牛樟芝子实体醇提物对过敏性肺炎的作用

本文研究台湾特有牛樟芝子实体醇提物对过敏性肺炎的作用并探讨其可能的作用机制。体内实验采用卵清蛋白（OVA）致敏制备过敏性肺炎模型,观察各组肺组织病理变化情况,并对脂多糖（LPS）诱导的细胞分泌促炎性细胞因子进行检测;离体实验中采用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）对LPS刺激THP-1细胞分泌促炎性因子（IL-1、IL-6及TNF-α）进行了检测。体外巨噬细胞（THP-1）抗炎试验结果显示牛樟芝子实体醇提物不同浓度均可显著抑制LPS诱导的THP-1细胞IL-1的分泌（P<0.001）;可完全抑制IL-6的分泌;浓度20μg/mL及80μg/mL下可以完全抑制TNF-α的分泌。OVA过敏性肺炎动物模型中,与模型组相比,牛樟芝子实体醇提物组可显著改善肺部外观色泽、细支气管淋巴球聚集、肺泡壁增生及肺泡空腔等炎症程度。口服KBA皿式牛樟芝子实体醇提物可有效改善过敏性肺炎程度,并有全身系统性抗炎效果,其机制可能为抑制THP-1细胞IL-1、IL-6及TNF-α的分泌。本研究为深入研究KBA皿式牛樟芝子实体改善雾霾性肺炎提供了重要的实验依据。     

Biologically active alkylated coumarins from Kayea assamica

Four coumarin derivatives, theraphins A (1), B (2), C (3), and D (4), along with three known xanthones, 2-hydroxyxanthone, 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone, and 5-hydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone, were isolated from the bark of Kayea assamica (Clusiaceae) native to Myanmar. Their structures were determined using spectroscopic and chemical techniques. The absolute configuration of 1 was established by the modified Mosher ester method. Theraphins A (1), B (2), and C (3) exhibited good cytotoxicity against Col2, KB, and LNCaP human cancer cell lines. Theraphin D (4) showed mild activity only against the KB cell line. The coumarins also exhibited mild antimalarial activities.     

Structural characterization of a water-soluble beta-D-glucan from fruiting bodies of Agaricus blazei Murr

A beta-D-glucan, Ab2-2N, was isolated from the hot-water extract of fruiting bodies of Agaricus blazei Murr by ethanol precipitation, anion-exchange and gel-permeation chromatography. Its structure was investigated by composition analysis, methylation analysis, Smith degradation, mild hydrolysis, and NMR spectroscopy. It contains a (1-->6)-linked beta-D-glucopyranosyl backbone, with one side chain consisting of terminal and 3-substituted beta-D-glucopyranosyl residues attached at O-3 for every three backbone residues.     

A novel lectin from the wild mushroom Polyporus adusta

A lectin with antiproliferative activity toward tumor cell lines and mitogenic activity toward splenocytes was isolated from the mushroom Polyporus adusta. The lectin was composed of two identical subunits each with a molecular weight of 12 kDa. It was adsorbed on both DEAE-cellulose and Q-Sepharose and unadsorbed on CM-Sepharose. The hemagglutinating activity of the lectin was inhibited by turanose and by a large variety of other carbohydrates. It was adversely affected in the presence of NaOH or HCl at a concentration of 7.5mM and above, and when the ambient temperature was raised above 70 degrees C. All divalent and trivalent metallic chlorides tested at 1.25-10mM including CaCl(2), MgCl(2), ZnCl(2), MnCl(2), and AlCl(3), did not alter the hemagglutinating activity of the lectin. FeCl(3) at 10mM caused the hemagglutinating activity to increase by 100%, but it did not change the lectin activity when tested at lower concentrations up to 5mM.     

Cytotoxic and aromatic constituents from Salvia miltiorrhiza

As part of an ongoing study of traditional Chinese medicinal plants, the root tissue of Salvia miltiorrhiza was further investigated for its chemical constituents. Five naturally occurring products along with 13 known constituents were isolated from an ethyl acetate-soluble portion of its ethanol extract. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods. Some selected compounds were also evaluated for biological activity.     

蛹虫草表型多态性对子实体产生及虫草菌素的影响

为选育高产子实体和虫草菌素的蛹虫草菌株,从野生蛹虫草中分离单孢子并进行分型,之后进行产子实体实验;同时对蛹虫草子实体进行了产孢结构的观察,并用高效液相色谱仪检测了子实体和培养基中的虫草菌素。结果表明,菌落背面颜色为橙铬色的菌株容易产生子实体;出发(原代)菌株所产子实体在形态上更接近野生蛹虫草,而角变株的子实体畸形;出发菌株产子实体能力要比该菌株未发生角变部分分离株和角变部分分离株都强。在虫草菌素的产量上也以出发菌株为高,表明表型多态性对蛹虫草产子实体和虫草菌素有很大的影响。这对于优势菌种的筛选和生产实践有借鉴意义。     

Isopimarane diterpene glycosides, apoptosis inducers, obtained from fruiting bodies of the ascomycete Xylaria polymorpha

The methanol extract of fruiting bodies of the ascomycete Xylaria polymorpha afforded three isopimarane diterpene glycosides, namely, 16-α-d-mannopyranosyloxyisopimar-7-en-19-oic acid (1), 15-hydroxy-16-α-d-mannopyranosyloxyisopimar-7-en-19-oic acid (2), and 16-α-d-glucopyranosyloxyisopimar-7-en-19-oic acid (3). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and by single-crystal X-ray analysis. They showed cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines and exhibited IC₅₀ values ranging from 71 to 607 μM. Further studies on the cytotoxicity of these compounds against HL60 cells demonstrated that they induced apoptosis along with typical DNA fragmentation. It was observed that 2 was less active than 1 and 3.     

Biological evaluation of phenolic constituents from the trunk of Berberis koreana

A bioassay-guided fractionation and chemical investigation of the trunk of Berberis koreana resulted in the isolation and identification of a new sesquilignan, named berbikonol (1), along with fourteen known lignan derivatives (2-15) and a new phenolic compound, named berfussinol (16), together with five known ones (17-21). The structures of these new compounds were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data analysis as well as circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy studies. Compounds 1-5, 7-8, 11, and 14 showed significant cytotoxicity against the XF498 cell line with IC₅₀ values of 7.14-19.32 μM. In addition, compounds 3-8 and 15 strongly reduced nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 cells, a microglial cell line.     

Bioactive constituents from roots of Bursera tonkinensis

Bioassay directed-fractionation led to isolation of 12 compounds from the roots of Bursera tonkinensis Guillaum (Burseraceae), including burselignan, bursephenylpropane, and burseneolignan. Of the 12 compounds, only 4'-demethyldesoxypodophyllotoxin exhibited significant cytotoxic activities against KB, Col2 and LNCaP cell lines.     

Cytotoxic constituents of Achillea clavennae from Montenegro

Examination of the aerial parts of Achillea clavennae afforded eight guaianolides (1-8), three bisabolenes (9-11), four flavonols (12-15), sesamin (lignan) and isofraxidin (coumarin). The structures of the new compounds (2, 4, 5, 7 and 10) were determined by spectroscopic methods. The antiproliferative action of 2, 8, 9 and 12 were tested to HeLa, K562 and Fem-X human cancer cell lines. Guaianolides 2 (9alpha-acetoxyartecanin) and 8 (apressin) showed significant cytotoxic effects to all tested lines and inducumenone (9) exhibited a moderate activity. The most active was flavonol centaureidin (12), already known as cytotoxic compound.     

Antiinflammatory triterpenoids and steroids from Ganoderma lucidum and G. tsugae

The antiinflammatory properties of triterpenoids and steroids from both Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma tsugae were studied. Twelve compounds, including ergosta-7,22-dien-3beta-ol (1), ergosta-7,22-dien-3beta-yl palmitate (2), ergosta-7,22-dien-3-one (3), ergosta-7,22-dien-2beta,3alpha,9alpha-triol (4), 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (5), ganoderal A (6), ganoderal B (7), ganoderic aldehyde A (8), tsugaric acid A (9), 3-oxo-5alpha-lanosta-8,24-dien-21-oic acid (10), 3alpha-acetoxy-5alpha-lanosta-8,24-dien-21-oic acid ester beta-d-glucoside (11), and tsugaric acid B (12), were assessed in vitro by determining their inhibitory effects on the chemical mediators released from mast cells, neutrophils, and macrophages. Compound 10 showed a significant inhibitory effect on the release of beta-glucuronidase from rat neutrophils stimulated with formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP)/cytochalasin B (CB) whereas compound 9 significantly inhibited superoxide anion formation in fMLP/CB-stimulated rat neutrophils. Compound 10 also exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-stimulated N9 microglial cells. Moreover, compound 9 was also able to protect human keratinocytes against damage induced by ultraviolet B (UV B) light, which indicated 9 could protect keratinocytes from photodamage.     

First report of an arabinose-specific fungal lectin

To date, arabinose-binding lectins have been reported only from the human opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the plant aggressive pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum, and the sponge Pellina semitubulosa. An arabinose-binding lectin with mitogenic activity toward splenocytes and a high specific hemagglutinating activity was isolated in the present study from a wild discomycete mushroom, Peziza sylvestris. The maximal mitogenic activity was induced by a lectin concentration of 8 microM. The lectin was a single-chained protein with a molecular mass of 20 kDa. Its N-terminal sequence showed only slight resemblance to other mushroom lectins. It was adsorbed on both diethylaminoethyl-cellulose and carboxymethyl-cellulose. Unlike previously reported mushroom lectins, the hemagglutinating activity of the lectin was inhibited by arabinose, but not by a large variety of other carbohydrates. The lectin activity was adversely affected in the presence of 0.05 M NaOH or 0.025 M HCl, and when the ambient temperature was elevated above 35 degrees C.     

一个新型牛樟芝PR-PKS基因的克隆及表达分析

为了解牛樟芝中聚酮化合物的生物合成机理及聚酮合酶基因功能,从牛樟芝基因组挖掘并克隆得到一个部分还原型PKS(PR-PKS)基因(AcPKS3),并对其进行生物信息学分析及表达谱分析。结果显示,AcPKS3(GenBank登录号:MG988206)DNA全长8 286 bp,有22个内含子,其外显子共编码2 285个氨基酸;结构域依次为KS-AT-KR-ACP-SDR,各结构域的活性保守位点为β-酮基合成酶(DTACSS)、酰基转移酶(GHSAGETA)、酮基还原酶(YLLVGGIG)、酰基转移酶(YGLDSITSA)、短链醇脱氢酶与NAD(P)H结合的N端保守序列(ITGTTGSFG)及活性保守位点(YTESK);AcPKS3与6-甲基水杨酸合成酶的亲缘关系较近;不同碳源中葡萄糖,不同氮源中牛肉浸粉、酪蛋白胨、土豆蛋白胨可促进AcPKS3基因表达。本研究为牛樟芝聚酮合酶功能研究及牛樟芝基因资源利用提供参考。     

Pregnane, coumarin and lupane derivatives and cytotoxic constituents from Helicteres angustifolia

2alpha,7beta,20alpha-Trihydroxy-3beta,21-dimethoxy-5-pregnene (1), 6,7,9alpha-trihydroxy-3,8,11alpha-trimethylcyclohexo-[d,e]-coumarin (2), 3beta-hydroxy-27-benzoyloxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (3), and 3beta-hydroxy-27-benzoyloxylup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid methyl ester (4), along with 24 known compounds were isolated and structurally characterized from roots and aerial parts of Helicteres angustifolia (Sterculiaceae). In a preliminary bioassay, the two cucurbitacin derivatives, cucurbitacin D and J exhibited significant inhibitory activities against the growth of both hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 cells and malignant melanoma SK-MEL-28 cells in vitro.     

An alkaline protease from fresh fruiting bodies of the edible mushroom <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus citrinopileatus</Emphasis>

A protease was purified from fresh fruiting bodies of the edible mushroom Pleurotus citrinopileatus. The isolation procedure included ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, CM-cellulose, and Q-Sepharose and fast protein liquid chromatography-gel filtration on Superdex 75. The protease was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose and Q-Sepharose, but adsorbed on CM-cellulose. In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the protease demonstrated a single band with a molecular mass of 28 kDa. The protease showed an optimal pH at 10 and an optimal temperature at 50°C. The activity of the protease was not affected by EDTA, indicating that it is not a metalloprotease. The protease exhibited a higher activity in the presence of K⁺ and Li⁺, but its activity was potently inhibited by Al³⁺, Cu²⁺, and Hg²⁺ ions. It manifested a K _m of 3.44 mg/ml and a V _max of 0.139 mg ml⁻¹ min⁻¹. It was devoid of ribonuclease and antifungal activities.     

DIF-1 induces the basal disc of the Dictyostelium fruiting body

The polyketide DIF-1 induces Dictyostelium amoebae to form stalk cells in culture. To better define its role in normal development, we examined the phenotype of a mutant blocking the first step of DIF-1 synthesis, which lacks both DIF-1 and its biosynthetic intermediate, dM-DIF-1 (des-methyl-DIF-1). Slugs of this polyketide synthase mutant (stlB⁻) are long and thin and rapidly break up, leaving an immotile prespore mass. They have ∼ 30% fewer prestalk cells than their wild-type parent and lack a subset of anterior-like cells, which later form the outer basal disc. This structure is missing from the fruiting body, which perhaps in consequence initiates culmination along the substratum. The lower cup is rudimentary at best and the spore mass, lacking support, slips down the stalk. The dmtA⁻ methyltransferase mutant, blocked in the last step of DIF-1 synthesis, resembles the stlB⁻ mutant but has delayed tip formation and fewer prestalk-O cells. This difference may be due to accumulation of dM-DIF-1 in the dmtA⁻ mutant, since dM-DIF-1 inhibits prestalk-O differentiation. Thus, DIF-1 is required for slug migration and specifies the anterior-like cells forming the basal disc and much of the lower cup; significantly the DIF-1 biosynthetic pathway may supply a second signal - dM-DIF-1.     

New 4-methylated and 19-oxygenated steroids from the Formosan soft coral Nephthea erecta

Two new 4-methylated steroids, erectasteroids A and B (1 and 2), six new 19-oxygenated steroids, erectasteroids C-H (3-8) and two known 19-oxygenated steroids (9 and 10) were isolated from the acetone solubles of the Formosan soft coral Nephthea erecta. The structures were elucidated by extensive NMR spectroscopic analysis and their cytotoxicity against selected cancer cells was measured in vitro.     

Bioactive phenolic compounds from a medicinal lichen, Usnea longissima

Natural products, longissiminone A (1) and longissiminone B (2), were isolated along with a known compound, glutinol (3), from a medicinal lichen, Usnea longissima. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined with the help of spectroscopic studies. Compound 1 was found to possess potent anti-inflammatory activity in a cell-based contemporary assay. Cytotoxicity activity measured by cell viability assay showed 100% viability in the presence of 200 microg/mL conc. of these compounds.