Search

Chiral metal-organic frameworks (CMOFs) [Ni((L)-ccba)(1,3,5-tmib)(H2O)0.5]n (HU17-L) and [Ni((D)-ccba)(1,3,5-tmib)(H2O)0.5]n (HU17-D) were prepared from alanine derivatives (L)-H2ccba and (D)-H2ccba in the presence of auxiliary N-donor linker 1,3,5-tmib (H2ccba = 4-((1-carboxyethyl)-carbamoyl)benzoic acid, 1,3,5-tmib = 1,3,5-tris(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzene). HU17-L and HU17-D are three-dimensional (3D) enantiomers based on dinuclear [Ni2(CO2)2(H2O)]2+ clusters. Helical motifs are their outstanding structural features. In HU17-L and HU17-D, (L)-ccba2- and (D)-ccba2- anions constructed left-handed (L)-ccba-Ni chain and right-handed (D)-ccba-Ni chain through chiral transfer, respectively. Moreover, achiral 1,3,5-tmib linkers were bridged together by Ni(II) centers to obtain left-handed 1,3,5-tmib-Ni chain in HU17-L and right-handed 1,3,5-tmib-Ni chain in HU17-Dvia asymmetric induction, respectively. Topological analysis revealed that these frameworks are 8-connected fcu nets with point symbol (424.64). Magnetic tests indicate that antiferromagnetic interactions exist in these complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginsenoside Rb1, the main active ingredient of ginseng, exhibits ex vivo depression of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) and related vasoconstriction in pulmonary arteries derived from pulmonary hypertension (PH) rats. However, the in vivo effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on PH remain unclear. This study explored the possibility of using ginsenoside Rb1 as an in vivo preventive medication for type I PH, i.e., pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and potential mechanisms involving SOCE. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (170–180 g) were randomly divided into Control, MCT, and MCT + Rb1 groups (n = 20). Control rats received only saline injection. Rats in the MCT + Rb1 and MCT groups were intraperitoneally administered single doses of 50 mg/kg monocrotaline (MCT) combined with 30 mg/kg/day ginsenoside Rb1 or equivalent volumes of saline for 21 consecutive days. Subsequently, comprehensive parameters related to SOCE, vascular tone, histological changes and hemodynamics were measured. Ginsenoside Rb1 reduced MCT-induced STIM1, TRPC1, and TRPC4 expression by 35.00, 31.96, and 32.24%, respectively, at the protein level. SOCE-related calcium entry and pulmonary artery contraction decreased by 162.6 nM and 71.72%. The mean pulmonary artery pressure, right ventricle systolic pressure, and right ventricular mass index decreased by 19.5 mmHg, 21.6 mmHg, and 39.50%. The wall thickness/radius ratios decreased by 14.67 and 17.65%, and the lumen area/total area ratios increased by 18.55 and 15.60% in intrapulmonary vessels with 51–100 and 101–150 μm o.d. Ginsenoside Rb1, a promising candidate for PH prevention, inhibited SOCE and related pulmonary vasoconstriction, and relieved MCT-induced PAH in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the preservation effectiveness of selected antistaling agents on lotus seeds (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) status and the alteration of phenolic acids during their storage. Ascorbic acid (AA), benzoic acid (BA), sodium hydrogen sulfite (SHS), BA+ AA and SHS+ AA were identified as effective to keep lotus seeds fresh with the order of SHS+ AA > BA+ AA > AA > SHS > BA in terms of general performance on not-browning degree, microorganism contamination status, sensory evaluation, and the protection of polyphenols against being oxidized. The polyphenols determined by HPLC and HPLC-MS in lotus seeds were mainly gallic, chlorogenic, gentisic, caffeic, cinnamic, p-coumaric, ferulic, rosmarinic, and salicylic acids. Chlorogenic, gentisic, and caffeic acids were the main phenolic acids correlated with oxidative browning. SHS+ AA was found on inhibiting chlorogenic acid oxidized (p < 0.05) as well as SHS or AA did. BA+ AA also had protective effect on all these three phenolics. The increment of gallic, caffeic, chlorogenic, and p-coumaric acids at the beginning of storage, which was from the hydrolyzation of glycosides promoted by BA, had accordance with the deteriorate sensory of lotus seeds and led to worse anti-browning effect. Gallic acid was found to be relevant to the degree of microorganism contamination. The stronger antibacterial capacity antistaling agents had, the later regeneration of gallic acid appeared. In conclusion, the selected antistaling agents had different preservation effectiveness, which would synchronously indicate alteration of relevant phenolic acids profiles of lotus seed during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]