Sesquiterpenes from Vladimiria souliei and their inhibitory effects on NO production

As a part of our ongoing search for plant-derived compounds that inhibit nitric oxide production, the methanol extract of the roots of Vladimiria souliei was found to show significant inhibitory effects on INF-γ-induced nitric oxide production in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Bioactivity-guided isolation of the extract yielded two most active sesquiterpenes, including a new compound, named souliene A (1) and alismol (2). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods (IR, ESIMS, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR). Two isolates showed promising inhibitory effects on INF-γ-induced nitric oxide production in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells.     

Immunomodulatory and antitumour activities of Tinospora cordifolia

Administration of Tinospora cordifolia stem methanolic extract to BALB/c mice (200 mg/kg, i.p, daily for 5 days) increased the total white blood cell count significantly (P<0.001). It also increased bone marrow cellularity (18.16×10⁶/femur) and α-esterase positive cells (1423/4000 cells) in bone marrow indicating increased maturation of stem cells. Administration of the extract was also found to significantly increase humoral immune response, as seen from the increase in plaque-forming cells in the spleen (1575 PFC/10⁶ spleen cells) and circulating antibody titre (256), and to produce an enhancement (129%) in macrophage activation. Tinospora extract reduced solid tumour growth and synergistically acted with cyclophosphamide in reducing (83%) the animal tumours.     

Studies on the immunomodulatory activity of flavonoidal fraction of Tephrosia purpurea

The flavonoid fraction of Tephrosia purpurea (FFTP) was studied for its effect on cellular and humoral functions and on macrophage phagocytosis in mice. Oral administration of FFTP (10-40 mg/kg) significantly inhibited sheep red blood cells (SRBC)-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions. It also produced a significant, dose-related decrease in sheep erythrocyte-specific haemagglutination antibody titre. However, the fraction failed to show a significant change in the macrophage phagocytic activity. The results obtained indicate the ability of the flavonoidal fraction of T. purpurea to modulate both the cell-mediated and the humoral components of the immune system.     

N-Methyl-6, 7-dimethoxyisoquinolone in Annona squamosa twigs is the major immune modifier to elicit polarized Th1 immune response in BALB/c mice

Annona squamosa (AS) has traditionally been used as ethnomedicine. We have earlier extracted and fractionated the twigs of AS based upon its bioactivity and observed its immune potentiating activity that was localized in its three fractions. Present communication deals with the phytochemical analysis and pharmacological investigation of the most active chloroform fraction that led to isolation and identification of a number of compounds whose structures were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. Amongst the twelve pure compounds isolated, five compounds Lanuginosine (1), (+) -O- methylarmepavine (2), (+)-anomuricine (3), Isocorydine (4), and N-methyl-6, 7-dimethoxyisoquinolone (5) were evaluated in vivo for their immune modifier activities in BALB/c mice after oral administration at three log doses of 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days. Of these, three compounds (1, 2 and 5) showed dose dependent immune stimulating activity. However, the uppermost activity was noted in the compound N-methyl-6, 7-dimethoxyisoquinolone at the 3.0 mg/kg oral dose. The activity was assessed in the form of increased splenic T and B cellular proliferation, up-regulated CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+ cell population and accentuation in the peritoneal macrophage function. The compound possibly acted modifying the expression of Th1- and Th2- cytokines via stimulation of pro-inflammatory Th1 cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ. These results warrant the use of the above compounds as an efficient immune-stimulant or immune-adjuvant against diseases with immune suppression. The analogs of the compound may further be chemically synthesized to achieve desired immune modifying activity.     

Effect of elicitors,precursors and metabolic inhibitors on paclitaxel production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taxus cuspidata</Emphasis> cell culture

In this study, using Taxus cuspidata as a raw material, we obtained stable high-yielding cell lines by subculturing and quantified paclitaxel content using ultrasonic extraction combined with TLC–UV spectrophotometry. In single factor and multiple factors tests to optimize design and study the effects of elicitors, precursors, and metabolic inhibitors on paclitaxel production by Taxus cuspidata cells, paclitaxel production reached 4.32 mg/L when 100 μmol/L methyl jasmonate, 20 mg/L salicylic acid, 400 mg/L phenylalanine and 2 mg/L gibberellin (GA₃) were added to the culture medium of suspension cells. When adding metabolic adjustment factors on the 7th day of culture, extra- and intracellular paclitaxel production was the highest at 4.855 mg/L, paclitaxel release rate was 10.48 %, fresh mass and paclitaxel production of cell increased, respectively, by 6.08 and 11.57 %. By controlling the anabolism of paclitaxel, paclitaxel yield was significantly improved.     

3, 4-seco-Labdane diterpenoids from the leaves of Callicarpa nudiflora and their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production

As a part of our ongoing search for bioactive compounds from the leaves of Callicarpa nudiflora that inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production, the 90% EtOH fraction eluted by macroporous resin adsorption was found to show significant inhibitory activity against the production of NO in RAW 264.7 stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Bioactivity-guided isolation of the fraction yielded three new bioactive diterpenoids, named ent-3, 4-seco-14-carbonyl-15, 16-epoxy-4(18), 8(17), 13(14)-labdatrien-3-oic acid (1), syn-3, 4-seco-12R-hydroxy-15, 16-epoxy-4(18), 8(17), 13(16), 14(15)-labdatetraen-3-oic acid (2) and syn-3, 4-seco-12S-hydroxy-15, 16-epoxy-4(18), 8(17), 13(16), 14(15)-labdatetraen-3-oic acid (3). Their structures and configurations were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. All the three compounds exhibited potent inhibitory activity on NO production in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.     

Inhibitory effect of a propolis on Di-n-Propyl Disulfide or n-Hexyl salycilate-induced skin irritation,oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in mice

PurposeThermal imaging has been utilised, both preclinically and clinically, as a tool for assessing inflammation. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterised by hyperkeratosis, dermal inflammatory infiltrate and increased angiogenesis. The aim of the present study was to assess the usefulness of thermography in psoriatic lesion regression after topical treatment with bee propolis, recognised as potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents.MethodsWe monitored the inflammation process induced by irritants such as n-Hexyl salycilate (HXS) or Di-n-Propyl Disulfide (PPD) by histopatological assessment of the skin, thermographic scanning, total number of inflammatory cells in the peritoneal cavity, differential analysis of cells in the peritoneal cavity, macrophage spreading index, haematological and biochemical parameters, frequencies of micronucleated reticulocytes, lipid peroxidation and glutathione assay in the skin.ResultsTopically applied ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) with HXS or PPD reduced the lipid peroxidation in the skin and total number of inflammatory cells in the skin and peritoneal cavity, functional activity of macrophages, the number of micronuclei in mouse peripheral blood reticulocytes and enzymatic activity of ALP and AST.ConclusionThese results demonstrate that topical application of EEP may improve psoriatic-like skin lesions by suppressing functional activity of macrophages and ROS production. Taken together, it is suggested that EEP can safely be utilised in the prevention of psoriasis-related inflammatory changes without causing any toxic effect.     

石榴果皮煎剂对蛋仔公鸡免疫机能的影响

在蛋仔公鸡饮水中添加石榴皮煎提剂后,石榴果皮煎剂能够显著提高免疫器官指数和单核吞噬细胞吞噬指数,并且以1％的添加水平效果最好。     

Inheritance of male flower production in Cryptomeria japonica (sugi) estimated from analysis of a diallel mating test

Context

Clonal variation of flower production has been investigated thoroughly in coniferous tree species because of the importance of flowering in seed production from seed orchards. However, the inheritance of flower production by progeny test has not been previously studied well, so the heritability of male flower production of Cryptomeria japonica, the most important species for forestry and the main cause of pollinosis in Japan, was estimated to provide fundamental data for pollen control in seed orchards and plantation forests.

Methods

Male flower production in C. japonica was investigated for three years using 20 full-sib families created by a diallel mating design with six parents using gibberellin treatment to promote flowering.

Results

The narrow-sense individual tree heritability of male flower production in each year was estimated as ranging from 0.777?±?0.339 to 1.050?±?0.346 by sib analyses. The contribution of general combining ability to the total variance varied from 24.1 to 35.6?%. The highest contribution of specific combining ability was 1.42?%. By selecting the top 50?% of parental clones for reduced male flower production, the genetic gain in lowering male flower productivity was predicted as 46.1?C53.0?%.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that male flower production in C. japonica is under strong genetic control and that control of male flowering by breeding is possible with a well-designed program.     

Performance of wheat varieties under poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr.) plantations in Punjab (India)

Three varieties of wheat, viz., PBW-222, HD-2329 and PBW-34, were studied for grain yield potential under six-year-old poplar plantations. The order of yield reduction found was: PBW-34 (57.1%)>PBW-222 (19.4%)>HD-2329 (15.3%). The reduction in wheat yield was found to be significant under poplar plantations as compared to crops grown in open condition. Research needs to maintain the increased wheat production by evolving suitable ideotypes for an agrisilviculture system have been suggested.     

Polyphenols from the stems of Morus alba and their inhibitory activity against nitric oxide production by lipopolysaccharide-activated microglia

Neuroinflammatory processes are involved in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative disorders. Microglial cells, the main immune cells of the central nervous system, represent a target of interest to search for naturally occurring anti-inflammatory products. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols obtained from the stems of Morus alba. This edible species, known as white mulberry, is frequently studied because of its traditional use in Asian medicine and its richness in different types of polyphenols, some of which are known to be phytoalexins. One new coumarin glycoside, isoscopoletin 6-(6-O-β-apiofuranosyl-β-glucopyranoside) (1) was mainly isolated by CPC (centrifugal partition chromatography) from this plant, together with seven known polyphenols (2–8). Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including extensive 2D NMR studies. The eight isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV-2 microglial cells. The absence of cell toxicity is checked by a MTT assay.     

Screening of Indonesian medicinal plants for inhibitor activity on nitric oxide production of RAW264.7 cells and antioxidant activity

Traditional Indonesian medicinal plants were screened for their inhibitory effects on the nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages and for the antioxidant activity through the evaluation of free radical scavenging effect and reducing power. The results of screening indicated that 50 methanolic extracts inhibited (>50%) lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced NO release from RAW264.7 cells at 50 microg/ml, with 18 having greater than 100% inhibition. At 200 microg/ml, 61 methanol extracts exhibited inhibitory activity (>50%), with 45 showing greater than 100% inhibition. In addition, the free radical scavenging effects of 6 methanolic extracts were found to be more than 50% for extract concentration of 0.5 mug/ml. The results indicate that the extracts contain active compounds that inhibit NO release and scavenge free radical.     

Seasonal time-course of the above ground biomass production efficiency in beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.)

Key message

In order to record the seasonal changes in aboveground biomass production (trunk and branches) in a forest, changes in wood density must be taken into account. A 60-year-old beech forest displayed a large intra-annual variability in its aboveground woody biomass production efficiency. This variation followed a seasonal trend with a maximum during the summer while gross primary production was rather low.

Context

In the current context of land use and climate change, there is a need to precisely quantify the carbon (C) balance of forest ecosystems, and more specifically, of C allocation to tree compartments.

Aims

We quantified the seasonal changes in the aboveground biomass production (aBP) of a beech forest growing on two different soils: an alocrisol and a calci-brunisol. In addition, for the alocrisol ecosystem, we assessed the existence and degree of intra-annual variability in the ratio of wood aBP to gross primary production (GPP), i.e., the wood aBP efficiency.

Methods

The study site is a 60-year-old beech forest in northeastern France. An eddy covariance tower records continuously net ecosystem exchange. To investigate the temporal changes in aBP, mini-cores were drilled and diameter at breast height measurements were taken on a monthly basis from 45 trees for both stands studied over 2014.

Results

A clear difference in aBP was observed between the two soils with the alocrisol being more productive than the calci-brunisol. For the alocrisol, both woody aBP and GPP changed over the course of the year, reaching peak values during June (6 and 12.5 gC m^?2 day^?1, respectively). Wood applied bias photon-to-current efficiency aboveground Biomass Production Efficiency (aBPE) also showed important intra-annual variations, ranging from 0.09 in September to 0.58 in July. Wood density varied throughout the year, and not taking it into account would have led to an overestimation of aBP by as much as 20% in April and May.

Conclusion

Our study highlights the importance of taking wood density into account for intra-annual studies of aBP. Wood aBPE cannot be considered as constant as it fluctuated from 0.09 to 0.58 throughout the year for an annual value of 0.34. The potential error in wood aBPE stemming from not taking these changes into account amounts to 15%.

     

Indole-3-carbaldehyde: a tyrosinase inhibitor from fungus YL185

Indole-3-carbaldehyde (1) was isolated as a tyrosinase inhibitor from the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of extracellular fluids of unknown fungus YL185. The partial sequencing data of 18S ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA) indicate that this isolate belongs to the family Polyporaceae or Corticiaceae sensu lato. Indole-3-carbaldehyde inhibited the oxidation of l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) by mushroom tyrosinase with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 1.3mM and showed inhibitory activity on melanin production in B16 melanoma cells. The aldehyde group of 1 plays an important role in eliciting tyrosinase inhibitory activity.     

Effect of meliacine,a plant derived antiviral,on tumor necrosis factor alpha

The effect of meliacine (MAS) and two fractions MAB 1 and MAB 2 obtained from it on the in vitro production of TNF-alpha of murine macrophages induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (from Escherichia coli) was tested. Simultaneous administration of the above fractions (ranging from 14 to 56 microg/ml) and LPS (10 microg/ml) to a macrophage culture significantly increased the amount of TNF-alpha released at 24 h of induction in a dose-dependent manner. Meliacine alone, at a concentration of 56 microg/ml, is a weak inducer of TNF-alpha production.     

The inhibitory effect of piperine from Fructus piperis extract on the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells

Allergy is an abnormal immune response to an allergen. Type I hypersensitivity is an immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated allergic disorder. Fructus piperis is derived from the ripe fruit of the pepper, which is widely used as a spice in human diets and is also administered as a medicine in many countries. Piperine has been shown to have anti-oxidant, anti-depressant, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effect of piperine on IgE-mediated allergic responses has not been reported. Here, the rat basophilic leukemia cells by membrane chromatography (RBL-2H3/CMC) coupled to high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) to discover and identify piperine can bind to RBL-2H3 cell membranes. Piperine inhibited the expression of cytokines, and the release of both β-hexosaminidase and histamine, which could be stimulated by antigen in RBL-2H3 mast cells. We found that the levels of intracellular Ca^2 + also decreased. Furthermore, RT-PCR showed that the mRNA expression levels of IL-4, IL-13, and TNF-α were significantly suppressed by piperine. The inhibitory effect of piperine on IgE-mediated degranulation and cytokine production by RBL-2H3 cells may be caused by the inhibition of IgE-mediated signaling pathways, including the phosphorylation of Lyn, p38, Erk, and Ras. In summary, piperine can inhibit antigen-induced allergic reactions that control degranulation.     

Deposition of litter and nutrients in leaves and twigs in different plant communities of northeastern Mexico

Studies on litterfall and decomposition provide estimations of decomposition rates of different ecosystems.This is key information to understanding ecosystem dynamics and changes in a scenario of global warming.The objective of this research was to assess litterfall production,the potential deposition of macro and micronutrients through leaf and twig fall as well as macronutrient—use efficiency in three forest ecosystems at different altitudes: a pine forest mixed with deciduous species(S1); a Quercus spp.forest(S2); and,a Tamaulipan thornscrub forest(S3).Total annual litterfall deposition was 594,742 and 533 g m~(-2) for S1,S2 and S3.Leaf litter was higher (68%) than twigs(18%),reproductive structures(8%) or miscellaneous material(6%).Micronutrient leaf deposition was higher for Fe followed by Mn,Zn and Cu.Macronutrient leaf deposition was higher for Ca followed by K,Mg and P.Even though P deposition in leaves and twigs was lower than other macronutrients,its nutrient use efficiency was higher than Ca,Mg or K.Altitude and species composition determine litter and nutrient deposition,with higher values at mid-altitudes(550 m).Altitude is an important factor to consider when analyzing litter production as well as nutrient deposition as shown in this study.Litter production and nutrient deposition are expected to change in a scenario of global warming.     

Characterizations of poplar catkin fibers and their potential for enzymatic hydrolysis

This study focused on poplar (Populus tomentosa) catkin fiber as a new resource for bioethanol production via enzymatic hydrolysis. The poplar catkin fiber was found to have advantages of relatively high α-cellulose content (44.5%), and low lignin content (2.9%), which indicated the potential for facile enzymatic hydrolysis. The results indicated that the pretreatment improved the cellulose-to-glucose conversion yield (CGCY), the high concentration alkaline pretreatment resulted in highest CGCY (83.3%), followed by dewaxing (31.5%), dilute alkaline (29.8%), and dilute acid pretreatment (24.4%) after enzymatic hydrolysis with cellulase of 15 filter paper units per gram glucan, while the poplar catkin fiber only achieved 18.7% of CGCY by enzymatic hydrolysis after 48 h at 50 °C without any pretreatment.     

Chemical constituents of the Vietnamese liverwort Porella densifolia

From the ether extract of Porella densifolia, the first liverwort collected and chemically investigated in Vietnam, a kaurane diterpenoid, ent-kauren-15-one (1) and two sesquiterpene norpinguisone (2) and norpinguisone methyl ester (3) have been purified. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. In addition, an X-ray crystal structure of norpinguisone was obtained, allowing to determine its stereochemistry. Furthermore, the inhibitory activity of nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of compounds 1–3 was examined with their IC₅₀ values of 69.4, 45.5 and 1.68 μM, respectively.