Research progresses on non-coding DNA regulatory elements in the evolution of animal adaptive traits.

Driven by adaptive evolution, animals have developed a variety of adaptive traits that are critical to their survival and reproduction. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution is of key significance for understanding important biological phenomena such as species diversification and phenotypic convergence, etc. With the development and maturation of multi-omics technologies, genomic non-coding DNA regulatory elements have been proven to play important regulatory roles in the evolution of adaptive traits in animals.

A new benzophenone derivative from WJ-131.

A new benzophenone derivative, 8'-hydroxymonomethylsulochrin (), together with eighteen known compounds () were produced by the endophytic fungus WJ-131, isolated from the stem of . The structure of was determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis and X-ray crystallography. Under the condition of concentration of 20.

The effect of emotional uncertainty on attentional bias toward neutral infant faces in adults.

Recent studies have found that adults have stronger attentional bias toward neutral infant faces than emotional (positive or negative) infant faces. This phenomenon may derive from uncertainty over neutral expressions. To test this hypothesis, we recruited 176 participants to examine the relationship between their attentional bias toward neutral infant faces (with neutral adult faces as a comparison baseline) and their level of certainty in their appraisal of emotional valence through eye-tracking indices.

Three new sesquiterpenes from .

Two new guaiacene-type sesquiterpenes 13-dihydroixerin acid, ixerin acid and one new secoguaiacene-type sesquiterpene secoixerin Z, along with four known compounds, were separated from ethanol extract of . The structures were determined based on the detailed spectroscopic and physicochemical methods. The cytotoxic activity of the isolates was tested against A549 cells.

Exploring the pharmacological effects and potential targets of paeoniflorin on the endometriosis of cold coagulation and blood stasis model rats by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with a pattern recognition approach.

This study was employed to explore the potential biomarkers of endometriosis of cold coagulation and blood stasis (ECB) model rats and the effective mechanism of action of paeoniflorin (PF). The serum metabolomics approach was carried out using the UPLC-MS technique with a pattern recognition approach to prove the possible biomarkers of the ECB model rats and the perturbed pathways. Subsequently, the mechanism of PF treatment of this disease model was elucidated.

Three resin glycosides isolated from Argyreia acuta, including two isomers.

In the present study, three compounds were isolated from Argyreia acuta, among them, compounds 1 and 2 were new and Compounds 1 and 3 were isomers. They were separated by several types of columns, such as normal phase, RP, size exclusion and preparative HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by several spectroscopic methods, such as 1D- and 2D-NMR and HR-TOF-MS.

High-throughput metabolomics used to identify potential therapeutic targets of Guizhi Fuling Wan against endometriosis of cold coagulation and blood stasis.

Metabolomics is an emerging and robust discipline and involves the comprehensive evaluation of small molecule endogenous metabolites and enables the exploration of the pathogenesis of diseases. For example, endometriosis - a common disease which mostly occurs in women of childbearing age. A cure for endometriosis of cold coagulation and blood stasis (ECB) is highly sought after.

Four Pentasaccharide Resin Glycosides from Argyreia acuta.

Four pentasaccharide resin glycosides, acutacoside F-I (-), were isolated from the aerial parts of . These compounds were characterized as a group of macrolactones of operculinic acid A, and their lactonization site of 11-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid was esterified at the second saccharide moiety (Rhamnose) at C-2. The absolute configuration of the aglycone was .

Quantification of Bile Acids in Traditional Animal Medicines and Their Preparations Using Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in the Multiple Reaction Monitoring Mode.

An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatograph-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry has been established and validated for the simultaneous quantification of 15 bile acids in four traditional animal medicines and their preparations. The separations of bile acids were performed on an Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse XDB-C18 column (50 × 2.1 mm; 1.

[Progress of serum pharmacochemistry of traditional Chinese medicine and further development of its theory and method].

Serum pharmacochemistry of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is designed to screen the efficacy material base of TCMs from the constituents absorbed into the blood after oral administration. The theory and method is in accordance with the effect characteristics of TCMs, and reflects the interaction between the body and the drugs, has become an effective pathway for researching the efficacy material base of TCMs which has been recognized and used widely. In the paper, the previous research contents and methods of the serum pharmacochemistry of TCM were reviewed, and on the basis of the further validity of the special administration form of the TCM formula and the corresponding property to TCM syndrome, the new strategy of serum pharmacochemistry of TCM integrating the metabonomics technologies was put forward.

Preliminary identification of the absorbed bioactive components and metabolites in rat plasma after oral administration of Shaoyao-Gancao decoction by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Background: Shaoyao-Gancao decoction (SGD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been used for the treatment of abdominal pain and dysmenorrhea disease in Asia over long period of time. Its effectiveness has been confirmed in clinic, but its active constituents remain unclear.

Materials And Methods: In this paper, a rapid, sensitive and reliable ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/quadrupole-time-of-flight high-definition mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS) in positive and negative ion mode were established to characterize the active constituents of SGD in vitro.

Metabolomics coupled with pattern recognition and pathway analysis on potential biomarkers in liver injury and hepatoprotective effects of yinchenhao.

Metabolomics can provide an opportunity to develop the systematic analysis of the metabolites in biological samples and has been increasingly applied to discovering and identifying biomarkers and perturbed pathways. It enables us to better understand the metabolic pathways which can clarify the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). Yinchenhao (YCH, Artemisia annua L), a famous TCM plant, has been used clinically for more than a thousand years to relieve liver diseases in Asia, and its mechanisms are not still completely clear.

Metabolomics and proteomics approaches to characterize and assess proteins of bear bile powder for hepatitis C virus.

Metabolomics represents an emerging and powerful discipline that provides an accurate and dynamic picture of the phenotype of bio-systems through the study of potential metabolites that could be used as therapeutic targets and for the discovery of new drugs. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of liver disease worldwide, and is a major burden on public health. It is hypothesized that an animal model of HCV infection would produce unique patterns of endogenous metabolites.

Improved ultra-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization quadrupole-time-of-flight high-definition mass spectrometry method for the rapid analysis of the chemical constituents of a typical medical formula: Liuwei Dihuang Wan.

Liuwei Dihuang Wan (LDW), a classic Chinese medicinal formula, has been used to improve or restore declined functions related to aging and geriatric diseases, such as impaired mobility, vision, hearing, cognition, and memory. It has attracted increasing attention as one of the most popular and valuable herbal medicines. However, the systematic analysis of the chemical constituents of LDW is difficult and thus has not been well established.

Ultra-performance liquid-chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for rapid analysis of pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and excretion of schisandrin after oral administration of Shengmaisan.

This study aimed to investigate the in vivo behaviors of the main components in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) fomulae. The plasma pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of the main component-schisandrin in rats after oral administration of a classical TCM prescription, shengmaisan (SMS), were studied by a developed and validated UPLC-MS/MS method. The separation of schisandrin was achieved on a UPLC HSS T3 column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water at a flow rate of 0.

[Applications and approved projectsof general program, young scientist fund and fund for less developedregion of national natural science funds in discipline of Chinese materia medica, NSFC in 2012].

The applications accepted and approved by general program, young scientist fund and fund for less developed region of national natural science funds in the discipline of Chinese materia medica, NSFC in 2012 have been introduced. The research contents of the funded projects in the popular research areas have been summarized and the problems in the applications have been analyzed to give a reference to the scientists in the field of Chinese materia medica.

HCV protease inhibitory, cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects of oleanolic acid derivatives.

Purpose: To evaluate oleanolic acid derivatives on liver disease related bioactivities, 29 oleanolic acid derivatives of several series were tested for their inhibitory activity on hepatitis C viral protease and for their cytotoxic effects on Hep G2 cells.

Results: The amino derivatives showed potent cytotoxicity, among which, the beta-amino isomer exhibited more distinct cytotoxicity than the alpha-isomer. The cytotoxicity of hemiesters and hemiamides varied as the chain lengths varied.

[Influence of gentian leaf blight on the output and quality of Chinese gentian].

Objective: To study the influecnce of gentian leaf blight on the output and quality of rough gentian.

Method: The same grade seedlings were transplanted, disease of every plant was investigated in autumn and the output of gentian was determined. HPLC was applied to determine the content of gentiopicroside and swertiamarin.