Progress on antineoplastic constituents derived from polypore fungi / 中国中药杂志

Polypore fungi is a cluster of important pharmacological fungi with significant antitumor activity. In recent years, the antineoplastic constituents from polypore fungi have been comprehensively studied. Through investigating the domestic and overseas studied paper, the antitumor active constituents derived from polypore fungi including high molecular weight compounds such as polysaccharides, glycopeptides, glycoproteins, lectins, and lipid soluble low molecular weight compounds such as terpenoids, steroids, phenolics, benzopyranones, were reviewed. In addition, the significance in the exploitation of new drug for antitumor by the application of polypore fungi was discussed at the end of this paper.

Studies on genetic diversity in cultivated populations of Atractylodes macrocephala / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the genetic diversity of main germplasm of Atractylodes macrocephala in China and the genetic differentiation of the germplasm of A. macrocephala.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A molecular marker ISSR was used to analyze the genetic diversity of 7 populations of A. macrocephala and a population of A. lancea.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Twelve primers were used in the PCR amplification of 86 samples of A. macrocephala and 5 samples of A. lancea. Sixty-three bands with sizes ranged from 100 to 2500 bp were generated from 12 primers. Of all the 63 bands, 55 bands were polymorphic among 86 individuals of A. macrocephala, the percentage of polymorphic bands were 87.30% at the species level. The percentage of polymorphic bands (PPL) for a single population ranged from 58.73% to 71.43% (mean, 64.85%). Among the 7 populations, a population from Panan, GM exhibited highest variability (PPL =71.43%; HE = 0.2835; I = 0.4267). A dendrogram constructed by an unweighted pair group method of cluster analysis showed that populations from Panan constructed one branch and separated from other populations. In the AMOVA analysis, low level of genetic differentiation among populations was detected, 90.52% of the variability existed in population.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The genetic diversity of cultivated A. macrocephala in China is high, which is good for the production of high quality herb medicine.</p>

Species-specific SCAR markers for authentication of Sinocalycanthus chinensis / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Sinocalycanthus chinensis, an endangered species endemic to China, is cultivated as an ornamental landscape tree in China. However, S. chinensis, Chimonanthus species and Calycanthus floridus are difficult to be distinguished in seedling market because of their similar morphological characters. In this study, ISSR (inter-simple sequence repeats) were applied to detect S. chinensis from its closely related species. A unique 748-bp band was found in all accessions of S. chinensis. SCAR (sequence characterized amplified regions) markers were created by cloning and sequencing the specific band, and designing a pair of primers to amplify the band of 748 bp. Diagnostic PCRs were performed using the primer pair with the total DNAs of S. chinensis, Chimonanthus species and C. floridus as templates, with only S. chinensis being able to be amplified. This amplification is not only rapid (results can be obtained in less than 3 h), but is also easy to perform. Hence it is a feasible method for identifying S. chinensis in seedling market.

Essential oil of Actinidia macrosperma, a catnip response kiwi endemic to China / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify compounds that may be responsible for catnip response of Actinidia macrosperma, and compare chemical compositions in the wild and in vitro regenerated plants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>GC-MS and relative retention indices with n-alkanes as reference points were used for compound identification, and component relative percentage was calculated based on GC peak areas without using correction factors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There are 28 compounds (92.72%) and 15 compounds (93.88%) identified in the essential oils from the wild and regenerated plants, respectively. Dihydronepetalactone, iridomyrmecin, and dihydroactinidiolide, which are believed to be attractive to felines, are present in both wild and regenerated plants. Actinine was not detected, and beta-pheylethyl alcohol was only present in wild plant. In addition, short-chain enol derivatives, messengers in chemical communication, are commonly present in wild plant of A. macrosperma, but absent in regenerated one.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Dihydronepetalactone, iridomyrmecin, and dihydroactinidiolide are responsible for the catnip response of A. macrosperma.</p>

Contrastive analysis of volatile oil from Serissa serissoides in different seasons / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide the foundation for reasonable utilization by analysing the essential oils from Serissa serissoides in different seasons.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Essential oils were obtained by steam distillation. The chemical components were separated and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The relative content of each component was determined by area normalization.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Forty-three peaks were identified from autumn material, representing 78.91% of the total oil. Main constituents of the essential oil from the autumn material were found to be 1b,5,5,6a-tetramethyl-octahydro-1-oxa-cyclopropa [a] inden-6-one (7.32%); methyl linolenate (4.14%); cubenol (5.97%); 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (10.87%); delta-9(10)-tetrahydrocostunolide-1-keto (35.51%). Seventy-two peaks were identified from spring material, representing 79.88% of the total oil. Main constituents of the essential oil from the spring material were found to be caryophyllene (3.315%); ethylbenzene (3.523%); 3-hexen-1-ol (4.537%); 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (6.513%); 5-propionyl-2-chlorobenzeneacetic acid, methyl ester (8.541%), germacrene D (12.311%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The same compounds in both materials are as follows: 2,2-dimethyl-6-methylene-cyclohexanepropanol; 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol; 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol; cubenol; docosane and eicosane. It seems that they are the diagnostic components in these medicinal materials. Essential substances are different in quantity and quality in different seasons.</p>

Analysis of population genetic structure and molecular identification of Changium smyrnioides and Chuanminshen violaceum with ISSR marker / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the population genetic diversity and genetic structure and screen species-specific bands for identification of Changium smyrnioides and Chuanminshen violaceum.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Seven wild populations of Changium smyrnioides and one cultivated population of Chuanminshen violaceum were studied by ISSR analysis. The population genetic diversity and population genetic structure were assessed by using POPGENE software.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>A total of 152 ISSR markers were scored, among which 136 (90.8%) were polymorphic. The values of Gst tended to be high (mean Gst = 0.575). The level of genetic divesity of Changium smyrnioides (A = 1.272; P = 27.26%; I = 0.132; H = 0.087) was higher than that of Chuanminshen violaceum (A = 1.217; P = 21.7; I = 0.103; H = 0.067).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The genetic variation of Changium smyrnioides is high and the majority of genetic variation occur among populations. Substantial genetic divergence is shown by cluster analysis (UPGMA) to befound between Changium smyrnioides and Chuanminshen violaceum at DNA level. In addition, one species-specific marker has been obtained in Chuanminshen violaceum. The phylogenetic relationship of two species has also been discussed.</p>