Transcriptomic and physiological analysis of atractylodes chinensis in response to drought stress reveals the putative genes related to sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis.

BACKGROUND: Atractylodes chinensis (DC) Koidz., a dicotyledonous and hypogeal germination species, is an important medicinal plant because its rhizome is enriched in sesquiterpenes. The development and production of A. chinensis are negatively affected by drought stress, especially at the seedling stage. Understanding the molecular mechanism of A. chinensis drought stress response plays an important role in ensuring medicinal plant production and quality. In this study, A. chinensis seedlings were subjected to drought stress treatment for 0 (control), 3 (D3), and 9 days (D9). For the control, the sample was watered every two days and collected on the second morning after watering. The integration of physiological and transcriptomic analyses was carried out to investigate the effects of drought stress on A. chinensis seedlings and to reveal the molecular mechanism of its drought stress response. RESULTS: The malondialdehyde, proline, soluble sugar, and crude protein contents and antioxidative enzyme (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase) activity were significantly increased under drought stress compared with the control. Transcriptomic analysis indicated a total of 215,665 unigenes with an average length of 759.09 bp and an N50 of 1140 bp. A total of 29,449 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected between the control and D3, and 14,538 DEGs were detected between the control and D9. Under drought stress, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis had the highest number of unigenes in the metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides. To identify candidate genes involved in the sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways, we observed 22 unigene-encoding enzymes in the terpenoid backbone biosynthetic pathway and 15 unigene-encoding enzymes in the sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways under drought stress. CONCLUSION: Our study provides transcriptome profiles and candidate genes involved in sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis in A. chinensis in response to drought stress. Our results improve our understanding of how drought stress might affect sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways in A. chinensis.

Probiotic-fermented Portulaca oleracea L. alleviated DNFB-induced atopic dermatitis by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Probiotic fermentation is a mild and safe biological method to boost the performance of herbs. Portulaca oleracea L. (PO), with folklore records of purgative, anti-dermatological and anti-epidemic effects, has been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties. However, the potential of PO for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) has not been sufficiently explored. AIM OF STUDY: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of PO and fermented Portulaca oleracea L. (FPO) and explore their intrinsic mechanisms. METHODS: By utilizing 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced AD mice as a model, the histopathology of the lesions was observed using H&E and toluidine blue staining methods; the levels of immunoglobulin E (Ig E), histamine (HIS), and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in serum were measured using ELISA, whereas, the expression of inflammatory cytokines in skin lesion was measured using ELISA and immunohistochemistry experiments. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IKKα, NF-κB mRNA was measured using qPCR; and the expression of TNF-α、p-IKKα, p-IκBα, p-NF-κB was measured using western blotting. RESULTS: Both 20 mg/mL PO and FPO alleviated mast cell infiltration and lesion pathology, reduced serum levels of Ig E, HIS and TSLP, down-regulated the expression of AD-related inflammatory cytokines, such as, TNF-α, interferon-γ, and interleukin-4, and increased filaggrin expression. Furthermore, they inhibited the expression of TNF-α, IKKα, and NF-κB genes and TNF-α, p-IKKα, p-NF-κB and p-IκBα proteins associated with the NF-κB signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: PO and FPO has a positive therapeutic potential on AD, indicating that it may be employed as alternative therapies for AD.

A Review of Aspects of Synaptic Plasticity in Hippocampus via mT Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields.

The subthreshold magnetic modulation technique stimulates cells with mT extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs), which are insufficient to induce neuronal action potentials. Although they cannot directly induce resting neurons to discharge, mT magnetic stimulation can regulate the excitability of the nervous system, which regulates learning and memory by some unknown mechanisms. Herein, we describe the regulation of mT ELF-MFs with different parameters on synaptic plasticity in hippocampal neurons. Additionally, we summarize the latest research on the possible mechanism of the effect of ELF-MFs on synaptic plasticity. Some studies have shown that ELF-MFs are able to inhibit long-term potentiation (LTP) by increasing concentration of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+ ]i ), as well as concentration of reactive oxygen species. The research in this paper has significance for the comprehensive understanding of relevant neurological mechanisms of learning and memory by mT ELF-MFs stimulation. However, more high-quality research is necessary to determine the regulatory mechanism of mT ELF-MFs on synaptic plasticity in order to optimize this technique as a treatment for neurological diseases. © 2023 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

Ginsenoside Rd Inhibited Ferroptosis to Alleviate CCl4-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice via cGAS/STING Pathway.

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced lipid peroxidation associated with hepatic oxidative stress and cell death is an important mechanism of acute liver injury (ALI). Ginsenoside Rd is considered an active ingredient of ginseng. Evidence suggests that ginsenoside Rd may improve ischaemic stroke, nerve damage, cancer and other diseases involving apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial injury and autophagy. However, the effects of ginsenoside Rd on CCl4-induced ALI and its underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, 0.25% CCl4 was injected intraperitoneally in mice to establish a CCl4-induced ALI model. In the Rd treatment group, Rd (10, 20[Formula: see text]mg/kg) doses were injected intraperitoneally 1[Formula: see text]h before and 23[Formula: see text]h after CCl4 administration. Ferroptosis inducer imidazole ketone erastin (IKE) was injected intraperitoneally 4[Formula: see text]h before CCl4 administration to explore the mechanism. The blood and liver were collected 24[Formula: see text]h after CCl4 administration to investigate the effect and mechanism of ginsenoside Rd on CCl4-induced ALI. Our results showed that ginsenoside Rd inhibited CCl4-induced ALI in mice. Ginsenoside Rd also downregulated CCl4-induced serum and liver iron, 4-hydroxynonenal, and 8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanosine levels. Furthermore, it upregulated glutathione and glutathione peroxidase 4 levels. In addition, ginsenoside Rd downregulated the expression of cGAS and STING. Subsequently, the ferroptosis inducer imidazole ketone erastin significantly reversed the hepatoprotective effect and influence of ginsenoside Rd with regard to the indicators mentioned above. Our study confirmed that ginsenoside Rd ameliorated CCl4-induced ALI in mice, which was related to the reduction of ferroptosis. Simultaneously, the ginsenoside Rd-mediated inhibition of the cGAS/STING pathway contributed to its antiferroptosis effect. In conclusion, our results suggested that ginsenoside Rd inhibited ferroptosis via the cGAS/STING pathway, thereby protecting mice from CCl4-induced ALI. These results suggested ginsenoside Rd may be used as a potential intervention treatment against CCl4-induced ALI.

Probiotic-fermented Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi alleviates alcoholic liver injury by enhancing antioxidant defense and modulating gut microbiota.

BACKGROUND: Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi (PL) has been used in China to detoxify alcohol and protect the liver for millennia, though its mechanism of liver protection has not been elucidated. However, fermentation is considered to be one of the effective ways to enhance the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective mechanism of probiotic-fermented PL (FPL). Sprague Dawley rats were administered with FPL followed by gavage of alcohol for seven consecutive days; following that, liver injury levels were evaluated in rats. RESULTS: FPL ameliorated lipid accumulation and inflammation levels in rats. Meanwhile, the levels of ethanol dehydrogenase, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, and cytochrome P4502E1 were elevated by FPL treatment. It was observed that the levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase were elevated, and the expression of nuclear transcriptional factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 genes and proteins were increased by FPL treatment, demonstrating that the Nrf2-mediated signal pathway was activated. Furthermore, FPL restored the composition of the gut microbiota with an increase in the abundances of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus and a decrease in the abundances of Bacteroidota and Akkermansia. Additionally, a strong correlation was found between the gut microbiota and the antioxidant parameters. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that FPL possesses an excellent protective effect in alcoholic liver injury. Our findings are beneficial to the development of hepatoprotective nutraceuticals for alcoholics. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Local hyperthermia therapy induces browning of white fat and treats obesity.

Beige fat plays key roles in the regulation of systemic energy homeostasis; however, detailed mechanisms and safe strategy for its activation remain elusive. In this study, we discovered that local hyperthermia therapy (LHT) targeting beige fat promoted its activation in humans and mice. LHT achieved using a hydrogel-based photothermal therapy activated beige fat, preventing and treating obesity in mice without adverse effects. HSF1 is required for the effects since HSF1 deficiency blunted the metabolic benefits of LHT. HSF1 regulates Hnrnpa2b1 (A2b1) transcription, leading to increased mRNA stability of key metabolic genes. Importantly, analysis of human association studies followed by functional analysis revealed that the HSF1 gain-of-function variant p.P365T is associated with improved metabolic performance in humans and increased A2b1 transcription in mice and cells. Overall, we demonstrate that LHT offers a promising strategy against obesity by inducing beige fat activation via HSF1-A2B1 transcriptional axis.

Ecotoxicological assessment of spent battery extract using zebrafish embryotoxicity test: A multi-biomarker approach.

Water environmental pollution caused by spent batteries is a nonignorable environmental issue. In this study, the early life stage of zebrafish was employed to assess the environmental risk of spent batteries after exposure to 0, 1%, 2%, 5% and 10% spent battery extract for 120 h. Our results clearly indicated that spent battery extract can significantly decrease the survival rate, hatching rate and body length and increase heart rate. Moreover, spent battery extract exposure-induced zebrafish larvae generate oxidative stress and inhibit the mRNA transcriptional levels of heat shock protein (HSP70) and metallothionein (MT) genes. These results showed that the spent batteries not only affected the survival and development performance of zebrafish at an early life stage but also caused oxidative stress and interfered with the detoxification of zebrafish. This study provided novel insight into spent battery induced toxicity in the early life stage of fish.

Effect of Acute Limb Ischemia on the Mortality of Patients with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Established by Femoral Vein-Arterial Catheterization and Analysis of Related Risk Factors.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a common treatment for cardiopulmonary failure. Although it can effectively reduce the mortality of patients with cardiopulmonary failure, it still has a high mortality rate, such as acute limb ischemia (ALI), stroke, liver and kidney failure, and other related complications and related causes of death. This study aims to explore the impact of ALI on the mortality of VA-ECMO patients in hospital and 6 months after discharge and analyze the occurrence of ALI and related factors that affect the mortality of VA-ECMO in hospital and 6 months after discharge. The results showed that the smoking history was an independent risk factor for ALI, and age, diabetes, cardiac arrest, first time of ECMO, and hyperbilirubinemia were associated risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Cardiac arrest and ALI were associated risk factors for mortality at 6 months after discharge. Although ALI is not significantly associated with VA-ECMO in-hospital mortality, it is a risk factor for mortality at 6 months after discharge, and medical personnel should therefore strive to reduce and avoid ALI.

Quyu Shengxin Decoction Alleviates DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice by Suppressing RIP1/RIP3/NLRP3 Signalling.

PURPOSE: To study the therapeutic effect of Quyu (QY) Shengxin (SX) decoction (QYSXD) in mice with dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced ulcerative colitis and to investigate the effects of QYSXD on the regulation of the receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1)/receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIP3)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain protein 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathway. METHOD: Thirty-six mice were randomly divided into the following 6 groups: the experimental group (QYSX group), the model group (DSS group), the positive control group (5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) group), the control group, the first component group (QY group), and the second component group (SX group). Each group included 6 mice. Ulcerative colitis (UC) was induced in the mice by providing 3.5% DSS in drinking water. The mice were weighed every day to evaluate the disease activity index (DAI). After 7 days, the mice were sacrificed, and colonic tissues were obtained for colon length measurement. The morphological changes in the colon and the pathological scores of the mice in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein expression levels of RIP1, RIP3, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), NLRP3, cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1), interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-18 in the colon tissues of the mice in each group were detected and compared by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of RIP1, RIP3, NLRP3, IL-1ß, and IL-8 in the colonic mucosa were detected by ELISA. Western blotting was used to compare the protein expression of Drp1, caspase-1, mitochondrial fission protein 1 (FIS1), and mitophagy-associated protein light chain 3a/b (LC3a/b) among groups. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the colonic mucosal cells were compared by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Compared with those in the DSS group, the mice with DSS-induced colitis in the QYSX group exhibited clearly higher body weights (P < 0.05) and DAI scores (P < 0.05). The colon lengths of the mice in the QYSX group were longer than those in the DSS group (P < 0.05), and the pathological score of the QYSX group was lower than that of the DSS group (P < 0.05). The RIP1, RIP3, Drp1, IL-1ß, IL-18, and caspase-1 mRNA levels in the QYSX, 5-ASA, SX, and QY groups were significantly lower than those in the DSS group (P < 0.05), but there were no differences between the QYSX group and the 5-ASA group. The levels of RIP1, RIP3, NLRP3, IL-1ß, and IL-18 in the QYSX group were lower than those in the DSS group (P < 0.01). The levels of Drp1, caspase-1, FIS1, and LC3a/b in the QYSX group and the 5-ASA group were lower than those in the DSS group (P < 0.05). The levels of ROS in the colonic mucosal cells in the QYSX, 5-ASA, and QY groups were lower than those in the DSS group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: QYSXD has certain therapeutic effects on DSS-induced colitis in mice and may be as effective as 5-ASA. QY and SX decoctions also have certain effects on colitis; however, these decoctions are not as beneficial as QYSXD. QYSXD may ameliorate colitis by inhibiting the expression of RIP1/RIP3/NLRP3 pathway-related proteins and reversing mitochondrial dysfunction to control inflammation.

Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation associated with swallowing-related muscle training for post-stroke dysphagia: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Swallowing dysfunction is a common dysfunction after stroke, and its incidence exceeds 50%. Aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition induced by dysphagia not only cause psychological shock to patients after stroke, but also burden the medical payment. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation, which stimulates the cortex and cortical bulb pathways to improve swallowing function, has been one of the emerging treatments for the post-stroke deglutition disorder. These therapy operators require the proficiency in professional knowledge, limiting clinical large sample studies, so there is an absence of evidence-based medicine. The research is to evaluate the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulations combined with swallowing-related muscle training to treat swallowing dysfunction after stroke. METHODS: Computer retrieval performed in the 9 databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of science, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China Knowledge Network Database (CNKI), Wanfang Database (WanFang), and China VIP Database (VIP). Taking the published literature from the establishment of the database until December 20, 2020. Literature searching is related to neuromuscular electrical stimulation randomized controlled trials on the effect of swallowing in stroke. In addition, we will do the manual search in Baidu Academic and Google Academic database as a supplementary search. The correlative randomized controlled clinical studies retrieval time range from the establishment of the database to December 20, 2020. Two investigators will screen the literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria independently, during that period they will evaluate the quality of the included studies and extract data from studies. The extracted data are dichotomous data will be represented by relative risk, continuous data will be represented by mean difference or standard mean deviation. If there exists heterogeneity and the final data summary analysis select random effect model. On the contrary, the fixed effect model is selected. Then, RevMan5.3 software was used when analyzing included literature. Meanwhile, the analysis results were illustrated by drawing. RESULTS: This review will summarize available trials aimed at providing a comprehensive estimation of effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation associated with swallowing muscle training for post-stroke dysphagia. CONCLUSION: This review based on a comprehensive analysis of currently published randomized controlled trials on post-stroke dysphagia, that provide reliable evidence-based medicine evidence for the efficacy of neuromuscular electrical stimulation associated with swallowing rehabilitation training. REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202110009.

Er-Miao-Fang Extracts Inhibits Adipose Lipolysis and Reduces Hepatic Gluconeogenesis via Suppression of Inflammation.

High-fat-diet (HFD) feeding induces adipose dysfunction. This study aims to explore whether the Traditional Chinese Medical prescription Er-Miao-Fang could ameliorate adipose dysfunction and prevent hepatic glucose output. Short-term HFD feeding induced adipose lipolysis accompanied with enhanced hepatic glucose output in mice. Adipose lipolysis is initiated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling. Oral administration Er-Miao-Fang inhibited inflammation in adipose tissue by dephosphorylation of JNK and reducing TNF-α and IL-1ß production, and thus preserved phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE3B) induction, contributing to preventing cAMP accumulation. As a result, from suppression of PKA activation, Er-Miao-Fang reduced fatty acids and glycerol release from adipose tissue due to the inhibition hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL). By blocking the traffic of fatty acids and inflammatory mediators from adipose tissue to the liver, Er-Miao-Fang attenuated hepatic cAMP/PKA signaling by protecting phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) induction from inflammatory insult, and thereby reduced hepatic glucose production by suppression of hepatic glucagon response in HFD-fed mice. In conclusion, Er-Miao-Fang prevented adipose lipolysis by suppression of inflammation, contributing to reducing excessive hepatic glucose output. These findings present a new view of regulating gluconeogenesis and provide the guiding significance for the regulation of multi-link targets with Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Chinese Medicine in the Battle Against Obesity and Metabolic Diseases.

Obesity is a multi-factor chronic disease caused by the mixed influence of genetics, environments and an imbalance of energy intake and expenditure. Due to lifestyle changes, modern society sees a rapid increase in obesity occurrence along with an aggravated risk of metabolic syndromes in the general population, including diabetes, hepatic steatosis, cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer. Although obesity has become a serious worldwide public health hazard, effective and safe drugs treating obesity are still missing. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been implicated in practical use in China for thousands of years and has accumulated substantial front line experience in treating various diseases. Compared to western medicine that features defined composition and clear molecular mechanisms, TCM is consisted with complex ingredients from plants and animals and prescribed based on overall symptoms and collective experience. Because of their fundamental differences, TCM and western medicine were once considered irreconcilable. However, nowadays, sophisticated isolation technologies and deepened molecular understanding of the active ingredients of TCM are gradually bridging the gap between the two, enabling the identification of active TCM components for drug development under the western-style paradigms. Thus, studies on TCM open a new therapeutic avenue and show great potential in the combat against obesity, though challenges exist. In this review, we highlight six key candidate substances derived from TCM, including artemisinin, curcumin, celastrol, capsaicin, berberine and ginsenosides, to review their recent discoveries in the metabolic field, with special focus on their therapeutic efficacy and molecular mechanisms in treating obesity and metabolic diseases. In addition, we discuss the translational challenges and perspectives in implementing modern Chinese medicine into the western pharmaceutical industry.

Astragaloside IV and cycloastragenol are equally effective in inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the endothelium.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Astragaloside IV and cycloastragenol are present together in Astragalus membranaceus Moench (Fabaceae) and this study aims to simultaneously investigate their regulation of endothelial homeostasis in the setting of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We stimulated endothelial cells with palmitate (PA 100µM) to evoked ROS-associated ER stress and observed the effects of astragaloside IV and cycloastragenol on thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) expression, NLRP3 inflammasome activation and mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis. RESULTS: Astragaloside IV and cycloastragenol inhibited ROS generation and attenuated ER stress inducer IRE1α phosphorylation, indicating the inhibition of ROS-associated ER stress. In response to ER stress, TXNIP expression increased, accompanied with NLRP3 induction and increased IL-1ß and IL-6 production, but these alternations were reversed by treatment with astragaloside IV and cycloastragenol, demonstrating the inhibitory effects of astragaloside IV and cycloastragenol on TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Inflammasome activation led to mitochondrial cell death in endothelial cells, whereas astragaloside IV and cycloastragenol restored the loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential with inhibition of caspase-3 activity, and thereby protected cells from ER stress-induced apoptosis. Astragaloside IV and cycloastragenol enhanced AMPK phosphorylation and AMPK inhibitor compound C diminished their beneficial effects, indicative of the potential role of AMPK in their regulation. CONCLUSIONS: Astragaloside IV and cycloastragenol suppressed ROS-associated ER stress and then inhibited TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome activation with regulation of AMPK activity, and thereby ameliorated endothelial dysfunction by inhibiting inflammation and reducing cell apoptosis. Simultaneous investigations further showed that astragaloside IV and cycloastragenol were equally effective in regulation of endothelial homeostasis.

The total phenolic fraction of Anemarrhena asphodeloides inhibits inflammation and reduces insulin resistance in adipocytes via regulation of AMP-kinase activity.

Anemarrhena asphodeloides is widely used for treatment of metabolic disorders in traditional Chinese medicine. This study investigated the effects of the total phenolic fraction of Anemarrhena asphodeloides on regulation of insulin sensitivity in adipocytes. Through treatment with macrophage-derived conditioned medium, insulin resistance was induced in adipocytes with IKKß activation and dysregulation of adipokine production. However, these changes were reversed by treatment with the total phenolic fraction of A. asphodeloides (1, 10, 50 µg/mL). It regulated serine/tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 and subsequently restored Akt phosphorylation in response to insulin, thereby leading to the improvement of insulin-mediated glucose uptake. The total phenolic fraction of A. asphodeloides enhanced AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation, and this action contributed to the inhibition of inflammation implicated in insulin resistance. In conclusion, the total phenolic fraction of A. asphodeloides attenuated insulin resistance in adipocytes by inhibition of inflammation in an AMP-activated protein kinase-dependent manner.

[Supercritical coupling traditional way to extract flavones in Saussurea involucrate].

The Saussures involucrate was pretreated with supercritical CO2, then the residue was extracted with ethanol. Using a method of orthogonal experiment, the influence of temperature, time, liquid/solid ratios, the concentration of ethanol to the total flavones content were investigated. Compared with traditional extraction method, about more than 10.07%-128.4% flavones were obtained. In conclusion, the supercritical coupling traditional way could enhance the extraction efficiency, lower the extraction temperature, shorten the lixiviating time, reduce the losing of effective component, and pre-extract the plants (obtain about 2.45% oil segment). The study developed a new application of supercritical technology in the extraction of natural resources.

Historical change of heavy metals in urban soils of Nanjing, China during the past 20 centuries.

Two typical areas, including once commercial and residential quarters of Nanjing, China, were studied by investigating soil properties especially heavy metals of soils in various cultural layers formed in different Chinese Dynasties. The age of the soil profiles was dated by both archaeological and 14C chronological methods. The results showed that urban soils in the old commercial/workshop quarter of Nanjing were generally contaminated by heavy metals Cu, Zn, Pb, but their concentration levels varied significantly among the cultural layers formed in different dynasties. The substantial increase of heavy metals appeared in three historical periods, i.e., South Dynasty (222-589 AD), the earlier Ming (1368-1644 AD) and the late Qing (1644-1912 AD) in one area. The tremendous input and storage of heavy metals in soils was explained by the primitive smelting and the strengthened metal processing activities, which might be due to the requirement of weapon making or other industries, in the changing social conditions of the corresponding periods. Soils in the once noble political, cultural centers did not show significant increase of heavy metals. The difference in the distribution pattern of heavy metals revealed the contrasting history of the site uses. The change of contaminant level in soils is believed to be a reflection of various human activities in the city during the past 20 centuries.

[Determination of phenylethanoid glycosides from Cistanche deserticola in spring and autumn with LC-MS].

OBJECTIVE: To have a contrast study on phenylethanoid glycosides from Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma collected in different seasons. METHODS: LC/MS method has been applied for the analysis of four kinds of phenylethanoid glycosides compunds (echinacoside, acteoside, cistanoside A and 2'-acetylacteoside) from Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma in spring and autumn. RESULTS: According to the special MS spectra and HPLC chromatogram, this four kinds of phenylethanoid glycosides compounds were detected in each Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma, but the content is considerable different except the acteoside. CONCLUSION: The content of phenylethanoid glycosides from Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma in different seasons has a difference from each other, the quality of Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma is also different.