MALAT1 is a conserved long noncoding RNA whose expression correlates with many human cancers. However, its significance in immunity remains largely unknown. Here, we observe that MALAT1 is upregulated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages. Knockdown of MALAT1 increases LPS-induced expression of TNFa and IL-6. Mechanistically, MALAT1 was found to interact with NF-jB in the nucleus, thus inhibiting its DNA binding activity and consequently decreasing the production of inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, abnormal expression of MALAT1 was found to be NFjB-dependent. These findings suggest that MALAT1 may function as an autonegative feedback regulator of NF-jB to help fine-tune innate immune responses.

Phylogenetic relationships of commercial Chinese truffles and their allies were investigated mainly by morphological studies and analyses of the sequences of ITS regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Two species, Tuber indicum and T. himalayense, closely related to the European T. melanosporum (the Perigord Truffle), are recognized among commercial Chinese black truffles. Both T. pseudohimalayense and T. sinense should be regarded as synonyms of T. indicum. Tuber species producing excavated ascomata are not monophyletic, suggesting that excavation of ascomata may have evolved more than once, or evolved once during the evolution of truffle species and then was lost once during the evolution of Tuber species.

BackgroundAlthough flowers of Panax ginseng Meyer (FPG), Panax quinquefolius L. (FPQ), and Panax notoginseng Burk. (FPN) have been historically used as both medicine and food, each is used differently in practice.MethodsTo investigate the connection between components and enhancing immunity activity of FPG, FPQ, and FPN, a method based on a rapid LC coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight MS and immunomodulatory activity study evaluated by a carbon clearance test were combined.ResultsAccording to quantitative results, the ratio of the total content of protopanaxatiol-type ginsenosides to protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides in FPN was 0, but ranged from 1.10 to 1.32 and from 0.23 to 0.35 in FPG and FPQ, respectively. The ratio of the total content of neutral ginsenosides to the corresponding malonyl-ginsenosides in FPN (5.52 ± 1.33%) was higher than FPG (3.2 ± 0.64%) and FPQ (2.39 ± 0.57%). The colorimetric analysis showed the content of total ginsenosides in FPQ, FPG, and FPN to be 13.75 ± 0.60%, 17.45 ± 0.42%, and 12.45 ± 1.77%, respectively. The carbon clearance assay indicated that the phagocytic activity of FPG and FPQ was higher than that of FPN. A clear discrimination among FPG, FPQ, and FPN was observed in the principal component analysis score plots. Seven compounds were confirmed to contribute strongly by loading plots, which may be the cause of differences in efficacy.ConclusionThis study provides basic information about the chemical and bioactive comparison of FPG, FPQ, and FPN, indicating that protopanaxtriol-type ginsenosides and malonyl-ginsenosides may play a key role in their enhancing immunity properties.

Huinulus lupulus L. (hop) (Cannabidaceae) has been reported to have hypnotic and sedative effects (1-3). But there have been few recent reports concerning the detailed behavioral effects of the hop. Thus, we have investigated the CNS effects of Humulus lupulus (hop) extract using several behavioral tests, such as spontaneous locomotor activity, rotarod test, potentiation of pentobarbital-induced sleep, hypothermic, analgesic, and anticonvulsant tests in mice. Hop extracts (Emil Flachsmann AG) was administered to ICR mice (30-40 g, 6-8 weeks of age) at the doses of 100, 250, or 500 mg/kg i.p., thirty minutes before each test. 1: Spontaneous locomotor activity: Spontaneous locomotor activity (Rhema-Lahoratechnic, Karl KoIb Co.) measured for 1 h was dose-dependently suppressed at doses above 250 mg/kg i.p.. 2: Rotarod performance: The time which mice wereable to remain on the rotarod (13 rev. min1, diameter of 5.5 cm, cutoff time of 2 mm) was decreased by 59% and 65%, at the dose of 250 and 500mg/kg i.p., respectively. 3: Anticonvulsant activity: Time of the onset of tonic extensor convulsion and survival time after administration of pentylenetetrazole (100 mg/kg i.p.) were significantly lengthened. 4: Potentiation of pentobarbital-induced sleep: Hop extract produced a dose-dependent increase in sleeping time in mice treated with pentobarbital (35 mg/kg, i.p.). 5: Anfinociceptive effect: Hop extract significantly increased the latency of licking the forepaws in hot plate tests (53 0.5 °C). 6: Hypothermic activity: Hop extract (500mg/kg, i.p.) caused a significant time-dependent fall in the rectal temperature.These results indicate that hop has hypothermic, antinociceptive, and anticonvulsant activities in addition to the sedative and hypnotic properties. Further investigations of the exact mechanism(s) of these actions are needed.

Two new 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid derived phenylpropanoid glucosides, tangshenoside V (1) and tangshenoside VI (2), were isolated from the roots of Codonopsis tangshen Oliv., along with the two known compounds tangshenoside I (3) and tangshenoside III (4). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods (IR and 1D-and 2D-NMR) and by mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS).