Effects of Mn2+ and flow speed on blood and physiological indexes of larvae GIFT tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

To assess the toxicological effects of heavy metal ions on fish at different flowing speeds within aquatic environments, we investigated the impact of Mn^2+^ and flow speed on the physiological parameters of juvenile GIFT tilapia (95.2±4.3g,15.1±0.21cm). The experiment design included four different levels of Mn^2+^ concentration: control group (0mg/L), 0.1mg/L, 0.5mg/L and 1mg/L, as well as three different flow speeds: control group (0 body length/second), low speed (1 body length/second), and high-speed group (2 body lengths/second). The main research findings were as follows: Mn^2+^ had varying effects on the hematological parameters of juvenile GIFT tilapia. As the levels of Mn^2+^ increased, there was a remarkable reduction in both the red blood cell (RBC) number and hemoglobin content of the fish(*P*\0.05). Its effect on the fish antioxidant parameters also showed a certain induction, and there were significant correlations between the activity of SOD, CAT, the level of MDA, and flow speed (*P*\0.05). These findings could provide fundamental data for investigating the influence of heavy metal stress on fish ecotoxicology in aquatic environments and the artificial running water breeding of GIFT tilapia in Hebei province, China

Steroid saponins and other constituents from the rhizome of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim and their cytotoxic activity

Fourteen compounds were isolated from the rhizome of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. By spectroscopic analysis, these compounds were established as Gracillin (1), Paris saponins V (2), Paris saponins VI (3), Paris saponins H (4), Paris saponins VII (5), (25R)-17α-hydroxy-5-en-3-O-a-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1→2)-β-Dglucopyranoside (6), (25R)-26-[β-D-glucopyanosyl]-17α,22β-dihydroxy-5-en-3-O-a-L-rhamnopyranosyl- (1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), Kaempferol-3-O-β-D-rutinoside (8), Quercetin (9), Quercetin-3-O-β-D-galactoside (10), Daucosterol (11), Stigmasterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (12), 3, 5-Di-O-caffeoyl quinic acid (13), and n-Hexadecanoic acid (14). By GC-MS analysis of the CH2Cl2 extract from Trillium tschonoskii Maxim, twenty compouns were identified, representing 91 % of the area. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1-14 on mouse A549 cells were evaluated.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

PuCRZ1, an C2H2 transcription factor from Polyporus umbellatus, positively regulates mycelium response to osmotic stress

Polyporus umbellatus is an edible and medicinal mushroom with the capacity to produce sclerotia. However, the mechanism of P. umbellatus sclerotia formation is unclear. CRZ1 is a C2H2 family transcription factor involved in the Ca2+-calcineurin signaling pathway, which has the function of regulating sclerotia formation, maintaining ion homeostasis, and responding to stress. In this study, we identified 28 C2H2 transcription factors in P. umbellatus genome, 13 of which are differentially expressed between mycelium and sclerotia, including PuCRZ1. Combining DNA affinity purification and sequencing (DAP-seq) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), three genes (PuG10, PuG11, PuG12) were identified as putative PuCRZ1 target genes containing a putative binding motif (GTGGCG) within their promoter. Yeast single hybridization (Y1H) and EMSA further confirmed that PuCRZ1 can bind to the promoter region of PuG10, PuG11, and PuG12. PuCRZ1 gene could reduce the sensitivity of NaCl in yeast cells. Furthermore, overexpression of the PuCRZ1 target gene, especially the FVLY domain containing gene PuG11, could improve the mycelia growth rate and mannitol tolerance in P. umbellatus. These results demonstrate that PuCRZ1 in the Ca2+-calcineurin signaling pathway plays an important role in mycelia growth, as well as osmotic stress tolerance

Steroid saponins and other constituents from the rhizome of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim and their cytotoxic activity

Fourteen compounds were isolated from the rhizome of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. By spectroscopic analysis, these compounds were established as Gracillin (1), Paris saponins V (2), Paris saponins VI (3), Paris saponins H (4), Paris saponins VII (5), (25R)-17α-hydroxy-5-en-3-O-a-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1→2)-β-Dglucopyranoside (6), (25R)-26-[β-D-glucopyanosyl]-17α,22β-dihydroxy-5-en-3-O-a-L-rhamnopyranosyl- (1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), Kaempferol-3-O-β-D-rutinoside (8), Quercetin (9), Quercetin-3-O-β-D-galactoside (10), Daucosterol (11), Stigmasterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (12), 3, 5-Di-O-caffeoyl quinic acid (13), and n-Hexadecanoic acid (14). By GC-MS analysis of the CH2Cl2 extract from Trillium tschonoskii Maxim, twenty compouns were identified, representing 91 % of the area. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1-14 on mouse A549 cells were evaluated.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Combining Metabolomics and Transcriptomics to Characterize Tanshinone Biosynthesis in Salvia Miltiorrhiza

Plant natural products have been co-opted for millennia by humans for various uses such as flavor, fragrances, and medicines. These compounds often are only produced in relatively low amounts and are difficult to chemically synthesize, limiting access. While elucidation of the underlying biosynthetic processes might help alleviate these issues (e.g., via metabolic engineering), investigation of this is hindered by the low levels of relevant gene expression and expansion of the corresponding enzymatic gene families. However, the often-inducible nature of such metabolic processes enables selection of those genes whose expression pattern indicates a role in production of the targeted natural product. Here, we combine metabolomics and transcriptomics to investigate the inducible biosynthesis of the bioactive diterpenoid tanshinones from the Chinese medicinal herb, Salvia miltiorrhiza(Danshen). Untargeted metabolomics investigation of elicited hairy root cultures indicated that tanshinone production was a dominant component of the metabolic response, increasing at later time points. A transcriptomic approach was applied to not only define a comprehensive transcriptome (comprised of 20,972 non-redundant genes), but also its response to induction, revealing 6,358 genes that exhibited differential expression, with significant enrichment for up-regulation of genes involved in stress, stimulus and immune response processes. Consistent with our metabolomics analysis, there appears to be a slower but more sustained increased in transcript levels of known genes from diterpenoid and, more specifically, tanshinone biosynthesis. Among the co-regulated genes were 70 transcription factors and 8 cytochromes P450, providing targets for future investigation. Our results indicate a biphasic response of Danshen terpenoid metabolism to elicitation, with early induction of sesqui- and tri- terpenoid biosynthesis, followed by later and more sustained production of the diterpenoid tanshinones. Our data provides a firm foundation for further elucidation of tanshinone and other inducible natural product metabolism in Danshen

Biogenic Synthesis and Spatial Distribution of Endogenous Phytohormones and Ginsenosides Provide Insights on Their Intrinsic Relevance in Panax ginseng

Ginseng, the root and rhizome of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey., is a well-known and valuable traditional Chinese medicine. The pharmacological activities of ginseng are mainly attributed to the presence of ginsenosides, which are considered to be critical biomarkers for evaluating ginseng quality. The biosynthesis of triterpenes, which serve defensive functions in plants, is regulated by endogenous phytohormones that play key roles in growth and defense of plant populations. However, the role of major hormones that are closely related to secondary metabolism pathways in P. ginseng is poorly understood. To gain insight into their potential correlation, we performed a spatial synthesis analysis and studied the distribution of endogenous phytohormones and ginsenosides in different tissue regions of the entire P. ginseng plant. Gibberellins are growth hormones that accumulate in the fiber root. In contrast, abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), and jasmonic acid (JA), which are considered stress hormones, were predominantly found in the leaf and leaf peduncle. We observed a tissue-specific distribution of phytohormones consistent with the expression of genes involved in hormone biosynthesis that influenced ginsenoside synthesis and distribution. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of different endogenous phytohormones on triterpene metabolites in ginseng innate immunity

Complete chloroplast genome sequences of Dioscorea: Characterization, genomic resources, and phylogenetic analyses

Dioscorea L., the largest genus of the family Dioscoreaceae with over 600 species, is not only an important food but also a medicinal plant. The identification and classification of Dioscorea L. is a rather difficult task. In this study, we sequenced five Dioscorea chloroplast genomes, and analyzed with four other chloroplast genomes of Dioscorea species from GenBank. The Dioscorea chloroplast genomes displayed the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperms, which consisted of a pair of inverted repeats separated by a large single-copy region, and a small single-copy region. The location and distribution of repeat sequences and microsatellites were determined, and the rapidly evolving chloroplast genome regions (trnK-trnQ, trnS-trnG, trnC-petN, trnE-trnT, petG-trnW-trnP, ndhF, trnL-rpl32, and ycf1) were detected. Phylogenetic relationships of Dioscorea inferred from chloroplast genomes obtained high support even in shortest internodes. Thus, chloroplast genome sequences provide potential molecular markers and genomic resources for phylogeny and species identification

Inhalation of Hydrogen Attenuates Progression of Chronic Heart Failure via Suppression of Oxidative Stress and P53 Related to Apoptosis Pathway in Rats

Background: Continuous damage from oxidative stress and apoptosis are the important mechanisms that facilitate chronic heart failure (CHF). Molecular hydrogen (H2) has potentiality in the aspects of anti-oxidation. The objectives of this study were to investigate the possible mechanism of H2 inhalation in delaying the progress of CHF.Methods and Results: A total of 60 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups: Sham, Sham treated with H2, CHF and CHF treated with H2. Rats from CHF and CHF treated with H2 groups were injected isoprenaline subcutaneously to establish the rat CHF model. One month later, the rat with CHF was identified by the echocardiography. After inhalation of H2, cardiac function was improved vs. CHF (p < 0.05), whereas oxidative stress damage and apoptosis were significantly attenuated (p < 0.05). In this study, the mild oxidative stress was induced in primary cardiomyocytes of rats, and H2 treatments significantly reduced oxidative stress damage and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Finally, as a pivotal transcription factor in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-apoptosis signaling pathway, the expression and phosphorylation of p53 were significantly reduced by H2 treatment in this rat model and H9c2 cells (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01).Conclusion: As a safe antioxidant, molecular hydrogen mitigates the progression of CHF via inhibiting apoptosis modulated by p53. Therefore, from the translational point of view and speculation, H2 is equipped with potential therapeutic application as a novel antioxidant in protecting CHF in the future

Expansion within the CYP71D subfamily drives the heterocyclization of tanshinones synthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Tanshinones are the bioactive nor-diterpenoid constituents of the Chinese medicinal herb Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza). These groups of chemicals have the characteristic furan D-ring, which differentiates them from the phenolic abietane-type diterpenoids frequently found in the Lamiaceae family. However, how the 14,16-epoxy is formed has not been elucidated. Here, we report an improved genome assembly of Danshen using a highly homozygous genotype. We identify a cytochrome P450 (CYP71D) tandem gene array through gene expansion analysis. We show that CYP71D373 and CYP71D375 catalyze hydroxylation at carbon-16 (C16) and 14,16-ether (hetero)cyclization to form the D-ring, whereas CYP71D411 catalyzes upstream hydroxylation at C20. In addition, we discover a large biosynthetic gene cluster associated with tanshinone production. Collinearity analysis indicates a more specific origin of tanshinones in Salvia genus. It illustrates the evolutionary origin of abietane-type diterpenoids and those with a furan D-ring in Lamiaceae