Botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activity of Crataegus pinnatifida (Chinese hawthorn): a review.

OBJECTIVES: Crataegus pinnatifida (C. pinnatifida), including C. pinnatifida Bge. and its variant C. pinnatifida Bge. var. major N, E. Br., has traditionally been used as a homologous plant for traditional medicine and food in ethnic medical systems in China. Crataegus pinnatifida, especially its fruit, has been used for more than 2000 years to treat indigestion, stagnation of meat, hyperlipidemia, blood stasis, heart tingling, sores, etc. This review aimed to provide a systematic summary on the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and clinical applications of C. pinnatifida. KEY FINDINGS: This plant contains flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, organic acids, saccharides and essential oils. Experimental studies showed that it has hypolipidemic, antimyocardial, anti-ischemia, antithrombotic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic neuroprotective activity, etc. Importantly, it has good effects in treating diseases of the digestive system and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. SUMMARY: There is convincing evidence from both in vitro and in vivo studies supporting the traditional uses of C. pinnatifida. However, multitarget network pharmacology and molecular docking technology should be used to study the interaction between the active ingredients and targets of C. pinnatifida. Furthermore, exploring the synergy of C. pinnatifida with other Chinese medicines to provide new understanding of complex diseases may be a promising strategy.

[Cloning and expression analysis of cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) reductase gene from Aquilaria sinensis].

The study aimed to clone the open reading frame of cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) from Aquilaria sinensis and analyze the bioinformatics and expression of the gene. One unique sequence containing C4H domain was discovered in our previous reported wound transcriptome dataset of A. sinensis. The open reading frame of C4H was cloned by RT-PCR strategy with the template of mixed RNA extracted from A. sinensis stem which treated by different wound time. The bioinformatic analysis of this gene and its corresponding protein was performed. C4H expression profiles in responds to MeJA (methyl jasmonate) application were analyzed by real-time PCR. The length of C4H open reading frame (ORF) was 1 515 bp, encoding 514 amino acids. The GenBank accession number is KF134783. Inducible-experiments showed that the genes were induced by mechanical wound as well as MeJA induction, and reached the highest expression level at 8 h and 20 h, respectively. The full-length cDNA of C4H and its expression patterns will provide a foundation for further research on its function in the molecular mechanisms of aromatic compounds and flavonoids biosynthesis.

[Cloning, prokaryotic expression, and functional identification of a sesquiterpene synthase gene (AsSS4) from Aquilaria sinensis].

A sesquiterpene synthase (AsSS4) full-length open reading frame (ORF) cDNA was cloned from wounded stems of Aquilaria sinensis by RT-PCR method. The result showed that the ORF of AsSS4 was 1,698 bp encoding 565 amino acids. Prokaryotic expression vector pET28a-AsSS4 was constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS. Recombinant AsSS4 protein was obtained after induction by IPTG and SDS-PAGE analysis with a MW of 64 kD. Enzymatic reactions using farnesyl pyrophosphate showed that recombinant AsSS4 protein purified by Ni-agarose gel yielded five sesquiterpene compounds, cyclohexane, 1-ethenyl-1-methyl-2, 4-bis(1-methylethenyl)-, ß-elemene, α-guaiene, α-caryophyllene and δ-guaiene. This paper reported the first cloning and functional characterization of AsSS4 gene from A. sinensis, which will establish a foundation for future studies on the molecular mechanisms of wound-induce agarwood formation in A. sinensis

[Genetic diversity of germplasm resources of Lonicera japonica by AFLP analysis].

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity and genetic relationship of germplasm resources of Lonicera japonica in main producing areas of China and provide reference for developing new varieties of L. japonica. METHOD: Using 6 primer combinations, 13 germplasm of L. japonica were analyzed by AFLP marker. The genetic distance was worked out by using DPS V3.01 software, and the cluster was conducted based on UPGMA. RESULT: A total of 435 bands were obtained including 191 polymorphic ones. The average polymorphic frequency was 43.9%. Cluster analysis showed that the relationship of cultivated variety from the same genuine area was near, and the classification result based on AFLP marker of germplasm of L. japonica from Shandong province was basically consistent with those on their morphological character. CONCLUSION: AFLP marker can indicate the abundant genetic diversity of L. japonica and provide theoretical evidence for reasonable utilization and breeding new cultivar of L. japonica in molecular level.

Salvianic acid A inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis through regulating glutathione peroxidase activity and malondialdehyde level in vascular endothelial cells.

AIM: To find out the role of salvianic acid A (SAA) in the protection of vascular endothelial cells (VEC) and its possible mechanism in vitro. METHODS: The ingredient at various concentrations was added to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) treated with 0.5 µmol·L(-1) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h. Apoptotic morphological changes of cells were observed under inverted phase contrast microscope; the cell viability was quantified using MTT assay. Nuclear fragmentation of cells was observed under laser scanning confocal microcope after being stained with acridinorange. Cell cycle distribution was detected by flow-cytometry after being stained with propidium iodide (PI). The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPH-PX) as well as maleic dialdehyde (MDA) level in cells were measured by spectrophotometric methods as described in the assay kits. RESULTS: Apoptotic morphological changes and the decrease of cell viability of these cells were obviously inhibited by SAA in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the abnormal cell cycle distribution, the decrease of GSH-Px activity and the increase of MDA level induced by LPS were markedly reversed. CONCLUSION: SAA exerts protective effect on VEC induced by LPS via an antioxidative mechanism.

[Absorption and transport of 6 coumarins isolated from the roots of Angelica pubescens f. biserrata in human Caco-2 cell monolayer model].

OBJECTIVE: To study the absorption and transepithelial transport of six coumarins (umbelliferone, osthole, columbianadin, columbianetin acetate, angelol-A and angelol-B, isolated from the roots of Angelica pubescens f. biserrata) in the human Caco-2 cell monolayer model. METHODS: The in vitro cultured human colon carcinoma cell line, Caco-2 cell monolayer model, was applied to study the absorption and transport of the six coumarins from apical (AP) to basolateral (BL) side and from BL to AP side. The six coumarins were measured by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with ultraviolet absorption detector. Transport parameters and apparent permeability coefficients (P(app)) were calculated and compared with those of propranolol as a control substance of high permeability and atenolol as a control substance of poor permeability. The transport mechanism of angelol-B was assayed by using iodoacetamide as a reference standard to inhibit ATP-dependent transport and MK571 as a well-known inhibitor of MRP2. RESULTS: The absorption and transport of six coumarins were passive diffusion as the dominating process. The P(app) values of umbelliferone, osthole, columbianadin, columbianetin acetate, angelol-A and angelol-B from AP to BL side were (2.679+/-0.263) x 10(-5), (1.306+/-0.324) x 10(-5), (0.595+/-0.086) x 10(-6), (2.930+/-0.410) x 10(-6), (1.532+/-0.444) x 10(-5) and (1.413+/-0.243) x 10(-5) cm/s, and from BL to AP side were (3.381+/-0.410) x 10(-5), (0.898+/-0.134) x 10(-5), (0.510+/-0.183) x 10(-6), (0.222+/-0.025) x 10(-6), (1.203+/-0.280) x 10(-5) and (0.754+/-0.092) x 10(-5) cm/s, respectively. In this assay, the P(app) value of propranolol was 2.18 x 10(-5) cm/s and the P(app) value of atenolol was 2.77 x 10(-7) cm/s. Among the 6 coumarins, the P(app) values of umbelliferone, osthole, angelol-A and angelol-B from AP to BL side were identical with that of propranolol, and columbianadin and columbianetin acetate lied between propranolol and atenolol. When replaced the HBSS with EBSS, and iodoacetamide or MK-591 were used in the experiment, the P(app) of angelol-B had no statistical difference as compared with the control group. In the mean total recoveries, umbelliferone was (83.31+/-3.52)%, angelol-A was (77.39+/-7.38)%, osthole, columbianadin and angelol-B were between 50% to 65%, and columbianetin acetate was lower than 10%. The accumulation rates of osthole and columbianadin in the Caco-2 cells were (36.15+/-5.87)% and (53.90+/-4.39)%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The absorption and transport of umbelliferone, osthole, columbianadin, columbianetin acetate, angelol-A and angelol-B are passive diffusion as the dominating process in Caco-2 cell monolayer model. Umbelliferone, osthole, angelol-A and angelol-B are estimated to be highly absorbed compounds, and columbianadin and columbianetin acetate are estimated to be moderately absorbed compounds. In the Caco-2 cells, osthol and columbianadin appear to accumulate, and columbianetin acetate may be metabolized. The absorption and transport of angelol-B are not influenced by the change of pH and the presence of iodoacetamide or MK571.

[Studies on chemical constituents in fruits of Eucalyptus globulus].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents in the fruits of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. METHOD: The chemical constituents were isolated by various column chromatographic methods and structurally elucidated by IR, NMR and MS evidences. RESULT: Fifteen compounds were obtained and identified as beta-sitosterol (1), betulinic acid (2), stigmasterol (3), euscaphic acid (4), 2a-Hydroxybetulinic acid (5), macrocarpal B (6), macrocarpal A (7), oleanolic acid (8), 3,4,3'-O-trimethylellagic acid (9), 3-O-methylellagic acid 4'-O-(2"-O-acetyl )-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (10), camaldulenside (cypellocarpin C, 11), 3-O-methylellagic acid 4'-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (12), 3-O-methylellagic acid (13), ellagic acid (14), and gallic acid (15). CONCLUSION: Compounds 4 and 5 from genera Eucalyptus, 1, 3 and 11 from plant E. globulus, and 6, 7, 9 and 15 from the fruits of E. globulus were isolated for the first time.

Intestinal permeability of antivirus constituents from the fruits of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. in Caco-2 Cell Model.

The uptake and transepithelial transport of the three main constituents macrocarpal A (M-A), macrocarpal B (M-B), and cypellocarpa C (Cy-C) from the fruits of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. were investigated. Monolayers of the human intestinal epithelial cancer cell line Caco-2 were incubated with M-A, M-B, and Cy-C to model its intestinal absorption and transport, respectively. The determination of compounds was performed by HPLC. The apparent permeability coefficients (P(app)) for M-A, M-B, and Cy-C in the apical-to-basolateral direction of a Caco-2 monolayer were (1.70+/-0.06)x10(-6), (1.99+/-0.10)x10(-6), and (6.08+/-0.41)x10(-6)cm/s, respectively. In the presence of iodoacetamide, the P(app) of Cy-C were both reducted in apical-to-basolateral and basolateral-to-apical directions. M-A and M-B appear to accumulate in the epithelial cells. The intestinal absorption of M-A, M-B, and Cy-C was passive diffusion as the dominating process and Cy-C was partly ATP-dependent.

A new ellagic acid derivative from the fruits of Eucalyptus globulus Labill.

Four ellagic acid derivatives have been isolated from the fruits of Eucalyptus globulus Labill., one of which is new compound, identified as 3-O-methylellagic acid 4'-O-alpha-L-2"-O-acetyl-rhamnopyranoside (1), the known compounds were identified as 3-O-methylellagic acid 4'-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (2), ellagic acid (3) and 3-O-methylellagic acid (4), on the basis of the analysis of 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, IR and MS spectral data. It is alsoassignment the 13C NMR signals of 3-O-methylellagic acid 4'-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside for the first.

[Studies on micromorphological characters of fruit coats in cultivated Fructus Trichosanthis in Shandong Province].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the affinity relation among land race of Trichosanthes kirilowii and to provide evidence tor the classification and authentication. METHOD: Using scanning electron microscope, characteristics of the pericarp surface were studied comparatively. RESULT: The pericarp surface of the cultivated Fructus Trichosanthis in Shandong showed the characteristics of generality and diversity. CONCLUSION: The results of the study could be used for the identification of the cultivated Fructus Trichosanthis in Shandong.

[The relationship of angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene polymorphism with diabetic retinopathy and diabetes myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism to diabetic retinopathy and diabetes myocardial infarction. METHODS: ACE insertion/deletion(I/D) polymorphism was determined by PCR. RESULTS: No evidence showed that ACE gene was associated with diabetic retinopathy. By comparison of the type 2 diabetes patients with myocardial infarction versus those without-myocardial infarction, it was found that the frequencies of homozygote DD (41.2% versus 33.2%) and of allele D (64.7% versus 55.0%) increased remarkably; the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Allele D(RR=1.50) and genotype DD(RR=1.33) seemed to be a genetic risk factor for type 2 diabetes myocardial infarction.