ABSTRACT
Tsaoko Fructus is a type of food with the homology of medicine and food，and has a long history of cultivation and application in China. With the deepening of the development and utilization of Tsaoko Fructus，its economic value has appeared obviously，and relevant industries have great potential，with an important role in poverty alleviation in mountainous areas. However，the plants source of Tsaoko Fructus are confused in the process of actual production and resource utilization，and there is a lack of systematic report about the origin of varieties and medicinal history. The paper focused on a textual research for its names，plant sources，changes of the genuine producing areas and traditional efficacy through consulting the herbal works and the analysis of modern literature. The results showed that the medicine of Tsaoko Fructus was first recorded in ancient literatures of the Song dynasty，and there were many aliases and synonyms of the herb， with a great difference between ancient and modern times. In modern records，the medicinal alias names such as Hongcaoguo，Tucaoguo，Caoguoren are similar with the Chinese name of Caoguo，but they are not the same kind of plant and shall be distinguished. In the Ming dynasty，variety and source of the herb was complicated，and it was often recorded as the same class of medicinal materials with Amomi Fructus Rotundus and Alpiniae Katsumadai Semen，until it was listed as a class of medicinal material and distinguished from confounding medicines in the Qing Dynasty. The prescriptions containing Tsaoko Fructus include Caoguoyin，Caoguosan，Caoguowan，Caoguoshushui. Tsaoko Fructus could be used as medicine with peel or only kernel according to different diseases，and mainly processed with water or wine. In addition，there are other processing methods，such as frying，salt-processing， ginger- processing，simmering flour. Ancient literatures have basically the same records on properties，efficacies and indications of Tsaoko Fructus，considering it was warm in nature with the effect in relieving vomiting，eliminating food，intercepting malaria，expelling phlegm. This study provided a theoretical basis for its origin，quality control and resource development and utilization.
ABSTRACT
Polygonati Rhizoma was first recorded in Mingyi Bielu（《名医别录》） as both medicine and food due to its high edible and medicinal values.However，there is no systematic textual research on its use as medicine and food. Polygonati Rhizoma and Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma show similar morphology，so they are often confused.Clematis apiifolia and Polygonatum odoratum are often regarded as the original plants of Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma. By reviewing the related records in Chinese herbal books of the past dynasties，this paper aimed to clarify the relationship between Polygonati Rhizoma，C.apiifolia and P.odoratum，trace the historical evolution of Polygonati Rhizoma as medicine and food from the name，harvesting and processing，property，flavor and meridian tropism，efficacy and indications，edible and medicinal records，and contraindications，and summarize its application in ethnic medicine，in order to inherit and develop the ethnic medicine. The findings demonstrated that the name of Polygonati Rhizoma and its synonyms were derived from its pictogram，function，and place of origin，containing a wealth of myth implication and Taoism thought.Polygonati Rhizoma，C.apiifolia and P.odoratum are three species，different from the conclusions in previous textual research. The seedlings，flowers，seeds，and rhizomes of Polygonati Rhizoma all could be used for edible and medicinal purposes，with its edible records exceeding the medicinal records. There were 22 medical books from the ethnic minority groups such as The Annals of National Medicine in Yunnan，Zhongguo Minzu Yaozhi Yao，and Dictionary of Chinese Ethnic Medicine recording the knowledge and application of 12 species in Polygonatum by 26 ethnic minorities.Due to their different living environments，lifestyles，and cultural customs，ethnic minorities have formed their unique medical cultures.
ABSTRACT
Polygonatum plants are perennial plants of Liliaceae. There are about 60 species reported at home and abroad,32 species in China,mainly distributed in the north temperate zone. Their main chemical components are steroidal saponins,polysaccharides,flavonoids,alkaloids,etc. They have anti-aging,anti-tumor,immunomodulation,antibacterial,antiviral,hypoglycemic and blood lipid effects. With the development of health industry,Polygonati Rhizome used as medicine and food has attracted great attention in recent years,and has become a research hotspot. However,the material basis of its efficacy is unclear and the product quality is uneven,which seriously limited the rapid upgrading of the industry. This review summarizes Polygonatum plants system classification,the chemical composition and pharmacological activity to provide theoretical basis for the development and utilization of Polygonatum plants.
Subject(s)
China , Phytochemicals , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal , Chemistry , Polygonatum , Chemistry , Rhizome , ChemistryABSTRACT
Objective: To study the regularity of dry matter accumulation and its absorption and distribution of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in Artemisia annua, and to provide a scientific fertilizer application for the standardized cultivation. Methods: The sampling was carried out in the different growing periods of A. annua under field condition, and the amount of dry matter and the contents of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in all parts of the plant were determined, respectively. Results: The dry matter mainly distributed in leaves within 40 d after transplanting, and this period could be defined as seedling period. The period within 40-100 d could be defined as vegetative growth period and the dry matter mainly distributed in leaves and branches. The period within 100-180 d could be defined as reproductive growth period. And the period of 100-140 d could be defined as earlier reproductive growth period, and the dry matter mainly distributed in branches and flower buds during this time. The period of 140-180 d could be defined as later reproductive growth period, the dry matter mainly distributed in branches and seeds during this time. The accumulation of nutrition was the lowest in seedling period; but the uptake of nutrition increased in vegetative growth period, and mainly distributed in leaves and branches. Nutrition mainly distributed in leaves earlier reproductive growth period, but transferred to flower buds gradually. Nutrition mainly distributed in seeds in the later reproductive growth period. The dry matter accumulation lineally increased with the assimilation and accumulation of N, K, Mg, Ca, and P. The uptake proportion of them was 4.21:4.17:0.74:0.63:0.24 in the whole growth period. Conclusion: Low nutrition should be applied during seedling stage to controlling the loss of nutrition. During the period of 40-140 d after transplanting, A. annua grows quickly, and mineral nutrition must be supplied especially N and K. The maximum uptake period of P, Ca, and Mg is in 100-120 d, so Ca, Mg, and P fertilizers should be applied earlier or by foliage spray to promote the formation of flower buds and seeds.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of environmental enrichment on neuron proliferation, learning and memory ability and motor ability in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and eight 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham operation (CON group), HIBD and intervention group. HIBD model was prepared according to the classic Rice-Vannucci method. Environmental enrichment was administered for the rats in the intervention group after HIBD inducement. Behavioral tests (Water maze test, Suspension test and Slope test) were performed and the number of neural cells in the left hippocampus was examined 7, 14 and 28 days after intervention.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pyramid cells in the hippocampus CA1 area in the HIBD group were significantly less than in the CON group at 7, 14 and 28 days (P<0.05). The number of pyramid cells in the hippocampus CA1 area in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the HIBD group (P<0.01) at 7, 14 and 28 days. The hidden platform escape latency period (EL) in the Water maze test was significantly more prolonged and the cross-platform number within 2 minutes was significantly less in the HIBD and the intervention groups than in the CON group at all observed time points (P<0.01). The EL was significantly shorter and the cross-platform number within 2 minutes was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the HIBD group at all observed time points (P<0.01). The maintain time and score in the Suspension test were significantly lower and the time in the Slope test was significantly more prolonged in the HIBD and intervention groups than in the CON group at 7, 14 and 28 days (P<0.01). An increased maintain time and score and a decreased time in the Slope test were found in the intervention group compared with the HIBD group at 14 and 28 days (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Environmental enrichment can improve motor function, learning and memory ability, and promote the repair and proliferation of neurons in neonatal rats with HIBD.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Rats , Animals, Newborn , Cell Proliferation , Environment , Hippocampus , Pathology , Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain , Maze Learning , Motor Activity , Neurons , Physiology , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
By using a yeast two-hybrid system,a yeast two-hybrid bait vector was constructed and identified for screening of the HPV18 E6-interacting proteins,and its effects on the growth of yeast cells and the activation of reporter genes were investigated.Total mRNA extracted from Hela cells was reversely transcribed into cDNA.Fragment of HPV18 E6 cDNA was amplified using RT-PCR and directly ligated to the pGBKT7 vector.The recombinant plasmid was confirmed by restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA sequencing.The recombinant pGBKT7-HPV18 E6 plasmid and empty pGBKT7 vector were transformed into the yeast cell AH109,respectively.After they were cultured respectively in YPDA liquid medium and nutrition-deficient culture medium,their toxicity and transcriptional activation were tested by both the phenotype assay and the color assay.The bait plasmid HPV18 E6 was successfully obtained.After being cultured in YPDA liquid medium for 16h,the A600 nm values of two yeast fluids were 0.98±0.03 and 0.99±0.02,respectively.The recombinant pGBKT7-HPV18 E6 plasmid and empty pGBKT7 vector could grow to white colonies on SD/-Trp/X-α-gal plates,while no colony could survive on SD/-His/-Trp/X-α-gal,SD/-Ade/-Trp/X-α-gal plates,indicating that the bait plasmid pGBKT7-HPV18 E6 was constructed successfully and expressed correctly,and could not activate the transcription of reporter gene alone.The yeast two-hybrid GAL4 system 3 can be utilized to find HPV18 E6 interacting proteins.