ABSTRACT Purpose: To explore the role and mechanism of curcumin (Cur) in reducing oxidative stress damage in rats with nephrolithiasis induced by ethylene glycol (EG). Methods: Thirty male rats were divided into normal control, model, positive (10% potassium citrate), Cur-10 (10 mg/kg curcumin) and Cur-20 (20 mg/kg curcumin) groups. Results: The results of kidney tissue section stained by hematoxylin-eosin and von Kossa showed that curcumin treatment can inhibit the formation of kidney stones. The biochemical test results showed that the urea (Ur), creatinine (Cr), uric acid (UA), inorganic phosphorus and Ca2+ concentrations in urine decreased after being treated with curcumin. There were significant differences between different doses of curcumin (P < 0.05). Compared with the Cur-10 group, Cur-20 had a more significant inhibitory effect on malondialdehyde (MDA) (P < 0.05). In addition, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection and immunohistochemical results indicated that the osteopontin (OPN) in the kidney was significantly reduced after curcumin treatment. Conclusions: Curcumin could reduce the oxidative stress damage caused by EG-induced kidney stones.

Abstract Acanthopanax gracilistylus W.W.Smith (AGS) is an traditional Chinese medicine and its leaves that have rich biological activities has been long used as a fresh vegetable in Chinese folk. There are two lupane-type triterpenoids, 3α,11α-dihydroxy-23-oxo-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (1) and 3α,11α,23-trihydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (2), were isolated as the active constituents from leaves of AGS. However, the anti-inflammatory effects and potential mechanisms of 1 and 2 on LPS-induced RAW264.7 Macrophages have not been evaluated. In this study, the results shown that compounds 1 and 2 reduced the levels of early pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, the secretion of late pro-inflammatory cytokine HMGB1, as well as the activation of transcription factor NF-κB in RAW 264.7 macrophages induced by LPS. In conclusion, two lupane-type triterpenes (1 and 2) have anti-inflammatory activities in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells through inhibiting expression of proinflammatory cytokines and NF‐κB activation and could be potentially used in treatment of inflammatory-related diseases in the future.

Abstract To investigate the effect of corosolic acid treatment on erectile function in metabolic syndrome induced rat model. Fifty male 3-week-old SD rats were fed a high fat and high sugar diet. Six months later, metabolic variables were determined. Metabolic syndrome induced erectile function (MED) rats were confirmed by an apomorphine test. Then MED rats were treated with corosolic acid daily by oral gavage for 4 weeks. To evaluate erectile function, intracavernosal pressure (ICP)/mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) ratio was measured. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay and dihydroethidium staining were used to assess reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Protein expressions of gp91phox and eNOS were examined by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Fasting blood glucose, body weight, total cholesterol and insulin were markedly increased in metabolic syndrome rats compared with those of the control rats (p < 0.05). The ratios of max ICP/MAP and area under curve (AUC)/MAP was markedly reduced in MED rats compared with the control rats (p < 0.05). The concentration of cyclic guanosine mono-phosphate (cGMP) and the expression of eNOS were significantly decreased in MED rats compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, ROS level and the expression of gp91phox were significantly increased in MED rats. Treatment with corosolic acid reversed these changes (each p < 0.05). Corosolic acid reduces the level of ROS, ameliorating endothelial dysfunction and improvement of erectile function in MED rats.

A dinuclear complex [Dy(m-MBA)3phen]2-H2O was prepared by the reaction of DyCl3-6H2O, m-methylbenzoic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline in a 1:3:1 molar ratio, where m-MBA = m-methylbenzoate and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline. The complex was structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, UV and IR spectroscopy, molar conductance and TG-DTG techniques. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group Cc with a =15.962(16), b = 18.505(18), c = 22.547(2) Ǻ; a = 90 °, β = 97.9820(10) °, y = 90°; z = 4. The unit cell contains a dinuclear molecule of the title compound. Each Dy(III) ion is eight-coordinated to one 1,10-phenanthroline molecule, one bidentate carboxylate group and four bridging carboxylate groups. The carboxylate groups are bonded to the dysprosium ions in two modes: chelating bidentate and bridging bidentate. The thermal decomposition process of [Dy(m-MBA)3phen]2-H2O has been followed by thermal analysis.

O complexo [Sm(oClBA)3phen]2 (oClBA= o-clorobenzoato; phen= 1,10-fenantrolina) foi preparado pela reação de SmCl3·6H2O com ácido o-clorobenzóico e 1,10-fenantrolina. O complexo foi caracterizado por um estudo de difração de raios-X, análise elementar, espectroscopia no infravermelho e técnicas TG-DTG. O cristal é triclínico, grupo espacial P I com a = 13,157(3) Å, b = 14,139(4) Å, c = 17,397(4) Å, alfa = 83,755(3)º, beta = 84,064(3)º, gama = 73,434(3)º, Z=2, Dc=1,722 Mg/m³, F(000)=1572. Contém duas unidades cristalograficamente distintas de Sm(o-ClC6H4COO)3(C12H 8N2), formando dois tipos de moléculas binucleares. Cada Sm3+ encontra-se coordenado a dois átomos de oxigênio de um grupo carboxilato bidentado quelante, cinco átomos de oxigênio de dois grupos carboxilatos bidentados ligados em ponte e de três grupos carboxilatos tridentados quelantes e ligados em ponte, e a dois átomos de nitrogênio de uma molécula de 1,10-fenantrolina, completando uma geometria monoencampuzada antiprismática quadrada. A decomposição térmica deste composto foi estudada por técnicas TG-DTG, e os parâmetros cinéticos da primeira etapa da decomposição foram determinados pelos métodos de Kissinger e Ozawa-Doyle. A equação de meia vida após 10% de perda de peso, lntau= 26,8166+20319,94/T, foi deduzida por análise termogravimétrica da isoterma.

The title complex [Sm(oClBA)3phen]2 (oClBA= o-chlorobenzoate; phen= 1,10-phenanthroline) was prepared by the reaction of SmCl3·6H2O, o-chlorobenzoic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline. The complex was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR spectra and TG-DTG techniques. The results show that the crystal is triclinic, space group P I with a = 13.157(3) Å, b = 14.139(4) Å, c = 17.397(4) Å, alpha = 83.755(3)º, beta = 84.064(3)º, gamma =73.434(3)º, Z=2, Dc=1.722 Mg/m³, F(000)=1572. The crystal contains two crystallographically distinct Sm(o-ClC6H4COO)3(C12H 8N2) units, forming two types of binuclear molecule. Each Sm3+ is coordinated to two O atoms of one bidentate chelating carboxylate group, five O atoms of two bidentate bridging and two tridentate chelating-bridging carboxylate groups, and two N atoms of one 1,10-phenanthroline molecule to complete a distorted mono-capped square antiprism geometry. Its thermal decomposition mechanism was determined by TG-DTG techniques, and kinetic parameters have been studied on the first-step decomposition of [Sm(oClBA)3phen]2 by means of Kissinger's method and Ozawa-Doyle's method. The lifetime equation at weight-loss of 10% was deduced as lntau= 26.8166+20319.94/T by isothermal thermogravimetric analysis.