Biotransformation of Bioactive Metabolites in Cassiae Semen by Endogenous Enzymes and Probiotics.

The present study evaluated the potential of endogenous enzymes and probiotics in transforming bioactive metabolites to reduce the purgative effect and improve the functional activity of Cassiae Semen and verified and revealed the biotransformation effect of endogenous enzymes. Although probiotics, especially Lactobacillus rhamnosus, exerted the transformation effect, the endogenous enzymes proved to be more effective in transforming the components of Cassiae Semen. After biotransformation by endogenous enzymes for 12 h, the levels of six anthraquinones in Cassiae Semen increased by at least 2.98-fold, and free anthraquinones, total phenolics, and antioxidant activity also showed significant improvement, accompanied by an 82.2% reduction in combined anthraquinones responsible for the purgative effect of Cassiae Semen. Further metabolomic analysis revealed that the biotransformation effect of endogenous enzymes on the bioactive metabolites of Cassiae Semen was complex and diverse, and the biotransformation of quinones and flavonoids was particularly prominent and occurred by three primary mechanisms, hydrolyzation, methylation, and dimerization, might under the action of glycosyl hydrolases, SAM-dependent methyltransferases, and CYP450s. Accordingly, biotransformation by endogenous enzymes emerges as a mild, economical, food safety risk-free, and effective strategy to modify Cassiae Semen into an excellent functional food.

[Isolation and quantification of a 17-epi-dammarane triterpenoid rhuslactone from roots of Rhus chinensis and its preventive effects on coronary heart disease and thrombosis in zebrafish].

Based on mass spectrometry(MS)-guided separation strategy, compound 1 was obtained from the roots of Rhus chinensis. By comprehensive analysis of high resolution-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry(HR-ESI-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) data, and quantum chemical calculation of NMR(qcc-NMR) parameters, compound 1 was elucidated as rhuslactone, a 17-epi-dammarane triterpenoid with a rare 17α-side chain. An HPLC-ELSD method for its quantification in R. chinensis was established and adopted for the quantification of rhuslactone in different batches of R. chinensis. Rhuslactone displayed a good linear relationship within the range of 0.021 3-1.07 µmol·mL~(-1 )(r=0.997 6), and the average recovery was 99.34% [relative standard deviation(RSD) 2.9%). Moreover, the results of the evaluation test of the preventive effects of rhusalctone on coronary heart disease(CHD) and thrombosis showed that rhuslactone(0.11 nmol·mL~(-1)) significantly alleviated heart enlargement and venous congestion and increased cardiac output(CO), blood flow velocity(BFV), and heart rate, thereby reducing thrombus formation in zebrafish with CHD. The effects of rhuslactone on CO and BFV were superior to that of digoxin(1.02 nmol·mL~(-1)), and its effect on improving heart rate was comparable to that of digoxin. This study provides experimental references for the isolation, identification, quality control, and application of rhuslactone from R. chinensis against CHD. It is worth mentioning that this study has discussed some omissions in the determination of the stereochemistry of C-17 in dammarane triterpenoids in the present coursebook Chemistry of Chinese Medicine and some research papers, that is, the compound may be 17-epi-dammarane triterpenoid. This paper has also proposed steps for the establishment of C-17 stereochemistry.

[Effect of intranasal acupuncture on neurogenic inflammation in allergic rhinitis rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of intranasal acupuncture on allergic rhinitis (AR), and expression of substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) proteins in the nasal mucosa and contents of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in AR rabbits, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of AR. METHODS: New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into normal control, AR model, non-acupuoint acupuncture (NAA) and intranasal acupuncture (INA) groups, with 8 rabbits in each group. The AR model was established by intra-peritoneal injection of egg protein and nasal mucosal stimulation. In the INA group, bilateral "Neiyingxiang" (EX-HN9) within the nasal cavity (the anterior attachment area of the inferior turbinate, about 1 cm away from the nasal limen) were acupunctured by mani-pulating the filiform needles for a while with uniform reinforcing and reducing methods, followed by keeping the needles for 20 min. In the NAA group, shallow acupuncture was applied to the skin of the outer margin of the cheeks, followed by keeping the needle for 20 min. The acupuncture treatment was conducted once every other day for 7 days. The symptoms of sneezing frequency, nasal secretion amount and nasal itching were scored. The expression levels of SP, VIP and NPY in the nasal mucosa tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the serum IgE, IL-4, and IFN-γ contents were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: After modelling, the symptom score, expression of SP and VIP, and serum IgE and IL-4 contents were significantly higher (P<0.01,P<0.05), NPY expression and serum IFN-γ content significantly lower (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the model group than in the normal control group. Following the intervention, the symptom scores, expressions of SP and VIP, and serum IgE and IL-4 contents were remarkably decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the NPY expression and serum IFN-γ content were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the INA group than in the model group. The effects of INA group were significantly superior to those of NAA group in reducing symptom score, SP and VIP expression, and serum IgE and IL-4 contents and up-regulating NPY expression and IFN-γcontent (P<0.05, P<0.01). There were a positive correlation between the expressions of SP and VIP and contents of serum IgE and IL-4 (P<0.05), and a negative correlation between the expressions of SP and VIP and IFN-γ content (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: INA treatment can relieve symptoms of AR in AR rabbits, which may be associated with its effects in regulating the expression of SP, VIP and NPY of the nasal mucosa, and contents of serum IgE, IL-4 and IFN-γ to improve neurogenic inflammation.

Insights into the historical assembly of global dryland floras: the diversification of Zygophyllaceae.

BACKGROUND: Drylands cover nearly 41% of Earth's land surface and face a high risk of degradation worldwide. However, the actual timeframe during which dryland floras rose on a global scale remains unknown. Zygophyllaceae, an important characteristic component of dryland floras worldwide, offers an ideal model group to investigate the diversification of dryland floras. Here, we used an integration of the phylogenetic, molecular dating, biogeographic, and diversification methods to investigate the timing and patterns of lineage accumulation for Zygophyllaceae overall and regionally. We then incorporated the data from other dominant components of dryland floras in different continents to investigate the historical construction of dryland floras on a global scale. RESULTS: We provide the most comprehensive phylogenetic tree for Zygophyllaceae so far based on four plastid and nuclear markers. Detailed analyses indicate that Zygophyllaceae colonized Africa, Asia, Australia, and the New World at different periods, sometimes multiple times, but Zygophyllaceae lineages in the four regions all experienced a rapid accumulation beginning at the mid-late Miocene (~ 15-10 Ma). Other eleven essential elements of dryland floras become differentiated at the same time. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the rise of global dryland floras is near-synchronous and began at the mid-late Miocene, possibly resulting from the mid-Miocene global cooling and regional orogenetic and climate changes. The mid-late Miocene is an essential period for the assembly and evolution of global dryland floras.

Evolution of Asian Interior Arid-Zone Biota: Evidence from the Diversification of Asian Zygophyllum (Zygophyllaceae).

The Asian interior arid zone is the largest desert landform system in the Northern Hemisphere, and has high biodiversity. Little is currently known about the evolutionary history of its biota. In this study, we used Zygophyllum, an important and characteristic component of the Asian interior arid zone, to provide new insights into the evolution of this biota. By greatly enlarged taxon sampling, we present the phylogenetic analysis of Asian Zygophyllum based on two plastid and one nuclear markers. Our phylogenetic analyses indicate that Asian Zygophyllum and Sarcozygium form a clade and Sarcozygium is further embedded within the shrub subclade. An integration of phylogenetic, biogeographic, and molecular dating methods indicates that Zygophyllum successfully colonized the Asian interior from Africa in the early Oligocene, and Asian Zygophyllum became differentiated in the early Miocene and underwent a burst of diversification in the late Miocene associated with the expansion of Asian interior arid lands due to orogenetic and climatic changes. Combining diversification patterns of other important components of the Asian interior arid zone, we propose a multi-stage evolution model for this biota: the late Eocene-early Oligocene origin, the early Miocene expansion, and the middle-late Miocene rapid expansion to the whole Asian interior arid zone. This study also demonstrates that, for Zygophyllum and perhaps other arid-adapted organisms, arid biomes are evolutionary cradles of diversity.

[Chemical characteristics and source assessment of rainwater at Shenyang].

To understand the origin and chemical characteristics of precipitation in Shenyang, about 25 rainwater samples were collected in 2007. The pH of samples varied from 4.89 to 8.02, with the volume-weighted average of 6.89. The results showed that the concentration of the sum of anions and cations in Shenyang was higher than those in southern cities such as Hangzhou, whereas the acidification of rainwater was not very serious in Shenyang. The volume-weighted average concentrations of SO4(2-) and Cl(-) were 330.00 microeq x L(-1) and 85.05 microeq x L(-1), with the percent contribution to anions of 60.32% and 15.55%, respectively. Ca2+ and NH4(+) were the main cations with contribution of 49.51% and 29.78%, respectively. The seasonal variations of ions showed that the concentrations were higher in autumn and winter than in spring and summer. Investigations of fractional acidity (FA), neutralization factors (NF), and correlation coefficients among ionic constituents indicated that high pH values were controlled by the neutralization caused by the alkaline materials but not by the absence of acidic materials. Results of NF indicated that NH4(+) and Ca(2+) were the dominant neutralization substances. Calculation of enrichment factors for rainwater components relative to soil and seawater indicated that SO4(2-) and NO3(-) were mostly attributed by the anthropogenic activities, 53.1% of Cl(-) originated from sea sources, and NH4(+) and K(+) came from the soils and human activities.

[Effect of KCI additive on laser-induced soil plasma radiation].

In order to improve laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for low-level elements testing capability, the enhancement effects of KCl additive on the emission spectra of soil samples were studied. The laser spectrum analytical system is composed of a high-energy neodymium glass laser ablating samples, a multifunctional and automatic scanning spectrometer, and a CCD data acquisition system recording plasma spectra. The electron temperature and electron density of plasmas were calculated by measuring spectral line intensity and stark broadening respectively. The experimental results showed that with the increase in the KCl additive, the spectral intensity, signal-to-background ratio, the electron temperature and the electron density all went up firstly and then down. When 15% KCl was added, the radiation intensity of plasma reached the maximum value, the spectral lines intensity of element Mn, Fe, and Ti increased by 2.23, 1.13 and 2.04 than that without additive respectively, the spectral signal-to-background ratio increased by 1.33, 0.89 and 0.94 times respectively; while the electron temperature and electron density of plasmas were heightened by 14% and 38% respectively.

[Enhancing effect of sample additive on laser-induced plasma radiation].

In order to improve the radiation characteristic of laser-induced plasma, with the national standard soil taken as the target sample, a laser spectrum analytical system which composed of a high-energy neodymium glass laser, a multifunctional and compact integrated spectrometer, and a CCD detector was used to detect the influence of the NaCl sample additive on the laser plasma radiation intensity. The electron temperature and the electron density of the plasmas were also calculated from the lines intensity and stark broadening of emission spectral line respectively. The experimental results indicated that with the increase in the NaCl additive, the spectral intensity, signal-to-background ratio, the electron temperature, and the electron density all went up firstly and then down. When 15% NaCl was added, the radiation intensity of the plasma reached the maximum value, the spectral lines intensity of element Mn, K, Fe, and Ti increased by 39.2%, 42.5%, 53.9% and 33.8% compared to that without additive respectively, the spectral signal-to-background ratio increased by 64.4%, 84.39, 44.55% and 58.2% respectively, while the electron temperature and the electron density of the plasmas were heightened by 0.17 times and 0.36 times respectively.