Polygonum Cuspidatum Sieb Research Articles

A Review of the Biology and Ecology of Three Invasive Perennials in New York State: Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum), Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) and Pale Swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum rossicum)

Terrestrial weeds continue to evolve in association with the rapid global changes in our land-use systems, due to their regenerative strategies, their adaptability to change, and their inherent diversity. Currently, invasive weeds are estimated to cost the United States’ economy up to $35 billion per year, and this total is rapidly increasing, as greater numbers of invasive species become naturalized. Several invasive exotic species have more recently established across New York State, creating difficulties for agricultural producers, roadside and natural areas managers, and homeowners and resulting in millions of dollars expended annually for their control. Three perennials that have become particularly problematic in New York State in recent years in both agricultural and roadside settings include Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. & Zucc.), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.), and pale swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum rossicum (Kleop.) Barbar.). This review describes their history, biology, ecology, and potential for management and focuses on key characteristics contributing to their spread in New York State and adjacent regions.

Preparative isolation and purification of five compounds from the Chinese medicinal herb Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc by high-speed counter-current chromatography

High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was applied to the separation and purification of five compounds from the Chinese medicinal herb Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. The crude extracts from P. cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc were treated with light petroleum–ethyl acetate–methanol–water (2:5:4:6, v/v). Sample 1 was obtained from the lower phase and sample 2 from the upper phase. The sample 1 was separated with light petroleum–ethyl acetate–water (1:5:5, v/v) and yielded 19.3 mg of piceid, 17.6 mg of anthraglycoside B from 200 mg of sample 1. The sample 2 was separated with light petroleum–ethyl acetate–methanol–water (3:5:4:6, v/v) and light petroleum–ethyl acetate–methanol–water (3:5:7:3, v/v) in a gradient elution and yielded 18.5 mg of resveratrol, 35.3 mg of emodin and 8.2 mg of physcion from 220 mg of sample 2. The purity of each compound is over 95% as determined by HPLC. The chemical structures of these components were identified by 1H NMR and 13C NMR.

Ethanol extract of Polygonum cuspidatum inhibits hepatitis B virus in a stable HBV-producing cell line

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Asia and its consequences are among the major public health problems in the world. Unfortunately, the therapeutic efficacies of present strategies are still unsatisfactory with a major concern about viral mutation. In search of effective antiviral agent, we examined the efficacy of extracts of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. ( P. cuspidatum) against HBV in HepG 2 2.2.15 cells by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. The expressions of viral antigens, HBeAg and HBsAg, were also determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The ethanol extract of P. cuspidatum could inhibit dose-dependently the production of HBV ( p < 0.0001) with an effective minimal dosage of 10 μg/ml. The water extract of P. cuspidatum might also inhibit the production of HBV at a higher dosage. The expression of HBsAg was significantly increased by both ethanol extract and water extract of P. cuspidatum dose-dependently ( p < 0.0001) and time-dependently ( p < 0.0001). Higher dose of water extract of P. cuspidatum (30 μg/ml) could inhibit the expression of HBeAg ( p < 0.05). The extract of P. cuspidatum might contain compounds that would contribute to the control of HBV infection in the future. However, its promoting effect on the expression of HBsAg and its cytotoxicity should be monitored. Further purification of the active compounds, identification and modification of their structures to improve the efficacy and decrease the cytotoxicity are required.

Allocation of nitrogen to cell walls decreases photosynthetic nitrogen‐use efficiency

Summary Nitrogen (N) is an essential limiting resource for plant growth, and its efficient use may increase fitness. We investigated photosynthetic N‐use efficiency (photosynthetic capacity per unit N) in relation to N allocation to Rubisco and to cell walls in Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. which germinated in May (early germinators) and August (late germinators). There was a significant difference between early and late germinators in photosynthetic capacity as a function of leaf N content per unit area. Higher photosynthetic N‐use efficiency in late germinators was caused primarily by a larger allocation of N to Rubisco. Nitrogen allocation to cell walls was smaller in late germinators. The shorter growth period in late germinators was associated with higher photosynthetic capacity, which was achieved by allocating more N to photosynthetic proteins at the expense of cell walls. The trade‐off between N allocation to photosynthesis and to structural tissues suggests that plants change N allocation to increase either the rate or duration of carbon assimilation. Such plastic change would help plants maintain themselves and cope with environmental changes.

Effects of stem fraction on the optimization of biomass allocation and maximum photosynthetic capacity

SummaryA model was developed to examine effects of the stem biomass fraction on the optimal responses of plants to soil nitrogen availability.Our model predicts that the optimal leaf : root ratio and optimal photosynthetic capacity (Pmax) increase with soil N availability. For a given N availability, the optimal leaf : root ratio decreases and the optimalPmaxincreases with increasing stem fraction. As a result, the increase in optimal leaf : root ratio is smaller, and that in optimalPmaxis greater, in response to increasing N availability when stem fraction is large.To test these predictions we grew two herbs with different stem fractions:Polygonum cuspidatumSieb. et Zucc. andChenopodium albumL.Showing excellent agreement with the simulation results, the leaf N concentration and leaf : root ratio of the two herbs increased with increasing N availability, and leaf N concentration was larger forC. albumwith higher stem fraction thanP. cuspidatum.The general tendency for plants with larger stem fractions also to have greater leaf N concentrations andPmaxwas demonstrated for a wide range of temperate herbs. This suggests that stem fraction may be a source of variation inPmaxamong plants in the same functional group.

PH-MODULATED STEPWISE ELUTION CCC AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE PREPARATIVE SEPARATION OF HYDROXYANTHRAQUINONE COMPOUNDS FROM TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINAL HERBS

Analytical and preparative high-speed countercurrent chromatography was successfully used for the separation of hydroxyanthraquinones from traditional Chinese medicine such as Rheum officinale Baill (Dahuang) and Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. Et Zucc (Huzhang) using pH-modulated stepwise elution. Four major components including chrysophanol, emodin, physcion, and aloe-emodin were isolated each at over 98% purity.

Large-scale separation of resveratrol, anthraglycoside A and anthraglycoside B from Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc by high-speed counter-current chromatography

High-speed counter-current chromatography was successfully applied to the large-scale separation of resveratrol, anthraglycoside A and anthraglycoside B from the crude extract of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc using a two-phase solvent system composed of chloroform, methanol and water. Resveratrol, anthraglycoside A and anthraglycoside B were separated from multigram quantities (5 g) of crude extract of P. cuspidatum. The separation yielded 200 mg to 1 g of these three compounds each at over 98% purity as determined by HPLC. The chemical structures of these components were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and MS.

CO2 transfer conductance, leaf structure and carbon isotope composition of Polygonum cuspidatum leaves from low and high altitudes

ABSTRACTAnatomy and some physiological characteristics of the leaves in Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc., a dioecious clonal herb, were compared between two populations, one from a lowland in Shizuoka City (10 m above sea level), and another from a highland on Mt. Fuji (2500 m above sea level). Leaf mass per area (LMA) of the highland plants was about twice that of the lowland plants. The greater leaf thickness, thicker mesophyll cell walls and higher mesophyll cell density in the highland leaves contributed to the larger LMA. Although mesophyll area exposed to intercellular airspaces was greater in the highland leaves than in the lowland leaves by 30%, the surface area of chloroplasts facing intercellular airspaces was similar between these leaves. CO2 transfer conductance inside the leaf (gi) of the highland leaves (0·75 μmol m−2 s−1 Pa−1) is the lowest recorded for herbaceous plants and was only 40% of that in the lowland leaves. On the other hand, the difference in stomatal conductance was small. δ13C values in the leaf dry matter were greater in the highland leaves by 4‰. These data and the estimation of CO2 partial pressures in the intercellular air spaces and in the chloroplast suggested that the greater dry matter δ13C in the highland leaves, indicative of lower long‐term ratio of the chloroplast stroma to the ambient CO2 partial pressures, would be mainly attributed to their lower gi.

Effects of anthraquinones of Polygonum cuspidatum on HL-60 cells.

The effects of the isolated compounds (anthraquinones) of roots of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb et Zucc. (Polygonaceae) on HL-60 cells were investigated. Emodin showed better cytotoxicity and inhibition precursor incorporation into DNA and RNA activities than the other isolated components.

A Vegetative Plant Growth Model: Adaptive Significance of Phenotypic Plasticity in Matter Partitioning

A model of vegetative plant growth was constructed upon three assumptions derived from a sand-culture experiment with Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc.: (1) the partitioning of dry matter and nitrogen between organs is controlled by the nitrogen concentration of the whole plant; (2) specific leaf weight (SLW) is controlled by leaf nitrogen concentration; and (3) net assimilation rate is a function of nitrogen concentration per unit leaf area. Model simulations gave the relative growth rates under steady-state exponential growth for different nitrogen uptake rates per unit root weight. The significance of phenotypic plasticity in matter partitioning and SLW is discussed, comparing the growth of plants which modify their partitioning and SLW with those less plastic in these respects. Plants with plasticity in both matter partitioning and SLW always attained the higher growth rate under varying availabilities of nitrogen in the environment. Plasticity also contributed to the efficient use of nitrogen in plant growth. Key-words: Model, growth, plasticity, partitioning, specific leaf weight, dry matter, nitrogen, relative growth rate, nitrogen productivity

Growth and survival of current-year seedlings of Polygonum cuspidatum at the upper distribution limit on Mt. Fuji.

Seedling establishment of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. colonizing in a volcanic gravel area at 1,400 m and 2,500 m altitude on Mt. Fuji was compared. At the upper altitudinal limit (2,500 m) the average dry weight of seedlings at the end of the first growing season after germination was 24 per cent of that at 1,400 m. The proportion of seedlings, which survived the winter, was significantly (P<0.005) higher at 1,400 m than at 2,500 m. Seedlings in the range of 0-10 mg DW could not survive winter at any altitude. The survival rate increased with increasing seedling dry weight up to 100 per cent in seedlings with sizes more than 40 mg DW at 1,400 m. Seedlings from 2,500 m with sizes below 2 mg DW did not form perennation buds and were found to die before winter. Smaller seedlings in the range of 2-20 mg DW, even if they had buds, did not survive in the-15°C freezing resistance experiment. Larger seedlings (40-100 mg DW), which were grown in pots at 1,400 m and transferred to 2,500 m, survived winter those like as at 1,400 m. The difference in mean seedling dry weight between at 1,400 m and at 2,500 m was attributable to the difference in the length of the growing season and not to a different relative growth rate. It appears that there is a critical amount of annual dry-matter production necessary for full freezing resistance and winter survival capacity and therefore for successful seedling establishment.

Effects of stilbene components of roots of Polygonum ssp. on liver injury in peroxidized oil-fed rats.

The effects of Polygonum cuspidatum SIEB. et Zucc. (“Kojo-kon” or “Itadori-kon” in Japanese) of Polygonum multiflorum (“Kashuwu” or “Tsurudo-kudami-kon” in Japanese) roots and their stilbene components (piceid and 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxy stilbene-2-O-D-glucoside) on liver injury caused in rats by feeding peroxidized oil were investigated. Piceid and 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxy stilbene-2-O-D-glucoside were found to partly inhibit the deposition of lipid peroxides in the liver of those rats. The stilbene glucosides reduced the elevation of GOT and GPT levels in the serum of the rats. Furthermore, resveratrol, piceid and 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxy stilbene-2-O-D-glucoside were found to inhibit lipid peroxidation induced by ADP and NADPH in rat liver microsomes.

Effects of stilbene components of the roots of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. on lipid metabolism.

The effects of the roots of Polygonum cuspidatum SIEB. et ZUCC. (Kojo-kon or Itadori-kon in Japanese) and its stilbene components (resveratrol and piceid) on lipid metabolism in rats and mice (higher animals) were investigated. Resveratrol and piceid inhibited the deposition of triglyceride and cholesterol in the liver of rats fed corn oil-cholesterol-cholic acid mixture. Piceid reduced the serum triglyceride and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-ch) levels, and atherogenic index [total cholesterolhigh density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-ch)/HDL-ch] in the oil mixture-fed rats. It was found that intraperitoneal or oral administration of resveratrol or piceid reduced triglyceride synthesis from 14C-palmitate in the liver of mice. In contrast, these stilbene components did not affect hormone-induced lipolysis in fat cells from rat eqididymal adipose tissue.

タデ科植物成分の研究 (第1報)

A glycoside, isolated from the fresh root of Polygonum cuspidatum SIEB. et ZUCC. and named polydatin, was newly examined. Its molecular formula corresponded to C20H22O8⋅3H2O and its constants were m. p. 225-226°, [α]D27 -74.9° (c=1.709, EtOH). Its hydrolysis afforded a phenol, C14H12O3, and glucose. The aglycone formed an acetate (C20H18O6), methylate (methoxide) (C17H18O3), benzoate (C35H24O6), and a dihydro derivative (C14H14O3). The ultraviolet spectra of these derivatives resembled those of stilbene derivatives. Oxidative decomposition of the methylated glycoside afforded anisic acid and the same treatment of the methylated aglycone gave anisic acid and 3, 5-dimethoxybenzoic acid. These experimental evidences indicate that the aglycone is resveratrol and the glycoside was identified as 3, 4′, 5-trihydroxystilbene-3-β-mono-D-glucoside (piceid). An anthraquinone and resveratrol were isolated from the ether-soluble portion and the latter was identified through paper partition chromatography and mixed melting point determination.