Rhus javanica var. chinensis as a New Plant Origin of Propolis from Okayama,Japan

To directly identify the plant origin of propolis from Takebe-cho (Okayama, Japan), we observed the honeybee behavior. Honeybees scraped sap from the tree, Rhus javanica var. chinensis. We compared the constituents and radical-scavenging activity of this sap and propolis. Their chemical constituents and radical-scavenging activity were comparable. This indicates directly that the plant origin of this propolis is R. javanica var. chinensis.     

Antibacterial Compounds from Propolis of Tetragonula laeviceps and Tetrigona melanoleuca (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from Thailand

This study investigated the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of propolis collected from two stingless bee species Tetragonula laeviceps and Tetrigona melanoleuca (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Six xanthones, one triterpene and one lignane were isolated from Tetragonula laeviceps propolis. Triterpenes were the main constituents in T. melanoleuca propolis. The ethanol extract and isolated compounds from T. laeviceps propolis showed a higher antibacterial activity than those of T. melanoleuca propolis as the constituent α-mangostin exhibited the strongest activity. Xanthones were found in propolis for the first time; Garcinia mangostana (Mangosteen) was the most probable plant source. In addition, this is the first report on the chemical composition and bioactivity of propolis from T. melanoleuca.     

The inhibitory activity of typified propolis against Enterococcus species

Propolis, a natural bee product widely used for its antimicrobial activity, was tested against isolates of Enterococcus from humans, pig-tailed macaques, isolates of refractory endodontic treatment cases, and isolates from Lactobacillus-containing food supplements. Typification of the propolis was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) by which prenylated compounds, cinnamic acid derivatives, and flavonoids were detected as the main constituents. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined using the agar dilution method. All human and animal Enterococcus isolates demonstrated MIC values of 1600 microg/mL. Enterococcal species of human and animal origin were inhibited by propolis. Particularly, human isolates of E. faecium and E. faecalis of refractory endodontic treatment cases were susceptible to propolis of Brazilian origin.     

Xylem Sap from Actinidia chinensis: seasonal Changes in Composition

Seasonal variation was followed in the content of total a-aminoacids, arginine, calcium, total carbohydrate, ß-galactosidaseactivity, magnesium, nitrate, phosphatase activity, phosphateand sulphate in vacuum-extracted xylem sap from Actinidia chinensisvar. hispida, the Chinese gooseberry or kiwifruit. There wasa marked increase in the concentration of most sap componentsjust prior to leaf emergence followed by a rapid decrease afterthe leaves had expanded. Experiments with excised extensionshoots showed that much of this spring-time increase in concentrationsof sap components was due to mobilization of nutrients withinthe shoot itself. Sap from the trunk and the older brancheschanged less in composition than did sap from the younger partsof the plant. The amplitude and direction of trends in concentrationof sap from the different parts of the plant varied with nutrientand with time. Analysis of vacuum-extracted xylem sap collectedduring periods of rapid transpiration from early summer onwardsgives a reliable indication of the composition of the transpirationstream. Actinidia chinensis, Chinese gooseberry, kiwifruit, storage reserves, xylem sap, amino acids, arginine, calcium, carbohydrate, ßgalactosidase, magnesium, nitrate, phosphatase, phosphate, potassium, sulphate     

Propolis characterization and antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans: A review

Propolis is a plant-based sticky substance that is produced by honeybees. It has been used traditionally by ancient civilizations as a folk medicine, and is known to have many pharmaceutical properties including antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antitumour effects. Worldwide, researchers are still studying the complex composition of propolis to unveil its biological potential, and especially its antimicrobial activity against a variety of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. This review explores scientific reports published during the last decade on the characterization of different types of propolis, and evaluates their antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Propolis can be divided into different types depending on their chemical composition and physical properties associated with geographic origin and plant sources. Flavonoids, phenols, diterpenes, and aliphatic compounds are the main chemicals that characterize the different types of propolis (Poplar, Brazilian, and Mediterranean), and are responsible for their antimicrobial activity. The extracts of most types of propolis showed greater antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria: particularly on S. aureus, as well as on C. albicans, as compared to Gram-negative pathogens. Propolis acts either by directly interacting with the microbial cells or by stimulating the immune system of the host cells. Some studies have suggested that structural damage to the microorganisms is a possible mechanism by which propolis exhibits its antimicrobial activity. However, the mechanism of action of propolis is still unclear, due to the synergistic interaction of the ingredients of propolis, and this natural substance has multi-target activity in the cell. The broad-spectrum biological potentials of propolis present it as an ideal candidate for the development of new, potent, and cost-effective antimicrobial agents.     

濒危植物兰花蕉的核型研究

研究了濒危植物兰花蕉及其变种长萼兰花蕉的核型。结果表明,兰花蕉中期染色体的相对长度为5.00～7.78μm,核型公式为2n=6x=54=23m+3sm(1sec)+1st(sec);而长萼兰花蕉中期染色体相对长度为5.00～7.92μm,核型公式为2n=6x=54=22m+4sm(2sec)+1st(sec)。按Stebbins的分类,两者均属2A型。根据核形态的有关数据分析,进一步支持将长萼兰花蕉作为兰花蕉变种处理的观点。     

维吾尔药材红豆杉植物基原研究

从分子学角度探明维吾尔药材红豆杉的植物基原,为维吾尔药材标准化与维吾尔药产业化提供科学依据。采用试剂盒法提取红豆杉属植物及药材基因组DNA,PCR扩增ITS2片段,双向测序,应用Mega 6.0软件分析序列,计算种内及种间遗传距离,构建NJ鉴别树。红豆杉属植物ITS2序列长度为229~231bp,GC含量为59.13%~60.26%;西藏红豆杉与红豆杉及南方红豆杉种内种间K2P距离为0,与东北红豆杉、命叶红豆杉及曼地亚红豆杉种间K2P距离分别为0.012、0.013、0.015。NJ树结果表明,西藏红豆杉与红豆杉及南方红豆杉无法区分,与东北红豆杉、命叶红豆杉可区分;曼地亚红豆杉与其母本东北红豆杉聚在一起,无法区分。根据ITS2序列鉴定结果,西藏红豆杉与红豆杉、南方红豆杉可作为药材的同一基原,东北红豆杉可与曼地亚红豆杉作为同一基原,为维吾尔药材的真伪鉴别及质量标准提升提供基原鉴定依据。     

Propolis with high flavonoid content collected by honey bees from Acacia paradoxa

Honey bees, Apis mellifera var ligustica, on Kangaroo Island, Australia, were found to collect propolis from the sticky exudate on the stem shoots and seed pods of an Australian endemic plant, Acacia paradoxa. Extracts of the plant stem shoots and seed pods, the propolis carried on the legs of bees and freshly collected propolis in hives contained major flavonoid components consisting of 2′,3′,4′-trimethoxychalcone, 2′-hydroxy-3′,4′-dimethoxychalcone, 2′,4′-dihydroxy-3′-methoxychalcone, 5,7-dihydroxy-2,3-dihydroflavonol 3-acetate (pinobanksin 3-acetate) and 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-2,3-dihydroflavonol 3-acetate, a substance not previously characterized. HPLC and ¹H NMR analyses of the propolis and plant extracts indicated smaller amounts of other flavonoids. A survey of propolis samples from 47 apiary sites widely distributed on Kangaroo Island showed that 15 samples from 6 sites were largely sourced from A. paradoxa.     

镧对华重楼生长及皂苷含量的影响

本研究以4年生华重楼（Paris polyphylla Smith var. chinensis（Franch.）Hara）为实验材料,分别采用0、5、20、80、160 mg/L的加镧营养液培养华重楼植株,通过比较不同营养生长指标及采用HPLC法测定根茎皂苷组分,研究不同施镧水平对华重楼生长及皂苷含量的影响。结果显示,镧对华重楼生长及皂苷含量均有显著影响,随着镧溶液浓度的增加,华重楼皂苷含量呈上升趋势,但当镧含量达到160.00 mg/L时,则会对华重楼的生长产生抑制作用,导致株高降低、比叶面积升高。研究结果表明80.00 mg/L的施镧水平最有利于华重楼的营养生长及根茎皂苷积累。     

Antibacterial activity and phytochemical evidence for the plant origin of Turkish propolis from different regions

Honeybees collect propolis from practically any abundant plant source in the neighborhood of the hive, be it populus, eucalyptus, pine, sugarcane, cashew nut or orange trees. We have described that the origin plants of Turkish propolis are Populus sp., Eucalyptus sp. and Castanea sativa. In our previous study, propolis samples from Middle Anatolia displayed the typical pattern of “poplar” propolis: they contained pinobanksin, caffeic and ferulic acids and their esters. The propolis samples examined in this study were shown not to contain polar phenolics. The main components of Eucalyptus propolis were aromatic acids, mainly cinnamic acid and its esters, that are usually found in Eucalyptus species resins. The second distinct sample originated from West Anatolia. Although it contained low amounts of phenolic substances and aromatic acids, its main components were sugars and glycosides. The study revealed that there was no significant difference between propolis samples in antibacterial activity, however the yeasts were shown to be more sensitive to eucalyptus-propolis. Gram negative bacteria were susceptible to none of the samples tested.     

华南地区22种园林植物耐旱性分级筛选

以华南地区22种常见园林植物为研究对象，研究人工模拟干旱胁迫环境对植物叶片叶绿素、丙二醛、过氧化物酶、相对电导率等生理指标的影响，通过主成分分析、聚类分析对22种植物耐旱性进行综合分析评价和耐旱等级划分。结果表明：(1) 在干旱梯度胁迫期间，植物叶片的叶绿素含量总体上呈不同程度的下降趋势，少数呈上升趋势，丙二醛含量和相对电导率均呈不同程度的上升趋势，多数植物过氧化物酶活性呈不同程度先升后降趋势，少数呈持续上升趋势。(2) 22种植物耐旱性分为3个等级：A级强耐旱植物4种，包括灰莉(Fagraea ceilanica)、鸭脚木(Schefflera octophylla)、桂花(Osmanthus fragrans var. fragrans)、鸢尾(Iris tectorum)；B级中耐旱植物6种，包括翠芦莉(Ruellia simplex)、栀子花(Gardenia jasminoides)、变叶木(Codiaeum variegatum)、红车(Syzygium hancei)、红背桂(Excoecaria cochinchinen)、茉莉花(Jasminum sambac)；C级不耐旱植物12种，包括福建茶(Carmona microphylla)、米仔兰(Aglaia odorata)、大红花(Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)、琴叶珊瑚(Jatropha integerrima)、龙船花(Ixora chinensis)、黄蝉(Allamanda schottii)、假连翘(Duranta erecta)、红檵木(Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum)、紫薇(Lagerstroemia indica)、风车草(Cyperus involucratus)、小花月季(Rosa chinensis var. minim)、铜钱草(Hydrocotyle chinensis)。     

Antifungal activity of Apulia region propolis

A study was carried out to assess the in vitro antifungal activity of some natural Apulian propolis extracts of different origin. Their antifungal activity was compared to the antifungal activity of conifers and commercial propolis extracts. All extracts revealed antifungal activity against dermatophytes and Candida species. The antifungal activity differences found depended on the origin of the propolis and the solvent used for extraction. The best antifungal activity was given by the 'Orimini' propolis. The antifungal activity may have been influenced by the presence of different cinnamic and flavonoid components and their different concentration in the extracts. Further investigations are needed to validate this hypothesis.     

Induction Of Callus and Regeneration of Plantlets in Stem Segment Culture of Chinese Gooseberry

The stem segments of male and female plants of Actinidia chihensis Planch. var. chinensis C. F. Liang and A. chihensis Planch. var. hispida C. F. Liang were cultured in vitro. Callus and plantlets were obtained on MS basic medium supplemented with BAP (0.5, 2 ppm) + IAA (0.05 ppm) or zeatin (0.1–10 ppm). Best results were obtained on medium added with 1 ppm zeatin. It was possible to induce callus in both species but the frequency of callus redifferentiating into plantlet in A. chinensis Planch. var. hispida was far higher than that in A. chinensis Planch. var. chinensis and the frequency of plantlets derived from the female plant was higher than those from the male plant. The stem of plantlet was cut off when it reached 1 cm in height, then soaked in the solution with IBA 50 ppm for 2 hr. or with IBA 2 ppm for 24 hr. and the excised stem was transferred onto medium with 1/2 MS+ 1% sucrose +0.5% active carbon for rooting. It is possible that this technique of obtaining whole plants by stem segment culture provides a method for thes multiplication of female plants and the good individual plants of chinese gooseberry.     

A New Prenylated Flavonoid from Propolis Collected in Okinawa,Japan

The new prenylflavonoid, isonymphaeol-B (1), together with three known compounds, nymphaeol-A (2), nymphaeol-B (3), and nymphaeol-C (4), were isolated from propolis collected in Okinawa, the southern-most prefecture of Japan. The structure of each compound was determined by spectral methods, including mass spectrometry and 2D NMR. Each compound had 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical-scavenging activity.     

A new prenylated flavonoid from propolis collected in Okinawa, Japan

The new prenylflavonoid, isonymphaeol-B (1), together with three known compounds, nymphaeol-A (2), nymphaeol-B (3), and nymphaeol-C (4), were isolated from propolis collected in Okinawa, the southern-most prefecture of Japan. The structure of each compound was determined by spectral methods, including mass spectrometry and 2D NMR. Each compound had 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical-scavenging activity.     

Recent development of chemical components in propolis

Propolis is a resinous substance collected by honeybees from various plant sources. On account of its chemical composition, propolis possesses several biological and pharmacological properties. In recent years, many papers have provided information concerning its composition. This review compiles data from most studies of propolis, focusing on the chemical composition of ethanol extracts of propolis (EEP), water extracts of propolis (WEP), and volatile oils from propolis (VOP). The characteristic compounds of EEP are polyphenols including flavonoids and related phenolic acids, and flavonoids are the most abundant and effective parts. They are considered to contribute more to the antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant effects than the other constituents. The main flavonoids in EEP are pinocembrin, galangin, chrysin, quercetin, kaempferol, and naringenin. The constituents reported to be in WEP include phenolic acids, caffeoylquinic acid, 3-mono-O-caffeoylquinic acid, caffeic acid, flavonoids, etc. The propolis volatile compounds are benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, cinnamic alcohol, vanillin, eudensmol, cyclohexyl benzoate, and benzyl benzoate, which are responsible for several biological properties. As a natural mixture, propolis is widely used in medicine and cosmetics, as well as being a constituent of health foods. Since propolis has been used extensively, information on its composition is not only of interest to the academic field, but also to propolis users.     

Hepatoprotective and anti-Helicobacter pylori activities of constituents from Brazilian propolis.

Propolis is a resinous hive product collected by honeybees from various plant sources. It is extensively used in food, beverage and in folk medicine for treating various ailments and reported to have broad spectrum of biological activities. The hepatoprotective activity of propolis and constituents from its MeOH extract belonging to various classes were tested on D-galactosamine (D-GalN)/tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced cell death in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes. The result indicated that hepatoprotective activity of alcoholic extract of tropical Brazilian propolis is mainly due to phenolic compounds including flavonoids. All the four isolated flavonoids possessed stronger inhibitory activity (IC50, < 25 microM) than silibinin (IC50, 39.6 microM) on TNF-alpha-induced cell death. The labdane-type diterpenes isolated from the MeOH extract also exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity in the same experimental model. Moreover, the labdane-type diterpenes and some of the prenylated phenolic compounds possessed antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori.     

改良菜心离体培养植株再生体系的研究（简报）

This investigation has developed an efficient and fast method for plant regeneration from petiole of cotyledon explants of Brassica campestris L. subsp. chinensis Makino var. parachinensis Tsen et Lee. A medium was designed for B. campestris subsp. chinensis var. parachinensis to obtain the high frequency of shoot regeneration, which contained BAP 2 mg/L, NAA 0.75-1.0 mgL and 7.5 mg/L AgNO3 solution to the half of NH4+ concentration's MS basic medium. 60 mL/L coconut milk were added to all of media. In this method, frequency of shoot regeneration of "youqing caixin" reached as high as 91.2% and the number of shoots per explant reached as high as 4.7 plants. The result showed that there was a positive correlation between frequency of shoot regeneration and number of shoots per explant. The little shoots could be observed five days after inoculation and were formed directly. The inducing rate of roots of the shoots reached as high as 100% and the rate of viability of transferred mature plant reached higher than 95%. The regeneration period from petiole with cotyledon to a seedling was shorten to about 49 days. Factors influencing in vitro explant regeneration were studied.     

Comparative lipidomics analysis of cellular development and apoptosis in two Taxus cell lines

A comparative lipidomics approach was employed to investigate the changes in membrane phospholipids during the procession of cellular development and apoptosis of two plant cell lines, Taxus cuspidata and Taxus chinensis var. mairei. Analysis of lipids by LC/ESI/MS(n) showed more than 90 phospholipid molecular species and indicated significant differences in the abundance throughout a 3-week period. Phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC) were three important lipid groups that were responsible for the discrimination between the apoptotic T. chinensis var. mairei and living T. cuspidata cells. Continuous increase of phospholipase D (PLD) activity led to PA production in apoptotic T. chinensis var. mairei cells suggesting that the PLD activation and PA formation mediated the apoptosis. Comparison of the profiles of phosphatidylbutanol (PtdBut) with those of PC or phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) indicated that PC rather than PE was the major substrate of PLD in vivo. These results suggest that the alternation of membrane phospholipids may regulate apoptosis, triggering an increase in taxol production of T. chinensis var. mairei cells.     

中国水仙续考——与卢履范同志商榷

本文在《中国水仙考》的基础上,进一步对史籍记载、植物学证据等方面进行深入的分析与考证,再次认为:中国水仙系归化植物,很可能是唐代从地中海沿岸国家传入中国的。