Isotope (δ13C, δ15N, δ2H) diet–tissue discrimination in African grey parrot Psittacus erithacus: implications for forensic studies

Diet–tissue isotopic relationships established under controlled conditions are informative for determining the dietary sources and geographic provenance of organisms. We analysed δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and non-exchangeable δ²H values of captive African grey parrot Psittacus erithacus feathers grown on a fixed mixed-diet and borehole water. Diet–feather Δ¹³C and Δ¹⁵N discrimination values were +3.8?±?0.3?‰ and +6.3?±?0.7?‰ respectively; significantly greater than expected. Non-exchangeable δ²H feather values (?62.4?±?6.4?‰) were more negative than water (?26.1?±?2.5?‰) offered during feather growth. There was no positive relationship between the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of the samples along each feather with the associated samples of food offered, or the feather non-exchangeable hydrogen isotope values with δ²H values of water, emphasising the complex processes involved in carbohydrate, protein, and income water routing to feather growth. Understanding the isotopic relationship between diet and feathers may provide greater clarity in the use of stable isotopes in feathers as a tool in determining origins of captive and wild-caught African grey parrots, a species that is widespread in aviculture and faces significant threats to wild populations. We suggest that these isotopic results, determined even in controlled laboratory conditions, be used with caution.     

原子荧光光谱法测定野生杏仁中的微量硒

用原子荧光光谱法测定野生杏仁中的微量硒,对酸度、还原剂浓度等条件进行了试验。硒含量在0～10μg/L内与原子荧光强度线性相关,线性方程为Y=16．03X 36．28,相关系数r=0．9998,硒的的检出限为0．5μg／L,加标回收率为95％～105％,测定结果的相对标准偏差(n=6)小于5．0％。     

Arsenic species in terrestrial fungi and lichens from Yellowknife,NWT, Canada

Levels of total arsenic and arsenic species were determined in fungi collected from Yellowknife, NWT, Canada, an area that has been affected by past mining activities and elevated arsenic levels. Lichens (belonging to Cladonia and Cladina genera), as well as the mushrooms Coprinus comatus, Paxillus involutus, Psathyrella candolleana and Leccinum scabrum, were studied for the first time. Most of the fungi contained elevated arsenic levels with respect to data found in the literature for background levels. Minor amounts of arsenobetaine were found in all lichen samples. The major water‐soluble arsenic species in the fungi were inorganic arsenic for lichens and Psathyrella candolleana, arsenobetaine for Lycoperdon pyriforme and Coprinus comatus, and dimethylarsenate for Paxillus involutus and Leccinum scabrum. A large proportion of water‐soluble arsenic in Paxillus involutus occurred as an unknown compound, which did not co‐chromatograph with any of the available standard arsenic compounds. Low proportions of water‐soluble arsenic species (made evident by low extraction efficiencies) were observed in the majority of fungi studied. Arsenic that is not extracted may be bound to lipids, cell components or proteins, or might exist on the surface of the fungus as minerals. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

鹅膏菌的傅里叶变换红外光谱研究

利用傅里叶变换红外光谱对云南野生鹅膏科蘑菇子实体及孢子进行了研究,二者的光谱差异显著。子实体光谱的最强峰出现在蛋白质酰胺Ⅰ的特征峰1 655 cm-1附近,在碳水化合物的C—O特征振动峰1 077, 1 042 cm-1附近也有强吸收,表明鹅膏科蘑菇子实体的主要成分是蛋白质和碳水化合物;孢子的三个强峰在2 926,2 855,1 747 cm-1,归属为脂类物质的吸收。在1 800～750 cm-1,不同属、不同种的鹅膏科蘑菇光谱有区别,以此可以区分不同种类的蘑菇。此外,隐花青鹅膏菌不同部位的光谱也有差异,表明蘑菇的化学组分在子实体的不同部位有不同分布。利用傅里叶变换红外光谱可以区分不同种类的蘑菇。     

原子吸收光谱法测定野生及养殖灵芝中10种元素含量

采用火焰原子吸收光谱法测定了养殖及野生灵芝中的铜、钠、铁、钾、镁、钙、锰、锌、锶、铅元素含量。结果表明,野生灵芝和养殖灵芝中均含有较高的钾,其中野生灵芝中铜、钙、锶、锌含量较高,养殖灵芝中钠、铁、镁、锰含量较高。可为探讨野生灵芝与养殖灵芝中含量及其疗效的关联性等提供科学依据。     

Deciphering the Potential of Pre and Pro-Vitamin D of Mushrooms against Mpro and PLpro Proteases of COVID-19: An In Silico Approach

Vitamin D’s role in combating the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), the virus causing COVID-19, has been established in unveiling viable inhibitors of COVID-19. The current study investigated the role of pre and pro-vitamin D bioactives from edible mushrooms against Mpro and PLpro proteases of SARS-CoV-2 by computational experiments. The bioactives of mushrooms, specifically ergosterol (provitamin D₂), 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin-D₃), 22,23-dihydroergocalciferol (provitamin-D₄), cholecalciferol (vitamin-D₃), and ergocalciferol (vitamin D₂) were screened against Mpro and PLpro. Molecular docking analyses of the generated bioactive protease complexes unravelled the differential docking energies, which ranged from −7.5 kcal/mol to −4.5 kcal/mol. Ergosterol exhibited the lowest binding energy (−7.5 kcal/mol) against Mpro and PLpro (−5.9 kcal/mol). The Molecular Mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann Surface Area (MMPBSA) and MD simulation analyses indicated that the generated complexes were stable, thus affirming the putative binding of the bioactives to viral proteases. Considering the pivotal role of vitamin D bioactives, their direct interactions against SARS-CoV-2 proteases highlight the promising role of bioactives present in mushrooms as potent nutraceuticals against COVID-19.     

Effect of Cordyceps spp. and Cordycepin on Functions of Bones and Teeth and Related Processes: A Review

Cordyceps spp. (belonging to the Ascomycota group) are entomopathogenic mushrooms that have traditionally been used in ethnomedicine in Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea, and India. They are unique parasites of larvae of selected species of moths. Cordyceps militaris is one of the best sources of cordycepin. Worldwide, osteoporosis is one of the most common bone diseases, whose pharmacotherapy includes various medical interventions; however, the research and development of new molecules and new drugs is required. The impact of adenosine receptors (ARs) on the purinergic signaling pathway may regulate proliferation, differentiate dental pulp stem cells and bone marrow, and modulate osteogenesis and bone repair. The aim of the review was to collect and analyze the available data on the effects of Cordyceps spp. or cordycepin on bone function and related processes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review in this perspective, not necessarily using mushroom raw material or even the isolated parent compound cordycepin, but new molecules that are analogs of nucleosides, such as those from C. militaris. This review found that Cordyceps spp. or isolated cordycepin interacts via the AR, 5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP) signaling pathway and evaluated their impact on bones, teeth, and dental pulp. Cordyceps spp. was found to have the potential to develop regenerative medicines, thus providing an opportunity to expand the treatment or intervention methods in the recovery after traumatic injuries, convalescence, and terminal-stage or devastating diseases.     

Synthesis of pleurolactone and related mono- and sesquiterpenoids: Bioactive constituents of edible mushrooms

Syntheses of bioactive monoterpenoids pleurolactone, dihydro-3-epi-pleurolactone, 6,7-dihydroxymintlactone and their furanoid sesquiterpene analogs have been accomplished.     

野生与种植青海川西獐牙菜中矿物质元素含量特征

青海地道中藏药材川西獐牙菜人工种植试验初见成效。为了对比野生与种植青海川西獐牙菜中矿物质元素的变化,分别采集野生与种植青海川西獐牙菜种子采收前后的全植株,采用原子吸收光谱仪分析测定了其钾、钠、钙、镁等矿物质元素含量。结果表明,野生川西獐牙菜中,青海玉树较四川川西地区的钠、磷元素含量高,钙、钾、镁元素含量低。种植青海川西獐牙菜在成熟种子采收后较采收前钠、镁、钙、磷等显著增加,且种植青海川西獐牙菜与青海玉树地区野生川西獐牙菜中矿物质元素含量较为接近。