Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Reduces Hepatic Oxidative Stress and Lowers CYP-Mediated Bioactivation and Toxicity of Acetaminophen in Rats.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant polyphenol in green tea. To investigate the effects of dietary EGCG on oxidative stress and the metabolism and toxicity of acetaminophen in the liver, rats were fed diets with (0.54%) or without EGCG supplementation for four weeks and were then injected intraperitoneally with acetaminophen (1 g/kg). The results showed that EGCG lowered hepatic oxidative stress and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, 2E1, and 3A, and UDP-glucurosyltransferase activities prior to acetaminophen injection. After acetaminophen challenge, the elevations in plasma alanine aminotransferase activity and histological changes in the liver were ameliorated by EGCG treatment. EGCG reduced acetaminophen-induced apoptosis by lowering the Bax/Bcl2 ratio in the liver. EGCG mildly increased autophagy by increasing the LC3B II/I ratio. Lower hepatic acetaminophen-glutathione and acetaminophen-protein adducts contents were observed after EGCG treatment. EGCG increased glutathione peroxidase and NAD(P)H quinone 1 oxidoreductase activities and reduced organic anion-transporting polypeptides 1a1 expression in the liver after acetaminophen treatment. Our results indicate that EGCG may reduce oxidative stress and lower the metabolism and toxicity of acetaminophen. The reductions in CYP-mediated acetaminophen bioactivation and uptake transporter, as well as enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, may limit the accumulation of toxic products in the liver and thus lower hepatotoxicity.

[Effects of gap and growth substrate on nitrogen and phosphorus contents of bryophytes in an alpine forest]. / 高山森林林窗和生长基质对苔藓植物氮和磷含量的影响.

Bryophyte plays an important role in nutrient enrichment and cycling in the forest ecosystems. The role of bryophyte in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycles might be affected by forest regeneration and growth substrate. To understand the role of bryophyte in N and P cycling in the forest ecosystem, we measured the contents of N and P in the bryophytes that grew on different positions (gap center, gap edge, and closed canopy) and growth substrates (standing tree, fallen log, snag, large dead branch, stump and forest floor) in an alpine forest ecosystem. The results showed that the N content in the bryophyte on the forest floor was 3.12 mg·g-1, which was significantly lower than those on other growth substrates. Although N content in the bryophyte on the snag reached up to 17.41 mg·g-1, no significant differences of N contents in the bryophytes were observed among standing tree, fallen log, large dead branch and snag. The highest and lowest P contents was 1.09 mg·g-1 in the bryophyte on the forest floor and 0.61 mg·g-1 in the bryophytes on the snag, respectively. Furthermore, P content in the bryophyte on the forest floor was significantly higher than that on other growth substrates, but no significant differences of P contents in the bryophytes were detected among standing tree, fallen log, large dead branch and stump. The gap position significantly affected N and P contents in the bryophytes, with the N and P contents in the bryophytes on fallen log and large dead branch at gap center being significantly higher than those at the gap edge. The effects of coarse woody debris (CWD) on the N and P contents in the bryophyte depended on its types and decay classes, with their interaction having much stronger effects on N and P contents in the bryophytes. The N contents in the epiphytic bryophytes on fallen logs with V decay class were significantly higher than those with other decay classes. Similarly, the N contents in the epiphytic bryophytes on large dead branches with III decay class were significantly higher than those with other decay classes. Meanwhile, the P contents in the bryophytes on fallen logs with 2 decay class were significantly higher than those with other decay classes. Moreover, the P contents in the epiphytic bryophytes on the snags with 4 decay class were significantly higher than those with other decay classes. In conclusion, both forest gap regeneration and CWD decay process can affect the N and P contents in the bryophytes, and thereafter manipulate the nutrient cycles in the forest ecosystems.

[Effects of altitudes on soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity in alpine-gorge regions.] / æµ·æ‹”å¯¹é«˜å±±å³¡è°·åŒºåœŸå£¤å¾®ç”Ÿç‰©ç”Ÿç‰©é‡å’Œé ¶æ´»æ€§çš„å½±å“.

In order to understand the variations of soil microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities with the change of altitude, a field incubation was conducted in dry valley, ecotone between dry valley and mountain forest, subalpine coniferous forest, alpine forest and alpine meadow from 1563 m to 3994 m of altitude in the alpine-gorge region of western Sichuan. The microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, and the activities of invertase, urease and acid phosphorus were measured in both soil organic layer and mineral soil layer. Both the soil microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities showed the similar tendency in soil organic layer. They increased from 2158 m to 3028 m, then decreased to the lowest value at 3593 m, and thereafter increased until 3994 m in the alpine-gorge region. In contrast, the soil microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities in mineral soil layer showed the trends as, the subalpine forest at 3028 m > alpine meadow at 3994 m > montane forest ecotone at 2158 m > alpine forest at 3593 m > dry valley at 1563 m. Regardless of altitudes, soil microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities were significantly higher in soil organic layer than in mineral soil layer. The soil microbial biomass was significantly positively correlated with the activities of the measured soil enzymes. Moreover, both the soil microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities were significantly positively correlated with soil water content, organic carbon, and total nitrogen. The activity of soil invertase was significantly positively correlated with soil phosphorus content, and the soil acid phosphatase was so with soil phosphorus content and soil temperature. In brief, changes in vegetation and other environmental factors resulting from altitude change might have strong effects on soil biochemical properties in the alpine-gorge region.