OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of micro-elements fertilizers on the quality and yields of Artemisia annua.

METHODField experiments were conducted according to the method of random blocks design. After the harvest the yield was calculated and the content of artemisinin was determined.

RESULTBy applying 0.1%-0.5% Mn and 0.1%-0.5% Zn the dried leaf output and artemisinin content were increased.

CONCLUSIONThe suitable ranges of Mn and Zn can increased the yield and artemisinin content of A. annua.

Artemisia annua ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Artemisinins ; metabolism ; Boron ; pharmacology ; Manganese ; pharmacology ; Zinc ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate effects of incorporating tetrapod-like zinc oxide whisker (T-ZnOw) antibacterial agent on the antibacterial activity of composite resin, compared with that of the silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent.

METHODSThe minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the two different antibacterial agents against Streptococcus mutans were investigated using the broth dilution test. Then the antibacterial activities of the self-cured composite resin specimens with different incorporating concentrations of the two antibacterial agents were evaluated using direct contact test. And the antibacterial activities of the resin specimens were examined again after 3 months of accelerating aging.

RESULTSThe MIC (MBC) of the T-ZnOw antibacterial agent and silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent were 0.15625 (0.3125) g/L and 0.15625 (0.15625) g/L. When the concentrations of T-ZnOw added to composite resin were 3%, 5%, and 10% (w/w), the antibacterial ratios of the resin specimens were (84.85+/-5.16)%, (94.22+/-3.73)%, and (99.43+/-0.48)% respectively. When the concentrations of the silver-based antibacterial agent added to composite resin were 1%, 3%, and 5%, the antibacterial ratios were (71.01+/-7.67)%, (90.76+/-5.91)%, and (97.19+/-4.10)% respectively. The antibacterial ratios of the resin specimens containing 5% of both antibacterial agents were (89.89+/-5.55)% and (78.79+/-7.81)% respectively after 3 months of accelerating aging.

CONCLUSIONSIncorporation of the T-ZnOw antibacterial agent in composite resin can improve the antibacterial performance of the resin, and the resin exhibits better antibacterial performance than that incorporating silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent after 3 months of aging.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Composite Resins ; pharmacology ; Materials Testing ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Streptococcus mutans ; drug effects ; Zinc Oxide ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to analyze the processing mechanism of calamine.

METHODXRD, TEM and IR were adopted to analyze the structures and the components of original and calcined calamine. Their antibacterial activities were also determined.

RESULTThe results indicated that zinc carbonate in original calamine was decomposed into zinc oxide after processing at 700 degrees C for 1 hour using original calamine of 40 mesh, and the particle size was smaller than before processing. All of ZnO, ZnCO3 and Zn5 (CO3) 2 (OH) 6 had antibacterial activitives.

CONCLUSIONOriginal calamine is deposed to ZnO after being calcined for 1 h at 700 degrees C and wet milling. The content of ZnO and antibacterial activity of calcined calamine are better than those of original calamine, moreover, the particle size diminishes and become dimensional uniformity, and the contents of dissolved impurities is decreased. The antibacterial activitives of original and calcined calamine are decided by zinc.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Bacteria ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Ferric Compounds ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Particle Size ; Zinc Oxide ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Culture medium and fermentation conditions for lipid production by Rhodosporidium toruloides were optimized with single factor and uniform design experiment. The best medium recipe was found with 70 g/L glucose, 0.1 g/L (NH4)2SO4, 0.75 g/L yeast extract, 1.5 g/L MgSO4. 7H2O, 0.4g/L KH2PO4, sterilized at 121 degrees C for 15 min, and then supplemented with ZnSO4 1.91 x 10(-6) mmol/L, CaCl2 1.50 mmol/L, MnCl2 1.22 x 10(-4) mmol/L and CuSO4 1.00 x 10(-4) mmol/L. The optimal fermentation conditions were as follows: 50 mL of medium (pH 6.0) in 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask with 10% inoculum (28h) under orbital shaking at 200 r/min for 120h at 30 degrees C. Under these conditions, yeast biomass accumulated lipids up to 76.1%.
Basidiomycota ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Copper ; pharmacology ; Culture Media ; Fermentation ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lipids ; biosynthesis ; Magnesium Sulfate ; pharmacology ; Zinc ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the function of zinc in preventing human sperm from being damaged by sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an external NO donor.

METHODSAnalyses were made of the function of zinc in protecting sperm from being influenced by SNP in such aspects as sperm motility, head-tail connection and the breakage of sperm DNA chain by using phase-contrast microscope and single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE).

RESULTSSperm motility was obviously inhibited by SNP. The percentage of comet cells increased significantly but the stability of sperm head-tail connection decreased. Zinc could promote sperm motility, protect the DNA chain and prevent the sperm head-tail connection from breaking.

CONCLUSIONZinc can protect sperm from being damaged by NO. Its mechanism may be related to the mercaptol group of sperm chromatin.

Adult ; DNA Damage ; Humans ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; toxicity ; Nitroprusside ; toxicity ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Zinc ; pharmacology

The effect of dexamethasone (10(-5)M) and epinephrine (10(-6)M) on the biosynthesis of metallothionein (MT) in the perfused rat liver was investigated. MT synthesis was determined by measuring the incorporation of 14C-L-aspartic acid into liver MT fraction after the perfusion for five hours of isolated liver by artificial blood containing 14C-L-U-aspartic acid (0.2uci) with dexamethasone or epinephrine. MT was isolated by Sephadex G-75 column chromatography and DEAE Sephadex column chromatography. Incorporation of radioactive 14C into the MT fraction of perfused liver cytosol (9.0grams of liver) from dexamethasone treated, epinephrine treated and control groups were, respective1y, 0.72, 0.34 and 0.33% of total radioactivity infused. Total protein content in the MT fraction of liver perfused with dexamethasone and epinephrine were 0.80, 0.64mg/g liver compared to 0.52mg/g liver in the control. MT, a protein having a high content of cystein and metals is synthesized in the perfused rat liver and its induction is stimulated by dexamethasone, while epinephrine increased the accumulation of Zn in the MT fraction of the perfused rat liver. The present experiment confirms that MT synthesis and degradation are somewhat regulated by glucocorticoid hormone and epinephrine.
Animal ; Dexamethasone/pharmacology* ; Epinephrine/pharmacology* ; Female ; In Vitro ; Liver/drug effects ; Liver/metabolism* ; Metalloproteins/metabolism* ; Metallothionein/metabolism* ; Perfusion ; Rats ; Zinc/metabolism

BACKGROUNDSurface modification by ion implantation-deposition is well established in materials science and can be an effective way to improve biocompatibility. The aim of this study is to evaluate the chemical composition of a modified titanium (Ti) surface after zinc (Zn) ion implantation and deposition and examine the effect of the modification on the formation of cellular focal adhesion plaques in vitro.

METHODScp-Ti discs were modified with Zn ion implantation and deposition via PIIID. The chemical composition of the surface modification was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The formation of focal adhesion plaques on the modified Ti was investigated with human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells that were seeded onto the Ti surfaces and quantified by morphometric analysis under a confocal microscope.

RESULTSXPS data revealed that the modified Zn-Ti surface consisted of Ti, oxygen, Zn, and carbon. In addition, Gaussian fitting of the spectra indicated that the modified surface contained titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. After 6 hours of MG-63 cell culture, there were significantly more focal adhesion plaques on the modified surfaces than observed on the nonmodified Ti (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONZn ion implantation and deposition greatly improved the biocompatibility of Ti for the growth of MG-63 cells.

Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Photoelectron Spectroscopy ; Titanium ; pharmacology ; Zinc Oxide ; pharmacology

Zinc (Zn) deficiency in animals became of interest until the 1950s. In this paper, progresses in researches on physiology of Zn deficiency in animals, phytate effect on bioavailability of Zn, and role of phytase in healing Zn deficiency of animals were reviewed. Several studies demonstrated that Zn is recycled via the pancreas; the problem of Zn deficiency was controlled by Zn homeostasis. The endogenous secretion of Zn is considered as an important factor influencing Zn deficiency, and the critical molar ratio is 10. Phytate (inositol hexaphosphate) constituted up to 90% of the organically bound phosphorus in seeds. Great improvement has been made in recent years on isolating and measuring phytate, and its structure is clear. Phytate is considered to reduce Zn bioavailability in animal. Phytase is the enzyme that hydrolyzes phytate and is present in yeast, rye bran, wheat bran, barley, triticale, and many bacteria and fungi. Zinc nutrition and bioavailability can be enhanced by addition of phytase to animal feeds. Therefore, using phytase as supplements, the most prevalent Zn deficiency in animals may be effectively corrected without the mining and smelting of several tons of zinc daily needed to correct this deficiency by fortification worldwide.
6-Phytase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Phytic Acid ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Skin Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Zinc ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; deficiency ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of four trace elements Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu on growth of the 2nd- and the 3rd-years Paeonia lactiflora.

METHODThe experiment was designed as randomized blocks. The data of physiological parameters such as fresh weight of root, numbers of bud and root division, length and diameter of the root and the contents of paeoniflorin in root were measured after fertilized with the four trace elements. Also the contents of the four trace elements in soil and roots, stem and leaves of P. lactiflora were detected by atomic absorption spectrometry.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe growth of the P. lactiflora was improved and the content of paeoniflorin was increased by proper level of Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu, but depressed by the higher level. Only Zn can be accumulated in the roots of P. lactiflora.

Benzoates ; metabolism ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; metabolism ; Copper ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; metabolism ; Iron ; pharmacology ; Manganese ; pharmacology ; Monoterpenes ; Paeonia ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; Zinc ; pharmacology

Inflammation is part of the immune response, and inflammation may also induce or exaggerate some diseases through production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. More evidence have shown that the individual level of cytokine production is affected by single nucleotide polymorphisms in cytokine genes. Furthermore, as several nutrients participate in DNA protection and stabilization, altering gene expression and individual phenotype, nutrition has important interaction with inflammation. The purpose of this review is to give a recent update informations on the interaction of single nucleotide polymorphisms, inflammation and nutrition.
Fatty Acids ; pharmacology ; Fish Oils ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; genetics ; therapy ; Nutrition Therapy ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; drug effects ; Vitamins ; pharmacology ; Zinc ; pharmacology