Essential Oil from Glossogyne tenuifolia Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation-Associated Genes in Macro-Phage Cells via Suppression of NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Glossogyne tenuifolia Cassini (Hsiang-Ju in Chinese) is a perennial herb native to Taiwan. It was used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective agent. Recent studies have shown that extracts of G. tenuifolia possess various bioactivities, including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulation, and anti-cancer properties. However, the pharmacological activities of G. tenuifolia essential oils have not been studied. In this study, we extracted essential oil from air-dried G. tenuifolia plants, then investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of G. tenuifolia essential oil (GTEO) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in murine macrophage cells (RAW 264.7) in vitro. Treatment with GTEO (25, 50, and 100 µg/mL) significantly as well as dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced pro-inflammatory molecules, such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, without causing cytotoxicity. Q-PCR and immunoblotting analysis revealed that the inhibition of NO and PGE2 was caused by downregulation of their corresponding mediator genes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), respectively. Immunofluorescence and luciferase reporter assays revealed that the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 genes by GTEO was associated with the suppression of nuclear export and transcriptional activation of the redox-sensitive transcription factor, nuclear factor -κB (NF-κB). In addition, GTEO treatment significantly inhibited phosphorylation and proteosomal degradation of the inhibitor of NF-κB (I-κBα), an endogenous repressor of NF-κB. Moreover, treatment with GTEO significantly blocked the LPS-mediated activation of inhibitory κB kinase α (IKKα), an upstream kinase of the I-κBα. Furthermore, p-cymene, ß-myrcene, ß-cedrene, cis-ß-ocimene, α-pinene, and D-limonene were represented as major components of GTEO. We found that treatment with p-cymene, α-pinene, and D-limonene were significantly inhibiting LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that GTEO inhibits inflammation through the downregulation of NF-κB-mediated inflammatory genes and pro-inflammatory molecules in macrophage cells.

Genetic variations in Turkey cultivar and ecotype Medicago sativa species: cytological, total protein profile, and molecular characterization.

BACKGROUND: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial plant, which is high in nutritional value and resistant to environmental conditions, and it is one of most frequently preferred feed crop among the leguminous family. In this study, it was aimed to determine the genetic diversity of some alfalfa ecotypes and their varieties by DNA, protein, nucleus, and chromosome counts. The genetic distance between the populations of control (M. truncatula), five different cultivars (Alsancak, Bilensoy, Iside, Plato, Bilensoy82), and three different ecotypes (Erzurum, Mus, and Konya) was investigated by cytogenetic analysis, flow cytometry, simple sequence repeats (SSR), and SDS PAGE techniques. RESULTS: Cytogenetic analysis of these tested plants has verified the existence of expected levels such as diploid, triploid, and tetraploid as well as aneuploid (2n = 4x = 30) plants. Flow cytometry analysis have displayed that all of tested plants were tetraploid, whereas cytological analysis had either diploid, triploid, or tetraploid. Genetic diversity dendrogram was created using Erzurum, Mus, Konya, Bilensoy82, Alsancak, and Plato varieties. The Iside and Bilensoy were found to be morphogenetic in relationship. Our control plant, M. truncatula, did not have a similarity relationship with other ecotypes and cultivars. The total numbers of protein bands differed among tested plants from 140 kDA to 25 kDa. CONCLUSIONS: This paper first reports on the genetic variation of Turkish alfalfa plants by using detailed analysis techniques. This work provides important findings for the classification, conservation, and innovation of alfalfa germplasm resources.

In vitro effects of CaO nanoparticles on Triticale callus exposed to short and long-term salt stress.

KEY MESSAGE: Ca2+ NPs enhanced tolerance of Triticale callus under salt stress by improving biochemical activity and confocal laser scanning analysis, conferring salt tolerance on callus cells. CaO NPs (Ca2+) are significant components that act as transducers in many adaptive and developmental processes in plants. In this study, effect of Ca2+ NPs on the response and regulation of the protective system in Triticale callus under short and long-salt treatments was investigated. The activation of Ca2+ NPs was induced by salt stress in callus of Triticale cultivars. MDA, H2O2, POD, and protein activities were determined in callus tissues. Concerning MDA, H2O2, protein activities, it was found that the Ca2+ NPs treatment was significant, and it demonstrated a high correlation with the tolerance levels of cultivars. Tatlicak cultivar was detected for better MDA activities in the short time with 1.5 ppm Ca2+ NPs concentration of 50 g and 100 g NaCl. Similarly, the same cultivar responded with better H2O2 activity at 1.5 ppm Ca2+ NPs 100 g NaCl in the short time. POD activities exhibited a decreasing trend in response to the increasing concentrations of Ca2+ NPs. The best result was observed at 1.5 ppm Ca2+ NPs 100 g NaCl in the short term. Based on the protein content, treatment of short-term cultured callus cells with 1.5 ppm Ca2+ NPs inhibited stress response and it significantly promoted Ca2+ NPs signals as compared to control callus. Confocal laser scanning analysis proved that the application of Ca2+ NPs could alleviate the adverse effects of salt stress by the inhibition of stress severity in callus cells. This study demonstrated, under in vitro conditions, that the application of Ca2+ NPs can significantly suppress the adverse effects of salt stress on Triticale callus; it was also verified that the concentration of Ca2+ NPs could be important parameter to be considered in adjusting the micronutrient content in the media for this plant.

Temperature-dependent demography of Aulacaspis yasumatsui (Hemiptera: Diaspididae).

Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi continues to threaten the extinction of the endemic and endangered Cycas taitungensis (Shen et al.) in Taiwan. Failure to understand its population demographic parameters in detail will continue to hinder the success of pest management practices. An in-depth knowledge of the development, survival, and fecundity of A. yasumatsui under different environmental conditions is necessary to understand its' population growth. The demography of A. yasumatsui was studied in the laboratory based on the age-stage, two-sex life table at 20, 23, 25, 28, and 31 degrees C, 70% relative humidity, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) under these temperatures was 0.06, 0.07, 0.09, 0.10, and 0.08 d(-1), respectively. The net reproductive rate (R0) was 46.27, 47.78, 69.50, 96.08, and 56.65 offsprings per individual and the mean generation time (T) was 65.60, 55.81, 47.82, 44.15, and 51.42 d, respectively. A. yasumatsui does well at warmer temperatures (25-28 degrees C); however, its performance is disrupted at lower temperatures. This study provides insight on how to minimize growth and destruction of A. yasumatsui and conservation of Cy. taitungensis; new cycad reserves should be set up in cooler areas in Taiwan.