Publications by authors named "Zhongxiu Zhang"

Luteolin-7-O-glucuronide (L7Gn) is a flavonoid isolated from numerous traditional Chinese herbal medicines that exerts anti-inflammatory effects. Previous research has revealed that aerosol inhalation is the most straightforward way of administration for the delivery of respiratory agents. Thus far, the impact of aerosol inhalation of L7Gn on lung inflammation and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown.

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Background: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been reported to promote osteoblast differentiation. However, the role of ESWT on osteoclast differentiation is still elusive.

Methods: This study analyzed the differentiation of osteoclasts in the shock wave group and the control group in vitro, and TRAP staining, RT-PCR, WB assays, and MTT assays were assessed between the two groups.

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2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromones (PECs) are the principal constituents contributing to the distinctive fragrance of agarwood. How PECs are biosynthesized is currently unknown. In this work, we describe a diarylpentanoid-producing polyketide synthase (PECPS) identified from Aquilaria sinensis.

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The effects of Reduning injection and nebulized inhalation for treating upper respiratory tract infections were compared, including anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-tussive, and anti-phlegm. Using chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, and geniposide as the index components, the pharmacokinetics and tissue distributions were compared. Influenza virus PR8-infected mice in the Reduning groups showed significantly reduced mortality and prolonged survival time.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the antimalarial effects of artemisinin (Qinghaosu) on mitochondria in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei.
  • 108 infected mice were divided into control and treatment groups, administered varying doses of QHS, and evaluated over different time periods for mitochondrial performance.
  • Results indicated that QHS significantly reduced ATP levels, increased oxidative stress markers, and negatively affected mitochondrial health, establishing its role as an antimalarial agent by targeting Plasmodium mitochondria.
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2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromones are the main compounds responsible for the quality of agarwood, which is widely used in traditional medicines, incenses and perfumes. HO and NADPH oxidases (also known as respiratory burst oxidase homologs, Rbohs) mediate diverse physiological and biochemical processes in environmental stress responses. However, little is known about the function of HO and NADPH oxidases in 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones accumulation.

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Type III polyketide synthases (PKSs) play an important role in biosynthesis of various plant secondary metabolites and plant adaptation to environmental stresses. Aquilaria sinensis (A. sinensis) is the main plant species for production of agarwood, little is known about its PKS family.

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Background: Agarwood, is a resinous portion derived from Aquilaria sinensis, has been widely used in traditional medicine and incense. 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones are principal components responsible for the quality of agarwood. However, the molecular basis of 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones biosynthesis and regulation remains almost unknown.

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Five 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones including a new one, (5S,6R,7S,8R)-5,8-dichloro-6,7-dihydroxy-2-phenylethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromen-4-one (1), and four known ones (2-5), were isolated from 150 mM NaCl-elicited Aquilaria sinensis cell suspension cultures. In addition, three feruloyl amides (6-8), six nucleosides (9-14), (+)-syringaresinol (15), indole-3-carboxaldehyde (16), and two glycosides (17-18) were also obtained. The structures were unambiguously identified by analysis of their UV, IR, NMR, and HRESIMS data.

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Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is main regulatory enzyme for pentose phosphate pathway. To amplify the core sequence of G6PDH gene from Chimonanthus praecox, the primers were synthesized, based on the conserved nucleotide sequence of other reported plant G6PDH genes. The specific primers were designed according to the major fragment.

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A new highly selective iodide electrode incorporating a binuclear manganese(III) complex, bis(salicylaldehyde-aminopropanol)dichloroaceticdimanganese(III) [Mn(III)(2)-BSAPDCA], as a neutral carrier is described. The electrode displays an anti-Hofmeister selectivity sequence: iodide >> perchlorate > salicylate > thiocyanate > nitrate > bromide > nitrite > chloride > sulfate. The excellent selectivity for iodide is related to a direct interaction between the central Mn(III) atom and iodide and a steric effect associated with the structure of the carrier, which is supported by UV spectroscopy and AC impedance techniques.

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