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Jürgens FM, Behrens M, Humpf HU, Robledo SM, Schmidt TJ. In Vitro Metabolism of Helenalin Acetate and 11α,13-Dihydrohelenalin Acetate: Natural Sesquiterpene Lactones from Arnica. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12010088. [PMID: 35050210 PMCID: PMC8780470 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12010088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Arnica tincture is a herbal medicinal preparation with anti-inflammatory activity which is used traditionally for the topical treatment of blunt injuries as well as rheumatic muscle and joint complaints. Its main bioactive constituents are sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) of the helenalin and 11α,13-dihydrohelenalin types. Besides the mentioned activity, the tincture and its isolated STLs have antileishmanial activity. In a recent in vivo study, a treatment with Arnica tincture cured cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) in a golden hamster model. CL is a neglected tropical disease affecting more than two million people every year, for which new treatments are urgently needed. In order to use Arnica tincture on open CL lesions of human patients, it is important to know how the constituents are metabolized. Therefore, in vitro metabolism experiments with liver microsomes of different species (rat, pig and human) were performed with the Arnica STLs helenalin acetate and 11α,13-dihydrohelenalin acetate. Phase I and phase II metabolism experiments were performed, as well as a combination of both. Glutathione conjugation plays a major role in the metabolism of these STLs, as could be expected based on previous reports on their reactivity. Besides glutathione conjugates, several other metabolites were formed, e.g., water conjugates and hydroxides. Our results show for the first time a detailed picture of the metabolism of Arnica STLs. The fast and extensive formation of glutathione conjugates makes it unlikely that low absorbed levels of these compounds, as expected after dermal absorption from Arnica tincture, could be of toxicological concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska M. Jürgens
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstrasse 48, D-48149 Münster, Germany;
| | - Matthias Behrens
- Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 45, D-48149 Münster, Germany; (M.B.); (H.-U.H.)
| | - Hans-Ulrich Humpf
- Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 45, D-48149 Münster, Germany; (M.B.); (H.-U.H.)
| | - Sara M. Robledo
- PECET-School of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Calle 70 N° 52-21, Medellin 0500100, Colombia;
| | - Thomas J. Schmidt
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstrasse 48, D-48149 Münster, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-251-8333378
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Nguyen TD, Faraldos JA, Vardakou M, Salmon M, O'Maille PE, Ro DK. Discovery of germacrene A synthases in Barnadesia spinosa: The first committed step in sesquiterpene lactone biosynthesis in the basal member of the Asteraceae. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 479:622-627. [PMID: 27697527 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.09.165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The Andes-endemic Barnadesioideae lineage is the oldest surviving and phylogenetically basal subfamily of the Asteraceae (Compositae), a prolific group of flowering plants with world-wide distribution (∼24,000 species) marked by a rich diversity of sesquiterpene lactones (STLs). Intriguingly, there is no evidence that members of the Barnadesioideae produce STLs, specialized metabolites thought to have contributed to the adaptive success of the Asteraceae family outside South America. The biosynthesis of STLs requires the intimate expression and functional integration of germacrene A synthase (GAS) and germacrene A oxidase (GAO) to sequentially cyclize and oxidize farnesyl diphosphate into the advanced intermediate germacrene A acid leading to diverse STLs. Our previous discovery of GAO activity conserved across all major subfamilies of Asteraceae, including the phylogenetically basal lineage of Barnadesioideae, prompted further investigation of the presence of the gateway GAS in Barnadesioideae. Herein we isolated two terpene synthases (BsGAS1/BsGAS2) from the basal Barnadesia spinosa (Barnadesioideae) that displayed robust GAS activity when reconstituted in yeast and characterized in vitro. Despite the apparent lack of STLs in the Barnadesioideae, this work unambiguously confirms the presence of GAS in the basal genera of the Asteraceae. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the two BsGASs fall into two distinct clades of the Asteraceae's GASs, and BsGAS1 clade is only retained in the evolutionary closer Cichorioideae subfamily, implicating BsGAS2 is likely the ancestral base of most GASs found in the lineages outside the Barnadesioideae. Taken together, these results show the enzymatic capacities of GAS and GAO emerged prior to the subsequent radiation of STL-producing Asteraceae subfamilies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trinh-Don Nguyen
- University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences, Calgary, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Juan A Faraldos
- John Innes Centre, Department of Metabolic Biology, Norwich, NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Vardakou
- John Innes Centre, Department of Metabolic Biology, Norwich, NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Melissa Salmon
- John Innes Centre, Department of Metabolic Biology, Norwich, NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Paul E O'Maille
- John Innes Centre, Department of Metabolic Biology, Norwich, NR4 7UH, United Kingdom; Institute of Food Research, Food and Health Programme, Norwich, NR4 7UA, United Kingdom.
| | - Dae-Kyun Ro
- University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences, Calgary, T2N 1N4, Canada.
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Maurice T, Matthies D, Muller S, Colling G. Genetic structure of colline and montane populations of an endangered plant species. AOB PLANTS 2016; 8:plw057. [PMID: 27519913 PMCID: PMC5070612 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plw057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Due to land-use intensification, lowland and colline populations of many plants of nutrient-poor grasslands have been strongly fragmented in the last decades, with potentially negative consequences for their genetic diversity and persistence. Populations in mountains might represent a genetic reservoir for grassland plants, because they have been less affected by land-use changes. We studied the genetic structure and diversity of colline and montane Vosges populations of the threatened perennial plant Arnica montana in western central Europe using AFLP markers. Our results indicate that in contrast to our expectation even strongly fragmented colline populations of A. montana have conserved a considerable amount of genetic diversity. However, mean seed mass increased with the proportion of polymorphic loci, suggesting inbreeding effects in low diversity populations. At a similar small geographical scale there was a clear IBD pattern for the montane Vosges but not for the colline populations. However, there was a strong IBD-pattern for the colline populations at a large geographical scale suggesting that this pattern is a legacy of historical gene flow, as most of the colline populations are today strongly isolated from each other. Genetic differentiation between colline and montane Vosges populations was strong. Moreover, results of a genome scan study indicated differences in loci under selection, suggesting that plants from montane Vosges populations might be maladapted to conditions at colline sites. Our results suggest caution in using material from montane populations of rare plants for the reinforcement of small genetically depauperate lowland populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiphaine Maurice
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7360, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux (LIEC), rue du Général Delestraint, 57070 Metz, France Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, Population Biology and Evolution, 25 rue Münster L-2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg. Fondation Faune Flore, 24 rue Münster L-2160 Luxembourg
| | - Diethart Matthies
- Philipps-Universität, Fachbereich Biologie, Pflanzenökologie, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Serge Muller
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS UMR 7360, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux (LIEC), rue du Général Delestraint, 57070 Metz, France Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, UMR 7205 ISYEB, CNRS, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, EPHE, Sorbonne Universités, CP 39, 16 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Guy Colling
- Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, Population Biology and Evolution, 25 rue Münster L-2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
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Ekenäs C, Heidari N, Andreasen K. Arnica (Asteraceae) phylogeny revisited using RPB2: complex patterns and multiple d-paralogues. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2012; 64:261-70. [PMID: 22425730 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2012.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2010] [Revised: 01/20/2012] [Accepted: 02/27/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The region coding for the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) was explored for resolving interspecific relationships in Arnica and lower level taxa in general. The region between exons 17 and 23 was cloned and sequenced for 33 accessions of Arnica and four outgroup taxa. Three paralogues of the RPB2-d copy (RPB2-dA, B and C) were detected in Arnica and outgroup taxa, indicating that the duplications must have occurred before the divergence of Arnica. Parsimony and Bayesian analyses of separate alignments of the three copies reveal complex patterns in Arnica, likely reflecting a history of lineage sorting in combination with apomixis, polyploidization, and possibly hybridization. Cloned sequences of some taxa do not form monophyletic clades within paralogues, but form multiple strongly supported clades with sequences of other taxa. Some well supported groups are present in more than one paralogue and many groups are in line with earlier hypotheses regarding interspecific relationships within the genus. Low levels of homoplasy in combination with relatively high sequence variation indicates that the introns of the RPB2 region could be suitable for phylogenetic studies in low level taxonomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Ekenäs
- Department of Systematic Biology, Evolutionary Biology Center, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, S-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Heinrichs J, Kreier HP, Feldberg K, Schmidt AR, Zhu RL, Shaw B, Shaw AJ, Wissemann V. Formalizing morphologically cryptic biological entities: new insights from DNA taxonomy, hybridization, and biogeography in the leafy liverwort Porella platyphylla (Jungermanniopsida, Porellales). AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2011; 98:1252-62. [PMID: 21788532 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1100115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY Recognition and formalization of morphologically cryptic species is a major challenge to modern taxonomy. An extreme example in this regard is the Holarctic Porella platyphylla s.l. (P. platyphylla plus P. platyphylloidea). Earlier studies demonstrated the presence of three isozyme groups and two molecular lineages. The present investigation was carried out to elucidate the molecular diversity of P. platyphylla s.l. and the distribution of its main clades, and to evaluate evidence for the presence of one vs. several species. METHODS We obtained chloroplast (atpB-rbcL, trnL-trnF) and nuclear ribosomal (ITS) DNA sequences from 101 Porella accessions (P. platyphylla s.l., P. × baueri, P. cordaeana, P. bolanderi, plus outgroup species) to estimate the phylogeny using parsimony and likelihood analyses. To facilitate the adoption of Linnean nomenclature for molecular lineages, we chose a DNA voucher as epitype. KEY RESULTS Phylogenies derived from chloroplast vs. nuclear data were congruent except for P. platyphylla s.l., including a North American lineage that was placed sister to P. cordaeana in the chloroplast DNA phylogeny but sister to the Holarctic P. platyphylla s.str. in the nuclear DNA phylogeny. European and North American accessions of P. cordaeana and P. platyphylla form sister clades. CONCLUSIONS The genetic structure of P. platyphylla s.l. reflects morphologically cryptic or near cryptic speciation into Holarctic P. platyphylla s.str. and North American P. platyphylloidea. The latter species is possibly an ancient hybrid resulting from crossings of P. cordaeana and P. platyphylla s.str. and comprises several distinct molecular entities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jochen Heinrichs
- Department of Systematic Botany, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute of Plant Sciences, Georg-August-University, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
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Bohlin L, Göransson U, Alsmark C, Wedén C, Backlund A. Natural products in modern life science. PHYTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS : PROCEEDINGS OF THE PHYTOCHEMICAL SOCIETY OF EUROPE 2010; 9:279-301. [PMID: 20700376 PMCID: PMC2912726 DOI: 10.1007/s11101-009-9160-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2009] [Accepted: 11/17/2009] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
With a realistic threat against biodiversity in rain forests and in the sea, a sustainable use of natural products is becoming more and more important. Basic research directed against different organisms in Nature could reveal unexpected insights into fundamental biological mechanisms but also new pharmaceutical or biotechnological possibilities of more immediate use. Many different strategies have been used prospecting the biodiversity of Earth in the search for novel structure-activity relationships, which has resulted in important discoveries in drug development. However, we believe that the development of multidisciplinary incentives will be necessary for a future successful exploration of Nature. With this aim, one way would be a modernization and renewal of a venerable proven interdisciplinary science, Pharmacognosy, which represents an integrated way of studying biological systems. This has been demonstrated based on an explanatory model where the different parts of the model are explained by our ongoing research. Anti-inflammatory natural products have been discovered based on ethnopharmacological observations, marine sponges in cold water have resulted in substances with ecological impact, combinatory strategy of ecology and chemistry has revealed new insights into the biodiversity of fungi, in depth studies of cyclic peptides (cyclotides) has created new possibilities for engineering of bioactive peptides, development of new strategies using phylogeny and chemography has resulted in new possibilities for navigating chemical and biological space, and using bioinformatic tools for understanding of lateral gene transfer could provide potential drug targets. A multidisciplinary subject like Pharmacognosy, one of several scientific disciplines bridging biology and chemistry with medicine, has a strategic position for studies of complex scientific questions based on observations in Nature. Furthermore, natural product research based on intriguing scientific questions in Nature can be of value to increase the attraction for young students in modern life science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Bohlin
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biomedical Centre, Uppsala University, Box 574, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biomedical Centre, Uppsala University, Box 574, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Alsmark
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biomedical Centre, Uppsala University, Box 574, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christina Wedén
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biomedical Centre, Uppsala University, Box 574, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Backlund
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biomedical Centre, Uppsala University, Box 574, 751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
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