Phytochemical Constituents from the Seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris and Their Antioxidant Activities

Phytochemical investigation of 70% EtOH extract of the seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris led to the isolation of a new cyclobutane organic acid (1), and fourteen known compounds, including two organosulfur compounds (2, 3), two quinonoids (4, 5), five flavonoids (6-10), three sterols (11-13) and two other types (14, 15). The structures of the compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses as well as comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. The antioxidant capacities of all compounds and extractive fractions were evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging test and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Then the antioxidative substances were evaluated for their neuroprotective effects against H2O2-induced HT22 cell injury. The results indicated the strong scavenging ability to free radical of the extractive fractions and compounds 1-3, 8-10 and 13, and the ferric reducing antioxidant power of the extractive fractions and compounds 1-3, 8 and 10, which were close to or higher than that of the positive control trolox. The EtOAc fraction, n-BuOH fraction, and compounds 1, 3 and 8 can protect HT-22 cells from oxidative damage.

Aerial Parts

Objectives

Capsella Medik. belongs to Brassicaceae family and is represented by 4 species in Türkiye. Among them, Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. is a cosmopolite species and grows naturally throughout Türkiye. There have been a few studies on the essential oil composition of different parts of the plant, and, as far as we are concerned, the essential oil composition of the plant growing in Türkiye has not been studied previously. Thus, in this study, we isolated and analyzed the essential oil composition of the aerial parts of C. bursa-pastoris growing naturally in Ankara, Türkiye.

Materials and Methods

Plant material was collected from Ankara University, Tandoğan Campus, and essential oil of the aerial parts was obtained from hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus for 3 h and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC)-flame ionization detection and GC-mass spectrometry simultaneously.

Results

The essential oil yield was determined to be 0.2%, and 90.2% of the essential oil composition was identified, corresponding to 21 components. The major components of the oil were determined to be nonacosane (19.6%), phytol (19.3%), pentacosane (13.5%), heptacosane (9.9%), and hexadecanoic acid (9.9%).

Conclusion

Phytol was found to be the main component of the essential oil of leaves and aerial parts (16.34% and 13.14, respectively) in a literature study consistent with the results of our study. The essential oil content of other parts of the species, along with species collected from different localities, would be an important contribution to the species and the genus and should be performed in the future.

Water Extract of Capsella bursa-pastoris Mitigates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity by Upregulating Antioxidant Enzymes

Doxorubicin (DOX), an effective chemotherapeutic drug, causes cardiotoxicity in a cumulative and dose-dependent manner. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of hot-water extract of Capsella bursa-pastoris (CBW) on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DICT). We utilized H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells to evaluate the effects of CBW on DOX-induced cell death. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and oxygen consumption rate were measured in H9c2 cells. C57BL/6 mice were treated with DOX and CBW to assess their impact on various cardiac parameters. Human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes were also used to investigate DOX-induced electrophysiological changes and the potential ameliorative effects of CBW. UPLC-TQ/MS analysis identified seven flavonoids in CBW, with luteolin-7-O-glucoside and isoorientin as the major compounds. CBW inhibited DOX-induced death of H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes but did not affect DOX-induced death of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. CBW increased SOD levels in a dose-dependent manner, reducing ROS production and increasing the oxygen consumption rate in H9c2 cells. The heart rate, RR interval, QT, and ST prolongation remarkably recovered in C57BL/6 mice treated with the combination of DOX and CBW compared to those in mice treated with DOX alone. Administration of CBW with DOX effectively alleviated collagen accumulation, cell death in mouse heart tissues, and reduced the levels of creatinine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum. Furthermore, DOX-induced pathological electrophysiological features in human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes were ameliorated by CBW. CBW may prevent DICT by stabilizing SOD and scavenging ROS. The presence of flavonoids, particularly luteolin-7-O-glucoside and isoorientin, in CBW may contribute to its protective effects. These results suggest the potential of CBW as a traditional therapeutic option to mitigate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Four organosulfur compounds from the seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris and their anti-inflammatory activities

Phytochemical investigation of the seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris led to the isolation of four organosulfur compounds. There were two new compounds, 10-methylsulfinyl-decanamide (1) and 11-methylsulfinyl-undecanamide (2), along with two known compounds (3 - 4), which all have a sulfoxide group and an amide or a nitrile group. Their chemical structures were elucidated by analysing UV, IR, ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopy. In addition, compounds 1 - 4 were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activities by using LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 1 - 4 exhibited potential anti-inflammatory activities on NO release characterised by decreasing the mRNA expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cytokines cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and interleukin 6 (IL-6).

The relative role of plasticity and demographic history in Capsella bursa-pastoris: a common garden experiment in Asia and Europe

The colonization success of a species depends on the interplay between its phenotypic plasticity, adaptive potential and demographic history. Assessing their relative contributions during the different phases of a species range expansion is challenging, and requires large-scale experiments. Here, we investigated the relative contributions of plasticity, performance and demographic history to the worldwide expansion of the shepherd's purse, Capsella bursa-pastoris. We installed two large common gardens of the shepherd's purse, a young, self-fertilizing, allopolyploid weed with a worldwide distribution. One common garden was located in Europe, the other in Asia. We used accessions from three distinct genetic clusters (Middle East, Europe and Asia) that reflect the demographic history of the species. Several life-history traits were measured. To explain the phenotypic variation between and within genetic clusters, we analysed the effects of (i) the genetic clusters, (ii) the phenotypic plasticity and its association to fitness and (iii) the distance in terms of bioclimatic variables between the sampling site of an accession and the common garden, i.e. the environmental distance. Our experiment showed that (i) the performance of C. bursa-pastoris is closely related to its high phenotypic plasticity; (ii) within a common garden, genetic cluster was a main determinant of phenotypic differences; and (iii) at the scale of the experiment, the effect of environmental distance to the common garden could not be distinguished from that of genetic clusters. Phenotypic plasticity and demographic history both play important role at different stages of range expansion. The success of the worldwide expansion of C. bursa-pastoris was undoubtedly influenced by its strong phenotypic plasticity.

lepidium-like, a Naturally Occurring Mutant of Capsella bursa-pastoris, and Its Implications on the Evolution of Petal Loss in Cruciferae

Naturally occurring mutants whose phenotype recapitulates the changes that distinguish closely related species are of special interest from the evolutionary point of view. They can give a key about the genetic control of the changes that led to speciation. In this study, we described lepidium-like (lel), a naturally occurring variety of an allotetraploid species Capsella bursa-pastoris that is characterized by the typical loss of all four petals. In some cases, one or two basal flowers in the raceme had one or two small petals. The number and structure of other floral organs are not affected. Our study of flower development in the mutant showed that once initiated, petals either cease further development and cannot be traced in anthetic flowers or sometimes develop to various degrees. lel plants showed an earlier beginning of floral organ initiation and delayed petal initiation compared to the wild-type plants. lel phenotype has a wide geographical distribution, being found at the northern extremity of the species range as well as in the central part. The genetic analysis of inheritance demonstrated that lel phenotype is controlled by two independent loci. While the flower in the family Cruciferae generally has a very stable structure (i.e., four sepals, four petals, six stamens, and two carpels), several deviations from this ground plan are known, in particular in the genus Lepidium, C. bursa-pastoris is an emerging model for the study of polyploidy (which is also very widespread in Cruciferae); the identification and characterization of the apetalous mutant lays a foundation for further research of morphological evolution in polyploids.

Antihemorrhoidal activity of organic acids of Capsella bursa-pastoris on croton oil-induced hemorrhoid in rats

This study was aimed to investigate the antihemorrhoidal effects of ethanol (CBE) and water extracts (CBW) of Capsella bursa-pastoris, an edible plant and a precipitant (CBW-1) obtained from the CBW in croton oil (CO)-induced hemorrhoid model in rats. CBW-1 was contain three organic acids, citric acid (36.09%), malic acid (35.56%), and quinic acid (17.73%). Hemorrhoids were evaluated by histopathology of recto-anal tissues and biochemical parameters in plasma and recto-anal tissues of rats. CBW, CBE, and CBW-1 significantly reduced hemorrhagic necrotic enteritis induced by CO. CO also increased the cytokines and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in serum, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and LPO in recto-anal tissues, and reduced the GSH, CAT, GPx, and SOD levels in serum and recto-anal tissues. However, CBE, CBW, and CBW-1 ameliorated the levels of the cytokines, LPO, MPO, and the antioxidants. Our results conclude that the curative effect of Capsella bursa-pastoris is closely related with its organic acids constituents, citric, malic, and quinic acids. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The fresh leaves of Capsella bursa-pastoris are edible, eaten raw or cooked, and also used in salad. It has a widespread traditional usage in the treatment of the hemorrhoids in the Anatolia and in the Middle East Countries. According to our literature survey, any scientific evidence has not been found in the literature that C. bursa-pastoris could be used in the treatment of hemorrhoids. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed to investigate the antihemorrhoidal and antioxidant effects of ethanol and water extracts, and a precipitant (CBW-1) obtained from the CBW of C. bursa-pastoris in croton oil (CO)-induced hemorrhoid model in rats. The current results showed that its water extract and CBW-1 containing three organic acids, citric acid (36.09%), malic acid (35.56%), and quinic acid (17.73%) significantly reduced the hemorrhagic necrotic enteritis induced by CO ameliorating the levels of the cytokines, LPO, MPO, and the antioxidants. Our results conclude that the curative effect of C. bursa-pastoris is closely related with its organic acids constituents, citric, malic, and quinic acids.

Assembly and Analysis of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Capsella bursa-pastoris

Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is a cosmopolitan annual weed and a promising model plant for studying allopolyploidization in the evolution of angiosperms. Though plant mitochondrial genomes are a valuable source of genetic information, they are hard to assemble. At present, only the complete mitogenome of C. rubella is available out of all species of the genus Capsella. In this work, we have assembled the complete mitogenome of C. bursa-pastoris using high-precision PacBio SMRT third-generation sequencing technology. It is 287,799 bp long and contains 32 protein-coding genes, 3 rRNAs, 25 tRNAs corresponding to 15 amino acids, and 8 open reading frames (ORFs) supported by RNAseq data. Though many repeat regions have been found, none of them is longer than 1 kbp, and the most frequent structural variant originated from these repeats is present in only 4% of the mitogenome copies. The mitochondrial DNA sequence of C. bursa-pastoris differs from C. rubella, but not from C. orientalis, by two long inversions, suggesting that C. orientalis could be its maternal progenitor species. In total, 377 C to U RNA editing sites have been detected. All genes except cox1 and atp8 contain RNA editing sites, and most of them lead to non-synonymous changes of amino acids. Most of the identified RNA editing sites are identical to corresponding RNA editing sites in A. thaliana.

Resistance evolution and mechanisms to ALS-inhibiting herbicides in Capsella bursa-pastoris populations from China

Capsella bursa-pastoris is a serious broadleaf weed in winter wheat fields in China. It has evolved high levels of resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibiting herbicides and has caused substantial losses of wheat yield in recent years. We monitored the herbicide resistance of Capsella bursa-pastoris collected from 18 regions of Shandong Province in 2009, 2013 and 2017, respectively. Compared with the 2009 populations, the number of populations resistant to florasulam had increased in 2013 and 2017. Resistance to tribenuron-methyl increased in 2013, but decreased in 2017. The 2009 and 2013 populations developed resistance only to tribenuron-methyl, but some 2017 populations developed cross-resistance to imazethapyr and florasulam as well. Mutations in ALS (Pro-197-Thr/Ser/His/Arg/Leu/Gln) were identified in the 2009 and 2013 populations; however, two ALS mutations (Pro197 and/or Trp574) were identified in 2017 plants. Meanwhile, plants containing both point mutations (Pro197 + Trp574) were identified in the 2017 populations. This study demonstrated that target site gene mutations were the main reason for Capsella bursa-pastoris resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Although target-site mutation is the reason for resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides in Capsella bursa-pastoris, the resistance patterns and mutations identified have changed over time.

Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Capsella Bursa-Pastoris on Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: A Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVES

Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is one of the leading causes of low quality of life and iron deficiency anemia in women. This study aimed to determine the effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of Capsella bursa-pastoris on HMB.

DESIGN

This study is a triple-blinded, randomized clinical trial.

SETTING

The study was conducted in gynecology clinics affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

SUBJECTS

Our patients affected to a complaint of HMB. After obtaining a complete medical history of the women and filling out the demographic forms, the participants were assigned randomly into the experimental (n = 42) and control groups (n = 42).

INTERVENTION

The eligible participants were given a pictorial blood loss assessment chart (PBLAC) to confirm HMB during the menstrual cycle. The experimental group received two capsules of mefenamic acid (500 mg) every 8 h and two Capsella bursa-pastoris capsules every 12 h. The intervention started from the first day of menstruation to the end of this period up to 7 days for two consecutive cycles. In the control group, the patients received mefenamic acid and placebo instead of Capsella bursa-pastoris capsules.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

The PBLAC score and number of bleeding days, incidence of any possible problems, as well as participant satisfaction were measured. The data were analyzed using t-test, Chi-square, repeated-measures ANOVA, and ANCOVA tests in PASW Statistics ver. 18.

RESULTS

After the intervention, there was observed significant decrease in the amount of menstrual bleeding in both groups. However, the mean decrease in the amount of bleeding was significantly more in the Capsella bursa-pastoris group (p < 0/001).

CONCLUSION

Compared with control group, hydroalcoholic extracts of Capsella bursa-pastoris capsule appeared to be effective in reducing menstrual bleeding in this study. Further research regarding the efficacy and safety of Capsella bursa-pastoris is required.

Anticholinesterase, Antioxidant, Antiaflatoxigenic Activities of Ten Edible Wild Plants from Ordu Area, Turkey

Turkey has highly rich floras of medicinal and aromatic plants because of having various climate conditions in different regions. One of these regions is Middle Black Sea Region, especially Ordu Province. Extracts of 10 edible plants (Arum maculatum L., Hypericum orientale L., Ornithogalum sigmoideum Freyn et Sint., Silene vulgaris Garcke var. macrocarpa, Plantago lanceolata L., Achillea millefolium L. subsp. pannonica, Rumex crispus L., Rumex acetosella L., Capsella bursa-pastoris L., Coronopus squamatus Asch.), grown in Ordu, Turkey, were prepared with different solvents (hexane, ethanol and water, separately) and their anticholinestrase and antiaflatoxigenic activities were evaluated. Additionally, the cupric reducing antioxidant capacities (CUPRAC) and ABTS cation radical scavenging abilities of the extracts were assayed. The ethanol extract of R. acetosella exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (A0.5 value of 25.31 µg/mL, for CUPRAC activity; IC50 value of 23.73 µg/mL, for ABTS activity). The hexane extract of C. bursa-pastoris showed the strongest inhibition against AChE enzyme with IC50 value of 7.24 µg/mL, and the hexane extract of A. millefolium subsp. pannonica had the highest BChE activity with IC50 value of 6.40 µg/mL. The ethanol extract of P. lanceolata exhibited the strongest inhibition against aflatoxin with 88% inhibition.

Phenolic Glycosides from Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activity

A new sesquilignan glycoside 1, together with seven known phenolic glycosides 2–8 were isolated from the aerial parts of Capsella bursa-pastoris. The chemical structure of the new compound 1 was elucidated by extensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data (¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-¹H correlation spectroscopy (¹H-¹H COSY), heteronuclear single-quantum correlation (HSQC), heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC), and nuclear overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY)) and HR-FABMS analysis. The anti-inflammatory effects of 1–8 were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine microglia BV-2 cells. Compounds 4 and 7 exhibited moderate inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production in LPS-activated BV-2 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 17.80 and 27.91 µM, respectively.

Antibiotics impact plant traits, even at small concentrations

Antibiotics of veterinary origin are released to agricultural fields via grazing animals or manure. Possible effects on human health through the consumption of antibiotic exposed crop plants have been intensively investigated. However, information is still lacking on the effects of antibiotics on plants themselves, particularly on non-crop species, although evidence suggests adverse effects of antibiotics on growth and performance of plants. This study evaluated the effects of three major antibiotics, penicillin, sulfadiazine and tetracycline, on the germination rates and post-germinative traits of four plant species during ontogenesis and at the time of full development. Antibiotic concentrations were chosen as to reflect in vivo situations, i.e. concentrations similar to those detected in soils. Plant species included two herb species and two grass species, and represent two crop-species and two non-crop species commonly found in field margins, respectively. Germination tests were performed in climate chambers and effects on the remaining plant traits were determined in greenhouse experiments. Results show that antibiotics, even in small concentrations, significantly affect plant traits. These effects include delayed germination and post-germinative development. Effects were species and functional group dependent, with herbs being more sensitive to antibiotics then grasses. Responses were either negative or positive, depending on plant species and antibiotic. Effects were generally stronger for penicillin and sulfadiazine than for tetracycline. Our study shows that cropland species respond to the use of different antibiotics in livestock industry, for example, with delayed germination and lower biomass allocation, indicating possible effects on yield in farmland fertilized with manure containing antibiotics. Also, antibiotics can alter the composition of plant species in natural field margins, due to different species-specific responses, with unknown consequences for higher trophic levels.

Trophic Relationships between the Parasitic Plant Species Phelipanche ramosa (L.) and Different Hosts Depending on Host Phenological Stage and Host Growth Rate

Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel (branched broomrape) is a holoparasitic plant that reproduces on crops and also on weeds, which contributes to increase the parasite seed bank in fields. This parasite extracts all its nutrients at the host's expense so that host-parasite trophic relationships are crucial to determine host and parasite growth. This study quantified the intensity with which P. ramosa draws assimilates from its host and analyzed whether it varied with host species, host phenological stage and host growth rate. A greenhouse experiment was conducted on three host species: the crop species Brassica napus (L.) (oilseed rape) and two weed species, Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. and Geranium dissectum (L.). Plants were grown with or without P. ramosa and under three light levels to modulate host growth rate. The proportion of host biomass loss due to parasitism by P. ramosa differed between host species (at host fructification, biomass loss ranged from 34 to 84%). B. napus and C. bursa-pastoris displayed a similar response to P. ramosa, probably because they belong to the same botanical family. The sensitivity to P. ramosa in each host species could be related to the precocity of P. ramosa development on them. Host compartments could be ranked as a function of their sensitivity to parasitism, with the reproductive compartment being the most severely affected, followed by stems and roots. The proportion of biomass allocated to leaves was not reduced by parasitism. The proportion of pathosystem biomass allocated to the parasite depended on host species. It generally increased with host stage progression but was constant across light induced-host growth rate, showing that P. ramosa adapts its growth to host biomass production. The rank order of host species in terms of sink strength differed from that in terms of host sensitivity. Finally, for B. napus, the biomass of individual parasite shoots decreased with increasing their number per host plant, regardless of host growth rate. Results will be incorporated into a mechanistic model in order to analyze the effect of parasitic plant species on weed community assembly and to design new cropping systems for controlling P. ramosa.

Transposable element evolution in the allotetraploid Capsella bursa-pastoris

PREMISE OF THE STUDY

Shifts in ploidy affect the evolutionary dynamics of genomes in a myriad of ways. Population genetic theory predicts that transposable element (TE) proliferation may follow because the genomewide efficacy of selection should be reduced and the increase in gene copies may mask the deleterious effects of TE insertions. Moreover, in allopolyploids, TEs may further accumulate because of hybrid breakdown of TE silencing. However, to date the evidence of TE proliferation following an increase in ploidy is mixed, and the relative importance of relaxed selection vs. silencing breakdown remains unclear.

METHODS

We used high-coverage whole-genome sequence data to evaluate the abundance, genomic distribution, and population frequencies of TEs in the self-fertilizing recent allotetraploid Capsella bursa-pastoris (Brassicaceae). We then compared the C. bursa-pastoris TE profile with that of its two parental diploid species, outcrossing C. grandiflora and self-fertilizing C. orientalis.

KEY RESULTS

We found no evidence that C. bursa-pastoris has experienced a large genomewide proliferation of TEs relative to its parental species. However, when centromeric regions are excluded, we found evidence of significantly higher abundance of retrotransposons in C. bursa-pastoris along the gene-rich chromosome arms compared with C. grandiflora and C. orientalis.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of a genomewide effect of allopolyploidy on TE abundance, combined with the increases TE abundance in gene-rich regions, suggests that relaxed selection rather than hybrid breakdown of host silencing explains the TE accumulation in C. bursa-pastoris.

Antibacterial activity of Tribulus terrestris and its synergistic effect with Capsella bursa-pastoris and Glycyrrhiza glabra against oral pathogens: an in-vitro study

OBJECTIVE

In this study, antimicrobial activities of an ethanol extract of Tribulus terrestris aloneand in combination with Capsella bursa-pastoris and Glycyrrhiza glabra were examined in vitro against six pathogens namely Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Actinomyces viscosus, Enterococcus faecalis Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Antibacterial activities of the extracts were examined using disc and well diffusion methods and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of ethanol extracts were determined against these microorganisms using agar and broth dilution methods. Chlorhexidine was used as positive control.

RESULTS

Tribulus terrestris extract exhibited good antibacterial activity against all bacteria. Antibacterial activity of mixed extract was evaluated and exhibited that mixed extract was more effective against all bacteria than any of the cases alone which indicates the synergistic effect between these three extracts (p˂0.05). No strain showed resistance against these extracts. In agar dilution, Tribulus terrestris exhibited MIC values ranging from 35.0 to 20.0 mg/ml and mixed extract showed MIC values ranging from 12.5 to 5.0 mg/ml. The results of broth dilution method were consistent with the findings of the agar dilution method.

CONCLUSION

This in-vitro study was a preliminary evaluation of antibacterial activity of the plants. It provided scientific evidence to support uses of T. terrestris and its mixture with C. bursa-pastoris and G. glabra for the treatment of oral infections. In-vivo studies are also required to better evaluate the effect of these extracts.

Frequent introgressions from diploid species contribute to the adaptation of the tetraploid Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

Adaptation is the most important ability for organisms to survive in diverse habitats. Animals have the option to escape from stressful environments, but plants do not. In plants, polyploids consist of about 30%-70% angiosperms and 95% ferns, of which some are important crops such as cotton and wheat. How polyploid plants adapt to various habitats has been a fundamental question remained largely unanswered. The tetraploid Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) is one of the most successful plants on earth and has been distributed across the world, thus being an ideal model system for studying the adaptation of polyploids. We found that there are frequent introgressions from congeneric diploids to Shepherd's purse. Ecological niche modeling suggests that ecological differentiation is evident between the introgressed and non-introgressed C. bursa-pastoris, and the introgressions are a source of adaptation. This result links an evolutionary process to the adaptation of polyploids, and sheds light on the breeding strategy of polyploids as well. We conclude that frequent introgressions from congeneric diploids contributed to the acquisition of adequate genetic variations, thereby allowing C. bursa-pastoris to adapt to various habitats across the world. Our results highlight how a polyploid could have successfully established after it originated.

Effect of methanol extracts of Cnidium officinale Makino and Capsella bursa-pastoris on the apoptosis of HSC-2 human oral cancer cells

Cnidium officinale Makino and Capsella bursa-pastoris are used as traditional herbs with diverse medicinal effects, including the inhibition of inflammation, reduction of blood pressure and as diuretics, however, the anti-cancer effects of C. officinale Makino and C. bursa-pastoris are poorly defined. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of methanol extracts of C. officinale Makino (MECO) and methanol extracts of C. bursa-pastoris (MECB) on the cell growth and apoptosis of HSC-2 human oral cancer cells. MECO and MECB caused growth inhibition and the induction of apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner in HSC-2 cells. A marked reduction in specificity protein 1 (Sp1) expression following treatment with MECO or MECB was also observed. The downregulation of Sp1 by siRNA resulted in growth inhibition and a reduction of total poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) expression. In addition, MECO significantly increased Bax expression levels and MECB increased Bak expression levels and decreased Mcl-1 expression levels. These results suggest that MECO and MECB inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis via the Sp1 protein, indicating that MECO and MECB are useful bioactive materials and attractive drug candidates for oral cancer.

Differences in the Response of Certain Weed Host Populations to Heterodera schachtii

Significant differences (P = 0.05) in nematode reproduction were observed among populations of Heterodera schachtii and weed collections of black nightshade, common lambsquarters, common purslane, redroot-pigweed, shepherdspurse, and wild mustard from Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, and Utah. Colorado weeds supported the greatest nematode development (P = 0.05). Weeds collected from Idaho and Utah were similar with respect to their response to H. schachtii with the exception of shepherdspurse. At increasing soil temperatures, a Utah redroot-pigweed collection showed a higher percent susceptibility to a Utah nematode population than to nematode populations from the other states (P = 0.05). There was a higher percentage of susceptible plants when the weed host population was collected from the same geographical area as the nematode inoculun.