Phytochemical Constituents from the Seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris and Their Antioxidant Activities.

Phytochemical investigation of 70% EtOH extract of the seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris led to the isolation of a new cyclobutane organic acid (1), and fourteen known compounds, including two organosulfur compounds (2, 3), two quinonoids (4, 5), five flavonoids (6-10), three sterols (11-13) and two other types (14, 15). The structures of the compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses as well as comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. The antioxidant capacities of all compounds and extractive fractions were evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging test and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Then the antioxidative substances were evaluated for their neuroprotective effects against H2O2-induced HT22 cell injury. The results indicated the strong scavenging ability to free radical of the extractive fractions and compounds 1-3, 8-10 and 13, and the ferric reducing antioxidant power of the extractive fractions and compounds 1-3, 8 and 10, which were close to or higher than that of the positive control trolox. The EtOAc fraction, n-BuOH fraction, and compounds 1, 3 and 8 can protect HT-22 cells from oxidative damage.

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Podosphaera macularis on Humulus scandens in China.

Humulus scandens, (Lour.) Merr., is a climbing herb which are used as traditional Chinese medicine, a raw material for papermaking, making soap, and replacing hops H. lupulus. This herb is distributed in many provinces of China, including Sichuan province. During March and June 2022, powdery mildew was found on leaves of H. scandens in the modern agricultural high-tech demonstration garden of Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Science, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. Abundant white or grayish powdery colonies could be seen on the surface of leaves, and 30%-100% of leaf areas were affected. Some of the infected leaves were either chlorotic or senescent. About 90% of the observed plants showed powdery mildew symptoms. Conidiophores (n = 25) were 74.0 to 160.1 µm × 8.7 to 12.7 µm (on average 120.9 × 10.4 µm) and composed of cylindrical foot cells (length 31.9-72.9 µm, average 50.1 µm) and conidia (mostly 10 conidia) in chains. Barrel-shaped conidia with fibrosin bodies (n = 30) were 12.8 to 21.0 µm × 7.9 to 15 µm, on average 16.7 × 11.3 µm, with a length/width ratio of 1.5. Chasmothecia were not found. Based on these morphologic characteristics, the pathogen was initially identified as Podosphaera macularis (Braun and Cook 2012; Mahaffee et al. 2009). To confirm the identification, two isolates (PDLC0315 and PDLC0412) of P. macularis mycelia and conidia were collected, and mycelia and conidia were combined for a single DNA extraction from each isolate. With the total genomic DNA, the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 5.8S rRNA, the 18S and 28S large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU) (Bradshaw and Tobin 2020; White et al. 1990), were bi-directionally sequenced and deposited in GenBank (ON862625.1 and ON862630.1). The ON862625.1 and ON862630.1 showed 100% similarity with sequences of P. macularis isolate CT1 (MH687414.1). Phylogenetic analyses based on the combined ITS and 28S rDNA sequences indicated that the two specimens, PDLC0315 and PDLC0412 formed a monophyletic clade together with sequences retrieved from Podosphaera macularis CT1 and Head quarter 31 (KX842348.1). The pathogenicity test with the fungus was confirmed by gently pressing the infected leaves onto three healthy wild plants from the same geographical location. Three uninoculated wild plants served as controls. Six inoculated and non-inoculated plants were placed in different growth chambers with a 16-h photoperiod at 22±2°C and 70% of relative humidity. After 10 to 14 days, powdery mildew colonies developed on inoculated plants. Non-inoculated control plants did not show any symptoms. The fungus on inoculated leaves was morphologically identical to that first observed in the garden. As far as we know, this study is the first report of powdery mildew disease in Humulus scandens caused by Podosphaera macularis in China. Rapid expansion and wild distribution of H. scandens could lead to increased powdery mildew risk in outdoor cultivation. Due to the invasive potential of the powdery mildew fungi, this record is important in the context of the range extension of Podosphaera macularis.

Enhancing the In Vitro Biological Activity of Degraded Silk Sericin and Its Analog Metabolites.

Two sericins of high and low molecular weight (HS and LS) were prepared from commercial silkworm cocoon silk with a boiling water and Ca(OH)2 solution with ultrasonic treatments, respectively. This study first investigated the release concentration of the two abovementioned sericins in simulated saliva, gastric juice, and intestinal juice (pH 6.8, 2.0, and 7.4, respectively) within 10 h. The results showed that the order of sericin release rate and its amount in the simulated environment was gastric juice > saliva > intestinal juice. Second, the molecular weights of both sericin metabolites formed by in vitro enzymatic degradation were lower than 15 kDa. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of both sericins and their analog metabolites were positively correlated with their concentrations. The IC50 values of the HS- and LS-derived metabolites were 1.02 ± 0.12 mg/mL and 0.91 ± 0.15 mg/mL, respectively, which were five to seven times lower than those of both original sericins. The total antioxidant capacities and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacities of both metabolites were enhanced by one- to three-fold compared with HS and LS. These results indicate that both sericins, regardless of molecular size, have significantly enhanced antioxidant, superoxide free radical scavenging, and glycosidase inhibitory activities after simulated metabolism, and that LS is better than HS regardless of simulated digestion. These results confirm that sericin is important in the sustainable development and utilization of silk resources, especially the reduction in environmental pollution, and provides new ideas for the development of adjuvant treatments for diabetes and the development of foods with anti-hyperglycemic functions.

[Research progress on traditional Chinese medicine in preventing and treating cerebral ischemia injury based on "nose-brain" pathway].

Due to the increasing incidence of central nervous system diseases,especially the increasing incidence and mortality of stroke,brain-targeted drug delivery has attached more and more attention. Nasal administration,as one of the ways of brain-targeted administration,can effectively make the drug delivered to the brain in a targeted way after by passing the blood-brain barrier,providing a new idea for the treatment of central nervous system diseases. Therefore,it is a promising administration way. In recent years,the treatment of encephalopathy by nasal administration of traditional Chinese medicine has become a hot topic in the research of traditional Chinese medicine. Ischemic stroke is one of the most important diseases endangering human health. Nasal administration has a history of thousands of years in treatment of stroke. Modern medical research has proved that there is a subtle connection between the nasal cavity and the brain,and the complex and ingenious structure of the nasal cavity provides the possibility for drugs delivery to the brain through the nose. Drug administration through nasal cavity has obvious advantages in treatment of central nervous system diseases represented by ischemic stroke. Nasal administration is characterized by non-invasion,low infection,rapid absorption and brain targeting. The author will expound the theoretical basis of brain targeting of nasal administration from the aspects of anatomy and physiology,and summarize the transport pathway of drugs through the nose into the brain,the in vitro and in vivo experimental research basis of the " nose-brain"pathway,and the clinical nasal administration of traditional Chinese medicine to prevent cerebral ischemia. It provides a reference for better research of drugs to prevent and treat cerebral ischemia injury through the " nose-brain"pathway and lays a foundation for further research of the " nose-brain" pathway.

Study on neuroendocrine-immune function of Phenylethanoid Glycosides of Desertliving Cistanche herb in perimenopausal rat model.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Desertliving Cistanche herb was first recorded in "Shen Nong'Herbal Classic" and listed as the top grade herbal medicine in it. Phenylethanoid glycosides are indicative components for identification and content determination of Desertliving Cistanche herb in Chinese pharmacopoeia, which is also one of the main active components. In this research, we explored the mechanism of phenylethanoid glycosides of Desertliving Cistanche herb to the perimenopausal model rats. AIM: The purpose of this study is to research the effects of phenylethanoid glycosides of Desertliving Cistanche herb (PGC) on the neuroendocrine-immune function of perimenopausal syndrome by perimenopausal model rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar female rats were selected. The left ovaries for all rats except in the blank control group(BC) were removed, and the right ovaries were removed in 80%. The vaginal smear showed irregular estrous cycle changes for the perimenopausal model rats. And the perimenopausal model rats were gavaged Gengnian'an, Phenylethanoid Glycosides of Desertliving Cistanche herb high, medium, low suspension which is 450mg/(kg day), 133.33mg/(kg day), 66.67mg/(kg day), 33.33mg/(kg day); the group of BC and model group (MC)were given distilled water in the same volume as the drugs group for 30 consecutive days. Horizontal-vertical exercise scores were measured at 29 days of dosing. After the last administration, the blood was taken from the abdominal aorta, and levels of E2, LH, FSH, GnRH, BGP in serum, and the levels ß-EP in plasma were measured respective. Organ indexes of thymus, spleen, and uterus were calculated. The content of estrogen receptor (ER) in the hypothalamic, pituitary and uterus tissues and the content of androgen receptor (AR) in the hypothalamic homogenate were measured. The pathological changes of the thymus, spleen, uterus, ovary were observed by HE staining. RESULTS: Compared with MC, PGC increase the activity, the organ index (thymus, spleen, uterus), E2, T, BGP level in serum, ß-EP level in plasma, AR level in hypothalamus, ER level in hypothalamus, pituitary, uterus in perimenopausal model rats. And it also reduced FSH, LH, GnRH level in serum, and improved uterine and ovarian lesions in perimenopausal model rats. CONCLUSION: Each dose of PCG could counteract the disorder of sex hormone in perimenopausal model rats, correct the imbalance of ER and AR level, enhance and restore the effect of uterus and the nerve cells of hypothalamic, and improve immune function.

Determination and comparison of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content in pu-erh and other types of Chinese tea.

Two previous studies have reported that pu-erh tea contains a high level of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and has several physiological functions. However, two other researchers have demonstrated that the GABA content of several pu-erh teas was low. Due to the high value and health benefits of GABA, analysis of mass-produced pu-erh tea is necessary to determine whether it is actually enriched with GABA. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of GABA in tea, the results of which were verified by amino acid analysis using an Amino Acid Analyzer (AAA). A total of 114 samples of various types of Chinese tea, including 62 pu-erh teas, 13 green teas, 8 oolong teas, 8 black teas, 3 white teas, 4 GABA teas, and 16 process samples from two industrial fermentations of pu-erh tea (including the raw material and the first to seventh turnings), were analyzed using HPLC. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the GABA content in pu-erh tea was significantly lower than that in other types of tea (p < 0.05) and that the GABA content decreased during industrial fermentation of pu-erh tea (p < 0.05). This mass analysis and comparison suggested GABA was not a major bioactive constituent and resolved the disagreement GABA content in pu-erh tea. In addition, the GABA content in white tea was found to be significantly higher than that in the other types of tea (p < 0.05), leading to the possibility of producing GABA-enriched white tea.