Measurement of anthocyanins and other phytochemicals in purple wheat

The major anthocyanin composition of normal purple wheat and heat stressed purple wheat were measured using HPLC, LC–MS/MS and the pH differential method. The lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) and melatonin content were also measured. Total anthocyanin profile of normal purple wheat (491.3 mg/kg) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of the heat stressed purple wheat (522.7 mg/kg). Thirteen major anthocyanins were isolated and cyanidin 3-glucoside was the predominant anthocyanin in purple wheat. Using the pH differential method, the total anthocyanin content of normal (500.6 mg/kg) and heat stressed (526.0 mg/kg) purple wheat were similar to those observed using HPLC. The SDG content of normal and heat stressed purple wheat were 770 and 520 μg/kg, while melatonin content was 4 and 2 μg/kg, respectively. The presence of SDG and melatonin in addition to anthocyanins may contribute to the health benefits associated with consumption of coloured cereal grains.     

光照调整对于牛乳中褪黑素质量浓度的影响及其检测

通过调整奶牛的光照周期使牛乳中富含褪黑素成分,并通过液相色谱技术对于富含褪黑素的原料乳进行检测,结果发现褪黑素质量浓度有显著提高。色谱条件:色谱柱Zorbax eclipse XDB C18柱;流动相为甲醇∶水=60∶40,流速为1 mL/min,荧光检测器Ex=286 nm,Em=345 nm。     

pH tuning of Nafion for selective detection of tryptophan

Selective and sensitive detection of the amino acid tryptophan is of importance in food processing, pharmaceutical formulations and in biological fluids. Electrochemical methods of detection of tryptophan are hampered by sluggish electron transfer kinetics and in complex matrices through overlapping peaks from interferents. This study examines the potential of the cation exchange membrane Nafion^® to enhance selectivity and sensitivity of this analyte through a seldom explored feature of this membrane: pH manipulation. A detailed examination of the effect of pH on the selectivity afforded by Nafion^® as a function of the analyte charge is presented. Selective detection of tryptophan and significant increases in sensitivity of its detection was observed in the presence of melatonin, dopamine and other interferents present in a pharmaceutical formulation through manipulation of the pH of the solution. At pH 3.0 at a Nafion^®-modified electrode, changes in the protonation of melatonin and tryptophan lowered the anodic potential of the analytes in a non-uniform manner increasing the peak resolution and permitting analyses with detection limits of 1.6 ± 0.1 nM and 1.6 ± 0.2 nM, respectively.     

Some effects of jet-lag and their alleviation by melatonin

Abstract

Seventeen healthy volunteers (10 women and 7 men, aged 29-68) were flown from London to San Francisco between 20 November 1985 and 25 January 1986 and remained there for 14 days prior to flight home. Subjects took melatonin (N = 8, 5 women, 3 men) or placebo in a double-blind design, at 18.00h local time for three days before the return flight and at bedtime (22.00-24.00h) in Great Britain for four days. For three days before departure and on days 1-7,14,15, 21 and 22 after their return subjects collected 6-hourly sequential urine samples and kept a daily sleep log. They recorded mood and oral temperature 2 hourly and performed logical reasoning and letter cancellation tests 4 hourly from 08.00h (or wake up time) to 24.00h (or bedtime) whichever was the earlier. Urine was also collected for 48 h prior to departure from the U.S.A‥ On day 7 after their return subjects rated ‘jet lag’ (10 cm visual analogue scale—VAS) from 0 (insignificant) to 100 (very bad). Melatonin significantly improved ‘jet lag’ (p= 0.009). Comparisons by ANOVA between jet-lagged placebo subjects (N = 7) and melatonin (N = 8) showed decreased sleep latency with melatonin (p= 0.0397) which correlated positively with jet lag ratings, p< 0.001. Sleep quality was significantly improved in the melatonin group and correlated negatively with jet-lag ratings (p<0.001). No important differences were found in temperature, or performance data. Baseline differences were present in some performance ratings but no other variables. Melatonin treated subjects tended to be more alert than placebo subjects, especially at bedtime. They were also less depressed. Endogenous melatonin and Cortisol rhythms resyn-chronized more rapidly in melatonin subjects (p= 0.0216 and p= 0.0299 respectively, absolute acrophase shifts). Cortisol rhythms indicated adaptation to U.S.A. time in 14 days. These data suggest that MT can alleviate jet-lag after Eastward flight over eight time zones. Presumably its affects are primarily on sleep latency, quality, and directly or indirectly on some hormonal rhythms.     

褪黑素对电离辐射所致C57BL/6J小鼠免疫功能损伤的防护作用

探讨了褪黑素(Melatonin,MLT)对电离辐射诱导小鼠免疫功能损伤的影响及其机制.采用C57BL/6J小鼠,腹腔注射MLT后60min给予2Gy X射线全身照射,观察照射后24h其胸腺、脾淋巴细胞数量及胸腺细胞3H-TdR掺入率和Con A、LPS诱导的脾T、B淋巴细胞转化率的变化.结果表明,2Gy X射线全身照射后24h,小鼠胸腺、脾淋巴细胞数量、胸腺细胞3H-TdR掺入率及有丝分裂原诱导的脾T、B淋巴细胞转化率均显著低于假照组(p＜0.001).以MLT 0.5-10mg@kg-1体重预先腹腔注射,受照射小鼠免疫功能发生如下变化:胸腺、脾淋巴细胞数显著高于0mg组(单纯照射).其中,0.5mg组增高最显著;胸腺细胞3H-TdR掺入率显著增高(p＜0.01或p＜0.001),以0.5mg组增高最显著;ConA诱导的T淋巴细胞转化率显著增高,也以0.5mg组为最显著;细菌脂多糖(LPS)诱导的B淋巴细胞转化率增高,以10mg组最显著.此外,2.5mg组MLT可增强无丝裂原诱导的脾淋巴细胞转化率.MLT可减轻电离辐射诱导的小鼠淋巴细胞损伤,对免疫功能具有保护作用.     

吲哚荷尔蒙自由基脉冲辐解光谱及其酸基平衡和还原电位性质研究

The Absorption spectral, acid-base equilibrium potential properties and formation and decay kinetics of four kinds of radicals from natural existing indole hormones were studied by pulse radiolysis.One of the most important properties for these four indolyl hormones, melatonin, 5-methoxygramine (MTA),5-methoxy-N, N-dimethylthytrytamine (DMM TA) and 5-methoxy-N, N-diethylthytrytamine (DEMT A), which are involved in biochemical processes and play crucial roles in many neuropathy and cancer related diseases, is their facile one electron oxidation with formation of radical cations or their conjugated base, the indolyl radicals.Formation kinetics and properties of the radicals were investigated by pulse radiolysis using the Linac accelerator with fast time-resolving optical system in UTNL.In the present study, these radicals were generated through oxidation of the corresponding hormone with azide radical in radiation induced process. Their spectroscopic properties were investigated and it was found that the transient spectra in all these cases exhibit similar absorption and pH dependence: in acidic solution, the radicals are characterized with three absorption maxima around 320-350, 440-460, 520-550nm. The spectra of MTA at various pH were shown as an example. From the absorption changes as a function of pH, two pK values were determined to be around 5 and 9 for the indolyl radicals except for melatonin, in which, only one pK was distinguished to be 4.4. Formation kinetics of the radicals was measured by following the growth of their absorption peaks and it was found that these indolyl derivatives transfer an electron to N3, with different rate constants, i.e.1.2×1010, 4.5×109, 4.9×109, 1.6×109 dm3 mol-1 s-1 for melatonin, MTA, DMMTA, and DEMTA, respectively.Reduction potentials of the radicals vs their molecules were also determined and they are dependent on the pH of medium. At pH 7, the reduction potentials were estimated to be 1.10, 1.18, 1.18, 1.20eV for melatonin, MTA,DMMTA and DEMTA, respectively. Because of its relatively high contents in human brain cells, melatonin is the main antioxidant among hormones against the oxidizing species in brain cells.     

干旱胁迫下外源褪黑素对旺长期烤烟生理特性的影响

为明确外源褪黑素对干旱胁迫下旺长期烤烟生理特性的影响,采用盆栽试验,以西南烟区主栽品种K326为材料,研究了根部浇灌和叶面喷施不同浓度(0、0.05、0.10、0.15、0.20、0.40 mmol/L)褪黑素对干旱胁迫下旺长期烤烟的生理调控效应,并利用主成分分析筛选出缓解烤烟干旱胁迫的指标,同时通过隶属函数法进行综合评价。结果表明,干旱胁迫可导致烤烟生物量降低,生长受到明显抑制。外源褪黑素能有效提高干旱胁迫下烤烟生物量,提高叶片相对含水率(RWC)、叶绿素含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、脯氨酸(Pro)和可溶性蛋白(SP)含量,降低叶片丙二醛(MDA)含量和超氧阴离子(O₂^-)产生速率。主成分分析表明,在褪黑素缓解烤烟干旱胁迫评价的指标中,以抗氧化因子占比最大,其次是光合因子和渗透调节因子。通过隶属函数综合评价分析可知,烟株叶面喷施0.10 mmol/L褪黑素溶液处理效果最佳。因此,施用外源褪黑素可缓解干旱胁迫对旺长期烤烟生长的抑制作用,增强烤烟对干旱胁迫的适应性。     

气相色谱-质谱选择离子检测法测定失眠病人体内Melatonin的血药浓度

本文应用GC/MS仪,采用内标咖啡因定量,选择单离子检则建立了测定Melatonin的方法,Melatonin的校正标准曲线为Y=0.0582+0.6067X（r=0.9994）。应用此法测定一例失眠病人在口服20 mg Melatonin后的血药浓度,在服药后1小时达峰浓度140.47 ng/mL,且很快消除,不会在体内蓄积。     

连续服用褪黑激素51天小鼠血液及肝部分生化指标的变化

以雄性昆明种小鼠为实验对象,连续服用褪黑激素(MT)51d建立动物模型。分别测试血红蛋白(Hb)含量、血清谷丙转氨酶(SGPT)活性、血清谷草转氨酶(SGOT)活性、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量与总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)。结果表明,连续服用MT后,对小鼠Hb含量、肝SOD活性及SGOT活性无显著性影响(P>0.05),可使SGPT活性、血清及肝MDA含量显著下降(P<0.01)。肝T-AOC明显升高(P<0.05)。实验结果提示,MT具有很强的抗氧化能力,对机体的抗氧化系统有明显的辅助作用。