Identification and activity evaluation of Astragalus Radix from different germplasm resources based on specific oligosaccharide fragments.

Objective: Based on trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) hydrolysis, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis, the carbohydrate responsible for immunomodulatory activity are used as quality indicators for Astragalus Radix (AR). Methods: In this study, 24 batches of AR from different germplasm resources were selected as the research object, and AR polysaccharides were extracted. PAGE and HPTLC methods were used to analyze the partial acid hydrolyzate of AR polysaccharides and obtain a series of saccharide fingerprints. The data were analyzed by principal component analysis to obtain the difference between AR from different germplasm resources. Results: The results showed that trisaccharide and tetrasaccharide could be used as differential fragments to distinguish AR of different cultivation methods; Disaccharides and trisaccharides can be used as differential fragments to distinguish different species of AR. The immunological activity analysis of the specific oligosaccharide fragment of AR showed that the specific oligosaccharide fragment of AR could promote the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and NO in THP-1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: Both PAGE and HPTLC methods can be used to evaluate AR from different germplasm resources. This study laid the foundation for the quality evaluation of AR medicinal herbs.

[Research progress and secondary development ideas of Astragali Radix polysaccharides for injection].

Astragali Radix( AR) polysaccharide for injection( Guoyao Zhunzi Z20040086) is a traditional Chinese medicine for intravenous powder injection developed by Shanxi Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in early 1990 s by taking advantage of AR resources in Shanxi province. The effective parts of AR polysaccharides were obtained by advanced technology. The hemogram of patients with radiotherapy and chemotherapy showed alleviations in clinic. However,due to the technical bottleneck in separation of the complex polysaccharides mixture and the difficulties in accurate measurement of the polysaccharide structures,the pharmacodynamic mechanism of the drug remained unclear,and the side effect was hard to control. In recent years,the theoretical studies for polysaccharide receptors have indicated that when polysaccharides bound to protein receptors,only the oligosaccharide fragments of the polysaccharide molecule bound to the receptors,and one or more active sites of oligosaccharide fragments may existed in the polysaccharide molecule.Therefore,the active center of polysaccharides can be studied based on the level of oligosaccharides through degradation of the polysaccharides,which provided a new strategy for breaking through the bottleneck in polysaccharide structure determination. Therefore,this paper reviews the current status of studies for AR polysaccharides for injection,the polysaccharide receptors theory and successful cases,in order to propose the secondary development ideas of AR polysaccharides for injection. The study results will lay a material foundation for the development of new drugs of polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicine,and provide a basis for the resolution of international difficulties in quality control of polysaccharide drugs and molecular models,so as to further study of glycobiology,and enrich the polysaccharide receptors theory.

Tetramethylpyrazine inhibits production of nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase in lipopolysaccharide-induced N9 microglial cells through blockade of MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, and suppression of intracellular reactive oxygen species.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine the inhibitory effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced over-production of nitric oxide (NO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in N9 microglial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: N9 cells were pretreated with vehicle or TMP and then exposed to LPS for the time indicated. Cell viability was determined by methylthiazoyltetrazolium (MTT) assay. Nitrite assay was performed by Griess reaction. Expression of iNOS mRNA was examined by RT-PCR. Protein levels of iNOS, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), ERK1/2, JNK, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt were determined by western blot analysis. Formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was evaluated by fluorescence image system. RESULTS: TMP inhibited LPS-induced over-production of NO and iNOS in N9 cells. TMP also inhibited the NF-kappaB translocation from cytoplasm into nucleus of N9 cells. In addition, TMP showed blocking effect on the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, ERK1/2, JNK and Akt, but not PI3K. Further, TMP suppressed the formation of intracellular ROS in LPS-induced N9 cells. CONCLUSIONS: TMP inhibited production of NO and iNOS in LPS-induced N9 cells through blocking MAPK and PI3K/Akt activation and suppressing ROS production.

Global analysis of gene expression profiles in Brassica napus developing seeds reveals a conserved lipid metabolism regulation with Arabidopsis thaliana.

In order to study Brassica napus fatty acid (FA) metabolism and relevant regulatory networks, a systematic identification of fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis-related genes was conducted. Following gene identification, gene expression profiles during B. napus seed development and FA metabolism were performed by cDNA chip hybridization (>8000 EST clones from seed). The results showed that FA biosynthesis and regulation, and carbon flux, were conserved between B. napus and Arabidopsis. However, a more critical role of starch metabolism was detected for B. napus seed FA metabolism and storage-component accumulation when compared with Arabidopsis. In addition, a crucial stage for the transition of seed-to-sink tissue was 17-21 d after flowering (DAF), whereas FA biosynthesis-related genes were highly expressed primarily at 21 DAF. Hormone (auxin and jasmonate) signaling is found to be important for FA metabolism. This study helps to reveal the global regulatory network of FA metabolism in developing B. napus seeds.

Xanthone glycosides from Swertia franchetiana.

A new xanthone glycoside (1) has been isolated from Swertia franchetiana together with five known xanthone glycosides. Their structures were elucidated as 7-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl]-1,7,8-trihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone (1), 7-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl]-1,7,8-trihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone (2), 8-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-1,3,5,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone (3), 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-1-hydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxyxanthone (4), 1-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-1-hydroxy-2,3,5-trimethoxyxanthone (5) and 1-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-1-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone (6) on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.

[Study on the chemical constituents from the herb of Gentianopsis paludosa].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents from the herb of Gentianopsis paludosa. METHOD: Column chromatogrophy and spectral analysis were used to isolate and identify the constituents. RESULT: Six compounds were isolated and identified as 1,7-dihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyxanthone (I), 1-hydroxy-3, 7, 8-trimethoxyxanthone (II), 1, 8-dihydroxy-3, 7-dimethoxyxanthone (III), 1-hydroxy-3, 7-dimethoxyxanthone (IV), beta-sitosterol (V), daucosterol (VI). CONCLUSION: Compounds III-VI were isolated from the plant for the first time.

[Chemical constituents of Cyanotis arachnoidea].

AIM: To investigate the chemical constituents of Cyanotis arachnoidea. METHODS: By using chromatographic methods for separation and combination with spectral analysis, their chemical structures were determined. RESULTS: Six compounds were identified as ajugasterone C-20, 22-acetonide (1), 20-hydroxyecdysone-20, 22-acetonide (2), 22-oxo-ajugasterone C (3), 22-oxo-20-hydroxyecdysone (4), beta-sitosterol (5), daucosterol (6). CONCLUSION: Compound 3 is a new compound, 4 was a new natural compound.