Phytoconstituents and bioactivity of plants of the genus Spiraea L. (Rosaceae): A review

The genus Spiraea L. belongs to the Rosaceae Juss. family and includes more than 100 species distributed in the temperate zone and subtropical zone of the Northern Hemisphere at the center of species diversity in East Asia. Representatives of the genus are known as ornamental plants with many forms and varieties, are widely used in conventional medicine, and have a high resource potential. This review provides information on the diversity of phenolic compounds (flavonoids, phenolcarboxylic acids, and lignans), terpenoids, alkaloids, steroids, and other classes of secondary metabolites in the species of Spiraea worldwide. The article also presents little-known and hard-to-find data published in Russian concerning Spiraea phytochemistry. The biological activities of extracts and their fractions and of individual compounds having different types of biological activity (e.g., antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal) are discussed. Data about biotechnological research on representatives of the genus Spiraea are presented too. The analysis of the literature showed that further chemical and pharmacological studies on Spiraea plants are quite promising

Basic physiological systems indicator's informative assessment for children and adolescents obesity diagnosis tasks

The healthcare computerization creates opportunities to the clinical decision support system development. In the course of diagnosis, doctor manipulates a considerable amount of data and makes a decision in the context of uncertainty basing upon the first-hand experience and knowledge. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the knowledge scope in medicine is incrementally growing, but the decision-making time does not increase. The amount of medical malpractice is growing and it leads to various negative effects, even the mortality rate increase. IT-solution's development for clinical purposes is one of the most promising and efficient ways to prevent these effects. That is why the efforts of many IT specialists are directed to the doctor's heuristics simulating software or expert-based medical decision-making algorithms development. Thus, the objective of this study is to develop techniques and approaches for the body physiological system's informative value assessment index for the obesity degree evaluation based on the diagnostic findings

Investigation of chemical constituents of Eranthis longistipitata (Ranunculaceae): coumarins and furochromones

Aqueous‐ethanol extracts (70%) from the leaves of Eranthis longistipitata Regel. (Ranunculaceae Juss.)—collected from natural populations of Kyrgyzstan—were studied by liquid chromatography with high‐resolution mass spectrometry (LC‐HRMS). There was no variation of the metabolic profiles among plants that were collected from different populations. More than 160 compounds were found in the leaves, of which 72 were identified to the class level and 58 to the individual‐ compound level. The class of flavonoids proved to be the most widely represented (19 compounds), including six aglycones [quercetin, kaempferol, aromadendrin, 6‐methoxytaxifolin, phloretin, and (+)‐catechin] and mono‐ and diglycosides (the other 13 compounds). In the analyzed samples of E. longistipitata, 14 fatty acid–related compounds were identified, but coumarins and furochromones that were found in E. longistipitata were the most interesting result; furochromones khelloside, khellin, visnagin, and cimifugin were found in E. longistipitata for the first time. Coumarins 5,7‐dihydroxy‐4‐methylcoumarin, scoparone, fraxetin, and luvangetin and furochromones methoxsalen, 5‐O‐methylvisammioside, and visamminol‐3′‐O‐glucoside were detected for the first time in the genus Eranthis Salisb. For all the above compounds, the structural formulas are given. Furthermore, detailed information (with structural formulas) is provided on the diversity of chromones and furochromones in other representatives of Eranthis. The presence of chromones in plants of the genus Eranthis confirms its closeness to the genus Actaea L. because chromones are synthesized by normal physiological processes only in these members of the Ranunculaceae family

Structural Characterization of the NodD Transcription Factor

Abstract Using computer analysis and modeling we studied NodD transcription factor which controls expression of nodulation genes of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria. On the basis of the amino acid sequences it was predicted that in the secondary structure of NodD protein it must be present ten alpha helices and three beta sheets which form two do mains after folding. Since NodD acts in oligo meric mode, it was analy zed all four known for other similar factors of transcription ways of assembly into dime rs. Using molecular docking the probable mechanism o f NodD act ivation by binding of low molecular weight inducer (on the model o f luteolin) was clarified

Self-assembled nanoformulation of methylprednisolone succinatewith carboxylated block copolymer for local glucocorticoid therapy

A new self-assembled formulation of methylprednisolone succinate (MPS) based on a carboxylatedtrifunctional block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (TBC-COOH) was developed. TBC-COOH and MPS associated spontaneously at increased concentrations in aqueous solutions to form almostmonodisperse mixed micelles (TBC-COOH/MPS) with a hydrodynamic diameter of 19.6 nm, zeta potentialof −27.8 mV and optimal weight ratio ∼1:6.3. Conditions for the effective formation of TBC-COOH/MPSwere elucidated by comparing copolymers and glucocorticoids with different structure. The micellarstructure of TBC-COOH/MPS persisted upon dilution, temperature fluctuations and interaction with bloodserum components. TBC-COOH increased antiradical activity of MPS and promoted its intrinsic cytotoxi-city in vitro attributed to enhanced cellular availability of the mixed micelles. Intracellular transportationand hydrolysis of MPS were analyzed using optimized liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometrywith multiple reaction monitoring which showed increased level of both MPS and methylprednisolonein neuronal cells treated with the formulated glucocorticoid. Our results identify TBC-COOH/MPS as anadvanced in situ prepared nanoformulation and encourage its further investigation for a potential localglucocorticoid therapy

NADP-Dependent Aldehyde Dehydrogenase from Archaeon Pyrobaculum sp.1860

We present the functional and structural characterization of the first archaeal thermostable NADP-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase AlDHPyr1147. In vitro, AlDHPyr1147 catalyzes the irreversible oxidation of short aliphatic aldehydes at 60–85°С, and the affinity of AlDHPyr1147 to the NADP+ at 60°С is comparable to that for mesophilic analogues at 25°С. We determined the structures of the apo form of AlDHPyr1147 (3.04 Å resolution), three binary complexes with the coenzyme (1.90, 2.06, and 2.19 Å), and the ternary complex with the coenzyme and isobutyraldehyde as a substrate (2.66 Å). The nicotinamide moiety of the coenzyme is disordered in two binary complexes, while it is ordered in the ternary complex, as well as in the binary complex obtained after additional soaking with the substrate. AlDHPyr1147 structures demonstrate the strengthening of the dimeric contact (as compared with the analogues) and the concerted conformational flexibility of catalytic Cys287 and Glu253, as well as Leu254 and the nicotinamide moiety of the coenzyme. A comparison of the active sites of AlDHPyr1147 and dehydrogenases characterized earlier suggests that proton relay systems, which were previously proposed for dehydrogenases of this family, are blocked in AlDHPyr1147, and the proton release in the latter can occur through the substrate channel

Associations Between Neuropsychophysiological and Dermatoglyphic Indicators in the Assessment of Human Health

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between psycho-physiological markers of human health and dermatoglyphic indicators in young people. Materials and Methods: The study included 920 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 21 years. All volunteers underwent the following examinations: EEG, an assessment of the anxiety level according to the BAI, and dermatoglyphic scanning. Results: According to the data obtained, there was a statistically significant strong negative correlation between the stress load indicator and dermatoglyphic data, such as the summary delta index (DI) and summary ridge count. A strong positive correlation was found between the percentage of whorls and stress (r=0.88). The predominant increase in anxiety is characteristic of persons with total ridge count (TRC) on the thumb of the right hand in the range from 19 to 23. Conclusion: Results demonstrate the interrelationships (association) between psycho-physiological (anxiety level, stress load indicator) and dermatoglyphic markers (DI, TRC and whorl pattern type) in young healthy people