A comparative study of the dynamic accumulation of polyphenol components and the changes in their antioxidant activities in diploid and tetraploid Lonicera japonica

Multi-Omics Analyses Uncover the Mechanism Underlying Polyploidization-Enhanced Steviol Glycosides Biosynthesis in Stevia rebaudiana

Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) is a valuable sweetener plant whose sweetness primarily derives from steviol glycosides (SGs), especially rebaudioside A (RA). Polyploidization has the potential to enhance the content of active ingredients in medicinal plants, making this strategy a promising avenue for genetic improvement. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms that contribute to the fluctuating SGs content between autotetraploid and diploid stevia remain unclear. In this study, we employed metabolic analysis to identify 916 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), with the majority, specifically terpenoids, flavonoids, and lipids, exhibiting upregulation due to polyploidization. Notably, the content of stevia's signature metabolite SGs (including RA, steviolbioside, and rebaudioside C), along with their precursor steviol, increased significantly after polyploidization. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome revealed that the majority of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the SG-synthesis pathway (ent-KAH, ent-KS1, UGT73E1, UGT74G1, UGT76G1, UGT85C2, and UGT91D2) were upregulated in autotetraploid stevia, and these DEGs exhibited a positive correlation with the polyploidization-enhanced SGs. Additionally, multi-omics network analysis indicated that several transcription factor families (such as five NACs, four WRKYs, three MYBs, eight bHLHs, and three AP2/ERFs), various transporter genes (four ABC transporters, three triose-phosphate transporters, and two sugar efflux transporters for intercellular exchange), as well as microorganisms (including Ceratobasidium and Flavobacterium) were positively correlated with the accumulation of RA and steviol. Overall, our results indicate the presence of a regulatory circuit orchestrated by polyploidization, which recruits beneficial rhizosphere microbes and modulates the expression of genes associated with SG biosynthesis, ultimately enhancing the SG content in stevia. This finding will provide new insights for promoting the propagation and industrial development of stevia.

Phenolic acids from medicinal and edible homologous plants: a potential anti-inflammatory agent for inflammatory diseases

Inflammation has been shown to trigger a wide range of chronic diseases, particularly inflammatory diseases. As a result, the focus of research has been on anti-inflammatory drugs and foods. In recent years, the field of medicinal and edible homology (MEH) has developed rapidly in both medical and food sciences, with 95% of MEH being associated with plants. Phenolic acids are a crucial group of natural bioactive substances found in medicinal and edible homologous plants (MEHPs). Their anti-inflammatory activity is significant as they play a vital role in treating several inflammatory diseases. These compounds possess enormous potential for developing anti-inflammatory drugs and functional foods. However, their development is far from satisfactory due to their diverse structure and intricate anti-inflammatory mechanisms. In this review, we summarize the various types, structures, and distribution of MEHP phenolic acids that have been identified as of 2023. We also analyze their anti-inflammatory activity and molecular mechanisms in inflammatory diseases through NF-κB, MAPK, NLRP3, Nrf2, TLRs, and IL-17 pathways. Additionally, we investigate their impact on regulating the composition of the gut microbiota and immune responses. This analysis lays the groundwork for further exploration of the anti-inflammatory structure-activity relationship of MEHP phenolic acids, aiming to inspire structural optimization and deepen our understanding of their mechanism, and provides valuable insights for future research and development in this field.

The Antioxidant and Prebiotic Activities of Mixtures Honey/Biomimetic NaDES and Polyphenols Show Differences between Honeysuckle and Raspberry Extracts

In our previous research, we demonstrated that honey and its biomimetic natural deep eutectic solvent (NaDES) modulate the antioxidant activity (AOA) of the raspberry extract (RE). In this study, we evaluated the AOA behaviour of the mixture honey/NaDES-honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium, LFL) extract and compared it with the mixture honey/NaDES-RE. These two extracts have similar major flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acid compounds but differ in their total content and the presence of anthocyanins in RE. Therefore, it was of interest to see if the modulation of the LFL polyphenols by honey/NaDES was similar to that of RE. We also evaluated the prebiotic activity of these mixtures and individual components on Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 20016. Although honey/NaDES modulated the AOA of both extracts, from synergism to antagonism, the modulation was different between the two extracts for some AOA activities. Honey/NaDES mixtures enriched with LFL and RE did not show significant differences in bacterial growth stimulation. However, at a concentration of 45 mg/mL, the honey -LFL mixture exhibited a higher effect compared to the honey-RE mixture. The antioxidant and prebiotic properties of mixtures between honey and polyphenol-rich extracts are determined by multiple interactions in complex chemical systems.

Antiviral Activity of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles from Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Peel Extract against Tobacco Mosaic Virus

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is a major pathogen affecting tomato plants worldwide. The efficacy of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) mediated by Punica granatum biowaste peel extract in mitigating the negative impact of TMV infection on tomato growth and oxidative stress was investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR). Results of SEM analysis of green Ag-NPs revealed the presence of condensed spherical or round NPs with diameters ranging between 61 and 97 nm. TEM confirmed the SEM results and showed round-shaped Ag-NPs with an average size of 33.37 ± 12.7 nm. The elemental analysis (EDX) of prepared Ag-NPs revealed the presence of elemental Ag as a major peak (64.43%) at 3-3.5 KeV. The FTIR revealed several functional groups on the prepared Ag-NPs, for which three treatment strategies for Ag-NP applications were evaluated in the greenhouse study and compared to inoculated TMV and control plants: pre-infection treatment (TB), post-infection treatment (TA), and dual treatment (TD). The results showed that the TD strategy is the most effective in improving tomato growth and reducing viral replication, whereas all Ag-NP treatments (TB, TA, and TD) were found to significantly increase expression of the pathogenesis-related (PR) genes PR-1 and PR-2, as well as polyphenolic compounds, HQT, and C4H genes compared to control plants. In contrast, the flavonoid content of tomato plants was not affected by the viral infection, while the phenolic content was significantly reduced in the TMV group. Furthermore, TMV infection led to a significant increase in oxidative stress markers MDA and H₂O₂, as well as a reduction in the enzymatic activity of the antioxidants PPO, SOD, and POX. Our results clearly showed that the application of Ag-NPs on TMV-infected plants reduces virus accumulation, delays viral replication in all treatments, and greatly enhances the expression of the CHS gene involved in flavonoid biosynthesis. Overall, these findings suggest that treatment with Ag-NPs may be an effective strategy to mitigate the negative impact of TMV infection on tomato plants.

Impact of genome duplications in drought tolerance and distribution of the diploid-tetraploid Jasione maritima

Polyploidy has important ecological effects, including ploidy-mediated effects on morphology, breeding system and ecological tolerances. However, there is still little comprehensive research available to test its adaptive significance and its role in driving distributional patterns. This work aimed to assess the contribution of genome duplications to ecological divergence using an experimental approach with the diploid-tetraploid Jasione maritima polyploid complex. We explored if individuals with different ploidy differ in their tolerance to water deficit and if this may contribute to explaining the distribution patterns along a latitudinal gradient in the northwest Iberian Peninsula. For that, we used three cytogenetic entities: diploids and established tetraploids collected in natural populations along a latitudinal gradient, and neotetraploids synthesized from diploid populations after treatments with colchicine. Thirty plants from each of the nine populations were grown under controlled conditions with half randomly assigned to the water deficit treatment, and half used as control. We determined experimental plants' response by measuring fitness-related parameters, such as above and belowground biomass, plant water status, photosynthetic efficiency and pigments, membrane stability, antioxidant capacity and sugars content. Our data shows that biomass, chlorophyll content, photochemical quenching (qP) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) in neotetraploids and established tetraploids were significantly higher than in diploids and that these differences could be attributed to genome duplications. In response to the water deficit, diploids seem to use a strategy of avoidance, whereas tetraploids seem to employ the strategy of tolerance to overcome water deficit stress, which appears equally efficient. Additionally, we did not observe a response pattern along the latitudinal gradient of the distributional range of the J. maritima complex. The results indicate that the response to water deficit is population dependent. Further studies are necessary to understand the role of ploidy in explaining the distribution patterns of the J. maritima complex.

Effect of Flowering Stages on the Content of Active Ingredients and Antioxidant Capability of Bletilla striata Flowers

Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb.f. is a perennial herb with abundant active ingredients. Previous research mainly focused on its tubers, however, the study on flowers, especially the variation of active ingredient contents at different flowering stages, was rarely seen. This study analyzed the total phenols, flavonoids, polysaccharides, anthocyanins, and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside content of B. striata flowers which were in cultivated in Herb Garden of Zhejiang A&F University and collected in May, 2019, in order to investigate the changes in active ingredients and antioxidant capacity among different flowering stages (bud, initial, and full bloom). Changes in radical scavenging capability of DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical), ABTS (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate)), and hydroxy were analyzed. Significant differences in active ingredient content of flowers were detected among different flowering stages. The total phenolic content increased continuously during the entire flowering stage. The contents of total flavonoid, total polysaccharide, and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside reached peaks at the initial blooming stage and then fell as the flowering process continued. The antioxidant activity in initial stage was the highest than in any other flowering stages. Therefore, we conclude that the initial blooming stage is the best harvesting stage of B. striata flowers. This study provides a robust basis for the harvest and utilization of B. striata flowers in food, medical, and cosmetic industries.

Systematic Identification, Fragmentation Pattern, And Metabolic Pathways of Hyperoside in Rat Plasma, Urine, And Feces by UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS

Hyperoside is a natural flavonol glycoside, which has antioxidation, antitumor, and anticancer activities together with other healthy effects like improving cardiovascular function, protecting the liver, and regulating the immune system. It is a popular compound used in the traditional Chinese medicine and different studies on hyperoside are present in the literature. However, studies on the metabolism of hyperoside in vivo were not comprehensive. In this study, UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS technology was used to establish a rapid and comprehensive analysis strategy to explore the metabolites and metabolic process of hyperoside in rats. The metabolites of hyperoside were systematically identified in rat plasma, urine, and feces. According to the hyperoside standard substance and relevant works of literature, a total of 33 metabolites were identified, including 16 in plasma, 31 in urine, and 14 in feces. Among them, the metabolites quercetin and dihydroquercetin were unambiguously confirmed by comparison with standard substances. In addition, 13 metabolites had not been reported in hyperoside metabolism-related articles at present. The metabolic reactions of hyperoside in vivo were further explored, including phase I metabolism (hydroxylation, dehydroxylation, glycoside hydrolysis, hydrogenation, and hydration) and phase II metabolism (methylation, acetylation, sulfation, and glucuronide conjugation). The fragment ions of hyperoside and its metabolites were usually produced by glucoside bond hydrolysis, the neutral loss of (CO + OH), COH, CO, O, and Retro-Diels Alder (RDA) cleavage. In conclusion, this study comprehensively characterized the metabolism of hyperoside in rats, providing a basis for exploring its various biological activities.

A Novel Herbal Extract Blend Product Prevents Particulate Matters-Induced Inflammation by Improving Gut Microbiota and Maintaining the Integrity of the Intestinal Barrier

Air pollutants of PM2.5 can alter the composition of gut microbiota and lead to inflammation in the lung and gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of a novel herbal extract blend, FC, composed of Lonicera japonica extract, Momordica grosvenori extract, and broccoli seed extract, on PM2.5-induced inflammation in the respiratory and intestinal tract. A549 cells and THP-1 cells, as well as C57BL/6 mice, were stimulated with PM2.5 to establish in vitro and in vivo exposure models. The models were treated with or without FC. The expression of inflammatory cytokines and tight junction proteins were studied. Proteomic analysis was performed to elucidate mechanisms. Mouse feces were collected for gut microbiota analysis. FC was shown to modulate the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines mRNA expression in A549 and THP-1 cells and downregulated tight junction proteins mRNA expression in A549 cells due to PM2.5 stimulation. In animal models, the decreased expression of the anti-inflammatory factor il-10, tight junction protein ZO-1, and the elevated expression of COX-2 induced by PM2.5 were improved by FC intervention, which may be associated with zo-1 and cox-2 signaling pathways. In addition, FC was shown to improve the gut microbiota by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria.

Curcumin and Intestinal Oxidative Stress of Pigs With Intrauterine Growth Retardation: A Review

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) refers to the slow growth and development of a mammalian embryo/fetus or fetal organs during pregnancy, which is popular in swine production and causes considerable economic losses. Nutritional strategies have been reported to improve the health status and growth performance of IUGR piglets, among which dietary curcumin supplementation is an efficient alternative. Curcumin is a natural lipophilic polyphenol derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa with many biological activities. It has been demonstrated that curcumin promotes intestinal development and alleviates intestinal oxidative damage. However, due to its low bioavailability caused by poor solubility, chemical instability, and rapid degradation, the application of curcumin in animal production is rare. In this manuscript, the structural-activity relationship to enhance the bioavailability, and the nutritional effects of curcumin on intestinal health from the aspect of protecting piglets from IUGR associated intestinal oxidative damage were summarized to provide new insight into the application of curcumin in animal production.

Chemical Pattern Recognition for Quality Analysis of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos and Lonicerae Flos Based on Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Anti-SARS-CoV2 Main Protease Activity

Lonicerae japonicae flos (L. japonicae flos, Lonicera japonica Thunb.) is one of the most commonly prescribed botanical drugs in the treatment or prevention of corona virus disease 2019. However, L. japonicae flos is often confused or adulterated with Lonicerae flos (L. flos, Lonicera macrantha (D.Don) Spreng., Shanyinhua in Chinese). The anti-SARS-CoV2 activity and related differentiation method of L. japonicae flos and L. flos have not been documented. In this study, we established a chemical pattern recognition model for quality analysis of L. japonicae flos and L. flos based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and anti-SARS-CoV2 activity. Firstly, chemical data of 59 batches of L. japonicae flos and L. flos were obtained by UHPLC, and partial least squares-discriminant analysis was applied to extract the components that lead to classification. Next, anti-SARS-CoV2 activity was measured and bioactive components were acquired by spectrum-effect relationship analysis. Finally, characteristic components were explored by overlapping feature extracted components and bioactive components. Accordingly, eleven characteristic components were successfully selected, identified, quantified and could be recommended as quality control marker. In addition, chemical pattern recognition model based on these eleven components was established to effectively discriminate L. japonicae flos and L. flos. In sum, the demonstrated strategy provided effective and highly feasible tool for quality assessment of natural products, and offer reference for the quality standard setting.

The complete chloroplast genome of Lonicera pampaninii Levl. and its phylogenetic analysis

Lonicera pampaninii Levl, a Chinese herbal medicine widely used in the folk, has the effect of clearing away heat and detoxifying similar to other plants of the Lonicera. However, its genetic relationship with these plants is unclear. In this work, the cp genome of Lonicera pampaninii Levl. was assembled by the high-throughput Illumina pair-end sequencing data. The circular cp genome is 155,249 bp in size, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 89,068 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,635 bp, which were separated by two inverted repeat (IR) regions (23,773 bp each). A total of 120 genes were predicted, including eight ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 33 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and 79 protein-coding genes (PCGs). Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis revealed a strong sister relationship between L. pampaninii and other two congeneric species (Lonicera confusa and Lonicera japonica). This study provides useful information for future genetic study of L. pampaninii.

Potential Application of Lonicera japonica Extracts in Animal Production: From the Perspective of Intestinal Health

Lonicera japonica (L. japonica) extract is rich in active substances, such as phenolic acids, essential oils, flavones, saponins, and iridoids, which have a broad spectrum of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial effect. Previous studies have demonstrated that L. japonica has a good regulatory effect on animal intestinal health, which can be used as a potential antibiotic substitute product. However, previous studies about intestinal health regulation mainly focus on experimental animals or cells, like mice, rats, HMC-1 Cells, and RAW 264.7 cells. In this review, the intestinal health benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity, and its potential application in animal production were summarized. Through this review, we can see that the effects and mechanism of L. japonica extract on intestinal health regulation of farm and aquatic animals are still rare and unclear. Further studies could focus on the regulatory mechanism of L. japonica extract on intestinal health especially the protective effects of L. japonica extract on oxidative injury, inflammation, and regulation of intestinal flora in farm animals and aquatic animals, thereby providing references for the rational utilization and application of L. japonica and its extracts in animal production.

LjaFGD: Lonicera japonica functional genomics database

Lonicera japonica Thunb., a traditional Chinese herb, has been used for treating human diseases for thousands of years. Recently, the genome of L. japonica has been decoded, providing valuable information for research into gene function. However, no comprehensive database for gene functional analysis and mining is available for L. japonica. We therefore constructed LjaFGD (www.gzybioinformatics.cn/LjaFGD and bioinformatics.cau.edu.cn/LjaFGD), a database for analyzing and comparing gene function in L. japonica. We constructed a gene co-expression network based on 77 RNA-seq samples, and then annotated genes of L. japonica by alignment against protein sequences from public databases. We also introduced several tools for gene functional analysis, including Blast, motif analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, heatmap analysis, and JBrowse. Our co-expression network revealed that MYB and WRKY transcription factor family genes were co-expressed with genes encoding key enzymes in the biosynthesis of chlorogenic acid and luteolin in L. japonica. We used flavonol synthase 1 (LjFLS1) as an example to show the reliability and applicability of our database. LjaFGD and its various associated tools will provide researchers with an accessible platform for retrieving functional information on L. japonica genes to further biological discovery.

Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis among 1-, 2- and 3-year old Atractylodes chinensis

BACKGROUND

Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz is a well-known medicinal plant containing the major bioactive compound, atractylodin, a sesquiterpenoid. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis demonstrated that atractylodin was most abundant in 3-year old A. chinensis rhizome, compared with those from 1- and 2-year old rhizomes, however, the molecular mechanisms underlying accumulation of atractylodin in rhizomes are poorly understood.

RESULTS

In this study, we characterized the transcriptomes from rhizomes of 1-, 2- and 3-year old (Y1, Y2 and Y3, respectively) A. chinensis, to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We identified 240, 169 and 131 unigenes encoding the enzyme genes in the mevalonate (MVA), methylerythritol phosphate (MEP), sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways, respectively. To confirm the reliability of the RNA sequencing analysis, eleven key gene encoding factors involved in the sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthetic pathway, as well as in pigment, amino acid, hormone and transcription factor functions, were selected for quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. The results demonstrated similar expression patterns to those determined by RNA sequencing, with a Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.9 between qRT-PCR and RNA-seq data. Differential gene expression analysis of rhizomes from different ages revealed 52 genes related to sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis. Among these, seven DEGs were identified in Y1 vs Y2, Y1 vs Y3 and Y2 vs Y3, of which five encoded four key enzymes, squalene/phytoene synthase (SS), squalene-hopene cyclase (SHC), squalene epoxidase (SE) and dammarenediol II synthase (DS). These four enzymes directly related to squalene biosynthesis and subsequent catalytic action. To validate the result of these seven DEGs, qRT-PCR was performed and indicated most of them displayed lower relative expression in 3-year old rhizome, similar to transcriptomic analysis.

CONCLUSION

The enzymes SS, SHC, SE and DS down-regulated expression in 3-year old rhizome. This data corresponded to the higher content of sesquiterpenoid in 3-year old rhizome, and confirmed by qRT-PCR. The results of comparative transcriptome analysis and identified key enzyme genes laid a solid foundation for investigation of production sesquiterpenoid in A. chinensis.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses provide insights into the biosynthesis of chlorogenic acids in Lonicera macranthoides Hand.-Mazz

Lonicera macranthoides Hand.-Mazz (L. macranthoides) is a medicinal herb that is widely distributed in South China. The developmental stage and corolla dehiscence of the flower are the important factors affecting the quality of medicinal ingredients. However, neither the regulatory mechanism controlling chlorogenic acids biosynthesis in L. macranthoides nor the molecular basis of effect of corolla dehiscence on the quality of medicinal materials is fully understood. In this study, metabolomics and transcriptomics were used to analyze the metabolic and transcriptional differences of two different cultivars closed bud type (Bt), and flowering type (Ft), as well as the effect of jasmonic acid methyl ester (MeJA) on chlorogenic acids (CGAs) biosynthesis. In total, large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were filtered among three lines of samples. Gene metabolite correlation analyses revealed a ‘core set’ of 30 genes and 54 genes that were strongly correlated with CGAs biosynthesis and regulating the flowering, respectively. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction results proved the alterations in the expression levels of genes encoding the pathways involved in CGAs biosynthesis. The ion abundances of CGAs were most significantly increased, while some of the CGAs derived and Caffeoyl-CoA-derived substances showed the most largely reduced abundances in the closed bud type (Bt) compared to the flowering type (Ft). MeJA may leads to the activation of downstream genes in CGAs biosynthesis pathway. Overall, there were significant differences in the transcriptional and metabolic levels of CGAs biosynthesis pathway in flower buds of different flowering cultivars. The redirection of metabolic flux may contribute to increased accumulation of CGAs. However, whether MeJA and flowering have direct effects on the accumulation of CGAs needs further studied. These researches effectively expanded the functional genomic library and provide new insights into CGAs biosynthesis in L. macranthoides.

The complete chloroplast genome of Lonicera fulvotomentosa Hsu et S. C. Cheng and its phylogenetic analysis

Lonicera fulvotomentosa Hsu et S. C. Cheng is widely used as an edible and medicinal food in China and also displays excellent pharmacological activities. The phylogenetic relationship between L. fulvotomentosa and other family members remains unclear. In this work, we assembled the cp genome of L. fulvotomentosa using the high-throughput Illumina pair-end sequencing data. The circular cp genome is 155,102 bp in size, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 88,906 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,628 bp, which were separated by two inverted repeat (IR) regions (23,784 bp each). A total of 129 genes were predicted, including eight ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 39 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and 82 protein-coding genes (PCGs). Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis revealed that L. fulvotomentosa formed a different clade from other two congeneric species (Lonicera confuse and Lonicera japonica). This study provides useful information for future genetic study of L. fulvotomentosa.

Transcriptome analysis of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis illuminates the biosynthesis and accumulation of steroidal saponins in rhizomes and leaves

Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis can synthesize Paris saponins with multiple effective therapies, and its rhizome has become an indispensable ingredient in many patented drugs. However, how Paris saponin content changes in tissues at different stages and the molecular mechanisms underlying the production and accumulation of the bioactive compounds are unclear. This study aimed to uncover the mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis and accumulation by integrating transcriptome sequencing and phytochemical investigation of the leaves and rhizomes at different growth stages. Paris saponin content in leaves was lower during the fruiting stage than the vegetative stage, whereas the content in rhizomes increased during the fruiting stage. The candidate genes related to Paris saponin biosynthesis were determined by transcriptome analyses. Most biosynthetic genes were found to be abundantly expressed in the leaves during the vegetative stage in the light of expression profiles and functional enrichment results. The expression patterns of the differentially expressed genes related to the biosynthesis were positively correlated with the accumulation of saponins in tissues. These findings suggest that both leaves and rhizomes are capable of biosynthesizing Paris saponins, and that aerial plant parts can be used to extract them. The different patterns of biosynthesis and accumulation in the leaves and rhizomes were also determined here. This study will help improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis and accumulation of Paris saponins, and aid in the comprehensive development and utilization of this medicinal plant.

Metabolomics Reveals Distinct Metabolites between Lonicera japonica and Lonicera macranthoides Based on GC-MS

Lonicera japonica Thunb. (LJ) and Lonicera macranthoides Hand. -Mazz. (LM) have been widely used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Although the morphological characteristics of LJ and LM are quite similar, there are significant distinctions of medicinal ingredients (mainly the secondary metabolites) and clinical indications between them. However, the in-depth differences of primary metabolites have not thoroughly been studied yet. Therefore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry- (GC-MS-) based metabolomics method combined with chemometric methods were performed to analyze the distinction in this study. The results showed that LJ and LM were obviously classified into two groups. 10 metabolites were obtained as biomarkers on account of their p values, pcorr values, and differing variable importance in projection (VIP) values. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that the galactose metabolism and starch and sucrose metabolism gathered as potential pathways caused these extraordinary differences of primary metabolites between LJ and LM. Further, we found that the differences of main medicinal ingredients between LJ and LM could be interpreted from these metabolites according to the analysis of mainly related pathways. The metabolites involved in the starch and sucrose metabolism presented upregulated in LJ, while almost all metabolites in the galactose metabolism, the TCA cycle, and the phenolic acid part of phenylpropanoid metabolism were downregulated in LJ. Therefore, the energy stored in the starch and sucrose metabolism may be saved to produce flavonoid, which could be the reason that the level of flavonoid of phenylpropanoid metabolism is higher in LJ compared to LM. Consequently, this study presented an effective tool for quality evaluation of LJ and LM and laid a foundation for further studies of the metabolic mechanisms and high-quality manufacturing of them.

Comparative transcriptomic analyses of chlorogenic acid and luteolosides biosynthesis pathways at different flowering stages of diploid and tetraploid Lonicera japonica

The Flos Lonicerae Japonicae (FLJ), Lonicera japonica Thunb, belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family, is an economically important plant that is highly utilized in traditional Chinese medicine as well as in Japanese medicine. The flowers of these plants are rich in chlorogenic acid (CGA) and luteoloside. Our previous study revealed that tetraploid L. japonica has higher fresh/dry weight, phenolic acids and flavonoids contents than those of diploid plants. However, why tetraploid L. japonica can yield higher CGA and luteolosides than that in diploid and what is the difference in the molecular regulatory mechanism of these pathways between diploid and tetraploids remained unclear. Therefore, in the present study, we performed comprehensive transcriptome analyses of different flowering stages of diploid and tetraploid L. japonica. The CGA content of tetraploid was found higher than that of diploid at all the growth stages. While the luteoloside content of diploid was higher than that of tetraploid at S4 and S6 growth stages. We obtained a high-quality transcriptome assembly (N50 = 2,055 bp; Average length = 1,331 bp) compared to earlier studies. Differential expression analysis revealed that several important genes involving in plant hormone signal transduction, carbon metabolism, starch/sucrose metabolism and plant-pathogen interaction were upregulated in tetraploid compared with the diploid L. japonica, reflecting the higher adaptability and resistance of tetraploid species. Furthermore, by associating the phenotypic data and gene expression profiles, we were able to characterize the potential molecular regulatory mechanism of important biosynthetic pathways at different flowering stages. Overall, our work provides a foundation for further research on these important secondary metabolite pathways and their implications in traditional Chinese/Japanese medicine.

Is selfing a reproductive assurance promoting polyploid establishment? Reduced fitness, leaky self-incompatibility and lower inbreeding depression in neotetraploids

PREMISE

Newly formed polyploids face significant obstacles to persistence and population establishment because of fitness costs of intercytotype mating. Selfing provides the opportunity to escape mate limitation, enabling production of new individuals and increasing the likelihood of fixation of new polyploid lineages. Still, association between self-compatibility and polyploidy is not always clear. We compared self-incompatibility and inbreeding depression in neotetraploids and their diploid progenitor to explore the direct effects of whole genome duplications on self-incompatibility and the implications of ploidy-driven changes for polyploid establishment.

METHODS

Outcross and self-pollinations were performed in diploids and synthetic neotetraploids of Jasione maritima var. maritima, and reproductive success was measured through fruit and seed production and seed germination. Self- and outcross offspring were grown under controlled conditions, and plant performance was measured through several fitness parameters.

RESULTS

Neotetraploids showed an overall lower performance than diploids. Reproductive success was negatively affected by selfing in both cytotypes. However, greater variation in the expression of self-incompatibility was observed in neotetraploids; additionally, developmental and physiological parameters were not affected by selfing on neotetraploids, with an overall similar fitness of outcrossed and selfed individuals, resulting in lower inbreeding depression indexes.

CONCLUSIONS

Neotetraploids might have benefited from selfing at initial stages after their formation. Genome duplications resulted in leaky self-incompatibility, enabling the production of offspring under minority cytotype disadvantage with similar fitness as outcrossed offspring. Our results support theoretical assumptions that selfing might be important for neopolyploid establishment, although changes in self-incompatibility might not be abrupt.

The effect of developmental and environmental factors on secondary metabolites in medicinal plants

Secondary metabolites (SMs) of medicinal plants are the material basis of their clinically curative effects. They are also important indicators for evaluating the quality of medicinal materials. However, the synthesis and accumulation of SMs are very complex, which are affected by many factors including internal developmental genetic circuits (regulated gene, enzyme) and by external environment factors (light, temperature, water, salinity, etc.). Currently, lots of literatures focused on the effect of environmental factors on the synthesis and accumulation of SMs of medicinal plants, the effect of the developmental growth and genetic factors on the synthesis and accumulation of SMs still lack systematic classification and summary. Here, we have given the review base on our previous works on the morphological development of medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites, and systematically outlined the literature reports how different environmental factors affected the synthesis and accumulation of SMs. The results of our reviews can know how developmental and environmental factors qualitatively and quantitatively influence SMs of medicinal plants and how these can be integrated as tools to quality control, as well as on the improvement of clinical curative effects by altering their genomes, and/or growth conditions.

Lonicerae japonicae flos and Lonicerae flos: a systematic review of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology

Lonicerae japonicae flos (called Jinyinhua, JYH in Chinese), flowers or flower buds of Lonicera japonica Thunberg, is an extremely used traditional edible-medicinal herb. Pharmacological studies have already proved JYH ideal clinical therapeutic effects on inflammation and infectious diseases and prominent effects on multiple targets in vitro and in vivo, such as pro-inflammatory protein inducible nitric oxide synthase, toll-like receptor 4, interleukin-1 receptor. JYH and Lonicerae flos [called Shanyinhua, SYH in Chinese, flowers or flower buds of Lonicera hypoglauca Miquel, Lonicera confusa De Candolle or Lonicera macrantha (D.Don) Spreng] which belongs to the same family of JYH were once recorded as same herb in multiple versions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP). However, they were listed as two different herbs in 2005 Edition ChP, leading to endless controversy since they have close proximity on plant species, appearances and functions, together with traditional applications. In the past decades, there has no literature regarding to systematical comparison on the similarity concerning research achievements of the two herbs. This review comprehensively presents similarities and differences between JYH and SYH retrospectively, particularly proposing them the marked differences in botanies, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities which can be used as evidence of separate list of JYH and SYH. Furthermore, deficiencies on present studies have also been discussed so as to further research could use for reference.

Characterization of Nine Compounds Isolated from the Acid Hydrolysate of Lonicera fulvotomentosa Hsu et S. C. Cheng and Evaluation of Their In Vitro Activity towards HIV Protease

In this study, we isolated nine compounds from the acid hydrolysate of the flower buds of Lonicera fulvotomentosa Hsu et S. C. Cheng and characterized their chemical structures using ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and electron ionization mass spectroscopy (EI-MS). These compounds were identified as β-sitosterol (1), 5,5′-dibutoxy-2,2′-bifuran (2), nonacosane-10-ol (3), ethyl (3β)-3,23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oate (4), oleanolic acid (5), ethyl caffeate (6), caffeic acid (7), isovanillin (8), and hederagenin (9), with 4 as a new triterpene compound. Inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease was also evaluated for the compounds, and only ethyl caffeate, caffeic acid, and isovanillin (6, 7, and 8) exhibited inhibitory effects, with IC₅₀ values of 1.0 μM, 1.5 μM, and 3.5 μM, respectively. Molecular docking with energy minimization and subsequent molecular dynamic (MD) simulation showed that ethyl caffeate and caffeic acid bound to the active site of HIV protease, while isovanillin drifted out from the active site and dissociated into bulk water during MD simulations, and most of the binding residues of HIV protease have been previously identified for HIV protease inhibitors. These results suggest that caffeic acid derivatives may possess inhibitory activities towards HIV protease other than previously reported inhibitory activities against HIV integrase, and thus ethyl caffeate and caffeic acid could be used as lead compounds in developing potential HIV protease inhibitors, and possibly even dual-function inhibitors against HIV.

Chromosome doubling of Sedum alfredii Hance: A novel approach for improving phytoremediation efficiency

Sedum alfredii Hance is a cadmium (Cd)/zinc (Zn) hyperaccumulator native to China. However, its relatively low biomass restricted the large-scale application for heavy metal contamination remediation. The chromosome set doubling of S. alfredii in vitro was achieved by 0.1%-0.2% (W/V) colchicine treatment. The plant DNA ploidy was analyzed by flow cytometry and chromosome set doubling plants (CSD) were identified based on the obvious different sharp peak. A tissue culture experiment with different Cd treated levels and a field trial with natural polluted mined soil were conducted to study the effects of chromosome doubling on plant biomass and Cd accumulation in shoots. The results suggested that S. alfredii is a mixoploid. Compared with the wild type plants (WT), CSD exhibited typical "gigas" characteristics in morphology including stem thickness, root hair production, number of leaves and size of stoma guard cell. Fresh weight and dry weight of CSD were increased to 1.62-2.03-fold and 2.26-3.25-fold of WT. And Cd content of CSD showed a 17.49%-42.82% increase and 59% increase under tissue culture and field condition, accordingly. In addition, the TF and in BCF of CSD were 2.37- and 1.59-fold of WT, respectively. These results proved that it is feasible to promote phytoextraction efficiency of S. alfredii in Cd contaminated soils through chromosomal engineering, which provides a novel approach for hyperaccumulator application in phytoremediation.

Evaluation of Antifungal Phenolics from Helianthus tuberosus L. Leaves against Phytophthora capsici Leonian by Chemometric Analysis

Phytophthora capsici Leonian causes destructive economical losses in pepper production, and a promising source of natural fungicides- Helianthus tuberosus leaves was reported. The antifungal activities of different extracts and compounds from H. tuberosus leaves against the phytopathogen, P. capsici Leonian, were examined by chemometric analysis, including HPLC-MS/MS and multivariate data analyses. Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminate analysis were applied to examine the four groups of H. tuberosus leaves samples, including crude extracts obtained by different methods, including refluxing, macerating, and refluxing under vacuum; four fractions, namely, petroleum ether (PE), chloroform (Chl), ethyl acetate (EA), and n-butanol (NB) fractions; the samples of three H. tuberosus cultivars; and the samples at three growth stages of cultivar Nan Yu. The phenolics contents were categorized based on 3,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-DiCQA), 1,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid (1,5-DiCQA), 3-O-Caffeoylquinic acid (3-CQA), and 4,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid (4,5-DiCQA), which were predominant in all the samples. Antifungal activity assay revealed that Chl and NB fractions were more active against P. capsici Leonian with lower IC50(half of maximal inhibitory concentration) values, whereas partial least squares-discriminate analysis suggested caffeoylquinic acid isomer(4-CQA), methyl-quercetin glycoside(MQG), and caffeic acid(CA) might be the main active components in H. tuberosus leaves against P. capsici Leonian. Furthermore, microscopic evaluation demonstrated structural deformities in P. capsici Leonian treated with Chl and NB fractions, indicating the antifungal effects of H. tuberosus leaves. These results imply that H. tuberosus leaves with a high concentration of phenolics might be a promising source of natural fungicides.

Fatty acids-based microemulsion liquid chromatographic determination of multiple caffeoylquinic acid isomers and caffeic acid in honeysuckle sample

A green and efficient microemulsion liquid chromatographic (MELC) method using fatty acid as co-surfactant and electrochemical detection was established and validated for the determination of four caffeoylquinic acid isomers and caffeic acid in honeysuckle samples. The influences of each individual component within the isocratic oil-in-water (O/W) microemulsion mobile phase were systematically investigated, such as the type and concentration of co-surfactant, concentration of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), organic modifier addition, type and concentration of oil phase, pH and detection voltage. Results indicated that excellent resolution was achieved using 3.0% w/v of propionic acid, 0.5% w/v of ethyl acetate, 1.0% w/v of SDS, 5% w/v acetonitrile, 90.5% v/v of water and 25 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate at pH = 3 as microemulsion mobile phase and 0.8 V as the optimal voltage value. Under the optimal condition, analytical performance of developed method was evaluated. The detection limits were below 17.3 ng/mL and intra-day and inter-day precisions by relative standard deviations (RSD%) were between 0.5% and 3.6%. Satisfactory recovery (in the range of 83.8-109.1%) with good repeatability lower than 4.7% (n = 3) was obtained. Therefore, the developed O/W MELC method was rapid, precise and accurate for simultaneous determination of neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A and isochlorogenic acid C in honeysuckle samples, with contents of 2.6, 28.7, 18.1 and 5.2 mg/g, respectively.

Effects of age and extraction solvent on phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of fresh Moringa oleifera L. leaves

Antioxidant activity (AOA) and phytochemical content of Moringa oleifera Lam leaves were determined as a function of their age and extraction solvent. Fresh Moringa leaves aged 30, 45, and 60 days were harvested and extracted with three solvents; methanol, ethanol, and water. AOA of leaf extracts was measured using radical scavenging assays (DPPH, ABTS, antiperoxide activity [APA]) and reducing assays (FRAP and total antioxidant capacity [TAC]), and these were correlated with total polyphenols (TPC), total flavonoids (TFC), and chlorophyll contents of leaves. Significant variability (p < 0.05) in TPC and AOA of Moringa leaf extracts was observed with age and extraction solvent as well as their interaction. TPC and TFC increased with maturity, except in aqueous extract. The 60-day-old leaves showed highest TPC, TFC, and tocopherol contents with highest DPPH activity. On their part, 30-day-old leaves recorded better vitamin C, chlorophyll, and carotenoids with highest ABTS activity and APA. Methanol was best extraction solvent for TPC (4.6 g GAE/100 g DM) while ethanol was for flavonoids (1.8 g CE/100 g DM). Ethanol extracts exhibited the highest DPPH activity (53.3%-71.1%), while both ethanolic and methanolic extracts had similar and higher ABTS + activity (3.83-3.86 g AAE/100 g DM). Strong positive correlations (r ≥ 0.8; p < 0.05) were observed between chlorophyll content and DPPH, ABTS, and APA, suggesting that chlorophyll was the major contributor to AOA. TAC was highest in aqueous solvent. Free radical scavenging activity in Moringa leaves is positively correlated to chlorophyll, TFC, and TPC while reducing power is positively correlated to chlorophyll and TPC. AOA of fresh Moringa leaf extract is a function of its phytochemical content and is influenced by both the age of the leaves and the extraction solvent used. Methanolic and ethanolic extracts of 45-day-old Moringa leaves exhibited best antioxidant potentials.

Ca2+ imaging and gene expression profiling of Lonicera Confusa in response to calcium-rich environment

As a medicinal plant widely planted in southwest karst of China, the study of adaptation mechanisms of Lonicera confusa, especially to karst calcium-rich environment, can provide important theoretical basis for repairing desertification by genetic engineering. In this study, the Ca²⁺ imaging in the leaves of L. confusa was explored by LSCM (Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy) and TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy), which revealed that the calcium could be transported to gland, epidermal hair and stoma in the leaves of L. confusa in high-Ca²⁺ environment. In addition, we simulated the growth environment of L. confusa and identified DEGs (Differentially Expressed Genes) under different Ca²⁺ concentrations by RNA sequencing. Further analysis showed that these DEGs were assigned with some important biological processes. Furthermore, a complex protein-protein interaction network among DEGs in L. Confusa was constructed and some important regulatory genes and transcription factors were identified. Taken together, this study displayed the Ca²⁺ transport and the accumulation of Ca²⁺ channels and pools in L. Confusa with high-Ca²⁺ treatment. Moreover, RNA sequencing provided a global picture of differential gene expression patterns in L. Confusa with high-Ca²⁺ treatment, which will help to reveal the molecular mechanism of the adaptation of L. confusa to high-Ca²⁺ environment in the future.

In Vitro and In Vivo Antioxidant Activities of the Flowers and Leaves from Paeonia rockii and Identification of Their Antioxidant Constituents by UHPLC-ESI-HRMSn via Pre-Column DPPH Reaction

The genus Paeonia, also known as the “King of Flowers” in China, is an important source of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Plants of this genus have been used to treat a range of cardiovascular and gynecological diseases. However, the potential pharmacological activity of one particular species, Paeonia rockii, has not been fully investigated. In the first part of the present study, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid (ABTS), reducing power assays, and metal ion chelating assays were used to investigate the in vitro antioxidant activities of Paeonia rockii. In the second portion of the study, a mouse model of d-galactose-induced aging was used to validate the antioxidant effects of the flowers from Paeonia rockii in vivo. Lastly, potential antioxidant constituents were screened and identified by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-HRMSⁿ) combined with the DPPH assay. Results indicated that the flowers and leaves exhibited stronger antioxidant activity than ascorbic acid in vitro. The therapeutic effect of Paeoniarockii was determined in relation to the levels of biochemical indicators, such as 8-iso-prostaglandin F_2α (8-iso PGF_2α) in the serum, superoxide dismutase (SOD), protein carbonyl, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) in the liver and brain, after daily intra-gastric administration of different concentrations of extracts (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) for three weeks. The levels of 8-iso PGF_2α (p < 0.01) and protein carbonyl groups (p < 0.01) were significantly reduced, whereas those of SOD (p < 0.05) had significantly increased, indicating that components of the flowers of Paeonia rockii had favorable antioxidant activities in vivo. Furthermore, UHPLC-ESI-HRMSⁿ, combined with pre-column DPPH reaction, detected 25 potential antioxidant compounds. Of these, 18 compounds were tentatively identified, including 11 flavonoids, four phenolic acids, two tannins, and one monoterpene glycoside. This study concluded that the leaves and flowers from Paeonia rockii possess excellent antioxidant properties, highlighting their candidacy as “new” antioxidants, which can be utilized therapeutically to protect the body from diseases caused by oxidative stress.

Bioprospecting on invasive plant species to prevent seed dispersal

The most anthropized regions of the world are characterized by an impressive abundance of invasive plants, which alter local biodiversity and ecosystem services. An alternative strategy to manage these species could be based on the exploitation of their fruits in a framework of bioprospecting to obtain high-added value compounds or phytocomplexes that are useful for humans. Here we tested this hypothesis on three invasive plants (Lonicera japonica Thunb., Phytolacca americana L., and Prunus serotina Ehrh.) in the Po plain (northern Italy) which bear fruits that are highly consumed by frugivorous birds and therefore dispersed over large distances. Our biochemical analyses revealed that unripe fruit shows high antioxidant properties due to the presence of several classes of polyphenols, which have a high benchmark value on the market. Fruit collection for phytochemical extraction could really prevent seed dispersal mediated by frugivorous animals and produce economic gains to support local management actions.

DNA Methylation Influences Chlorogenic Acid Biosynthesis in Lonicera japonica by Mediating LjbZIP8 to Regulate Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase 2 Expression

The content of active compounds differ in buds and flowers of Lonicera japonica (FLJ) and L. japonica var. chinensis (rFLJ). Chlorogenic acid (CGAs) were major active compounds of L. japonica and regarded as measurements for quality evaluation. However, little is known concerning the formation of active compounds at the molecular level. We quantified the major CGAs in FLJ and rFLJ, and found the concentrations of CGAs were higher in the buds of rFLJ than those of FLJ. Further analysis of CpG methylation of CGAs biosynthesis genes showed differences between FLJ and rFLJ in the 5'-UTR of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase 2 (PAL2). We identified 11 LjbZIP proteins and 24 rLjbZIP proteins with conserved basic leucine zipper domains, subcellular localization, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that the transcription factor LjbZIP8 is a nuclear-localized protein that specifically binds to the G-box element of the LjPAL2 5'-UTR. Additionally, a transactivation assay and LjbZIP8 overexpression in transgenic tobacco indicated that LjbZIP8 could function as a repressor of transcription. Finally, treatment with 5-azacytidine decreased the transcription level of LjPAL2 and CGAs content in FLJ leaves. These results raise the possibility that DNA methylation might influence the recruitment of LjbZIP8, regulating PAL2 expression level and CGAs content in L. japonica.