate the extraction, purification and characterisation of CS from Chinese sturgeon cartilage. RESULTS The optimal extraction parameters were a ratio of aqueous NaOH to cartilage powder of 9.2, a concentration of aqueous NaOH of 4.4% and an extraction time of 3.9 h. Under these optimal conditions the yield of crude CS from Chinese sturgeon cartilage was 26.51%, in agreement with the model prediction (26.54%). Purification by DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography yielded a single fraction, CS-11. Its characterisation indicated that CS-11 was consistent with the polysaccharide backbone structure -4GlcAβ-3GalNβ- and was present in the form of chondroitin-4-sulfate and chondroitin-6-sulfate. CONCLUSION The results of this study provide a basis for promoting the utilisation of Chinese sturgeon resources and are significant for the development and utilisation of CS from Chinese sturgeon cartilage in the food industry.

Extraction, Physicochemical, and Functional Properties of Proteins From Milk Thistle Silybum Marianum L. Gaernt Seeds

Protein fractions from Silybum marianum seeds were sequentially extracted based on solubility and then compared with protein isolate in terms of the yields and physicochemical properties. Molecular weights of protein fractions were in the range of 16.3–112.1 kDa. Secondary structure of the protein fractions had a high amount of β-types. Albumin fraction was the dominant seed protein with a characteristic profile of tryptophan residues in most hydrophilic environments. Solubility of protein fractions was lowest at pH 4–5. Besides high levels of essential amino acids favorably compared with recommended levels for pre-school children, S. marianum seed proteins could also be used as protein extenders and acid formulations.

Chemical composition, in vitro digestibility and antioxidant activity of solid wastes from the fruits of Silybum marianum

The chemical composition of solid wastes from Silybum marianum fruits (WSS) and the contents of total polyphenols, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity of the extracts from WSS with distilled water, ethanol (40%, 70% and 95%) and methanol was investigated. Chemical analysis indicated that WSS contained high amounts of crude protein (25.58%), calcium, potassium and magnesium. The content of plumbum, selenium and arsenium in WSS was below the maximum level established by the Commission of the European Communities. Essential amino acids in WSS favorably compared with the recommended level for pre-school children. Nitrogen release of WSS during sequential pepsin and trypsin digestion was 70.60%. The 70% ethanol extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. The nutritional compositions and bioactive compounds in WSS made it appropriate for applications in feedstuffs as supplemental sources in animal feeds and food additives.

Sedative Activity of the Chemical Constituents of Rhizoma pinelliae Praeparatum

Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Makino, belonging to the Araceae family, is widely used as a traditional medicine in China [1]. Rhizoma pinelliae Praeparatum possesses multiple activities, including antitussive, expectorant, antiemetic, antitumor, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and sedative activities [2–6]. Previous studies [5] have shown the sedative, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant activities of the ethanol fraction from Rhizoma pinelliae Praeparatum (EFRP) and had proved these effects are related to GABA-ergic mechanism. Herein, a further investigation of the EFRP was undertaken. Nine monomers were isolated from the EFRP and six were chosen for sedative activity testing. After separation of the EFRP by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, silica gel column chromatography and preparative HPLC, nine compounds were obtained as follows. Ephedrine Hydrochloride (1). White needle crystals (water), mp 217–220 C. UV ( max): 438 nm. 1H NMR (400 MHz, D2O), 13C NMR (100 MHz, D2O). According to spectral data (data not shown), compound 1 was identified as ephedrine hydrochloride. Guanine Nucleoside (2). White crystalline powder (water), mp 240–242 C. UV ( max): 253 nm. 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6, , ppm, J/Hz): 10.75 (1H, br.s, H-1 ), 7.97 (1H, s, H-5), 6.52 (2H, s, H-2 ), 5.72 (1H, d, J = 6.4, H-6), 5.45 (1H, d, J = 6.0, 7-OH), 5.20 (1H, d, J = 4.6, 8-OH), 5.10 (1H, m, 10-OH), 4.43 (1H, d, J = 5.2, H-7), 4.11 (1H, m, H-8), 3.90 (1H, m, H-9), 3.64 (1H, s, H-10a), 3.55 (1H, s, H-10b). 13C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d6, , ppm): 157.4 (C-1), 154.3 (C-2), 152.3 (C-3), 117.7 (C-4), 137.0 (C-5), 87.8 (C-6), 74.9 (C-7), 71.6 (C-8), 86.4 (C-9), 62.7 (C-10). Spectral data were consistent with the reported study [7]; thus compound 2 was deduced to be guanine nucleoside. Hypoxanthine Nucleoside (3). White crystalline powder (water), mp 213–215 C. UV ( max, nm): 196.8, 248.2. 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6, , ppm, J/Hz): 12.41 (1H, br.s, H-1 ), 8.34 (1H, s, H-2), 8.11 (1H, s, H-5), 5.81 (1H, d, J = 6.8, H-6), 5.54 (1H, d, J = 6.4, 7-OH), 5.13 (1H, d, J = 4.6, 8-OH), 5.12 (1H, m, 10-OH), 4.46 (1H, dd, J = 11.6, 5.4, H-7), 4.16 (1H, dd, J = 7.6, 4.6, H-8), 3.91 (1H, m, H-9), 3.64 (1H, s, H-10a), 3.53 (1H, s, H-10b). 13C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d6, , ppm): 159.0 (C-1), 145.9 (C-2), 148.2 (C-3), 124.2 (C-4), 139.1 (C-5), 87.1 (C-6), 70.2 (C-7), 73.7 (C-8), 85.6 (C-9), 61.2 (C-10). Compound 3 was inferred to be hypoxanthine nucleoside. Chest Purine Nucleoside (4). White powder (water), mp 129–131 C. UV ( max): 254 nm. 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6, , ppm, J/Hz): 11.27 (1H, br,s, H-1 ), 7.66 (1H, s, H-4 ), 6.16 (1H, t, J = 6.4, H-5 ), 5.24 (1H, d, J = 6.4, 7-OH), 5.04 (1H, d, J = 6.4, 9-OH), 4.24 (1H, d, J = 3.6, H-7), 3.76 (1H, m, H-8), 3.58 (2H, m, H-9), 2.08 (2H, m, H-6), 1.78 (3H, s, H-10). 13C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d6, , ppm): 151.3 (C-1), 167.5 (C-2), 110.8 (C-3), 138.1 (C-4), 86.0 (C-5), 41.1 (C-6), 701.4 (C-7), 87.2 (C-8), 62.1 (C-9), 12.4 (C-10). The spectral data above were consistent with the previous study [8], so compound 4 was determined to be chest purine nucleoside. Uracil (5). White powder (water), mp 335–337 C. UV ( max): 254 nm. 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6, , ppm, J/Hz): 11.02 (1H, br.s, H-1 ), 10.82 (1H, s, H-2 ), 7.41 (1H, dd, J = 7.6, 5.7, H-3), 5.47 (1H, dd, J = 7.6, H-4). 13C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d6, , ppm): 165.5 (C-1), 152.3 (C-2), 142.8 (C-3), 101.4 (C-4). Compound 5 was deduced to be uracil.

Study on preparation of Prunella dispersible tablets

Objective To study the prescription and preparation technology of Prunella ethanol extract dispersible tablets. Methods Take disintegration time as indexes, the prescription and preparation technology were optimized by an orthogonal design. The hardness, suspended uniformity, dissolution were investigated and preliminary stability were tested through accelerated test. Results The optimum prescription was: active components 40%, loading agent MCC 50%, disintegrating agent PVPP 8% and lubricant magnesium stearate 1%. The dispersible tablets were prepared under the optimum technology with hardness 5.1±0.3 kg·mm−2, satisfactory suspended uniformity, stable quality and accumulated dissolution in 30 min was more than 90%. Conclusion The prescription for the dispersible tablets was reasonable and its technology is feasible, which meets the quality requirement of the disperse tablets.