The Bioactivity of Scutellariae Radix Carbonisata-Derived Carbon Dots: Antiallergic Effect

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 2485-2494
Author(s):  
Hui Kong ◽  
Yusheng Zhao ◽  
Peng Cao ◽  
Juan Luo ◽  
Yuhan Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Carbon Dots ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Scutellariae Radix ◽  
Action Mechanisms ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
High Resolution Tem

Chinese medicine is a treasure of the Chinese nation, and charcoal drugs are a class of medicine with distinctive characteristics. Scutellariae Radix Carbonisata (SRC) could be a sort of calcined herb medicate that has been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinics to treat hypersensitivities. However, to date, the function of the carbonized part and action mechanisms of SRCs have not been elucidated. In this study, novel water-soluble carbon dots (CDs, named SRC-CDs) ranging from 2 to 9 nm were observed and separated from aqueous extracts of SRC. These SRC-CDs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM, as well as Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet-visible, and fluorescence spectroscopy, to determine particle size, morphology, chemical structure, and optical properties. Then, the in vitro antiallergic efficacy of the SRC-CDs was studied in a C48/80-induced RBL-2H3 cell model, in which remarkable antiallergic effects were revealed. These results will provide new solution directions and technical methods for follow-up research of charcoal drugs and new understanding of potential biomedical applications of CDs.

A novel bacteriochlorin-gold nanoparticle construct for photoacoustic imaging

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (01n04) ◽  
pp. 490-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avinash Srivatsan ◽  
Mansik Jeon ◽  
Yanfang Wang ◽  
Yihui Chen ◽  
Chulhong Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Gold Nanoparticle ◽  
Photoacoustic Imaging ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Au Nps ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
High Resolution Tem ◽  
Tem Transmission Electron Microscopy

Herein we report the synthesis of new gold nanoparticle-bacteriochlorin conjugate (Au-NP-PS) as a highly efficient photoacoustic (PA) imaging agent. The conjugate was obtained by reacting a water soluble thio-bacteriochlorin (derived from bacteriochlorophyll-[Formula: see text] with Au-NP. The resulting NPs were characterized by UV-vis, TEM (transmission electron microscopy)/HRTEM (high resolution TEM) and diffraction pattern. The results obtained from in vitro studies suggest that due to conjugation between the PS and Au-NPs, the photoacoustic (PA) signals from the Au-NP-PS were greatly enhanced by a factor of 2.4 compared to that from PS alone.

scholarly journals Novel Carbon Dots Derived from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Their Anti-Gastric Ulcer Effect

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1512
Author(s):  
Yuhan Liu ◽  
Meiling Zhang ◽  
Jinjun Cheng ◽  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Hui Kong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Ulcer ◽  
Photoelectron Spectroscopy ◽  
Carbon Dots ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Raw264.7 Cells ◽  
Mice Model ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Glycyrrhizae Radix ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
High Resolution Tem

Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (GRR) is one of the commonly used traditional Chinese medicines in clinical practice, which has been applied to treat digestive system diseases for hundreds of years. GRR is preferred for anti-gastric ulcer, however, the main active compounds are still unknown. In this study, GRR was used as precursor to synthesize carbon dots (CDs) by a environment-friendly one-step pyrolysis process. GRR-CDs were characterized by using transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution TEM, fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition, cellular toxicity of GRR-CDs was studied by using CCK-8 in RAW264.7 cells, and the anti-gastric ulcer activity was evaluated and confirmed using mice model of acute alcoholic gastric ulcer. The experiment confirmed that GRR-CDs were the spherical structure with a large number of active groups on the surface and their particle size ranged from 2 to 10 nm. GRR-CDs had no toxicity to RAW264.7 cells at concentration of 19.5 to 5000 μg/mL and could reduce the oxidative damage of gastric mucosa and tissues caused by alcohol, as demonstrated by restoring expression of malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide in serum and tissue of mice. The results indicated the explicit anti-ulcer activity of GRR-CDs, which provided a new insights for the research on effective material basis of GRR.

scholarly journals The neutrophil-mobilizing cytokine interleukin-26 in the airways of long-term tobacco smokers

2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (9) ◽  
pp. 959-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karlhans Fru Che ◽  
Ellen Tufvesson ◽  
Sara Tengvall ◽  
Elisa Lappi-Blanco ◽  
Riitta Kaarteenaho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Chronic Bronchitis ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Neutrophil Accumulation

Long-term tobacco smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or chronic bronchitis display an excessive accumulation of neutrophils in the airways; an inflammation that responds poorly to established therapy. Thus, there is a need to identify new molecular targets for the development of effective therapy. Here, we hypothesized that the neutrophil-mobilizing cytokine interleukin (IL)-26 (IL-26) is involved in airway inflammation amongst long-term tobacco smokers with or without COPD, chronic bronchitis or colonization by pathogenic bacteria. By analyzing bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), bronchail wash (BW) and induced sputum (IS) samples, we found increased extracellular IL-26 protein in the airways of long-term smokers in vivo without further increase amongst those with clinically stable COPD. In human alveolar macrophages (AM) in vitro, the exposure to water-soluble tobacco smoke components (WTC) enhanced IL-26 gene and protein. In this cell model, the same exposure increased gene expression of the IL-26 receptor complex (IL10R2 and IL20R1) and nuclear factor κ B (NF-κB); a proven regulator of IL-26 production. In the same cell model, recombinant human IL-26 in vitro caused a concentration-dependent increase in the gene expression of NF-κB and several pro-inflammatory cytokines. In the long-term smokers, we also observed that extracellular IL-26 protein in BAL samples correlates with measures of lung function, tobacco load, and several markers of neutrophil accumulation. Extracellular IL-26 was further increased in long-term smokers with exacerbations of COPD (IS samples), with chronic bronchitis (BAL samples ) or with colonization by pathogenic bacteria (IS and BW samples). Thus, IL-26 in the airways emerges as a promising target for improving the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms behind several pulmonary morbidities in long-term tobacco smokers.

scholarly journals Facile Synthesis of Water-Soluble Fullerene (C60) Nanoparticles via Mussel-Inspired Chemistry as Efficient Antioxidants

Nanomaterials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Zhang ◽  
Yihan Ma ◽  
Sheng Fu ◽  
Aiqing Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Rational Design ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Photoelectron Spectra ◽  
Ros Scavenging ◽  
Laser Scattering ◽  
Green Approach ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Scavenging Capacity ◽  
The Michael Addition

Rational design and modification of the all-carbon fullerene cages to meliorate their nature of hydrophobicity is critical for biomedical applications. The outstanding electron affinity of fullerenes enables them to effectively eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS), the excess of which may lead to health hazards or biological dysfunction. Herein reported is a facile, mild, and green approach to synthesizing the favorable water-soluble C60 nanoparticles capable of ROS-scavenging by combining the mussel-inspired chemistry with the Michael addition reaction. Various characterization techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron cryomicroscopy (Cryo-TEM), and dynamic laser scattering (DLS) were carried out to confirm the satisfactory preparation of the hybrid C60-PDA-GSH nanoparticles, which exhibited apparent scavenging capacity of DPPH and hydroxyl radicals in vitro. Additionally, the biocompatible C60-PDA-GSH nanoparticles entered into cells and displayed a universal cytoprotective effect against oxidative press induced by H2O2 in four kinds of human cells at a low concentration of 2 μg/mL. The ease and versatility of the strategy present in this work will not only trigger more fullerene-based materials by the immobilization of diverse functional molecules, but will also extend their possible applications.

scholarly journals Novel Carbon Dots Derived from Puerariae lobatae Radix and Their Anti-Gout Effects

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (22) ◽  
pp. 4152
Author(s):  
Xiaoke Wang ◽  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Meiling Zhang ◽  
Hui Kong ◽  
Suna Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dots ◽  
Gouty Arthritis ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Cell Counting ◽  
Raw264.7 Cells ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Good Biocompatibility

Gout is a disease with a high incidence and causing great harm, and the current treatment drugs are not satisfactory. In this study, novel water-soluble carbon dots (CDs) with anti-gout effect, named Puerariae lobatae Radix CDs (PLR-CDs), are reported. PLR-CDs were synthesized with an improved pyrolysis method at 300 °C, and their characterization was performed with multifaceted approaches, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In addition, the biocompatibility of PLR-CDs was studied using the cell counting kit (CCK)-8 in LO2 cells and RAW264.7 cells, and the anti-gout activity of PLR-CDs was examined on animal models of hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis. The characterization of PLR-CDs indicated that they were nearly spherical, with diameters ranging from 3.0 to 10.0 nm, and the lattice spacing was 0.283 nm. The toxicity experiment revealed that PLR-CDs were non-poisonous for LO2 cells and RAW264.7 cells at concentrations below 250 μg/mL. The results of pharmacodynamic experiments showed that PLR-CDs could lower the blood uric acid level in model rats by inhibiting the activity of xanthine oxidase and reduce the degree of swelling and pathological damage of gouty arthritis. Thus, PLR-CDs with anti-gout biological activity and good biocompatibility have the prospect of clinical application for the treatment of gout.

scholarly journals Arsenic Bioaccessibility of Realgar Influenced by the Other Traditional Chinese Medicines in Niuhuang Jiedu Tablet and the Roles of Gut Microbiota

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenfeng Xu ◽  
Shuo Xu ◽  
Shanshan Zhang ◽  
Xuejun Wu ◽  
Pengfei Jin
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Incubation Medium ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
The Other ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicines ◽  
Chinese Medicines ◽  
Scutellariae Radix

Niuhuang Jiedu tablet (NJT), a realgar (As2S2) containing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is a well-known formula. The safety of NJT is of growing concern since arsenic (As) is considered as one of the most toxic elements. NJT was demonstrated to be safer than realgar by our previous experiments and some other studies. The toxicity of realgar has been shown to be related to the amount of soluble or bioaccessible arsenic. In this study, the influences of the other TCMs in NJT on the bioaccessibility of arsenic from realgar, and the roles of gut microbiota during this process were investigated in vitro. Results showed that Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) could significantly reduce the bioaccessibility of arsenic from realgar in artificial gastrointestinal fluids. Gut microbiota played an important role in decreasing the bioaccessibility of realgar because it was demonstrated to be able to absorb the soluble arsenic from realgar in the incubation medium. Dahuang, Huangqin, and Jiegeng could modulate the gut microbiota to enhance its arsenic absorption activity.

scholarly journals In VitroEfficacy of Corifungin against Acanthamoeba castellanii Trophozoites and Cysts

2013 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 1523-1528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjan Debnath ◽  
Josefino B. Tunac ◽  
Angélica Silva-Olivares ◽  
Silvia Galindo-Gómez ◽  
Mineko Shibayama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Acanthamoeba Castellanii ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Dense Granules ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Novel Drugs ◽  
Amebic Encephalitis ◽  
Multiple Drugs

ABSTRACTPainful blinding keratitis and fatal granulomatous amebic encephalitis are caused by the free-living amebaeAcanthamoebaspp. Several prescription eye medications are used to treatAcanthamoebakeratitis, but the infection can be difficult to control because of recurrence of infection. For the treatment of encephalitis, no single drug was found useful, and in spite of the use of a combination of multiple drugs, the mortality rate remains high. Therefore, efficient, novel drugs are urgently needed for the treatment of amebic keratitis and granulomatous amebic encephalitis. In this study, we identified corifungin, a water-soluble polyene macrolide, as amebicidal.In vitro, it was effective against both the trophozoites and the cysts. Transmission electron microscopy ofAcanthamoeba castellaniiincubated with corifungin showed the presence of swollen mitochondria, electron-dense granules, degeneration of cytoplasm architecture, and loss of nuclear chromatin structure. These changes were followed by lysis of amebae. Corifungin also induced the encystment process ofA. castellanii. There were alterations in the cyst cell wall followed by lysis of the cysts. Corifungin is a promising therapeutic option for keratitis and granulomatous amebic encephalitis.

In Vitro Synthesis of Calcium Nanoparticles Using the Protein Cage of Apoferritin

2007 ◽  
Vol 361-363 ◽  
pp. 183-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroko Fukano ◽  
Mamoru Aizawa ◽  
Hideyuki Yoshimura
Keyword(s):  
Lattice Structure ◽  
Spherical Particles ◽  
Bulk Solution ◽  
Mixed Solution ◽  
In Vitro Synthesis ◽  
Protein Cage ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
High Resolution Tem ◽  
Calcium Compounds

Recently the creation of calcium compounds with a highly controlled ultrastructure is noted as next generation materials for biomedical applications. Here we propose the novel method for synthsizing calcium nanoparticles using iron strange protein, apoferritin. Apoferritin was incubated in saturated Ca(HCO3)2 solution at 18 °C. Temperature of the reaction solution was then increased to 37 °C and left for 2 hours to make CaCO3 sedimentated. After removing the sediments in the bulk solution by centrifugation, the supernatant was concentrated. Saturated Ca(HCO3)2 was added to it and the mixed solution was incubated at 37 °C for 30 min. This process was repeated four times. With a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), nearly spherical particles with a diameter of about 6 nm were observed to form in the cavity of apoferritin. The nanoparticles were observed to have a lattice structure of spacing about 0.22 nm with high resolution TEM. With Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, the peak of Ca (Kα; 3.7 keV) was detected from a synthesized nanoparticle. According to the solvent condition, nanoparticles formed in the apoferritin cavity would be CaCO3.

scholarly journals Experimental Approach to the Creation of Efficient Multicomponent Nanocomposites for Antitumor Therapy

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (8) ◽  
pp. 678
Author(s):  
N. Kutsevol ◽  
Y. Kuziv ◽  
V. Chumachenko ◽  
O. Nadtoka ◽  
L. Bulavin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Soluble ◽  
Water Soluble Polymers ◽  
Soluble Polymers ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Urgent Task ◽  
Aggregation Processes ◽  
Component Systems ◽  
Chlorine E6 ◽  
Mcf 7

Water-soluble polymers with special characteristics can be used as carriers in which the active ingredients are entrapped, encapsulated, adsorbed, or chemically attached. The understanding of the processes occurring during the formation of multicomponent nanosystems is the urgent task for the synthesis of antitumor nanocomposites. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), photosensitizer Chlorine e6 (Ce6), and Doxorubicin (Dox) are currently used for the photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy. We have been focused on the study of three-component nanosystems Polymer/AuNPs/Ce6, and four-component nanosystems Polymer/AuNPs/Ce6/Dox at physiological temperatures (37 ∘C). The star-like copolymer with Dextran core and grafted Polyacrylamide chains in nonionic and anionic forms are used as a matrix for the synthesis of nanocomposites. The nanosystems are characterized by the dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The increasing of the aggregation processes for the four-component nanosystem Polymer/AuNPs/Ce6/Dox in comparison with the three-component one Polymer/AuNPs/Ce6 is registered. These nanosystems are tested in vitro against the subline of breast carcinoma MCF-7/S – sensitive to cytostatics. It is demonstrated that the increase of the aggregation process occurring in four-component systems leads to the loss of the antitumor activity of multicomponent drugs.

Stachydrine inhibits PC12 cell apoptosis induced by Aβ25-35 in an in vitro cell model of neurocognitive disorders

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan Fu ◽  
Mei Liu ◽  
Jinxiu Yan ◽  
Na Zhao ◽  
Liangchao Qu
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Pc12 Cells ◽  
Pc12 Cell ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Neurocognitive Disorders ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Cell Cycle Distribution

Background: Abnormal deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) is considered the primary cause of neurocognitive disorders (NCDs). Inhibiting cytotoxicity is an important aspect of the treatment of NCDs. Stachydrine (STA) has been widely used for gynecological and cardiovascular disorders. However, whether STA has protective functions in PC12 cells treated with Aβ25–35 remains unclear. Introduction: Traditional Chinese Medicine, stachydrine (STA) is a water-soluble alkaloid of Leonurus heterophyllus, which can inhibit cell apoptosis, suppress tumor growth, maintain homeostasis of myocardial cells, and alleviate endothelial dysfunction. This study will investigate the effect of STA on inhibiting PC12 cell apoptosis induced by Aβ25-35 in an in vitro cell model of neurocognitive disorders. Methods: The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in cells treated with STA were analyzed according to the Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE) 85871 data, and the STITCH database was used to identify the target genes of STA. PC12 cells were treated with Aβ25–35 and/or STA, an 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was determined. The cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry, and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or Western blotting were used to detect the expression of genes or proteins. Results and Discussion: GSE85871 data showed 37 upregulated and 48 downregulated genes among the DEGs affected by STA. The results from the STITCH database showed that RPS8 and EED were target genes of STA. GSE1297 analysis showed the 13 most significantly upregulated genes. STA might affect the occurrence of NCDs through the interaction of TP53 with EED and RPS8. Finally, Aβ25-35 promoted apoptosis and LDH release of PC-12 cells, arrested the cell cycle in the G2/M phase, and inhibited the expression of the RPS8, EED, Bcl-2 and P53 genes. STA could reverse the effect of Aβ25-35. Conclusion: STA may play an important role in inhibiting apoptosis induced by Aβ25-35 by targeting the RPS8 and EED genes in the NCDs model in vitro.

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