Rosarugosides A and D from Rosa rugosa Flower Buds: Their Potential Anti-Skin-Aging Effects in TNF-α-Induced Human Dermal Fibroblasts

This present study investigated the anti-skin-aging properties of Rosa rugosa. Initially, phenolic compounds were isolated from a hot water extract of Rosa rugosa's flower buds. Through repeated chromatography (column chromatography, MPLC, and prep HPLC), we identified nine phenolic compounds (1-9), including a previously undescribed depside, rosarugoside D (1). The chemical structure of 1 was elucidated via NMR, HR-MS, UV, and hydrolysis. Next, in order to identify bioactive compounds that are effective against TNF-α-induced NHDF cells, we measured intracellular ROS production in samples treated with each of the isolated compounds (1-9). All isolates reduced the level of ROS at a concentration of 10 μM. Particularly, two depsides-rosarugosides A and D (2 and 1)-significantly inhibited ROS expression in TNF-α-induced NHDFs compared to the other phenolic compounds. Subsequently, the production of MMP-1 and procollagen type Ι α1 by these two depsides was examined. Remarkably, rosarugoside A (2) significantly decreased MMP-1 secretion at all concentrations. In contrast, rosarugoside D (1) regulated the expression of procollagen type Ι α1. These findings collectively suggest that Rosa rugosa extracts and their isolated compounds, rosarugosides A (2) and D (1), hold significant potential for protecting against aging and skin damage. Overall, these findings suggest that Rosa rugosa extracts and their isolated compounds, rosarugosides A (2) and D (1), have the potential to prevent and protect against aging and skin damage, although more specific quantitative analysis is needed.

Molecular cloning and characterization of farnesyl diphosphate synthase from Rosa rugosa Thunb associated with salinity stress

Rosa rugosa, a renowned ornamental plant, is cultivated for its essential oil containing valuable monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and other compounds widely used in the floriculture industry. Farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS) is a key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of sesquiterpenes and triterpenes for abiotic or biotic stress. In this study, we successfully cloned and characterized a full-length FPPS- encoding cDNA identified as RrFPPS1 using RT-PCR from R. rugosa. Phylogenetic analysis showed that RrFPPS1 belonged to the angiosperm-FPPS clade. Transcriptomic and RT-qPCR analyses revealed that the RrFPPS1 gene had tissue-specific expression patterns. Subcellular localization analysis using Nicotiana benthamiana leaves showed that RrFPPS1 was a cytoplasmic protein. In vitro enzymatic assays combined with GC-MS analysis showed that RrFPPS1 produced farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) using isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) as substrates to provide a precursor for sesquiterpene and triterpene biosynthesis in the plant. Additionally, our research found that RrFPPS1 was upregulated under salt treatment. These substantial findings contribute to an improved understanding of terpene biosynthesis in R. rugosa and open new opportunities for advancements in horticultural practices and fragrance industries by overexpression of the RrFPPS1 gene in vivo increased FPP production and subsequently led to elevated sesquiterpene yields in the future. The knowledge gained from this study can potentially lead to the development of enhanced varieties of R. rugosa with improved aroma, medicinal properties, and resilience to environmental stressors.

Simple Sequence Repeat Fingerprint Identification of Essential-Oil-Bearing Rosa rugosa via High-Resolution Melting (HRM) Analysis

Oil-bearing Rosa rugosa are popular in the essential oil and perfume markets. The similar botanical characteristics between high-oil-yield or low-oil-yield cultivars are confusing and it is hard for farmers or breeders to identify the high-oil-yield cultivar by phenotype difference. High-resolution melting (HRM) analysis of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) can construct accurate DNA fingerprints quickly, which was shown to be effective for identification of closely related cultivars of R. rugosa. Optimization of HRM-SSR indicated that the 10 µL HRM reaction mixture containing 20 ng of genomic DNA of R. rugosa and 0.75 µL of 10 µmol/L of each primer with an annealing temperature of 64 °C was a robust SSR genotyping protocol. Using this protocol, 9 polymorphic SSR markers with 3-9 genotypes among the 19 R. rugosa cultivars were identified. The top three polymorphic makers SSR9, SSR12 and SSR19 constructed a fingerprint of all cultivars, and the rare insertion in the flanking sequences of the repeat motif of SSR19 generated three characteristic genotypes of three high-oil-yield cultivars. These results may be economical and practical for the identification of high-oil-yield R. rugosa and be helpful for the selection and breeding of oil-bearing roses.

RoseAP: an analytical platform for gene function of Rosa rugosa

Rosa rugosa, a perennial shrub belonging to family Rosaceae, is a well-known ornamental plant. Its petals contain an abundance of essential oils and anthocyanins with enormous economic and health benefits when used as edible or cosmetic ingredients. The whole genome of R. rugosa was sequenced in 2021, which provided opportunities and challenges for gene regulation. However, many gene functions remain unknown. Therefore, an analytical platform named RoseAP (http://www.gzybioinformatics.cn/RoseAP/index.php) for the functional analysis of R. rugosa genes was constructed. It improved the gene annotation rate by integrating and analyzing genomic and transcriptomic datasets. First, 38,815 genes, covering 97.76% of the coding genes, were annotated functionally and structurally using a variety of algorithms and rules. Second, a total of 33 transcriptome samples were integrated, including 23 samples from our lab and 10 samples from the SRA database. A co-expression network containing approximately 29,657 positive or negative gene pairs, covering 74.7% of the coding genes, was constructed based on PCC and MR algorithms. Network analysis revealed that the DFR function was closely related to anthocyanin metabolism. It demonstrated the reliability of the network. Several SAUR genes of R. rugosa shared similar expression patterns. RoseAP was used to determine the sequence, structure, functional annotation, expression profile, regulatory network, and functional modules at the transcriptional and protein levels by inputting gene IDs. In addition, auxiliary analytical tools, including BLAST, gene set enrichment, orthologue conversion, gene sequence extraction, gene expression value extraction, and JBrowse, were utilized. Regular updates to RoseAP are expected to facilitate mining of gene function and promote genetic improvement in R. rugosa.

From UAV to PlanetScope: Upscaling fractional cover of an invasive species Rosa rugosa

Invasive plant species pose a direct threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services. Among these, Rosa rugosa has had a severe impact on Baltic coastal ecosystems in recent decades. Accurate mapping and monitoring tools are essential to quantify the location and spatial extent of invasive plant species to support eradication programs. In this paper we combined RGB images obtained using an Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle, with multispectral PlanetScope images to map the extent of R. rugosa at seven locations along the Estonian coastline. We used RGB-based vegetation indices and 3D canopy metrics in combination with a random forest algorithm to map R. rugosa thickets, obtaining high mapping accuracies (Sensitivity = 0.92, specificity = 0.96). We then used the R. rugosa presence/absence maps as a training dataset to predict the fractional cover based on multispectral vegetation indices derived from the PlanetScope constellation and an Extreme Gradient Boosting algorithm (XGBoost). The XGBoost algorithm yielded high fractional cover prediction accuracies (RMSE = 0.11, R² = 0.70). An in-depth accuracy assessment based on site-specific validations revealed notable differences in accuracy between study sites (highest R² = 0.74, lowest R² = 0.03). We attribute these differences to the various stages of R. rugosa invasion and the density of thickets. In conclusion, the combination of RGB UAV images and multispectral PlanetScope images is a cost-effective method to map R. rugosa in highly heterogeneous coastal ecosystems. We propose this approach as a valuable tool to extend the highly local geographical scope of UAV assessments into wider areas and regional evaluations.

Resequencing of Rosa rugosa accessions revealed the history of population dynamics, breed origin, and domestication pathways

BACKGROUND

Rosa rugosa is a shrub that originated in China and has economic and ecological value. However, during the development of R. rugosa, the genetic background was chaotic, and the genetic structure among different wild populations was unclear, as well as wild and cultivated accessions. Here, we report whole-genome resequencing of wild and cultivated R. rugosa accessions.

RESULTS

A total of 19,041,284 SNPs were identified in 188 R. rugosa accessions and 3 R. chinensis accessions by resequencing. Population genetic analysis revealed that cultivated and wild groups were separated very early. All R. rugosa accessions were divided into 8 categories based on genetic structure: (1) Weihai, Yantai, and Liaoning category, (2) Jilin category, and (3) Hammonasset category (above three are wild); (4) traditional varieties, (5) hybrids between R. rugosa and R. chinensis, (6) Zizhi Rose, (7) Kushui Rose, (8) hybrids between R. rugosa and R. multiflora. We found that the heterozygosity and genetic diversity of wild accessions were generally lower than those of cultivated individuals. The genes that were selected during cultivation were identified, and it was found that these genes were mainly related to environmental adaptation and growth.

CONCLUSIONS

The Jilin population was the oldest population and later migrated to Liaoning and then migrated to Yantai and Weihai by sea regression in the Bohai Basin. The Hammonasset naturalized population probably originated from the Jilin population and then experienced separate differentiation. The long-term asexual reproduction pattern of R. rugosa decreased genetic diversity in the wild population. During R. rugosa cultivation, the ancestors of the Jilin population were involved in breeding traditional varieties, after which almost no wild individuals were engaged in breeding. However, in recent decades, cross breeding of R. rugosa started the utilization of wild germplasms. In comparison, some other species play important roles in variety formation. Few genes related to economic traits were selected, suggesting no directional domestication in the R. rugosa cultivation process.

Evaluation of Rosa germplasm resources and analysis of floral fragrance components in R. rugosa

Rosa rugosa (Rosaceae) is an important functional plant used in food products, tea, and aromatherapy. Characteristics of R. rugosa varieties based on the biological traits and floral fragrant components were studied by applying an analytic hierarchy process, headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and metabolomic analysis. The 77 Rosa accessions (comprising 27 R. rugosa varieties, 43 scented R. hybrida cultivars, and seven fragrant R. species) were grouped into nine classes based on 17 morphological characters and 16 targeted fragrant substances by cluster analysis. Three R. rugosa cultivars differing in fragrance type were selected for volatile metabolomics analysis at four stages of flower development. In total, 156 differential volatile organic compounds (VOC) were detected and the VOC content patterns were further investigated in two important metabolic pathways (the monoterpenoid biosynthetic pathway, and the phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis pathway). The results provide a foundation for efficient use of Rosa germplasm and insights into the utilization of R. rugosa as a functional flower.

Transcriptome and chemical analyses revealed the mechanism of flower color formation in Rosa rugosa

Rosa rugosa is a famous Chinese traditional flower with high ornamental value and well environmental adapt ability. The cultivation of new colorful germplasms to improve monotonous flower color could promote its landscape application. However, the mechanism of flower color formation in R. rugosa remains unclear. In this study, combined analyses of the chemical and transcriptome were performed in the R. rugosa germplasms with representative flower colors. Among the identified anthocyanins, cyanidin 3,5-O-diglucoside (Cy3G5G) and peonidin 3,5-O-diglucoside (Pn3G5G) were the two dominant anthocyanins in the petals of R. rugosa. The sum content of Cy3G5G and Pn3G5G was responsible for the petal color intensity, such as pink or purple, light- or dark- red. The ratio of Cy3G5G to Pn3G5G was contributed to the petal color hue, that is, red or pink/purple. Maintaining both high relative and high absolute content of Cy3G5G may be the precondition for forming red-colored petals in R. rugosa. Cyanidin biosynthesis shunt was the dominant pathway for anthocyanin accumulation in R. rugosa, which may be the key reason for the presence of monotonous petal color in R. rugosa, mainly pink/purple. In the upstream pathway of cyanidin biosynthesis, 35 differentially expressed structural genes encoding 12 enzymes co-expressed to regulate the sum contents of Cy3G5G and Pn3G5G, and then determined the color intensity of petals. RrAOMT, involved in the downstream pathway of cyanidin biosynthesis, regulated the ratio of Cy3G5G to Pn3G5G via methylation and then determined the color hue of petals. It was worth mentioning that significantly higher delphinidin-3,5-O-diglucoside content and RrF3'5'H expression were detected from deep purple-red-flowered 8-16 germplasm with somewhat unique and visible blue hue. Three candidate key transcription factors identified by correlation analysis, RrMYB108, RrC1, and RrMYB114, might play critical roles in the control of petal color by regulating the expression of both RrAOMT and other multiple structural genes. These results provided novel insights into anthocyanin accumulation and flower coloration mechanism in R. rugosa, and the candidate key genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis could be valuable resources for the breeding of ornamental plants in future.

Homeostatic regulation of flavonoid and lignin biosynthesis in phenylpropanoid pathway of transgenic tobacco

Flavonoids and lignin consist of a large number of secondarymetabolites which are derived from the phenylpropanoid pathway, and they act as a significant role in plant growth, development, and stress response. However, few reports have documented that how different subbranches of phenylpropanoid metablolic pathway mutually interact. In Arabidopsis, AtCPC (AtCAPRICE) is known to play a negative role in anthocyanin accumulation. Nonetheless, whether AtCPC could control the biosynthesis of lignin is largely unknown. Additionally, whether the RrFLS and RrANR, flavonol synthase and anthocyanidin reductase, from Rosa rugosa regulate different branches of phenylpropanoid pathway is unclear. Here, we performed a series of transgenic experiments with short life cycle tobacco and RNA-Seq analysis. Finally, a series of assays related to biological, physiological, and phenotypic characteristics were undertaken. Our results indicated that ectopic expression of AtCPC in tobacco not only decreased the flavonoid compound accumulation, but also up-regulated several lignin biosynthetic genes, and significantly increased the accumulation of lignin. Our results also revealed that although they respectively improved the flavonol and proanthocyanidin contents, the overexpression of RrFLS and RrANR plays positive roles in lignin biosynthesis in transgenic tobacco plants. Our findings provide a novel insight into the mechanism underlying homeostatic regulation of flavonoid and lignin biosynthesis in phenylpropanoid pathway of plants.

Transcription Factor RrANT1 of Rosa rugosa Positively Regulates Flower Organ Size in Petunia hybrida

The flower is the main organ that produces essential oils in many plants. The yield of raw flowers and the number of secretory epidermal cells are the main factors for essential oil production. The cultivated rose species “Pingyin 1” in China was used to study the effect of RrANT1 on floral organ development. Eighteen AP2 transcription factors with dual AP2 domains were identified from Rosa rugosa genome. RrANT1 belonged to euANT. The subcellular localization results showed that RrANT1 protein is localized in the nucleus. The relative expression level of RrANT1 in the receptacle is higher than that in petals in the developmental stages, and both decreased from the initial phase to senescence. Compared with the RrANT1 expression level in petals in the blooming stage, RrANT1 expression level was significant in petals (~48.8) and highest in the receptacle (~102.5) in the large bud stage. It was only highly expressed in the receptacle (~39.4) in the blooming period. RrANT1 overexpression significantly increased petunia flower and leaf sizes (~1.2), as well as flower fresh weight (~30%). The total number of epidermis cells in the petals of overexpressing plants significantly increased (>40%). This study concluded that RrANT1 overexpression can increase the size and weight of flowers by promoting cell proliferation, providing a basis for creating new rose germplasm to increase rose and essential oil yield.

Over-Expression of Rose RrLAZY1 Negatively Regulates the Branch Angle of Transgenic Arabidopsis Inflorescence

Branch angle is a key shoot architecture trait that strongly influences the ornamental and economic value of garden plants. However, the mechanism underlying the control of branch angle, an important aspect of tree architecture, is far from clear in roses. In the present study, we isolated the RrLAZY1 gene from the stems of Rosa rugosa ‘Zilong wochi’. Sequence analysis showed that the encoded RrLAZY1 protein contained a conserved GΦL (A/T) IGT domain, which belongs to the IGT family. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses revealed that RrLAZY1 was expressed in all tissues and that expression was highest in the stem. The RrLAZY1 protein was localized in the plasma membrane. Based on a yeast two-hybrid assay and bimolecular fluorescence complementation experiments, the RrLAZY1 protein was found to interact with auxin-related proteins RrIAA16. The over-expression of the RrLAZY1 gene displayed a smaller branch angle in transgenic Arabidopsis inflorescence and resulted in changes in the expression level of genes related to auxin polar transport and signal transduction pathways. This study represents the first systematic analysis of the LAZY1 gene family in R. rugosa. The results of this study will provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of rose plant types and molecular breeding and provide valuable information for studying the regulation mechanism of branch angle in other woody plants.

Genome-Wide Identification of LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN (LBD) Transcription Factors and Screening of Salt Stress Candidates of Rosa rugosa Thunb

LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN (LBD) transcription factors are regulators of lateral organ morphogenesis, boundary establishment, and secondary metabolism in plants. The responsive role of LBD gene family in plant abiotic stress is emerging, whereas its salt stress responsive mechanism in Rosa spp. is still unclear. The wild plant of Rosa rugosa Thunb., which exhibits strong salt tolerance to stress, is an ideal material to explore the salt-responsive LBD genes. In our study, we identified 41 RrLBD genes based on the R. rugosa genome. According to phylogenetic analysis, all RrLBD genes were categorized into Classes I and II with conserved domains and motifs. The cis-acting element prediction revealed that the promoter regions of most RrLBD genes contain defense and stress responsiveness and plant hormone response elements. Gene expression patterns under salt stress indicated that RrLBD12c, RrLBD25, RrLBD39, and RrLBD40 may be potential regulators of salt stress signaling. Our analysis provides useful information on the evolution and development of RrLBD gene family and indicates that the candidate RrLBD genes are involved in salt stress signaling, laying a foundation for the exploration of the mechanism of LBD genes in regulating abiotic stress.

A high-quality chromosome-level genome of wild Rosa rugosa

Rosa rugosa is an important shrub with economic, ecological, and pharmaceutical value. A high-quality chromosome-scale genome for R. rugosa sequences was assembled using PacBio and Hi-C technologies. The final assembly genome sequences size was about 407.1 Mb, the contig N50 size was 2.85 Mb, and the scaffold N50 size was 56.6 Mb. More than 98% of the assembled genome sequences were anchored to seven pseudochromosomes (402.9 Mb). The genome contained 37,512 protein-coding genes, with 37,016 genes (98.68%) that were functionally annotated, and 206.67 Mb (50.76%) of the assembled sequences are repetitive sequences. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that R. rugosa diverged from Rosa chinensis ∼6.6 million years ago, and no lineage-specific whole-genome duplication event occurred after divergence from R. chinensis. Chromosome synteny analysis demonstrated highly conserved synteny between R. rugosa and R. chinensis, between R. rugosa and Prunus persica as well. Comparative genome and transcriptome analysis revealed genes related to colour, scent, and environment adaptation. The chromosome-level reference genome provides important genomic resources for molecular-assisted breeding and horticultural comparative genomics research.

Distribution of Triterpenoids and Steroids in Developing Rugosa Rose (Rosarugosa Thunb.) Accessory Fruit

Triterpenoids and steroids are considered to be important for the fruit quality and health-promoting properties for the consumers. The aim of the study was the determination of the changes in triterpenoid and steroid biosynthesis and the accumulation in hypanthium and achenes of rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa Thunb.) hip during fruit development and ripening at three different phenological stages (young fruits, fully developed unripe fruits, and matured fruits). Triterpenoids and steroids were also determined in the peel and the pulp of the matured hips. The obtained results indicated that the distribution of the analyzed compounds in different fruit tissues is a selective process. The increased rate of hydroxylation of triterpenoids, the deposition of hydroxylated acids in fruit surface layer, and the continuous biosynthesis of phytosterols in achenes versus its gradual repression in hypanthium accompanied by the accumulation of their biosynthetic intermediates and ketone derivatives seem to be characteristic metabolic features of maturation of rugosa rose accessory fruit. These observations, apart from providing the important data on metabolic modifications occurring in developing fruits, might have a practical application in defining fruit parts, particularly rich in bioactive constituents, to enable the development of novel functional products.

Spectrum-effect relationship between UPLC fingerprints and antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of Rosa rugosa

In this study, the antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of the chemical constituents of Rosa rugosa Thunb. (R. rugosa) was evaluated through analysis of spectrum-effect relationship. The ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) fingerprints of 21 batches of R. rugosa were evaluated by similarity analysis (SA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). The 28 common components were identified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-orbitrap-HRMS/MS). Meanwhile, the antidiabetic activities and antioxidant activities of 21 batches of R. rugosa were estimated in vitro. Besides, four chemometrics named principal component analysis (PCA), grey correlation analysis (GRA), partial least squares regression (PLSR) and the bivariate correlations analysis (BCA) were applied to construct spectrum-effect relationship between the UPLC fingerprints and biological activities of R. rugosa. The spectrum-effect relationship study revealed that di-O-galloyl-HHDP-glucoside, galloyl-HHDP-glucoside and avicularin were more relevant to antidiabetic activity. Di-O-galloyl-HHDP-glucoside, galloyl-HHDP-glucoside and ellagic acid were the main antioxidant components of R. rugosa. The current bioassay and spectrum-effect relationships are proper for associating sample quality with the active ingredient, and our finding would provide foundation and further understanding of the quality evaluation and quality control of R. rugosa.

Polyphenols, L-Ascorbic Acid, and Antioxidant Activity in Wines from Rose Fruits (Rosa rugosa)

The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of the winemaking process on the antioxidant potential and content of phenolic compounds and L-ascorbic acid in wines from the fruits of Rosa rugosa. The results obtained in this study clearly indicate that the fruits of the Rosa rugosa are a desirable raw material for the production of fruit wine. The parameters of the technological process of producing wines from rose fruits had a diversified influence on the tested quality characteristics. Aged wines contained phenolics levels of 473–958 mg/100 mL GAE. The final concentrations of ascorbic acid ranged from 61 to 155 mg/100 mL for the different variants of the wine. Wines revealed high antioxidant activity in assay with DPPH. On the basis of the obtained results, it can be assumed that all the applied variants of the winemaking process are suitable for rose fruit wine. Each variant ensured at least the stability of the antioxidant capacity.

NUDX gene enhances biosynthesis of scent volatiles in petunia

Rosa rugosa is an important natural perfume plant in China. Rose essential oil is known as ‘liquid gold’ and has high economic and health values. Monoterpenes are the main fragrant components of R. rugosa flower and essential oil. In this study, a member of the hydrolase gene family RrNUDX1 was cloned from Chinese traditional R. rugosa ‘Tang Hong’. Combined analysis of RrNUDX1 gene expression and the aroma components in different development stages and different parts of flower organ, we found that the main aroma component content was consistent with the gene expression pattern. The RrNUDX1 overexpressed Petunia hybrida was acquired via Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation systems. The blades of the transgenic petunias became wider and its growth vigor became strong with stronger fragrance. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry analysis showed that the contents of the main aroma components of the transgenic petunias including methyl benzoate significantly increased. These findings indicate that the RrNUDX1 gene plays a role in enhancing the fragrance of petunia flowers, and they could lay an important foundation for the homeotic transformation of RrNUDX1 in R. rugosa for cultivating new R. rugosa varieties of high-yield and -quality essential oil.

Fermented Vinegars from Apple Peels, Raspberries, Rosehips, Lavender, Mint, and Rose Petals: The Composition, Antioxidant Power, and Genoprotective Abilities in Comparison to Acetic Macerates, Decoctions, and Tinctures

Acetic fermentation is a method for processing plant material which has been known since antiquity. Balsamic and apple cider vinegars are investigated as antibacterial, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic remedies. However, there is little information about vinegars fermented from aromatic herbs and edible plants. The aim of this study was to compare extracts used for culinary and medicinal purposes according to their composition, antioxidant power, and genoprotective properties. Fermented vinegars, acetic macerates, decoctions, and tinctures in 70% ethanol from raspberries, apple peels, rosehips, lavender, mint, and rose petals were prepared. Polyphenols, ascorbate, carotenoid concentrations, and antioxidant power were analyzed. The polyphenols were identified using HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography). The genoprotective properties were measured using a comet assay on lymphocytes. Fermented vinegars were poorest in phytochemicals in comparison to tinctures, decoctions, or acetic macerates, although they contained the highest concentration of metal ions. The antioxidant abilities were correlated to the phenolic content of extract. None of the extracts induced DNA damages into lymphocytes. The rosehip and rose petal extracts revealed the highest genoprotective abilities, while mint and apple fermented vinegars and decoctions had the lowest. Fermented vinegars are not a rich source of phytochemicals and they show weak genoprotective abilities, but, in increasing demand for antioxidants, any form of phytochemical sources is an added-value in diet.

The complete mitochondrial genome of new species candidate of Rosa rugosa (Rosaceae)

Completed mitochondrial genome of a new species candidate of Rosa rugosa, named as Rosa angusta, is 303,484 bp long. The overall GC content of this mitochondrial genome is 45.2%. It contains 52 genes covering 31 protein-coding genes, 17 tRNAs, and 3 rRNAs. In comparison to R. rugosa mitochondrial genome assembled from the public NGS raw reads, 124 SNPs and 769 INDELs were identified. Phylogenetic trees suggest that more Rosa mitochondrial genomes will be needed to understand phylogenetic relationship of the two Rosa species.

Invasion of Rosa rugosa induced changes in soil nutrients and microbial communities of coastal sand dunes

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of R. rugosa invasion on soil physicochemical and microbial properties of coastal sand dunes. The study was performed at 25 paired invaded-native plots along the Hel Peninsula at the coast of the Baltic Sea. A number of soil physicochemical and microbial parameters were measured, namely organic matter layer thickness, pH, electrical conductivity, organic C, total Ca, N, Na, P, N-NH₄, N-NO₃ and P-PO₄ concentrations, phospholipid and neutral fatty acid (PLFA, NLFA) markers of total microbial, bacterial, fungal biomass and microbial community structure, as well as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spore and species numbers, and the degree of AMF root colonization. Since potential alterations in soil parameters induced by R. rugosa may be related to large amounts of secondary metabolites provided to the soil with litter or root exudates, total phenolic concentration in senescing tissues of R. rugosa and native species was compared. Rosa rugosa invasion was associated with increased organic C, total N and P-PO₄ concentrations in mineral soil relative to native vegetation. Organic matter layer under R. rugosa was thicker, had higher pH and Ca concentration. Rosa rugosa invasion was associated with reduced total microbial, bacterial and G+ bacterial biomass and increased AMF biomass markers (16:1ω5 NLFA and 16:1ω5 NLFA/PLFA), and changes in microbial community structure in mineral soil. The reduction in total and bacterial biomass under R. rugosa might have been related to the production of secondary metabolites as total phenolic concentration was approx. 5 times higher in senescing tissues of R. rugosa than in native vegetation. The observed increase in element concentrations and alterations in microbial community structure suggest that invasion of R. rugosa may threaten nutrient-poor habitats of coastal dunes. Changes in the soil environment may hinder restoration of these valuable habitats after invader removal.

The complete chloroplast genome of candidate new species from Rosa rugosa in Korea (Rosaceae)

Complete chloroplast genome of candidate new species from Rosa rugosa, named as Rosa angusta, is 156,989 bp long and has four subregions: 86,227 bp of large single copy (LSC) and 18,816 bp of small single copy (SSC) regions are separated by 25,793 bp of inverted repeat (IR) regions including 130 genes (85 protein-coding genes, eight rRNAs, and 37 tRNAs). The overall GC content of this chloroplast genome is 37.2% and in the LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 35.2%, 31.1%, and 42.8%, respectively. Phylogenetic trees show that R. angusta is close to R. rugosa with enough number of sequence variations.

An aqueous polyphenol extract from Rosa rugosa tea has antiaging effects on Caenorhabditis elegans

Rosa rugosa aqueous polyphenol (RAP) is a kind of polyphenol from Rosa rugosa flower tea. In this study, the antiaging activities of RAP were studied in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. UHPLC-HESI-MS/MS was employed to identify the specific phenolic profile, revealing that there were 23 types of phenolic compounds in RAP and that quercetin glycoside was the principal component. RAP increased the mean lifespan of C. elegans and enhanced the thermotolerance and resistance to oxidative stress of C. elegans in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, RAP showed powerful antioxidant effects in vitro and strong protection against oxidative DNA damage. RAP significantly improved the levels of total superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity of C. elegans. In conclusion, RAP has antiaging effects on C. elegans, which might be related to its powerful antioxidant effects both in vitro and in vivo. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In recent years, chronic diseases associated with aging have had a profound impact on quality of life. Many healthy foods have antiaging properties, especially flower teas, such as those made from Rosa rugosa. Our results indicated that Rosa rugosa tea is good for health and that RAP could potentially be developed as a bioactive product that could be used to combat aging.

RrGT1, a key gene associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis, was isolated from Rosa rugosa and identified via overexpression and VIGS

At present, research on the flower color of Rosa rugosa requires very innovative and practical studies. Glycosylation plays an important role in increasing the stability and solubility of anthocyanins in plants. In this study, a gene with a full-length cDNA of 1161 bp encoding 386 amino acids, designated RrGT1 (MK034140), was isolated from the flowers of R. rugosa 'Zizhi' and then functionally characterized. Sequence alignment revealed that the coding regions of RrGT1 were highly specific among different species but still contained typical conserved amino acid residues that are crucial for RrGT1 enzyme activity. RrGT1 transcripts were detected in various tissues of R. rugosa 'Zizhi' and Rosa davurica, and their expression patterns corresponded with the accumulation of anthocyanins. Additionally, the in vivo function of RrGT1 was investigated via its overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing RrGT1 regained red color pigmentation of their leaves and flower stems, indicating that RrGT1 could encode a functional glycosyltransferase (GT) protein for anthocyanin biosynthesis and could function in other species. The functional verification of RrGT1 for anthocyanin biosynthesis in R. rugosa was performed via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). This was the first time that a VIGS system was developed for use with perennial Rosa plants grown naturally in the field as experimental materials to study a key color-controlling gene in Rosa. When the RrGT1 gene was silenced, the Rosa plants displayed a pale petal color phenotype. The detection results showed that the expression of the endogenous RrGT1 gene was significantly downregulated while the six key structural genes in its upstream were normally expressed, and the contents of all anthocyanins also decreased significantly. Therefore, we speculated that glycosylation of RrGT1 plays a crucial role in anthocyanin biosynthesis in R. rugosa.

RrGT2, A Key Gene Associated with Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Rosa rugosa, Was Identified Via Virus-Induced Gene Silencing and Overexpression

In this study, a gene with a full-length cDNA of 1422 bp encoding 473 amino acids, designated RrGT2, was isolated from R. rugosa 'Zizhi' and then functionally characterized. RrGT2 transcripts were detected in various tissues and were proved that their expression patterns corresponded with anthocyanins accumulation. Functional verification of RrGT2 in R. rugosa was performed via VIGS. When RrGT2 was silenced, the Rosa plants displayed a pale petal color phenotype. The detection results showed that the expression of RrGT2 was significantly downregulated, which was consistent with the decrease of all anthocyanins; while the expression of six key upstream structural genes was normal. Additionally, the in vivo function of RrGT2 was investigated via its overexpression in tobacco. In transgenic tobacco plants expressing RrGT2, anthocyanin accumulation was induced in the flowers, indicating that RrGT2 could encode a functional GT protein for anthocyanin biosynthesis and could function in other species. The application of VIGS in transgenic tobacco resulted in the treated tobacco plants presenting flowers whose phenotypes were lighter in color than those of normal plants. These results also validated and affirmed previous conclusions. Therefore, we speculated that glycosylation of RrGT2 plays a crucial role in anthocyanin biosynthesis in R. rugosa.

Cloning and Functional Verification of Genes Related to 2-Phenylethanol Biosynthesis in Rosa rugosa

In China, Rosa rugosa is cultivated as a source of natural perfumes. Rose essential oil is known as “liquid gold”, given its high economic and health value. 2-phenylethanol accounts for more than 10% of the total mass fraction of the essential oil derived from R. rugosa. The regulatory mechanisms underlying 2-phenylethanol metabolism in R. rugosa, however, remain unclear. In this study, RrAAAT and RrPPDC1, two genes related to 2-phenylethanol synthesis, were cloned from R. rugosa. Expression analysis revealed that RrAAAT and RrPPDC1 were highly expressed in rose flowers in the full opening and withering stages, and in calyxes. The overexpression vectors of RrAADC, RrAAAT, and RrPPDC1 were established and transformed into Petunia hybrida via Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Results demonstrated that the overexpression of RrAADC and RrAAAT increased the 2-phenylethanol content of transgenic petunia flowers. The results of this study provide a basis for the introduction of genes related to 2-phenylethanol synthesis into roses to increase the 2-phenylethanol content of rose essential oil.

Anthocyanins and their biosynthetic genes in three novel-colored Rosa rugosa cultivars and their parents

The petals of Rosa rugosa are generally pink and purple, never yellow. Although new varieties of R. rugosa have been bred, no yellow variety has ever been obtained. Therefore, the use of roses in garden settings has been restricted. Three R. rugosa hybrid cultivars (R. rugosa 'Miaoyu', 'Rudiepianpian' and 'Jiaomeisanbian') were bred in our laboratory using wild R. rugosa 'Hunchun' as the female parent and Rosa xanthina as the male parent. The petals of these cultivars appear yellow, at least in part; thus, these cultivars represent the first R. rugosa with yellow flowers. To investigate the causes of this yellow petal color, the petals of these materials were studied at both the physiological and molecular levels. Anthocyanins are the most important chromogenic substances in plants. In this study, six types of anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (Cy3G), cyanidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside (Cy3G5G), pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside (Pg3G), pelargonidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside (Pg3G5G), peonidin-3-O-glucoside (Pn3G) and peonidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside (Pn3G5G), were analyzed in the petals of the new R. rugosa cultivars and their parents. All of the above anthocyanins were found in the petals of 'Hunchun', and a small amount of Cy3G5G was present in 'Miaoyu' and 'Jiaomeisanbian', but no anthocyanins were found in R. xanthina or 'Rudiepianpian'. Moreover, the expression levels of seven structural genes (RrCHS, RrCHI, RrF3H, RrFLS, RrF3'H, RrDFR and RrANS) in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway were quantitatively analyzed via qRT-PCR. We concluded that RrFLS, RrDFR and RrF3'H are the key genes controlling petal color in these different rose varieties.

In Vitro Bioaccessibility of Carotenoids and Vitamin E in Rosehip Products and Tomato Paste As Affected by Pectin Contents and Food Processing

Limited bioavailability of antioxidants present in food from fruits and vegetables matrices is determined by their low bioaccessibility due to the physical and chemical interactions of the antioxidants with the indigestible polysaccharides of cell walls. Therefore, this in vitro investigation aimed to assess the bioaccessibility of carotenoids and vitamin E from rosehips as well as from tomato paste and to investigate several aspects of effects of pectin contents and food processing on bioaccessibility. Following the addition of the enzyme mixture Fructozym P6-XL, the bioaccessibility of carotenoids from rosehips as well as from tomato paste significantly increased. The average relative increase in bioaccessibility from rosehips was lower for ( all-E)-β-carotene compared with ( all-E)-lycopene and ( all-E)-rubixanthin. In contrast, increases of bioaccessibility of α-tocopherol were comparable for rosehip samples and tomato paste.

Botanical origin of Mei-gui Hua in Chinese markets

The petals or buds of Rosa species have been used as an important Chinese crude drug called "Mei-gui Hua" and also an ingredient for herbal tea in China. The 15 flavonol glycosides in 34 commercially available "Mei-gui Hua" were quantitatively determined by UPLC, and the data were compared with those of known Rosa sp. belong to Cinnamomeae, Gallicanae, Caninae and Synstylae by principal component analysis for the estimation of original plants of these "Mei-gui Hua". Seven samples were classified into two groups (Types A and B) composed of species in Gallicae and Synstilae and 11 samples into a group (Type D) composed of species in Cinnamomeae. Six samples were plotted among Types B, C and D. However, nine samples were shown to form a new group (Type F), and the original plants of these samples were assumed to be more complex hybrids of Rosa species including other sections than Cinnamomeae, Gallicanae, Caninae and Synstylae. This method must be useful and convenient to estimate the origin of crude drug "Mei-gui Hua" commercially available in markets. The results of this study also demonstrated that "Mei-gui Hua" commercially available in Chinese market must be prepared from hybrids of various species of Rosa, and it is not reasonable to assign only R. rugosa as scientific name of the origin plants.

Chemical Fingerprint Analysis and Quantitative Analysis of Rosa rugosa by UPLC-DAD

A method based on ultra performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (UPLC-DAD) was developed for quantitative analysis of five active compounds and chemical fingerprint analysis of Rosa rugosa. Ten batches of R. rugosa collected from different plantations in the Xinjiang region of China were used to establish the fingerprint. The feasibility and advantages of the used UPLC fingerprint were verified for its similarity evaluation by systematically comparing chromatograms with professional analytical software recommended by State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) of China. In quantitative analysis, the five compounds showed good regression (R² = 0.9995) within the test ranges, and the recovery of the method was in the range of 94.2%–103.8%. The similarities of liquid chromatography fingerprints of 10 batches of R. rugosa were more than 0.981. The developed UPLC fingerprint method is simple, reliable, and validated for the quality control and identification of R. rugosa. Additionally, simultaneous quantification of five major bioactive ingredients in the R. rugosa samples was conducted to interpret the consistency of the quality test. The results indicated that the UPLC fingerprint, as a characteristic distinguishing method combining similarity evaluation and quantification analysis, can be successfully used to assess the quality and to identify the authenticity of R. rugosa.

on Total Sleep Deprivation-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior and Cognitive Dysfunction in Rat: Possible Mechanism of Action of 5-HT6 Receptor Antagonist

Our previous results suggest that the Rosa rugosa Thunb. (family Rosaceae) alleviates endurance exercise-induced stress by decreasing oxidative stress levels. This study aimed to screen and identify the physiological antistress effects of an extract of R. rugosa (RO) on sleep deprivation-induced anxiety-like behavior and cognitive tests (in vivo) and tested for hippocampal CORT and monoamine levels (ex vivo), corticosterone (CORT)-induced injury, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, and serotonin 6 (5-hydroxytryptamine 6, 5-HT6) receptor activities (in vitro) in search of active principles and underlying mechanisms of action. We confirmed the antistress effects of RO in a sleep-deprived stress model in rat and explored the underlying mechanisms of its action. In conclusion, an R. rugosa extract showed efficacy and potential for use as an antistress therapy to treat sleep deprivation through its antagonism of the 5-HT6 receptor and resulting inhibition of cAMP activity.

Flavonol glycosides in the petal of Rosa species as chemotaxonomic markers

Thirteen flavonol glycosides were isolated from the petals of Rosa species belonging to the section Gallicanae, and their structures were identified from their spectroscopic data. These flavonol glycosides, along with two flavonol glycosides isolated from Rosa rugosa, in the petals of 31 Rosa species belonging to sections Gallicanae, Cinnamomeae, Caninae, and Synstylae were quantitatively analyzed by UPLC. The results indicated that the species belonging to these sections could be classified into four types (Type A, B, C and D) based on the pattern of flavonol glycoside contents, whereas the R. rugosa flavonol glycosides were detected only in section Cinnamomeae. A principal components analysis (PCA) calculated from the 15 flavonol glycosides contained in these samples supported the presence of four types. The distribution of the species in Type D (a group of Cinnamomeae) was shown to reflect close interrelationships, but species in Type B (one group of Gallicanae) could be subdivided into two groups, one of which contained species in section Synstylae. Moreover, the flavonol glycosides were grouped by sugar moieties: a disaccharide composed of two hexoses (S1), a hexose (S2), including a hexose with galloyl group, a pentose (S3), and a disaccharide composed of a hexose and a pentose (S4). The ratios of the amounts of S1-S4 to total flavonol glycoside content indicated that differences among the four sections were more distinctive than the amounts of the 15 flavonol glycosides. The 31 samples were divided into Type B, composed of one type of Gallicanae and Synstylae, Type A+C, composed of another type of Gallicanae and Caninae, and Type D, composed of Cinnamomeae. The R. rugosa flavonol glycosides were shown to be important chemotaxonomic markers for the classification of species in Cinnamomeae, and this method of using flavonol glycosides as chemotaxonomic markers could be useful for the identification of Rosa species belonging to sections Gallicanae, Cinnamomeae, Caninae, and Synstylae.

Antihyperglycaemic mechanisms of an aceteoside polymer from rose flowers and a polysaccharide-protein complex from abalone mushroom

Oral administration of an aceteoside polymer from rose Rosa rugosa (P1-b) and a polysaccharide-peptide complex from abalone mushroom Pleurotus abalonus (LB-1b), both with antioxidant activity, produced antihyperglycaemic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The expression of insulin, superoxide dismutase and pancreas duodenum homeobox factor-1 essential for pancreatic islet function as estimated by real-time PCR was augmented. The reactive oxygen species-scavenging ability of the rose constituent was notably stronger than the mushroom constituent. Thus, the two biomolecules protected the pancreas from oxidative stress, elevated pancreatic insulin expression and lowered circulating glucose level.

Cytotoxic, antioxidant, antimicrobial properties and chemical composition of rose petals

BACKGROUND

Rosa rugosa petals are used for production of teas, jams, wines and juices. Despite the wide availability of rose cultivars, comprehensive information on petal chemical composition and healthful properties is still lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was analysis of cytotoxic, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of rugosa rose petals.

RESULTS

Petals of R. rugosa were evaluated for their cytotoxic effect against cervical (HeLa) and breast cancer (T47D) cell lines and for antiradical activity (with DPPH•). As a result, significant cytotoxic (up to 100% of dead cells) and antiradical properties (IC₅₀ 1.33-0.08 mg mg⁻¹ DPPH•) were demonstrated. Moreover, notable antimicrobial activity against eight bacterial (i.e. Staphylococcus. epidermidis, S. aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis) and two yeast strains (Candida. albicans, C. parapsilosis) was shown. Total phenolic, flavonoid, phenolic acid, tannin, carotenoid and polysaccharide content in petals was determined using spectrophotometric methods. Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry was used to thoroughly analyze phenolic acids and flavonoid glycosides in the methanolic extract and fractions obtained after its separation. Five phenolic acids and six flavonoids previously not reported in the plant material were identified.

CONCLUSION

This is the first such detailed report on chemical composition and biological activity of R. rugosa petals.