In vitro anti-inflammatory and pro-aggregative effects of a lipid compound,petrocortyne A,from marine sponges

(3S,14S)-Petrocortyne A, a lipid compound (a C₄₆ polyacetylenic alcohol), from marine sponges (Petrosia sp.) is potently cytotoxic against several solid tumour cells. In this study, we investigated in vitro anti-inflammatory and pro-aggregative effects of petrocortyne A at non-cytotoxic concentrations on various cellular inflammatory phenomena using the macrophage and monocytic cell lines RAW264.7 and U937. Petrocortyne A blocked tumour necrosis factor- (TNF-) production strongly and concentration-dependently in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/LPS-treated U937 cells. It also blocked NO production concentration-dependently in LPS- or interferon (IFN)--treated RAW264.7 cells. Among the migration factors tested, the compound selectively blocked the expression of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF). On the other hand, as assessed by a cell-cell adhesion assay, petrocortyne A did not block the activation of adhesion molecules induced by aggregative antibodies to adhesion molecules, but suppressed PMA-induced cell-cell adhesion significantly. Intriguingly, petrocortyne A induced U937 homotypic aggregation following long exposure (2 and 3 days), accompanied by weak induction of pro-aggregative signals such as tyrosine phosphorylation of p132 and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase 1 and 2 (ERK 1/2). Petrocortyne A may thus inhibit cellular inflammatory processes and immune cell migration to inflamed tissue.     

南海海绵Axinyssa sp．的化学成分

目的：对采自中国南海的海绵Axinyssa sp．进行化学成分研究，从中寻找具有生物活性的次生代谢产物。方法：用硅胶和凝胶LH-20柱层析对海绵Axinyssa sp．的乙醚提取物进行分离纯化，并结合现代波谱技术对得到的化合物进行结构鉴定。结果：分离得到了4个化合物，其结构分别鉴定为theonellin isothiocyanate（1），theonellin formamide（2），7-isothiocyanato-7，8-dihydro-α-bisabolene（3）和axinysterol（4）。结论：化合物1-3均为首次从海绵Axinyssa sp．中分离得到，同时也是首次从中国海域的海洋生物中分离得到。     

海洋中药发展源流初探

根据考古发现,人类早在旧石器时代即已开始利用海洋资源.到了春秋战国时期,人类开始利用海洋生物入药,并对其功效、炮制有简单的认识.到了秦汉时期,人类对海洋中药的认识进一步深化,并创制了运用海洋药物的方剂.到了唐宋时期,海洋中药的种数以及相应的方剂明显增多,对海洋中药的性味功效以及配伍规律有了进一步认识,其治疗范围也明显扩大.明清时期,人类对海洋中药的认识主要是对前人经验的总结.建国后,由于科学技术的发展,人类开发、利用海洋资源的能力大幅提高,海洋中药的种数达到1 000余种.但海洋中药的发展也面临着新的问题,即海洋中药的种数虽然增加,但对其性味功效的认识则明显滞后,严重影响了海洋中药的临床应用.     

海洋药物资源的微生物的分离技术

海洋微生物是海洋药物的重要资源,资源微生物的分离是开发海洋药物的第一步,本文报道各种资源微生物的分离技术,其包括常规海洋放线菌,细菌和真菌的资源,同样包括极端环境条件下的嗜碱,嗜盐和低的微生物。     

Biological importance of marine algae

Marine organisms are potentially prolific sources of highly bioactive secondary metabolites that might represent useful leads in the development of new pharmaceutical agents. Algae can be classified into two main groups; first one is the microalgae, which includes blue green algae, dinoflagellates, bacillariophyta (diatoms)… etc., and second one is macroalgae (seaweeds) which includes green, brown and red algae. The microalgae phyla have been recognized to provide chemical and pharmacological novelty and diversity. Moreover, microalgae are considered as the actual producers of some highly bioactive compounds found in marine resources. Red algae are considered as the most important source of many biologically active metabolites in comparison to other algal classes. Seaweeds are used for great number of application by man. The principal use of seaweeds as a source of human food and as a source of gums (phycocollides). Phycocolloides like agar agar, alginic acid and carrageenan are primarily constituents of brown and red algal cell walls and are widely used in industry.     

南海海绵Clathria fasciculate化学成分的研究(Ⅱ)

从中国南海海绵Clathria fasciculate的乙酸乙酯相分离鉴定出4个有机化合物，经GC-MS，FAB，IR，^1HNMR,^13CNMR和COSY等波谱技术确定它们分别是：胆甾-4-烯-3-酮（Ⅰ）；豆甾-4-烯-3-酮（Ⅱ）；（Z）-17-二十四碳烯-1-醇（Ⅲ）和1-（17Z-二十四碳烯基）-甘油醚（Ⅳ），为首次有关该种属海绵化学成分研究系列的第二次报道。     

海洋生物面膜对小鼠皮肤的抗辐射作用研究

目的 本文探讨中波紫外线（UVB）照射下海洋生物面膜对小鼠皮肤氧化损伤的保护作用和抗氧化酶的关系及其Bcl-2、NOS的表达。方法 建立UVB（辐照强度为5.15×10-2J·cm-2×30d）对昆明种无毛小鼠氧化损伤模型。昆明种无毛小鼠,随机分为双蒸水未照射组和UVB模型组（双蒸水对照组、10％MFP组、10％维生素C组）。电镜观察皮肤组织超微结构。并应用免疫组织化学的方法测定小鼠表皮细胞的Bcl-2蛋白表达、NOS的活性。酶法测定皮肤匀浆上清液中抗氧化酶（GSH-Px、SOD）活性和MDA的含量及总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）。结果 电镜下UVB损伤的对照组小鼠皮肤的表皮细胞胞质内可见空泡形成,真皮的成纤维细胞内可见囊泡状扩张的滑面内质网,粗面内质网等细胞器减少。①MFP组表皮细胞结构正常,成纤维细胞的粗面内质网增多,②MFP可以增强小鼠表皮细胞内Bcl-2蛋白的表达,并抑制NOS的免疫活性;③MFP可提高小鼠皮肤组织的总抗氧化能力、SOD活性,降低MDA含量,与维生素C的抗氧化作用一致。结论 海洋生物面膜与维生素C一样具有抗UVB氧化损伤的作用。其作用机制可能与海洋生物面膜增强Bcl-2的蛋白表达,降低NOS的活性,提高抗氧化酶含量、清除自由基有关。     

A neurophysiological method of rapid detection and analysis of marine algal toxins

We have examined the effectiveness of the in vitro rat hippocampal slice preparation as a means of rapidly and specifically detecting the marine algal toxins saxitoxin, brevetoxin, and domoic acid and have identified toxin-specific electrophysiological signatures for each. Brevetoxin (PbTX₃, 50–200 nM) produced a significant reduction in orthodromic population spike amplitude which was quick to reverse during a 50 min wash-out, while antidromic population spikes and field EPSPs exhibited only slight reductions, and fibre spiof orthodrokes showed no change at all. Domoic acid (100 nM) produced a robust, reversible increase in amplitude mic spikes, and the appearance of multiple spikes (i.e., epileptiform activity) within minutes of toxin wash-in. Other notable features of the domoic acid signature included a significant decrease in amplitude of the field EPSPs, and a complete absence of effect on either antidromic or fibre spikes. Fifty nanomolar saxitoxin (PSP) abolished all responses in all slices. Only antidromic spikes showed any recovery during wash-out. Field EPSP and fiber spike analysis further demonstrated that the preparation is capable of reliably detecting saxitoxin in a linearly responsive fashion at toxin concentrations of 25–200 nM, and tests of naturally contaminated shellfish confirmed the utility of this assay as a screening method for PSP. Our findings suggest that the in vitro hippocampal slice preparation has potential in the detection and analysis of three marine algal toxins important to the shellfish industry.     

Burden or benefit? Virus–host interactions in the marine environment

Viruses are the most numerous and diverse biological entities in the oceans. We are now beginning to understand the ecological role of viruses in the marine environment. As a result, we believe that viruses have important roles in both biochemical cycling and structuring of marine communities.     

The coastal medicinal plant Vitex rotundifolia: a mini-review on its bioactive compounds and pharmacological activity

Humans have long used natural remedies like plants and herbs to treat disease.Furthermore,research has been ongoing to find alternative pharmaceutical drugs based on traditionally used plants,as natural products show fewer side effects compared to synthetic drugs.Medicinal plants have long been targeted in drug development due to their bioactive compounds like alkaloids,flavonoids,and terpenoids.This is not only the case for terrestrial plants,but marine environments also provide a larger diversity of flora and fauna with medicinal bioactive compounds.Vitex rotundifolia,also known as Beach Vitex,is a coastal plant that has been traditionally used to treat a variety of diseases including premenstrual syndrome,headaches,migraines,colds,and eye pain.There have been many review papers on V.rotundifolia,emphasizing its taxonomy,distribution,and biological activity.Our current mini-review not only summarizes the pharmacology and bioactivity of V.rotundifolia,but it also provides new information on the main bioactive compounds of V.rotundifolia such as flavonoids,phenolic acid,and terpenes and their current pharmacological activity in vitro and in vivo research.This information can be useful for developing new pharmaceutical and nutraceutical agents to treat and manage disease.