Galium Verum Research Articles

Antioxidants from Galium verum as Ingredients for the Design of New Dermatocosmetic Products.

The aim of this study was to use plant extracts from spontaneous flora of Moldova (Rediu-Iasi area, Romania) as polyphenols and flavonoids source in order to obtain new dermato-cosmetic formulas to prevent the actions of oxidative stress on skin. Plant extracts (from raw and dried Galium verum sp.) were obtained by: cold classical maceration (M), heat reflux extraction (HTE) and ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE). The extracts were characterized by spectrophotometric method (for polyphenols and flavonoids content and for DPPH antioxidant activity evaluation). In order to evaluate the combating and/or attenuating effects of oxidative stress on skin, the study was continued with the elaboration of emulsions that incorporate one of these extracts. The emulsions were preliminarily characterized by determining the stability over time. The obtained results encourage research in the direction of deeper characterization of these emulsions to determine the microbiological stability and dermatological tests performed on the skin treated with these new products.

Green infrastructure can promote plant functional connectivity in a grassland species around fragmented semi‐natural grasslands in NW‐Europe

Species may benefit from green infrastructure, i.e. the network of natural and anthropogenic habitat remnants in human‐dominated landscapes, if it helps isolated populations in remaining habitat patches to be functionally connected. The importance of green infrastructure is therefore increasingly emphasized in conservation policy to counter biodiversity loss. However, there is limited evidence, particularly in plants, that green infrastructure promotes functional connectivity, i.e. supports the colonization of habitat patches across a landscape. We applied landscape genetics to test whether the green infrastructure supports structural and functional connectivity in the grassland perennial Galium verum, in 35 landscapes in Belgium, Germany and Sweden. We used multivariate genetic clustering techniques, nestedness analyses and conditional inference trees to examine landscape‐scale patterns in genetic diversity and structure of plant populations in the green infrastructure surrounding semi‐natural grasslands. Inferred functional connectivity explained genetic variation better than structural connectivity, yielding positive effects on genetic variation. The road verge network, a major structural component of the green infrastructure and its functional connectivity, most effectively explained genetic diversity and composition in G. verum. Galium verum ramets occupying the surrounding landscape proved to be genetic subsets of focal grassland populations, shaping a nested landscape population genetic structure with focal grasslands, particularly ancient ones, harbouring unique genetic diversity. This nested pattern weakened as road network density increased, suggesting road verge networks enable high landscape occupancy by increased habitat availability and facilitates gene flow into the surrounding landscape. Our study proposes that green infrastructure can promote functional connectivity, providing that a plant species can survive outside of core habitat patches. As this often excludes habitat specialist species, conservation practice and policy should primarily focus on ancient, managed semi‐natural grasslands. These grasslands both harbour unique genetic diversity and act as primary gene and propagule sources for the surrounding landscape, highlighting their conservation value.

The Evaluation of Healing Properties of Galium verum-Based Oral Gel in Aphthous Stomatitis in Rats.

Although oral ulcers represent one of the most frequent oral mucosal diseases, the available treatment is not sufficient to provide complete ulcer recovery without side-effects. Therefore, the aim of our study was to prepare a mucoadhesive oral gel based on Galium verum ethanol extract (GVL gel) and reveal its healing effects in the model of aphthous stomatitis in rats. Rats with oral ulcers were divided into the following groups: control (untreated), gel base (ulcer was treated with the gel base, three times per day for 10 days), and GVL gel group (the ulcer was treated with GVL gel in the same way as the gel base). Animals from each group were sacrificed on days 0, 3, 6, and 10 for collecting blood and ulcer tissue samples. Healing properties of oral gel were determined by clinical evaluation, as well as biochemical and histopathological examinations. Our findings suggest a significant decrease in the ulcer size in GVL gel group, with healing effects achieved through the alleviation of oxidative stress, reduction in COX-2 immunopositivity, and increase in collagen content in buccal tissue. Significant ulcer repairing potential of GVL gel highlights this oral mucoadhesive gel as a promising tool for prevention and treatment of RAS.

The Apoptotic Effect of Methanolic Extract of Galium verum on HT29 Cell Line

Galium verum has been reported to have cytotoxic effects, however, the mechanism of Galium verum extract action on cancer cells is unclear in many cases. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic of the whole plant methanolic extract on colon cancer (HT29) cells. colon cancer cells were randomly divided into control group and groups treated with 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 1nd 400 μg/mL of the extract for 72h. Plant extract was obtained through maceration. MTT assay was applied to test viability of cells.Apoptosis and cell-cycle, and intracellular levels of ROS were determined by flow cytometry. Bax and Bcl-2 expression levels were evaluated using RT-PCR. Treatment of HT29 cells with 400 μg/mL of whole plant extract resulted in significant decreased viability and increased late apoptosis (P<0.0001), and a notable increase in cell number stoped in G0/G1 phase (P<0.05) and a notable decrease in cell number in S phase (P<0.05), and increased intracellular ROS levels (P<0.01). In conclusion, the high concentration of methanolic whole plant extract of Galium verum induces apoptosis through Bax-dependent pathway and increases intracellular levels of ROS in colon cancer (HT29) cells in vitro suggesting that the whole plant extract of Galium verum can play a role in treatment of colon cancer.

CONTENT OF POTASSIUM AND CALCIUM IN PLANTS OF THE MIDDLE MOUNTAIN DAGESTAN

The results of a study on the content of potassium and calcium in plants of the Middle Mountain province of Dagestan are presented. The content of macroelements was determined on «Savant AA Σ» atomic absorption spectrometer. The K content in plants varied from 0.16 to 3.21%, Ca - from 0.02 to 3.47%. The content of mobile forms of elements on the northern slope is slightly higher than on the southern (1.2 times). The coefficient of biogeochemical mobility K ranges from 5 to 100.3, Bx Ca – from 1.2 to 204.1. On the southern slope, K and Ca are most actively absorbed from the herb-cereal phytocenoses Plantago media, Plantago lanceolata, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium medium, Inula britannica, Achillea millefolium, Psephellus daghestanicus, Galium verum, Astragalus onobrychioides, Medicago glutinosa. On the northern slope, K, Ca Astrantia biebersteinii, Inula germanica, Trifolium campestre, Vicia truncatula, Vicia cracca, Betonica macrantha, Origanum vulgare, and Betonica orientalis accumulate most actively. The least accumulation of K and Ca is observed in plants of the Poaceae family. The difference in the content of K and Ca in plants depends on the content of mobile forms of elements in the soil, biological characteristics of plants, and environmental factors.

Effect of whole methanolic extract of Galium verum on AGO cell line

Effect of whole methanolic extract of Galium verum on AGO cell line

The effects of methanol extract of Galium verum L on cardiac redox state in hypertensive rats

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of methanol extract of G. verum on redox status of isolated heart of spontaneously hypertensive rats after ischemia. Twenty-four Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: untreated control rats and rats that received 125 and 250 mg/kg G. verum extract for 4 weeks per os. Index of lipid peroxidation (measured as TBARS) and parameters of antioxidative defence system such as level of reduced glutathione (GSH) and activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were spectrophotometrically determined in heart homogenate. The index of lipid peroxidation in heart tissue was lower in both treated groups compared to the control group. On the other hand, the activity of SOD was significantly higher after consumption of both doses, while the activity of CAT was significantly higher only after treatment with a higher dose of extract. Based on our results we might conclude that 4-week treatment with methanol extracts of G. verum has the potential to modulate myocardial redox signaling after ischemia, thus significantly alleviating cardiac oxidative stress and exerting dose-dependent antioxidant properties. Future studies are certainly necessary to fully clarify the role of this plant species in myocardial I-R injury.

The effects of methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Galium verum on HT29 and AGO cell lines

The effects of methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Galium verum on HT29 and AGO cell lines

Therapeutic Potency of Gallium verum Extract on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcer in Rats

Gallium verum, lady's bedstraw is an herbaceous annual plant belonging to the genus Rubiaceae; it possessed antioxidant, cytotoxic for cancer cells, antimicrobial, protective and endocrine effects. This work aimed to investigate the curative effects of G. verum extract on gastric ulcers following absolute ethanol administration in the healthy rat. Eighteen rats were randomly divided into three main groups; rats were fastened for 24 hours before ethanol administration. All groups except control administered ethanol (5 ml/kg body weight; orally). The rats were administrated distilled water (Ulcer group) or G. verum extract (100mg/kg) one hour later. G. verum extract caused a significant decrease in ulcer index, gastric juice volume, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide, while gastric juice pH, glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase, and catalase increased significantly. The histological lesion score showed a significant enhancement in group G. verum compared to the ulcer group that scored the highest pathological destruction score. Immunohistochemical markers of NF-κB p65 and TNF-α showed a significant decrease in G. verum group. G. verum extract is a promising treatment modality against gastric injury through its powerful antioxidant, acid neutralizing, healing promotion, and ant-inflammation effects.

Assessment of the resistance of highly ornamental plants of autochthonous flora to increased concentrations of pollutants

Aim. The purpose of the work is to assess the resistance of highly decorative plants of the native flora to a high level of salinity and the content of zinc, lead and cadmium for landscaping urban and roadside areas. Methods. We used seed germination under laboratory conditions with soaking in solutions of sodium chloride and salts of zinc, lead and cadmium, as well as the method of in vitro cell selection to increase resistance to salinity of Verbascum nigrum L. Results. The resistance of 7 species of highly decorative plants, representatives of the autochthonous flora of Belarus, to increasing concentrations of lead, zinc and cadmium salts was assessed. Germination capacity, length and morphology of roots, length of seedlings during germination of seeds of Betonica officinalis L., Centaurea jacea L., Verbascum nigrum, Knautia arvensis (L.) Coult., Galium verum L., Anthemis tinctoria L., Anthemis arvensis L., Viscaria vulgaris Bernh., Achillea millefolium L. in the presence of sodium chloride are shown. It has been shown that the in vitro cell selection method is promising for the selection of resistant lines of Verbascum nigrum. Conclusions. The presence of lead, zinc and cadmium salts had a significant effect on the average length of the root, hypocotyl, and cotyledonous leaves, as well as the germination capacity of highly decorative species of autochthonous flora. The most resistant to salinity were yarrow (Achillea millefolium), brown knapweed (Centaurea jacea) and black mullein (Verbascum nigrum). Lines of Verbascum nigrum, capable of growing in vitro at a sodium chloride concentration of 5 g/L, were selected. Keywords: salinity, heavy metals, seed germination, highly decorative species.

Opportunities and Constraints in Applying Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) in Food Authentication. Honey—A Case Study

The present work aims to test the potential of the application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) for food authentication. For this purpose, honey was chosen as the working matrix. The samples were originated from two countries: Romania (50) and France (53), having as floral origins: acacia, linden, honeydew, colza, galium verum, coriander, sunflower, thyme, raspberry, lavender and chestnut. The ANNs were built on the isotope and elemental content of the investigated honey samples. This approach conducted to the development of a prediction model for geographical recognition with an accuracy of 96%. Alongside this work, distinct models were developed and tested, with the aim of identifying the most suitable configurations for this application. In this regard, improvements have been continuously performed; the most important of them consisted in overcoming the unwanted phenomenon of over-fitting, observed for the training data set. This was achieved by identifying appropriate values for the number of iterations over the training data and for the size and number of the hidden layers and by introducing of a dropout layer in the configuration of the neural structure. As a conclusion, ANNs can be successfully applied in food authenticity control, but with a degree of caution with respect to the “over optimization” of the correct classification percentage for the training sample set, which can lead to an over-fitted model.

Beneficial effects of nitrogen deposition on carbon and nitrogen accumulation in grasses over other species in Inner Mongolian grasslands

Globally, chronic nitrogen (N) deposition into terrestrial ecosystems has resulted in changes in community composition, depending on the responses of co-existing species to increasing soil N availability. The levels of plant non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) produced by photosynthesis are associated with leaf N content, and together they represent the capital of a plant for its life including competitive ability. However, the specific ways that concentrations of plant NSCs, and also N, influence the growth of plants, and thus their productivity, are still abscue. Here, we explored the effect of variations in plant leaf NSCs (starch and soluble sugars) and N concentrations on the growth of plants with different soil N uptake capacities, i.e. two grasses (Leymus chinensis and Stipa baicalensis), two forbs (Potentilla tanacetifolia and Galium verum), and one legume (Thermopsis lanceolate) in Inner Mongolian grasslands subjected to three N addition rates (i.e., 0, 10, or 20 g N m−2 yr−1) and three N forms [i.e., NH4NO3, (NH4)2SO4, or CO(NH2)2] for four years. Irrespective of N addition rate and N form, N addition significantly increased aboveground biomass of the grasses, but not that of the forbs or the legume. The grasses had higher increase in N concentrations than the forbs and the legume. N addition increased the starch concentrations of grasses, but decreased that of forbs and the legume. Changes in the aboveground biomass of all tested plant species were significantly positively correlated with changes in concentrations of both NSCs and N. Our results indicate that, irrespective of the N addition rates and N forms, greater increase in NSCs and N concentrations contributed to higher aboveground productivity in grasses, but not in forbs and legumes. These results imply that future nitrogen deposition will benefit grasses over other plant forms, and thus the former may become more dominant in grasslands in northern China.

Mature herbs as supplements to ruminant diets: effects on in vitro ruminal fermentation and ammonia production

Context High concentrations of crude protein in ruminant diets may lead to excessive production of ruminal ammonia, which may stress the animal’s metabolism and impact nitrogen efficiency. This may become a problem in zero-concentrate feeding systems when pasture grass is rich in crude protein. Polyphenols such as tannins may protect part of dietary protein from ruminal degradation and thus inhibit ammonia formation. Aims The present study screened mature herbs for their potential to mitigate ruminal ammonia formation in cattle, when provided as a supplement to a forage diet. Methods Thirty-five temperate-climate, herbaceous meadow plant species (including three legumes) that appear in biodiverse natural and sown pastures were investigated for their effects on ruminal ammonia production. Aboveground material was harvested during ripening of the seeds and analysed for nutrient and phenol concentrations. Net energy and protein absorbable at the duodenum were calculated. Incubations (24 h) with cattle rumen fluid following the in vitro Hohenheim Gas Test protocol were performed to compare the effects of the test plants on ruminal gas and ammonia formation. Test plants replaced one-third of a basal mixture consisting of 57% Lolium perenne L. and 43% Medicago sativa L. (air-dry-matter basis). Results were compared with those obtained with the basal mixture alone. Key results According to regression analysis, ammonia concentration after incubation was negatively related to concentrations of total extractable phenols and total tannins in feed mixtures, whereas the relationship was weakly positive with dietary crude protein. In 23 and 19 of the test diets, respectively, in vitro gas production (indicating ruminal organic matter digestibility) and ammonia concentrations in the incubation medium after 24 h were significantly lower than with the basal mixture alone. Incubations containing Galium verum L., Leontodon hispidus L., Lotus corniculatus L., Onobrychis viciifolia Scop., Plantago lanceolata L., Sanguisorba minor Scop. and Scabiosa columbaria L. maintained gas production and estimated in vitro organic matter digestibility while at the same time lowering ammonia concentrations. Conclusions Seven mature herbs of a screening of 35 proved to have potential for positive effects on ruminal protein utilisation without impairing fermentation. Implications These herbs are of particular interest as dietary supplements for dairy cows grazing protein-rich pastures.

The Cytotoxicity of the Chloroform and Petroleum Ether Fractional Extracts of Galium verum L. in HepG2 and HT29 Cell Lines

Background: Studies on the fractional extracts of Galium verum L. have confirmed their cytotoxicity and anticancer effects on various cancer cell lines. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of Galium verum extracts on liver and colon cancer cell lines. Methods: Colon cancer (HT29) and liver (HepG2) cell lines were randomly divided into the test and control groups and exposed to 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, and 3.125 µg/mL of the extract. MTT assay was used to evaluate the viability of the cells, and the groups were compared in the GraphPad Prism software using Tukey’s post-hoc test. Results: The chloroform fractional extract of Galium verum exerted cytotoxic effects on HT29 at the concentrations of 100 and 50 µg/mL and increased the cell viability of HepG2 cancer cells. On the other hand, the fraction of petroleum ether had cytotoxic effects on HT29 at all the determined concentrations, as well as on HepG2 at the concentration of 3.125 µg/mL. In addition, the treatment of HT29 with various concentrations of the petroleum ether fractional extract and HepG2 treatment with the same extract at the concentration of 3.125 µg/mL significantly decreased cell viability compared to the control group. The IC50 concentration was determined at > 100 µg/mL. Conclusions: According to the results, the fractional extract of petroleum ether had cytotoxic effects on HT29 cancer cells at all the concentrations, while it affected HepG2 cancer cells only at the concentration of 3.125 µg/mL.

Identification of the Volatile Components of Galium verum L. and Cruciata leavipes Opiz from the Western Italian Alps.

The chemical composition of the volatile fraction from Galium verum L. (leaves and flowers) and Cruciata laevipes Opiz (whole plant), Rubiaceae, was investigated. Samples from these two plant species were collected at full bloom in Val di Susa (Western Alps, Turin, Italy), distilled in a Clevenger-type apparatus, and analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. A total of more than 70 compounds were identified, making up 92%–98% of the total oil. Chemical investigation of their essential oils indicated a quite different composition between G. verum and C. laevipes, both in terms of the major constituents and the dominant chemical classes of the specialized metabolites. The most abundant compounds identified in the essential oils from G. verum were 2-methylbenzaldheyde (26.27%, corresponding to 11.59 μg/g of fresh plant material) in the leaves and germacrene D (27.70%; 61.63 μg/g) in the flowers. C. laevipes essential oils were instead characterized by two sesquiterpenes, namely β-caryophyllene (19.90%; 15.68 μg/g) and trans-muurola-4(15),5-diene (7.60%; 5.99 μg/g); two phenylpropanoids, benzyl alcohol (8.30%; 6.71 μg/g), and phenylacetaldehyde (7.74%; 6.26 μg/g); and the green-leaf alcohol cis-3-hexen-1-ol (9.69%; 7.84 μg/g). The ecological significance of the presence of such compounds is discussed.

Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds from the Aerial Parts of Medicinal Plant, Galium verum

The Galium verum herb, (Rubiaceae family) is well represented in the spontaneous Romanian flora. She is one of the most used plants in traditional medicine. Our research aimed to investigate the chemical volatile profile in fresh, dried and essential oil of Gallium verum using SPME and hydrodistillation techniques, followed by GC-MS analysis. Characterization of volatile compounds composition by SPME �GC-MS technique presented din this paper is the first study on fresh and dried of Galium verum plant to our knowledge. Galium verum fresh flower floral bouquet is given by monoterpenes (73,5%), sesquiterpenes (10,16%), esters (10,26%) and others(5.87%). The floral bouquet of Gallium verum dried flower, contains mainly: aldehydes (35.48%) monoterpenes (35.48%), alcohols (11.96%), sesquiterpenes, (3.71%), esters (3.14%) and others (10.11%). Sixty components were identified in the galium essential oil.

Four decades of new vascular plant records for Greenland.

Records of new species of vascular plants in Greenland from the last four decades are presented and new phytogeographical data leading to extension of the known distribution limits in Greenland are discussed. Since the publication of the latest edition of the Flora of Greenland in 1978 (Böcher et al. 1978) fieldwork by Greenland Botanical Survey and other expeditions have taken place especially in West and East Greenland and in many remote areas in North and Northeast Greenland. This paper serves as an update of the Flora of Greenland. Twenty species, one subspecies and one new forma have been added to the flora of Greenland: Carex membranacea Hook., Carex miliaris Michx., Carex rhomalea (Fernald) Mack., Equisetum hyemale L., Festuca edlundiae S. Aiken, Consaul and Lefkovich, Festuca groenlandica (Schol.) Frederiksen, Festuca saximontana Rydb., Galium verum L., Geum rossii (R. Br.) Ser., Papaver cornwallisense D. Löve, Papaver dahlianum Nordh., Papaver labradoricum (Fedde) Solstad and Elven, Papaver lapponicum (Tolm.) Nordh., Pedicularis sudetica Willd. ssp. albolabiata Hult., Poa flexuosa Sm., Puccinellia bruggemanni Th. Sør., Ranunculus subrigidus W.B. Drew., Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke, Trientalis europaea L. and Veronica officinalis L. in addition to one subspecies Phippsia algida (Sol.) R. Br. ssp. algidiformis (H. Sm.) Löve and Löve. The viviparous form of Poa hartzii f. prolifera has been reported for the first time in Greenland. Presently, the total number of vascular plant species in Greenland is 532. 89 new northern and 28 new southern distribution limits are presented and 26 species are new to the flora province East Greenland, whereas 15 species are new to West Greenland. The numbers of new species to flora provinces North and South Greenland are 14 and one, respectively.

The Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils and Extraction of Medicinal Plants Galium Verum, Echinacea, Garlic, Turmeric, Corn Silk, Raspberry, Red John’s Wort, St. John’s Wort and Ginger and Use as Adjuvant Therapy in the Treatment of Cancer of the Lymphatic System

The Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils and Extraction of Medicinal Plants Galium Verum, Echinacea, Garlic, Turmeric, Corn Silk, Raspberry, Red John’s Wort, St. John’s Wort and Ginger and Use as Adjuvant Therapy in the Treatment of Cancer of the Lymphatic System

A New Flavonoid Glycoside with α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity from Galium Verum

A new flavonoid glycoside, apigenin 7-O-(2,4-di-O-acetyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), was isolated from the 95% EtOH extract of Galium verum L. by repeated column chromatography. Its structure was identified by spectral analyses and chemical methods. In addition, the rat intestinal α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of compound 1 was evaluated in vitro.

<p class="Body">Two new phyllocoptine species and new records of eriophyoid mites (Eriophyidae, Phyllocoptinae) from Crimea, with evaluation of the phylogenetic position of the new taxa using GenBank data

We describe two new species and report new occurrences for six species of eriophyid mites (Eriophyoidea: Eriophyidae) in Crimea: Abacarus denticulifer n. sp. from Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. (Poaceae), Aceria aculiformis Sukhareva 1986 from Melica ciliata L. (Poaceae), Aceria peucedani (Canestrini 1891) from Seseli tortuosum L. (Apiaceae), Anthocoptes recki (Bagdasarian 1972) n. comb. (from Tegonotus) from Pistacia atlantica subsp. mutica (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) (Anacardiaceae), Epitrimerus inulae Farkas 1963 from Inula germanica L. (Asteraceae), Phyllocoptes sanctus n. sp. from Potentilla recta subsp. obscura (Willd.) (Rosaceae), Phyllocoptes bilobospinosus Chetverikov 2019 (in Chetverikov et al. 2019) from Tamarix spp. (Tamaricaceae), Tegoprionus dentatus (Nalepa 1891) from Galium verum L. (Rubiaceae). For an Indian phyllocoptine mite species associated with Apluda mutica L. (Poaceae), a new combination was proposed: Abacarus muticus (Sur & Chakrabarti 2017) n. comb. (from Mesalox). Mitochondrial COI and D2 28S rDNA sequences of three phyllocoptine species from Crimea were obtained: A. denticulifer n. sp. (GenBank accession numbers MK415989 and MK408623), P. bilobospinosus (MK408624), and P. sanctus n. sp. (MK415988 and MK408622). Comparison of all COI and D2 28S sequences of Eriophyoidea from GenBank showed that sequences JF920111 and JF920110 Aceria tulipae are identical to JF920101 Aceria tosichella, and D2 28S sequence KP297379 Tegolophus sp. is identical to KM111079 Shevtchenkella sp., which indicates either one or more misidentifications or sample contamination. Molecular phylogenetic analyses (a) confirmed the morphology-based assignment of A. denticulifer n. sp. to the Abacarus hystrix s.l. species complex, (b) supported the monophyly of Abacarus hystrix s.l., (c) revealed that the genera Phyllocoptes, Epitrimerus, and Calepitrimerus are paraphyletic, and (d) indicated that Phyllocoptini (including P. sanctus n. sp.), which are associated with Rosaceae and Caprifoliaceae, are monophyletic. The position of P. bilobospinosus was uncertain in all analyses. Based on the results of our study, it is recommended that descriptions of new species in large, putatively paraphyletic genera of Eriophyoidea include comparisons with mite species associated with the same plant family. Our work also provides new evidence that a species in a large complex of cryptic species could have evolved a distinct morphology if it is associated with an endemic plant host restricted to a geographically isolated area.