辐照对青花菜生理生化指标及保鲜效果的影响

用0.08mm厚的聚乙烯薄膜袋包装青花菜,经0.5、1.5和2.5 kGy(千戈瑞)3个剂量⁶⁰Co-γ射线辐照,室温12~21℃贮藏。结果显示,2.5 kGy剂量辐照对青花菜的保鲜效果最佳,室温下放置7d,仍然保持鲜绿,而对照组3d已全部变黄,无商品价值。辐照后立即对2.5kGy处理组的青花菜进行生理生化分析,其蛋氨酸含量、乙烯释放率、呼吸强度等指标均比对照组显著降低;叶绿素、花青素、维生素C、还原糖及蛋白质含量等指标与对照组相比较变化不大。辐照保鲜7d后,乙烯释放量、呼吸强度及蛋氨酸含量都升至辐照前的水平;蛋白质、维生素C、还原糖、叶绿素和花青素含量比对照组高。由此表明,辐照造成的生理损伤已修复,不宜再继续贮藏。     

冷冻前后的低渗应激对小鼠孵化囊胚存活率的影响

本试验用10％或20％GL预处理5min,再移入GFS40中平衡0．5min二步法冷冻保存的小鼠孵化囊胚,解冻后24h内恢复率高达93％－97％,与对照组(99％)相比无显著差异(P＞0．05)。新鲜孵化囊胚在低渗液中平衡30min,0．25×PBS组恢复率达92％,而0．20×PBS组恢复率仅为50％,与对照组相比差异极显著(P＜0．01)。冷冻解冻后孵化囊胚直接进行低渗处理,结果0．50×PBS组的恢复率(72％)与对照组(88％)差异显著(P＜0．05),而0．30×、0．25×和0．20×PBS组的恢复率分别为58％、11％和0％。解冻后经培养的孵化囊胚对低渗处理的耐受力增强,0．50×PBS处理组的恢复率达94％,与对照组(98％)相比无显著差异(P＞0．05),0．30×、0．25×和0．20×PBS组的恢复率与对照组相比虽有极显著差异(P＜0．01),但与解冻后直接进行低渗处理组相比恢复率有较大提高(82％－26％)。     

氧水平对密闭系统中贮藏鲜人参呼吸作用的影响

利用气调技术贮藏鲜人参的研究近年来已有一些报道但对决定其气调贮藏指标的氧气和二氧化碳的最低和最高忍耐点的研究尚未见报道.结合小包装、限气人参保鲜试验工作,我们研究了氧水平对密闭系统中贮藏鲜人参呼吸作用的影响.为有效地实施鲜参气调贮藏工作提供了依据. 一、材料与方法     

低剂量~(60)Co-γ射线辐照对梨小食心虫羽化、繁殖和成虫寿命的影响

【目的】本研究采用低剂量的⁽⁶⁰⁾Co-γ射线辐照梨小食心虫Grapholitamolesta雄蛹,分析辐照对梨小食心虫繁殖的影响,为利用(60)Co-γ射线辐照梨小食心虫Grapholitamolesta雄蛹,分析辐照对梨小食心虫繁殖的影响,为利用⁽⁶⁰⁾Co-γ射线防治梨小食心虫提供理论依据。【方法】设置辐照剂量为0、25、50和75 Gy的(60)Co-γ射线防治梨小食心虫提供理论依据。【方法】设置辐照剂量为0、25、50和75 Gy的⁽⁶⁰⁾Co-γ射线对梨小食心虫羽化前1 d的雄蛹进行辐照处理,分析辐照对其羽化率、繁殖能力及寿命的影响。【结果】不同辐照剂量处理的梨小食心虫羽化率均有下降,但与对照组相比无显著性差异,说明辐照对其羽化率影响较小。辐照组雄蛾与正常雌蛾的交配率与对照组无显著性差异。与对照组相比,经25、50和75 Gy辐照处理羽化的雄蛾与正常雌蛾交配后,其单雌产卵量无显著性差异。随着辐照剂量的升高,梨小食心虫的孵化率逐渐下降。与对照组孵化率74.38%±6.15%相比,75Gy处理组的孵化率明显降低,仅为22.68%±7.20%。与对照组相比,随着辐照剂量的升高,辐照组雄虫的平均寿命均有不同程度的下降。【结论】利用低剂量的(60)Co-γ射线对梨小食心虫羽化前1 d的雄蛹进行辐照处理,分析辐照对其羽化率、繁殖能力及寿命的影响。【结果】不同辐照剂量处理的梨小食心虫羽化率均有下降,但与对照组相比无显著性差异,说明辐照对其羽化率影响较小。辐照组雄蛾与正常雌蛾的交配率与对照组无显著性差异。与对照组相比,经25、50和75 Gy辐照处理羽化的雄蛾与正常雌蛾交配后,其单雌产卵量无显著性差异。随着辐照剂量的升高,梨小食心虫的孵化率逐渐下降。与对照组孵化率74.38%±6.15%相比,75Gy处理组的孵化率明显降低,仅为22.68%±7.20%。与对照组相比,随着辐照剂量的升高,辐照组雄虫的平均寿命均有不同程度的下降。【结论】利用低剂量的⁽⁶⁰⁾Co-γ射线辐照可影响梨小食心虫繁殖,为进一步优化辐照条件和利用(60)Co-γ射线辐照可影响梨小食心虫繁殖,为进一步优化辐照条件和利用⁽⁶⁰⁾Co-γ射线防治梨小食心虫提供理论指导。     

60Co-γ辐照在秀珍菇中的应用研究

采用不同剂量的^60 Co-γ射线辐照秀珍菇进行贮藏保鲜试验,结果表明：常温下210辐照,并采用聚乙烯塑料袋分装,可以延长鲜菇的保鲜期约10天。通过对维生素C和氨基酸含量的测定试验表明：辐处理前后无明显变化。辐照灭菌与常规高温灭菌相比,秀珍菇鲜菇产量高于对照。菌丝在经辐照灭菌的培养料上生长快,污染率下降,而且出菇快。     

人参皂苷Rb1、Rc对大鼠胚胎脑发育及GPx基因表达的影响

目的观察人参皂苷Rb1、Rc对sD大鼠胚胎脑发育及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（61utathione peroxidase,GPx）基因表达的影响。方法实验选用全胚胎体外培养方法,根据Van Maele-Fabry等制定的形态学分析系统进行形态学检测,实验随机分为对照组、人参皂苷Rbl（10,45和90ug／ml）组和人参皂苷Rc（10,45和90ug／ml）组,采用半定量RT—PCR分析人参皂苷Rb1和人参皂苷Rc对胚胎谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶基因表达的影响。结果与对照组比较,人参皂苷Rb1（10,45和90ug／ml）组胚胎脑、前脑、中脑与后脑的长度值没有统计学意义（P〉0．05）;与对照组比较,人参皂苷Rc（10,45和90ug／m1）组前脑、中脑与后脑的长度值显著增加（P〈0．05）。RT—PCR结果显示,人参皂苷Rb1（10,45和90ug／ml）组cGPx与phGPx mRNA的表达水平与对照组比较均没有统计学意义（P〉O．05）,而pGPxmRNA的表达水平在浓度50和100ug／ml时显著增加（P〈0．05）。人参皂苷Rc（10,45和90ug／ml）组cGPx与phGPxmRNA的表达水平与对照组比较均没有统计学意义（P〉0．05）,而pGPxmRNA的表达水平在各种浓度的Rc作用后都增加,且在溶度10和45ug／ml浓度时增加显著（P〈0．05）。结论一定剂量的人参皂苷Rc能促进胚胎脑的发育,一定剂量的人参皂苷Rb1、Rc能明显增强胚胎脑pGPx mRNA的表达水平。     

超声重复辐照孕鼠对子代海马NMDA神经损伤的影响

摘要 目的：探讨超声重复辐照孕鼠对子代海马N-甲基-D天冬氨酸(N-methyl-D aspartic acid,NMDA)神经损伤的影响。方法：孕12~14 d昆明种小鼠27只随机平分为三组-对照组、短时间辐照组、长时间辐照组。用超声探头在各组孕鼠进行辐照0 min、10 min与20 min,让母鼠自然分娩哺育幼仔,将各组仔鼠随机挑选12只,检测仔鼠海马组织NMDA表达与神经损伤情况。结果：辐照过程中无孕鼠死亡,短时间辐照组、长时间辐照组仔鼠第30 d与60 d的总路程、中央路程、中央时间都少于对照组(P<0.05),长时间辐照组低于短时间辐照组(P<0.05)。短时间辐照组、长时间辐照组仔鼠第60 d的神经元细胞凋亡指数、海马组织乙酰胆碱酯酶含量都高于对照组(P<0.05),NMDA蛋白相对表达水平低于对照组(P<0.05),长时间辐照组与短时间辐照组对比差异也都有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论：超声重复辐照孕鼠能抑制仔鼠海马组织NMDA蛋白表达,促进神经元细胞凋亡与提高乙酰胆碱酯酶含量,从而降低仔鼠的自主记忆活动能力。     

电磁脉冲对孕鼠及其胚胎的影响

目的：探讨电磁脉冲（electromagneticpulses,E脚）对孕期小鼠及其胚胎发育的影响。方法：采用不同场强的EMP（分别为0、50、100、200、400kV·m-1）辐照器官形成期的BALB／c孕鼠,于孕18天解剖小鼠,测量孕鼠体重增长值、脏器／体重,胎盘重、胎鼠体重、身长、尾长,并记录吸收胎、死胎、生长发育迟缓及畸胎的数量。结果：各辐照剂量组孕鼠体重增长值、脏器／体重与对照组相比均无显著性差异（P〉0．05）;胎盘重、胎鼠体重、身长、尾长数值明显低于对照组（P〈O．01）。50、400kV·m-1和100、200、400kV·m-1辐照组可分别导致死胎率和生长发育迟缓率增加（P〈0．05）,在400kV·m-1的EMP辐照组中,畸胎数也有升高的趋势,其中,畸胎主要表现为肢体和骨发育异常。结论：本实验条件下,不同场强的EMP辐照可对器官形成期小鼠胚胎的生长发育产生一定的影响,胚胎肢芽及骨发育可能是EMP作用的特殊靶点。     

壳聚糖在香蕉果实贮藏保鲜上的应用效果

以巴西香蕉果实为材料,研究了不同浓度（0、0．5％、1．0％、2．0％）的壳聚糖溶液对香蕉果实贮藏保鲜的影响。结果表明：壳聚糖处理可明显延缓香蕉果实的软化进程和病情指数的升高;同时维持了果实较低的细胞膜透性、多酚氧化酶（PPO）活性和较高的苯丙氨酸解氨酶（PAL）、β-1,3-葡聚糖酶（GUN）的活性。在四种处理中,以2％壳聚糖处理效果最好。表明壳聚糖对香蕉果实的贮藏保鲜效应可能与其调控病害相关酶的活性有关。     

人参皂甙Rb1对阿尔茨海默病大鼠海马结构β-淀粉样蛋白表达的影响

目的观察人参皂甙Rb1对阿尔茨海默病（AD）模型大鼠学习记忆能力及海马结构β-淀粉样蛋白表达的影响。方法动物分3组：对照组、模型组及治疗组,用D半乳糖联合三氯化铝建立AD大鼠模型,治疗组在造模后给予人参皂甙Rb1腹腔注射4周;采用Morris水迷宫测试大鼠的空间学习记忆能力,用免疫组织化学方法观察海马结构β-淀粉样蛋白的表达。结果与对照组相比,模型组大鼠各时间段的逃避潜伏期均显著延长（P〈0．01）,海马CA1、CA3区及齿状回β-淀粉样蛋白表达的阳性细胞数明显增多（P〈0．01）;治疗组大鼠的逃避潜伏期较模型组明显缩短（P〈0．01）,海马CA1、CA3区及齿状回的β-淀粉样蛋白阳性细胞数显著减少（P〈0．01）。结论人参皂甙Rb1对AD模型大鼠学习记忆损害具有明显改善作用,其机制可能与人参皂甙Rb1减少海马结构β-淀粉样蛋白的表达有关。     

Linking biological activity with herbal constituents by systems biology-based approaches: effects of Panax ginseng in type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats

Although a number of animal experiments and clinical trials have investigated the effects of ginseng roots on diabetes, the relationship between their therapeutic effects on diabetes and the quality and the growth age of this herb have not yet been reported. This study systematically investigated the effects of 3- to 6-year-old ginseng roots on glycemic and plasma lipid control in a rat model of type 2 diabetes. Six groups of male Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats received either metformin, 3- to 6-year-old ginseng roots, or no treatment. The treatments were administered twice daily for 9 weeks. A combined approach was used that involved applying liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based lipidomics, measuring biochemical parameters and profiling the components of ginseng roots of different ages. Compared to the untreated controls, treatment with 4- and 6-year-old ginseng roots significantly improved glucose disposal, and 5-year-old ginseng treatment significantly increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Treatment with 6-year-old ginseng significantly decreased total plasma triacylglyceride (TG) and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and improved plasma glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). In addition, treatment with 4- to 6-year-old ginseng influenced plasma lipidomics in diabetic GK rats by reducing TG lipid species. Metformin significantly reduced fasting blood glucose by 41% and reduced HbA1c by 11%, but showed no effects on the plasma lipid parameters. The present study demonstrates that ginseng roots show growth age-dependent therapeutic effects on hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in diabetic GK rats. These age-dependent effects may be linked with the variation in both the ratios and concentrations of specific bioactive ginsenosides in ginseng roots of different growth ages. This study introduced novel systems biology-based approaches for linking biological activities with potential active components in herbal mixtures.     

Effects of an aqueous extract of North American ginseng on MOG(35-55)-induced EAE in mice

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, in which the release of reactive oxygen species by infiltrating immune cells contributes to demyelination. American ginseng ( Panax quinquefolius ) is a natural health product with numerous beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ginseng could influence the course of the disease experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. C57BL/6J mice were immunized with MOG((35-55)) peptide to induce EAE. After clinical disease appeared, mice received either oral doses of an aqueous extract of ginseng (150 mg/kg body mass), or the vehicle. Clinical symptoms were recorded, and spinal cord tissue samples were analyzed for pathological signs of disease. The aqueous extract of ginseng significantly decreased (i) clinical signs of EAE, (ii) levels of circulating TNF-α, and (iii) central nervous system immunoreactive iNOS and demyelination scores, without a change in other neuropathological measures. This study shows that an aqueous extract of ginseng may be able to attenuate certain signs of EAE, suggesting that it may be a useful adjuvant therapy for MS.     

Structural characterization and immunostimulatory activity of a novel linear α-(1?→?6)-D-glucan isolated from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer is a well-known plant medicine in the world. Ginseng polysaccharides mainly contain starch-like glucan and pectin. In this paper, a novel glucan WGPA-UH-N1 was purified from ginseng pectin by the treatment of de-esterification and endo-polygalacturonase, followed by the chromatographies on DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow and Sephadex G-50 column. WGPA-UH-N1 has molecular weight about 17?kDa. WGPA-UH-N1 was determined to be a linear α-(1?→?6)-D-glucan without side chains by FT-IR, (13)?C-NMR, (1)?H-NMR, HMQC and HMBC spectra. It is the first time to isolate a linear α-(1?→?6)-D-glucan from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer. Immunological activity assays showed that WGPA-UH-N1, although not effective on the phagocytosis of macrophage, could significantly induce lymphocyte proliferation without mitogenic stimuli at 1.0?mg/mL or with LPS at 0.5?mg/mL, also significantly increase NO production at the range of 0.1-1.0?mg/mL in a dose-dependent manner. The immunological activities of WGPA-UH-N1 are different from those of the β-(1?→?6)-D-glucan (BIWP2) isolated from the fruit bodies of Bulgaria Inquinans (Fries).     

Improvement of insulin resistance by panax ginseng in fructose-rich chow-fed rats.

In an attempt to probe a new target for handling insulin resistance, we used Panax ginseng root to screen the effect on insulin resistance induced by fructose-rich chow in rats. Insulin action on glucose disposal rate was measured using the glucose-insulin index, which is the product of the areas under the curve of glucose and insulin during the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. Oral administration of Panax ginseng root (125.0 mg/kg) into rats three times daily for three days after receiving fructose-rich chow for four weeks reversed the increased glucose-insulin index, indicating that Panax ginseng root has the ability to improve insulin sensitivity. In addition, the plasma glucose concentrations in rats repeatedly treated with Panax ginseng root were not elevated as markedly as those of the vehicle-treated group during the fructose-rich chow-feeding period. Also, the time in which the plasma glucose-lowering response to tolbutamide (10.0 mg/kg, i. p.) receded in fructose-rich chow fed rats was markedly delayed by repeated Panax ginseng root treatment compared to the vehicle-treated group. The plasma glucose-lowering activity of tolbutamide is believed to depend on the secretion of endogenous insulin, which is widely used as an indicator of insulin resistance development. Thus, it provided supportive data that oral administration of Panax ginseng root could delay the development of insulin resistance in rats. In conclusion, our results suggest that oral administration of Panax ginseng root improves insulin sensitivity and may be used as an adjuvant therapy for treating diabetic patients with insulin resistance.     

Five batches representative of Ontario-grown American ginseng root produce comparable reductions of postprandial glycemia in healthy individuals

Evidence indicates that the glycemia-lowering effect of American ginseng root may be batch dependent. We therefore evaluated the effect of 5 root batches, representative of Ontario-grown American ginseng, on postprandial glucose and insulin indices. Twelve healthy subjects (5 male, 7 female), mean +/- SE age 26.5 +/- 2 years, body mass index 23.96 +/- 3.41 kg/m2, fasting blood glucose 4.77 +/- 0.04 mmol/L, were assigned to consume 9 g of American ginseng from 5 farms (A-E), administered in randomized sequence on 5 separate visits, and a water-control during the 6th and last visit. Treatments were consumed 40 min before a 2-hour 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test. Plasma glucose and insulin were measured at baseline, before, and during the test. Compared with control, batches A and C reduced glucose incremental area under the curve (IAUC) by 35.2% (156 vs. 240 mmol.min/L) and 32.6% (162 vs. 240 mmol.min/L), respectively. Batches A, C, and E reduced incremental peak glucose by 1.3, 1.2, and 1.1 mmol/L, respectively. Batch C reduced the insulin IAUC by 27.7% (15.8 vs. 21.8 nmol.min/L). Effects on glucose and insulin parameters were not different across ginseng treatments. The mean of the 5 ginseng treatments reduced peak postprandial glucose by 1.0 mmol/L, glucose IAUC by 27.7% (173 vs. 240 mmol.min/L), and insulin IAUC by 23.8% (16.6 vs. 21.8 nmol.min/L) relative to control. (All results statistically significant at p < 0.05.) American ginseng decreased postprandial glycemia and insulinemia; however, 40% of the batches did not reduce glycemia with the anticipated magnitude, irrespective of their saponin composition.     

Anti-hyperglycemic effects of ginseng: Comparison between root and berry

Previous studies demonstrated that both ginseng root and ginseng berry possess anti-diabetic activity. However, a direct comparison between the root and the berry under the same experimental conditions has not been conducted. In the present study, we compared anti-hyperglycemic effect between Panax ginseng root and Panax ginseng berry in ob/ob mice, which exhibit profound obesity and hyperglycemia that phenotypically resemble human type-2 diabetes. We observed that ob/ob mice had high baseline glucose levels (195 mg/dl). Ginseng root extract (150 mg/kg body wt.) and ginseng berry extract (150 mg/kg body wt.) significantly decreased fasting blood glucose to 143 +/- 9.3 mg/dl and 150 +/- 9.5 mg/dl on day 5, respectively (both P < 0.01 compared with the vehicle). On day 12, although fasting blood glucose level did not continue to decrease in the root group (155 +/- 12.7 mg/dl), the berry group became normoglycemic (129 +/- 7.3 mg/dl; P < 0.01). We further evaluated glucose tolerance using the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. On day 0, basal hyperglycemia was exacerbated by intraperitoneal glucose load, and failed to return to baseline after 120 min. After 12 days of treatment with ginseng root extract (150 mg/kg body wt.), the area under the curve (AUC) showed some decrease (9.6%). However, after 12 days of treatment with ginseng berry extract (150 mg/kg body wt.), overall glucose exposure improved significantly, and the AUC decreased 31.0% (P < 0.01). In addition, we observed that body weight did not change significantly after ginseng root extract (150 mg/kg body wt.) treatment, but the same concentration of ginseng berry extract significantly decreased body weight (P < 0.01). These data suggest that, compared to ginseng root, ginseng berry exhibits more potent anti-hyperglycemic activity, and only ginseng berry shows marked anti-obesity effects in ob/ob mice.     

人参植物皂苷生物合成相关新基因的筛选与鉴定

人参植物根进行的特定发育过程在药用次生物———人参皂苷生物合成和累积中发挥重要作用。为从人参根中分离出人参皂苷生物合成相关基因 ,采用抑制差减杂交技术 ,构建四年和一年生人参根组织mRNA群体间正向差减cDNA文库。对从差减文库中筛选的 4 0个阳性cDNA克隆进行酶切、PCR与逆向Northern斑点杂交鉴定、DNA测序以及核苷酸序列同源性比较。结果表明 ,获得的 6个差减克隆在GenBank/DDBJ/BMBL无对应的同源基因 ,代表新基因序列。与此同时 ,使用Northern印迹杂交验证及半定量RT PCR进一步确认 ,6个转录本为根发育阶段差异性表达基因。因而提示 ,它们可能在人参皂苷生物合成中发挥了重要作用。此外 ,在人参茎、叶与种子中亦能检测到上述基因转录本的表达。目前 ,6个新基因已被命名 ,在GenBank注册并获登录号 ,为克隆上述新基因cDNA全长序列及深入鉴定其在人参皂苷生物合成中的功能提供了重要实验依据。     

人参根提取物增强巨噬细胞RAW264.7的自噬水平并提高其增殖和吞噬能力

研究人参根提取物对巨噬细胞RAW264.7的增殖能力、吞噬能力和自噬水平的影响以及其相关性。用细胞计数试剂(CCK-8)检测不同浓度的人参根以及加入对巨噬细胞RAW264.7增殖的影响;采用中性红吞噬实验检测人参根提取物对巨噬细胞吞噬活性的影响;采用吖啶橙染色法(AO染色法)检测自噬体的形成;采用免疫印迹法(Western blot)检测自噬相关蛋白LC3B、ATG7的表达变化以及自噬通路相关蛋白AMPK、AKT、mTOR及ULK1磷酸化的变化。引入自噬诱导剂rapamycin和自噬抑制剂CQ探讨人参根提取物影响细胞自噬与细胞增殖、吞噬能力的相关性。结果显示,与空白对照组比较,各组人参根提取物可促进巨噬细胞RAW264.7的增殖及吞噬作用;参根提取物能够增加巨噬细胞RAW264.7酸性自噬体的数量,提高LC3B、ATG7的表达、增加AMPK和ULK1的蛋白磷酸化水平,时降低AKT,mTOR的磷酸化水平。Rapamycin进一步增强巨噬细胞的增殖以及吞噬能力,而CQ则减弱了人参根提取物所引起的巨噬细胞的增殖以及吞噬能力提高。以上结果表明人参根提取物可能通过增强巨噬细胞RAW264.7的自噬水平,提高其增殖和吞噬能力,具有激活巨噬细胞增强机体免疫力的潜在作用。     

Effects of ginseng on Pseudomonas aeruginosa motility and biofilm formation

Biofilm-associated chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis are virtually impossible to eradicate with antibiotics because biofilm-growing bacteria are highly tolerant to antibiotics and host defense mechanisms. Previously, we found that ginseng treatments protected animal models from developing chronic lung infection by P. aeruginosa. In the present study, the effects of ginseng on the formation of P. aeruginosa biofilms were further investigated in vitro and in vivo. Ginseng aqueous extract at concentrations of 0.5-2.0% did not inhibit the growth of P. aeruginosa, but significantly prevented P. aeruginosa from forming biofilm. Exposure to 0.5% ginseng aqueous extract for 24 h destroyed most 7-day-old mature biofilms formed by both mucoid and nonmucoid P. aeruginosa strains. Ginseng treatment enhanced swimming and twitching motility, but reduced swarming of P. aeruginosa at concentrations as low as 0.25%. Oral administration of ginseng extracts in mice promoted phagocytosis of P. aeruginosa PAO1 by airway phagocytes, but did not affect phagocytosis of a PAO1-filM mutant. Our study suggests that ginseng treatment may help to eradicate the biofilm-associated chronic infections caused by P. aeruginosa.     

Effect of the biocontrol bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</Emphasis> on the rhizosphere in ginseng plantings

Panax ginseng is an important medicinal herb due to its ability to strengthen the human immune system. However, due to the increasing needs of ginseng in medicine, the continuous cropping of ginseng has become more common and has resulted in increased problems with fungal decay. Thus, chemical fungicides are commonly used in ginseng plantings, which have caused fungicide residue problems. As an alternative control measure, biocontrol bacteria can be used to manage fungal pathogens. Additionally, these bacteria are environmentally friendly and can also improve stress tolerance in plants. In this study, an antifungal bacterial strain, TB6, that possesses ACC deaminase activity was isolated from the rhizosphere of ginseng plants. This strain was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. TB6 was applied to 2-year-old ginseng seedlings for a 2-year period, and its impact on the soil rhizosphere was evaluated. The results revealed that strain TB6 decreased fungal abundance and diversity; improved urease, catalase, and phosphatase activities; and decreased the cellulase activity of the rhizosphere soil. In addition, strain TB6 also promoted root growth and increased the fresh weight of ginseng roots, in addition to increasing polyphenol oxidase and catalase activities. These results may have practical implications for the use of biocontrol bacteria in ginseng plantings.