Effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on blueberry growth and rhizosphere soil microenvironment.

Background: Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have a specific symbiotic relationship with plants and rhizosphere soil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of PGPR on blueberry plant growth, rhizospheric soil nutrients and the microbial community. Methods: In this study, nine PGPR strains, belonging to the genera Pseudomonas and Buttiauxella, were selected and added into the soil in which the blueberry cuttings were planted. All the physiological indexes of the cuttings and all rhizospheric soil element contents were determined on day 6 after the quartic root irrigation experiments were completed. The microbial diversity in the soil was determined using high-throughput amplicon sequencing technology. The correlations between phosphorus solubilization, the auxin production of PGPR strains, and the physiological indexes of blueberry plants, and the correlation between rhizospheric microbial diversity and soil element contents were determined using the Pearson's correlation, Kendall's tau correlation and Spearman's rank correlation analysis methods. Results: The branch number, leaf number, chlorophyllcontentand plant height of the treated blueberry group were significantly higher than those of the control group. The rhizospheric soil element contents also increased after PGPR root irrigation. The rhizospheric microbial community structure changed significantly under the PGPR of root irrigation. The dominant phyla, except Actinomycetota, in the soil samples had the greatest correlation with phosphorus solubilization and the auxin production of PGPR strains. The branch number, leaf number, and chlorophyllcontent had a positive correlation with the phosphorus solubilization and auxin production of PGPR strains and soil element contents. In conclusion, plant growth could be promoted by the root irrigation of PGPR to improve rhizospheric soil nutrients and the microenvironment, with modification of the rhizospheric soil microbial community. Discussion: Plant growth could be promoted by the root irrigation of PGPR to improve rhizospheric soil nutrients and the microenvironment, with the modification of the rhizospheric soil microbial community. These data may help us to better understand the positive effects of PGPR on blueberry growth and the rhizosphere soil microenvironment, as well as provide a research basis for the subsequent development of a rhizosphere-promoting microbial fertilizer.

Fabrication and release property of self-assembled garlic essential oil-amylose inclusion complex by pre-gelatinization coupling with high-speed shear.

Our aim was to investigate the preparation of self-assembled garlic essential oil-amylose inclusion complexes (SGAs) using garlic essential oil (GEO) and corn starch (CS), and evaluated their release properties. SGAs were fabricated by pre-gelatinization coupling with high-speed shear at different GEO-CS mass ratios. When the mass ratio of GEO to pre-gelatinized corn starch was set at 15 % (SGA-15 %), with a fixed shear rate of 9000 rpm and a shear time of 30 min, the allicin content was 0.573 ± 0.023 mg/g. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed a starch V-type crystalline structure in SGAs with peaks at 13.0°, 18.0°, and 20.0° (2θ). Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra of SGAs displayed a shift in the characteristic peak of diallyl trisulfide from 987.51 cm-1 to 991.45 cm-1. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed that SGAs exhibited lamellar structures covered with small granules. SGAs exhibited higher residual mass (approximately 12 %) than other samples. The resistant starch content of SGAs increased from 10.1 % to 18.4 % as GEO contents varied from 5 % to 15 %. In vitro digestion tests showed that about 53.21 % of allicin remained in SGA-15 % after 8 h. Therefore, this dual treatment can be a new method for fabricating controlled-release inclusion complexes of guest molecules.

Ansofaxine hydrochloride inhibits tumor growth and enhances Anti-TNFR2 in murine colon cancer model.

Introduction: As psychoneuroimmunology flourishes, there is compelling evidence that depression suppresses the anti-tumor immune response, promotes the progression of cancer, and inhibits the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. Recent studies have reported that antidepressants can not only alleviate the depressant condition of cancer patients, but also strengthen the anti-tumor immunity, thus suppressing tumors. Tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) antagonistic antibodies (Anti-TNFR2) targeting tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells (Tregs) has achieved great results in preclinical studies, and with a favorable toxicity profile than existing immunotherapies, and is expected to become a new generation of more effective treatment strategies. Understanding the effects of combination therapy with antidepressants and Anti-TNFR2 may help design new strategies for cancer immunotherapy. Methods: We treated CT26, HCT116, MCA38 and SW620 colon cancer cells with fluoxetine (0-50 µM), ansofaxine hydrochloride (0-50 µM) and amitifadine hydrochloride (0-150 µM) to examine their effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis. We explored the antitumor effects of ansofaxine hydrochloride in combination with or without Anti-TNFR in subcutaneously transplanted CT26 cells in tumor-bearing mouse model. Antitumor effects were evaluated by tumor volume. NK cell, M1 macrophage cell, CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cell, exhausted CD8+ T and regulatory T cell (Tregs) subtypes were measured by flow cytometry. 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine and norepinephrine levels were measured by ELISA. Results: Oral antidepression, ansofaxine hydrochloride, enhanced peripheral dopamine levels, promoted CD8+T cell proliferation, promoted intratumoral infiltration of M1 and NK cells, decreased the proportion of tumor-infiltrating exhausted CD8+T cells, and strengthened anti-tumor immunity, thereby inhibiting colon cancer growth. In combination therapy, oral administration of ansofaxine hydrochloride enhanced the efficacy of Anti-TNFR2, and produced long-term tumor control in with syngeneic colorectal tumor-bearing mice, which was attributable to the reduction in tumor-infiltrating Treg quantity and the recovery of CD8+ T cells function. Discussion: In summary, our data reveal the role of ansofaxine hydrochloride in modulating the anti-tumor immunity. Our results support that exhausted CD8+T is an important potential mechanism by which ansofaxine hydrochloride activates anti-tumor immunity and enhances anti-tumor effects of anti-TNFR2.

Analysis of Blueberry Plant Rhizosphere Bacterial Diversity and Selection of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria.

Microbial metabolites in rhizosphere soil are important to plant growth. In this study, microbial diversity in blueberry plant rhizosphere soil was characterized using high-throughput amplicon sequencing technology. There were 11 bacterial phyla and three fungal phyla dominating in the soil. In addition, inorganic-phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (iPSB) in the rhizosphere soil were isolated and evaluated by molybdenum-antimony anti-coloration method. Their silicate solubilizing, auxin production, and nitrogen fixation capabilities were also determined. Eighteen iPSB in the rhizosphere soil strains were isolated and identified as Buttiauxella, Paraburkholderia and Pseudomonas. The higher phosphorus-solubilizing capacity and auxin production in blueberry rhizosphere belonged to genus Buttiauxella sp. The strains belong to genus Paraburkholderia had the same function of dissolving both phosphorus and producing auxin, as well as silicate and nitrogen fixation. The blueberry seeds incubated with the strains had higher germination rates. The results of this study could be helpful in developing the plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) method for enhancing soil nutrients to blueberry plant.

Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic. extract alleviate cataract development by regulating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway of the lens epithelial cells.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic. (CBP) is a cruciferous plant valuable in reducing fever, improving eyesight and calming the liver. This herb was recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica for cataract treatment. AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine the effects and mechanism of CBP on cataract prevention and treatment using a selenite cataract model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The main compounds in CBP extract were analyzed by UPLC, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic techniques. Flavonoids formed a significant proportion of its compounds, thus necessitating an evaluation of their inhibitory effects on the development of cataract using a selenite cataract model. The protective effects of CBP flavonoids (CBPF) against oxidative damage and the modulation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway were subsequently verified on H2O2-treated SRA01/04 lens epithelial cells. RESULTS: CBPF significantly alleviated the development of cataract by decreasing the MDA level and increasing the GSH-Px and SOD levels in the lens. It also inhibited H2O2-induced apoptosis in SRA01/04 cells, increased the expression of Bcl-2 protein and decreased the expressions of Caspase-3 and Bax proteins. CONCLUSION: CBPF exerts a significant preventive effect on cataract development by regulating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway of the lens epithelial cells. It is thus a potent traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) whose application should be further developed for the clinical treatment of cataract.

[Research progress on rutin derivatives].

Compounds derived from natural products present satisfactory efficacy in disease prevention and treatment. The use of chemical substances in plants to promote healthhas increasingly attracted people's attention. Rutin, a typical flavonoid, is mainly found in various vegetables, fruits and Chinese herbal medicines. As a natural antioxidant, it features many pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammation, anti-virus, anti-tumor, and prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, the low bioavailability and poor water solubility limit its clinical application. In view of this, its structure is optimized and modified to afford rutin derivatives with good solubility, high bioavailability, stable metabolism and small toxic side effects. So far, a large number of rutin ethers, esters, and complexes have been synthesized and undergone activity testing. This paper reviews the structural modification of rutin in recent years, and the obtained derivatives have excellent properties and significant biological activity.

CYP3A4 inducer aggravates big flower Evodiae Fructus-induced hepatotoxicity whereas limonin attenuates its hepatotoxicity.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Evodiae Fructus (EF), the traditional Chinese medicine, has been typically used to treat headache, abdominal pain, hernias, and menorrhagia for thousands of years. It is a mild toxicity herb-medicine listed in Sheng Nong's Herbal Classic. Recently, EF was reported to have toxicity or no toxicity in some investigations. Toxicity and approaches to reducing toxicity of EF are of great interest. Limonin (LIM), a major triterpenoid component of EF, also had various pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. However, little attention was paid to the role of LIM in EF-induced hepatotoxicity. AIM OF STUDY: The study aimed to address the problem of controversial hepatotoxicity of EF, evaluate the role of CYP3A4 inducer/inhibitor in EF-induced hepatotoxicity and disclose the effect of LIM in EF-induced hepatotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical compositions and hepatotoxicity of small flower EF (SEF), medium flower EF (MEF), big flower EF (BEF) and the "organ knock-out" samples (the shell and seed part of BEF) were investigated. Simultaneously, C57BL-6 mice were randomly divided into four groups, which were given orally administered BEF, BEF in combination with dexamethasone (DEX), BEF in combination with ketoconazole (KTC), and BEF in combination with LIM, respectively. RESULTS: In this study, more alkaloids and less LIM were detected in BEF compared with the compounds in SEF and MEF. Furthermore, we found that BEF group induced hepatotoxicity whereas no hepatotoxicity was observed in SEF and MEF groups. In addition, no LIM was detected in the shell part of BEF and five alkaloids were not detected in the seed part of BEF. Correspondingly, the shell part of BEF group induced hepatotoxicity whereas no hepatotoxicity was observed in the seed part of BEF group. It was also found that the BEF-induced hepatotoxicity was remarkably exacerbated when the mice were pretreated with DEX whereas the BEF-induced hepatotoxicity could be reversed by pretreatment with KTC or LIM. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results in this study, the misuse of BEF but not SEF and MEF could produce hepatotoxicity. The hepatotoxicity difference of different categories of EF might be associated with the relative contents of alkaloids and LIM. In addition, the results demonstrated that CYP3A4 inducer aggravated BEF-induced hepatotoxicity and LIM attenuated its hepatotoxicity.

Characterizations of microbial diversity and machine oil degrading microbes in machine oil contaminated soil.

Microbial diversity in machine oil contaminated soil was determined by high-throughput amplicon sequencing technology. The diversity of culturable microbes in the contaminated soil was further characterized using polymerase chain reaction method. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the most dominant phyla and occupied 52.73 and 16.77%, respectively, while the most abundant genera were Methylotenera (21.62%) and Flavobacterium (3.06%) in the soil. In the culturable microbes, the major phyla were Firmicutes (46.15%) and Proteobacteria (37.36%) and the most abundant genera were Bacillus (42.86%) and Aeromonas (34.07%). Four isolated microbes with high machine oil degradation efficiency were selected to evaluate their characteristics on the oil degradation. All of them reached their highest oil degradation rate after 7 days of incubation. Most of them significantly increased their oil degradation rate by additional carbon or organic nitrogen source in the incubation medium. The oil degradation rate by combination of the four microbes at the same inoculation level was also higher than the rate from each individual microbe. The protocol and findings of this study are very useful for developing micro-bioremediation method to eliminate machine oil contaminants from soil.

Systematically characterize the substance basis of Jinzhen oral liquid and their pharmacological mechanism using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS combined with network pharmacology analysis.

Jinzhen oral liquid (JZ) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine formula used for the treatment of children lung disease. However, the effective substance of JZ is still unclear. In this study, we used lung injury rat model to study the protective effect of JZ, through UPLC-Q-TOF/MS detection coupled with metabolic research and network pharmacology analysis. Fortunately, 31 absorbed prototype constituents and 41 metabolites were identified or tentatively characterized based on UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis, and the possible metabolic pathways were hydroxylation, sulfation and glucuronidation. We optimized the data screening in the early stage of network pharmacology by collecting targets based on adsorbed constituents, and further analyzed the main biological processes and pathways. 24 selected core targets were frequently involved in reactive oxygen species metabolic process, dopaminergic synapse pathway and so on, which might play important roles in the mechanisms of JZ for the treatment of lung injury. Overall, the absorbed constituents and their possible metabolic pathways, as well as the absorbed constituent-target-disease network provided insights into the mechanisms of JZ for the treatment of lung injury. Further studies are needed to validate the biological processes and effect pathways of JZ.