Nandina Research Articles

Nandina domestica Thunb.: a review of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology.

Nandina domestica: Thunb. is a traditional Chinese herbal drug that has long been used in China and Japan for the treatment of colds, fevers, asthma, chronic bronchitis, conjunctivitis, whooping cough, pharyngeal tumors, etc. Published data have reported at least 366 constituents from N. domestica, including alkaloids, flavonoids, lignans, terpenoids, phenolic acids and their derivatives, fatty acids, and others. Of these, the isoquinoline alkaloids are considered characteristic markers for N. domestica. These alkaloids also showed the most promising bioactivities. The crude extracts or semi-purified constituents of N. domestica exhibit a variety of activities, including antitumor, dermatological, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and detoxification activities, as well as effects on respiratory system, etc. The fruit is considered poisonous when eaten raw, with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain as side effects after ingestion. Most traditional uses are supported by biological activities demonstrated in modern experimental studies, suggesting a potential medicinal value of N. domestica. However, more information is needed on its mechanisms of activity, pharmacokinetic profile of the constituents, and its safety and efficacy profile in humans.

The Rhizosphere Functional Microbial Community: A Key Driver of Phosphorus Utilization Efficiency in Karst Forest Plants

Microorganisms play a pivotal role in transforming and making phosphorus (P) available in soil through various mechanisms. However, their specific contributions to alleviating P limitation and enhancing P utilization efficiency in plants within the context of a P-deficient karst ecosystem remains unclear. In this study, eco-stoichiometric methods were employed to evaluate the P utilization efficiency of plants grown in the surveyed karst forest located in Guizhou Province, China. Metagenomic sequencing was utilized to further explore the functional genes and microorganisms involved in soil P cycling. The N:P ratio for 18 out of the 20 surveyed plants exceeded 16, indicating widespread P limitation in karst plants. Among them, plants with high P utilization efficiencies (Nandina domestica Thunb.; Mahonia bodinieri Gagnep.; Pyracantha fortuneana (Maxim.) Li) exhibited higher relative abundances of genes involved in soil P cycling compared to plants with low P utilization efficiencies (Tirpitzia sinensis (Hemsl.) Hallier f.; Albizia kalkora (Roxb.) Prain; Morella rubra Lour.), indicating greater potentials within their rhizosphere microbiomes for soil P transformation. The relative abundance of these functional genes had a significant and positive effect on plant P utilization efficiencies. Structural equation modeling further indicated that microbial P cycling gene abundance directly drove the increase in plant P utilization efficiencies. Specifically, genes involved in soil organic P mineralization (G6PD, suhB, phoD, ppx) and the P uptake and transform system (pstS, pstA, pstB, pstC) contributed to the enhancement of plant P utilization efficiencies. Soil microbial communities involved in P cycling were predominately attributed to Proteobacteria (45.16%–60.02%), Actinobacteria (9.45%–25.23%), and Acidobacteria (5.90%–9.85%), although their contributions varied among different plants. The rhizosphere functional microbial community can thus alleviate P limitation in karst plants, thereby enhancing plant P utilization efficiencies. This study investigated the strong synergism between karst plants and rhizosphere microorganisms and their associated underlying mechanisms from genetic and microbial perspectives.

Therapeutic Potential and Pharmacological Activities of (+)-Nantenine in Medicine: An Aporphine Class Phytocomponent of Nandina domestica Thunberg.

Plant material and their derived byproducts have been used in medicine for the treatment of human disorders and complications. Plants give us a distinct class of natural compounds, commonly called secondary metabolites and better examples are the flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, and carotenoids. Plant derived phytoproducts have been used for the treatment of human disorders in both traditional as well as modern medicine. Naturally occurring aporphines and their synthetic derivatives are well known in medicine for their pharmacological activities, including an affinity for dopaminergic, adrenergic and serotonergic receptors. (+)-nantenine is an aporphine alkaloid isolated from Nandina domestica and other plants. The aim of the present study is to analyze the biological potential and therapeutic effectiveness of nantenine in medicine. In the present work scientific information of nantenine for their medicinal uses and pharmacological activities have been collected from scientific databases such as Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct . Scientific information of nantenine was further analyzed to know their health beneficial aspects in medicine. However, the detail pharmacological activity of nantenine has been discussed in the present work with its analytical aspects. Scientific data analysis described the medicinal importance and pharmacological activities of nantenine. Nantenine revealed adrenergic response, behavioral response, cardiovascular effect, vasorelaxant effect, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory potential, cytotoxicity, and biphasic tracheal relaxation. Present work also signified the biological potential of nantenine for their anti-inflammatory activity, anticonvulsant effect, antiserotonergic activities, anti-MDMA effect, antileishmanial activity, effect on histamine and serotonin, human 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT(2A)) and h5-HT(2B) receptors and isolated tissues. Further, the analytical techniques used for the separation, isolation and identification of nantenine have also been described in this work. The present scientific data describes the therapeutic potential and pharmacological activities of (+)-nantenine in medicine.

Floral structure and development in Nandina domestica and implications for systematic affinities in Berberidaceae and perianth evolution in Ranunculales

Abstract In Berberidaceae, the phylogenetic position and systematic affinities of the monotypic genus Nandina have long been debated and remain unclear. In addition, previous comparative studies have provided conflicting reports on the origin and development of its petals. Using scanning electron microscopy and microtome sections, we studied the structure and development of the flower and perianth in Nandina domestica to re-evaluate its affinities and homology of its petals. Our results confirm that N. domestica essentially shares the same Bauplan (organization) with other Berberidaceae and its petals are neither delayed in development nor much differentiated from sepals. However, we sometimes also observed the initiation of additional primordia that become confluent with the base of stamens of the outer whorl, but do not develop further and are no longer visible in later stages of development. Our study thus not only reconciles previous conflicting interpretations on the origin and development of petals in Nandina, but also confirms that it has a unique suite of vegetative and reproductive features supporting its position as a distinct member of the family. In addition, it suggests that the most recent common ancestors of both Berberidaceae and Ranunculales probably had two types of petaloid organs with distinct origin and development but still sharing a deep common genetic identity.

Complex floral traits shape pollinator attraction to flowering plants in urban greenspaces

Urban greenspaces are recognized as a benefit to pollinator conservation. Selective planting of attractive flowering plants can improve the conservation value of urban greenspaces. However, the functional traits of flowering plants that moderate pollinator preference merits further study. We analyzed 98 ornamental plants and spontaneous plant species for ten categories of floral and plant traits across twelve parks or campus greenspaces in Wuhan, a megacity located in central China. Our results revealed that: (1) Plant species vary enormously in their pollinator visitation rate. (2) For Lepidoptera, the number of individuals to the plot was lower for disk/bowl-shaped flowers than other flower shapes, and it was negatively corelated with corolla tube length. The number of Diptera individuals to the plot was higher for white, red/pink and yellow/orange flowers than blue/violet flowers. (3) Honeybees preferred exotic annual/biennial herbaceous species, with disk/bowl and flag flowers. Solitary bees preferred horizontal, lip or flag flowers. Diptera most frequently visited upward-facing, yellow/orange flower heads and Lepidoptera preferred horizontal, funnel-shaped flowers or flower heads. Blue/violet flowers and a diverse floral orientation were preferred by most pollinator groups. We recommend planting native woody plants (Nandina domestica, Thymus quinquecostatus, Lagerstroemia indica, and Tamarix austromongolica) and attractive exotic plants (Centaurea cyanus, Borago officinalis, Portulaca grandiflora, and Echinacea purpurea) to support multiple pollinator groups. As preferences differ among pollinators, increasing the species richness of flowering plants is conducive to promote overall pollinator diversity.

Cucumber mosaic virus subgroup IA isolates infect four varieties of Nandina domestica in China

AbstractCucumber mosaic virus (CMV) subgroup IA isolates were first identified from Nandina domestica plants in Zhejiang province of China by small RNA deep sequencing followed by bioinformatics analysis and was confirmed by RT‐PCR amplification, 5′ and 3′ RACE and DNA sequencing. The complete nucleotide sequences of this virus shared the highest sequence similarities (97–98%) with CMV subgroup IA isolate CTL RNA1 and RNA3 (GenBank accession no: EF213023, EF213025) and RP48 RNA2 (KC527727), respectively; and converged with CMV subgroup IA isolates into a branch in phylogenetic tree using full length nucleotide sequences. Pathogenicity test confirmed that this virus can be mechanically transmitted to N. domestica, Nicotiana tabacum and N. benthamiana. All thirty randomly collected samples of four major N. domestica varieties (N. domestica cv. Hong Baoshi, Nana, Fire Power and Xiu Dada) in Lin'an Zhejiang province were positive for CMV subgroup IA. This is the first report of CMV subgroup IA isolate on varieties of N. domestica in China.

Ornamental Invasive Plants in Florida with Research-founded Alternatives

The ornamental horticulture industry has long been significant in its vast economic contributions to the US agricultural sector, with Florida ranking second in nursery and greenhouse plant sales. A small proportion of introduced plants eventually escape cultivation and become invasive, leaving fragile ecosystems at risk. In response, a series of propagation and production research studies have been conducted over the years to 1) evaluate the female sterility and landscape performance of cultivars and/or hybrids of ornamental invasives, and 2) develop reliable propagation systems of novel or underused natives having ornamental and ecological value. Attractive, fruitless selections of popular species such as butterfly bush (Buddleja sp.), heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica), Mexican petunia (Ruellia simplex), lantana (Lantana strigocamara), trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis), privet (Ligustrum sp.), maiden silvergrass (Miscanthus sp.), and fountain grass (Pennisetum sp.) have been identified as suitable non-native alternatives to the invasive or potentially invasive resident species (wild type). Simultaneously, researchers have taken a closer look at native plant alternatives that may offer similar aesthetic traits as invasive plants, while bringing added biodiversity and function for more ecologically friendly landscapes and gardens. As such, successful multisite trialing and/or propagation systems have been developed for a number of species native to Florida, such as squareflower (Paronychia erecta), coastalplain honeycombhead (Balduina angustifolia), wireweeds (Polygonella sp.), blue porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis), wild coffees (Psychotria sp.), sweet acacia (Vachellia farnesiana), and wild lime (Zanthoxylum fagara). With pronounced marketing and consumer education, it is hopeful that together sterile cultivars and native species will ultimately replace wild-type forms of commercially available ornamental invasives. This paper summarizes the current status of ornamental invasives in Florida and the role of native species and sterile non-native cultivars.

Brown leaf spot of Jacaranda mimosifolia Caused by Colletotrichum karstii in Sichuan, China.

Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don is widely cultivated in southwest China (Yunnan, Sichuan, and other regions). It is widely applied in papermaking, medicine, environmental monitoring, timber, urban and rural afforestation, and soil and water conservation. In October 2020, a new brown leaf spot disease of J. mimosifolia was discovered in Xichang City (27°49' to 27°56'N, 102°16' to 102°11'E), with approximately 66.23% disease incidence. Firstly, the typical symptoms showed deep yellow necrotic lesions in the center or on the margin of the leaves. Gradually, the necrotic lesions expanded and developed into brown spots. Under humid conditions, the edges of necrotic lesions turned dark brown progressively. Finally, the leaves withered, died, and fell off. Infected tissues from ten samples were cut into small pieces of 2.5 × 2.5 mm. The surfaces of infected tissues were sterilized for 30 s in 3% sodium hypochlorite, 60 s in 75% ethanol, and rinsed three times in sterile water. They were then blot-dried with autoclaved paper towels and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25℃ for 3 to 8 days. After culturing for 8 days at 25℃ and 12 h/12 h light/dark on PDA, the colony diameter reached 78.2 to 82.7 mm. The colonies were light orange, turned pale pink with light orange beneath. The conidia were single-celled, aseptate, cylindrical, smooth-walled, straight, hyaline with both ends bluntly rounded, measuring 12.3 to 16.8 × 4.3 to 5.6 μm (n = 100; average=14.5 × 5.1μm). These morphological characteristics were consistent with the description of C. karstii (Zhao et al. 2021). For molecular identification, the genomic DNA of the representative isolate JM202010 was extracted using a fungal genomic DNA extraction kit (Solarbio, Beijing). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) [ITS1/ITS4 (White et al., 1990)], calmodulin (CAL) [CL1C/CL2C (Weir et al., 2012)], actin (ACT) [ACT512F/ACT-783R (Carbone & Kohn, 1999)], chitin synthase (CHS-1) [CHS-79F/CHS-345R (Carbone & Kohn, 1999)], β-tubulin (TUB2) [BT2A/BT2B (O'Donnell et al., 1997)], and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) [GDF/GDR (Templeton et al. 1992)] were amplified. Sequences were deposited in GenBank (ITS: OL454787, CAL: OL518966, ACT: OL518967, CHS-1: OL518968, TUB2: OL518969, and GAPDH: OL518970). BLAST results indicated that the ITS, CAL, ACT, CHS-1, TUB2 and GAPDH sequences showed >99% identity with Colletotrichum karstii sequences at NCBI (GenBank MW494453.1, MW495036.1, MG387951.1, MW495038.1, MW495042.1, and MG602034.1). The conidial suspension (1 × 106 conidia/ml) was sprayed on the leaves of 4-year-old J. mimosifolia plants (10 plants) and inoculated for pathogenicity test. Fifteen leaves of each plant (10 pots in total) were inoculated with spore suspensions on both sides of the leaves. An equal number of control leaves was sprayed with sterilized distilled water as a control. Finally, all pots were kept in a greenhouse at 26°C under a 16 h/8 h photoperiod and 60 to 68% relative humidity. The inoculated plants showed symptoms similar to those of the original diseased plants, but the controls remained asymptomatic. Colletotrichum karstii was re-isolated from the infected leaves and identified by both morphological characteristics and DNA sequence analysis. The pathogenicity test was repeated thrice, which showed similar results, confirming Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of brown leaf spot on J. mimosifolia caused by C. karstii in China. C. karstii was previously reported as the causal agent of anthracnose on Fatsia japonica (Xu et al. 2020) and Nandina domestica (Li et al. 2017) in China. This finding provides an important basis for further research on the control of this disease.

Plantago asiatica mosaic virus: An emerging plant virus causing necrosis in lilies and a new model RNA virus for molecular research.

Taxonomy Plantago asiatica mosaic virus belongs to the genus Potexvirus in the family Alphaflexiviridae of the order Tymovirales.Virion and genome propertiesPlantago asiatica mosaic virus (PlAMV) has flexuous virions of approximately 490–530 nm in length and 10–15 nm in width. The genome of PlAMV consists of a single‐stranded, positive‐sense RNA of approximately 6.13 kb. It contains five open reading frames (ORFs 1–5), encoding a putative viral polymerase (RdRp), movement proteins (triple gene block proteins, TGBp1‐3), and coat protein (CP), respectively.Host rangePlAMV has an exceptionally wide host range and has been isolated from various wild plants, including Plantago asiatica, Nandina domestica, Rehmannia glutinosa, and other weed plants. Experimentally PlAMV can infect many plant species including Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana. It also infects ornamental lilies and frequently causes severe necrotic symptoms. However, host range varies depending on isolates, which show significant biological diversity within the species.Genome diversityPlAMV can be separated into five clades based on phylogenetic analyses; nucleotide identities are significantly low between isolates in the different clades.TransmissionPlAMV is not reported to be transmitted by biological vectors. Virions of PlAMV are quite stable and it can be transmitted efficiently by mechanical contact.Disease symptomsPlAMV causes red‐rusted systemic necrosis in ornamental lilies, but it shows much weaker, if any, symptoms in wild plants such as P. asiatica.ControlControl of the disease caused by PlAMV is based mainly on rapid diagnosis and elimination of the infected bulbs or plants.

Experimental, DFT and MD evaluation of Nandina domestica Thunb. extract as green inhibitor for carbon steel corrosion in acidic medium

Plant extracts with the advantages of environment–friendly, renewable and rich resources, can be used as promising corrosion inhibitors in pickling or descaling processes. In this study, the inhibition performance and inhibition mechanism of Nandina domestica Thunb. extract (NDTE) for carbon steel in HCl solution was evaluated by electrochemical experiments, component analysis, surface characterization and theoretical calculations. The results show that NDTE can significantly inhibit the corrosion of carbon steel in HCl solution, and its maximum corrosion inhibition efficiency can reach 96.0% at 298 K. In addition, NDTE still exhibited excellent corrosion inhibition performance at 328 K, with a 93.5% corrosion inhibition efficiency. The Tafel results indicate that NDTE is a mixed–type inhibitor, and its adsorption on the surface of carbon steel conforms to the Langmuir isotherm model. Surface characterization shows that NDTE has attractive inhibition performance for carbon steel over a wide temperature range. In addition, the inhibition mechanism of NDTE were studied by quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamics simulation. This work provides a useful insight into the anti–corrosion of carbon steel during industrial pickling or descaling processes.

Effects of Landscape and Local Factors on the Diversity of Flower-Visitor Groups under an Urbanization Gradient, a Case Study in Wuhan, China

Urbanization is one of the primary forces driving worldwide pollinator decline. Moderate urban expansion with appropriate green space planning can help in maintaining pollinator diversity and pollination service. We investigated the relative effects of landscape and local factors on the diversity of flower-visitor functional groups in a moderately urbanized city, Wuhan, located in central China. We found that the proportion of impervious surface had no significant effect on the number of visitations, but it was negatively associated with the diversity of flower-visitor groups. The number of visitations by Halictidae and Lepidoptera correlated positively with local flower density and flowering plant species richness, respectively. Flowering plant species richness was also positively correlated with the diversity of flower-visitor groups. The proportion of green space was negatively associated with the visitation number of Muscidae and the overall diversity of flower-visitor groups, revealing the potential influence of green space quality on pollinator assemblage. The pollination networks under three urbanization levels (with a total of 11 flower visitor groups and 43 plant species) were asymmetric, highly nested, and generalized. The suburb sites contained the highest diversity of interactions. Core flowering plants (Oenothera speciosa, Coreopsis grandiflora and Cyanus segetum) are exotic species with attractive flowers. Improving green space quality (high flower density and flowering plant species richness) and using attractive native flowering plants (Nandina domestica, Rosa chinensis, Astragalus sinicus, Cirsium arvense var. integrifolium, and Zabelia biflora) would enhance the function of urban green space to maintain pollinator diversity and ecosystem stability.

First Report of Bean common mosaic virus Infecting Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica) in China.

Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) is an evergreen ornamental plant with worldwide distribution. In May 2018, seven out of twenty N. domestica plants showing virus-like symptoms, such as yellow mosaic and curling, were observed in Lin'an, Zhejiang province. To determine the causal agent, a small RNA library was constructed using the Small RNA v1.5 Sample Prep Kit (Illumina, San Diego, USA) with total RNA extracted from leaves of a symptomatic plant. The library was sequenced by the Solexa platform at BGI Genomics (Shenzhen, China). A total number of 21,071,675 high-quality reads of 17-28 nucleotides (nt) in length remained after trimming adapter sequences and quality control. Reads were assembled using Velvet 0.7.31 and Oases 0.2.07 with the k-mer value of 17 (Schulz et al. 2012). BlastN and BlastX search against the GenBank viral nonredundant sequence databases revealed fifty-six contigs homologous to bean common mosaic virus (BCMV; genus Potyvirus; family Potyviridae). No contig homologous to the genomic sequence of other plant-infecting viruses was identified. These contigs were further assembled into a 9,315-nt fragment by SeqMan Pro 7.1.0 in Lasergene package (DNASTAR, Madison, WI), which covered 92.68% of the genome of BCMV strain CT (BCMV-CT; GenBank accession no. KM076650). The genome of this BCMV isolate (BCMV-NTZ1) was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) using primers designed based on assembled contigs with the Phusion® High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase (New England Biolabs, Beijing, China) and the FirstChoice® RLM-RACE Kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, USA), respectively. Amplicons were cloned and Sanger sequenced with three independent clones per amplicon. The genome is 10,052 nt in length excluding the poly-A tail (Genbank accession no. MZ670770) and shared the highest nt sequence identities with BCMV-CT (88.46%). The putative polyprotein shared 93.36% amino acid (aa) sequence identity with that of BCMV-CT. BCMV-NTZ1 also clustered with BCMV-CT in phylogenetic trees based on BCMV full genomes and aa sequences of coat protein. Five-leaf-stage seedlings of Nicotiana tabacum, N. benthamiana, Glycine max(Linn.) Merr., and Capsicum frutescens were mechanically inoculated with sap of BCMV-infected N. domestica leaves at fifteen plants per species. Seedlings of G. max developed virus-like (mosaic and leaf deformity) symptoms (7/15) at 15 days post-inoculation, while other plants remained symptomless throughout the experiment. Subsequent RT-PCR on all the plants using primers 27F1/14Rter and sequencing confirmed the presence and absence of BCMV-NTZ1 in all symptomatic G. max seedlings and other asymptomatic indicator plants, respectively. Subsequent RT-PCR survey further confirmed the association of BCMV with symptomatic heavenly bamboo samples but not asymptomatic plants (7/20). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of BCMV naturally infecting heavenly bamboo in China. N. domestica is susceptible to many viruses, e.g., cucumber mosaic virus, plantago asiatica mosaic virus, nandina stem pitting virus, apple stem grooving virus, and alternanthera mosaic virus (Barnett et al. 1973; Ahmed et al. 1983; Hughes et al. 2002, 2005; Tang et al. 2010; Wei et al. 2015). Our results indicate that N. domestica can also serve as an overwinter reservoir for BCMV and special attention should be paid to the damage it may cause.

Higenamine in Plants as a Source of Unintentional Doping.

Background: Higenamine is a β2 agonist of plant origin. The compound has been included in WADA’s prohibited list since 2017. Higenamine may be detected in different plants and many food supplements of natural origin. Methods: Our literature search was conducted through PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Web of Science studies investigating the presence of higenamine in plants that are used in traditional folk medicine or included in food supplements. Our study aimed to assess the risk of adverse analytical findings caused by higenamine-containing plants. Results: Based on our literature search, Nelumbo nucifera, Tinospora crispa, Nandina domestica, Gnetum parvifolium, Asarum siebodii, Asarum heterotropoides, Aconitum carmichaelii, and Aristolochia brasiliensis are higenamine-containing plants. Based on data from Eastern folk medicine, these plants can provide numerous health benefits. Professional athletes likely ingest these plants without knowing that they contain higenamine; these herbs are used in treatments for different conditions and various foods/food supplements in addition to folk medicine. Conclusion: Athletes and their teams must be aware of the issues associated with the use of plant-based products. They should avoid consuming higenamine-containing plants during and outside of competition periods.

ОЦЕНКА АДАПТИВНОСТИ К УСЛОВИЯМ EX SITU 25 ДРЕВЕСНЫХ СУБТРОПИЧЕСКИХ РАСТЕНИЙ

The article discusses morpho-functional features of 25 species of woody subtropical plants (Acca sellowiana (O.Berg) Burret, Myrtus communis L., Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack , Coussapoa microcarpa (Schott) Rizzini, Cascabela thevetia (L.) Lippold, Podocarpus macrophyllus (Thunb.) Sweet, Podocarpus salicifolius Klotzsch & H.Karst. ex Endl., Phyllanthus juglandifolius Willd., Nandina domestica Thunb., Asparagus falcatus L., Ficus pumila L., Ficus cyathistipula Warb., Ficus binnendijkii Miq., Ficus retusa L., Ficus sagittata Vahl, Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J.Presl, Laurus nobilis L., Olea europaea L., Ligustrum japonicum Thunb., Ceratonia siliqua L., Tamarindus indica L., Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) W.T.Aiton, Camellia japonica L., Magnolia obovata Thunb., Hibiscus sinensis Mill.) growing in the greenhouse of the Botanical Garden of Samara University. To assess the adaptability of the species, the following parameters are used: the reflectivity of the leaves (upper and lower sides), the thickness of the leaf blade, the specific area of the leaves (SLA), the content of caratinoids and chlorophylls (a, b). The collection of leaf material was carried out during two growing seasons. The analysis of the parameters takes into account climatic factors, such as average monthly temperatures, air humidity, illumination. In the species studied by us, the values of the specific leaf area index range from 58 to 363 sq.cm / g, the thickness of the leaf blade from 100 to 305 microns. During the analysis, a correlation (average conjugacy) was established for the studied species the thickness of the leaf blade with the reflection of the leaf blade (R=0.65) and the content of photosynthetic pigments hl.a (R= -0.79) and carotenoids (R= -0.59), illumination (R=0.43).

Cell death-inducing activities via P-glycoprotein inhibition of the constituents isolated from fruits of Nandina domestica

Two new pyrrole alkaloids methyl-E-mangolamide (1) and methyl-Z-mangolamide (2), four new megastigmane glycosides nandinamegastigmanes I–IV (3–6), and eight known compounds (7–14) were isolated from the methanol extract of the fruits of Nandina domestica. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated based on chemical and spectroscopic evidence. The absolute stereochemistry of nandinamegastigmane I (3) was established upon comparing the experimental and predicted electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. Among the isolated compounds, 1 and 2 showed cell death-inducing activity on the Adriamycin-treated HeLa cells. In addition, one of the mechanisms for cell death-inducing activity of 1 and 2 was suggested as inhibition of P-glycoprotein.

Summary of 26 Heavenly Bamboo Selections Evaluated for Invasive Potential in Florida

Over the course of nearly 2 decades, the resident or wild-type form of heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) and 25 additional selections have been evaluated for landscape performance and invasive potential in various trial locations in Florida. Overall, in northern Florida (Quincy and Citra), ‘Royal Princess’, ‘Umpqua Chief’, ‘Gulf Stream’, ‘Monfar’ (Sienna Sunrise®), ‘Emerald Sea’, ‘Greray’ (Sunray®), ‘Lemon-Lime’, ‘Murasaki’ (Flirt™), ‘SEIKA’ (Obsession™), and ‘Twilight’ performed well throughout much of the study with average ratings between 3.0 and 4.9 (1 to 5 scale). In southern Florida (Balm and Fort Pierce), ‘AKA’ (Blush Pink™), ‘Compacta’, ‘Emerald Sea’, ‘Firestorm’™, ‘Greray’, ‘Gulf Stream’, ‘Harbour Dwarf’, ‘Jaytee’ (Harbor Belle™), ‘Lemon-Lime’, ‘Monum’ (Plum Passion®), ‘Murasaki’, and ‘SEIKA’ performed well with average ratings between 3.0 and 5.0. Among selections evaluated, plant sizes were categorized as small, medium, or large, where the final plant height ranged from 20 to 129 cm, and the plant perpendicular width ranged from 15 to 100 cm. Almost three-fourths of the selections evaluated had little to no fruiting when compared with the wild-type form. ‘AKA’, ‘Chime’, ‘Filamentosa’, ‘Firehouse’, ‘Firepower’, ‘Firestorm’, ‘Greray’, ‘Lemon- Lime’, ‘Moon Bay’, and ‘SEIKA’ did not fruit at any of the trial sites. In northern Florida, small amounts of fruit (94% to 99.9% reduction) were observed for ‘Gulf Stream’, ‘Harbour Dwarf’, ‘Jaytee’, ‘Monfar’, ‘Murasaki’, ‘Royal Princess’, ‘Twilight’, and the twisted leaf selection. Moderate amounts of fruit (62% to 83% reduction) were observed for ‘Alba’, ‘Emerald Sea’, ‘Lowboy’, ‘Moyer’s Red’, and ‘Umpqua Chief’. Heavy fruiting comparable or greater than the wild type was observed for ‘Compacta’ and ‘Monum’. Pregermination seed viability ranged from 67% to 100% among fruiting selections with 5.5% to 32.0% germination in 60 days. Germination was considerably higher (58% to 82%) when the germination time was extended to 168 days. Nuclear DNA content of selections were comparable to the wild type suggesting they are diploid. Thus, ploidy level does not appear to be associated with female infertility of those little-fruiting heavenly bamboo selections. Overall, our findings revealed certain selections of heavenly bamboo that have little potential to present an ecological threat and thus merit consideration for production and use. As a result, the University of Florida(UF)/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ (IFAS) Status Assessment on Non-native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas infraspecific taxon protocol has concluded that ‘Firepower’ and ‘Harbour Dwarf’ are noninvasive and can be recommended for production and use in Florida. In addition, due to acceptable plant performance and low to no fruiting capacity, our research supports that ‘Firehouse’, ‘AKA’, ‘Firestorm’, ‘Gulfstream’, ‘Jaytee’, ‘Monfar’, ‘Royal Princess’, ‘Greray’, ‘Lemon-Lime’, ‘Murasaki’, and ‘SEIKA’ be considered for future noninvasive status approval.

Distributional Characters of Warm-Temperate Evergreen Broadleaf Tree Species Growing in Urban Park -Focused on Duryu Urban Park in Daegu-

Present study aims to find out how evergreen tree species planted in urban parks spread to nearby wild areas. We accomplished field investigation at the Duryu Park area, Daegu, where located a transitional zone between the warm-temperate and the cool-temperate zones. From 2018 to 2019, a total of 32 floristic-sociological releves were made. Distribution patterns of tree species connected into habitat conditions were explored by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). 10 tree species dispersed spontaneously in the study area were recognized; Nandina domestica, Euonymus fortunei, E. japonicus, Quercus acuta, Q. glauca, Q. phillyraeoides, Elaeagnus pungens, Ligustrum japonicum, Osmanthus heterophyllus, and Ilex cornuta. Most of these trees were the preferentially ornamental plants introduced in the park since 1977 and mainly bird dispersal seeds. Q. glauca and L. japonicum appeared the most predominant dispersion. Their micro-habitats are the much humid and warmer stands of the deciduous broad-leaved forests mainly. We concluded that urban gardening has been also an important agent to recover the native vegetation if introducing potential natural vegetation (PNV). The habitat-based PNV in the Daegu area arose as a critical issue for further understanding.

Nandina domestica Leaf Extracts Ameliorate Lung Injury by Decreasing Inflammatory Cytokine Levels and Neutrophil Accumulation in Mice Injected with Fine Dust

Exposure to dust particles can lead to respiratory problems, diseases, and even death. In this study, we examined the effects of Nandina domestica (ND) on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung of intra-nazal-trachea (INT) injected mice with fine dust mixture of coal, flay ash and diesel exhausted particle (CFD). ND significantly reduced the counts of neutrophils in BALF and histological changes in lung tissues including infiltration of inflammatory cells and goblet cell hyperplasia with lowering lung injury score and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) score. In addition, the elevated inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-17 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in BALF, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and C-X-C motif chemokine 1 (CXCL-1) significantly decreased to a greater extent by ND treatment. Furthermore, ND significantly decreased levels of asymmetric dimethyl-arginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethyl-arginine (SDMA) elevated by CFD in BALF. Therefore, these data suggest that ND ameliorated lung injury by suppressing inflammatory cytokines as well as by reducing the accumulation of neutrophils.

Nandina domestica Leaf Extracts Ameliorate Lung Injury by Decreasing Inflammatory Cytokine Levels and Neutrophil Accumulation in Mice Injected with Fine Dust

Exposure to dust particles can lead to respiratory problems, diseases, and even death. In this study, we examined the effects of Nandina domestica (ND) on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung of intra-nazal-trachea (INT) injected mice with fine dust mixture of coal, flay ash and diesel exhausted particle (CFD). ND significantly reduced the counts of neutrophils in BALF and histological changes in lung tissues including infiltration of inflammatory cells and goblet cell hyperplasia with lowering lung injury score and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) score. In addition, the elevated inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-17 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in BALF, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and C-X-C motif chemokine 1 (CXCL-1) significantly decreased to a greater extent by ND treatment. Furthermore, ND significantly decreased levels of asymmetric dimethyl-arginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethyl-arginine (SDMA) elevated by CFD in BALF. Therefore, these data suggest that ND ameliorated lung injury by suppressing inflammatory cytokines as well as by reducing the accumulation of neutrophils.

Partial biological and molecular characterization of a novel citrivirus from Nandina domestica.

We report the complete genome sequence of a novel virus isolated from Nandina domestica 'Firepower' in Auckland, New Zealand. It was mechanically transmitted to Nicotiana species, although all of these infections were symptomless. The complete genome of the new virus is 8892 nucleotides (nt) long, excluding the 3' poly(A) tail, contains three open reading frames (ORF), and is most closely related to citrus leaf blotch virus (CLBV) Actinidia isolate (CLBV-Act; 72% nt sequence identity), a member of the genus Citrivirus. Replicase and coat proteins, encoded by genome ORFs 1 and 3 respectively, shared 81-83% and 76-79% amino acid (aa) sequence identity, respectively, with CLBV-Act. Computer-based analysis suggests that this novel virus is the result of recombination between CLBV-Act and an unknown virus, highlighting the importance of this phenomenon for betaflexivirus evolution.