Gypenosides Production and Spermatogenesis Recovery Potentials of Extracts from Cell Suspension Cultures of Gynostemma pentaphyllum.

Background: Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP), also called Giao-co-lam, is a traditional Vietnamese herb, also known as the "Herb of Immortality", that grows throughout Asian countries and is used for the treatment of hematuria, edema in the pharynx and neck, tumors, and trauma. Methods: In this study, we investigated the effects of culture conditions on cell growth and total gypenoside accumulation in the GP suspension cells. Cells were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L KIN and 0.5 mg/L IBA, and different inoculum sizes (2-4 g) for 10-24 days. Results: The results showed that the optimum inoculum size and shaking speed were 3 g of callus and 120 rpm, respectively. The highest cell biomass reached was 5.833 g of fresh weight, corresponding to 0.136 g of dry weight after 20 days of culture. The total gypenoside and Rb1 accumulation was the highest after 18 days of culture, with 46.498 mg/g and 0.038 mg/g dry weight, respectively. In addition, the crude extract from GP cell suspension cultures remarkably improved pathological changes in mouse testicular tissue after scrotal heat exposure. Blood testosterone levels were significantly increased in heat-exposed mice treated with the GP cell suspension culture extract. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that GP bio-mass production by cell suspension cultures leads to the accumulation of gypenosides in large amounts, and provides the potential for the recovery of spermatogenesis following heat stress.

Protective Effect of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. Extract on Heat Stress-Induced Spermatogenesis Complications in Murine Model.

Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. is a precious herb used in traditional medicine systems in Asian countries for various health benefits. This study investigated the potential protective effects of C. orchioides extract on reproductive health under heat stress conditions in male mice. Forty-eight mice were divided into eight groups, control condition (C group), C. orchioides extract at the dosages of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day (C100, C200, C400 group), 40 °C heat exposure (H group), and combined 40 °C heat exposure and C. orchioides extract at the dosages of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day (HC100, HC200, HC400 group). The result shows that the mice that received only C. orchioides extract without heat stress do not have a significant change in histological structure and testosterone level. The histological analysis of testicular tissue showed that heat stress conditions reduced reproductive function and inhibited the spermatogenesis of male mice. The C. orchioides rhizome extract treatment attenuated the heat stress-induced spermatogenesis complications in the murine model. Mice in the heat-stress group treated with C. orchioides extract had increased spermatogenic cells and spermatozoa compared with mice exposed to heat without C. orchioides treatment. Moreover, the aqueous extract of C. orchioides rhizome enhanced the serum total testosterone levels in heat-exposed mice. In conclusion, the study findings validate that C. orchioides is effective against heat stress-induced spermatogenesis complications in the murine model.

Screening and Production of Manganese Peroxidase from Fusarium sp. on Residue Materials

In this study, we report the manganese peroxidase production ability from a Fusarium sp. strain using an inexpensive medium of agriculture residues of either rice straw or wood chips as carbon source. The highest manganese peroxidase activity on rice straw medium and on wood chips was 1.76 U/mL by day 9 and 1.91 U/mL by day 12, respectively.

Trichoderma asperellum Chi42 Genes Encode Chitinase

Four Trichoderma strains (CH2, SH16, PQ34, and TN42) were isolated from soil samples collected from Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue provinces in Vietnam. The strains exhibited high chitinolytic secretion. Strain PQ34 formed the largest zone of chitinase-mediated clearance (> 4 cm in diameter) in agar containing 1% (w/v) colloidal chitin. Analysis of the internal transcribed spacer regions of these strains indicated that they were Trichoderma asperellum. The molecular weights of the chitinases were approximately 42 kDa. Chitinase genes (chi42) of T. asperellum strains TN42, CH2, SH16, and PQ34 were 98~99% homologous to the ech42 gene of T. harzianum CB-Pin-01 (accession No. DQ166036). The deduced amino acid sequences of both T. asperellum strains SH16 and TN42 shared 100% similarity.