Daphne-type diterpenes from genus Daphne and their anti-tumor activity

Daphne-type diterpenenoids is the major biologically active constituents in the genus Daphne. We find that there are about 101 Daphne-type diterpenes in this genus, most of these compounds show different degrees of inhibitory effect on various cancer cell. Some of them have been studied in depth and the potent molecular mechanisms might be associated with modulation of different cell-signaling pathways. In addition, some compounds of this type also can inhibit the synthesis of protein and DNA. Absolutely, the anti-tumor activity of Daphne-type diterpenes is worthy of attention. Unfortunately, most of the current research on the activity of these compounds is focused on simple drug efficacy, and its in-depth mechanism research is far from enough. On the other point of view, there still exists wide growing space on the depth of these compounds.     

Effect of Jianpi-yangwei decoction on gut fungi in the patients with gastric cancer undergoing chemotherapy

Background:Our previous study shows that the empirical formula of Chinese medicine Jianpi-yangwei decoction(JYD)can improve the quality of life in patients with gastric cancer undergoing chemotherapy by increasing beneficial gut bacteria and decreasing harmful bacteria.The present study aims to investigate the effect of JYD on gut fungi in patients with gastric cancer undergoing chemotherapy.Methods:A total of 73 patients with gastric cancer undergoing chemotherapy were recruited.Twenty-nine patients in the chemotherapy group were given standard chemotherapy and 44 patients in the observation group were given JYD plus standard chemotherapy.A control group(55 cases)was recruited from the healthy medical examiners.After 3 months of treatment,life-quality score was evaluated and fecal microbiota was tested by high-throughput sequencing based on the 18S rRNA gene.Results:After treatment,life-quality score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the chemotherapy group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference between the observation and control groups’diversity and richness indices of intestinal fungi.The Chao index for intestinal fungi in the chemotherapy group was significantly lower than that in the observation group(P<0.05).There was a significant difference between the control and chemotherapy groups in the intestinal fungi according to Shannon and Simpson indices(P<0.05).Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis showed no significant differences among the three groups,but significant difference in intestinal fungi was observed between the observation group and the chemotherapy group.At the genus level,the relative abundance of the Aspergillus genus in the observation and control groups was significantly lower(P<0.05),the relative abundance of the Cutaneotrichosporon,Galactomyces,and Ganoderma genus taxa was significantly higher compared with those in the chemotherapy group(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference between the observation group and control group.Conclusion:JYD can ameliorate chemotherapy-induced fungal dysbacteriosis in patients with gastric cancer undergoing chemotherapy and improve the quality of life of patients.     

蓝盆花属植物化学成分及药理作用研究进展

蓝盆花属植物隶属于川续断科(Dipsacaceae),全世界约100种,分布于欧洲、亚洲、非洲南部和西部,中国有9种2变种,产东北、华北、西北及台湾等地。植物化学研究发现其主要成分为黄酮类、酚酸类、萜类和香豆素类等;现代药理研究表明其具有抗肝纤维化、抗氧化、抗肿瘤和抗菌等多种药理活性。蓝盆花属植物大多数在国内外广泛作为民族传统用药,潜在药用价值较大。本研究综述了国内外蓝盆花属植物的化学成分及药理作用研究进展,以期为该属植物的进一步研究与开发利用提供科学依据和参考。     

基于网络药理学的黄瑞香抗胃癌作用机制探讨及实验验证

目的 采用网络药理学方法预测黄瑞香发挥抗胃癌作用的潜在机制,并通过体外细胞实验进行初步验证。方法 利用中药系统药理学数据库和分析平台（TCMSP）筛选黄瑞香的有效成分,通过Swiss Target Prediction数据库和PharmMapper数据库筛选获得黄瑞香活性成分的相关靶点。通过GeneCards及DisGeNET数据库检索获得胃癌疾病相关靶点。利用Cytoscape软件构建黄瑞香活性成分-靶点网络;通过STRING、Metascape数据库对成分和胃癌疾病交集靶点进行蛋白质相互作用（PPI）网络和基因本体（GO）注释及京都基因与基因组百科全书（KEGG）通路富集分析。采用MTT实验考察黄瑞香异戊烯基黄酮成分构树黄酮醇F（broussoflavonol F）、daphnegiravone D、daphgiflavone C体外对胃癌MGC803细胞生长的影响,采用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测这3种异戊烯基黄酮类化合物作用48h后胃癌MGC803细胞表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）、磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶（PI3K）和蛋白激酶B（Akt）基因的表达。结果 筛选得到黄瑞香70个活性成分,黄瑞香作用于胃癌的42个相关靶点,其中表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）、鼠肉瘤病毒癌基因同源物B1（BRAF）、Ⅰ类磷脂酰肌醇-3激酶催化亚基α（PIK3CA）、酪氨酸激酶（MET）以及丝裂原活化蛋白激酶1（MAPK1）等为核心靶点。KEGG富集分析发现黄瑞香作用于胃癌主要富集在癌症、PI3K/Akt以及丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）等通路中。活性测试结果发现,异戊烯基黄酮成分构树黄酮醇F、daphnegiravone D、daphgiflavone C对胃癌MGC803细胞生长具有较好的抑制作用。同时,与对照组比较,构树黄酮醇F、daphnegiravone D、daphgiflavone C可显著抑制胃癌MGC803细胞EGFR、PI3K和Akt基因的表达（P＜0.05、0.01、0.001）。结论 黄瑞香可能以异戊烯基黄酮为主要的抗胃癌活性成分,以EGFR、BRAF、PIKC3A、MET等蛋白为核心作用靶点,主要经I3K/Akt以及MAPK等相关信号通路发挥治疗胃癌的作用。     

The Duboisia Genus,Australian Aborigines and Suggestibility

Abstract

Plant hallucinogens, such as those of the Duboisia genus called pituri, have been used by tribal elders in Australian aboriginal populations to create managed states of consciousness, to provide their youth with a fast-paced educational experience, and to inculcate values, beliefs and religious tenets. Use of the suggestible states created by such substances (particularly in pubertal initiatory rituals marking the transition to manhood) are part of this process, which contributes to cultural cohesiveness and survival; their effectiveness is due to the unique ability of the biochemical properties of the plant to evoke suggestibility in those who ingest them. This article draws on research about suggestibility as a psychological characteristic of altered states of consciousness as well as a normal human psychological phenomenon, and examines in great detail the use of the pituri plant, deriving data from a 100-item bibliography generated by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in Canberra. Botanical/chemical data on use of the Duboisia genus up to the end of the nineteenth century is examined, as well as the way in which this hallucinogen was utilized as a “psychotechnology.”     

Human milk can neutralize Coxsackievirus B4 in vitro

The role of enteroviruses in type 1 diabetes has long been suspected. A lower risk of type 1 diabetes is associated with breastfeeding, which could be due to a protective effect against enteroviruses. The neutralizing activity of breast milk against CVB4, a representative of enteroviruses was investigated in this study in vitro. Breast milk was cytotoxic to Hep‐2 cells up to a dilution of 1/32, whereas the aqueous fraction obtained after centrifugation was not cytotoxic; although it inhibited the cytopathic effect of CVB4 on Hep‐2 cell monolayers. The anti‐CVB4 neutralizing activity of aqueous fractions of breast milk from 49 donors living in Northern France and 15 donors living in Congo, where enteroviral infections are more prevalent, were determined. The levels of colostrum activity expressed as titre ranged from <2 to 32 in 36% of the donors from France whereas they were >128 in every donor from Congo. Pasteurized colostrum had a lower anti‐CVB4 activity compared to fresh samples (P < 0.0001, n = 49). The treatment of colostrum samples with jacalin‐coated beads that bind specifically to human IgA, showed that IgA plays a role in anti‐CVB4 activity. There was no correlation between the neutralizing activities of breast milk and serum (P = 0.37, n = 25). The current study showed that the variations in anti‐CVB4 activity in breast milk can be attributed to environmental and living conditions. Whether a low protective activity of breast milk against enteroviruses expose newborns to a higher risk of type 1 diabetes deserves further investigation. J. Med. Virol. 85:880–887, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

蜡梅属药用植物分子生物学研究进展

蜡梅属植物有很高的观赏和药用价值，具有抗氧化、抗菌、抗病毒、镇痛等药理活性。然而，现今研究多关注其种质资源、品种分类、化学成分和临床应用等方面，缺乏分子生物学方向的系统总结。本文通过整理近年来基因组学、分子标记、分子鉴定、转录组学和功能基因克隆等方向的研究结果对蜡梅属药用植物的系统进化、遗传多样性、分类鉴定、次生代谢、抗逆机制及生长发育过程等多个方面的研究进展进行系统梳理，并就当前亟需解决的问题和研究前景进行展望，以期为加快蜡梅属药用植物的深度开发应用提供理论参考和研究思路。     

两种培养基对病原性耶尔森氏菌检测的效果观察

目的 观察VYE和IN培养基检查病原性Yersinia(耶尔森氏菌)属菌的作用效果。方法 通过VYE和IN培养基培养后挑选可疑菌落进行生化鉴定实验，鉴别病原性Yersinis属菌。结果 VYE培养基检出率比IN培养基高，二并用于病原性Yersinia属菌很容易与非病原性Yersinia属菌区别。结论 VYE和IN两种培养基并用，方法简便易行，建议推广应用。     

RETRACTED: Immunotoxicity activity from various organic solvents extract of Allium genus from South Korea against Aedes aegypti L.

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its analogues are reported to exert wide-ranging cardiovascular actions in preclinical and clinical studies. We thus investigated whether the GLP-1 receptor agonist, exendin-4, has inhibitory effects on LPS-stimulated inflammatory response in cardiomyoblasts.

Methods: H9c2 cardiomyoblasts were exposed to LPS and treated with exendin-4. Expressions of proinflammatory mediators were assessed using quantitative real-time PCR. Nuclear localization of NF-κB was examined using immunoblotting. mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) production were evaluated by q PCR and NO assay. Furthermore, anti-apoptotic effect of exendin-4 in LPS-stimulated H9c2 cells was determined using qPCR and immunoblot.

Results: Exposure to LPS increased mRNA expressions of TNF-α, COX-2 and MMP-9 in H9c2 cells. It also caused increases in iNOS mRNA expression and NF-κB nuclear translocation. Exendin-4 dose-dependently downregulated mRNA levels of TNF-α, COX-2 and MMP-9 in LPS-stimulated H9c2 cells. It also reduced NF-κB nuclear translocation. Treatment with exendin-4 showed no effect on LPS-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells.

Conclusions: Exendin-4 exerts an effect on cardiomyoblast exposed to LPS by inhibiting mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators and suppressing NF-κB activation. These effects are consistent with some of the observed anti-inflammatory properties of exendin-4, as well as its beneficial actions on the cardiovascular system.