Chemical Constituents of the Fruits of Cornus Officinalis and Evaluation of their Neuroprotective Activity.

The phytochemical investigation of the fruits of Cornus officinalis yielded a new phenolic acid derivative, neophenolic acid A (1), and a novel flavonoid glycoside, (2R)-naringenin-7-O-ß-(6''-galloyl-glucopyranoside) (2 a), along with six known flavonoid glycosides (2 b-7). Their structures were determined by 1D, 2D NMR and HRESIMS data. The absolute configuration of 1 was established by ECD analysis. Compounds 1- 7 were evaluated for their neuroprotective activities against corticosterone (CORT)-induced injury in PC-12 cells. Compounds 1, 2 a, 2 b, 5, and 6 exhibited neuroprotective activities against CORT-induced neurotoxicity in PC-12 cells. The underlying mechanism study suggested that compounds 1, 2 a, 2 b, 5, and 6 were able to attenuate CORT-induced apoptosis and damage, increase the levels of MMP and decrease Ca2+ inward flow in PC-12 cells.

Effect of total glycosides of Cistanche deserticola on the energy metabolism of human HepG2 cells.

To study the anti-tumor effect of Cistanche deserticola Y. Ma, HepG2 cells were treated with 0, 3.5, 10.5, 21, 31.5, and 42 µg/ml of total glycosides (TG) from Cistanche deserticola. The HepG2 cell survival rate and 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) were detected using the CCK-8 method, and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by using a DCFH-DA fluorescence probe. Finally, a Seahorse XFe24 energy analyzer (Agilent, United States) was used to detect cell mitochondrial pressure and glycolytic pressure. The results showed that TG could reduce the survival rate of HepG2 cells and that the IC50 level was 35.28 µg/ml. With increasing TG concentration, the level of ROS showed a concentration-dependent upward trend. Energy metabolism showed that each dose group of TG could significantly decline the mitochondrial respiratory and glycolytic functions of HepG2 cells. In conclusion, TG could significantly inhibit the mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis functions of HepG2 cells, increase the level of ROS, and inhibit cell proliferation. Thus, this experiment pointed out that Cistanche deserticola can be used as a source of anti-cancer foods or drugs in the future. However, further studies on its mechanisms and clinical applications are needed.

Minor iridoid glycosides from the fruits of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. and their anti-diabetic bioactivities.

Fifteen previously undescribed minor iridoid glycosides, including four monomers and eleven dimers, were isolated from the fruits of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical evidence. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their effects of the glucose consumption on the insulin resistant HepG2 cells, and four compounds, named cornuofficinalisides F, H, L, and O, increased the glucose consumption significantly at 10 µM, the EC50 values of them were determined to be 0.898, 1.625, 0.923, and 8.589 µM, respectively. Moreover, the four compounds could improve the ability of glucose uptake significantly in insulin resistant HepG2 cells.

Four pairs of tautomers from rhizomes of Acorus calamus and fruits of Cornus officinalis.

A pair of new guaiane-type sesquiterpene tautomers (1) was isolated from rhizomes of Acorus calamus. Meanwhile, three pairs of known compounds, including a pair of dihydroflavone glycoside tautomers (2), a pair of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid ester glycoside tautomers (3), as well as a pair of secoiridoid glycoside tautomers (4) were isolated from fruits of Cornus officinalis. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic and computational methods. Furthermore, the tautomeric mechanisms were discussed.

[Using old meshy cage cover to make a rat fixating device for acupuncture study].

Binding-fixation is the most commonly used method for acupuncture research in rats, but its resulted stronger stress response may affect the experimental outcomes. Hence, we developed a practical fixing device using the abandoned meshy cage covers, bolts, hooks, and loop fasteners. It includes two straps, two ropes, a small jacket with a self-locking Velcro strap and a meshy cage cover with a piece of fixed Velcro which may be placed on a rectangular storage box. Rats can be fixed in a recumbent position or a prone position. Outcomes showed that it is not only convenient and cheaper but also has a higher successful rate of fixation and a longer fixation time for completing an experiment.

[Study on influence factors of acupoint function based on energetics].

Acupoint is the integration of structure and function. In this paper, the structure and function of acupoint are studied based on energetics. It is viewed that acupoint is the aggregation and release place of energy, acupuncture is the process of applying energy to acupoint, and the variations of speed, direction, time and local temperature are the key factors of acupoint function.

Viewing the difference between the diploid and the polyploid in the light of the upland cotton aneuploid.

The aneuploidy of Gossypium hirsutum L. (upland cotton) aneusomatics were obtained by induced parthenogenesis. These aneuploids could grow and set seeds normally. In the process of meiosis there appeared large quantities of heteromorphic pairs and multivalent chromosomes and many cases of cytomixis and multisperm fertilization occurred. The aneuploids produced offsprings through sexual propagation. We explored penetratingly the questions how and why these aneuploids could survive. Through this research, we found that the upland cotton possessed an immense latent capacity to adapt to adverse environments. More importantly, in the case of the upland cotton, we discovered that the genetic pattern of the polyploid differs in some respects from that of the diploid.