Identification of methanol-soluble compounds in sesame and evaluation of antioxidant potential of its lignans

The methanol extract of sesame (Sesamum indicum) seeds was fractionated and purified with the assistance of conventional column chromatography to afford 29 compounds including seven furofuran lignans. Among these isolates, (+)-samin (1) was obtained from the natural source for the first time. In addition, (-)-asarinin (30) and sesamol (31) were generated by oxidative derivation from (+)-sesamolin (2) and (+)-sesamin (3), two abundant lignans found in sesame seeds. To evaluate their in vitro antioxidant potential, the seven isolated lignans (1-7) and the two derivatives (30 and 31) were examined for the scavenging activities on DPPH free radicals and superoxide anions. Moreover, the capability of chelating ferrous ions and reducing power of these sesame lignans were also measured. The results suggest that, besides the well-known sesamolin and sesamin, the minor sesame lignans (+)-(7S,8'R,8R)-acuminatolide (5), (-)-piperitol (6), and (+)-pinoresinol (7) are also adequate active ingredients and may be potential sources for nutritional and pharmacological utilization.     

Isolation, structure characterization, and immunomodulating activity of a hyperbranched polysaccharide from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma sinense

A polysaccharide (GSP-6B) with a molecular mass of 1.86 × 10? Da was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma sinense . Chemical composition analysis, methylation analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were conducted to elucidate its structure. GSP-6B contains a backbone of (1→6)-linked-β-D-glucopyranosyl residues, bearing branches at the O-3 position of every two sugar residues along the backbone. The side chains contain (1→4)-linked-β-D-glucopyranosyl residues, (1→3)-linked-β-D-glucopyranosyl residues, and nonreducing end β-D-glucopyranosyl residues. An in vitro immunomodulating activity assay revealed that GSP-6B could significantly induce the release of IL-1β and TNF-α in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and showed no toxicity to either PBMC or a human macrophage cell line THP-1. GSP-6B could also activate dendritic cells (DC) by stimulating the secretion of IL-12 and IL-10 from DC.     

Effects of Heavy Metals on the Hatching Rates of Brine Shrimp Artemia salina Cysts

The effects of heavy metals (Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cr³+, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺. Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mn⁷⁺, Mn⁴⁺ and Mn²⁺) on the relative hatching percentage of brine shrimp, Artemia salina were assessed. Artemia salina cysts (San Francisco Bay Brand) hatched in seawater containing various heavy metal concentrations. After 48 hours, the number of hatched nauplii were counted. A negative linear relationship between hatching rate of Ariemia salina cysts and heavy metal concentration occurred, except copper which conformed to a cubic model. The relative toxicities of heavy metals on Artemia salina cysts were as follows (Cu²⁺, most toxic; Mn²⁺, least toxic): Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Ni²⁺ > Co²⁺ > Mn⁷⁺ > Cr³⁺ > Cd²⁺ > Fe²⁺ > Hg²⁺ > Mn⁴⁺ > Pb²⁺ > Mn²⁺.     

Super Intensive Culture of Red-Tailed Shrimp Penaeus penicillatus

Two continuous grow-out experiments of red-tailed shrimp Penueus penicillatus were conducted for one year in a super intensive system with a stocking density of 171 and 286 postlarvae/m², respectively. The postlarval shrimp (Ph_8–12) were cultured in three 0.14 ha earthen ponds with concrete dikes. The shrimp were fed with a commercially prepared feed four times a day. Water quality parameters from the second trial varied as follows: water temperature from 23.0 to 30.4 C, salinity from 15.33 to 21.00 ppt, dissolved oxygen (DO) from 3.47 to 7.34 mg/L, NH₃-N from 0.002 to 0.869 mg/L, nitrite-N from 0.013 to 0.844 mg/L, and nitrate-N from 0.021 to 1.795 mg/L. Ammonia-N increased from 0.022 to 46.110 mg/L, while the pH declined from 8.12 to 7.32. Yield was 4,650 kg/0.42 ha from the first crop in 131 days and 5,160 kg/0.42 ha from the second crop in 141 days. The productivity of this system producing P. penicillatus was 11–12 tons/ha/crop.     

Chemical and genetic assessment of variability in commercial Radix Astragali (Astragalus spp.) by ion trap LC-MS and nuclear ribosomal DNA barcoding sequence analyses

Radix Astragali (Huangqi) has been demonstrated to have a wide range of immunopotentiating effects and has been used as an adjuvant medicine during cancer therapy. Identity issues in the collection of Radix Astragali exist because many sympatric species of Astragalus occur in the northern regions of China. In order to assess the quality, purity, and uniformity of commercial Radix Astragali, 44 samples were purchased from herbal stores in Hong Kong and New York City. The main constituents, including four isoflavonoids and three saponins, were quantitatively determined by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). There was significant sample-to-sample variability in the amounts of the saponins and isoflavonoids measured. Furthermore, DNA barcoding utilizing the variable nuclear ITS spacer regions of the 44 purchased Radix Astragali samples were sequenced, aligned and compared. Eight polymorphic point mutations were identified which separated the Radix Astragali samples into three groups. These results indicate that the chemical and genetic variability that exists among Radix Astragali medicinal products is still a consistency and quality issue for this herbal. Two-way ANOVA analysis showed significant effects on the contents of the seven tested compounds when both phylogenetic and geographic (i.e., point of purchase) factors were considered. Therefore, chemical profiles determined by LC-MS and DNA profiles in ITS spacer domains could serve as barcode markers for quality control of Radix Astragali.     

Accumulation of Heavy Metals in the Nauplii of Artemia salina

Artemia salina cysts (San Francisco Bay Brand) were exposed in seawater containing multiple concentrations of either a single heavy metal (Hg, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Co, Ni, Cr, Mn and Fe) or combination of heavy metals. The heavy metal accumulation in Artemia nauplii increased linearly with an increase in the heavy metal concentration in water. The metals could be detected in nauplii exposed to a single heavy metal at dosages of 5 μg/L for Hg, Zn, Mn, Fe and Cu; 25 μg/L for Cd and Cr; 50 μg/L for Co; 100 mUg/L for Ni; and 250 μg/L for Pb. Cysts exposed to several heavy metal combinations had minimum effective dosages equal to or lower than the single heavy metals- 5 μg/L for Cu, Cr, Zn, Mn and Fe; 25 μg/L for Cd and Ni; 50 μg/L for Co; and 250 μg/L for Pb. The accumulation of Cu, Ni and Co by Artemiu nauplii did not differ for animals exposed to single or combined heavy metal solutions. Cr, Zn and Pb had a synergistic effect of heavy metal uptake in combined heavy metal element solutions, however, Fe, Cd and Mn had an antagonistic effect.