Male social rank and food competition in a primate multi-level society.

OBJECTIVES: Social animals often have dominance hierarchies, with high rank conferring preferential access to resources. In primates, competition among males is often assumed to occur predominantly over reproductive opportunities. However, competition for food may occur during food shortages, such as in temperate species during winter. Higher-ranked males may thus gain preferential access to high-profitability food, which would enable them to spend longer engaged in activities other than feeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a field experiment with a breeding band of golden snub-nosed monkeys, a species that lives in a multi-level society in high-altitude forests in central China. We provisioned monkey's high-profitability food during winter when natural foods are limited, and then recorded the times individual adult males spent engaged in different behaviors. RESULTS: Higher-ranking males spent less time feeding overall and fed on provisioned foods at a higher rate than lower-ranking males. Higher-ranking males therefore had more time to spend on alternative behaviors. We found no significant difference according to rank in times spent moving or resting. However, high-ranking males spend significantly longer on affiliative behaviors with other members of their social sub-units, especially grooming and being groomed, behaviors known to promote social cohesion in primates. DISCUSSION: We show that preferential access to high-profitability foods likely relaxes time-budget constraints to higher-ranking males. High-ranking males thus spend more time on non-feeding activities, especially grooming, which may enhance social cohesion within their social sub-unit. We discuss the potential direct and indirect benefits to high-ranking males associated with preferential access to high-value food during winter.

[Advance of a representative traditional Tibetan medicine Meconopsis horridula on its phytochemical and pharmacological aspects].

Meconopsis horridula is one of alpine plants belonging to family Papaveraceae, mainly distributed in Himalaya Range area. M. horridula is a rare alpine flower, and is a kind of traditional Tibetan medicine, which has been included in more than 40 compound formulae, having efficacies of clearing away heat and alleviating pain, activating blood circulation to remove stasis, traditionally used for the treatment of fractures, injuries, and chest and back pains. Modern research shows that the whole plant of M. horridula contains alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenes, and its pharmacological activities including antitumor, antivirus and myocardial protection etc. However, due to various factors, the current research of M.horridula still faces many challenges. This paper summaries herein a progress of MH on its ecological resources, traditional uses, and studies on chemical constituents and pharmacological effects, hopefully to provide a useful reference for the ecological protection and applications.

[A new lignan from stem bark of Syringa pinnatifolia].

One new lignan, named Z-pinnatifolin A, along with ten known analogues, were isolated from the stem bark of Syringa pinnatifolia by various chromatographic methods. Their structures were extensively determined on basis of MS and NMR spectroscopic data analyses, and comparison with those in literature. Among them, compounds 3,4, and 8-11 were isolated from this genus for the first time, and 5-7 were isolated from the specie for the first time. Compound 1 showed a moderate inhibition on NO production in BV-2 cells. The present study provides a preliminary data for clarification of bioactive ingredients of S.pinnatifolia with anti-myocardial ischemic effect.

Chemical constituents from the roots and stems of Litsea cubeba.

A new monoterpene and a new lignan, named litsecols A and B (1 and 2), respectively, together with nine known compounds (3-11), were isolated in a continuous investigation on the roots and stems of Litsea cubeba. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis, and the absolute configuration of 1 was resolved by X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 2-5 and 7-9 showed significant inhibitory activity against nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine microglial (Bv-2) cell line. Compounds 10 and 11 exhibited significant neuroprotective effect against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage in rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell line.

Two new glycosides from Dryopteris fragrans with anti-inflammatory activities.

Phytochemical investigation on the aqueous extract from Dryopteris fragrans led to the isolation of one new chromone glycoside, frachromone C (1), and one new coumarin glycoside, dryofracoulin A (2), together with one known undulatoside A (3). Their structures were elucidated by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR, HRMS, and chemical analysis. Compounds 1-3 exhibited inhibition on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide induced RAW 264.7 macrophages with their IC50 values of 45.8, 65.8, and 49.8 µM, respectively.

[Phenolic constituents from lichen Usnea longissima].

Sixteen compounds were isolated from lichen Usnea longissima using of various chromatographic techniques including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS, and semi-preparative HPLC. By spectroscopic data analyses, their structures were identified by as useanol(1), lecanorin(2), 3-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-methylbenzoate(3), lecanorin E(4), 3'-methylevernic acid(5), evernic acid(6), barbatinic acid(7), 3,7-dihydroxy-1,9-dimethyldibenzofuran(8), orcinol(9), O-methylorcinol(10), methyl orsellinate(11), methyl everninate(12), 2,5-dimethyl-1,3-benzenediol(13), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-3,6-dimethyl benzoic acid(14), ethyl everninate(15), and ethyl 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate(16). Compound 1 was obtained as a natural product for the first time, and 3,4, 8,10,12, and 13 were isolated from Usneaceae family for the first time. Compound 1, 8, and 13 showed significant anti-inflammatory activity against NO production in RAW 267.4 cells with IC50 values of 6.8, 3.9 and 4.8 µmol•L⁻¹, respectively, compared with the positive controls curcumin(IC50 15.3 µmol•L⁻¹) and indomethacin(IC50 42.9 µmol•L⁻¹).

[Iridoids from stem bark of Syringa pinnatifolia].

One new iridoid, named alashanidoid A, and five known analogues, were isolated from the stem bark of Syringa pinnatifolia by various chromatographic methods. Their structures were determined on the basis of MS and NMR spectroscopic data analyses, and comparison with those in literature. Among them, compounds 3-5 were isolated from this genus for the first time, and 2 and 6 were isolated from the species for the first time.These isolates were tested for their in vitro anti-inflammatory activities against NO production in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages in mice and cytotoxicity of HepG2 cell line, however, no obvious activity was observed at the concentration of 40 µmol•L⁻¹.

[Phytochemical and pharmacological progress on peeled stem of Syringa pinnatifolia, a Mongolian folk medicine].

The peeled stem of Syringa pinnatifolia is a Mongolia folk medicine, mainly distributed in Helan mountain, inner Mongolia and Ningxia provinces of China. It has been used for the treatment of cardiopalmus, angina pectoris, and cardiopulmonary diseases for a long history. Contemporary research revealed the presence of major lignans, sesquitepenes, and essential oils, and showed myocardial ischemia related diseases. This review summarizes the plant origins, taxonomic disputes, phytochemical and pharmacological research progress, hopefully to provide reference for full medicinal utilization, clarification of biological effective substance, and drug development.