Terminalia arjuna a sacred medicinal plant: phytochemical and pharmacological profile

Terminalia arjuna Wight & Arn. (Combretaceae) is a tree having an extensive medicinal potential. The plant is used traditionally in the treatment of various aliments. T. arjuna is a very good hypocholsteremic, hypolipidemic, anticoagulant, antihypertensive, antithrombotic, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial agent Various parts of plant have been investigated for the presence of phytoconstituents and pharmacological activities. Many useful phytoconstituents have been isolated from T. arjuna. Triterpenoids are mainly responsible for cardiovascular properties. Tannins and flavonoids are responsible for its anticancer properties. The present review summarizes the ethnic use, pharmacological activities of the extracts and phytoconstituents of T. arjuna for last 90 years.     

Gastroprotective effect of Terminalia arjuna bark on diclofenac sodium induced gastric ulcer

AIM: The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of Terminalia arjuna (TA) on diclofenac sodium induced gastric ulcer in experimental rats. METHODS: Animals were induced for gastric ulcer with diclofenac sodium (DIC) (80mg/kg bodyweight in water, orally) and treated orally with TA in various doses ranging from 100mg/kg bodyweight to 500mg/kg bodyweight. The effective dose was 400mg/kg bodyweight, since this dose elicited a maximum reduction in lesion index. The gastroprotective effect of TA was assessed from volume of gastric juice, pH, free and total acidity, pepsin concentration, acid output in gastric juice, the levels of non-protein sulfhydryls (NP-SH), lipid peroxide (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), and activities of enzymic antioxidants--super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in gastric mucosa. The levels of DNA, protein bound carbohydrate complexes--hexose, hexoseamine, sialic acid, fucose in gastric mucosa and gastric juice and the levels of RNA in gastric mucosa were assessed. The stomach tissues were used for adherent mucus content and also for the histological examination. RESULTS: A significant reduction in lesion index was observed in ulcer induced animals treated with TA (DIC+TA) compared to ulcerated rats (DIC). A significant increase was observed in pH, NP-SH, GSH, enzymic antioxidants, protein bound carbohydrate complexes, adherent mucus content, nucleic acids with a significant decrease in volume of gastric juice, free and total acidity, pepsin concentration, acid output, LPO levels and MPO activities in DIC+TA rats compared to DIC rats. Histological studies confirmed the gastroprotective activity of TA. CONCLUSION: From the data presented in this study it could be concluded that T. arjuna acts as an gastroprotective agent probably due to its free radical scavenging activity and cytoprotective nature.     

Effect of Terminalia arjuna on antioxidant defense system in cancer

Constant production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during aerobic metabolism is balanced by antioxidant defense system of an organism. Although low level of ROS is important for various physiological functions, its accumulation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of age-related diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. It is generally assumed that frequent consumption of phytochemicals derived from vegetables, fruits, tea and herbs may contribute to shift the balance towards an adequate antioxidant status. The present study is aimed to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of medicinal plant Terminalia arjuna on antioxidant defense system in lymphoma bearing AKR mice. Antioxidant action of T. arjuna is monitored by the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione S transferase which constitute major antioxidant defense system by scavenging ROS. These enzyme activities are low in lymphoma bearing mice indicating impaired antioxidant defense system. Oral administration of different doses of aqueous extract of T. arjuna causes significant elevation in the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione S transferase. T. arjuna is found to down regulate anaerobic metabolism by inhibiting the activity of lactate dehydrogenase in lymphoma bearing mice, which was elevated in untreated cancerous mice. The results indicate the antioxidant action of aqueous extract of T. arjuna, which may play a role in the anti carcinogenic activity by reducing the oxidative stress along with inhibition of anaerobic metabolism.     

alpha-Glucosidase inhibitory constituents from stem bark of Terminalia superba (Combretaceae)

The CH(2)Cl(2)/CH(3)OH (1/1) extract of the dried stem bark of Terminalia superba afforded two compounds, (7S,8R,7'R,8'S)-4'-hydroxy-4-methoxy-7,7'-epoxylignan and meso-(rel 7S,8R,7'R,8'S)-4,4'-dimethoxy-7,7'-epoxylignan along with 11 known compounds. The structures of the compounds were established by analysing the spectroscopic data and also comparing it with the data of previously known analogues. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their glycosidase inhibition activities. Gallic acid and methyl gallate showed significant alpha-glucosidase inhibition activity.     

Fungal endophytes from the three-leaved caper,Crataeva magna (Lour.) DC. (Capparidaceae)

Fungal endophytes were isolated from Crataeva magna, a medicinal plant growing along the streams and rivers, constituting riparian vegetation in Karnataka, southern India. Fresh bark and twig pieces were used for the isolation using standard methods. Ninety-six endophytic fungal isolates were isolated from 800 bark and twig segments. Mitosporic fungi represented as a major group (85%) followed by zygomycetes (10%) and ascomycetes (5%). Bark samples contained more endophytes than twig samples. Verticillium, Nigrospora oryzae and Fusarium verticilloides were the dominant fungal endophytes.     

茶树内生真菌CSN-4产漆酶培养基及培养条件研究

从茶树内生真菌筛选产漆酶的菌株,分析不同营养因素和培养条件对菌株漆酶酶活力的影响。采用6种显色底物的平板初筛和酶活测定的复筛方法,从15株茶树内生真菌菌株中筛选获得1株产漆酶酶活较高的菌株CSN 4。单因素分析结果显示,液态发酵条件下菌株CSN-4适宜的主要培养基成分是麸皮和蛋白胨;菌株CSN-4分别在麸皮30 g/L、蛋白胨2.5 g/L、CuSO₄·5H₂O 0.015 g/L和茶水6 g/L时发酵产漆酶酶活最高。发酵条件试验结果表明,菌株CSN-4分别在接种量为6个菌饼（直径6 mm）、装液量60 mL/250 mL、pH 4.8、摇床转速120 r/min,培养温度为28 ℃时产漆酶酶活较高。在培养基中添加麸皮和茶水对菌株CSN-4产漆酶有明显的促进作用。经过培养基成分及培养条件优化后,菌株CSN 4产漆酶酶活显著升高,达到2 417 U/L。     

Growth suppression of human transformed cells by treatment with bark extracts from a medicinal plant, Terminalia arjuna

Summary We have investigated the effects of acetone and methanol extracts of a medicinal plant, Terminalia arjuna, on the growth of human normal fibroblasts (WI-38), osteosarcoma (U2OS), and glioblastoma (U251) cells in vitro. We found that both extracts at 30 μg and 60 μg/ml concentrations inhibit the growth of transformed cells; the growth of normal cells was least affected. Although the transformed cells appeared to have fragmented nucleus by Hoechst staining, no deoxyribonucleic acid laddering effect was observed. In response to the extract treatment, the tumor suppressor protein, p53, was induced in U2OS but not in U251 and WI-38 cells. A cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21^WAF1, was induced in transformed cells only. The study suggests that the bark extract of medicinal plant, T. arjuna, has components that can induce growth arrest of transformed cells by p53-dependent and-independent pathways.     

濒危植物七子花内生真菌的分离鉴定及抗菌活性筛选

首先从濒危植物七子花中分离到38株内生真菌,综合运用形态特征和分子生物学技术,明确其分类地位。38株植物内生真菌分属于6个属和1个无孢子群,其中交链孢属和刺盘孢属为优势菌群,葡萄座腔菌属、镰刀菌属、赤霉菌属、拟茎点霉属和无孢子群为常见属。以大肠埃希菌、白色念珠菌、金黄色葡萄球菌为靶标菌对获得菌株发酵液粗提物进行抑菌试验,发现95%以上的菌株对试测细菌具有一定的抗菌活性,表明七子花内生真菌的抗菌活性十分普遍;其中QZHⅡ10对大肠埃希菌具有较好的抑菌活性,抑菌圈直径为12.0 mm;而QZHⅡ07则对金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌活性较强,抑菌圈达到15.5 mm。这表明七子花内生真菌具有开发为微生物源杀菌剂的价值。     

薯蓣内生真菌抗氧化活性的初步研究

用碘量法研究了4株薯蓣内生真菌的发酵液和菌丝的抗氧化活性。结果表明,4株菌株的菌丝和发酵液具有不同的抗氧化活性,其中从薯蓣块茎中分离得到菌株EDT5发酵液的抗氧化活性最强,从薯蓣种子中分离得到菌株EDS4发酵液的抗氧化活性次之,并且在一定范围内,随着发酵液粗提物浓度的增加,其抗氧化活性增强。EDT5和EDS4发酵液的抗氧化效果高于或近于其宿主薯蓣而高于维生素E的抗氧化效果,表明内生真菌是天然抗氧化产物开发的潜在重要资源之一。     

茅苍术内生真菌的分离及抗肿瘤细胞活性筛选

近年来,植物内生菌在抗肿瘤天然药物的研究取得了很大的进展。本实验从植物茅苍术中利用纯培养方法和组织块法分离获得57株内生真菌,其中,从根中分离得到20株,叶中分离得到19株,茎中分离得到16株,果实中分离得到2株。对57株内生真菌的抗肿瘤活性进行筛选研究,结果表明,菌株KLMPAL027发酵液对人肝癌HepG2细胞抑制率达到63.76%。     

入侵植物紫茎泽兰叶内生真菌多样性研究

外来入侵植物通常要和当地的生物发生相互关系并对当地生态系统产生影响。为表明叶内生真菌是否有利于紫茎泽兰（Eupatorium adenophorum）的入侵力,首次调查了其叶内生真菌多样性。利用过夜冰冻组织法和常规的麦芽汁琼脂平板培养法,分别于3、6月份从昆明西山、金殿种群分离得到312个菌株,根据其ITS基因差异,分为77个可操作分类单元（OTUs）,系统发育地位分布在Agaricomycetes、Dothideomycetes、Sordariomycetes和 Pezizomycetes 4个纲。在低阶分类上这些真菌可分为19个属,优势属为链格孢属（Alternaria）（25.09%）和炭疽菌属（Colletotrichum）（10.80%）。有2.09%的菌株属于未知真菌。相比较,6月份的紫茎泽兰种群比3月份具有较高的内生真菌多样性。结果表明,入侵植物紫茎泽兰叶内生真菌非常丰富,这些真菌是否对紫茎泽兰的入侵力具有影响值得今后深入研究。     

山西省不同地区柴胡根部可培养内生真菌的多样性分析

为研究柴胡（Bupleurum chinense DC.）根部可培养内生真菌的多样性，分析山西省不同地区柴胡根部可培养内生真菌多样性的差异性，建立柴胡根部内生真菌库。本文以山西省不同产地的柴胡根为材料，采用传统植物组织平板分离法对柴胡根部可培养内生真菌进行分离培养和分子鉴定。从25个不同产地的柴胡样品根部中共分离培养得到705株真菌，经分子生物学鉴定，其中695株真菌归属为4门14纲23目32科55属119种。晋南地区的优势菌属为镰刀菌属（Fusarium, 32.18%）、亚隔孢壳属（Didymella, 15.96%）、曲霉属（Aspergillus, 8.24%）、异茎点霉属（Paraphoma, 6.91%）、茎点球属（Phoma, 5.32%）、链格孢属（Alternaria, 5.05%），晋北地区的优势菌属为镰刀菌属（31.66%）、曲霉属（15.36%）、链格孢属（9.09%）、亚隔孢壳属（8.15%）、异茎点霉属（7.52%），亚隔孢壳属、曲霉属、链格孢属等优势属的相对丰度差异较大；晋南地区的优势物种为Didymella bellidis（11.44%）、三线镰刀菌（Fusarium tricinctum, 7.98%）、腐皮镰刀菌（Fusarium solani, 7.45%）、锐顶镰孢菌（Fusarium acuminatum, 5.85%）、烟曲霉（Aspergillus fumigatus, 5.85%），晋北地区的优势物种为锐顶镰孢菌（14.11%）、烟曲霉（11.91%）、三线镰刀菌（9.40%）、菊异茎点霉（Paraphoma chrysanthemicola, 5.64%）、D. bellidis（5.64%）、链格孢菌（Alternaria alternata, 5.64%），D. bellidis、锐顶镰孢菌、烟曲霉等优势种的相对丰度差异较大。差异性分析表明晋南地区的生物多样性显著高于晋北地区，D. bellidis、锐顶镰孢菌、烟曲霉等优势种的相对丰度差异较大，为进一步研究柴胡根内生真菌相对丰度差异较大的物种及其不同菌株对柴胡皂苷积累的影响提供参考。     

丹霞柿，广东柿属(柿科)一新组合及其一新异名

通过查阅模式标本后发现丹霞南烛(Lyonia danxiaensis R. H. MiaoW. Q. Liu)具有聚伞花序,花部为4数,雄蕊16枚且成对着生,花丝非膝曲状等特征与珍珠花属(Lyonia)不符,而与柿科(Ebenaceae)柿属(Diospyros)一致,因此提出一新组合:丹霞柿[Diospyros danxiaensis (R. H. MiaoW. Q. Liu) Y. H. TongN. H. Xia]。且经标本比对后发现,新近发表的彭华柿(Diospyros penghuae W. B. Liao, Q. FanW. Y. Zhao)与丹霞柿实为同种,在此也予以合并。     

Effect of oleanane triterpenoids from Terminalia arjuna — a cardioprotective drug on the process of respiratory oxyburst

The oleanane triterpenes arjunic acid, arjungenin and their glucosides, arjunetin and arjunglucoside II, were isolated from the bark of Terminalia arjuna. Arjungenin and its glucoside exhibited a moderate free radical scavenging activity while all the compounds showed no effect on the superoxide release from PMN cells. Further arjungenin also exhibited greater inhibitory action on the hypochlorous acid production from human neutrophils.     

抗植物病原真菌紫叶小檗内生真菌的筛选和鉴定

对紫叶小檗根、茎、叶和果实中分离纯化得到的28株内生真菌进行液体培养,培养物烘干研磨后用丙酮浸提,测定各提取物对5种供试植物病原真菌的抑菌活性,对抗菌谱较广的菌株进行分子鉴定,并分别测定其胞内、胞外代谢产物的抑菌活性.结果显示:(1)紫叶小檗25株内生真菌中有5株菌(R3、S4、L6、F2、F6)的抗菌谱较广,其中,茎中的内生菌S4抑菌活性最强,对5种植物病原真菌的抑菌活性均大于90％,对马铃薯干腐病菌的抑菌率最高达93.06％.(2)经鉴定S4为子囊菌门的Para phaeos phaeria属真菌.(3)S4菌丝体丙酮提取液对马铃薯干腐病菌的抑菌率随其浓度(加入体积)的增加而增大,呈正相关线性关系(y=15.334x+14.618,r=0.99),而S4发酵液对马铃薯干腐病菌的抑菌率随其浓度(加入体积)的增加而减小,呈负相关线性关系(y=-20.196x+64.984,r=0.99),即在较高浓度时促进病原菌生长.研究表明,紫叶小檗内生真菌S4菌株的抑菌活性成分主要为胞内代谢产物.     

北细辛不同部位内生真菌的多样性与抑菌活性

为探讨北细辛(Asarum heterotropoides)不同部位可培养内生真菌种群结构的差异,采用植物组织平板分离法分离北细辛根、根状茎、越冬芽三个部位内生真菌,结合形态学和分子生物学方法鉴定菌株,并系统分析和比较其种类和多样性。从北细辛三个部位共分离得到117株内生真菌,其中97株归属于6纲6目8科9属17种。相似性和多样性分析表明,北细辛不同部位内生真菌的组成结构上存在差异,根部内生真菌的多样性指数最高,越冬芽最低。采用菌饼法检测其抑菌活性,G 3-3、G 4-10-1、G 2-2-1、GZJ 2-12-2对金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)有抑制作用,G 3-3、G 2-2-1、GZJ 2-12-2、GZJ 1-6、G 3-8对枯草芽胞杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)有抑制作用。GZJ 2-12-2对金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠埃希菌(Escherichia coli)、枯草芽胞杆菌均有抑制作用。     

古国槐叶片溶磷内生真菌的筛选及其促生潜力初探

该试验从周公庙古国槐叶片内分离、筛选具有溶磷能力的内生真菌,采用溶磷圈法和钼锑抗比色法测定其溶解无机磷的能力,同时测定其回接后对国槐无菌苗叶绿素、可溶性蛋白质、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性的影响,探究内生真菌的溶磷能力及其促生效应。结果表明:(1)从古国槐叶片中分离出的55株内生真菌中,28株具有溶磷能力,其中溶磷能力较强的活性菌株有12株:ZG-7为拟盘多毛孢(Pestalotiopsis sp.),ZG-9、ZG-23、ZG-32、ZG-36和ZG-53为镰刀菌(Fusariumsp.),ZG-15和ZG-34为曲霉(Aspergillus sp.),ZG-39和ZG-51为链格孢(Alternariasp.),ZG-42为木霉(Trichoderma sp.),ZG-48为附球菌(Epicoccumsp.)。(2)曲霉属真菌ZG-15和ZG-34的溶磷圈直径(d)及其与菌落直径(D)的比值d/D均高于其他菌株,对Ca_3(PO_4)_2的溶解能力最强(1 238.28和941.22mg·L-1),并极显著高于其他菌株(P0.01)。(3)4株内生真菌ZG-7、ZG-9、ZG-15和ZG-48回接至国槐无菌苗10d后,可从苗根组织的皮层细胞中观察到内生菌丝,其中黑曲霉(Aspergillus niger)ZG-15可显著提高国槐无菌苗的叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白质含量、SOD、POD活性(P0.05),从而维持幼苗的正常生长和提高其抗逆能力,为该试验得到的促生潜力优势内生真菌,可为古国槐的有效保护及林木溶磷生物菌肥的生产提供依据。     

A new species of Cladophialophora (hyphomycetes) from boreal and montane bryophytes

During a survey of bryophilous fungi from boreal and montane habitats in central Alberta, a hitherto undescribed species of Cladophialophora was recovered from Polytrichum juniperinum, Aulacomnium palustre, and Sphagnum fuscum. On potato dextrose agar (PDA) colonies grew slowly, attaining a diameter of 25 mm after 30 d, were dark grey, velvety, radially sulcate, and convolute and cracked at the centre. Micronematous conidiophores gave rise to branched chains of small (1–2 × 8–22 μm), cylindrical to fusiform conidia with truncate, swollen scars at each end. Phylogenies built on the ITS and ribosomal SSU regions indicate the isolates form a monophyletic clade within the family Herpotrichiellaceae (Chaetothyriales) that is composed of two geographically based groups, each with 99 % within-group sequence similarity and 97–98 % between-group sequence similarity. A teleomorph has not been found but would likely be similar to species of Capronia. In vitro inoculation of the isolates onto axenically grown P. juniperinum produced no discernible host symptoms, and host penetration could not be detected using light microscopy. The production of polyphenol oxidases by the fungus and the role of other Cladophialophora species as latent endophytes and saprobes suggest that a potential role for the fungus is the degradation of the polyphenol-rich cell walls of mosses. A dichotomous key to species of the genus Cladophialophora is provided.     

云杉矮槲寄生内寄生系统的解剖学研究

采用石蜡切片和显微观察的方法,以被云杉矮槲寄生侵染的青海云杉枝条为材料,从解剖学水平观察云杉矮槲寄生的内寄生系统。结果表明:云杉矮槲寄生的内寄生系统由分布在寄主皮层内的皮层根和镶嵌在寄主木质部中的吸根组成。皮层根可以沿着寄主枝条,通过挤压寄主皮层细胞的方式扩展,并穿透寄主表皮层形成云杉矮槲寄生的寄生芽;在靠近或接触寄主次生韧皮部时形成吸根,吸根顶端细胞定向穿透寄主韧皮部和形成层,侵染木质部,并沿木射线方向生长。当云杉矮槲寄生侵入寄主以及皮层根向外生长时,寄主表皮层发生加厚现象。随着云杉矮槲寄生侵染部位的寄主皮层细胞数增多,引起枝条膨大。研究认为,云杉矮槲寄生可以进行系统侵染,反映了云杉矮槲寄生与其寄主在组织水平上的相互作用。     

金沙江干热河谷滇榄仁开花物候与繁育系统

通过野外定点观测,并利用套袋实验、解剖实验以及花粉形态特征观察与活力检测、柱头可受性检测、花粉/胚珠比以及异交指数等,研究了金沙江干热河谷滇榄仁自然群体花部形态特征与开花进程、繁育系统特征以及传粉媒介与环境的适应性等内容。结果表明,滇榄仁始花期在每年4月上旬,群体花期持续时间为30d左右,开花同步性高,呈典型的"集中开花模式"。单花开放时,柱头先伸长和膨大,约4d后雄蕊伸出,具有雌雄异熟的特征,一定程度上避免了自交的发生。单花开放进程可划分为花蕾期、柱头伸长期、雄蕊始露期、盛开期、盛开后期、花谢期等6个时期。除了花蕾期外,整个开花期的花粉均具有活力。花粉活力与柱头可受性之间避开了最适授粉期,但也有部分重叠。滇榄仁可能同时具有风媒和虫媒传粉。繁育系统以异交为主,部分自交亲和,需要传粉者。滇榄仁花部特征、开花物候和繁育系统为其适应干热河谷恶劣气候环境提供了一定的生殖保障和进化潜力。良好的群落环境有助于促进滇榄仁异花传粉,产生更多有效的种子,从而促进林下自然更新。