Lycium ruthenicum Murr. (LR) is a perennial shrub commonly used as a nutritional food and medicine. Herein, we identified 12 anthocyanins from LR, with petunidin derivatives constituting approximately 97% of the total anthocyanin content. Furthermore, the potential mechanism of anthocyanins exerting neuroprotective effects in d-galactose (d-gal)-treated rats was explored. Behavioral results showed that anthocyanins relieved d-gal-induced memory disorder. Additionally, anthocyanins reduced receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and suppressed oxidative stress caused by d-gal. Anthocyanins suppressed microgliosis and astrocytosis and reduced the overexpression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), interleukin-1-β (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Moreover, anthocyanins lowered C-jun N-terminal kinase ( p-JNK), caspase-3 levels, and the B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein/B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bax/Bcl-2) ratio. Thus, anthocyanins from LR attenuated memory disfunction, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration caused by d-gal, possibly through the RAGE/NF-κB/JNK pathway, representing a promising, safe candidate for prevention and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.
Naturally occurring oligostilbenes are receiving more attention because they exhibit several beneficial effects for health, including hepatoprotective, antitumor, anti-adipogenic, antioxidant, antiaging, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antiviral, immunosuppressive and neuroprotective activities. Thus, they could be of some potentially therapeutic values for several diseases. In this study, we adopted the alkaline extraction-acid precipitation (AEAP) method for extraction of oligostilbenes from the seed kernel of Iris lactea Then, the high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was used for preparative isolation and purification of oligostilbenes from the AEAP extracts. Finally, three oligostilbenes, namely vitisin D (73 mg), ampelopsin B (25 mg) and cis-vitisin A (16 mg), were successfully fractionated by HSCCC with a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (2:5:3:6, v/v/v/v) from 300 mg of the AEAP extracts in ∼ 190 min. The purities of the three isolated oligostilbenes were all over 95.0% as analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. They all were isolated from I. lacteal for the first time.The method of AEAP for the preparation of the oligostilbene-enriched crude sample was simple, and the HSCCC technique for the isolation and purification of oligostilbenes was efficient.
Glucose carbon with uniform diameter was successfully anchored by TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles via a facile low-temperature hydrothermal process independent of surfactants or external forces. The resultant TiO<sub>2</sub>@glucose carbon composite (TiO<sub>2</sub>@GCs) was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The elimination of direct deep blue (DDB) from aqueous solution by adsorption onto TiO<sub>2</sub>@GCs was investigated in the up-flow fixed-bed columns. The effects of the influent concentration (10-30 mg L<sup>−1</sup>), flow rate (3-5 mL min<sup>−1</sup>), bed depth (1.0-2.0 cm) and pH (1.0-9.0) were investigated. Breakthrough time and adsorption capacity of the fixed-bed increased with increasing bed depth, whereas decreased with the increase in initial concentration, bed depth and solution pH values. The experimental data was in good agreement with both Thomas model and Yoon-Nelson model. The employed bed saturated with DDB was readily regenerated through a simple regeneration process with UV irradiation for 1 h. Furthermore, the adsorption-regeneration process was conducted for six cycles and no major decrease of regeneration efficiency was observed for the first three cycles. One possible mechanism for regenerating dye-loaded TiO<sub>2</sub>@GCs was proposed. The verifying experiment found that hydroxyl radicals and superoxide ions significantly affected the regeneration of employed TiO<sub>2</sub>@GCs bed.
Fenugreek is a well known annual herb widely used in both medicine and food. Four flavonoid glycosides have been separated from fenugreek seeds in our previous study. In this study, the effects of the four flavonoid glycosides on regulating glycolipid metabolism and improving mitochondrial function were investigated. Isoorientin showed a very significant activity among these flavonoid glycosides. First, isoorientin decreased the accumulation of lipid droplets in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes by reducing the expression of adipokines including PPARγ, C/EBPα, and FAS. Second, isoorientin restored insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in dexamethasone-induced insulin-resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes by reactivating Akt and AMPK. Finally, isoorientin improved mitochondrial dysfunction induced by dexamethasone in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Isoorientin also reversed dexamethasone-induced decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and intracellular ATP production, reduced accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and protected mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from oxidative damage. At the same time, mitochondrial biogenesis is promoted. Therefore, isoorientin may be an attractive candidate as a glucose-lowering and insulin-resistance-improving agent for the treatment of diabetes.
<i>Potentilla parvifolia </i>Fisch. (Rosaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant in P. R. China. In this study, seven flavonoids, ayanin (<b>1</b>), tricin (<b>2</b>), quercetin (<b>3</b>), tiliroside (<b>4</b>), miquelianin (<b>5</b>), isoquercitrin (<b>6</b>), and astragalin (<b>7</b>), were separated and purified from ethyl acetate extractive fractions from ethanol extracts of <i>P. parvifolia</i> using a combination of sevaral chromatographic methods. The human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were differentiated with all trans-retinoic acid and treated with okadaic acid to induce tau protein phosphorylation and synaptic atrophy, which could establish an Alzheimer's disease cell model. The neuroprotective effects of these flavonoids in cellular were evaluated <i>in vitro</i> by this cell model. Results from the Western blot and morphology analysis suggested that compounds <b>3</b> and <b>4</b> had the better neuroprotective effects.
Fatty acids in Herpetospermum seed oil from supercritical CO2 extraction were analyzed by HPLC fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) with pre-column derivatization and GC-MS. After derivatizing 39 kinds of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids used 1-[ 2- ( p-toluenesulfonate ) ethyl]-2-phenylimidazole [ 4,5-f] 9,10-phenanthrene ( TSPP ) as pre-column derivatization reagent. All the fatty acid derivatives were separated with a good baseline resolution in conjunction with a gradient elution. The external standard method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of 39 fatty acids was developed and applied for the determination of the free fatty acid contents in Herpetospermum seed oil samples obtained from supercritical CO2 extraction coupled with orthogonal tests, ultrasound-assisted extraction and microwave-assisted reflux extraction. The mass percent of oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid and the ratio of unsaturated fatty acids and all fatty acids in 9 orthogonal test samples were contrasted. The results indicated that the mass percent of oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid in Herpetospermum seed oil are up to 34.65% ( 147. 14 mg/g), 22.85% (97.03 mg/g), 20. 86% ( 88. 56 rag/g), respectively, and ratio of unsaturated fatty acids and all fatty acids is 79%. Furthermore, by GC-MS method, the acid catalysis and alkaline catalysis of the methyl esterifying reaction were discussed for the analysis fatty acids in Herpetospermum seed oil, and the optimum GC-MS conditions were obtained. Simultaneously, the characteristics of HPLC and GC-MS methods were discussed about analyzing fatty acids.
<p>A simple and sensitive method for the determination of free fatty acids (FFAs) using acridoné9́ethyĺṕtoluenesulfonate (AETS) as a fluorescence derivatization reagent by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been developed. Free fatty acid derivatives were separated on an Eclipse XDB́C<sub>8</sub> column with a good baseline resolution and detected with the fluorescence of which excitation and emission wavelengths of derivatives were set at <sub>ex</sub>=404 and <sub>em</sub>=440 nm, respectively. Identification of 19 fatty acid derivatives was carried out by online post́column mass spectrometry with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source under positivéion detection mode. Nineteen FFAs from the extract of <i>Lomatogonium rotatum</i> are sensitively determined. The results indicate that the plant <i>Lomatogonium rotatum</i> is enriched with an abundance of FFAs and FFAs of higher contents, which mainly focus on even carbon atoms, C<sub>14</sub>, C<sub>16</sub>, and C<sub>18</sub>. The validation of the method including linearity, repeatability, and detection limits was examined. Most linear correlation coefficients for fatty acid derivatives are >0.9989, and detection limits (at signaĺtónoise of 3:1) are 12.3-43.7 fmol. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the peak areas and retention times for 19 FFAs standards are <2.24% and 0.45%, respectively. The established method is rapid and reproducible for the separation determination of FFAs from the extract of <i>Lomatogonium rotatum</i> with satisfactory results.</p>
Obesity, a major health problem worldwide, is a complex multifactorial chronic disease that increases the risk for insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and hypertension. In this study, we assessed methods to isolate hypaphorine, a potent drug candidate for obesity and insulin resistance. Semi-preparative reversed-phase liquid chromatography (semi-preparative RPLC) was established as a method to separate three compounds, adenosine, l-tryptophan, and hypaphorine, from the crude extracts of <i>Caragana korshinskii </i>Kom. Due to its specific chemical structure, the effect of hypaphorine on differentiation and dexamethasone (DXM) induced insulin resistance of 3T3-L1 cells was investigated. The structures of the three compounds were confirmed by UV, ¹H-NMR, and <sup>13</sup>C-NMR analysis and compared with published data. The activity results indicated that hypaphorine prevented the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes by down-regulating hormone-stimulated protein expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor <i>γ</i> (PPAR<i>γ</i>) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP<i>α</i>), and their downstream targets, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 c (SREBP1c) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). Hypaphorine also alleviated DXM-induced insulin resistance in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes <i>via</i> increasing the phosphorylation level of Akt2, a key protein in the insulin signaling pathway. Taken together, we suggest that the method can be applied to large-scale extraction and large-quantity preparation of hypaphorine for treatment of obesity and insulin resistance.
• HPLC-DAD-APCI/MS was set up for analysis of flavonoid aglycones in the RBP. • The method is capable of providing higher sensitivity and repeatability. • Four methods were applied and assessed for extraction of flavonoids from RBP. • The highest extraction efficiency of flavonoids from RBP was achieved by MAE. • MAE is of short extraction time, low solvent consumption and homogeneous conditions.<br>For identification and quantification of flavonoid aglycones in rape bee pollen (RBP) collected from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation method with diode array detector (DAD) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/mass spectrometric (APCI/MS) detection and four extraction methods (i.e. microwave-assisted extraction, Soxhlet extraction, cold-soaked extraction, and heat reflux extraction) were developed in this study. The identification of flavonoid aglycones was based on retention time and mass spectra by comparison with standards. Results demonstrated that this method showed excellent reproducibility and correlation coefficient, and offered the detection limits of 0.77-15.50 pmol at signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Quercetin and kaempferol were presented in RBP, and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was superior to the other three methods in terms of efficiency, convenience and high content of quercetin (1.37 ± 0.059 mg/g) and kaempferol (23.44 ± 0.544 mg/g). Our work indicated that: 1) the proposed HPLC-DAD-APCI/MS was an accurate and precise analysis method to identify and quantify the flavonoid aglycones in RBP; and 2) MAE was efficient to extract flavonoids from RBP with short extraction time, low solvent consumption, and homogeneous extraction conditions.
To alleviate the adverse effects of pesticide residues on the environment, development of a more safe, economical, and reliable usage approach of pesticides is critically urgent. In the present study, a novel pesticide carrier LA-NSM (lauric acid-modified Nitraria seed meal) with controlled release property was prepared through grafting esterification of lauric acid onto Nitraria seed meal substrates. The structure of the obtained samples was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and contact angle measurements. The results indicated that LA-NSM products had a well-defined hydrophobic surface and irregular holes for efficient loading of pesticide molecules. Deltamethrin (DEL), a representative insoluble pyrethroid insecticide in water, was deliberately selected as the index pesticide to evaluate the loading and releasing efficiency of LA-NSM. The loading capacity of LA-NSM for DEL can reach about 1068 mg/g. pH, humidity of soil, and temperature had a significant influence on controlled release performance of LA-NSM@DEL. Moreover, the releasing kinetics of LA-NSM@DEL composites could be fitted well with the Higuchi model. Overall, the highly hydrophobic property, excellent loading, and controlled release ability of LA-NSM made it a promising candidate in agricultural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Traditional superabsorbent polymers have wide application potential as an adsorbent, but the poor physical and mechanical properties limit their further applications. To tentatively overcome this dilemma, a novel poly(acrylic acid)/poly(vinyl alcohol)/yeast superabsorbent polymers (PAA/PVA/yeast SAPs) with interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were fabricated herein via solution polymerization. The mechanical stability tests showed that the resulting products could desirably resist the destruction of shear flow (<5000 rpm) and load pressure (<3 kg). The effects of yeast content, pH, contact time, initial dye concentration and temperature were systematically studied to evaluate their adsorption properties. Consecutive five cycles of adsorption-desorption indicated that their easy regeneration and reusability. More importantly, the PVA/PAA/yeast SAPs displayed brilliant pH-dependent selective adsorption for dyes in dye mixtures. It is believed hereby that the PAA/PVA/yeast SAPs can be expected to be economically and technically feasible for the scalable treatment of dyes wastewater.
<br>Display Omitted<br>• Conversion of waste buckthorn branches to a value-added bio-carbon product. • Practical adsorbent for removal and destruction of DC contaminants. • Consecutive biosorption and heterogeneous Fenton oxidation regeneration cycles. • Composite biosorbent with β-FeOOH nanoparticles and in-situ catalytic regeneration properties.<br>Akaganeite (β-FeOOH) nanoparticles were successfully anchored on the surface of porous sea buckthorn biocarbon (SBC) via a simple low-temperature hydrothermal process without use of surfactants or external forces. The SBC@β-FeOOH composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). On the basis of characterization methods, a possible mechanism of formation of the SBC@β-FeOOH composite was discussed. The SBC@β-FeOOH composite was used in fixed-bed columns for the effective removal of doxycycline (DC) from an aqueous solution, by the synergistic effect of adsorption and subsequent Fenton-like oxidation reaction, which oxidized the sorbed DC. The effects of inlet DC concentration (22-32 mg/L) feed flow rate (1-3 mL/min) SBC@β-FeOOH bed depth (0.7-1.5 cm) and pH (2-11) on the adsorption breakthrough profiles were investigated. The adsorption process was controlled by the ionic speciation of the adsorbate DC and the available binding sites of SBC@β-FeOOH. It was simulated by the Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models under different conditions. The bed of SBC@β-FeOOH saturated with DC was readily regenerated, in situ, by a heterogeneous Fenton-like oxidation reaction. The synergistic effect resulting from the biosorption nature of SBC and the catalytic oxidation properties of the supported β-FeOOH nanoparticles results in a new promising composite material for water treatment and purification.
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a well-known annual plant that is widely distributed worldwide and has possessed obvious hypoglycemic and hypercholesterolemia characteristics. In our previous study, three polyphenol stilbenes were separated from fenugreek seeds. Here, we investigated the effect of polyphenol stilbenes on adipogenesis and insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Oil Red O staining and triglyceride assays showed that polyphenol stilbenes differently reduced lipid accumulation by suppressing the expression of adipocyte-specific proteins. In addition, polyphenol stilbenes improved the uptake of 2-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG) by promoting the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In present studies, it was found that polyphenol stilbenes had the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS). Results from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and mitochondrial membrane potentials suggested that mitochondria play a critical role in insulin resistance and related signaling activation, such as AKT and AMPK. Rhaponticin, one of the stilbenes from fenugreek, had the strongest activity among the three compounds in vitro. Future studies will focus on mitochondrial biogenesis and function.
Aims: <b>Nelumbo nucifera</b> (Gaertn.) leaves are used widely in modulating obesity in traditional Chinese medicine. Our previous work demonstrated that aporphine alkaloids from it increased the glucose consumption in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes. However, the underlying mechanisms of this increase remain unclear. Here we investigated the modulating effects of pronuciferine and nuciferine on lipogenesis and glucose uptake in insulin resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes <b>in vitro</b>.<br>Main methods: Insulin resistant 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes were induced with dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-methylxanthine and insulin. The lipid droplets and the intracellular triglyceride contents in mature adipocytes were detected by Oil red O staining and colorimetry respectively. The glucose uptake was measured with a fluorescent deoxyglucose analog (2-NBDG). The glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT-4) expression was measured by fluorescent-immunohistochemistry and the activation of 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was detected by its alpha subunit phosphorylation.<br>Key findings: Both nuciferine and pronuciferine treatments significantly decreased the lipid droplets and the intracellular triglyceride contents but increased the glucose uptake in the insulin resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, both pronuciferine and nuciferine showed the ability to up-regulate the expression of GLUT4, triggering the phosphorylation of AMPK in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes, although pronuciferine exhibited a more powerful effect compared to nuciferine.<br>Significance: In summary, all the results demonstrate that pronuciferine and nuciferine ameliorate the glucose and lipid metabolism in insulin-resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which might be due to the activation of the AMPK signaling pathway.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the protective effect of Herpetospermum pedunculosum (H. pedunculosum) seed oil against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage.METHODS: This experimental study was conducted at the Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Yantai University, China from November 2012 to May 2013. The H. pedunculosum seed oil was extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide. The antioxidant activities of H. pedunculosum seed oil were assayed in vitro by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, lipid peroxidation assay, and antihemolytic assay. Adult Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (10 rats/group) including control, CCl4, CCl4+bifendate, and CCl4+H. pedunculosum seed oil (3 different doses) groups.
RESULTS: The CCl4-induced liver lesions include hepatocyte necrosis, ballooning degeneration, calcification, and fibrosis. Moreover, CCl4 damage results in an obvious increase of serum triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, malondialdehyde, total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activity. In addition, CCl4 also significantly decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD). By contrast, H. pedunculosum seed oil administration significantly ameliorated the CCl4-induced liver lesions, lowered the serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers, and increased the activities of SOD.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that H. pedunculosum seed oil can be proposed to protect the liver against CCl4-induced oxidative damage in rats, and the hepatoprotective effect might be correlated with its potent antioxidant and free radical scavenging effect.
Aporphine alkaloids from the leaves of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn are substances of great interest because of their important pharmacological activities, particularly anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-oxidant, and anti-HIV's activities. In order to produce large amounts of pure alkaloid for research purposes, a novel method using high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was developed. Without any initial cleanup steps, four main aporphine alkaloids, including 2-hydroxy-1-methoxyaporphine, pronuciferine, nuciferine and roemerine were successfully purified from the crude extract by HSCCC in one step. The separation was performed with a simple two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-acetonitrile-water (5:3:3:2.5:5, v/v/v/v/v). In each operation, 100 mg crude extracts was separated and yielded 6.3 mg of 2-hydroxy-1-methoxyaporphine (95.1% purity), 1.1 mg of pronuciferine (96.8% purity), 8.5 mg of nuciferine (98.9% purity), and 2.7 mg of roemerine (97.4%) respectively. The chemical structure of four aporphine alkaloids are identified by means of electrospray ionization MS (ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. Moreover, the effects of four separated aporphine alkaloids on insulin-stimulated glucose consumption were examined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The results showed that 2-hydroxy-1-methoxyaporphine and pronuciferine increased the glucose consumption significantly as rosiglitazone did.
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