OBJECTIVETo study the effect of seedling quality on growth, yield and quality of Rehmannia glutinosa at harvest and build a basis for its GAP.

METHODThe seedling quality of R. glutinosa in main producing regions was surveyed to understand the current status of seedling quality. Field experiments with different varieties and seedling quality were conducted to measure dry matter accumulation with different growth of R. glutinosa and oligosaccharide content, and economic yield at harvest.

RESULTThe seedling was randomly selected by farmers in R. glutinosa producing regions. Seedling quality could significantly improve on seedling emergence rate, and promote seedling growth, especially with early stage R. glutinosa, finally increase yield at harvest. At harvest, 63% and 50% of yield with A and B seedling could be improved for variety of 85-5, and 50% and 47% of yield could be increased for variety of Beijing No. 1, compared to the C seeding.

CONCLUSIONIn cultivation, the seedlings with the diameter > 1.5 cm should be transplanted firstly.

Oligosaccharides ; analysis ; Rehmannia ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Seedlings ; chemistry ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo determine determinate five oligosaccharides, namely sucrose, 1-kestose, nystose, 1F-fructofurano-syinystose, bajijiasu contained in Morinda officinalis with an HILIC-ELSDI) method.

METHODWaters XBridge Amide (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 3.5 microm) hilic column was adopted for gradient elution, with acetonitrile (A) and 0.2% triethylamine (B) as the mobile phase. The column temperature was set at 40 degrees C, with the flow rate of 0.8 mL x min. Waters 2424 evaporative light scattering detector (ESLD) was used as detector, with the gas flow of 275.79 kPa and drift tube temperature of 90 degrees C.

RESULTThe detection range for the five oligosaccharides were 2.128-21.28 microg for sucrose (r = 0.999 3), 1.864-18.64 microg for 1-kestose (r = 0.999 6), 1.92-19.2 microg for nystose (r = 0.999 8), 1.912-19. 12 microg for 1F-fructofuranosyinystose (r = 0.999 5), 2.368-23.68 microg for bajijiasu (r = 0.999 4), respectively. The recovery of the five oligosaccharides ranged between 92.81%-102.8% (n = 6).

CONCLUSIONThe method is so simple, accurate and highly reproducible that it can be used as an analytical method for effective evaluation of the quality of M. officinalis herbs.

Chromatography, Liquid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Morinda ; chemistry ; Oligosaccharides ; analysis ; Scattering, Radiation

We purified a novel mannose binding lectin form Musca domestica pupae by affinity chromatography on Con A-Sepharose 4B and DEAE weak anion-exchange chromatography. By SDS-PAGE, MBL-1 yielded a single band with the molecular weight of 24 kDa. It was a glycoprotein detected by periodic acid-schiffs staining reaction, with 97.36% protein and 2.1% oligosaccharide. Meanwhile, the results of beta-elimination reaction, infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and protein sequencing instrument show that MBL-1 was an ellipsoidal-shaped monomer with 60-100 nm in diameter. N-glycoside bond linked oligosaccharide chain and the N-terminal blocked peptide chain. Further study suggested that MBL-1 promote the proliferation of macrophage in a concentration-dependent manner. The scanning electron microscope analysis shows that MBL-1 promoted the activation of macrophages. These results show that MBL-1 purified from Musca domestica pupae possesses immune regulation effect, serving a reference basis to develop natural immune-modulator.
Animals ; Glycoproteins ; analysis ; Houseflies ; chemistry ; Immunomodulation ; immunology ; physiology ; Macrophages ; immunology ; Mannose-Binding Lectin ; chemistry ; physiology ; Oligosaccharides ; analysis ; Pupa ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo develop identification and assay methods of Franchet groundcherry.

METHODTLC method was used to identify of physalin L in the sample using high performance silica gel G plate and a mixture of chloroform-acetone-methanol (25:1:1) as a developing solvent. In the chromatogram, physalin L showed a distinct fluorescence spot under UV 365 nm with good separation. In the HPLC method, luteoloside was separated on a Venusil XBP C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column with acetonitrile-0. 2% phosphoric acid (20:80) as the mobile phase with flow rate of 1 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength was set at 350 nm.

RESULTFor the HPLC quantitation method, the calibration curve of luteoloside displayed ideal linearity over the range of 0.50-249.40 mg x L(-1) with the regression equation of Y = 55,313X + 3.1641 (r = 1.000). The average recovery of luteoloside was 98.79% with a RSD of 1.1%. And the intra-day and inter-day precisions were less than 2%.

CONCLUSIONThe TLC identification and HPLC determination were sensitive, reliable and repeatable and can be applied for the quality evaluation and assessment of Franchet Groundcherry Calyx.

Bignoniaceae ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Oligosaccharides ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of SleX in nasal epithelium in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. METHOD: Nine nasal epitheliums from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and 7 normal controls were stained with SleX antibody by immunohistochemistry, and its expression were analyzed. RESULT: Both nasal epithelial cells and neutrophils expressed SleX. Nearly 88.9% nasal epithelium from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis expressed SleX while 14.3% in normal control. Expression of SleX in nasal epitheliums from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis were higher than that in normal control. There were significant difference between two groups. CONCLUSION Nasal epithelium from patients with CRS is highly expressed SleX. It may involve the occurrence of chronic rhinosinusitis.
Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Neutrophils ; metabolism ; Oligosaccharides ; analysis ; Sinusitis ; metabolism ; Young Adult

To elucidate the clinical significance of phenotypic alterations of Lewis antigen in gastric cancer patients, we investigated Lewis antigens by analyzing the genotypes of the Le and Se genes and by comparing the results obtained with the phenotypic expression of Lewis antigen in gastric cancer tissue and blood cells. One hundred and twenty gastric cancer patients were examined and compared with respect to Lewis blood phenotype and genotype. The expression of Lea, Leb, sialylated Lea, and sialylated Lex antigens was immunohistochemically examined in uninvolved gastric mucosa, intestinal metaplasia, and cancerous tissue. We also analyzed the significance of Lewis antigen expression by analyzing patient survival. The frequencies of the Lewis phenotypes of RBCs corresponding to Le(a+b-), Le(a-b+), and Le(a-b-) were 16%, 58%, and 26%, respectively. The Le and le allele gene frequencies calculated from genotyping in gastric cancer patients were 0.623 and 0.377, respectively. The frequency for Le(a-b-) of the RBC phenotype had a tendency to be higher in cancer patients than in normal healthy Koreans. However, no difference in the Lewis gene frequency was found between these gastric cancer patients and healthy persons. The phenotype of Le(a-b+) was most prevalent in uninvolved gastric mucosal tissue, whereas the most prevalent form in tumor tissue was Le(a-b-). Sialyl-Lea and sialyl-Lex antigens were hardly detectable in uninvolved gastric mucosa, whereas the two antigens were expressed highly in intestinal metaplastic mucosa and tumor cells. In conclusion, the loss of Lewis antigen expression in tissue and on RBCs in gastric cancer patients is not a result of genetic influences, but rather a result of sialylation in tissue. We also confirm that poor prognosis is associated with dimeric sialyl-Lex and vascular spread.
Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Erythrocytes/*chemistry ; Female ; Fucosyltransferases/*analysis/genetics ; Gangliosides/analysis ; Genotype ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Metaplasia ; Middle Age ; Oligosaccharides/analysis ; Phenotype ; Stomach Neoplasms/*blood/genetics/mortality

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Periploca calophylla.

METHODVarious chromatographic techniques were used to isolate the constituents, and their structures were identified by spectral and chemical methods.

RESULTTwo oligosaccharides were isolated from the chloroform part of P. calophylla and their structures were identified as 4-O-acetyl-beta-cymaropyranosyl (1-->4)-O-beta-D-cymaropyranosyl(1-->4)-O-beta-D-canaropyranosyl (1-->4)-O-beta-D-cymaropyranosy(1-->4)-O-oleandronic acid-delta-lactone(1), and perisaccharide B (2).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 is a new compound. Compound 2 is reported for the first time from this plant.

Carbohydrate Sequence ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Structure ; Oligosaccharides ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Periploca ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; methods

The aims of the present study were to determine the effects of heparin-derived oligosaccharides (HDOs) on vascular intimal hyperplasia (IH) in balloon-injured carotid artery and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action. An animal model was established by rubbing the endothelia within the common carotid artery (CCA) in male rabbits. The rabbits were fed a high-cholesterol diet. Arterial IH was determined by histopathological changes to the CCA. Serum lipids were detected using an automated biochemical analysis. Expressions of mRNAs for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA-1) were analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays. Expressions of VEGF, VCAM-1, MCP-1, SR-BI and ABCA-1 proteins were analyzed by Western blotting. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to quantify expression levels of VEGF and bFGF. Our results showed that administration of HDO significantly inhibited CCA histopathology and restenosis induced by balloon injury. The treatment with HDOs significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF, bFGF, VCAM-1, MCP-1, and SR-BI in the arterial wall; however, ABCA-1 expression level was elevated. HDO treatment led to a reduction in serum lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density and low-density lipoproteins). Our results from the rabbit model indicated that HDOs could ameliorate IH and underlying mechanism might involve VEGF, bFGF, VCAM-1, MCP-1, SR-BI, and ABCA-1.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 ; analysis ; Animals ; Carotid Artery Injuries ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Chemokine CCL2 ; analysis ; Heparin ; therapeutic use ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Oligosaccharides ; therapeutic use ; Rabbits ; Tunica Intima ; pathology ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; analysis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo assess the significance of expression of sialylated carbohydrate antigens and nm23-H1 gene in metastasis and prognosis of breast cancer.

METHODSTissue specimens from 102 cases of primary breast cancer were stained with antibodies against sialyl Lewis A (SleA) and salyl Lewis X (SleX), and nm23-H1 proteins by immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTOf the 102 cases, the positive cases of SleA and SleX were 24.5% (25/102) and 59.89% (61/102),respectively; the reduced expression of nm23-H1 was showed in 37.3% (38/102) of the cases. The positive expression of SleX and the reduced expression of nm23-H1 gene were significantly associated with lymph node involvement. Among the 100 patients who underwent curative surgery, the disease-free survival rate was significantly correlated with nm23-H1 and SleX expression, respectively,but not with SleA expression. In multivariate analysis using Cox regression model, combination assay of nm23 H1 and SleX expression emerged as independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that nm23-H1 gene and SleX may be involved in the metastatic process in human breast cancer, and immunohistochemical detection of SleX and nm23-H1 may be used as a biologic marker of prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms ; chemistry ; genetics ; mortality ; Female ; Gangliosides ; analysis ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases ; Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase ; genetics ; Oligosaccharides ; analysis ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

This study was designed to evaluate the inhibition effect of lambda-carrageenan oligosaccharides on neovascularization in vitro by chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model and human umbilical vein endothelial cell ( HUVEC). lambda-Carrageenan oligosaccharides caused a dose-dependent decrease of the vascular density of CAM, and adversely affected capillary plexus formation. At a high concentration of 1 mg x mL(-1), this compound inhibited the endothelial cell proliferation, while low concentration of lambda-carrageenan oligosaccharides (< 250 microg x mL(-1)) affected the cell survival slightly (> 95%). Different cytotoxic sensitivity of lambda-carrageenan oligosaccharides in three kinds of cells was observed, of which HUVEC is the most sensitive to this oligosaccharides. The inhibitory action of lambda-carrageenan oligosaccharides on the endothelial cell invasion and migration was also observed at relatively low concentration (150 - 300 microg x mL(-1)) through down-regulation of intracellular matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) expression on endothelial cells. Current observations demonstrated that lambda-carrageenan oligosaccharides are potential angiogenesis inhibitor with combined effects of inhibiting invasion, migration and proliferation.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Carrageenan ; pharmacology ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chick Embryo ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; blood supply ; cytology ; drug effects ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; analysis ; Oligosaccharides ; pharmacology