An insight into the in vivo imaging potential of curcumin analogues as fluorescence probes

Curcumin and its derivatives have good electrical and optical properties due to the highly symmetric structure of delocalized π electrons. Apart from that, curcumin and its derivatives can interact with numerous molecular targets, thereby exerting less side effects on human body. The fluorescence emission wavelength and fluorescence intensity of curcumin can be enhanced by modifying its π-conjugated system and β-diketone structure. Some curcumin-based fluorescent probes have been utilized to detect soluble/insoluble amyloid-β protein, intracranial reactive oxygen species, cysteine, cancer cells, etc. Based on the binding characteristics of curcumin-based fluorescent probes with various target molecules, the factors affecting the fluorescence intensity and emission wavelength of the probes are analyzed, in order to obtain a curcumin probe with higher sensitivity and selectivity. Such an approach will be greatly applicable to in vivo fluorescence imaging.

Research and application of Lycii Fructus in medicinal field

Lycii Fructus（Lycium barbarum, Gouqizi in Chinese name） is one of the most popular Chinese material medica and a common ingredient in tonic food. This fruit has been paid rapidly growing attention for its nutrient value and noticeable pharmacological properties. The present paper focuses on the legal resource of Gouqizi and reviews the main research in medicinal field including botanical identification,ethnopharmacological functions, phytochemistry, pharmacological effects, clinic usages, and safety issues.In addition, some issues needed address will be also discussed. We strongly believe that further investigation will deepen our knowledge of Gouqizi and promote the industrial development in the world.

Antibiotic Metabolites from the Coral-Associated Actinomycete Streptomyces sp. OUCMDZ-1703

From the oligotrophic culture of a soft coral-associated actinomycetes strain, Streptomyces sp. OUCMDZ-1703, we isolated and identified two new chlorinated polyketides that we named strepchloritides A and B （1 and 2）, three thiazole derivatives known as watasemycin A （3）, pulicatin G （4） and aerugine （5）, along with pyrrole- 2-carboxamide, furan-2-carboxamide and 1-（3,5-dihydroxyphenyl）ethanone. The new structures of 1 and 2 were determined by spectroscopic studies such as 1D- and 2D-NMR and MS analyses, while the known compounds were identified by comparison of the NMR data with those in literatures. The results showed that actinomycete strain OUCMDZ-1703 could use the relative high ratio of chlorine in the oligotrophic medium to synthesize chlorinated natural products. New compounds 1 and 2 displayed cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 ceils with ICs0 values of 9.9 and 20.2 ~tmoloL-1, respectively. Thiazole derivatives 3 and 5 were first found to be active against three clinical strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus （MRSA082, MRSA111 and MRSA234） with the same MIC/MBC values of 7.81/7.81 μg·mL-1.