Imperatorin prevents cardiac hypertrophy and the transition to heart failure via NO-dependent mechanisms in mice

Augmented endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) signaling has been reported to be associated with improvements in cardiac remodeling, and NO levels have been shown to be related to cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Imperatorin, a dietary furanocoumarin, has been shown to prevent cardiac hypertrophy in the spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR). Thus, we aimed to clarify whether imperatorin attenuates both cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure via the NO-signaling pathway. In neonatal mouse cardiac myocytes, imperatorin inhibited protein synthesis stimulated by either isoproterenol or phenylephrine, which was unchanged by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Four weeks after transverse aortic constriction (TAC) on Kunming (KM) male mice, the ratio of heart weight to body weight was lower after imperatorin treatment than in controls (6.60 ± 0.35 mg/g in TAC, 4.54 ± 0.29 mg/g with imperatorin 15 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹, ig, P < 0.01); similar changes in the ratio of lung weight to body weight (7.30 ± 0.85 mg/g in TAC, 5.42 ± 0.51 mg/g with imperatorin 15 mg kg^− 1 d^− 1, ig) and the myocardial fibrosis. All of these improvements were blunted by L-NAME. Imperatorin treatment significantly activated phosphorylation of eNOS. Myocardial mRNA levels of natriuretic peptide precursor type B and protein inhibitor of NO synthase, which were increased in the TAC mice, were decreased in the imperatorin-treated ones. Imperatorin can attenuate cardiac hypertrophy both in vivo and in vitro, and halt the process leading from hypertrophy to heart failure by a NO-mediated pathway.     

Cardioprotective effect of 'Marutham' a polyherbal formulation on isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats

Myocardial infarction is the number one killer disease in many parts of the world. The cardioprotective effect of Marutham, a polyherbal formulation on serum and heart tissue lipids, serum lipoproteins and heart membrane bound enzymes in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction was studied in Wistar rats. Pretreatment with Marutham at different doses of 30, 60 and 90 mg kg(-1) to isoproterenol treated rats significantly prevented the altered lipid profile and membrane bound enzymes to near normal status. The results of our study showed the cardioprotective potential of Marutham on isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats.     

桉叶月见草素B的单体制备及其体内外稳定性研究

采用乙醇提取、大孔树脂吸附、中压柱层析和制备液相等方法从桉叶中分离得到月见草素B(OEB)单体,并对其结构进行了鉴定,分析了OEB在不同极性溶剂中的溶解度,同时考察了热处理条件、p H值及酶的作用对OEB损失率的影响,然后追踪了其在小鼠体内代谢过程,以综合评价OEB的体内外稳定性。结果表明:桉叶醇提所得粗提物经大孔树脂吸附、柱层析及制备液相纯化后可获得OEB单体化合物,纯度94.85%,得率(以桉叶干质量计)2.50%;OEB在水中的溶解度大于其他有机溶剂,热处理温度、p H值、酶的种类及浓度均对OEB的稳定性有影响,高温(80℃)、碱性条件(p H值7)和胰蛋白酶、脂肪酶对OEB的损失率影响更大,损失率最大可达98.85%;OEB在离体血浆作用后出现新组分且损失明显;OEB在小鼠体内的代谢过程表明其在体内胃肠道中均不稳定、易分解,不能直接进入血液,也不能以原型化合物的形式抵达粪便及尿液中。由此可见,OEB在体内外均不稳定,这将为阐明OEB的体内代谢途径及进一步提高其稳定性提供理论依据。     

Vascular barrier protective effects of pellitorine in LPS-induced inflammation in vitro and in vivo

Pellitorine (PT), an active amide compound, is well known to possess insecticidal, antibacterial and anticancer properties. In this study, we first investigated the possible barrier protective effects of pellitorine against pro-inflammatory responses induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the associated signaling pathways in vitro and in vivo. The barrier protective activities of PT were determined by measuring permeability, monocyte adhesion and migration, and activation of pro-inflammatory proteins in LPS-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and in mice. We found that PT inhibited LPS-induced barrier disruption, expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and adhesion/transendothelial migration of monocytes to human endothelial cells. PT also suppressed LPS-induced hyperpermeability and leukocyte migration in vivo. Further studies revealed that PT suppressed the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or Interleukin (IL)-6 and activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) or extracellular regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 by LPS. Moreover, treatment with PT resulted in reduced LPS-induced lethal endotoxemia. These results suggest that PT protects vascular barrier integrity by inhibiting hyperpermeability, expression of CAMs, and adhesion and migration of leukocytes, thereby endorsing its usefulness as a therapy for vascular inflammatory diseases.     

Immunomodulatory activity in vitro and in vivo of polysaccharide from Potentilla anserina

The polysaccharide (PAP) from Potentilla anserina was evaluated for modulating effects by using mouse peritoneal macrophage and the immunosuppressed-model cyclophosphamide-induced. Phagocytotic and mononuclear phagocytic system function assays showed that PAP stimulated the phagocytosis of phagocyte. Splenocyte proliferation assay showed that PAP acted the effect combining Con A or LPS in splenocyte proliferation. The parameters detected showed that PAP increased thymus and spleen indices, the levels of LDH and ACP in the spleen, and IL-10and IFN-γ in serum in immunosuppressed mice. The results suggest that PAP is involved in immunomodulatory effects leading to the exploration for PAP as a potential immunostimulant.     

A comparison between decay patterns of the white‐rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus in chestnut–leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia) shows predominantly simultaneous attack both in vivo and in vitro

In this research, we examined decay patterns occurring in Quercus castaneifolia wood under natural conditions compared with controlled decay in vivo. Pleurotus ostreatus‐infected oak wood was obtained from the Sari forests in the north of Iran. The species causing decay was verified as P. ostreatus using rDNA‐ITS sequencing of pure cultures from infected sapwood. In addition to P. ostreatus, two wood‐inhabiting Ascomycota, Trichoderma harzianum and T. lixii, were present. Mass loss in oak sapwood samples exposed to P. ostreatus for 60 days was around 10 per cent. Samples were prepared from both naturally decayed wood and wood decayed under controlled conditions and examined using microscopy. P. ostreatus was found to produce a simultaneous white‐rot decay pattern in both conditions.     

Trichosanthin down-regulates Notch signaling and inhibits proliferation of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE2 in vitro

The prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is still poor. Trichosanthin (TCS) has abortifacient, anti-virus, immunoregulation and various anti-tumor pharmacological activities, but there are no reports about its effect on NPC and the exact mechanisms that TCS inhibits tumor are not well known. In this study, the proliferation, apoptosis and soft agar colony formation abilities of CNE2 cells were examined with various assays in vitro followed by treatment with TCS. Furthermore, the activation status of Notch signaling pathway in TCS and control cells also was examined. The results revealed that TCS could inhibit NPC cell line CNE2 in vitro, reduce clone formation ability and induce apoptosis of CNE2 cells. Down-regulation of Notch signaling may be one of the mechanisms that TCS inhibits NPC.     

In vitro suppression of quercetin on hypertrophy and extracellular matrix accumulation in rat glomerular mesangial cells cultured by high glucose

Quercetin's protective effects on the glomerulosclerosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in rat mesangial cells were investigated. The cell cycles, type IV collagen and laminin, TGF-β₁ mRNA, Smad 2/3 and Smad 7, and activities of cell antioxidases were measured. Compared with the high glucose group, quercetin may decrease the cell percentages of G₀/G₁ phase, Smad 2/3 expression, laminin and type IV collagen, and TGF-β₁ mRNA level significantly. The antioxidant capacity, the cell percentages of S phase and Smad 7 expression was significantly increased by quercetin. These results suggest that quercetin is a protective agent against glomerulosclerosis in DN.     

苹果叶片再生体系建立研究

以乔纳金苹果试管苗叶片为外植体诱导不定芽再生，在培养基中添加不同浓度TDZ与NAA或IAA配合，使用琼脂或Polygel作为固化剂。结果表明，较适宜的叶片再生不定芽的培养基为TDZ 2．0mg／L和NAA 1．0mg／L，或TDZ 2．0mg／L与IAA 4．0mg／L。较适宜的组培固化剂为5．0g／L的Polygel。在不同的组培固化剂中，卡那霉素均能抑制不定芽的发生数量，但琼脂和Polygel效果不同。     

银杏叶聚戊烯基磷酸酯体内外抗肿瘤的生物活性研究

研究了聚戊烯基磷酸酯(PPH)体外对肿瘤细胞和体内抗移植性肿瘤的抑制作用。从银杏叶中分离制备聚戊烯醇混合物(C75~C110),选择POC l3为磷酰化剂和三乙胺为碱性水解剂,经过磷酰化和水解二步反应,合成聚戊烯基磷酸单酯。以氟脲嘧啶(5-Fu)为对照,体外肿瘤细胞株选择SGC-7901人胃癌、LoVo人结肠腺癌和Hela人宫颈癌;体内移植性肿瘤细胞株选择肝癌实体型(Heps)、肉瘤(S180)、艾氏癌实体(EC),用不同剂量的PPH进行抗肿瘤药效实验。结果表明,银杏叶PPH在高浓度下(0.4 g/L)作用72 h,对3种体外细胞株抑瘤率达到60%~80%;对Heps、S180和EC等移植性瘤株抑瘤率达到50%~65%。这说明银杏叶PPH具有明显的抑制肿瘤的生物活性。     

移动智能体在森林病虫害专家系统中的应用研究

介绍智能体和移动智能体的发展及其技术理论。通过对移动智能体技术的分析,利用其移动性、能动性和交互性强的特点,提出将其应用到森林病虫害专家系统中,构建基于移动智能体的森林病虫害专家系统,进而提高专家系统的智能性,并对此系统的主要功能模块结构及其运行流程作了详细地阐述,对系统的发展前景作了展望。     

Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate isolated from a traditional anti-tuberculosis medicinal herb inhibits drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro

Many plants are used in Ayurveda for the treatment of tuberculosis. Our aim was to examine if these plants possess any specific molecule that inhibits Mycobacterium tuberculosis. One of them, Kaempferia galanga, yielded an anti-TB molecule, ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC). By resazurin microtitre assay (REMA), EPMC was shown to inhibit M. tuberculosis H37Ra, H37Rv, drug susceptible and multidrug resistant (MDR) clinical isolates (MIC 0.242-0.485 mM). No cross resistance was observed to any standard anti-TB drugs in the MDR strains. The compound did not inhibit any prototype bacteria tested. EPMC seems to be a potential anti-TB lead molecule.     

Factors influencing in vivo and in vitro micrografting of sandalwood (Santalum album L.): an endangered tree species

In vivo micrografting of Santalum album was achieved (50%) by grafting 4- to 5-cm-long scions, collected from a candidate plus tree (CPT) of 50–60 years of age, onto 90-day-old nursery-grown rootstock. Scion size, rootstock age, and scion collection season were found to influence graft success. Grafted plants were incubated under greenhouse conditions for 6–8 weeks during the graft union process. In vitro micrografts were achieved by placing 1- to 2-cm-long scions derived from nodal shoot segments (collected from CPT) onto the hypocotyl of 45-day-old in vitro rootstocks. Use of in vitro grown shoots as a source of scion gave better graft success (60%) than scions collected directly from field-grown trees. In vitro grafting was also influenced by scion size and rootstock age. Under favorable conditions, scions and hypocotyls unite to form complete plants that produced two to four leaves after 6–8 weeks. This is the first report on in vivo and in vitro micrografting of S. album having potential for production of disease-free clonal plants for conservation and improvement targets.     

Ocotea quixos Lam. essential oil: In vitro and in vivo investigation on its anti-inflammatory properties

Here we investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of Ocotea quixos essential oil and of its main components, trans-cinnamaldehyde and methyl cinnamate, in in vitro and in vivo models. Ocotea essential oil and trans-cinnamaldehyde but not methyl cinnamate significantly reduced LPS-induced NO release from J774 macrophages at non-toxic concentrations, inhibited LPS-induced COX-2 expression and increased forskolin-induced cAMP production. The essential oil (30–100 mg/kg os) and trans-cinnamaldehyde (10 mg/kg os) in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema showed anti-inflammatory effect without damaging gastric mucosa. In conclusion we provide the first evidence of a significant anti-inflammatory gastro-sparing activity of O.quixos essential oil.     

In vitro and in vivo immune stimulating effects of a new standardized Echinacea angustifolia root extract (Polinacea)

Polinacea is a new standardized hydroethanolic extract obtained from Echinacea angustifolia roots containing echinacoside (>4%), the high molecular weight polysaccharide IDN 5405 (>5%) and a isobutylamide fraction (<0.1%). For in vitro tests, a bacterial lipopolysaccharide-free (LPS-free) Polinacea has been prepared in order to avoid non-specific responses of immunocompetent cells. LPS-free Polinacea enhanced the immune functions as highlighted by the proliferation rate and gamma-interferon production in murine T-lymphocyte cell cultures stimulated by anti-CD3. LPS-free Polinacea did not have a direct role on macrophage response as measured in the nitric oxide production test using the J774 macrophage cells line. In vivo, Polinacea showed an immune stimulating activity by reducing the Candida albicans induced mortality both in normal and in cyclosporin A-treated mice.     

In vitro and in vivo germination of spores of Marssonina brunnea (Ell. et Ev.) P. Magn

A water soluble inhibitor of germination is present on the surfaces of freshly collected spores of Marssonina brunnea (Ell et Ev.) P. Magn. Spores of this pathogen have a high potential for germination even in the absence of external substrates. Among the poplar clones examined there was no correlation between spore germination on leaf discs and the disease reaction of the discs under controlled conditions. However under these conditions the disease development on leaf discs taken from clone I-69/55 was correlated with the high resistance of this clone to Marssonina leaf spot in the field.     

Biocontrol of decay in seasoning utility poles. I. Growth rate and colonizing ability of bluestain and decay fungi in vivo and in vitro

Seasoning (air drying) of utility poles for 6–12 months is essential before preservative treatment can be achieved. However, during seasoning, pine sapwood is often colonized by decay fungi, thereby compromising the performance and service life of the poles. This study investigated the potential of bluestain fungi to act as short‐term biocontrol agents against decay during seasoning. An important attribute for biocontrol is rapid growth, so growth rates of common bluestain (Ceratocystis coerulescens, Ophiostoma minus, Ophiostoma piceae, Ophiostoma piliferum, Sphaeropsis sapinea) and decay fungi (Heterobasidion annosum, Phlebiopsis gigantea, Stereum sanguinolentum) were compared on agar medium and pine in logs at various temperatures. On agar, the growth temperature optimum of most bluestain fungi and all the decay fungi was ～25°C, with little growth at ≤5°C or above 32.5°C. Overall, the fastest growing were S. sapinea and O. minus. In logs, the most effective colonizers were S. sapinea and O. minus with pathogenic abilities that made them well fitted to colonize the sapwood of freshly felled pine. Within these species, certain isolates produced much larger lesions in phloem and the sapwood tangential plane than all the decay fungi. Notably, there was significant variation in colonizing ability between different isolates within a species, emphasizing the need for testing a range of isolates when selecting a potential biocontrol agent.     

In vitro antioxidant and in vivo photoprotective effect of pistachio (Pistacia vera L., variety Bronte) seed and skin extracts

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) nuts are a rich source of phenolic compounds, known for their high antioxidant activity, and contained not only in the seeds but also in the skin. A pistachio cultivar of high quality is typical of Bronte, Sicily, Italy. The purpose of our study was to investigate the chemical composition and antioxidant properties of two polyphenol-rich extracts from skins (TP) and decorticated seeds (SP) of Bronte pistachios, and to verify the potential use of these extracts for topical photoprotective products.Chemical analysis showed that the TP and SP extracts contain high levels of phenolic compounds, but the TP extract is about ten times richer in phenols than the SP extract, being anthocyanins the most abundant compounds found in the TP extract. Both these extracts, and especially the TP extract, possess good radical scavenger/antioxidant properties, as shown in a series of in vitro assays carried out using homogenous and non-homogenous chemical environment. Furthermore both the TP extract and, although at a lower degree, the SP extract reduce, when topically applied, UV-B-induced skin erythema in human volunteers. These findings suggest that extracts from Bronte TP and SP could be successfully employed as photoprotective ingredients in topical cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations.     

从茶籽饼提取茶皂素工艺及应用研究

我国茶籽饼资源丰富,但利用率低,茶籽饼中茶皂素是一种纯天然非离子型表面活性剂,有广泛应用。该文介绍荼籽饼提取茶皂素方法,及茶皂素结构和性能,并简要概述茶皂素应用前景,为利用茶籽饼提供一条新的途径。     

新型水处理剂高铁酸钾的制备及应用研究

指出了高铁酸钾是一种集氧化、吸附、絮凝、助凝、杀菌、除臭为一体的新型高效多功能水处理剂,阐述了高铁酸钾的制备、特性以及在污水处理中的应用特点,对其反应机理进行了探讨,展望了研究其高效、低耗、联用技术的十分广阔的开发前景。