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Hirudo is a medicinal and edible homologous animal. Its rich polypeptides have been proven to have strong biological activity and effects on human health or disease. However, the quality control of hirudo can still be improved. Based on the traditional scientific understanding of oral hirudo administration, this study adopted artificial gastric‐juice extraction combined with pepsin enzymolysis to simulate the digestion and absorption of gastrointestinal tract after taking hirudo. Ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry technology was initially used to screen and characterize 52 enzymolysis components of hirudo. The fingerprint of hirudo enzymolysis polypeptide was then established. The method was confirmed to have high accuracy, repeatability, and stability. Using the established hirudo enzymolysis polypeptide fingerprint, we proved that it can effectively identify different origins of hirudo. The established fingerprint revealed that 19 enzymolysis polypeptides derived from hirudo in the Qizhi capsule, indicating that it can promote and improve the quality control of Qizhi capsule. The present study provided a new technology and idea for the origin identification and quality control of hirudo, and standards for Chinese patent medicines containing hirudo. It can also serve as a reference for the quality control of other animal‐origin drugs or foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Natural products enhance the standard of living, which greatly contributes to maintaining human health. Associated oxidative stress-mediated problems have been treated using Aerva lanata Linn. Juss in traditional and folkloric medicine. Objectives: The research aims to analyze the phytochemical profile using HPTLC of MEAL (methanol extracts of Aerva lanata) and AEAL (aqueous extracts of Aerva lanata) and to determinein vitro antioxidant capacity of MEAL and AEAL. The use of HPTLC fingerprint analysis will aid in identifying and monitoring drug effectiveness and ensuring therapeutic efficacy. Materials and Methods: Total phenol content, free radical scavenging efficiency of DPPH (1,1 diphenyl 2 picryl hydrazyl), ferric ion reducing antioxidant, and phosphomolybdate assays were used to determine in vitro antioxidant activity at various concentrations. Results: The number of phyto-constituents in MEAL at 375 nm and 550 nm was found to be more than AEAL. MEAL had a, stronger DPPH free radical scavenging capacity, higher phenol content, lower ferric ion antioxidant potential, and lower phosphomolybdenum assay. The natural phytoconstituents present in the plant extracts are responsible for antioxidant activity. As sample concentration increases, the antioxidant activity becomes more effective. Conclusion: The outcome results of the present investigation suggested that aerial parts of Aerva lanata could provide a source of natural antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic agriculture and organic produce are attracting increasing attention around the world. In order to explore the effects of different organic fertilizers on the volatile flavour compounds of white radishes, six experimental groups were designed as follows: no fertilizer group (CK) and conventional chemical fertilizer group (CF) as the control, pig manure organic fertilizer (PMOF), sheep manure organic fertilizer (SMOF), earthworm manure organic fertilizer (EMOF), and earthworm manure organic fertilizer with the microbial agent (EMOF+M) as the organic groups. Headspace–gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (HS‐GC‐IMS) was used to detect the volatile flavour compounds of white radishes under six different planting conditions. A total of 26 volatile flavour compounds were identified qualitatively and the common characteristic flavour compounds of organic and conventional white radishes were determined, as well as the differences in the composition and content of volatile flavour compounds in different white radishes. The flavour fingerprint of white radish was established, and principal component analysis (PCA) clearly showed that the samples in a relatively separate space could be well‐distinguished. It provided a theoretical basis for the establishment and improvement of the evaluation system of volatile flavour substances of white radish, which was of great significance in the high‐quality production of white radish and the safe and sustainable development of organic vegetable industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhamnus davurica Pall. (R. davurica) has been used as a traditional medicinal herb for many years in China and abroad. It has been well documented as a rich source of flavonoids with diversified structures, which in turn results in far-ranging biological activities, such as anti-inflammation, anticancer, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. In order to further correlate their anticancer potentials with the phytochemical components, the fingerprint profile of R. davurica herb from Dongbei was firstly investigated using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Thirty two peaks were detected and identified, 14 of which were found in R. davurica for the first time in this work. Furthermore, a total of 23 peaks were resolved as flavonoids, which are the major components found in R. davurica. Meanwhile, the antiproliferative activities against human cancer cells of HT-29 and SGC-7901 in vitro exhibited distinct inhibitory effects with IC50 values at 24.96 ± 0.74 and 89.53 ± 4.11 µg/mL, respectively. Finally, the general toxicity against L-O2 cells displayed a much higher IC50 at 229.19 ± 8.52 µg/mL, which suggested very low or no toxicity on hepatic cell viability. The current study revealed for the first time the correlations between the flavonoids of R. davurica with their antiproliferative activities, which indicated that the fingerprint profile of flavonoids and their anticancer activities could provide valuable information on the quality control for herbal medicines and their derived natural remedies from this valuable medicinal plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lipofuscin-like granules, first described by Biava and West in 1965, are a subcellular, quasi-physiologic finding mainly seen in the smooth muscle cells of renal arterioles, but also in juxtaglomerular cells and the lacis cells of human kidneys. They increase in number in subjects affected by arterial hypertension and diabetes. They do not correlate with a specific primary renal disease. Lipofuscin-like granules are not related to renin granules. The world literature on this subject is almost non-existent, and the awareness of this finding or its clinical significance among either pathologists or nephrologists is very poor. We incidentally observed these lipofuscin-like granules in 8 cases during the routine electron microscope examination of 440 renal biopsies, and report herein on their ultrastructural features. Six of these 8 patients were affected by arterial hypertension, one of whom was also concomitantly affected by diabetes mellitus. These lipofuscin-like granules appear as dense bodies with a lipid component, a coarsely granular matrix, and a crystalloid component which may appear in a band or dot pattern, according to the plane of sectioning. The pathologist has to be aware of these lipofuscin-like granules in order not to confuse them with the semicircularly organized (fingerprint) linear immune deposits associated with some specific glomerulopathies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aims Microalbuminuria is the earliest clinical sign of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the multifactorial nature of DN supports the application of combined markers as a diagnostic tool. Thus, another screening approach, such as protein profiling, is required for accurate diagnosis. Surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) is a novel method for biomarker discovery. We aimed to use SELDI and bioinformatics to define and validate a DN-specific protein pattern in serum. Methods SELDI was used to obtain protein or polypeptide patterns from serum samples of 65 patients with DN and 65 non-DN subjects. From signatures of protein/polypeptide mass, a decision tree model was established for diagnosing the presence of DN. We estimated the proportion of correct classifications from the model by applying it to a masked group of 22 patients with DN and 28 non-DN subjects. The weak cationic exchange (CM10) ProteinChip arrays were performed on a ProteinChip PBS IIC reader. Results The intensities of 22 detected peaks appeared up-regulated, whereas 24 peaks were down-regulated more than twofold ( P < 0.01) in the DN group compared with the non-DN groups. The algorithm identified a diagnostic DN pattern of six protein/polypeptide masses. On masked assessment, prediction models based on these protein/polypeptides achieved a sensitivity of 90.9% and specificity of 89.3%. Conclusion These observations suggest that DN patients have a unique cluster of molecular components in serum, which are present in their SELDI profile. Identification and characterization of these molecular components will help in the understanding of the pathogenesis of DN. The serum protein signature, combined with a tree analysis pattern, may provide a novel clinical diagnostic approach for DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AARL gold fingerprinting technology has been applied to the analysis of gold artefacts excavated from the southern African sites of Mapungubwe, Bosutswe and Thulamela. Information gleaned from this process is relevant to studies conducted into artefact origins and provides increased insight into the history of this region with regards to the mining, cultural and trade practices associated with these early communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic investigation and in silico analysis of plantaricin EFI (plnEFI) locus was performed in three indigenous isolates of Lactobacillus plantarum EL3, L28 and BL1. Amplification with plnEFI specific primers and production of ~ 10 KDa size protein suggested the existence of class II bacteriocins. The analysis demonstrated that the studied fragment included structural bacteriocin, immunity, partial transporter and potential regulatory encoding regions. Based on the results, there was one DNA polymorphic site in plnE as well as plnF of the studied sequences. One nucleotide substitution in plnE of BL1 isolate lead to replacement of Glycin with Valine. These two are of non‐polar type which did not affect instability index of plnE protein. The only nucleotide variation in plnF of EL3 isolate did not change the amino acid sequence since the modified nucleotide constituted alternative codon of the original amino acid. The highest DNA polymorphism occurred in the region with immunity function which in BL1 resulted in the conversion of start codon to amino acid codon. In the partial transporter sequence, one variable nucleotide site caused amino acid replacement in all the isolates which elevated stability of N‐terminal domain in the transporter protein compared to nominated reference isolate L. plantarum C11. The region with possible regulatory function was identical in all three isolates. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol Progress, 35: e2773, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhamnus davurica Pall. (R. davurica) has been used as a traditional medicinal herb for many years in China and abroad. It has been well documented as a rich source of flavonoids with diversified structures, which in turn results in far-ranging biological activities, such as anti-inflammation, anticancer, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. In order to further correlate their anticancer potentials with the phytochemical components, the fingerprint profile of R. davurica herb from Dongbei was firstly investigated using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Thirty two peaks were detected and identified, 14 of which were found in R. davurica for the first time in this work. Furthermore, a total of 23 peaks were resolved as flavonoids, which are the major components found in R. davurica. Meanwhile, the antiproliferative activities against human cancer cells of HT-29 and SGC-7901 in vitro exhibited distinct inhibitory effects with IC50 values at 24.96 ± 0.74 and 89.53 ± 4.11 μg/mL, respectively. Finally, the general toxicity against L-O2 cells displayed a much higher IC50 at 229.19 ± 8.52 μg/mL, which suggested very low or no toxicity on hepatic cell viability. The current study revealed for the first time the correlations between the flavonoids of R. davurica with their antiproliferative activities, which indicated that the fingerprint profile of flavonoids and their anticancer activities could provide valuable information on the quality control for herbal medicines and their derived natural remedies from this valuable medicinal plant.