The effects of different doses of lanthanum-modified bentonite in combination with a submerged macrophyte (Vallisneria denseserrulata) on phosphorus inactivation and macrophyte growth: A mesocosm study.

The combination of chemical phosphorus (P) inactivation and submerged macrophyte transplantation has been widely used in lake restoration as it yields stronger effects than when applying either method alone. However, the dose effect of chemical materials on P inactivation when used in combination with submerged macrophytes and the influences of the chemicals used on the submerged macrophytes growth remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated P inactivation in both the water column and the sediment, and the responses of submerged macrophytes to Lanthanum modified bentonite (LMB) in an outdoor mesocosm experiment where Vallisneria denseserrulata were transplanted into all mesocosms and LMB was added at four dosage levels, respectively: control (LMB-free), low dosage (570 g m-2), middle dosage (1140 g m-2), and high dosage (2280 g m-2). The results showed that the combination of LMB dosage and V. denseserrulata reduced TP in the water column by 32%-38% compared to V. denseserrulata alone, while no significant difference was observed among the three LMB treatments. Porewater soluble reactive P, two-dimensional diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT)-labile P concentrations, and P transformation in the 0-1 cm sediment layer exhibited similar trends along the LMB dosage gradient. Besides, LMB inhibited plant growth and reduced the uptake of mineral elements (i.e., calcium, manganese, iron, and magnesium) in a dosage-dependent manner with LMB. LMB may reduce plant growth by creating a P deficiency risk for new ramets and by interfering with the uptake of mineral elements. Considering both the dose effect of LMB on P inactivation and negative effect on macrophyte growth, we suggest a "small dosage, frequent application" method for LMB application to be used in lake restoration aiming to recover submerged macrophytes and clear water conditions.

Nanocatalytic Hydrogel with Rapid Photodisinfection and Robust Adhesion for Fortified Cutaneous Regeneration.

Chronic inflammation caused by invasive bacterial infections severely interferes with the normal healing process of skin regeneration. Hypoxia of the infection microenvironment (IME) seriously affects the antibacterial effect of photodynamic therapy in phototherapy. To address this serious issue, a nanocatalytic hydrogel with an enhanced phototherapy effect consisting of a hydrogel polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) scaffold, MXene/CuS bio-heterojunction, and polydopamine (PDA) for photothermal antibacterial effects and promoting skin regeneration is designed. The MXene/CuS bio-heterojunction has a benign photothermal effect. Singlet oxygen (1O2) and hydroxyl radicals (·OH) were generated under near-infrared light, which made the hydrogel system have good antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The addition of PDA further improves the biocompatibility and endows the nanocatalytic hydrogel with adhesion. Additionally, in vivo assays display that the nanocatalytic hydrogel has good skin regeneration ability, including ability to kill bacteria, and promotes capillary angiogenesis and collagen deposition. This work proposes an approach for nanocatalyzed hydrogels with an activated IME response to treat wound infections by enhancing the phototherapeutic effects.

Affinity ultrafiltration and UPLC-HR-Orbitrap-MS based screening of neuraminidase inhibitors from Angelica pubescens.

Traditional Chinese medicine is a rich source of natural products and has a long history of use because of its remarkable clinical efficacy. In the present study, the chemical constitutes of Angelica pubescens were studied by ultra high performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-HR-Orbitrap-MS). A total of 78 compounds were identified and the main composition were coumarins and phenolic acids. Then, the neuraminidase was incubated with extract of Angelica pubescens to screen the neuraminidase inhibitors by affinity ultrafiltration methods. As a result, 13 small molecules were discovered to interact with neuraminidase for the first time. In vitro neuraminidase inhibitory activity of the screened compounds and extract of Angelica pubescens was tested, and isochlorogenic acid C, isochlorogenic acid B, osthole, chlorogenic acid, xanthotoxin, phellopterin and imperatorin were proved to have this activity. In addition, molecular docking analysis was conducted to predict the potential docking position. This study may provide a reference for the medical substance basis in Angelica and the clinical usage of this drug.

[Multiplex PCR method for simultaneous identification of Xanthii Fructus and its adulterants].

The purpose of this study is to establish a molecular method to identify Xanthii Fructus and two adulterants, the fruits of Xanthium mongolicum and X. italicum. Xanthii Fructus is the fruit of X. sibiricum, which is a Chinese herbal medicine used clinically to treat allergic rhinitis. The fruits of X. mongolicum and X. italicum have strong morphological similarities with Xanthii Fructus, while their safety of medication cannot be guaranteed. The genomes of X. sibiricum, X. mongolicum, and X. italicum were sequenced, which generated sequences of 2.21, 2.24, and 2.54 Gb, respectively. Based on the 76 specific contigs screened out by BLASTN and Bowtie 2, the corresponding primers were designed by Primer 5.0. Three pairs of primers with stable amplification efficiency and good reproducibility were screened out to establish a multiplex PCR method based on the PCR amplification results. Further, the annealing temperature, the amount of DNA template, the number of cycles, different DNA polymerases, and different PCR thermal cyclers were optimized. Fragments of 262 bp and 458 bp from X. sibiricum, 260, 454, and 927 bp from X. mongolicum, and 260 bp and 926 bp from X. italicum were amplified under the following conditions: the annealing temperature of 52 ℃, 35 cycles, 30 ng template DNA. Then, the established method was used to detect 18 samples of X. sibiricum, 17 samples of X. mongolicum, and 12 samples of X. italicum. The results showed that all the samples had positive results, which were consistent with the morphological identification results, thus proving the stability and reliability of the established method. Combining genome sequencing technology and multiplex PCR method to identify Xanthii Fructus and its adulterants can not only obtain the difference in genetic background but also facilitate the design of reliable primers. The multiplex PCR have high specificity and repeatability, providing a new method for the molecular identification of Xanthii Fructus.

Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of D-leaf of seven pineapple varieties differing in N-P-K% contents.

BACKGROUND: Pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr.) is the third most important tropical fruit in China. In other crops, farmers can easily judge the nutritional requirements from leaf color. However, concerning pineapple, it is difficult due to the variation in leaf color of the cultivated pineapple varieties. A detailed understanding of the mechanisms of nutrient transport, accumulation, and assimilation was targeted in this study. We explored the D-leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents, transcriptome, and metabolome of seven pineapple varieties. RESULTS: Significantly higher N, P, and K% contents were observed in Bali, Caine, and Golden pineapple. The transcriptome sequencing of 21 libraries resulted in the identification of 14,310 differentially expressed genes in the D-leaves of seven pineapple varieties. Genes associated with N transport and assimilation in D-leaves of pineapple was possibly regulated by nitrate and ammonium transporters, and glutamate dehydrogenases play roles in N assimilation in arginine biosynthesis pathways. Photosynthesis and photosynthesis-antenna proteins pathways were also significantly regulated between the studied genotypes. Phosphate transporters and mitochondrial phosphate transporters were differentially regulated regarding inorganic P transport. WRKY, MYB, and bHLH transcription factors were possibly regulating the phosphate transporters. The observed varying contents of K% in the D-leaves was associated to the regulation of K+ transporters and channels under the influence of Ca2+ signaling. The UPLC-MS/MS analysis detected 873 metabolites which were mainly classified as flavonoids, lipids, and phenolic acids. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide a detailed insight into the N, P, K% contents in pineapple D-leaf and their transcriptomic and metabolomic signatures.

Molecular identification of an androgen receptor and the influence of long-term aggressive interaction on hypothalamic genes expression in black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii).

This study aims to explore the mechanism on how aggressive interaction alters reproductive physiology by testing whether aggressive interaction can activate the reproductive neuroendocrine function via the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii). The expressions of the androgen receptor gene (ar) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone genes (gnrhs), the concentration of plasma androgens, and GSI (the ratio of testes mass to body mass) were compared between the interaction group (dominant males or subordinate males) and the isolation group in male black rockfish after 3 weeks. A full-length cDNA encoding an androgen receptor (AR) of 766 amino acids was isolated. Transcripts encoding this AR were detected at a high relative abundance in the liver, kidney, testis, ovary, muscle, and intestine tissue. Further evaluation of brain genes transcripts abundance revealed that the mRNA levels of gnrh I and ar genes were significantly different between the interaction group and the isolation group in the hypothalamus. However, no significant difference was detected in testosterone, 11-keto-testosterone, and GSI between these two groups. This study indicates that a long-term aggressive interaction affect the expression of hypothalamic gnrh I and ar but may not change the physiological function of the HPG axis in an all-male condition.

The combined effects of macrophytes (Vallisneria denseserrulata) and a lanthanum-modified bentonite on water quality of shallow eutrophic lakes: A mesocosm study.

Establishment of submerged macrophyte beds and application of chemical phosphorus inactivation are common lake restoration methods for reducing internal phosphorus loading. The two methods operate via different mechanisms and may potentially supplement each other, especially when internal phosphorous loading is continuously high. However, their combined effects have so far not been elucidated. Here, we investigated the combined impact of the submerged macrophyte Vallisneria denseserrulata and a lanthanum-modified bentonite (Phoslock®) on water quality in a 12-week mesocosm experiment. The combined treatment led to stronger improvement of water quality and a more pronounced reduction of porewater soluble reactive phosphorus than each of the two measures. In the combined treatment, total porewater soluble reactive phosphorus in the top 10 cm sediment layers decreased by 78% compared with the control group without Phoslock® and submerged macrophytes. Besides, in the upper 0-1 cm sediment layer, mobile phosphorus was transformed into recalcitrant forms (e.g. the proportion of HCl-P increased to 64%), while in the deeper layers, (hydr)oxides-bound phosphorus species increased 17-28%. Phoslock®, however, reduced the clonal growth of V. denseserrulata by 35% of biomass (dry weight) and 27% of plant density. Our study indicated that Phoslock® and submerged macrophytes may complement each other in the early stage of lake restoration following external nutrient loading reduction in eutrophic lakes, potentially accelerating the restoration process, especially in those lakes where the internal phosphorus loading is high.

Uniform Fe3O4/Gd2O3-DHCA nanocubes for dual-mode magnetic resonance imaging.

The multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique has been extensively studied over the past few years since it offers complementary information that can increase diagnostic accuracy. Simple methods to synthesize contrast agents are necessary for the development of multimodal MRI. Herein, uniformly distributed Fe3O4/Gd2O3 nanocubes for T 1-T 2 dual-mode MRI contrast agents were successfully designed and synthesized. In order to increase hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, the nanocubes were coated with nontoxic 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid (DHCA). The results show that iron (Fe) and gadolinium (Gd) were homogeneously distributed throughout the Fe3O4/Gd2O3-DHCA (FGDA) nanocubes. Relaxation time analysis was performed on the images obtained from the 3.0 T scanner. The results demonstrated that r 1 and r 2 maximum values were 67.57 ± 6.2 and 24.2 ± 1.46 mM-1·s-1, respectively. In vivo T 1- and T 2-weighted images showed that FGDA nanocubes act as a dual-mode contrast agent enhancing MRI quality. Overall, these experimental results suggest that the FGDA nanocubes are interesting tools that can be used to increase MRI quality, enabling accurate clinical diagnostics.

S-allyl cysteine activates the Nrf2-dependent antioxidant response and protects neurons against ischemic injury in vitro and in vivo.

Stroke is a devastating clinical condition for which an effective neuroprotective treatment is currently unavailable. S-allyl cysteine (SAC), the most abundant organosulfur compound in aged garlic extract, has been reported to possess neuroprotective effects against stroke. However, the mechanisms underlying its beneficial effects remain poorly defined. The present study tests the hypothesis that SAC attenuates ischemic neuronal injury by activating the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-dependent antioxidant response in both in vitro and in vivo models. Our findings demonstrate that SAC treatment resulted in an increase in Nrf2 protein levels and subsequent activation of antioxidant response element pathway genes in primary cultured neurons and mice. Exposure of primary neurons to SAC provided protection against oxygen and glucose deprivation-induced oxidative insults. In wild-type (Nrf2(+/+) ) mice, systemic administration of SAC attenuated middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced ischemic damage, a protective effect not observed in Nrf2 knockout (Nrf2(-/-) ) mice. Taken together, these findings provide the first evidence that activation of the Nrf2 antioxidant response by SAC is strongly associated with its neuroprotective effects against experimental stroke and suggest that targeting the Nrf2 pathway may provide therapeutic benefit for the treatment of stroke. The transcription factor Nrf2 is involved in cerebral ischemic disease and may be a promising target for the treatment of stroke. We provide novel evidence that SAC confers neuroprotection against ischemic stroke by activating the antioxidant Nrf2 signaling pathway. ARE, antioxidant response element; GCLC, glutathione cysteine ligase regulatory subunit; GCLM, glutathione cysteine ligase modulatory subunit; HO-1, heme oxygenase-1; JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase; Keap1, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1; Maf, musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma; Nrf2, nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2; SAC, S-allyl cysteine; ROS, reactive oxygen species.

Synthesis of 13-amino telekin derivatives and their cytotoxic activity.

Telekin is a eudesmane sesquiterpene-lactone naturally occurring in many medicinal plants with antitumour and anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, a series of 13-amino derivatives of telekin have been synthesised through Michael addition reaction, and their relative configurations were exemplified by the single crystal X-ray diffraction of the dimethylamine adduct. The in vitro cytotoxicity against three tumour cell lines of these amine derivatives was evaluated. The piperidine and 4-hydroxypiperidine adducts displayed stronger cytotoxic activity than telekin.

Antioxidant-rich phytochemicals in miracle berry (Synsepalum dulcificum) and antioxidant activity of its extracts.

Miracle berry is known for its unique characteristic of modifying sour flavours to sweet. Twelve phenolics were identified and quantified in the miracle berry flesh at a level from 0.3 for kaempferol to 17.8 mg/100g FW for epicatechin. Lutein and α-tocopherol were also quantified at a level of 0.4 and 5.8 mg/100g FW, respectively. The TP and TF contents were 1448.3 GA and 9.9 QR mg Equiv/100g FW for the flesh, respectively, compared with 306.7 GA and 3.8 mg QR mg Equiv/100g FW of the seeds. The free radical scavenging and reducing percentage of the flesh extract was 96.3% and 32.5% in DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. Additionally, the flesh extract had a high FRAP of 22.9 mmol/100g. It significantly inhibited the oxidation of PUFA in fish oil as well. Thus, miracle berry could also serve as an antioxidant-rich fruit to provide health promoting function.

Phytochemicals in sweet sorghum ( Dura ) and their antioxidant capabilities against lipid oxidation.

Hydrophilic (HPE) and lipophilic (LPE) extracts were obtained from the Louisiana sweet sorghum millets. Nine major hydrophilic phytochemicals were quantified at levels of 8.9 µg/g for cinnamic acid to 1570.0 µg/g for apigeninidin. Lipophilic phytochemicals (α- and γ-tocopherol, lutein, and ß-carotene) were quantified at levels of 7.7, 145.7, 4.8, and 18.8 µg/g, respectively. The total phenolic contents of HPE and LPE were 768.9 and 97.6 µg of catechin equivalent/g, respectively, while DPPH activities were 6.5 and 0.8 µmol of Trolox equivalent/g for HPE and LPE, respectively. In an emulsion model, HPE exhibited higher capability of inhibiting cholesterol oxidation and stabilizing linoleic acid than LPE. Inhibition rates of cholesterol oxidation for HPE and LPE at 40 µg/mL were 92.2% and 65.4%, respectively. Retention rates of linoleic acid were 70.4% for HPE and 33.6% for LPE at a given concentration. Thus, HPE of sweet sorghum millet has potential in functional food applications.

Comparison of the activities of hydrophilic anthocyanins and lipophilic tocols in black rice bran against lipid oxidation.

The antioxidant capabilities of anthocyanin and tocol extracts from black rice bran were evaluated using an emulsion system containing either cholesterol (1.0mg/ml) or fish oil (10mg/ml). The cholesterol oxidation product, 7-ketocholesterol, increased to 180.1 µg/ml in the control emulsion after 168 h of oxidation, while it was only 15.4 and 39.0 µg/ml in the emulsions containing 1 µg/ml of the anthocyanin and tocol extracts, respectively; but below 1.2 µg/ml in the emulsion having 5 µg/ml of anthocyanins or tocols. In the fish oil emulsion, over 80% of C20:5 and C22:6 were oxidised after a 48 h incubation at 37°C, while they were retained above 38% and 65% in the emulsions containing 10 µg/ml of anthocyanins and tocols, respectively, and above 85% in the emulsion containing 20 µg/ml of anthocyanins or tocols. Compared with the tocols extract, the capability of the anthocyanin extract was relatively greater in stabilising cholesterol but lower in inhibiting fatty acids oxidation.

[Trigeminal neuralgia of hyperactive of liver yang type treated with acupuncture at Xiaguan (ST 7) at different depth: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the differences of therapeutic effect in primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) of hyperactive of liver yang type treated by deep and shallow puncturing at Xiaguan (ST 7). METHODS: Sixty-three cases of PTN of hyperactive of liver yang type were randomly divided into a deep puncturing group (32 cases) and a shallow puncturing group (31 cases). Xiaguan (ST 7) of affected region, Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LV 3) of bilateral sides, Cuanzhu (BL 2), Sibai (ST 2) and Jiachengjiang (Extra) relevant to the affected branch of nerve stem were selected in both groups. In deep puncturing group, Xiaguan (ST 7) was punctured to the depth of spheno-palatine ganglion (SPG); Cuanzhu (BL 2), Sibai (ST 2) and Jiachengjiang (Extra) were respectively punctured to the depth of supraorbital foramen, infraorbital foramen and mental foramen. In shallow group, routine puncturing was applied; the needles were connected with G6805 electric acupuncture apparatus, and switched on for 30 min every time; the treatment was applied every other day. Pain index, traditional Chinese medicine symptoms index and clinical therapeutic effect were observed after 2 courses of treatment. RESULTS: In deep puncturing group, the VAS scores and the traditional Chinese medicine symptoms scores (pain degree, pain frequency, upsetting, conjunctival congestion, bitter mouth and hypochondriac pain) after treatment were much more lower than those before treatment (all P < 0.01); in shallow puncturing group, except hypochondriac pain (P > 0.05), other indices above after treatment were obviously lower than those before treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the indices in both groups after treatment, the VAS scores, the pain degree, conjunctival congestion and total scores of traditional Chinese medicine symptoms in deep puncturing group were more significant (all P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 93.8% (30/32) in deep puncturing group, superior to that of 87.1% (27/31) in shallow puncturing group (P < 0.05). No any adverse reaction was observed in both groups. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of trigeminal neuralgia of hyperactive of liver yang type treated with electroacupuncture is remarkable, and deep puncturing at Xiaguan(ST 7) to SPG is more effective than routine puncturing.

Clinical effect of sphenopalatine ganglion needling in treating primary trigeminal neuralgia of Liver-yang upsurge syndrome type.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy and safety of sphenopalatine ganglion needling in treating patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) of Liver (Gan)-yang upsurge syndrome (LYUS) type. METHODS: Sixty-five PTN patients of LYUS type were assigned by a random number table to two groups and treated by deep-needling (33 patients, DN group) and superficial-needling (32 patients, SN group), respectively. The main-acupoint used for both groups was Xiaguan (ST7) of affected side, on which needle was deeply inserted to reach spheno-palatine ganglion in the DN group, but was inserted conventionally in the SN group; the auxiliary acupoints used were the local points Cuanzhu (BL2), Sibai (ST2), Chengjiang (CV24) of affected side, as well as the remote points, bilateral Hegu (LI4) and Taichong (LR3). The needling was implemented every other day, with electric stimulation applied to all the punctured acupoints for 30 min, 10 days treatment as one therapeutic course. Each patient received 2 courses of needling with 1 week interval in between. The clinical efficacy, pain control and adverse reaction were evaluated and compared after the treatment. RESULTS: Rank-sum test showed that the efficacy in the DN group was significantly better than that in the SN group (Z =2.30, P=0.021); the pain was alleviated in both groups in frequency, intensity and sustained time (evaluated by visual analogue scale) significantly (P<0.01), but deep needling showed a superiority over superficial needling in reducing the frequency and intensity of episode (Z=9.55, Z=5.50, both P=0.00). No adverse reaction occurred during the treatment course of both groups. CONCLUSION: Spheno-palatine ganglion needling is highly effective, safe and reliable for the treatment of PTN.

Danshensu ameliorates the cognitive decline in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice by attenuating advanced glycation end product-mediated neuroinflammation.

Spatial learning and memory are impaired in diabetic animals. The interaction of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) with the receptor of AGEs (RAGE), resulting in the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), plays an important role in pathways leading to the cytotoxic effects to neurons. Danshensu, a compound from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, has neuroprotective effects. This study aimed to investigate the role of AGE-mediated neuroinflammation in learning and memory deficits and the effect of Danshensu on the cognitive decline in diabetic mice. C57BL/6 mice were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin. Sodium Danshensu (sodium salt of Danshensu) was administered at a dose of 15, 30, or 60 mg/kg for 12 weeks. The results showed that diabetes caused impairment in acquisition and retrieval processes, as demonstrated by performance in the Morris water maze test. Danshensu not only reduced the mean escape latency but also increased the percentage of time spent in the target quadrant. Western blot analysis revealed that there was a significant increase in the expression of RAGE, p-p38, and COX-2, and the NF-κB activation. Danshensu partly blocked the expression of RAGE, p-p38, and COX-2, and NF-κB activation, and inhibited the increase of TNF-α, IL-6, and PGE2. However, Danshensu did not affect body weight and the levels of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin, and AGEs. These findings demonstrate that AGE-mediated neuroinflammation plays an important role in learning and memory deficits in diabetic mice and that Danshensu may provide a potential alternative for the prevention of cognitive impairment associated with diabetes by attenuating AGE-mediated neuroinflammation.

[Puerarin induced apoptosis of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell by mitochondrial pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the contribution of mitochondrial pathway in the apoptosis induced by puerarin (PUE) in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. METHOD: Cultured rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) were intervened by high, middle and low dose of puerarin (1.5 x 10(-3), 1.5 x 10(-4), 1.5 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1)). The change of mitochondrial membrane potential was observed. Western blot detected the expression of apoptosis-related gene Caspase-9, Bax and Bcl-2 protein. RESULT: Compared with the control group, mitochondrial membrane potential significantly decreased in puerarin groups. Puerarin can enhance the expression of Caspase-9 and Bax protein, decrease the expression of Bcl-2 protein. Puerarin also has a concentration-dependent on the induction of PASMC. CONCLUSION: Puerarin can induce PASMC apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway.

Separation and identification of norcantharidin metabolites in vivo by GC-MS method.

Norcantharidin (NCTD), the demethylated analogue of cantharidin, inhibits the proliferation of a variety of human tumor cell lines, and appears to cause the least nephrotoxic and inflammatory side effects. Although NCTD has been used to treat human cancers in China for years, there is no report regarding its metabolism up to now. This is the first report to separate and identify the main metabolites of NCTD in vivo by GC-MS using TMS derivatives. Two hydrolyzed products and five phase I or phase II metabolites were found in rat by the chromatogram comparisons of the blank with incurred biological samples. Multiple stages of fragmentation patterns were used to confirm the metabolites characterizations. The established GC-MS method can also be applied to identifying unknown metabolites of the drugs containing hydroxyl or carbonyl groups in molecular structure.

Inhibitory effects of golden thread (Coptis chinensis) and berberine on Microcystis aeruginosa.

The effects of 40 Chinese herbs on Microcystis aeruginosa growth were monitored spectrophotometrically. Golden thread (Coptis chinensis) exhibited the best inhibitory effects. Cell density of M. aeruginosa decreased with the increasing concentrations of golden thread and the prolongation of exposure time. Decreases in protein content, carbohydrate content, and chlorophyll a content were observed in a golden thread concentration-dependent manner after 96 h exposure. Changes in cell density, protein content, carbohydrate content, and chlorophyll a content of M. aeruginosa exposed to berberine, the main component of golden thread, were also investigated. It was observed that berberine exhibited the same inhibitory effects on M. aeruginosa. The results suggested that golden thread could inhibit M. aeruginosas growth effectively, and berberine might be the main allelochemical implementing the inhibitory effects of golden thread.

Molecular population genetics of human CYP3A locus: signatures of positive selection and implications for evolutionary environmental medicine.

BACKGROUND: The human CYP3A gene cluster codes for cytochrome P450 (CYP) subfamily enzymes that catalyze the metabolism of various exogenous and endogenous chemicals and is an obvious candidate for evolutionary and environmental genomic study. Functional variants in the CYP3A locus may have undergone a selective sweep in response to various environmental conditions. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to profile the allelic structure across the human CYP3A locus and investigate natural selection on that locus. METHODS: From the CYP3A locus spanning 231 kb, we resequenced 54 genomic DNA fragments (a total of 43,675 bases) spanning four genes (CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP3A7, and CYP3A43) and two pseudogenes (CYP3AP1 and CYP3AP2), and randomly selected intergenic regions at the CYP3A locus in Africans (24 individuals), Caucasians (24 individuals), and Chinese (29 individuals). We comprehensively investigated the nucleotide diversity and haplotype structure and examined the possible role of natural selection in shaping the sequence variation throughout the gene cluster. RESULTS: Neutrality tests with Tajima's D, Fu and Li's D* and F*, and Fay and Wu's H indicated possible roles of positive selection on the entire CYP3A locus in non-Africans. Sliding-window analyses of nucleotide diversity and frequency spectrum, as well as haplotype diversity and phylogenetically inferred haplotype structure, revealed that CYP3A4 and CYP3A7 had recently undergone or were undergoing a selective sweep in all three populations, whereas CYP3A43 and CYP3A5 were undergoing a selective sweep in non-Africans and Caucasians, respectively. CONCLUSION: The refined allelic architecture and selection spectrum for the human CYP3A locus highlight that evolutionary dynamics of molecular adaptation may underlie the phenotypic variation of the xenobiotic disposition system and varied predisposition to complex disorders in which xenobiotics play a role.