OBJECTIVETo compare the contents of diterpenoid pigments among the fruit, seed, and pericarp from Gardenia jasminoides.

METHODThe separation of Crocin 1, Crocin 2, Crocin 3 were carried out simultaneously on a Kromasil C18 column at 35 degrees C with the methanol-acetonitrile-0.3% formic acid anhydrous in gradient elution as the mobile phrases. The detection wavelength was set at 440 nm and the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1).

RESULTThe obtained linearity of the three components was better over 0.999 5 and the average recoveries were 97.50%, 98.76%, 97.67%, respectively. The results exhibited the remarkable variation among the different parts of the fruit.

CONCLUSIONThe contents of three constituents in seed were higher than in pericarp.

Carotenoids ; analysis ; Diterpenes ; analysis ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Pigments, Biological ; analysis

Through the determination of the growth, physiological and active components of Glechoma longituba, the effect of soil bulk density on growth and quality of G. longituba was explored. Through pot experiment, six different bulk density treatments were set for 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 g·cm⁻³ , the growth index, physiological index and the content of active components were determined. The results showed that the growth indexes and biomass of G. longituba firstly increased and then decreased with the increase of soil bulk density. The dry weight of G. longituba achieved the maximum 5.70 g in the treatment of 1.0 g·cm⁻³ . The photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars and free amino acids firstly increased and then decreased with the increase of soil bulk density. The suitable soil bulk density was beneficial to the accumulation of photosynthetic pigment, soluble protein and free amino acid synthesis. The content of malondialdehyde increased gradually with the increase of soil bulk density. The contents of ethanol-soluble extractives of G. longituba were greater than 25%, meeting its quality criterionin Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2015, achieved the maximum of 40.66% in the treatment of 1.0 g·cm⁻³ . The total flavonoids content of G. longituba increased gradually with the increase of soil bulk density, triterpenic acid and phenolic acids decreased gradually with the increase of soil bulk density. Soil bulk density has a significant effect on the growth and quality of G. longituba, and it is conducive to the growth and its medicinal quality at the soil bulk density of 1.0 g·cm⁻³.
Flavonoids ; analysis ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Photosynthesis ; Pigments, Biological ; analysis ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Soil

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of continuous cropping obstacles on growth of Angelica sinensis.

METHODThe growth indexes, photosynthetic characteristic, activity of leaf protective enzymes, and the yield, essential oil content and extract content were determined.

RESULTContinuous cropping decreased the growth and the yield, essential oil content, extract content of A. sinensis. Photosynthetic pigment, which include Chla and Chlb, and photosynthetic rate of A. sinensis leaves decreased. Activity of leaf SOD, POD and CAT were also inhibited. The content of proline, soluble sugar and MDA increased.

CONCLUSIONThrough decreasing the activity of protective enzymes and their ability of cleaning free radical, continuous cropping made free radical remain in plant so that induced membrane lipid peroxidization, electrolytic leakage became heavier, content of proline and soluble sugar increased. The external manifestation of this influences were that plant growth was inhibited, content of photosynthetic pigments decreased, so did the intensity of photosynthesis and respiration, content of dry mass.

Agriculture ; methods ; Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Biomass ; Pigments, Biological ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the germplasm of Rehmannia glutinosa on the basis of photosynthetic pigment contents (PPC).

METHOD20 cultivars were planted on the same condition. On Oct. 23 and Sept. 25, 3 leaves per cultivar were collected on different plants, and 80 mg mesophyll was collected among upper lateral veins and was ground in 96% alcohol, and the supernatant was subjected to measure on a spectrophotometer (Angilent 8453).

RESULTThe PPCs among cultivars were significantly different at a P < or = 0.01 level. The results of the measurements were similar. Chlolophyll a was the most abundant pigment, but varied to a great extent among different cultivars. 20 cultivars were divided into 9 homogeneous groups according to the contents of chlorophyll a by Duncan's multiple range test at P < or = 0.05. In addition, the content of chlorophyll a was closely related to leaf color. The cultivars with higher chlolophyll a had deep green leaves, and those with lower had yellow green or pale green leaves.

CONCLUSIONPPC was an inherent character and an important index for the germplasm evaluation of R. glutinosa.

Chlorophyll ; analysis ; Color ; Photosynthesis ; Pigments, Biological ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Rehmannia ; chemistry ; growth & development

The flower color of Dendrobium catenatum(D. officinale) tends to fade during storage. In order to clarify the influence of storage conditions on the pigment components in flowers, two conditions were applied:temperature and illumination. The contents of pigments in the D. catenatum flower were determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and HPLC, and the changes of them during storage were analyzed. The results showed that illumination and temperature had an effect on the pigments of D. catenatum flower during sto-rage. Illumination significantly promoted the degradation of pigments. The contents of total chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins in the light samples were significantly lower than those in the dark. The total chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins in the light samples were decreased by 46.5%, 63.4%, and 69.2% respectively. Illumination had a greater effect on fat-soluble pigments than water-soluble pigments. Among the three temperature treatments, the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyanin were as follows:-20 ℃>4 ℃>room temperature, it is indicated that-20 ℃ was the best temperature to maintain the stability of pigment composition. The contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, β-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin in the light samples decreased by 34.8%, 69.0%, 72.5%, 61.6%, 36.1%, respectively. After storage for 5 months, the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyanin constituent at-20 ℃ was significantly higher than those at 4 ℃ and room temperature. The results show that light avoiding and low-temperature can effectively slow down the degradation of pigment components. Therefore, it is suggested that D. catenatum flower should be stored in light avoiding and low-temperature conditions in actual production and processing, which can prolong the usable time.
Anthocyanins/analysis* ; Carotenoids/analysis* ; Chlorophyll/analysis* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dendrobium/chemistry* ; Drug Storage ; Flowers/chemistry* ; Light ; Pigments, Biological/analysis* ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry* ; Spectrophotometry ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the hazardous effects of fried potato chips upon the retina of two developmental stages of the albino rats aged 7 and 14 days from parturition.

METHODSPREGNANT RATS WERE ARRANGED INTO TWO GROUPS: control pregnant rats and consequently their delivered newborns until reaching 7 and 14 days old from parturition and fried potato chips group in which pregnant rats at the 6th day of gestation maintained on diet formed of fried potato chips supplied from the market mixed with standard diet at a concentration of 50% per each till 7 and 14 post-partum. Three fold integrated approaches were adopted, namely, histological, ultrastructural and proteomic analysis.

RESULTSHistological examination of the retina of the experimental offsprings revealed many histopathological changes, including massive degeneration, vacuolization and cell loss in the ganglion cell layer, as well as general reduction in retinal size. At the ultrastructural level, the retina of experimental offsprings exhibited number of deformities, including ill differentiated and degenerated nuclear layer, malformed and vacuolated pigment epithelium with vesiculated and fragmented rough endoplasmic reticulum, degenerated outer segment of photoreceptors, as well as swollen choriocapillaris and loss of neuronal cells. Proteomic analysis of retina of the two experimental developmental stages showed variations in the expressed proteins as a result of intoxication which illustrated the adverse toxic effects of fried potato chips upon the retina.

CONCLUSIONSIt can be concluded that the effect of fried potato chips on the development of retina in rats may be due to the presence of acrylamide or its metabolite.

Acrylamide ; toxicity ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cooking ; methods ; Diet ; methods ; Female ; Histocytochemistry ; Male ; Pigments, Biological ; Pregnancy ; Proteome ; analysis ; Rats ; Retina ; pathology ; Solanum tuberosum ; chemistry ; Ultrasonography

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimizing the ultrasonic-assisted extraction technology of pigment from Coreopsis tinctoria. The results showed that the flavonoids were the main constituents of the pigment Based on single factor experiments, a four-factor-level experiment design were developed by box-benhnhen central composite design method with causal factors of ultrasonic temperature, ultrasonic time, ratio of liquid to raw material, the concentrations of ethanol in solvent and the extract absorbance value for the response. The interactive effects of four crucial technological parameters were assessed by response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum ultrasonic-assisted extraction conditions were as follow: ultrasonic temperature was 70 °C, ultrasonic time was 60 min, the concentrations of ethanol in solvent was 72.25% and the ratio of liquid to raw material was 32.05:1 mL . g-1. Under the optimum extraction technology conditions, the absorbance value was 0. 936. The conditidns are suitable for the extraction process regression analysis and parameter optimization.
Coreopsis ; chemistry ; Ethanol ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; Pigments, Biological ; isolation & purification ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; Regression Analysis ; Solvents ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; Ultrasonics

The diethyl sulfate (DES) mutagenesis was chosen for the mutagenic treatment to Phellinus igniarius, and the relationship of mutagenesis time and death rate was investigated with 0.5% DES. The differences of mycelial growth speed, liquid fermentation mycelia biomass, morphology and pigment classes of secondary metabolites production speed and antioxidant activities of metabolite products were discussed. The study displayed that DES mutagenesis could change mycelial morphology without obvious effect on mycelium growth, and the DES mutagenesis improved antioxidant activities of the active ingredients of P. igniarius and had more antioxidant activity of hypoxia/sugar PC12 nerve cells than that of P. igniarius.
Basidiomycota ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Mutagenesis ; Mutagens ; pharmacology ; Mycelium ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Pigments, Biological ; analysis ; metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; drug effects ; Sulfuric Acid Esters ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo obtain the full-length cDNA of a novel gene (named yp05) associated with citrinin production-related genes in Monascus aurantiacus.

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from mycelium, 3' and 5' cDNA end of yp05 gene was amplified using smart trace cDNA amplification kit, and the full-length cDNA of a novel gene (named yp05) was obtained from the electronic assembly of 3'-RACE and 5'-RACE products.

RESULTSThis yp05 gene was 787 bp including a 597 bp open reading frame (ORF) and encoded a deduced protein with 199 amino acid residues, and the amino acid sequence of this protein was found similar with the sequences of many fungal manganese-superoxide dismutases in the GenBank with the aid of BLASTp. The transcription of yp05 gene in Monascus strains was analyzed with the aid of Northern blotting. The transcription of yp05 gene was only detected in Monascus strains, provided that citrinin was produced.

CONCLUSIONThe transcription of yp05 gene belongs to differential expression genes of citrinin yielded from Monascus and has no correlation with the biosynthesis pathway of red pigments.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Northern ; Citrinin ; biosynthesis ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; chemistry ; Fungal Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Gene Library ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Monascus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mycelium ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pigments, Biological ; biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo find out the differences between 102 kb pgm locus of Yersinia pestis isolated from Microtus brandti with of other types, and the characters of Yersinia pestis isolated from Microtus brandti caused by their makeup of the 102 kb pgm locus.

METHODS102 kb pgm locus of Yersinia pestis isolated from Microtus brandti and Yersinia pestis isolated from Marmota himalayana were amplified by polymerase chain reation (PCR) with 25 pair of nested primers. The PCR products of one pair of primer were obviously different, and then cloned and sequenced. Sequences were searched against current protein and nucleotide databases, using BLAST.

RESULTSThe 102 kb pgm locus of Yersinia pestis isolated from Microtus brandti was devoid one IS100. In addition, it had more copies than other types in the similar variable-number tandem repeat sequences.

CONCLUSIONThe 102 kb pgm locus of Yersinia pestis was different from that of other types. It had only one IS100 flanked it, which corresponded to the character that its pgm(+) phenotype was stable. Further study was needed to confirm the relationship between the diminution virulence of Yersinia pestis isolated from Microtus brandti and the loss of IS100 and other changes.

Animals ; Arvicolinae ; microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; China ; epidemiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Bacterial ; Humans ; Pigments, Biological ; genetics ; Plague ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Virulence ; genetics ; Yersinia pestis ; genetics ; pathogenicity