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This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a mixed extract of Cortex Fraxini, Pulsatilla chinensis, and Eucommia ulmoides on growth performance, immune function, and antioxidant capacity in hemp ducks. A total of 90 one-day-old hemp ducks were randomly assigned to 5 treatments, each of which was replicated 3 times (6 ducks in each pen). The treatments were: basal control diet (CON), positive control (PC, CON + 0.5% Astragalus polysaccharides), and CON + 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00% mixed extract. The results showed that the weight of thymus gland increased (quadratic, p

Context: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a very harmful bacterium. Oridonin, a component in Rabdosia rubescens (Hemsl.) Hara (Lamiaceae), is widely used against bacterial infections in China. Objective: We evaluated oridonin effects on MRSA cell membrane and wall, protein metabolism, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), DNA and microscopic structure. Materials and methods: Broth microdilution and flat colony counting methods were used to measure oridonin minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against USA300 strain. Electrical conductivity and DNA exosmosis were analysed to study oridonin effects (128 μg/mL) on cell membrane and wall for 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 h. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to detect effects on soluble protein synthesis after 6, 10 and 16 h. LDH activity was examined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Effects of oridonin on USA300 DNA were investigated with DAPI staining. Morphological changes in MRSA following oridonin treatment were determined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: Oridonin MIC and MBC values against USA300 were 64 and 512 μg/mL, respectively. The conductivity and DNA exosmosis level of oridonin-treated USA300 improved by 3.20±0.84% and increased by 58.63 ± 1.78 μg/mL, respectively. LDH and soluble protein levels decreased by 30.85±7.69% and 27.51 ± 1.39%, respectively. A decrease in fluorescence intensity was reported with time. Oridonin affected the morphology of USA300. Conclusions: Oridonin antibacterial mechanism was related to changes in cell membrane and cell wall permeability, disturbance in protein and DNA metabolism, and influence on bacterial morphology. Thus, oridonin may help in treating MRSA infection.

Two polysaccharides, MDP-1 and MDP-2, were obtained from the fermentation liquid of M. dendrobii by anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Their chemical structures were measured by FT-IR, GC, 1H and 13C NMR spectra, indicating the mainly compositions of mannose, xylose, and galactose for MDP-1; galacturonic acid, galactose and rhamnose for MDP-2. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of MDPs were investigated, showing different antioxidant activities, in which MDP-2 performed noticeable, with excellent superoxide radical activity better than BHT, high DPPH radical activity (IC50 at 227 μg/mL) comparable with BHT, moderate reducing power activity and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. The results indicated that the fermentation liquid of M. dendrobii could be used as a potential natural source of antioxidant.

In the 21st century, cancer is the major public health problem worldwide. Based on the important roles of protein tyrosine kinase, the accelerated hunt for potent small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors has led to the success of 30 newly inhibitors in this family for the cancer therapy in last five years. In this review, we updated their synthesis methods, and compared the original research routes with the optimized routes for each PTK inhibitor against different target, in order to make an outlook on the future synthesis of potential PTK inhibitors for anticancer therapy.

Aconitine linoleate (11) isolated from the Aconitum sinchiangense W. T. Wang exhibited significant anti-tumor activity. Based on this, a series of novel lipo-diterpenoid alkaloids were synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer activities against MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR cell lines. Seventeen compounds, including 18–20, 22, 24–32, 36, 39, 41–42 possessed higher anti-proliferative activities (IC50

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a phenolic compound that has been well studied for its antiviral, anti-inflammatory and immune stimulating properties. This research was aimed to focus on the antiviral properties of CGA on infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in vivo and in vitro for the very first time. The outcome of in vitro experiments validated that, out of five previously reported antiviral components, CGA significantly reduced the relative mRNA expression of IBV-N in CEK cells. At high concentration (400 mg/kg), CGA supplementation reduced IBV-N mRNA expression levels and ameliorated the injury in trachea and lungs. The mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IL-1s, IL-12, and NF-κB were considerably turned down, but IL-22 and IL-10 were enhanced in trachea. However, CGA-H treatment had considerably increased the expression levels of MDA5, MAVS, TLR7, MyD88, IRF7, IFN-s and IFN-α both in trachea and lungs. Moreover, CGA-H notably induced the CD3+, CD3+ CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ proliferation and significantly increased the IgA, IgG, and IgM levels in the serum. In conclusion, these results showed that at high concentration CGA is a strong anti-IBV compound that can effectively regulate the innate immunity through MDA5, TLR7 and NF-κB signaling pathways and have the potential to induce the cell mediated and humoral immune response in IBV infected chickens.

Selenium (Se) is postulated to protect against inflammation in the gut by attenuating oxidative stress. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of maternal 2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic acid (HMSeBA), an organic Se source, on the intestinal antioxidant capacity and inflammation level of the offspring and its possible mechanism. Forty-three sows were randomly assigned to receive one of the following three diets during gestation: control diet, sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) supplemented diet or HMSeBA supplemented diet, respectively. Samples were collected from the offspring at birth and weaning. The results showed that maternal HMSeBA supplementation significantly upregulated ileal GPX2 and SePP1 gene expression compared with the control and Na2SeO3 groups, while suppressed the expression of ileal IL-1β, IL-6 and NF-κB genes in newborn piglets compared with the control group. Moreover, maternal HMSeBA supplementation significantly increased the protein of ileal GPX2 and p-mTOR compared with the control and Na2SeO3 groups, but decreased the ileal p-NF-κB, Beclin-1 and p-ERK proteins in newborn piglets compared with the control group. The weaned piglets of the HMSeBA group had lower serum IL-1β and IL-6 than the piglets of the control group at 2 h of LPS challenge. In addition, after the LPS challenge, the HMSeBA group had a lower relative abundance of ileal p-NF-κB and Beclin-1 proteins than the control and Na2SeO3 groups. In conclusion, maternal HMSeBA supplementation during gestation can improve the offspring's intestinal antioxidant capacity and reduce the inflammation level by suppressing NF-κB and ERK/Beclin-1 signaling.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for animals and exists in nature in both inorganic and organic forms. Although organic Se is more bioavailable than inorganic Se, there are inconsistent reports on the effect of organic Se on the reproductive performance of sows. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of maternal organic Se (2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic [HMSeBA]) supplementation on reproductive performance and antioxidant capacity of sows, and the long-term effect on the growth performance and antioxidant capacity of their offspring with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. The experimental design used in this study was a completely randomized design; 45 Landrace × Yorkshire sows were randomly allocated to receive one of the following three diets during gestation: control diet (Control, basal diet, n = 15), sodium selenite (Na2SeO3)-supplemented diet (Na2SeO3, basal diet + 0.3 mg Se/kg Na2SeO3, n = 15), and HMSeBA-supplemented diet (HMSeBA, basal diet + 0.3 mg Se/kg HMSeBA, n = 15). On day 21 of age, male offspring from each group were injected with LPS or saline (n = 6). As compared with the control group, maternal HMSeBA supplementation increased the number of total born piglets, while decreased birth weight (P < 0.05). In the first week of lactation, maternal HMSeBA supplementation increased litter weight gain compared with the Na2SeO3 group (P < 0.05) and increased the average daily gain of piglets compared with the control group and Na2SeO3 group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, maternal HMSeBA supplementation decreased piglet birth interval as compared with the control group and Na2SeO3 group (P < 0.05). Besides, plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was higher in the HMSeBA group on farrowing 0 min and 90 min, while malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was lower on farrowing 0, 90, and 135 min than those in the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, maternal HMSeBA supplementation increased the concentration of selenoprotein P (SELENOP) in colostrum compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Further study revealed that the LPS-challenged HMSeBA group had higher GSH-Px and total antioxidant capacity and lower MDA in weaning piglets compared with the LPS-challenged control group (P < 0.05). Taken together, maternal HMSeBA supplementation increased the number of total born piglets, shortened the duration of farrowing, improved the antioxidant capacities of sows and their offspring, and improved the growth performance of suckling pigs at the first week of lactation. Thus, HMSeBA supplementation during gestation has the potentiality to produce more kilogram of meat.

Platycodonis Radix is widely used as homology of medicine and food in China; polysaccharides are thought to be one of its functional constituents. In this study, a pectic polysaccharide, PGP-I-I, was obtained from the root of the traditional medicine plant Platycodon grandiflorus through ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. This was characterized being mainly composed of 1,5-α-L-arabinan and both arabinogalactan type I (AG-I) and II chains linked to rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) backbone linked to longer galacturonan chains. In vitro bioactivity study showed that PGP-I-I could restore the intestinal cellular antioxidant defense under the condition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment through promoting the expressions of cellular antioxidant genes and protect against oxidative damages.

Aim Due to the significant increase in the antimicrobial resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii), new drugs to block the progression of infection are strongly needed. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major component of green tea, has exhibited potential activity against A. baumannii in vitro. The aim of this study was to determine if EGCG could be used for pretreating stress-related effects, liver damage, and immune dysfunction caused by A. baumannii infection in vivo. Methods Levels of stress hormones, oxidative stress, liver damage, and immune components were analyzed in a murine infection model in which the mice were pretreated with EGCG for one week then intranasally inoculated with A. baumannii. The mice were restrained for 12 h to promote infection because A. baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen. The pretreatment efficacy of EGCG against A. baumannii in mice was assessed for 24 h after the bacterial infection. Results Restraint stress strengthened the damage from the A. baumannii infection. Pretreatment with EGCG in the murine pneumonia model markedly reduced stress hormones, oxidative metabolites, and proinflammatory cytokine production. EGCG also increased the immune function by increasing the levels of sIgA, T cells and neutrophils after infection. Moreover, pretreatment with EGCG significantly decreased the liver damage by inhibiting the levels of transaminases, oxidative stress metabolites, and cytokines, while maintaining the normal activity of CYP450 enzymes in the liver. Conclusion EGCG was efficacious as a preventative treatment for the damage seen in an experimental model of A. baumannii infection.

Coccidiosis is one of the most economically important diseases affecting the poultry industry. Currently, anticoccidial drugs used in veterinary clinics show many deficiencies, and new control measures are urgently needed. This study presents an anticoccidial herbal powder &ldquo, Shi Yin Zi&rdquo, which consists of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss, Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz., and sodium chloride. In chickens infected with Eimeria tenella, supplementation with &ldquo, powder for 3 d prior to infection or treatment with &ldquo, powder after infection could improve the survival rate and relative growth rate and alleviate the pathological changes in the cecum, liver, and kidney. &ldquo, powder could recover the levels of alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, albumin, and triglycerides in serum. The hemorrhage occurrence and total number of oocysts in feces were reduced. The anti-coccidial indexes reached 165 for the prophylactic effect and 144 for the therapeutic effect. The anti-coccidial effects were equal to positive controls (monensin and sulfamlopyrazine). These results suggest that &ldquo, Shi Ying Zi&rdquo, powder possesses a potent anticoccidial effect and exhibits the potential to control E. tenella infection.

Context Fructus Meliae toosendan extracts (FMTE) have a good therapeutic effect on coccidiosis, but there is no relevant research on its prophylactic effect on coccidiosis. Objective This study comprehensively evaluates the anticoccidial effect of FMTE. Materials and methods In vitro, the unsporulated oocysts were treated with serial dilutions of FMTE and incubated for 7 d, and the sporulated oocysts were counted for calculating the median lethal concentration (LC50) of FMTE. In vivo, 180 10-day-old broiler chickens free of coccidiosis were weighted and randomly distributed into six groups: normal group, untreated group, 4 protective groups (positive group and three FMTE groups). From day 10 to day 21, chickens in the three FMTE groups were pre-treated with FMTE at the dosage of 2.5, 5 and 10 g/kg/d, respectively, and chickens in the positive group were pre-treated with qiuliling (10 g/kg/d). On day 14, chickens in all groups except the normal group were orally infected with 1.5 × 104 sporulated oocysts. The clinical symptoms were observed from day 10 to day 21, the anticoccidial index (ACI), tissue lesions, and intestinal microflora were determined on day 21. Results FMTE showed anti-sporulation effect against E. tenella and the LC50 value was 245.83 µg/mL in vitro. In vivo, FMTE at the dosage of 10 g/kg/d was effective against E. tenella infection, and its ACI value was 162.56, which was higher than the value of positive drug qiuliling (128.81). Discussion and conclusions: FMTE have potent anticoccidial effects, and it presents an alternative anticoccidial agent for avian coccidiosis control.

In this study, besides isovaleryl shikonin, another shikonin derivative, tigloylshikonin, was also isolated from the roots of Onosma hookeri Clarke. var. longiforum Duthie as a main naphthoquinone constituent for the first time. Then optimization of the ultrasonic-assisted extraction was done by Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology on the basis of single-factor experiments. The optimized conditions were 72% (v/v) ethanol and the material to solution ratio was 1:37(g/mL) at 52 °C for 77 min. Under these conditions, the extraction yield of ethanol extract was 36.74 ± 0.32%, the contents of isovaleryl shikonin and tigloylshikonin reached 0.094 ± 0.003% and 0.223 ± 0.006%, respectively. Notably, in that optimized condition, the yield of isovaleryl shikonin increased by approximately 7.64-fold than the previous report. In the in vitro antioxidant activity assay, the optimal ethanol extract exhibited similar 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity as butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), but slightly weaker 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) scavenging activity and total antioxidant capacity than that of BHT. However, the active polar fraction, the ethyl acetate fraction, which is enriched with naphthoquinone constituents, performs as a better antioxidant agent than BHT. Therefore, both of them could be considered as a naturally sourced antioxidants compared to commercially available synthetic drugs. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Onosma hookeri Clarke. var. longiforum Duthie, a traditional Chinese medicine and food item, has been in use since a long time. A systematic determination of the main naphthoquinones, and antioxidant capacity of the naphthoquinones-enriched ethanol extract and different polar fractions, was carried out in the present study. The results may provide theoretical basis for the claim that naphthoquinones-enriched ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction from the roots of Onosma hookeri Clarke. var. longiforum Duthie could be used as potential natural antioxidants in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV), belonging to the family Herpesviridae, is a pathogen of Aujeszky’s disease leading great economic losses to pig industry. Re-outburst of pseudorabies implies that new control measures are urgent needed. The present study provides a candidate drug for PRV infection that kaempferol possesses the ability to inhibit PRV replication in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Kaempferol at a concentration of 52.40 μM could decrease PRV-induced cell death by 90%. Kaempferol with a IC50 of 25.57μM is more effective than acyclovir (Positive control) with a IC 50 of 54.97 μM. Mode of action study indicated that kaempferol inhibited viral penetration and replication stages and virus load was decreased by 4-fold and 30-fold, respectively. Addition of kaempferol within 16 hours post infection (hpi) could significantly inhibit virus replication, and the DNA copies were decreased by almost 15-fold when kaempferol was added at 2 hpi. Kaempferol could regulate NF-κB and MAPKs signal pathways involved in PRV infection and change the levels of the target genes of MAPKs (ATF-2 and c-Jun) and NF-κB (IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-2) signaling pathways. All the results indicated that kaempferol has the ability to be an alternative control measure for PRV infection.¶ These authors contribute equally to this work and should be considered as the first author.

The morbidity and mortality of primary liver cancer is one of the highest amongst all cancers. Deficiency of effective treatment and characteristics of cancer metastasis are believed to be responsible for this situation, thus a great demand is required for new agent development. Polyphyllin II (PP2), an important steroidal saponin extracted from Rhizoma Paris, has emerged as a potential anti-cancer agent, but the effects of PP2 in liver cancers and its underlying mechanisms remain unexplored. In our study, we found that PP2 could remarkably suppress the proliferation of two liver cancer cell lines, HepG2 and BEL7402, resulting in significant cell death. Besides, low doses of PP2 have displayed properties that inhibit cellular motility and invasion of liver cancer cells. In addition, we have found that PP2-mediated cofilin activity suppression was implicated in the inhibition of liver cancer cell motility. Decreased expression of two major hydrolytic enzymes (MMP2/MMP9), through the AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway may also be also responsible for this process. Rescue experiments done with either non-phosphorylatable mutant cofilin-1 (S3A) transfection or an activator of the AKT pathway significantly reversed the inhibition effects of PP2 on liver cancer cells. Taken together, we report a potential agent for liver cancer treatment and reveal its underlying mechanisms., Summary: An important steroidal saponin extracted from Rhizoma Paris, Polyphyllin II suppressed cell viability and induced cell apoptosis in liver cancer cells. Low doses of Polyphyllin II also inhibited liver cancer cell migration and invasion.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a common human pathogen that causes several difficult-to-treat infections, including biofilm-associated infections. The biofilm-forming ability of S. aureus plays a pivotal role in its resistance to most currently available antibiotics, including vancomycin, which is the first-choice drug for treating MRSA infections. In this study, the ability of thymol (a monoterpenoid phenol isolated from plants) to inhibit biofilm formation and to eliminate mature biofilms, was assessed. We found that thymol could inhibit biofilm formation and remove mature biofilms by inhibiting the production of polysaccharide intracellular adhesin (PIA) and the release of extracellular DNA (eDNA). However, cotreatment with thymol and vancomycin was more effective at eliminating MRSA biofilms, in a mouse infection model, than monotherapy with vancomycin. Comparative histopathological analyses revealed that thymol reduced the pathological changes and inflammatory responses in the wounds. Assessments of white blood cell counts and serum TNF-&alpha, and IL-6 levels showed reduced inflammation and an increased immune response following treatment with thymol and vancomycin. These results indicate that combinatorial treatment with thymol and vancomycin has the potential to serve as a more effective therapy for MRSA biofilm-associated infections than vancomycin monotherapy.

In this study, the optimal naphthoquinones‐enriched ethanol extract from the roots of Onosma hookeri Clarke. var. longiforum Duthie (OHC‐LD) was obtained under an optimal condition (69% ethanol, material to solution ratio of 27:1 at 60℃ for 59 min) by the ultrasound‐assisted extraction, according to four‐variable three‐level Box–Behnken design‐response surface methodology. The experimental yield of ethanol extract was 42.08 ± 0.65%, and the contents of naphthoquinones reached to 1.07 ± 0.004%. The optimal extract exhibited similar scavenging activity against ABTS (2,2'‐azino‐bis‐3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) radical as BHT(butylated hydroxytoluene) at 1,250 µg/ml, and better DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity than BHT at 250 µg/ml. However, the optimal ethanol extract was not sensitive to MCF‐7 cell line ( IC50 of 321.849 µg/ml). The results revealed the naphthoquinones‐enriched ethanol extract from the roots of OHC‐LD had could be used as a potential natural antioxidant.

BackgroundCoccidiosis is one of the most economically important diseases affecting the poultry industry. Currently, anticoccidial drugs used in veterinary clinical showed many deficiencies, and new control measures are urgently needed. Many plant-derived drugs, such as herbal extracts, showed effects with less drug residues and resistance. Development of herbal medicine as the anticoccidial drug is one of the most prospective method for treating coccidiosis.Methods“Shi Ying Zi” powder is consisted of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss, Taraxacum mongolicum Hand-Mazz and salt with the proportion of 55: 40: 5 (g/g/g). 200 1-day-old broiler chicks free of coccidiosis were equally divided into 10 groups: normal group, untreated group, 4 protective groups (positive control group and three “Shi Ying Zi” powder groups) and 4 therapeutical groups (positive control group and three “Shi Ying Zi” powder groups). At 11th day of age, the chicks in the four protective groups were prophylactically supplemented with “Shi Ying Zi” powder at the doses of 5g/kg, 10g/kg and 15g/kg and monensin (100mg/kg), respectively. At 14th day of age, chicks except those in blank group were inoculated with 2×104 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella. When the first hemorrhagic fecal was found, therapeutical drugs started administration. The low (5g/kg), medium (10g/kg) and high doses (15g/kg) of “Shi Ying Zi” powder were added into the diet, respectively. Sulfachloropyrazine sodium (positive control) was added into water (1g/L). The anti-coccidial index, biochemical parameters and tissue lesions were determined from 4 d post infection to 8 d post infection.ResultsSupplement with “Shi Yin Zi” powder for 3d prior to infection or after infection could improve the survival rate and relative growth rate and alleviate the pathological changes in the cecum, liver and kidney. “Shi Yin Zi” powder could recover the contents of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, creatinine, albumin and triglycerides in serum. The hemorrhage and total number of oocysts in feces were reduced. The anti-coccidial index reaches to 165. The anti-coccidial effects were equal to positive controls (monensin and sulfamlopyrazine). Conclusions “Shi Ying Zi” powder possesses potent anticoccidial effect and exhibits the potential to control E.tenella infection.

The high recurrence frequency of gliomas but deficiency of effective treatment and prevalent chemoresistance have elicited interests in exploring and developing new agents. Paris polyphyllins are monomers extracted from rhizome of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis. Here, we first reported that polyphyllin VII (PP7) exhibited cytotoxic effect on glioma cells. PP7 significantly suppressed the viability and induced cell death of U87-MG and U251 cells after 24 h, with the IC50 values 4.24±0.87 μM and 2.17±0.14 μM, respectively. Both apoptotic and autophagic processes were involved in the cytotoxic effect of PP7, as PP7 activated the Bcl2/Bax pathway and the inhibition of autophagy partly rescued the toxicity of PP7 in glioma cells. In addition, an inhibition of AKT/mTORC1 activity was found after PP7 administration, and it seemed that the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was responsible for this effect. Namely, the removal of ROS by NAC treatment mitigated PP7-induced cell death, autophagy, and its effect on the AKT/mTORC1 signaling. Additionally, a combination assay of PP7 with temozolomide (TMZ), the most used chemotherapy for glioma patients, was performed resulting in synergism, while PP7 reduced TMZ resistance through inhibition of MGMT expression. Thus, our study reports PP7 as a potential agent for glioma treatment and reveals its underlying mechanisms of action.

Purification, characterization and biological activities of polysaccharides from Lycium barbarum pedicel were investigated in this study. Two polysaccharides, PLBP-I-I and PLBP-II-I, were obtained from water extracts by anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Structural elucidation based on IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectra indicated that these two fractions were typical pectic polysaccharides, with homogalacturonan and rhamnogalacturonan type I regions and arabinogalactan side chains, and some of the galacturonic acid units were methyl esterified. Both fractions exhibited potent complement fixating activity and pro-antioxidant defense capacity, and those two fractions showed different activities. The higher complement fixation activity was obtained in fraction PLBP-I-I, while the higher pro-antioxidant defense capacity was obtained in fraction PLBP-II-I, which may be due to the structural differences between those two fractions. Thus, the pedicel of L. barbarum could be used as a potential source for natural immunomodulator and antioxidant.

Streptococcus agalactiae, a highly contagious mastitis pathogen, caused huge economic losses; meanwhile, repeated use of antibiotics results in the emergence of serious antibiotic residues and drug resistance. Therefore, it is in great need to develop ecologically sustainable antimicrobial agents. In the study, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), and action mechanism of terpinen-4-ol against S. agalactiae was investigated to evaluate antibacterial activity of terpinen-4-ol. Results showed the MIC and MBC of terpinen-4-ol were 98 and 196 µg/mL, respectively. Time–kill curves displayed that the antibacterial activity of terpinen-4-ol was in a concentration-dependent manner. Transmission electron micrographs showed that the cell membrane and wall of S. agalactiae were damaged, and plasmolysis and chromatins were inconspicuous. Release of Ca2+ and Mg2+ proved that terpinen-4-ol could increase cell membrane permeability. And the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) suggested that cell wall was destroyed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining results showed that terpinen-4-ol could affect the synthesis of protein and DNA. These results suggested that terpinen-4-ol might be used as candidate for treating S. agalactiae infection.

// Chao Huang 1, 2, * , Xiyue Cao 1, 2, * , Dejiang Pang 3, * , Chao Li 1, 2 , Qihui Luo 1, 2 , Yuanfeng Zou 2 , Bin Feng 4 , Lixia Li 2 , Anchun Cheng 1, 2 and Zhengli Chen 1, 2 1 Laboratory of Experimental Animal Disease Model, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China 2 Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China 3 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China 4 Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China * These authors contributed to the work equally Correspondence to: Zhengli Chen, email: chzhli75@163.com Keywords: oxidative stress; antioxidants; male infertility; meta-analysis; markers Received: June 22, 2017 Accepted: March 22, 2018 Published: May 11, 2018 ABSTRACT Objectives: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational case-control studies to evaluate markers of oxidative stress in seminal plasma of patients with male infertility. Background: Current evidence links oxidative stress to male infertility, in which multiple markers of oxidative stress have been widely detected, publishing inconsistent results with regard to the role of oxidative stress markers in the evaluation of male infertility. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis on this issue is necessary. Results: From the 1024 articles initially retrieved, 65 studies were included in our meta-analysis with 11 oxidative stress markers, containing 3819 male infertility patients and 2012 controls. The concentrations of malondialdehyde (SMD = 1.86, p < 0.00001), NO (SMD = 0.89, p = 0.001), carbonyl protein (SMD = 2.09, p < 0.00001) in seminal plasma were significantly higher in infertility patients. The concentrations of GSH (SMD = –1.68, p < 0.00001), vitamin C (SMD = –1.12, p < 0.00001), and vitamin E (SMD = –1.48, p = 0.003), as well as the activities of catalase (SMD = –1.91, p < 0.0001), glutathione peroxidase (SMD = –1.96, p = 0.0002) and glutathione-S-transferase (SMD = –1.62, p = 0.009) declined remarkably, resulting in decreased total antioxidant capacity (SMD = –1.77, p < 0.00001). Besides, the activity of superoxide dismutase showed no statistical difference between infertility patients and controls (SMD = –0.51, p = 0.07). Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that oxidative stress in seminal plasma resulting from decreased antioxidant defense are associated with male infertility. Methods: Using PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang database, we searched for literature reporting the detection of oxidative stress markers in the seminal plasma of male infertility published up to June 2017. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated for the finally analysis.

The volatile oil extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine, Huidouba, was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the mass fractions of all these chemical components were...

The extensive prospects of polysaccharides in medicine and pharmaceuticals have elicited much interest. Ligusticum chuanxiong polysaccharides, previously extracted as neutral polysaccharides, exhibit antioxidant, anticancer, andantibacterial capacities in vitro. Here we show one pectic polysaccharide extracted from rhizome of L. chuanxiong(LCP-II-I). Structural analysis indicated its long homogalacturonan region is interrupted by rhamnogalacturonan type I, with arabinan and arabinogalactan type I as side chains. Intake of the LCP-II-I significantly promoted the expression of antioxidant enzymes and their master regulator PGC-1α, resulting in higher antioxidant capacity in jejunum and cecum of aged mice. Consistently, treatment with LCP-II-I promotes antioxidant enzymes expression, and protects SW480 cells against H2O2 induced oxidative stress. Our work isolates and identifies a pectic polysaccharide, LCP-II-I, and reveals its potential application in antioxidant defense, which will be important for oxidative stress related disorders treatment in aging intestine.

A high incidence of cancer has given rise to the development of more anti-tumor drugs. From 2015 to 2020, fifty-six new small-molecule anticancer drugs, divided into ten categories according to their anti-tumor target activities, have been approved. These include TKIs (30 drugs), MAPK inhibitors (3 drugs), CDK inhibitors (3 drugs), PARP inhibitors (3 drugs), PI3K inhibitors (3 drugs), SMO receptor antagonists (2 drugs), AR antagonists (2 drugs), SSTR inhibitors (2 drugs), IDH inhibitors (2 drugs) and others (6 drugs). Among them, PTK inhibitors (30/56) have led to a paradigm shift in cancer treatment with less toxicity and more potency. Each of their structures, approval statuses, applications, SAR analyses, and original research synthesis routes have been summarized, giving us a more comprehensive map for further efforts to design more specific targeted agents for reducing cancer in the future. We believe this review will help further research of potential antitumor agents in clinical usage.

Reversible solid oxide cells (SOCs) are very efficient and clean for storage and regeneration of renewable electrical energy by switching between electrolysis and fuel cell modes. One of the most critical factors governing the efficiency and durability of SOCs technology is the stability of the interface between oxygen electrode and electrolyte, which is conventionally formed by sintering at a high temperature of ~1000–1250 ​°C, and which suffers from delamination problem, particularly for reversibly operated SOCs. On the other hand, our recent studies have shown that the electrode/electrolyte interface can be in situ formed by a direct assembly approach under the electrochemical polarization conditions at 800 ​°C and lower. The direct assembly approach provides opportunities for significantly simplifying the cell fabrication procedures without the doped ceria barrier layer, enabling the utilization of a variety of high-performance oxygen electrode materials on barrier layer–free yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte. Most importantly, the in situ polarization induced interface shows a promising potential as highly active and durable interface for reversible SOCs. The objective of this progress report is to take an overview of the origin and research progress of in situ fabrication of oxygen electrodes based on the direct assembly approach. The prospect of direct assembly approach in the development of effective SOCs and in the fundamental studies of electrode/electrolyte interface reactions is discussed.

Two polysaccharides, GCP-I-I and GCP-II-I, were obtained from 100°C water extracts of Gentiana crassicaulis roots by DEAE anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The results from methanolysis, methylation, FT-IR and NMR, indicated that these two fractions are typical pectic polysaccharides, with HG and RG-I regions and AG-I/AG-II side chains, and some of the galacturonic acid units of fraction GCP-I-I were methyl esterified. Fractions GCP-I-I and GCP-II-I, both exhibited potent complement fixation, and fraction GCP-I-I was more potent than positive control BPII. The higher complement fixation activity obtained in fraction GCP-I-I may be due to the higher Mw and/or higher amount of AG-II present in fraction GCP-I-I than fraction GCP-II-I. The polysaccharides from G. crassicaulis could be used as a potential natural immunomodulator.

Haemophilus parasuis , a symbiotic bacteria of upper respiratory tract of swine, is the etiological agent of Glasser's disease, which is characterized by fibrinous polyserositis. Emodin, exhibits antibacterial activity against H. parasuis , yet the action mode has not been fully understood. In present study, isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) method was applied to analyze the global protein alteration of H. parasuis in response to 16 μg/mL Emodin. In total, 338 proteins exhibiting significant differential expressions were identified. It was speculated that, through application of bioinformatics analysis to theses differentially expressed proteins, Emodin mainly inhibited some key proteins expression of ABC transport system, carbohydrate metabolism pathway and bacterial cell division by inhibiting the ribosome synthesis, resulting in the growth inhibition of H. parasuis. Remarkably, nine virulence-associated proteins were detected differently expressed, further experiments revealed that after treatment with Emodin, H. parasuis could be inhibited to adhere to and invade into porcine kidney epithelial cells (PK-15 line) and exhibited increased sensitivity to serum complement in a concentration-dependent manner. Phagocytosis assay showed Emodin also could enhance phagocytic activity of porcine alveolar macrophages PAM to H. parasuis. These results indicated that Emodin also can attenuate virulence of H. parasuis and reduce infection. Biological significance The Glasser's disease caused by H. parasuis has become a typical bacterial disease and cause serious economic loss to the swine industry around the world. Antibiotics are extensively used to control the infection, but increasing antibiotic resistance has been a severe problem. Hence, novel treatment agents are needed. So far, few antibacterial agents were reported that could control H. parasuis infection. In the present study, the state-of-the-art quantitative proteomic technology was applied to uncover underlying action mechanism of Emodin. This study extends understanding of antibacterial effect of Emodin to H. parasuis at molecular level and provides useful information for further investigations. Moreover, our results provide theoretical foundation for the practical application of Emodin.

Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a main active substance isolated from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge, has been shown to have multiple pharmacological effects. Endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) is a marker of inflammation, and is also a major member of protein C (PC) anti-coagulation system. EPCR can be cut off from the cell surface by tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme (TACE), which is controlled through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase C (PKC) pathways. To develop novel therapeutic drug for EPCR shedding, the effect of AS-IV was studied in phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the potential molecular mechanism of AS-IV action was investigated. The results showed that AS-IV could significantly inhibit PMA-induced EPCR shedding. In further study, AS-IV suppressed the expression and activity of TACE. In addition, AS-IV could decrease the phosphorylation of MAPK such as janus kinase (JNK) and p38, and inhibit activation of PKC through the prevention of non-phosphorylation and phosphorylation of specific PKC isoforms in PMA-stimulated HUVECs. These findings indicate that AS-IV may be used as a natural medicine to treat EPCR-related systemic inflammation and cardiovascular diseases by targeting MAPK and PKC pathway.

The present study investigated acute and subchronic toxicity and safety pharmacology of modified pulsatilla granules (MPG) to provide a basis for a comprehensive understanding of MPG toxicity. The results of acute toxicity testing showed that the median lethal dose of MPG was more than 5000 mg kg−1, suggesting that MPG was considered as practically non-toxic. The subchronic toxicity study for 30 days was conducted by daily oral administration at doses of 375, 750 and 1 500 mg kg−1 in Sprague-Dawley rats. The results of subchronic toxicity study showed that the body weight and relative organ weight were not significantly changed by administration of MPG. The clinical chemistry study showed that MPG could induce kidney and liver damages. In histopathological, mild lesions in liver and kidney were also observed, suggesting that the liver and kidney might be potential target organs of MPG. In the safety pharmacology study, MPG did not exhibited any side effects to rats in cardiovascular system, respiratory system and central nervous system. These results suggested that MPG could be considered safe for veterinary use.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common gram-positive bacterium that causes serious infections in humans and animals. With the continuous emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains, antibiotics have limited efficacy in treating MRSA infections. Accordingly, novel agents that act on new targets are desperately needed to combat these infections. S. aureus alpha-hemolysin plays an indispensable role in its pathogenicity. In this study, we demonstrate that sclareol, a fragrant chemical compound found in clary sage, can prominently decrease alpha-hemolysin secretion in S. aureus strain USA300 at sub-inhibitory concentrations. Hemolysis assays, western-blotting, and RT-PCR were used to detect the production of alpha-hemolysin in the culture supernatant. When USA300 was co-cultured with A549 epithelial cells, sclareol could protect the A549 cells at a final concentration of 8 μg/ml. The protective capability of sclareol against the USA300-mediated injury of A549 cells was further shown by cytotoxicity assays and live/dead analysis. In conclusion, sclareol was shown to inhibit the production of S. aureus alpha-hemolysin. Sclareol has potential for development as a new agent to treat S. aureus infections.

Background. Inflammation and pain are closely related to humans’ and animals’ health.Resveratrol(RSV) is a natural compound with various biological activities. The current study is aimed to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of RSV in vivo. Materials and Methods. The analgesic effects were assessed by the acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate tests. The anti-inflammatory effects were determined using the xylene-induced mouse ear oedema, the acetic acid-induced rat pleurisy, and carrageenan-induced rat synovitis tests, respectively.Results. The analgesic results showed that RSV could significantly inhibit the number of writhes and improve the time and pain threshold of mice standing on hot plate. The anti-inflammatory results showed that RSV could inhibit the ear oedema of mice. In acetic acid-induced pleurisy test, RSV could significantly inhibit the WBC and pleurisy exudates, could decrease the production of NO, and elevate the activity of SOD in serum. In carrageenan-induced synovitis test, RSV could reduce the content of MDA and elevate the T-SOD activity in serum; RSV could inhibit the expressions of TP, PGE2, NO, and MDA.Conclusion. Shortly, these results indicated that RSV had potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities and could be a potential new drug candidate for the treatment of inflammation and pain.

Background of the Study. As a widely used traditional medicine, Galla Chinensis is rich in tannins. However, there are few detailed studies about pharmaceutical preparations of Galla Chinensis tannin extract (GTE). In the present experiments, for better application and to investigate the possibility that Galla Chinensis tannin extract can be used as an antidiarrheal drug, we prepared Galla Chinensis oral solution (GOS). Materials and Methods. GOS was prepared with GTE, and its physicochemical and microbiological stability was evaluated. The oral acute toxicity of GOS was calculated by the 50% lethal dose (LD50). The antidiarrheal activity was determined in a castor oil-induced diarrhea model in mice through diarrhea symptoms, fluid accumulation ratio, and percentage of distance moved by charcoal meal. Results. The tannin content of GTE was 47.75%. GOS could endure a high temperature without a significant decrease of tannin content. After storage for six months, the tannin content of GOS was still more than 90%. GOS was determined to be nontoxic. Meanwhile, GOS showed significant antidiarrheal activity in a castor oil-induced diarrhea model in mice (P<0.01). Conclusion. The results suggested that GOS is an effective and stable antidiarrheal drug that can be used to complement other therapies.

Resveratrol had shown various properties before, like immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities. Based on these properties, the present study was designed to evaluate the effects and mechanism of resveratrol as an immune-adjuvant for pseudorabies virus (PRV) vaccine. We found that oral administration of resveratrol to mice significantly increased the number of T lymphocytes in the spleen, and elevated the concentrations of antibodies and cytokines in the serum. Resveratrol (30 mg/kg) could enhance phagocytic capacity of peritoneal macrophage (PM) by boosting the percentage of phagocytosis, phagocytic index and the level of lysozyme. Resveratrol also enhanced antigen presentation function of PM by upregulating the expressions of CD86 and MHC-II. Further study revealed that resveratrol could increase the protein levels of TLR4, Ikk, IκBα, NF-κB and JNK when compared with non-adjuvant group. These results provide further insight into the mechanism of action in adjuvant activity of resveratrol, and also offer preclinical evidence for development as a PRV vaccine adjuvant.

Pyroptosis is a different type of proinflammatory and lytic mode of cell death from apoptosis and necrosis, which play a killer and cleaner to the pathogenic microorganisms as an immune response when the host is infected by pathogenic microorganisms. Ketone musk (KM) is a component of the native musk, which is widely used to medicine and chemical engineering. In this research, we studied whether KM can suppress the pyroptosis in J774A.1 cells induced by lipopoysaccharide (LPS)/Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) stimulation. The results showed that KM increased the viability of LPS/ATP-stimulated cells, decreased the production of interleukin (IL)-1β/18, and suppressed the activation of caspased-1 and NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and gasdermin D (GSDMD). Our present study demonstrated that KM inhibited LPS/ATP-induced pyroptosis and the release of IL-1β/18 in J774A.1 cells by inhibiting the activation of GSDMD and caspase-1 and the assembly of NLRP3 inflammasome. Our finding may be of significance on investigating that KM has a positive potential application in the treatment of pyroptosis-mediated diseases.

Resveratrol (Res) is a natural compound that possesses anti-inflammatory properties. However, the protective molecular mechanisms of Res against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation have not been fully studied. In the present study, RAW264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS in the presence or absence of Res, and the subsequent modifications to the LPS-induced signaling pathways caused by Res treatment were examined. It was identified that Res decreased the mRNA levels of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation primary response protein MyD88, TIR domain-containing adapter molecule 2, which suggested that Res may inhibit the activation of the TLR4 signaling pathway. It suppressed the expression levels of total and phosphorylated TLR4, NF-κB inhibitor, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and interferon (IFN) regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) proteins. Following treatment with Res or specific inhibitors, the production of pro-inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and IFN-β were decreased and the expression of anti-inflammatory mediator IL-10 was increased. These results suggested that Res may inhibit the signaling cascades of NF-κB, MAPKs and IRF3, which modulate pro-inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, Res exhibited a therapeutic effect on LPS-induced inflammation through suppression of the TLR4-NF-κB/MAPKs/IRF3 signaling cascades.

The topoisomerase enzymes play an important role in DNA metabolism, and searching for enzyme inhibitors is an important target in the search for new anticancer drugs. Discovery of new anticancer chemotherapeutical capable of inhibiting topoisomerase enzymes is highlighted in anticancer research. Therefore, biologists, organic chemists and medicinal chemists all around the world have been identifying, designing, synthesizing and evaluating a variety of novel bioactive molecules targeting topoisomerase. This review summarizes types of topoisomerase inhibitors in the past decade, and divides them into nine classes by structural characteristics, including N-heterocycles compounds, quinone derivatives, flavonoids derivatives, coumarin derivatives, lignan derivatives, polyphenol derivatives, diterpenes derivatives, fatty acids derivatives, and metal complexes. Then we discussed the application prospect and development of these anticancer compounds, as well as concluded parts of their structural-activity relationships. We believe this review would be invaluable in helping to further search potential topoisomerase inhibition as antitumor agent in clinical usage.

Duck enteritis virus (DEV) is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the alphaherpesvirinae subfamily of the herpesviridae. Although vaccines were wildly used in controlling this disease, some infection could still not be prevented and led to significant economic losses as a result of mortality and decreased egg production. However, there is no antiviral drug against DEV. Resveratrol was identified to exert its antiviral activity by inhibiting the DEV replication in preliminary investigations. In the present study, we confirmed that resveratrol significantly reduced the mortality of ducklings which infected with a virulent strain of DEV. With resveratrol treatment, the survival rate increased by almost 80% at 8 days post infection (dpi). Pathological symptoms of ducklings caused by DEV were also relieved by resveratrol. The virus load in blood and tissues were effectively depressed when compared with the untreated group. In the assay of immune cytokines, the resveratrol exerted a dual-regulation effect. These results suggest that resveratrol is expected to be a new alternative control measure for DEV infection.

Truffles are world-renowned premium commodities. Due to their unique aroma and rarity, the price of truffles has always been very high. In this study, Diethylaminoethyl anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration were employed for polysaccharide purification from two different species of Chinese truffles. Three polysaccharide fractions were obtained from Tuber panzhihuanense and referred to as TPZ-NP, TPZ-I, and TPZ-II. Additionally, two polysaccharide fractions were purified from T. pseudoexcavatum (TPD-NP and TPD-I). The results of structural elucidation indicated that the polysaccharide from different species showed different monosaccharide composition and linkage units, as well as molecular weight. Two of the polysaccharide fractions with the highest yield, TPZ-I and TPD-I, were chosen for biological testing. The results indicated that both fractions displayed antioxidant properties through mediation of the intestinal cellular antioxidant defense system, which could protect cultured intestinal cells from oxidative stress-induced damage and cell viability suppression. The TPD-I fraction showed stronger antioxidant effects, which may be due to the difference in structure. Further study on the structure-activity relationship is needed to be done.

(−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant polyphenolic compound present in green tea and has been shown to possess bio-activities. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of EGCG against restraint stress (RS)-induced liver injury and immunosuppression. EGCG (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) was orally administered to mice daily for 7 days before modeling the restraint stress. lood, liver and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected and tested. We found that EGCG significantly reduced the release of stress hormones to weak restraint stress response. EGCG effectively improved hepatic damage by decreas the serum levels of alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in restraint-challenged mice. Furthermore, EGCG also significantly prevented the release of H2O2, NOS and 8-isoprostane, and reduced the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2,and IL-6 restrained mice. EGCG can normal the level of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) 1A2, 2D22, 2E1 and 3A11 that induced by restraint stress., the inhibition status of T cells subsets in serum and gA in BALF were significantly relieved EGCG pretreatment. Taken together, our data suggest that EGCG possesse hepatic- and immune-protective properties against restraint stress through its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities.

Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of tannic acid (TA), a natural plant polyphenol astringent, on wound healing in vitro and in vivo, and to elucidate the underlying molecular signaling pathway in the wound healing. Approach: Cutaneous skin wounds were created in rats and then treated until closure with purified TA, serum or tissue samples were collected to test the concentration of factors by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the expression in gene or protein was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or Western blot. We explored the cell-/dose-specific responses of TA (0.1–0.4 μg/mL) on proliferation and gene and protein expression of fibroblast NIH 3T3 cells. Results: The wounds on rats treated by TA got healed faster than those in the untreated group. The histopathology study showed that TA accelerated re-epithelialization and increase in hair follicles could be detected. The levels of growth factors including basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-beta, and vascular endothelial growth factor in TA-treated groups were all increased, and the content of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 was decreased significantly when compared with that of the untreated group. The NIH 3T3 cells grow faster in 6 h at concentration of 0.1 μg/mL, and the expression of bFGF in gene and protein was increased significantly in the 0.1 μg/mL TA group. Further study revealed that the protein levels of bFGF, extracellular signal regulated kinase (Erk) 1/2, and P-Erk 1/2 in Erk 1/2 pathway were increased after TA treatment. Innovation: The role of TA in wound healing efficacy is unclear; this study, therefore, assesses the effects of TA on wound healing in different periods and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Conclusion: These results suggested that TA could accelerate wound healing through modulation of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors and activate Erk 1/2 pathway. In conclusion, TA may be a potential agent in promoting wound healing.

Based on previous studies about microflora regulation and immunity enhancement activities of polysaccharides from Codonopsis pilosula Nannf. var. modesta (Nannf.) L. T. Shen (CPP), there is little study on intestinal mucosal immunity, which is a possible medium for contacting microflora and immunity. In the present study, the BALB/c mice were divided into five groups (eight mice in each group), including a normal group (Con), a model control group (Model), and model groups that were administered CPP (50, 100, 200 mg/kg/d) orally each day for seven days after intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg BW/d cyclophosphamide (CP) for three days. CPP recovered the spleen index and restored the levels of IFN-&gamma, IL-2, IL-10, as well as serum IgG. In addition, it elevated ileum secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), the number of Lactobacillus and acetic acid content in cecum. These results indicated that CPP plays an important role in the protection against immunosuppression, especially mucosa immune damage, and the inhibition of pathogenic bacteria colonization, which could be considered a potential natural source of immunoregulator.

In this study, an acidic polysaccharide from Codonopsis pilosula Nannf. var. modesta (Nannf.) L. T. Shen (WCP-I) and its main fragment, WCP-Ia, obtained after pectinase digestion, were structurally elucidated and found to consist of a rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) region containing both arabinogalactan type I (AG-I) and type II (AG-II) as sidechains. They both expressed immunomodulating activity against Peyer&rsquo, s patch cells. Endo-1,4-&beta, galactanase degradation gave a decrease of interleukine 6 (IL-6) production compared with native WCP-I and WCP-Ia, but exo-&alpha, l-arabinofuranosidase digestion showed no changes in activity. This demonstrated that the stimulation activity partly disappeared with removal of &beta, d-(1&rarr, 4)-galactan chains, proving that the AG-I side chain plays an important role in immunoregulation activity. WCP-Ia had a better promotion effect than WCP-I in vivo, shown through an increased spleen index, higher concentrations of IL-6, transforming growth factor-&beta, (TGF-&beta, ), and tumor necrosis factor-&alpha, (TNF-&alpha, ) in serum, and a slight increment in the secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio. These results suggest that &beta, 4)-galactan-containing chains in WCP-I play an essential role in the expression of immunomodulating activity. Combining all the results in this and previous studies, the intestinal immune system might be the target site of WCP-Ia.

Four polysaccharides, PTP–1, PTP–2, PTP–3 and PTP–4, were obtained from the water extraction of the stems of P. tricuspidata by anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The antioxidant activities of four PTPs were investigated, exhibiting different antioxidant activities, in which PTP−4 performed noticeable, with strong superoxide radical activity (comparable to BHT), high DPPH radical activity (78.53% at 1250 μg/mL), moderate hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and reducing power activity. Furthermore, the chemical structure of PTP−4 was measured by FT-IR, GC, 1H and 13C NMR spectra, indicating its mainly composition of the arabinose, xylose, galactose, glucuronic acid, and mannose. Thus, the stems of P. tricuspidata could be used as a potential source for natural antioxidant.

Rotavirus (RV), belonging to Reoviridae family, is the leading cause of acute severe viral diarrhea in children (under 5 years old) and infant animals worldwide. Although vaccines are commonly used to prevent infection, episodes of diarrhea caused by RV frequently occur. Thus, this study was conducted to determine whether resveratrol had protective effects against RV infection in piglets. Following pretreatment with resveratrol dry suspension through adding into the basal diet for 3 weeks, the piglets were orally challenged with RV. We found that resveratrol could alleviate diarrhea induced by RV infection. Resveratrol-treatment inhibited the TNF-α production, indicating that the anti-RV activity of resveratrol may be achieved by reducing the inflammatory response. The IFN-γ level was elevated in 10mg/kg/d resveratrol-treated group and 30mg/kg/d resveratrol-treated group after RV infection. The ratios of CD4+/CD8+ in resveratrol-treated groups were the same as that in mock infected group, suggesting that resveratrol could maintain the immune function in RV-infected piglets. It was found that resveratrol could alleviate diarrhea induced by RV infection. These results revealed that resveratrol dry suspension could be a new control measure for RV infection.

The inulin-type fructan was obtained by DEAE anion exchange chromatography from C. pilosula Nannf. var. modesta (Nannf.) L. T. Shen, after optimized extract condition, which was established by response surface methodology, designed using Box-Behnken factorial design and the optimum condition were: extracting 2.5 h with ratio of solvent to material 40 mL/g at 100 °C, twice. The maximum extraction yield was 20.6 ± 0.2%. It was confirmed as β-(2-1) linkage fructan, with terminal glucose, and with a degree of polymerization of 2–17 (DPav = 6), shown by the results of methanolysis, methylation, nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular weight determination. The prebiotic activity was proven on account of stimulation effect on Lactobacillus and pH reduction of medium in vitro. The results indicated that the inulin from C. pilosula could be used as a potential natural source of prebiotics.

Resveratrol, a polyphenolic plant antitoxin, has a wide range of pharmacological activities. In this study, we systematically evaluated the effects of resveratrol dry suspension (RDS) on immune function in piglets that were treated with different doses of RDS for 2 weeks. The results showed that the RDS has significant effects on the development, maturation, proliferation, and transformation of T lymphocytes. RDS could regulate humoral immune responses by upregulating the release of IFN-γ and downregulating the release of TNF-α. After piglets were vaccinated against classical swine fever virus and foot-and-mouth disease virus, the antibody titers were significantly increased. RDS treatment showed an excellent resistance to enhance T-SOD activity. Values of blood routine and blood biochemistry showed no toxicity. These results suggested that RDS could be considered as an adjuvant to enhance immune responses to vaccines, as well as dietary additives for animals to enhance humoral and cellular immunity.

Aim. Pain and inflammation are associated with many diseases in humans and animals. Galla Chinensis, a traditional Chinese medicine, has a variety of pharmacological properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Galla Chinensis through different animal models. Method. The analgesic activities were evaluated by hot-plate and writhing tests. The anti-inflammatory effects were assessed by ear edema, capillary permeability, and paw edema tests. The contents of cytokines (NO, iNOS, PGE2, and IL-10) in serum of rats in paw edema test were inspected by ELISA assays. Results. In the hot-plate test, Galla Chinensis could significantly extend pain threshold when compared to control group. The inhibitory rates of writhes ranged from 36.62% to 68.57% in Galla Chinensis-treated mice. Treatment with Galla Chinensis (1 and 0.5 g/kg) could significantly inhibit ear edema (47.45 and 36.91%, resp.; P < 0.01). Galla Chinensis (1 g/kg) had significant (P < 0.05) anti-inflammatory activity in capillary permeability test (29.04%). In carrageenan-induced edema test, the inhibitory rates were 43.71% and 44.07% (P < 0.01) at 1 h and 2 h after administration of Galla Chinensis (1 g/kg), respectively, and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced. Conclusion. These results suggest that Galla Chinensis has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, which may be a candidate drug for the treatment of inflammation and pain.