毛离褶伞——一种孢子杆状的离褶伞科新属和新种

根据形态和分子系统发育证据,描述采自我国西南的新属和新种毛离褶伞Tricholyophyllum brunneum。与离褶伞科其他属不同,该新属的菌盖表皮为毛皮状,菌柄表皮为不连续的毛皮状,有褶缘囊状体,担孢子长椭圆形至圆柱形。     

西双版纳入侵长足捷蚁与土著黄猄蚁的种间竞争

【目的】入侵物种能够通过竞争影响本地物种的种群,从而影响入侵地的生物多样性。长足光捷蚁Anoplolepis gracilipes是全球最具破坏力的入侵蚂蚁之一。本研究旨在明确西双版纳地区入侵长足捷蚁与土著优势种蚂蚁黄猄蚁Oecophylla smaragdina之间的竞争关系。【方法】通过野外调查和室内控制试验相结合的方法,观察和对比分析长足捷蚁和黄猄蚁的体型大小,雾凉季和雨季的巢穴外觅食活动规律,觅食能力(搜寻食物的时间、在觅食时间内召集的最大工蚁数),打斗行为(不同打斗组合的攻击强度和死亡率)以及对饥渴的耐受性(无食物和水分供应时平均存活时间和存活率随时间的变化)。【结果】长足捷蚁工蚁体长(3.66±0.06 mm)显著小于黄猄蚁工蚁(8.27±0.16 mm)。在雾凉季时,长足捷蚁具有比黄猄蚁更长的觅食活动时间;而在雨季时,两种蚂蚁均在下午温度较高时段觅食活动的个体数量减少。苹果、蜂蜜和火腿肠3种食物作为诱饵时,长足捷蚁具有更快搜寻食物的能力,4~8 min便能找寻到食物,而黄猄蚁需要8~21 min才能找寻到食物,此外在寻找到食物后,长足捷蚁也有更快召集同伴的能力。在人工控制试验中,1头长足捷蚁和1头黄猄蚁同时存在时主要以不攻击和低强度攻击为主,而当两种蚂蚁中的任意其中一种的个体数量增加到5头时,攻击强度会显著增加,两种蚂蚁均存在种间协作行为。在饥渴状态下,两种蚂蚁工蚁的平均存活时间差异不显著,但长足捷蚁最长存活120 h,黄猄蚁最长存活96 h。【结论】在西双版纳地区,长足捷蚁相较于土著黄猄蚁具有更强的觅食的能力,雾凉季觅食活动时间更长,暗示长足捷蚁可能具有较强的温度适应能力。有必要加强对这一入侵蚂蚁的研究,并密切关注其种群在该地区的发展。     

沙生植物沙鞭不同居群形态变异研究

以沙鞭(Psammochloa villosa Bor.)20个自然居群为研究对象,对其株高、花序长度、旗叶长度、旗叶宽度和小穗长度等12个表型性状进行形态变异研究。结果显示,12个性状群体间F值为1.832~8.958,达到显著或极显著水平,表明沙鞭不同居群表型性状存在广泛变异,且变异程度各不相同;主成分分析结果显示,前4个主成分代表了沙鞭形态多样性的82.277%,其中旗叶长度、旗叶宽度、颖片长度、小穗长度等是造成不同居群表型性状差异的主要因素;依据欧式距离对参试居群进行的UPGMA聚类分析结果表明,当遗传距离为20.5时,可以将20个沙鞭野生居群划分为两类,且各表型性状并没有依居群地理分布而聚类。     

Effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on angiogenesis,apoptosis and oxidatıve stress ın various cancer cell lines

ABSTRACT

Cancer is a common cause of death worldwide. Approximately 80% of cancer patients use complementary or alternative medicines for treatment. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), the main active component of propolis, exhibits cytotoxic, antiproliferative and anti-cancer effects. Despite its anticancer effects CAPE exhibits no known harmful effects toward normal cells. We investigated the effects of CAPE on angiogenesis, apoptosis and oxidative stress using MDA MB-231, N2a and COLO 320 cell lines and CAPE treatments at 24 and 48 h. A two dimensional cell culture system was used and the findings were evaluated by an indirect immunohistochemical method and H-scores were calculated. CAPE was effective for all three cancer cell lines. After 24 and 48 h, we found a significant decrease in live cells and increased stress in the cells based on e-NOS and i-NOS levels.     

New Natural Noncannabinoid Ligands for Cannabinoid Type-2 (CB2) Receptors

Since the discovery that Δ ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol and related cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa L. act on specific physiological receptors in the human body and the subsequent elucidation of the mammalian endogenous cannabinoid system, no other natural product class has been reported to mimic the effects of cannabinoids. We recently found that N-alkyl amides from purple coneflower (Echinacea spp.) constitute a new class of cannabinomimetics, which specifically engage and activate the cannabinoid type-2 (CB₂) receptors. Cannabinoid type-1 (CB₁) and CB₂ receptors belong to the family of G protein-coupled receptors and are the primary targets of the endogenous cannabinoids N-arachidonoyl ethanolamine and 2-arachidonoyl glyerol. CB₂ receptors are believed to play an important role in distinct pathophysiological processes, including metabolic dysregulation, inflammation, pain, and bone loss. CB₂ receptors have, therefore, become of interest as new targets in drug discovery. This review focuses on N-alkyl amide secondary metabolites from plants and underscores that this group of compounds may provide novel lead structures for the development of CB₂-directed drugs.     

In vitro inhibition of cytosolic carbonic anhydrases I and II by some new dihydroxycoumarin compounds

A new series of 6, 7-dihydroxy-3-(methylphenyl) chromenones, including three new derivatives, i.e. 6,7-dihydroxy-3-(2-methylphenyl)-2H-chromen-2-one (OPC); 6,7-dihydroxy-3-(3-methylphenyl)-2H-chromen-2-one (MPC); 6,7-dihydroxy-3-(4-methylphenyl)-2H-chromen-2-one (PPC) and one previously described, namely 6,7-dihydroxy-3-phenyl-2H-chromen-2-one (DPC), were synthesized. These compounds were investigated as inhibitors of human carbonic anhydrase I (hCA-I) and human carbonic anhydrase II (hCA-II) which had been purified from human erythrocytes on an affinity gel comprised of L-tyrosine-sulfonamide-Sepharose 4B.     

Purification of carbonic anhydrase from dog erythrocytes and investigation of in vitro inhibition by various compounds

The enzyme carbonic anhydrase (E.C. 4.2.1.1) has a stimulatory effect on glaucoma, an eye disease that has a risk to dogs, which are models for the human eye disease, that is similar to that in humans.

In this study, some sulfonamide derivatives, 2-(3-cyclohexene-1-carbamido)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-sulfonamide (CCTS), 4-(3-cyclohexene-1-carbamido) methyl-benzenesulfonamide (CCBS), 2-(9-octadecenoylamido)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-sulfonamide (ODTS), 2-(4,7,10-trioxa-tetradecanoylamido)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-sulfonamide (TDTS), and 2-(8-methoxycoumarine-3-carbamido)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-sulfonamide (MCTS), as well as some anionic compounds (perchlorate and chloride) and existing medicines (dorzolamide-HCl, gentamicine sulphate, tropicamide, and procaine-HCl) were assayed for their inhibition of dog carbonic anhydrase (dCA), which was purified from erythrocytes on an affinity gel of L-tyrosine-sulfonamide-Sepharose 4B. ODTS showed the highest potency amongst the synthetic compounds with IC₅₀ value 1.18 × 10^{? 5} M. Amongst the medicines tested, only dorzolamide showed inhibition with IC₅₀ value 5.05 × 10^{? 4} M. Procaine and tropicamide actually showed an activatory effect, whereas gentamicine sulfate had no significant effect. The inhibitory effects of anionic compounds such as perchlorate and chloride were also investigated; whereas perchlorate showed inhibition, chloride did not.     

Adequate magnesium nutrition mitigates adverse effects of heat stress on maize and wheat

Aims

Heat stress is a growing concern in crop production because of global warming. In many cropping systems heat stress often occurs simultaneously with other environmental stress factors such as mineral nutrient deficiencies. This study aimed to investigate the role of adequate magnesium (Mg) nutrition in mitigating the detrimental effects of heat stress on wheat (Triticum aestivum) and maize (Zea mays).

Methods

Wheat and maize plants were grown in solution culture with low or adequate Mg supply at 25/22 °C (light/dark). Half of the plants were, then, exposed to heat stress at 35/28 °C (light/dark). Development of leaf chlorosis and changes in root and shoot growth, chlorophyll and Mg concentrations as well as the activities of major antioxidative enzymes were quantified in the experimental plants. Additionally, maize plants were analyzed for the specific weights (e.g., dry or fresh weight per a given leaf surface area) and soluble carbohydrate concentrations of sink and source leaves.

Results

Visual leaf symptoms of Mg deficiency were aggravated in wheat and maize when exposed to heat stress. In both species, root growth was more sensitive to Mg deficiency than shoot growth, and the shoot-to-root ratios peaked when heat stress was combined with Mg deficiency. Magnesium deficiency markedly reduced soluble carbohydrate concentrations in young leaf; but resulted in substantial increase in source leaves. Magnesium deficiency also increased activities of antioxidative enzymes, especially when combined with heat stress. The highest activities of superoxide dismutase (up to 80 % above the control), glutathione reductase (up to 250 % above the control) and ascorbate peroxidase (up to 300 % above the control) were measured when Mg-deficient plants were subjected to heat, indicating stimulated formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Mg deficient leaves under heat stress.

Conclusions

Magnesium deficiency increases susceptibility of wheat and maize plants to heat stress, probably by increasing oxidative cellular damage caused by ROS. Ensuring a sufficiently high Mg supply for crop plants through Mg fertilization is a critical factor for minimizing heat-related losses in crop production.     

Helophorus erzurumicus sp. n., a new species from Turkey and some notes on H. ponticus Angus, 1988 (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)

A new species of Helophorus Fabricius, 1775 is described from Erzurum, northeastern Turkey: Helophorus erzurumicus. In addition, distributional and morphological notes on H. ponticus Angus, 1988 are presented.