Corticosterone impairs gap junctions in the prefrontal cortical and hippocampal astrocytes via different mechanisms.

Increasing evidence has implicated astrocyte pathology in the etiopathology of major depressive disorder (MDD). In particular, dysfunction of gap junctions in astrocytes is a potential target for MDD treatment. However, the mechanism underlying stress-induced dysfunction of gap junctions is still unknown.

[Anti-tumor target prediction and activity verification of Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids].

It has reported that Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids had anti-tumor activity. However, the anti-tumor target is still unclear. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-tumor activity of G.

Ginsenoside Rg1 alleviates corticosterone-induced dysfunction of gap junctions in astrocytes.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), one of the major bioactive ingredients of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey, has neuroprotective effects in animal models of depression, but the mechanism underlying these effects is still largely unknown AIM OF THE STUDY: Gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) dysfunction is a potentially novel pathogenic mechanism for depression.

Ginsenoside Rg1-induced antidepressant effects involve the protection of astrocyte gap junctions within the prefrontal cortex.

Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) exhibits antidepressant-like activity by increasing neurogenesis and dendritic spine density without discernible side effects. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Rg1 antidepressant activity remain poorly understood. As the dysfunction of gap junctions between astrocytes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is implicated in major depression disorder, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Rg1 on astrocyte gap junctions in the PFC.

[The basic strategies and research advances in the studies on glycosyltransferases involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis].

Traditional herbal medicines, Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolium and Panax notoginseng, attract our attention for their extensive and powerful pharmacological activities. Ginsenosides are the main active constituents of these medicinal herbs. The related glycosyltransferases involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis are the key enzymes which catalyze the last important step.

[Downregulation of lanosterol synthase gene expression by antisense RNA technology in Saccharomyces cerevisiae].

The cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene is the key branch point of ergosterol and triterpenoid biosynthesis. Downregulation of 2,3-oxidosqualene metabolic flux to ergosterol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae may redirect the metabolic flux toward the triterpenoid synthetic pathway. In our study, primers were designed according to erg7 gene sequence of S.

[Elucidating the structure of two cyclotides of Viola tianshanica maxim by MALDI TOF/TOF MS analysis].

The cyclotides are a family of cyclic "mini" proteins that occur in Violaceae, Rubiaceae and Cucurbitaceae plant families and contain a head-to-tail cyclic backbone and a cystine knot arranged by three disulfide bonds. To study the natural cyclotides of V tianshanica, dried herb was extracted with 50% ethanol, and the concentrated aqueous extract was subjected to a solvent-solvent partitioning between water and hexane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol, separately. The n-butanol extract containing cyclotides was subjected to column chromatography over Sephadex LH-20, eluted with 30% methanol.