Plasma Membrane H+-ATPase SmPHA4 Negatively Regulates the Biosynthesis of Tanshinones in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge has been widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, due to the pharmacological action of its active components such as the tanshinones. Plasma membrane (PM) H⁺-ATPase plays key roles in numerous physiological processes in plants. However, little is known about the PM H⁺-ATPase gene family in S. miltiorrhiza (Sm). Here, nine PM H⁺-ATPase isoforms were identified and named SmPHA1–SmPHA9. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the genetic distance of SmPHAs was relatively far in the S. miltiorrhiza PM H⁺-ATPase family. Moreover, the transmembrane structures were rich in SmPHA protein. In addition, SmPHA4 was found to be highly expressed in roots and flowers. HPLC revealed that accumulation of dihydrotanshinone (DT), cryptotanshinone (CT), and tanshinone I (TI) was significantly reduced in the SmPHA4-OE lines but was increased in the SmPHA4-RNAi lines, ranging from 2.54 to 3.52, 3.77 to 6.33, and 0.35 to 0.74 mg/g, respectively, suggesting that SmPHA4 is a candidate regulator of tanshinone metabolites. Moreover, qRT-PCR confirmed that the expression of tanshinone biosynthetic-related key enzymes was also upregulated in the SmPHA4-RNAi lines. In summary, this study highlighted PM H⁺-ATPase function and provided new insights into regulatory candidate genes for modulating secondary metabolism biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza.     

Allelopathic Effects of Volatile Monoterpenoids Produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia leucophylla</Emphasis>: Inhibition of Cell Proliferation and DNA Synthesis in the Root Apical Meristem of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica campestris</Emphasis> Seedlings

Salvia leucophylla, a shrub observed in coastal south California, produces several volatile monoterpenoids (camphor, 1,8-cineole, -pinene, -pinene, and camphene) that potentially act as allelochemicals. The effects of these were examined using Brassica campestris as the test plant. Camphor, 1,8-cineole, and -pinene inhibited germination of B. campestris seeds at high concentrations, whereas -pinene and camphene did not. Root growth was inhibited by all five monoterpenoids in a dose-dependent manner, but hypocotyl growth was largely unaffected. The monoterpenoids did not alter the sizes of matured cells in either hypocotyls or roots, indicating that cell expansion is relatively insensitive to these compounds. They did not decrease the mitotic index in the shoot apical region, but specifically lowered mitotic index in the root apical meristem. Moreover, morphological and biochemical analyses on the incorporation of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine into DNA demonstrated that the monoterpenoids inhibit both cell-nuclear and organelle DNA synthesis in the root apical meristem. These results suggest that the monoterpenoids produced by S. leucophylla could interfere with the growth of other plants in its vicinity through inhibition of cell proliferation in the root apical meristem.     

丹参水浸提液的荧光光谱特性

釆用三维和二维荧光法对中药丹参水浸提液的荧光特性进行了研究。丹参水浸提液在三维荧光等高线光谱中出现2个荧光峰,其激发波长分别为2433、37 nm,发射波长为437 nm。丹参素、丹参酚酸A、丹参酚酸B及原儿茶醛与丹参水浸提液的二维荧光光谱比较研究表明,丹参水浸提液的荧光光谱是各种丹参酚酸化合物的荧光光谱的叠加,其中丹参酚酸B对丹参水浸提液荧光强度贡献最大,且荧光发射波长相同。在近中性条件下,丹参水浸提液荧光强度与浓度之间呈良好的线性关系,可以作为定量分析丹参中总酚酸的依据。丹参水浸提液的三维荧光光谱具有指纹图谱特征,可以用于丹参的定性鉴别。在pH 7.0~12.7丹参水浸提液荧光发射光强度随pH增大呈现递减甚至消失的变化,同时丹参素的380 nm荧光有所增强,丹参酚酸化合物在碱性环境下易于水解应该是其主要原因。     

响应面优化—超声辅助提取丹参多糖工艺

响应面优化超声波法提取丹参多糖工艺;方法:在单因素试验的基础上,采用三因素三水平响应面分析法,利用软件Design Expert试验设计原理得到二次线性回归方程,以多糖产率为响应面值作响应面图;结果:确定超声提取丹参多糖最佳工艺条件为:超声功率90 W、超声温度50℃、提取时间30 min、液固比为55:1,提取次数为2次,丹参多糖产率为8.23%。统计结果表明,模型相关系数R~2=0.8398。变异系数C.V值较低,说明实验有较好的稳定性;超声功率的二次项和液料比的二次项均达到极显著水平(P0.01)。验证实验表明,所得模型方程能较好地预测实验结果,拟合度较好。结论:超声提取法与传统水煮法相比,不仅能耗低、产率高,且提取时间缩短16倍。     

以气质联用技术对白补药中挥发性成分的分析

为了寻找白补药的应用基础,确定白补药中挥发性物质的主要成分,用气相色谱-质谱联用技术对白补药石油醚浸膏的化学成分进行研究.用75%的乙醇提取白补药,将所得浸膏加水稀释后用石油醚萃取,再用气相色谱-质谱联用技术对石油醚浸膏进行分析,共分离出53个峰.通过中文数据系统检索和质谱资料核对,鉴定出其中46个化合物,其中主要成分为棕榈油酸甲基酯(质量分数28.94%)、硬脂酸甲酯(质量分数6.47%)、3,4,5,6-四甲基-2,5-辛二烯(质量分数5.42%)、6,10,14-三甲基-2-十五烷酮(质量分数5.07%)等.通过鉴定明确了白补药中石油醚部分的主要成分,为该植物的开发利用提供了科学依据.     

50%矮壮素水剂矮化一串红穴盘苗试验

为了控制一串红穴盘苗的徒长，提高穴盘苗的质量，用不同浓度的50％矮壮素水剂对其进行矮化试验，结果表明：50％矮壮素水剂800～5000倍液均能明显抑制一串红穴盘苗的株高，使其株型紧凑、茁壮，叶色浓绿。而50％矮壮素水剂800倍和1250倍两组的矮化效果相近。     

Rapid Hormetic Responses of Photosystem II Photochemistry of Clary Sage to Cadmium Exposure

Five-day exposure of clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) to 100 μM cadmium (Cd) in hydroponics was sufficient to increase Cd concentrations significantly in roots and aboveground parts and affect negatively whole plant levels of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), since Cd competes for Ca channels, while reduced Mg concentrations are associated with increased Cd tolerance. Total zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) uptake increased but their translocation to the aboveground parts decreased. Despite the substantial levels of Cd in leaves, without any observed defects on chloroplast ultrastructure, an enhanced photosystem II (PSII) efficiency was observed, with a higher fraction of absorbed light energy to be directed to photochemistry (Φ_PSΙΙ). The concomitant increase in the photoprotective mechanism of non-photochemical quenching of photosynthesis (NPQ) resulted in an important decrease in the dissipated non-regulated energy (Φ_NO), modifying the homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS), through a decreased singlet oxygen (¹O₂) formation. A basal ROS level was detected in control plant leaves for optimal growth, while a low increased level of ROS under 5 days Cd exposure seemed to be beneficial for triggering defense responses, and a high level of ROS out of the boundaries (8 days Cd exposure), was harmful to plants. Thus, when clary sage was exposed to Cd for a short period, tolerance mechanisms were triggered. However, exposure to a combination of Cd and high light or to Cd alone (8 days) resulted in an inhibition of PSII functionality, indicating Cd toxicity. Thus, the rapid activation of PSII functionality at short time exposure and the inhibition at longer duration suggests a hormetic response and describes these effects in terms of “adaptive response” and “toxicity”, respectively.     

Effect of relative humidity and light conditions on the oxidative stability of sunflower oil blends stabilised with synthetic and natural antioxidants

The effect of relative humidity (RH) and light conditions on the oxidative stability of sunflower oil (SO) stabilised with oleoresin rosemary + ascorbyl palmitate (SOR), sage + ascorbyl palmitate (SOS) and tertiary butyl hydroquinone (SOT) was investigated. The SO without additive (SOC) served as positive control. Oil samples were subjected to 3 RH (29%, 52% and 75%) and two light conditions (dark, D and fluorescent light (600 lx), L) at 60 °C for 7 days. The oxidative stability was monitored by peroxide value (PV), conjugated diene value (CDV), free fatty acids (FFAs) and Rancimat induction period (IP). A direct relationship was noted between RH and increase in PV, CDV and FFA levels irrespective of light conditions. The detrimental effect of light on the oxidative stability was prominently noted at higher RH (75%) which followed an order: SOC > SOT > SOR > SOS. The samples stored under lower RH (29% and 52%), and dark conditions were better stabilised than light‐exposed counterparts.     

Incorporation of Alpha‐Linolenic Acid and Enhancement of n‐3 Fatty Acids in Nile Tilapia: a Factorial Design

A 2² factorial design (two factors at two levels, in triplicate) was performed to investigate the influence of factors A (time of treatment, 15 and 30 days) and B (chia oil content in a supplemented diet, at 2.1 and 4.2 %) in three responses of interest referring to: (a) the incorporation of alpha‐linolenic acid (LNA) in lipids of Nile tilapia fillet; (b) the enhancement of n‐3 fatty acids; and (c) the decrease in the omega‐6/omega3 (n‐6/n‐3) ratio in fish. Factors A and B were significant in the three regression models obtained and the interaction AB was a significant contributor to the LNA and n‐6/n‐3 ratio. Analysis of variance suggested three significant and predictive mathematical models. Response surfaces analyses from designs indicated higher LNA and n‐3 contents and a lower n‐6/n‐3 ratio using both factors A and B in the higher levels (30 days of treatment and 4.2 % of chia oil in the diet for fish) chosen for this study.     

丹参提取物抑菌活性的初步评价

目的:丹参根甲醇提取物体外抑菌活性评价。方法:采用牛津杯法和96孔板法,通过测定抑菌圈大小、最小抑菌浓度(MIC)和最小杀菌浓度(MBC),比较丹参根甲醇提取物对10种常见细菌的抑制作用。结果:丹参根甲醇提取物对10种常见的细菌均表现出较强的抑菌活性,表皮葡萄球菌对提取物最敏感,其MIC和MBC均为1.52mg/mL。结论:丹参提取物作为天然的抗菌物质,具有广谱抗菌效果,有较高的应用潜力和开发前景。