Migration and Transformation of Taxane Allelochemicals in Soil.

The migration and transformation of allelochemicals are important topics in the exploration of allelopathy. Current research on the migration of allelochemicals mostly uses soil column and thin layer methods and verifies it by sowing plant seeds. However, traditional methods inevitably ignore the flux caused by the movement of allelochemicals carried by water. In fact, the flux determines the amount of allelochemicals that directly affect plants. In this work, a method of microdialysis combined with a soil column and UPLC-MS/MS to detect the flux of allelochemicals was developed for the first time and successfully applied to the detection of five taxane allelochemicals in soil. Meanwhile, by adding taxane allelochemicals to the soil and detecting their transformation products using UPLC-MS/MS, the half-life of taxane in the soil was determined, and the transformation pathway of taxane allelochemicals in the soil was further speculated.

Computer-aided design of molecularly imprinted polymer reinforced by double hybrid monomers for selective purification of hydroxycamptothecin.

A kind of hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) hybrid molecularly imprinted polymer (AT/MA-HMIPs) with high selectivity and hard silicon skeleton was successfully prepared based on double hybrid monomers. The relationship between templates and functional monomers was studied through computer molecular simulation and experiments. Three single-monomer molecularly imprinted polymers were prepared as controls. The Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were found to fit well with the adsorption results. The maximum adsorption capacity was 18.79 mg/g, and equilibrium was reached within 20 min. Moreover, it shows excellent selectivity (imprinting factor is 10.73) and good recoverability (after 10 adsorption-desorption cycles, the adsorption capacity only decreases by 7.75%) for HCPT. The purity of HCPT can reach 80.86% after being put into a solid phase extraction column and used in an actual sample, and the yield was 61.43%. This study lays the fundament for the development of excellent HCPT molecularly imprinted composites.

Hybrid molecularly imprinted polymers for targeted separation and enrichment of 10-hydroxycamptothecin in Camptotheca acuminata Decne.

The molecularly imprinted polymer was synthesized using 3-aminopropylthiosilane-methacrylic acid monomer (APTES-MAA) as the functional monomer and 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) as the template, based on computer simulation. The hybrid molecularly imprinted polymers (HMIPs) were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, particle size measurement, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. It has been shown that HMIPs are irregularly shaped and porous, with particle sizes ranging mainly from 130 to 211 nm. At 298 K, the HMIPs exhibit a maximum adsorption capacity of 8.35 mg·g-1 for HCPT and demonstrate good adsorption specificity (α = 5.38). The pseudo-second-order reaction mechanism suggests that the equilibrium adsorption capacity of HCPT on HMIPs is 8.11 mg·g-1. Finally, HCPT was successfully separated and enriched from the extract of Camptotheca acuminata Decne. seeds using HMIPs.

Advances of responsive deep eutectic solvents and application in extraction and separation of bioactive compounds.

In recent years, it has been found that changing ambient conditions (CO2 /N2 , temperature, pH) can trigger a switchable phase transition of deep eutectic solvents, and such solvents are known as responsive deep eutectic solvents. In this work, we present the development history, properties, and preparation of responsive deep eutectic solvents, followed by the application of responsive deep eutectic solvents in the extraction and separation of bioactive compounds are presented. Importantly, the mechanism of responsive deep eutectic solvents in the extraction of bioactive compounds is discussed. Finally, the challenges and prospects of responsive deep eutectic solvents in the extraction and separation of bioactive compounds are proposed. Responsive deep eutectic solvents are considered green and efficient solvents. Some methods for extraction and separation of bioactive compounds by responsive deep eutectic solvents can increase the possibility of recycling the deep eutectic solvents, and provide higher efficiency in the extraction and separation field. It is hoped that this will provide a reference for the green and sustainable extraction and separation of various bioactive compounds.

Supplementary UV-B Radiation Effects on Photosynthetic Characteristics and Important Secondary Metabolites in Eucommia ulmoides Leaves.

To explore the effects of ultraviolet light supplementation on the photosynthetic characteristics and content of secondary metabolites in the leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver (E. ulmoides), the effects of supplementary UV-B (sUV-B) radiation on the medicinally active components of E. ulmoides were comprehensively evaluated. In our study, we selected leaves of five-year-old E. ulmoides seedlings as experimental materials and studied the effect of supplemental ultraviolet-B (sUV-B) radiation on growth, photosynthetic parameters, photosynthetic pigments, fluorescence parameters, and secondary metabolites of E. ulmoides using multivariate analysis. The results showed that the leaf area and the number of branches increased after sUV-B radiation, which indicated that sUV-B radiation was beneficial to the growth of E. ulmoides. The contents of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b increased by 2.25% and 4.25%, respectively; the net photosynthetic rate increased by 5.17%; the transpiration rate decreased by 35.32%; the actual photosynthetic efficiency increased by 10.64%; the content of the secondary metabolite genipin increased by 12.9%; and the content of chlorogenic acid increased by 75.03%. To identify the genes that may be related to the effects of sUV-B radiation on the growth and development of E. ulmoides leaves and important secondary metabolites, six cDNA libraries were prepared from natural sunlight radiation and sUV-B radiation in E. ulmoides leaves. Comparative analysis of both transcriptome databases revealed a total of 3698 differential expression genes (DEGs), including 1826 up-regulated and 1872 down-regulated genes. According to the KOG database, the up-regulated unigenes were mainly involved in signal transduction mechanisms [T] and cell wall/membrane biogenesis [M]. It is also involved in plant hormone signal transduction and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis metabolic pathways by the KEGG pathway, which might further affect the physiological indices and the content of chlorogenic acid, a secondary metabolite of E. ulmoides. Furthermore, 10 candidate unigenes were randomly selected to examine gene expression using qRT-PCR, and the six libraries exhibited differential expression and were identical to those obtained by sequencing. Thus, the data in this study were helpful in clarifying the reasons for leaf growth after sUV-B radiation. And it was beneficial to improve the active components and utilization rate of E. ulmoides after sUV-B radiation.

Screening of anti-fatigue active ingredients of Eleutherococcus senticosus via spectrum-effect relationship based on factor analysis and LC-MS/MS.

ES contains compounds known to have significant anti-fatigue activity. In recent years, it has received extensive attention because it is efficient. However, its active ingredients on antifatigue effect are still unclear. This study attempts to establish the spectrum-effect relationship of ES antifatigue activity to screen the effective components. The results showed that the similarity of 15 ES fingerprints obtained by LC-MS/MS was 0.533-0.992, and the chemical structures of 22 common peaks were identified. The anti-fatigue activity of 15 batches of ES was characterized by forced swimming test of mice and quantified by CAFI, among which S4, S1 and S5 had better activity. 9 components (caffeic acid, 5-(4-O-ß-D-glucosylferoyl)-quinic acid, (±)13-HODE, isofraxidin, eleutheroside E, syringin, pinoresinol diglucoside or its isomer, 7,8-dihydrodehydrocarbinol alcohol-4-O-ß-D-glucoside, secoisolariciresinol-4-O-ß-D-glucoside) highly related to anti-fatigue activity may be the effective components of ES.

Effects of potential allelochemicals in a water extract of Abutilon theophrasti Medik. on germination and growth of Glycine max L., Triticum aestivum L., and Zea mays L.

BACKGROUND: Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.), primarily a cropland weed, exerts adverse impacts on the productivity of various crops, including soybean (Glycine max L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and maize (Zea mays L.), by hindering their vegetative growth. However, the interference mechanism of velvetleaf on the three crops remains unclear. RESULTS: The inhibitory effect of velvetleaf water extract on the germination and growth of soybean, wheat, and maize was determined in pot experiments and field trials. Four phenolic acids were identified as allelochemicals: protocatechuic acid (PA), gallic acid (GA), chlorogenic acid (CHA), and vanillic acid (VA). These allelochemicals were detected in different parts (leaves, roots, and stems) of velvetleaf, and in the rhizosphere soil of tested crops over the range of 1.19-556.23 µm kg-1 . These allelochemicals were administered in approximate concentrations as in velvetleaf roots and rhizosphere soil, and their effects varied with crop species and velvetleaf parts. The allelochemicals generally had low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition effects on the growth of soybean, wheat, and maize. Furthermore, the biomass distribution of these crops was affected by allelochemicals in the soil. In field trials, the allelochemicals significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the growth of all tested crops over the whole growth period, and PA showed a significant (P < 0.05) inhibitory effect on the yield of soybean, wheat, and maize. CONCLUSION: GA, PA, CHA, and VA in velvetleaf aqueous extracts were identified as allelochemicals that play an inhibitory role on three crops. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Upgrading the accumulation of ginsenoside Rd in Panax notoginseng by a novel glycosidase-producing endophytic fungus G11-7.

A novel endophytic fungus producing beta-glucosidase was isolated and characterized from pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp.), which has excellent properties in converting ginsenoside Rb1 to ginsenoside Rd in Panax notoginseng. According to the 16S rDNA gene sequence, the G11-7 strain was identified as Fusarium proliferatum, and the accession number KY303906 was confirmed in GenBank. The G11-7 immobilized spores, in which the activity of beta-glucosidase could reach 0.95 U/mL, were co-cultured with P. notoginseng plant material to obtain a continuous beta-glucosidase supply for the biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb1 to Rd. Under the liquid-solid ratio (20:1), initial pH (6.0), and temperature (30 °C) constituents, the maximum ginsenoside Rd yield was obtained as 9.15 ± 0.65 mg/g, which was 3.67-fold higher than that without fungal spore co-culture (2.49 ± 0.98 mg/g). Furthermore, immobilized G11-7 spores showed significant beta-glucosidase producing ability which could be recovered and reused for 6 cycles. Overall, these results suggested that immobilized G11-7 offered a promising and effective approach to enhance the production of ginsenoside Rd for possible nutraceutical and pharmaceutical uses.

A switchable temperature-responsive ionic liquid-based surfactant-free microemulsion for extraction and separation of hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds from Camptotheca acuminata and extraction mechanism.

In this study, a switchable temperature-responsive ionic liquid-based surfactant-free microemulsion (TRIL-SFME) for extraction and in-situ separation of hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds from Camptotheca acuminata was firstly developed and systematically characterized. This TRIL-SFME was obtained using 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([HMIM][BF4]), 1,2-propanediol and H2O. The prepared TRIL-SFME presented low viscosity and rapid response to temperature. Firstly, the effect of temperatures on TRIL-SFME phase behavior was studied followed by determination of effect of liquid/solid ratio and extraction time on the extraction yields of the targeted compounds. The TRIL-SFME demulsified rapidly by thermal stimulus, resulting in in-situ separation and enrichment of compounds with varying polarity. The results of present study revealed that TRIL-SFME had higher extraction yields (1.50-5.79 folds) compared to traditional solvents and individual components of TRIL-SFME. Besides, in-situ separation and enrichment of hydrophilic compounds (phenolic acids) and lipophilic compounds (alkaloids) was accomplished in short time (within 3 min) by cooling the system to 4 â„ƒ. Furthermore, the mesoscopic behavior between TRIL-SFME and targeted compounds was simulated by dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) to explore the extraction mechanism for the first time. The results illustrated the formation of W/IL structure of TRIL-SFME and clarified solubilization mechanism of TRIL-SFME system for targeted compounds, which is related to its special "water pool" structure. This novel and switchable TRIL-SFME is an environmentally friendly and promising alternative to simultaneously extract, in-situ separate and enrich the natural active compounds with different polarity from plant matrices.

Ingenious application of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium to improve the extraction yield of psoralen in fig (Ficus carica L.) leaves.

In this study, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) disodium was first chosen as catalyst to convert psoralenoside (PO) to psoralen (PSO) for increasing the extraction yield of PSO. An efficient continuous system for synchronous transformation and extraction of PSO from fig leaves applying microwave-assisted EDTA disodium (MAE-EDTA) was developed. The optimal MAE-EDTA condition was obtained: EDTA disodium concentration of 0.07 mol·L-1, ethanol volume fraction of 56%, extraction time of 16 min, and extraction temperature of 70 °C by single factor experiments and response surface method (RSM). Under the optimal condition, the yield of PSO reached 27.24 mg·g-1. Compared with microwave-assisted ethanol extraction (MAE) and reflux extraction (RE), the yield of PSO by MAE-EDTA is 2.03-fold higher than RE and 1.70-fold higher than MAE. Therefore, MAE-EDTA is an efficient method for extracting PSO from fig leaves, and it might provide references for the extraction of PSO from other medicinal plants.

Quick and In Situ Detection of Different Polar Allelochemicals in Taxus Soil by Microdialysis Combined with UPLC-MS/MS.

The action of allelopathy need that allelochemicals exist in the soil and reach a certain concentration. Also, the detection of allelochemicals in the soil is one of the most important research topics in the process of exploring allelopathy. To solve the problem of the simultaneous detection of allelochemicals with low concentrations and different polarities, a novel strategy for the quick detection of the allelochemicals in Taxus soil by microdialysis combined with UPLC-MS/MS on the basis of in situ detection without destroying the original structure of soil was developed for the first time in the work. The dialysis conditions were optimized by the Box-Behnken design (BBD): 70% methanol, 3 µL/min flow rate, and 3 cm long membrane tube. A reliable UPLC-MS/MS program was systematically optimized for the simultaneous detection of nine allelochemicals with different polarities. The results proved the differences in the contents and distributions of nine allelochemicals in three different Taxus soils.

A novel absorbent, HOF-3@PU: Preparation and application for sustainable and efficient purification of catalpol and ajugol from Rehmannia glutinosa leaves.

This study introduced the preparation of a novel HOF-loaded PU sponge (HOF-3@PU) composite for the sustainable and efficient purification of catalpol and ajugol from Rehmannia glutinosa leaves for the first time. HOF-3 was selected as the best adsorbent from the five synthesised HOFs. HOF-3@PU was prepared by ultrasonication, and the loading conditions were optimised. The results showed that the optimum adsorption conditions are as follows: adsorption liquid volume: 160 mL, flow rate: 3.0 mL/min, pH: 6.0, concentration: 1.62 mg/mL for catalpol and 2.18 mg/mL for ajugol. The optimum desorption conditions are as follows: desorption agent: ethanol, volume fraction: 60%, flow rate: 2.0 mL/min, volume: 300 mL and pH: 6.0. Under the optimal process conditions, the adsorption capacities of catalpol and ajugol were 75.62 and 68.41 mg/g, the desorption rates were 78.5 and 86.4% and the purities were 38.7 and 36.5%, respectively.

Biomimetic Nanoarchitectonics of Hollow Mesoporous Copper Oxide-Based Nanozymes with Cascade Catalytic Reaction for Near Infrared-II Reinforced Photothermal-Catalytic Therapy.

Biomimetic nanozyme with natural enzyme-like activities has drawn extensive attention in cancer therapy, while its application was hindered by the limited catalytic efficacy in the complicated tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, a hybrid biomimetic nanozyme combines polydopamine-decorated CuO with a natural enzyme of glucose oxidase (GOD), among which CuO is endowed with a high loading rate (47.1%) of GOD due to the elaborately designed hollow mesoporous structure that is constructed to maximize the cascade catalytic efficacy. In the TME, CuO could catalyze endogenous H2O2 into O2 for relieving tumor hypoxia and improving the catalytic efficacy of GOD. Whereafter, the amplified glucose oxidation induces starvation therapy, and the generated H2O2 and H+ enhance the catalytic activity of CuO. Significantly, the tumor-specific chemodynamic therapy (CDT) could be realized when CuO degraded into Cu2+ in acidic and reductive TME. Furthermore, the photothermal therapy with high photothermal conversion efficiency (30.2%) is achieved under NIR-II laser (1064 nm) excitation, which could reinforce the generation of reactive oxygen species (•OH and •O2-). The TME initiates the biochemical reaction cycle of CuO, O2, and GOD, which couples with an NIR-II-induced thermal effect to realize O2-promoted starvation and photothermal-chemodynamic combined therapy. This hybrid biomimetic nanozyme enlightens the further development of nanozymes in multimodal cancer therapy.

Seed oil of Rosa roxburghii Tratt against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in vivo and in vitro through PPARα/PGC-1α-mediated mitochondrial oxidative metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by hepatic steatosis and hepatocyte injury, is an obesity-induced metabolic dysregulation with few available therapeutic options. Enhancement of the mitochondrial function was considered as an effective treatment for NALFD. Unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) have been shown to have beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome disease such as hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease and cardiovascular diseases. The seed oil of Rosa roxburghii Tratt (ORRT) was of high quality in terms of its high amount of unsaturated fatty acids. However, the effects of ORRT on NALFD have not been reported so far. PURPOSE: The study aimed to evaluate the protective effects and molecular mechanism of ORRT for the treatment of NAFLD in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: The beneficial effects, especially improving the mitochondrial function, and the potential mechanism of ORRT on NAFLD were studied both in vivo and in vitro. Lipid levels were determined by triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and Oil Red O staining. Oxidative stress and inflammation were assessed by detecting antioxidant enzyme activity, MDA content, and ELISA assay. Blood TG, TC, HDL-c and LDL-c levels were measured in HFD mice. Western blot analyses were used to determine the levels of the protein involved in fatty acid oxidation, oxidative metabolism, and mitochondria biogenesis and function. The mitochondrial membrane potential level was measured by JC-1 staining to teste the effect of ORRT on mitochondrial function in vitro. GW6471 (inhibitor of PPARα) was used to confirm the relationship between PPARα and PGC-1α. RESULTS: ORRT significantly restrained NAFLD progression by attenuating lipid accumulation, oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Furthermore, ORRT upregulated thermogenesis-related gene expressions, such as uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). The results showed that the expression of key genes involved in fatty acid oxidation (e.g., CPT-1α, ACADL, PPARα) and in mitochondrial biogenesis and function (e.g., TFAM, NRF1, PGC-1α, and COX IV) was significantly increased. Together with the observed MMP improvement, these findings suggested that ORRT activated the mitochondrial oxidative pathway. Additionally, GW6471 inhibited the ORRT on promoting the expression of PGC-1α, CPT-1α, and ACADL. In conclusion, ORRT possessed the potential to prevent lipid accumulation via the PPARα/PGC-1α signaling pathway, which could be developed as a natural health-promoting oil against NAFLD.

Valorization of Fig (Ficus carica L.) Waste Leaves: HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS-DPPH System for Online Screening and Identification of Antioxidant Compounds.

Fig (Ficus carica L.) leaves are produced each year and often disposed, resulting in a waste of resources. Fig waste leaves are rich in flavonoids, which have strong antioxidant activity; however, the variety and chemical structure of antioxidants in fig leaves have not been reported in detail. To take full advantage of fig waste leaves, antioxidant capacity of different extracts (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and water) was evaluated by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid (ABTS), and ferric-ion-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. The results showed that flavonoids in ethyl acetate extraction had the highest content (83.92 ± 0.01 mg/g), maximum DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 0.54 mg/mL), highest ABTS scavenging rate (80.28%), and FRAP (3.46 mmol/g). Furthermore, an HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS-DPPH method was developed to identify 11 flavonoids in fig waste leaves. This rapid and efficient method can not only be used for screening the antioxidant components in fig waste leaves, but also can be combined with mass spectrometry to identify the compounds with antioxidant capacity. There are three flavonoids with significant antioxidant capacity, which are 3-O-(rhamnopyranosyl-glucopyranosyl)-7-O-(glucopyranosyl)-quercetin, isoschaftoside, and rutin. The results confirmed that fig waste leaves contain a variety of antioxidant components, which contributed to increase the value of fig waste leaves as antioxidants.

Application of fingerprint combined with quantitative analysis and multivariate chemometric methods in quality evaluation of dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum).

A quality assessment method based on quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker (QAMS) and fingerprint was constructed from 15 batches of dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum), using multivariate chemometric methods (MCM). MCM were established by hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and factor analysis (FA). HCA was especially performed using the R language and SPSS 22.0 software. The relative correction factors of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, luteolin and apigenin were calculated with cichoric acid as a reference, and their contents were determined. The differences between external standard method (ESM) and QAMS were compared. There was no significant difference (t-test, p > 0.05) in quantitative determination, proving the consistency of the two methods (QAMS and ESM). Dandelion material from Yuncheng, Shandong was used as a reference chromatogram. The fingerprints in 15 batches of dandelion were established by HPLC analysis. The similarity of the fingerprints in different batches of dandelion material was greater than or equal to 0.82. A total of 10 common peaks were identified. This strategy is simple, rapid and efficient in multiple component detection of dandelion. It is beneficial in simplifying dandelion's quality control processes and providing references to enhance quality control for other herbal medicines.

Metal-Coordinated Supramolecular Self-Assemblies for Cancer Theranostics.

Metal-coordinated supramolecular nanoassemblies have recently attracted extensive attention as materials for cancer theranostics. Owing to their unique physicochemical properties, metal-coordinated supramolecular self-assemblies can bridge the boundary between traditional inorganic and organic materials. By tailoring the structural components of the metal ions and binding ligands, numerous multifunctional theranostic nanomedicines can be constructed. Metal-coordinated supramolecular nanoassemblies can modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME), thus facilitating the development of TME-responsive nanomedicines. More importantly, TME-responsive organic-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials can be constructed in vivo by exploiting the metal-coordinated self-assembly of a variety of functional ligands, which is a promising strategy for enhancing the tumor accumulation of theranostic molecules. In this review, recent advancements in the design and fabrication of metal-coordinated supramolecular nanomedicines for cancer theranostics are highlighted. These supramolecular compounds are classified according to the order in which the coordinated metal ions appear in the periodic table. Furthermore, the prospects and challenges of metal-coordinated supramolecular self-assemblies for both technical advances and clinical translation are discussed. In particular, the superiority of TME-responsive nanomedicines for in vivo coordinated self-assembly is elaborated, with an emphasis on strategies that enhance the accumulation of functional components in tumors for an ideal theranostic outcome.

Quality evaluation of Acanthopanax senticosus via quantitative analysis of multiple components by single marker and multivariate data analysis.

A comprehensive method for the evaluation of Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) was established by the quantitative analysis of multiple components by single marker (QAMS), fingerprint, similarity analysis (SA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and factor analysis (FA) based on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A total of 27 common peaks were identified in the standard fingerprint of 20 batches of AS from different regions in China, of which 8 peaks were identified as protocatechuic acid, syringin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, eleutheroside E, hyperoside, isofrqxidin, and acacetin, and the concentrations of these eight components were determined simultaneously by QAMS. The results showed that the QAMS method was effective and feasible compared with the external standard method (ESM) (RD < 3.3 %, P ≤ 0.01). Sample 1 (S1) was used as the reference chromatogram, the similarity of other samples was between 0.765 and 0.968. Through HCA, AS could be mainly divided into two production areas, the north Liaoning (including Liaoning) and the south Liaoning areas. Furthermore, FA showed that the quality of AS in the north Liaoning area was better than that in the south Liaoning area. In summary, the method established in this study can comprehensively and systematically evaluate quality differences in AS samples, and may be used to help to improve the quality control of AS.

[Allelopathic effects of velvetleaf volatile oil on germination and seedling growth of wheat, maize, and soybean]. / 苘麻挥发油对小麦、玉米和大豆萌发及幼苗生长的化感作用.

Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) is a common weed in dryland, which can reduce crop yield. Allelopathy is one of the possible reasons resulting in crop yield reduction. In this study, we analyzed the allelopathic effect of velvetleaf volatile oil components on germination and seedling growth of three dryland crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize (Zea mays), and soybean (Glycine max). A total of 26 compounds in velvetleaf volatile oil were identified by GC-MS, accounting for 98.1% of the total chromatographic peak areas. The terpenes with lower molecular weight in the volatile oil were α-pinene, eucalyptol, α-terpinolene, ß-terpinene, trans-α-ionone, and trans-ß-ionone. The saturated aqueous solution of velvetleaf volatile oil could inhibit seed germination of three crops by filter paper and soil. Velvetleaf volatile oil could inhibit the seedling growth of three crops through air, filter paper, and soil. Wheat was the most susceptible to volatile oil, followed by maize and soybean. The inhibitory effect of volatile oil on the growth of wheat was the strongest in air medium, followed by filter paper and soil medium. The lower molecular weight of terpene components from volatile oil might be the important allelochemicals.

Cryptochlorogenic acid attenuates LPS-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress via upregulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Phenolic acids are found in natural plants, such as caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, and chlorogenic acid. They have long been used as pharmacological actives, owing to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Cryptochlorogenic acid (CCGA) is a special isomer of chlorogenic acid; the pharmacological effects and related molecular mechanisms of CCGA have been poorly reported. In the present study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of CCGA in RAW 264.7 macrophages and the underlying mechanisms were investigated. The results revealed that CCGA dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced production of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 and blocked iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-6 expressions. CCGA also significantly increased the GSH/GSSG ratio and SOD activity and reduced the MDA level. Moreover, CCGA suppressed the nuclear translocation of NF-κB by hindering the phosphorylation of IκB kinase (IKK) and degrading IκB. It also downregulated the phosphorylation of MAPKs. Our results indicated that CCGA significantly inhibited NF-κB activation by controlling the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and promoting the nuclear transfer of Nrf2. In conclusion, CCGA could attenuate LPS-induced inflammatory symptoms by modulating NF-κB/MAPK signaling cascades and inhibit LPS-induced oxidative stress via Nrf2 nuclear translocation.