Apiaceae Species Research Articles

Biological Potential and Essential Oil Profile of Two Wild Apiaceae Species from Algeria (Daucus carota L. and Foeniculum vulgare Mill.): Larvicidal and Antibacterial Effects.

Infectious diseases, including vector-borne and antibiotic-resistant infections, present significant global health challenges, necessitating the exploration of natural alternatives for disease control. In this study, we investigated the essential oil (EO) profile as well as larvicidal and antibacterial properties of two wild Apiaceae species used in Algeria: Daucus carota L. (DCEO) and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (FVEO). EO was extracted from the aerial parts by steam distillation and analyzed using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). Major constituents identified in DCEO were geranyl acetate (50.07%) and elemicin (10.77%), while FVEO contained estragole (24.93%), fenchone (20.20%), and α-phellandrene (17.96%). Both EOs were highly effective towards Culex pipiens larvae, with low LC50 values of 30.6 ± 1.06 ppm for DCEO and 34.7 ± 1.06 ppm for FVEO, indicating their potential as bioinsecticides due to their bioactivity and bioavailability. Additionally, the two Eos demonstrated moderate antibacterial efficacy against gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Staphylococcus aureus MRSA ATCC 43300, respectively, with DCEO showing MIC values of 10 and 20 mg/mL, respectively, and FVEO exhibiting MIC values > 20 mg/mL. However, both EOs showed limited effectiveness against gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Klebsiella pneumonia ATCC 700603. These results highlight the potential applications of DCEO and FVEO as natural bioinsecticides and antibacterial agents, offering promising avenues for further research and development in pest control and food preservation.

Spatial Pattern Analysis and Conservation Assessment of Apiaceae in Mongolia.

The family Apiaceae, distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, is the largest family of angiosperms. However, little is known about the conservation status, diversity, and distribution of Apiaceae species in Mongolia. This study had two main aims: (1) to assess the national status of Apiaceae species under IUCN Red List Criterion B; (2) to evaluate the species diversity and richness of Apiaceae across Mongolia. We utilized ConR packages to assess the national Red List status of all known Mongolian Apiaceae species by analyzing their most comprehensive occurrence records. The results indicated that 27 species were classified as threatened, including 4 Critically Endangered (CR), 9 Endangered (EN), and 14 Vulnerable (VU) species. Meanwhile, 39 species were assessed as non-threatened, with 2 Near Threatened (NT) species and 37 species of Least Concern (LC). Furthermore, detailed distribution maps for 66 Apiaceae species in Mongolia were presented. We assessed the species diversity and Shannon and Simpson diversity indices of Apiaceae by analyzing all occurrence records using the iNext package. Overall, the Hill diversity estimates indicate that the sampling conducted in Mongolia adequately captured species occurrences. For species pattern analysis, we examined the species richness, weighted endemism, and the corrected weighted endemism index using Biodiverse v.4.1 software. Mongolia was portioned into 715 grid cells based on 0.5° × 0.5° grid sizes (equivalent to approximately 50 × 50 km2). There was a total of 3062 unique occurrences of all Apiaceae species across Mongolia. In the species richness analysis, we identified 10 grids that exhibited high species richness (18-29 species) and 36 grids with 11-17 species. For genus richness, we observed seven grids that exhibited a high genus richness of 16-22 genera. Furthermore, we analyzed species richness with a specific focus on threatened species, encompassing CR, EN, and VU species throughout Mongolia. A total of 92 grids contained at least one threatened species. There were six grids that had two to five threatened species, which were adequately covered by protected areas in western Mongolia. Overall, our results on species richness and conservation status will serve as important foundational research for future conservation and land management efforts in Mongolia.

Whole-genome sequencing and identification of antimicrobial peptide coding genes in parsley (Petroselinum crispum), an important culinary and medicinal Apiaceae species.

Parsley is a commonly cultivated Apiaceae species of culinary and medicinal importance. Parsley has several recognized health benefits and the species has been utilized in traditional medicine since ancient times. Although parsley is among the most commonly cultivated members of Apiaceae, no systematic genomic research has been conducted on parsley. In the present work, parsley genome was sequenced using the long-read HiFi (high fidelity) sequencing technology and a draft contig assembly of 1.57 Gb that represents 80.9% of the estimated genome size was produced. The assembly was highly repeat-rich with a repetitive DNA content of 81%. The assembly was phased into a primary and alternate assembly in order to minimize redundant contigs. Scaffolds were constructed with the primary assembly contigs, which were used for the identification of AMP (antimicrobial peptide) genes. Characteristic AMP domains and 3D structures were used to detect and verify antimicrobial peptides. As a result, 23 genes (PcAMP1-23) representing defensin, snakin, thionin, lipid transfer protein and vicilin-like AMP classes were identified. Bioinformatic analyses for the characterization of peptide physicochemical properties indicated that parsley AMPs are extracellular peptides, therefore, plausibly exert their antimicrobial effects through the most commonly described AMP action mechanism of membrane attack. AMPs are attracting increasing attention since they display their fast antimicrobial effects in small doses on both plant and animal pathogens with a significantly reduced risk of resistance development. Therefore, identification and characterization of AMPs is important for their incorporation into plant disease management protocols as well as medicinal research for the treatment of multi-drug resistant infections.

The ontogeny of flowers and inflorescences in the andromonoecious annual Iranian endemic Dicyclophora persica (Apiaceae)

Species of Apiaceae, despite uniform floral structure, show great variation in floral morphs and sexual distribution. In the present study, the ontogeny of the diclinous flowers within the cage‐shaped inflorescences of the andromonoecious Dicyclophora persica Boiss. was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), to determine if they follow the same ontogenetic processes. The development of an interesting, unusual club‐like organ in the center of the umbel was also studied. Our findings show that the floral organs in diclinous flowers follow the same pattern. Petals initiate in a clockwise direction, while stamens form in a helical pattern. The perfect central sessile flower in the umbellet, despite sepal suppression, was synchronized with inner staminate flowers in the initiation of petals, stamens, and carpels. In staminate flowers, two prominent sepals initiate after the inception of the stamens. Ovules only get aborted in the late stages. The club‐like organ initiates from a naked receptacle that has no resemblances to umbellets or flowers. In perfect flowers, the delayed initiation and prolonged spatial constraints are caused by bracts and massive staminate flowers which suppress the sepals and make them sessile. Considering the ovule suppression, staminate flowers may be adapted to prevent the perfect flowers from being exposed to extreme environmental conditions.

Chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils of seven Cultivated Apiaceae species

The Apiaceae family contains many species used as food, spice and medicinal purposes. Different parts of plants including seeds could be used to obtain essential (EO) oils from members of the Apiaceae family. In the present study, EOs were components obtained through hydrodistillation from the seeds of anise (Pimpinella anisum), carrot (Daucus carota), celery (Apium graveolens), dill (Anethum graveolens), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and cumin (Cuminum cyminum). EO constituents were determined with Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) and Gas Chromatography/Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) and their antioxidant capacities were determined with the cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) methods. The antimicrobial activity of EOs were tested against four pathogenic bacteria. Phenylpropanoids in anise (94.87%) and fennel (92.52%), oxygenated monoterpenes in dill (67.59%) and coriander (98.96%), monoterpene hydrocarbons in celery (75.42%), mono- (45.42%) and sesquiterpene- (43.25%) hydrocarbons in carrots, monoterpene hydrocarbon (34.30%) and aromatic hydrocarbons (32.92%) in cumin were the major compounds in the EOs. Anethole in anise and fennel, carotol in carrot, limonene in celery, carvone in dill, linalool in coriander, and cumin aldehyde in cumin were predominant compounds in these EOs. The high hydrocarbon content in cumin EO gave high CUPRAC activity (89.07 µmol Trolox g−1), and the moderate monoterpene hydrocarbon and oxygenated monoterpene content in dill EO resulted in higher DPPH activity (9.86 µmol Trolox g−1). The in vitro antibacterial activity of EOs against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli was evaluated using the agar diffusion method and the minimum bactericidal concentration was determined. Coriander, cumin and dill EOs showed inhibitory effect against all tested strains except P. aeruginosa. While fennel and celery EOs were effective against E. coli and B. cereus strains, respectively, anise and carrot EOs did not show any antibacterial effect against the tested bacteria. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) produced four groups based on EO constituents of seven species. The potential adoption of the cultivated Apiaceae species for EO extraction could be beneficial for the wild species that are endangered by over collection and consumption.

A new species of Peucedanum (Apiaceae: Apioideae) from south India

Peucedanum vasudevanii K.M.P.Kumar, Rampradeep, Hareesh, Jabeena & Maya, a new species in the family Apiaceae is described from Minnampara hills of Nelliyampathy forest, Palakkad district, Kerala, India. The species shows morphological similarities with P. pradeepianum but is distinct in many attributes such as hirtellous stem, lanceolate basal leaflets, oblong purple involucre bracts, subequal hirtellous rays, purple anthers, larger mericarp and six commissural vittae.

Comparison of four DNA barcoding loci to distinguish between some Apiaceae family species

BackgroundThe Apiaceae family is among the most significant plant families because it contains both beneficial and poisonous plants. Due to their morphological similarity, these harmless and lethal species are frequently confounded. Cumin, fennel, and anise are the most prevalent members of the family Apiaceae in Egypt. Members of this family are routinely used as medical surrogates, so it is crucial that they are correctly identified and distinguished. DNA barcoding is a molecular technique used for identifying species and reconstructing phylogenetic trees.ResultsSix plants from this family were chosen for this study due to their medicinal importance, and four DNA barcoding loci (rbcL, matK, trnH-psaA, and ITS) were used to identify them. The amplicons were sequenced, and the comparative analysis was conducted between the sequences evaluated and the most significant Blast results. The DNA rbcL, trnH-psaA, and ITS barcodes exhibited similar amplicons among the six species of Apiaceae, while the trnH-psaA barcode exhibited different amplicons among the Apiaceae. Maximum likelihood approach was used to calculate the genetic distance between the sex species of Apiaceae. The most significant findings were that the one from four DNA barcoding was able to distinguish between distinct species and confirm their evolutionary belonging to this family.ConclusionsThe current study concludes that trnH-psbA and ITS DNA identifiers can be used to accurately identify, differentiate, and record Apiaceae species, while the rbcl DNA barcode appears to have fallen short of its intended purpose. So, the data that come from DNA barcodes could be used for the biodiversity assessment and the similarities between hazardous and commercial plants to resolve some of these deficiencies.

The high-quality genome of Cryptotaenia japonica and comparative genomics analysis reveals anthocyanin biosynthesis in Apiaceae.

Cryptotaenia japonica, a traditional medicinal and edible vegetable crops, is well-known for its attractive flavors and health care functions. As a member of the Apiaceae family, the evolutionary trajectory and biological properties of C. japonica are not clearly understood. Here, we first reported a high-quality genome of C.japonica with a total length of 427 Mb and N50 length 50.76 Mb, was anchored into 10 chromosomes, which confirmed by chromosome (cytogenetic) analysis. Comparative genomic analysis revealed C. japonica exhibited low genetic redundancy, contained a higher percentage of single-cope gene families. The homoeologous blocks, Ks, and collinearity were analyzed among Apiaceae species contributed to the evidence that C. japonica lacked recent species-specific WGD. Through comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses of Apiaceae species, we revealed the genetic basis of the production of anthocyanins. Several structural genes encoding enzymes and transcription factor genes of the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway in different species were also identified. The CjANSa, CjDFRb, and CjF3H gene might be the target of Cjaponica_2.2062 (bHLH) and Cjaponica_1.3743 (MYB). Our findings provided a high-quality reference genome of C. japonica and offered new insights into Apiaceae evolution and biology.

Comparative Chemical Research in Essential Oils from Six Apiaceae Species Growing in the Northern Region of Vietnam

Comparative Chemical Research in Essential Oils from Six Apiaceae Species Growing in the Northern Region of Vietnam

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOME CLASSES OF BIOACTIVE ANTIOXIDANT COMPOUNDS IN CARAWAY (CARUM CARVI L.) LEAVES

Caraway leaves from local production were studied for their content in some classes of compounds with antioxidant potential. Chlorophylls, carotenoids (total, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin and cryptoxanthin), phenolic compounds (total, flavonoids, anthocyanins), ascorbic acid, essential oils.The chlorophyll content was 346 mg/kg DW, of which only chlorophyll a was found in detectable amounts. Total carotenoid concentration was 2,190 mg/kg DW, consisting almost entirely (2,078 mg/kg) of β-carotene including, 86 mg/kg lutein and low amounts of other compounds. 23,755 mg/kg was the total phenolic content, of which 6,435 mg/kg flavonoids, including 104 mg/kg anthocyanins. Leaves contained 2,319 mg/kg ascorbic acid and 6,676 mg/kg essential oil.These concentrations are comparable with those commonly found in most studied species of Apiaceae.

From the coldest ice age to green carpets of beauty: A 20,000-year vegetation history from the Hyrcanian forest refugium of northern Iran

The Hyrcanian region is a biogeographic entity of high biodiversity and a centre of Arcto-Tertiary relict flora. A pollen record from the mid-elevation of the Alborz Mountains (northern Iran) reaching back to 20,000 cal BP reveals the Late Quaternary vegetation history of this globally important forest ecosystem. For the period 20,000–14,419 cal BP the pollen record indicates the presence of beech, oak, and birch associated with elm and hornbeam, which indicates the presence of a Weichselian refugium for deciduous tree species. The simultaneous presence of abundant pollen attributable to Artemisia, Amaranthaceae, Apiaceae, and Hippophaë rhamnoides suggests the presence of a dry and cold steppe environment at higher elevations. For the period 16,746–14,419 cal BP, the pollen record indicates a steppe vegetation around the studied peatland (with a predominance of Artemisia, Amaranthaceae and Apiaceae species, along with Eremurus), a slight expansion of oak, and a strong decrease of beech. The period 14,419–12,993 cal BP started with a substantial rise in the values of pollen attributable to Quercus, Carpinus, and Ulmus with the near absence of pollen of dry-growing herbaceous vegetation. For 12,993–11,745 cal BP, a drastic decline of arboreal pollen types, pronounced peaks of NAP types, and constant values of pollen of Ephedra persuasively point to a dry period in the studied region. Towards the end of this period, when the climate apparently became somewhat warmer, deciduous trees expanded around the study site earlier than in other regions, probably because of the site’s proximity to the refugium. After 8600 cal BP, oak declined in importance whereas beech and hornbeam expanded, showing the establishment of the contemporary temperate climate and vegetation. A pronounced expansion of alder and wingnut took place around 4000 cal BP. A remarkable decline of Pterocarya pollen at 1060 cal BP may relate to human impact and/or a cooling/drying climate.

Insects pollinating parsnip Pastinaca sativa l. (Apiaceae) in Moscow province

The purpose of the study was to test the ability of Pastinaca sativa , as one of the plants whose sap contains furanocoumarins, to attract the same types of insects as the most dangerous weed - Sosnowsky’s hogweed, which is widely spread in Russia. As a result, 46 species of pollinating insects from the orders Hymenoptera (3 species), Hemiptera (2 species), Coleoptera (10 species) and Diptera (31 species) have been recorded on P. sativa . Among the latter, representatives of Tachinidae (6 species), Anthomyiidae (6 species), Calliphoridae (4 species), and Syrphidae (4 species) predominated. About 50% of insects pollinating P. sativa are found on other species of umbrella plants, including native species Anthriscus sylvestris , Aegopodium podagraria , Angelica sylvestris ; on horticultural crops: Anethum graveolens , Petroselinum crispum , Carum carvi , Coriandrum sativum , Levisticum o cinale , and on the invasive hogweed Heracleum sosnowskyi . It was not possible to detect any preference of insects for yellow (parsnip, lovage, dill) or white (kupyr, goutweed, angelica, hogweed, parsley, cumin, coriander) corolla color, plant height (from 30 cm to 2 m) or umbrella diameter (from 8 to 30 cm). Among all the captured insects, the following groups can be distinguished: those found on P. sativa and on wild-growing species of Apiaceae - 6 species; on P. sativa and garden crops - 4 species; on P. sativa and Heracleum sosnowskyi - 4 species; found on many species of Apiaceae - 10 species; found only on P. sativa - 24 species.

Chemical Variability of the Essential Oils from Two Portuguese Apiaceae: Coriandrum sativum L. and Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

Coriandrum sativum L. and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. are two aromatic and medicinal Apiaceae species commonly grown in Portugal, whose essential oils (EOs) are used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries. The present study evaluated EOs isolated from the fruits and vegetative aerial parts (VAPs) of 11 samples of Coriandrum sativum L. and from the fruits of 19 samples of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. The plant material was grown in experimental fields, after collection from several regions of mainland Portugal. The EOs were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The coriander EOs analysis evidenced two main clusters, with the first containing the fruits' EOs dominated by linalool (60-73%), γ-terpinene, and α-pinene and the second with the VAPs' EOs, which showed 2-trans-decenal (37-63%) and n-decanal (13-30%) as the main compounds. The fennel EOs analysis revealed two well correlated clusters, the first dominated by estragole (34-76%) and fenchone (16-30%) and the other dominated by trans-anethole (37-56%) and fenchone (14-34%). The present data suggest coriander EOs' chemical descriptors as linalool for the fruits' EOs and 2-trans-decenal with n-decanal for the VAPs' EOs. For the fennel fruit EOs, the putative descriptors were trans-anethole and estragole, with variable fenchone content. The gathered data reinforce the relevance of clarifying variability of these species' EOs, particularly when considering aromatic and medicinal plants with such a wide range of applications.

Bioactivity-guided isolation of trypanocidal coumarins and dihydro-pyranochromones from selected Apiaceae plant species

Bioactivity-guided isolation of natural products from plant matrices is widely used in drug discovery. Here, this strategy was applied to identify trypanocidal coumarins effective against the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis). Previously, phylogenetic relationships of trypanocidal activity revealed a coumarin-associated antichagasic hotspot in the Apiaceae. In continuation, a total of 35 ethyl acetate extracts of different Apiaceae species were profiled for selective cytotoxicity against T. cruzi epimastigotes over host CHO–K1 and RAW264.7 cells at 10 μg/mL. A flow cytometry-based T. cruzi trypomastigote cellular infection assay was employed to measure toxicity against the intracellular amastigote stage. Among the tested extracts, Seseli andronakii aerial parts, Portenschlagiella ramosissima and Angelica archangelica subsp. litoralis roots exhibited selective trypanocidal activity and were subjected to bioactivity-guided fractionation and isolation by countercurrent chromatography. The khellactone ester isosamidin isolated from the aerial parts of S. andronakii emerged as a selective trypanocidal molecule (selectivity index ∼9) and inhibited amastigote replication in CHO–K1 cells, though it was significantly less potent than benznidazole. The khellactone ester praeruptorin B and the linear dihydropyranochromones 3′-O-acetylhamaudol and ledebouriellol isolated from the roots of P. ramosissima were more potent and efficiently inhibited the intracellular amastigote replication at < 10 μM. The furanocoumarins imperatorin, isoimperatorin and phellopterin from A. archangelica inhibited T. cruzi replication in host cells only in combination, indicative of superadditive effects, while alloimperatorin was more active in fractions. Our study reports preliminary structure-activity relationships of trypanocidal coumarins and shows that pyranocoumarins and dihydropyranochromones are potential chemical scaffolds for antichagasic drug discovery.

Chemometric Approach for Profiling of Metabolites of Potential Antioxidant Activity in Apiaceae Species Based on LC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS and FT-NIR

Chemometrics is a tool for data mining and unlocking the door for solving big data queries. Apiaceae is a family species which is commonly cultivated worldwide. Although members of this species are widely used as antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory agents, their metabolites profiling remains ambiguous. Based on WHO support, chemometrics has been used in evaluating the quality and authenticity of the herbal products. The objective of this study is to profile and characterize phenolic metabolites in nine species from Egyptian cultivars and three different species of German cultivars from the Apiaceae family using multivariate analysis after LC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS and near infrared spectroscopy data are generated. Principal component analysis was successfully applied to distinguish between the nine Egyptian cultivars and the three German cultivars, and hierarchical cluster analysis also confirmed this distinctive clustering. Partial least square regression (PLS-R) models showed a relationship between phytochemicals and antioxidant activities. The metabolites responsible for the clustering pattern and variables important for projection (VIP) were identified, being twelve amongst nine Egyptian cultivar samples and thirteen amongst the Egyptian cultivar and the German cultivar comparison. The identified VIPs were also correlated with the antioxidant activity using PLS-R. In conclusion, the study showed novelty in the application of hyphenated analytical techniques and chemometrics that assist in quality control of herbal medicine.

Foliar epidermal anatomical characteristics of Apiaceae species endemic to Ulleungdo and Dokdo Islands, Republic of Korea.

The foliar epidermal anatomical characteristics of the two endemic Apiaceae species of Korea Bupleurum latissimum Nakai and Dystaenia takesimana (Nakai) Kitag. were investigated. The taxonomically important characteristics of these two species were identified and described to help understand their classical taxonomy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the anatomical characteristics of the studied species in detail. The comparative foliar epidermal anatomical characteristics were observed in the present research for the two-endemic species. Some of the most important foliar epidermal anatomical characteristics were observed to distinguish them, including the epidermal cell shape and size, stomata type, and trichomes shape and size. SEM provided sufficient evidence to distinguish the study species. The foliar epidermal anatomical characteristics provide sufficient information to differentiate these two species from their closely related taxa. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Apiaceae species endemic to Ulleungdo and Dokdo Islands exhibit unique foliar epidermal anatomical characteristics that can be used for taxonomic identification and classification. This study contributes to the documentation of the plant diversity of Ulleungdo and Dokdo Islands, and highlights the need for further research on the biogeography and conservation of these endemic plant species.

Essential Oils of Ferulago glareosa Kandemir&Hedge Roots and Aerial Parts: PCA and HCA Analyses.

Ferulago glareosa Kandemir & Hedge. is an endemic species of the family Apiaceae for Turkey and has interesting morphological characteristics compared to the other members of the genus Ferulago Koch. In this study we investigated the essential oil compositions of the roots and aerial parts of F. glareosa for the first time and compared them with essential oil compositions of the roots and aerial parts of other species of the genus. In our study, major components of the essential oil of the roots were determined to be 2,3,6-trimethylbenzaldehyde (32.2 %), falcarinol (23.7 %), hexadecanoic acid (9.5 %) and 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (5.9 %); and major components of the essential oil of the aerial parts were found to be α-pinene (33.7 %), p-cymene (14.8 %), γ-terpinene (13.2 %), (Z)-β-ocimene (12.4 %) and terpinolene (8.2 %). The essential oil compositions of F. glareosa root compare with essential oils components in the literature differ varies greatly. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) was performed with Minitab software, utilizing 8 major components in the published 20 literatures, as well as in this study. Principal Component Analyses (PCA) were used in order to demonstrate chemotaxonomical variations in the composition of the essential oils of Ferulago species.

The Study of Crystals in the Fruits of Some Apiaceae Species Using Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy

Crystals in the fruits of Apiaceae are of great importance for taxonomy. The presence/absence and location of large prismatic crystals, druses, and spherical aggregates characterize genera, tribes, and subfamilies. When the fruits of Apiaceae split into mericarps, cell separation occurs, and probably cell death and the destruction of their walls. In clades Saniculeae and Scandicinae, this process is accompanied by the accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals in the abscission layer. However, reports of smaller crystals are rare, and their taxonomic significance is unknown. To fill this gap, we started research with four species of the clade Apieae: Ammi majus, Modesciadium involucratum, Deverra aphylla, and Rutheopsis tortuosa; in the last two species, crystals were described for the first time. We also studied crystals in Chaerophyllum bulbosum from the clade Scandicinae, and in Sanicula rubriflora from the clade Saniculeae. Conventional optical and polarizing microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used. In the clade Apieae, the studied species contained crystals in the exocarp and on the commissure, and often in the mesocarp parenchyma as well; the shapes of the crystals are small druses and crystal sand. The calcium content in the crystals was determined as 10–31%; crystals contain also carbon and oxygen and are most likely composed of calcium oxalate. In the fruits of Apiaceae studied, the silicon content is low (&lt;0.3%).

Comparative-genomic analysis reveals dynamic NLR gene loss and gain across Apiaceae species.

Introduction: Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) genes play a crucial role in green plants' responding to various pathogens. Genome-scale evolutionary studies of NLR genes are important for discovering and applying functional NLR genes. However, little is known about the evolution of NLR genes in the Apiaceae family including agricultural and medical plants. Methods: In this study, comparative genomic analysis was performed in four Apiaceae species to trace the dynamic evolutionary patterns of NLR genes during speciation in this family. Results: The results revealed different number of NLR genes in these four Apiaceae species, namely, Angelica sinensis (95), Coriandrum sativum (183), Apium graveolens (153) and Daucus carota (149). Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that NLR genes in these four species were derived from 183 ancestral NLR lineages and experienced different levels of gene-loss and gain events. The contraction pattern of the ancestral NLR lineages was discovered during the evolution of D. carota, whereas a different pattern of contraction after first expansion of NLR genes was observed for A. sinensis, C. sativum and A. graveolens. Discussion: Taken together, rapid and dynamic gene content variation has shaped evolutionary history of NLR genes in Apiaceae species.

Molecular phylogenetic study of flavonoids in medicinal plants: a case study family Apiaceae

The current study examined the phylogenetic pattern of medicinal species of the family Apiaceae based on flavonoid groups production, as well as the overall mechanism of the key genes involved in flavonol and flavone production. Thirteen species of the family Apiaceae were used, including Eryngium campestre from the subfamily Saniculoideae, as well as Cuminum cyminum, Carum carvi, Coriandrum sativum, Apium graveolens, Petroselinum crispum, Pimpinella anisum, Anethum graveolens, Foeniculum vulgare, Daucus carota, Ammi majus, Torilis arvensis, and Deverra tortuosa from the subfamily Apioideae. The seeds were cultivated, and the leaves were collected to estimate flavonoids and their groups, physiological factors, transcription levels of flavonol and flavone production-related genes. The phylogenetic relationship between the studied species was established using the L-ribosomal 16 (rpl16) chloroplast gene. The results revealed that the studied species were divided into two patterns: six plant species, E. campestre, C. carvi, C. sativum, P. anisum, An. graveolens, and D. carota, contained low content of flavonoids, while the other seven species had high content. This pattern of flavonoids production coincided with the phylogenetic relationships between the studied species. In contrast, the phylogeny of the flavonol and flavone synthase genes was incompatible with the quantitative production of their products. The study concluded that the increment in the production of flavonol depends on the high expression of chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase, flavanone 3 hydroxylase, flavonol synthase, the increase of Abscisic acid, sucrose, and phenyl ammonia lyase, while flavone mainly depends on evolution and on the high expression of the flavone synthase gene.