Serum vitamins and homocysteine levels in autoimmune liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Vitamins and homocysteine (Hcy) are involved in liver metabolism and related to the pathogenesis of autoimmune liver disease (AILD), but consensus is lacking. This study aims to systematically summarize relevant evidence to clarify the association of serum vitamins and Hcy levels with AILD. METHODS: The English and Chinese literature was searched until August 29, 2023. Studies were included if they were observational studies of investigating serum vitamins and Hcy levels in patients with AILD and their healthy comparisons. Quality assessment was performed by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and a meta-analysis was conducted using ReviewManager 5.3. The protocol was registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO), with registration number CRD42023455367. RESULTS: A total of 25 case-control studies comprising 3487 patients (1673 patients and 1814 healthy controls) were included for analysis. There were 548 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) cases, 1106 primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) cases, and 19 primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) cases. We found that serum A and E were decreased in both AIH and PBC/PSC; but vitamin C was reduced only in patients with PBC, not AIH. In addition, decreased content of 25(OH)D3 was found in both AIH and PBC. However, levels of 25(OH)D did not differ between the patients and controls, and were independent of disease types and the country. Only one study that met the inclusion criteria reported vitamin B6, B9, B12, and Hcy changes, and found that vitamin B6 and B9 were significantly decreased in patients with PBC, while serum vitamin B12 and Hcy levels were significantly elevated in them. One eligible study each confirmed a reduction in plasma vitamin K1 and 1,25(OH)2D3 in patients with PBC. CONCLUSION: Most vitamins are deficient in AILD, so appropriate vitamin supplementation should be necessary. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate these findings.

Curcumin treatment enhances bioactive metabolite accumulation and reduces enzymatic browning in soybean sprouts during storage.

Curcumin is a natural polyphenol that is widely used in food and medicine. Here, we investigated the effects of curcumin on the antioxidant accumulation and enzymatic browning of soybean sprouts after storage at 4 °C for 2 weeks. Curcumin drastically reduced the water loss, browning index, and peroxide accumulation, increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase, decreased the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and polyphenol oxidase, elevated the contents of ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, nonprotein thiol, phenolics and isoflavones, and enhanced the total antioxidant capacity of soybean sprouts during storage. These curcumin-induced changes were partly but dramatically attenuated by inhibition of NADPH oxidase (NOX). Curcumin induced NOX activity and H2O2 burst in soybean sprouts during the first 24 h after treatment. The curcumin-induced antioxidants and -inhibited enzymatic browning are closely associated with NOX-dependent H2O2 signaling. The findings provide a new method for improving soybean sprout quality during storage.

Partitioning of evapotranspiration and the influencing factors of evapotranspiration components in a shrub ecosystem dominated by Artemisia ordosica and Hedysarum fruticosum var. mongolicum in the Mu Us Desert, Northwest China.

Evapotranspiration (ET) is an important part of water cycle and energy flow in ecosystem. Accurate estimation of ET and its components is critical for understanding the impacts of ecophysiological processes on ecosystem water balance and plant water use strategy. Using the eddy-covariance technique and the micro-lysimeter, we measured ET, evaporation (E), transpiration (T) of the Artemisia ordosica-Hedysarum fruticosum var. mongolicum shrubland in the Mu Us Desert during May 20 to September 15, 2019, quantified the ET components, and analyzed the seasonal characteristics and influencing factors of ET and its components. The results showed that T was the main component of ET in the growing season, with a T/ET of 53.1%. T/ET increased and E/ET decreased as precipitation decreased. The partitioning of evapotranspiration was regulated by precipi-tation. At the seasonal scale, the value of E was positively correlated with soil water content at 10 cm depth (SWC10) and net radiation (Rn), while SWC10 was the main factor influencing E. The value of T increased with the increases of Rn and leaf area index (LAI), and increased first and then decreased with the increases of soil water content at 30 cm layer (SWC30). T was affected by SWC30, Rn and LAI. Moisture was the main influencing factor of ET. The ET/P in the growing season was 109.2% and was 250.5% in May, indicating that the water consumption of ET in early growing season was partly from the precipitation in non-growing season.

Genomic analyses of diverse wild and cultivated accessions provide insights into the evolutionary history of jujube.

The Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), a member of the Rhamnaceae family, is an important perennial fruit tree crop of substantial economic, ecological and nutritional value, and is also used as a traditional herbal medicine. Here, we report the resequencing of 493 jujube accessions, including 202 wild and 291 cultivated accessions at >16× depth. Our population genomic analyses revealed that the Shanxi-Shaanxi area of China was jujube's primary domestication centre and that jujube was then disseminated into East China before finally extending into South China. Divergence events analysis indicated that Ziziphus acidojujuba and Ziziphus jujuba diverged around 2.7 Mya, suggesting the interesting possibility that a long pre-domestication period may have occurred prior to human intervention. Using the large genetic polymorphism data set, we identified a 15-bp tandem insertion in the promoter of the jujube ortholog of the POLLEN DEFECTIVE IN GUIDANCE 1 (POD1) gene, which was strongly associated with seed-setting rate. Integrating genome-wide association study (GWAS), transcriptome data, expression analysis and transgenic validation in tomato, we identified a DA3/UBIQUITIN-SPECIFIC PROTEASE 14 (UBP14) ortholog, which negatively regulate fruit weight in jujube. We also identified candidate genes, which have likely influenced the selection of fruit sweetness and crispness texture traits among fresh and dry jujubes. Our study not only illuminates the genetic basis of jujube evolution and domestication and provides a deep and rich genomic resource to facilitate both crop improvement and hypothesis-driven basic research, but also identifies multiple agriculturally important genes for this unique perennial tree fruit species.

A simple, rapid and efficient method for essential element supplementation based on seed germination.

Fertilizer application is typically used to increase the availability of essential elements. In this study, an improved method for essential element supplementation based on seed germination was established. Solutions of essential elements (Fe2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, SeO32+, or I- or their combination) were applied to germinating soybean seeds, and the contents of the essential elements in the soybean sprouts were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Compared with the control (seeds treated with water), the contents of iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and iodine in soybean sprouts produced by germinating seeds treated with solutions containing 10 mM essential elements were approximately 10-2000 times higher. Moreover, treatment with essential element solution increased the total antioxidant capacity and content of total thiols in the soybean sprouts. This rapid and simple technique can be used to improve nutrition for humans and livestock in regions deficient in essential elements.

Effect of Huangdi Anxiao Capsules on zebrafish vascular lesions induced by high glucose and high fat / 中国中药杂志

Zebrafish of different strains with 5 dpf (5 days post-fertilization) were selected and fed with 0.2% high-fat diet for 8 h and 3% glucose solution for 16 halternatively during the day and night for 4 consecutive days. The zebrafish model was established and randomly divided into model group, Huangdi Anxiao Capsules (260 mg·L⁻¹) group and pioglitazone (32 mg·L⁻¹) group. The drug treatment groups were given the water-soluble drugs, with a volume of 25 mL, and incubated in a 28 °C incubator for 4 days. To detect the exposure to the corresponding drugs, the normal control group was set up. Thirty zebrafish were included in each group. The effect of Huangdi Anxiao Capsules on vascular wall thickness, fluorescence intensity of islet beta cells, fluorescence intensity of macrophages, and blood flow velocity of zebrafish were detected. The expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (vegfaa) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) were detected by RT-PCR. The results showed that compared with the model group, Huangdi Anxiao Capsules can significantly reduce the thickness of the blood vessel wall, increase the fluorescence intensity of islet β cells and macrophages, increase the blood flow velocity in vivo, and decrease the ACE and vegfaa expressions in zebrafish. It is suggested that Huangdi Anxiao Capsules may alleviate zebrafish vascular lesions by regulating the expressions of ACE and vegfaa.

Extraction, Characterization and Immunological Activity of Polysaccharides from Rhizoma gastrodiae.

A response surface and Box-Behnken design approach was applied to augment polysaccharide extraction from the residue of Rhizoma gastrodiae. Statistical analysis revealed that the linear and quadratic terms for three variables during extraction exhibited obvious effects on extraction yield. The optimum conditions were determined to be a liquid-to-solid ratio of 54 mL/g, an extraction temperature of 74 °C, an extraction time of 66 min, and three extractions. These conditions resulted in a maximum Rhizoma gastrodiae polysaccharide (RGP) extraction yield of 6.11% ± 0.13%. Two homogeneous polysaccharides (RGP-1a and RGP-1b) were obtained using DEAE cellulose-52 and Sephadex G-100 columns. The preliminary characterization of RGP-1a and RGP-1b was performed using HPLC-RID, HPGPC, and FTIR. Tests of the immunological activity in vitro showed that the two polysaccharides could significantly stimulate macrophages to release NO and enhance phagocytosis in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, RGP-1b (200 µg/mL) and LPS (2 µg/mL) had almost the same influence on the NO production and phagocytic activity of RAW 264.7 macrophages (p > 0.05). All the data obtained indicate that RGP-1a and RGP-1b have the potential to be developed as a health food.

Cloning and Characterization of a Flavonoid 3'-Hydroxylase Gene from Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis).

Tea leaves contain abundant flavan-3-ols, which include dihydroxylated and trihydroxylated catechins. Flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase (F3'H: EC 1.14.13.21) is one of the enzymes in the establishment of the hydroxylation pattern. A gene encoding F3'H, designated as CsF3'H, was isolated from Camellia sinensis with a homology-based cloning technique and deposited in the GenBank (GenBank ID: KT180309). Bioinformatic analysis revealed that CsF3'H was highly homologous with the characterized F3'Hs from other plant species. Four conserved cytochrome P450-featured motifs and three F3'H-specific conserved motifs were discovered in the protein sequence of CsF3'H. Enzymatic analysis of the heterologously expressed CsF3'H in yeast demonstrated that tea F3'H catalyzed the 3'-hydroxylation of naringenin, dihydrokaempferol and kaempferol. Apparent Km values for these substrates were 17.08, 143.64 and 68.06 µM, and their apparent Vmax values were 0.98, 0.19 and 0.44 pM·min(-1), respectively. Transcription level of CsF3'H in the new shoots, during tea seed germination was measured, along with that of other key genes for flavonoid biosynthesis using real-time PCR technique. The changes in 3',4'-flavan-3-ols, 3',4',5'-flavan-3-ols and flavan-3-ols, were consistent with the expression level of CsF3'H and other related genes in the leaves. In the study of nitrogen supply for the tea plant growth, our results showed the expression level of CsF3'H and all other tested genes increased in response to nitrogen depletion after 12 days of treatment, in agreement with a corresponding increase in 3',4'-catechins, 3',4',5'-catechins and flavan 3-ols content in the leaves. All these results suggest the importance of CsF3'H in the biosynthesis of 3',4'-catechins, 3',4',5'-catechins and flavan 3-ols in tea leaves.

Melaxillines A and B, monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from Melodinus axillaris.

Two new monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, melaxillines A (1) and B (2), together with four known alkaloids (3-6), were isolated from the roots of Melodinus axillaris. The structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometric data, and by comparison to literature data. New compounds 1-2 might be derived from a common precursor (3) by proposing their biogenetic route, and compound 1 represents the first Melodinus alkaloid featuring an ethyl acetate group skeleton at C-18. The anti-inflammatory effects of all the isolated compounds were evaluated by measuring the inhibitory ratios of ß-glucuronidase release in rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) induced by platelet-activating factor. Compounds 1-4 showed significant anti-inflammatory activities with IC50 values ranging from 1.51 to 21.56µM, respectively.

[Distribution of Press-sensitive Acupoints in Patients with Tinnitus].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regularity of distribution of press-sensitive acupoints on the body surface in tinnitus patients, so as to provide evidence for selecting suitable acupuncture points in the treatment of tinnitus. METHODS: Sixty-three cases of tinnitus patients (from 25 to 75 years in age) were recruited in the present study. The patient was asked to take a sitting, supine and prone position, successively, and the operator used the thumb to moderately press the subject's head, neck, back, four limbs below the knee- and elbow joints along the three Hand- and three Foot-yang and yin meridians. Those acupoints that appeared pressing pain, or soreness-distension, numbness, or radiation feeling more than 10 times were brought into the sequence analysis by using the Excel 2010. RESULTS: A total of 131 press-sensitive acupoints including 41 points with an appea-rance frequency of more than 10 times were found in the 63 tinnitus patients. These 41 acupoints distributing in the top three meri-dians were the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang, Tri-energizer Meridian of Hand-Shaoyang and Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin, and their involved regions were those below the knee-joints, bilateral sides of the head and marginal portion of the ear, sites bellow the elbow-joints, back-waist, successively in the appearance frequency. The top ten acupoints are Wangu (GB 12), Yifeng (SJ 17), Waiguan (SJ 5), Quchi (LI 11), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Fengchi (GB 20), Taichong (LR 3), Shousanli (LI 10) and Zulinqi (GB 41), in sequence. CONCLUSIONS: The press-sensitive acupoints in tinnitus patients distribute principally in the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang, and below the knee-joint, and the most sensitive acupoints are Wangu (GB 12) and Yifeng (SJ 17). These findings may provide an objective basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus.

(+)-rumphiin and polyalthurea, new compounds from the stems of Polyalthia rumphii.

Two new compounds, (+)-rumphiin (3) and polyalthurea (7), together with seven known ones, 3,4,5-trimethoxy benzoic acid (1), (-)-seselinone (2), cannabisin D (4), allantoin (5), oxostephanine (6) and a mixture of beta-sitosterol (8) and stigmasterol (9) were isolated from the stems of Polyalthia rumphii. The chemical structures of 3 and 7 were elucidated by the combination of spectroscopic data, and the absolute configuration of 3 at C-2 was determined by the matrix method to be R. All compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity on four human cancer cell lines, which demonstrated that 3 was a moderate bioactive lignan, and 6 showed significant anticancer activity against SPC-A-1 and BEL-7402 cell lines with IC50 values of 1.47 and 1.73 microg/mL, respectively.

Effects of Yougui recipe on the behavioral changes in rat of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of Yougui Recipe, a kidney-supplementing and yang-activating formula which on the behavioral changes of rat of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty Wistar rats were involved and were randomly divided into the blank control group (group A), the model group (group B) and the Yougui Recipe group (group C). SANFH models were established by injection of colibacillus endotoxin and prednisolone intramuscularly. Group C was lavaged with Yougui Recipe (10 ml/kg), while group A and group B were lavaged with the same amount of saline. The behavior of catch force, independent activities, the tail suspension, field experiment and water cleans maze experiment were observed after 6 weeks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with Yougui Recipe, rats in model group: catch force and independent activity decreases; the tail suspension activities was less time. In the desert field experiments, the total distance in 10 min movement reduced significantly. In the water maze experiment, incubation period of escape had a long time obviously, total distance of activities reduced.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Yougui Recipe can relieve the ethologic change of rat model of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head.</p>

A new dimeric phenylpropanoid and cytotoxic norditerpene constituents from Podocarpus nakaii.

A new dimeric phenylpropanoid namely podonaka A (1), along with the 13 known compounds including diterpenes (2 and 3), norditerpenes (4 and 5), benzenoids (6-10), steroids (11 and 12), chalcone (13), and megastigmane (14), was isolated from the EtOH extract of Podocarpus nakaii Hayata. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR and MS techniques. Biological evaluation showed that norditerpenes, inumakilactone B (4), and podolactone E (5) have potent cytotoxic activities against Daoy, WiDr, KB, and HeLa tumor cell lines. Moreover, low dosage of 5 may induce early apoptosis in KB cells before 12 h.

Monoanion BH4(-) can stabilize zwitterionic glycine with dihydrogen bonds.

Unusual strength: In the complex glycine-BH(4)(-), unconventional dihydrogen bonds are predicted. An ultrashort dihydrogen bond B-H...H-N and a very strong interaction of about -41 kcal mol(-1)) are found in complex 3 (see structures), in which the zwitterionic glycine is stabilized with a big margin.

[Study on the chemical constituents of liposoluble steroidal and triterpenoid compounds from the stem and bark of Macaranga hemsleyana].

OBJECTIVE: to research the chemical constituents of the liposoluble compounds from the stem and bark of Macaranga hemsleyana Pax & Hoffm. METHODS: Five compounds were obtained by silica chromatography and preparative TLC from the stem and bark of Macaranga hemsleyana Pax & Hoffm., and the chemical structures of these compounds were identified by modern spectroscopy as well as physico-chemical analysis. RESULTS: These compounds were identified to be beta-Sitosterol (1), Stigmast-4-en-3-one (2), Stigmast-4-en-3,6-dione (3), 3beta-O-acetyl aleuritolic acid (4) and Canophyllol (5). CONCLUSION: The liposoluble fractions of Macaranga hemsleyana Pax & Hoffm. are mainly steroidal and triterpenoid compounds.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of brucine and brucine N-oxide extracted from seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica.

To further understand the purpose of the traditional processing method of the seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica L. (Loganiaceae) as well as analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of brucine and brucine N-oxide extracted from this medicinal plant, various pain and inflammatory models were employed in the present study to investigate their pharmacological profiles. Both brucine and brucine N-oxide revealed significant protective effects against thermic and chemical stimuli in hot-plate test and writhing test. However, on different phases they exerted analgesic activities in formalin test. Brucine N-oxide showed stronger inhibitory effect than brucine in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, both of them significantly inhibited the release of prostaglandin E2 in inflammatory tissue, reduced acetic acid-induced vascular permeability and the content of 6-keto-PGF1a in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritis rat's blood plasma. In addition, brucine and brucine N-oxide were shown to reduce the content of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in FCA-induced arthritis rat's blood plasma, while increase the content of 5-hydroxytryindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) accordingly. These results suggest that central and peripheral mechanism are involved in the pain modulation and anti-inflammation effects of brucine and brucine N-oxide, biochemical mechanisms of brucine and brucine N-oxide are different even though they are similar in chemical structure.

[Pharmacokinetics of the alkaloids from the processed seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica in rats].

AIM: To study the pharmacokinetic process about the concentration in rat plasma of the alkaloids from processed seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica with RP-HPLC method. METHODS: Hypersil BDS C18 column was used and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-water at the flow rate of 0.8 mL.min-1. The UV detection wave length was 254 nm. RESULTS: The concentration-time data of strychnine, brucine, strychnine N-oxide and brucine N-oxide were all in accordance with an open two-compartment model after i.v. alkaloids. Their parameters were as follows: T1/2 alpha were (8 +/- 5), (4 +/- 3), (6.2 +/- 1.7) and (3.0 +/- 0.8) min, T1/2 beta were (262 +/- 125), (416 +/- 131), (285 +/- 50) and (342 +/- 141) min, CL were (17 +/- 4), (21 +/- 12), (1.9 +/- 1.8) and (2.8 +/- 1.1) mL.min-1, Vc were (1.4 +/- 0.5), (1.7 +/- 1.1), (0.24 +/- 0.16) and (0.23 +/- 0.06) L.kg-1, Vd were (6.0 +/- 1.2), (12 +/- 7), (0.8 +/- 0.6) and (1.5 +/- 0.6) L.kg-1, AUC were (57,578 +/- 25,578), (35,240 +/- 15,616), (93,088 +/- 22,375) and (177,712 +/- 120,110) h.microgram.L-1, respectively. CONCLUSION: The method is a good reference for pharmacokinetics in human bodies.

[Study on process of removing impurity from water-extraction of gutianquan-capsule].

OBJECTIVE: To study the result of removing impurity from water-extraction of Gutianquan-capsule with macro-reticular absorbing resin, chitosans clarification, water-extraction and alcohol-precipitation methods. METHOD: Coefficient of Unguent of macro-reticular absorbing resin, chitosans clarification method, water-extraction and alcohol-precipitation methods were compared, and qualitative assay of Ginsenoside Rg1, Re, and snide measurement of Ginsenoside Rg1, Ferulic acid, and stability experiment were made. RESULT: Coefficient of Unguent of water-extraction and alcohol-precipitation method was 17.2%, Coefficient of Unguent of chitosans clarification method was 12.8%, and macro-reticular absorbing resin method was 3.1%. They could clarify liquor of water-extraction. CONCLUSION: Chitosans clarification method is suitable for process of Gutianquan-capsule.

Study on process of removing impurity from water-extraction of gutianquan-capsule / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the result of removing impurity from water-extraction of Gutianquan-capsule with macro-reticular absorbing resin, chitosans clarification, water-extraction and alcohol-precipitation methods.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Coefficient of Unguent of macro-reticular absorbing resin, chitosans clarification method, water-extraction and alcohol-precipitation methods were compared, and qualitative assay of Ginsenoside Rg1, Re, and snide measurement of Ginsenoside Rg1, Ferulic acid, and stability experiment were made.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Coefficient of Unguent of water-extraction and alcohol-precipitation method was 17.2%, Coefficient of Unguent of chitosans clarification method was 12.8%, and macro-reticular absorbing resin method was 3.1%. They could clarify liquor of water-extraction.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chitosans clarification method is suitable for process of Gutianquan-capsule.</p>

Pharmacokinetics of the alkaloids from the processed seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica in rats / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the pharmacokinetic process about the concentration in rat plasma of the alkaloids from processed seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica with RP-HPLC method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Hypersil BDS C18 column was used and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-water at the flow rate of 0.8 mL.min-1. The UV detection wave length was 254 nm.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The concentration-time data of strychnine, brucine, strychnine N-oxide and brucine N-oxide were all in accordance with an open two-compartment model after i.v. alkaloids. Their parameters were as follows: T1/2 alpha were (8 +/- 5), (4 +/- 3), (6.2 +/- 1.7) and (3.0 +/- 0.8) min, T1/2 beta were (262 +/- 125), (416 +/- 131), (285 +/- 50) and (342 +/- 141) min, CL were (17 +/- 4), (21 +/- 12), (1.9 +/- 1.8) and (2.8 +/- 1.1) mL.min-1, Vc were (1.4 +/- 0.5), (1.7 +/- 1.1), (0.24 +/- 0.16) and (0.23 +/- 0.06) L.kg-1, Vd were (6.0 +/- 1.2), (12 +/- 7), (0.8 +/- 0.6) and (1.5 +/- 0.6) L.kg-1, AUC were (57,578 +/- 25,578), (35,240 +/- 15,616), (93,088 +/- 22,375) and (177,712 +/- 120,110) h.microgram.L-1, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method is a good reference for pharmacokinetics in human bodies.</p>