The Protective Effect of Sweet Potato Root Tuber on Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia.

SCOPE: Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is one of the leading crops worldwide, containing high nutritional components such as fiber and polyphenols. Root tuber of Simon 1 (SIMON), a cultivar of sweet potato, is a folk food in China with a hemostasis function but lacking experimental data support. METHODS AND RESULTS: Now the protective effect of SIMON on chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT), a serious complication of cancer treatment, is investigated for the first time by a CIT mouse model induced by intraperitoneal injection of carboplatin. As a result, SIMON raises the number of peripheral platelets, white blood cells, and bone marrow nucleated cells in CIT mice significantly. Besides, carboplatin-induced atrophy of the thymus, spleen, and disordered metabolism of the inflammatory immune system and glycerophospholipids are also reversed by SIMON. Phytochemical analysis of SIMON indicates 16 compounds including eight phenolic derivatives, which might be associated with its anti-CIT bioactivity. CONCLUSION: Sweet potato (SIMON) may be an efficient function food in the prevention of bleeding disorders.

Phytochemicals and Allelopathy of Induced Water Hyacinth against Microcystis aeruginosa.

Induced water hyacinth with purple roots (PRWH) exerts a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of blue-green algae. Interestingly, its chemical constituents differ from those of wild-type water hyacinth and have not yet been reported. This study aimed to explore the chemical constituents of PRWH and its bioactive components serving as allelopathic agents against blue-green algae. Phytochemical investigation of the bioactive ethyl acetate fraction of a crude methanol extract from PRWH led to the isolation of 56 compounds, including 11 new phenylphenalene derivatives. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by comprehensive analyses through NMR, HRMS, and X-ray techniques. Bioactivity evaluation against Microcystis aeruginosa indicated that compounds 7, 12, 15, 37, 39, 45, and 47 potently inhibited blue-green algae growth.

In vivo inhibition of NAS preparation on H9N2 subtype AIV.

NAS preparation, a kind of Chinese herbal medicine found by the Yunnan Eco-agricultural Research Institute, has potential antiviral activity. In this paper, the inhibiting effect of NAS preparation on H9N2 subtype Avian influenza virus (AIV) was investigated in vivo. Chickens infected with H9N2 virus were treated with NAS preparation for 4 days. The virus was then detected by hemoagglutination (HA) test and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that no H9N2 virus could be detected at the 7th day when the chickens were treated with 0.2 g/kg/d or 0.1 g/kg/d of NAS preparation. However the virus could be detected in other chickens without NAS preparation treatment. This result suggested that NAS preparation may be a potential drug candidate to control infection of H9N2 subtype AIV in chickens.