Growing in the medium containing 0.10 mol/L KCl for three days, the nitrogen-fixing activity ofAnabaena cylindrica decreased by 95%. Extent of the inhibition was enchanced with increased KCl concentrations. The bigges...Growing in the medium containing 0.10 mol/L KCl for three days, the nitrogen-fixing activity ofAnabaena cylindrica decreased by 95%. Extent of the inhibition was enchanced with increased KCl concentrations. The biggest decrease of nitrogen-fixing activity was between 0.02–0.05 mol/L KCl. The same decline on growth was between 0.05–0.10 mol/L KCl. The longer treating-time was, the lower nitrogen-fixing activity was. A short time of KCl-treatment (for 4 h) resulted in 66.4%decrease of the activity. Under effecting of KCl for three days, the frequency of heterocyst differentiation decreased from 7.2%to 2.1%.展开更多
The molecular structure of a higher plant myosin with two 174 kD heavy chains purified from the tendrils of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. was viewed by electron microscopy. The myosin exhibited actin_activated MgATP...The molecular structure of a higher plant myosin with two 174 kD heavy chains purified from the tendrils of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. was viewed by electron microscopy. The myosin exhibited actin_activated MgATPase activity and could be recognized immunologically by a monoclonal antibody against the skeletal muscle myosin. Electron micrographs of rotary shadowed images of this protein revealed that it had two heads with size and shape similar to those of the skeletal muscle myosin and a relatively short tail in comparison with the conventional myosin. Luffa tendril actin filaments were also visualized and occasionally other Luffa myosin_like proteins with globular structure at the tail ends were also observed. The structural similarity and immunological cross reactivity with antibodies against muscle myosin demonstrate that the 174 kD Luffa tendril myosin is a double_headed myosin. The possible involvement of myosin_actin interactions in Luffa tendril contact coiling will be the subject of further research.展开更多
A new pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin, named lucyoside Q, was isolated from the leaves of Luffa cylindrica. Its structure was established as 21 β hydroxyloleanolic acid 28 O β D glucopyranoside by means of th...A new pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin, named lucyoside Q, was isolated from the leaves of Luffa cylindrica. Its structure was established as 21 β hydroxyloleanolic acid 28 O β D glucopyranoside by means of the spectral evidence and chemical methods.展开更多
Sponge gourd(Luffa cylindrica)is an important cultivated vegetable and medicinal plant in the family Cucurbitaceae.In this study,a draft genome sequence of the sponge gourd inbred line P93075 was analyzed.Using Illumi...Sponge gourd(Luffa cylindrica)is an important cultivated vegetable and medicinal plant in the family Cucurbitaceae.In this study,a draft genome sequence of the sponge gourd inbred line P93075 was analyzed.Using Illumina,PacBio,and 10×Genomics sequencing techniques as well as new assembly techniques such as FALCON and chromatin interaction mapping(Hi-C),a chromosome-scale genome of approximately 656.19 Mb,with an N50 scaffold length of 48.76 Mb,was generated.From this assembly,25,508 protein-coding gene loci were identified,and 63.81%of the whole-genome consisted of transposable elements,which are major contributors to the expansion of the sponge gourd genome.According to a phylogenetic analysis of conserved genes,the sponge gourd lineage diverged from the bitter gourd lineage approximately 41.6 million years ago.Additionally,many genes that respond to biotic and abiotic stresses were found to be lineage specific or expanded in the sponge gourd genome,as demonstrated by the presence of 462 NBS-LRR genes,a much greater number than are found in the genomes of other cucurbit species;these results are consistent with the high stress resistance of sponge gourd.Collectively,our study provides insights into genome evolution and serves as a valuable reference for the genetic improvement of sponge gourd.展开更多
Background: Herbal medicinal preparations are used as dietary supplements for disease prevention and as alternative/complementary medicine. The growing interest in herbal medicine raises the question of its safety and...Background: Herbal medicinal preparations are used as dietary supplements for disease prevention and as alternative/complementary medicine. The growing interest in herbal medicine raises the question of its safety and efficacy. Numerous recorded cases of intoxication and toxicological studies reveal that medicinal plants can be toxic, which hinders their safe use. Plant intoxications related to a variety of factors include plant organs and many extraction solvents. Little toxicological data on medicinal plants is available. The need to investigate is important for safe use. Imperata cylindrica, a poaceae, is one of the medicinal plants for which few toxicological data are available. Materials & Methods: To expand toxicological data, water, 70% ethanol, and 30% acetone extracts of the leaves and roots, obtained by maceration and reflux methods, were used for phytochemicals molecules qualitative detection and toxicity test by the brine shrimp lethality assay. Results: The qualitative analysis of the different extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, polyphenolic compounds, saponins, and polyterpenoids. The toxicity endpoint was lethal concentration 50 (LC<sub>50</sub>). The leaves’ extracts LC<sub>50</sub> was between 489.78 μg/mL and 1066.6 μg/mL. As for the root extracts, the LC<sub>50</sub> was between 341.98 μg/mL and 1530 μg/mL. Discussion: The different compounds’ presence justifies the use of Imperata cylindrica as a medicinal plant. According to Clarkson classification the root extracts are moderately toxic (LC<sub>50</sub>: 168.47 μg/mL), and leaf extracts are weakly toxic (LC<sub>50</sub>: 527.25 μg/mL). The extrapolation made in relation to the Gosselin, Smith, and Hodge scale, allows us to characterize the Imperata cylindrica root and leaf extracts as non-toxic to humans by oral route. Conclusion: This result can be a base for more precise toxicological studies.展开更多
Objective:To assess the effect of short-term gavage of ethanolic extract of Imperata cylindrica L root on the ovarian activity and estrus behavior of female mice.Methods:Eighteen virgin female ddY mice,8 to 10 weeks o...Objective:To assess the effect of short-term gavage of ethanolic extract of Imperata cylindrica L root on the ovarian activity and estrus behavior of female mice.Methods:Eighteen virgin female ddY mice,8 to 10 weeks of age,weighing 22-25 g with regular estrus cycle,were divided into three groups.Group 1 received 0.5%carboxymethylcellulose,whereas Groups 2 and 3 received the ethanolic extract of Imperata cylindrica L root at 90 and 115 mg/kg body weight(b.w.)per day by gavage for 20 days,respectively.All of the groups were checked before 9 a.m.daily for vaginal cytology to determine the estrus phase.On day 21,the mice were sacrificed to collect serum samples to quantify the concentrations of reproductive hormones using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and to determine changes in the reproductive organs based on their reproductive organ weight,histomorphology,and histomorphometry of ovarium and uterus.Results:The reproductive organ weight in the treatment groups was similar compared with that in the control group.The 90 mg/kg b.w.treatment group showed an increase in corpus luteum number when compared with the control group,with few degenerated follicles and diminished oocytes.Moreover,the 115 mg/kg b.w.treatment group showed fewer primordial and primary follicles and an increase in corpus luteum number and a prolonged diestrus phase compared to the control and 90 mg/kg b.w.treatment groups.The histomorphology examination of the uterus showed that the thickness of myometrium and epithelium in the treated animals was similar to the control group.In addition,there was a significant decrease in follicle-stimulating hormone level in the 115 mg/kg b.w.treatment group(P<0.05).Conclusions:Short-term gavage of ethanolic extract of Imperata cylindrica L root reduces the follicle-stimulating hormone serum level and folliculogenesis.展开更多
文摘Growing in the medium containing 0.10 mol/L KCl for three days, the nitrogen-fixing activity ofAnabaena cylindrica decreased by 95%. Extent of the inhibition was enchanced with increased KCl concentrations. The biggest decrease of nitrogen-fixing activity was between 0.02–0.05 mol/L KCl. The same decline on growth was between 0.05–0.10 mol/L KCl. The longer treating-time was, the lower nitrogen-fixing activity was. A short time of KCl-treatment (for 4 h) resulted in 66.4%decrease of the activity. Under effecting of KCl for three days, the frequency of heterocyst differentiation decreased from 7.2%to 2.1%.
文摘The molecular structure of a higher plant myosin with two 174 kD heavy chains purified from the tendrils of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. was viewed by electron microscopy. The myosin exhibited actin_activated MgATPase activity and could be recognized immunologically by a monoclonal antibody against the skeletal muscle myosin. Electron micrographs of rotary shadowed images of this protein revealed that it had two heads with size and shape similar to those of the skeletal muscle myosin and a relatively short tail in comparison with the conventional myosin. Luffa tendril actin filaments were also visualized and occasionally other Luffa myosin_like proteins with globular structure at the tail ends were also observed. The structural similarity and immunological cross reactivity with antibodies against muscle myosin demonstrate that the 174 kD Luffa tendril myosin is a double_headed myosin. The possible involvement of myosin_actin interactions in Luffa tendril contact coiling will be the subject of further research.
文摘A new pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin, named lucyoside Q, was isolated from the leaves of Luffa cylindrica. Its structure was established as 21 β hydroxyloleanolic acid 28 O β D glucopyranoside by means of the spectral evidence and chemical methods.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31872093,31401865,31902011)the Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Province(2018B020202007,2019KJ110,2019A050507003,2019A050520002,2019A1515010723),the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou of China(201807010033)the National Modern Agricultural Technology System Construction Project(CARS-25-G-36).
文摘Sponge gourd(Luffa cylindrica)is an important cultivated vegetable and medicinal plant in the family Cucurbitaceae.In this study,a draft genome sequence of the sponge gourd inbred line P93075 was analyzed.Using Illumina,PacBio,and 10×Genomics sequencing techniques as well as new assembly techniques such as FALCON and chromatin interaction mapping(Hi-C),a chromosome-scale genome of approximately 656.19 Mb,with an N50 scaffold length of 48.76 Mb,was generated.From this assembly,25,508 protein-coding gene loci were identified,and 63.81%of the whole-genome consisted of transposable elements,which are major contributors to the expansion of the sponge gourd genome.According to a phylogenetic analysis of conserved genes,the sponge gourd lineage diverged from the bitter gourd lineage approximately 41.6 million years ago.Additionally,many genes that respond to biotic and abiotic stresses were found to be lineage specific or expanded in the sponge gourd genome,as demonstrated by the presence of 462 NBS-LRR genes,a much greater number than are found in the genomes of other cucurbit species;these results are consistent with the high stress resistance of sponge gourd.Collectively,our study provides insights into genome evolution and serves as a valuable reference for the genetic improvement of sponge gourd.
文摘Background: Herbal medicinal preparations are used as dietary supplements for disease prevention and as alternative/complementary medicine. The growing interest in herbal medicine raises the question of its safety and efficacy. Numerous recorded cases of intoxication and toxicological studies reveal that medicinal plants can be toxic, which hinders their safe use. Plant intoxications related to a variety of factors include plant organs and many extraction solvents. Little toxicological data on medicinal plants is available. The need to investigate is important for safe use. Imperata cylindrica, a poaceae, is one of the medicinal plants for which few toxicological data are available. Materials & Methods: To expand toxicological data, water, 70% ethanol, and 30% acetone extracts of the leaves and roots, obtained by maceration and reflux methods, were used for phytochemicals molecules qualitative detection and toxicity test by the brine shrimp lethality assay. Results: The qualitative analysis of the different extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, polyphenolic compounds, saponins, and polyterpenoids. The toxicity endpoint was lethal concentration 50 (LC<sub>50</sub>). The leaves’ extracts LC<sub>50</sub> was between 489.78 μg/mL and 1066.6 μg/mL. As for the root extracts, the LC<sub>50</sub> was between 341.98 μg/mL and 1530 μg/mL. Discussion: The different compounds’ presence justifies the use of Imperata cylindrica as a medicinal plant. According to Clarkson classification the root extracts are moderately toxic (LC<sub>50</sub>: 168.47 μg/mL), and leaf extracts are weakly toxic (LC<sub>50</sub>: 527.25 μg/mL). The extrapolation made in relation to the Gosselin, Smith, and Hodge scale, allows us to characterize the Imperata cylindrica root and leaf extracts as non-toxic to humans by oral route. Conclusion: This result can be a base for more precise toxicological studies.
文摘Objective:To assess the effect of short-term gavage of ethanolic extract of Imperata cylindrica L root on the ovarian activity and estrus behavior of female mice.Methods:Eighteen virgin female ddY mice,8 to 10 weeks of age,weighing 22-25 g with regular estrus cycle,were divided into three groups.Group 1 received 0.5%carboxymethylcellulose,whereas Groups 2 and 3 received the ethanolic extract of Imperata cylindrica L root at 90 and 115 mg/kg body weight(b.w.)per day by gavage for 20 days,respectively.All of the groups were checked before 9 a.m.daily for vaginal cytology to determine the estrus phase.On day 21,the mice were sacrificed to collect serum samples to quantify the concentrations of reproductive hormones using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and to determine changes in the reproductive organs based on their reproductive organ weight,histomorphology,and histomorphometry of ovarium and uterus.Results:The reproductive organ weight in the treatment groups was similar compared with that in the control group.The 90 mg/kg b.w.treatment group showed an increase in corpus luteum number when compared with the control group,with few degenerated follicles and diminished oocytes.Moreover,the 115 mg/kg b.w.treatment group showed fewer primordial and primary follicles and an increase in corpus luteum number and a prolonged diestrus phase compared to the control and 90 mg/kg b.w.treatment groups.The histomorphology examination of the uterus showed that the thickness of myometrium and epithelium in the treated animals was similar to the control group.In addition,there was a significant decrease in follicle-stimulating hormone level in the 115 mg/kg b.w.treatment group(P<0.05).Conclusions:Short-term gavage of ethanolic extract of Imperata cylindrica L root reduces the follicle-stimulating hormone serum level and folliculogenesis.
