New Alkaloid and Aromatic Glucoside from the Flowers of Cymbidium Lunagrad Eternal Green.

In this paper, we investigated the chemical components of the flowers of Cymbidium Lunagrad Eternal Green for the first time. In the whole post-fertilization, a new alkaloid, named Lunagrad A (1), and a new aromatic glucoside, named Lunagrad B (2), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the flowers of Cymbidium Lunagrad Eternal Green, along with other six known aromatic compounds (3-8) and three flavone glucosides (9-11). These structures were determined on the basis of NMR experiments, as well as chemical evidence.

Rice grassy stunt virus p5 interacts with two protein components of the plant-specific CBL-CIPK Ca+2 signaling network of rice.

Rice grassy stunt virus (RGSV) is a tenuivirus posing a threat to rice production in many South, Southeast, and East Asian countries. To date, no host factor interacting with RGSV has been reported. In this study, we screened a rice cDNA library with the GAL4-based yeast two-hybrid system using RGSV p5 as the bait. One of the candidate host factors interacting with RGSV p5 was found to be CBL-interacting protein kinase 25 (OsCIPK25), a member of the plant-specific CBL-CIPK Ca2+ signaling network. The interaction between RGSV p5 and OsCIPK25, as well as OsCIPK5, which is closely related to OsCIPK25, was confirmed by their cellular co-localization and by a bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay in Nicotiana benthamiana cells. Given the importance of CIPKs in the regulation of ion homeostasis and the resemblance of RGSV symptoms to potassium deficiency in rice, we evaluated potassium content of RGSV-infected rice and found it to be much lower than that in the healthy rice.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Anoectochilus roxburghii.

The complete chloroplast sequence of the Anoectochilus roxburghii, a popular traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cancer, was determined in this study. The chloroplast genome (cpDNA)^ was 152,802 bp in length, containing a pair of inverted repeats of 52,728 bp separated by a large single-copy region and a small single-copy region of 82,641 bp and 17,433 bp, respectively. The chloroplast genome encodes 116 predicted functional genes, including 81 protein-coding genes, four ribosomal RNA genes, and 31 transfer RNA genes, 25 of which are duplicated in the inverted repeat regions. The cpDNA is GC-rich (36.9%).

Simultaneous analysis of Cr(III), Cr(VI), and chromium picolinate in foods using capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

We herein reported a method for the simultaneous detection of trace Cr(VI), Cr(III), and chromium(III) picolinate (CrPic) in foods using CE-ICP-MS together with ultrasonic-assisted extraction. The Cr(III) (Cr(3+) ) was chelated with trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N´,N´-tetraacetic acid (DCTA) to form a single charged Cr-DCTA(-) complex. Then, Cr(VI) (CrO4 (2-) ), Cr-DCTA(-) , and CrPic were separated by CE within 8 min under a separation voltage of -13 KV followed by their monitoring with ICP mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The proposed method is simple, effective, and sensitive. It has an instrument detection limit of 0.10, 0.18, and 0.20 ngCr/mL for Cr(VI), Cr(III), and CrPic, respectively. With the help of the methods, we have successfully determined Cr(VI), Cr(III), and CrPic in nutritional supplement (CrPic yeast tablet) with an RSD (n = 5) <6% and a recovery of 93-103%. The experimental results showed that CrPic was the main speciation of chromium in the nutritional supplement, with a concentration of 1514.6 µg Cr/g.

Isolation of a ribonuclease with antiproliferative and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitory activities from Japanese large brown buckwheat seeds.

A ribonuclease, with a molecular mass of 22.5 kDa and an N-terminal sequence exhibiting resemblance to previously isolated buckwheat storage proteins and allergens, was isolated from Japanese large brown buckwheat seeds. The ribonuclease was purified using a simple protocol that comprised ion exchange chromatography on Q-Sepharose and DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Superdex 75. The ribonuclease exhibited low activity toward poly U, lower activity toward poly C, and very low activity toward poly A and poly G. The enzyme was activated upon exposure to 10 mM of Fe(2+) and Zn(2+) ions but was inhibited by Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and Mn(2+) ions at the same concentration. The optimum pH and optimum temperature for the enzyme were pH 9 and 60 °C, respectively. It inhibited proliferation of HepG2 hepatoma and MCF 7 breast cancer cells, with an IC50 value of 79.2 and 63.8 µM, respectively. It potently inhibited HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activity with an IC50 of 48 µM. However, there were no antifungal and mitogenic activities.

A new phenolic glycoside and cytotoxic constituents from Celosia argentea.

A new phenolic glycoside, 4-O-ß-D-apifuranosyl-(1→2)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-2-hydroxy-6-methoxyacetophenone (2) and 11 known compounds were isolated from the MeOH extract of the plant Celosia argentea. The structures of the compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Among the isolated compounds, stigmasterol (10) showed moderate inhibitory activities against SGC-7901 and BEL-7404 cells.

Constituents from the seeds of Brucea javanica with inhibitory activity of Tobacco mosaic virus.

Three new constituents were obtained along with 10 known compounds from the seeds of Brucea javanica. The structures of these compounds were determined based on spectral and chemical evidence. These new compounds included a monoterpenoid glycoside and two sesquiterpenes. Bioactivity screening of these constituents showed that compounds 1, 3, 8, 9, and 13 with obvious activities in inhibiting multiplication of the Tobacco mosaic virus.

Two new phenolic water-soluble constituents from branch bark of Davidia involucrata.

Two new phenolic water-soluble constituents, involcranoside A (1) and involcranoside B (2) have been isolated along with five known phenolic compounds: 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-O-beta-D-gluco-pyranoside (3), picein (4), and 1,4-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), leonuriside A (6) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (7) from the branch bark of Davidia involucrata. Identification of their structures was achieved by 1D and 2D NMR experiments, including (1)H-(1)H COSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC methods and FAB mass spectral data.

Antiphytoviral activity of bruceine-D from Brucea javanica seeds.

BACKGROUND: Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. is widely distributed throughout the southern parts of China and has been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of diseases. The objective of the present study was to identify the active antiphytoviral compound in the seeds of B. javanica and evaluate the inhibitory activity of the compound against plant virus. RESULTS: Bioassay-guided fractionation of the most active extract from the seeds led to the isolation of an antiphytoviral compound which was identified as bruceine-D by conventional spectroscopy methods. The compound exhibited significant inhibitory activity against the infection and replication of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), with IC(50) values of 13.98 and 7.13 mg L(-1) respectively. The compound also showed a strong inhibitory effect on the infectivity of potato virus Y (PVY) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Furthermore, the compound could effectively inhibit systemic TMV infection in the host tobacco plant under glasshouse conditions. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that bruceine-D from Brucea javanica may have the potential to be used as a natural viricide, or a lead compound for new viricides.

Anti-tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) triterpenoid saponins from the leaves of Ilex oblonga.

Ten triterpene saponins have been isolated from a MeOH extract of the leaves of Ilex oblonga. In their structures, six new triterpenoid saponins were named as oblonganosides H-M (2, 4, 5, and 8-10). All structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Among the triterpenoid saponins, three compounds (7, 8, and 10) showed obvious activities in inhibiting multiplication of the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV).

Structure-activity relationship of triterpenes and triterpenoid glycosides against tobacco mosaic virus.

A new activity of triterpenes and triterpenoid glycosides against phytovirus has been found. Based on the anti-TMV replication activity in vivo, 47 triterpenes and triterpenoid glycosides were screened through the leaf-disk method together with indirect ELISA. Structure-activity relationships were analyzed according to the results of bio-activity screening. Besides, the EC(50) values of those compounds having higher activities were measured.

Molecular characterization of a new lectin from the marine alga Ulva pertusa.

A new lectin, named UPL1, was purified from a green alga Ulva pertusa by an affinity chromatography on the bovine-thyroglobulin-Sepharose 4B column. The molecular mass of the algal lectin was about 23 kD by SDS-PAGE, and it specifically agglutinated rabbit erythrocytes. The hemagglutinating activity for rabbit erythrocytes could be inhibited by bovine thyroglobulin and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. The lectin UPL1 required divalent cations for maintenance of its biological activity, and was heat-stable, and had higher activity within pH 6-8. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified lectin was determined (P83209) and a set of degenerate primers were designed. The full-length cDNA of the lectin was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method (AY433960). Sequence analysis of upl1 indicated it was 1084 bp long, and encoded a premature protein of 203 amino acids. The N-terminal sequence of the mature UPL1 polypeptide started at amino acid 54 of the deduced sequence from the cDNA, indicating 53 amino acids lost due to posttranslational modification. The primary structure of the Ulva pertusa lectin did not show amino acid sequence similarity with known plant and animal lectins. Hence, this protein may be the paradigm of a novel lectin family.