Hainanensis Merr Research Articles

Nitrogen Requirement and Nitrogen Form Preference by Radermachera hainanensis and R. sinica Plug Seedlings

Abstract Radermachera hainanensis Merr. and R. sinica Hemsl. are popular foliage plants raised from seeds. Nitrogen fertilizer can significantly influence medium pH and EC, plug seedling growth, and photosynthesis. Plug seedlings of both species, each with one pair of leaves, were subjected weekly to nutrient solutions with nitrogen (N) concentrations ranging from 0 to 32 mM. Nitrogen-deficient plants exhibited the lowest leaf area, SPAD-502 value, and shoot dry weight but the highest root-to-shoot ratio. Leaf area, SPAD-502 value, and root and shoot dry weights increased with increasing N concentration up to 12-16 mM, and gradually decreased thereafter. Well-grown plants with 12-16 mM N exhibited peak maximal fluorescence (Fm), photochemical quenching (qP) and the lowest minimal fluorescence (Fo) and non-photochemical quenching (qN). Seedlings received nutrient solutions with varying proportions of NH4-N: NO3-N (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0, in percentages) at 16 mM N. Both species exhibited reduced leaf area, SPAD-502 value, and plant dry weights when supplied with only NO3-N or NH4-N. Maximum growth was achieved at a 50% NH4-N: 50% NO3-N ratio. Species used in this study: Golden jasmine tree, Radermachera hainanensis Merr.; China Doll, Radermachera sinica Hemsl. Chemicals used in this study: ammonium nitrate; sodium dihydrogen phosphate; potassium sulphate; potassium nitrate; magnesium sulfate heptahydrate; calcium sulfate dihydrate; calcium nitrate tetrahydrate; ammonium sulfate; boric acid anhydrous; potassium chloride; ferrous sulfate heptahydrate; disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid dihydrate; copper sulfate pentahydrate; zinc sulfate heptahydrate; molybdic acid; manganese sulfate monohydrate; nickel sulfate hexahydrate; sodium hydroxide.

Responses of Growth and Photosynthesis in Potted Radermachera hainanensis and R. sinica to Various Medium Water Contents

Abstract Radermachera hainanensis Merr. and R. sinica Hemsl. are woody ornamental plants commonly used for indoor or landscape purposes. However, there is currently a lack of information regarding their water management. Potted plants of these two species were subjected to four volumetric water content (VWC) treatments: 20% VWC (dry), 20%/60% VWC (dry/wet cycle), 40% VWC (moisture), and 70% VWC (waterlogging). Results revealed that both Radermachera species exhibited the poorest growth under the 20% VWC treatment, with the lowest stem diameter, leaf area, plant dry weight, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance, and maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm). The maximum stem diameter, leaf area, and root dry weight were recorded with the 40% VWC treatment. Stem diameter, leaf area, Pn, and Fv/Fm were higher in both Radermachera species with the 20%/60% VWC compared to the 20% VWC treatment. R. sinica exposed to 20%/60% VWC exhibited similar root dry weight and leaf drop as those with the 40% VWC treatment, while R. hainanensis showed lower root dry weight and higher leaf drop compared to the 40% VWC. Root dry weight, Pn, and Fv/Fm remained unchanged in R. sinica but reduced in R. hainanensis with the 70% VWC compared to the 40% VWC. Species used in this study: Golden jasmine tree, Radermachera hainanensis Merr.; China Doll, Radermachera sinica Hemsl.

Effect of Ilex hainanensis Merr. On HFD-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and rebalance of gut microbiota and bile acids metabolism in mice

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a clinicopathological syndrome characterized by excessive intracellular fat deposition in the hepatocytes, and the development is exacerbated by gut microbiota and bile acids metabolism disorders. Ilex hainanensis Merr. is a traditional medicine of the Zhuang nationality, historically esteemed for its efficacy in lowering blood pressure and lipid levels. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacodynamic effects in NAFLD mice and impacts on gut microbiota and bile acids (BAs) metabolism of I. hainanensis extract (IHA). 16 compounds were identified from IHA by HPLC-DAD-MS analysis. IHA significantly reduced body weight indexs, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities, improved dyslipidemia and insulin resistance (IR), and effectively ameliorated hepatic steatosis in HFD-induced NAFLD mice. IHA also altered gut microbiota composition, particularly enhancing the abundance of bacteria involved in BAs metabolism, as well as augmented BAs synthesis in the liver and increased fecal excretion. In conclusion, our findings suggest that IHA holds promise in improving NAFLD conditions and modulating gut microbiota and BAs metabolism. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying IHA-mediated alleviation of lipid accumulation in NAFLD.

Multi-parameter joint analysis of the quality of honey

The antioxidant activity of honey is mainly evaluated based on its phenolic acid and total flavonoid content, while other parameters are not considered important. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the impact of honey's physicochemical indicators and the altitude of the collection site on its quality. This study measured physical and chemical indicators in Dalbergia hainanensis Merr. et Chun honey (DH), blueberry honey (BH), Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. honey (EH), and Rhus chinensis Mill. honey (RH) and then combined them to comprehensively analyze the influencing factors of honey's antioxidant capacity using correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and regression analysis. The results showed that the 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS+) clearance ability of DH (17.60 ± 4.61 mg/ml) was significantly better than the other three varieties of honey (p <0.05). The results of the correlation analysis showed that the IC50 of the ABTS+ clearance rate was significantly negatively correlated with total flavonoid, Vitamin B1 (VB1), and Vitamin C (VC) content, as well as the a* and b * values, while positively correlated with elevation. The PCA results showed that the principal components (PCs) with eigenvalues exceeding 1 explained 86.28% of the variation. The IC50 of the ABTS+ clearance rate and altitude play an essential role in PC1, suggesting that two indicators are important in distinguishing different honeys. The regression analysis showed that total flavonoid and Vitamins B1 and C content, as well as elevation, are indispensable parameters affecting the antioxidant properties of honey. These results provide a reference method for evaluating the quality of honey from different places and altitudes.

Complete plastome sequence of castanopsis hainanensis merr.1922: an endemic species in hainan

This Castanopsis hainanensis Merr.1922, a tree species native to Hainan province, possesses desirable characteristics such as firmness, density, and resistance to water and humidity. It is commonly used in the construction of beams, columns, floors, furniture, and agricultural tools. In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of the complete plastome of C. hainanensis. The total length of the plastome is 160,826 bp, which includes a Large Single-Copy (LSC) region, a Small Single-Copy (SSC) region, and two Inverted Repeats (IRs). The lengths of the IR regions are 90,471 bp, 18,957 bp, and 25,699 bp, respectively. The plastome contains a total of 261 genes, including 130 protein-coding genes (with sixteen genes duplicated in the IR), 37 tRNA genes (with seven genes duplicated in the IR), and eight rRNA genes (5S rRNA, 4.5S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and 23S rRNA). The overall G/C content in the plastome of C. hainanensis is 35.9%. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the genetic composition and organization of the plastome of C. hainanensis, contributing to our understanding of the evolutionary and functional aspects of this species.

Effects of Radermachera hainanensis Merr. on air characteristics: A 9-month study in a room with four replications

The objective of this study was to conduct experiments in a room to examine the effects of day and night, number of plants, and distance between plants on air quality, air temperature, and relative humidity with four replications over nine months. The experimental treatment was zero, one, two, four, or eight pots of Radermachera hainanensis Merr. Results showed that: (1) the number of indoor plants and the purification of air pollutants PM2.5, CO2, PM10, HCHO, and TVOC was not a simple dose-response relationship, and the effectiveness of Radermachera hainanensis Merr. on the purification of these five air pollutants was not the same; (2) the concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and TVOC closer to plants were all lower than concentrations far away from plants, while the concentrations of CO2 and HCHO far away from plants were lower than concentrations near the plants; (3) the number of indoor plants did not have a simple distance-effect relationship with the decrease in air temperature and the increase in relative humidity, and whether one, two, four, or eight pots of plants were placed, the air temperature in the middle row was lower than on either side and the relative humidity in the middle row was higher than on either side; and (4) it was recommended to place two pots of Radermachera hainanensis Merr. with a height of about 1.4 m and a crown diameter of about 0.7 m for every room of 12 m2 floor area or 46.2 m3 space volume to improve the air characteristics.

Complete chloroplast genome sequences of Myristicaceae species with the comparative chloroplast genomics and phylogenetic relationships among them.

Myristicaceae was widly distributed from tropical Asia to Oceania, Africa, and tropical America. There are 3 genera and 10 species of Myristicaceae present in China, mainly distributed in the south of Yunnan Province. Most research on this family focuses on fatty acids, medicine, and morphology. Based on the morphology, fatty acid chemotaxonomy, and a few of molecular data, the phylogenetic position of Horsfieldia pandurifolia Hu was controversial. In this study, the chloroplast genomes of two Knema species, Knema globularia (Lam.) Warb. and Knema cinerea (Poir.) Warb., were characterized. Comparing the genome structure of these two species with those of other eight published species, including three Horsfieldia species, four Knema species, and one Myristica species, it was found that the chloroplast genomes of these species were relatively conserved, retaining the same gene order. Through sequence divergence analysis, there were 11 genes and 18 intergenic spacers were subject to positive selection, which can be used to analyze the population genetic structure of this family. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all Knema species were clustered in the same group and formed a sister clade with Myristica species support by both high maximum likelihood bootstrap values and Bayesian posterior probabilities; among Horsfieldia species, Horsfieldia amygdalina (Wall.) Warb., Horsfieldia kingii (Hook.f.) Warb., Horsfieldia hainanensis Merr. and Horsfieldia tetratepala C.Y.Wu. were grouped together, but H. pandurifolia formed a single group and formed a sister clade with genus Myristica and Knema. Through the phylogenetic analysis, we support de Wilde' view that the H. pandurifolia should be separated from Horsfieldia and placed in the genus Endocomia, namely Endocomia macrocoma subsp. prainii (King) W.J.de Wilde. The findings of this study provide a novel genetic resources for future research in Myristicaceae and provide a molecular evidence for the taxonomic classification of Myristicaceae.

First Report of Phyllosticta capitalensis Causing Black Spot on Radermachera hainanensis Merr. in China.

Radermachera hainanensis Merr. plants are native in south-central and southeast of China. Plants produce large flowers, and are widely cultivated in China as ornamentals. In April 2020, R. hainanensis Merr. plants grown in Cixi Lvpin Garden (30°26'54″N, 121°25'48″E), Zhejiang Province, were found to have many black circular necrotic lesions. In the early infection stage, the lesions appeared in lower leaves as small black circular spots which developed later into large spots (11 to 38 mm diameter) with grey centers and chlorotic edges. Ultimately, the spots spread and merged. Moreover, infected leaves showed premature leaf fall. Disease intensity reached approximately 20% of plants in the affected field (0.5 ha). After effective chemical control, this disease did not spread to other healthy plants in the same garden. To identify the causative pathogen associated with the disease, ten symptomatic leaves were collected from ten different plants. Leaf tissues were cut from the lesion margins and sterilized as follows: surface sterilized with 75% ethanol for 30 seconds and washed three times in sterile distilled water. The leaf tissues were then dipped into 10% sodium hypochlorite for 3-4 minutes, then washed three times in distilled water and dried on a sterile filter paper. After drying, the surface-sterilized leaf discs were cut to small pieces (3×3 mm) and transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates and incubated at 28°C for 2 to 3 days under 12 h photoperiod. A total of 15 isolates were obtained from the affected leaves, and all the isolates displayed the same colony characteristics. Then, three single-spore isolates were randomly selected (F2, F5 and F8) for further study. The fungal colonies were dark green with a granular surface, and irregular white edges, later turning black. Conidia were one-celled, oval, and narrow at the end with a single apical end, measuring from 7.8 to 11.1 × 4.6 to 5.9 μm (av. 9.5 × 5.2 μm, n=50). These morphological characteristics were consistent with the description of Phyllosticta capitalensis (Wikee et al. 2013; Guarnaccia et al. 2017). The identity of three representative isolates were confirmed by a multilocus approach. The DNA of three isolates were extracted and partial sequences of ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), actin (ACT), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α) were amplified and sequenced as previously described (White et al. 1990; O'Donnell et al. 1998; Carbone & Kohn et al. 1999). The three selected isolates shared 100% identical sequence of ITS, ACT and TEF1-α. Then representative isolate F8 was selected for further study. BLAST analysis in GenBank showed that the obtained sequence of ITS (MZ317550) had 99% identity to P. elongata isolate eSX25240811. Other two sequences of ACT (MZ326837) and TEF1-α(MZ326839) showed 99% and 98% identity to P. capitalensis isolate YLWB01, respectively. The phylogenetic trees were constructed by Bootstrap method with 1000 replications using Maximum Likelihood model implemented in the MEGA 7. Results showed that the isolate F8 clustered with P. capitalensis with 100% bootstrap support. Pathogenicity of strain F8 was tested by Koch's postulates. A pathogenicity test was performed in a greenhouse with 80% relative humidity at 28°C. 20 healthy plants were sprayed with a 1×106 conidia ml-1 suspension (three leaves from each individual plants) and another 20 healthy plants were sprayed with sterile distilled water (three leaves from each individual plant) as control. Conidia was obtained from PDA plates after 7 days of incubation in the biochemical incubator at 28°C and concentration was counted in hemacytometer. After 15 days, disease symptoms were observed on all inoculated leaves, whereas the control plants remained asymptomatic. After that, P. capitalensis was re-isolated only from the infected leaves and identified by morphological and sequence analyses. Early identification of P. capitalensis as a causal agent for black spot is crucial to employ effective disease management strategies to control disease in the field. P. capitalensis has been reported on many crops in China (Cheng et al. 2019; Tang et al. 2020; Liao et al. 2020). However, to our knowledge, this is the first report of black spot disease caused by P. capitalensis on Radermachera hainanensis Merr. in China.

The chromosome-scale genomes of Dipterocarpus turbinatus and Hopea hainanensis (Dipterocarpaceae) provide insights into fragrant oleoresin biosynthesis and hardwood formation.

SummaryDipterocarpaceae are typical tropical plants (dipterocarp forests) that are famous for their high economic value because of their production of fragrant oleoresins, top‐quality timber and usage in traditional Chinese medicine. Currently, the lack of Dipterocarpaceae genomes has been a limiting factor to decipher the fragrant oleoresin biosynthesis and gain evolutionary insights into high‐quality wood formation in Dipterocarpaceae. We generated chromosome‐level genome assemblies for two representative Dipterocarpaceae species viz. Dipterocarpus turbinatus Gaertn. f. and Hopea hainanensis Merr. et Chun. Our whole‐genome duplication (WGD) analysis revealed that Dipterocarpaceae underwent a shared WGD event, which showed significant impacts on increased copy numbers of genes related to the biosynthesis of terpene, BAHD acyltransferases, fatty acid and benzenoid/phenylpropanoid, which probably confer to the formation of their characteristic fragrant oleoresin. Additionally, compared with common soft wood plants, the expansion of gene families was also found to be associated with wood formation, such as in CESA (cellulose synthase), CSLE (cellulose synthase‐like protein E), laccase and peroxidase in Dipterocarpaceae genomes, which might also contribute to the formation of harder, stronger and high‐density timbers. Finally, an integrative analysis on a combination of genomic, transcriptomic and metabolic data from different tissues provided further insights into the molecular basis of fragrant oleoresins biosynthesis and high‐quality wood formation of Dipterocarpaceae. Our study contributes the first two representative genomes for Dipterocarpaceae, which are valuable genetic resources for further researches on the fragrant oleoresins and superior‐quality timber, genome‐assisted breeding and improvement, and conservation biology of this family.

Effects of visible greenness, quantity and distance of indoor plants on human perceptions and physical parameters

The main purpose of this study was to examine the influence of visible greenness rate, green coverage ratio and distance from plants on human perceptions and parameters of the physical environment. A secondary purpose was to explore the correlation between parameters of physical environment and human perceptions when indoor plants were present. A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Experimental treatments were administered by placing either three or eight pots of Radermachera hainanensis Merr. in a room. Sixty students of a technology university in central Taiwan were recruited as participants, and their perceptions were collected using a questionnaire. Physical parameter data were collected using two air quality detectors. The results indicated the following: when the visible greenness rate was identical, different green coverage ratios and plant–participant distances did not exert different effects on participants' perceptions. Different green coverage ratios and distances from plants exerted differing effects on physical parameters. However, the distance from indoor plants had stronger and more consistent effects on physical parameters than the green coverage ratio. The environmental comfort of the participants increased with the CO2 level, and the lower the level of total volatile organic compound, the higher is the level of surprise.

The plastid genome of a tropical tree Endiandra hainanensis (Lauraceae)

Endiandra hainanensis Merr. et Metc. ex Allen is a woody plant belonging to the genus Endiandra R. Brown Prodr, in the family Lauraceae. To better determine its phylogenetic location with respect to the other Endiandra species, the complete plastid genome of E. hainanensis was sequenced. The whole plastome size is 158,558 bp that includes a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,513 bp, one large single-copy (LSC) region of 89,285 bp, and one small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,247 bp. The overall GC content of the whole plastome is 39.04%. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis with TVM + F + R2 model was conducted using 20 complete plastomes of the Lauraceae, which supports the close relationship between E. hainanensis and E. dolichocarpa.

Comparative phylogenetic analyses of Chinese Horsfieldia (Myristicaceae) using complete chloroplast genome sequences

AbstractThe biologist's ruler for biodiversity is the species; accurate species identification is fundamental to the conservation of endangered species and in‐depth biological scientific exploration. However, the delimitation and affinities of Horsfieldia in China has been controversial, owing in part to very low levels of molecular divergence within the family Myristicaceae. Because species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships within Horsfieldia are also unclear, 13 samples were collected across its distribution in China and their genomes were subjected to shotgun sequencing using Illumina platforms. A total of 40 487 994–84 801 416 pair‐end clean reads were obtained and, after assembly, the complete chloroplast genome was recovered for all samples. Annotation analysis revealed a total of 112 genes, including 78 protein‐coding genes, 30 transfer RNA, and 4 ribosomal RNA genes. Six variable loci (petN‐psbM, trnH‐psbA, ndhC‐trnV, psbJ‐psbL, ndhF, and rrn5‐rrn23) were identified. Phylogenetic analyses strongly support the presence of four distinct species of Horsfieldia in China. In addition, samples that had been identified previously as Horsfieldia kingii (Hook. f.) Warb. were indistinguishable from those of H. prainii (King) Warb., suggesting that if H. kingii does occur in China, it was not collected in this study. Similarly, the chloroplast genome of one H. hainanensis Merr. sample from Guangxi province was identical to H. tetratepala C. Y. Wu, suggesting that the distribution range of H. hainanensis might be narrower than assumed previously. The phylogenetic relationships between the Chinese Horsfieldia species based on the whole chloroplast genomes was supported strongly, indicating the potential for using entire chloroplast genomes as super‐barcodes for further resolution of the phylogeny of the genus Horsfieldia.

Soil seed burial and competition with surrounding plants determine the emergence and development of seedling of an endangered species Horsfieldia hainanensis Merr. in China

Three well-conserved Horsfieldia hainanensis Merr. populations were used to investigate their soil seed bank and seedling regeneration characteristics and their relationship to environmental factors. The results showed that the seed reserves were low in the H. hainanensis soil seed bank (16.93~24.74 seed/m2). The distribution pattern for the seeds and seedlings in the H. hainanensis populations was aggregated, and they were mainly found around 2–3 m from the mother plant. The seeds in the litter layer and the 5–10 cm soil layer showed no vigor, and only 25.7%~33.3% of the total seeds in the 0–5 cm soil layer were viable affected by the high temperature and humidity, the animals’ eating and poisoning. Affected by the height and coverage of the surrounding herbaceous layer and shrub layer, the seedlings of H. hainanensis could not obtain enough light and nutrients in the competition, resulting in the survival competitiveness of 1- to 3-year-old (1–3a) seedlings in the habitat had been in a weak position and a large number of seedlings died. It would take at least four years for seedlings to develop under the current environmental constraints. It can be concluded that the low seed reserve in the soil seed bank and high mortality of seedlings of H. hainanensis lead to slow or even stagnation of population regeneration, which was an important reason for the endangered of H. hainanensis. Therefore, the next research focus is to explore the influence mechanism of environmental factors on seed germination and seedling growth of H. hainanensis.

The combination of Ilexhainanoside D and ilexsaponin A1 reduces liver inflammation and improves intestinal barrier function in mice with high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming a major health concern worldwide. Ilex hainanensis Merr. extract was proved to have anti-inflammation effect on NAFLD, and Ilexhainanoside D (IhD) and ilexsaponin A1 (IsA) were the main triterpenoid saponins extracted from it. PurposesTo investigate the hepatoprotective effect of the combination of IhD and IsA (IIC) against NAFLD and discuss the potential mechanisms. MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce NAFLD and were treated with IIC (60, 120 or 240 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. Growth parameters, abdominal fat content, serum biochemical markers, hepatic lipid accumulation and insulin tolerance were assessed. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the hepatic gene expression of TLR2, TLR4, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the expression of the epidermal tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin. Gut microbiota profiles were established via high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. ResultsIIC significantly reduced the severity of NAFLD induced by HFD in a dose-dependent manner. IIC decreased the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes, reduced the relative abundance of Desulfovibrio and increased the relative abundance of Akkermansia. The intestinal barrier was improved as evidenced by the upregulation of the expression of ZO-1 and occludin in the ileum. IIC thus reduced the entry of LPS into the circulation and decreased the hepatic gene expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines. ConclusionThis approach demonstrated the positive effects of IIC in a mouse model of NAFLD, indicating that it possibly acts by reducing inflammation and improving the intestinal barrier function.

Ilex hainanensis Merr targets ITGAV to suppress the proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells.

Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify effective and safe therapeutic agents against OS. It has been reported that Ilex hainanensis Merr (IME) possesses antitumor properties. Integrin subunit alpha V (ITGAV) is important for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of tumors.Purpose: The objective of this study was to whether IME can play a role in the treatment of osteosarcoma by regulating ITGAV.Methods: Western blot and real-time PCR were used to detect the expression of ITGAV in non-tumorous tissues, osteosarcoma tissues, and metastatic tumors. The expression of ITGAV in MG63, U2OS, and hFOB1. A total of 19 cells was determined through Western blotting and real-time PCR. The expression of ITGAV in OS cells treated with different concentrations of DDP was determined through Western blotting. Agter transfecting with control or si-ITGAV, and subsequently treated with control or 5 μmol/L DDP, MTT assay and transwell assay were used to detect the proliferaion and migration of cells. Western blot was used to detect the expression of ITGAV in cells treated with different concentrations of IME and MTT assay and transwell assay were used to detect the proliferaion and migration of cells. MG63 and U2OS cells were treated with control, 5 μmol/L DDP, 25 μmol/L IME, or 5 μmol/L DDP combined with 25 μmol/L IME, the expression of ITGAV was determined through Western blotting and real-time PCR. MTT assay and transwell assay were used to detect the proliferation and migration of cells. Inhibitory effect of IME on lung metastasis of osteosarcoma in vivo.Results: ITGAV was highly expressed in tumors, with the highest expression found in metastatic tumors and higher in OS cells. A low concentration of DDP (5 μmol/L) inhibited the expression of ITGAV. However, ITGAV may be related to the development of resistance to DDP. Silencing of ITGAV downregulates the proliferation and migration of OS cells as the effect of low-concentration DDP (5 μmol/L). IME inhibited the proliferation and migration of MG63 and U2OS cells in a concentration-dependent manner and decreased the expression of ITGAV. MTT and Transwell assays showed that 25 μmol/L IME and 5 μmol/L DDP exhibited similar inhibitory effects on the proliferation and migration of OS cells. The combination of IME with DDP resulted in the amplification of these inhibitory effects. Both DDP and IME downregulated the expression of ITGAV, and the inhibition of ITGAV was amplified by the combination of IME with DDP. In-vivo studies have shown that IME and DDP, independently or in combination, may significantly inhibit the metastasis of OS to the lungs.Conclusion: IME may reduce the resistance of OS cells to DDP to some extent.

Ilexgenin A inhibits mitochondrial fission and promote Drp1 degradation by Nrf2-induced PSMB5 in endothelial cells.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is one of important events involving in the pathological process of coronary artery disease. Many traditional Chinese medicines have been widely used for the treatment of AS. Previous studies have demonstrated that Ilexgenin A (IA) obtained from Ilex hainanensis Merr. could improve AS development. However, its underlying mechanism is still unknown. This study was conducted to explore the possible targets and mechanisms involving in the anti-atheroclerosis effect of IA. The results showed IA significantly promoted NO production, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and inflammatory cytokine production induced by palmitate (PA) in endothelial cells, demonstrating IA could improve endothelial dysfunction. Meanwhile, IA dramatically inhibited dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) expression and mitochondrial fission induced by PA whereas proteasome inhibitor epoxomicin attenuated its effect on Drp1 expression, indicating IA decreased Drp1 expression with regulation of proteasome. Furthermore, IA also could increase the expression of proteasome subunit beta type5 (PSMB5) and activate nuclear factor-like 2 (Nrf2). Nrf2 knockdown eliminated the induction effect of IA on PSMB5 expression while abrogated its inhibition on ROS generation and mitochondrial fission stimulated by PA. These results demonstrated that IA could promote PSMB5 expression in an Nrf2-dependent manner, resulting in the suppression of mitochondrial fission, and thus improve endothelial dysfunction. These findings laid a foundation to the future development of IA as an agent to the prevention and treatment of AS.

Complete plastome sequences of Diospyros maclurei Merr. and Diospyros hainanensis Merr. (Ebenaceae): two endemic species in Hainan Province, China

Diospyros is the largest genus (about 485 species) in Ebenaceae. It is a deciduous or evergreen tree or shrub. It grows in pantropical and extending into temperate regions. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastid genome sequences of D. maclurei Merr. and D. hainanensis Merr. in an effort to provide genomic resources useful for promoting their systematics research and potential economic development. The complete plastome of D. maclurei is 157,946 bp in length, including two Inverted Repeat (IR) regions of 26,081 bp, a Large Single-Copy (LSC) region of 87,387 bp, and a Small Single-Copy (SSC) region of 18,397 bp. The plastome contains 114 genes, consisting of 80 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA genes, and four unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of D. maclurei is 62.60%. The complete plastome of D. hainanensis is 157,999 bp in length, including two Inverted Repeat (IR) regions of 26,077 bp, a Large Single-Copy (LSC) region of 87,523 bp, and a Small Single-Copy (SSC) region of 18,322 bp. The plastome contains 114 genes, consisting of 80 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA genes, and four unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of D. hainanensis is 62.60%. The complete plastome sequences of D. Maclurei and D. hainanensis will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of the two species as well as for the phylogenetic studies of Diospyros.

Complete plastome sequence of Hydnocarpus hainanensis Merr (Achariaceae): an endemic ‘vulnerable’ tree in South China

Hydnocarpus hainanensis Merr. is an evergreen tree with a height of 6–12 m and a diameter at breast height of 50 cm. It is distributed in Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, South of Yunnan Province of China. Here, we report and characterize the complete plastid genome sequence of H. hainanensis in an effort to provide genomic resources useful for promoting its conservation and systematics research. The plastome of H. hainanensis is found to possess a total length 163,330 bp with the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperms, containing two inverted repeats (IRs) of 26,870 bp, a large single copy (LSC) region of 91,510 bp and a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,080 bp. The plastome contains 111 genes, consisting of 78 unique protein-coding genes (seven of which are duplicated in the IR: rps12, rps7, ndhB, ycf2, rpl23, rpl2, and rps19), 29 unique tRNA genes (seven of which are duplicated in the IR, i.e. trnNGUU, trnRACG, trnAUGC, trnlGAU, trnVGAC, trnLCAA, and trnlCAU) and four unique rRNA genes (5S rRNA, 4.55S rRNA, 23S rRNA, and 16S rRNA). The overall A/T content in the plastome of H. hainanensis is 63.70%. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that H. hainanensis is close to Salix rorida within Malpighiales. The complete plastome sequence of H. hainanensis will provide a useful resource for the conservation genetics of the one species as well as for the phylogenetic studies of Achariaceae.

Therapeutic Effect of Ilex hainanensis Merr. Extract on Essential Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

With a rapidly aging population, the prevalence of hypertension in adults continues to rise, placing a substantial and escalating social and economic burden. Ilex hainanensis Merr. is commonly used as a folk remedy for treating hypertension, dyslipidemia, and inflammation in China. This systematic review aims to evaluate current evidence for the therapeutic effect of Ilex hainanensis Merr. extract (EIH) on essential hypertension. Six electronic databases (Pubmed, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, Wanfang and CNKI) were searched to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) relevant to EIH on essential hypertension up to Jan 2018. Six RCTs including 772 participants met eligibility criteria. Methodological quality of the trials was generally low. Meta-analysis showed that EIH demonstrated a beneficial effect for lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP), left ventricular mass (LVM) in participants with essential hypertension. There was no significant difference between EIH and antihypertensive drugs in SBP (WMD: −0.44 [−2.30, 1.43]; P = 0.65), DBP (WMD: WMD: −0.02 [−1.13, 1.09]; P = 0.98) and LVM (WMD: −1.36 [−4.99, 2.26]; P = 0.46). Moreover, one trial showed that EIH combined with antihypertensive drugs was more effective in lowering blood pressure than those antihypertensive drugs used alone. However, the findings were limited by the small sample sizes, duration and low methodological quality of the trials. This is the first systematic review of EIH on essential hypertension. More rigorous RCTs with high quality are still needed to prove the effectiveness and safety of EIH and its preparations for essential hypertension.

Antibacterial triterpenoids from the leaves of Ilex hainanensis Merr.

One new triterpenoid (1) and seven known analogues (2–8) were isolated from the leaves of Ilex hainanensis Merr.. Their structures were established by analysis of their MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data and comparison with those in the literature. The antibacterial activity of compounds 1–8 were evaluated by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration using twofold microdilution broth method against Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 (Gram-positive) and Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 10953 (Gram-negative). Compounds 3 and 5 showed significant antibacterial activity against S. mutans in concentration of 9.7 μg/mL, while showed little antibacterial activity against F. nucleatum. On the contrary, the inhibitory activity of compounds 1, 2 and 6 against F. nucleatum were higher than them against S. mutans.