The aim of present study was to evaluate antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities of methanol, hexane, and aqueous extracts of fresh Euphorbia royleana. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated as gallic acid and querectin equivalents, respectively. Antioxidant activity was assessed by scavenging of free 2,20- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals and reduction of ferric io…
The surface of a clay teapot tends to be coated with a waterproof film after constant use for tea preparation. The waterproof films of two kinds of teapots (zisha and zhuni) used for preparing oolong tea and old oolong tea were extracted and subjected to gas chromatographyemass spectrometry analysis. The results showed that comparable constituents were detected in these films; they were primari…
Sargassum hemiphyllum is a common plant found on the coasts of Taiwan; it has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent in traditional herbal medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of S. hemiphyllum sulfated polysaccharide (SHSP) using two different mouse models. In both arachidonic acid-induced ear inflammatory gavage and paint models, SHSP decreased ear swelling a…
The present paper describes the development of a high performance liquid chromatographyultraviolet (HPLC-UV) detection method for quantitative determination of peimine and peiminine in Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (FTB). Separation was achieved using a conventional XBridge™Shield RP 18 column (250mm4.6mm,internal diameter 3.5 mm) with photodiode array detection at 190e400 nm for UV spectr…
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of TNF-a blockers for ulcerative colitis. A systematic search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TNF-a blockers for treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and cochrane clinical trial. We estimated Pooled estimates of the odds ratio (OR) and relevant 95% confidence interval (CI) using fixed effects model o…
Response inhibition has been a core issue in addictive behavior. Many previous studies have found that response inhibition abilities are damaged in those with drug dependence. However, whether heroin addicts who are treated with methadone maintenance have an abnormal response inhibition ability is not clear. In order to investigate the response inhibition functions in heroin addicts who were tr…
Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) has been used in folk medicine in many disorders. The present work aimed to investigate effects of clove essential oil as eugenol and water soluble ingredients on mouse splenocytes. Clove extracts were harvested and in different concentrations (0.001e1000 mg/mL) were affected to splenocytes and also phytohemagglutinin (PHA ¼ 5 mg/mL) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS ¼ …
Over recent years, an increase in alcohol-related problems has been noted in China. Taking effective measures against the problem requires clear reviewing and understanding of the evolution of the Chinese alcohol policy. This study is aimed to evaluate the alcohol policy with special focus on reviewing the alcohol production and consumption situation in China and assessing the changes in Chines…
The aim of this work was to design a controlled-release drug-delivery system for the angiotensin-II receptor antagonist drug telmisartan. Telmisartan was encapsulated with different EUDRAGIT polymers by an emulsion solvent evaporation technique and the physicochemical properties of the formulations were characterized. Using a solvent evaporation method, white spherical microspheres with particl…
Investigation of the nutritional as well as trace elements of a wild leafy vegetable, Acalypha alnifolia, and evaluation of the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties of acetone and methanol leaf extracts are the main objectives of the present study. The powdered A. alnifolia leaf sample was subjected to nutritional and mineral analysis. Plant leaves were extracted (using the …
An accurate, sensitive, precise, reliable, and quick method for the determination of cholesterol content by high-performance thin layer chromatography is developed. In this method, aluminum-backed precoated silica gel 60 F254 plates were used as the stationary phase and the samples were sprayed with the help of CAMAG sample applicator Linomat 5. The chromatogram was developed with the mobile p…
In the present work, heat reflux extraction with ethanol/water (80:20; v/v) as the solvent was used to extract antioxidants fromMyrmecodia pendans. Thecrude extract (CE) wasfractionated using hexane and ethyl acetate. Ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) and aqueous fraction were collected. Antioxidant activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-radical radicalandferric reducing power of the CE, EAF…
Of the various derivatives of caffeic acid, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a hydrophobic,bioactive polyphenolic ester obtained from propolis extract. The objective in writing this review article was to summarize all published studies on therapeutics of CAPE in inflammation and cancer to extract direction for future research. The possible molecular targets for the action of CAPE, include…
Perceptions of tobacco are a relatively unexplored issue in disadvantaged populations in India and France. The objectives of this study included the following: obtain qualitative information on representations of tobacco use and cessation within two vulnerable populations; identify cultural factors that influence tobacco use and cessation; and acquire information for the development of effec…
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent an increasing proportion of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Sustained advocacy, carried out by a skilled workforce, is an important strategy to realize the political will and implement the policy changes necessary to reduce the global burden of NCDs. Competencies for effective advocacy include a combination of scientific and technical…
The cultures of the islands of Kinmen and Xiamen, also respectively Quemoy and Amoy, are tightly interwoven with the South China coastal region of Fujian. Both archipelagos played important historical roles in coastal defense and have been home to many Overseas Chinese since the 19th Century. A decisive battle in the Chinese Civil War was fought on Kinmen in 1949, cutting off Kinmen’s con…
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a nonproteinous amino acid with some benefits on human health, is synthesized by GABA-shunt and the polyamine degradation pathway in plants. The regulation of Ca2þ and aminoguanidine on GABA accumulation in germinating soybean (Glycine max L.) under hypoxia-NaCl stress was investigated in this study. Exogenous Ca2þ increased GABA content significantly by enhan…
The objective of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant properties of Lavandula latifolia waste obtained after essential oil distillation. Samples of 12 wild populations of the Lavandula genus collected between 2009 and 2010 were hydrodistilled and their by-products were analyzed using the FolineCiocalteu, free radical scavenging activity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), and the ferric reduc…
contents and antioxidant activities of aerial parts of sweet potato plants. The effects of drying methods (freeze drying, and drying at 30C, 70C, and 100C) on these two parameters of the first fully expanded leaves were also assessed. The results indicated that the CQA derivatives were detectable in leaves, stem, and flowers of sweet potato plants (varied from 39.34 mg/g dry weight to 154.05…
This study aimed to research the preparation techniques of total flavones from loquat flower (TFLF), its anti-oxidation capacity, and its protective effect on hepatic injury. The best extraction parameters by orthogonal experimentation were water at 100C, extraction time 2.5 hours, solid/liquid ratio 1:20, and three decoctions. The chromogenic reaction to the flavones showed that loquat flower…
Liver injury resulting from exposure to drugs and chemicals is a major health problem.Autophagy is an important factor in a wide range of diseases, such as cancer, liver disease,muscular disorder, neurodegeneration, pathogen infection, and aging, and emerging evidence indicates that autophagy makes a substantial contribution to the pathogenesis of drug- and chemical-induced liver toxicity. In …
A method of ionic liquid-based hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction enhanced electrically was successfully developed and applied to the extraction and determination of neutral red (NR) dye, which was selected as the model analyte. A room temperature ionic liquid, 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C8mim][PF6]), was placed in the pores of a polytetrafluoethylene hollow fiber,…
The volatile and odor-active compounds in cooked meat of farmed obscure puffer (Takifugu obscurus) were analyzed by gas chromatographyemass spectrometryeolfactometry (GCe MSeO). The volatile compounds were extracted by the simultaneous distillationeextraction (SDE) method, then separated and identified by GCeMS. Odor-active compounds in the SDE extract were characterized by GCeMSeO. A total of…
Twenty-nine commercial essential oil (EO) products that were purchased from the Taiwan market, including three different company-made Melissa officinalis essential oils, were assayed on their glucose consumption activity and lipid accumulation activity on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The EOs of M. officinalis were significantly active in both model assays. By contrast, EOs of peppermint, lavender, bergam…
In this study we have evaluated the changes in arterial blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) caused by the short-term intake of Bacillus subtilis B060-fermented beans with significant g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and nattokinase activity. After being weaned, 7-week-old male SHR and 7-week-old male WistareKyoto (WKY) rats were randomized into seven groups. Until the 8th week of …
A new solid contact cobalt selective electrode was constructed with 4-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene as ionophore. The best performance was observed with the membrane having an ionophore/polyvinyl chloride/sodium etraphenylborate/nitrophenyl octyl ether ratio of 3.5:33:1.5:62 (w/w; mg). The electrode, under steady-state conditions, exhibited a working concentration range of 1 101 e 1 106 mol…
Camellia chrysantha (Hu) Tuyama (CCT), an ornamental plant possessing antioxidant activity, has been infused as tea and drank for its health benefits. The antioxidant components in CCT, however, had not been clearly characterized. To quickly identify the antioxidant constituents of CCT, a compositioneactivity relationship strategy based on ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with…
Background: Pyruvic acid concentration is a critical factor in determining Allium spp. pungency.This study was initiated to accurately measure the background pyruvic acid levels in Romanian Allium spp. From the pungency point of view, all analyzed plant varieties in this study are considered low pungent cultivars based on the enzymatically produced pyruvate level (between 42 mmol/g and 222 mmol…
The influence of medium composition and cultural conditions on simultaneous yield of mycelia, intracellular polysaccharide, adenosine, and mannitol by Cordyceps militaris CGMCC 2909 was investigated with desirability functions in this study. An optimization strategy based on the desirability function approach, together with response surface methodology (RSM) has been used to optimize medium co…
Water-soluble polysaccharide was isolated from Semen cassiae using water for extraction and ethanol for deposition. The optimized conditions for polysaccharide isolation by orthogonal experiments were a sample to liquid ratio of 1:30 at 80C for 3.5 hours; the yield of polysaccharide from Semen cassiae under these conditions was 5.46%. Different polysaccharides (SCPW-1, SCPW-2, SCPW-3, SCPW-4, …
In this study, linear relationships between response and concentration were used to estimate the detection limit (DL) and quantification limit (QL) for five avermectins: emamectin,abamectin, doramectin, moxidectin, and ivermectin. Estimation of DL and QL was based on the standard deviation of residual and y-intercept of the regression line at low concentrations of avermectins, using the dispers…
Dolichos biflorus (Muthira) is a branched, suberect, and downing herb, native to most parts of India, and found at altitudes of up to 1000 m, whose seeds can be cooked and eaten. Nutrition plays a key role in building immunity and preventing noncommunicable diseases to a certain extent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of 70% methanolic ext…
In this study, a simple and rapid ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) method has been described for the determination of tramadol. The operating instrumental parameters that could influence IMS were investigated and optimized (temperature; injection: 220 and IMS cell:190C, flow rate; carrier: 300 and drift: 600 mL/minute, voltage; corona: 2300 and drift: 7000 V,pulse width: 100 ms). Under optimum …
Vitamin K occurs widely in foods and has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, as well as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiosteoporosis properties. A previous study indicates that long-chain menaquinone-7 may be more bioavailable than vitamin K and short-chain menaquinones. In the present study, acute, subacute toxicity and genotoxicity assays were carried …
The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has dramatically increased in the past decade. Furthermore, increasing evidence from research shows that oxidative stress (OS) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and in its complications. A search for ways to reduce oxidative damage has become the focus of interest for the majority of scientists. In this study, we determined the radical…
In this work, a poly(aminosulfonic acid) modified glassy carbon electrode was fabricated and the electrochemical behavior of chlorogenic acid (CGA) was studied by cyclic voltammetry. Compared with a bare glassy carbon electrode, the modified electrode exhibits excellent catalytic effect on the electrochemical redox of CGA. Utilizing this catalytic effect,a sensitive and selective electrochemica…
Roasted Trichosanthes kirilowii seeds have much more intense flavor than the raw seeds,and are commonly used as food and in the preparations of many medicinal formulations. Volatile constituents in the raw and roasted T. kirilowii seeds were separated by simultaneous distillation and extraction, and analyzed by gas chromatographyemass spectrometry on two capillary gas chromatography columns of…
Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris) exhibits many biological activities including antioxidant,inhibition of inflammation, cancer prevention, hypoglycemic, and antiaging properties,etc. However, a majority of studies involving C. militaris have focused only on in vitro and animal models, and there is a lack of direct translation and application of study results to clinical practice (e.g., health ben…
The primary objective of a Phase I cancer clinical trial is to determine the maximum tolerated dose of a drug. The “failure probability” was proposed and used as a constraint to help identify a suitable initial dose range. The maximum tolerated dose was then determined based on a 3 þ 3 cohort-based escalation scheme. Multiple simulations were conducted,and the method was evaluated accordin…
The electrochemical oxidation behavior of hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) on a glassy carbon as a working electrode was investigated in BrittoneRobinson (BeR) buffer pH 3, by using anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). This drug gave a welldefined voltammetric oxidation peak at þ 1200 mV versus an Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The electrochemical oxidation process was shown…
As a basis for the development of a sensitive analytical method for the determination of carmine food dye, a study of the differential pulse polarographic reduction of carminic acid (CA) on a dropping mercury electrode was performed. For the analytical differential pulse polarographic method running at pH 2.0 BrittoneRobinson (BeR) buffer solution (peak at 489 mV), the relationship between the…
The analytical method for sweeteners in various food matrixes is very important for food quality control and regulation enforcement. A simple and rapid method for the simultaneous determination of 10 sweeteners [acesulfame potassium (ACS-K), aspartame (ASP), cyclamate (CYC), dulcin (DUL), glycyrrhizic acid (GA), neotame (NEO), neohesperidin dihydrochalcone (NHDC), saccharin (SAC), sucralose (SC…
In this study, near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy and radial basis function (RBF) neural network algorithm were used to measure the protein content of wheat owing to their nondestructiveness and quick speed as well as better performance compared to the traditional measuring method (semimicro-Kjeldahl) in actual practice. To simplify the complex structure of the RBF network caused by the ex…
The current study evaluated the stability potential of a transdermal patch composed of eserine and pralidoxime chloride for prophylaxis against ()-anatoxin A poisoning. The drug combinations were fabricated in an adhesive matrix system supported by a backing membrane and attached to a temporary release liner. Stability testing of the optimized formulation was established for 6 months under ac…
Independent component (IC) analysis was applied to near-infrared spectroscopy for analysis of gentiopicroside and swertiamarin; the two bioactive components of Gentiana scabra Bunge. ICs that are highly correlated with the two bioactive components were selected for the analysis of tissue cultures, shoots and roots, which were found to distribute in three different positions within the domain [t…
Calamondin has been demonstrated to exhibit antioxidant function and tyrosinase inhibitory activity, which might be attributed to its flavonoid compounds. To improve their application, the flavonoid compositions and antioxidant activity of calamondin extracts,prepared by different solvents, were investigated. The results showed that total phenolic and flavonoid contents of extracts from peel of…
Drug abuse has become a global issue of concern. It affects not only individual users, but also their families and communities. Data were retrieved from the database of the Taiwan Surveillance System of Drug Abuse and Addiction Treatment (SSDAAT) from 2002 to 2011,and 147,660 cases reported by medical institutions in Taiwan were reviewed. This study showed that the top five reported abused drug…
Baicalein and pentamethyl-hydroxychromane (PMC) have been investigated for use as antioxidants. However, antioxidants may stimulate free radical formation under certain conditions. The aim of our study was to determine whether PMC and baicalein exhibit both pro-oxidant and antioxidant activities in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. In this study, electron spin resonance spectrometry …
In recent years, recreational use of Salvia divinorum (Lamiaceae), a herbal drug that contains a hallucinogenic ingredient, salvinorin A, has become a new phenomenon among young drug users. In Taiwan, as in many other countries, dry leaves of S. divinorum and its related concentrated extract products are available via the Internet. Besides S. divinorum, there are many endemic Salvia species who…
Traditional Taiwanese rice spirits were made from rice, which is their only ingredient and ethanol source. Site-specific natural isotopic fractionation by nuclear magnetic resonance (SNIF-NMR) methods were used to investigate molasses spirits usually mixed in rice spirits. Themeanratios for the parameters in five rice spirits labeled as Taikeng 8,Taikeng 9,Taichung sen 10, Tainan 11, and Tainun…