Isolation and characterization of lectins and lectin-alliinase complexes from bulbs of garlic (Allium sativum) and ramsons (Allium ursinum)

A procedure developed to separate the homodimeric and heterodimeric mannose-binding lectins from bulbs of garlic (Allium sativum L.) and ramsons (Allium ursinum L.) also enabled the isolation of stable lectin-alliinase complexes. Characterization of the individual lectins indicated that, in spite of their different molecular structure, the homomeric and heteromeric lectins resemble each other reasonably well with respect to their agglutination properties and carbohydrate-binding specificity. However, a detailed analysis of the lectin-alliinase complexes from garlic and ramsons bulbs demonstrated that only the heterodimeric lectins are capable of binding to the glycan chains of the alliinase molecules (EC 4.4.1.4). Moreover, it appears that only a subpopulation of the alliinase molecules is involved in the formation of lectin-alliinase complexes and that the complexed alliinase contains more glycan chains than the free enzyme. Finally, some arguments are given that the lectin-alliinase complexes do not occur in vivo but are formed in vitro after homogenization of the tissue. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Protection against in vivo focal myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced arrhythmias and apoptosis by Hesperidin

Among the heart diseases, ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) induced arrhythmias contribute to episodes of sudden death. Cardiac arrhythmias during ischemia reperfusion are believed to be related to oxidative stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether treatment with Hesperidin alleviates arrhythmias and infarct size in experimentally-induced myocardial I/R injury using an in vivo rat model. In this study haemodynamics parameters, markers of inflammation, biomarkers of oxidative stress and tissue nitrite level and infarct size of the heart were estimated in various groups. I/R showed a significant decrease in tissue nitrite and antioxidant level and significant increase in arrhythmias, inflammation and myocardial cell apoptosis. Treatment with Hesperidin showed a significant increase in tissue nitrite, antioxidant level and reduction in inflammation, arrhythmias and apoptosis. In conclusion, the protecting effect of Hesperidin in I/R induced arrhythmias is due to reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress.     

New mannose-specific lectins from garlic (Allium sativum) and ramsons (Allium ursinum) bulbs.

Two new mannose-binding lectins were isolated from garlic (Allium sativum, ASA) and ramsons (Allium ursinum, AUA) bulbs, of the family Alliaceae, by affinity chromatography on immobilized mannose. The carbohydrate-binding specificity of these two lectins was studied by quantitative precipitation and hapten-inhibition assay. ASA reacted strongly with a synthetic linear (1----3)-alpha-D-mannan and S. cerevisiae mannan, weakly with a synthetic (1----6)-alpha-D-mannan, and failed to precipitate with galactomannans from T. gropengiesseri and T. lactis-condensi, a linear mannopentaose, and murine IgM. On the other hand, AUA gave a strong reaction of precipitation with murine IgM, and good reactions with S. cerevisiae mannan and both synthetic linear mannans, suggesting that the two lectins have somewhat different binding specificities for alpha-D-mannosyl units. Of the saccharides tested as inhibitors of precipitation, those with alpha-(1----3)-linked mannosyl units were the best inhibitors of ASA, the alpha-(1----2)-, alpha-(1----4)-, and alpha-(1----6)-linked mannobioses and biosides having less than one eighth the affinity of the alpha-(1----3)-linked compounds. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of ASA exhibits 79% homology with that of AUA, and moderately high homology (53%) with that of snowdrop bulb lectin, also an alpha-D-mannosyl-binding lectin.     

Comparative study of the post-translational processing of the mannose-binding lectins in the bulbs of garlic (Allium sativum L.) and ramsons (Allium ursinum L.)

The biosynthesis and processing of the homodimeric and heterodimeric lectins from the bulbs of garlic (Allium sativum) and ramsons (wild garlic;Allium ursinum) were studied using pulse and pulse-chase labelling experiments on developing bulbs. By combining the results of thein vivo biosynthesis studies and the cDNA cloning of the respective lectins, the sequence of events leading from the primary translation products into the mature lectin polypeptides could be reconstructed. From this it is demonstrated that garlic and ramsons use different schemes of post-translational modifications in order to synthesize apparently similar lectins from totally different precursors. Both the homomeric garlic lectin (ASAII) and its homologue in ramsons (AUAII) are synthesized on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as nonglycosylated 13.5 kDa precursors, which, after their transport out of the ER are converted into the mature 12.0 kDa lectin polypeptides by the cleavage of a C-terminal peptide. The heterodimeric garlic lectin ASAI is synthesized on the ER as a single glycosylated precursor of 38 kDa, which after its transport out of the ER undergoes a complex processing which gives rise to two mature lectin subunits of 11.5 and 12.5 kDa. In contrast, both subunits of the heterodimeric ramsons lectin AUAI are synthesized separately on the ER as glycosylated precursors, which after their transport out of the ER are deglycosylated and further processed into the mature lectin polypeptides by the cleavage of a C-terminal peptide.     

4-Aminopyridine: Effects on electrical activity during ischemia and reperfusion in perfused rat hearts

We investigated the effects of 2 and 4 mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, – blocker of the transient outward current I_to) on the electrophysiological response to regional ischemia and reperfusion. Spontaneously beating rat hearts were subjected to coronary occlusion (10 min) followed by reperfusion. The surface electrogram and the membrane potential from subepicardial left ventricular cells were recorded throughout. The basal effect of 4-AP was a dose dependent increase in the action potential duration (APD₉₀) without changes in the resting potential or the heart rate. During early ischemia resting depolarization (from 87.4 ± 1.9–70.1 ± 2.5 mV in the controls) was enhanced by 4 mM, 4-AP (84.3 ± 1.4 mV vs. 61.7 ± 1.3 mV) whereas APD₉₀ increased by 73.5%. These effects resulted in a marked reduction in the duration of diastolic intervals that led to conduction failure and aborted responses. A partial recovery was found by the end of ischemia concomitant with APD₉₀ shortening in both, control and 4-AP treated hearts. On reperfusion, 4-AP did not influence the initial incidence of ventricular tachyarrhythmias but decreased their duration from 531.5 ± 56.3–260.7 ± 100 sec (2 mM) and to 75.6 ± 10.5 sec (4 mM). These data confirm others obtained by Henry et al. [11] in isolated cells indicating that ischemia induces sequential changes in several K⁺ conductances. In addition, they show that changes in action potential characteristics may exert beneficial effects on reperfusion arrhythmias by acting on the arrhythmic substrate without suppressing the trigger mechanism.     

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Allium ursinum: Impact of Temperature and Pressure on the Extracts Chemical Profile

The aim of this study was to extract Allium ursinum L. for the first time by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC−CO₂) as green sustainable method. The impact of temperature in the range from 40 to 60 °C and pressure between 150 and 400 bar on the quality of the obtained extracts and efficiency of the extraction was investigated. The highest extraction yield (3.43 %) was achieved by applying the extraction conditions of 400 bar and 60 °C. The analysis of the extracts was performed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The most dominant sulfur-containing constituent of the extracts was allyl methyl trisulfide with the highest abundance at 350 bar and 50 °C. In addition, the presence of other pharmacologically potent sulfur compounds was recorded including S-methyl methanethiosulfinate, diallyl trisulfide, S-methyl methylthiosulfonate, and dimethyl trisulfide. Multivariate data analysis tool was utilized to investigate distributions of the identified compounds among the extracts obtained under various extraction conditions and yields. It was determined that the SC−CO₂ extraction can by efficiently used for A. ursinum.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of leek (Allium porrum) and garlic (Allium sativum)

Transgenic leek (Allium porrum) and garlic (Allium sativum) plants have been recovered by the selective culturing of immature leek and garlic embryos via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation using a method similar to that described by Eady et al. (Plant Cell Rep 19:376–381, 2000) for onion transformation. This method involved the use of a binary vector containing the m-gfp-ER reporter gene and nptII selectable marker, and followed the protocol developed previously for the transformation of onions with only minor modifications pertaining to the post-transformation selection procedure which was simplified to have just a single selection regime. Transgenic cultures were selected for their ability to express the m-gfp-ER reporter gene and grown in the presence of geneticin (20 mg/l). The presence of transgenes in the genome of the plants was confirmed using TAIL-PCR and Southern analysis. This is the first report of leek and true seed garlic transformation. It now makes possible the integration of useful agronomic and quality traits into these crops.     

Susceptibility to purple blotch (Alternaria porri) in garlic (Allium sativum)

Experiments were conducted to study the progress of purple blotch disease of garlic caused by Alternuria porri in the field, to determine the relationship between garlic leaf age and susceptibility to Alternaria porri, and also to assess loss in bulb characters due to purple blotch of garlic. Per cent disease severity and number of purple blotch lesions on four garlic genotypes of known susceptibility, Sel-10 (highly susceptible), G-41 (highly susceptible), IC-49382 (moderately susceptible) and IC-49373 (moderate to less susceptible) were monitored from bulb formation to bulb maturity at weekly intervals. Lesions appeared early on highly susceptible cultivars, Sel-10 and G-41. Rapid progress of disease development was noticed during the last 3 wk before bulb maturity. Peak severity at the maturity of the crop was significantly higher on highly susceptible genotypes. No definite correlation could be established between number of lesions and disease severity. A logistic curve was fitted to predict the disease progress on different weeks before bulb maturity. Levels of leaf tissue found damaged by A. porri at weekly intervals from bulb initiation to bulb maturity were significantly lower on younger leaves than on older leaves. Leaves that emerged 7 wk before bulb maturity required more than a 5 wk period to reach 50% leaf damage, whereas leaves emerging 2, 3 and 4 wk before bulb maturity exceeded 50% leaf damage within a 2–3 wk period. Individual garlic leaves became more susceptible to purple blotch as they aged and emerging leaves were more susceptible the closer they emerged to bulb maturity. Per cent loss in bulb weight and bulb volume was found to be significantly higher on highly susceptible genotypes. No significant reduction in number of cloves/bulb was observed. We propose 4 wk before bulb maturity as the action threshold for initiation of fungicidal application to prevent damaging levels of disease.     

Tetramethylpyrazine induces heme oxygenase-1 expression and attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

The accumulation of oxygen free radicals and activation of neutrophils are strongly implicated as pathophysiological mechanisms mediating myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been reported to play a protective role in oxidative tissue injuries. In this study, the cardioprotective activity of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), an active ingredient of Chinese medicinal herb Ligusticum wallichii Franchat, was evaluated in an open-chest anesthetized rat model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Pretreatment with TMP (5 and 10 mg/kg, i.v.) before left coronary artery occlusion significantly suppressed the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation. After 45 min of ischemia and 1 h of reperfusion, TMP (5 and 10 mg/kg) caused a significant reduction in infarct size and induced HO-1 expression in ischemic myocardium. The HO inhibitor ZnPP (50 μg/rat) markedly reversed the anti-infarct action of TMP. Superoxide anion production in ischemic myocardium after 10 min reperfusion was inhibited by TMP. Furthermore, TMP (200 and 500 μM) significantly suppressed fMLP (800 nM)-activated human neutrophil migration and respiratory burst. In conclusion, TMP suppresses ischemia-induced ventricular arrhythmias and reduces the infarct size resulting from ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo. This cardioprotective activity of TMP may be associated with its antioxidant activity via induction of HO-1 and with its capacity for neutrophil inhibition.     

缺血再灌后血管内皮空泡的形成与内皮的损伤

目的：在活体上探讨缺血再灌后血灌内上细胞损伤及白细胞、血小板与内皮之间粘附的变化。方法：用失血及与再回输血液造成缺血再灌流模型,在高倍显微镜下观察肠系膜微血管内皮损伤及血细胞粘附的变化。结果：缺血再灌后1－3h细静脉、集合毛细血管内出现白细胞、血小板的粘附,血管内皮水肿、管壁增厚,有的血管内皮细胞的胞浆形成圆丘形的空泡,空泡从血管内皮突入管胺、空泡直径10－30μm多出现的细动脉内,在同一根血管内可同时出现几个空泡,大的空泡几科占据血管腔的2／3。结论：缺血再灌后血管内皮水肿及空泡形成,显示内皮细胞的严重损伤。     

褪黑素与缺血再灌注损伤

褪黑素(melatonin,MT)具有强效抗氧化作用,在肠、肝脏、心脏、脑等器官的缺血再灌注损伤实验中具有清除自由基、保护线粒体、抗细胞凋亡等保护性作用。本文综合褪黑素应用于缺血再灌注损伤的动物实验的近几年相关文献,总结并分析褪黑素在缺血再灌注损伤动物实验中的保护作用及其相关机制。     

Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori by garlic extract (Allium sativum)

Abstract The antibacterial effect of aqueous garlic extract (AGE) was investigated against Helicobacter pylori . Sixteen clinical isolates and three reference strains of H. pylori were studied. Two different varieties of garlic were used. The concentration of AGE required to inhibit the bacterial growth was between 2–5 mg ml⁻¹. The concentration, for both AGE types, to inhibit 90% (MIC₉₀) of isolates was 5 mg ml⁻¹. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was usually equal to, or two-fold higher than, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Heat treatment of extracts reduced the inhibitory or bactericidal activity against H. pylori ; the boiled garlic extract showed a loss of efficacy from two-to four-fold the values of MIC and the MBC obtained with fresh AGR. The antibacterial activity of garlic was also studied after combination with a proton pump-inhibitor (omeprazole) in a ratio of 250:1. A synergistic effect was found in 47% of strains studied; an antagonistic effect was not observed.     

A quantitative assessment of the antimicrobial activity of garlic (Allium sativum)

An aqueous extract of freeze-dried garlic (Allium sativum), when incorporated into growth media, inhibited many representative bacteria, yeasts, fungi and a virus. All microorganisms tested were susceptible to garlic. Quantitative assessment of the minimum inhibitory concentrations for bacteria and yeasts showed values ranging from 0.8 to 40.0 mg garlic ml^-1. Fungal radial colony growth was inhibited by at least 25% at concentrations as low as 2.0 mg garlic ml^-1. The 50% endpoint neutralization titre for rotavirus was 2.4 to 2.8 g ml^-1. Lactic acid bacteria were the least sensitive microorganisms to the inhibitory effects of garlic. In mixed culture studies of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Escherichia coli, garlic prevented the establishment of E. coli, although the final outcome of competition was not affected.L.P. Rees, S.F. Minney and N.T. Plummer are with Interprise Ltd, Baglan Bay Industrial Park, Port Talbot SA 12 7DJ, UK. J.H. Slater and D.A. Skyrme are with the School of Pure and Applied Biology, University of Wales, Cardiff, P.O. Box 915, Cardiff CF1 3TL, UK.     

缺血/再灌注时豚鼠左心室流出道自律组织电活动的改变及药物干预效应

目的：研究缺血/再灌注（I/R）时豚鼠离体左心室流出道自律组织电活动的改变及其药物干预效应。方法：采用标准玻璃微电极细胞内电位记录技术,记录豚鼠离体左心室流出道标本的自发慢反应电位,观测模拟I/R时该电位的改变,以及临床上常用的抗心律失常药物灌流标本时对I/R电生理效应的干预作用。观测指标：4相自动除极速度（VDD）、自发放电频率（RPF）、最大舒张电位（MDP）、0相最大除极速度（V_max）、动作电位幅度（APA）、复极50%和90%时间（APD₅₀和APD₉₀）。结果：①与对照组相比,I 10 min组VDD和RPF明显减慢（P<0.05）,V_max加快（P<0.01）,APA增大（P<0.01）。与I 10 min组和对照组相比,R 2 min组VDD和RPF明显加快（P<0.01）,且在R至5 min过程中可出现明显节律不齐,MDP绝对值明显增大（P<0.05）,V_max与对照组相比明显加快（P<0.05）,APA与I 10 min组相比明显下降（P<0.05）,但仍显著高于对照组（P<0.05）,APD₅₀和APD₉₀显著缩短（P<0.01）。R 15 min组自发慢反应电位各项指标逐渐恢复至对照组水平。②与I 10min/R 2 min组相比,1 μmol/L利多卡因、10 μmol/L普罗帕酮、1 μmol/L胺碘酮、1 μmol/L维拉帕米、50 μmol/L腺苷和10 μmol/L硝普钠均可明显改善R过程中VDD和RPF的改变以及由此引起的节律不齐。结论：I/R可触发左心室流出道自律组织电活动异常,这种效应在应用不同的抗心律失常药物灌流时可显著恢复。     

Effective concentrations of garlic distillate (Allium sativum) for the control of Tetranychus urticae (Tetranychidae)

The two‐spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a worldwide pest that feeds on a large variety of plant families. Because its resistance to acaricides is spreading rapidly, the development of new biological control tactics for population management is crucial. Plant extracts, such as garlic extract (Allium sativum Linn.), may represent viable alternatives, because they are currently considered to be minimum‐risk pesticides. Although garlic is known for its acaricidal properties, the extract concentration that provides the most efficient control has not yet been precisely determined. In this study, we conducted a series of laboratory experiments to determine the susceptibility of adult females to different concentrations of garlic extract. Fresh garlic cloves were steam‐distilled and sprayed using a Potter spray tower. Mortality and fecundity were measured upon treatment with garlic extract concentrations ranging from 0.46 to 14.4 mg/l. Female mortality increased with concentration, with LD₅₀ and LD₉₀ values of 7.49 and 13.5 mg/l, respectively. Reduced fecundity was previously observed at concentrations of 0.36 and 0.74 mg/l. The chemical composition of the Allium sativum distillate was characterized by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection, GC/MS and Fast GC‐FID against an authentic standard (Standard, Bioextract).Vinyl dithiin, diallyl disulphide, diallyl trisulphide and methyl allyl trisulphide were identified based on their mass spectra. Sesquiterpenoids were identified by their retention index.     

大鼠心肌整体缺血及离体再灌注致生物膜的损伤作用

目的和方法：利用整体大鼠异丙肾上腺素损伤（ISO）和离体大鼠全心停灌／再灌（I／R）两种模型,观察了心肌缺血和缺血／再灌注对心肌生物膜－线粒体膜及肌纤维膜损伤的影响。结果：ISO（5mg/kg,皮下注射）和I／R（20min/20min)可导致大鼠心脏生物膜产生严重损伤,表现为心肌线粒体脂质过氧化产物明显增加,线粒体磷脂酶A2（PLA2）激活,从而导致线粒体膜磷脂（PL）含量减少,磷脂分解产物游离脂肪酸（FFA）增加,膜脂流动性（LFU）降低,线粒体Ca^2 -ATPase及肌纤维膜Na^ ,K^ -ATPase活性降低,线粒体呼吸功能降低、呼吸链氧化磷酸化解偶联,高能磷酸化合物生成减少。结论：整体ISO和离体I／R可导致大鼠心肌线粒体、肌纤维膜结构和功能损伤。     

RAGE与肝缺血再灌注损伤间的关系

晚期糖化终末产物受体(receptor for advanced glycation end product,RAGE)是一种单穿膜受体,同时也是一种多配体受体,属于免疫球蛋白超家族的成员。其配体包括高速泳动族框1蛋白质(high mobility group box 1,HMGB1)、晚期糖化终末产物(advanced glycation end product,AGE)、S100/钙粒蛋白(calgranulin)及β淀粉样肽等。在肝脏中,RAGE主要表达于巨噬细胞与树突状细胞上。RAGE一旦被激活,就会通过一系列的信号传导,诱导这些细胞释放出多种促炎症的物质,并引起中性粒细胞沉积,产生瀑布式的炎症反应链。肝脏的缺血再灌注(ischemia/reperfusion,I/R)损伤作用机制繁多。其中RAGE作为一个关键的调节点,各种外来和内在的因素都可以通过作用于RAGE从而影响炎症反应。现就肝脏I/R损伤与RAGE之间关系做一综述。     

缺血预处理对肢体缺血/再灌注时肺损伤的保护作用

目的：观察肢体缺血/再灌注（LI/R）时肺损伤的变化并探讨缺血预处理（IPC）对其保护作用。方法：复制家兔LI/R损伤模型,观察肢体缺血4 h再灌注4 h肺损伤的变化以及采用肢体IPC干预后对肺损伤的影响。从右颈外静脉和左颈总动脉采血,分别代表入肺血和出肺血,检测入、出肺血及肺组织超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的活性、脂质过氧化物的代谢产物丙二醛（MDA）和一氧化氮（NO）的含量;同时测定肺组织总一氧化氮合酶（tNOS）和诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）的活性以及肢体IPC对上述指标的影响。结果：与对照组和缺血前比较,LI/R组松夹再灌注4 h入、出肺血及肺组织SOD活性明显降低,MDA和NO含量增高（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）;肺组织tNOS和iNOS活性亦升高,与对照组比较,有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。在缺血前给予IPC组,SOD活性升高,而MDA、NO含量降低,tNOS、iNOS活性也降低（P〈0.01）。相关分析显示MDA与SOD间存在明显负相关（P〈0.01）,而MDA与NO及iNOS呈显著正相关（P〈0.01）。结论：LI/R时并发的急性肺损伤与组织氧化代谢紊乱有关,IPC通过改善LI/R时肺组织氧化与抗氧化之间的平衡,进而增强肺组织的抗氧化能力,对LI/R肺损伤具有保护作用。     

海马神经元缺血/再灌注后自噬的表达及其作用

目的：研究自噬在大鼠海马神经元缺血缺氧/再灌注过程中的表达及自噬在神经元缺血缺氧/再灌注损伤中的作用。方法：原代培养的大鼠海马神经元经2 h的氧糖剥夺和不同时段的再灌注处理,MTT法检测细胞活性,透射电镜下检测自噬的特异性结构,免疫荧光化学法检测自噬特异性蛋白微管相关蛋白1轻链3（LC3B）的表达。应用自噬抑制剂3-甲基腺嘌呤（3-MA）检测神经元的活性。结果：经氧糖剥夺/再灌注后,海马神经元的活性比未经氧糖剥夺/再灌注组显著地降低。透射电镜和免疫荧光检测,未经氧糖剥夺/再灌注的神经元自噬的发生率极低,氧糖剥夺后和再灌注的不同时间段,均有自噬的发生。应用自噬抑制剂3-MA阻断自噬后,神经元的存活率显著降低。结论：缺血缺氧/再灌注能激活海马神经元的自噬,并可能在缺血缺氧/再灌注过程中起对抗损伤的作用。