Protective effect of Macleaya cordata isoquinoline alkaloids on lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury in broilers

OBJECTIVE

This experiment aimed to explore the protective action of dietary supplementation with isoquinoline alkaloids (IA) from Macleaya cordata on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury in broilers.

METHODS

Total 216 healthy broilers were selected in a 21-d trial and assigned randomly to the following 3 treatments: control (CON) group, LPS group, and LPS+IA group. The CON and LPS groups were provided with a basal diet, whereas the LPS+IA group received the basal diet supplemented with 0.6 mg/kg Macleaya cordata IA. Broilers in LPS and LPS+IA groups were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (1 mg/kg body weight) at 17, 19, and 21 days of age, while those in CON group were injected with equivalent amount of saline solution.

RESULTS

Results showed LPS injection caused systemic and liver inflammation in broilers, inhibited immune function, and ultimately lead to liver injury. By contrast, supplementation of IA ameliorated LPS-induced adverse change in serum parameters, boosted immunity in LPS+IA group. Furthermore, IA suppressed the elevation of hepatic inflammatory cytokines and caspases levels induced by LPS, as well as the expressions of genes related to the tolllike receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factorkappa B (NF-κB) pathway.

CONCLUSION

Dietary inclusion of 0.6 mg/kg Macleaya cordata IA could enhance immune function of body and inhibit liver damage via inactivating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in broilers.

Venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for patients poisoned by Macleaya cordata

Macleaya cordata is a Chinese herbal medicine containing a variety of highly cardiotoxic alkaloids, and might result in cardiac failure. Venous-arterial Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) could be used as a therapeutic option in patients poisoned by Macleaya cordata complicating refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. A 60-year-old man suffered from severe arrhythmia, cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest after consuming Macleaya cordata. The patient received VA-ECMO support in the emergency department at 5 hours after hospitalization, and was weaned from VA-ECMO on day 4, and was discharged with complete clinical improvement on Day 12. VA-ECMO is an effective method in treating cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest induced by severe poisoning from Chinese herbal medicine. Timely and appropriate interventions with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation devices could improve clinical outcomes in these patients.

Optimizing the Production of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Alkaloids from Macleaya cordata by Subcritical Water Extraction Technology

In this work, the subcritical water extraction technology was used to extract alkaloids from Macleaya cordata, and the effects of extraction temperature and time on its yield were investigated to find the best extraction conditions. Moreover, the antioxidant capacity and antibacterial activity of Macleaya cordata extract were studied. Furthermore, through the single-factor method, it was found that properly increasing the extraction temperature and prolonging the extraction time was conducive to increasing alkaloid yield. Still, a considerable amount of alkaloids might be decomposed by heat, resulting in a decrease in their yield. The results showed that the optimal extraction temperature of alkaloids from Macleaya cordata with subcritical water is 190 °C, the time is 45 min, and the corresponding maximum yield is 35.19±0.12 mg/g (sanguinarine equivalent in raw materials). In addition, the antioxidation and bacteriostasis abilities of subcritical water extract are better than those of traditional hot water extract, indicating that it is a feasible method to extract alkaloids from Macleaya cordata with subcritical water.

Leaf Spot caused by Alternaria alternata on Macleaya cordata in China

Macleaya cordata is a perennial herb that belongs to the Papaveraceae and is typically prescribed as a traditional antibacterial medicine in China (Kosina et al. 2010). The extract from M. cordata has been widely used in the manufacturing of natural growth promoters as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in the livestock industry (Liu et al. 2017), and the products are marketed in 70 countries such as Germany, China, etc (Ikezawa et al. 2009). During the summer of 2019, symptoms of leaf spot were observed on M. cordata (cv. HNXN-001) in two commercial fields (approximately 1, 300 m2 and 2, 100 m2) of Xinning county, Shaoyang City, Hunan Province, China, where approximately 2 to 3% of the plants were affected. The initial symptoms were irregular black and brown spots on the leaves. The lesions expanded and coalesced, eventually leading to leaf blight. Six symptomatic basal leaf sections from six plants from two fields were surface disinfested in 0.5% NaClO for 1 min, then 75% ethanol for 20 s, rinsed in sterile water three times, air dried, and placed onto potato dextrose agar (PDA), one dish for samples from a single leaf. Plates were incubated at 26°C in darkness. Nine strains with similar morphological characters were isolated, and one representative isolate ( BLH-YB-08) was used for morphological and molecular characterization. The colonies on PDA were grayish-green with white round margins. Conidia were typically obclavate to obpyriform, brown to dark brown, and 12.0 to 35.0 × 6.0 to 15.0 μm, and with 1 to 5 transverse septa and 0 to 2 longitudinal septa (n=50). Isolates were identified as Alternaria sp. on the basis of mycelial characteristics, color, and conidial morphology. To confirm identity of the pathogen, DNA was extracted from isolate BLH-YB-08 with the DNAsecure Plant Kit (TIANGEN, Biotech, China). The glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), actin (ACT), 28S nrDNA (LSU), 18S nuclear ribosomal DNA (SSU), histone 3 (HIS3), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA, and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF) genes ( Berbee et al. 1999; Carbone and Kohn. 1999; Glass and Donaldson. 1995; White et al. 1990.) were amplified and sequenced. Sequences were deposited into the GenBank database. They were 100% sequence identity of GAPDH (OQ224996) with A. alternata strain AA2-8 (MH65578; 578/578bp), 100% sequence identity of RPB2 (OQ190460) with A. alternata strain SAX-WN-30-2 ( MK605877; 933/933bp), 100% sequence identity of ACT (OQ923292) with A. alternata strain FCBP0352 (OL830257; 939/939 bp), 100% sequence identity of LSU (OQ891167) with A. alternata XL14 (MG839509 ; 908/908 bp), 100% sequence identity of SSU (OQ139544) with A. alternata strain BJ19.4.1(OM736063; 1,067/1,067 bp), 100% sequence identity of HIS3 (MT454856) with A. alternata YJ-CYC-HC2 (OQ116440 ; 442/442 bp), 100% sequence identity of ITS (MT212225) with A. alternata CS-1-3 (OQ947366; 543/543bp), and 100% sequence identity of TEF (OQ190461) with A. alternata strain YZU 221185 (OQ512730; 252/252 bp). To test pathogenicity, the isolate BLH-YB-08 was cultured on PDA for 7 days to prepare conidial suspensions and the spore concentration adjusted to a final concentration of 1×106 spores/ml. The leaves of five potted 45-day-old M. cordata (cv. HNXN-001) plants were sprayed with conidial suspensions, and five control potted plants were wiped with 75% alcohol and washed five times with sterile distilled water. They were then sprayed with sterile distilled water. Plants were placed in a greenhouse at 25 to 30°C with 90% relative humidity. Pathogenicity tests were conducted twice. Fifteen days after inoculation, lesions were found on inoculated leaves, and the symptoms were the same as those in the field, whereas the controls were healthy. A fungus was consistently isolated from the inoculated leaves and identified as A. alternata by DNA sequencing of the GAPDH, ITS, and HIS3 genes, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot on M. cordata caused by A. alternata in China. Understanding its etiology may help to control this fungal pathogen, thus reducing economic losses. Funding: Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation General Project (2023JJ30341) Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation Youth Fund (2023JJ40367) Seed Industry Innovation Project of Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Department Special project for the construction of Chinese herbal medicine industry technology system in Hunan Province "Xiangjiuwei" Industrial Cluster Project of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Response and Tolerance of Macleaya cordata to Excess Zinc Based on Transcriptome and Proteome Patterns

Macleaya cordata is a dominant plant of mine tailings and a zinc (Zn) accumulator with high Zn tolerance. In this study, M. cordata seedlings cultured in Hoagland solution were treated with 200 μmol·L^-1 of Zn for 1 day or 7 days, and then, their leaves were taken for a comparative analysis of the transcriptomes and proteomes between the leaves of the control and Zn treatments. Differentially expressed genes included those that were iron (Fe)-deficiency-induced, such as vacuolar iron transporter VIT, ABC transporter ABCI17 and ferric reduction oxidase FRO. Those genes were significantly upregulated by Zn and could be responsible for Zn transport in the leaves of M. cordata. Differentially expressed proteins, such as chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins, ATP-dependent protease, and vacuolar-type ATPase located on the tonoplast, were significantly upregulated by Zn and, thus, could be important in chlorophyll biosynthesis and cytoplasm pH stabilization. Moreover, the changes in Zn accumulation, the production of hydrogen peroxide, and the numbers of mesophyll cells in the leaves of M. cordata were consistent with the expression of the genes and proteins. Thus, the proteins involved in the homeostasis of Zn and Fe are hypothesized to be the keys to the tolerance and accumulation of Zn in M. cordata. Such mechanisms in M. cordata can suggest novel approaches to genetically engineering and biofortifying crops.

Physiological and molecular response and tolerance of Macleaya cordata to lead toxicity

BACKGROUND

Macleaya cordata is a traditional medicinal herb, and it has high tolerance and accumulation ability to heavy metals, which make it a good candidate species for studying phytoremediation. The objectives of this study were to investigate response and tolerance of M. cordata to lead (Pb) toxicity based on comparative analysis of transcriptome and proteome.

RESULTS

In this study, the seedlings of M. cordata cultured in Hoagland solution were treated with 100 µmol·L^- 1 Pb for 1 day (Pb 1d) or 7 days (Pb 7d), subsequently leaves of M. cordata were taken for the determination of Pb accumulation and hydrogen peroxide production (H₂O₂), meanwhile a total number of 223 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 296 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were screened between control and Pb treatments. The results showed leaves of M. cordata had a special mechanism to maintain Pb at an appropriate level. Firstly, some DEGs were iron (Fe) deficiency-induced transporters, for example, genes of vacuolar iron transporter and three ABC transporter I family numbers were upregulated by Pb, which can maintain Fe homeostasis in cytoplasm or chloroplast. In addition, five genes of calcium (Ca²⁺) binding proteins were downregulated in Pb 1d, which may regulate cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration and H₂O₂ signaling pathway. On the other hand, the cysteine synthase upregulated, glutathione S-transferase downregulated and glutathione reductase downregulated in Pb 7d can cause reduced glutathione accumulation and decrease Pb detoxification in leaves. Furthermore, DEPs of eight chlorophyll a/b binding proteins, five ATPases and eight ribosomal proteins can play a pivotal role on chloroplast turnover and ATP metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the proteins involved in Fe homeostasis and chloroplast turnover in mesophyll cells may play key roles in tolerance of M. cordata to Pb. This study offers some novel insights into Pb tolerance mechanism of plants, and the potential valuable for environmental remediation of this important medicinal plant.

Oxidative Stress Response and Metal Transport in Roots of Macleaya cordata Exposed to Lead and Zinc

Heavy metal pollution possesses potential hazards to plant, animal and human health, which has become the focus of recent attention. Hence, phytoremediation has been regarded as one of the most important remediation technologies for heavy-metal-contaminated soils. In this research, a dominant mine tailing plant, Macleaya cordata, was used as the experimental material to compare the metal transport and oxidative stress response in its roots under lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) treatments. The result showed that Pb was mainly accumulated in the roots of M. cordata under the Pb treatment; less than 1% Pb was transported to the parts above. An analysis of the Zn content demonstrated a 39% accumulation in the shoots. The production of reactive oxygen species was detected using the in situ histological staining of roots, which showed that hydrogen peroxide in the root tips was observed to increase with the increase in both Pb and Zn concentrations. No significant superoxide anion changes were noted in the root tips under the Pb treatment. An analysis of the root enzyme activity showed that increase in NADPH oxidase activity can be responsible for the production of superoxide anions, subsequent the inhibition of root growth and decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities in the roots of M. cordata exposed to excess Zn. In total, this research provides evidence that the root of M. cordata has a high antioxidant capacity for Pb stress, so it can accumulate more Pb without oxidative damage. On the other hand, the Zn accumulated in the roots of M. cordata causes oxidative damage to the root tips, which can stimulate more Zn transport to the shoots to reduce the damage to the roots. This result will provide a basis for the application of M. cordata in the phytoremediation of soil polluted by Pb-Zn compounds.

Macleaya cordata extract improves the growth performance and intestinal health of American eels (Anguilla rostrata) farmed in intensive system

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) supplementation on growth performance and intestinal health of American eels (Anguilla rostrata) farmed in intensive system. A total of six cement tanks of fish were randomly divided into a control group fed a commercial diet and an MCE group fed the commercial diet with 100 mg/kg MCE, respectively. There were three replicates in each group. The results suggested that 100 mg/kg MCE could improve the growth performance and intestinal health of the American eels by strengthening the barrier function and antioxidative ability in the intestine and beneficially modulating intestinal microbiota with the higher relative abundance and more species of the potential probiotics and the lower relative abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria.

Isoquinoline Alkaloid Contents in Macleaya cordata Extracts and Their Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibition

An important strategy for treating neurodegenerative disorders is to maintain the levels of acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft by blocking the cholinesterases. Searching for new effective compounds with inhibited acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity is one of the most significant challenges of the modern scientific research. The aim of this study was the optimization of the condition for cholinesterase activity determination by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) in terms of concentrations of enzymatic reaction mixture components, temperature of incubation, and incubation time. In vitro investigation of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity inhibition by some isoquinoline alkaloids and extracts obtained from the aerial part and roots of Macleaya cordata collected in May, July, and September. Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity inhibition of the extracts obtained from the plant had not been tested previously. The application of the HPLC method allowed eliminating absorption of interfering components, for example, alkaloids such as sanguinarine and berberine. The HPLC method was successfully applied for the evaluation of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity in samples such as plant extracts, especially those containing colored components adsorbing at the same wavelength as the adsorption wavelength of 5-thio-2-nitro-benzoic acid, which is the product of the reaction between thiocholine (product of the hydrolysis of acetyl/butyrylthiocholine reaction) with Ellman’s reagent. Moreover, liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC–QqQ–ESI–MS/MS) analysis allowed evaluating the identification of relevant bioactive compounds in the obtained plant extracts. The investigated alkaloids, especially sanguinarine and chelerythrine, and all the Macleaya cordata extracts, especially the extract obtained from the aerial part collected in May, exhibited very high cholinesterase activity inhibition. HPLC-DAD was also applied for the kinetics study of the most active alkaloids sanguinarine and chelerythrine. Our investigations demonstrated that these plant extracts can be recommended for further in vivo experiments to confirm their cholinesterase inhibition activity.

Integration of manganese accumulation, subcellular distribution, chemical forms, and physiological responses to understand manganese tolerance in Macleaya cordata

Macleaya cordata (Willd.) R. Br. are proposed for the application in phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil. In this paper, the physiological response, subcellular distribution, chemical form, ultrastructure, and manganese (Mn) absorption characteristics of M. cordata under the stress of 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 mmol/L manganese concentration were studied by sand culture experiment. The results showed that M. cordata seedlings show high tolerance to Mn stress with a concentration of less than 6 mmol/L, while higher Mn concentration showed a significant toxic effect. A low concentration of Mn (≤ 6 mmol/L) can promote the synthesis of chlorophyll and soluble protein; furthermore, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities responded positively. The accumulation of Mn in the inactive metabolic part (cell wall and vacuole) of M. cordata leaves might be one of the main Mn detoxification mechanism. According to the ultrastructure of M. cordata, high-concentration Mn²⁺ (≥ 12 mmol/L) stress can cause M. cordata cells to be distorted and deformed, black precipitates appeared in the intercellular space, mitochondria decrease, chloroplasts shrink, hungry particles increased, and starch granules decrease. The uptake ability of different tissues for Mn is leaf > root > stem, and transport coefficient decreases with the increase of Mn concentration. Clearly, M. cordata has a certain tolerance to manganese, which has the ecological application potential in Mn-polluted areas.

Plant-microbe hybrid synthesis provides new insights for the efficient use of Macleaya cordata

Sanguinarine and chelerytrine have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects and is the main active ingredients of growth promoters in animals. Currently, Sanguinarine and chelerytrine were extracted from the capsules of the medicinal plant Macleaya cordata. However, the biomass of M. cordata nonmedicinal parts (leaves) accounted for a large proportion and contained a rich presentation of protopine and allocryptopine which are the precursor compounds of sanguinarine and chelerytrine. The aim of this study was to develop a new method for producing sanguinarine and chelerytrine through yeast transformation of protopine and allocryptopine in M. cordata leaves. First, we isolated different genes from Papaver somniferum (PsP6H, PsCPR, PsDBOX), Eschscholtzia californica (EcP6H), Cucumis sativus (CuCPR), Arabidopsis thaliana (AtCPR) and M. cordata (Mc11229, Mc11218, Mc6408, Mc6407, Mc19967, Mc13802). Additionally, some of the gene sequences were codon optimized. Then, we transformed these genes into yeast cells to compare the catalytic efficiency. Second, we used the most efficient strains to biotransform the leaves of M. cordata. Finally, we obtained 85.415 ± 11.887 ng mL^-1 sanguinarine and 4.288 ± 1.395 ng mL^-1 chelerytrine, which was more than 2-3 times the content in leaves of M. cordata. Overall, we using the nonmedicinal parts of M. cordata and successfully obtained sanguinarine and chelerytrine by the plant-microbial hybrid synthesis method.

Effects of codon optimization, N-terminal truncation and gene dose on the heterologous expression of berberine bridge enzyme

Morphine, sanguinarine and chelerythrine are benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs), and these compounds possess strong biological activities. (S)-scoulerine is a commonly shared precursor of these compounds, and berberine bridge enzyme (BBE) is a key rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of (S)-scoulerine. We isolated the BBE gene from Macleaya cordata (McBBE) and used CEN.PK2-1C as a chassis strain. We compared the catalytic efficiency of five codon-optimized McBBE genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and finally obtained a yeast strain (YH03) that exhibited a 58-fold increase in yield (1.12 mg/L). Then, we truncated the N-terminus of McBBE by 8 and 22 amino acids and found that with the increase in the number of N-terminal truncated amino acids, the production of (S)-scoulerine gradually decreased. Additionally, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to integrate the McBBE gene at the delta site of the S. cerevisiae genome to achieve stable genetic inheritance and found that the yield of (S)-scoulerine was not significantly increased in the integrated strain. In conclusion, our work achieved high-efficiency expression of McBBE in S. cerevisiae, explored the influence of N-terminal truncation on the yield of (S)-scoulerine, and obtained a genetically stable S. cerevisiae strain with high McBBE expression. This study provides a reference for further complex metabolic engineering optimization and lays a foundation for the efficient biosynthesis of BIAs.

Spent mushroom compost and calcium carbonate modification enhances phytoremediation potential of Macleaya cordata to lead-zinc mine tailings

Phytoremediation is an essential technique for mines' ecological restoration. Modifiers addition can alleviate the stress of heavy metals to plants and enhanced remediation efficiency. Herein, spent mushroom compost (SMC) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) were added to lead-zinc mine tailings to reveal the mechanism of Macleaya cordata adaptive to heavy metals stress. Pot experiments were conducted in 100% tailing (T), 90% tailing + 5% SMC + 5% CaCO₃ (T+), and 100% natural soil (NS). The results indicate that SMC and CaCO₃ amendments could improve the structure and fertility of tailings, and promote the growth of M. cordata, increase the content of heavy metals accumulated in plants, enhance the synthesis of chlorophyll and increas the content of soluble protein in leaves; enhance the activities of antioxidase, that can protectcelluar components from oxidative damage. Moreover, most of Pb, Zn, and Cd existed in the cell wall and soluble components, adding SMC and CaCO₃ could promote the conversion of Pb, Zn, and Cd to chemical forms with less toxicity and migratory capability. The results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) showed that SMC and CaCO₃ could protect the structural integrity of cells and increase the contents of -OH, -COOH functional groups that can bind to heavy metals in cells. The addition of SMC and CaCO₃ can alleviate the stress of heavy metals on M. cordata, enhancing its adaptability to heavy metals and phytoremediation capacity.

The Macleaya cordata Symbiont: Revealing the Effects of Plant Niches and Alkaloids on the Bacterial Community

Endophytes are highly associated with plant growth and health. Exploring the variation of bacterial communities in different plant niches is essential for understanding microbe-plant interactions. In this study, high-throughput gene sequencing was used to analyze the composition and abundance of bacteria from the rhizospheric soil and different parts of the Macleaya cordata. The results indicated that the bacterial community structure varied widely among compartments. Bacterial diversity was observed to be the highest in the rhizospheric soil and the lowest in fruits. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were found as the dominant phyla. The genera Sphingomonas (∼47.77%) and Methylobacterium (∼45.25%) dominated in fruits and leaves, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to measure the alkaloid content of different plant parts. Significant correlations were observed between endophytic bacteria and alkaloids. Especially, Sphingomonas showed a significant positive correlation with sanguinarine and chelerythrine. All four alkaloids were negatively correlated with the microbiota of stems. The predicted result of PICRUST2 revealed that the synthesis of plant alkaloids might lead to a higher abundance of endophytic microorganisms with genes related to alkaloid synthesis, further demonstrated the correlation between bacterial communities and alkaloids. This study provided the first insight into the bacterial community composition in different parts of Macleaya cordata and the correlation between the endophytic bacteria and alkaloids.

Metabolism and Tissue Distribution of Chelerythrine and Effects of Macleaya Cordata Extracts on Liver NAD(P)H Quinone Oxidoreductase

Background:Macleaya cordata (Willd.) (Papaveraceae) is listed as a feed additive in animal production by the European Food Authority.

Methods: The metabolites of chelerythrine in rats were measured in vitro and in vivo by rapid and accurate high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/QqTOF-MS). The structures of CHE metabolites were elucidated by comparing their changes in accurate molecular masses and fragment ions with those of parent ion or metabolite. The metabolic enzymes that were involved in chelerythrine reduction were investigated using an inhibition method. The tissue distribution of chelerythrine and the effects on NQO1 following intragastric administration with M. cordata extracts in rats were examined.

Results: A total of twelve metabolites of chelerythrine were characterized by this approach in rat liver S9 and in vivo. The reduction of the iminium bond of chelerythrine and subsequent O-demethylation was the main metabolic pathway of chelerythrine in rat liver S9 while the reduction of the iminium bond of chelerythrine was the main metabolic pathway of chelerythrine in rats in vivo. After the rats were given intragastric administration, the low concentration residues of sanguinarine and chelerythrine in different rat tissues were found at 48 h after the last dose, suggesting that both compounds could be widely distributed in tissues. The results also indicated that XO, NQO1, NQO2, and carbonyl reductase are involved in chelerythrine reduction. Macleaya cordata extracts treated female and male rats, respectively, showed different responses, inhibiting NQO1 activity in males, but inducing NQO1 activity in females. Chelerythrine had a weak impact on NQO1 activity, but sanguinarine inhibited NQO1 activity

Conclusion: Through studying the effects of cytosolic reductase inhibitors on chelerythrine reduction and the impact of chelerythrine and sanguinarine on the activity of NQO1 in vitro and in vivo, we clarified the potential drug interaction of Macleaya cordata extract in clinical application, so as to provide theoretical guidance for clinically safe medication. In addition, it provided a reference basis for the metabolic mechanism of chelerythrinein rats.

Establishing the metabolic network of isoquinoline alkaloids from the Macleaya genus

Metabolic networks can provide insight into the biosynthesis pathways of natural products present in plant-derived medicines. Here, we primarily established a highly efficient and targeted method for the systematic screening of isoquinoline alkaloids from the Macleaya genus. A total of 392 potential alkaloids were detected, 204 of which were further identified according to their tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) spectra and the characteristic fragmentation patterns of references. A metabolic network of isoquinoline alkaloids from the Macleaya genus was then constructed based on the structural relationships, metabolic level differences, and the isotopically labeled [ring-¹³C₆]-tyrosine feeding experiments. New biosynthesis pathways for well-known alkaloids (berberine, sanguinarine, and chelerythrine) in the Macleaya genus were proposed on the basis of the established metabolic network. This work marks the first comprehensive study of the metabolic network of isoquinoline alkaloids in the Macleaya genus and provides a template for constructing the metabolic networks of other plant-derived medicines.

Preliminary investigations on the pathogenesis-related protein expression profile of the medicinal herb Macleaya cordata and anti-bacterial properties of recombinant proteins

The plant pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins play a crucial role in the defense of plants against pathogens and orchestrate the innate immune system of plants. In this paper, a non-normalized cDNA library of the leaf was constructed to obtain a comprehensive view of PR proteins of Macleaya cordata. Specifically, 511 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were generated using Sanger sequencing. All ESTs were assembled into 364 non-redundancy sequences, including 78 clusters and 286 singlets. The PR protein expression profile of the medicinal herb M. cordata has been investigated and is represented by defensin, lipid-transfer protein, (S)-norcoclaurine synthase, and major allergen protein, suggesting that the herb contains rich active proteins against pathogens. Furthermore, two defensins were selected for recombinant expression in yeast, and the antimicrobial activities were explored. Since they both present a broad antimicrobial spectrum, they are of particular importance for agricultural and medicinal applications. Our study describes defensins in Papaveraceae for the first time and provides novel insights into the effective components. In addition to the alkaloids, PR proteins (such as defensins, lipid transfer proteins, (S) - norcoclaurine synthase, major allergen protein, and Class IV chitinases) are involved in the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of M. cordata.

[Screening of G-quadruplex ligands from Macleaya cordata extract by contrast ultrafiltration with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and molecular docking]

G-quadruplex DNA has become an important target for tumor therapy and anti-tumor development. Modern pharmacology has proved that Macleaya cordata has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-tumor and other pharmacological effects. Affinity ultrafiltration method can screen active ingredients from compounds rapidly, but G-quadruplex DNA ligands are difficult to dissociate, which is a key step in conventional ultrafiltration method. In this paper, the filtrates after ultrafiltration were determined by HPLC-MS in substitution. The peaks with 20% reduction of MS response from the incubation vs control were considered to be ligand components to G-quadruplex. Two of the peaks with the relative abundance above 30% were identified as sanguinarine(SAN) and chelerine(CHE). Their circular dichroism conformations further proved that SAN and CHE are active ligands of HT4. In addition, another two gradients with high relative abundance were identified as protopine(PRO) and allpcryprotopine(ALL). The binding rate of SAN, CHE, PRO and ALL was calculated according to the HPLC-MS results, and the results showed a consistency with that of the molecular docking method. The proposed method can be used to screen active components from mixture.

Chemical constituents from Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br. and their phenotypic functions against a Parkinson's disease patient-derived cell line

Cytological profiling (CP) assay against a human olfactory neuroshpere-derived (hONS) cell line using a library of traditional Chinese medicinal plant extracts gave indications that the ethanolic extract of Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br. elicited strong perturbations to various cellular components. Further chemical investigation of this extract resulted in the isolation of two new benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids, (6R)-10-methoxybocconoline (1) and 6-(1-hydroxyethyl)-10-methoxy-5,6-dihydrochelerythrine (2). Their planar structures were elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies, together with MS data. The absolute configuration for position C-6 of 1 and relative configurations for position C-6 and C-1' of 2 were assigned by density functional theory (DFT) calculations of ECD and NMR data, respectively. Also isolated were fourteen known metabolites, including ten alkaloids (3-12) and four coumaroyl-containing compounds (13-16). Cytological profiling of the isolates against Parkinson's Disease (PD) patient-derived olfactory cells revealed bocconoline (3) and 6-(1-hydroxyethyl)-5,6-dihydrochelerythrine (4) significantly perturbated the features of cellular organelles including early endosomes, mitochondria and autophagosomes. Given that hONS cells from PD patients model some functional aspects of the disease, the results suggested that these phenotypic profiles may have a role in the mechanisms underlying PD and signified the efficacy of CP in finding potential chemical tools to study the biological pathways in PD.

Macleaya cordata extracts exert antiviral effects in newborn mice with rotavirus-induced diarrhea via inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that Macleaya cordata extract exerts antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects in various diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the potential effects of M. cordata on rotavirus SA11-induced diarrhea in mice. Diarrhea severity, levels of inflammatory cytokines, histological changes in the small intestine and the underlying mechanisms were evaluated in rotavirus-stimulated mice treated with 1, 2 and 4 mg/kg/day M. cordata or 4 mg/kg/day ribavirin (positive control). M. cordata treatment effectively ameliorated rotavirus-induced diarrhea in a dose-dependent manner by decreasing viral RNA levels. In addition, M. cordata reduced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines including migration inhibitory factor, interleukin (IL)-8, IL-β, interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α, and elevated the secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 following rotavirus infection. M. cordata inhibited intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis and improved intestinal inflammation after rotavirus infection. The study also revealed that M. cordata exerted antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects on rotavirus-induced diarrhea by suppressing the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/STAT3 pathway, as reflected by decreased protein expression of phosphorylated (p)-JAK2 and p-STAT3. Overall, M. cordata effectively inhibited the inflammation caused by rotavirus, which was closely associated with the suppression of JAK2/STAT3 phosphorylation. These data suggested that M. cordata may be applied as a treatment for rotavirus-induced diarrhea.

Supplementation of Lactobacillus plantarum or Macleaya cordata Extract Alleviates Oxidative Damage Induced by Weaning in the Lower Gut of Young Goats

Weaning usually leads to stress in livestock, which has a negative impact on their growth and development. Research on oxidative stress and inflammation induced by weaning has not been reported in goats. Here, we focused on oxidative stress profile and inflammation status of the lower gut (jejunum, ileum, and colon) of goats. First, we illustrated the status of antioxidant activity and inflammation in the intestine of young goats on pre-(2 weeks postnatal, 2 wk^pn) or post-(11 wk^pn, weaning at day 45 postnatal)-weaned period of young goats. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher (p < 0.0001) in jejunum and ileum of the young goats in 11 wk^pn than that in 2 wk^pn, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was lower (p = 0.012) in the lower gut of the young goats with 11 wk^pn than that in 2 wk^pn. Furthermore, we intended to explore the protective influence of a probiotic additive (Lactobacillus plantarum (LAC) P-8, 10 g/d) and a prebiotic additive (Sangrovit^®, Macleaya cordata (MAC) extract 3.75% w/w premix, 0.3 g/d) on intestinal oxidative stress and inflammation status of early-weaned young goats (average weights of 5.63 ± 0.30 kg, weaned on d 45 postnatal). We observed that LAC reduced MDA in jejunum and ileum (p < 0.0001), increased SOD activity in ileum (p < 0.01), and increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in jejunum (p < 0.05). Similarly, MAC reduced MDA contents (p < 0.0001), increased SOD activities (p < 0.01) in both of ileum and jejunum, and increased GSH-Px activity (p < 0.05) in jejunum. However, there were no differences in feed intake, average daily gain, inflammation parameters (interleukin 2 and interleukin 6), and colon oxidative stress profile (MDA, SOD, or GSH-Px) among treatments. These results provide evidence that weaning induces oxidative damage in the lower gut of young goats, and the oxidative damage in the small intestine can be reduced by adding the addition of LAC or MAC in diets depending on the region of the lower gut.

Identification of drought resistant miRNA in Macleaya cordata by high-throughput sequencing

Drought is one of the most serious factors affecting crop yields in the world. Macleaya cordata (Willd.) is a draught-tolerant medicinal plant that has been proposed as a pioneer crop to be cultivated in arid areas. However, the exact molecular mechanisms through which M. cordata responds to draught stress remain elusive. In recent years, microRNA (miRNAs) in plants have been associated with stress response. Based on these findings, the current study aimed to shed light on the potential regulatory roles of miRNAs in the draught tolerance of M. cordata by employing high-throughput RNA sequencing and degradation sequencing. Six M. cordata plants were randomly divided into two equal experiment groups, including one draught group and one control group. High-throughput sequencing of the M. cordata samples led to the identification of 895 miRNAs, of which 18 showed significantly different expression levels between the two groups. PsRobot analysis and degradation sequencing predicted the differential miRNAs to target 59 and 36 genes, respectively. Functional analysis showed that 38 of the predicted genes could be implicated in the modulation of stress response. Four miRNAs and eight target genes were selected for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validation. The expression trend of each miRNA analyzed by qRT-PCR was consistent with that determined by sequencing, and was negatively correlated with those of its target genes. The results of our current study supported the involvement of miRNAs in the draught tolerance of M. cordata and could pave the way for further investigation into the related regulatory mechanisms.

Integrative study of subcellular distribution, chemical forms, and physiological responses for understanding manganese tolerance in the herb Macleaya cordata (papaveraceae)

Macleaya cordata is a perennial herb, a candidate phytoremediation plant with high biomass and manganese (Mn) tolerance. To study the mechanism underlying its Mn adaptability, Mn²⁺ at various concentrations (0, 1000, 5000, 10000, 15000, and 20000 μM) were applied to M. cordata to investigate the subcellular distribution and chemical forms of Mn, as well as the resulting physiological and biochemical changes by pot culture experiment under natural light in a greenhouse. According to our results, Mn level in M. cordata increased with exogenous Mn concentrations; and Mn contents in different tissues exhibited a leaf > root > stem pattern. Meanwhile, biomass and the level of photosynthetic pigments increased at lower Mn concentrations but declined as Mn concentration further ascended. Subcellular distribution analysis revealed that Mn was sequestered in cell wall and vacuole; in addition, it was incorporated into pectates and protein, phosphates, and oxalates. These findings revealed a possible effective strategy for M. cordata to reduce Mn mobility and toxicity. Moreover, a continuous boost in the level of malondialdehyde was observed with Mn gradient; whereas contents of soluble proteins and proline, and the activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase were initially increased and then dropped. Altogether, these results indicated that most Mn was trapped in the cell wall and soluble fractions in low toxicity forms such as pectates and protein, phosphates, and oxalates. These strategies, that is functioning cooperatively with the well-coordinated antioxidant defense systems and the non-enzymatic metabolites, confer strong resistance to Mn in M. cordata.

Determination of Selected Isoquinoline Alkaloids from Mahonia Aquifolia; Meconopsis Cambrica; Corydalis Lutea; Dicentra Spectabilis; Fumaria Officinalis; Macleaya Cordata Extracts by HPLC-DAD and Comparison of Their Cytotoxic Activity

Alkaloids have protective functions for plants and can play an important role in living organisms. Alkaloids may have a wide range of pharmacological activities. Many of them have cytotoxic activity. Nowadays, cancer has become a serious public health problem. Searching for effective drugs with anticancer activity is one of the most significant challenges of modern scientific research. The aim of this study was the investigation of cytotoxic activity of extracts obtained from Corydalis lutea root and herb, Dicentra spectabilis root and herb, Fumaria officinalis, Macleaya cordata leaves and herb, Mahonia aquifolia leaves and cortex, Meconopsis cambrica root and herb on FaDu, SCC-25, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines. The cytotoxic activity of these extracts has not been previously tested for these cell lines. The aim was also to quantify selected alkaloids in the investigated extracts by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The analyses of alkaloid content were performed using HPLC in reversed phase (RP) mode using Polar RP column and mobile phase containing acetonitrile, water and ionic liquid (IL). Cytotoxic effect of the tested plant extracts and respective alkaloid standards were examined using human pharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells (FaDu), human tongue squamous carcinoma cells (SCC-25), human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7), human triple-negative breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MDA-MB-231). All investigated plant extracts possess cytotoxic activity against tested cancer cell lines: FaDu, SCC-25, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231. The highest cytotoxic activity against FaDu, SCC-25, and MCF-7 cell lines was estimated for Macleaya cordata leaf extract, while the highest cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-231 cell line was obtained for Macleaya cordata herb extract. Differences in cytotoxic activity were observed for extracts obtained from various parts of investigated plants. In almost all cases the cytotoxic activity of investigated plant extracts, especially at the highest concentration against tested cell lines was significantly higher than the activity of anticancer drug etoposide. Our investigations exhibit that these plant extracts can be recommended for further in vivo experiments to confirm their anticancer activity.

Effect of Macleaya cordata and Magnolia officinalis plant extracts on oxidative stress control in lambs fed a high-concentrate diet

Objective

The objective of this experiment was to compare conventional antioxidants and plant extracts for oxidative stress control in lambs fed a high-concentrate diet.

Methods

Forty-eight male Dorper×Santa Ines lambs with an initial weight of 20±1.49 kg and 60 days of age, were used to evaluate the effects of feeding a combination of Macleaya cordata and Magnolia officinalis plant extracts (0 vs 320 mg/kg dry matter [DM]) in combination with selenium+vitamin E (0 vs 100 IU/kg DM of vitamin E and 0.1 mg/kg DM of selenium) in a completely randomized block design in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. The animals were housed in individual pens and received a high-concentrate diet consisting of 80% whole corn and 20% protein pellet for 60 days. The animals were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and every 14 days for performance monitoring. Three blood samplings were performed during the experimental period for the evaluation of oxidative and protein parameters.

Results

The treatments with vitamin E and selenium as additives had a positive influence on final weight, daily weight gain, carcass weight, and selenium content in longissimus muscle (p = 0.01). Plant extracts tended to improve final weight (p = 0.064) and daily weight gain (p = 0.059), showing similar effect as selenium and vitamin E. There was no effect of treatment on blood proteins, indicating that the animals were healthy throughout the experiment.

Conclusion

The use of plant extracts had a similar effect as the addition of selenium and vitamin E, with dietary inclusion of additives resulting in better performance of lambs but both supplements did not have strong influence on oxidative stress.

Enhancement of repeated applications of chelates on phytoremediation of uranium contaminated soil by Macleaya cordata

A greenhouse pot experiment was performed to investigate the enhancement of repeated applications of citric acid (CA), ethylenediamine disuccinic acid (EDDS), and Oxalic acid (OA) on phytoremediation of uranium (U) contaminated soil by Macleaya Cordata. The chelates followed the order CA > EDDS > OA in terms of the enhancement on uranium uptake by M. cordata. The repeated applications of the chelates were found to be more effective than the one time application at the equal dose as the U concentration of soil solution increased significantly from the 8th to 14th day. The repeated applications of 10 mmol kg^-1 CA promoted the solubilization of U in the U-contaminated soil by significantly decreasing the pH of soil solution, achieved the maximum U concentration of soil solution (1463.6 µg L^-1), bioconcentration factors (BCFs, 11.4), bioaccumulation factors (BAFs, 21.4) and transfer factors (TFs, 1.9), which were 215.2, 5.7, 30.6 and 16.3 times as compared with the control group, respectively. The three applied chelates significantly affected the activities of the antioxidant enzymes in the leaves. Repeated applications of CA further enhanced the activities of the antioxidant enzymes in the leaves of M. cordata as compared with the control, EDDS and OA, mitigated the oxidative stress induced by uranium and chelates, and maximized the enhancement on the uranium uptake, which will be beneficial for the enhancement on the phytoremediation of uranium contaminated soil by U hyperaccumulating plants. These results indicated that the phytoavailability of uranium in soil solution as well as the accumulation of U by M. cordata were both significantly increased after repeated applications of CA, and that the repeated applications of 10 mmol kg^-1 CA increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes and promoted U accumulation by M. cordata. The study provided an environmentally friendly alternative for the enhancement on the phytoremediation of uranium contaminated soil using M. cordata.

Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Macleaya cordata against Extensively Drug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The antibiotic resistant threat is continuing to grow, due in part to the overuse of antibiotics in livestock feed. Many nations in Europe have banned the use of antibiotics in feed, leading to higher rates of infection in livestock animals and reduced productivity for the food market. Increasingly, researchers are looking into the efficacy of phytopreparations to replace antibiotics in feed, allowing for increased animal health without the development of resistance. Macleaya cordata, or Chinese plume poppy, shows promise as a food additive. To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of this plant, we tested in vitro activity of M. cordata extract, as well as pure compounds sanguinarine and chelerythrine against wild-type, methicillin-resistant, and multiply-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (SA1199, AH1263, and IA116, respectively). Combination tests to evaluate synergy, additivity, and antagonism within the extract were also completed for the first time. Sanguinarine and chelerythrine showed complete growth inhibition of all strains of S. aureus at concentrations ranging from 3-10 µg/mL, and were equal in activity or were more potent than the reference compound chloramphenicol. Combination studies of pure sanguinarine and chelerythrine with M. cordata extract revealed additivity or indifference of mixture components with these compounds. Because sanguinarine and chelerythrine represent the major active constituents of M. cordata, the pooled amounts of these two compounds may be useful for establishing potency for quality control purposes. This is the first report of activity of chelerythrine and sanguinarine against methicillin-resistant S. aureus AH1263 and multiply-resistant S. aureus IA116, and illustrates the promise of M. cordata extract as an alternative to antibiotics in feed additives.

Several newly discovered Mo-enriched plants with a focus on Macleaya cordata

Phytoremediation as an alternative strategy has been a widespread attention. The screening of enriched plants and hyperaccumulators is the key of the strategy. So this study examined the status of heavy metal pollution in molybdenum (Mo) mine soils, metal accumulation in plants growing on mine, and their tolerance strategies. The analysis of 14 soils and 27 plant samples in mining area showed that Mo, zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) concentrations exceeded soil safety standards and their levels varied in 27 plant samples. Mo was the heavy pollution with an average total content of 256.1 mg/kg in soils. As Mo-enriched plants, Mo concentrations of Macleaya cordata (Willd.) R. Br. and Morus australis Poir. were 704.4 and 772.4 mg/kg, respectively. M. cordata was selected as the research material, due to its high biomass. Molybdenum significantly decreased the biomass and photosynthesis of M. cordata at high concentration (> 200 μmol/L), but its biomass and photosynthesis reached the maximum after 50 μmol/L Mo treatment, respectively. Analysis of the subcellular distribution and chemical speciation showed that Mo was distributed a certain way in the extracts and that this suggested that it may be present in cell wall and soluble fraction of roots (51.9-63.9%; 26.1-44.7%) or shoots (30.0-44.4%; 47.3-56.0%) and complexed to organic acid, pectate, oxalate, and protein. This might be responsible for the adaptation of M. cordata to Mo stress. Therefore, M. cordata could serve as a potential plant to utilize for the phytoremediation of Mo-contaminated soil.

The impacts of Macleaya cordata extract and naringin inclusion in post-weaning piglet diets on performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal histomorphology

The current study investigated the impacts of supplementation of post-weaning piglet diets with Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) and naringin (NAR) on performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal histomorphology. Post-weaning crossbred piglets (28 males and 28 females; age at weaning 25 d) were randomly allotted to 28 pens. The experiment consisted of a control and three treatment groups (MCE60, MCE120 and NAR). For diets MCE60 and MCE120, the control diet was supplemented with 60 and 120 mg Sangrovit® Extra (a standardised premixture of MCE) per kg diet, respectively. Group NAR received 50 mg pure NAR per kg diet. The experiment lasted 42 d (d 25 - 66 of age). At d 66, apparent pre-caecal digestibility (APD) of nutrients was determined and histomorphological changes in mid-jejunum were evaluated. Feeding diets MCE120 and NAR improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of piglets. After feeding diets MCE120 and NAR, the APD of phosphorus and different single and total amino acids were greater than after feeding the control diet. The present data demonstrated that supplementation of post-weaning piglet diets with 120 mg MCE or 50 mg NAR per kg diet could improve growth performance and nutrient digestibility and had no impact on histomorphological variables in the jejunum. These findings indicate the potential of these products to be used as growth promoters in pig nutrition.

[A new 6,6a-offbenzophenanthridine alkaloid from Macleaya cordata]

A new alkaloid was isolated from the leaves of Macleaya cordata with 95% ethanol extracted and its isolation was by column chromatography and preparation HPLC. The new structure was elucidated as 6'-hydroxy-2',3'-dimethoxyarnottianamide on the basis of its spectroscopic date.

Cadmium accumulation and tolerance of Macleaya cordata: a newly potential plant for sustainable phytoremediation in Cd-contaminated soil

Heavy metal pollution is a major concern of the public due to their threats to the safety of food chains. A 60-day pot experiment was conducted using Macleaya cordata as plant material to investigate the phytoremediation potential and anti-oxidative responses of M. cordata under different Cd stress. Significant growth inhibition phenomenon and toxic symptoms were not detected in the experiment. The high biomass of the plant provided high accumulation capacity for Cd with an average dry weight of 3.6 g. The maximum extraction amount of Cd was 393 μg·plant(-1), suggesting that this species had potential for phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil. A slight increase of chlorophyll (CHL) content was observed in Cd10 treatment. The plant was confirmed to have relatively high tolerance to the Cd stress on the basis of tolerance indexes (TI), relative water content, and CHLa/CHLb ratio. M. cordata could maintain high level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity under Cd stress, indicating strong tolerance capacity for reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant cells. Catalase (CAT) activity show a certain range of decline in the experiment compare to the control. And peroxidase (POD) activity in leaves changed irregularly when compared to the control. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased as Cd concentration elevated compared to the control. In addition, as an inedible crop with relatively high economic value, M. cordata have shown the advantage of high biomass and high tolerance under Cd stress, which can provide a new plant resource for sustainable phytoremediation.

Mass spectrometry-guided isolation of two new benzoquinoline alkaloids from Macleaya cordata

Two new alkaloids, named 2,3-methylenedioxy-7,10-dimethyl-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-benzoquinoline (1) and 2,3-methylenedioxy-7,10-dimethyl-8-carboxyl-benzoquinoline (2), were detected primarily from the fruits of Macleaya cordata by their different fragmentation pathways. And then isolation of the two compounds was performed by column chromatography and preparative HPLC under the guiding of mass spectrometry. Finally, their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis.

A new cytotoxic benzophenanthridine isoquinoline alkaloid from the fruits of Macleaya cordata

A new cytotoxic benzophenanthridine isoquinoline alkaloid, named cordatine (1), together with one known alkaloid 8-methoxydihydrochelerythrine (2), was isolated from the fruits of Macleaya cordata. The structure of the new compound was elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS. Both compounds indicated significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and SF-268 cell lines.

Chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from the leaves of Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br

The essential oil from the leaves of Macleaya cordata R.Br. obtained by hydrodistillation was analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Sixty-eight compounds consisting of up to 92.53% of the essential oil were identified. Antioxidant activities of the essential oil were evaluated by using DPPH radical scavenging and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays. The essential oil showed moderate antioxidant activity. In addition, the essential oil exhibited potential antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms, with diameters of inhibition zones ranging from 8.7 ± 0.5 to 17.2 ± 1.2 mm and minimum inhibitory concentration values from 125 to 500 μg/mL. We selected the most sensitive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus as model to observe of the action of essential oils of M. cordata on the membrane structure by scanning electron microscopy. The treated cell membranes were damaged severely. The results presented here indicate that the essential oil of M. cordata may be potential sources of antioxidant and antimicrobial agents in the future.