Two new diterpenoid alkaloids from the roots of Aconitum nagarum and their cytotoxic activity.

A chemical investigation on the roots of Aconitum nagarum afforded two undescribed C19-diterpenoid alkaloids nagarumines D and E (1 and 2). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectral methods such as 1D and 2D (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, as well as HR-ESI-MS. The two isolated alkaloids were tested in vitro for cytotoxic activity against five gastric tumor cell lines. Consequently, compound 2 exhibited some cytotoxicities against several human cancer cell lines with IC50 value less than 20.0 µM.

Cytotoxic iridoid glycosides from the leaves of Paederia scandens.

A phytochemical investigation on the 80% EtOH extract of the leaves of Paederia scandens (Lour.) Merr. resulted into the isolation of three undescribed iridoid glycosides, 10-O-trans-p-coumaroyl-(4R,6R)-3,4-dihydro-3α-methylthiopaederoside (1), 10-O-trans-feruloyl-(4S,6R)-3,4-dihydro-2'-O-3α-paederoside (2), and 10-O-trans-caffeoyl-paederosidic acid ethyl ester (3). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectral methods such as 1D and 2D (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, as well as high resolution mass spectrometry. The isolated compounds were tested in vitro for cytotoxic activity against five endocrine tumor cell lines. As a result, compound 1 exhibited some cytotoxicities against all the tested tumor cell lines with IC50 value less than 20.0 µM.

Detritivores accelerate litter mixture decomposition effect via greater consumption of high quality litter.

To explore the mixing effect of litter decomposition and the role of detritivores, we conducted a laboratory-based microcosm experiment to study the influence of detritivores on litter mixture decomposition by using two litter species with contrasting quality, i.e., Cinnamomum camphora and Michelia × alba, and a detritivore (isopoda). After 100 days incubation, the decomposition rate of litter mixture was 52.1%, slower than that of M. alba (62.6%) and significantly faster than that of C. camphora (33.6%). The addition of isopods significantly increased litter decomposition rate, with C. camphora, M. alba, and the mixture increased by 14.4%, 20.1% and 22.1%, respectively. There was no significant mixing effect without isopods. Adding isopods significantly promoted the mixing effect of litter decomposition, with a value of the litter mixture decomposition effect of 8.6%. The detritivores increased litter decomposition rate and mixing effect through increasing consumption of litter with better quality.

[Effects of intensive agricultural production on farmland soil carbon and nitrogen contents and their delta13C and delta15N isotope abundances].

Farmland soil carbon and nitrogen contents under intensive agricultural production are the important indices for the assessment of the soil fertility sustainability. This paper measured the soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and delta13C and delta15N isotope abundances of four types of farmland, i.e., conventional rice-broad bean rotation field, open vegetable field, 3-year plastic covered greenhouse field, and > 10-year plastic covered greenhouse field, aimed to understand the effects of intensive agricultural production degree on soil properties. In the open vegetable field, 3-year plastic covered greenhouse field, and > 10-year plastic covered greenhouse field, the soil (0-20 cm) pH decreased by 1.1, 0.8, and 0.7, and the soil EC was 4.2, 4.9, and 5.2 folds of that in conventional rice-broad bean rotation field, respectively. With the increasing year of plastic covered greenhouse production, the soil SOC and TN contents decreased after an initial increase. Comparing with those under rice-broad bean rotation, the SOC content in 0-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80 and 80-100 cm soil layers in >10-year plastic covered greenhouse decreased by 54%, 46%, 60%, 63%, and 59%, and the TN content decreased by 53%, 53%, 71%, 82%, and 85%, respectively. Intensive agricultural production degree had significant effects on the soil SOC and TN contents and delta13C and delta15N abundances. The delta13C abundance was significantly negatively correlated with the soil SOC, suggesting that the soil delta13C abundance could be regarded as an index for the assessment of carbon cycle in farmland soils under effects of human activities.