Search Results (18)

This paper aims to analyze the differences in the contents of free amino acids, minerals, and vitamins in major autumn honey sources—hypothesized to be predominantly derived from Chinese gallnut based on field observations—within Guizhou Province, as well as the correlations between these substances and climatic factors and altitude. We selected honey samples from 10 regions in Guizhou Province and measured their free amino acid, vitamin, and mineral contents. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare differences among regions, and Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between bioactive compound levels and environmental factors. The total amino acid content ranged from 507.01 ± 3.98 μg/g (Bijiang) to 3056.94 ± 32.88 μg/g (Xifeng); the total vitamin content ranged from 21.94 ± 0.39 μg/g (Xifeng) to 403.67 ± 2.49 μg/g (Zheng’an). The total mineral content ranged from 42.44 ± 0.37 μg/g (Xifeng) to 98.09 ± 1.51 μg/g (Bijiang). Vitamin K₁, vitamin B₁, vitamin D₃, and selenium were not detected in any of the honey samples. Mean precipitation showed a significant positive correlation with total free amino acid content and total mineral content (p < 0.05); the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was positively correlated with total vitamin content (p < 0.05); and temperature was positively correlated with total mineral content (p < 0.05). The study suggests that multiple factors, including climatic and geographical factors, collectively influence the bioactive substance profiles of honey, providing insights into the origin authentication and quality trends of this regional product. Full article

Hypertension is the crucial modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and efforts to identify functional foods that are effective for hypertension control are increasing. The nutgall tree (NT, Rhus chinensis Mill.) is used in traditional medicine and food because of its medicinal value. However, the role of NT in hypertension has not been investigated. Therefore, the hypotensive effect of NT leaf ethanol extract (NTE) was investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). SHRs were allocated to three groups (control, 300, or 1000 mg/kg NTE), and blood pressure was measured before and after oral administration. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased in the NTE 1000 mg/kg group and was the lowest at 2 h after administration (−26.4 ± 10.3, −33.5 ± 9.8%, respectively). Daily NTE administration for five days also resulted in a similar effect. Further, the vasorelaxant effects and related mechanisms were investigated in the aortas of Sprague Dawley rats. NTE showed the dose-dependent blood-vessel-relaxing effect, and its mechanism involves the NO-sGC-cGMP pathway, activation of K⁺ channels, and reduction in the vasoconstrictive action of angiotensin II. Therefore, our study provides basic data indicating the potential use of NTE as a functional food for high blood pressure. Full article

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a prevalent chronic disease, characterized by excessive blood uric acid levels, that poses a significant health risk. In this study, the preventive effects and potential mechanisms of ethanol extracts from Chinese sumac (Rhus chinensis Mill.) fruits on HUA and uric acid nephropathy were comprehensively investigated. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in uric acid levels in hyperuricemia mice after treatment with Chinese sumac fruit extract, especially in the high-dose group, where the blood uric acid level decreased by 39.56%. Visual diagrams of the kidneys and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections showed the extract’s effectiveness in protecting against kidney damage caused by excessive uric acid. Further investigation into its mechanism revealed that the extract prevents and treats hyperuricemia by decreasing uric acid production, enhancing uric acid excretion, and mitigating the oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions induced by excessive uric acid in the kidneys. Specifically, the extract markedly decreased xanthine oxidase (XOD) levels and expression in the liver, elevated the expression of uric acid transporters ABCG2, and lowered the expression of uric acid reabsorption proteins URAT1 and SLC2A9. Simultaneously, it significantly elevated the levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GSH) while reducing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, the expression of uric-acid-related proteins NLRP3, ACS, and Caspase-3 and the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly reduced. The experimental results confirm that Chinese sumac fruit extract can improve HUA and uric acid nephropathy in mice fed a high-purine yeast diet. This finding establishes a theoretical foundation for developing Chinese sumac fruit as a functional food or medicine for preventing and treating HUA. Full article

This research aimed to probe the potential alleviative effects of ethanol extracts of Chinese sumac (Rhus chinesis Mill.) fruits against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in C57BL/6 mice induced by high-fat/high-fructose diet (HFFD) and streptozotocin. The results showed that the ethanol extracts could significantly regulate blood glucose levels, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipids, insulin, and insulin resistance, while also restoring endogenous oxidative stress. Pathological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the extracts partially restored the physiological function of islet cells. Furthermore, Western blotting results suggested that the extracts could regulate the protein expression in IRS-1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and immunofluorescence findings demonstrated their potential to promote the translocation of Nrf2 into the nucleus. This study elucidated a novel finding that ethanol extracts derived from Chinese sumac fruits have the potential to alleviate symptoms of T2DM in mice. Moreover, these findings could offer valuable scientific insights into the potential utilization of R. chinensis fruits as nutritional supplement and/or functional food to prevent or ameliorate diabetes. Full article

Pentagalloyl glucose (PGG) is a natural hydrolyzable gallotannin abundant in various plants and herbs. It has a broad range of biological activities, specifically anticancer activities, and numerous molecular targets. Despite multiple studies available on the pharmacological action of PGG, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of PGG are unclear. Here, we have critically reviewed the natural sources of PGG, its anticancer properties, and underlying mechanisms of action. We found that multiple natural sources of PGG are available, and the existing production technology is sufficient to produce large quantities of the required product. Three plants (or their parts) with maximum PGG content were Rhus chinensis Mill, Bouea macrophylla seed, and Mangifera indica kernel. PGG acts on multiple molecular targets and signaling pathways associated with the hallmarks of cancer to inhibit growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis of several cancers. Moreover, PGG can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy by modulating various cancer-associated pathways. Therefore, PGG can be used for treating different human cancers; nevertheless, the data on the pharmacokinetics and safety profile of PGG are limited, and further studies are essential to define the clinical use of PGG in cancer therapies. Full article

In karst ecosystems, different geographic environmental conditions can lead to different lithospheric conditions, thus determining community composition and altering biotic interactions. Guizhou Province is a typical ecologically fragile karst area located in the South China Karst. To explore the relationship between biodiversity and environmental changes in different karst habitats, the community structure of typhlocybinae (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha, and Cicadellidae) in three typical karst areas in Guizhou Province (the Zhenfeng–Huajiang Demonstration Zone, the Bijie Salaxi Demonstration Zone, and the Shibing Yuntai Mountain Nature Reserve) was analyzed. These areas are characterized by differences in terms of their geographic environment. For field investigations, typhlocybinae specimens were collected from five common leafhopper host plants—Juglans regia L., Rhus chinensis Mill., Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, Prunus salicina Lindl., and Debregeasia orientalis C.J. Chen—in the three study areas. A total of 4078 typhlocybinae specimens were captured, belonging to 6 tribes, 40 genera, and 121 species. Among them, Alnetoidia dujuanensis, Limassolla lingchuanensis, and Singapora shinshana were the dominant species. The numbers of typhlocybinae specimens from each region were as follows: Shibing, 2170 (53.2%); Bijie, 973 (23.9%); and Huajiang, 935 (22.9%). The number of leafhoppers collected in areas with serious rocky desertification was low, and the number increased with the increase in vegetation coverage. The order of the influence of environmental factors on the community structure of the leafhoppers in the three study areas was Huajiang > Bijie > Shibing. This order is consistent with the ranking of rocky desertification grades in the three study areas. The order based on the number of units at different taxonomic levels was as follows: Bijie (6 tribes, 32 genera, and 68 species) > Huajiang (6 tribes, 22 genera, and 58 species) > Shibing (5 tribes, 21 genera, and 48 species). The results show that environmental factors, such as climate and host plant leaf traits, had various effects on the characteristics and diversity of the leafhopper communities in different grades of rocky desertification areas. This study demonstrates that there are differences in species diversity in different grades of karst rocky desertification areas and provides a theoretical basis for future rocky desertification control and regional ecological restoration. Full article

This study examined changes in the ionome of Rhus chinensis in response to Pb stress so as to understand Pb phytotoxicity-related processes and provide theoretical support for improving the efficiency of this plant in remediating heavy metal-polluted soils. Rhus chinensis seedlings were cultured in pots with soil. The concentrations of 12 elements in the roots, stems, and leaves of the seedlings under treatments of 0, 500, and 1000 mg·kg⁻¹ Pb(NO₃)₂ were determined. Principal component analysis (PCA), correlation analysis, and partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) were used to analyze the contributions of the affected elements in the ionomes of different organs of the seedlings under Pb stress. PCA showed that 74% of the total ionome variation was caused by the difference in organ types. N, Mg, K, Cu, Ca, and Zn were the important elements contributing to the variation of the ionome. Pb disturbed the ionome of different organs at varying levels, and the order of the interference levels between the organs was: stem > root > leaf. Correlation analysis showed that biomass had a significant positive correlation with N and K and a significant negative correlation with Pb, Mn, and the C:N ratio. Stem biomass had a significant positive correlation with Ca, Cu, and the N:P ratio. Root biomass had a significant negative correlation with the C:P ratio. PLS-PM analysis indicated that Pb stress had a major, direct, and inhibitory effect on biomass. The variation of ionomic profiles caused by Pb stress was mainly caused by the difference in organ types; the variation of the ionomic profiles of each organ was mainly caused by Pb stress. The elements that caused the variation of ionomic profiles varied with organ types, and the plant biomass was directly affected by a strong Pb poisoning effect and indirectly affected by a weak ionomic profile variation effect. Full article

Rhus chinensis Mill is a potential plant for phytoremediation of Pb and is able to uptake a copious amount of Pb. However, little is known about the pathways and properties of Pb uptake in this plant. Here, controlled experiments were used to assess Pb uptake and translocation in R. chinensis. The whole time-kinetics of Pb uptake were divided into two stages: rapid uptake and slower accumulation, and the two processes were fitted with a linear model. The concentration-dependent kinetics of Pb uptake were characterized by a modified Michaelis–Menten equation. The K_m and V_max value of Pb influx in roots were 19.44 and 14.83, respectively. Transpiration inhibitors had no significant effect on the Pb concentration of root and shoot. Low temperatures (4 °C) and metabolic inhibitors (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone and 2,4-dinitrophenol) significantly reduced the Pb concentration in the roots and leaves of R. chinensis plants. Furthermore, the addition of calcium ion channel inhibitors and protein synthesis inhibitors significantly reduced the Pb concentration in the roots of R. chinensis plants. These results show that both active and passive processes of Pb uptake and translocation exist in the roots of R. chinensis plants. In addition, Pb uptake by the roots of R. chinensis plants was related to calcium ion channels. Full article

The sumac Rhus chinensis Mill. is an economically and ecologically important shrub or tree species in the family of Anacardiaceae with a wide distribution in East to Southeast Asia. We assembled the complete chloroplast genome of 159,187 bp in length and the GC content of 37.8%. The genome encoded 132 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 1 pseudogene, and 77 SSRs were identified as well as the interval regions, totaling 46,425 bp in length. The mauve alignment revealed one gene rearrangement among the Rhus species. All the SSRs were divided into five types, most of which consisted of mono- and tri- repeat motifs. Our genome exhibited the longest size and more annotated genes compared to the three other genomes of R. chinensis reported in GenBank. We also discovered some relatively highly variable regions in the complete chloroplast genomes of the Rhus species. The ML phylogenetic analysis of the available chloroplast sequences of the Anacardiaceae well supported the monophyly of each tribe and each genus; the tribe Rhoideae was close to the tribe Anacardiaceae with a high support of 100%, and they then grouped with the tribe Spondiadeae. R. chinensis was sister to R. potaninii, and they then grouped with the species R. typhina. Full article

This study focused on the preventive effects of the extracts of Rhus chinensis Mill. (RCM) fruits on cholestasis induced by 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) in mice. The results showed that RCM extracts could significantly ameliorate DDC-induced cholestasis via multiple mechanisms, including (1) alleviating liver damage via enhancing antioxidant capacity, such as increasing the contents of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase and inhibiting the levels of malondialdehyde; (2) preventing liver inflammation by suppressing NF-κB pathway and reducing proinflammatory cytokines secretion (e.g., tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6); (3) inhibiting liver fibrosis and collagen deposition by regulating the expression of transforming growth factor-β and α-smooth muscle actin; (4) modulating abnormal bile acid metabolism through increasing the expression of bile salt export pump and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2. This study was the first to elucidate the potential preventive effect of RCM extracts on DDC-induced cholestasis in mice from multiple pathways, which suggested that RCM fruits could be considered as a potential dietary supplement to prevent cholestasis. Full article

The present study evaluated the nutritional values and in vitro fermentation characteristics of 29 different Chinese herbs in order to develop effective feed additives for livestock nutrition. The Chinese herbs were analyzed for their chemical composition. The in vitro fermentation characteristics were evaluated using the gas production technique with swine cecal chyme inoculum. The results showed that the Allium tuberosum Rottl (Semen allii tuberosi, SAT) had the highest gross energy (GE), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), and total amino acid (TAA) contents, whereas Anemones raddeanae Rhizoma (Agstache rugosus, AR) had the highest crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber contents compared with the other Chinese herbs. The Rhus chinensis Mill (Chinese gall, CG), Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl (Radix scrophulariae, RS), Punica granatum L (Punica granatum L, PGL), Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (White atractylodes rhizome, WAR), Sanguisorbae radix (Garden burnet, GB), Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge (Rhizoma anemarrhenaw, RA), and Rhei radix Et Rhizoma (Rheum officinale, RO) had a higher non-fiber carbohydrate content than the other Chinese herbs. The in vitro fermentation kinetic analysis showed that the RS, WAR, and RA had a higher gas production, a theoretical gas production, and a fractional rate of gas production than the other groups. Furthermore, the RA, WAR, RS, and Crataegi fructus (Crataegus pinnatifida Bun, CPB) had a higher total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentration, and CPB had the highest acetate concentration, whereas the WAR and RS had higher propionate and butyrate concentrations than the other groups. Moreover, the Isatis indigotica Fort (Folium isatidis, FI) and SAT had higher ammonia-N concentration than the other groups. In summary, among the 29 different Chinese herbs, the SAT had the highest nutritional value, which is reflected in the highest contents of GE, CP, EE, and TAA, whereas the RA, WAR, and RS showed better intestinal fermentation profiles, which is reflected in the higher fermentation degree and suitable SCFAs fermentation pattern. These findings provide a theoretical basis for using Chinese herbs as feed additives or microbial carbon sources in the intestines of animals. Full article

Rhus chinensis Mill. fruits are a kind of widely distributed edible seasoning, which have been documented to possess a variety of biological activities. However, its inhibitory effect on osteoclast formation has not been determined. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the fruits on osteoclast differentiation of RAW264.7 cells, induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and to illuminate the potential mechanisms using network pharmacology and western blots. Results showed that the extract containing two organic acids and twelve phenolic substances could effectively inhibit osteoclast differentiation in RANKL-induced RAW264.7 cells. Network pharmacology examination and western blot investigation showed that the concentrate essentially decreased the expression levels of osteoclast-specific proteins, chiefly through nuclear factor kappa-B, protein kinase B, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways, particularly protein kinase B α and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 targets. Moreover, the extract likewise directly down regulated the expression of cellular oncogene Fos and nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 proteins. Citric acid, quercetin, myricetin-3-O-galactoside, and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside were considered as the predominant bioactive ingredients. Results of this work may provide a scientific basis for the development and utilization of R. chinensis fruits as a natural edible material to prevent and/or alleviate osteoporosis-related diseases. Full article

This paper describes the effect of mineral elements on dominant plants in the Shewushan lateritic gold deposit, China. For this purpose, 30 soil profile samples at different depths and 3 kinds of dominant plants including Populus canadensis (Populus X canadensis Moench), Cinnamomun camphora (Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl.) and Rhus chinensis (Rhus chinensis Mill.) were collected. The concentration of ore-forming elements including Au, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, As, Fe, and S were analyzed. Based on the investigation of two mine profiles, it can be found that Au, Pb, As, and Fe were mainly enriched in laterite layer and the brown clay layer at a depth of 5–11 m. Moreover, the biological accumulate coefficient (BAC) and the contrast coefficient (CM) were calculated to assess the sensitivity and concentrating ability of Populus canadensis and Cinnamomun camphora. To investigate the response of the two species to metal stress, the contents of chlorophyll, malondialdehyde (MDA), and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were determined. The result showed that Populus canadensis and Cinnamomun camphora have a high tolerance to metal stress and that both of the two species can indicate the content of Au, As, Pb, and Co in topsoil. Full article

Hepatic glycolipid metabolism disorder is considered as one of the key factors in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of Rhus chinensis Mill. fruits against hepatic glycolipid metabolic disorders in rats induced by a high fat/high sugar diet. Results showed that ethanol extract, especially at a dose of 600 mg/kg b.w., could effectively ameliorate glycolipid metabolic disorders in rats. The biochemical indexes, including CAT, GSH and HOMA-IR, were significantly improved by the administration of ethanol extract. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis revealed that ethanol extract up-regulated the expression levels of PI3K/AKT, PPAR-α, and the phosphorylation of IRS1 and AMPK proteins, and down-regulated the expressions of SREBP-1 and FAS proteins in the liver, which are closely related to hepatic glycolipid metabolism. Those findings suggested that R. chinensis Mill. fruits could be developed as functional foods and/or nutraceuticals for preventing or controlling some chronic diseases related to hepatic glycolipid metabolism disorder. Full article

Plant diseases reduce crop yield and quality, hampering the development of agriculture. Fungicides, which restrict chemical synthesis in fungi, are the strongest controls for plant diseases. However, the harmful effects on the environment due to continued and uncontrolled utilization of fungicides have become a major challenge in recent years. Plant-sourced fungicides are a class of plant antibacterial substances or compounds that induce plant defenses. They can kill or inhibit the growth of target pathogens efficiently with no or low toxicity, they degrade readily, and do not prompt development of resistance, which has led to their widespread use. In this study, the growth inhibition effect of 24 plant-sourced ethanol extracts on rice sprigs was studied. Ethanol extract of gallnuts and cloves inhibited the growth of bacteria by up to 100%. Indoor toxicity measurement results showed that the gallnut and glove constituents inhibition reached 39.23 μg/mL and 18.82 μg/mL, respectively. Extract treated rice sprigs were dry and wrinkled. Gallnut caused intracellular swelling and breakage of mitochondria, disintegration of nuclei, aggregation of protoplasts, and complete degradation of organelles in hyphae and aggregation of cellular contents. Protection of Rhizoctonia solani viability reached 46.8% for gallnut and 37.88% for clove in water emulsions of 1000 μg/mL gallnut and clove in the presence of 0.1% Tween 80. The protection by gallnut was significantly stronger than that of clove. The data could inform the choice of plant-sourced fungicides for the comprehensive treatment of rice sprig disease. The studied extract effectively protected rice sprigs and could be a suitable alternative to commercially available chemical fungicides. Further optimized field trials are needed to effectively sterilize rice paddies. Full article