Anti-Inflammatory and Antinociceptive Properties of Flavonoids from the Fruits of Black Mulberry (Morus nigra L.).

We analyzed the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of total flavonoids (TF) found in black mulberry fruits. The TF content was 20.9 mg/g (dry weight). Two anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (8.3 mg/g) and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (2.9 mg/g), were identified in the fruits by UPLC. The TF of black mulberry fruits had significant reducing power and radical (OH(-), O2(·-), DPPH and ABTS) scavenging activities that was demonstrated in a dose-response curve. The TF had inhibitory activities on xylene-induced ear edema and carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. In addition, TF had antinociceptive activities in the two nociceptive phases of formalin test. We used ELISA to detect the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and NO in the serum of mice. These cytokines were significantly inhibited or scavenged by TF (50 and 100 mg/kg). The results demonstrated that TF of black mulberry possess anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects that might correlate to its antioxidant activities and inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of TF.

<p>Groups of KM male mice were pre-treated p.o. with normal saline (control 20 mL/kg), aspirin (Asp 75 mg/20 mL/kg), dexamethasone (Dex 3 mg/20 mL/kg) and total flavonoids (TF) extracts (TF-50: 50 mg/20 mL/kg; TF-100: 100 mg/20 mL/kg; and TF-200: 200 mg/20 mL/kg). One hour after the last drug dose, each group of mice were treated with xylene (a), carrageenan (b) and formalin (c). The licking time was recorded for the first five minutes and minute 15–30 after formalin was injected into the paw. The total time added these two phases. The data were shown as the mean ± SD (n = 10). *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 significantly different from the control group.</p

Antioxidant activities of TF.

<p>Data were mean ± SD (n = 3). We measured reducing power (a), OH- radical scavenging activity (b), radical scavenging activity (c), DPPH radical scavenging activity (d), and ABTS radical scavenging activity (e).</p

Chromatograms of rutin (A) and anthocyanins (B) of TF by UPLC-TUV.

<p>Rutin and anthocyanins were separated on the same Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1x100 mm, 1.7 μm, Waters, Milford, MA). Rutin separation used MeOH and 0.1% H₃PO₄ as the mobile phase at 0.21 mL/min with detection at 358 nm. Anthocyanins separation used ACN and 0.2% H₃PO₄ as the mobile phase at 0.3 mL/min and detection at 520 nm. Rutin: quercetin-3-O-rutinlside; C3G: cyanidin-3-O-glucoside; C3R: cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside; and TF: total flavonoids.</p

Total flavonoids, anthocyanins and rutin content in the fruits of <i>Morus nigra</i> L. (n = 3).

<p>Total flavonoids, anthocyanins and rutin content in the fruits of <i>Morus nigra</i> L. (n = 3).</p

Effects of TF on mediator production in the blood of KM male mice.

<p>The KM male mice were pre-treated p.o. with normal saline (control 20 mL/kg), normal saline (model 20 mL/kg), aspirin (Asp 75 mg/20 mL/kg), dexamethasone (Dex 3 mg/20 mL/kg), and total flavonoids (TF) extracts (TF-50: 50 mg/20 mL/kg; and TF-100: 100 mg/20 mL/kg). One hour after the last drug dose, each group except the control group were treated with xylene and formalin to induce inflammation and nociception. The control group was treated with normal saline. The data were shown as mean ± SD (n = 10). *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 significantly different from the model group.</p

Band-Gap Tuning of Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Palladium Perovskite Materials for a Near-Infrared Optoelectronics Response

Organic–inorganic hybrid material is a recent hot topic in the scientific community. The best band gap for the entire solar absorption spectrum is about 1.1 eV. However, the lead perovskite band gap is about 1.5 eV. Therefore, developing organic–inorganic hybrid material toward the broader light harvesting of the solar spectrum is extremely urgent. In this study, we prepare three kinds of organic–inorganic hybrid palladium perovskite materials, including (CH3NH3)2PdCl4, (CH3NH3)2PdCl4–xBrx, and CH3NH3PdI3, for an optoelectronic response. The absorption cut offs of (CH3NH3)2PdCl4, (CH3NH3)2PdCl4–xBrx, and CH3NH3PdI3 are approximately 600, 700, and 1000 nm, respectively. The band gaps of (CH3NH3)2PdCl4, (CH3NH3)2PdCl4–xBrx, and CH3NH3PdI3 are determined to be approximately 2.15, 1.87, and 1.25 eV, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that discusses adsorption properties and photoelectric behavior of organic–inorganic hybrid palladium perovskite materials. Interestingly, the photoelectric response of the devices based on CH3NH3PdI3 reaches 950 nm. The results will attract attention in the fields of optical recorders, optical memory, security, light capture, and light treatment