Antithrombotic Effect of Fermented Ophiopogon japonicus in Thrombosis-Induced Rat Models.

In this study, the antithrombotic and thrombolytic ability of second fermented extract of Ophiopogon japonicus (FEOJ) was verified in thrombosis-induced rats. Thrombosis was induced by oral administration of 2% carrageenan for 4 weeks. Five experimental groups (n = 9/group) involved in the study were control group, thrombosis group, low-dose FEOJ group (2 mL/kg, low-dose Ophiopogon japonicus [LOJ]), middle-dose FEOJ group (6 mL/kg, medium-dose Ophiopogon japonicus [MOJ]), and high-dose FEOJ group (12 mL/kg, high-dose Ophiopogon japonicus [HOJ]). The clotting time (CT), bleeding time (BT), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and fibrinogen (FBG) were assessed in blood samples, and histological studies were performed on liver and lung tissues. The results demonstrated delayed CT only in MOJ and HOJ groups and delayed BT in all FEOJ groups compared with those in thrombosis and control groups (P < .05). Similarly, APTT was significantly delayed only in MOJ and HOJ groups, and PT was significantly delayed in all FEOJ groups, compared with those in control and thrombosis groups (P < .05). Although concentrations of FBG were similar in control, thrombosis, and LOJ groups, the tendency for decreased concentration of FBG (statistically nonsignificant) in MOJ and HOJ groups has been observed. Histological examination of livers and lungs revealed that thrombosis was partially improved in FEOJ group compared with the thrombosis group. In conclusion, CT, BT, PT, and APTT were prolonged in FEOJ group more than in control and thrombosis groups, thereby, depicting antithrombotic and thrombolytic effects. However, concentration-dependent effects of FEOJ were more prominent in MOJ and HOJ groups than in the LOJ group.

Three novel species of the genus Kibdelosporangium; Kibdelosporangium kanagawaense sp. nov., Kibdelosporangiumrhizosphaerae sp. nov. and Kibdelosporangium rhizovicinum sp. nov.

The taxonomic positions of three actinomycete isolates, K08-0175T, K10-0543T and K12-0791T, which were isolated from plant root and rhizospheric soil samples were subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. On the basis of the results of phylogenetic analysis and morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, these three strains were classified as representing members of the genus Kibdelosporangium. These strains were observed to produce both long chains of rod-shaped spores and sporangium-like structures with well-defined walls on aerial hyphae. Phylogenetic position, DNA-DNA hybridization and comparison of the phylogenetically closest relatives revealed that these three strains were clearly distinguishable from each other and from their closest phylogenetic relatives. Therefore, three novel species are proposed as Kibdelosporangium kanagawaense sp. nov. [type strain K08-0175T (=NBRC 112388T=TBRC 6786T)], Kibdelosporangiumrhizosphaerae sp. nov. [type strain K10-0543T (=NBRC 112389T=TBRC 6787T)] and Kibdelosporangium rhizovicinum sp. nov. [type strain K12-0791T (=NBRC 112390T=TBRC 6788T)].

Pseudoclavibacter terrae sp. nov. isolated from rhizosphere soil of Ophiopogon japonicus.

Strain THG-MD12T, a Gram-reaction-positive, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from rhizosphere soil of Ophiopogon japonicus in PR China. THG-MD12T was closely related to members of the genus Pseudoclavibacter and showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Pseudoclavibacter helvolus KCTC 19531T (98.8 %) and Pseudoclavibacter chungangensis KCTC 22691T (96.9 %). DNA-DNA hybridization showed 41.9 ± 2.1 % and 12.4 ± 0.9 % DNA reassociation with P. helvolus KCTC 19531T and P. chungangensis KCTC 22691T, respectively. Chemotaxonomic analyses revealed that strain THG-MD12T possesses menaquinone-9 as the predominant respiratory quinone, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid as the diamino acid in the peptidoglycan and anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The polar lipid profile was found to consist of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two unknown glycolipids and two unknown lipids. These data corroborated the affiliation of THG-MD12T to the genus Pseudoclavibacter. Thus, the isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Pseudoclavibacter terrae sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-MD12T as the type strain ( = CCTCC AB 2015124T = KCTC 39562T).

Antimicrobial activities of endophytic fungi isolated from Ophiopogon japonicus (Liliaceae).

BACKGROUND: Drug resistance in bacteria has become a global concern and the search for new antibacterial agents is urgent and ongoing. Endophytes provide an abundant reservoir of bioactive metabolites for medicinal exploitation, and an increasing number of novel compounds are being isolated from endophytic fungi. Ophiopogon japonicus, containing compounds with antibacterial activity, is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant used for eliminating phlegm, relieving coughs, latent heat in the lungs, and alleviating diabetes mellitus. We investigated the antimicrobial activities of 30 strains of O. japonicus. METHODS: Fungal endophytes were isolated from roots and stems of O. japonicus collected from Chongqing City, southwestern China. Mycelial extracts (MC) and fermentation broth (FB) were tested for antimicrobial activity using peptide deformylase (PDF) inhibition fluorescence assays and MTT cell proliferation assays. RESULTS: A total of 30 endophytic strains were isolated from O. japonicus; 22 from roots and eight from stems. 53.33% of the mycelial extracts (MC) and 33.33% of the fermentation broths (FB) displayed potent inhibition of PDF. 80% of MC and 33.33% of FB significantly inhibited Staphylococcus aureus. 70% of MC and 36.67% of FB showed strong activities against Cryptococcus neoformans. None showed influence on Escherichia coli. CONCLUSION: The secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi from O. japonicus are potential antimicrobial agents.

[Study on endophyte and the growth stages of Ophiopogon japonicus].

OBJECTIVE: To study on the relationship between the endophyte and the life cycle of Ophiopogon japonicus in Zhejiang. METHODS: Sample roots of Ophiopogon japonicus at different growth stages were thoroughly washed and cut into small fragments, then cleared (removing cytoplasmic contents from cells) using hot 10% KOH and stained with acid fuchsin (alternative stain). The hyphae, the arbuscular and the vesicular of endophyte were examined. RESULTS: The hyphae appeared and grew in the seedling stage, the hyphae grew into arbuscular in the root tuber generating stage and vesicular in the stage of root tuber expanding period. CONCLUSION: The endophytes in Ophiopogon japonicus appeared in forms of hyphae, arbuscular and vesicular at different growth stages to meet the needs of Ophiopogon japonicus developing.