Synthesis of novel azo compounds containing 5(4H)-oxazolone ring as potent tyrosinase inhibitors

Six new azo dyes containing of 5(4H)-oxazolone ring were prepared by diazotization of 4-aminohippuric acid and coupling with N,N-dimethylaniline, 1-naphthol and 2-naphthol and condensation with 4-fluoro benzaldehyde or 4-trifluoromethoxy benzaldehyde. The new compounds were fully characterized by spectroscopic techniques. All synthesized compounds exhibited high tyrosinase inhibitory behavior. The results of mushroom tyrosinase inhibition assays indicate that the 4-trifluoromethoxy derivatives have high degrees of inhibition and N,N-dimethylaniline derivatives are better for tyrosinase inhibition than 1-naphthol and 2-naphthol derivatives. All synthesized azo compounds (4a–4f) showed the most potent mushroom tyrosinase inhibition, comparable to that of Kojic acid and l-mimosine, as reference standard inhibitors.     

Nebulosides A–B,novel triterpene saponins from under-ground parts of Gypsophila arrostii Guss. var. nebulosa

A bioassay-guided phytochemical analysis of the triterpene saponins from under ground parts of Gypsophila arrostii var. nebulosa allowed the isolation of two triterpene saponins; nebuloside A, B based on gypsogenin and quillaic acid aglycone. Two new oleanane type triterpenoid saponins (nebuloside A, B) and three known saponins (1–3) were isolated from the root bark of Gypsophila arrostii var. nebulosa. The structures of the two new compounds were elucidated as 3-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl quillaic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-fucopyranosyl ester (nebuloside A) and 3-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-[β-d-galactopyranosyl(1→3)-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl gypsogenin 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-fucopyranosyl ester (nebuloside B), on the basis of extensive spectral analysis and chemical evidence. Nebuloside A and B showed toxicity enhancing properties on saporin a type-I RIP without causing toxicity by themselves at 15 μg/mL.     

Investigation of cytocrom c oxidase gene subunits expression on the Multiple sclerosis

INTRODUCTION:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflamatory disease, which affects the (Central Nervous System) and leads to the destruction of myelin and atrophy of the axons. Genetic factors, in addition to environmental ones, seem to play a role in MS. Numerous studies have reported mitochondrial defects including a reduction in cytochrome c oxidase (COX) complex function related to the reduction of mitochondrial genes expression in the cortex tissue of patients with MS have been reported.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This study aimed to assess COX5B and COX2 genes expression in MS patients and compare it with normal subjects. We determine expression levels of genes COX5B and COX2, and also gene reference ß-actine using real–time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Data were obtained and obtained and standardized with the gene reference and were analyzed using independent sample t-test with SPSS and Excel programs.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

The resultshowed COX5B gene expression reduced significant in MS patients compared to normal subjects (P < −0.05) whereas, there was no significant difference in the COX2 gene expression between normal subjects and patients. Thus, it can be claimed that down-regulation of mitochondrial electron transport chain genes supported the hypothesis that hypoxia-like tissue injury in MS may be due to mitochondrial genes, different expression impairment.     

The Whole Genome Expression Analysis using Two Microarray Technologies to Identify Gene Networks That Mediate the Myocardial Phenotype of CD36 Deficiency

We have previously shown that CD36 is a membrane protein that facilitates long chain fatty acid (FA) transport by muscle tissues. We also documented the significant impact of muscle CD36 expression on heart function, skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity as well as on overall metabolism. To identify a comprehensive set of genes that are differentially regulated by CD36 expression in the heart, we used two microarray technologies (Affymetrix and Agilent) to compare gene expression in heart tissues from CD36 KnocK-Out (KO-CD36) versus wild type (WT-CD36) mice. The obtained results using the two technologies were similar with around 35 genes differentially expressed using both technologies. Absence of CD36 led to down-regulation of the expression of three groups of genes involved in pathways of FA metabolism, angiogenesis/apoptosis and structure. These data are consistent with the fact that the CD36 protein binds FA and thrombospondin 1 invoved respectively in lipid metabolism and anti-angiogenic activities. In conclusion, our findings led to validate our data analysis workflow and identify specific pathways, possibly underlying the phenotypic abnormalities in CD36 Knock -Out hearts.     

Computer aided screening of Accacia nilotica phytochemicals against HCV NS3/4a

Background: HCV has become a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and is a major health concern worldwide. To date, there is no vaccine available in the market to tackle this disease, therefore there is a strong need to develop antiviral compounds that can target all genotypes of HCV with the same efficiency. Medicinal plants have low cost and are less toxic therefore, extracts of medicinal plants can serve as important antiviral agents against HCV. This study was designed to screen phytochemicals of Accacia nilotica to find a potent drug candidate that can inhibit HCV infection effectively.Results: Docking of NS3/4A protease and Flavonoids of Accacia nilotica revealed that most of the flavonoids bound deeply with the active site of NS3/4A protease. Compound 01 showed a high ranking on docking score. All other compounds also showed reliable docking scores and had interactions with the binding cavity of NS3/4A protease, suggesting them as a potent drug candidate to block HCV replication.Conclusion: To recognize binding interactions of Accacia nilotica phytochemicals with NS3/4A protease, molecular docking was performed to find potential inhibitor against NS3/4A protease of HCV. After post docking analysis, important interactions were found between active compounds and active site of NS3/4A protease. It can be concluded from the study that phytochemicals of Accacia nilotica may serve as a potential drug candidate with relatively simple structural changes against HCV NS3/4A protease.     

He-Ne激光和增强UV-B辐射对小麦幼叶叶绿素荧光和Rubisco活化酶的影响

选用小麦‘ML7113’品种为材料,人工模拟He-Ne激光(5mJ·s-1·mm-2)、增强UV-B(10.8kJ·m-2·d-1)辐射及两者复合辐照进行处理,利用叶绿素荧光仪、考马斯亮蓝G-250染色法和PCR技术研究7d龄小麦幼苗叶绿素荧光特性、Rubisco活化酶含量、基因表达量及其基因序列的变化。结果表明:(1)与对照组相比,增强UV-B辐射后,小麦幼苗叶绿素荧光特性减弱,Rubisco活化酶含量及其基因表达量均下降;而低剂量的He-Ne激光辐照后能够在一定程度上修复经UV-B辐射后对小麦幼苗叶绿素荧光特性所造成的损伤,且使Rubisco活化酶含量及其基因表达量上升。(2)与对照组相比,经He-Ne激光和增强UV-B辐射以及两者复合辐照处理后基因序列均出现两个相同的点突变,但并未造成氨基酸序列的变化。研究认为,低剂量He-Ne激光辐照能够在一定程度上修复受UV-B辐射小麦幼苗叶绿素荧光活性、Rubisco活化酶含量及其基因表达量的降低;He-Ne激光和增强UV-B辐射对小麦幼苗Rubisco活化酶活性的影响可能发生在其转录水平,从而使小麦光合能力发生相应的变化。     

Association between the plasma proteome and serum ascorbic acid concentrations in humans

Vitamin C has been associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases, but the biological pathways regulated by vitamin C are not all known. The objective was to use a proteomics approach to identify plasma proteins associated with circulating levels of ascorbic acid. Men and women (n= 1022) 20–29 years of age from the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health Study completed a general health and lifestyle questionnaire and a 196-item food frequency questionnaire and provided a fasting blood sample. Circulating ascorbic acid was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and a mass-spectrometry-based multiple reaction monitoring method was used to measure 54 proteins abundant in plasma that are involved in numerous physiologic pathways. Mean protein concentrations were compared across tertiles of serum ascorbic acid using analysis of covariance adjusted for sex, ethnocultural group, season of blood draw, hormonal contraceptive use among women, waist circumference and tertiles of plasma α-tocopherol. A Bonferroni significance level of P<.0009 was applied, and analyses were adjusted for multiple comparisons using the Tukey–Kramer procedure. Levels of complement C9, ceruloplasmin, alpha-1-anti-trypsin, angiotensinogen, complement C3, vitamin D binding protein and plasminogen were inversely associated with levels of ascorbic acid. The inverse association between ascorbic acid and vitamin D binding protein was highest in those with higher levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. In conclusion, several plasma proteins from various physiologic pathways are significantly associated with circulating levels of ascorbic acid. These findings suggest that vitamin C may have novel physiological effects.     

Density-dependent responses of Picea purpurea seedlings for plant growth and resource allocation under elevated temperature

This study was conducted to determine whether plants in the presence or absence of competition differ in their responses to warming, and whether density modifies the effect of warming. Picea purourea seedlings were grown under ambient and warming (ambient +2.2 °C) conditions in climate control chambers with two different planting densities. After 4 years, seedlings were harvested and measured for height, stem diameter, leaf area, structural biomass, carbon, nitrogen, chlorophyll and carbohydrate levels of needles, branches, stem and roots. At low density, warming increased height, stem diameter, total leaf area biomass production and carbohydrate concentration per seedling, while it decreased C/N ratio for all plant parts, but did not affect chlorophyll content. By contrast, at high density, although warming increased biomass and total leaf area, it did not affect plant height and stem diameter. At the same time, it had different effects on chlorophyll content, C/N ratio and carbohydrate levels among plant parts. On the other hand, high density limited plant growth and altered resource allocation pattern. Our study demonstrates that planting densities decreased the temperature-induced growth enhancement of P. purpurea seedlings and the effects of warming on resource allocation not only showed density-dependence, but also vary with tissue age classes and root diameter; the responses of plants to elevated temperature, acquired from plants growing as individuals, may not be applicable to plants grown under intraspecific competition as typically found in the field.     

Effect of different rootstocks on PAL activity and phenolic compounds in flowers, leaves, hulls and kernels of three pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) cultivars

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) is a biochemical marker of environmental stress and plays a pivotal role in phenolic synthesis. Lower ROS levels and oxidative damage were observed in grafted plants; moreover, the rootstocks have a profound influence on the biochemical composition, especially of phenolic compounds. Regarding the importance of the effect rootstocks have on scion in pistachio trees, this study was carried out to assess and compare three pistachio cultivars (Ahmadaghaii, Ohadi and Kallehghuchi) on four rootstocks (Mutica, Ahli, Sarakhs and Atlantica). PAL activity, phenolic compounds, and flavonoid and anthocyanin contents in leaves, flowers and fruits were measured for the selection of the most suitable and compatible rootstock/scion resistant to environmental stresses. The results showed that PAL activity was different among the cultivars and organs. A positive correlation was observed between PAL activity and phenolic compounds in the leaves and flowers of Mutica-Ahmadaghaii, suggesting that it was more resistant than the others to environmental stresses. PAL activity and total phenolics in pistachio fruits suffered a decrease when the maturation processes began. The hulls of the pistachio fruits contained high levels of phenolic compounds, especially in Mutica-Ahmadaghaii, suggesting its function as a protective layer and a defense chemical against ultraviolet radiation and pathogens. Our results indicated the presence of a number of bioactive compounds in kernels with the highest amount belonging to Mutica-Ahmadaghaii. Therefore, we concluded that pistachio rootstocks mighy affect the antioxidant compounds in kernels.