Natural Anthraquinone Derivatives from a Marine Mangrove Plant-Derived Endophytic Fungus Eurotium rubrum: Structural Elucidation and DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity

There is considerable interest in the isolation of potent radical scavenging compounds from natural resources to treat diseases involving oxidative stress. In this report, four new fungal metabolites including one new bisdihydroanthracenone derivative (1, eurorubrin), two new seco-anthraquinone derivatives [3, 2-O-methyl-9-dehydroxyeurotinone and 4, 2-O-methyl4-O-(alpha-D-ribofuranosyl)-9-dehydroxyeurotinone], and one new anthraquinone glycoside [6,3-O-(alpha-D-ribofuranosyl)questin], were isolated and identified from Eurotium rubrum, an endophytic fungal strain that was isolated from the inner tissue of the stem of the marine mangrove plant Hibiscus tiliaceus. In addition, three known compounds including asperflavin (2), 2-O-methyleurotinone (5), and questin (7) were also isolated and identified. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity.

Influence of lanthanum on the uptake of trace elements in cucumber plant

The effects of La3+ on the uptake of trace elements (Se, Co, V, and Tc) in cucumber plants were studied by a radioactive multitracer technique. It was observed that the uptake and distribution of these trace elements in roots, stems, and leaves are different under different La3+, treatments. Furthermore, in the control, the plant accumulates Se-75, Co-56, and V-48 all in the order roots>leaves>stems, whereas Tc-95m was in the order leaves>stems>roots. The accumulations of Se-75 and Tc-95m in plants treated with different La3+ concentration were in the same order as those in the control, but the uptakes percentages of other kinds of element changed differently. The results indicate that lanthanum treatments to a growing cucumber lead to the change of uptake of trace elements, which suggest that a rare earth element is directly or indirectly involved in the ion transport of the plant and affects plant growth by regulating the uptake and distribution of elements that influence the plant cell physiology and biochemistry.

Substrate Strain and Proliferation & Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

New methods of surface modification of transparent silicone substrate were developed, and a new set of cell culture devices that provide homogeneous substrate strain was designed. Using the new device, effects of cyclic substrate strain on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) were studied. It was found that cyclic strain influenced proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow MSCs in different ways.