Establishment of Hairy Root Cultures of Astragalus membranaceus and the Extrinsic Factors Affecting Their Growt

Hairy root cultures were established from the leaf explant of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. infected with Agrobacterium rhizogenes and factors that affect their growth were investigated. It was found that the hairy roots grew best in a phytohonnone-free MS medium at pH 6, in which the most optimal concentration of sucrose was 3 % and NH4NO3 was omitted because of its inhibitory effect to the hairy roots. Light was also inhibitory to them but the effect of low temperature was not apparent. Moreover, there were more crude saponin and soluble polysuccharide contents in the hairy roots than in the natural dry roots. Finally, a discussion on the application and the potenrial of the hairy root technique in the production of the plant roots as an effection Chinese traditional medicine was also involved.     

城市植物源挥发性有机化合物排放特征及其大气环境效应研究进展

在外界环境的刺激下,植物会通过释放挥发性有机化合物来维护自身生长。城市是人类活动的主要集聚地,剧烈的人为干扰导致城市环境特征呈现出复杂的变化趋势,从而使城市植物排放挥发性有机化合物的过程与自然界出现较大差异。城市中的植物源挥发性有机化合物(Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds, BVOCs)会直接与城市中的氧化物质接触,生成二次污染物,并在高温、强光照的条件下发生光化学反应,严重破坏城市大气环境,危害居民健康。总结了城市BVOCs的常见类型、作用机制及现有研究方法,分析了不同时间、空间和人类活动背景下的城市BVOCs排放特征,并进一步梳理了当前研究的不足,提出未来重点研究方向,旨在为大气环境治理、环境空间规划、居民健康保障等方面的城市管理工作提供指导。     

北京地区侧柏和垂柳释放有益挥发性有机物组分日动态变化特征

以侧柏(Platycladus orientalis)和垂柳(Salix babylonica)为研究对象,采用动态顶空套袋采集法和自动热脱附-气相色谱/质谱联用技术来分析这些植物释放的挥发性有机物(VOCs)的组成和释放模式。选择不同的时间和天气条件下的样本进行采集,并记录相关信息。通过对原始数据的分析,确定有益挥发性有机物(BVOCs)的成分和相对百分含量。研究结果显示,侧柏和垂柳在不同季节释放的BVOCs成分主要包括醇类、醛类、烯烃类等其他类化合物,这些有益BVOCs在植物的生理和生态功能中扮演着重要的角色,对于深入了解植物与环境之间的相互作用具有重要意义。侧柏和垂柳释放BVOCs成分在不同季节会有所变化。其次,研究分析了侧柏和垂柳在不同季节中有益BVOCs成分的含量和变动趋势。侧柏在不同季节的释放模式呈现出明显的差异。春季的释放模式呈现出“单峰单谷”曲线,夏季的释放模式呈现出“单峰”曲线,而秋季的释放模式呈现出“双峰单谷”曲线。这表明侧柏在不同季节中的挥发物释放存在明显的季节性变化。相比之下,垂柳的释放模式在不同季节中相对稳定,呈现出一致的“单峰型”曲线。这说明垂柳的挥发物释放...     

Synthesis of metallic nanoparticles using plant extracts

Biomolecules present in plant extracts can be used to reduce metal ions to nanoparticles in a single-step green synthesis process. This biogenic reduction of metal ion to base metal is quite rapid, readily conducted at room temperature and pressure, and easily scaled up. Synthesis mediated by plant extracts is environmentally benign. The reducing agents involved include the various water soluble plant metabolites (e.g. alkaloids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids) and co-enzymes. Silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles have been the particular focus of plant-based syntheses. Extracts of a diverse range of plant species have been successfully used in making nanoparticles. In addition to plant extracts, live plants can be used for the synthesis. Here we review the methods of making nanoparticles using plant extracts. Methods of particle characterization are reviewed and potential applications of the particles in medicine are discussed.     

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles as Delivery Systems for Bioactive Food Components

The inclusion of bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids, omega-3 fatty acids, or phytosterols, is an essential requisite for the production of functional foods designed to improve the long-term health and well-being of consumers worldwide. To incorporate these functional components successfully in a food system, structurally sophisticated encapsulation matrices have to be engineered, which provide maximal physical stability, protect ingredients against chemical degradation, and allow for precise control over the release of encapsulated components during mastication and digestion to maximize adsorption. A novel encapsulation system initially developed in the pharmaceutical industries to deliver lipophilic bioactive compounds is solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). SLN consist of crystallized nanoemulsions with the dispersed phase being composed of a solid carrier lipid–bioactive ingredient mixture. Contrary to larger colloidal solid lipid particles, specific crystal structures can be “dialed-in” in SLN by using specific surfactant mixtures and ensuring that mean particle sizes are below 100–200 nm. Moreover, in SLN, microphase separations of the bioactive compound from the solidifying lipid matrix can be prevented resulting in an even dispersion of the encapsulated compound in the solid matrix thereby improving chemical and physical stability of the bioactive. In this review article, we will briefly introduce the structure, properties, stability, and manufacturing of solid lipid particles and discuss their emerging use in food science.     

Genome analysis of five recently described species of the CUG-Ser clade uncovers Candida theae as a new hybrid lineage with pathogenic potential in the Candida parapsilosis species complex

Candida parapsilosis species complex comprises three important pathogenic species: Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto, Candida orthopsilosis and Candida metapsilosis. The majority of C. orthopsilosis and all C. metapsilosis isolates sequenced thus far are hybrids, and most of the parental lineages remain unidentified. This led to the hypothesis that hybrids with pathogenic potential were formed by the hybridization of non-pathogenic lineages that thrive in the environment. In a search for the missing hybrid parentals, and aiming to get a better understanding of the evolution of the species complex, we sequenced, assembled and analysed the genome of five close relatives isolated from the environment: Candida jiufengensis, Candida pseudojiufengensis, Candida oxycetoniae, Candida margitis and Candida theae. We found that the linear conformation of mitochondrial genomes in Candida species emerged multiple times independently. Furthermore, our analyses discarded the possible involvement of these species in the mentioned hybridizations, but identified C. theae as an additional hybrid in the species complex. Importantly, C. theae was recently associated with a case of infection, and we also uncovered the hybrid nature of this clinical isolate. Altogether, our results reinforce the hypothesis that hybridization is widespread among Candida species, and potentially contributes to the emergence of lineages with opportunistic pathogenic behaviour.     

Enzymatic Removal of Phenol and Chlorophenols Using Soybean Seed Hulls

Soybean peroxidase (SBP), (EC 1.11.1.7) can be readily extracted from soybean seed hulls. This study reports on the direct use of soybean seed‐hull extracts for the bioremediation of phenolic wastes. The crude SBP extract from the hulls, like pure soybean peroxidase, is catalytically active in a broad range of pH and temperatures. As SBP is gradually released into the aqueous solution from seed hulls, the direct use of soybean seed hulls can reduce SBP inactivation by H₂O₂ and enhance the utilization efficiency of SBP through the slow release of the enzyme from the seed hulls. However, large doses of soybean seed hulls were found to be ineffective in phenol removal. Gradual additions of H₂O₂ in combination with the SBP released from the hulls were applied to optimize the bioremediation. Since the crude extract contains a mixture of multiple soybean proteins, soybean seed hull slurry required a higher concentration of H₂O₂ to remove the phenolic substrates than did the purified enzyme. Under the experimental conditions, 80 % of phenol (10.6 mM), 96 % of 2‐chlorophenol (3.9 mM), 95 % of 2,4‐dichlorophenol (3.1 mM), and 94 % of mixed phenol and chlorophenols were removed using soybean seed hulls in a single batch reactor. These results demonstrate that soybean seed hulls, compared to purified SBP, may be a more cost‐effective alternative in the enzymatic removal of phenolic compounds through polymerization reactions.     

Role of Synthesized Organoselenium Compounds on Protection of Rat Erythrocytes from DMBA-Induced Oxidative Stress

Formation of free radicals is not limited to normal cellular process but also occur upon exposure to certain chemicals (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, cadmium, lead, etc.), cigarette smoke, radiation, and high-fat diet. Free-radical damage is an important factor in many pathological and toxicological processes. Selenium, an essential micronutrient, is a associated with antioxidant functions, physiological defense mechanisms against different diseases including several types of cancers. Search for new selenium compounds with more chemopreventive activities and less toxicities are in progress. In addition, there has been a growing interest in the synthesis of organoselenium compounds with respect to their use in enzymology and bioorganic chemistry. In the present study, adult female Wistar rats were treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and the organoselenium compounds [1-isopropyl-3-methylbenzimidazole-2-selenone (Se I) and 1, 3-di-p-methoxybenzylpyrimidine-2-selenone (Se II)] in determined doses. The protective effects of synthetic organoselenium compounds (Se I and Se II) against DMBA-induced changes in antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR)) activities, total GSH, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of rat erythrocyte were investigated. The DMBA-treated group exhibited significant decreases in the levels of erythrocyte GSH-Px, CAT, and GR activities, an increase in MDA levels, and a decrease in total GSH level compared to the control. Se I and Se II fully or partially restored enzyme activity. Lipid peroxidation was also decreased in Se-I- and Se-II-treated groups.     

Phenolic-rich leaf carbon fractions differentially influence microbial respiration and plant growth

Phenolics can reduce soil nutrient availability, either indirectly by stimulating microbial nitrogen (N) immobilization or directly by enhancing physical protection within soil. Phenolic-rich plants may therefore negatively affect neighboring plant growth by restricting the N supply. We used a slow-growing, phenolic-rich alpine forb, Acomastylis rossii, to test the hypothesis that phenolic-rich carbon (C) fractions stimulate microbial population growth and reduce plant growth. We generated low-molecular-weight (LMW) fractions, tannin fractions, and total soluble C fractions from A. rossii and measured their effects on soil respiration and growth of Deschampsia caespitosa, a fast-growing, co-dominant grass. Fraction effects fell into two distinct categories: (1) fractions did not increase soil respiration and killed D. caespitosa plants, or (2) fractions stimulated soil respiration and reduced plant growth and plant N concentration while simultaneously inhibiting root growth. The LMW phenolic-rich fractions increased soil respiration and reduced plant growth more than tannins. These results suggest that phenolic compounds can inhibit root growth directly as well as indirectly affect growth by reducing pools of plant available N by stimulating soil microbes. Both mechanisms illustrate how below-ground phenolic effects may influence the growth of neighboring plants. We also examined patterns of foliar phenolic concentrations among populations of A. rossii across a natural productivity gradient (productivity was used as a proxy for competition intensity). Concentrations of some LMW phenolics increased significantly in more productive sites where A. rossii is a competitive equal with the faster growing D. caespitosa. Taken together, our results contribute important information to the growing body of evidence indicating that the quality of C moving from plants to soils can have significant effects on neighboring plant performance, potentially associated with phytoxic effects, and indirect effects on soil biogeochemistry.