Chloroplast Genome Sequences and Phylogenetic Analysis of Eight Newly Sequenced Caryophyllaceae Species.

Background: Caryophyllaceae is a big family composed of many economic and medicinal species. However, the phylogeny of the family is insufficient and genome data are lacking for many species.

Objective: Using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to acquire the chloroplast (cp) genomes of Eremogone acicularis (F.

Comparative analyses of five complete chloroplast genomes from the endemic genus (Asteraceae) in Himalayan and adjacent areas.

Benth. is an endemic genus in the Himalayas and adjacent areas. Some plants of the genus are traditional medicinal plants in Tibetan medicine.

[Activity of Codonopsis canescens against rheumatoid arthritis based on TLRs/MAPKs/NF-κB signaling pathways and its mechanism].

This paper aims to explore the activity of Codonopsis canescens extract against rheumatoid arthritis(RA) based on the Toll-like receptors(TLRs)/mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPKs)/nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) signaling pathways and its mechanism. The ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight/mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was used to identify the components of C. canescens extract.

Lipskynoids A-G, New Acyclic Diterpenes from the Flowers of Carpesium lipskyi.

Seven new acyclic diterpenes, namely lipskynoids A-G (1-7), were isolated from the flowers of Carpesium lipskyi, a traditional Tibetan herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory and antipyretic-analgesic effects. These new compounds were elucidated by analysis of extensive spectroscopic data including ESI-MS, 1D, 2D NMR, and DP4+ analyses. Biological assays showed that 1-7 display significant inhibitory effects against the NO production in LPS-induced RAW264.

Comparative and Phylogenetic Analysis of Chloroplast Genomes of Two Medicinal Species of Spatholobus.

Background: The vine stem of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn (S. suberectus), called "JiXueTeng", has been used as a significant medicine for thousands of years in China. However, reliable field identification of this medicinal plant remains problematic, inaccurate identification may cause serious adverse effects in the functions of the drug and may affect the clinical medication reviews.

Carpelipines C and D, Two Anti-Inflammatory Germacranolides from the Flowers of Carpesium lipskyi Winkl. (Asteraceae).

Two new germacranolides, carpelipine C (1) and carpelipine D (2), together with four known ones (3-6), were isolated from Carpesium lipskyi Winkl. flowers, a folk Tibetan herbal medicine with antipyretic-analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The chemical structures of new structure were illuminated by diversified spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analyses.

Two Olean-27-carboxylic Acid-Type Triterpenoids as Chemical Markers Isolated from Saxifraga umbellulata.

Two olean-27-carboxylic acid-type triterpenoids (1 and 2) were isolated from Saxifraga umbellulata (Saxifragaceae), representing the first case in the chemical discoveries of genus Saxifraga. Compound 1 was determined to be a new compound named 'Saxifragic acid' based on the comprehensive spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analyses. Compound 2 (deacetylated saxifragic acid) is a known compound reported before, but its absolute configuration through X-ray crystallographic analyses was first described here.

Highland barley Monascus purpureus Went extract ameliorates high-fat, high-fructose, high-cholesterol diet induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating lipid metabolism in golden hamsters.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Hepatocyte lipid accumulation is the main feature in the early stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Highland barley Monascus purpureus Went (HBMPW), a fermentation product of Hordeum vulgare Linn. var.

Two-photon calcium imaging of neuronal and astrocytic responses: the influence of electrical stimulus parameters and calcium signaling mechanisms.

. Electrical brain stimulation has been used to ameliorate symptoms associated with neurologic and psychiatric disorders. The astrocytic activation and its interaction with neurons may contribute to the therapeutic effects of electrical stimulation.

The complete chloroplast genome of (Staphyleaceae).

The complete chloroplast genome of was sequenced and assembled for the first time. The chloroplast genome was 160,139 bp in length, containing a large single-copy region (LSC) of 89,625 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 18,262 bp, separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,126 bp. The genome contained 113 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes.

The complete chloroplast genome of (Loganiaceae).

The complete chloroplast genome of was sequenced and assembled for the first time. The chloroplast genome is 152,611 bp in length, containing a large single-copy (LSC) region of 83,881 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 18,110 bp, separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,310 bp. The genome contains 113 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes.

The complete chloroplast genome of (Menispermaceae).

The complete chloroplast genome of was sequenced and assembled for the first time. The chloroplast genome is 159,974 bp in length, containing a large single-copy (LSC) region of 90,539 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 20,735 bp, separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 24,350 bp. The genome contains 113 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 30 genes, and four genes.

The complete chloroplast genome of (Loganiaceae).

The complete chloroplast (cp) genome of was sequenced and assembled for the first time. The genome is 154,665 bp in length, containing a large single-copy (LSC) region of 85,351 bp, a small single-copy region (SSC) of 18,218 bp and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,548 bp. It contains 113 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes.

Cortical Plasticity Induced by Anodal Transcranial Pulsed Current Stimulation Investigated by Combining Two-Photon Imaging and Electrophysiological Recording.

Anodal-transcranial pulsed current stimulation (a-tPCS) has been used in human studies to modulate cortical excitability or improve behavioral performance in recent years. Multiple studies show crucial roles of astrocytes in cortical plasticity. The calcium activity in astrocytes could regulate synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity.

Syringa pinnatifolia Hemsl. fraction protects against myocardial ischemic injury by targeting the p53-mediated apoptosis pathway.

Background: Peeled stems of Syringa pinnatifolia Hemsl. (SP) have been widely used to treat extra "He-Yi" induced myocardial ischemia for hundreds of years in Inner Mongolia, China and previous result showed that intragastric pretreatment with total extract (T) of SP has a protective effect against myocardial infarction (MI).

Hypothesis: This study aims to describe the pharmacological investigation and chemical characterization of the major (M) and minor (N) fractions obtained from T through column chromatography fractionation on macroporous resin and to explore whether the regulatory effects were linked to the p53-mediated apoptosis pathways.

Evaluation and Comparison of the Inhibition Effect of Astragaloside IV and Aglycone Cycloastragenol on Various UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) Isoforms.

As one of the main active ingredients from Radix Astragali (RA), orally dosed astragaloside IV (AST) is easily transformed to sapogenin-cycloastragenol (CAG) by deglycosylation in the gastrointestinal tract. Because the potential adverse effects of AST and CAG remain unclear, the present study in this article was carried out to investigate the inhibition effects of AST and CAG on UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) to explore potential clinical toxicity. An in vitro UGTs incubation mixture was employed to study the inhibition of AST and CAG towards UGT isoforms.

[Analysis of varieties and standards of Leguminosae plants used in Tibetan medicine].

In this paper, the domestic varieties and quality standard of Leguminosae medicinal plants used in Tibetan medicine were analyzed. The results showed that there were 36 genera and 142 species (including varieties), as well as 64 medicinal materials varieties of Leguminosae plants were recorded in relevant literatures. In relevant Tibetan standards and literatures, there are great differences in varieties, sources, used parts, and efficacy of medicinal plants.

[Analysis of varieties and standards of Scrophulariaceae plants used in Tibetan medicine].

In this paper, the popular domestic varieties and quality standard of Scrophulariaceae plants used in Tibetan medicine were analyzed. The results showed that there were 11 genera and 99 species (including varieties), as well as 28 medicinal materials varieties of Scrophulariaceae plants were recorded in the relevant literatures. In relevant Tibetan standards arid literatures, there are great differences in varieties, sources, parts, and efficacies of medicinal plant.

[Traightened on Chinese endemic seed plant species of medicine plants used in Tibetan medicine].

This paper is in order to discussion with the composition and characteristics of Tibetan medicine plant resources, and promote the reasonable protection and utilization of the resources of Tibetan materia medica. Statistical analysis of species, distributions, and others of Chinese endemic seed plant from Tibetan medicine plants and usually used in the clinic of Tibetan medicine. The results showed that there are 523 species (25%) of Chinese endemic seed plant, belonging to 65 families and 162 genera, in about 2 000 varieties of Tibetan medicine plants recorded in relevant literatures.

Simple LC-MS/MS methods for simultaneous determination of pitavastatin and its lactone metabolite in human plasma and urine involving a procedure for inhibiting the conversion of pitavastatin lactone to pitavastatin in plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

Sometimes, drugs and their metabolites in plasma may convert to each other. This phenomenon is called interconversion, which may result in the instability problem of the plasma samples. The instability problem caused by interconversion of the co-existing metabolites may often be ignored, since there is no drug metabolite in the quality control samples prepared for method validation.