[Research progress on application of biochar in cultivation of agriculture and Chinese materia medica].

Biochar is a kind of solid material with high aromatization and rich in carbon, which is formed by pyrolysis of biomass at high temperature(250-700 ℃) under anoxic or hypoxic conditions. It has the characteristics of large specific surface area and rich pores. In recent years, as a good soil conditioner, biochar has gradually improved its advantages in improving soil rhizosphere micro ecological environment, promoting plant growth and development, and enhancing plant resistance, etc. It has been proved that biochar can affect the growth and development of plants by improving soil physical and chemical properties, adjusting microbial community structure, participating in the metabolic process in plants, and inducing plants to enhance resistance. This paper summarized the research progress of biochar application in agriculture and introduced the ecological effects and mechanism of biochar on plant seed germination, seedling growth, crop yield and stress resistance. Combined with the characteristics of Chinese materia medica, this paper expounds the application potential of biochar in improving the content of secondary metabolites of Chinese materia medica and alleviating continuous cropping obstacles of Chinese materia medica, etc. In the future, it is necessary to strengthen the research of biochar in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, allelopathy and heavy metal stress of medicinal plants, so as to provide reference for the application of biochar in the cultivation of Chinese materia medica.

[Apoptotic mechanism of gecko crude peptides on human liver carcinoma cell line HepG2].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Gecko crude peptides (GCPS) on human liver carcinoma HepG2 cells and its mechanism. METHODS: MTT assay was used to analyze the effect of the GCPS on the proliferation of HepG2 Cell; Nucleus change of HepG2 treated with GCP was observed by Hoechst33258 fluorescence staining, and BAX and BCL-2 were detected with western-blot assay. RESULTS: GCPS could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 Cell in a time and dosage dependent way, and its half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 1.2 mg/mL; HepG2 pretreated with GCPS showed apoptotic morphological changes. GCPS (1.6 mg/mL, 0.8 mg/mL) could decrease the expression of BCL-2 protein, and increase the expression of BAX protein. CONCLUSION: GCPS can inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cell. The mechanism may be related to the induction apoptosis of HepG2.

[Inhibitory effects of Gecko alcohol extract on human esophageal squamous carcinoma cell line EC-109 proliferation and associated mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the proliferation inhibition effects of Gecko alcohol extract (GAE) on human esophageal squamous carcinoma cell line EC-109 and its mechanism. METHODS: The inhibitory effects of GAE on proliferation of EC-109 cells were measured by MTT. Nucleolus change of apoptotic cells was observed by Hoechest33342 fluorescence staining. Apoptosis rate of EC-109 cells was detected by flow cytometry. The expressions of apoptosis protein Caspase-3 and FAS in EC-109 cells were investigated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: GAE had the inhibition effects on the proliferation of esophageal carcinoma cell EC-109. The apoptosis rate of EC-109 cell treated with GAE(3.0 mg/mL, 4.0 mg/mL) for 48h was 20.63% and 39.73%, respectively. Compared with control group,the expression of Fas and Caspase-3 was significantly up-regulated in GAE treated group. CONCLUSION: GAE can inhibit the proliferation of esophageal carcinoma EC-109 cells and induce them apoptosis which may be correlated with increasing expression of protein Fas and Caspase-3.

[Study on the antitumor effects and synergism and attenuation effects of gecko alcohol extract].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antitumor effects of Gecko alcohol extract and its synergism and attenuation effects on CTX. METHOD: S180-bearing mice were given Gecko alcohol extract via intravenous injection,the tumor inhibitory rate and the levels of serum TNF-alpha of mice were detected. After inoculation of S180 tumor, the synergism and attenuation effects of Gecko alcohol extract on CTX were observed. After 12 days treatment, the tumor inhibitory rate, the count of peripheral white blood cells, index of thymus and spleen were calculated. RESULTS: Gecko alcohol extract in different dose (0.6, 1.2, 2.4 g/kg) inhibited the growth of S180 sarcoma in KM mice. The tumor inhibitory rates of 0.6, 1.2, 2.4 g/kg Gecko alcohol extract were 44.88%, 63.94%, 69.53%, respectively. However, the levels of serum TNF-alpha of mice not changed. The tumor inhibitory rates of intravenous administration of 0.6, 1.2, 2.4 g/ kg Gecko alcohol extract combined with CTX (20 mg/kg) were 56.93%, 67.15%, 70.24%, which were higher than that of CTX administration alone (41.71%). Compared with those in CTX group, the count of WBC (P < 0.01), the indexes of thymus and spleen (P < 0.05) were significantly elevated in all Gecko alcohol extract and CTX combination groups. CONCLUSION: Gecko alcohol extract has anti-tumor effects in vivo and attenuation effects on CTX.

[Study on extraction technique of HDCA].

OBJECTIVE: To find out the optimal extraction technique for HDCA (a-hydroxycholic acid). METHOD: According to the orthogonal design L9(3(4)), the optimal extraction technique was sought through experimental investigation, and the content of HDCA was determined by TLC. RESULT: The optimal extraction method was eightfold 8% NaOH solution and 16 hours. The optimal purification method was six fold ethyl acetate, 5% active carbon, and 30 minutes twice. CONCLUSION: The above mentioned extraction technique is optimal and feasible in extraction of HDCA.