Preliminary study of fresh juice of Benincasa hispida on morphine addiction in mice

The juice of Benincasa hispida (BH) showed significant activity against symptoms of morphine withdrawal, such as jumping response and diarrhoea, in mice. These results seem to indicate that BH may prevent the development of morphine addiction and also suppress symptoms of opioid withdrawal in animals.     

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of Leonurus sibiricus

The methanolic extract of Leonurus sibiricus aerial parts injected intraperitoneally at dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg showed a significant analgesic effect in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. Moreover, when given orally to rats at dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg, it showed a significant anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenin induced rat paw edema in rats.     

Wound healing activity of Opuntia ficus-indica

The methanolic extract of Opuntia ficus-indica stems and its hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions were evaluated for their wound healing activity in rats. The extract and less polar fractions showed significant effects.     

Chronic toxicity of Gynostemma pentaphyllum

The effect of water extract of Gynostemma pentaphyllum was evaluated on 6-month chronic toxicity in Wistar rats. Control group received orally 10 ml kg(-1) day(-1). The extract was orally given to the five treatment groups at the doses of 6, 30, 150, 750 and 750 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 24 weeks. The last group served as the recovery group. The results showed that the extract did not produce any significant dose-related changes. Therefore, it is concluded that the extract of G. pentaphyllum at the given doses did not produce any significant toxic effect in rats during 6-month period of the treatment.     

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Trewia polycarpa roots

The alcoholic extract of Trewia polycarpa roots, when administered orally to rats at doses of 50-400 mg/kg, exhibited a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity in both acute and chronic models. It also showed a significant antinociceptive action mice in the dose range of 25-200 mg/kg. The extract did not reveal any toxicity in rats up to a dose of 3.2 g/kg (p.o.). It showed the presence of terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, quinones and glycosides on phytochemical screening.     

Cathartic effect of the leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina

A methanol extract of Vernonia amygdalina leaves was evaluated for cathartic effect. The extract exhibited a significant promotion of intestinal motility on charcoal meal test in mice. Frequency of defecation and of faeces were markedly increased following administration of the extract which also promoted gastric emptying in rats. Preliminary studies on the isolated rat fundus strip showed a contractile effect, which was blocked by atropine.     

Anti-ulcerogenic activity of the aerial parts of Lithraea molleoides

The hydro-alcoholic extract of the aerial parts of Lithraea molleoides, given orally at a dose of 1000 mg/kg, showed significant anti-ulcerogenic activity on ulcer induced by indomethacin and absolute alcohol in rats.     

Antiinflammatory and analgesic effects of Carthamus lanatus aerial parts

Fractions of methanol, dichloromethane, water extracts and volatiles of Carthamus lanatus aerial parts given by oral route at a dose of 2 mg/kg showed significant antiinflammatory activities in rats. On the contrary, only the water fraction of MeOH extract possesses a significant analgesic activity.     

Evaluation of antidiabetic effect of Momordica cymbalaria fruit in alloxan-diabetic rats

The oral treatment with the aqueous extract of Momordica cymbalaria fruit (MC) (0.5 g/kg) for 6 weeks showed a significant antihyperglycemic as well as antihyperlipidemic effects in the alloxan-induced diabetic rats.     

The role of the phenethyl ester of caffeic acid (CAPE) in the inhibition of rat lung cyclooxygenase activity by propolis

In this study we investigated the effect of an ethanolic extract of propolis, with and without CAPE, and some of its components on cyclooxygenase (COX) activity. Propolis (0.00003-0.03%) significantly and concentration-dependently inhibited COX activity from lung homogenate of saline- or LPS-treated rats. Same results were obtained with CAPE (0.1-100 microM). COX activity from lung homogenate of saline- or LPS-treated rats was also inhibited by galangin (0.1-100 microM), although the inhibition induced by the lowest concentration was not significant. Caffeic, ferulic, cinnamic and chlorogenic acids and pinocembrin, (0.1-100 microM) did not affect COX activity. The inhibition curves showed that CAPE and propolis were equipotent inhibitors, whereas galangin was significantly (P<0.001) less potent than propolis and CAPE. In order to better investigate the role of CAPE, we tested the action of an ethanolic extract of propolis (0.00003-0.03%) without CAPE. This extract significantly and concentration-dependently inhibited COX activity from lung homogenate of saline- or LPS-treated rats, however, it resulted to be approximately 10 times less potent than the extract containing CAPE. The analysis of the inhibition curves of the extract with and without CAPE showed a significant (P<0.001) difference. These results suggest that both CAPE and galangin contribute to the overall activity of propolis, CAPE being more effective.     

Effect of Helicteres isora root extracts on glucose tolerance in glucose-induced hyperglycemic rats

The ethanol, ethyl acetate and butanol extracts of Helicteres isora root showed significant oral hypoglycemic activity on glucose loaded rats at a dose of 250 mg/kg. The butanol extract showed maximum antihyperglycemic activity and effect being comparable to that of glibenclamide.     

Overexpression of the ThTPS gene enhanced salt and osmotic stress tolerance in Tamarix hispida

Trehalose is a non-reducing disaccharide with high stability and strong water absorption properties that can improve the resistance of organisms to various abi-otic stresses.Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) plays important roles in trehalose metabolism and signaling.In this study,the full-length cDNA of ThTPS was cloned from Tamarix hispida Willd.A phylogenetic tree includ-ing ThTPS and 11 AtTPS genes from Arabidopsis indicated that the ThTPS protein had a close evolutionary relationship with AtTPS7.However,the function of AtTPS7 has not been determined.To analyze the abiotic stress tolerance function of ThTPS,the expression of ThTPS in T.hispida under salt and drought stress and JA,ABA and GA3 hormone stimu-lation was monitored by qRT-PCR.The results show that ThTPS expression was clearly induced by all five of these treatments at one or more times,and salt stress caused par-ticularly strong induction of ThTPS in the roots of T.hispida.The ThTPS gene was transiently overexpressed in T.his-pida.Both physiological indexes and staining results showed that ThTPS gene overexpression increased salt and osmotic stress tolerance in T.hispida.Overall,the ThTPS gene can respond to abiotic stresses such as salt and drought,and its overexpression can significantly improve salt and osmotic tolerance.These findings establish a foundation to better understand the responses of TPS genes to abiotic stress in plants.     

刚毛柽柳NAC24基因的表达及抗逆功能分析

【目的】NAC类转录因子是植物特有的最大的转录因子家族之一,广泛参与植物的生长发育过程,并在植物响应盐、干旱等多种非生物胁迫的过程中发挥至关重要的调控作用。本研究拟从盐生木本植物刚毛柽柳中克隆获得一个NAC转录因子基因,研究该基因的耐盐、抗旱功能,以期为研究木本植物NAC转录因子的抗逆分子机制奠定理论基础。【方法】在刚毛柽柳NaHCO_3胁迫转录组数据库中筛选获得一个NAC转录因子基因,将其命名为ThNAC24(GenBank登陆号:KF031949)。利用生物信息学工具将其与其他9个物种的NAC蛋白进行多序列比对,与拟南芥105个NAC蛋白进行进化树分析。分别用300 mmol·L^-1 NaCl和400 mmol·L^-1甘露醇对刚毛柽柳进行胁迫,在胁迫6、12、24和48 h后分别取刚毛柽柳根及叶组织。通过实时荧光定量RT-PCR(qRT-PCR)技术分析盐、干旱胁迫下ThNAC24基因在不同胁迫时间点及不同组织的表达情况,初步鉴定其是否响应盐、干旱胁迫。为进一步研究ThNAC24基因的抗逆功能,分别构建植物过表达(pROKⅡ-ThNAC24)及抑制表达(pFGC5941-ThNAC24)载体。利用农杆菌介导的高效瞬时遗传转化体系获得ThNAC24基因瞬时过表达(OE)、抑制表达(IE)及对照(Control)刚毛柽柳植株。在盐、干旱胁迫下分析比较了ThNAC24基因瞬时过表达、抑制表达及对照刚毛柽柳植株的二氨基联苯胺(DAB)和氯化硝基四氮唑蓝(NBT)染色情况,过氧化物酶(POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,及电解质渗透率、失水率及丙二醛(MDA)含量,鉴定ThNAC24基因的耐盐、抗旱功能。【结果】ThNAC24基因的开放阅读框为1 023 bp,编码340个氨基酸。多序列比对结果显示ThNAC24在N端的氨基酸序列相似度比较高,具有NAC家族的序列特征;系统进化树分析结果显示ThNAC24与ANAC103和ANAC082的亲缘关系较近。qRT-PCR结果显示:盐胁迫下,ThNAC24基因上调表达,在根组织中胁迫12 h表达量最高,而叶组织中胁迫24 h的表达量最高;干旱胁迫下,ThNAC24基因上调表达,在根组织中胁迫6 h表达量最高,在叶组织中胁迫12 h的表达量最高。ThNAC24基因在刚毛柽柳根和叶组织中均有表达且响应盐和干旱胁迫。过表达ThNAC24基因显著降低了刚毛柽柳H_2O_2和超氧阴离子含量,增强了POD和SOD酶的活性,从而减少活性氧(ROS)的积累。过表达ThNAC24基因能够降低刚毛柽柳在逆境胁迫下的电解质渗透率、失水率及MDA的积累,从而保护细胞膜结构的完整性。【结论】刚毛柽柳ThNAC24基因能够响应盐、干旱胁迫,过表达ThNAC24基因植株通过增强POD和SOD活性,进而提高ROS清除能力,减少细胞受损或死亡,从而提高刚毛柽柳的耐盐及抗旱能力。     

杯果木CCR基因克隆和同源进化分析

从粗毛杯果木和软叶杯果木基因组中克隆CCR基因,经测序验证扩增片断长度均为2321bp,包含部分外显子3、4和部分5,以及内含子3和4。同源性比较分析表明:粗毛杯果木与伞房属树种CCR的同源相似性达到98%～87%,与桉属树种CCR的同源相似性达到97%～84%;而软叶杯果木与伞房属树种CCR的同源相似性达到98%～87%,与桉属树种CCR的同源相似性达到95%～84%。总体上,该2个杯果木树种与伞房属CCR同源相似性较高,而与桉属CCR同源相似性较低。3个属中最长保守序列位于Exon5的第3147～3175位点,共29个碱基。保守区域主要集中于Exon5,少数于Intron4。桉属总变异率大于杯果木属和伞房属。桉属Exon4变异率大于属内其它Exon或Intron;同样发现Exon4的简约信息位点百分数大于属内其它Exon或Intron,但杯果木属中的Intron3变异率高于属内其它Exon或Intron。伞房属以Exon5的变异率最高。Exon或Intron平均变异率均以桉属最多,其次是杯果木属,最少的是伞房属。使用MEGA3.1软件构建的CCR进化树表明,桉属、伞房属和杯果木属分别形成单系,其亲缘关系可...     

Diuretic, laxative and toxicity studies of Cocculus hirsutus aerial parts

The aqueous extract of the Cocculus hirsutus aerial parts (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant diuretic activity and laxative effect in rats. The acute toxicity, orally evaluated in mice, was found to be higher than 3000 mg/kg.     

浦竹仔红色秆变异个体的rDNA ITS序列及系统发育研究

通过对浦竹仔红秆变异个体基因组DNA的提取、rDNA ITS片段的扩增、回收及测序,分析了其rDNA ITS序列,构建了系统发育树。结果表明,供试竹种与Genbank中记录的浦竹仔ITS全长序列相似度为99%,与同属的中华大节竹、酸竹属的酸竹、少穗竹属的少穗竹亲缘关系较近,其遗传距离为0.007和0.010。RNA二级结构模拟分析显示,各参试竹种之间5.8s RNA变异极微小,主要的遗传变异均集中在ITS1-ITS2非编码序列中。由此可以推论该竹种产花色苷性状并非种属差异导致,为样本收集地环境因子诱发基因突变所致。     

Anti-inflammatory,analgesic and antipyretic properties of Clitoria ternatea root

Clitoria ternatea roots methanol extract when given by oral route to rats was found to inhibit both the rat paw oedema caused by carrageenin and vascular permeability induced by acetic acid in rats. Moreover, the extract exhibited a significant inhibition in yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. In the acetic acid-induced writhing response, the extract markedly reduced the number of writhings at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg (p.o.) in mice.     

Hepatoprotection of Phyllanthus maderaspatensis against experimentally induced liver injury in rats

The hexane extract of Phyllanthus maderaspatensis (200 and 100 mg/kg) showed significant hepatoprotection on carbon tetrachloride and thioacetamide induced liver damage in rats. The protective effect was evident from serum biochemical parameters and histopathological analysis. Rats treated with P. maderaspatensis remarkably prevented the elevation of serum AST, ALT and LDH and liver lipid peroxides in CCl(4) and thioacetamide treated rats. Hepatic glutathione levels significantly increased by the treatment with the extracts. Histopathological changes induced by CCl(4) and thioacetamide were also significantly reduced by the extract treatment. The activity of hexane extracts of P. maderaspatensis was comparable to that of silymarin, the reference hepatoprotective drug.     

浦竹仔红色秆变异个体的rDNAITS序列及系统发育研究

通过对浦竹仔红秆变异个体基因组DNA的提取、rDNAITS片段的扩增、回收及测序,分析了其rDNAITS序列,构建了系统发育树。结果表明,供试竹种与Genbank中记录的浦竹仔ITS全长序列相似度为99％,与同属的中华大节竹、酸竹属的酸竹、少穗竹属的少穗竹亲缘关系较近,其遗传距离为0．007和0．010。RNA二级结构模拟分析显示,各参试竹种之间5．8sRNA变异极微小,主要的遗传变异均集中在ITSl-ITS2非编码序列中。由此可以推论该竹种产花色苷性状并非种属差异导致,为样本收集地环境因子诱发基因突变所致。