青海高原东部土壤中拮抗性放线菌的生态分布特征

采用常规方法研究了从青海高原东部海晏、湟源、湟中、大通、西宁、互助、乐都和平安等八个县(市 ) ,粮田 (旱地和水地 )、菜地 (露地和保护地 )及自然土壤 34个样区 4 0个代表性土壤样品中分离所得 6 85株放线菌对 6种靶标菌的拮抗性。结果表明 ,(1)拮抗性放线菌占放线菌总数的比例与土壤利用方式有关 :粮田、菜地和自然土壤中拮抗性放线菌所占比例分别为 2 6 .8%、2 3.8%和 2 0 .5 % ,保护地土壤中拮抗性放线菌的比例是露地的 2倍 ,旱地土壤中拮抗性放线菌的比例明显高于水地 ;(2 )供试菌株中对大肠埃希氏菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、假丝酵母、青霉、西瓜枯萎病菌和黄瓜枯萎病菌有拮抗活性菌株数分别为 2 .8%、14 .9%、3.5 %、0 .9%、1.8%和 0 .6 %。说明供试菌株对细菌的拮抗作用强于真菌 ,对革兰氏阳性细菌的拮抗作用强于革兰氏阴性细菌 ,对单细胞真菌的拮抗作用强于丝状真菌。     

真菌2176菌株及其抗真菌活性成分的研究

目的 筛选具有抗多种植物致病真菌活性的菌株,研究其活性成分的化学结构,并对该菌株进行初步的分类鉴定.方法 以常见植物致病真菌为检定菌筛选活性菌株,结合菌落形态、产孢结构、孢子形态特征以及菌株ITS-5.8S rDNA核酸序列分析进行菌株的初步鉴定;利用硅胶柱色谱、凝胶色谱和制备型高效液相色谱等手段分离纯化活性成分;通过UV、IR、ESI-MS、NMR分析进行化合物结构解析.结果 得到1株编号为2176号真菌的阳性菌株,初步鉴定为草酸青霉(Penicillium oxalicum),其抗真菌活性成分有5种.结论 草酸青霉的发酵产物对多种植物致病真菌具有良好的抗菌活性.     

忽地笑鳞茎中产加兰他敏内生真菌的分离与鉴定

目的筛选产加兰他敏的内生真菌,为生产加兰他敏寻找新的途径。方法以忽地笑鳞茎为实验材料,分离内生真菌,利用HPLC对其发酵代谢产物进行检测,筛选能产生加兰他敏的菌株。结果从忽地笑鳞茎中分离出5株内生真菌,经HPLC分析,真菌GF-1能产生加兰他敏。经初步鉴定,GF-1为半知菌亚门(Deuteromycotina)青霉属(Penicillium LK.ex Fries)。结论忽地笑内生真菌有希望成为生产加兰他敏的新资源。     

黄连根腐病病原菌的分离鉴定及其拮抗菌筛选

摘要：目的 分离鉴定黄连根腐病病原菌，从健康黄连根际根内筛选病原菌拮抗菌并对其拮抗活性进行评价。方法 从感 染根腐病黄连根系分离鉴定根腐病病原菌，并对其致病性和致病过程进行观察；从健康黄连根系分离拮抗菌并对其拮抗活性进 行评价。结果 从感染根腐病黄连根系分离获得12株病原菌，鉴定为腐皮镰刀菌(Fusarium solani)和燕麦镰刀菌(F. avenaceum)， 均具有较高的致病性，且7 d内可以导致离体黄连根系大面积感染。从健康黄连根系分离获得427株根际菌(358株细菌、69株 真菌)和345株内生菌(170株细菌，175株真菌)，经过平板拮抗实验共获得77株拮抗菌，其中拮抗细菌58株，拮抗真菌19株。细 菌主要分布于芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)、假单胞菌(Pseudomonas)和寡养单胞菌属(Stenotrophomonas)等。真菌主要分布于曲霉菌属 (Aspergillus)、毛壳菌属(Chaetomium)、木霉菌属(Trichoderma)和青霉属(Penicillium)。在黄连离体根上，4株芽胞杆菌[贝莱斯芽 胞杆菌(B. velezensis) GJ-JM-1、枯草芽胞杆菌(B. subtilis) GJ-TR-064、蕈状芽胞杆菌(B. mycoides) GJ-LB-021和假蕈状芽胞杆菌(B. pseudomycoides) GJ-YEM-005]与2种病原菌具有明显的拮抗作用。结论 镰刀菌为黄连根腐病主要病原菌，具有较强的致病性； 健康黄连根系存在大量拮抗菌，可以作为黄连根腐病微生物防治的重要微生物资源。     

苔藓内生菌Bacillus megaterium z12的分离、鉴定和抗菌活性筛选

目的从无纹紫背苔(Plagiochasma intermedium)叶片中分离筛选出一株具广谱抗菌活性的内生菌z12。方法根据菌落和细胞形态、生理生化特性,以及16S rDNA序列对内生细菌z12进行了分析鉴定,并研究了它对14种供试菌株的抑制作用。结果经分析鉴定该菌属于巨大芽孢杆菌(Bacillus megaterium)。抑菌实验表明,内生细菌z12对7种供试菌都有不同程度的抑制作用,对金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)和白念珠菌(Candida albicans)的抑制作用较强。研究了z12菌株粗提物对水稻纹枯病原菌(Corticium sasakii)的抑制作用。结论该菌株具有开发成农用抗生素的价值。     

黄海葵相关细菌抗菌活性菌株的筛选及其初步分类鉴定

目的 对分离自硇洲岛黄海葵(Anthopleura xanthogrammica)样品的126株细菌进行抗菌活性筛选和初步分类鉴定.方法 以8种微生物(3株革兰阳性菌、3株革兰阴性菌和2株真菌)作为指示菌,采用琼脂扩散法筛选抗菌活性菌株,采用基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析和生物学特性研究对其中抗菌谱较广且抗菌活性稳定的菌株进行初步分类鉴定.结果 67株菌具有抗菌活性,阳性率为53.2%,抗菌谱较广且活性较强的9株,占受试菌株总数的7.1%.经过形态观察、生理生化特征及基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析表明,9株具有较强抗菌活性的菌株分别属于芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)、盐芽孢杆菌属(Halobacillus)、短杆菌属(Brachybacterium)、拟诺卡菌属(Nocardiopsis)、盐单胞菌属(Halomonas)、假交替单胞菌属(Pseudoalteromonas)和弧菌属(Vi6rio)菌株.结论 分离自中国南海的黄海葵相关微生物抗菌活性菌株具有丰富的类群多样性.     

猴真菌监测分析北大核心CSCD

目的:了解猴真菌携带情况,为猴致病性真菌感染防控提供科学依据。方法:用真菌培养、Taq Man-MGB探针实时荧光定量PCR、普通PCR、基因克隆和测序技术,进行猴的真菌监测分析。对所有真菌分离株进行抗真菌药敏试验。结果:从全国几个不同厂家122只猴中分离获得71株真菌,形态和分子鉴定确证这些真菌为阿萨希毛孢子菌、圆形毛孢子菌、白色念珠菌、黄曲霉、烟曲霉、黑曲霉、焦曲霉、杂色曲霉、聚多曲霉、匿名曲霉、产黄青霉、草酸青霉、变幻青霉、宛氏拟青霉、小刺青霉、绳状青霉、卷枝毛霉、多变根毛霉、伞枝犁头霉、球毛壳霉、热带头梗霉、节菱孢霉菌、暗孢节菱孢菌、链格孢、松色二孢菌。结果表明,猴真菌种类比较丰富,获得真菌11属25种,毛孢子菌属、曲霉属、青霉属、毛霉属、念珠菌属真菌在这些致病真菌中占主导地位。抗真菌药敏试验分析结果显示:这些真菌分离株对制霉菌素、两性霉素B、氟康唑、咪康唑、酮康唑、氟胞嘧啶、特比萘芬已产生了耐药性。结论:联合使用真菌培养、Taq Man-MGB探针实时荧光定量PCR、普通PCR、基因克隆和测序技术能有效分析猴真菌。猴的真菌大多为人兽共患病病原体。研究结果为我国猴真菌监测提供参考数据,为致病性真菌的侵袭防治提供科学依据。     

荚果蕨植物内生真菌Penicillium sp. SYP-F-7610的抑菌活性次级代谢产物研究

摘要：目的 研究荚果蕨根茎内生真菌Penicillium sp. SYP-F-7610发酵液中抑菌活性次级代谢产物。方法 采用硅胶柱 色谱、ODS柱色谱、反相半制备HPLC等分离菌株发酵液中的次级代谢产物,根据比旋光度和波谱学数据(MS、1H NMR、13C NMR)进行结构鉴定。采用比浊法测试次级代谢产物的抑菌活性。结果 从荚果蕨根茎内生真菌Penicillium sp. SYP-F-7610发 酵液中分离鉴定了7个化合物,分别为青霉酸(1)、3,5,6-三甲基-2,4-二羟基苯甲酸甲酯(2)、苔黑酚(3)、4-羟基苯乙酸甲酯(4)、 6-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3-methyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-4-carboxylic acid (5)、chermesinone A (6)和(R)-甲羟戊酸内酯(7)。化合物1 对大肠埃希菌(Escherichia coli CMCC44103)、乙型副伤寒沙门菌(Salmonela paratyphi B CMCC50094)、蜡样芽胞杆菌(Bacillus cereus ATCC14579)和肺炎克雷伯菌(Klebsiella pneumoniae CMCC46117)表现出抑制作用,IC50值为3.19~6.79 μg/mL。结论 本文 首次对荚果蕨属植物的内生真菌进行研究,发现荚果蕨根茎内生真菌Penicillium sp. SYP-F-7610的次级代谢产物结构类型丰富、 生物活性多样,值得深入研究。化合物5为首次报道从青霉属真菌次级代谢产物中分离得到。化合物1为首次报道对乙型副伤寒 沙门菌具有抑制活性。     

海洋来源微生物的分离培养与抗肿瘤活性筛选

目的从海洋环境样品中分离纯化微生物,经发酵培养与活性筛选,获取抗肿瘤活性菌株以供筛选药源活性产物,获无活性菌株以供核糖体工程转化研究。方法通过单菌落挑选与划线培养分离纯化微生物菌株,经摇床发酵和提取操作制备活性测试样品。采用MTT法结合显微镜下细胞形态学检测的方法,测试样品的抗肿瘤活性。结果从渤海湾驴驹河潮间带海泥样品中分离得到了微生物127株,其中真菌80株、放线菌47株。在127株中100mg·L-1样品浓度下对K562细胞的抑制率大于40%的活性菌株为8株,占菌株总数的6.3%(其中放线菌4株,占放线菌数的8.5%,真菌4株,占真菌数的5%),抑制率在20%～40%的放线菌6株,占放线菌数的12.7%。结论从渤海湾海泥样品中分离得到真菌80株、放线菌47株,从中获得抗肿瘤活性真菌4株、放线菌10株,从放线菌中获得抗肿瘤活性菌株的频率远远高于真菌。活性菌株为寻找药源活性产物提供了菌株,无活性菌株则为核糖体工程拓展药源菌株来源研究提供了资源。     

内生真菌A1163发酵液中活性成分的分离、纯化与鉴定

目的 分离、鉴定植物内生真菌A1163活性次级代谢产物并确定产生菌的生物学分类.方法 利用红外光谱、质谱、核磁共振、X-射线衍射分析等技术对目标化合物进行结构鉴定,结合菌株形态观察、分子遗传学鉴定确定菌株的种属关系.结果真菌A1163活性次级代谢产物结构为大环内酯类抗生素布雷菲德菌素A,布雷菲德菌素A产生菌A1163被鉴定属于布雷正青霉(Eupenicillium brefeldianum).     

不同居群的新疆虫草发酵液体外抗氧化活性的研究

目的对不同居群的8种新疆虫草发酵液进行体外抗氧化的研究。方法采用还原能力测定法,Fenton反应法以及邻苯三酚自氧化法研究新疆虫草发酵液体外抗氧化活性。结果 DH001虫草发酵液的还原力最强,吸光度值最大,达1.216;BH001虫草发酵液和BE002虫草发酵液清除羟自由基能力最大,清除率分别达98.7%和95.4%;8种虫草发酵液清除超氧阴离子自由基活性均较低。结论新疆虫草发酵液具有一定的抗氧化活性。     

Antibacterial Potential Assessment of Jasmine Essential Oil Against E. Coli

The antibacterial activity of Jasmine (Jasminum sambac L.) flower hydro steam distilled essential oil, synthetic blends and six major individual components was assessed against Escherichia coli (MTCC-443) strain. The activity was bactericidal. Minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by tube dilution technique, and the Minimum inhibitory concentration ranged between 1.9-31.25 μl/ml. Phenolcoefficient of the oil, synthetic blends and components varied between 0.6-1.7. The activity of the chemicals was possibly due to the inhibition of cell membrane synthesis.     

Bioactive Terpenoids and Flavonoids from Daucus littoralis Smith subsp. hyrcanicus Rech.f,an Endemic Species of Iran

Background

Daucus littoralis Smith subsp. hyrcanicus Rech.f. (Apiaceae) is an endemic species in northern parts of Iran where it is commonly named Caspian carrot. The fruits have been used as condiment.

Methods

In a series of in vitro assays, antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP assays), cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of different extracts of roots and fruits were evaluated for the first time. The separation and purification of the compounds were carried out on the most potent extracts using various chromatographic methods and identified by spectroscopic data (¹H and ¹³C NMR).

Results

The results showed that among the extracts only fruit methanol extract (FME) has significant antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 145.93 μg.ml^-1 in DPPH assay and 358 ± 0.02 mmol FeII/g dry extract in FRAP assay). The radical scavenging activity of FME at 400 μg.ml^-1 was comparable with α-tocopherol (40 μg.ml^-1) and with BHA (100 μg.ml^-1) (p > 0.05). FME did not show any toxicity against cancerous and normal cell lines. Fruit ethyl acetate extract (FEE) had cytotoxic activity against breast carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma cells (IC₅₀ 168.4 and 185 μg.ml^-1, respectively), while it did not possess antioxidant activity in comparison with α-tocopherol and BHA as standard compounds. Ethyl acetate and methanol extract of fruits showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC: 3.75 mg.ml^-1) and Candida albicans (MIC: 15.6 and 7.8 mg.ml^-1, respectively). Four terpenoids were isolated form FEE including: β-sitosterol (1), stigmasterol (2), caryophyllene oxide (3), β-amyrin (4). Also, three flavonoids namely quercetin 3-O-β-glucoside (5), quercetin 3-O-β-galactoside (6) and luteolin (7) were isolated from FME.

Conclusion

This study showed that FEE and FME of D. littoralis Smith subsp. hyrcanicus Rech.f. had the highest biological activities which may be correlated with in vitro cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of terpenoids and flavonoids components of the extracts.     

Determination of Zearalenone and Trichothecenes,Including Deoxynivalenol and Its Acetylated Derivatives,Nivalenol, T-2 and HT-2 Toxins,in Wheat and Wheat Products by LC-MS/MS: A Collaborative Study

An analytical method for the simultaneous determination of trichothecenes—namely, nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON) and its acetylated derivatives (3- and 15-acetyl-DON), T-2 and HT-2 toxins—and zearalenone (ZEN) in wheat, wheat flour, and wheat crackers was validated through a collaborative study involving 15 participants from 10 countries. The validation study, performed within the M/520 standardization mandate of the European Commission, was carried out according to the IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) International Harmonized Protocol. The method was based on mycotoxin extraction from the homogenized sample material with a mixture of acetonitrile-water followed by purification and concentration on a solid phase extraction column. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was used for mycotoxin detection, using isotopically labelled mycotoxins as internal standards. The tested contamination ranges were from 27.7 to 378 μg/kg for NIV, from 234 to 2420 μg/kg for DON, from 18.5 to 137 μg/kg for 3-acetyl-DON, from 11.4 to 142 μg/kg for 15-acetyl-DON, from 2.1 to 37.6 μg/kg for T-2 toxin, from 6.6 to 134 μg/kg for HT-2 toxin, and from 31.6 to 230 μg/kg for ZEN. Recoveries were in the range 71–97% with the lowest values for NIV, the most polar mycotoxin. The relative standard deviation for repeatability (RSD_r) was in the range of 2.2–34%, while the relative standard deviation for reproducibility (RSD_R) was between 6.4% and 45%. The HorRat values ranged from 0.4 to 2.0. The results of the collaborative study showed that the candidate method is fit for the purpose of enforcing the legislative limits of the major Fusarium toxins in wheat and wheat-based products.     

Cholesterol-Lowering Effect of Beta Glucan Extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Rats

Glucans are present in fungi, plants, algae, and bacteria. β-Glucan, one of the major cell wall components of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been found to enhance immune functions. Glucans are glucose polymers with an α- or β-type glycosidic chain. The role of (1→3)-β-D-glucan is in the maintenance of yeast cell wall shape and rigidity. Studies reveal that soluble glucans can lower total cholesterol and LDL levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia. The important benefit of β-glucan is to improve the immune system and to decrease cholesterol levels in the blood. Several studies have reported the benefits of β-glucan as: antiseptic, antioxidant, anti-aging, immune system activators, protection against radiation, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cholesterol etc. In this research S. cerevisiae was cultured in yeast extract–peptone–glucose (YPG) broth medium to produce beta-glucan. Cells were harvested at the stationary phase, washed, and disrupted by means of sonication method. The obtained cell walls were used to prepare alkali-soluble β-glucan (glucan-S₁). In this regard, 2% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and 3% acetic acid were used in alkaline–acid extraction, respectively.Potential use of beta-glucan extract as an anticholesterol agent was tested using Sprague dawley strain rats. The experiments were divided into eight groups with four replicates: Group I (normal control), group II (fed with cholesterol without beta-glucan), group III (fed with cholesterol + atorvastatin), group IV (fed with cholesterol + β-glucan standard), group V–VIII (fed of cholesterol + β-glucan of S. cerevisiae with each dose of 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg / BW. Rats were fed with cholesterol for 14 days, except for group I. Analysis of blood was carried out to determine total cholesterol, triglycerides, and malondialdehyde.The results showed that beta-glucan crude obtained from S. cerevisiae cultures was 6.890g.L⁻¹. Βeta-glucan extract of S. cerevisiae can reduce total cholesterol approaching normal values at doses of 10 mg of 32.79 % (blood plasma) and 33.71 % (in the liver). The extract was capable of reducing triglyceride levels in a dose of 10 mg of beta-glucan 64.43 % (blood plasma) and at a dose 30 mg of beta-glucan 19.45 % (liver). Beta-glucan treatment at a dose of 40 mg can reduce MDA levels of 45.22 % (blood plasma) and 42.64 % (liver).     

Chemical Biology, Molecular Mechanism and Clinical Perspective of ��-Secretase Modulators in Alzheimer��s Disease

Comprehensive evidence supports that oligomerization and accumulation of amyloidogenic Aβ42 peptides in brain is crucial in the pathogenesis of both familial and sporadic forms of Alzheimer''s disease. Imaging studies indicate that the buildup of Aβ begins many years before the onset of clinical symptoms, and that subsequent neurodegeneration and cognitive decline may proceed independently of Aβ. This implies the necessity for early intervention in cognitively normal individuals with therapeutic strategies that prioritize safety. The aspartyl protease γ-secretase catalyses the last step in the cellular generation of Aβ42 peptides, and is a principal target for anti-amyloidogenic intervention strategies. Due to the essential role of γ-secretase in the NOTCH signaling pathway, overt mechanism-based toxicity has been observed with the first generation of γ-secretase inhibitors, and safety of this approach has been questioned. However, two new classes of small molecules, γ-secretase modulators (GSMs) and NOTCH-sparing γ-secretase inhibitors, have revitalized γ-secretase as a drug target in AD. GSMs are small molecules that cause a product shift from Aβ42 towards shorter and less toxic Ab peptides. Importantly, GSMs spare other physiologically important substrates of the γ-secretase complex like NOTCH. Recently, GSMs with nanomolar potency and favorable in vivo properties have been described. In this review, we summarize the knowledge about the unusual proteolytic activity of γ-secretase, and the chemical biology, molecular mechanisms and clinical perspective of compounds that target the γ-secretase complex, with a particular focus on GSMs.     

α-Solanine Inhibits Proliferation,Invasion, and Migration,and Induces Apoptosis in Human Choriocarcinoma JEG-3 Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

α-Solanine, a bioactive compound mainly found in potato, exhibits anti-cancer activity towards multiple cancer cells. However, its effects on human choriocarcinoma have not been evaluated. In the present study, we investigated the effect of α-solanine on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human choriocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that α-solanine, at concentrations of 30 μM or below, did not affect the cell viability of the choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3. However, colony formation was significantly decreased and cell apoptosis was increased in response to 30 μM α-solanine. In addition, α-solanine (30 μM) reduced the migration and invasion abilities of JEG-3 cells, which was associated with a downregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2/9. The in vivo findings provided further evidence of the inhibition of α-solanine on choriocarcinoma tumor growth. α-Solanine suppressed the xenograft tumor growth of JEG-3 cells, resulting in smaller tumor volumes and lower tumor weights. Apoptosis was promoted in xenograft tumors of α-solanine-treated mice. Moreover, α-solanine downregulated proliferative cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Bcl-2 levels and promoted the expression of Bax. Collectively, α-solanine inhibits the growth, migration, and invasion of human JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cells, which may be associated with the induction of apoptosis.     

Biodegradation of Ochratoxin A by Bacterial Strains Isolated from Vineyard Soils

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin with a main nephrotoxic activity contaminating several foodstuffs. In the present report, five soil samples collected from OTA-contaminated vineyards were screened to isolate microorganisms able to biodegrade OTA. When cultivated in OTA-supplemented medium, OTA was converted in OTα by 225 bacterial isolates. To reveal clonal relationships between isolates, molecular typing by using an automated rep-PCR system was carried out, thus showing the presence of 27 different strains (rep-PCR profiles). The 16S-rRNA gene sequence analysis of an isolate representative of each rep-PCR profiles indicated that they belonged to five bacterial genera, namely Pseudomonas, Leclercia, Pantoea, Enterobacter, and Acinetobacter. However, further evaluation of OTA-degrading activity by the 27 strains revealed that only Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain 396.1 and Acinetobacter sp. strain neg1, consistently conserved the above property; their further characterization showed that they were able to convert 82% and 91% OTA into OTα in six days at 24 °C, respectively. The presence of OTα, as the unique OTA-degradation product was confirmed by LC-HRMS. This is the first report on OTA biodegradation by bacterial strains isolated from agricultural soils and carried out under aerobic conditions and moderate temperatures. These microorganisms might be used to detoxify OTA-contaminated feed and could be a new source of gene(s) for the development of a novel enzymatic detoxification system.     

Immunostimulant Activity of a Novel Polysaccharide Isolated from Lactarius deliciosus (L. ex Fr.) Gray

More and more fungal polysaccharides have been reported to exhibit a variety of biological activities, including antitumor, antioxidant and immunostimulant activity. The non-starch polysaccharides have emerged as an important class of bioactive natural products. In this study, the immune activities of a novel polysaccharide (LDG-A) isolated from Lactarius deliciosus (L. ex Fr.) Gray were investigated at 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg dose levels. The inhibitory rate in mice treated with 80 mg/kg LDG-A can reach 68.422%, being the highest in the three doses, which may be comparable to mannatide. Histology of immune organs showed that the tissues were arranged in more regular and firm pattern, but the tumor tissue arranged looser in LDG-A group than those in control group. Meanwhile, there was no obvious damage to other organs, such as heart, lung, and kidney. The antitumor activity of the LDG-A was usually believed to be a consequence of the stimulation of the cell-mediated immune response because it can significantly promote the lymphocyte and macrophage cells in the dose range of 50-200 μg/ml and 100-400 μg/ml in vitro, respectively. The level of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and NO) of macrophage cells induced by LDG-A treatment was similar to lipopolysaccharides at different concentrations. The expression of all these genes studied (TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS mRNA) in the untreated macrophage was little, but increased dramatically in a dose-dependent manner in the LDG-A-treated cells. The results obtained in the present study indicated that the purified polysaccharide of L. deliciosus (L. ex Fr.) Gray is a potential source of natural immune-stimulating substances.     

An evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive activities of essential oil from Curcuma longa. L

Objectives:

This study was aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, antioxidant potential in vitro and in vivo, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive activity of turmeric oil.

Materials and Methods:

Chemical analysis of turmeric oil was done by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Antioxidant activities in vitro was done by six different methods and in vivo antioxidant activity was determined by measuring superoxide generation from macrophages treated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) as well as determining antioxidant level after feeding the oil orally for one month. Anti-inflammatory activity was studied in mice using carrageenan, dextran, and formalin. Antinociceptive activity was evaluated by using acetic acid-induced writhing movement in mice.

Results:

The main constituent of essential oil of turmeric was found to be ar-turmerone (61.79%), curlone (12.48%), and ar-curcumene (6.11%). Turmeric oil was found to have in vitro antioxidant activity and IC₅₀ for scavenging superoxides, hydroxyl radicals, and lipid peroxidation were 135 μg/ml, 200 μg/ml, and 400 μg/ml, respectively. The ferric-reducing activity for 50 μg of turmeric essential oil was found to be 5 mM. Intraperitoneal administration of oil was found to inhibit PMA-induced superoxide radicals elicited by macrophages. Oral administration of turmeric oil for one month to mice significantly increased superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and glutathione reductase enzyme levels in blood and glutathione-S-transferase and superoxide dismutase enzymes in liver. Turmeric oil showed significant reduction in paw thickness in carrageenan, dextran-induced acute inflammation, and formalin-induced chronic inflammation. The drug produced significant antinociceptive activity (P < 0.001) at all doses studied.

Conclusions:

These results demonstrated that turmeric oil has potential health benefits as it can scavenge the free radicals and produce significant anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities.