Cardioprotective effects of Picrorrhiza kurroa against isoproterenol-induced myocardial stress in rats

The cardioprotective effect of the ethanol extract of Picrorrhiza kurroa rhizomes and roots (PK) on isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats with respect to lipid metabolism in serum and heart tissue has been investigated. Oral pre-treatment with PK (80 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 15 days) significantly prevented the isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction and maintained the rats at near normal status.     

Variation and selection analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus koraiensis</Emphasis> clones in northeast China

Understanding genetic variation is important for efficiently selecting excellent clones and utilizing genetic resources during tree breeding. We investigated 16 growth traits of 50 32-year-old Pinus koraiensis clones. Analyses of variance showed that all the test traits differed significantly among clones. Average height, diameter at breast height (DBH), and volume of all clones were 10.41 m, 21.30 cm, and 0.148 m³, respectively. Phenotypic coefficients of variation and repeatabilities of traits ranged from 4.37 to 48.03% and from 0.013 to 0.900, respectively. There exists significant positive correlations among heights, diameter at different heights (1.3, 3.0, 5.0 m), and volumes; genetic correlation was close to phenotype correlation. Using four growth traits (height, DBH, volume, average crown width) as indices for a comprehensive evaluation, five clones (PK 11, PK 19, PK 04, PK 14, and PK 28), whose traits scored in the top 10%, were selected as elite clones. For these clones, genetic gains in height, DBH, volume and crown height were 8.58, 13.02, 32.72 and 3.83%, respectively. These results provide important information for improving P. koraiensis breeding programs.     

Effects of phosphorus and potassium addition on growth and nodula- tion of Dalbergia sissoo in the nursery

A study was conducted to test the influence of different inorganic fertilizers （phosphorous and potassium） on the nodulation and growth of Dalbergia sissoo grown in the nursery. Before seeds sowing, different combinations of P, K fertilizers were incorporated with the nutrient-deficient natural forest soils, and then amended with cowdung （soil： cowdung = 3：1）. Nodulation status （nodule number, shape, fresh weight, dry weight and color） in the roots and the plant growth parameters （length of shoot and root, collar diameter, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root） were recorded 60 days after seeds sowing. Nodulation status and growth of the plants varied significantly （P〈0.05） in the soils amended with fertilizers in comparison to the control. The highest nodule number （62）, fresh （0.50 g） and dry （0.07 g） weights were recorded with the dose of PK at the rate of 160 kg/hm2. Nodule shape and color also varied widely in different treatments. In case of plant growth parameters, shoot and root length, collar diameter, fresh and dry weight of the plants took on a significant difference （P〈0.05） among various combination of fertilizers. From the study, it is revealed that PK at the rate of 160 kg/hm^2 fertilizer with soil and cowdung mixture （soil： eowdung = 3：1） is recommended for optimum growth and nodule formation of D. sissoo in degraded soils at a nursery level.     

施加磷肥和钾肥对苗圃内印度黄檀木生长和结瘤的影响(英文)

本文探测了无机肥(磷和钾)对苗圃内培养的印度黄檀生长和结瘤的影响。播种前,磷和钾肥以不同比例混合后与营养匮乏的自然林土壤混合,然后混合土再补以粪肥(混合土:粪肥=3:1)。出苗后60天时记录植株结瘤状况(结瘤数、形状、鲜重、干重和颜色)和植株生长参数(枝条和根长及鲜重和干重、直径)。与对照相比,补充肥料的土壤显著地改变了植株生长和结瘤状况(P<0.05)。植株结瘤的数目、鲜重和干重均在磷钾施肥量为 160kg/hm2时达到最大值,分别为62, 0.05g和0.07g。不同比例的补肥处理改变了结瘤形状和颜色,同时显著地影响了枝条和根长、直径、鲜重和干重等生长参数。研究揭示:苗圃内生长的黄檀,在贫瘠的自然林土壤中施以160kg/hm2磷钾肥并混以粪肥(混合土:粪肥=3:1)可使植株生长和结瘤的形成达最佳。     

Reducing effect of an extract of Phaseolus vulgaris on food intake in mice — Focus on highly palatable foods

Different lines of experimental evidence indicate that treatment with extracts from and derivatives of Phaseolus vulgaris reduces intake of food, including highly palatable foods and beverages, in rats. The present study was designed to extend to mice these lines of evidence. To this end, CD1 mice were treated acutely with a standardized extract of P. vulgaris and then exposed to unlimited access to regular food pellets (Experiment 1) or 1-hour limited access to three different palatable foods/beverages, such as butter cookies (Experiment 2), a condensed-milk beverage (Experiment 3), and a chocolate-flavored beverage (Experiment 4). Treatment with P. vulgaris extract resulted in a significant reduction in the intake of regular food pellets, that was still evident 24 h later, as well as of the three palatable nourishments. Together, these results (a) extend to mice several previous findings on the capacity of P. vulgaris extracts to suppress food intake in rats, (b) suggest that P. vulgaris extracts may interfere with the central mechanisms regulating appetite, food intake, palatability, and/or the rewarding and hedonic properties of food, and (c) P. vulgaris extracts may represent a potentially effective therapy for overeating, obesity, and food craving.     

Arabinogalactan protein from Jatropha curcas L. seeds as TGFβ1-mediated inductor of keratinocyte in vitro differentiation and stimulation of GM-CSF,HGF, KGF and in organotypic skin equivalents

Arabinogalactan protein JC from Jatropha curcas seed endosperm (mean molecular weight 140 kDa) was isolated by cold water extraction and characterized concerning sugar and amino acid composition. At 10 and 100 µg/mL JC stimulated mitochondrial activity (MTT test) of human skin cells (HaCaT keratinocytes, fibroblasts) and the ATP status of primary keratinocytes. JC did not influence the cellular proliferation, while primary keratinocytes were triggered into differentiation status. Investigations on a potential mode of action of JC were performed on complex organotypic skin equivalents. JC induced the production of HGF, KGF and TGFβ, with TGFβ being the main inductor for the differentiation-inducing effect of JC. Also the expression of GM-CSF was stimulated strongly by JC.     

Effects of Refertilization on Growth and Nutrition of Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) Planted on a Minerotrophic Peatland in Central Newfoundland, Canada

A plantation of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.), whichwas established in 1973 on a ditched minerotrophic fen at plantingspacings of 1.2 m, 1.8 m, and 2.4 m, was refertilized in 1985with control, P, PK and NPK treatments consisting of 60 kg ha^–1phosphorus, 100 kg ha^–1 potassium and 200 kg ha^–1nitrogen. Although each seedling had been spot-fertilized in1973 with a mixture of 71 g urea, 99 g ground rock phosphateand 41 g potassium sulphate, height and needle nutrient assessmentsof the plantation in 1984 indicated poor growth, low concentrationsof needle nitrogen (1.26 per cent) and possible deficiency levelsof needle phosphorus (0.10 per cent) and potassium (0.36 percent). Between 1985 and 1991, height and diameter growth increasedsignificantly in all refertilization treatments. Growth responsewas greatest in the PK treatment and least in the P treatment.Needle weights, determined from 1987 to 1991, did not responduniformly to any of the refertilization treatments. Needle concentrationsof phosphorus increased to levels between 0.20 per cent and0.23 per cent following refertilization with P, PK, and NPK,but by 1988 had decreased to about 0.14 per cent. Needle concentrationsof potassium also increased sharply to 0.60 per cent in 1985following refertilization with PK and NPK, but by 1988 had decreasedto levels between 0.35 per cent and 0.45 per cent. Similarly,needle nitrogen concentrations increased to 1.84 per cent in1985 following refertilization with NPK, then decreased to levelsbetween 1.20 per cent and 1.33 per cent in 1986 and remainedat those levels each year thereafter. Although needle nutrientlevels fell sharply following an initial peak after refertilization,height and diameter growth did not decrease significantly, especiallyin the PK treatment, suggesting that nutrient levels remainedadequate for optimum growth.     

Antidepressant-like effects of the saponins extracted from Chaihu-jia-longgu-muli-tang in a rat unpredictable chronic mild stress model

Chaihu-jia-longgu-muli-tang (CLM) has been used for treating depressive disorders for thousands of years in China. In the present study, we investigated the antidepressant-like effect of the saponins extracted from CLM (SCLM) in rats subjected to unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS). The ameliorative effect of SCLM on symptom of depression through behavior tests including: sucrose preference test, open-field test and forced-swimming test was investigated. In addition, high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD), immunohistochemical staining analysis and RT-PCR were applied to explore the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant-like effects of SCLM. It was observed that administration of SCLM (70, 140 mg/kg) reversed the depressive-like behaviors, restored the reduction in the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters and up-regulated the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in UCMS-treated rats. These findings confirmed the antidepressant-like effects of SCLM in UCMS model of rats.     

Comparative pharmacokinetics of baicalin in normal and the type 2 diabetic rats after oral administration of the Radix scutellariae extract

Radix scutellariae was used alone or in combination with other medicinal herbs in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in China. At present, the pharmacokinetics of baicalin in type 2 diabetic rats following oral administration of Radix scutellariae extract was investigated. The results showed that the pharmacokinetics (especially AUC) of baicalin in type 2 diabetic rats after oral administration of Radix scutellariae extract was remarkably different from that in normal rats. Then the mechanism which resulted in the increased AUC of baicalin in diabetic rats was investigated from system clearance and presystemic metabolism. And it was found that the increased AUC of baicalin in diabetic rats at least partly resulted from higher production of baicalein in the intestinal tract of type 2 diabetic rats. Moreover, the activity of β-glucuronidase in intestinal mucosa of type 2 diabetic rats was demonstrated to be higher than that in normal rats, which confirmed the results above. In conclusion, the pharmacokinetic behavior of baicalin was significantly altered in type 2 diabetic rats after orally administrated Radix scutellariae extract, which may partly result from the increased activity of intestinal β-glucuronidase under the pathological state of type 2 diabetes mellitus.     

Hypoglycaemic activity of Globularia alypum leaves in rats

Investigations were carried out to evaluate the hypoglycaemic activity of the infusion of Globularia alypum leaves. Oral and intraperitoneal administration of the plant (0.7 g/kg) produced a significant hypoglycaemic effect in normal as well as in hyperglycaemic rats. The infusion increased plasma insulin levels significantly in normal rats. It is suggested that the hypoglycaemic activity of this plant may be mediated through enhancement of peripheral metabolism of glucose and increase in insulin release.     

Swietenine: A potential oral hypoglycemic from Swietenia macrophylla seed

Swietenine, a tetranortriterpenoid, was isolated from the Swietenia macrophylla seeds. The in vivo hypoglycemic activity was evaluated against neonatal-streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetic rats. Oral administration of swietenine at 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight per day to diabetic rats was found to possess significant dose dependant hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity in type 2 diabetic rats.     

Purgative effect of the methanol extract of Morinda lucida

The purgative effect of a methanol extract of the leaves of Morinda lucida is reported. The oral treatment (12.5–100 mg/kg) caused a pronounced increase in the number of wet faeces in rats and a potentiated castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice.     

Long-term trends of phosphorus nutrition and topsoil phosphorus stocks in unfertilized and fertilized Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands at two sites in Southern Germany

For two Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) ecosystems in S Germany with different atmospheric N deposition (Pfaffenwinkel, intermediate N deposition; Pustert, large N deposition), the supply with phosphorus (P) has been monitored for unfertilized and fertilized plots over more than four decades by foliar analysis (1964–2007). Additionally, topsoil concentrations and stocks of total P and plant-available P (citric-acid-extractable phosphate) were quantified in 10-year intervals (1982/1984, 1994, 2004). At both sites, fertilization experiments, including the variants control, NPKMgCa + lime, PKMgCa + lime + introduction of lupine, corresponding to an addition of 75 and 90 kg ha⁻¹ P in Pustert and Pfaffenwinkel, respectively had been established in 1964. Our study revealed different trends of the P nutritional status for the pines at the two sites during the recent four decades: At Pustert, elevated atmospheric N deposition together with small topsoil P pools resulted in significant deterioration of Scots pine P nutrition and in an increasingly unbalanced N/P nutrition. At Pfaffenwinkel a trend of improved P nutrition from 1964 to 1991 was replaced by an opposite trend in the most recent 15 years. For our study sites, which are characterized by acidic soils with thick O layers, the forest floor stock of citric-acid-extractable phosphate showed a strong and significant correlation with the P concentration in current-year pine foliage, and thus was an appropriate variable to predict the P nutritional status of the stands. Total P stocks as well as the concentrations of total P in the forest floor or in the mineral topsoil were poorly correlated with pine foliar P concentrations and thus inappropriate predictors of P nutrition. P fertilization in the 1960s sustainably improved the P nutritional status of the stands. At Pfaffenwinkel, foliar P concentrations and topsoil stocks of citric-acid-extractable phosphate were increased at the fertilized plots relative to the control plots even 40 years after fertilization; at Pustert, foliar P concentrations were increased for about 20 years.     

Field evidence of roof rat (Rattus rattus) faecal contamination of barley grain stored in silos in the Czech Republic

This study represents the first European report of a risk assessment for the contamination of grain by roof rats’ (Rattus rattus L.) faeces in silo structures that have traditionally been considered to be rodent-contaminant proof. In this work, we estimated the rate and magnitude of grain and grain transport silo technology contamination by faeces of R. rattus and identified the routes of entry of rodent faeces into grain stored in silos. We also compared the sizes of rat faeces and stored barley grains to determine whether they could easily be separated using sieves. We found that roof rats were able to heavily contaminate grain surfaces and conveyor belts with faecal deposits during a 3-week observation period. The average contamination rate was 6.90 ± 0.92 faeces/m² (range 0–26 faeces/m²) for grain surfaces and 34.80 ± 8.03 faeces/m² (range 8–87 faeces/m²) for conveyor belts. The size measurements (length, width and surface area) of rat faeces and barley grains showed their high similarity; these results therefore indicate that the physical separation of the two materials using sieves will be problematic.     

Modulation of some estrogen-responsive genes in the vena cava of ovariectomised Wistar rats by griffonianone C, an isoflavone derived from Millettia griffoniana Baill. (Fabaceae)

In the present study, we investigated whether griffonianone C (Griff C), extracted from root bark of Millettia griffoniana, changes the expression of several estrogen-responsive genes in the vena cava of ovariectomised rats. For this purpose, we subcutaneously administered Griff C (2, 10, or 20 mg/kg/d BW), 17β-estradiol (E2: 10 μg/kg/d BW) as positive control, and a vehicle control respectively for three days. Relative expression levels of estrogen receptor α (ERα), progesterone receptor (PR), cyclooxygenase2 (Cox-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF-receptor 2, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki67 mRNA extracted from the vena cava of these rats were quantified by real-time PCR. Results showed that Griff C up-regulated the expression of PR, ACE, ERα, VEGF, VEGFR2 and Ki67. However, the results of Cox-2, PCNA, and eNOS expression did not reach significance in the E2 and Griff C treated samples. These results show that griffonianone C regulated a few of the analysed genes in a similar fashion than estradiol; however, others showed a different pattern. This suggests that some of the biological effects attributed to M. griffoniana are mediated via ER pathway others may be mediated via other pathways.     

Topical anti-inflammatory activity of Gentianella achalensis

The anti-inflammatory activity of the petrol, dichloromethane and methanol extracts from Gentianella achalensis flowering plant were studied using 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA)-induced ear edema in mice and carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. Only the dichloromethane extract and its F2 fraction (at 1 mg/ear) showed marked anti-inflammatory activity in TPA-induced ear edema test. No effects were seen on carrageenan-induced edema. Oleanolic and ursolic acid, isolated from F2, may account for the observed topical anti-inflammatory effects.     

Variation and selection analysis of Pinus koraiensis clones in northeast China

Understanding genetic variation is important for efficiently selecting excellent clones and utilizing genetic resources during tree breeding. We investigated 16 growth traits of 50 32-year-old Pinus koraiensis clones. Analyses of variance showed that all the test traits differed significantly among clones. Average height, diameter at breast height(DBH), and volume of all clones were 10.41 m, 21.30 cm,and 0.148 m3, respectively. Phenotypic coefficients of variation and repeatabilities of traits ranged from 4.37 to48.03% and from 0.013 to 0.900, respectively. There exists significant positive correlations among heights, diameter at different heights(1.3, 3.0, 5.0 m), and volumes; genetic correlation was close to phenotype correlation. Using four growth traits(height, DBH, volume, average crown width)as indices for a comprehensive evaluation, five clones(PK11, PK 19, PK 04, PK 14, and PK 28), whose traits scored in the top 10%, were selected as elite clones. For these clones,genetic gains in height, DBH, volume and crown height were 8.58, 13.02, 32.72 and 3.83%, respectively. These results provide important information for improving P.koraiensis breeding programs.     

Antiobesity and lipid lowering effects of Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng leaves extracts and mahanimbine on high fat diet induced obese rats

The dichloromethane (MKD) and ethyl acetate (MKE) extracts of Murraya koenigii leaves significantly reduced the body weight gain, plasma total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels significantly when given orally at a dose of 300 mg/kg/day to the high fat diet (HFD) induced obese rats for 2 weeks. The observed antiobesity and antihyperlipidemic activities of these extract are correlated with the carbazole alkaloids present in them. Mahanimbine (1) when given orally (30 mg/kg/day) also significantly lowered the body weight gain as well as plasma TC and TG levels. These findings demonstrate the excellent pharmacological potential of mahanimbine to prevent obesity.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of Butea frondosa leaves

In the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema, the aqueous extract of Butea frondosa leaves showed dose-dependent (25–100 mg/kg, p.o.) anti-inflammatory activity which at the highest dose was almost comparable to ibuprofen (25 mg/kg, p.o.).The LD₅₀ was higher than 5 g/kg, p.o. in rats.