Effects of naturally aged microplastics on the distribution and bioavailability of arsenic in soil aggregates and its accumulation in lettuce.

Naturally aged microplastics (NAMPs) and arsenic (As) have been reported to coexist in and threaten potentially to soil-plant ecosystem. The research explored the combined toxic effects of NAMPs and As to lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth, and the distribution, accumulation and bioavailability of As in soil aggregates. The As contaminated soil with low, medium and high concentrations (L-As, M-As, H-As) were treated with or without NAMPs, and a total of six treatments. The results displayed that, in comparison to separate treatments of L-As and M-As, the presence of NAMPs increased the total biomass of lettuce grown at these two As concentrations by 68.9 % and 55.4 %, respectively. Simultaneous exposure of NAMPs and L-As or M-As led to a decrease in As content in shoot (0.45-2.17 mg kg-1) and root (5.68-14.66 mg kg-1) of lettuce, indicating an antagonistic effect between them. In contrast, co-exposure to H-As and NAMPs showed synergistic toxicity, and the leaf chlorophyll and nutritional quality of lettuce were also reduced. NAMPs altered the ratio of different soil aggregate fractions and the distribution of bioavailable As within them, which influenced the absorption of As by lettuce. In conclusion, these direct observations assist us in enhancing the comprehend of the As migration and enrichment characteristics in soil-plant system under the influence of NAMPs.

Geniposidic Acid from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver Staminate Flower Tea Mitigates Cellular Oxidative Stress via Activating AKT/NRF2 Signaling

Eucommia ulmoides Oliver staminate flower (ESF) tea enjoys a good reputation in folk medicine and displays multiple bioactivities, such as antioxidant and antifatigue properties. However, the underlying biological mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether ESF tea can mitigate cellular oxidative stress. Crude ethyl alcohol extract and its three subfractions prepared by sequential extraction with chloroform, n-butyl alcohol and residual water were prepared from ESF tea. The results of antioxidant activity tests in vitro manifested n-butyl alcohol fraction (n-BUF) showed the strongest antioxidant capacity (DPPH: IC50 = 24.45 ± 0.74 µg/mL, ABTS: IC50 = 17.25 ± 0.04 µg/mL). Moreover, all subfractions of ESF tea, especially the n-BUF, exhibited an obvious capacity to scavenge the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and stimulate the NRF2 antioxidative response in human keratinocytes HaCaT treated by H2O2. Using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, we identified geniposidic acid (GPA) as the most abundant component in ESF tea extract. Furthermore, it was found that GPA relieved oxidative stress in H2O2-induced HaCaT cells by activating the Akt/Nrf2/OGG1 pathway. Our findings indicated that ESF tea may be a source of natural antioxidants to protect against skin cell oxidative damage and deserves further development and utilization.

Atranones from Stachybotrys chartarum and their antitumor activities in MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells.

Two new atranones T and U (1 and 2), and three known analogues atranone B (3), atranone Q (4), and stachatranone C (5) were isolated from the toxigenic fungus Stachybotrys chartarum. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic data and calculated ECD analyses. The cytotoxicities of all the atranones (1-5) were evaluated against MG-63 human osteosarcoma cell lines. Compound 4 exhibited significant cytotoxic effect against MG-63 with IC50 value of 8.6 µM, being more active than the positive control, 5-FU (IC50 10.4 µM). Morphological features of apoptosis activities were evaluated in 4-treated MG-63 cells. Compound 4 effectively induced apoptosis of MG-63, which was associated with G0/G1-phase cell cycle arrest. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the treatment by 4 significantly induced MG-63 cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.

[Cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery treated with thermosensitive moxibustion with different dosages: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CSA) treated with thermosensitive moxibustion at different dosages. METHODS: Sixty cases of CSA were randomized into a saturated moxa dosage group and a regular moxa dosage group, 30 cases in each one. The thermosensitive moxibustion was adopted in the two groups. The mild suspended moxibustion was applied at two acupoints with the strongest thermosensitization. In the saturated moxa dosage group, the moxibustion time was determined by the disappearance of thermosensitization. In the regular moxa dosage group, 15 min was required on each acupoint. The treatment was given twice a day for first 4 days in the two groups. Since the 5th day, the treatment was given once a day, continuously for 10 times, and totally 14 days were required. The score of symptoms and function and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups before and after treatment as well as 6-month follow-up after treatment. RESULTS: The curative and effective rate was 56.7% (17/30) after treatment and 60.0% (18/30) in 6-month follow-up after treatment in the saturated moxa dosage group, which were superior to 26.7% (8/30) and 30.0% (9/30) in the regular moxa dosage group respectively (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The scores of clinical symptoms and function after treatment and in follow-up were improved apparently as compared with those before treatment in both groups (all P < 0.01). The scores of clinical symptoms and function after treatment and in follow-up in the saturated moxa dosage group were increased much more apparently than those in the regular moxa dosage group (after treatment: 22.32 +/- 4.64 vs 17.43 +/- 3.21; in follow-up: 23.01 +/- 4.76 vs 18.32 +/- 2.13, both P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The thermosensitization moxibustion of saturated dosage achieves the superior short-term and long-term efficacies in the treatment of CSA as compared with the regular moxibustion dosage.

Application of the ITS2 Region for Barcoding Medicinal Plants of Selaginellaceae in Pteridophyta.

BACKGROUND: Selaginellaceae is a family of nonseed plants with special evolutionary significance. Plants of the family Selaginellaceae are similarly shaped and easily confused, complicating identification via traditional methods. This study explored, for the first time, the use of the DNA barcode ITS2 to identify medicinal plants of the Selaginellaceae family. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In our study, 103 samples were collected from the main distribution areas in China; these samples represented 34 species and contained almost all of the medicinal plants of Selaginellaceae. The ITS2 region of the genome was amplified from these samples and sequenced using universal primers and reaction conditions. The success rates of the PCR amplification and sequencing were 100%. There was significant divergence between the interspecific and intraspecific genetic distances of the ITS2 regions, while the presence of a barcoding gap was obvious. Using the BLAST1 and nearest distance methods, our results proved that the ITS2 regions could successfully identify the species of all Selaginellaceae samples examined. In addition, the secondary structures of ITS2 in the helical regions displayed clear differences in stem loop number, size, position, and screw angle among the medicinal plants of Selaginellaceae. Furthermore, cluster analysis using the ITS2 barcode supported the relationship between the species of Selaginellaceae established by traditional morphological methods. CONCLUSION: The ITS2 barcode can effectively identify medicinal plants of Selaginellaceae. The results provide a scientific basis for the precise identification of plants of the family Selaginellaceae and the reasonable development of these resources. This study may broaden the application of DNA barcoding in the medicinal plant field and benefit phylogenetic investigations.

[Pollen morphological characteristics, viability test and storage of endangered medicinal plant Atractylodes lancea].

OBJECTIVE: To study the pollen morphological characteristics, viability test and storage character of the endangered plant Atractylodes lancea. METHOD: Pollen grains morphologies of A. lancea were observed by scanning electron microscope. The optimum culture medium and viability determination methods were screened out by liquid culture and dyeing methods, and then the pollen germination capacities in different storage conditions were detected. RESULT: The pollen grains are quasi-spherical, with tricolpate and spinous sculpture. The optimal culture medium was ME3 + 16% PEG4000 + 10% sucrose, in which the pollen germination capacity reached to 62.1%, while the other three dyeing methods were not able to be applied to detecting the pollen viability of A. lancea. The low storage temperature could significantly prolong the storage time of pollen of A. lancea. At -80 degrees C, pollen viability could be maintained for 60 days. CONCLUSION: Liquid culture method is suitable for the determination of pollen germination of A. lancea, and the rate of pollen germination is closely related to the storage time and temperature. At last, this study provides a foundation for the artificial pollination and cultivating in wildness of A. lancea.

[Distribution characteristics and correlation analysis of inorganic elements in Alismatis rhizoma and rhizospheric soils in different habitats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution characteristics and correlation of inorganic element contents in Alismatis Rhizoma and rhizospheric soils from three habitats (Jianou, Fujian; Guangchang, Jiangxi; Pengshan, Sichuan). METHODS: The inorganic element contents were detected with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). RESULTS: The results showed that inorganic element contents in Alismatis Rhizoma from different habitats presented regular distribution characteristics. In all samples, the contents of S, P, K, Mg and Ca were relatively high. The contents of S, P, K, Fe, Mg, Ca, Al and Zn in Alismatis Rhizoma from Fujian with low-content harmful heavy metal were more than those of other two places. Alismatis Rhizoma from different habitats showed remarkable ability to enrich P, S, Zn, Mg and Cu, especially to P and S. The contents of inorganic element in Alismatis Rhizoma and rhizosperic soil showed certain correlation. CONCLUSION: These results provide scientific evidence for artificial modification of effective components biosynthesis in Alisma orientalis, and it could also provide a reference for forming mechanism of genuine characteristics and quality of Alismatis Rhizoma.