[Effects of Application of Different Organic Materials on Phosphorus Accumulation and Transformation in Vegetable Fields].

Presently, the improvement of soil organic matter is the basis to ensure food security, but the accumulation and transformation characteristics of soil phosphorus (P) as affected by organic matter remain unclear. The accumulation, transformation, and migration characteristics of soil P in different soil layers of vegetable fields were researched under the application of organic materials. Six treatments were set up in the experiment:control (no fertilization), traditional fertilizer application by farmers, biochar, chicken manure, food waste, and straw application. Available phosphorus (Olsen-P), water-soluble phosphorus (CaCl2-P) content, soil phosphorus forms, soil organic matter (SOM), and pH were determined during the pepper harvest period. In the 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm soil layers, the available phosphorus content of traditional fertilization of farmers was higher, and the available phosphorus content of the four organic materials was in the order of straw > biochar > chicken manure > food waste. Compared to that with food waste, the straw and biochar treatments increased soil available phosphorus by 59.6%-67.3% and 29.1%-36.9%, respectively. The straw treatment could easily enhance the soil labile P pool, and soil labile P in the 0-5 cm soil layer increased by 47.3% and 35.1% compared with that under the chicken manure and food waste treatments, respectively. With the increase in soil depth, the proportion of available phosphorus in the chicken manure treatment decreased the least, and available phosphorus of the 20-30 cm soil layer accounted for 55.9% of the topsoil layer but only accounted for 16.0%-34.0% under treatment with the other three materials. Compared with that under the traditional fertilization of farmers, the pH significantly increased by 0.18-0.36 units after the application of organic fertilizer, and the pH of the chicken manure and food waste treatments was significantly higher than that of biochar and straw (P < 0.05). SOM content under the biochar treatment significantly increased by 7.7%-17.6% compared to that under the other three organic materials. Among the four organic materials, the straw treatment boosted the labile P pool the most, which was conducive to the rapid increase in plant-available P. Phosphorus was most likely to migrate downward under the chicken manure treatment. In the field management based on soil fertility enhancement, the application of biochar could not only improve soil pH and SOM but also avoid excessive accumulation of phosphorus in the surface layer, which decreases environmental risks.

Research Advances in Pharmacology, Safety, and Clinical Applications of Yunnan Baiyao, a Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula.

Ethnopharmacology relevance: Yunnan Baiyao (YNBY), a traditional Chinese medicine formulae, has some significant properties including activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis (Huo-Xue-Hua-Yu), eliminating swelling and alleviating pain (Xiao-Zhong-Zhi-Tong), and eliminating necrotic tissues and promoting granulation (Qu-Fu-Sheng-Ji). Aim of this study: This paper intends to provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of studies on YNBY, proposing new possible therapeutic directions of this formula. Materials and methods: Relevant data on YNBY were retrieved from available databases and a hand-search by searching the keywords such as "Yunnan Baiyao," "pharmacology," "toxicity," and "clinical applications." Results: Traditionally, YNBY has been used to cure hemorrhage, bruises, swelling, and pain caused by injuries in the Chinese folk. Modern pharmacological studies show that YNBY possesses pharmacological activities including hemostasis, invigorating the circulation of blood, wound healing, anti-inflammation, analgesia, antibiosis, infection prevention, and other effects. Toxicological studies demonstrate that YNBY has a certain toxicology, which is mainly caused by Aconitum alkaloids from Cao-wu (CW, Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix). The developmental non-toxic reaction dose (NOAEL) of YNBY for embryos and fetuses is 0.5 g/kg in rats. In addition, the NOAEL for fertility and early embryo development toxicity is 4.0 g/kg in rats. Clinical trials have confirmed the safety of YNBY in a large number of patients, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, allergy, and others in very few people. YNBY is routinely used in clinic to cure bleeding, pain, swelling, upper digestive tract ulcer, postoperative wound, arthritis, mouth ulcers, ulcerative colitis, etc. Conclusions: Hemostasis is a conspicuous effect of YNBY. Except for this effect, analgesia and anti-infection may be new research directions of this formula. In addition, the in vitro and in vivo pharmacology and mechanisms of action of YNBY are encouraged as well as the pharmacokinetics of this formulae. Furthermore, the material basis of the pharmacological effects of YNBY also needs clear identification.

Hormone-sensitive lipase is involved in the action of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HYSA) inhibiting adipogenesis of 3T3-L1cells.

BACKGROUND: Safflor yellow A (SY) has been demonstrated to be beneficial to cardiovascular system. Our previous study showed that hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), a main component of SY, could increase peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ mRNA expression. In this study, we investigate the effect of HSYA on the proliferation and adipogenesis of mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. METHODS: The proliferation and adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells treated with HSYA was studied by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) spectrophotometry, Oil Red O staining and intracellular triglyceride assay methods. HSL mRNA expression and promoter activity were studied by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, transient transfection and dual luciferase reporter gene methods. RESULTS: HSYA (0.1 mg/L) significantly inhibited the proliferation of 3T3-L1 cells when compared with control cells in 8 h. This effect was further enhanced with the extension time (24 to 96 h) and an increase of concentration of HSYA (1-10 mg/L). The maximal inhibitory action was observed at 0.1 mg/L HSYA in 72 h (86±11.8% vs. 100±4.1%, p<0.01). HSYA notably reduced the amount of intracellular lipid and triglyceride content in adipocytes to 85% (1 mg/L) and 75% (100 mg/L) on Day 4 following the differentiation, respectively, while increased HSL mRNA expression and promoter activities to 2.7 fold and 1.55 fold, respectively (p<0.01), in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. CONCLUSIONS: HSYA inhibits the proliferation and adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The inhibitory action of HYSA on adipogenesis may be due to the promotion of lipolytic-specific enzyme HSL expression by increasing HSL promoter activity.

Study on the complex prescription compatibility law of the cold and hot nature of Mahuang Decoction and its categorized formulae based on the cold-hot pad differentiating assay.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the complex prescription compatibility law of the cold and hot nature of Mahuang Decoction (, MHD) and Maxing Shigan Decoction (, MXSGD), both categorized both categorized MHD) and Maxing Shigan Decoction (both categorized MXSGD), both categorized formulas but with different hot/cold natures. METHODS: Oxygen consumption of mice was determined among three groups: MHD, MXSGD and the control; a cold-hot pad differentiating assay was used to observe the variability of temperature tropism among the groups of mice which was treated with MHD, MXSGD, and their compositions. Meanwhile, the total anti-oxidant capability (T-AOC) activity were detected. RESULTS: After administration of MHD, the mice showed increased oxygen consumption (P<0.01). Compared with MHD group, the remaining rate of MXSGD mice on the hot pad was found to be significantly increased with the cold-hot pad differentiating assay (P<0.05). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) among the remaining rates of MXSGD, MXSGD with high dose Gypsum Fibrosum (MXHGF) group, and MXSGD with low dose Gypsum Fibrosum (MXLGF) group mice. Compared with the MHD group, T-AOC activity of the mice in the Consensus Compositons group was significantly decreased (P=0.0494). Compared with the MXSGD group, T-AOC activity of Gypsum Fibrosum (GF) group was increased significantly (P=0.0013). CONCLUSIONS: The differences in cold and hot nature could be represented objectively between MHD with a hot nature and MXSGD with a cold nature. The reason may be the Gypsum Fibrosum which decreased the efficacy of the consensus compositions. However, increasing or decreasing the dose of Gypsum Fibrosum will not change the cold and hot nature of MXSGD.

[Effect of zuojin pill and fanzuojin pill on the growth metabolism of enterobacteria by microcalorimetry].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Zuojin Pill and Fanzuojin Pill (ZJP and FZJP) on the growth metabolism of enterobacteria from the biothermodynamic viewpoint, and to objectively validate the difference between the two drugs for investigating a new way in congener Chinese drugs research. METHODS: The growth metabolism power-time curves of enterobacteria affected by ZJP and FZJP in different concentrations were obtained by microcalorimetry. And the activities of the two drugs were assessed depending some related characteristic parameters, including growth rate constant (k), maximum output power (P(max)), peak time (T(p)) , maximum heat-output (Q1), and bacteria inhibition rate (I). RESULTS: With the drugs' concentration increasing, T(p) was prolonged, k value reduced in enterobacteria, i.e. , the two drugs both inhibited the growth of enterobacteria in different extents. Comparison of inhibiting rates showed that the bacteriostasis activity of ZJP was greater than that of FZJP. CONCLUSIONS: There was objective difference in activities of inhibiting enterobacteria between ZJP and FZJP. Microcalorimetry could express the features at real-time, on-line and sensitively. It was able to determine the activity of drugs accurately and quickly in appraising congener Chinese drugs, like ZJP and FZJP, by microcalorimetry.

[COLD or HOT natural attribute of Zuojinwan and Fanzuojinwan based on temperature tropism of mice].

This study is to investigate the authenticity between COLD and HOT natural attribute in the famous Chinese medicine formulas--Zuojinwan (Coptis-Evodia 6 : 1) and Fanzuojinwan (Coptis-Evodia 1 : 6) based on mice temperature tropism, and establish an objective method to estimate the difference of two natural attribute by using a cold/hot plate differentiating technology. The results indicated that the COLD nature Zuojinwan could decrease significantly the remaining rate of HOT-symptom rat on warm pad (P < 0.05). That was not notable to COLD-symptom rat. The interference result of COLD-HOT temperature tropism to COLD/HOT symptom rat in Fanzuojinwan was the reverse with the COLD nature Zuojinwan. Meanwhile, biochemical indicators which are relative to energy metabolism such as ATPase enzyme activity and total anti-oxidant capability (T-AOC), had corresponding change in the organism. In the study, the COLD and HOT natural tendency in Zuojinwan and Fanzuojinwan which were composed by the same herbs with different proportion could be expressed qualitatively, quantitatively, objectively and directly with applying animal temperature tropism, and be verified to philosophical idea of treating disease theory with "expelling heat with cold herbs and cryopathy requiring warm prescription", not "expelling heat with heat herbs and cryopathy requiring cold prescription" in ancient traditional Chinese medicine, which brings a new approach in investigation of the nature theory of traditional Chinese medicine.