The Comparative Studies of Binding Activity of Curcumin and Didemethylated Curcumin with Selenite: Hydrogen Bonding vs Acid-Base Interactions.

In this report, the in vitro relative capabilities of curcumin (CCM) and didemethylated curcumin (DCCM) in preventing the selenite-induced crystallin aggregation were investigated by turbidity tests and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). DCCM showed better activity than CCM. The conformers of CCM/SeO3(2-) and DCCM/SeO3(2-) complexes were optimized by molecular orbital calculations.

Characterization of the flocculating agent from the spontaneously flocculating microalga Chlorella vulgaris JSC-7.

High cost of biomass recovery is one of the bottlenecks for developing cost-effective processes with microalgae, particularly for the production of biofuels and bio-based chemicals through biorefinery, and microalgal biomass recovery through cell flocculation is a promising strategy. Some microalgae are naturally flocculated whose cells can be harvested by simple sedimentation. However, studies on the flocculating agents synthesized by microalgae cells are still very limited.

Characterization of flocculating agent from the self-flocculating microalga Scenedesmus obliquus AS-6-1 for efficient biomass harvest.

In the present work, the extracellular biopolymers from the self-flocculating microalga Scenedesmus obliquus AS-6-1 were studied. It was revealed that the self-flocculation of the microalgal cells was mediated by cell wall-associated polysaccharides with a molecular weight of 127.9 kDa.

Oligosaccharide and peptidoglycan of Ganoderma lucidum activate the immune response in human mononuclear cells.

The acid-hydrolyzed fragments of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPS) obtained by Smith degradation were separated by size-exclusion chromatography into two major water-soluble fractions: peptidoglycans (GLPS-SF1) and oligosaccharides (GLPS-SF2). Both fractions induced CD69 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPB-MNCs), and they displayed distinct immunomodulating properties. GLPS-SF1, with a molecular weight of around 20 kDa, were heterogeneous peptidoglycans composed of glucose/mannose (4:1) that exhibited biological activities with Th1 cytokines IL-12, IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in hPB-MNCs and stimulated macrophage cytokine expression via Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling.

Anti-UVC irradiation and metal chelation properties of 6-benzoyl-5,7-dihydroxy-4-phenyl-chromen-2-one: an implications for anti-cataract agent.

Coumarin derivative 1, 5,7-dihydroxy-6-(3-methyl-1-butyryl)-4-phenyl-chromen- 2-one, has been reported to possess radical scavenging activity and DNA protection. We have synthesized a series of coumarins with structural modifications at positions C4, C5, C6 and C7 and evaluated them for their anti-UVC properties. Coumarin 7, 6-benzoyl-5,6-dihydroxy-4-phenyl-chromen-2-one, was found to have the most potent activity in protecting porcine γ-crystallin against UVC insults.

Proteomannans in biofilm of Helicobacter pylori ATCC 43504.

Background:   The human bacterial pathogen Helicobacter pylori forms biofilms. However, the constituents of the biofilm have not been extensively investigated. In this study, we analyzed the carbohydrate and protein components of biofilm formed by H.

Structural variation of glycolipids from Meiothermus taiwanensis ATCC BAA-400 under different growth temperatures.

A major glycolipid, alpha-Galf(1-3)-alpha-Galp(1-6)-beta-GlcpNAcyl(1-2)-alpha-Glcp(1-1)-2-acylalkyldiol, is obtained from Meiothermus taiwanensis. This novel glycolipid is found only when the bacterium grows above 62 degrees C, which is significantly different from those from the same bacteria incubated at 55 degrees C. Terminal galactofuranoside and 1,2-alkyldiol lipids replaced galactopyranoside and glycerol lipids, respectively, under increased growth temperature.

Discovery of new natural products by intact-cell mass spectrometry and LC-SPE-NMR: malbranpyrroles, novel polyketides from thermophilic fungus Malbranchea sulfurea.

Six photosensitive polyketides, malbranpyrroles A-F, were discovered from the thermophilic fungus Malbranchea sulfurea by using intact-cell desorption/ionization on silicon mass (ICD-MS) and LC-SPE-NMR. These two strategies facilitate the searching and structural determination of unstable natural products. The ICD-MS indicated that only brown hyphae of M.

Tubocapsenolide A, a novel withanolide, inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells by thiol oxidation of heat shock proteins.

Tubocapsenolide A (TA), a novel withanolide-type steroid, exhibits potent cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines. In the present study, we observed that treatment of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells with TA led to cell cycle arrest at G(1) phase and apoptosis. The actions of TA were correlated with proteasome-dependent degradation of Cdk4, cyclin D1, Raf-1, Akt, and mutant p53, which are heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) client proteins.

Cytotoxic ent-abietane diterpenes from Gelonium aequoreum.

Seventeen ent-abietane diterpenes, including gelomulides K-X (1-14), and three known compounds, were isolated from a dichloromethane-soluble extract of Gelonium aequoreum through bioassay-guided fractionation. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods, and stereochemistry was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis, CD spectral data, and Mosher's method. The isolates were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity, and compounds 1 and 3 showed moderate cytotoxicity against lung (A549), breast (MDA-MB-231 and MCF7), and liver (HepG2) cancer cell lines.

Cytotoxic withanolides from Tubocapsicum anomalum.

Fifteen new withanolides (1-8, 11-17) and two known withanolides, withanolide D (9) and 17alpha-hydroxywithanolide D (10), were isolated from the stems, roots, and leaves of Tubocapsicum anomalum using bioassay-directed fractionation. The structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods, and the absolute configurations were established by CD analysis and by the Mosher ester method. The structure of 1 and 3 were further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis.

The transgenic Arabidopsis plant system, pER8-GFP, as a powerful tool in searching for natural product estrogen-agonists/antagonists.

The transgenic Arabidopsis plant system, pER8-GFP, may be used as a powerful tool in searching for natural estrogen-agonists/antagonists. Among selected plant extracts and natural products, the method was able to distinguish active extracts (e.g.