Biochemical Changes in Secondary Metabolites in Wounded and Deteriorated Cassava Roots

Bluish fluorescent and phenolic components were produced in cassava roots in response to cut- injury, and in relation to physiological deterioration and microbial deterioration. The former roved to consist of five coumarin components, the main three of which were scopoletin, scopolin and esculin, and the other two were scopoletin- and esculetin-containing conjugates. A main component of the latter was (+)-catechin. Some enzymes pertaining to the production of the secondary metabolites such as acid invertase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase and peroxidase were formed in cut-injured tissue and in non-infected tissue adjacent to the soft-rotten part.     

Anti-Diabetic Effects of a Kaempferol Glycoside-Rich Fraction from Unripe Soybean (Edamame,Glycine max L. Merrill. ‘Jindai’) Leaves on KK-Ay Mice

The anti-diabetic effects of a kaempferol glycoside-rich fraction (KG) prepared from leaves of unripe Jindai soybean (Edamame) and kaempferol, an aglycone of kaempferol glycoside, were determined in genetically type 2 diabetic KK-A^y mice. The hemoglobin A_1c level was decreased and tended to be decreased by respectively feeding KG and kaempferol (K). The area under the curve (AUC) in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) tended to be decreased by feeding K and KG. The liver triglyceride level and fatty acid synthase activity were both decreased in the mice fed with KG and K when compared to those parameters in the control mice. These results suggest that KG and K would be useful to improve the diabetes condition. The major flavonoids in KG were identified as kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-D-galactopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-D-glucopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-β-D-(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl) galactopyranoside and kaempferol 3-O-β-D-(2,6-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl) galactopyronoside, suggesting that these compounds or some of them may be concerned with mitigation of diabetes.     

The genotypic variation of the antioxidant potential of different tomato varieties

There is increasing interest in the ability of diets rich in polyphenols to modulate age-related diseases and promote healthy ageing. We have conducted a pilot experiment with eight tomato varieties to correlate the total antioxidant capacity of the tomato variants with the specific constituent flavonoids present. A strong correlation was observed with the flavonol rhamnoglucoside rutin but not with other flavonoids, such as naringenin chalcone, or hydroxycinnamates, such as chlorogenic, which are also present in the tomato. To test the rigor of this correlation a second study was undertaken with a further 37 tomato varieties selected for low, medium and high rutin levels. We show that the flavonol rutin contributes to the greatest extent to the antioxidant capacity of tomatoes and suggest that this flavonoid may be a useful target for up-regulation in tomatoes in order to improve their antioxidant status.     

砷胁迫对三七皂苷和黄酮含量、关键酶活性的影响及其蛋白质组分析

通过田间小区试验,研究不同As浓度(0、20、80、140、200和260 mg·kg^-1)连续2年处理对3年生三七根茎(主根、须根、剪口)和茎叶中皂苷、黄酮和As含量、三七鲨烯合酶、苯丙氨酸解氨酶和查尔酮合酶活性,以及叶片蛋白质组的影响,探讨连续2年砷胁迫对三七主要药效成分影响的酶学和蛋白质组学机制.结果表明: 三七须根中总皂苷含量随砷处理浓度的增加而降低.140 mg·kg^-1As处理下,茎叶和剪口总皂苷大于对照.根茎部三七鲨烯合酶活性较茎叶高.三七各部位黄酮含量均随砷处理浓度的增加而降低.140 mg·kg^-1As处理下,根茎部查尔酮合酶和苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性较茎叶高.茎叶和剪口查尔酮合酶活性低于对照,苯丙氨酸解氨酶的活性高于对照.三七各部位砷含量均随砷处理浓度增加而增加.须根中砷含量大于其他部位.140 mg·kg^-1As处理下,与对照相比,差异表达的蛋白质点达21个.叶片蛋白质组中下调的蛋白质包括磷酸核酮糖激酶、热激蛋白、NAD(P)-结合酶、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶和细胞色素b6-f复合物铁硫亚基.上调的蛋白质为CDC27家族蛋白、酸性内切壳多糖酶、共生受体激酶、异黄酮还原酶、DAHP合成酶、蛋白激酶、苹果酸脱氢酶、乙二醛酶和谷氨酰胺合成酶.经过连续2年的砷胁迫, 三七各部位砷含量增加,不仅影响了三七叶片光合作用和能量的合成,还减弱了抗氧化和抗逆能力,诱导了代谢解毒物质的酶表达,导致皂苷和黄酮含量降低.三七对砷的耐受阈值为140 mg·kg^-1.     

桑叶总黄酮预处理对大鼠缺血再灌注损伤心肌抗氧化作用的研究

为研究桑叶总黄酮预处理对缺血再灌注损伤心肌的抗氧化作用,采用结扎左冠状动脉前降支30min,再灌注2h的方法制备大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤模型。将50只大鼠随机分为假手术组、缺血再灌注损伤模型组和桑叶总黄酮高、中、低剂量预处理组,每组10只。实验结束后,取动脉血和心脏。测定各组血清生化指标肌酸激酶(CK)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)的含量;测定心肌生化指标超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性和丙二醛(MDA)的含量。结果显示,与模型组相比,桑叶总黄酮预处理组使血清中的CK、LDH含量明显降低,同时使心肌组织中的SOD活性提高,MDA含量降低。结果表明,桑叶总黄酮预处理对缺血再灌注损伤心肌有明显的保护作用,其机制可能与提高心肌SOD活性、清除自由基、增强抗氧化能力有关。     

Aggregation of Staphylococcus aureus following treatment with the antibacterial flavonol galangin

AIM: The flavonol galangin, an antimicrobial constituent of the traditional medicines propolis and Helichrysum aureonitens, is being assessed as part of an ongoing investigation into the antibacterial activity of flavonoids. The present study sought to establish whether galangin has any aggregatory effect on bacterial cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: In preparatory time-kill assays, 50 microg ml(-1) of galangin was found to reduce colony counts of c. 5 x 10(7) CFU ml(-1)Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571 by approximately 15 000-fold during 60 min of incubation. Subsequent light microscopy studies demonstrated significant increases in the number of large clusters of bacterial cells in populations treated with the flavonol. CONCLUSION: Data presented here show that galangin causes aggregation of bacterial cells. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The finding that galangin causes bacterial cells to clump together may implicate the cytoplasmic membrane as a target site for this compound's activity. More importantly, this observation indicates that decreases in CFU numbers detected in time-kill and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays in previous investigations were at least partially attributable to this aggregatory effect. This raises the possibility that galangin is not genuinely bactericidal in action, and calls into question the suitability of time-kill and MBC assays for determining the nature of activity of naturally occurring flavonoids.     

余甘子活性成分含量与抗氧化性研究

研究了不同产地余甘子的总多酚、黄酮和多糖含量,同时测定了各产地余甘子提取物的抗氧化活性。结果表明,广东野生品种鲜果的总多酚含量、总黄酮含量和水溶性多糖含量最高,它们在每克干果中的含量分别为(204.15±6.85)mg没食子酸当量、(81.11±8.67)mg芦丁当量和(19.78±1.22)mg葡萄糖当量。广东野生品种提取物的抗氧化活性较高,其还原力为1.344±0.14,羟基自由基和超氧阴离子自由基的清除力分别为91.50%±3.53%,92.31%±1.30%。广东栽培种提取物的DPPH自由基清除力最高,达到92.09%±1.52%。