[Chemical composition analysis and value evaluation of stems and leaves of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus].

This study aimed to provide data support for resource utilization of the stems and leaves of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus(SLAM) by analyzing and evaluating the chemical constituents. The crude protein, crude fiber, and soluble saccharide of SLAM were analyzed by Kjeldahl method, filtration method, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry, respectively. The nucleosides, amino acids, flavonoids, and saponins of SLAM were analyzed by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(UPLC-TQ-MS). Combined with principal component analysis(PCA), the quality difference of resource components of SLAM was comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that the average content of crude protein, crude fiber, total polysaccharide, and redu-cing sugar in SLAM was 5.11%, 30.33%, 11.03 mg·g~(-1), and 31.90 mg·g~(-1), respectively. Six nucleosides, 15 amino acids, 22 flavonoids, and one saponin were detected, with an average content of 1.49 mg·g~(-1), 6.00 mg·g~(-1), 1.86 mg·g~(-1), and 35.67 µg·g~(-1), respectively. The content of various types of chemical components in SLAM differed greatly in different harvesting periods and growing years. The results of PCA showed that the quality of SLAM produced in Ningxia was superior. The results can provide references for the utilization of SLAM.

Effect of Continuous Cropping Soil on the Biosynthesis of Bioactive Compounds and the Antioxidant Activity of Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes).

Continuous monoculture can increase plant morbidity and reduce crop yields. However, the Ganoderma lucidum mushroom possesses unique nutrient acquisition methods and displays an altered response to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The effects of continuous cropping on G. lucidum remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of consecutive monoculture soil on the yield, bioactive components, antioxidant properties, nutrient metabolism, and enzyme activity of G. lucidum. The results showed no significant differences in terms of yield between the control check and treatment groups after 2 years. However, the content of polysaccharides and triterpenoids after 2 years of treatment and the content of total phenols and flavonoids after 3 years of treatment significantly increased. Moreover, the antioxidant activity (AOA) of the polysaccharides under consecutive monoculture soil treatments also significantly increased. These differences were caused by changes in nutrient metabolism and the activities of antioxidant and ligninolytic enzymes. Under continuous monoculture soil treatment, the content of reducing sugars, water-soluble sugars, free amino acids, and water-soluble proteins significantly increased. The activities of superoxide dismutase, manganese peroxidase, and lignin peroxidase increased with the time of continuous monoculture, while the activities of peroxidase, catalase, and laccase decreased. The increase in ligninolytic enzymes was postulated to mediate the ROS scavenging ability of G. lucidum. In conclusion, continuous cropping soil could increase the levels of bioactive components and AOAs of G. lucidum.

Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Expressing Thioredoxin 1 Attenuate Bleomycin-Induced Skin Fibrosis and Oxidative Stress in Scleroderma.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disorder that affects multiple organs. It is characterized by a thickening of the dermis and connective tissue caused by collagen accumulation, and vascular injuries that induce hypoxia. The present study investigated the therapeutic potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) expressing thioredoxin 1 (Trx-1) in treating SSc-mediated skin disease after transplantation into a bleomycin-induced murine model. Mice with bleomycin-induced SSc were subcutaneously injected with BMSCs or Trx-1-overexpressing BMSCs and exposed to hypoxic conditions for 48 hours. Two weeks later, skin tissue samples were collected to assess fibrosis, oxidative stress, and angiogenesis by western blotting, ELISA, and histologic and immunofluorescence approaches. In vivo experiments showed that Trx-1-overexpressing BMSCs inhibited hypoxia-induced apoptosis and inhibited fibrosis under hypoxic conditions, possibly by downregulating transforming growth factor-ß. Trx-1-overexpressing BMSCs also promoted the formation of tubular-like structures by endothelial progenitor cells, indicating that Trx-1 can promote angiogenesis in bleomycin-induced SSc. These results demonstrate that the transplantation of Trx-1-overexpressing BMSCs restored normal skin tissue in a mouse model of bleomycin-induced SSc, highlighting the therapeutic potential of engineered BMSCs for treating SSc.