Recent advances in Zizania latifolia: A comprehensive review on phytochemical, health benefits and applications that maximize its value.

Zizania latifolia is an aquatic and medicinal plant with a long history of development in China and the East Asian region. The smut fungus "Ustilago esculenta" parasitizes Z. latifolia and induces culm expansion to form a vegetable named Jiaobai, which has a unique taste and nutritional attributes. However, the postharvest quality of water bamboo shoots is still a big challenge for farmers and merchants. This paper traced the origin, development process, and morphological characteristics of Z. latifolia. Subsequently, the compilation of the primary nutrients and bioactive substances are presented in context to their effects on ecology a postharvest storage and preservation methods. Furthermore, the industrial, environmental, and material science applications of Z. latifolia in the fields of industry were discussed. Finally, the primary objective of the review proposes future directions for research to support the development of Z. latifolia industry and aid in maximizing its value. To sum up, Z. latifolia, aside from its potential as material it can be utilized to make different productions and improve the existing applications. This paper provides an emerging strategy for researchers undertaking Z. latifolia.

Nostoc sphaeroides Cyanobacteria: a review of its nutritional characteristics and processing technologies.

Nostoc sphaeroides is an edible Cyanobacterium which has high nutritional value and is widely used in dietary supplements and therapeutic products. N. sphaeroides contains protein, fatty acid, minerals and vitamins. Its polysaccharides, phycobilin, phycobiliproteins and some lipids are highly bioactive. Thus, N. sphaeroides possesses anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and cholesterol reducing functions. This paper reviews and evaluates the literature on nutritionally and functionally important compounds of N. sphaeroides. It also reviews and evaluates the processing of technologies used to process N. sphaeroides from fresh harvest to dry particulates including pretreatment, sterilization and drying, including their impact on sensorial and nutritional values. This review shows that a suitable combination of ultrasound, radio frequency and pulse spouted microwave with traditional sterilization and drying technologies greatly improves the sensorial and nutritive quality of processed N. sphaeroides and improves their shelf life; however, further research is needed to evaluate these hybrid technologies. Once suitably processed, N. sphaeroides can be used in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical drugs as an ingredient.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Enzymolysis Extraction and Protective Effect on Injured Cardiomyocytes in Mice of Flavonoids from Prunus mume Blossom.

Prunus mume blossom is an edible flower that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Flavonoids are one of the most active substances in Prunus mume blossoms. The optimal ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic extraction of flavonoids from Prunus mume blossom (FPMB), the components of FPMB, and its protective effect on injured cardiomyocytes were investigated in this study. According to our results, the optimal extraction process for FPMB is as follows: cellulase at 2.0%, ultrasonic power at 300 W, ultrasonic enzymolysis for 30 min, and an enzymolysis temperature of 40 °C. FPMB significantly promoted the survival rate of cardiomyocytes and reduced the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS). FPMB also improved the activities of proteases caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 in cardiomyocytes. The cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate in mice was significantly reduced by exposure to FPMB. These results suggest that the extraction rate of FPMB may be improved by an ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic method. FPMB has a protective effect on the injured cardiomyocytes.

Study on effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Jianpi Chushi decoction and ointment on chronic eczema.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Jianpi Chushi decoction and ointment on chronic eczema. METHODS: DNCB acetone solution was used to sensitize the skin of back and ears of 36 rats in order to establish chronic eczema model. A total of 36 rats were divided into four groups of 9 randomly including oral medicine group, external inunctum group, combination therapy group, and model control group respectively. Besides, the blank group of 4 healthy rats were set. The oral medicine group was given Traditional Chinese Medicine Jianpi Chushi decoction [(Poria cocos, Chinese yam, Cortex dictamni, Zaocys dhumnade, Rhizoma atractylodis, Pericarpium citri reticulatae, Scutellaria baicalensis, Radix Sophorae Flavescentis, Raw Radix Paeoniae Alba, Licorice roots (Northwest Origin)] by gastric infusion (1.6 g/mL·5 mL/d); the external inunctum group was given Qingpeng ointment on the skin, the combination therapy group was given Jianpi Chushi decoction by gastric infusion and Qingpeng ointment combination therapy. The model control group was given normal saline (NS) of the same volume by gastric infusion and vaseline on skin. Continuous administration 15 d and stopped for 3 d. The thickness difference and weight difference of left and right ear of every group were measured and the degree of ear swelling were evaluated. The CD4+ and CD8+ content and the IL-2, IL-4 level of serum were detected, and the inflammatory cells counts of back skin were recorded. RESULTS: After treatment, the degree of ear swelling of oral medicine group, external inunctum group and combination therapy group significant decreased compared with model control group (P < 0.05). The CD4+, CD8+ cell content and IL-2 level of oral medicine group, external inunctum group, combination therapy group and model control group significant decreased compared with blank group, and IL-2 level and the inflammatory cells count increased. After 15 d of treatment, the CD4+, CD8+ cell content and IL-2 level of serum of oral medicine group, external inunctum group and combination therapy group raised and the IL-4 level and the inflammatory cells count had significant decreased compared with model control group, and the effect of combination therapy group was more obvious (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Qral Jianpi Chushi decoction could treat chronic eczema effectively, and oral Chinese medicine combined with ointment could enhance and speed up the efficacy.

[Separation and molecular identification of fungal contamination on surface of 15 Chinese herbal medicines].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate fungal contamination on the surface of Chinese herbal medicines and explore an appropriate method for fast and efficient identification of contaminant fungi. METHOD: Chinese herbal medicines were first washed and the washing solution was plated onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) to obtain the pure isolates. For molecular identification, two new pairs of specific primers were designed according to ITS region of fungi genome sequences. The strains were identified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis. RESULT: Fifty fungal strains were obtained from the surface of 15 Chinese herbal medicines with the percent of contaminated samples of 93.3%. Twenty-seven strains among them were successfully identified. CONCLUSION: Fungal contamination on the surface of Chinese herbal medicines is quite common. Although different fungal species were isolated, the genus Aspergillus was the predominant. The primer pairs developed in this study are compatible and can be used to identify fungal species from the surface of Chinese herbal medicines.