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Background and Purpose: Isoacteoside (is a phenylethanoid isolated from Monochasma savatieri Franch. ex Maxim., which is an anti-inflammatory herb widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the exact mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activity of isoacteoside is not completely understood. In this study, its anti-inflammatory mechanism was elucidated in mouse macrophages.Experimental Approach: The expression of the NF-κB pathway, MAPK pathway, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β was evaluated using Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR or ELISA. TLR4 dimerization was determined by transfecting HEK293T cells with TLR4 plasmids. The in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of isoacteoside was determined using mouse models of xylene-induced ear oedema, LPS-induced endotoxic shock and LPS-induced endotoxaemia-associated acute kidney injury (AKI).Key Results: Isoacteoside suppressed COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β expression. Furthermore, isoacteoside attenuated the LPS-induced transcriptional activity of NF-κB by decreasing the levels of phosphorylated IκB-α and IKK and NF-κB/p65 nuclear translocation. In addition, isoacteoside inhibited LPS-induced transcriptional activity of AP-1 by reducing the levels of phosphorylated JNK1/2 and p38MAPK. Isoacteoside blocked LPS-induced TLR4 dimerization, resulting in a reduction in the recruitment of MyD88 and TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF) and the phosphorylation of TGF-β-activated kinase-1 (TAK1). Pretreatment of mice with isoacteoside effectively inhibited xylene-induced ear oedema and LPS-induced endotoxic death and protected against LPS-induced AKI.Conclusions and Implications: Isoacteoside blocked TLR4 dimerization, which activates the MyD88-TAK1-NF-κB/MAPK signalling cascades and TRIF pathway. Our data indicate that isoacteoside is a potential lead compound for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of a series of 1,2‐diamino‐o‐carboranes (1–4) is reported. The molecular structures of these diamino‐o‐carboranes are remarkable as the inner‐cluster C−C bonds are all ultra‐long (162.7–193.1 pm) and vary substantially with small variations in the substituents. The results of quantum mechanical investigations suggest that the origin of the bond elongation is significant in‐plane negative hyperconjugation of lone pairs of the nitrogen substituents with the σ* orbitals of the C−C bonds in o‐carboranes. Breaking the law: A series of 1,2‐diamino‐o‐carboranes with exceptionally long C−C bonds (up to 193 pm) were synthesized. The origin of this bond elongation was attributed to the in‐plane negative hyperconjugation between the lone pairs of the nitrogen atoms and the σ*C−C orbital in the o‐carborane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Egg white protein (EWP) was applied to prepare edible film. • High-intensity ultrasound (HUS) was a splendid modification method in edible film. • The appearance and structure of the film were improved by proper HUS treatment. • Water resistant, mechanical and heat properties were improved by proper treatment. • The optimal HUS treatment time was 10 min. Edible films based on egg white protein (EWP) were prepared, and it were modified by high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) to improve the functional properties. The findings indicated the properties of EWP films were improved at the appropriate time of HIUS treatment. With the increase of ultrasonic time, water vapor permeability (WVP) and tensile strength (TS) of EWP films ascended and then declined, and the best performance (3.30 g·mm/ m2·h·KPa for WVP, and 7.28 MPa for TS) was achieved when ultrasonic time was 10 min. Thermogravimetric analysis exhibited ultrasound could enhance the thermal stability of EWP films. The SEM reflected moderate ultrasonic treatment could make the EWP films smoother. The FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction patterns of EWP films were changed by HIUS, which illustrated the secondary structure of the protein was altered. The transverse relaxation curve obtained by LF-NMR analysis showed the tightness between water and the films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new 20α-ursane-type triterpenoids (1–2) were isolated from the roots ofIlex cornuta, along with three known triterpenoids (3–5). The structures of compounds1–2were determined as 3β, 23-dihydroxy-20α(H)-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (1), 3β,19α,23-trihydroxy-20α(H)-urs-12-en-28-oic acid 3β-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (2), on the basis of hydrolysis and spectral evidence, including 1D- and 2D-NMR and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analyses. These pure isolates (1–5) were tested for their cytotoxic activities by MTT assay. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The cytotoxic activity of 36 saponins isolated from roots ofPulsatilla chinensis(Bunge) Regel against the human cancer cell lines (A549, SGC-7901) and the human hepatic cell line (HL-7702) was tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Saponins1–14showed considerable cytotoxic activity, whereas saponins15–36showed no significant activity, which suggested that a free carboxylic group located at C-28 of aglycon is essential for their cytotoxic activity. Moreover, the analysis of structure–activity relationships also suggested that the oleanane-type saponins showed better cytotoxic activity than lupane-type saponins, and the length and linkage of glycolic chain attached to C-3 of aglycon displayed an important effect to the potent cytotoxicity. In conclusion, oleanolic acid 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-α-l-arabinopyranoside (5) exhibited the most significant cytotoxic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A new polyoxygenated cyclohexene bonianol A (1) and another new polyoxygenated seco-cyclohexene bonianol B (2) were isolated from the leaves of Uvaria boniana, and their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic methods including IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D, and 2D NMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin is a polyphenol derived from the dietary spice turmeric. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effect of curcumin against eggs, cercariae, pre-adults, and adults of Schistosoma japonicum compared to praziquantel. After incubated by different concentration of curcumin or praziquantel in different time, the percent hatching rates of eggs, the percent dead rates of cercariae, and the number of dead worms were observed. Curcumin showed time- and dose-dependent schistosomicidal effects on every life stages of S. japonicum. In addition, curcumin exhibited an optimal activity against the adult stage with no differential sensitivity between male and female worms and decreased motor activity of these worms without tegumental alterations. The promising in vitro effects on all stages of S. japonicum warrants further evaluation for the prophylactic and therapeutic values in the early and late schistosomiasis in field trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: AgOTf (OTf=trifluoromethanesulfonate) shows the reactivity differences when it reacts with carborane complexes [MCl2{(PPh2)2(C2B10H10)}] (M=Ni (2), Pd (3)). The reaction of AgOTf with the palladium complex 3 affords [Pd2(μ-OTf)2{(PPh2)2(C2B9H10)}2] (4) in high yields, while corresponding reaction between the nickel complex 2 and AgOTf leads to the formation of binuclear complexes [Ni{(PPh2)2(C2B9H10)}](μ-Cl)2[Ag{(PPh2)2(C2B10H10)}] (5) and [Ag2(μ-Cl)2 {(PPh2)2 (C2B10H10)}2] (6). The carborane cage of complexes 4 and 5 were broken to form nido-carboranes. It is believed the group 10 metals themselves play an important role in opening the closo-carborane skeleton. Directly stirring [(PPh2)2(C2B10H10)] with AgOTf afforded [Ag2(μ-OTf)2{(PPh2)2(C2B10H10)}2] (7), which is also used to react with 2 and 3. The reaction between 2 and 7 gives only 4 in high yields, however, stirring the mixture of 3 and 7 affords [Pd2(μ-Cl)2{(PPh2)2(C2B9H10)}2] (8), [Pd{(PPh2)2(C2B9H10)}2] (9) and 6. All these complexes have been characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 11B NMR and elemental analyses. Complexes 2, 4–9 have also been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new C28 sterols with a cyclopentane ring at C-22 and 26, alkesterol A (1) and alkesterol B (2), along with β-sitosterol (3), were isolated from the berries of Physalis pubeacens L. (cape gooseberry). The structures of the new compounds were established by HR-EI-MS, 1D and 2D (1H-1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC) NMR experiments. The known compound was identified by comparison of spectral data with published references. The two new compounds showed some cytotoxic activities by MTT assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deprotonation of the bis(imidazolium) salt (1,1′-dimethyl-3,3′-ethylenediimidazolium dibromide, L·2HBr) with silver oxide in a solution mixture of CH2Cl2and CH3OH affords a silver carbene complex [Ag2L2]Cl2(1, L = 1,1′-dimethyl-3,3′-ethylenediimidazol-2-ylidene). With CH3OH as the only solvent for the synthesis and after recrystallization in a chlorinated solvent in ambient condition, a polymeric silver complex [(L·2H)(Ag2Br4)]n(2) was formed. The presence of chloride in complex 1and bromide in complex 2indicates that a halogen exchange reaction occurred unambiguously during the synthesis and not during recrystallization. The silver-carbene complex 1undergoes a facile reaction with [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2and (p-cymene)Ru[S2C2(B10H10)] to yield the binuclear complexes [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2L (3) and {(p-cymene)Ru[S2C2(B10H10)]}2L (4). The latter compound contains a carbene ligand and a 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane ligand. Molecular structures of complexes 1–4were confirmed by X-ray single-crystal analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amino acids Tyrl4 and Arg22 in trichosanthin are residues on helix A1 close to the active-site cleft. They are invariant in various type-I and type-II ribosome-inactivating proteins. In this study, Tyr14 was changed to Phe and Arg22 to Lys and Leu. Modified proteins were purified, and activities compared by assaying their median inhibitory concentration (ID50) on a rabbit-reticulocyte-lysate protein-synthesis system. While the ID50 of wild-type trichosanthin was 0.02 nM, those for [Phe14], [Lys22], [Leu22] and [Phel4, Leu22]trichosanthin were 0.10, 0.03. 0.25 and 0.15 nM, respectively. Therefore, compared with Tyrl4, Arg22 appears to play a more important role in trichosanthin. Structural studies on [Leu22]trichosanthin showed that two water molecules occupy the space left by the side chain of Arg22, and hydrogen bonds exist between these water molecules and nearby residues to retain the conformation. The use of intermolecular rather than intramolecular hydrogen bonds may have an adverse effect on stability or folding of the protein and results in a mild decrease in activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]