Structure and immunomodulatory activity of Lentinus edodes polysaccharides modified by probiotic fermentation

Plant-based fermentations provide an untapped source for novel biotechnological applications.In this study,a probiotic named Lactobacillus fermentum 21828 was introduced to ferment Lentinus edodes.Polysaccharides were extracted from fermented and non-fermented L.edodes and purified via DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100.The components designated F-LEP-2a and NF-LEP-2a were analyzed by FT-IR,HPGPC,HPAEC,SEM,GC-MS and NMR.The results revealed that probiotic fermentation increased the molecular weight from 1.16×10^(4) Da to 1.87×10^(4) Da and altered the proportions of glucose,galactose and mannose,in which glucose increased from 45.94%to 48.16%.Methylation analysis and NMR spectra indicated that F-LEP-2a and NF-LEP-2a had similar linkage patterns.Furthermore,their immunomodulatory activities were evaluated with immunosuppressive mice.NF-LEP and F-LEP improved immune organ indices,immunoglobulin(Ig G and Ig M)and cytokines concentrations;restored the antioxidation capacity of liver;and maintained the balance of gut microbiota.F-LEP displayed better moderating effects on the spleen index,immunoglobulin,cytokines and the diversity of gut microbiota than NF-LEP(200,400 mg/kg).Our study provides an efficient and environment-friendly way for the structural modification of polysaccharides,which helps to enhance their biological activity and promote their wide application in food,medicine and other fields.

Structural identification and antioxidative activity evaluation of flaxseed lignan macromolecules: structure-activity correlation

Flaxseed lignan macromolecules(FLM)are a class of important secondary metabolites in fl axseed,which have been widely concerned due to their biological and pharmacological properties,especially for their antioxidative activity.For the composition and structure of FLM,our results confirmed that ferulic acid glycoside(FerAG)was directly ester-linked with herbacetin diglucoside(HDG)or pinoresinol diglucoside(PDG),which might determine the beginning of FLM biosynthesis.Additionally,p-coumaric acid glycoside(CouAG)might determine the end of chain extension during FLM synthesis in fl axseed.FLM exhibited higher antioxidative activity in polar systems,as shown by its superior 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)free radical scavenging capacity compared to the 2,2’-azinobis(3-ehtylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfnic acid)(ABTS)cation free radical scavenging capacity in non-polar systems.Moreover,the antioxidative activity of FLM was found to be highly dependent on its composition and structure.In particular,it was positively correlated with the number of phenolic hydroxyl groups(longer FLM chains)and inversely related to the steric hindrance at the ends(lower levels of FerAG and CouAG).These fi ndings verifi ed the potential application of FLM in nonpolar systems,particularly in functional food emulsions。

Discovery and structure-activity relationship studies of novel tetrahydro-β-carboline derivatives as apoptosis initiators for treating bacterial infections

Developing and excavating new agrochemicals with highly active and safe is an important tactic for protecting crop health and food safety.In this paper,to discover the new bactericide candidates,we designed,prepared a new type of1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline(THC)derivatives and evaluated the in vitro and in vivo bioactivities against the Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae(Xoo),Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.citri(Xac),and Pseudomonas syringae pv.actinidiae(Psa).The in vitro bioassay results exhibited that most title molecules possessed good activity toward the three plant pathogenic bacteria,the compound A17 showed the most active against Xoo and Xac with EC50 values of 7.27 and 4.89 mg mL^(-1)respectively,and compound A8 exhibited the best inhibitory activity against Psa with EC50value of 4.87 mg mL^(-1).Pot experiments showed that compound A17 exhibited excellent in vivo antibacterial activities to manage rice bacterial leaf blight and citrus bacterial canker,with protective efficiencies of 52.67 and 79.79%at 200 mgmL^(-1),respectively.Meanwhile,compound A8 showed good control efficiency(84.31%)against kiwifruit bacterial canker at 200 mg mL^(-1).Antibacterial mechanism suggested that these compounds could interfere with the balance of the redox system,damage the cell membrane,and induce the apoptosis of Xoo cells.Taken together,our study revealed that tetrahydro-β-carboline derivatives could be a promising candidate model for novel broadspectrum bactericides.

Review on the Fabrication of Surface Functional Structures for Enhancing Bioactivity of Titanium and Titanium Alloy Implants

Titanium and its alloys have been widely applied in many biomedical fields because of its excellent mechanical properties,corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility.However,problems such as rejection,shedding and infection will occur after titanium alloy implantation due to the low biological activity of titanium alloy surface.The structures with specific functions,which can enhance osseointegration and antibacterial properties,are fabricated on the surface of titanium implants to improve the biological activity between the titanium implants and human tissues.This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent developments and applications of surface functional structure in titanium and titanium alloy implants.The applications of surface functional structure on different titanium and titanium alloy implants are introduced,and their manufacturing technologies are summarized and compared.Furthermore,the fabrication of various surface functional structures used for titanium and titanium alloy implants is reviewed and analyzed in detail.Finally,the challenges affecting the development of surface functional structures applied in titanium and titanium alloy implants are outlined,and recommendations for future research are presented.

Fine-tuning electronic structure of N-doped graphitic carbon-supported Co-and Fe-incorporated Mo_(2)C to achieve ultrahigh electrochemical water oxidation activity

Mo_(2)C is an excellent electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).However,Mo_(2)C is a poor electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Herein,two different elements,namely Co and Fe,are incorporated in Mo_(2)C that,therefore,has a finely tuned electronic structure,which is not achievable by incorporation of any one of the metals.Consequently,the resulting electrocatalyst Co_(0.8)Fe_(0.2)-Mo_(2)C-80 displayed excellent OER catalytic performance,which is evidenced by a low overpotential of 214.0(and 246.5)mV to attain a current density of 10(and 50)mA cm^(-2),an ultralow Tafel slope of 38.4 mV dec^(-1),and longterm stability in alkaline medium.Theoretical data demonstrates that Co_(0.8)Fe_(0.2)-Mo_(2)C-80 requires the lowest overpotential(1.00 V)for OER and Co centers to be the active sites.The ultrahigh catalytic performance of the electrocatalyst is attributed to the excellent intrinsic catalytic activity due to high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area,large electrochemically active surface area,small Tafel slope,and low chargetransfer resistance.

Utilizing a defective MgO layer for engineering multifunctional Co-MOF hybrid materials with tailored leaf-like and polyhedral structures for optimal electrochemical and photocatalytic activities

The hybridization of metal-organic framework(MOF)with inorganic layers would lead to the discovery of novel hybrid materials that can provide a compelling strategy for enhancing its photocatalytic and electrochemical response.In the present study,a highly efficient multifunctional hybrid material was developed by exploiting the defective layer formed on AZ31 Mg alloy through plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO)as a nucleation and growth site for Co-MOF.The concentrations of the organic linker 2-Methylimidazole(2,MIm)and cobalt nitrate as a source of Co^(2+) ions were varied to control the growth of the obtained Co-MOF.Lower concentrations of the 2,MIm ligand favored the formation of leaf-like MOF structures through an anisotropic,two-dimensional growth,while higher concentrations led to rapid,isotropic nucleation and the creation of polyhedral Co-MOF structures.The sample characterized by polyhedral Co-MOF structures exhibited superior electrochemical stability,with the lowest corrosion current density(3.11×10^(-9) A/cm^(2))and the highest top layer resistance(2.34×10^(6)Ωcm^(2)),and demonstrated outstanding photocatalytic efficiency,achieving a remarkable 99.98%degradation of methylene blue,an organic pollutant,in model wastewater.To assess the active adsorption sites of the Co-MOF,density functional theory(DFT)was utilized.This study explores the changes in morphologies of the coatings of Co-MOF with the change of solution concentration to form coatings with enhanced properties on the metallic substrate,which could establish the groundwork for the development of next-generation multifunctional frameworks with diverse applications.

Thermal pretreatment of willow branches impacts yield and pore development of activated carbon in subsequent activation with ZnCl_(2) via modifying cellulose structure

Development of pore structures of activated carbon(AC)from activation of biomass with ZnCl_(2) relies on content and structure of cellulose/hemicellulose in the feedstock.Thermal pretreatment of biomass could induce dehydration and/or aromatization to change the structure of cellulose/hemicellulose.This might interfere with evolution of structures of AC,which was investigated herein via thermal pretreatment of willow branch(WB)from 200 to 360℃and the subsequent activation with ZnCl_(2) at 550℃.The results showed that thermal pretreatment at 360℃(WB-360)could lead to substantial pyrolysis to form biochar,with a yield of 31.9%,accompanying with nearly complete destruction of cellulose crystals and remarkably enhanced aromatic degree.However,cellulose residual in WB-360 could still be activated to form AC-360 with specific surface area of 1837.9 m~2·g^(-1),which was lower than that in AC from activation of untreated WB(AC-blank,2077.8 m~2·g^(-1)).Nonetheless,the AC-200 from activation of WB-200 had more developed pores(2113.9 m~2·g^(-1))and superior capability for adsorption of phenol,due to increased permeability of ZnCl_(2) to the largely intact cellulose structure in WB-200.The thermal pretreatment did increase diameters of micropores of AC but reduced the overall yield of AC(26.8%for AC-blank versus 18.0%for AC-360),resulting from accelerated cracking but reduced intensity of condensation.In-situ infrared characterization of the activation showed that ZnCl_(2) mainly catalyzed dehydration,dehydrogenation,condensation,and aromatization but not cracking,suppressing the formation of derivatives of cellulose and lignin in bio-oil.The thermal pretreatment formed phenolic-OH and C=O with higher chemical innerness,which changed the reaction network in activation,shifting morphology of fibrous structures in AC-blank to“melting surface”in AC-200 or AC-280.

Conversion of Lignin into Porous Carbons for High-Performance Supercapacitors via Spray Drying and KOH Activation: Structure-Properties Relationship and Reaction Mechanism

Lignin-derived porous carbons have emerged as promising electrode materials for supercapacitors.However,the challenge remains in designing and controlling their structure to achieve ideal electrochemical performance due to the complex molecular structure of lignin and its intricate chemical reactions during the activation process.In this study,three porous carbons were synthesized from lignin by spray drying and chemical activation with vary-ing KOH ratios.The specific surface area and structural order of the prepared porous carbon continued to increase with the increase of the KOH ratio.Thermogravimetric-mass spectrometry(TG-MS)was employed to track the molecular fragments generated during the pyrolysis of KOH-activated lignin,and the mechanism of the thermochemical conversion was investigated.During the thermochemical conversion of lignin,KOH facili-tated the removal of H2 and CO,leading to the formation of not only more micropores and mesopores,but also more ordered carbon structures.The pore structure exhibited a greater impact than the carbon structure on the electrochemical performance of porous carbon.The optimized porous carbon exhibited a capacitance of 256 F g-1 at a current density of 0.2 A g-1,making it an ideal electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors.

Critical Solvation Structures Arrested Active Molecules for Reversible Zn Electrochemistry

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries(AZIBs)have attracted increasing attention in next-generation energy storage systems due to their high safety and economic.Unfortunately,the side reactions,dendrites and hydrogen evolution effects at the zinc anode interface in aqueous electrolytes seriously hinder the application of aqueous zinc-ion batteries.Here,we report a critical solvation strategy to achieve reversible zinc electrochemistry by introducing a small polar molecule acetonitrile to form a“catcher”to arrest active molecules(bound water molecules).The stable solvation structure of[Zn(H_(2)O)_(6)]^(2+)is capable of maintaining and completely inhibiting free water molecules.When[Zn(H_(2)O)_(6)]^(2+)is partially desolvated in the Helmholtz outer layer,the separated active molecules will be arrested by the“catcher”formed by the strong hydrogen bond N-H bond,ensuring the stable desolvation of Zn^(2+).The Zn||Zn symmetric battery can stably cycle for 2250 h at 1 mAh cm^(-2),Zn||V_(6)O_(13) full battery achieved a capacity retention rate of 99.2%after 10,000 cycles at 10 A g^(-1).This paper proposes a novel critical solvation strategy that paves the route for the construction of high-performance AZIBs.

Experimental investigation of closed-loop active control to modulate coherent structures by mu-level method

The experimental research on zero-net-mass-flux jet closed-loop active control was conducted in the wind tunnel.The mu-level method successfully detected burst events of the coherent structures. The streamwise velocity signals in the turbulent boundary layer were measured by HWA. The drag reduction rate of 16.7% is obtained comparable to that of the open-loop control and saves 75% of the input energy at the asynchronous 100 V/160 Hz control case, which reflects the advantages of the closed-loop control. The experimental findings indicate that the intensity increases in the near-wall region.The perturbation of the PZT vibrators on the skewness factor is concentrated in the region y+< 60. The generation of highspeed fluids is depressed and the downward effect of high-speed fluids weakens. The alteration of energy distribution and the discernible impact of modulation between structures of varying scales are observed. The correlation coefficient exhibits a strong positive correlation, which indicates that the large-scale structures produce modulation effect on small-scale ones.The occurrence of burst events is effectively suppressed. The disturbance has the characteristics of stable periodicity,positive and negative symmetry, low intermittency, and high pulsation strength. The conditional phase waveform shows that the fluctuation amplitude increases, indicating amplitude modulation effects on coherent structures.

Predictive active control of building structures using LQR and artificial intelligence

This study presents a neural network-based model for predicting linear quadratic regulator(LQR)weighting matrices for achieving a target response reduction.Based on the expected weighting matrices,the LQR algorithm is used to determine the various responses of the structure.The responses are determined by numerically analyzing the governing equation of motion using the state-space approach.For training a neural network,four input parameters are considered:the time history of the ground motion,the percentage reduction in lateral displacement,lateral velocity,and lateral acceleration,Output parameters are LQR weighting matrices.To study the effectiveness of an LQR-based neural network(LQRNN),the actual percentage reduction in the responses obtained from using LQRNN is compared with the target percentage reductions.Furthermore,to investigate the efficacy of an active control system using LQRNN,the controlled responses of a system are compared to the corresponding uncontrolled responses.The trained neural network effectively predicts weighting parameters that can provide a percentage reduction in displacement,velocity,and acceleration close to the target percentage reduction.Based on the simulation study,it can be concluded that significant response reductions are observed in the active-controlled system using LQRNN.Moreover,the LQRNN algorithm can replace conventional LQR control with the use of an active control system.

Synthesis,crystal structures,and antibacterial activities of two zinc(Ⅱ) complexes bearing 5⁃phenyl⁃1H⁃pyrazole group

A novel compound(H_(2)L)SCN(5⁃methyl⁃3⁃phenyl⁃2H⁃pyrazol⁃1⁃ium thiocyanate)has been obtained by the reaction of thiosemicarbazide with benzoylacetone in ethanol.Two zinccomplexes[Zn(HL)_(2)(NCS)(CH_(3)COO)](1)and[Zn_(2)(L)_(2)(HL)_(2)(NCS)_(2)]_(2)·2CH_(3)OH(2)have been synthesized by the coordination reactions of Zn(OAc)_(2)·2H_(2)O or ZnCl_(2)with(H_(2)L)SCN under reflux conditions.Elemental analyses and single⁃crystal X⁃ray diffraction have con⁃firmed the structures of the synthesized compounds.The(H_(2)L)SCN ligand and complex 1 pertain to the triclinic sys⁃tem with space group P1,while complex 2 belongs to the monoclinic system with space group P2_(1)/n.Additionally,the antibacterial activities of the compounds were evaluated in vitro using the agar diffusion method against the bac⁃terial strains(Candida albicans,Staphylococcus aureus,and Escherichia coli).The results showed that the ligand exhibited relatively good antibacterial activities against the bacteria,and the complexes possessed stronger antibac⁃terial activities against the same bacteria than the free ligand.CCDC:2190252,(H2L)SCN;2190253,1;2190256,2.

Structure elucidation,immunomodulatory activity,antitumor activity and its molecular mechanism of a novel polysaccharide from Boletus reticulatus Schaeff

A new water-soluble heteropolysaccharide with a molecular weight of 15 k Da was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Boletus reticulatus Schaeff.Structural characterization results revealed that B.reticulatus Schaeff polysaccharide(BRS-X)had a backbone of 1,6-linkedα-D-galactose and 1,2,6-linkedα-D-galactose which branches were mainly composed of a terminal 4-linkedβ-D-glucose and the ratio of D-galactose and D-glucose was 5:1.Bioactivity assays indicated that BRS-X displayed a strong proliferative activity in T cells and B cells and promoted the secretion of immunoglobulin G(Ig G),Ig E,Ig D and Ig M.In addition,BRS-X could facilitate the proliferation and phagocytosis of RAW264.7 cells and could significantly inhibit the growth of tumors in S180-bearing mice.The results of transcriptome sequencing analysis illustrated that total 46 genes enriched in MAPK and total 34 genes enriched in PI3 K/Akt signaling pathways in BRS-X group.The protein VEGF and VEGFR expression were significantly reduced under the treatment with BRS-X.These findings provide a scientific basis for the edible and medicinal value of BRS-X.

Multimodal abnormalities of brain structures in adolescents and young adults with major depressive disorder:An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder(MDD)in adolescents and young adults contributes significantly to global morbidity,with inconsistent findings on brain structural changes from structural magnetic resonance imaging studies.Activation likeli-hood estimation(ALE)offers a method to synthesize these diverse findings and identify consistent brain anomalies.METHODS We performed a comprehensive literature search in PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for neuroi-maging studies on MDD among adolescents and young adults published up to November 19,2023.Two independent researchers performed the study selection,quality assessment,and data extraction.The ALE technique was employed to synthesize findings on localized brain function anomalies in MDD patients,which was supplemented by sensitivity analyses.RESULTS Twenty-two studies comprising fourteen diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)studies and eight voxel-based morphome-try(VBM)studies,and involving 451 MDD patients and 465 healthy controls(HCs)for DTI and 664 MDD patients and 946 HCs for VBM,were included.DTI-based ALE demonstrated significant reductions in fractional anisotropy(FA)values in the right caudate head,right insula,and right lentiform nucleus putamen in adolescents and young adults with MDD compared to HCs,with no regions exhibiting increased FA values.VBM-based ALE did not demonstrate significant alterations in gray matter volume.Sensitivity analyses highlighted consistent findings in the right caudate head(11 of 14 analyses),right insula(10 of 14 analyses),and right lentiform nucleus putamen(11 of 14 analyses).CONCLUSION Structural alterations in the right caudate head,right insula,and right lentiform nucleus putamen in young MDD patients may contribute to its recurrent nature,offering insights for targeted therapies.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Fucoxanthin from Marine Macroalga Padina australis:Optimization,Bioactivity,and Structural Characterization

Macroalgae serve as a potential feedstock for fucoxanthin extraction.Fucoxanthin,a bioactive pigment found in the chloroplasts of marine algae,exhibits significant pharmacological properties.As a member of the carotenoid family,fucoxanthin plays a crucial role in both the food and pharmaceutical industries.This research explores the effects of ultrasonics on the extraction of fucoxanthin from the marine macroalga Padina australis.In addition,various extraction techniques and the influence of solvents on the efficient separation of fucoxanthin from algae have been studied and compared.Using methanol,chloroform,and a combination of methanol and chloroform(1:1,v/v),conventional fucoxanthin extraction from Padina australis yielded 8.12 mg of fucoxanthin per gram of biomass.However,the ultrasonic-assisted extraction resulted in a significantly higher yield of 16.9 mg of fucoxanthin per gram of biomass,demonstrating that the use of ultrasonics enhances the extraction rate compared to conventional methods.Therefore,the efficient separation of fucoxanthin from Padina australis is highly dependent on ultrasonic-assisted extraction.The process conditions for the extraction were optimized to maximize the yield of fucoxanthin from seaweeds.The following parameters were selected for optimization studies:moisture content,particle size,mixing speed,extraction temperature,extraction duration,and solid-to-solvent ratio.The extracted fucoxanthin exhibited various biological activities,including antimicrobial and antioxidant properties,and its structure was elucidated through FTIR and NMR spectroscopy.Additionally,thin-layer chromatography of the crude algae extracts confirmed the presence of fucoxanthin in the marine algae.Given these findings,the optimized extraction process holds the potential for scaling up to large-scale fucoxanthin production.Fucoxanthin,as a potent pharmacological agent,offers promising applications in the treatment of various ailments.

Effects of Bamboo Charcoal-based Biochar on Soil Enzyme Activity and Microbial Community Structure

[Objectives]This study was conducted to reveal the effects of bamboo charcoal-based biochar(or bamboo charcoal for short)on soil enzyme activity and microbial community structure.[Methods]The field experiment was carried out at the Modern Agriculture Demonstration Base of Gaoping Village,Gaoping Town,Suichang County,Zhejiang Province.Bamboo charcoal was applied at four different levels:T_(0)(no bamboo charcoal),T_(1)(1125 kg/hm^(2)bamboo charcoal),T_(2)(2250 kg/hm^(2)bamboo charcoal)and T_(3)(3375 kg/hm^(2)bamboo charcoal).Soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities in different treatments were measured.[Results]The soil fungal,bacterial and actinomycete populations increased significantly in the soils surrounding capsicum roots.The bacterial population,fungal population and fungus/bacterium ratio peaked in Treatment T_(2),up to 7.32×10^(6)cfu/g,2.65×10^(4)cfu/g and 0.36×10^(-2),respectively.The effect of bamboo charcoal in promotingβ-glucoside,catalase,acid phosphatase and sucrase activities was T_(2)>T_(3)>T_(1)>T_(0).With bamboo charcoal increasing,the bacterium population,fungus population,fungus/bacterium ratio,β-glucoside,catalase,acid phosphatase and sucrase activities all increased at first and then decreased.T_(2)treatment showed the best effects in improving soil physicochemical properties and microbial community structure.[Conclusions]Bamboo charcoal significantly improves soil enzyme activity and increases soil microbial population,and thus has important positive effects on the soil ecosystem.

Research Progress on Structure and Bioactivity of Longan Polysaccharide

Longan originates from southern China and has high nutritional and health value.Recent phytochemistry and pharmacology studies have shown that polysaccharides are a main bioactive component of longan.Longan polysaccharides possess antioxidant,anti-aging,anti-tumor,immunomodulatory,and other bioactivities.Hot-water extraction,ethanol precipitation,and ultrasonic extraction are generally used to extract water-soluble longan polysaccharides.However,the relationship between the structure and bioactivity of longan polysaccharides remains unclear,requiring further investigation.The aim of this review is to evaluate the current literature focusing on the extraction,purification,structural characterization,and biological activity of longan polysaccharides.We believe that this review would provide a useful bibliography for further innovation and a basis for using longan polysaccharides in functional food.

Influence of substituting B_(2)O_(3) with Li_(2)O on the viscosity,structure and crystalline phase of low-reactivity mold flux

The low-reactivity mold flux with low SiO_(2)content is considered suitable for the continuous casting of high-aluminum steel since it can significantly reduce the reaction between Al in steel and SiO_(2)in mold flux.However,the traditional low-reactivity mold flux still presents some problems such as high viscosity and strong crystallization tendency.In this study,the co-addition of Li_(2)O and B_(2)O_(3)in CaO–Al_(2)O_(3)–10wt%Si O_(2)based low-reactivity mold flux was proposed to improve properties of mold flux for high-aluminum steel,and the effect of Li_(2)O replacing B_(2)O_(3)on properties of mold flux was investigated.The viscosity of the mold flux with 2wt%Li_(2)O and 6wt%B_(2)O_(3)reached a minimum value of 0.07 Pa·s.The break temperature and melting point showed a similar trend with the viscosity.Besides,the melt structure and precipitation of the crystalline phase were studied using Raman and X-ray diffraction spectra to better understand the evolution of viscosity.It demonstrated that with increasing Li_(2)O content in the mold flux from 0 to 6 wt%,the degree of polymerization of aluminate and the aluminosilicate network structure increased because of increasing Li+released by Li_(2)O,indicating the added Li_(2)O was preferentially associated with Al^(3+)as a charge compensator.The precipitation of LiAlO_(2)crystalline phase gradually increased with the replacement of B_(2)O_(3)by Li_(2)O.Therefore,Li_(2)O content should be controlled below 2wt%to avoid LiAlO_(2)precipitation,which was harmful to the continuous casting of highaluminum steels.

Advances in Research of Biological Activity,Action Mechanism and Structure-Activity Relationship of Lentinan

Lentinula edodes is the second largest edible mushroom in the world and is widely used as food and medicine.Modern research shows that lentinan(LNT)is the main active component of L.edodes.It has anti-cancer,treatment of diabetes,intestinal protection,anti-inflammatory,anti-oxidation,anti-aging,hepatoprotective,immune-regulating effects.In this review,the biological activity,action mechanism and structure-activity relationship of LNT in recent years are reviewed.On this basis,the existing problems were discussed,and the future research and application of LNT were prospected.Finally,it is hoped that this review will promote the in-depth study of LNT and provide a reference for its development as a drug and functional food.

Computational investigation on the molecular structure and chemical reactivity of a traditional Chinese medicine extract MK-1 molecule

MK-1 molecule(C_(16)H_(16)O_(2)),the simplest structure of vitamin K(VK)compound family,is an extract from traditional Chinese medicine Cymbopogon distans(Nees ex Steud.)Wats(Chinese name YunXiangCao),which has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years due to its antiasthmatic,antitussives and expectorant effects.To investigate the molecular structure and chemical reactivity of MK-1 molecule,computational investigations on six conformational minima structures were carried out at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p)level of theory.Several local reactivity descriptors including condensed Fukui function,average local ionization energy,and molecular electrostatic potential on each individual atom were determined to predict the intrinsic reactivity of MK-1 molecule.