Comparative analysis of physicochemical properties,ginsenosides content andα-amylase inhibitory effects in white ginseng and red ginsen

Ginseng(Panax ginseng C.A.Meyer)as a common dietary adjunct is widely applied in Traditional Chinese Medicine due to its health-promoting properties,but the differences between white ginseng and red ginseng was rarely studied.In the present study,color parameters and scanning electron microscope(SEM)were determined to evaluate the differences of ginseng color and microstructure induced by processing procedure.Quantitative analysis of multi-components by a single-marker(QAMS)method and anti-α-amylase activity test were used to assess variations of chemical ingredients and pharmacological activity between white and red ginseng.Finally,molecular docking studies were carried out to screen out the most effective compound againstα-amylase.Results indicated that processing had a significant impact on the physicochemical properties and pharmacological activity of white and red ginseng.After processing,the color value of L*declined significantly.Red ginseng sample displayed a compact structure and presented of a gel layer on the surface compared to white ginseng.Additionally,the content of ginsenosides and the activity of anti-α-amylase decreased.The contents of total ginsenosides were positively correlated with the anti-α-amylase activities of ginseng,and ginsenoside Rb1 might be the most effective compound to inhibit the activity ofα-amylase.

20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3,a product of high-efficiency thermal deglycosylation of ginsenoside Rd,exerts protective effects against scrotal heat-induced spermatogenic damage in mice

Heat stress(HS)reaction can lead to serious physiological dysfunction associated with cardiovascular and various organ diseases.Ginsenoside Rg3(G-Rg3)is a representative component of ginseng rare saponin and can protect against multiple organs,also used as functional food to adjust the balance of the human body,but the therapeutic effect and molecular mechanism of G-Rg3 on male diseases under HS are underexplored.The aim of the present study,G-Rg3 was prepared through the efficient conversion of ginsenoside Rd and investigate the contribution of G-Rg3 to testicular injury induced exposure to HS.All mice were divided into four groups as follows:normal group,HS group,and HS+G-Rg3(5 and 10 mg/kg)groups.G-Rg3 was administered orally for 14 days,then exposed to a single scrotal heat treatment(43°C,18min)on the 7th day.After HS treatment,the morphology of testis and epididymis changes,and caused a significant loss of multinucleated giant cells,desquamation of germ cells in destructive seminiferous tubules,and degenerative Leydig cells,further destroying the production of sperm.After administration G-Rg3(5 and 10 mg/kg/day)for 2 weeks,the spermatogenic-related indexes of testosterone levels and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity,glutathione(GSH)content significantly(p<0.01)increase compared with the HS group.Moreover,G-Rg3 treatment effectively ameliorated the production of malondialdehyde(MDA)(p<0.05 or p<0.01).Importantly,G-Rg3 exhibited the protective potential against HS-induced injury not only suppressing the protein levels of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1),hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α),and heat shock protein 70(HSP70)but also modulating the Bcl-2 family(p<0.01 or p<0.001)and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)signaling pathways(p<0.01).For most of the parameters tested,the HS+G-Rg3(10 mg/kg)group exhibited potent effects compared with those exhibited by the low dose(5 mg/kg)group.In conclusion,the present study demonstrated that G-Rg3 exerted protective effects against HS-induced testicular dysfunction via inhibiting the MAPK-mediated oxidative stress and apoptosis in mice.

Optimization of Suspension Culture Conditions for Hairy Roots of Aconitum coreanum(Levl.) Raipaics

[ Objective] This study aimed to establish an optimized suspension culture for hairy roots of Aconitum coreanum （Levi.） Raipaics. [ Method ] Hairy root of Aconitum coreanum （ Levl. ） Raipaics A0489 was selected as experimental material, to screen the optimal medium for suspension culture. [ Result] Aconitum coreanum （Levl.） Raipaics hairy roots showed different growth conditions in various liquid medium; salt concentration, nitrogen content, sugar content, rotation speed and room temperature had great influences on the growth of Aconitum coreanum （Levi.） Raipaics hairy roots. [ Conclusion] The optimal suspension culture system for Aconitum coreanum （ Levi. ） Raipaics hairy roots was established ： B5 was used as basic medium, culture temperature was 20℃ under dark conditions, rotation speed was 140 r/m in the first 15 d and 110 r/m in the latter 15 d.

Identification of anti-inflammatory components in Panax ginseng of Sijunzi Decoction based on spectrum-effect relationship

Objective: This study aimed to identify the main medicinal active components of Panax ginseng(P. ginseng) in the compatibility environment of clinical application. For this purpose, the anti-inflammatory ingredients of P. ginseng were investigated based on its therapeutic effect in Sijunzi Decoction(SJD) which is a widely used traditional Chinese formula.Methods: The fingerprints of 10 batches of SJD consisting of different sources of P. ginseng were established by UPLC technique to investigate the chemical components. At the same time, the antiinflammatory effects of these components were evaluated by dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis mouse model. Grey relational analysis was applied to explore the correlation degree between fingerprints and anti-inflammatory effects in SJD. Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 murine macrophages were established to evaluate the anti-inflammatory action of the screened effective substances of P. ginseng.Results: According to grey relational analysis, notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Rg2 and ginsenoside Rb3of P. ginseng were the major anti-inflammatory contributions in SJD. They had been proven to be closely associated with the anti-inflammatory process of SJD and displayed a close effect compared with SJD by LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 murine macrophages.Conclusion: Our work provides a general strategy for exploring the pharmacological ingredients of P. ginseng in traditional Chinese formulas which is beneficial for establishing the quality standards of traditional herbs in traditional Chinese medicine prescription based on their clinical therapeutic effect.

Recent leveling off of vegetation greenness and primary production reveals the increasing soil water limitations on the greening Earth

Global vegetation photosynthesis and productivity have increased substantially since the 1980s,but this trend is heterogeneous in both time and space.Here,we categorize the secular trend in global vegetation greenness into sustained greening,sustained browning and greening-to-browning.We found that by 2016,increased global vegetation greenness had begun to level off,with the area of browning increasing in the last decade,reaching 39.0 million km^(2)(35.9%of the world’s vegetated area).This area is larger than the area with sustained increasing growth(27.8 million km^(2),26.4%);thus,12.0%±3.1%(0.019±0.004 NDVI a^(-1))of the previous earlier increase has been offset since 2010(2010–2016,P<0.05).Global gross primary production also leveled off,following the trend in vegetation greenness in time and space.This leveling off was caused by increasing soil water limitations due to the spatial expansion of drought,whose impact dominated over the impacts of temperature and solar radiation.This response of global gross primary production to soil water limitation was not identified by land submodels within Earth system models.Our results provide empirical evidence that global vegetation greenness and primary production are offset by water stress and suggest that as global warming continues,land submodels may overestimate the world’s capacity to take up carbon with global vegetation greening.