Pentacyclic triterpenoids from Prunella vulgaris

Three new pentacyclic triterpenes together with several known triterpenes have been isolated as their methyl esters from the roots of Prunella vulgaris.     

夏枯草色素的抗氧化活性研究

目的:对夏枯草色素的抗氧化作用进行研究.方法:以蒸馏水为溶剂,从夏枯草中提取色素;采用比色法测定夏枯草色素对DPPH·、O2-·和·OH 3种自由基的清除作用以及还原能力.结果:夏枯草色素对三种自由基都有明显的清除作用,清除能力为DPPH·＞·OH＞ O2-·;对Fe3+也具有较强的还原能力.结论:清除率与浓度存在明显的量效关系,当色素浓度为0.13 mg/mL时,其清除率O2-·为4.1％、DPPH·为28.3％、·OH为17.9％;还原Fe3+能力随色素的浓度增加而增强.     

Orientation of Dunnocks (Prunella modularis) at Sunset

To find out the relative importance of the geomagnetic and solar cues for the orientation at the time of sunset, dunnocks were tested outdoors during the spring migration periods of 1982 and 1983. Experimental magnetic fields were produced by Helmholtz coils. In the various magnetic conditions, the following results were obtained:

• 1 In the local geomagnetic field, the dunnocks oriented in a seasonally appropriate northerly direction.
• 2 In a magnetic field the north of which was shifted 120° clock-wise to ESE, the birds showed a corresponding shift in their orientation.
• 3 In a vertical magnetic field without meaningful directional information, birds previously tested in either the local geomagnetic field or the shifted magnetic field now displayed axially bimodal orientation, with the axes of the two groups differing.

These findings indicate that for migratory dunnocks, the magnetic field plays a dominant role in determining their orientation at the time of sunset, and that magnetic information may affect the dunnocks' response to other directional, presumably solar cues as well.     

Effects of Prunella vulgaris on the Mice Immune Function

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of Prunella Vulgaris (P. vulgaris) on the immune function in mice. The mice were randomly divided into one control group and three treatment groups of 10 mice each. The control group received pure water and the treatment groups received P. vulgaris extract at concentrations of 0.15, 0.30 and 0.90 g/kg BW orally for 30 days, respectively. Changes in cell immune function, non-specific immunity and humoral immunity function were evaluated. Active lymphocytes and T lymphocyte subsets were determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Certain Serum concentrations of cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that, for cell immune function, compared with the control group, foot pad thickness in high dose group increased significantly (p<0.01), whereas no significant difference in the proliferative ability of splenic lymphocytes was observed among all groups (p>0.05). For non-specific immunity, NK cell activity increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner in P. vulgaris treated mice (p<0.01), mononuclear-macrophage function in medium and high dose P. vulgaris treated mice were significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). For humoral immunity, no significant differences were observed in terms of the half value of hemolysis (HC50), number of hemolytic plaques and serum IgG level (p>0.05). The percentage of active T and Th lymphocytes of mice peripheral blood in high dose group were significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in serum levels of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ among all of the four groups (p>0.05). The data indicated that 0.90 g/kg BW P. vulgaris extract (equivalent to 7.5 g/kg BW crude drug) had some effect on cellular immune function and non-specific immune function in mice.     

棕眉山岩鹨的代谢产热特征的初步研究

实验采用封闭式流体压力呼吸计和数字式温度计 ,分别测定了环境温度 (Ta)在 5～ 35℃范围内棕眉山岩鹨 (Prunellamontanella)的耗氧量和体温 (Tb) ,由此计算出代谢率 (MR)、热传导率 (C)和代谢预期比与热传导预期比 (F)等值 ,以探讨该种的代谢产热特征。结果表明 :棕眉山岩鹨在Ta 为 5～ 35℃时 ,Tb 基本维持恒定 (为 4 1 2 5± 0 12℃ ) ,MR的最低值为 4 2 7± 0 0 7mLO2 /(g·h) ;Ta 在 5～ 2 4℃时 ,MR与之负相关 :MR [mLO2 /(g·h) ]=10 39- 0 2 4Ta℃ ;Ta 在 5～ 2 6 5℃时 ,C最低且基本保持恒定 ,平均为 0 2 6±0 0 0mLO2 /(g·h·℃ ) ;Ta 在 2 4～ 30℃时 ,F值为 1 0 5 ,表明该种具有较好的体温调节能力。与热带地区鸟类比较 ,棕眉山岩鹨具较高的MR和Tb,稍高的C ,符合北方小型鸟类的代谢特点 ,能较好的适应冬寒冷、夏炎热的环境。     

夏枯草种子的某些萌发特性

夏枯草种子的适宜砂床湿度为饱和含水量的80%;不同播种深度的夏枯草种子发芽率不同,在0～1.5 cm覆砂厚度范围内,覆砂厚度越大,夏枯草种子发芽率越低;果穗不同部位种子的发芽率不同,果穗下部种子的发芽率最高.     

夏枯草多糖的分离、纯化及结构初步分析

采用100℃热水提取,得到夏枯草粗多糖。经阴离子交换柱层析、凝胶过滤柱层析对粗多糖进行纯化分级,通过高效凝胶过滤色谱测得了其主要组分PLS3的重均分子量为8.3×10-5Da。对PLS3进行了红外分析,测定了其初步结构;并分别以气相色谱和柱前衍生化高效液相色谱法测定了粗多糖和PLS3的单糖组成,发现两者所含单糖种类一致,都为半乳糖、葡萄糖、甘露糖、木糖、阿拉伯糖、鼠李糖,但两种物质的单糖组成相对摩尔百分比有所差异。     

Effect of polyacetylenic acids from Prunella vulgaris on various plant pathogens

Aims: This study is aiming at characterizing antifungal substances from the methanol extract of Prunella vulgaris and at investigating those substances’ antifungal and antioomycete activities against various plant pathogens. Methods and Results: Two polyacetylenic acids were isolated from P. vulgaris as active principles and identified as octadeca‐9,11,13‐triynoic acid and trans‐octadec‐13‐ene‐9,11‐diynoic acid. These two compounds inhibited the growth of Magnaporthe oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani, Phytophthora infestans, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani, and Phytophthora capsici. In addition, these two compounds and the wettable powder‐type formulation of an n‐hexane fraction of P. vulgaris significantly suppressed the development of rice blast, tomato late blight, wheat leaf rust, and red pepper anthracnose. Conclusions: These data show that the extract of P. vulgaris and two polyacetylenic acids possess antifungal and antioomycete activities against a broad spectrum of tested plant pathogens. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first report on the occurrence of octadeca‐9,11,13‐triynoic acid and trans‐octadec‐13‐ene‐9,11‐diynoic acid in P. vulgaris and their efficacy against plant diseases. The crude extract containing the two polyacetylenic acids can be used as a natural fungicide for the control of various plant diseases.     

Territory and group living in the polygynandrous Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris

The spacing system of Alpine Accentors Prunella collaris was studied on the summit of Mt. Norikura in central Japan for five breeding seasons. This species lived in groups (mean 7.2 individuals), sharing large areas of their individual home ranges within which all activities occurred. Membership of a group was closed and stable within a breeding season. The group home ranges overlapped little with each other, and antagonistic behaviour, including communal defence, was observed at the boundaries. Each female established an exclusive area around her own nest which she defended against other females (but not males) within the shared home range, but her activities (feeding, singing and mating) were observed over the whole of the group home range. Members of the same group moved around and fed together within the home range during the prebreeding season, but individual birds tended to become more solitary as the breeding season progressed. These results suggest that the primary breeding unit of Alpine Accentors is a group consisting of five to ten members who share a group territory which contains all the resources necessary for living and breeding, but this species is not a typical social one in which all members move around together within their group territory.     

Latitudinal variation in seed weight and flower number in Prunella vulgaris

Studies of seed-weight variation across altitudinal and latitudinal gradients have led to conflicting hypotheses regarding the selective value of this traint in relation to the length of the growing season. Growing-season length may also influence the evolution of seed number, and population differentiation in seed weight may be constrained by a negative genetic correlation between seed weight and seed number within populations. We examined variation in seed weight and an estimate of seed number (flower number) and the covariance of these traits among populations of Prunella vulgaris at five latitudes between northern Michigan and South Carolina. We measured seed weight and flower number in native habitats and in a common environment to determine the extent to which patterns observed in the field reflect genetic differentiation. We observed no genetically based variation in seed weight across the latitudinal gradient, although genetic variation among populations within a latitude was observed. In contrast to the lack of variation in seed weight, flower number increased clinally from northern Michigan to Tennessee in a common environment. Population mean flowering date in a common environment was successively later from north to south. Later-flowering individuals appear to achieve a larger size before flowering and consequently possess more resources for seed production. This difference may account for the greater flower production of late-flowering, southern populations. Independence of population mean seed weight and flower number across the latitudinal gradient suggests that population differentiation in seed weight has not been constrained by a trade-off between seed size and number within populations.     

夏枯草的化学成分及药理作用研究进展

夏枯草主要含有三萜及其苷类、甾醇及其苷类、黄酮类、香豆素、苯丙素、有机酸、挥发油及糖类等成分,具有降压、降糖、抗茵、抗炎、抗过敏及抗病毒等作用,近年来由于其明确的抗病毒及抗癌作用受到研究者的重视。     

Characterization of nine polymorphic microsatellite loci from the alpine accentor Prunella collaris

Nine polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from the alpine accentor Prunella collaris. In analyses of 50 unrelated individuals, allelic diversity ranged from 2 to 7, and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.08 to 0.70. Except for one locus (Pco2), variability was relatively low even in long repeat loci. This result may be due to the high return rate to the natal population. Primer sets were also tested in Japanese accentor Prunella rubida, and seven out of nine loci were successfully amplified.     

夏枯草多糖的提取、分离与纯化技术研究

对夏枯草多糖的分离纯化方法作了探讨,通过正交试验,筛选出最佳工艺条件。采用纸层析、琼脂糖凝胶电泳和紫外分光光度法对多糖纯度进行鉴定,红外光谱法对多糖分子结构进行分析,通过分级沉淀和气相色谱仪分析了多糖的单糖组成。     

建立稳定表达人RANTES基因的夏枯草细胞克隆

为了在中药细胞中表达人源有用基因 ,以增强其特异药理活性 ,将克隆自人外周血淋巴细胞 (PBL)mRNA的RANTES基因经Ti质粒衍生的中间表达载体pROKII导入携带pAL44 0 4质粒的根癌农杆菌LBA44 0 4菌株中 ,并采用叶盘共培养法转化离体培养夏枯草细胞 ,经Southern杂交确认RANTES基因在转化细胞基因组中的整合 ,用RT -PCR扩增、Western印迹杂交和酶联免疫吸附测定 (ELISA)分析转化细胞中RANTES基因的表达 ,以PBL的过氧化物酶活性作为重组RANTES对细胞趋化性诱导的检测指标。结果表明 ,RANTES基因已在转基因夏枯草细胞中整合 ,并已形成稳定表达RANTES基因的细胞克隆 ,为进一步培育具有特异药理活性的转基因夏枯草植株打下了基础。     

The wintering of migrant Dunnocks Prunella modularis in two Mediterranean habitats after fire

Migrant Dunnocks Prunella modularis are common winter visitors to the Mediterranean area. In a burnt forest, Dunnocks were present from October to April. They occupied definite individual home ranges of 0.18 ha on average (n = 83), at a density of 30 birds/10 ha in the fifth winter and 18 birds/10 ha in the sixth winter following a fire. Birds used visible posts and uttered ‘tseep’ calls often. Counter-calling was particularly frequent in the winter with the highest population density. In a burnt maquis, Dunnocks showed return rates (15%) and median recapture distances (62.5 m) not significantly different from those of territorial wintering Robins Erithacus rubecula. We suggest that Dunnock ranges can be regarded as ‘feeding territories’, promoted by an abundant, predictible and renewable food supply of rock-rose Cistus spp. seeds, characteristic of early Mediterranean successions. Ownership might be proclaimed by ‘tseep’ calls, recalling the behaviour of female Dunnocks during prebreeding territorial conflicts. Further research using colour-ringed birds may confirm Dunnock winter territoriality, exceptional for a migrant and mostly granivorous passerine.     

Social structure,habitat use and breeding biology of hedgerow Dunnocks Prunella modularis

A population of Dunnocks Prunella modularis inhabiting hedgerows was studied over a period of four years in order to examine the habitat structure of breeding territories and to attempt to determine how the constraints imposed by the linear structure of hedgerows might influence the mating combinations and breeding success. Eleven monogamous and 14 polyandrous territories were observed. No examples of polygyny or polygynandry were recorded. Polyandrous territories were significantly larger than monogamous territories but contained significantly more grassland, which is of little value for Dunnock foraging. Overgrown hedgerows formed the largest component of territories, and young and overgrazed hedgerow types constituted only a small area. All territories supported large patches of Nettle Urtica dioica and Bramble Rubus fruticosus/Dog Rose Rosa canina, the latter supporting most Dunnock nests. Clutch sizes, nestling weights and numbers of young fledged did not differ significantly between monogamous and polyandrous systems, but sample sizes were small. It is suggested that the restricted availability of mature overgrown hedgerows, the relatively low breeding density and the linear shape of hedgerows contributed towards the less complex mating system. The preference for overgrown hedgerows with basal outgrowths of Nettle and Bramble/Rose is discussed in the light of the recent decline of the Dunnock on farmland.     

Prunella stica inhibits the proliferation but not the prostaglandin production of Ishikawa cells

Chinese herbs have been used to relieve dysmenorrhea associated with endometriosis. Active components in the herbs and their mechanisms of action remain unknown. Prunella stica, a Chinese herb commonly used to treat dysmenorrhea, was chosen for the present studies. Its effects were investigated on Ishikawa cells, an epithelial cell line derived from human endometrium. Cell proliferation and inhibition of interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) induced prostaglandin (PG) production were examined. To learn more about the active components, 120 fractions were collected from the crude extract and each fraction was tested individually. To further characterize the active components, aliquots of fractions with activity were subject to mass spectrometry analysis. Crude extract of P. stica inhibited the proliferation of Ishikawa cells but not the IL-1beta induced PG production. Active components of P. stica clustered around fractions 64 and 92; they increased cell doubling time from 18.6 to 26.2 and 29.4h, respectively. Mass spectrometry analysis showed fractions 64 and 92 consisted of three components whose molecular weights were 337, 348 and 430 Daltons. The therapeutic effects of P. stica reside, in part, in inhibiting the proliferation of the epithelial cells derived from human endometrium. The active components are small molecules.     

夏枯草属三种药用植物的氨基酸和微量元素

夏枯草属三种药用植物的氨基酸和微量元素王德贵,姚惠英,苏中武（第二军医大学药学院,上海２００４３３）Ａｎａｌｙｓｅｓｏｎｔｈｅａｍｉｎｏａｃｉｄｓａｎｄｔｒａｃｅｅｌｅｍｅｎｔｓｏｆ３ｓｐｅｃｉｅｓｏｆＰｒｕｎｅｌｌａ￥ＷａｎｇＤｅ－Ｇｕｉ;ＹａｏＨ...     

Effects of Prunella vulgaris on mast cell-mediated allergic reaction and inflammatory cytokine production

In this study, we investigated the effect of aqueous extract of Prunella vulgaris (Labiatae; PVAE) on the mast cell-mediated allergy model. We found that PVAE (0.001-0.1 g/kg) dose dependently inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis and serum histamine release in mice. PVAE decreased the IgE-mediated local allergic reaction, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. In addition, PVAE attenuated phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 secretion in human mast cells. The inhibitory effect of PVAE on proinflammatory cytokines was nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) dependent. PVAE suppressed PMA and A23187-induced NF-kappaB/DNA binding activity and NF-kappaB-dependent gene reporter assay. Our findings provide evidence that PVAE inhibits mast cell-derived immediate-type allergic reactions and involvement of proinflammatory cytokines and NF-kappaB in these effects.