Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the triglyceride-lowering component and in vivo and in vitro evaluation of hypolipidemic effects of Calyx seu Fructus Physalis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In folklore, some people take the decoction of <it>Calyx seu Fructus Physalis </it>(CSFP) for lowering blood lipids. The present study is designed to evaluate the lipid-lowering activities of CSFP, and search for its pharmacodynamical material.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>CSFP was extracted by water and 75% ethanol, respectively. The extracts of CSFP for reducing serum lipid levels were evaluated on mouse model of hyperlipidemia. The optimized extract was subjected to the bioactivity-guided fractionation in which the liquid-liquid extraction, collumn chromatography, the <it>in vivo </it>and <it>in vitro </it>models of hyperlipidemia were utilized. The structure of active component was determined by ¹³C-NMR and ¹H-NMR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The 75% ethanol extract of CSFP decreased the serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels in mouse model of hyperlipidemia. Followed a separation process for the 75% ethanol extract of CSFP, the fraction B was proved to be an active fraction for lowering lipid <it>in vivo </it>and <it>in vitro </it>experiments, which could significantly decrease the serum TC and TG levels in mouse model of hyperlipidemia, and remarkably decrease the increase of TG in primary mouse hepatocytes induced by high glucose and the increase of TG in HepG2 cells induced by oleic acid. The fraction B2, isolated from B on bioactivity-guided fractionation, could significantly decrease TG level in HepG2 cells. One compound with the highest content in B2 was isolated and determined as luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside by NMR spectra. It could significantly reduce the TG level in HepG2 cells, and inhibited the accumulation of lipids by oil red O stain.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results demonstrated that the 75% ethanol extract of CSFP could improve <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>lipid accumulation. Luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside might be a leading pharmacodynamical material of CSFP for lowering lipids.</p

Meta-Analysis of Factors Affecting C-N Fractions and Yield of Paddy Soils by Total Straw Return and N Fertilizer Application

The effective use of nutrient-rich crop straw is an important way to use resources efficiently and to sustain agricultural development. This meta-analysis study collected and analyzed the data of 6788 observations published in 238 peer-reviewed papers to investigate differences in soil C-N fractions and yields of paddy soils under different straw-return amounts. This large dataset was also used to quantify the degree of influence of factors such as climate characteristics, soil properties, N fertilizer application rates, straw-rotting agent addition, rice varieties, and straw return methods. The results showed that straw return amounts improved soil alkaline-hydrolysable N (7%), total N (10%), organic C (11%), the C:N ratio (8%), rice N accumulation (12%), and overall yield (18%). The most significant effect was in northeast China fields for total soil nitrogen (TN) content and yield with increases of 13% and 22%, respectively. We also found more effective N utilization and a greater rice yield when 220–260 kg ha−1 N fertilizer was applied with 20–30 kg ha−1 straw-rotting agent with the total amount of straw return. These findings have important implications for choosing appropriate conditions and field management practices and to improve rice yield in China

Antagonistic Effects of Sphingomonas and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on 4 Kinds of Pathogenic Bacteria of Ginseng

[Objectives] To explore effective biocontrol methods for diseases in the process of ginseng cultivation, and develop an efficient and environmentally friendly biocontrol agent. [Methods] In this study, 2 strains were isolated from biogas slurry, and Cylindrocarpon destructans (XF), Fusarium solani (GF), Botrytis cinerea Pers (HM) and Alternaria panax Whetz (HB) were used as test materials. The strains were isolated and identified by dilution plate method, 16S rDNA sequence identification method, confrontation culture method, filter paper method and ultraviolet spectrophotometer method, and the bacteriostatic activity and bacteriostatic rate were tested. [Results] Strain 15 (Sphingomonas) and strain 19 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were screened out through identification and analysis, and they grew stably within 8-10 d. The bacteriostatic rates of strain 15 against A. panax and B. cinerea were 47.37% and 43.40%, respectively, and the bacteriostatic rates of strain 19 against A. panax and B. cinerea were 62.30% and 63.27%, respectively. The bacteriostatic activity of the extract of strain 19 increased with the increase of OD600 value, and the bacteriostatic effect was optimal when the OD600 value was in the range of 0.8-1, up to about 70%, so it had a strong biocontrol potential. [Conclusions] This experiment provides convenience for more effective inoculation, establishes a fast, simple and accurate method for the determination of the best bacteriostatic rate of P. aeruginosa culture solution to HM, and lays a foundation for large-scale culture of P. aeruginosa culture solution. Besides, it is expected to provide a theoretical basis for the efficient control of ginseng B. cinerea in field production, use it for the prevention and control of ginseng shoot diseases, and provide a reference for the efficient and diverse development of biocontrol agents for ginseng shoot diseases