Valeriana rigida Ruiz & Pav. Root Extract: A New Source of Caffeoylquinic Acids with Antioxidant and Aldose Reductase Inhibitory Activities

Valeriana rigida Ruiz & Pav. (V. rigida) has long been used as a herbal medicine in Peru; however, its phytochemicals and pharmacology need to be scientifically explored. In this study, we combined the offline 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH)-/ultrafiltration-high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC)/pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography (pH-zone-refining CCC) to screen and separate the antioxidants and aldose reductase (AR) inhibitors from the 70% MeOH extract of V. rigida, which exhibited remarkable antioxidant and AR inhibitory activities. Seven compounds were initially screened as target compounds exhibiting dual antioxidant and AR inhibitory activities using DPPH-/ultrafiltration-HPLC, which guided the subsequent pH-zone-refining CCC and HSCCC separations of these target compounds, namely 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-O-di-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-O-di-caffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-O-di-caffeoylquinic acid, and 3,4,5-O-tri-caffeoylquinic acid. These compounds are identified for the first time in V. rigida and exhibited remarkable antioxidant and AR inhibitory activities. The results demonstrate that the method established in this study can be used to efficiently screen and separate the antioxidants and AR inhibitors from natural products and, particularly, the root extract of V. rigida is a new source of caffeoylquinic acids with antioxidant and AR inhibitory activities, and it can be used as a potential functional food ingredient for diabetes.

Research Status of High-Purity Metals Prepared by Zone Refining

The zone refining method is a physical method for effectively purifying metals. Increasing yield and reducing impurity content have always been the focus of its research. This article systematically summarizes the relevant research on the production of high-purity metals by zone refining, including mechanisms, parameter optimization, zone refining types, analysis methods, limitations, and future development directions, and it provides relevant theoretical foundations for the production of high-purity metals as well.

MATHEMATICAL EQUATION FOR IMPURITY DISTRIBUTION AFTER SECOND PASS OF ZONE REFINING

A mathematical equation has been derived that describes impurity distribution in ingot after second pass of zone refining. While an exponential impurity distribution is calculated by a simplified model after first pass, second pass is described by mixed linear - exponential model. Relationship of transformed impurity concentration is constant over whole length of semi-infinite ingot for first pass. However, it has linear trend for second pass. Last part of molten zone at infinity solidifies differently and can be described mathematically as directional crystallization. A mathematical tool devised for second pass of zone refining can be tried to be used for derivation of functions of more complex models that would describe impurity distribution in more realistic way compared to simplified approach. Such models could include non-constant distribution coefficient and/or shrinking or widening molten zone over a length of ingot.

The Influence of Initial Purity Level on the Refining Efficiency of Aluminum via Zone Refining

Zone refining is a well-known technique, usually using pure initial materials to produce high purity metals. However, the effectiveness of zone refining in the purification of different purity levels of metals as well as its feasibility for use as a recycling technique for low quality metals are rarely investigated. In this work, conducted at IME/RWTH Aachen University, three kinds of Al with different purities, i.e., three-layer electrolysis (4N), commercial pure (2N8) and recycled Al (1N7), were put on focus to address the above-mentioned issue. The experiments were conducted with an optimized zone length combination at the moving rate of 1.2 mm/min for five zone passes. The results showed that the 4N pure initial Al was improved to 5N5 after five passes, much higher than the results for commercial pure- or recycled Al, where less than 50% reduction of total impurities was achieved.