Mu-an Yu

Selection of Interspecific Hybrids for Anther Culture of Indica Rice

The low percentage of callus induction and green-plant regeneration has limited the application of anther culture techniques in indica rice breeding programmes. The aim of this work was to investigate the inheritance of the two characters and to determine whether good combinations with high-frequency callus induction and green-plant regeneration could be selected by sexual hybridization of suitable parents. So, a 3xa0×xa04 incomplete diallel crosses were conducted between 7 parental lines. Three of them were believed to possess relatively high callus induction capacity and the other four relatively high green-plant regeneration capacity, based on our previous studies. Analysis of combining abilities and heritabilities revealed that both additive and non-additive effects were found to be important in the genetic control of callus induction. In case of green-plant regeneration, non-additive effects were predominant. Broad sense heritability values of 0.92 for callus induction and 0.98 for green-plant regeneration suggested that more than 90% of the observed variation was due to genetic effects, with just less than 10% attributed to non-genetic or environmental effects. In addition, the moderate narrow sense heritability values of 0.49 for callus induction, 0.29 for green-plant regeneration showed that the potential to introduce high responding ability into low lines was moderate. It was therefore conceivable that the frequency of anther culture response might be improved by suitable hybridization and selection strategies. A hybrid combination of code no. 67/107 incorporating high callus induction and high green-plant regeneration ability was selected in which genotype with high values of general combining ability (GCA) and positive effects of specific combining ability (SCA).

Biflavone Ginkgetin, a Novel Wnt Inhibitor, Suppresses the Growth of Medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a form of malignant brain tumor that predominantly arises in infants and children, of which approximately 25xa0% is due to upregulation of canonical Wnt pathway with mainly mutations in CTNNB1. Therefore, Wnt inhibitors could offer rational therapeutic strategies and chemoprevention for this malignant cancer. In our present study, we undertook a screening for antagonists of Wnt signaling from 600 natural compounds, and identified Ginkgetin, a biflavone isolated from Cephalotaxus fortunei var. alpina. Ginkgetin inhibited Wnt pathway with an IC50 value around 5.92xa0μM and structure–activity relationship analysis suggested the methoxy group in Ginkgetin as a functional group. Biflavone Ginkgetin showed obvious cytotoxicity in Daoy and D283 MB cells. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry showed that Ginkgetin induced efficiently G2/M phase arrest in Daoy cells. Further mechanism studies showed that Ginkgetin reduced the expression of Wnt target genes, including Axin2, cyclinD1 and survivin in MB cells. The phosphorylation level of β-catenin also decreased in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Collectively, our data suggest that Ginkgetin is a novel inhibitor of Wnt signaling, and as such warrants further exploration as a promising anti-medulloblastoma candidate.

Withanolides from aerial parts of Nicandra physalodes

Twenty withanolides, including previously unknown nicanlodes A-M, were isolated from aerial parts of Nicandra physalodes. Their structural elucidations were unambiguously achieved through interpretation of extensive spectroscopic data (NMR and HRMS) and by comparison with literature data. Nicanlodes A and B have an unusual aromatic amine moiety. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines.

Characterization of New Ent-kaurane Diterpenoids of Yunnan Arabica Coffee Beans

AbstractnFive new ent-kaurane diterpenoids, named mascaroside III–V (1–3), and 20-nor-cofaryloside I–II (4–5), together with seven known diterpenoids, were isolated from methanol extracts of the green coffee beans of Yunnan Arabica Coffee. Their chemical structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. Meanwhile, cytotoxicity assay against HL-60, A-549, SMMC-7721, MCF-7 and SW480 cell lines showed that they have not evident inhibition of cytotoxicity.Graphical Abstract

Pepluane and Paraliane Diterpenoids from Euphorbia peplus with Potential Anti-inflammatory Activity

Twelve new diterpenoids based on two rare skeletal types, namely, paralianones A-D (1-4) and pepluanols A-H (5-12), along with five known compounds, were isolated from an acetone extract of Euphorbia peplus. Their structures were proposed based on 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data analysis. These diterpenoids were evaluated for potential anti-inflammatory activity in a lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse macrophage cellular model. Compounds 3, 4, 11, 13, and 16 displayed moderate inhibitory effects on NO inhibition, with IC50 values ranging from 29.9 to 38.3 μM.

Cytotoxicity of Triterpenoid Alkaloids from Buxus microphylla against Human Tumor Cell Lines

Three new triterpenoid alkaloids, namely buxmicrophyllines P–R (1–3), were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Buxus microphylla. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of NMR and MS spectroscopic analyses. Structurally, compounds 1–3 belong to the 9,10-cycloartane type alkaloids. In addition, compound 3 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities in vitro against HL-60, SMMC-7221, A-549, MCF-7, and SW480 cell lines (with IC50 values ranging from 4.51 to 15.58 μM).