[Feverfew lactone induces autophagic death of hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC 7721 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and mechanism of feverfew lactone on inducing autophagic death of hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: The proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC 7721 cells treated with feverfew lactone was measured by MTT assay. The autophagy of SMMC 7721 induced with feverfew lactone was assessed by acridine orange staining, autophagic marker LC3 and p62 detecting and autophagic flows analyzing. In addition, a role of ROS in this process was stated by treatment with antioxidant agent N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). RESULTS: The proliferation of SMMC 7721 cells were inhibited by feverfew lactone in a concentration dependence manner. The expression of LC3 and autophagic flows of SMMC 7721 cells were increased by feverfew lactone, while p62 was decreased, which implied that feverfew lactone could induce the autophagy of SMMC 7721 cells. Further more, the autophagy effect induced by feverfew lactone was declined obviously when treated with NAC suggested that ROS played an important role in this effect. CONCLUSION: Feverfew lactone induces autophagic death of SMMC 7721 cells by stimulating cells to produce ROS. The study will be helpful for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and to provide theoretical basis for the clinical application of feverfew lactone.

2,2-Dichloro-1-(4-methyl-phen-yl)ethanone.

The mol-ecule of the title compound, C(9)H(8)Cl(2)O, is almost planar: the dihedral angle between the benzene ring and the plane defined by the carbonyl O and ethane C atoms is 15.5 (2)°. The crystal packing is stabilized by inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

[Secondary metabolites of mangrove endophytic fungus SK5 in the South China Sea].

OBJECTIVE: To study the secondary metabolites of mangrove endophytic fungus SK5. METHODS: The compounds were isolated by chromatographic technique. Their structures were identified by comprehensive physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic methods. RESULTS: Five compounds were isolated and identified as 2,8-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one(1), Sclerotinin A (2), dihydrocitrinone(3), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (4) and 3-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoic acid (5). CONCLUSION: Compound 1 is isolated from nature for the first time.

[Cytotoxicity of the secondary metabolites of Marine Mangrove Fungus Paecilomyces sp. tree 1-7 on human hepatoma cell line HepG2].

OBJECTIVE: To study the cytotoxicity of the secondary metabolites of Marine Mangrove Fungus Paecilomyces sp. Tree 1-7 on human hepatoma cell line HepG2 cultured in vitro. METHODS: Three groups were divided: compounds group, 5-Fu group and control group. The cytotoxicity was measured by MTT method when HepG2 cells were treated by different concentration of the secondary metabolites of Paecilomyces sp. Tree 1-7. RESULTS: Secalonic acid A, tenellic acid A and alternin inhibited the growth of human hepatoma cell line HepG2, the IC50 separately were 2.0, 62.1 and 7.0 microg/ml. CONCLUSION: Secalonic acid A and alternin have strong cytotoxicity on HepG2 cultured in vitro.

[Effects of root-excision on trunk hydraulic traits and growth status of Ginkgo biloba].

The roots of 8-year-old Ginkgo biloba saplings were partially excised to three degrees to study the effects of root-excision on the trunk hydraulic traits and growth status of the saplings. The three degrees were severe, medium, and light (8:1, 10:1, and 12:1 of excised root diameter to base diameter of tree trunk, respectively). Physiological parameters including trunk ultrasound acoustic emission (UAE) signal, branch percentage loss of hydraulic conductance (PLC), sap flow flux, and leaf stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and water potential were measured periodically after root-excision. In all treatments, a great number of trunk UAE signal produced after a short time of root-excision, peaked at 6 h, and decreased gradually then. The intensity of the UAE signals increased with increasing root-excision degree. After root-excision, the branch PLC increased rapidly in the first 12 h but slowly after 24 h. The sap flow flux, leaf stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and water potential after root-excision decreased obviously, with significant differences among the three treatments. The cumulative number of UAE signals (cUAE) was significantly and positively correlated with branch embolism degree, while negatively correlated with sap flow flux and leaf water potential. The leaf area and new branch length of G. biloba in the next year after root-excision decreased significantly, and the decrement was increased with root-excision degree. Root-excision not only made the degrees of conduits cavitation and branch embolism increased, but also affected water transportation and leaf transpiration rate within a short period of time, which would in turn give an impact on G. biloba plant growth.

[Relationships between host preference of Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) and nutrient and chlorophyll contents in host foliage].

The laboratory study with no free choice means showed that the host preference of Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) adult differed significantly with test plants. Phaseolus vulgaris, Chrysanthemum coronarium and Cucurbita pepo were the most preferred, while Lycopersicum esculenturn and Brassica oleracea were the least. Correlative analysis indicated that the host preference of L. huidobrensis adult had a significant positive correlation with the content of soluble sugar, but less correlation with soluble protein and chlorophyll contents in host foliage.