Chemical Constituents from Fraxinus hupehensis and Their Antifungal and Herbicidal Activities.

The phytochemical investigation of Fraxinus hupehensis led to the isolation and characterization of ten compounds which were identified as fraxin (1), fraxetin (2), esculetin (3), cichoriin (4), euphorbetin (5), kaempferol-3-O-ß-rutinoside (6), oleuropein (7), linoleic acid (8), methyl linoleate (9), and ß-sitosterol (10). Structures of the isolated constituents were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS. All the compounds, except compounds 3 and 4, were isolated for the first time from this plant. Further, this was the first report for the occurrence of compound 5 in the Fraxinus species. Antifungal activity evaluation showed that compound 2 exhibited significant inhibitory effects against Bipolaris maydis, Sclerotium rolfsii, and Alternaria solani with EC50 values of 0.31 ± 0.01 mmol/L, 10.50 ± 0.02 mmol/L, and 0.40 ± 0.02 mmol/L respectively, compared to the positive control, Carbendazim, with its EC50 values of 0.74 ± 0.01 mmol/L, 1.78 ± 0.01 mmol/L and 1.41 ± 0.00 mmol/L. Herbicidal activity tests showed that compounds 8-10 had strong inhibitory effects against the roots of Echinochloa crus-galli with EC50 values of 1.16 ± 0.23 mmol/L, 1.28 ± 0.58 mmol/L and 1.33 ± 0.35 mmol/L respectively, more potently active than that of the positive control, Cyanazine, with its EC50 values of 1.56 ± 0.44 mmol/L. However, none of the compounds proved to be active against the tested bacteria (Erwinia carotovora, Pseudomonas syringae, and Ralstonia solanacearum).

Volatiles released by Chinese liquorice roots mediate host location behaviour by neonate Porphyrophora sophorae (Hemiptera: Margarodidae).

BACKGROUND: The cochineal scale, Porphyrophora sophorae (Hemiptera: Coccoidea, Margarodidae), is one of the most serious arthropod pests of Chinese liquorice, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Fabaceae), an important medicinal herb. The adult females tend to deposit the ovisacs in soil relatively far away from liquorice plants. After hatching, neonates move out of the soil and may use chemical cues to search for new hosts. RESULTS: We collected and analysed the volatiles from soils with and without liquorice roots, and chromatographic profiles revealed hexanal, ß-pinene and hexanol as potential host-finding cues for P. sphorae. The attractiveness of these compounds to neonates was studied in the laboratory using four-arm olfactometer bioassays. The larvae showed a clear preference for ß-pinene over hexanal and hexanol, as well as all possible combinations of the three compounds. In addition, a field experiment confirmed that ß-pinene was significantly more attractive than hexanal and hexanol. CONCLUSION: Newly eclosed larvae of P. sphorae exploit root volatiles as chemical cues to locate their host plant. ß-Pinene proved to be the major chemical cue used by P. sphorae neonates searching for roots of their host plant. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

[Inhibitory effect of Panax notoginseng saponins on alveolar epithelial to mesenchymal transition].

In the study, the effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on alveolar epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and extracellular matrix degradation were observed in a type of human alveolar epithelial cell, A549 cells, stimulated by TGF-beta1. Firstly, MTT method was applied to evaluation of cellular proliferation and found that PNS from 12.5 mg x L(-1) to 200 mg x L(-1) dosage could not inhibit significantly cellular proliferation. Then, cells were divided into five groups, normal group, TGF-beta1 group, TGF-beta1 + 50 mg x L(-1) PNS group, TGF-beta1 + 100 mg x L(-1) PNS group and TGF-beta1 + 200 mg x L(-1) PNS group. Normal cells were not stimulatec by TGF-beta1; TGF-beta1 cells were only stimulated by TGF-beta1 and the other cells were stimulated by TGF-beta1 with different doses of PNS, respectively. After stimulation, cells and supernatants were collected for assays. Cellular roundness was applied to quantitative evaluation of morphological change. Immunocytochemistry was applied to examine E-cadherion, a-SMA and FN proteins expression in the cells. Enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay was applied to MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels. The results showed that EMT of A549 cells was induced by TGF-beta1, showing significant change of roundness, E-cadherion, alpha-SMA and FN (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared to TGF-beta1, PNS significantly inhibited the changes of roundness (P < 0.05), FN and alpha-SMA (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and not significantly inhibited the change of E-cadherion. Furthermore, MMP-9 levels were significantly increased by TGFbeta1 stimulation (P < 0.05), without significant change of TIMP-1. Compared with TGF-beta1, PNS could significantly increase MMP-9 level (P < 0.05) and decrease TIMP-1 levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In conclusion, PNS could inhibit alveolar epithelial cell EMT induced by TGF-beta1, with increase of extracellular matrix degradation ability, which showed anti-fibrosis of lung ability.