A New Prenylated Xanthone from Root Barks of Cudrania cochinchinensis

Objective To study the chemical constituents from the root barks of Cudrania cochinchinensis. Methods The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by silica gel column chromatography. The structures of the compounds were identified on the basis of spectral data (MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and 2D NMR) and by the comparison of spectroscopic data with the reported values in the literatures. Results A new xanthone, 1,6,7-trihydroxy-4-(1,1- dimethylallyl)-3-methoxyxanthone (1) and a known prenylated xanthone 1,5,6-trihydroxy-4-(1,1-dimethylallyl)-3- methoxyxanthone (isocudraniaxanthone B, 2) were isolated from the root barks of C. cochinchinensis. Conclusion Compound 1 is a new prenylated xanthone. Isomers 1 and 2 are obtained from this plant for the first time.     

芦笋食用与废弃部分皂苷含量的比较研究

目的优化芦笋皂苷提取工艺,比较芦笋食用部分和废弃部分的皂苷含量。方法采用超声提取法,以芦笋中皂苷的提取率为指标,采用单因素实验和正交实验考察乙醇浓度、料液比、提取时间和提取温度对超声法提取芦笋两部分中总皂苷的影响,并用紫外分光光度法测定皂苷在两部分中的含量。结果芦笋食用部分总皂苷最佳提取条件为提取温度为70℃,提取时间为2h,料液比为1：15,乙醇浓度为10％。提取率为179．83mg·g-1;芦笋废弃部分总皂苷最佳提取条件为提取温度为40℃,提取时间为2．5h,料液比为1：15,乙醇浓度为30％,提取率为117．8lmg·g-1。结论经SPSS软件进行独立样本T检验,得知芦笋食用与废弃部分粗提物中皂苷的含量差异较大,需待进一步进行研究。     

Asparagus racemosus modulates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and brain monoaminergic systems in rats

Abstract

Objectives

Asparagus racemosus (AR) is classified as an adaptogen, an important medicinal plant and food. Even though AR is widely used as food and nutraceutical, it has only been evaluated in the context of experimental disorders. Hence, the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of standardized methanolic extract of AR (MAR) on experimentally un-manipulated animals to observe the per se effects on stress pathways.

Methods

MAR (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, per oral) was administered for 7 days. Lorazepam (0.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was used as a positive control. On the seventh day, plasma was collected for the estimation of corticosterone (CORT) and norepinephrine (NE), and brain was microdissected into hippocampus, hypothalamus (HYP), pre-frontal cortex, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens to estimate tissue level of monoamines (serotonin, dopamine, and NE), their metabolites, and turnover.

Results

MAR dose-dependently decreased the plasma CORT and NE levels, indicating its effects on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal cortex axis and the sympathetic-noradrenergic system, respectively. MAR increased the levels of all monoamines in the HYP. However, MAR showed region-specific changes in monoamines and their metabolites, and turnover in other brain regions.

Discussion

MAR showed a physiological modulation of the stress pathways. Interestingly, in most brain regions the change in monoaminergic systems was limited by a ceiling effect at a dose of 100 mg/kg. These observations could explain the traditional use of AR as an adaptogen and a functional food.     

AFLPs Represent Highly Repetitive Sequences in Asparagus Officinalis L.

The chromosomal and genomic organization of 5 cloned AFLP fragments in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) were investigated. Two of the 5 AFLP loci were sex-linked. The fragments, amplified with EcoRI/MseI primers, ranged from 107 to 267 bp and were AT-rich. Southern hybridization gave interspersed, middle repetitive to high copy sequence signals. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) exhibited hybridization signals on all chromosomes with dispersed distribution pattern and varying signal intensities. Repetitive signals in the form of clusters were observed on all chromosomes. In addition, the 5S rRNA gene was physically mapped on one pair of chromosomes and the 18S-5.8S-25S rRNA genes on three pairs. The results of the FISH and Southern analyses showed that the AFLP marker technology relies on repetitive sequences. Since repetitive DNA sequences represent a fraction of the plant genome undergoing rapid changes during the course of evolution, the question of whether such molecular markers originating from repetitive DNA sequences remain stable is discussed.     

大孔树脂纯化芦笋总皂苷的工艺研究

目的研究芦笋总皂苷的大孔树脂纯化工艺。方法采用静态及动态吸附解吸试验优选适宜的大孔树脂,并优化纯化条件。结果 S-8型树脂对芦笋总皂苷有较好的吸附和洗脱效果,并具有良好的脱色效果,其最佳纯化条件为上样质量浓度1 mg/mL,上样量60 mL/g树脂,用pH 7的75%乙醇洗脱,洗脱剂用量为10 mL/g树脂。纯化后得提取物中芦笋总皂苷的质量分数可达50.15%,脱色率为92.23%。结论 S-8型大孔树脂用于富集芦笋总皂苷效果最佳,是一种理想的分离纯化介质。     

天门冬组培快繁体系研究

目的 建立天门冬组培快速繁殖体系,保护和合理利用天门冬资源.方法 采用不同基本培养基和不同种类及质量浓度的植物生长调节剂对天门冬不同外植体进行愈伤组织诱导、丛生芽诱导及生根培养研究.结果 愈伤组织诱导的最适培养基为1/2 MS+1.0 mg/L 6-BA+0.5 mg/L NAA,pH 5.8;丛生芽诱导的适宜培养基为MS+ 1.5 mg/L 6-BA+0.5 mg/L LAA,pH 5.8;生根的适宜培养基为1/2 MS+0.5 mg/L IBA+0.5 mg/L IAA,其中培养基中铁盐的质量浓度降低到6.95 mg/L,蔗糖的质量浓度降低至20 g/L,pH值为5.8.结论 天门冬不同外植体均可诱导出愈伤组织,其中嫩芽诱导愈伤率最高,为天门冬最适组织培养的外植体;利用组织培养技术能够实现天门冬快速繁殖,为其人工扩大栽培奠定了良好基础.     

Effects of Chlorophytum arundinaceum,Asparagus adscendens and Asparagus racemosus on pro‐inflammatory cytokine and corticosterone levels produced by stress

Chlorophytum arundinaceum, Asparagus adscendens and Asparagus racemosus are used in the Indian traditional system of medicine for improving the general state of health and for stress‐related immune disorders. The effects of the methanol and aqueous extracts of the tuberous roots of these plants were examined in an experimental mouse model of stress, induced by swimming. The extracts were shown to exert an inhibitory effect on pro‐inflammatory cytokines, namely interleukin 1β and tumour necrosis factor α, and on the production of nitric oxide in mouse macrophage cells RAW 264.7 stimulated by lipopolysaccharide in vitro. Similar inhibition was also observed in the production of interleukin 2 in EL 4 lymphoma cells stimulated by concanavalin A. Corticosterone levels in serum and adrenal glands were measured. The findings suggest that these plants may be beneficial in the management of stress and inflammatory conditions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

芦笋中硒元素的测定方法探究

目的：建立测定芦笋中硒含量的方法。方法：采用硝酸一高氯酸微波消解后,在铁氰化钾一盐酸体系中,选用最佳氢化物发生原子荧光法测定条件,采用标准曲线法定量分析。结果：该法线性范围为0—0．8μg,／mL,检出限为0．024μg／mL,回收率为96．7-103．3％,相对标准偏差为1．28％。结论：本方法简单、准确,适用于芦笋中硒的含量测定。。     

我国不同地区天门冬核DNAITS序列分析

目的 研究我国不同地区天门冬核DNA ITS序列差异及其与地理位置的关系,为不同居群天门冬的鉴定和道地产区的确定提供理论依据.方法 运用PCR法对25个地区的75个样本ITS序列扩增后双向测序,用软件DNAMAN和MEGA4分析测序结果.结果 每个地区的3个样本的ITS序列基本相同,不同地区样本间的ITS全序列存在一定差异,ITS2片段变异高于ITS1.贵州产天门冬遗传分化度较大,变异位点和信息位点较多.ITS序列构建的系统树表明,同一个地区的3个样本优先聚类,然后是同省的样本聚类,位于北纬24.6°～36.6°和22.2°～24.4°的样本分别聚为1大支;第1大支中包括青海、湖南和贵州省的样本,第2大支则包括浙江、广东、云南和广西4省的样本.结论 ITS序列可鉴定不同产地的天门冬,贵州省是天门冬药材道地产区之一,不同地区天门冬的亲缘聚类主要与纬度相关,与经度关系不大.     

中药芦笋促T细胞有丝分裂活性的观察

低浓度芦笋原汁(0.1～1.0％)可明显促进正常小鼠胸腺细胞的增殖,也可刺激正常小鼠脾脏细胞的增殖,但对裸鼠脾脏细胞没有任何作用。由此提示,芦笋具有促T淋巴细胞有丝分裂的活性,而对B淋巴细胞没有作用。与常用的T细胞促有丝分裂素植物血凝素(PHA)及刀豆蛋白A(ConA)不同,芦笋原汁对人、绵羊、豚鼠和鸡的红细胞均无凝集作用。