Engineering an Organic Nanoplatform for Augmented Pyroeletroimmunotherapy.

Photothermal immunotherapy has shown great promise in the treatment of tumor metastasis. However, the thermal resistance of tumor cells substantially compromises the treatment effect of photothermal immunotherapy. Herein, a high-performance organic pyroelectric nanoplatform, tBu-TPAD-BF2 nanoparticles (NPs), is rationally engineered for the effective pyroelectroimmunotherapy of tumor metastasis. Biocompatible tBu-TPAD-BF2 NPs with excellent pyroelectric and photothermal conversion properties are constructed by assembling organic, low-bandgap pyroelectric molecules with amphiphilic polymers. After internalization by tumor cells, treatment with tBu-TPAD-BF2 NPs causes an apparent temperature elevation upon near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation, inducing potent immunogenic cell death (ICD). Additionally, the temperature variations under alternating NIR laser irradiation facilitate reactive oxygen species production for pyroelectric therapy, thus promoting ICD activation and lowering thermal resistance. Importantly, in vivo assessments illustrate that tBu-TPAD-BF2 NPs in combination with NIR laser exposure notably inhibit primary and distant tumor proliferation and prominently retarded lung metastasis. RNA profiling reveals that treatment with tBu-TPAD-BF2 NPs markedly suppresses metastasis under NIR laser illumination by downregulating metastasis-related genes and upregulating immune response-associated pathways. Therefore, this study provides a strategy for designing high-performance pyroelectric nanoplatforms to effectively cure tumor metastasis, thereby overcoming the inherent shortcomings of photothermal immunotherapy.

Effect of the Steaming Process on Quality of Postharvest Cistanche deserticola for Medicinal Use during Sun Drying.

Effect of steaming on postharvest stems of Cistanche deserticola Y. C. MA was evaluated periodically during sun drying in both years. Steamed stems exhibited oily black in color, slightly heavier and longer than untreated ones. The levels of five phenylethanoid glycosides and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH) scavenging activity in steamed stems remained relatively stable during sun drying. Steamed samples showed higher amounts of water-soluble extracts, dilute ethanol-soluble extracts, soluble sugars, and polysaccharides, while a lower level of total ashes than untreated samples. The overall results suggest that steaming is an effective processing for enhancing the appearance quality and the concentration of some bioactive compounds in Cistanches Herba.

Changes in Levels of Phenylethanoid Glycosides, Antioxidant Activity, and Other Quality Traits in Cistanche deserticola Slices by Steam Processing.

We investigated the effect of steaming time on Cistanche deserticola Y. C. MA slices by analyzing levels of bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and weight loss compared with fresh, directly oven-dried, and blanched samples. Fresh samples had extremely low levels of phenylethanoid glycosides and antioxidant activity. Lower levels of weight loss and higher amounts of soluble sugars, polysaccharides, and dilute ethanol-soluble extracts were found when the slices were steamed rather than blanched. Slices steamed for 5 and 7 min contained significantly (p<0.05) higher amounts of acteoside, isoacteoside, and 2'-acetylacteoside than directly oven-dried samples. However, soluble sugars and dilute ethanol-soluble extracts decreased gradually throughout the steaming process. The concentration of polysaccharides fluctuated during the steaming process. The steaming time had a consistent effect on antioxidant properties evaluated by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant property (FRAP), showing a significant increase and reaching 108.62, 23.08, and 11.68 micromoles Trolox per mass of fresh slice (µmol TE/g FW), respectively. The present results suggest that fresh-cut C. deserticola can be subjected to approximately 5-7 min of steaming to improve phenylethanoid glycoside levels and antioxidant activity, while still preserving the amounts of soluble sugars, polysaccharides, and dilute ethanol-soluble extracts. These results would help to improve the production process for fresh-cut Chinese medicines, and increase the understanding of their associated health benefits.

[Effect of Grade and Steaming Time on Quality of Cultivated Cistanche deserticola].

Objective: To study the correlation between chemical component content and grades of Cistanche deserticola,and then to determine the optimum steaming time of different grades of Cistanche deserticola. Methods: Morphological indexes of postharvest stems of Cistanche deserticola were analyzed by principal component analysis and K-mean cluster analysis to determine a grading standard. Concentrations of phenylethanoid glycosides,polysaccharides,dilute ethanol-soluble extracts and total ashes in dried stems of Cistanche deserticola were determined using high performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Results: There was no significant relationship between grades and chemical component content. The effect of steaming time was stronger than that of grades on chemical component content. Moreover, the optimum steaming time of grade Ⅰwas 30 min,of grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ were both 20 min. Conclusion: It is suggested that postharvest Cistanche deserticola should be divided into three grades and steamed for a certain time.

[Influence of dehydration and diurnal variation on characteristics of chlorophyll fluorescence of leaves in Haloxylon ammodendron and H. persicum].

To evaluate the ecological adaptation mechanism of Haloxylon ammodendron and H. persicum from Ningxia, the host of Cistanche deserticola, the chlorophyll fluorescence under dehydration and diurnal variation was determined by IMAGING-PAM method. The results showed that H. ammodendron had higher photosynthetic electron transport activity (Fv/Fm), photosynthetic efficiency (qP), and PS II electron transport activity (ETR) than H. persicum. After 48 h dehydration, the chlorophyll fluorescence and water-retaining property of H. ammodendron were significantly higher than those of H. persicum. The significant difference in diurnal variation between H. ammo- dendron and H. persicum was observed and a 'V' trend was exhibited. It suggested that H. ammodendron had a stronger ability to adapt to the environment and had wider distribution, while H. persicum was limited by water and light and had narrow distribution.

[AFLP analysis on genetic diversity of Haloxylon ammodendron in China].

To determine the genetic diversity of Haloxylon ammodendron collected from 14 sites in 5 provinces, 103 H. ammodendron samples of 12 wild populations and 2 cultivated which collected from 14 sites in 5 provinces were analyzed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) DNA markers. PopGen32 and NTSYSpc2.1 was applied to evaluate genetic diversity of H. ammodendron populations. The average percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) of total H. ammodendron populations was 94.13%, the average Nei's gene diversity index (H(e)) from 14 populations was 0.308 0, and the Shannon's genetic diversity index (I) was 0.467 6. The results indicated that the genetic diversity of H. ammodendron populations was high. Genetic differentiation index (G(st)) was 0.313 8, and the gene flow (N(m)) was 1.093 5 at the population level. The level of gene flow of H. ammodendron showed it possessed the feature of wind-pollinated outcrossing plants. AMOVA analysis indicated that genetic variation of H. ammodendron was much higher within groups (89.34%) than that among groups (10.66%), moreover genetic variation within groups mainly occurred among populations in different producing areas (84.80%). Cluster analysis (UPGMA) was applied to generate dendrogram based on Nei's genetic distances of 14 populations. Samples from Xinjiang and Qinghai were clustered respectively as a clade for their distant genetic relationship, while Samples from Gansu, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia were clustered together for their close genetic relationship. Genetic diversity of H. ammodendron populations is high in China, and genetic differentiation among regions is small, thus abundance within this specie is high at this stage. Therefore, wild nursery and artificial cultivating in different areas are effective measures for the conservation and sustainable utilization of H. ammodendron resources.

[Status and prospect of studies on habitat characteristics, parasitic mechanism and nutrient transport of Cistanche deserticola].

Cistanche Herba is one of precious traditional Chinese medicine, which original wild plant resources dropped sharply in recent years. It is urgent to make sustainable utilization. The genus of Cistanche is a total parasitic plant, its physiological ecology and nutrition transfer are very particular. The status of the studies on habitat characteristics, parasitic mechanism and nutrient transport of Cistanche was reviewed, prospect was also given. It can provide reference for the further basic and applied studies on the nutrition transfer, germplasm quality and agriculture practice.

[Analysis of volatile compounds of inflorescence by GC-MS from Cistanche deserticola].

OBJECTIVE: To study the volatile compounds from inflorescence of Cistanche deserticola and provide basis for its utilization and seed breeding. METHODS: The volatile compounds were collected by dynamic headspace adsorption and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS: Forty volatile components were identified in inflorescence of Cistanche deserticola from squaring period to full-bloom period. The main components in buds of Cistanche deserticola were hydrocarbons and green leaf volatiles in squaring period. Some components were characteristic in buds and disappeared or decreased in flowers. The relative contents of some components gradually increased with the buds blooming. And some components only emerged in flowers of Cistanche deserticola. The higher content of esters and aromatics were found in flowers, which were significantly increased in comparison with the volatile compounds from buds. CONCLUSION: The volatile compounds from inflorescence of Cistanche deserticola were complex, consisting of various compositions and significantly different with buds blooming.

[Diversity of endophytic fungi from Cistanche deserticola].

To study the diversity of endophytic fungi community from Cistanche deserticola, samples were collected from two planting bases in Inner Mongolia and Ningxia autonomous regions separately in spring and autumn. As a result, 618 strains of endophytic fungi had been isolated from samples. It was identified that 453 of the strains which accounted for 73.30% were spore strains, respectively belonging to 24 genera, and Fusarium (25.89%) and Acremonium (16.99%) were determined as dominant species. Number and species of endophytic fungi from C. deserticola showed a great diversity, and the differences of parts, localities and seasons were demonstrated.

[Preliminary study of reproductive allocation in Cistanche deserticola].

OBJECTIVE: Discuss the trade-off between vegetative growth and reproductive growth. METHOD: Vegetative modules and reproductive modules by large sampling were separated and quantitative charecters of organs and pattern of reproductive allocation were analysed of reproductive allocation were analysed. RESULT: The phenotype plasticity of quantitative charecters were significant. Reproductive biomass was increasing at different stages. The mass of reproductive investment increased significantly with increasing individual size, the opposite of reproductive allocation. There were all significant positive correlations between the seeds weight and height, total biomass, vegetative biomass, reproductive biomass, fruit numbers, fruit weight. CONCLUSION: The significance of phenotype plasticity is the cause of multiple elements. In the process of transferring from vegetative growth to reproductive growth, there was a trade-off between organs. Under individual growth and reproductive strategy, the variation of biomass was allocated coordinately.

[Pollen viability and stigma receptivity of Cistanche deserticola].

OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of pollen viability and stigma receptivity of C. deserticola and provide theory basis for seed production and breeding of C. deserticola. METHOD: Different physiological measurement methods were applied to evaluate pollen viability and stigma receptivity. The results of different methods were compared with the seed setting percentage of the cross-pollination in the field test and pollen germination percentage by fluoroscope observation methods. The changes of pollen vitality and stigma receptivity in different conditions were tested using proper methods. RESULT: The optimum methods on pollen viability and stigma receptivity detection were MTT-test and Benzidine-Hydrogen Peroxide method respectively. Results showed that the mean pollen viability and stigma receptivity were both the highest in inchoate anthesis with pollen germination percentage up to 95%, and can maintain viable for 4-5 d, but at the lower temperature of 4 degrees C, the pollen can be stored up to 10 days. CONCLUSION: The physiological characteristics of pollen and stigma of C. deserticola displayed good ecological adaptation, which are much more adaptive to the large area of cultivation condition.

[FTIR and 2D-IR spectroscopic studies on different sources of Herbra cistanche].

In the present paper, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) associated with second derivative infrared spectroscopy and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-IR) were used to analyze the 3 different sources of Hebra cistanche. The results showed that these IR spectra showed their different macro-fingerprint features: the charactersistic peaks of C. deserticola were located at approximately 1 730, 1 633, 1 156, 1 081, 1 025 and 931 cm(-1) and those of C. tubulosa were at 1 692, 1 631, 1 604, 1 516, 1 265 and 1 023 cm(-1), respectively. The only two peaks at approximately 1 151 and 1 085 cm(-1) of C. salsa were different from that of C. deserticola. As a result, the IR spectrum of C. deserticola could be identified obviously from that of the C. tubulosa, whose similar index was only 0.623 3, but it was very similar to that of C. salsa, whose similar index was up to 0.904 8, demonstrating very similar ingredients. However, the difference between C. deserticola and C. salsa was obvious in the second derivative IR spectra: the shape of the two peaks of C. deserticola at approximately 1 730 and 816 cm(-1) were much sharper. In addition, the fingerprint characters in 2D-IR spectra were more visualized. The three kinds of herbs were quite different from each other in the number and intensity of autopeaks. Therefore, FTIR macro-fingerprint method can identify different sources of Hebra cistance fast, nondestructively and effectively.

[Rapid and undamaged determination of C. deserticola by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and clustering analysis].

Cistanche deserticola, an endemic species in China, has been one of the grade II national key conservation rare and endangered plants. The spectra of cultivated and wild C. deserticola samples were determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry. Based on the fingerprint infrared spectrum from 450 to 2 000 cm(-1), C. deserticola samples were rapidly classfied and closely studied by using the method of clustering analysis. Results showed that although there were tiny differences between the spectra of different origin, including the wild and cultivated C. deserticola samples, these samples could be successfully classified by soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA). Recognition rate and rejection rate of different C. deserticola samples were up to 90%. When testing with the blind sample which the authors picked out from the chosen samples, the accuracy of clustering reaches up to 95%. On the whole, combined with clustering analysis, FTIR provides a effective way to evaluate the origin of the Chinese medicines rapidly and undamagedly.

[Identification of Cistanche deserticola from Boschniakla rossica and Cynomorium songaricum using FTIR and two-dimensional correlation IR spectroscopy].

In the present paper, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) combined with two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-IR) was used for the identification of Cistanche deserticola from its adulterants, Boschniakla rossica and Cynomorium songaricum. The results showed that these IR spectra showed their different macro-fingerprint feathers: the charactersistic peaks for Cistanche deserticola were located at -1 730 and 931 cm(-1). While absorption peaks at -1 510, 1 375 and 1 266 cm(-1) were only found in Boschniakla rossica. And the strongest peak of Cynomorium songaricum was at 1 614 cm(-1). Differences were more obvious in the second derivative IR spectra: the intensities of the four peaks of Cistanche deserticola at -1 453,1 336, 931, and 892 cm(-1) were strong, among which the peak at -931 cm(-1) was sharp and the strongest in intensity. There was the strongest peak at -1 509 cm(-1) for Boschniakla rossica. In addition, the shape of peaks at -1 633 and 1 161 cm(-1) was wider and the intensities were stronger. While the shape of peak at -1 682 cm(-1) was sharp, and also the intensity of peak at 1 605 cm(-1) was stronger. According to the features of the IR spectra of each kind, a quick and accurate method based on FTIR for the identification of Cistanche deserticola was established.

[Studies on seed quality evaluation technique and grading rules of Cistanche deserticola].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a seed quality evaluation technique system and quality grading rules for Cistanche deserticola. METHODS: We used stereomicroscope, microphotography and image analysis system, tetrazolium method to measure, analyze and evaluate the size, thousand kernel weight, plumpness, embryo rate and viability of Cistanche deserticola seed. Then we used SPSS 11.0 statistical analysis software to analyze the seed viability and related indexes of another 55 batches. RESULTS: Seed size was significantly correlated with thousand kernel weight, but wasn't correlated with seed viability. However, grain plumpness was negatively correlated with seed viability. Seed quality was not determined by seed size but by seed viability and grain plumpness. CONCLUSION: Seed viability, thousand kernel weight and grain plumpness are significant indicators of seed quality and they can be took in the granding rules of Cistanche deserticola seed.

[Study on reproduction biology of Cistanche deserticola--seedling emergence and flowering].

OBJECTIVE: To study the reproduction characteristic of Cistanche deserticola. METHOD: The reproduction characteristic and growing dynamic in Ningxia plantation were investigated, the contents of boschnaloside and echinacoside were determined during reproduction period. RESULT: The germination period of C. deserticola was in the first ten days of the month, the duration from the germination to flowering lasted about one month. The contents of boschnaloside and echinacoside decreased during reproduction period. CONCLUSION: The reproduction period of C. deserticolais lasts about two months, germination period of C. deserticola is the suitable harvest time.

[Occurrence and control of Loxostege stieticatis on host plant Haloxylon ammodendron to Cistanche deserticola].

The investigation of the occurrence and pesticide experiments of Loxostege stieticatis on Haloxylon ammodendron showed that Loxostege stieticatis is an explosive pest; it can be controlled with lower toxic pesticides such as deltametrin; the innocuous comprehension measure should be a good choice to control in field.

[Occurrence and control of pests about Cistanche deserticola and its hosts].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the kinds and occurrence of pests of Cistanche deserticola and its hosts so as to find ways of pest control. METHOD: Pests of C. deserticola and its hosts were investigated in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia where C. deserticola grows, the occurrence of Anomala titanis Reitter was investigated in the field, and phoxim was used for field control. RESULT: There are 17 kinds of pests which harm C. deserticola and its hosts. Phoxim 40% EC 1000 times, 2000 times and Phoxim 3% GR [8 kg x (667 m2)(-1)] had 100% controlling effect, and 3% GR [4 kg x (667 m)(-2-1)] had 88.23% controlling effect. CONCLUSION: Many kinds of pests can harm the C. deserticola and its hosts. Phoxim is good for killing A. titanis Reitter.

[Study on the pollination characteristic of Cistanche deserticola].

OBJECTIVE: To study the Pollination Characteristic of C. deserticola. METHOD: Four pollination methods were used, cross pollination coming different plant, cross pollination in one plant, wind pollination and no-pollination. RESULT: Cross pollinations coming different plant are fructiferous. The average fructication rate of cross pollination coming different plant is 94.1%; the average fructication rate of cross pollination in one plant is 52.2%; The seed qulitity of cross pollination coming different plant is better than the cross pollination in one plant. CONCLUSION: Cross pollinations coming different plant have a high quantity and quality of seeds of C. deserticola.