The Effects of Freshwater Clam (Corbicula fluminea) Extract on Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) in Prediabetic Patients in Taiwan

Freshwater clam extract (FCE) is a functional food that regulates the immune system and has been demonstrated in numerous studies to display desirable anti–tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) responses. In addition, excess TNF-α production is positively associated with type 2 diabetes. However, few longitudinal clinical studies evaluating the efficiency and toxicity of FCE are available. This article reports that patients with prediabetes who received FCE had a desirable outcome of a reduction in serum TNF-α for a long period. This was a double-blind, randomized, parallel clinical trial conducted using FCE intervention and placebo groups, and 36 patients with prediabetes were enrolled. Two grams of FCE or placebo was consumed daily for 180 consecutive days. The serum of the participants was collected at four time points (0M: before the intervention; 3M: after 3 months of intervention; 6M: after 6 months of intervention; 12M: 6 months after cessation of intervention at 6M). A serum TNF-α concentration higher than 4.05 pg/mL was defined as a cut-off value. FCE reduced serum TNF-α in all participants at 6M and 12M. Moreover, FCE significantly suppressed serum TNF-α concentrations at 6M and 12M and inhibited TNF-α release with time series in subjects with elevated TNF-α values. FCE intervention effectively reduced serum TNF-α and persistently sustained the effects for half a year in patients with prediabetes. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GS-MS) analysis revealed that the major components of FCE were phytosterols and fatty acids, which exerted anti-inflammatory and anti-TNF-α abilities. Hence, FCE has the potential to be developed as a natural treatment for prediabetic patients in Taiwan.     

梯田生态经济型防护林网的配置模式与效益研究

在旱作梯田上，田面和地坎的主体蒸发效应，使靠近田埂的农作物因土壤水分不足而生长受抑的现象普遍存在。依据生态学和生态经济学原理，利用植物群落中物种在自然资源利用上的时空异质性，配置以泡桐作建群种、以紫穗槐为附属种的主防风林带和以山楂或紫穗槐组成为副防风林带，可充分占有生态位，提高自然资源利用率。在中沟流域的研究结果表明，在旱作梯田上配置生态经济型防护林网，可显著降低于热风危害，提高光能利用率１３．１％。提高土壤（０～８０ｃｍ）含水量１１％，减少梯田埂坎冲蚀量８７．５％，使土地生产率由２４００元／ｈｍ２提高到４７２５元／ｈｍ２。     

猴头菌子实体提取物对人肺癌细胞SPCA-1的抑制作用

猴头菌(Hericium erinaceus)子实体的醇提物用不同极性有机溶剂分部提取,得到石油醚、氯仿、乙酸乙酯和正丁醇分部,其中仅石油醚分部能抑制SPCA-1细胞增殖和促进其释放ROS(reactive oxygen species),对石油醚分部的进一步研究发现石油醚分部可诱导SPCA-1细胞早期凋亡和降低G_0/G_1期细胞数量。     

草菇子实体提取物的抗氧化活性

为考察草菇(Volvariella volvacea)子实体提取物(VBS)的抗氧化活性,测定了对两种自由基的清除率及其总还原力,结果表明:对羟自由基和DPPH自由基的清除率以及总还原力均与VBS的浓度存在正相关的量效关系,IC50值分别为1.40、0.67、0.63mg/mL。以ICR雄性小鼠为研究对象,灌胃给药12d,再用CCl4花生油溶液灌胃,8h后分别测定超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)和谷草转氨酶(AST)的活力及丙二醛(MDA)的含量,各项指标在血清中的结果表明,VBS中剂量组(200 mg/kg)的抗氧化活性较好,而在肝脏中则表明VBS高剂量组(400mg/kg)的抗氧化活性较好。     

大叶斑鸠菊药效学初探

目的：初探大叶斑鸠菊的药效。方法：将大叶斑鸠菊制成浓度为1 g生药/mL的提取液,通过抑菌试验、利尿试验及对鸡肾肿的治疗试验,考察其药效。结果：大叶斑鸠菊提取液对大肠杆菌、沙门氏菌、巴氏杆菌有一定抑制作用,最小抑菌浓度均为0.25 g/mL,对金黄色葡萄球菌无抑制效果;有一定利尿作用;饲喂0.4、0.5、0.6 g/mL不同剂量大叶斑鸠菊提取液,2次/d,鸡肾肿明显减轻,鸡的存活率提高,分别为42.86%、71.43%和85.71%。结论：大叶斑鸠菊具有一定抑菌作用、利尿作用,对鸡肾肿有较好的治疗效果。     

不同培养基培育蛹虫草中的虫草素和腺苷含量测定

虫草素和腺苷是蛹虫草的重要活性成分,通过高效液相色谱(HPLC)法测定不同培养基培育蛹虫草中的虫草素和腺苷含量,筛选能生产高品质蛹虫草的培养基。测定结果表明,用不同培养基培育的蛹虫草子实体中,其虫草素和腺苷含量存在显著差异,总体表现为粳米+家蚕蛹浸提液培养基>糯米+家蚕蛹浸提液培养基>粳米培养基>糯米培养基,其中用粳米+家蚕蛹浸提液培养基培育蛹虫草子实体中的虫草素和腺苷质量比分别高达15.37 mg/g和39.96 mg/g。此外,相同培养基培育的蛹虫草子实体、菌丝体和培养基质中的虫草素与腺苷含量存在极显著差异,总体表现为子实体>菌丝体>基质。试验结果表明,粳米培养基中添加家蚕蛹浸提液可显著提高蛹虫草中的虫草素和腺苷含量。     

Influence of condensed tannin on intake, digestibility, and efficiency of protein utilization in beef steers fed high concentrate diet

This trial was conducted to evaluate if the effect of condensed tannin (CT) is associated with a true protein source on intake, ruminal and total digestibility, ruminal digestion rate, protein efficiency, and microbial efficiency in beef steers fed high concentrate diet (87% of DM). Four Bos indicus steers (407 ± 12 kg of BW) fitted with rumen cannula were assigned to a 4 × 4 Latin square design, arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Treatments consisted of either inclusion (0.4% of DM) or exclusion of condensed tannin (CT) from quebracho extract (76% of CT) with or without the use of soybean meal (SBM) as source of true protein. The level of inclusion was calculated to provide a daily intake of 1 g/10 kg of BW of CT. Intake of DM and nutrients was not affected (P > 0.10) by CT inclusion. However, there was an effect (P < 0.10) of CT inclusion on ether extract digestibility. An interaction (P < 0.10) was observed between CT and SBM on ruminal digestibility and digestion rate of crude protein (CP): when mixed with soybean meal, CT decreased the ruminal digestibility and, consequently, reduced the digestion rate of CP. Intake of CP increased (P < 0.10) with the inclusion of SBM. No differences in DM passage rate were observed (P > 0.10) among treatments. Effects of the interaction (P < 0.10) between CT and SBM were observed on flux of rumen undegradable protein (RUP), metabolizable protein (MP), and on the ratio MP:CP. In the presence of soybean meal, the addition of CT increased (P < 0.10) the flux of RUP and MP, and improved the ratio MP:CP. The yield of microbial protein on the abomasum and the microbial efficiency did not differ among treatments (P > 0.10). There was no difference (P > 0.10) on the pH, VFA, and ruminal ammonia (N-NH₃) with the addition of condensed tannin. The N-NH₃ increased and the ruminal pH decreased with the inclusion of soybean meal (P < 0.10). The utilization of condensed tannin as an additive in beef cattle diets with high level of concentrate and soybean meal as a source of true protein implies positive effects on crude protein utilization, decreasing digestion rate and ruminal digestibility of crude protein and consequently increasing the levels of metabolizable protein, with no changes in the ruminal fermentation parameters.     

In vitro antimycoplasmal activity of six Jordanian medicinal plants against three Mycoplasma species

The in vitro effect of six Jordanian traditional medicine plant methanolic extracts were tested against 32 isolates of Mycoplasma species; Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides LC (6), Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum (8) and M. putrefaciens (18), all isolated from either nasal swabs or milk, from sheep and goats in different regions in Jordan. All Mycoplasma species showed susceptibility to Artemisia herba-alba and Artemisia arborescens with MIC ranges from 3.125–12.5 mg/ml. Allium sativum and Punica grantum showed limited activity against some Mycoplasma isolates. Olea europea and Citrullus colocynthis showed no in vitro activity against any of the Mycoplasma species tested. Artemisia herba-alba and Artemisia arborescens may therefore be useful for the treatment of mycoplasma infections. The authors are British Civil Servants and as such their work is subject to British Crown Copyright. This means the exclusive copyright for the article cannot be transferred.     

青羊参凝乳剂提取及其对乳饼制作工艺的影响

以青羊参叶为原料,研究了其有效凝乳成分的提取方法,并在乳饼加工过程中进行了验证。结果表明,青羊参凝乳剂的最佳提取温度为4℃,最佳提取的液料比为20 mL/g,最佳提取溶液为10 mmol/L柠檬酸-磷酸缓冲液;与传统直接添加青羊参叶浸泡液的方法相比,使用青羊参凝乳剂制成的乳饼蛋白质回收率、脂肪回收率和乳饼得率均显著提升(P0.05);质构和微观结构显示,使用青羊参凝乳剂制作的乳饼具有更适宜的硬度和较高的粘着度,凝胶网络结构分布均匀。     

植物提取物、碳酸钠和碳酸氢钠室内对杨树溃疡病菌生长的抑制作用

 采用菌丝生长速率法用金银花的花、黄花蒿的地上部分、蓝桉果实和黄柏果实的乙醇提取物及其不同极性的组分对杨树溃疡病菌菌丝生长的抑制作用进行了测定。以黄柏果实的抗菌活性最强,其次是金银花的花。抗菌活性成分主要存在于金银花的正丁醇组分、黄花蒿的石油醚组分和乙酸乙酯组分、蓝桉的水部分、黄柏的正丁醇组分。当培养基中碳酸钠和碳酸氢钠的浓度分别为8g/L时(对应的pH值分别为10.24和7.71),菌丝生长抑制率分别为100.00%和79.68%。如果用1mol/L氢氧化钠溶液调节培养基的pH值至10.00,菌丝生长抑制率为40.58%。说明碳酸钠或碳酸氢钠对菌丝生长的抑制作用,一方面是由于改变了培养基的pH值,另一方面可能是由于碳酸根和碳酸氢根离子抑制了菌丝的生长。