[Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of complete chloroplast genome of cultivated Qinan agarwood].

"Tangjie" leaves of cultivated Qinan agarwood were used to obtain the complete chloroplast genome using high-throughput sequencing technology. Combined with 12 chloroplast genomes of Aquilaria species downloaded from NCBI, bioinformatics method was employed to determine the chloroplast genome characteristics and phylogenetic relationships. The results showed that the chloroplast genome sequence length of cultivated Qinan agarwood "Tangjie" leaves was 174 909 bp with a GC content of 36.7%. A total of 136 genes were annotated, including 90 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Sequence repeat analysis detected 80 simple sequence repeats(SSRs) and 124 long sequence repeats, with most SSRs composed of A and T bases. Codon preference analysis revealed that AUU was the most frequently used codon, and codons with A and U endings were preferred. Comparative analysis of Aquilaria chloroplast genomes showed relative conservation of the IR region boundaries and identified five highly variable regions: trnD-trnY, trnT-trnL, trnF-ndhJ, petA-cemA, and rpl32, which could serve as potential DNA barcodes specific to the Aquilaria genus. Selection pressure analysis indicated positive selection in the rbcL, rps11, and rpl32 genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that cultivated Qinan agarwood "Tangjie" and Aquilaria agallocha clustered together(100% support), supporting the Chinese origin of Qinan agarwood from Aquilaria agallocha. The chloroplast genome data obtained in this study provide a foundation for studying the genetic diversity of cultivated Qinan agarwood and molecular identification of the Aquilaria genus.

Hepatoprotective effects of ethanol extracts from Folium Syringae against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: The leaves of Folium Syringae (FS) have been long used as a traditional Chinese folk medicine for their anti-inflammatory effect, utilized as an antibacterial and antiviral treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential hepatoprotective effects of FS on acetaminophen-induced hepatic injury in primary hepatocytes and mice. METHODS: Hepatocytes obtained by the inverse perfusion method were divided randomly into five groups. Prior to acetaminophen exposure, 3 different doses of FS ethanol extracts were given to hepatocytes and mice, respectively. Thereafter, transaminases, glutathione S-transferase A1 (GSTA1) and some hepatic indices were determined. RESULTS: FS ethanol extracts (200 µg/mL) pretreatment prevented all of the alterations, returning their levels to nearly those levels observed in the control group in vitro. Treatment with FS ethanol extracts (200 mg/kg) significantly reduced the toxicity induced by acetaminophen in vivo, which manifested as a decrease in transaminases, and the hepatoprotective effects of FS were similar to Silymarin (positive group). GSTA1 represented the same change trend as transaminases and hepatic indices, and at a dose of 100 µg/mL FS ethanol extracts in vitro and 100 mg/kg in vivo, GSTA1 content changed significantly (p < 0.01), but transaminases were insignificant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of our investigation suggested that FS ethanol extracts possess significant protective effects against hepatotoxicity induced by acetaminophen both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, GSTA1 could be used as an indicator assessing the extents of hepatic injury, which is more sensitive than transaminases.

Hepatoprotective effects of Solanum nigrum against ethanol-induced injury in primary hepatocytes and mice with analysis of glutathione S-transferase A1.

BACKGROUND: Solanum nigrum is a herbaceous perennial plant, which is widely used in traditional medicine systems for its antioxidant, antiulcerogenic, antitumorigenic, and anti-inflammatory characteristics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of S. nigrum against alcoholic liver damage in primary hepatocytes and mice, using glutathione S-transferase alpha 1 (GSTA1) as an indicator. METHODS: Primary hepatocytes were obtained by the inverse perfusion method improved on Seglen two-step perfusion in situ. RESULTS: In the presence of S. nigrum aqueous extracts (100 µg/mL), no hepatocytic damage was observed in cells treated with ethanol, compared with the model group, and GSTA1 (p < 0.01) was more sensitive than alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (p < 0.05). Mice that received S. nigrum aqueous extracts (150 mg/kg) with ethanol showed marked attenuation of ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity, as evidenced by significant reductions of serum transaminases (p < 0.01), and variation of hepatic oxidative indices (p < 0.05) and GSTA1 (p < 0.05), compared with the model group and mice that received S. nigrum aqueous extracts (200 mg/kg). All the detection indexes were significantly different (p < 0.01) from those of the model group, and the protective effects were almost the same as that of the positive drug group. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that S. nigrum has hepatoprotective effects against ethanol-induced injury both in vitro and in vivo, and can protect the integrity of hepatocytes and thus reduce the release of liver GSTA1, which contributes to improved liver detoxification.

A new di-O-prenylated flavone from an actinomycete Streptomyces sp. MA-12.

A new di-O-prenylated flavone, named 7,3'-di-(γ,γ-dimethylallyloxy)-5-hydroxy-4'-methoxyflavone (1), was isolated from the culture broth of the endophytic actinomycete Streptomyces sp. MA-12 isolated from the root of the semi-mangrove plant Myoporum bontioides A. Gray. The structure of 1 was determined by comprehensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments (COSY, HMQC, and HMBC). Primary bioassays showed that 1 at concentration of 0.25 mM had moderate inhibitory activity against three plant pathogenic fungi including Colletotrichum musae, Gibberella zeae (Schweinitz) Petch, and Penicillium citrinum Thom.