Halomonas faecis sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium isolated from human faeces.

A novel moderately halophilic, Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, strictly aerobic, non-sporulating, non-motile rod, designated strain JSM 104105 T, was isolated from human faeces. Strain JSM 104105 T was able to grow with 0.5-18% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 4-9%), at pH 6-10.5 (optimum pH 7-8) and at 10-40 °C (optimum 30 °C) in complex media. The major cellular fatty acids were C18:1ω7c, C16:0, C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c, C19:0 cyclo ω8c and C12:0 3-OH. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid, an unidentified glycolipid and three unidentified phospholipids. The predominant respiratory quinone was Q-9 and the genomic DNA G + C content was 64.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain JSM 104105 T should be assigned to the genus Halomonas, and was most closely related to Halomonas gudaonensis SL014B-69 T (99.0% sequence similarity), followed by Halomonas azerbaijanica TBZ202T (98.6%) and Halomonas lysinitropha 3(2)T (97.3%). The whole genomic analysis showed that strain JSM 104105 T constituted a different taxon separated from the recognized Halomonas species. Combined data from phenotypic and genotypic studies demonstrated that strain JSM 104105 T represents a new species of the genus Halomonas, for which the name Halomonas faecis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 104105 T (= CCTCC AB 2014160 T = CGMCC 1.12945 T = KCTC 42146 T).

Sediminibacillus terrae sp. nov., a moderate halophile isolated from non-saline farm soil.

A Gram-stain-positive, moderately halophilic, strictly aerobic, endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, strain JSM 102062T, was isolated from a non-saline farm soil sample collected from Dehang Canyon in Hunan, PR China. Growth occurred with 0.5-20 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 4-7 %) at pH 5.5-11.0 (optimum pH 8.0) and at 20-50 °C (optimum 30-35 °C). Contained cell-wall peptidoglycan based on meso-diaminopimelic acid and possessed menaquinone-7 (MK-7) as the major respiratory isoprenoid quinone. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The polar lipid pattern consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, five unidentified phospholipids and an unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content was 44.1 mol%. Phylogeny based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain JSM 102062T belonged to the genus Sediminibacillus, sharing high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Sediminibacillus halophilus EN8dT (99.4 %) and Sediminibacillus albus NHBX5T (98.3 %). The whole genomic analysis showed that strain JSM 102062T constituted a different taxon separated from the recognized Sediminibacillus species. Combined data from phenotypic and genotypic studies demonstrated that strain JSM 102062T represents a noval species of the genus Sediminibacillus, for which the name Sediminibacillus terrae sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is JSM 102062T (=CCTCC AB 2014166T = CGMCC 1.12957T=DSM 28949T=KCTC 33541T).

The new steroidal glycosides from the aerial parts of Lepidogrammitis drymoglossoides.

Two new steroidal glycosides ponasteroside C (1) and ponasteroside D (2) were isolated from the aerial parts of Lepidogrammitis drymoglossoides. Their structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic techniques (IR, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR). All compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against HeLa and HCT-8 cell lines, and compounds 1 and 2 showed mild activity against all the test cell lines.

[Effects of Climatic Factors on Contents of Major Medical Components in Smilax china from Different Regions in Western Hunan].

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of climatic factors on the major medical component in Smilax china, and to supply a scientific and standard operation protocol on the introduction and cultivation. METHODS: Detect the content of major medical components, such as baicalin and astibin, in Smilax china from eight counties of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture. And establish their relationship with annual average temperature, Jan average temp, Jul average temp, valid accumulative temp (≥ 10 degress C), annual maximum temp, annual minimum temp, annual precipitation, annual sunshine amount, non-frost period and relative humidity by using the methods of partial least squares regression analysis (PLS). RESULTS: Relative humidity, annual minimum temp and annual precipitation are the dominant factors. Annual minimum temp, annual average temp and valid accumulative temp were significantly correlated to the content of major medical components, thus, relative humidity, annual precipitation and non-frost period were negatively related to them. CONCLUSION: This study provides a scientific basis for resources protection,introduction and cultivation of Smilax china.

A synergistic hydrothermal-deep eutectic solvents (DES) pretreatment for acquiring xylooligosaccharides and lignin nanoparticles from Eucommia ulmoides wood.

To achieve an effective deconstruction for preparation of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) from Eucommia ulmoides, a synergistic pretreatment was successfully developed. Herein, the hemicelluloses were preferentially dissociated in acetic acid-catalyzed hydrothermal pretreatment (HTP) for preparation of XOS, and the hydrothermally-pretreated substrate was then subjected to deep eutectic solvents (DES) delignification for fabrication of LNPs. Results showed that the optimal yield (33.88% based on xylan) of XOS is obtained under the given HTP condition (170 °C, 0.5 h). NMR characterization showed that the linkages of lignin were mainly composed of ß-O-4, ß-ß, ß-5, etc. Besides, GPC analysis showed that the molecular weight of DES lignin fractions was lower (1130-1200 g/mol) than those of corresponding parent lignin fractions (8500-9620 g/mol). Further TEM characterization indicated that the optimal LNPs fraction has a narrow size distribution and the corresponding size is ranged from 60 to 110 nm. In short, the synergistic pretreatment could be used as a green and cost-effective approach for the development of bio-based chemicals and biomaterials from Eucommia ulmoides biomass.

Bacillus xiaoxiensis sp. nov., a slightly halophilic bacterium isolated from non-saline forest soil.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, slightly halophilic, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, endospore-forming, motile, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain JSM 081004(T), was isolated from non-saline forest soil in Xiaoxi National Natural Reserve, China. Growth occurred with 0.5-20 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2-4 %), at pH 6.0-10.5 (optimum pH 8.0) and at 5-40 °C (optimum 25-30 °C). meso-Diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0 and anteiso-C15:0. Strain JSM 081004(T) contained MK-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone, and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol as the major polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain JSM 081004(T) was 40.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain JSM 081004(T) should be assigned to the genus Bacillus and was most closely related to the type strains of Bacillus lehensis (sequence similarity 97.8 %), Bacillus oshimensis (97.8 %) and Bacillus patagoniensis (97.3 %). Phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness values, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data all support the proposal of strain JSM 081004(T) as a representative of a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus xiaoxiensis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is JSM 081004(T) ( = CCTCC AA 208057(T)  = DSM 21943(T)).

Jeotgalicoccus nanhaiensis sp. nov., isolated from intertidal sediment, and emended description of the genus Jeotgalicoccus.

A novel non-sporulating, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, strictly aerobic, Gram-positive-staining coccus, strain JSM 077023(T), was isolated from an intertidal sediment sample collected from Naozhou Island in the South China Sea, China. Growth occurred in the presence of 0.5-25 % (w/v) NaCl [optimum, 2-5 % (w/v) NaCl] and at pH 5.5-10.5 (optimum, pH 7.0-8.0) and at 4-45 °C (optimum, 30-35 °C). The major amino acid constituents of the cell wall were alanine, glycine and lysine. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:0. The strain contained MK-7 and MK-6 as the predominant respiratory quinones and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified phospholipid as the polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain JSM 077023(T) was 41.3 mol%. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain JSM 077023(T) should be assigned to the genus Jeotgalicoccus and was most closely related to the type strains of Jeotgalicoccus halotolerans (sequence similarity 99.0 %) and Jeotgalicoccus aerolatus (99.0 %), followed by Jeotgalicoccus coquinae (98.6 %) and Jeotgalicoccus psychrophilus (97.4 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of less than 97 % were observed with other species of the genus Jeotgalicoccus. Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain JSM 077023(T) and the type strains of J. halotolerans, J. aerolatus, J. coquinae and J. psychrophilus ranged from 36.8 to 22.7 %. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness values, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supported the suggestion that strain JSM 077023(T) represents a novel species of the genus Jeotgalicoccus, for which the name Jeotgalicoccus nanhaiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 077023(T) ( = DSM 23006(T) = KCTC 13714(T)). An emended description of the genus Jeotgalicoccus is also presented.

Bacillus nanhaiensis sp. nov., isolated from an oyster.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, slightly halophilic, facultatively alkaliphilic, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, endospore-forming, motile, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, designated strain JSM 082006(T), was isolated from an oyster collected from Naozhou Island in the South China Sea. The isolate grew in 0-18 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5-4.0 %), at pH 6.0-10.5 (optimum, pH 8.0) and at 15-45 °C (optimum, 30 °C). meso-Diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(15 : 0) and C(16 : 0). Strain JSM 082006(T) contained MK-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine as the major polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 40.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain JSM 082006(T) should be assigned to the genus Bacillus and that it was most closely related to the type strains of Bacillus barbaricus (sequence similarity 99.1 %) and Bacillus arsenicus (97.5 %), followed by those of Bacillus rigui (96.6 %) and Bacillus solisalsi (96.1 %). Phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness values, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data support the view that strain JSM 082006(T) represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus nanhaiensis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is JSM 082006(T) ( = DSM 23009(T)  = KCTC 13712(T)).

Bacillus hemicentroti sp. nov., a moderate halophile isolated from a sea urchin.

A novel Gram-staining-positive, moderately halophilic, facultatively alkaliphilic, non-motile, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, endospore-forming, facultatively anaerobic rod, designated JSM 076093(T), was isolated from a sea urchin (Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus) collected from Naozhou Island in the South China Sea. Growth occurred with 0.5-25% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 5-8%) and at pH 6.0-10.5 (optimum pH 8.0) and 5-40 °C (optimum 30-35 °C). meso-Diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 and the polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and one unidentified phospholipid. The major cellular fatty acids (>10% of the total) were anteiso-C(15:0), anteiso-C(17:0), iso-C(16:0) and iso-C(14:0). The genomic DNA G+C content was 38.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain JSM 076093(T) belonged to the genus Bacillus and was related most closely to Bacillus hwajinpoensis SW-72(T) (99.1% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Bacillus algicola KMM 3737(T) (97.3%). The combination of results from the phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization and phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterization supported the conclusion that strain JSM 076093(T) represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus hemicentroti sp. nov. is proposed, with JSM 076093(T) (=DSM 23007(T)=KCTC 13710(T)) as the type strain.

Bacillus zhanjiangensis sp. nov., isolated from an oyster in South China Sea.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, endospore-forming, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain JSM 099021(T), was isolated from an oyster collected from Naozhou Island in the South China Sea. Growth occurred with 0-15% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2-4%) and at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum pH 7.5) and at 10-45°C (optimum 30-35°C). meso-Diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7) and the major polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0, iso-C15:0 and iso-C16:0. The genomic DNA G + C content was 39.5 mol%. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain JSM 099021(T) belongs to the genus Bacillus, and was most closely related to the type strains of Bacillus halmapalus (sequence similarity 99.0%), Bacillus horikoshii (98.4%) and Bacillus cohnii (98.0%). The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supported the proposal that strain JSM 099021(T) represents a new species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus zhanjiangensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain was JSM 099021(T) (=DSM 23010(T) = KCTC 13713(T)).

Bacillus hunanensis sp. nov., a slightly halophilic bacterium isolated from non-saline forest soil.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, slightly halophilic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, endospore-forming, motile, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain JSM 081003(T), was isolated from non-saline forest soil in Hunan Province, China. Growth occurred with 0.5-15% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2-4%) at pH 6.5-10.5 (optimum pH 7.5-8.5) and at 5-40 °C (optimum 30 °C). meso-Diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C14:0. Strain JSM 081003(T) contained MK-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone, and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol as the major polar lipids. The genomic DNA G + C content of strain JSM 081003(T) was 40.9 mol%. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain JSM 081003(T) should be assigned to the genus Bacillus, and was related most closely to the type strains of Bacillus lehensis (sequence similarity 99.6%), Bacillus oshimensis (99.4%) and Bacillus patagoniensis (96.6%); lower than 96.0% sequence similarity was observed with other Bacillus species. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness values, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supports the view that strain JSM 081003(T) represents a new species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus hunanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 081003(T) (= DSM 23008(T) = KCTC 13711(T)).

Zhihengliuella salsuginis sp. nov., a moderately halophilic actinobacterium from a subterranean brine.

A novel moderately halophilic, alkaliphilic, non-motile, non-sporulating, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, aerobic, coccus-shaped, Gram-positive bacterium, designated strain JSM 071043(T), was isolated from a subterranean brine sample collected from a salt mine in Hunan Province, China. Growth occurred with 0.5-20% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 5-10%) at pH 6.5-10.5 (optimum pH 8.5) and at 10-40 degrees C (optimum 25-30 degrees C). Good growth also occurred in the presence of 0.5-20% (w/v) KCl (optimum 5-8%) or 0.5-25% (w/v) MgCl(2).6H(2)O (optimum 5-10%). The peptidoglycan type was A4alpha (L: -Lys-L: -Ala-L: -Glu) and major cell-wall sugars were tyvelose and mannose. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C(15:0), iso-C(16:0) and anteiso-C(17:0). Strain JSM 071043(T) contained MK-9 and MK-8 as the predominant menaquinones and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol as the major polar lipids. The DNA G + C content was 67.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JSM 071043(T) was a member of the suborder Micrococcineae, and was most closely related to Zhihengliuella halotolerans YIM 70185(T) (sequence similarity 98.9%) and Zhihengliuella alba YIM 90734(T) (98.2%), and the three strains formed a distinct branch in the phylogenetic tree. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness values, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supports the proposal that strain JSM 071043(T) represents a novel species of the genus Zhihengliuella, for which the name Z. salsuginis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 071043(T) (= DSM 21149(T) = KCTC 19466(T)).

Yaniella soli sp. nov., a new actinobacterium isolated from non-saline forest soil in China.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, slightly halophilic, facultatively alkaliphilic, non-motile, non-sporulating, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, aerobic bacterium, designated strain JSM 070026(T), was isolated from non-saline forest soil in China. Growth occurred with 0-20% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2-4%) and at pH 6.0-10.5 (optimum, pH 8.0) and 5-40 degrees C (optimum, 30 degrees C). Good growth also occurred in the presence of 0-28% (w/v) KCl (optimum, 2-5%) or 0-25% (w/v) MgCl(2)*6H(2)O (optimum, 1-4%). The peptidoglycan type was A4alpha (L: -Lys-Gly-L: -Glu). Cell-wall sugars contained mannose and xylose. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:0. Strain JSM 070026(T) contained menaquinone 8 as the major respiratory quinone and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol as the major polar lipids. The DNA G + C content of strain JSM 070026(T) was 56.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JSM 070026(T) was a member of the suborder Micrococcineae and most closely related to Yaniella flava YIM 70178(T) (sequence similarity 99.4%) and Yaniella halotolerans YIM 70085(T) (97.9%). The three strains formed a distinct branch in the phylogenetic tree. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA relatedness values, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supports the proposal that strain JSM 070026(T) represents a novel species of the genus Yaniella, for which the name Yaniella soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSM 070026(T) (=DSM 22211(T) = KCTC 13527(T)).

Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Properties of Eucommia ulmoides: A Review.

Eucommia ulmoides Oliver, a single species of Eucommia genus belonging to the Eucommiaceae family, is an endemic in China and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for nearly two thousand years. Records from different historical periods highlight E. ulmoides and its officinal botanical parts, usefulness in adaptation to disease and its central role in Chinese medicine theory. There are also historical collection documents for minorities in China. Tearing the leaves, bark and fruit produces strands of latex; a description of E. ulmoides's morphological features is recorded in this paper. This review summarizes 204 natural compounds isolated from this plant, which are divided into seven categories: lignans, iridoids, flavonoids, phenols, steroids, terpenes and others. These components possess wide-ranging pharmacological efficacies, such as antihypertensive, antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemia, anti-oxidative, anti-osteoporosis, antitumor, immunomodulatory and neuroprotective activities. This review aims to provide a reference for extensive researches of E. ulmoides crude drugs, especially for quality control, biosynthesis and structure modification of active ingredients and pharmacological mechanism.

Two new guaiane-type sesquiterpenes from Curcuma kwangsiensis and their inhibitory activity of nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages.

Two new guaiane-type sesquiterpenes, kwangsiensis A and B (1-2) were isolated from the roots of Curcuma kwangsiensis. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, including NMR, circular dichroism (CD) and high-resolution mass-spectrometry. The anti-inflammatory activity of the two compounds was evaluated on the basis of their inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 27.4 and 35.1 µM, respectively.