槟榔（Areca catechu L.）的民族植物学

本文从民族植物学的观点介绍了我国南方各省嚼槟榔的习俗、历史及演变,分析了这个习俗的形成原因及槟榔的药用价值。作者认为咀嚼槟榔有成瘾性,但是否对人的中枢神经系统有损害,必须进一步研究。作者对这种习俗提出了几点看法和建议,对槟榔的开发利用有重要参考价值。     

Effect of salinisation of soil on growth and macro- and micro-nutrient accumulation in seedlings of Acacia catechu (Mimosaceae)

The effects of salinisation of soil on Acacia catechu (Mimosaceae) were studied by means of emergence and growth of seedlings and pattern of mineral accumulation. A mixture of chlorides and sulphates of Na, K, Ca and Mg was added to the soil and salinity was maintained at 4.1, 6.3, 8.2,10.1 and 12.2 dSm⁻¹. A negative relationship between proportion of seed germination and salt concentration was obtained. Seedlings did not emerge when soil salinity exceeded 10.1 dSm⁻¹. Results suggested that this tree species is salt tolerant at the seed germination stage. Seedlings survived and grew up to soil salinity of 10.1 dSm⁻¹, which suggests that this species is salt tolerant at the seedling stage too. Elongation of stem and root was retarded by increasing salt stress. Among the tissues, young roots and stem were most tolerant to salt stress and were followed by old roots and leaves, successively. Leaf tissue exhibited maximum reduction in dry mass production in response to increasing salt stress. However, production of young roots and death of old roots were found to be continuous and plants apparently use this process as an avoidance mechanism to remove excess ions and delay onset of ion accumulation in this tissue. This phenomenon, designated “fine root turnover”, is of importance to the mechanisms of salt tolerance. Plants accumulated Na in roots and were able to regulate transfer of Na ions to leaves. Stem tissues were a barrier for translocation of Na from root to leaf. Moreover, K was affected in response to salinity; it rapidly decreased in root tissues with increased salinisation. Nitrogen content decreased in all tissues (leaf, stem and root) in response to low water treatment and salinisation of soil. Phosphorus content significantly decreased, while Ca increased in leaves as soil salinity increased. Changes in tissue and whole plant accumulation patterns of the other elements tested, as well as possible mechanisms for avoidance of Na toxicity in this tree species during salinisation, are discussed.     

Interaction of Catechu Dye with DNA: Spectroscopic and In Silico Approach

Catechin, a yellow colored molecule obtained from the wood of Acacia catechu was analyzed for its interaction with synthetic DNA duplexes using spectroscopic analysis. UV-Visible spectroscopic analysis revealed the non-intercalative binding mode. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis expose chemical shift indicated by various vibrational stretches and an increase in the intensity of base stacking was observed by Circular Dichroism (CD), respectively. This inference was further confirmed through nuclear staining technique and also in electrophoretic technique; the dye quenches the fluorescent intensity of ethidium bromide. The result of fluorescence spectroscopy was in concordance with the electrophoretic technique. In addition, the spectroscopic results were in accordance with the molecular docking studies of specific catechin compound from the catechu dye with CT-DNA. This kind of site specificity is a gain in the medicinal field as the drug can be DNA targeted for cancer therapeutics. The present work reveals that catechu dye has a noteworthy application in the field of medical bioscience.     

Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of Orally Administered Botanical Composition,UP446‐Part III: Effects on Fertility and Early Embryonic Development to Implantation in Sprague Dawley Rats

In recent years, high prevalence of adverse effects associated to the use of traditional medicines during pregnancy is becoming alarming due to the self‐medication of oral supplements by expecting mothers without supervision. Many expectant mothers use alternative and complementary medicines as a supplement to conventional pregnancy management with an inherent belief of considering herbal remedies as harmless. To the contrary, herbal remedies could incur a potential teratogenic risk both to the child bearing mother and the developing fetuses when consumed before or at the time of gestation. Here, we describe the potential adverse effects of orally administered UP446, a standardized bioflavonoid composition from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis and the heartwoods of Acacia catechu, on fertility and early embryonic development to implantation in Sprague Dawley rats at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg. Besides body weight and food consumption, reproductive functions, sperm motility and morphology, estrus cycle, and fertility rate were monitored. There were no statistically significant differences in reproductive function in all UP446 treated groups in both genders. Test substance impacts on reproductive parameters were very minimal. Neither sperm motility nor morphology was affected as a result of oral UP446 administrations in males. There were no treatment‐related effects on estrus cycle stages in females. No significant changes in necropsy or histopathology were observed for all the groups. Therefore, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of UP446 was considered to be 1000 mg/kg, the highest dose tested, in both genders     

HPLC法测定槟榔中的多酚类物质

采用高效液相色谱法对槟榔中的多酚类物质进行分析.用甲醇提取槟榔中的多酚类物质,并依次用石油醚、乙酸乙酯、正丁醇萃取,萃取物经抽真空浓缩,流动相定容,高效液相色谱法测定.分析结果表明:槟榔幼果较槟榔成熟果中所含的多酚种类和数量少,槟榔成熟果中果仁的多酚种类和数量都远较皮中多;槟榔的甲醇提取物乙酸乙酯萃取部分中所含的多酚种...     

治糜灵凝胶剂的薄层色谱鉴别研究

目的:将治糜灵栓剂(《中国药典》2010版一部)改为治糜灵凝胶剂,建立治糜灵凝胶剂的薄层色谱鉴别方法,为制定其质量控制标准制定依据。方法:参照《中国药典》2010版一部治糜灵栓剂项下黄柏、苦参、儿茶、冰片的薄层色谱鉴别方法,对处方中的主要药味进行定性鉴别。黄柏鉴别中以甲苯-乙酸乙酯-异丙醇-水(6:3:1.5:1.5)为展开剂;苦参鉴别中以甲苯-乙酸乙酯-甲醇(8:3:0.5)为展开剂;儿茶鉴别中以正丁醇-醋酸-水(3:2:1)为展开剂;冰片鉴别中以环己烷-三氯甲烷-乙酸乙酯(9:1:2)为展开剂。结果:薄层色谱上具有黄柏,苦参,儿茶,冰片的鉴别特征,且阴性对照无干扰。结论:色谱斑点清晰,专属性强;该方法操作简便,稳定性、重现性均很好。可作为质量标准的控制依据。证明治糜灵凝胶剂研究的方法可行。     

不同品种槟榔果实性状及其槟榔碱含量的比较研究

通过性状比较和差异显著性检验,从形态学与生物化学两个水平研究了海南5个常见槟榔栽培种之间果实性状变化及其槟榔碱含量的变化。结果表明:(1)海南槟榔5个品种间果实性状都不同,其中以品种A、B、D的果实品质达到国家药典规定的一级标准,品种C、E达到二级标准;(2)品种E的叶面积、产量(座果数×单果重)最大,通过差异显著性检验,表明植株的产量与叶面积呈正相关;(3)5个品种中以品种B的槟榔碱含量最大(0.4451％),其次为品种E、C、D、A。其中品种A与B、A与E、B与D、B与E之间差异显著;(4)长、短蒂花品种之间槟榔碱含量差异不显著;(5)槟榔碱含量与其果实性状之间无显著相关性;(6)槟榔碱含量与营养成分间无显著相关性。     

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci from Areca catechu (Arecaceae) using PCR-based isolation of microsatellite arrays

Betel nut (Areca nut, Areca catechu L.) is a conspicuous and important cultivated plant of tropical and subtropical habitats throughout Southeast Asia and Oceania. As a significant cultural and social offering, the migration of betel nut associated with human dispersal is an important issue in ethnobotany and anthropology. In this study, we described the development of nine microsatellite loci from A. catechu. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 5 to 15. The expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.71to 0.94 and from 0 to 0.88, respectively. All microsatellite loci, except for AC30, significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium possibly due to artificially selected cultivation or the existence of excessive null alleles. No linkage disequilibrium was observed from pairwise comparisons of loci, except for AC06 and AC08.     

Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of Orally Administered Botanical Composition,UP446‐Part I: Effects on Embryo‐Fetal Development in New Zealand White Rabbits and Sprague Dawley Rats

The pharmacotoxicology impacts of dietary supplements taken at the time of pregnancy have remained alarming since women are the frequent herbal medicine users in many countries as a complement to the conventional pregnancy management. The use of herbal medicines and diet supplements in expectant mothers linked closely to the health of the childbearing mothers and the fetuses where the lack of developmental safety data imposes a challenge to make the right choices. Here, we describe the potential adverse effects of UP446, a standardized bioflavonoid composition from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis and the heartwoods of Acacia catechu, on embryo‐fetal development following maternal exposure during the critical period of major organogenesis in rabbits and rats. Pregnant dams were treated orally with UP446 at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/day during gestation. The number of resorptions, implantations, litter size, body weights, and skeletal development was evaluated. Maternal food intake and body, tissue, and placenta weight were also assessed. There were no statistically significant differences in implantation, congenital malformation, embryo‐fetal mortalities, and fetuses sex ratios in all dosing groups of both species. Therefore, the no observed adverse effect level of UP446 was considered to be greater than 1000 mg/kg in both the maternal and fetus in both species     

Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of Orally Administered Botanical Composition,UP446‐Part II: Effects on Prenatal and Postnatal Development,Including Maternal Function in Sprague–Dawley Rats

Almost all herbal remedies could be therapeutic at one dose and toxic at another. These facts become more troubling and a double threat when uncharacterized medicinal herbs are blended together and used by expectant mothers as a supplement to conventional pregnancy management with an inherent belief of considering herbal remedies as harmless. Here we describe the potential adverse effects of UP446, a standardized bioflavonoid composition from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis and the heartwoods of Acacia catechu, on the maternal and their first filial generation (F1) developmental and functional toxicity following exposure at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/day. Maternal gestation, viability index, sex ratio, body weight, and food consumption were evaluated. F1 growth and development, sexual function including mating index, fertility, implantation, and embryo mortality were also assessed. Test substance impacts on the maternal (F0) or F1 reproductive parameters were very minimal. There were no statistically significant differences in implantation, parturition, viability, and neonates’ sex ratios. There were no significant changes in maturation, behavioral, or functional developments between groups. No treatment‐related prenatal or postnatal in‐life or necropsy abnormalities were observed. Therefore, the no observed adverse effect level in the prenatal and postnatal developments, including maternal function study was considered to be greater than 1000 mg/kg