Assessing the health risks of heavy metals and seasonal minerals fluctuations in Camellia sinensis cultivars during their growth seasons.

The risk assessment of heavy metals in tea is extremely imperative for the health of tea consumers. However, the effects of varietal variations and seasonal fluctuations on heavy metals and minerals in tea plants remain unclear. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to evaluate the contents of aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), boron (B), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), sodium (Na), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and antimony (Sb) in the two categories of young leaves (YL) and mature leaves (ML) of tea (Camellia sinensis) cultivars throughout the growing seasons. The results showed significant variations in the contents of the investigated nutrients both among the different cultivars and growing seasons as well. Furthermore, the average concentrations of Al, Mn, Mg, B, Ca, Cu, Co, Fe, Na, Zn, As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Sb in YL ranged, from 671.58-2209.12, 1260.58-1902.21, 2290.56-2995.36, 91.18-164.68, 821.95-5708.20, 2.55-3.80, 3.96-25.22, 37.95-202.84, 81.79-205.05, 27.10-69.67, 0.028-0.053, 0.065-0.127, 2.40-3.73, 10.57-12.64, 0.11-0.14 mg kg-1, respectively. In ML, the concentrations were 2626.41-7834.60, 3980.82-6473.64, 3335.38-4537.48, 327.33-501.70, 9619.89-13153.68, 4.23-8.18, 17.23-34.20, 329.39-567.19, 145.36-248.69, 40.50-81.42, 0.089-0.169, 0.23-0.27, 5.24-7.89, 18.51-23.97, 0.15-0.19 mg kg-1, respectively. The contents of all analyzed nutrients were found to be higher in ML than in YL. Target hazard quotients (THQ) of As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Sb, as well as the hazard index (HI), were all less than one, suggesting no risk to human health via tea consumption. This research might provide the groundwork for essential minerals recommendations, as well as a better understanding and management of heavy metal risks in tea.

Nanoparticles synergy: Enhancing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cadmium tolerance with iron oxide and selenium.

Nanotechnology is capturing great interest worldwide due to their stirring applications in various fields and also individual application of iron oxide nanoparticle (FeO - NPs) and selenium nanoparticles (Se - NPs) have been studied in many literatures. However, the combined application of FeO and Se - NPs is a novel approach and studied in only few studies. For this purpose, a pot experiment was conducted to examine various growth and biochemical parameters in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under the toxic concentration of cadmium (Cd) i.e., 50 mg kg-1 which were primed with combined application of two levels of FeO and Se - NPs i.e., 15 and 30 mg L-1 respectively. The results showed that the Cd toxicity in the soil showed a significantly (P < 0.05) declined in the growth, gas exchange attributes, sugars, AsA-GSH cycle, cellular fractionation, proline metabolism in T. aestivum. However, Cd toxicity significantly (P < 0.05) increased oxidative stress biomarkers, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants including their gene expression in T. aestivum. Although, the application of FeO and Se - NPs showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the plant growth and biomass, gas exchange characteristics, enzymatic and non-enzymatic compounds and their gene expression and also decreased the oxidative stress, and Cd uptake. In addition, individual or combined application of FeO and Se - NPs enhanced the cellular fractionation and decreases the proline metabolism and AsA - GSH cycle in T. aestivum. These results open new insights for sustainable agriculture practices and hold immense promise in addressing the pressing challenges of heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils.

Anti-hepatitis B virus activities of natural products and their antiviral mechanisms.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infections caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) continue to pose a significant global public health challenge. Currently, the approved treatments for CHB are limited to interferon and nucleos(t)ide analogs, both of which have their limitations, and achieving a complete cure remains an elusive goal. Therefore, the identification of new therapeutic targets and the development of novel antiviral strategies are of utmost importance. Natural products (NPs) constitute a class of substances known for their diverse chemical structures, wide-ranging biological activities, and low toxicity profiles. They have shown promise as potential candidates for combating various diseases, with a substantial number demonstrating anti-HBV properties. This comprehensive review focuses on the current applications of NPs in the fight against HBV and provides a summary of their antiviral mechanisms, considering their impact on the viral life cycle and host hepatocytes. By offering insights into the world of anti-HBV NPs, this review aims to furnish valuable information to support the future development of antiviral drugs.

A combination of selenium and Bacillus subtilis improves the quality and flavor of meat and slaughter performance of broilers.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the combination of selenium and Bacillus subtilis (Se-BS) on the quality and flavor of meat and slaughter performance of broilers. A total of 240 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allotted to four treatments of a basal diet supplemented with no selenium (control), sodium selenite (SS), BS, or Se-BS and raised for 42 days. Compared with the control group, Se-BS significantly increased the carcass weight, the half-eviscerated weight, the completely eviscerated weight, the carcass rate, and redness in broiler muscles; improved the antioxidant state by increasing glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase activities, the total antioxidant capacity, and GPx-1 and thioredoxin reductase 1 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels; promoted biological activity by increasing the contents of glutamate, phenylalanine, lysine, and tyrosine; and increased Se and five types of nitrogenous volatile substances in muscles. On the other hand, Se-BS treatment decreased the shear force, drip loss, and the malondialdehyde, glutathione, and lead contents in muscles. Se-BS exerted a better effect on slaughter performance, the physicochemical quality of meat, the redox status, the amino acid contents, the trace element contents, and volatile substances compared with SS and BS. In conclusion, Se-BS had a positive effect on the quality and flavor of meat and slaughter performance of broilers, suggesting that Se-BS may be a beneficial feed additive.

Induction of Immune Responses and Phosphatidylserine Exposure by TLR9 Activation Results in a Cooperative Antitumor Effect with a Phosphatidylserine-targeting Prodrug.

Head and neck cancer is a major cancer type, with high motility rates that reduce the quality of life of patients. Herein, we investigated the effectiveness and mechanism of a combination therapy involving TLR9 activator (CpG-2722) and phosphatidylserine (PS)-targeting prodrug of SN38 (BPRDP056) in a syngeneic orthotopic head and neck cancer animal model. The results showed a cooperative antitumor effect of CpG-2722 and BPRDP056 owing to their distinct and complementary antitumor functions. CpG-2722 induced antitumor immune responses, including dendritic cell maturation, cytokine production, and immune cell accumulation in tumors, whereas BPRDP056 directly exerted cytotoxicity toward cancer cells. We also discovered a novel function and mechanism of TLR9 activation, which increased PS exposure on cancer cells, thereby attracting more BPRDP056 to the tumor site for cancer cell killing. Killed cells expose more PS in tumor for BPRDP056 targeting. Tumor antigens released from the dead cells were taken up by antigen-presenting cells, which enhanced the CpG-272-promoted T cell-mediated tumor-killing effect. These form a positive feed-forward antitumor effect between the actions of CpG-2722 and BPRDP056. Thus, the study findings suggest a novel strategy of utilizing the PS-inducing function of TLR9 agonists to develop combinational cancer treatments using PS-targeting drugs.

Positive effects of selenized-oligochitosan on zearalenone-induced intestinal dysfunction in piglets.

This paper assessed the positive effects of selenized-oligochitosan (SOC) on zearalenone(ZEN)-induced intestinal dysfunction in piglets. Sixty piglets were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group C was fed the basal diet as a control and Group Z was supplemented with 2 µg/g ZEN in the basal diet; Group ZS1 and ZS2 were supplemented with 0.3 or 0.5 µg/g SOC (calculated by selenium), in addition to 2 µg/g ZEN in the basal diet. After 42 days, ileal mucosal structure, digestive enzyme activities, tight junction protein mRNA expressions, plasma D-lactate and D-xylose contents, and plasma diamine oxidase activities were determined. Compare with Group C, ileal villus height, value of villus height/crypt depth, trypsin, lipase and α-amylase activities, occluding, claudin-1 and ZO-1 mRNA expressions, and plasma D-xylose levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in piglets of group Z; while compare to Group C, ileal crypt depth, plasma D-lactate contents and diamine oxidase activities were significantly increased in piglets of group Z (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Compare with Group Z, ileal villus height, lipase and α-amylase activities, occluding, claudin-1 and ZO-1 mRNA expressions, and plasma D-xylose levels were significantly elevated in piglets of group ZS1 and ZS2 (p < 0.01); while compare to Group Z, plasma D-lactate and diamine oxidase contents were significantly reduced in piglets of group ZS1 and ZS2 (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Compare with Group Z, value of villus height/crypt depth and trypsin activity were significantly promoted in piglets of group ZS2 (p < 0.01); whereas ileal crypt depth was significantly reduced in piglets of group ZS2 (p <0.01).Thus, SOC can mitigate ZEN-induced intestinal dysfunction in piglets.

Selenium-enriched Bacillus subtilis Improves Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, Immune Status, and Gut Health of Broiler Chickens.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of selenium (Se)-enriched Bacillus subtilis (Se-BS) on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune status, and gut health in broilers. A total of 240 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allotted to four groups and fed with basal diet (control group), 0.30 mg/kg Se (SS group), 3 × 109 CFU/g B. subtilis (BS group), and 0.30 mg/kg Se + 3 × 109 CFU/g B. subtilis (Se-BS group) for 42 days. The results showed that Se-BS supplementation increased body weight (BW), average daily gain, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and the contents of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, and immunoglobulin (Ig) G in plasma, the index and wall thickness of the duodenum, the villus height and crypt depth of the jejunum, and GPx-1 and thioredoxin reductase 1 mRNA levels in liver and intestine and decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR) and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) content compared with the control group on day 42 (P < 0.05). Compared with groups SS and BS, Se-BS supplementation increased BW, the activities of GPx, CAT, and POD, and the contents of IL-2, IL-4, and IgG in plasma, the index and wall thickness of the duodenum, the crypt depth and secretory IgA content of the jejunum, and GPx-1 mRNA levels in liver and intestine and decreased FCR and plasma MDA content on day 42 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Se-BS supplementation effectively improved the growth performance antioxidant capacity, immune status, and gut health of broilers.

Selenium-chitosan alleviates the toxic effects of Zearalenone on antioxidant and immune function in mice.

This study assessed the protective effects of selenium-chitosan (SC) against antioxidant and immune function-related damage induced by zearalenone (ZEN) in mice. In total, 150 female mice were allotted to five groups for a 30-day study. Control mice were fed a basal diet. Mice in the ZEN, ZEN-Se1, ZEN-Se2 and ZEN-Se3 groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with same dose of ZEN (2 mg/kg) and different doses of SC, 0.0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg/kg, respectively (calculated by selenium). After 30 days, the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) level, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in plasma and liver, as well as Con A-induced splenocyte proliferation, plasma interleukins concentrations and liver interleukin mRNA expression levels were determined. The plasma and liver GSH-Px activities, liver T-AOC levels, Con A-induced splenocyte proliferation, interleukin (IL) contents and mRNA expression levels in the ZEN group were significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), whereas plasma and liver MDA contents in the ZEN group were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Additionally, plasma and liver GSH-Px activities, liver T-AOC levels, Con A-induced splenocyte proliferation, IL-1ß, IL-17A, IL-2 and IL-6 contents and mRNA expression levels in ZEN+Se2 and ZEN+Se3 groups were significantly higher than in the ZEN group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), whereas plasma and liver MDA contents in the ZEN+Se2 and ZEN+Se3 groups were significantly lower than in the ZEN group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The plasma and liver GSH-Px activities, Con A-induced splenocyte proliferation, IL-1ß and IL-6 contents, IL-2 and IL-17A mRNA expression levels in the ZEN+Se1 group were also significantly higher than in the ZEN group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), whereas the plasma MDA content in the ZEN+Se1 group was also significantly lower than in the ZEN group (P < 0.01). Thus, SC may alleviate antioxidant function-related damage and immunosuppression induced by ZEN in mice.

Short-term responses of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) to the individual and combinatorial effects of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium and silicon in the soil contaminated by boron.

While of lesser prevalence than boron (B) deficient soils, B-rich soils are important to study as they can cause B toxicity in the field and subsequently decrease crop yields in different regions of the world. We have conducted the present study to examine the role of the individual or combined application of silicon (Si) and NPK fertilizer in B-stressed spinach plants (Spinacia oleracea L.). S. oleracea seedlings were subjected to different NPK fertilizers, namely, low NPK (30 kg ha-2) and normal NPK (60 kg ha-2)], which were also supplemented by Si (3 mmol L-1), for varying levels of B in the soil i.e., 0, 250, and 500 mg kg-1. Our results illustrated that the increasing levels of B in the soil caused a substantial decrease in the plant height, number of leaves, number of stems, leaf area, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid content, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, magnesium content in the roots, magnesium contents in the shoots, phosphorus content in the roots, phosphorus content in the leaves in the shoots, iron content in the roots, iron content in the shoots, calcium content in the roots, and calcium content in the shoots. However, B toxicity in the soil increased the concentration of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and electrolyte leakage which were also manifested by the increasing activities of enzymatic [superoxidase dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)], and non-enzymatic antioxidants (phenolic, flavonoid, ascorbic acid, and anthocyanin content). B toxicity in the soil further increased the concentration of organic acids in the roots such as oxalic acid, malic acid, formic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, and fumaric acid. The addition of Si and fertilizer levels in the soil significantly alleviated B toxicity effects on S. oleracea by improving photosynthetic capacity and ultimately plant growth. The increased activity of antioxidant enzymes in Si and NPK-treated plants seems to play a role in capturing stress-induced reactive oxygen species, as was evident from the lower levels of oxidative stress indicators, organic acid exudation, and B concentration in the roots and shoots of Si and NPK-treated plants. Research findings, therefore, suggested that the Si and NPK application can ameliorate B toxicity in S. oleracea seedlings and result in improved plant growth and composition under metal stress as depicted by the balanced exudation of organic acids.

Phosphorus addition regulates the growth of Chinese fir by changing needle nitrogen fractions in growing and dormant seasons.

Forest productivity is generally limited by nutrient scarcity. This study aims to reveal seasonal interactions among leaf carbon (C), nitrogen (N) fractions and tree growth driven by nutrient addition in a subtropical forest. Here, a field nutrient addition experiment was conducted with six treatments, namely, +N5 (5 g N m-2 yr-1), +N10 (10 g N m-2 yr-1), +P5 (5 g P m-2 yr-1), +N5 + P5, +N10 + P5, and control (N0 + P0). C fractions (structural and non-structural carbohydrates) and N fractions (soluble N, nucleic N and protein N) in needles as well as tree growth indicated by basal area increment (BAI) were measured in growing and dormant seasons. Total N and protein N in old needles were significantly increased by P addition, while no significant differences of non-structural carbohydrates in young (<1-year old) and old needles (>1-year old) were detected among the treatments in both seasons. N and P addition increased the structural carbohydrates of old needles in dormant season. P addition decreased and increased tree growth in growing and dormant seasons, respectively. The variation of BAI was explained 18.3 % by total N and 17.8 % by protein N in growing season, and was explained 33.9 % by total N and 34.2 % by protein N in dormant season. Our study suggested that the P addition effect on Chinese fir growth mostly depends on needle N fractions. This study highlights tree seasonal growth driven by nutrient alteration might be characterized by leaf N fractions rather than C fractions in subtropical forests.

Protective effects of corni fructus extract in mice with potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia.

Corni fructus is consumed as food and herbal medicine in Chinese culture. Studies have revealed that corni fructus exhibits potent antioxidant activity; however, few studies have investigated the ability of corni fructus to lower uric acid concentrations. In this study, the xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition and uric acid-lowering effect of corni fructus extract (CFE) were evaluated in mice with potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia is a chronic disease prevalent worldwide and is associated with high recurrence rates. In addition, drugs used to treat hyperuricemia induce side effects that discourage patient compliance. Hyperuricemia induces metabolic imbalances resulting in accumulative uric acid deposition in the joints and soft tissues. Hyperuricemia not only induces gout but also interrupts hepatic and renal function, thereby trigging severe inflammation and various complications, including obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes, and metabolic diseases. In this study, the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of CFE resulted in yields of antioxidant photochemical components significantly higher than those of CFEs formed using other substances. The EAF of CFE exhibited high free radical scavenging activity and XO inhibition and effectively lowered uric acid concentrations in the animal model of chemically induced hyperuricemia. The results of this study can serve as a reference for the prevention of preclinical gout as well as for functional food research.

Towards a global One Health index: a potential assessment tool for One Health performance.

BACKGROUND: A One Health approach has been increasingly mainstreamed by the international community, as it provides for holistic thinking in recognizing the close links and inter-dependence of the health of humans, animals and the environment. However, the dearth of real-world evidence has hampered application of a One Health approach in shaping policies and practice. This study proposes the development of a potential evaluation tool for One Health performance, in order to contribute to the scientific measurement of One Health approach and the identification of gaps where One Health capacity building is most urgently needed. METHODS: We describe five steps towards a global One Health index (GOHI), including (i) framework formulation; (ii) indicator selection; (iii) database building; (iv) weight determination; and (v) GOHI scores calculation. A cell-like framework for GOHI is proposed, which comprises an external drivers index (EDI), an intrinsic drivers index (IDI) and a core drivers index (CDI). We construct the indicator scheme for GOHI based on this framework after multiple rounds of panel discussions with our expert advisory committee. A fuzzy analytical hierarchy process is adopted to determine the weights for each of the indicators. RESULTS: The weighted indicator scheme of GOHI comprises three first-level indicators, 13 second-level indicators, and 57 third-level indicators. According to the pilot analysis based on the data from more than 200 countries/territories the GOHI scores overall are far from ideal (the highest score of 65.0 out of a maximum score of 100), and we found considerable variations among different countries/territories (31.8-65.0). The results from the pilot analysis are consistent with the results from a literature review, which suggests that a GOHI as a potential tool for the assessment of One Health performance might be feasible. CONCLUSIONS: GOHI-subject to rigorous validation-would represent the world's first evaluation tool that constructs the conceptual framework from a holistic perspective of One Health. Future application of GOHI might promote a common understanding of a strong One Health approach and provide reference for promoting effective measures to strengthen One Health capacity building. With further adaptations under various scenarios, GOHI, along with its technical protocols and databases, will be updated regularly to address current technical limitations, and capture new knowledge.

[Analysis of chemical constituents in ethyl acetate extract of Taxilli Herba by UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS and screening of potential xanthine oxidase inhibitors].

The present study analyzed and identified the chemical constituents from ethyl acetate(EA) extract of Taxilli Herba with UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS and screened active xanthine oxidase(XO) inhibitors with HPLC. The analysis was performed on an Hypersil GOLD C_(18) reversed-phase column(2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.9 µm), with the mobile phase of water containing 1% formic acid(A) and methanol(B) under gradient elution, the flow rate of 0.3 mL·min~(-1), and the injection volume of 5 µL. ESI source was used for MS and the compounds were collected in positive and negative ion modes. Xcalibur 4.1 was used to analyze the retention time, accurate relative molecular weight, and fragmentation of the compounds. The inhibitory activity of some known compounds on XO was screened by HPLC. Thirty chemical constituents were identified, including phenolic acids and flavonoids by experimental data combined with information of standards, data reported previously, and databases, such as MzCloud and ChemSpider. The activities of 10 chemical components were screened. Gallic acid and naringenin chalcone had strong inhibitory activities on XO with IC_(50) of 57 µg·mL~(-1) and 108 µg·mL~(-1). UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS allows the accurate, rapid, and comprehensive identification of main chemical constituents from Taxilli Herba. Gallic acid and naringenin chalcone may be the active components of XO inhibitors.

Fabrication and Characterization of ß-Cyclodextrin/Mosla Chinensis Essential Oil Inclusion Complexes: Experimental Design and Molecular Modeling.

Essential oils (EOs) are primarily isolated from medicinal plants and possess various biological properties. However, their low water solubility and volatility substantially limit their application potential. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to improve the solubility and stability of the Mosla Chinensis (M. Chinensis) EO by forming an inclusion complex (IC) with ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD). Furthermore, the IC formation process was investigated using experimental techniques and molecular modeling. The major components of M. Chinensis 'Jiangxiangru' EOs were carvacrol, thymol, o-cymene, and terpinene, and its IC with ß-CD were prepared using the ultrasonication method. Multivariable optimization was studied using a Plackett-Burman design (step 1, identifying key parameters) followed by a central composite design for optimization of the parameters (step 2, optimizing the key parameters). SEM, FT-IR, TGA, and dissolution experiments were performed to analyze the physicochemical properties of the ICs. In addition, the interaction between EO and ß-CD was further investigated using phase solubility, molecular docking, and molecular simulation studies. The results showed that the optimal encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of EO in the ICs were 86.17% and 8.92%, respectively. Results of physicochemical properties were different after being encapsulated, indicating that the ICs had been successfully fabricated. Additionally, molecular docking and dynamics simulation showed that ß-CD could encapsulate the EO component (carvacrol) via noncovalent interactions. In conclusion, a comprehensive methodology was developed for determining key parameters under multivariate conditions by utilizing two-step optimization experiments to obtain ICs of EO with ß-CD. Furthermore, molecular modeling was used to study the mechanisms involved in molecular inclusion complexation.

Research on an integrated community-based chronic disease management model driven by massive databases / 上海预防医学

China’s chronic disease management suffers from problems such as unclear institutional function， insufficient information technology application， and weak regulation support. On the basis of current chronic disease management condition in China， this paper proposes to apply the concept of “people-centered” integrated health management to community chronic disease management and discusses the content and procedure of establishing an integrated community-based chronic disease management model driven by massive databases. The model innovatively combines technology integration， data integration and service integration， and can accurately and efficiently realize the "people-centered" full-course health management of various chronic diseases. Shanghai has provided integrated community-based chronic disease management service for 1.98 million citizens through applying this model. The model warrants further effectiveness and economic evaluation. This study provides precious experience for the development of chronic disease prevention and treatment in China.

Selenide Chitosan Sulfate Improved the Hepatocyte Activity, Growth Performance, and Anti-oxidation Capacity by Activating the Thioredoxin Reductase of Chickens In Vitro and In Vivo.

Chicken hepatocytes were cultured in vitro and 240 specific pathogen-free (SPF) white leghorns chickens (7 days old) were obtained. The hepatocytes and chickens were randomly allocated to one of six treatment groups: control group; chitosan (COS) group; sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) group; selenide chitosan (COS-Se) group; chitosan sulfate (LS-COS) group; and selenide chitosan sulfate (LS-COS-Se) group. Our results showed that LS-COS-Se increased (P < 0.05) the activities of thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD), anti-superoxide anion radical (antiO2-), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), the mRNA levels of thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1) and thioredoxin reductase 3 (TXNRD3), and the chicken body weight, but reduced (P < 0.05) the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Compared with COS and LS-COS, the LS-COS-Se treatment increased (P < 0.05) the activities of TXNRD, SOD, catalase (CAT), and the mRNA levels of TXNRD1 and TXNRD3, but reduced (P < 0.05) the MDA content in vitro, whereas, in vivo, it increased (P < 0.05) body weight on day 28; the activities of TXNRD, antiO2-, and SOD; and the mRNA levels of TXNRD1 and TXNRD3. Compared with Na2SeO3 and COS-Se, the LS-COS-Se treatment increased (P < 0.05) the TXNRD and SOD activities, the mRNA levels of TXNRD1 and TXNRD3 in vitro, increased (P < 0.05) the chicken body weight on day 28, and the TXNRD, antiO2-, and SOD activities, but reduced (P < 0.05) the MDA content. These results indicated that LS-COS-Se was a useful antioxidant that improved hepatocyte activity, growth performance, and anti-oxidation capacity in hepatocytes (in vitro) and SPF chicken (in vivo) by activating the TXNRD system.

[Correlations between content of linarin in Chrysanthemum indicum and climatic factors in habitats].

Chrysanthemi Indici Flos(CIF), the capitulum of Chrysanthemum indicum, is widely used in proprietary Chinese medicine and daily chemical products. At present, CIF is mainly produced from wild resources and rarely cultivated. This study aims to reveal the correlations between linarin content in CIF and climatic factors in different habitats, and provide a theoretical basis for suitable zoning and rational production of medicinal materials. The content of linarin in CIF was determined by HPLC. Grey relational analysis and Pearson correlation analysis were carried out for linarin content with climatic factors. The results showed that the content of linarin in CIF was significantly different among different habitats. The grey relational degrees of climatic factors with linarin content was in an order of average annual precipitation>annual average sunshine hours>annual average temperature>longitude>annual frost-free period>latitude>altitude. Longitude, annual average temperature and average annual precipitation had significantly positive correlations with the content of linarin in CIF, whereas latitude and altitude showed negative correlations with it. The annual frost-free period and annual average sunshine hours had no significant correlation with the content of linarin in CIF. The content of linarin in CIF varied significantly in different habitats. High longitude, low latitude, low altitude, high annual average temperature and high annual average precipitation could be used as indicators for the habitats of high-quality Ch. indicum. This study provides a reference for selecting suitable producing areas of Ch. indicum and establishing artificial cultivation system.

Selenium enriched Bacillus subtilis yb-1114246 activated the TLR2-NF-κB1 signaling pathway to regulate chicken intestinal ß-defensin 1 expression.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and potential signaling pathway of selenium-enriched Bacillus subtilis (SEBS) on beta defensin 1 (BD1) expression in chicken intestine. Chinese Huainan Partridge chickens (500 individuals) were randomly allocated into five groups, including control, inorganic Se, B. subtilis, SEBS, and a mixture of Se and B. subtilis (Se-BS). After 56 d of feeding, chicken ileal mucous membranes were harvested to detect differences in expression of BD1. The results indicated that BD1 was produced in intestinal crypt cells and secreted into the lumen through the villi brush border. BD1 was up-regulated in distal ileum segments colonized by SEBS and B. subtilis. Chicken primary intestinal crypt cells were cultured and grouped into control, inorganic Se, B. subtilis, SEBS, and Se-BS treatments to identify the receptor of B. subtilis. Results indicated that B. subtilis and SEBS were recognized by toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), stimulating the NF-κB1 signaling pathway to increase expression of BD-1, which was further enhanced when combined with Se. Pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 were up-regulated with B. subtilis supplementation, and inhibited under the action of Se. In conclusion, B. subtilis and SEBS were recognized by the TLR2 receptor in the ileal mucous membrane, which activated the TLR2-MyD88-NF-κB1 signaling pathway to upregulate BD1 expression. In addition, Se enhanced recognition of B. subtilis and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory factors caused by estrogenic B. subtilis supplementation.

A Rapid and Feasible 1H-NMR Quantification Method of Ephedrine Alkaloids in Ephedra Herbal Preparations.

A highly specific and sensitive proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) method has been developed for the quantification of ephedrine alkaloid derivatives in Ephedra herbal commercial prescriptions. At the region of δ 4.0 to 5.0 ppm in the 1H NMR spectrum, the characteristic signals are separated well from each other, and six analogues in total, methylephedrine (ME), ephedrine (EP), norephedrine (NE), norpseudoephedrine (NP), pseudoephedrine (PE), and methylpseudoephedrine (MP) could be identified. The quantities of these compounds are calculated by the relative ratio of the integral values of the target peak for each compound to the known concentrations of the internal standard anthracene. The present method allows for a rapid and simple quantification of ephedrine alkaloid derivatives in Ephedra-related commercial prescriptions without any preliminary purification steps and standard compounds, and accordingly it can be a powerful tool to verify different Ephedra species. In comparison to conventional chromatographic methods, the advantages of this method include the fact that no standard compounds are required, the quantification can be directly performed on the crude extracts, a better selectivity for various ephedrine alkaloid derivatives, and the fact that a very significant time-gain may be achieved.

Cysteiniphilum marinum sp. nov., isolated from coastal seawater.

Six aerobic Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from seawater in Guangdong Province, P.R. China. Cells were observed to be Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile and non-spore forming. Growth of the designated type strain 19X3-30T occurred at a temperature range of 14-37 °C (optimum, 28 °C), a pH range of 6.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 7) and up to 7.5% NaCl (optimum, 1.5%; w/v), and was enhanced by CO2 and L-cysteine supplementation. The major polar lipids identified in strain 19X3-30T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The principal cellular fatty acids profile showed the presence of anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0 and C18:0 (> 8% of total fatty acids), and the respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 8 (UQ-8). According to the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, these strains represented a novel species within the family Fastidiosibacteraceae, sharing maximum similarities with Cysteiniphilum litorale DSM 101832T (96.6%) and Cysteiniphilum halobium DSM 103992T (95.3%). Phylogenetic dendrograms based on 16S rRNA gene and protein marker genes from the genomic sequences both indicated that the strains formed a monophyletic lineage closely linked to the genus Cysteiniphilum, which was also supported by the UPGMA dendrogram based on the MALDI-TOF MS profile. The genomic DNA G + C contents of six strains ranged from 38.0% to 38.1%. Based on different taxonomic genomic metrics, phylogeny and phenotypic features, we propose that the strains warrant the assignment to a novel species, for which the name Cysteiniphilum marinum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 19X3-30T (= KCTC 82154T = CGMCC 1.18585T).