Phenolcarboxylic acids from medicinal herbs exert anticancer effects through disruption of COX-2 activity

Integrated research of herbs and formulas characterized by functions of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis is one of the most active fields in traditional Chinese medicine. This paper strives to demonstrate the roles of a homologous series of phenolcarboxylic acids from these medicinal herbs in cancer treatment via targeting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a well-recognized mediator in tumorigenesis. We selected thirteen typical phenolcarboxylic acids (benzoic acid derivatives, cinnamic acid derivatives and their dehydration-condensation products), and found gallic acid, caffeic acid, danshensu, rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B showed 50% inhibitory effects on hCOX-2 activity and A549 cells proliferation. 2D-quantitative method was introduced to describe the potential structural features that contributed to certain bioactivities. We also found these compounds underwent responsible hydrogen bonding to Arg120 and Ser353 in COX-2 active site residues. We further extensively focused on danshensu [d-(+)-β-(3,4-dihydoxy-phenylalanine)] or DSS, which exerted COX-2 dependent anticancer manner. Both genetic and pharmacological inhibition of COX-2 could enhance the ability of DSS inhibiting A549 cells growth. Additionally, COX-2/PGE₂/ERK signaling axis was essential for the anticancer effect of DSS. Furthermore, combined treatment with DSS and celecoxib could produce stronger anticancer effects in experimental lung metastasis of A549 cells in vivo. All these findings indicated that phenolcarboxylic acids might possess anticancer effects through jointly targeting COX-2 activity in cancer cells and provided strong evidence in cancer prevention and therapy for the herbs characterized by blood-activating and stasis-resolving functions in clinic.     

Habitat Use of Booted Eagles (Hieraaetus pennatus) in a Special Protection Area: Implications for Conservation

We examined the patterns of habitat use of six radio-tagged booted eagles (Hieraaetus pennatus) in a Special Protection Area (SPA) in southeastern Spain. Variable percentages of radio locations (20.8–72.0 %) and home range areas (45.2–81.3 %) lay outside the SPA limits. A model selection procedure showed that habitat use was mainly influenced by habitat type and the distance to the nest. Edges and open lands were the most selected habitat types at long distances, while the probability of forest use strongly decreased with the distance. We conclude that effective conservation strategies for this species should encourage not only the protection of the forest nesting habitats, but also the traditional agricultural practices of the surrounding agroecosystems.     

Promoting Indigenous-led restoration: The Seed and Nursery Industry Forum for Aboriginal Organisations,Northam, Western Australia,September 2022

Bilya Bilya Koort Boodja Centre for Nyoongar Culture and Environmental Knowledge in Northam, Western Australia, was the location for this event where legislators, practitioners, academics, Nyoongar Elders, and key representatives for Traditional Steward groups gathered to discuss the current issues and future trajectory of the emerging Indigenous nursery sector, specifically the activities of native seed and seedling supply chain. These activities are key components of the emerging Indigenous-led restoration economy and indispensable for biodiverse restoration of degraded ecosystems at the landscape scale. Key outcomes included: improved awareness in participants about activities being undertaken across the restoration economy sector; the acknowledgement of a disjunction between academia and business practice, and the realisation that bridging the gap between knowledge and action is becoming increasingly urgent.     

Assessing the identification uncertainty in plant products traded as traditional Asian medicines

Biodiversity is threatened by multiple factors including habitat loss, climate change, and over-exploitation. The illegal wildlife trade is one of the key threats to species survival and its regulation and monitoring are dependent on accurate identification. Plants are particularly difficult to identify due to their look-alike properties, which are further aggravated when they are processed eventually in their finished product. Identification of species is critical to monitoring, detecting, and regulating the wildlife trade. In this study, we quantified species misidentification using a match-mismatch experiment adapted from psychology, taking examples of medicinal plant products used in Traditional Asian Medicines. Participants compared 210 pairs of images of plant products, indicating if the paired images were the same (species), different (species), or (they) did not know. We found that the matched pairs (paired images of the same species) had a lower level of error than the unmatched pairs (paired images of different species). Similarly, 1.4% of the image pairs had errors over 75%, three of them as high as 83%. Such errors in species identification can be used by traders to deceive enforcement actions through laundering as less threatened or regulated species. These results suggest that future interventions around identification training should prioritize species with high errors and should consider that product processing may have a significant impact on identification. Further, initiatives related to species identification could benefit from using existing standard methodologies from psychology to inform training needs and measure their impacts which in turn will benefit conservation efforts.     

Assessment of Welfare Issues During Traditional Slaughter of Goats in Pretoria,South Africa

Goats are traditionally slaughtered to celebrate marriages and births, venerate ancestors, address personal problems, or perform a ritual during funerals. The objective of this study was to assess nonhuman animal welfare issues associated with the traditional slaughter of goats in and around Pretoria, South Africa. Participatory research methods were used to interview 105 respondents. Four of those interviewed were visited to observe the slaughter process. The most common method of transport was a vehicle (47%), followed by transport on foot (30%). The distance traveled (68%) was usually less than 10 km, and in all cases, it was less than 50 km. The most common (57%) method of restraining goats during transport was tying all 4 legs together. During slaughter, assistants held the head and legs of the goat (55%). Prior to slaughter, the majority of goats were tied under a tree (66%). In total, 97% of the goats were slaughtered within 24 hr, and no stunning was performed. In this study, animal welfare problems were widespread. Research should be undertaken to find practical ways to address animal welfare issues during traditional slaughter.     

The Large Blue butterfly, Phengaris [Maculinea] arion, as a conservation umbrella on a landscape scale: The case of the Czech Carpathians

Conservation umbrellas are charismatic species, the conservation of which also conserves the high diversity of associated plants and animals. The Large Blue butterfly, Phengaris [Maculinea] arion (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae), is a textbook example of a charismatic endangered invertebrate, intensively studied throughout Europe and protected by the EU Habitat Directive. While surveying P. arion at the westernmost outskirts of the Carpathians (Javorniky and Vsetinske Mts.), within a stronghold of the species in the Czech Republic, we asked whether occupied sites differed from unoccupied ones in the composition of vascular plants and butterfly assemblages. The occupied sites (n = 65) were small pastures, including abandoned ones, with S to W exposure, located on rugged terrain and displaying a high microtopographic heterogeneity; the unoccupied sites (n = 101) were typically mown or intensively grazed. The vegetation of occupied sites was characteristic for non-intensive submountain pasture, butterfly assemblages were species richer, contained more specialised species, and significantly higher proportion of red-listed species. P. arion thus may act as an umbrella for a high number of species associated with traditional land use in the study area and elsewhere. Its survival will depend on the continuation of small-scale land use varying in space and time, and can be threatened by uniformisation of management, even if practised under the guise of agri-environmental payments.     

Role of gut microbiota in identification of novel TCM-derived active metabolites

Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)has been exten-sively used to ameliorate diseases in Asia for over thousands of years.However,owing to a lack of formal scientific validation,the absence of information regard-ing the mechanisms underlying TCMs restricts their application.After oral administration,TCM herbal ingredients frequently are not directly absorbed by the host,but rather enter the intestine to be transformed by gut microbiota.The gut microbiota is a microbial com-munity living in animal intestines,and functions to maintain host homeostasis and health.Increasing evi-dences indicate that TCM herbs closely affect gut microbiota composition,which is associated with the conversion of herbal components into active metabo-lites.These may significantly affect the therapeutic activity of TCMs.Microbiota analyses,in conjunction with modern multiomics platforms,can together identify novel functional metabolites and form the basis of future TCM research.     

Experimental DNA-Binding and Computer Modelling Studies on an Analogue of the Anti-Tumour Drug Amsacrine

Abstract

The DNA-binding properties of the anti-cancer drug amsacrine and a 9-aminoacridine analogue substituted at the 4 position with a 4-methanesulphonanilido-group, have been examined by means of unwinding, melting and equilibrium binding experiments. These find that the latter compound is at least as effective as a DNA-binder and intercalator as amsacrine itself. Molecular modelling and energetic calculations have confirmed this, and have produced plausible intercalation geometries. These show that there are subtle differences in the low-energy minor groove arrangements adopted by the substituents of the two drugs. Speculation is advanced that these differences may be relevant to the marked differences in cytotoxicity shown by the two compounds.     

An eco-friendly degumming process of flax roving without acid pickling and NaClO2-bleaching

Flax fiber is an important textile material with excellent antibacterial activity and moisture wicking. Degumming of flax roving is essential in determining flax-fiber quality. Traditional degumming requires a large amount of chemicals to process flax roving. This study aimed to reduce the chemical usage and achieve cleaner production during this process by applying microbial treatment to degum flax roving. Microbial degumming instead of acid pickling and NaClO₂-bleaching steps can no longer use H₂SO₄ and NaClO₂, and the amount of alkali can be reduced by 50%. By analyzing the compositional changes of the main steps in traditional degumming processes and microbial-treatment sample, the application of Bacillus subtilis HR5 can achieve a good degumming effect. Results of environmental scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffractometry analyses showed that the gum was remarkably reduced, which can be confirmed by the gum components. Overall, the breaking tenacity and antibacterial activity of fibers degummed by microbial treatment were better than those treated by traditional degumming. These findings demonstrated the feasibility of microbial treatment as a solution for flax roving degumming.