Pharmacological properties and preliminary phytochemical analysis of Pseudocaryopteris foetida (D.Don) P.D. Cantino leaves

Medicinal plants have significant contribution in pharmaceutical industries being producers of compounds utilized as precursors for drug development. A plant of Lamiaceae family; Pseudocaryopteris foetida had not been investigated for its biomedical potential. Current research was aimed to investigate phytochemical analysis, cytotoxic potential and antioxidant activity of crude methanolic extract and fractions of Pseudocaryopteris foetida (leaves). The preliminary phytochemical analysis of crude methanolic extracts and fractions of Pseudocaryopteris foetida revealed that plant is rich in phenolic and flavonoid classes of secondary metabolites while presence of tannin was observed only in crude methanolic extract. The cytotoxicity was determined using brine shrimp lethality test. Different concentrations (25, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 µg/mL) of crude methanolic extract and fractions exhibited dose dependent cytotoxicity. However, The LD₅₀ for all the extracts was more than 200 µg/mL indicating weak cytotoxic potential of Pseudocaryopteris foetida. The antioxidant capabilities of crude methanolic extract and fraction of Pseudocaryopteris foetida were analyzed by in vitro bio assays including DPPH, ABTS, Reducing power and phosphomolybdate antioxidant assays using ascorbic acid as standard. The crude methanolic extract showed IC₅₀ (256.38 ± 0.6 and 314.95 ± 1.1 µg/mL) for DPPH and ABTS respectively, while total antioxidant capacity was calculated as 55.79 ± 0.5 µg/mL for crude methanolic extract of Pseudocaryopteris foetida while ascorbic acid indicated total antioxidant capacity of 71.89 ± 2.3 µg/mL. Study concluded that leaves of Pseudocaryopteris foetida were the rich source of antioxidant phytochemicals. Based on preliminary investigations further research should be focused to isolate bioactive phytochemicals as leading source of clinical medicines in future.     

外来入侵植物假臭草的黄酮类成分研究

从外来入侵植物假臭草的70%乙醇提取物的乙酸乙酯萃取物中分离得到5个黄酮化合物,利用波谱方法鉴定为5,6,7,4′-四甲氧基黄酮(1),7-羟基-5,6,4′-三甲氧基黄酮(2),4′-羟基-5,6,7-三甲氧基黄酮(3),5,4′-二羟基-6,7-二甲氧基黄酮(4),5,7,4′-三羟基-6-甲氧基黄酮(5).化合物1～5均首次从该植物中分离得到.     

Studies on the Microbiological Transformation of Steroids

An attempt was made to clarify how Pellicularia filamentosa f. sp. microsclerotia IFO 6298 capable of hydroxylating C₂₁-steroids at the C-19 position converts C₁₉-steroids, especially monohydroxyderivatives of androst-4-ene-3, 17-dione. Such substrates as 11β-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (I), androst-4-ene-3, 11, 17-trione (II), androsta-1,4-diene-3, 17-dione (III), 11β-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (IV), 14α-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3, 17-dione (V), 15α-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3, 17-dione (VI) and 9α-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3, 17-dione (VII) were converted by the organism. All the main and several minor products were then isolated and identified. As a result it is concluded that this organism converts I and II into 14α-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,11,17-trione, III and IV into 14α-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-diene-3,1l,17-trione, V into 11α 14α dihydroxyandrost-4-ene-3, 17-dione (main) and 11β, 14α-dihydroxyandrost-4-ene-3, 17-dione (minor, a tentative structure), VI into 11β, 15α-dihydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (main) and 15α-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,11,17-trione (minor, a tentative structure) and VII into 9α, 14α-dihydroxyandrost-4-ene-3, 17-dione (main) and 6β, 9α-dihydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (minor).

In addition, the structural requirement of substrate for the 19-hydroxylation catalyzed by the organism and the influence of a hydroxyl group on steroid nucleus upon the 11β- and 14α-hydroxylations and the 11β-OH-dehydrogenation was discussed.     

决明查尔酮合成酶的同源模建和分子模拟对接

查尔酮合成酶(chalcone synthase,CHS)是植物中类黄酮生物合成途径的关键酶,其催化对-香豆酰辅酶A和丙二酸单酰辅酶A发生缩合反应.本研究以苜蓿CHS的晶体为模板,利用同源建模构建决明CHS的三维模型.经过动力学优化后,决明CHS的三维模型与苜蓿CHS的结构极为相似,主要由α-螺旋和β-折叠构成,其中有13个α螺旋,占32.82％,15个β折叠,占19.23％,无规则卷曲占47.95％.模型验证结果表明决明CHS的三维模型具有合理的立体化学性质与氨基酸相容性.决明CHS含有两个重要的结构域:对-香豆酰辅酶A结合域与丙二酸单酰辅酶A结合域.决明CHS与对-香豆酰辅酶A、丙二酸单酰辅酶A的结合主要通过氢键与范德华力.决明CHS中Cys164、His303与活性中心的H2O能够形成电子传递体系,参与对-香豆酰辅酶A形成CHS-对-香豆酰基中间产物.本研究结果为利用此类CHS三维模型研究其催化机理和分子工程改造奠定基础.     

水稻颖壳颜色的研究及进展

水稻是世界上一半以上人口的主食,对于我国乃至世界的粮食安全具有举足轻重的作用。颖壳是水稻的重要花器官结构,主要由内、外稃组成。目前最常见颖壳颜色为黄色,而黑色、金黄色、褐色等较为少见,研究表明这主要是由于类黄酮的积累不同导致的。通过分析水稻黑色颖壳性状的遗传机制,并以当前报道的两种异常颖壳(金黄壳、褐壳)突变体为对象,解析了相应颜色颖壳的呈色机理;阐述了类黄酮生物合成基因对颖壳颜色的影响,为剖析水稻颖壳的色素沉积模式提供理论参考;对有色稻壳的应用前景做了分析,为观赏稻的选育指明了方向。     

金花茶类黄酮糖基转移酶基因的克隆和功能初步研究

类黄酮糖基转移酶(UDP flavonoid glycosyltransferase, UFGT)催化黄酮醇、花青素等形成稳定的糖苷,是黄酮醇苷、花青素苷合成的最后一步反应的关键。该研究以金花茶的花瓣为材料,采用PCR扩增的方法,获得了2个金花茶转录组中筛选到的类黄酮糖基转移酶基因。结果显示：(1)CnUFGT14基因(登录号为MT370521)全长1 562 bp,开放阅读框1 380 bp,编码459个氨基酸;CnUFGT15基因(登录号为MT370520)全长1 546 bp,开放阅读框1 368 bp,编码455个氨基酸;两个蛋白序列均具有UFGT蛋白特有的 PSPG 保守区域。(2)系统进化树分析发现,CnUFGT14和CnUFGT15分别与茶树UFGT78A14和UFGT78A15亲缘关系最近。(3) 荧光定量PCR分析发现,CnUFGT14基因的表达量与多种多酚组分的含量呈正相关,CnUFGT15基因的表达量与花瓣黄酮醇、多酚等的含量相关性不显著。(4)亚细胞定位研究发现,CnUFGT14、CnUFGT15蛋白在细胞核膜、细胞质、细胞膜部位均呈现明显的定位。(5)叶盘法转化烟草发现,CnUFGT14基因表达量较高的转基因株系中总多酚含量及多种多酚组分含量升高,而CnUFGT15基因的转基因株系中黄酮、多酚组分变化不显著。研究表明,CnUFGT14基因具有促进多酚合成的作用,而CnUFGT15基因对类黄酮通路不具有明显作用。     

红背山麻杆化学成分的研究

采用柱色谱技术从红背山麻杆叶子的60％乙醇提取物中分离得到4个黄酮苷和2个其他类化合物.根据理化性质及波谱方法分别鉴定为:芹菜素-6-C-D-葡萄糖苷(1)、芹菜素-7-O-芸香糖苷(2)、芹菜素-7-O-β-(2″-O-α-鼠李糖基)葡萄糖醛酸苷(3)、木犀草素-7-O-α-L-鼠李糖(1→6)-β-D-葡萄糖苷(4)、没食子酸乙酯(5)、β-胡萝卜苷(6).以上化合物均为首次从该植物中分离得到,其中化合物1～4为首次从山麻杆属中分离得到的黄酮苷.     

中国沙棘HrANR基因及黄酮类累积与抗旱的关系

花青素还原酶(anthocyanidin reductase, ANR)是合成黄酮类物质的关键酶之一,为明确其编码基因结构及干旱胁迫下的表达模式和黄酮类物质含量及二者之间的相关性,该文从中国沙棘转录组数据中筛选获得1个ANR基因,命名为HrANR基因。采用生物信息学软件对基因序列及编码蛋白进行分析,并对不同胁迫下各组织中HrANR基因的表达量和叶中黄酮类化合物含量进行相关性分析。结果表明:(1)中国沙棘HrANR基因ORF为1 017 bp,编码338个氨基酸,为稳定的亲水性蛋白,其ANR同源蛋白具有明显的科属特性。(2)干旱胁迫下HrANR基因在中国沙棘根、茎、叶中均有表达,但表达趋势不同,其中在根中的表达呈先升高后降低再升高的趋势,在茎中呈持续下降的趋势,在叶中呈先升高后持续降低的趋势。(3)通过芦丁标准曲线获得不同胁迫程度下中国沙棘叶内黄酮类的含量,表明黄酮类含量呈先持续上升,随后略有下降,复水后上升至最高点的变化趋势,表明干旱胁迫初期叶黄酮类含量与干旱胁迫呈正相关,在严重胁迫下黄酮类含量与胁迫呈负相关。(4)叶和茎的HrANR基因表达量与黄酮类含量呈负相关(P_叶=-0.751,P_茎=-0.934),根中呈正相关(P_根=0.444)。综上表明,中国沙棘HrANR基因的表达及黄酮类含量变化与其抗旱性密切相关,其结果为中国沙棘抗旱机制的阐明提供了依据。     

Inhibition of Porphyromonas gingivalis peptidyl arginine deiminase,a virulence factor,by antioxidant-rich Cratoxylum cochinchinense: In vitro and in silico evaluation

Porphyromonas gingivalis, the cause of periodontitis, is also linked to many systemic disorders due to its citrullination capability from a unique peptidyl arginine deiminase (PPAD). Protein citrullination is able to trigger an autoimmune response, increasing the severity of rheumatoid arthritis. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the inhibitory activity of Cratoxylym cochinchinense leaves extract towards the PPAD in vitro and in silico. Methanolic extract of Cratoxylum cochinchinense (CCM) was tested for total phenolic and flavonoid contents along with antioxidative assays. Inhibition of PPAD activities was conducted thereafter using recombinant PPAD in cell lysate. Phytocompounds postulated present in the CCM such as mangiferin, vismiaquinone A, δ-tocotrienol and α-tocotrienol and canophyllol were used as ligands in a simulated docking study against PPAD. Results obtained indicated high antioxidant potential in CCM while recording abundant phenolic (129.0 ± 2.5495 mg GA/g crude extract) and flavonoid (159.0 ± 2.1529 mg QE/g crude extract) contents. A dose-dependent inhibition of PPAD was observed when CCM was evaluated at various concentrations. CCM at 1 mg/mL exhibited citrulline concentration of 24.37 ± 3.25 mM which was 5 times lower than the negative control (114.23 ± 3.31 mM). Molecular docking simulation revealed that mangiferin and vismiaquinone A engaged in H-bonding and pi-pi interactions with important active site residues (Asp130, Arg152, Arg154 and Trp127) of PPAD and could be the potential phytochemicals that accounted for the inhibitory activities observed in the methanolic leaves extract. As such, CCM could be further explored for its therapeutic properties not only for periodontitis, but also for other systemic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.     

Antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of two extracts from Capparis spinosa L. and Rumex nervosus and molecular docking investigation of selected major compounds

The present study examined the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial properties, and molecular docking of different solvents extracts (methanol and water) of two medicinal plants, namely, Capparis spinosa L (CS) and Rumex nervosus (RN). Phytochemical analysis showed that total phenol, flavonoids, alkaloids, and vitamin C were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in the methanolic extract of both plants than in other solvents. However, tannin content was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) high in the water extract for both plants. Chloroform and acetone extracts were significantly lower in phytochemicals than other solvents, therefore excluded in this study. GC–MS analysis showed one dominant compound in CS (isopropyl isothiocyanate) and two in RN (pyrogallol and palmitic acid). The antioxidant methods applied (DPPH, ABTS, β-Carotene/linoleic acid assay, and reducing the power) showed that the methanolic extract of CS exerted higher activity in methanolic extract but lower than that of BHA standard. The methanolic extract of both plants inhibited the bacterial pathogens when a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method was applied, compared to water extract with RN-methanolic extract had a lower inhibition concentration than CS-methanolic extract. The molecular interactions study revealed that the palmitic acid and pyrogallol interacted with the receptors' active site. This work concluded that CS and RN showed a remarkable antioxidant and antibacterial effect with the high antimicrobial activity of RN extract.