Iridescence and hydrophobicity have no clear delineation that explains flower petal micro-surface.

Plant organs including flowers and leaves typically have a variety of different micro-structures present on the epidermal surface. These structures can produce measurable optical effects with viewing angle including shifts in peak reflectance and intensity; however, these different structures can also modulate hydrophobic properties of the surfaces. For some species optical effects have been proposed to act as signals to enhance pollination interactions, whilst the ability to efficiently shed water provides physiological advantages to plants in terms of gas exchange and reducing infections. Currently, little is known about epidermal surface structure of flowering plants in the Southern Hemisphere, and how micro-surface may be related with either hydrophobicity or visual signalling. We measured four Australian native species and two naturalised species using a combination of techniques including SEM imaging, spectral sampling with a goniometer and contact angle measurements. Spectral data were evaluated in relation to published psychophysics results for important pollinators and reveal that potential visual changes, where present, were unlikely to be perceived by relevant pollinators. Nevertheless, hydrophobicity also did not simply explain petal surfaces as similar structures could in some cases result in very different levels of water repellency.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Diqing wild boar (Sus verrucosus breed Diqing wild boar).

In the present study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the diqing wild boar (Sus verrucosus breed diqing wild boar) was reported for the first time. The total length of the mitogenome was 16,506 bp. It contained the typical structure, including two ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and one non-coding control region (D-loop region) as that of most other wild boars. The overall composition of the mitogenome was estimated to be 34.9% for A, 26.1% for T, 26.0% for C and 13.0% for G showing an A-T (61.0%)-rich feature. The mitochondrial genome analyzed here will provide new genetic resource to uncover wild boars' genetic diversity.

[Analysis on preparation and characterization of asiaticoside-loaded flexible nanoliposomes].

Asiaticoside is a compound extracted from traditional Chinese medicine Centella asiatica, and mainly used in wound healing and scar repair in clinical, with notable efficacy. However, its poor transdermal absorption and short action time restrict its wide application. In this experiment, the reserve-phase-extrusion-lyophilization method was conducted to prepare the lyophilized asiaticoside-loaded flexible nanoliposomes (LAFL). Its characteristics including electron microscope structure, particle size, Zeta potential, entrapment rate, drug-loading rate, stability and drug release were determined with the intelligent transdermal absorption instrument. LAFL were white spheroids, with pH, particle size and zeta potential of 7. 03, 70. 14 nm and - 36. 5 mV, respectively. The average entrapment rate of the 3 batch samples were 31. 43% , and the average asiaticoside content in 1 mg lyophilized simple was 0. 134 mg. The results indicated that LAFL have good physicochemical properties and pharmaceutical characteristics, with an improved transdermal performance.

[Comparison between antitumor effect and chemical constituents of Huanglian Jiedu decoction and that of serum containing Huanglian Jiedu decoction].

OBJECTIVE: To make a comparison between the antitumor effect and the chemical constituents of Huanglian Jiedu decoction (HLJDT) and that of serum containing HLJDT. METHOD: Based on the established chromatographic fingerprint of HLJDT, analysis and comparison were made between the HPLC fingerprints of rat serum samples obtained after orally taking HLJDT and those of control rat serum samples. The different effects on NCI-H446 and Bel-74024 cancer cells from human were investigated in vitro using HLJDT and its serum. The inhibitory effects of HLJDT and its serum were observed by MTT assay. RESULT: Ten compounds of HLJDT and some metabolites were detected after oral administration of HLJDT, and however some main compounds of HLJDT were not detected in serum. Both HLJDT and its serum in different dosage groups could inhibit the proliferation of NCI-H446 and Bel-7402 cancer cells from human in a dose-dependent manner, but inhibitory grade was different in the two cancer cell lines. HLJDT had more inhibitory effect on Bel-7402 than on NCI-H446, on the other hand serum containing HLJDT had the same inhibitory effect on Bel-7402 and NCI-H446. CONCLUSION: The reason for inhibitory grade change was that the proportion of concentration of many compounds in serum containing HLJDT was different to that in HLJDT, which should be subject to thorough investigation so as to illuminate the pharmacology and active mechanism of HLJDT.

[Study on antitumor activities of huanglian jiedu decoction].

OBJECTIVE: To study the antitumor activity of Huanglian Jiedu decoction (HLJDT). METHOD: Antitumor activities were tested in mice with experimental tumor H22 in vivo, and the thymus index, spleen index and tumor inhibitory rate were evaluated. The effects on cancer cells from human were investigated in vitro using serum pharmacological approach. Swille, SPC-A-1, SGC-7901 and MCF-7 cancer cells were incubated in culture media containing serum from mice medicated with HLJDT. The inhibitory effects of HLJDT serum were observed by MTT assay. RESULT: HLJDT showed significant antitumor activities on H22 in mice. All of the HLJDT serum in different dosage groups could highly inhibit the proliferation of 4 cancer cell lines from human. CONCLUSION: The HLJDT can significantly inhibit the tumor H22 in mice in a dose-dependent manner, the drug serum has obvious anticancer effects against Swille, SPC-A-1, SGC-7901 and MCF-7.

[Qualitative and quantitative determination of the main components of huanglianjiedu decoction by HPLC-UV/MS].

AIM: To establish a comprehensive HPLC analytical method of Huanglianjiedu decoction. METHODS: This study was performed by HPLC-UV/MS to identify the chemical constituents of the whole and individual herbs of the "Huanglianjiedu decoction". Zorbax Extend C18 (150 mm x 4. 6 mm ID, 5 microm) column was used; the mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile (A) and water (B, with 0.5% acetic acid) with gradient elution; the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the column temperature was setup at 25 degrees C. The detection wavelength was 254 nm. RESULTS: The chromatogram of Huanglianjiedu decoction showed 21 main peaks. Peaks 1, 2, 5 and 18 were from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, Peaks 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 21 from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. While 10 from Coptis chinensis Franch and 20 from Phellodendron amurense Rupr., Peaks 3, 4, 6, 9, 11 and 12 came from them together. Peak 7 presented in the chromatograms of the herbs except Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. By comparison of the retention time, the on-line UV spectra and MS spectra, 11 peaks were identified as 5 (geniposide), 9 (jatrorrhizine), 10 (coptisine), 11 (palmatine), 12 (berberine), 13 (baicalin), 15 (oroxin A), 17 (wogonoside), 19 (baicalein), 20 (obaculactone), 21 (wogonin), then eight of them were quantified by HPLC-UV. CONCLUSION: The method could represent the characteristics of Huanglianjiedu decoction, and it could be used to evaluate the quality and quantity of Huanglianjiedu decoction. It distinguished between Coptis chinensis Franch and Phellodendron amurense Rupr. by HPLC for the first time.

Apoptotic effects of ginsenoside Rh2 on human malignant melanoma A375-S2 cells.

AIM: To study the mechanism of ginsenoside-Rh2 (G-Rh2)-induced growth inhibition of A375-S2 cells. METHODS: A375-S2 cell viability and the effect of caspase inhibitors on G-Rh2-induced apoptosis were measured by crystal violet assay. Changes in cellular morphology were observed by phase-contrast microscopy. Apoptosis-specific nucleosomal DNA fragmentation was assayed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Cell cycle distribution was measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: G-Rh2 inhibited the A375-S2 cell growth in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Caspase family inhibitor, z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (z-VAD-fmk), caspase-3 inhibitor, z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethylketone (z-DEVD-fmk), and caspase-8 inhibitor, z-Ile-Glu-Asp-fluoromethylketone (z-IETD-fmk), partially inhibited G-Rh2-induced apoptosis. But caspase-1 inhibitor, Ac-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-chloromethyl-ketone (Ac-YVAD-cmk), did not antagonize G-Rh2 induced-cell death. CONCLUSION: G-Rh2 suppresses the growth of A375-S2 cells in vitro by inducing apoptosis. G-Rh2-induced apoptosis is partially dependent on caspase-8 and caspase-3 pathway in A375-S2 cells. Other apoptotic pathways might be also related to the induction of apoptosis by G-Rh2.

[The antitumor activity of Diosgenin in vivo and in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antitumor activity of Diosgenin in vivo and in vitro. METHOD: S-180, HepA, U14 and EAC transplant mice were given Diosgenin ig or i.p. everyday for 10 days, from the next day when they were inoculated in axilla. Tumor growth inhibit rates were calculated. Four kinds of cells, MCF, L929, A375-S2 and HeLa, were incubated respectively with Diosgenin in vitro. Tumor growth inhibit rates were also calculated. RESULT: In vivo, both ig and i.p., Diosgenin inhibited S-180, HepA, U 14 mice transplant tumor, the inhibit rates being 30%-50%, but it did not inhibit the EAC mice transplant tumor. In vitro, Diosgenin inhibited L929, HeLa, MCF cell growth, and IC50 were 1.2, 18.2, 19.8 micrograms.mL-1 respectively, but it did not significantly affect A375-S2 cells. CONCLUSION: Diosgenin has an obvious antitumor activity on S-180, HepA, U14 transplant mice in vivo and L929, HeLa, MCF cells in vitro.