OBJECTIVEStudy on the karyotypes analysis of Ferula fukanensis.

METHODThe young roots were treated with 0.000 2 mol x L(1) 8-Hydroxyquinoline for 3 h, carnoy's for 3 h, 1 mol x L(-1) HCl in 5 min,carbol fuchsin coloration for 2 min and the treated roots were utilizied to make the plate for observation.

RESULTThe fukanensis is diploid. The chromosome number of somatic cells was 2n = 22. The karyotype formula is 2n = 2x = 20 = 16m + 4sm. The 4th and 10th are submetacentric, and the others are metacentric.

CONCLUSIONThe karyotype of F. fukanensis belongs to "2A" type of stebbins', and it is a primitive species.

Centromere ; Chromosomes, Plant ; genetics ; Diploidy ; Ferula ; genetics ; Karyotyping ; Plant Roots ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Seeds ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the roots of Ferula sinkiangensis.

METHODCompounds were isolated by repeated chromatography on silica gel. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods.

RESULTSeven compounds were identified as fekrynol (1), fekolone (2), farnesiferol B (3), isosamarcandin (4), episamarcandin (5), farnesiferol C (6), umbelliferone (7).

CONCLUSIONAll the compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time.

Ferula ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Umbelliferones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

To study the ecological distribution and diversity of endophytic fungi associated with Ferula of medicinal plants in Xinjiang. The endophytic fungi were isolated from roots, stems and leaves of Ferula by microbiology research methods and technology. The endophytic fungi were identified using ITS rDNA sequence analysis and morphology analysis. The composition, diversity and preference of endophytic fungal community were analyzed with Shannon-Wiener biodiversity index (H') and Sorensen coefficient (Cs). A total of 337 strains endophytic fungi were isolated and classified into 38 genera, Alternaria, Aureobasidium and Fusarium were the dominant genera. Among the 337 isolates, the endophytic fungi of F. sinkiangensis were the most, The Shannon-Wiener biodiversity index (H') associated with roots of F. fukanensis was the highest, reached 1.85. The highest Sorensen coefficient ( Cs) was between leaf of F. sinkiangensis and leaf of F. ovina, reached 0.75. From the result, endophytic fungi were widely distributed in six Ferula, there are some notable differences between distribution and composition of the endophytic fungi isolated from different issues and different species of Ferula, show a certain degree of species and tissue preference. The results obtained in this study will provide realistic basis and theoretical basis for further study the secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi associated with Ferula, and the relationship between endophytic fungi and their host plants.
Biodiversity ; Ecology ; Endophytes ; isolation & purification ; Ferula ; microbiology ; Fungi ; classification ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

OBJECTIVES: The usage of medicinal plants as natural antimicrobial agents has grown in many fields including dental medicine. The aim of this in vitro study was three-fold: (i) to determine the chemical compositions of the Ferula gummosa essential oil (FGEO), (ii) to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of the oil with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and chlorhexidine (CHX), (iii) to assess the toxic behavior of FGEO in different concentrations compared to 5% NaOCl and 0.2% CHX. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to determine the chemical compositions of the oil. The disk diffusion method and a broth micro-dilution susceptibility assay were exploited to assess the antimicrobial efficacy against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mitis, and Candida albicans. The cytocompatibility of the FGEO was assessed on L929 fibroblasts, and compared to that of NaOCl and CHX. RESULTS: Twenty-seven constituents were recognized in FGEO. The major component of the oil was beta-pinene (51.83%). All three irrigants significantly inhibited the growth of all examined microorganisms compared to the negative control group. FGEO at 50 microg/mL was effective in lower concentration against Enterococcus faecalis than 5% NaOCl and 0.2% CHX, and was also more potent than 0.2% CHX against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. FGEO was a cytocompatible solution, and had significantly lower toxicity compared to 5% NaOCl and 0.2% CHX. CONCLUSIONS: FGEO showed a promising biological potency as a root canal disinfectant. More investigations are required on the effectiveness of this oil on intracanal bacterial biofilms.
Anti-Infective Agents ; Biofilms ; Candida albicans ; Chlorhexidine ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Diffusion ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Ferula* ; Fibroblasts ; Plants* ; Plants, Medicinal ; Sodium Hypochlorite ; Spectrum Analysis ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus mitis

In this paper,the effects of active fractions of Ferula ferulaeoides on the growth and apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell MGC-803 transplantation tumor were systematically studied. The subcutaneous ectopic transplantation tumor model was established in human gastric cancer MGC-803 nude mice by cell suspension implantation method. The anti-tumor rate and organ index were used to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of the active fractions of F. ferulaeoides on the tumor-bearing nude mice. HE staining,TUNEL staining,RT-PCR,Western-blot and ELISA were used for pathological examination,apoptosis observation,and detection of apoptosis-related genes,proteins and cytokines expression. The results showed that as compared with the model group,the low,medium and high doses of the active fraction of F. ferulaeoides had inhibitory effects on xenografts in nude mice,respectively,in a dose-dependent manner; the apoptotic ratio was increased with the increase of drug concentration. As compared with the model group,F. ferulaeoides could down-regulate the expression of survivin mRNA in nude mice,and the protein expression levels of Bax,Bcl-2,caspase-3 and caspase-9 in tumor tissues of nude mice could be increased to different degrees in F. ferulaeoides groups. The contents of IL-10 and TGF-β1 in plasma of nude mice were decreased in high dose group of F. ferulaeoides active fractions. The results indicated that F. ferulaeoides can significantly inhibit the growth of human gastric cancer MGC-803 subcutaneously transplanted tumor,and its mechanism may be related with down-regulating the expression of survivin mRNA,and up-regulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax,caspase-3 and caspase-9.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Ferula ; chemistry ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism