Arbuscular mycorrhiza alters the nutritional requirements in Salvia miltiorrhiza and low nitrogen enhances the mycorrhizal efficiency.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (danshen in Chinese) is one of the most important medicinal cash crops in China. Previously, we showed that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can promote S. miltiorrhiza growth and the accumulation of bioactive compounds. Fertilization may affect mycorrhizal efficiency, and appropriate doses of phosphate (P) and nitrogen (N) fertilizers are key factors for obtaining mycorrhizal benefits. However, the optimal fertilization amount for mycorrhizal S. miltiorrhiza remains unclear. In this study, we studied the effects of AMF on the growth and bioactive compounds of S. miltiorrhiza under different doses (low, medium, and high) of P and N fertilizer. The results showed that the mycorrhizal growth response (MGR) and mycorrhizal response of bioactive compounds (MBC) decreased gradually with increasing P addition. Application of a low (N25) dose of N fertilizer significantly increased the MGR of mycorrhizal S. miltiorrhiza, and a medium (N50) dose of N fertilizer significantly increased the MBC of phenolic acids, but decreased the MBC of tanshinones. Our results also showed that the existence of arbuscular mycorrhiza changes nutrient requirement pattern of S. miltiorrhiza. P is the limiting nutrient of non-mycorrhizal plants whereas N is the limiting nutrient of mycorrhizal plants.

[Effect of different fungicides on efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis on Salvia miltiorrhiza].

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provided is beneficial to Salvia miltiorrhiza for increasing yield, promoting the accumulation of active ingredients, and alleviating S. miltiorrhiza disease etc. However, the application of fungicides will affect the benefit of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and there is little research about it. This article study the effect of four different fungicides: carbendazim, polyoxin, methyl mopazine, and mancozeb on mycorrhiza benefit to S. miltiorrhiza by the infection intensity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, the growth of S. miltiorrhiza, and the content of active ingredients. RESULTS:: showed that different fungicides had different effects. The application of mancozeb had the strongest inhibitory effect on the mycorrhizal benefit to S. miltiorrhiza. Mancozeb significantly reduced the mycorrhizal colonization and the beneficial effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth and the accumulation of active components of S. miltiorrhiza. The application of polyoxin had no significant effect on mycorrhizal colonization. Instead, it had a synergistic effect with the mycorrhizal benefit to promoting the growth and accumulation of rosmarinic acid of S. miltiorrhiza. The inhibitory strengths of four fungicides are: mancozeb>thiophanate methyl, carbendazim>polyoxin. Therefore, we recommend applying biological fungicides polyoxin and avoid applying chemical fungicides mancozeb for disease control during mycorrhizal cultivation of S. miltiorrhiza.

Evaluation of life quality, anxiety, and depression in patients with skin diseases.

To investigate the incidence of skin diseases, the factors affecting the life quality, anxiety, and depression of patients with skin diseases and the correlation among the 3.A total of 1127 patients with skin diseases were selected online from March 2018 to June 2018. Logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing life quality, anxiety, and depression. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the correction among the life quality, anxiety, and depression.There was no significant difference in ethnicity, education, and time of question among patients (P > .05). Sex ratio, age, marital status, and occupation were statistically significant difference among patients with different skin diseases (P < .05). The life quality index of patients with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne, steroid-dependent dermatitis, and alopecia were 11.96 ±â€Š6.74, 9.84 ±â€Š6.99, 11.57 ±â€Š6.85, 13.86 ±â€Š6.31, 7.86 ±â€Š6.82, respectively. The differences were statistically significant (P < .05). The main factors affecting quality of life included age, family history, and types of skin diseases. The age, ethnicity, education, and family history of skin diseases were the main factors affecting anxiety of patients with different skin diseases. Additionally, sex, marital status, education, and family history of skin diseases were the main factors influencing depression. Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that the life quality, anxiety, and depression were positively correlated.Psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne, steroid-dependent dermatitis, and alopecia have a certain impact on the life quality of most patients, and may cause different degrees of anxiety and depression.

Stimulation role of epinephrine in transcription of the melatonin synthesis key enzyme AANAT in the pineal gland of broilers.

Melatonin is a crucial neurohormone synthesized in the pineal gland that influences the physiology of animals. The molecular mechanism of norepinephrine control of the synthesis of melatonin is well documented; however, few reports have described the effects of epinephrine on the synthesis of melatonin. In this study, the effect of epinephrine on melatonin synthesis was investigated by adding different concentrations of epinephrine or norepinephrine to broiler pineal glands cultured in vitro. In addition, we investigated how epinephrine regulates the synthesis of melatonin and the transcription of the key melatonin synthesis enzyme AANAT. We determined the abundance of melatonin, norepinephrine, and epinephrine in broiler serum and the mRNA expression levels of key enzymes under different light conditions. The minimum concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine required to recover the melatonin synthesis rhythm in pineal cells were 10-13 and 10-11 mol/L, respectively. Under various light durations, epinephrine reached maximum levels two hours earlier than melatonin. These results demonstrate for the first time that epinephrine can increase the synthesis of melatonin by increasing the transcription of AANAT.

[Effect of soil pH on efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis on Salvia miltiorrhiza].

By comparing the effects of soil pH on the efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis on Salvia miltiorrhiza， the study is aimed to provide guidance for the use of mycorrhiza in the cultivation of S. miltiorrhiza. In this experiment, the inoculant treated and the non-inoculant treated control were grown in different soil pH. The data was collected after 60 days of cultivation including rate of mycorrhizal infection, biomass, and three chemical constituents with known medicinal action. The results showed that Glomus versiforme was more apt to infect S. miltiorrhiza (F>94.00%; M>69.45%; m>73.66%) and promote the growth of S. miltiorrhiza under pH 5-9 soil. The mycorrhizal contribution to the growth of S. miltiorrhiza was the highest when grown in pH 8 soil. Plants grown with mycorrhiza in pH 8 soil had above-ground biomass more than 2 times and root biomass more than 5 times. The uninoculated plants grew better under acidic and neutral conditions, but the inoculated plants grew better under alkaline (pH 8) conditions. This result showed mycorrhiza can play a role in the adaptability of S. miltiorrhiza to the environment. Inoculation of mycorrhiza significantly increased the accumulation of rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid B, and dihydrotanshinone by 6.59,5.03 and 2.20-folds. Based on our results alkaline soil (pH 8) is most suitable for the cultivation of S. miltiorrhiza by inoculation with the mycorrhiza G. versiforme.

[Research and application progress of Lepidium meyenii（maca）].

Lepidium meyenii（maca）was a herbaceous plant of the family Cruciferae. It is native to the andes region of South America where the local people had been growing and consuming maca for centuries. The unique chemical composition and physiological function of maca were widely concerned worldwide. It was introduced to China in 2002, and were cultivated successfully in Yunnan, Tibet, Sichuan, Jilin and other places with a certain size. Maca contained not only rich nutrition such as protein, vitamin and mineral matter, but also lots of secondary metabolites as maca alkaloids, glucosinolates, volatile oils, sterols polyphenols and macaenes. Numerous studies suggested that maca may serve effects in resisting oxidation, fatigue resistance, raising fertility, regulating endocrine, enhancing immunity, tumour suppression, treating osteoporosis, regulate blood sugar and protection of nervous system. Maca was approved by the Ministry of Health as a new resource food in 2011, and its related products include food, health foods, cosmetics, etc. Certain exploratory researches were carried to take better advantage of maca's medicinal value. This paper briefly reviewed the research and application progress of maca in recent years from the aspects of botany, chemical composition, function, resources situation and related products development, which was supposed to provide reference for scientific research and utilization of maca.

Glomus mosseae Inoculation Improves the Root System Architecture, Photosynthetic Efficiency and Flavonoids Accumulation of Liquorice under Nutrient Stress.

The poor quality and low productivity of cultivated liquorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) continues to put pressure on wild plant populations. As arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are known to support plant growth and in some cases even to enhance the accumulation of valuable molecules in the plant, the effect of Glomus mosseae on the growth and active ingredient contents was evaluated in liquorice plants grown under nutrient deficiency. We created a nutrient-deficient environment by mixing paddy soil, washed river sand, and pumice at a ratio of 1:5:1. Our results showed that the inoculation of pot-grown liquorice plants with G. mosseae significantly increased the shoot and root biomass (by 25- and 17-folds, respectively) and the contents of glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritin, isoliquiritin, and isoliquiritigenin in the main root (by 1.6-, 4.8-, 6.5-, and 4.4-folds, respectively). Both isoliquiritin and isoliquiritigenin were detectable in the lateral roots of the plants inoculated with G. mosseae, but not in plants without G. mosseae inoculation. G. mosseae inoculation improved the features of the root system and increased photosynthetic efficiency of liquorice. The uptake of P and K by liquorice increased when G. mosseae was inoculated, leading to the depletion of these macronutrients in the soil; G. mosseae also improved the availability of Mg, Cu, Zn, and Mn. Based on these results, we concluded that the inoculation of liquorice plants with G. mosseae is beneficial, particularly for those grown in nutrient-deficient soil, and such positive effect is related to the improvement of the root system and an increased photosynthetic efficiency.

Usefulness of CHADS2 score for prognostic stratification of patients with coronary artery disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of CHADS2 score on predicting ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and death in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), irrespective of the presence or absence of atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: We searched for cohort studies that reported risk estimates for incidence of ischaemic stroke/TIA or mortality by levels of CHADS2 score in Medline/PubMed and Embase. Random effects models were used to calculate pooled risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Eight cohort studies (7 prospective and 1 retrospective) enrolling 31,509 patients with CAD were included. The pooled RR of mortality was 2.38 (95% CI 1.63-3.47) for CHADS2 score≥2, and of stroke/TIA incidence was 2.19 (1.55-3.08). In patients without AF, CHADS2 score≥2 was associated with increased mortality (pooled RR 3.14 95% CI 2.14-4.61) and stroke/TIA incidence (pooled 2.81, 2.08-3.78) In patients with AF, the pooled RR of mortality for CHADS2 score≥2 was 1.57 (1.07-2.28), but no significant association was found between CHADS2 score and stroke/TIA incidence (pooled RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.84-1.73). CONCLUSIONS: CHADS2 score can predict mortality in patients with CAD. However, higher CHADS2 score is associated with increased incidence of stroke/TIA only in patients without AF.

Redox homeostasis protects mitochondria through accelerating ROS conversion to enhance hypoxia resistance in cancer cells.

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of eukaryotic cells and the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hypoxic cells, participating in regulating redox homeostasis. The mechanism of tumor hypoxia tolerance, especially the role of mitochondria in tumor hypoxia resistance remains largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the role of mitochondria in tumor hypoxia resistance. We observed that glycolysis in hypoxic cancer cells was up-regulated more rapidly, with far lesser attenuation in aerobic oxidation, thus contributing to a more stable ATP/ADP ratio. In hypoxia, cancer cells rapidly convert hypoxia-induced O(2˙)(-) into H2O2. H2O2 is further decomposed by a relatively stronger antioxidant system, causing ROS levels to increase lesser compared to normal cells. The moderate ROS leads to an appropriate degree of autophagy, eliminating the damaged mitochondria and offering nutrients to promote mitochondria fusion, thus protects mitochondria and improves hypoxia tolerance in cancer. The functional mitochondria could enable tumor cells to flexibly switch between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation to meet the different physiological requirements during the hypoxia/re-oxygenation cycling of tumor growth.

NAC selectively inhibit cancer telomerase activity: A higher redox homeostasis threshold exists in cancer cells.

Telomerase activity controls telomere length, and this plays an important role in stem cells, aging and tumors. Antioxidant was shown to protect telomerase activity in normal cells but inhibit that in cancer cells, but the underlying mechanism is elusive. Here we found that 7721 hepatoma cells held a higher redox homeostasis threshold than L02 normal liver cells which caused 7721 cells to have a higher demand for ROS; MnSOD over-expression in 7721 decreased endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibited telomerase activity; Akt phosphorylation inhibitor and NAC both inhibited 7721 telomerase activity. The over-elimination of ROS by NAC resulted in the inhibition of Akt pathway. Our results suggest that ROS is involved in the regulation of cancer telomerase activity through Akt pathway. The different intracellular redox homeostasis and antioxidant system in normal cells and tumor cells may be the cause of the opposite effect on telomerase activity in response to NAC treatment. Our results provide a theoretical base of using antioxidants selectively inhibit cancer telomerase activity. Findings of the present study may provide insights into novel approaches for cancer treatment.

[Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on endogenous hormones in Salvia miltiorrhiza].

To investigate the dynamic changes of endogenous hormones contents in Salvia miltiorrhiza after the inoculation of Glomus versiforme(GV).The contents of endogenous hormones of ABA, ZR, GA, IAA and MeJA by ELISA were measured. Infection rata of GV reached plateau of 90% at the 90th d of inoculation; fresh weight of overground part and leaf number were significantly higher in GV group, with 2.7 and 1.96 fold than that of control; contents of all endogenous hormones apart from ABA in over- and under-ground part were markedly lower (P<0.05) in GV group at the 75th and 90th d, respectively, with 63% to 75% and 45% to 81% of that in control, and were significantly higher (P<0.05) in both over- and under-ground part in GV group at the 105th d, with 1.4 to 1.7 fold higher than that of control; content of ABA in underground part increased significantly at 60th, 75th and 105th d. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi could promote the growth of S. miltiorrhiza, and affect the dynamic changes of endogenous hormones contents in different infection periods.

[Effect of herb residues compost on growth and phenols of Perilla frutescens].

Herb residue is post-decoction material that can be used as organic fertilizer. Unfortunately, it is currently disposed of as solid waste. This method of disposal is a waste of this resource and a source of environmental pollution. For this case,we studied effects of six different herb residues compost on growth and phenols of Perilla frutescens by pot experiment. Our results show that all six herb residues can improve the growth of P. frutescens. The order of their efficiencies was as follows： Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix residue>Hordei Fructus germinates residue>Forsythia fructus residue>Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizome residue＞Sophorae Flavescentis Redix residue and Moutan cortex residue. Effects of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix residue and Moutan Cortex residue weren't significantly different from CK. Six herb residue all improve root system architecture and leaf area. To phenols of P. frutescens, six herb residues all increased the rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid content of root, and accumulation of four phenols. All the analysis showed herb residues compost can improve the growth and four phenols accumulation of P. frutescens, and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix residue had the most pronounced effect on P. frutescens.

[Effect of herb residue on growth and active ingredient content of licorice].

Traditional Chinese medicine industry product a lot of herb residue. Herb residue was treated as household waste. This treatment leads to environmental pollution and resource waste. For this case, we study the effect of different herb residues on the growth and active ingredient content of Licorice by random control experiment. Our results showed that the effects of different herb residues were difference. Atractylodes macrocephala residue and Forsythia suspense residue had the stronger effect and the effect of A. macrocephala residue was inferior to the effect of F. suspense residue. A.macrocephala residue significantly improved the shoot biomass banch number, leaf number, root diameter and root biomass by 0.53-1.81 fold. A. macrocephala residue also increased the glycyrrhizic acid content of root by 1.54 fold. F. suspense residue significantly improved the shoot biomass,branch number, root diameter and root biomass by 0.43-1.13 fold. Four kind herb residues all improved the shoot biomass by 0.43-1.81fold. So, the authors recommand to considered that we can apply A. macrocephala residue and F. suspense residue in Licorice cultivation.

[Formation and evolution of commodity specification and grade of traditional Chinese medicine].

As an important reference index to evaluate the quality of Chinese medicinal materials, the commodity specification and grade of traditional Chinese medicine has an effect on the medicinal material's price, can promote "high quality and high price" of the traditional Chinese medicine, prompt market transactions more convenient and standard, and has a great significance to the development of the whole traditional Chinese medicine industry. The formation of traditional Chinese medicine specifications and grades experienced a long historical development process. In order to provide the reference for modification of the product specifications and grades standards and management of traditional Chinese medicine products, the author consulted a large number of materia medica books and related references, sorted and analyzed the historical development process. The author divided the formation and development process into four stages, including germination stage before the Southern and Northern Dynasties, development stage of Tang and Song Dynasty, mature period of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the inheritance development stage since the foundation of the People's Republic. The author believes that the clinical curative effect is the driving force to promote the development of commodity specifications and grades. In addition, the national pharmaceutical policy, international status, the level of science and technology also influence the development of commodity specifications and grades in some extents. Finally, the author provides three piece of suggestions for the modification of the product specifications and grades standards, according to the historical development rule.

[Effect of five fungicides on growth of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis].

In order to obtain the fungicides with minimal impact on efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis, the effect of five fungicides including polyoxins, jinggangmycins, thiophanate methylate, chlorothalonil and carbendazim on the growth of medicinal plant and efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis were studied. Pot cultured Glycyrrhiza uralensis was treated with different fungicides with the concentration that commonly used in the field. 60 d after treated with fungicides, infection rate, infection density, biomass indexes, photosyn- thetic index and the content of active component were measured. Experimental results showed that carbendazim had the strongest inhibition on mycorrhizal symbiosis effect. Carbendazim significantly inhibited the mycorrhizal infection rate, significantly suppressed the actual photosynthetic efficiency of G. uralensis and the most indicators of biomass. Polyoxins showed the lowest inhibiting affection. Polyoxins had no significant effect on mycorrhizal infection rate, the actual photosynthetic efficiency of G. uralensis and the most indicators of biomass. The other three fungicides also had an inhibitory effect on efficiency of mycorrhizal symbiosis, and the inhibition degrees were all between polyoxins's and carbendazim's. The author considered that fungicide's inhibition degree on mycorrhizal effect might be related with the species of fungicides, so the author suggested that the farmer should try to choose bio-fungicides like polyoxins.

[Effect of Glomus versiforme and Trichoderma harzianum on growth and quality of Salvia miltiorrhiza].

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Glomus versiforme and Trichodema harzianum on the growth and quality of Salvia miltiorrhiza continuous cropping under field conditions. The field plot experiment was conducted, these active components in the plant were analyzed by HPLC, the root diseases incidence rate of S. miltiorrhiza determined by observation and counting, and relative parameters were measured. The data was statistically processed. The result showed that inoculation of G. versiforme and combined inoculation of G. versiforme with T. harzianum significantly decreased the root diseases incidence rate of S. miltiorrhiza, and combined inoculation of G. versiforme with T. harzianum was better than other treatments. All treatments improved accumulation of active ingredients in root. Inoculation of G. versiforme and combined inoculation of G. versiforme with T. harzianum significantly increased the content of salvianolic acid B and cryptotanshinone of root (P < 0.05), Inoculation of G. versiforme, T. harzianum and combined inoculation of G. versiforme with T. harzianum significantly enhanced the content of tanshinone I and tanshinone II(A) of the root (P < 0.05). It may conclude that inoculation of G. versiforme and combined inoculation of G. versiforme with T. harzianum can effectively reduce the root diseases incidence of continuous cropping S. miltiorrhiza, and improve the quality of S. miltiorrhiza.

[Effect of new qingkailing injection on cerebral edema following intracerebral hemorrhage in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of New Qingkailing injection (NQKLI) on cerebral edema following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) induced by collagenase VII in rats. METHODS: After being established into ICH model by collagenase VII, rats were treated with NQKLI by intraperitoneal injection. Forty-eight hrs later, brain contents of water was detected with wet and dry method, calcium content in brain was detected by atomic spectrophotometer, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in brain tissue was determined by liquid competitive ibhibitory immunoassay, and serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. RESULTS: NQKLI reduced the contents of water, calcium and TNF-alpha content of brain tissue and serum MMP-9 in rats with ICH. CONCLUSION: NQKLI could alleviate both vasogenic and cytotoxic cerebral edema by prohibiting calcium over-load, protecting basilar membrane and eliminating inflammation.