Extraction and Antioxidant Activities of Magnolia kwangsiensis Figlar & Noot. Leaf Polyphenols.

Microwave-assisted extraction was employed to extract polyphenols from the leaf of Magnolia kwangsiensis Figlar & Noot. The yield of polyphenols was 2.44±0.02 % under the optimal conditions of RSM: acetone concentration of 70 %, ratio of solvent to material of 21 mL⋅g-1 and extraction time of 16 min. The antioxidant activities were evaluated in terms of total antioxidant ability, reducing power, DPPH⋅ and ⋅ OH scavenging activity. Results showed the polyphenols presented potential antioxidant activities, especially the stronger scavenging activity on ⋅ OH. In term of ⋅ OH scavenging activity, the IC50 value of NKA-9 purification was 0.335 mg mL-1 , equivalent to 35.23 % of VC . The IC50 values of crude extract and ethyl acetate extract were 0.580 and 0.828 mg mL-1 , equivalent to 60.99 % and 87.07 % of VC . Results indicated that M. kwangsiensis leaf polyphenols present potential antioxidant activities that make it beneficial for human health by preventing or reducing oxidative damage.

Bioactivities and Chemical Constituents of Essential Oil Extracted from Artemisia anethoides Against Two Stored Product Insects.

The chemical constituents of the essential oil extracted from Artemisia anethoides and the bioactivities of essential oil against Tribolium castaneum and Lasioderma serricorne were investigated. The main components of the essential oil were 1,8-cineole (36.54%), 2-isopropyl-5-methyl-3-cyclohexen-1-one (10.40%), terpinen-4-ol (8.58%), 2-isopropyltoluene (6.20) and pinocarveol (5.08%). The essential oil of A. anethoides possessed contact and fumigant toxicities against T. castaneum adults (LD50 = 28.80 µg/adult and LC50 = 13.05 mg/L air, respectively) and against L. serricorne (LD50 = 24.03 µg/adult and LD50 = 8.04 mg/L air, respectively). The crude oil showed repellent activity against T. castaneum and L. serricorne. Especially, the percentage repellency of essential oil was same level with DEET (positive control) against T. castaneum. The results indicated that the essential oil of A. anethoides had the potential to be developed as insecticide and repellent for control of T. castaneum and L. serricorne.

Extraction of polysaccharides and its antitumor activity on Magnolia kwangsiensis Figlar & Noot.

The crude polysaccharides from the leaves of Magnolia kwangsiensis Figlar & Noot. were extracted by hot water extraction, the yield was 5.09%. Two polysaccharide fractions (P-2 and P-3) were isolated by DEAE-52 cellulose chromatography and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography in order, respectively. P-2 and P-3 were characterized by IR, HPGPC and GC-MS. P-2 was comprised of only glucose. Its molecular weight was 11.2×10(3) Da and the formula was C414H690O345. P-3 was comprised of xylose and rhamnose in the ratio of 1:4. Its molecular weight was 7.8×10(3)Da, and the formula was C319H528O220. The antitumor activities of P-2 and P-3 on the growth of human lung cancer (A549) cells and human gastric carcinoma (SGC7901) cells in vitro were evaluated. The results indicated that P-3 exhibited marked antitumor activities with IC50 value of 8.48 and 5.66 µg/mL.

Comparative analysis of essential oil composition from flower and leaf of Magnolia kwangsiensis Figlar & Noot.

The essential oils from Magnolia kwangsiensis Figlar & Noot. were obtained using hydrodistillation, and analysed by GC and GC-MS. A total of 31, 27 and 26 constituents were identified in the oils from male flower, female flower and leaf of M. kwangsiensis, and they comprised 99.2, 98.5 and 96.2% of the oils, respectively. Monoterpene hydrocarbons predominated in the oils and accounted for 48.3% of male flower oil, 54.0% of female flower oil and 44.6% of leaf oil. The compositions of flower oils were quite similar but with different content, and were different from those of leaf oil.

Protective effect of L-carnitine in cyclophosphamide-induced germ cell apoptosis.

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a widely used anti-cancer agent; however, it can also induce serious male infertility. There are currently no effective drugs to alleviate this side-effect. L-Carnitine has been used to treat male infertility, but whether it can be used to protect against CP-induced male infertility is still unclear. This study aims to explore the effect and mechanism of L-carnitine in male infertility induced by CP. CP was used to establish an animal model. After three weeks of treatment, rats were sacrificed and testis and serum were harvested for further evaluation. Testosterone and estrogen levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Testicular injury was examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining, and germ-cell apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The expression of LC3 and Beclin-1 was examined by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. Compared with the CP group, L-carnitine significantly increases sperm motility, viability, and testosterone level (P<0.05). Western blot and real-time PCR results showed that L-carnitine treatment can significantly up-regulate the LC3-II and Beclin-1 expression in the CP+L-carnitine group when compared with the control group (P<0.05). In addition, TUNEL-positive cells were also more numerous in the CP group; however, L-carnitine can effectively retard cell apoptosis in the CP+L-carnitine group. In conclusion, L-carnitine contributes to the inhibition of cell apoptosis and the modulation of autophagy in protecting CP-induced testicular injury. These results suggest the applicability of L-carnitine in the treatment of male infertility.

Intracameral interleukin 1ß, 6, 8, 10, 12p, tumor necrosis factor α and vascular endothelial growth factor and axial length in patients with cataract.

OBJECTIVE: To assess associations between the aqueous humour concentration of interleukin IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12p, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and axial length in eyes with cataract. METHODS: The hospital-based investigation included patients who underwent cataract surgery between March 2014 and April 2014. Using aqueous humour collected at the start of cataract surgery, the interleukins IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12p, TNF-α and VEGF were examined using a cytometric bead array. Axial length was determined by partial coherence laser interferometry (IOL Master). RESULTS: The study included 33 patients with cataract (33 eyes) with a mean age of 69.2±10.8 years (range: 50-87 years) and a mean axial length of 24.7±1.9 mm (range: 22.6-31.5 mm). Lower aqueous concentration of VEGF was significantly associated with longer axial length (VEGF concentration (pg/mL) = -5.12 x Axial Length (mm) + 163; correlation coefficient r = -0.41; P<0.001) and more myopic refractive error (VEGF concentration (pg/mL) = 1.27 x spherical equivalent (diopters) + 44.8; r = 0.383; P = 0.002). The aqueous concentrations of all other substances were not significantly (all P>0.10) associated with axial length or refractive error. CONCLUSIONS: Higher intravitreal concentrations of VEGF were measured in eyes with a longer axial length, while the intraocular concentrations of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p and TNF-α were not correlated with axial length. The lower concentration of VEGF in axially elongated eyes may be one of the reasons for the lower prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy in myopic eyes.