A New C-Glycosylflavone from the Leaves of Cycas panzhihuaensis

A new C-glycosylflavone, named panzhihuacycaside (1), was isolated from the leaves of Cycas panzhihuaensis L. Zhou et S. Y. Yang (Cycadaceae) along with 2,3-dihydrohinokiflavone (2), 5,5',7,7', 4',4''-hexahydroxy-(2',8')-biflavone (3), vanillic acid (4), P-sitosterol (5) and daucosterol (6). Their structures were elucidated by spectral and chemical evidence.

A Discovery of Anomozamites with Reproductive Organs

Anomozamites haifanggouensis (Kimura et al.) Zheng et Zhang comb. nov. is a characteristic Bennettitalean plant in Middle Jurassic flora. Only one specimen was collected from Haifanggou Formation (Middle Jurassic) in Daohugou village, Shantou town, Ningcheng County, Nei Mongol Autonomous Region, China. The stem of plant is slender and repeatedly branches as a dichasial system with a fertile shoot in the fork, forming equal and widely divergent branches, on the branches born with the fronds of Anomozamites type. Its reproductive organs consists of some microsporophylls and a few of the bracteoid small leaves (or receptacular leaves). Some scattered bracteoid leaves and microsporophylls were formerly considered by Pan as dicots. Since then, they were proposed to be a non-committal genus Pankuangia and described them as P. haifanggouensis by Kimura et al. In this study, we discover that these bracteoid small leaves and microsporophylls should be of Anomozamites. This discovery provides strong evidence for the 'Pankuangia' determination of the taxonomical position.

Anomozamites(Bennettitales) from Middle Jurassic Haifanggou Formation,western Liaoning,China

The Middle Jurassic Hangfanggou Formation is well exposed in Shangsanjiao and Xiasanjiao villages area,Baimashi town of Huludao,western Liaoning,China.Recently,abundant fossil plants were collected from the Hangfanggou Formation.One new species,Anomozamites sanjiaocunensis sp.nov.(Bennettitales),is described in this study.This is the first report of the genus Anomozamites from the Haifanggou Formation based upon the leaf morphology and epidermal structures.The discovery of the new species extends significantly the stratigraphic and geographic distribution of Anomozamites in the Middle Jurassic.It also shows that Anomozamites was a common member of Bennettitales once lived in the Middle Jurassic warm temperate region.The new species also improves the knowledge on understanding the leaf morphology,epidermal features and the diversity of Anomozamites during the Middle Jurassic.The epidermal characters of the new species and its associated plants reveal that the plants grew in a warm and moderately humid environment in the warm temperate zone.The presence of some deciduous plants,such as ginkgoaleans,czekanowskialeans and conifers,indicate the climate with seasonal fluctuations in temperature.

Lipovtsy flora of Razdolnaya( Suifun) River Basin,Primorye region,Russia

The Lipovtsy flora originates mostly from the synonymous Formation exposed at the coal quarries in the Razdolnaya( Suifun) River Basin in Heilongjiang Province( China) and Primorye Region( Russia). The thorough study of this flora has revealed its high diversity and abundance. One of the most prominent groups in the Lipovtsy flora is the ferns. Next in diversity are conifers( Miroviaceae,Taxodiaceae,Podozamitaceae,Taxaceae,Cephalotaxaceae). It was revealed the remarkable quantity of bennettitalean remains( 24 taxa). The main peculiarity of this flora is the appearance of first angiosperms( pollen,dispersed cuticle,leaves). The fine preservation of the cuticles from the coals allows us to research the taxonomical composition of peat-forming plants and clear main components of the swamp plant communities. These plants supplied the material for the accumulation of resinite coals on the territory of Razdolnaya River Basin were conifers Miroviaceae,taxodialeans,bennettites,as well as gleicheniaceous and cyatheaceous ferns.

Effects of sotetsuflavone on expression of endostatin, TGF-β, STAT3, β-catenin and ZO-1 in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells

Objective To investigate the effects of sotetsuflavone on endostatin, transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）, signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 （STAT3）, β-catenin and zonula occludens-1 protein （ZO-1） in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. Methods： STAT3, β-catenin, TGF-β and ZO-1 mRNA expression were detected by real-time PCR. Endostatin and TGF-β expression were detected by immunofluorescence assay. STAT3 and β-catenin protein expression were detected by western blot. Results： Compared with the control group, TGF-β, STAT3 and β-catenin expression were down-regulated, endostatin and ZO-1 expression were up-regulated by sotetsuflavone. Simultaneously, it showed a significant concentration-dependent. Conclusion： The mechanism of action of sotetsuflavone in the treatment of lung cancer may be via inhibiting the expression of TGF-β, STAT3, and β-catenin, increasing the expression of endostatin and ZO-1, thereby exerting an anti-tumor effect.