Carbazole alkaloids isolated from the branch and leaf extracts of Clausena lansium.

The present study carried out a phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract of the branches and leaves of Clausena lansium and afforded nine carbazole alkaloids (compounds 1-9) including two new carbazole alkaloids, claulansiums A and B (compounds 1 and 2). The new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data (MS, NMR, IR, and UV) and the known compounds were identified by comparing spectroscopic data with those reported in literature. All the isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activity against A549 and Hela cancer cell lines. Our results showed that compounds 2-6 exhibited varying degrees of cytotoxicity to cancer cells, with IC50 values ranging from 8.67 to 98.89 µmol·L-1.

Effects of esterified lactoferrin and lactoferrin on control of postharvest blue mold of apple fruit and their possible mechanisms of action.

The effects of esterified lactoferrin (ELF) and lactoferrin (LF) on blue mold caused by Penicillium expansum in apple fruit stored at 25 °C were investigated. Both ELF and LF provided an effective control and strongly inhibited spore germination and germ tube elongation of P. expansum in vitro. Assessment by propidium iodide staining combined with fluorescent microscopy revealed that the plasma membrane of P. expansum spores was damaged more seriously by ELF than by LF treatment, and the leakage of protein and sugar was higher from ELF-treated mycelia. Interestingly, ELF treatment induced a significant increase in the activities of chitinase, ß-1,3-glucanase, and peroxidase in apple fruit, whereas both LF treatment and the control showed no obvious difference. These findings indicated that the effects of ELF on blue mold in apple fruit might be associated with the direct fungitoxic property against the pathogens and the elicitation of defense-related enzymes in fruit.