Effects of replacing soybean meal with pumpkin seed cake and dried distillers grains with solubles on milk performance and antioxidant functions in dairy cows.

Pumpkin seed cake (PSC), a byproduct of pumpkin seed oil processing, is used in ruminant feed as a beneficial protein source. Experiments were conducted to evaluate PSC as a substitute for soybean meal in the diets of lactating cows based on performance, rumen fermentation, antioxidant function and nitrogen partitioning. Six multiparous lactating cows were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square experiment with 27-day periods. The cows were randomly divided into three treatment groups: group (1) was fed a diet containing no PSC (0PSC), and groups (2) and (3) were fed diets in which soybean meal was replaced with PSC and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) at levels of 50% (50PSC) and 100% (100PSC), respectively. The diets were isonitrogenous and contained identical roughage but different proportions of PSC and DDGS. Replacement of soybean meal with PSC and DDGS did not influence rumen degradation, milk performance, rumen fermentation, DM intake or apparent total tract digestibility, and nitrogen partitioning between milk, feces and urine did not differ in the animals fed the three diets. However, compared with a diet containing no PSC, the total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.05) and antioxidant enzymes (total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) activities (P < 0.05) were increased in the animals that received the 50PSC and 100PSC diets. In contrast, addition of PSC significantly reduced concentrations of aspartate transaminase (P < 0.05), alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.05) and malondialdehyde (P < 0.05) in the plasma. These results demonstrate that PSC can be completely substituted for soybean meal in the diet of dairy cows without any negative impact on milk performance, rumen fermentation or apparent digestibility and that this dietary change improves antioxidant functions and blood parameters in dairy cows, indicating that PSC has the potential for use as a feed source for dairy cows.

Effect of substituting wet corn gluten feed and corn stover for alfalfa hay in total mixed ration silage on lactation performance in dairy cows.

Wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) is a high moisture feed containing rapidly digestible, non-forage fiber and protein. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of substituting WCGF and corn stover for alfalfa hay in total mixed ration (TMR) silage on lactation performance and nitrogen balance in dairy cows. Nine multiparous Holstein dairy cows (BW = 532 ± 28.9 kg and day in milk = 136 ± 5.6 d; mean ± SD) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 21-d periods (14 d of diet adaption and 7 d of sample collection). Groups were balanced for parity, day in milk, and milk production and consumed one of three treatment diets during each period. The treatment diets were fed as TMR and contained similar concentrate mixtures and corn silage but different proportions of roughage and WCGF. The three treatments were: (1) 0% WCGF, 0% corn stover, and 22.1% alfalfa hay (0% WCGF); (2) 6.9% WCGF, 3.4% corn stover, and 11.8% alfalfa hay (7% WCGF); and (3) 13.3% WCGF, 4.9% corn stover, and 3.9% alfalfa hay (13.3% WCGF). Compared to the 0% WCGF diet, the cows fed the 7% and 13.3% WCGF diets had a higher milk yield and concentration of milk fat, protein, lactose, and total solids. Effective degradability of DM was higher in the cows fed the 7% and 13.3% WCGF diets than it was with the 0% WCGF diet. Cows fed the 13.3% WCGF had a higher CP effective degradability and a lower rumen undegraded protein than cows fed the 0% WCGF diet. The concentration of ruminal volatile fatty acids and ammonia-N was higher in cows fed the 7% and 13.3% WCGF diets than cows fed the 0% WCGF diet. The fecal N was lower in cows fed the 7% and 13.3% WCGF diets than it was in cows fed the 0% WCGF diet. Milk N secretion and milk N as a percent of N intake were higher in cows fed the 13.3% WCGF diet than cows fed the 0% and 7% WCGF diets. In conclusion, it appears that feeding a TMR silage containing WCGF and corn stover in combination, replacing a portion of alfalfa hay, may improve lactation performance and nitrogen utilization for lactating dairy cows.

First Report of Clubroot on Capsella bursa-pastoris Caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae in Sichuan Province of China.

Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medicus) is an edible and wild medicinal plant widely distributed in China. This plant has been cultivated in Shanghai, China, since the end of the 19th century. Infection of C. bursa-pastoris by Plasmodiophora brassicae, the causal agent of clubroot disease on Brassica spp. has been reported in Korea (2), but is not known to occur in China. In February of 2011, stunted and wilted shepherd's purse (SP) plants were observed in a field planted to oilseed rapes (B. napus) in Sichuan Province of China. Symptomatic SP plants also exhibited root galls. Disease incidence was 6.2% and 100% for SP and B. napus, respectively. Root galls on diseased SP plants were collected for pathogen identification. Many resting spores were observed when the root galls were examined under a light microscope. The resting spores were circular in shape, measuring 2.0 to 3.1 µm in diameter (average 2.6 µm). PCR amplification was conducted to confirm the pathogen. DNA was extracted from root galls and healthy roots (control) of SP. Two primers, TC2F (5'-AAACAACGAGTCAGCTTGAATGCTAGTGTG-3') and TC2R (5'-CTTTAGTTGTGTTTCGGCTAGGATGGTTCG-3') were used to detect P. brassicae (1). No PCR amplifications were observed with the control DNA as template. A fragment of the expected size (approximately 520 bp) was obtained when DNA was amplified from diseased roots of SP. These results suggest that the pathogen in the galled roots of SP is P. brassicae. Pathogenicity of P. brassicae in SP was tested on plants of both SP and Chinese cabbage (CC) (B. campestris ssp. pekinensis). A resting spore suspension prepared from naturally infected SP roots was mixed with a sterilized soil in two plastic pots, resulting in a final concentration of 5 × 106 spores/g soil. Soil treated with the same volume of sterile water was used as a control. Seeds of SP and CC were pre-germinated on moist filter paper for 2 days (20°C) and seeded into the infested and control pots, one seed per pot for planted for CC and four seeds per pot for SP. The pots were placed in a chamber at 15 to 25°C under 12 h light and 12 h dark. Plants in each pot were uprooted after 4 weeks and the roots of each plant were washed under tap water and rated for clubroot disease. No disease symptoms were observed in the control treatments of SP or CC. Plants of both species showed symptoms of clubroot, with the disease incidence of 62.5% and 100% on SP and CC, respectively. The pathogen was isolated from diseased roots of each plant and confirmed as P. brassicae based on morphological characteristics and PCR detection. To our knowledge, this is the first report of clubroot disease on C. bursa-pastoris in Sichuan Province of China. This finding suggests that it may be necessary to manage C. bursa-pastoris in cruciferous vegetable (cabbage, turnip) and oilseed rape production fields. References: (1) T. Cao et al. Plant Dis. 91:80, 2007. (2) W. G. Kim et al. Microbiology 39:233, 2011.

Five novel mono-tetrahydrofuran ring acetogenins from the seeds of Annona muricata.

Bioactivity-directed fractionation of the seeds of Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae) resulted in the isolation of five new compounds: cis-annonacin (1), cis-annonacin-10-one (2), cis-goniothalamicin (3), arianacin (4), and javoricin (5). Three of these (1-3) are among the first cis mono-tetrahydrofuran ring acetogenins to be reported. NMR analyses of published model synthetic compounds, prepared cyclized formal acetals, and prepared Mosher ester derivatives permitted the determinations of absolute stereochemistries. Bioassays of the pure compounds, in the brine shrimp test, for the inhibition of crown gall tumors, and in a panel of human solid tumor cell lines for cytotoxicity, evaluated relative potencies. Compound 1 was selectively cytotoxic to colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29) in which it was 10,000 times the potency of adriamycin.

Kneglomeratanol, kneglomeratanones A and B, and related bioactive compounds from Knema glomerata.

One new phenylalkyl phenol, kneglomeratanol [1], and two new acetophenones, kneglomeratanones A [2] and B [3], together with ten known compounds, 3-(12'-phenyldodecyl)-phenol [4], 3-(10'-phenyldecyl)-phenol [5], 5-pentadecylresorcinol [6], 5-(10'-phenyldecyl)-resorcinol [7], 5-(12'-phenyldodecyl)-resorcinol [8], 2,4-dihydroxy-6-(10'-phenyldecyl)-acetophenone [9], 2-hydroxy-6-(12'-phenyldodecyl)-benzoic acid [10], formononetin, biochanin A, and 8-O-methylretusin, have been isolated from the stem bark of Knema glomerata. Brine shrimp lethality was used for the activity-directed chromatographic fractionations. All of these compounds showed moderate but significant toxicities to three human tumor cell lines and inhibited the growth of crown gall tumors on discs of potato tubers.

10-, 12-, and 29-hydroxybullatacinones: new cytotoxic Annonaceous acetogenins from Annona bullata Rich (Annonaceae).

In our continuing activity-directed search for new antitumor compounds, using brine shrimp lethality (BST), mixtures of three additional pairs (1-6) of bis-THF ketolactone acetogenins were isolated from the ethanol extract of the bark of Annona bullata Rich. (Annonaceae). Compared with (2,4-cis and trans)-bullatacinone (7 and 8), these new compounds each have one more aliphatic OH group at a different position on the hydrocarbon chain, and, thus, were named (2,4-cis and trans)-10-hydroxybullatacinone (1 and 2), (2,4-cis and trans)-12-hydroxybullatacinone (3 and 4), and (2,4-cis and trans)-29-hydroxybullatacinone (5 and 6). These mixtures all showed potent activities in the brine shrimp lethality test (BST) and exhibited cytotoxicities comparable to those of adriamycin against human solid tumor cells in culture with selectivities exhibited especially toward the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7).

Structural revisions of some non-adjacent bis-tetrahydrofuran annonaceous acetogenins.

The relative stereochemistries of bullatalicin [1] and bullatalicinone [2] were partially reassigned based on COSY and relayed COSY spectra. The structures of annonins VIII [3], IV [4], and XVI [5] were revised and concluded as bullatalicin [1], bullatanocin [6], and squamostatin A [7], respectively.

30-, 31-, and 32-hydroxybullatacinones: bioactive terminally hydroxylated annonaceous acetogenins from Annona bullata.

From Annona bullata, three more pairs of new ketolactone Annonaceous acetogenins were isolated by bioactivity-directed isolation. They are hydroxylated adjacent bistetrahydrofuran (THF) acetogenins and are named (2,4-cis and trans)-32-hydroxybullatacinone (1 and 2), (2,4-cis and trans)-31-hydroxybullatacinone (3 and 4), and (2,4-cis and trans)-30-hydroxybullatacinone (5 and 6). The structures were elucidated by analysis of the 1H- and 13C-nmr spectra of 1-6 and their acetates and the ms of their tri-trimethylsilyl (TMSi) derivatives as compared with bullatacinone [7]. This is the first time that Annonaceous acetogenins with OH groups at successive positions near the end of the aliphatic chain have been reported. All of the new compounds showed potent activities in the brine shrimp lethality test and against human solid tumor cells in culture, with selectivities exhibited especially toward the colon cancer cell line (HT-29).

Gigantetronenin and gigantrionenin: novel cytotoxic acetogenins from Goniothalamus giganteus.

Gigantetronenin [1] and gigantrionenin [6], two new monotetrahydrofuran Annonaceous acetogenins each possessing a double bond along the hydrocarbon chain, have been isolated from the bark of Goniothalamus giganteus by the use of brine shrimp lethality for bioactivity-directed fractionation. The structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compounds 1 and 6 both show selective and potent cytotoxicities to human tumor cells in culture as well as toxicity to brine shrimp. A known cytotoxic acetogenin, annomontacin [11], was also isolated from this plant. The biogenetic pathway of the acetogenins from G. giganteus is discussed.

Bioactive constituents from the twigs of Asimina parviflora.

The EtOH extract of Asimina parviflora (Annonaceae), when subjected to activity-directed fractionation using lethality to brine shrimp, led to the isolation and identification of five bioactive compounds: asimicilone [1], which is a new 2-quinolone alkaloid, 6-cis-docosenamide [2], which is a new amide of a long hydrocarbon chain fatty acid, and three known compounds, asimicin, (+)-syringaresinol, and beta-sitosterol-beta-D- glucopyranoside. The structure determination of the new alkaloid was performed by extensive nmr analyses, including HMQC and HMBC. Selective cytotoxic activities of these compounds in three human solid tumor cell lines are also reported.

(-)-Grandisin form Cryptocarya crassinervia.

The known lignan (-)-grandisin [1] has been isolated from Cryptocarya crassinervia by using the brine shrimp lethality test to direct the isolation; its structure and relative stereochemistry have been determined by ir, 1H nmr, ms, and X-ray crystallography as an all-trans alpha, alpha'-diaryl-beta, beta'-dimethyltetrahydrofuran. Compound 1 is not significantly cytotoxic in our panel of human tumor cells.

Two new styryl lactones, 9-deoxygoniopypyrone and 7-epi-goniofufurone, from Goniothalamus giganteus.

Two new styryl lactones, 9-deoxygoniopypyrone [1] and 7-epi-goniofufurone [3], and a known styryl lactone, goniodiol [5], were isolated from the stem bark of Goniothalamus giganteus. The structures were elucidated by ir, ms, 1H-nmr, 13C-nmr, and 1H-1H COSY spectra; the relative configurations were determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Unlike goniopypyrone [2] and goniofufurone [4], neither of the new styryl lactones 1 and 3 showed significant bioactivities to human tumor cells. However, goniodiol [5] showed significant and selective cytotoxicity against human lung tumor cells (A-549).

[New taxa of coptis from China].

The rhizomes of Coptis, known as Huang-Lian, are commonly used as traditional Chinese drugs. Two new species, viz., Coptis linearisepala, C. gulinensis and a new variety, viz., C. chinensis var. unguiculata are reported and the descriptions of the new species and new variety are presented in the present paper.

[Quantitative determination of 5 alkaloids in plants of Coptis from China].

Quantitative determination of berberine, coptisine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine and epiberberine in Coptis chinensis, C. deltoidea, C. teetoides, C. omeiensis, C. chinensis var. brevisepala, C. linearisepala, C. gulinensis, C. chinensis var. unguiculata, C. teeta and 5 different samples of C. chinensis was made by thin layer chromatography-densitometry.