OBJECTIVE To investigate the protective effect of total saponins from stems and leaves of Panax ginseng (GSLS) on cisplatin (CDDP)-induced kidney damage in mice and its possible mechanism. METHODS Thirty-two male ICR mice were randomly divided into normal control group, CDDP group, and GSLS(150 and 300)+CDDP groups. GSLS was administered to mice by oral gavage once a day for 7 d. On the 7th day, a single injection of CDDP 20 mg·kg-1 was given 1 h after GSLS 150 and 300 mg·kg-1 before GSLS 150 and 300 mg·kg-1 continued to be given for 3 d. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CRE) , catalase (CAT) in renal tissue, reduced glutathione (GSH), tumor necrosis factorα(TNF-α) and interleukin 1β(IL-1β) of cisplatin induced mice were detected after 72 h. HE and PAS staining were used to observe the renal histopathological changes;While TUNEL and Hoechst33258 staining were employed to observe apoptosis in kidney tissues. RESULTS Compared with normal control group, CDDP group had a significant reduction in relative body mass (P<0.05), and the level of GSH and CAT in kidney tissues (P<0.05). The level of CRE, BUN, TNF-α, and IL-1βin serum and renal indexes significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), especially BUN and CRE that respectively doubled and quadrupled. CDDP group developed glomerulus swelling, renal tubular expansion and epithelial cell necrosis. Trans?parent tube type of tube cavity appeared, the nucleus pycnosis disappeared, but renal interstitial edema and inflammatory cell infiltration appeared. There was a large amount of glycogen deposition and high expressions of TUNEL positive cells and Hoechst33258 positive cells. Compared with CDDP group, the levels of BUN and CRE in GSLS treatment group significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in serum, glycogen deposition was reducted and apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells decreased in kidney tissues (P<0.05). The level of TNF-α, IL-1β(P<0.05) and the degree of renal tissue necrosis were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in CDDP+GSLS 300 group, but there was a significant increase in the level of CAT and GSH (P<0.05). CONCLUSION GSLS can protect against mouse kidney injury induced by cisplatin. The mechanism may be related to oxidation, reduced inflammation reaction and resistance to apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo study Chrysanthemum morifolium dry matter accumulation and absorption characteristics of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium at different growth stages.

METHODThrough the field experiment and the sampling analysis, the absorbing capacity of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as well as the growth of plant at different growth stages in Ch. morifolium were analyzed.

RESULTThe dry matter accumulation reached 70.4% of the total accumulation within 60-150 days after transplantation. Dry matter mainly distributed in leaf within 60 days after transplantation, the distribution ratio in the stem was higher than that in leaf within 60-150 days after transplantation, the highest distribution ratio was the flower, and the second was the root within 150-210 days after transplantation. The accumulative capacity of N, P and K by Ch. morifolium was lower within 45 days after transplantation, which only accounted for 16.14%, 13.39% and 10.19% of total absorptive capacity, respectively. But it increased rapidly within 45-150 days after transplantation, which accounted for 71.86%, 63.81% and 62.94% respectively. The nitrogen accumulation was slower, while the accumulation of phosphorus and potassium was increased rapidly, within 150-210 days after transplantation. The distribution ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was different within different organs in different growth stages. The distribution ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium was mainly distributed in stem and leaf, within 150 days after transplantation, then transferring to the flower and root, the transferring efficiency was N > P > K.

CONCLUSIONthe absorption capacity of K was the highest, followed by N and P. The N : P205 : K2O ratio was 1 : 0.88 : 1.58. Correlation analysis showed that dry matter accumulation and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium accumulation correlated positively. For producing 1g dry matter, Ch. morifolium needed to absorb 5.198 1 mg N, 4.329 5 mg P205 and 7.138 5 mg K20 from soil and fertilizer.

Absorption ; Chrysanthemum ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Fertilizers ; analysis ; Nitrogen ; metabolism ; Phosphorus ; metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Potassium ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the dynamic changes of dry material accumulation and platycodin D content in Platycodon grandiflorum in different planting densities.

METHODFive different planting densities M1 (4 cm x 25 cm), M2 (6 cm x 25 cm), M3 (8 cm x 25 cm), M4 (10 cm x 25 cm) and M5 (12 cm x 25 cm) were designed in the plot experiment. The individual and colony biomass accumulation, dry material distribution, root yield and platycodin D content were measured in different stage.

RESULTIn a certain density range the individual biomass in P. grandiflorum obviously declined with increasing density with the exception of biomass M2 > biomass M3. On the contrary, the colony biomass increased with the increasing density. Dry material accumulation in each organ in P. grandiflorum in different planting densities showed significance (P<0.05). The dry material distribution in organs in the different planting densities showed significance (P<0.05), and the dry material distribution in flower and fruit reached the minimal level in M2, in the same planting density the distribution in root reached the maximal; The dry material in stem, flower and fruit obviously declined with the increasing density, while the dry material in leaf increased. The individual root output increased with the increasing density, and it reached the highest in M2. The colony root yield increased with the increasing density. The platycodin D content in P. grandiflorum reached the highest in M2.

CONCLUSIONThe result showed that a suitable planting density is very important to P. grandiflorum dry material accumulation and distribution, root yield, platycodin D content and colony yield.

Plant Structures ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Platycodon ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Saponins ; metabolism ; Seasons ; Triterpenes ; metabolism