Lonicera Caerulea Research Articles

ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ ФИЗИКО-ХИМИЧЕСКИХ И ОРГАНОЛЕПТИЧЕСКИХ ПОКАЗАТЕЛЕЙ СОРТОВ ЖИМОЛОСТИ

Fruit and berry raw materials are a valuable source of nutrients in the diet of the population of the Sverdlovsk Region. Among berry crops, blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) attracts special attention due to its rich biochemical composition, ease of cultivation and wide distribution in the Urals. The purpose of the study is to determine the organoleptic and physicochemical (mass fraction of reducing and total sugars, acidity) indicators of raw materials from honeysuckle fruits. Generally accepted standard physicochemical research methods were used. The material for the study was honeysuckle fruits of the varieties Polyanka Kotova, Bumerang, Amazonka, Nimfa, Lazurit, Bakcharskij Velikan, YUgana, Sil'ginka, Zinri, Gordost' Bakchara, Strezhevchanka, presented in a unique scientific installation of the collection of living open ground plants “Gene pool of fruit, berry and ornamental crops in the Middle Urals" of structural subdivision of the Sverdlovsk Horticulture Breeding Station of the URFANITS Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Sverdlovsk Region, Ekaterinburg). Among the studied varieties, the Polyanka Kotova, Zinri, Strezhevchanka, YUgana and Nimfa varieties stood out for their high organoleptic and physicochemical indicators, including the sugar-acid index (SAI). The results obtained can be used in the breeding process to select parental pairs for crossbreeding in order to obtain varieties with the highest possible biochemical characteristics; in further research related to the development of pharmaceutical formulations, as well as to expand the range and increase the nutritional value of dishes for catering establishments and the food industry.

First report of leaf spot disease caused by Pestalotiopsis disseminata on Lonicera caerulea L. in Heilongjiang Province, China.

'Lanjingling' [China National Plant Variety Protection (CNPVP) 20200389] is the first new nationally registered cultivar of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) developed by the Northeast Agricultural University for the fresh-fruit market (Zhu et al. 2022). Between September 2022 and September 2023, a leaf spot disease was observed on approximately 30% of blue honeysuckle Lanjingling plants grown in a 0.02 ha field in the city of Harbin (45.07° N, 128.14° E) in Heilongjiang Province, China. The leaves of the affected plants initially displayed gray-colored spots that gradually expanded into irregular white blotches with dark brown borders affecting the whole leaf. To identify the causal agent, total 10 symptomatic leaves were randomly collected from ten individual plants in representing entire filed. Small (3 to 4 mm) segments of infected tissue from 10 leaves from different plants were surface sterilized using 75% ethanol for 30 s and 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) for 3 min, and then rinsed three times with sterile distilled water, dried in a paper towel, and plated in 9 cm Petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar (PDA). Seven isolates (LD-366 to LD-372) from each piece were isolated on the PDA plate, and all colonies displayed a conidial morphology consistent with Pestaloid taxa. They have undulated margins, white to pale in color, with moderate aerial mycelium on the surface. The conidia were ellipsoid, straight to slightly curved, four septate, and measuring 12.30 to 33.40 × 2.10 to 7.60 μm (n = 50). The apical cell was cylindrical and hyaline, with two to three tubular apical appendages, unbranched, and filiform. To confirm this identification, PCR amplification of two representative strains LD-366 and LD-367 genomic DNA were performed with ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), TUB2Fd/TUB4Rd (Glass and Donaldson 1995), and EF1-728F/EF1-986R (Carbone and Kohn 1999) primers. Sequences of LD-366 and LD-367 ITS (PP697761, PP697762), TUB (PP700299, PP700300), and TEF (PQ567378, PQ567379) revealed 99.09, 98.78, and 98.78% (547/552 nt, 547/552 nt; 438/440 nt, 438/440 nt; 243/246 nt, 243/246 nt) consistency with Pestalotiopsis disseminata sequences (MT374688, MT374713, and MT374700), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the combined sequences were performed using maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods (Jiang et al. 2022), isolates LD-366 and LD-367 were located in the same clade with P. disseminata. A pathogenicity test was performed using six healthy, two-year-old blue honeysuckle Lanjingling plants. Three plants were inoculated with either the LD-366 or the LD-367 conidial suspension (1 × 106 spores/ml) or with clean water as an experimental control. All plants were placed in a greenhouse (28℃, 75% relative humidity, 12 h light and dark cycle), and each experiment was replicated three times. Typical leaf spot symptoms were first observed on inoculated leaves after 10 days. Two pathogens, reisolated from infected leaves, displayed the same morphological and molecular traits based on the ITS, TUB and TEF sequences as the initial isolates and were again identified as P. disseminata, thereby confirming Koch's postulates. P. disseminata previously caused gray blight disease on Euonymus japonicus plants in China (Wang et al. 2023). This is the first report of blue honeysuckle leaf spot caused by P. disseminata in China, and it is crucial to continue developing efficient control strategies for blue honeysuckle growing.

Impact of Picking Time on Leaf Quality Parameters of Three Varieties of Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.)

Lonicera caerulea is a nutrient-rich plant of significant importance. Its chemical composition is influenced by various intrinsic properties and external factors, which change with the seasons. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different picking times on the proximate composition and the contents of pigments, macroelements, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in honeysuckle leaves. Seasonal changes in the contents of fiber, ash, proteins, nitrogen (N), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), chlorophylls, total carotenoids, total flavonoids and total phenolics were analyzed. The results revealed that picking time and plant variety significantly affected the chemical composition of honeysuckle leaves. The first picking yielded the highest levels of protein, N, P, K, chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll and total carotenoids. Conversely, the third picking showed the highest levels of Ca and Mg. Specifically, the third picking of ‘Indigo Yum’ leaves had the highest Ca and Mg contents, while the second picking of ‘Zojka’ leaves (116.67 mg 100 g−1 DM) and the third picking of ‘Wojtek’ leaves (115 mg 100 g−1 DM) contained the most total flavonoids. The first picking of ‘Wojtek’ leaves recorded the highest levels of protein, N, P and total carotenoids, whereas the third picking showed the highest fiber and ash contents. These findings provide valuable insights for farmers, enabling them to select appropriate cultivars and optimal picking times to produce high-quality honeysuckle leaves for use as food or medicinal supplements.

Effect of Short-Term Storage in Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) and Controlled Atmosphere (CA) on Total Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Activity in Juices from Haskap Berry (Lonicera caerulea L.)

This article focuses on analysing the properties of six varieties of haskap berry (honeyberry) as a valuable raw material for producing health-promoting juices. Significant differences in the content of bioactive compounds were observed between juices derived from fruits of the same species. This study demonstrated that controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions (20% CO2 and 5% O2) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) in Xtend bags affected juice quality by minimising nutritional losses. The analysis of polyphenol content in the juices revealed significant differences between varieties and years (2021 and 2022), primarily due to varying weather conditions. In 2022, the polyphenol content of the varieties ‘Usłada’, ‘Candy Blue’, ‘Boreal Beauty’, and ‘Boreal Beast’ was from 69% to twice as high compared to values recorded in 2021. CA and MAP storage conditions were found to be more effective than normal atmosphere (NA) in preserving bioactive components, and thus the antioxidant activity of the fruits, as measured by the DPPH method. The variety ‘Sinij Utes’ had the highest total polyphenol contents and their lowest loss during storage. Conversely, the variety ‘Boreal Beauty’ contained the lowest polyphenol levels both after harvest and storage. This study confirmed the importance of proper storage conditions for maintaining the antioxidant properties of haskap berries.

Combating inflammation and oxidative stress: Exploring the cellular effects of Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica extract.

Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica (LCK), known as blue honeysuckle or haskap berry, is rich in bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, which are linked to various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The research specifically investigates the effects of an LCK extract that has been standardized to contain a minimum of 15% anthocyanins on inflammation and oxidative stress at the cellular level. In vitro studies using A549 human lung epithelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) demonstrated the extract's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. LCK extract significantly inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 and reduced the production of IL-8 in A549 cells. It also downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (RELA and PTGS2) while upregulating antioxidant genes (CAT, HMOX1, and SOD2). In PBMCs, LCK extract decreased the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 following LPS stimulation. Additionally, the extract inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and nitric oxide (NO) production, demonstrating its potential to modulate oxidative stress. Furthermore, in vitro assays indicated that LCK extract could hinder the binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to the hACE2 receptor, suggesting antiviral potential. These findings suggest that LCK extract exerts significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, indicating its potential as a functional food ingredient or dietary supplement to combat inflammation and oxidative stress.

Amplifying Bioactivity of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) fruit puree through Ultrasonication: Antioxidant and antiproliferative activity

Blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) serves as a significant reservoir of polyphenol compounds. This impact of ultrasonication processing on the bioaccessibility of blue honeysuckle fruit puree during in vitro digestion was evaluated. The polyphenol compounds, antioxidant capacity and antiproliferative activity were measured, with a particular focus on determining the total proanthocyanidin content of the puree during digestion. The results revealed that the U300 W treatment significantly increased antioxidant content and enhanced the stability of antioxidant capacity, leading to stronger antiproliferative activity. A total of 33 compounds, including 14 phenolic acids, 5 flavanols, 1 flavanol-3-ol, 1 flavanone alcohol, 3 flavanones, 1 flavanone, and 8 non– polyphenols were found in both untreated and ultrasonicated puree during in vitro digestion. The untreated puree contained 22 compounds, while the ultrasonicated puree contained 33. Compared to untreated samples, ultrasonicated samples contained significantly higher levels of loganic acid, dihydrokaempferol, kaempferol derivatives, and plantagoside. Except for vanillic acid, citric acid, protocatechuic acid, and luteolin-4′-O-glucoside, the polyphenols showed a decreasing trend during oral-gastric-small intestinal-colon digestion. The U500 W ultrasonicated fruit puree exhibited the strongest antiproliferative activity. Overall, the results demonstrated that ultrasonication has the potential to enhance the bioaccessibility of antioxidant compounds and the antiproliferative activity of blue honeysuckle fruit puree.

An intelligent bilayer film based on blue honeysuckle berries and Artemisia Sphaerocephala Krasch. Gum for Cyprinus carpio preservation and indication.

The demand for extended shelf life and food safety in the food industry continues to rise. At the same time, the environmental burden of traditional plastic packaging materials is becoming increasingly serious. Therefore, in this study, an intelligent bilayer film with a pH-sensitive inner indicator film based on Artemisia Sphaerocephala Krasch. Gum (ASKG) and blue honeysuckle berries anthocyanin (BHBA), and an antimicrobial outer film composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and cinnamon essential oil (CEO) were developed. SEM cross-sectional images showed a clear interface of the bilayer films, demonstrating the successful binding of the inner and outer layers; FTIR and X-ray results showed the binding and interaction of the components. The properties of the bilayer film were significantly enhanced with the increase of BHBA content. Compared to ASKG-BHBA film, the tensile strength of the bilayer film with 18 % anthocyanins increased by 143.66 %, elongation at break increased by 60.92 %, and showed excellent water resistance as well as water vapour barrier, thermal stability, free radical scavenging activity (increased by 14.7 %), and antimicrobial activity (inhibition circle diameter increased by 53.79 % and 57.98 %, respectively). In addition, the ASKG-BHBA and bilayer films exhibited excellent UV-vis light barrier, pH sensitivity and responsiveness to ammonia vapour. Freshness tests applied to Cyprinus carpio showed that the intelligent film could monitor the fish's freshness in real time and extended the shelf life by 1 to 3 days compared to the control. According to preliminary calculations, the cost of producing the bilayer film is about 0.1499 USD/piece. The bilayer film is expected to meet the market's dual demand for food safety and environmental protection and realize a wide range of applications in fresh food preservation and quality monitoring in the future.

Combination transcriptomic and metabolomic reveal deterioration of the blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) fruit and candidate genes regulating metabolism in the post-harvest stage

Blue honeysuckle, a new berry with high nutritional value, possesses typical berry postharvest properties, including extreme perishability, rapid quality loss, and high sensitivity to microbial infections. At present, the underlying mechanisms of postharvest quality deterioration, senescence, and low-temperature regulation remain largely unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the metabolic shifts and genetic regulation underlying the preservation or deterioration of blue honeysuckle during storage at room temperature (25 °C) and low temperature (4 °C). Storage at 4 °C inhibited fruit decay and preserved better visual quality, weight, firmness, and total soluble solid and acid contents. We identified 24 key differentially accumulated metabolites that specifically changed during the qualitative shift at room temperature and were effectively regulated by 4 °C. Commonly associated metabolites, sorbitol, succinic acid, malic acid, naringenin, pinobanksin, and taxifolin, characterize the deterioration of blue honeysuckle. These metabolites were integrated with transcriptomic data for weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). Regulatory networks were used for the identification of key genes and transcription factors (TFs) influencing sugar, organic acid, flavonoid, and phenolic acid metabolism during storage. The findings provide insight into metabolic regulation and the improvement of flavor in postharvest blue honeysuckle fruit.

Evaluation of Lonicera caerulea Cultivar Diversity Based on Phenotypic Traits and Nutrient Composition

Lonicera caerulea L. has high nutritional and health value, and it is an important emerging small berry tree species. In this study, the morphology and nutrient composition of 60 cultivars were used to analyze and evaluate the diversity of the genus. Morphological analysis showed that the phenotypic traits of different cultivars had significant differences (p < 0.01). The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) of each trait was 12.42%~84.06%, and the coefficient of genetic variation (GCV) was between 7.07%~71.72%. The analysis of nutrient content showed significant differences among the cultivars (p < 0.01). The PCV of each trait was 3.95%~96.10%, and the GCV was 0.13%~32.83%. Based on breeding objectives, cultivars with excellent growth and leaf quantitative traits, fruit quantitative traits and nutrient contents were selected through the method of comprehensive analysis of multiple characters. Traits of the selected varieties were all above average, and specific genetic gain was higher. At the same time, the selection of varieties was carried out according to flowering and fruiting phenology, which provided an indication for the breeding of improved varieties. In this study, growth, leaf and fruit quantitative traits, phenological period and nutrient components of different cultivars provided valuable information for the breeding of improved varieties.

Characterization and Classification of Berry (Aronia, Haskap, and Goji) Fruits with High Bioactive Value Grown in Spain.

Aronia, haskap, and goji berries are characterized by their high content of bioactive compounds and their beneficial health properties as well as their resistance to harsh agronomic conditions. In this work, cultivars of these species growing in a mountainous region of central-western Spain were characterized by analyzing physicochemical parameters and bioactive compounds. Goji fruits showed the highest total soluble solid content and the lowest acidity values. The sugar profile suggested that goji cultivars will have a higher sweetness due to higher fructose and glucose content. However, aronia cultivars will be the least sweet due to their high sorbitol content. The total organic acid content was much higher in aronia and haskap than in goji fruits, and the profile varied according to species. The total phenolic content was significantly higher in aronia fruits. A total of 15 phenolic compounds were detected, with anthocyanins being predominant in aronia and haskap berries; however, they were not detected in goji fruits. Nevertheless, carotenoid compounds were found in goji berries and not detected in aronia and haskap fruits. Aronia fruits showed the highest antioxidant capacity compared to haskap and goji fruits. The PCA analysis classified the samples to determine which parameters have the greatest influence.

Therapeutic Potential of a Natural Blend of Aronia melancarpa, Lonicera caerulea, and Echinacea purpurea Extracts in Treating Upper Respiratory Tract Infections: Preliminary Clinical and In Vitro Immunomodulatory Insights.

Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are a prevalent health issue, causing considerable morbidity. Despite the availability of conventional treatments, there is an increasing interest in natural products due to their potential antiviral and immunomodulatory benefits. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of an ELA blend (E-Echinacea purpurea, L-Lonicera cerulea, A-Aronia melanocarpa) in preventing and alleviating the symptoms of URTIs. Additionally, the study examines the blend's antiviral and immunomodulatory effects both in vitro and through a clinical trial. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 61 participants prone to URTIs, with a 60-day treatment and follow-up period. A placebo group later received the ELA blend for 60 days. The ELA blend significantly reduced the incidence of URTIs during the observation period (2 vs. 8; p = 0.044) and, in particular, throat-related symptoms (8 vs. 16; p = 0.038). Analyses of PBMCs showed that baseline production of the cytokines IFN-γ (p = 0.020), IL-1β (p = 0.004), IL-2(p < 0.001), IL-6 (p < 0.001), and TNF-α (p < 0.001) increased after ELA blend treatment. Moreover, the ELA blend modulated cytokine production in response to PHA-L stimulation, decreasing IFN-γ (p = 0.008) and IL-2 (p = 0.012) while increasing IL-1β (p = 0.005). Following R848 stimulation, the ELA blend enhanced the production of INF-α (p = 0.012) and IL-2 (p = 0.025), and decreased IL-1β (p < 0.001), IL-6 (p < 0.001), and TNF-α (p = 0.049). The blend suppressed VSV replication and significantly increased cytokine levels, with IFN-γ increasing by 98 pg/mL (p = 0.002), IL-1β rising by 233.0 pg/mL (p = 0.004), and TNF-α showing an increase of 2905 pg/mL (p = 0.002). These findings highlight the ELA blend's potential to alleviate URTI symptoms, modulate inflammatory and antiviral immune responses, and inhibit viral replication. Further investigations should aim to validate these findings through large-scale studies, and explore the ELA blend's long-term safety and efficacy in diverse populations. Additionally, research should investigate optimal dosing strategies and explore potential synergistic effects with conventional treatments to maximize clinical outcomes. Trial registration: retrospectively registered under NCT06020001.

LcMYB5, an R2R3-MYB family gene from Lonicera caerulea L., enhances drought and salt tolerance in transgenic tobacco and blue honeysuckle.

MYB transcription factors exert crucial functions in enhancing plant stress tolerance, which is impacted by soil drought and salinity. In our study, the R2R3-type MYB transcription factor gene LcMYB5 from blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) was successfully cloned and identified, and confirmed its nuclear localization. LcMYB5 overexpression was vastly enhanced drought and salt tolerance in both blue honeysuckle and tobacco seedlings. After drought stress, transgenic tobacco exhibited an average survival rate of 70.30%, while most wild-type (WT) plants perished, resulting in a survival rate of only 15.33%. Following salt stress, the average survival rate for transgenic tobacco reached 77.24%, compared to just 22.47% for WT plants. Measurements indicated, that transgenic tobacco had higher proline content than WT, as well as higher superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activity. Transgenic tobacco decreased chlorophyll content less dramatically than WT tobacco, despite both tobaccos having decreased chlorophyll content. Furthermore, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and relative conductivity were lower in transgenic tobacco compared to WT. Furthermore, LcMYB5 overexpression significantly increased the expression levels of key genes related to drought stress (NCED1, NCED2, PYL4, PYL8, and CBL1) and salt stress (NHX1, SOD, CAT1, SOS1, and HSP17.8), thus improving transgenic tobacco's stress tolerance. Compared to WT blue honeysuckle, transiently transformed LcMYB5-expressing blue honeysuckle exhibited milder damage under stress conditions, a significant increase in chlorophyll and proline content was observed, the activities of SOD, POD and CAT were also significantly increased, the increase in MDA content and relative conductivity is relatively small. Additionally, In addition, transient expression of LcMYB5 can also positively regulate the expression of these five key genes of drought stress and five key genes of salt stress, so as to improve the resistance of transgenic blue honeysuckle to drought and salt stress. In summary, our study reveals the important regulatory role of LcMYB5 in plant resistance to drought and salt stress, providing theoretical support and potential application value for further improving crop stress resistance.

Evaluation of genetic diversity in some hybrid individuals of honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea L.) based on fruit characteristics, leaf morphology, vitamin C, antioxidant activity, and biochemical and nutritional contents

BackgroundGenetic diversity is a prerequisite for breeding programs, and one of the main goals here is to obtain quality products. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the genetic diversity in some hybrid individuals of honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea L.) based on fruit characteristics, leaf morphology, vitamin C, antioxidant activity, biochemical, and nutritional content. In this context, superior quality individuals have been identified based on the 42 variables examined in our study. These hybrid individuals can be economically incorporated into production after the registration stages, and their sustainability for use in breeding programs can also be ensured.ResultsThe fruit weight ranged from 0.71 (‘H11’) to 1.66 g (‘H6’). The ascorbic acid varied between 17.13 (‘H7’) and 20.64 mg AAE/100 g (‘H15’). The antioxidant activity changed between 12.59 (‘Store’) and 15.03 µmol Trolox g–1 (‘Aurea’). The total anthocyanins were found to be highest in ‘Borrel Beast’ (163.79 mg cyn-3-gluc 100 g–1), followed by ‘H8’ (163.20 mg cyn-3-gluc 100 g–1). The highest nutrient levels in the fruits were found in the ‘H10’ individual, with calcium (2445.77 mg kg–1), potassium (2274.36 mg kg–1), phosphorus (2123.27 mg kg–1), magnesium (1263.95 mg kg–1), and sulfur (859.62 mg kg–1), respectively. The highest nutrient levels in the leaves were found in the ‘H14’ individual for calcium (19,493.21 mg kg–1), ‘H5’ for magnesium (5643.52 mg kg–1), ‘H8’ for sulfur (2312.11 mg kg–1), ‘H6’ for phosphorus (2007.51 mg kg–1), and ‘H6’ for potassium (1099.32 mg kg–1). In general, the nutrients in the fruit exhibited significant correlations among themselves at different levels (*, **, ***). Within the scope of principal component analysis, the first 8 principal components explained 80.69% of the total variance. According to the cluster and population analyses, it was determined that there was a high variation in subgroup B2. Additionally, although honeyberry is a relatively new fruit in Türkiye, efforts have begun to develop new cultivars through hybrid breeding.ConclusionsWhen 42 variables were evaluated together to determine genetic diversity, hybrid individuals ‘H14’, ‘H5’, ‘H8’, and ‘H1’ were identified as superior individuals, respectively.

Suppression of NNK Metabolism by Anthocyanin-Rich Haskap Berry Supplementation Through Modulation of P450 Enzymes.

Oral supplementation of anthocyanins-rich haskap (Lonicera caerulea) berry (HB) reduces 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)-induced lung tumorigenesis, cytotoxicity, DNA damage, and modulated inflammation in vitro and in vivo. The procarcinogen NNK is metabolically activated by cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes, producing reactive metabolites that induce lung carcinogenesis. Hypothesis: Therefore, we hypothesized that the HB-modulated protective effect against NNK could be due to its ability to suppress P450 enzymes. Methods: HB (6 mg of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside [C3G] in 0.2 g of HB/mouse/day) was given to A/J mice as a dietary supplement following subsequent administration of NNK (100 mg/kg body weight). The liver tissues of mice were analyzed to determine the expression of P450s and metabolites. Results: HB upregulated the expression of cyp2a4 and cyp2a5 mRNA and nuclear receptor/transcription factor (PPARα) in NNK-deprived hepatic tissues. With NNK, HB downregulated the expression of cyp2a4 and cyp2a5 and facilitated the formation of non-carcinogenic NNK metabolites. Molecular docking indicated a high binding affinity and strong hydrophobic interactions between C3G and its major metabolites, peonidin-3-O-glucoside, petunidin-3-O-glucoside, peonidin and cyanidin with Cyp2a5 and with human P450 homologue CYP2A13. Conclusions: HB could be a potential dietary supplement to inhibit the P450 activated NNK carcinogenic metabolites formation. Hence, inhibiting the activation of NNK by lung CYP2A13 through dietary HB supplementation could be a strategy to reduce lung carcinogenesis among smokers. Understanding the effect of HB on the activity of CYP2A13 in human studies is necessary before recommending these natural compounds as therapeutics.

МИКРОКЛОНАЛЬНОЕ РАЗМНОЖЕНИЕ ЖИМОЛОСТИ СЪЕДОБНОЙ И ЕЕ ВЕГЕТАТИВНОЕ РАЗВИТИЕ В УСЛОВИЯХ IN VITRO

Honeysuckle (Lonicera edulis) is a valuable plant with extreme early maturity - its fruits ripen 7-10 days earlier than strawberries in the conditions of the Republic of Tatarstan. Currently, there is a great demand for seedlings of fruit and berry crops in Russia. This is due to the increase in areas in industrial, homestead and collective gardening. Having conducted statistics on agricultural mortgages, we identified a huge trend for families to return to private homesteads. Therefore, clonal micropropagation is the most effective method for obtaining a large amount of high-quality planting material to create not only industrial plantings, but also to provide the population with standard seedlings. At the stage of introduction into the culture in vitro, effective sterilization modes were selected, and at the stage of reproduction, the further development of micro plants in the culture was studied. During the rooting process, two varieties of edible honeysuckle were observed and the effect of auxin on root formation and growth of the above-ground part of the plant was studied. The most viable sterile explants were observed with successive sterilization in solutions of 0.1% KMnO4 (3 min), 7.5% "Belizna" (7 min) and 0.01% Miramistin (1 min). The yield of sterile explants in this case averaged 69.8%. The best results were obtained with the Assol variety with an above-ground part growth of 6.3 cm and root system formation of 19.6 cm. At the fourth stage of "Adaptation", no varietal differences in survival were found. Both varieties of edible honeysuckle (Peter 1 and Assol) showed high survival rates.

Effects of Growth Stages on Leaf Nutrients, Metabolites, and Polyphenols of Three Varieties of Haskap.

Haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) has gained much research interest, given the diverse biologically active compounds found in different parts of the plant. It is, therefore, important to study the concentration of some of these biologically active compounds at different developmental stages. The present study investigated the effect of growth stages on nutrients, metabolites, and polyphenol concentrations in the leaves of three haskap varieties (Indigo Gem, Wojtek, and Jolanta). A targeted quantitative metabolomics approach was used to analyze the haskap leaves using a combination of direct injection mass spectrometry with a reverse LC-MS/MS custom assay. The results showed that the concentrations of soluble sugar, organic acids, polyphenols, and amino acids in the leaves of different varieties of haskap were decreased at the fruiting stage. The leafing stage may be the best period to harvest haskap leaves with the highest nutrients and polyphenol concentrations. Studies on polyphenols and nutrient characterization of haskap leaf at the leafing stage could be further investigated.

First report of leaf spot disease caused by Fusarium asiaticum on Lonicera caerulea L. in Heilongjiang Province, China.

Heilongjiang is the largest province with the small, cultivated fruit plant, blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.), in China (Sun et al. 2024). Between September 2022 and September 2023, a leaf spot disease was observed on about 10 percent of blue honeysuckles of the 'Lanjingling' cultivar grown in a 6.66-ha field in Mudanjiang (129.38°E, 44.59°N), Heilongjiang Province, China. The typical symptoms include a few small brown sunken leaf spots (approximately 2 mm) in the fruiting stage that gradually expand into larger brown sunken lesions (approximately 10 mm) in the senescence stage (Fig. S1). Small 3-4-mm segments of infected tissue from 100 randomly selected leaf samples with typical symptoms were surface sterilized with 75% ethanol and 5% sodium hypochlorite, rinsed in sterile distilled water, and transferred to 9-cm Petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) after drying. Finally, 10 isolated fungi were obtained through single-spore culture on PDA, and their conidia displayed a morphology consistent with Fusarium spp. (Zheng et al. 2023), and no other fungi were isolated. The fungal colonies on PDA were pink to dark red with fluffy aerial mycelium and pigmentation (Fig. S2). Microconidia were not observed, and the macroconidia of fungi had 2 to 6 septa, which were slender, sickle-shaped to nearly curved, with an average size of 38.83 (21.30 to 55.20) × 3.87 (2.70 to 6.60) μm (n = 50) on carnation leaf agar (Fig. S3). Genomic DNA was extracted from the representative isolate LD-245 for molecular verification, and PCR amplification was performed with ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), RPB2-5F2/RPB2-7CR (Liu et al. 1999), and EFl/EF2 (O'Donnell et al. 1998) primers. Sequences of LD-245 ITS (OR565903), RPB2 (OR584061), and TEF (PP965657) revealed 99 to 100% (494/494, 722/726, and 654/654) of identity with Fusarium asiaticum (MT322117, MH582121, and MT330257). Phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the concatenated sequences of ITS, RPB2, and TEF genes, and LD-245 was clustered with F. asiaticum (Fig. S4, Table S1). Therefore, based on the morphological characteristics and molecular phylogeny, LD-245 was identified as F. asiaticum. Six two-year-old healthy plants of the 'Lanjingling' cultivar were selected for a pathogenicity test. Three plants were inoculated with LD-245 conidial suspension (1 × 106 spores/ml) or with sterile water as an experimental control. All plants were cultured in a greenhouse (28℃, 75% relative humidity, 12 h light and dark cycle), and each experiment was replicated three times. Typical leaf spot symptoms were observed on inoculated leaves after 10 days (Fig. S5), whereas no symptoms were detected on water-treated leaves. The pathogens re-isolated from infected leaves displayed the same morphological and molecular traits as the initial isolate, and were again identified as F. asiaticum, confirming Koch's postulate. F. asiaticum was previously reported on giant elephant's ear (Alocasia macrorrhizos) (Zheng et al. 2023), causing leaf spot disease in China. This study is the first report of blue honeysuckle leaf spot disease caused by F. asiaticum in China. China has the largest blue honeysuckle cultivation area globally, and the production of blue honeysuckle with horticultural value is important for growers (Sun et al. 2024). Therefore, we hope researchers can develop efficient measures to manage emerging plant diseases in the future.

The modulatory effects of Lonicera caerulea L. extract and omega-3 on sarcopenia via regulating PI3K and FOXO signaling pathways in rats

Introduction: Sarcopenia is an inflammatory disease caused by a disruption of muscle homeostasis. Lonicera caerulea L. (Haskap berry) (HB) extract and omega-3 (ω−3) possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study assesses the potential ameliorating effects of HB extract and ω−3 supplementation on dexamethasone (DEXA)-induced sarcopenia. Methods: Rats were divided into five groups; the negative control group was injected with saline (i.p.); groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 were injected with DEXA (2 mg/kg/d, i.p.); groups 3 and 4 also received 400 mg/kg/d and 100 mg/kg/d of HB extract and ω−3, respectively, while group 5 received both treatments daily for 21 days. The ameliorative effects of treatments were investigated by measuring lysosomal proteolytic enzyme cathepsin activity, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) activity, nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) level, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) activity. The gene expression levels of muscle ring-finger protein (MuRF) and forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factor were also evaluated. Biochemical and histological examinations were done on muscle tissues. Results: DEXA caused a significant elevation (P&lt;0.05) in NF-κβ level and cathepsin activity in muscle tissue. Also, it significantly upregulated the muscle atrophy markers. Meanwhile, PI3K and HO-1 activities were significantly reduced. HB extract and ω−3 administration significantly (P≤0.05) reversed these effects and downregulated the mRNA expression levels of MuRF and FOXO. Also, the histopathological examination confirmed these results. Conclusion: The current study proved the ameliorative effects of HB extract and ω−3 on sarcopenia parameters. Therefore, they might be potential therapeutic agents for myopathy/sarcopenia.

Comparative Evaluation of the Phytochemical Composition of Fruits of Ten Haskap Berry (Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica Sevast.) Cultivars Grown in Poland

The aim of this study was to investigate the qualitative and quantitative fruit profiles of ten cultivars (cvs.) of haskap berry (Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica Sevast.) to determine their antioxidant activity (ABTS test, CUPRAC test, ability to capture superoxide (O2˙−) and hydroxyl radicals (OH˙)), cytotoxic activity (against cancer cell lines breast, MCF-7; colon, HT-29; and melanoma, SK-Mel-28) and physicochemical properties. Most of the selected cultivars had not previously been analyzed for these properties. A total of 19 polyphenolic compounds were identified in the fruits of the tested genotypes, with a quantitative range of 2166.3–3597.0 µg/g. The polyphenol profile was dominated by anthocyanins (90.0–92.4%), and the remaining classes occurred in the following order: phenolic acids &gt; flavonols &gt; flavan-3-ols. The highest concentrations of these polyphenol groups were found in the cultivars ‘Honeybee’, ‘Sinij Uties’ and ‘Usłada’. The fruits of these cultivars were also characterized by the highest antioxidant activity (546.6–683.5 µg/mL for O2˙− and 541.2–652.1 µg/mL for OH˙) and cytotoxic activity (103.6–649.2 µg/mL). The data obtained indicate that the fruits of the new haskap cultivars are a good source of bioactive compounds with possible health-promoting properties.

Composition and micromorphological determination of blue honeysuckle fruit (Lonicera caerulea L.) cuticular wax and its effects on fruit post-harvest quality

The chemical composition and structure of the cuticular wax in blue honeysuckle fruit were investigated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that the cuticular wax was dense and uniform, taking on a tubular form. A total of 158 wax components were identified, including alkanes, terpenes, ketones, alcohols, fatty acids, and esters. The wax was found to be particularly rich in alkanes. After storage, the wax content decreased, whereas an increase in 1-undecanol. The destruction or reduction of cuticular wax resulted in a more rapid decline in storage quality, loss of nutrients, and a decrease in antioxidant phytochemicals. Meanwhile, wax metabolizing enzyme activity and gene expression increased. This study presents a deeper understanding of blue honeysuckle fruit cuticular wax composition and aids to developing effective measures to delay its postharvest fruit quality deterioration.