Haemanalysis: The relative astringency of proanthocyanidin polymers

Effects of MW, stereochemistry of monomer units, and B-ring oxidation pattern on relative astringency were studied. Efficiency of protein precipitation is primarily a function of proanthocyanidin polymer (condensed tannin) size and whereas oligomeric proanthocyanidins have a relative astringency less than tannic acid, polymeric proanthocyanidins of sufficiently high average MW (M_n～2500) are equally as efficient at precipitating haemoglobin.     

Back-regulation of six oxidative stress proteins with grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts in rat diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. To prevent the development of this disease and to improve advanced kidney injury, effective therapies directed toward the key molecular target are required. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts (GSPE) have been reported to be effective in treating DN, while little is known about the functional protein changes. In this study, we used streptozotocin (STZ) to induce diabetic rats. GSPE (250 mg/kg body weight/day) were administrated to diabetic rats for 24 weeks. Serum glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and advanced glycation end products were determined. Consequently, 2-D difference gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were used to investigate kidney protein profiles among the control, untreated and GSPE treated diabetic rats. Twenty-five proteins were found either up-regulated or down-regulated in the kidneys of untreated diabetic rats. Only nine proteins in the kidneys of diabetic rats were found to be back-regulated to normal levels after GSPE therapy. These back-regulated proteins are involved in oxidative stress, glycosylation damage, and amino acids metabolism. Our findings might help to better understanding of the mechanism of DN, and provide novel targets for estimating the effects of GSPE therapy.     

The Rc and Rd genes are involved in proanthocyanidin synthesis in rice pericarp

Different colors, such as purple, brown, red and white, occur in the pericarp of rice. Here, two genes affecting proanthocyanidin synthesis in red- and brown-colored rice were elucidated. Genetic segregation analysis suggested that the Rd and A loci are identical, and both encode dihydroflavonol-4-reductase (DFR). The introduction of the DFR gene into an Rcrd mutant resulted in red-colored rice, which was brown in the original mutant, demonstrating that the Rd locus encodes the DFR protein. Accumulation of proanthocyanidins was observed in the transformants by the introduction of the Rd gene into the rice Rcrd line. Protein blot analysis showed that the DFR gene was translated in seeds with alternative translation initiation. A search for the Rc gene, which encodes a transacting regulatory factor, was conducted using available DNA markers and the Rice Genome Automated Annotation System program. Three candidate genes were identified and cloned from a rice RcRd line and subsequently introduced into a rice rcrd line. Brown-colored seeds were obtained from transgenic plants by the introduction of a gene containing the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) motif, demonstrating that the Rc gene encodes a bHLH protein. Comparison of the Rc locus among rice accessions showed that a 14-bp deletion occurred only in the rc locus.     

The systematic distribution of tannins in the leaves of angiosperms: A tool for ecological studies

The systematic distribution of tannins in foliar tissues has not been comprehensively reviewed for the Angiosperms in over 20 years. Here their systematic distribution is assessed using data based on protein precipitation or chemically specific tests. Fewer families are characterized by the typical presence of tannins than has previously been reported, and a greater variation in the occurrence of tannins in species sampled from within single plant families has been detected. This study presents the proportion of tannin-containing species in angiosperm families arranged according to the system of Cronquist for the first time. The potential utility of these data in testing ecological ideas about the distribution of tannins, such as those based on plant habit or life-history, is discussed.     

Antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects of proanthocyanidin and ginkgo biloba extract against doxorubicin‐induced cardiac injury in rats

Grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPE) and ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761) are considered to have protective effects against several diseases. The cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin (DOX) has been reported to be associated with oxidative damage. This study was conducted to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of GSPE and EGb761 against DOX‐induced heart injury in rats. DOX was administered as a single i.p. dose (20 mg kg^–1) to adult male rats. DOX‐intoxicated rats were orally administered GSPE (200 mg kg^–1 day^–1) or EGb761 (100 mg kg^–1 day^–1) for 15 consecutive days, starting 10 days prior DOX injection. DOX‐induced cardiotoxicity was evidenced by a significant increase in serum aspartate transaminase (AST), creatine phosphokinase isoenzyme (CK‐MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) activities and levels. Increased oxidative damage was expressed by the depletion of cardiac reduced glutathione (GSH), elevation of cardiac total antioxidant (TAO) level and accumulation of the lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde (MDA). Significant rises in cardiac tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) and caspase‐3 levels were noticed in DOX‐intoxicated rats. These changes were ameliorated in the GSPE and EGb761‐treated groups. Histopathological analysis confirmed the cardioprotective effects of GSPE and EGb761. In conclusion, GSPE and EGb761 mediate their protective effect against DOX‐induced cardiac injury through antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and antiapoptotic mechanisms. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crinum alkaloids: their chemistry and biology

The current staus of research of free and glycosylated alkaloids occuring in members of the genus Crinum is reviewed. The distribution, isolation, spectral properties, structural properties, inter conventions and biological acitivities of these alkaloids are presented.     

The phytochemistry of proanthocyanidin polymers

The structures of 38 proanthocyanidin polymers (condensed tannins) from 14 widely distributed families of plants are described. The polymers have been isolated from a wide variety of tissues including fruit (ripe and unripe), leaves, bark and phloem. They are all based on a common 4-8 (or 6) linked polyflavan-3-ol structure, analogous to B-type proanthocyanidin dimers.     

Molecular weight profiles of proanthocyanidin polymers

The MW profiles of proanthocyanidin polymers (condensed tannins) from 32 samples representing a wide range of plant tissues of many different species have been obtained by gel permeation chromatography of the peracetate derivatives. The tannins vary widely in MW, with M?_n values for the peracetates in the range 1600–5500. The MW profiles vary greatly from those with narrow, rather smooth distributions, to those which are discontinuous.     

胡杨、灰叶胡杨花空间分布及数量特征研究

研究了不同居群的胡杨、灰叶胡杨花空间分布及其数量特征。结果表明,无论是胡杨还是灰叶胡杨,其雄树的树高、最低花位、集花区下限、集花区上限、最高花位皆低于雌树,并且雌株与雄株的花序分布范围亦有着较大的重叠区域。在树体上,雄花序主要分布在树冠的中部,上部次之,下部最少;雌花序主要分布在树冠的上部,中部次之,下部最少。胡杨的单株花序量、花朵花药数、花药花粉量和花序花粉量均小于灰叶胡杨,而花序花朵数胡杨雄树的小于灰叶胡杨,雌树的大于灰叶胡杨。统计分析表明,不同居群胡杨的单株花序量、花序花朵数与花药花粉量是相对稳定的,而灰叶胡杨仅雄树的单株花序量是稳定的。     

胡杨、灰叶胡杨果实空间分布及其数量特性的研究

胡杨、灰叶胡杨种间比较,果穗、种子在树冠上的垂直分布均表现为树冠上层最多,中层居中,下层最少,树冠南北侧相比较,南侧果穗量多于北侧.单果种子量在树冠各层次上差异不显著.胡杨单果重是灰叶胡杨的2.68倍,千粒重是灰叶胡杨的1.33倍,单果种子量是灰叶胡杨的2.14倍,单株种子量是灰叶胡杨的1.28倍,而单株果实量灰叶胡杨是胡杨的1.59倍.同一个种不同居群间比较,胡杨、灰叶胡杨均是单株果穗数和果穗果实数各居群间都存在差异,胡杨各居群间单果重、单果种子量差异不显著,而灰叶胡杨各居群间单果重及单果种子量差异极显著.表明胡杨在物质和能量上对后代的投资能力强于灰叶胡杨,生殖策略是通过较高的单果种子量来保证一定数量的单株种子量;而灰叶胡杨单果种子量较低,却是通过较高的单株果量来保证单株种子量,并且较小的种子占据空间生态位的潜能较胡杨占优势.     

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of the proanthocyanidin shellegueain A from Polypodium feei METT.

Analgesic and antiinflammatory activity of proanthocyanidin isolated from Polypodium feei roots has been tested using acetic acid-induced writhing and carrageenan-induced paw edema methods, respectively. The compound at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly decreased writhing responses of mice induced by 0.7 % acetic acid along the 60 min test in a dose-dependent manner. The compound at a dose of 100 mg/kg gave the percent protection of 76.23 higher than that of acetylsalicylic acid (59.84 %) at a dose of 50 mg/kg. In the antiinflammatory test, this compound caused significant inhibition of the rats' plantar edema induced by 1 % of carrageenan, but this activity was observed only at a higher dose (200 mg/kg). These findings suggest that proanthocyanidin of P. feei roots might have analgesic and antiinflammatory activity, and its mechanism of action might be due to the inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis, because the proanthocyanidin fraction had an inhibitory effect on cyclooxygenase, but not on 5-lypoxygenase enzymes.     

中国蜡梅属种质资源的分布及其特点

根据对中国蜡梅属种质资源的调查,结合已有资料,重点阐述了中国蜡梅属植物的地理分布、水平和垂直分布特点及其生境特点。现知中国蜡梅属植物主要分布于我国的13个省,其水平分布很广,很连续,主要分布于秦岭以南、横断山脉以东的广大地区。垂直分布跨度很大,但垂直分布的上下限与经纬度无显著的相关性。蜡梅属植物对水热条件要求较严格,土壤基质多为沙壤土,在群系组成中,蜡梅属植物多为林木层和灌木层的优势成分。蜡梅属植物跨有5个植被类型,主要生长在常绿落叶阔叶混交林和常绿阔叶林地带。     

Specific root area: A soil characteristic

The root systems of all plants adapt to soil conditions. One of the ways Norway spruce adapts is a regulation of absorbing root surface area, which can be viewed as an ecomorphological index of soil conditions. Minimal specific root surface area of absorbing roots of Norway spruce (28–29 m²kg⁻¹) responds to optimal soil conditions. This was achieved at a soil bulk density of about 1.2 gcm⁻³.     

Bioinorganic chemistry of open-angle glaucoma: A review

At present, physical methods of chemical analysis are constantly improving providing large amount of data on elemental composition of organs and tissues. However, only few works describe the correlation (or the potential connection) between the general or local bioelemental imbalances and specific biochemical reactions that are involved in pathogenesis of certain diseases. This review describes primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) – one of the most common ophthalmic diseases – in terms of elemental chemistry. The authors look into the impact that various subgroups of elements have on passive and active processes of homeostasis regulation and hydrodynamic balance in the eye. Alkaline metals and their analogues (K, Na, Li, Rb, Cs) influence hydrostatics and hydrodynamics by means of both K-Na pumps and osmosis. Alkaline-earth elements and their analogues (Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Be) are involved in biomineralization and intercellular interaction in the drainage areas. Chalcophile metals and their analogues (Zn, Cu, Hg, Co, Ni, Cd, Pb, Mo, Sb) regulate redox reactions. They are the cofactors of enzymes that support structural homeostasis of the drainage area. Siderophile metals (Fe, Mn, Cr, Rh) regulate oxidation-reduction reactions, including those associated with limited nutrition of tissues in glaucoma. The role of amphoteric metals and nonmetals (Al, Si, Ga, V, TI, Sn, Ge, Zr, W) in POAG has not been described properly, but they were noted to participate in mineralization. Structure-forming non-metals and their analogues (N, S, Se, As) are directly involved in the formation of protein and non-protein aggregates that prevent aqueous humor outflow. The specific role of phosphorus in the pathogenesis of glaucoma has not been described previously. The authors analyze the involvement of phosphorus in energy-dependent processes of cellular activity, which are aimed at the reprocessing of aggregates that cause aqueous humor retention.     

A rhizolysimeter facility for studying the dynamics of crop and soil processes: description and evaluation

Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration will likely cause changes in plant productivity and composition that might affect soil decomposition processes. The objective of this study was to test to what extent elevated CO₂ and N fertility-induced changes in residue quality controlled decomposition rates. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was grown in 8-l pots and exposed to two concentrations of CO₂ (390 or 722 μmol mol^-1) and two levels of N fertilization (1.0 or 0.25 g l^-1 soil) within greenhouse chambers for 8 wks. Plants were then chemically defoliated and air-dried. Leaf, stem and root residues were assayed for total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC), lignin (LTGA), proanthocyanidins (PA), C and N. Respiration rates of an unsterilized sandy soil (Lakeland Sand) mixed with residues from the various treatments were determined using a soda lime trap to measure CO₂ release. At harvest, TNC and PA concentrations were 17 to 45% higher in residues previously treated with elevated CO₂ compared with controls. Leaf and stem residue LTGA concentrations were not significantly affected by either the elevated CO₂ or N fertilization treatments, although root residue LTGA concentration was 30% greater in plants treated with elevated CO₂. The concentration of TNC in leaf residues from the low N fertilization treatment was 2.3 times greater than that in the high N fertilization treatment, although TNC concentration in root and stem residues was suppressed 13 to 23% by the low soil N treatment. PA and LTGA concentrations in leaf, root and stem residues were affected by less than 10% by the low N fertilization treatment. N concentration was 14 to 44% lower in residues obtained from the elevated CO₂ and low N fertilization treatments. In the soil microbial respiration assay, cumulative CO₂ release was 10 to 14% lower in soils amended with residues from the elevated CO₂ and low N fertility treatments, although treatment differences diminished as the experiment progressed. Treatment effects on residue N concentration and C:N ratios appeared to be the most important factors affecting soil microbial respiration. The results of our study strongly suggest that, although elevated CO₂ and N fertility may have significant impact on post-harvest plant residue quality of cotton, neither factor is likely to substantially affect decomposition. Thus, C cycling might not be affected in this way, but via simple increases in plant biomass production. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

海河流域61种植物磷元素化学特征及地理分异

海河流域６１种植物磷元素化学特征及地理分异的分析结果表明：滨蒿（Ａｒｔｅｍｉｓｉａｓｃｏｐａｒｉａ）含磷量最高,达０．２１２％,浮萍（Ｌｅｍｎａｍｉｎｏｒ）最低,只有０．０４３％;玉米（Ｚｅａｍａｙｓ）、高粱（Ｓｏｒｇｈｕｍｖｕｌｇａｒｅ）、谷子（Ｐａｎｉｃｕｍｍｉｌｉａｃｅｕｍ）、水稻（Ｏｒｙｚａｓａｔｉｖａ）、小麦（Ｔｒｉｔｉｃｕｍａｅｓｔｉｖｕｍ）、莜麦（Ａｖｅｎａｎｕｄａ）等谷物含磷量＜０．２００％,低于作物正常含量水平,反应了土壤缺磷特点。各类植物含磷量大小为：盐生植物＞天然草本植物＞农作物＞蔬菜＞落叶阔叶树＞灌木半灌木＞果树＞针叶树＞水生植物（Ｐ＜０．０５）。农作物各器官部位以果实含磷量最高达０．２３４％,其次是叶０．１６１％和茎０．１１１％,根最低,只有０．０８４％,这种结果造成土壤有效磷因收获而亏损。不同支流域植物磷的地理分布规律表现为：滹沱河流域＞永定河流域＞漳卫河流域＞潮白河流域＞大清河流域（Ｐ＜０．０５）。土壤中含磷量相对较低,以及盐碱土ｐＨ较高,不利于植物吸收磷,造成植物磷营养元素相对缺乏     

The utility of leaf flavonoids as taxonomic markers for some Malaysian species of the tribe Shoreae (Dipterocarpaceae)

A flavonoid survey was carried out on 45 taxa from the genera Shorea, Hopea, Parashorea, Neobalanocarpus, and Dryobalanops of the tribe Shoreae in the Dipterocarpaceae. The study showed significant chemotaxonomic differences in leaf flavonoid aglycone patterns and the presence of tannins in these taxa. The flavonoid patterns are useful in the delimitation of some taxa. For example, the genus Parashorea is distinguished by the universal presence of kaempferol 3‐methyl ether, and the monotypic genus Neobalanocarpus is unique in not producing ellagic and gallo tannins. The presence of chalcones and flavone C‐glycosides supports the separation of the genus Hopea into two sections, section Dryobalanoides and section Hopea in Ashton's classification, which is based on the type of venation. The flavonoid distributions in this study show that they can be very useful for differentiating between the Balau group in the genus Shorea and some scaly barked Hopea species, particularly H. helferi (lintah bukit), H. nutans (giam), and H. ferrea (malut). © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157 , 755–762.     

A defective seed coat pattern (Net) is correlated with the post-transcriptional abundance of soluble proline-rich cell wall proteins

The pigmented seed coats of several soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) plant introductions and isolines have unusual defects that result in cracking of the mature seed coat exposing the endosperm and cotyledons. It has previously been shown that the T (tawny) locus that controls the color of trichomes on stems and leaves also has an effect on both the structure and pigmentation of the seed coat. Distribution of pigmentation on the seed coat is controlled by alleles of the I (inhibitor) locus. It was also found that total seed coat proteins were difficult to extract from pigmented seed coats with i T genotypes because they have procyanidins that exhibit tannin properties. We report that the inclusion of poly-L-proline in the extraction buffer out-competes proteins for binding to procyanidins. Once this problem was solved, we examined expression of the proline-rich cell wall proteins PRP1 and PRP2 in pigmented genotypes with the dominant T allele. We found that both homozygous i T and i t genotypes have reduced soluble PRP1 levels. The epistatic interaction of the double recessive genotype at both loci is necessary to produce the pigmented, defective seed coat phenotype characteristic of seed coats with the double recessive i and t alleles. This implies a novel effect of an enzyme in the flavonoid pathway on seed coat structure in addition to its effect on flavonoids, anthocyanidins, and proanthocyanidins. No soluble PRP1 polypeptides were detectable in pigmented seed coats (i T genotypes) of isolines that also display a net-like pattern of seed coat cracking, known as the Net defect. PRP2 was also absent in one of the these lines. However, both PRP1 and PRP2 cytoplasmic mRNAs were found in the Net-defective seed coats. Together with in vitro translation studies, these results suggest that the absence of soluble PRP polypeptides in the defective Net lines is post-translational and could be due to a more rapid or premature insolubilization of PRP polypeptides within the cell wall matrix.