Talaromarins A-F: Six New Isocoumarins from Mangrove-Derived Fungus Talaromyces flavus TGGP35.

Six new isocoumarin derivative talaromarins A-F (1-6), along with 17 known analogues (7-23), were isolated from the mangrove-derived fungus Talaromyces flavus (Eurotiales: Trichocomaceae) TGGP35. Their structures were identified by detailed IR, UV, 1D/2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectra. The absolute configurations of new compounds were determined by the modified Mosher's method and a comparison of their CD spectra with dihydroisocoumarins described in the literature. The antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-phytopathogenic and inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase of all the isolated compounds were tested. Compounds 6-11, 17-19 and 21-22 showed similar or better antioxidant activity than the IC50 values ranging from 0.009 to 0.27 mM, compared with the positive control trolox (IC50 = 0.29 mM). Compounds 10, 18, 21 and 23 exhibited strong inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase with IC50 values ranging from 0.10 to 0.62 mM, while the positive control acarbose had an IC50 value of 0.5 mM. All compounds showed no antibacterial or anti-phytopathogenic activity at the concentrations of 50 µg/mL and 1 mg/mL, respectively. These results indicated that isocoumarins will be useful to developing antioxidants and as diabetes control agents.

Effects of CO(2) enrichment on growth and development of Impatiens hawkeri.

The effects of CO(2) enrichment on growth and development of Impatiens hawkeri, an important greenhouse flower, were investigated for the purpose of providing scientific basis for CO(2) enrichment to this species in greenhouse. The plants were grown in CO(2)-controlled growth chambers with 380 (the control) and 760 (CO(2) enrichment) µmol · mol(-1), respectively. The changes in morphology, physiology, biochemistry, and leaf ultrastructure of Impatiens were examined. Results showed that CO(2) enrichment increased flower number and relative leaf area compared with the control. In addition, CO(2) enrichment significantly enhanced photosynthetic rate, contents of soluble sugars and starch, activities of peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), but reduced chlorophyll content and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Furthermore, significant changes in chloroplast ultrastructure were observed at CO(2) enrichment: an increased number of starch grains with an expanded size, and an increased ratio of stroma thylakoid to grana thylakoid. These results suggest that CO(2) enrichment had positive effects on Impatiens, that is, it can improve the visual value, promote growth and development, and enhance antioxidant capacity.

Activation of GIPR Exerts Analgesic and Anxiolytic-Like Effects in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex of Mice.

Background: Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists typically for a period of over six months. Chronic pain is often accompanied by an anxiety disorder, and these two tend to exacerbate each other. This can make the treatment of these conditions more difficult. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is a member of the incretin hormone family and plays a critical role in glucose metabolism. Previous research has demonstrated the multiple roles of GIP in both physiological and pathological processes. In the central nervous system (CNS), studies of GIP are mainly focused on neurodegenerative diseases; hence, little is known about the functions of GIP in chronic pain and pain-related anxiety disorders. Methods: The chronic inflammatory pain model was established by hind paw injection with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in C57BL/6 mice. GIP receptor (GIPR) agonist (D-Ala2-GIP) and antagonist (Pro3-GIP) were given by intraperitoneal injection or anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) local microinjection. Von Frey filaments and radiant heat were employed to assess the mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity. Anxiety-like behaviors were detected by open field and elevated plus maze tests. The underlying mechanisms in the peripheral nervous system and CNS were explored by GIPR shRNA knockdown in the ACC, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blot analysis, whole-cell patch-clamp recording, immunofluorescence staining and quantitative real-time PCR. Results: In the present study, we found that hind paw injection with CFA induced pain sensitization and anxiety-like behaviors in mice. The expression of GIPR in the ACC was significantly higher in CFA-injected mice. D-Ala2-GIP administration by intraperitoneal or ACC local microinjection produced analgesic and anxiolytic effects; these were blocked by Pro3-GIP and GIPR shRNA knockdown in the ACC. Activation of GIPR inhibited neuroinflammation and activation of microglia, reversed the upregulation of NMDA and AMPA receptors, and suppressed the enhancement of excitatory neurotransmission in the ACC of model mice. Conclusions: GIPR activation was found to produce analgesic and anxiolytic effects, which were partially due to attenuation of neuroinflammation and inhibition of excitatory transmission in the ACC. GIPR may be a suitable target for treatment of chronic inflammatory pain and pain-related anxiety.

One new α,ß-unsaturated 7-ketone sterol from the mangrove-derived fungus Phomopsis sp.MGF222.

A new α,ß-unsaturated 7-ketone sterol, 5ß,6ß-epoxy-3ß, 15α-dihydroxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-8(14),22-dien-7-one (1), along with five known sterone derivatives, 5ß,6ß-epoxy-3ß,7α-dihydroxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-8(14),22-dien-15-one (2), 5ß,6ß-epoxy-3ß,7α,9α-trihydroxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-8(14),22-dien-15-one (3), 3ß,9α,15α-trihydroxy-(22E,24R)-10(5→4)-abeo-ergosta-6,8(14),22-trien-5-one (4), 3,15-dihydroxyl-(22E,24R)-ergosta-5,8(14),22-trien-7-one (5) and (22E,24R)-ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3,15-dione (6) were isolated from the mangrove-derived fungus Phomopsis sp. MGF222. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data and comparison with the data of literature. Compound 2 showed weak antibacterial activity against Micrococcus tenuis with the MIC value of 28.2 (±0.52) µM. Compound 5 exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with the MIC value of 14.6 (±0.47) µM.

[Genetic diversity of the cultured populations of six rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss by microsatllite].

Rainbow trout are cultured widely throughout the world for supplementation in natural ecosystems and for commercial aquaculture. In 1959 it was firstly introduced to China from Korea. After introduction from America and other countries such as Norway, Denmark, and so on, rainbow trout were now cultured in about 20 provinces in China. In this study, microsatellite DNA was employed to assess the genetic variations between 6 cultured populations of rainbow trout (American golden trout, American Donaldsons, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Bohaizhan). The results showed that in these 6 cultured populations the average number of allele (A) was 2.89 to 4.22; average number of effective allele (Ne) was 2.15 to 2.78; the value of average observed heterozygosity (Ho) in six populations was 0.4802 to 0.6786; the value of average excepted heterozygosity (He) was 0.5052 to 0.6211; and the value of average polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.4298 to 0.5762. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium analysis revealed that all of these 6 populations showed a remarkable genetic disequilibrium at loci AY039634, AY039638, AY0396466. Only at locus AF375034 all of 6 populations showed equilibrium. The genetic distance of six cultured populations was calculated and cluster analysis was also carried out.