Cascade reactions are useful methods for the construction of polycyclic skeletons, which are important cores for biological activities. A variety of cascade reactions carried out under multiple reaction conditions, such as pericyclic, polar, radical, and transition metal-catalyzed reaction conditions, have been investigated. Culmorin, pentalenene, pentalenic acid, deoxypentalenic acid, longiborneol, cedrandiol, 8,14-cedranoxide, atisirene, atisine, and estrane-type steroids were synthesized via the intramolecular double Michael reaction. Aza double Michael reaction was applied to the syntheses of tylophorine, epilupinine, tacamonine, and paroxetine. Furthermore, sequential Michael and aldol reactions were performed in both intramolecular and intermolecular manners, leading to the formation of polycyclic compounds fused to a four-membered ring. Synthesis of paesslerin A utilizing a multicomponent cascade reaction revealed an error in the proposed structure. Unique cascade reactions carried out under radical and transition metal-catalyzed reaction conditions were also investigated. With the combination of several cascade reactions, serofendic acids and methyl 7β-hydroxykaurenoate, both of which have neuroprotective activity, were synthesized in a selective manner.

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Three new triterpenoids, 1—3, were isolated from the dried root bark of Ulmus pumila. Along with the three new compounds, six known triterpenoids, epifriedelanol (4), friedelin (5), oleanolic acid (6), maslinic acid (7), camaldulenic acid (8), and arjunolic acid (9) were also isolated. The structures of new compounds were established as ulmudiol (bauer-7-ene-1α,3β-diol, 1), dehydroulmudiol [bauer-7,9(11)-diene-1α,3β-diol, 2], and ulmuestone [3α-hydroxy-11α-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxy)benzoyloxybauer-1-one, 3], on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data interpretation. In addition, the cytotoxic activities of these compounds are also reported.

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Two new C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloids, piepunensine A (1) and 18-acetylcammaconine (2), have been isolated from the roots of Aconitum piepunense together with five known alkaloids pengshenine B (3), talatisamine (4), aconosine (5), yunaconitine (6), and talatizidine (7). The structures of the new alkaloids were established on the basis of spectral data (1D- and 2D-NMR, HR-MS).

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Three hydroxylated metabolites of 2-propyl-3-[2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-ylmethyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3H-cycloheptimidazol-4-one (Pratosartan), which is a selective angiotensin II receptor antagonist, were synthesized in confirmation of their structures and in studies of their pharmacological properties. An MTPA ester of the human main metabolite was identified with the synthesized compound by comparing ¹H-NMR spectra, MS spectra, and HPLC retention time. The structure of the human main metabolite was confirmed to be (S)-(−)-2-(1-hydroxypropyl)-3-[2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-ylmethyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3H-cycloheptimidazol-4-one ((S)-(−)-1). Also, the rat main metabolites were confirmed to be 8-hydroxylated compound (2) and 5-hydroxylated compound (3). These metabolites showed lower antagonistic activity than that of the parent compound.

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7-Substituted (Cl, Br, I) indoles were synthesized by using thallation of N-formylindoline as a key reaction. Two precursor tripeptides for the right-hand segment of chloropeptin were synthesized by using (R)-7′-iodo and 7′-bromotryptophans derived from each 7-substituted indole (I, Br) obtained by the above procedure.

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A series of novel 2,6-diaryl-3-(arylthio)piperidin-4-ones have been synthesized by reaction of arylthioacetones, substituted aromatic aldehydes, and methylamine/ammonium acetate and their structures elucidated by ¹H, ¹³C, and 2D NMR (H, H-COSY, C, H-COSY, HMBC, and NOESY) spectroscopy. The NMR data reveal that all these piperidones exist in chair conformation with the 2,6-diaryl groups equatorially oriented, while the arylthio group prefers to be in either an equatorial or axial orientation depending on whether the substituent in the 2,6-diaryl rings is present in 4- or 2-position, respectively. In the case of NH-2,6-diaryl-3-(arylthio)piperidin-4-ones with o-substituted 2,6-diaryl groups, the arylthio group prefers the axial orientation presumably in a bid to minimize the steric and/or electronic repulsion. The arylthiopiperidin-4-ones exhibit significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi, and Escherichia coli and antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger.

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Photo- and thermal-stability of the anthelmintics Albendazole, Mebendazole and Fenbendazole as in solid as in solution form has been investigated, by using a Xenon arc lamp as a radiation source, according to the ICH guideline for the drug stability tests. The degradation process was monitored by a HPLC method. All drugs showed high photosensitivity in solution but a reliable stability in solid form and when exposed to a temperature up to 50 °C. Two main degradation products from hydrolysis of the carbamic groups were identified by GC-MS. Validation studies demonstrated high accuracy (recovery 94 to 106%) and precision (RSD under 4.6%) of the HPLC method. The analytical procedure was successfully applied to the control of the drugs in the respective pharmaceutical formulations.

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Three spectrophotometric methods including Vierordt's method, derivative, ratio spectra derivative, and thin layer chromatography (TLC)-UV densitometric method were developed for simultaneous determination of drotaverine HCl (DRT) and nifuroxazide (NIF) in presence of its impurity, 4-hydroxybenzohydrazide (4-HBH). In Vierordt's method, (E_{1 cm}^1%) values were calculated at 227 and 368 nm in the zero-order spectra of DRT and NIF. By derivative spectrophotometry, the zero-crossing method, drotaverine HCl was determined using the second derivative at 245 nm and the third derivative at 238 nm, while nifuroxazide was determined using the first derivative at 399 nm and the second derivative at 411 nm. The ratio spectra derivative spectrophotometry is basedon the measure of the amplitude at 459 nm for DRT and at 416 nm for NIF in the first derivative of the ratio spectra. Calibration graphs of the three spectrophotometric methods were plotted in the range 1—10 μg/ml of DRT and 2—20 μg/ml of NIF. TLC-UV densitometric method was achieved on silica gel plates using ethyl acetate : methanol : ammonia 33% (10 : 1 : 0.1 v/v/v) as the mobile phase. The Rf values were 0.74, 0.50, 0.30±0.01 for DRT, NIF and 4-HBH, respectively. On the fluorescent plates, the spots were located by fluorescence quenching and the densitometrical area were measured at 308 and 287 nm with linear range 0.2—4 μg/spot and 0.6—12 μg/spot for DRT and NIF, respectively. The proposed methods have been successfully applied to the commercial pharmaceutical formulation without any interference of excipients. Mean recoveries, relative standard deviations and the results of the proposed methods were compared with those obtained by applying the alternate methods.

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A simple sensitive, selective and accurate reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of lansoprazole, omeprazole and pantoprazole sodium sesquishydrate in the presence of their acid-induced degradation products. The three compounds were monitored at 280 nm using Nova-Pak C₁₈ column and a mobile phase consisting of 0.05 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate : methanol : acetonitrile (5 : 3 : 2 v/v/v). Linearity ranges were 2—20 μg ml⁻¹, 2—36 μg ml⁻¹ and 0.5—20 μg ml⁻¹ for lansoprazole, omeprazole and pantoprazole, respectively. The corresponding recoveries were 100.61±0.84%, 100.50±0.80% and 99.78±0.88%. The minimum detection limits were 0.55, 0.54 and 0.03 μg ml⁻¹ for lansoprazole, omeprazole and pantoprazole, respectively. The method could be successfully applied to the determination of pure, laboratory prepared mixtures and pharmaceutical dosage forms. The results obtained were compared with the reported methods for lansoprazole and pantoprazole or the official U.S.P method for omeprazole.

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A high-performance liquid chromatographic method and a UV derivative spectrophotometric method for the determination of famciclovir, a highly active antiviral agent, in tablets were developed in the present work. The various parameters, such as linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity, robustness, limit of detection and limit of quantitation were studied according to International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. HPLC was carried out by using the reversed-phase technique on an RP-18 column with a mobile phase composed of 50 mM monobasic phosphate buffer and methanol (50 : 50; v/v), adjusted to pH 3.05 with orthophosphoric acid. The mobile phase was pumped at a flow rate of 1 ml/min and detection was made at 242 nm with UV dual absorbance detector. The first derivative UV spectrophotometric method was performed at 226.5 nm. Statistical analysis was done by Student's t-test and F-test, which showed no significant difference between the results obtained by the two methods. The proposed methods are highly sensitive, precise and accurate and therefore can be used for its Intended purpose.

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Five new cyclolanostane triterpene glycosides, 12-deacetyloxy-15α-hydroxy-23-epi-26-deoxyactein, 12-deacetyloxy-23-epi-26-deoxyactein, 24-O-acetyldahurinol-3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside, 12β-hydroxycimigenol-3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-xylopyranoside, 25-anhydrocimicigenol-3-O-β-D-(2′-O-acetyl)xylopyranoside, were isolated from the rhizome of Souliea vaginata collected in China. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques, including 2D NMR spectra, and in the case of 5, by chemical correlation.

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Application of aqueous methanesulfonic acid (MSA) for selective chemical removal of pyroglutamic acid (pGlu) residue from five biologically active pyroglutamyl-peptides (pGlu-X-peptides, X=amino acid residue at position 2) was examined. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (Gn-RH), dog neuromedin U-8 (d-NMU-8), physalaemin (PH), a bradykinin potentiating peptide (BPP-5a) and neurotensin (NT) as pGlu-X-peptides were incubated in either 70% or 90% aqueous MSA at 25 °C. HPLC analysis of the incubation solutions showed that the main decomposition product was H-X-peptide derived from each pGlu-X-peptide by the removal of pGlu. The results revealed that the pGlu-X peptide bond had higher susceptibility than various internal amide bonds in the five peptides examined, including the Trp-Ser bond in Gn-RH, the C-terminal Asn-NH₂ in d-NMU-8, and the Asp-Pro bond in PH, whose acid susceptibility is well known. Thus, mild hydrolysis with high concentrations of aqueous MSA may be applicable to chemically selective removal of pGlu from pGlu-X-peptides for structural examinations.

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In order to improve the cell penetration of polyamide and its movement toward nucleic DNA we synthesized a conjugate of polyamide and phospholipid, which showed a significantly reducecd cytotoxicity and effective apoptosis when comparing with the native polyamide.

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The photochemistry of anti-inflammatory drug desonide (De, 1) was studied in aerobic as well as in anaerobic condition with different irradiation wavelengths (254, 310 nm) in acetonitrile and 2-propanol. All photoproducts obtained were isolated and characterized on the basis of IR, ¹H-, ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis study. The products were: 11β,21-dihydroxy-16α,17α-(1-methylethylidenedioxy)-1,5-cyclopregn-3-ene-2,20-dione 2 (254 nm), 11β-hydroxy-16α,17α-(1-methylethylidenedioxy)androsta-1,4-diene-3-one 3 (310 nm/2-propanol), 17β-hydroperoxy-11β-hydroxy-16α,17α-(1-methylethylidenedioxy)androsta-1,4-diene-3-one 4 (310 nm/O₂/2-propanol). Cyclohexadienone moiety in ring A and keto group at C₁₇ were found to be deeply modified by UV light therefore, loss of biological activity both during storage and in vivo can not be ruled out.

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In this study, numerical simulation of film coating process in a novel rotating fluidized bed (RFB) was conducted by using a Discrete Element Method (DEM)–Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) coupling model. Particle movements and fluid motions in a centrifugal force field were simulated at three-dimensional cylindrical coordinate, and this model was applied to film coating process. Film coating process in a RFB was numerically analyzed by using a simplified assumption that a particle was coated only when a particle existed within a spray zone. The experiments were also conducted and uniformity of sprayed material was evaluated by investigating color difference of the coated particles. As a result of the numerical simulation, three-dimensional bubble movements and particle circulation could be well simulated. In addition, mass of the sprayed material on a single particle in a RFB could be visualized by using our proposed model. The relationship between distribution of the sprayed material and the coating time was also analyzed. Calculated mass distributions of the sprayed material could be expressed by a normal distribution function, showing qualitative good agreement with the previous studies. Effect of the operating parameters, such as gas velocity and centrifugal acceleration, on the uniformity of the sprayed material was also investigated by both numerical and experimental approaches. Comparison of the coating process in a RFB with that in a conventional fluidized bed was also conducted by the numerical simulation. The result showed that uniformity of the sprayed material was greatly improved in a RFB due to the much smaller circulation time.

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Methodology for elucidating the therapeutic material basis and quality control indices of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Preparation Suanzaoren decoction was developed. Combination of Suanzaoren decoction was designed and sixteen groups were obtained. Effects on frequency of spontaneous motion, sleeping number and sleeping duration in mice were studied with sixteen combinations of Suanzaoren decoction to get the pharmacological data. RP-HPLC method was developed to analyze the chromatographic profiles of natural components in all combinations. Areas (corrected by weighting amounts) of chromatographic peaks were collected as chemical data. The pharmacological and chemical data were correlated by chemical statistical methods, and then the therapeutic material basis (thirteen chemical constituents with sedative and hypnotic effects among forty-eight chromatographic peaks) of Suanzaoren decoction were elucidated. Spinosin from Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, ferulic acid from Rhizoma Chuanxiong, mangiferin from Rhizoma Anemarrhenae and glycyrrhizic acid from Radix Glycyrrhizae were selected as quality control indices. This paper provided a new methodology for elucidating the therapeutic material basis and quality control indices for T.C.M. It is instructive for modernization of Chinese herbs and its compound preparations.

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Four new tetramic acid derivatives, named melophlins P, Q, R, and S (1—4), were isolated from two marine sponges of the genus Melophlus collected at Palau, together with seven known melophlins A, D, E, G, H, I, and O. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of their spectral data. The absolute stereochemistries at the tetramic acid moieties of the new compounds were determined as 1 : 1 mixtures (racemic) by ESI-LC/MS analysis of derivatives obtained by oxidation and hydrolysis of the respective parent compounds. Melophlins P—S (1—4) showed cytotoxicity against the murine leukemia cell line L1210 with IC₅₀ values of 20.0, 10.5, 0.85, and 5.13 μM, respectively.

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Various analogs of known immunomodulatory derivatives of thalidomide (1) (IMiDs: 3, 5) were synthesized, focusing on cell-differentiation-inducing, cyclooxygenase-inhibitory and anti-angiogenesis activities. Among the prepared compounds, NIDO-33 (14) showed cell differentiation-inducing activity on HL-60 cells and anti-angiogenic activity on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). AIDO-00 (7) also showed anti-angiogenic activity. NIDO-11 (8) showed an enhancing effect on all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-induced HL-60 cell differentiation, and AIDO-30 (13) exhibited cyclooxygenase (COX)-inhibitory activity.

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Biotransformation of the aristolane-type sesquiterpene hydrocarbon (+)-1(10)-aristolene (1) from the crude drug Nardostachys chinensis and of the 2,3-secoaromadendrane-type sesquiterpene lactone plagiochilide (2) from the liverwort Plagiochila fruticosa by three microorganisms, Chlorella fusca var. vacuolata, Mucor species, and Aspergillus niger was investigated. C. fusca var. vacuolata and Mucor sp. introduced oxygen function into the cyclohexane ring of aristolene while A. niger oxidized stereoselectively one methyl of the 1,1-dimethyl group on the cyclopropane ring of aristolanes and 2,3-secoaromadendrane to give C-12 primary alcohol and C-12 carboxylic acid. The possible metabolic pathway of the formation of new metabolites is discussed. The stereostructures of new metabolites were established by a combination of NMR spectroscopy including HMBC and NOESY, X-ray crystallographic analysis, and chemical reaction.

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Four new neo-clerodane diterpenoid alkaloids, named scutebarbatines C—F (1—4), were isolated from the whole plants of Scutellaria barbata D. DON. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analyses (UV, IR, FAB-MS, 1D-NMR and 2D-NMR). In vitro, compounds 1—4 showed significant cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell lines, namely, HONE-1 nasopharyngeal, KB oral epidermoid carcinoma, and HT29 colorectal carcinoma cells, and gave IC₅₀ values in the range 3.9—7.8 μM.

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Six phenylalanine analogues containing 2′-methyl-, 2′,6′-dimethyl-, 2′-ethyl-6′-methyl-, 2′-isopropyl-6′-methyl-, 2′,4′,6′-trimethyl-, and 3′,5′-dimethyl-L-phenylalanine were synthesized enantioselectively through asymmetric hydrogenation of acetamidoacrylate derivatives. Enzymatic digestion and X-ray analysis supported the L-configuration of the phenylalanine derivatives obtained.

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The objectives of this research were to determine simultaneously the contents of two stilbene tetramers, carasinol B (1) and kobophenol A (2), and one stilbene trimer, (+)-α-viniferin (3), in Jin Que-gen in different regions. A HPLC method has been developed for efficiently quantifying the three analytes in the plant. Using this method, different samples of Jin Que-gen were evaluated. The results showed that contents of the three analytes varied significantly among different samples, and the contents of the three analytes in commercial Jin Que-gen were markedly lower than those in the plants collected directly from growing regions. And for the three analytes, the longer the cultivation time, the higher the contents.

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A new anthracene glycoside, asperflavin ribofuranoside (1), and the previously described polyketides, flavoglaucin (2), isodihydroauroglaucin (3), and citrinin (4) have been isolated from the marine-derived fungus Microsporum sp. The structure and absolute stereochemistry of a new compound (1) was assigned on the basis of physicochemical data. Compounds 1—3 exhibited a significant radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) with IC₅₀ values of 14.2, 11.3, and 11.5 μM, respectively, which are more potent than the positive control, ascorbic acid (IC₅₀, 20 μM). Compound 1 also showed a moderate antibacterial activity against the methicillin-resistant and multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and MDRSA) with MIC value of 50 μg/ml.

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Further investigation of the dichloromethane extract of the twigs of Mammea siamensis led to the isolation of four novel coumarins, named siamenols A—D (1—4) together with three known xanthones. The structures of the new coumarins were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR spectroscopic data. In addition, the absolute stereochemistry of hydroxyl group of siamenol C (3) was determined to be S configuration by using modified Mosher's method.

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Two newly-reported benzofuran glycosides, named psoralenoside and isopsoralenoside, along with two major coumarins, psoralen and isopsoralen, were simultaneously determined in twenty-three samples of Fructus Psoraleae collected from different growth areas in China. The quantitative method was validated, and the mean recovery rates from fortified samples (n=5) of psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, psoralen and isopsoralen, were 96.5%, 97.1%, 100.7%, and 99.3% with variation coefficient of 3.1%, 3.6%, 2.3%, and 2.2%, respectively. An interesting biotransformation relationship between the glycosides and the coumarins was revealed on the basis of the quality analysis results. It was also suggested that psoralenoside and isopsoralenoside should be used as key quality markers for Fructus Psoraleae, together with the commonly used psoralen and isopsoralen.

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In the present paper, conventional spectrophotometry in conjunction with cloud point extraction-preconcentration were investigated as alternative methods for paracetamol (PCT) assay in urine samples. Cloud point extraction (CPE) was employed for the preconcentration of p-aminophenol (PAP) prior to spectrophotometric determination using the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 (TX-114) as an extractant. The developed methods were based on acidic hydrolysis of PCT to PAP, which reacted at room temperature with 25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (CAL4) in the presence of an oxidant (KIO₄) to form an blue colored product. The PAP-CAL4 blue dye formed was subsequently entrapped in the surfactant micelles of Triton X-114. Cloud point phase separation with the aid of Triton X-114 induced by addition of Na₂SO₄ solution was performed at room temperature as an advantage over other CPE assays requiring elevated temperatures. The 580 nm-absorbance maximum of the formed product was shifted bathochromically to 590 nm with CPE. The working range of 1.5—12 μg ml⁻¹ achieved by conventional spectrophotometry was reduced down to 0.14—1.5 μg ml⁻¹ with cloud point extraction, which was lower than those of most literature flow-through assays that also suffer from nonspecific absorption in the UV region. By preconcentrating 10 ml sample solution, a detection limit as low as 40.0 ng ml⁻¹ was obtained after a single-step extraction, achieving a preconcentration factor of 10. The stoichiometric composition of the dye was found to be 1 : 4 (PAP : CAL4). The impact of a number of parameters such as concentrations of CAL4, KIO₄, Triton X-100 (TX-100), and TX-114, extraction temperature, time periods for incubation and centrifugation, and sample volume were investigated in detail. The determination of PAP in the presence of paracetamol in micellar systems under these conditions is limited. The established procedures were successfully adopted for the determination of PCT in urine samples. Since the drug is rapidly absorbed and excreted largely in urine and its high doses have been associated with lethal hepatic necrosis and renal failure, development of a rapid, sensitive and selective assay of PCT is of vital importance for fast urinary screening and antidote administration before applying more sophisticated, but costly and laborious hyphenated instrumental techniques of HPLC-SPE-NMR-MS.

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In our studies, micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) was employed in fingerprint analysis of Cnidium monnieri for the first time. Average chromatography of 10 batches Cnidium monnieri from Jiangsu province, China, which have long been considered as the original and genuine herbal medicine, was first established as the characteristic fingerprint. Within 25 min the major effective components were separated by 18 mM borate, 12 mM phosphate and 50 mM SDS (pH 9.2) containing 20% methanol. The relative standard deviations of migration times and peak areas were less than 5%. As a new approach of fingerprint, MKCE was compared to the conventional approach—HPLC in our experiments. The fingerprint developed by HPLC comprised 8 peaks that were collected within 40 min. Relative standard deviation (RSD) values of retention times of corresponding peaks in HPLC analysis were very small (maximum 3% and average 0.9%). In conclusion, each two methods had its advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, besides HPLC, MEKC as a feasible method, could be used in the development of fingerprint of Cnidium monnieri.

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Three new aromatics were isolated from the New Zealand liverwort Balantiopsis rosea. A new bibenzyl was isolated from an unidentified Radula species, together with known bibenzyls. Jamesoniella kirkii yielded three known ent-isopimarane and two ent-kaurane diterpenoids. Their structures were confirmed by NMR techniques, chemical reaction, and X-ray crystallographic analysis.

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A simple and sensitive reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of twelve bacopa saponins present in the extracts of the Indian Medicinal Plant, Bacopa monnieri. The separation was achieved on a reversed phase C₁₈ column (Luna C₁₈), 5 μm by isocratic elution with 0.05 M sodium sulphate buffer (pH 2.3) and acetonitrile (68.5 : 31.5, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min with an operating temperature of 30 °C. The method was validated for linearity, precision, intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy. Several Bacopa samples (plant materials, extracts and commercial formulations) were successfully analyzed. Major bacopasaponins were bacosides A₃ (3), bacopaside II (4), bacopaside I (5), bacopaside X (6), bacopasaponin C (7), bacopaside N2 (9) and the minor components were bacopasaponin F (1), bacopasaponin E (2), bacopaside N1 (8) bacopaside III (10), bacopaside IV (11) and bacopaside V (12). The total saponin content in the samples, plant materials and extracts varied from 5.1 to 22.17% and 1.47 to 66.03 mg/capsule or tablet in the commercial formulations.

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Fractionation of methanol extracts of the fruit bodies of two inedible mushrooms Hydnellum suaveolens and Hydnellum geogerirum (Thelephoraceae) resulted in isolation of two new p-terphenyl derivatives named hydnellins A and B and sarcodonin δ possessing N-oxide. Their structures were determined by 2D NMR, IR, UV spectroscopy, and chemical reaction. These terphenyls showed moderate antioxidant activity.

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The in vitro leishmanicidal constituents of Millettia pendula were examined. Two new compounds, 1 (millettilone A) and 2 (millettilone B), were isolated from the methanol extract of M. pendula, together with six known compounds: 3R-claussequinone (3), pendulone (4), secundiflorol I (5), 3,8-dihydroxy-9-methoxypterocarpan (6), 3,10-dihydroxy-7,9-dimethoxypterocarpan (7), and formononetin (8). Among these, pendulone showed the most potent leishmanicidal activity. Compound 2 was found to be a purple pigment in this heartwood. Their chemical structures were elucidated using spectral methods.

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The carboxylic acids are efficiently converted into the methyl esters in methanol using indium(III) chloride as the catalyst. This method is applicable for aromatic and aliphatic carboxyl moieties as well as amino acids in high yields.

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A new oleanane-type triterpenoid (1) and five known pentacyclic triterpenoids (2—6) were isolated from the leaves of Excoecaria agallocha. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. The new compound was characterized as 3β-[(2E,4E)-5-oxo-decadienoyloxy]-olean-12-ene (1). Compounds 1—6 were found inactive in vitro against several human cancer cell lines.

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Agaricus blazei MURRILL mushroom products are sold as so-called health foods in Japan. However, a part of Agaricus is known to contain hydrazines. A sensitive and specific method for analyzing a genotoxic hydrazine, agaritine, and its derivatives was developed to assess the safety of Agaricus products. β-N-(γ-L(+)-Glutamyl)-4-(hydroxymethyl)phenylhydrazine (agaritine, AGT), 4-hydrazinylbenzylalcohol (HMPH), 4-hydrazinylbenzoic acid (CPH), 4-methylphenylhydrazine (MPH) and phenylhydrazine (PH) were converted to their correspond-ing fluorescent derivatives with 3,4-dihydro-6,7 dimethoxy-4-methyl-3-oxoquinoxaline-2-carbonyl chloride (DMEQ-COCl) as the fluorescence derivatization reagent. The detection limits (S/N=3) for CPH, AGT, PH and MPH were 422, 45.3, 16.5 and 138 fmol, respectively, in a 20 μl injection volume. Recoveries, achieved by adding known AGT amounts to the Agaricus sample and Agaricus products, ranged from 92.8 to 102%. By using this method which does not require partial purification of the Agaricus sample, the amounts of AGT in several types of foods were found to be 112—1836 μg/g dry weight.

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Wrong:See PDF for details.
Right:See PDF for details.

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