Preparative separation and purification of loliolide and epiloliolide from Ascophyllum nodosum using amine-based microporous organic polymer for solid phase extraction coupled with macroporous resin and prep-HPLC

Loliolide in Sargassum horneri Alleviates Ultrafine Urban Particulate Matter (PM 0.1)-Induced Inflammation in Human RPE Cells

Owing to increasing air pollution due to industrial development, fine dust has been associated with threatening public health. In particular, ultrafine urban particulate matter (uf-UP, PM 0.1) can easily enter our bodies, causing inflammation-related diseases. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated the effects of hydrothermal extracts of Sargassum horneri and its bioactive compound, loliolide, on uf-UP-induced inflammation as a potential treatment strategy for retinal disorders. Human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) stimulated with TNF-α or uf-UPs were treated with S. horneri extract and loliolide. S. horneri extracts exhibited anti-inflammatory effects on uf-UP-induced inflammation without cell toxicity through downregulating the mRNA expression of MCP-1, IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-α. UPLC-QTOF/MS analysis confirmed that the hydrothermal extract of S. horneri contained loliolide, which has anti-inflammatory effects. Loliolide effectively reduced the mRNA expression and production of proinflammatory chemokines (IL-8) and cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6) by downregulating the MAPK/NF-ĸB signaling pathway on TNF-α-stimulated inflammatory ARPE-19 cells. These effects were further confirmed in inflammatory ARPE-19 cells after stimulation with uf-UPs. Collectively, these results suggested the application of S. horneri as a functional ingredient for treating ocular disorders caused by particular matters.

An online preparative high-performance liquid chromatography system with enrichment and purification modes for the efficient and systematic separation of Panax notoginseng saponins

In this study, an online preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (prep-HPLC) system based on the combination of the enrichment and purification modes for the efficient and systematic separation of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) was achieved. Five separation columns were used for the first and second separation of target components, eighteen trap columns were used to capture the effluents from the first separation or loading the trapped sample effluents, and a two-position eight-port valve was used to switch between the first and second separations. The conditions for the first and second separation of PNS were simulated and optimized with the online prep-HPLC system. Then, the PNS were separated using optimized chromatographic conditions. Notably, 14 monomer compounds with >90% purity (11 compounds with purity >97%) were simultaneously isolated from PNS using the above self-developed device, and their chemical structures were identified. Moreover, the separation time was less than 33.0 h. After 6 repeated enrichment and purification, the weight of each compound obtained was more than 5.0 mg, with compound 2 weighing over 900 mg. In brief, the self-developed prep-HPLC system, which integrated enrichment and purification, is suitable for the efficient and systematic separation of PNS and has broad application prospects, especially for the separation of complex chemical components in natural products.

Preparative isolation of maltol glycoside from Dianthus superbus and its anti-inflammatory activity in vitro

Dianthus superbus is a traditional Chinese medicine that is commonly utilized as a treatment for inflammation, pain, and immunological conditions. In this study, an anti-inflammatory maltol glycoside derived from Dianthus superbus was isolated for the first time via medium and high-pressure liquid chromatography, and at the same time, the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of this maltol glycoside was preliminarily explored. Initially, crude samples of Dianthus superbus were preprocessed via MCI GEL® CHP20P and Spherical C18 medium-pressure chromatography, under the guidance of evaluation of in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. Fr44 was found to be the target fraction, and it was further isolated via two-dimensional reversed-phase/hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography, yielding > 95% pure and was identified as tunicoside B. MTT assay, nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase were used to evaluate the effects of tunicoside B on murine macrophage Raw264.7 by nitric oxide synthase assay kit, molecular docking, and western blotting. The results showed that tunicoside B did not affect the viability of cells and exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity. As far as we know, this is the first report of tunicoside B from Dianthus superbus and the first study on the anti-inflammatory activity of tunicoside B. More importantly, the approach established in this study is expected to provide a theoretical basis for the separation and pharmacological activity study of maltol glycosides from other natural products.