Cucumis sativus (Cucurbitaceae) seed oil prevents benzo(a)pyrene-induced prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Despite enormous progress in modern medicine, prostate cancer (PCa) remains a major public health problem due to its high incidence and mortality. Although studies have shown in vitro antitumor effects of cucurbitacins from Cucumis sativus, the in vivo anticancer effect of the seed oil as a whole, has yet to be demonstrated. The present study evaluated the in vitro anticancer mechanisms of C. sativus (CS) seed oil and its possible chemopreventive potential on benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-induced PCa in Wistar rat. In vitro cell growth, clone formation, cell death mechanism, cell adhesion and migration as well as expression of integrins ß-1 and ß-4 were assessed. In vivo PCa was induced in 56 male rats versus 8 normal control rats, randomized in normal (NOR) and negative (BaP) control groups which, received distilled water; the positive control group (Caso) was treated with casodex (13.5 mg/kg BW). One group received the total seed extract at the dose of 500 mg/kg BW; while the remaining three groups were treated with CS seed oil at 42.5, 85, and 170 mg/kg BW. The endpoints were: morphologically (prostate tumor weight and volume), biochemically (total protein, prostate specific antigen (PSA), oxidative stress markers such as MDA, GSH, catalase, and SOD) and histologically. As results, CS seed oil significantly and concentration-dependently reduced the DU145 prostate cancer cell growth and clone formation (optimum = 100 µg/mL). It slightly increased the number of apoptotic cells and inhibited the migration and invasion of DU145 cells, while it decreased their adhesion to immobilized collagen and fibrinogen. The expression of integrin ß-1 and ß-4 was increased in presence of 100 µg/mL CS oil. In vivo, the BaP significantly elevated the incidence of PC tumors (75%), the total protein and PSA levels, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6) and MDA levels compared to NOR. CS seeds oil significantly counteracted the effect of BaP by decreasing significantly the PC incidence (12.5%), and increasing the level of antioxidant (SOD, GSH, and catalase) and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in serum. While in BaP group PCa adenocarninoma was the most representative neoplasm, rats treated with 85 and 170 mg/kg prevented it in the light of the casodex. It is conclude that CS may provide tumor suppressive effects in vitro and in vivo which makes it an interesting candidate to support the current treatment protocol.

Lessons learned from metabolic engineering in hairy roots: Transcriptome and metabolic profile changes caused by Rhizobium-mediated plant transformation in Cucurbitaceae species.

Cucurbitaceae species are used in traditional medicine around the world. Cucurbitacins are highly oxygenated triterpenoids found in Cucurbitaceae species and exhibit potent anticancer activity alone and in combination with other existing chemotherapeutic drugs. Therefore, increasing production of these specialized metabolites is of great relevance. We recently showed that hairy roots of Cucurbita pepo can be used as a platform for metabolic engineering of cucurbitacins to modify their structure and increase their production. To study the changes in cucurbitacin accumulation upon formation of hairy roots, an empty vector (EV) control and Cucurbitacin inducing bHLH transcription factor 1 (CpCUCbH1)-overexpressing hairy roots of C. pepo were compared to untransformed (WT) roots. Whilst CpCUCbH1-overexpression increased production of cucurbitacins I and B by 5-fold, and cucurbitacin E by 3-fold when compared to EV lines, this increase was not significantly different when compared to WT roots. This indicated that Rhizobium rhizogenes transformation lowered the cucurbitacins levels in hairy roots, but that increasing expression of cucurbitacin biosynthetic genes by CpCUCbH1-overexpression restored cucurbitacin production to WT levels. Subsequent metabolomic and RNA-seq analysis indicated that the metabolic profile and transcriptome of hairy roots was significantly changed when compared to WT roots. Interestingly, it was observed that 11% of the differentially expressed genes were transcription factors. It was noteworthy that the majority of transcripts showing highest Pearson correlation coefficients to the Rhizobium rhizogenes genes rolB, rolC and ORF13a, were predicted to be transcription factors. In summary, hairy roots are an excellent platform for metabolic engineering of plant specialized metabolites, but these extensive transcriptome and metabolic profile changes should be considered in subsequent studies.

Production of Siamenoside I and Mogroside IV from Siraitia grosvenorii Using Immobilized ß-Glucosidase.

Siraitia grosvenorii is a type of fruit used in traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies have shown that the conversion of saponins was often carried out by chemical hydrolysis, which can be problematic because of the environmental hazards it may cause and the low yield it produces. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to establish a continuous bioreactor with immobilized enzymes to produce siamenoside I and mogroside IV. The results show that the immobilization process of ß-glucosidase exhibited the best relative activity with a glutaraldehyde (GA) concentration of 1.5%, carrier activation time of 1 h and binding enzyme time of 12 h. After the immobilization through GA linkage, the highest relative activity of ß-glucosidase was recorded through the reaction with the substrate at 60 °C and pH 5. Subsequently, the glass microspheres with immobilized ß-glucosidase were filled into the reactor to maintain the optimal active environment, and the aqueous solution of Siraitia grosvenorii extract was introduced by controlling the flow rate. The highest concentration of siamenoside I and mogroside IV were obtained at a flow rate of 0.3 and 0.2 mL/min, respectively. By developing this immobilized enzyme system, siamenoside I and mogroside IV can be prepared in large quantities for industrial applications.

Benincasa hispida extracts positively regulated high salt-induced hypertension in Dahl salt-sensitive rats: Impact on biochemical profile and metabolic patterns.

Salt-induced hypertension is one of the major issues worldwide and one of the main factors involved in heart and kidney failure. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential role of Benincasa hispida extracts on high salt-induced hypertension in Dahl-salt sensitive (D-SS) rats and to find out the metabolic and biochemical pattern involved in the reduction of hypertension. Twenty-six Dahl salt-sensitive (D-SS) rats were selected and divided into four groups. The metabolic strategy was applied to test the extracts on salt-sensitive hypertension in kidney. Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the potent biochemical profile in renal medulla and cortex of rat kidneys. The differential metabolites of cortex and medulla, enrichment analysis and pathway analysis were performed using metabolomics data. The GC-MS data revealed that 24 different antihypertensive metabolites was detected in renal cortex, while 16 were detected in renal medulla between different groups. The significantly metabolic pathways namely citrate cycle, glutathione metabolism, glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism in renal cortex and glycerolipid metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway, citrate cycle, glycolysis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis in renal medulla were involved in the process of Hypertension. The results suggest that the extract mainly alter the metabolic pathways of amino acid in Dahl salt-sensitive rats and its antioxidant potential reduced the hypertension patterns of Salt-sensitive rat. The antihypertensive components malic acid, aspartic acid, and glycine of extract can be used as therapeutic drugs to protect kidneys from salt-induced hypertension. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Hypertension is a multifactorial disease and one of the risk factors for heart and kidney failure. Benincasa hispida is a widely used vegetable in China, which belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. Benincasa hispida (wax gourd) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of inflammation and hypertension. The Benincasa hispida contains many compounds such as amino acids, carbohydrates, volatile compounds, vitamins, and minerals. The amino acid present in the pulp of Benincasa hispida are ornithine, threonine, aspartate, glutamate, serine, glycine, proline, alanine, valine, cysteine, isoleucine, tyrosine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, histidine, arginine, and γ-aminobutyric acid. Our results showed that Benincasa hispida is one of the potent natural antioxidants and can maintain normal blood pressure in Dahl salt-sensitive rats (D-SS). In conclusion, the current results provide good theoretical basis for the development and research using Benincasa hispida as an effective natural antioxidant for hypertension.

Enzymatic hydrolyzation of mogrosides in Luo Han Guo extract by NKA-adsorbed snailase improves its sensory profile.

Extracts of Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle), in Chinese known as Luo Han Guo (LHG), is authorized for use as a natural sweetener. LHG is rich in mogroside V that contains five glucoses, but also contains mogroside IIIE and analogues with fewer than three glucose units that cause an unpleasant aftertaste, limiting the use of the extract. Snailase was applied here to convert mogroside V in LHG extract in favor of siamenoside I formation, the sweetest mogroside with a taste similar to sucrose. For application, snailase was immobilized by adsorption to NKA (a macroporous resin), resulting in 10.9 U per g of adsorbed protein. Reuse of the NKA-adsorbed snailase was demonstrated for four cycles, and a continuous production of improved LHG extract at a 0.5 L scale had a productivity of 68.4 g/(L⋅day). The resulting product containing over 50% siamenoside I displayed an improved taste profile with satisfying safety toward HEK293T cells.

Patterns of yeast diversity distribution and its drivers in rhizosphere soil of Hami melon orchards in different regions of Xinjiang.

BACKGROUND: The unique climatic conditions of the Xinjiang region nurture rich melon and fruit resources, the melon and fruit sugar sources provide sufficient nutrients for the survival of yeast, and the diverse habitats accompanied by extreme climatic conditions promote the production of yeast diversity and strain resources. However, the relationship between yeast species and their relationship with environmental factors in the soil of Xinjiang specialty cash crop Hami melon is not clear. Here, we aimed to characterize the diversity, community structure, and relationship between yeast species and environmental factors in Hami melon orchards soils in different regions of Xinjiang, China. RESULTS: Based on Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing analysis of the D1 domain of the LSU rRNA genes, the community richness of yeast in the soil of Northern Xinjiang was higher than in the Southern and Eastern Xinjiang, but the community diversity was significantly lower in the Northern Xinjiang than in the Southern and Eastern Xinjiang. A total of 86 OTUs were classified into 59 genera and 86 species. Most OTUs (90.4%) belonged to the Basidiomycota; only a few (9.6%) belonged to Ascomycota. The most dominant species in the Southern, Eastern and Northern Xinjiang were Filobasidium magnum (17.90%), Solicoccozyma aeria (35.83%) and Filobasidium magnum (75.36%), respectively. Principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) showed that the yeast community composition in the soils of the three regions were obviously different, with the Southern and Eastern Xinjiang having more similar yeast community. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that soil factors such as conductivity (CO), total phosphorus (TP) and Total potassium (TK) and climate factors such as average annual precipitation (PRCP), relative humidity (RH) and net solar radiation intensity (SWGNT) were significantly correlated with yeast communities (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There are abundant yeast resources in the rhizosphere soil of Hami melon orchard in Xinjiang, and there are obvious differences in the diversity and community structure of yeast in the three regions of Xinjiang. Differences in climatic factors related to precipitation, humidity and solar radiation intensity and soil factors related to conductivity, total phosphorus and total potassium are key factors driving yeast diversity and community structure.

Isolation of cytotoxic monomeric protein and morin derivatives from Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.) Gandhi.

Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.) Gandhi (family- Cucurbitaceae), is used both in the Indian traditional system and folk medicine to treat several pathophysiological conditions and complex diseases including cancer. The screening of the phytochemicals of this plant (aerial parts) was performed to evaluate their cytotoxic effect against an in vitro cancer model utilising acute promyelocytic leukaemia HL60 cell line. Phytoconstituents were isolated by column chromatography and characterised. The purified protein was extracted, isolated and purified by using standard techniques. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay. Spectral analysis revealed the isolated phytochemicals to be Morin-3-O-xyloside (1) and Morin 3-O-glucoside (2). The purified protein (P1) was found to be monomeric having a molecular weight of 30.2 kDa. Watching over 24 h exposure, compound 1 (IC50 1.5 µmol/L), compound 2 (IC50 3.5 µmol/L), and P1 (2.67 µmol/L) exhibited significant cytotoxic activity.

(3S,6E)-nerolidol-mediated rendezvous of Cyclocephala paraguayensis beetles in bottle gourd flowers.

Cyclocephalini beetles of the genus Cyclocephala (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Dynastinae) use flowers of some plants as food, shelter, and mating sites. However, little is known about floral scent chemistry involved in this interaction. Here we show that a sesquiterpene alcohol mediates attraction of Cyclocephala paraguayensis Arrow, on bottle gourd flowers, Lagenaria siceraria (Cucurbitaceae). Both males and females started to aggregate on the flowers at twilight; after that, mating began and remained for the entire night. GC-FID/EAD analysis of the L. siceraria floral scent collected in the field revealed that only the major constituent of the airborne volatiles elicited electroantennographic responses on male and female antennae of C. paraguayensis. This compound was identified as (3S,6E)-nerolidol, which was tested in two field trapping trials in Brazil. In the first bioassay, traps baited with nerolidol (mix of isomers) captured significantly more adult C. paraguayensis than control traps. In the second field trial, catches in traps baited with a mixture of isomers or enantiopure nerolidol were significantly higher than captures in control traps, but the treatments did not differ significantly. Analysis from the gut content of adult C. paraguayensis showed the presence of pollen, suggesting that they also use bottle gourd flowers for their nourishment. Taken together, these results suggest that (3S,6E)-nerolidol plays an essential role in the reproductive behavior of C. paraguayensis by eliciting aggregation, mating, and feeding.

Isolation of Cysteine-Rich Peptides from Citrullus colocynthis.

The plant Citrullus colocynthis, a member of the squash (Cucurbitaceae) family, has a long history in traditional medicine. Based on the ancient knowledge about the healing properties of herbal preparations, plant-derived small molecules, e.g., salicylic acid, or quinine, have been integral to modern drug discovery. Additionally, many plant families, such as Cucurbitaceae, are known as a rich source for cysteine-rich peptides, which are gaining importance as valuable pharmaceuticals. In this study, we characterized the C. colocynthis peptidome using chemical modification of cysteine residues, and mass shift analysis via matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. We identified the presence of at least 23 cysteine-rich peptides in this plant, and eight novel peptides, named citcol-1 to -8, with a molecular weight between ~3650 and 4160 Da, were purified using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and their amino acid sequences were determined by de novo assignment of b- and y-ion series of proteolytic peptide fragments. In silico analysis of citcol peptides revealed a high sequence similarity to trypsin inhibitor peptides from Cucumis sativus, Momordica cochinchinensis, Momordica macrophylla and Momordica sphaeroidea. Using genome/transcriptome mining it was possible to identify precursor sequences of this peptide family in related Cucurbitaceae species that cluster into trypsin inhibitor and antimicrobial peptides. Based on our analysis, the presence or absence of a crucial Arg/Lys residue at the putative P1 position may be used to classify these common cysteine-rich peptides by functional properties. Despite sequence homology and the common classification into the inhibitor cysteine knot family, these peptides appear to have diverse and additional bioactivities yet to be revealed.

Metabolite Profiling and Quantitation of Cucurbitacins in Cucurbitaceae Plants by Liquid Chromatography coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Cucurbitaceae is an important plant family because many of its species are consumed as food, and used in herbal medicines, cosmetics, etc. It comprises annual vines and is rich in various bioactive principles which include the cucurbitacins. These steroidal natural products, derived from the triterpene cucurbitane, are mainly the bitter principles of the family Cucurbitaceae. Their biological activities include anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and anti-cancer activities. A total of 10 species belonging to 6 genera of the Cucurbitaceae family along with Cissampelos pareira (Menispermaceae) were included in this study. A comprehensive profiling of certain natural products was developed using HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis and a distribution profile of several major natural products in this family was obtained. A total of 51 natural products were detected in both positive and negative ionization modes, based on accurate masses and fragmentation patterns. Along with this, quantitation of four bioactive cucurbitacins, found in various important plants of the Cucurbitaceae family, was carried out using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) approach on an ion trap mass spectrometer. Cucurbitacin Q was found to be the most abundant in C. pareira, while Citrullus colocynthis contained all four cucurbitacins in abundant quantities. The developed quantitation method is simple, rapid, and reproducible.

Protective effect of neglected plant Diplocyclos palmatus on quorum sensing mediated infection of Serratia marcescens and UV-A induced photoaging in model Caenorhabditis elegans.

Plants are considered to be a leading source for possible human therapeutic agents. This holistic study has investigated the anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS), anti-infection, antioxidant and anti-photoaging properties of neglected plant Diplocyclos palmatus. The results showed that D. palmatus methanolic leaf extract (DPME) effectively inhibited the quorum sensing (QS) regulated virulence factor production as well as biofilm formation in Serratia marcescens. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that DPME significantly downed the expression of QS-regulated genes such as fimA, fimC, flhC, bsmB, pigP and shlA in S. marcescens, which supports the outcome of in vitro bioassays. Further, the docking study revealed that the presence of active compounds, namely tocopherols and phytol, DPME exhibited its anti-QS activity against S. marcescens. In addition, DPME treatment extended the lifespan of S. marcescens infected C. elegans by the action of dropping the internal accumulation. Further, qPCR analysis clearly revealed that DPME treatment significantly up-regulated the expression of the lifespan-related gene (daf-16) and immune-related genes (clec-60, clec-87, lys-7 and bec-1) in S. marcescens infected C.elegans. On the other hand, DPME extensively reduced the UV-A induced ROS stress, thereby, extended the lifespan in UV-A photoaged C. elegans. Further, the qPCR analysis also confirmed the up-regulation of daf-16, clec-60, clec-87 and col-19 genes which advocated the improvement of the lifespan, healthspan and collagen production in UV-A photoaged C. elegans. Further bioassays evidenced that that the lifespan extension of photoaged C. elegans was accomplished by the actions of antioxidants such as tocopherols and phytol in DPME.

A potential new source: Nutritional and antioxidant properties of edible oils from cucurbit seeds and their impact on human health.

Seeds from the cucurbitaceae plant family are discarded as the byproducts which generally obtained after extraction of oil during food processing. Recently, found a great deal of interest as cucurbit seeds are found to be rich source of nutrients such as monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols (α-Tocopherol, ß-Tocopherol, δ-Tocopherol, γ-Tocopherol), carotenoids, ß-carotene, phytosterol, proteins, minerals, vitamins, phenolic compounds, and antioxidants. Despite the potential nutritional benefits, the commercial product of cucurbit plants are lacking in the market. Therefore, there is an urgent need to increase production and utilization of cucurbit seed oil for human nutrition. The main purpose of the present review is to sum up the published information on the nutritional potential of cucurbit seed oils to promote industrial production and stimulates further research on commercial use of cucurbit seeds. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The aims of this review are to highlight the nutritional values and antioxidant properties of cucurbit seed and their impact on the overall human health. These cucurbit seeds are rich source of vitamins and minerals which are necessary for healthy human diet. In addition to other commercial oils, cucurbits oils are equally important and rich in essential active ingredients. Quite abundance of cucurbit seeds in African continents can pave way to enhance production on the industrial scale which can create employability ranging from farmers to skilled workers. In all, the oil produced from the cucurbit seeds can be applied practically to implement large-scale production as a part of food industry and dietary supplement industry in paramedical sector.

Acetylsalicylic acid treatment reduce Fusarium rot development and neosolaniol accumulation in muskmelon fruit.

Fusarium rot of muskmelon is a common and frequently-occurring postharvest disease, which leads to quality deterioration and neosolaniol (NEO) contamination. New strategies to control postharvest decay and reduce NEO contamination are of paramount importance. The effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) treatment on the growth of Fusarium sulphureum in vitro, and Fusarium rot development and NEO accumulation in fruits inoculated with F. sulphureum in vivo were investigated. The results showed that ASA inhibited the growth of F. sulphureum, evident morphological and major cellular changes were observed under the microscope. In vivo testing showed that 3.2 mg/mL ASA significantly suppressed Fusarium rot development and NEO accumulation after 6 and 8 d of pathogen inoculation. Meanwhile, Tri gene expressions involved in NEO biosynthesis were down-regulated after treatment. Taken together, ASA treatment not only reduced Fusarium rot development by inhibiting the growth of F. sulphureum, but decreased NEO accumulation by suppressing NEO biosynthesis pathway.

Biosynthesis, characterization and cytotoxicity of gold nanoparticles and their loading with N-acetylcarnosine for cataract treatment.

The present work showed the biofabrication and characterization of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) using Coccinia grandis bark extract. The fabricated NPs were well characterized by using different microscopic an spectroscopic techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Ultra violet - visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR). TEM results showed that the prepared AuNPs are spherical in shape with uniformity in size. The calculated average size of the AuNPs is 20 nm. The NAC drug molecule that is used for cataract treatment was successfully encapsulated into Au NPs to increase its bioavailability. Also, the in-vitro cytotoxicity of NAC and NAC - Au NPs were studied against fibroblast cells, and the results showed that encapsulation of NAC into Au NPs did not showed cytotoxicity after encapsulation. NAC molecules do not exhibit toxicity at lower concentrations, While, there is a reduction in the number of viable cells at higher concentration of NAC. Also, the encapsulation of the drug onto Au NPs is considerably increased biocompatibility and bioavailability. In future, this research results may be helpful for the development of drugs for treatment of cataract with high stability and reactivity.

Dietary Supplementation With a Bacillus Superoxide Dismutase Protects Against γ-Radiation-induced Oxidative Stress and Ameliorates Dextran Sulphate Sodium-induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Commercial superoxide dismutase [SOD] is derived from melon extract and has a potential as a dietary supplement due to its beneficial antioxidative effects. We aimed to improve the productivity of SOD compared with plant SOD by using a generally regarded as safe [GRAS] microorganism, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and assess its antioxidative effect using γ-radiation- and dextransulphate sodium [DSS]-induced oxidative models in mice. METHODS: We identified the sodA gene encoding manganese-containing SODs [Mn-SOD] in B. amyloliquefaciens, constructed a Mn-SOD deficient mutant, and screened a high-SOD-producing strain. We compared the antioxidative effect of orally administered enteric-coated SOD protein partially purified from B. amyloliquefaciens with wild-type and high-SOD-producing strain spores. The effect of SOD on DSS-induced colitis was also investigated. Colonic inflammation was assessed using disease activity index, macroscopic and histological damage scores, antioxidant enzyme activities, and inflammatory cytokines. RESULTS: The SOD activity of B. amyloliquefaciens is derived from secreted Mn-SOD encoded by the sodA gene, as shown by comparing sodA knock-out mutant spores with wild-type and high-SOD-producing spores. Enteric-coated SOD of B. amyloliquefaciens appears to be effective in reducing oxidative stress in γ-radiation- and DSS-induced mouse models. Co-administration of SOD with wild-type B. amyloliquefaciens or high-SOD-producer strain spores showed a synergistic effect. SOD enzyme and B. amyloliquefaciens spores contribute to the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammatory response in DSS-induced colitis. CONCLUSIONS: Mn-SOD of B. amyloliquefaciens could be another source of SOD supplement and may be useful to prevent and treat ulcerative colitis.

Biotransformation of Total Saponins in Siraitia Fructus by Human Intestinal Microbiota of Normal and Type 2 Diabetic Patients: Comprehensive Metabolite Identification and Metabolic Profile Elucidation Using LC-Q-TOF/MS.

Siraitia fructus, known as Luo-Han-Guo (LHG) in Chinese, shows good antidiabetic activity. Gut microbiota have emerged as parameter of the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes (t2D) mellitus. In this study, in vitro biotransformation of LHG extract by t2D and normal human intestinal microbiota was analyzed using ultraperformance liquid chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A total of 19 and 12 metabolites were characterized in t2D and normal human intestinal microbiota, respectively. These metabolites were formed by a series of metabolic reactions including deglycosylation, oxidation, isomerization, and/or deoxidation. The metabolite classes of LHG extract in normal and t2D human intestinal microbiota were nearly the same, but oxidation and isomerization reactions were usually present in t2D human intestinal bacteria. This might be due to metabolic activation by pathological human intestinal bacteria. Our study indicates that there are differences in the biotransformation of LHG extract in normal and t2D human intestinal bacteria.

Design and characterization of 3D hybrid collagen matrixes as a dermal substitute in skin tissue engineering.

The highly interconnected porous dressing material was fabricated with the utilization of novel collagen (COL-SPG) for the efficient healing of the wound. Herein, we report the fabrication of 3D collagen impregnated with bioactive extract (COL-SPG-CPE) to get rid of infection at the wound site. The resultant 3D collagen matrix was characterized physiochemically using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical property. The dressing substrate possesses the high swelling ability, increase in the porosity, in vitro enzymatic degradability and antibacterial property. The in vitro biocompatibility and fluorescence activity of the collagen scaffold against both NIH 3T3 fibroblast and Human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cell lines assisted in excellent cell adhesion and proliferation over the collagen matrix. Furthermore, the in vivo evaluation of the COL-SPG-CPE 3D sponge exhibited with enhanced collagen synthesis and aids in faster reepithelialization. However, the rate of wound healing was influenced by the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF-ß) growth factors promotes the collagen synthesis, thereby increases the healing efficiency. Based on the results, COL-SPG-CPE has a potential ability in the remodeling of the wound with the 3D collagen as wound dressing material.

Trichoderma harzianum T-78 supplementation of compost stimulates the antioxidant defence system in melon plants.

BACKGROUND: Compost is emerging as an alternative plant growing medium in efforts to achieve more sustainable agriculture. The addition of specific microorganisms such as Trichoderma harzianum to plant growth substrates increases yields and reduces plant diseases, but the mechanisms of such biostimulants and the biocontrol effects are not yet fully understood. In this work we investigated how the addition of citrus and vineyard composts, either alone or in combination with T. harzianum T-78, affects the antioxidant defence system in melon plants under nursery conditions. RESULTS: Compost application and/or Trichoderma inoculation modulated the antioxidant defence system in melon plants. The combination of citrus compost and Trichoderma showed a biostimulant effect that correlated with an increase in ascorbate recycling enzymes (monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase) and peroxidase. Moreover, the inoculation of both composts with Trichoderma increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, especially those involved in ascorbate recycling. CONCLUSION: Based on the long-established relationship between ascorbic acid and plant defence responses as well as plant growth and development, it can be suggested that ascorbate recycling activities play a major role in the protection provided by Trichoderma and its biostimulant effect and that these outcomes are linked to increases in antioxidant enzymes. We can conclude that the combination of citrus compost and T. harzianum T-78 constitutes a viable, environmentally friendly strategy for improving melon plant production.

[Changed accumulation of active ingredient in different localities and growth period of Hemsleya zhejiangensis (Cucurbitaceae)].

In this paper, the content of moisture, ethanol-soluble extractives, total saponins and polysaccharide of different tuber samples of Hemsleya zhejiangensis, from different localities, years and seasons, were detected based upon Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2010 version. The samples of roots, stems and leaves in summer were detected as well. The results are mainly as follows. (1)With tuber quality increasing, the content of total saponins increased and then decreased. The individual quality of tubers getting 594.06 g, the content of total saponins reached the peak. (2) The content of active ingredients in different localities was significantly different, and the population of Wuyanling had the maximum content of total saponins and polysaccharide. (3) The content of active ingredients revealed stability between the years 2012 and 2013, but the content of polysaccharide was significantly different. The content in 2012 was higher than that of 2013. (4) The content of active ingredients reached the peak in autumn, which was the best harvest season. (5) Among different component content detection of nutritional organs, tubers had the maximum content of ethanol-soluble extractives, total saponins and polysaccharide. Leaves also contained higher content of ethanol-soluble extractives and total saponins than roots and stems. All of these provide theoretical basis for plant, harvest and production of H. zhejiangensis, which is an endemic, rare, and endangered medicinal plants.

Carbon and fullerene nanomaterials in plant system.

Both the functionalized and non functionalized carbon nanomaterials influence fruit and crop production in edible plants and vegetables. The fullerene, C60 and carbon nanotubes have been shown to increase the water retaining capacity, biomass and fruit yield in plants up to ~118% which is a remarkable achievement of nanotechnology in recent years. The fullerene treated bitter melon seeds also increase the phytomedicine contents such as cucurbitacin-B (74%), lycopene (82%), charantin (20%) and insulin (91%). Since as little as 50 µg mL-1 of carbon nanotubes increase the tomato production by about 200%, they may be exploited to enhance the agriculture production in future. It has been observed that, in certain cases, non functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes are toxic to both plants and animals but the toxicity can be drastically reduced if they are functionalized.