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Imperatorin
Imperatorin is a furocoumarin and a phytochemical that has been isolated from ''Urena lobata'' L. (Malvaceae), ''Angelica archangelica'', ''Angelica dahurica'', ''Glehnia littoralis'', ''Saposhnikovia divaricata'', '' Cnidium monnieri'', '' Incarvillea younghusbandii'', and ''Zanthoxylum americanum mill''. It is biosynthesized from umbelliferone, a coumarin derivative. Isolation The procedure for the isolation of imperatorin from ''Urena lobata'' involves exhaustively extracting under reflux with benzene the air-dried and pulverised roots followed by separation by column chromatography.A furocoumarin, Imperatorin isolated from Urena lobata L. (Malvaceae) Keshab Ghosh Molbank 2004, M38 Open access (publishing), open access publication Biochemical activity Imperatorin was identified from a Bioactive Molecules library in a high throughput screening experiment for inhibitors of the phosphodiesterase PDE4. It displays a significant preference for PDE4B over PDE4A. See also *Pso ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Angelica Archangelica
''Angelica archangelica'', commonly known as garden angelica, wild celery, and Norwegian angelica, is a biennial plant from the family Apiaceae, a subspecies of which is cultivated for its sweetly scented edible stems and roots. Like several other species in Apiaceae, its appearance is similar to several poisonous species ('' Conium'', '' Heracleum'', and others), and should not be consumed unless it has been identified with absolute certainty. Synonyms include ''Archangelica officinalis'' Hoffm. and ''Angelica officinalis'' Moench. Description and distribution During its first year, it grows only leaves, but during its second year, its fluted stem can reach a height of 2.5 meters (just over 8 feet), and the root is used in flavoring preparations. Its leaves consist of numerous small leaflets divided into three principal groups, each of which is again subdivided into three lesser groups. The edges of the leaflets are finely toothed or serrated. The flowers, which blossom in Ju ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Coumarin
Coumarin () or 2''H''-chromen-2-one is an aromatic organic chemical compound with formula . Its molecule can be described as a benzene molecule with two adjacent hydrogen atoms replaced by a lactone-like chain , forming a second six-membered heterocycle that shares two carbons with the benzene ring. It can be placed in the benzopyrone chemical class and considered as a lactone. Coumarin is a colorless crystalline solid with a sweet odor resembling the scent of vanilla and a bitter taste. It is found in many plants, where it may serve as a chemical defense against predators. By inhibiting synthesis of vitamin K, a related compound is used as the prescription drug warfarin – an anticoagulant – to inhibit formation of blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. Etymology Coumarin is derived from ''coumarou'', the French word for the tonka bean. The word ''tonka'' for the tonka bean is taken from the Galibi (Carib) tongue spoken by natives of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Psoralen
Psoralen (also called psoralene) is the parent compound in a family of naturally occurring organic compounds known as the linear furanocoumarins. It is structurally related to coumarin by the addition of a fused furan ring, and may be considered as a derivative of umbelliferone. Psoralen occurs naturally in the seeds of '' Psoralea corylifolia'', as well as in the common fig, celery, parsley, West Indian satinwood, and in all citrus fruits. It is widely used in PUVA (psoralen + UVA) treatment for psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; these applications are typically through the use of medications such as Methoxsalen. Many furanocoumarins are extremely toxic to fish, and some are deposited in streams in Indonesia to catch fish. Uses Psoralen is a mutagen, and is used for this purpose in molecular biology research. Psoralen intercalates into DNA and on exposure to ultraviolet (UVA) radiation can form monoadducts and covalent interstrand cross-links ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cnidium Monnieri
''Cnidium monnieri'' (L.) Cusson ex Juss., Monnier's snowparsley, is a flowering plant species in the genus '' Cnidium''. Also known as Shechuangzi, Osthole, Jashoshi, Cnidii Fructus (Fruits of Cnidium). It may be confused with ''Bacopa monnieri'', '' Ligusticum officinale'' (syn. ''Cnidium officinale''), both similar but different plants. The coumarins osthol, imperatorin and xanthotoxol can be found in ''C. monnieri''. Naming ''Cnidium monnieri'' was already described and the name validly published by Carl Linnaeus. It was Pierre Cusson, however, who reclassified it into today's valid botanical systematics in 1787. Taxonomy ''Cnidium monnieri'' is a species in the genus ''Cnidium'' which contains approximately 11 to 35 species and belongs to thfamilyof thApiaceae(carrot family). Characteristics Plants annual, 10–60(–80) cm. Taproot 2–3 mm thick. Stem solitary, striate, scabrous. Lower petioles 3–8 cm; blade ovate-lanceolate, 3–8 × 2–5 cm, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Reflux
Reflux is a technique involving the condensation of vapors and the return of this condensate to the system from which it originated. It is used in industrial and laboratory distillations. It is also used in chemistry to supply energy to reactions over a long period of time. Reflux in industrial distillation The term ''reflux'' is very widely used in industries that utilize large-scale distillation columns and fractionators such as petroleum refineries, petrochemical and chemical plants, and natural gas processing plants. In that context, reflux refers to the portion of the overhead liquid product from a distillation column or fractionator that is returned to the upper part of the column as shown in the schematic diagram of a typical industrial distillation column. Inside the column, the downflowing reflux liquid provides cooling and condensation of the upflowing vapors thereby increasing the efficiency of the distillation column. The more reflux provided for a given num ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Furanocoumarins
The furanocoumarins, or furocoumarins, are a class of organic chemical compounds produced by a variety of plants. Most of the plant species found to contain furanocoumarins belong to a handful of plant families. The families Apiaceae and Rutaceae include the largest numbers of plant species that contain furanocoumarins. The families Moraceae and Fabaceae include a few widely distributed plant species that contain furanocoumarins. Generally furanocoumarins are most abundant in plants that have flowered and in ripe seeds and fruits. (An exception is the common fig where furanocoumarins are found chiefly in the milky sap of the leaves and shoots but not the fruits. Cited in McGovern and Barkley 2000, section&nbsPhytophotodermatitis) During the early stages of plant growth, their presence is not easily detected. Structure The chemical structure of furanocoumarins consists of a furan ring fused with a coumarin. The furan ring may be fused in various ways producing several different ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
PDE4A
cAMP-specific 3',5'-cyclic phosphodiesterase 4A is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''PDE4A'' gene. Function The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) family, and PDE4 subfamily. This PDE hydrolyzes the secondary messenger, cAMP, which is a regulator and mediator of a number of cellular responses to extracellular signals. Thus, by regulating the cellular concentration of cAMP, this protein plays a key role in many important physiological processes. Recently, it has been shown through the use of PDE4A knock out mice that PDE4A may play a role in the regulation of anxiety and emotional memory. Clinical significance PDE4A inhibition is a target of a number of drugs including: * rolipram (antidepressant and antiinflammatory) and cilomilast (antiinflammatory) – inhibits PDE4A isoforms 1, 2, 6, and 7 * roflumilast Roflumilast, sold under the trade name Daxas among others, is a drug that acts as a selective, long-a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
PDE4B
cAMP-specific 3',5'-cyclic phosphodiesterase 4B is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''PDE4B'' gene. This gene is a member of the type IV, cyclic AMP (cAMP)-specific, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) family. Cyclic nucleotides are important second messengers that regulate and mediate a number of cellular responses to extracellular signals, such as hormones, light, and neurotransmitters. The cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) regulate the cellular concentrations of cyclic nucleotides and thereby play a role in signal transduction. This gene encodes a protein that specifically hydrolyzes cAMP. Alternate transcriptional splice variants, encoding different isoforms, have been characterized. Clinical relevance Altered activity of this protein has been associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. PDE4B is believed to be the PDE4 subtype involved in the antipsychotic effects of PDE4 inhibitors such as rolipram. PDE4B is involved in dopamine-associated ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
High Throughput Screening
High-throughput screening (HTS) is a method for scientific experimentation especially used in drug discovery and relevant to the fields of biology, materials science and chemistry. Using robotics, data processing/control software, liquid handling devices, and sensitive detectors, high-throughput screening allows a researcher to quickly conduct millions of chemical, genetic, or pharmacological tests. Through this process one can quickly recognize active compounds, antibodies, or genes that modulate a particular biomolecular pathway. The results of these experiments provide starting points for drug design and for understanding the noninteraction or role of a particular location. Assay plate preparation The key labware or testing vessel of HTS is the microtiter plate, which is a small container, usually disposable and made of plastic, that features a grid of small, open divots called ''wells''. In general, microplates for HTS have either 96, 192, 384, 1536, 3456 or 6144 wells. The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Open Access (publishing)
Open access (OA) is a set of principles and a range of practices through which research outputs are distributed online, free of access charges or other barriers. With open access strictly defined (according to the 2001 definition), or libre open access, barriers to copying or reuse are also reduced or removed by applying an open license for copyright. The main focus of the open access movement is "peer reviewed research literature". Historically, this has centered mainly on print-based academic journals. Whereas non-open access journals cover publishing costs through access tolls such as subscriptions, site licenses or pay-per-view charges, open-access journals are characterised by funding models which do not require the reader to pay to read the journal's contents, relying instead on author fees or on public funding, subsidies and sponsorships. Open access can be applied to all forms of published research output, including peer-reviewed and non peer-reviewed academic journal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Molbank
''Molbank'' is a peer-reviewed, open access, scientific journal covering synthetic chemistry and natural product chemistry, established in 1997 as a section of ''Molecules'' and is published by MDPI. After 2001, the journal was published on its own, and become online-only in 2009. The journal is focused on publishing short notes in a one-compound-per-paper format, on individual compounds containing experimental data records for individual molecules, which are not always publishable as such. Special attention is paid to a convincing characterization of new compounds which must be documented by appropriate supplementary material. In addition, depositing compound samples via the MolMall service is encouraged. ''Molbank'' was launched to preserve and exploit molecular diversity of both chemical information and chemical substances. The journal is indexed by CAS, DOAJ and Scopus Scopus is Elsevier's abstract and citation database launched in 2004. Scopus covers nearly 36,377 titl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Column Chromatography
Column chromatography in chemistry is a chromatography method used to isolate a single chemical compound from a mixture. Chromatography is able to separate substances based on differential adsorption of compounds to the adsorbent; compounds move through the column at different rates, allowing them to be separated into fractions. The technique is widely applicable, as many different adsorbents (normal phase, reversed phase, or otherwise) can be used with a wide range of solvents. The technique can be used on scales from micrograms up to kilograms. The main advantage of column chromatography is the relatively low cost and disposability of the stationary phase used in the process. The latter prevents cross-contamination and stationary phase degradation due to recycling. Column chromatography can be done using gravity to move the solvent, or using compressed gas to push the solvent through the column. A thin-layer chromatograph can show how a mixture of compounds will behave when pur ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
