Effects of fenugreek seed extracts on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers.

The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of fenugreek seed extract (FSE) on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, intestinal immunity and cecal micro-organisms in yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 240 one-day-old male yellow-feathered broilers were selected and randomly assigned to four treatments with 6 replicates per group and ten broilers per replicate. Started from the third day, birds were fed with basal diet (CON group) or basal diet supplemented with 30 mg/kg Zinc bacitracin (ZB group), or basal diet supplemented with 50 (D-FSE group) or 100 (H-FSE group) mg/kg FSE, respectively. The experiment lasted for 56 d. The results showed that dietary FSE supplementation improved average daily weight gain (ADG) and ratio of feed to weight gain (F: G) (P < 0.01), increased intestinal villus height (VH), villus height to crypt depth ratio (V/C) (P < 0.05), serum concentrations of IL-10, and the contents of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) (P < 0.05), as well as decreased the activity of iNOS (P < 0.05). The high-throughput sequencing results showed that dietary FSE supplementation increased the alpha diversity of cecal microbes, and Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia and Proteobacteria taken up 95% of all phyla detected, FSE significantly reduced Campylobacter, Synergistes, and Lachnoclostridium abundance (P ≤ 0.05). There were significant difference in more than 30 KEGG pathways between FSE added group and control group or ZB group. FSE supplementation, in other words, maintained gut microbiota homeostasis while improving broiler growth performance. As a result, FSE has the potential to replace prophylactic antibiotic use in poultry production system.

Cold-pressed Canola Oil Reduces Hepatic Steatosis by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Lipid Metabolism in KM Mice Compared with Refined Bleached Deodorized Canola Oil.

The quality of canola oil is affected by different extraction methods. The effect of cold-pressed canola oil (CPCO) diet and traditional refined bleached deodorized canola oil (RBDCO) diet on lipid accumulation and hepatic steatosis in mice were investigated. The body weight, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α concentration, serum lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, and oxidative stress were increased in mice fed with CPCO diet, which had higher unsaturated fatty acid, tocopherols, phytosterols, and phospholipids but lower saturated fatty acid than RBDCO, after 12 weeks,. Moreover, CPCO significantly increased tocopherols and phytosterols content in liver and reduced liver cholesterol contents and lipid vacuoles accumulation than RBDCO. Also, serum proinflammatory cytokines, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutary coenzyme A reductase expression level, lipogenic enzymes, and transcriptional factors such as sterol regulatory element-binding proteins 1c, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase in the liver were also markedly downregulated from CPCO diet mice. Overall, CPCO can reduce lipid accumulation and hepatic steatosis by regulating oxidative stress and lipid metabolism in Kun Ming mice compared with RBDCO. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The results suggested that more bioactive components were contained in cold-pressed canola oil (CPCO) rather than refined bleached deodorized canola oil (RBDCO). CPCO could lower the risk of obesity and hyperlipidemia, reduce lipid accumulation, and prevent hepatic steatosis. It could be considered as a kind of better edible oil than RBDCO.

Vitexin compound 1, a novel extraction from a Chinese herb, suppresses melanoma cell growth through DNA damage by increasing ROS levels.

BACKGROUND: Vitex negundo L (Verbenaceae) is an aromatic shrub that is abundant in Asian countries. A series of compounds from Vitex negundo have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Cutaneous melanoma is one of the most aggressive malignancies. A significant feature of melanoma is its resistance to traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy; therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel treatments for melanoma. METHODS: We first examined the effects of VB1 (vitexin compound 1) on cell viability by CCK-8 (cell counting kit) and Colony Formation Assay; And then, we analyzed the apoptosis and cell cycle by flow cytometry, verified apoptosis by Immunoblotting. The in vivo effect of VB1 was evaluated in xenograft mouse model. Potential mechanisms of VB1's antitumor effects were explored by RNA sequencing and the key differential expression genes were validated by real-time quantitative PCR. Finally, the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was detected by flow cytometry, and the DNA damage was revealed by Immunofluorescence and Immunoblotting. RESULTS: In this study, we show that VB1, which is a compound purified from the seed of the Chinese herb Vitex negundo, blocks melanoma cells growth in vitro and in vivo, arrests the cell cycle in G2/M phase and induces apoptosis in melanoma cell lines, whereas the effects are not significantly observed in normal cells. To study the details of VB1, we analyzed the alteration of gene expression profiles after treatment with VB1 in melanoma cells. The findings showed that VB1 can affect various pathways, including p53, apoptosis and the cell cycle pathway, in a variety of melanoma cell lines. Furthermore, we confirmed that VB1 restored the P53 pathway protein level, and then we demonstrated that VB1 significantly induced the accumulation of ROS, which resulted in DNA damage in melanoma cell lines. Interestingly, our results showed that VB1 also increased the ROS levels in BRAFi (BRAF inhibitor)-resistant melanoma cells, leading to DNA cytotoxicity, which caused G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings indicate that vitexin compound 1 might be a promising therapeutic Chinese medicine for melanoma treatment regardless of BRAFi resistance.

Hexadentate 3-hydroxypyridin-4-ones with high iron(III) affinity: design, synthesis and inhibition on methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas strains.

A range of hexadentate 3-hydroxypyridin-4-ones have been synthesized. These compounds were found to possess a high affinity for iron(III), with logK1 values of about 34 and pFe values over 30. Antimicrobial assays indicated that they can inhibit the growth of three clinical isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and three clinical isolates of Pseudomonas, suggesting that hexadentate 3-hydroxypyridin-4-ones have potential application in the treatment of wound infections.

[Role of ERK/FoxO3a signal axis in inhibitory effect of vitexin 1 (VB-1) in HepG2 cell proliferation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the ERK/FoxO3a signal axis could induce the inhibitory effect of vitexin 1 (VB-1) in HepG2 cell proliferation. METHOD: The MTT method was adopted to observe the effect of different concentrations of VB-1 on human hepatoma carcinoma cell line HepG2 and immortalized human embryo liver cell line L-02. The cell growth was assessed by the clone formation assay. The protein phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and FoxO3a were measured by the western blot. RESULT: VB-1 inhibited the viability of HepG2 cell line in a concentration-dependent manner, with a weak effect on L-02 cell line. VB-1 could effectively inhibit the anchorage-dependent growth of HepG2 cells, and reduce the expression levels of pERK1/2 and pFoxO3a in a concentration-dependent manner. MEK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 could enhance VB-1' s effect in inhibiting HepG2 cell proliferation and ERK1/2, FoxO3a phosphorylation. CONCLUSION: VB-1 inhibits the proliferative activity of hepatoma carcinoma cell line HepG2 by blocking the ERK/FoxO3a signal axis.

[Study on oligosaccharides from Morinda officinalis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the oligosaccharides from Morinda officinalis How. METHODS: Compounds were isolated by chromatography, and their structures were identified by spectral analysis and chemical evidences. RESULTS: Six compounds were isolated and identified as sucrose (I), inulin-type trisaccharide (II), inulin-type hexasaccharide (III), inulotriose (IV), inulotetraose (V), inulopentaose (VI). CONCLUSION: Compound IV, V and VI are isolated from Morinda officinalis for the first time.

Two acylated flavonoid glycosides from the leaves of Quercus dentata.

Two new acylated flavonoid glycosides have been isolated from the leaves of Quercus dentata Thunb. On the basis of chemical and spectral data, the structures of the compounds have been elucidated as kaempferol 3-O-(2", 4"-diacetyl-3"-cis-p-coumaroyl-6"-trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), and kaempferol 3-O-(2"-trans-p-coumaroyl-3", 4"-diacetyl-6"-cisp-coumaroyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2).

A new flavonoid from Selaginella tamariscina (Beauv.) Spring.

A new flavonoid, 6-(2-hydroxy-5-carboxyphenyl)-apigenin (1), together with two new natural products, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6,7-dihydroxy coumarin (2), 1-methoxy-3-methylanthraquinone (3) and four known compounds, were isolated from Selaginella tamariscina (BEAUV.) SPRING. The structures of the new isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR as well as ESI-HR-MS spectroscopic analysis.

Antihypertensive effect of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. extracts in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the antihypertensive fractions of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. and their underlying mechanisms in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vivo study, Eucommia ulmoides lignans (EuL) and Eucommia ulmoides iridoids (EuI) were administrated to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and SHRs, and their blood pressures were measured. Plasma level of nitric oxide (NO) was measured by colorimetric method, and renin activity (RA) and plasma concentration of angiotensin II (Ang II) were measured by radioimmunoassay. In vitro study, rat mesenteric artery was treated with EuL and the vessel relaxation responses were determined. RESULTS: EuL could lower blood pressures of both SD rats and SHR dose-dependently by either intravenous (i.v.) or intragastric (i.g.) administration, but EuI failed to affect blood pressure in the two kinds of rats. Meanwhile, no synergistic effect was observed with the combination of EuL and EuI. The plasma level of NO in SHR treated with EuL 300 mg/kg twice a day was markedly increased. Both plasma RA and Ang II level were decreased with long-term oral treatment of EuL 150 and 300 mg/kg twice a day. In perfusion experiment, EuL relaxed mesenteric artery quickly and dose-dependently and the effect on the artery with and without endothelium was the same. CONCLUSIONS: EuL may be the effective fraction to lowering blood pressure and its antihypertensive effect is probably associated with regulating NO and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and directly relaxing artery.

Selaginellin C, a new natural pigment from Selaginella pulvinata Maxim (Hook et Grev.).

A novel compound, selaginellin C (1), was isolated from Selaginella pulvinata Maxim (Hook et Grev.) as (R,S)-4-((1,2-dihydroxyethyl)-2',4'-dihydroxy-3-((4-hydroxyphenyl)ethynyl)biphenyl-2-yl)((4-hydroxyphenyl)methylene)cyclohexa-2,5-dienone, along with two known compounds, selaginellin (2) and selaginellin A (3). The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR as well as HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic analysis.

[Studies on flavonoid glycosides of Sarcandra glabra].

OBJECTIVE: To in vestigate the chemical constituents of Sarcandra glabra and obtain a more comprehensive understanding on its effective components. METHOD: The constituents were isolated by various column chromatographic method and their structures were elucidated by physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic analysis. RESULT: Five flavonoid glycosides were isolated and identified as kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucuronide (1), quercetin-3-O-alpha-D-glucuronide (2), quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside methyl ester (3), 5, 7, 4'-trihydroxy-8-C-beta-D-glucopyranosyl flavanone (4), neoastilbin (5), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (6), 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (7), isofraxidin (8). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1-6 were isolated from the genus Sarcandra for the first time. The glucuroide compounds compounds 1-3, were first isolated from the genus Sarcandra.

[Studies on constituents of Oldenlandia diffusa].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents of Oldenlandia diffusa. METHOD: The column chromatography with polyamide Sephadex LH -20, silica gel as packing materials and HPLC, were used to separate and purify the chemical components. The structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral data. RESULT: Nine compounds were isolated and identified as 2, 6-dihydroxy-1-methoxy-3-methylanthraquinone (1), 2-hydroxy-1-methoxy-3-methylanthraquinone (2), 2-hydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone (3), quercetin-3-O-[2-O-(6-O-E-sinapoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-beta-glucopyranoside (4), quercetin-3-O-[2-O-(6-O-E-feruloyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-beta-glucopyranoside (5), kaempferol-3-O-[2-O-(6-O-E-feruloyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-beta-galactopyranoside (6), quercetin-3-O-(2-O-beta-D-glucop-yranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), rutin (8) and quercertin (9). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1 and 8 were obtained from this plant for the first time, and compound 1 was a new compound.

[Study on the antihyperlipidemia effective constituent of Polygala fallax Hemsl].

OBJECTIVE: To study the antihyperlipidemia effective constituent of Polygala fallax Hemsl. METHOD: Column chromatographic techniques were employed for isolation and purification of chemical constituents of the plant and the structures were elucidated by IR, NMR and MS spectroscopy. RESULT: Four triterpenoid saponins were isolated and determined as 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-( 1--> 2) -beta-D-glucopyranosyl presenegenin 28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4 ) -alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2 ) -beta-D-fucopyranosyl ester (I), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2) -beta-D-glucopyranosyl presenegenin 28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4) -alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2) -(3-O-acetyl)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl ester (II), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2) -beta-D-glucopyranosyl presenegenin 28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4) -alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2) -(4-O-acetyl) -beta-D-fucopyranosyl ester (II) and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--2) -beta-D-glucopyranosyl presenegenin 28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4 ) -alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2 ) - (3,4-diacetyl) -beta-D-fucopyranosyl ester (IV). CONCLUSIONS: The effective constituents of Polygala fallax Hemsl. reduced blood lipid especially plasma TG markedly. The authors have studied the chemical constituents of effective constituent systematically for the first time.

[A new xanthone from Polygala aureocauda Dunn].

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of Polygala aureocauda Dunn.. METHODS: Chemical compounds were isolated by column chromatography and their structures were determined mainly by spectroscopic means (UV, IR, MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, HMQC, HMBC). RESULTS: Three compounds were isolated and identified as 3-hydroxy-1,4-dimethoxyxanthone (I), 1, 7-dihydroxy-2, 3-methylendioxyxanthone (II), 7-hydroxy-1-methoxy-2, 3-methylendioxyxanthone (III). CONCLUSION: Compounds I-III were isolated from Polygala aureocauda Dunn. for the first time, whereas compound I is a new xanthone.