Methanol extract of Zizania latifolia was partitioned with EtOAc, n-BuOH, and H2O. From the EtOAc layers, a new flavonolignan along with a known flavone and three known flavonolignans, tricin (1), salcolin A (2), salcolin B (3), and salcolin C (4), were isolated through repeated silica gel and ODS column chromatography. The chemical structure of the new flavonolignan was determined to be tricin-4′-O-[erythro-β-guaiacyl-(7″-O-methyl)-glyceryl] ether and was named salcolin D (5) based on physicochemical and spectroscopic data, including FT-NMR and ESI-MS. All compounds were isolated for the first time from this plant. Compounds 2–5, tricin derivatives, all exhibited higher anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy activities than tricin. In particular, salcolin D (5) was shown to have the strongest inhibitory activity against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells as well as β-hexosaminidase release in IgE-sensitized RBL-2H3 cells. These results suggest that the presence of tricin derivatives conveys allergy and inflammation treatment ability to Z. latifolia.

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This study was undertaken to determine the effects of enzyme-treated Zizania latifolia (ETZL) and of its major compound tricin on skin photo-aging and to investigate the mechanisms involved. It was found ETZL and tricin suppressed matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production and increased type I-procollagen production in UVB-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Furthermore, ETZL and tricin significantly up-regulated the expressions of the antioxidant enzymes HO-1 and SOD1, reduced UVB-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) induction by ROS and thereby attenuated activator protein-1 (AP-1) expression. In addition, ETZL and tricin both reduced the phosphorylations of IκBα and IKKα/ß and κB blocked the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65. These results show that ETZL have skin protective effects against UVB and suggest tricin as major efficacious material in ETZL protecting skin photoaging.

To obtain anodes with a high reversible capacity, high initial coulombic efficiency (ICE), long cycle durability, and fast ratecapability for Li-ion batteries (LIBs), a nanostructured Si-based composite comprising Si, a Li-inactive FeSi 2 matrix, and carbonaceous matrices was developed by combination of simple solid-state synthetic methods. Firstly, various Fe x Si y alloys with different atomic compositions were synthesized by simple high-energy ball milling (HEBM) and their potential as LIB anodes was investigated. Among these Fe x Si y alloys, the Fe 10 Si 90 alloy (comprising Si-FeSi 2 ) exhibited the highest first reversible capacity of 2609 mAh g −1 and ICE of ∼91%. To further enhance the electrochemical performance of the Si-FeSi 2 alloy, a graphite-modified (Fe 10 Si 90 -graphite (Si-FeSi 2 -G)) composite was synthesized by using the physical force generated during HEBM, and the Si-FeSi 2 -G composite was further hierarchically carbon-coated (Fe 10 Si 90 -graphite-C (Si-FeSi 2 -G-C)) with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) by pyrolysis. The final product (Si-FeSi 2 -G-C composite) was comprised of well-dispersed nanocrystalline Si (active for Li) and FeSi 2 (inactive for Li) within the graphite and amorphous carbon matrices. The Si-FeSi 2 -G-C composite exhibited excellent electrochemical performance with a high first reversible capacity of 1045 mA h g −1 , a high ICE of 87%, a long cycle durability of 925 mAh g −1 over 80 cycles, and fast rate-capability of 700 and 550 mAh g −1 at 1.2C and 2C rates, which meets the requirements for commercial use as a high-capacity Si-based anode for LIBs.

Two new flavonolignan glycosides, tricin-4'-O-(threo-β-guaiacylglyceryl) ether 7''-O-β-d-glucopyranose (4) and tricin-4'-O-(erythro-β-guaiacylglyceryl) ether 7''-O-β-d-glucopyranose (5) were isolated from the roots of Zizania latifolia, together with tricin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranose (1), tricin-4'-O-(threo-β-guaiacylglyceryl) ether 7-O-β-d-glucopyranose (2), and tricin-4'-O-(erythro-β-guaiacylglyceryl) ether 7-O-β-d-glucopyranose (3). Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic techniques, including HR-ESI/MS, 1D-NMR (1H, 13C, DEPT), 2D-NMR (gCOSY, gHSQC, gHMBC), and IR spectroscopy.

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The Si-based composites prepared by the facile recycling of waste glasses exhibited high reversible capacities and stable capacity retentions, which will be promising candidates for eco-friendly Si-based high-capacity anodes for LIBs.

All parts of Thanakha (Hesperethusa crenulata R.) have been used as traditional skin care herbal material in Myanmar. In this study, coumarins from H. crenulata R. bark were isolated through solvent extraction, systematic solvent fractionation, and repeated column chromatography. Spectroscopic analyses using ESI–MS, 1D NMR (1H and 13C), 2D NMR (gHSQC and gHMBC), specific rotation, circular dichroism, and IR spectrometry revealed three coumarins 2R-7-hydroxy-8-(2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-coumarin (compound 1), peucedanol (compound 2), and methylpeucedanol (compound 3), which were first isolated from Thanakha tree. Antioxidant capacities of three coumarins decreased as follows: compound 2 > compound 3 > compound 1. Treatments of lipopolysaccharide-induced THP-1 human monocytic cells with compounds 2 and 3 at 378.8 μM and 359.7 μM inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α production by approximately 32.7% and 13.3%, respectively, compared with the negative control. In summary, these results suggest that Thanakha bark extracts can be used as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory source for cosmetic ingredients.