Functional characterization of caffeic acid O-methyltransferase in internode lignification of switchgrass(Panicum virgatum)

Caffeic acid O-methyltransferase(COMT) is a crucial enzyme that mainly methylates phenylpropanoid meta-hydroxyl of C5 in the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin in angiosperms. A putative COMT, named as PvCOMT1,was isolated from switchgrass(Panicum virgatum), a C4 warm-season dual-purpose forage and bioenergy crop. Our results showed that recombinant PvCOMT1 enzyme protein catalyzed the methylation of 5-OH coniferyl alcohol, 5-OH coniferaldehyde(CAld5H) and 5-OH ferulic acid. Further in vitro studies indicate that CAld5H can dominate COMT-mediated reactions by inhibiting the methylation of the other substrates. Transgenic switchgrass plants generated by an RNAi approach were further employed to study the function of COMT in internode lignification. A dramatic decrease in syringyl lignin units coupled with an obvious incorporation in 5-OH guaiacyl lignin units were observed in the COMT-RNAi transgenic plants. However, the constitutive suppression of COMT in switchgrass plants altered neither the pattern of lignin deposition along the stem nor the anatomical structure of internodes. Consistent with the biochemical characterization of PvCOMT1, a significant decrease in sinapaldehyde was found in the COMT-RNAi transgenic switchgrass plants, suggesting that CAld5H could be the optimal intermediate in the biosynthesis syringyl lignin.

Caffeic acid hinders the proliferation and migration through inhibition of IL-6 mediated JAK-STAT-3 signaling axis in human prostate cancer

Background:Caffeic acid(CA)is considered a promising phytochemical that has inhibited numerous cancer cell proliferation.Therefore,it is gaining increasing attention due to its safe and pharmacological applications.In this study,we investigated the role of CA in inhibiting the Interleukin-6(IL-6)/Janus kinase(JAK)/Signal transducer and activator of transcription-3(STAT-3)mediated suppression of the proliferation signaling in human prostate cancer cells.Materials and Methods:The role of CA in proliferation and colony formation abilities was studied using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay and colony formation assays.Tumour cell death and cell cycle arrest were identified usingflow cytometry techniques.CA treatment-associated protein expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)families,IL-6/JAK/STAT-3,proliferation,and apoptosis protein expressions in PC-3 and LNCaP cell lines were measured using Western blot investigation.Results:We have obtained that treatment with CA inhibits prostate cancer cells(PC-3 and LNCaP)proliferation and induces reactive oxygen species(ROS),cell cycle arrest,and apoptosis cell death in a concentration-dependent manner.Moreover,CA treatment alleviates the expression phosphorylated form of MAPK families,i.e.,extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1(ERK1),c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK),and p38 in PC-3 cells.IL-6 mediated JAK/STAT3 expressions regulate the proliferation and antiapoptosis that leads to prostate cancer metastasis and migration.Therefore,to mitigate the expression of IL-6/JAK/STAT-3 is considered an important target for the treatment of prostate cancer.In this study,we have observed that CA inhibits the expression of IL-6,JAK1,and phosphorylated STAT-3 in both PC-3 and LNCaP cells.Due to the inhibitory effect of IL-6/JAK/STAT-3,it resulted in decreased expression of cyclin-D1,cyclin-D2,and CDK1 in both PC-3 cells.In addition,CA induces apoptosis by enhancing the expression of Bax and caspase-3;and decreased expression of Bcl-2 in prostate cancer cells.Conclusions:Thus,CA might act as a therapeutical application against prostate cancer by targeting the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling axis.

Modulatory effect of caffeic acid in alleviating diabetes and associated complications

Diabetes mellitus(DM)is one of the most common metabolic disorders characterized by elevated blood glucose levels.Prolonged uncontrolled hyperglycemia often leads to multi-organ damage including diabetic neuropathy,nephropathy,retinopathy,cardiovascular disorders,and diabetic foot ulcers.Excess production of free radicals causing oxidative stress in tissues is often considered to be the primary cause of onset and progression of DM and associated complications.Natural polyphenols can be used to induce or inhibit the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase,heme oxygenase-1,superoxide dismutase,and catalase that are essential in maintaining redox balance,and ameliorate oxidative stress.Caffeic acid(CA)is a polyphenolderived from hydroxycinnamic acid and possesses numerous physiological properties including antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,anti-atherosclerotic,immune-stimulatory,cardioprotective,antiproliferative,and hepatoprotective activities.CA acts as a regulatory compound affecting numerous biochemical pathways and multiple targets.These include various transcription factors such as nuclear factor-B,tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-6,cyclooxygenase-2,and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2.Therefore,this review summarizes the pharmacological properties,molecular mechanisms,and pharmacokinetic profile of CA in mitigating the adverse effects of DM and associated complications.The bioavailability,drug delivery,and clinical trials of CA have also been discussed.

On-the-Fly Nonadiabatic Dynamics of Caffeic Acid Sunscreen Compound

As a widely-used sunscreen com-pound,the caffeic acid(CA)shows the strong UV absorption,while the photoinduced reaction mecha-nisms behind its photoprotection ability are not fully understood.We try to investigate the photoin-duced internal conversion dynam-ics of CA in order to explore the photoprotection mechanism.The most stable CA isomer is selected to examine its nonadiabatic dy-namics using the on-the-fly surface hopping simulations at the semi-empirical level of electronic-struc-ture theory.The dynamics starting from different electronic states are simulated to explore the dependence of the photoinduced reaction channels on the excitation wavelengths.Several S1/S0 conical intersections,driven by the H-atom detachments and the ring deformations,have been found to be responsible for the nonadiabatic decay of the CA.The simulation re-sults show that the branching ratios towards these intersections are modified by the light with different excitation energies.This provides the valuable information for the understanding of the photoprotection mechanism of the CA compound.

Engineering the Biosynthesis of Caffeic Acid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with Heterologous Enzyme Combinations

Engineering the biosynthesis of plant-derived natural products in microbes presents several challenges, especially when the expression and activation of the plant cytochrome P450 enzyme is required. By recruiting two enzymes—HpaB and HpaC—from several bacteria, we constructed functional 4- hydroxyphenylacetate 3-hydroxylase (4HPA3H) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to take on a role similar to that of the plant-derived cytochrome P450 enzyme and produce caffeic acid. Along with a common tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL), the different combinations of HpaB and HpaC presented varied capabilities in producing the target product, caffeic acid, from the substrate, L-tyrosine. The highest production of caffeic acid was obtained with the enzyme combination of HpaB from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and HpaC from Salmonella enterica, which yielded up to (289.4 ± 4.6) mg-L1 in shake-flask cultivation. The compatibility of heterologous enzymes within a yeast chassis was effectively improved, as the caffeic acid production was increased by 40 times from the initial yield. Six key amino acid residues around the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) binding domain in HpaB from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were differentiate from those other HpaBs, and might play critical roles in affecting enzyme activity. We have thus established an effective approach to construct a highly efficient yeast system to synthesize non-native hydroxylated phenylpropanoids.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibits liver fibrosis in rats

AIM: To investigate the hepatoprotective effects and antioxidant activity of caffeic acid phenethyl ester(CAPE) in rats with liver fibrosis. METHODS: A total of 75 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to seven experimental groups: a normal group(n = 10), a vehicle group(n = 10), a model group(n = 15), a vitamin E group(n = 10), and three CAPE groups(CAPE 3, 6 and 12 mg/kg, n = 10, respectively). Liver fibrosis was induced in rats by injecting CCl4 subcutaneously, feeding with high fat forage, and administering 30% alcohol orally for 10 wk. Concurrently, CAPE(3, 6 and 12 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered daily for 10 wk. After that, serum total bilirubin(TBil), aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) levels were measured to assess hepatotoxicity. To investigate antioxidant activity of CAPE, malondialdehyde(MDA), glutathione(GSH) levels, catalase(CAT) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities in liver tissue were determined. Moreover, the effect of CAPE on α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), a characteristic hallmark of activated hepatic stellate cells(HSCs), and NF-E2-related factor 2(Nrf2), a key transcription factor for antioxidant systems, was investigated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared to the model group, intraperitoneal administration of CAPE decreased TBil, ALT, and AST levels in liver fibrosis rats(P < 0.05), while serum TBil was decreased by CAPE in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the liver hydroxyproline contents in both the 6 and 12 mg/kg CAPE groups were markedly lower than that in the model group(P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). CAPE markedly decreased MDA levels and, in turn, increased GSH levels, as well as CAT and SOD activities in liver fibrosis rats compared to the model group(P < 0.05). Moreover, CAPE effectively inhibited α-SMA expression while increasing Nrf2 expression compared to the model group(P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The protective effects of CAPE against liver fibrosis may be due to its ability to suppress the activation of HSCs by inhibiting oxidative stress.

Identification of differential proteins in colorectal cancer cells treated with caffeic acid phenethyl ester

AIM: To investigate the molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE).

Effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on proliferation and apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells in vitro

AIM:To study the effect of caffeic add phenethyl ester (CAPE) on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and expression of β-catenin in cultured human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line HCT116. METHODS: HCT116 cells were treated with CAPE at serial concentrations of 80,40,20,10,5,2.5 mg/L. The proliferative status of HCT116 cells was measured by using methaben-zthiazuron (MTT) assay. Cell cycle was analyzed by using flow cytometry (FCM) with propidium iodide (PI) labeling method. The rate of apoptosis was detected by using FCM with annexin V-FITC and PI double labeling method, β-catenin levels were determined by Western blotting, β-catenin localization in HCT116 was determined by indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: After HCT116 cells were exposed to CAPE (80, 40, 20, 10, 5, and 2.5 mg/L) for 24, 48, 72, 96 h, CAPE displayed a strong growth inhibitory effect in a dose- and time-dependent manner against HCT116 cells. FCM analysis showed that the ratio of G0/G1 phase cells increased, S phase ratio decreased and apoptosis rate increased after HCT116 cells were exposed to CAPE (10, 5, and 2.5 mg/L) for 24 h. CAPE treatment was associated with decreased cytoplasmic β-catenin, nuclear p-catenin and a concurrent increase in β-catenin protein expression at cell-cell junctions. CONCLUSION: CAPE could inhibit HCT116 cell proliferation and induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Decreased β-catenin protein expression may mediate the anti-proliferative effects of CAPE.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester up-regulates antioxidant levels in hepatic stellate cell line T6 via an Nrf2-mediated mitogen activated protein kinases pathway

AIM To investigate the antioxidant effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) in hepatic stellate cell-T6 (HSC-T6) cells cultured in vitro and the potential mechanisms. METHODS HSC-T6 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with various concentrations of CAPE for 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. Cell proliferation was investigated using the MTT assay, and cell ultrastructural alterations were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Flow cytometry was employed to investigate the effects of CAPE on apoptosis and the levels of reactive oxygen species in HSC-T6 cells cultured in vitro. An enzyme immunoassay instrument was used to evaluate antioxidant enzyme expression. The effect on alpha-smooth muscle actin was shown using immunofluorescence. Gene and protein levels of Nrf2, related factors, and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs), in HSC-T6 cells were detected using RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS CAPE inhibited the proliferation and activation of HSC-T6 cells cultured in vitro. CAPE increased the antioxidant levels and the translocation of Nrf2 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in HSC-T6 cells. Moreover, the phosphorylation of MAPKs in cells decreased in response to CAPE. Interestingly, CAPE-induced oxidative stress in the cells was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with MAPKs inhibitors. CONCLUSION CAPE inhibits cell proliferation and up-regulates the antioxidant levels in HSC-T6 cells partly through the Nrf2-MAPKs signaling pathway.

SALVIANOLIC ACID G,A CAFFEIC ACID DIMER WITH A NOVEL TETRACYCLIC SKELETON

Salvianolic acid G,a caffeic acid dimer with a novel tetracyclic skeleton was isolated from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza.Its structure was elucidated by chemical and spectral analysis,especially by 2D NMR analysis.

Inhibitory effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on the growth of SW480 colorectal tumor cells involvesβ-catenin associated signaling pathway down-regulation

AIM： To study the anti-tumor effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester （CAPE） and the influence of CAPE on β-catenin associated signaling pathway in SW480 colorectal cancer （CRC） cells. METHODS： SW480 cells were treated with CAPE at serial concentrations. The proliferative status of cells was measured by methabenzthiazuron （MTT） assay. Cell cycle and cell apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry （FCM）. Western blotting assay was used to evaluate the protein level of β-catenin, c-myc and cyclinD1. β-catenin localization was determined by indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS： CAPE displayed a strong inhibitory effect in a significant dose- and time-dependent manner on SW480 cell growth. FCM analysis showed that the ratio of G0/G1 phase cells increased, S phase ratio decreased and apoptosis rate increased after SW480 cells were exposed to CAPE for 24 h. Pretreatment of SW480 cells with CAPE significantly suppressed β-catenin, c-myc and cyclinD1 protein expression. CAPE treatment was associated with decreased accumulation of β-catenin protein in nucleus and cytoplasm, and concurrently increased its accumulation on the surface of cell membrane. CONCLUSION： CAPE can inhibit SW480 cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Decreased β-catenin and the associated signaling pathway target gene expression may mediate the anti-tumor effects of CAPE.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester protects against oxidative stress and dampens inflammation via heme oxygenase 1

Periodontal disease is associated with chronic oxidative stress and inflammation. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester(CAPE), which is a potent inducer of heme oxygenase 1(HO1), is a central active component of propolis, and the application of propolis improves periodontal status in diabetic patients. Here, primary murine macrophages were exposed to CAPE. Target gene expression was assessed by whole-genome microarray, RT-PCR and Western blotting. The antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of CAPE were examined by exposure of the cells to hydrogen peroxide, saliva and periodontal pathogens. The involvement of HO1 was investigated with the HO1 inhibitor tin protoporphyrin(SnPP) and knockout mice for Nrf2, which is a transcription factor for detoxifying enzymes. CAPE increased HO1 and other heat shock proteins in murine macrophages. A p38 MAPK inhibitor and Nrf2 knockout attenuated CAPE-induced HO1 expression in macrophages. CAPE exerted strong antioxidative activity. Additionally, CAPE reduced the inflammatory response to saliva and periodontal pathogens. Blocking HO1 decreased the antioxidative activity and attenuated the anti-inflammatory activity of CAPE. In conclusion, CAPE exerted its antioxidative effects through the Nrf2-mediated HO1 pathway and its anti-inflammatory effects through NF-κB inhibition. However, preclinical models evaluating the use of CAPE in periodontal inflammation are necessary in future studies.

Lipase-catalyzed Synthesis of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester in Ionic Liquids： Effect of Specific Ions and Reaction Parameters

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester(CAPE)is a rare,naturally occurring phenolic food additive.This work systematically reported fundamental data on conversion of caffeic acid(CA),yield of CAPE,and reactive selectivity during the lipase-catalyzed esterification process of CA and phenylethanol(PE)in ionic liquids(ILs).Sixteen ILs were selected as the reaction media,and the relative lipase-catalyzed synthesis properties of CAPE were measured in an effort to enhance the yield of CAPE with high selectivity.The results indicated that ILs containing weakly coordinating anions and cations with adequate alkyl chain length improved the synthesis of CAPE.[Emim][Tf2N]was selected as the optimal reaction media.The optimal parameters were as follows by response surface methodology(RSM):reaction temperature,84.0°C;mass ratio of Novozym 435 to CA,14︰1;and molar ratio of PE to CA,16︰1.The highest reactive selectivity of CAPE catalyzed by Novozym 435 in[Emim][Tf2N]reached 64.55%(CA conversion 98.76%and CAPE yield 63.75%,respectively).Thus,lipase-catalyzed esterification in ILs is a promising method suitable for CAPE production.

Therapeutic effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis

AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic role of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) in a rat model of ceruleaninduced acute pancreatitis (AP).METHODS: Seventy male Wistar albino rats were divided into seven groups. Acute edematous pancreatitis was induced by subcutaneous cerulein injection (20 μg/kg) four times at 1-h intervals. CAPE (30 mg/kg) was given by subcutaneous injection at the beginning (CAPE 1 group) and 12 h after the last cerulein injection (CAPE 2 group). Serum amylase, lipase, white blood cell count, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels were measured, and pancreatic histopathology was assessed. RESULTS: In the AP group, amylase and lipase levels were found to be elevated and the histopathological evaluation showed massive edema and inflammation of the pancreas, with less fatty necrosis when compared with sham and control groups. Amylase and lipase levels and edema formation decreased signif icantly in the CAPE therapy groups (P < 0001); especially in the CAPE 2 group, edema was improved nearly completely (P = 0001). Inflammation and fatty necrosis were partially recovered by CAPE treatment. The pathologicalresults and amylase level in the placebo groups were similar to those in the AP group. White blood cell count and TNF-α concentration was nearly the same in the CAPE and placebo groups.CONCLUSION: CAPE may be useful agent in treatment of AP but more experimental and clinical studies are needed to support our observation of benef icial effects of CAPE before clinical usage of this agent.

Oxidative stress in testicular tissues of rats exposed to cigarette smoke and protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester

Aim： To show the oxidative stress after cigarette smoke exposure in rat testis and to evaluate the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester （CAPE）. Methods： Twenty-one rats were divided into three groups of seven. Animals in Group Ⅰ were used as control. Rats in Group Ⅱ were exposed to cigarette smoke only （4 × 30 min/d） and rats in Group Ⅲ were exposed to cigarette smoke and received daily intraperitoneal injections of CAPE （10 μmol/kg.d）. After 60 days all the rats were killed and the levels of nitric oxide （NO） and anti-oxidant enzymes such as superoxide-dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） and the level of malondialdehyde were studied in the testicular tissues of rats with spectrophotometric analysis. Results： There was a significant increase in catalase and superoxide-dismutase activities in Group Ⅱ when compared to the controls, but the levels of both decreased after CAPE administration in Group Ⅲ. GSH-Px activity was decreased in Group Ⅱ but CAPE caused an elevation in GSH-Px activity in Group Ⅲ. The difference between the levels of GSH-Px in Group Ⅰ and Group Ⅱ was significant, but the difference between groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ was not significant. Elevation of malondialdehyde after smoke exposure was significant and CAPE caused a decrease to a level which was not statistically different to the control group. A significantly increased level of NO after exposure to smoke was reversed by CAPE administration and the difference between NO levels in groups Ⅰ and Ⅲ was statistically insignificant. Conclusion： Exposure to cigarette smoke causes changes in the oxidative enzyme levels in rat testis, but CAPE can reverse these harmful effects. （Asian J Andro12006 Mar; 8： 189-193）

Caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid modulate Nrf2 and inhibit Ehrlich ascites carcinomas in mice

Objective:To assess the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2(Nrf2)modulatory effect of caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid and determine the anti-tumor activity of these phenolic compounds against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma growth in mice.Methods:Antioxidant activity of protocatechuic acid and caffeic acid was assessed using ferric reducing antioxidant power(FRAP)and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH).Nrf2 activation potential of phenolic compounds was tested by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction,and luciferase complementation reporter assays.In vivo efficacy was tested using the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model.Results:FRAP and DPPH radical scavenging assays showed that caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid were more potent compared with cinnamic acid and benzoic acid.Luciferase complementation reporter assays identified caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid as the activators of Nrf2.Both caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid upregulated the expression of Nrf2 target genes heme oxygenase-1(HO-1),glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit(GCLC),and glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit(GCLM)and the activity of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1)when tested on HCT-116 cells using a cell-based assay system at 9 h.In addition,intraperitoneal administration of caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid to Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing mice suppressed tumor growth and angiogenesis.Conclusions:Caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid can modulate Nrf2 and inhibit Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells.

Extraction Process and Content Determination of Caffeic Acid in Laggera alata from Different Production Areas of Guangxi

[Objectives] To establish a method for determining the content of Laggera alata( D. Don) Sch. Bip. Ex Oliv. using caffeic acid the target component,and to compare the content of caffeic acid in the medicinal materials of L. alata in different production areas of Guangxi.[Methods]The content was determined by Inertsil~ODS-3 chromatographic column C_(18)( 4. 60 mm × 250 mm,5 μm,mobile phase: acetonitrile-0. 1% phosphoric acid( 22∶ 78),detection wavelength: 320 nm,flow rate: 1. 0 m L/min,column temperature: 30℃,and injection volume: 10 μL. [Results] The caffeic acid showed a good linear relationship in the range of injection volume of 0. 025 92-0. 259 2 μg( R =0. 999 5). The average recovery rate was 98. 33%( RSD = 1. 85%). L. alata in different production areas of Guangxi contained the caffeic acid,and there was a great difference in the caffeic acid. L. alata in Baise had the highest content of caffeic acid,while that in Guilin had the lowest content of caffeic acid. [Conclusions]This method can accurately determine the content of caffeic acid and is expected provide a scientific basis for the development and utilization of herbal medicine L. alata.

Effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in rats

Objective： To investigate the inhibitory effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester（CAPE） on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells （VSMC） activated by lipopolysaccharide （LPS） and to clarify its mechanism. Methods： VSMC activated by LPS （1 mg-L^-1） were treated with CAPE at different concentrations. The inhibitory effecfs of CAPE on the proliferation of VSMC were determined by methabenzthiazuron（MTT） colorimetry. The effects of CAPE on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen （PCNA） and Survivin protein in VSMC were evaluated by immunocytochemistry staining technique （SABC method）. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry（FCM） with propidiumiodide （PI） labeling method. The relative expression level of Survivin mRNA was measured with real-time quantified RT-PCR technique. Results. CAPE exerted significant inhibitory effects on. proliferation of VSMC at concentrations ranging from 5 mg·L^-1 to 80 mg·L^-1, decreased the rate of cells positive for PCNA and Survivin protein and repressed the expressioh of Survivin mRNA in a dose- and time-dependent manner （P 〈 0.05）. FCM analysis displayed that CAPE up-regulated the ratio of G0/G1 stages and reduced the percentage of VSMC in S stage （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： CAPE can significantly inhibit the proliferation of VSMC activated by LPS in a dose- and time-dependent manner, which may be carded out through regulating cell cycle and repressing the expression of PCNA and Survivin.

Effect of caffeic acid derivatives on polychlorinated biphenyls induced hepatotoxicity in male mice

Chronic exposure to coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls（PCBs）,a potent inducer of toxic reactive oxygen species（ROS）,in the environment and food can cause liver diseases.It remains unknown whether caffeic acid derivatives（CADs） exerted protective effect on PCB-induced hepatotoxicity.We sought to evaluate the activities of 3CADs on PCB169-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in the liver.Male ICR mice were administered with1 μmol/mL PCB169 at 5 mL/kg body weight for 2 weeks.The mice were given CADs by gastric gavage for 3weeks.We found that PCB169 decreased the growth rate and reduced the levels of superoxide dismutase（SOD）,glutathione（GSH） and GSH peroxidase（GPx）.It increased the liver weight,malondialdehyde（MDA）and 8-hydroxy-2＇-deoxyguanosine（8-OHdG） levels and CYPlAl activity in the liver tissues and plasma of mice（P〈0.05）.Pretreatment of mice with CADs restored the above parameters to normal levels.There was a synergistic protective effect between CADs in preventing MDA and 8-OHdG formation and inducing CYPlAl and phase II metabolism enzyme（SOD,GPx） activities（P〈0.05）.In conclusion,PCB169 induced hepatotoxicity and pretreatment with CADs had synergistic protective effects on liver damage.

Enhancement of Lipase-catalyzed Synthesis of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester in Ionic Liquid with DMSO Co-solvent

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester(CAPE) is a natural and rare ingredient with several biological activities, but its industrial production using lipase-catalyzed esterification of caffeic acid(CA) and 2-phenylethanol(PE) in ionic liquids(ILs) is hindered by low substrate concentrations and long reaction time. To set up a high-efficiency bioprocess for production of CAPE, a novel dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO)–IL co-solvent system was established in this study.The 2%(by volume) DMSO–[Bmim][Tf2N] system was found to be the best medium with higher substrate solubility and conversion of CA. Under the optimum conditions, the substrate concentration of CA was raised 8-fold,the reaction time was reduced by half, and the conversion reached 96.23%. The kinetics follows a ping-pong bi-bi mechanism with inhibition by PE, with kinetic parameters as follows: Vmax= 0.89 mmol · min-1· g-1, Km,CA=42.9 mmol · L-1, Km,PE= 165.7 mmol · L-1, and Ki,PE= 146.2 mmol · L-1. The results suggest that the DMSO cosolvent effect has great potential to enhance the enzymatic synthesis efficiency of CAPE in ILs.