Identification of urinary and intestinal bacterial metabolites of ellagitannin geraniin in rats

Hydrolyzable tannins, including ellagitannins, occur in foods such as berries and nuts. Various biological activities, including antioxidant, antiviral, and antitumor activities, have been noted and reported for ellagitannins, but the absorption and metabolism of purified ellagitannins are poorly understood. We describe herein the characterization of urinary and intestinal microbial metabolites in rats after the ingestion of ellagitannins. Urine samples were collected after oral administration of ellagitannins such as geraniin ( 1), corilagin ( 2), and their related polyphenols. The suspension of rat intestinal microflora was anaerobically incubated with ellagitannins. Each sample was separated by column chromatography and/or preparative HPLC to give seven metabolites, M1- M7. The structures of these metabolites were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical evidence. These compounds, except for M1, were characterized as ellagitannin metabolites for the first time. Furthermore, among four major metabolites ( M1- M4) in urine, M2 showed an antioxidant activity comparable to intact geraniin and related polyphenols.     

Walnut polyphenols prevent liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride and d-galactosamine: hepatoprotective hydrolyzable tannins in the kernel pellicles of walnut

The polyphenol-rich fraction (WP, 45% polyphenol) prepared from the kernel pellicles of walnuts was assessed for its hepatoprotective effect in mice. A single oral administration of WP (200 mg/kg) significantly suppressed serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) elevation in liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4), while it did not suppress d-galactosamine (GalN)-induced liver injury. In order to identify the active principles in WP, we examined individual constituents for the protective effect on cell damage induced by CCl 4 and d-GalN in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. WP was effective against both CCl 4- and d-GalN-induced hepatocyte damages. Among the constituents, only ellagitannins with a galloylated glucopyranose core, such as tellimagrandins I, II, and rugosin C, suppressed CCl 4-induced hepatocyte damage significantly. Most of the ellagitannins including tellimagrandin I and 2,3- O-hexahydroxydiphenoylglucose exhibited remarkable inhibitory effect against d-GalN-induced damage. Telliamgrandin I especially completely suppressed both CCl 4- and d-GalN-induced cell damage, and thus is likely the principal constituent for the hepatoprotective effect of WP.     

Cytological karyotyping of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> by the germ tube burst method (GTBM)

Fusarium oxysporum is an ascomycete fungus including plant pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains. Genome analyses have indicated that the karyotype of F. oxysporum is diverse among isolates. Here we used the germ tube burst method (GTBM), a more reliable method than conventional cytology or pulsed field gel electrophoretis, to karyotype isolates of F. oxysporum ff. spp. lycopersici and conglutinans and nonpathogenic F. oxysporum. In this first application of GTBM for F. oxysporum, pathogenic isolates were found to have more chromosomes than in nonpathogenic isolates. We also used a ribosomal DNA probe and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to analyze chromosome structure.     

亚热带林7种林冠树种落叶分解中矿质元素动态

应用分解网袋法对亚热带常绿阔叶林7种常见林冠树种落叶分解过程中矿质元素(K,Na,Ca,Mg,Al,Fe,Mn,Cu和Zn)动态变化进行了为期2年的研究。这些树种是研究地区森林植被的代表种,且不同树种的落叶化学组成差异明显。研究结果表明:落叶分解速率(落叶干重残留百分率和分解常数k)与矿质元素初始浓度之间没有明显的相关性。但是,大多数情况下,落叶干重残留百分率与残留落叶的矿质元素浓度之间有着显著的相关关系。落叶分解过程中不同矿质元素的迁移性大小依次为:Na=K>Mg≥Ca>N≥Mn≥Zn≥P>Cu>>Al>>Fe。各树种的K和Na浓度在分解中均表现为下降趋势,Ca和Mg浓度亦表现为下降趋势,但在分解初期偶有升高倾向。而各树种中的其它元素(Zn,Cu,Al,Fe)浓度在分解中都表现出升高趋势,唯有Mn例外,在不同树种间,其浓度的变化模式存在一定差异。大多数树种的Cu,Al和Fe等3元素在分解试验末期的绝对重量均比初始重量显著提高,其机理在很大程度上可能归因于这些元素与腐殖质的结合,而不是生物固定。