Purification and neuroprotective effects of polysaccharides from Opuntia Milpa Alta in cultured cortical neurons

Opuntia is a traditional plant from China with medicinal applications. In this experiment, polysaccharides from Opuntia Milpa Alta (MAPs) were analyzed using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) method and result showed that MAPs contained mannose (6.37%), rhamnose (14.94%), xylose (1.99%), arabinose (24.07%), galactose (38.25%), ribose (2.63%) and glucose (11.48%). The neuroprotective effects of MAPs were evaluated at the mechanistic level in vitro models of cerebral ischemic injury. In vitro oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD) model, MAPs (0.5 μg/ml, 5 μg/ml, 50 μg/ml) effectively increased cell viability by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, inhibited cell cytotoxicity by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, reduced neuronal cell death, suppressed the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), decreased of intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentrations ([Ca²⁺]_i), and reduced extracellular glutamate level. Therefore, MAPs might prevent intracellular calcium overload and decreased glutamate excitotoxicity, both of which can cause neuronal injury and death in vitro models of cerebral ischemic injury.     

米邦塔仙人掌化学成分研究

从米邦塔仙人掌正丁醇部分分离到10个化合物。应用色谱和光谱分析方法分别鉴定为对羟基苯甲酸(1)、β-羟基-3-甲氧基-4-羟基苯乙酮(2)、2,3,4-三羟基戊酸(3)、4-甲氧基桂皮酸(4)、3-羟基-4-甲氧基肉桂酸(5)、5-羟基阿魏酸(6)、4-羟基肉桂酸(7)、原儿茶酸(8)、n-butyl eucomate(9)和eucomic acid(10)。化合物2～10为首次从该植物分离得到。     

Alien plant assemblages near roads in arid and semi-arid South Africa

Herbaceous and woody alien plants visible from a moving vehicle were recorded along 1 km roadside transects at 5 km intervals over a distance of 5869 km in the semi-arid and arid Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, Nama Karoo and Arid Savanna (Kalahari) biomes in South Africa. Each 1 km transect was classified by biome and vegetation type, mean annual rainfall, rainfall seasonality, soil surface type and landuse adjoining the roadside. Although travelling speed affected the range and frequency of plant species observed, the method was repeatable at a speed of 100 km h^?1. Alien plants occurred in 98% of 119 Fynbos, 81% of 204 Succulent Karoo, 72% of 661 Nama Karoo, 47% of 171 Arid Savanna and 100% of seventeen Grassland transects. Alien species richness per site was correlated with mean annual rainfall, but in all regions, sites adjacent to cultivation had significantly more alien species than sites adjoining rangeland. The alien plant assemblage of the arid winter-rainfall Succulent Karoo included species from mesic winter-rainfall lowland Fynbos and the arid Nama Karoo receives unseasonal rainfall. The frequencies of Prosopis spp., Atriplex spp. and Opuntia ficus-indica were not significantly greater near cultivation, and these perennial plants, all of which are dispersed by indigenous and domestic animals, can invade natural rangeland in arid and semi-arid southern Africa.     

Effect of lectins from Opuntia ficus indica cladodes and Moringa oleifera seeds on survival of Nasutitermes corniger

Biodegradation by termites is a serious problem for wood and crop industries worldwide, and new environmentally friendly alternatives for termite control have been developed. This work investigated the effects of crude and purified preparations containing lectins from Opuntia ficus indica cladodes (OfiL) and Moringa oleifera seeds (WSMoL and cMoL) on Nasutitermes corniger workers and soldiers. Purified OfiL was more active than cladode extracts, showing a stronger termiticidal activity against workers (LC₅₀ of 0.116 mg ml⁻¹) than against soldiers. OfiL was active against soldiers only at 1.5 mg ml⁻¹. All preparations containing WSMoL and cMoL were active only at concentrations of 1.0 and 1.5 mg ml⁻¹. The tested preparations did not exert repellent activity against N. corniger. OfiL was able to kill workers and therefore is potentially a new tool for N. corniger control; as a consequence, this lectin could disturb organization, structure, and maintenance of termite colonies.     

Characterization of 16SrII-D subgroup associated phytoplasmas in new host plants in Egypt

Samples of three plant species displaying phytoplasma symptoms were collected from Kafrelsheikh and Al-Gharbia governorates during 2014. Witches’ broom and virescence symptoms were observed in periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). Onion (Allium cepa) plants showed yellowing, streaks and twisting and Opuntia abjecta with proliferation and cylindrical of cladodes. Total DNA was extracted from symptomatic and asymptomatic plants, and phytoplasma were detected in all 12 symptomatic plants collected through direct and nested PCR assays with primers P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2. The results of phylogenetic analysis revealed that the phytoplasma isolates belong to 16SrII group. With a nucleotide identity greater than 98.7% with three members of 16SrII group, Papaya yellow crinkle, Y10097; “Ca. P. aurantifolia”, U15442; and peanut witches’ broom, Al33765, the strains identified in this study are “Ca. P. aurantifolia”-related strains. Virtual RFLP analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences with 17 restriction enzymes confirmed that the phytoplasma isolates belong to the “Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia” 16SrII-D subgroup. To the best of our knowledge, periwinkle, onion and Opuntia abjecta are considered new hosts for 16SrII group in Egypt.     

Microbial populations and activities in the rhizoplane of rock-weathering desert plants. I. Root colonization and weathering of igneous rocks

Dense layers of bacteria and fungi in the rhizoplane of three species of cactus (Pachycereus pringlei, Stenocereus thurberi, Opuntia cholla) and a wild fig tree (Ficus palmeri) growing in rocks devoid of soil were revealed by bright-field and fluorescence microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. These desert plants are responsible for rock weathering in an ancient lava flow at La Purisima-San Isidro and in sedimentary rock in the Sierra de La Paz, both in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The dominant bacterial groups colonizing the rhizoplane were fluorescent pseudomonads and bacilli. Seven of these bacterial species were identified by the 16S rRNA molecular method. Unidentified fungal and actimomycete species were also present. Some of the root-colonizing microorganisms fixed in vitro N(2), produced volatile and non-volatile organic acids that subsequently reduced the pH of the rock medium in which the bacteria grew, and significantly dissolved insoluble phosphates, extrusive igneous rock, marble, and limestone. The bacteria were able to release significant amounts of useful minerals, such as P, K, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn from the rocks and were thermo-tolerant, halo-tolerant, and drought-tolerant. The microbial community survived in the rhizoplane of cacti during the annual 10-month dry season. This study indicates that rhizoplane bacteria on cacti roots in rock may be involved in chemical weathering in hot, subtropical deserts.     

胭脂虫寄生前后梨果仙人掌挥发性物质的变化

为了研究胭脂虫Dactylopius coccus Costa寄生前后梨果仙人掌(Opuntia ficus-indica Mill)挥发性物质的变化,以动态顶空密闭循环吸附捕集法捕集胭脂虫寄生前后梨果仙人掌的挥发物,并运用全自动热脱附-气相色谱/质谱(ATD-GC/MS)联用技术进行分析检测,用峰面积归一化法测定其相对含量。结果表明,无虫梨果仙人掌的挥发物中共检测到8种化合物,有虫的梨果仙人掌中共检测到9种化合物,化合物的种类和含量都有一定的变化;萜烯类是植食昆虫诱导的植物挥发性次生物质中的主要成分,本试验中,萜烯类在胭脂虫寄生前后的含量由23.12%降为6.98%。在无虫仙人掌的挥发物中检测出苯甲醛,含量约占1.73%,有虫的仙人掌中则未检测到;同样在有虫仙人掌挥发物中检出的其他物质如酯类(21.15%)、醇类(1.79%)和卤代芳烃类(1.51%)物质在无虫仙人掌植株中都未检测出。     

仙人掌丛枝病植原体CWB1株系16SrRNA基因克隆及序列分析

对表现丛枝症状的仙人掌植株总DNA进行植原体 1 6SrRNA基因PCR扩增 ,得到一条约 1 5kb的特异片段 ,表明植株中有植原体存在 ,将此植原体株系命名为CWB1。把此特异片段与pGEM Teasy载体连接并转化到大肠杆菌JM1 0 9感受态细胞中 ,通过PCR鉴定、限制性内切酶 (EcoRI)酶切分析及核苷酸序列分析 ,均表明克隆成功。序列分析结果显示 ,此株系的 1 6SrRNA基因全长 1 489个碱基 ,与属于植原体 1 6SrⅡ C亚组的Fababeanphyllody植原体同源率最高 ,为 99 7%。通过 1 6SrRNA基因核酸序列同源性比较 ,认为该株系属于 1 6SrⅡ C亚组 ,基本确定了其分类地位。     

Bottom-up, top-down, and within-trophic level pressures on a cactus-feeding insect

Abstract.  1. The relative importance of host-plants and predators in the population dynamics of herbivorous insects, and the frequency and intensity of inter-specific competition among herbivores, have both been intensively studied and debated. The joint effects of bottom-up, top-down, and within-trophic level interactions, however, have rarely been integrated in a single system.
2. I studied the dynamics of the cactus bug ( Narnia pallidicornis ), a specialist feeder on tree cholla cactus ( Opuntia imbricata ), in response to variable host-plant quality, spider predation, and interactions with cactus-feeding beetles ( Moneilema appressum ). Previous work suggests that cactus reproductive effort (the proportion of meristems allocated to reproduction) is an important component of host-plant quality for Narnia. I conducted a 2-year field experiment to test the hypotheses that Narnia abundance is positively related to host-plant reproductive effort, and that interactions with predators and putative competitors alter the shape of this relationship.
3. I found strong support for the first prediction (positive Narnia– plant quality relationship) in both years, but neither predator removal nor beetle exclusion had detectable effects on this relationship in either year. I conclude that the dynamics of this insect herbivore are driven predominantly from the bottom-up, and that available data from this work and from previous studies are too variable to permit broad generalisations for the combined effects of host-plants, predation, and competition on herbivore dynamics.