Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of bulb extracts of six Lilium species native to China

Preparation, characteristic, biological activities, and application of polysaccharide from Lilii Bulbus: a review

OBJECTIVES

This review highlights the current knowledge of polysaccharide from Lilii Bulbus, including the extraction, purification, structure, structure modification , biological activities and application, which will hopefully provide reference for further research and development of polysaccharide from Lilii Bulbus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literature searches were conducted on the following databases: Pubmed, ACS website, Elsevier, Google Scholar, Web of Science and CNKI database. Keywords such as "Lilii Bulbus", "polysaccharide", "preparation", "biological activities" and "application" were used to search relevant journals and contents, and some irrelevant contents were excluded.

RESULTS

In general, the study of Lilium Bulbus polysaccharide extraction and purification, structure characterization and biological activity has made substantial progress, these findings highlight the lilium brownii polysaccharide enormous potential in biomedical applications, of lilium brownii polysaccharide laid a solid foundation for further research.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

However, it should be noted that the relevant mechanism of the effective effect of lily bulb polysaccharide still needs to be worked on by researchers. These findings highlight the great potential of lily polysaccharides in biomedical applications, and lay a solid foundation for further research on lily polysaccharides.

Two New Phenylpropanoid Compounds from Lilium Brownii and Their Anti-monoamine Oxidase Activity

Baihe is a commonly used Chinese medicine for the treatment of neurological disorders. Clinically, the bulbs of Lilium brownii are used to act as Baihe. In the study, two new phenylpropanoid compounds including 3-O-acetyl-1-O-caffeoylglycerol (1) and 3-O-acetyl-1-O-p-coumaroylglycerol (2) were isolated from the bulbs of L. brownii. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic method and the effect on monoamine oxidase activity was determined using an enzyme labeling method. The results show 1 and 2 have anti-monoamine oxidase activity with 20.96 % and 22.31 % inhibition rates at 50 μg/ml, respectively.

Nano effect fluorescence visual sensor based on Au-AgNCs: A novel strategy to identify the origin and growth year of Lilium bulbs

In this study, we developed a cost-effective fluorescence visual sensor strategy based on gold and silver nanocluster (Au-AgNCs) for the rapid identification of the origins and growth years of Lilium bulbs (LB). Au-AgNCs combined with catechins in LB produce aggregation-induced emission (AIE). The catechin content in LB of different origins and growth years varied, resulting in different fluorescence color responses of the sensor system. Furthermore, the RGB values of the fluorescent color were extracted, and the discriminant effect of visual visualisation was verified using the data-driven soft independent modelling of class analogy (DD-SIMCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) models. The results showed that the accuracy of DD-SIMCA for identifying LB origins and PLSDA for growth year identification was 100%. These results indicated that the established strategy could accurately identify the quality of LB, which has great potential for application in the rapid and visual identification of other foods.

Two New Isospirostanol-Type Saponins from the Bulbs of Lilium Brownii and Their Anti-Hepatocarcinogenic Activity

Bulbs of Lilium brownii, commonly known as "Bai-he" in China, serve both edible and medicinal purposes in clinical practice. In this study, two new isospirostanol-type saponins were isolated from L. brownii, and their structures were identified by spectroscopic method, and absolute configurations were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of spectral data obtained from combined acid hydrolysis. Two compounds were finally identified as 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside]-(22R,25R)-5α-spirosolane-3β-ol (1) and 3-O-{α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-β-D-glucopyranoside}-(22R,25R)-5α-spirosolane-3β-ol (2), respectively. Further, we found that compound 2 significantly suppressed the proliferation of SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells with IC50 values of 26.3±1.08 μM and 30.9±1.59 μM, whereas compound 1 didn't inhibit both of the two hepatocellular carcinoma. Subsequently, compound 2 effectively decreased the levels of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α and the expression of Bcl-2, and increased the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 proteins. Which indicated that the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effect of compound 2 involves reducing the level of inflammation and inducing apoptosis.

Extraction, purification, structural characteristics, biological activities, and applications of polysaccharides from the genus Lilium: A review

The genus Lilium (Lilium) has been widely used in East Asia for over 2000 years due to its rich nutritional and medicinal value, serving as both food and medicinal ingredient. Polysaccharides, as one of the most important bioactive components in Lilium, offer various health benefits. Recently, polysaccharides from Lilium plants have garnered significant attention from researchers due to their diverse biological properties including immunomodulatory, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-aging and anti-radiation effects. However, the limited comprehensive understanding of polysaccharides from Lilium plants has hindered their development and utilization. This review focuses on the extraction, purification, structural characteristics, biological activities, structure-activity relationships, applications, and relevant bibliometrics of polysaccharides from Lilium plants. Additionally, it delves into the potential development and future research directions. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive understanding of polysaccharides from Lilium plants and to serve as a basis for further research and development as therapeutic agents and multifunctional biomaterials.

The use of natural extracts with photoprotective activity: a 2015-2023 patent prospection

Synthetic sunscreen offers protection against excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, and protects the skin from possible damage. However, they have low efficacy against the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are highly reactive molecules that can be generated in the skin when it is exposed to UV radiation, and are known to play a role in oxidative stress, which can contribute to skin aging and damage. Thus, there is an ongoing search for sunscreens that do not have these negative effects. One promising source for these is natural products. Therefore, the current patent review summarizes topical formulations made from natural compounds that have antioxidant properties and can be used as photoprotective or anti-aging agents, either using a single natural extract or a combination of extracts. The review reports basic patent information (applicant country, type of applicant, and year of filing) and gives details about the invention, including its chemical composition, and the in vitro and in vivo tests performed. These patents describe natural products that can be used to protect the skin and validate their efficacy, and safety, in addition to standardizing their formulations. The compositions described illustrate the consistent innovation in the use of natural products to protect against UV damage and photoaging disorders, a promising field which is receiving growing global recognition.

Extensive targeted metabolomics analysis reveals the identification of major metabolites, antioxidants, and disease-resistant active pharmaceutical components in Camellia tuberculata (Camellia L.) seeds

Sect. tuberculata plant belongs to the Camellia genus and is named for the "tuberculiform protuberance on the surface of the ovary and fruit". It is a species of great ornamental value and potential medicinal value. However, little has been reported on the metabolites of C. tuberculata seeds. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the metabolites of C. tuberculata seeds based on UPLC/ESI-Q TRAP-MS/MS with extensively targeted metabolomics. A total of 1611 metabolites were identified, including 107 alkaloids, 276 amino acids and derivatives, 283 flavonoids, 86 lignans and coumarins, 181 lipids, 68 nucleotides and derivatives, 101 organic acids, 190 phenolic acids, 10 quinones, 4 steroids, 17 tannins, 111 terpenoids, and 177 other metabolites. We compared the different metabolites in seeds between HKH, ZM, ZY, and LY. The 1311 identified different metabolites were classified into three categories. Sixty-three overlapping significant different metabolites were found, of which lignans and coumarins accounted for the largest proportion. The differentially accumulated metabolites were enriched in different metabolic pathways between HKH vs. LY, HKH vs. ZM, HKH vs. ZY, LY vs. ZY, ZM vs. LY and ZM vs. ZY, with the most abundant metabolic pathways being 4, 2, 4, 7, 7 and 5, respectively (p < 0.05). Moreover, among the top 20 metabolites in each subgroup comparison in terms of difference multiplicity 7, 8 and 13. ZM and ZY had the highest phenolic acid content. Ninety-six disease-resistant metabolites and 48 major traditional Chinese medicine agents were identified based on seven diseases. The results of this study will not only lead to a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the metabolic properties of C. tuberculata seeds, but also provide a scientific basis for the excavation and further development of its medicinal value.

Physical Stability of Lotus Seed and Lily Bulb Beverage: The Effects of Homogenisation on Particle Size Distribution, Microstructure, Rheological Behaviour, and Sensory Properties

The lotus seed and lily bulb beverage (LLB) has a problem with solid particle sedimentation. To address this issue, LLB was homogenised twice at different pressures (0~100 MPa) using a homogeniser. This study aims to investigate the changes in the particle size distribution (PSD), microstructure, rheological behaviour, sedimentation index (IS), turbidity, physicochemical properties, and sensory quality of LLBs after homogenisation treatments. The results regarding PSD and microstructure showed that the suspended particles were decomposed at high pressure with increasing homogenisation pressure, forming small particles of cellular material, cell wall fragments, fibre fractions, and polymers. The LLB showed shear-thinning behaviour and weak gelation characteristics (G' > G″) and rheological properties. Among all homogenisation pressures, the 60 MPa sample showed the lowest sedimentation rate and the highest turbidity. When the pressure was increased from 0 to 100 MPa, the total soluble solid (TSS) content showed an upward trend, while the ascorbic acid content (AAC) gradually decreased. The highest sensory evaluation was observed in the 60 MPa sample in terms of overall acceptability.

Extraction, purification, characteristics, bioactivities, prospects, and toxicity of Lilium spp. polysaccharides

The genus Lilium has been widely used worldwide as a food and medicinal ingredient in East Asia for over 2000 years due to its higher nutritional and medicinal value. Polysaccharide is the most important bioactive ingredient in Lilium spp. and has various health benefits. Recently, Lilium spp. polysaccharides (LSPs) have attracted significant attention from industries and researchers due to their various biological properties, such as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antitumor, antibacterial, hypoglycaemic, and anti-radiation. However, the development and utilization of LSP-based functional biomaterials and medicines are limited by a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the structure-activity relationships (SARs), industrial applications, and safety of LSPs. This review provides an inclusive overview of the extraction, purification, structural features, bioactivities, and mechanisms of LSPs. SARs, applications, toxicities, and influences of structural modifications on bioactivities are also highlighted, and the potential development and future study direction are scrutinized. This article aims to offer a complete understanding of LSPs and provide a foundation for further research and application of LSPs as therapeutic agents and multifunctional biomaterials.

Integration of Metabolome and Transcriptome Profiling Reveals the Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) on the Browning of Fresh-Cut Lanzhou Lily (Lilium davidii var. unicolor) Bulbs during Storage

The fresh-cut bulbs of the Lanzhou lily (Lilium davidii var. unicolor) experience browning problems during storage. To solve the problem of browning in the preservation of Lanzhou lily bulbs, we first investigated the optimal storage temperature and gas ratio of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) of Lanzhou lily bulbs. Then, we tested the browning index (BD), activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD), the content of malonaldehyde (MDA) and other physiological activity indicators related to browning. The results showed that the storage conditions of 10% O₂ + 5% CO₂ + 85% N₂ and 4 °C were the best. To further explore the anti-browning mechanism of MAP in fresh-cut Lanzhou lily bulbs, the integration of metabolome and transcriptome analyses showed that MAP mainly retarded the unsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratio in the cell membrane, inhibited the lipid peroxidation of the membrane and thus maintained the integrity of the cell membrane of Lanzhou lily bulbs. In addition, MAP inhibited the oxidation of phenolic substances and provided an anti-tanning effect. This study provided a preservation scheme to solve the problem of the browning of freshly cut Lanzhou lily bulbs, and discussed the mechanism of MAP in preventing browning during the storage of the bulbs.

Phytochemical Analysis and Habitat Suitability Mapping of Cardiocrinum cordatum (Thunb.) Makino Collected at Chiburijima, Oki Islands, Japan

Cardiocrinum cordatum, known as ubayuri in Japan, has antihypertensive properties and has been shown to inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which contributes to the production of angiotensin II, a hypotensive substance in the renin−angiotensin system. C. cordatum has been the subject of various studies as a useful plant and is applied as a functional food. Due to the limited distribution, loss of natural habitat by frequent natural disasters, and environmental conditions, the chemical content and biological activity of C. cordatum have been drastically affected. Obtaining a stable supply of Cardiocrinu cordatum material with high biological activity is still a challenge. Understanding the native habitat environment and suitable cultivation sites could help in solving this issue. Therefore, in the current study we investigated the effect of environmental parameters on the hypertensive and antioxidant activities of C. cordatum collected at Chiburijima, Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. We also predicted the habitat suitability of C. cordatum using a geographic information system (GIS) and MaxEnt model with various conditioning factors, including the topographic, soil, environmental, and climatic factors of the study area. A total of 37 individual plant samples along with soil data were collected for this study. In vitro assays of ACE inhibitory and antioxidant activity were conducted on the collected samples. The results show that plants at 14 out of 37 sites had very strong ACE inhibitory activity (IC50 < 1 mg mL−1). However, the collected plants showed no signs of strong antioxidant activity. Statistical analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that BIO05 (F value = 2.93, p < 0.05), nitrate−nitrogen (F value = 2.46, p < 0.05), and silt (F value = 3.443, p < 0.05) significantly affected ACE inhibitory activity. On the other hand, organic carbon content (F value = 10.986, p < 0.01) was found to significantly affect antioxidant activity. The final habitat suitability map shows 3.3% very high and 6.8% high suitability regions, and samples with ACE inhibition activity were located within these regions. It is recommended further investigations and studies are conducted on C. cordatum in these locations. The prediction suitability model showed accuracy with AUC-ROC of 96.7% for the study area.

The complete chloroplast genome sequences of three lilies: genome structure, comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses

We sequenced and analyzed the complete chloroplast genomes of Lilium amoenum, Lilium souliei, and Nomocharis forrestii in detail, including the first sequence and structural comparison of Nomocharis forrestii. We found that the lengths and nucleotide composition of the three chloroplast genes showed little variation. The chloroplast genomes of the three Lilium species contain 87 protein coding genes (PCGs), 38 tRNAs, and 8 rRNA genes. The only difference is that Nomocharis forrestii had an additional infA pseudogene. In the sequence analysis of the Lilium chloroplast genomes, 216 SSRs, 143 pairs of long repeats, 571 SNPs, and 202 indels were detected. In addition, we identified seven hypervariable regions that can be used as potential molecular markers and DNA barcodes of Lilium through complete sequence alignment. The phylogenetic tree was constructed from the three chloroplast genome sequences of Lilium obtained here and 40 chloroplast genome sequences from the NCBI database (including 35 Lilium species, 4 Fritillaria species, and one species of Smilax). The analysis showed that the species clustering of the genus Lilium essentially conformed to the classical morphological classification system of Comber, but differences in the classification of individual species remained. In our report, we support the reclassification of Lilium henryi and Lilium rosthorniiy in the genus Lilium. In general, this study not only provides genome data for three Lilium species, but also provides a comparative analysis of the Lilium chloroplast genomes. These advances will help to identify Lilium species, clarify the phylogenetic analysis of the Lilium genus, and help to solve and improve the disputes and deficiencies in the traditional morphological classification.

Potential Applications of Lilium Plants in Cosmetics: A Comprehensive Review Based on Research Papers and Patents

The application of cosmetics is indispensable in our current society. In recent years, with an increasing awareness of the long-term health benefits of naturally sourced ingredients, plant-based cosmetic products have gained increasing attention. Lilium belongs to the Liliaceae family, which is one of the main plant families used in cosmetics for skin care treatment. A large number of studies have shown that Lilium plants are rich in components such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, with high potential for cosmetic applications. However, the application of lilies in cosmetics has not been systematically reported. This knowledge gap can easily lead to the neglect of its application in cosmetics because lilies are most familiar as ornamental plants. Integrating academic papers and patent publications, we analyzed the potential cosmetic application ingredients in lily, as well as their applications in cosmetics and related efficacy. Patent analysis showed that applications for lily-related cosmetic patents are mainly concentrated in East Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan. The application of lilies involves all aspects of cosmetics, such as sunscreens, facial cleansers, facial masks, conditioners, and so on. Its functions are also rich and diverse, including antiaging, radiation protective, whitening, moisturizing, freckle removal, acne treatment, and hair regeneration promotion. In addition, lilies are compatible with the application of other herbs. Moreover, with a change in people’s consumption concepts and the consideration of long-term health benefits, lily-based food and medicine innovation with health care and beautification effects may be a promising direction.

Chemical constituents from the bulbs of Lilium davidii var. unicolor and anti-insomnia effect

In this work, twenty-five water-soluble constituents were isolated from the bulbs of Lilium davidii var. unicolor, including two new compounds termed liliumtides A and B (1-2), and seventeen known compounds (3-4, 6-13, 15, 17, 21-25) isolated from the genus of Lilium for the first time. Their structures were established using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy and 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance data. To confirm furtherly the absolute configuration of liliumtide A, and to accumulate enough sample to study the anti-insomnia effect, a total synthesis for liliumtide A was achieved by four steps. The pentobarbital-induced sleeping time test showed that compared with the blank control group, the liliumtide A decreased sleep latency and significantly increased the sleep time. These results suggested that liliumtide A could be investigated as a natural anti-insomnia lead compound in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

The Effectiveness of Clove Extract on Oxidization-Induced Changes of Structure and Gelation in Porcine Myofibrillar Protein

This study aimed to investigate the structural characteristics and gelation behavior of myofibrillar proteins (MPs) with or without clove extract (CE) at different oxidation times (0, 1, 3, and 5 h). Circular dichroism spectra and Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that samples with CE addition had significantly higher α-helix content after oxidation than those without CE addition. However, prolonged oxidation (5 h) would make the effect of CE addition less pronounced. Similarly, the ultraviolet-visible (UV) spectra analysis revealed that CE controlled the oxidative stretching of the protein tertiary structure and reduced the exposure of aromatic amino acids. In addition, the particle size and turbidity values of the CE group significantly decreased after oxidation compared to the non-CE group. CE increased the gel strength by 10.05% after 5 h of oxidation, which could be observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as a more homogeneous, dense, less porous, network-like gel structure. Therefore, these results showed that oxidation induced significant changes in the structure and gel properties of MPs, but the addition of CE effectively inhibited these destructive changes.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Ld-08 isolated from Lilium davidii exhibits antifungal and growth-promoting properties

A plant growth-promoting and antifungal endophytic bacteria designated as Ld-08 isolated from the bulbs of Lilium davidii was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa based on phenotypic, microscopic, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Ld-08 exhibited antifungal effects against Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis cinerea, Botryosphaeria dothidea, and Fusarium fujikuroi. Ld-08 showed the highest growth inhibition, i.e., 83.82±4.76% against B. dothidea followed by 74.12±3.87%, 67.56±3.35%, and 63.67±3.39% against F. fujikuroi, B. cinerea, and F. oxysporum, respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction of Ld-08 revealed the presence of several bioactive secondary metabolites. Prominent compounds were quinolones; 3,9-dimethoxypterocarpan; cascaroside B; dehydroabietylamine; epiandrosterone; nocodazole; oxolinic acid; pyochelin; rhodotulic acid; 9,12-octadecadienoic acid; di-peptides; tri-peptides; ursodiol, and venlafaxine. The strain Ld-08 showed organic acids, ACC deaminase, phosphate solubilization, IAA, and siderophore. The sterilized bulbs of a Lilium variety, inoculated with Ld-08, were further studied for plant growth-promoting traits. The inoculated plants showed improved growth than the control plants. Importantly, some growth parameters such as plant height, leaf length, bulb weight, and root length were significantly (P ≤0.05) increased in the inoculated plants than in the control un-inoculated plants. Further investigations are required to explore the potential of this strain to be used as a plant growth-promoting and biocontrol agent in sustainable agriculture.

New Phenolic Glycosides and Lignans from the Roots of Lilium dauricum

Three new phenolic glycosides, carvacrol-2-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1: ), 1-methyl-3-isopropylphenol-4-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2: ), p-methoxythymol-5-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3: ), and a pair of new 8-O-4' neolignan enantiomers (5A: /5B: ), together with 26 known compounds (4, 6:  - 30: ) were isolated from the roots of Lilium dauricum. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic and chemical methods, and the absolute configurations of 5A: and 5B: were established by electronic circular dichroism analysis. Nine compounds (1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 17, 25, 29,: and 30: ) exhibited potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 73.4 µM to 988.2 µM. Besides, compound 19: displayed strong anticomplementary activity (CH₅₀: 71.6 µM).

Metabolome and transcriptome analysis predicts metabolism of violet-red color change in Lilium bulbs

BACKGROUND

During the storage and processing of Lilium bulbs, the phenomenon of violet-red colour change in Lilium bulbs which is different from enzymatic browning often exists, but the specific mechanism is not clear.

RESULTS

In this study, we chose six-year-old Lilium davidii var. unicolor to study. Bulb scales which were sealed in polyethylene film plastic bags were exposed to room temperature (20 ± 2 °C) treatment for 5 days (12 h of sunshine and 12 h of sun shading). Metabolomics and transcript omics were conducted to elucidate the mechanism of violet-red color change in Lilium bulbs. The results showed that the color of Lilium bulb scales was obvious violet-red in 5 days; chromaticity value measuring showed the a values had the most significant upward trend. Metabolomics analysis showed many metabolites produced from the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway showed an upward trend. Transcriptome revealed that flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was significantly enriched, of which 20 synthesis genes were highly regulated expression. Metabolome and transcriptome co-analysis that up-regulated expression of flavonoids synthesis genes including ten chalcone synthase, two anthocyanidin reductase, and chalcone isomerase, 3'-hydroxylase, 3-hydroxylase, dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, anthocyanin synthase, anthocyanidin 3-O-glucosyltransferase and flavonol synthase were highly positive correlated with epicatechin, rutin and cyanidin 3-rutinoside.

CONCLUSION

Phenotypic, metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis indicated that the up-related expression levels of genes and accumulated flavonoids related to flavonoid metabolism contributed greatly to the violet-red colour change in Lilium bulbs. The results of this study will deepen our understanding of the color formation of violet-red Lilium bulbs and provide the basis for future storage and preservation of Lilium bulbs. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

An optimized method to obtain high-quality RNA from different tissues in Lilium davidii var. unicolor

The high quality, yield and purity total RNA samples are essential for molecular experiments. However, harvesting high quality RNA in Lilium davidii var. unicolor is a great challenge due to its polysaccharides, polyphenols and other secondary metabolites. In this study, different RNA extraction methods, namely TRIzol method, the modified TRIzol method, Kit method and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method were employed to obtain total RNA from different tissues in L. davidii var. unicolor. A Nano drop spectrophotometer and 1% agarose gel electrophoresis were used to detect the RNA quality and integrity. Compared with TRIzol, Kit and CTAB methods, the modified TRIzol method obtained higher RNA concentrations from different tissues and the A260/A280 ratios of RNA samples were ranged from 1.97 to 2.27. Thus, the modified TRIzol method was shown to be the most effective RNA extraction protocol in acquiring RNA with high concentrations. Furthermore, the RNA samples isolated by the modified TRIzol and Kit methods were intact, whereas different degrees of degradation happened within RNA samples isolated by the TRIzol and CTAB methods. In addition, the modified TRIzol method could also isolate high-quality RNA from other edible lily bulbs. Taken together, the modified TRIzol method is an efficient method for total RNA isolation from L. davidii var. unicolor.

Analysis of edible characteristics, antioxidant capacities, and phenolic pigment monomers in Lilium bulbs native to China

Lilium is cherished for its health-promoting properties in China. The bulbs of Lilium are rich in phenolic compounds, which are associated with antioxidant capacity. However, no systematic evaluation on phenolic compositions and antioxidant capacities for the edible Lilium native to China has been conducted. Herein, bulbs of 56 wild populations and three cultivars were collected. Their edible characteristics, antioxidant capacities, and pigments have been investigated and analyzed. The results showed that phenolic compounds contributed to the major colors (red, yellow and white) in Lilium bulbs. The seven phenolic pigment monomers responsible for the color of bulbs-cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, isoquercitrin, regaloside B, regaloside C, regaloside H, regaloside A and regaloside D-were identified by the combination of HPLC-MS and NMR analysis. The population Lilium regale E. H. Wilson (Maoxian County, Sichuan Province) had the highest antioxidant capacity. According to the quantification results, Lilium bulbs with darker and redder colors possessed larger biomass, better nutrient compositions, significantly higher bioactive constituents, and higher antioxidant capacities than the three currently consumed cultivars of edible lily bulbs. Overall, these findings suggest that the mountainous area of southwest China could be the fourth source of edible lilies with the bulb-colored Lilium species.

Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation on the Chemical Structure and Antioxidant Activity of Polysaccharides from Bulbs of Lanzhou Lily

Recently, Lanzhou lily has attracted more attention because of its bioactive components specifically polysaccharides. We studied in vitro the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation on the physicochemical properties, chemical structure, and antioxidant activity of the Lanzhou lily polysaccharide. The results showed that compared with the unfermented Lanzhou lily polysaccharide (LP-W), the molecular weight (M _w) of the fermented Lanzhou lily polysaccharide (LPF-W) decreased from 4334 to 1684 kDa, the particle size decreased from 300.8 ± 6.38 to 141.9 ± 4.96 nm, and the solubility increased from 72.33 ± 3.58 to 104.27 ± 2.91 mg/mL. In addition, after fermentation, the monosaccharide composition of LPF-W changed, and the alternation of mannose residues and glucose residues disappeared. The results of the analysis of the antioxidant activity in vitro showed that compared with LP-W, the fermented LPF-W had higher DPPH radical ability, superoxide anion radical scavenging ability, and reducing efficiency, but the hydroxyl radical scavenging ability decreased. These findings provide a reference for the potential application of the lily polysaccharide as a plant-derived antioxidant in functional foods.

Earthworm activity optimized the rhizosphere bacterial community structure and further alleviated the yield loss in continuous cropping lily (Lilium lancifolium Thunb.)

The soil microbial community plays a vital role in the biogeochemical cycles of bioelements and maintaining healthy soil conditions in agricultural ecosystems. However, how the soil microbial community responds to mitigation measures for continuous cropping obstacles remains largely unknown. Here we examined the impact of quicklime (QL), chemical fungicide (CF), inoculation with earthworm (IE), and a biocontrol agent (BA) on the soil microbial community structure, and the effects toward alleviating crop yield decline in lily. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene from the lily rhizosphere after 3 years of continuous cropping was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform. The results showed that Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi and Gemmatimonadetes were the dominant bacterial phyla, with a total relative abundance of 86.15-91.59%. On the other hand, Betaproteobacteriales, Rhizobiales, Myxococcales, Gemmatimonadales, Xanthomonadales, and Micropepsales were the dominant orders with a relative abundance of 28.23-37.89%. The hydrogen ion concentration (pH) and available phosphorus (AP) were the key factors affecting the structure and diversity of the bacterial community. The yield of continuous cropping lily with using similar treatments decreased yearly for the leaf blight, but that of IE was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than with the other treatments in the same year, which were 17.9%, 18.54%, and 15.69% higher than that of blank control (CK) over 3 years. In addition, IE significantly (p < 0.05) increased organic matter (OM), available nitrogen (AN), AP, and available potassium (AK) content in the lily rhizosphere soil, optimized the structure and diversity of the rhizosphere bacterial community, and increased the abundance of several beneficial bacterial taxa, including Rhizobiales, Myxococcales, Streptomycetales and Pseudomonadales. Therefore, enriching the number of earthworms in fields could effectively optimize the bacterial community structure of the lily rhizosphere soil, promote the circulation and release in soil nutrients and consequently alleviate the loss of continuous cropping lily yield.

Comprehensive Analysis of Secondary Metabolites in the Extracts from Different Lily Bulbs and Their Antioxidant Ability

The genus Lilium contains more than 100 wild species and numerous hybrid varieties. Some species of them have been used as medicine and food since ancient times. However, the research on the active components and the medical properties of lilies has only focused on a few species. In this study, the total phenolic acid content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant capacity of 22 representative lilies were systematically investigated. The results showed that the TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity were highly variable among different lilies, but they were significantly positively correlated. Hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that L. henryi and L. regale were arranged in one group characterized by the highest TPC, TFC and antioxidant capacity, followed by Oriental hybrids and Trumpet and Oriental hybrids. The traditional edible and medicinal lilies were clustered in low TPC, TFC and antioxidant capacity group. A total of 577 secondary metabolites, including 201 flavonoids, 153 phenolic acids, were identified in the five species with great differences in antioxidant capacity by extensive targeted metabonomics. Differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) analysis reviewed that the DAMs were mainly enriched in secondary metabolic pathways such as isoflavonoid, folate, flavonoid, flavone, flavonol, phenylpropanoid, isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism and so on. Correlation analysis identified that 64 metabolites were significantly positively correlated with antioxidant capacity (r ≥ 0.9 and p < 0.0001). These results suggested that the genus Lilium has great biodiversity in bioactive components. The data obtained greatly expand our knowledge of the bioactive constituents of Lilium spp. Additionally, it also highlights the potential application of Lilium plants as antioxidants, functional ingredients, cosmetic products and nutraceuticals.

Developing an efficient DNA barcoding system to differentiate between Lilium species

BACKGROUND

Lilium is an important ornamental bulb, possesses medicinal properties, and is also edible. Species within the Lilium genus share very similar morphology and macroscopic characteristics, thus they cannot be easily and clearly distinguished from one another. To date, no efficient species-specific markers have been developed for classifying wild lily species, which poses an issue with further characterizing its medicinal properties.

RESULTS

To develop a simple and reliable identification system for Lilium, 45 representative species from 6 sections were used to develop a DNA barcoding system, which was based on DNA sequence polymorphisms. In this study, we assessed five commonly used DNA barcode candidates (ITS, rbcL, ycf1b, matK and psbA-trnH) and five novel barcode candidates obtained from highly variable chloroplast genomic regions (trnL-trnF, trnS-trnG, trnF-ndhJ, trnP-psaJ-rpI33 and psbB-psbH). We showed that a set of three novel DNA barcodes (ITS + trnP-psaJ-rpI33 + psbB-psbH) could be efficiently used as a genetic marker to distinguish between lily species, as assessed by methods including DNAsp, BI and ML tree, and Pair Wise Group (PWG).

CONCLUSIONS

A rapid and reliable DNA barcoding method was developed for all 45 wild Lilium species by using ITS, trnP-psaJ-rpI33, and psbB-psbH as DNA barcoding markers. The method can be used in the classification of wild Lilium species, especially endangered species, and also provides an effective method for selective lily breeding.

Comprehensive metabolite profile of multi-bioactive extract from tree peony (Paeonia ostii and Paeonia rockii) fruits based on MS/MS molecular networking

Tree peony seed, traditionally used for edible oil production, is rich in α-linolenic acid. However, little attention is given to the fruit by-products during seed oil production. The present work aimed to comprehensively investigate the phytochemical constituents and multiple biological activities of different parts of tree peony fruits harvested from Paeonia ostii and Paeonia rockii. 130 metabolites were rapidly identified through UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS on the basis of MS/MS molecular networking. Metabolite quantification was performed through the targeted approach of HPLC-ESI-QQQ-MS. Eight chemical markers were screened via principal component analysis (PCA) for distinguishing species and tissues. Interestingly, two dominant compounds, paeoniflorin and trans-resveratrol, are specially localized in seed kernel and seed coat, respectively. Unexpectedly, the extracts of fruit pod and seed coat showed significantly stronger antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-neuroinflammatory activities than seed kernel from both P. ostii and P. rockii. Our work demonstrated that tree peony fruit is promising natural source of bioactive components and provided its potential utilization in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Three Previously Undescribed Chlorophenyl Glycosides from the Bulbs of Lilium regale

Three previously undescribed chlorophenyl glycosides, (2,4,6-trichloro-3-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)methyl β-D-glucopyranoside (1), (2,4-dichloro-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl 6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) and 4-chloro-3-methoxy-5-methylphenyl 6-O-(6-deoxy-β-L-mannopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) were obtained from Lilium regale. The absolute configurations of these new finds were elucidated by comprehensive analyses of spectroscopic data combined with acid hydrolysis derivatization. (2,4-dichloro-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl 6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) can inhibit the proliferation of lung carcinoma A549 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 29 μΜ.

Genus Lilium: A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Lilium (family Liliaceae) is native to China and is mainly distributed in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere such as Eastern Asia, Europe, and North America. There are about 109 species of this genus and 55 species in China. In America, the bulbs were used as food. In Europe, the petals and bulbs of Lilium candidum uesd as pectoral poultices, wound-healing remedy and a treatment for mastitis and shingles, the bulbs of L. martagon were used to treat every liver disease. In India, the bulbs are used medicinally as galactagogue, expectorant, aphrodisiac, diuretic, antipyretic and revitalizing tonic. In Asia, bulbs of this genus are often used to treat coughs, lung diseases, burns and swellings.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this work was to summarize traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity, which provided a theoretical basis for the further study of Lilium plants and their applications in medicine, food and other industries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Online scientific databases including Science Direct, American chemical society (ACS), Wiley Online Library, the Web of Science, China national knowledge internet (CNKI) and others were searched to identify eligible studies. More data were obtained from other Chinese medicine books.

RESULTS

The literature survey revealed diverse traditional uses of the genus Lilium, mainly for the treatment of lung deficiency, hemostasis, anxiety, palpitations, asthma and vomiting. Over 180 compounds have been isolated and identified from the genus Lilium, including steroidal saponins, polysaccharides, phenolic glycerides, flavonoids and alkaloids. Different extracts and monomer compounds were so far evaluated for number of pharmacological activities including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, antidepressant and hepatoprotective activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Lilium spp. are of much significance as ornamental flowers, but also have potential to treat various diseases, especially anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. However, most of the studies on pharmacological effects are still in in vitro, and further studies on mechanism-based pharmacological activities in vivo and in vitro are needed in the future. At present, there are limited researches on its safety and toxicological effects, which should be further explored.

The extraction of phenolic acids and polysaccharides from Lilium lancifolium Thunb. using a deep eutectic solvent

Establishing a fast and effective extraction method for herbs is beneficial for the determination of their main compounds and estimating their quality. In this study, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were optimized to simultaneously extract three main types of phenolic acids, i.e., regaloside B, regaloside C, and regaloside E, and polysaccharides from the bulbs of Lilium lancifolium Thunb. Based on the optimized extraction conditions, i.e., an extraction temperature of 50 °C, an extraction time of 40 min, a solid-liquid ratio of 1 : 25, and a ratio of water in the DES of 20%, the extracted amounts of regaloside B, regaloside C, and regaloside E reached 0.31 ± 0.06 mg g-1, 0.29 ± 0.03 mg g-1, and 3.04 ± 0.38 mg g-1, respectively. The extraction efficiencies were higher than those obtained using conventional organic solvents. Next, the polysaccharide levels were measured and compared with those obtained using a conventional hot water extraction method, and equivalent extraction efficiencies were obtained with the conventional hot water extraction method. This study provides a new application of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for simultaneously extracting phenolic acids and polysaccharides from the bulbs of L. lancifolium Thunb. Considering the biodegradability and pharmaceutical acceptability, DESs as a class of green solvents could have wide applications in the extraction of natural products.

Phytochemical components and bioactivities of novel medicinal food - Peony roots

Peony as an important medicinal material is widely cultivated in China, which is one of the natural distribution centers of wild peony species. So far, however, there has not been a systematic study of the roots from China's wild peonies. In this study, the total phenolic (TPC), total flavonoid (TFC), other secondary metabolites, and microelement content, as well as the antioxidant, antibacterial, anticholinesterase, and antitumor activities of peony roots from 15 species and 2 subspecies were measured. Thirteen secondary metabolites were detected, with Paeoniflorin and Paeonol being the highest content bio-activities compounds. Additionally, the peony roots had a significant antioxidant activities and bacteriostatic effect against Gram-positive bacteria, with MIC varying from 0.063 to 1 mg/mL. P. anomala subsp. veitchii and P. lactiflora showed outstanding anticholinesterase capacities and cytotoxic activities. Taken together, the data presented here provide new insights into both the medicinal and edible potential of roots from wild peony species.

Metabolome-Based Discrimination Analysis of Five Lilium Bulbs Associated with Differences in Secondary Metabolites

The bulbs of several Lilium species are considered to be both functional foods and traditional medicine in northern and eastern Asia. Considering the limited information regarding the specific bioactive compounds contributing to the functional properties of these bulbs, we compared the secondary metabolites of ten Lilium bulb samples belonging to five different species, using an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS)-based secondary metabolomics approach. In total, 245 secondary metabolites were detected; further, more metabolites were detected from purple Lilium bulbs (217 compounds) than from white bulbs (123–171 compounds). Similar metabolite profiles were detected in samples within the same species irrespective of where they were collected. By combining herbal analysis and screening differential metabolites, steroid saponins were considered the key bioactive compounds in medicinal lilies. Of the 14 saponins detected, none were accumulated in the bulbs of L. davidii var. willmottiae, also called sweet lily. The purple bulbs of L. regale accumulated more secondary metabolites, and, notably, more phenolic acid compounds and flavonoids. Overall, this study elucidates the differential metabolites in lily bulbs with varying functions and colors and provides a reference for further research on functional foods and the medicinal efficacy of Lilium species.

Effects of ultra-high pressure on the morphological and physicochemical properties of lily starch

In this study, starch extracted from lily bulbs were modified using an ultra-high pressure (UHP) treatment at six different pressure levels (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 MPa). The effects of UHP treatment on the physicochemical and morphological properties of lily starch were investigated. The morphological observation revealed that UHP treatment led to particle expansion and aggregation. Compared with the native and lily starch treated at 100-500 MPa, the lily starch treated at 600 MPa exhibited almost completely disrupted morphology and a larger particle size, indicating nearly complete gelatinization of the starch. The relative crystallinity of the UHP-treated starch remarkably reduced. Gelatinization temperatures via differential scanning calorimetry decreased with increasing pressure. The rapid viscoanalyzer results revealed that the lily starch treated with UHP at 600 MPa showed low values of peak viscosity, trough viscosity, breakdown, final viscosity, and setback. These results indicated that UHP was an effective physical modification method for lily starch, UHP treatment (600 MPa, 30 min) caused nearly complete gelatinization of lily starch, and lily starch modified using UHP might expand the application of lily in the food field.

The effects of natural compounds on wound healing in Iranian traditional medicine: A comprehensive review

Wounds are physical and anatomical disruption in healthy skin and represent an important healthcare concern around the world. Wound healing is a complex and dynamic cascade of cellular and molecular interactions which include four main phases: hemostasis, inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling. Therefore, some pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities can play a key role in the process of wound healing. Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) has a rich background of practice and a wealth of ancient medicine scientists from the Old Persian days until today. This paper presents and characterizes pure data from original references of ITM about wound remedies and verifies their function by reviewing articles from three databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus), which could be an interesting and comprehensive resource for future researchers interested in traditional medicine (TM) generally and in ITM in particular. Selected natural compounds from the references were divided into 5 groups, including herbs, herbal products, animal products, minerals, and animals. In total, 23 natural compounds with regard to the current state of knowledge and ITM were introduced and verified. The present review will provide better insights into ITM and its extensive experience in topics such as wound healing.

Comparison of the biochemical properties and thermal inactivation of polyphenol oxidase from three lily bulb cultivars

The biochemical properties and thermal inactivation of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) from three main planted lily cultivars in China, namely, Lilium lancifolium Thunb, Lilium brownie var. viridulum, and Lilium davidii var. unicolor cotton were evaluated. Data indicate that the PPO from three cultivars showed two optimum pH levels of 4.0 and 6.5-7.0 and temperature of 15°C and exhibited the highest affinity toward 4-methylcatechol. However, this enzyme did not exhibit monophenolase activity. Thiourea and L-cysteine were more effective than other inhibitors. The enzymatic activity of L. lancifolium Thunb PPO crude extract was higher than that of L. brownie var. viridulum and L. davidii var. unicolor cotton. For thermal inactivation, L. davidii var. unicolor cotton PPO showed the best thermal resistance at 65-75°C, and L. lancifolium Thunb showed stability at 45°C. The deactivation of the three types of PPO followed the first-order reaction kinetics, and the activation energy (E_a) was 144.28, 138.00, and 107.12 kJ/mol for L. lancifolium Thunb PPO, L. brownie var. viridulum PPO, and L. davidii var. unicolor cotton PPO, respectively. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Lilium is an ornamental and edible plant typically used for food and traditional Chinese medicine. Its flowers are used for decoration, and its underground bulbs are rich in various bioactive substances. Fresh lily bulbs easily turn brown and lose economic value during storage and processing. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) is a crucial molecule involved in the enzymatic browning of fruit and vegetables. In this study, PPO was extracted from three main planted lily cultivars in China. Namely, Lilium lancifolium Thunb, Lilium brownie var. viridulum, Lilium davidii var. unicolor cotton and was partially characterized. The results are of considerable importance to further understand the PPO of lily bulbs and provide guidance for the inactivation of enzymes and the processing of lily bulb juice.

Insights into the Phytochemical Composition and Bioactivities of Seeds from Wild Peony Species

Peony is an important medicinal and ornamental plant widely cultivated in the world. Its seeds as a functional food source have attracted much more attention in recent years, and they are rich in monoterpene glycosides and phenolic compounds. To assess the application value of wild peony seeds, the main chemical composition and content, such as total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total flavanol content (TAC), and α and γ tocopherol content, of the seeds from 12 species and 2 subspecies were systematically explored in the present study. Four different antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and HRSA), antibacterial, and antifungal assays were also performed using various in vitro biochemical methods. The results showed that the seeds of P. delavayi, P. obovata. subsp. obovata, and P. rockii. subsp. rockii had a high content of TPC, TFC, and TAC, respectively. Twenty-five individual chemical compounds were qualitatively and quantitatively measured by HPLC-MS, with paeoniflorin being the most abundant compound in all samples. P. mairei was grouped individually into a group via hierarchical cluster analysis according to its relatively highest monoterpene glycosides and TPC content. This work has provided a basis for the development and utilization of seeds for the selection of wild peony species of dietary interest.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Lilium lancifolium bulbs extract

Lilium lancifolium is native to Northeast Asia and its bulbs have been used for medicinal treatment. Moreover, Japan has been using L. lancifolium bulbs more actively as food ingredients than Korea. Therefore, this study was to investigate the characteristics of Korean L. lancifolium bulbs, with respect to food component and functionality. As a result of proximate composition analysis, L. lancifolium bulbs have an abundant carbohydrate content. HPLC analysis indicated p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid contents of Korean L. lancifolium extract were 1.14 ± 0.01, 1.46 ± 0.00 mg/g, but only p-coumaric acid was less detected in Japanese extract. Also, Korean L. lancifolium bulbs extract exhibited significant antioxidant effects, as evaluated with antioxidant activity and compound, than Japanese extract. Furthermore, Korean L. lancifolium bulbs extract significantly inhibited pro-inflammatory protein expressions through MyD88 dependent pathway. Therefore, these results suggested Korean L. lancifolium bulbs have the potential to being functional food ingredients. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Lilium lancifolium is a perennial plant belonging to the Liliaceae family. The storage organ of L. lancifolium is surrounded by several fleshy nodes at the base of the stem, called the bulb, which has been used as food or medicine to treat pneumonia and bronchitis. L. lancifolium is widely found in countries of Northeast Asia, such as Korea, Japan, and China, and its bulbs have been studied for presence of bioactive compounds that have important functional activities. The bioactive compounds in the L. lancifolium bulbs may vary from region to region. In this study, the difference observed in the contents of different bioactive compounds and the efficacy of anti-inflammatory effects of L. lancifolium bulbs from different regions were consistent in this regard. As a comparative study of food materials by region, these L. lancifolium bulbs have the potential to be used as a food material for preventing inflammatory diseases.

Rapid identification of Lilium species and polysaccharide contents based on near infrared spectroscopy and weighted partial least square method

Polysaccharide is the main active compound of Lilium, and showed many activities, such as hypoglycemic, antioxidant, immune-modulatory. There are three types' Lilium in China market, i.e. Lilium lancifolium Thunb (JD), Lilium davidiivar. Unicolor Salisb (L. davidii var)(LZBH), and Lilium brownii F.E. Brown var. viridulum Baker (BH). Near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) technique has become popular in the fields of quality control, due to its advantages, such as fast, non-destructive, and can detect several ingredients, simultaneously. In this study, a classification model was established based on NIR technique and random forest method to accurately distinguish three types' Lilium species, and the classification accuracy reached 94.37%. Furthermore, taking the effects of neighbor wavelength into account, a new weighted partial least square algorithm was proposed to establish an accurate and quantitative model for predicting the polysaccharide contents of these samples. In the model establishing process, some signal pre-treatment methods were optimized, and the validation results with highest determination coefficient (R²) and low root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) were, 0.9455 and 0.9098, respectively. The obtained results showed that combined NIR technique with chemometrics was an effective and green method for quality control.

Potential of some autochthonous wild plants of Burundi for vegetable oil and valuable compounds production

Twelve species of indigenous plants have been studied in order to valorize some natural resources of Burundi (Eastern Africa) to investigate possibilities of vegetable oil production. Physicochemical properties and oil contents were determined from seeds harvested through five ecogeographic zones. From oilcake extracts, total sugars contents, proteins (TPrC), polyphenolic (TPhC), and flavonoids were quantified using spectrophotometry. Furthermore, antioxidant activity of oilcake extracts was assessed by 2, 2-diphenyl-b-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. All oil contents obtained were found to be quite similar to those of common oleaginous seeds. The two highest were found in Parinari curatellifolia (61.44 ± 4.81% Dry Matter) and Myrianthus arboreus (48.26 ± 5.96% DM). More than half of the species have shown TPrC ranging from 10 to 24% dry matter of oilcake (DM). Brachystegia longifolia was revealed exceptionally stronger antioxidant potential: effectiveness antiradical of 163.06 ± 26.29 mL/μg.min (DPPH assay) and reducing power of 2618.21 ± 161.22 GAE/100 g DM (FRAP assay). TPhC were positively correlated (p < 0.05) to the antioxidant activity. This pioneering work on these wild species highlight the potential for producing vegetable oil and valuable biomolecule sources likely for food, cosmetics, pharmacy and industry.

Comparative transcriptome profiling uncovers a Lilium regale NAC transcription factor, LrNAC35, contributing to defence response against cucumber mosaic virus and tobacco mosaic virus

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is a highly prevalent viral pathogen causing substantial damage to the bulb and cut-flower production of Lilium spp. Here, we performed an Illumina RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) study on the leaf tissues of a virus-resistant species Lilium regale inoculated with mock control and CMV. A total of 1346 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the leaves of L. regale upon CMV inoculation, which contained 34 up-regulated and 40 down-regulated DEGs that encode putative transcription factors (TFs). One up-regulated TF, LrNAC35, belonging to the NAM/ATAF/CUC (NAC) superfamily, was selected for further functional characterization. Aside from CMV, lily mottle virus and lily symptomless virus infections provoked a striking increase in LrNAC35 transcripts in both resistant and susceptible Lilium species. The treatments with low temperature and several stress-related hormones activated LrNAC35 expression, contrary to its reduced expression under salt stress. Ectopic overexpression of LrNAC35 in petunia (Petunia hybrida) resulted in reduced susceptibility to CMV and Tobacco mosaic virus infections, and enhanced accumulation of lignin in the cell walls. Four lignin biosynthetic genes, including PhC4H, Ph4CL, PhHCT and PhCCR, were found to be up-regulated in CMV-infected petunia lines overexpressing LrNAC35. In vivo promoter-binding tests showed that LrNAC35 specifically regulated the expression of Ph4CL. Taken together, our results suggest a positive role of transcriptome-derived LrNAC35 in transcriptional modulation of host defence against viral attack.

Comparative study on the antioxidant activities of ten common flower teas from China

Flower teas are widely consumed across the world because of their beneficial health effects. The antioxidant activities of methanol extracts from ten common flower teas in China were evaluated using four antioxidant assays. The total phenolic (TPCs) and total flavonoid contents (TFCs) were also investigated. Most of these flower teas exhibited potent antioxidant effects, of which rosae rugosae flos exerted the strongest antioxidant effects in four assays. Rosae rugosae flos also exerted the highest TPC, while fragrans showed the highest TFC. Correction analysis indicated that phenolics play a key role in the antioxidant effect of flower teas, while flavonoids were poorly correlated with antioxidant activity. The results supported the consumption of flower teas as functional foods and their application as sources of natural antioxidants in the food industry.

Effects of High-Pressure Homogenization on the Structural, Physical, and Rheological Properties of Lily Pulp

The effects of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) on the structural, physical, and rheological properties of lily pulp (15%, w/w) were investigated. Different pressures ranging from 0 MPa to 100 MPa were used. The focus was on evaluating the changes in the particle size distribution (PSD), structure, pulp sedimentation behavior, serum cloudiness (SC), total soluble solids (TSS), color, and rheological behavior of the pulps. PSD analysis showed that the diameter of suspended lily particles significantly decreased with an increasing homogenization pressure. The suspended particles observed through optical microscopy became small after homogenization, highlighting the effect of HPH on disrupting the suspended particles. Compared with the untreated pulp, the SC and sedimentation velocity of the homogenized pulps decreased due to the disruption of the suspended particles. The effects of HPH on the sedimentation index and SC exhibited an asymptotic behavior similar to that of the changes in the particle size of lily pulp. Moreover, HPH processing reduced the viscosity of lily pulp and increased the TSS and lightness of the homogenized pulps. HPH significantly modified the structural, physical, and rheological properties of lily pulp. The pulp homogenized above 60 MPa had good suspension stability. This finding indicates that HPH technology can be used to improve the stability of lily pulp.