Astragalus membranaceus ultrafine powder alleviates hyperuricemia by regulating the gut microbiome and reversing bile acid and adrenal hormone biosynthesis dysregulation

Ethnopharmacological relevanceMetabolic syndrome is closely related to the intestinal microbiota and disturbances in the host metabolome. Hyperuricemia (HUA), a manifestation of metabolic syndrome, can induce various cardiovascular diseases and gout, seriously affecting a patient’s quality of life. Astragalus membranaceus has a long history as a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine to treat kidney disease in China and East Asia.Materials and methodsWe compared the therapeutic effect of benzbromarone and two different doses Astragalus membranaceus ultrafine powder (AMUP) in rats with HUA. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer was used to analyze the AMUP metabolism in the plasma, urine, and feces. Further, 16S ribosome RNA sequencing and feces metabolomic were performed to capture the variation of the gut microbiota and metabolites changes before and after drug administration.ResultsAMUP had a notable impact on reducing blood uric acid levels while protecting the liver and kidney. Drug metabolism analysis demonstrated that effective constituent flavonoids are distributed in the blood, whereas saponins remain in the intestine. Gut microbiota analysis showed that low-dose AMUP ameliorated HUA-induced gut dysbiosis by reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria and increasing that of some beneficial bacteria with anti-inflammatory properties, such as Clostridia, Lachnospiraceae, and Muribaculaceae. In addition, HUA-induced changes in metabolite contents in bile acid and adrenal hormone biosynthesis pathways were restored after treatment with AMUP.ConclusionLow-dose AMUP exerts remarkable therapeutic effects on HUA by regulating the gut microbiome and mediating gut metabolism pathways associated with uric acid excretion.     

Synthesis and structural revision of naturally occurring ayapin derivatives

The synthesis of three highly oxygenated naturally occurring coumarins, 8-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin, 5-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin and 5,8-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin is described for the first time, together with a new method for the preparation of ayapin (6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin). Comparison of the spectroscopic data of the synthetic tetraoxygenated coumarin 5,8-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin with literature reports resulted in the structural revision of several natural coumarins. Two coumarins, both identified as 5,8-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin must have other structures, while the structure of another coumarin, described as the isomeric 7,8-dimethoxy-5,6-methylenedioxycoumarin has to be revised to 5,8-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin.     

山西省的黄藻门植物

通过对山西省的黄藻门植物进行鉴定整理，共有该门植物13种，隶属于3目，3科，5属.     

信值修正系统及其实现

在许多基于知识的问题求解系统中，随着知识的不断积累可能会检测到某些新的结论和原有的知识产生矛盾，而维持该类系统中知识库的一致性是衡量该类系统是否有效的十分重要的标志，信值修正系统是解决类问题有效工具。     

Further revisions on the diterpenoid alkaloids reported in a JNP paper (2012, 75, 1145–1159)

We have corrected (Tetrahedron2013, 69, 5859–5866) the structures of diterpenoid alkaloids reported in the Journal of Natural Products2012, 75, 1145–1159. Our follow-up experiments compel us to present further revisions and clarifications on the diterpenoid alkaloids:     

“海水提镁”项目式教学设计与实践*

依托广西北海市丰富的海洋资源,创设了“在北海能否建提镁厂”的驱动性总任务,师生合议将任务规划为3个大问题和6个子任务。学生采用信息收集、分类、比较、推理、实验、系统分析等认知策略,最终以ppt的形式进行成果汇报,通过组间评价、核心问题讨论、决策性问题辩论等方式逐步落实项目目标。     

《河南植物志》毛茛科增补与订正

增补报道了《河南植物志》中未记录的河南产毛茛科植物4种4变种,其中4种2变种为河南分布新记录;订正了10种1变种植物的学名.     

四苯基卟啉蒽醌化合物的质子化热力学

表观质子化常数;电子吸收光谱;PM3;四苯基卟啉蒽醌化合物的质子化热力学     

从线粒体DNA控制区基因探讨红腹锦鸡和白腹锦鸡的分类关系

用聚合链式反应(PCR)和直接测序的方法测定红腹锦鸡(Chrysolophus pictus)和白腹锦鸡(C.amherstiae)各5个样本线粒体DNA控制区的468 bp的序列,共发现26个变异位点.红腹锦鸡的序列变异率为0.90%,白腹锦鸡的序列变异率是0.17%,两者差异极显著.红腹锦鸡和白腹锦鸡的3种碱基(A,T,C)含量差异显著.根据Kumar双参数法计算两种锦鸡的遗传距离为0.035±0.008,按线粒体DNA控制区的进化速率2%/Myr计算,它们的分歧进化的时间大约是(1.75±0.40)Myr,结果支持它们是两个独立的种.红腹锦鸡和白腹锦鸡可能分别起源于秦岭以南地区和横断山脉.