2-C-Methyl-d-erythritol. Produced in plants, forms aerosols in the atmosphere. An alternative pathway in isoprenoid biosynthesis

Wound healing activity and phytochemical screening of purified fractions of Sempervivum tectorum L. leaves on HCT 116

INTRODUCTION

Sempervivum tectorum L. (Crassulaceae), is a succulent perennial plant widespread in Mediterranean countries and commonly used in traditional medicine for ear inflammation, ulcers and skin rashes as a refrigerant and astringent.

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the therapeutic effects of the plant, various fractions were purified and characterised. The potential wound healing activity, proliferation rate and intracellular signalling cascades were investigated by using human epithelial colorectal carcinoma (HCT 116) cells.

METHODOLOGY

An extraction method without organic solvents was applied for the first time. The purification was carried out by droplet counter current chromatography (DCCC) coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) data. By nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) [¹ H, ¹³ C and two-dimensional (2D) experiments] pure components were identified. Wound healing and cell proliferation assays were utilised to determine the role of the isolated S. tectorum (SVT) fraction on cellular migration and proliferation. The signalling pathways elicited from the SVT fractions, were analysed by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

In this study two rare natural components were identified, namely monosaccharide sedoheptulose and polyalcohol 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol, along with known organic acids and flavonoids. The fractions with high level of sedoheptulose enhance the proliferation and the cellular migration of epithelial HCT 116 cells. The intracellular signalling cascades elicited from the purified fractions induce the c-Src-mediated transactivation of EGFR and the activation of the STAT3 pathway which, in turn, are crucially involved in the cellular proliferation and migration.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates the efficacy of purified fractions of S. tectorum L. in enhancing cellular proliferation and migration, suggesting their potential role as topical therapeutic treatments for wound healing.

Determination of the stable carbon isotopic compositions of 2-methyltetrols for four forest areas in Southwest China: The implications for the δ13C values of atmospheric isoprene and C3/C4 vegetation distribution

Isoprene is the most abundant non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) in the troposphere and is released predominantly by vegetation. The δ¹³C values of atmospheric isoprene vary with different plant types (e.g. C₃ and C₄ plants). In this work, aerosol samples were collected in four forest areas in Sichuan Province, China, i.e., the Baima Spring Scenic Area (BM), the Panzhihua Cycas Nature Reserve (PZ), the Gongga Mountain National Nature Reserve (GG) and the Wolong National Nature Reserve (WL) during the summers of 2010-2012. The stable carbon isotopic compositions of 2-methyltetrols, the stable products of isoprene oxidation by OH, were measured using a GC/C/IRMS (gas chromatography/combustion/isotopic ratio mass spectrometry) with methylboronic acid derivatization. The stable carbon isotopic fractionation coefficient of isoprene oxidized by OH (^OHε_i) was derived in laboratory. With the δ¹³C values of 2-methyltetrols, ^OHε_i and meteorological parameters, the δ¹³C values of atmospheric isoprene were calculated. The results show that forests can remarkably change the δ¹³C values of isoprene in the regional scales, making significant contributions to isoprene emissions. Moreover, C₃/C₄ proportions of shrubs and grasses depend on altitudes. The average δ¹³C values of atmospheric isoprene are -24.18 ± 1.72‰, -25.81 ± 1.36‰, -24.96 ± 0.94‰, -25.89 ± 1.35‰ for BM, PZ, GG and WL, respectively. The average δ¹³C value of atmospheric isoprene in SW China and the surrounding areas was -25.23 ± 1.44‰. C₄ plants emitted 26.9 ± 10.3% of isoprene in the research atmosphere.