Medicinal Value Research Articles

Diversity of causal agents of Pseudostellaria heterophylla leaf spot from Guizhou Province, China

AbstractPseudostellaria heterophylla, a valuable Chinese herbal medicine, is widely cultivated in China, with a planted area of 5402.7 hm2 in Shibing County, Guizhou Province. The occurrence of leaf spot disease represents a significant challenge in the production area. In this study, 30 samples of P. heterophylla exhibiting symptoms of leaf spot were collected from three primary production areas in Guizhou Province. Following isolation and purification, 51 isolates were classified into two genera based on both cultural and conidial characteristics, along with ITS sequence data. Fourteen representative strains were selected for morphological and multigene molecular identification, which revealed that these representative strains were affiliated with Alternaria arborescens species complex (SC), Alternaria tenuissima, Alternaria gaisen, and Sclerotiophoma versabilis. The isolation rates of Alternaria and Sclerotiophoma were 84.3% and 15.7%, respectively. Pathogenicity tests confirmed the identity of the causal agents and demonstrated varying levels of aggressiveness among the different genera and species of pathogens towards P. heterophylla leaves. This study marks the first identification of A. arborescens SC, A. gaisen, and S. versabilis as pathogens causing leaf spot in P. heterophylla in China.

Anticariogenic, Antidiabetic, and Toxicology Evaluation of the Ethanolic Extract of Croton bonplandianum: An In Vitro Study.

Background Herbal medicine has gathered increasing attention in contemporary healthcare practices, offering natural remedies for a wide range of ailments such asskin diseases, liver disorders,bronchitis, and asthma. Among the plethora of medicinal plants, Croton bonplandianum, commonly known as "Ban Tulsi," holds significant medicinal value owing to its diverse pharmacological properties. This study investigated the cytotoxicity, embryotoxicity, antidiabetic, and anticariogenic effects of an ethanolic extract derived from C. bonplandianum.The research objectives were to explore the preparation of an ethanolic extract of C. bonplandianum and employ a multifaceted approach by evaluating its cytotoxicity, embryotoxicity, anticariogenic, and antidiabetic potentials. Materials and methods In this study, the β-glucosidase inhibitory and the α-amylase inhibitory assays were utilized to evaluate the antidiabetic activity of theC. bonplandianum ethanolic extract. The in vitro cytotoxicity activity was assessed by using the brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA), and embryotoxicity was evaluated using zebrafish embryos and larvae. Through the agar well diffusion method and the time-kill curve analysis, the anticariogenic activity was evaluated. Results In α-amylase andβ-glucosidase inhibitory assays, the ethanolic extract ofC. bonplandianum showed potent antidiabetic properties, near those ofstandard acarbose. The cytotoxicity evaluation using the BSLA showed less toxicity. The anticariogenic activity of the ethanolic extract of C. bonplandianumwas assessed by comparing the standard (Amoxyrite) in terms of its zone of inhibition against oral pathogens such asStreptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus species (spp.). The antibacterial efficiency was validated using a time-kill curve assay in which the study depends on the concentration of the bacterial pathogenic organisms, namely, Lactobacillus spp. and S. mutans. In embryotoxicity evaluation, there were no morphological malformations in zebrafish larvae or embryos when exposed to high concentrations of C. bonplandianum ethanolic extract. Conclusion The ethanolic extract ofC. bonplandianum exhibited promising antidiabetic and anticariogenic effects, supporting its conventional usage inalternative medicine. The outcomes of these research analyses suggest the plantpotential as a natural source of compounds with bioactive qualities and can be utilized in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

Attenuation of paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in Ajuga bracteosa extract treated mice

Ajuga bracteosa (Ab) has tremendous medicinal value with long-established disease curing potential. The present study aimed to assess the hepatoprotective potential of Ab extracts in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Group I (normal control) were treated with saline 1 ml/kg BW orally for 7 days while Group II (toxicant control) received saline 1 ml/kg BW for 6 days and Paracetamol (1000 mg/kg BW) on day7of the treatment. Group III received Standard drug silymarin (100 mg/kg BW) for 6 days and Paracetamol (1000 mg/kg BW) on day 7of treatment. Groups IV andV were administered with methanol extract (ME) 200 mg/kg BW and aqueous extract (AE) 1000 mg/kg BW for 6 days and Paracetamol (1000 mg/kg BW) on day 7th of the study. Both extracts showed hepatoprotective potential against the toxic effects of paracetamol, evidenced by serum analysis of biomarkers involved in liver injury and histopathological findings. Hepatotoxic mice pretreated with Ab plant extract or silymarin exhibited significant decrease in ALP, AST, and ALT enzyme level while GSH levels were markedly increased. According to histological observations, groups treated with PCM (toxicant control) showed significant necrosis and lymphocyte infiltration, while groups treated with silymarin and Ajuga bracteosa plant extract showed preservation of the normal liver structural features. The phytochemical analysis of ME and AE of Ab showed the presence of glycosides, phenolic compounds, tannins, fats, saponins, flavonoids, terpenes, oils, and fats. The antioxidant activity of these two extracts was determined by nitric oxide assay, DPPH assay, and ferric reducing power assay. The methanolic extract exhibited the highest antioxidant potential (78.09 ± 0.0806). The antioxidant potential of aqueous extract was 73.08 ± 0.248. The reducing power for methanolic extract and ascorbic acid (standard) 500 μg/ml was 0.933 and 0.987 respectively. The anti-inflammatory activity of both extracts was demonstrated by in vitro methods, namely albumin denaturation, proteinase inhibition, and membrane stabilization assays. The study suggests that Ab extracts have competence for attenuating inflammation, oxidants, and hepatotoxicity.

A dataset of desert plant catalogue in Xinjiang

The dataset of desert flora catalogue in Xinjiang was constructed by consulting monographs such as Chinese Flora, Xinjiang Flora, Chinese Desert Flora, Xinjiang Flora, Xinjiang Tree Chronicles, as well as related documents and major online open databases, aiming to enhance the accuracy and completeness of the data and information included in the catalogue. This dataset comprises 31 families, 150 genera and 360 species of desert plants in Xinjiang, including 355 species of angiosperms and 5 species of gymnosperms. Among them, there are 80 species of plants with medicinal value, 61 species of plants with forage value, and 26 species with economic value, accounting for 22.2%, 16.9% and 7.2% of all plants in the dataset, respectively. This dataset contains the Chinese names, Latin names, aliases and other information of desert plants, which can provide scientific reference and basic data for scientific research on various aspects, such as the growth environment and plant value of desert plants. Moreover, it is of great significance for the conservation and development of desert plant diversity in Xinjiang.

Assessment of nutritional contents of different parts of moringa plant from selected districts of Oromia, Ethiopia

Moringa plants are among high-value trees and belong to the Moringaceae family, consisting of 13 species and highly distributed in Africa and southern Asia. It is multi-purpose tree with medicinal, nutritional, industrial and socio-economic values. Preliminary information indicates that the human dietary usage of the edible parts of these species is limited. Assessment of the nutritional quality of different moringa parts was not well documented in Oromia. Hence, the aim of this activity is to assess the nutritional qualities of different parts of moringa collected from different districts of Oromia. Sample collection was done from Bako from West Showa, Bishoftu from East Showa, Dalo Mena and Goro from Bale Zone, of Oromia representing mid and low land agro-ecologies of the region. Three to four sampling PAs were used from each district. Different parts of Moringa, namely, leaf, pod, bark, seed and flower were collected from the four districts at least in triplicate. The collected samples were made to dry at room temperature, milled with coffee miller, and passed through a 1 mm standard sieve. The prepared samples were analyzed for proximate and mineral compositions using standard methodologies. The result obtained indicated that leaf is rich in nutrients Ca, Na, Mn and Zn. Moringa flower is rich in nutrients like Zn and Mn, and second in K composition next to pod. The pod is also rich in K and Zn, while the fat and CP contents are high in the seed part of moringa. Generally, Higher % CP, K and P were found from the Bishoftu collection, while Mg, Ca and K were higher for the collection from DM. Bark is poor in protein content compared to other parts of the plant. However, Ca, Mg and Zn are double the optimum composition of plant material. Finally, it is possible to use different moringa parts for food fortification, where determination for antioxidant and nutritional composition analysis is mandatory, as well as future research directions. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 14(1): 62-69, June 2024

Determination of the leaf and flower volatile components of Thymus jankae Celak

Nowadays, medicinal and aromatic plants are widely used both among the public and in various sectors, so researching the essential oil contents of medicinal and aromatic plants is of great scientific and economic importance. It was aimed to determine the volatile components of Thymus jankae (Syn: Thymus praecox subsp. skorpilii), which has medicinal and aromatic value and is naturally distributed in Bursa province (Türkiye) and used as a spice and tea plant in the region. The volatile components of leaf and flower of Thymus jankae were detected by using the solid phase microextraction technique (SPME) with the help of GC-MS. 42 volatile components were determined. Of them, thymol (17.65%), p-cymene (15.34%), carvacrol (13.27%) and γ-terpinene (10.73%) were found to be the main components. This study is important in terms of ensuring the conscious use of plants consumed as natural herbal tea and spices in the region and revealing the economic values of such plants.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of phytocompounds isolated from Hydnophytum formicarum Jack tuber extracts.

Hydnophytum formicarum Jack is an epiphyte also known as “pokok sarang semut” or “pokok kepala beruk”. It is a traditional herbal remedy for hepatitis, rheumatism, diarrhoea, and lung cancer. There is a lack of information about the presence of phytochemicals in this plant, particularly those from Malaysia, and different extraction protocols indicate the presence of different chemicals. For this study, H. formicarum tuber were extracted using hexane, methanol, and ethyl acetate and the chemical compounds were identified using GC-MS. The extracts of H. formicarum tubers yielded 28 different compounds. The tuber of H. formicarum contains a wide range of chemical compounds with potential medicinal values.

Clonal Propagation of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Confirmation of Genetic Fidelity of the Micropropagated Shoots by RAPD Markers

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is used as a spice and has excellent medicinal value. However, the field multiplication rate of turmeric plants is not satisfactory. In vitro methods could be a feasible alternative to vegetative propagation in the field. This study was aimed at developing a suitable protocol for the clonal propagation of turmeric confirming the genetic fidelity of the in vitro regenerated plantlets. The explants of shoot bud (full, half, and quarter), root, rhizome, and leaf were cultivated on MS medium with BAP, NAA, and Kinetin. Cultured shoot buds showed a higher regeneration frequency and shoots per explant than those obtained from other explants. The highest shoot regeneration was 72.49% from shoot buds, followed by rhizome (68.76%) and the lowest was 53.93 % from ¼ shoot buds. There were significant effects of growth regulator combinations and concentrations in shoot regeneration from shoot bud explant. The highest shoot regeneration per shoot bud explant was 4.42 with BAP at 20.0 mg/l and NAA at 0.5 mg/l at 24 weeks. The best rooting response with 9.75 roots per explant was reported with 1.0 mg/l BAP with 1.0 mg/l NAA. The rooted plants were successfully transferred to pots for their acclimatization. Both the micropropagated shoots and their mother plant produced monomorphic bands with the six RAPD markers that confirm the genetic fidelity of micropropagated clones. These results showed that in vitro raised plantlets of turmeric had no risk of somaclonal variations and were found to be true-to-type in nature over the culture period. The protocol developed through this investigation has the potential application for the rapid multiplication of turmeric plants. Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 34(1): 55-69, 2024 (June)

A FTIR Evident-Based Exploration of the Antioxidant Activity of Five Threatened Cactus Species

Cacti, members of the botanical family Cactaceae, comprise approximately 127 genera and approximately 1,850 known species within the Caryophyllales order. Presently, various anthropogenic activities are causing the endangerment of several cactus species. Among the reasons cited for this threat, the aesthetic and medicinal values of cacti have garnered notable attention. This study aims to explore the medicinal potential, particularly in terms of antimicrobial, antioxidant, and phytochemical properties, of five threatened cactus species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Micranthocereus estevesii, Euphorbia lactea, Haageocereus crestata, Ferocactus acanthodes and Mammillaria huitzilopochtli. A Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis was conducted to substantiate and corroborate the findings. Notably, no prior studies have investigated the medicinal properties of these five species, underscoring the novelty of our research. Initially, specimens of the five cacti were collected from the Regional Plant Resource Center, Bhubaneswar, air-dried, and milled into powder. Phytoconstituents were then extracted individually using polar (water) and non-polar (methanol) solvents. The antimicrobial properties were assessed using agar well diffusion assays against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Results indicated that methanol extracts of Micranthocereus estevesii and Euphorbia lactea inhibited Candida albicans, while aqueous extracts of Micranthocereus estevesii and Ferocactus acanthodes inhibited Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Methanol extracts exhibited superior antioxidant activity compared to aqueous extracts. FTIR spectroscopy revealed distinctive peak values representing various functional groups in the extract components, including alcohols, carboxylic acids, phenols, aldehydes, alkanes, alkenes, ketones, aromatics, aliphatic amines, primary amines, ethers, alkyl halides, and esters. Both aqueous and methanolic extracts demonstrated promising antibacterial efficacy among the five cactus species studied, suggesting their potential application in pharmaceuticals and medication development. However, habitat degradation and illegal commerce pose significant threats to these species, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation efforts.

Next-generation sequencing based Cyperus niveus (Cyperaceae) complete chloroplast genome: A comparative analysis and phylogeny

Cyperus niveus, a perennial herb, holds significant traditional and scientific medicinal value. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequence of C. niveus was assembled and comparisons were conducted among species in the genus Cyperus. Molecular phylogenetic analysis was also conducted in Cyperaceae. The chloroplast genome of C. niveus exhibits a quadripartite structure, spanning a length of 185,454 base pairs (bp). The genome contains a large single-copy region (99,339 bp), flanked by two inverted repeats (IRs) (IRA and IRB: each 38,021 bp) separated by a small single-copy (SSC) region (10,073 bp). The chloroplast genome of C. niveus was rich in adenine-thymine (AT) at 66.7% and guanine-cytosine (GC) at 33.3%. A total of 140 unique genes were identified in the chloroplast genome of C. niveus, including 83 protein-coding genes, 39 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. An amino acid frequency analysis uncovered the prevalence of leucine (10.90%) and isoleucine (9.20%). One hundred and forty-six simple sequence repeats and 49 oligonucleotide repeats were found in the chloroplast genome of C. niveus. A comparative analysis highlighted greater divergence within the IR and SSC regions. A phylogenetic assessment revealed that species within the genus Cyperus display phylogenetic conservation compared to other genera. Notably, the genus Carex exhibited substantial divergence, indicative of rapid evolutionary changes. C. niveus showed close resemblance with C. iria and C. exaltatus. In essence, this study and of chloroplast genome of C. niveus represents a valuable genomic asset that holds significance in species identification and comparative genomic research, presenting the first evolutionary relationship in Cyperaceae on the basis of chloroplast genome.

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ASSESSMENT OF ALLIUM HYPSISTUM, ALLIUM PRZEWALSKIANUM AND ALLIUM WALLICHII

High altitude plants are tremendously used mostly as food and traditional medicine for their role on prevention and treatment of several diseases. Thus, this study focused on comprehensive analysis of the phyto-constituents and the antioxidant activities of three plants; .Allium hypsistum, Allium przewalskanium, and Allium wallichii. Upon analysis, the phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, terpenoids, steroidal compounds, glycosides, carbohydrates and aminoacids were identified in ethanolic, n-hexane and aqueous extracts of the plant whereas saponins and quinones were not detected at all. Other photochemicals like flavonoids, phenolic compound, and tannins were found in ethanolic and water extracts but not in the n-hexane extract. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using total phenolic content (TPC) and 2, 2-diphenyl -1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. TPC was assayed by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method. The phenolic compounds were present in all three types of extracts; however, the highest TPC was estimated only in ethanolic extract of A. hypsistum i.e. 172mgGAE/100g. Among the extracts, ethanol extract of A. hypsistum showed the highest DPPH free radical scavenging property 59.44 %RSA (radical scavenging activity) when compared to the reference molecule ascorbic acid that had 75.11 %RSA. Among selected three plants, both TPC and %RSA revealing the antioxidant activities were found to be higher in A. hypsistum followed by A. prsewalskanium and A. wallichii. Furthermore, relationship between TPC and DPPH activity (%RSA) were established and found weak to strong correlation but they were statistical non-significant. From this study, such findings may help to know chemical constituents and medicinal values of Allium species which may lead to develop new phytomedicines and use of these plants in herbal therapy.

Deep Simple Epicotyl Morphophysiological Dormancy in Seeds of Endemic Chinese Helleborus thibetanus

Helleborus thibetanus is an endemic species in China with important ornamental and medicinal value. However, the seeds have dormancy, and their germination percentage is low under natural conditions. This research was carried out to determine the seed germination requirements of H. thibetanus and to characterize the type of seed dormancy. The morphological post-ripening process of the seed embryo was studied according to the morphological anatomy, and the effects of temperature and gibberellic acid (GA3) on seed germination were investigated in H. thibetanus. The H. thibetanus seeds had a heart-shaped embryo at maturity. The embryo fully grew within the seed through warm stratification, and the embryo/seed ratio increased from 8.58% to 42.6%. The shortest time for a radicle to emerge (58.33 d) and the highest radicle emergence percentage (84.44%) were obtained at a temperature of 15 °C. The results showed that the H. thibetanus seeds had a morphophysiological dormancy. In addition, 300 mg/L GA3 treatments shortened the time of warm stratification and increased the radicle emergence percentage. Seeds with emerged radicles could not emerge epicotyl–plumule without cold stratification, which showed that the H. thibetanus seeds had epicotyl physiological dormancy. The length of the roots, cold stratification time, and GA3 markedly affected the release of the epicotyl physiological dormancy in H. thibetanus. The seeds with 2.5 cm roots required the shortest time to break their dormancy (50 d), and the epicotyl–plumule emergence percentage was the highest. Additionally, GA3 treatment also shortened the incubation time in cold stratification (5 °C) and successfully broke the epicotyl physiological dormancy. Our study showed that H. thibetanus seeds exhibited deep simple epicotyl morphophysiological dormancy. Temperature, GA3, and duration of stratification played vital roles in the seed germination of H. thibetanus. This research will provide valuable data for seed germination and practical dormancy-breaking techniques and will promote the cultivation and conventional crossbreeding of H. thibetanus.

Polysaccharides from Porphyra haitanensis: A Review of Their Extraction, Modification, Structures, and Bioactivities.

Porphyra haitanensis (P. haitanensis), an important food source for coastal residents in China, has a long history of medicinal and edible value. P. haitanensis polysaccharides are some of the main active ingredients in P. haitanensis. It is worth noting that P. haitanensis polysaccharides have a surprising and satisfactory biological activity, which explains the various benefits of P. haitanensis to human health, such as anti-oxidation, immune regulation, anti-allergy, and anticancer properties. Hence, a systematic review aimed at comprehensively summarizing the recent research advances in P. haitanensis polysaccharides is necessary for promoting their better understanding. In this review, we systematically and comprehensively summarize the research progress on the extraction, purification, structural characterization, modification, and biological activity of P. haitanensis polysaccharides and address the shortcomings of the published research and suggest area of focus for future research, providing a new reference for the exploitation of polysaccharides from P. haitanensis in the fields of medicine and functional foods.

The effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the growth and development of Stevia plants cultured in vitro

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is an essential herbal plant used as a sweetener. The demand for stevia is growing due to its low caloric and medicinal value, hence the need for a more thorough investigation of its nutritional and biological properties. Nanoparticles of metal oxides have been found to have broad applications in agriculture for the stimulation of plant growth and development. The study aimed to assess the effect of various zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) concentrations on stevia plants’ quantitative and qualitative traits obtained in in vitro cultures. Micropropagation of two stevia varieties, Candy and Morita, was carried out using explants of shoot tips placed on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg dm–3 BA and 0.1 mg dm–3 IBA and with ZnONPs at concentrations of 0 (control), 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg dm–3. The obtained results indicated that high concentrations of ZnONPs stimulated the propagation of shoots. On the other hand, they negatively influenced shoot length, root number and length, and the fresh weight of the plantlets. The presence of zinc oxide nanoparticles in the medium increased the potassium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc content while decreasing the sodium and iron content in the regenerated stevia plantlets. The total phenolic content in the Candy variety was higher in the treatments with ZnONPs than in the control plants, while it was varied in the Morita variety. In both varieties, total antioxidant content measured by the ABTS method showed significantly higher in the treatments with 20–30 mg dm–3 ZnONPs than in the control. The content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and chlorophyll a + b in the Morita variety was higher in the treatments with 10 and 20 mg dm–3 ZnONPs than in the control. On the other hand, high concentrations of ZnONPs negatively affected the content of carotenoids in both varieties. The study showed that stevia plants obtained in in vitro cultures on control media and media containing ZnONPs had a high content of valuable minerals, phytocompounds with antioxidant properties, and photosynthetic pigments.

The Progress of Ganoderma Lucidum Cultivation by Utilizing Agricultural and Forestry Wastes

Agricultural and forestry waste is one of the important and abundant biomass resources in China, and it is of great significance to realise the resource utilisation of agricultural and forestry waste through green and low-carbon biological means, which is conducive to achieving the goal of “carbon neutrality” and promoting the sustainable development of the agricultural and forestry industry. Ganoderma lucidum is rich in various active ingredients and has high medicinal value, so the artificial cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum and product research and development have received extensive attention worldwide. With the expansion of Ganoderma lucidum artificial cultivation industry, the use of agricultural and forestry wastes as a substitute material for Ganoderma lucidum cultivation is a hot research topic nowadays. This paper reviews the research results and application cases of various agricultural & forestry waste conversion using in the field of Ganoderma lucidum substitution cultivation and discusses the development potential and advantages of Ganoderma lucidum cultivation and combined cultivation mode of agriculture and forestry. By analyzing the research results on the resource utilization of agroforestry wastes in Ganoderma lucidum cultivation, we focused on the effects of culture media R&D protocols with different culture substrates, and its effect on the growth efficiency, yield and nutrient composition of Ganoderma lucidum. This provides reference for the high-value utilisation of agricultural and forestry wastes and the development of artificial Ganoderma lucidum cultivation industry, as well as the enhancement of carbon sinks in agricultural and forestry ecosystems.

A comprehensive review on the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Mustard plants

Medicinal plants are used worldwide to combat and treat various deadly diseases. Among them, mustard plants (Brassica campestris and B. nigra) are two very common plants of medicinal value in the Asia region. These plans are used to treat neuralgia, spasms, snakebite, alopecia, epilepsy, toothache, etc. They also have some history of spiritual usage. According to various scientific studies B. campestris and B. nigra possess anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity, antiepileptic effect, antidiabetic effect, neuroprotective effect, antifungal and, anti-obesity activities, etc. Glucosinolates, polyphenols, condensed tannins, vitamins, palmitic, oleic and linolenic acids, etc. were isolated from these plants. This study makes a comprehensive review of different aspects of these plants including their description, uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, with a special focus on their anti-cancer activity, adverse effects and contraindications. The chemical constituents responsible for their anticancer activity have also been highlighted. The review also covered anti-nutritional property of the plants. Jahangirnagar University J. Biol. Sci. 12(1 & 2): 107-125, 2023 (June & December)

Starvation-induced changes in the proteome and transcriptome of the salivary glands of leech (Hirudo nipponia).

Hirudo nipponia is an important medicinal animal in China. Its salivary gland secretions contain a variety of protein bioactive substances. Investigations of its salivary glands are of great significance in the study of the medicinal value and mechanism of leech secretions. Illumina RNA-Seq technology was used to perform transcriptome sequencing of salivary gland tissue of H. nipponia under starvation (D30) and fed (D0) states. A total of 2,650 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened. Using the label-free protein quantification technique and bioinformatics analysis, the expression of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the salivary gland tissue of H. nipponia was compared. A total of 2,021 proteins were identified, among which 181 proteins were differentially expressed between the starvation and fed states, with 72 significantly upregulated and 109 significantly downregulated. The salivary glands of H. nipponia synthesized protein-based active substances after 30 days of starvation and adapted to the starvation environment by weakening respiratory activity and reducing metabolic activity to reduce energy expenditure. Energy was produced by glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle for the synthesis of substances such as antibiotics. This study combined transcriptome and proteome sequencing data to provide a data reference for an in-depth study of the regulatory mechanism of salivary gland secretions of H. nipponia under starvation stress by analyzing DEGs and DEPs.

Development and application of molecular markers in fisheries, aquaculture, and industry of representative temperate and tropical sea cucumbers: a review

Sea cucumber has emerged as a crucial economic species in aquaculture in China because of its remarkable nutritional and medicinal value. However, wild sea cucumber populations have experienced a decline due to overfishing and environmental factors, underscoring the urgent need for genetic resource conservation and biotechnology innovation within the sea cucumber aquaculture and breeding industry. The development of the sea cucumber industry is still impeded by challenges and difficulties. Nevertheless, significant progress has been made through the utilization of molecular markers, which have effectively addressed a number of fisheries and aquaculture issues. In recent years, diverse types of molecular markers including mitochondrial DNA, microsatellites, and SNP markers have been developed and extensively applied in various aspects of sea cucumber research. These markers play vital roles in genetic sex identification, germplasm resource evaluation, population structure assessment, as well as marker-assisted breeding in marine ranching and sea cucumber aquaculture and breeding industry. This review provides an overview of the fundamental principles, functions, and characteristics associated with various markers employed across various sea cucumber species while also discussing their applications within different aspects of the sea cucumber fisheries, aquaculture, and breeding industry.

Exploring the Biochemical and Nutra-Pharmaceutical Prospects of Some Thymus Species - A Review.

The Thymus genus includes various medicinal and aromatic species, cultivated worldwide for their unique medicinal and economic value. Besides, their conventional use as a culinary flavoring agent, Thymus species are well-known for their diverse biological effects, such as antioxidant, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-hypertensive properties. Hence, they are used in the treatment of fever, colds, and digestive and cardiovascular diseases. The pharmaceutical significance of Thymus plants is due to their high levels of bioactive components such as natural terpenoid phenol derivatives (p-cymene, carvacrol, thymol, geraniol), flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic acids. This review examines the phytochemicals, biological properties, functional food, and nutraceutical attributes of some important Thymus species, with a specific focus on their potential uses in the nutra-pharmaceutical industries. Furthermore, the review provides an insight into the mechanisms of biological activities of key phytochemicals of Thymus species exploring their potential for the development of novel natural drugs.

The Whole Mitochondrial Genome Sequence of Dendrobium loddigesii Rolfe, an Endangered Orchid Species in China, Reveals a Complex Multi-Chromosome Structure.

Dendrobium loddigesii is a precious traditional Chinese medicine with high medicinal and ornamental value. However, the characterization of its mitochondrial genome is still pending. Here, we assembled the complete mitochondrial genome of D. loddigesii and discovered that its genome possessed a complex multi-chromosome structure. The mitogenome of D. loddigesii consisted of 17 circular subgenomes, ranging in size from 16,323 bp to 56,781 bp. The total length of the mitogenome was 513,356 bp, with a GC content of 43.41%. The mitogenome contained 70 genes, comprising 36 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 31 tRNA genes, and 3 rRNA genes. Furthermore, we detected 403 repeat sequences as well as identified 482 RNA-editing sites and 8154 codons across all PCGs. Following the sequence similarity analysis, 27 fragments exhibiting homology to both the mitogenome and chloroplast genome were discovered, accounting for 9.86% mitogenome of D. loddigesii. Synteny analysis revealed numerous sequence rearrangements in D. loddigesii and the mitogenomes of related species. Phylogenetic analysis strongly supported that D. loddigesii and D. Amplum formed a single clade with 100% bootstrap support. The outcomes will significantly augment the orchid mitochondrial genome database, offering profound insights into Dendrobium's intricate mitochondrial genome architecture.