MicroRNA­29­3p regulates the ß­catenin pathway by targeting IGF1 to inhibit the proliferation of prolactinoma cells.

The present study aimed to analyze the effects and underlying mechanisms of microRNA (miR)­29­3p on the proliferation and secretory abilities of prolactinoma cells by targeting insulin­like growth factor (IGF)­1/ß­catenin. The relationship between miR­29a­3p and the survival of prolactinoma cells was analyzed with the Kaplan­Meier method in reference to The Cancer Genome Atlas. The expression levels of miR­29a­3p and IGF­1 in MMQ and GH3 cells were detected. A dual­luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to verify the combination of miR­29a­3p and IGF­1. Cells were transfected with a miR­29a­3p mimic and/or IGF­1 pcDNA3.1 to analyze the effects on the proliferation, apoptosis and secretion of prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) of prolactinoma cells. The effects on ß­catenin in the cytoplasm and nucleus were investigated by western blot analysis. The results showed that miR­29a­3p expression was low in MMQ and GH3 cells. Overexpression miR­29a­3p inhibited IGF­1 mRNA and protein expression. miR­29a­3p inhibited cell proliferation and PRL and GH expression, and promoted apoptosis by inhibiting IGF­1. Increasing the expression of miR­29a­3p increased ß­catenin levels in the cytoplasm, whereas IGF­1 promoted ß­catenin activation and entry into the nucleus, and reversed the inhibitory effects of miR­29a­3p on ß­catenin. To conclude, miR­29a­3p inhibited the proliferation and secretory abilities of prolactinoma cells by inhibiting nuclear translocation of ß­catenin via a molecular mechanism that is inseparable from IGF­1.

The Therapeutic Effect of Shugan Xiehuo Formula in the Female Rat Model with Central Precocious Puberty.

Central precocious puberty (CPP) severely affects children's physical and mental health and needs to be treated promptly and effectively. This article aimed to research the therapeutic effect of Shugan Xiehuo Formula (SXF) on CPP. A female CPP rat model was established and then treated with leuprolide and different doses of SXF. Sex organ volume and index were measured. Ovaries and uteri were visualized by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), and estradiol (E2) in peripheral blood were determined. The expression levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR), estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), and G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) in the hypophysis were investigated by Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR and western blot. GnRH expression in the hypothalamus and GnRHR expression in the ovary were detected by immunohistochemistry. SXF reduced the volume of the bilateral ovaries, as well as the volumes of the uterus, hypothalamus, and hypophysis in the female CPP rats and diminished the index of the ovary, uterus, hypothalamus, and hypophysis in the female CPP rats (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). SXF treatment inhibited follicle maturation and uterine wall thickening in the female CPP rats. SXF decreased the concentrations of FSH, LH, PRL, and E2 in the peripheral blood in the female CPP rats (P < 0.01 or P < 0.001). SXF suppressed the expressions of GnRH, GnRHR, ERα, and GPR30 in the hypophysis (P < 0.05), the expression of GnRH in the hypothalamus (P < 0.01), and the expression of GnRHR in the ovaries (P < 0.001) of the female CPP rats. Overall, our study revealed that SXF had therapeutic effects on CPP in female rats. This is worthy of promoting clinically.

Neo-5,22E-Cholestadienol Derivatives from Buthus martensii Karsch and Targeted Bactericidal Action Mechanisms.

The discovery and search for new antimicrobial molecules from insects and animals that live in polluted environments is a very important step in the scientific search for solutions to the current problem of antibiotic resistance. Previously, we have reported that the secondary metabolite with the antibacterial action discovered in scorpion. The current study further isolated three new compounds from Buthus martensii karsch, while compounds 1 and 2 possessed 5,22E-cholestadienol derivatives whose structure demonstrated broad spectrum bactericide activities. To explore the antibacterial properties of these new compounds, the result shows that compound 2 inhibited bacterial growth of both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa in a bactericidal rather than a bacteriostatic manner (MBC/MIC ratio ≤ 2). Similarly, with compound 1, a ratio of MBC/MIC ≤ 2 indicates bactericidal activity inhibited bacterial growth of P. aeruginosa. Remarkably, this suggests that two compounds can be classified as bactericidal agents against broad spectrum bactericide activities for 5,22E-cholestadienol derivatives from Buthus martensii karsch. The structures of compounds 1⁻3 were established by comprehensive spectra analysis including two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-NMR) and high-resolution electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HRESI-MS) spectra. The antibacterial mechanism is the specific binding (various of bonding forces between molecules) using compound 1 or 2 as a ligand based on the different receptor proteins'-2XRL or 1Q23-active sites from bacterial ribosome unit A, and thus prevent the synthesis of bacterial proteins. This unique mechanism avoids the cross-resistance issues of other antibacterial drugs.

Gallnuts: A Potential Treasure in Anticancer Drug Discovery.

Introduction. In the discovery of more potent and selective anticancer drugs, the research continually expands and explores new bioactive metabolites coming from different natural sources. Gallnuts are a group of very special natural products formed through parasitic interaction between plants and insects. Though it has been traditionally used as a source of drugs for the treatment of cancerous diseases in traditional and folk medicinal systems through centuries, the anticancer properties of gallnuts are barely systematically reviewed. Objective. To evidence the traditional uses and phytochemicals and pharmacological mechanisms in anticancer aspects of gallnuts, a literature review was performed. Materials and Methods. The systematic review approach consisted of searching web-based scientific databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct. The keywords for searching include gallnut, Galla Chinensis, Rhus chinensis, Rhus potaninii, Rhus punjabensis, nutgall, gall oak, Quercus infectoria, Quercus lusitanica, and galla turcica. Two reviewers extracted papers independently to remove the papers unrelated to the anticancer properties of gallnuts. Patents, abstracts, case reports, and abstracts in symposium and congress were excluded. Results and Conclusion. As a result, 14 articles were eligible to be evaluated. It is primarily evident that gallnuts contain a number of bioactive metabolites, which account for anticancer activities. The phytochemical and pharmacological studies reviewed strongly underpin a fundamental understanding of anticancer properties for gallnuts (Galla Chinensis and Galla Turcica) and support their ongoing clinical uses in China. The further bioactive compounds screening and evaluation, pharmacological investigation, and clinical trials are expected to progress gallnut-based development to finally transform the wild medicinal gallnuts to the valuable authorized anticancer drugs.

Insight into the C-F bond mechanism of molecular analogs for antibacterial drug design.

The activities of biological molecules usually rely on both of intra-molecular and intermolecular interactions between their function groups. These interactions include interonic attraction theory, Van der Waal's forces and the function of geometry on the individual molecules, whether they are naturally or synthetic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of C-F bond compound using combination of experiments verification and theoretical calculation. We target on the insect natural products from the maggots of Chrysomyis megacephala Fabricius. Based on density functional theory(DFT) and B3LYP method, a theoretical study of the C-F bond on fluoride was designed to explore compounds 2 and 4 antibacterial structure-activity relationship. With the progress in DFT, first-principle calculation based on DFT has gradually become a routine method for drug design, quantum chemistry and other science fields.

From Traditional Usage to Pharmacological Evidence: A Systematic Mini-Review of Spina Gleditsiae.

Spina Gleditsiae is an important herb with various medicinal properties in traditional and folk medicinal systems of East Asian countries. In China through the centuries, it has been traditionally used as a source of drugs for anticancer, detoxication, detumescence, apocenosis, and antiparasites effects. Recently, an increasing number of studies have been reported regarding its chemical constituents and pharmacological activities. To further evidence the traditional use, phytochemicals, and pharmacological mechanisms of this herb, a systematic literature review was performed herein for Spina Gleditsiae. The review approach consisted of searching several web-based scientific databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Elsevier using the keywords "Spina Gleditsiae", "Zao Jiao Ci", and "Gleditsia sinensis". Based on the proposed criteria, 17 articles were evaluated in detail. According to the reviewed data, it is quite evident that Spina Gleditsiae contains a number of bioactive phytochemical components, which account for variety medicinal values including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, antimicrobial, antiallergic, and antivirus activities. The phytochemical and pharmacological studies reviewed herein strongly underpin a fundamental understanding of herbal Spina Gleditsiae and support its ongoing clinical uses in China. The further phytochemical evaluation, safety verification, and clinical trials are expected to progress Spina Gleditsiae-based development to finally transform the traditional TCM herb Spina Gleditsiae to the valuable authorized drug.

Novel skeleton compound Allomyrinanoid A and two purine alkaloids from the adult of Allomyrina dichotoma L.

Three new compounds were isolated from the adult insect of Allomyrina dichotoma L. for the first time. A new skeleton compound is named as Allomyrinanoid A (1) originated from the familiar norbornane derivatives and two new compounds of purine alkaloid are named as adenine-9-methylaldehyde oxime B (2) and 6-N-methyleneimine-adenine-9-methylaldehyde oxime B (3). The compounds (2) and (3) are the tautomers of imine-enamine and creatively separated form the solvent using column chromatography method. The structures of all isolated compounds were established by spectroscopic methods including analyses of their 1D, 2D NMR and HRESI-MS data, and confirmed by comparison of the literature data. These new components displayed antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strain.

Isolation and structural elucidation of novel antimicrobial compounds from maggots of Chrysomyis megacephala Fabricius.

The excretions/secretions from the maggot of Chrysomyis megacephala Fabricius are traditionally used to treat serious infections in China. In this study, bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of three novel antibacterial compounds (1-3), including important fluorinated compounds (3 and 5), together with other nine known compounds from 70% methanol extract of C. megacephala. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by NMR spectroscopic analysis and high-resolution mass spectroscopy. The antibacterial activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated using agar disc diffusion method. New compounds 1 and 2 exhibited moderate activity against Bacillus subtilis with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 250 µg mL(- 1). The most active compounds 3 and 5 displayed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity with an MIC of 125 µg mL(- 1) against G(+) and G(- ) bacteria. The structure of the above-mentioned novel compounds and their antimicrobial activities are herein reported for the first time from the natural product of insects.

Resveratrol trimers from seed cake of Paeonia rockii.

In the course of screening natural products for antibacterial activities, a total acetone extract of the seed cake of Paeonia rockii showed significant effects against bacterial strains. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the EtOAc-soluble fraction of the total acetone extract resulted in the isolation and identification of five resveratrol trimers, including rockiiol C (1), gnetin H (2), suffruticosol A (3), suffruticosol B (4) and suffruticosol C (5). The relative configuration of these compounds was elucidated mainly by comprehensive 1D and 2D-NMR experiments. Compound 1 was a new compound. All isolated compounds exhibited strong antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria.

TiO2 nanotube sensor for online chemical oxygen demand determination in conjunction with flow injection technique.

A simple, rapid and environmental friendly online chemical oxygen demand (COD) analytical method based on TiO2 nanotube sensor in conjunction with the flow injection technique was proposed to determine the COD of aqueous samples, especially for refractory organics, low-concentration wastewater, and surface water. The new method can overcome the drawbacks of the conventional COD determination methods. The results show that with the new method, each analysis takes only about 1 to 3 min, the linear range is up to 1 to 500 mg x L(-1) of the compound of interest, and the detection limit is 1 mg x L(-1). The COD values obtained by the proposed method are more accurate than those obtained by the conventional method.

Two bioactive compounds from the Chinese scorpion Buthusmartensii Karsch.

Two compounds, 3ß-acetoxyl,2,14,22-trihydroxy,19-hydroxymethyl,9α,5ß,14ß-card-20(22)enolide (1) and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-hydroxy1-5-pyrimidinecarbox-aldehyde (2), were isolated from arthropods in scorpion, Buthus martensii Karsch, by medium pressure liquid chromatography with silica gel as stationary phase and RP-HPLC analysis technology. The structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR spectroscopic analysis and HR-ESI-MS determination. It was found that (1) is a novel compound and both compounds showed inhibitory activities against the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis (minimum inhibitory concentrations = 15 µg/mL), with diameter of inhibition zone at ϕ = 6.0 mm (compound 1) and ϕ = 9.0 mm (compound 2), respectively.

2-Bromo-1,6,6-trimethyl-6,7,8,9-tetra-hydro-phenanthro[1,2-b]furan-10,11-dione.

In the title compound, C19H17BrO3, the ring skeleton is located on a crystallographic mirror plane; two C atoms of the cyclo-hexene ring are disordered over the two locations to satisfy the preferred ring conformation. In the crystal, C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into chains along the a axis. π-π stacking inter-actions between benzo-quinone rings, with a centroid-centroid distance of 3.7225 (4) Å, are also observed, which connect the chains into a two-dimensional networkparallel to the ab plane.

A theoretical investigation of the interaction between small Pd particles and 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium ionic liquids with Cl-, BF4(-) and PF6(-) anions.

Density functional calculations have been used to investigate the interaction between Pd(n) clusters (n = 1-6) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (Bmim(+)) based ionic liquids (ILs) with the anions [Cl(-)], [BF(4)(-)] and [PF(6)(-)]. The interaction of small Pd(n) clusters (1 ≤ n ≤ 6) with a single cation or anion is also studied. The interaction strengths in anion-Pd(n) categories with n = 1-6 follow the trend [Cl(-)] > [BF(4)(-)] > [PF(6)(-)]. The cation could also form interactions with Pd(n) clusters. Compared with a single anion or cation, the interaction could be strengthened when palladium particles interact with the whole ion pair. Further studies indicated that anionPd interaction is the decisive factor in the interaction between the Pd atom and the whole ion pair. The Pd(2) dimer interacts with the whole ion pair much more strongly than the Pd atom. Solvent effects have been considered in the present study by means of the polarizable continuum model. It is found that the stability of [Bmim(+)·BF(4)(-)]-Pd(n) and [Bmim(+)·PF(6)(-)]-Pd(n) complexes with n = 1 and 2 can be improved in solvents.

Isolation and identification of antibacterial neo-compounds from the red ants of ChangBai Mountain, Tetramorium sp.

Three novel coumarin compounds along with two known amide alkaloids were isolated from a methanol extract of the red ants of ChangBai Mountain, Tetramorium sp. Their structures were identified on the basis of IR, 2D NMR ((1)H-(1)H COSY, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY) and HRESIMS analysis. Antibacterial activity of all the compounds was evaluated using KB paper diffusion through measurement of inhibiting zone. It was found that four of all the compounds exhibited significant inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis with MIC values of 25 µg/ml (compounds 1-3) and 15 µg/ml (compound 4).

Secondary metabolites from the roots of Phlomis umbrosa.

The phytochemical study of the roots of Phlomis umbrosa Turcz afforded a new phenylethanoid glycoside, 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-ß-phenylethoxy-O-[2,3-diacetyl-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 â†’ 3)]-4-O-cis-feruloyl-[ß-d-apiofuranosyl-(1 â†’ 6)]-ß-d-glucopyranoside (1), and two new 28-noroleanane-derived spirocyclic triterpenoids, phlomishexaol C (2) and phlomishexaol D (3). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR analyses, in combination with high-resolution MS experiment.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of the flowers of Bupleurum chinese].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of the flowers of Bupleurum chinese. METHODS: The compounds were separated by column chromatography with silica gel. Their structures were identified by spectral methods and chemical analysis. RESULTS: Five compounds were isolated and identified as 8-(3',6'-dimethoxy)-4,5-cyclohexadiene-(delta11,12-dioxide-methylene) -dense-dihydrogen-isocoumarin(I), quercetin(II), rutin(III), calcifenol (IV), isorhamnetin (V). CONCLUSION: Compounds I and IV are obtained from the genus for the first time. Compound I is a new compound.

Density functional study of hydrogen binding on gold and silver-gold clusters.

A theoretical study was carried out on the binding of hydrogen on small bimetallic Ag(m)Au(n) (m + n < or = 5) and pure Au(n) (n < or = 5) clusters with neutral, negative, and positive charge state. It is found that the composition and charge state of clusters have strong influence on the most favorable binding site. The adiabatic ionization potentials, electron affinities, and hydrogen binding energies of cluster hydrides increase with the Au content increasing for the given cluster size. The cationic silver-gold cluster hydrides prefer ejection of Au-containing products whereas the anionic silver-gold cluster hydrides prefer ejection of Ag-containing products. The magnitude of metal-H frequency in combination with the metal-H bond length indicates that, with the same type of the binding site, the Au-H interaction is stronger than the Ag-H interaction.

[Chemical constituents from roots of Phlomis umbrosa].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Phlomis umbrosa. METHOD: Chemical constituents were isolated by repeated column chromatography (Toyopearl HW-40C and preparative HPLC). The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data analysis. RESULT: Thirteen compounds were identified as oleanolic acid (1), corosolic acid (2), hederagenin (3), arjunolic acid (4), belleric acid (5), 3beta-hydroxy-29-al-12-en-28-oleanoic acid (6), butyrospermol (7), beta-sitosterol (8), daucosterol (9), caffeic acid (10), vanillic acid (11), p-hydroxy-benzoic acid (12), 3, 4-dihydroxy-benzoic acid (13). CONCLUSION: Compounds 3 9, 11-13 were isolated from the plant for the first time.

A density functional study of the interaction of NCO with small copper clusters.

Density functional calculations have been carried out for Cu(n)NCO(-), Cu(n)NCO, Cu(n)NCO(+), and Cu(n)NCO(2+) clusters. It was found that for small n, charge state has a strong influence on the NCO location site. The ground states of the neutral and anionic complex clusters have a dominantly planar structure while most of the cationic complex clusters prefer three-dimensional structures. The electrostatic interaction is essential for the Cu-NCO bonding, while covalent interaction through 2pi donation strongly enhances the bonding. In neutral and anionic species the N-C bonds are strengthened and the C-O bonds are weakened, while in cationic species all the C-O distances decrease and the N-C distances can be slightly elongated in some cases, which is related to a higher NCO reactivity toward NO and O(2) to form N(2) over the positively charged Cu(n)(delta+) sites than that over the metallic Cu(n) sites.

Phenylethanoid glycosides from the roots of Phlomis umbrosa.

The phytochemical study of the roots of Phlomis umbrosa Turcz. afforded three new phenylethanoid glycosides, 3'''-acetyl-O-betonyoside D (1), 2''', 3'''-di-acetyl-O- betonyoside D (2), and 3''', 4'''-di-acetyl-O-betonyoside D (3), along with five known phenylethanoid glycosides. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. The antitumor activity of the isolated compounds was investigated.