Volatile Oil of Platycladus Orientalis(L.)Franco Leaves Exerts Strong Anti-inflammatory Effects via Inhibiting the IκB/NF-κB Pathway

This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of volatile oil of Platycladus orientalis(L.)Franco leaves(VOPF)and the underlying molecular mechanisms by using the non-infectious inflammation rat models and infectious inflammation mouse models.Ear swelling and intraperitoneal capillary permeability in mice,and carrageenan-induced toe swelling and cotton ball-induced granuloma in rats were used to reveal anti-inflammatory effects of VOPF.Moreover,the lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced mouse model of acute lung injury was used to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of VOPF.The results showed that VOPF could significantly inhibit auricular swelling,intraperitoneal capillary permeability in mice,and reduce granuloma swelling and paw swelling in rats.Furthermore,it significantly alleviated the pathological damage of the lung tissue.In addition,VOPF could reduce the contents of IL-1β and TNF-αand increase the content of IL-10 in the serum.It had little effect on the expression of p65 but reduced the phosphorylation level of p65 and IκB in NF-κB pathway.In conclusion,VOPF has anti-inflammatory effects and the mechanisms involve the down-regulation of the phosphorylation levels of p65 and IκB and blockage of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Diurnal and seasonal dynamics of soil respiration in a Platycladus orientalis forest stand on the semiarid Loess Plateau, China

Forest ecosystems on China's Loess Plateau are receiving increasing attention because of their special importance in carbon fixation and conservation of soil and water in the region.Soil respiration was investigated in Platycladus orientalis forest stands of the region at diurnal and seasonal scales.The daily and seasonal average values of soil respiration were 2.53μmol·m^(-2)·s^(-1)and 3.78μmol·m^(-2)·s^(-1),respectively.On a diurnal and seasonal scale,the variations of soil respiration in the P.orientalis forest show a one-peak pattern.The diurnal dynamics of soil respiration were mainly driven by soil temperature.However,the relationship between soil respiration and soil temperature was not significant,mainly because of the hysteresis effect of soil respiration on soil temperature.Soil moisture plays another dominant role in the ecosystem carbon balance,but was not affected by soil temperature in P.orientalis forest on the semiarid Loess Plateau.

Platycladus orientalis shells promote melanogenesis via p38,AKT and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways

Background:Platycladus orientalis,which has been employed in traditional Chinese medicine for cool blood,antibacterial,promotion of hair growth and therapy of poliosis for centuries.However,there have been few reports focusing on Platycladus orientalis shells treating pigmentary disorders.Methods:In present study,gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was applied to analyzing the volatile composition of Platycladus orientalis shells and cellular metabolism.Experiments in vivo were carried out to evaluate the effect of Platycladus orientalis shells treating pigmentation disorders in C57BL/6J mice.Results:Our results indicated that cedrol occupied the largest percentage in Platycladus orientalis shells(17.1%).Meanwhile,Platycladus orientalis shells up-regulated the content of palmitic acid and increased melanin content and tyrosinase activity.Its mechanism possibly involved in the inhibiting phosphorylation of AKT and β-catenin,increasing phosphorylation of p38 to promote microphthalmia-associated transcription factor expression.The animal experiment also proved that Platycladus orientalis shells promoted melanogensis and hair blacken in C57BL/6J mice.Conclusion:All in all,Platycladus orientalis shells potentially promoted melanogenesis in vitro and in vivo.Cedrol was regarded as the main active substance in Platycladus orientalis shells.Therefore,it could be used for treatment of pigmentary disorders under safe concentration in the prospective application.

Study on the Practical Mature Age of Individual Platycladus orientalis

This study was conducted on the analytic tree and got the fitting empirical equation of tree growth, in which the tree growth rate was used as the variable and time as the independent variable. The arithmetical operation to the function got the mature age of tree growth, and the mature ages of the timer forest, the protection forest and the special-purpose forest of Platycladus orientalis were 71, 111 and 141 a, respectively. In addition, the application as well as the research direction and matters needing attention were proposed.

Advances in Research of Chemical Components and Pharmacological Effects of Platycladus orientalis Leaves

Platycladi Cacumen(Platycladus orientalis leaf)is a traditional Chinese medicine with a variety of medicinal values,and its efficacy has been recorded by many ancient books.Its chemical components mainly include flavonoids,volatile oil,tannins and so on.Pharmacological studies have confirmed that P.orientalis leaves have various pharmacological effects such as antibacterial,anti-oxidant,anti-tumor,hair growth promoting and hemostatic effects.Through review of the research on the chemical components and pharmacological effects of P.orientalis leaves,this study is intended to provide reference for the research,development and utilization of P.orientalis.

Effects of Ultra-drying on Viability and Physiological Characteristics of Platycladus orientalis Seed from Arid and Semiarid Areas of Northwest China

In order to supply quality seed for vegetation restoration in arid and semiarid areas of Northwest China, the effects of Platycladus orientalis seed storage under ultra-drying and accelerated aging were studied. The seeds were dried from 6.8% to 5.1%, 4.4%, 3.7% and 2.2% MC, respectively, in a desiccator with the silica gel. The germination energy, germination percentage, germination index and vigor index of the seed were investigated. After ultra-drying, groups of seeds were carried on the accelerated aging tests in an oven at 50 oC for 10, 20 and 30 d , respectively, and the physiological indexes, including relative conductivity, dehydrogenase activity and α-amylase activity were tested. The results show that the ultra-dried seeds with 3.7% MC have the highest germination energy, germination percentage, germination index and vigor index. After aging, the dehydrogenase activity and α-amylase activity of the group of seeds of 3.7% MC were higher than those of 6.8%, while the relative conductivity of the group of 3.7% is lower than that of 6.8%. It is feasible to ultra- dry the seeds with 3.7% MC.

Heavy metal accumulation characteristics and physiological response of Sabina chinensis and Platycladus orientalis to atmospheric pollution

Heavy metal(Cu,Mn,Zn,Pb,and Cd)concentrations were measured in the leaves of Sabina chinensis and Platycladus orientalis collected from urban,suburban,and rural sites in Tianjin,China.Photosynthetic pigment contents,reactive oxygen species content,malondialdehyde(MDA)content and antioxidant enzyme activity were investigated,providing physiological response parameters.Our comparison of the sites revealed that urbanization significantly influenced the heavy metal concentrations in both plant leaves.At the rural site,both plant leaves exhibited the lowest heavy metal accumulation.The highest Cu,Mn,and Zn concentrations were found in S.chinensis leaves from the urban site;the highest Pb and Cd concentrations were found in P.orientalis leaves from the urban site.These results indicate that the urban site contained larger heavy metal concentrations in the plant leaves that may reflect the anthropogenic emission gradient.It is also found that S.chinensis may be used to monitor airborne heavy metal pollution because it is highly quick response to heavy metals,while P.orientalis may be used for mitigation due to its high resistance.The results of this study can contribute to the development of monitoring and environmental management plans by providing information on sensitive and resistant tree species for city greening in North China.

Relationship between effective solar radiation and sap flow process during an entire growing season in Western Mountains of Beijing

In order to explore the relationship between the time processes of solar radiation and sap flow, sap flow velocity （SFV） of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis, effective solar radiation （ESR） and other environmental factors were synchronously monitored for one year in the Beijing Western Mountains by using a thermal dissipation probe （TDP） system and an automatic weather station. Results showed significant differences between changes in diurnal characteristics of ESR and sap flow in sunny days during three seasons. Starting times of sap flow occurred generally 1.5-3 hours later than those of solar radiation and there were small differences between Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis. But peak times and stopping times of sap flow varied considerably with large contrasts in ESR. The duration of sap flow showed clear differences among the seasons owing to the variable rhythms of climate factors in Beijing. Fluctuation amplitude in the duration of sap flow remained relatively stable during the autumn but changed greatly during spring and summer. Changes in diurnal sap flow velocity of both Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis were about 0-3 hours later than those of ESR but with the same configuration. The start of sap flow was mainly induced by the sudden intensification of ESR （sunrise effect）. Seasonal models of SFV indicated that a cubic equation had the best fit. It was more practical to simulate seasonal water consumption models of trees with ESR. In further investigations, these models should be optimized.

Comparison of host volatiles under different physiological states and electroantennogram responses of Semanotus bifasciatus (Motschulsky) to these volatiles

Based on an analytical TCT-GC/MS method, volatile compounds of branches of Platycladus orientalis under three physiological states （healthy, weak and baited trees） were analyzed. The results showed that α-pinene, β-phellandrene, 3-careen, limonene and thujopsene were released under all three physiological states. There were other kinds of volatiles released from branches of weak P. orientalis trees, such as camphene, γ-terpinene, （＋）-4-carene and cedrene, but these four volatiles compounds were not released from the branches of healthy P. orientalis. Volatile components from the physically damaged branches of P. orientalis had changed. β-terpinene, mycrene, isocaryophillene and caryophyllene were identified in both healthy and weak branches of P. orientalis. Only cedrene was identified in the baited wood. Electroantennogram （EAG） tests were conducted with nine volatile compounds from the branches of P. orientalis. Antennnae of male and female Semanotus bifasciatus （Motschulsky） were highly sensitive to these nine volatile compounds. Cedrene elicited the strongest response, whereas β-terpinene the lowest. Males and females showed no signifi-cant difference in their EAG responses to the nine volatile compounds.