Endophytic bacterial and fungal community compositions in different organs of ginseng (Panax ginseng)

Biodiversity of Endophytic Microbes in Diverse Tea Chrysanthemum Cultivars and Their Potential Promoting Effects on Plant Growth and Quality

The endophytic microbiomes significantly differed across tea chrysanthemum cultivars and organs (stems and leaves). The most abundant endophytic bacterial genera were Pseudomonas, Masillia, and Enterobacter in the leaves and Sphingomonas and Curtobacterium in the stems of the five cultivars. Meanwhile, the most abundant endophytic fungal genera in the leaves and stems of the five tea chrysanthemums were Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Sporobolomyces. Specifically, Rhodotorula was dominant in the leaves of 'Jinsi huangjv' and Paraphoma was dominant in the stems of 'Jinsi huangjv'. In all cultivars, the diversity and richness of endophytic bacteria were higher in leaves than in stems (p < 0.05). The highest diversity and richness of endophytic bacteria were recorded in 'Chujv', followed by 'Jinsi huangjv', 'Fubai jv', 'Nannong jinjv', and 'Hangbai jv'. Meanwhile, endophytic fungi were less pronounced. Twenty-seven and 15 cultivable endophytic bacteria and fungi were isolated, four isolated endophytic bacteria, namely, CJY1 (Bacillus oryzaecorticis), CY2 (Pseudomonas psychrotolerans), JSJ7, and JSJ17 (Enterobacter cloacae) showed higher indole acetic acid production ability. Further field studies indicated that inoculation of these four endophytic bacteria not only promoted plant growth and yield but also increased total flavonoids, chlorogenic acid, luteolin, and 3,5-dicoffeylquinic acid levels in the dry flowers of tea chrysanthemums.

Diversity, chemical constituents and biological activities of endophytic fungi from Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep

The dried tuber of Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep. (AOJ) is a traditional Chinese medicine with high medicinal value. The endophytic fungi of medicinal plants are a treasure house of natural compounds. However, there is a lack of research on the diversity and biological activity of endophytic fungi of AOJ. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to study the diversity of endophytic fungi in the roots and stems of AOJ, and endophytic fungi with a high output of phenols and flavonoids were screened by chromogenic reaction, and the antioxidant and antibacterial activities and chemical constituents of crude extracts of their fermentation broth were studied. A total of 3,426 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) belonging to 9 phyla, 27 classes, 64 orders, 152 families, and 277 genera were identified from AOJ. There were significant differences in the endophytic fungal communities of AOJ roots and stems, as well as in the endophytic fungal communities of triangular AOJ and circular AOJ. In addition, 31 strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from AOJ, of which 6 strains had good antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The crude extract of YG-2 had the strongest free radical scavenging ability and bacteriostatic ability, and its IC_{50 DPPH}, IC_{50 ABTS}, and IC_50⋅OH values were 0.009 ± 0.000 mg/mL, 0.023 ± 0.002 mg/mL, and 0.081 ± 0.006 mg/mL, respectively. The results of LC-MS showed that the main component of the crude extract of YG-2 was caffeic acid (10.12 μmol/g). Overall, the results of this study preliminarily elucidated the diversity and community composition of endophytic fungi of AOJ, indicating that AOJ endophytic fungi have abundant secondary metabolites and good antioxidant and antibacterial activities. This study provides an important reference for further research, development and utilization of AOJ endophytic fungi and a theoretical basis for the further development of the endophytic fungus YG-2 (Chaetomium globosum) as a source of antioxidants.

Ginsenosides and Polysaccharides from Ginseng Co-Fermented with Multi-Enzyme-Coupling Probiotics Improve In Vivo Immunomodulatory Effects

The active components of ginseng, such as ginsenosides and polysaccharides, have high therapeutic value in treating cancer, decreasing obesity, and enhancing immunity. However, simple primary ginseng treatment cannot maximize this medicinal potential. Therefore, in this study, Panax ginseng was co-fermented with multi-enzyme-coupling probiotics to obtain a fermentation broth with higher levels of ginsenosides, polysaccharides, and probiotics. When compared to other treatment methods for cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice, the results reveal that the P. ginseng fermentation broth treated with multi-enzyme-coupling probiotics could significantly improve the immune function of immunosuppressive mice and restore intestinal flora stability. Overall, this processing method will provide a novel strategy for promoting the application of ginseng and the relief of immunosuppression.

Mechanisms of Panax Ginseng on Treating Sepsis by RNA-Seq Technology

Purpose

To explore the potential active targets and mechanisms of Panax Ginseng in the treatment of sepsis using network pharmacology and RNA-seq technology.

Patients and Methods

Patients with sepsis and healthy volunteers were collected according to SEPSIS 3.0, and their peripheral blood was used for RNA-seq analysis. The active ingredients and targets of Panax Ginseng were obtained using the TCMSP database, PPI and GO analysis were performed for disease-drug intersection targets. Then, we used Meta-analysis to screen core genes. Finally, single-cell RNA-seq was used to perform cell localization analysis on core genes.

Results

RNA-seq analysis collected 4521 sepsis-related genes, TCMSP database obtained 86 Panax Ginseng active ingredients and their 294 active targets. PPI and GO analysis showed intersection targets were closely linked, and mainly involved in cellular response to chemical stress, response to drug and molecule of bacterial origin, etc. Then, core targets, IL1B, ALOX5, BCL2 and IL4R, were sorted by Meta-analysis, and all four genes have high expression in the sepsis survivor group compared to the sepsis non-survivor group; single-cell RNA-seq revealed that IL1B was mainly localized in macrophages, ALOX5 was mainly localized in macrophages and B cells, BCL2 was mainly localized in natural killer cells, T cells and B cells, IL4R was widely distributed in immune cells. Finally, according to the correspondence between the active ingredients and targets of Panax Ginseng in TCMSP database, we found that Ginsenoside rh2 regulates the expression of IL1B, Ginsenoside rf regulates the expression of IL1B and IL4R, Kaempferol regulates the expression of ALOX5 and BCL2, and β-sitosterol regulates the expression of BCL2.

Conclusion

Ginsenoside rh2, Ginsenoside rf, Kaempferol and β-sitosterol may produce anti-sepsis effects by regulating the expression of IL1B, ALOX5, BCL2 and IL4R, thus improving the survival rate of sepsis patients.

The microbiota-gut-brain axis and its modulation in the therapy of depression: comparison of efficacy of conventional drugs and traditional Chinese medicine approaches

Depression is a common and severe mental disease that places a heavy burden on human society, which can lead to decreased cognitive function, energy loss, insomnia, and even suicide. Although medication plays an important role in improving the symptoms of depression, approximately one third of people with depression do not significantly benefit from medication and experience various adverse reactions. Recently, increasing evidence has shown that gut microbes play an important role in the occurrence and development of depression. There have been illuminating studies previously conducted on the relationship between antidepressant chemicals, traditional Chinese medicine, and the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA). Therefore, in this review, we summarize the role of the MGBA in the occurrence and development of depression, especially the important role of the MGBA in the mechanism of action of antidepressants. Modulation of the MGBA is proposed to enhance the efficacy of antidepressant drugs and reduce their side effects and disease recurrence, so as to provide a new method for the treatment of depression.