Varietal susceptibility of certain broad bean seeds to infestation with Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) and Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae).

Seeds susceptibility of eight broad bean varieties to Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) and Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) infestation were studied for the first time in free- and no-choice methods in the laboratory of Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University. The relation between certain seed physical characteristics and some biological and and infestation parameters of both insects in the two studied methods were evaluated. None of these varieties were resistant to both insects, showing various levels of susceptibility. Biological and infestation parameters were significantly different among varieties except the developmental period. In free- choice method, Giza 3 was the most susceptible variety to both insects, since produced the highest progeny of 246.67 and 75.67 adults and susceptibility index (SI) of 10.25 and 7.42, respectively, while the least susceptible variety was Giza 716. In no- choice method, Nubaria 5 and Sakha 1 were the most susceptible varieties to C. chinensis, while Nubaria 3 and Giza 3 to C. maculatus. Differences between physical characters of varieties were significant. Seed hardness were correlated negatively and seed coat thickness positively with laid eggs, progeny and (SI) of both insects in free-choice method. Also seed coat thickness correlated positively with weight loss and seed damage (%) of C. chinensis and negatively of C. maculatus. To reduce seed losses the cultivation of the least susceptible variety (Giza 716) is encouraged and considered for breeding purposes to avoid insecticide usage.

Screening and characterization of potential α-glucosidase inhibitors from Cercis chinensis Bunge fruits using ultrafiltration coupled with HPLC-ESI-MS/MS.

A more accurate HPLC-MS screening method combining functional enzyme assay and affinity ultrafiltration screening assay was developed and applied for the screening of natural product inhibitors of α-glucosidase from Cercis chinensis Bunge fruits. The enzyme assay was conducted to prescreen botanical extracts, in which maltose was used as the substrate and detection object. That showed the Cercis chinensis Bunge fruits demonstrated higher α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 11.94 ± 1.23 µg/mL) than acarbose (IC50 = 44.03 ± 4.37 µg/mL) (n = 3, p < 0.05). Subsequently, twelve bioactive components targeting α-glucosidase were screened out and identified using affinity ultrafiltration coupled to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The known inhibitor, acarbose, was used as a positive control and competitive ligand to eliminate false positives. Moreover, bindings of the twelve components to the active site of α-glucosidase were investigated via molecular docking, which further confirmed the results of the screening assay.

Determination of bioactive components in the fruits of Cercis chinensis Bunge by HPLC-MS/MS and quality evaluation by principal components and hierarchical cluster analyses.

The fruits of leguminous plants Cercis Chinensis Bunge are still overlooked although they have been reported to be antioxidative because of the limited information on the phytochemicals of C. chinensis fruits. A simple, rapid and sensitive HPLC-MS/MS method was developed for the identification and quantitation of the major bioactive components in C. chinensis fruits. Eighteen polyphenols were identified, which are first reported in C. chinensis fruits. Moreover, ten components were simultaneously quantified. The validated quantitative method was proved to be sensitive, reproducible and accurate. Then, it was applied to analyze batches of C. chinensis fruits from different phytomorph and areas. The principal components analysis (PCA) realized visualization and reduction of data set dimension while the hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) indicated that the content of phenolic acids or all ten components might be used to differentiate C. chinensis fruits of different phytomorph.

Analysis on Material Basis and Mechanism Difference of Antibacterial Effect of Coptis chinensis and Its Flower Stalk Based on Secondary Metabolites and Network Pharmacology / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To explore the difference in antibacterial mechanism between <italic>Coptis chinensis</italic> and<italic> </italic>its<italic> </italic>flower stalk based on secondary metabolites and network pharmacology. Method:Based on the ultraperformance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry（UPLC-MS/MS） detection platform，the secondary metabolites database of <italic>C. chinensis</italic> and its flower stalk（MWDB） was built. The common database of metabolites information and the multivariate statistical analysis were used to study the differences of secondary metabolites between <italic>C. chinensis</italic> and its flower stalk and screen out 18 metabolites of<italic> </italic>the<italic> </italic>flower stalk and 11 metabolites of <italic>C. chinensis</italic> with a high content. BATMAN-TCM database was used to obtain the targets of component action，and their corresponding genes were inquired in the UniProt database. GeneCards was retrieved for antimicrobial genes，and the intersection genes of components and antimicrobials were obtained on Venny platform. Through DAVID gene ontology（GO） enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes（KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis，the mechanism of its action was predicted，and the results were visualized through histogram and advanced bubble diagram drawn by GraphPad Prism software and OmicShare database. The protein-protein interaction（PPI） network was constructed by STRING， database and the component-target-pathway network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.7.2 software. The antibacterial differences were compared based on the results of network pharmacology analysis. Result:Through network pharmacology，the antibacterial active components of <italic>C. chinensis</italic> were 5 fewer than that of the flower stalk，55 more antibacterial targets than that of the flower stalk； quercetin and berberine were predicted to be the common components of the antagonistic action of <italic>C. chinensis </italic>and the flower stalk. Key genes involved in antimicrobial action were p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase 14（MAPK14），catalase（CAT）； malaria and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway were different key pathways involved in antimicrobial activity. Conclusion:<italic>C. chinensis </italic>and the flower stalk mainly exert the antibacterial effect in a multi-target and multi-pathway manner，which can offer new ideas and clues for the study of antibacterial mechanism of<italic> C. chinensis</italic> and the flower stalk，and provide a new development direction for the comprehensive development and rational application of the flower stalk resources.

Determination of bioactive components in the fruits of Cercis chinensis Bunge by HPLC-MS/MS and quality evaluation by principal components and hierarchical cluster analyses / 药物分析学报

The fruits of leguminous plants Cercis Chinensis Bunge are still overlooked although they have been reported to be antioxidative because of the limited information on the phytochemicals of C.chinensis fruits.A simple,rapid and sensitive HPLC-MS/MS method was developed for the identification and quantitation of the major bioactive components in C.chinensis fruits.Eighteen polyphenols were iden-tified,which are first reported in C.chinensis fruits.Moreover,ten components were simultaneously quantified.The validated quantitative method was proved to be sensitive,reproducible and accurate.Then,it was applied to analyze batches of C.chinensis fruits from different phytomorph and areas.The principal components analysis (PCA) realized visualization and reduction of data set dimension while the hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) indicated that the content of phenolic acids or all ten components might be used to differentiate C.chinensis fruits of different phytomorph.

Structure, Function, Diversity, and Composition of Fungal Communities in Rhizospheric Soil of Coptis chinensis Franch under a Successive Cropping System.

Soil types and cropping systems influence the diversity and composition of the rhizospheric microbial communities. Coptis chinensis Franch is one of the most important medicinal plants in China. In the current study, we provide detailed information regarding the diversity and composition of rhizospheric fungal communities of the C. chinensis plants in continuous cropping fields and fallow fields in two seasons (winter and summer), using next-generation sequencing. Alpha diversity was higher in the five-year C. chinensis field and lower in fallow fields. Significant differences analysis confirmed more fungi in the cultivated field soil than in fallow fields. Additionally, PCoA of beta diversity indices revealed that samples associated with the cultivated fields and fallow fields in different seasons were separated. Five fungal phyla (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Glomeromycota and Mucoromycota) were identified from the soil samples in addition to the unclassified fungal taxa and Cryptomycota, and among these phyla, Ascomycota was predominantly found. FUNGuild fungal functional prediction revealed that saprotroph was the dominant trophic type in all two time-series soil samples. Redundancy analysis (RDA) of the dominant phyla data and soil physiochemical properties revealed the variations in fungal community structure in the soil samples. Knowledge from the present study could provide a valuable reference for solving the continuous cropping problems and promote the sustainable development of the C. chinensis industry.

In vitro cholinesterase inhibitory activity of some plants used in Iranian traditional medicine.

In this study, in vitro evaluation of cholinesterase inhibitory (ChEI) activity of various plants including betel nuts (Areca catechu L.), clove buds (Syzygium aromaticum L.), aerial parts of dodder (Cuscuta chinensis Lam.), common polypody rhizomes (Polypodium vulgare L.) and turpeth roots (Ipomoea turpethum R. Br.) which were recommended for the treatment of AD symptoms in Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) is reported. Among them, aqueous extract of A. catechu L. was found as the most potent anti-AChE (IC50 = 32.00 µg/mL) and anti-BChE (IC50 = 48.81 ± 0.1200 µg/mL) agent.

Plant metabolites: an alternative and sustainable approach towards post harvest pest management in pulses.

Grain legumes are an important source of proteins in vegetarian diet besides their role in biological nitrogen fixation. They are prone to heavy pest infestation both on and off the field. Pest associated losses are an important contributing factor towards declining per capita availability of grain legumes. Synthetic chemical pesticides have played an important role in crop preservation, however their incessant use has posed several environmental and human health concerns. Methyl bromide and phosphine are commonly used for the post harvest preservation of grain legumes. However, the former has to be phased out by 2015 as per the Montreal protocol whereas the latter is showing development of resistance to it by the insects. In the light of this, alternative, safer and sustainable strategies are needed for crop protection. Plants can serve as a rich source of bioactive chemicals for this purpose. Both primary as well as secondary metabolites can be evaluated against the target pests. The paper reviews the status of research in the area of use of plant metabolites in post harvest pest management of grain legumes.

Influence of hosts on Hyperoside content in two kinds of Semen Cuscutae / 中华中医药杂志

Objective: To study the contents of hyperoside in Semen Cuscutae,which grew in different host and different environment.Methods: Hyperoside was determined by HPLC.Results: The content of hyperoside is 0.28%-0.65% in the semen Cuscutae growing in different conditions in Shandong.The content is higher in semen of C.chinensis in Linyi,whose host is Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi.The content of hyperoside is lower in semen of C.australia which grew in Humulus scandens(lour.) Merr.The content has no obvious difference between C.chinensis and C.australis.Conclusions: The content of hyperoside in semen Cuscutae has relation with the hosts.The content increased with the seed mature degree.

Comparison of components in Coptis chinensis processed with various quantity of Evodia rutaecarpa / 中草药

Object To investigate the berberine in Coptis chinensis Franch. processed with various quantity of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. and the components absorbed from E. rutaecarpa. Methods Taking berberine, evodiamine and rutaecarpine as targets, HPLC method was used to determine the components of C. chinensis, E. rutaecarpa, C. chinensis processed with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% E. rutaecarpa. Results The content of berberine in C. chinensis processed with E. rutaecarpa decreased, and that of C. chinensis processed with 20% and 30% E. rutaecarpa was higher than the rest. C. chinensis processed with E. rutaecarpa absorbed the components of E. rutaecarpa really. Conclusion The suitable quantity of E. rutaecarpa is 20% when processing for C. chinensis.