The effects of AM fungi on the growth, nutrient uptake and microelement of Scutellaria baicalensis under different applied phosphorous levels in the pot culture were studied. The results showed that applied phosphorous levels had remarkable effect on AM fungal inoculation. Inoculation effect of AM fungi was the best under 0.12-0.18 g x kg(-1) soil. At those levels, the effect of AM fungi on the growth of S. baicalensis was the best, but either lower or higher phosphorous level showed suppressed infecting of AM fungi to S. baicalensis. After inoculation, the contents of biomass, total P, baicalin, total N of root were increased as well as the microelements of K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, but the contents of total N of shoot, N/P were decreased as well as the microelements of Mn, Cu. In conclusion, the growth of host plant and using rate of phosphorus fertilizer can be promoted by inoculation of AM fungi.
Mycorrhizae ; physiology ; Phosphorus ; pharmacology ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Trace Elements ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of L-methionine (L-Met) on the content of Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe in liver, brain, spleen and kidney of lead intoxicated mice.

METHODSDistilled water was given to 10 mice (normal control group) and lead acetate solution of 400 micro g/ml Pb(2+) to 20 mice to serve as drinking water for 10 days. The lead administration was then withdrawn and lead exposed mice were randomly divided into two groups: the lead control group took distilled water as drinking water for 4 weeks to serve as positive control, the other one took L-Met solution (0.5 mg/ml) as drinking water for 4 weeks (Pb + L-Met group) to serve as the treatment group. All the animals were sacrificed on the 1st day after 4 weeks, and the contents of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb in liver, brain, spleen and kidney were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Emission Spectrometry.

RESULTSLead contents in liver, brain, spleen and kidney of Pb control group [(1.490 +/- 1.654) micro g/g, (3.470 +/- 2.757) micro g/g, (4.975 +/- 2.993) micro g/g, (0.066 +/- 0.001) micro g/g respectively], were higher than those in normal control group [(0.015 +/- 0.001) micro g/g, (0.009 +/- 0.007) micro g/g, (0.027 +/- 0.002) micro g/g, (0.006 +/- 0.015) micro g/g, P < 0.05] while Zn contents in liver, brain, spleen and Fe and Mn content in liver, brain, spleen and kidney in Pb control group were lower than those in normal control group (P < 0.05). Pb contents of brain, spleen and Cu content of kidney in Pb + L-Met group were higher than those in normal control group (P < 0.05). Zn contents of liver, brain, spleen, Fe contents of liver, brain, spleen, kidney, and Mn contents of brain, spleen in Pb + L-Met group were lower than those in normal control group (P < 0.05). Fe contents of liver, brain, Zn content of spleen, Cu content of kidney and Mn contents of liver, brain, spleen in the Pb + L-Met group were higher than those in the Pb control group (P < 0.05). The lead levels of four organs in the Pb + L-Met group were lower than those in the Pb control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLead could be eliminated by L-Met, which may affect the distribution and metabolism of trace elements in mice.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Female ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Lead Poisoning ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Methionine ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Spleen ; metabolism ; Trace Elements ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate in vivo the remineralization containing trace elements.

METHODSThe volunteers were selected by pre-designed criteria of adopting and eliminating. Caries-like lesions were prepared in the enamel of extracted human premolars with the use of demineralizing solution. Sections of the normal and lesion enamel (approximately 2 mm x 2 mm) were prepared, with the cut surfaces protected by nail varnish. 2 enamel specimens were mounted in a removable appliance. By measuring lesion parameters (area, total and average dye fluorescence) on a tooth with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), the effect of remineralization was assessed. Specimens were cut and stained with a fluorescent dye (0.1 mmol/L rhodamine B) for 1 h and analyzed using CLSM.

RESULTSCLSM detected significantly greater remineralization (P < 0.05) in the specimens treated with the trace elements fluoride-containing solution and only containing fluoride (P < 0.05), especially more obvious difference was shown upon remineralized solution with trace elements, which means it produced a greater remineralization. CLSM data of remineralized solution with trace elements were showed: delta Z vs. Area = -50.4 +/- 8.1; delta Z vs. TF = -27.8 +/- 3.8; delta Z vs. AF = -91.5 +/- 8.9.

CONCLUSIONSThe ability of remineralization of the new solution is better than that only containing fluoride in in vivo study. It can potentially prevent initiation of caries. This study provides not only the theoretical foundation for clinical application, but also shows a new kind of experimental method in the study of demineralization and remineralization.

Dental Caries ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Dental Enamel ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fluorides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Tooth Remineralization ; methods ; Trace Elements ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Tongfeng trace elements nutrient balance agent on the various growth indicators, physiological indicators, and the contents of liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid in one-year old Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

METHODThe plants of G. uralensis growing in Chifeng of Inner Mongolia and medicinal garden of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine were fertilized for two times, respectively. The photosynthetic physiological indicators were measured by LI-6400 photosynthetic instrument. The pigments and antioxidase activities of the leaves were determined. Then contents of liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid in the plants were determined by HPLC.

RESULTThe application of this trace element nutrient balance agent could significantly improve the height, chla and chlb, and the photosynthetic physiology indicator such as P(n), C(i), and G(s). Similarly, it could significantly increase the fresh weight of shoots and dry weight of the roots. Compared with control block (CK), the fertilizer which was diluted by 300 times (T(1)) and 600 times (T(2)) significantly increased the content of glycyrrhizic acid by 24.72% and 20. 23%. There was significant difference between different treatments (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Tongfeng trace elements nutrient balance agent could promote growth, physiology and the content of active constituents of G. uralensis, especially the effect of T(1) was superior to T(2).

Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Fertilizers ; Flavanones ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; metabolism ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; metabolism ; Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; drug effects ; Trace Elements ; pharmacology

Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellate protozoan parasite and commonly infected the lower genital tract in women and men. Iron is a known nutrient for growth of various pathogens, and also reported to be involved in establishment of trichomoniasis. However, the exact mechanism was not clarified. In this study, the author investigated whether the 120 kDa protein of T. vaginalis may be involved in pathogenicity of trichomonads. Antibodies against 120 kDa protein of T. vaginalis, which was identified as pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) by peptide analysis of MALDI-TOF-MS, were prepared in rabbits. Pretreatment of T. vaginalis with anti-120 kDa Ab decreased the proliferation and adherence to vaginal epithelial cells (MS74) of T. vaginalis. Subcutaneous tissue abscess in anti-120 kDa Ab-treated T. vaginalis-injected mice was smaller in size than that of untreated T. vaginalis-infected mice. Collectively, the 120 kDa protein expressed by iron may be involved in proliferation, adhesion to host cells, and abscess formation, thereby may influence on the pathogenicity of T. vaginalis.
Animals ; Antibodies/metabolism ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Epithelial Cells/parasitology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects/*physiology ; Iron/pharmacology ; Mice ; Pyruvate Synthase/*metabolism ; Rabbits ; Trace Elements/pharmacology ; Trichomonas Infections/*parasitology ; Trichomonas vaginalis/drug effects/genetics/metabolism/*pathogenicity

Animals ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; Copper ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Fluoride Poisoning ; prevention & control ; Fluorides ; blood ; toxicity ; urine ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Molybdenum ; toxicity ; Rabbits ; Trace Elements ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

Black Bengal bucks (Capra hircus) were supplemented with 0, 0.2 or 0.4 mg elemental chromium (Cr) as chromium chloride hexahydrate per day for 70 days. Intake of dry matter (p<0.001), crude protein (p<0.001) and neutral detergent fiber (p<0.01) increased due to Cr supplementation. The apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter (p<0.01), organic matter (p<0.05), crude protein (p<0.001) and acid detergent fiber (p<0.01) improved and the total body weight gain and the live weight gain to feed intake ratio also increased (p<0.001) due to supplemental Cr feeding. The intake and apparent absorption (p<0.001) of Cr was enhanced due to its supplementation. The intake of copper, zinc, manganese and iron was also more (p<0.001) in the Cr supplemented bucks. As supplementation progressed, plasma glucose concentration was elevated particularly in 0.4 mg Cr supplemented bucks and a significant day x dose interaction effect (p<0.001) with this parameter. The activity of plasma alkaline phosphatase increased (p<0.001) and that of glutamate pyruvate transaminase in plasma decreased (p<0.01) in the Cr supplemented bucks. Supplemental Cr had minimal (p>0.05) effect on the plasma half life (k) and clearance rate of glucose (T1/2) during an intravenous glucose tolerance test. Area under the response curve from 0 to 180 minutes after glucose loading was lower (p<0.001) in the control group of bucks. The study revealed that Cr supplementation might promote growth and nutrient utilization in black Bengal bucks. However, little difference between the 0.2 and 0.4 mg Cr supplemented bucks suggested limited benefit of increasing the level of supplementation beyond 0.2 mg per day under the normal management regimes.
Alkaline Phosphatase/blood ; Animal Feed ; Animals ; Blood Glucose/drug effects ; Chromium Compounds/administration&dosage/*pharmacology ; Dietary Supplements ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Goats/*growth&development/metabolism ; Male ; Trace Elements/blood ; Transaminases/blood ; Weight Gain/*drug effects

Not only the evolution of the processing of Fructus Crataegi, but also the difference of chemical consitituents, pharmacological effects and clinical application before and after the processing are reviewed, based on 26 references of literature. A way to further study the processing of Fructus Crataegi is provided.
Antidiarrheals ; therapeutic use ; Citric Acid ; analysis ; Crataegus ; chemistry ; Diarrhea ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Flavones ; analysis ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Trace Elements ; analysis

The coordination chemistry theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays a very important role on the research of traditional Chinese medicine. The significances of this theory applied in toxicology, pharmacology and the improvement, separation, preparation and analysis of active components in traditional Chinese medicine were summarized in this paper. The conclusions were drawn that the research on thermodynamics and dynamics of TCM coordination chemistry, the relation between existing status of microelements in TCM and toxicity or activity of TCM and the exploitation on adsorbents or chromatographic columns of high performance and high sensitivity analysis methods using the coordination effect may be the key steps in the course of modernization of TCM.
Animals ; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical ; methods ; Chromatography ; methods ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Electrochemistry ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Organometallic Compounds ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Trace Elements ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of organic gallium and gallium chloride on bone metabolism and their therapeutic effect against tretinoin-induced osteoporosis in rats.

METHODSRat models of osteoporosis was established with intragastric administration of tretinoin at the daily dose of 85 mg/kg for 15 days and randomized into control, organic gallium and gallium chloride groups. After administration of the corresponding treatments (none for the control group) for 4 weeks, the changes of the indices for osteoporosis were evaluated through biochemical and pathological approaches.

RESULTSTretinoin induced obvious changes in bone structure and contents of bone calcium and other elements, causing also significantly increased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP), which suggested the development of osteoporosis. Administration of organic gallium and gallium chloride treatments increased the bone density, bone cortex thickness and the percentage of bone trabecula, and Ga, Ca, P contents in the femur and teeth, but lowered the activity of TRAP and AKP, suggesting decreased bone conversion rate. Compared with gallium chloride, organic gallium required smaller dose with better safety to produce better therapeutic effect.

CONCLUSIONOrganic gallium can be safe and effective for treatment of tretinoin-induced osteoporosis in rats.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Femur ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gallium ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Organometallic Compounds ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Osteoporosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tooth ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Trace Elements ; metabolism ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology