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The excessive activation of glutamate in the brain is a factor in the development of vascular dementia. γ-Oryzanol is a natural compound that has been shown to enhance brain function, but more research is needed to determine its potential as a treatment for vascular dementia. This study investigated if γ-oryzanol can delay or improve glutamate neurotoxicity in an in vitro model of differentiated HT-22 cells and explored its neuroprotective mechanisms. The differentiated HT-22 cells were treated with 0.1 mmol/L glutamate for 24 h then given γ-oryzanol at appropriate concentrations or memantine (10 µmol/L) for another 24 h. Glutamate produced reactive oxygen species and depleted glutathione in the cells, which reduced their viability. Mitochondrial dysfunction was also observed, including the inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I activity, the collapse of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and the reduction of intracellular ATP levels in the HT-22 cells. Calcium influx triggered by glutamate subsequently activated type II calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII) in the HT-22 cells. The activation of CaMKII-ASK1-JNK MAP kinase cascade, decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and increased Apaf-1-dependent caspase-9 activation were also observed due to glutamate induction, which were associated with increased DNA fragmentation. These events were attenuated when the cells were treated with γ-oryzanol (0.4 mmol/L) or the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist memantine. The results suggest that γ-oryzanol has potent neuroprotective properties against glutamate excitotoxicity in differentiated HT-22 cells. Therefore, γ-oryzanol could be a promising candidate for the development of therapies for glutamate excitotoxicity-associated neurodegenerative diseases, including vascular dementia.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to illustrate a novel method for improving presbyopia by drinking cassiae tea. Materials and Methods: A total of 425 eyes from 425 participants (aged 52.5 ± 9.5 years) were recruited and divided into several experimental groups over a 6-month period. Participants consumed cassiae tea daily (10 g of cassiae semen brewed in 500 cc of water). Meanwhile, control group participants consumed 500 cc of plain water along with 1000 mg of vitamin C each day. Experiments 1 and 2: Participants with severe dry eye and intraocular pressure (IOP) > 30 mmHg were enrolled, and outcomes were assessed for these conditions, respectively. Experiments 3, 4, and 7: These experiments evaluated pupil size, near vision, and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in two groups of volunteers. Experiment 5: Different quantities of cassiae tea were prescribed to various groups, and near vision was measured. Experiment 6: Three questionnaires assessed presbyopic symptoms after cassiae tea consumption. Experiment 8: The antioxidant activity of cassiae tea compared with other bioactive compounds and Chinese herbs was evaluated using the DPPH test. Results: By the fourth month of the study, participants experienced increased tear volume and reduced IOP. Pupil size constricted, near vision improved, and serum SOD levels increased. Furthermore, greater consumption of cassiae tea was correlated with better near vision. The antioxidant activity of cassiae tea was found to surpass that of anthocyanins, wolfberry, and vitamin C. Conclusions: Drinking cassiae tea improves dry eye symptoms, reduces IOP, regulates pupil size, and enhances near vision due to its excellent antioxidant and pharmacological properties. These benefits may particularly aid individuals with presbyopia and those engaged in near-distance activities, such as smartphone use.

Two new sesquiterpenoids—13-hydroxycurzerenone (1) and 1-oxocurzerenone (2)—have been isolated from the rhizomes of Curcuma zedoaria, together with 13 known compounds (3–15). The structures of two new compounds were determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. Among the isolated compounds, 13-hydroxycurzerenone (1), 1-oxocurzerenone (2), curzerenone (3), germacrone (4), curcolone (5), procurcumenol (6), ermanin (7), curcumin (8), and a mixture of stigmast-4-en-3,6-dione (12) and stigmasta-4,22-dien-3,6-dione (13) exhibited inhibition (with inhibition % in the range of 21.28%–67.58%) against collagen-induced platelet aggregation at 100 μM. Compounds 1, 5, 7, 8, and the mixture of 12 and 13 inhibited arachidonic acid (AA)-induced platelet aggregation at 100 μM with inhibition % in the range of 23.44%–95.36%.

The first-principle method is adopted to study doping of different atoms X (X = Cr, Mo, or W) in ZnTe compound. The spin-down bandgaps of the X-doped Zn 0.96875 X 0.03125 Te alloys are 1.368, 1.415, and 1.399 eV for X = Cr, Mo, and W, respectively. All the doped Zn 0.96875 X 0.03125 Te (X = Cr, Mo, or W) alloys presents half-metallic (HM) feature, which is different from the ZnTe semiconductor, thus the doped HM alloys are the potential materials for spintronic applications. The Cr-3 d (t 2g ) and Te-5 p spin-up states of the Zn 0.96875 Cr 0.03125 Te alloy intersect the Fermi level, but only the Mo-4 d (t 2g ) and W-5 d (t 2g ) spin-up states of the Zn 0.96875 Mo 0.03125 Te and Zn 0.96875 W 0.03125 Te alloys, respectively, intersect the Fermi level. For the Zn 0.96875 Cr 0.03125 Te alloy, the double-degenerate d yz and d xz spin-up states of Cr atom are occupied, but the undegenerated d xy states of Cr atom are unoccupied. But for Zn 0.96875 X 0.03125 Te (X = Mo or W) alloys, the threefold degenerate d xy , d yz , and d xz states of X atoms are half-occupied. All the X-doped Zn 0.96875 X 0.03125 Te (X = Cr, Mo, or W) alloys are magnetic with the total magnetic moments of 4.000 μ B mainly contributed by the X atom and neighboring Te atoms. The doped Zn 0.96875 X 0.03125 Te (X = Cr, Mo, or W) alloys have promising applications in infrared devices.

A new limonoid, swietemacrophin (1), was isolated from the seeds of Swietenia macrophylla, together with five known compounds 2–6. The structure of 1 was determined through extensive 1D/2D-NMR and mass-spectrometric analyses. Swietemacrophin (1), humilinolide F (2), 3,6-O,O-diacetylswietenolide (3), 3-O-tigloylswietenolide (4), and swietemahonin E (5) exhibited inhibition (IC50 values ≤ 45.44 μM) of superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils in response to formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP). Compounds 1, 4, 5, and swietenine (6) showed potent inhibition with IC50 values ≤ 36.32 μM, against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) generation.

A new coumarin derivative, 7-O-methylparamicoumarin A (1), has been isolated from the roots of Chionanthus retusus, together with seven known compounds. The structure of new compound 1 was determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. Among the isolates, luteolin (3), quercetin (4), and apigenin (5) exhibited cytotoxicities with IC50 values of 13.69 ± 1.10, 10.41 ± 0.79, and 12.25 ± 0.91 μM, respectively, against DLD-1 cell line. Luteolin (3), quercetin (4), and apigenin (5) also exhibited cytotoxicities with IC50 values of 15.35 ± 1.24, 13.52 ± 0.87, and 19.48 ± 1.26 μM, respectively, against CCRF-CEM cell line. In addition, kaempferol (2), apigenin (5), 3,3′,5,5′,7-pentahydroxyflavanone (6), and oleuropein (8) showed potent inhibition with IC50 values of 24.84 ± 1.95, 27.18 ± 1.82, 25.18 ± 2.07, and 28.14 ± 1.66 μM, respectively, against LPS-induced NO generation.

Purpose: To evaluate the pharmacological effects of propranolol treatment of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) over 4 months. Results: Among the 89 male and 31 female patients, the mean BCVA decreased to 0.42 ± 0.08 logMAR during CSCR attacks. Oral propranolol showed good effectiveness in reducing CSCR signs after at least 4 months of treatment. The final BCVA of the patients in groups 1 and 2 was 0.09 ± 0.01 and 0.19 ± 0.03 logMAR, respectively (p < 0.05). Moreover, the mean complete remission time in groups 1 and 2 was 1.9 and 3.5 months, respectively (p < 0.05), while the “success” rate in groups 1 and 2 was 95.0% (57/60) and 78.3% (47/60), respectively (p < 0.05). The recurrence rate in groups 1 and 2 was 5.3% (3/57) and 25.5% (12/47) after a further 5 months of follow-up, respectively (p < 0.05). Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty patients were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups that both underwent a visual acuity test and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanning, between April and December 2017. The 60 patients in group 1 were requested to take propranolol for 4 months, while the other 60 subjects (group 2) received placebo therapy during the same period. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of every volunteer and an OCT image of each patient were checked and recorded at the beginning of the study and each week thereafter. If the signs of CSCR disappeared completely from the OCT scans, the case was considered a “success” and treatment stopped at once. However, the “success” subjects were further evaluated in follow-ups throughout the next 5 months to determine the rate of recurrence in groups 1 and 2. The time of total complete remission of CSCR from the OCT scans was also measured in groups 1 and 2. Conclusion: CSCR patients revealed an excellent prognosis and success rate of 95.0% after taking propranolol. The treatment was able to enhance subretinal fluid (SRF) absorption, shorten the time to total complete remission, and significantly decrease CSCR recurrence. As such, we suggest that taking propranolol may be an alternative and viable choice for CSCR patients, given that the new method was shown to be safe, cheap, effective, well tolerated and convenient.

A new triterpenoid, methyl 2α-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)oxy-3β-hydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oate (1), has been isolated from the leaves of Eriobotrya deflexa f. deflexa, together with five known compounds, quercetin (2), kaempferol 3-O-β-glucoside (3), naringenin (4), ursolic acid (5), and euscaphic acid (6). The structure of new compound 1 was determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. Among the isolates, quercetin (2), naringenin (4), and ursolic acid (5) showed potent inhibition with IC50 values of 31.74 ± 1.87, 24.25 ± 1.68, and 18.05 ± 1.02 μM, respectively, against LPS-induced NO generation.

A new lignanamide derivative, lycichinenamide (1), has been isolated from the root barks of Lycium chinense together with nine known compounds, lyciumamide H (2), 5,2′-dihydroxy-6,7,8,6′-tetramethoxyflavone (3), 7α,8β-3′-O-methylcedrusin (4), smiglabrol (5), trans-N-caffeoyltyramine (6), vanillic acid (7), syringic acid (8), 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (9), and 1,5-dihydroxy-2-isoprenyl-3-methoxyxanthone (10). The structure of the new compound 1 was determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. Among the isolates, lycichinenamide (1), lyciumamide H (2), smiglabrol (5), and trans-N-caffeoyltyramine (6) showed potent inhibition with IC50 values of 18.5 ± 2.1, 21.8 ± 1.8, 12.4 ± 0.3, and 24.6 ± 2.0 μM, respectively, against LPS-induced NO generation. In addition, 1,5-dihydroxy-2-isoprenyl-3-methoxyxanthone (10) exhibited anti-Dengue virus activity with IC50 value of 22.4 ± 1.6 μM against Dengue virus serotype 2 strain PL046.

A new flavone, 8-formyl-7-hydroxy-6,4′-dimethoxyflavone (1), has been isolated from the leaves of Nicotiana tabacum, together with five known compounds, 8-formyl-4′-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavone (2), quercetin (3), (2R,3R)-3,5-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (4), kaempferol (5), and rutin (6). The structure of the new compound 1 was determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. Among the isolates, 8-formyl-7-hydroxy-6,4′-dimethoxyflavone (1) and 8-formyl-4′-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavone (2) exhibited cytotoxicities, with IC50 values of 2.24 ± 0.32 and 3.40 ± 0.21 μg/mL, respectively, against CCRF-CEM and P388D1 cell lines.