Family Araliaceae Research Articles

Comprehensive PRISMA Based Systematic Review: Exploring the Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Profile and Clinical aspects of Panax ginseng.

Ginseng, a perennial herb belonging to the Araliaceae family, is renowned for its traditional and folk uses. The Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer species is predominantly found in Asian countries, including Japan, China, and Korea. This manuscript offers valuable insights into the cultivation, collection, morphology, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, and clinical studies of Ginseng. The data was meticulously gathered from diverse electronic resources, such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science, spanning from 1963 to 2023. Ginseng contains various bioactive components, including carbohydrates, polyacetylenic alcohols, polysaccharides, ginsenosides, peptides, vitamins, and fatty acids. The biological attributes of ginsenosides, which include anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, render them especially remarkable. This manuscript comprehensively explores the versatile therapeutic applications of ginseng in the treatment of various types of cancers.

Differentiation of wild accessions within the Panax bipinnatifidus complex using newly developed polymorphic microsatellite markers

Abstract Panax L., renowned as ginseng genus, is a famous medicinal group of family Araliaceae. Within this genus, the taxa of Panax bipinnatifidus complex are mainly distributed in Himalayas and Hengduan Mountain areas. Due to the complex evolutionary history and short-term rapid radiation, the relationships among species within the complex have not been clearly resolved, and the taxa identification is difficult due to the intermediate morphological traits. This study aimed to use the available restriction-site associated DNA sequence data from 29 individuals of P. bipinnatifidus complex to mine high-polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, with the goal of evaluating their utility in taxa identification. Eleven polymorphic SSR loci were ultimately selected and validated through polymerase chain reactions amplifying across 63 individuals of P. bipinnatifidus complex and 13 individuals of three outgroup species. The subsequent genetic diversity analysis uncovered 76 alleles in total, ranging from 5 to 15 per locus. Observed heterozygosity spanned 0.241–0.512, while expected heterozygosity ranged between 0.345 and 0.644. The genetic kinship analysis revealed a sister relationship between Panax zingiberensis and Panax vietnamensis. The analysis result also supported the classification of samples from Hunan and Hubei provinces into a single genetic unit within the P. bipinnatifidus complex. These newly developed SSR markers will facilitate the identification of wild ginseng plants.

Woody vegetable species commonly used by communities in and around the tropical forest of Yunnan province, China

The woody vegetables are important green vegetables in the nutritional value of diet and economic value. In order to utilize and sustainable of the woody vegetable resources, the woody vegetable in Southwestern Yunnan was studied, according to field surveys, interviews, and market surveys. The totals of 35 species of commonly used woody vegetables were investigated in the site study, which belong to 25 families. The Araliaceae and Moraceae family had the highest proportion of woody vegetables with four species, following Leguminosea with three species, and Moringaceae and Juglandaceae had the next large species (2), and other only one species in each family. Most part used is young leaves and tender leaves 12 species, accounting for about 32.%. The fruits had the next commonly use part 8 species, accounting for about 22%, follow by flowers had five species, accounting for about 14%, of the total number.

Potential Wound Healing and Anti-Melanogenic Activities in Skin Cells of Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. Flower Essential Oil and Its Chemical Composition.

Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. (AES; family Araliaceae) is a medicinal plant and has been reported to have various bioactivities, including anticancer and hepatotoxicity protective activities. However, no studies have investigated the biological activities of AES or its extracts on skin. To address this, we aimed to explore the effect of AES-flower-derived absolute-type essential oil (AESFEO) on skin-related biological activities, especially skin wound healing and whitening-related responses in skin cells (human-derived keratinocytes [HaCaT cells] and melanocytes [B16BL6 cells]) and to identify the components of AESFEO. Cell biological activities were analyzed using WST and BrdU incorporation assays, ELISA, or by immunoblotting. In HaCaT cells, AESFEO promoted proliferation, type IV collagen production, and enhanced the phosphorylations of Erk1/2, p38 MAPK, JNK, and Akt. In B16BL6 cells, AESFEO reduced serum-induced proliferation, α-MSH-stimulated increases in melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity, and α-MSH-induced increases in MITF, tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 expressions. In addition, AESFEO inhibited the phosphorylation of Erk1/2, p38 MAPK, and JNK in α-MSH-stimulated B16BL6 cells. Eighteen compounds were identified in AESFEO by GC/MS. These results suggest that AESFEO has beneficial effects on keratinocyte activities related to skin wound healing and melanocyte activities related to inhibition of skin pigmentation. AESFEO may serve as a useful natural substance for developing agents that facilitate skin wound healing and inhibit melanogenesis.

Optimizing the extraction process of total saponins from Panax vietnamensis based on response surface analysis and backpropagation neural network-genetic algorithm

Panax vietnamensis (PV), a member of the Araliaceae family, is noted for its saponin-rich roots and rhizomes. Recent pharmacological studies have shown its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-myocardial ischemia, and hypoglycemic effects, establishing PV as a highly valuable variety of ginseng worldwide. Herein, we used an ultrasound-assisted method to optimize the extraction of total saponins from PV, and developed a genetic algorithm (GA) to optimize the backpropagation (BP) neural network model and predict the best process conditions. The best process with an ethanol concentration of 65.8 %, extraction times of 4.0, ultrasonic temperature of 40.7°C, and an extraction rate of 4.4103 % was achieved through response surface optimization. Conversely, the best process optimized by the GA-BP neural network model had an ethanol concentration of 70.0 %, extraction times of 4.0, ultrasonic temperature of 41.0°C, and an extraction rate of 4.5492 %. Moreover, 254 terpenoids, consisting of 182 triterpenes, 33 monoterpenes, 19 sesquiterpenes, and 20 diterpenes, along with various types of saponins, were identified through ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-MS/MS (UPLC-MS/MS). Specifically, 87 dammarane-type saponins were detected, including 46 protopanaxadiol types, 41 protopanaxatriol types, 5 octilonol types, and 18 oleanolic acid types. The total saponin extraction rate achieved through the GA-BP neural network model surpassed that of the response surface optimization process, indicating the superiority and stability of the GA-BP neural network optimized process and thus revealing the optimal method for PV total saponin extraction. The comprehensive analysis of PV saponins using UPLC-MS/MS enhanced our understanding of total saponins in PV, laying the foundations for the strategic development and utilization of PV plant resources.

Several major herb pairs containing Coptidis rhizoma: a review of key traditional uses, constituents and compatibility effects.

Herb compatibility is the soul of traditional Chinese Medicine prescriptions. Coptidis rhizoma (CR) (Coptis chinensis Franch., Coptis deltoidea C.Y.Cheng et Hsiao, or Coptis teeta Wall.; family Ranunculaceae), is a well-known herb. The bitter and cold nature of CR can irritate the spleen and stomach, and certain ingredients in CR may trigger allergic reactions. Herb combinations can help alleviate the side effects caused by CR. Through data analysis and literature research, there are many herbs combined with CR have a high frequency, but only a few are currently used as formulae in clinical practice. The results showed that these six herb pairs are usually widely studied or used as prescriptions in the clinic. This paper describes the six herb pairs from the key traditional uses, changes in bioactive constituents, and compatibility effects, especially with Euodiae fructus (family Rutaceae), Scutellariae radix (family Lamiaceae), Magnoliae Officinalis cortex (family Magnoliaceae), Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma (family Fabaceae), Ginseng radix et rhizoma (family Araliaceae), and Aucklandiae radix (family Asteraceae), and found that herbs are more effective when used in combination. Therefore, it is feasible to establish some methods to study herb pairs comprehensively from different perspectives. This paper aims to provide the latest and most comprehensive information on the six herb pairs and summarize the pattern of CR compatibility effects. It aims to attract more attention, and further experimental studies will be conducted to investigate and evaluate the effects of herb pairs containing CR. These data can also provide valuable references for researchers and also provide more possibilities for future applications in clinical practice and new drug development.

Transcriptomic Analysis Under Drought and Salt Stress Provides Insight into Genes Putatively Involved in Ginsenoside Biosynthesis in Panax japonicus Meyer.

Panax japonicus Meyer, a perennial herb of the dicotyledonaceae family Araliaceae, is a rare folk traditional Chinese medicine, known as "the king of herbal medicine" in China. To understand the genes involved in secondary pathways under drought and salt stress, the transcriptomic analysis of P. japonicus is of vital importance. The transcriptome of underground rhizomes, stems, and leaves under drought and salt stress in P. japonicus were performed using the Illumina HiSeq platform. After de novo assembly of transcripts, expression profiling and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were performed. Furthermore, putative functions of identified DEGs correlated with ginsenoside in P. japonicus were explored using Gene Ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. A total of 221,804 unigenes were obtained from the transcriptome of P. japonicus. The further analysis revealed that 10,839 unigenes were mapped to 91 KEGG pathways. Furthermore, a total of two metabolic pathways of P. japonicus in response to drought and salt stress related to triterpene saponin synthesis were screened. The sesquiterpene and triterpene metabolic pathways were annotated and finally putatively involved in ginsenoside content and correlation analysis of the expression of these genes were analyzed to identify four genes, β-amyrin synthase, isoprene synthase, squalene epoxidase, and 1-deoxy-D-ketose-5-phosphate synthase, respectively. Our results paves the way for screening highly expressed genes and mining genes related to triterpenoid saponin synthesis. It also provides valuable references for the study of genes involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis and signal pathway of P. japonicus.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Hydrocotyle vulgaris L. (Araliaceae)

Hydrocotyle vulgaris is a perennial wetland clonal plant in the Araliaceae family, which was introduced to China as an ornamental plant in the 1990s. Although H. vulgaris is now considered a potential invasiveness species in China, it also plays a significant role in the remediation of water pollution. Here, we reported its complete chloroplast genome and analyzed the basic characteristics. The chloroplast genome was 153,165 bp in length, including a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,072 bp separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region of 84,291 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,730 bp. The H. vulgaris chloroplast genome contained 132 predicted genes, and its overall GC content was 37.60%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that H. vulgaris was closely related to H. verticillata. The H. vulgaris chloroplast genome presented in this study will lay a foundation for further genetic and genomic studies of the genus Hydrocotyle.

The AP2/ERF Transcription Factor PgERF120 Regulates Ginsenoside Biosynthesis in Ginseng.

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is a perennial herb belonging to the family Araliaceae and has been used for thousands of years in East Asia as an essential traditional medicine with a wide range of pharmacological activities of its main active ingredient, ginsenosides. The AP2/ERF gene family, widely present in plants, is a class of transcription factors capable of responding to ethylene regulation that has an influential role in regulating the synthesis of major active ingredients in medicinal plants and in response to biotic and abiotic stresses, which have not been reported in Panax ginseng. In this study, the AP2/ERF gene was localized on the ginseng chromosome, and an AP2/ERF gene duplication event was also discovered in Panax ginseng. The expression of seven ERF genes and three key enzyme genes related to saponin synthesis was measured by fluorescence quantitative PCR using ethylene treatment of ginseng hairy roots, and it was observed that ethylene promoted the expression of genes related to the synthesis of ginsenosides, among which the PgERF120 gene was the most sensitive to ethylene. We analyzed the sequence features and expression patterns of the PgERF120 gene and found that the expression of the PgERF120 gene was specific in time and space. The PgERF120 gene was subsequently cloned, and plant overexpression and RNA interference vectors were constructed. Ginseng adventitious roots were transformed using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated method to obtain transgenic ginseng hairy roots, and the gene expression, ginsenoside content and malondialdehyde content in overexpression-positive hairy roots were also analyzed. This study preliminarily verified that the PgERF120 gene can be involved in the regulation of ginsenoside synthesis, which provides a theoretical basis for the study of functional genes in ginseng and a genetic resource for the subsequent use of synthetic biology methods to improve the yield of ginsenosides.

Functional identification of AeHMGR gene involved in regulation of saponin biosynthesis in Aralia elata

Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem, a significant tree species in the Araliaceae family, has medicinal and edible properties. Saponins are the primary active components of A. elata. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl- CoA reductase (HMGR) is the initial rate-limiting enzyme of the major metabolic pathway of saponins in A. elata. In this study, the AeHMGR gene was identified through screening of transcriptome data. Through the qRT-PCR analysis, it was determined that the expression level of AeHMGR gene is highest in the somatic embryo and stem of A. elata. Heterologous transformation in tobacco revealed that ectopic expression of the AeHMGR gene leads to a significant reduction in the expression levels of the NtSS, NtFPS, and NtSE genes in transgenic tobacco lines, with a minimum expression level of 0.24 times that of the wild type. In the overexpressed callus lines of A. elata, the expression levels of the AeFPS, AeSE, AeSS, and Aeβ-AS genes were also significantly lower compared to the wild type, with a minimum expression level of approximately 0.3 times that of the wild type. Interestingly, the overexpression of the AeHMGR gene in A. elata somatic embryos led to a substantial decrease in the expression levels of AeFPS and AeSS, while the expression levels of AeSE and Aeβ-AS increased. Among the transgenic somatic embryo strain lines, line 7 exhibited the highest expression levels of AeSE and Aeβ-AS, with fold increases of 11.51 and 9.38, respectively, compared with that of the wild-type. Additionally, a high-performance liquid chromatography method was established to detect five individual saponins in transgenic A. elata. The total saponin content in line 7 somatic embryos was 1.14 times higher than that of wild-type materials, but only 0.30 times that of wild-type cultivated leaves. Moreover, the content of oleanolic acid saponin in line 7 was 1.35 times higher than that of wild-type cultivated leaves. These indicate that HMGR can affect triterpene biosynthesis.

Modulatory Effects of Ginsenoside Saponins in Panax notoginseng on Steroid Hormones

Natural compounds with structural similarities to endogenous hormones, such as alkaloids, coumestans, flavonoids, lignans, saponins, and stilbenes, have been recognized increasingly for their potential in preventing and treating endocrine disorders related to steroid hormones. Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen, a member of the Araliaceae family and commonly known as Sanqi or Tianqi, is a valuable herbal medicine used to treat various diseases. The majority of saponins (ginsenosides) found in Panax notoginseng belongs to the dammarane triterpenoid group, exhibiting beneficial biological effects, including the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, pain, inflammation, and injuries, as well as internal and external bleeding caused by injury. The aglycone portion of ginsenosides possesses a steroid-like hydrophobic four-ring structure, similar to steroid hormones. Recent studies have indicated that the Panax notoginseng ginsenoside saponins (PNS) have steroid hormone-like activities, bringing the potential for endocrine disorders treatment. Thus, this review aims to provide the chemical structure and steroid hormone-regulating effects of ginsenoside saponins in Panax notoginseng.
 Keywords: Panax notoginseng, saponin, steroid hormone, ginsenoside, hormone-like effect.

Phenotypic and transcriptional features of Araliaceae species under distinct light environments

AbstractElucidating how plant species respond to variable light conditions is essential to understanding the ecological adaptation to heterogeneous environments. Plant performance and gene regulatory network underpinning the adaptation have been well documented in heliophytic species. However, it remains largely unclear how the sciophytic plants respond to distinct light conditions. We measured phenotypic and transcriptomic features of four sciophytic (Fatsia japonica, Metapanax delavayi, Heptapleurum arboricola, and Heptapleurum delavayi) and one heliophytic woody species (Tetrapanax papyrifer) of the Araliaceae family under distinct light conditions. Our phenotypic comparisons demonstrate that the four sciophytic species maintain similar photosynthesis efficiency between high light and low light conditions. However, a significantly decreased photosynthesis rate was observed under the low light conditions of the heliophytic species compared with the high light conditions. In addition, our leaf anatomical analyses revealed that, while all five species showed different anatomical structures under distinct light conditions, the sciophytic species possessed a lower degree of phenotypic plasticity relative to the heliophytic species. Further comparisons of the transcriptome profiling showed that differentially expressed genes identified in the five species were functionally related to photosynthesis, secondary metabolites, and other basic metabolisms. In particular, differential regulation of the photosynthesis‐related and photomorphogenesis‐related genes were potentially correlated with the phenotypic responses to the distinct light conditions of the five species. Our study provides evolutionary and ecological perspectives on how the heliophytic and sciophytic woody species respond to shade and sunlight environments.

Evolution of the Araliaceae family involved rapid diversification of the Asian Palmate group and Hydrocotyle specific mutational pressure

The Araliaceae contain many valuable species in medicinal and industrial aspects. We performed intensive phylogenomics using the plastid genome (plastome) and 45S nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences. A total of 66 plastome sequences were used, 13 of which were newly assembled in this study, 12 from new sequences, and one from existing data. While Araliaceae plastomes showed conserved genome structure, phylogenetic reconstructions based on four different plastome datasets revealed phylogenetic discordance within the Asian Palmate group. The divergence time estimation revealed that splits in two Araliaceae subfamilies and the clades exhibiting phylogenetic discordances in the Asian Palmate group occurred at two climatic optima, suggesting that global warming events triggered species divergence, particularly the rapid diversification of the Asian Palmate group during the Middle Miocene. Nucleotide substitution analyses indicated that the Hydrocotyloideae plastomes have undergone accelerated AT-biased mutations (C-to-T transitions) compared with the Aralioideae plastomes, and the acceleration may occur in their mitochondrial and nuclear genomes as well. This implies that members of the genus Hydrocotyle, the only aquatic plants in the Araliaceae, have experienced a distinct evolutionary history from the other species. We also discussed the intercontinental disjunction in the genus Panax and proposed a hypothesis to complement the previously proposed hypothesis. Our results provide the evolutionary trajectory of Araliaceae and advance our current understanding of the evolution of Araliaceae species.

Assembly and comparative analysis of the first complete mitochondrial genome of a traditional Chinese medicine Angelica biserrata (Shan et Yuan) Yuan et Shan

Duhuo, a member of the Angelica family, is widely used to treat ailments such as rheumatic pain. It possesses a diverse array of bioactivities, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties, as recent pharmacological research has revealed. Nevertheless, the mtDNA of Angelica species remains relatively unexplored. To address this gap, we sequenced and assembled the mtDNA of A. biserrata to shed light on its genetic mechanisms and evolutionary pathways. Our investigation indicated a distinctive multi-branched conformation in the A. biserrata mtDNA. A comprehensive analysis of protein-coding sequences (PCGs) across six closely related species revealed the presence of 11 shared genes in their mitochondrial genomes. Intriguingly, positive selection emerged as a significant factor in the evolution of the atp4, matR, nad3, and nad7 genes. In addition, our data highlighted a recurring trend of homologous fragment migration between chloroplast and mitochondrial organelles. We identified 13 homologous fragments spanning both chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes. The phylogenetic tree established a close relationship between A. biserrata and Saposhnikovia divaricata. To sum up, our research would contribute to the application of population genetics and evolutionary studies in the genus Acanthopanax and other genera in the Araliaceae family.

Metabolome and transcriptome analyses provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the enhancement of medicinal component content in the roots of Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms through foliar application of zinc fertilizer.

Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms is a perennial shrub of the Acanthopanax genus in the Araliaceae family and has a high medicinal value. The application of zinc fertilizer can improve the yield and quality of medicinal materials. However, there are limited reports on approaches to increase the content of medicinal components in A. senticosus, hindering the improvement of its medicinal quality. In this study, A. senticosus was treated with 0.1% (LZn) and 0.4% (HZn) zinc sprayed on the leaf surface. The effects of zinc treatment on the medicinal components in the roots of A. senticosus were analyzed by comprehensive metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses. A total of 316 metabolites were detected, with a prevailing occurrence of terpenoids and phenylpropanoids. We identified metabolites related to the medicinal components that were upregulated after Zn treatment, including 43 terpenoids, 19 phenylpropanoids, eight phenols, and three flavonoids. Combining differential gene expression and K-means analysis, we found 95, 65, and 25 upregulated genes related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, terpenoid biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis, respectively. Under different concentrations of Zn treatment, the upregulated metabolite biosynthesis-related genes and differentially expressed transcription factors varied. Pearson correlation network analysis revealed significant correlations among terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids biosynthetic genes, and several transcription factors (ERFs, WRKYs, bHLHs, NACs, and MYBs). This study lays the foundation for understanding the metabolic processes in response to varying levels of zinc foliar spray and provides a theoretical basis for enhancing the efficiency of zinc fertilizer utilization in A. senticosus.

Combined Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis of Creamy Yellow and Purple Colored Panax notoginseng Roots.

Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen is a species of the Araliaceae family that inhabits southwestern China, Burma, and Nepal. It is cultivated on a commercial scale in Yunnan province, China, owing to its significance in traditional Chinese medicine. Panax notoginseng roots are usually yellow-white (HS); however, purple roots (ZS) have also been reported. The majority of P. notoginseng research has concentrated on the identification and production of natural chemicals in HS; however, there is little to no information about the composition of ZS. Using UPLC-MS/MS, we investigated the global metabolome profile of both ZS- and HS-type roots and discovered 834 metabolites from 11 chemical groups. There were 123 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAM) in the HS and ZS roots, which were classified as lipids and lipid-like molecules, polyketides, organoheterocyclic chemicals, and organooxygen compounds. We investigated the associated compounds in the DAMs because of the importance of anthocyanins in color and saponins and ginsenosides in health benefits. In general, we discovered that pigment compounds such as petunidin 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-glucoside, and peonidin-3-O-beta-galactoside were more abundant in ZS. The saponin (eight compounds) and ginsenoside (26 compounds) content of the two varieties of roots differed as well. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that flavonoid and anthocyanin production genes were more abundant in ZS than in HS. Similarly, we found differences in gene expression in genes involved in terpenoid production and related pathways. Overall, these findings suggest that the purple roots of P. notoginseng contain varying amounts of ginsenosides and anthocyanins compared to roots with a creamy yellow color.

Suspension Cell Culture of Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms in Bubble-Type Bioreactors-Growth Characteristics, Triterpene Glycosides Accumulation and Biological Activity.

Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms, or Ming aralia, is a medicinal plant of the Araliaceae family, which is highly valued for its antitoxic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-asthmatic, adaptogenic, and other properties. The plant can be potentially used to treat diabetes and its complications, ischemic brain damage, and Parkinson's disease. Triterpene glycosides of the oleanane type, such as 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl] oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (PFS), ladyginoside A, and polysciosides A-H, are mainly responsible for biological activities of this species. In this study, cultivation of the cell suspension of P. fruticosa in 20 L bubble-type bioreactors was attempted as a sustainable method for cell biomass production of this valuable species and an alternative to overexploitation of wild plant resources. Cell suspension cultivated in bioreactors under a semi-continuous regime demonstrated satisfactory growth with a specific growth rate of 0.11 day-1, productivity of 0.32 g (L · day)-1, and an economic coefficient of 0.16 but slightly lower maximum biomass accumulation (~6.8 g L-1) compared to flask culture (~8.2 g L-1). Triterpene glycosides PFS (0.91 mg gDW-1) and ladyginoside A (0.77 mg gDW-1) were detected in bioreactor-produced cell biomass in higher concentrations compared to cells grown in flasks (0.50 and 0.22 mg gDW-1, respectively). In antibacterial tests, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of cell biomass extracts against the most common pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant strain MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli varied within 250-2000 µg mL-1 which was higher compared to extracts of greenhouse plant leaves (MIC = 4000 µg mL-1). Cell biomass extracts also exhibited antioxidant activity, as confirmed by DPPH and TEAC assays. Our results suggest that bioreactor cultivation of P. fruticosa suspension cell culture may be a perspective method for the sustainable biomass production of this species.

Unveiling the antibacterial and antioxidant potential of Hedera helix leaf extracts: recent findings.

Hedera helix L., a member of the Araliaceae family, is a commonly known decorative plant with recognized medicinal activities. In this study, the ethanolic extract from H. helix leaves was investigated for its total polyphenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The aim was to evaluate its potential for controlling certain infections by screening its antibacterial activity against selected pathogenic bacteria. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract were determined using colorimetric methods. The antioxidant activity was assessed through two assay methods: the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and the reducing power ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP). The antibacterial activity against different pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was evaluated using the well diffusion method. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the H. helix extract were found to be 134.3±4.9mg gallic acid/g and 42.4±3.6mg catechin/g, respectively. The extract exhibited antioxidant activity, with a reducing power represented by an FRAP value of 9.5±0.9mmol Fe+2/g DW and a percentage inhibition of DPPH of 64.7±3.8 at 80µg/mL. The extract demonstrated antibacterial activity, inhibiting the growth of K. pneumoniae and S. aureus with zone of inhibition values of 18.5 and 23.2mm, respectively, using 25mg/well. However, E.coli and P. aeruginosa exhibited resistance to the extract. The findings of this study highlight the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of the ethanolic extract from H. helix leaves. The extract exhibited significant phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as antioxidant activity. It also demonstrated antibacterial activity against selected pathogenic bacteria, suggesting its potential for controlling certain infections. Further research is warranted to identify the active compounds responsible for these activities and to explore their mechanisms of action.

DETERMINATION OF FREE AMINO ACIDS IN UNDERGROUND ORGANS OF ELEUTHEROCOCCUS SENTICOSUS RUPR. ET MAXIM

A study of free amino acids in the underground organs of Eleutherococcus senticosus (Eleutherococcus senticosus Rupr. et Maxim, family Araliaceae) was carried out. The material for the study was samples of rhizomes and roots of Eleutherococcus collected in the Amur Region, Jewish Autonomous Region, Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories.
 Amino acids were determined by GC-MS. According to the results of studies, from two to nine amino acids were found in the rhizomes and roots of Eleutherococcus senticosus, of which 6 are nonessential (alanine, proline, serine, glutamine, pyroglutamic acid, aspartic acid) and 3 are essential (valine, leucine, threonine). The total content of amino acids in the studied samples averaged 20.1 mg/100 g. It was revealed that the dominant group is heterocyclic amino acids, the representatives of which include proline and pyroglutamic acid. The average content of proline and pyroglutamic acid was 4.9 and 7.1 mg/100 g, respectively. Based on a comparative analysis of the amino acid composition of ten samples, it was shown that the amino acid composition of the rhizomes and roots of Eleutherococcus from different populations varies. As a result of a cluster analysis based on the content of amino acids in the studied samples, two groups are distinguished: samples from the Khabarovsk Territory - Amur Region, samples from the Primorsky Territory - Jewish Autonomous Region (Leninsky District).

Schefflera arboricola Tablets Relieve Diabetic Neuropathic Pain: Involvement of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Background Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is a serious chronic complication of diabetes mellitus. Oxidative stress and inflammation are considered the central mechanisms of its pathogenesis. Schefflera arboricola (SA) is a Schefflera plant of the Araliaceae family that has the effect of pain relief. In this study, the effect of SA on DNP was first investigated. Materials and Methods Diabetic neuropathy in rats was induced by a single injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). Three weeks later, SA (100 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg) or gabapentin (100 mg/kg) was given once a day for a week. Blood glucose, body weight, and thermal withdrawal latency in DNP rats were measured. The morphology of the sciatic nerve was observed by light microscopy and toluidine blue staining. Semiquantitative analysis of myelin basic protein (MBP) of the sciatic nerve was performed by immunohistochemistry. IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and IL-6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Commercial reagent kits were used to detect inducible nitric oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were detected by Western blot. Results DNP rat model was successfully constructed. SA and gabapentin could alleviate the thermal sting pain of DNP rats, increase the expression of MBP and SOD, and decrease the expression of proinflammatory agents and MDA. Moreover, SA could reverse the upregulation of NF-κB and the downregulation of Nrf2. Conclusion SA has a significant protective effect on DNP, manifesting in the improvement of allodynia and sciatic nerve pathology, inhibition of neuroinflammation, reduction of oxidative stress, enhancement of Nrf2, and inhibition of NF-κB.