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Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS) is the seeds of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. Spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H. F. Chou, which has the effects of nourishing heart and liver, tranquilizing heart and tranquilizing mind. With the development of research on the metabolites of ZSS, more than 160 metabolites have been isolated from ZSS, including saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, fatty acids, volatile oils, polysaccharides and proteins. The active metabolites of ZSS have regulatory effects on the nervous system, cardiovascular system, hematopoietic system, immune system and substance metabolism, and have various pharmacological effects such as anti-oxidation, anti-aging and anti-cancer. Although many traditional uses of ZSS have been clarified, the relationship between its structure and function remains to be further studied. This article provides a review of the metabolites, pharmacological activity, pharmacokinetics and toxicology of ZSS, and explores the future research prospects and existing problems of ZSS, so as to provide reference for further research and establishment of quality control standards of ZSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cycle‐cup oaks (Quercus section Cyclobalanopsis) are one of the principal components of forests in the tropical and subtropical climates of East and Southeast Asia. They have experienced relatively recent increases in the diversification rate, driven by changing climates and the Himalayan orogeny. However, the evolutionary history and adaptive mechanisms at the chloroplast genome level in cycle‐cup oaks remain largely unknown. Therefore, we studied this problem by conducting chloroplast genomics on 50 of the ca. 90 species. Comparative genomics and other analyses showed that Quercus section Cyclobalanopsis had a highly conserved chloroplast genome structure. Highly divergent regions, such as the ndhF and ycf1 gene regions and the petN—psbM and rpoB—trnC‐GCA intergenic spacer regions, provided potential molecular markers for subsequent analysis. The chloroplast phylogenomic tree indicated that Quercus section Cyclobalanopsis was not monophyletic, which mixed with the other two sections of subgenus Cerris. The reconstruction of ancestral aera inferred that Palaeotropics was the most likely ancestral range of Quercus section Cyclobalanopsis, and then dispersed to Sino‐Japan and Sino‐Himalaya. Positive selection analysis showed that the photosystem genes had the lowest ω values among the seven functional gene groups. And nine protein‐coding genes containing sites for positive selection: ndhA, ndhD, ndhF, ndhH, rbcL, rpl32, accD, ycf1, and ycf2. This series of analyses together revealed the phylogeny, evolutionary history, and ecological adaptation mechanism of the chloroplast genome of Quercus section Cyclobalanopsis in the long river of earth history. These chloroplast genome data provide valuable information for deep insights into phylogenetic relationships and intraspecific diversity in Quercus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reasons for damage to packaged cherry tomatoes in storage and transportation produced in Hainan China are investigated. By choosing a typical cherry tomato package, five tests are performed. These tests include: sinusoidal vibration tests at constant and variable frequency, stacking strength test, vertical impact test and drop test. The tests are carried out according to national test standards. By sinusoidal vibration at variable frequency test, the resonant frequency of 53.1 Hz is obtained. It is determined by the stacking strength test that the maximum number of allowable stacking layers is 9. Based on vertical impact test, it is verified that the fragility of cherry tomatoes for each package is 93.84. Also, the allowable maximal dropping height is 550 mm according to the drop test. Finally, the protection capability of the packages on cherry tomatoes is evaluated and some good suggestions are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pot experiment was conducted to study the Eleocarpus glabripetalus seedlings leaf chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics and growth in different seasons under simulated acid rain stress (heavy, pH=2.5; moderate, pH=4.0; and control, pH=5.6). In the same treatments, the leaf relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), maximum PS II photochemical efficiency (Fv / Fm ), actual PS II photochemical quantum yield (ΦPS II), plant height, and stem diameter in different seasons were all in the order of October>July>April>January. In the same seasons, all the parameters were in the order of heavy acid rain>moderate acid rain>control. The interactions between different acid rain stress and seasons showed significant effects on the SPAD, Fv / Fm, plant height, and stem diameter, but lesser effects on ΦPS II, qP and qN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]