Fermented rape pollen powder can alleviate benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats by reducing hormone content and changing gut microbiota.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can cause urethral compression, bladder stone formation, and renal function damage, which may endanger the life of patients. Therefore, we aimed to develop plant-based preparations for BPH treatment with no side effects. In this study, the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 322Hp, Lactobacillus acidophilus 322Ha, and Limosilactobacillus reuteri 322Hr were used to ferment rape pollen. The fermented rape pollen was subsequently converted into fermented rape pollen powder (FRPP) through vacuum freeze-drying technology. After fermenting and drying, the bioactive substances and antioxidant capacity of FRPP were significantly higher than those of unfermented rapeseed pollen, and FRPP had a longer storage duration, which can be stored for over one year. To investigate the therapeutic effect of FRPP on BPH, a BPH rat model was established by hypodermic injection of testosterone propionate. The BPH rats were treated differently, with the model group receiving normal saline, the positive control group receiving finasteride, and the low, medium, and high dose FRPP group receiving FRPP at doses of 0.14 g/kg/d, 0.28 g/kg/d, and 0.56 g/kg/d, respectively. The results indicate that medium dose FRPP reduced the levels of hormone such as testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and oestradiol in rats with BPH by about 32%, thus bringing the prostate tissue of BPH rats closer to normal. More importantly, medium dose FRPP treatment had a significant effect on the composition of gut microbiota in rats with BPH, increasing the levels of beneficial genera (such as Coprococcus and Jeotgalicoccus), and decreasing the levels of harmful pathogens (such as Turicibacter and Clostridiaceae_Clostridium) in the gut. This study showed that medium dose FRPP reduced the hormone level and regulated the unbalanced gut microbiota in BPH rats, thereby alleviating BPH.

A randomized phase II trial of induction chemotherapy followed by cisplatin chronotherapy versus constant rate delivery combined with radiotherapy.

Chronotherapy is no longer a novel concept in cancer treatment after approximately 20 years of development. Many clinical trials have provided strong supporting evidence that chronomodulated treatment yields better results than a traditional dosage regimen. This study aimed to evaluate the adverse reactions, effect on immune functions, and therapeutic efficacy of chronomodulated infusion versus flat intermittent infusion of cisplatin (DDP) combined with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A total of 148 patients with biopsy-diagnosed untreated stage III-IVb NPC were randomly assigned to undergo two cycles of chronomodulated infusion (study group) or flat intermittent infusion (control group) of DDP (100 mg/m2 on day 1, 21 days/cycle) synchronized with radical radiotherapy. Patients in the study group received chronomodulated infusion, with peak delivery of DDP at 16:00 pm. Patients in the control group received a routine constant rate of infusion. Both groups were treated with the same radiotherapy techniques. Over a median follow-up of 20 months, the study group had better outcomes for adverse effects and immune functions compared with the control group. During the phase of concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the incidence of nausea, vomiting, and oral mucositis in the study and control groups was 66.7% and 79.5% (p < 0.05), 47.9% and 71.2% (p < 0.05), and 73.9% and 87.7% (p < 0.05), respectively. There was no significant difference in 2-year overall survival, progression-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival between the two groups (p > 0.05). Chronochemotherapy significantly reduced the incidence of adverse reactions and enhanced the tolerance for treatment without affecting survival. It is worth mentioning that reduced destruction of immune function is a novel area of exploration in chronotherapy research.

Effects of Bacillus fermentation on the protein microstructure and anti-nutritional factors of soybean meal.

This study evaluated the effects of Bacillus fermentation on soybean meal protein (SBMP) microstructure and major anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) in soybean meal (SBM). The Bacillus siamensis isolate JL8 producing high yield of protease at 519·1 U g-1 was selected for the laboratory production of fermented soybean meal (FSBM). After 24 h fermentation, the FSBM showed better properties compared with those of SBM, the ANFs such as glycinin, ß-conglycinin and trypsin inhibitor significantly decreased by 86·0, 70·3 and 95·01%, while in vitro digestibility and absorbability increased by 8·7 and 18·9% respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of fermented soybean meal protein showed smaller aggregates and looser network than that of SBMP. Secondary structure examination of proteins revealed fermentation significantly decreased the content of ß-sheet structure by 43·2% and increased the random coil structure by 59·9%. It is demonstrated that Bacillus fermentation improved the nutritional quality of SBM through degrading ANFs and changing the microstructure of SBMP. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: There is limited information about the structural property changes of soybean protein during fermentation. In this study, physicochemical analysis of soybean meal protein showed evidence that the increase in in vitro digestibility and absorbability of fermented soybean meal reflected the decrease in ß-conformation and destruction of original structure in soybean meal protein. The results directly gained the understanding of nutritional quality improvement of soybean meal by Bacillus fermentation, and supply the potential use of Bacillus siamensis for fermented soybean meal production.

Effects of the preoperative administration of Yunnan Baiyao capsules on intraoperative blood loss in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Yunnan Baiyao is a well-known Chinese herbal medicine that has been used as a haemostatic drug for nearly 100 years. The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yunan Baiyao capsules on the reduction of blood loss in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. 87 consecutive patients scheduled for simultaneous maxillary Le Fort I osteotomies and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomies (BSSRO) were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients were administered Yunnan Baiyao capsules or placebo capsules, orally for 3 days before surgery. Intraoperative blood loss was estimated and the safety of Yunnan Baiyao capsules was evaluated. The total blood loss in the Yunnan Baiyao group (mean, 330.5+/-134.4 ml) was significantly lower than in the control group (mean, 420.3+/-175.9 ml). No allergic reactions, thromboembolic events or other side effects were recorded in this trial. It can be concluded that the preoperative use of Yunnan Baiyao capsules, in combination with hypotension anaesthesia, results in a reduction in intraoperative blood loss in bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Yunnan Baiyao capsules are an effective and safe haemostatic Chinese medicine.

Thiophenes from Echinops latifolius.

Six thiophenes were isolated and purified from ethanol extract of the roots of Echinops latifolius Tausch. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectral data. Among them, 5-(3-hydroxmethyl-3-isovaleroyloxyprop-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (6) is a new compound, and 5-(3-hydroxy-4-isovaleroyloxybut-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (5) was isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Studies on chemical constituents of Maackia amurensis Rupr. et. Maxim].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of EtOH extract from heartwood of Maackia amurensis. METHOD: Silica gel column chromatography and Sephadex LH-20 were employed to separate, and the compounds obtainedere elucidated by means of UV, IR, MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR. RESULT: 4', 8-dihydroxyl-7-methoxylisoflavone (I), tectorigenin(II), glycitein(III) and resveratrol (IV) were isolated and identified. CONCLUSION: Among them, Compound I was a new isoflavone and compound III was obtained from M. amurensis for the first time.

A novel eleven-membered-ring triterpene dilactone, pseudolarolide F and A related compound, pseudolarolide E, from Pseudolarix kaempferi.

A novel eleven-membered-ring triterpene dilactone, pseudolarolide F (1), and a related compound, pseudolarolide E (2), were isolated from the seeds of Pseudolarix kaempferi, a plant indigenous to eastern China. Their structures and stereochemistry were established by spectroscopic studies, which included UV, IR, HREIMS, 2D NMR correlation methods (1H-1H COSY, 13C-H COSY, NOESY, HMQC, and HMBC), and single-crystal X-ray analysis.

[Studies on chemical constituents of Lagopsis supina (Steph.) Ik.-GaI].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Lagopsis supina. METHOD: Compounds were separated by solvent extraction, column chromatography and TLC, and the structures were determined by chemical and spectral analyses. RESULTS: Six compounds were isolated from the ethanol extract of L. supina and identified as eicosanoic acid octadecyl ester, eicosanoic acid-16-methyl-15, 16-hetadecenyl ester, palmitic acid, beta-sitosterol, oleanolic acid and daucosterol. CONCLUSION: Except beta-sitosterol, all the compounds were isolated from this genus for the first time.

Structures and stereochemistry of pseudolarolides K and L, novel triterpene dilactones from pseudolarix kaempferi.

Pseudolarolides K(1) and L(2), two novel triterpenedilactones, were isolated from the seeds of Pseudolarix kaempferi, and their structures characterized from spectral data.

Structure and stereochemistry of pseudolarolide J, a novel nortriterpene lactone from Pseudolarix kaempferi.

Pseudolarolide J (1), a novel nortriterpene lactone, has been isolated from the seeds of Pseudolarix kaempferi and structurally characterized from spectral data and X-ray crstallographic analysis.

[Pharmacological studies of nin jion pei pa koa].

The results showed that King To Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa had significant cough relieving and sputum removing effects. It also had an evident effect on relieving asthma in vivo and in vitro. In four acute or sub-acute inflammatory models, the anti-inflammatory effect was marked.

Screening of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen expression inducers from Chinese medicinal herbs and plants.

Ether extracts of 1693 Chinese medicinal herbs and plants from 268 families were studied for the induction of Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) early antigen (EA) expression in the Raji cell line. Fifty-two from 18 families were found to have inducing activity. Twenty-five and seven of them were from Euphorbiaceae and Thymelaeaeeae, respectively. Some of them, such as Croton tiglium, Euphorbia kansui, Daphne genkwa, Wikstroemia chamaedaphne, Wikstroemia indica, Prunus mandshurica Koehne and Achyranthes bidentata are commonly used drugs. The significance of these herbs in the activation of EBV in vivo and their relation to the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were discussed.

[Studies on the chemical components of essential oil from the aerial parts of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort].

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the essential oil steamdistilled from the aerial parts of Ligusticum chuanxiong were made by means of GC-MS and GC. Forty-six components which make up 85.82% of the total oil were identified.

[Effects of processing on special toxicity and pharmacodynamics in semen Armeniacae amarum].

The ethereal extract and decoction from raw Semen Armeniacae Amarum were found to induce EBV-EA activation in Raji cells cultured in vitro. Experiments show that both the extract and decoction have tumor-promoting activities, but the EBV-EA activation can be decreased by three kinds of processing-parching, scalding or parching after scalding, of which parching and parching after scalding are better. Moreover, parching after scalding is the best to enhance the relaxing of bowels, inactivate the amygdalase and increase the decoction rate of amygdalin.

The isolation and structural elucidation of four novel triterpene lactones, pseudolarolides A, B, C, and D, from Pseudolarix kaempferi.

Four novel triterpene lactones, pseudolarolides A [1], B [2], C [3], and D [4], were isolated from the seeds of Pseudolarix kaempferi. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated from spectral data. Compound 2 shows potent cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines, KB (nasopharyngeal), A-549 (lung), and HCT-8 (colon), and against a murine leukemia cell line (P-388) with ED50 values of 0.49, 0.67, 0.73, and 0.79 micrograms/ml, respectively.

[Studies on surfactants used for thin layer chromatographic separation of flavones].

The micellar thin layer chromatographic behaviours of rutin, quercetin and morin were studied. The methods of separation and identification were established: Polyamide thin coating was used as the stationary phase and 4% Zeph--acetylacetone--H2O (5:1.5:1.5) used as the mobile phase. The method was applied to the separation and identification of quercetin and rutin in samples of Sophorae flos and satisfactory result was obtained.

The cytotoxic principles of Pseudolarix kaempferi: pseudolaric acid-A and -B and related derivatives.

Pseudolaric acid-A and -B, the novel diterpene acids isolated from Pseudolarix kaempferi, and their related derivatives have been tested for cytotoxicity against KB, A-549, HCT-8, P-388, and L-1210 tumor cells. The results showed that pseudolaric acid-A and -B demonstrated potent cytotoxicity. The selectivity of pseudolaric acid-A and -B which inhibit the growth of particular cell types within the disease-oriented human cancer cell line panels is discussed.

[Identification of an inhibitor in the aqueous extract of Fritillaria polliflora Schrek seeds].

It has been identified that there exists a certain inhibitor in the aqueous extract of Fritillaria pollidiflora seeds against embryonic development and germination of seeds. An improved method is thus proposed to guarantee better treatment of seeds.