Chromosome numbers in plant taxa endemic to the Balearic Islands

Mitotic chromosome numbers are reported from 20 vascular plant taxa that are endemic to the Balearic Islands and poorly known cytogenetically. The chromosome numbers of Arenaria grandiflora L. ssp. glabrescens (Willk.) G. López & Nieto Feliner (2 n  = 44), Dianthus rupicola Viv. ssp. bocchoriana L. Llorens & Gradaille (2 n  = 30), Solenopsis minuta (L.) C. Presl. ssp. balearica (E. Wimm.) Meikle (2 n  = 28), Romulea asumptionis Font Quer & Garcías Font (2 n  = 56), Scutellaria balearica Barceló (2 n  = 22) and Galium balearicum Briq. (2 n  = 22) have been determined for the first time. A new chromosome number was found in two populations of Helictotrichon crassifolium (Font Quer) Holub (2 n  =  c. 98) suggesting that this species is a high polyploid (14 x ), in contrast to an earlier report of a lower chromosome count (2 n  = 12 x  = 84). Cytogenetic observations suggest that Naufraga balearica Constance & Cannon has a diploid chromosome complement of 2 n  = 20, with 0–2 accessory chromosomes. The banded karyotype (chromomycin A₃) of Crepis triasii (Cambess.) Fries was determined for individuals belonging to eight populations from three islands. Two chromomycin A₃-positive regions were recorded in the diploid complement. These are present on the telomeric regions of the shortest subtelocentric chromosomes. This species is karyologically stable in chromosome number, karyotype and fluorochrome-banding pattern among populations from separate islands.  © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 148 , 219–228.     

均匀设计法优化黄芩愈伤组织培养基

目的:优化黄芩愈伤组织培养条件。方法:采用均匀设计法,以黄芩甙含量为主要考察指标,对黄芩愈伤组织生长的MS培养基成分进行多因素多水平考察。结果:最佳培养基为MS附加0.25mg/L NAA、0.5mg/L 6-BA、17g/L葡萄糖和35g/L蔗糖。最佳培养基黄芩甙含量为27.44mg/gDW。结论:用均匀设计法优化愈伤组织培养基省时、方便,且最佳培养基黄芩甙含量与预测值相近,且明显高于均匀设计实验方案中的黄芩甙含量。经SAS软件分析得出的优化方程拟合度很好。     

NO和茉莉酸甲酯对黄芩悬浮细胞生长及黄芩苷合成的影响

以硝普钠(sodium nitroprusside,SNP)为一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)的供体,向黄芩(Scutellaria baicalensis)悬浮培养细胞系中添加SNP和茉莉酸甲酯(methyl jasmonate,MJ),考察这两种诱导子在不同的添加时间、添加浓度及混合配比使用对黄芩悬浮细胞系生长和黄芩苷含量的影响。研究结果表明：低浓度的外源NO有利于细胞的生长,但对黄芩苷积累无作用,而MJ有利于黄芩苷的合成,但抑制细胞生长,且两者的适用浓度范围和添加时间存在差异。在细胞培养初期(0天)添加0.05 mmol·L~(-1)SNP,而在细胞生长对数中期(8天)添加10μmol·L~(-1)的MJ,细胞鲜重可达到对照的1.2倍,黄芩苷总量达到对照的2.96倍。     

Ferredoxin-sulfite Reductase from Spinach

Ferredoxin-sulfite reductase (Fd-SiR) [hydrogen-sulfide: ferredoxin oxidoreductase, EC 1.8.7.1] from spinach leaves has been purified to homogeneity by a new procedure. Subunit analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis yielded a single protein band with a molecular weight of 71,000. Gel electrophoresis in non-denaturing media at different acrylamide concentrations gave a molecular weight of 270,000, suggesting that the native enzyme was composed of four identical subunits. In the presence of 0.2 m sodium chloride, however, gel filtration produced a value of 136,000, indicating the presence of dimer in this ionic environment. A plot of substrate (sulfite) concentration versus enzymatic (Fd-SiR) activity yielded a sigmoidal curve, giving a Hill coefficient (n?) of 2.1. Purified Fd-SiR, in the oxidized form, had absorption maxima at 279, 385, 588 and 714nm. Thus the enzyme has the property of a siroheme-containing protein.     

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     

Floral development in Scutellaria pinnatifida (Lamiaceae): the ontogenetic basis for sepal reduction

The Scutellaria is a Labiatae genus (subfamily Scutellarioideae) with a highly specialised floral structure. The genus is characterised by a peculiar two‐lobed calyx with a projecting appendage, named the scutellum. Here, we present a detailed analysis of floral development, using epi‐illumination light microscopy, to clarify open questions about its floral organisation. Floral whorls appeared in an acropetal sequence, with a marked temporal overlap of petal and stamen appearance. Organ appearance in each whorl proceeded unidirectionally from the abaxial to the adaxial side. Significant developmental features included the formation of the scutellum, reduction of sepal lobes and formation of a three‐lobed nectary disc. Our study revealed that both loss of organ initiation and fusion of primordia are responsible for the reduction in sepal members in Scutellaria. The nectary structure was markedly different from most other studied Lamiaceae.     

Coleifolides A and B,Two New Sesterterpenoids from the Aerial Parts of Scutellaria coleifolia H.Lév.

Coleifolides A and B ( 1 and 2 ), two new sesterterpenoids with a β‐methyl‐α,β‐unsaturated‐γ‐lactone moiety, were isolated from the aerial parts of Scutellaria coleifolia H.Lév . (Lamiaceae), together with three known compounds. Their structures were elucidated by NMR and MS examinations. Coleifolides A and B were concluded to be partially racemic compounds by the HPLC analysis using a chiral column or introduction of chiral derivatizing agents. The absolute configuration of the major isomer was determined by analyses of the CD spectrum as well as NMR data of (R)‐ and (S)‐2‐NMA derivatives. Coleifolides A and B are structurally similar to manoalide derivatives, previously isolated from marine sponges, and appear to be the first examples of this type of compounds being isolated from higher plants.     

黄芩化学成分及炮制学研究

黄芩是一味常用中药,在临床上使用频率较高。本文概述了黄芩的化学成分研究概况,并对其炮制工艺和炮制品的药理研究作了简要介绍。     

Constituents from Scutellaria barbata Inhibiting Nitric Oxide Production in LPS‐Stimulated Microglial Cells

The arial parts of Scutellaria barbata D. Don (Lamiaceae) efficiently inhibited NO production in BV2 microglial cells, and the active constituents were further isolated based on activity‐guided isolation using silica‐gel column chromatography, RP‐C18 MPLC and prep‐HPLC. As the results, 2 flavonoids including 6‐methoxynaringenin ( 1 ) and 6‐O‐methylscutellarein ( 5 ), and 6 neo‐clerodane diterpenes such as scutebarbatine W ( 2 ), scutebatas B ( 3 ), scutebarbatine B ( 4 ), scutebarbatine A ( 6 ), 6‐O‐nicotinolylscutebarbatine G ( 7 ), and scutebarbatine X ( 8 ) were isolated. The structures of these compounds were elucidated based on NMR and MS data, and the comparison of literature values. All the compounds except compound 7 inhibited NO production efficiently with IC₅₀ values of lower than 50 μm . Particularly, compounds 1 and 8 were the most efficient with IC₅₀ values of 25.8 and 27.4 μm , respectively. This is the first report suggesting the potential of S. barbata on the reduction of neuroinflammation.     

黄芩乙醇提取物通过下调NAD特异的谷氨酸脱氢酶抑制哈维氏弧菌生长

哈维氏弧菌（Vibrio harveyi）是水产动物的常见致病菌,对人类健康和水产经济带来巨大威胁。抗生素的滥用使得药物残留和耐药性问题变得日益严重。因此,迫切需要寻找新型、不易产生耐药性和低毒的抗菌物质。本文研究黄芩醇提物对哈维氏弧菌的抑制作用及抑菌机制。实验结果表明,黄芩醇提物对哈维氏弧菌的抑菌圈为18.33±0.58 mm,最低抑菌浓度（MIC）和最小杀菌浓度（MBC）分别为7.92 mg/mL和15.84 mg/mL。经分析型扫描电镜（SEM）观察和细菌胞内外蛋白质浓度测定,发现实验组菌体表面虽有细小破裂,但形态依然完整,表面光滑,菌体细胞膜仍保持相对完整性;通过SDS-PAGE、蛋白质质谱(MALDI-TOF-TOF MS)和实时荧光定量PCR分析,显示黄芩醇提物抑制哈维氏弧菌体内NAD特异性的谷氨酸脱氢酶（NAD-specific glutamate dehydrogenase, NAD-GDH）及其mRNA的表达。本研究表明,黄芩醇提物通过下调NAD特异性的谷氨酸脱氢酶表达而抑制哈维氏弧菌的生长,为中药应用于水产养殖提供了新的证据。