Paralcaligenes ginsengisoli sp. nov., isolated from ginseng cultivated soil.

A novel bacterial strain DCY104(T) isolated from soil of a ginseng field in Yeoncheon County, Republic of Korea is described in this study. Cells were short rod-shaped, motile by mean of one polar flagellum, strictly aerobic, Gramreaction negative, oxidase and catalase-positive. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain DCY104(T) shared highest similarity 98.2 % to Paralcaligenes ureilyticus GR24-5(T), and from 97.7 to 97.1 % with other type strains belong to the genera Candidimonas, Pusillimonas and Parapusillimonas Otherwise, phylogenetic trees analyses indicated that strain DCY104(T) belongs to a single group with P. ureilyticus GR24-5(T) that was distinct to other genera. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and diphosphatidylglycerol. The major cellular fatty acids consisted of C16:0, cyclo-C17:0, and summed feature 8 (comprising C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c). The predominant polyamine was putrescine. The ubiquinone was Q-8. The genomic DNA G+C content was 55.9 mol%. These data in combination with the presence of one polar flagellum and positive activity of urease confirmed the placement of strain DCY104(T) in the genus Paralcaligenes. DNA-DNA relatedness between strain DCY104(T) and P. ureilyticus KACC 13888(T) was 40 %. The differences in the profiles of polar lipids, fatty acids and phenotypic characteristics in combination with DNA-DNA relatedness delineated strain DCY104(T) and P. ureilyticus KACC 13888(T). In summary, taxonomic analyses in this study demonstrated that strain DCY104(T) represents a novel species within the genus Paralcaligenes, for which we propose the name Paralcaligenes ginsengisoli. The type strain is DCY104(T) (= KCTC 42406(T) = JCM 30746(T)).

Ginsenosides Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 ameliorate dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes.

High doses or prolonged use of the exogenous synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) can lead to muscle atrophy. In this study, the anti-atrophic effects of ginsenosides Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 on Dex-induced C2C12 myotube atrophy were assessed by XTT, myotube diameter, fusion index, and western blot analysis. The XTT assay results showed that treatment with Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 enhanced cell viability in Dex-injured C2C12 myotubes. Compared with the control group, the myotube diameter and fusion index were both reduced in Dex-treated cells, but treatment with Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 increased these parameters. Furthermore, Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 significantly downregulated the protein expression of FoxO3a, MuRF1, and Fbx32, while also upregulating mitochondrial biogenesis through the SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway. It also prevents myotube atrophy by regulating the IGF-1/Akt/ mTOR signaling pathway. These findings indicate that Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 have great potential as useful agents for the prevention and treatment of muscle atrophy.

Biological synthesis of gold and silver chloride nanoparticles by Glycyrrhiza uralensis and in vitro applications.

The current study highlights the rapid biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (Gu-AuNps) and silver chloride nanoparticles (Gu-AgClNps) by aqueous root extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, a medicinal plant. G. uralensis has been reported for anticancer and hepatoprotective effects. The reduction of chloroauric acid and silver nitrate by the Glycyrrhiza root extract prompted the formation of Gu-AuNps and Gu-AgClNps within 4 and 40 min at 80 °C, respectively. The complete reaction did not require supplemental reducing and stabilizing agents, which demonstrated green synthesis. Field emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM) revealed the spherical shape of Gu-AuNps and Gu-AgClNps. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed face-centred cubic structure of Gu-AuNps and Gu-AgClNps with average crystallite size 12.25 nm and 8.01 nm, respectively. The biosynthesized Gu-AgClNps served as competent antimicrobial agent against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica. Additionally, Gu-AuNps and Gu-AgClNps were analyzed for their catalytic ability to reduce methylene blue as model test pollutant. Likewise, both nanoparticles possessed free radical scavenging activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrzyl (DPPH). Moreover, in vitro cytotoxicity in murine macrophage (RAW264.7) and human breast cancer (MCF7) cells were evaluated. Thus, the study proposes a green synthesis of Gu-AuNps and Gu-AgClNps by G. uralensis extract and in vitro biological applications. [Formula: see text].