Schisandrin B attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of hepatic stellate cells through Nrf-2-activating anti-oxidative activity.

Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are known to have a potential role in increasing the deposition of ECM and elevating proliferation in liver fibrosis, which can be driven by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Schisandrin B (SB) is a dibenzocyclooctadiene derivative of Schisandra chinensis with anti-oxidative stress activity, but its effective target is unknown. Here, we have evaluated whether SB is protective against the LPS-induced activation of HSCs and have explored the underlying anti-oxidative stress mechanisms of SB.

Catalytic and electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol over palladium-based nanoalloy catalysts.

The control of the nanoscale composition and structure of alloy catalysts plays an important role in heterogeneous catalysis. This paper describes novel findings of an investigation for Pd-based nanoalloy catalysts (PdCo and PdCu) for ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) in gas phase and alkaline electrolyte. Although the PdCo catalyst exhibits a mass activity similar to Pd, the PdCu catalyst is shown to display a much higher mass activity than Pd for the electrocatalytic EOR in alkaline electrolyte.

On resin amino acid side chain attachment strategy for the head to tail synthesis of new glutamine containing gramicidin-S analogs and their antimicrobial activity.

The alarming increase in infections caused by multiple drug resistant bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has prompted a desperate search for new antimicrobials. Augmenting the discoveries of completely new scaffolds with antimicrobial activity are efforts aimed at modifying existing molecules to optimize activity or reduce toxicity. We report herein the parallel solid-phase synthesis of analogues of the cationic antimicrobial peptide gramicidin S (GS) using amino acid side chain attachment strategy.