Seed Weight and Genotype Influence the Total Oil Content and Fatty Acid Composition of Peanut Seeds.

Peanut, an important oilseed crop cultivated worldwide as a dietary food, is a good food source with health benefits. To explore the potential benefits of peanuts as a food resource, 301 peanut accessions were evaluated to determine the effect of seed weight and genotype on total oil content and fatty acid composition. Total oil was extracted using the Soxhlet method and fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Wide variations in the 100-seed weight, total oil content, and fatty acid profile were observed among genotypes and accession types. An effect of seed weight on the fatty acid composition of peanut seeds was observed. Increases in the oleic acid content and decreases in the linoleic acid content occurred in association with increases in the 100-seed weight. Moreover, the 100-seed weight, total oil content, and individual and total fatty acid contents, except arachidic acid, differed significantly (p < 0.001 or 0.05) among the accession types of landrace, cultivar, breeding line, and unknown. The discovery of this high diversity could contribute to further studies of peanut domestication and evolutionary classification. Our findings are important for the selection of peanut seeds with health benefits and development of new varieties of peanut with health benefits.

Renoprotective chemical constituents from an edible mushroom, Pleurotus cornucopiae in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Pleurotus cornucopiae (Pleurotaceae) is an edible and medicinal mushroom widely distributed in Korea, China, and Japan. The MeOH extract of the fruiting bodies of P. cornucopiae showed renoprotective effects against cisplatin-induced kidney cell damage. Chemical investigation of the MeOH extract led to the isolation and identification of 12 compounds including noransine (1), uridine (2), uracil (3), (3ß, 5α, 6ß, 22E, 24S) -ergosta-7, 22-diene-3, 5, 6, 9-tetrol (4), (22E,24S)-ergosta-7,22-diene-3ß,5α,6ß-triol (5), (22E,24R)-ergosta-8(14),22-diene-3ß,5α,6ß,7α-tetrol (6), cerebroside B (7), (2R) -N- [(1S, 2R, 3E, 7E) -1- [(ß-d-glucopyranosyloxy) methyl] -2-hydroxy-8-methyl-3, 7-heptadecadien-1-yl] -2-hydroxy-heptadecanamide (8), cerebroside D (9), nicotinamide (10), 1,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-4,5-dimethoxybenzene (11), and benzoic acid (12). Among them, compounds 1 and 11 were isolated as naturally occurring products for the first time, though they were reported as synthetic products in previous papers. All of the compounds (except 8 and 11) abrogated cisplatin-induced LLC-PK1 cell damage in a dose-dependent manner. Of special note, compounds 2, 5, 6, and 12 ameliorated cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity to 80% of the control value at 10µM. The protective effects of compounds 2, 5, 6, and 12 were mediated via the deactivation of JNK-caspase 3 apoptotic cascade. This study is the first to demonstrate that the chemical constituents of P. cornucopiae display renoprotective effects against anticancer drug-induced damage in kidney cells.

A new cerebroside from the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus and its applicability to cancer treatment.

A new cerebroside, cerebroside E (1) was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus (Hericiaceae). The structure of 1 was elucidated by a combination of extensive spectroscopic analyses, including extensive 2D NMR, HR-MS, and chemical reactions. Compound 1 was evaluated for its applicability to medicinal use in several human diseases using cell-based assays. As a result, compound 1 attenuated cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in LLC-PK1 cells and exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on angiogenesis in HUVECs. These results collectively reflect the beneficial effects of compound 1 in cancer treatment.

A direct protein kinase B-targeted anti-inflammatory activity of cordycepin from artificially cultured fruit body of Cordyceps militaris.

BACKGROUND: Cordyceps militaris is one of well-known medicinal mushrooms with anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity activities. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the following study is to isolate chemical components from the ethanol extract (Cm-EE) from Cordyceps militaris and to evaluate their anti-inflammatory activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Column chromatographic separation was performed and anti-inflammatory roles of these compounds were also examined by using NO production and protein kinase B (AKT) activity assays. RESULTS: From Cm-EE, 13 constituents, including trehalose (1), cordycepin (2), 6-hydroxyethyladenosine (3), nicotinic amide (4), butyric acid (5), ß-dimorphecolic acid (6), α-dimorphecolic acid (7), palmitic acid (8), linoleic acid (9), cordycepeptide A (10), 4-(2-hydroxy-3-((9E,12E)-octadeca-9,12-dienoyloxy)propoxy)-2-(trimethylammonio)butanoate (11), 4-(2-hydroxy-3-(palmitoyloxy)propoxy)-2-(trimethylammonio)butanoate (12), and linoleic acid methyl ester (13) were isolated. Of these components, compound 2 displayed a significant inhibitory effect on NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, this compound strongly and directly suppressed the kinase activity of AKT, an essential signalling enzyme in LPS-induced NO production, by interacting with its ATP binding site. CONCLUSION: C. militaris could have anti-inflammatory activity mediated by cordycepin-induced suppression of AKT.

Anti-inflammatory activity of a new cyclic peptide, citrusin XI, isolated from the fruits of Citrus unshiu.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Citrus unshiu (Rutaceae) is an easy-peeling citrus fruit, which has been used as a traditional Korean medicine for improving skin elasticity, relieving fatigue and cough, and preventing bronchitis, flu, and various cancers. However, its active components associated with anti-inflammation and underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the active constituents from the fruits of Citrus unshiu and evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity in order to support the traditional usage of Citrus unshiu. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Repeated column chromatography, together with a semi-preparative HPLC purification was used to separate the bioactive constituent from the EtOAc soluble fraction of the EtOH extract of Citrus unshiu fruits. Anti-inflammatory effects of the isolated compounds on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of pro-inflammatory mediators were examined using RAW264.7 macrophage cells. RESULTS: A new cyclic peptide, citrusin XI (1), was isolated and identified from the fruits of Citrus unshiu. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) ((1)H, (13)C, COSY, HMQC and HMBC experiments), and high resolution (HR)-mass spectrometry, and its absolute configurations were further confirmed by the Marfey׳s method. Compound 1 decreased NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 70µM. Compound 1 suppressed NO production by decreasing iNOS expression but COX-2 expression was slightly associated with the reduction by compound 1 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, compound 1 inhibited NF-κB activation by blocking IκBα degradation and NF-κB phosphorylation in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that a new cyclic peptide, citrusin XI, from Citrus unshiu fruits has anti-inflammatory properties that inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory mediators. Compound 1 decreases NO production by decreasing iNOS expression and NF-κB activation associated with IκBα degradation and NF-κB phosphorylation in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. This is the first study to clarify the underlying mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect exerted by a pure isolated compound from Citrus unshiu in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. The phytochemical, citrusin XI of Citrus unshiu may serve as lead compound in the design of new agents for preventing and treating inflammatory diseases.

2-Hydroxy-3,4-naphthochalcone (2H-NC) inhibits TNFα-induced tumor invasion through the downregulation of NF-κB-mediated MMP-9 gene expression.

The control of tumor metastasis is important for the successful prevention and treatment of cancer. Emerging evidence indicates that various natural and synthetic chalcones exhibit antimetastatic activity through the inhibition of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), although the precise mechanism by which this occurs is currently unclear. In this study, 2-hydroxy-3,4-naphthochalcone (2H-NC) was found to reduce tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)-induced MMP-9 mRNA expression and gelatinolytic enzyme activity. These actions were associated with inhibition of RelA/p65 NF-κB activity. In addition, 2H-NC inhibited TNFα-induced invasion of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, as assessed using a three-dimensional spheroid invasion assay. Taken together, these data demonstrate that 2H-NC prevents TNFα-induced tumor cell invasion through downregulation of NF-κB-mediated MMP-9 gene expression, and thereby identify naphthochalcones as a potentially effective class of molecules to use as a platform for the development of antimetastatic agents.

Anti-inflammatory cycloartane-type saponins of Astragalus membranaceus.

A new cycloartane-type triterpene glycoside, agroastragaloside V (1) was isolated from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus. The structure was identified as 3-O-ß-(2'-O-acetyl)-D-xylopyranosyl-6-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(24S)-3ß,6α,24α,25-tetrahydroxy- 9,19-cyclolanostane, by means of spectroscopic methods, including HR-FAB/MS, 1D NMR (1H, 13C, DEPT), 2D NMR (gCOSY, gHSQC, gHMBC, NOESY), and IR spectroscopy. Four known cycloartane glycosides, namely, agroastragaloside I (2), agroastragaloside II (3), isoastragaloside II (4) and astragaloside IV (5) were also isolated. All isolated compounds were tested for the ability to inhibit LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 macrophages.

Brazilin inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in human glioblastoma cells.

Brazilin, isolated from the methanol extract of the heart wood of Caesalpinia sappan, sensitizes cancer cells to apoptosis. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), which accounts for most cases of central nervous system malignancy, has a very poor prognosis and lacks effective therapeutic interventions. We, therefore, investigated the effects of different concentrations of and different periods of exposure to brazilin on cell proliferation and apoptosis in the glioma U87 cell line. Cell proliferation was investigated by MTT assays and growth curve analysis, apoptosis was assessed by FACS analysis and western blot studies. Brazilin showed dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in glioma cells. It also increased the ratio of cleaved poly-(ADP)-ribose polymerase and decreased the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-7.

Anti-inflammatory lignans from the fruits of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus.

A new lignan, named acanthosessilin A (1), as well as eight known lignan and lignan glycosides 2-9 were isolated from an ethanolic extract of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus fruits. The chemical structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including HR-EIMS, 1D NMR (1H, 13C, DEPT), 2D NMR (gCOSY, gHSQC, gHMBC, NOESY), and IR spectroscopy. All isolated compounds were tested for the ability to inhibit LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 macrophages.

Lactarane sesquiterpenoids from Lactarius subvellereus and their cytotoxicity.

Subvellerolactones B (1), D (2), and E (3), structurally unusual lactarane sesquiterpenoids, were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Lactarius subvellereus together with four known lactarane sesquiterpenes (4-7). The chemical structures and stereochemistries of compounds 1-3 were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments and a convenient Mosher ester procedure. Subvellerolactone B (1) exhibited cytotoxicity against the A549, SK-MEL-2, and HCT-15 cell lines with IC50 values of 26.5, 18.3, and 14.2 microM, respectively, and subvellerolactones D (2) and E (3) showed cytotoxicity against the A549 and HCT-15 cell lines (IC50 (2): 25.1 and 17.8 microM, and IC50 (3): 19.6 and 28.7 microM, respectively).

Roseomonas aerilata sp. nov., isolated from an air sample.

A polyphasic study was carried out to clarify the taxonomic position of a pink-coloured, Gram-negative bacterium isolated from air in the Suwon region of Korea. The novel strain, 5420S-30(T), grew in the temperature range of 5-35 degrees C (optimum 30 degrees C) and pH range of 5-9 (optimum pH 6-7). Growth did not occur in the presence of as little as 1 % (w/v) NaCl. It contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone. The major fatty acids were C(18 : 1)omega7c, summed feature 3 (C(16 : 1)omega7c/iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH) and C(16 : 0) (together representing 77.7 % of the total). The DNA G+C content was 72.1 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain 5420S-30(T) and members of the genus Roseomonas were in the range 91.6-95.1 %, with the highest sequence similarities (95.1 and 94.5 %, respectively) to Roseomonas aquatica TR53(T) and Roseomonas gilardii ATCC 49956(T). On the basis of its phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain 5420S-30(T) represents a novel species of the genus Roseomonas, for which the name Roseomonas aerilata sp. nov. is proposed, with 5420S-30(T) (=KACC 12521(T) =DSM 19363(T)) as the type strain.

Rudanella lutea gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from an air sample in Korea.

An orange-coloured bacterial strain, designated 5715S-11(T), was isolated from an air sample in Suwon, Republic of Korea. The strain was strictly aerobic, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, non-flagellated and rod-shaped, frequently forming filaments. Growth of the strain was observed at 4-40 degrees C (optimum, 30 degrees C), pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and 0-2 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetically, strain 5715S-11(T) was shown to be a member of the family Spirosomaceae within the phylum Bacteroidetes. Its closest relatives were Spirosoma linguale LMG 10896(T) (87.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Larkinella insperata LMG 22510(T) (86.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C(16 : 1)omega7c and/or iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH), C(16 : 1)omega5c and iso-C(15 : 0). Major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and unknown aminolipids and polar lipids. On the basis of the evidence from this polyphasic study, strain 5715S-11(T) is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Rudanella lutea gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Rudanella lutea is 5715S-11(T) (=KACC 12603(T) =DSM 19387(T)).

Ureibacillus composti sp. nov. and Ureibacillus thermophilus sp. nov., isolated from livestock-manure composts.

Two Gram-negative, rod-shaped, thermophilic bacterial strains, HC145(T) and HC148(T), were isolated from a compost sample from a compost facility in Ichon, Korea. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes of HC145(T) and HC148(T) and comparative analyses of the resulting sequences clearly showed that these strains had a phylogenetic affiliation to the genus Ureibacillus. The level of 16S rRNA similarity between the two novel strains was 98.4 % and the levels of sequence similarity between them and existing Ureibacillus species were 97.8-98.1 (HC145(T)) and 97.4-98.7 % (HC148(T)). The DNA-DNA reassociation values between the two strains and the type strains of Ureibacillus species ranged from 38 to 51 %. The polar lipid profiles for both isolates consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phospholipids and glycolipids of unknown composition. The major quinones were MK-8, MK-9 and MK-7, the peptidoglycan type was l-Lys<--d-Asp and the main cellular fatty acid was iso-C(16 : 0). The DNA G+C contents of strains HC145(T) and HC148(T) were 42.4 and 38.5 mol%, respectively. On the basis of the data from this polyphasic study, strains HC145(T) and HC148(T) represent members of the genus Ureibacillus, for which the names Ureibacillus composti sp. nov. and Ureibacillus thermophilus sp. nov., respectively, are proposed. The type strain of U. composti is HC145(T) (=KACC 11361(T) =DSM 17951(T)) and the type strain of U. thermophilus is HC148(T) (=KACC 11362(T) =DSM 17952(T)).

Extraadrenal paragangliomas of the body: imaging features.

OBJECTIVE: This article illustrates the anatomic distribution of the healthy paraganglion system and the imaging and pathologic features of various extraadrenal paragangliomas occurring in the head and neck, chest, and abdomen. CONCLUSION: Although paragangliomas can occur in a variety of anatomic locations, the majority are seen in relatively predictable regions of the body. Extraadrenal paragangliomas have nearly identical imaging features, including a homogeneous or heterogeneous hyperenhancing soft-tissue mass at CT, multiple areas of signal void interspersed with hyperintense foci (salt-and-pepper appearance) within tumor mass at MRI, and an intense tumor blush with enlarged feeding arteries at angiography.

Mycotic pulmonary artery aneurysm as an unusual complication of thoracic actinomycosis.

Although pulmonary artery aneurysms are a rare vascular anomaly, they are seen in a wide variety of conditions, such as congenital heart disease, infection, trauma, pulmonary hypertension, cystic medial necrosis and generalized vasculitis. To our knowledge, mycotic aneurysms caused by pulmonary actinomycosis have not been reported in the radiologic literature. Herein, a case of pulmonary actinomycosis complicated by mycotic aneurysm is presented. On CT scans, this case showed focal aneurysmal dilatation of a peripheral pulmonary artery within necrotizing pneumonia of the right lower lobe, which was successfully treated with transcatheter embolization using wire coils.