Antifatigue effects and antioxidant activity in polysaccharide fractions from Chinese yam bulbils.

Polysaccharides are the principal component in Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) bulbils. The properties and antifatigue of polysaccharides from yam bulbils (PYB) were identified and compared. Their molecular weights (PYB-1 and PYB-2) were approximately 145 and 11 kDa, respectively, with active ß-configurations. Meanwhile, the antifatigue activities of PYBs were tested in mice via exhaustive swimming tests (EST). The EST results indicated that PYB-1 and PYB-2 significantly prolonged swimming time in mice (p < .05). Associated with this increase was a rise in hepatic glycogen content and antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)) activity, along with a decline in blood urea nitrogen, lactic acid, and malondialdehyde levels. The results showed that molecular weight might contribute to the antifatigue effects of PYBs. Additionally, antioxidant tests showed that PYB-1 had stronger free-radical scavenging activity than PYB-2. Taken together, the findings indicated that PYBs exhibited effective antifatigue and antioxidant activities providing additional evidence supporting the use of PYBs as functional food ingredients for relieving fatigue.

Effects of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose on storage stability and qualities of different frozen dough.

Hydrocolloids as Additives have been used for improving the quality of frozen dough for a long time. In this work, the effects of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) on quality changes of frozen dough in storage were studied. The water loss rate of the dough and water holding capacity were measured. Rheological and texture properties of the frozen dough were measured by a rheometer and a texture analyzer, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize surface network structure and protein structure changes of the frozen dough. Our results reveal that the addition of CMC can inhibit the formation of ice crystals and recrystallization, thus effectively stabilizing the molecular structure of starch, and resulting in more uniform moisture distribution in the frozen dough. When 3% addition of CMC, the water holding capacity of the two kinds of dough reached the best, and the water loss rate of corn dough reached the lowest. The cohesion of the two kinds of dough reaches the maximum with 3 wt% addition of CMC, while the hardness and chewiness of wheat and corn multigrain dough reaches the maximum with 3 wt% and 4 wt% addition of CMC, respectively. The results show proper CMC addition (3 wt% and 4 wt%) finally improves the stability and qualities of the frozen dough. The research concerning the effects of CMC on quality of frozen dough provides better understanding for the frozen food industry.

MYH10 Combines with MYH9 to Recruit USP45 by Deubiquitinating Snail and Promotes Serous Ovarian Cancer Carcinogenesis, Progression, and Cisplatin Resistance.

The poor prognosis of serous ovarian cancer (SOC) is due to its high invasive capacity and cisplatin resistance of SOC cells, whereas the molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present study, the expression and function of non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIB (MYH10) in SOC are identified by immunohistochemistry, in vitro, and in vivo studies, respectively. The mechanism of MYH10 is demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation, GST pull-down, confocal laser assays, and so on. The results show that the knockdown of MYH10 suppressed SOC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, and cisplatin resistance both in vivo and in vitro. Further studies confirm that the MYH10 protein functional domain combines with non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (MYH9) to recruit the deubiquitinating enzyme Ubiquitin-specific proteases 45 and deubiquitinates snail to inhibit snail degradation, eventually promoting tumorigenesis, progression, and cisplatin resistance in SOC. In clinical samples, MYH10 expression is significantly elevated in SOC samples compared to the paratumor samples. And the expression of MYH10 is positively correlated with MYH9 expression. MYH10+/MYH9+ co-expression is an independent prognostic factor for predicting SOC patient survival. These findings uncover a key role of the MYH10-MYH9-snail axis in SOC carcinogenesis, progression, and cisplatin resistance, and provide potential novel therapeutic targets for SOC intervention.

Paenibacillus polymyxa Antagonism towards Fusarium: Identification and Optimisation of Antibiotic Production.

An antibiotic produced by Paenibacillus polymyxa 7F1 was studied. The 7F1 strain was isolated from the rhizosphere of a wheat field. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the physicochemical parameters. The strain showed broad-spectrum activity against several plant pathogens. Identification of the strain was realized based on 16s rRNA gene and gyrB gene sequencing. The antibiotic was optimized by one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) and response surface methodology (RSM) approaches. The suitable antibiotic production conditions were optimized using the one-factor-at-a-time method. The individual and interaction effects of three independent variables: culture temperature, initial pH, and culture time, were optimized by Box-Behnken design. The 16SrRNA gene sequence (1239 nucleotides) and gyrB gene (1111 nucleotides) were determined for strain 7F1 and shared the highest identities to those of Paenibacillus polymyxa. The results showed the optimal fermentation conditions for antibiotics produced by Paenibacillus polymyxa 7F1 were a culture temperature of 38 °C, initial pH of 8.0, and culture time of 8 h. The antibiotics produced by Paenibacillus polymyxa 7F1 include lipopeptides such as iturin A and surfactin. The results provide a theoretical basis for the development of bacteriostatic biological agents and the control of mycotoxins.

A c-MWCNTs/AuNPs-based electrochemical cytosensor to evaluate the anticancer activity of pinoresinol from Cinnamomum camphora against HeLa cells.

A sensitive, simple, label-free electrochemical cytosensor was developed to evaluate the anticancer activity of pinoresinol against human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells. HeLa cells were immobilised on carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (c-MWCNTs)/gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) nanocomposite-modified glassy carbon electrodes. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometry were used to characterise the morphology, crystallinity, and composition of the nanocomposites. Cyclic voltammetry was used to characterise and optimise the cytosensor. Both c-MWCNTs and AuNPs increased the electron-transfer rate between the HeLa cells and the electrode, retaining good cell compatibility. The concentration of HeLa cells immobilised on the nanocomposite electrode exhibited a good correlation with the impedance values determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in the range of 102-106 cells/mL (detection limit of 102 cells/mL) with R2 = 0.975. HeLa cells were then immobilised on the nanocomposite electrode at a concentration of 104 cells/mL, and it was used as a cytosensor. The anticancer activity of pinoresinol from Cinnamomum camphora was evaluated by determining the median inhibitory concentration using the proposed cytosensor. For comparison, a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, flow cytometry, and fluorescent imaging were simultaneously performed, which confirmed the results of the cytosensor. The cytosensor is promising for future applications in anticancer drug screening.

[Study on Subcritical Fluid Extraction of Essential Oil from Cinnamomum camphora and Its Antibacterial Activity].

Objective: To determine the optimum extract condition of essential oil from dry Cinnamomum camphora leaves and to study its antibacterial activity. Methods: The essential oil was extracted by subcritical fluid, and analyzed by response surface methodology based on single factor test. The chemical compositions of essential oil were analyzed by GC-MS, and the components were quantitatively determined by normalization method. The agar disc diffusion and dilution broth method were used to determine antibacterial activity. Results: The extraction rate was highest as 3. 54%,which matched with the predictive yield of 3. 56%,and the extraction time was30 min, the extraction temperature was 40 ℃,and resolution temperature was 65 ℃. 47 chemical constituents were identified and isolated from Cinnamomum camphora, which was analyzed by GC-MS. The main chemical constituents were eucalyptol( 24. 74%),bicyclo[3. 1. 0]hexan-4-methylene-1-( 1-methylethyl) ( 7. 05%),linalool( 5. 82%),caryophyllene ( 4. 75%). The essential oil from Cinnamomum camphora had different degrees of inhibition on Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Bacillus subtilis. Conclusion: Subcritical fluid is suitable for the extraction of essential oil from Cinnamomum camphora and the essential oil has a good antimicrobial activity.