Non-target metabolomics revealed the differences between Rh. tanguticum plants growing under canopy and open habitats

BACKGROUND

Rheum tanguticum (Rh. tanguticum) is an important traditional Chinese medicine plant, "Dahuang", which contains productive metabolites and occupies wide habitats on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Plants occupying wide habitats usually vary in phenotypes such as in morphology and metabolism, thereby developing into different ecotypes. Under canopy and open habitats are a pair of dissimilar habitats which possess Rh. tanguticum plants. However, few studies have focused on the effect of habitats on Rh. tanguticum growth, particularly combining morphological and metabolic changes. This study focused on Rh. tanguticum plants growing in under canopy and open habitats where morphology and metabolism changes were quantified using non-target metabolism methods.

RESULTS

The obtained results indicated that the two dissimilar habitats led to Rh. tanguticum developing into two distinct ecotypes where the morphology and metabolism were simultaneously changed. Under canopy habitats bred morphologically smaller Rh. tanguticum plants which had a higher level of metabolites (22 out of 31) which included five flavonoids, four isoflavonoids, and three anthracenes. On the other hand, the open habitats produced morphologically larger Rh. tanguticum plants having a higher level of metabolites (9 out of 31) including four flavonoids. 6 of the 31 metabolites were predicted to have effect targets, include 4 represent for under canopy habitats and 2 for open habitats. Totally, 208 targets were connected, among which 42 were communal targets for both under canopy and open habitats represent compounds, and 100 and 66 were unique targets for under canopy superior compounds and open habitats superior compounds, respectively. In addition, aloe-emodin, emodin, chrysophanol, physcion, sennoside A and sennoside B were all more accumulated in under canopy habitats, and among which aloe-emodin, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion were significantly higher in under canopy habitats.

CONCLUSIONS

This study determined that Rh. tanguticum growing in under canopy and in open habitats developed into two distinct ecotypes with morphological and metabolic differences. Results of network pharmacology study has indicated that "Dahuang" coming from different habitats, such as under canopy and open habitats, are different in effect targets and thus may have different medicinal use. According to target metabolomics, under canopy habitats may grow better "Dahuang".

Integrated analyses of the transcriptome and small RNA of the hemiparasitic plant Monochasma savatieri before and after establishment of parasite-host association

BACKGROUND

Monochasma savatieri is a medicinal root hemiparasitic herb that extracts water and nutrients from the host plant via a haustorium. M. savatieri exhibits an enhanced growth after the establishment of parasite-host associations, but little is known about the molecular mechanism responsible. In this study, endogenous hormones, RNA sequencing and small RNA sequencing analysis were performed on M. savatieri before and after establishment of parasite-host associations.

RESULTS

When grown with the host, decreased contents of jasmonic acid (JA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and increased abscisic acid (ABA) content were observed in M. savatieri with the established parasitic relationship. When grown with the host, 46,424 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 162 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) were identified in the comparison between M. savatieri with the established parasitic relationship and without the established parasitic relationship. Analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) showed that these DEGs and targets of DEmiRs mostly participated in plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, cell growth and death, and transport and catabolism. Furthermore, correlation analysis of mRNA and miRNA revealed that 10 miRNA-target pairs from novel_mir65, novel_mir40, novel_mir80, miR397-5p_1, novel_mir36, novel_mir25 and novel_mir17 may have important roles in regulating the parasitic development of M. savatieri.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study not only expands the understanding of enhanced growth in M. savatieri after the establishment of parasite-host associations, but also first provides abundant resources for future molecular and genetic studies in M. savatieri.

Variability of Volatile Compounds in the Medicinal Plant Dendrobium officinale from Different Regions

Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo, a rare and traditional medicinal plant, contains many nutrients such as polysaccharides, alkaloids, amino acids and so on. Different growth environment and intraspecific hybridization of different germplasm resources lead to large differences in the yield, quality and medicinal value of D. officinale. Here, the volatile compounds of D. officinale from four producing regions (Zhejiang, Fujian, Yunnan and Jiangxi) were analyzed to provide a certain reference value for the selection of a specific medicinal component in D. officinale breeding. Fresh stems of D. officinale germplasm resources were collected, and the chemical constituents were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 101 volatile compounds were identified, of which esters and alcohols accounted for 23 and 22. Hexacosane is the highest relative content of all volatile components. The highest content of hexacosane was observed in YA1 from Yunnan was 34.41%, and the lowest (23.41%) in JA1 from Jiangxi. Moreover, 5-10 unique substances were determined in different regions. A total of 17 medicinal components were detected, and three unique medicinal components were detected only in YA1, revealing that YA1 can provide raw materials for the application of specific medicinal substances extraction. A total of four toxic components were detected, but no toxic components were detected in JA1 from Jiangxi, suggested that the germplasm resources from Jiangxi could be exploited efficiently for breeding superior D. officinale specimens. The results provide a theoretical basis for the collection, protection and utilization of D. officinale germplasm resources in different regions.

Prestige and homophily predict network structure for social learning of medicinal plant knowledge

Human subsistence societies have thrived in environmental extremes while maintaining biodiversity through social learning of ecological knowledge, such as techniques to prepare food and medicine from local resources. However, there is limited understanding of which processes shape social learning patterns and configuration in ecological knowledge networks, or how these processes apply to resource management and biological conservation. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the prestige (rarity or exclusivity) of knowledge shapes social learning networks. In addition, we test whether people tend to select who to learn from based on prestige (knowledge or reputation), and homophily (e.g., people of the same age or gender). We used interviews to assess five types of medicinal plant knowledge and how 303 people share this knowledge across four villages in Solomon Islands. We developed exponential random graph models (ERGMs) to test whether hypothesized patterns of knowledge sharing based on prestige and homophily are more common in the observed network than in randomly simulated networks of the same size. We found that prestige predicts five hypothesized network configurations and all three hypothesized learning patterns, while homophily predicts one of three hypothesized network configurations and five of the seven hypothesized learning patterns. These results compare the strength of different prestige and homophily effects on social learning and show how cultural practices such as intermarriage can affect certain aspects of prestige and homophily. By advancing our understanding of how prestige and homophily affect ecological knowledge networks, we identify which social learning patterns have the largest effects on biocultural conservation of ecological knowledge.

Screening and identification of miRNAs related to sexual differentiation of strobili in Ginkgo biloba by integration analysis of small RNA, RNA, and degradome sequencing

BACKGROUND

Ginkgo biloba, a typical dioecious plant, is a traditional medicinal plant widely planted. However, it has a long juvenile period, which severely affected the breeding and cultivation of superior ginkgo varieties.

RESULTS

In order to clarify the complex mechanism of sexual differentiation in G. biloba strobili. Here, a total of 3293 miRNAs were identified in buds and strobili of G. biloba, including 1085 known miRNAs and 2208 novel miRNAs using the three sequencing approaches of transcriptome, small RNA, and degradome. Comparative transcriptome analysis screened 4346 and 7087 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in male buds (MB) _vs_ female buds (FB) and microstrobilus (MS) _vs_ ovulate strobilus (OS), respectively. A total of 6032 target genes were predicted for differentially expressed miRNA. The combined analysis of both small RNA and transcriptome datasets identified 51 miRNA-mRNA interaction pairs that may be involved in the process of G. biloba strobili sexual differentiation, of which 15 pairs were verified in the analysis of degradome sequencing.

CONCLUSIONS

The comprehensive analysis of the small RNA, RNA and degradome sequencing data in this study provided candidate genes and clarified the regulatory mechanism of sexual differentiation of G. biloba strobili from multiple perspectives.

Developmental Methylome of the Medicinal Plant Catharanthus roseus Unravels the Tissue-Specific Control of the Monoterpene Indole Alkaloid Pathway by DNA Methylation

Catharanthus roseus produces a wide spectrum of monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs). MIA biosynthesis requires a tightly coordinated pathway involving more than 30 enzymatic steps that are spatio-temporally and environmentally regulated so that some MIAs specifically accumulate in restricted plant parts. The first regulatory layer involves a complex network of transcription factors from the basic Helix Loop Helix (bHLH) or AP2 families. In the present manuscript, we investigated whether an additional epigenetic layer could control the organ-, developmental- and environmental-specificity of MIA accumulation. We used Whole-Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS) together with RNA-seq to identify differentially methylated and expressed genes among nine samples reflecting different plant organs and experimental conditions. Tissue specific gene expression was associated with specific methylation signatures depending on cytosine contexts and gene parts. Some genes encoding key enzymatic steps from the MIA pathway were found to be simultaneously differentially expressed and methylated in agreement with the corresponding MIA accumulation. In addition, we found that transcription factors were strikingly concerned by DNA methylation variations. Altogether, our integrative analysis supports an epigenetic regulation of specialized metabolisms in plants and more likely targeting transcription factors which in turn may control the expression of enzyme-encoding genes.

Ecological niche modeling of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus medicinal plants in Inner Mongolia, China

Radix Astragali is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, and its quality is closely related to ecological factors, such as climate and soil, in the production area. To provide high-quality Radix Astragali to Chinese and foreign markets, we used maximum entropy model and statistical analysis method, combined with data on ecological factors, Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus geographical distribution, and index component content to predict the ecological suitability distribution of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus and establish the relationship between astragaloside IV and calycosin-7-glucoside in this species and ecological factors. Subsequently, we could determine the suitability regionalization of high-quality A. membranaceus var. mongholicus in Inner Mongolia, China. The results showed that the standard deviation of seasonal changes in temperature (40.6%), precipitation in October (15.7%), vegetation type (14.3%), soil type (9.2%), and mean sunshine duration in the growing season (9.1%) were the top five most influential factors out of the 17 main ecological factors affecting the distribution of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus. The standard deviation of seasonal changes in temperature, precipitation in October, precipitation in April, soil pH, and mean sunshine duration in the growing season were found to be the key ecological factors affecting the accumulation of astragaloside IV and calycosin-7-glucoside in A. membranaceus var. mongholicus. The regions with the highest-quality A. membranaceus var. mongholicus were distributed in Baotou (Guyang County), Hohhot (Wuchuan County), and central Wulanchabu (Chahar Right Middle Banner, Chahar Right Back Banner, and Shangdu County) and its surroundings in Inner Mongolia. Baotou, Hohhot, and their surrounding areas were the main traditional production areas of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus, and central Wulanchabu was a potentially suitable distribution area of this species. The main production areas were consistent with the actual production base of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus. This study therefore provides a scientific basis to guide the cultivation of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus.

In Vitro Micropropagation of Industrially and Medicinally Useful Plant Aloe trichosantha Berger Using Offshoot Cuttings

This study was aimed to develop in vitro micropropagation protocol of Aloe trichosantha Berger using offshoots as explants. MS media supplemented with plant growth regulators helped explants develop shoots within about 14 to 17 days. The mean number of days to shooting has decreased from 16.8 ± 0.8 with 0.5/0.5 mg/L BAP/NAA supplement to 15.5 ± 0.5 with 2.0/0.5 mg/L BAP/NAA. While the mean shoot number has increased with increasing the concentration of BAP supplements, the reverse was true with mean shoot lengths, whereas supplement of 2.0/0.5 mg/L BAP/NAA has generated significantly more shoots (17 ± 3.8), and longer shoots were produced with the addition of 0.5/0.5 and 1.0/0.5 mg/L BAP/NAA. In regard to rooting, though higher concentrations of NAA have resulted in quick rooting, the rooting performance in terms of mean number and length of roots was better with low concentrations. All the plantlets subjected to greenhouse acclimatization in cocopeat have survived. Secondary acclimatization in composted and manured soil media has also resulted in 93 to 95% survival rate. Lighting conditions (nursery shade or direct sunlight) of secondary acclimatization did not lead to any difference in the survival rate of the plantlets.

Local knowledge about sustainable harvesting and availability of wild medicinal plant species in Lemnos island, Greece

BACKGROUND

In Europe and the Mediterranean, over-exploitation and destructive harvesting techniques have been identified as two critical threats affecting the sustainable harvesting of wild medicinal plant (WMP) species. However, unsustainable harvesting is not an issue everywhere and localized assessments are needed. Local knowledge has been praised for its potential for local short-term assessments. In this study, we aimed to register the known, harvested, and locally utilized WMP species and understand local knowledge of harvesters about the ecological sustainability of WMP harvesting and the perceived changes of WMP availability.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted on Lemnos island, Greece, in July and August 2018. Sixteen harvesters knowledgeable about gathering and using WMP were chosen through purposeful and snowball sampling. Successive free-lists provided insights on the taxa known, harvested, and utilized by harvesters and subsequent semi-structured interviews served to understand harvesting practices and perceived changes of WMP availability. Participant observation during seven harvesting walks allowed for additional insights and facilitated the collection of voucher specimens.

RESULTS

In total, 144 different plant taxa were listed as useful and 81 had been harvested in the prior 4 years. Medicinal applications were mainly related to digestive and respiratory system issues. A number of favorable harvesting practices suggested a high potential towards an ecologically sustainable harvest. Although, a decreased availability for certain plant taxa and harvesting sites was reported and mainly attributed to external factors such as pollution, unusually dry weather, intentional pastureland burning or chemicals in agriculture, but also destructive harvesting by less knowledgeable harvesters.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledgeable harvesters of Lemnos gather and use a considerable number of WMP taxa and possess local knowledge that supports an ecologically sustainable harvest. However, certain plant taxa and areas of the island were indicated to be under pressure from harvesting, unusual climatic conditions, and agricultural practices. Our approach confirmed that local knowledge should be taken into account for assessing the sustainability of WMP harvesting.

Influence of photoperiod on growth, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in callus cultures of Basella rubra L

Basella rubra L. is an important green leafy vegetable vine and is known for its health benefits in traditional medicine. Light is a basic physical factor essential to the development and bioactive secondary metabolite production in in vitro callus cultures. The present study researched the impact of different photoperiods on biomass, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity in callus cultures of B. rubra. The in vitro seedling based cotyledonary leaf explants responded differently, when cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with varying concentrations and combination of auxins and cytokinins. The best callus proliferation was found in MS medium with 0.1 mg.L^-1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 6 mg.L^-1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), with greenish callus inception by about 2 weeks. The growth curve recorded for 6 weeks of culturing revealed that the photoperiod effect was found to be pivotal for acquiring biomass. At the fifth week, the continuous light supported maximum biomass (12.42 g) production followed by the 16:8 h photoperiod (9.02 g) and continuous darkness (4.28 g). The 80% ethanol extract of 1-week-old callus that grows under the 16:8 h photoperiod showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC) (74 mg.100 g^-1 fresh weight, FW) when compared to all other extracts at different stages. The ferric reducing antioxidant power assay showed the highest (336.23 mg.100 g^-1 FW) activity in methanol extractions of first-week callus cultures maintained in the continuous light condition. HPLC-UV identification and quantification of individual phenolics and flavonoids, such as gallic, trans-cinnamic, quercetin, protocatechuic and rutin, were highest in the callus cultures. The outcome of this study is significant to this plant, as B. rubra is familiar for its important health constituents with high-value bioactives and applications in the pharma and nutraceutical industries.

Machine Learning Technology Reveals the Concealed Interactions of Phytohormones on Medicinal Plant In Vitro Organogenesis

Organogenesis constitutes the biological feature driving plant in vitro regeneration, in which the role of plant hormones is crucial. The use of machine learning (ML) technology stands out as a novel approach to characterize the combined role of two phytohormones, the auxin indoleacetic acid (IAA) and the cytokinin 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), on the in vitro organogenesis of unexploited medicinal plants from the Bryophyllum subgenus. The predictive model generated by neurofuzzy logic, a combination of artificial neural networks (ANNs) and fuzzy logic algorithms, was able to reveal the critical factors affecting such multifactorial process over the experimental dataset collected. The rules obtained along with the model allowed to decipher that BAP had a pleiotropic effect on the Bryophyllum spp., as it caused different organogenetic responses depending on its concentration and the genotype, including direct and indirect shoot organogenesis and callus formation. On the contrary, IAA showed an inhibiting role, restricted to indirect shoot regeneration. In this work, neurofuzzy logic emerged as a cutting-edge method to characterize the mechanism of action of two phytohormones, leading to the optimization of plant tissue culture protocols with high large-scale biotechnological applicability.

Comparative Phytochemical Constituents and Antioxidant Activity of Wild and Cultivated Alepidea amatymbica Eckl & Zeyh

There is a need to scientifically validate the claim that wild species of medicinal plants are more potent than the cultivated plants. Thus, this study evaluated the phytochemical and antioxidant properties of wild and cultivated Alepidea amatymbica. Acetone, methanol, and water extracts of the rhizome of wild and cultivated A. amatymbica were evaluated for total phenol, flavonol, flavonoid, tannin, proanthocyanidin, saponin, and alkaloid contents using spectrophotometric methods. In vitro antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen peroxide assays. The wild extracts had higher phytochemical contents in most of the assays than cultivated extracts. Total phenol in the wild extracts ranged from 32.30 to 117.8 mg GAE/g with the acetone extracts having the highest content while the water extracts were the least. The range in the total phenol of the cultivated species was 66.46 to 98.44 mg GAE/g with the methanol extracts having the highest content while water extracts was the least. The flavonoid content ranged from 55.01 to 99.09 mg QE/g and from 48.65 to 67.32 mg QE/g for the wild and cultivated plants, respectively. The alkaloid contents ranged from 14.70 to 17.80% in the wild species while it ranged from 11.98 to 13.21% in the cultivated species. The wild species also showed higher antioxidant activities in most of the assays evaluated. This study has implications for both pharmacological and conservation purposes.

Anti-neuroinflammatory potential of Tylophora indica (Burm. f) Merrill and development of an efficient in vitro propagation system for its clinical use

Neuroinflammation is a major risk factor associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed but their long term use is associated with adverse effects. Thus, herbal based medicines are attracting major attraction worldwide as potential therapeutic candidates. Tylophora indica (Burm. f) Merrill is a valuable medicinal plant well known in Ayurvedic practices for its immunomodulatory, anti-oxidant, anti-asthmatic and antirheumatic activities. The present study aimed to elucidate the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of water and hydroalcoholic leaf extracts of micropropagated plants of T. indica using BV-2 microglia activated with lipopolysaccharide as an in vitro model system and development of an efficient reproducible protocol for its in vitro cloning. Non cytotoxic doses of the water and hydroalcoholic extracts (0.2μg/ml and 20μg/ml, respectively) were selected using MTT assay. α-Tubulin, Iba-1 and inflammatory cascade proteins like NFκB, AP1 expression was studied using immunostaining to ascertain the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of these extracts. Further, anti-migratory activity was also analyzed by Wound Scratch Assay. Both extracts effectively attenuated lipopolysaccharide induced microglial activation, migration and the production of nitrite via regulation of the expression of NFκB and AP1 as the possible underlying target molecules. An efficient and reproducible protocol for in vitro cloning of T. indica through multiple shoot proliferation from nodal segments was established on both solid and liquid Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) media supplemented with 15μM and 10μM of Benzyl Amino Purine respectively. Regenerated shoots were rooted on both solid and liquid MS media supplemented with Indole-3-butyric acid (5–15μM) and the rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized and transferred to open field conditions showing 90% survivability. The present study suggests that T. indica may prove to be a potential anti-neuroinflammatory agent and may be further explored as a potential therapeutic candidate for the management of neurodegenerative diseases. Further, the current study will expedite the conservation of T. indica ensuring ample supply of this threatened medicinal plant to fulfill its increasing demand in herbal industry.

Mycotoxin Contamination Concerns of Herbs and Medicinal Plants

Plants and medicinal herbs that are available on the market do not always meet quality and safety standards. One particular concern is the risk of contamination with mycotoxins. Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A are the most frequently described mycotoxins in herbal products and have repeatedly been reported to occur at concentrations which exceed regulatory levels set by the European Union (EU). Possible solutions include enforcing existing limits, and for the new materials, establishing tighter limits and mandate the growth of medicinal plants in EU member countries under more strict conditions.

The effect of developmental and environmental factors on secondary metabolites in medicinal plants

Secondary metabolites (SMs) of medicinal plants are the material basis of their clinically curative effects. They are also important indicators for evaluating the quality of medicinal materials. However, the synthesis and accumulation of SMs are very complex, which are affected by many factors including internal developmental genetic circuits (regulated gene, enzyme) and by external environment factors (light, temperature, water, salinity, etc.). Currently, lots of literatures focused on the effect of environmental factors on the synthesis and accumulation of SMs of medicinal plants, the effect of the developmental growth and genetic factors on the synthesis and accumulation of SMs still lack systematic classification and summary. Here, we have given the review base on our previous works on the morphological development of medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites, and systematically outlined the literature reports how different environmental factors affected the synthesis and accumulation of SMs. The results of our reviews can know how developmental and environmental factors qualitatively and quantitatively influence SMs of medicinal plants and how these can be integrated as tools to quality control, as well as on the improvement of clinical curative effects by altering their genomes, and/or growth conditions.

Blue and red light affects morphogenesis and 20-hydroxyecdisone content of in vitro Pfaffia glomerata accessions

The combination of different colors from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) may influence growth and production of secondary metabolites in plants. In the present study, the effect of light quality on morphophysiology and content of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), a phytoecdysteroid, was evaluated in accessions of an endangered medicinal species, Pfaffia glomerata, grown in vitro. Two accessions (Ac22 and Ac43) were cultured in vitro under three different ratios of red (R) and blue (B) LEDs: (i) 1R:1B, (ii) 1R:3B, and (iii) 3R:1B. An equal ratio of red and blue light (1R:1B) increased biomass accumulation, anthocyanin content, and 20E production (by 30-40%). Moreover, 1R:1B treatment increased the size of vascular bundles and vessel elements, as well as strengthened xylem lignification and thickening of the cell wall of shoots. The 1R:3B treatment induced the highest photosynthetic and electron transport rates and enhanced the activity of oxidative stress-related enzymes. Total Chl content, Chl/Car ratio, and NPQ varied more by accession type than by light source. Spectral quality affected primary metabolism differently in each accession. Specifically, in Ac22 plants, fructose content was higher under 1R:1B and 1R:3B treatments, whereas starch accumulation was higher under 1R:3B, and sucrose under 3R:1B. In Ac43 plants, sugars were not influenced by light spectral quality, but starch content was higher under 3R:1B conditions. In conclusion, red and blue LEDs enhance biomass and 20E production in P. glomerata grown in vitro.

Use of greenhouse-covering films with tailored UV-B transmission dose for growing 'medicines' through plants: rocket salad case

BACKGROUND

The effects of ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation on plants are well known and have recently attracted a great deal of attention due to the production of large quantities of secondary metabolites, which are very beneficial for human health. Recent studies have demonstrated the possibility of exploiting UV-B radiation to induce metabolic changes in fruit, vegetables, and herbs. The role of UV-B rays in inducing secondary plant metabolites is enhanced by new plastic films, which, as a result of their optical properties, permit the necessary dosage of UV-B to be transmitted into the greenhouse to stimulate such metabolites without altering the harvest.

RESULTS

The main goal of the present paper is to demonstrate that, by using a greenhouse plastic film with appropriate transmittance of UV-B for rocket salad cultivation, it is possible to increase the nutraceutical elements in comparison with the same species grown in absence of such radiation. Tests compared nutritional elements extracted from rocket salad grown under greenhouses covered with several plastic films differing in UV-B transmittance. We found that rocket salad grown under plastic with 27% UV-B transmittance exhibited very high luteolin and quercetin content in comparison with rocket salad cultivated under film blocking UV-B radiation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experimental results confirm the possibility of exploiting UV-B radiation in the correct amounts by appropriate greenhouse plastic covers, to produce natural 'medicines' using the plants and to satisfy increasing consumer demand for natural health-promoting food products. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparative nutritional characteristics of the three major Chinese Dendrobium species with different growth years

Dendrobium, an important medicinal plant, is a source of widely used herbal medicine to nourish the stomach and treat throat inflammation. The present study is aimed at distinguishing and evaluating three major Dendrobium species by comparing physiochemical characteristics and understanding differences between different growth years in the Ta-pieh Mountains. Polysaccharides and total alkaloids of Dendrobium were determined, and the amino acids and trace elements were determined by UPLC (Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) and ICP-MS (Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). It can be seen from the results that the polysaccharide content of these three kinds of Dendrobium in different growth years ranges from 249.31 mg·g^-1 to 547.66 mg·g^-1, and the highest content is in the 3-year-old Dendrobium huoshanense. The total alkaloid content ranges from 0.21 mg·g^-1 to 0.54 mg·g^-1, and the highest content is also the 3-year-old Dendrobium huoshanense. We determined the amino acid content of these three Dendrobium in different growth years, and we can see that each of the three kinds of Dendrobium contain seven kinds of amino acids required by the human body. We conducted a safety evaluation of the essential trace elements of Dendrobium, and the results showed that the dosage of 12g·d^-1Dendrobium prescribed in China Pharmacopoeia is in accordance with the recommended daily intake of trace elements recommended by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States, and will not cause trace element poisoning. Linear discriminant analysis was carried out on the basis of amino acids and trace elements and confirmed the applicability of multi-elemental analysis for identifying different Dendrobium species.

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.): orphan crop, nutraceutical or just plain food?

Although grass pea is an environmentally successful robust legume with major traits of interest for food and nutrition security, the genetic potential of this orphan crop has long been neglected. Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is a Neolithic plant that has survived millennia of cultivation and has spread over three continents. It is a robust legume crop that is considered one of the most resilient to climate changes and to be survival food during drought-triggered famines. The hardy penetrating root system allows the cultivation of grass pea in various soil types, including marginal ones. As an efficient nitrogen fixer, it meets its own nitrogen requirements and positively benefits subsequent crops. However, already in ancient India and Greece, overconsumption of the seeds and a crippling neurological disorder, later coined neurolathyrism, had been linked. Overemphasis of their suspected toxic properties has led to disregard the plant's exceptionally positive agronomic properties and dietary advantages. In normal socio-economic and environmental situations, in which grass pea is part of a balanced diet, neurolathyrism is virtually non-existent. The etiology of neurolathyrism has been oversimplified and the deficiency in methionine in the diet has been overlooked. In view of the global climate change, this very adaptable and nutritious orphan crop deserves more attention. Grass pea can become a wonder crop if the double stigma on its reputation as a toxic plant and as food of the poor can be disregarded. Additionally, recent research has exposed the potential of grass pea as a health-promoting nutraceutical. Development of varieties with an improved balance in essential amino acids and diet may be relevant to enhance the nutritional value without jeopardizing the multiple stress tolerance of this promising crop.

Evaluation of three different artificial agarwood-inducing methods from Aquilaria sinensis using antimicrobial activity

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of three different approaches for artificially inducing the formation of agarwood over time in young Aquilaria sinensis trees using antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity was determined by a two-fold serial dilution method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against a panel of microorganisms (two bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus and anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and seven fungal strains: Penicillium melinii, Penicillium adametzi, Penicillium urticae, Penicillium notatum, Paecilomyces varioti, Mucor saturninus Hagem and Aspergillus niger). The results showed that artificial agarwood obtained by comprehensive stimulated method (formic acid plus fungal inoculation) and extended longer inducing time have better antimicrobial activity, which is similar to the result of chemical analysis. Therefore, it is a beneficial exploration to the first use of antimicrobial activity to evaluate artificial agarwood obtained by different producing methods and different culture time.

Production of biomolecules of interest to the anxiolytic herbal medicine industry in yellow passionfruit leaves (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) promoted by mycorrhizal inoculation

BACKGROUND

Our contemporary way of life has led us to consume high amounts of chemically-synthesized allopathic medicinal products and anxiolytics to which a viable alternative is the use of Passiflora-based herbal medicines with composition containing vitexin, a flavonoid with anxiolytic and antidepressant properties. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known for enhancing the production of biomolecules, however, increase production of phytochemistry in Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa has not been reported in the literature. Our aim was to select AMF to benefit the production of vitexin in leaves of P. edulis by inoculating seedlings in the region of roots with Acaulospora longula, Claroideoglomus etunicatum and Gigaspora albida.

RESULTS

The inoculation increased the concentration of vitexin in 63.64% and the inoculation with A. longula also increased the content of flavonoids and total saponins in the leaves in relation to the control.

CONCLUSION

The increase in the production of vitexin in the leaf in response to the inoculation with AMF, with emphasis to A. longula, interests the pharmaceutical industry and can generate profit to the production of yellow passionfruit-based anxiolytic herbal medicine. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

[Investigation and application of Dendrobium resources in Qinba Mountains with a discussion on industrial poverty alleviation model]

The Dendrobium species are rare and endangered medicinal plants, and it is difficult to investigate their wild resources with conventional methods because of typical epiphytic herbaceous. We explored Dendrobium resources(include culture resource) of Qinba Mountains and the boundary Mountain area in Hubei, Chongqing using the methods of literatures and field investigation, and found that the cultural base of Dendrobium were profound in Qinba Mountains region. Furthermore, its germplasm resources of Dendrobium were established for the first time in Wanzhou Luotian town. In case the advantages of local rock resources and poverty alleviation demand, we have actively carried out the cultivating mode of Dendrobium which grow on rock, and the poverty alleviation model of local characteristic Dendrobium industry were established preliminarily. Our application case can provide reference for the mining and transformation of traditional Chinese medicine resources census results.

Plants used by the rural community of Bananal, Mato Grosso, Brazil: Aspects of popular knowledge

Studies in rural communities are important to maintain popular knowledge between generations, as well as to identify new species for pharmaceutical production. Thus, the objectives of this study were to determine which plant species the rural community of Bananal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, uses by calculating the levels of fidelity and concordance regarding species uses among residents and to determine if there is a relationship between the number of known useful plants and levels of education, age, and residence time. Ethnobotanical data was collected from residents of the community through semi-structured interviews in January/December/2016. Species diversity was calculated using Shannon-Wiener, Level of Fidelity (LF), Correction Factor, and the Percentage of Agreement regarding the Main Uses (AMU). Statistical tests were performed using generalized linear models (GLM) in the R environment. The plant use indications were grouped according to the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD 10). We found 152 species belonging to 130 genera and 67 families. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves, and decoction was the most frequent preparation mode. Strychnos pseudoquina was the species with the highest amount of use indications. The diversity index was 4.5 nats/ind^-1. The body system with the most citations was the code XVIII of ICD 10, corresponding to the species: alfavaca, mentraste, terramicina, angelim, fedegoso. Medicinal species with AMU values higher than 25% were: Strychnos pseudoquina, Plectranthus barbatus, Citrus sinensis cv. pera, Cymbopogon citratus. There was a relationship between the number of useful plants and the residence time of the participants. The Bananal community revealed high species richness and the relationship of knowledge showed that the older the residents and the longer their residence time in the community, the more knowledge they acquired.

Nutritional evaluation on Lignosus cameronensis C. S. Tan, a medicinal Polyporaceae

Sclerotial powder of a cultivated species of the Tiger Milk Mushroom, Lignosus cameronensis was analysed for its nutritional components and compared against species of the same genus, Lignosus rhinocerus and Lignosus tigris. All three species have been used by indigenous tribes in Peninsular Malaysia as medicinal mushrooms. Content of carbohydrate, fibre, mineral, amino acid, palatable index, fat, ash and moisture were determined. L. cameronensis sclerotial material consists of carbohydrate (79.7%), protein (12.4%) and dietary fibre (5.4%) with low fat (1.7%) and no free sugar. It has the highest content of total carbohydrate (791 g kg^-1 ), energy value (3,700 kcal kg^-1 ) and calcium (0.85 g kg^-1 ). The crude protein content (123 g kg^-1 ) is comparable to that of L. rhinocerus with its main amino acids consisting of glutamic acid, aspartic acid and leucine. The umami index is determined to be 0.27. The total essential amino acid (45 g kg^-1 ) is comparable to that of L. tigris. The main mineral is potassium (1.51 g kg^-1 ) and the Na/K ratio was <0.6. Heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead and arsenic were absent. L. cameronensis has the highest amount of food energy, total carbohydrate and calcium compared to those of both L. rhinocerus and L. tigris. The essential amino acids comprised almost 40% of the total amino acid content, slightly more than that reported from sclerotial powder of the L. tigris. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 9999(9999):1-6, 2019.

Effect of oral supplementation of composite leaf extract of medicinal plants on biomarkers of oxidative stress in induced diabetic Wistar rats

Present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of oral supplementation of composite extract of leaves (CLE) of four medicinal plants; Aegle marmelos, Ocimum sanctum, Murraya koenigii and Azadirachta indica on markers of oxidative stress in brain tissues of alloxan-induced diabetic rats in vivo. Enhanced lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and reduced antioxidative defence systems were measured in brain tissues of diabetic rats. Supplementation of CLE, once in a day for 35 days significantly (p < .05) protected the peroxidation of lipid, oxidation of protein and ameliorated the antioxidant defence in brain tissue of diabetic rats. It was observed that the insulin-like effect of CLE was dose dependent; higher effect at higher doses. The results of the study suggest that supplementation CLE may provide an overall homeostasis and significant neuro-protection through rescuing brain cells from oxidative abuse and accelerating brain antioxidative defence during advanced stage of hyperglycaemia.