Chemical constituents from Saussurea licentiana Hand.-Mazz

Chemical investigation of Saussurea licentiana led to the isolation of ten compounds, and their structures were identified to be dia-aurantiamide acetate (1), (+)-pinoresinol 4-O-β-D-glucoside (2), encelin (3), apigenin (4), luteolin (5), jaceosidin (6), luteolin -7-O-β-D- glucopyranoside (7), α-amyrin (8), β-amyrin (9), taraxasterol (10) on the basis of mass and NMR spectra. This is the first report on the occurrence of compounds 1, and 2 in the genus Saussurea while 1 is reported for the first time from Asteraceae. This work also represents the first phytochemical work on the whole plants of S. licentiana.     

Factors influencing the potential mobility and bioavailability of exchangeable ammonium ion in dried lake sediments

Abstract

The effect of drying temperature and oxidation on the level of exchangeable ammonium ion found in sediments has been examined using samples collected from along a polluted creek and from shallow lake bays. The sediments were dried at temperatures between 20°C and 100°C (either in air or under a nitrogen atmosphere), and the ammonium ion content was extracted into 0.1 M KCl prior to analysis using an ion selective electrode. Exposure to air during the drying stage usually resulted in lower ammonium values, while increasing the drying temperature altered the amount of displaceable (i.e. available) ammonium ion extracted, generally in an upward direction. The amount detected (5–25 μ g^?1) varied between sites, and surface sediment values differed from the 10–50 cm core material results. The pH of the extracts varied with the drying temperature used, indicating that the heating process promoted some chemical changes in the test samples. The study has demonstrated that in nutrient level surveys, the analytical data produced can depend greatly on the sample preparation procedure selected. It also indicated the type of changes which could occur when dredged sediments are land dumped.     

Toward a Reversible Mn4+/Mn2+ Redox Reaction and Dendrite‐Free Zn Anode in Near‐Neutral Aqueous Zn/MnO2 Batteries via Salt Anion Chemistry

Rechargeable aqueous Zn/MnO₂ batteries are very attractive large‐scale energy storage technologies, but still suffer from limited cycle life and low capacity. Here the novel adoption of a near‐neutral acetate‐based electrolyte (pH ≈ 6) is presented to promote the two‐electron Mn⁴⁺/Mn²⁺ redox reaction and simultaneously enable a stable Zn anode. The acetate anion triggers a highly reversible MnO₂/Mn²⁺ reaction, which ensures high capacity and avoids the issue of structural collapse of MnO₂. Meanwhile, the anode‐friendly electrolyte enables a dendrite‐free Zn anode with outstanding stability and high plating/stripping Coulombic efficiency (99.8%). Hence, a high capacity of 556 mA h g^?1, a lifetime of 4000 cycles without decay, and excellent rate capability up to 70 mA cm^?2 are demonstated in this new near‐neutral aqueous Zn/MnO₂ battery by simply manipulating the salt anion in the electrolyte. The acetate anion not only modifies the surface properties of MnO₂ cathode but also creates a highly compatible environment for the Zn anode. This work provides a new opportunity for developing high‐performance Zn/MnO₂ and other aqueous batteries based on the salt anion chemistry.     

毛梗豨莶乙酸乙酯部位化学成分及生物活性研究

毛梗豨莶草(Siegesbeckia glabresce)的乙酸乙酯萃取部位具有显著的抑制细胞坏死性凋亡(necroptosis)的活性。为明确毛梗豨莶草的活性成分,该研究采用正相硅胶柱色谱谱(二氯甲烷:甲醇20:1～0:1)、反相ODS柱色谱(30%～100% 甲醇)、Sephadex LH-20柱色谱、重结晶等方法对毛梗豨莶草乙酸乙酯萃取部位进行了化学成分分离和纯化,并根据理化性质和波谱数据进行了结构鉴定。结果表明:从毛梗豨莶乙酸乙酯部位分离并鉴定了9个化合物,分别为3,7-二甲氧基槲皮素(1)、芹菜素(2)、奥卡宁(3)、okanin-4''-O-β-D-6″-trans-p-coumaroylglucoside(4)、1H-Indole-3-carbaldehyde(5)、对羟基苯甲醛(6)、3,5-二甲氧基-4-羟基苯甲醛(7)、3,4-divanillyltetrahydrofuran(8)、buddlenol D(9)。除化合物1和化合物6外,其余7个化合物均为首次从豨莶属植物中分离得到     

复方醋酸棉酚片联合独一味胶囊对大鼠无排卵型功能失调性子宫出血的改善作用及其作用机制

摘要 目的：探讨复方醋酸棉酚片联合独一味胶囊对大鼠无排卵型功能失调性子宫出血的改善作用及其作用机制。方法：将40只雌性SD大鼠随机均分成两组（空白组和模型组）,采用给大鼠连续21 d灌胃戊酸雌二醇的方法制备无排卵型功能失调性子宫大鼠模型。模型大鼠制备成功后,按随机法再均分成模型组、阳性组和治疗组,其中阳性组和治疗组分别灌胃给予相应的药物,空白组和模型组灌胃等体积的生理盐水,各组均连续灌胃7 d。计算各组大鼠的子宫系数,采用酶联免疫吸附法测定大鼠血清中雌二醇（estradiol, E₂）和孕酮（progestone,P）水平,采用免疫组化法测定大鼠子宫内膜组织中两个蛋白（matrix metalloproteinases-9,MMP-9和vascular endothelial growth factor ,VEGF）的表达量。结果：模型组大鼠血清中的P水平比空白组显著性减少（P<0.05）,子宫内膜组织中的MMP-9和VEGF表达量比空白组均显著性升高（P<0.05）。给药后,治疗组和阳性组大鼠血清中的P水平均显著高于模型组（P<0.05）,大鼠子宫内膜组织中的MMP-9和VEGF 表达量均显著低于模型组（P<0.05）,治疗组与阳性组之间无显著性差异（P >0.05）。结论：复方醋酸棉酚片联合独一味胶囊对无排卵型功能失调性子宫出血具有明显的改善作用,其机制可能与调控子宫内膜 MMP-9 和VEGF的表达量有关。     

Protective effect of quercetin on some hematological parameters in rats exposed to cadmium

ABSTRACT

We investigated the effects of quercetin (Q) on some hematological parameters and determined the percentage of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) positive lymphocytes in rats that had been exposed to cadmium (Cd). Thirty male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: control (C), quercetin (Q), cadmium (Cd) and Q + Cd (CdQ). Blood samples were taken to assess erythrocytes (RBC), leukocytes (WBC), hemoglobin levels (Hb), hematocrit values (Hct), platelets (PLT), alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) positive lymphocytes. RBC, Hb, Hct; the number of PLT significantly decreased in the Cd group. To the contrary, these parameters were increased significantly in the CdQ group compared to the Cd group. Although we found a significant increase in total WBC count and neutrophil percentage, the number of lymphocytes decreased in the Cd group compared to the other three groups. Also, the percentage of peripheral blood ANAE positive lymphocytes decreased significantly in the Cd group (p < 0.05). Q exhibits positive effects on some hematological characteristics and the percentage of ANAE positive lymphocyte in cases of acute CD toxicity.     

Determination of acid α-naphthyl acetate esterase enzyme activity in peripheral blood leukocytes of gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa)

We examined gazelle peripheral blood leucocytes using the α-Naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) staining technique (pH 5.8). Our purpose was to determine the percentage of ANAE positive lymphocytes. The proportion of ANAE positive T-lymphocytes was 72%. T-lymphocytes showed an ANAE positive reaction, but eosinophilic granulocytes and monocytes also showed a positive reaction. By contrast, no reaction was detected in B-lymphocytes, neutrophil granulocytes or platelets. The reaction observed in T-lymphocytes was a red-brown coloration, usually 1–2 granules, but enough granules to fill the cytoplasm were detected rarely. As a result of ANAE enzyme staining, we concluded that the staining technique can be used as a cytochemical marker for gazelle T-lymphocytes.     

Investigation of α-naphthyl acetate esterase and acid phosphatase in the peripheral blood leukocytes of greyhounds

The purpose of our study was to determine the percentages of α-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE)- and acid phosphatase (ACP)-positive peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), the presence of the ANAE and ACP enzymes in leukocytes, and the proportion of PBL in greyhounds. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the cephalic antebrachial vein of 14 (7 animals of each sex) healthy 1-2-year-old greyhounds. Mean percentages of ANAE-positive PBL were found to be 73.29 ± 0.95% in female and 74.29 ± 2.21% in male dogs. The difference between mean values of the genders was not statistically significant. The ACP values were 36.00 ± 2.94% for females and 33.57 ± 2.15% for males. No significant differences were found with regard to gender. For both enzymes, although monocytes and eosinophilic granulocytes displayed a positive reaction, neutrophils gave negative reactions. The proportion of PBL was 36.29 ± 5.31% and 33.00 ± 2.38 % in female and male dogs, respectively. The differences were not significant.     

Switching substrate specificity of AMT/MEP/ Rh proteins

In organisms from all kingdoms of life, ammonia and its conjugated ion ammonium are transported across membranes by proteins of the AMT/Rh family. Efficient and successful growth often depends on sufficient ammonium nutrition. The proteins mediating this transport, the so called Ammonium Transporter (AMT) or Rhesus like (Rh) proteins, share a very similar trimeric overall structure and a high sequence similarity even throughout the kingdoms. Even though structural components of the transport mechanism, like an external substrate recruitment site, an essential twin histidine pore motif, a phenylalanine gate and the hydrophobic pore are strongly conserved and have been analyzed in detail by molecular dynamic simulations and mutational studies, the substrate(s), which pass the central pores of the AMT/Rh subunits, NH₄⁺, NH₃ + H⁺, NH₄⁺ + H⁺ or NH₃, are still a matter of debate for most proteins, including the best characterized AmtB protein from Escherichia coli. The lack of a robust expression system for functional analysis has hampered proof of structural and mutational studies, although the NH₃ transport function for Rh-like proteins is rarely disputed. In plant transporters belonging to the subfamily AMT1, transport is associated with electrical currents, while some plant transporters, notably of the AMT2 type, were suggested to transport NH₃ across the membrane, without associated ionic currents. Here we summarize data in favor of each substrate for the distinct AMT/Rh classes, discuss mutants and how they differ in structure and functionality. A common mechanism with deprotonation and subsequent NH₃ transport through the central subunit pore is suggested.