Tussilago Research Articles

Induction and Characteristics of Callus Cultures of the Medicinal Plant Tussilago farfara L.

Tussilago farfara L. is a traditional medicinal plant valued for its potentially health-promoting metabolites. Its herbal raw material has been recognized and used since ancient times and continues to be widely used in traditional medicine. Introducing this plant species to in vitro cultivation is a challenging task, but once the protocol is developed, such cultures can provide an abundant and inexhaustible source of plant material. In this study, we report the successful induction and growth of vigorous T. farfara callus in vitro. Callus induction was achieved on MS solid media with the combination of indole-3-acetic acid (3 mg/L) and benzyl aminopurine (2 mg/L) in darkness, whereas it appeared inefficient under light conditions and in suspension culture. We present a detailed description of callus growth kinetics, morphological analysis, photosynthetic activity, and biochemical parameters (including protein content and photosynthetic pigments) supported by histological studies. Furthermore, we observed the potential for organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. This method for the in vitro propagation of T. farfara, along with callus culture maintenance, offers a wide range of applications in pharmacy for the production of valuable metabolites. Moreover, it could benefit the environment by reducing the depletion of natural populations of this species and may serve as an alternative strategy for species conservation in light of global warming.

Prunella vulgaris and Tussilago farfara demonstrate anti-inflammatory activity in rabbits and protect human adipose stem cells against thermal stress in vitro

Ethnopharmacological relevancePrunella vulgaris L.(PV) and Tussilago farfara (TF) are perennial herbs rich in flavonoids and phenolic compounds with immense medicinal value. PV extract (PV-E) possesses potent antipyretic, anti-inflammtory, antioxidant, antiseptic, anti-cancer and immune stimulatory properties and have been traditionally known for the treatment of wounds, ulcers and sores. TF extract (TF-E) has been known for antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-obesity and wound healing effects. Additionally, TF-E infusions have been used for asthma, cough, and bronchopneumonia treatments. Aim of the studyThe therapeutic efficacy of transplanted human adipose stem cells (hASCs) is abrogated under the deteriorating effects of heat stress offered by burn wounds. Earlier researches has documented antioxidant priming as an effective strategy to enhance stem cell performance. As both PV-E and TF-E are known for their potent antioxidant effects. The present study aims to examine the cryoprotective effects of PV-E and TF-E priming on hASCs against in-vitro heat-induced thermal stress. Moreover, we determined the anti-inflammatory potential of both PV-E and TF-E on rabbits. MethodsAntioxidant capacity of both PV-E and TF-E is examined via DPPH assay and anti-inflammatory activity is assessed in rabbits using carrageen-induced paw edema model of inflammation. Next, we investigate the efficacy of different doses (1.25-100μg/ml) of PV-E and TF-E on hASCs; MTT, LDH, calcein AM staining, and wound scratch assay were used to assess cell viability, cytotoxicity, proliferation ability and cell migration potential in the cells. Then, hASCs were pretreated for 24 h with optimum doses of PV-E and TF-E determined from MTT assay results and were subsequently exposed to in-vitro thermal injury (51 °C,10 min). The cytoprotective effects of both PV-E and TF-E priming under thermal stress were investigated via MTT, LDH, annexin-V staining and gene expression analysis. ResultsBoth PV-E and TF-E extracts demonstrated potent antioxidant and effective anti-inflammatory activities, with a clear reduction in inflammation. Study on hASCs exhibited improved cell viabilities, enhanced cell proliferation and migration abilities of both extracts. While heat stress data revealed that PV-E (2.5μg/ml) and TF-E (5μg/ml) pretreatment significantly ameliorated effects of thermal-injuries in hASCs as depicted by significantly enhanced cell viabilities, low LDH release profile, and lower annexin-V expression and regulated gene expression of the pretreated cells. ConclusionPV-E and TF-E priming effectively enabled hASCs to combat thermal injury by significantly promoting cell survival than untreated cells. Hence, these findings suggest that PV-E and TF-E priming could be used to attain improved cellular responses and enhanced therapeutic efficacy in burnt tissue.

Cirsium arvense differs from Tussilago farfara in regrowth from intact and fragmented below‐ground systems

AbstractFast regrowth from deep roots and rhizomes makes it difficult to mechanically control the perennials Cirsium arvense and Tussilago farfara respectively. It is, however, not clear whether new shoots originate mainly from fragments of roots/rhizomes in upper soil layers or from an intact system below depth of soil cultivation. Here we present results from three experiments with natural infestations of C. arvense, and two with both C. arvense and T. farfara. Plots of 1 m2 were excavated to different depths (13–25 cm), all below‐ground plant parts in the topsoil were collected and thereafter fragments were either returned to or removed from the plots. Regrowth from disturbed plots with removed or returned fragments was compared. The origin of regrown shoots, that is, whether they originated from seeds, intact below‐ground root/rhizome systems or returned fragments, was examined. More C. arvense shoots originated from the intact root system (48%–84%) than from root fragments (16%–52%). The final aboveground biomass was not affected by removal of the top‐soil fragments. For T. farfara, a small proportion (3%) of new shoots originated from the intact rhizome system, and the rest from fragments. We conclude that the intact root system of C. arvense contributes at least as much as root fragments to regrowth after soil cultivation, which might imply that time of treatment and depth of cultivation are crucial for the effect of mechanical control. For T. farfara, the results suggest that tillage equipment with high capacity to fragment the rhizome system will contribute to efficient control.

Secondary Metabolites and Biological Activities of an Endophytic Fungus from Tussilago farfara

Secondary Metabolites and Biological Activities of an Endophytic Fungus from Tussilago farfara

Tussilago farfara Extracts Decrease Lung Injury in Fine Dust-Induced Mice by Inhibiting of Inflammatory Cytokine Levels, Neutrophil Accumulation, and Endothelial Dysfunction

Fine Dust (FD) in the respiratory air generates a variety of human disease issues throughout the earth. This study aimed to investigate whether (1) Tussilago farfara extracts (TF) decrease neutrophils accumulation, typical pathological features, and goblet cell hyperplasia in mice following exposure to fine dust (FD); (2) inflammatory cytokines result from FD exposure; and (3) asymmetric dimethyl-arginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethyl-arginine (SDMA) levels in the mice following exposure to FD. Seven-week-old male Balb/c mice (n = 5/group) were instilled two times by intra-nasal-trachea (INT) injection for 3 days and 6 days to the mice four groups; normal, control, FD + dexamethasone (Dexa, positive control), and FD + TF groups. TF suspended in 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was administered orally to the mice daily for 10 days (100 mg/kg). Neutrophil accumulation, typical pathological features, goblet cell hyperplasia, ADMA, and SDMA levels were assessed on day 10 in FD-induced mice. Results indicated FD significantly reduced neutrophil accumulation in BALF, typical pathological features containing goblet cell hyperplasia in lung tissues, and inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-17 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and C-X-C motif chemokine 1 (CXCL-1)]. Furthermore, TF significantly decreased levels of elevated ADMA and SDMA by FD exposure. Collectively, TF decreased the counts of neutrophils in BALF, histological changes in lung tissues due to downstream secretion of inflammatory cytokines, and levels of ADMA and SDMA. Therefore, TF may be a potential therapeutics for treating FD-associated diseases.

Facilitating early boreal forest succession on waste rock using Ramial Chipped Wood mulch: A five-year study

After a mine is closed, waste rock storage areas must be revegetated to facilitate the return of ecosystem services and meet legal and social expectations. The restoration of forest ecosystems on waste rock through spontaneous colonization associated with primary succession can take decades and is still poorly studied. Adding a mulch of ramial chipped wood (RCW) could improve the physicochemical properties and microclimate conditions of waste rock, thus facilitating substrate colonization by plants. In 2016, a fully randomized block design was installed on waste rock from a closed gold mine located in the boreal forest in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, Canada. The design included four treatments: scarified waste rock as the control (WR), 2 cm of RCW mulch on top of scarified waste rock (RCW/WR), and 10 cm layer of sand on top of scarified waste rock with or without 2 cm of RCW mulch (RCW/S and S, respectively). Over a period of five years, we followed the natural colonization of forest species as well as abiotic (substrate microclimate conditions and physicochemistry) and biotic (herbaceous plant colonization) factors influencing woody plant colonization success. Six boreal woody species spontaneously colonized the area (five individuals per m2, on average, all species combined). Salix sp. and Picea glauca seedlings were more abundant on substrates with RCW mulch (especially sand) than those without mulch, and P. glauca had greater aerial biomasses with RCW mulch. Substrate water content during the growing season and the presence of the weed species Tussilago farfara were determining environmental factors in substrate colonization by Abies balsamea. In the absence of Tussilago farfara, RCW mulch increased A. balsamea colonization. RCW mulch increased the total cover of colonizing herbaceous plants (23.3–58.2%) as compared to mineral substrates alone (4.78–52.3%), which negatively affected the number of A. balsamea individuals. The colonizing herbaceous species were mostly primary succession species, Pilosella caespitosa, Anaphalis margaritacea, and Tussilago farfara being dominant; no exotic species were observed. The results highlight the potential of RCW mulch in promoting forest recolonization on waste rock, including mid-successional species like Picea sp., which could be useful for facilitating ecosystem succession in post-mining landscapes.

Occurence of leaf spot on Narrow-head ragwort (Ligularia stenocephala) caused by Alternaria cinerariae in Korea.

Narrow-head ragwort (Ligularia stenocephala (Maxim.) Matsum. & Koidz.) has been used for medicinal purposes and a leafy vegetable in South Korea (Choi et al., 2007; Debnath et al., 2017). In May 2022, brown spots and blight were observed on the leaves in a farmer's field in Namwon (35°26'58.9"N, 127°28'55.9"E), Korea. About 80% of the plants in a 3000 m2 cultivation area were infected. To isolate the causal agent, small pieces (1 mm2) surface-sterilized (1% NaOCl for 1 min) symptomatic leaf tissues were put onto a water agar (WA) plate and incubated in the dark at 25℃. After five days of incubation, two isolates (FD00021, FD00022) were obtained from diseased leaves using a single spore isolation technique. Morphological characteristics were examined after seven days of incubation at 25℃ in the dark. Colonies were 51.6 to 65.3 mm in diameter, gray-green in the center, and ivory at the edge. Conidiophores were straight or curved and 10 - 34 × 4 - 5 μm. Conidia were solitary or two to four in a chain, long ellipsoid to obclavate, one to thirteen transverse septa, 52 - 169 ×14 - 34 μm, blunt-tapered beak variable in size 4 - 56 × 3 - 10 μm (n=75). The morphological and cultural characteristics of the isolates were consistent with that of Alternaria cinerariae (Nishikawa and Nakashima, 2015; Simmons, 2007). For molecular identification, genomic DNA was extracted from 5-day-old cultures using the Maxwell® RSC PureFood GMO and Authentication Kit (Promega). Five gene regions, including rDNA ITS, GPD, Alt a, RPB2, and EF1-α were amplified and sequenced using ITS1/ITS4, gpd1/gpd2, Alt-a1-for/ Alt-a1-rev, RPB2-5F2/RPB2-7cR, and EF1-728F/EF1-986R primer sets respectively (Wang et al., 2022; Garibaldi et al., 2022). The resulting sequences were deposited in GenBank with accession no. OP785152, OP785153 and OP832000 to OP832007). The concatenated genes (rDNA ITS, GPD, Alt a, RPB2, and EF1-α) sequence identity of the FD00021 and FD00022 against the reference strain A. cinerariae CBS 116495 is 99.92% (2572/2574) and 99.84% (2570/2574), respectively. Maximum Likelihood tree was inferred based on the concatenated sequences of the five gene regions using the Kimura 2-parameter model with 1,000 bootstrap replications. The phylogenetic tree showed that the present strains and A. cinerariae CBS 116495 fell into the same clade with high bootstrap support (100%). Based on morphological characteristics and molecular analysis, the isolates were identified as A. cinerariae. To confirm their pathogenicity, drops (70 μl) of conidial suspension (1×104 spores/ml) were applied on intact healthy leaves (3 leaves/plant) of plants (3 plants/isolate) that had been cultivated for one month after transplantation as seedlings. Controls were treated with sterile distilled water. The treated plants were covered with plastic boxes to maintain humidity around 90% and were maintained in an incubator at 25℃ in a 12-hour light-dark cycle. Symptoms appeared only on inoculated leaves after four days of inoculation, while controls remained asymptomatic. The A. cinerariae isolates were re-isolated from infected tissue of the inoculated leaves, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. Alternaria cinerariae is an important plant pathogen that can cause leaf spot and blight on a variety of host plants including Cineraria spp. and Tussilago farfara (He et al. 2020). This is the first report on leaf spot on Narrow-head ragwort caused by A. cinerariae in the world. Leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria cinerariae is a significant threat to narrow-head ragwort agriculture in South Korea. Therefore, its control strategies are necessary for increasing productivity.

Antioxidant Capacity of Honey Enriched by Wildflowers

The study objective was a comparative analysis of rapeseed and multifloral honey enriched by flowers of six plant species: lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis L.), high mallow (Malva sylvestris L.), cowslip primrose (Primula veris L.), coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara L.), lawn daisy (Bellis perennis L.), and black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.). The honey was enriched with dry flowers and plant extracts at a level of 1%, 2%, and 4% (w/w). Antioxidant capacity was measured via two different methods: DPPH and ABTS assay. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were determined using colorimetric methods. The highest radical scavenging capacity determined by the DPPH assay was observed in rapeseed honey with a 4% dried cowslip primrose (Primula veris L.) flower addition, which was more than 50 times higher than the activity for pure rapeseed honey. Almost 100% of the radical scavenging capacity was found for rapeseed and multifloral honeys with cowslip primrose (Primula veris L.), especially for the 4% dried flower addition, more than six times that of the control samples measured using the ABTS test. Multifloral honeys enriched with black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) and cowslip primrose (Primula veris L.), with a 2% and 4% plant material addition, both as an extract and as dried flowers, were characterised by the highest total phenolic content. The highest enrichment effectiveness was observed for dried flowers of lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis L.), black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.), and high mallow (Malva sylvestris L.), where the flavonoid content increased more than nine times compared to the honey samples without additions. The content of biologically active substances in honey enriched with flowers gives hope for new applications of the health-promoting substances contained in wild plants.

Functional diversity of microbial communities in herbaceous vegetation patches in coal mine heaps

AbstractCoal mine heaps represent unique novel environments, suitable for studying plant succession and its influence on the activity of microbes inhabiting the rhizosphere. Our aim was to verify if the functional diversity and catabolic activity of soil microorganisms would increase along with the plant succession from non‐vegetated and forbs‐dominated to grass‐dominated communities. The study was conducted on coal mine heaps located in Upper Silesia (Southern Poland), focusing on non‐vegetated patches, patches dominated by forbs–Tussilago farfara and Daucus carota (in the early stages of succession), and by grasses–Poa compressa and Calamagrostis epigejos (in later stages of primary succession). The catabolic activity and functional diversity of soil microbial communities were analyzed based on community‐level physiological profiles using BIOLOG EcoPlatesTM and the activity of dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and urease. Our results showed that spontaneous vegetation on coal mine heaps strongly affects the physicochemistry of the substrate and the functional diversity of soil microbial communities. Grasses' rhizosphere was hosting more active and functional diversified microbial communities, while non‐vegetated and T. farfara‐vegetated patches were accompanied by a reduced development of soil microbiota. Furthermore, grasses were mainly associated with a substantial delivery of plant litter to the substrate, providing a source of carbon for microorganisms.

Synthesis and Preliminary Biological Activity of Selenium Polysaccharides from Tussilago farfara L.

Tussilago farfara L. selenium polysaccharides (STFPs, similarly hereinafter) were prepared by Selenous acid salt method from Tussilago farfara L. polysaccharide (TFP, similarly hereinafter). Taking the selenium content of STFPs as an indicator, the synthesis process of STFPs was optimized using response surface methodology based on single factor experiments. The optimal synthesis process conditions obtained are: 90 °C, 12 hours, selenide reagent ratio of 1.2: 1, HNO3 volume fraction of 0.7%, and the average selenium content of STFPs measured under these conditions is 2.338 mg/g. Characterization was carried out by measuring the selenium content, molecular weight, infrared spectroscopy. The results of antioxidant experiments showed that the maximum clearance rate of DPPH· by the selenium polysaccharide from Tussilago farfara L. was 73.16%, which were higher than from Tussilago farfara L. polysaccharides.

Middle Eastern Plants with Potent Cytotoxic Effect Against Lung Cancer Cells.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of increasing global mortality with uprising health concerns and threats. Unfortunately, conventional chemotherapy has substantial side effects, limiting its relevance and prompting a quest for safe and efficient alternatives. For thousands of years, plants have provided a rich reservoir for curing a variety of ailments, including cancer. According to the World Health Organization, medicinal plants would be the best source of medications. However, only 25% of drugs in the present pharmacopoeia are derived from plants. Hence, further research into different plants is required to better understand their efficacy. Twenty extracts of widely distributed Middle Eastern plants were screened for the cytotoxic effect against lung cancer cell lines (A549). Eleven plants showed IC50 below 25 μg/mL, consequently, the bioactive extracts were further fractionated by graded precipitation using absolute ethanol. All fraction A (FA; crude polysaccharides precipitate) showed potent IC50, 0.2-5.5 μg/mL except the FA of Brassica juncea, Silybum marianum, and Phaseolus vulgaris, whereas FB fractions (filtrate) of Anastatica hierochuntica, Plantago ovate, Tussilago farfara, and Cucurbita moschata had lower efficacy than other fractions with IC50 values in the range of 0.1-7.7 μg/mL. The fractions of FA Taraxacum officinale and FB Ziziphus spina possess the most potent cytotoxic activity with IC50, 0.2 and 0.1 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, cell cycle analysis of both fractions revealed an arrest at G1/S-phase and activation of apoptosis rather than necrosis as the mode of cell death. Therefore, T. officinale and Z. spina fractions may pave the way to manage lung carcinoma as an alternative and complementary food regimen.

Tussilagone inhibits inflammation and oxidative stress to alleviate acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a clinical emergency characterized by elevated levels of inflammation and oxidative stress, urging the need for the development of new and more efficacious treatments. Tussilagone (TSL), a compound from Tussilago farfara flower buds, is known to exhibit diverse properties, including anti-inflammatory activity, but its precise role in AP remains unclear. In this study, we investigated TSL’s impact on the progression of AP. To establish AP animal models, mice were intraperitoneally administered hyranolin. Our findings demonstrate that TSL effectively suppresses the progression of AP in these mice and decreases inflammation in their pancreatic tissues, as evidenced by reduced secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-6 (p < 0.05). Notably, TSL also mitigates neutrophil infiltration into the pancreatic tissues of AP-afflicted mice and alleviates oxidative stress in AP mice, as confirmed by the measurements of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) (p < 0.05). Remarkably, TSL exerts its inhibitory effects on inflammation and oxidative stress by blocking the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway and activating the NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. In conclusion, TSL can mitigate inflammation and oxidative stress, offering potential as a promising therapeutic agent for AP.

Study of the Elemental Composition of Pectoral Species No. 2 and Its Components

INTRODUCTION. The influence of anthropogenic factors on the content of toxic elements in plants increases the need for monitoring the content of toxic elements in medicinal plant raw materials and the corresponding herbal medicinal products. In addition, studying the elemental composition of herbal medicinal products will help determine their potential in the treatment of elemental metabolism disorders (macroand micro-elementoses).AIM. This study aimed to determine the elemental composition and the heavy metal content in Pectoral Species No. 2 and its components.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study used Pectoral Species No. 2 and its components, including common coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara L.) leaf, greater plantain (Plantago major L.) leaf, and liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L., G. uralensis Fisch.) root. The samples were manufactured by Krasnogorskleksredstva JSC and purchased at Moscow pharmacies. To determine the elemental composition, the study samples were digested with concentrated nitric acid and analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The calibration involved using concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 times the maximum permissible concentration for each element.RESULTS. This study identified and quantified 26 elements in Pectoral Species No. 2 and its components. The content of heavy metals was within the permissible concentrations. The study established the predominant macronutrients (potassium, calcium, and magnesium), micronutrients (iron, aluminium, and strontium), and ultramicronutrients (barium, nickel, and chromium) in Pectoral Species No. 2. The authors evaluated the contributions of each herbal drug to the total element content in the medicinal product.CONCLUSIONS. Coltsfoot leaf exerts the greatest influence on the content of macro-, micro-, and ultramicronutrients in Pectoral Species No. 2. Greater plantain leaf contributes the most to the zinc, silver, and nickel content. Liquorice root has the highest strontium and molybdenum content.

Tussilagone inhibits osteoclastogenesis by modulating mitochondrial function and ROS production involved Nrf2 activation

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) play an essential role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis mainly characterized by excessive osteoclasts (OCs) activity. OCs are rich in mitochondria for energy support, which is a major source of total ROS. Tussilagone (TSG), a natural Sesquiterpenes from the flower of Tussilago farfara, has plentiful beneficial pharmacological characteristics with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activity, but its effects and mechanism in osteopathology are still unclear. In our study, we investigated the regulation of ROS generated from the mitochondria in OCs. We found that TSG inhibited OCs differentiation and bone resorption without any cytotoxicity. Mechanistically, TSG reduced RANKL-mediated total ROS level by down-regulating intracellular ROS production and mitochondrial function, leading to the suppression of NFATc1 transcription. We also found that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) could enhance ROS scavenging enzymes in response to RANKL-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, TSG up-regulated the expression of Nrf2 by inhibiting its proteosomal degradation. Interestingly, Nrf2 deficiency reversed the suppressive effect of TSG on mitochondrial activity and ROS signaling in OCs. Consistent with this finding, TSG attenuated post-ovariectomy (OVX)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced bone loss by ameliorating osteoclastogenesis. Taken together, TSG has an anti-bone resorptive effect by modulating mitochondrial function and ROS production involved Nrf2 activation.

Tussilago farfara L.: Antioxidant and antibacterial potential of extracts in in vitro conditions

Tussilago farfara L., also known as coltsfoot, is a plant that has been used since ancient times to relieve coughs. Subsequently, the effectiveness of coltsfoot in the treatment of bronchial asthma, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases was established. In this research, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of different coltsfoot extracts was analyzed. The antioxidant activity was monitored through the DPPH radical inhibition efficiency and the extract's reducing ability. Antibacterial activity was tested using the diffusion technique. Tussilago farfara L. extracts showed extremely high antioxidant activity in in vitro conditions. The highest antioxidant capacity was found in extracts prepared by mixing water and organic solvents. High antibacterial activity was found for ethanolic, acetone and aqueous-ethanolic extracts of coltsfoot.

Ethnobotany, medicinal utilization and analysis of biogenic elements and flavonoids of Apium graveolens and Tussilago farfara from Uzbekistan

Ethnobotany, medicinal utilization and analysis of biogenic elements and flavonoids of Apium graveolens and Tussilago farfara from Uzbekistan

Spatial variability and climate response characteristics of chemical components of Tussilago farfara L.

Tussilago farfara L. is a typical habitat-dominated herbal medicine. In this work, for evaluating the effect of ecological environment on its quality, an integrated approach based on chemical composition and maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model was developed. 52 batches of T. farfara were collected by field survey from different origins in Gansu Province and their HPLC fingerprints were established. 19 common peaks were specified and subjected to principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis. The result indicated the quality varied with the origins and the common peaks 12, 6, 9, 14, 19, and 1 was the key to distinguish their quality. The MaxEnt model consisting of 205 occurrence records and 14 environmental variables was constructed and used to predict the potential distribution of T. farfara in Gansu Province. The prediction results showed that the current suitable habitat area of T. farfara was about 94,547.03 km2, accounting for 22.2% of the total area of Gansu Province, and showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing with time under future climate scenarios. Moreover, the dominant factors affecting its distribution were specified as min temperature of coldest month, precipitation of wettest month, precipitation seasonality, mean diurnal range and elevation. Eventually, the correlation model between chemical composition and environmental variables was established, based on which a quality zoning map of T. farfara was drawn. The obtained results would provide a scientific reference for the conservation and utilization of wild resources and the selection of planting site of T. farfara.

Herb stratum diversity and community structure in Gurez valley of Kashmir Himalaya: application of multivariate techniques in community analyses

ABSTRACT In temperate forests, herbs comprise up to 90% of species richness yet received less attention, and their community structure, diversity patterns, and driving mechanisms still remain understudied. We provide a phytosociological overview of herb stratum to develop a vegetation model to characterize and designate vegetation groups and interpret their diversity and species distribution patterns. Multivariate analyses – classification (TWINSPAN) and ordination (indicator species analysis [ISA], non-metric multidimensional scaling [NMDS], and Canonical Correspondence Analysis [CCA]) were applied to data set collected from 32 plots across Gurez valley, Kashmir Himalaya to recognize the understory plant communities, determine the environmental predictors and highlight their significance. Altogether, 131 herbs from 38 families were recorded. TWINSPAN classified understory vegetation into three communities: Tanacetum multicule – Pedicularis pectinata – Aconitum heterophyllum (TPA), Taraxacum officinale – Trifolium repens – Plantago major (TTP), and Impatiens brachycentra – Tussilago farfara – Galium boreale (ITG). Diversity indices and species richness vary significantly, following the trend TTP>TPA>ITG. CCA revealed that disturbances, canopy, altitude, and moisture were the strongest parameters determining species differentiation. The study outlines a methodological workflow based on analytical methods and vegetation-plot data that describe vegetation groups and might be helpful in further in-depth vegetation classification syntheses and decision-making in conservation, global change issues, and management.

Tussilagone ameliorates high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis by enhancing energy metabolism and antioxidant activity.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major health problem. However, no effective treatments are currently available. Thus, there is a critical need to develop novel drugs that can prevent and treat NAFLD with few side effects. In this study, Tussilagone (TUS), a natural sesquiterpene isolated from Tussilago farfara L, was explored in vitro and in vivo for its potential to treat NAFLD. Our results showed that in vitro TUS reduced oleic acid palmitate acid-induced triglyceride and cholesterol synthesis in HepG2cells, reduced intracellular lipid droplet accumulation, improved glucose metabolism disorders and increased energy metabolism and reduced oxidative stress levels. In vivo, TUS significantly reduced fat accumulation and improved liver injury in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mice. TUS treatment significantly increased liver mitochondrial counts and antioxidant levels compared to the HFD group of mice. In addition, TUS was found to reduce the expression of genes involved in lipid synthesis sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP1), fatty acid synthase (FASN), and stearoy-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that TUS may be helpful in the treatment of NAFLD, suggesting that TUS is a promising compound for the treatment of NAFLD. Our findings provided novel insights into the application of TUS in regulating lipid metabolism.

Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity, Phenolic, and Flavonoid Content of Tussilago farfara L. in Different Altitudes and Phenological Stages

Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity, Phenolic, and Flavonoid Content of Tussilago farfara L. in Different Altitudes and Phenological Stages