Hexane Insoluble Fraction Research Articles

Hexane insoluble fraction from purple rice extract improves steatohepatitis and fibrosis via inhibition of NF-κB and JNK signaling.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is fatty liver mainly related to metabolic syndrome. NAFLD with inflammation and hepatocellular damage is defined as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We have previously reported that a hexane insoluble fraction from an anthocyanin-rich purple rice ethanolic extract (PRE-HIF) can suppress prostate carcinogenesis. However, the extract's effect on NASH has not yet been established. In the present study, we investigated the chemopreventive effect of a PRE-HIF on NASH and liver fibrosis using a connexin 32 (Cx32) dominant negative transgenic (Cx32ΔTg) rat NASH model. Seven-week-old male Cx32ΔTg rats were fed a control diet, a high-fat diet (HFD), or an HFD with 1% PRE-HIF and intraperitoneal administration of dimethylnitrosamine for 17 weeks. Histological findings of NASH such as fat deposition, lobular inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning injury, and bridging fibrosis were observed in the HFD group but not in the control group, and all histological parameters were significantly improved by PRE-HIF treatment. Corresponding to the histological changes, increased expression of inflammatory cytokine mRNAs (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-18, IFN-γ, IL-1β, TGF-β1, TIMP1, TIMP2, COL1A1), along with and activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling were observed in the HFD group, which was significantly decreased by PRE-HIF. The number and area of hepatic precancerous glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci tended to be decreased by PRE-HIF. These results indicate that intake of purple rice as a dietary supplement may reduce steatohepatitis, liver injury, and fibrosis in NASH by inactivation of NF-κB or JNK.

Oral Administration of Garcinia dulcis Flower Extract Lowers Arterial Blood Pressure of 2-kidneys-1-clip Renovascular Hypertensive Rat

The hexane insoluble fraction of the Garcinia dulcis (GD) flower extract comprises mainly camboginol and morelloflavone which possess potent in vivo and in vitro antioxidant properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 4-week oral administration of GD flower extract on the arterial blood pressure (ABP) and the excretory function of the kidney in the 2-kidneys-1-clip (2K1C) renovascular hypertensive rats (total=12) compared to sham operated (SO) normotensive Wistar rats (total=12). Four weeks after hypertensive-induced surgery, either 50 mg/kg BW GD flower extract or vehicle was orally administered to the 2K1C or SO groups (n=6/group) daily for four weeks. ABP and the renal excretory function were studied in anesthetized rats, and expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA in the isolated thoracic aorta were measured. In the 2K1C rats, GD flower extract significantly decreased ABP while increased significantly eNOS mRNA levels. GD flower extract did not exert a diuretic effect in either SO and 2K1C rats since there was no change in observed urine excretion, but it did tend to attenuated the renal tubular damage caused by renovascular hypertension. GD flower extract was anti-hypertensive in this model of renovascular hypertension and problably acts via the endothelial nitric oxide signaling pathway.

Hexane Insoluble Fraction from Purple Rice Extract Retards Carcinogenesis and Castration-Resistant Cancer Growth of Prostate Through Suppression of Androgen Receptor Mediated Cell Proliferation and Metabolism

Prostate cancer and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) remain major health challenges in men. In this study, the inhibitory effects of a hexane insoluble fraction from a purple rice ethanolic extract (PRE-HIF) on prostate carcinogenesis and CRPC were investigated both in vivo and in vitro. In the Transgenic Rat for Adenocarcinoma of Prostate (TRAP) model, 1% PRE-HIF mixed diet-fed rats showed a significantly higher percentage of low-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and obvious reduction in the incidence of adenocarcinoma in the lateral lobes of the prostate. Additionally, 1% PRE-HIF supplied diet significantly suppressed the tumor growth in a rat CRPC xenograft model of PCai1 cells. In LNCaP and PCai1 cells, PRE-HIF treatment suppressed cell proliferation and induced G0/G1 cell-cycle arrest. Furthermore, androgen receptor (AR), cyclin D1, cdk4, and fatty acid synthase expression were down-regulated while attenuation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and AMP-activated protein kinase α activation occurred in PRE-HIF treated prostate cancer cells, rat prostate tissues, and CRPC tumors. Due to consistent results with PRE-HIF in PCai1 cells, cyanidin-3-glucoside was characterized as the active compound. Altogether, we surmise that PRE-HIF blocks the development of prostate cancer and CRPC through the inhibition of cell proliferation and metabolic pathways.

Attenuation of benign prostatic hyperplasia by hydrophilic active compounds from pigmented rice in a testosterone implanted rat model.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common chronic disease in aging men. The present study aimed to identify the active fraction of a purple rice extract and determine its anti-prostatic hyperplasia effect in a testosterone implanted rat model. The hexane insoluble fraction (HIF) which mainly contains hydrophilic phytochemicals from the purple rice crude ethanolic extract was defined as the active fraction, due to a potent effect on the downregulation of androgen receptor (AR) expression in malignant prostate cells, in addition to low toxicity for normal fibroblast cells. To induce BPH, subcutaneous implanting of a testosterone containing tube was performed in the castrated rats. Oral administration of HIF of at least 0.1 g kg-1 retarded prostate enlargement and improved histological changes induced by testosterone, without any effects on the serum testosterone levels. A lower proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labelling index and the downregulated expression of AR, cyclinD1, and fatty acid synthase were clearly observed in the prostates of HIF-fed rats. Additionally, the mRNA levels of inflammation-related cytokines and enzymes in the prostate tissues significantly decreased after HIF treatment. Taken together, these findings demonstrate molecular mechanisms underlying the potential protective effects of the purple rice active fraction against testosterone-induced BPH in rats.

Ethanol extraction of canola oil: Kinetics and effects of type of solvent and microwave-pretreatment

The phenomenon and kinetics of the ethanol extraction of canola oil from microwave-pretreated seeds was studied using a Fick’s diffusion model. The extraction was performed in a batch system at constant temperature (313–333 K) at different times (300–64 800 s); then the total solvent-free extracts (SFE) were washed with hexane, obtaining oil as a hexane-soluble fraction (HSE) along a hexane-insoluble fraction. The values of the fitted parameters were different from those obtained by hexane extraction, showing an influence of the solvent on the kinetic parameters. A comparison of SEM images of pre-extracted, post-extracted with ethanol and post-extracted with hexane meals showed a dilution of the structural matrix with ethanol, not observed in post-extraction samples with hexane. This would indicate that a microwave-pretreatment is not necessary for the ethanol extraction of canola oil under the studied conditions, although it is important for breaking seed structures to facilitate the conventional extraction with hexane.

Purification of coumarins, including meranzin and pranferin, from grapefruit by solvent partitioning and a hyphenated chromatography

Grapefruit heterocyclic oxygenated compounds have demonstrated antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties; purifying these compounds is essential for systematic biological studies to elucidate their bioactive properties. In the current study, a new method was used to isolate and purify coumarins from grapefruit oil and peels. Grapefruit oil was fractionated into volatile and non-volatile fractions (NVFs) by vacuum distillation. The NVF was further partitioned into hexane soluble and hexane insoluble fractions (HIFs). Then, the NVF–HIF composite was subjected to a hyphenated chromatography and separations were performed using a C-18 reversed phase column to yield several compounds. Additionaly, grapefruit peel was extracted with hexane and five compounds were purified using a normal phase silica column using hyphenated chromatography. Structures of the purified compounds were elucidated by 1H and 13C attached proton test (APT) NMR spectral data and identified as pranferin (1), meranzin (2), bergapten (3), dihydroxybergamottin (4), and marmin (9). Compounds (5–8) were later identified as heptamethoxy flavone, auraptene, osthol and nobilitin by comparing retention times in HPLC and mass spectra. With this method, it was possible to selectively separate major compounds from minor bioactives prior to hyphenated chromatography. This approach of solvent partitioning and rapid hyphenated chromatography proved highly effective in isolating several compounds, including pranferin from grapefruit oil.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Hexane Insoluble Fraction of Ficus septica Burm. F. in Doxorubicin-treated Rats

The use of chemotherapeutics induces cardiotoxicity and affects immune functions, therefore development of combinatorial agents against cardiotoxicity and immunosuppression needs to be explored. Previous studies of the hexane insoluble fraction (HIF) of an ethanolic extract of Ficus septica leaves showed anticancer effects singly and in combination with doxorubicin on T47D breast cancer cells. In this present study, it was evaluated for its immunomodulatory activities in doxorubicin-treated rats. Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups consisting of six rats each as follows: Group 1, receiving oral saline 10 ml/kg BW (control group); Group 2, receiving HIF dose 750 mg/kg BW orally, once daily; Group 3, receiving HIF dose 1.500 mg/kg BW orally, once daily; Group 4, given oral saline 10 ml/kg BW (normal group); Group 5, receiving HIF dose 1.500 mg/kg BW orally, once daily. The rats of group 1-3 were intramuscularly administered with doxorubicin at a dose of 4.67 mg/kg BW at the days 1 and 4 to suppress immune functions. Concomitantly, the rats were treated with saline or HIF for seven consecutive days (1 to 7). Treatment of HIF succeeded in reducing side effects of doxorubicin based on increasing lymphocyte density and phagocytosis activity and capacity of macrophages, as well as increasing the CD8+blood level and decreasing spleen IL-10 expression. Hexane insoluble fraction of of ethanolic extract of Ficus septica leaves has potential as a protective agent combined with doxorubicin.

Gamma radiolysis of a heavy petroleum fraction

A relatively heavy petroleum fraction called distillate aromatic extract (DAE) which has been proposed to be the carrier of the emission bands of certain astronomical objects like protoplanetary nebulae (PPNe) and the so-called unidentified infrared bands (UIBs), has been radiolyzed with γ-radiation to a total dose of 1 MGy. The stability of DAE toward radiation was assessed by FT-IR and electronic spectroscopy. The gases produced during radiolysis have been identified by GC. They were essentially H2 and CH4. A certain degree of crosslinking has been verified on the radiation-processed material by measuring the hexane insoluble fraction of DAE, which increased dramatically after the radiation treatment. Further analyses were conducted using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on the radiation processed sample in comparison to the pristine sample.

Polymerization of Propylene withCs Symmetric Zirconocene/Half Titanocene System at Low Temperature

Propylene polymerization was conducted with Cs symmetric (Ph2C)CpFluZrCl2/B(C6F5)3/Cp* TiMe3 system using AlOct3 as a scavenger at –50°C. The polymer produced was consisted by two kinds of fractions; i. e., hexane soluble (atactic) fraction and hexane insoluble fraction. The insoluble polymer had highly syndiotactic structure, indicating that the polymer was produced from Cs symmetric zirconocene. M̄n's increased linearly with increasing polymer yield, although the activity was low. Thus, it could be said that syndiospecific polymerization of propylene proceeded in a living like manner with Cs symmetric zirconocene active species by using the mixed metallocene system. And by the reaction of the syndiotactic poly(propylene) chain end with carbon monoxide (CO), it could be found that CO was quantitatively incorporated into the syndioPP-Zr chain end.

Bulk copolymerization of methacryloyloxypropyl functionalized siloxane macromonomers with styrene: 1. Network formation

An α,ω-(3-methacryloyloxypropyl dimethyl siloxane) macromonomer (I) with a molecular weight of 3700 g mol−1 was copolymerized with styrene in bulk at 60°C using azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator. Phase separation during polymerization was monitored macroscopically by clouding and microscopically by domain formation. The copolymer was separated into hexane soluble and insoluble fractions. From u.v., 1H n.m.r. and g.p.c. analysis of these fractions, the composition of the copolymers was determined as a function of feed composition (up to 50 wt% macromonomer) and reaction time (up to 6 h). Analysis of the hexane insoluble fraction showed that the macromonomer rapidly formed a crosslinked network copolymer with styrene, showing little residual functionality. The hexane soluble fraction contained a copolymer with blocks of dimers and trimers of I.

Enhanced reactivity of melamine–formaldehyde resins by fractionation. Crosslinking at ambient temperature

AbstractA commercial hexakis(methoxymethyl)melamine (HMMM) resin was fractionated (1) by crystallization of the hexane–soluble fraction from hexane and (2) by partitioning the hexane–soluble and hexane–Insoluble fractions between alumina and various solvents. Crystallization afforded hexakis(methoxymethyl)melamine (1) of 90 to 95% purity. Partitioning afforded 12 fractions with altered proportions of polar and nonpolar species; the least polar fraction was spectroscopically and chromatographically similar to the crystallized material. Relative reactivities of certain fractions were estimated by 1H NMR studies of the rates of reaction with neopentyl alcohol in the presence of catalytic amounts of p‐toluenesulfonic acid (p‐TSA). It was found that the reactivity of fractions, rich in less‐polar species, was substantially greater than that of the commercial HMMM resin, whereas reactivity of fractions, rich in polar species, was less. Reactivity was especially enhanced by removal of all active hydrogen species, notably those containing NH groups. A practical consequence of this result was that fully formylated and alkylated melamine resins could crosslink with polyols at substantially lower temperatures than the commercial HMMM resin, which contained NH groups. Therefore, room‐temperature crosslinking was feasible.

Improved Cocarbonization Properties of a Petroleum Vacuum Residue by Catalytic Hydrotreatment Leading to Production of Needle Coke.

Catalytic hydrotreatment of a petroleum low sulfur vacuum residue (LSVR) was studied to improve its carbonization properties since the residue gave bottom mosaic texture in a lump needle coke when it was cocarbonized with a particular paraffinic fluid catalytic cracking decant oil (FCC-DO). A Ni-Mo/Silica-Alumina catalyst designed for residual oils converted completely the asphaltene fraction in LSVR so as to be soluble in hexane at 400°C under 15MPa H2. Excellent needle coke without bottom mosaic texture was produced from the hydrotreated LSVR via cocarbonization with FCC-DO at 480°C. Another catalyst for the heavy distillate left some amount of hexane insoluble asphaltene fraction, although it was certainly depolymerized. Such a hydrotreated LSVR produced still a little but distinct amount of mosaic texture. The cocarbonization at 490°C provided a smaller value of CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) to the lump coke than that at 480°C. The hydrotreatment reduces the reactivity of VR, raising slightly the optimum cocarbonization temperature.

Postcoital contraceptive efficacy and hormonal profile of Lepidium capitatum.

Hexane soluble fraction of the Lepidium captiatum plant collected in Himachal Pradesh, India, was administered orally to colony bred albino mice, rats, and golden hamsters to test the plant's postcoital antifertility efficacy and estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities. 2.5 kg of the whole air-dried and powdered plant was extracted 4 times with 90% ethanol, which was evaporated under reduced pressure. The resultant aqueous suspension was partitioned 3 times with hexane and concentrated under vacuum to achieve the hexane soluble and hexane insoluble fractions. Oral administration of 250 mg/kg of crude ethanolic extract of the whole plant on postcoital days 1-5 prevented pregnancy in about 77% of mated female rats. The hexane soluble fraction inhibited pregnancy in 100% of the rats at a dose of 250 mg/kg and in 50% at 125 mg/kg. In comparison to controls, there was a significant reduction in implantation number at both 125 mg/kg and 625 mg/kg doses. The extract failed to prevent pregnancy in hamsters even at a daily dose of 500 mg/kg on postcoital days 1-5. No contraceptive efficacy of the hexane insoluble extract was observed in rats or hamsters. The extract exhibited potent estrogenic activity at the contraceptive dose, without antiestrogenic activity. A significant uterotrophic effect was seen even at 1/40 of the contraceptive dose. When administered orally for 3 consecutive days, the hexane soluble fraction induced normal implantations at 250 mg/kg and lower doses in adult female mice undergoing experimentally induced delayed implantation. The maximum response in terms of the percentage of pregnant animals and the average number of implantations was observed at 125 mg/kg dose. The experimental results confirm the frank estrogenicity of the extract.