Search

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Pesticide Science / Nongyaoxue Xuebao is the property of Chinese Journal of Pesticide Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Simple Summary: Crucian carp (Carassius auratus) is a freshwater fish that is popular due to its high nutritional value and delicious taste. It has become one of the most commonly farmed fish species, particularly in China. With the rapid development of intensive aquaculture, fish are becoming increasingly vulnerable to various pathogens that can cause significant economic losses. To reduce these losses, treatment with effective antibacterials is necessary. Although not approved in China, difloxacin is being used extensively in an extra-label manner to treat infections in aquaculture. However, the dosage guidelines specific to fish have not been established, resulting in the extrapolation of mammalian dosing regimens. Because fish are poikilotherms with unique physiologies and anatomies, dosing regimens intended for mammals may not be appropriate for them. In this research paper, we have employed a sparse sampling method and non-linear mixed effect modeling to develop population pharmacokinetics models. In addition, we have determined the values of the PK/PD parameter (free AUC/MIC) by utilizing previously published MIC data. Based on the free AUC/MIC values calculated herein, the current oral dose of difloxacin (20 mg/kg body weight) might be not enough to treat infections in crucian carp. This study aimed to investigate the population pharmacokinetics of difloxacin in crucian carp (Carassius auratus) orally provided a single dose of 20 mg/kg body weight (BW). To achieve this, fish were sampled at various intervals using a sparse sampling strategy, and plasma samples were analyzed using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Subsequently, naïve average data were analyzed using a non-compartmental method, and a population model was developed based on the nonlinear mixed effects approach. The covariate of BW and the relationship between covariances were sequentially incorporated into the population model. However, it was found that only covariance and not BW affected the population parameters. Therefore, the covariance model was taken as the final population model, which revealed that the typical values of the absorption rate constant (tvKa), apparent volume of distribution per bioavailability (tvV), and clearance rate per bioavailability (tvCl) were 1.18 1/h, 14.18 L/kg, and 0.20 L/h/kg, respectively. Based on the calculated free AUC/MIC values, the current oral dose of difloxacin (20 mg/kg BW) cannot generate adequate plasma concentrations to inhibit pathogens with MIC values above 0.83 μg/mL. Further study should be carried out to collect the pathogens from crucian carp and determine the MIC data of difloxacin against them. Pharmacodynamic experiments must also be further carried out to determine the optimal therapeutic dose for the treatment of Aeromonas hydrophila infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced cancer is a leading cause of disability and mortality globally, with an ever-increasing incidence. In China, icaritin (ICT), a naturally occurring compound with established efficacy and safety, is widely administered orally for treating advanced cancer. However, due to significant phase II metabolism with a positional preference on 3-OH, its usage in clinical settings is restricted. To minimize the phase II metabolism, we synthesized N-monomethyl carbamate and N-monoethyl carbamate (3N-Me and 3N-Et) that were modified on the 3-OH group of ICT. Just as we expected, 3N-Me and 3N-Et remained stable during the absorption process, and they were metabolized in plasma to the ICT. The rate of phase II metabolism of carbamate in vitro was significantly lower compared to ICT. Additionally, the different forms of the carbamate resulted in similar or stronger cytotoxicity than ICT. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetics of 3N-Me and 3N-Et were studied after oral administration. Compared to ICT, the oral administration of 3N-Me led to a significantly enhanced bioavailability of ICT and 3N-Me in rats. It was found that 3N-Me was more effective in exerting its anticancer pharmacological activity and was equally safe as the form of ICT alone. Additionally, our results indicated that ICT and 3N-Me both have beneficial effects on immunotoxicity and spleen functions altered by cancer. This suggests the potential for further development of 3N-Me medicine in the anticancer field for oral administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-derived alkaloids are a kind of very important natural organic compounds. Nitidine chloride is one of the main active ingredients in Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC. which is a frequently-used Chinese herbal medicine. Z. nitidum has many kinds of efficacy, such as activating blood circulation and removing stasis, promoting qi circulation and relieving pain, and detoxication and detumescence. In China, Z. nitidum is usually used for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, toothache, and traumatic injury. At present, there are numerous studies of nitidine chloride with regard to its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, etc. However, a systematic, cutting-edge review of nitidine-related studies is extremely lacking. The present paper aimed at comprehensively summarizing the information on the extraction, separation and purification, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicology and formulation of nitidine chloride. The knowledge included in the present study were searched from the following academic databases involving Web of Science, PubMed, Google scholar, Elsevier, CNKI and Wanfang Data, till July 2022. In terms of nitidine chloride extraction, enzymatic method and ultrasonic method are recommended. Resin adsorption and chromatography were usually used for the separation and purification of nitidine chloride. Nitidine chloride possesses diversified therapeutical effects, such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, anti-colitis, anti-malaria, anti-osteoporosis, anti-rheumatoid and so on. According to pharmacokinetics, the intestinal absorption of nitidine chloride is passive diffusion, and it is rarely excreted with urine and feces in the form of prototype drug. Nitidine chloride has a moderate binding to plasma protein, which is independent of the drug concentration. As to toxicology, nitidine chloride showed certain toxicity on liver, kidney and heart. Certain new formulations, such as nanoparticle, microsphere and nanomicelle, could increase the therapeutic effect and decrease the toxicity of nitidine chloride. Despite limitations such as poor solubility, low bioavailability and certain toxicity, nitidine chloride is still a promising natural alkaloid for drug candidates. Extensive and intensive exploration on nitidine chloride is essential to promote the usage of nitidine-based drugs in the clinic practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mobility and bioavailability of soil heavy metals strongly depend on their fractions. Secondary-phase fraction (SPF) of heavy metal, including acid-soluble, reducible and oxidizable fractions, is considered as direct and potential hazardous fraction to organisms. The ratio of SPF to the total concentration of heavy metal represents its bioavailability. In this study, 126 topsoil samples were collected in Kunshan, Jiangsu, China. Fraction concentrations of heavy metals, and their bioavailability and spatial distributions were determined, and relationships between their fractions and types of industry zones were analyzed. Results showed that Cd and Pb had the greatest SPFs among all metals (78.61% and 62.60%, respectively). Great SPFs of Cd and Pb were observed in the dyeing and paper-making industry zone, while great SPFs of Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni were in the smelting and plating industry zone. For most metals, fraction distributions were controlled by soil organic matter and clay contents. Spatial principal component analysis showed SPFs of heavy metals can be explained by two principle components (PCs). PC1 represented SPFs of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn, while PC2 represented SPFs of Ni and Co. The spatial distributions of SPFs were influenced by geochemical character, industrial sewage irrigation and soil physico-chemical properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: The beneficial effects of many substances have been discovered because of regular dietary consumption. This is also the case with curcumin, whose effects have been known for more than 4,000 years in Eastern countries such as China and India. A curcumin-rich diet has been known to counteract many human diseases, including cancer and diabetes, and has been shown to reduce inflammation. The effect of a curcumin treatment for neurological diseases, such as spinal muscular atrophy; Alzheimer's disease; Parkinson's disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; multiple sclerosis; and others, has only recently been brought to the attention of researchers and the wider population. Methods: In this paper, we summarise the studies on this natural product, from its isolation two centuries ago to its characterisation a century later. Results: We describe its role in the treatment of neurological diseases, including its cellular and common molecular mechanisms, and we report on the clinical trials of curcumin with healthy people and patients. Discussion: Commenting on the different approaches adopted by the efforts made to increase its bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Journal of Irrigation & Drainage Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Context: Selenium deficiency occurs all over the world. Therefore, the research and development of selenium supplements has been a focus for relevant scholars. Organic selenium is safer and more efficient than is inorganic selenium. In fact, China's sika deer resources are of high quality, but the utilisation rate of deer blood is very low. Research has found that deer blood is a reasonable peptide source for the preparation of selenium-chelate supplements. The abundance of deer blood resources provided conditions for this study. Aim: To provide new selenium supplements for humans, and further develop and utilise China's sika deer industry, which to some extent also improves the utilisation rate of deer blood resources. Methods: Peptides were hydrolysed by protease, and the best hydrolysates were screened. Single-factor experiments and response-surface methodology were used to study the effects of pH, temperature, time and peptide:selenium mass ratio on selenium-chelating activity. The sika deer blood polypeptide–selenium was characterised and analysed through ultraviolet spectrum, infrared spectrum, amino acid analysis, molecular-weight determination, scanning electron microscopy, and particle-size and potential analysis. Also, thermal-stability and acid–base-stability tests were conducted. Key results: The chelating activity of alkaline protease hydrolysate was the highest, being 73.1 ± 0.16%. The pH value, temperature, time and peptide:selenium mass ratio had influence on selenium-chelating activity. Because of the cross-linking of selenium ions, the chelated selenium aggregates into larger particles with a more compact structure. The determination of amino acid and molecular weight showed that the metal-chelating activity of small-molecular peptides was very strong. Glutamic acid (Glu) and aspartic acid (Asp) play an important role in the binding of selenium ions. At the same time, the chelated SDBP–selenium had acid–base stability and thermal stability. Conclusion: Studies depicted that SDBP–selenium is suitable as a new type of selenium supplement. Implications: The preparation of deer blood polypeptide-chelated selenium provides a scientific basis for the development of new selenium supplements and the practical application of deer blood resources. In this paper, we studied the chelation of sika deer blood polypeptide with selenium ion to prepare a new type of deer blood polypeptide–selenium supplement, which is more beneficial to human body in terms of safety and bioavailability than is the inorganic selenium supplement. The best chelating process was determined, and the properties of the chelate were determined by characterisation analysis and stability test. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for providing new selenium supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengzhanxixin (DZXX), the dried whole plant of Erigeron breviscapus (Vaniot) Hand.-Mazz., belonging to Compositae and first published in Materia Medica of South Yunnan by Lan Mao in the Ming Dynasty (1368 AD–1644 AD), is included in Medicinal Materials and Decoction Pieces of the 2020 edition of the Pharmacopeia of the People's Republic of China. Its main chemical components are flavonoids that mainly include flavonoid, flavonols, dihydroflavones, flavonol glycosides, flavonoid glycosides, coffee acyl compounds, and other substances, such as volatile oil compounds, coumarins, aromatic acids, pentacyclic terpenoids, phytosterols, and xanthones. Among them, scutellarin and 1,5-dicoffeoylquininic acid are the main active components of DZXX. DZXX has pharmacological effects, such as improving cerebral and cerebrovascular ischemia, increasing blood flow, inhibiting platelet aggregation, promoting antithrombotic formation, improving microcirculation, reducing blood viscosity, protecting optic nerves, exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties, scavenging free radicals, and eliciting antioxidant activities. It is widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular ischemic diseases, kidney diseases, liver diseases, diabetic complications, and glaucoma. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that the active components of DZXX have a low bioavailability and a high elimination rate in vivo. Nevertheless, its utilization can be improved through liposome preparation and combination with other drugs. Acute and subacute toxicity studies have shown that DZXX is a safe medicinal material widely used in clinical settings. However, its target and drug action mechanism are unclear because of the complexity of its composition. In this paper, the clinical application and pharmacological toxicology of DZXX are reviewed to provide a reference for further studying its active components and action mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the concentration, distribution, bioavailability, and potential heavy metal contamination risk of Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cr in the soil and sediment of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR). In this paper, 14 stations that cover the upper reaches to the lower reaches of the TGR were selected. The spatial distribution of heavy metals in the TGR showed that the average concentrations of Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cr were higher in the upper and lower reaches than those in the middle reaches because of industrial and agricultural activities as well as natural processes (e.g., soil erosion, rock weathering). The results also indicated that multiple pollution sources and complex geomorphological, geochemical and biological processes resulted in remarkably higher heavy metal concentrations in the soils of the water-level-fluctuation zone (WLFZ) than in the soils of the banks. The Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cr concentrations in the soils of the TGR did not exceed their respective maximum allowable concentration (MAC) values for agricultural soils in China, indicating that the soil in the TGR was not seriously contaminated with Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, or Cr. However, the mean concentrations of all the studied metals in the sediments were higher than the geochemical background values and much higher than those in the soils, thus indicating the effect of the pollution sources and the altered hydrologic conditions that occurred after the impoundment of the TGR. A geoaccumulation index analysis indicated that the TGR sediments were moderately polluted with Cu and Cd, unpolluted to moderately polluted with Pb and Cr, and unpolluted with Zn. Fractionation studies indicated that Cd was mainly present in the non-residual fractions and exhibited great instability and bioavailability; furthermore, the alternating wetting and drying of the WFLZ soils enhance the mobility and bioavailability of Cd. Thus, greater attention should be paid to Cd pollution in the TGR because of its higher risk assessment values and potentially adverse biological effects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

With the widespread use of metal oxide nanoparticles (MNPs), agricultural soil is gradually becoming a primary sink for MNPs. The effect of these nanoparticles on the fate and the toxicity of co-existing heavy metals is largely unknown. In this paper, pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on Cd toxicity and bioaccumulation in a soil-rice system. Different amounts of ZnO-NPs were added to three different levels of Cd-contaminated paddy soil (L-Cd, 1.0 mg kg−1; M-Cd, 2.5 mg kg−1; H-Cd, 5.0 mg kg−1). The results showed that the addition of ZnO-NPs significantly increased the soil pH value, and the soil pH value increased with the increase in ZnO-NP concentration. Reductions in plant height and biomass under Cd stress were recovered and increased after the addition of ZnO-NPs; the addition of ZnO-NP promoted rice biomass increased by 13~22% and 25~43% in the M-Cd and H-Cd groups, respectively, compared with that of the respective control treatment. A high concentration of ZnO-NPs could increase the concentration of bioavailable Cd in rhizosphere soil. In the L-Cd group, the Cd concentration of the rice in the L-Z500 treatment increased to 0.51 mg kg−1, exceeding the limit for acceptable Cd concentrations in rice of China (0.2 mg kg−1). This work revealed that ZnO-NPs could improve plant growth, especially in the early-growth stage, and alleviate the toxic effects of Cd. However, the addition of high-concentration (500 mg kg−1) ZnO-NPs in the lower Cd pollution soil could significantly facilitate the accumulation of Cd by Oryza sativa L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the current pollution of heavy metals in livestock and poultry in China, this paper discusses bioavailability of heavy metals and the classification of passivators, as well as different types passivators on characteristics of residual heavy metal passivation in livestock and poultry waste. On this basis, the research and application of physical, chemical and biological passivators are presented. The passivating effect of different passivators on heavy metals in livestock and poultry waste is introduced, which provides a technical reference for the application of passivator to the treatment of heavy metals in livestock and poultry waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To evaluate the bioequivalence of two different tofacitinib citrate tablets formulations among healthy Chinese subjects under fasting and fed conditions and to observe the safety of test preparation and reference preparation in healthy subjects. Method. This randomized, open-label, 2-period, crossover, bioequivalence study included 64 healthy Chinese subjects (fasting: n = 32, fed: n = 32). The subjects were assigned to receive a single 5-mg dose of the test or a reference tofacitinib citrate tablets. Blood samples were collected at predose and up to 24 hours after dosing. Area under the plasma concentration time curve from zero to the last measurable concentration (AUC0-t), the area from time zero to infinite (AUC0-∞), and maximum plasma concentration ( C max ) were used for bioequivalence assessment. Safety assessment was conducted by vital signs, physical examination, laboratory examination, and 12-lead electrocardiogram during the study, from the time the subject receiving the test drug to the end of the last visit. Results. Under fed condition, the 90% CIs of the geometric mean ratios of the test/reference for tofacitinib citrate tablets were 98.40–104.16% for AUC0-t, 89.96–116.70% for C max , and 98.50–104.15% for AUC0-∞. Under fasting condition, the 90% CIs of the geometric mean ratios of the test/reference for tofacitinib citrate tablets were 93.65–101.60% for AUC0-t, 90.06–109.15% for C max , and 93.88–101.51% for AUC0-∞. There were no serious events. Conclusion. The 90% CI for the geometric mean ratio (test/reference) of C max , AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞ were within the range of 80.00%–125.00%, indicating that the test formulation was equivalent to the reference formulation in healthy Chinese subjects under both fasting and fed conditions. They are similar in terms of safety. This trial is registered with CTR20190366. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study used various amounts of P-arsanilic acid (AsA) in pot experiments to evaluate the effects of AsA on arsenic (As) accumulation, speciation and meanwhile using the in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell model to evaluate the bioavailability of As in rice. The results indicated a linear relationship between As in rice and As in soil, and at 75 mg AsA/kg of soil, As content in rice exceeded the statutory permissible limit of 0.2 mg As/kg dry weight in China. Speciation studies indicated that inorganic As (Asi), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) were the main As species in rice. Bioavailability of As experiment indicated that As uptake and transport amount by Caco-2 cells increased with increasing As accumulation in rice. In general, the content of AsA in soil reached or exceeded 75 mg/kg, which is not suitable for growing rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beneficial utilization of potentially increasing urban green waste (UGW) is critical for sustainable urban development in China. In this study, UGW was pyrolyzed at different temperatures, and the resulting biochar was used to amend Cd-contaminated soils to grow cabbage. Our results showed that the Cd adsorption capacity of UGW-biochar was positively correlated with the surface area, O/C, and (O+N)/C value of biochar. Furthermore, UGW-biochar was incorporated into three Cd-contaminated soils, including one acidic soil and two neutral soils, to assess its impact on the availability of Cd. The most substantial reduction in the concentration of available Cd was observed in the acidic soil, of the three tested soils. In the neutral soils, a more substantial reduction was found in the heavily Cd-contaminated soil compared to the lightly Cd-contaminated soil. UGW-biochar amendments to the three Cd-contaminated soils resulted in an increase in the cabbage biomass in acidic soil, whereas in neutral soils, it increased in lightly contaminated soils but decreased in heavily contaminated soils. Additionally, the Cd bioaccumulation factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF), and removal efficiency (RE), as impacted by the biochar application, were calculated in the lightly Cd-contaminated soil–cabbage system. The BCF decreased from 5.84 to 3.80 as the dosage of the UGW-biochar increased from 0% to 3%, indicating that the UGW-biochar immobilized Cd and reduced its bioaccumulation in cabbage roots. Based on our investigations, UGW-biochar effectively immobilizes Cd by reducing its mobility and bioavailability in a lightly contaminated environment matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite large scale intervention programmes, iron deficiency anemia and zinc deficiency remains the most widely prevalent nutritional problem in the world. Widespread deficiencies of iron and zinc, commonly found in developing country such as China dependent on plant foods, necessitate food-based strategies to maximise their bioavailability from plant foods. In this paper, ß-carotene-rich vegetables were evaluated for their effects on the bioavailability of iron and zinc from cereals and legumes by employing in vitro digestions. Addition of carrot or spinach (2.5 g and 5 g per 10 g of grain) significantly enhanced the bioavailability of iron and zinc from the food grains, the percent increase being 9.4--73.8 in the case of carrot and 11-- 179% in the case of spinach. Pure ß-carotene added at an equivalent level also enhanced the bioavailability of iron (9.6--97.6% increase) and zinc (13--92.4% increase) from the cereals examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• DOP is highly bioavailable in Lake Taihu, China, especially in Meiliang Bay. • DOP utilization is vital in shaping phytoplankton community in P-deficient waters. • High APA expression is not equal to the high capacities of DOP utilization. • Low algal APA implies the restriction of other factors under P-deficient conditions. • APA can be used to optimize the prediction of algal blooms in P-deficient lakes. Dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) could be transformed to dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) under phosphorus (P) deficient conditions by various enzymes, among which alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) is regarded as the most important one. To better understand the different response of phytoplankton to DOP and the role of alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) in phytoplankton growth in natural waters, the distribution of P, APA, and phytoplankton density were measured at 12 sites in Lake Taihu, China, in summer, autumn, and winter of 2016. In this study, 34.12% of DOP could be hydrolyzed, indicative of the high bioavailability of DOP in Lake Taihu, especially in Meiliang Bay. More than 70% of enzymatically hydrolyzed DOP came from alkaline phosphatase-hydrolyzed DOP, verifying that APA had a major role in hydrolyzing DOP to fulfill the DIP requirements of phytoplankton, and that phosphomonoesters were the main form of bioavailable DOP in Lake Taihu. Redundancy analysis implied a high capacity of DOP use may be important for species dominance under P-deficient conditions, but high APA expression is not equal to the high capacities of DOP utilization. In this study, phytoplankton density was significantly positive with bulk APA, algal APA and bacteria APA. APA, despite of its complex contributors, is able to increase the amount of bioavailable P for phytoplankton growth. Moreover, algal APA reflects the actual response of phytoplankton to available P under P-deficient conditions. Low algal APA means that other factors limit phytoplankton growth. Increased algal APA means that other limitations get alleviated and algae are in anxious demand for P. Therefore, this paper suggests that monitoring APA can be used as a supplementary indicator to reflect the actual demand for P of algal, thus to optimize the prediction of algal blooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation on the chemical components of Valeriana jatamansi Jones (Caprifoliaceae), a new lignan with pyran-ring, dipsalignan G (1), along with eight known compounds (2–9) were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by extensive analysis of 1D, 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic data. Additionally, possible biosynthetic pathway of 1 was proposed. Finally, biological evaluation results showed that 8 had significant scavenging ability to ABTS and DPPH free radicals, with IC50 values of 1.35 ± 0.01 and 2.94 ± 0.01 μg/ml, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch) is a natural plant resource widely used as a food and herbal medication in China. Glycycoumarin (GCM) is a major coumarin in licorice that possesses several biological activities. However, little is known about its pharmacokinetic profile. The present study aimed to describe the oral absorption, tissue distribution, and excretion of GCM in rats. Free (parent drug) and/or total (parent drug plus the glucuronidated metabolite) GCM in biological samples was quantified before and after the hydrolysis reaction with ß-glucuronidase using a reliable LC-MS/MS method. The results indicated that GCM was rapidly absorbed and transformed into its conjugated metabolites after administration. Free GCM plasma concentrations after i. v. (10 mg/kg) administration quickly decreased with an average t1/2,λz of 0.71 h, whereas the totalGCMconcentration reduced slowly with a t1/2, λz of 2.46 h. The area under the curve of glucuronidated metabolites was approximately four-times higher than that of free GCM. Presumably, because of hepatic and/or intestinal tract first-pass metabolism, GCM exhibited a poor bioavailability of 9.22%, as estimated from its total plasma concentration. Additionally, GCM was distributed rapidly and widely in various tissues except the brain. The liver had the highest concentration; further, GCM was promptly eliminated from test tissues after intraperitoneal (20 mg/kg) administration, but only a small amount of GCM was excreted via bile and urine. Overall, GCM is absorbed and rapidly transformed into its conjugated metabolites with low bioavailability; further, it is distributed in various tissues, except the brain. These pharmacokinetic results are helpful for better understanding the characteristics and pharmacological effects of GCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel (Ni) is used primarily in the production of alloys like stainless steel and is increasingly being used in the production of batteries for the electric vehicle market. Exposure of Ni to ecosystems is of concern because Ni can be toxic to aquatic organisms. The influence of water chemistry constituents (e.g., hardness, pH, dissolved organic carbon) on the toxicity of Ni has prompted the development and use of bioavailability models, such as biotic ligand models (BLMs), which have been demonstrated to accurately predict Ni toxicity in broadly different ecosystems, including Europe, North America, and Australia. China, a leading producer of Ni, is considering bioavailability‐based approaches for regulating Ni emissions. Adoption of bioavailability‐based approaches in China requires information to demonstrate the validity of bioavailability models for the local water chemistry conditions. The present study investigates the toxicity of Ni to three standard test species (Daphnia magna, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, and Danio rerio) in field‐collected natural waters that are broadly representative of the range of water chemistries and bioavailabilities encountered in Chinese lakes and rivers. All experimental data are within a factor of 3 of the BLM predicted values for all tests with all species. For D. magna, six of seven waters were predicted within a factor of 2 of the experimental result. Comparison of experimental data against BLM predictions shows that the existing Ni bioavailability models are able to explain the differences in toxicity that result from water chemistry conditions in China. Validation of bioavailability models to water chemistries and bioavailability ranges within China provides technical support for the derivation of site‐specific Ni water quality criteria in China. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1257–1265. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics are emerging contaminants and widely used in human healthcare, livestock, and aquaculture. The toxicity posed by antibiotics and their mixtures in sediments depends on their bioavailability. Now, the bioavailability of organic materials can be determined accurately by the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique. This technique was used for the first time ever in this study to evaluate in detail the integral toxicity of antibiotics in sediments to aquatic biota. Zhelin Bay was selected as a case study, because it is the largest mariculture area in eastern Guangdong, South China. Two antibiotics, chlortetracycline (CTC) (A) and sulfachlorpyridazine (SCP), were detected at average concentrations of 2.83 and 1.14 ng/ml, respectively. The other fifteen antibiotics were undetectable. The single risk assessment based on the risk quotient (RQ) of CTC and SCP shows that a relatively low risk has occurred. After this careful assessment of probabilistic ecotoxicological risks, the combined toxicity of antibiotic mixtures (CTC and SCP) clearly indicates that the toxicity probability of surface sediments to aquatic organisms was relatively low (0.23%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal tea has numerous biological activities and exhibits broad benefits for human health. In China, the flower buds of Lyonia ovalifolia are traditionally processed as herbal tea, namely White Que Zui tea (WQT). This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of ultra-high hydrostatic pressure (UHHP) pretreatment on the chemical constituents and biological activities of free, esterified, and insoluble-bound phenolic fractions from WQT. A total of 327 chemical constituents were identified by a quasi-targeted metabolomics analysis. UHHP pretreatment extremely inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell apoptosis in H2O2-induced HepG2 cells, and it increased the activities of intracellular antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) and GSH content in different phenolic fractions from WQT. In addition, after UHHP pretreatment, the anti-inflammatory effects of different phenolic fractions from WQT were improved by inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Thus, the UHHP method might be a potential pretreatment strategy for improving the bioavailability of phytochemicals from natural plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic matter (OM) and nutrient inputs generated by human activities promote the development of eutrophication. Amino acids (AAs) are an integral part of OM, and studying their patterns will provide new insights into organic matter dynamics in lakes. Four seasonal field campaigns in eutrophic Lake Taihu and a 14-day phytoplankton degradation experiment were carried out to determine the variability and bioavailability of amino acids. The quality and quantity of AAs varied among different seasons and lake types. The concentrations of particulate (PAA) and dissolved (DAA) AA were 14.67 ± 13.25 μM (carbon- and nitrogen-normalized PAA yields: PAA-C%, 23.8 ± 13.5%; PAA-N%, 22.8 ± 2.1%) and 2.95 ± 1.05 μM (carbon- and nitrogen-normalized DAA yields: DAA-C%, 3.7 ± 1.1%; DAA-N%, 12.6 ± 11.2%) in Lake Taihu, respectively. PAA and DAA showed high mean values in the algal-dominated northern area in summer. Glutamic acid (Glu), alanine (Ala), aspartic acid (Asp) and glycine (Gly) contributed to nearly 50% of PAA, while Gly, accounting for 17–24%, was the main component of DAA. During a 14-day phytoplankton degradation period, 98% of Chl a, 63% of POC and 92% of PAA were removed in the dark treatment, and a more obvious downward trend was recorded than in the light treatment. Principal component analysis of the indices of PAA indicated that Glu, arginine (Arg) and histidine (His) were dominant on day 0, while Gly and lysine (Lys) were dominant on day 14. There were notable serine + threonine (Ser + Thr [mol%]) and aspartic acid/glycine ratio (Asp/Gly [mol%]) end-member divisions among different organic matter sources. DAA had higher Ser + Thr [mol%] and lower Asp/Gly [mol%] values than PAA. The amino acid degradation index (DI) of PAA and DAA was 0.97 ± 0.28 and − 1.04 ± 0.43, respectively. The fresh DAA from the algae degradation incubation also had DI values similar to those of field DAA in the northern algae–dominated lake region. Amino acid parameters (AA-C%, DI values, Ser + Thr [mol%] and Asp/Gly [mol%]) were calculated to indicate the source, freshness and bioavailability of organic matter in eutrophic shallow Lake Taihu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals in road dusts could cause high potential risk to both human health and environmental safety. This study evaluated chemical fractions, potential leachability, and bio-accessibility of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in road dusts from the steel-industrial city (Anshan), Northeastern China. Sequential extraction analysis revealed that Cr and Ni primarily existed in residual form. The non-residual fraction of heavy metals decreased in the order of Zn (average 57.78%) > Cu (39.16%) > Pb (30.73%) ≈ Cd (30.67%) > Ni (19.06%) > Cr (8.7%). The results showed that Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb, which were extremely concentrated in potentially mobile fractions, had high potential risks. The mobility of Cd and Zn was higher than that of Cr, Cu, Pb, and Ni, which indicated that Cd and Zn posed higher risks. There was a significant relationship between PBET, TCLP-test, and bioavailable parts of sequential extraction, respectively. Redundancy analysis and correlation analysis results indicated that both the basic properties and total heavy metals regulated their toxicity and bioavailability of heavy metals. Thus, the results of health risk assessment to human and the environment can provide a more scientific implication for typical steel industrial urban management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxic heavy metals pollution in urban soil has become a major global issue due to its adverse effects on the environment and human health. In this paper, 26 soil samples were analyzed to assess the speciation, bioavailability and human health risk of Arsenic (As), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) in urban soils of a heavy industrial city in NE China by using a Monte Carlo simulation approach. The results showed that As, Hg, Pb and Cd concentrations in the soil all exceed the corresponding background value of study area. Mercury displays the highest value of geo-accumulation index (Igeo), followed by Cd, Pb and As. The pollution load index (PLI) value (>2) indicates a moderate pollution level in the study area. The chemical speciation of HMs mainly exists in residual fraction except Cd. The probabilistic health risk assessment demonstrated that the mean values of Total Carcinogenic Risk (TCR) and Hazard Index (HI) calculated with total concentration are at the unacceptable level, with a higher risk to children than adults. However, the mean values calculated with bioavailable fraction are all within the acceptable level. The mean value of TCR and HI obtained by bioavailable fraction is about 96% and 95% lower than that obtained by total concentration, respectively. Thus, this study suggested that the bioavailable fraction of HMs is a more reliable parameter for health risk assessment, while the total concentration of HMs can overestimate the true risk. The results of this study provide some insight into the speciation, bioavailability and health risks of toxic heavy metals in urban soils in those heavy industrial cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potential human health risk with agricultural food consumption grown in heavy metal–contaminated soil has rarely been investigated. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of rice straw biochar and bamboo biochar on Cd/Cu phytoavailability, stabilization, and human health risk with crop consumption grown in contaminated soil. In this study, rice straw biochar and bamboo biochar were applied to contaminated soil (at the rate of 1.125 × 104 and 2.25 × 104 kg·ha−1) to suppress Cd/Cu bioavailability and thereby mitigating their accumulation in rice, rape, and corn. The results showed that biochar application had significantly reduced DTPA extractable Cd/Cu content in contaminated soil, especially the high dosage addition. Biochar application considerably influenced chemical fraction of Cd/Cu, which was notably increased in residual fraction and decreased in exchangeable fraction of Cd/Cu in biochar-amended soil. Compared to the control treatment, biochar application had significantly reduced Cd/Cu concentration in rice, corn, and rape seed, respectively. Hazard quotients (HQ) associated with rice, corn, and rape consumption were significantly reduced in biochar-amended soil. Consequentially, human cancer risk (HCR) value for Cd associated with rice consumption was significantly reduced by 27.70% with bamboo biochar (at the rate of 2.25 × 104 kg·ha−1) treatment. The possible mechanisms in reducing HQ and HCR were due to biochar efficiency to decrease bioavailable Cd, promote the Cd immobilization, and suppress the crop uptake. In conclusion, these results highlighted the potential for biochar to mitigate the phytoavailability and accumulation of heavy metals and thereby reducing heavy metals exposure associated with rice consumption. Thus, biochar is a promising eco-friendly material to be used to diminish HQ and HCR in soil crop system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare earth elements (REEs) are increasingly used in the high-tech sectors in the world and are therefore called burgeoning contaminants. As diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) can be used to assess the bioavailability of inorganic matters, in this paper, we evaluated, for the first time, the ecotoxicology risks of REEs and their mixtures in river sediments of China's old industrial base by DGT. During our research, taking the Songhua River system (SRS) as an example, we detected its surficial sediments, of which the DGT-labile concentration of REEs (∑REEs) was 2.07–8.76 μg/L. As for the single toxicity, the risk quotient (RQ) values of Y at all sites were significantly greater than 1; while the values of Nd and Pr in some upstream reaches were all significantly greater than the threshold (1), indicating that these adverse effects of single REEs were not neglected. In terms of the combined toxicity of REEs mixtures, we carried out an assessment of the risks of probabilistic ecotoxicology, which showed that the SRS superficial sediments had a low probability of toxicity to aquatic organisms (0.54%). • Rare earth elements (REEs) in sediments were assessed based on DGT. • Combined toxicity of REEs in sediments of an old industrial base were firstly studied. • Potential toxicities of individual REEs and mixtures have emerged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its high persistence in soil, oxyfluorfen has negative effects on environmental and human health. To reduce soil contamination and impacts on non-target organisms, biochar is introduced into soils to immobilize and sequestrate oxyfluorfen as a remediation practice. Three types of soils common in China were selected and biochar (rice hull, BCR) was added to investigate the desorption and bioavailability of oxyfluorfen after aging BCR for 0, 1, 3, and 6 months. Four chemical extraction methods were used to predict oxyfluorfen bioavailability. Results indicated that after addition of 0.5–2% unaged BCR, the desorption values of oxyfluorfen increased from 64–119 to 176–920 (μg/g)/(mg/L)n in the three soils compared with unamended soil. The bioaccumulation factor (BCF) values of oxyfluorfen in earthworms decreased from 0.80–1.7 to 0.10–1.56 after BCR addition. However, the desorption values decreased from 170–868 to 144–701 (μg/g)/(mg/L)n after aging. The bioavailability of oxyfluorfen in earthworms also increased after the aging treatments, while the BCF was still lower than with unaged BCR. The reduced BCF indicated lower exposure risk of oxyfluorfen to earthworms after amendment with biochar, even after aging 6 months. The bioavailability after extraction by Tenax showed a high linear correlation with uptake in earthworms, even after the 6-month aging treatment (R2 > 0.80). Consequently, BCR could be a practical method to remediate contaminated soil and the 6h Tenax method could be a sensitive and feasible tool to assess the bioavailability of oxyfluorfen in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Carthamus tinctorius L. (Compositae), a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, was known as Hong hua (Chinese: ▪), safflower. Safflower with a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects has been used to treat dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain and mass, trauma and pain of joints, etc. The present paper reviews the advancements in investigation of botany and ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of safflower. Finally, the possible tendency and perspective for future investigation of this plant are discussed, too. Materials and methods: The information on safflower was collected via piles of resources including classic books about Chinese herbal medicine, and scientific databases including Pubmed, Google Scholar, ACS, Web of science, CNKI and others. Results: Over 104 compounds from this plant have been isolated and identified, and quinochalcones and flavonoids are considered as the characteristic and active constituents of safflower. Safflower with its active compounds possesses wide-reaching biological activities, including dilating coronary artery, improving myocardial ischemia, modulating immune system, anticoagulation and antithrombosis, antioxidation, antiaging, antihypoxia, antifatigue, antiinflammation, anti-hepatic fibrosis, antitumor, analgesia, etc. Conclusions: As an important traditional Chinese medicine, it is important to investigate the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of this plant based on modern realization of diseases' pathophysiology. More bioactive components should be identified using bioactivity-guided isolation strategies, and the possible mechanism of action as well as potential synergistic or antagonistic effects of multi-component mixtures derived from safflower need to be evaluated integrating pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, bioavailability-centered and physiological approaches. Further studies on safflower can lead to the development of new drugs and therapeutics for various diseases, and how to utilize it better should be paid more attention to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The accurate estimate of the availability of crop residue resources is very important for the development of bioenergy in China, a large agricultural nation. Previous efforts to evaluate the bioenergy potential from converting straws to energy were mainly based on agricultural statistical data on the provincial/county level. Straw yield calculations generated by most of those works significantly overstate the amount of crop straws for ignoring environmental requirement and harvest constrain. The paper presents a GIS-based approach for the assessment of the availability and distribution of crop residues in China, taking into account a number of conservation issues: resources (total amount, spatial and temporal distribution), economy (transportation costs), environment, and technology. All data are converted into unified geographic unit (100m×100m pixels), and integrated analysis is implemented with GIS software. The results indicate that considering conservation requirements, the production of net available crop residues is about 505.5 million tons per year. The bioenergy potential is about 253.7 million tons standard coal per year (7.4EJ/year), which account for 8.27% of total energy consumption of the country in 2009. The results and dataset will present significant support for energy planning both at national and regional scale. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The contamination of urban soils can affect the health of people living in urban areas, and the surrounding ecosystems. Urbanization in China has taken place at an unprecedented pace in the last three decades. This paper provides an overview of studies on the quality of urban soils in China with special reference to trace metal contamination. It summarizes the characteristics of accumulation, spatial and temporal distribution, and major sources of various toxic or potentially toxic trace metals in urban soils as reported in recent literature. Levels of pollution in urban soil and road dust were discussed using the concentrations, enrichment factors, pollution indexes, and chemical fractionation of trace metals in major cities of China, and compared with other countries. In future studies, more pollutants in urban environments need to be included in multi-compartmental environmental surveillance for potential risk assessments. In addition to routine urban soil surveys by a harmonized methodology, a comprehensive assessment of soil quality is needed for the control and management of many urban brownfield sites. Taking into consideration pathways of exposure and site characteristics, risk assessment frameworks for major pollutants in urban soils, which integrate land use type and environmental availability, may be developed in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ABSTRACT Aim Our aim was to address the potential effect of the geographical range size of species on the relationships between plant traits, soil and climate in Chinese grasslands. Previous analyses tended to examine plant-environment relationships across many species while ignoring that species with different range sizes may respond differently to the environment. Here we hypothesized that leaf traits of narrow-ranging species would be more strongly correlated with soil and climatic variables than those of wide-ranging species. Location Chinese grasslands. Methods Data on leaf traits, including nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, carbon/nitrogen ratio, nitrogen/phosphorus ratio and specific leaf area, as well as species range sizes for 208 species distributed across 178 sites in Chinese grasslands were collected. Soil and climate information for each study site was also gathered. The effects of range size on leaf traits were tested using one-way ANOVA. Correlations between leaf traits, soil and climate were calculated for all species pooled together and for species partitioned into range size quartiles, from the first (narrowest- ranging 25%) to the fourth (widest-ranging 25%). Results Narrow-ranging species tended to occur at high altitude with lower temperature but higher soil nutrient concentrations compared with wide-ranging species. No direct link between leaf traits and species range sizes was detected. However, patterns of leaf-soil nutrient relationships changed significantly across levels of range size. Narrow-ranging species tended to be more sensitive to variation in soil nutrient availability than wide-ranging species, resulting in a shift from a positive leaf-soil nutrient relationship for narrow-ranging plants to no relationship for wide-ranging plants. Species responses to climatic variables were unrelated to their range sizes. Main conclusions The close relationship between leaf and soil nutrients indicates a specialization of narrow-ranging species to particular habitats whereas wide-ranging species may be able to better withstand changes in environment such as soil fertility over a large area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The three important research domains, nanotechnology, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, integratedly breed a promising multidisciplinary domain in the post-genomic age, which was recently defined by the term “nanobiopharmaceuticals”. In this paper, we firstly investigate its general development profiles, and then implement cross-country comparisons in its research performances, with the focus on the world share, relative research effort, impact and quality of five productive countries. Furthermore, from the science mapping perspective, we build the co-word and co-citation networks respectively for detecting its intellectual structure as well as evolution footprints of intellectual turning points. The growth examinations based on the datasets from WoS, MEDLINE and BIOSIS Review confirm the exponential growth of publications and citations in nanobiopharm-research. The cross-country comparisons show that USA is the leading country, and China is an up-and-coming contributor. The visual mapping structures by co-occurrence analyses show that nanobiopharm-research is currently focused on the drug development for improving biodistribution, bioavailability and pharmacokinetics, and the drug delivery for improving delivery of existing drugs. Some pivot publications is identified by CiteSpace, which work as structural holes, research fronts and intellectual bases for the nanobiopharm-research development in the given time window. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Corydalis saxícola Bunting, also named Yanhuanglian in China, is widely used in folk prescriptions to treat hepatitis, hepato- cirrhosis and hepatic cancer. Its active components consists mainly of alkaloids, which have poor solubility in water. The previous study showed that the absolute bioavailabilities (BA) of the alkaloids were only about 10% after oral administration to rats, compared to intravenous administration. In this paper, the solid dispersion (SD) method was used to improve the BAs of dehydro- cavidine (YHL-1), coptisine (YHL-2), and dehydroapocavidine (YHL-3), the main alkaloids of the extract of Corydalis saxícola Bunting, by improving their solubility. The results showed that using PEG 4000 as a carrier at an amount equivalent to 7 folds of the extract could significantly improve the solubility of the compounds in water, pH 1.2 HC1 and pH 7.2 PBS. DSC and X-ray detection indicated that the drug might be in a dissolved or amorphous state in SD, which was different from that in the physical mixture. The formulation was further studied in terms of BA enhancement by cumulative urinary excretion after oral administration to rats. A new method using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a diode-array detector (DAD) was established. The results showed that the relative BAs (RE BAs) of YHL-1, YHL-2 and YHL-3 were all significantly improved by about 1 fold after oral administration of SD solution, compared to the extract suspension (p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper studied the accumulation and bioavailability of copper and nickel in wheat plants grown in contaminated soils from the oasis, northwest China. The concentrations of Cu and Ni in studied soils were all more than Cu and Ni limit of grade II soil environmental quality standards in China; furthermore the concentration of Cu in soil S5 and the concentrations of Ni in soil S1, S3, S5, and S6 exceeded grade III soil environmental quality standards in China. Among eight extractants, the extractable Cu concentrations in soils generally followed the descending order EDTA > Citric acid > NH4Ac > NH4NO3 > MgCl2 ≈ Tartaric acid > Acetic acid > Oxalic acid. The extraction capacity of Ni was as follow: Citric acid > EDTA > NH4Ac > tartaric acid > NH4NO3 ≈ Acetic acid ≈ Oxalic acid > MgCl2. The sequences of Ni average concentrations in different parts of the wheat plant were roots > leaves > shells > stocks > grains; the sequences of Cu average concentrations in different parts were also roots > leaves > shells > grains > stocks. Soil studied is not fit to plant the wheat crops for human consumption; soils studied posed high potential health risk for human health through food chains. Average Bio-concentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) of Cu in different parts of wheat plants were greater than those of Ni. The process of Cu and Ni uptake and accumulation by wheat plants were probably linked to the concentrations of available copper and nickel in the oasis soils, physical and chemical parameters of soils, and different parts of wheat plants. Citric acid and NH4Ac extraction procedures provided a good indication of Cu bioavailability among nine kinds of evaluation methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Backgrounds: The dried rhizome of Ligusticum sinense Oliv.cv. Chaxiong has been used to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, anemia and stroke. A high purity extract from chaxiong (VOC, brownish yellow oil) was extracted and separated. Its main components were senkyunolide A (SA, 33.81%), N-butylphthalide (NBP, 1.38%), Neocnidilide (NOL, 16.53%), Z-ligustilide (ZL, 38.36%), and butenyl phthalide (BP, 2.48%), respectively. Little is known about the pharmacokinetics of these phthalides in Chaxiong, and different preparations to improve the physicochemistry and pharmacokinetics of VOC have not been investigated. Methods: At different predetermined time points after oral administration or intravenous administration, the concentrations of SA, NBP, NOL, ZL and BP in the rat plasma were determined using LC-MS/MS, and the main PK parameters were investigated. VOC-P188 solid dispersion and VOC-β-CD inclusion compound were prepared by melting solvent method and grinding method, respectively. Moreover, the physicochemical properties, dissolution and pharmacokinetics of VOC-P188 solid dispersion and VOC-β-CD inclusion compound in rats were assessed in comparison to VOC. Results: The absorptions of SA, NBP, NOL, ZL and BP in VOC were rapid after oral administration, and the absolute bioavailability was less than 25%. After the two preparations were prepared, dissolution rate was improved at pH 5.8 phosphate buffer solution. Comparing VOC and physical mixture with the solid dispersion and inclusion compound, it was observed differences occurred in the chemical composition, thermal stability, and morphology. Both VOC-P188 solid dispersion and VOC-β-CD inclusion compound had a significantly higher AUC and longer MRT in comparison with VOC. Conclusion: SA, NBP, NOL, ZL and BP in VOC from chaxiong possessed poor absolute oral bioavailability. Both VOC-P188 solid dispersion and VOC-β-CD inclusion compound could be prospective means for improving oral bioavailability of SA, NBP, NOL, ZL and BP in VOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of chemical elements in rocks and soils varies widely. Selenium is one of the elements that has remarkable regional variations in distribution and bioavailability. This paper reviews the epidemiology of selenium deficiency in China in connection with the etiology of human selenium-responsive diseases, the well-defined Keshan disease (KD) and the less-well-defined Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distributions of mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) in the surface sediments of the Yellow River Estuary (YRE) of China were investigated. The average Hg concentration (54.05 ng g−1) in the YRE sediments was much higher than the background, while the average As concentration (9.53 μg g−1) was comparable with the background. Atmospheric deposition Hg might be the major source of Hg in most studied sediments, while the point source Hg discharge might explain the relatively high levels of Hg in the specific site. The agricultural non-point source pollution and the natural sources might be the main source of As in the YRE sediments. The result of the European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction experiment showed that the most hazardous fraction (F1) contributed only a small percentage of the total concentrations for both Hg and As while the fraction with low mobility and bioavailability (F4) represented the maximum composition, indicating a low risk of mobility and bioavailability for Hg and As in the sediments. In addition, multiple indices and guidelines for sediment quality assessments were used in this study, results suggested a "good state" regarding Hg and As contamination in the surface sediments from the YRE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of rice contaminated with soil cadmium (Cd) threatens human health. It is essential to ensure the production of rice that meets food quality standards. Therefore, a large-scale field survey was conducted in Zhejiang province, southeastern China, to investigate the relationship between Cd accumulation in rice grains and Cd bioavailability in soil, and thus to establish a model to predict Cd contents in rice grains based on soil properties. For this purpose, a total of 156 paired rice and soil samples were collected. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that Cd measurements obtained by diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) had a higher correlation (r = 0.818, p < 0.001) with the Cd in rice grains as compared to the Cd measured by the DTPA, CaCl2, EDTA, and HCl extraction methods, which indicated that the DGT technique was a reliable method for the assessment of Cd bioavailability in soils. In addition, among the four extraction methods, the DTPA-extractable Cd showed the highest correlation with the Cd contents in rice grains. Therefore, we developed two predictive models (modelDGT and modelDTPA) to predict Cd levels in rice grains via Cubist multivariate mixed linear regression, using "soil DGT-measured Cd, pH, and oxide contents of Ca, Si, and Fe" or "soil DTPA-extractable Cd, pH, OM, and oxide contents of Ca and Fe" as explanatory variables, respectively. The overall modelDGT and modelDTPA had R2 values of 0.95 and 0.93, respectively, and relative error values of 0.30 and 0.33, respectively. Simple correlation analysis showed direct and close relationships between the measured Cd in rice grains and the Cd concentrations predicted by the Cubist modelDGT and modelDTPA, with R2 values of 0.979 and 0.922, respectively. Therefore, Cd levels in rice grains could be predicted very well based on the two prediction models, and thus, the two models derived in this study are effective in identifying soils in which the Cd in rice grains will exceed food safety standards, thereby helping to ensure safe rice production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation, bioavailability and potential ecological risk of seven heavy metals – chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) – have been analyzed in agricultural soil aggregates with particle size of > 1 mm, 0.25–1 mm, 0.05–0.25 mm, and < 0.05 mm from the Fenhe River Basin (FRB). Accumulation factor (AF) analysis demonstrated that heavy metals tend to be enriched in < 0.05 mm soil aggregate. The bioavailability to plants of Cu, Zn, and Cd was higher than that of other metals and increased with the decrease in soil aggregate particle sizes. Risk assessment code (RAC) of Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd were 13.84%–21.08%, 7.13%–13.74%, 32.08%–51.82% and 29.38%–43.82%, indicating that Cu, Zn, Cd and Ni had a low to very high risk to other ecosystems, and the smaller the particle size (0.05–0.25 mm and < 0.05 mm), the greater ecological risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric deposition is considered as an important source of phosphorus (P) to P‐limited ecosystems. The PM2.5 samples were collected from a high alpine P‐limited forest of Gongga Mountain (Mt. Gongga), eastern Tibetan Plateau from May 2015 to May 2016. Total P (TP) exhibited a higher concentration in the dry season (November to April, 96 ± 30 ng/m3) than that in the wet season (May to October, 77 ± 21 ng/m3). Source apportionment exhibited that 22% and 44% of TP in the dry season were contributed by soil dust and biomass burning, respectively. During the wet season, soil dust, biomass burning, and anthropogenic sources were estimated to contribute to 19%, 26%, and 41% of TP, respectively. Dissolved organic P (DOP) was found to be the significant fraction of total dissolved P (TDP), accounting for 65% and 53% of TDP in the dry and wet season, respectively. The significant correlations between DOP and KBB+ suggested that the soluble P originating from biomass burning was possible mainly in the form of DOP. In addition, the acidification of apatite during the transport could explain the dissolved inorganic P level in the wet season. Supposing that all the soluble P was bioavailable, the atmospheric deposition of TDP was estimated to result in a fixation of 0.1394 kg C/m2/yr, accounting for 23% of net primary productivity in a forest of Mt. Gongga. The data showed herein highlighted the importance of atmospheric dry deposition of P to the long‐term fertility of high‐elevation soils. Key Points: Biomass burning contributed to 44% and 26% of atmospheric total P (TP) at Mt. Gongga during the dry and wet season, respectivelySoluble P originating from biomass burning was mainly in the form of dissolved organic P (DOP) at Mt. GonggaAtmospheric acid processing of apatite (i.e., Ca (PO4)2) increased the P dissolution in the wet season [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pot experiment was conducted to study chemical speciations and bioavailability of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in the gray calcium soil from northwestern China, and accumulation and translocation of Cd and Pb in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown on the soil was also studied. The results showed that significant changes of Cd and Pb fractions in the soil and Cd and Pb concentrations in the wheat were observed with increasing soil Cd and Pb concentrations, and both Cd and Pb in exchangebale fraction in the soil made the greatest contribution to the accumulation of Cd and Pb in the wheat. Higher bio-concentration factors (BCFs) and translocation factors (TFs) for Cd and lower BCFs and TFs for Pb were observed in the wheat, respectively, and Cd had much higher accumulation than Pb in the edible parts of the wheat. Therefore, Cd has higher risk than Pb when people eat the wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Biochar has shown to be a great product to control the bioavailability of potentially hazardous elements (PHE) in contaminated soils. Despite the advantages associated with the application of biochar in agricultural soils, relatively few studies have focused on the effects of biochar amendments on soil chemical properties, accumulation of arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and lead in rice tissues, and their availability in soil systems. Materials and methods: The field experiment was conducted at the paddy soils in Hunan Province, China. The soil texture was sandy clay loam. Wheat-derived biochar was applied once to the experimental plots at the rates of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 t ha−1, and referenced as A0, A10, A20, A30, and A40, respectively. For PHE determination, soil samples and plant samples were digested with a mixed solution of HCl:HNO3 (4:1, V:V) and HCl:HClO4 (4:1, V:V), respectively, and the arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and lead in the digest solution were measured by ICP-MS (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA). The soil available fraction of PHE (arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and lead) was extracted by diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and measured by inductively ICP-MS. Results and discussion: Biochar amendment increased chemical properties of soil organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, nitrate nitrogen, and available phosphorus. Soil DTPA extractable arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and lead concentrations were significantly reduced. Arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and lead in rice shoots, and arsenic, cadmium, and zinc in roots significantly decreased after amendment. Concentrations in rice tissues positively and negatively correlated with the soil available fraction of PHE and soil chemical properties, respectively. Soil electrical conductivity negatively correlated with the soil available fraction of PHE. Concentrations of arsenic, zinc, cadmium, and lead in rice roots declined relative to increases of cation exchange capacity (arsenic, zinc), available phosphorus (cadmium), and nitric nitrogen (lead) content. Similar relationships were observed between cation exchange capacity and PHE in shoots. Conclusions: Biochar creates avoidance of PHE through regulating chemical properties through biochar sorption capacity. Cation exchange capacity, available phosphorus, and nitric nitrogen were the principle factors affecting roots uptake of arsenic, zinc, cadmium, and lead. Biochar soluble salts could decline availability of metals/metalloids in soils through precipitation. Wheat-derived biochar application is an alternative safe product to immobilize PHE in rice paddy soils by restricting the risk of PHE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foliar zinc (ZnSO4) application is an effective agronomic tool for Zn biofortification of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and hence for overcoming human Zn deficiency. It is unclear how the methods used to apply phosphorus (P) fertilisers affect the uptake and availability of Zn in wheat plants. Here, a solution-culture experiment and a 2-year field experiment were conducted to determine the influence of P applied to leaves or roots on total, soluble and insoluble Zn in winter wheat plants (cv. Xiaoyan-22) also receiving foliar Zn. Foliar Zn application, regardless of P application, significantly improved grain total Zn (primarily water-soluble) by 79.4% under both growth conditions, and reduced grain phytic acid : Zn (PA : Zn) molar ratio by 54.4% in the field. In solution culture, root-applied P did not affect plant uptake of foliar-applied Zn; however, foliar application of Zn plus P reduced the soluble fraction of Zn in wheat tissues, and thus decreased grain Zn concentration by 13.2% compared with Zn-only foliar application. Similarly, in the field, foliar-applied Zn plus P resulted in lower grain total and soluble Zn concentration and higher grain PA and PA : Zn molar ratio than foliar Zn alone. Overall, foliar Zn application is efficient in increasing grain Zn concentration and bioavailability under varied methods of P application. Although foliar-applied P slightly reduces the ability of plants to use foliar-applied Zn to increase grain Zn, foliar Zn combined with commonly applied foliar P application represents an easily adoptable practice for farmers that will help to alleviate Zn deficiency in human populations. Understanding the interactions of P and foliar-applied Zn fertilisers could promote adoption of foliar Zn by growers. We investigated the effects of P applied to leaves or roots on Zn uptake in wheat and found that foliar Zn application, alone or in combination with P, significantly increased grain Zn concentration, and that P applied to leaves but not to roots inhibited the physiological availability of Zn in wheat tissues. These results improve mechanistic understanding of P–Zn interactions in plants and may improve Zn-biofortification efforts in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has a large population in comparison with its arable land area, as well as environmental problems caused by metal pollution, leading to significant food supply pressure. Therefore, safe agricultural production in metal-contaminated soil is of great significance. To explore the effectiveness of techniques designed to inhibit metal uptake and accumulation in maize cultivated in calcareous metal-contaminated soil, a pot experiment was performed. Effects of KH2PO4 (P), Na2SiO3 (S), chicken manure (M), bentonite (B), P+M, S+M, P+M+B, and S+M+B on Cd and Pb concentrations in maize grain were assessed. Amendments of P, P+M, and P+M+B fortified into the soil reduced soil Cd and Pb availability significantly and decreased the soil pH, but other amendments did not cause such changes. Results also showed that all tested soil amendments improved maize yield and decreased grain Cd and Pb concentrations. Among the amendments, P +M was most effective. A high dose increased maize yield by 48.2% and 38.9% for low-Cdaccumulating cultivar Tiantai 60 (maize A) and high-Cd-accumulating cultivar Longping 206 (maize B) and decreased Cd content in grain from maize A and maize B by 64% and 41.9% and decreased Pb content by 61.0% and 52.3%. Experimental results demonstrated that addition of P +M into the calcareous soil could reduce soil metal bioavailability and ultimately reduce metal concentrations in grain to levels deemed safe for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the accumulation characteristics of tungsten (W) by different indica rice cultivars from the soil and to assess the potential risks to human health via dietary intake of W in rice consumption. A total of 153 rice (ear) samples of 15 cultivars and the corresponding surface soil samples were collected from 7 cities in Fujian Province of southeastern China. The available soil W were extracted using H2C2O4·2H2O-(NH4)2C2O4·H2O at pH 3.3). Results showed that the total soil W ranged from 2.03 mg kg−1 to 15.34 mg kg−1 and available soil W ranged from 0.03 mg kg−1 to 1.61 mg kg−1. The W concentration in brown rice varied from 7 μg kg−1 to 283 μg kg−1 and was significantly correlated with the available soil W. The highest mean TFavail (transfer factor based on available soil W) was 0.91 for Te-you 627 (hybrid, indica rice), whereas the lowest was 0.08 for Yi-you 673 (hybrid, indica rice). The TFavail decreased with the increase in available soil W, clay content, and cation exchange capacity. The consumption of the brown rice produced from the investigated areas in some cultivars by the present study may cause risks to human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hun River is a major tributary of the Liao River in the northeast area of China and provides drinking water for 23 million local residents. This study was designed to assess the severity of metal contamination in the Hun River and the potential use of indigenous organisms (the fish Zacco platypus and the snail Radix swinhoei) as biomonitors of metal contamination. Water, sediment, and the native fish and snails were collected at four sampling sites that differed in their physicochemical characteristics and their contamination levels. The samples were analyzed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn by ICP-MS. The results showed that although the overall potential ecological risks of the metals were low at our sampling sites, Cd posed a noteworthy ecological risk. Strong correlations were obtained between Cd concentrations in the organisms and in the environment. The results indicated that Z. platypus and R. swinhoei can be useful biomonitoring species for assessing Cd contamination. Biomonitoring with the snail may be most effective when focused on the gonad/digestive tissue (because of the high metal accumulation there), but further work is needed to confirm this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of organic nitrogen (N) in soil N cycle is difficult to assess because of uncertainties regarding its composition, sources, and bioavailability. The objective of this study was to characterise the distribution of soil inorganic N and amino compounds in major Chinese croplands. Results demonstrated that soil extractable N composition was dominated by inorganic N (), and the contents of different N forms widely varied across the 11 different soils. Free amino acid contents ranged from 0.26 to 1.03 mg N kg−1. In contrast, soil-adsorbed amino acids were approximately seven times greater than the free amino acids, which likely represent a potential important pool for free amino acids. Pearson analysis showed that soil free and -adsorbed amino acids were negatively related to soil pH (r = −.39 to −.81,p < .05), while extractable total N,, and hydrolysable amino acids showed the opposite trends. Irrespective of the significant differences in soil properties and environment, soil major amino acid composition was similar, with seven dominant amino acids: alanine, glycine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, serine, threonine, and isoleucine. The similar composition suggests that the production and utilisation of amino acids likely rely on the same biochemistry or similar amino acid constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]