[Effects of chemical fertilizer reduction and organic fertilizer substitution on yield and quality of Saposhnikovia divaricata].

To explore the suitable fertilizing pattern for Saposhnikovia divaricata in the genuine producing area, a field trial was carried out to investigate the changes in the yield and quality of medicinal materials and soil in different fertilization patterns, such as organic fertilizer substitution(organic fertilizer+NPK fertilizer) and chemical fertilizer reduction(organic fertilizer+NPK fertilizer decrement and organic fertilizer+NPK fertilizer decrement+soil conditioner). The comprehensive analysis of all treatments was based on the medicine quality evaluation data set and soil quality evaluation data set, respectively, by CRITIC weight method. The results showed that(1) the yield of S. divaricate increased by 4.93%-12.67% under the organic fertilizer substitution mode, and the yield increased by 44.43% under the treatment of chemical fertilizer reduction YHT15, which was higher than that of the organic fertilizer substitution mode.(2) The quality of S. divaricate under the two fertilization modes was superior to the standard in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and the application of biochar was helpful to improve the quality of S. divaricate quality, with an increase of 82.83%-181.54%. CRITIC method analysis showed that fertilization treatments with high comprehensive scores were YHT15, YH30, and YH15.(3) Soil quality under the two fertilization modes was higher than that under the control. The fertilization treatments with higher comprehensive scores of soil quality were YHT15, YHT30, and YHT. The fertilization mode of adding biochar as soil conditioner, applying an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer, and reducing part of chemical fertilizer is the appropriate way to develop ecological plantation of S. divaricata in the Baicheng area in the western Jilin province. The specific fertilization mode is as follows. The basic fertilizer was 361 kg·hm~(-2) superphosphate+110 kg·hm~(-2) potassium sulfate+82 kg·hm~(-2) organic fertilizer+10 000 kg·hm~(-2) rice husk biochar, and urea was applied as top fertilizer three times, 29, 29, and 20 kg·hm~(-2), respectively.

[Effects of water regulation on biosynthesis of calycosin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside in Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus].

The effects of water regulation on the biosynthesis of calycosin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside in 2-year-old Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus were studied,and the mechanism was explained from the aspects of key enzyme gene expression and antioxidant enzyme system. The content of calycosin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside was determined by HPLC,and the expression levels of six key enzyme genes( PAL,4 CL,CHS,CHI,IFS,13'H) in the synthesis pathway were analyzed by q RT-PCR. The activities of protective enzymes and contents of osmoregulation substances and malondialdehyde were also determined. In the water deficit group,the maximum concentration of calycosin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside was 0. 49 mg·g-1 on the 24 th day of treatment. In the whole water regulation,the water deficit group outweighed the water adequate group in osmoregulation substance and MDA contents. The activities of A. membranaceus var.mongholicus antioxidant enzymes SOD,POD,and CAT increased during the initial period of water regulation,but decreased with time.The expression of PAL,CHS,and 13'H in the water deficit group was at a low level,and the 4 CL had active expression,slightly lower than that in the water adequate group. The expression of CHI and IFS elevated rapidly when water deficit occurred. Correlation analysis showed that the content of calycosin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside was positively correlated with CHI expression( P<0. 01) and IFS expression( P<0. 05). Therefore,water regulation can change the accumulation pattern of calycosin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside,and water deficit may be an effective way to increase its content. CHI and IFS are the key genes in response to water deficit.

Drought stress induces biosynthesis of flavonoids in leaves and saikosaponins in roots of Bupleurum chinense DC.

Drought stress affects vegetative and reproductive growth processes and synthesis of secondary metabolites in plants. We assessed relevant indicators of vegetative and reproductive growth in Bupleurum chinense DC. during drought stress. Samples were collected on days 4, 8, 12, 20, and 24 of a drought treatment according to drought stress severity in order to elucidate potential effects on synthesis of flavonoids in leaves and saikosaponins in roots of B. chinense. The results showed that B. chinense can adapt to drought stress mainly by increasing concentrations of osmoregulatory substances (soluble protein and proline) and increasing activity of protective enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase), as observed on days 12 and 20 of the treatment. Secondary metabolite concentrations in B. chinense roots and leaves showed significant differences-drought stress increased saikosaponin concentrations in roots by 9.85% and 6.41% during vegetative and reproductive growth, respectively, on day 20, and saikosaponin concentrations in roots were higher during vegetative growth than during reproductive growth. In leaves, large amounts of antioxidants were consumed owing to drought stress, which decreased leaf rutin concentrations by 38.79% and 30.11% during vegetative and reproductive growth, respectively, as observed on day 20; overall, leaf rutin concentrations were lower during vegetative growth than during reproductive growth. Changes in soil water content are known to affect synthesis of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants by altering gene transcription, and affected genes may synergistically respond to soil water changes and alter concentrations of flavonoid in leaves and of saikosaponin in roots. The gene F3H down-regulates flavonoid production in leaves. Squalene epoxidase and ß-amyrin synthase genes may be key genes regulating saikosaponin accumulation, and changes in their expression corresponded to accumulation of saikosaponins. Our results provide insights in B. chinense adaptation to drought stress through physiological changes and regulation of secondary metabolite production in different plant tissues.

Study on the Changes of Chemical Constituents in Different Compatibilities of Ginseng-Prepared Rehmannia Root and Their Effects on Bone Marrow Inhibition after Chemotherapy.

Ginseng (G) and Prepared Rehmannia Root (PRR) are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for blood supplementation. This study aimed to study G and PRR with different compatibility ratios changes in chemical composition and inhibition of cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression. HPLC was used to determine the chemical constituents of 13 ginsenosides, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and verbascoside in different proportions of G-PRR. Balb/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with cyclophosphamide (CTX) to induce bone marrow suppression. The effects of different proportions of G-PRR on peripheral blood, bone marrow nucleated cells, thymus and spleen index of myelosuppressed mice were analyzed. The results showed that the compatibility of G and PRR can promote the dissolution of ginsenosides, and the content of conventional ginsenosides decreased, and the content of rare ginsenosides increased. Different proportions of G-PRR increased the number of peripheral blood and bone marrow nucleated cells in cyclophosphamide-induced bone marrow suppression mice (p < 0.01), increased thymus index (p < 0.01), decreased spleen index (p < 0.01). Different proportions of G-PRR can improve the myelosuppression induced by cyclophosphamide in mice, and the combined effect of G-PRR is better than the single decoction of G and PRR. Among them, G-PRR 2 : 3 and G-PRR 1 : 2 were better than the other groups. These results indicate that different proportion of G-PRR can improve bone marrow suppression, and the combined decoction of G-PRR is better than the separate Decoction in improving bone marrow suppression. This improvement may be related to the changes of the substance basis and active ingredients of G-PRR.

[Preliminary study on response and its mechanism of ginsenoside biosynthesis in Panax ginseng to water regulation].

The study is aimed to explore the effect of soil moisture content on ginsenoside biosynthesis and explain its mechanism from the perspectives of antioxidant enzyme system and gene expression of key enzymes in the pathway of ginsenoside synthesis. In the study,two years old Panax ginseng was used as the experimental material and three moisture gradient,40% of saturated water content( W1),60%( W2),80%( W3) were set up. The content of 11 monomeric saponins were determined by HPLC. With GAPDH as a reference gene,six key enzymes( HMGR,SS,ß-AS,CYP716 A47,CYP716 A52 v2,CYP716 A53 v2) in ginseng saponin synthesis pathway expression were analyzed by fluorescent quantitative PCR and the activities of superoxide dismutase( SOD),peroxidase( POD),catalase( CAT) activity and MDA content were also determined. With the increase of soil water,the content of ginseng saponin and biomass showed an increasing trend. PPD( Rb1,Rc,Rb2,Rd,Rh2,Rb3,Rg3),PPT( Rg1,Re,Rf) ginsenoside,Ro and total ginsenoside reached the maximum value on August 30,were 9.92,5.48,0.63 mg·g-1,respectively. During the whole regulation period,the antioxidant activity of W3 was greater than that of W1,and the MDA content was less than that of W1. At W3,expression levels of ß-AS,CYP716 A47 and CYP716 A53 v2 showed an increasing trend,while HMGR and SS genes showed relatively stable expression levels under various water conditions. According to the correlation analysis,HMGR and SS genes in the W3 treatment group were significantly positively correlated with PPD,PPT ginsenoside and Ro,CYP716 A52 v2 gene was significantly positively correlated with Ro,and CYP716 A47 gene was significantly positively correlated with PPD ginsenoside. There was a significant positive correlation between ß-AS gene and PPD ginsenoside in W1 and W2 treatment. Therefore,W3 is the optimum moisture content,ginseng total saponins and monomer saponin content is the highest,the gene closely correlation with content of saponins and more conducive to the accumulation of ginsenosides.

[Short-term water changes response of saponin biosynthesis process in Astragalus membranceus].

The study is aimed to explore the effect of different water on the content of total saponins,astragaloside Ⅳ and gene expression in the growth of Astragalus membranceus. In this study, one-year-old A. membranaceus was used as the experimental material, by pot culture different water treatments were simulated at herbal garden in Jilin Agricultural University. The content of astragaloside Ⅳ was determined by HPLC and the total saponins by UV spectrophotometry. With 18 S RNA as a reference gene, fluorescent quantitative PCR was applied to analyze the eight key enzymes in astragalus saponin synthesis pathway AACT,HMGS,HMGR,IDI,FPS,SS,SE,CAS expression. With the decrease of soil water, the content of astragaloside Ⅳ in the root tissue of A. membranaceus showed an increasing trend, up to 1.46 mg·g~(-1). The total saponin content tended to increase, up to 6.80 mg·g~(-1). The results of relative expression of genes showed that the eight genes showed different effects at different water. With the change of soil water content, the amount of(AACT,IDI,SS) relative expression in drought stress group firstly increased and then decreased, then increased, and then decreased. The amount of(HMGS,HMGR,FPS) relative expression in drought stress group increased firstly and then decreased. The amount of(SE,CAS) relative expression in drought stress group increased firstly and then decreased, and continued to decrease after rehydration. The expression of key enzyme genes involved in the synthesis of astragaloside was influenced by each other, and the expression of key enzyme in roots showed a correlation with the content of astragaloside. Correlation analysis showed that there was a very significant positive correlation between HMGR gene and total saponins content in drought stress group and a significant negative correlation between content of CAS and total saponins. The contents of FPS,SE,CAS and astragaloside Ⅳ were very significantly and negative correlated. The relationship between other genes and quality was positive. Therefore, HMGR, FPS, SE and CAS genes have significant effects on the regulation of saponin content under water control. On the 15 th day after water regulation, the total amount of astragaloside and total saponins reached the highest value and could be harvested.

[Effect of temperature on content of baicalin and expression of key enzyme genes in callus of Scutellaria baicalensis].

The study is aimed to explore the effect of different temperature on the content of baicalin and gene expression in the growth of Scutellaria baicalensis. Four culture temperatures were used to establish the callus culture of S. baicalensis under dark conditions for 40 days and once every 5 days. The growth and baicalin contents were determined. 18S RNA was used as a reference gene to analyze the five key factors in baicalin biosynthesis pathway (PAL), cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H), chalcone synthase (CHS), ß-glucuronidase (GUS), baicalein-7-O-glucuronosyltransferase (UBGAT) gene expression levels. The results showed that biomass, baicalin content and accumulation increased with the increase of temperature. 25 °C and 30 °C were more suitable for the growth of S. baicalensis. The content and accumulation of baicalin at 25 °C reached the highest level at 30 days, reaching 2.75% and 12.44 mg, respectively. The relative expression levels of C4H, CHS, GUS and UGBAT genes at 15 °C were higher than those at other treatments. The correlation between the relative expression levels of each key enzyme and the content of baicalin was negatively correlated with the increase of incubation temperature. The relative expression levels of PAL, C4H and CHS genes at 25 °C and 30 °C were significantly correlated with the contents of baicalin and reached a highly significant or significant level. Relative low temperature conditions were not conducive to the growth of S. baicalensis and the accumulation of baicalin. The accumulation of baicalin by PAL and C4H in the upstream of the synthetic pathway was significant.

Nephroprotective Effects of Saponins from Leaves of Panax quinquefolius against Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury.

Although cisplatin is an anticancer drug that has activity against malignant tumor, it often causes nephrotoxicity. Previous reports have confirmed that the saponins from the leaves of P. quinquefolium (PQS) exerted many pharmacological activities. However, the renoprotective effects of PQS were still unknown. The purpose of the present research was to discuss renoprotective effect of PQS in a mouse model of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (CRE) were evidently increased in cisplatin-intoxicated mice, which were reversed by PQS. Renal oxidative stress, evidenced by increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level and decline of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, was significantly alleviated by PQS pretreatment. The suppression of inflammatory response by PQS was realized through the decrease the mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) in kidney tissues, which were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Simultaneously, the overexpression of cytochrome P450 E1 (CYP2E1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were attenuated by PQS. Furthermore, the effects of Western blotting demonstrated that PQS administration significantly suppressed the protein expression levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase type 4 (Nox4), cleaved Caspase-3, cleaved Caspase-9, Bax, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), suggesting the inhibition of apoptosis and inflammation response. Overall, PQS may possess protective effects in cisplatin-induced AKI through suppression of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

The Synthesis and Evaluation of Arctigenin Amino Acid Ester Derivatives.

The use of arctigenin (ARG), a traditional medicine with many pharmacological activities, has been restricted due to its poor solubility in water. Five amino acid derivatives of ARG have been synthesized using glycine, o-alanine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine, which have t-butyloxy carbonyl (BOC) as a protective group. In this study, we examined the effects of removing these protective groups. The results showed that the amino acid derivatives have better solubility and nitrite-clearing ability than ARG. Among the compounds tested, the amino acid derivatives without protective group were the best. Based on these results, ARG and its two amino acid derivatives without protective group (ARG8, ARG10) were selected to evaluate their anti-tumor activity in vivo at a dosage of 40 mg/kg. The results indicated that ARG8 and ARG10 both exhibit more anti-tumor activity than ARG in H22 tumor-bearing mice. The tumor inhibition rates of ARG8 and ARG10 were 69.27 and 43.58%, which was much higher than ARG. Furthermore, the mice treated with these compounds exhibited less damage to the liver, kidney and immune organs compared with the positive group. Furthermore, ARG8 and ARG10 improved the serum cytokine levels significantly compared to ARG. In brief, this study provides a method to improve the water solubility of drugs, and we also provide a reference basis for new drug development.

[Cloning and bioinformatic analysis and expression analysis of beta-glucuronidase in Scutellaria baicalensis].

The ß-Glucuronidase gene (sbGUS) cDNA firstly from Scutellari abaicalensis leaf was cloned by RT-PCR, with GenBank accession number KR364726. The full length cDNA of sbGUS was 1 584 bp with an open reading frame (ORF), encoding an unstable protein with 527 amino acids. The bioinformatic analysis showed that the sbGUS encoding protein had isoelectric point (pI) of 5.55 and a calculated molecular weight about 58.724 8 kDa, with a transmembrane regions and signal peptide, had conserved domains of glycoside hydrolase super family and unintegrated trans-glycosidase catalytic structure. In the secondary structure, the percentage of alpha helix, extended strand, ß-extended and random coil were 25.62%, 28.84%, 13.28% and 32.26%, respectively. The homologous analysis indicated the nucleotide sequence 98.93% similarity and the amino acid sequence 98.29% similarity with S. baicalensis (BAA97804.1), in the nine positions were different. The expression level of sGUS was the highest in root based on a real-time PCR analysis, followed by flower and stem, and the lowest was in stem. The results provide a foundation for exploring the molecular function of sbGUS involved in baicalcin biosynthesis based on synthetic biology approach in S. baicalensis plants.

[Effect of environmental factors on photosynthetic physiology and flavonoid constituent of Scutellaria baicalensis].

To discuss the effect of environmental factors and photosynthesis on the growing of plant and the content of active components in Scutellaria baicalensis, the photosynthetic physiology index and diurnal changes of flavonoid constituent of S. Baicalensis were observed and tested in flowering and fruiting stages, and in the meantime environmental parameters were recorded. The obtained data were analyzed data by using path analysis and gray correlation analysis. The results showed that PAR and SWC were important environmental factors impacting on photosynthesis of S. baicalensis. SWC, RH and Ca were important environmental factors impacting on baicalin content. PAR, Po and Ta were important environmental factors impacting on baicalein content.

[Effects of growing time on Panax ginseng rhizosphere soil microbial activity and biomass].

Using the field sampling and indoor soil cultivation methods, the dynamic of ginseng rhizosphere soil microbial activity and biomass with three cultivated ages was studied to provide a theory basis for illustrating mechanism of continuous cropping obstacles of ginseng. The results showed that ginseng rhizosphere soil microbial activity and biomass accumulation were inhibited observably by growing time. The soil respiration, soil cellulose decomposition and soil nitrification of ginseng rhizosphere soil microorganism were inhibited significantly (P <0.05), in contrast to the control soil uncultivated ginseng (R0). And the inhibition was gradual augmentation with the number of growing years. The soil microbial activity of 3a ginseng soil (R3) was the lowest, and its activity of soil respiration, soil cellulose decomposition, soil ammonification and soil nitrification was lower than that in R0 with 56.31%, 86.71% and 90. 53% , respectively. The soil ammonification of ginseng rhizosphere soil microbial was significantly promoted compared with R0. The promotion was improved during the early growing time, while the promotion was decreased with the number of growing years. The soil ammonification of R1, R2 and R3 were lower than that in R0 with 32.43%, 80.54% and 66.64% separately. The SMB-C and SMB-N in ginseng rhizosphere soil had a decreased tendency with the number of growing years. The SMB-C difference among 3 cultivated ages was significant, while the SMB-N was not. The SMB of R3 was the lowest. Compared with R0, the SMB-C and the SMB-N were significantly reduced 77.30% and 69.36%. It was considered by integrated analysis that the leading factor of continuous cropping obstacle in ginseng was the changes of the rhizosphere soil microbial species, number and activity as well as the micro-ecological imbalance of rhizosphere soil caused by the accumulation of ginseng rhizosphere secretions.

[Physiological ecology responses of Scutellaria baicalensis to drought and rewatering].

To study the physiological ecology responses of Scutellaria baicalensis to drought and rewatering of short period, we tested and analyzed photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of S. baicalensis leaves processed by different ways of water treatment in drought and rewatering period, characteristic indexes of physiology and biochemistry of root SOD, POD, PAL, C4H, etc. and accumulation dynamic change of root baicalin and baicalein. The result showed that along with the worsening drought, P(n), T(r), G(s) and F(v)/F(m) of S. baicalensis declined in different water supply, and F(o) increased. The response of SOD and POD's activity in S. baicalensis root to drought in I and II was earlier than it in III. The response time and increase range of baicalin accumulation existed differences in different water supply, and the indexes regained after rewatering. Therefore, photosynthesis of S. baicalensis changed and it destroyed the antioxidant metabolism balance when soil water content decreased resulting from drought. The synergistic effect of defence mechanism launched by S. baicalensis, SOD, POD, PAL, C4H, baicalin and baicalein reduced active oxygen's damage to the cell.

[Construction of prokaryotic expression vector, expression and purification of ginseng Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase].

The total RNA was extracted from ginseng leaves of Panax ginseng. The Cu/Zn-SOD gene was amplified via RT-PCR and the pET-28(a)-Cu/Zn-SOD expression vector was constructed. The pET-28 (a)-Cu/Zn-SOD recombinant plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) competent cells and was induced by IPTG in order to select optimal induction of expression conditions. The target protein was purified by the nickel ions (Ni ) affinity chromatography and the target protein enzyme activity was determinated by the xanthine oxidase method. The similarity of the Cu/Zn-SOD gene sequences and the Cu/Zn-SOD gene sequences of Korean ginseng in NCBI was 99. 00%. The target protein expression level was about 44.42%, and the molecular weight was 16.30 kDa after the pET-28(a)-Cu/Zn-SOD recombinants were induced by IPTG. The purified Cu/Zn-SOD protease activity reached 10,596.69 U x mg(-1). The P. ginseng pET-28(a)-Cu/Zn-SOD prokaryotic expression vector was built by the method of molecular biology, which provided the foundation for studying the Cu/Zn-SOD biology function.

[Correlation study on lignin contents of Schisandra chinensis and ecological factors].

The contents of schisandrin, schizandrin A, B and C were determined by HPLC, and the effects of the climate factors and altitude on lignin contents were analyzed in order to select the optimal cultivation area of S. chinensis. The lignin contents were analyzed by HPLC using a ZORBAX SB-C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). The column temperature and detection wave length were set at 35 degrees C and 254 nm, respectively. Methanol-water was used as the mobile phase in gradient elution mode and the flow-rate was 1.0 mL min(-1). The method had a good repeatability, stability and accuracy. The correlation of climate factors and lignins contents was analyzed by SPSS software. The results showed that the schizandrin A content in S. chinensis fruits were higher than 0.4% in Ji'an, Liuhe, Antu and Fusong in Jilin province, which met the quality requirement. It had significant linear negative correlation relationship between schisandrin, schizandrin A, B and altitude, the contents decreased with the increase of altitude. The significant negative linear fitting coefficient was 0.844 1 between schisandrin and altitude; but it had not significant correlation between schizandrin C and altitude. A significant positive correlation of climate factors and the contents of S. chinensis lignins were mainly the temperature factors (the average annual temperature, the highest temperature in July, the average temperature in July, the highest temperature in January, the average temperature in January) and precipitation factor (average annual precipitation), which reveals that higher temperature and precipitation were helpful to the formation and accumulation of lignins of S. chinensis. So the cultivation area of S. chinensis should be in the low elevations region with warm and rainy climate.

[Effects of water stress on photosynthesis, biomass, and medicinal material quality of Tribulus terrestri].

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of water stress on the photosynthetic characteristics, biomass accumulation, and principal medicinal compositions of Tribulus terrestri. Water stress changed the diurnal variation of T. terrestri photosynthesis, decreased the net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate significantly, weakened the plant photosynthetic and assimilative capability, and accordingly, hindered the dry matter accumulation and decreased the biomass. However, water stress promoted the accumulation of gross saponins in T. terrestri. In the treatments with irrigation amounts 150 and 450 mm, the gross saponins content was 13.26 and 12.47 mg x g(-1), respectively, being significantly different from that in the treatments with irrigation amounts 250 and 350 mm. The dynamic accumulation of gross flavonoids and gross saponins had an opposite tendency with that of biomass, namely, the contents of these principal medicinal compositions were the lowest when the biomass was the maximal. Correlation analysis showed that the biomass accumulation of T. terrestri was significantly correlated with outside environmental factors, while the contents of secondary metabolism products were affected not only by the outside environmental factors, but also by the inside factors such as biomass accumulation.

[Study on fitting growth density and best harvest time of Tribulus terrestris].

OBJECTIVE: To study the suitable growth density and the optimal harvest time of Tribulus terrestris. METHOD: Four growth densities were set with 60 cm breadth ridge and individual distance of 10, 20, 30 and 50 cm. The yield per individual and per unit area under the different growth densities were determined. Using yam saponin as a standard substance, the total saponin of T. terrestris was determined by UV spectrophotometry. RESULT: The individual yield decreased with the density increase, but the difference between 30 cm and 50 cm individual distance was not substantial. The yield per unit area increased with density increase, and the difference between all densities was significant. The yield peak was in the last ten-day of August. The best leaves area index was 1.4 at the growth peak time. The total saponins content reached peaks respectively in the last ten-day of June and August, but the peak in last ten-day of August was consistent with the one of yield per unit area, and the total ashes content was the lowest at the same time. CONCLUSION: The suitable growth density is 10 cm individual distance on the 60 cm breadth ridge. The optimal harvest time is in the last ten-day of August. The yield per unit area is 1 400 - 2 000 kg x hm(-2).

Activity and QSAR study of baogongteng A and its derivatives as muscarinic agonists.

Baogongteng A (BGT-A), a naturally occurring tropane muscarinic agonist isolated from Chinese medicinal plant, exhibits a bioactive effect different from those of many tropane alkaloids that are muscarinic antagonists. A series of racemic derivatives of BGT-A was synthesized to study the structure-activity relationships (SAR). To explore further the SAR in this series and to ultimately design muscarinic agonists for drug development, a Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) was performed. The values of the leave-one-out cross-validated correlation coefficient q2 and the conventional correlation coefficient r2 for the model are 0.613 and 0.965, respectively. The regression analysis of the data indicated that the steric effect of N-substituted group on tropane of analyzed compounds critically affected the agonistic activity to muscarinic receptors.

[Medico-psychology in Huang di nei jing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon)].

Huang di nei jing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) discusses spirit, mood, soul, idea, will, anxiety, worry, wisdom, morale and their relations with human life, physiology, and body-mind health. It also expounds the developmental rule of human body and mind, methods for keeping fit. These simple thinking of medico-psychology reflects that Chinese doctors had advocated science since ancient times. The methodology of systematically and comprehensively discussing the relationship among nature, human body, visceral functions, and emotional activities reflects, again, the rather strong physiological dialectical thinking of ancient people.

[Inhibition of magnesium lithospermate B on the c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 mRNA expression in cardiomyocytes encountered ischemia/reperfusion injury].

AIM: To study the function of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3) in the process of ischemic/reperfused heart injury and the mechanism underlying the protective action of magnesium lithospermate B (MTB), a bioactive compound isolated from Danshen. METHODS: By in situ hybridization, JNK3 mRNA was detected in the ventricular preparations of the Langendorff ischemic/reperfused rat heart. The inhibitory effect of MTB on the expression of JNK3 mRNA was also investigated. RESULTS: The purple and blue hybridization signals were located in the cytoplasm of the cardiomyocytes, which were weaker in the non-perfused hearts and stronger in the hearts encountered 30 min of ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion. Image analysis showed that the expression of JNK3 mRNA in the cardiomyocytes increased after 30 min of ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion, which showed significant difference compared with that in the cardiomyocytes of the non-perfused heart and the control heart (P < 0.05). Treatment with of 0.1, 1 and 10 mumol.L-1 MTB abolished the elevation of JNK3 mRNA expression in the ischemic/reperfused heart (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: JNK3 may be another component in the signal transduction pathway of ischemia/reperfusion induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. MTB may protect the heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury by reducing apoptosis through inhibition of the JNK3 activity.