Ethnobotanical investigation of medicinal plants used in Lingchuan county, Shanxi, China / Investigação etnobotânica de plantas medicinais usadas no condado de Lingchuan, Shanxi, China

Medicinal plants are the primary sources of healthcare among the people of developing countries in villages and local towns. Documenting and reporting the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants may contribute to pharmaceutical research development. For this reason, we present our findings on ethnomedicinal plants from Lingchuan County, Shanxi, China, an unexplored area rich in medicinal plant resources. Information of ethnomedicinal plants were collected through questionnaire/semi-structured interviews from 180 informants, including traditional healers. Field surveys were conducted in 53 villages of Lingchuan County from 2017 to 2018. Informed consent was obtained from each participant before conducting the interview process. Quantitative analysis was performed for each recorded species, such as Relative Frequency Citation (RFC), Use Value (UV), and Factor of Informant Consensus (FIC). Diseases were categorized into twelve groups. A total 138 species of medicinal plants were recorded, belonging to 123 genera of 58 families. Asteraceae was the dominant plant family with 19 species, followed by Rosaceae and Fabaceae. Herbs were dominant among plant life-forms with 96 species, followed by shrubs and trees (15 species each). Roots were the most commonly used plant parts with 58 species, followed by whole plants and fruits (28 species each). Most plant species were reported non-toxic (84, 60%), followed by unknown toxicity (35, 25%), poisonous, and less toxic (19, 14%). Quantitative analysis revealed that Forsythia suspensa was with higher (0.33) RFC value, and Scutellaria baicalensis was recorded with a higher (0.91) UV. Treated diseases were categorized in 12 groups and evaluated by their FIC value, in which gynecological diseases have higher (0.93) FIC value followed by urinary system diseases. Most medicinal plants are used to clear away heat and relieve the surface. The present study revealed that local people of Lingchuan County confidently use ethnomedicinal plants for their healthcare needs. The higher indices value of a plant species resulted from quantitative analysis warrants further investigation, which may possess valuable phytochemical compounds that may result in new drugs for treating various human disorders.

As plantas medicinais são as principais fontes de cuidados de saúde entre as pessoas dos países em desenvolvimento, nas aldeias e cidades locais. É importante documentar e relatar o conhecimento tradicional de plantas medicinais, dado que pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa farmacêutica. Por esta razão, apresentamos neste estudo nossas descobertas sobre plantas etnomedicinais do condado de Lingchuan, Shanxi, China, uma área inexplorada e rica em recursos de plantas medicinais. As informações sobre as plantas etnomedicinais foram coletadas por meio de questionário/entrevista semiestruturada com 180 participantes, incluindo curandeiros. As pesquisas de campo foram realizadas em 53 aldeias do condado de Lingchuan, entre 2017 e 2018. O consentimento informado foi obtido de cada participante antes de conduzir o processo de entrevista. Foi realizada uma análise quantitativa de cada espécie registrada, através da Frequência Relativa de Citação (RFC), Valor de Uso (UV) e Fator de Consenso dos Informantes (FCI). As doenças foram categorizadas em doze grupos. Foram registradas 138 espécies de plantas medicinais, pertencentes a 123 gêneros de 58 famílias. Asteraceae foi a família de plantas dominante, totalizando 19 espécies, seguida pelas famílias Rosaceae e Fabaceae. As ervas foram consideradas como as principais formas de vida vegetal usadas, com 96 espécies, seguidas por arbustos e árvores (15 espécies cada). As raízes foram as partes de plantas mais utilizadas com 58 espécies, seguidas de plantas inteiras e frutos (28 espécies cada). A maioria das espécies relatadas foram estabelecidas como não tóxicas (84, 60%), seguida de plantas com toxicidade desconhecida (35, 25%), venenosas e menos tóxicas (19, 14%). A análise quantitativa revelou que a espécie Forsythia suspensa alcançou o maior (0,33) valor de RFC, e a Scutellaria baicalensis obteve o maior (0,91) valor de UV registrado. As doenças tratadas foram categorizadas em 12 grupos e avaliadas pelos seus respectivos valores de FCI, onde as doenças ginecológicas apresentaram maior (0,93) valor de FCI, seguido pelas doenças do sistema urinário. Foi concluído que a maioria das plantas medicinais são usadas para amenizar calores e alívio tópico. O presente estudo revelou que a população local do condado de Lingchuan confia no uso de plantas etnomedicinais para lidar com seus problemas de saúde. Seria válido aprofundar as investigações relativas aos índices mais altos obtidos nas análises quantitativas das espécies analisadas, visto que podem possuir compostos fitoquímicos valiosos que podem resultar em novos medicamentos para o tratamento de diversas doenças humanas.

Association Analysis Between Polymorphism of Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone Genes and Growth Traits of Quail (Coturnix Coturnix)

This study investigated SNP mutation sites of Gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) gene in China yellow quail, Beijing white quail and Korean quail through PCR amplification and DNA sequencing technologies. Moreover, polymorphism of GnRH gene and its association with growth traits of quail were analyzed, aiming to get molecular markers associated to growth traits of quail, which could provide references for breeding of new quail species. According to research results, a total of 14 SNP mutation sites of GnRH were detected in China yellow quail, Beijing white quail and Korean quail, which were C71T, C108T, C168T, C178T, A184G, C206T, A209C, C215T, A252G, A279T, C281T, C293G, C339T and C458T. Except that only 2 genotypes were detected for A209C and C281T in China yellow quail and Beijing white quail, 3 genotypes were detected for all of the remaining 12 SNP mutation sites in three quail species. Of the 14 SNP sites, C71T, A209C, C215T, C281T, C293G, C339T and C458T were significantly associated with body weight (p 0.05), C71T, C108T, C168T, C178T, A184G, C206T, C215T, A252G, C293G, C339T and C458T were significantly associated with shank length (p 0.05), C71T, C215T, C293G and C458T were significantly associated with breastbone length (p 0.05), A209C and C281T were significantly associated with shank circumference (p 0.05).(AU)

Association Analysis Between Polymorphism of Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone Genes and Growth Traits of Quail (Coturnix Coturnix)

This study investigated SNP mutation sites of Gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) gene in China yellow quail, Beijing white quail and Korean quail through PCR amplification and DNA sequencing technologies. Moreover, polymorphism of GnRH gene and its association with growth traits of quail were analyzed, aiming to get molecular markers associated to growth traits of quail, which could provide references for breeding of new quail species. According to research results, a total of 14 SNP mutation sites of GnRH were detected in China yellow quail, Beijing white quail and Korean quail, which were C71T, C108T, C168T, C178T, A184G, C206T, A209C, C215T, A252G, A279T, C281T, C293G, C339T and C458T. Except that only 2 genotypes were detected for A209C and C281T in China yellow quail and Beijing white quail, 3 genotypes were detected for all of the remaining 12 SNP mutation sites in three quail species. Of the 14 SNP sites, C71T, A209C, C215T, C281T, C293G, C339T and C458T were significantly associated with body weight (p 0.05), C71T, C108T, C168T, C178T, A184G, C206T, C215T, A252G, C293G, C339T and C458T were significantly associated with shank length (p 0.05), C71T, C215T, C293G and C458T were significantly associated with breastbone length (p 0.05), A209C and C281T were significantly associated with shank circumference (p 0.05).

Effect of oxidized soybean oils on oxidative status and intestinal barrier function in broiler chickens

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of oxidized soybean oils on the growth performance, metabolic oxidative status and intestinal barrier function of broiler chickens. A total of 240 one-day-old female broiler chickens were assigned to four dietary treatments with six replicates (cages) of 10 birds each. The dietary treatments comprised of a basal diet supplemented with 4% of: non-oxidized (fresh) soybean oil (control treatment, SNX); lowly-oxidized soybean oil (SLX) (oil heated for 10h at 200°C); moderately-oxidized soybean oil (SMX) (oil heated for 18h at 200°C); or highly-oxidized soybean oil (SHX) (oil heated for 30h at 200°C). Diets and water were offered ad libitum. The experiment was lasted 21d.The growth performance of broilers, determined from 1 to 14 d and from 1 to 21 d of age, was not affected by the dietary treatments (p>0.05). Broilers fed oxidized soybean oils presented higher corticosterone serum levels compared with those fed non-oxidized oil (p<0.05). Higher malondialdehyde (MDA) levels onday14 and 21 (p<0.05), and lower total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and totalsuperoxide dismutase (T-SOD) values on day 21were obtained in the liver of broiler fed oxidized oils relative to those fed the non-oxidized oil (p<0.05). Broilers fed the highly-oxidized soybean oil had higher (p<0.05) MDA levels in the jejunum on day 21 compared with those fed non-oxidized soybean oil. Chickens fed moderately- and highly-oxidized soybean oil presented lower (p<0.05) T-SOD activity inileal mucosa compared with those fed non-oxidized soybean oil. Ileal mRNA expression of claudin-1 tended to be down regulated by the dietary addition of oxidized oils (p=0.056). The mRNA expression of interleukin-22 (IL-22) of broilers fed moderately-oxidized and highly-oxidized soybean oil was higher (p<0.05), and the mRNA expression of occludin and catalase was lower (p<0.05) than those fed non-oxidized soybean oil. However, the morphology of the jejunal and ileal...(AU)

Effect of oxidized soybean oils on oxidative status and intestinal barrier function in broiler chickens

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of oxidized soybean oils on the growth performance, metabolic oxidative status and intestinal barrier function of broiler chickens. A total of 240 one-day-old female broiler chickens were assigned to four dietary treatments with six replicates (cages) of 10 birds each. The dietary treatments comprised of a basal diet supplemented with 4% of: non-oxidized (fresh) soybean oil (control treatment, SNX); lowly-oxidized soybean oil (SLX) (oil heated for 10h at 200°C); moderately-oxidized soybean oil (SMX) (oil heated for 18h at 200°C); or highly-oxidized soybean oil (SHX) (oil heated for 30h at 200°C). Diets and water were offered ad libitum. The experiment was lasted 21d.The growth performance of broilers, determined from 1 to 14 d and from 1 to 21 d of age, was not affected by the dietary treatments (p>0.05). Broilers fed oxidized soybean oils presented higher corticosterone serum levels compared with those fed non-oxidized oil (p<0.05). Higher malondialdehyde (MDA) levels onday14 and 21 (p<0.05), and lower total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and totalsuperoxide dismutase (T-SOD) values on day 21were obtained in the liver of broiler fed oxidized oils relative to those fed the non-oxidized oil (p<0.05). Broilers fed the highly-oxidized soybean oil had higher (p<0.05) MDA levels in the jejunum on day 21 compared with those fed non-oxidized soybean oil. Chickens fed moderately- and highly-oxidized soybean oil presented lower (p<0.05) T-SOD activity inileal mucosa compared with those fed non-oxidized soybean oil. Ileal mRNA expression of claudin-1 tended to be down regulated by the dietary addition of oxidized oils (p=0.056). The mRNA expression of interleukin-22 (IL-22) of broilers fed moderately-oxidized and highly-oxidized soybean oil was higher (p<0.05), and the mRNA expression of occludin and catalase was lower (p<0.05) than those fed non-oxidized soybean oil. However, the morphology of the jejunal and ileal...

The Expression of Can and Camk is Associated with Lipogenesis in the Muscle of Chicken

Intramuscular fat (IMF) content in chickens significantly contributes to meat quality. The main objective of this study was to assess the expression of calcineurin (CaN) and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) in lipogenesis in chicken muscle. Chickens were slaughtered and sampled at 4, 8, and 16 weeks of age. IMF content and the expression of CaN subunits and CaMK isoforms were measured in the thigh muscle tissue. The results showed that the IMF contents were greater at 16 weeks compared with those at 4 and 8 weeks (p 0.05). Transcription of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and fatty acid translocase CD36 (FAT/CD36) mRNA significantly increased with age, from four to 16 weeks (p 0.05). The mRNA levels of CaNB and CaMK IV were significantly lower at 16 weeks than at four weeks (p 0.05), but CaMK II mRNA levels were significantly higher than at four weeks (p 0.05). In order to evaluate the role of CaMK and CaN in adipogenesis, SV cells were incubated in standard adipogenic medium for 24 h and treated with specific inhibitor of CaMK and CaN. The expressions of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein b (C/EBPb, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1),and peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor g (PPAR)were dramatically enhanced by the CsA, CaN inhibitor (p 0.05). KN93, CaMK II inhibitor, dramatically repressed the expression of those lipogenic gene (p 0.05). These results indicated that CaN and CaMK had different effects on adipogenesis in the muscle of chickens.(AU)

The Expression of Can and Camk is Associated with Lipogenesis in the Muscle of Chicken

Intramuscular fat (IMF) content in chickens significantly contributes to meat quality. The main objective of this study was to assess the expression of calcineurin (CaN) and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) in lipogenesis in chicken muscle. Chickens were slaughtered and sampled at 4, 8, and 16 weeks of age. IMF content and the expression of CaN subunits and CaMK isoforms were measured in the thigh muscle tissue. The results showed that the IMF contents were greater at 16 weeks compared with those at 4 and 8 weeks (p 0.05). Transcription of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and fatty acid translocase CD36 (FAT/CD36) mRNA significantly increased with age, from four to 16 weeks (p 0.05). The mRNA levels of CaNB and CaMK IV were significantly lower at 16 weeks than at four weeks (p 0.05), but CaMK II mRNA levels were significantly higher than at four weeks (p 0.05). In order to evaluate the role of CaMK and CaN in adipogenesis, SV cells were incubated in standard adipogenic medium for 24 h and treated with specific inhibitor of CaMK and CaN. The expressions of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein b (C/EBPb, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1),and peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor g (PPAR)were dramatically enhanced by the CsA, CaN inhibitor (p 0.05). KN93, CaMK II inhibitor, dramatically repressed the expression of those lipogenic gene (p 0.05). These results indicated that CaN and CaMK had different effects on adipogenesis in the muscle of chickens.