Search

Heat stress (HS) poses a great challenge to the poultry industry by inducing oxidative damage to the liver, endangering the health and production of broilers. As an important type of seaweed polyphenols, phlorotannin has been shown to have antioxidant properties. The present study evaluated the protective effects of dietary phlorotannin on HS-induced liver injury in broilers based on oxidative damage parameters. A total of 108 twenty-one days old male Arbor Acres plus (AA+) broilers were randomly divided into three groups: TN group (thermoneutral, 24 ± 1 °C, fed with basal diet), HS group (HS, 33 ± 1 °C for 8 h/day, fed with basal diet), and HS + phlorotannin group (HS + 600 mg/kg phlorotannin). Each group has six replicate cages with six birds per cage. The feeding experiment lasted 21 days. At the termination of the feeding experiment (42 days old), samples were collected for analysis of morphological and biochemical features. The results showed that HS decreased the liver index, serum albumin (ALB) content, hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities of catalase (CAT), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p < 0.05), while increasing the hepatic histopathology score, apoptosis rate, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p < 0.05) in 42-day-old broilers. Compared with the HS group, dietary phlorotannin improved the activities of antioxidant enzymes (GST and GSH-Px) but decreased the histopathology score and apoptosis rate in the liver (p < 0.05). Moreover, HS down-regulated hepatic mRNA expression of CAT1, NQO1, HO-1, and SLC7A11 (p < 0.05), while up-regulated hepatic mRNA expression of Keap1, MafG, IκBα, NF-κB P65, IFN-γ, TFR1, ACSL4, Bax, and Caspase-9 (p < 0.05). Compared with HS group, dietary phlorotannin up-regulated hepatic mRNA expression of Nrf2, CAT1, MafF, GSTT1, NQO1, HO-1, GCLC, GPX1, TNF-α, Fpn1, and SLC7A11 (p < 0.05), while down-regulated hepatic mRNA expression of IκBα, Bax, Caspase-9, and TFR1 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 600 mg/kg phlorotannin could alleviate HS-induced liver injury via regulating oxidative status, apoptosis, and ferroptosis in broilers; these roles of phlorotannin might be associated with the regulation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pore throat distribution is an important factor controlling the physical properties of low-permeability and tight sandstone reservoirs. The evaluation of pore throat distribution is based on the analytical methods of micro features of reservoirs, and it is necessary to synthesize multiple methods to quantify the pore throat distribution. Quantitative evaluation method of High Pressure Mercury Injection (HPMI) pore throat distribution was developed based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) calibration. Fluid states can be identified by the comparison of transverse relaxation time T2 spectrum before and after centrifugation, which enables the redefining of T2 boundaries (T21 and T22) of three pore components of NMR. Furthermore, pore throat is divided into irreducible fluid pore throat, transition fluid pore throat and movable fluid pore throat accordingly. T2 boundaries are then converted to pore throat radius boundaries r1 and r2 by the correlativity between T2 value and pore throat radius. Finally, pore throat distribution is evaluated quantitatively by statistics of the content of various types of pore throat (S1, S2 and S3). This method combines the advantages of HPMI describing fluid states and NMR characterizing pore throat size. The method was applied to evaluate the pore throat distribution of low-permeability and tight sandstone reservoirs in the Huagang Formation of Xihu Depression. The average conversion coefficient C between T2 value and pore throat radius is 0.0079, and pore throat radius boundaries r1 and r2 are 60 nm and 160 nm, respectively. Pore throat is classified into four types according to the content of various types of pore throat, which provides new parameters and thought for further reservoirs evaluation.

ContextThe roots ofIlex asprella(Hook. et Arn.) Champ. ex Benth. (Aquifoliaceae) are widely used in Chinese medicine to treat influenza, amygdalitis, pertussis, etc. Their mechanism of action is still unknown, which raises the need to identify new bioactive compounds in this plant. ObjectiveIn this study, we isolated a novel saponin containing sulphonic groups, namely, asprellcoside A (1) and a known phenolic glycoside compound (2) from the roots ofIlex asprellaand evaluated their bioactivities. Materials and methodsMolecular structures were elucidated by analysing their spectral and chemical properties. The viability of A549 cells was tested using a MTT assay. Ability of the compounds to inhibit viruses was determined using the neuraminidase activity assay. Their anti-inflammatory effects were tested using the IP-10 activity assay using various concentrations (compound1: 0.6, 0.2, 0.6, 1.70, 5.00 and 15.00 μM; compound2: 0.4, 1.2, 3.6, 11.0, 33.0 and 100 μM). Their inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) in rabbit plasma was determined at 60 and 80 μM. ResultsBoth compounds inhibit influenza virus strain A/PuertoRico/8/1934 (H1N1) strongly with EC50values of 4.1 and 1.7 μM, respectively. Both compounds inhibit the secretion of IP-10 with EC50values of 6.6 and 2.5 μM, respectively. Compound1alone inhibited platelet aggregation significantly, with the rate of suppression being 47 ± 8 and 38 ± 3%, at 60 and 80 μM, respectively. ConclusionsThe results suggest that both compounds may be valid therapeutics against influenza virus infection and that compound1may be a novel agent for treating thrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Two new acetylated flavan glycosides (2S,4R)-4,5,7-trihydroxy-4'-methoxy-6,8-dimethylflavan-5-O-β-D-6-acetylglucopyranoside-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and (2S,4R)-5,7-dihydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxy-6,8-dimethylflavan-5-O-β-D-6-acetylglucopyranoside-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) were isolated from the rhizomes of Abacopteris penangiana. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods including IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, and chemical evidences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is to establish the fingerprints for the quality evaluation of Ilicis Pubescentis Radix by HPLC-UV. The chromatographic conditions were defined as Phenomenex Luna C₁₈(4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm). Mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.05% phosphoric acid in gradient elution, and the flow rate was 0.8 mL·min⁻¹.Column temperature was 30 °C and the injection volume was 10 μL．The detection wavelength was 210 nm. According to the similarity evaluation, the chemometric method was used to assess the quality of Ilicis Pubescentis Radix. The fingerprints of 16 batches of Ilicis Pubescentis Radix were established. There were 29 common peaks in the fingerprints and 12 common peaks were identified by reference substances. Fingerprints similarity of samples were greater than 0.92. The samples were classified into three groups by hierarchical cluster analysis combined with principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and seven components were the main markers that cause differences in the different batches of samples. By comparing the on-line UV spectra of chromatographic peaks, the chromatographic fingerprint was divided into three regions: region A showed seventeen main peaks (mainly lignans and phenolic acids); region B showed eight main peaks, which were proved as saponins; region C showed four main peaks, which were proved as other components. The established HPLC-UV fingerprint is highly specific, and can be used to evaluate the quality consistency of different batches of Ilicis Pubescentis Radix., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

The aim of this study is to investigate the protection effect of tanshinone IIA (Tan) against triptolide (TP)-induced liver injury and the mechanisms involved. Acute liver injury was induced by intraperitoneal injection of TP (1 mg x kg(-1)) in mice. The activities of AST, ALT and LDH in serum and the levels of GSH, GST, GSH-PX, SOD, CAT and MDA in liver tissue were detected. The histopathological changes of liver tissues were observed after HE staining. Nrf2 translocation in liver tissue was detected by Western blotting, and real-time PCR was used to measure the expression levels of GCLC, NQO1 and HO-1 mRNA. The results showed that pretreatment with Tan significantly prevented the TP induced liver injury as indicated by reducing the activities of AST, ALT and LDH (P < 0.01). Tan pretreatment also prevented TP-induced oxidative stress in the mice liver by inhibiting MDA and restoring the levels of GSH, GST, SOD and CAT (P < 0.05). Parallel to these changes, pretreatment with Tan could attenuate histopathologic changes induced by TP. Furthermore, the results indicated that Tan pretreatment caused nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 as well as induction of mRNA expression of antioxidant response element (ARE)-driven genes such as GCLC, NQO1 and HO-1. These results indicated that Tan could protect against TP-induced acute liver injury via the activation of Nrf2/ARE pathway.

A new triterpenoid saponin and fourteen known triterpenoids were isolated from the methanol extract of the stems and leaves of Callicarpa integerrima Champ, which is used in Chinese folk medicine for stopping bleeding, expelling the wind, dissipating stagnation, and treating scrofula, by using various chromatographies, such as silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and RP-C18 column chromatography. Their structures were identified as a new compound 2alpha, 3beta, 19alpha, 23-tetrahydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), together with fourteen known compounds: oleanolic acid (2), 3-acetyl oleanolic acid (3), 3beta-O-acetyl ursolic acid (4), 2alpha-hydroxy-ursolic acid (5), 2alpha, 3beta, 19alpha, 23-tetrahydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (6), alpha-amyrin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), pomolic acid (8), betulinic acid (9), ursolic acid (10), 2alpha, 3beta, 19alpha, 23-tetrahydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (arjungenin) (11), 2alpha-hydroxy-oleanolic acid (12), hederagenin (13), 2alpha, 19alpha-dihydroxy-ursolic acid (14) and pruvuloside A (15), by the spectroscopic techniques of NMR, HMBC, IR and MS, separately. All these compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time, and compounds 3, 4 and 15 were isolated from genus Callicarpa L. for the first time.

The study is to develop an HPLC method for simultaneous determination of rhamnazin (1), rhamnocitrin (2), rhamnetin (3), rhamnazin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), rhamnazin-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), rhamnazin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), and rhamnocitrin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7) in Nervilia fordii. The separation was performed on a Kromasil C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) with 0.4% phosphoric acid-acetonitrile as the mobile phase in a gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The detect wavelength was set at 256 nm, and the column temperature was set at 40 degrees C. There were good linear relationships between the logarithm values of concentrations and those of the peak areas of seven flavonoids (1-7) in the range of 0.55-70.00 microg x mL(-1) (r = 0.9997), 0.86-110.00 microg x mL(-1) (r = 0.9997), 0.39-50.00 microg x mL(-1) (r = 0.999 7), 0.55-70.00 microg x mL(-1) (r = 0.999 5), 1.33-170.00 microg x mL(-1) (r = 0.9998), 1.33-170.00 microg x mL(-1) (r = 0.9998), 0.16-20.00 microg x mL(-1) (r = 0.9995), respectively. The recoveries of the seven flavonoids were between 97.19%-99.45%, the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were between 0.91%-2.69%. The established method is rapid, accurate with high repeatability, which could provide scientific evidence for the quality control of Nervilia fordii.

Objective: To study on the chemical constituents of Callicarpa kochiana., Methods: The chemical constituents were isolated by chromatographic methods and structurally elucidated by spectral analysis., Results: Twelve compounds were obtained and identified as alpha-amyrin(I), 2beta, 3beta, 19alpha-trihydroxy-12-en-28-ursolic acid (II), oleanolic aicd (III), alpha-amyrin-3-0-beta-D-glucopyranoside (IV), ursolic acid (V), betulinic acid (VI), 2alpha, 3beta,23-trihydroxy-12-en-28-oic-0-beta-D-glucopyranoside (VII), 0-hydroxybenzoic acid (VI), pomolic acid (IX), myrianthic acid (X), beta-sitosterol (XI), dauricine (XII)., Conclusion: All of these compounds are isolated from Callicarpa kochiana for the first time and compounds II, IV, VII, VIII, IX and X are reported for the first time from Callicarpa genus.

Objective: To analyze the compositions of the essential oil from the leaves of Callicarpa integerrima., Methods: GC-MS method was used., Results: 42 chemical constituents, accounting for 97.62% of total content were identified., Conclusion: The main components were beta-caryophyllene (33.74%), Elixene (12.86%), tau-Cadinene (9.57%) and (-) -Spathulenol (8.99%). Besides, some sesquiterpenes and their oxides, such as Copaene (4.21%), Globulol (3.81%), alpha-Caryophyllene (2.48%), 2-Naphthalenemethanol, decahydro-alpha, alpha, 4a-trimethyl-8-methylene-[2R-(2alpha, 4aalpha, 8alphabeta)]-(2.37%) and 1,6-Cyclodecadiene (2.24%) had also relatively high contents.

To study the chemical constituents of Abacopteris penangiana (Hook.) Ching, various chromatographic techniques were used to isolate and purify the constituents. The structures of the obtained compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic data and physical-chemical properties. Two compounds were isolated from the n-BuOH soluble fraction of an acetone-H2O (4:1) extract of A. penangiana and were identified as 4'-hydroxy pneumatopterin B (I) and 6"-O-acetyl triphyllin A (II). Compounds I and II are new compounds.