Background/Aims: It is well documented that hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress is an important causative factor of endothelial dysfunction. Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is a key flavor compound in cinnamon essential oil that can enhance the antioxidant defense against reactive oxygen species (ROS) by activating NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which has been shown to have a cardiovascular protective effect, but its role in endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose is unknown. Methods: Dissected male C57BL/6J mouse aortic rings and HUVECs were cultured in normal glucose(NG 5.5 mM) or high glucose(HG 30.0 mM) DMEM treatment with or without CA (10 µM). Results: Treatment with CA protected the endothelium relaxation, inhibited ROS generation and preserved nitric oxide (NO) levels in the endothelium of mouse aortas treated with high glucose . CA up-regulated Nrf2 expression, promoted its translocation to the nucleus‚and increased HO-1, NQO1, Catalase and Gpx1 expression under high glucose condition. The increased level of nitrotyrosine in HUVECs under high glucose was also attenuated by treatment with CA. Dihydroethidium (DHE) and DAF-2DA staining indicated that CA inhibited the ROS generation and preserved the NO levels in HUVECs, but these effects were reversed by Nrf2-siRNA in high glucose conditions. Conclusion: Our results indicated that CA protected endothelial dysfunction under high glucose conditions and this effect was mediated by Nrf2 activation and the up-regulation of downstream target proteins. CA administration may represent a promising intervention in diabetic patients who are at risk for vascular complications.

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Titanium dioxide-supported manganese oxide and cerium oxide noted as MnO x /TiO2, CeO2/TiO2, and MnO x –CeO2/TiO2 were prepared by sol–gel method and their low-temperature (<200 °C) catalytic activity toward selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with NH3 were evaluated. The MnO x –CeO2/TiO2 catalyst exhibited optimal low-temperature performance that is nearly 98% of NO was abated below 200 °C. That is because MnO x /TiO2 combined with CeO2 improves redox ability and surface acidity of the catalyst, mainly due to the incorporation of Mn atoms into bulk CeO2 that creates active Mn–O–Ce structures. In situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy suggested that the coordinated NH3 on Lewis acid sites were favored to react with NO and the NH3-SCR over MnO x –CeO2/TiO2 catalyst mainly followed the E–R mechanism at 200 °C. Furthermore, the reaction rate constant and apparent activation energy of the NH3-SCR reaction on the MnO x –CeO2/TiO2 catalyst confirmed the promotional effects of Ce addition on the activity of Mn-based catalyst.

Background/Aims: Obesity contributes to the development of cardiometabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is a molecule derived from the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen), which is a traditional Chinese medicine that is widely used to treat cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of Sal B in obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders is unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of Sal B on high-fat diet-induced obesity and determine the possible mechanisms involved. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks received a supplement of Sal B (100 mg/kg/day) by gavage for a further 8 weeks. These mice were compared to control mice fed an un-supplemented high-fat diet. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were used in vitro studies. Results: Sal B administration significantly decreased body weight, white adipose tissue weight, adipocyte size and lipid (triglyceride and total cholesterol) levels in obese mice. Eight weeks of Sal B administration also improved the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test (IPITT) scores in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. In 3T3-L1 preadipocytes that were cultured in vitro and induced to differentiate, Sal B reduced the accumulation of lipid droplets and lipid content in a dose-dependent manner. Immunoblotting indicated that Sal B decreased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) expression but increased the expression of GATA binding protein 2 and 3 (GATA 2, GATA 3) both in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion: Our data suggest that Sal B may reduce obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders by suppressing adipogenesis. The effects of Sal B in adipose tissue may be related to its action on PPARγ, C/EBPα, GATA-2 and GATA-3.

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Two new chalcone–isoflavone dimers, caraganins A (1) and B (2), two new chalcone dimers, caraganins C (3) and D (4), and eight known compounds (5–12) were obtained from the red heartwood of the rhizomes of Caragana jubata. The structures of caraganins A–D were established by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, HRMS and ECD analysis, and comparison with previously known compounds. The anti-inflammatory activities of the new compounds were evaluated by measuring the production of NO, IL-6, and TNF-α in mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide. Among these, compounds 2 and 4 showed the most potent inhibitory activities (IC50: 4.1 and 5.2 μM, respectively) on nitric oxide formation, and compounds 1 and 4 displayed the most potent inhibitory activities on the secretion of inflammatory factor TNF-α, with IC50 values of 11.4 and 14.7 μM. The possible biosynthetic pathways of the chalcone–isoflavone dimers and the chalcone dimers are proposed.