[Activity Study of Icarlin and Epimedin C Monomer under the Same Molarity in Osteoporosis Ze- brafish Model].

Objective To evaluate anti-osteoporotic activity of icariin and Epimedin C monomer under the same molarity in predinsolone-induced osteoporosis zebrafish. Methods Zebrafish larvae after 4-day fertilization were divided into group S [0. 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) , A (25 µmol/L prednisolone, 0. 5% DMSO), B (2 IU/L salmon calcitonin, 25 µmol/L prednisolone,0. 5% DMSO), C (1. 5 1,mol/L icariin, 25 µmol/L prednisolone, 0. 5% DMSO) , D (15 µLmol/L icariin,25 µmol/L prednisolone, 0. 5% DM- SO), E (150 µmol/L icariin, 25 µmol/L prednisolone, 0. 5% DMSO), F (1. 5 µmol/L Epimediri C, 25 µmol/L prednisolone, 0. 5% DMSO) , G (15 µmol/L Epimedin C, 25 µmol/L prednisolone, 0.5% DM- SO) , H (150 µmol/L Epimedin C, 25 µmol/L prednisolone, 0. 5% DMSO). All culture solution contained 0. 5% DMSO. All the young fishes were grown in a 24-well plate. The culture medium was changed every day. They were cultured in a incubator box at 28. 5 °C and killed at day 9. Zebrafish skeleton was stained with alizarin red. The stained Zebrafish ventral skull was observed using microscope, and mineralized area was quantitatively analyzed. Results Compared with group S, accumulative integrated optical densi- ty(IOD)of the mineralized area significantly decreased in group A (P <0. 01) ; accumulative IOD of the mineralized area significantly increased in group B (P <0. 01). The accumulative IOD of the mineralized area showed weakly increasing tendency in group C, D, and E along with increased concentration (P < 0. 05). Compared with group A, accumulative IOD obviously increased in group B with statistical difference (P <0. 01) , but with no statistical difference as compared with group C or group D (P >0. 05). Statistical difference existed in accumulative IOD between group A and group E (P <0. 05). The mineralized area showed increasing tendency in group F and group G along with increased concentration (P <0. 05), and accumulative IOD obviously increased as well (P <0. 05). No Zebrafish embryo survived in group H. There was no statistical difference in Zebrafish embryo survival among group E, F, or G (P >0. 05). The staining of Zebrafish skull was clearly seen in group S, with vertebrae and bilateral branchial skeleton clearly seen. The intensity of staining in the same area was obviously attenuated in group A. The osteo- genesis was speeded up under the same condition in group B, with obviously enlarged mineralized area and more darkly stained bone tissue. The mineralization of skull was gradually increasing during the stai- ning process in group C, D, E, F, and G. The mineralized area and the intensity of staining were gradually enhanced, and changes of vertebrae were most obviously seen in group C, D, E, F, and G, but they were not arrived at the stained intensity level in group B. Conclusions Osteoporosis Zebrafish model is a simple and efficient model for screening bioactive ingredients of Chinese herbs. The activity of Epimedin C at low concentration was better than icariin in this model. But possible toxicity of Epimedin C at high concentration needs to be further studied.

Upregulation of KLF4 by methylseleninic acid in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells: Modification of histone H3 acetylation through HAT/HDAC interplay.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) occurs at a very high frequency in certain areas of China. Supplementation with selenium-containing compounds was associated with a significantly lower cancer mortality rate in a study conducted in Linxia, China. Thus, selenium could be a potential anti-esophageal cancer agent. In this study, methylseleninic acid (MSA) could inhibit cell growth of ESCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Upon treated with MSA, the activity of histone deacetylases (HDACs) was decreased and general control nonrepressed protein 5 (GCN5) was upregulated in ESCC cells. Meanwhile, a significant increase of H3K9 acetylation (H3K9ac) was detected. Upregulation of Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) was also observed after MSA treatment. Additionally, the acetylated histone H3 located more at KLF4 promoter region after MSA treatment, shown by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Moreover, knockdown of GCN5 decreased the protein level of both H3K9ac and KLF4, along with less cell growth inhibition. Taken all, our results indicated that MSA could inhibit ESCC cell growth, at least in part, by MSA-HDAC/GCN5-H3K9ac-KLF4 axis. To our best knowledge, this is the first report that MSA induced acetylation of histone H3 at Lys9, which might depend on the activities and the balance between HDACs and HATs.

Curcumin down-regulates DNA methyltransferase 1 and plays an anti-leukemic role in acute myeloid leukemia.

Bioactive components from dietary supplements such as curcumin may represent attractive agents for cancer prevention or treatment. DNA methylation plays a critical role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) development, and presents an excellent target for treatment of this disease. However, it remains largely unknown how curcumin, a component of the popular Indian spice turmeric, plays a role in DNA hypomethylation to reactivate silenced tumor suppressor genes and to present a potential treatment option for AML. Here we show that curcumin down-regulates DNMT1 expression in AML cell lines, both in vitro and in vivo, and in primary AML cells ex vivo. Mechanistically, curcumin reduced the expression of positive regulators of DNMT1, p65 and Sp1, which correlated with a reduction in binding of these transcription factors to the DNMT1 promoter in AML cell lines. This curcumin-mediated down-regulation of DNMT1 expression was concomitant with p15(INK4B) tumor suppressor gene reactivation, hypomethylation of the p15(INK4B) promoter, G1 cell cycle arrest, and induction of tumor cell apoptosis in vitro. In mice implanted with the human AML MV4-11 cell line, administration of curcumin resulted in remarkable suppression of AML tumor growth. Collectively, our data indicate that curcumin shows promise as a potential treatment for AML, and our findings provide a basis for future studies to test the clinical efficacy of curcumin - whether used as a single agent or as an adjuvant - for AML treatment.

Evaluation of the efficacy of glyphosate plus urea phosphate in the greenhouse and the field.

BACKGROUND: Glyphosate is a non-selective, foliar-applied, systemic herbicide that kills weeds by inhibiting the synthesis of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase. Urea phosphate (UPP), made by the reaction of urea with phosphoric acid, was applied as an adjuvant for glyphosate in this study. Experiments in the greenhouse and the field were conducted to determine the effects of UPP by comparing the efficacies of glyphosate plus UPP, glyphosate plus 1-aminomethanamide dihydrogen tetraoxosulfate (AMADS) and Roundup. RESULTS: The optimum concentration of UPP in glyphosate solution was 2.0% when UPP was used as an adjuvant. The ED50 values for glyphosate-UPP were 291.7 and 462.4 g AI ha(-1) in the greenhouse and the field respectively, while the values for Roundup were 448.2 and 519.6 g AI ha(-1). The ED50 values at 2 weeks after treatment (WAT) and 3 WAT were lowered when UPP was used as an adjuvant in the greenhouse and field study, and the glyphosate+UPP was absorbed over a 2 week period. UPP may increase the efficacy by causing severe cuticle disruption or accelerating the initial herbicide absorption. The result also showed that UPP could reduce the binding behaviour of Ca2+ to glyphosate. CONCLUSION: The application of UPP as an adjuvant could increase the efficacy of glyphosate and make it possible to achieve effective control of weeds with glyphosate at lower dose. Moreover, UPP showed less causticity to spraying tools and presented less of a health hazard. Therefore, UPP is accepted as being a new, effective and environmentally benign adjuvant for glyphosate.

beta-Catenin/TCF pathway plays a vital role in selenium induced-growth inhibition and apoptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells.

Epidemiological and experimental studies have indicated selenium could reduce the risk of some cancers. In our present study, growth inhibition and apoptosis were detected upon methylseleninic acid (MSA) treatment in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines EC9706 and KYSE150. MSA reduced beta-catenin protein levels, while there was no significant change observed on transcriptional levels. Moreover, we found MSA accelerated the degradation of beta-catenin and activated glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta). Some targets of beta-catenin/TCF pathway and apoptosis-related genes altered after MSA treatment. Notably, utilizing the inducible 293-TR/beta-catenin cell line, we found the apoptotic phenotypes induced by MSA were partially reversed by the overexpression of beta-catenin. Overall, our data indicate the effects induced by MSA in ESCC cells may act on the inhibition of beta-catenin/TCF pathway.

[Research progress on geographic distribution new records of medicinal plants in Guizhou].

To introduce the advance on the species, ecological environment, distribution areas, the number of the species and efficacy of geographic distribution new records of medicinal plants in Guizhou. This article provides a basis for the collection and conservation as well as reasonable development of the genetic resources of medicinal plants.

[Species and distribution of the medicinal plants peculiar to Guizhou].

OBJECTIVE: To review the species and distribution of the medicinal plants peculiar to Guizhou and provide evidence for application, protection and collection. METHOD: Open-air investigation, data collection and specimen identification. RESULT: More than eighty kinds of the medical plants peculiar to Guizhou have been identified. CONCLUSION: Guizhou has a diversity of medicinal plants. The area of distribution of most species is restricted and the population is small. Some of the species have higher medicinal and scientific research values.

[Corrections on medicinal resource of Gramineae in Guizhou province and Guiyang city].

OBJECTIVE: To confirm the medicinal plants of Gramineae and their distribution in Guiyang city. METHOD: Through field investigations and comparing the collected speciments and literatures, the geographical distribution and functions of the medicinal species were investigated. RESULT: 24 new medicinal species of Gramineae were found in Guizhou, while 5 species were absent in Guizhou. And 1 was first recorded for medicinal uses, 3 species newly added, and the latin name of 1 species was corrected. CONCLUSION: There are 72 medicinal species and 4 varieties in Guiyang.