复合有机氮源对灵芝三萜液态深层发酵的影响

以灵芝为材料,在前期研究基础上,以不同酵母粉作为氮源,研究复合有机氮源对灵芝三萜液态深层发酵的影响。首先,由单因素实验考察3种不同的酵母粉对灵芝菌丝体合成灵芝三萜的影响,确定酵母粉的最适宜浓度范围。在此基础上,根据中心组合实验设计,对3种酵母粉分别采用2种复合和3种复合的方式,优化复合有机氮源的最佳组合配比。结果表明：当基础培养基中添加6.6g/L的酵母粉N-1与6.6g/L的酵母粉N-2时,灵芝三萜产量可达0.478g/L（理论产量为0.485g/L）,比添加单一酵母粉N-1、N-2、N-3分别提高了21%、139%、103%,其氮源用量为两种组合时最低。当基础培养基中酵母粉N-1、N-2与N-3添加量分别为5.07g/L、3.78g/L、7.63g/L时,灵芝三萜产量达0.514g/L（理论产量为0.510g/L）,比单因素对照组分别提高了30%、157%和74%。本研究优化的复合氮源添加方式可明显提高灵芝菌丝体液态深层发酵生产灵芝三萜的产量,为其规模化液态深层发酵的生产提供科学数据。     

Eclalbasaponin I causes mitophagy to repress oxidative stress-induced apoptosis via activation of p38 and ERK in SH-SY5Y cells

Oxidative stress accompanying excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial dysfunction leads to the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases. Our previous study showed that Eclalbasaponin I (EcI), a triterpene saponin isolated from Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. (A. elata), repressed oxidative stress in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. However, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. In this study, pretreatment with EcI in SH-SY5Y cells significantly activated the p38-mitogenactivated protein kinase (p38), the extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK), whereas it did not affect the c-jun NH2 terminal kinases (JNK). In accordance with the initial findings, EcI-induced neuroprotective effect was attenuated by SB203580 (SB, a p38 inhibitor) or FR180204 (FR, an ERK inhibitor), being further confirmed by specific small interfering RNA (siRNA). Inhibition of either p38 or ERK up-regulated the apoptosis induction in EcI- and H₂O₂-cotreated cells. Furthermore, p38 or ERK suppression enhanced intracellular and mitochondrial ROS generation, decreased the activities of endogenous antioxidant defences as well as the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), resulting in dysfunction of mitochondria. In addition, EcI-induced autophagy and mitophagy were obviously down-regulated when p38 or ERK activation was blocked. Cumulatively, these findings supported that EcI-caused mitophagy contributed to the neuroprotective effect through p38 or ERK activation. Mitophagy induction might be an effective therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative diseases.     

Enhanced triterpene saponin biosynthesis and root nodulation in transgenic barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.) expressing a novel β-amyrin synthase (AsOXA1) gene

Triterpene saponins are a group of bioactive compounds abundant in the genus Medicago , and have been studied extensively for their biological and pharmacological properties. In this article, we evaluated the effects of the ectopic expression of AsOXA1 cDNA from Aster sedifolius on the production of triterpene saponins in barrel medic ( Medicago truncatula Gaertn.). AsOXA1 cDNA encodes β-amyrin synthase, a key enzyme involved in triterpene saponin biosynthesis. One of the four transgenic lines expressing AsOXA1 accumulated significantly larger amounts of some triterpenic compounds in leaf and root than did control plants. In particular, the leaf exhibited significantly higher levels of bayogenin, medicagenic acid and zanhic acid. The amounts of medicagenic acid and zanhic acid, which represent the core of the M. truncatula leaf saponins, were 1.7 and 2.1 times higher, respectively, than the amounts extracted from the control line. In root, the production of bayogenin, hederagenin, soyasapogenol E and 2β-hydroxyoleanolic acid was increased significantly. The increase in the total amounts of triterpenic compounds observed in the leaves of transgenic lines correlated with the AsOXA1 expression level. Interestingly, the plants expressing AsOXA1 showed, under different growth conditions, improved nodulation when compared with the control line. Nodulation enhancement was also accompanied by a significant change in the soyasapogenol B content. Our results indicate that the ectopic expression of AsOXA1 in barrel medic leads to a greater accumulation of triterpene saponins and enhanced root nodulation.     

Biological activities and chemistry of saponins from Chenopodium quinoa Willd.

Chenopodium quinoa Willd. is a valuable food source which has gained importance in many countries of the world. The plant contains various bitter-tasting saponins which present an important antinutritional factor. Various triterpene saponins have been reported in C. quinoa including both monodesmosidic and bidesmosidic triterpene saponins of oleanolic acid, hederagenin, phytolaccagenic acid, and serjanic acid as the major aglycones and other aglycones as 3β-hydroxy-23-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid, 3β-hydroxy-27-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid, and 3β, 23α, 30β-trihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid. A tridesmosidic saponin of hederagenin has also been reported. Here we review the occurrence, analysis, chemical structures, and biological activity of triterpene saponins of C. quinoa. In particular, the mode of action of the mono- and bidesmosidic triterpene saponins and aglycones are discussed.     

Phytochemical and chemotaxonomic study of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf

A new lanostane-type triterpene, 6α-hydroxy-dehydrotumulosic acid (1), together with 12 known compounds (2–13), was isolated and characterized from the sclerotium of Poria cocos. Their structures were confirmed by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic methods and by comparison with values previously reported in the literature. Compounds 11–13 were reported for the first time from Poria cocos. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds was discussed.     

Isomotiol,a new triterpene from strychnos potatorum

Isomotiol (fern-8-en-3β-ol) was isolated from the leaves of Strychnos potatorum; it was not known previously as a natural product, but it has been obtained by acidic isomerization of compounds with a fern-7-ene or a fern-9(11)-ene skeleton. From the leaves and the bark mixtures of sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol were also isolated.