Isolation and biological properties of polysaccharide CPS-1 from cultured Cordyceps militaris

A polysaccharide from the water extract of cultured Cordyceps militaris was isolated through ethanol precipitation, deproteination and gel-filtration chromatography. Their molecular weight was determined using gel-filtration chromatography. The structure of polysaccharide CPS-1 was elucidated by sugar analysis, Smith degradation, IR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. CPS-1 was shown to possess a significant antiinflammatory activity and suppressed the humoral immunity in mice but had no significant effects on the cellular immunity and the non-specific immunity.     

Protection of chronic renal failure by a polysaccharide from Cordyceps sinensis

A water-soluble polysaccharide (CPS-2), isolated from the cultured Cordyceps sinensis, was obtained by hot-water extraction, anion-exchange and gel permeation chromatography. Its structural characteristics were investigated by PMP pre-column derivation, periodate oxidation, methylation analysis, FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. CPS-2 was found to be mostly of α-(1 → 4)-d-glucose and α-(1 → 3)-D-mannose, branched with α-(1 → 4,6)-d-glucose every twelve residues on average. CPS-2 had a molecular weight of 4.39 × 10⁴ Da. The protective effect of CPS-2 on the model of chronic renal failure was established by fulgerizing kidney. The changes in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine revealed that CPS-2 could significantly relieve renal failure caused by fulgerizing kidney.     

Isolation, purification and some structural features of the mucilaginous exudate from Musa paradisiaca

The water-soluble polysaccharides isolated from the vascular gel of Musa paradisiaca, were fractionated via anion exchange chromatography into four fractions. Fractionated polymers contained arabinose, xylose and galacturonic acid as major sugars, together with traces of galactose, rhamnose, mannose and glucose residues. Methylation analysis revealed the presence of a highly branched arabinoxylan with a significant amount of terminal arabinopyranosyl units and an arabinogalactan type I pectin. Periodate oxidation studies supported the results of methylation analysis.     

Extraction, purification and antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from bamboo leaves

Ultrasonic extraction (UE) was employed for the extraction of bamboo leaf polysaccharides (BLP). The influential parameters of UE procedure including extraction time, ultrasonic power and solid/liquid ratio were optimized by orthogonal experiments. DEAE-cellulose col- umn chromatography was applied to purify BLP and then the radical scavenging activity of BLP was also evaluated. Optimal extraction conditions were: extraction time of 15 min, ultrasonic power of 300 W, and solid/liquid ratio of 1:15. Four kinds of polysaccharides were obtained by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography; the maximum superoxide radical scavenging rate (20.4%) of BLP was inferior to that of vitamin C (VC, the control) and the hydroxyl radical scavenging rate (50%) was equivalent to that of VC.     

偃松松塔多糖的单糖组成分析及活性研究

偃松松塔经乙醇提取后,渣经热水提取、喷雾干燥、醇沉制备偃松松塔多糖(PPCP),并用苯酚硫酸法检测多糖的含量,气相色谱法测定PPCP的单糖组成。研究结果表明:PPCP是一种杂多糖,主要由阿拉伯糖、甘露糖、葡萄糖和半乳糖组成,具有典型的多糖红外光谱特征,4种单糖物质的量比为2.33∶1.00∶2.20∶1.94。通过测定PPCP清除DPPH·、·ABTS^+的能力以及还原能力评价PPCP抗氧化活性,然后通过体外实验评估其对RAW 264.7巨噬细胞免疫调节活性,结果表明:偃松松塔多糖有较强的自由基清除能力和Fe^3+还原能力,偃松松塔多糖以浓度依赖性方式表现出较强的抗氧化活性,在多糖质量浓度为2.0 g/L时,DPPH·的清除率(79.72%)达到最大,·ABTS^+清除率(39.63%)达到最大,其Fe^3+还原能力也达到最大值(0.78);松塔多糖能够刺激RAW 264.7巨噬细胞产生大量的NO,并没有对细胞增殖产生影响。     

Immunologically active polysaccharides from Centrosema pubescens.

Two polysaccharides with mean M(r)s of 2.0 x 10(6) and 3.75 x 10(5), were isolated from powdered seeds of Centrosema pubescens by fractionation on Sephacryl S-300 HR. Chemical and spectroscopic studies indicated that they have a backbone chain composed of beta-(1-->4)-linked D-galactopyranose residues having branches composed of alpha-(1-->5)-linked L-arabinofuranose residues at position 6 of D-galactose of the backbone chain. The polysaccharides showed reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity in a carbon clearance test.     

Structure identification for compound I separated and purified fromtaxoids-produced endophytic fungi （Alternaria. alternata var. taxi 1011）

Endophytic fungi are widely found in almost all kinds of plants. Many endophytic fungi can produce some physio-logical active compounds, which are same to or analog to those isolated from their hosts. Producing physiological active compounds through microbial fermentation can give a new way to resolve resource limitation and to find out alternative source.Through the methods of organic solvent extraction, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and column chromatography, compound I was isolated, purified from the liquid fermentation metabolites of the taxoids-produced endophytic fungi (Altemaria. altemata var.taxi 1011 Y. Xiang et LU An-guo) that was screened from the bark of Taxus. cuspidata Sieb.et Zucc.. Compound I was identified as one kind of taxoids type Ⅲ, based on the analyzing results by using the methods of ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), infrared spectroscopy (IR), mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). This study provides a completed method for separation and purification of the endophytic fungi as well as structure identification of its fermentation metabolite     

Iron-binding compounds produced by white-rot fungusPhanerochaete sordida YK-624

Iron-binding compounds were isolated from a culture ofPhanerochaete sordida YK-624 and were found to bind to Fe(III) preferentially compared with Fe(II). Two iron-binding compounds were purified to near-homogeneity with gel permeation chromatography. Hydrolysis of the iron-binding compounds with 6N hydrochloric acid gave ninhydrin-negative products. The molecular weight of these compounds was 3–5 kDa. These compounds may play an important role in the reduction of extracellular manganese dioxide to Mn(II) by intracellular ferrireductases for lignin degradation by manganese peroxidase.     

Heartwood extractives from the Amazonian trees <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dipteryx odorata,Hymenaea courbaril</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Astronium lecointei</Emphasis> and their antioxidant activities

Heartwood extracts from Amazonian trees cumaru-ferro (Dipteryx odorata), jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril), and guarita (Astronium lecointei) exhibit antioxidant activities comparable with that of α-tocopherol, a well-known antioxidant. This article reports the characterization of the antioxidant compounds in the extracts of the three heartwoods. Silica gel column chromatography of the cumaru-ferro EtOAc extract yielded (−)-(3R)-7,2′,3′-trihydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavan and (+)-(3R)-8,2′,3′-trihydroxy-7,4′-dimethoxyisoflavan. Silica gel column chromatography followed by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography of the jatoba EtOAc extract yielded (−)-fisetinidol and (+)-trans-taxifolin. Chemical structures were assigned using electron-ionization mass spectrometry, ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy including nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY), as well as optical rotation and circular dichroism. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry demonstrated that the isolated compounds were predominant in the EtOAc extracts. In the guarita EtOAc extract, catechin and gallic acid were identified by comparing their retention times and mass fragmentation patterns with those of authentic samples. Antioxidant activity determined by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay demonstrated that all these compounds had activities comparable with that of α-tocopherol. Part of this report was presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Hiroshima, August 2007     

Proteomic analysis of the G-layer in poplar tension wood

Angiosperm trees bend their stems by forming tension wood at the upper side of leaning stems. Most tension wood has a cellulose-rich G-layer in the innermost surface of the fiber cell wall. Strong tensile stress is considered to occur in the G-layer. This study undertook to identify the proteins involved in G-layer formation and function through a proteomic analysis of G-layer-localized protein. G-layers of poplar were loosened by sonication and isolated as doughnut-shaped pieces of thinly sliced transverse sections. The proteins, once extracted with urea/detergent solution, were separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and 110 spots were subjected to liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). A database search for these spots’ mass spectrum patterns identified 72 proteins. In addition, all peptide digestion mixtures of G-layer proteins were separated by strong cation exchange chromatography and 39 proteins were identified using LC/MS/MS analysis. Proteins involved in wall formation, such as lignin biosynthesis-related protein, xyloglucan endotransglucosylase, and fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein, were notably detected in the G-layer.     

仙鹤草多糖的提取及部分理化性质

以多糖提取率为指标,采用L9（3^4）正交实验设计对仙鹤草多糖的提取工艺条件进行优化,并采用脱蛋白与DE-52纤维素离子交换柱层析法对仙鹤草多糖进一步分离纯化．同时对多搪的性质进行分析鉴定。实验结果表明,仙鹤草多糖的最佳提取工艺为：浸提温度为80℃,浸提时间12h,料液比1：15．在此条件下仙鹤草多糖提取率为2．15％,浸提温度是影响得率的主要因素。纯化后的仙鹤草多糖组分HAPI、HAPII多糖含量分别为70．08％、78．80％。     

Antioxidant activity of medicinal plant polysaccharides

Eleven polysaccharides have been isolated from the leaves of Arctium lappa var. herkules, Aloe barbadensis, Althaea officinalis var. robusta, Plantago lanceolata var. libor, aerial parts and roots of Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii, stems of Mahonia aquifolium, and peach-tree (Prunus persica) gum exudates. The polysaccharides were investigated for their ability to inhibit peroxidation of soyabean lecithin liposomes by OH radicals. The highest inhibition was found with glucuronoxylans of A. officinalis var. robusta and P. lanceolata var. libor, aerial parts. Their antioxidant activity accounted for approximately 69% of the activity of the reference compound alpha-tocopherol. The activity of eight polysaccharides ranged from 20 to 45%, while the fructofuranan from P. lanceolata var. libor roots was practically inactive.     

A novel extracellular peroxidase and nucleases from a milky sap of Chelidonium majus

Using affinity chromatography, SDS-PAGE, peroxidase activity assay and mass spectrometry data, a new extracellular peroxidase (CMP) from Chelidonium majus milky sap was isolated and characterized. The protein has a molecular weight of about 40 kDa and belongs to secretory class III plant peroxidases. The peroxidase activity is also accompanied by DN-ase activities. A novel CMP combined with other proteins is probably involved in development and differentiation of the plant and defence against different pathogens. It suggests that the biological activity of C. majus whole plants and extracts may depend not only on its alkaloidal content but also on the presence of biologically active proteins.     

Excellent oil absorbent kapok [Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.] fiber: fiber structure, chemical characteristics, and application

The study focused on kapok [Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.] fruit as a biomass for effective utilization. Kapok fruits were harvested just before full maturation at the campus of University of the Philippines Los Banos and in southern Vietnam. The kapok fibers are utilized locally as fiberfill in pillows, quilts, and some soft toys. Kapok fiber was isolated and analyzed microscopically, and the physicochemical properties were determined by spectroscopic methods. Some tests were done to determine the effective utilization of kapok fiber. Microscopic analysis of the higher structure of kapok fiber gave quite different results from cotton fiber, which has a significantly homogeneous hollow tube shape and is composed of cellulose (35 % dry fiber), xylan (22%), and lignin (21.5%). Kapok fiber is characterized by having a high level of acetyl groups (13.0%). Usually cell walls of plants contain about 1%–2% of acetyl groups attached to noncellulosic polysaccharides. Kapok fiber is significantly hydrophobic and does not get wet with water. Thus, the absorptivity of oil was tested. The fiber selectively absorbed significant amounts of oil (40 g/g of fiber) from an oil suspension in freshwater and seawater. It is suggested that this fiber could be used to recover oil spilled in seawater.     

Allelopathy assessments for the environmental biosafety of the salt-tolerant transgenic Eucalyptus camaldulensis, genotypes codA12-5B, codA 12-5C, and codA 20C

Allelopathy tests were conducted on salt-tolerant transgenic eucalyptus trees conferring bacterial codA gene in the designated net-house conditions under Type II use (contained use) of the Japanese law on environmental biosafety aiming for Type I (field use) application. Three transgenic and corresponding nontransgenic genotypes were employed for four different tests: (1) sandwich bioassay; (2) soil germination method; (3) gas chromatography (GC) for volatile substances from the plants; and (4) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on phenolic compounds from fresh leaves, which are the primary allelopathic substances on the species. The simple approaches, the bioassays, indicated no significant difference between the transgenic and nongenetically modified genotypes. There was no qualitative difference between the transgenic and nontransgenic lines by GC or HPLC. Absence of any quantitative difference was suggested by repetitive examination and subsequent analysis of variance assessments with the chromatographic methods and bioassays. Moreover, it was also indicated that bioassays should be the primary assessment method for allelopathy in considering the simplicity, speed, low cost, and reproducibility of these methods. Overall, substantial equivalence was considered on the three transgenic genotypes with codA gene when compared with the nontransgenic Eucalyptus camaldulensis lines. The experiments supported the application to isolated field testing of the transgenic Eucalyptus camaldulensis genotypes as the first case and experience in Japanese regulatory approval processes Type I Use for the deliberate release to the environment.     

Suppressive effect of pectic polysaccharides from Cucurbita pepo L. var. Styriaca on citric acid-induced cough reflex in guinea pigs

Several water-soluble pectic polysaccharides were isolated from the pumpkin fruit biomass and characterized by composition, structural features and molecular properties. The pectic polysaccharides were tested for antitussive activity by studying the effects of citric acid-induced cough reflex in guinea pigs and reactivity of the airway smooth muscle in vivo conditions in comparison to the narcotic drug codeine. Oral administration of all pectic polysaccharides from pumpkin inhibited the number of coughs induced by citric acid in guinea pigs, but to various extents. The results indicated that the antitussive activity of the pectic polysaccharides is affected by their molecular and structural properties, whereby a synergistic action between the polysaccharide and non-carbohydrate components on the biological response has been suggested as well. The cough depressive efficacy of most of the tested polysaccharides was comparable and even higher than that of codeine. Moreover, the application of these polysaccharides provoked any side effects what is their advantage towards the conventional opioid-derived antitussive agents.     

Mitogenic and comitogenic activities of polysaccharides from some European herbaceous plants

From the leaves of Plantago lanceolata, the green parts of Rudbeckia fulgida, the aerial parts of Salvia officinalis and the roots of Valeriana officinalis, crude polysaccharides have been isolated by extraction with water and further purified and fractionated by various techniques. The water-soluble polysaccharides obtained were examined for their immunomodulatory activities using the in vitro mitogenic and comitogenic rat thymocyte tests. The results indicate that in spite of the considerable differences in chemical composition and structural properties, the tested polysaccharides exhibited similar significant immunomodulatory properties with a particularly high adjuvans activity in the case of the Rudbeckia and Salvia polysaccharides. The pectic polysaccharide-rich complex from Valeriana was shown to also stimulate the immune function of bone marrow cells.     

茯苓菌丝体多糖径向流色谱分离参数优化

在单因素试验的基础上,通过Box-Benhnken组合设计和响应曲面分析法优化茯苓菌丝体多糖径向流色谱分离的工艺条件。响应面分析结果表明,当样品浓度为8 mg/mL,上样量为40 mL,上样流速为25 mL/min,洗脱流速为33 mL/min时,多糖回收率达到83.26%,比传统轴向色谱分离及化学方法效率更高,时间更短。     

Structure and antioxidant activity of polysaccharide POJ-U1a extracted by ultrasound from Ophiopogon japonicus

An ultrasonic technique was employed to extract polysaccharides from Ophiopogon japonicus. The ultrasonic extracted polysaccharides (POJ-U) were purified, and POJ-U1a (a homogeneous fraction) was obtained. The structural characteristics of POJ-U1a were investigated by infrared spectra, gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, methylation analysis, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results indicated that the relative molecular weight of POJ-U1a was 4.02 × 10³ Da. POJ-U1a was an α-configuration polysaccharide with a highly branched structure, and consisted of pyranoside and funanside. The backbone of POJ-U1a consisted of 1,6-α-d-glucopyranose and 1,3,6-α-d-glucofuranose in the molar ratio of 7:3, while the branched chains were mainly composed of 1,3-α-d-glucopyranose and 1-α-d-glucopyranose in the molar ratio of 1:3. The branched structure of POJ-U1a was proved intuitively by AFM. Significant antioxidant activity of POJ-U1a has been proved as shown by its DPPH radical scavenging, hydrogen radical scavenging and superoxide anion scavenging activities, which indicated that POJ-U1a showed strong antioxidant activity.     

Antifeedant activities of secondary metabolites from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ajuga nipponensis</Emphasis> against adult of striped flea beetles, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllotreta striolata</Emphasis>

Antifeedant activities of the isolated chemical compounds from Ajuga nipponensis, were studied against adult of striped leaf beetles. The methanol, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts at 1.0 mg/ml, were used in this study. All four extracts exhibited more than 65 antifeedant index at 24 h and ethyl acetate extract showed significant activity against striped leaf beetles with 83.12 antifeedant index. Six compounds and one fraction were isolated by chromatography and their structures were identified by NMR, MS and FTIR spectra. At 2.0 mg/ml for 24 h the three compounds 20-hydroxyecdysone, acacetin and apigenin showed considerable activities with antifeedant indexes 59.29, 51.22 and 61.55, respectively. In contrast to this the antifeedant indexes of acacetin and apigenin, were sharply reduced as the time extended and that of 20-hydroxyecdysone remained unchanged. In addition, the synergistic effects of two mixtures of secondary metabolites, were studied and no sharp difference was observed.