Effects of Flavonoids from <i>Potamogeton crispus</i> L. on Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Human Ovarian Cancer Cells

<div><p>In order to explore the efficient utilization of plant resources from constructed wetlands, the potential anti-metastatic effects of flavonoids from <i>Potamogeton crispus </i>L. were investigated in human ovarian cancer cells (ES-2). Two major flavonoids, luteolin-3ʹ-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and flavone-6-C-β-D-glucopyranoside, were isolated from <i>P</i>. <i>crispus</i> and identified. The effects of these flavonoids on cell proliferation, cell morphology, cell cycle, apoptosis, and cell migration and invasion were then investigated. Furthermore, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays and western blotting analysis were conducted to examine the expression level of mRNA and protein. Results indicated that Luteolin-3ʹ-O-β-D-glucopyranoside inhibited ES-2 cell migration and invasion and suppressed the expression of two matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-9, and Flavone-6-C-β-D-glucopyranoside had no significant inhibitory effects on ES-2 cells. Thus, this study demonstrated the potential anti-metastatic properties of a <i>P</i>. <i>crispus</i> flavonoid, and provided a scientific approach for the screening of promising natural resources from constructed wetlands to identify useful products for use in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.</p></div

Pearson correlation coefficients between alpha diversity and environmental factors.

<p>Pearson correlation coefficients between alpha diversity and environmental factors.</p

Altitudinal Patterns of Species Diversity and Phylogenetic Diversity across Temperate Mountain Forests of Northern China

<div><p>The spatial patterns of biodiversity and their underlying mechanisms have been an active area of research for a long time. In this study, a total of 63 samples (20m × 30m) were systematically established along elevation gradients on Mount Tai and Mount Lao, China. We explored altitudinal patterns of plant diversity in the two mountain systems. In order to understand the mechanisms driving current diversity patterns, we used phylogenetic approaches to detect the spatial patterns of phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic structure along two elevation gradients. We found that total species richness had a monotonically decreasing pattern and tree richness had a unimodal pattern along the elevation gradients in the two study areas. However, altitudinal patterns in shrub richness and herbs richness were not consistent on the two mountains. At low elevation, anthropogenic disturbances contributed to the increase of plant diversity, especially for shrubs and herbs in understory layers, which are more sensitive to changes in microenvironment. The phylogenetic structure of plant communities exhibited an inverted hump-shaped pattern along the elevation gradient on Mount Tai, which demonstrates that environmental filtering is the main driver of plant community assembly at high and low elevations and inter-specific competition may be the main driver of plant community assembly in the middle elevations. However, the phylogenetic structure of plant communities did not display a clear pattern on Mount Lao where the climate is milder. Phylogenetic beta diversity and species beta diversity consistently increased with increasing altitudinal divergence in the two study areas. However, the altitudinal patterns of species richness did not completely mirror phylogenetic diversity patterns. Conservation areas should be selected taking into consideration the preservation of high species richness, while maximizing phylogenetic diversity to improve the potential for diversification in the future.</p></div

The spatial and vertical distribution of heavy fraction organic carbon (HFOC).

<p>Bar plots showing the spatial and vertical (0–15 cm vs. 15–25 cm) distribution of heavy fraction organic carbon (HFOC) in the Xinxue River (XR) and Xinxue River Constructed Wetland (XRCW). A = upstream location of XRCW; B = downstream location of XRCW; C = upstream location of XR; D = downstream location of XR. Bars sharing the same letter are not significant at α = 0.05 (Duncan Test).</p

Two-way analysis of different factors.

<p>^a. Depths = 0–15 cm and 15–25 cm.</p><p>^b. Locations = upstream and downstream locations.</p><p>^c. Types = river wetland and constructed wetland.</p><p>Results with significant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.05) were shown in bold.</p><p>Two-way analysis of different factors.</p

Relationship between Jaccard similarity index and altitudinal divergence for trees, shrubs, and herbs on Mount Tai and Mount Lao, China.

<p>Relationship between Jaccard similarity index and altitudinal divergence for trees, shrubs, and herbs on Mount Tai and Mount Lao, China.</p

The spatial distribution of dissolved organic carbon (DOC).

<p>Bar plots showing the spatial distribution of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the Xinxue River (XR) and Xinxue River Constructed Wetland (XRCW). A = upstream location of XRCW; B = downstream location of XRCW; C = upstream location of XR; D = downstream location of XR. Bars sharing the same lowercase letter (a or b) are not significant at α = 0.05 (Duncan Test).</p

The spatial distribution of light fraction organic carbon (LFOC).

<p>Bar plots showing the spatial distribution of light fraction organic carbon (LFOC) in the Xinxue River (XR) and Xinxue River Constructed Wetland (XRCW). A = upstream location of XRCW; B = downstream location of XRCW; C = upstream location of XR; D = downstream location of XR. Bars sharing the same lowercase letter (a or b) are not significant at α = 0.05 (Duncan test).</p

Luteolin-3′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (LU3′O-GP) reduced mRNA expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in ES-2 cells.

<p>(a) LU3′O-GP effects on MMP-2 expression; (b) LU3′O-GP effects on MMP-9 expression. mRNA levels were investigated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), using glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase as the loading control. RT-PCR products were detected by ethidium bromide staining. Values represent the means of triplicate experiments. *<i>p</i> < 0.05, as compared to the control.</p

Effects of <i>P</i>. <i>crispus</i> flavonoids on ES-2 cell migration.

<p>Cells were exposed to the indicated concentrations of luteolin-3′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (LU3′O-GP) and flavone-6-C-β-d-glucopyranoside (FL6C-GP), and their migration was quantified using a Transwell chamber. Values represent the means of triplicate experiments. *<i>p</i> < 0.01, as compared to the control; #<i>p</i> < 0.05, as compared with the indicated concentration.</p