Noni as an anxiolytic and sedative: A mechanism involving its gamma-aminobutyric acidergic effects

Noni (Morinda citrifolia) is increasing in worldwide popularity as a food or dietary supplement with versatile health benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Noni fruit on anxiety symptoms in vitro. To this end, a competitive GABAa receptor-binding assay was developed. Our preliminary study indicates that the methanol crude extract of Noni fruit showed significant affinity to the gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABAa) inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors, and displayed 75% binding inhibition of the agonist radioligand [3H] muscimol at a concentration of 100 microg/ml. Further experiments demonstrated that the MeOH extract, and its BuOH and H2O partitions, exhibited IC50 values of 22.8, 27.2, and 17.1 microg/ml, respectively, in the GABAa-binding assay. Experimental results with Noni fruit indicate the presence of competitive ligand(s), which may bind to the GABAa receptor as an agonist, and thus induce its anxiolytic and sedative effects. The study provides an in vitro rationale for one of Noni's versatile and traditional uses. In addition, an HPLC fingerprint profile of the methanolic extract of Noni fruit has been established for quality control purpose.     

Non-additive benefit or cost? Disentangling the indirect effects that occur when plants bearing extrafloral nectaries and honeydew-producing insects share exotic ant mutualists

Background and Aims

In complex communities, organisms often form mutualisms with multiple different partners simultaneously. Non-additive effects may emerge among species linked by these positive interactions. Ants commonly participate in mutualisms with both honeydew-producing insects (HPI) and their extrafloral nectary (EFN)-bearing host plants. Consequently, HPI and EFN-bearing plants may experience non-additive benefits or costs when these groups co-occur. The outcomes of these interactions are likely to be influenced by variation in preferences among ants for honeydew vs. nectar. In this study, a test was made for non-additive effects on HPI and EFN-bearing plants resulting from sharing exotic ant guards. Preferences of the dominant exotic ant species for nectar vs. honeydew resources were also examined.

Methods

Ant access, HPI and nectar availability were manipulated on the EFN-bearing shrub, Morinda citrifolia, and ant and HPI abundances, herbivory and plant growth were assessed. Ant-tending behaviours toward HPI across an experimental gradient of nectar availability were also tracked in order to investigate mechanisms underlying ant responses.

Key Results

The dominant ant species, Anoplolepis gracilipes, differed from less invasive ants in response to multiple mutualists, with reductions in plot-wide abundances when nectar was reduced, but no response to HPI reduction. Conversely, at sites where A. gracilipes was absent or rare, abundances of less invasive ants increased when nectar was reduced, but declined when HPI were reduced. Non-additive benefits were found at sites dominated by A. gracilipes, but only for M. citrifolia plants. Responses of HPI at these sites supported predictions of the non-additive cost model. Interestingly, the opposite non-additive patterns emerged at sites dominated by other ants.

Conclusions

It was demonstrated that strong non-additive benefits and costs can both occur when a plant and herbivore share mutualist partners. These findings suggest that broadening the community context of mutualism studies can reveal important non-additive effects and increase understanding of the dynamics of species interactions.     

巴戟天及其糖提取物对于体外培养成骨细胞OPG/RANKL基因系统表达的影响

目的:探讨巴戟天及多糖提取物对成骨细胞骨保护素(OPG)/核因子κB受体活化因子配体(RANKL)基因系统表达的影响。方法:取2~3天的SD大鼠5只分离原代成骨细胞,再取8周龄SD大鼠35只随机分为七组,对照组不进行处理,三组给予10 g/L、50 g/L、100 g/L巴戟天水灌胃,其余三组分别给予10 g/L、50 g/L、100 g/L巴戟天多糖灌胃,72 h后采用采用ELISA法测定培养液中OPG、RANKL及骨钙素的含量,采用MTT法检测不同浓度巴戟天水及多糖提取物对大鼠成骨细胞增殖的影响,采用荧光定量PCR检测OPG和RANKL mRNA表达情况;通过Westernblot检测OPG和RANKL蛋白表达水平。结果:巴戟天水及多糖提取物组A570nm、ALP活性、骨钙素含量、OPG/RANKL mRNA表达量、OPG和RANKL蛋白表达阳性密度均高于对照组(P0.05);A 570 nm、ALP活性、骨钙素含量、OPG/RANKL mRNA表达量、OPG和RANKL蛋白表达阳性密度均高于同等剂量的水提取物各组(P0.05);巴戟天多糖组中随着多糖剂量的升高A 570 nm、ALP活性、骨钙素含量、OPG/RANKL mRNA表达量、OPG和RANKL蛋白表达阳性密度,差异比较有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:巴戟天水及多糖提取物均能促进体外培养成骨细胞的增殖,提高成骨细胞活性。     

巴戟天根的结构及其与蒽醌类化合物积累的关系

应用石蜡切片法、荧光显微镜和紫外分光光度法,对不同年生巴戟天根组织结构的变化进行了观察、对蒽醌类化合物在根中的分布场所及其积累动态进行了研究。结果表明:巴戟天根的结构类似一般多年生草本植物,薄壁细胞是巴戟天根中蒽醌类化合物的分布储存场所,蒽醌类化合物含量随着根生长年限的增加而增加。由以上研究总结出巴戟天以四年或四年以上采收为好,并以根皮厚、木心细者为上品。     

海巴戟(Morinda citrifolia L.)组织培养研究

以海巴戟（Morinda citrifolia L．）种子为试材,在不剥除种皮的情况下,在MS无激素培养基上播种1年内未见发芽,在剥除种皮的情况下,在MS无激素培养基上发芽率最高,50d内可达75％。海巴戟子叶和下胚轴均能单独由细胞分裂素BA0．7～2．0mg／L诱导不定芽发生,不定芽可直接从外植体发生,也可从愈伤组织发生,添加生长素NAA0．05～0．1mg／L则完全抑制不定芽发生,同时强烈促进愈伤组织生长和不定根发生。带芽茎段在BA1．5mg／L配合低浓度生长素时均能通过腋芽萌发和不定芽发生而增殖。芽梢在NAA0．1mg／L、IBA0．1mg／L或IAA0．1mg／L均有根群发生,但NAA0．1mg／L诱导生根时切口愈伤组织较多,部分不定根由愈伤组织发生。而IAA0．1mg／L诱导生根时根群欠发达,以IBA0．1mg／L最佳。     

Morinda citrifolia mitigates rotenone-induced striatal neuronal loss in male Sprague-Dawley rats by preventing mitochondrial pathway of intrinsic apoptosis

Objectives: Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting mainly the motor system, as a result of death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The present scenario of research in PD is directed to identify novel molecules that can be administered individually or co-administered with L-Dopa to prevent the L-Dopa-Induced Dyskinesia (LID) like states that arise during chronic L-Dopa administration. Hence, in this study, we investigated whether Morinda citrifolia has therapeutic effects in rotenone-induced Parkinson’s disease (PD) with special reference to mitochondrial dysfunction mediated intrinsic apoptosis.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were stereotaxically infused with rotenone (3?µg in both SNPc and VTA) and co-treated with the ethyl acetate extract of Morinda citrifolia and levodopa.

Results: The results revealed that rotenone-induced cell death was reduced by MCE treatment as measured by decline in the levels of pro-apoptotic proteins. Moreover, MCE treatment significantly augmented the levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl2 and blocks the release of cytochrome c, thereby alleviating the rotenone-induced dopaminergic neuronal loss, as evidenced by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunostaining in the striatum.

Discussion: Taken together, the results suggest that Morinda citrifolia may be beneficial for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like PD.     

海滨木巴戟的生理生态特征研究

为了解海滨木巴戟(Morinda citrifolia)生长的抗逆性,对西沙群岛东岛的海滨木巴戟的生物学和生理生态特征进行了研究。结果表明,海滨木巴戟属于阳生性植物,具有较强的光资源竞争能力;其叶片氮、磷含量、叶绿素b含量较高,是其长期适应热带海岛生境的重要原因。海滨木巴戟叶片的海绵组织及气孔密度大,导管直径小,丙二醛含量、超氧化物歧化酶活性和过氧化氢酶活性高,脯氨酸含量低,均表明其具有较强的抗旱性。且生长环境中土壤的氮含量低,盐分含量高。因此,海滨木巴戟可作为热带海滨植被恢复中的优良适生物种。     

诺丽茎段愈伤组织诱导优化及细胞悬浮系的建立

为获取诺丽茎段中的次生代谢物并为建立遗传转化体系奠定基础,以诺丽茎段(无腋芽)为外植体诱导愈伤组织,并建立细胞悬浮系,对影响愈伤组织的诱导及细胞悬浮系的因子进行了研究。结果表明:愈伤组织诱导的最优培养基是MS+1.0mg/L6-BA+0.1mg/L2,4-D;悬浮培养的最佳培养基为MS+1.0mg/L6-BA+0.1mg/L2,4-D+3%蔗糖,pH为5.85,当初始接种量为37.5g/L、摇床转速为110r/min且(25±2)℃暗培养时,悬浮细胞生长良好,生长速率最大;诺丽茎段悬浮细胞生长曲线呈"S"型,最适继代周期为12–20 d;培养过程中,培养基的pH呈先下降后缓慢升高的变化趋势,诺丽茎段愈伤组织悬浮细胞培养的最适pH在4.5–5.0之间。文中成功建立了以诺丽茎段为外植体的稳定的细胞悬浮系。     

巴戟天花药发育过程中多糖和脂滴分布特征

巴戟天花药发育中多糖和脂滴类物质的分布呈现一定的规律：减数分裂之前,花药壁的绒毡层细胞中有少量脂滴,其他细胞中脂滴和淀粉粒都很少。四分体时期,四分体小孢子中开始出现脂滴,绒毡层细胞中的脂滴较以前增加,其他细胞中的脂滴和淀粉粒仍然很少。小孢子早期,游离小孢子在其表面形成了花粉外壁,靠外壁下方有一层周缘分布的多糖物质。绒毡层细胞中的脂滴明显减少。发育晚期的小孢子中形成一个大液泡,细胞质中出现淀粉粒;同时在药壁和药隔组织中也出现了淀粉粒。此时绒毡层退化。在二胞花粉早期,花粉中积累了大量淀粉粒和一些脂滴。但在成熟的花粉中（二胞花粉晚期）,淀粉粒消失,只有一定数量的脂滴保留。巴戟天成熟花粉中积累的营养物质主要为脂滴。