Leaf nutrient resorption of two life-form tree species in urban gardens and their response to soil nutrient availability.

Background: Leaf nutrient resorption is a key strategy in plant conservation that minimizes nutrient loss and enhances productivity. However, the differences of the nutrient resorption among garden tree species in urban ecosystems were not clearly understood, especially the differences of nitrogen resorption efficiency (NRE) and phosphorous resorption efficiency (PRE) between evergreen and deciduous trees. Methods: We selected 40 most generally used garden tree specie belonged two life forms (evergreen and deciduous) and investigated the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in green and senesced leaves and soil nutrient concentrations of nine samples trees for each species. Then, the nutrient concentrations and resorption efficiency were compared, and the soil nutrients utilization strategies were further analyzed. Results: The results showed that the N concentration was significantly higher in the green and senesced leaves of deciduous trees than in the leaves of evergreen trees. The two life-form trees were both N limited and evergreen trees were more sensitive to N limitation. The NRE and PRE in the deciduous trees were significantly higher than those in the evergreen trees. The NRE was significantly positively correlated with the PRE in the deciduous trees. As the soil N and P concentrations increased, the nutrient resorption efficiency (NuRE) of the evergreen trees increased, but that of the deciduous trees decreased. Compared with the deciduous trees, the evergreen trees were more sensitive to the feedback of soil N and P concentrations. These findings reveal the N and P nutrient resorption mechanism of evergreen and deciduous trees and fill a gap in the understanding of nutrient resorption in urban ecosystems.

Advances in Biotechnological Production and Metabolic Regulation of Astragalus membranaceus.

Legume medicinal plants Astragalus membranaceus are widely used in the world and have very important economic value, ecological value, medicinal value, and ornamental value. The bioengineering technology of medicinal plants is used in the protection of endangered species, the rapid propagation of important resources, detoxification, and the improvement of degraded germplasm. Using bioengineering technology can effectively increase the content of secondary metabolites in A. membranaceus and improve the probability of solving the problem of medicinal plant resource shortage. In this review, we focused on biotechnological research into A. membranaceus, such as the latest advances in tissue culture, including callus, adventitious roots, hairy roots, suspension cells, etc., the metabolic regulation of chemical compounds in A. membranaceus, and the research progress on the synthetic biology of astragalosides, including the biosynthesis pathway of astragalosides, microbial transformation of astragalosides, and metabolic engineering of astragalosides. The review also looks forward to the new development trend of medicinal plant biotechnology, hoping to provide a broader development prospect for the in-depth study of medicinal plants.

Application of Data Modeling, Instrument Engineering and Nanomaterials in Selected Medid the Scientific Recinal Plant Tissue Culture.

At present, most precious compounds are still obtained by plant cultivation such as ginsenosides, glycyrrhizic acid, and paclitaxel, which cannot be easily obtained by artificial synthesis. Plant tissue culture technology is the most commonly used biotechnology tool, which can be used for a variety of studies such as the production of natural compounds, functional gene research, plant micropropagation, plant breeding, and crop improvement. Tissue culture material is a basic and important part of this issue. The formation of different plant tissues and natural products is affected by growth conditions and endogenous substances. The accumulation of secondary metabolites are affected by plant tissue type, culture method, and environmental stress. Multi-domain technologies are developing rapidly, and they have made outstanding contributions to the application of plant tissue culture. The modes of action have their own characteristics, covering the whole process of plant tissue from the induction, culture, and production of natural secondary metabolites. This paper reviews the induction mechanism of different plant tissues and the application of multi-domain technologies such as artificial intelligence, biosensors, bioreactors, multi-omics monitoring, and nanomaterials in plant tissue culture and the production of secondary metabolites. This will help to improve the tissue culture technology of medicinal plants and increase the availability and the yield of natural metabolites.

Inhibitory Effect of Propolis on Platelet Aggregation In Vitro.

Platelet hyperactivity plays an important role in arterial thrombosis and atherosclerosis. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of different extracts of propolis and components of flavonoids on platelet aggregation. Platelet-rich plasma was prepared and incubated in vitro with different concentrations of the tested extracts and components of flavonoids. Platelets aggregation was induced by different agonists including adenosine diphosphate (ADP, 10 µM), thrombin receptor activator peptide (TRAP, 50 µM), and collagen (5 µg/mL). At 25 mg/L to 300 mg/mL, the water extract propolis (WEP) inhibited three agonists-induced platelet aggregations in a dose-dependent manner. The flavonoids isolated from the propolis also showed markedly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen, ADP, and TRAP, respectively. The components including caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), galangin, apigenin, quercetin, kaempferol, ferulic acid, rutin, chrysin, pinostrobin, and pinocembrin and their abilities of inhibiting platelet aggregation were studied. It was concluded that propolis had an antiplatelet action in which flavonoids were mainly implicated.

Physiological and proteomic analysis reveals the different responses of Cunninghamia lanceolata seedlings to nitrogen and phosphorus additions.

UNLABELLED: Both nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) additions in soils can increase tree photosynthetic rate (Pn), biomass accumulation and further increase primary production of plantation. However, the improved photosynthetic ability is varied from the added nutrient types and the mechanisms are sophisticated. In this study, an iTRAQ-based quantitative proteome combined with physiological analysis of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) leaves was performed to determine the common and different responses on photosynthetic process to the N and P additions. The results showed that, either N or P added in soils significantly increased Pn, but N addition had more positive effects than P addition in improving photosynthetic ability. Physiologically, N addition caused more in improving photosynthetic rate than P addition, which attributes to higher leaf N and chlorophyll contents, enlarged chloroplast size and more number of thylakoids. Proteomic data revealed that the increased Pn to N and P additions may attribute to the increased abundance of proteins involved in carbon fixation and RuBP regeneration during the light-independent reactions. However, N addition increased the abundance of photosystem II related proteins and P addition increased the abundance of photosystem I related proteins. Additionally, proteomic data also gave some clues on the different metabolic processes caused by N and P additions on glycolysis and TCA cycle, which were potentially related to higher growth and developmental rates of C. lanceolata. Therefore, this study provides new insights into the different photosynthesis and metabolic processes of Chinese fir in response to N and P additions. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Fertilization is an important management measure to improve timber yield and primary production of Cunninghamia lanceolata, which is the largest planted coniferous species in southeast China. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) additions into soils can improve tree photosynthesis, and further increase plantation production. However, the mechanism of N and P additions in improving photosynthesis is still unclearly. In this study, a physiological measurement combined with proteomic analysis was performed on a controlled experiment in the greenhouse. These results improve understanding of the essentially photosynthetic activity and metabolic process of C. lanceolata responding to N and P fertilization.

Effects of electroacupuncture on depression and the production of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor compared with fluoxetine: a randomized controlled pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Postmortem studies indicate that the number and density of glial cells are reduced in different brain regions of patients with depression. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of depressive disorder (DD) and might be a biomarker for damage to nerve cells. In this study, we compared the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, on DD patients, focusing on the serum level of GDNF. DESIGN: This was a prospective, randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Seventy-five patients with DD from the Department of Acupuncture, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, were recruited. INTERVENTION: Twenty patients were treated with acupuncture for 6 weeks on the acupoints of Baihui (DU20) and Zusanli (ST36). Sixteen patients were treated with acupuncture for 6 weeks on the acupoints of Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Neiguan (PC6), and Shenmen (HT7), and constituted the electroacupuncture control group. The patients received acupuncture treatment five times per week. Twenty-five patients were treated with oral fluoxetine (20 mg/day) for 6 weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: All subjects were evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale at four time points (0 [baseline], 2, 4, and 6 weeks after treatment). Serum GDNF was quantified in duplicate by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: EA and fluoxetine had similar curative effects on DD patients. EA had a faster onset of action, better response rate, and better improvement rate than fluoxetine. Both fluoxetine and EA treatment restored the normal concentration of GDNF in the serum of DD patients. CONCLUSION: EA treatment for depression is as effective as a recommended dose of fluoxetine. However, EA demonstrates an advantage in the regulation of the production of GDNF compared with fluoxetine.

[Efficacy observation on knee osteoarthritis treated with electroacupuncture and its influence on articular cartilage with T2 mapping].

OBJECTIVE: To observe therapeutic efficacy of osteoarthritis treated by electroacupuncture, and explore its function of promoting cartilage restoration. METHODS: According to random digital table, sixty cases of knee osteoarthritis (60 knees) were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group and a physiotherapy group, 15 cases (30 knees) in each one. The electroacupuncture was applied at Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35), Heding (EX-LE 2) and Xuehai (SP 10) in the electroacupuncture group, once every other day. The physiotherapy group was treated by medium-frequency therapeutic apparatus every day. For both groups, 4 weeks of treatment were required. The Lysholm knee scoring scale (LKSS) was used to evaluate and compare the knee joints function before and after treatment. At the same time, the GE Signa EXCITE Twin Speed HD 1.5T was used to take MRI examination of knee joints, and measure the T2 values in 10 sub-regions of the cartilage of tibiofemoral joints. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the LKSS score of both groups were improved with significant differences except item demands for support (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Between the two groups after treatment, there were significant differences on total score, item instability and swelling (all P < 0.05), the electroacupuncture group was better than the physiotherapy group, but no significant difference on the other items (all P > 0.05). In the electroacupuncture group after treatment, T2 value in anterior lateral tibial sub-region (LTa) was significantly lowered (P < 0.05), but no significant difference in the other nine sub-regions (all P > 0.05). In the physiotherapy group, T2 value in any sub-region was not significantly different before and after treatment (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture could effectively improve the symptom, sign and knee joint's function of patients with knee osteoarthritis. Compared with physiotherapy, it has more superior effect and considered as a better non-operative treatment for osteoarthritis. Electroacupuncture also has positive influence on T2 value in cartilage, indicating that electroacupuncture may have the function of promoting cartilage restoration.

[Influence of acupuncture on IL-1beta and TNF-alpha expression in the cartilage of rats with knee osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of acupuncture treatment on proinflammatory cytokines of osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage. METHODS: Forty female SD rats were randomly and averagely divided into four groups: the normal, model, acupuncture and control group. The method of heel tendon resection for unilateral hind limb was used to establish OA animal models-that was to cut off the rat's heel tendon of left hind limb. The acupuncture group and control group were respectively treated by electro-acupuncture and Diclofenac on right hind limb of each animal for 2 weeks. Immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the expression characteristic of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in cartilage of each group,and the differences were compared among the groups. RESULTS: Both IL-1beta and TNF-alpha expression in model group were significantly up-regulated than those in the normal group (P<0.01). Their expression in model, acupuncture and control group were significantly different (P< 0.01). IL-1beta and TNF-alpha expression were significantly down-regulated in acupuncture and control group than that in model group (P<0.01), while the difference between the two former groups was not significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can down-regulate the expression of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in osteoarthritic chondrocytes, and the regulating effect is the same as Diclofenac. This shows that acupuncture has a certain protective effect on osteoarthritic cartilage.

[Effect of acupuncture on expression of matrix metalloproteinase and tissue inhibitor in cartilage of rats with knee osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the curative mechanism of acupuncture treatment on osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Forty cases of female SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, an acupuncture group and a medication group, 10 cases in each group. OA animal model was established by using the method of heel tendon resection for unilateral hind limb. The acupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at "Xiqian"(ST 35) and "Housanli"(ST 36), and the medication group with inunction of Diclofenac cream, and the normal group and the model group without any treatment. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1, 3 (MMP-1, MMP-3) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in the cartilage were observed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: There were significant differences among four groups. The expressions of MMP-1, MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in the model, acupuncture and medication groups were all significantly stronger than those in the normal group (all P < 0.01). The expressions of MMP-1 and MMP-3 in the acupuncture and medication groups were down regulated and TIMP-1 expression up-regulated with significant differences as compared with the model group (all P < 0.01), and the expressions of MMP-1 and MMP-3 in acupuncture group were significantly lower, while TIMP-1 expression significantly higher than that in the medication group (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can down-regulate the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 and up-regulate the expression of TIMP1, which is superior to that of Diclofenac cream, showing that acupuncture has a certain protective effect on cartilage from OA.

[Effect of acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20) and Zusanli (ST 36) on the level of serum inflammatory cytokines in patients with depression].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immunologic mechanism of acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20) and Zusanli (ST 36) for treatment of depression. METHODS: Eighty-four cases of depression patients were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture observation group (group A), an electroacupuncture control group (group B) and a medication control group (group C), 28 cases in each group. Baihui (GV 20) and Zusanli (ST 36) were used in the group A; Taichong (LR 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Neiguan (PC 6) and Shenmen (HT 7) were used in the group B; and the group C was treated with oral administration of Fluoxetine. The scores of Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) were tested and the level of serum interleukin 1 (IL-1 beta), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) before and after treatment. RESULTS: Their scores of HAMD were obviously decreased after treatment in three groups (all P<0.01). In the group A, 2 cases were cured, 19 cases were markedly effective, 5 cases were effective and 2 cases were ineffective. In the group B, 16 cases were markedly effective, 12 cases were effective. While in the group C, 1 case was cured, 17 cases were markedly effective, 7 cases were effective and 3 cases were ineffective. The grade distribution of clinical effect showed that the effect of group A was better (P<0.05). The levels of serum IL-1 beta and IL-6 in the three groups were obviously decreased after treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01), while there was no significant difference between the level of serum TNF-alpha before and after treatment. CONCLUSION: The effect of electroacupuncture observation group is superior to those of electroacupuncture control group and medication control group. All of these three methods can clear the inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 beta and IL-6 away and improve the symptoms of depression.

[Comparison of therapeutic effects between body acupuncture and scalp acupuncture combined with body acupuncture on atherosclerotic cerebral infarction at acute stage].

OBJECTIVE: To compare therapeutic effects between body acupuncture and scalp acupuncture combined with body acupuncture on atherosclerotic cerebral infarction at acute stage. METHODS: Forty-two cases of atherosclerotic cerebral infarction at acute stage were divided into 2 groups. They were treated respectively by scalp acupuncture combined with body acupuncture and simple body acupuncture. The comprehensive scores of mind, speech, limb motor function, etc. of the patients before and after treatment were recorded and compared. RESULTS: After treatment, the cumulative scores in the two groups reduced significantly (P < 0.01); the difference of scores before and after treatment in the scalp-body acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the body acupuncture group (P < 0.05); there was no significant difference between the two groups in clinically effective rate (P > 0.05), but there was a very significantly difference between the two groups in the markedly effective rate (P < 0.01), the scalp-body acupuncture group being significantly higher than that in the body acupuncture group. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can improve mind, speech and limb motor function of the patient with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction at acute stage, and the therapeutic effect of scalp combined with body acupuncture is better than that of simple body acupuncture.

[Observation on clinical therapeutic effect of scalp acupuncture combined with body acupuncture on apoplectic hemiplegia].

OBJECTIVE: To search for the best method for increasing clinical therapeutic effect on apoplectic hemiplegia. METHODS: One hundred and twenty cases of apoplectic hemiplegia were randomly divided into three groups in order of visiting. Group A (n = 33) were treated by scalp acupuncture combined with consciousness-restoring resuscitation method, group B (n = 60) by scalp acupuncture combined with traditional acupuncture, and group C (n = 27) by traditional acupuncture. The clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated according to the scores of manner, speech, motor function of limbs, and so on. RESULTS: Three cases were basically cured, 20 were markedly effective, 7 were effective, with a total effective rate of 90.9% in the group A; and the corresponding figures were 7, 28, 21 cases and 93.3%, respectively in group B with no significant difference between the group A and B (P > 0.05); and 7 cases were markedly effective, 11 effective with a total effective rate of 66. 7% in the group C with a significant difference as compared with the group A and B (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Scalp acupuncture combined with consciousness-restoring resuscitation method and scalp acupuncture combined with traditional acupuncture have a similar therapeutic effect on apoplectic hemiplegia, which is superior to that of traditional acupuncture.