Lonicera Caerulea Research Articles

Venturia chinensis sp. nov., a new venturialean ascomycete from Khingan Mountains.

A new species of Venturia (V. chinensis) is described and illustrated from the leaves of Lonicera praeflorens collected from Lesser Khingan Mountains, the northeast China. It is characterized by habitat saprobic; ascomata small-sized, solitary or scattered, superficial, subglobose to citriform, wall black, papillate, ostiolate, covered with setae; peridium thin; hamathecium evanescent in mature ascomata; asci 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, oblong to obclavate, with or without a short, knob-like pedicel; ascospores ellipsoidal, olivaceous pale brown, 1-septate, ascospore wall thin, smooth. Comparisons of V. chinensis with V. lonicerae (another species on Lonicera caerulea) and other species of Venturia lead to the conclusion that collected taxon is new. Its relationships with other species of Venturia are discussed based on morphology and 28S nrDNA and ITS nrDNA sequence comparisons.

Effect of Thawing Conditions on Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Activity of Frozen Haskap Berries (Lonicera caerulea L.)

The effect of different thawing methods on three haskap berry (Lonicera caerulea L.) varieties, Tundra (T), Berry Blue (BB) and Indigo Gem (IG), was investigated. Methods included thawing the frozen berries at room temperature (25 ± 2 °C), refrigerated temperature (4 °C) and using a microwave oven. All the berry varieties were analyzed for their total phenolic content (TPC)/total reducing capacity (TRC), total anthocyanin content (TAC) and antioxidant potential (DPPH radical scavenging activity). The TPC/TRC, TAC and DPPH scavenging activity ranges in the fresh fruits were 6.17-8.42 mg GAE/ g FW, 4.49-6.97 mg C-3-G E/ g FW, and 78.70-89.55 %, respectively. Frozen storage for six months followed by consequent thawing at the standard conditions (room temperature) caused 35.85-44.73, 32.14-53.23, and 26.28-29.57 % reductions in the TPC/TRC, TAC, and DPPH scavenging activity, respectively. The highest reduction occurred in the Berry Blue variety followed by that of Indigo Gem. Refrigerated thawing did not significantly improve the retention of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins. Microwave thawing could be achieved in significantly shorter time (17.31 min) as compared to room temperature (12.00 h) and refrigerated thawing (22.00 h) and could significantly improve the retention of phenolics, anthocyanins and antioxidant potential. The corresponding reductions in the TPC/TRC, TAC, and DPPH scavenging activity of different varieties ranged from 24.97%-39.87%, 18.92%-47.22%, and 21.39%- 27.29 %, re-spectively. Thus, further investigation into the industrial application of microwave thawing is recommended to maximize the retention of bioactive compounds in products manufactured from frozen haskap berries. Keywords: Haskap berry, Lonicera caerulea, freezing, thawing, polyphenols, antioxidant activity.

Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of anthocyanins from haskap berries (Lonicera caerulea L.) using Response Surface Methodology

Haskap berries (Lonicera caerulea L.) are a rich source of bioactive molecules. As such, the extraction of anthocyanins is important for the development of many value-added products and functional food ingredients. In this paper, the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of anthocyanins from haskap berries was investigated. Significant independent variables were screened and optimized using Plackett–Burman (PB) and Box–Behnken (BB) designs, respectively. The mathematical model showed a high coefficient of determination (R2=0.9396) and the optimum conditions for the extraction were as follows: liquid/solid ratio 25:1 (mL/g), solvent composition of 80% ethanol, addition of 0.5% formic acid, ultrasound bath temperature of 35°C for 20min. Under these conditions, the total anthocyanin content of 22.73mg cyaniding 3-glucoside equivalents (C3G)/g dry weight (DW) was consistent with the predicted response of 22.45mg C3G/g DW from the model (mean error of 1.28%). Five anthocyanins were identified in the optimized extract, namely cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside, cyanidin 3-glucoside, cyanidin 3-rutinoside, pelargonidin 3-glucoside, and peonidin 3-glucoside. Thus, UAE is a suitable technique for the extraction of anthocyanins from haskap berries.

Inhibitory effects of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L) on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats: Crosstalk of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects

Blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L) is a (poly) phenol-rich edible berry. Based on the properties of phenolic compounds, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of blue honeysuckle extract (BHE) in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rat model and macrophage-like (RAW264.7) cell model. Oral administration of BHE in the range of 75–300 µg/g BW attenuated AIA symptom as reducing paw edema in rats. The serum levels of pro-inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and nitric oxide (NO) were significantly reduced in BHE-fed rat. The production of inflammatory enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), in the spleen was also significantly suppressed. Moreover, serum transaminases including glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were inhibited, and the antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were recovered. Finally, the major bioactive components in BHE were identified as (−)-epicatechin (EC) and cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G), which were proven to suppress the expression of COX-2 and iNOS, accompanied by enhancing the level of Nrf2 and HO-1 in RAW264.7 cells. Taken together, our data demonstrated that BHE rich with EC and C3G attenuated rat AIA symptom with crosstalk of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Gene pool of less widely spread fruit tree species

Within the gene pool collected at the Department of Breeding and Propagation of Garden Plants of the Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, in Lednice we established experimental plots with some selected less known tree species - quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.), sea buckthorn (Hippophäe rhamnoides L.), Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) and honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea subsp. edulis Turcy. ex Freyn.). The experimental plots were established in successive steps according to the availability of planting material and using conventional methods of cultivation. Evaluations are focused on selected growth parameters, phenology and commercial use of the fruit.The evaluations of the crown of quince showed differences in the size and shape. The variety Hemus had the largest crown volume (5.70 m3); the variety Blanár gave the highest harvest yields. The sea buckthorn varieties Polmix, Dar Katuni and Novosť Altaja produced the longest increments. The average weight of the fruit of the variety Leicora was 0.74 g. The varieties of Cornelian cherry also differed in the growth parameters; the highest shrubs were those of the variety Vyšegorodskij, which also produced the largest fruit – the average weight of the fruit was 4.85 g. The initial growth of selected varieties and genotypes of honeysuckle is different when compared to the fruit-bearing shrubs. Harvest data are in direct proportion to the size of the shrub. Fruit harvest began in mid-May and vegetation ended on 15 October.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Haskap Cultivars is Polyphenols-Dependent.

Haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) berries have long been used for their health promoting properties against chronic conditions. The current study investigated the effect of Canadian haskap berry extracts on pro-inflammatory cytokines using a human monocytic cell line THP-1 derived macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. Methanol extracts of haskap from different growing locations in Canada were prepared and characterized for their total phenolic profile using colorimetric assays and liquid chromatography—Mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Human THP-1 monocytes were seeded in 24-well plates (5 × 105/well) and treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 0.1 μg/mL) for 48 h to induce macrophage differentiation. After 48 h, the differentiated macrophages were washed with Hank’s buffer and treated with various concentrations of test compounds for 4 h, followed by the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulation (18 h). Borealis cultivar showed the highest phenolic content, flavonoid content and anthocyanin content (p < 0.05). A negative correlation existed between the polyphenol concentration of the extracts and pro-inflammatory cytokines: Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), prostaglandin (PGE2), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme. Borealis exhibited comparable anti-inflammatory effects to COX inhibitory drug, diclofenac. The results showed that haskap berry polyphenols has the potential to act as an effective inflammation inhibitor.

Single oral dose toxicity test of blue honeysuckle concentrate in mice.

The objective of this study was to obtain single oral dose toxicity information for concentrated and lyophilized powder of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L., Caprifoliaceae; BHcL) in female and male ICR mice to aid in the process of developing natural origin medicinal ingredients or foods following proximate analysis and phytochemical profile measurement. The proximate analysis revealed that BHcL had an energy value of 3.80 kcal/g and contained 0.93 g/g of carbohydrate, 0.41 g/g of sugar, 0.02 g/g of protein, and 0.20 mg/g of sodium. BHcL did not contain lipids, including saturated lipids, trans fats, or cholesterols. Further, BHcL contained 4.54% of betaine, 210.63 mg/g of total phenols, 159.30 mg/g of total flavonoids, and 133.57 mg/g of total anthocyanins. Following administration of a single oral BHcL treatment, there were no treatment-related mortalities, changes in body weight (bw) or organ weight, clinical signs, necropsy or histopathological findings up to 2,000 mg/kg bw, the limited dosage for rodents of both sexes. We concluded that BHcL is a practically non-toxic material in toxicity potency.

Состав антоцианов плодов рябины черноплодной, ирги овальнолистной и жимолости голубой сибирского региона по данным ВЭЖХ

Состав антоцианов плодов рябины черноплодной, ирги овальнолистной и жимолости голубой сибирского региона по данным ВЭЖХ

Genetic diversity and chemical characterization of selected Polish and Russian cultivars and clones of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea)

In traditional medicine, Lonicera caerulea has a notable place, and it has been used for thousands of years in East Asian countries for treating cancer, inflammation, hepatic complications, influenza, and wounds. However, the molecular and chemical characterization of this plant is not well defined. In this study, inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to determine the genetic variability of 7 blue honeysuckle cultivars and 3 clones. To characterize these 10 accessions, total flavonoids, phenolic acids contents, and antioxidant activities were estimated. Twelve primers generated 101 polymorphic ISSR-polymerase chain reaction bands. Based on the ISSR amplification profiles, a cluster dendrogram was obtained, which showed that the similarity coefficients among the 10 genotypes of L. Caerulea ranged from 0.53 to 0.69. The study also identified promising genotypes in terms of flavonoid and phenolic acid contents and high antioxidant activities, as follows: cultivar Atut and clone P. A systematic cluster analysis conducted on the basis of chemical data showed that the 10 tested genotypes can be classified into 2 groups. The ISSR analysis together with data for antioxidant activities as well as flavonoid and phenolic acid contents in honeysuckle could be used to evaluate the genetic diversity and to make more efficient choices of parents in current blue honeysuckle breeding programs.

In vitro Screening for Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Antidiabetic Properties of Some Korean Native Plants on Mt. Halla, Jeju Island.

In this study, Prunus padus, Lonicera caerulea, Berberis amurensis, and Ribes maximowiczianum, which are mainly distributed on Mt. Halla, Jeju Island, have been investigated for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic activities. The methanol extracts of R. maximowiczianum leaves and P. padus branches exhibited significant and dose-dependent antioxidant activity including electron-donation ability and reducing power. To analyze the antimicrobial activity, each extract was tested by a serial two-fold dilution method against five selected gram-positive bacteria and four gram-negative bacteria, and this suggested that P. padus branches possessed the maximum antimicrobial activity against most of the gram-positive bacteria tested. In addition, the methanol extracts of P. padus branches exhibited the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 1.0±0.1 μg/ml, indicating that P. padus is a promising source as a herbal medicine.

Репродуктивная способность Lonicera caerulea (Caprifoliaceae) в локальной зоне геолого-геофизической неоднородности Горного Алтая

Репродуктивная способность Lonicera caerulea (Caprifoliaceae) в локальной зоне геолого-геофизической неоднородности Горного Алтая

Screening of Optimal Differentiation Medium to Lonicera edulis

An excellent Lonicera edulis strain, L1-8 that was bred by Northeast Institute of Geography and Agro-ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, was used as material in this research. The axillary buds of its dormant branches were used as explants. A four-factor and four-level orthogonal test was designed in order to choose the best differentiation medium for providing the technical support of Lonicera edulis micropropagation. The results showed that the culture medium and concentration of 6-BA were the main factors, and the best differentiation condition was MS culture medium containing 2.0 mg · L−1 6-BA, 0.3 mg · L−1 IBA and 1.5 mg · L−1 GA3.

Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in Berries of Four Russian Cultivars of Lonicera kamtschatica (Sevast.) Pojark

Nowadays increasing attention has been focused on polyphenolic compounds as the main representants of antioxidants in horticultural crops including fruits. The edible honeysuckle has an unique position among lesser known fruits due to its high level of antioxidants. In the present study we determined polyphenolic profile and antioxidant capacity of four Russian cultivars of edible honeysuckle including ‘Gerda 25’, ‘Amfora’, ‘Morena’, ‘Lipnicka’, which found together in a single location in Mendel University in Brno, The Czech Republic. Polyphenolic compounds were detected by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detector (HPLC-ED). The antioxidant capacity was measured by DPPH test. According to the results there were differences among cultivars in terms of polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity and Lonicera kamtschatica ‘Gerda 25’ were found to be possessed the highest content of phenolic compounds corresponding to the highest value of antioxidant activity.

Optimization of capillary isotachophoretic method for determination of major macroelements in blue honeysuckle berries (Lonicera caerulea L.) and related products.

A reliable and repeatable isotachophoretic method for the simultaneous determination of K(+), Na(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and ammonium in berries of different blue honeysuckle cultivars was developed. The usefulness of the complex-forming equilibria in determining the cations mentioned above was studied. The addition of 7.5 mM 18-crown-6 and 2 mM α-hydroxyisobutyric acid to sulfuric acid enhanced the separation capacity of the leading electrolyte. The terminating electrolyte of 10 mM TRIS buffered to pH 4.30 was chosen as most appropriate for these studies. An ultrasound-assisted procedure for the extraction of macroelements from dried fruit of Lonicera caerulea L. was investigated using response surface methodology. The Box-Behnken experimental design showed the optimal extraction conditions as follows: temperature of 36 °C, extraction time of 42.3 min and solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:800 v/w. Detection limits for the method ranged from 0.030 to 0.097 mg/l with precision expressed by RSD ranging from 1.4 % for Mg to 4.4 % for Na. The results showed that blue honeysuckle berries are a good source of potassium, from 199 to 402 mg/100 g FW, especially 'Zielona' and 'Zojka' cultivars. The average content of other analytes in these berries was 5.2 mg Na, 24.8 mg Ca, 7.5 mg Mg and 52.0 mg ammonium per 100 g FW. The berry products contained lower amounts of minerals especially Mg and K. However, a glass of freshly squeezed juice can provide almost 20 % of the RDI of potassium. The results obtained using both the developed isotachophoretic method and ion chromatographic procedure did not differ significantly.

Interploid and intraploid hybridizations to produce polyploid Haskap (Lonicera caerulea var. emphyllocalyx) plants

We produced polyploid Haskap (Lonicera caerulea var. emphyllocalyx) plants by performing interploid and intraploid crosses of wild accessions. Embryo rescue in a tetraploid (4x) × diploid (2x) cross produced triploid plants; reciprocal 2x × 4x cross failed to produce viable seeds. Intraploidy crosses of 4x × 4x produced mostly tetraploids but also several hexaploid (6x) and octoploid (8x) plants. Using hexaploids obtained from this cross, we examined reciprocal 4x–6x crosses and found that both produced pentaploid plants. An octoploid was produced by applying colchicine to a tetraploid; a 4x × 8x cross using this plant and aided by embryo rescue culture produced three hexaploid plants, with an aneuploid number of chromosomes. Several plants obtained in this study flowered and set fruits. We discuss the overall efficiency of producing polyploid plants in interploid and intraploid crosses.

Biophysical mechanism of the protective effect of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L. var. kamtschatica Sevast.) polyphenols extracts against lipid peroxidation of erythrocyte and lipid membranes.

The aim of the present research was to determine the effect of blue honeysuckle fruit and leaf extracts components on the physical properties of erythrocyte and lipid membranes and assess their antioxidant properties. The HPLC analysis showed that the extracts are rich in polyphenol anthocyanins in fruits and flavonoids in leaves. The results indicate that both extracts have antioxidant activity and protect the red blood cell membrane against oxidation induced by UVC irradiation and AAPH. The extracts do not induce hemolysis and slightly increase osmotic resistance of erythrocytes. The research showed that extracts components are incorporated mainly in the external part of the erythrocyte membrane, inducing the formation of echinocytes. The values of generalized polarization and fluorescence anisotropy indicate that the extracts polyphenols alter the packing arrangement of the hydrophilic part of the erythrocyte and lipid membranes, without changing the fluidity of the hydrophobic part. The DSC results also show that the extract components do not change the main phase transition temperature of DPPC membrane. Studies of electric parameters of membranes modified by the extracts showed that they slightly stabilize lipid membranes and do not reduce their specific resistance or capacity. Examination of IR spectra indicates small changes in the degree of hydration in the hydrophilic region of liposomes under the action of the extracts. The location of polyphenolic compounds in the hydrophilic part of the membrane seems to constitute a protective shield of the cell against other substances, the reactive forms of oxygen in particular.

Evaluation of antioxidant activity, polyphenolic compounds, amino acids and mineral elements of representative genotypes of Lonicera edulis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioactive substances in 19 berry cultivars of edible honeysuckle (Lonicera edulis). A statistical evaluation was used to determine the relationship between the content of selected bioactive substances and individual cultivars. Regarding mineral elements, the content of sodium was measured using potentiometry and spectrophotometry. The content of selected polyphenolic compounds with high antioxidant activity was determined by a HPLC–UV/ED method. The total amount of polyphenols was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant activity was determined using five methods (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, FR and DMPD) that differ in their principles. The content of 13 amino acids was determined by ion-exchange chromatography. The experimental results obtained for the different cultivars were evaluated and compared by statistical and bioinformatic methods. A unique feature of this study lies in the exhaustive analysis of the chosen parameters (amino acids, mineral elements, polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity) during one growing season.

Haskap Berries (Lonicera caerulea L.)—a Critical Review of Antioxidant Capacity and Health-Related Studies for Potential Value-Added Products

Haskap berries commonly refer to fruits of Lonicera caerulea L., recognized by the Japanese aborigines as the “elixir of life.” Due to their recent arrival on the North American market, haskap berries have not yet been positioned among other berries and compared in terms of their phytochemical content. Haskap berries have higher ascorbic acid and anthocyanin content than other berries known for their health-promoting benefits, such as blueberries. In this article, we give a brief description of the phytochemical content and limitations of current methods used for their quantification, as well as a critical review of the techniques available to assess the antioxidant capacity of haskap extract in comparison to other berries. We then present results from recent studies with haskap extracts used in in vitro (bacterial and human cell cultures), preclinical trials (in animal models), and a first-in-human study to assess the implications for human health. Finally, we discuss current commercial products and the potential of encapsulation technology to preserve the bioactivity and increase stability of the extracts, thus creating a new range of value-added haskap products.

Phylogenetic analysis of the polymorphic 4× species complex Lonicera caerulea (Caprifoliaceae) using RAPD markers and noncoding chloroplast DNA sequences

The blue-berried honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) is one of the most representative species of the genus Lonicera L. in horticulture. This article presents the results of research on the taxonomy of blue-fruited honeysuckles, which is quite complicated due to the phenotypic plasticity, ability to hybridize and distribution across different ecological zones. We used the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and sequencing of seven chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) regions (trnH-psbA, rpS12-rpL20, trnL-trnF, trnS-trnG, trnG, rpS16 and trnS-psbZ) to assess the phylogenetic relationships among the taxa within the polymorphic 4 × species complex L. caerulea and to determine the position of Lonicera boczkarnikowae Plekh. and Lonicera venulosa Maxim. within this complex. Lonicera chrysantha Turcz. ex Ledeb., L. orientalis Lam. and L. xylosteum L. were used as the outgroup species. The RAPD and cpDNA analyses both indicated that all of the studied taxa of the blue-fruited honeysuckle form a single cluster consisting of two subclusters. A second cluster includes the outgroup species. According to the cpDNA analysis, L. boczkarnikowae and L. venulosa belong to the subcluster that includes the taxa of the polymorphic tetraploid complex L. caerulea. A separate subcluster within the cluster of blue-fruited honeysuckles contains L. altaica and L. edulis.

Propagation of Blue Honeysuckles (Lonicera caerulea L.) in In Vitro Culture

The aim of this study was to develop micropropagation protocol for Lonicera caerulea L. Clone 44, Clone 46 and Br?zowa, three important invasive woody horticultural plants. Actively growing shoots from the shrubs grown in the field were used for initiation of culture. Shoots were surface sterilized with ethanol, then with sodium hypochlorite and mercury sulfate. MS medium supplemented with cytokinin BAP at concentrations of 1.0 - 4.0 mg·dm-3 had no statistically significant effect on the shoot initiation of selected blue honeysuckle genotypes. Multiplication rate varied depending on the genotype and plant growth regulator concentrations. The highest number of microshoots produced per explant of Clone 44 and Clone 46 was obtained at using 2.0 mg·dm-3 BAP, while of cultivar Br?zowa – 1.0 mg·dm-3 BAP. Shoots were rooted in vitro in the presence of IBA and IAA. Microshoots have rooted differently depending on the treatment and genotype. In the case of Clone 4458% rooting was achieved at 2.5 mg·dm-3 IBA and MS basal nutrient medium treatment.