Effects of five oleanolic acid triterpenoid saponins from the rhizome of Anemone raddeana on stimulus-induced superoxide generation, phosphorylation of proteins and translocation of cytosolic compounds to cell membrane in human neutrophils

Five oleanolic acid triterpenoid saponins (OTS-1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) were isolated from the rhizome of Anemone raddeana. The effect of these triterpenoid saponins on stimulus-induced superoxide generation in human neutrophils was assayed by measuring the reduction of ferricytochrome c using a dual-beam spectrophotometer. The phosphorylation of neutrophil proteins, and translocation of p67(phox), p47(phox) and Rac to plasma membrane were investigated using specific monoclonal antibodies. The five oleanolic acid triterpenoid saponins used in this experiment suppressed N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced superoxide generation in a concentration-dependent manner. OTS-1, 2 and 4 suppressed phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)- and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced superoxide generation in a concentration-dependent manner, but OTS-3 and 5 showed no effect. fMLP- and PMA-induced tyrosyl or serine/threonine phosphorylation, and fMLP-, PMA- and AA-induced translocation of p67(phox), p47(phox) and Rac to plasma membrane were in parallel with the suppression of the stimulus-induced superoxide generation.     

Structure elucidation of two triterpenoid saponins from rhizome of Anemone raddeana Regel

Two new 27-hydroxy-oleanolic acid type triterpenoid saponins, raddeanoside 20 (1) and raddeanoside 21(2) were isolated from the rhizome of Anemone raddeana Regel. The structures of the two compounds were elucidated as 27-hydroxy-oleanolic acid 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2) [β-d-glucopyranosyl (1→4)]-α-l-arabinopyranoside (1) and 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-27-hydroxy-oleanolic acid 28-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl (1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside (2) on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence.     

Flavonoid-induced autophagy in hormone sensitive breast cancer cells

The activity of 8-prenylapigenin (8-PA) and its 3'-methoxylated analogue isocannflavin B (IsoB) was investigated in estrogen-dependent T47-D and estrogen-independent MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines. 8-PA showed a biphasic effect on T47-D cell proliferation, while no significant effect was observed on MDA-MB-231 cells. Conversely, IsoB exhibited only an inhibitory effect on T47-D cell proliferation, accompanied by the appearance of an intense intracytoplasmic vacuolization of autophagic origin. Moreover, biochemical analysis showed that IsoB reduced Akt phosphorylation and p21^Cip1 expression in T47-D cells. These data show that the prenylflavone moiety is a versatile platform for the induction and modulation of bioactivity.     

Chemical constituents of Kigelia pinnata twigs and their GLUT4 translocation modulatory effect in skeletal muscle cells

Phytochemical investigation of the ethanolic extract of twigs of Kigelia pinnata DC. afforded one new iridoid 7-hydroxy eucommiol (1), and nine known compounds (2-10). The structure of compounds was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D, 2D NMR experiments and MS analysis. All these compounds were evaluated for GLUT4 translocation modulatory effect in skeletal muscle cells. Four of the tested compounds 1, 5, 6 and 7 showed significant stimulation of GLUT4 translocation to cell surface in skeletal muscle cells without any adverse effect on cell viability. Effect of these four compounds was concentration-dependent and comparable to standard drug rosiglitazone. These findings indicate that constituents of K. pinnata may provide leads for the therapeutics for insulin resistance and diabetes.     

Two new abietane diterpenoids from the caulis and leaves of Callicarpa kochiana

Previous studies revealed that diterpenoids from Callicarpa genus were mainly of clerodane-type and phyllocladane-type, and abietane-type diterpenoids were seldom reported. In this paper, we reported two new abietane diterpenoids, kochianic acid A (1) and kochianic acid B (2), together with two known abietane-type diterpenoids, pedunculatic acid B (3) and 7α, 15-dihydroxydehydroabietic acid (4), which were all isolated from Callicarpa kochiana. The structures of the new compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including HSQC, HMBC, ¹H-¹H COSY, ROESY and finally confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

耐寒丛生竹椽竹竹材的理化性质分析

测定了椽竹竹材的理化性质,并与毛竹、青皮竹和绿竹竹材进行了比较分析.结果表明:椽竹各竹龄竹材的基本密度、气干密度和全干密度平均值分别为0.523～0.632 g·cm-3、0.656～0.801 g·cm-3和0.658～0.777 g·cm-3,随着竹龄增长各部位竹材密度表现出增大的趋势,3年生以上椽竹竹材基本密度小于参比竹种毛竹和青皮竹,大于绿竹.3年生以上椽竹竹材的平均气干体积于缩率和全干体积干缩率分别为9.6％和13.6％,大于毛竹;各竹龄椽竹竹材径向干缩率大于弦向干缩率和纵向干缩率.3年生以上椽竹竹材的灰分平均含量小于绿竹和青皮竹,酸不溶木素平均含量与青皮竹接近而小于绿竹,综纤维素含量大于80％,多戊糖、热水抽出物、1％NaOH抽出物平均含量均高于青皮竹和绿竹,而苯-醇抽出物平均含量小于青皮竹和绿竹.综合分析,椽竹作为纸浆材具有较高的利用价值.     

Antidiarrhoeal activity of carbazole alkaloids from Murraya koenigii Spreng (Rutaceae) seeds

The bioassay guided fractionation of the n-hexane extract of the seeds of Murraya koenigii Spreng (Rutaceae) resulted in the isolation of three bioactive carbazole alkaloids, kurryam (I), koenimbine (II) and koenine (III). The structures of the compounds were confirmed from their ¹H-, ¹³C-, and 2D-NMR spectral data. Of the three compounds (I) and (II) exhibited significant inhibitory activity against castor oil-induced diarrhoea and PGE₂-induced enteropooling in rats. The compounds also produced a significant reduction in gastrointestinal motility in the charcoal meal test in Wister rats.     

Compounds inhibitory to rat liver 5α-reductase from tropical commercial wood species: resveratrol trimers from melapi (Shorea sp.) heartwood

5-Reductase inhibitory activity of methanol extracts of the heartwood of 13 tropical wood species were examined. Strong 5-reductase inhibitory activity was observed withShorea species. From melapi (Shorea sp.), two known resveratrol trimers, vaticanol A and ampelopsin C, and two novel trimers were isolated as active compounds. The structures of the two novel resveratrol trimers were elucidated by one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analyses, including¹H-¹HCOSY, HMQC, and HMBC. The compounds were named melapinol A and melapinol B. There were no significant differences among the 5-reductase inhibitory activities of the four resveratrol trimers, which were significantly stronger than those of-linolenic acid and epigallocatechin gallate, known 5-reductase inhibitors.     

泡桐丛枝植原体胸苷酸激酶的原核表达、纯化及酶活性测定

胸苷酸激酶是d TTP从头合成和补救途径的关键酶,催化d TMP形成d TDP,在DNA复制和生物的生存中发挥着必不可少的作用。本文在前期研究的基础上,对从泡桐丛枝(Pa WB)植原体中获得的的3个同源蛋白TMK-a-1、TMK-a-2及TMK-b与已报道的小麦蓝矮(WBD)、洋葱黄化(OY-W)植原体的TMK-a、TMK-b的氨基酸序列进行了比对和相似性分析,结果显示Pa WBPS TMK-b与WBD TMK-2和OY-W TMK-b之间的相似性分别为95.65%和99.03%;Pa WBPS TMK-a-1与Pa WBPS TMK-a-2的相似性为90.57%,且二者与WBD TMK-1和OY-W TMK-a之间的相似性为87.32%-94.26%;而Pa WBPS、WBD、OY-W三种植原体的TMK-a与TMK-b之间的相似性仅为22.22%-25.95%。构建了Pa WBPS TMK-b、TMK-a-1、TMK-a-2的p ET28a原核表达载体,对Pa WBPS TMK-b、TMK-a-1、TMK-a-2 3种蛋白进行了原核表达,经Ni-NTA柱纯化后,利用双酶法进行了胸苷酸激酶催化活性测定,结果表明,Pa WBPS TMK-b具有较高的胸苷酸激酶活性,为85.96±0.74 U·mg-1,而Pa WBPS TMK-a-1和TMK-a-2几乎没有胸苷酸激酶活性。本文为进一步研究胸苷酸激酶在植原体繁殖过程中的作用机理奠定了基础。     

Neuroprotective bakkenolides from the roots of Valeriana jatamansi

Two new bakkenolides, valerilactones A (1), and B (2), and two known analogues, bakkenolide-H (3) and bakkenolide-B (4), were isolated from the roots of Valeriana jatamansi. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic methods (IR, ESIMS, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR) and by comparison of their NMR data with those of related compounds. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 exhibited potent neuroprotective effects against MPP⁺-induced neuronal cell death in human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.     

Antioxidant flavonoid glycosides from Evolvulus alsinoides

Oxidative damage is an established outcome of chronic stress. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the modulatory role of ethanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides (EA) in terms of oxidative alterations at peripheral and central level in rats subjected to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). CUS exposure for 7 days reduced Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase and catalase activity with increase in glutathione peroxidase activity and lipid peroxidation, while decrease in reduced glutathione level in blood plasma, frontal cortex and hippocampus regions of brain. Oral administration of EA extract at 200 mg/kg p.o. normalized these stress induced oxidative alterations with an efficacy similar to that of melatonin. Further, EA extract was taken up for detailed chemical investigation. Two new flavonol-4′-glycoside, kaempferol 4′-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) and kaempferol 4′-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d-glucopyranoside (5) were isolated, along with eight known compounds (1, 2, 4 and 6–10). The structures of new compounds were established by detailed spectroscopic studies, while known compounds were characterized by direct comparison of their reported NMR data. All these compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant activity. Compounds 3, 5, 9 and 10 at 100 and 200 μg/ml showed significant in vitro antioxidant activity. Therefore, EA may hold great potential in preventing clinical deterioration in stress induced oxidative load and related disorders.     

Malaysianol B,an oligostilbenoid derivative from Dryobalanops lanceolata

A new oligostilbenoid tetramer, malaysianol B (1), was isolated from the acetone extract of the stem bark of Dryobalanops lanceolata along with seven oligostilbenoids tetramers; hopeaphenol (2), stenophyllol A (3), nepalensinol B (4), vaticanol B (5) and C (6), upunaphenol D (7), and flexuosol A (8). The structures of the isolated compounds were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data evidence. The antibacterial activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated using resazurin microtitre-plate assay.     

Bilberry extract protect restraint stress-induced liver damage through attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction

The aim of the present study is to investigate the protective effect of bilberry extract on liver damage in restraint stressed mice. A remarkable increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels was observed in stressed mice. Treatment with bilberry extract restored ALT and ROS to normal levels, and enhanced mitochondrial complex II activity that was lowered in restraint stressed mice. The mitochondrial electron transfer chain (ETC)-related gene expression was measured by RT-PCR, and a significant up-regulation of complex II mRNA was observed for SDHA, B, C and D mRNA in bilberry extract-treated group compared with that in stressed group. Bilberry extract administration also profoundly elevated the Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity and mitochondria membrane potential (?Ψ_m), which was reduced in the stressed group. Bilberry extract exhibited protective effect by scavenging free radicals and attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction in the liver of restraint stressed mice. It may be used as a promising therapeutic agent in preventing and delaying the life-related disease.     

杨树CDPK基因家族的表达分析及功能预测

为探究CDPK基因在木材形成过程中的作用,本研究在基因组水平上对杨树CDPKs基因家族的成员进行分析,找到32个CDPKs及10个CRKs成员。对CDPK基因家族成员在杨树中表达特性进行了分析,发现其家族成员在不同组织、不同发育阶段以及毛白杨次生维管发育不同时期的表达特性不同。分析杨树CDPK基因家族中3个基因Pt CPK1、Pt CPK6、Pt CPK15,其蛋白质一级结构均存在1个跨膜区,其蛋白定位在细胞膜上。     

广州市南沙红树植物无瓣海桑、木榄人工林生物量的研究

红树林是热带、亚热带海岸潮间带的木本植物群落,它是海湾河口地区生态系统最重要的生产者,对保护海湾河口地区的生态平衡起着十分重要的作用。湿地植物生物量是衡量湿地生态系统健康状况的重要标志。红树林生物量的研究,对于了     

Impact of Pueraria candollei var. mirifica and its potent phytoestrogen miroestrol on expression of bone-specific genes in ovariectomized mice

Miroestrol (MR) is a highly active phytoestrogen isolated from tuberous root of Pueraria candollei var. mirifica (PM). Modulatory effects of PM and MR on osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) mRNAs which are bone-specific genes were investigated in ovariectomized female ICR mice. After ovariectomy, expression of OPG mRNA was suppressed but that of RANKL was induced. Estradiol benzoate (E2) recovered OPG expression to the level comparable to the sham while that of RANKL was suppressed in ovariectomized mice. PM crude extract (PME) significantly down-regulated the expression of RANKL mRNA with no change in the OPG level whereas MR elevated the expression of OPG mRNA with lowering level of RANKL mRNA, resulting in the increased OPG/RANKL ratio, and consequently lead to lowering progression of osteoporosis at molecular level. These findings revealed potential of PME and MR on bone loss prevention via increasing the ratio of OPG to RANKL (osteoformation/osteoresorption) in liver of ovariectomized mice. Therefore, using PME and MR as alternative hormone replacement therapy of E2 might be beneficial recommended due to advantageous on regulation of osteoporosis related genes.     

Effects of resveratrol on the ultrastructure of Botrytis cinerea conidia and biological significance in plant/pathogen interactions

Many roles have been ascribed to stilbenes, namely as antimicrobial, deterrent or repellent compounds in plants, protecting them from attacks by fungi, bacteria, nematodes or herbivores, acting both as constitutive and active defense (phytoalexin) compounds. More recently, stilbenes (especially resveratrol and its derivatives) were acclaimed for their wondrous effects and wide range of purported healing and preventive powers as cardioprotective, antitumor, neuroprotective and antioxidant agents. Although there is a huge number of works concerning the role of resveratrol in human health, reports on the antifungal activity of this compound are still scarce. This study was thus conducted in order to investigate the toxicity of resveratrol at an ultra- structural level to dormant conidia of Botrytis cinerea, the causal microorganism for gray mold. In grapevine particularly, this disease can affect all the green organs but is particularly damaging for ripening berries. Observations using transmission electron microscopy showed the occurrence of damages on conidia treated with sub-lethal doses, that is, 60 μg/mL (2.6 × 10^− 4 M) of resveratrol, a concentration usually reached in grapevine leaves and grape berries challenged by this pathogen. These results provide further data about the overall mode of action of this phytoalexin and its role in the B. cinerea/grapevine interaction.     

Adaptation to exploit nitrate in surface soils predisposes yellow-cedar to climate-induced decline while enhancing the survival of western redcedar: A new hypothesis

Yellow-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (D. Don) Spach) and western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn), two valuable tree species of Pacific Northwest forests, are competitive in low productivity forests on wet, nearly saturated soils with low nitrogen (N) availability and turnover. We propose a mechanism where cedar trees survive in marginal conditions through exploiting a coupled Ca–NO₃⁻ nutrient cycle where trees assimilate N as nitrate (NO₃⁻), but must accumulate a counter-ion to NO₃⁻ such as calcium (Ca⁺²) to control their internal cell pH and provide electrochemical balance. The availability of NO₃⁻ in cedar forests is favored by increased microbial activity and shifts in microbial community composition that is conducive to N mineralization and nitrification at higher pH. Cedars influence the soils under their canopy by enriching the forest floor with calcium compounds leading to increases in pH. Cedars are also prone to precocious dehardening in the spring when N is released from freeze–thaw events in the soils and conditions appear to favor nitrifying microbial communities. Cedars must concentrate fine-root biomass near the soil surface to access Ca and NO₃⁻, but this beneficial physiological adaptation also creates a vulnerability to periodic root freezing injury that is leading to the decline and mortality of at least one of them—yellow-cedar.     

Two new minor cyclopeptides from Sagina japonica (Caryophyllaceae)

Two new minor cyclopeptides, named japonicin A (1), japonicin B (2), were isolated from the whole plants of Sagina japonica (Caryophyllaceae). Their structures were determined as cyclo-(Pro¹-Pro²-Leu²-Leu¹-Phe²-Pro³-Gly-Ser-Phe¹) (1) and cyclo-(Pro¹-Ile-Tyr-Asp-Pro²-Phe²-Pro³-Phe¹) (2) on the basis of spectroscopic data, especially by two-dimension NMR technologies.