ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the rules of root tuberenlargement and medicinal materials formation, and lay the foundation for breeding a new Ophiopogon japonicus variety. Method The study was carried out with field cultivation. Samples were collected continuously for every interval 7-10 d. The rules of dry matter distribution and accumulation in each parts of O. japonicus was calculated based on the mean value of 15 plant samples. The number and size of root tuber were calculated based on the mean value of 15 samples. The fiber characteristics of root tuber of O. japonicus were observed by optical microscope. Characters of O. japonicus were observed according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2015 edition and recorded the changes of medicinal characteristics. Results The root tuber of O. japonicus inflated starting from October to April in the next year in Sichuan province. Adventitious roots were initially formed into nutritive roots around caudex, and able to form into root tuber around caudex later. Tuber number of per plant is basic from 5 to 20, most in 8-10, very few more than 20. Adventitious roots expanded gradually into a fusiform root from one end of root tip, root tip can continue to grow to form adventitious roots after the formation of root tuber, the newly formed adventitious roots could be expanded for the second time, very few might appear swollen three times to form beads. Microscopic observation showed that root tubers were inflated primarily by the enlargement of cortical cells and the increase of cell layers, in which cortical cells enlargement played a leading role. While tubers started expanding, the accumulation of dry matter in fibrous roots and stem leaves quickly slowed to stop eventually, and the accumulation of root dry matter increased rapidly in the early stage, and it kept basically dynamic balance in mid and late March, and the whole behavior of medicinal materials was in the process from dry to full. Conclusion The results show the apparent change rules of O. japonicus root tuber in the expanding process, which proves the direction and goal for research on the mechanism of root tuber development of O. japonicus.
ABSTRACT
Talinum cuneifolium (Vahl.) Willd. an erect shrub with subterranian tuber (Portulacaceae) is endowed with wide range of pharmacological activities. The antimicrobial efficacy of the plant is evaluated against three bacteria and two fungal species by disc diffusion method. Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out among hexane, ethylacetate, methanolic extracts of leaf and root tuber for different potent chemicals. The leaf methanolic extract of T. cuneifolium showed maximum effect on the growth of Proteus (25.8 mm) followed by Bacillus (24.62 mm) and E. coli (19.42 mm). The tuberous methanolic extract of T. cuneifolium showed maximum effect on growth of Proteus (28.15 mm) followed by Bacillus (26.88 mm) and E. coli (24.51 mm). The Gram-positive bacterial strains (Bacillus) were more susceptible to the extractions of T. cuneifolium as compared to Gram-negative bacteria (E.coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Klebsiella pneumoneia). The antifungal activity of selected plant leaf and root tubers exhibit pronounced activity against Candida albicans rather than Aspergillus niger. These studies showed that the methanolic extracts of T. cuneifolium plant parts were certainly much better and powerful. This may be due to the better solubility of the action components in organic solvent.
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Objective To study the genetic diversity of rDNA ITS sequences in the root tuber of Polygonum multiflorum from various habitats and to analyze the utility of ITS sequences in molecular authenticating the genuineness, identifying the varieties of wild resources, and studying the germplasm resources. Methods Firstly, total DNA in the root tuber of P. multiflorum from various habitats was extracted. Secondly, the ITS sequence was amplified by PCR with universal primer of ITS and sequenced after purification. Results The total length of ITS sequence is 648 bp in the different samples, such as 5.8S, 18S, and 26S rDNA. The lengths of three fragments, ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2, are 195 bp, 164 bp, and 189 bp, respectively. There are seventeen variable sites among the sequences. Conclusion ITS Sequence can be used to authenticate the genuineness and identify the varieties of wild resources in the root tuber of P. multiflorum.
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Objective To establish the analytical method for the fingerprint of the volatile components in the root tuber of Pseudostellaria heterophylla by GC-MS and provide the basis for quality assessment of the crude drug.Methods The volatile components in the root tuber of P.heterophylla from different habitats were analyzed and the chromatographic fingerprints were established by GC-MS.The common peaks were determined and the fuzzy cluster was selected to compare the results.Results There were 12 main characteristic components in the volatile components in the root tuber of P.heterophylla.GC-MS Fingerprint of 12 common peaks was established preliminarily.Conclusion The method is reliable and accurate,and can be used for quality control of the root tuber of P.heterophylla.with favourable reproducibility.
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Object A study on the ingenol-type diterpene esters of Euphorbia kansui T. N. Liou ex T. P. Wang. Methods Their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis, especially 2DNMR ( 1H- 1HCOSY, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY). Results Six ingenol-type diterpene esters were isolated successfully, two of them were identified as 3-O-(2′E, 4′Z-decadienoyl)-20-O-acetylingenol (Ⅰ) and kansuiphorin C (Ⅱ). Conclusion NMR data of compound Ⅰ and 13 CNMR data of compound Ⅱ were first reported. On the basis of variety of 2DNMR experiments, NMR data of compound Ⅰ and Ⅱ were well assigned.
ABSTRACT
A protease inhibitor from arrow root (Maranta arundinaceae) tuber has been isolated in a homogeneous form. The inhibitor has a Mr of 11,000-12,000; it inhibited bovine trypsin, bovine enterokinase, bovine α-chymotrypsin and the proteolytic activity of human and bovine pancreatic preparations. The inhibitor is resistant to pepsin, and elastase. It could withstand heat treatment at 100°C for 60 min and exposure to a wide range of pH (1.0-12.5) for 72 h at 4°C without loss of activity. Arginyl groups are essential for the action of the inhibitor. Preincubation of the inhibitor at pH 3.7 with trypsin or chymotrypsin caused nearly a two-fold increase in inhibitor potency. Keywords. Arrow root tuber; protease