Humulus Japonicus Research Articles

Assessing the Invasion Risk of Humulus scandens Using Ensemble Species Distribution Modeling and Habitat Connectivity Analysis.

Given the rapid spread of invasive alien plant species in Europe and limited information regarding their distribution and dispersion patterns, we analyzed the invasive risk of Humulus scandens, a species with an increased invasive potential. We collected occurrence records from Romania within an EU funded project and literature data, in order to perform an ensemble distribution model. Environmental variables varied from downscaled topoclimatic continuous entries to categorical ones, such as soil class, texture, or land use. Results showed potential core areas of the species within the study region. By inverting the probability output of the models, we have created a resistance surface which helped us model its dispersion patterns. Further, we assessed the probability of invasion for each resulted corridor using the species dispersion ecology and created an invasion risk map. H. scandens is highly influenced by milder climates and areas with constant flooding events, thus we found that the Tisa basin and its tributaries can be under a high invasion risk, spreading through the entire catchment, in Central, Western, and Northern Romania, towards the Eastern Carpathians. The Danube acted as a dispersion corridor for major river systems in southern Romania, but the dispersion capability of the species dropped in steppe areas with higher aridity and limited water course network. This approach is useful for creating adequate action plans in relation to invasive alien plant species, and should urgently be regarded, as results show a potentially large distribution of H. scandens across entire water catchment areas, with devastating effects on natural ecosystems.

Ameliorative Effects of Humulus japonicus Extract and Polysaccharide-Rich Extract of Phragmites rhizoma in Rats with Gastrointestinal Dysfunctions Induced by Water Avoidance Stress.

Chronic stress can cause the gastrointestinal disorders characterized by an altered bowel movement and abdominal pain. Studies have shown that Humulus japonicus extract (HJE) has anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal effects, and Phragmites rhizoma extract (PEP) has antioxidative and antistress effects. The present study aimed to investigate the possible effects of HJE and PEP in rat models with stress-induced gastrointestinal dysfunctions. The rats were exposed to water avoidance stress (WAS, 1 h/day) for 10 days to induce gastrointestinal disorders. We found that WAS significantly increased fecal pellet output during 1 h stress, gastric emptying, colonic contractility, and permeability compared to the normal rats. Pretreatment with HJE and PEP (0.25 and 0.5 mL/kg, both administered separately) improved the increased gastric emptying and colonic contractility induced by electrical field stimulation, acetylcholine, and serotonin and also alleviated the increased colonic permeability. HJE and PEP also increased the claudin-1 and occludin expressions, reduced by WAS. WAS increased the concentration of TNF-α and TBARS and reduced FRAP. HJE and PEP recovered these effects. HJE and PEP improved the gastrointestinal disorders induced by WAS by upregulating the tight junction protein, possibly acting on cholinergic and serotonergic receptors to abolish the colonic hypercontractility and hyperpermeability and degradation of inflammatory cytokines via an antioxidant effect.

Anti-neuroinflammatory activity of Humulus japonicus extract and its active compound luteolin on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in SIM-A9 microglia via NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways

Humulus japonicus (HJ) is administered to patients with pulmonary disease and skin disease owing to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Lately, HJ has been shown to exert impacts on protection against neurodegenerative sickness. Nevertheless, its impacts on microglia have not been discovered in depth. As a result, anti-inflammatory impacts of HJ ethanol extract (HJE) and its active compound luteolin on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated SIM-A9 cells were investigated. The results showed that HJE luteolin inhibited generation of interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, nitric oxide, interleukin-6, together with prostaglandin E2, iNOS, COX-2 along with HO-1 induction. Furthermore, HJE and luteolin reduced degrees of NF-κB pathway components within cytoplasm and nucleus, while reducing cytoplasmic MAPK levels and increasing Nrf2 levels in the cytoplasm and nucleus. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that HJE might exhibit neuroprotective effects and could be used as a novel drug for various neurological diseases.

Colletotrichum fioriniae infecting invasive Japanese hop (Humulus scandens) in the United States.

Japanese hop (Humulus scandens) is a non-native, invasive plant that colonizes disturbed riparian areas throughout the eastern United States and Canada, forming dense, monocultural stands that displace native plant communities due to a high reproductive rate, rapid growth, climbing bines, and dense shading (Balogh and Dancza 2008). It is capable of serving as a reservoir for agronomically important plant pathogens, such as the Tomato spotted wilt virus and powdery mildew species that infect commercial hemp and hop fields (Yoon et al. 2018; Weldon et al. 2020). In the spring of 2016, diseased populations of H. scandens were observed along the Monocacy River in Frederick County, Maryland with severe chlorotic and necrotic leaf lesions. Symptomatic leaves were surface sterilized and placed in moist chambers at 25°C for sporulation. Sporulating acervuli, lacking setae, developed on irregular, tan necrotic leaf lesions following 7 to 12 days in a moist chamber (Figure 1). Conidia were hyaline, aseptate, smooth-walled, fusiform to cylindrical with both ends acute (Figure 1B). Conidia measured (n = 100) [L x W; Average (+ Std. Err), range]: 12.42 µm (± 0.10), 8.41 - 14.48 µm; x 3.91 µm (±0.03), 3.03 - 4.91 µm. Monoconidial fungal cultures were obtained by transferring conidia with a sterile glass needle to acidified potato dextrose agar and incubated at 25°C for 2 to 3 days. Based on phenotypic characteristics and conidial morphology and size, the pathogen appeared to belong to the Colletotrichum acutatum complex (Damm et al. 2012). Therefore, six loci (ITS, GADPH, CHS1, HIS3, ACT, and TUB2) were amplified and sequenced from a representative isolate, 16-008, for species characterization (GenBank accessions MW023070 to MW023075) (Damm et al. 2012). For the ITS region and ACT, GADPH, and CHS1 loci, isolate 16-008 was 100% identical to C. fioriniae and shared 99% similarity to TUB2 and HIS3 for multiple accessions of C. fioriniae in GenBank. Gene sequences were aligned, trimmed, concatenated, and analyzed against 32 reference strains, within the C. acutatum complex (Damm et al. 2012). Concatenated loci were used to generate a maximum likelihood phylogeny using W-IQ-TREE (Trifinopoulos et al. 2016). Results from the phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that isolate 16-008 was most genetically similar to C. fioriniae with a bootstrap support of 100% (Figure 2). Based on phenotypic and sequence analyses, isolate 16-008 was identified as C. fioriniae. Humulus scandens seedlings from Maryland (n = 3) were inoculated with a conidia suspension (107 conidia mL-1) with 0.125% Tween 20® and applied with an atomizer until runoff. Inoculated plants were placed in a dew chamber at 25°C for 2 days. Experimental plants were distributed in a mist tent at 25°C with 14 h of light and monitored for 2 weeks. Negative control plants (n = 2) were sprayed with a sterile 0.125% Tween 20® water solution. All inoculated plants were symptomatic by 12 days post inoculation. No symptoms were observed on the mock-inoculated plants. Symptoms were identical to disease field samples. Inoculations were repeated with the same results. Colletotrichum fioriniae was reisolated and confirmed from excised leaf lesions via ITS and ACT sequencing. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. fioriniae naturally infecting H. scandens within the United States (Farr and Rossman 2020). Future studies will evaluate the host range of this isolate due to the species broad host range and the weed's extensive distribution.

Pollen Allergy in a Changing Planetary Environment.

Airborne pollens are one of the common causative and triggering agents of respiratory allergy in a changing planetary environment. A growing number of people worldwide are contracting allergic diseases caused by pollens. The seasonal variations in pollens have occurred everywhere and the sensitization rate to pollens has increased in children as well as in adults. Moreover, allergenic plants, such as ragweed and Japanese hop, grow in soil damaged by human’s activities and deforestation with air pollution. It is impossible to avoid plants that cause allergies, because pollens can travel many kilometers in the breeze or wind. Hence, it is essential to survey and forecast pollens for the management of pollen allergy. Weather conditions may alter pollen concentrations. A number of studies have shown that increases in CO2 concentration and atmospheric temperature raise pollen concentration. Hence most of the studies on the impact of climate change on aeroallergens must include the amount and allergenicity of pollens. It is yet unknown whether complex interactions with pollens, meteorological variables, and air pollutants in the changing environment. Considering the effect of climate change on the long-term trends in pollen levels and emerging viral infection, it is crucial to forecast and eliminate the associated risk for human health in future and take appropriate measures to reduce it.

Antioxidative stress effects of Humulus japonicus extracts on neuronal PC12 cells

The objective of the current study was to assess the antioxidant activity of different solvents containing Humulus japonicus extract (HJE) and their antioxidant effects on neurons. H. japonicus ethanol extracts (HEEs) together with H. japonicus water extracts (HWEs) were generated via extraction of H. japonicus leaves with 30%, 50%, and 80% ethanol solutions under a hot water temperature of 121 °C. HEEs showed higher levels of bioactive compounds, such as total flavonoids and polyphenols, with stronger antioxidant activities in contrast to HWEs. HEE (80%) showed the highest content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. Next, we used a H2O2-induced rat model of pheochromocytoma PC12 cells to investigate the antioxidant activity and cellular signal regulation of 80% HEEs. The results showed that HJEs resisted oxidative stress via MAPK and/or AKT-NRF2 and NF-kappa B signaling pathways and upregulated antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, catalase, HO-1, and OGG1, thereby reducing intracellular ROS levels. Further, HJE promoted neuronal survival by upregulating sirtuin 1 expression. This study provides evidence supporting the potential benefits of HJE in preventing oxidative stress in PC12 cells, suggesting its application as a promising functional food additive or therapeutic agent for the prevention and the treatment of oxidative stress-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Invasive alien plant species in Romania of European Union concern

Abstract An assessement of the alien plants of Romania was conducted which considered the requirements of Regulation 1143/2014 of the European Union (EU). Thus, available data about the presence, invasiveness, distribution, pathways of introduction and their known impact in the territory of Romania were analysed. We found that of 36 plant species of EU concern, four are already established in Romania and widespread, at least locally or regionally: Ailanthus altissima, Asclepias syriaca, Elodea nuttallii and Impatiens glandulifera. For Humulus scandens there are some reports, but its presence and status require confirmation. Heracleum sosnowskyi and Ludwigia peploides are confirmed for only one location for each species. The presence of Cabomba caroliniana and Myriophyllum aquaticum in Romania is not confirmed. Most of the records are intentional introductions for ornamental purposes. Regarding their invasiveness, given the geographical origin and history of invasion in warmer climate regions (e.g., tropical, subtropical), many of the species listed as being of EU concern do not currently constitute a real threat to Romania, for the time being, but may do in a climate change scenario for the 2070s. Data about the impact of alien plant species and their management in Romania are scattered or completely missing. Coordinated institutional efforts are needed to increase the efficiency of the management of alien species at national and local level. These efforts should include: enhancing the legislation and the capacity of public institutions to manage invasive species, increasing the research interest in the science of this topic and promoting real measures to mitigate, control and remove alien plants.

Humulus scandens-Derived Biochars for the Effective Removal of Heavy Metal Ions: Isotherm/Kinetic Study, Column Adsorption and Mechanism Investigation.

Humulus scandens was first adopted as a biomass precursor to prepare biochars by means of a facile molten salt method. The optimized biochar exhibits a high specific surface area of ~450 m2/g, a rich porous structure and abundant oxygen functional groups, which demonstrate excellent adsorption performance for heavy metal ions. The isotherm curves fit well with the Langmuir models, indicating that the process is governed by the chemical adsorption, and that the maximum adsorption capacity can reach 748 and 221 mg/g for Pb2+ and Cu2+, respectively. In addition, the optimized biochar demonstrates good anti-interference ability and outstanding removal efficiency for Cu2+ and Pb2+ in simulated wastewater. The mechanism investigation and DFT calculation suggest that the oxygen functional groups play dominant roles in the adsorption process by enhancing the binding energy towards the heavy metal ions. Meanwhile, ion exchange also serves as the main reason for the effective removal.

Japanese Hops (Humulus japonicus) Control and Management Strategies in Large River Floodplains

AbstractJapanese hops (Humulus japonicus) is an invasive vine that establishes in open areas in riverine habitats and suppresses tree regeneration and native vegetation. This study evaluated the use of herbicides and tree plantings to control and manage Japanese hops on five Mississippi River islands over a four-year period. Herbicide treatments included a preemergent (sulfometuron methyl), a postemergent (glyphosate), and a combination of both. Tree plantings used containerized and bareroot American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) trees. Japanese hops biomass was significantly lower in all herbicide treatments in 2012 and 2015, but the preemergent treatment was less effective than other treatments in 2012 and 2014. After two years, average survivorship of containerized trees was 20%–42%, whereas bareroot seedlings had near 100% mortality. Results indicate that postemergent treatments are effective for short-term control, but large floods reestablish Japanese hops in treated areas. Reforestation, if combined with herbicide treatments and active management, may be a promising approach in large river floodplains that experience frequent flooding, but low tree survivorship presents challenges to reforestation.

Analysis of airborne allergens in chronic urticaria with airway allergic diseases

To analyze the sensitization characteristics and significance of airborne allergens in chronic urticaria (CU) with airway allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis and/or asthma). From May to August 2015, the Department of allergy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University conducted an epidemiological survey of allergic diseases in grassland area of Inner Mongolia by multistage stratified cluster sampling. The results of skin prick test (SPT) for airborne allergens in 191 patients with CU and 1 132 patients with airway allergic diseases were analyzed. The statistical data were tested by chi-square segmentation method, and the stratified trend of rate was tested by Linear-by-Linear. Among the 191 patients with CU, 92 (48.17%) had CU without airway allergic diseases (CU alone), and 99 (51.83%) had CU with airway allergic diseases. The top three air allergens were house dust mite, chenopodium pollen and salix pollen in CU alone (only one is the major local allergen), and artemisia, humulus scandens and chenopodium pollen in CU with airway allergic diseases (All are the main local allergens) and airway allergic diseases. Compared between CU alone and CU with airway allergic disease, the positive rate of allergen SPT and multiple strong positive rate were statistically significant (59.60% vs 38.04%, χ²=13.336;27.12% vs 2.86%, χ²=8.729;P<0.016 7).There was no significant difference in positive rate of skin prick, multiple positive rate, strong positive rate and multiple strong positive rate between CU with airway allergic disease and airway allergic diseases (59.60% vs 57.69%, χ²=0.136, P>0.016 7; 71.19% vs 75.20%, χ²=0.461, P>0.016 7; 54.24% vs 69.68%, χ²=5.969, P>0.016 7; 27.12% vs 37.83%, χ²=2.663, P>0.016 7), but there was significant difference in these between CU without airway allergic disease and airway allergic diseases (38.04% vs 57.69%, χ²=13.336, P<0.01; 51.43% vs 75.20%, χ²=9.745, P<0.01; 28.57% vs 69.68%, χ²=25.624, P<0.01; 2.86% vs 37.83%, χ²=17.620, P<0.01).The strong positive rate and the multiple strong positive rate of allergen increased with the increase of CU with allergic diseases, and the trend difference was statistically significant (38.04%,56.98% and 76.92%, χ²=10.601, P<0.01; 28.57%,46.94% and 90.00%, χ²=12.085, P<0.01; 2.86%,24.49% and 40.00%, χ²=10.077, P<0.01). The allergen sensitization characteristics of CU with airway allergic diseases are similar to airway allergic diseases,and the detection of airborne allergens may have certain clinical value in the screening of risk factors for patients with CU associated with airway allergic diseases.

Novelties in the vascular flora of Croatia

We report on and discuss records of five species new to the vascular flora of Croatia. Calamagrostis canescens was found near Đurđevac in remnants of fen vegetation, and we consider it a critically endangered species in the flora of Croatia. Agrimonia procera is native or archaeophyte in central Croatia and its discovery is in accordance with its earlier use as a medicinal plant. Amaranthus emarginatus is an exotic newcomer that was previously found in urban habitats on the north Adriatic coast. Carex vulpinoidea and Oenothera suaveolens were shown to be locally established species, in meadows along the Kupa River, and on the bars of the Drava River, respectively. In addition, we present new distributional and ecological data on two neophytes (Cardamine occulta, Humulus scandens) that were only briefly mentioned in earlier sources from Croatia.

The characteristics and change of aeroallergens in children from 2015 to 2020 in a hospital of pediatric in Beijing

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of clinical distribution and change of aeroallergens in children with allergic diseases from 2015 to 2020. Methods: Children who visited Capital Institute of Pediatrics affiliated Children's Hospital, suspected of allergic diseases and received serum aeroallergens specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) test were retrospectively enrolled (1 to 14 years old). sIgE was detected by Phadia1000 system with radioallergosorbent test fluorescent enzyme-linked immunoassay. The characteristics and change of the aeroallergens among the 6 years was analyzed. Enumeration data were expressed by percentage and categorical variables were compared by the independent samples t-test and Pearson χ2 test. Results: In total 4 608 tests (4 575 patients) of children were enrolled, the average age was (5.4±2.9) years old, with the median age of 5.0 years old. 3 176 were boys (68.9%), and 1 432 were girls (31.1%). 4 294 children were from the north of China (93.2%), 295 children were from the south of China (6.4%), and 19 children were from unknown regions (0.4%). In total the most common aeroallergen was mold mixture (1 956/4 457 tests, 43.9%) and Alternaria alternata (276/630 tests, 43.8%), followed by Artemisia (300/889 tests, 33.7%), Humulus scandens (12/38 tests, 31.6%) and grass mixture (909/2 874 tests, 31.6%). Among the 6 years, mold, grass pollen and tree pollen sensitization increased, and mold [38/130 (29.2%) vs 1 574/3 233 (48.7%)], grass pollen [11/77 (14.3%) vs 1 069/3 072 (34.8%)] increased significantly (χ2 was 18.953 and 49.559, respectively, P=0.000). Positive rate of tree pollen increased [1/10 (10.0%) vs 516/2 122 (24.3%)], but did not have statistical significance (χ²=1.111, P=0.292). Dust mite [36/146 (24.7%) vs 321/1 408 (22.8%)] and hair of pets [7/33 (21.2%) vs 321/1 408 (17.1%)] sensitization didn't change greatly (χ2 =0.258, P =0.611; χ2 =0.379, P =0.538). In 2015, the most common aeroallergens was mold (38/130, 29.2%), followed by dust mite (36/146, 24.7%), while in 2020, the most common aeroallergens was still mold (1 574/3 233, 48.7%), with grass pollen (1 069/3 072, 34.8%) and tree pollen (516/2 122, 24.3%) ranked after. Conclusion: Mold might be the most common aeroallergens in allergic children in Beijing area. With time went on, dust mite was gradually exceeded by grass pollen and tree pollen.

Inhibitory effects of Humulus japonicus extract against hepatic injury in a diabetic rat model.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-021-00924-w.

Evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activity and identification of active compounds of Humulus scandens

Humulus scanden, rich in flavonoids, is a traditional Chinese medicine. It is widely used in China to treat tuberculosis, dysentery and chronic colitis. In this study, Humulus scandens (H.S) was extracted in different solvents (water, n-butanol, acetic ether and chloroform) and the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities of extracts were investigated by four assays including DPPH, reducing power, xylene-induced mouse ear edema and cotton pellet-induced granuloma methods. And then, the acute oral toxicity of extracts and biochemical parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in blood serum and edematous tissue of rats were also evaluated. Moreover, the active compounds were identified by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS-MS. Results showed that ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts had the stronger antioxidant activities, while water extract appeared to be weakest among them. The anti-inflammatory test showed that the extract of n-butanol and chloroform had significant anti-inflammatory effects and could improve the activity of SOD and CAT in mice. In general, the site of n-butanol has a stronger antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and 15 compounds were analyzed by LC/Q-TOF-MS/MS technology. The present study confirms the ethnobotanical use of H.S extracts as natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and the composition of the active compound was preliminarily identified.

Effects of a Mixture of Humulus japonicus on Longitudinal Bone Growth in Hypophysectomized Rats.

Previously, we reported that the administration of a mixture of Humulus japonicus (MH) increased the longitudinal bone growth rate in Sprague Dawley rats. In this study, we investigated the effects of the dietary administration of MH on longitudinal bone growth in growth hormone (GH)-deficient hypophysectomized male and female rats to determine whether the effect of MH was similar to that of GH. We measured the nose-to-anus and nose-to-tail length gain, femur and tibia lengths, growth plate zones, and expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) after the dietary administration of MH or the injection of GH into hypophysectomized rats for 4 weeks. Results demonstrated that the dietary administration of MH had no effect on longitudinal bone growth, whereas the injection of GH increased the nose-to-tail length gain and femur and tibia lengths in hypophysectomized rats. In addition, MH did not affect the growth plate, bone mineralization, and expression of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3. These findings indicate that MH does not exert a GH-like effect and that the effects of MH and GH on longitudinal bone growth involve different pathways.

Humulus japonicus rescues autistic‑like behaviours inthe BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mouse model of autism.

Humulus japonicus (HJ) is a traditional herbal medicine that exhibits anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-tumor effects that is used for the treatment of hypertension, pulmonary disease and leprosy. Recently, it has also been reported that HJ demonstrates neuroprotective properties in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. The current study hypothesised that the administration of HJ would exhibit therapeutic effects in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder with lifelong consequences. The BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mouse model of ASD was used to investigate the anti-autistic like behavioural effects of HJ. Chronic oral administration of the ethanolic extract of HJ significantly increased social interaction, attenuated repetitive grooming behaviour and improved novel-object recognition in BTBR mice. Anti-inflammatory effects of HJ in the brain were analysed using immunohistochemistry and reverse-transcription quantitative PCR analysis. Microglia activation was markedly decreased in the striatum and hippocampus, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, were significantly reduced in the hippocampus following HJ treatment. Moreover, HJ treatment normalised the phosphorylation levels of: N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subtype 2B and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II subunit α in the hippocampus of BTBR mice. The results of the present study demonstrated that the administration of HJ may have beneficial potential for ameliorating behavioural deficits and neuroinflammation in ASD.

CCD Inhibition Test Can Improve the Accuracy of the Detection of Pollen and Seed Food Allergen-Specific IgE in Southern China.

ObjectiveThe presence of cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs) may cause false-positive results in vitro allergen sIgE tests. In this paper, we focused on pollen sensitisation and its relationship with CCD in patients with respiratory allergic diseases in South China. A CCD inhibition test was conducted to assess whether patients were truly allergic to pollen or whether their sIgE was caused by a CCD cross-reaction, thus providing an important basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.MethodsPatients with known serologic pollen sensitization were selected, and sIgE of mugwort, tree mix 20 (willow/poplar/elm tree), common ragweed, Humulus scandens, peanut, soybean and CCD was detected via the EUROBlotMaster system. Thirteen CCD-sIgE negative patients and 33 CCD-positive patients were selected, and their serum samples were subjected to the CCD inhibition test.ResultsWe found that 66.0% to 95.9% of patients sensitised to pollen and seed food allergens were co-sensitized to CCD. Additionally, 73.0% to 100% of the sIgE tests for pollen and seed food allergens turned negative after inhibition, mostly for allergens from Humulus scandens (100%, 15/15), followed by mugwort and peanut (85.2%, 23/27), ragweed (81.5%, 22/27), soybean (80.0%, 20/25), and tree pollen (73.0%, 19/26).ConclusionCCD causes false positives in the in vitro allergen sIgE tests of patients with respiratory allergic diseases in South China. Attention should be paid to the use of CCD inhibitors in diagnosing in vitro allergies because of their importance in diagnosing and treating local allergic diseases.

Identification of Cannabis Sativa L. Based on rbcL Sequence.

Objective To assess the feasibility of the rbcL sequence of chloroplast DNA as a genetic marker to identify Cannabis sativa L. Methods The rbcL sequences in 62 Cannabis sativa L. samples, 10 Humulus lupulus samples and 10 Humulus scandens DNA samples were detected, and 96 rbcL sequences of the Cannabaceae family were downloaded from Genbank. Sequence alignment was performed by MEGA X software, the intraspecific and interspecific Kimura-2-Parameter （K2P） genetic distances were calculated, and the system clustering tree was constructed. Results The rbcL sequence length acquired by sequencing of Cannabis sativa L. and Humulus scandens were 617 bp and 649 bp, respectively, and two haplotypes of Cannabis sativa L. were observed in the samples. The BLAST similarity search results showed that the highest similarity between the sequences acquired by sequencing and Cannabis sativa L. rbcL sequences available from Genbank was 100%. The genetic distance analysis showed that the maximum intraspecific genetic distance （0.004 9） of Cannabis sativa L. was less than the minimum interspecific genetic distance （0.012 9）. The results of median-joining network and system clustering tree analysis showed that Cannabis sativa L. and other members of the Cannabaceae family were located in different branches. Conclusion The rbcL sequence could be used as a DNA barcode for identifying Cannabis sativa L., and combined with comparative analysis of the rbcL sequence and system cluster analysis could be a reliable and effective detection method for Cannabis sativa L. identification in forensic investigation.

Identify potential allelochemicals from Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr. root extracts that induce allelopathy on Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.

Although it is well-documented that invasion of invasive plants is promoted with allelopathic effects by inhibiting the growth and phenotypic performance of native plants, little is known conversely. In this study, the allelopathy effects of a native plant, Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr., on a typical invasive species Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb., was investigated by exposing A. philoxeroides seedlings to three chemical solvent extracts (i.e., petroleum ether extract (PE), ethyl acetate extract (EE), and n-butanol extract (NE) of H. scandens root (HR). The three chemical extracts inhibited the growth, stem length, node number, leaf number, leaf area, and root number, and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content of A. philoxeroides seedlings, which indicated that the extracts inhibited the plant growth by damaging the membrane system of leaves. And the synthetical effect of allelopathy (SE) index indicated that EE had the greatest inhibition on the growth of A. philoxeroides. Fifty compounds were identified from the three extracts of HR using GC–MS analysis, among which 5 compounds (dibutyl phthalate, stigmasta-3,5-diene, 2,6-Di-tert-butylphenol campesterol, and neophytadiene) were identified from H. scandens root extracts for the first time. And n-hexadecanoic acid exists in all three extracts. The findings of the present study provide a novel method to potentially control the invasion of A. philoxeroides. However, field monitoring under natural conditions would be necessary to confirm in practice the results obtained with the bioassays.

Improving predictions of range expansion for invasive species using joint species distribution models and surrogate co‐occurring species

AbstractAimsSpecies distribution models (SDMs) are often used to forecast potential distributions of important invasive or rare species. However, situations where models could be the most valuable ecologically or economically, such as for predicting invasion risk, often pose the greatest challenges to SDM building. These challenges include non‐equilibrium range expansion, low or uneven prevalence, and projecting distributions into environments that are non‐analogous to the environments used for model building.LocationMinnesota, USA.TaxonCardamine impatiens (Narrowleaf Bittercress), Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental Bittersweet), and Humulus japonicus (Japanese Hops).MethodsWe took a novel approach to build robust species distribution models of invasive species using occurrence‐environment correlations between invasive species and co‐occurring native community members. The correlations were obtained from a joint species distribution model (JSDM) of a densely sampled database of 10,336 MN plant communities from across the state of Minnesota, USA. Positively and negatively associated native species were incorporated into the model as surrogate presences and pseudoabsences (weighted by their environmental correlations) along with invasive species occurrences records (surrogate SDMs).ResultsSurrogate models performed better than traditional SDMs in predicting occurrences along the northern invasion margin (outside the training area). Both types of models had similarly high cross‐validation metrics in the area of training. Surrogate models also predicted greater range expansion beyond the current geographic range.Main conclusionsThese results demonstrate that modelers can take advantage of detailed community data to develop SDMs that leverage surrogate native species as phytometers of environments beyond the current area of occupancy. The additional information in surrogate models generates highly effective predictions of invasive species along expanding range margins.