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Feng HH, Lv XW, Yang XC, Huang SQ. High toxin concentration in pollen may deter collection by bees in butterfly-pollinated Rhododendron molle. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2024; 134:551-560. [PMID: 38507570 PMCID: PMC11523615 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcae047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS The hypothesis that plants evolve features that protect accessible pollen from consumption by flower visitors remains poorly understood. METHODS To explore potential chemical defence against pollen consumption, we examined the pollinator assemblage, foraging behaviour, visitation frequency and pollen transfer efficiency in Rhododendron molle, a highly toxic shrub containing rhodojaponin III. Nutrient (protein and lipid) and toxic components in pollen and other tissues were measured. KEY RESULTS Overall in the five populations studied, floral visits by butterflies and bumblebees were relatively more frequent than visits by honeybees. All foraged for nectar but not pollen. Butterflies did not differ from bumblebees in the amount of pollen removed per visit, but deposited more pollen per visit. Pollination experiments indicated that R. molle was self-compatible, but both fruit and seed production were pollen-limited. Our analysis indicated that the pollen was not protein-poor and had a higher concentration of the toxic compound rhodojaponin III than petals and leaves, this compound was undetectable in nectar. CONCLUSION Pollen toxicity in Rhododendron flowers may discourage pollen robbers (bees) from taking the freely accessible pollen grains, while the toxin-free nectar rewards effective pollinators, promoting pollen transfer. This preliminary study supports the hypothesis that chemical defence in pollen would be likely to evolve in species without physical protection from pollinivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Hui Feng
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Lv
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Xiao-Chen Yang
- College of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Jishou University, Jishou 416000, Hunan Province, China
| | - Shuang-Quan Huang
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
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2
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Şuţan NA, Paunescu A, Topala C, Dobrescu C, Ponepal MC, (Stegarus) DIP, Soare LC, Tamaian R. Aconitine in Synergistic, Additive and Antagonistic Approaches. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:460. [PMID: 39591215 PMCID: PMC11598053 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16110460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2024] [Revised: 10/23/2024] [Accepted: 10/24/2024] [Indexed: 11/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Aconitine is a highly poisonous C19-diterpenoid alkaloid identified and isolated from the species of the genus Aconitum. Aconitine is indicated in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and, due to its neurotoxic effects, is a very effective drug in pain release. A total of 101 relevant scientific papers were manually searched on the Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed and Dovepress databases and in the books available in the library of the Department of Natural Sciences, the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Pitesti University Centre, Romania. In combination treatments, aconitine shows antiarrhythmic and anti-inflammatory activity, a synergistic antiproliferative effect and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, an improved biodistribution and bioavailability. Additionally, the entrapment of aconitine in engineered nanoparticles represents a promising method for reducing the toxicity of this alkaloid. This review provides, for the first time, a comprehensive picture of the knowledge and research on the synergistic, additive and antagonistic effects of aconitine in combination treatments applied in vivo or in vitro. The summarized studies represent important clues in addressing the multitude of knowledge, which can find their utility in practical and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoleta Anca Şuţan
- Department of Natural Sciences, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Pitesti University Centre, 110040 Pitesti, Romania; (N.A.Ş.); (A.P.); (C.D.); (M.C.P.); (L.C.S.)
| | - Alina Paunescu
- Department of Natural Sciences, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Pitesti University Centre, 110040 Pitesti, Romania; (N.A.Ş.); (A.P.); (C.D.); (M.C.P.); (L.C.S.)
| | - Carmen Topala
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Applied Sciences, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Pitesti University Centre, 110040 Pitesti, Romania;
| | - Codruţa Dobrescu
- Department of Natural Sciences, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Pitesti University Centre, 110040 Pitesti, Romania; (N.A.Ş.); (A.P.); (C.D.); (M.C.P.); (L.C.S.)
| | - Maria Cristina Ponepal
- Department of Natural Sciences, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Pitesti University Centre, 110040 Pitesti, Romania; (N.A.Ş.); (A.P.); (C.D.); (M.C.P.); (L.C.S.)
| | - Diana Ionela Popescu (Stegarus)
- National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies—ICSI Rm. Valcea, 240050 Ramnicu Valcea, Romania;
| | - Liliana Cristina Soare
- Department of Natural Sciences, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Pitesti University Centre, 110040 Pitesti, Romania; (N.A.Ş.); (A.P.); (C.D.); (M.C.P.); (L.C.S.)
| | - Radu Tamaian
- National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies—ICSI Rm. Valcea, 240050 Ramnicu Valcea, Romania;
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Moore CD, Farman DI, Särkinen T, Stevenson PC, Vallejo-Marín M. Floral scent changes in response to pollen removal are rare in buzz-pollinated Solanum. PLANTA 2024; 260:15. [PMID: 38829528 PMCID: PMC11147924 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-024-04403-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION One of seven Solanum taxa studied displayed associations between pollen presence and floral scent composition and volume, suggesting buzz-pollinated plants rarely use scent as an honest cue for foraging pollinators. Floral scent influences the recruitment, learning, and behaviour of floral visitors. Variation in floral scent can provide information on the amount of reward available or whether a flower has been visited recently and may be particularly important in species with visually concealed rewards. In many buzz-pollinated flowers, tubular anthers opening via small apical pores (poricidal anthers) visually conceal pollen and appear similar regardless of pollen quantity within the anther. We investigated whether pollen removal changes floral scent composition and emission rate in seven taxa of buzz-pollinated Solanum (Solanaceae). We found that pollen removal reduced both the overall emission of floral scent and the emission of specific compounds (linalool and farnesol) in S. lumholtzianum. Our findings suggest that in six out of seven buzz-pollinated taxa studied here, floral scent could not be used as a signal by visitors as it does not contain information on pollen availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Douglas Moore
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK.
| | - Dudley I Farman
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
| | - Tiina Särkinen
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR, UK
| | - Philip C Stevenson
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Green, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
| | - Mario Vallejo-Marín
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden
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4
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Kakkar RA, Haneen MA, Parida AC, Sharma G. The known, unknown, and the intriguing about members of a critically endangered traditional medicinal plant genus Aconitum. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1139215. [PMID: 37575934 PMCID: PMC10421671 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1139215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Humanity will always be indebted to plants. In the ongoing scientific era, the 'Herbal Revolution' has helped discover several valuable medicinal plants and associated novel secondary metabolites from the diverse unexplored ecosystems, treating several diseases via phytotherapy. The Aconitum genus comprises several economically-important poisonous mountainous medicinal plant species whose unique biodiversity is on the verge of extinction due to illegal human intervention triggered habitat loss, over-harvesting, and unrestricted trading. Owing to its vast diversity of diterpene alkaloids, most species are extensively used to treat several ailments in rural parts of the world. Irrespective of this, many unexplored and intriguing prospects exist to understand and utilize this critical plant for human benefit. This systematic review tries to fill this gap by compiling information from the sporadically available literature known for ~300 Aconitum spp. regarding its nomenclature and classification, endangerment, plant morphology, ploidy, secondary metabolites, drug pharmacokinetics, conservation, and omics-based computational studies. We also depicted the disparity in the studied model organisms for this diverse genus. The absence of genomic/metagenomic data is becoming a limiting factor in understanding its plant physiology, metabolic pathways, and plant-microbes interactions, and therefore must be promoted. Additionally, government support and public participation are crucial in establishing conservation protocols to save this plant from endangerment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richa Ashok Kakkar
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy, Telangana, India
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru, India
| | - Mariam Azeezuddin Haneen
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy, Telangana, India
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru, India
| | | | - Gaurav Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy, Telangana, India
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru, India
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5
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Marshall L, Perdijk F, Dendoncker N, Kunin W, Roberts S, Biesmeijer JC. Bumblebees moving up: shifts in elevation ranges in the Pyrenees over 115 years. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20202201. [PMID: 33171083 PMCID: PMC7735265 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In a warming climate, species are expected to shift their geographical ranges to higher elevations and latitudes, and if interacting species shift at different rates, networks may be disrupted. To quantify the effects of ongoing climate change, repeating historical biodiversity surveys is necessary. In this study, we compare the distribution of a plant–pollinator community between two surveys 115 years apart (1889 and 2005–06), reporting distribution patterns and changes observed for bumblebee species and bumblebee-visited plants in the Gavarnie-Gèdre commune in the Pyrenees, located in southwest Europe at the French–Spanish border. The region has warmed significantly over this period, alongside shifts in agricultural land use and forest. The composition of the bumblebee community shows relative stability, but we observed clear shifts to higher elevations for bumblebees (averaging 129 m) and plants (229 m) and provide preliminary evidence that some bumblebee species shift with the plants they visit. We also observe that some species have been able to occupy the same climate range in both periods by shifting elevation range. The results suggest the need for long-term monitoring to determine the role and impact of the different drivers of global change, especially in montane habitats where the impacts of climate changes are anticipated to be more extreme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Marshall
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.,Agroecology Lab, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe CP 264/2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Floor Perdijk
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nicolas Dendoncker
- Department of Geography, Institute of Life, Earth and Environment (ILEE), University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - William Kunin
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Stuart Roberts
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AR, UK
| | - Jacobus C Biesmeijer
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands.,Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
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6
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Marinho JBR, Soto-Blanco B. Toxicological Risk Assessment of the Accidental Ingestion of a Honeybee ( Apis mellifera L.) Present in Food. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:583286. [PMID: 33134363 PMCID: PMC7561407 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.583286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present work was to evaluate the possible risk of toxic effects due to the ingestion of a honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) accidentally present in food. The methodology used in this study was a bibliographic survey of studies on the toxic effects related to honeybees, with a critical analysis of the possible risks of accidental ingestion of these insects. The amount of venom present in a bee is considered insufficient to induce detectable toxic effects in a person who ingests it by accident, and various components of the venom are destroyed by gastric secretions. However, despite the rare frequency, there is a risk of the ingestion of a bee, causing an allergic reaction to some components of the venom in sensitized individuals. In addition, pollen carried by a bee may cause an allergic reaction in a sensitive individual. Thus, the accidental ingestion of a bee present in a food does not pose the risk of toxic effects for the majority of the population but may promote allergic reactions in susceptible individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Baeça Rezende Marinho
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, Veterinary College, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Benito Soto-Blanco
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Surgery, Veterinary College, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Yue J, Wang R, Ma X, Liu J, Lu X, Balaso Thakar S, An N, Liu J, Xia E, Liu Y. Full-length transcriptome sequencing provides insights into the evolution of apocarotenoid biosynthesis in Crocus sativus. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:774-783. [PMID: 32280432 PMCID: PMC7132054 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Crocus sativus, containing remarkably amounts of crocin, picrocrocin and safranal, is the source of saffron with tremendous medicinal, economic and cultural importance. Here, we present a high-quality full-length transcriptome of the sterile triploid C. sativus, using the PacBio SMRT sequencing technology. This yields 31,755 high-confidence predictions of protein-coding genes, with 50.1% forming paralogous gene pairs. Analysis on distribution of Ks values suggests that the current genome of C. sativus is probably a product resulting from at least two rounds of whole-genome duplication (WGD) events occurred at ~28 and ~114 million years ago (Mya), respectively. We provide evidence demonstrating that the recent β WGD event confers a major impact on family expansion of secondary metabolite genes, possibly leading to an enhanced accumulation of three distinct compounds: crocin, picrocrocin and safranal. Phylogenetic analysis unravels that the founding member (CCD2) of CCD enzymes necessary for the biosynthesis of apocarotenoids in C. sativus might be evolved from the CCD1 family via the β WGD event. Based on the gene expression profiling, CCD2 is found to be expressed at an extremely high level in the stigma. These findings may shed lights on further genomic refinement of the characteristic biosynthesis pathways and promote germplasm utilization for the improvement of saffron quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyang Yue
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China.,School of Computer and Information, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China.,State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Ran Wang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Xiaojing Ma
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Jiayi Liu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Xiaohui Lu
- College of Information Technology, Jiaxing Vocational Technical College, Jiaxing 314000, China
| | - Sambhaji Balaso Thakar
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.,Department of Biotechnology, Shivaji University, Kolhapur 416003, India
| | - Ning An
- School of Computer and Information, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Economic Plant Biotechnology, College of Landscape Architecture and Life Science, Institute of Special Plants, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing 402160, China
| | - Enhua Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Yongsheng Liu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China.,State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Bio-resource and Eco-environment, College of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
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