Liguladentatanes A-E, five undescribed highly oxygenated bisabolene-type sesquiterpenoids from Ligularia dentata and their anti-inflammatory activity.

Road salt induced mobilization and accumulation of heavy metals in roadside bioretention in the field: the roles of season, plant uptake, media, and catchment properties.

Sesquiterpene γ-lactones of plants of the Asteraceae family of the flora of Kazakhstan: Search, distribution, biological activity.

Anthemideae, with over 111 genera and 1800 species, is one of the largest tribes within the Asteraceae family. Some members of this tribe are recognised for their aromatic and medicinal properties. Central Asia, the Mediterranean region and southern Africa are the main distribution centres for this tribe. The taxonomy and subtribal classification of the Anthemideae remain controversial and unresolved. Pollen micromorphology can be a valuable and informative tool for resolving taxonomic problems at the subtribe, genus and species levels. The present study aims to describe the pollen types within a small subset of Anthemideae tribe from Iran and to investigate the relationships among a small set of subtribes, genera and species using palynological data. The pollen micromorphology of 14 species representing 14 genera of Anthemideae was examined using scanning electron microscopy. Consequently, three pollen types – Anthemis, Artemisia and Handelia – were identified among the studied taxa, with the latter being newly described. Using clustering and ordination analyses – unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA), principal component analysis (PCA) and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) – the species from the four subtribes – Anthemidinae, Glebionidinae, Handeliinae and Leucantheminae – could, in most cases, be distinguished from each other. However, some incongruences between pollen features and accepted taxonomy were observed among the Artemisiinae species.

Cirsium japonicum Fisch. ex DC.: A review of ethnomedicine, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics.

Background:The prevalence of metabolic disorders has increased significantly in recent years, driving interest in effective herbal remedies. Artemisia species, part of the Compositae family, encompass over 500 plants worldwide and have shown promising potential in addressing metabolic ailments. This review delineates the intricate chemical composition of Artemisia plants while offering a thorough summary of the pharmacological advancements and clinical evidence of Artemisia species in mitigating conditions such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, and gout.Methods:A systematic review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct were searched up to December 2025. Studies evaluating Artemisia species for metabolic diseases (diabetes, hyperlipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, or gout) were included. The included studies were analyzed and compared in terms of research types (animal, human, and in vitro studies), therapeutic outcomes, and mechanistic pathways. A qualitative synthesis was performed.Results:Numerous experiments have demonstrated the efficacy of 28 Artemisia species in lowering blood sugar and lipid levels, stimulating insulin secretion, ameliorating insulin resistance, suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress, reducing fat synthesis, and modulating the gut microbiota. These findings underscore their potential as promising therapeutic candidates for the management of metabolic disorders.Conclusion:This review acts as a crucial guide for steering the progress of drug development and the therapeutic use of Artemisia plants in addressing metabolic diseases. However, clinical investigations into the effects of Artemisia on metabolic disorders in humans are still limited. Further trials are essential to validate its effectiveness in treating these ailments.

Achillea millefolium, a perennial herb, is commonly found in Europe and Asia, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a member of the Asteraceae family, the Achillea genus, and the kingdom Plantae. Due to its wide range of pharmacological characteristics, A. millefolium attracts significant scientific research. It has long been used in medicinal systems to treat digestive problems, wound healing, and pain relief. Both in vivo and in vitro investigations highlight Achillea millefolium's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antispasmodic, and antimicrobial qualities. This review integrates traditional ethnobotanical knowledge with current pharmacological research. The pharmacological and toxicological research included in the reviewed literature was chosen from current scientific literature to strengthen the safety and effectiveness of the plant. Additionally, an in-depth understanding of its therapeutic potential is provided through an examination of its historical use in European, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian medicine systems. The desire for herbal alternatives has grown rapidly due to growing concerns about the side effects of allopathic medicines. The general public is increasingly using A. millefolium because of its broad-spectrum efficacy and desirable safety profile, which have shown significant herbal lead compounds for medical treatment. A. millefolium multitarget pharmacological activity is associated with a range of bioactive substances, including terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic acids, according to phytochemical studies. The information acquired in this study provides credibility to its potential as an herbal treatment for oxidative stress, inflammation, microbial infections, and spasms.

Klasea khuzistanica (Mozaff.) Mozaff. ex Hidalgo., a perennial endemic species in Iran, from the Asteraceae family, was investigated for medicinal value by evaluating ecdysteroid, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity (IC50) in different organs using a completely randomised design with three replications. Significant differences were observed among organs; flowers exhibited the highest TPC (5.75 ± 0.17 mg GAE/g DW) and TFC (2.12 ± 0.74 mg QE/g DW), while leaves demonstrated the greatest DPPH· radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 442.03 ± 28.65 µg mL−1). LC-MS and LC-MS/MS analyses identified various phenolic, flavonoid, and phytoecdysteroid compounds, with aerial parts showing higher concentrations along with ascorbic acid. Kaempferol and 20-hydroxyecdysone were most abundant in leaves, along with a tentatively identified phytoecdysteroid as muristerone A. This is the first comprehensive phytochemical profiling of the endemic K. khuzistanica, including the putative identification of muristerone A based on LC-MS/MS data, while emphasising further isolation and studies.

PremiseConflicting phylogenetic signals are common in plant phylogenomics and often reflect evolutionary histories shaped by processes like hybridization, incomplete lineage sorting, and whole‐genome duplication (WGD). We aimed to identify and assess these complex processes in the hyper‐diverse family Asteraceae to offer insight into the underlying causes of phylogenetic discordance.MethodsWe used new and existing Hyb‐Seq and transcriptome data to explore phylogenetic discordance by testing for nuclear/plastid incongruences, WGD, and reticulation. We present a tutorial detailing the execution of complex bioinformatic analyses to increase transparency, facilitate reproducibility, and support advancements in the field of plant evolution (https://github.com/erika-r-moore/Ellestad_etal_2025_APPS_Hybridizations).ResultsWe uncovered extensive discordance among nuclear gene trees and deep reticulation events, particularly among South American lineages. Signals of WGD were found across the family but were often difficult to interpret, likely due to variation in data completeness, the complexity of the events, and their ancient origins.DiscussionOur study and tutorial, along with a growing body of phylogenomic research, emphasize the role of reticulation and WGD in the evolution of large, diverse clades, while also underscoring the challenges. We anticipate continued advancements in theoretical approaches that will further enhance empirical studies in reticulate evolution.

Aucklandia lappa Decne, a precious medicinal herb in China, utilises the dried rhizome as its medicinal part, which riches in volatile oils, sesquiterpene compounds and other active constituents. Although the mitogenome of A. lappa has been assembled, related research remains in its preliminary stages, far from achieving comprehensive and in-depth understanding. In this paper, the complete mitogenome of A. lappa was assembled by employing a hybrid strategy that combined Illumina short-read and Nanopore long-read sequencing. The assembled mitogenome is 436,648bp in size with a GC content of 45.06%. The mitogenome has only one chromosomal structure, It contains 54 genes, including 31 protein-coding genes(PCG), 19 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. A total of 32 high-frequency codons exhibiting significant AT-bias, 431 RNA editing sites, and 24 homologous fragments were were transferred from the chloroplast to mitochondria genes (7,337bp, 1.68%). Furthermore, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis involving in A. lappa and 27 other taxa to clarify its evolutionary and taxonomic status. These findings provide a foundation for further understanding the evolutionary relationships within Asteraceae plant. Through the assembly and comprehensive analysis of A. lappa mitogenome, This study has for the first time fully elucidated its mitogenomic structural characteristics.These results not only provide high-quality genetic resources for research on the Asteraceae mitogenome but also lay a solid foundation for in-depth exploration of the evolution and functional genomics of medicinal plants in the Asteraceae family.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is an economically important leafy vegetable within the Asteraceae family, cultivated worldwide across diverse agricultural systems. Recent advances in genomic and transcriptomic resources have positioned lettuce as a promising model system for functional genomics in the Asteraceae. However, currently available gene expression datasets lack comprehensive tissue-specific resolution, primarily focus on a single cultivar and are not visualised in an interpretable manner, limiting their utility for broader genetic and physiological studies. To bridge this gap, we developed the Lettuce Expression Browser (LEB), a publicly available platform providing high-resolution gene expression maps across various organs, tissues and developmental stages in both cultivated and wild lettuce species. The LEB integrates transcriptomic data from finely dissected seedlings, shoot tissues at various developmental stages and seedlings subjected to abiotic stresses (salt and far-red), visualised using the ggPlantmap R package. This platform offers an intuitive interface for exploring gene expression patterns and serves as a valuable resource for those studying lettuce development, stress responses and evolutionary genomics. The LEB is hosted on the LettuceKnow Web Portal (https://lettuce.bioinformatics.nl) and can be expanded to include additional datasets, enhancing its role as a key tool for lettuce research and crop improvement.

This study presents a detailed floristic inventory of the spontaneous flora in La Asomadilla urban park in Córdoba, southern Spain. In addition to being the largest urban park in the city, La Asomadilla is characterized by irregular terrain, a transitional location between the Guadalquivir river plain and Sierra Morena mountains, and the predominance of native vegetation with a naturalized appearance rather than a formal garden design. These characteristics make the park an important reservoir of biodiversity and a barrier against the spread of invasive species. A total of 250 species belonging to 60 families were recorded, predominantly therophytes adapted to Mediterranean climatic conditions. Two species (Cyperus eragrostis and Valerianella microcarpa) were recorded for the first time in the municipality, along with five orchid species of high ecological value. Several allergenic taxa were identified, primarily belonging to the Poaceae, Asteraceae, and Oleaceae families, highlighting the importance of considering the impact on public health in the management of urban biodiversity. Unlike most studies on urban green spaces, which focus mainly on ornamental or tree species, this research highlights the relevance of the accompanying wild flora. These species not only contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing temperatures and capturing CO2 but also provide health benefits for the population. Therefore, this study provides novel and valuable data at the local level to inform ecological and public health management strategies in Mediterranean urban areas.

Polysaccharides from Helianthus: Extraction, bioactivities, and emerging applications.

The genus Vernonia Schreb., included within the Asteraceae family, has a large geographical distribution. It has a complex nomenclatural history since, up to a couple of decades ago, it included more than 1000 species, but many of them have been recently moved to other genera, such as Lepidaploa, Vernonanthura, and Distephanus, etc. This is the first report regarding the chemical composition of the essential oil from the aerial parts of Vernonia arabica F.G. Davies. Its essential oil (Va) was characterised by oxygenated sesquiterpenes (39.48%), with shyobunol (9.59%) and endo-1-bourbonanol isomers (9.13% and 4.64%, respectively) as main metabolites. The chemical composition of Va was compared with all the other essential oils of plants formerly indicated as Vernonia, before the botanical revision, showing a peculiar chemical profile, very different with respect to all the other taxa, being shyobunol and endo-1-bourbonanol never detected in any formerly Vernonia species.

Ambrosia trifida, known worldwide as an invasive species, threatens agriculture and ecosystems and causes severe allergic reactions in humans. As part of the effort to valorize this harmful plant, a phytochemical investigation of A. trifida led to the isolation of one new guaiane sesquiterpenoid (1S,7R,10R)-10,11-dihydroxy-4-guaien-3-one (1), together with two diastereomers (2 and 3). Their structures were elucidated using various spectroscopic methods, including NMR, HRMS, optical rotation, and ECD calculations. (1S,7R,10R)-11-Hydroxy-4-guaien-3-one (2) was isolated for the first time from nature. Its (1R,7R,10S)-diastereomer (3) has not been previously reported in the Compositae family. Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses, the effects of 1-3 on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were examined. Among the isolates, only 2 exhibited anti-inflammatory and tight junction regulatory activities by targeting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in Caco-2 cells. In contrast, its diastereomer 3 was inactive, indicating that the stereochemical configuration at C-1 and C-10 plays a critical role in biological activity. This study suggests that guaiane sesquiterpenoids may be useful for the treatment of IBD, and the findings serve as a basis for a wide range of applications of this invasive plant as a useful resource.

Tagetes erecta, commonly known as marigold, is a vibrant-flowered plant native to Mexico and Central America, widely appreciated for its striking golden-yellow or orange blossoms and diverse applications in traditional medicine. Despite its significance, the mitochondrial genome of T. erecta has not been thoroughly characterized, leaving a gap in understanding genomic variation within the Asteraceae family. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of T. erecta, revealing five independent circular chromosomes with a total length of 259,855bp and an average GC content of 44.81%. Repeat analysis identified 104 SSRs, 22 tandem repeats, and 83 dispersed repeats in T. erecta mitogenome. We identified nine mitochondrial plastid DNA sequences (MTPTs) ranging from 33 to 771bp, which included complete plastid gene sequences and partial plastid protein-coding genes (PCGs). Phylogenetic analysis of 40 Asteraceae species indicated that T. erecta was clustered within Heliantheae alliance. Additionally, 573 RNA editing sites were identified across 30 PCGs based on RNA-seq data. These findings provide new mitochondrial genomic resources that enhance our understanding of the evolution and genomic variation in Asteraceae, offering insights that may benefit breeding processes and resource conservation efforts.

Sympetaly (fused petals) is a major innovation driving floral diversity, yet its genetic basis in the highly successful Asteraceae family is elusive. We therefore investigated the molecular mechanisms controlling this trait in Chrysanthemum morifolium. We conducted functional analyses of candidate genes, examined their spatiotemporal expression patterns, and performed biochemical assays to investigate the interaction between the transcription factors CmYAB1 and CmCUC2. Abaxially expressed CmYAB1 regulates floret fusion: its suppression enhanced fusion, while its overexpression caused petal splitting and curling. CmCUC2, a NAM/ATAF1/2/CUC2 (NAC)transcription factor and homolog of the Arabidopsis boundary-specific genes CUC1/2, was downregulated in CmYAB1-silenced lines. Interestingly, its expression shifts dynamically from early floral organ boundaries to later abaxial petal domains, overlapping CmYAB1. CmCUC2 knockdown also increased fusion, while its overexpression led to unfused, curved petals. CmYAB1 directly activates CmCUC2 by binding its promoter, and transient CmCUC2 knockdown in CmYAB1-overexpressing plants rescued the unfused phenotype. Furthermore, silencing either gene upregulated and sustained CmCYC2c expression in dorsal petals, correlating with their elongation. This study delineates the CmYAB1-CmCUC2 regulatory pathway, thereby revealing a novel module of polarity and boundary genes that controls sympetalous development in Asteraceae, advancing our understanding of floral diversity, and enabling the targeted engineering of ornamental traits.

Peucephyllum schottii is an aromatic desert plant of the family Asteraceae, which has little scientific research regarding its phytochemical composition and pharmacological properties. This study aims to evaluate in detail the chemical composition and antioxidant, antibacterial, antidiabetic, and cytotoxic activities of the ethanol extract of P. schottii leaves. The chemical composition of the plant extract was analyzed by GC-MS. Total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents of the plant were calculated. An antioxidant assay of the plant material was performed by using the DPPH and ABTS tests. The antibacterial activities of P. schottii plant material against six pathogenic bacteria were studied by using the agar diffusion and MIC/MBC techniques. Colorimetric analysis, for its part, enabled the assessment of its antihyperglycemic activities (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) and its cytotoxic activities (in MCF-7 and HepG2 cells). The expressions of apoptotic proteins (caspases, Bcl2, and Bax), were analyzed by RT-PCR. The GC-MS findings showed the presence of complex phytoconstituents of P. schottii in the form of linoleic acid (19.48%), hexadecanoic acid (15.01%), and vitamin E (12.15%). There is high TPC (118.18 mg of GAE/g) and TFC (75.56 mg of QE/g) in P. schottii plant material. The plant showed significant antioxidant (≈105 μg/mL IC50 in DPPH and ≈80 μg/mL IC50 in ABTS) and broad-spectrum antibacterial activities, mostly against E. coli (MIC = 4.68 μg/mL), as well as antihyperglycemic activities against α-amylase (IC50 = 334 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 196 μg/mL) enzymes. The plant material showed cytotoxic effects in MCF-7 and HepG2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 78 ± 1.13 μg/mL and 68.23 ± 2.41 μg/mL, respectively). These findings point to P. schottii leaf extract’s potential as a natural antioxidant, antibacterial, antidiabetic, and chemopreventive agent.

Facilitative interactions among co-invaders may lead to invasional meltdown, accelerating non-native species accumulation and exacerbating ecological impacts over time. However, it remains unclear why certain non-native combinations promote facilitation while others do not, and may even constrain invasions. To address this question, we examine six invasive species in the Asteraceae family along two strategic dimensions: competitiveness and capacity to cultivate invader-promoting microbial communities. We then create experimental combinations to mix “good competitors” and “good cultivators” to varying degrees to form a “strategic divergence” gradient. We hypothesize greater strategic divergences generate more intense facilitations, whereas similar strategies generate inhibitions. Strategic divergence correlates with facilitation, but interactions are asymmetric: strong competitive suppressors of natives benefit from co-invasions with weaker competitors that cultivate favorable microbial environments but the performance of the latter are generally suppressed by the strong competitors. Metagenomic sequencing further indicates that good cultivators may promote facilitation by repelling pathogens (Ascomycota) and deterring microbes that might be exclusively beneficial for natives (Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Planctomycetota). Our results provide empirical evidence for the importance of strategic divergence among invasive species and offer a mechanistic basis for predicting which combinations of co-invading species might generate facilitation and which might result in inhibition.

ABSTRACTAntennaria dioica (L.) Gaertn., (tribe Gnaphalieae of Asteraceae family) is known in traditional medicine for treatment of biliary and respiratory ailments, and for its astringent and hemostatic properties. This work aimed at in‐depth phytochemical profiling and in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibition assessment of methanol‐aqueous extract from the A. dioica aerial parts integrated with molecular docking study. An ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐HRMS/MS) analysis revealed a total of 130 secondary metabolites including 39 acylquinic acids, 26 caffeoylhexaric acids, 34 carboxylic and phenolic acids and coumarins, as well as 31 flavonoids. For the first time, 68 core structures alongside caffeoylglucaric derivatives leontopodic acid A and B are reported in the species. The A. dioica extract inhibited α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase (0.45 mmol and 0.11 mmol ACAE/g, respectively), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) (1.93 and 1.14 mmol Galantamine equivalent per gram extract (GALE/g), respectively). The extract exhibited antioxidant activity in different in vitro assays. In search for bioactive compounds, the extract's identified molecules were docked within four target enzymes: AChE (PDB code 4EY7), BChE (PDB code 7AMZ), α‐amylase (PDB code 1Z32), and α‐glucosidase (PDB code 5NN6). Twenty three core structures showed favorable docking scores for α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase, while only 4 of them were relevant for AChE and BChE. Methylbutyryl‐ and p‐hydroxybenzoyl‐tricaffeoylglucaric acid alongside apigenin 7‐O‐caffeoylglucoside were highlighted to contain potential ligands of α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase. The Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADME/Tox) properties of the selected compounds were evaluated in silico. Apigenin 7‐O‐caffeoyl‐β‐glucoside was outlined as having good potential for interaction with α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase, and favorable ADME/Tox properties.