Grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts prevent high glucose-induced endothelia dysfunction via PKC and NF-κB inhibition

In our study, it has been detected in vivo and in vitro that GSPE reversed high glucose-induced the increase of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. It is shown that by western blotting detection, GSPE significantly inhibited the activation of NF-κB induced by high glucose while there was significant decrease of the expression of PKC with GSPE intervention. By adding the NF-κB blocker PDTC and the PKC inhibitor peptide 19–31(10^?6 M), no significant difference was found in the levels of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 among GSPE group, the PKC inhibitor peptide 19–31-added GSPE group and the PDTC-added GSPE group. So the conclusion could be drawn that PKC inhibition must be involved in GSPE decreasing the level of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1.We proved for the first time that GSPE prevented high glucose-induced the increase of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 by PKC and NF-κB inhibition. These findings show a novel mechanism of the action GSPE preventing endothelial dysfunction, which may have clinical application values.     

Seed treatment with aqueous extract of Viscum album induces resistance to pearl millet downy mildew pathogen

Abstract

Downy mildew (Sclerospora graminicola [Sacc.] Schroet.) is a serious agricultural problem for pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) grain production under field conditions. Six medicinally important plant species Azadirachta indica, Argemone mexicana, Commiphora caudata, Mentha piperita, Emblica officinalis and Viscum album were evaluated for their efficacy against pearl millet downy mildew. Seeds of pearl millet were treated with different concentrations of aqueous extract of the plants to examine their efficacy in controlling downy mildew. Among the plant extracts tested, V. album treatment was found to be more effective in enhancing seed quality parameters and also in inducing resistance against downy mildew disease. Germination and seedling vigor was improved in seeds treated with V. album extracts over control. Seeds treated with 10% concentration of V. album showed maximum protection against downy mildew disease under greenhouse and field conditions. The downy mildew disease protection varied from 44–70% with different concentrations. Leaf extract of V. album did not inhibit sporulation and zoospore release from sporangia of Sclerospora graminicola, indicating that the disease-controlling effect was attributed to induced resistance. Seed treatment with V. album extract increased pearl millet grain yield considerably. In V. album, treated pearl millet seedlings increased activities of peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase enzyme was detected. FTIR analysis of V. album extracts showed the presence of amides and other aromatic compounds which are antimicrobial compounds involved in plant defense.     

Influence of an aqueous extract of Ligustrum lucidum and an ethanol extract of Schisandra chinensis on parameters of antioxidative metabolism and spleen lymphocyte proliferation of broilers

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with different levels of two extracts, an aqueous extract of Ligustrum lucidum (AELL), and an ethanol extract of Schisandra chinensis (EESC) on growth performance, parameters of antioxidative status and spleen lymphocyte proliferation of broilers, respectively. The results showed that neither AELL nor EESC had significant effects on growth performance of broilers. However, malondialdehyde concentration in heart and liver of the broilers were significantly decreased by feeding AELL or EESC. Superoxide dismutase activity in heart, liver, and kidney of broilers were improved by feeding different dosages of AELL or EESC. In contrast, glutathione reductase activity in serum, heart and kidney of broilers was not affected by experimental treatment. In addition, spleen lymphocyte proliferation of broilers was significantly enhanced by feeding different dosages of AELL or EESC. In conclusion, the results suggested that either AELL or EESC may improve antioxidant status and immune function of broilers.     

核桃壳提取液用于单针藻Monoraphidium sp.QLZ-3培养产油脂

[目的] 研究核桃壳提取液（walnut shell extracts,WSE）对单针藻Monoraphidium sp.QLZ-3生长和油脂积累的影响。[方法] 向BG-11培养基中添加不同量的WSE（培养基中保留有BG-11中全部营养成分）。[结果] 结果显示,当BG-11培养基中的WSE含量为40%时,单针藻的生物量产率及油脂产率达到（534.70±4.07）mg/（L·d）和（296.35±15.36）mg/（L·d）,相比对照组分别提高了的14.82%和33.50%,蛋白质和碳水化合物含量分别有不同程度的上调和下调。与对照组相比,微藻中谷胱甘肽（glutathione,GSH）和超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）含量与活性均上调。此外,WSE作用下,微藻对多酚的移除达到84.37%,同时上调了核酮糖1,5-二磷酸羧化酶基因（ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase,rbcL）和乙酰辅酶A羧化酶（acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase,accD）基因的表达量。[结论] 研究表明,WSE联合BG-11可以提高微藻的生物量产率和油脂产率,降低微藻培养的原料成本,为核桃壳的资源化利用及微藻的工业化生产提供了一定的技术支撑。     

芦苇叶水提物的化感活性分析及潜在化感成分的筛选

采用不同溶剂对芦苇﹝Phragmites australis ( Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.﹞叶片水提物进行萃取,并以小麦( Triticum aestivum Linn.)和萝卜( Raphanus sativus Linn.)种子为实验材料对不同萃取物的化感效应进行检测;采用薄层层析和柱层析对抑制作用最强的正丁醇萃取物进行进一步分离,并采用GC-MS法对生物活性较高的组分进行组成成分分析;在此基础上,选择相对含量高并具有代表性的潜在化感成分进行生物活性检测,以期筛选出芦苇叶中的潜在化感成分。结果显示：随质量浓度(20、100和500 mg·L-1)提高,芦苇叶水提物的石油醚、二氯甲烷、乙酸乙酯、正丁醇和水萃取物对小麦和萝卜种子萌发的抑制作用均逐渐增强,其中正丁醇萃取物的抑制作用最强。在正丁醇萃取物的11个组分中,Fr.5、Fr.6、Fr.7、Fr.9和Fr.10组分均能显著抑制萝卜或小麦幼苗的生长,经质量浓度500 mg·L-1各组分处理液处理后萝卜或小麦幼苗的株高、根长及单株鲜质量均显著低于对照(P<0.05)。采用GC-MS法从Fr.5、Fr.6、Fr.7、Fr.9和Fr.10组分中分别鉴定出11、15、15、12和22种成分,分别占各组分总相对含量的83.02%、91.31%、87.36%、97.92%和94.34%,主要成分包括糖类、醇类、有机酸类、酮类、酰胺类和酯类。对14种潜在化感成分生物活性的检测结果显示这些成分对小麦幼苗生长有明显的抑制作用,其中,经质量浓度20 mg·L-1油酸酰胺、棕榈酸甲酯、亚油酸、2-苯乙胺、2-甲基烯丙醇和4-羟基-3-甲氧基苦杏仁酸处理后,小麦幼苗的株高、根长及单株鲜质量显著低于对照。综合分析结果显示：芦苇叶水提物具有较强的化感活性,其潜在的化感成分为油酸酰胺、棕榈酸甲酯、亚油酸、2-苯乙胺、2-甲基烯丙醇和4-羟基-3-甲氧基苦杏仁酸。     

蜂胶乙醇提取物(EEP)对豚鼠胸主动脉的舒张作用

目的:探讨蜂胶水提物(WEP)和乙醇提物(EEP)的血管舒张作用。方法:以离体豚鼠胸主动脉环为材料,采用离体实验方法记录血管收缩张力。结果:对于PE(PE,1μM)和KC1(60mM)预收缩的主动脉环,EEP可以剂量依赖地使其舒张。去除内皮后舒张作用减弱,所以这种作用是内皮依赖性的;使用NO合酶抑制剂N-硝基-L-精氨酸(L-NNA,10μM)、鸟苷酸环化酶抑制剂(methylene blue,10μM)或者前列腺素合成酶抑制剂(indomethacin,10μM)预处理,血管舒张作用也减弱。这提示EEP的作用可能与血管内皮释放的一氧化氮和前列腺素有关;K~ 通道通用抑制剂TEA(tetraethylammonium chloride,1 mM)的处理对EEP的舒血管作用没有影响,显示EEP对豚鼠动脉环的舒张作用与K~ 通道无关;另外,EEP能使CaCl_2的量效曲线下移,说明EEP可以抑制细胞外Ca~(2 )的内流,同时EEP还可以抑制细胞内Ca~(2 )的释放。结论:蜂胶乙醇提取物EEP能剂量依赖地引起离体豚鼠动脉环舒张。这种舒张作用与K~ 通道无关,但受内皮NO-鸟苷酸环化酶途径和前列腺素调控,最终通过降低细胞内Ca~(2 )的浓度舒张血管。     

Automated work-flow for processing high-resolution direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectral fingerprints

The use of mass spectrometry (MS) is pivotal in analyses of the metabolome and presents a major challenge for subsequent data processing. While the last few years have given new high performance instruments, there has not been a comparable development in data processing. In this paper we discuss an automated data processing pipeline to compare large numbers of fingerprint spectra from direct infusion experiments analyzed by high resolution MS. We describe some of the intriguing problems that have to be addressed, starting with the conversion and pre-processing of the raw data to the final data analysis. Illustrated on the direct infusion analysis (ESI-TOF-MS) of complex mixtures the method exploits the full quality of the high-resolution present in the mass spectra. Although the method is illustrated as a new library search method for high resolution MS, we demonstrate that the output of the preprocessing is applicable to cluster-, discriminant analysis, and related multivariate methods applied directly to mass spectra from direct infusion analysis of crude extracts. This is done to find the relationship between several terverticillate Penicillium species and identify the ions responsible for the segregation.     

Desert soil fungi isolated from Saudi Arabia: cultivable fungal community and biochemical production

Desert soils harbor fungi that have survived under highly stressed conditions of high temperature and little available moisture. This study was designed to survey the communities of cultivable fungi in the desert soils of the Arabian Peninsula and to screen the fungi for the potentially valuable antioxidants (flavonoids, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins, terpenoids, and alkaloids) and enzymes (cellulase, laccase, lipase, protease, amylase, and chitinase). Desert soil was sampled at 30 localities representing different areas of Saudi Arabia and studied for physico-chemical soil properties. Five types of soil texture (sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, silty loam, and sandy clay loam) were observed. A total of 25 saprotrophic species was identified molecularly from 68 isolates. Our survey revealed 13 culturable fungal species that have not been reported previously from Arabian desert soils and six more species not reported from Saudi Arabian desert soils. The most commonly recorded genera were Aspergillus (isolated from 20 localities) and Penicillium (6 localities). The measurements of biochemicals revealed that antioxidants were produced by 49 and enzymes by 52 isolates; only six isolates did not produce any biochemicals. The highest biochemical activity was observed for the isolates Fusarium brachygibbosum and A. phoenicis. Other active isolates were A. proliferans and P. chrysogenum. The same species, for instance, A. niger had isolates of both high and low biochemical activities. Principal component analysis gave a tentative indication of a relationship between the biochemical activity of fungi isolated from soil and soil texture variables namely the content of silt, clay and sand. However, any generalizable relation between soil properties and fungal biochemical activities cannot be suggested. Each fungal isolate is probable to produce several antioxidants and enzymes, as shown by the correlation within the compound groups. Desert soil warrants further research as a promising source of biochemicals.     

Expanding the Coverage of Metabolic Landscape in Cultivated Rice with Integrated Computational Approaches

Genome-scale metabolomics analysis is increasingly used for pathway and function discovery in the post-genomics era. The great potential offered by developed mass spectrometry (MS)-based technologies has been hindered, since only a small portion of detected metabolites were identifiable so far. To address the critical issue of low identification coverage in metabolomics, we adopted a deep metabolomics analysis strategy by integrating advanced algorithms and expanded reference databases. The experimental reference spectra and in silico reference spectra were adopted to facilitate the structural annotation. To further characterize the structure of metabolites, two approaches were incorporated into our strategy, i.e., structural motif search combined with neutral loss scanning and metabolite association network. Untargeted metabolomics analysis was performed on 150 rice cultivars using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-Orbitrap MS. Consequently, a total of 1939 out of 4491 metabolite features in the MS/MS spectral tag (MS2T) library were annotated, representing an extension of annotation coverage by an order of magnitude in rice. The differential accumulation patterns of flavonoids between indica and japonica cultivars were revealed, especially O-sulfated flavonoids. A series of closely-related flavonolignans were characterized, adding further evidence for the crucial role of tricin-oligolignols in lignification. Our study provides an important protocol for exploring phytochemical diversity in other plant species.     

桂枝化学成分研究北大核心CSCD

桂枝是临床常用中药,本课题组前期发现桂枝乙醇提取物具有抑制程序性细胞坏死的生理活性。为进一步阐明桂枝的化学成分和更好地开发利用桂枝药用资源,该文采用大孔吸附树脂、硅胶柱色谱、Sephadex LH-20柱层析、制备型高效液相色谱等多种方法对桂枝75%乙醇提取物进行了研究。此次报道从中得到的13个单体化合物,它们的结构经波谱数据分析及文献对照鉴定为脱落酸(1)、蚱蜢酮(2)、2,3-二羟基-1-(4-羟基-3,5-二甲氧基苯基)-1-丙酮(3)、赤型-1,2,3-三羟基苯丙烷(4)、1-苯基-1,3-丙二醇(5)、香豆素(6)、肉桂酸(7)、对羟基肉桂酸(8)、邻羟基肉桂酸(9)、邻甲氧基肉桂酸(10)、肉桂醛(11)、阿魏酸(12)、咖啡酸乙酯(13)。其中1-5、12和13为首次从桂枝中分离得到。