露木尔不同工艺产物药理活性比较研究

目的 :比较露木尔不同提取纯化工艺产物的镇咳祛痰和抗炎作用。方法 :采用小鼠氨水引咳法、小鼠酚红呼吸道排泌法和小鼠耳肿胀法。结果 :露木尔工艺一和工艺二产物均有显著的镇咳抗炎作用 ,工艺一 (P<0 .0 1)优于工艺二 (P<0 .0 5 ) ;工艺一产物还有显著的祛痰作用 (P<0 .0 5 ) ;工艺三均无明显作用。结论 :露木尔采用工艺一提取纯化较为理想     

通天草提取物对Aβ_(1-40)所致AD大鼠血清与海马组织中细胞因子含量的影响

目的:观察通天草提取物对Aβ1-40造成的老年性痴呆模型大鼠的血清与海马组织中细胞因子含量的影响,研究通天草提取物在防治老年性痴呆中的应用价值。方法:将大鼠随机分为正常组、假手术组、模型组、水提组、醇提组和中药组。动物于造模后第7天开始给药,连续给药21天后,取血、灌注取脑。结果:通天草提取物组与模型组及空白组比较,IL-1β、IL-6和TNF-α水平显著降低,尤以醇提组作用明显。结论:通天草的水提取物和醇提取物能不同程度地调节AD模型大鼠血液和脑组织免疫炎性细胞因子IL-1β、IL-6和TNF-α水平,减轻Aβ毒性作用所致脑组织神经元损伤,从而起到防治AD的作用。     

HPLC-ELSD-UV法同时测定氨酚那敏三味浸膏胶囊中长梗冬青苷、白花前胡甲素、白花前胡乙素

目的 建立氨酚那敏三味浸膏胶囊中长梗冬青苷、白花前胡甲素和白花前胡乙素的定量分析方法.方法 采用HPLC-ELSD-UV法测定长梗冬青苷、白花前胡甲素和白花前胡乙素,色谱柱为Venusil XBP-C18 (4.6 mm× 250 mm,5 μm),流动相为乙腈-水,梯度洗脱,体积流量为1.0 mL/min,紫外检测波长为320 nm;ELSD参数:漂移管温度为80℃,氮气体积流量为2.5 mL/min,雾化温度为36 ℃,柱温30℃.结果 长梗冬青苷在1.071 6～5.358 μg范围内的线性关系良好(r =0.999 1),平均回收率100.3％,RSD为2.05％(n=9);白花前胡甲素和白花前胡乙素分别在0.892 4～4.462 μg(r =0.999 9)和0.486 8～2.434 μg(r =0.999 7)范围内线性关系良好,平均回收率分别为100.03％、99.02％,RSD为2.01％、1.98％(n=9).结论 本方法测定结果准确可靠,重复性好,可为氨酚那敏三味浸膏胶囊的质量控制提供定量评价方法.     

Challenging the requirement for chronic fish toxicity studies on formulated plant protection products

Ecotoxicity testing of pesticide active ingredients and formulated plant protection products (PPPs) prior to their commercial use is required by authorities around the world. Such studies are important for the conduct of risk assessments to protect wildlife and the environment, but they should only be conducted when their use is scientifically justified. One test of questionable scientific merit is the chronic fish toxicity test when conducted with formulated PPPs, which is a potential requirement under European legislation: chronic exposure to the formulated product per se rarely occurs in the environment and therefore it is generally not possible to use the data from chronic formulation studies in a meaningful risk assessment. A recent survey of European crop protection companies to explore the scientific merits and regulatory drivers for chronic fish toxicity studies has shown that current practice in deciding on the need for chronic fish toxicity testing of formulated PPPs varies substantially between companies. The most commonly cited reason for conducting such studies was solely to meet regulatory requirements. We conclude that chronic formulation testing is rarely if ever scientifically justified, and recommend that the forthcoming revision of the EU Aquatic Toxicology Guidance Document takes account of this by including a requirement that justification must be provided for conducting the test, rather than the current situation where the onus is on the registrant to provide a justification for not conducting the test.     

Cellular factors in plant virus movement: at the leading edge of macromolecular trafficking in plants

To establish systemic infection, plant viruses must be localized to the correct subcellular sites to accomplish replication and then traffic from initially infected cells into neighboring cells and even distant organs. Viruses have evolved various strategies to interact with pre-existing cellular factors to achieve these functions. In this review we discuss plant virus intracellular, intercellular and long-distance movement, focusing on the host cellular factors involved. We emphasize that elucidating viral movement mechanisms will not only shed light on the molecular mechanisms of infection, but will also contribute valuable insights into the regulation of endogenous macromolecular trafficking.     

Cytotoxicity of some Cameroonian spices and selected medicinal plant extracts

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Several medicinal plants and spices are used traditionally to treat cancers in Cameroon.

Aim

Methanol extracts from thirty-four spices and plants, with related ethnobotanical use were investigated for their in vitro cytotoxicity on the human pancreatic cancer cell line MiaPaCa-2, leukemia CCRF-CEM cells and their multidrug resistant (MDR) subline CEM/ADR5000, and the normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition the anti-angiogenic properties of the most active extracts were investigated.

Material and methods

The MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium] assay was used for cytotoxic studies and the CAM-assay (chicken-chorioallantoic-membrane-assay) for anti-angiogenesis test.

Results

The results of the cytotoxicity tests indicated that, when tested at 20 μg/ml, extracts from Xylopia aethiopica, Echinops giganteus, Imperata cylindrica, Dorstenia psilirus and Piper capense were able to inhibit more that 50% the proliferation of the three tested cancer cells (MiaPaCa-2, CEM/ADR5000 CCRF-CEM). The lowest IC₅₀ values of 6.86 μg/ml on MiaPaCa-2 and 3.91 μg/ml on CCRF-CEM cells were obtained with X. aethiopica, while the corresponding value of 6.56 μg/ml was obtained with P. capense on CEM/ADR5000 cells. Against leukemia cells, no cross-resistance was observed with I. cylindrica, P. capense and Zinziber officinalis. Extracts from D. psilirus and E. giganteus were able to inhibit angiogenesis by more than 50% in quail embryo.

Conclusion

The overall results of the present study provide supportive data on the use of some Cameroonian plants for cancer treatment.     

An ethnobotanical survey of mosquito repellent plants in uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The aim of the study was to document plants traditionally used to repel mosquitoes in the uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The specific objectives of the study were to: (1) identify plant species and their parts being used; (2) determine the condition of plant material used and the method of application.

Materials and methods

Data was collected from 60 respondents in five villages in the district using standardised and pre-tested questionnaires.

Results

Thirteen plant species are used in the study area to repel mosquitoes. These species belong to 11 genera from 9 families. Meliaceae and Anacardiaceae were the most represented families with two species each. The most frequently recorded species were Lippia javanica (91.67%), followed by Aloe ferox (11.67%), Sclerocarya birrea (5%), Melia azedarach (3%), Balanite maughamii (3%) and Mangifera indica (3%). Leaves were the most (38%) common plant part used. The majority (82%) of the plant parts were used in a dry state. Burning of plant materials to make smoke was the most (92%) common method of application. Nine plant species, namely: A. ferox, Calausena anista, Croton menyharthii, S. birrea, B. maughamii, Olax dissitiflora, Trichilia emetic, M. indica, and Atalaya alata are documented for the first time as mosquito repellents.

Conclusion

This documentation provides the basis for further studies in developing new, effective, safe and affordable plant-derived mosquito repellents especially for Africa where malaria is highly prevalent. The study also plays a part in documenting and conserving traditional knowledge of mosquito repellent plants for future use.     

Evaluation of the flora of northern Mexico for in vitro antimicrobial and antituberculosis activity

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential antimicrobial activity of 14 plants used in northeast México for the treatment of respiratory diseases, against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae type b and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Forty-eight organic and aqueous extracts were tested against these bacterial strains using a broth microdilution test. No aqueous extracts showed antimicrobial activity, whereas most of the organic extracts presented antimicrobial activity against at least one of the drug-resistant microorganisms tested. Methanol-based extracts from the roots and leaves of Leucophyllum frutescens and ethyl ether extract from the roots of Chrysanctinia mexicana showed the greatest antimicrobial activity against the drug-resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis; the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) were 62.5, 125 and 62.5 microg/mL, respectively; methanol-based extract from the leaves of Cordia boissieri showed the best antimicrobial activity against the drug-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 250 microg/mL); the hexane-based extract from the fruits of Schinus molle showed considerable antimicrobial activity against the drug-resistant strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC 62.5 microg/mL). This study supports that selecting plants by ethnobotanical criteria enhances the possibility of finding species with activity against resistant microorganisms.     

血水草生物碱实验室和现场杀灭钉螺的效果观察

目的 探讨血水草生物碱实验室不同温度及现场杀灭钉螺的效果。方法 在实验室配置不同浓度的血水草生物碱溶液，观察在20℃、25℃、30℃时浸泡24h、48h、72h、96h的钉螺死亡率；观察灭螺卵效果；观察钉螺上爬率；急性鱼毒试验；观察现场浸泡杀螺效果。结果 浸泡72h钉螺死亡率达100％的血水草生物碱溶液的浓度及温度分别为：1．25mg／L，30℃；2．5mg／L，25℃；5mg／L、10mg／L均为25℃。水温26℃～28℃现场灭螺10mg／L 72h死亡率达84％，20mg／L 72h死亡率达92％。5mg／L溶液螺卵浸泡72h孵出率为0％～10％。10mg／L即明显抑制钉螺上爬，20mg／L钉螺静止不动5h以上。血水草生物碱对鱼毒性较低。结论 血水草生物碱具有杀灭钉螺、螺卵的效果，可能是一种较有研究价值的灭螺植物。