Kinetic models and process parameters for ultrasound-assisted extraction of water-soluble components and polysaccharides from a medicinal fungus

This study was on the kinetics and process parameters for ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of water-soluble components and polysaccharides (PS) from the dry mycelium of a medicinal fungus, Cordyceps sinensis Cs-HK1. Four process variables (factors) were evaluated at different levels, ultrasound intensity (2.44–44.1 W/cm²), temperature (40–70 °C), solid particle size (156.5–750 μm), and solid-to-liquid ratio (1/30–1/70 g/mL). The experimental data of yields versus time in most cases were fitted closely to two empirical kinetic models for solid–liquid extraction, parabolic diffusion equation (y = y_o + y₁t^1/2) and power law (y = βtⁿ) with high correlation coefficients (R²) of 0.95–0.99 for total extract yield, and 0.90–0.96 for PS yield. The PS yield was increased more significantly than the total extract yield with the ultrasound intensity. Reducing the particle size and increasing the extraction temperature led to a higher yield and extraction rate; increasing the solid-to-liquid ratio (or decreasing the liquid volume) increased the PS yield and extraction rate but had little influence on the total extract. Significant correlations were found between extraction rate (dy/dt) and ultrasound power density (P/V), and between extract yield (y) and energy density (Pt/V). The kinetic and process parameters are useful for rational design and efficient operation of UAE processes.     

Comparison of different extraction methods of polysaccharides from cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.)

The purpose of the present research was to compare the effects of four extraction methods on the extraction yields, physicochemical characteristics, and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides from the cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) (CPPs). The extraction methods included the hot water extraction method (HEM), ultrasonic-assisted extraction method (UEM), enzyme-assisted extraction method (EEM), and the ultrasonic-enzyme-assisted extraction method (UEEM). Four corresponding CPP extracts, HEM-CPPs, UEM-CPPs, EEM-CPPs, and UEEM-CPPs, were obtained. The results indicated that there were notable differences between the extraction methods regarding the yield, average molecular weight, uronic acid content, monosaccharide proportions, and the antioxidant activities of the CPPs. HEM-CPPs were extracted with the lowest yield (6.44%). EEM-CPPs had the largest extraction yield (9.87%) and the most notable antioxidant abilities of ferric reducing power and free radical scavenging activity. According to correlation analysis, the higher antioxidant abilities of EEM-CPPs might be due to their smaller average molecular weight and a higher content of uronic acid than those of the other extracted CPPs. Therefore, EEM could serve as a promising technique for extracting CPPs.     

基于分块主成分分析的太行山猕猴面部相似性

2012 年4 ～8 月,在太行山猕猴国家级自然保护区济源管理局天坛山管护区(北纬35°05′ ～ 35°15′,东经112°12′ ～ 112°22′),对太行山猕猴王屋1 群(WW - 1)内的3 个母系单元(matrilineal unit) 中大于(等于)3 岁龄的26 只个体进行面部拍照,获取其面部特写照片,进而利用分块主成分分析(modular principal component analysis,MPCA)法,对个体进行面部识别分析,旨在探讨个体间面部相似度与亲缘关系的相关性。结果表明:(1)太行山猕猴个体间的面部相似度与亲缘类型有关,母亲与大于3 岁龄子代间的面部相似度为0.93 ±0. 00,显著高于单元内(0. 89 ± 0. 00)和单元间(0.84 ±0.01)的面部相似度;(2)太行山猕猴个体的面部特征随年龄增长而变化,4 岁(含4 岁)龄以上个体与母亲间的面部相似度较高(0.88 ～ 0. 95),依此值可准确地识别母子关系。本研究采用量化方法对非人灵长类个体间面部相似度进行分析,发现太行山猕猴个体间的面部相似度与亲缘关系密切相关;研究结果可为非人灵长类的个体识别提供较为客观的手段和方法。     

Extraction conditions affecting supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of lycopene from watermelon

Lycopene, a carotenoid linked to protection against certain forms of cancer, is found in produce such as papaya, red-fleshed tomatoes, grapefruit and watermelon. The preparation of a supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) watermelon-lycopene extract could serve as a food grade source of this carotenoid. This study established preliminary conditions for enhancing SC-CO2 extraction of lycopene from watermelon. Freeze-dried watermelon was extracted with SC-CO2 and ethanol as an organic co-solvent. The lycopene concentration was determined by HPLC, with absorbance measured at 503 nm. In an initial set of experiments, the effects of extraction temperature (70-90 degrees C), pressure (20.7-41.4 MPa) and co-solvent ethanol addition (10-15%) were evaluated. A lycopene yield of 38 microg per gram of wet weight was obtained at 70 degrees C, 20.7 MPa, and 15% by volume ethanol. The extraction of fresh (non-freeze-dried) watermelon yielded 103+/-6 microg lycopene per gram fresh fruit weight. Of the parameters tested, temperature had the most effect on lycopene yield. Thus, in another set of experiments, the temperature was varied from 60-75 degrees C at an extraction pressure of 20.7 MPa in the presence of 15% ethanol. Studies showed that freeze-dried watermelon flesh loses lycopene in storage. In accounting for lycopene storage losses, lycopene yields at 60 degrees C extraction temperature were 14% greater than those obtained at 70 degrees C.     

Cembranolides from the stem bark of the southern African medicinal plant,Croton gratissimus (Euphorbiaceae)

The stem bark of Croton gratissimus (Euphorbiaceae) yielded four cembranolides, including the first reported example of a 2,12-cyclocembranolide, (+)-[1R*,2S*,7S*,8S*,12R*]-7,8-epoxy-2,12-cyclocembra-3E,10Z-dien-20,10-olide, whose structure was confirmed by means of single crystal X-ray analysis. This compound showed moderate activity against the PEO1 and PEO1TaxR ovarian cancer cell lines.     

Optimization of DNA extraction from fresh leaf tissues of Melanoxylon brauna (Fabaceae)

Melanoxylon brauna (Fabaceae - Caesalpinioideae) is an endemic and valuable hardwood tree species in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest; it is comparable to African ebony wood. We tested three protocols of DNA extraction based on the citrimonium bromide (CTAB) method and evaluated the quantity, purity and integrity of the DNA. We also determined whether these procedures interfere with PCR amplification in order to develop a protocol for M. brauna. We found that the quality and integrity of DNA were improved with the use of proteinase K in the extraction buffer and by modifications in the centrifugation speed. The lowest concentration of DNA was obtained with Doyle and Doyle's protocol (5.42 ng/μL). Ferreira and Grattapaglia's protocol modified for M. brauna provided the most DNA (36.89 ng/μL) and the highest quality DNA (purity ratio of 1.80 nm). The original Ferreira and Grattapaglia protocol provided 13.42 ng/μL DNA; however, the purity ratio (1.44 nm) indicates protein contamination. PCR results showed that Ferreira and Grattapaglia's protocol modified for M. brauna gave satisfactory quantity and purity of DNA for molecular studies.     

地鳖虫活性物质的超临界CO_2萃取及其药效

应用超临界流体萃取技术萃取地鳖虫Eupolyphaga sinensisWalker活性物质,采用三因素三水平正交试验方案,考察压力、温度、时间等参数对萃取地鳖虫活性物质萃取量的影响。同时,对萃取产物与水提物进行药效比较。结果表明,在试验设计范围内,萃取压力18 MPa、温度55℃、时间90 min为最佳工艺参数组合,地鳖虫活性物质萃取量最大能达到62.50 mg/g,影响萃取量三因素主次关系为压力>温度>时间。地鳖虫超临界萃取产物对镇痛、消炎和抗凝血有较好的效果,相对于水提物有更好的发展潜力。     

In vitro, release of cholecystokinin from hypothalamus and frontal cortex of Sprague-Dawley, Zucker lean (Fa/-) and obese (fa/fa) rats

Cholecystokinin (CCK) has been suggested as a putative satiety factor, whose site of action is in the hypothalamus. The genetically obese (fa/fa) Zucker rat has been proposed as a model of human obesity. Though hypothalamic tissue levels of CCK did not vary between the fa/fa rat and age-matched lean littermates (25.5 +/- 5.7 vs. 27.6 +/- 5.2 pmoles/g tissue) we sought to determine if the releasability of hypothalamic and cortical CCK was the same in lean and obese rats. The in vitro superfusion paradigm was used to study the release of CCK and substance P (sP) from hypothalamus, and CCK and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) from frontal cortex. The potassium stimulated release of CCK from obese rat hypothalamic tissue was significantly higher than from lean rat hypothalamus (3.62 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.91 +/- 0.3 fmole equivalents CCK-8/mg tissue/10 min). Similarly, sP release was exaggerated in obese rats in a parallel fashion (5.56 +/- 0.44 vs. 2.761 +/- 0.46 fmoles/mg tissue/10 min). However, the potassium stimulated release of CCK and VIP from cortical tissue was the same in all three groups of rats. The obese Zucker rat thus, may have an anomalous release of CCK and sP from the hypothalamus, but not from the frontal cortex, an area not presumably associated with satiety.     

Batch solvent extraction of flavanolignans from milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertner)

Seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertner) contain silymarins and ca. 25% (w/w) of oil. A pre-treatment step involving refluxing with petroleum ether is usually performed before extraction of the silymarins using organic solvents. This paper compares the extraction of whole and defatted milk thistle seeds in various solvents as a function of temperature. The extraction of whole seeds of milk thistle with water at 50, 70 and 85 degrees C was also examined: the yield of silymarin increased with increasing water temperature. In most cases, ethanol at 60 degrees C recovered the largest quantities of silymarins. However, boiling water proved to be an efficient extraction solvent for the more polar silymarins such as taxifolin and silychristin, even when using whole seeds. Extractions of defatted seed meal with boiling ethanol returned maximum yields of 0.62, 3.89, 4.04, and 6.86 mg/g defatted seed of taxifolin, silychristin, silybinin A and silybinin B, respectively. When extracting defatted seed meal with ethanol, yields of taxifolin, silybinin A and silybinin B were, respectively, 6.8-, 0.95-, 1.7- and 1.6-fold higher than when extracting whole seeds. When extracting with boiling water, the yields of silychristin, silybinin A, and silybinin B were 380, 47 and 50% higher for whole seeds compared with defatted seeds.     

Cellulose extraction from wood chip in an ionic liquid 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (AmimCl)

In the present study, 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (AmimCl), an ionic liquid (IL), was used to extract cellulose from pine, poplar, Chinese parasol, and catalpa wood chips. Results show that pine is the most suitable wood species for cellulose extraction with ILs. Its cellulose extraction rate can reach as high as 62% under optimized conditions and its cellulose content is as high as 85% when DMSO/water is used as the precipitant. The dissolution process can be clearly observed by hot stage optical microscopy, and the reaction time can be significantly reduced by microwave irradiation. ¹³C CP/MAS NMR, FTIR, XRD, and SEM were used to analyze the cellulose-rich extracts of pine. Results show that IL dissolves pine wood by destroying inter and intramolecular hydrogen bonds between lignocelluloses. The major component of pine extract is cellulose with a homogeneous and dense structure. After extraction, AmimCl can be easily recycled and reused.     

滇西香茅挥发油的化学成分

滇西香茅(Cymbopogon khasiamus(Hack.)Stapf ex Bor)为禾本科植物,分布于印度及缅甸,该植物过去在中国无分布记载,作者在云南首次发现。其挥发油为主要有效成分,当地与芸香草(Cymbopogon distans(Steud)Wats.)混用。为合理开发和利用该种植物,对挥发油的化学成分进行了分析。     

Simultaneous determination of five characteristic stilbene glycosides in root bark of Morus albus L. (Cortex Mori) using high-performance liquid chromatography

Introduction – Cortex Mori, one of the well‐known traditional Chinese herbal medicines, is derived from the root bark of Morus alba L. according to the China Pharmacopeia. Stilbene glycosides are the main components isolated from aqueous extracts of Morus alba and their content varies depending on where Cortex Mori was collected. We have established a qualitative and quantitative method based on the bioactive stilbene glycosides for control of the quality of Cortex Mori from different sources. Objective – To develop a high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet absorption detection for simultaneous quantitative determination of five major characteristic stilbene glycosides in 34 samples of the root bark of Morus alba L. (Cortex Mori) from different sources. Methodology – The analysis was performed on an ODS column using methanol‐water‐acetic acid (18: 82: 0.1, v/v/v) as the mobile phase and the peaks were monitored at 320 nm. Results – All calibration curves showed good linearity (r ≥ 0.9991) within test ranges. This method showed good repeatability for the quantification of these five components in Cortex Mori with intra‐ and inter‐day standard deviations less than 2.19% and 1.45%, respectively. Conclusion – The validated method was successfully applied to quantify the five investigated components, including a pair of cis‐trans‐isomers 1 and 2 and a pair of isomers 4 and 5 in 34 samples of Cortex Mori from different sources. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A nuclear ligand MRG15 involved in the proapoptotic activity of medicinal fungal galectin AAL (Agrocybe aegerita lectin)

Background

We have previously reported a novel fungal galectin Agrocybe aegerita lectin (AAL) with apoptosis-induced activity and nuclear migration activity. The importance of nuclear localization for AAL's apoptosis-induced activity has been established by mutant study. However, the mechanism remains unclear.

Methods

We further investigated the mechanism using a previously reported carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) mutant protein H59Q, which retained its nuclear localization activity but lost most of its apoptotic activity. The cell membrane-binding ability of recombinant AAL (rAAL) and H59Q was analyzed by FACS, and their cellular partners were identified by affinity chromatography and mass spectroscopy. Furthermore, the interaction of AAL and ligand was proved by mammalian two-hybrid and pull down assays. A knockdown assay was used to confirm the role of the ligand.

Results

The apoptotic activity of AAL could be blocked by lactose. Mutant H59Q retained comparable cell membrane-binding ability to rAAL. Four cellular binding partners of AAL in HeLa cells were identified: glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78); mortality factor 4-like protein 1 (MRG15); elongation factor 2 (EEF2); and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). CRD region of AAL was required for the interaction between AAL/mutant AAL and MRG15. MRG15 knockdown increased the cells' resistance to AAL treatment.

Conclusion

MRG15 was a nuclear ligand for AAL in HeLa cells. These data implied the existence of a novel nuclear pathway for the antitumor activity of fungal galectin AAL.

General significance

These findings provide a novel explanation of AAL bioactivity and contribute to the understanding of mushroom lectins' antitumor activity.     

魏氏拟尾柱虫腹皮层纤毛器微管胞器的形态及形态发生

应用荧光紫杉醇直接荧光标记和抗α-微管蛋白抗体免疫荧光标记显示,魏氏拟尾柱虫(Paraurostyla weissei)腹面皮层纤毛器微管胞器由口围带、波动膜、额腹横棘毛和左右缘棘毛等纤毛器微管、纤毛器基部附属微管等组成。其中口围带基部微管包括小膜托架、小膜附属微管;额腹横棘毛和左右缘棘毛基部附属微管包括前纵微管束、后纵微管束和横微管束,它们由各自的纤毛器基部向皮层细胞质不同方向发射,形成腹皮层表面下微管网。结果表明,魏氏拟尾柱虫的纤毛器骨架、纤毛器附属结构也是一类以微管蛋白为基本成分的微管胞器,其中缘棘毛基部附属微管具有不同于其他纤毛虫(例如棘尾虫)中所观察到的同种微管胞器的建构特征。形态发生中,前仔虫口围带在老结构位置形成,其结构建成与部分老口围带的更新有关;老缘棘毛的结构物质对新的左、右缘棘毛的发生可能具有定位作用及物质贡献,但此后新的左、右缘棘毛列分别在老缘棘毛的右侧形成,而并非是在老缘棘毛位置分化的。在有些细胞中,新的左缘棘毛左侧另有一列棘毛,这可能是形态发生中老的左缘棘毛退化不完全产生的。     

Optimization of polysaccharides (ABP) extraction from the fruiting bodies of Agaricus blazei Murill using response surface methodology (RSM)

Response surface methodoloty (RSM) was used to optimize the extraction conditions of polysaccharides (ABP) from the fruiting body of Agaricus blazei. A central composite design (CCD) was used for experimental design and analysis of the results to obtain the optimal processing parameters. Four independent variables such as extraction temperature (°C), ratio of water to raw material, number of extraction, and extraction time (h) were investigated. The experimental data obtained were fitted to a second-order polynomial equation using multiple regression analysis and also analyzed by appropriate statistical methods. The 3-D response surface plot and the contour plot derived from the mathematical models were applied to determine the optimal conditions. The optimum extraction conditions were as follows: extraction temperature 91 °C, ratio of water to raw material 14, number of extraction 6, and extraction time 2.1 h. Under these conditions, the experimental value was 65.8 ± 1.42, which is well in close agreement with value predicted by the model.     

A review of medicinal plant of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as source in tuberculosis drug discovery

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that affects one-third of the world’s population. Although currently available TB drugs have many side effects, such as nausea, headache and gastrointestinal discomfort, no new anti-TB drugs have been produced in the past 30 years. Therefore, the discovery of a new anti-TB agent with minimal or no side effects is urgently needed. Many previous works have reported the effects of medicinal plants against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). However, none have focused on medicinal plants from the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region. This review highlights the effects of medicinal plants from the MENA region on TB. Medicinal plants from the MENA region have been successfully used as traditional medicine and first aid against TB related problems. A total of 184 plants species representing 73 families were studied. Amongst these species, 93 species contained more active compounds with strong anti-MTB activity (crude extracts and/or bioactive compounds with activities of 0–100 µg/ml). The extract of Inula helenium, Khaya senegalensis, Premna odorata and Rosmarinus officinalis presented the strongest anti-MTB activity. In addition, Boswellia papyrifera (Del) Hochst olibanum, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh leaves (river red gum), Nigella sativa (black cumin) seeds and genus Cymbopogon exhibited anti-TB activity. The most potent bioactive compounds included alantolactone, octyl acetate, 1,8-cineole, thymoquinone, piperitone, α- verbenol, citral b and α-pinene. These compounds affect the permeability of microbial plasma membranes, thus kill the mycobacterium spp. As a conclusion, plant species collected from the MENA region are potential sources of novel drugs against TB.     

Amyloplasts from cortical root cells of Spiranthoideae (Orchidaceae)

Summary Cortical root cells of orchids belonging to subfamily Spiranthoideae contain globular organelles which, through chemical tests and examination with both light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopes, appear to be unique in Orchidaceae and unreported in plants in general. It is suggested these are specialized amyloplasts (spiranthosomes) and with other features may serve to characterize the spiranthoid orchid subfamily.Dedicated to Hilton H. Mollenhauer on the occasion of his retirement