Object To proceed our continual search of insecticides and potentially useful pharmaceutics in plants of the Meliaceae family Methods Chemical constituents in the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Toona sinensis (A Juss ) Roem were separated and identified Results 6 compounds were isolated and identified as: 6, 7, 8, 2′ tetramethoxy 5, 6′ dihydroxy flavone (Ⅰ); 5, 7 dihydroxy 8 methoxy flavone (Ⅱ); kaempferol (Ⅲ); 3 hydroxy 5, 6 epoxy 7 megastigmen 9 one (Ⅳ), ethyl gallate (Ⅴ) and scopoletin (Ⅵ) by spectral methods Conclusion Compound Ⅳ was obtained from Toona Roem. for the first time

A new compound and twelve known compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the roots of Homonoia riparia Lour, which are used in folk medicine for treatment of hepatitis, bellyache and scald, by the method of silica gel column chromatography repeatedly with a gradient of PE-EtOAc, PE-Me2CO, CHCl3-Me2CO, CHCl3-MeOH. Their structures were identified as a new compound 1-oxo-aleuritolic acid (1), and twelve known compounds aleuritolic acid (2), 3-acetoxy-aleuritolic acid (3), taraxerone (4), taraxerol (5), methyl 3-acetoxy-12-oleanen-28-oate (6), 3-acetoxy-12-oleanen-28-ol (7), ursolic acid (8), lupenol (9), 3β-acetoxy-lupenol (10), cleomiscosin A (11), chrysophanol (12), and gallic acid (13), which were obtained from this plant for the first time, by the spectroscopic techniques of NMR, HMBC, IR and MS, separately. Among the cytotoxicities evaluation of compounds 1-3 towards AGZY 83-a (human lung cancer cells) and SMMC-7721 (human liver cancer cells) tumor cells was assayed by MTT methods with cis-dichlorodiamminoplatinum (DDP) used as positive control. Compound 2 exerted weak activity against AGZY 83-a with the IC50 value of 33.055 μg·mL-1, while 1 and 3 showed no activity to these two cell lines.

Objective To observe the change of housefly (Musca domestica) breeding in the pig manure treated ecologically with its larvae. Methods The number of eggs and the hatching rate of larvae in the treated manure were compared with that in the untreated manure. Results The number of eggs laid in the treated manure accounted for only 17^7% of the total eggs, while those in the untreated manure accounted for 82^3%. The hatching rate in the treated manure was 41^4%, but 85^1% in the untreated manure. Conclusion There is a significant reduction of eggs laid and of their hatching rate in the pig manure treated ecologically by housefly larvae.

To explore the possibility of microencapsulation of chondrocytes in cartilage tissue engineering, immortalized manibular condylar chondrocytes (IMCCs) were microencapsuled by Alginate-polylysine-alginate (APA) method, according to air pressure shearing model. Phase contrast microscopy, trypan blue staining exclusion, cell number counting, HE staining and immunohistochemistry method were used to observe the morphology of the microencapsules, the growth character of cells, cartilage characteristics, and so on. The results showed that IMCC could survive and grow in microencapsule, and the viability rate of cells is more than 80 per cent. The diameter of microcapsule is 779 microns in average. The number of cell increased with time, and cells went into platform in about 20 days. Cells grew in clusters and cartilage specific proteoglycans and type II collagen were highly expressed. It was concluded that IMCC could form cartilage-like tissue within microencapsulation, implying that microencapsule technique might be applicable to cartilage tissue engineering.
Alginates ; Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; Drug Compounding ; Mandibular Condyle ; cytology ; Polylysine ; analogs & derivatives ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

OBJECTIVEThe experiment was conducted to study the effect of soaking seeds with biogas slurry on seed germination and growth of Tagetes erecta so that we can provide theory base for cultivation management of T. ercta.

METHODIn order to find the best combine of biogas slurry concentration (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) and soaking time (2, 3, 4, 5 h), completely randomized design was selected, germination percentage, seedling height, root length, root activity, content of chlorophyll (a, b) and MDA were analyzed and principle component analysis was adopted.

RESULTBoth soaking for 5 h in 25% biogas slurry and soaking for 4 h in 50% biogas slurry had the highest germination percentage (81.3%). Soaking for 5 h in 50% biogas slurry had the longest root, and soaking for 4 h in 50% biogas slurry had the highest root activity. They were significant higher than other 19 treatments. Soaking for 5 h in 50% biogas slurry had the highest content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophyll (a + b) and ratio of chlorophyll a/ chlorophyll b. It was significant higher in these index, except b, than other 19 treatment. Soaking for 5 h in 25% biogas slurry had the lowest MDA content (0.0280 micromol x L(-1)), then was Soaking for 4 h in 50% biogas slurry (0.0286 micromol x L(-1) in MDA content).

CONCLUSIONAppropriate biogas slurry concentration combined with seed soaking time can improve the germination and growth of T. erecta. As a whole, soaking for 5 h in 50% biogas slurry had the best effects on germination and growth in seedling stage for T. erecta.

Biofuels ; Germination ; Immersion ; Seedlings ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Seeds ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Tagetes ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Time Factors

Adult ; Analgesia ; methods ; Ankylosis ; surgery ; therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of THW-4, an extract from Trypterygium hypoglaucum on proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC).

METHODSVSMC derived from rabbit aorta were cultured in vitro and different concentrations of THW-4 were added in experimental groups. Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT and apoptosis by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), TUNEL assay and Annexin V-FITC/PI double labelled assay.

RESULTSThe inhibitory effects of THW-4 on proliferation of VSMC displayed dose-time dependently, with the IC50 value of 15.6 microg/L at 48 hrs. Incubated with THW-4 (10-100 microg/L) for 56 hrs, VSMC mainly appeared early stage apoptosis and the percentage of apoptosis was found to raise along with the increase of the THW-4 concentration. Typical images of apoptosis could be observed under TEM and TUNEL assay showed increase of DNA segments with karyorrhexis and pyknosis after THW-4 treatment for 72 hrs. Analysis of cell cycle indicated the THW-4 mainly lead to the blockage of VSMC in G2/M stage.

CONCLUSIONTHW-4 could inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of VSMC in vitro, suggesting that THW-4 is a potential agent for prevention of restenosis following angioplasty.

Animals ; Aorta ; cytology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Coronary Restenosis ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Rabbits ; Tripterygium ; chemistry