Relationship between selection of Pinus massoniana families and Folium Pini / 中国中药杂志

Based on variation of Pinus massoniana families, heritablility and correlation analysis, the contents of shikimic acid and procyanidine (heritability 0.90, 0.70), dry weight of single branch (heritability 0.60) and and leaf length (heritability 0.46) were screened out as quality, yield and harvest cost traits of Folium Pini, respectively. For the different medicinal application of Folium Pini, varied methods were chosen to estimate weight and construct index equation. Weight adjustment based.on equal emphasis were used as economic weight determining method to select the best families, and the index (accuracy 0. 936 4 and heritability 0. 881 6) obtained was a little better than that obtained by equal emphasis, and much better than that by restricted index. The superior families selected with adjustment weight and equal emphasis were No. 46, 43 and 28. Partial regression were used as economic weight determining method to select the best families,and the index obtained had the highest accuracy (0.941 5) , index heritability (0. 889 9) and the genetic gain of shikimic acid content. The superior families selected with this method were No. 46, 27 and 47. No. 46 was the best families with maximal economic benefit. Our study indicated that suitable method for estimate weight and construct index equation can be applied for better accuracy of superior families selection of P. massoniana.

Chemical constituents from roots of Ficus auriculata / 中草药

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the roots of Ficus auriculata. Methods: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by various chromatographic methods, including silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 columns, and recrystallization. Structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on NMR and ESI-MS data, as well as physicochemical properties. Results: Thirteen compounds were obtained in the EtOAc fraction of ethanol extract from the roots of F. auriculata and identified as β-sitosterol (1), α-amyrin (2), 6β-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3one (3), stigmasta-3, 6-dione (4), (22E, 24S)-24-methyl-5α- choleata-7, 22-diene-3β, 5, 6β-triol (5), 3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-7-hydroxy-1-isobenzofuranone (6), (R)-(+)-de-O-methyllasiodiplodin (7), decursinol (8), (-)-3, 5-dimethyl-8-methoxy-3, 4-dihydroisocoumarin (9), (R)-(-)-mellein methyl ether (10), 5-formyl-8-hydroxy-3, 4-dihydroisocoumarin (11), (R)-(-)-5-methoxycarbonyl mellein (12), and β-daucosterol (13). Conclusion: All the compounds except compound 1 are firstly isolated from F. auriculata, and compounds 4-12 are found in the plants of Ficus Linn. for the first time.

Interleukin-1β inhibits the amplitudes of voltage-gated Na(+) currents and action potential in cultured cortical neurons of rat / 生理学报

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is an important proinflammatory cytokine and plays key roles in physiological and pathophysiological processes of central nervous system (CNS). The voltage-gated Na(+) channels are essential for electrical properties of excitable cells and control the excitability and action potential (AP) of neurons. Recent studies have showed the relationship between IL-1β and voltage-gated channels. In this work, cultured cortical neurons of rat were treated by 10 ng/mL of IL-1β for 24 h, and then voltage-gated Na(+) currents were recorded using voltage-clamp technique. The results indicated that IL-1β reduced the amplitude of Na(+) currents without any changes in activation or inactivation properties. The current-clamp recording showed that IL-1β reduced the amplitude of AP but not the threshold. These data indicate that IL-1β inhibits the voltage-gated Na(+) currents and the amplitude of AP, and suggest that essential roles of voltage-gated Na(+) channels may be changed by IL-1β. New information about effects of IL-1β on injuries and diseases of CNS was provided.

Expression of survivin and its significance in esophageal cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression of survivin in esophageal cancer and elucidate its function in esophageal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Expression of surviv in was detected in paired normal and tumor tissues from patients with esophageal cancer by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. A dominant-negative survivin (surT34A) was transfected into esophageal cancer EC9706 cells (EC9706surT34A). Colony formation and apoptosis of the parental and surT34A-transfected EC9706 cells were examined in soft agar and by flow cytometry, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Survivin mRNA expression of tumor tissues was higher than normal tissues in 18/27 (66.7%) samples. The expression level of survivin mRNA in tumor tissues (2.08 +/- 1.32) was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (1.22 +/- 1.09). EC9706 surT34A cells formed fewer colonies on agar than the non-transfected ones. After serum withdrawal, EC9706surT34A had higher apoptotic ratio than control, but survivin could reduce the apoptotic ratio.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Overexpression of survivin is a common eventin esophageal cancer. The dominant-negative survivin can partially inhibit the malignant phenotype of esophageal cancer.</p>