Thermodynamic simulation of stepwise precipitation of NH_4VO_(3)and NaHCO_(3)from carbonating Na_(3)VO_(4)solution

Thermodynamic simulation was conducted to design a new process of stepwise precipitating NH_4VO_(3)and NaHCO_(3)from regulating the CO_(2)carbonation of Na_(3)VO_(4)solution.Firstly,a new V(V)speciation model for the aqueous solution containing vanadate and carbonate is established by using the Bromley-Zemaitis activity coefficient model.Subsequently,thermodynamic equilibrium calculations are conducted to clarify the behavior of vanadium,carbon,sodium,and impurity species in atmospheric or high-pressure carbonation.To ensure the purity and recovery of vanadium products,Na_(3)VO_(4)solution is initially carbonated to the pH of 9.3-9.4,followed by precipitating NH_4VO_(3)by adding(NH_4)_(2)CO_(3).After vanadium precipitation,the solution is deeply carbonated to the final pH of 7.3-7.5 to precipitate NaHCO_(3),and the remaining solution is recycled to dissolve Na_(3)VO_(4)crystals.Finally,verification experiments demonstrate that 99.1%of vanadium and 91.4%of sodium in the solution are recovered in the form of NH_4VO_(3)and NaHCO_(3),respectively.

Verbascoside exerts an anti-atherosclerotic effect by regulating liver glycerophospholipid metabolism

Verbascoside,abundant in olive mill wastewater,is a phenylethanolic glycoside with a wide range of pharmacological activities.Atherosclerosis(AS)is a common metabolic disease and abnormal lipid metabolism in liver is inseparable from its formation and development.In this study,the anti-atherosclerotic effect of verbascoside was evaluated by establishing an atherosclerosis model based on western diet feeding of apolipoprotein E-defi cient mice for 16 weeks.After 12 weeks of administration during the feeding period,the levels of total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)in the plasma of mice were signifi cantly decreased,the formation of arterial plaques was delayed,and the levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST)and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)in plasma were alleviated,showing the hepatoprotective effect.In addition,based on untargeted lipidomic analysis,verbascoside stabilized glycerophospholipid metabolism,modulated lipid metabolism disorders and reduced lipid deposition in the liver to achieve the therapeutic effi cacy against atherosclerosis by regulating cardiolipin(CL),ether-linked phosphatidylcholine(ether-PC),lysophophatidylcholine(LPC),phosphatidylcholine(PC),oxidized phosphatidylcholine(OxPC),oxidized phosphatidylethanolamine(OxPE),triacylglycerol(TG),sphingomyelin(SM)back to normal levels.

The exciting and magical journey of components from compound formulae to where they fight

With its long-term empirical clinical practice and increasing number of health benefits reported,Chinese Materia Medica(CMM)is gaining increasing global acceptance.Importantly,the identification of chemical constituents in vitro and exposed forms in vivo is a prerequisite for understanding how CMM formulae prevent and treat diseases.This review systematically summarizes the exciting and magical journey of CMM components from compound formulae to where they fight,the possible structural transformation of CMM components in vitro and in vivo,and their pharmacological contribution.When a decoction is prepared,significant chemical reactions are observed,including degradation and production of polymers and self-assembling supramolecules,leading to the construction of a component library with diverse decoction structures.After ingestion,compounds pass through the intestinal and blood-brain barriers and undergo a more wonderful journey involving the gut microbiota,microbial enzymes,and endogenous drug-metabolizing enzymes(mainly liver enzymes).At this stage,they are modified and assembled into novel and complex compounds,such as newly generated metabolites,conjugates,and self-assembling superamolecules.This review might provide a strategic orientation to explore the active compounds of CMM formulae in vivo.

Tea as a natural gift for discovering antiviral candidates

Coronavirus disease(COVID-19)remains rampant worldwide and poses a serious threat to human health.Tea is a medicinal and edible homologous plant that exhibits potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 properties via the prevention of virus entry into host cells,inhibition of virus replication,and enhancement of the innate and cellular immune responses.In this review,the properties of six major types of tea were systematically summarized,including green tea,yellow tea,white tea,oolong tea,black tea,and dark tea.We focused on the primary components of tea exhibiting antiviral activities,which included(–)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate,(–)-gallocatechin gallate,tannic acid,oolonghomobisflavan A,theaflavins,and white-tip silver needle flavonoids.Among them,(–)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate is proposed to be an antiviral compound that interferes with the entire life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 by balancing inflammation and immunity.Thus,this compound can serve as a promising lead structure for the development of SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors.

糖尿病预防研究的创举:大庆糖尿病预防研究36年回顾

糖尿病前期是血糖介于正常范围和糖尿病诊断标准之间的一类高血糖状态,该人群每年有5%~10%的风险会进展为糖尿病,终身患糖尿病的风险达70%.糖尿病是全球五大慢性病之一,每年造成近万亿美元的卫生支出.我国糖尿病患者数量和因糖尿病死亡数量均位居全球首位,且未来30年数量仍将增长,预防糖尿病刻不容缓.大庆糖尿病预防研究是世界上开始时间最早、干预时间和随访时间最长的通过改变生活方式预防糖尿病的随机对照研究,与美国糖尿病预防项目、芬兰糖尿病预防研究共同被誉为糖尿病一级预防领域的里程碑式研究,自1986年至今已有36年历史,首次提供通过改变生活方式可以预防糖尿病的强有力证据,并进一步证明生活方式干预在干预结束后能持续降低30年糖尿病发病风险和相关并发症(如视网膜病变、心血管疾病)及其死亡的发生风险,甚至延长1.44年的寿命,为糖尿病防控工作提供了科学证据.随着人口老龄化进程加快和人均预期寿命提高,糖尿病相关疾病负担日渐加重,学习和借鉴大庆糖尿病预防研究为应对当前糖尿病挑战具有重要意义.为此,本文对大庆糖尿病预防研究的时代背景、研究设计、主要成果和贡献做系统介绍与回顾,并对未来的糖尿病预防研究方向进行思考与展望.

Identification of prototype compounds and their metabolites in rats’ serum from Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS

Objective: As a classic prescription in traditional Chinese medicine, Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction(XFZYD) has been widely used in the clinical treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In order to unveil the potentially effective compounds, a rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) method was established to identify prototype compounds and their metabolites from XFZYD in rats’ serum.Methods: The serum from rats after intragastric administration of XFZYD aqueous extract was analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS method. The prototype compounds and their metabolites were identified by comparison with the reference standards and tentatively characterized by comprehensively analyzing the retention time, MS data, characteristic MS fragmentation pattern and retrieving literatures.Results: A total of 175 compounds(24 prototype compounds and 151 metabolites) were identified and tentatively characterized. The metabolic pathways of prototype compounds in vivo were also summarized, including glucuronidation, hydrolyzation, sulfation, demethylation, and hydroxylation, and so on.Conclusion: In this study, a UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technique was developed to analyze prototype compounds and their metabolites from XFZYD in serum, which would provide the evidence for further studying the effective compounds of XFZYD.

中国六省份居民对营养成分表认知情况与预包装食品购买行为的关联研究

目的分析中国六省份居民营养成分表认知情况与预包装食品购买行为之间的关联。方法采用多阶段抽样方法,于2020年7月至2021年3月在我国西部地区(四川)、东部地区(广东、江苏、北京)、中部地区(河南)、东北地区(黑龙江)抽取3002名18~70岁成年人为研究对象。通过问卷调查,收集研究对象的人口学特征、营养成分表认知情况、不同类型预包装食品购买频率等信息;采用多因素二分类logistic回归模型分析营养成分表认知情况与预包装食品购买行为的关联。结果3002名研究对象年龄为(42.3±13.4)岁,其中女性占63.8%(1914名);知道、会阅读、能理解营养成分表的比例依次为66.7%、49.8%、30.7%;每周购买≥1次预包装食品占56.6%(1699名)。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,调整相关混杂因素后,与知道但不会阅读营养成分表者相比,知道且会阅读者每周购买≥1次11类预包装食品的可能性较高(均P<0.05)。与阅读但不能理解营养成分表者相比,阅读且能理解者每周购买≥1次11类预包装食品的可能性较低(均P<0.05)。结论居民对营养成分表认知情况与预包装食品购买行为存在关联。

Identification of Q-Markers from Hedan Tablet by employing “spiderweb”mode and taking compounds'hepatotoxicity into account

Objective Due to the complicated compounds and the synergistic effect of multi-compounds,the quality control and assessment of Chinese materia medica(CMM)encounters a great challenge about how to identify the key compounds,which are directly correlated with its efficacy and safety.On the guidance of study on quality marker(Q-Marker),identification of Q-Markers was performed from Hedan Tablet(HDT)by the aid of the“spider-web”mode and hepatotoxicity evaluation derived from our previous researches and literatures.Methods By the established ultra performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector(UPLC-PDA)method,online UPLC-DPPH·and offline antioxidant assay,21 candidate compounds of HDT were systematically investigated and comprehensively evaluated by the“spider-web”mode for them properties of Q-Marker based on“content-stability-activity”.In addition,the Q-Markers related with hepatotoxicity based on our previous researches and literatures were identified.Results Salvianolic acid B(SaB),quercetin-3-O-glucuronide(Qug),isoquercitrin(IQ)and hyperoside(Hyp)were adopted as the preferable Q-Markers of HDT according to the shaded area(A)of tested compounds in“spider-web”mode.Psoralen(Ps),isopsoralen(IP),psoralenoside(PO)and isopsoralenoside(IPO)were also strongly recommended as Q-Markers closely related with safety by considering hepatotoxicity of the accumulated Ps and IP and conversion between glycoside(PO and IPO)and aglycone(Ps and IP).Conclusion This study provided scientific evidence for quality control and assessment of HDT,and also provided a meaningful reference for application of Q-Markers in CMM.

Simultaneous Determination of Eight Constituents in Fruits of Rubus chingii by UPLC

Objective To develop a simple, efficient, and reliable method for routine quantitative analysis of main constituents presented in the fruits of Rubus chingii, which is widely used in Chinese materia medica （CMM）, known as Fupenzi （FPZ） in Chinese. Methods An ultra performance liquid chromatography-photo diode array （UPLC-PDA） system was employed for simultaneous quantification of eight compounds, i. e. adenosine, gallic acid, brevifolin carboxylic acid, ethyl gallate, ellagic acid, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-^-D-glucopyranoside, and tiliroside. The chromatographic analysis was performed on a C18 column using a gradient elution of acetonitrile -0.1% formic acid aqueous solution within a runtime of 25 min. Results All calibration curves were linear （R2〉 0.9997） over the tested ranges. The intra- and inter-day precisions as determined from sample solutions were both less than 2.45% and 2.78%, respectively. The average recoveries for the eight constituents ranged from 94.77% to 101.35% with RSD ≤ 4.41%. The newly-developed method was applied to the quality assessment of various R. chingii samples, including both ripe and unripe fruits of R. ching/i from different habitats. Conclusion The relative levels of the investigated compounds vary remarkably in the fruits of R. chingiicollected from different habitats. As only two of the eight compounds, adenosine and ellagic acid, are determined in the ripe fruits of R. chingii, the results may explain the reason why only the unripe fruits can be used in CMM.