Effect of tea saponins on milk performance, milk fatty acids, and immune function in dairy cow.

This study investigated the effects of tea saponins (TSP) on milk performance, milk fatty acids, and blood immune function in dairy cows. A total of 20 early-lactation Holstein cows (days in milk = 66.4 ± 16.8 d; parity = 1.75 ± 0.91; and milk yield = 36.3 ± 7.32 kg/d; mean ± standard deviation) were randomly divided into 4 homogeneous treatment groups, with TSP added at 0, 20, 30, and 40 g/d per head, respectively. All cows had 2 wk of adaptation and 6 wk of treatments. Feed, milk, and blood were sampled and analyzed weekly. At the end of the experimental period (wk 6), the dry matter intake and yields of energy-corrected milk, milk, and milk protein, fat, and lactose in the cows fed TSP showed a quadratic response, with the lowest values in cows fed TSP at 40 g/d. The milk fat content of cows fed TSP increased linearly. Significant interactions for treatment by week were found in milk C16:1 cis-9 and C18:1 cis-9, with the highest values at wk 2, 3, and 4 in the cows fed TSP at 40 g/d. The levels declined quickly after 4 wk of feeding to values similar to those for other TSP treatments and the control at wk 5 and 6. Plasma malondialdehyde concentration decreased as the supplement level of TSP increased. The concentration of superoxide dismutase increased as the supplement level of TSP increased. The plasma concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α increased as the supplement level of TSP increased. In summary, this study showed that an intermediate dose of TSP (20 and 30 g/d) had no significant effect on feed intake, but the supplementation of 40 g/d TSP decreased feed intake, resulting in a lower milk yield. The energy-corrected milk of cows fed 40 g/d TSP declined at first but increased after 3 wk of feeding, indicating the potential adaptation to high doses of TSP supplements in dairy cows. The supplementation of TSP could reduce oxidative stress in cows and improve the immunity of dairy cows during 6 wk of feeding.

Genomic instability in phenotypically normal regenerants of medicinal plant Codonopsis lanceolata Benth. et Hook. f., as revealed by ISSR and RAPD markers.

Codonopsis lanceolata Benth. et Hook. f., commonly known as bonnet bellflower, is a high-valued herb medicine and vegetable. In this study, a large number of plants were regenerated via organogenesis from immature seed-derived calli in C. lanceolata by a simple and efficient method. Compared with the mother donor plant, the regenerated plants did not exhibit visible phenotypic variations in six major morphological traits examined at the stage of one-season-maturity under field conditions. To gain insight into the genomic stability of these regenerated plants, 63 individuals were randomly tagged among a population of more than 2,000 regenerants, and were compared with the single mother donor plant by two molecular markers, the inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Apparent genomic variation was detected in the 63 regenerants, whereas preexisting heterozygosiy in the donor plant was deemed minimal by testing 30 seedlings germinated from selfed seeds of the same donor plant. The percentages of polymorphic bands (PPB) in the ISSR and RAPD analysis were respectively 15.7 and 24.9% for the 63 regenerated plants. Cluster analysis indicates that the genetic similarity values calculated on the basis of RAPD and ISSR data among the 64 plants (63 regenerated and one donor) were respectively 0.894 and 0.933, which allow classification of the plants into distinct groups. Nineteen randomly isolated bands underlying the changed RAPD or ISSR patterns were sequenced, and three of them showed significant homology to known-function genes. Detailed pairwise sequence comparison at one locus between the donor plant and a regenerant revealed that insertion of two short (24 and 19 bp) stretches of nucleotides in the regenerated plant relative to the donor plant occurred in an apparently stochastic manner.

[The effects of space flight on medicinal plant Datura innoxia].

OBJECTIVE: To probe the effects of space condition on medicinal plants. METHODS: The seeds of Datura innoxia Mill were put in a retrievable satellite. After returning earth, the isozymes of peroxidases, esterase and soluble proteins were studied. RESULTS: The peroxidase activity and the protein content of weightless group were lower than that of the earth controlled group, but these items of the hit group were higher than that of the earth controlled group. The electrophoresis patterns of isozymes and proteins of these three groups were similar. CONCLUSION: The effects of weightlessness and the high energy heavy ions were different on Datura innoxia, and the effects of space conditions were not enough to produce idiovariation in Datura innoxia.

[The effects of space condition on the germination of medicinal plant Carthamus tinctorius].

OBJECTIVE: To substantiate the effects of space condition on the growth and development of medicinal plants. METHODS: The seeds of Carthamus tinctorius L. were set up in retrievable satellites. After returning earth, the germination of these seeds were observed by electrophoresis. The isozymes of peroxidases, esterase and soluble proteins were also evaluated. RESULTS: The average seed germinative rate of the space flight group was higher than that of the earth controlled group, and the peroxidase activity of the space flight group was higher than that of the earth controlled group either. The electrophoresis patterns of isozymes and proteins between the space flight group and the earth controlled group showed only little difference in bud bursting stage. CONCLUSION: Weightlessness and radiation in space affect the germination of Carthamus tinctorius, and they show little effect on gene expression in the stage of germination. Weightlessness may be the important factor to improve the peroxidase activity.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of Cornus officinalis Sieb et Zucc].

A new bisiridoid glucoside named cornuside was isolated from the fruits of Cornus officinalis Sieb et Zucc. The structure of cornuside has been established by spectroscopic methods (IR, MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR).