Variovorax ginsengisoli sp. nov., a denitrifying bacterium isolated from soil of a ginseng field.

A Gram-negative, aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, non-spore-forming, motile, rod-shaped bacterium (strain Gsoil 3165(T)) was isolated from soil of a ginseng field in Pocheon, South Korea. Its taxonomic position was determined by using a polyphasic approach. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain Gsoil 3165(T) was shown to belong to the family Comamonadaceae, class Betaproteobacteria, and was related most closely to the type strains of Variovorax boronicumulans (98.9 % similarity), Variovorax paradoxus (98.3 %), Variovorax soli (98.2 %) and Variovorax dokdonensis (96.6 %). Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain Gsoil 3165(T) and the type strains of other species in the family Comamonadaceae were less than 97.0 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain Gsoil 3165(T) was 66 mol%. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data (Q-8 as the major ubiquinone; C(16 : 0) and C(17 : 0) cyclo as major fatty acids) supported the affiliation of strain Gsoil 3165(T) to the genus Variovorax. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain Gsoil 3165(T) from recognized Variovorax species. Gsoil 3165(T) is therefore considered to represent a novel species of the genus Variovorax, for which the name Variovorax ginsengisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Gsoil 3165(T) (=KCTC 12583(T) =LMG 23392(T)).

Anxiolytic effects of the aqueous extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the putative anxiolytic-like effects of the aqueous extract of hooks with stem of Uncaria rhynchophylla using the elevated plus maze (EPM) and the hole-board apparatus in rats and mice. Control rats were treated with an equal volume of saline, and positive control rats with buspirone (1 mg/kg). Single or repeated treatments of the aqueous extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla (200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 7 days significantly increased the time-spent and entries into open arms of the EPM, and reduced the time-spent and entries into the closed arms versus saline controls (P<0.05). However, no changes in spontaneous locomotor activity or myorelaxant effects were observed versus saline controls. In the hole-board test, repeated treatment with the aqueous extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla (100 or 200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) significantly increased the number of head-dips (P<0.05). In addition, the anxiolytic-like effects of Uncaria rhynchophylla extract as assessed using the EPM test were abolished by WAY 100635 (0.3 mg/kg, i.p.), a 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist. These results suggest that Uncaria rhynchophylla is an effective anxiolytic agent, and acts via the serotonergic nervous system.

Ethyl acetate soluble fraction of Cnidium officinale MAKINO inhibits neuronal cell death by reduction of excessive nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-treated rat hippocampal slice cultures and microglia cells.

In the present work, we found that the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of Cnidium officinale MAKINO (COEA) decreased nitric oxide (NO) production in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 and primary microglia and suppressed expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in BV-2 cells with the same pattern of NO production. In addition, we showed that excessive NO production played an important role in neuronal cell death in LPS-treated rat hippocampal slice cultures. Our data suggest that the COEA inhibits neuronal cell death by reduction of excessive NO production in LPS-treated rat hippocampal slice cultures. The ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of C. officinale reduced propidium iodide uptake and NO production in cultured media at the same time.

Neuroprotection by methanol extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla against global cerebral ischemia in rats.

In traditional Oriental medicine, Uncaria rhynchophylla has been used to lower blood pressure and to relieve various neurological symptoms. However, scientific evidence related to its effectiveness or precise modes of action has not been available. Thus, in the current study, we evaluated neuroprotective effects of U. rhynchophylla after transient global ischemia using 4-vessel occlusion model in rats. Methanol extract of U. rhynchophylla administered intraperitoneally (100-1000 mg/kg at 0 and 90 min after reperfusion) significantly protected hippocampal CA1 neurons against 10 min transient forebrain ischemia. Measurement of neuronal cell density in CA1 region at 7 days after ischemia by Nissl staining revealed more than 70% protection in U. rhynchophylla-treated rats compared to saline-treated animals. In U. rhynchophylla-treated animals, induction of cyclooxygenase-2 in hippocampus at 24 hr after ischemia was significantly inhibited at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, U. rhynchophylla extract inhibited TNF-alpha and nitric oxide production in BV-2 mouse microglial cells in vitro. These anti-inflammatory actions of U. rhynchophylla extract may contribute to its neuroprotective effects.