Quantification of Intracellular Thiols by HPLC-Fluorescence Detection

Biothiols, such as cysteine and glutathione, play important roles in various intracellular reactions represented by the redox equilibrium against oxidative stress. In this study, a method for intracellular thiol quantification using HPLC-fluorescence detection was developed. Thiols were derivatized with a thiol-specific fluorescence derivatization reagent, viz. ammonium 7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole-4-sulfonate (SBD-F), followed by reversed-phase separation on an InertSustain AQ-C18 column. Six different SBD-thiols (homocysteine, cysteine, cysteinylglycine, γ-glutamylcysteine, glutathione, and N-acetylcysteine as an internal standard) were separated within 30 min using a citric buffer (pH 3.0)/MeOH mobile phase. The calibration curves of all the SBD-thiols had strong linearity (R2 > 0.999). Using this developed method, the thiol concentrations of human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cell samples were found to be 5.5–153 pmol/1 × 106 cells. The time-dependent effect of a thiol scavenger, viz. N-ethyl maleimide, on intracellular thiol concentrations was also quantified. This method is useful for elucidating the role of intracellular sulfur metabolism.

New mixed-ligand Ni(II) and Zn(II) macrocyclic complexes with bridged (endo,endo)-bicyclo [2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylate: Synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity

New carboxylate complexes of the tetraazamacrocyclic ligand N,N',N'',N'''-tetrakis(2-pyridilmethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (tpmc) with Ni(II) and Zn(II) as central ions were prepared. In mixed-ligand complexes (endo,endo)-bicyclo?2.2.1?hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylate dianion (C9H8O4 2-) is also coordinated to metal ions. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis (C, H, N), FTIR and UV?Vis spectroscopy, molar conductivity determination and magnetic susceptibility measurement at room temperature. The analytical data of the complexes show the formation of binuclear [Ni2(C9H8O4)tpmc](ClO4)2?4H2O and tetranuclear [Zn4(C9H8O4)(tpmc)2](ClO4)6? ?CH3CN?KClO4?4H2O complexes. In tetranuclear Zn(II) complex bicyclic dicarboxylate ligand is most likely to be bridge coordinated, and in binuclear Ni(II) complex it is coordinated in a combined bridged manner with chelate rings formation. In both complexes macrocyclic ligand was exo coordinated, out of cyclam ring and adopts a boat conformation. The Zn(II) complex is one of the rare tetranuclear Zn(II)-tpmc complexes with carboxylate ion bridging two Zn2tpmc units. The complexes were tested for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633), Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and yeast Candida albicans (ATCC 10231), and were screened for antiproliferative activity against human cervix adenocarcinoma (HeLa) and human myelogenous leukemia (K562) cell lines.

Isolation of flavonoids from onion skins and their effects on K562 cell viability

To investigate the anti-proliferative activity of flavonoids from onion skins, extraction by 50% ethanol (v/v), soxhlet polar fractionation, pH gradient separation, thin-layer chromatography, and recrystallization methods were used to isolate and purify flavonoids from dry onion skins. Anti-proliferative activities of some flavonoids obtained on leukemia K562 cell line were deter-mined by MTT assay. Results showed that flavonoids of onion skins were mainly in form of quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, apigenin-7-O-?-D-glucopyranoside, quercetin-3-O-?-D-glucopyranoside, kaempferol-7-O-?-D-glucopyranoside and rutin. Quercetin and kaempferol decreased K562 cell viability, and quercetin had stronger effect. However, isorhamnetin and rutin exhibited certain proliferation-promoting effects. It suggests that ortho hydroxyl groups on B ring of onion flavonoids might be the key structural elements of their cytotoxic effects on K562 cells, and hydroxyl groups in position 3 or carbonyl groups in position 4 might be one of the structural effect elements.

Isolation of flavonoids from onion skins and their effects on K562 cell viability

<p class="Abstract">To investigate the anti-proliferative activity of flavonoids from onion skins, extraction by 50% ethanol (v/v), soxhlet polar fractionation, pH gradient separation, thin-layer chromatography, and recrystallization methods were used to isolate and purify flavonoids from dry onion skins. Anti-proliferative activities of some flavonoids obtained on leukemia K562 cell line were deter-mined by MTT assay. Results showed that flavonoids of onion skins were mainly in form of quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, kaempferol-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and rutin. Quercetin and kaempferol decreased K562 cell viability, and quercetin had stronger effect. However, isorhamnetin and rutin exhibited certain proliferation-promoting effects. It suggests that ortho hydroxyl groups on B ring of onion flavonoids might be the key structural elements of their cytotoxic effects on K562 cells, and hydroxyl groups in position 3 or carbonyl groups in position 4 might be one of the structural effect elements.</p><p> </p>