The study of ethanol extract of Epilobium angustifolium L. on blood sugar level in type II diabetic rats.

Epilobium angustifolium (EA) is well known as a traditional medicinal plant in many countries with multiple health effects. However, the chemical composition and anti-diabetic effect of EA has not been reported. In our study, the composition and anti-diabetic effects of ethanol extracts from EA in vivo and in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type II diabetic rats were investigated. EA ethanol extracts exhibited protection effect on H2O2 induced oxidative stress damage INS-1 cells, reduce the body weight loss, blood glucose level and increase insulin level when compared with those of diabetic rats. Following 21 days of EA treatment at 9.2 and 18.4mg/kg, BW increased by 15.85% and 15.53%, respectively, which were extremely higher than diabetic group (9.50%). The fasting blood glucose level of EA 9.2mg/kg group rats significantly decreased by 60.43% and insulin level increased by 2.78 times, respectively. Corresponding to that, the fasting blood glucose level of EA 18.4mg/kg group rats decreased by 52.61% and insulin level increased by 2 times, respectively. Collectively our data suggest that ethanol extract of EA has remarkably hypoglycemic effect in type 2 diabetes and EA might be a promising functional food or medicine for T2DM treatment.

The extract of black cumin, licorice, anise, and black tea alleviates OVA-induced allergic rhinitis in mouse via balancing activity of helper T cells in lung.

BACKGROUND: A formulation of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.), anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) and tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) (denoted BLAB tea) is traditionally used to relief allergy reaction including allergic rhinitis. However, little is known about its underlining mechanism of anti-allergic effects. METHODS: To investigate the anti-allergenic mechanism of BLAB tea, we treated ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis (AR) model of mice with BLAB tea, and elucidated its possible mechanism of action. Mice in the control group were treated with phosphate-buffered saline only. Subsequently, the infiltration of different inflammatory cells was measured. In addition, histopathological changes in the nasal mucosa, and the levels of allergen-specific cytokines and OVA-specific immunoglobulins were measured. RESULTS: The aqueous extract of BLAB significantly alleviated the nasal symptoms and reduced the accumulation of inflammatory cells in the nasal mucosa and nasal lavage fluid of AR model of mice. CONCLUSION: The aqueous extract of BLAB induced the production of Th1 and Treg cytokines and inhibited the release of Th2 cytokines and histamine in nasal mucosa and serum of mice while decreasing the serum levels of OVA-specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG2a. These results suggest the potential of the aqueous extract of BLAB as a treatment option for allergic diseases.

Nitrogen flows associated with food production and consumption system of Shanghai.

The release of reactive nitrogen (Nr) from food production and consumption constitute the primary source of nitrogen pollution. However, nitrogen flows and the driving factors of food chain of Shanghai, China have not been previously studied. Here, we used a substance flow analysis model to analyze the changes in Nr inputs and outputs in agricultural production, livestock and poultry farming, and food consumption related to the Shanghai food chain between 2000 and 2018. The driving forces of Nr inputs, Nr use efficiency, and Nr surpluses/deficits in the food production and consumption system were also investigated. The results indicated that the main sources of Nr input in the food production and consumption system were nitrogen fertilizers, livestock and poultry feed from external sources, and plant-based foods, which accounted for 36.28-59.45% of Nr input in agricultural production, 37.32-76.57% of Nr input in livestock and poultry farming, and 35.38-59.37% of Nr input in food consumption, respectively. The main forms of Nr outputs were surplus nitrogen in the soil, excretal nitrogen from livestock and poultry animals, and excretal nitrogen from humans, which accounted for 38.2-48.89% of Nr output in agricultural production, 36.78-55.18% of Nr output in livestock and poultry farming, and 85.36% of Nr output in food consumption, respectively. From 2000 to 2018, the Nr inputs per unit area from agricultural production decreased at a rate of 20.42% before 2012, and then increased at a rate of 5.72%. Moreover, the Nr use efficiency of agricultural production component of Shanghai was at a low level, only 18.43-27.6%. Cultivation area of crops was the main driving forces of the Nr input to food production and consumption system. These results provide essential data for controlling nitrogen pollution caused by Shanghai food production and consumption, which can serve as a reference for administrative agencies in formulating policies.

Dynamic Analysis and Prediction of Food Nitrogen Footprint of Urban and Rural Residents in Shanghai.

The food nitrogen (N) footprint reflects the amount of reactive N emission and its impact on the environment as a result of food production and consumption to satisfy the basic food demands of an urban population. The N-Calculator model was used to estimate the food N footprint and its dynamic changes in Shanghai from 2000 to 2017, and the auto regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) time series model was used to predict the food N footprint in Shanghai from 2018 to 2027. The results show that the food N footprint was higher in urban areas (15.3-18.8 kg N/capita/yr) than rural areas (12.6-17.4 kg N/capita/yr) of Shanghai from 2000 to 2017. The change in the food N footprint was consistent with changes in food consumption in urban and rural areas, and the total food N footprint of urban and rural residents was positively correlated with the per capita disposable income and population whereas it was negatively correlated with the Engel's Coefficient and price index. It was predicted that the per capita food N footprint will gradually decrease in 2018-2027 in urban areas of Shanghai, but it will generally increase in the rural areas. This study will help to initiate policy interventions for sustainable N management and contribute to the achievement of key sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Asymmetric transcriptomic signatures between the cob and florets in the maize ear under optimal- and low-nitrogen conditions at silking, and functional characterization of amino acid transporters ZmAAP4 and ZmVAAT3.

Coordinated functioning of the cob and florets of the maize ear confers grain yield. The cob is critical for carbon partitioning and assimilated nitrogen (N) supply for grain development. However, molecular recognition of the cob and peripheral florets, characterization of genes mediating translocation of N assimilates, and responses of these two tissues to low N (LN) remain elusive. Transcriptional profiling of the ear of a maize hybrid at silking in the field revealed 1864 differentially expressed genes between the cob and florets, with 1314 genes up-regulated in the cob and 550 genes up-regulated in florets. The cob was characterized by striking enrichment of genes that are involved in carbon/N transport and metabolism, consistent with the physiological role of the cob in carbon/N storage and transfer during ear development. The florets were characterized by enrichment of hormone signalling components and development related genes. We next examined the response of the cob and florets to LN stress. LN caused differential expression of 588 genes in the cob and only 195 genes in the florets, indicating that the cob dominated the response of the ear to LN at the transcriptional level. LN caused comprehensive alterations such as carbon/N metabolism or partitioning, hormone signalling and protein phosphorylation in terms of gene expression in the cob and/or florets. Fourteen genes responsive specifically to LN provided potential molecular markers for N-efficient maize breeding. We further functionally characterized two newly identified broad-spectrum amino acid transporters, ZmAAP4 and ZmVAAT3, that showed distinct expression patterns in the cob and florets and potentially important roles in amino-N mobilization in the ear. While both proteins could transport various amino acids into yeast or Arabidopsis cells, ZmAAP4 appeared to have higher efficiencies than ZmVAAT3 in transporting seven out of 22 examined amino acids.

Proteomic analysis revealed nitrogen-mediated metabolic, developmental, and hormonal regulation of maize (Zea mays L.) ear growth.

Optimal nitrogen (N) supply is critical for achieving high grain yield of maize. It is well established that N deficiency significantly reduces grain yield and N oversupply reduces N use efficiency without significant yield increase. However, the underlying proteomic mechanism remains poorly understood. The present field study showed that N deficiency significantly reduced ear size and dry matter accumulation in the cob and grain, directly resulting in a significant decrease in grain yield. The N content, biomass accumulation, and proteomic variations were further analysed in young ears at the silking stage under different N regimes. N deficiency significantly reduced N content and biomass accumulation in young ears of maize plants. Proteomic analysis identified 47 proteins with significant differential accumulation in young ears under different N treatments. Eighteen proteins also responded to other abiotic and biotic stresses, suggesting that N nutritional imbalance triggered a general stress response. Importantly, 24 proteins are involved in regulation of hormonal metabolism and functions, ear development, and C/N metabolism in young ears, indicating profound impacts of N nutrition on ear growth and grain yield at the proteomic level.

Comparative analyses of three legume species reveals conserved and unique root extracellular proteins.

Increasing evidence suggests that root extracellular proteins are involved in interactions between roots and their soil environment. In the present study, exudates released by 6-day-old roots of the three legume species white lupin (Lupinus albus), soybean (Glycine max), and cowpea (Vigna sinensis) were collected under axenic conditions, and their constitutively secreted proteomes were analyzed. Between 42 and 93 unique root extracellular proteins with 2 or more different peptide fragments per protein were identified by LC-MS/MS. Functional annotation of these proteins classified them into 14-16 different functional categories. Among those 14 homologous proteins were identified in at least two legume species. Among the unique proteins, 58 in white lupin, 85 in soybean, and 31 in cowpea were specific for each plant species, and many of them were classified in the same functional categories. Interestingly, in contrast to soybean and cowpea, two protein bands of approximately 16 and 30 kDa were present on the SDS-PAGE gel of white lupin. The identification of these bands revealed a class III chitinase and a thaumatin-like protein. Both belong to the class of pathogenesis-related proteins. The results imply that root extracellular proteins play important roles in the cross-talk between plant roots and the rhizosphere.

Nitrogen under- and over-supply induces distinct protein responses in maize xylem sap.

Xylem sap primarily transports water and mineral nutrients such as nitrogen (N) from roots to shoots in vascular plants. However, it remains largely unknown how nitrogenous compounds, especially proteins in xylem sap, respond to N under- or over-supply. We found that reducing N supply increased amino-N percentage of total N in maize (Zea mays L.) xylem sap. Proteomic analysis showed that 23 proteins in the xylem sap of maize plants, including 12 newly identified ones, differentially accumulated in response to various N supplies. Fifteen of these 23 proteins were primarily involved in general abiotic or biotic stress responses, whereas the other five proteins appeared to respond largely to N under- or over-supply, suggesting distinct protein responses in maize xylem upon N under- and over-supply. Furthermore, one putative xylanase inhibitor and two putative O-glycosyl hydrolases had preferential gene expression in shoots.

Root morphological and proteomic responses to growth restriction in maize plants supplied with sufficient N.

The primary objective of this study was to better understand how root morphological alteration stimulates N uptake in maize plants after root growth restriction, by investigating the changes in length and number of lateral roots, (15)NO(3)(-) influx, the expression level of the low-affinity Nitrate transporter ZmNrt1.1, and proteomic composition of primary roots. Maize seedlings were hydroponically cultured with three different types of root systems: an intact root system, embryonic roots only, or primary roots only. In spite of sufficient N supply, root growth restriction stimulated compensatory growth of remaining roots, as indicated by the increased lateral root number and root density. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in (15)NO(3)(-) influx between control and primary root plants; neither in ZmNrt1.1 expression levels in primary roots of different treatments. Our data suggested that increased N uptake by maize seedlings experiencing root growth restriction is attributed to root morphological adaptation, rather than explained by the variation in N uptake activity. Eight proteins were differentially accumulated in embryonic and primary root plants compared to control plants. These differentially accumulated proteins were closely related to signal transduction and increased root growth.

The mucilage proteome of maize (Zea mays L.) primary roots.

Maize (Zea mays L.) root cap cells secrete a large variety of compounds including proteins via an amorphous gel structure called mucilage into the rhizosphere. In the present study, mucilage secreted by primary roots of 3-4 day old maize seedlings was collected under axenic conditions, and the constitutively secreted proteome was analyzed. A total of 2848 distinct extracellular proteins were identified by nanoLC-MS/MS. Among those, metabolic proteins (approximately 25%) represented the largest class of annotated proteins. Comprehensive sets of proteins involved in cell wall metabolism, scavenging of reactive oxygen species, stress response, or nutrient acquisition provided detailed insights in functions required at the root-soil interface. For 85-94% of the mucilage proteins previously identified in the relatively small data sets of the dicot species pea, Arabidopsis, and rapeseed, a close homologue was identified in the mucilage proteome of the monocot model plant maize, suggesting a considerable degree of conservation between mono and dicot mucilage proteomes. Homologues of a core set of 12 maize proteins including three superoxide dismutases and four chitinases, which provide protection from fungal infections, were present in all three mucilage proteomes investigated thus far in the dicot species Arabidopsis, rapeseed, and pea and might therefore be of particular importance.