曲牙土天牛高毒力绿僵菌菌株筛选

目的: 明确昆虫病原真菌绿僵菌对化橘红害虫曲牙土天牛幼虫的毒力,筛选高致病力菌株,为曲牙土天牛的生物防治提供依据。 方法: 先利用从化橘红基地土壤中分离及其他实验室提供的36株绿僵菌,制成孢子浓度为1×10⁸ 个/g的孢子土,对曲牙土天牛1龄幼虫进行初步的毒力测定;在此基础上选取7株分离自化橘红基地土壤的绿僵菌作进一步筛选;并通过液固双相发酵法对筛选出的高毒力菌株的产孢能力进行初步评价。 结果: 用于作初步毒力测定的36株绿僵菌中,有28株能够侵染曲牙土天牛幼虫,其中6株僵虫率达100%,8株达80%,8株达60%,2株达40%,4株达20%;用于作进一步毒力筛选的7株菌中,有6株表现出较高的毒力,最高僵虫率均大于74%;对这6株菌的产孢量进行测定,产孢量均大于10亿个/g,其中1,4株菌产孢量显著高于其他菌株,分别为2.35±0.25 (1×10⁹个孢子/g),2.21±0.27(1×10⁹个孢子/g)。 结论: 1号和4号菌株对曲牙土天牛1龄幼虫表现出了较高的毒力,并有最强的产孢能力,因此最具开发潜力。     

四物汤抑制H2O2诱导神经细胞凋亡的实验研究

目的:探讨传统中药四物汤水提液对人神经母细胞瘤的抗氧化损伤作用及其机制。方法:在人神经母细胞瘤株SK-N-MC细胞以0.5×106/ml的密度接种于6孔板和2×104/ml于96孔板或以2×106/ml于10cm的圆盘后孵育24h。用不同浓度H2O2处理(1～300μM,12h)诱导SK-N-MC细胞损伤以后,通过MTT、DAPI和流式细胞技术,观察传统中药四物汤的作用。结果:H2O2引在1～300μM范围内,对SK-N-MC细胞损伤具有明显的量效关系。四物汤提前预处理2h,可明显减少由H2O2(30μM)预处理引起的SK-N-MC死亡率[由对照组的(59.87±2.04)%,上升到(83.04±5.12)%～(89.47±5.68)%(P<0.01)],抑制细胞凋亡[由对照组的(29.24±3.54)%下降到(7.56±1.96)%(P<0.01)],用30μM的H2O2处理12h后,可以明显的诱导SK-N-MC细胞出现sub-G1期,但是事先用250μg/mL四物汤处理却明显地降低H2O2导致细胞凋亡产生的sub-G1峰。结论:四物汤水提液可能通过抗细胞凋亡等途径,减少SK-N-MC细胞的氧化损伤。     

化橘红害虫曲牙土天牛生物学特性初步研究

目的：了解化橘红基地曲牙土天牛Dorysthenes hydropicus生物学特性，为有效防治提供科学依据。方法：通过田间调查、室内饲养及灯诱了解曲牙土天牛生物学及发生与为害特性。结果：曲牙土天牛在化橘红基地1～2年发生1代，以幼虫在土中越冬；5月下旬为成虫羽化出土盛期。成虫个体差异大，体长25～63 cm；趋光性强，1个诱集点每晚可以诱集成虫2 000多头；雌成虫抱卵量大，最多达543粒，成虫产卵于1～3 cm深土中，卵孵化盛期为6月下旬～7月上旬，孵化率达85%以上，幼虫在15～60 cm土层内取食危害。结论：曲牙土天牛在广东危害化橘红、白木香等均为首次报道，对化橘红生产威胁极大，是化橘红基地重点防治对象。     

Effect of feeding Mucuna pruriens on helminth parasite infestation in lambs

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Mucuna pruriens is a tropical legume anecdotally reputed to have anthelmintic properties. This study was conducted to examine the validity of such claims.

Aim of the study

The aim of this study was to determine if ingestion of Mucuna seeds reduces helminth parasite infestation in lambs.

Materials and methods

Thirty-six Dorper × Katahdin ram lambs were assigned to three treatments, a cottonseed meal based control diet, a diet in which Mucuna replaced cottonseed meal and the control diet with levamisole (7.5 mg/kg body weight) administration. All diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. The 12 lambs in each treatment were assigned randomly to 4 pens, each containing 3 lambs. Lambs were trickle infected three times per week by gavage with infectious Haemonchus contortus larvae (2000 larvae/lamb) for 3 weeks.

Results

Levamisole treatment decreased fecal egg counts by 87% and abomasal worm counts by 83%. Mucuna intake did not statistically affect fecal egg counts or abomasal worm counts, though numerical (P > 0.10) reductions of 7.4% and 18.1%, respectively were evident. Anemia indicators, feed intake, and lamb growth were unaffected by treatment.

Conclusions

Levamisole reduced the Haemonchus parasite burden in lambs significantly but feeding Mucuna reduced the burden by levels unlikely to eliminate the clinical effects of parasitism.     

Antimycobacterial triterpenoids from Lantana hispida (Verbenaceae)

As the Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to multiple drugs are increasing at an alarming rate, there is an urgent need for alternative anti-tuberculosis drugs. In a bioassay-guided search for antimycobacterial compounds obtained from higher plants, the study of the hexane extract from the aerial parts of Lantana hispida was performed and the biological activity of the plant products were tested against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain by microdilution alamar blue assay. Activity of the primary fractions led to the isolation of three pentacyclic triterpenoids with oleanane nucleous, together with beta-sitosterol. The molecular structures of the compounds were characterized as 3-acetoxy-22-(2'-methyl-2Z-butenyloxy)-12-oleanen-28-oic acid (1), 3-hydroxy-22 beta-(2'-methyl-2Z-butenoyloxy)-12-oleanen-28-oic acid (reduced lantadene A) (2) and oleanolic acid (3). MIC values for compounds 1 and 2 were 50 microg/ml, and for compound 3 the MIC=25 microg/ml.     

Scorpio and Scolopendra attenuate inflammation and articular damage in rats with collagen-induced arthritis

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Scorpio and Scolopendra (SS) are two traditional Chinese medicines, which are generally used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China. However, the mechanism is so far unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects and mechanisms of SS in attenuating inflammation and joint injury in collagen-induced arthritis in rats.

Materials and methods

RA was induced in Wistar rats by injection of collagen, meanwhile, the rats were administrated daily either SS (0.4 g/kg, 0.2 g/kg, and 0.1 g/kg) or vehicle (physiological saline) for 42 days. The therapeutic effect of SS on RA was evaluated by pathological methods. T lymphocyte subsets and anti-collagen type II (CII) antibody were tested in peripheral blood. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were assessed in tissue homogenate of fresh joints.

Results

The inflammation and articular damage in SS powder-treated rats were attenuated significantly. In addition, SS powder was revealed to modulate the equilibrium of T lymphocyte subsets, down-regulate TNF-α and IL-1β, up-regulate IL-4 and IL-10, and significantly suppress the level of anti-CII antibody.

Conclusions

Scorpio and Scolopendra, when used as a combination, reveal desirable effect for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and this beneficial effect may be accomplished through normalization of T lymphocyte subsets and the balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines.     

Phytosynergy in some Hypoxis species and pharmacological properties of a Hypoxis-based phytopharmaceutical formula

Ethnopharmacology relevance

Hypoxis species are used extensively in traditional medicine in southern Africa for several ailments including tuberculosis, chest infections, and nervous and urinary disorders. Several other claims have been made for extracts emanating from Hypoxis species and have led to the production of several commercial products used as immunostimulants mostly for people living with HIV/AIDS and cancer. This study was aimed at investigating the biological activity of four Hypoxis species and a commercial herbal product, ‘African potato extract’ (APE).

Materials and methods

Antibacterial, antifungal, cyclooxygenase (COX) and acetylcholineasterase (AChE) inhibitory activities of four Hypoxis species (H. acuminata, H. colchicifolia, H. hemerocallidea and H. rigidula) and a popular Hypoxis-based herbal preparation, APE were tested. The phytoconstituents of the mixture were also profiled using TLC methods. Several combinations of the Hypoxis species were prepared and their synergism, additive, autonomic and antagonism effects investigated. As a quality control measure, batch to batch comparison in the phytoconstituents and biological activity of APE was carried out.

Results

The results confirmed H. colchicifolia and H. hemerocallidea as the phytoconstituents of APE. The extracts showed a broad spectrum of activities against the bacterial and fungal strains used. Of particular interest were the activities exhibited by the APE and combinations of H. colchicifolia and H. hemerocallidea. The APE mixture exhibited good antibacterial activity (MIC values of 0.78 mg/ml each) in all the tested batches against the bacterial strains used. The water extracts of all four Hypoxis species, three batches of APE and the combination (water extracts) of H. colchicifolia and H. hemerocallidea exhibited high COX-1 and moderate COX-2 inhibitory activity except for H. acuminata which showed low activity against COX-2. All the extract, batches of APE and combinations showed low to moderate AChE inhibitory activity. These results provided some evidence of phytosynergy in some extracts of H. hemerocallidea and H. colchicifolia except for a few extracts which act as additive, autonomous and antagonistic when used to inhibit some bacterial and fungal strains. However, this was not the case for COX and AChE inhibition, as only acetone extracts acted in a synergistic way to reduce the activity of the enzyme.

Conclusion

Even though the results give an indication of a positive interaction between some extracts of H. hemerocallidea and H. colchicifolia, the study was carried out on 1:1 v/v combinations only. It is therefore important to carry out isobologram studies, which considers more than one ratio of the combinations.     

传统中药交让木Daphniphyllum macropodum 生物碱成分的分离鉴别

目的:对采自中国广西的传统中药交让木Daphniphyllum macropodum的生物碱成分进行研究,从中寻找有生物活性的次生代谢产物.方法:用硅胶柱色谱和凝胶柱色谱对交让木D.macropodum氯仿提取物进行分离纯化;根据其理化性质,结合现代波谱技术(MS,NMR等)并与文献报道的数据相比较,对得到的化合物进行结构鉴定.结果:分离得到了4个具有不同骨架的虎皮南生物碱,其结构分别鉴定为:longistylumphylline A(1),deoxycalyciphylline B(2),daphnicyclidin B(3),daphnicyclidin H(4).结论:4个化合物均系首次从该种植物中分离得到;daphnicyclidin H(4)的发现,进一步证明了它与之前报导的macropodumines A ～C在生源上的密切联系.     

Evaluation of estrogenic activity of alcoholic extract of rhizomes of Curculigo orchioides

The rhizomes of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. (Amaryllidacea) is an important Ayurvedic as well as Unani drug. It is present in several drug formulations used in the treatment of menorrhagia and other gynecological problems. In this study, we conducted a comparative study of estrogenic activity of alcoholic extract of Curculigo orchioides with diethylstilbestrol in bilaterally ovariectomized young albino rats. Bilaterally ovariectomized albino rats were divided into five groups (n=9) receiving different treatments, consisting of vehicle (0.6% w/v sodium carboxy methyl cellulose), ethanolic extract of rhizomes of Curculigo orchioides at three different doses (viz., 300, 600, 1200 mg/kg body weight) and standard drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight. All these were administered orally daily for 7 days. Estrogenic activity was assessed by taking percentage vaginal cornification, uterine wet weight, uterine glycogen content and uterine histology as parameters of assessment. Alcoholic extract of Curculigo orchioides showed a significant increase in percentage vaginal cornification, uterine wet weight (P<0.001), uterine glycogen content (P<0.001) and a proliferative changes in uterine endometrium compared to the control.     

基于表型性状和药材品质的8个贵州太子参品系的筛选与评价

目的:运用单株选育法,对目标太子参单株进行株系比较试验,为太子参新品种的选育提供种质材料。方法:以施秉SB-4号种源的8个太子参单株为选育对象,观测植株的27个表型性状、8个产量性状,UV分光光度计检测各株系的多糖含量。对观测结果运用因子分析法进行比较和筛选,单因素方差分析对其药材中多糖含量进行评价。结果:因子分析将27个表型性状归属于7个主因子,其中ZT-01,ZT-02,ZT-06,ZT-07株系的综合表型性状较好;8个产量性状可简化为新的3个主因子,以ZT-01,ZT-02,ZT-03,ZT-07株系的综合产量性状较好;单因素方差分析显示,ZT-01,ZT-02,ZT-05,ZT-08株系的多糖含量显著高于ZT-03,ZT-04,ZT-06,ZT-07株系。结论:从表型性状,产量性状和品质性状综合考虑,ZT-01,ZT-02,ZT-03,ZT-06,ZT-07表现优良,其中ZT-01,ZT-02株系可作为重点扩繁株系进一步选育;ZT-06,ZT-07株系的株型,主茎节数等表型性状好,可以作为观赏品种选育;ZT-03株系的抗性好,产量高,可以作为抗性品种进行选育研究;ZT-05株系的多糖含量高,翌年继续进行单株筛选。     

Chemical composition,antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and a pro-apoptotic effect in SGC-7901 of the essential oil from Toona sinensis (A. Juss.) Roem. leaves

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Leaves of Toona sinensis (A. Juss.) Roem. (TSL), a popular vegetable in China, have anti-inflammatory, antidoting, and worm-killing effects and are used in folk medicine for the treatment of enteritis, dysentery, carbuncles, boils, and especially abdominal tumors. Our aim was to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and anticancer property of the essential oil from TSL (TSL-EO), especially the pro-apoptotic effect in SGC-7901.

Materials and methods

TSL-EO obtained by hydrodistillation was analyzed by GC/MS and was tested in vitro against twenty clinically isolated strains of Staphylococcus aureus (SA 1–20), which were either methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and two standard strains viz. ATCC 25923 and ATCC 43300. The anticancer activity of TSL-EO was evaluated in vitro against HepG2, SGC7901, and HT29 through MTT assay. Moreover, the apoptosis-inducing activity of TSL-EO in SGC7901 cells was determined by Hoechst 33324 staining and flow cytometry methods. Also, the apoptosis-related proteins viz. Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 were detected by western-blotting.

Results

GC–MS analysis showed that TSL-EO contained a high amount of sesquiterpenes (84.64%), including copaene (8.27%), β-caryophyllene (10.16%), caryophyllene (13.18%) and β-eudesmene (5.06%). TSL-EO inhibited the growth of both MSSA and MRSA, with the lowest MIC values of 0.125 and 1 mg/ml, respectively. Treatment with TSL-EO for 24 h could significantly suppress the viability of three different cancer cell lines (P<0.05). Furthermore, the apoptosis-inducing activity of TSL-EO in SGC7901 cells increased in a dose-dependent manner, potentially resulting from the up-regulated expression of Bax, caspase-3 and down-regulated expression of Bcl-2.

Conclusions

TSL-EO possessed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and significant cytotoxicity against cancer cells and particularly prominent pro-apoptotic activity in SGC7901 cells. These bioactivities were probably due to the high content of sesquiterpenes. Our results suggested that TSL-EO possessed potential health benefits and could serve as a promising natural food addictive.