Estrogenic Effects of Extracts and Isolated Compounds from Belowground and Aerial Parts of Spartina anglica

Menopause, caused by decreases in estrogen production, results in symptoms such as facial flushing, vaginal atrophy, and osteoporosis. Although hormone replacement therapy is utilized to treat menopausal symptoms, it is associated with a risk of breast cancer development. We aimed to evaluate the estrogenic activities of Spartina anglica (SA) and its compounds and identify potential candidates for the treatment of estrogen reduction without the risk of breast cancer. We evaluated the estrogenic and anti-proliferative effects of extracts of SA and its compounds in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. We performed an uterotrophic assay using an immature female rat model. Among extracts of SA, belowground part (SA-bg-E50) had potent estrogenic activity. In the immature female rat model, the administration of SA-bg-E50 increased uterine weight compared with that in the normal group. Among the compounds isolated from SA, 1,3-di-O-trans-feruloyl-(-)-quinic acid (1) had significant estrogenic activity and induced phosphorylation at serine residues of estrogen receptor (ER)α. All extracts and compounds from SA did not increase MCF-7 cell proliferation. Compound 1 is expected to act as an ERα ligand and have estrogenic effects, without side effects, such as breast cancer development.     

New and Rare Carotenoids Isolated from Marine Bacteria and Their Antioxidant Activities

Marine bacteria have not been examined as extensively as land bacteria. We screened carotenoids from orange or red pigments-producing marine bacteria belonging to rare or novel species. The new acyclic carotenoids with a C₃₀ aglycone, diapolycopenedioc acid xylosylesters A–C and methyl 5-glucosyl-5,6-dihydro-apo-4,4′-lycopenoate, were isolated from the novel Gram-negative bacterium Rubritalea squalenifaciens, which belongs to phylum Verrucomicrobia, as well as the low-GC Gram-positive bacterium Planococcus maritimus strain iso-3 belonging to the class Bacilli, phylum Firmicutes, respectively. The rare monocyclic C₄₀ carotenoids, (3R)-saproxanthin and (3R,2′S)-myxol, were isolated from novel species of Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the family Flavobacteriaceae, phylum Bacteroidetes. In this review, we report the structures and antioxidant activities of these carotenoids, and consider relationships between bacterial phyla and carotenoid structures.     

6-BA和IBA浓度对不同基因型大豆胚尖诱导丛生芽的影响

以吉林17,吉林27,吉林28和吉林29共4种大豆基因型胚尖为外植体诱导丛生芽,研究了不同浓度的六苄基嘌呤(6-BA)和吲哚丁酸(IBA)对胚尖再生率的影响.结果表明:不同基因型大豆在不同激素浓度配比下再生率存在明显差异.吉林28和吉林29更适合大豆胚尖再生系统,其最佳激素配比均为2.0 mg·L-16-BA +0.2 mg·L-1IBA,再生率为分别达78.17％和80.04％.     

Effects of genotype and environment on avenanthramides and antioxidant activity of oats grown in northwestern China

To investigate the effects of genotype and growing environment on avenanthramides and antioxidant activity of oats, the total phenolic content (TPC), avenanthramide compositions, and antioxidant activity were determined for whole oat from 39 cultivars grown in four locations in northwestern China (Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Shanxi and Gansu). The results demonstrated that environment (E), genotype (G) and the interaction of these factors (E × G) significantly affected TPC, concentration of avenanthramide 2c (2c, ranged from 6.24 to 136.20 mg kg⁻¹), avenanthramide 2p (2p, 6.07–112.25 mg kg⁻¹), avenanthramide 2f (2f, 7.26–222.77 mg kg⁻¹) and antioxidant activity of oats. The effect of E was considerably greater than that of G or E × G. Based on G plus G × E interaction biplots (GGE biplots) analysis, the four locations in northwestern China can be divided into either two or three regions. Qinghai was determined to be distinct from the other locations. Cultivar Bayou 9 and oats grown in Gansu exhibited the highest TPCs, concentrations of 2c, 2p, 2f and antioxidant activity. The results suggest that oats containing more avenanthramides and exhibiting high levels of antioxidant activity could be obtained by selecting an appropriate genotype and growth location.     

Phenolic compounds,antioxidant capacity and gelling properties of glucoarabinoxylans from three types of sorghum brans

Arabinose to xylose ratio (A/X), phenolics, antioxidant capacity and gelling properties were evaluated in glucoarabinoxylans (GAX) extracted from white (W-GAX), red (R-GAX) and high tannin (T-GAX) sorghum brans (SB). The characterization of arabinoxylans from corn fiber (CFAX) was used as benchmark. Sorghum GAX had higher branched structure (A/X 1.08–1.41) than CFAX (0.59). Nine 3-deoxyanthocyanins (3-DAs) were identified in SB and two glycosylated forms remained associated to the R-GAX and T-GAX extracts. T-GAX was the only that contained tannins (0.41 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/g dry basis (db)) and exerted the highest antioxidant capacity (81.75 mM Trolox equivalents (TE)/g db) followed by R-GAX (48.49 mM TE/g db), which contained the highest amount of 3-DAs (0.11 mg Luteolinidin equivalents (Lut eq)/g db), and W-GAX (35.45 mM TE/g db) that was not significantly different from the CFAX (25.83 mM TE/g db). Among sorghums, only the W-GAX gelled but it formed a weaker gel compared to CFAX likely due to its lower hydroxycinnamic acids (HCA) concentration. The presence of 3-DAs in the structure of R-GAX and T-GAX affected negatively their solubility and gelling properties. The different SB showed potential as sources of GAX with antioxidant capacity.