Investigation on Embryology of Anemarrhena asphodeloides

Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge is the only species of Anemarrhena in Liliaceae, which possesses three stamens. The flowers in this species have following features: (1) Crystalliferous cells are present in the perianth and the filament. (2) Epidermal cells of filaments and the inner perianth appears verruciform. (3) In longitudinal section, a number of the multicellular hairs were found in the apex of the inner perianth. The above characteristics of Anemarrhena are possibly important and differ from those of the other genera in Liliaceae. The main aim of the present paper is to deal with the female gametophyte and embryogenesis in Anemarrhena. The development of embryo sac is similar to that of Ornithogalum (Tilton et al., 1981), belonging to the Polygonum type, but there is a short embryo sac haustorium at the antipodal end. Before fertilization the two polar muclei fuse into a secondary nucleus. The filiform apparatus was found in the synergid. The early development of proembryo in Anemarrhena is similar to that of Najas (Hu, 1982). After fertilization the zygote has a short stage of dormancy. When the endosperm has 12-16 free nuclei, the first division of the zygote takes place, forming an apical cell and a basal cell. Then the apical cell undergoes transversal divisions 2 or 3 times, forming a line of three to four cells. The basal cell usually does not further divide. The endosperm formation in Anemarrhena is the Helobial type. The small chalazal chamber is usually ephemeral and 2-4-nucleate, while the large micropylar one may be a multi-nucleate before wall formation.     

KT和2,4-D对知母愈伤组织再分化的影响

本文探讨KT和2,4-D组合对知母愈伤组织再分化的影响。结果表明：知母愈伤组织再生芽和促进再生苗长高以及愈伤组织增殖的最佳培养基均为MS + KT 4.0 mg/L。单独使用KT或KT与2,4-D组合均可抑制知母愈伤组织生根。     

KT和NAA对知母愈伤组织再分化的影响

以知母愈伤组织为材料,采用单因子试验方法,探讨不同浓度KT和NAA对其再分化的影响。结果表明:知母愈伤组织生根的最佳培养基为MS+KT 2 mg/L;愈伤组织再生芽的最佳培养基为MS+KT 2 mg/L+NAA 1 mg/L;愈伤组织再生苗长高的最佳培养基为MS+KT 2 mg/L+NAA 0.5 mg/L;愈伤组织增殖的最佳培养基为MS+KT 2 mg/L+NAA 1 mg/L。     

Involvement of catalase in the apoptotic mechanism induced by apigenin in HepG2 human hepatoma cells

Apigenin has been reported to inhibit proliferation of cancer cells; however, the mechanism underlying its action is not completely understood. Here, we evaluated the effects of apigenin on the levels of expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes, and the involvement of ROS in the mechanism of cell death induced by apigenin in HepG2 human hepatoma cells. Upon treatment with apigenin, HepG2 cells displayed a reduction in cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and some morphological changes. In addition, apigenin treatment induced ROS generation and significantly decreased the mRNA levels and activity of catalase and levels of intracellular GSH. On the other hand, apigenin treatment did not alter the expression or activity levels of other antioxidant enzymes. Addition of exogenous catalase significantly reduced the effects of apigenin on HepG2 cell death. We also demonstrated that HepG2 cells are more sensitive to apigenin-mediated cell death than are primary cultures of mouse hepatocytes, suggesting a differential toxic effect of this agent in tumor cells. Our results suggest that apigenin-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells may be mediated by a H₂O₂-dependent pathway via reduction of the antioxidant defenses.     

The Ultrastructural Aspect of Tapetum and Ubisch Bodies in Anemarrhena asphodeloides

From ontogeny of tapetum in Anemarrhena asphodeloides, the ultrastructnral features of tapetal cells are as follows: 1. The profuse rough endoplasmic reticula are often closely associated with lipid bodies and vesicles, and linking each other into compound organelles. This is one of the striking features in Anemarrhena tapetal cell. 2. After meiosis of the micro- spore mother cell, the tapetal cytoplasm contains a large number of vesicles, in which the electron opaque substances are accumulated. Then they fuse to form a large zone of storage material similar to lipid bodies. Before accumulation of opaque material, these vesicles in the tapetal cytoplasm are larger than those in elaioplast (see Plate II, Fig. 2). 3. During stage of pollen maturation the tapetal cytoplasm becomes disorganized and the cells are almost occupied by the elaioplasts at various degree of development. On the basis of the report of Dickinson (1973), the formation of a pollen coatings of Lilium is different from that of Raphanus. The osmiophilic bodies in the former have originated from membrane lamellae or membranous system of plastid, and those in the latter are formed from the plastid vescles. It is intereting to note that the mode of origin of the plastid osmiophilic bodies in Anemarrhena is rather similar to that of Raphanus than to Lilium. About the origin of the pro-Ubisch bodies in tapetal cytoplasm of Anemarrhena studies revealed that a large number of the medium electron dense bodies appear in the tapetal cytoplasm. This is the first sign of the formation of the pro-Ubisch bodies and its character is very similar to spherosome in many respects. From many ultrasections, it can be seen that the ER profile is closely associated with the pro-Ubisch bodies. Thus we can conclude that the proubisch bodies of Anemarrhena are derived from rough endoplasmic reticulum. Although Heslop-Harrison et al. (1969) has considered that the compound Ubisch bodies do not occur in Lilium, there are prominent aggregation of Ubisch bodies in Anemarrhena, same as reported in Oxalis (Cariel, 1967), Silene (Heslop-Harrison, 1963a) and Helleborus (Echlin et al., 1968). After investigation on certain angiosperm in 1972, Gupta and Nanda have reported that the peritapetal membrane belonging to tapetum of secretory type lies against the inner tang- ential wall; in the plasmodial type of tapetum, it is formed on the outer tangential wall. But in some species of Poaceae and Solanaceae, the peritapetal membrane is formed on both sides of the tapetal cells (Banerjee, 1967; Reznickov & Willemse, 1980). In the secretory tapetum of Anemarrhena, the peritapetal membrane, which do not comply with the conclusion of Gupta & Nanta (1972), is formed on outer tangential wall.     

知母分蘖一步法快速繁殖体系的初步构建

以知母分蘖为试材,对知母的一步法快速繁殖体系进行了初步研究。结果表明,知母分蘖直接再生植株的最佳培养基是MS+KT 1 mg/L+NAA 0.5 mg/L;知母分蘖愈伤组织诱导和再生的最佳培养基是MS+KT 2 mg/L+NAA 0.5 mg/L。本实验构建了知母分蘖的一步法快速繁殖体系,为知母试管苗的工厂化生产提供了理论和技术基础。     

化学诱变剂EMS对知母种子萌发的影响

以知母（Anemarrhena asphodeloides）种子为材料,分别采用1%、2%、4%、6%浓度的EMS处理6、8、12和24 h,在恒温培养箱内进行种子萌发实验,研究不同浓度的化学诱变剂甲基磺酸乙酯（ethyl methane sulfonate,EMS）处理对知母种子萌发的影响,筛选适宜的诱变浓度和诱变时间。结果表明：随EMS浓度的增加和处理时间的延长,知母种子发芽率呈现逐渐降低的趋势,以相对发芽率达到半致死浓度为标准,6%EMS浸种12和24 h可作为EMS诱导知母建立突变体库的适宜条件。     

Identification of nyasol and structurally related compounds as the active principles from Anemarrhena asphodeloides against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Three known phenolic compounds, (-)-(R)-nyasol (= 4,4'-(1Z,3R)-Penta-1,4-diene-1,3-diyldiphenol; 1), its derivative 2, and broussonin A (3)--isolated from the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides--were for the first time identified as the active principles capable of efficient respiratory-syncytial-virus (RSV) inhibition. The IC50 values of 1-3 against the RSV-A2 strain, propagated in HEp-2 cells, were determined, their activities being higher than that of the standard antiviral drug ribavirin (IC50 = 1.15 microM). In addition, the known, but inactive, compound 'trans-N-(para-coumaroyl)tyramine' (= (2E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]prop-2-enamide; 4) was isolated from this plant for the first time.     

Synthesis of coumarin derivatives and their cytoprotective effects on t-BHP-induced oxidative damage in HepG2 cells

Coumarins are ubiquitous in higher plants and exhibit various biological actions. The aim of this study was to investigate the structure-activity relationships of coumarin derivatives on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative damage in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. A series of coumarin derivatives were prepared and assessed for their cytoprotective effects. Among these, a caffeoyl acid-conjugated dihydropyranocoumarin derivative, caffeoyllomatin, efficiently protected against cell damage elicited by t-BHP. Our findings suggest that caffeoyllomatin appears to be a potent cytoprotective agent.     

Iron regulation of transferrin synthesis in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2

In human beings, serum transferrin levels increase during iron deficiency and decrease with iron overload. Yet, whether or not iron levels actually affect the synthesis of transferrin in human liver cells is not known. In previous studies, iron was shown to suppress the expression of chimeric human transferrin genes in livers of transgenic mice. The goal of this study was to determine if iron suppresses intact endogenous human transferrin synthesis by testing the effects of changes in iron levels on synthesis of transferrin in a human hepatoma cell line HepG2. In HepG2 cells, normalized(35)S-metabolically labeled transferrin synthesis was consistently less following iron treatment with hemin or ferric citrate, than following treatment with an iron-chelator deferroxamine. Thus, this study provides new evidence that iron can regulate synthesis of intact endogenous human transferrin.     

Control of apolipoprotein E secretion in the human hepatoma cell line KYN-2

Even though it is known that apolipoprotein E (apoE) is deeply involved in major age-related disorders such as atherosclerosis or Alzheimer's disease (AD), the control of cell-specific apoE expression is still poorly understood. We compared the apoE secretion as previously described in astrocytic cell17 to hepatic cell apoE secretion. We used the human hepatoma cell line KYN-2 to better delineate the characteristics of apoE secretion and to validate it with respect to the classical human hepatoma cell line HepG2. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) significantly inhibited, while IL-2, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were inactive on apoE secretion by KYN-2 as well as HepG2 cells. Cholesterol and 25-OH cholesterol had no effect, while forskolin exerted a significant inhibitory effect, on apoE secretion in KYN-2 cells. Our results suggest that the KYN-2 cell line represents an appropriate cell model, and in any case an alternative model to the HepG2 cell line, to study the control of apoE secretion. The response of KYN-2 cells to both cytokines and cholesterol differs from that found in astrocytoma cells, suggesting that blood variations of apoE concentrations in AD may not reflect the dysregulations taking place in the brain.     

Thapsigargin increases apoptotic cell death in human hepatoma BEL—7404 cells

Effects of thapsigargin,an inhibitor of Ca^2 -ATPase in surface of endoplasmic reticulum,on apoptotic cell death were studied in human hepatoma cells of BEL-7404 cell line by using both flow cytometry and electron microscopy.Propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry revealed that in the serum-free condition,thapsigargin increased the rate of apoptosis of BEL-7404 cells in a dose-dependent manner.Prolongation of the period of serum-free condition enhanced the apoptosis induced by thapsigargin treatment.Morphological observation with electron microscope further demonstrated that chromatin condensation and fragmentation,apoptotic bodies existed in TG-treated cells,supporting that thapsigargin is a potent activator of apoptosis in the cells.     

Epigallocatechin gallate reduces hypoxia-induced apoptosis in human hepatoma cells

Cell detachment from extracellular matrix is closely related to induction of apoptosis. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has been shown to have antioxidant effect and to protect hypoxia-induced damage. We investigated whether EGCG reduced hypoxia-induced apoptosis and cell detachment in HepG2 cells. EGCG prevented cell death by hypoxia (0.5% O2) in a dose-dependent manner (hypoxic cell viability, 54.67%). RT-PCR and caspase3 activity assay showed that the hypoxia-induced cell death was caused by apoptosis increasing mRNA level of BAX, CASP3, and caspase3 activity. EGCG reduced increase of these mRNA and caspase3 activity. Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry showed that EGCG increased cell adhesion proteins including E-cadherin (CDH1), tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 1 (TACSTD1), and protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2) decreased by hypoxia. Hypoxia-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells, and EGCG contributed to the HepG2 cell survival by attenuating the apoptosis.     

Saxifragifolin B from Androsace umbellata induced apoptosis on human hepatoma cells

Bioassay-guided phytochemical study of Androsace umbellata led to the successful isolation of saxifragifolin B (SB) for the first time. The anti-tumor effect of SB was firstly reported that it was shown to have potent cytotoxicity on human hepatoma HepG2 cells with IC50 value of 11.9 microM at 24 h. Mechanistic studies were conducted, the accumulation of sub-G1 population and the externalization of phosphatidylserine suggested that SB exerted its cytotoxic effect by induction of programmed cell death, which was confirmed by activation of PARP and caspase-3. Furthermore, SB-induced apoptosis on HepG2 cells was mediated by activation of caspase-8 and -9, mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsim) collapse and the leakage of cytochrome c. In summary, this study provided evidence that SB isolated from A. umbellata could induce apoptosis on human hepatoma HepG2 cells and described the molecular mechanism. Our finding revealed the potential of SB as new chemotherapeutic agent for human hepatoma.     

The toxicity of opiates and their metabolites in HepG2 cells

The toxicity of codeine (C), codeinone (CO), morphine (M), oxycodone (OC), pholcodine (P) and pholcodine-N-oxide (P-NOX) was assessed in HepG2 cells by determining cell viability via the measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage through the membrane, depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) and measurement of total protein content. Incubation of C, M, OC, P or P-NOX with HepG2 cells resulted in no significant loss of cell viability, depletion of GSH or decreased total protein content. In contrast, with CO there was a marked depletion of GSH with significant differences from control cells (P<0.05) being detected after as little as 5 min. This effect preceded the loss of cell viability and the decrease in total protein content. To identify the cause of GSH depletion during incubations with CO, the incubation solutions were analysed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Analysis showed that a codeinone-glutathione conjugate (CO-SG) had been formed. This adduct was synthesised and characterised by LC/MS/MS and by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). CO-SG was quantified in the incubation solutions using the synthesised standard substance. Results obtained in this study support the hypothesis that the toxicity of CO may be partly due to GSH depletion. The absence of LDH leakage and GSH depletion in the incubations containing C or OC suggests, that the presence of both a double bond at Delta 7 and an adjoining keto-group in the 6-position are necessary to elicit the toxicity of M analogues with regard to GSH depletion.     

The algal metabolite yessotoxin affects heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins in HepG2 cells

The dinoflagellate metabolite yessotoxin (YTX) is produced by several species of algae and accumulates in marine food chains, leading to concerns about possible affects on aquaculture industries and human health. In mice used for toxicity testing, YTX is lethal by the intraperitoneal route, but is considerably less toxic when orally administered. The mode of action of YTX and its potential effect on humans is unclear and we therefore conducted the first proteomic analysis of the effects of this compound. We used 2‐DE to examine protein changes in HepG2 cell cultures exposed to 1.4 μM YTX for 3, 12.5, 18 and 24 h. After selecting proteins that changed more than three‐fold after YTX exposure, 55 spots were deemed significantly affected by the toxin (p<0.05). Major groups of affected proteins include members from the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP), lamin, cathepsin and heat shock protein families that often are associated with apoptosis. We therefore confirmed apoptosis using Annexin‐V‐FLUOS staining of phosphatidylserine exposed at the surface of apoptotic cells. Ingenuity pathways analysis also indicated effects on pathways involved in protein processing, cell cycling and cell death.     

Sal B对肝癌细胞株HepG2的促凋亡作用

目的揭示丹酚酸B(Salvianolic Acid B,Sal B)对肝癌细胞株HepG2的杀伤作用。方法用不同浓度的丹酚酸B处理HepG2细胞,37℃培养24h。用RT-PCR检测促凋亡基因Bax的转录水平,并用流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡的水平。结果①100μmol/L、50μmol/L、25μmol/L等浓度的Sal B处理都能使HepG2细胞促凋亡基因bax的转录水平升高,其中100μmol/L处理组最为明显。②不同浓度的Sal B处理都能使HepG2细胞发生凋亡,其中100μmol/L处理组最为明显。结论 Sal B有促进HepG2细胞凋亡的作用。