Further sesquiterpenoids from the rhizomes of Homalomena occulta and their anti-inflammatory activity

The rhizomes of Homalomena occulta are called Qian-nian-jian in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which is widely consumed in China owing to its health benefits for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and for strengthening tendons and bones. A phytochemical investigation on this famous TCM yielded 19 sesquiterpenoids (1–19) with various carbocyclic skeletons including isodaucane (2, 8, and 9), guaiane (3), eudesmane (4 and 10–15), oppositane (5, 16, and 17), and aromadendrane (18 and 19) types. The structures of new compounds, Homalomenins A-E (1–5), were determined by diverse spectroscopic data. Compound 1 possessed a rare sesquiterpenoid skeleton and compound 5 represented the first example of 1,4-oxa-oppositane sesquiterpenoid. These isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on COX-2 mRNA, COX-2 protein expression, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in Raw264.7 cells, which demonstrated that compounds 5, 18, 19 showed potent anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing LPS-induced COX-2 expression and PGE2 production in a dose-dependent manner.     

In vitro and in silico elucidation of antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities of bioactive compounds from Momordica charantia L.

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) has been used to manage diabetes and related conditions in various parts of the world. In the present study, ten compounds were isolated from acetone and methanol extracts of bitter melon. The chemical structures of compounds were unambiguously elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR, and high-resolution mass spectra. Identified compounds 1–7 exhibited significant inhibition of α-amylase and moderate inhibition of α-glucosidase activities. Momordicoside G and gentisic acid 5-O-β-d-xyloside showed the highest inhibition of α-amylase (70.5%), and α-glucosidase (56.4%), respectively. Furthermore, molecular docking studies of isolated compounds 1–7 were able to bind to the active sites of both enzymes. Additionally, the isolated compounds 1–7 significantly attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation, downregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory markers NF-κB, INOS, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and Cox-2 in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. One phenolic derivative, gentisic acid 5-O-β-d-xyloside, was isolated and identified for the first time from bitter melon, and significantly suppressed the expression of Cox-2 and IL-6 compared to the LPS-treated group. α-Amylase and α-glucosidase are targets of anti-diabetes drugs, our findings suggest that compounds purified from bitter melon may have potential to use as functional food ingredients for the prevention of type 2 diabetes and related inflammatory conditions.     

Co-culture of Aspergillus sydowii and Bacillus subtilis induces the production of antibacterial metabolites

The co-culture strategy, which mimics natural ecology by constructing an artificial microbial community, is a useful tool to activate the biosynthetic gene clusters to generate new compounds. However, without optimization of fermentation conditions, the antagonism between the microbes often interferes with the production of secondary metabolites. In this study, the fermentation conditions of co-culture of Aspergillus sydowii and Bacillus subtilis were optimized by response surface methodology to increase the production of active metabolites against Staphylococcus aureus. After optimization, the inhibitory rate of the co-culture extract was 74.62%, which was 29.20% higher than that of the initial conditions. Meanwhile, a total of 15 newly biosynthesized metabolites were detected only in optimized co-culture, occupying 13.2% of all detected metabolites. The structures of the 12 metabolites with high variable importance in projection score were elucidated by the established LC-MS/MS approach integrated with various metabonomic tools. Among them, 7 metabolites were newly induced and the content of other 5 metabolites increased by 1.1–2.4 folds in optimized co-culture. The bioassay of metabolites in co-culture against S. aureus indicated that compounds (?)- (7S)- 10-hydroxysydonic acid, serine sydonate and macrolactin U’ contributed much to the increment of antibacterial activity. This study demonstrated that optimizing the fermentation conditions of co-culture was beneficial to changing the metabolite profile and effective to induce the biosynthesis of active metabolites.     

Enhanced production of (+)-terrein by Aspergillus terreus strain PF26 with epigenetic modifier suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid

New strategies for improving the fermentation yield of (+)-terrein which is a fungal metabolite with multiple bioactivities are very urgent. In this study, the effect of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, one kind of epigenetic modifier, on the biosynthesis of (+)-terrein by Aspergillus terreus strain PF26 isolated from the marine sponge Phakellia fusca was investigated. It was found that suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid exhibited a positive impact on (+)-terrein production, resulting from promoting the biosynthesis of 6-hydroxymellein, the precursor of (+)-terrein. Through optimization of feeding concentration and time of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, 5.58 g/L (+)-terrein could be obtained in shake flask cultivation, 29.5% higher than the control. Correspondingly, the fermentation of A. terreus strain PF26 in 7.5-L stirred bioreactor with feeding suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (900 μM, day 4) yielded 9.07 g/L (+)-terrein, 77.1% higher than the control. These results showed that the epigenetic modifier-suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid could be utilized to enhance the production of (+)-terrein, which laid the foundation of massive production of (+)-terrein by fermentation.     

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitory effect of anti-diabetic metal ions and their complexes

We found alpha-glucosidase inhibitory (α-GI) effect of metal ions and their complexes which showed the high blood glucose lowering effect in diabetic model animals. The Cu(II) ion and its complexes showed strong α-GI activity greater than clinically used acarbose in in vitro studies. Furthermore, in in vivo experiments, α-GI action was newly discovered in normal ddy mice. These results suggested that one of action mechanisms of the anti-diabetic metal ions and complexes is related to the α-GI effects.     

Kinetic profile and anti-diabetic potential of fermented Punica granatum juice using Lactobacillus casei

Lactobacillus casei NRRL-B-1922 was used to ferment whole fruit juice of Punica granatum. P. granatum which is also known as pomegranate could support the growth of L. casei even without nutrient supplementation. This can be seen from the maximum specific growth rate of the strain in shake flasks (0.08 h⁻¹) and stirred tank bioreactor (0.11 h⁻¹). Quercetin-3-glucoside was detected as the most abundant compound in the juice and its concentration increased up to 7.0 g/L at the maximum bacterial growth after 27-hs of fermentation in bioreactor. The results showed that the probioticated juice could have more than 80 % inhibition in dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) assay. The glucose and fructose content were steadily reduced with the consumption rate of 0.51 g/L/h and 0.37 g/L/h, respectively in bioreactor. Therefore, the biotransformation of P. granatum juice by L. casei could increase the juice functionality by improving its inhibitory activity against DPP4.     

Anti-inflammatory spiroaxane and drimane sesquiterpenoids from Talaromyces minioluteus (Penicillium minioluteum)

A new spiroaxane sesquiterpenoid talaminoid A (1) and two drimane sesquiterpenoid talaminoids B and C (2 and 3), together with four known compounds (4–7), were isolated from the solid culture broth of fungus Talaromyces minioluteum. The structures were determined by extensive 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic data analyses, and the absolute configuration of these new compounds were undoubtedly confirmed by X-ray crystal diffrations. Compound 1 is a rare spiroaxane sesquiterpenoid and the absolute configuration of spiroaxane sesquiterpenoid was determined for the first time. Compound 2 is the first drimane-type sesquiterpenoid containing both amino acid residue and butanediol group. Compounds 1, 4, and 5 showed significant suppressive effect on the production of NO on LPS induced BV-2 cells, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 4.97 to 7.81 μM. In addition, 1, 4, and 5 exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activities against the production of TNF-α and IL-6. Further immunofluorescence experiments revealed the mechanism of action to be inhibitory the NF- κB-activated pathway.     

Purification and Some Properties of a Xylanase from Aspergillus sydowii MG49

Volume 60, no. 12, p 4620-4623: errors appear to have been made in the original identification of the microorganism used in this study and in the cultures submitted in 1993 to both the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and the Indian Institute of Microbial Technology. A resubmitted culture has now been assigned to the species Aspergillus citrinum by Dr. Frank Dugan of the ATCC. The authors have confirmed that the resubmitted culture produces xylanase, so that the major findings of the original publication remain valid. [This corrects the article on p. 4620 in vol. 60.].     

Purification and Some Properties of a Xylanase from Aspergillus sydowii MG49

Volume 62, no. 10, p. 3915, Author's Correction (Ghosh and Nanda). Errors were made in the original identification of the microorganism used in this study and in the reporting of the corrected species identification. The culture resubmitted to the American Type Culture Collection was identified by Dr. Frank Dugan as Aspergillus flavus, not Aspergillus citrinum, and is available as ATCC 96916. [This corrects the article on p. 3915b in vol. 62.].     

Purification and some properties of a xylanase from Aspergillus sydowii MG49.

Aspergillus sydowii MG49 produces a 30-kDa exosplitting xylobiohydrolase during growth on xylan. A specific chemical modification and substrate protection analysis of purified xylanase provided evidence that tryptophan and carboxy and amino groups are present at the catalytic site of this enzyme. Thermal inactivation of the xylanase occurs because of irreversible polymolecular aggregation, which is slower in the presence of glycerol.     

Delphinium uncinatum mediated biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and in-vitro evaluation of their antioxidant,cytotoxic, antimicrobial,anti-diabetic,anti-inflammatory,and anti-aging activities

Nanotechnology is perhaps the most widely explored scientific domain in the current era. With the advent of NPs, revolutionary changes have been observed in various scientific disciplines. Among the NPs, ZnO-NPs are the center of contemplation owing to their biocompatible nature. These nanoparticles have been prepared using a number of techniques; however, biological methods are among the most popular synthesis approaches. The current research therefore reports the phyto-fabrication of ZnO-NPs mediated by Delphinium uncinatum root extract. The resulting NPs were subjected to standard characterization methods such fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The resulting NPs are exploited to their possible antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing potency. FTIR confirmed the capping of ZnO-NPs by a variety of phytochemicals. ZnO-NPs average size was approximately 30 nm. ZnO-NPs exhibited substantial bio-potency and proved to be highly biocompatible even at higher concentrations. ZnO-NPs revealed strong antimicrobial potency for Pseudomonas aeruginosa proving to be the most susceptible strain showing inhibition of 16 ± 0.98. ZnO-NPs also showed dose dependent antidiabetic and cytotoxic potential. COX-1, COX-2, 15-LOX and sPLA2 were efficiently inhibited upon exposure to ZnO-NPs confirming the anti-inflammatory potential of ZnO-NPs. Similarly, ZnO-NPs also revealed considerable anti-aging potential. With such diverse biological potentials, ZnO-NPs can prove to be a potent weapon against a plethora of diseases; however, further study is necessary in order to discover the precise mechanism that is responsible for the biological potency of these NPs.     

Two new metabolites from Portulaca oleracea and their anti-inflammatory activities

Two new metabolites, identified as 6-phenylbenzofuran-4-ol, named olerabenzofuran (1), and 2-(furan-2-yl)− 6-hydroxy-1 H-inden-1-one, named oleraindenone (2), together with eight furan compounds obtained for the first time, (+)-pinoresinol (3), (-)-syringaresinol (4), (+)-diasyringaresinol (5), (+)-episyringaresinol (6), (2 S)− 1-[2-(furan-2-yl)− 2-oxoethyl]− 5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (7), methyl (2 S)− 1[2-(furan-2-yl)− 2-oxoethyl]− 5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (8), drynaran (9), and 2-furoic acid (10), were isolated from Portulaca oleracea L., and spectroscopic methods, including 1D and ²D NMR and UHPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS spectrometry techniques, were employed to determine their structures. It was suggested that both olerabenzofuran (1) and oleraindenone (2) could significantly inhibit inflammatory factor interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS.     

Enzymatic bleaching of kraft pulp by xylanase from Aspergillus sydowii SBS 45

Crude xylanase from Aspergillus sydowii SBS 45 was tested for enzymatic bleaching of kraft (Decker) pulp. After optimization of three parameters, consistency of pulp, retention time and enzyme dose, considerable increase in the release of UV and visible absorbance spectra of materials and reducing sugars was observed, which clearly indicated the action of xylanase on pulp. Final brightness of pulp was increased from 29.42 to 70.42% and kappa number was reduced from 15.93 to 1.61, when 25 U of xylanase was given with a retention time of 5 h and at a consistency of 10%. When 10 U g⁻¹ xylanase was given, 14.3% elemental chlorine and 14.3% H₂O₂ could be reduced and when 25 U g⁻¹ xylanase was given 14.3% elemental chlorine and 28.6% H ₂O₂ could be reduced thereby retaining the brightness at control level.     

Alkaloids from aerial parts of Houttuynia cordata and their anti-inflammatory activity

New alkaloids, houttuynamide B and C (1, 2) and houttuycorine (14), were isolated from the aerial parts of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. in addition to eighteen known alkaloids. Their structures were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analysis. All the isolates were tested for their inhibitory activity against NO production in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated by LPS. Of the tested compounds, compound 15 showed the most potent anti-inflammatory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 8.7 μM.     

Compounds from the fruits of Nicandra physaloides and their potential anti-inflammatory activities

Twenty-one compounds were isolated and identified from the ethanol extract of the fruits of Nicandra physaloides, including four new (1–4) and 17 known compounds (5–21). All the compounds were isolated from the genus Physalis for the first time. In this study, NMR spectroscopy was used to study the compound structures by comparing their data with those reported in the literature. Moreover, the potential anti-inflammatory activity of RAW264.7 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was evaluated. Among the monoterpenoids, compounds (5–7, 9) exhibited weak anti-inflammatory activities, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 29.10 to 68.30 μM.     

Phenylpropanoids and triterpenoids from Tripterygium regelii and their anti-inflammatory activities

Two new compounds named cleroserroside C (1), schisphenlignan O (2), as well as twenty-one known compounds (3–23) were isolated from the roots of Tripterygium regelii. The structures of the new compounds were determined by 1D and ²D NMR spectra and HR-ESI-MS data. The known compounds were determined by comparing the ¹D NMR data in the literature. All compounds were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity using the LPS-induced RAW264.7 inflammatory cell model, and the results showed that compounds 1, 8-11, 15-16, and 20-21 had good anti-inflammatory activity (IC₅₀ < 20 μM). The cytotoxicity of all compounds was tested by CCK-8 assay, using RAW264.7 cells. The results showed that all compounds had no cytotoxicity to RAW264.7 in the range of 0 ~ 200 μM.     

New labdane diterpenoids from Leonurus japonicus and their anti-inflammatory activity

Two new, 16-oxo-leoheteronone A (1) and 15-methoxyleoheteronin B (2), and four known, 8,9-secohispanolone (3), galeopsin (4), hispanone (5), and leoheteronin B (6), labdane diterpenoids were isolated from the aerial parts of Leonurus japonicus. Compound 3 was isolated for the first time as a naturally occurring compound. Structures of the two compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic techniques, including 1D, 2D NMR, and HREIMS. In addition, compounds 1–3, 5 and 6 were examined for inhibition of superoxide anion generation and elastase release, and the results suggested that compound 5 possesses anti-inflammatory activity.     

Rearranged limonoids and chromones from Harrisonia perforata and their anti-inflammatory activity

Two new rearranged limonoids, harperforatin (1) and harperfolide (2), and a new chromone, harperamone (3), were isolated from fruits and roots of Harrisonia perforata, together with eight known compounds. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Harperfolide (2) exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing nitric oxide (NO) production from activated macrophages with IC₅₀ value of 6.51 μM. Furthermore, its effect is mediated by reduction of iNOS protein expression, attributable to the inhibitory action of LPS-induced NO production.     

Large-scale analysis of the genetic and epigenetic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma from Southeast China

Our knowledge about molecular alterations during hepatocarcinogenesis is still fragmentary, due to lack of comprehensive genetic and epigenetic analyses in the same set of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). In this study, we conducted a large-scale analysis, including mutation screening in 50 genes and methylation assays in three genes in 54 pairs of HCCs and their neighboring non-cancerous tissues. All samples were collected from the residents in Southeast China. We found HBV infection and chronic hepatitis/cirrhosis in 83.3% and 98.1% of the cases, respectively. Mutations were identified in 18 out of 54 (33.3%) samples, with p53 alterations in 14 cases and β-catenin mutations in four tumors. No mutations were identified in the neighboring tissues. Interestingly, 9 out of 14 (64.3%) tumors carrying p53 mutations displayed substitution of serine by arginine at codon 249, a characteristic change believed to be induced by aflatoxin-B1. Furthermore, p53 mutation was significantly associated with shorter recurrence-free survival (P = 0.004). The results also revealed aberrant methylation in two or more genes in as high as 90% of tumors and 40% of adjacent tissues. The frequency of RASSF1A hypermethylation was much higher than that of p16INK4a and HAI2 in both HCC and neighboring tissues, indicating that deregulation of RASSF1A may precede the other two genes. These data suggest that aberrant methylation occurs before mutation and is an early event in the development of this set of HCC. Our findings highlight p53 as a prognostic factor of HCC and RASSF1A as a potential target in preventing malignant transformation of hepatocytes.