Flavonoid-enriched extract from Millettia speciosa Champ prevents obesity by regulating thermogenesis and lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice.

Millettia speciosa (M. speciosa) Champ is a medicinal and edible plant. The roots are rich in flavonoids, which possess multiple biological activities, including lipid-lowering effects. This study aimed to explore the effect of flavonoid-enriched extract from M. speciosa (FMS) on obesity. The UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis and chromatographic analysis were adopted to identify flavonoid compounds in FMS. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed with a high-fat diet for 3 months and were then treated with FMS (50 or 100 mg/kg/d) or Orlistat (10 mg kg-1 d-1) for another 8 weeks. A total of 35 flavonoids were identified in the extract of M. speciosa root. FMS reduced body weight gain, liver weight gain, white adipose tissue, lipid accumulation, and blood glucose. The levels of TG, ALT, AST, and inflammatory-related adipokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in serum were also reduced by FMS. In addition, FMS promoted thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue and induced the activation of lipolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and oxidative phosphorylation in white adipose tissues. In summary, long-term administration of FMS could ameliorate high-fat diet-induced obesity by stimulating adipose thermogenesis and lipid metabolism.

A second species of Pseuduvaria in China: the identity of the enigmatic species Meiogyne kwangtungensis.

Meiogyne kwangtungensis is a rare species endemic to Hainan, China, known just from two fruiting collections made in the 1930s. Although it was published under the name Meiogyne in 1976, it was suggested that it might be better placed within Pseuduvaria or Mitrephora. For decades, this species was never collected again, thus its true generic affinity remained unresolved due to the lack of flowers. During a field exploration in Hainan, we re-discovered this species and collected a flowering specimen for the first time. The flower immediately confirmed its affinity with Pseuduvaria. Phylogenetic analyses of five chloroplast regions (psbA-trnH, trnL-F, matK, rbcL, and atpB-rbcL; ca. 4.2 kb, 70 accessions) also unambiguously placed Meiogyne kwangtungensis in the Pseuduvaria clade (PP = 1.00, ML BS = 99%). Morphologically, it is most similar to P. multiovulata which is endemic to Myanmar and Thailand, both with often-paired flowers, long pedicels and short peduncles, and often 1-2 monocarps. However, it differs in having smaller flowers with kidney-shaped glands on the inner petals, fewer stamens and carpels, smaller ovoid monocarps with an apicule and fewer seeds. On the basis of the combined molecular phylogenetic and morphological data, we propose a new combination, Pseuduvaria kwangtungensis (P.T.Li) Qing L.Wang & B.Xue. A full description including floral characters and a color plate are provided here for this species. A key to species in the genus Pseuduvaria in China is also provided.

In situ growth of luminescent perovskite fibers in natural hollow templates.

Natural hollow fibers were used as templates to in situ produce thin Cs4PbX6 nanosheets on the inner walls, forming luminescent fibers that integrated the advantages of the large length of fibers and the emission tunability of perovskites, and exhibited great robustness as well for multiple applications like warning signs, anti-counterfeiting and fashion.

[Present situation and development strategy of Alpinia oxyphylla].

Alpinia oxyphylla is mainly produced in Hainan,and also one of the four famous traditional Chinese medicines in South China with increasing importance in traditional Chinese medicine industry. Field surveys and literatures show that A. oxyphylla has widely used as a medicinal and edible plant,it is an important raw material for many Chinese patent medicines,health products and food,with a long history of artificial cultivation and application. The future development is prospected on health market. But A. oxyphylla industry has faced a lot of problems,including unreasonable planting layout,lack of good varieties,imperfect seed breeding system,low level of standardization,inconsistent quality of medicinal materials,low level of industry,and so on. The suggestions for sustainable development are listed below.First,it is essential to strengthen the research on the basis and application technology of A. oxyphylla,speed up the selection and breeding of improved varieties,and popularize standardized cultivation techniques. Secondly,it is important to strengthen the research on quality standards,improve the quality evaluation system of medicinal materials. Thirdly,it is necessary to take full advantage of the functional components to develop functional products with Hainan characteristics,find out the unique product characteristics of A. oxyphylla,build a famous brand and improve the product competitiveness in the market. It is also important to strengthen policy support and industrial supervision,promote the healthy and rapid development of A. oxyphylla industry.

Limonoids from the roots of Trichilia sinensis and their cytotoxicities.

Six new compounds (1-4, 8, 10), along with six known limonoids (5-7, 9, 11, 12), were isolated from the roots of Trichilia sinensis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, DEPT, HSQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COSY and ROESY experiments, as well as by comparison with the literature. All the compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicities against K562, SGC-7901 and BEL-7402 cell lines. Compounds 2, 7, 10, 11, and 12 showed weak inhibitory activity to the selected cell lines.

Mexicanolide-Type Limonoids from the Roots of Trichilia sinensis.

Four new mexicanolide-type limonoids 1-4, along with two known limonoids 5-6, were isolated from the ethanolic extracts of roots of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Trichilia sinensis. Their structures were unambiguously determined by analysis of spectroscopic data, including 1D and 2D NMR as well as MS, and by comparison with literature data. In addition, the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of compounds 1-6 was evaluated by the Ellman method. All these compounds showed weak AChE inhibitory activity, with the inhibition percentages ranging from 18.5% to 27.8%.

[Liposoluble constituents from the flowers of Calotropis gigantea and their antimicrobial activities].

OBJECTIVE: To study the liposoluble constituents from the flowers of Calotropis gigantea and their antimicrobial activities. METHODS: The liposoluble constituents from the flowers of Calotropis gigantea were analyzed by GC-MS and their relative contents were determined by area normalization. Their antimicrobial activities against 2 pathogens were tested by agar disc diffusion method. RESULTS: 31 compounds were separated and identified, amounting to 85.14% of the total constituents. The liposoluble constituents from the flowers of Calotropis gigantea exhibited weak antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Canidia albicans. CONCLUSION: The research result provides scientific foundation for exploitation and utilization of Calotropis gigantea.

[Study on the chemical constituents in the fruit of Harrisonia perforata].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents in the fruit of Harrisonia perforata. METHODS: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by means of chromatographic techniques and their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data and physicochemical properties. RESULTS: Eight compounds were isolated and identified as caryolane-1,9beta-diol (1), gallic acid (2), 4-O-ethylgallic acid (3), syringic acid ethyl ester (4), protocatechuic acid (5), stigmasterol (6), beta-daucoster (7), beta-sitosterol (8). CONCLUSION: Compounds 1, 3 - 5 and 7 are isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 1, 3 and 4 are isolated from this genus for the first time.

[Studies on chemical constituents of root of Millettia speciosa].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents from the root of Millettia speciosa. METHODS: To isolate and purify by silica gel, macroporous resin D-101 and Sephadex LH-20. RESULTS: Five compounds were isolated from 95% EtOH extract of Millettia Speciosa and their structures were elucidated by physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic analysis as Isoliquiritigenin (I), Maackiain (II), Pterocarpin (III), Medicarpin (IV) and Homopterocarpin (V). CONCLUSION: Compounds I, III are obtained from this plant for the first time, compounds V is isolated from the genus Millettia for the first time.

[GC-MS analysis of the liposoluble components from fruits of Harrisonia perforata].

OBJECTIVE: To extract and analyze the liposoluble chemical constituents of the petroleum ether extraction and alcohol extraction from fruits of Harrisonia perforata. METHODS: To analyze the liposoluble components by GC-MS. RESULTS: 29 compounds were identified from petroleum ether extraction, amounting to 69.67% of the total detected constituents and the ir relative contents were confirmed. From the alcohol extraction, 12 compounds were identified, amounting to 71.00% of the total detected constituents and the ir relative contents were also confirmed. CONCLUSION: Linoleic acid, Palmitic acid, beta-Stitosterol are common liposoluble components in two extractions.

A new cytotoxic pregnanone from Calotropis gigantea.

A new pregnanone, named calotropone (1), was isolated from the EtOH extract of the roots of Calotropis gigantea L. together with a known cardiac glycoside. The structures were elucidated by a study of their physical and spectral data. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed inhibitory effects towards chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 and human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell lines.