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The protective effect of an aqueous Pericarpium Granati extract (APG) against carrageenan-induced inflammatory damage in mice was investigated. The results showed that APG displayed radical scavenging, reducing activity, and liposome protection activity in acellular systems. The implementation of an HPLC helped identify polyphenolic components including epicatechin (11.9 mg/g), gallic acid (3.9 mg/g), ellagic acid (2.4 mg/g), ferulic acid (1.0 mg/g), quercetin (0.7 mg/g), and kaempferol (0.5 mg/g). APG administration in the range of 0.25–1.0 g/kg showed a concentration dependent inhibition on inflammatory response in carrageenan induced mice. The anti-inflammatory effects of APG could be related to the suppression of tissue nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α, and associated with the reduction of lipid peroxidation and an increase in antioxidant enzyme activities including catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in vivo. The results showed that APG might serve as a natural source of anti-inflammatory and antioxidative compounds in vivo.

The antioxidant and antityrosinase activities of the water extract of Flemingia macrophylla root (WEF M) were investigated. The results showed that WEF M exhibited radical scavenging and reducing activities, as well as ferrous ion chelating property. In addition, WEF M also protected phospholipids against oxidation, indicating that WEF M could protect biomolecules fromoxidative damage. Meanwhile, in the range of 50-100 μg/mL, the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of WEF M increased with an increase in sample concentration and was superior to that of the water extract of Glycine tomentella root (WEGT). A high performance liquid chromatography analysis was used to determine the phenolic components, revealing that daidzin, daidzein, genistin, and genistein were present in WEF M and WEGT. Acting as an antioxidant and a tyrosinase inhibitor, these bioactive constituents could contribute to the protective effects of WEF M. Overall, the results showed that WEF M might serve as a natural antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the synthesis of iridoids loganin and sarracenin. Forms of iridoid monoterpernes; Construction of the cyclopental ring system; Route used in the synthesis of sarracenin; Utility of diquinane in the synthesis of iridoids.

p-Aminobenzoates (PABA) and benzophenones in cosmetic products absorb UV radiation. We have developed two simple methods to simultaneously determine whether cosmetic products contain any of eight sunscreen compounds. The first method used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a Cosmosil 5C18-MS column with an isocratic system consisting of acetoni-trile-H2O solution (60/40, v/v) acidified by 0.1% phosphoric acid (v/v); the analysis was monitored by absorbance at 254 nm with a constant flow-rate 0.8 mL/min. This method could easily determine the presence of these compounds in non-pretreated sunscreen products in 30 mm. The second method employed capillary electrophoresis (CE) in buffer solution (pH 10.0) containing 20 mM borate; the same analysis was made within 10 mm. Reproducibility (relative standard deviation) of the proposed methods, on the basis of the peak-area ratios in six replicate injections, was good with only a slight deviation of 0.31 - 0.75% (for HPLC system) and 1.65 - 3.55% (for CE system). The detection limit (S/N = 3) of the individual marker substances varied from 0.08 to 0.87 μg/mL (for HPLC system) and 0.23 to 1.86 μg/mL (for CE system). Although the HPLC method was superior to the CE method in both reproducibility and resolution, it required longer retention time. The HPLC and CE methods developed were both successfully applied to the assay of 8 UV-absorbing agents in II commercial sun protection products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]