Production of Salidroside Through Biotransformation of Exogenous Tyrosol in Rhodiola sachalinensis Cell Suspension Cultures

In Rhodiola sachalinensis A. Bot. cell cultures, low yields of salidroside was supposed to be associated with the low efficiency of glucosylation reaction at the stationary phase of cell growth, when large amounts of the substrate, aglycon tyrosol, were accumulated. Considering the activity of tyrosol glucosyhransferase being the highest at the exponential growth phase, the author added exogenous tyrosol into the cultures at this time so as to produce salidroside through biotransformation. The effects of tyrosol concentration, the way of tyrosol addition as well as the cell density on the transformation rate and salidroside yield were investigated. It was found that the transformation rate attained 95 % after cells were incubated in the medium containing 1 mmol/L tyrosol for 24 h. Excess high concentrations of tyrosol in medium ( > 3 mmol/L) caused inhibition of transformation rate and cell growth. By 3 repeated additions of tyrosol in low concentrations, the salidroside yields of 1 320 mg/L, 1 740 mg/L and 1 980 mg/L to the cell densities of 6 g DW/L, 12 g DW/L and 18 g DW/L were obtained respectively.     

高山红景天有性生殖过程及濒危原因的生态学分析

研究了高山红景天(Rhodiola sachalinensis)的生殖生态学特性,并探讨了其致濒的原因。高山红景天花药具4个小孢子囊,腺质绒毡层,初生造孢细胞直接行小孢子母细胞功能,小孢子四分体呈四面体形,小孢子形成初期有败育现象,成熟花粉2细胞,有二种类型花粉。胚珠倒生,大孢子四分体线形排列,功能大孢子位于合点端,胚囊发育属蓼型。高山红景天花粉败育是其濒危的内因,恶劣的生境条件及其大规模人工采挖是其濒危的主要原因     

高山红景天对肝纤维化大鼠PDGF-BB mRNA表达的影响

目的:观察单方生药高山红景天对实验性肝纤维化大鼠的疗效,探讨其可能的作用机制。方法:将实验动物随机分为正常对照组(A)、模型组(B)、秋水仙碱组(C)、红景天高剂量组(D)、红景天低剂量组(E)。除正常对照组外,其余4组均用四氯化碳诱发肝纤维化。各组于造模第8周末处死动物,分别用放射免疫法检测血清层粘连蛋白(LN)、Ⅲ型前胶原(PCⅢ)、透明质酸(HA)及Ⅳ型胶原(CⅣ);RT-PCR检测肝组织PDGF-BB mRNA的表达。结果:与模型组大鼠比较,经该中药治疗,大鼠血清中LN、PCⅢ、HA、CⅣ水平明显降低(P<0.01);大鼠肝组织内PDGF-BBmRNA表达明显下降(P<0.01);大鼠肝组织病理学检测改善显著。结论:单方生药高山红景天能有效地抑制肝纤维化的发展,其机制可能是通过下调肝组织内PDGF-BB mRNA表达,降低ECM的分泌而达到的。     

Isolation and genotype-dependent, organ-specific expression analysis of a Rhodiola rosea cDNA encoding tyrosine decarboxylase

Tyrosine decarboxylase (TyrDC) is an important enzyme in the secondary metabolism of several plant species, and was hypothesized to play a key role in the biosynthesis of salidroside, a pharmacologically valuable compound of roseroot. A 1520 bp cDNA was cloned and sequenced, and turned out to contain an ORF of 963 bp, which encodes a protein of 320 amino acids.The expression of the gene was studied by real-time PCR from leaves and roots of both high and low salidroside producer genotype of roseroot. The gene expression analysis showed the gene to be expressed in leaves as well as in roots; however, the expression was significantly higher in roots, which coincides with the fact that salidroside accumulates preferentially in the underground parts of the plant. The expression was also higher in the line accumulating high levels of salidroside, compared to the line with lower salidroside content. The difference in the expression intensity suggests a decisive role for this enzyme in the salidroside biosynthesis.     

西藏高原高寒植物长鞭红景天生殖特征成功及影响因子

为了探索高寒植物长鞭红景天(Rhodiola fastigiata)濒危的生殖生态学机理,寻找保护和恢复该物种的有效途径,对其繁育系统、开花物候特征、生殖过程(开花、结实、种子产量和发育)及其影响生殖成功的主要因子进行调查分析。结果表明:长鞭红景天包括两性植株和雌性植株两种类型,其中两性植株仅执行雄性功能,种群繁殖为异交,属风媒传粉方式。种群花期出现在1a中降雨和气温较高的季节,6月下旬开始开花,7月下旬结束,时间30d左右。单株开花动态呈现单峰和双峰曲线两种模式,两性植株花期(9.29d)大于雌性植株花期(7.06d),并先于雌性植株开放,但雌性植株开花的高峰期比两性花早。从花蕾到开花,雌性单株有16%—25%的花蕾损失;开花到结实,单株36%—57%的花败育;至种子成熟,共有84%—94%的胚珠损失,仅6%—16%的胚珠发育成种子。雌性单株平均种子产量估计值约为285粒,说明长鞭红景天生殖潜力较大。人工条件下种子发芽率为93.6%,可见种子质量不是导致其濒危的原因,花粉限制和种子产量可能是影响生殖成功的主要因素。     

利用高山红景天培养细胞生物转化外源酪醇生产红景天甙的研究

高山红景天（ＲｈｏｄｉｏｌａｓａｃｈａｌｉｎｅｎｓｉｓＡ．Ｂｏｒ．）培养细胞中,甙元酪醇在细胞生长静止期大量积累,而此时糖基化反应的效率很低,因而红景天甙（ｓａｌｉｄｒｏｓｉｄｅ）产量较低。考虑到培养细胞中酪醇葡萄糖基转移酶的活性在指数生长期达到最高,考察了在指数生长期添加外源酪醇生物转化生产红景天甙的可能性,并探讨了酪醇添加浓度、添加方法及细胞密度对酪醇转化率及红景天甙产量的影响。结果表明,细胞在酪醇浓度为１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ的培养基中培养２４ｈ后可使酪醇转化率达到９５％;过高的酪醇浓度（＞３ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）对细胞生长及酪醇转化率都有明显抑制作用;通过较低浓度酪醇的３次重复添加,可使细胞密度为６ｇＤＷ／Ｌ、１２ｇＤＷ／Ｌ及１８ｇＤＷ／Ｌ的培养物中的红景天甙产量分别达到１３２０ｍｇ／Ｌ、１７４０ｍｇ／Ｌ和１９８０ｍｇ／Ｌ。     

Evaluation of radioprotective activities of Rhodiola imbricata Edgew – A high altitude plant

The present study reports the radioprotective properties of a hydro-alcoholic rhizome extract of Rhodiola imbricata (code named REC-7004), a plant native to the high-altitude Himalayas. The radioprotective effect, along with its relevant superoxide ion scavenging, metal chelation, antioxidant, anti-lipid peroxidation and anti-hemolytic activities was evaluated under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Chemical analysis showed the presence of high content of polyphenolics (0.971 ± 0.01 mg% of quercetin). Absorption spectra analysis revealed constituents that absorb in the range of 220–290 nm, while high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis confirmed the presence of four major peaks with retention times of 4.780, 5.767, 6.397 and 7.577 min. REC-7004 was found to lower lipid oxidation significantly (p < 0.05) at concentrations viz., 8 and 80 g/ml respectively as compared to reduced glutathione, although the optimally protective dose was 80 g/ml, which showed 59.5% inhibition of induction of linoleic acid degradation within first 24 h. The metal chelation activity of REC-7004 was found to increase concomitantly from 1 to 50 g/ml. REC-7004 (10–50 g/ml) exhibited significant metal chelation activity (p < 0.05), as compared to control, and maximum percentage inhibition (30%) of formation of iron-2,2-bi-pyridyl complex was observed at 50 g/ml, which correlated well with quercetin (34.9%), taken as standard. The reducing power of REC-7004 increased in a dose-dependent manner. The absorption unit value of REC-7004 was significantly lower (0.0183± 0.0033) as compared to butylated hydroxy toluene, a standard antioxidant (0.230± 0.091), confirming its high reducing ability. Superoxide ion scavenging ability of REC-7004 exhibited a dose-dependent increase (1–100 g/ml) and was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of quercetin at lower concentrations (1–10 g/ml), while at 100 g/ml, both quercetin and REC-7004 scavenged over 90% superoxide anions. MTT assay in U87 cell line revealed an increase in percent survival of cells at doses between 25 and 125 g/ml in case of drug + radiation group. In vivo evaluation of radio-protective efficacy in mice revealed that intraperitoneal administration of REC-7004 (maximally effective dose: 400 mg/kg b.w.) 30 min prior to lethal (10 Gy) total-body -irradiation rendered 83.3% survival. The ability of REC-7004 to inhibit lipid peroxidation induced by iron/ascorbate, radiation (250 Gy) and their combination [i.e., iron/ascorbate and radiation (250 Gy)], was also investigated and was found to decrease in a dose-dependent manner (0.05–2 mg/ml). The maximum percent inhibition of formation of MDA-TBA complex at 2 mg/ml in case of iron/ascorbate, radiation (250 Gy) and both i.e., iron/ascorbate with radiation (250 Gy) was 53.78, 63.07, and 51.76% respectively and were found to be comparable to that of quercetin. REC-7004 (1 g/ml) also exhibited significant anti-hemolytic capacity by preventing radiation-induced membrane degeneration of human erythrocytes. In conclusion, Rhodiola renders in vitro and in vivo radioprotection via multifarious mechanisms that act in a synergistic manner.     

大海林地区不同生境高山红景天根部红景天甙含量的差异

在黑龙江省大海林地区海拔1400~1620m的高山上,依据高山红景天的生境于岳桦林内、高山草甸、苔原上选择了6个样地,测定了高山红景天根部的红景天甙含量。生境不同的高山红景天,根部红景天甙的含量有明显差异,红景天甙含量范围为0.101%~0.684%。从测定结果看,光照条件好、土壤肥沃的生境下高山红景天根部的红景天甙含量较高。     

Decreased mitochondrial superoxide levels and enhanced protection against paraquat in Drosophilamelanogaster supplemented with Rhodiola rosea

The root extract from Rhodiola rosea has been reported to have numerous health benefits in human and animal studies. Its molecular mechanism is currently unknown; however, it has been suggested to act as an antioxidant. This study found that a formulation of R. rosea extract, SHR-5, from the Swedish Herbal Institute (SHI) could extend both mean (24% in both sexes) and maximum (16% in males and 31% in females) life span in Drosophila melanogaster when compared to controls. It also found that it lowered mitochondrial superoxide levels and afforded elevated protection against the superoxide generator paraquat in both sexes. The extract SHR-5 did not alter the activities of the major antioxidant enzymes, the superoxide dismutases or catalase, nor did it afford protection against H₂O₂ or soluble iron. These results present a decrease in endogenous superoxide levels as a possible mode of action for the root extract of R. rosea.