Parathyrsoidins A–D,Four New Sesquiterpenoids from the Soft Coral Paralemnalia thyrsoides

Four new nardosinane-type sesquiterpenoids, parathyrsoidins A–D (1–4) were isolated from the soft coral Paralemnalia thyrsoides. The structures of parathyrsoidins A–D (1–4) were determined by extensive spectral analysis and their cytotoxicity against selected cancer cell lines as well as antiviral activity against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) were evaluated in vitro.     

Krempfielins J–M,New Eunicellin-Based Diterpenoids from the Soft Coral Cladiella krempfi

New four eunicellin-based diterpenoids, krempfielins J–M (1–4) were isolated from the organic extract of a Taiwanese soft coral Cladiella krempfi. The structures of the new metabolites were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. The structure of compound 2 is rare due to the presence of the highly oxygenated pattern. Anti-inflammatory activity of 1–6 to inhibit the superoxide anion generation and elastase release in FMLP/CB-induced human neutrophils was also evaluated, and 2 and 4 were shown to possess the ability to inhibit the elastase release.     

Cembranoids with 3,14-ether linkage and a secocembrane with bistetrahydrofuran from the Dongsha Atoll soft coral Lobophytum sp

Four new cembranoids, lobophylins A-D (1-4), and one novel secocembrane, lobophylin E (5) were isolated from a soft coral Lobophytum sp. The structures of new metabolites were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods. Among these metabolites, 1-4 are rarely found cembranoids possessing a tetrahydrofuran moiety with a 3,14-ether linkage. In addition, 5 is the first secocembrane possessing two tetrahydrofuran moieties with 3,14- and 4,7-ether linkages.     

Briarenolides U–Y,New Anti-Inflammatory Briarane Diterpenoids from an Octocoral Briareum sp. (Briareidae)

Five new 13,14-epoxybriarane diterpenoids, briarenolides U–Y (1–5), were isolated from the octocoral Briareum sp. The structures of briaranes 1–5 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Briarenolides U–Y (1–5) were found to significantly inhibit the expression of the pro-inflammatory inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.     

Briarane Diterpenoids Isolated from Gorgonian Corals between 2011 and 2013

The structures, names, bioactivities and references of 138 briarane-type diterpenoids, including 87 new compounds, are summarized in this review. All the briarane-type compounds mentioned in this review article were obtained from gorgonian corals including the genus Briareum, Dichotella, Junceella and Verrucella. Some of these compounds showed potential bioactivities.     

Effects of water-soluble carbohydrate concentrate from Chinese jujube on different intestinal and fecal indices

This study was to investigate the effects of water-soluble carbohydrate concentrate (WSCC) prepared from Chinese jujube ( Zizyphus jujuba) on different intestinal and fecal indices in a hamster model. WSCC contained carbohydrates (771 g kg(-1) of WSCC) including glucose, fructose, pectin polysaccharide, and hemicellulose. The administration of WSCC (5.0 and 15 g kg(-1) of diet) effectively ( P<0.05) shortened gastrointestinal transit time (by 34.2-57.3%), reduced cecal ammonia (by 58.1-60.3%), elevated total short-chain fatty acid concentrations in cecum (3-4-fold), increased fecal moisture (147-170%), reduced daily fecal ammonia output (by 31.9-75.8%), and decreased the activities of beta-D-glucuronidase (by 73.0-73.8%), beta-D-glucosidase (by 58.2-85.7%), mucinase (by 46.2-72.6%), and urease (by 31.9-48.7%) in feces. This study suggested that adequate consumption of jujube WSCC (at least 5.0 g kg(-1) of diet or 40 mg day(-1)) might exert favorable effects on improving the gastrointestinal milieu and reducing the exposure of intestinal mucosa to toxic ammonia and other detrimental compounds.     

Collaborative studies on cytogenetic and dominant lethal assays.

Two in vivo cytogenetic studies and one dominant lethal study were jointly conducted by members of government, academic, industrial, and independent commercial laboratories between 1970 and 1975 to determine the validity and reproducibility of the techniques. The cytogenetic studies consisted of preparations and analyses of bone marrow cells from male rats for chromosome abnormalities. In the first study, participants from 4 laboratories jointly prepared slides at a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) laboratory according to a prescribed procedure and independently analyzed the slides in their own laboratories. In the second study involving 6 laboratories, a workshop was held at Dow Chemical Co. to reduce scoring differences and to develop a joint protocol. All participants then independently performed the exact procedure in their own laboratories, using animals from a common source. In the dominant lethal study involving 6 laboratories, a workshop was held at the FDA to discuss protocol and to practice the technique. All participants then independently conducted the study in their own laboratories using rats and test chemicals from common sources. In all 3 studies, significant interlaboratory variability existed, and the differences varied with the parameters analyzed.     

Detection and localization of regucalcin in spermatozoa of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): A calcium‐regulating multifunctional protein

Regucalcin (RGN) is a calcium‐regulating, anti‐apoptotic, antioxidative and antiproliferative multifunctional protein predominantly seen in liver and kidney. All these functions are very crucial during spermatogenesis and sperm maturation process until fertilization of the ovum. Although many studies have reported the wide distribution of regucalcin in the male reproductive tract of the rat, human and bovine, its presence in spermatozoa is yet to be demonstrated wherein calcium has a pivotal role in the transport, capacitation, acrosomal reaction and further fusion with ova. Here, we detected the expression of regucalcin mRNA and protein in buffalo spermatozoa using real‐time PCR and Western blot, respectively. The study detected two new regucalcin isoforms of 44 kDa and 48 kDa size along with the reported 34‐kDa, 28‐kDa and 24‐kDa isoforms, wherein the 34‐kDa isoform was found to be membrane associated in spermatozoa. Further, immunocytochemistry study localized the regucalcin protein in the acrosomal region of the caudal and ejaculated buffalo spermatozoa while it was detected in both cytoplasm and acrosomal region of testicular spermatozoa. This discovery of RGN in spermatozoa and localization in the acrosomal region will help to focus researchers to see its role in calcium‐related functions like capacitation, acrosomal reaction and membrane fusion. Overall, regucalcin may be a new fertility marker in buffalo and can be utilized for infertility treatments.