Fruits Of Ligustrum Lucidum Research Articles

Catalytic and biocidal activity of silver and gold nanoparticles obtained by green synthesis using aqueous extracts of glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum) dry fruits

Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) have gained interest due to their practical applications in various areas. The synthesis of NPs from biomass proposes a simple, economical and environmentally friendly alternative. In this work, gold NPs (AuNPs) and silver NPs (AgNPs) were synthesized from aqueous extracts of dried Ligustrum lucidum fruits. The biomolecules of the extract, in addition to acting as a reducing agent, are absorbed on the surface of the NPs giving excellent colloidal stability, increasing their catalytic capacity reflected in their recyclability. The TON and TOF values obtained for the reduction reaction of 4-nitrophenol in the presence of NaBH4, are 1.4 105 and 500 s−1 respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were established for AgNPs using pathogens from certified collections (E. coli MIC = 25 µg/mL; S. aureus MIC = 100 µg/mL). Fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs) in the presence of gentamicin showed synergistic effects (FICI = 0.5). The results demonstrate that the aqueous extract of L. lucidum allows the synthesis of AuNPs and AgNPs, which have attractive catalytic and antimicrobial activities, in a simple and environmentally friendly way.

Transcriptome and metabolome analysis revealed the dynamic change of bioactive compounds of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi

BackgroundThe Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, the fruit of Ligustrum lucidum, contains a variety of bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, triterpenoids, and secoiridoids. The proportions of these compounds vary greatly during the different fruit development periods of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi. However, a clear understanding of how the proportions of the compounds and their regulatory biosynthetic mechanisms change across the different fruit development periods of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi is still lacking.ResultsIn this study, metabolite profiling and transcriptome analysis of six fruit development periods (45 DAF, 75 DAF, 112 DAF, 135 DAF, 170 DAF, and 195 DAF) were performed. Seventy compounds were tentatively identified, of which secoiridoids were the most abundant. Eleven identified compounds were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. A total of 103,058 unigenes were obtained from six periods of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi. Furthermore, candidate genes involved in triterpenoids, phenylethanols, and oleoside-type secoiridoid biosynthesis were identified and analyzed. The in vitro enzyme activities of nine glycosyltransferases involved in salidroside biosynthesis revealed that they can catalyze trysol and hydroxytyrosol to salidroside and hydroxylsalidroside.ConclusionsThese results provide valuable information to clarify the profile and molecular regulatory mechanisms of metabolite biosynthesis, and also in optimizing the harvest time of this fruit.

Secoiridoid glycosides from the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum and their in vitro anti-inflammatory activity

Seven new secoiridoid glycosides (1–7), together with a known analogue (8), were isolated from the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum. Their structures with absolute configurations were determined by HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopic analysis, as well as biogenetic consideration. Compounds 1 and 2 are the first examples of secoiridoid glycoside dimers featuring a rare rearranged oleoside-type secoiridoid moiety, and compounds 3–7 represent a new class of oleoside-type secoiridoid glycosides with unusual stereochemistry at C-1 position. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for this group of unusual secoiridoid glycosides was also proposed herein. In addition, the isolates were evaluated for their in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, and all tested compounds exhibited modest inhibitory effects against nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages.

Biosorption of Methylene Blue dye by Ligustrum lucidum fruits biomass: Equilibrium, isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic studies

<p>.In this work, biomass from Ligustrum lucidum fruits (LF) was used for the first time as a novel adsorbent to remove the Methylene Blue dye (MB) from aqueous solutions. The adsorption equilibrium was attained after 60 min, and the adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The rise of temperature from 295 K to 313 K resulted in a decline in the adsorption capacity, suggesting an exothermic process. The Langmuir isotherm model was found to fit better the experimental adsorption data than the Freundlich isotherm model. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity obtained from the Langmuir isotherm model at pH 5.6 was evaluated to be 95.4 mg/g and 91.8 mg/g at 295 K and 313 K, respectively. The thermodynamic studies indicated that the adsorption was a spontaneous and exothermic process with increasing randomness at the solid/solution interface. Based on FTIR and ionic strength studies, the adsorption of MB by LF mainly occurs via electrostatic interactions and the formation of outer-sphere complexes.</p>

Structural characterization and protective effect against renal fibrosis of polysaccharide from Ligustrum lucidum Ait.

Ethnopharmacological relevanceFructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL), the fruit of Ligustrum lucidum Ait., is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for tonifying the kidney and liver for decades. Aim of the studyThis study aimed to explore and identify polysaccharides from FLL and elucidate its protective effect against renal fibrosis. Materials and methodsPolysaccharides were extracted and isolated from FLL. The purified fraction was identified by serial phytochemical work, such as gel-permeation chromatography, ion chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance. Mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) were applied as a renal fibrosis model. The male UUO mice were pretreated with heteropolysaccharide (Poly) 1 week prior to surgery and continuously treated for 7 days after the operation. Renal fibrosis was assessed by Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) staining and Masson's trichrome staining in paraffin-embedded slides. The murine mesangial cells SV40-MES13 upon angiotensin II (Ang II) treatment were developed as an in vitro fibrotic model. The cells were treated by Poly in the presence of Ang II. Molecular expression was detected by RT-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence staining. ResultsWe identified a heteropolysaccharide composed of arabinose and galactose (molar ratio, 0.73:0.27) with a predicted chemical structure characterized by a backbone composed of 1,5-α-Araf, 1,3,5-α-Araf, 1,6-α-Galp, and 1,3,6-β-Galp and side chains comprised of T-α-Araf, T-α-Arap, and 1,3-α-Araf. Pretreatment of UUO mice with Poly effectively alleviated glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Moreover, Poly pretreatment down-regulated the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) protein fibronectin (FN), profibrotic factor VEGF, proinflammatory cytokines MCP-1 and Rantes in the obstructed kidney. Similarly, the incubation of SV40-MES13 cells with Poly significantly inhibited Ang II-induced elevation in accumulation and expression level of FN and attenuated Ang II-evoked up-regulation in protein expression of MCP-1 and Rantes. ConclusionsOur study isolated and identified a naturally occurring heteropolysaccharide in FLL and revealed its potential in protecting the kidneys from fibrosis.

Complete chloroplast genome of Ligustrum lucidum and highly variable marker identification for Ligustrum

Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, the sun-dried mature fruit of Ligustrum lucidum, is cool, plain, sweet, and bitter, which can be used as both food and medicine, with the effects of improving vision, blacking hair, and tonifying liver and kidney. It takes effect slowly. However, little is known about the genetic information of the medicinal plant and it is still a challenge to distinguish Ligustrum species. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of L. lucidum was obtained by genome skimming and then compared with that of five other Ligustrum species, which had been reported. This study aims to evaluate the interspecific variation of chloroplast genome within the genus and develop molecular markers for species identification of the genus. The result showed that the chloroplast genome of L. lucidum was 162 162 bp with a circular quadripartite structure of two single-copy regions separated by a pair of inverted repeats. The Ligustrum chloroplast genomes were conserved with small interspecific difference. Comparative analysis of six Ligustrum chloroplast genomes revealed three variable regions(rbcL-accD, ycf1a, and ycf1b), and ycf1a and ycf1b can be used as the species-specific DNA barcode for Ligustrum. Phylogeny analysis provided the best resolution of Ligustrum and supported that L. lucidum was sister to L. gracile. This study clarified the genetic diversity of L. lucidum from provenance, which can serve as a reference for further analysis of pharmacological differences and breeding of excellent varieties with stable drug effects.

Amelioration of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi and its phenol glycosides on hypercalciuria via stimulating PTH1R/PKA/TRPV5 signaling

BackgroundOur early studies performed on aged rats, ovariectomized (OVX) rats and diabetic mice, indicated the calciotropic role of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL), the fruit of Ligustrum lucidum Ait., in mediating calcium homeostasis which was partially attributed to its stimulation on renal calcium reabsorption. PurposeThis study aimed to explicate the underlying molecular mechanism and explore the potential bioactive ingredients in FLL. Study design and methodsThe OVX C57BL/6 J mice were orally administered with low (FL, 75 mg/kg), middle (FM, 225 mg/kg) or high (FH, 675 mg/kg) dose of extract of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi for 10 weeks. The biological properties of trabecular bone were measured by micro-CT and H&E staining. The molecular expression was assessed by immunoblotting and immunostaining. The potential active components were identified by cell membrane chromatography (CMC) and explored in renal tubular cells with Fluo-3/AM fluorescent staining to indicate intracellular calcium level. The male mice fed with high calcium diet (1.2% Ca) and orally treated with active components for 3 weeks. ResultsTreatment of OVX mice with FLL extract suppressed the elevation in urinary calcium level (FH, 0.081 ± 0.012, vs. OVX, 0.189 ± 0.038 mg/mg), and increased bone mineral density (FH, 62.41 ± 2.57, vs. OVX, 43.72 ± 8.43 mg/ccm) and percentage of trabecular bone area. It also decreased circulating PTH level (FH, 66.69 ± 10.94, vs. OVX, 303.50 ± 26.56 pg/ml) and up-regulated TRPV5 expression in renal cortex of OVX mice as well as enhanced the expression of PTH receptor (PTH1R) and the ratio of p-PKA/PKA. The PKA inhibitor H89 abolished the induction of serum, prepared from rats treated with FLL extract, on PKA/TRPV5 signaling in renal tubular cells. The CMC identified phenol glycosides, including salidroside and oleuropein, which increased intracellular calcium content, promoted expression of PTH1R and TRPV5 and ratio of p-PKA/PKA as well as decreased calcium excretion in urine of mice fed with high calcium diet. ConclusionSalidroside and oleuropein are major ingredients contributing to the anti-hypercalciuria effects of FLL via acting on PTH1R/PKA/TRPV5 signaling in kidney. Further translational research would be required.

Systematic characterization of the absorbed components of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus and their metabolic pathways in rat plasma by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-Q-Exactive Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry combined with network pharmacology.

Ligustri Lucidi Fructus is a dried and mature fruit of Ligustrum lucidum Ait., which has the effects of nourishing liver and kidney. Herein, an accurate and sensitive method was established for the separation and identification of the absorbed constituents and metabolites of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus in rat plasma based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-Q-Exactive Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 73 prototype constituents and 148 metabolites were identified or characterized in administered plasma, and the possible metabolic pathways of constituents mainly involved hydroxylation, sulfation, demethylation, and glucuronidation. Besides, the network pharmacology was further investigated to illuminate its potential mechanism of treatment for liver injury by the biological targets regulating related pathways. Network pharmacological analysis showed that target components through 399 targets regulate 220 pathways. The docking results showed that 36 key target components were closely related to liver injury. Overall, the study clearly presented the metabolic processes of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus and gave a comprehensive metabolic profile of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus in vivo first. Combining with network pharmacology and molecular docking discovered potential drug targets and disclose the biological processes of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, which will be a viable step toward uncovering the secret mask of study for traditional Chinese medicine.

The Protective Effect of Ethyl Acetate and n-Butanol Fractions of Wine-Steamed Ligustri Lucidi Fructus on Diabetic Nephropathy in Rats.

Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (LLF), the dry and ripe fruit of Ligustrum lucidum W. T. Aiton (Oleaceae), is a traditional Chinese medicine for nourishing the liver and kidney in clinics for thousands of years. Wine-steamed Ligustri Lucidi Fructus (WLL) can alleviate coolness and smoothness of LLF and enhance the function of nourishing the liver and kidney, so ancient and modern medicine usually used it in clinics. First of all, we prepared the extracts of different polar fractions of WLL to explore the effective fractions and potential mechanisms of WLL in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Then, HPLC method was used to determine the contents of 12 active components in WLL and its different polar components. Finally, the potential relationship between 12 active components and physicochemical parameters of DN rats was explored. The pharmacological experiments showed that WLL, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (n-BuOH) extracts not only significantly alleviated the clinical symptoms and kidney damage of DN rats but also had obvious anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In addition, the results of HPLC analysis showed that the 12 active components of WLL mainly existed in the extracts of EtOAc and n-BuOH. The Pearson correlation analysis showed 12 active components and physicochemical parameters had different degrees of correlation. In conclusion, we proved that the extracts of EtOAc and n-BuOH were the effective fractions of WLL in treating DN in rats, and they could regulate the levels of inflammatory cytokines and decrease oxidation stress, which provides a basis for further research on the mechanism of WLL in treating DN and provides a pharmacological and chemical foundation for the development of new anti-DN drugs.

Bioactivity-guided isolation of immunomodulatory compounds from the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe fruits of Ligustrum lucidum (FLL) W.T. Aiton (Oleaceae) is included in the 2020 “Chinese Pharmacopoeia” and is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic. In recent years, FLL has been reported to improve immune function, but the bioactive compounds and mechanisms of FLL remain poorly characterized. Aim of the studyTo identify FFL compounds with strong immune activity and explore their molecular mechanisms. Materials and methodsThe phagocytic activity of RAW264.7 macrophages and proliferation activity of spleen lymphocytes were used to guide the isolation of bioactive compounds from FLL extracts. Lymphocyte subpopulations, Ca2+ concentrations, and surface molecule expression were analyzed using flow cytometry. Cytokine secretion was examined using ELISA. FITC-OVA uptake was observed using fluorescence microscopy. NF-κB activation was analyzed using western blotting. ResultsThe extraction and isolation produced ten compounds, namely oleuropeinic acid, nuezhenide, isonuezhenide, salidroside, isoligustrosidic acid, ligulucidumosides A, 8(E)-nuezhenide, hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, and p-hydroxyphenethyl 7-β-D-glucosideelenolic acid ester were isolated and identified from FLL-Bu-30%. Immunoactivity experiments showed that hydroxytyrosol had the strongest macrophage phagocytotic and lymphocyte proliferation-promoting activities. Further studies showed that hydroxytyrosol could significantly enhance lymphocyte subsets CD3+, CD4+/CD8+, and CD3+CD4−CD8−, promote IL-4, IFN-γ, and TNF-α secretion, and increase intracellular Ca2+ concentrations. In addition, the results from RAW264.7 macrophages showed that hydroxytyrosol increased FITC-OVA uptake, induced TNF-α and IL-1β production, upregulated MHC-II, CD80, and CD86 expression, promoted cytoplasmic IκB-α degradation, and increased nuclear NF-κB p65 levels. ConclusionOur study provides substantial evidence regarding the mechanism of the immunomodulatory effects of compounds from FLL.

Optimisation of the bioreduction process of carbonyl compounds promoted by seeds of glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum - Oleaceae) and its application to the synthesis of key intermediates

The fruits of Ligustrum lucidum were used as an efficient biological reducer of carbonyl compounds, and trials were carried out to optimise the reductive process using acetophenone as the model substrate. In order to try to eliminate the dependence on the seasonal production of the fruits, a study was carried out to find ways to conserve them. The results reported here show that it is possible to store the dehydrated fruits of glossy privet at room temperature over a prolonged period of time, during which time they can be used as a common chemical reagent. On the other hand, studies performed on different parts of the fruits established that the seeds are responsible for the bioreduction process, with the best reduction conditions found being isolated seeds from the fruits of glossy privet at 25 °C, in a 100 mM phosphate buffer pH 6.0, using 0.67% w/v of DMSO as co-solvent with an acetophenone charge of 2.67 g/L (22 mM). Moreover, seed reuse studies showed that it is possible to recycle them, providing almost the same activity and enantioselectivity from the first to the fifth cycle, without any loss of biocatalytic properties. Finally, using whole seeds of glossy privet in optimal reaction conditions, important alcohols useful as key intermediates in the synthesis of industrial products were obtained on a laboratory scale through the reduction of specially selected ketones and aldehydes.

Chemical Constituents From the Fruits of Ligustrum lucidum W.T.Aiton and Their Role on the Medicinal Treatment

Fruits of Ligustrum lucidum W.T.Aiton ( FLL) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, which has the functions of protecting liver, anticancer, antiosteoporosis, and antioxidant, etc. Various chemical constituents including triterpenes, secoiridoids, phenylethanoid glycosides, and flavonoids have been isolated and identified from FLL. In this article, the advances in research on the chemical constituents and their pharmacological effects were summarized by reviewing the recent literatures. In addition, the relationship between the chemical constituents and pharmacological activity of FLL was also discussed.

Bactericidal and antibiotic-modulation activities of methanol crude extracts of Ligustrum lucidum and Lobelia inflata against MRSA phenotypes: Molecular docking studies of some isolated compounds from both plants against DNA gyrase A

The present study evaluated antibacterial, plasmid conjugal transfer inhibition, growth kinetics and bacterial resistance modifying activities of methanol crude extracts from the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum (LLFE) and the leaves of Lobelia inflata (LILE) against a panel of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) expressing active efflux pumps. The results showed that both extracts had weak antibacterial activity against the MRSA strains to have MIC > 512 mg/L. The combination of extracts with standard antibiotics was synergistic (2–64 fold potentiation) and bactericidal (≤ 3log10 CFU/mL) on more than 70% of the bacteria. LLFE displayed a toxic effect on HepG2 cells having IC50 27.61 mg/L while LILE demonstrated moderate toxicity (IC50 125.06 mg/L). LILE extract exhibited a weak inhibition of transfer conjugation mediated by PKM 101 (30%) and promising inhibition against TP114 (74%), while LLFE enhanced conjugal transfer to both plasmids. The chromatogram peaks showed that both extracts contain rutin and gallic acid with a retention time corresponding to the standards at 330 nm. Molecular docking of lobelanidine showed that it was the safest and most potent inhibitor of DNA-gyrase A of Staphylococcus aureus when compared with the standard norfloxacin. Our findings suggest that Ligustrum lucidum and Lobelia inflata are potential pharmacological agents in the future design of combination anti-infective therapies against multidrug-resistant strains.

Protective Effects of Ligustroflavone, an Active Compound from Ligustrum lucidum, on Diabetes-Induced Osteoporosis in Mice: A Potential Candidate as Calcium-Sensing Receptor Antagonist.

Ligustroflavone is one major compound contained in active fraction from Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (the fruit of Ligustrum lucidum), which could regulate parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and improve calcium balance by acting on calcium-sensing receptors (CaSR). This study aimed to explore the potency of ligustroflavone as a CaSR antagonist and its protective effects against diabetic osteoporosis in mice. LF interacted well with the allosteric site of CaSR shown by molecular docking analysis, increased PTH release of primary parathyroid gland cells and suppressed extracellular calcium influx in HEK-293 cells. The serum level of PTH attained peak value at 2 h and maintained high during the period of 1 h and 3 h than that before treatment in mice after a single dose of LF. Treatment of diabetic mice with LF inhibited the decrease in calcium level of serum and bone and the enhancement in urinary calcium excretion as well as elevated circulating PTH levels. Trabecular bone mineral density and micro-architecture were markedly improved in diabetic mice upon to LF treatment for 8 weeks. LF reduced CaSR mRNA and protein expression in the kidneys of diabetic mice. Taken together, ligustroflavone could transiently increase PTH level and regulate calcium metabolism as well as prevent osteoporosis in diabetic mice, suggesting that ligustroflavone might be an effective antagonist on CaSR.

Content change of main components in processed Ligustrum lucidum fruits of different processing time and their characteristic quality standard based on UPLC technology

To investigate the dynamic change law of the main components in Ligustri Lucidi Fructus during the wine-steaming process and attempt to establish the characteristic quality standard of wine-steamed Ligustri Lucidi Fructus by determining the content of salidroside and specnuezhenide using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) technology at different processing time points (12, 15, 18, 21, 24 h). The chromatographic separation was performed on Waters Acquity UPLC®BEH C₁₈ column (2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.7 μm) with acetonitrile and 0.2% formic acid aqueous solution as the mobile phase for gradient elution; and the detection wavelength was set at 280 nm; the flow rate was 0.5 mL·min⁻¹, and the column temperature was set at 40 °C. The results showed that the two components were well separated in the above conditions. The salidroside and specnuezhenide showed a good linear relationship within the range of 10.19-326 ng and 49.53-1 585 ng, respectively. Their average recovery was 103.4% and 101.7% with RSD of 0.81% and 0.79%, respectively. With the extension of processing time, the content of specnuezhenide was decreased, while salidroside was gradually increased. For the 27 batches of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, the content of salidroside was between 0.042 5% and 0.192 4%, and that of specnuezhenide was between 0.829 7% and 5.218 0%. While for the 25 batches of wine-steamed Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, the content of the first one was between 0.229 2% and 1.045 8%, and the latter one was between 0.743 8% and 3.645 4%. As compared with Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, the ratio of specnuezhenide to salidroside was significantly decreased in the wine-steamed Ligustri Lucidi Fructus. According to the experimental results, the quality standard of Ligustri Lucidi Fructus is tentatively fixed as follows: the content of specnuezhenide shall not be less than 0.80%, and the ratio of specnuezhenide content/salidroside content (Sp/Sa) should not be smaller than 15. As for the wine-steamed ones, the content of salidroside should not be less than 0.20%, and specnuezhenide content should not be less than 0.70%; Sp/Sa should not be greater than 8. The method established in this study is simple and reliable, which could be used for the content detection of salidroside and specnuezhenide in Ligustri Lucidi Fructus samples. The characteristic quality standard established in this study could be used to distinguish the Ligustri Lucidi Fructus and wine-steamed Ligustri Lucidi Fructus.

Secoiridoid analogues from the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum and their inhibitory activities against influenza A virus

A phytochemical study focusing on the secoiridoid components in the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum was carried out, which finally led to the isolation of nine secoiridoid glycosides (1–9) together with two secoiridoids (10, 11). The structures of all compounds were established mainly by NMR and MS experiments as well as the necessary chemical evidence, of which 1, 2, 4 (ligulucisides A–C), 10 and 11 (liguluciridoids A and B) were identified as new secoiridoid analogues. An in vitro antiviral bioassay indicated that 1, 4, 6, and 10 displayed the inhibitory activities against influenza A virus with the IC50 values of 16.5, 12.5, 13.1, and 18.5 μM, respectively, which were better than the positive control Ribavirin (IC50 22.6 μM)..

New secoiridoids from the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum

Three new secoiridoids, nuezhenelenoliciside (1), isojaslanceoside B (2), 6′-O-trans-cinnamoyl-secologanoside (3), were isolated from the dried fruits of Ligustrum lucidum. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. Among them, 1 featured a rare rearrangement product of secoiridoid, which underwent the cleavage of chemical bond between C-1 and O-2, and the reformation of a new iridoid ring between C-8 and O-2. In addition, all compounds were tested for their osteogenic activity on pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. As a result, 1 and 3 exhibited potent effects on promoting cell proliferation of pre-osteoblast cells.

Effect of dietary supplementation of Ligustrum lucidum on performance, egg quality and blood biochemical parameters of Hy-Line Brown hens during the late laying period

The fruit of Ligustrum lucidum (FLL, Nuzhenzi in Chinese) is an important traditional medicine, and have attracted significant research attention because of their various biological activities. However, there are few research reports available on the use of FLL as a feed additive in livestock nutrition, particularly in layers. This study was conducted to determine the effects of supplementation of the diet of laying hens with FLL on laying performance, egg quality and blood metabolites. A total of 360 72-week-old hens were allocated to three dietary treatments (eight replications of 15 hens/treatment group) and were fed either a control diet or a diet supplemented with an inclusion level of 0.25% or 0.50% of FLL powder in the final feed, until 78 weeks of age. Hens were housed in a three-tier cage system. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Blood samples and eggs were collected at the end of the experiment. The results showed that dietary supplementation with FLL did not affect egg weight, feed conversion ratio, eggshell thickness, albumen height, egg yolk color, eggshell breaking strength or egg shape index. However, FLL supplementation significantly decreased (P<0.001) mortality, cracked-egg rate and blood serum levels of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and alanine aminotransferase, and increased (P<0.001) blood serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. No differences in serum levels of total protein, albumin, glucose, calcium, aspartate aminotransferase or alkaline phosphatase were observed in hens fed FLL compared with the control group. It can be concluded that FLL, at a supplementation level of 0.25% final feed, can be used as an effective feed additive to improve the performance of laying hens during the late laying period.

Liqustri lucidi Fructus inhibits hepatic injury and functions as an antioxidant by activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in vivo and in vitro

Medicinal herbs are used to treat or prevent various diseases, and function to regulate protective mechanisms as nutraceuticals. Fructus Ligustri lucidi is the fruit of Ligustrum lucidum and has been used for its tonic effects on the liver. This study was designed to examine the effects of Fructus Ligustri lucidi water extract (FLL) against severe oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment in vivo and in vitro and to elucidate its cellular mechanisms of action. Treatment of HepG2 cells with arachidonic acid (AA) + iron successfully induced oxidative stress and apoptosis, as indicated by depletion of glutathione, formation of ROS, decreses in mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), and altered expression of apoptosis-related proteins, such as procaspase-3 and Bcl-xL. FLL treatment significantly blocked these pathological changes and the mitochondrial dysfunction caused by AA + iron, which were similar with the effect of aminoimidazole-carboxamide-β-d-ribofuranoside (AICAR). Moreover, FLL induced the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which was mediated by its upstream kinase LKB1. Inhibition or activation of AMPK revealed the role of AMPK in cellular protection conferred by FLL in LKB1-deficient cells. In mice, oral administration of 100 mg/kg FLL activated AMPK in the liver, and protected against oxidative stress and liver injury induced by CCl4 injection. Among the components of FLL, chlorogenic acid was found to be responsible for the protection of hepatocytes against AA + iron-induced cellular damage. Overall, our results confirmed that FLL has the ability to protect hepatocytes against oxidative injury through regulation of the AMPK signaling pathway.

Fruits of the glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum—Oleaceae) as biocatalysts for producing chiral aromatic alcohols

The screening of four invasive plant species for use as biocatalysts in the stereoselective reduction of ketones is reported. Our studies revealed that fruits of Ligustrum lucidum can be used for the bioreduction of acetophenone to (S)-1-phenylethanol (94% conversion, > 99 enantiomeric excess [ee]%). Using this methodology, 13 substituted (S)-phenylethanols were synthesized with good ee values (> 99.9 to 78%) using a technique which is more environmentally friendly than classical reduction of prochiral ketones. The results reveal the fruits of L. lucidum to be promising biocatalysts for the production of key intermediates.