[Qualitative and semiquantitative analyses of the chemical components of the seed coat and kernel of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen].

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen refers to the dried seed of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H. F. Chou. The seed is composed of a reddish brown coat and a yellow kernel. A comparative study was conducted to investigate differences in the chemical composition and their relative contents between the seed coat and kernel of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen. First, the chemical compounds found in the seed coat and kernel were characterized and identified using ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). The analytical results tentatively identified 57 chemical compounds based on reference-compound comparison, literature retrieval, and chemical-database (e. g., MassBank) searches; these compounds included 14 triterpenes, 23 flavonoids, 7 alkaloids, 6 carboxylic acids, and 7 other types of compounds. The mass error of the identified compounds was within the mass deviation range of 5×10-6 (5 ppm). Next, two methods of multivariate statistical analysis, namely, principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), were used to compare the differential compounds between the two seed parts. A total of 17 differential compounds were screened out via OPLS-DA based on a variable importance in projection (VIP) value of >5. The results revealed that betulinic acid, betulonic acid, alphitolic acid, and jujuboside Ⅰ mainly existed in the seed coat whereas the 13 other compounds, such as spinosin, jujuboside A, and 6‴-feruloylspinosin, mainly existed in the seed kernel. Therefore, these 17 differential compounds can be used to distinguish between the two seed parts. Finally, a semiquantitative method was established using UPLC and a charged aerosol detector (CAD) with inverse gradient compensation in the mobile phase. Six representative compounds with different types were selected to examine the CAD response consistency: magnoflorine (alkaloid), spinosin (flavone), 6‴-feruloylspinosin (flavone), jujuboside A (triterpenoid saponin), jujuboside B (triterpenoid saponin), and betulinic acid (triterpenoid acid). The results showed that the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the average response factors at different levels of these six compounds was 7.04% and that their response intensities were similar. Moreover, each compound in the fingerprint demonstrated good response consistency, and the peak areas obtained directly reflected the contents of each compound. Based on the semiquantitative fingerprints obtained, betulinic acid and oleic acid were considered the main components of the seed coat. The betulinic acid content in the seed coat was approximately 7 times higher than that in the seed kernel. Spinosin, jujuboside A, linoleic acid, betulinic acid, and oleic acid were the main components of the seed kernel. The spinosin content in the seed kernel was 18 times higher than that in the seed coat. In addition, the jujuboside A content in the seed kernel was 24 times higher than that in the seed coat. The proposed method can accurately determine the main components and compare the relative contents of these components in different seed parts. In summary, this study identified the differences in chemical components between the seed coat and kernel of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen and clarified the main components and their relative contents in these parts. The findings can not only provide a basis for the identification of chemical compounds and quality research on different parts of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen but also promote the development and utilization of this traditional Chinese medicine.

Pseudo-targeted lipidomics insights into lipid discrepancies between yak colostrum and mature milk based on UHPLC-Qtrap-MS.

Yak milk is essential to maintain the normal physiological functions of herders in Tibetan areas of China. However, the lipid components of yak colostrum (YC) and mature milk (YM) have not been systematically studied. We employed a quantitative lipidomics to comprehensively describe the alterations in the milk lipid profile of lactating yaks. Herein, totally 851 lipids from 28 lipid subclasses in YC and YM were identified and screened for 43 significantly different lipids (SDLs; variable importance in projection > 1, fold change < 0.5 or > 2 with P < 0.05), with cholesterol ester (CE, 16:0) and triacylglycerol (TAG, 54:6 (20:5), 50:1 (16:0), 56:6 (20:5)) were the potential lipid biomarkers. Fourteen SDLs were modulated downwards, and 29 SDLs were modulated upwards in YM. Moreover, by analyzing lipid metabolic pathways in these SDLs, glycerophospholipid metabolism was the most critical. Our results furnish integral lipid details for evaluating yak milk's nutritional quality.

θ-Nanopipette for Single-Cell Resistive-Pulse Profiling of DNA Repair Proteins Accompanied by Drug Evaluation.

Single-cell analysis of the DNA repair protein is important but remains unachieved. Exploration of nanopipettte technologies in single-cell electroanalysis has recently seen rapid growth, while the θ-nanopipette represents an emerging technological frontier with its potential largely veiled. Here a θ-nanopipette is first applied for single-cell resistive-pulse sensing (RPS) of the important DNA repair protein O6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase (hAGT). The removal of alkyl mutations by hAGT could restore the damaged aptamer linking with a structural DNA carrier, allowing the selective binding of the aptamer to thrombin with precisely matched size to produce distinct RPS signals when passing through the orifice. Kinetic analysis of hAGT repair was studied. Meanwhile, the device shows the simultaneous on-demand infusion of inhibitors to inactivate the hAGT activity, indicative of its potential in drug screening for enhanced chemotherapy. This work provides a new paradigm for θ-nanopipette-based single-cell RPS of a DNA repair protein accompanied by drug evaluation.

Xuebijing alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury by downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokine production and inhibiting gasdermin-E-mediated pyroptosis of alveolar epithelial cells.

Acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) is characterized by diffuse alveolar injury primarily caused by an excessive inflammatory response. Regrettably, the lack of effective pharmacotherapy currently available contributes to the high mortality rate in patients with this condition. Xuebijing (XBJ), a traditional Chinese medicine recognized for its potent anti-inflammatory properties, exhibits promise as a potential therapeutic agent for ALI/ARDS. This study aimed to explore the preventive effects of XBJ on ALI and its underlying mechanism. To this end, we established an LPS-induced ALI model and treated ALI mice with XBJ. Our results demonstrated that pre-treatment with XBJ significantly alleviated lung inflammation and increased the survival rate of ALI mice by 37.5%. Moreover, XBJ substantially suppressed the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß in the lung tissue. Subsequently, we performed a network pharmacology analysis and identified identified 109 potential target genes of XBJ that were mainly involved in multiple signaling pathways related to programmed cell death and anti-inflammatory responses. Furthermore, we found that XBJ exerted its inhibitory effect on gasdermin-E-mediated pyroptosis of lung cells by suppressing TNF-α production. Therefore, this study not only establishes the preventive efficacy of XBJ in ALI but also reveals its role in protecting alveolar epithelial cells against gasdermin-E-mediated pyroptosis by reducing TNF-α release.

Dammarane-type saponins from Gynostemma pentaphyllum and their anti-aging activities via up-regulating mitochondria related proteins.

The importance of mitochondria in regulation of aging has been extensively recognized and confirmed. Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino, a homology of medicine and food, has been widely utilized as dietary supplement. In this study, the transcriptome of normal cells (wild type mouse embryo fibroblasts) regulated by the 30% aqueous EtOH extract of G. pentaphyllum was firstly evaluated by RNA sequencing and the results revealed that the G. pentaphyllum could up-regulate the genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and sirtuin (SIRT) signaling pathways, indicating its effect in promoting cell viability might be attributed to the role of improving mitochondrial functions. To further discover the bioactive compounds, sixteen undescribed dammarane-type saponins along with twenty-eight known analogues were isolated from the active extract of G. pentaphyllum. Their structures were elucidated by means of comprehensive analysis of NMR and HRMS spectroscopic data. All isolates were evaluated for the regulatory effects on SIRT3 and translocase of the outer membrane 20 (TOM20), and thirteen of them exhibited satisfactory agonist activities on both SIRT3 and TOM20 at 5 µM. Furthermore, the preliminary structure-activity relationships analysis demonstrated the additional hydroxymethyl and carbonyl groups or less sugar residues in saponins could contribute positively to the up-regulatory effect on SIRT3 and TOM20. These findings encouraged the potential roles of G. pentaphyllum and its bioactive saponins in the development of natural drugs for the treatment of aging-related diseases.

An effective and high-throughput sample preparation method involving demalonylation followed by an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-charged aerosol detector for analyzing gypenoside XLIX and gypenoside A in Gynostemma longipes.

Gypenosides (Gps) are the major bioactive components in Gynostemma species. They include neutral Gps and acidic malonylgypenosides (MGps). MGps are abundant in Gynostemma species and can be transformed into corresponding Gps via extraction, concentration, and drying. If only the Gps were quantified and MGps were ignored, the quality of Gynostemma species would be underestimated. This study aimed to develop a sample preparation method involving demalonylation and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-charged aerosol detector (UHPLC-CAD) analysis to determine the contents of gypenoside XLIX (Gp XLIX) and gypenoside A (Gp A). First, the optimized ultrasonic extraction method was established to extract G. longipes powder ultrasonically. Then, the extracted solution was put into a closed container (centrifuge tube) and heated in a water bath at 95 °C. Then, MGps were converted into corresponding Gps. The proposed preparation method was compared with the other three methods, including water bath reflux heating, alkali hydrolysis, and extraction of heated powder, and was shown to exhibit higher conversion and better convenience. Subsequently, an UHPLC-CAD method was established and validated. Gp XLIX and Gp A showed excellent linear correlations between 15.55 and 248.8 µg/mL and 24.10-385.5 µg/mL, respectively (R2 > 0.999). The limit of detection was 1.40 ng (Gp XLIX) and 2.41 ng (Gp A), and the limit of quantification was 7.77 ng and 14.46 ng, respectively. The relative standard deviation for precision, stability, and repeatability was 0.63-3.15%. The average recovery of Gp XLIX and Gp A was 98.97% and 98.23%, respectively. The established method was applied for determining Gp XLIX and Gp A contents in wild or cultivated G. longipes samples collected from the Qinba Mountains area. The contents of Gp XLIX and Gp A were 5.16-23.02 mg/g and 15.78-54.55 mg/g, respectively. Conclusively, the proposed sample preparation and analysis method could be used for the quality control and evaluation of G. longipes.

Qualitative and quantitative studies on two commercial specifications of Polygonatum odoratum.

The rhizoma of Polygonatum odoratum (PO) is used to treat yin injuries of the lung and stomach in traditional Chinese medicine. The chemical constituents of this herb are steroidal saponins, homoisoflavanones, and alkaloids. Xiangyuzhu (XPO) and Guanyuzhu (GPO) are available in the market as two specifications of the commodity. Nonetheless, systematic research on the identification and comparison of chemical constituents of these two commercial specifications is yet lacking. Herein, an integrated method combing ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-charged aerosol detection (UHPLC-CAD) was employed for the comprehensively qualitative and quantitative analyses of PO. A total of 62 compounds were identified by UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS, among which 13 potential chemical markers were screened out to distinguish two commercial specifications. Subsequently, the absolute determination method for polygodoraside G, polygonatumoside F, and timosaponin H1 was established and validated by UHPLC-CAD. The contents of the three compounds were 13.33-236.24 µg/g, 50.55-545.04 µg/g, and 13.34-407.83 µg/g, respectively. Furthermore, the ratio of timosaponin H1/polygodoraside G could be applied to differentiate the two specifications. Samples with a ratio <2 are considered XPO and >5 are considered GPO. Therefore, the above results provide a valuable means for the quality control of PO.

The traditional Chinese patented medicine Qingke Pingchuan granules alleviate acute lung injury by regenerating club cells.

Qingke Pingchuan granules (QKPCG), a patented traditional Chinese medicine, clinically, are recommended for acute tracheobronchitis, cough, community-acquired pneumonia, and other respiratory diseases. However, its potential protective effect and mechanism of action in acute lung injury (ALI) have not been explored. We aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying the protective role of QKPCG in ALI. The therapeutic efficacy of QKPCG was investigated in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mouse model. Mice were divided into three groups, namely, the Control, LPS, and LPS + QKPCG groups. Mice in the LPS + QKPCG group were administered QKPCG intragastrically as a treatment once a day for a total of three days. QKPCG effectively increased survival and reduced lung injury in treated mice. It significantly reduced the LPS-induced expression of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1α, and IL-1ß. RNA-sequencing followed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation suggested a critical role of the secretoglobin family 1A member 1 (Scgb1a1) gene in mediating the protective effect of QKPCG. Further, QKPCG reversed the LPS-induced downregulation of the Clara cell 10 kDa protein (CC10), a pulmonary surfactant protein encoded by Scgb1a1, which is mainly secreted by club cells in the lungs. Exogenous supplementation of CC10 alleviated LPS-induced ALI. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results further confirmed the anti-inflammatory properties of CC10, which were suggested as mediated via the inhibition of NFκB phosphorylation. In summary, our study provides evidence of the beneficial role of QKPCG in alleviating lung injury, mediated via the decreased disruption of club cells and higher expression of CC10, which leads to NFκB pathway inhibition.

Hypothalamic modulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mice confers activity-dependent regulation of memory and anxiety-like behavior.

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis plays a critical role in memory and emotion processing, and this process is dynamically regulated by neural circuit activity. However, it remains unknown whether manipulation of neural circuit activity can achieve sufficient neurogenic effects to modulate behavior. Here we report that chronic patterned optogenetic stimulation of supramammillary nucleus (SuM) neurons in the mouse hypothalamus robustly promotes neurogenesis at multiple stages, leading to increased production of neural stem cells and behaviorally relevant adult-born neurons (ABNs) with enhanced maturity. Functionally, selective manipulation of the activity of these SuM-promoted ABNs modulates memory retrieval and anxiety-like behaviors. Furthermore, we show that SuM neurons are highly responsive to environmental novelty (EN) and are required for EN-induced enhancement of neurogenesis. Moreover, SuM is required for ABN activity-dependent behavioral modulation under a novel environment. Our study identifies a key hypothalamic circuit that couples novelty signals to the production and maturation of ABNs, and highlights the activity-dependent contribution of circuit-modified ABNs in behavioral regulation.

Estrogen valerate pretreatment with the antagonist protocol does not increase oocyte retrieval in patients with low ovarian response: a randomized controlled trial.

STUDY QUESTION: Does luteal phase estrogen valerate pretreatment improve oocyte yield and clinical outcomes in patients with low ovarian response during ovarian stimulation with the antagonist protocol? SUMMARY ANSWER: Pretreatment with oral estrogen valerate from Day 7 after ovulation to Day 2 of the next menstrual cycle did not increase oocyte yield in patients with a low ovarian response compared to no pretreatment. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Previous studies showed that patients with a normal ovarian response can obtain better clinical outcomes after pretreatment with estrogen in the antagonist protocol. For patients with advanced age and low ovarian response, it remains unclear if estrogen valerate pretreatment with the antagonist protocol yields more oocytes and improves pregnancy outcomes. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This non-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted between November 2017 and March 2021. Participants were 552 women with low response who requested IVF treatment. The primary endpoint was comparison of the total number of retrieved oocytes between the two groups. The secondary endpoints were the total number of retrieved metaphase II (MII) oocytes, duration and total dosage of recombinant FSH (rFSH), good-quality embryo rate and clinical pregnancy rate. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The study was conducted at a reproductive center. The RCT enrolled 552 infertile women with a low ovarian response (according to the Bologna criteria) who were undergoing IVF. In the study group, on Day 7 after ovulation patients were administered oral estrogen valerate (2 mg twice a day) until Day 2 of their next menstruation. Ovary stimulation was performed using rFSH, and a GnRH antagonist (0.25 mg/day) was started when a dominant follicle had a mean diameter ≥13 mm. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: No significant difference was observed in the number (mean [SD]) of oocytes retrieved from the estrogen valerate pretreatment and control group (3.2 [2.8] versus 3.4 [2.6], respectively). The treatment difference was -0.18 (95% CI -0.67, 0.32, P = 0.49). No significant differences were observed in the number of MII oocytes (2.9 [2.5] versus 3.1 [2.4], mean difference -0.23, 95% CI (-0.69, 0.23), P = 0.16) and good-quality embryos (1.0 [1.3] versus 1.20 [1.6], mean difference -0.23, 95% CI (-0.50, 0.04), P = 0.19) between the two groups. The duration of rFSH treatment was significantly longer in the estrogen valerate pretreatment group than in the control group (10.3 [2.2] versus 8.6 [2.1] days, mean difference 1.7, 95% CI (1.3, 2.2), P = 0.00), and the total rFSH dosage was significantly higher in the estrogen valerate pretreatment group than in the control group (3081 [680] versus 2548 [649] IU, mean difference 553.7, 95% CI (405.8, 661.6), P = 0.00). The clinical pregnancy rate in the pretreatment group (19.3% [23/119]) was not significantly different from that in the control group (28.7% [43/150]). The mean difference was -0.09, 95% CI (-0.20, 0.01), P = 0.08. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The major limitation was the high dropout rate of patients. Some patients did not return to the hospital for treatment because of predicted low success rates and for economic reasons. In addition, it is possible that the fixed dose of 300 IU rFSH was not sufficient to see differences in oocyte yield between the groups. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Estrogen valerate pretreatment with an antagonist protocol did not increase oocyte yield in patients with low ovarian response. Similar to the number of retrieved oocytes, there was no significant difference in clinical pregnancy rate between estrogen pretreatment group and control group. More research is needed on whether patients with low ovarian response need pretreatment and which pretreatment is more appropriate. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was supported in part by a research grant from the Investigator-Initiated Studies Program of MSD (China) Holding Co., Ltd. and Organon (Shanghai) Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. (Grant number: IIS 56284). The authors declare that they have no competing interests regarding authorship or publication of this study. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03300518. TRIAL REGISTRATION DATE: 28 September 2017. DATE OF FIRST PATIENT'S ENROLMENT: 15 November 2017.

Ergosterol Attenuates Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Cardiotoxicity.

Phytomedicine has shown a promising potential for the prevention of cardiovascular system diseases and disorders. This study aimed to evaluate protective effect of ergosterol (ER) on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial cardiotoxicity. We found that pretreatment with ER significantly decreased levels of myocardial CK-MB and LDH, and alleviated myocardial damage induced by ISO in rat model. In addition, ER restored Nrf2 and HO-1 expression and inhibited apoptosis through upregulating Bcl-2 and downregulating Bax, cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP in rat hearts. Hypoxia-reoxygenation model in H9C2 cells confirmed the cardioprotective effects of ER. In conclusion, we provide both in vitro and in vivo evidence that ER significantly enhances Nrf2-mediated anti-oxidative activities, and exerts a protective effect on cardiomyocyte apoptosis. ER could be considered as a potential therapeutic agent to prevent myocardial injury.

Preparation and characterization of calcium carbonate microspheres and their potential application as drug carriers.

The influence of lecithin from egg yolk (LE) on calcium carbonate (CaCO3) biomineralization was investigated. In the present study, spherical CaCO3 particles were synthesized via coprecipitation in the presence of LE. LE multilamellar liposomes were first tuned by sonication to provide better control over the nucleation of CaCO3. Subsequently, monodisperse microspheres ~2 µm in size were generated by controlling the aggregation and growth of CaCO3 under appropriate concentrations of LE. In contrast to unstable vaterite, the microspheres generated in aqueous solution remained stable for at least 10 days without transforming into calcite, due to the strong interaction between the LE and calcium ions. The microspheres as drug carriers of doxorubicin (DOX) were assessed and were observed to have a good encapsulation efficiency, sustained drug release without a burst release and notable pH sensitivity. In addition, in vivo tumor inhibition examination demonstrated that DOX­loaded CaCO3 microspheres formulation had more superior efficacy to significantly restrain tumor growth. These novel LE/CaCO3 hybrids may provide novel options for various biomedical applications.

Rapid structure prediction by HPLC-ESI-MSn of twenty-five polyoxypregnane tetraglycosides from Dregea sinensis with NMR confirmation of eight structures.

Dregea sinensis Hemsl is an important herbal medicine in the Dai nationality of China. Its prominent clinical application has generated interest in the polyoxypregnane glycosides of the plant. This paper describes an extension of previous research on the polyoxypregnane di- and triglycosides of D. sinensis, aiming at identifying related tetraglycosides. On the basis of HPLC-ESI-MSn analysis in positive mode, twenty-five previously undescribed polyoxypregnane tetraglycosides were characterized (regarding molecular masses and fragmentation in MSn) from an ethyl acetate fraction that was not previously investigated. Guided by MSn fragmentation and known structures of related di- and triglycosides from D. sinensis, tentative structures were predicted from the MS data. In order to test the predictions, eight of the glycosides were isolated and their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR methods, confirming the tentative predictions. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the isolates was evaluated on several human cell lines with little effect in general, even though slight inhibitory effects of four polyoxypregnane glycosides were detected at 10 µM against the human leukemia cell line HL-60.

[Effects of Green Manures on Soil Dissolved Organic Matter in Moisture Soil in North China].

Soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an important role in the biogeochemistry of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus and in the transport of heavy metals and pesticides in soil. In moisture soil, green manures and soils were sampled in situ at the ploughed stage of green manures. A 56-day laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to simulate the dynamic changes of soil DOM influenced by the decomposition of green manures, the green manures were Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.), February orchid (Orychophragmus Violaceus L.), Rye (Secale cereale L.), the soil without green manure was used as a control (CK). The composition and ultraviolet-visible spectrum parameters of soil DOM were investigated at different incubation stages. Results showed that green manures could increase the dissolved organic carbon (DOC), the total organic acids (TOAs) and total carbohydrate (TCs) contents, and all treatments were reached a peak on the 1st day and decreased later. Hairy vetch affected DOC and TOAs most and were increased by 114.01% and 109.10% higher than CK respectively at the 1st and 14th day. Rye influenced the total carbohydrate (TCs) most and was maximumly 323.18% higher than CK at the 42nd day. Green manures could increase the dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) content, DON in all green manure treatments increased on the 1st day, decreased several days later and increased again after 20～30 d. Hairy vetch effected DON best and was 305.83% higher than CK at the 42nd day. All green manures increased in SUVA254, SUVA260, SUVA272, SUVA280 and SAUC240-400, while decreasing in A250/A365 and A240/A420. The PCA analysis of ultraviolet-visible spectrum parameters showed that SUVA254, SUVA260, SUVA272, SUVA280 had a high positive correlation between each other, and the same situation was found between A250/A365 and A240/A420. Among them, SAUC240-400 was a key factor parameter featuring the characteristics of DOM. The results suggested that green manures could increase the contents of DOM and its aromaticity, hydrophobic percentage, humification degree and average molecular weight, and could be increased and the stability of DOM could be enhanced accordingly. The ultraviolet-visible spectrum parameters could indicate the changes of characteristics of DOM in this study.

Cytotoxic nor-dammarane triterpenes from Viburnum hainanense Merr. et Chun.

Five new nor-dammarane triterpenes, 12ß-O-acetyl-17ß-hydoxy-3,15-dioxo-20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27-octanordammanran (1), 12ß-hydoxy-17ß-methoxy-3,15-dioxo-20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27-octanordammanran (2), 12ß-O-acetyl-3,15-dioxo-17-en-20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27-octanordammanran (3), 12ß-hydoxy-15α-O-acetyl-3-oxo-17-en-20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27-octanordammanran (4) and 3ß-hydoxy-17-oxo-12-en-20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27-octanordammanran (5), were obtained from the ethanol extract of the whole plants of Viburnum hainanense Merr. et Chun. Structural elucidation of all the compounds was performed by spectral methods such as 1D and 2D NMR, IR, UV, and HRESIMS. The isolated compounds were tested in vitro for cytotoxic potential against seven tumor cell lines (Hep-2, SCL-1, CAL-27, UMSCC-1, Detroit-562, SCC-PKU, and TCA-83). As result, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited cytotoxic activities with IC50 values less than 10 µM.

Different leaf cost-benefit strategies of ferns distributed in contrasting light habitats of sub-tropical forests.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ferns are abundant in sub-tropical forests in southern China, with some species being restricted to shaded understorey of natural forests, while others are widespread in disturbed, open habitats. To explain this distribution pattern, we hypothesize that ferns that occur in disturbed forests (FDF) have a different leaf cost-benefit strategy compared with ferns that occur in natural forests (FNF), with a quicker return on carbon investment in disturbed habitats compared with old-growth forests. METHODS: We chose 16 fern species from contrasting light habitats (eight FDF and eight FNF) and studied leaf functional traits, including leaf life span (LLS), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations (N and P), maximum net photosynthetic rates (A), leaf construction cost (CC) and payback time (PBT), to conduct a leaf cost-benefit analysis for the two fern groups. KEY RESULTS: The two groups, FDF and FNF, did not differ significantly in SLA, leaf N and P, and CC, but FDF had significantly higher A, greater photosynthetic nitrogen- and phosphorus-use efficiencies (PNUE and PPUE), and shorter PBT and LLS compared with FNF. Further, across the 16 fern species, LLS was significantly correlated with A, PNUE, PPUE and PBT, but not with SLA and CC. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that leaf cost-benefit analysis contributes to understanding the distribution pattern of ferns in contrasting light habitats of sub-tropical forests: FDF employing a quick-return strategy can pre-empt resources and rapidly grow in the high-resource environment of open habitats; while a slow-return strategy in FNF allows their persistence in the shaded understorey of old-growth forests.

Effect of emodin on Aquaporin 5 expression in rats with sepsis-induced acute lung injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of emodin on aquaporin 5 (AQP5) expression in rats with sepsis-induced acute lung injury. METHODS: We divided 60 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 200-230 g, into four groups: control, sham surgery, model and emodin groups (n = 15 for each). We created a sepsis model with cecal ligation and puncture; the sham surgery group had their cecums replaced after exposure outside the abdominal cavity. Each group was further divided into three subgroups (n = 5 for each) and expressions of AQP5 mRNA and proteins in lung tissue were measured by real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction and western blot at 6,12 and 24 h after surgery. RESULTS: AQP5 expression did not change over time in the control group and sham surgery group, but decreased over time in the model group. The lowest expression was found in 12-h subgroup, which significantly differed from the 6-h subgroup (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, AQP5 expression in the emodin group was significantly higher in all the subgroups (all P < 0.01). Expressions in the 12-h subgroup were the highest, and significantly differed from the other subgroups. We found that lung tissue damage, such as pulmonary edema, alveolar damage and the exudation of red blood cells in pulmonary interstitium and alveolar, was significantly milder in the emodin group under light microscope than the model group. CONCLUSION: AQP5 expression was significantly down-regulated in rats with sepsis-induced acute lung injury induced by cecal ligation and puncture. Early prophylactic use of emodin can significantly enhance the AQP5 expression, thus effectively reducing the degree of pulmonary edema in septic rats.

Selective and sensitive platform for function-based screening of potentially harmful furans.

Many furan-containing compounds have been reported to be toxic and/or carcinogenic. Furanoids have been found in a wide range of fruits, herbs, foods, and beverages. The risks for intake of toxic furans have been rising, due to the rapid growth of globe-wide consumption of natural products. The objective of the study was to develop an analytical platform to screen cis-enediones (cis-enedials or γ-ketoenals) resulting from metabolic activation of potentially harmful furans. 2,5-Dimethylfuran (DMF), a model furan compound, was incubated with rat liver microsomes supplemented with glutathione (GSH) and 4-bromobenzylamine (BBA) as trapping agents, to produce a GSH/BBA-derived pyrrole. The incubation mixture was monitored by acquiring neutral loss scan of 129 Da and precursor ion scans of m/z 272, 169, and 171 in polarity switch mode. Four individual chromatograms showed the respective peak with the same retention time. An additional six furan-containing compounds were tested by the same approach, and similar observation was obtained. The system also showed its extremely high sensitivity, and an estimate of the limit of detection for DMF bioactivated in rat liver microsomes was <100 fmol. We also applied inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to monitor the formation of the bromine-tagged pyrrole derivatives. Crude extracts obtained from traditional Chinese medicine Dioscorea bulbifera L., known to contain furanoditerpenoids, were analyzed by the approach. In conclusion, the platform has been proven selective, sensitive, effective, and reliable, and ICP MS allows us to estimate the resulting bromine-labeled pyrroles without authentic standards.

Zinc oxide influences intestinal integrity, the expressions of genes associated with inflammation and TLR4-myeloid differentiation factor 88 signaling pathways in weanling pigs.

This study explored whether zinc oxide (ZnO) supplementation could alleviate weanling-induced intestinal injury through TLR and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways. Twelve early-weanling piglets were allotted to two dietary treatments (control vs 2200 mg Zn/kg from ZnO) for 1 wk. The results showed that supplemental ZnO improved daily gain and feed intake, decreased post weaning scour scores, increased villus height and villus height:crypt depth ratio at the jejunal mucosa, and decreased diamine oxidase activity and endotoxin concentration in plasma. The intestinal mRNA levels of TLR4 and its downstream signals, including MyD88, IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 and TNF-α receptor-associated factor 6, were decreased, and the expressions of intestinal pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were decreased simultaneously in the ZnO-supplemented piglets. Although NF-κB p65 mRNA abundance was not affected by ZnO supplementation, NF-κB p65 protein expression was down-regulated by ZnO. However, ZnO supplementation had no effect on intestinal expressions of NOD1 and NOD2, and their adaptor molecule receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 2, as well as protein expressions of caspase-3 and heat shock protein 70. The results indicated that the protective effects of ZnO on intestinal integrity were closely related to decreasing the expressions of genes associated with inflammation through inhibiting the TLR4-MyD88 signaling pathways.

[Establishment and preliminary analysis of two-dimensional electrophoresis patterns of protein in ginseng callus].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE)maps of callus induced from ginseng root,and to provide scientific method and data support for the study of secondary metabolites biosynthesis pathways of ginseng. METHODS: Total protein was extracted from ginseng callus by three different methods. The best protein extraction method of ginseng callus tissue was determined by the protein yield, purity and SDS-PAGE protein bands. By using 2-DE technology, the 2-DE maps of ginseng callus was established. The mass spectrometry and function on part of the protein were analyzed using MALDI-TOF-TOF and Swiss-Prot software. RESULTS: Modified phenol extraction method (the third method)was the best protein extraction method of ginseng callus tissue, and it could obtain a high resolution 2-DE map. The second method was lesser. The protein quality of the first method could not be used for the analysis of 2-DE. 12 protein spots of the second and third methods were successfully identified by mass spectrometry. CONCLUSION: This study established extraction methods suitable for ginseng callus protein and 2-DE patterns.