ABSTRACT
<b>Objective::To establish an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of 15 pyrrolidine alkaloids (PAs) and their nitrogen oxides, and determine the content of the 15 PAs in the 15 batches of Farfarae Flos samples obtained from different sources, in order to understand the distribution status of these 15 PAs in Farfarae Flos from different sources, and provide relevant references for the safe and rational use of this medicinal materials. <b>Method::The method was achieved by Agilent Eclipse Plus C<sub>18</sub> column (3.0 mm×150 mm, 1.8 μm) using a mobile phase made up of 0.05%formic acid and 2.5 mmol·L<sup>-1</sup> ammonium formate in water (A)-0.05%formic acid and 2.5 mmol·L<sup>-1</sup> ammonium formate in methanol(B). The flow rate and the injection volume were 0.4 mL·min<sup>-1</sup> and 2 μL, respectively. The column temperature was 40 ℃. The instrument was Agilent 1290-6470 QQQ ultra high performance liquid chromatography-triple quaternary bar mass spectrometer. The components were detected in multiple reaction monitoring mode by mass spectrometry with ionizationmode of ESI<sup>+</sup>. The content of the components measured in the samples was calculated by using the external standard method, and the difference between samples was analyzed based on RSD of different components. <b>Result::The established method had a high sensitivity and good separation degree. The results of methodological investigation met the requirements. The results showed that all of the 15 batches of Farfarae Flos contained PAs and their nitrogen oxides. These PAs had almost the same types of structure. There were significant differences in the content and distribution of PAs in Farfarae Flos obtained from different sources. <b>Conclusion::In general, Farfarae Flos contains pyrrolidine alkaloids and their nitrogen oxides. Senkirkine with a significant hepatotoxicity is the main compound. The content determination of PAs will provide scientific fundaments for the safe and effective use of Farfarae Flos.
ABSTRACT
In recent years, the development of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been challenged by shortages of CHM resources and drug safety concerns related to end products. There have been significant efforts by Chinese scholars to tackle these challenges, which are revealed by analyzing the research trend of CHM resources via surveying Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs (Zhong Cao Yao), a representative journal in CHM. Our study focused on 781 articles in CHM resources from 2013 to 2018 and included four subject areas: germplasm resources, quality analysis and evaluation, cultivation, and bioengineering of CHM. Discussion and prospective for future investigations were also presented, including: construct the core germplasm of medicinal plants and expand germplasms; combine molecular research with field experiments and promote the deeper study of cultivation of CHM plants; improve the quality evaluation method of CHM and strengthen the identification of Chinese patented medicines; promote the sustainable development of CHM resources by utilizing bioengineering and synthetic biology. This study helps international scholars understand the status quo of CHM research and provides theoretical support for the healthy, modern, and international development of CHM, and it will facilitate the sustainable development of the traditional Chinese medicine industry.
ABSTRACT
Camptotheca acuminata produces camptothecin (CPT), a monoterpene indole alkaloid (MIA) that is widely used in the treatment of lung, colorectal, cervical, and ovarian cancers. Its biosynthesis pathway has attracted significant attention, but the regulation of CPT biosynthesis by the APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor (AP2/ERF) transcription factors (TFs) remains unclear. In this study, a systematic analysis of the AP2/ERF TFs family in C. acuminata was performed, including phylogeny, gene structure, conserved motifs, and gene expression profiles in different tissues and organs (immature bark, cotyledons, young flower, immature fruit, mature fruit, mature leaf, roots, upper stem, and lower stem) of C. acuminata. A total of 198 AP2/ERF genes were identified and divided into five relatively conserved subfamilies, including AP2 (26 genes), DREB (61 genes), ERF (92 genes), RAV (18 genes), and Soloist (one gene). The combination of gene expression patterns in different C. acuminata tissues and organs, the phylogenetic tree, the co-expression analysis with biosynthetic genes, and the analysis of promoter sequences of key enzymes genes involved in CPT biosynthesis pathways revealed that eight AP2/ERF TFs in C. acuminata might be involved in CPT synthesis regulation, which exhibit relatively high expression levels in the upper stem or immature bark. Among these, four genes (CacAP2/ERF123, CacAP2/ERF125, CacAP2/ERF126, and CacAP2/ERF127) belong to the ERF-B2 subgroup; two genes (CacAP2/ERF149 and CacAP2/ERF152) belong to the ERF-B3 subgroup; and two more genes (CacAP2/ERF095 and CacAP2/ERF096) belong to the DREB-A6 subgroup. These results provide a foundation for future functional characterization of the AP2/ERF genes to enhance the biosynthesis of CPT compounds of C. acuminata.
ABSTRACT
Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an evolutionary conservative serine/threonine protein kinase. Its biological function is mainly to participate in cell proliferation, growth and differentiation, so as to regulate the body's metabolic process. Many domestic and foreign studies have shown that mTOR is the junction of apoptosis and autophagy signal transduction pathways. Various stimuli, such as nutrition, drugs and oxidative stress, may play a key regulatory role in cell apoptosis and autophagy through mTOR-mediated signaling pathways. At present, many studies have shown that the change in mTOR signaling pathways is closely related to the pathogenesis of many human diseases, such as cancer, metabolic disorders(obesity and type 2 diabetes), cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease, age-related diseases and disorders of follicular. In recent years, more and more doctors have studied the regulatory effect of traditional Chinese medicine on apoptosis and autophagy, with the pathways as the starting point and cell apoptosis and autophagy as the research carriers. These studies include experimental studies on the regulation of apoptosis and autophagy by monomers of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Chinese patent medicine, compound prescription of TCM, acupuncture and other drugs and physiotherapy. Starting from the mTOR signaling pathways, this paper discusses the relationship between mTOR, apoptosis and autophagy, and reviews the recent progress of TCM in regulating apoptosis and autophagy through mTOR pathways, so as to provide ideas and references for further studies in this field. In the future, TCM doctors can still explore the time-effect relationship between apoptosis and autophagy based on mTOR signaling pathways under the guidance of the basic theory of Chinese medicine, in order to provide theoretical support and targets for the action mechanism of TCM on bodies.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in dietary life, lifestyle factors, and stress status of Chinese students who came to study abroad to South Korea. A total of 143 Chinese students were recruited from Seoul Women's University and Wonkwang University in 2013. We used SPSS 20 for statistical analyses in this study. The mean length of residence was 2.9 years for Chinese students. Most subjects aged 20–29 years immigrated to South Korea to obtain an academic degree (bachelor, master, or doctorate). We found a significant decrease in the frequency of eating fruits and vegetables among Chinese students in South Korea after migration. Further, there was a significant increase in fast food consumption and frequency of late-night snacking and eating out. In addition, their preferred beverage changed from soft drink or tea to coffee after migration. Stress level significantly (P < 0.05) increased in male students compared to female students. The high stress group watched more TV when eating compared to the low stress group. In addition, there were more students who perceived their health status as bad in the high stress group. Overall results give us useful information for targeting the most vulnerable subjects and planning nutrition intervention programs.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Asian People , Beverages , Carbonated Beverages , Coffee , Eating , Fast Foods , Fruit , Korea , Life Style , Seoul , Snacks , Tea , VegetablesABSTRACT
In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) that "kidney storing essence and governing reproduction", reproductive essence is an important part of the kidney essence and acts as the original material of offspring embryos. Sperm, oocyte and zygote should be all included in the range of reproductive essence. Ovum is the essence of reproduction from inborn. The follicles maturation depends on the quality of oocyte and the vigor of kidney essence. Meanwhile, discharge of mature ovum relies on the stimulation and promotion by kidney Qi. Autophagy almost exists in different cells stages and all various of mammalian cells. Many studies have found that autophagy not only participates in the formation of follicles, but also in every phase of the follicles development, and is involved in the occurrence and development of ovarian diseases. Recently, more and more scholars believe that autophagy is a new field to explore the microcosmic relationship between autophagy and TCM. Kidney-nourishing TCM could promote follicular growth and improve variety clinical symptoms by inhibiting the apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells and reducing follicular atresia. Meanwhile, apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells is closely related to autophagy of ovarian granulosa cells. In order to provide some theoretical foundation for kidney-nourishing therapy's promoting effect on follicular growth and improving effect on ovarian function, also to further explore the molecular mechanism of kidney-nourishing medicine in promoting follicular development, this paper would explain the microcosmic relationship between autophagy and follicular development based on the theory of "kidney governing reproduction". All of these would be of great significance to prevent and intervene the diseases of reproductive system timely and effectively.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: International students face dissimilar food environments, which could lead to changes in dietary behaviors and anthropometric characteristics between before and after migration. We sought to examine the risk factors, including dietary behaviors, acculturation, and demographic characteristics, related to overweight subjects residing in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study, collecting data from 142 Chinese international students (63 males, 79 females) in 2013. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 25.4 years, and almost half of them immigrated to South Korea to earn a master's degree or doctoral degree (n = 70, 49.3%). Chinese international students showed an increase in skipping meals and eating speed, but a decrease in the frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption in South Korea compared to when they lived in China. We found a statistically significant increase in weight (69.4 --> 73.9 kg) and BMI (22.4 --> 23.8 kg/m2) for male subjects (P < 0.001) but no change for female subjects. We also found that overweight subjects were more likely to be highly acculturated and male compared with normal-weight subjects. CONCLUSION: Among Chinese international students living in South Korea, male and more highly acculturated subjects are more vulnerable to weight gain. This study provides useful information to design tailored nutrition intervention programs for Chinese international students.