Glycine Activating Enzyme in the Posterior Silkgland of Silkworm

1. Aminoacyl tRNA synthetase was extracted from the silkgland of silkworm (Bombyxmori Linné) and fractionated on a DEAE-cellulose column. Activities were estimated by ATP-PP_i exchange reaction as well as glycyl tRNA formation.

2. Two peaks, A and B, having ATP-PP_i exchange activity were found in the separated fractions, respectively. There was also observed a marked difference between the both peaks with respect to the pH optimum and activity dependence on MgCl₂ concentration.

3. Peak A showed no activity of glycyl tRNA formation. Only a part of peak B coincided with the activity of glycyl tRNA formation. The activities of both the ATP-PP_i exchange reaction and glycyl tRNA formation were found to be dependent on MgCl₂ concentration, and the optimum concentration was different between two peaks.

4. It also seemed to exist two peaks of activities, a and b, in glycyl tRNA formation which could be separated with a DEAE-cellulose column.     

Quercetin relieved diabetic neuropathic pain by inhibiting upregulated P2X4 receptor in dorsal root ganglia

The upregulation of nociceptive ion channels expressed in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) contributes to the development and retaining of diabetic pain symptoms. The flavonoid quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) is a component extracted from various fruits and vegetables and exerts anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticarcinogenic, antiulcer, and antihypertensive effects. However, the exact mechanism underlying quercetin's analgesic action remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of quercetin on diabetic neuropathic pain related to the P2X₄ receptor in the DRG of type 2 diabetic rat model. Our data showed that both mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency in diabetic rats treated with quercetin were higher compared with those in untreated diabetic rats. The expression levels of P2X₄ messenger RNA and protein in the DRG of diabetic rats were increased compared with the control rats, while quercetin treatment significantly inhibited such enhanced P2X₄ expression in diabetic rats. The satellite glial cells (SGCs) enwrap the neuronal soma in the DRG. Quercetin treatment also lowered the elevated coexpression of P2X₄ and glial fibrillary acidic protein (a marker of SGCs) and decreased the upregulation of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) in the DRG of diabetic rats. Quercetin significantly reduced the P2X₄ agonist adenosine triphosphate-activated currents in HEK293 cells transfected with P2X₄ receptors. Thus, our data demonstrate that quercetin may decrease the upregulation of the P2X₄ receptor in DRG SGCs, and consequently inhibit P2X₄ receptor-mediated p38MAPK activation to relieve the mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in diabetic rats.     

The flavonoids of Stenosiphon (Onagraceae)

Stenosiphon linifolius is a monotypic genus of the tribe Onagreae of the Onagraceae. The species is widespread in, but restricted to, the Great Plains of the United States. Three flavonol glycosides, kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside, quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside and myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside, were found to occur in methanolic extracts of Stenosiphon leaves. Similar compounds are found in the leaves of such related genera as Oenothera and Gaura, but in the latter genera, additional flavonols exhibiting greater substitutional variation also are found.     

RP-HPLC同时测定喙果绞股蓝中芦丁和槲皮素的含量

目的:建立RP-HPLC同时测定喙果绞股蓝中芦丁和槲皮素含量的方法,并揭示其含量动态变化规律。方法:采用大连依利特SinoChromODS-APC18色谱柱(250 mm×4.6 mm,5μm),流动相:甲醇-0.4%磷酸水溶液梯度洗脱,流速:1 mL/min,检测波长:364 nm,柱温:30℃。结果:芦丁在0.1525～3.8120μg范围内线性关系良好,r=0.9998,平均回收率为98.2%(RSD=2.0%);槲皮素在0.0589～1.4720μg范围内线性关系良好,r=0.9999,平均回收率为97.7%(RSD=2.3%)。含量测定结果表明芦丁和槲皮素的含量具季节性动态变化,芦丁8月份含量高,平均质量分数达6.31 mg/g,槲皮素9月份含量最高,平均质量分数达0.86 mg/g。结论:该方法简单,准确度高,为喙果绞股蓝的质量控制提供实验依据,芦丁和槲皮素含量动态变化规律为其开发利用提供参考。     

Quercetin protects against diabetic encephalopathy via SIRT1/NLRP3 pathway in db/db mice

Epidemiological studies have found that diabetes and cognitive dysfunction are closely related. Quercetin has been certified with the effect on improving diabetes mellitus (DM) and cognitive impairment. However, the effect and related mechanism of quercetin on diabetic encephalopathy (DE) are still ambiguous. In this study, we used the db/db mice (diabetic model) to discover whether quercetin could improve DE through the Sirtuin1/NLRP3 (NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing 3) pathway. Behavioural results (Morris water maze and new object recognition tests) showed that quercetin (70 mg/kg) improved the learning and memory. Furthermore, quercetin alleviated insulin resistance and the level of fasting blood glucose. Besides, Western blot analysis also showed that quercetin increased the protein expressions of nerve- and synapse-related protein, including postsynapticdensity 93 (PSD93), postsynapticdensity 95 (PSD95), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the brain of db/db mice. Quercetin also increased the protein expression of SIRT1 and decreased the expression of NLRP3 inflammation-related proteins, including NLRP3, the adaptor protein ASC and cleaved Caspase-1, the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. In conclusion, the present results indicate that the SIRT1/NLRP3 pathway may be a crucial mechanism for the neuroprotective effect of quercetin against DE.     

Biologically-active flavonoids from Gossypium arboreum

A new flavonol glycoside, gossypetin 8-O-rhamnoside, was isolated from flower petals of Gossypium arboreum along with quercetin 7-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-glucoside and quercetin 3′-O-glucoside. These compounds showed antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas maltophilia and Enterobacter cloacae.     

Quercetin/β-Cyclodextrin Solid Complexes Prepared in Aqueous Solution Followed by Spray-drying or by Physical Mixture

The present study was designed to investigate the influence of operating conditions (temperature, stirring time, and excess amount of quercetin) on the complexation of quercetin with β-cyclodextrin using a 2³ factorial design. The highest aqueous solubility of quercetin was reached under the conditions 37°C/24 h/6 mM of quercetin. The stoichiometric ratio (1:1) and the apparent stability constant (Ks = 230 M⁻¹) of the quercetin/β-cyclodextrin complex were determined using phase-solubility diagrams. The semi-industrial production of a 1:1 quercetin/β-cyclodextrin solid complex was carried out in aqueous solution followed by spray-drying. Although the yield of the spray-drying process was adequate (77%), the solid complex presented low concentration of quercetin (0.14%, w/w) and, thus, low complexation efficiency. The enhancement of aqueous solubility of quercetin using this method was limited to 4.6-fold in the presence of 15 mM of β-cyclodextrin. Subsequently, an inclusion complex was prepared via physical mixture of quercetin with β-cyclodextrin (molar ratio of 1:1 and quercetin concentration of 23% (w/w)) and characterized using infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy analyses. The enhancement of aqueous solubility of quercetin using this method was 2.2-fold, similar to that found in the complex prepared in aqueous solution before the spray-drying process (2.5-fold at a molar ratio of 1:1, i.e., 6 mM of quercetin and 6 mM of β-cyclodextrin).     

重楼排草的化学成分研究

从报春花科植物重楼排草（L.Paridiformis Frach）的全株中分离得到了7个化合物。应用各种理化方法及光谱分析鉴定其化学结构。分别鉴定为：希克拉敏A-3-O-｜β-D-吡喃木糖基．（1→2）-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖基-（1→4）-[β-D-吡喃葡萄糖基-（1→2）]｜}-α-L-吡喃阿拉伯糖苷（1）、3β-O-[β-D-吡喃木糖基-（1→2）-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖基-（1→4）]。[β-D-吡喃葡萄糖基-（1→2）]-α-L-吡喃阿拉伯糖基-16α-羟基-13β,28-环氧-齐墩果烷（2）、异鼠李素-3-O-[β-D-吡喃鼠李糖基-（1→）β-D-吡喃阿拉伯糖苷]（3）、槲皮素-3-O-[β-D-吡喃鼠李基-（1→4）-β-D-吡喃阿拉伯糖苷]（4）、β-香树素（5）、β-香树素乙酸酯（6）、三十二烷醇（7）。其中1、2、3、4均为首次从本植物中分离得到。     

Effect of quercetin on chronic enhancement of spatial learning and memory of mice

In this study we evaluated the effect of quercetin on D-galactose-induced aged mice using the Morris water maze (MWM) test. Based on the free radical theory of aging,experiments were performed to study the possible biochemical mechanisms of glutathione (GSH) level and hydroxyl radical (OH-) in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex and the brain tissue enzyme activity of the mice. The results indicated that quercetin can enhance the exploratory behavior,spatial learning and memory of the mice. The effects relate with enhancing the brain functions and inhibiting oxidative stress by quercetin,and relate with increasing the GSH level and decreasing the OH-content. These findings suggest that quercetin can work as a possible natural anti-aging pharmaceutical product.