Effects of globularifolin on cell survival,nuclear factor-κB activity,neopterin production,tryptophan breakdown and free radicals in vitro

The potential effects of globularifolin, an acylated iridoid glucoside, on cell survival, inflammation markers and free radicals scavenging were investigated. Viability assay on human myelomomonocytic cell line THP-1 and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using the Cell-Titer Blue assay proved that globularifolin had no toxic effect at the tested concentrations. Conversely, it is proportional to the dose globularifolin increased growth of THP-1 cells (p < 0.01). On human PBMC, globularifolin at 6.25 and 12.5 μM concentrations showed a stimulatory effect, while at 12.5–200 μM it suppressed response of PBMC to stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Globularifolin (50–200 μM) enhanced neopterin formation dose-dependently, whereas tryptophan breakdown was not influenced. At 50–200 μM in unstimulated PBMC in THP-1 cells, globularifolin induced a significant expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) as was quantified by Quanti-Blue assay. By contrast, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cells, the higher concentrations of globularifolin suppressed NF-κB expression dose-dependently and a significant decrease was observed at 200 μM concentration. A positive correlation was found between increased neopterin and NF-κB activity (p < 0.01). Similarly, a positive correlation was observed between neopterin levels in mitogen-induced cells and NF-κB activity in LPS-stimulated cells after treatment with globularifolin (p = 0.001). The free radical scavenging capacity of globularifolin evaluated by Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay showed relative ORAC values of 0.36 ± 0.05 μmol Trolox equivalent/μmol. All together, results show that natural antioxidant globularifolin might represent a potential immunomodulatory as well as proliferative agent, which deserves further in vitro and in vivo studies.     

Spatial pattern of paulownia witches’ broom and its effects on the growth of Paulownia elongata in Shaanxi Province, China

The spatial pattern of paulownia witches’ broom was investigated using an Iwao’s (m*&#8722;m) model in Shaanxi Province, China. Iwao’s (m*&#8722;m) model revealed that spatial pattern of paulownia witches’ broom exhibited a uniform distribution in sample plots. In this model, characteristics of contagiousness coefficient (α) justified the probability of infection by virus-transmission vectors. For tree age less than six, susceptible individuals were aggregated as clusters in the plots and then mutually repelled over age. A preliminary survey of stand volume show that from age five to six, stand volumes of disease grade II showed excessive vegetative growth and returned to normal level between ages ten and 11. Loss rate of volume increment with disease grade II decreased, and then returned to raising trend both at grades III and IV. This phenomenon is possibly caused by an over-compensation effect and by environmental factors. The redundancy of growth hormones in branches, shoots, leaves, buds and roots increased the stem volume of entire trees.     

Effect of epoxides and α-methylene-γ-lactone skeleton of sesquiterpenes from yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) leaves on caspase-dependent apoptosis and NF-κB inhibition in human cercival cancer cells

The present study investigated the cytotoxicity of enhydrin (1), uvedalin (2) and sonchifolin (3) in cervical cancer cells. We have found that SLs 1–3 in doses in range of 0.22–10 μM inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in both a dose- and time-dependent fashion. A significant cell death induction was supported by morphological studies. The apoptotic effect is associated with caspase-3/7 activation and NF-кB inhibition. Interestingly, enhydrin possessing two epoxide units was found to be the most cytotoxic compound. Therefore it can be assumed that number of epoxides and existence of α-methylene-γ-lactone moiety are essential for the acceleration of apoptosis.     

Interactive effects of irrigation and exponential fertilization on nutritional characteristics in Populus 3 euramericana cv. ‘74/76' cuttings in an open-air nursery in Beijing,China

Nutritional characteristics determine tree stock quality to a considerable extent. Exponential fertilization can induce nutrient reserves within juvenile trees, but its validity on poplar is contingent on interaction with a scientific irrigation regime due to limited water resources under global warming. In the present study, we raised 3200 Populus 9 euramericana cv. ‘74/76' cuttings under four irrigation regimes of 0(I0), 60 %(I60), 80 %(I80), and100 %(I100) of field capacity for soil moisture content with or without(control) the employment of nitrogen(N) addition delivered as exponential fertilization at the rate of 8 g N cutting~(-1)(E8) in an open-air nursery in Beijing, China. Both height and diameter increased with the increment of soil moisture ratio or in response to exponential fertilization(EF) without any interactive effects. In general, concentrations of N, phosphorus(P),and potassium(K) declined with time in stem but foliar N concentration did not change. Under the I100 regime, EF increased foliar N concentration relative to the control but failed to affect N concentration in stem in September, when both N concentration and N content were increased by EF under the I80 regime. Stem-K content and concentration by EF under the I80 regime also increased in September,therefore EF-treated cuttings had a higher ratio of K content in stem to that in whole plant(%ANAR). Vector diagnosis for nutritional status indicated that EF resulted in dilution of K concentration but induced a steady-state P uptake in leaves under all irrigation regimes. Therefore, EF of N addition could promote N uptake to leaves of P. 9 euramericana cv. ‘74/76' cuttings, but it had a null effect on N and P reserves in stem and impaired K reserves.In conclusion, the irrigation regime of 80 % field capacity of soil moisture content was suggested for the culture of juvenile P. 9 euramericana cv. ‘74/76' cuttings. As the interactive meaning, EF was also suggested for its excellent promotion on both N and K uptakes.     

Performance of Pinus elliottii, Pinus caribaea, their F1, F2 and backcross hybrids and Pinus taeda to 10 years in the Mesopotamia region, Argentina

Performances of Pinus taxa were studied to 10 years of age in two trials in each of Misiones and Entre Ríos provinces across the Mesopotamia region of Argentina. Taxa comprised 22 populations from sources in Argentina, Australia, Brazil and Zimbabwe including Pinus elliottii var. elliottii (Pee), Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis (Pch), their four, inter-specific hybrids (F₁, F₂ and backcrosses from F₁ to Pch and to Pee—all as broadly based bulks); other Pee and Pinus taeda (Pt) comprised narrower or unspecified bulks. Variable numbers of taxa were missing at each site. Mean survival across sites at age 10 years ranged 53.2–91.3% averaging 74.2%. Analysis of variance of plot means indicated population effect was statistically significant (p < 0.05) for all or most growth and quality traits at all sites. However, significant differences from the nominated check seedlot at the Entre Ríos sites (Pee, Australia) were extremely rare, while quite common at the northern, Misiones sites (check seedlot a Pt population). In the Misiones trials, F₁, F₂ and both backcross hybrids showed better stem straightness than Pee and Pt from Argentina, generally with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Pt showed lowest forking scores (desirable). Taxon × environment interaction was statistically significant (p < 0.01) for growth traits only (p > 0.05). However, this interaction contributed an average of only 34.1% of the taxon variance suggesting a lack of practical importance. Taxa most suitable for deployment in the Mesopotamia region, Argentina are suggested.     

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.     

Machine learning-based estimates of aboveground biomass of subalpine forests using Landsat 8 OLI and Sentinel-2B images in the Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve,Eastern Tibet PlateauOA

Accurate estimates of forest aboveground biomass(AGB) are critical for supporting strategies of ecosystem conservation and climate change mitigation. The Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve, located in Eastern Tibet Plateau, has rich forest resources on steep slopes and is very sensitive to climate change but plays an important role in the regulation of regional carbon cycles. However, an estimation of AGB of subalpine forests in the Nature Reserve has not been carried out and whether a global bi...     

Interactive effects of irrigation and exponential fertilization on nutritional characteristics in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">euramericana</Emphasis> cv. ‘74/76’ cuttings in an open-air nursery in Beijing,China

Nutritional characteristics determine tree stock quality to a considerable extent. Exponential fertilization can induce nutrient reserves within juvenile trees, but its validity on poplar is contingent on interaction with a scientific irrigation regime due to limited water resources under global warming. In the present study, we raised 3200 Populus × euramericana cv. ‘74/76’ cuttings under four irrigation regimes of 0 (I0), 60 % (I60), 80 % (I80), and 100 % (I100) of field capacity for soil moisture content with or without (control) the employment of nitrogen (N) addition delivered as exponential fertilization at the rate of 8 g N cutting^?1 (E8) in an open-air nursery in Beijing, China. Both height and diameter increased with the increment of soil moisture ratio or in response to exponential fertilization (EF) without any interactive effects. In general, concentrations of N, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) declined with time in stem but foliar N concentration did not change. Under the I100 regime, EF increased foliar N concentration relative to the control but failed to affect N concentration in stem in September, when both N concentration and N content were increased by EF under the I80 regime. Stem-K content and concentration by EF under the I80 regime also increased in September, therefore EF-treated cuttings had a higher ratio of K content in stem to that in whole plant (%ANAR). Vector diagnosis for nutritional status indicated that EF resulted in dilution of K concentration but induced a steady-state P uptake in leaves under all irrigation regimes. Therefore, EF of N addition could promote N uptake to leaves of P. × euramericana cv. ‘74/76’ cuttings, but it had a null effect on N and P reserves in stem and impaired K reserves. In conclusion, the irrigation regime of 80 % field capacity of soil moisture content was suggested for the culture of juvenile P. × euramericana cv. ‘74/76’ cuttings. As the interactive meaning, EF was also suggested for its excellent promotion on both N and K uptakes.