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This paper is dedicated to investigating the existence of solutions characterized by a predefined L 2 -norm in the context of the nonlinear Sobolev critical Schrödinger equation − Δ u + λ u = | u | 2 ∗ − 2 u + V (x) | u | p − 2 u , in R N , ∫ R N u 2 d x = a 2 , u ∈ H 1 (R N). Here, N ≥ 3 , a > 0 and 2 < p < 2 ∗ , where 2 ∗ = 2 N N − 2 represents the critical Sobolev exponent. It is worth noting that the parameter λ functions as a Lagrange multiplier within this framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A biomimetic brush-like polymer with a catechol structure (ADD) was designed and developed. • The Ca 3 (PO 4) 2 was deposited on soy flour and mixed with ADD to develop a biomineralized adhesive. • The dry and wet shear strength of resultant plywood increased by 118.8% and 750%, respectively. • The adhesive has outstanding coating performance, mildew resistance, flame retardancy. The development of a formaldehyde-free soy flour adhesive with good coating ability, mildew resistance, and flame retardancy while maintaining high bond strength, is urgent but presents a challenge. Inspired by the strong adhesive performance derived from the brush-like structure of gecko toes, a brush-like polymer with a catechol group was synthesized to improve the adhesive behavior of soy flour adhesives. Prompted by the high strength derived from the biomineralized structure of oysters, Ca 3 (PO 4) 2 was sedimented on soy protein and combined with the brush-like polymer to construct a biomineralized structure, which endowed the resultant adhesive with mildew resistance and flame retardancy while maintaining high bond strength. The dry and wet shear strengths of the bonded plywood by the resultant adhesive increased by 118.8 % and 750 % relative to those of the unmodified adhesive. Moreover, the resultant adhesive possessed outstanding coating performance, superior mildew resistance (no mildew for 7 d), and high toughness (4.05 J of the work of adhesion). The limiting oxygen index of the resultant adhesive was increased from 26.4 % to 30.1 %. Thus, developing a system combined with a bioinspired biomineralized strategy and a brush-like polymer can potentially offer a template for the fabrication of hydrogels, functionalized surfaces, and composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lasia spinosa seeds were not dormant at maturity in early spring. The most favorable temperatures for germination were between 25 and 30°C, and final percentage and rate of germination decreased with an increase or decrease in temperature. When L. spinosa seeds were transferred to 25°C, after 60 days at 10°C (where none of the seeds germinated), final germination increased from 0% to 78%. Seeds germinated to high percentage both in light and in dark, although dark germination took more than twice as long as in the light. During desiccation of seeds at 15°C and 45% relatively humidity, moisture loss decreased exponentially from 2.02 to 0.13gH2Og−1 drywt within 16 days, and only a few seeds (12%) survived 0.13gH2Og−1 drywt moisture content. Seeds stored at 0.58gH2Og−1 drywt moisture content at four constant temperatures (4, 10, 15, and −18°C) for up to 6 months exhibited a well-defined trend of decreasing viability with decreasing temperature. Thus, we concluded that freshly harvested L. spinosa seeds are non-dormant and recalcitrant. Also, the seeds with 0.58gH2Og−1 drywt moisture content could be effectively stored for a few months between 10 and 15°C although the most appropriate temperature for wet storage appears to be 10°C, as it is close to the minimum temperature for germination and so there will be less pre-sprouting compared to 15°C. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sixty-six medicinal plant species traditionally collected and used by the Red-headed Yao people in Jinping county, Yunnan Province, SW China, were investigated and studied through the approaches of ethnobotany, anthropology and participatory rural appraisal (PRA). Among these plants, 27 species were recorded to have medicinal values for the first time recorded in literature, 23 species were found to have different medicinal functions from those recorded in the literature. Many medicinal herbs are simultaneously wild food plants. The local Yao people take medicinal baths on some special days very common to treat and prevent diseases. The Red-headed Yao medicinal herb doctors have conserved medicinal plants and their habitats over the years. Most of the folk healers are old women, who are concerned about passing on their secrets to the younger generation. They fear that the younger generations have not learned enough about the herbal traditions to keep the practice going. The authors suggest that plants used by the Red-headed Yao people need to be further studied phytochemically and pharmacologically. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Epidemic spreading in percolation worlds has been investigated by Monte Carlo simulations, based on a correlated percolation model. It is found that the spreading behavior is greatly influenced by the spreading worlds. When the correlation changes from the weak limit to a strong one, the pattern consisting of sick individuals converts from the pattern of site percolation to that of Leath percolation in a percolation world. Correspondingly, the fractal dimension varies from the dimension of the random pattern to that of dense growth morphology. The critical correlation exponent αc=dw, where dw is the fractal dimension of the percolation world. Furthermore, the critical behavior of epidemic spreading is obviously affected by the spreading world also. The threshold of pathogenic ratio sc=1 (for uniform world) and 0.593 (for the critical percolation one), respectively, in the strong correlation limit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The impedance of electrode and photostimulation artifacts (short-duration and high-amplitude spikes) are still hindering the employment of silicon-based neural probe in optogenetics. A fiber-based optrode modified with a double-layer platinum black-poly (3,4ethylenedioxythiophene) PEDOT/poly (4-styrenesulfonate) PSS (Pt-PP) coating has been developed for improvement of neural recording quality and mitigation of photoelectric artifact simultaneously. The Pt-PP coating was made by layer-by-layer electrochemical deposition followed by the ultrasonication and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) scanning to verify its mechanical and electrochemical stability. Both in-vitro and in-vivo experiments demonstrated that Pt-PP coated optrode had outstanding recording performance (high signal-to-noise ratio about 9.64) and low photoelectric amplitude (850 μV). The artifact recovery time of Pt-PP coated optrode (0.3 ms) after photostimulation was significantly decreased when compared to platinum black (6 ms) or PEDOT/PSS (0.7 ms) coated one which has potential to retain high-quality neural signals in animal experiments. At last, the optogenetics experiments revealed the capability of Pt-PP coated optrode to record the change in neural spike rate with certain spatial resolution and shorter artifact recovery time. These results suggest that Pt-PP coating has great potential for neural electrodes in the application of neuroscience. • A layer-by-layer electrochemical deposition Platinum black-PEDOT/PSS (Pt-PP) coating on microelectrode is described. • The design and in vivo application of a fiber based Michigan optrode with flexibility PI connection is verified. • The performance of recording and mitigation of photoelectric of Pt-PP modified optrode are better than Platinum Black and PEDOT/PSS modified one. • The mechanical and electrochemical stability of Pt-PP modified optrode were verified by ultrasonication and CV scanning tests. • The Pt-PP modified optrode recorded higher quality spikes with lower artifact amplitude, shorter recovery time during optogenetics experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Rhododendron decorum is widely distributed shrub in southwest China, and its flower is a favorite food of the local people. To investigate the impacts of harvesting, we genotyped 8 nuclear microsatellite loci in a total of 247 individuals from 10 natural populations and 4 flower-harvesting populations. No significant differences in allelic richness, effective number of alleles, private allelic richness, heterozygosity and effective population size were found among the natural and flower-harvesting populations. Differentiation between the 14 populations is relatively low (F ST = 0.107). R. decorum showed high levels of intra-population genetic diversity. AMOVA analysis indicated that over 89% of the variation was contained within the populations, and that only 0.47% of the variation was attributed by human harvesting practices. Cluster analysis revealed two basic clusters related to the plants' geographical locations. Our results indicate that historical flower-harvesting practices do not lead to loss of genetic variation in R. decorum. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Michelia yunnanensis Franch. is a Chinese endemic ornamental shrub with potential for greater utilization as a landscape and medicinal plant if propagation was less difficult. Seed development and breaking of seed dormancy were investigated to improve propagation of M. yunnanensis. No fresh seeds germinated when tested at the time of dispersal. Newly matured seeds of M. yunnanensis contained differentiated linear underdeveloped embryos that were physiologically dormant. The embryo/seed length ratio of M. yunnanensis was 0.15. Warm stratification did not break seed dormancy. Dormancy was broken by cold stratification at 4°C but not by flowing water or nitrate. Embryos developed grew inside seeds during cold stratification at 4°C. In newly harvested dormant seeds, embryos were 0.94mm long and increased in length 139% before radicle emergence (germination). GA3 substituted for cold stratification to break dormancy in seeds of M. yunnanensis incubated at 25°C or 20/25°C. Mature M. yunnanensis seeds exhibited intermediate complex morphophysiological dormancy. Optimal germination of non-dormant seed in terms of both germination percentage and rate occurred at 20/25°C. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Three new humulane-type sesquiterpenes, 8-O-(p-coumaroyl)-5β-hydroperoxy-1(10)E,4(15)-humuladien-8α-ol (1), 8-O-(3-nitro-p-coumaroyl)-1(10)E,4(15)-humuladien-5β,8α-diol (2) and 8-O-(p-coumaroyl)-1(10)E,4(5)E-humuladien-8-ol (3), and a new copaborneol derivative, 1-O-p-coumaroyl-copaborneol (4), have been isolated from the methanol extract of Pilea cavaleriei Lévl. subsp. crenata C. J. Chen. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods. Cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The development of a water-retaining soybean flour-based adhesive with high water resistance, interfacial adhesion and mildew resistance is significant in replacing petroleum-based aldehyde-based resin. Drawing inspiration from lobster shells, soybean flour (SF), self-synthesized epoxy hyperbranched hydroxyethyl cellulose (EH) and calcium phosphate (CaP) oligomers were employed to prepare organic-inorganic hybrid composite adhesives based on hyperbranched structure. The EH component, abundant in active groups, enhanced the interfacial adhesion of the adhesives and served as an organic carrier for the mineralization of CaP oligomers. Prior to adhesive solidification, CaP oligomers mineralized to form an inorganic film akin to milk skin, which prevented water evaporation, resulting in a water retention time of 100 min for the adhesive. During adhesive curing, CaP oligomers with fluid-like behavior polymerized and mineralized, ultimately forming a continuous inorganic network of CaP crystals. This network, combined with the organic substrates (SF and EH), constituted an organic-inorganic hybrid structure, which bolstered the water and mildew resistance (20 days) of the adhesives. The prepressing intensity and wet shear strength of the resultant plywood increased by 168% and 396% to 0.67 MPa and 1.39 MPa, respectively, compared to those of the unmodified adhesive. The strength reached the leading level of the reported soybean flour adhesives. The biomimetic strategy employed here can be extended to high-performance gels and membrane materials, offering a novel modification approach for bio-composites. • Organic-inorganic hybrid composite adhesive based on hyperbranched structure was constructed. • Hyperbranched polymers enhanced interfacial adhesion and system compatibility. • CaP oligomers mineralized to form an inorganic film like milk skin to prevented water evaporation. • The adhesive has water retention, water resistance bonding performance and mildew resistance. • The strategy has significant reference for the research of gels, films and composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a strong and multifunctional soy protein adhesive was designed and developed. It was then combined with wood units to prepare a clean and electromagnetic shielding wood-based panel via simple hot press. Specifically, bio-based raw material was prepared by grafting pyrrole (PY) and dopamine hydrochloride (DOPA) in sequence on to soy protein isolate (SPI), and then combined with AgNO 3 and a self-synthesized bio cross-linker epoxidized quercetin (EQC), to develop a strong and conductive soy protein-based adhesive with mildew-proof and flame-retardant properties. A covalent cross-linked structure and noncovalent bond (hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds) were formed among SPI, EQC, DOPA, and Ag+. As well, a hybrid structure was formed via in situ polymerization of Ag NPs, resulting in an adhesive with improved water resistance. Thus, the dry and wet shear strengths of plywood bonded with resultant adhesive increased by 78% and 52.4%, respectively, relative to those of the SPI adhesive. The modified adhesive exhibited good mildew resistance (shelf life ＞ 15 d) due to the natural antibacterial properties of quercetin, and the dynamic equilibrium of Ag NPs and Ag+ in the presence of DOPA. Meanwhile, the LOI of the modified adhesive was 41.3%, which is higher than that of SPI, improving flame retardancy of the resultant plywood. Notably, the obtained adhesive exhibited conductivity owing to the presence of polypyrrole (up to 7.09 S/cm), which can be used to develop reflection-based particle board with electromagnetic shielding ability. This study provides a high-potential and feasible strategy for developing multifunctional biomass composites to replace metal and polymer materials, which is an important and practical approach to promote sustainable development of materials and reduce carbon emissions. [Display omitted] • Pyrrole and dopamine were grafted on soy protein to obtain functional raw material (MSPI). • MSPI combined with epoxidized quercetin as a bio cross-linker and Ag+, to develop a wood adhesive. • The dry and wet shear strength of resultant plywood increased by 78% and 52.4%, respectively. • The resultant adhesive has antimildew property, flame retardancy, low environmental impact. • The resultant adhesive has conductivity and can be used to make electromagnetic shielding panel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The brain-computer interface (BCI) devices are of prime important for study of nervous system as well as diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. To meet the needs of the BCI devices in high-density integration and multi-functionalization, 3-dimensional (3D) drivable optrode array with laser diodes (LDs) coupled waveguides was developed. The unique device realizes the 3D integration of the optrodes and avoids fiber tangle and tissue heating by adopting LD coupled waveguide structure. Besides, the postoperative position adjustment of the optrode array was achieved by integrating with a 3D printed micro-drive. Most importantly, high-resolution neural stimulations and recordings were achieved for study of working memory related neural circuits in four brain regions of mice including prelimbic cortex (PrL), mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD), dorsal medial caudate nucleus (dmCP) and posterior motor cortex 2 (pM2). The results indicate that this novel device is promising for the research of complex neural networks. Highlights • The design and in-vivo use of a novel 3D drivable optrode array was described. • Fiber tangle and tissue heating was avoided by adopting LD coupled waveguide. • Postoperative position adjustment was achieved by integrating with micro-drive. • High-resolution neural manipulation was achieved in four brain regions of mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven undescribed lavandulyl benzophenones garcimultiflorones K – Q, and fourteen known compounds were isolated from the CHCl 3 soluble fraction of 95% EtOH extract of Garcinia multiflora branches. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic techniques including NMR spectroscopy, MS analysis, and ECD calculations. Seven isolated compounds expect for garcimultiflorone L and garcimultiflorone O exhibited cytotoxic activities in vitro against five cancer cell lines (HL-60, A549, SMMC-7721, MCF-7, and SW480). It is worth mentioning that garcimultiflorone Q exhibited most significant cytotoxicities against five cancer cell lines with IC 50 values ranging from 3.07–12.56 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Ethnopharmacological research aims at gathering information on local and traditional uses of plants and other natural substances. However, the approaches used and the methods employed vary, and while such a variability is desirable in terms of scientific diversity, research must adhere to well defined quality standards and reproducible methods Objectives With ConSEFS (the Consensus Statement on Ethnopharmacological Field Studies) we want to define best-practice in developing, conducting and reporting field studies focusing on local and traditional uses of medicinal and food plants, including studies using a historical approach. Methods After first developing an initial draft the core group invited community-wide feedback from researchers both through a web-based consultation and a series of workshops at conferences during 2017. Outcomes The consultation resulted in a large number of responses. Feedback was received via a weblink on the Journal of Ethnopharmacology's website (ca. 100 responses), other oral and written responses (ca. 50) and discussions with stakeholders at four conferences. The main outcome is a checklist, covering best practice for designing, implementing and recording ethnopharmacological field studies and historical studies. Conclusions Prior to starting ethnopharmacological field research, it is essential that the authors are fully aware of the best practice in the field. For the first time in the field of ethnopharmacology a community-wide document defines guidelines for best practice on how to conduct and report such studies. It will need to be updated and further developed. While the feedback has been based on responses by many experienced researchers, there is a need to test it in practice by using it both in implementing and reporting field studies (or historical studies), and peer-review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood-testis barrier (BTB) provides a suitable microenvironment for germ cells that is required for spermatogenesis. Exposure to particulate matter (PM) is recognized to occasion male reproductive impairment, but the mechanism of which remains unclear. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used to establish animal models with PM 2.5 exposure concentration of 0, 10, and 20 mg/kg.b.w. once a day for four weeks. Success rate of mating, sperm quality, epididymal morphology, expressions of spermatogenesis markers, superoxide dismutases (SOD) activity and expression in testicular tissues, and expressions of BTB junction proteins were detected. In addition, in vitro experiments were also performed. After PM 2.5 treatment, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis of Sertoli cells were analyzed. Our results indicated that after PM 2.5 exposure male rats presented inferior uberty and sperm quality, with decreased expressions of spermatogenesis markers, escalated SOD activity and expression levels, and reduced expressions of tight junction, adherens junction, and gap junction proteins in testicular tissues. Meantime, PM 2.5 -treated Sertoli cells displayed increased SOD production and apoptosis. PM 2.5 exposure engenders male reproductive function injury through breaking BTB integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six amides, piperbonamides A–F, three neolignans piperbonins A–C, and 11 known compounds were isolated from the aerial parts of Piper bonii (Piperaceae). The structures of piperbonamides A–F and piperbonins A–C were elucidated based on the analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and MS data. Piperbonin A, (+)- trans -acuminatin, (+)- cis -acuminatin, (+)-kadsurenone, and pipernonaline showed weak activity against platelet aggregation with IC 50 values of 118.2, 108.5, 90.02, 107.3, and 116.3 μM, respectively, as compared with the positive control, tirofiban, with an IC 50 value of 5.24 μM. Piperbonamides A–F were inactive against five tumor cell lines at concentrations up to 40 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance The ethnopharmacology of Southwest China is extremely interesting because of the region's high level of cultural and medicinal plant diversity. Little work has been done to document the traditional medicinal practices in this area. This review aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge of how medicinal plants in this area are utilized, and conserved, in order to better understand the medicinal flora, identify research gaps, and suggest directions for further research. Material and methods A literature review was conducted that included peer reviewed journals, website, books, theses and scientific reports from 1979 to 2014. The distribution and characteristics of medicinal plant knowledge in each province, methods applied in research, and the fluctuations of literature in 5 year intervals were analyzed. The distribution research on different plant groups including fungi, ferns, mosses, and vascular plants were also analyzed. Results and discussion A total of 436 publications from 1979 to 2014 were selected for analysis. References were classified into three stages: discovery stage, utilization stage and conservation stage. Detailed results about the focus of the references, the methods applied, the development and relationship among all folk medicine in Southwest China, Daodi ethnomedicinal resources, Pharmacological studies and Toxicology studies were discussed. While, compared to the rich medicinal flora, the complex demographics and cultural diversity, a large gap still exist to fully understand and document the medicinal flora. Conclusions Based on the review results, most research efforts in Southwest China focused on the first step: discovery of traditional usage, geographical distribution, and taxonomy of medicinal species. Only a small percentage of traditional uses or treatments have been tested by modern ethnobotanical approaches. Further research needs to put more emphasis on identifying adulterations, evaluating of Daodi medicine, and elucidating effective compounds from traditional drugs, using molecular and phytochemical approaches. Knowledge on ethnic and cultural aspects of medicinal plant species, to develop effective conservation and sustainable use protocols is lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advancements in diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the morbidity and mortality of CVDs are still rising. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease contributing to multiple CVDs. Considering the complexity and severity of atherosclerosis, it is apparent that exploring the mechanisms of atherosclerotic formation and seeking new therapies for patients with atherosclerosis are required to overcome the heavy burden of CVDs on the quality and length of life of the global population. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play a dominant role in functional and structural changes of the arterial walls in response to atherogenic factors. Therefore, improvement of VSMC functions will slow down the development of atherosclerosis to a large extent. Given its protective performances on regulation of cholesterol metabolism and inflammatory responses, SIRT1 has long been known as an anti-atherosclerosis factor. In this review, we focus on the effects of SIRT1 on VSMC functions and thereby the development of atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garcinia oblongifolia Champ. ex Benth. (Clusiaceae) is a well-known medicinal plant from southern China, with edible fruits. However, the phytochemistry and bioactivity of the different plant parts of G. oblongifolia have not been studied extensively. Comparative metabolic profiling and bioactivities of the leaf, branch, and fruit of G. oblongifolia were investigated. A total of 40 compounds such as biflavonoids, xanthones, and benzophenones were identified using UPLC-QTOF-MS and MS E , including 15 compounds reported for the first time from this species. Heatmap analyses found that benzophenones, xanthones, and biflavonoids were predominately found in branches, with benzophenones present in relatively high concentrations in all three plant parts. Xanthones were found to have limited distribution in fruit while biflavonoids were present at only low levels in leaves. In addition, the cytotoxic (MCF-7 breast cancer cell line) and antioxidant (ABTS and DPPH chemical tests) activities of the crude extracts of G. oblongifolia indicate that the branch extract exhibits greater bioactivity than either the leaf or the fruit extracts. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminate analysis was used to find 12 marker compounds, mainly xanthones, from the branches, including well-known antioxidants and cytotoxic agents. These G. oblongifolia results revealed that the variation in metabolite profiles can be correlated to the differences in bioactivity of the three plant parts investigated. This UPLC-QTOF-MS strategy can be useful to identify bioactive constituents expressed differentially in the various plant parts of a single species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintenance of male reproductive function depends on normal sperm generation during which process Sertoli cells play a vital role. Studies found that fine particulate matter (PM) causes decreased male sperm quality, mechanism of which unestablished. We aim to investigate the definite mechanism of PM impairment on male reproduction. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were daily exposed to normal saline (NS) or PM 2.5 with the doses of 9 mg/kg.b.w and 24 mg/kg.b.w. via intratracheal instillation for seven weeks. Reproductive function was tested by mating test and semen analysis after last exposure. Testes were collected to assess changes in histomorphology, and biomarkers including connexin 43 (Cx43), superoxide dismutase (SOD), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt). Male rats exposed to PM 2.5 showed noticeable decreased fertility, significantly reduced sperm count, increased sperm abnormality rate and severe testicular damage in histomorphology. After PM 2.5 exposure, the levels of Cx43 was significantly downregulated, and SOD was upregulated and downregulated significantly with different dose, respectively. Protein expression of PI3K and p-Akt dramatically enhanced, and the later one being located in Sertoli cells, the upward or declining trend was in dose dependent. PM 2.5 exposure leads to oxidative stress impairment via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway on male reproduction in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop domestication is often accompanied by changes in metabolite compositions that alter traits such as flavor, color, or other beneficial properties. Fruits of eggplants ( Solanum melongena L.) and related species are abundant and diverse in pharmacologically interesting phenolic compounds, particularly hydroxycinnamic acid (HCA) conjugates such as the antioxidant caffeoylquinic acids (CQA) and HCA-polyamine amides (HCAA). To understand metabolite variability through the lens of natural and artificial selection, HPLC-DAD was used to generate phenolic profiles for 32 compounds in fruits from 93 accessions representing 9 Solanum species. Profiles were used for identification of species-level and infraspecific chemical patterns across both genetic distance and landscape. Sampling of plant lines included the undomesticated progenitor of eggplant and Asian landraces with a genetic background associated with three Asian regions near proposed separate centers of domestication to test whether chemical changes were convergent despite different origins. Results showed ten compounds were unique to species, and ten other compounds varied significantly in abundance among species. Five CQAs and three HCA-polyamine conjugates were more abundant in wild (undomesticated) versus domesticated eggplant, indicating that artificial selection may have led to reduced phenolic levels. No chemical abundance patterns were associated with site-origin. However, one genetically distinct lineage of geographically-restricted SE Asian eggplants ( S. melongena subsp. ovigerum ) had a higher HCAA content and diversity than other lineages, which is suggested to be related to artificial selection for small, firm fruit. Overall, patterns show that fruit size, palatability and texture were preferentially selected over health-beneficial phytochemical content during domestication of several nightshade crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two hydroxychavicol heterodimers comprising phenylpropanoid and monoterpene constituent units, named nudibaccatumins A ( 1 ) and B ( 2 ), were isolated as an inseparable mixture from the aerial parts of Piper nudibaccatum . Their absolute configurations were confirmed by total synthesis using ortho -alkylation of hydroxychavicol with myrtenyl bromide as the key reaction. The two new compounds ( 1 and 2 ) and their synthetic analogues ( 3 – 8 ) were evaluated for XO inhibitory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-five amide alkaloids ( 1 – 25 ) from Piper boehmeriifolium and 10 synthetic amide alkaloid derivatives ( 39 – 48 ) were evaluated for antiproliferative activity against eight human tumor cell lines, including chemosensitive and multidrug-resistant (MDR) cell lines. The results suggested tumor type-selectivity. 1-[7-(3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl)heptanoyl]piperidine ( 46 ) exhibited the best inhibitory activity (IC 50 = 4.94 μM) against the P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-overexpressing KBvin MDR sub-line, while it and all other tested compounds, except 9 , were inactive (IC 50 >40 μM) against MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3. Structure–activity relationships (SARs) indicated that (i) 3,4,5-trimethoxy phenyl substitution is critical for selectivity against KBvin, (ii) the 4-methoxy group in this pattern is crucial for antiproliferative activity, (iii) double bonds in the side chain are not needed for activity, and (iv), in arylalkenylacyl amide alkaloids, replacement of an isobutylamino group with pyrrolidin-1-yl or piperidin-1-yl significantly improved activity. Further study on Piper amides is warranted, particularly whether side chain length affects the ability to overcome the MDR cancer phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight compounds including four caffeoyl phenylpropanoid glycosides, jasnervosides A–D ( 1 – 4 ), one monoterpenoid glycoside, jasnervoside E ( 5 ), and three secoiridoid glycosides, jasnervosides F–H ( 10 – 12 ), were isolated from the stems of Jasminum nervosum Lour. (Oleaceae), along with four known compounds, poliumoside ( 6 ), verbascoside ( 7 ), α- l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)- O -(α- l -rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)-1- O - E -caffeoyl-β- d -glucopyranoside ( 8 ), and jaspolyanthoside ( 9 ). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of their physicochemical and spectroscopic properties. Compounds 1 , 2 , 4 and 11 displayed potent antioxidant activities in the DPPH assay, while 2 and 3 displayed good activities against LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-1β production in BV2 cells. Compounds 1 – 5 and 10 – 12 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell lines (A-549, Bel-7402, and HCT-8), but none displayed significant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Five phenylphenalenones and two diarylheptanoids were isolated from Musa itinerans. [•] A putative biosynthetic pathway to the phenylphenalenone-related heterodimer is proposed. [•] Two of the phenylphenalenones exhibited weak cytotoxic effects against a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Demonstrated a new colorimetric strategy for iodide detection by silver nanoplates. [•] The colorimetric strategy is to find the critical color in a color change process. [•] The colorimetric strategy is more accurate and sensitive than common colorimetry. [•] Discovered a new morphological transformation phenomenon of silver nanoplates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Essential oil profiles were obtained from four Hypericum species. • H. bellum and H. perforatum demonstrated neuroprotective activity. • H. hookerianum and H. bellum oil showed strong antibacterial activity. • H. perforatum collected in Wushan showed tyrosinase inhibition activity. • The study provided a scientific basis for future exploration of Hypericum species. St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a well-known medicinal plant often used to treat mild to moderate mental depression. In southwest China, four species of Hypericum including H. perforatum , H. hookerianum , H. bellum and H. pseudohenryi have been used as traditional medicines for skin care, such as healing wounds, burns, and snake bites by local people. Hypericum volatile oils of these four species were obtained by supercritical CO 2 extraction and analyzed by GC–MS. From H. perforatum , 56 compounds were identified, the amounts of marker components are different between two collection sites. From H. hookerianum , 71 compounds were identified, mainly comprised of alkanes. From H. bellum , 43 compounds were identified, and its essential oil contains mainly oxygenated sesquiterpenoids. From H. pseudohenryi , 57 compounds were identified, and the essential oil has relatively high levels of alkanes. Because Hypericum species are used traditionally to treat depression, wounds, and other skin problems, their volatile oils were evaluated in vitro for neurite outgrowth-promoting, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, and enzyme inhibitory activities. H. bellum and H. perforatum from Wushan demonstrated significant neurite-promoting and neuroprotective activity. The Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus ssp. aureus was inhibited by most of the tested oils. Sesquiterpenoids and alkanols are the most abundant constituents of H. hookerianum and H. bellum oils which showed strong antibacterial activity and help to explain the observed antimicrobial activity of the oil. H. perforatum collected in Wushan showed tyrosinase inhibition activity. Based on the current results, three Asian Hypericum species and two Chinese H. perforatum populations may be promising ingredients for cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Six flavonoids, diosmetin (1), apigenin (2), luteolin (3), chrysoeriol (4), apigenin-7-O-glucuronide (5) and acacetin (6), two caffeic acid sugar esters, verbascoside (7) and isoverbascoside (8), as well as one norsesquiterpene, blumenol A (9) were isolated or detected from the EtOAc and n-BuOH extract of the whole plants of Striga asiatica. Their structures were identified by 1H &13C NMR, HR-LC-TOF-MS and co-injection with the reference standards. Among them, blumenol A (9) was firstly found from the Scrophulariaceae. Diosmetin (1) and isoverbascoside (8) were firstly reported from the genus Striga, while verbascoside (7) was reported from this plant for the first time. Based on our chemotaxonomic studies and the previous phytochemical studies on Scrophulariaceae, Striga could be tentatively treated as a member of the family Scrophulariaceae instead of Orobanchaceae. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chemical examination of the EtOAc extract from the aerial parts of Aeschynanthus bracteatus led to isolation of four phenylethanol glycosides, aeschynanthosides A–D (1–4), and 55 known constituents, including 8 phenylethanoids, 23 phenols, 5 lignans, 7 flavonoids, 9 terpenoids, and 4 others. Their structures were elucidated mainly by detailed spectroscopic studies and comparison with published data. All 59 compounds were isolated for the first time from an Aeschynanthus species. The isolates were also tested for inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Aeschynanthoside D (4) and naringenin (41), within the concentration arrange tested (50–100μg/mL), showed very weak dose-dependent effects with the inhibition rate of 24.2%, 35.4%, 66.0%, and 9.5%, 40.1%, 65.0%, respectively, relative to positive controls. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Chemical composition and bioactivity of Acer truncatum seeds were investigated. • Oil yield, fatty acids and nervonic acid content varied greatly among locations. • Fifteen compounds from the seed residue were putatively identified in A. truncatum. • Seed residue showed cytotoxicity in human cancer cells and anti-AChE activity. • Prioritize Inner Mongolia samples for further study and product development. Acer truncatum , an ornamental, medicinal, and edible plant, is a tree endemic to China and now widely cultivated throughout Asia, North America, and Europe. It has been developed as an industrial crop from its traditional use as a substitute for tea. The oil from its seeds is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (FA), especially in nervonic acid (NA). However, studies on the chemical components and bioactivities of the seeds are limited, and comparative studies of seeds collected from different locations are even more limited. Therefore, A. truncatum seeds were collected from 12 different locations in China to investigate the chemical composition, cytotoxicity, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition of A. truncatum seed oil (ATO) and Acer seed residue extracts (ASR). The oil yields varied about five-fold among different locations from 7.27% to 35.05%. Nine fatty acids were identified and relatively quantified, and myristic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and a NA isomer [C24:1(15 E)] were the dominant fatty acids. The NA isomer has not been reported previously in A. truncatum , and NA levels ranged from 0.66 to 14.86 mg/μL of ATO. This is the first GC–MS study to focus on the FA differences of A. truncatum collected from different locations. Using UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis, 15 compounds were putatively identified from ASR, including N -acetyl-D-tryptophan, nonanedioic acid, 10 E -heptadecenoic acid, pregnanolone, phosphatidylglycerol (34:2), and phosphatidylinositol (34:1), which have not been reported in Acer prior to this study. The flavonoids miscanthoside and isovitexin/vitexine were also newly identified in A. truncatum. Furthermore, five samples each of ATO and ASR were selected to estimate the cytotoxic activities against four human tumor cell lines (A-549, SMMC-7721, MCF-7, and SW-480) and the AChE inhibitory activity. All ASR were cytotoxic on all tested cells and exhibited higher inhibitory activity than ATO at 100 μg/mL. ASR exhibited stronger cytotoxicity on SMMC-7721 with IC 50 from 29.46 to 52.55 μg/mL. Similarly, the ASR exhibited higher AChE inhibitory activity than the ATO. All ASR significantly inhibited AChE activity, and the inhibition rates were close to 90% at 20 μg/mL. The IC 50 values for the ASR ranged from 0.124 to 0.232 μg/mL. Overall, the results of this study indicate that ATO is abundant in FAs and NA, but the contents of ATO varies by location. ASR are rich in bioactive components with cytotoxic and AChE inhibitory activities. These findings suggest that ATO and ASR could be a promising resource in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]