Inhibitory components from the buds of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) on melanin formation in B16 melanoma cells

In the course to find a new whitening agent, we evaluated the methanol extract from bud of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) on melanin formation in B16 melanoma cells. Eugenol and eugenol acetate were isolated as the active compounds and showed melanin inhibition of 60% and 40% in B16 melanoma cell with less cytotoxicity at the concentration of 100 and 200 μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, an essential oil prepared from the bud of clove, which contain eugenol and eugenol acetate as dominant components, showed melanin inhibition of 50% and 80% in B16 melanoma cells at the concentration of 100 and 200 μg/mL, respectively.     

Studies on antidepressant and antinociceptive effects of ethyl acetate extract from Piper laetispicum and structure-activity relationship of its amide alkaloids

Piper laetispicum C.DC. (Piperaceae), is an endemic climbing, glabrous plant distributed in the southern part of China. A novel alkaloid amide, Laetispicine, from it has been proven to possess antidepressant activity. In this present study, antidepressant and antinociceptive effects of the ethyl acetate extract (EAE) of P. laetispicum have been studied in forced swimming, open field, acetic acid writhing and formalin tests in KM mice. A significantly antidepressant-like effect was showing at doses of higher than 60 mg/kg, which was not due to an increase in locomotive activity. The EAE also presented an analgesic effect, in our studies. At lower doses (30 mg/kg) the antinociceptive effect was likely mediated via peripheral inflammation and changes in central processing, and at higher doses (120 mg/kg) that was due to both central and peripheral pathways. We also quantitatively analyzed the major components of EAE by HPLC and approached the structure–activity relationship between structure of amide alkaloids and its antidepressant activities. The antidepressant effective components of EAE might be Leatispiamide A and Laetispicine. In their molecular structures, the isolated double bond from benzene ring and conjugated double bond located at 2–3 and 4–5 were necessary for its antidepressant activity.     

Preventive effect of Kaempferia parviflora ethyl acetate extract and its major components polymethoxyflavonoid on metabolic diseases

Previously, we reported that rhizome powder of Kaempferia parviflora Wall. Ex. Baker prevented obesity and a range of metabolic diseases. In this study, to clarify which molecular mechanisms and active ingredients of K. parviflora have an anti-obesity effect, we investigated the effect of ethyl acetate extract of K. parviflora (KPE) on TSOD mice, a spontaneously obese Type II diabetes model, and on pancreatic lipase. In the TSOD groups, KPE showed a suppressive effect on body weight increase and visceral fat accumulation and also showed preventive effects on symptoms related to insulin resistance, hypertension and fatty liver. In addition, KPE also suppressed body weight increase and food intake in TSNO mice groups, which served as reference animals, at an early stage of administration. Searching for the ingredients in KPE revealed that KPE contains at least 12 kinds of polymethoxyflavonoid (PMF). Furthermore, KPE and its component PMFs showed an inhibitory effect on pancreatic lipase. The above results suggest that KPE has a preventive effect on obesity and various metabolic diseases. The mechanisms of action probably involve inhibition of pancreatic lipase by the PMFs in KPE.     

乙酰乙酸乙酯从盐酸介质中萃取铁的研究

用萃取法从盐酸溶液中分离Fe(Ⅲ ) ,采用常用的有机中间体乙酰乙酸乙酯为萃取剂 ,研究酸度、温度以及盐析剂等条件对萃取分配系数的影响 ,并对铁的反萃取进行讨论 ,从而确定最优萃取条件 ,为植物体内铁的萃取富集分离提供实验依据。     

A comparison of an enzymatic and a gas-chromatographic method for measuring the acetate concentration in the blood plasma of cattle

The concentration of acetate in blood plasma was measured by both a gas-liquid chromatographic method and an enzymatic method using acetyl-CoA synthetase. When acetate was measured enzymatically without previous protein precipitation, the apparent concentration was lower than when the concentration measured by either a gas-chromatographic method or by the enzymatic method after protein precipitation with perchloric acid and neutralization.     

油脂碘值的快速测定

报道了一种测定油脂碘值的新方法，不改变Hanus法操作步骤，只需在测定过程中加入催化剂醋酸汞。与Hanus法测定碘值相比，测定反应时间由30分钟缩短为4分钟，且本法相对误差小于0．5％，变异系数小于0．2％。     

中药植物羌活种子休眠解除的代谢组分析

传统中药植物羌活的种子因具有休眠限制了其人工驯化和栽培种植。为了解析羌活种子休眠解除过程的代谢物变化,筛选休眠解除关键化合物,对羌活种子进行冷暖层积预处理150 d,并对预处理的种子进行低温层积处理110 d,以及ABA抑制剂氯定酮（FL）和GA₃（GA）处理,用UPLC-MS/MS对处理过程的羌活种子进行代谢物分析。结果表明：羌活种子整个处理过程分为3个阶段,0—60 d、90—（150+30） d、（150+60）—（150+110） d。其中,预处理+低温层积处理（150+60） d和（150+110） d 的羌活种子已具备萌发能力。t[1] 主成分所代表的化合物是预处理0、15、60、90、120 d的胚发育处理过程发生主要变化的化合物。t[2] 主成分所代表的化合物主要在生理休眠解除过程发生变化。差异分析发现,列当醇乙酸酯是一种独脚金内酯化合物,在种子休眠解除过程发生显著积累。其中,FL处理后列当醇乙酸酯的生物合成水平升高12.1倍,而低温层积处理后其合成水平升高28.5倍。因此,推测列当醇乙酸酯含量变化对羌活种子休眠解除非常关键。研究结果可为羌活种子休眠解除机理研究提供理论基础,对中药羌活的产业发展具有重要的实践意义。     

Abstracts of Nippon Dojohiryogaku Zasshi

Soil profiles with different vegetation, developed on igneous rock-derived areas in Northern Kyushu have been sampled at 13 locations and analyzed for total Hg with a flameless atomic absorption spectrometer. The associated parent rock was also analyzed. The Hg levels of each rock sample were too low, not exceeding 10 ppb, to exert a significant effect within the profiles on the total Hg content. The Hg content was generally higher in the soil than in the underlying rock, irrespective of the depth of the horizon. Surface enrichment of Hg was observed at most of the sample sites, some paddy fields in particular, resulting in steep concentration gradient down the profiles. The total Hg in all the surface horizons ranged from 459 to 64 ppb with a mean of 197 ppb. Obviously, mercurial application in recent years was a principal factor above all with regard to the establishment of the elevated Hg levels in the upper soil horizon under cultivation.

Man-made loading of this element, probably through rain, was indicated even in the soils under natural vegetation, after taking into account a possible residual Hg concentration in the soil formation process. A close relationship in the profile distribution pattern between total Hg and organic matter contents was observed. This fact, in conjunction with the results of pyrolysis studies, did suggest that a large proportion of the total Hg in these soils could be firmly held by chemical forces, very likely as highly insoluble organic complexes.