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In this review, the nutritional components such as protein, amino acids, vitamins, polysaccharides and oil were discussed. The active components, including phenols, flavonoids, triterpenes and the bioactivities such as antioxidant, hypoglycemic and neuroprotection were summarized, the application of S. bumalda DC. as a new raw food material and functional food were also prospected.

Four new acylated triterpene glycosides with aliphatic chains (4-7) as well as five known triterpenoids were isolated from the flower buds of Staphylea bumalda with bioassay guidance. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral techniques, including IR, 1D and 2D NMR, and HR-APCI-MS. Most compounds (except 8) were isolated from S. bumalda for the first time. Additionally, the neuroprotective effects of 1 and 4-9 on suckling rat primary cultured hippocampal neurons against H2O2-induced injury were evaluated in vitro. The four new triterpenoids (4-7) showed neuroprotective effects, which increased the cell viability to over 74% at different concentrations, which was higher than the negative control (59%), while compounds 1 and 8-9 exhibited cytotoxic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein kinase CK2, which consists of two α and two β subunits, plays an essential role in plant development and is implicated in plant responses to abiotic stresses, including salt and heat. However, the function of CK2 in response to heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) has not yet been established. In this study, the transgenic line CKB4ox , which overexpresses CKB4 encoding the CK2β subunit and has elevated CK2 activity, was used to investigate the potential role of CK2 in response to Cd stress in Arabidopsis thaliana . Under Cd stress, CKB4ox showed reduced root growth and biomass accumulation as well as decreased chlorophyll and proline contents compared with wild type. Furthermore, increased Cd accumulation and a higher H 2 O 2 content were found in CKB4ox , possibly contributing to the inhibition of CKB4ox growth under Cd stress. Additionally, altered levels of Cd and H 2 O 2 were found to be associated with decreased expression of genes involved in Cd efflux, Cd sequestration and H 2 O 2 scavenging. Taken together, these results suggest that elevated expression of CKB4 and increased CK2 activity enhance the sensitivity of plants to Cd stress by affecting Cd and H 2 O 2 accumulation, including the modulation of genes involved in Cd transport and H 2 O 2 scavenging. This study provides direct evidence for the involvement of plant CK2 in the response to Cd stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to play an important role in the plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses in Arabidopsis mutants with lower or higher levels of endogenous NO. The exogenous application of NO donors or scavengers has also suggested an important role for NO in plant defense against environmental stress. In this study, rice plants under drought and high salinity conditions showed increased nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and NO levels. Overexpression of rat neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) in rice increased both NOS activity and NO accumulation, resulting in improved tolerance of the transgenic plants to both drought and salt stresses. nNOS-overexpressing plants exhibited stronger water-holding capability, higher proline accumulation, less lipid peroxidation and reduced electrolyte leakage under drought and salt conditions than wild rice. Moreover, nNOS-overexpressing plants accumulated less H2O2, due to the observed up-regulation of OsCATA, OsCATB and OsPOX1. In agreement, the activities of CAT and POX were higher in transgenic rice than wild type. Additionally, the expression of six tested stress-responsive genes including OsDREB2A, OsDREB2B, OsSNAC1, OsSNAC2, OsLEA3 and OsRD29A, in nNOS-overexpressing plants was higher than that in the wild type under drought and high salinity conditions. Taken together, our results suggest that nNOS overexpression suppresses the stress-enhanced electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation and H2O2 accumulation, and promotes proline accumulation and the expression of stress-responsive genes under stress conditions, thereby promoting increased tolerance to drought and salt stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic/helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors are ubiquitous transcriptional regulators that control many different developmental and physiological processes in the eukaryotic kingdom. In this study, the function of AtbHLH112, an uncharacterised member of the bHLH family in Arabidopsis was investigated. Overexpression of AtbHLH112 suppressed lateral root (LR) development in Arabidopsis seedlings. Examination under the microscope revealed that abnormal lateral root primordia (LRP) with flat-head and more than four cell layers retained in the endodermal layer account for over 45% of the total number of LRP and LRs. This suggests that LRP emergence was prevented before LRP penetrated the cortical layer in the transgenic lines. Decreased auxin level within the LRP and parental root cells surrounding the LRP, as well as downregulated expression of cell-wall-remodelling (CWR) genes in the roots may contribute to the suppression of LR emergence in AtbHLH112-overexpressing lines. This finding was further supported by the observation that exogenous application of auxin recovered LR development and upregulated the expression of CWR genes in AtbHLH112-overexpressing lines. Lateral root emergence is tightly regulated, although molecular components involved in this process are still largely unknown. This study showed that overexpression of a basic/helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor AtbHLH112 specifically suppresses lateral root emergence by decreasing the local auxin level and downregulating expression of cell-wall-remodelling (CWR) genes. Our results suggest that AtbHLH112 may represent a novel repressor of cell separation during lateral root emergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new eudesmanolide, 1-oxo-11 αH-eudesma-2,4(14)-dien-12,8 β-olide ( 1), and four new guaianolides, 9 β,10 β-epoxy-4 α-hydroxy-1 βH,11 αH-guaian-12,8 α-olide ( 2), 9 β,10 β-epoxy-4 α-hydroxy-1 βH,11 βH-guaian-12,8 α-olide ( 3), 4 α,9 α-dihydroxy-1 βH,11 αH-guai-10(14)-en-12,8 α-olide ( 4), and 4 α,9 α-dihydroxy-1 βH,11 βH-guai-10(14)-en-12,8 α-olide ( 5), together with one known eudesmanolide and two known germacranolides, were isolated from the whole plants of Carpesium triste. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including 2D-NMR techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of seed priming on the germination and physiology of Pinus bungeana seeds. Seeds were treated by hydropriming with distilled water, halopriming with potassium nitrate (KNO) at −0.3, −0.6, −1.2 MPa respectively (untreated dry seeds were taken as control). Properties of seed germination and physiology were determined and the effect of hydro- and halopriming on germination and physiology of P. bungeana seeds were investigated. The results showed that, compared with control, each priming treatment had increased the ge rmination percentage (GP) and germination index (GI), shortened the mean germination time (MGT) and the time required for 50% of the seeds to germinate ( G). Primed P. bungeana seeds significantly decreased the relative conductivity and the amount of malondialdehyde (MDA). Of all the treatments applied to seeds of P. bungeana, halopriming at −0.3 MPa KNO produced the highest GP (65.0%) and the shortest MGT (18.8 d) and G (18.2 d). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new jacaranone derivative, 2-(1,6-dihydroxy-4-oxocyclohex-2-enyl) acetic acid (1), has been isolated from the whole plants of Senecio scandens var. incisus, together with three known compounds: 2'-(p-hydroxyl-cinnamoyl)-6'-jacaranone-D-glucopyranoside (2), 2'-caffeoyl-6'-jacaranone-D-glucopyranoside (3) and kampferol-3-rhamnoside (4). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data analyses and by comparison with the related known compounds. Cytotoxic activities of 1 against three human tumour cell lines have been evaluated by the MTT method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new prenylchalcones, xanthohumol C and D, together with two known prenylchalcone derivatives, xanthohumol (1) and 5''-(2''-hydroxyisopropyl)-dihydrofurano-[2'',3''-b]-4,4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-chalcone (4) were isolated and identified from the hops of Humulus lupulus L. The structures of xanhohumol C and D were elucidated as 5''-hydroxy-6'',6''-dimethyl-dihydropyrano-[2'',3''-b]-4,4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-chalcone (2) and 5''-hydroxy-6'',6''-dimethyl-dihydropyrano-[2'',3''-b]-4',6'-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-chalcone (3) on the basis of HRFAB-MS, 1D and 2D NMR (HMQC, HMBC) spectroscopic data. Among the new prenylchalcones, compound 2 showed marginal cytotoxic activity against human stomach carcinoma BGC-823 and human hepatic carcinoma HepG2 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Zhengchong gold deposit is located in the central segment of the Jiangnan Orogen in northeastern Hunan Province, South China. The host rocks of this deposit are the Neoproterozoic slates of the Lengjiaxi Group and granodiorite. The structures in the Zhengchong gold deposit are dominated by NE-trending reverse faults, which control the gold-bearing veins. The orebody consists of NE-trending laminated quartz veins and NW-trending quartz veins. The alteration styles include silicification, carbonatization, sulfidation, sericitization and chloritization. The Zhengchong gold mineralization can be divided into four stages: Quartz-pyrite (stage I), quartz-pyrite-arsenopyrite (stage II), quartz-polysulfide (stage III) and quartz-carbonate (stage IV). Three generations of hydrothermal pyrite were identified: Disseminated euhedral to subhedral cubes in altered wall-rock (PyI), euhedral to subhedral cubes inter-grown with arsenopyrite and tetrahedrite in quartz veins and wall-rock (PyII), and euhedral cubes with microinclusions (native gold, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite, and pyrrhotite) or metasomatic textures in sulfide-rich veins or veinlets (PyIII). PyII and PyIII are arsenian pyrite and represent the main Au-bearing minerals. PyI records the lowest concentrations of Au; PyII and PyIII record similar amounts of Au, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Bi, but PyIII is more enriched in Co, Ni, Te, and Se. The substitution of As, Se and Te for S and that of Co and Ni for Fe occurs by direct-ion exchange. Invisible gold is uniformly distributed within the arsenian pyrite, and visible gold fills microfractures in PyII or occurs as inclusions in PyIII. Co, Ni, Cu exhibit positive correlations with Au and a negative correlation between Au + Cu + Co + Ni and Fe reflect that Fe vacancies may have been a major cause of the precipitation of invisible Au and other metal elements in pyrite structure. There are systematic trace element differences between the three generations of pyrite (PyI, PyII, PyIII). The more Co, Ni and Se, Te substitution that occurred for Fe and S, respectively, the greater the increase in the Co/Ni ratio (<1) and the decrease in the Se/Te ratio (<10) in stage III, indicating that a more reduced, lower-temperature metamorphic hydrothermal fluid was present in stage III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

isolation and structure of new eudesmanolide (I) and guaianolides (II),(III) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isolation of secondary metabolites produced by plants can lead to the discovery of new insecticidal agents. The aim of this study was to identify secondary metabolites from the fruits of Carpesium abrotanoides , a well-known medicinal and poisonous plant belonging to the family Asteraceae, with the potential to act as natural insecticides. Two new sesquiterpene lactones 9β-hydroxy-1βH, 11αH-guaia-4,10(14)-dien-12,8α-olide ( 1 ) and 9β-hydroxy-1βH, 11βH-guaia-4,10(14)-dien-12,8α-olide ( 2 ) along with four known sesquiterpene lactones ( 3 - 6 ) and one monoterpenoid ( 7 ) have been isolated. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR data and HRESIMS data interpretation. To characterize their insecticidal activities, bioassays were conducted using two insect pest species of agricultural importance. Compounds 1 – 7 showed antifeedant effects to 3rd instar larvae of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in a concentration-dependant manner with EC 50 of 19.84, 42.82, 97.94, 96.90, 39.94, 37.35 and 43.99 mg/L, respectively. Moreover, all of these compounds display stomach-contact combination toxicity toward 4rd instar larvae of Bradysia odoriphaga Yang and Zhang (Diptera: Sciaridae) (LD 50 = 18.71, 80.29, 230.65, 319.67, 31.18, 40.87 and 68.47 mg/L, respectively). In general, this is the first report of insecticidal activities of secondary metabolites isolated from C. abrotanoides . Moreover, compound 1 showed the best insecticidal activity in the test, demonstrating its potential to be used as a natural insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • ETE of M. liliflora leaves (MLL) was rich in lignans and showed antioxidant activity. • 4 new lignans and 15 known lignans were isolated from ETE. • Lignans showed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and phytotoxic activities. • MLL were identified as a promising by-product for industrial applications. Abstract After harvesting the flower buds of Magnolia liliflora Desr. (the traditional Chinese medicine known as "Xinyi"), a significant quantity of M. liliflora leaf (MLL) was generated as a by-product. The aim of this study is to verify the potential use of MLL and isolate its bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and phytotoxic activities. The ethyl acetate extract (ETE) from ethanol extract of MLL with the highest lignan content and antioxidant activity showed a good application value, from which four new lignans (1 – 4) along with fifteen known lignans (5 – 19) were isolated. The structures of lignans were established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR data and HRESIMS data interpretation. Compounds 2 , 9 and 10 exhibited antioxidant activities as assessed by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods. Compounds 2–3 , 9–11 and 13–14 showed pronounced anti-inflammatory activities compared with positive control indomethacin. Compounds 9 , 11 and 19 showed antifungal effects on three plant pathogens of economic importance in agriculture (Fusarium graminearum , Pyricularia oryzae , Alternaria alternata) with MIC values ranging from 32 to 128 μg/mL. Compounds 5 and 11 showed an inhibitory effect on lettuce shoots with EC 50 = 0.37 and 0.95 mM, respectively. The results indicated that MLL could be regarded as a promising high-potential by-product and inexpensive source of lignans for the pharmaceutical, food and agricultural industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]