Deciphering the Plastomic Code of Chinese Hog-Peanut (Amphicarpaea edgeworthii Benth., Leguminosae): Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Insights within the Phaseoleae Tribe.

The classification and phylogenetic relationships within the Phaseoleae tribe (Leguminosae) have consistently posed challenges to botanists. This study addresses these taxonomic intricacies, with a specific focus on the Glycininae subtribe, by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the highly conserved plastome in Amphicarpaea edgeworthii Benth., a critical species within this subtribe. Through meticulous genomic sequencing, we identified a plastome size of 148,650 bp, composed of 128 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Comparative genomic analysis across seven Glycininae species illuminated a universally conserved circular and quadripartite structure, with nine genes exhibiting notable nucleotide diversity, signifying a remarkable genomic variability. Phylogenetic reconstruction of 35 Phaseoleae species underscores the affinity of Amphicarpaea with Glycine, placing Apios as a sister lineage to all other Phaseoleae species, excluding Clitorinae and Diocleinae subtribes. Intriguingly, Apios, Butea, Erythrina, and Spatholobus, traditionally clumped together in the Erythrininae subtribe, display paraphyletic divergence, thereby contesting their taxonomic coherence. The pronounced structural differences in the quadripartite boundary genes among taxa with unresolved subtribal affiliations demand a reevaluation of Erythrininae's taxonomic classification, potentially refining the phylogenetic contours of the tribe.

Artesunate attenuates 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis by down-regulating Th17 cell responses in BALB/c mice.

Steroidal agent is a standard clinical treatment of atopic dermatitis; however, have serious side effects. Artesunate is reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties although its effect on atopic eczema remains unknown. We investigated the therapeutic effects and possible mechanism of systemic artesunate on DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in a BALB/c mouse model. To ascertain artesunate (5 and 10 mg/kg) efficacy, skin dermatitis severity and ear, spleen, and lymph node weight were evaluated. Skin tissue mRNA and protein expression and serum cytokine levels were examined. Artesunate significantly improved atopic dermatitis symptoms, decreasing the dermatitis score, ear weight difference, spleen weight, and lymph node weight compared with those following DNCB treatment. Artesunate reduced ear and skin epidermal thickness and mast cell infiltration, as determined using hematoxylin-eosin and toluidine blue staining, respectively. The basal level of IgE (287.67 ± 70.41 ng/ml) and TNF-α (19.94 ± 3.98 pg/ml) were Significantly elevated by DNCB (IgE: 1273.23 ± 176.53 ng/ml; TNF-α: 57.53 ± 3.87 pg/ml), while markedly been suppressed in the treatment group (AS-L: IgE: 1100.25 ± 135.32 ng/ml; TNF-α: 38.47 ± 3.26 pg/ml; AS-H: IgE: 459.46 ± 74.75 ng/ml; TNF-α: 24.38 ± 3.85 pg/ml). Among Th17 cell-related factors, DNCB treatment increased mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-17, IL-23, STAT3, and ROR-γt, but reduced TGF-ß and SOCS 3; While artesunate reverse these changes. Compared with the model group, artesunate promoted SOCS3 protein and significantly inhibited ROR-γt protein and STAT3 phosphorylation. Thus, artesunate attenuates DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis by inhibiting the release of inflammatory cytokines and downregulating Th17 cell responses in atopic dermatitis mice.

Anticancer activity of tetrandrine by inducing pro-death apoptosis and autophagy in human gastric cancer cells.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the antitumour property of tetrandrine by inducing autophagy and apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells, and to explore the potential molecular mechanisms. METHODS: The antitumour activity of tetrandrine was assessed through MTT assay. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry and microscopic examination of cellular morphology. The mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by staining with Rh-123. Induction of autophagy was monitored by transmission electron microscopy observation, using GFP-LC3 transfection. KEY FINDINGS: The results revealed that tetrandrine exhibits significant antitumour activity against gastric human cancer cell and the antigastric tumour activity was depended on inducing autophagy and apoptosis through upregulating the apoptosis-related protein (cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9) and autophagy-related protein (Beclin-1, LC3-II and p62), and decreasing the phosphorylation of AKT/mTOR, PS6K and P-4EBP1. Adding the inhibitor of autophagy, 3-MA or Baf-A1, increased the viability of tetrandrine-exposed gastric cancer cells, which confirmed the role of autophagy played in the gastric cancer cell death induced by tetrandrine. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that the antitumour effects of tetrandrine by inducing autophagy and apoptosis involving Akt/mTOR pathway. Thus, tetrandrine may be a promising lead compound to be further developed in future for cancer therapy.

Two new glycosides from the fruits of Forsythia suspense.

Two new glycosides suspensaside C (1) and 2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-jacaranone-4-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2), together with four known compounds suspensaside A (3), rengynic acid-1'-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (4), forsythoside A (5), and rengynic acid (6), were isolated from the fruits of Forsythia suspense (Thunb.) Vahl. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR analyses and HR-ESI-MS. All isolates were tested for their cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines (A549, Colo-205, Hep-3B, HL60, and KB). Compound 3 exhibited cytotoxicity against HL-60, Hep-3B, and A549 cancer cell lines.