Water Extract of Senecio scandens Buch.-Ham Ameliorates Pruritus by Inhibiting MrgprB2 Receptor.

Background: Senecio scandens Buch.-Ham (S. scandens) belongs to the Compositae family. As a Traditional Chinese medicine, S. scandens has been used in China to treat conjunctivitis, mastitis and vaginitis, it also has the function of antibacterial and relieving itching. Methods: Water extract of S. scandens (WSS) was prepared and its quality was controlled by HPLC. The antipruritic effects of WSS were evaluated by itch behavioral experiments. The oxazolone and compound 48/80 were induced to mice scratch behavior, scratch was recorded 30 min after sensitization. The relationship between the antipruritic mechanism and MrgprB2 on mast cell was studied by using mast cell-deficient Kit (W-sh) "Sash" mice and MrgprB2-/- mice. The mast cells were observed by toluidine blue staining. In vitro, the effects of WSS on MrgprB2 were studied by calcium imaging; The whole-cell patch clamp method recorded the MrgprB2 mediate voltage-dependent currents in mast cells. Results: The content of rutin (0.012%) and hyperin (0.014%) in the WSS were determined. WSS could ameliorate the pruritus induced by Oxazolone (inhibition was 41.19%, p = 0.004) and compound 48/80 (inhibition was 50.29%, p = 0.001). Meanwhile, WSS could reduce the number of mast cells in mice skin tissue with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) (p = 0.002) or compound 48/80 (p = 0.013). In addition, WSS could inhibit the calcium influx (1 mg/mL: p = 0.001, 3 mg/mL: p < 0.0001) and the voltage-dependent currents induced by activation of MrgprB2 on mast cell. WSS also attenuated the calcium influx induced by compound 48/80 in HEK293 cells overexpressing MrgprB2/X2. Conclusion: These results showed that WSS could ameliorate pruritus by inhibiting MrgprB2 receptor on mast cells.

Diversity, knowledge, and valuation of plants used as fermentation starters for traditional glutinous rice wine by Dong communities in Southeast Guizhou, China.

BACKGROUND: Beverages prepared by fermenting plants have a long history of use for medicinal, social, and ritualistic purposes around the world. Socio-linguistic groups throughout China have traditionally used plants as fermentation starters (or koji) for brewing traditional rice wine. The objective of this study was to evaluate traditional knowledge, diversity, and values regarding plants used as starters for brewing glutinous rice wine in the Dong communities in the Guizhou Province of China, an area of rich biological and cultural diversity. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were administered for collecting ethnobotanical data on plants used as starters for brewing glutinous rice wine in Dong communities. Field work was carried out in three communities in Guizhou Province from September 2017 to July 2018. A total of 217 informants were interviewed from the villages. RESULTS: A total of 60 plant species were identified to be used as starters for brewing glutinous rice wine, belonging to 58 genera in 36 families. Asteraceae and Rosaceae are the most represented botanical families for use as a fermentation starter for rice wine with 6 species respectively, followed by Lamiaceae (4 species); Asparagaceae, Menispermaceae, and Polygonaceae (3 species respectively); and Lardizabalaceae, Leguminosae, Moraceae, Poaceae, and Rubiaceae (2 species, respectively). The other botanical families were represented by one species each. The species used for fermentation starters consist of herbs (60.0%), shrubs (23.3%), climbers (10.0%), and trees (6.7%). The parts used include the root (21.7%), leaf (20.0%), and the whole plant (16.7%). Findings indicate a significant relationship between knowledge of plants used as fermentation starters with age (P value < 0.001) and educational status (P value = 0.004) but not with gender (P value = 0.179) and occupation (P value = 0.059). The species that are most used by informants include Pueraria lobata var. montana (Lour.) van der Maesen (UV = 1.74; Leguminosae), Actinidia eriantha Benth. (UV = 1.51; Actinidiaceae), Oryza sativa L. var. glutinosa Matsum (UV = 1.5; Poaceae). CONCLUSION: This study highlights that while most of the Dong informants continue to use a diverse range of plants as a fermentation starter for brewing glutinous rice wine, knowledge of these plants is being lost by the younger generations. Documentation of traditional ethnobotanical knowledge and outreach is thus needed to conserve biocultural diversity in the rural Dong communities in southern China.

[Newly records of medicinal species in Jiangxi].

Seven species were reported as new records of Jiangxi province, which collected from Wugongshan region, including Huperzia kunmingensis(Lycopodiaceae), Hydrangea mangshanensis(Saxifragaceae), Itea glutinosa(Saxifragaceae), Stellaria monosperma var. japonica(Lycopodiaceae), Youngia pratti(Compositae), and Calanthe henryi(Orchidaceae), Collabium formosanum(Orchidaceae). Among these species, H. kunmingensis, H. mangshanensis, I. glutinosa, Y. pratti and C. henryi are endemic in China. C. henryi is stenotopic distribution in China and regarded as vulnerable endangered plant by IUCN. The report is of great significance to the plant diversity and floristic composition in Jiangxi. All the specimens examined are preserved in Jishou University (JIU) and Sun yat-sen University (SYS).

The new steroidal glycosides from the aerial parts of Lepidogrammitis drymoglossoides.

Two new steroidal glycosides ponasteroside C (1) and ponasteroside D (2) were isolated from the aerial parts of Lepidogrammitis drymoglossoides. Their structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic techniques (IR, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR). All compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against HeLa and HCT-8 cell lines, and compounds 1 and 2 showed mild activity against all the test cell lines.

[Effects of Climatic Factors on Contents of Major Medical Components in Smilax china from Different Regions in Western Hunan].

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of climatic factors on the major medical component in Smilax china, and to supply a scientific and standard operation protocol on the introduction and cultivation. METHODS: Detect the content of major medical components, such as baicalin and astibin, in Smilax china from eight counties of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture. And establish their relationship with annual average temperature, Jan average temp, Jul average temp, valid accumulative temp (≥ 10 degress C), annual maximum temp, annual minimum temp, annual precipitation, annual sunshine amount, non-frost period and relative humidity by using the methods of partial least squares regression analysis (PLS). RESULTS: Relative humidity, annual minimum temp and annual precipitation are the dominant factors. Annual minimum temp, annual average temp and valid accumulative temp were significantly correlated to the content of major medical components, thus, relative humidity, annual precipitation and non-frost period were negatively related to them. CONCLUSION: This study provides a scientific basis for resources protection,introduction and cultivation of Smilax china.

[Determination of artemisinic acid in Artemisia annua at different growth stages based on spot area].

OBJECTIVE: Based on the important medicinal applications of artemisinic acid and the superiority of Thin Layer Chromagraphy (TLC), the spot area method of TLC was presented to determine the content changes of artemisinic acid of Artemisia annua at different growing stages. METHODS: The separation conditions including chromatographic solutions and chromogenic agent were optimized. The detection limit and the linear concentration range were analyzed. And the content changes of artemisinic acid of Artemisia annua at different growing stages were detected. RESULTS: The results showed that artemisinic acid extracted from Artemisia annua could be separated completely by the chromatographic solutions composed by petroleum ether,acetone and ethyl acetate (80: 19: 1). The artemisinic acid was clearly colored using the chromogenic agent consisting by ethanol, bromophenol blue and sulfuric acid. The detection limit of TLC was 0.05 mg/mL. The spot area of TLC had a good linear relationship within the range of 0.05-0.6 mg/mL, accorded with regression equation of y = 11.162 x + 0.0823. The results showed that the content of artemisinic acid at 0.041 mg/g in April which below the detection limit of TLC had no color spot. Contrarily, the spots of artemisinic acid were obvious in materials growing from May to September, and content was about 0.7, 1.2, 2.1, 2.4 and 2.7 mg/g, respectively corresponding to results by HPLC. CONCLUSION: The method can be applied to the quantitative analysis of artemisinic acid in Artemisia annua.

[Karyotype analysis and its systematic implications of Pterocypsela formosana and P. elata].

Pterocypsela is a very important traditional Chinese medicine from the tribe Cichorieae of Asteraceae. Mitotic chromosome numbers and karyotypes are reported for P. formosana and P. elata from Hunan and Hubei province, China. The former is new and the latter provide confirmation of previous reference. All P. taxa are diploidy with 2n = 18 and their basic number is tentatively suggested as x = 9. Karyotype of Pterocypsela is 2A and P. formosana with a karyotype formula of 2n = 2x = 18 = 4m + 14sm, and 2n = 2x = 18 = 2m + 8sm +8st for P. elata. It is the first time to report the AI value for Pterocypsela in this paper. Cytological data of chromosomal numbers and karyotypes were used to discuss the close relationships of the Pterocypsela genus and the taxonomy of the medicinal plants.

[Variation of content of artemisic acid in different growth stages of Artemisia annua].

OBJECTIVE: To study the variation of content of Artemisic acid of Artemisia annua from eight areas of four provinces around Wuling Mountain. METHODS: Artemisic acid of plants were extracted by organic solvent method. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of Artemisic acid were measured by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPLC), respectively. RESULTS: The results showed the average levels of Artemisic acid in May and August changed from 0.964 to 2.288 mg/g and from 1.837 to 3.737 mg/g, respectively. The average level in August was 1.5 times as that in May. The Artemisic acid in cultured plants was higher than the levels in wild plants, and Artemisic acid in plant collected below 300 m altitude was higher than that of the plant collected above 300 m altitude. CONCLUSION: The biosynthesis of Artemisic acid depends on the plant growth stage,which is mainly accumulated in plant at the mature stage.

[Effects of organic solvents on proliferation of Hela cells line].

OBJECTIVE: To research the effects of organic solvents on proliferation inhibition of Hela cells line. METHODS: The apoptosis of Hela cells induced by ethanol and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were studied to analyse the error analyse from background organic solvents. The apoptosis of Hela cells induced by ethanol, DMSO and the combination of these two organic solvents with different concentrations were observed by MTT test and Giemsa staining. RESULTS: The Hela cells proliferation were significantly inhibited by ethanol with the concentrations ranged from 30% to 100%, and DMSO with the concentrations ranged from 50% to 100% (P < 0.01). There were no significantly difference between the two combination of ethanol 40% + DMSO 60%, ethanol 30% + DMSO 70% and control group (P > 0. 05) respectively. CONCLUSION: The cells proliferation were inhibited by organic solvents itself and were in a time and dose dependent. The background experimental error can be reduced remarkably by choosing the two organic solvents combination of ethanol and DMSO.

[Condition optimization experiment of microwave extaction of flavonoids in rhizome of Drynaria fortunei].

The experiment extracted flavonoids in rhizome of Drynaria fortunei by microwave extraction, and determined the extraction rate through colorimetry. Through the single factor experiment and orthogonal method, the optimum extraction conditions were as follows: ethanol concentration was 40%, solid-liquid ratio was 1:20 (g/mL), microwave power was 325 W, extraction time was 40 s. Under these conditions, the extraction rate reached 1.73%. In all condtions, microwave power has the most significant effect on extraction rate. Microwave extraction has obvious advantages in comparison with traditional sovent refluxing method.

[Oil content of Pyracantha seeds and its relations to soil nutrients in northwestern Hunan Province].

Pyracantha seeds were collected from five habitats in the Karst region of northwestern Hunan Province, and the oil content and its components were determined, with their relations to soil nutrients studied. The results showed that soil total P had positive correlation with the linolic acid in P. fortuneana seed oil, while other soil nutrients had no correlations with the fat acids in the oil. The vitamin E in seed oil had significant positive correlations with soil total Ca and total Mg. The P. fortuneana seeds in test region had the maximum oil content of 5.9%, and the average vitamin E content of 9.9 g x kg(-1). The relative contents of linolic acid, oleic acid and palmic acid were 63.7%, 20.8% and 13.2%, respectively.