Multiple sex expressions in Cimicifuga simplex: dichogamy destabilizes hermaphroditism

Cimicifuga simplex (Ranunculaceae) has four types of individuals, differing in their sex expression: there are individuals with hermaphroditic, hermaphroditic and male (andromonoecious), only male, or only female flowers. Purely female individuals appear during the early part of the flowering period of the population, and males during the later part. Strong protandry in hermaphroditic flowers causes a shift in functional sex ratio in the population over time. This facilitates the evolution and maintenance of small proportions of unisexual individuals in the population. A hypothesis developed from this case of multiple sex expression predicts dichogamy as a near-universal feature of andro-and gynomonoecious, androdioecious, and gynodioecious species, and also specific temporal distributions for each sex form depending upon the form of dichogamy. Results of tests on large sets of species strongly support the relevance of this hypothesis.     

Chemical Composition of Ballota macedonica Vandas and Ballota nigra L. ssp. foetida (Vis.) Hayek Essential Oils – The Chemotaxonomic Approach

The essential oils isolated from fresh aerial parts of Ballota macedonica (two populations) and Ballota nigra ssp. foetida were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Eighty five components were identified in total; 60 components in B. macedonica oil (population from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), 34 components in B. macedonica oil (population from the Republic of Serbia), and 33 components in the oil of B. nigra ssp. foetida accounting for 93.9%, 98.4%, and 95.8% of the total oils, respectively. The most abundant components in B. macedonica oils were carotol (13.7 – 52.1%), germacrene D (8.6 – 24.6%), and (E)‐caryophyllene (6.5 – 16.5%), while B. nigra ssp. foetida oil was dominated by (E)‐phytol (56.9%), germacrene D (10.0%), and (E)‐caryophyllene (4.7%). Multivariate statistical analyses (agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis) were used to compare and discuss relationships among Ballota species examined so far based on their volatile profiles. The chemical compositions of B. macedonica essential oils are reported for the first time.     

濒危植物南川升麻传粉生物学的研究

南川升麻（ＣｉｍｉｃｉｆｕｇａｎａｎｃｈｕａｎｅｎｓｉｓＨｓｉｓｏ）的繁育系统以异交为主,传粉昆虫主要为蝇类,盛花时的访花频率平均每花每天１１次,雄蕊脱落后约０６次;单穗升麻（Ｃ．ｓｉｍｐｌｅｘＷｏｒｍｓｋ）以虫媒为主,风也可以帮助其花粉在近距离传播。单穗升麻的传粉昆虫有蝇类和蜂类,盛花时的访花频率蝇类为１．４次,蜂类为１．２次。南川升麻和单穗升麻都是靠大的花序和气味来吸引传粉昆虫,报酬是退化雄蕊基部分泌的蜜液。自然条件下南川升麻每个柱头上平均有４枚花粉,结籽率平均为６４％,而单穗升麻每个柱头上平均有１７枚花粉,结籽率平均为４５９％。南川升麻有性生殖中传粉的限制是其致濒的重要因素之一。     

种植Bt水稻后的土壤对赤子爱胜蚓生长发育及酶活性的影响

【背景】转基因作物种植的安全问题一直备受关注。关于Bt蛋白对地下非靶标生物影响的研究是转基因作物安全评价的重要内容。【方法】在转Bt基因水稻收割后的稻田里分别种植豌豆、紫云英和油菜作为后茬作物。分别于2013年1、3和6月3次采集不同后茬作物田中的土壤作为材料,于室内饲养赤子爱胜蚓,4周和7周后,测定蚯蚓的生长发育指标、存活率以及体内酶活性的变化情况。此外,还测定了不同深度土壤中Bt蛋白的含量以及用Bt蛋白直接饲喂的赤子爱胜蚓的存活率。【结果】与种植过非转基因水稻MH63的土壤相比,分别种植过含cry2A和cry1C基因水稻后的土壤对赤子爱胜蚓的生长发育、存活率及体内酶活性无显著影响。1月份和3月份转cry2A基因水稻田以及1月份转cry1C基因水稻田采集的表层土样中的Bt蛋白含量显著高于地下10 cm和地下20 cm土壤中的含量,地下2层土样中的Cry2A蛋白含量之间无差异。3月份转cry1C基因水稻田以及6月份转cry2A和转cry1C基因水稻田的土壤中Bt蛋白的含量均不受土壤深度的影响。种植的后茬作物对土壤中的Bt蛋白无显著消解作用。室内模拟土壤最高Bt蛋白浓度的条件下,Cry2A蛋白处理的蚯蚓存活率为96.7%,Cry1C蛋白处理的蚯蚓存活率为95.0%,两者与对照相比无显著差异。【结论与意义】转cry2A和cry1C基因Bt水稻的种植对蚯蚓的生长发育和体内酶活性无显著影响。本研究为转基因水稻的安全评价提供了一定的依据。     

赤子爱胜蚓在不同猪粪和农作物秸杆混合物中生长繁殖状况

本文研究了赤子爱胜蚓在长春市城郊不同组合的粮食猪粪、饲料猪粪和玉米、水稻秸杆混合物中生长繁殖状况,结果发现赤子爱胜蚓的质量在0 ～30 d大幅度增加,30 ～ 60 d增加减缓,60～ 90 d呈负增长趋势.赤子爱胜蚓产茧量在试验期间的总趋势是递增的.猪粪种类、秸杆种类和两者的混合比例差异对赤子爱胜蚓的质量变化产生重要影响.粮食猪粪和玉米秸杆混合物的质量比例大致在1∶1时特别适宜赤子爱胜蚓生长和繁殖.赤子爱胜蚓在饲料猪粪和玉米秸杆混合物中的日增重倍数和日产茧量多于饲料猪粪和水稻秸杆混合物.本试验结论可为城郊猪粪和作物秸杆的大规模资源化利用提供参考.     

Growth inhibitory activity of extracts and compounds from Cimicifuga species on human breast cancer cells

The purpose of this report is to explore the growth inhibitory effect of extracts and compounds from black cohosh and related Cimicifuga species on human breast cancer cells and to determine the nature of the active components. Black cohosh fractions enriched for triterpene glycosides and purified components from black cohosh and related Asian species were tested for growth inhibition of the ER⁻ Her2 overexpressing human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-453. Growth inhibitory activity was assayed using the Coulter Counter, MTT and colony formation assays.Results suggested that the growth inhibitory activity of black cohosh extracts appears to be related to their triterpene glycoside composition. The most potent Cimicifuga component tested was 25-acetyl-7,8-didehydrocimigenol 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside, which has an acetyl group at position C-25. It had an IC₅₀ of 3.2 μg/ml (5 μM) compared to 7.2 μg/ml (12.1 μM) for the parent compound 7,8-didehydrocimigenol 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside. Thus, the acetyl group at position C-25 enhances growth inhibitory activity.The purified triterpene glycoside actein (β-d-xylopyranoside), with an IC₅₀ equal to 5.7 μg/ml (8.4 μM), exhibited activity comparable to cimigenol 3-O-β-d-xyloside. MCF7 (ER⁺Her2 low) cells transfected for Her2 are more sensitive than the parental MCF7 cells to the growth inhibitory effects of actein from black cohosh, indicating that Her2 plays a role in the action of actein. The effect of actein on Her2 overexpressing MDA-MB-453 and MCF7 (ER⁺Her2 low) human breast cancer cells was examined by fluorescent microscopy. Treatment with actein altered the distribution of actin filaments and induced apoptosis in these cells.These findings, coupled with our previous evidence that treatment with the triterpene glycoside actein induced a stress response and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells, suggest that compounds from Cimicifuga species may be useful in the prevention and treatment of human breast cancer.     

赤子爱胜蚓（Eisenia foetida）中抗肿瘤与纤溶酶原激酶活性蛋白质的分离与鉴定

采用SephadexG 75和HiPrep 1 6 / 6 0DEAE离子交换等方法从赤子爱胜蚓 (Eiseniafoetida)中提取到一组活性蛋白质成分 ,双向电泳分析证明它们为一组pI在 3 .0～ 4 .0之间的酸性蛋白质 ;利用体外K5 6 2、HeLa、SY5Y等肿瘤细胞抑制实验和纤维蛋白平板实验 ,跟踪测定活性 ,证明乙醇沉淀组分D2 (8)是既具肿瘤抑制 ,又具有激酶活性的蛋白质成分。同时应用非变性电泳对乙醇沉淀组分进行分离 ,并利用电洗脱、凝胶原位酶解和ESI MS等蛋白质组学方法 ,鉴定了其中 6种蛋白质的分子量、氨基酸组成、N末端序列和肽质量指纹图信息 ,其中条带 9与D2 (8)组分为同一种蛋白质 ;研究证明蚯蚓中含有既具抗肿瘤活性又具有激酶活性的蛋白质成分。采用的方法可适用于活性蛋白质成分的整体分离与鉴定     

Pollination Biology in Cimicifuga nanchuanensis,an Endangered Species (Ranunculaceae)

The pollination biology of Cimicifuga nanchuanensis Hsiso, an endangered species and C. siraplex Wormsk, a widespread species as a control, has been studied. Protandry occurs in both species, the former goes further than the latter. The breeding system of C. nanchuanensis is dominantly xenogamous. The average visitation rate of flies as the main pollinators is 1.1 and 0.6 per flower per day at anthesis and after stamen shedding respectively. C. simplex is mainly an entomophilous plant. However, wind pollination could occur within a short distance. Moreover, a certain ratio of self pollination exists also in this species. The mean visitation rates of flies and bees, the main pollinators of C. simplex, are 1.4 and 1.2 respectively at anthesis. The pollinating insects of both plant species are attracted by their big inflorescences and the fragrant odor. Nectar, the reward for pollinators, produces in the secretory cells at the base of the spoonform staminode. In natural conditions, an average of 17 pollen grains are found on the surface of a stigma resulting in a mean seed set rate of 45.9 %. Pollination limitation (very few pollinators and their low efficiency of pollination) in C. nanchuanensis is one of the weak links in its life cycle and one of the reasons for the endangerment of this species.     

6种重金属对赤子爱胜蚓的急性毒性效应与风险评价

【背景】近年来,土壤重金属污染问题日益凸显,对生态环境、食品安全和人体健康构成了严重威胁,其急性毒性尚未明确。【方法】采用滤纸接触法和人工土壤法测定了铜(Cu2+)、锌(Zn2+)、镍(Ni+)、镉(Cd2+)、铅(Pb2+)和锰(Mn2+)等6种重金属对赤子爱胜蚓的急性毒性效应,并参照欧盟指令91/414/EEC标准评价了其环境风险。【结果】滤纸接触法48h测定结果表明,6种重金属对蚯蚓的LC50为3.17(2.53～3.81)～90.42(69.45～140.47)μg.cm-2,其毒性次序为Cu2+>Zn2+>Ni+>Cd2+>Pb2+>Mn2+。人工土壤法14d测定结果表明,6种重金属对蚯蚓的LC50为1347(1236～1453)～6936(6144～8930)mg.kg-1,其毒性次序为Cu2+>Cd2+>Ni+>Zn2+>Mn2+>Pb2+。风险评价结果显示,Cu2+、Zn2+、Ni+、Cd2+、Pb2+和Mn2+等6种重金属的暴露比(toxicity/exposureratio,TER)分别为3.37、4.46、8.68、1428、13.87和5.85。【结论与意义】6种重金属对土壤动物蚯蚓均具有潜在的毒性效应。Cu2+、Zn2+、Ni+、Mn2+等4种重金属对赤子爱胜蚓存在急性毒性风险,而Cd2+和Pb2+对赤子爱胜蚓的急性毒性风险水平是可接受的。该评价结果可为我国制定基于风险的土壤环境质量标准提供依据。     

大理产升麻中一个新环阿尔廷三萜皂甙

从升麻(CimicifugafoetidaL.)根茎中分离得到一个新的四环三萜皂甙和5个已知化合物,它们分别是12β-乙酰基升麻醇-3-O-β-D-木糖甙(1),升麻醇(2),25-O-乙酰基升麻醇(3),升麻醇3-O-β-D-升麻醇木糖甙(4),阿科特素(5),小升麻甙B(6)。其化学结构经光谱解析和化学方法鉴定。