Now what's molecular biology of herb plants?

[Guest guest]

Hi Jim,

 

I'm not the one who was looking for information. I was just making clarifications. I would describe the topics that you listed below as biochem and pharm. They use the methods and techniques of molecular biology sometimes though most of what's presented below is pretty standard biochem and pharm. The overlap of techniques between labs is quite enormous. I know it sounds very anal. But when you teach this stuff each realm has its own mission and linguistic orientation. I promise not to bring this up any more. One of my biochem professors was annoyed back in 1991 that one of my masters degrees would be in molecular biology. She said, "You know, molecular biology is just a sub category of biochemistry!" She wanted me to do that particular masters work under her instead of my other graduate mentor. Describing molecular biology for me is like Ken describing Qi. I promise not to go there any more. Please proceed as you were. My apologies for attempting clarification.

 

Emmanuel Segmen

 

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James Ramholz

Saturday, June 14, 2003 8:14 PM

Re: Is there anyone working on molecular biology of herb plants?Genetics & Molecular Biology Topics Related to Ginseng: Ginsenoside Rh2 generated apoptosis involves caspase & radicals but not cleavage of PARP into 85 kd in rat glioma cells Kim 1999 Tyrosine hydroxylase is inhibited by Ginsenoside-Rb1, Rc, Re and Rg, 51.5, 25.4, 31.3, 44.3 and 43.3%, respectively, at 80 microg/ml Kim 1999 Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase is inhibited mildly by Ginseng saponins Kwon 1999 Tyrosinase is inhibited by p-coumaric acid from Ginseng leaves, with oxidation of L-tyrosine more affected than L-DOPA Lim 1999 MADS box cDNA (GAG2) codes a protein in seedlings with 71% identity with AG in flowers of Arabidopsis thaliana. Temporal and spatial differences imply different functions Kim 1998 G-Rh2 and G-Rh3 induced differentiation of HL-60 cells into morphologically and functionally granulocytes but G-Rh1 and G-Rh4 did not. G-Rh2 and G-Rh3 arrested the cell cycle at the G1/S phase; Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent PKC activity was increased Kim 1998 Bovine adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase (catalyzes Tyr to DOPA) is inhibited 42% by 40 microgm/ml Ginseng total saponin; IC50=77 microgm/ml; Ki=155 microgm/ml Kim 1998 p21WAF1/CIP1 was cleaved to a p14 fragment in ginsenoside Rh2-treated or staurosporine-treated cells. This is prevented by Ac-DEVD-CHO, a specific caspase-3 inhibitor Park 1998 PKC, DAG and fibroblast proliferation were inhibited by ginsenosides Rh1 and Rh2 from Panax ginseng root Byun 1997 Trilinolein, a triacylglycerol with three linoleic-acid residues, from Panax pseudo-ginseng at 10(-7) mol/L increased Cu.Zn-SOD in hypoxia/reperfusion of rat hearts Chan 1997 Restriction enzyme mapping of chloroplast DNA indicates it to be 154 kb and circular Choi 1997 PCR-RFLP identification of ginseng based on 18S ribosomal RNA sequence Fushimi 1997 Cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitors from hairy roots of Panax ginseng were identified as panaxynol, panaxydol, panaxydiol, and panaxytriol; with IC50 values of 94, 80, 45 and 79 microM, respectively Kwon 1997 Choline acetyltransferase and trkA mRNAs in the basal forebrain and nerve growth factor mRNA in the hippocampus are increased by ginsenoside Rb1 Salim 1997 Na+, K(+)-ATPase is inhibited by gypenoside, IC50=55 mg/L [Article in Chinese] Han 1996 Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase gene transcription is induced by panaxadiol, especially the Rb2 fraction, and not panaxatriol nor total saponins. Specific binding of the AP2 transcription factor was increased by ginsenoside Rb2 Kim 1996 Cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors from the extract of Korean Panax ginseng roots are polyacetylene analogs with IC50=20-35 mg/ml Kwon 1996 Lipoprotein lipase activity of adipocytes was increased by oleanolic acid glycoside or 20(S)-protopanaxatriol glycoside. Ginsenosides Ro, Re, Rg1, and Rh1 increased the secretion of lipase activity by 119, 107, 56, and 32%, respectively Masuno 1996 Phylogenic tree of 12 Panax species based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacers and the 5.8S coding region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA repeat indicates P. quinquefolius is more closely related to Asian species than P. trifolius Wen 1996 DNA polymerase delta activity is doubled by ginsenosides. Ginsenosides also activated the proofreading ability of 3'- to 5'-exonuclease activity supporting the view that polymerase and exonuclease activities are on the same protein molecule Cho 1995 ATPase is inhibited by Rb1 and somewhat by Rg1 Chen 1994 Tyrosine aminotransferase EC(2.6.1.5) mRNA level was increased 9.3-fold by Rg1 in hepatocyte cultures. This effect was inhibited by RU486, a specific glucocorticoid antagonist or Rp-cAMPs, a specific competitive inhibitor of protein kinase A Kang 1994 Tyrosine aminotransferase induction by Rg1 follows a time course similar to dexamethasone in rat hepatocyte cultures. The additive effect of G-Rg1 and dexamethasone was inhibited as well by RU486, a specific glucocorticoid antagonist Kim 1994 Mitosis in cultured human lymphocytes activated by PHA or Con A is promoted by Rg1 at 300-500 ng/ml Tong 1980 DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells was increased by a of 5-10 mg/kg single i.p. of ginsenosides Rb2, Rc, Re and Rg1. DNA synthesis is enhanced by Rb1, Rb2 and Rc mixture. cAMP is decreased Rb2, Rc and Rg1. CGMP is increased by Rb2, Re and Rg1 Yamamoto 1978 Jim RamholzChinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education.

[Guest guest]

, " Emmanuel Segmen " wrote:

I would describe the topics that you listed below as biochem and

pharm. They use the methods and techniques of molecular biology

sometimes though most of what's presented below is pretty standard

biochem and pharm. The overlap of techniques between labs is quite

enormous. >>>

 

 

Emmanuel:

 

I don't find it anal at all. I find the way you think from your

background quite interesting. The list is just one of the things

that came up when I did a google search on " molecular biology "

and " chinese medicine " . I was actually surprised how much research

is going on and how many patents are being filed for herbal formulas

and the processing of them.

 

When looking at some of the patents, it started to make me think

about different ways to modify some of my own herbal formulas. When

Chinese herbs are more integrated into WM, they may reflect more the

biochemistry characters than highly generalized symptom patterns.

 

I wouldn't be surpised one day if the patented formulas and

processes started to intrude somehow into the business of our

profession.

 

 

Jim Ramholz