Honeysuckle flowers extract loaded Bombyx mori silk fibroin films for inducing apoptosis of HeLa cells.

This study aimed to prepare silk fibroin (SF) films loaded with honeysuckle flowers extract (HFE) for inducing apoptosis of HeLa cells. We mixed solution of SF and HFE by air-drying for preparing the honeysuckle flowers extract loaded silk fibroin (SFH) films. The physical properties including morphologies, contact angle, roughness, and Z range were characterized. MTS assay and fluorescence micrographs proved that SFH films inhibited the proliferation rate of HeLa cells due to induction of HFE into SF films. Furthermore, cell apoptosis assay and cell cycle analysis confirmed that the apoptosis of HeLa cells resulted from SFH films. Therefore, SFH films designed in our study might be a promising candidate material for cancer therapy.

Flower-visitor selection on floral integration in three contrasting populations of Lonicera implexa.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Geographic differences in flower visitor assemblages might lead to among-population differences in the magnitude and pattern of floral integration. However, the role of current pollinator visitation in shaping the magnitude and pattern of floral trait correlations is still controversial. METHODS: We used individual-level data on floral morphology, flower visitation, and fitness to assess if floral integration (at flower and floral-module level) and the covariance structure of floral traits varied among three populations of Lonicera implexa differing in the importance of long-tongue (hawk moths) and short-tongue (bees and small beetles) pollinators; and to assess whether this variation was related to the selection pressures exerted by flower visitors. KEY RESULTS: Short-tongue pollinators preferentially visited plants with floral traits that enhanced flower accessibility; consequently, there was directional selection for accessibility (integration at floral-module level) in the populations where they dominated or codominated. In the population with both short- and long-tongue pollinators, disruptive selection on corolla width and directional selection against whole-flower integration was also found. Dominance by long-tongue pollinators (hawk moths) resulted in disruptive selection on whole-flower integration. Overall, the conflicting selection pressures that were found matched among-population differences in covariance structure: populations with short-tongue pollinators showed correlations between corolla-tube width and other floral traits that were absent in the population pollinated primarily by hawk moths. CONCLUSIONS: Conflicting selection on floral integration mediated by floral visitors can occur even in nearby populations of a species with restricted floral morphology.

[Study on characteristics of non-glandular hairs of cultivated Lonicera japonica].

We collected 22 cultivated population of Lonicera japonica from 17 areas. The characteristics of non-glandular hairs were observed and measured by the scanning electron microscopy. The principal components analysis and correlation analysis were conduct based on length and density of L. japonica. The results showed a significant negative correlation between length and density of non-glandular hairs, and the characteristics of non-glandular was not corrrelated significantly with latitude. The correlation results indicated that the density was a key to separate "Damaohua" and "Jizhuahua". The contribution of climate and soil was important to the cultivated population. This reminded that the characteristics of non-glandular hairs were affected by environmental and genetic interaction.

[Comparison and analysis of wild and cultivated Lonicerae japonicae flos from Xinmi].

OBJECTIVE: To compare and analyze the wild and cultivated Lonicerae Japonicae Flos from Xinmi. METHODS: Macroscopic identification and microscopic identification were adopted to compare and analyze characteristics of the wild and cultivated Lonicerae Japonicae Flos from Xinmi. The content of chlorogenic acid and luteoloside were determined by the methods in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. DNA molecular marker technology was used to identify Lonicerae Japonicae Flos of different varieties. RESULTS: The differences in macroscopic and microscopic characteristics as well as the content of chlorogenic acid and luteoloside between them had been found. PCR amplification reaction system and procedure of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos from Xinmi were optimized. An effective primer for identification was chosen from 11 primers. CONCLUSION: The results provide the scientific basis for quality assessment of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos from Xinmi.

[Literature study on species of honeysuckle flower].

Honeysuckle flower is a traditional herbal medicine in China Through systemically sorting and studying literature of Chinese medicine, this article pointed out that leech used by the traditional Chinese medicine in ancient time has the features of twist vine, slight purple stem with clothing hair; opposite growing leaves, ovule shape with clothing hair on both side; two flowers growing from one pedicel, labiate corolla with 3.2 cm longth, flower grows from white color to yellow color, each branch axil grows only one pedicel, the involucre is ovoid shape, and the flower season is from mid-March to mid-May. Among all species of caprifoliaceae, only Lonicera japonica Thunb. meets these botanic features. Therefore, L. japonica Thunb. should be used as the orthodox species of herbal honeysuckle flower.

[Classification and RAPD analysis of cultivate varieties of Lonicera japonica cultivated in Xinmi].

OBJECTIVE: To study the classification and genetic relationship among difference cultivated varieties of Lonicera japonica cultivated in Xinmi. METHODS: Observed the biological characteristics of Lonicera japonica cultivated in Xinmi and visited farmers; Genetic diversity was analyzed by RAPD molecular biology techniques. RESULTS: Classified the cultivated varieties and set up an index key. RAPD fingerprint was established, 10 primers were chosen. A total of 60 DNA fragments, among which 50 bands was polymorphic, accounting for 83.33% which indicated the genetic diversity of the samples was good. CONCLUSION: Genetic relationship among different cultivated varieties are determined which provide scientific basis for resources protection, development of Lonicera japonica cultivated in Xinmi and its quality evaluation.

[Comparative study on morphological character of leaves of various farm cultivars of Lonicera japonica].

OBJECTIVE: To provide theoretical evidence for dividing and breeding cultivars of Lonicera japonica, the botanical character of laminas leaves observed and compared. METHOD: Using the morphological method, the main character of leaves of 11 farm cultivars of L. japonica were systematically observed and the data were comparatively studied with statistical means. It included the length, width and the ratio of the length to the width of blade, density, length and thickness of the nonglandular hair in the epidermis. RESULT: The results showed that there were obvious differences in length, width and the ratio of the length to the width of blade, density and length of the nonglandular hair in the epidermis. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the differences of morphological character of leaves, the various farm cultivars could be identified.

[Observation and comparision on morphological characteristics of pollen of Lonicera japonica in different cultivars].

OBJECTIVE: To compare morphological characteristics of pollen of Lonicera japonica in different cultivars cultivated in Shandong and provide a basis for distinguishing different cultivars and selecting fine breeding. METHOD: The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was applied to observe and compare the outside characteristics of pollen,and the data were analyzed by SAS 9.1 software. RESULT: Some difference was found among pollen size, aperture length and the density of spine. The biggest pollen size and aperture length is Dajizhao with 61.97 microm polar axis and 61.79 microm quarter major axis and 18.03 microm aperture length,and the smallest is Honggengzi with 57.46 microm polar axis and 57.29 microm quarter major axis and 18.03 microm aperture length. CONCLUSION: The morphological characteristics of pollen can provide a basis for distinguishing different cultivars of L. japonica.

Combination of normal light and fluorescence microscopy for authentication of five Lonicera species flower buds.

The flower buds of five Lonicera species, Lonicera japonica Thunb., L. macranthoides Hand.-Mazz., L. hypoglauca Miq., L. confusa DC. and L. fulvotomentosa Hsu et S.C. Cheng are confusable and usually utilized under the same name "Jinyinhua" in different areas for morphological similarity. Studies found that these five species possess extreme differences in chemical compounds, correspondingly showing different pharmacological activities and clinical applications. To ensure efficacy and safety of these herbal medicines and prevent unknown adverse effect, in this work, a simple, rapid and effective method combining normal light and fluorescence microscopy was developed for authentication. Surface slides and transverse sections of these buds were investigated to reveal their differences. As a routine technique, normal light microscopy which gives detailed microscopic features such as glandular hairs and nonglandular hairs, can easily distinguish four species except L. confusa. Fluorescence technique, which could present different distribution of fluorescence materials, is further employed to identify three species including L. confusa successfully. It is the first report to identify these five Lonicera species by combining normal light and fluorescence microscopy. This work indicated combining normal light and fluorescence microscopy could be a powerful method in authentication of confused species.

[Discussion on herbal textual research of Flos Lonicerae].

Discussed the former herbal investigation of Flos Lonicerae by herbal investigation and field survey. Descripted and illustrated the Caprifoliaceae or Flos Lonicerae in known ancient Chinese medical books that varied with current Lonicera japonica. At last, conformational description of Caprifoliaceae or Flos Lonicerae in Sushenliangfang was reported.

[Anatomical study on rooting of Lonicera macranthoides cutting].

An anatomical study on rooting of Lonicera macranthoides cutting was carried out by the paraffin section method. The observation result showed that there was no root primordium in stem, and the adventitious root primordium of L. macranthoides cutting belonged to the type of the induced root primordium. The adventitious root primordium originated from the cross region of vascular cambium and pith rays. There was no root primordium in the wound calls, between them it existed no direct relationship.

Evolution of fruit and seed characters in the Diervilla and Lonicera clades (Caprifoliaceae, Dipsacales).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Diervilla and Lonicera clades are members of the family Caprifoliaceae (Dipsacales sensu Donoghue et al., 2001, Harvard Papers in Botany 6: 459-479). So far, the intergeneric relationships of the Lonicera clade and the systematic position of Heptacodium remain equivocal. By studying fruit and seed morphology and anatomy, an attempt is made to clarify these issues. In addition, this study deals with the evolution of fruit and seed characters of the Diervilla and Lonicera clades with reference to allied taxa. METHODS: Light and scanning electron microscopy were used for the morphological and anatomical investigations. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out by applying the parsimony and Bayesian inference optimality criteria. Character evolution was studied by means of parsimony optimization and stochastic character mapping. KEY RESULTS: Diervilla and Weigela (Diervilla clade) are characterized by several unique traits in Dipsacales, including capsules with numerous seeds, seed coats without sclerified outer tangential exotestal cell walls, and dehiscent fruits. Seeds with completely sclerified exotestal cells and fleshy fruits characterize the Lonicera clade. Leycesteria and Lonicera have berries, ovaries without sterile carpels and several seeds per locule, whereas Symphoricarpos and Triosteum have drupes, ovaries with one or two sterile carpels and a single seed per locule. Heptacodium shares several characteristics with members of the Linnina clade, e.g. achenes, single-seeded fruits and a compressed, parenchymatous seed coat. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the monophyly of the Diervilla and Lonicera clades and allow us to hypothesize a close relationship between Leycesteria and Lonicera and between Symphoricarpos and Triosteum. Fruit and seed morphology and anatomy point to a sister relationship of Heptacodium with the Linnina clade, rather than with the Lonicera clade.

Identification and quantification of 32 bioactive compounds in Lonicera species by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Flos Lonicerae, referred to the flower buds of several medicinal Lonicera species, is a commonly used traditional Chinese herbal medicine. A multi-component-assay quality control method, using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI/TOF MS), has been developed for the simultaneous identification and quantification of 32 bioactive compounds in Flos Lonicerae. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were in the range of 0.002-0.089 and 0.006-0.355 microg/ml, respectively. All calibration curves showed good linear regression (r(2) > or = 0.99) within the test ranges. The overall intra- and inter-day precisions of analytes were less than 3.47% for peak area and 0.38% for retention time. The recoveries were from 85.4% to 101.6%. The validated method was applied to assay of 32 compounds in 8 medicinal Lonicera species. Furthermore, six unknown chromatographic peaks were tentatively characterized. It was demonstrated that the HPLC-ESI/TOF MS method was suitable for quality control of Lonicera species, owing to the advantages of accurate mass analysis, resolving power, enhanced selectivity and high sensitivity.

[Effects of period of cuttage on growth of seedling for Lonicera japonica].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of cuttage time on growth of Lonicera japonica. METHOD: Randomized block of single variable and determination of the selected samples. RESULT: The growth of seeding influenced significantly by the cottage time. The experimental results in two years showed that the survival rate, the number of root, the root weight and root cap ratio that cuttaged on March 2 were better than those cuttaged at other time point. CONCLUSION: The first ten days of March is the best period for cuttaging L. japonica.