Aims: The marine actinomycetes are a rich source of novel bioactive molecules. Especially the exotic tropical marine habitat of the Kerala coastal region favours the actinomycete diversity. The present study focuses on the isolation, purification and morphological characterization of marine actinomycetes for the discovery of new bioactive compounds. Methodology and results: A total of 280 morphologically distinct actinomycetes were isolated from marine soil and sediments of 10 different isolation sites located along the coastal region of Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India using standard microbiological techniques. The physicochemical analysis of the soil samples collected from different stations was also done. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Even though the soil/sediment samples were collected from geographically nearby places, the physicochemical parameters showed a significant variation. This may be one of the factors which may trigger the actinomycete diversity in these regions. The diversity of actinomycetes prevalent in this region could serve as a potential source for the discovery of novel biomolecules.
Actinobacteria ; Soil ; Chemical Phenomena

Alkaloids ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; Chemical Phenomena ; Chemistry ; Harringtonines

OBJECTIVETo optimize the preparation technology of effective fraction of Catharsius molossus, and investigate the feasibility of process control by the physical and chemical characterization of extracts.

METHODUsed single-factor test method, choosed the main effective components of peptides and amino acids as indexes, combined with theology, chemistry, electricity, and other characterization, the study researched the prepared technology of effective fraction of C. molossus including extraction, concentration, separation, purification, drying and so on.

RESULTThe optimal preparation technology of effective fraction of C. molossus was that soaked an amount of crude drugs with three times of 85% ethanol for 48 h, added 10 times of 85% ethanol, percolated in 4 mL x min(-1) x kg(-1), collected percolation liquid, concentrated to 1:1 at 50-55 degrees C, removed fat by frozen, adopted DA201-C macroporous resin, used 1 BV of water and 4 BV of 70% ethanol as eluting agent, collected eluant respectively. The water part was concentrated and dried, then washed twice with 85% ethanol, collected washing liquid and mixed with 70% ethanol eluant. The product was obtained by concentrating and dring. At the same time, the liquid-phase system of each link was characterized in preparation of effective fraction of C. molossus, which showed that the surface tension related to polypeptide was essentially unchanged, and the conductivity related to salt decreased by about 90% with ineffective substances closely related to salt The results showed that the preparation technology maximumly retained the effective information, and removed the invalid information.

CONCLUSIONThe preparation technology of effective fraction of C. molossus is stable and reliable, and the process control in physico-chemical characterization of extracts is feasible.

Amino Acids ; analysis ; Animals ; Chemical Fractionation ; Chemical Phenomena ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Coleoptera ; chemistry ; Peptides ; analysis

Gelatin and hydroxyapatite were introduced to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel with an attempt to enhance the performances of PVA hydrogel. Through a reiterative freezing-thawing methods, three kinds of PVA composite hydrogels were prepared. The mechanical performances of these composite hydrogels with the same PVA and HA content but varying gelatin content, such as tensile strength, elasticity modulus, creep curve, relaxation curve and friction coefficient were evaluated by using a computer-controlled universal electronic mechanical testing machine and a UMT-II frictional testing machine. The additional effects of hydroxylapatite and varying gelatin on the performances of composite PVA hydro-gels were analyzed. It was found that the gelatin content directly influenced the physical performances of PVA composite hydrogels; but no linear relationship was recorded. PVA composite hydrogel containing 2wt-% gelatin gave optimal results, i.e. tensile strength of 5.5MPa, compressive elastical modulus of 1.48MPa, creeping rate of 31% in 45 minutes, stress relaxing rate of 40.3%, and the starting friction coefficient of 0.332.
Elastic Modulus ; Friction ; Hydrogels ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Mechanical Phenomena ; Polyvinyl Alcohol ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Tensile Strength

OBJECTIVETo study the hasubanan type alkaloids in Stephania hernandifolia.

METHODThe dried herbs of S. hernandifolia. were extracted with 95% ethanol. After removal of the solvent, the residue was first partitioned between acid water and petroleum ether, then the aqueous layer was basified and extracted with chloroform to obtain crude alkaloids. Column chromatograghic methods with on silica gel, Rp-18, MCI CHP 20P, Sephadex LH-20 were applied for the isolation and purification of the crude alkaloid fraction. The structures were elucidated by their physicochemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTNine hasubanan type alkaloids were obtained and identified as aknadinine(1), longanone(2), stephasunoline (3), N-methylstephuline(4), epistephamiersine(5), prostephabyssine(6), aknadilactam(7), dihydroepistephamiersine(8), hasubanonine(9).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 2-8 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chemical Phenomena ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Stephania ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study relationships between the main active ingredients and physical and chemical parameters of dangguibuxue decoction, and to explore the feasibility of characterization the quality of decoction by physical and chemical parameters.

METHODSolutions of ferulic acid and astragaloside with different concentrations were prepared, of which physical and chemical parameters such as surface tension, pH value and conductivity, etc were determined at 25 degrees C. And polynomial regression analysis was used to analyze these data.

RESULTWith the increase of concentration of ferulic acid, pH value was decreased and conductivity was increased. And surface tension was decreased in the aqueous solution of astragaloside. In the combined solution of ferulic acid and astragaloside, ferulic acid was the main influencing pH value and conductivity, while astragaloside was the main factor influencing surface tension.

CONCLUSIONOn one hand, astragaloside concentration has a significant correlation with surface tension, but almost no correlation with pH value and conductivity. On the other hand, ferulic acid concentration has a strong correlation with pH value and conductivity, but almost no correlation with surface tension. In addition, each parameter has strong anti-interference ability and almost didn't change with the addition of another material. These preliminary results suggested that such characteristic parameters could be used to characterize the decoction quality.

Chemical Phenomena ; Coumaric Acids ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Surface Tension

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the leaf of Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by various chromatographic techniques and their structures were elucidated by their physicochemical properties and the analysis of their spectroscopic data.

RESULTSeven compounds were isolated and identified as corchoionoside C (1), 1'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (2R,3S)-3-hydroxynodakenetin (2), quercetin-3-O-robinobioside (3), rutin (4), quercetin-3-O-scillabioside (5), keampferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2) [alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), mauritianin (7).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-7 were isolated from the genus Clausena for the first time.

Chemical Phenomena ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Clausena ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; chemistry

Several complexes with different mass ratios of hyaluronic acid to pectin were studied using AFM and IR at the room temperature kept by air conditioning. The results showed that hyaluronic acid and pectin were in the state of being complex and were consistent when the concentrations of hyaluronic acid and pectin were above 1 mg/ml and 5 mg/ml respectively, and the mass ratio was 1 : 5. The complex self-assembled to composite grain-shaped film. In comparison with simple hyaluronic acid, the viscosity of hylauronic acid and pectin complex was stronger, and water-solubility was lower. The complex has the bio-function of both hylauronic acid and pectin and has wide application potential in the field of biomedical engineering.
Chemical Phenomena ; Hyaluronic Acid ; chemistry ; Pectins ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Tissue Engineering ; Viscosity

This study aimed to evaluate the rheological characteristic of W/O microemulsion. Using the Low Shear-30 Sinus Rheometer, we assessed the effects of water percentage in microemulsion on the apparent viscosity of microemulsion at different shear rates and temperature, and on the viscoelasticity of microemulsion. The results demonstrated that with the increase of water, the apparent viscosities at four different shear rates increased exponentially. The fitted curve between water percentage and the apparent viscosity (eta) at low shear rate was steeper than the others. We found that viscous component (eta') and elastic component (eta") also increased exponentially when water percentage was increasing. This communication addressed the relationship between water percentage and eta, and discussed the physical meaning of the elastic component. The results suggest that both the viscous component and the elastic component present qualitatively physical nature, but the viscous component is more accurate than the other.
Chemical Phenomena ; Chemistry, Physical ; Elasticity ; Emulsions ; Phosphatidylcholines ; chemistry ; Rheology ; Shear Strength ; Viscosity

The perfluorocarbon (PFC) nanoparticle is a sort of new drug carrier in recent years, and it has lots of unique properties such as chemical stability, favourable biocompatibility, high aerobic capacity, targeting action to tissues or cells and so on. In this paper, we summarize the physico-chemical properties of the PFC nanoparticles. We also show the research progress of the PFC nanoparticles as a kind of drug carrier for targeted therapy of cardiovascular system, nervous system diseases and tumor. Further more, its characteristics of being selectively in target cells, tissues, and rapid release of drugs are expounded. PFC nanoparticles, as drug carriers for targeted diagnosis and treatment, have good prospect and clinical application value.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; pharmacology ; Chemical Phenomena ; Drug Carriers ; pharmacology ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Fluorocarbons ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Nanoparticles