Root distribution pattern of the wild jack tree (Artocarpus hirsutus Lamk.) as studied by 32P soil injection method

Root distribution of the wild jack tree (Artocarpus hirsutus) was determined by selective placement of ³²P at various depths and lateral distances from the tree, in Kerala, India. In eight-and-a-half-year-old trees growing on a lateritic site, absorption of ³²P from a lateral distance of 75 cm and 30 cm depth was much greater than from 150 and 225 cm lateral distance and 60 and 90 cm depth. Root activity declined with increasing depth and lateral distance. Most of the physiologically active roots were concentrated within a radius of 75 cm and 30 cm depth, although the tap root might reach even deeper. Possibly, surface accumulation of feeder roots may cause considerable overlap of the tree and crop root zones in intercropping situations. However, as the tree roots seldom extend beyond 2.25 m laterally from the trunk, the effect of overlapping root zones and the associated competitive effects may not be a serious problem for intercropping during the first few years (<10 years after planting) of tree growth.     

Downregulation of DEK induces cell apoptosis via inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway in gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of DEK downregulation on the apoptosis of gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells, and to explore its associations with NF-κB signaling pathway and apoptosis related proteins. METHODS: SGC-7901 cells with different treatments were divided into 3 groups including untreated group, control siRNA group and DEK siRNA group. The expression of DEK at mRNA and protein levels in the SGC-7901 cells was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot. The cell apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in the SGC-7901 cells were investigated by Caspase-Glo^®-3/9 kit. Finally, the expression of key regulatory protein p65 of NF-κB signaling pathway and apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2 and Bax in the SGC-7901 cells was investigated by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with untreated group and control siRNA group, the expression of DEK at mRNA and protein levels was significantly downregulated in DEK siRNA group (P<0.05). In addition, the ratios of early phase apoptosis and total apoptosis in DEK siRNA group were markedly higher than those in untreated group and control siRNA group (P<0.05). Most notably, the decrease in p65 and Bcl-2 proteins, increase in Bax protein and the increases of caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities were observed in DEK siRNA group. CONCLUSION: Downregulation of DEK mediates cell apoptosis of gastric carcinoma may be tightly associated with NF-κB signaling pathway.     

Protective effect of BNDF on vascular endothelial cells with H2O2-induced oxidative injury

AIM: To study the protective effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on vascular endothelial cells with H₂O₂-induced oxidative injury. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in vitro, and the oxidation injury model of HUVECs was established by treatment with H₂O₂. The oxidatively injured HUVECs were cultured with different concentrations (1, 10 and 100 μg/L) of BDNF. At the same time, the control group (no injury), PBS treatment after H₂O₂ injury group and TrkB inhibitor group (with 100 μg/L BDNF and 1: 1 000 TrkB inhibitor) were also set up. The viability of the HUVECs was detected by MTT assay. The levels of LDH, MDA, SOD and GSH were measured. The releases of NO, ET-1 and ICAM-1 were analyzed by ELISA. The changes of ROS production and cell apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry. The protein levels of TrkB, p-TrkB, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with uninjured control group, in H₂O₂ oxidative injury plus PBS treatment group, the viability of the cells was decreased significantly, the LDH and MDA levels were increased significantly and the activities of SOD and GSH were decreased significantly. The NO secretion was decreased, and the ET-1 and ICAM-1 concentrations were increased significantly. The ROS content and apoptotic rate were increased significantly. The protein levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax were increased but Bcl-2 protein expression was decreased significantly. Compared with PBS treatment group, in H₂O₂-injured HUVECs treated with different concentrations of BDNF, the cell viability was gradually increased, the LDH and MDA levels were decreased and the activities of SOD and GSH were increased gradually. The secretion of NO was increased but ET-1 and ICAM-1 were decreased gradually. The ROS content and apoptotic rate were decreased significantly. The TrkB and p-TrkB levels were significantly increased significantly, the protein expression of cleaved-caspase 3 and Bax was decreased gradually and the Bcl-2 protein expression increased gradually. The role of BDNF was inhibited by TrkB inhibitor. CONCLUSION: BDNF protects HUVECs from oxidative injury by binding with TrkB to activate the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathways.     

Promoting effect of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A heavy chain on neuritogenesis in cultured Neuro-2a cells

AIM: To observe the neuritogenic actions of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A heavy chain (BoNT/A HC) on cultured Neuro-2a cells and to investigate the related signaling mechanisms for the effect of BoNT/A HC. METHODS: Neuro-2a cells were treated with different doses of BoNT/A HC (0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 nmol/L), and then the cells were harvested at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h of BoNT/A HC exposure for detecting the neurite length and the percen-tage of the cells with neuronal processes by immunofluorescence staining. The most efficient dose of BoNT/A HC was chosen for exposure to Neuro-2a cells as the above. Whole cell protein was harvested at different time points for detecting the protein levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) by Western blot. RESULTS: Low doses of BoNT/A HC stimulated the neurite outgrowth, and increased the percentage of the cells with neurites compared with the negative controls (P<0.05), especially in the group with 1 nmol/L of BoNT/A HC treatment. Meanwhile, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt was increased after treated with BoNT/A HC. There was an increasing tendency for the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 after the exposure of the cells to BoNT/A HC. The obvious increase in p-ERK1/2 was seen from 60 min to 5 h with 1 nmol/L of BoNT/A HC treatment (P< 0.05), and the increased protein level of p-Akt was mainly observed at 15 min and 60 min (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: BoNT/A HC stimulates the neuritogenesis. The neuritogenic mechanism of BoNT/A HC on Neuro-2a cells might be realized by activation of the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt.     

常山胡柚叶片DNA的抽提与分析

经反复实验，采用在抽提前加入一定量的抗氧化剂β－巯基乙醇，用冰冻的异丙醇来沉淀DNA，并增加氯仿／异戊醇抽提次数的所谓改良CTAB法，对常山胡柚叶片DNA抽提与分析，不仅成功提取到常山胡柚叶片DNA，而且所得的DNA浓度高、纯度好，20个试样的DNA苹均质量浓度为272.86μg/mL，平均每克鲜叶片可获DNA约82μg，纯度基本上都在1.4-1.8范围内，并经RAPD反应验证，完全能满足常规分子生物学分析的要求。     

Metabolism mediated interaction of α-asarone and Acorus calamus with CYP3A4 and CYP2D6

The present study was aimed to investigate the possible interaction of the standardized extract of Acorus calamus (AC) with Cytochrome P450 enzyme, quantitative determination of the α-asarone in the AC rhizome was performed by RP-HPLC method. In vitro interaction of the plant extract was evaluated by CYP450-carbon monoxide complex (CYP450-CO) assay. Effect on individual isoforms such as CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 isozymes were analyzed through fluorescence product formation and respective IC₅₀ values were determined. CYP450-CO assay showed moderate interaction potential. Extract showed higher IC₅₀ values (46.84 ± 1.83-32.99 ± 2.21 μg/ml) comparing to the standard inhibitors and lower IC₅₀ value than α-asarone (65.16 ± 2.37-42.15 ± 2.45 μg/ml).     

Schisandrin B protects against solar irradiation-induced oxidative injury in BJ human fibroblasts

The effects of schisandrin B (Sch B) and its analogs on solar irradiation-induced oxidative injury were examined in BJ human fibroblasts. Sch B and schisandrin C (Sch C) increased cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) level and protected against solar irradiation-induced oxidative injury. The photoprotection was paralleled by decreases in the elastases-type protease activity and matrix-metalloproteinases-1 expression in solar-irradiated fibroblasts. The cytochrome P-450-mediated metabolism of Sch B or Sch C caused ROS production. The results suggest that by virtue of its pro-oxidant action and the subsequent glutathione antioxidant response, Sch B or Sch C may offer the prospect of preventing skin photo-aging.     

中国黄山苦竹一新变型

本文发表了中国黄山产苦竹一新变型：花秆苦竹Ｐｌｅｉｏｂｌａｓｔｕｓａｍａｒｕｓ（ｋｅｎｇ）ｋｅｎｇｆ．ｆ．ｈｕａｎｇｓｈａｎｅｎｓｉｓＣ．Ｌ．Ｈｕａｎｇ，ｆ．ｎｏｖ．     

山杨嫩枝扦插新技术试验初报

采用两种不同插穗进行山杨优树嫩枝扦插对比试验，结果表明：取自根蘖条的幼化型插穗同自树冠的插穗相比，在相同条件下，生根率，新根最大长度，扦插苗成活率均有显著提高，进一步用木段促萌，生产幼化型插穗的方法也取得了成功，从而总结了出一套较为简便经济的山杨优树无性繁殖技术。     

Three new water-soluble alkaloids from the leaves of Suregada glomerulata (Blume) Baill

Three new water-soluble alkaloids (1-3) together with twelve known compounds (4-15) have been isolated from the water extract of leaves of Suregada glomerulata. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis and chemical method. Compounds 1-3 were evaluated for their in vitro inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and HIV-1 replication. However, no significant activities were found.