Four New Diterpene Glucosides from Perovskia atriplicifolia.

Four new diterpene glucosides, namely perovskiaditerpenosides A - D (1 - 4), were isolated from the BuOH extract of Perovskia atriplicifolia. Their structures were well elucidated by chemical methods and comprehensive spectroscopic analyses including MS, IR, and NMR (1D and 2D). The newly isolated compounds were screened for their cytotoxic activity against HepG2, NB4, HeLa, K562, MCF7, PC3, and HL60. The obtained results indicated that the new compounds possessed considerable cytotoxic activity.

Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Plants on Anti-insulin Resistance Bioactivity of DXMS-Induced Insulin Resistant HepG2 Cells.

ABSTRACT: Medicinal plants have a long history of use in China to treat diabetic symptoms. Ancient Chinese medical manuscripts and ethnobotanical surveys document plant remedies that continue to be actively used in China for the treatment of diabetic symptoms. Based on a systematic ancient Chinese medical manuscripts review in combination with ethnobotanical survey, 16 medicinal plants for the traditional treatment of diabetic symptoms were identified for the evaluation of anti-insulin resistance bioactivity. The biological activity of 16 medicinal plants was tested on dexamethasone (DXMS)-induced insulin resistant HepG2 cells. The result shows that 11 of the 16 medicinal plants enhanced glucose uptake of DXMS-induced insulin resistant HepG2 cells, thereby demonstrating their ability to increase insulin sensitivity, other five medicinal plants including Astragalus membranaceus were found ineffective. The study shows that ancient Chinese medical manuscripts and ethnobotanical surveys on plants for the prevention and treatment of diabetic symptoms provide a promising knowledge base for drug discovery to mitigate the global diabetes epidemic.

[Spectral reflectance characteristics of dominant plant species at different eco-restoring stages in the semi-arid grassland].

The objective of the research is to apply hyperspectral technique into eco-restoring monitoring. Through the ASD Fields HH portable field spectrometer, the hyperspectral data of dominant plant species in vegetation at different eco-restoring stages in semi-arid grassland in Helin County, Inner Mongolia were collected. The original spectrum reflected data were pretreated by wavelet threshold denoising through ViewSpecPro software before analysis. Using the first derivative spectra between 660 and 800 nm, and the methods of detrended canonical correspondence analysis (DCCA) by Canoco 4. 5 software, the canopy hyperspectral datum of 6 dominant plant species was calculated. The results indicated that the dominant plant species at early succession stage were Setaria viridis and Caragana microphylia, at 5 years eco-restoring stage they were Salsola collina and Caragana microphylia and at late succession stage they were Pinus sylvestnis var. mongolica and Salsola collina, same as field survey. The graph of DCCA indicated that the influential bands of dominant species canopy at early eco-succession stage were short bands, with a large variation among species, the influential bands at 5 years eco-restoring stage were near infrared bands between 1 000 and 1 050 nm, and that at late stage were near infrared bands of 1 040-1 075 nm. The DCCA also showed obviously differences in canopy spectrum among 6 dominant species, and obviously differences among 3 eco-restoring stages.

[Ecological characteristics of preferred habitat of reindeer of Daxing'an Mountain forest area Northeast China in summer].

In July and August of 2012 and 2013, habitat selection and use patterns of reindeer were studied using both line and strip-transect surveys. Twenty-three habitat factors were measured and compared in known reindeer range areas in northwestern China. A total of 72 sampling sites were designated as being used by reindeer, and 162 sites were designated as unused control plots. The results indicated that, compared to the non-used habitat plots, reindeer selected summer habitats with higher values in altitude (26.9 ± 0.8 m), arbor canopy (17.9% ± 2.4%), arbor DBH (35.5 ± 2.1 cm), arbor height (8.2 ± 0.5 m), arbor density (6.9 ± 0.5 ind · 400 m(-2)) and stump quan- tity (1.3 ± 0.2 ind · 400 m(-2)), and with a lower shrub height (54.2 ± 2.0 cm). Moreover, reindeer also selected habitats at intermediate positions of intermediate slope gradient, which provided good water accessibility, more distance from human disturbance and herder influence, but bad concealment and lee condition. Results of the principal component analysis showed that the disturbance intensity (i. e. residential dispersion, anthropogenic-disturbance dispersion), arbor characteristics (arbor height and arbor density, arbor DBH and arbor canopy), geography characteristics (i. e. slope position, slope aspect and soil moisture), food abundance (ground-plant cover and shrub cover), openness (concealment and lee condition) and slope gradient were the most important factors influencing the habitat selection of reindeer in summer. In summary, the summer habitat selection of reindeer is a multidimensional process, through which reindeer adapt according to their ecological needs of food resources, safety and anti-predation. Furthermore, the pattern of habitat selection of reindeer showed that reindeer in China has not yet been domesticated, and reindeer populations and their core habitats should be conserved from intensive disturbance.

[Essential procedure and key methods for survey of traditional knowledge related to Chinese materia medica resources].

The survey of traditional knowledge related to Chinese materia medica resources is the important component and one of the innovative aspects of the fourth national survey of the Chinese materia medica resources. China has rich traditional knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and the comprehensive investigation of TCM traditional knowledge aims to promote conservation and sustainable use of Chinese materia medica resources. Building upon the field work of pilot investigations, this paper introduces the essential procedures and key methods for conducting the survey of traditional knowledge related to Chinese materia medica resources. The essential procedures are as follows. First is the preparation phrase. It is important to review all relevant literature and provide training to the survey teams so that they have clear understanding of the concept of traditional knowledge and master key survey methods. Second is the field investigation phrase. When conducting field investigations, survey teams should identify the traditional knowledge holders by using the 'snowball method', record the traditional knowledge after obtaining prior informed concerned from the traditional knowledge holders. Researchers should fill out the survey forms provided by the Technical Specification of the Fourth National Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources. Researchers should pay particular attention to the scope of traditional knowledge and the method of inheriting the knowledge, which are the key information for traditional knowledge holders and potential users to reach mutual agreed terms to achieve benefit sharing. Third is the data compilation and analysis phrase. Researchers should try to compile and edit the TCM traditional knowledge in accordance with intellectual property rights requirements so that the information collected through the national survey can serve as the basic data for the TCM traditional knowledge database. The key methods of the survey include regional division of Chinese materia medica resources, interview of key information holders and standardization of information.' In particular, using "snowball method" can effectively identify traditional knowledge holder in the targeted regions and ensuring traditional knowledge holders receiving prior informed concerned before sharing the information with researcher to make sure the rights of traditional knowledge holders are protected. Employing right survey methods is not only the key to obtain traditional knowledge related to Chinese materia medica resources, but also the pathway to fulfill the objectives of access and benefit sharing stipulated in Convention on Biological Resources. It will promote the legal protection of TCM traditional knowledge and conservation of TCM intangible, cultural heritage.

[Spatiotemporal differentiation of land cover change and grassland degradation pattern in Yangtze River headwaters area].

Based on field survey data, remote sensing images and statistical data, this paper analyzed the spatiotemporal differentiation of land use and grassland degradation patterns in Yangtze River headwaters area in 1987-2007, and discussed the main natural factors (elevation, position and slope) leading to the changes of this area's grassland ecological environment. In 1987-2007, the fragmentation of this area' s landscape patterns had an increasing trend, and natural environment and climate change were the main driving forces of land use pattern change. There existed significant differences in the areas of grassland degradation at different altitudes. Grassland degradation mainly occurred at altitudes 4800-5100 m. The grassland degradation area tended to increase with increasing elevation, and the proportions of the degradation area varied greatly over different slopes and aspects. The climate in the study area became warm and dry, and the spatial structure of regional land cover changed obviously. The distribution patterns of grassland degradation at different elevation, position and slope coincided with alpine environment and human disturbances, suggesting that alpine environment and climatic change were the decisive factors to the grassland ecosystem pattern in Yangtze River headwaters area.