Highly Systematic and Efficient HOMO–LUMO Energy Gap Control of Thiophene-Pyrazine-Acenes

Brownell, Lacie V.,Robins, Kathleen A.,Jeong, Youngjun,Lee, Youngu,Lee, Dong-Chan American Chemical Society 2013 JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C - Vol.117 No.48

<P>We report a series of unique and simple donor–acceptor–donor molecular systems that provide compelling insights into the highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO–LUMO) energy gap. In this system, thiophene and pyrazine-acene were employed as a donor and an acceptor, respectively. More specifically, acceptor moieties are a combination of phenazine, bisphenazine, and thiadiazole. These donor and acceptor units are well-known primarily for generating low band gap polymers, however a systematic study on why these donor–acceptor combinations are successful has yet to be investigated. In this study, we attempt to gain a fundamental understanding about how these specific donor and acceptors impact the energetics of the resulting molecular systems. A combination of theoretical and experimental methods was used to explore the impact of geometry on the HOMO and LUMO energies. One of the most critical findings is that the dihedral angle between the donor and acceptor influences the HOMO energy predominantly while having very little impact on the LUMO energy, verified experimentally with a perfectly planar system and a closely related nonplanar counterpart. With this collaborative approach, we effectively produced a simple molecular system with an unusually small energy gap of 1.43 eV. The donor–acceptor–donor molecules showed an exceptional ability to produce one-dimensional self-assembled clusters by solution casting, with one in particular exhibiting bundles of ca. 100–200 nm width which is composed of ca. 10 nm width nanotapes. Finally, bulk heterojunction organic solar cell performance is tested using the donor–acceptor–donor molecule as an interlayer between P3HT/PC<SUB>60</SUB>BM blend and Al cathode. Power conversion efficiency was improved by 13% compared to the bulk heterojunction without the interlayer.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/jpccck/2013/jpccck.2013.117.issue-48/jp407269p/production/images/medium/jp-2013-07269p_0015.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/jp407269p'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

Appetite Suppression and Antiobesity Effect of a Botanical Composition Composed of <i> Morus alba</i> , <i> Yerba mate</i> , and <i> Magnolia officinalis</i>

Yimam, Mesfin,Jiao, Ping,Hong, Mei,Brownell, Lidia,Lee, Young-Chul,Hyun, Eu-Jin,Kim, Hyun-Jin,Kim, Tae-Woo,Nam, Jeong-Bum,Kim, Mi-Ran,Jia, Qi Hindawi Publishing Corporation 2016 Journal of obesity Vol.2016 No.-

<P><I>Background</I>. Obesity and its comorbidities continue to challenge the world at an alarming rate. Although the long term solution lies on lifestyle changes in the form of dieting and exercising, drug, medical food, or dietary supplement interventions are required for those who are already obese. Here we describe a standardized blend composed of extracts from three medicinal plants:<I> Morus alba</I>,<I> Yerba mate</I>, and<I> Magnolia officinalis</I> for appetite suppression and metabolic disorders management.<I> Method</I>. Extracts were standardized to yield a composition designated as UP601. Appetite suppression activity was tested in acute feed intake rat model. Efficacy was evaluated in C57BL/6J mouse models treated with oral doses of 1.3 g/kg/day for 7 weeks. Orlistat at 40 mg/kg/day was used as a positive control. Body compositions of mice were assessed using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). ELISA was done for insulin, leptin, and ghrelin level quantitation. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) scoring was conducted.<I> Results</I>. Marked acute hypophagia with 81.8, 75.3, 43.9, and 30.9% reductions in food intake at 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours were observed for UP601. Decreases in body weight gain (21.5% compared to the HFD at weeks 7 and 8.2% compared to baseline) and calorie intake (40.5% for the first week) were observed. 75.9% and 46.8% reductions in insulin and leptin, respectively, 4.2-fold increase in ghrelin level, and reductions of 18.6% in cholesterol and 59% in low-density lipoprotein were documented. A percentage body fat of 18.9%, 47.8%, 46.1%, and 30.4% was found for mice treated with normal control, HFD, Orlistat, and UP601, respectively. 59.3% less mesenteric fat pad and improved NASH scores were observed for UP601.<I> Conclusion</I>. UP601, a standardized botanical composition from<I> Morus alba</I>,<I> Yerba mate</I>, and<I> Magnolia officinalis</I> could be used as a natural alternative for appetite suppression, maintaining healthy body weight and metabolism management.</P>

A Botanical Composition from Morus alba, Ilex paraguariensis, and Rosmarinus officinalis for Body Weight Management

Mesfin Yimam,Ping Jiao,Mei Hong,Lidia Brownell,이영철,김현진,남정범,김미란,Qi Jia 한국식품영양과학회 2017 Journal of medicinal food Vol.20 No.11

Obesity is the largest and fastest growing public health catastrophe in the world affecting both adults and children with a prevalence impacting more than one-third of United States (US) adult population. Although the long-term solution lies in lifestyle changes in the form of dieting and exercise, intervention is required for those who are already obese. Unfortunately, treatment options remain quite limited due to associated side effects of conventional therapeutics. As a natural alternative, in this study we describe the beneficial effect of a standardized composition (UP603) comprised of extracts from Morus alba, Ilex paraguariensis, and Rosmarinus officinalis in improving metabolic disorders in high fat diet (HFD) and high fat & high fructose diet (HFFD) induced obese C57BL/6J mice. Mice treated with UP603 showed dose-correlated decrease in body weight gains compared to vehicle treated HFFD group. Following 7 weeks of treatment, the changes in body weight gains from baseline were found as 6.4%, 27.3%, 2.0%, 3.1%, 0.4%, and −2.9% for normal control diet, HFFD, Orlistat, 450, 650, and 850 mg/kg UP603 treated animals, respectively. Reductions of 7.9–21.1% in total cholesterol, 25.4–44.6% in triglyceride, and 22.5–38.2% in low-density lipoprotein were observed for mice treated with 450–850 mg/kg of UP603. In a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, percentage body fat of 18.9%, 47.8%, 46.1%, and 40.4% were found for mice treated with normal control, HFD, Orlistat, and UP603, respectively. Reductions of 65.5% and 16.4% in insulin and leptin, respectively, and 2.1-fold increase in ghrelin level were also observed for the UP603 group. Statistically significant improvements in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis scores were also observed from liver histology for mice treated with UP603. Hence, UP603, a standardized botanical composition from M. alba, I. paraguariensis, and R. officinalis could potentially be considered as a natural alternative to maintain healthy body weight and to manage metabolic syndrome.

Morus alba, a Medicinal Plant for Appetite Suppression and Weight Loss

Mesfin Yimam,Ping Jiao,Mei Hong,Lidia Brownell,이영철,김현진,남정범,김미란,Qi Jia 한국식품영양과학회 2019 Journal of medicinal food Vol.22 No.7

The prevalence of obesity is expanding rapidly worldwide, making the disease a global burden with limited treatment options. The current obesity drug development trends suggest the possibility of reducing weight and reverse metabolic disturbances of obesity by controlling appetite. In this study, we screened more than 8000 plants from our plant library for the cannabinoid (CB1) receptor antagonists and identified Morus alba as a lead medicinal plant. Kuwanon G and Albanin G were isolated and identified from root-barks of Morus alba with 92% and 96% CB1 receptor ligand binding inhibitory activity, respectively. The bioflavonoid standardized extract was tested in the acute food intake study in rats at oral doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg for its appetite suppression activity. Diet-induced obesity in the C57BL/6J mice was used to evaluate the long-term food intake reduction activity and effect on the weight loss administered orally at 250 and 500 mg/kg for 7 weeks. Statistically significant and dose-dependent reduction in food intake was observed in both acute and long-term studies for the extract. Food intake reductions of 58.6% and 44.8% at 250 mg/kg and 50.1% and 44.3% at 500 mg/kg were observed at 1 and 2 h postfood provision, respectively. A 20% reduction in daily calorie intake was observed in the long-term study. Obese mice treated with the high dose of Morus root-bark extract showed 10.4 g (22.5%) and 7.1 g (16.5%) loss in body weight compared with the vehicle-treated obese animals (at week 7) and baseline, respectively. Statistically significant reductions in biochemical markers and visceral fat deposit were also observed. These results demonstrated that Morus alba extracts enriched in Kuwanon G, and Albanin G could be used alone to control appetite, manage body weight, and improve metabolic syndromes.

UP165, A Standardized Corn Leaf Extract for Improving Sleep Quality and Mood State

Shawn M. Talbott,Julie A. Talbott,Lidia Brownell,Mesfin Yimam 한국식품영양과학회 2023 Journal of medicinal food Vol.26 No.1

UP165, a standardized Zea mays (corn) leaf extract, was evaluated for its effect on sleep quality and overall well-being in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, administered orally at 250 and 500 mg/day. Participants (n = 45) (age range 19–73) consumed the supplement or placebo ∼60 minutes before bedtime daily for 4 weeks. Measurements that were evaluated were as follows: daily sleep quality, as monitored by a fitness tracker; the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep quality and efficiency; salivary cortisol levels for stress; and Profile of Mood States (POMS) to assess general well-being. Participants who received UP165 showed a statistically significant and dose-correlated reduction in salivary cortisol (up to 36%); an increase in deep sleep time (up to 30 minutes); increased total sleep time (up to 10%); an improvement in sleep quality (up to 49%), and an enhanced POMS (36–58%). Participants in the UP165 group showed a sevenfold increase in deep sleep time and a 10-fold increase in PSQI sleep quality improvement compared to placebo. Collectively, UP165 is a safe nutritional supplement clinically proven for a 24-hour support with better quality and efficiency of sleep at night and an improved mood state and overall well-being during the day. The clinical study has been ISRCTN registered with study ID ISRCTN68282897.

AmLexin, a Standardized blend of Acacia catechu and Morus alba, shows benefits to delayed onset muscle soreness in healthy runners

Mesfin Yimam,Shawn M. Talbott,Julie A. Talbott,Lidia Brownell,Qi Jia 한국운동영양학회 2018 Physical Activity and Nutrition (Phys Act Nutr) Vol.22 No.4

[Purpose] Sudden and exhaustive exercise causes muscle damage accompanied by oxidative stress and inflammation, leading to muscle fatigue and soreness. AmLexin contains a standardized blend of extracts from the heartwood of Acacia catechu and the root bark of Morus alba, and is known to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of this proprietary blend supplementation on muscular pain and redox balance in healthy runners, in comparison to a placebo. [Methods] A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out over 9 weeks in a single center. Thirty physically active male and female subjects within 18−70 years of age were randomized into AmLexin (mean age = 42.92 ± 2.48 and gender 7/5, male/female, respectively) and placebo (mean age = 41.15 ± 3.5 and gender 10/3, male/female, respectively) groups. Subjects were supplemented with 400 mg of AmLexin/day or a look-alike placebo during an 8-week training program, and for one week following a 13.1-mile half-marathon. Twenty-six subjects completed the 9-week supplementation trial. [Results] Results showed the AmLexin group experienced significantly lower levels of post-exercise pain on day 1−3 following the half-marathon compared to the placebo group. The AmLexin group also showed lower post-exercise oxidative stress and higher antioxidant capacity on days 1 and 6 following the half-marathon. These results demonstrated the rapid benefits of AmLexin on pain and oxidative stress within 1−6 days post-exercise. [Conclusion] Our data suggest that AmLexin could be a safe, effective botanical alternative for delayed onset muscle soreness.

A Botanical Composition Mitigates Cartilage Degradations and Pain Sensitivity in Osteoarthritis Disease Model

Mesfin Yimam,이영철,Laura Wright,Ping Jiao,Teresa Horm,Mei Hong,Lidia Brownell,Qi Jia 한국식품영양과학회 2017 Journal of medicinal food Vol.20 No.6

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by a progressive articular cartilage degradation manifested with significant functional impairment in consort with signs and symptoms of inflammation, stiffness, and loss of mobility. Current OA management is inadequate due to the lack of nominal therapies proven to be effective in hampering disease progression where symptomatic therapy focused intervention masks the primary etiology leading to irreversible structural damage. In this study, we describe the effect of UP1306, a composition containing a proprietary blend of two standardized extracts from the heartwood of Acacia catechu and the root bark of Morus alba, in maintaining joint structural integrity and alleviating OA associated symptoms in monosodium-iodoacetate (MIA)–induced rat OA disease model. Data from pain sensitivity, histopathology, and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) level were analyzed. Diclofenac at 10 mg/kg was used as a reference compound. Ex vivo proteoglycan protection model demonstrated 31.5%, 50.0%, and 54.8% inhibitions of proteoglycan degradations from UP1306 at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL, respectively. The merit of combining two bioflavonoid standardized extracts from A. catechu and M. alba was demonstrated in their Ex vivo synergistic proteoglycan protection activity. In the MIA in vivo OA model, administered orally at 500 mg/kg, UP1306 resulted in reductions of 17.5%, 29.0%, 34.4%, 33.5%, and 40.9% through week 1–5 in pain sensitivity, statistically significant improvements in articular cartilage matrix integrity, and minimal subchondral bone damage. Therefore, UP1306 could potentially be considered as an alternative remedy from natural sources for the management of OA and/or its associated symptoms.

Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol Alone and in Combination with Standardized Bioflavonoid Composition

Mesfin Yimam,Alexandria O'Neal,Teresa Horm,Ping Jiao,Mei Hong,Shayna Rossiter,Lidia Brownell,Qi Jia 한국식품영양과학회 2021 Journal of medicinal food Vol.24 No.9

Symptom-alleviating therapies for osteoarthritis (OA) management are inadequate. Long-term application of first-line treatments, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, is limited due to associated side effects. We believe that a combination of traditionally used botanical extracts, which have diverse active components that target multiple inflammatory pathways, may provide a safe and efficacious alternative to address the multifactorial nature of OA. Recently, cannabidiol (CBD), the major nonpsychoactive component of the hemp plant, has gained renewed global attention for its pharmacological actions. It has shown promise in reducing pain and inflammation in preclinical models of arthritis. In this study, widely employed inflammatory and noninflammatory animal pain models, such as the hot plate test, visceral pain model (writhing test), and carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model, were utilized to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of CBD alone and in combination with standardized bioflavonoid compositions. CBD was tested at 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg orally and at 5% topically. Administered alone, CBD produced dose-correlated, statistically significant pain inhibition in all the models. Enhanced performance in pain and inflammation reduction was observed when CBD was orally administered in complex with the bioflavonoid compositions. Data from this study show that for clinically meaningful efficacy against OA, CBD may have to be delivered in higher dosage or formulated with other medicinal plants with similar activities.

Genetic evidence of illegal trade in protected whales links Japan with the US and South Korea

Baker, C. Scott,Steel, Debbie,Choi, Yeyong,Lee, Hang,Kim, Kyung Seok,Choi, Sung Kyoung,Ma, Yong-Un,Hambleton, Charles,Psihoyos, Louie,Brownell, R. L.,Funahashi, Naoko The Royal Society 2010 Biology letters Vol.6 No.5

<P>We report on genetic identification of ‘whale meat’ purchased in sushi restaurants in Los Angeles, CA (USA) in October 2009 and in Seoul, South Korea in June and September 2009. Phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA cytochrome <I>b</I> sequences confirmed that the products included three species of whale currently killed in the controversial scientific whaling programme of Japan, but which are protected from international trade: the fin, sei and Antarctic minke. The DNA profile of the fin whale sold in Seoul established a match to products purchased previously in Japan in September 2007, confirming unauthorized trade between these two countries. Following species identification, these products were handed over to the appropriate national or local authorities for further investigation. The illegal trade of products from protected species of whales, presumably taken under a national permit for scientific research, is a timely reminder of the need for independent, transparent and robust monitoring of any future whaling.</P>