Isolation, Identification and Antibacterial Mechanism of the Main Antibacterial Component from Pickled and Dried Mustard (Brassica juncea Coss. var. foliosa Bailey).

Our previous study showed that the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) from an ethanolic extract of pickled and dried mustard (Brassica juncea Coss. var. foliosa Bailey) had significant antibacterial activity. Here, the EAF was further separated into seven sub-fractions by silica gel column chromatography. The antibacterial activities of the EAF and its sub-fractions against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas fluorescens were assessed using the agar diffusion method and double dilution method. Among the seven sub-fractions, the third sub-fraction (Fr 3) possessed the strongest antibacterial activity. The main component in Fr 3 was identified by GC-MS, UV-vis, FT-IR, HPLC, 1H NMR and 13C NMR techniques, and was found to be succinic acid. The content of succinic acid in Fr 3 was determined as 88.68% (w/w) by HPLC. Finally, the antibacterial mechanism of succinic acid against the tested strains was explored by determining the intracellular component leakage, measuring the cell particle size and observing the cell morphology. The results showed that succinic acid could damage the cell membrane structure and intracellular structure to increase the leakage of cell components and reduce the cell particle size. Our results suggest that succinic acid could be used in food industry to control bacterial contamination by S. aureus and P. fluorescens.

[Research on community promotion and application of single acupoint electroacupuncture therapy for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of single acupoint [Yaotu (extra)] electroacupuncture (EA) therapy on lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH) and its promotion and application in community medical institutions. METHODS: This research adopted a three-level promotion model, and used multi-center collaboration topics as a platform. A total of 240 patients with LIDH were divided into a group A (top three hospital, 80 cases, 3 cases dropped off), a group B (secondary hospital, 80 cases, 8 cases dropped off), and a group C (community health center, 80 cases, 7 cases dropped off). All groups were treated with EA at a single acupoint [Yaotu (extra)] under the guidance of a unified experimental protocol. The EA was given 60 min each time and performed 3 times a week for a total of 2 weeks. The changes of visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of three groups before and after each treatment were compared, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with before each treatment, the VAS scores of three groups after each treatment decreased (P<0.05). Except for the second and fifth treatments, the immediate effect in the group A was higher than that in the group B and C (P<0.05). The total effective rate of group A, group B, and group C respectively was 90.9% (70/77), 93.1% (67/72), 86.3% (63/73), and there was no statistically significant difference among the three groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The single acupoint EA therapy has a significant effect in the treatment of LIDH, can quickly relieve the pain symptoms, and has the characteristics of simple operation and easy control, suitable for promotion and application in primary hospitals.

Effect of combined treatment with supercritical CO2 and rosemary on microbiological and physicochemical properties of ground pork stored at 4°C.

The effect of combined treatment with supercritical CO2 (2000psi, 35°C for 2h) and rosemary powder (2.5% and 5.0% (w/w)) on microbiological and physicochemical properties of ground pork stored at 4°C was investigated. The changes in total viable count, pH, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), lipid oxidation and instrumental color (CIE L⁎, a⁎, b⁎) were analyzed during a week period of refrigerated storage. It was found that microbial populations were reduced by supercritical CO2 treatment, with the more pronounced effect being achieved by combined treatment with supercritical CO2 and 5.0g rosemary powder/100g meat. Supercritical CO2 treatment for 2h could accelerate lipid oxidation of ground pork during refrigerated storage, whereas combination with rosemary can significantly slow down the increase of oxidation rate. Combined treatment of supercritical CO2 and rosemary significantly increased L⁎ and b⁎ values of the ground pork, while the a⁎, pH and TVB-N value were not affected as compared to the treatment with supercritical CO2 alone. The results of this study indicate that combined treatment of supercritical CO2 and rosemary may be useful in the meat industry to enhance the storage stability of ground pork treated with long time exposure of supercritical CO2 during refrigerated storage.

[Study on the correlation between "Gucuofeng and Jinchucao" and cervical spondylosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relation between "Gucuofeng and Jinchucao" and cervical spondylosis. METHODS: From March 2006 to October 2011,333 patients with cervical spondylosis were collected in the study as cervical spondylosis group; 30 subjects of control group come from student of Shuguang Hospital and other health volunteer. There were 119 males and 214 females with a mean age of (48.11 +/- 12.21) years in cervical spondylosis group and there were 6 males and 24 females with a mean age of (45.27 +/- 10.12) years in control group. In aspect of the symptom and sign, dynamic palpation, X-ray examination wer performed to find the incidence rate of "Gucuofeng and Jinchucao" in two groups. RESULTS: There was significant difference in symptom and sign, dynamic palpation, X-ray examination between two groups (P<0.01). In cervical spondylosis group, "Gucuofeng and Jinchucao" occurred in 293 cases (87.99%),there was significant difference compared with control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Cervical "Gucuofeng and Jinchucao" is one of pathological point of cervical spondylosis,and it can provide a guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical spondylosis.

Antioxidant efficacy of extracts produced from pickled and dried mustard in rapeseed and peanut oils.

UNLABELLED: Antioxidant efficacy of 70% ethanol extract (EE), 70% methanol extract (ME), and water extract (WE) produced from pickled and dried mustard (Brassica juncea Coss. var. foliosa Bailey) was evaluated in rapeseed and peanut oils by using the Schaal oven method. The protective effects of aforesaid 3 extracts in stabilizing vegetable oils were tested by measuring their peroxide values, conjugated diene values, and p-anisidine values during storage of 15 d at 60 °C. Results showed that the different solvent extracts produced from pickled and dried mustard, at concentrations of 0.5% and 1.0% (w/w) in vegetable oils, could significantly (P < 0.05) lower the peroxide value, conjugated diene value, and p-anisidine value of oils during storage at 60 °C. However, the extracts at various concentrations showed a less antioxidant effect than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) at 200 ppm. The ultraviolet spectra of different extracts exhibited a single maximum absorbance at 268 nm. The qualitative analysis of antioxidants present in the extracts was carried out by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a C18 column. Two phenolic compounds, gallic and protocatechuric acids, were identified. The antioxidant activity of the extracts might be attributed to the presence of these phenolics. These results indicated that the pickled and dried mustard could be used as a potential source of natural antioxidants. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The antioxidant activity of extracts produced from pickled and dried mustard toward rapeseed and peanut oils oxidation and the characterization of active phenolic compounds may be useful in developing natural antioxidants for vegetable oils. Moreover, the extracts could safely be used as potential antioxidant to suppress lipid oxidation in lipid-containing food products.

[Diagnosis and treatment of intervertebral disc disease based on the theory of "Gucuofeng and Jinchucao"].

It has previously been reported that the incidence rate of intervertebral disc disease including cervical and lumbar vertebra is at the 8th position among the chronic and difficult treated diseases in China. There are great challenges on the improving diagnosis and treatment as well as reducing recrudescence of this degenerative disease. It was well known that the degeneration and bulge or herniatation of intervertebral discs are the main reasons for it, and the treatment for it always focuses on the disc recovery. However, the discrepancy of the effect and expectation indicated that there were other reasons for it. Based on the clinical knowledge of intervertebral discs disease and combined with the cognition of Traditional Chinese Medicine,we proposed that the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc disease was Gucuofeng and Jinchucao, which meant that the improper location of diapophysis and the declined of muscle strength may cause the unstable of spine, unstable spine thus aggravated the semiluxation of diapophysis.

[Re-recognition of single-point electroacupuncture therapy for treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation].

OBJECTIVE: To study on the characteristics and clinical application of single-point electroacupuncture therapy for treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. METHODS: Expound single-point electroacupuncture therapy from acupoint selection, acupuncture methods, clinical indications and the mechanism of this therapy. CONCLUSION: The single-point electroacupuncture therapy has the characteristic of "fewer but better" in acupoint selection, with a better analgesic effect on lumbocrural pain induced by lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, but the exact analgesic mechanisms have been incompletely known yet.

[Study on the needling depth of point Yaotu with CT scanning].

OBJECTIVE: To probe the safe depth and angle of needling the point Yaotu for treatment of prolapse of intervertebral disc. METHODS: CT technique was used for scanning investigation of the depth and angle of needling the point Yaotu. RESULTS: When the acupuncture needle was inserted vertically to the external space of intervertebral foramen of human body with arrival of qi, the tip of needle could reach to 73 mm deep, which is the best needling depth and angle. CONCLUSION: The needle vertically inserting to the external space of intervertebral foramen at the point Yaotu is proper in treatment of prolapse of intervertebral disc.

[Control study on analgesic effect of single-point electroacupuncture on prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc].

OBJECTIVE: To explore an effective method for electroacupuncture treatment of pain in waist and lower extremities due to prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc. METHODS: All 98 cases of such disease were randomly divided into a treatment group (n = 53) and a control group (n = 45). The treatment group were treated with local single-point electroacupuncture stimulation, and the control group with routine electroacupuncture stimulation for 8 sessions. The pain in waist and lower extremities in the two groups were continuously evaluated with short-form of McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ). RESULTS: After first treatment, SF-MPQ scores in the two groups were significantly different from those before treatment (P < 0.001), and there were significant differences between the two groups respectively (P < 0.001) at the each time points. CONCLUSION: Local singly-point electroacupuncture has a better analgesic effect on pain in waist and lower extremities due to prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc.

[Pathogenic factors of blood circulation disturbance in lumbar intervertebral disc herniation and mechanism of Tuina manipulation in promoting circulation].

Tuina manipulation has long been used in the treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, although its therapeutic mechanisms remain uncertain. The specific characteristic syndrome of this disease is lumbocrural pain in varying degrees, which is due to mechanical compression, aseptic inflammation, blood circulation disturbance and dystrophy. These factors can act on the involved nerve roots and give rise to nerve conduction disturbance. Since the blood circulation disturbance and nerve roots dystrophy are the most important pathogenic aspects of this disease, the therapeutic effect of Tuina manipulation on lumbar intervertebral disc herniation is related to them directly or indirectly.