[Protective effect of serum containing ginseng and Moutan Cortex on HUVEC injured by H_2O_2].

This study aimed to investigate the effect of serum containing ginseng and Moutan Cortex on human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC) injured with hydrogen peroxide(H_2O_2). HUVEC injured with H_2O_2 were divided into 6 groups, namely blank group, model group, ginsenoside(TGG) group, total glucosides of Moutan Cortex(TGM) group, paeonol(P) group and TGG+TGM+P group. After 24 hours of co-culture with H_2O_2, the activities of succinate dehydrogenase(SDH) and Ca~(2+)-Mg~(2+)-ATP were detected by microenzyme labeling. The apoptosis rate, intracellular Ca~(2+) concentration, reactive oxygen species(ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential(JC-1) were detected by flow cytometry. The expressions of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway-related proteins Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome C, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were detected by Western blot. The results showed that H_2O_2 could significantly damage HUVEC, decrease the activity of SDH and Ca~(2+)-Mg~(2+)-ATP(P<0.01), while could increase the apoptosis+necrosis rate, JC-1 decline rate, ROS increase rate and Ca~(2+) concentration increase rate(P<0.01). Serum containing ginseng and Moutan Cortex could increase the activities of SDH and Ca~(2+)-Mg~(2+)-ATP to different degrees, decrease the apoptosis+necrosis rate, JC-1 decline rate, ROS increase rate and Ca~(2+) concentration increase rate(P<0.05 or P<0.01), and down-regulate the protein expressions of Bax, caspase-3, caspase-9, cytochrome C, and up-regulate the protein expression of Bcl-2. The results showed that serum containing ginseng and Moutan Cortex has a protective effect on vascular endothelial cell injury induced by ROS, and its mechanism may be related to the improvement of mitochondrial function and the inhibition of the activation of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

The effects of cigarette smoking on the associations between sitting time and all-cause mortality: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sedentary behavior is recognized as an independent risk factor for mortality, but it remains unclear whether cigarette smoking will aggravate the detrimental effects of prolonged sitting on mortality. This study examined the impact of cigarette smoking on the relationship between sitting time and all-cause mortality in adults. METHODS: Electronic database searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and the EMBASE up to 1 June 2017. Prospective studies that reported sitting time, percent of current smokers, and all-cause mortality were included. Data were extracted independently by two authors. RESULTS: Ten prospective studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies included 850990 adults who were followed up for 2-15.7 years, during which 64 781 died (7.6%). Generally, during follow-up sitting time showed a dose-response relationship with all-cause mortality, with each 1 h increment of sitting time per day accounting for hazard ratio (HR) of mortality 1.02 (95%CI, 1.02-1.03). The relationship remained significant when stratified by the quartiles of smoking populations (≤8.4%, 8.5%-12.6%, 12.7%-27.9%, and ≥28.0%), and the risk of sitting time-related mortality increased parallel to the increment of the percent of smoking populations, with HRs 1.02 (95%CI, 1.02-1.03), 1.03 (95%CI, 1.02-1.03), 1.04 (95%CI, 1.03-1.04) and 1.06 (95%CI, 1.06-1.06), respectively. The associations between the risk of prolonged sitting-related mortality and the percent of smoking populations were linear (P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette smoking significantly aggravated the detrimental effects of sitting time on all-cause mortality. Our findings provided further evidence on the harmful effects of smoking combing prolonged sitting on adult health.

Alleviatory effect of spent Pleurotus eryngii Quel substrate on replant problem of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch.

Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. is a medicinal plant cultivated at a commercial scale in China. However, replanting problems result in a severe decline in both the biomass and quality of its roots, which are of greatest medicinal value. This study attempted to remediate the replant soil using spent Pleurotus eryngii Quel substrate for alleviating this issue, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Results showed that R. glutinosa grew successfully in fresh soil and remedial replant soil, while no roots were harvested in the unremedied replant soil. Overall, the nutritional status in the remedial soil was higher than that of the unremedied and fresh soil, while the concentration of allelopathic phenolic acids was lower. When planted in unremedied soil, the growth of five plant pathogens was induced and one beneficial fungus was suppressed. When planted in remedied soil, four out of the five pathogens were suppressed, while two beneficial fungi were identified in the remedial soil. This study suggests that the spent P. eryngii substrate significantly alleviates the replant problem of R. glutinosa, and that the alleviatory function reflects a synergetic effect, including the supplementation of soil nutrition, the degradation of allelochemicals, and the remediation of unbalanced microbial community.

[Correlation of Allelopathy of Rehmannia glutinosa Root Exudates and Their Phenolic Acids Contents].

OBJECTIVE: To study the allelopathic potential of Rehmannia glutinosa root exudates in different growth stages and dynamic change of phenolic acids contents, in order to reveal the correlation between phenolic acids and allelbpathy effect of Rehmannia glutinosa. METHODS: Root exudates of Rehmannia glutinosa in different growth stages were obtained by a new instrument which was used to collect the root exudates of xerophytes. After that, bioassay was applied to estimate allelopathy effect of the root exudates. HPLC was used to determine the contents of five phenolic acids (coumaric acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid and ferulic acid) which were reported to relate to allelopathy effect. Correlation of bioassay data and HPLC data were also analyzed. RESULTS: The germination rate of radish after soaking by root exudates of different growth stages of Rehmannia glutinosa was 97. 89%, 92. 38%, 89. 52%, 85. 71%, 85. 71%, 84. 76% and 83. 81%, respectively, which indicated a decline trend. And significant differences were shown from previous enlargement stage compared with the contrast. The bud length after soaking by root exudates was 5. 68, 5. 76, 5. 91, 5. 65, 5. 41, 5. 28 and 5. 11 cm, separately, which increased slightly before decreasing gradually. Previous enlargement stage was also the initial period when significant differences were shown. Five phenolic acids were detected in root exudates by HPLC, while the change of their contents and the allelopathy effect of root exudates did not perform a similar trend. Correlation analysis indicated the five phenolic acids did not have significant relevance (r = - 0. 666 - 0. 590) with germination rate and bud length of radish except the negative correlation (r = -0. 833, P <0. 05) of syringic acid and bud length. CONCLUSION: Significant allelopathy effect of Rehmannia glutinosa is performed from previous enlargement stage and enhanced with its growth. Syringic acid is a probable dominant allelochemical of Rehmannia glutinosa.

[Determination of metal elements in Achyranthis bidentatae radix from various habitats].

OBJECTIVE: To establish an atomic absorption spectrometry method for determination of the contents of metal elements in Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix and analyze 21 batches of samples from different areas. METHODS: Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, K, Zn and Cu were detected by atomic absorption spectrometry with hydrogen flame detector, Pb, As and Cd were detected by graphite furnace atomic absorption, Hg was detected by cold atomic absorption. RESULTS: The heavy metal contents met the requirement of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The contents of K, Mg, Cu and Mn in the samples of geo-authentic areas were higher,while the contents of Fe, Zn, Hg and Pb in the samples of non-authentic areas were higher. CONCLUSION: This method is sample, accurate, repeatable and could be used to evaluate the quality of Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix.

Rehmannia glutinosa Replant Issues: Root Exudate-Rhizobiome Interactions Clearly Influence Replant Success.

Production of medicinal tubers of Rehmannia glutinosa is severely hindered by replanting issues. However, a mechanistic understanding of the plant-soil factors associated with replant problems is currently limited. Thus, we aimed to identify the R. glutinosa root exudates, evaluate their potential phytotoxicity and profile the interactions between the plant and its associated rhizobiome. Stereomicroscopy and liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole/time of flight mass spectrometer were used to monitor and identify secreted metabolites, respectively. Seedling bioassays were used to evaluate the phytotoxicity of R. glutinosa root exudates. Two complimentary experiments were performed to investigate allelochemical fate in rhizosphere soil and profile the associated microbiota. Root specific microbes were further isolated from R. glutinosa rhizosphere. Impacts of isolated strains were evaluated by co-cultivation on plate and on seedlings in tissue culture, with a focus on their pathogenicity. Interactions between key R. glutinosa root exudates and isolated rhizobiomes were investigated to understand the potential for plant-soil feedbacks. Quantification and phytotoxic analysis of metabolites released from R. glutinosa indicated catalpol was the most abundant and bioactive metabolite in root exudates. Subsequent microbial profiling in soil containing accumulated and ecologically significant levels of catalpol identified several taxa (e.g., Agromyces, Lysobacter, Pseudomonas, Fusarium) that were specifically shifted. Isolation of R. glutinosa rhizobiomes obtained several root specific strains. A significant antagonistic effect between strain Rh7 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two pathogenic strains Rf1 (Fusarium oxysporum) and Rf2 (Fusarium solani) was observed. Notably, the growth of strain Rh7 and catalpol concentration showed a hormesis-like effect. Field investigation further indicated catalpol was increasingly accumulated in the rhizosphere of replanted R. glutinosa, suggesting that interactions of biocontrol agents and pathogens are likely regulated by the presence of bioactive root exudates and in turn impact the rhizo-ecological process. In summary, this research successfully monitored the release of R. glutinosa root exudates, identified several abundant bioactive R. glutinosa secreted metabolites, profiled associated root specific microbes, and investigated the plant-soil feedbacks potentially regulated by catalpol and associated rhizobiomes. Our findings provide new perspectives toward an enhanced understanding R. glutinosa replant problems.

Efficiency of jumping exercise in improving bone mineral density among premenopausal women: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Jumping exercise is frequently regarded as an optimum strategy for increasing pubertal bone growth, but its role in promoting or preserving adult bone mineral density (BMD) is still undefined. OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the evidence for the influence of jumping exercise on BMD in premenopausal women and to define the effectiveness of high-impact exercise in improving or maintaining female bone health. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, Google Scholar and BIOSIS up to 1 September 2013 for jumping exercise influence on BMD in premenopausal women. The search terms used were 'jumping', 'skipping', 'brief exercise', 'high impact', 'bone density', 'BMD', 'femoral neck', 'lumbar spine', and 'trochanter', and the search was limited to females. Six papers met the search criteria. RESULTS: Six studies on BMD in the femoral neck (Q = 2.63, p = 0.854, I (2) = 0.0 %), trochanter (Q = 2.10, p = 0.10, I (2) = 0.0 %) and lumbar spine (Q = 1.17, p = 0.979, I (2) = 0.0 %) were highly homogenous in determining skeletal responses to jumping exercise. Jumping exercise significantly increased BMD in the femoral neck {weighted mean difference (WMD) [fixed effect] = 0.017 g/cm(2), 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.014-0.20, p < 0.001} and trochanter (WMD [fixed effect] = 0.021, 95 % CI 0.018-0.024, p < 0.001). However, the lumbar spine seemed to benefit less from such high-impact exercise (p = 0.181). Visual inspection of the plots implicated some degree of asymmetry, indicating a slightly positive treatment effect at the femoral neck and trochanter sites. CONCLUSIONS: Based on meta-analysis of existing studies, the sensitivity of skeletal response to jumping exercise in premenopausal women is significant and site-specific, with significant benefit from high-impact exercise noted, especially at the hip.