RAPD fingerprint construction and genetic similarity of Mesona chinensis (Lamiaceae) in China

Preparation technologies, structural features, and biological activities of polysaccharides from Mesona chinensis Benth.: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Mesona chinensis Benth. (or Platostoma palustre (Blume) A. J. Paton) is an important medicinal and edible plant also known as the Hsian-tsao in China and Southeast Asian countries. It is cold in nature and sweet in taste, with the effects of clearing heat, relieving heatstroke and diuretic, and traditionally used to treat heatstroke, erysipelas, hypertension, joint pain and other diseases in folk medicine. It is also a popular supplement with the function of detoxifying and heat-clearing use in Asia. It is used to be processed into the popular tea, Bean jelly, and so on. Published studies have demonstrated that polysaccharides from M. chinensis (MCPs) are one of the principal bioactive ingredients with a variety of health-promoting effects in the prevention and treatment of diseases, including antioxidant, immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, regulation of gut microbiota, and other pharmacological properties.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review aims to compile the extraction and purification methods, structural characteristics, pharmacological activities including the mechanism of action of MCPs, and to further understand the applications of M. chinensis in order to lay the foundation for the development of MCPs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

By inputting the search term "Mesona chinensis polysaccharides", relevant research information was obtained from databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI).

RESULTS

More than 40 polysaccharides have been extracted from M. chinensis, different extraction and purification methods have been described, as well as the structural features and pharmacological activities of MCPs have been systematically reviewed. Polysaccharides, as important components of M. chinensis, were mainly extracted by methods such as hot water dipping method, hot alkali extraction method, enzyme-assisted extraction method and ultrasonic-assisted extraction method, subsequently obtained by decolorization, deproteinization, removal of other small molecules and separation on various chromatographic columns. The chemical composition and structure of MCPs show diversity and have a variety of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, regulation of gut microbiota, and so on.

CONCLUSIONS

This article systematically reviews the research progress of MCPs in terms of extraction and purification, structural characteristics, rheological gel properties, pharmacological properties, and safety assessment. The potentials and roles of M. chinensis in the field of medicine, functional food, and materials are further highlighted to provide references and bases for the high-value processing and utilization of MCPs.

Genetic analysis of Canarium album in different areas of China by improved RAPD and ISSR

To lay the foundation of the classification of Canarium album (C. album), and C. album from Terminalia Chebula (T. chebula) in different areas of China, improved RAPD and ISSR analysis were performed to analyze polymorphism and genetic relationship. Ten samples were collected from different locations in China. A total of 221 fragments were detected by improved RAPD, out of which polymorphic fragments accounted for 82.3% with average amplification bands of 10.05 per primer. ISSR markers revealed a total of 147 alleles, where polymorphic fragments accounted for 83.5%, with average amplification bands of 7.35 per primer. The sizes of fragments ranged from 200 to 2500bp and from 150 to 2000bp in RAPD and ISSR markers, respectively. The similarity coefficient ranged from 0.46 to 0.86 with RAPD markers and 0.36 to 0.89 with ISSR markers. The results indicated that improved RAPD and ISSR methods are useful for genetic diversity study of C. album. Thus, this study provides us the theoretical basis for the breeding and classification of C. album in South and Southwest China.

Genetic characterization and authentication of Lonicera japonica Thunb. by using improved RAPD analysis

In traditional medicine, Lonicera japonica (Thunb.) has a notable place, and it has been used for thousands of years in China, Japan, Korea and other East-Asian countries for treating cancer, inflammation, hepatic complications, influenza and wounds. However, the molecular or genetic characteristic of this plant is not well defined. In this study, improved random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) has been employed for the genetic characterization of five varieties of L. japonica collected from different geographic locations of Southern China. A total of 147 bands of DNA fragments were obtained in RAPD-PCR by using 18 primers, and the band sizes ranged from approximately 300-2,000 bp, with 3-11 amplified bands for each primer. Based on the RAPD amplification profiles, cluster dendrogram was obtained, which showed that the similarity coefficients among five varieties of L. japonica ranged from 0.59 to 0.77. To our knowledge, this is the first report of genetic characterization of L. japonica using improved RAPD analysis which has been validated by ISSR analysis, and this characterization may be useful for the preservation of genetic diversity and Lonicera population identification. Moreover, as an option, the improved method could be employed for a variety of applications in genetic diversity and fingerprinting analyses.