Stabilization in the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils has been gaining prominence because of its cost-effectiveness and rapid implementation. In this study, microbial properties such as microbial communit...Stabilization in the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils has been gaining prominence because of its cost-effectiveness and rapid implementation. In this study, microbial properties such as microbial community and enzyme activities, chemical properties such as soil pH and metal fraction, and heavy metal accumulation in spinach （Spinacia oleracea） were considered in assessing stabilization remediation effectiveness using sepiolite. Results showed that soil pH values increased with rising sepiolite concentration. Sequential extraction results indi- cated that the addition of sepiolite converted significant amounts of exchangeable fraction of Cd and Pb into residual form. Treatments of sepiolite were observed to reduce Cd and Pb translocation from the soil to the roots and shoots of spinach. Concentrations of Cd and Pb exhibited 12.6%-51.0% and 11.5%-46.0% reduction for the roots, respectively, and 0.9%-46.2% and 43.0%- 65.8% reduction for the shoots, respectively, compared with the control group. Increase in fungi and actinomycete counts, as well as in catalase activities, indicated that soil metabolic recovery occurred after sepiolite treatments.展开更多
In the present study, we aimed to intensively study the chemical constituents, especially organic acids from a medicinal plant Portulaca oleracea L., and screen their anti-inflammatory and quinone reductase （QR, a ph...In the present study, we aimed to intensively study the chemical constituents, especially organic acids from a medicinal plant Portulaca oleracea L., and screen their anti-inflammatory and quinone reductase （QR, a phase II detoxyfication enzyme） inductive activity. A total of 20 compounds were isolated and identified based on spectroscopic methods, as succinic acid （1）, mono-methyl succinate （2）, L-malic acid （3）, L-l-methyl malate （4）, L-4-methyl malate （5）, L-dimethyl malate （6）, L-6-ethyl citrate （7）, L-1-methyl citrate （8）, L-1,5-dimethyl citrate （9）, 4-hydroxy-5-methylfuran-3-carboxylic acid （10）, 5-hydroxymethyl-furoic acid （11）, stearic acid （12）, L-pyroglutamic acid （13）, cyclo-（tyrosine-leucine） （14）, L-isoleucine （15）, （-）-dehydrovomifoliol （16）, （-）-epiloliolide （17）, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol （18）, succinimide （19）, and uracil （20）. Among them, 14 compounds （2, 4-8, 10, 11, 13-18） were isolated from P. oleracea for the first time. Compotmd 18 （12.5 μM） exhibited potent anti-inflammatory effect in lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced macrophage cells （RAW264.7） by reducing NO production, and it also increased QR activity in Hepa lclc7 cells. Compound 16 （50 μM） showed weak QR inductive activity. None of other compounds showed anti-inflammatory or QR inductive activities.展开更多
Portulaca oleracea L. is distributed widely in China and some othercountries, which is included in the pharmacopoeias of China. In tradition, it is used in thetreatment of atheroma, and also used as antifungal and ant...Portulaca oleracea L. is distributed widely in China and some othercountries, which is included in the pharmacopoeias of China. In tradition, it is used in thetreatment of atheroma, and also used as antifungal and antiviral agents now. It also decreases bloodsugar, enhances immunity and adjusts blood lipids. The anticancer and antifungal effects ofPortulaca oleracea L. were reported in several patents. But no active component has been found. Inthis study, the chemical compositions from Portulaca oleracea L. were investigated to provideevidence for the activity of Portulaca oleracea L. .展开更多
ζ-Carotene desaturase(ZDS)is an important enzyme in carotenoid biosynthesis.Here,the Brassica oleracea var.alboglabra ZDS(Boa ZDS)gene was cloned from Chinese kale via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(...ζ-Carotene desaturase(ZDS)is an important enzyme in carotenoid biosynthesis.Here,the Brassica oleracea var.alboglabra ZDS(Boa ZDS)gene was cloned from Chinese kale via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and deposited in Gen Bank(accession number KY662297).The Boa ZDS gene contains an open reading frame of 1 686 bp that encodes a 561-amino acid protein.Sequence analysis indicates that the ZDS protein is apparently conserved during plant evolution and is most closely related to B.oleracea var.capitata and B.rapa.The promoter sequence of the Boa ZDS gene was predicted to harbor several cis-acting elements that are related to light and phytohormone responses.Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that Boa ZDS expression varied among different developmental stages and organs.Relative ZDS expression remained stable during germination and seedling stages and rapidly increased at the mature leaf stage.The leaves showed the highest ZDS expression levels compared to the other organs.ZDS expression decreased in all flower tissues during blooming.The fused protein of Boa ZDS was obtained by prokaryotic expression.Heterologous expression of Boa ZDS in Escherichia coli confirmed that Boa ZDS encodes a functionalζ-carotene desaturase that increases β-carotene accumulation in E.coli cells harboring a β-carotene-producing plasmid.The findings of the present study provide a molecular basis for the elucidation of ZDS gene function in Chinese kale.展开更多
Dear Editor,In most flowering plants, the stigma of the flower represents the barrier that prevents any unrelated or incompatible （genetically similar） pollen from germination and fertilizing the ovule, leading to e...Dear Editor,In most flowering plants, the stigma of the flower represents the barrier that prevents any unrelated or incompatible （genetically similar） pollen from germination and fertilizing the ovule, leading to either defective or genetically unfavorable embryos. In Brassicaceae, self-incompatibility （SI） is a genetic mechanism in the stigmas that can discern compatible versus incompatible mate （pollen）, in turn, rejecting self or incompatible pollen, while allowing non-self or compatible pollen to develop successfully to fertilize the ovules. Thus, stigmas have evolved complex mechanisms and specialized proteins to reject incompatible mates and to recognize and accept compatible pollen （Doucet et al., 2016）. The fact that SI has been shown to exclusively operate in the stigmas temporally before and during anthesis （Kandasamy et al., 1993） indicates that multiple metabolic pathways essential for pollination exist in these stigmatic papillary cells.展开更多
To understand the regulation mechanism of NaCI on glucosinolate metabolism in broccoli sprouts, the germination rate, fresh weight, contents of glucosinolates and sulforaphane, as well as myrosinase activity of brocco...To understand the regulation mechanism of NaCI on glucosinolate metabolism in broccoli sprouts, the germination rate, fresh weight, contents of glucosinolates and sulforaphane, as well as myrosinase activity of broccoli sprouts germinated under 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mmol/L of NaCI were investigated in our experiment. The results showed that glucoerucin, glucobrassicin, and 4-hydroxy glucobrassicin in 7-d-old broccoli sprouts were significantly enhanced and the activity of myrosinase was inhibited by 100 mmol/L of NaCI. However, the total glucosinolate content in 7-d-old broccoli sprouts was markedly decreased although the fresh weight was significantly increased after treatment with NaCI at relatively low concentrations （20, 40, and 60 mmol/L）. NaCI treatment at the concentration of 60 mmol/L for 5 d maintained higher biomass and comparatively higher content of glucosinolates in sprouts of broccoli with decreased myrosinase activity. A relatively high level of NaCI treatment （100 mmol/L） significantly increased the content of sulforaphane in 7-d-old broccoli sprouts compared with the control. These results indicate that broccoli sprouts grown under a suitable concentration of NaCI could be desirable for human nutrition.展开更多
Portulaca oleracea, a plant species used as medicine and food, is widely spread in most areas of China. It is also a popular food in some Europe and Mediterranean countries. Purslane contains a variety of chemical con...Portulaca oleracea, a plant species used as medicine and food, is widely spread in most areas of China. It is also a popular food in some Europe and Mediterranean countries. Purslane contains a variety of chemical constituents with pharmacological activities, such as antitumor, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, antibacterial,anti-inflammatory activities. It is also full of plenty of nutrients serving as a diet food or healthy food.Here we reviewed purslane in the following aspects: botanical resources, ethnopharmacological function,chemical constituents, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, safety evaluation and toxicity, and clinical applications.展开更多
基金This work was supported by National High Technol- ogy Research and Development Program of China （Grant No. 2012AA101404-5） and the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant Nos. 21107056 and 21177068）. The authors would also like to thank the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest （No. 201203045）.
文摘Stabilization in the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils has been gaining prominence because of its cost-effectiveness and rapid implementation. In this study, microbial properties such as microbial community and enzyme activities, chemical properties such as soil pH and metal fraction, and heavy metal accumulation in spinach （Spinacia oleracea） were considered in assessing stabilization remediation effectiveness using sepiolite. Results showed that soil pH values increased with rising sepiolite concentration. Sequential extraction results indi- cated that the addition of sepiolite converted significant amounts of exchangeable fraction of Cd and Pb into residual form. Treatments of sepiolite were observed to reduce Cd and Pb translocation from the soil to the roots and shoots of spinach. Concentrations of Cd and Pb exhibited 12.6%-51.0% and 11.5%-46.0% reduction for the roots, respectively, and 0.9%-46.2% and 43.0%- 65.8% reduction for the shoots, respectively, compared with the control group. Increase in fungi and actinomycete counts, as well as in catalase activities, indicated that soil metabolic recovery occurred after sepiolite treatments.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.81073005)Science and Technology Development Program of Shandong Province(Grant No.2014GSF119007)+2 种基金Major Project of Science and Technology of Shandong Province(Grant No.2015ZDJS04001)Young Scholars Program of Shandong University(Grant No.YSPSDU2015WLJH50)China-Australia Centre for Health Sciences Research(2015)
文摘In the present study, we aimed to intensively study the chemical constituents, especially organic acids from a medicinal plant Portulaca oleracea L., and screen their anti-inflammatory and quinone reductase （QR, a phase II detoxyfication enzyme） inductive activity. A total of 20 compounds were isolated and identified based on spectroscopic methods, as succinic acid （1）, mono-methyl succinate （2）, L-malic acid （3）, L-l-methyl malate （4）, L-4-methyl malate （5）, L-dimethyl malate （6）, L-6-ethyl citrate （7）, L-1-methyl citrate （8）, L-1,5-dimethyl citrate （9）, 4-hydroxy-5-methylfuran-3-carboxylic acid （10）, 5-hydroxymethyl-furoic acid （11）, stearic acid （12）, L-pyroglutamic acid （13）, cyclo-（tyrosine-leucine） （14）, L-isoleucine （15）, （-）-dehydrovomifoliol （16）, （-）-epiloliolide （17）, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol （18）, succinimide （19）, and uracil （20）. Among them, 14 compounds （2, 4-8, 10, 11, 13-18） were isolated from P. oleracea for the first time. Compotmd 18 （12.5 μM） exhibited potent anti-inflammatory effect in lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced macrophage cells （RAW264.7） by reducing NO production, and it also increased QR activity in Hepa lclc7 cells. Compound 16 （50 μM） showed weak QR inductive activity. None of other compounds showed anti-inflammatory or QR inductive activities.
文摘Portulaca oleracea L. is distributed widely in China and some othercountries, which is included in the pharmacopoeias of China. In tradition, it is used in thetreatment of atheroma, and also used as antifungal and antiviral agents now. It also decreases bloodsugar, enhances immunity and adjusts blood lipids. The anticancer and antifungal effects ofPortulaca oleracea L. were reported in several patents. But no active component has been found. Inthis study, the chemical compositions from Portulaca oleracea L. were investigated to provideevidence for the activity of Portulaca oleracea L. .
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(31500247)Key Project of Department of Education of Sichuan Province(14ZA0016)Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(LZ15C150001)
文摘ζ-Carotene desaturase(ZDS)is an important enzyme in carotenoid biosynthesis.Here,the Brassica oleracea var.alboglabra ZDS(Boa ZDS)gene was cloned from Chinese kale via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and deposited in Gen Bank(accession number KY662297).The Boa ZDS gene contains an open reading frame of 1 686 bp that encodes a 561-amino acid protein.Sequence analysis indicates that the ZDS protein is apparently conserved during plant evolution and is most closely related to B.oleracea var.capitata and B.rapa.The promoter sequence of the Boa ZDS gene was predicted to harbor several cis-acting elements that are related to light and phytohormone responses.Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that Boa ZDS expression varied among different developmental stages and organs.Relative ZDS expression remained stable during germination and seedling stages and rapidly increased at the mature leaf stage.The leaves showed the highest ZDS expression levels compared to the other organs.ZDS expression decreased in all flower tissues during blooming.The fused protein of Boa ZDS was obtained by prokaryotic expression.Heterologous expression of Boa ZDS in Escherichia coli confirmed that Boa ZDS encodes a functionalζ-carotene desaturase that increases β-carotene accumulation in E.coli cells harboring a β-carotene-producing plasmid.The findings of the present study provide a molecular basis for the elucidation of ZDS gene function in Chinese kale.
文摘Dear Editor,In most flowering plants, the stigma of the flower represents the barrier that prevents any unrelated or incompatible （genetically similar） pollen from germination and fertilizing the ovule, leading to either defective or genetically unfavorable embryos. In Brassicaceae, self-incompatibility （SI） is a genetic mechanism in the stigmas that can discern compatible versus incompatible mate （pollen）, in turn, rejecting self or incompatible pollen, while allowing non-self or compatible pollen to develop successfully to fertilize the ovules. Thus, stigmas have evolved complex mechanisms and specialized proteins to reject incompatible mates and to recognize and accept compatible pollen （Doucet et al., 2016）. The fact that SI has been shown to exclusively operate in the stigmas temporally before and during anthesis （Kandasamy et al., 1993） indicates that multiple metabolic pathways essential for pollination exist in these stigmatic papillary cells.
基金Project supported by the National High-Tech R&D Program(863) of China(No.2008AA10Z111)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30900984)+1 种基金the Fok Ying Tong Education Foundation (No.104034)the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University(No.NCET-05-0516),China
文摘To understand the regulation mechanism of NaCI on glucosinolate metabolism in broccoli sprouts, the germination rate, fresh weight, contents of glucosinolates and sulforaphane, as well as myrosinase activity of broccoli sprouts germinated under 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mmol/L of NaCI were investigated in our experiment. The results showed that glucoerucin, glucobrassicin, and 4-hydroxy glucobrassicin in 7-d-old broccoli sprouts were significantly enhanced and the activity of myrosinase was inhibited by 100 mmol/L of NaCI. However, the total glucosinolate content in 7-d-old broccoli sprouts was markedly decreased although the fresh weight was significantly increased after treatment with NaCI at relatively low concentrations （20, 40, and 60 mmol/L）. NaCI treatment at the concentration of 60 mmol/L for 5 d maintained higher biomass and comparatively higher content of glucosinolates in sprouts of broccoli with decreased myrosinase activity. A relatively high level of NaCI treatment （100 mmol/L） significantly increased the content of sulforaphane in 7-d-old broccoli sprouts compared with the control. These results indicate that broccoli sprouts grown under a suitable concentration of NaCI could be desirable for human nutrition.
基金supported by National Standardization Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. ZYBZH-C-JL-25)
文摘Portulaca oleracea, a plant species used as medicine and food, is widely spread in most areas of China. It is also a popular food in some Europe and Mediterranean countries. Purslane contains a variety of chemical constituents with pharmacological activities, such as antitumor, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, antibacterial,anti-inflammatory activities. It is also full of plenty of nutrients serving as a diet food or healthy food.Here we reviewed purslane in the following aspects: botanical resources, ethnopharmacological function,chemical constituents, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, safety evaluation and toxicity, and clinical applications.
