Population structure and phylogeography of three closely related tree peonies.

Paeonia decomposita, Paeonia rotundiloba, and Paeonia rockii are three closely related species of Sect. Moutan is distributed in the montane area of the Eastern Hengduan Mountain region. Understanding the population history of these three tree peony species could contribute to unraveling the evolutionary patterns of undergrowth species in this hotspot area. We used one nuclear DNA marker (internal transcribed spacer region, ITS) and two chloroplast DNA markers (matK, ycf1) to reconstruct the phylogeographic pattern of the populations. In total, 228 individuals from 17 populations of the three species were analyzed in this study. Three nuclear clades (Clade I - Clade III) and four maternal clades (Clade A - Clade D) were reconstructed. Molecular dating suggested that young lineages diverged during the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene, younger than the uplift of the Hengduan Mountains but older than the last glacial maximum (LGM). Significant population and phylogeographic structures were detected at both markers. Furthermore, the populations of these tree peonies were overall at equilibrium during the climatic oscillations of the Pleistocene. The simulated palaeoranges of the three species during the LGM period mostly overlapped, which could have led to cross-breeding events. We propose an evolutionary scenario in which mountain orogenesis around the Hengduan Mountain area triggered parapatric isolation between maternal lineages of tree peonies. Subsequent climatic fluctuations drove migration and range recontact of these populations along the valleys. This detailed evolutionary history provides new insights into the phylogeographic pattern of species from mountain-valley systems.

Evolution of the Yangtze River and its biodiversity.

Documenting the origins of megadiverse (sub)tropical aquatic ecosystems is an important goal for studies of evolution and ecology. Nonetheless, the geological and ecological establishment of the modern Yangtze River remains poorly understood. Here, we reconstruct the geographic and ecological history of an endemic clade of East Asian fishes based on the mitochondrial phylogenomics analysis of Cyprinidae using 15 fossil calibrations. We estimate an ancestral condition of benthic spawning with demersal or adhesive eggs in southern East Asia before ∼23 Ma and a derived condition of riverine spawning with semibuoyant eggs in the Yangtze by ∼18 Ma. These results imply the formation of Yangtze riverine ecosystems around the Oligocene-Miocene boundary in response to plateau uplift and monsoon strengthening. Some of these cyprinids reverted to benthic spawning with adhesive eggs by ∼15 Ma, a time of rising to peak net diversification rates, indicating the formation of potamo-lacustrine ecosystems by the mid-Miocene during a strong East Asian summer monsoon. Our study provides increased spatiotemporal resolution for the co-evolutionary histories of the Yangtze River and its biodiversity and highlights biological evidence concerning the geomorphological dynamics of the Yangtze River.

Alternative signal pathways underly fertilization and egg activation in a fish with contrasting modes of spawning.

BACKGROUND: The processes of fertilization and egg activation are vital for early embryogenesis. However, while the mechanisms associated with key events during these processes differ among species and modes of spawning, the signal pathways underlying these processes are opaque for many fishes, including economically important species. RESULTS: We investigated phenotypic traits, ultrastructure and protein expression levels in the eggs of the topmouth culter (Culter alburnus), a protected and economically important freshwater fish that exhibits two spawning modes, producing semi-buoyant eggs and adhesive eggs. Unfertilized eggs of C. alburnus were examined, as well as eggs at fertilization and 30 min post fertilization. Our results showed that in semi-buoyant eggs, energy metabolism was activated at fertilization, followed by elevated protein expression of cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interactions that resulted in rapid egg swelling; a recognized adaptation for lotic habitats. In contrast, in adhesive eggs fertilization initiated the process of sperm-egg fusion and blocking of polyspermy, followed by enhanced protein expression of lipid metabolism and the formation of egg envelope adhesion and hardening, which are adaptive in lentic habitats. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that alternative signal pathways differ between modes of spawning and timing during the key processes of fertilization and egg activation, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in adaptive early embryonic development in teleost fishes.

Cadmium stress interacts with nutrient availability and light condition to affect the growth of Hydrocotyle vulgaris.

Heavy metal pollution is becoming a serious problem in wetland and often co-occurs with nutrient availability and light conditions variation. We hypothesized that nutrient availability and light condition can affect the growth of wetland plants under heavy metal stress. To test this hypothesis, single ramets of a common, clonal wetland plant Hydrocotyle vulgaris were grown for four weeks at three levels of cadmium with three levels of nutrient availability under 30% or 100% light conditions. High level of nutrient availability and high light condition overall promoted growth of H. vulgaris under Cd stress. Under the two light conditions, responses of H. vulgaris to Cd treatments differed among three nutrient levels. Under 30% light condition, 2 mg L-1 Cd2+ treatment decreased total mass at the low nutrient level and decreased ramet number at the medium nutrient level; 0.5 and 2 mg L-1 Cd2+ treatments decreased leaf mass ratio at the low and the medium nutrient levels. Under 100% light condition, 2 mg L-1 Cd2+ treatments significantly decreased total mass at the high level of nutrients; 2 mg L-1 Cd2+ treatment decreased ramet number at the medium and the high nutrient levels and decreased leaf mass ratio at the medium nutrient levels. Our results suggested that Cd stress can interact with nutrient availability and light condition to affect the performance of wetland plants such as H. vulgaris.

Successful treatment of epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa by dupilumab.

Epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa (EBP) is a rare variant of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa caused by COL7A1 gene mutation. Intense pruritus and nodular prurigo-like lesions are the main features of the disease. To date, the treatment strategies for this condition are not well established. Recent studies have indicated that type 2 inflammation plays a role in the pathophysiology of EBP, suggesting Th2 cytokines could be potential therapeutic targets. In this prospective case series study, we reported three patients with EBP, diagnosed by clinical manifestations, histopathological evaluations, and genetic sequencing, two of whom were treated with dupilumab for 20 weeks. Results showed that the clinical symptoms, pruritus, and quality of life of the patients were significantly improved, as measured by the Epidermolysis Bullosa Disease Activity and Scarring Index, the Visual Analog Scale, and the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index. Serum immunoglobulin E levels also fell gradually over the 20-week treatment period. Immunotyping of Th1/2/17 cell subsets in peripheral blood by flow cytometry revealed a higher Th2 but parallel Th1 and Th17 cell subsets in patients compared to healthy controls, and a significant decrease in Th2 and an increase in Th17 cells after dupilumab administration. Of note, after 20 weeks of dupilumab treatment, the expression of type VII collagen in the basement membrane of the skin lesion of the patients significantly increased, which was evidenced by immunofluorescence analysis. No treatment-related adverse events were documented. Taken together, targeting type 2 inflammation with dupilumab may be an effective and safe treatment option for EBP.

Hypericin: A natural anthraquinone as promising therapeutic agent.

BACKGROUND: Hypericin is a prominent secondary metabolite mainly existing in genus Hypericum. It has become a research focus for a quiet long time owing to its extensively pharmacological activities especially the anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and neuroprotective effects. This review concentrated on summarizing and analyzing the existing studies of hypericin in a comprehensive perspective. METHODS: The literature with desired information about hypericin published after 2010 was gained from electronic databases including PubMed, SciFinder, Science Direct, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases and Wan Fang DATA. RESULTS: According to extensive preclinical and clinical studies conducted on the hypericin, an organized and comprehensive summary of the natural and artificial sources, strategies for improving the bioactivities, pharmacological activities, drug combination of hypericin was presented to explore the future therapeutic potential of this active compound. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this review offered a theoretical guidance for the follow-up research of hypericin. However, the pharmacological mechanisms, pharmacokinetics and structure activity relationship of hypericin should be further studied in future research.

Hyperforin: A natural lead compound with multiple pharmacological activities.

Hypericum perforatum L. (Clusiaceae), commonly known as St. John's wort, has a rich historical background as one of the oldest and most widely studied herbal medicines. Hyperforin is the main antidepressant active ingredient of St. John's wort. In recent years, hyperforin has attached increasing attention due to its multiple pharmacological activities. In this review, the information on hyperforin was systematically summarized. Hyperforin is considered to be a lead compound with diverse pharmacological activities including anti-depression, anti-tumor, anti-dementia, anti-diabetes and others. It can be obtained by extraction and synthesis. Further pharmacological studies and more precise detection methods will help develop a value for hyperforin. In addition, structural modification and pharmaceutical preparation technology will be beneficial to promoting the research progress of hyperforin based innovative drugs. Although these works are full of known and unknown challenges, researchers are still expected to make hyperforin play a greater value.

Molecular Mechanisms of Spawning Habits for the Adaptive Radiation of Endemic East Asian Cyprinid Fishes.

Despite the widespread recognition of adaptive radiation as a driver of speciation, the mechanisms by which natural selection generates new species are incompletely understood. The evolutionary radiation of endemic East Asian cyprinids has been proposed as evolving through a change in spawning habits, involving a transition from semibuoyant eggs to adhesive eggs in response to crosslinked river-lake system formation. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms that underpin this radiation, associated with egg hydration and adhesiveness. We demonstrated that semibuoyant eggs enhance hydration by increasing the degradation of yolk protein and accumulation of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions, while adhesive eggs improve adhesiveness and hardness of the egg envelope by producing an adhesive layer and a unique 4th layer to the egg envelope. Based on multiomics analyses and verification tests, we showed that during the process of adaptive radiation, adhesive eggs downregulated the "vitellogenin degradation pathway," "zinc metalloprotease pathway," and "ubiquitin-proteasome pathway" and the pathways of Ca2+ and Mg2+ active transport to reduce their hydration. At the same time, adhesive eggs upregulated the crosslinks of microfilament-associated proteins and adhesive-related proteins, the hardening-related proteins of the egg envelope, and the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycan in the ovary to generate adhesiveness. These findings illustrate the novel molecular mechanisms associated with hydration and adhesiveness of freshwater fish eggs and identify critical molecular mechanisms involved in the adaptive radiation of endemic East Asian cyprinids. We propose that these key egg attributes may function as "magic traits" in this adaptive radiation.

Risk factors for food sensitization in children with atopic dermatitis: a single-center cross-sectional study. / ç‰¹åº”æ€§çš®ç‚Žæ‚£å„¿é£Ÿç‰©è‡´æ•å±é™©å› ç´ åˆ†æžï¼šä¸€é¡¹å•ä¸­å¿ƒæ¨ªæ–­é¢ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To study the risk factors for food sensitization and the influence of food sensitization on quality of life and clinical signs in children with atopic dermatitis (AD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 241 children with AD, including demographic features, age of onset, severity of AD, quality of life, physical examination results, skin prick test (SPT) results, serum total IgE levels, and eosinophil count. According to the results of SPT, the children were divided into a food sensitization group (n=127) and a non-food sensitization group (n=114). The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for food sensitization in children with AD. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of food sensitization was 52.7% (127/241) in the children with AD. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that birth in autumn or winter, age of onset of AD<12 months, severe AD, and total IgE>150 IU/mL were risk factors for food sensitization (P<0.05). Compared with the non-food sensitization group, the food sensitization group had a significantly poorer quality of life (P=0.008) and significantly higher prevalence rates of non-specific hand/foot dermatitis and palmar hyperlinearity (P<0.05). Compared with the single food sensitization group, the multiple food sensitization group had more severe AD and a significantly higher proportion of children with exclusive breastfeeding or total IgE>150 IU/mL (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The AD children born in autumn or winter, or those with early onset (<12 months), severe AD or total IgE>150 IU/mL have a higher risk of food sensitization. The AD children with food sensitization have a poorer quality of life and are more likely to develop non-specific hand/foot dermatitis and palmar hyperlinearity.

Regional differences of high-quality development level for manufacturing industry in China.

The development of China's manufacturing industry is still facing the challenge of regional imbalance. To solve the problem of development imbalance, it is necessary to realize regional development. First, we must analyze the development characteristics of different regions. To this end, we consider the requirements of the new development era and design an evaluation index system for the high-quality development level of the manufacturing industry from the dimensions of innovation, green, and efficiency. Then construct a novel hybrid model which combines the grey incidence clustering model and AP algorithm for panel data in this paper. According to the statistical data from 2014 to 2018, we find out the high-quality development of China's manufacturing industry is characterized by obvious regional differences, different development stages and different constraints.

Effects of transport time and feeding type on weight loss, meat quality and behavior of broilers.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the optimal time of transportation of floor-feed and scatter-feed broilers. METHODS: Eighty healthy Arbor Acres (AA) broilers (21-day-old, 624.4 g, male, standard error = 6.65) were selected and randomly divided into two experimental groups (floor-feed and scatter-feed), then fed for three weeks. The experiment comprised a 2×4 factorial design with 2 feed patterns (floor-feed and scatter-feed) and 4 transport periods (2, 3, 4, and 5 h), and 4 replicates of 5 broilers (54-day-old, 2243 g, standard error = 46.65) was used to compare weight loss, meat quality and behavior index of different groups. RESULTS: It appeared that drip loss, meat color and resting behavior of experimental broilers changed as length of transportation (p<0.05), however, weight loss and pH were not significantly transformed (p>0.05). Compared with floor-feed group, broilers in scatter-feed group had lower pH at 24 hours (3 h) and different behavioral indicators (p<0.05). Especially indicators after 3 h transportation, there were obvious differences between the two feeding modes in the behavior reaction of stress events before slaughter with different transport duration (p<0.05). The fluctuation of data on resting behavior with scatter-feed was significantly higher than that of floor-feed broilers. There was no interaction between transport time and different feeding methods for index tested of our experiment (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Comprehensive analysis showed that the maximum transport duration of floor-feed and scatter-feed broilers should not exceed 3 h, and scatter-feed broilers were more likely prone to fear.

Isolation and structural identification of insecticidal compounds from Tripterygium wilfordii.

Five compounds were identified from Tripterygium wilfordii, including two novel compounds and three previously known compounds. Two newly discovered compounds are celangulin CY (1α,2α,3ß,4ß,6ß,8α,13-hepacetoxy-9ß-benzoyloxy-ß-dihydroagarofuran) and celangulin CQ (1α-nicotinoyloxy-2α,3ß,6ß-triacetoxy-9ß-furancarbonyloxy-13-isobutanoyloxy-4ß-hydroxy-ß-dihydroagarofuran). Their structures were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS), and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The isolated compounds were tested for insecticidal activity against the third instar larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda. Both celangulin CY and celangulin CQ exhibited significantly higher oral toxicity in the larvae than that exhibited by the three known compounds.

Secoiridoid dimers and their biogenetic precursors from the fruits of Cornus officinalis with potential therapeutic effects on type 2 diabetes.

Cornusdiridoid A-F (1-6), six unusual cornuside-morroniside secoiridoid dimers, and their possible new biogenetic precursor, 3″,5″-dehydroxycornuside (7), together with four known secoiridoids (8-11), were obtained from the fruits of Cornus officinalis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of various spectroscopic and chemical methods. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of compounds 1-11 was proposed. The α-glucosidase inhibitory, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of these isolates were evaluated. Some of them emerged out as potent antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging agents. Molecular docking was also carried out for antidiabetic target α-glucosidase to investigate the possible binding modes of the most potent α-glucosidase inhibitor, vincosamide (9). These results revealed that the secoiridoids from C. officinalis fruits may be served as new potential antidiabetic agents to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes.

Intermittent mild cold stimulation improves the immunity and cold resistance of spleens in broilers.

In order to investigate the effect of intermittent mild cold stimulation (IMCS) on immune function of spleens and adaptability to cold stress in broilers, 400 healthy 1-day-old Ross-308 chickens were divided into 5 groups: CC (control) reared in normal thermal environment from 1 to 49 d; CS3, CS4, CS5, and CS6 (treatments) raised at 3°C below the temperature of CC for 3, 4, 5, or 6 h at 1-d intervals from 15 to 35 d, respectively. Subsequently, CS3-6 was raised at 20°C from 36 to 49 d. At 50 d, all groups were exposed to acute cold stress (ACS) for 12 h. The spleen immunity index at 22, 29, 36, 43, and 49 d, expression levels of toll-like receptors (TLRs), cytokines and immunoglobulins at 22, 43, and 49 d and heat shock proteins (HSPs) before and after ACS at 50 d were examined. The spleen index of broilers aged 22 to 49 d did not differ between CS and CC (P > 0.05), and the spleen index of CS5 was higher than that of CS3 at 49 d (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of TLR5, TLR15, TLR21, and IL-2 in CS3, TLR3, TLR4, TLR15, TLR21, IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-ϒ in CS4, TLR1, TLR3, TLR4, TLR21, IL-2, IFN-a, IFN-ϒ, IgA, and IgG in CS6, but all TLRs, immunoglobulins and cytokines except IFN-ϒ in CS5 differential expressed stably compared with CC at 43 and 49 d (P < 0.05). Compared with Pre-ACS, the mRNA levels of HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90 were upregulated in CS after ACS (P < 0.05). Except for HSP90 mRNA and HSP70 protein in CS6, and HSP90 protein in CS3, the levels of HSPs after ACS in all treatment groups were higher than those in CC (P < 0.05), and the highest HSPs levels after ACS were found in CS5. We concluded that IMCS could enhance immunity of spleens and adaptability to ACS in broilers, besides CS5 was the optimal program.

Cellular and molecular modification of egg envelope hardening in fertilization.

Fertilization is an essential process that fundamentally impacts fitness. An egg changes dramatically after fertilization mediating the beginning of life, which mainly includes the transformation of the egg envelope via hardening, which is thought to be due to complex reactions involved in the conversion of cellular and molecular. This review highlights the mechanisms of egg envelope hardening in teleost fish. We conclude that the egg envelope hardening might be carried out in two steps. (a) A metalloprotease (alveolin) hydrolyzes the N-terminal proline-glutamine (Pro-Gln) region of zona pellucida (ZP) 1 and (b) triggers intermolecular cross-linking to ZP3 catalyzed by transglutaminase (TGase). The post-fertilization hardening of the egg envelope is an evolutionarily conserved phenomenon across species. We discuss the biochemical function and interaction of some factors reported to be essential to egg envelope hardening in mammalian and nonmammalian species, including metalloprotease, TGase, peroxidase/ovoperoxidase, and other factors (carbohydrate moieties, zinc and Larp6 proteins), and the relevant data suggest that egg envelope hardening is crucial to block polyspermy in internal fertilization, in addition to protecting the developing embryo from mechanical shock and preventing bacterial infection in external fertilization. Increased knowledge of the processes of egg envelope hardening and fertilization is likely to make a remarkable contribution to reproduction and aquaculture.

Influence of pre-slaughter fasting time on weight loss, meat quality and carcass contamination in broilers.

OBJECTIVE: An experiment was conducted to determine the appropriate fasting time prior to slaughter for broilers in floor-feed and scatter-feed mode. METHODS: On 21 d since hatching, 120 Arbor Acres broilers were divided into floor-feed and scatter-feed groups, chicks from each group were further assigned to feed withdrawal treatments for 0, 4, 6, 8, and 10 h. Some resultant indicators such as carcass contamination, body weight loss, meat quality of 54-day-old broilers were measured. RESULTS: It appears that longer feed withdrawal increased weight loss, lightness, drop loss of meat but reduced pH. A significant higher weight loss and lightness for both floor-feed and scatter-feed chicks coincided after 6 to 10 h feed withdrawal (p<0.05). pH for breast muscle at 45 min postmortem reduced when chicks of scatter-feed were fasted 6 and 10 h, while the reduction of floor-feed group occurred only in 10 h (p<0.05). A noticeable effect of feed withdrawal on drop loss occurred after 10 h fasting in scatter-feed of which drop loss were significantly higher than that for other groups including control (p<0.05). The change of contamination propensity revealed that 6 to 10 h fasting significantly reduced the likelihood of carcass contamination under both floor-feed and scatter-feed (p<0.05). Net weights of intestinal contents for gizzard were significantly reduced after feed deprived for 10 h in floor-feed and 6 and 10 h in scatter-feed (p<0.05). The decrease for whole intestine occurred after floor-feed broilers have been without feed for more than 4 h, scatter-feed broilers for more than 8 h (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: On the premise that poultry product properties and welfare were not significantly damaged, proper fasting time could reduce carcass contamination. Current data implied that 6 h fasting was recommendable for both floor and scatter feed pre-slaughter broilers.

Effect of Intermittent and Mild Cold Stimulation on the Immune Function of Bursa in Broilers.

Cold stress causes growth performance to decrease and increases production costs. Cold adaptation can enhance immune function and alleviate the negative impact caused by the stress condition. The study investigated the effect of intermittent and mild cold stimulation on the immune function of the bursa of Fabricius in broilers. A total of 400 healthy one-day-old broilers were divided into the control group (CC) and cold stimulation (CS) groups. The CC group was raised at a conventional raising temperature of broilers, while the CS groups were raised at 3°C below the temperature of the CC for three-, four-, five-, or six-hour periods at one-day intervals from 15 to 35 days of age (D35), denoted CS3, CS4, CS5, and CS6, respectively. Subsequently, they were raised at 20°C from 36 to 49 days of age (D49). The expression levels of TLRs, cytokines, and AvBDs were determined to access the immune function of bursa in broilers. After 21-day IMCS (at D36), the expression levels of TLR1, TLR15 and TLR21, interleukin (IL)-8, and interferon (IFN)-γ, as well as AvBD8 in CS groups, were lower than those in CC (p < 0.05). The expression levels of TLR3, TLR4 and TLR7, were decreased in the CS3, CS5, and CS6 groups (p < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in both the CC and CS4 groups (p > 0.05). When the IMCS ended for 14 days (at D49), the expression levels of TLR2, TLR3, TLR5, TLR7, TLR15, and TLR21, and IL-8, as well as AvBD2, AvBD4 and AvBD7 in CS groups, were lower than those in CC (p < 0.05). In addition to CS4, the expression levels of TLR1, IFN-γ, and AvBD8 in CS3, CS5, and CS6 were still lower than those in CC (p < 0.05). We concluded that the intermittent and mild cold stimulation could regulate immunoreaction by modulating the production of TLRs, cytokines, and AvBDs in the bursa, which could help broilers adapt to low ambient temperature and maintain homeostasis.

Antifungal Mechanism of Dipicolinic Acid and Its Efficacy for the Biocontrol of Pear Valsa Canker.

Valsa pyri is a fatal canker pathogen that causes significant reduction of crop yield in pear orchards. V. pyri invades the trunk phloem, and is difficult to control by chemical treatment. In this work, it was found for the first time that Bacillus subtilis-produced dipicolinic acid (DPA) exhibits antifungal activity against different canker pathogens, including Alteraria alternata, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Rhizoctonia solani, and V. pyri. Growth inhibition of V. pyri was observed at less than 5 mM concentration (pH = 5.6). DPA showed the highest antifungal activity at acidic pH values and in the presence of bivalent metals, such as zinc(II), cobalt(II), and copper(II). Measurement of mRNA expression levels and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations revealed that DPA causes V. pyri apoptosis via inhibition of chitin biosynthesis and subsequent cell lysis. Interestingly, DPA showed high stability in the pear bark and was able to cross the pear tree bark into the phloem, protecting the internal phases of the pear trunk. In preventive applications, DPA reduced the canker symptoms of V. pyri on Cuigan pear trees by 90%. Taken together, an efficient strategy for the management of V. pyri-caused canker disease was developed using a novel antifungal agent, DPA, with strong antifungal activity and particular diffusion properties.

Unusual cadinane-type sesquiterpene glycosides with α-glucosidase inhibitory activities from the fruit of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zuuc.

Five novel and rare cadinane-type sesquiterpene glycosides, cornucadinoside A-E (1-5) were isolated from water extract of the fruit of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zuuc.. The new chemical structures, together with their absolute configurations, were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including a comparison of their experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Their structures, which possess a naphthalene skeleton, are the first report on the occurrence of cadinane sesquiterpene glycosides in Cornus. Additionally, all the compounds exhibited marked α-glucosidase inhibitory activity except for 3in vitro.

[A new phenylpropanoid glycoside from fruit of Cornus officinalis].

To investigate the chemical compounds from the ripe fruit of Cornus officinalis, a new phenylpropanoid glycoside 1-O-(6'-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl-ß-D-glucopyranosyl)-p-phenylpropanol, named cornuphenylpropanoid A (1), were separated and purified by D101 macroporous resin, silica gel and ODS column chromatography. Its structure was extensively determined on basis of ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, DEPT, HSQC, HMBC and HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic data.