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Curcumae Rhizoma, a traditional Chinese medicine with a wide range of pharmacological activities, is obtained from the dried rhizomes of Curcuma phaeocaulis VaL., Curcuma kwangsiensis S. G. Lee et C. F. Liang, and Curcuma wenyujin Y. H. Chen et C. Ling. Sesquiterpenoids and curcuminoids are found to be the main constituents of Curcumae Rhizoma. Sesquiterpenoids are composed of three isoprene units and are susceptible to complex transformations, such as cyclization, rearrangement, and oxidation. They are the most structurally diverse class of plant-based natural products with a wide range of biological activities and are widely found in nature. In recent years, scholars have conducted abundant studies on the structures and pharmacological properties of components of Curcumae Rhizoma. This article elucidates the chemical structures, medicinal properties, and biological properties of the sesquiterpenoids (a total of 274 compounds) isolated from Curcumae Rhizoma. We summarized extraction and isolation methods for sesquiterpenoids, established a chemical component library of sesquiterpenoids in Curcumae Rhizoma, and analyzed structural variances among sesquiterpenoids sourced from Curcumae Rhizoma of diverse botanical origins. Furthermore, our investigation reveals a diverse array of sesquiterpenoid types, encompassing guaiane-type, germacrane-type, eudesmane-type, elemane-type, cadinane-type, carane-type, bisabolane-type, humulane-type, and other types, emphasizing the relationship between structural diversity and activity. We hope to provide a valuable reference for further research and exploitation and pave the way for the development of new drugs derived from medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) pigs are characterized by long-term growth failure, metabolic disorders, and intestinal microbiota imbalance. The characteristics of the negative effects of IUGR at different growth stages of pigs are still unclear. Therefore, this study explored through multi-omics analyses whether the IUGR damages the intestinal barrier function and alters the colonization and metabolic profiles of the colonic microbiota in growing-finishing pigs. Seventy-two piglets (36 IUGR and 36 NBW) were allocated for this trial to analyze physiological and plasma biochemical parameters, as well as oxidative damage and inflammatory response in the colon. Moreover, the colonic microbiota communities and metabolome were examined using 16s rRNA sequencing and metabolomics technologies to reveal the intestinal characteristics of IUGR pigs at different growth stages (25, 50, and 100 kg). IUGR altered the concentrations of plasma glucose, total protein, triglycerides, and cholesterol. Colonic tight junction proteins were markedly inhibited by IUGR. IUGR decreased plasma T-AOC, SOD, and GSH levels and colonic SOD-1, SOD-2, and GPX-4 expressions by restraining the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway. Moreover, IUGR increased colonic IL-1β and TNF-α levels while reducing IL-10, possibly through activating the TLR4-NF-κB/ERK pathway. Notably, IUGR pigs had lower colonic Streptococcus abundance and Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio at the 25 kg BW stage while having higher Firmicutes abundance at the 100 kg BW stage; moreover, IUGR pigs had lower SCFA concentrations. Metabolomics analysis showed that IUGR increased colonic lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and derivatives, and organoheterocyclic compounds concentrations and enriched three differential metabolic pathways, including linoleic acid, sphingolipid, and purine metabolisms throughout the trial. Collectively, IUGR altered the nutrient metabolism, redox status, and colonic microbiota community and metabolite profiles of pigs and continued to disrupt colonic barrier function by reducing antioxidant capacity via the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway and activating inflammation via the TLR4-NF-κB/ERK pathway during the growing-finishing stage. Moreover, colonic Firmicutes and Streptococcus could be potential regulatory targets for modulating the metabolism and health of IUGR pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of maternal selenium-enriched yeast (SeY) supplementation during late gestation and lactation on sow performance, transfer of selenium (Se) and redox status, and gut microbiota community, as well as on the gut health of offspring. Seventy pregnant sows on day 85 of gestation were randomly allocated to the following two treatments: (1) sows who were fed a basal diet (basal diet contained 0.3 mg/kg Se as Na2SeO3, n = 35); (2) and sows who were fed a SeY-supplemented diet (basal diet with 0.2 mg/kg Se as SeY, n = 35). The offspring piglets were only cross-fostered within the group on day 3 of lactation (L3) according to the pig farm epidemic prevention policy. The plasma, milk, and feces samples from 10 sows, as well as plasma and intestinal samples per treatment, were collected on L1 and L21, respectively. Our results showed that maternal SeY supplementation increased the first week average weight and ADG of piglets (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the SeY supplementation increased the Se content in the plasma and milk of sows and the plasma of piglets on L1 and L21 (p < 0.05). In addition, in sows, the levels of fat in the milk on L21, the level of IgA, T-AOC, and GSH-Px in the plasma on L21, and the level of T-AOC and GSH-Px in the colostrum were increased, while the MDA content was decreased in the plasma on L1 and in the colostrum and milk on L14 (p < 0.05). In the piglet plasma, the levels of IgA on L1 and L21, GSH-Px on L1, and GSH on L21 were increased, while the MDA content was decreased on L1 (p < 0.05). Maternal SeY supplementation up-regulated the small intestinal protein abundances of MUC1, E-cadherin, ZO-1, occludin, and claudin and activated the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway in weaned offspring piglets. The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that fecal microbiota had distinct separations during lactation, and the relative abundances of unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae, Prevotaceae_UCG-001, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group were increased on L1. Collectively, the current findings suggest that maternal SeY supplementation during late gestation and lactation could improve the piglet's growth performance, Se status, antioxidant capacity and immunoglobulins transfer at the first week of lactation, as well as alter the fecal microbiota composition by increasing antioxidative-related and SCFA-producing microbiota in sows. These changes contributed to enhancing the small intestinal barrier function and activating the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway in offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of betaine supplementation in sows and/or their offspring's diets on the redox status, immune and inflammatory levels, colonic barrier function, and colonic microbial community of offspring piglets. Thirty-six Bama mini-sows on day 3 of gestation and their weaned offspring piglets (28 d of age) were randomly allocated to the following treatments: (1) sows and their weaned offspring fed the basal diet (control group, Con group); (2) sows fed the basal diet with 3.50 kg/t betaine, and their weaned offspring fed the basal diet (sows betaine group, SB group); (3) sows fed the basal diet with 3.50 kg/t betaine, and their weaned offspring fed the basal diet with 2.50 kg/t betaine (sow-offspring betaine group, S-OB group). Six offspring piglets from each group were selected to collect plasma and colon samples on d 30, 60, and 90 after weaning. Compared with the Con group, the plasma levels of IgA, IgM, GSH-Px, and SOD during d 30–90 after weaning, IFN-α, T-AOC, and GSH on d 30 and 60 after weaning were increased, while MDA during d 30–90 after weaning was decreased in the SB and S-OB groups (p < 0.05). In addition, the plasma levels of IFN-γ on d 60 and T-AOC on d 30 after weaning were higher in the S-OB group than those in the Con group (p < 0.05). In the colon, betaine supplementation increased plasma T-AOC, GSH, and SOD levels while decreasing MDA concentration (p < 0.05). Betaine supplementation improved the colonic protein abundances of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin in offspring and activated the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway while inhibiting the TLR4-NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway on d 90 after weaning. The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that betaine supplementation altered colonic microbiota composition by increasing the relative abundances of Verrucomicrobia and Actinobacteria in the SB group while decreasing proinflammatory-associated microbiota abundances (Tenericutes, Prevotella, and Parabacteroides) (p < 0.05). Collectively, these findings suggest that dietary betaine supplementation in sows and/or their offspring could improve offspring piglets' redox status and immune and anti-inflammatory levels and enhance the colonic barrier function by activating Nrf2/Keap1 and inhibiting TLR4-NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lacustrine shale has garnered significant attention due to its significant resource potential. The Jurassic shale in the Sichuan Basin is an important target for lacustrine shale exploration in China. However, previous studies have predominantly focused on the Da'anzhai member of the Ziliujing Formation, and little attention has been paid to the shale of other strata. This paper aims to address this gap by investigating the Jurassic Dongyuemiao member in the Sichuan Basin. The study systematically characterizes the geological properties of the Dongyuemiao shale system, reconstructs the paleosedimentary environment, identifies the key factors influencing organic matter (OM) enrichment and physical properties, and assesses its resource potential through comparative analysis. Our results show that the Dongyuemiao shale was deposited in an oxic and semi-humid sedimentary environment characterized by intense weathering conditions. The enrichment of OM in the shale is primarily controlled by redox conditions and salinity, with redox conditions playing the most crucial role in OM accumulation. In terms of pore system characterization, clay mineral-associated pores dominate the pore types in the Dongyuemiao shale, while two types of organic matter-associated pores are also widely observed. The development of framework grain-associated pores is limited and only present in certain siliceous and carbonate minerals. The shales of the Dongyuemiao member and the Da'anzhai member exhibit slight differences in TOC content. However, the kerogen in the Dongyuemiao member displays higher hydrocarbon generation potential, and the Dongyuemiao shale exhibits more favorable pore structure parameters. Overall, the Dongyuemiao shale does not exhibit any significant disadvantages compared to the Da'anzhai shale. Therefore, it deserves greater attention in future exploration endeavors. The research findings presented in this paper provide a solid theoretical foundation for expanding the exploration scope of lacustrine shale in the Sichuan Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrant expression of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signalling pathway is often associated with tumourigenesis, progression and poor prognosis. Hence, PI3K inhibitors have attracted significant interest for the treatment of cancer. In this study, a series of new 6-(imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yl)quinazoline derivatives were designed, synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS spectra analyses. In the in vitro anticancer assay, most of the synthetic compounds showed submicromolar inhibitory activity against various tumour cell lines, among which 13k is the most potent compound with IC50 values ranging from 0.09 μΜ to 0.43 μΜ against all the tested cell lines. Moreover, 13k induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and cell apoptosis of HCC827 cells by inhibition of PI3Kα with an IC50 value of 1.94 nM. These results suggested that compound 13k might serve as a lead compound for the development of PI3Kα inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the sesquiterpenoids in Curcuma longa L. and their activity related to anti-atherosclerosis. The chemical compounds of the rhizomes of C. longa were separated and purified by multiple chromatography techniques. Their structures were established by a variety of spectroscopic experiments. The absolute configurations were determined by comparing experimental and calculated NMR chemical shifts and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Their anti-inflammatory effects and inhibitory activity against macrophage-derived foam cell formation were evaluated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-injured RAW264.7 macrophages, respectively. This study resulted in the isolation of 10 bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids (1–10) from C. longa, including two pairs of new epimers (curbisabolanones A–D, 1–4). Compound 4 significantly inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, compound 4 showed inhibitory activity against macrophage-derived foam cell formation, which was represented by markedly reducing ox-LDL-induced intracellular lipid accumulation as well as total cholesterol (TC), free cholesterol (FC), and cholesterol ester (CE) contents in RAW264.7 cells. These findings suggest that bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids, one of the main types of components in C. longa, have the potential to alleviate the atherosclerosis process by preventing inflammation and inhibiting macrophage foaming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four novel indane derivatives, anisotindans A–D (1–4), were isolated from the roots of Anisodus tanguticus. Their structures were established using comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, and their absolute configurations were determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Anisotindans C and D (3 and 4) are two unusual indenofuran analogs. ABTS•+ and DPPH•+ assays of radical scavenging activity reveal that all compounds (1–4) are active. Specifically, the ABTS•+ assay results show that anisotindan A (1) exhibits the best antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 15.62 ± 1.85 μM (vitamin C, IC50 = 22.54 ± 5.18 μM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hard rock stratum will seriously affect the efficiency of deep-sea drilling and greatly increase the cost of drilling operations due to its complexity. In ocean drilling operations, the design of the bit is critical. Therefore, the core bit should be able to drill in a variety of formations, especially in hard rock stratum, with the function of reducing the need to change the bit due to formation changes and improving the drilling efficiency. In this paper, three different core bits were designed according to the hard rock stratum of the seabed: the roller bit, diamond bit and bionic bit. According to the test results, it was observed that: (1) It is fully proven that the roller core bit has the characteristics of stable drilling in hard strata, small torque and high drilling efficiency. The same method can realize the core in shallow soft strata through the setting of drilling parameters. (2) For the diamond bit, the field test data show that the new formula diamond bit has a good adaptability to the changing hard rock strata in this area, with an average rate of penetration (ROP) of 4.4 m/h and a bit life of 137.75 m. (3) For the bionic bit, field experiment data showed that drilling in the formation lithology was gray green tuff, which had a core recovery up to 100%. The average ROP was 1.35 m/h, and the highest ROP was 1.88 m/h. The design and experiment of three kinds of drill bits have effectively solved the technical problem of efficient drilling in deep-sea hard-rock stratum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The florets of Carthamus tinctorius L. are traditionally used as a blood-activating drug and can be used for the treatment of atherosclerosis, but no compounds with anti-atherosclerotic activity have been reported. (2) Methods: This study investigated the chemical compounds from the florets of C. tinctorius. Comprehensive spectroscopic techniques revealed their structures, and ECD calculations established their absolute configurations. Nile Red staining, Oil Red O staining, and cholesterol assessment were performed on these compounds and their aglycones for the inhibitory activity against the formation of foam cells induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in RAW264.7 macrophages. In addition, RAW264.7 macrophages were tested for their anti-inflammatory activity by measuring the inhibition of NO production caused by LPS. (3) Results: Five new sesquiterpenoids (1–5) isolated from the florets of C. tinctorius were identified as (–)-(1R,4S,9S,11R)-caryophyll-8(13)-en-14-ol-5-one (1), (+)-(1R,4R,9S,11R)-caryophyll-8(13)-en-14-ol-5-one (2), (–)-(3Z,1R,5S,8S,9S,11R)-5,8-epoxycaryophyll-3-en-14-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), (+)-(1S,7R,10S)-guai-4-en-3-one-11-O-β-D-fucopyranoside (4), and (–)-(2R,5R,10R)-vetispir-6-en-8-one-11-O-β-D-fucopyranoside (5). All compounds except for compound 3 reduced the lipid content in ox-LDL-treated RAW264.7 cells. Compounds 3 and 4 and their aglycones were found to reduce the level of total cholesterol (TC) and free cholesterol (FC) in ox-LDL-treated RAW264.7 cells. However, no compounds showed anti-inflammatory activity. (4) Conclusion: Sesquiterpenoids from C. tinctorius help to decrease the content of lipids, TC and FC in RAW264.7 cells, but they cannot inhibit NO production, which implies that their anti-atherogenic effects do not involve the inhibition of inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production leads to oxidative stress in cells, impairing the function of mitochondria and finally inducing cell apoptosis. Considering the essential role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders, the discovery of novel antioxidants has attracted increasing attention. Herein, a series of novel 1,4-disubstituted piperazine-2,5-dione derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antioxidative activity. The results of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay indicated that none of the tested compounds showed significant toxicity to SH-SY5Y cells at concentrations up to 80 μM. Cell counting via flow cytometry revealed that most of the tested compounds could effectively protect SH-SY5Y cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage at 20 μM. Among these compounds, compound 9r exhibited the best antioxidative activity. Further mechanistic investigation indicated that 9r decreased ROS production and stabilized the mitochondrial membrane potential to restrain cell apoptosis, and promoted cell survival via an IL-6/Nrf2 positive-feedback loop. These results suggested the potential of compound 9r as a novel antioxidative candidate for the treatment of diseases caused by oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. (Labiatae), a medicinal plant, has been widely used for the therapy of multiple diseases since about 1800 years ago. It has been demonstrated that the extracts of P. frutescens exert significant anti-inflammatory effects. In this research, two pairs of 7,7′-cyclolignan enantiomers, possessing a cyclobutane moiety, (+)/(−)-perfrancin [(+)/(−)-1] and (+)/(−)-magnosalin [(+)/(−)-2], were separated from P. frutescens leaves. The present study achieved the chiral separation and determined the absolute configuration of (±)-1 and (±)-2. Compounds (+)-1 and (−)-1 have notable anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors (NO, TNF-α and IL-6) and the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (iNOS and COX-2). These findings indicate that cyclolignans are effective substances of P. frutescens with anti-inflammatory activity. The present study partially elucidates the mechanisms underlying the effects of P. frutescens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on tensor Z-eigenvalue localization and its application in the geometric measure of entanglement for multipartite quantum states. A new Z-eigenvalue localization theorem and the bounds for the Z-spectral radius are derived, which are more precise than some of the existing results. On the other hand, we present theoretical bounds of the geometric measure of entanglement for a weakly symmetric multipartite quantum state with non-negative amplitudes by virtue of different distance measures. Numerical examples show that these conclusions are superior to the existing results in quantum physics in some cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer continues to be the world's leading cause of cancer death and the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has attracted much attention. The tubers of Bletilla striata are regarded as "an excellent medicine for lung diseases" and as the first choice to treat several lung diseases. In this study, seventeen phenanthrene derivatives, including two new compounds (1 and 2), were isolated from the tubers of B. striata. Most compounds showed cytotoxicity against A549 cells. An EdU proliferation assay, a cell cycle assay, a wound healing assay, a transwell migration assay, a flow cytometry assay, and a western blot assay were performed to further investigate the effect of compound 1 on A549 cells. The results showed that compound 1 inhibited cell proliferation and migration and promoted cell apoptosis in A549 cells. The mechanisms might correlate with the regulation of the Akt, MEK/ERK, and Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathways. These results suggested that the phenanthrenes of B. striata might be important and effective substances in the treatment of NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Sow mastitis is a serious breast disease that can cause severe inflammation, agalaxia and even lead to death of piglets. Porcine mammary epithelial cells (pMECs) are the main cell types that affect sow milk secretion, therefore, when swine mastitis occurs, the inflammatory response of pMECs directly affects the mammary gland health and sow's lactation ability. Promoting the health of mammary gland epithelial cells is an important method for treating mastitis. Thus, in the current study, we investigated the effects of artemisinin on the inflammatory response of pMECs induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and proposed a potential anti-inflammatory mechanism. We confirmed that artemisinin can reduce the inflammatory damage of pMECs induced by LPS by inhibiting MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Pretreatment of pMECs with artemisinin showed enhanced anti-inflammatory activity against LPS-induced inflammation. Artemisinin could be a useful, safe and natural anti-inflammatory feed additive to prevent sow mastitis. Artemisinin performs a variety of biological functions, such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-oxidant effects. However, the effects of artemisinin on sow mastitis have not been studied. The results of the current study showed that mRNA expression abundance and content of the inflammatory factors interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were significantly increased when using 50 μg/mL LPS to stimulate pMECs for 24 h (p < 0.05). Pretreatment with 20 μM artemisinin weakened LPS-induced inflammatory damage in pMECs and decreased mRNA expression abundance and the content of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in pMECs (p < 0.05). Mechanistically, artemisinin inhibited LPS-induced activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways. In summary, the pretreatment of pMECs with artemisinin showed enhanced anti-inflammatory activity against LPS-induced inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lectin receptor-like kinases (LecRLKs) are a class of membrane proteins found in plants that are involved in diverse functions, including plant development and stress responses. Although LecRLK families have been identified in a variety of plants, a comprehensive analysis has not yet been undertaken in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). In this study, 46 putative LecRLK genes were identified in the cucumber genome, including 23 G-type and 22 L-type, and one C-type LecRLK gene. They were unequally distributed on all seven chromosomes, with a clustering tendency. Most of the genes in the cucumber LecRLK (CsLecRLK) gene family lacked introns. In addition, there were many regulatory elements associated with phytohormones and stress on these genes' promoters. Transcriptome data demonstrated distinct expression patterns of CsLecRLK genes in various tissues. Furthermore, we found that each member of the CsLecRLK family had its own unique expression pattern under hormone and stress treatment by the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. This study provides a better understanding of the character and function of the LecRLK gene family in cucumber and opens up the possibility to exploring the roles that LecRLKs might play in the life cycle of cucumber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuzi is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine developed from the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. It is rich in alkaloids that display a wide variety of bioactivities, and it has a strong cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity. In order to discriminate the geographical origin and evaluate the quality of this medicine, a method based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for multicomponent quantification and chemical fingerprint analysis. The measured results of 32 batches of Fuzi from three different regions were evaluated by chemometric analysis, including similarity analysis (SA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The content of six representative alkaloids of Fuzi (benzoylmesaconine, benzoylhypaconine, benzoylaconine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, and aconitine) were varied by geographical origin, and the content ratios of the benzoylmesaconine/mesaconitine and diester-type/monoester-type diterpenoid alkaloids may be potential traits for classifying the geographical origin of the medicine. In the HPLC fingerprint similarity analysis, the Fuzi from Jiangyou, Sichuan, was distinguished from the Fuzi from Butuo, Sichuan, and the Fuzi from Yunnan. Based on the HCA and PCA analyses of the content of the six representative alkaloids, all of the batches were classified into two categories, which were closely related to the plants' geographical origins. The Fuzi samples from Jiangyou were placed into one category, while the Fuzi samples from Butuo and Yunnan were put into another category. The LDA analysis provided an efficient and satisfactory prediction model for differentiating the Fuzi samples from the above-mentioned three geographical origins. Thus, the content of the six representative alkaloids and the fingerprint similarity values were useful markers for differentiating the geographical origin of the Fuzi samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rattans of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn are a traditional Chinese medicine activating blood circulation and removing stasis. They have often been used for the traditional Chinese medicinal treatment of breast cancer in modern China. In this study, four novel isoflavanes (1–3 and 5) and four known analogues (4 and 6–8) were isolated from an ethanolic extract of the rattans of S. suberectus. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses and electronic circular dichroism studies. MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines were used to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of the isolates. Interestingly, compounds 1 and 2 only inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells, while compound 6 showed a selective cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells. However, compound 4 had significant cytotoxicity against both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pogostemon cablin, the natural source of patchouli alcohol, is an important herb in the Lamiaceae family. Here, we present the entire chloroplast genome of P. cablin. This genome, with 38.24% GC content, is 152,460 bp in length. The genome presents a typical quadripartite structure with two inverted repeats (each 25,417 bp in length), separated by one small and one large single-copy region (17,652 and 83,974 bp in length, respectively). The chloroplast genome encodes 127 genes, of which 107 genes are single-copy, including 79 protein-coding genes, four rRNA genes, and 24 tRNA genes. The genome structure, GC content, and codon usage of this chloroplast genome are similar to those of other species in the family, except that it encodes less protein-coding genes and tRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that P. cablin diverged from the Scutellarioideae clade about 29.45 million years ago (Mya). Furthermore, most of the simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are short polyadenine or polythymine repeats that contribute to high AT content in the chloroplast genome. Complete sequences and annotation of P. cablin chloroplast genome will facilitate phylogenic, population and genetic engineering research investigations involving this particular species.

A new 15,16-dinorlabdane diterpenoid 1 and a known labdane diterpenoid 2, together with three known ergosterols 3-5, were isolated from the EtOAc-soluble portion of the EtOH extract of Leonurus japonicus. Their structures were elucidated by physical and spectroscopic analysis. Compound 1 showed in vitro coagulant activity in the APTT, PT, TT, and FIB assays.

A new 8,4'-oxyneolignane glucoside 1 has been isolated from the stems of Dendrobium aurantiacum var. denneanum together with six known phenolic glucosides 2−7. The structure of the new compound, including its absolute configuration, was determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods as (−)-(7S,8R,7'E)-4-hydroxy-3,3',5,5'-tetramethoxy-8,4'-oxyneolign-7'-ene-7,9,9'-triol 7,9'-bis-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1). In the in vitro assays, compound 1 and (−)-syringaresinol-4,4'-bis-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) showed evident activity against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells. Shashenoside I (4) showed a selective cytotoxic activity with the IC₅₀ value of 4.17 μM against the acute myeloid leukemia cell line MV4-11, while it was inactive against 10 other human tumor cell lines.

Two new sesquiterpenoids, (-)-(1S*,2S*,3R*)-3-ethoxycupar-5-ene-1,2-diol (1) and (-)-(1S*,4S*,9S*)-1,9-epoxybisabola-2,10-diene-4-ol (2), along with six known compounds 3-8, were isolated from the EtOH extract of the herb of Leonurus japonicus. Their structures were elucidated by physical and spectroscopic analysis. In the in vitro assays, compounds 7 and 8 showed obvious antibacterial activity against several bacteria strains, while compound 3 significantly inhibited abnormal increase of platelet aggregation induced by ADP.

The herb and fruits of Leonurus japonicus Houtt., named "Yimucao" and "Chongweizi", respectively, in Chinese, have been widely used in China as gynecological medicines. The components of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation were investigated by GC-MS. The antibacterial activity of the essential oils was determined by micro-dilution assay. The results showed large variations in the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the oils. The oil of "Yimucao" showed antibacterial activity against various Gram-positive bacteria and consisted mainly of sesquiterpenes and diterpenes, with phytone, phytol, caryophyllene oxide and β-caryophyllene being the most significant constituents, whereas the oil of "Chongweizi", mainly made up of bornyl acetate and aliphatic hydrocarbons, was inactive in the antibacterial assay. Further study of the main compounds in "Yimucao oil" showed that β-caryophyllene had wide-spectrum activity against Gram-positive bacteria.

Microsatellites are simple sequence repeats with a high degree of polymorphism in the genome; they are used as DNA markers in many molecular genetic studies. Using traditional methods such as the magnetic beads enrichment method, only a few microsatellite markers have been isolated from the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis, as the crab genome sequence information is unavailable. Here, we have identified a large number of microsatellites from the Chinese mitten crab by taking advantage of Solexa genomic surveying. A total of 141,737 SSR (simple sequence repeats) motifs were identified via analysis of 883 Mb of the crab genomic DNA information, including mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexa-nucleotide repeat motifs. The number of di-nucleotide repeat motifs was 82,979, making this the most abundant type of repeat motif (58.54%); the second most abundant were the tri-nucleotide repeats (42,657, 30.11%). Among di-nucleotide repeats, the most frequent repeats were AC motifs, accounting for 67.55% of the total number. AGG motifs were the most frequent (59.32%) of the tri-nucleotide motifs. A total of 15,125 microsatellite loci had a flanking sequence suitable for setting the primer of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To verify the identified SSRs, a subset of 100 primer pairs was randomly selected for PCR. Eighty two primer sets (82%) produced strong PCR products matching expected sizes, and 78% were polymorphic. In an analysis of 30 wild individuals from the Yangtze River with 20 primer sets, the number of alleles per locus ranged from 2--14 and the mean allelic richness was 7.4. No linkage disequilibrium was found between any pair of loci, indicating that the markers were independent. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test showed significant deviation in four of the 20 microsatellite loci after sequential Bonferroni corrections. This method is cost- and time-effective in comparison to traditional approaches for the isolation of microsatellites.

Two new alkaloids, aconicarmine (1) and aconicaramide (5), were isolated from the EtOH extract of the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii, together with five known compounds: fuziline (2), neoline (3), N-ethylhokbusine B (4), 5-hydroxymethylpyrrole-2-carbaldehyde (6), and oleracein E (7). Their structures were elucidated by physical and NMR analysis. Pyrrole alkaloids were isolated from A. carmichaelii for the first time. In the in vitro assays, compounds 2 and 3 showed activity against pentobarbital sodiuminduced cardiomyocytes damage by obviously recovering beating rhythm and increasing the cell viability, while compounds 5 and 7 showed moderate antibacterial activity.