Stabilizing Zinc Hexacyanoferrate Cathode by Low Contents of Cs Cations for Aqueous Zn-Ion Batteries.

Exploring cathode materials with excellent electrochemical performance is crucial for developing rechargeable aqueous zinc ion batteries (RAZIBs). Zinc hexacyanoferrate (ZnHCF), a promising candidate of cathode materials for RAZIBs, suffers from severe electrochemical instability issues. This work reports using low contents of alkaline metal cations as electrolyte additives to improve the cycle performance of ZnHCF. The cations with large sizes, particularly Cs+, changes the intercalation chemistry of ZnHCF in RAZIBs. During cycling, Cs+ cations co-inserted into ZnHCF stabilize the host structure. Meanwhile, a stable phase of CsZn[Fe(CN)6] forms on the ZnHCF cathode, suppressing the loss of active materials through dissolution. ZnHCF gradually converts to an electrochemically inert Zn-rich phase during long-term cycling in aqueous electrolyte, leading to irreversible capacity loss. Introducing Cs+ in the electrolyte inhibits this conversion reaction, resulting in the extended lifespan. Owing to these advantages, the capacity retention rate of ZnHCF/Zn full batteries increases from the original 7.0% to a high value of 54.6% in the electrolyte containing 0.03 M of Cs2SO4 after 300 cycles at 0.25 A∙g-1. This research provides an in-depth understanding of the electrochemical behavior of ZnHCF in aqueous zinc electrolyte, beneficial for further optimizing ZnHCF and other metal hexacyanoferrates.

Ginsenoside Rb1 for overcoming cisplatin-insensitivity of A549/DDP cells in vitro and vivo through the dual-inhibition on two efflux pumps of ABCB1 and PTCH1.

BACKGROUND: The multi-drug resistance is an inherent weakness in the chemotherapeutics of non-small cell lung cancer occurring frequently all over the world. Clinically, ginseng and Chinese medicinal prescriptions including ginseng usually used as anti-tumor adjuncts due to its characteristic of qi-invigorating, which could improve the curative effect of chemotherapy drugs and reduce their toxic side effects. Triterpenoid saponins are the crucial active ingredients in Panax ginseng, and Ginsenoside Rb1 is of the highest quantities. However, the research on the tumor drug-resistance reversal effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rb1 is still not clear. PURPOSE: This study aimed to systematically estimate the reversal activity of Ginsenoside Rb1 on cisplatin-insensitivity of A549/DDP cells and to reveal its prospective molecular mechanism. METHODS: MTT assay were conducted to evaluate the reversal activity on cisplatin-insensitivity of A549/DDP cells of Ginsenoside Rb1in vitro, and the behavior was also studied by establishing a subcutaneous transplanted tumor model of A549/DDP in BALB/c-nu mice. In addition, P-gp ATPase activity assay, cisplatin accumulation assay, Annexin V-FITC apoptosis assay, real-time qPCR analysis and western blotting analysis were used to clarify the potential mechanism. RESULTS: Ginsenoside Rb1 could effectively reverse the cisplatin-resistance of A549/DDP in vitro and vivo. And after the co-treatment of Ginsenoside Rb1 plus cisplatin, the accumulation of cisplatin increased in A549/DDP cells, which was accompanied with the down-regulation of the mRNA and protein expression levels of ABCB1, SHH, PTCH1 and GLI2. Besides, the apoptosis-inducing ability of cisplatin improved by the relative regulation on the protein expression level of Bax and Bcl-2. Far more importantly, the changes of CYP3A4 mRNA and protein levels were not significant. CONCLUSION: Ginsenoside Rb1 could increase the concentration of intracellular cisplatin and improve the insensitivity for cisplatin on A549/DDP cells. Even better, there was perhaps no unpredictable CYP3A4-mediated pharmacokinetic interactions after the combination of Ginsenoside Rb1 plus cisplatin. Ginsenoside Rb1 was a probable reversal agent for the cisplatin-insensitivity of A549/DDP cells, with a bifunction of inhibiting the efflux of two drug pumps (P-gp and PTCH1) by targeting ABCB1 and Hedgehog (Hh) pathway. In general, this research laid the groundwork for the development of a new reversal agent for the cisplatin-insensitivity of NSCLC.

Two new dammarane-type saponins from radix and rhizomes of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer.

Two new dammarane-type ginsenosides elucidated as 6-O-[α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl]-dammar-24-ene-3ß, 6α, 12ß, 20S-tetraol, named 20(S)-Ginsenoside Re10 (4); 6-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl]-20-O-[α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl]-dammar-24-ene-3ß, 6α, 12ß, 20R-tetraol, named 20(R)-Ginsenoside Re11 (8); along with one steroidal saponin (1) and six known triterpenoid ginsenosides (2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9) were isolated from the radix and rhizomes of mountain-cultivated ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, family Araliaceae). Their structures were determined by comprehensive chemical and spectroscopic analysis. In addition, what's even more concerning is that protodioscin was isolated for the first time from Panax ginseng.

Assessing the quality consistency of Rong'e Yishen oral liquid by five-wavelength maximization profilings and electrochemical fingerprints combined with antioxidant activity analyses.

Quality consistency control of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is often essential for providing reference and procedure to guarantee the safety and effectiveness of TCM. Taking Rong'e Yishen oral liquid (REYS) as an example, five-wavelength maximization profilings (FWMPs) of 21 samples were constructed to fully manifest the maximum UV absorption characteristics at multi-wavelength. The preliminary analysis of FWMPs by principal component analysis (PCA) suggested us focusing on evaluating the quality consistency qualitatively and quantitatively by systematically quantified fingerprint method (SQFM). Meanwhile, electrochemical fingerprints (ECFPs) were established and the related characteristic parameters were deeply analyzed. All the samples had inhibitory effect on the electrochemical oscillation system, and the oscillation life (tol) was linear with the added volume and temperature in a certain range, respectively (r > 0.94). The merging point method was first introduced to process ECFP to facilitate its evaluation with SQFM. The evaluation results of FWMPs and the merged ECFPs were integrated in an equal weight for assessing the sample quality completely, and 21 samples were classified into two grades with good quality consistency. Furthermore, 2, 2-azino-bis (3 - ethyl - benzthiazoline - 6 - sulfonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging assay was applied to study the antioxidant activity of samples using vitamin C as a positive control. Partial least squares (PLS) model and bivariate correlation analysis (BCA) was used for FWMP-ABTS efficacy relationship and FWMP-merged ECFP efficacy relationship respectively. 15 of the 48 co-possessing peaks made important contributions to the two efficacy relationships simultaneously. This study suggested a comprehensive and reliable approach for quality consistency control of complex TCM or herbal medicine.