Search

The genus Gymnopus plays a significant role in ecological systems, with certain species holding potential as food or medicinal resources. However, the species diversity of Gymnopus in China remains unclear. In recent years, more than one thousand Gymnopus specimens have been collected across China. Thus, through the integration of ecological evidence, detailed morphological studies, and phylogenetic analysis using a multiloci dataset of ITS + nLSU + tef1-ɑ, four new species—Gymnopus longistipes, Gymnopus striatipileatus, Gymnopus viridiscus, and Gymnopus spadiceus—have been differentiated from known species. Gymnopus similis has been newly documented from Jiangxi Province, China. Detailed descriptions and vivid illustrations have been provided based on the newly collected specimens, along with comparisons to closely related species. Additionally, a key to the reported species of Gymnopus s.l. from East China has been included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the standardized outcomes in nephrology–hemodialysis fatigue (SONG–HD fatigue) scale and to assess the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the SONG–HD fatigue (C-SONG–HD fatigue) scale. Methods: Forward and back translations were used to translate the SONG–HD fatigue scale into Chinese. We used the C-SONG–HD fatigue scale to survey Chinese patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) in China. We examined the distribution of responses and floor and ceiling effects. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficient, intraclass coefficients, and Spearman correlations were used to assess internal consistency reliability, test–retest reliability, and convergent validity, respectively. Responsiveness was also evaluated. Results: In total, 489 participants across southeast China, northwest China, and central China completed the study. The C-SONG–HD fatigue scale had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient 0.861, omega coefficient 0.916), test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.695), and convergent validity (Spearman correlation 0.691). The analysis of all first-time HD patients did not show notable responsiveness, and only patients with temporary vascular access had good responsiveness with an effect size (ES) of 0.54, a standardized response mean (SRM) of 0.85, and a standard error of measurement (SEM) of 0.77. Conclusion: The Chinese version of the SONG–HD fatigue scale showed satisfactory reliability and validity in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) in China. It could be used as a tool to measure the fatigue of Chinese HD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Two novel Cu(II) complexes of benzimidazole Schiff base have been synthesized. [•] Complex (1) structure was determined by X-ray diffraction. [•] The complexes and ligands bound DNA moderately via partial intercalation modes. [•] Complex (1) could cleave pBR322 plasmid DNA via radical mechanism. [•] Complex (1) has strongest activity against two tested cancer cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Two main phytotoxic and antifungal phthalic acid butyl isobutyl ester (1) and radicinin (2) were isolated from the culture of Curvularia sp. FH01, a fungus residing in the Atractomorpha sinensis gut. The structures of isolated metabolites were established on the basis of spectral analysis. Metabolites 1 and 2 exhibited significant phytotoxic activity against the radical growth of Echinochloa crusgalli with their IC50 values of 61.9 and 5.9μg/mL, respectively, which were comparable to that 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.0μg/mL) used as a positive control. The antifungal test results showed that compound 2 possessed strong antifungal activity against Magnaporthe grisea (IC50 =16.3μg/mL) and Valsa mali (IC50 =18.2μg/mL). The findings of the present study suggest that bioactive properties of the fungus FH01 can be attributed to its major components, phthalic acid butyl isobutyl ester and radicinin, and both agents have a potential to be used as herbicide and fungicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new dammarane-type triterpene, gypsapogenin A (1), was isolated from the acid hydrolyzate of total saponins fromGynostemma pentaphyllum(Thunb.) Makino, together with two known compounds, (20S,24S)-3β,20,21β,23β,25-pentahydroxy-21,24-cyclodammarane (2) and (23S)-3β-hydroxydammar-20,24-dien-21-oic acid 21,23-lactone (3). Its structural elucidations were accomplished mainly on the basis of the interpretation of spectroscopic data, such as IR, HR-TOF-MS, and NMR. The cytotoxic activities were evaluated against HepG2 and A549 human cancer cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The optimized extraction conditions of red pigments (RP) from bayberry (Myrica rubra) pomace obtained with response surface methodology were extraction pH, time, temperature, liquid/solid ratio as 1.4, 4.2 h, 56.1 °C and 12.6/1 ml/g, respectively. The RP were then purified by the macroporous resin, which indicated the resin LX-68 showed the maximum refined efficiency among the tested resins. Further solvent partition of the RP yielded ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water layers, in which the first fraction showed the strongest DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities with IC50 values of 2.13 μg/ml and 0.57 mg/ml, respectively, which were higher than those of BHA and mannitol used as a positive control. Following activity-oriented separation, (−)-epicatechin and procyanidin B2 were isolated from the ethyl acetate layer and were found to have excellent DPPH free radical scavenging activities with IC50 values of 2.87 and 2.06 μg/ml, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aqueous enzymatic extraction (AEE) of oil from Myrica rubra kernels was performed. The four AEE parameters namely mixed enzyme (cellulose/neutral protease=1/2, w/w) amount, liquid/solid ratio, extraction time, and temperature, were optimised by response surface methodology. The statistical analysis indicated that the enzyme amount, liquid/solid ratio, time, and the quadratics of liquid/solid ratio, and enzyme amount, as well as the interactions between time and temperature, showed significant effects on oil yield. The optimal extraction conditions for oil yield were mixed enzyme amount, liquid/solid ratio, time, temperature as 3.17% (w/w), 4.91ml/g, 4h and 51.6°C. Under the optimum conditions, the experimental oil extraction yield was 31.15%. The GC–MS analysis showed that the oil was abundant in the unsaturated fatty acids (9-octadecenoic acid and 9,12-octadecadienoic acid accounting for more than 80%), and the AEE was more efficient method to extract polyunsaturated fatty acid than the organic solvent process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The optimised extraction conditions of red pigments (RP) from Camellia japonica obtained with an orthogonal design L9(34) were solid/liquid ratio, temperature, pH and extraction time as 1/10, 60°C, 1.5 and 4h, respectively. The RP were then purified by the macroporous resin method, which showed the resin LX-68 was appropriate for purifying the pigments from C. japonica. The antioxidant activities of these pigments were also investigated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical in vitro model systems. The DPPH scavenging activity of pigment extract was comparable to that of standard butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). The IC50 values of the RP and BHA were 4.55 and 4.17μgml−1, respectively. The pigments showed higher hydroxyl radical-scavenging activities than that of mannitol at the same concentration. Following activity-oriented separation, (−)-epicatechin was isolated as an active principle, which exhibited excellent DPPH free radical scavenging activities with IC50 5.08μgml−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]