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Background: The wooden bowl is an important symbol of the Tibetan cultures, yet, in China, little has been documented regarding the raw materials used to make these items as well as their cultural significance in Tibet. This study explores the ethnobotanical uses of plants used to make wooden bowls to understand their sustainability, cultural significance, and current status of related traditional knowledge in Gyirong Town, which is one of the most famous places for wooden bowl making. Materials and methods: Between 2019 and 2021, key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews, and participatory observations were used to conduct ethnobotanical field surveys in Gyirong Valley. The field work was performed with the assistance of local guides. In this study, we utilized a use-report (UR) to reflect the number of mentions of a species by locals. Results: Our results show that 16 different plants are used during the wooden bowl making process, of which nine are used as raw materials, three for dyeing, and four for varnishing. Although communities rely heavily on these plants, good management and collection methods were observed. We also documented the use of Fallopia denticulata as a red dye and four species of Impatiens as wood varnishes for the first time. Conclusion: The wooden bowl craftsmen and their housewives have a wealth of traditional knowledge of using plants to make wooden bowls in Gyirong Town. And the wooden bowls are now also offering benefits to the locals as well. The government and local people are committed to the protection and development of traditional knowledge related to wooden bowls, and this knowledge maintains a healthy degree of vitality. This research can provide insights into the vitality of traditional handicrafts that are facing challenges and promote their protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Preoperative fluoropyrimidine with radiotherapy was regarded as the standard of care for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). The model for predicting pCR in LARC patients was based on standard treatment only. This study aimed to establish a nomogram with pretherapeutic parameters and different neoadjuvant regimens for predicting pathologic complete response (pCR) and tumor downstaging or good response (ypT0-2N0M0) after receiving neoadjuvant treatment in patients with LARC based on a randomized clinical trial. Methods Between January 2011 and February 2015, 309 patients with rectal cancer were enrolled from a prospective randomized study (NCT01211210). All pretreatment clinical parameters were collected to build a nomogram for predicting pCR and tumor downstaging. The model was subjected to bootstrap internal validation. The predictive performance of the model was assessed with concordance index (C-index) and calibration plots. Results Of the 309 patients, 53 (17.2%) achieved pCR and 132 (42.7%) patients were classified as tumor downstaging with ypT0-2N0M0. Based on the logistic-regression analysis and clinical consideration, tumor length (P  = 0.005), tumor circumferential extent (P  = 0.036), distance from the anal verge (P  = 0.019), and neoadjuvant treatment regimen (P  < 0.001) showed independent association with pCR following neoadjuvant treatment. The tumor length (P  = 0.015), tumor circumferential extent (P  = 0.001), distance from the anal verge (P  = 0.032), clinical T category (P  = 0.012), and neoadjuvant treatment regimen (P  = 0.001) were significantly associated with good tumor downstaging (ypT0-2N0M0). Nomograms were developed to predict the probability of pCR and tumor downstaging with a C-index of 0.802 (95% confidential interval [CI], 0.736–0.867) and 0.730 (95% CI, 0.672–0.784). Internal validation revealed good performance of the calibration plots. Conclusions The nomogram provided individual prediction responses to different preoperative treatment for patients with rectal cancer. This model might help physicians in selecting an optimized treatment, but warrants further external validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new diterpenoids, named aspidoptoids A–D (1–4), together with two known analogues (5–6) were isolated from Aspidopterys obcordata vine. Aspidoptoids A–B (1–2) are the first examples of phenylethylene-bearing 20-nor-diterpenoids of which aspidoptoid B (2) possesses a rare 3,10-oxybridge. Their structures and absolute configuration were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses (IR, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation. In addition, all the isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities and inhibitory effects on the nitric oxide (NO) production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spondias pinnata (Linn. f.) Kurz (Anacardiaceae) is widely distributed in tropical Asia, where it is commonly used as a vegetable and fruit, and is attracting increasing research attention. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition and the cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities of the fruit peel essential oil of S. pinnata (EOSP), which has been consumed as a medicine and condiment in Xishuangbanna, southwest China. A total of 40 components were identified by Gas Chromatography/Mass spectrometry (GC-MS), representing 95.19% of the EOSP, with furfural (17.14%), α-terpineol (13.09%), and ethyl benzoate (9.05%) as the main constituents. EOSP has moderate cytotoxic activity against five cancer cells and obvious antimicrobial activity against five pathogenic strains. In particular, EOSP (Minimal Inhibitory and Fungicidal Concentration, MIC and MFC, 16‒32 µg/mL) showed a 32-times higher inhibition effect against Aspergillus fumigatus than the positive control Tigecycline (MIC and MBC 512‒1024 µg/mL). EOSP also showed strong anti-inflammatory activity by significantly inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 cell lines at 0.08‰, with no effect on cell viability. These bioactivities of S. pinnata fruit peel validate its traditional uses and suggest that it could be a new source of natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents for food or medical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that examines the flavonoid and chemical components from Millettia cubitti collected from south of Yunnan Province in China. It offers overview of the method of the study in which ethanol extracts from the species were successfully extracted with chloroform and ethyl acetate and were observed. It outlines the result which mentions several compounds identified such as diethyl, cuneatin methyl ether, and isoerythrinin.

An abstract of the article "Chemical Constituents of the Twigs and Leaves of Glycosmis montana" by Qing-Fei Fan, Qi-Shi Song, Guo-Ying Zuo, Jian-Yu Zheng, Zhi Na, and Hua-Bin Hu is presented.

An abstract of the article "Chemical Constituents of the Roots of Macaranga denticulata" by Qing-Fei Fan, Jian-Yu Zheng, Qi-Shi Song, Zhi Na, and Hua-Bin Hu is presented.

In this study, 44 compounds in the petroleum ether extract of Maqian (Zanthoxylum myriacanthum var. pubescens) bark, a traditional Dai herbal medicine, were identified by GC-MS. Major components included 3(2H)-benzofuranone, asarinin and (dimethoxymethyl)-3-methoxy-benzene. A total of 18 compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extracts of Maqian bark by column chromatography and identified by chemical and spectral analyses. Rhoifoline B, zanthoxyline dimethoxy derivative, N-nortidine, nitidine, decarine are the major alkaloids. Both the petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts showed significant inhibition on NO production, which imply anti-inflammatory activity, in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells without cell toxicity. Decarine is the major anti-inflammatory constituent with NO IC50 values of 48.43 μM on RAW264.7 cells. The petroleum ether extract, the ethyl acetate extract and decarine showed anti-inflammatory activities through inhibiting TNF-α and IL-1β production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated THP-1 cells without cell toxicity too. Decarine showed anti-inflammatory activity on human colon cells by reducing IL-6 and IL-8 production in TNF-α+IL-1β-induced Caco-2 cells. These results support the use of Maqian bark as a remedy for enteritis and colitis recorded by Dai medicine in China, and elucidate the major pharmacological compounds in Maqian bark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the study which identifies the structures of chemical compounds isolated from the bark of Cratoxylum formosum species pruniflorum. The study identifies the structures through chemical evidence and spectroscopic analysis. The chemical compounds that were isolated includes epifriedelinol, vismiaquinone B, and physcion.

The article presents a study on the cytotoxicity of caged xanthones from the fruits of Garcinia bracteata from Yunnan Province, China. The sun-dried G. bracteata fruits were powdered and extracted repeatedly with 95% ethanol (EtOH) at room temperature with the suspension of crude extract in water. The petroleum ether fraction was divided into eight fractions on the column of silica gel, eluted with petroleum ether-ethyl acetate (EtOAc) gradient.

A correction to the article "Chemical Compounds from the Bark of Cratoxylum formosum ssp. Pruniflorum," that was published in the March 2014 issue is presented.