Determination of swainsonine in the endophytic Undifilum fungi by high-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light-scattering detector.

Endophytic Undifilum oxytropis found within toxic locoweeds (Astragalus and Oxytropis spp.) produces the indolizidine alkaloid swainsonine, which is responsible for locoism in grazing animals. The aim of the current study is to establish an easy and accurate method for the determination of swainsonine in the endophytic Undifilum fungi.

Antitumor activity of polysaccharides isolated from Patrinia heterophylla.

The research investigated the effect of Patrinia heterophylla Bunge (Valerianaceae) polysaccharides (PHB-P1) on U14-bearing mice. The tumor weight of mice treated with PHB-P1 (30, 60 mg/kg body weight) was significantly lower than that of the control group, a decrease of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was observed, and the serum alkaline phosphatase (AKP) level was increased slightly. The number of apoptotic tumor cells was significantly increased in the mice by treatment of PHB-P1 (30, 60 mg/kgbw).

Anti-tumor activity of polysaccharides isolated from Patrinia scabra Bunge on U14 cervical carcinoma bearing mice.

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of Patrinia scabra Bunge polysaccharide (PSB-P2) on cervical cancer cell (U14)-bearing mice. The tumor weight of mice treated with PSB-P2 (40, 80 mg/kg b.w.

Biodegradation of Swainsonine by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain YLZZ-1 and its isolation and identification.

Eight swainsonine (SW)-degrading bacteria were isolated from the soil where locoweed was buried for 6 months and one of the strains (YLZZ-1) was selected for further study. Based on morphology, physiologic tests, 16S rRNA gene sequence, and phylogenetic characteristics, the strain showed the greatest similarity to members of the order Acinetobacters and within the order to members of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus group. The ability of the strain for degrading SW, as sole carbon source, was investigated under different culture conditions.

[Effect of Gleditsia sinensis stings on growth inhibition and expression of PCNA and p53 in mice bearing uterine cervical carcinoma (U14)].

Objective: To study the antitumor effect of the stings of Gleditsia sinensis on mice bearing uterine cervical carcinoma (U14) and the expression of PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and p53.

Method: The effect of the ethanolic extract of G. sinensis stings on the inhibition rate of solid tumor and the life span of ascites tumor were calculated by the animal tumor model experiment in vivo.