Acanthopanax Senticosus Research Articles

Unlocking Toll-Like Receptors: Targeting Therapeutics for Respiratory Tract Infections and Inflammatory Disorders

Abstract: The Toll-like Receptors (TLRs) family has significantly enhanced the understanding of innate immune responses by identifying and responding to various microbes or host-derived organisms. TLRs contribute to these responses by increasing the levels of cytokines, interleukins, and other inflammatory mediators through multiple pathways. Located both intracellularly and on the surface of various cells and tissues, including vascular smooth muscles (VSMs) and myocardium cells, TLRs play distinct roles in innate immune activation, such as recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and activating downstream signaling pathways. In the context of COVID-19, TLRs are critically involved in the pathophysiology by mediating excessive inflammatory responses that exacerbate disease severity, influencing both the acute phase and long-term outcomes. It has been observed that inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, viral myocarditis, and other comorbidities associated with the spread of COVID-19 have increased, although the exact mechanisms remain not fully understood. Nonetheless, there is evidence of TLR-mediated increased pro-inflammatory signaling by different mechanisms in these diseases. This review explains the role of TLRs in various inflammatory diseases related to COVID-19, including viral myocarditis, acute lung infections, and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the review discusses various herbal drugs, such as Platycodon grandiflorum, Acanthopanax senticosus, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, and Engelhardia roxburghiana, and their mechanisms of action on TLRs, including NF-κB, MyD88-dependent, MyD88-independent pathways, and Plasmacytoid DCs. Enhanced clarity on TLRs' specific contributions to COVID-19 pathophysiology and stronger evidence supporting herbal interventions targeting TLRs could improve the impact and applicability of these findings in clinical settings.

Optimization of Liquid Fermentation of Acanthopanax senticosus Leaves and Its Non-Targeted Metabolomics Analysis

To enhance the nutritional value of Acanthopanax senticosus leaves (AL), a fermentation process was conducted using a probiotic Bacillus mixture, and the changes in chemical constituents and biological activities before and after fermentation were compared. A response surface methodology was employed to optimize the liquid fermentation conditions of AL based on their influence on polyphenol content. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis was performed using LC-MS/MS to reveal the differing profiles of compounds before and after fermentation. The results indicated that Bacillus subtilis LK and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens M2 significantly influenced polyphenol content during fermentation. The optimal fermentation conditions were determined to be a fermentation time of 54 h, a temperature of 39.6 °C, and an inoculum size of 2.5% (v/v). In comparison to unfermented AL, the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, as well as the free radical scavenging capacities measured by DPPH and ABTS assays, and the activities of β-glucosidase and endo-glucanase, were significantly increased. The non-targeted metabolomics analysis identified 1348 metabolites, of which 829 were classified as differential metabolites. A correlation analysis between the differential metabolites of polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity revealed that 13 differential metabolites were positively correlated with antioxidant activity. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of the differential metabolites identified 82 pathways, with two of the top 25 metabolic pathways related to flavonoids. This study explores the potential for enhancing the active ingredients and biological effects of AL through probiotic fermentation using Bacillus strains.

Structural elucidation of a Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide CQ-1 and its hepatoprotective activity via gut health regulation and antioxidative defense

Acanthopanax senticosus has proven health benefits, particularly for liver damage. The objective of this study was to elucidate the protective effects and the underlying mechanisms of action of A. senticosus against metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). A novel homogeneous water-soluble polysaccharide, CQ-1, was successfully isolated and purified from A. senticosus root. The main chain structure of CQ-1 was identified as →2)-α-L-Rha-(1 → 4)-α-D-GalAp-(1 → 6)-β-D-Galp-(1→. Additionally, branched chains comprising an arabinosyl residue, galactosyl residue, and galacturonic acidic residue were identified as being attached to →2,4)-α-L-Rha-(1→, →3,6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, and →3,4)-α-D-GalAp-(1→, respectively. CQ-1 exhibited antioxidant and prebiotic activities in vitro. CQ-1 increased antioxidant capacity and reduced serum pro-inflammatory cytokines in mice. Additionally, CQ-1 has been shown to enhance the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota, thereby facilitating the restoration of gut function. These include improving intestinal barrier function and increasing short-chain fatty acid levels in mice. Our study has shown that CQ-1 has a hepatoprotective effect in MAFLD mice, and we have proposed that CQ-1 may be a promising strategy for the treatment of MAFLD.

Strategies for identifying adulterated Acanthopanax senticosus using portable mass spectrometry and chemometrics

Acanthopanax senticosus is widely cultivated in China, Japan, South Korea, and Russia, and is extensively researched worldwide. Illegal activities, particularly adulteration have been fostered due to its large market demand and high price. This study successfully identifies authentic and adulterated Acanthopanax senticosus samples using a portable mass spectrometer combined with chemometrics. Different data processing and feature selection methods were evaluated for authenticity and adulteration models, with SNV-VIP being selected as the optimal method for both models. Excellent classification performance was achieved using Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA), K-nearest Neighbors (KNN), Random Forest (RF), and Convolutional Neural Networks-Long Short-Term Memory-Attention (CNN-LSTM-Attention) models, with prediction accuracies for the authenticity model validation set being 1.00, 1.00, 1.00, and 1.00, respectively. The prediction accuracies for the adulteration model validation set were 0.86, 0.73, 0.89, and 0.92, respectively. Additionally, the models identified the most important ions based on variable importance. The combination of portable mass spectra (PMS) and chemometrics provides a simple, rapid, and reliable method for identifying adulteration in Acanthopanax senticosus samples. This study provides a new basis into the application of PMS for adulteration detection in the food field.

Antiradical activity and bioactive substances of Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. and Maxim) grown under hydroponic and soil conditions in Ararat Valley and Dilijan Forest zone

Antiradical activity and bioactive substances of Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. and Maxim) grown under hydroponic and soil conditions in Ararat Valley and Dilijan Forest zone

Eleutheroside B Pretreatment Attenuates Hypobaric Hypoxia‐Induced High‐Altitude Pulmonary Edema by Regulating Autophagic Flux via the AMPK/mTOR Pathway

ABSTRACTHigh‐altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a life‐threatening disease, and autophagy deficiency is implicated in the pathogenesis of HAPE. Eleutheroside B (EB), which is the main bioactive component of Acanthopanax senticosus, exhibits various pharmacological activities. Our previous research demonstrated that autophagic structures were widely found in the ultrastructure of lung tissue in HAPE rats. However, whether EB regulates autophagy deficiency in HAPE remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of EB on hypobaric hypoxia‐induced HAPE and explore the underlying molecular mechanism of regulating autophagy. The rat model of high‐altitude pulmonary edema was replicated using a hypobaric hypoxic chamber. Rats were pretreated with EB or in combination with chloroquine or compound C. The pulmonary edema was assessed by the lung wet/dry ratio, total protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and histological analysis. Inflammation and oxidative stress were measured using commercial biochemical kits. Autophagy and autophagic flux were evaluated by western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, and adeno‐associated virus‐mRFP‐GFP‐labeled tandem fluorescence LC3. The AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway was detected by western blotting. EB alleviated hypobaric hypoxia‐induced pulmonary edema, hypoxemia, acid–base imbalance in the blood, inflammation, and oxidative stress in a dose‐dependent manner. EB restored impaired autophagic flux by activating the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. However, chloroquine or compound C abolished eleutheroside B‐mediated autophagy flux restoration. EB has the potential to restore impaired autophagic flux in the lung of hypobaric hypoxia‐induced HAPE rats, which could be attributed to the activation of AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.

Establishment of transient and stable gene transformation systems in medicinal woody plant Acanthopanax senticosus

BackgroundTransient and stable gene transformation systems play a crucial role in elucidating gene functions and driving genetic improvement in plants. However, their application in medicinal woody plants has been hampered by inefficient procedures for isolating protoplasts and regenerating plants in vitro.ResultsEmbryogenic callus protoplast isolation and transient transformation system were successfully established. The highest yield of protoplasts was approximately 1.88 × 106 cells per gram with a viability of 90% under the combination of 1.5% cellulase and 0.2% macerozyme, with enzymatic digestion for 6 h in darkness followed by centrifugation at 400×g for 5 min. The transient transfection rate of protoplast reached 45.56% at a PEG 4000 concentration of 40%, a transfection time of 40 min, 16 h of dark incubation, a plasmid concentration of 1.5 ng μL−1, and 25 min heat shock at 45 °C. In addition, 15 Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated GUS-positive seedlings were obtained through the somatic embryogenetic pathway under the optimized conditions.ConclusionThis study successfully established both transient and stable genetic transformation systems, paving the way for future molecular biology research on A. senticosus.Graphical

A Comprehensive Review of the Ethnobotanical Uses, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Profiles of Piper capense L.f. (Piperaceae)

Commonly known as wild pepper, Piper capense (P. capense) is a culinary herb mainly used as a secret in preparation of “Nkui” and “Nah poh” in Bayangam, West Cameroon. However, it also has many interesting pharmacological properties, which is why the people of sub-Saharan Africa so highly prize it for the treatment of multiple human pathologies. This study aimed to highlight the traditional uses, phytochemical composition, biological activities, and toxicological profile of the P. capense plant, to draw the attention of pharmaceutical companies to its enormous potential for the development of future phyto- or pharmaceutical products. Documentary research was meticulously carried out in the Web of Sciences, Scopus, Pubmed/Medline, and Google Scholar databases according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The results show that extracts and compounds isolated from Piper capense have interesting anticancer, antibacterial, antimalarial, hypoglycemic, anti-epileptic, and antidepressant activities. Methanolic extracts and essential oils from P. capense exhibit no harmful effects when directly applied to normal human hepatocytes, umbilical cord cells, intestinal cells, and keratinocyte cell lines. Additionally, methanolic extracts administered acutely or subchronically at low doses (≤250 mg/kg body weight) in Wistar rats also demonstrate no adverse effects. In conclusion, given its interesting activities, P. capense is a viable option for developing new antimalarial, anticancer, antibacterial, hypoglycemic, anti-epileptic, and antidepressant drugs. However, many avenues still need to be explored before translation into drugs.

BZIP transcription factor responds to changes in light quality and affects saponins synthesis in Eleutherococcus senticosus

Light quality considerably influences plant secondary metabolism, yet the precise mechanism underlying its impact on Eleutherococcus senticosus remains elusive. Comprehensive metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that varying light quality alters the biosynthesis of triterpene saponins by modulating the expression of genes involved in the process in E. senticosus. Through correlation analysis of gene expression and saponin biosynthesis, we identified four light-responsive transcription factors, namely EsbZIP1, EsbZIP2, EsbZIP4, and EsbZIP5. EsbZIP transcription factors function in the nucleus, with light quality-dependent promoter activity. Except for EsbZIP2, the other EsbZIP transcription factors exhibit transcriptional self-activation. Furthermore, EsbZIP can bind to the promoter areas of genes that encode important enzymes (EsFPS, EsSS, and EsSE) involved in triterpene saponin biosynthesis, thereby regulating their expression. Overexpression of EsbZIP resultes in significant down-regulation of most downstream target genes，which leads to a decrease in saponin content. Overall, varying light quality enhances the content of triterpene saponins by suppressing the expression of EsbZIP. This study thus elucidates the molecular mechanism by which E. senticosus adjusts triterpene saponin levels in response to changes in light quality.

Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis of Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermented Acanthopanax senticosus with Regard to Regulated Gut Microbiota in Mice.

Previous studies have shown that Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) has a beneficial preventive and therapeutic effect on colitis. The fermentation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can alter the efficacy of AS by modifying or producing new compounds with potential bioactive properties. However, the specific components and mechanisms that enhance the efficacy are still unclear. In the present experiment, untargeted metabolomics was used to analyze the changes in active components before and after LAB fermentation of AS. The aim was to explain the mechanism of AS fermentation in treating colitis using a colitis model in mice. The results indicated that the fermentation of LAB could enhance the levels of total flavonoids and total polyphenols in FAS. Additionally, the beneficial components such as Delphinidin chloride, Diosmetin, Psoralidin, and Catechol significantly increased (p < 0.05). The colitis treatment experiment demonstrated that fermented AS could alleviate symptoms and improve the morphology of colitis in mice by enhancing antioxidant enzymes like CAT, T-SOD, and T-AOC. It also regulated the composition and abundance of intestinal flora species, such as Lactobacillus and Pseudogracilibacillus. The effectiveness of fermented AS was significantly superior to that of unfermented AS (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study contributes to the application of lactic acid bacteria in AS fermentation and reveals the mechanism of fermentation AS for colitis.

UHPLC-DAD/ESI-TOF-MS Phytochemical Characterization and Evaluation of the Impact of Eleutherococcus senticosus Fruit Intractum on Biochemical, Hepatological, and Blood Parameters in Balb/c Mice.

Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim. (ES) has gained popularity for its adaptogenic, immunostimulant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Because of overexploitation of the roots, the species is considered to be endangered and has been put on the Red List in some countries (e.g., the Republic of Korea). Therefore, the fruits of E. senticosus might be explored as a new sustainable source of compounds with adaptogenic activity. This study aimed to assess the chemical composition and the safety profile (hepatotoxicity, blood morphology, biochemical parameters of blood plasma) of E. senticosus fruit intractum in Balb/c mice after oral administration of 750 and 1500 mg/kg b.w. UHPLC analysis coupled with DAD and MS detectors was used to quantify the metabolites. For the first time, oleanolic and ursolic acids were quantified in the intractum (16.01 ± 1.3 and 2.21 ± 0.17 µg/g of oleanolic and ursolic acids, respectively). Regarding polyphenols, chlorogenic acid (0.92 mg/g of dried extract), caffeic acid (0.43 mg/g), dicaffeoylquinic acids (in total: 1.27 mg/g), and an unidentified caffeic acid ester (0.81 mg/g) were identified. The results in Balb/c mice revealed that the intractum does not cause significant variations in red blood cells parameters. In turn, a significant decrease in the total number of leukocytes was observed (5.8 × 103 µL), with a percentage increase in lymphocytes among the groups (80.2, 81.8, and 82.6). The ability of the intractum to decrease alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels may indicate its anti-inflammatory activity. Our observations justify that the fruits of E. senticosus are safe in the doses used and do not cause significant changes in the activity of the liver enzymes or in blood parameters.

Suppressive effect of isofraxidin on the overexpression of IL-6 and its molecular mechanism in a TPA-treated human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HuH-7.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that has many biological activities, including inflammation, hematopoiesis, bone metabolism, embryonic development, and other fundamental processes. Recently, IL-6 has been widely recognized as an important pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in cytokine storm pathogenesis during severe inflammatory diseases, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, IL-6 is considered to be a therapeutic target for inhibiting cytokine storm. In the present study, we investigated the suppressive effect of isofraxidin, a major coumarin compound of Acanthopanax senticosus, on the overexpression of IL-6 and its molecular mechanism. The expression of IL-6 mRNA was measured using quantitative real-time PCR, and intracellular signaling molecules were detected using western blotting. When the HuH-7 human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line and HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cell line were treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), a marked induction of IL-6 mRNA expression was observed in HuH-7 cells compared with HepG2 cells. Isofraxidin significantly suppressed TPA-induced IL-6 mRNA expression in HuH-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, isofraxidin inhibited TPA-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, the MAPK/ERK inhibitor U0126 suppressed TPA-induced IL-6 mRNA expression. However, isofraxidin had no effects on TPA-induced phosphorylation of SAPK/JNK, Akt (Ser473), and STAT3 (Tyr705), nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65, and degradation of IκB. Taken together, isofraxidin suppresses TPA-induced overexpression of IL-6 mRNA by selectively inhibiting the activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway in HuH-7 cells, indicating that isofraxidin may be an effective anti-inflammatory agent for treating cytokine storm.

Synbiotic effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus fermented with different prebiotics on the digestive enzyme activities, SCFAs and intestinal flora of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in vitro

Synbiotics are combinations of probiotics and prebiotics. It has been shown to be beneficial to aquatic animals. In this study, Lactobacillus rhamnosus was cultured with different prebiotics as the sole carbon source, including inulin, acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide (ASPS), chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), saposhnikovia divaricata polysaccharide (SDP), polysaccharide of atractylodes macrocephala koidz (PAMK), astragalus polysaccharides (APS), Yu-Ping-Feng polysaccharide (YPFP), xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and mannose (MAN). Screening and gradient experiments revealed that the suitable prebiotics and concentrations were: 2 % MAN, 3 % APS, 3 % YPFP, 4 % PAMK, 3 % SDP. L. rhamnosus (108 CFU/mL) and suitable prebiotics were inoculated into the media supplemented with the intestinal chyme of Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Based on the preliminary screening experiment with the gradients. The in vitro fermentation experiment comprised seven groups: a control group (CT); L. rhamnosus group (LGG); L. rhamnosus + 2 % MAN group (LGG+MAN); L. rhamnosus + 3 % APS group (LGG+APS); L. rhamnosus + 3 % YPFP group (LGG+YPFP); L. rhamnosus + 4 % PAMK group (LGG+PAMK); L. rhamnosus + 3 % SDP group (LGG+SDP). The in vitro fermentation results revealed that the amylase activity was significantly increased in LGG+PAMK, LGG+SDP and LGG+APS groups than in the CT group (P<0.05). The LGG+MAN group showed the highest protease activity (P<0.05), while the activity of lipase was significantly greater in the LGG and LGG+YPFP groups than in the CT group (P<0.05). Moreover, the acetic acid and valeric acid contents were significantly increased in the LGG+PAMK, LGG+YPFP and LGG+SDP groups than in the CT and LGG groups (P<0.05). Additionally, the LGG+APS, LGG+PAMK, LGG+YPFP and LGG+SDP treatments significantly decreased the abundance of Aeromonas (P<0.05). Lactobacillus was more abundant in the LGG+YPFP group than in the other groups (P<0.05). In general, based on in vitro fermentation of M. rosenbergii intestine, the combination of L. rhamnosus with 3 % YPFP is the optimal synbiotic for the prawn.

Vigeo Promotes Myotube Differentiation and Protects Dexamethasone-Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy via Regulating the Protein Degradation, AKT/mTOR, and AMPK/Sirt-1/PGC1α Signaling Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo.

Sarcopenia, a condition caused by an imbalance between muscle growth and loss, can severely affect the quality of life of elderly patients with metabolic, inflammatory, and cancer diseases. Vigeo, a nuruk-fermented extract of three plants (Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim (ESM), Achyranthes japonica (Miq.) Nakai (AJN), and Atractylodes japonica Koidzumi (AJK)) has been reported to have anti-osteoporotic effects. However, evidence of the effects of Vigeo on muscle atrophy is not available. Here, in the in vivo model of dexamethasone (Dex)-induced muscle atrophy, Vigeo treatment significantly reversed Dex-induced decreases in calf muscle volume, gastrocnemius (GA) muscle weight, and histological cross-section area. In addition, in mRNA and protein analyses isolated from GA muscle, we observed that Vigeo significantly protected against Dex-induced mouse muscle atrophy by inhibiting protein degradation regulated by atrogin and MuRF-1. Moreover, we demonstrated that Vigeo significantly promoted C2C12 cell line differentiation, as evidenced by the increased width and length of myotubes, and the increased number of fused myotubes with three or more nuclei. Vigeo alleviated the formation of myotubes compared to the control group. Vigeo also significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of myosin heavy chain (MyHC), MyoD, and myogenin compared to that in the control. Vigeo treatment significantly reduced the mRNA and protein expression of muscle degradation markers atrogin-1 and muscle RING Finger 1 (MuRF-1) in the C2C12 cell line in vitro. Vigeo also activated the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/silent information regulator 1 (Sirt-1)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ co-activator-1α (PGC1α) mitochondrial biogenesis pathway and the Akt/mTOR protein synthesis signaling pathway in Dex-induced myotube atrophy. These findings suggest that Vigeo may have protective effects against Dex-induced muscle atrophy. Therefore, we propose Vigeo as a supplement or potential therapeutic agent to prevent or treat sarcopenia accompanied by muscle atrophy and degeneration.

Syringin: a naturally occurring compound with medicinal properties.

Syringin, a phenylpropanoid glycoside, is widely distributed in various plants, such as Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms, Syringa reticulata (BL) Hara var. mandshurica (Maxim.) Hara, and Ilex rotunda Thumb. It serves as the main ingredient in numerous listed medicines, health products, and foods with immunomodulatory, anti-tumor, antihyperglycemic, and antihyperlipidemic effects. This review aims to systematically summarize syringin, including its physicochemical properties, plant sources, extraction and separation methods, total synthesis approaches, pharmacological activities, drug safety profiles, and preparations and applications. It will also cover the pharmacokinetics of syringin, followed by suggestions for future application prospects. The information on syringin was obtained from internationally recognized scientific databases through the Internet (PubMed, CNKI, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, Web of Science, Medline Plus, ACS Elsevier, and Flora of China) and libraries. Syringin, extraction and separation, pharmacological activities, preparations and applications, and pharmacokinetics were chosen as the keywords. According to statistics, syringin can be found in 23 families more than 60 genera, and over 100 species of plants. As a key component in many Chinese herbal medicines, syringin holds significant research value due to its unique sinapyl alcohol structure. Its diverse pharmacological effects include immunomodulatory activity, tumor suppression, hypoglycemic action, and hypolipidemic effects. Additionally, it has been shown to provide neuroprotection, liver protection, radiation protection, cardioprotection, and bone protection. Related preparations such as Aidi injection, compound cantharidin capsule, and Tanreqing injection have been widely used in clinical settings. Other studies on syringin such as extraction and isolation, total synthesis, safety profile assessment, and pharmacokinetics have also made progress. It is crucial for medical research to deeply explore its mechanism of action, especially regarding immunity and tumor therapy. Meanwhile, more robust support is needed to improve the utilization of plant resources and to develop extraction means adapted to the needs of industrial biochemistry to further promote economic development while protecting people's health.

Биоактивные вещества геропротекторной направленности

People are constantly exposed to adverse environmental factors that affect their health. If combined with hereditary predisposition, they may lead to gerontological changes that reduce healthy and working life expectancy. Some measures can prevent premature aging, e.g., a balanced diet or biologically active anti-aging substances also called geroprotectors. This article reviews biologically active geroprotectors with a view to select promising components for novel biologically active additives and functional foods. The review covered five years of Russian research articles and patents on biologically active anti-aging agents indexed in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, ScienceDirect, eLIBRARY.RU, and the database of the Federal Institute of Industrial Property. The domestic market demonstrates a growing demand for biologically active supplements: in 2023, it increased by 10% in value terms as consumers’ interest in a healthy and long life continues to grow. The review also included quality criteria for biologically active anti-ageing agents, e.g., such plant metabolites as vitamins, polyphenols, antioxidants, adaptogens, peptides, etc. Thymalin, epithalamin, dasatinib, and epithalon are available on the domestic market. The list of potential anti-aging agents includes ethylamine, carnosine, glutathione, ubiquinone, curcumin, rutin, quercetin, resveratrol, senolytics, and sirutins. These biologically active substances prevent oxidative stress, accumulation of lipofuscin, and senescent cells. The most effective anti-aging agents come from Vitis amurensis, Rhodiola rosea, Schisandra chinensis, Galega officinalis, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Withania somnifera, and Panax ginseng.

Effects of various extract drinks on endurance in long-distance running training

This paper briefly introduces plant extracts and their combinations with sports drinks. The research involved 40 sportsmen who are affiliated with the Track and Field Department of the School of Physical Education in South-Central Minzu University. This paper aimed to explore the influence of sports drinks enhanced with extracts of Codonopsis pilosula and Acanthopanax senticosus on the endurance levels of long-distance runners. The participants were divided into four groups: a placebo group, a group receiving only C. pilosula, a group receiving A. senticosus, and a composite group. Endurance performance indices for long-distance running were evaluated both before and after the training. Before training, the heart rate, blood lactate level, and maximum oxygen uptake of the placebo group were 159.53 ± 2.21 times/min, 9.7 ± 1.2 mmol/L, and 66.18 ± 2.35 mL/kg/min, respectively; the single Codonopsis pilosula group was 158.33 ± 2.24 times/min, 9.6 ± 1.1 mmol/L, and 65.87 ± 1.88 mL/kg/min, respectively; the single Acanthopanax senticosus group was 159.66 ± 3.67 times/min, 9.7 ±1.0 mmol/L, and 66.32 ± 1.47 mL/kg/min, respectively; the Codonopsis pilosulae and Acanthopanax senticosus composite group was 158.21 ± 1.28 times/min, 9.6 ± 0.9 mmol/L, and 66.87 ± 1.12 mL/kg/min, respectively. After training, the corresponding values of the placebo group were 162.53 ± 3.21 times/min, 9.6 ± 0.8 mmol/L, and 68.85 ± 3.25 mL/kg/min, respectively; the single Codonopsis pilosula group was 145.33 ± 2.25 times/min, 9.1 ± 0.5 mmol/L, and 73.69 ± 2.58 mL/kg/min, respectively; the single Acanthopanax senticosus group was 142.66 ± 3.69 times/min, 9.1 ± 0.8 mmol/L, and 73.84 ± 2.19 mL/kg/min, respectively; the composite group was 131.21 ± 1.36 times/min, 8.3 ± 0.3 mmol/L, and 77.19 ± 3.14 mL/kg/min, respectively. Sports drinks that include extracts of C. pilosula and A. senticosus significantly increased endurance levels. The concurrent use of C. pilosula and A. senticosus was more beneficial in enhancing endurance performance for long-distance running in comparison to using each extract individually.

An improved Trizol method for extracting total RNA from Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim leaves.

High-quality nucleic acids are the basis for molecular biology experiments. Traditional RNA extraction methods are not suitable for Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim. To find a suitable method to improve the quality of RNA extracted, we modified the RNA extraction methods of Trizol. Based on the conventional Trizol method, the modified Trizol method 1 and modified Trizol method 2 were used as the control for extraction of RNA from E. senticosus Maxim leaves. The modified Trizol method 1 added β-mercaptoethanol on the conventional Trizol method. After RNA was dissolved, a mixed solution of phenol, chloroform, and isoamyl alcohol was added to denature protein and inhibit the degradation of RNA. The modified Trizol method 2 adds PVPP to grind on the basis of modified Trizol method 1, so as to better remove phenols from leaves, and eliminates the step of incubation at -20°C to reduce extraction time and RNA degradation. Chloroform, CTAB, and CH3COONa were used instead of a phenol, chloroform, and isoamyl alcohol mixed solution to ensure complete separation of nucleic acid from plant tissues and to obtain high-purity RNA. The research results showed that the quality of RNA extracted by conventional Trizol method, modified Trizol method 1, was incomplete, accompanied with different degrees of contamination of polysaccharides, polyphenols, and DNA. The modified Trizol method 2 could better extract RNA from E. senticosus Maxim leaves. The ratio of A260/A280 was in the range of 1.8-2.0, and the yield of RNA was the highest, which was 1.68 and 1.15 times compared with that by conventional Trizol method and modified Trizol method 1 extraction, respectively. The reverse transcription cDNA was further tested through PCR with the specific primers. The amplified fragments are displayed in clear and bright bands in accordance with the expected size. The modified Trizol method 2 could better extract RNA from E.senticosus Maxim leaves. High-quality RNA has more advantages in molecular biology study of E.senticosus Maxim.

Differential effects of domesticated and wild Capsicum frutescens L. on microbial community assembly and metabolic functions in rhizosphere soil.

Rhizosphere microorganisms play crucial roles in the growth and development of plants, disease resistance, and environmental adaptability. As the only wild pepper variety resource in China, domesticated Capsicum frutescens Linn. (Xiaomila) exhibits varying beneficial traits and affects rhizosphere microbial composition compared with its wild counterparts. In this study, we aimed to identify specific rhizosphere microbiome and metabolism patterns established during the domestication process. The rhizosphere microbial diversity and composition of domesticated and wild C. frutescens were detected and analyzed by metagenomics. Non-targeted metabolomics were used to explore the differences of metabolites in rhizosphere soil between wild and domesticated C. frutescens. We found that the rhizosphere microbial diversity of domesticated variety was significantly different from that of the wild variety, with Massilia being its dominant bacteria. However, the abundance of certain beneficial microbes such as Gemmatimonas, Streptomyces, Rambibacter, and Lysobacter decreased significantly. The main metabolites identified in the wild variety included serylthreonine, deoxyloganic acid, vitamin C, among others. In contrast, those identified in the domesticated group were 4-hydroxy-l-glutamic acid and benzoic acid. Furthermore, the differentially enriched pathways were concentrated in tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, histidine and purine-derived alkaloids biosynthesis, benzoic acid family, two-component system, etc. This study revealed that C. frutescens established specific rhizosphere microbiota and metabolites during domestication, which has important significance for the efficient utilization of beneficial microorganisms in breeding and cultivation practices.

Influence of Intercropping Arisaema amurense with Acanthopanax senticosus on Soil Microbial Community and the Effective Ingredients of A. senticosus

Intercropping is an effective cultivation strategy for promoting soil health, changing microbial community, reducing fertiliser application and enhancing the quality of medicinal plants. Nevertheless, the interaction effect of intercropping between Arisaema amurense and Acanthopanax senticosus remains unknown. Herein, we investigated the difference in soil properties, soil enzyme activities, microbial community diversity and active ingredients of A. senticosus in monoculturing versus intercropping of A. senticosus/A. amurense in a field experiment. High-throughput sequencing and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry were employed to explore the growth promotion effect in the intercropping mode. Results revealed that intercropping benefitted the accumulation of ammonium nitrogen and total nitrogen in soil; total nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen increased by 33% (rhizosphere) and 65% (inter-row) and by 123% (rhizosphere) and 124% (inter-row) at 0–20 cm soil depths, respectively. Furthermore, intercropping increased the soil carbon/nitrogen ratio at the soil from 20 to 40 cm and promoted the growth of the root system of the deep-rooted plant A. senticosus. However, it exerted a certain inhibitory effect on the activities of urease, sucrase and neutral phosphatase on the soil surface. Intercropping increased bacterial diversity and inhibited fungal diversity in soil, potentially preventing the soil microflora changed from bacterial type to fungal type. In terms of community composition, intercropping exhibited a greater effect on bacteria than on fungi. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of microorganisms associated with nutrient cycling and increased ecosystem resistance increased in intercropped soils, such as those of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota and Bacteroidota. At the genus level, the bacterial genera that showed significantly increased relative abundance in intercropping soil included unclassified_Acidobacteriales, Sphingomonas, Gemmatimonas and Candidatus_Solibacter. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Cladosporium, a potential plant pathogen in intercropped rhizosphere soil, was 42% lower than that in monocultured rhizosphere soil. Additionally, intercropping can promote the accumulation of eleutheroside B, eleutheroside E, quercetin, protocatechuic acid and polysaccharide, which increased by 551%, 53%, 10%, 28% and 26%, respectively, compared with that after monoculturing. According to the Pearson correlation heat map, rapidly available phosphorus, rapidly available potassium, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total nitrogen and urease exhibited the greatest impact on the soil microbial community and on the active ingredients of A. senticosus. In conclusion, intercropping altered the composition of the soil microbial community and increased the content of the active ingredients of A. senticosus, consequently begetting economic and ecological benefits.