Mistletoe extract Fraxini inhibits the proliferation of liver cancer by down-regulating c-Myc expression.

Mistletoe (Viscum album) is a type of parasitic plant reported to have anticancer activity including in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism of mistletoe's anticancer activity, and its effectiveness in treating HCC are not fully understood. We report here that mistletoe extracts, including Fraxini (grown on ash trees) and Iscador Q and M (grown on oak and maple trees), exert strong antiproliferative activity in Hep3B cells, with median inhibitory concentrations (IC) of 0.

An integration of UPLC-DAD/ESI-Q-TOF MS, GC-MS, and PCA analysis for quality evaluation and identification of cultivars of Chrysanthemi Flos (Juhua).

Background: Chrysanthemi Flos (CF), as a popular traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has five main cultivars in China, namely "Chuju", "Boju", "Gongju", "Huaiju" and "Hangju". Due to their habitats and processing methods, great quality variations occur yet no systematical study has ever been carried out to evaluate such variations.

Purpose: In this study, we aim to establish a new approach that can serve both as a quality control method and as an identification method for cultivars of CF.

Identification and characterization of related substances in EVT-401 by hyphenated LC-MS techniques.

A sensitive and selective method was developed for the separation and characterization of related substances (RSs) in EVT-401 by hyphenated LC-MS techniques. Complete separation of the RSs was achieved with an Inertsil ODS-SP column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 µm) by linear gradient elution using a mobile phase consisting of 0.

Simultaneous determination of nine kinds of dominating bile acids in various snake bile by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole linear iontrap mass spectrometry.

Snake bile is one of the most expensive traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). However, due to the complicated constitutes of snake bile and the poor ultraviolet absorbance of some trace bile acids (BAs), effective analysis methods for snake bile acids were still unavailable, making it difficult to solve adulteration problems. In present study, ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS) was applied to conduct a quantitative analysis on snake BAs.

Spirosoma flavum sp. nov., isolated from Arctic tundra soil.

A yellow-pigmented strain, designated Y4AR-5, was characterized by using a polyphasic approach. The strain was isolated from a tundra soil from near Longyearbyen, Svalbard Islands, Norway. The cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile.

Comparison and screening of bioactive phenolic compounds in different blueberry cultivars: Evaluation of anti-oxidation and α-glucosidase inhibition effect.

This study was aimed to investigate antioxidation and α-glucosidase inhibition of the bioactive compounds in three cultivars of blueberry ('Northland' (NL) from the hybrid blueberry (V. corymbosum L.×V.

Complete Genome Sequence of Pontibacter akesuensis Strain AKS 1T, Which Exhibits Robust Nutrient Metabolism in Harsh Environments.

Pontibacter akesuensis strain AKS 1 was found in Akesu, Xinjiang Province, China, and exhibits the extraordinary ability to metabolize various substrates and is resistant to solar radiation. To gain insight into the bacterial genetic determinants for this adaptability, we report the complete genome sequence of strain AKS 1.

Rapid identification of bile acids in snake bile using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry.

Snake bile, a precious traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), was used as the major ingredient of some Chinese patent drugs, such as Shedan Chuanbei powder and Shedan Chenpi powder for hundred years. However, there is still requirement for the comprehensive and definite composition of bile acids in snake bile. In order to rapidly identify the bile acids constituents in snake bile to avoid the adulteration, ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) has been applied to conduct a qualitative analysis on snake bile acids.

Multiple on-line HPLC coupled with biochemical detection methods to evaluate bioactive compounds in Danshen injection.

On-line high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with three biochemical detection (BCD) methods was applied to evaluate bioactive components in Danshen injection. On-line HPLC-photo-diode array-fluorescence detection based on the fluorogenic substrate 7-acetoxy-1-methyl quinolinium iodide, was built to search acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors in Danshen injection. On-line HPLC coupled with the scavenging assay of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radicals was developed to screen antioxidants.

The Effect of Ultrafine Process on the Dissolution, Antibacterial Activity, and Cytotoxicity of Coptidis rhizoma.

Background: The dosage of herb ultrafine particle (UFP) depended on the increased level of its dissolution, toxicity, and efficacy.

Objective: The dissolution, antibacterial activity, and cytotoxicity of Coptidis rhizoma (CR) UFP were compared with those of traditional decoction (TD).

Materials And Methods: The dissolution of berberine (BBR) of CR TD and UFP was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Polysaccharides from Rhizoma Panacis Majoris and its anti-oxidant activity.

Response surface method (RSM) was employed to optimize the extraction conditions of polysaccharides from Rhizoma Panacis Majoris (the rhizomes of Panax japonicus C. A. Mey.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Erpobdella octoculata (Hirudinea: Arhynchobdellida: Erpobdellidae).

Erpobdella octoculata (Linnaeus, 1758; Hirudinea: Arhynchobdellida: Erpobdellidae) is a very common and morphologically variable macrophagous predators of aquatic invertebrates. Here we determined the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence of this species, as the first representative of the suborder Erpobdelliformes. This genome is 14,407 bp in length with an A + T content of 71.

Characterization and antioxidant activities of degraded polysaccharides from Poria cocos sclerotium.

Poria cocos F.A.Wolf is a Chinese traditional medicine used to treat chronic gastritis, edema, nephrosis, gastric atony, and acute gastroenteric catarrh.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Hirudo nipponia (Annelida, Hirudinea).

The complete mitochondrial genome (14,414 bp) of the blood-feeding leech Hirudo nipponia, which was an important natural medicinal resource, was sequenced and characterized. The genome encodes 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs and 22 tRNAs. The content of A + T was 72.

[Study on fingerprint of shengxuening tablets].

To establish a method for studying fingerprint of Shengxuening tablets. With chlorin e6 as the reference substance, SHISEIDO Capcell-pak C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) analytical column was adopted and eluted with 0.

[Sequence analysis of rDNA-ITS gene in medicinal leeches and their closely related species (Euhirudinea:Arhynchobdellida)].

Objective: To explore the phylogenetic relationships among medicinal leeches and their closely related species by comparing their ITS gene fragments.

Methods: 8 different leech species, including Whitmania pigra, Whitmania acranulata, Whitmania laevis, Hirudo nipponia, Poecilobdella manillensis, Poecilobdella javanica, Poecilobdella hubeiensis and Erpobdella octoculata were collected as the materials for study. After the total DNA of all samples was extracted, amplified by PCR and cloned, their ITS sequence, AT content, variable sites and evolutionary relationships were analyzed.

Taibaiella smilacinae gen. nov., sp. nov., an endophytic member of the family Chitinophagaceae isolated from the stem of Smilacina japonica, and emended description of Flavihumibacter petaseus.

A light-yellow-coloured bacterium, designated strain PTJT-5(T), was isolated from the stem of Smilacina japonica A. Gray collected from Taibai Mountain in Shaanxi Province, north-west China, and was subjected to a taxonomic study by using a polyphasic approach. The novel isolate grew optimally at 25-28 °C and pH 6.

[Determination of synephrine and arecoline contents in Xiao'er Xiaoji Zhike oral liquid].

Objective: To develop a HPLC method for the determination of synephrine and arecoline contents in Xiao'er Xiaoji Zhike oral liquid.

Method: The analysis was performed on a Symmetry C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) eluted with acetonitrile-methanol-0.