Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for humans, and increasing Zn density in rice ( Oryza sativa L.) grains is important for improving human nutrition. The characteristics of Zn translocation and remobilization were investigated in high Zn density genotype IR68144, in comparison with the low Zn density genotype IR64. Stable isotope tracer (68)Zn was supplied at various growth stages, either to the roots in nutrient solution or to the flag leaves to investigate the contribution of (68)Zn absorbed at different growth stages to grain accumulation and the remobilization ability of (68)Zn within plants. Significant differences in (68)Zn allocation were observed between the two rice genotypes. Much higher (68)Zn concentrations were found in grains, stems, and leaves of IR68144 than in IR64, but higher (68)Zn was found in roots of IR64. More than half of the Zn accumulated in the grains was remobilized before anthesis, accounting for 63 and 52% of the total Zn uptake for IR68144 and IR64, respectively. Without supply of external Zn, at vegetative or reproductive stages, more (68)Zn was retranslocated from "old tissues" to "new tissues" in IR68144 than in IR64. Retranslocation of (68)Zn from flag leaves to grains was twice as high in the former when (68)Zn was applied to the flag leaves during booting or anthesis. These results indicate that Zn density in rice grains is closely associated with the ability to translocate Zn from old tissues to new tissues at both early and late growth stages and with phloem remobilization of Zn from leaves and stems to grains.

Emerging research implicates the participation of spinal dorsal horn (SDH) neurons and astrocytes in nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain. However, the crosstalk between spinal astrocytes and neurons in neuropathic pain is not clear. Using a lumbar 5 (L5) spinal nerve ligation (SNL) pain model, we testified our hypothesis that SDH neurons and astrocytes reciprocally regulate each other to maintain the persistent neuropathic pain states. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was used as the astrocytic specific marker and Fos, protein of the protooncogene c-fos, was used as a marker for activated neurons. SNL induced a significant mechanical allodynia as well as activated SDH neurons indicated by the Fos expression at the early phase and activated astrocytes with the increased expression of GFAP during the late phase of pain, respectively. Intrathecal administration of c-fos antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ASO) or astroglial toxin L-α-aminoadipate (L-AA) reversed the mechanical allodynia, respectively. Immunofluorescent histochemistry revealed that intrathecal administration of c-fos ASO significantly suppressed activation of not only neurons but also astrocytes induced by SNL. Meanwhile, L-AA shortened the duration of neuronal activation by SNL. Our data offers evidence that neuronal and astrocytic activations are closely related with the maintenance of neuropathic pain through a reciprocal “crosstalk”. The current study suggests that neuronal and non-neuronal elements should be taken integrally into consideration for nociceptive transmission, and that the intervention of such interaction may offer some novel pain therapeutic strategies.

BackgroundZinc (Zn) biofortification through foliar Zn application is an attractive strategy to reduce human Zn deficiency. However, little is known about the biofortification efficiency and bioavailability of rice grain from different forms of foliar Zn fertilizers.Methodology/Principal FindingsFour different Zn forms were applied as a foliar treatment among three rice cultivars under field trial. Zinc bioavailability was assessed by in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell model. Foliar Zn fertilization was an effective agronomic practice to promote grain Zn concentration and Zn bioavailability among three rice cultivars, especially, in case of Zn-amino acid and ZnSO4. On average, Zn-amino acid and ZnSO4 increased Zn concentration in polished rice up to 24.04% and 22.47%, respectively. On average, Zn-amino acid and ZnSO4 increased Zn bioavailability in polished rice up to 68.37% and 64.43%, respectively. The effectiveness of foliar applied Zn-amino acid and ZnSO4 were higher than Zn-EDTA and Zn-Citrate on improvement of Zn concentration, and reduction of phytic acid, as a results higher accumulation of bioavailable Zn in polished rice. Moreover, foliar Zn application could maintain grain yield, the protein and minerals (Fe and Ca) quality of the polished rice.ConclusionsFoliar application of Zn in rice offers a practical and useful approach to improve bioavailable Zn in polished rice. According to current study, Zn-amino acid and ZnSO4 are recommended as excellent foliar Zn forms to ongoing agronomic biofortification.

Folate deficiency associated with low dietary intake is a well-documented public health problem, resulting in serious health and socioeconomic burdens. Therefore, optimization of the germination process of different cultivars of legume seeds in relation to the content and composition of folate, vitamin C, and total phenolics and total antioxidant capacity was carried out to maximize the health-promoting properties. The content and composition of folate, vitamin C, and total phenolic and total antioxidant capacities varied between species, among cultivars, and with germination time. During germination, total folate content was maximum at 815.2 μg/100 g fresh weight in soybean sprout and at 675.4 μg/100 g fresh weight in mungbean sprout on the fourth day, which were equivalent to, respectively, 3.5- and 3.9-fold increases in the seed's content, and total folate content strongly decreased thereafter. 5-CH(3)-H(4)folate was the most abundant folate species in legume sprouts and reached a maximum on the fourth day. Vitamin C was not detected in raw seeds, and its content increased sharply in soybean and mungbean sprouts and reached a maximum at the fourth day of germination (29 and 27.7 mg/100 g fresh weight, respectively). Germination of soybean and mungbean for 4 days provided the largest amount of total folate as well as the more stable species 5-CH(3)-H(4)folate and also brought about large amounts of vitamin C and total phenolics and substantial antioxidant capacities.

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of severe visual deficits and blindness. Meanwhile, there is convincing evidence implicating oxidative stress, inflammation, and neovascularization in the onset and progression of AMD. Several studies have identified berberine hydrochloride and chrysophanol as potential treatments for ocular diseases based on their antioxidative, antiangiogenic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Unfortunately, their poor stability and bioavailability have limited their application. In order to overcome these disadvantages, we prepared a compound liposome system that can entrap these drugs simultaneously using the third polyamidoamine dendrimer (PAMAM G3.0) as a carrier. Results PAMAM G3.0-coated compound liposomes exhibited appreciable cellular permeability in human corneal epithelial cells and enhanced bio-adhesion on rabbit corneal epithelium. Moreover, coated liposomes greatly improved BBH bioavailability. Further, coated liposomes exhibited obviously protective effects in human retinal pigment epithelial cells and rat retinas after photooxidative retinal injury. Finally, administration of P-CBLs showed no sign of side effects on ocular surface structure in rabbits model. Conclusions The PAMAM G3.0-liposome system thus displayed a potential use for treating various ocular diseases. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12951-019-0498-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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This study is to investigate the possibility of zinc (Zn) biofortification in the grains of rice (Oryza sativa L.) by inoculation of endophytic strains isolated from a Zn hyperaccumulator, Sedum alfredii Hance. Five endophytic strains, Burkholderia sp. SaZR4, Burkholderia sp. SaMR10, Sphingomonas sp. SaMR12, Variovorax sp. SaNR1, and Enterobacter sp. SaCS20, isolated from S. alfredii, were inoculated in the roots of Japonica rice Nipponbare under hydroponic condition. Fluorescence images showed that endophytic strains successfully colonized rice roots after 72 h. Improved root morphology and plant growth of rice was observed after inoculation with endophytic strains especially SaMR12 and SaCS20. Under hydroponic conditions, endophytic inoculation with SaMR12 and SaCS20 increased Zn concentration by 44.4% and 51.1% in shoots, and by 73.6% and 83.4% in roots, respectively. Under soil conditions, endophytic inoculation with SaMR12 and SaCS20 resulted in an increase of grain yields and elevated Zn concentrations by 20.3% and 21.9% in brown rice and by 13.7% and 11.2% in polished rice, respectively. After inoculation of SaMR12 and SaCS20, rhizosphere soils of rice plants contained higher concentration of DTPA-Zn by 10.4% and 20.6%, respectively. In situ micro-X-ray fluorescence mapping of Zn confirmed the elevated Zn content in the rhizosphere zone of rice treated with SaMR12 as compared with the control. The above results suggested that endophytic microbes isolated from S. alfredii could successfully colonize rice roots, resulting in improved root morphology and plant growth, increased Zn bioavailability in rhizosphere soils, and elevated grain yields and Zn densities in grains.

Iron (Fe) deficiency in humans caused by inadequate dietary intake is a global nutritional problem. A glass house pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of foliar FeSO₄ containing applications on concentrations of Fe, Zn, and Fe bioavailability in polished rice among five rice cultivars. The results showed that foliar application of FeSO₄, FeSO₄, plus nicotianamine (NA), and FeSO₄ plus NA with ZnSO₄ increased the grain Fe concentration by 16.97%, 29.9%, and 27.08%, respectively. The grain Fe bioavailability also increased by foliar application of FeSO₄, FeSO₄ plus NA, and FeSO₄ plus NA with ZnSO₄; these represent increases of 12.63%, 20.86%, and 18.75%, respectively. Foliar FeSO₄ containing applications improved the Fe bioavailability and might be attributed to the reduction of phytic acid and the increase of Fe concentration in polished rice. Addition of ZnSO₄ to foliar Fe application increased both Fe and Zn content without altering Fe content and bioavailability. In addition, the cultivar difference in Fe and Zn concentration was observed and may be due to the genetic control of leaf absorption and seed deposition of foliar application. Furthermore, the cultivar difference in Fe bioavailability observed might be attributed to the variation of grain Fe, phytic acid, and total phenolics contents among the five rice cultivars. The results suggested that foliar FeSO₄ containing applications represent a promising agricultural approach to reduce Fe deficiency in countries where polished rice is extensively consumed.