Woody Medicinal Plant Research Articles

Haploid-Phased Chromosomal Telomere-to-Telomere Genome Assembly of Medicinal Plant Uncaria rhynchophylla Dissects Genetic Controls on the Biosynthesis of Bioactive Alkaloids.

Natural indole alkaloids provide important medicinal resources and defences to environmental stresses. The Uncaria genus is a recorded traditional medicinal woody plant with high alkaloids. Genomic insights into alkaloid variation remain elusive. Here, we have dissected the haploid-resolved chromosomal T2T genome assembly of Uncaria rhynchophylla with a size of ~634 Mb and contig N50 of 27 Mb using PacBio HiFi long-reads plus Hi-C reads and anchored the contigs on 22 pairs of confirmed chromosomes. This genome contains 56% repeat sequences and ~29 000 protein-encoding genes. U. rhynchophylla diverged from a common ancestor shared with Coffea around 20 million years ago and contains expanded and contracted gene families associated with secondary metabolites and defences/resistance to stresses. We constructed the pathway and mined genes for rhynchophylline alkaloid biosynthesis. Fifty-three alkaloids in this pathway and eight differentially expressed genes are the keys to alkaloid accumulation. Elevated alkaloid levels are driven by high copy numbers of critical genes STRs and SGRs involved in strictosidine synthesis and hydrolysis as evidenced by phylogenetic, expression and RNA interference analyses. These results advance our genetic understanding and guide further breeding improvements, stress adaptation studies and pharmaceutical development.

Ethnobotanical study of woody medicinal plants used in the traditional pharmacopoeia in the three sub-division of the Mayo-Tsanaga department (Far North, Cameroon)

Ethnobotanical study of woody medicinal plants used in the traditional pharmacopoeia in the three sub-division of the Mayo-Tsanaga department (Far North, Cameroon)

Establishment of transient and stable gene transformation systems in medicinal woody plant Acanthopanax senticosus

BackgroundTransient and stable gene transformation systems play a crucial role in elucidating gene functions and driving genetic improvement in plants. However, their application in medicinal woody plants has been hampered by inefficient procedures for isolating protoplasts and regenerating plants in vitro.ResultsEmbryogenic callus protoplast isolation and transient transformation system were successfully established. The highest yield of protoplasts was approximately 1.88 × 106 cells per gram with a viability of 90% under the combination of 1.5% cellulase and 0.2% macerozyme, with enzymatic digestion for 6 h in darkness followed by centrifugation at 400×g for 5 min. The transient transfection rate of protoplast reached 45.56% at a PEG 4000 concentration of 40%, a transfection time of 40 min, 16 h of dark incubation, a plasmid concentration of 1.5 ng μL−1, and 25 min heat shock at 45 °C. In addition, 15 Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated GUS-positive seedlings were obtained through the somatic embryogenetic pathway under the optimized conditions.ConclusionThis study successfully established both transient and stable genetic transformation systems, paving the way for future molecular biology research on A. senticosus.Graphical

Does Bark Anatomy Influence the Selection of Woody Medicinal Plants in Seasonal Dry Forests from Brazil?

Does Bark Anatomy Influence the Selection of Woody Medicinal Plants in Seasonal Dry Forests from Brazil?

Sophora japonica L. bioactives: Chemistry, sources, and processing techniques

AbstractSophora japonica L. is an edible and medicinal woody plant of the legume family. Aside from the well‐known flower and fruit parts, the branches, leaves, roots, and its parasitic fungi contain various bioactive compounds. Besides being consumed as a ready‐to‐eat food, S. japonica is generally processed into extracts and bioactive compounds for use as food ingredients, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic products. Various extraction and separation techniques have been applied to obtain bioactive compounds from S. japonica. However, details of the extraction and separation techniques for these compounds, such as the methods, parameters, and corresponding yields, are rarely presented. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the different bioactive compounds of S. japonica, their chemistry, sources, and processing techniques to promote green advanced processing technologies for obtaining them and promote the development of S. japonica bioactive compounds as commercial products for the food and healthcare sector.

How do plant demographic and ecological traits combined with social dynamics and human traits affect woody plant selection for medicinal uses in Benin (West Africa)?

Several hypotheses have been used in ethnobotany to explain the plant's selection criteria by people for their daily needs. Thus, it is important to assess synergy and complementarity among them, especially, those concerning the plant use value, social dynamics and human traits. The study aims to (i) highlight people's socio-economic factors, and plant ecological traits that affect the plant use-availability dynamic (PUD); and (ii) assess the available species diversity effect on ethno-medicinal knowledge diversity in Benin. Ethnobotanical interviews were carried out to quantify the importance of local species in different ecological zones of Benin with 590 traditional medicine actors. Vegetation surveys were done to assess species availability within 337 plots of 50m x 40m or 60m x 30m, depending on the climatic zone, for a total of 61.6ha, established in 15 forests distributed within the 10 phytodistricts of Benin. The plant use availability hypothesis was quantified as a dynamic link between species use value and availability (PUD). A general and mixed linear models were used to assess the significance of each factor's effect on PUD. Pearson correlation test was applied on Shannon diversity index considering inventoried species in the field and those which were cited by people, for the available species diversity effect on ethno-medicinal knowledge diversity assessment. A hundred and twenty woody medicinal plants, mostly trees (68.33%), were sampled. Growth form and its interaction with phytodistrict have a significant effect (p: 0.005) on PUD. The less available trees were the most used in the phytodistricts 3, 4, 8 and 10. PUD varies significantly according to social factors (p: 0.007). Ethnicity, age and main activity were the most quoted social factors which influenced the PUD. Ethnicity and age have various effects considering the phytodistricts. Moreover, the influence of age changes following the main activity. Plant selection did not solely link to the surrounding diversity (r: - 0.293; p: 0.403). Within some phytodistricts, especially those of 3, 4, 8 and 10, the less available tree species were the most requested. It is urgent to reforest vegetation patches in some phytodistricts (3, 4, 8 and 10) of Benin with widely requested and no available species to avoid the extinction of their wild populations. This concerns Cassia sieberiana DC., Anonychium africanum (Guill. & Perr.) C. E.Hughes & G. P. Lewis, Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir., Cola millenii K. Schum., Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss., Pseudocedrela kotschyi (Schweinf.) Harms, Treculia africana Decne. ex Trécul, Uapaca heudelotii Baill., Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn., Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. and Newbouldia laevis (P. Beauv.) Seem. ex Bureau.

In Vitro Propagation of Peumus boldus Mol, a Woody Medicinal Plant Endemic to the Sclerophyllous Forest of Central Chile

In Vitro Propagation of Peumus boldus Mol, a Woody Medicinal Plant Endemic to the Sclerophyllous Forest of Central Chile

An Ethnobotanical Study of Important Woody Medicinal Plants of Jalaun District of Bundelkhand Region

The present investigation deals with the folk knowledge of important woody medicinal plants species that are used by the rural folks of the five sites of Jalaun district of Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, India for the management of different kinds of ailments, found in these sites. The majority of the common vegetation in the Jalaun district is represented by tropical dry deciduous forest and scrub thorn forest. The ethnobotanical investigation revealed 51 woody plant species belonging to 46 genera and 31 families. In this investigation Caesalpiniaceae (5 sp.) was the dominant family followed by Mimosaceae, Moraceae (4 sp. each), Apocynaceae, Boraginaceae and Fabaceae (3 sp. each). Acacia catechu, Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, Albizia lebbeck, Bauhinia variegata, Calotropis gigantea, Terminalia arjuna, Aegle marmelos, Justicia adhatoda, Ziziphus mauritiana and Dalbergia sissoo were the most common plant species in the district. The investigation reveals that there is not any involvement of younger generation in this research so such knowledge is at the risk of disappearance in the future.

Climatic niche as a modeler of the distribution pattern of Schinopsis brasiliensis in the Neotropical

Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl. (Anacardiaceae) is a woody medicinal plant interesting to research and conservation due to timber extraction, high pharmacological potential and cultural value in the Brazilian semi-arids. In this research, we modeled the potential distribution of the species in the Neotropical, identified the climate limiting factors of its distribution and measured the percentage of adequate protected areas. The model was generated in the Maxent software, through the combination of 469 registers of the species occurrence and nine climate variables from the WorldClim data base and presented good development (AUC = 0.976). The potentially adequate areas were estimated along the dry diagonal in South America, in addition to fragmented areas at the coast of Peru and Ecuador. Precipitation, temperature and atmospheric humidity were the most influential variables on the prediction of climatically viable areas for the species. The results indicate low representation of protected areas (0.003%) in highly adequate areas, which demonstrates the necessity of expansion, implementation of measures of conservation and management of S. brasiliensis. The findings in this study, therefore, can be used for scientific support on delineating these measurements.

Параметры засухоустойчивости некоторых представителей рода Tilia L. при интродукции и в городских насаждениях

Abstract. Drought resistance of plants is the key to successful cultivation of new taxa under climatic conditions. Linden is a valuable ornamental, melliferous and medicinal woody plant, often used for landscaping certain areas. The purpose is the determination of indicators of drought resistance of some species and varieties of lindens from the collection of the South Ural Botanical Garden-Institute of the Ufa Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the conditions of introduction and urban environment. Methods. The objects of research were 3 species, 1 cultivar and 1 form of the linden collection (Tilia cordata Mill., T. caucasica Rupr., T. × europaea L. f. vitifolia (Host) V. Engl., T. platyphyllos Scop. ‘Aurea’, T. taquetii C. K. Schneid.), as well as specimens of Tilia cordata from urban plantations in Ufa. The total water content, water-holding capacity and the amount of mobile moisture in the leaves are found according to generally accepted methods. Results. The indicators of drought resistance of linden species and cultivars under the conditions of introduction and the urban environment have been determined. It has been established that almost all taxa are sufficiently drought-resistant in the climatic conditions of Ufa. The maximum indicators of water content and water-holding capacity, as well as the minimum amount of mobile moisture, were found in the variety T. platyphyllos ‘Aurea’ from the collection of the botanical garden (70.2 %, 30.7 %, 39.4 %, respectively). It has been confirmed that T. cordata from urban greenery tolerates technogenic loads well; some indicators of drought resistance of this species are higher than in the botanical garden. T. taquetii turned out to be the least drought-resistant of all the taxa studied, which is probably due to sharp differences in the climatic conditions of natural origin from the conditions of introduction. Scientific novelty. For the first time for the city of Ufa, comparative studies of the drought resistance of some representatives of the genus Tilia under the conditions of introduction and the urban environment were carried out.

Integrated physiological and transcriptomic analysis reveals mechanism of leaf in Phellodendron Chinense Schneid seedlings response to drought stress

Phellodendron chinense Schneid (P. chinense Schneid) is a traditional Chinese woody medicinal plant which contains berberine, phellodendrine and other bioactive compounds, and has an important function on anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, bacteriostasis, reducing blood sugar and fat. The growth and alkaloid biosynthesis of P. chinense Schneid are affected by drought stress, while influence the yield and quality. However, the molecular mechanism of P. chinense Schneid seedlings response to drought stress at transcriptional and physiological levels are not clear. In this study, physiological and transcriptomic responses of P. chinense Schneid seedling leaf to drought stress were investigated. The P. chinense Schneid seedlings were irrigated to field capacity (NC), 40% field capacity (moderate drought, MD) and 20% field capacity (severe drought, SD). The results showed that MD and SD treatments promoted ROS generation, reduced Chl contents and photosynthetic efficiencies, inhibited shoot growth, but increased phellodendrine contents in leaves compared to the NC treatments. A total of 54325 unigenes were identified in MD and SD treatment samples, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were primarily involved in several pathways of photosynthesis, phytohormone biosynthesis and signal transduction and isoquiholine alkaloid biosynthesis, with the ethylene (ET) signaling pathway especially. Moreover, some transcription factors from DEGs were revealed, which chiefly related to ET signal transduction, leaf development and alkaloid biosynthesis. Our study suggested that the P. chinense Schneid seedlings responded to drought stress mainly through ET signaling pathway.

Transcriptome and metabolome analyses reveal novel insights into the seed germination of Michelia chapensis, an endangered species in China

Michelia chapensis Dandy, a well-known medicinal woody plant endemic to China, is endangered and seriously constricted by seed dormancy-induced low-regeneration in natural conditions. Cold stratification can effectively reduce seed dormancy and promote the seed germination of M. chapensis. However, the molecular events and systematic changes that occurred during seed germination in M. chapensis remain largely unknown. In this study, we carried out transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to elucidate the potential molecular mechanisms underlying seed germination in M. chapensis under cold stratification. The results showed that the embryo cells became bigger and looser with increasing stratification time. Moreover, the endosperm appeared reduced due to the consumption of nutrients. Seventeen phytohormones were examined by the metabolome targeted for hormones. Compared with the ES (no stratification), the levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin A3 (GA3) were increased in the MS (stratification for 45 days), while the abscisic acid (ABA) was downregulated in both MS and LS (stratification for 90 days). The transcriptome profiling identified 24975 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the seeds during germination. The seed germination of M. chapensis was mainly regulated by the biological pathways of plant hormone signal transduction, energy supply, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, photosynthesis-related metabolism, and transcriptional regulation. This study reveals the biological evidence of seed germination at the transcriptional level and provides a foundation for unraveling molecular mechanisms regulating the seed germination of M. chapensis.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve the growth and drought tolerance of Cinnamomum migao by enhancing physio-biochemical responses.

Drought is the main limiting factor for plant growth in karst areas with a fragile ecological environment. Cinnamomum migao H.W. Li is an endemic medicinal woody plant present in the karst areas of southwestern China, and it is endangered due to poor drought tolerance. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to enhance the drought tolerance of plants. However, few studies have examined the contribution of AMF in improving the drought tolerance of C. migao seedlings. Therefore, we conducted a series of experiments to determine whether a single inoculation and coinoculation of AMF (Claroideoglomus lamellosum and Claroideoglomus etunicatum) enhanced the drought tolerance of C. migao. Furthermore, we compared the effects of single inoculation and coinoculation with different inoculum sizes (20, 40, 60, and 100 g; four replicates per treatment) on mycorrhizal colonization rate, plant growth, photosynthetic parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and osmoregulatory substance contents. The results showed that compared with nonmycorrhizal plants, AMF colonization significantly improved plant growing status; net photosynthetic rate; superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase activities; and soluble sugar, soluble protein, and proline contents. Furthermore, AMF colonization increased relative water content and reduced MDA content in cells. These combined cumulative effects of AMF symbiosis ultimately enhanced the drought tolerance of seedlings and were closely related to the inoculum size. With an increase in inoculum size, the growth rate and drought tolerance of plants first increased and then decreased. The damage caused by drought stress could be reduced by inoculating 40–60 g of AMF, and the effect of coinoculation was significantly better than that of single inoculation at 60 g of AMF, while the effect was opposite at 40 g of AMF. Additionally, the interaction between AMF and inoculum sizes had a significant effect on drought tolerance. In conclusion, the inoculation of the AMF (Cl. lamellosum and Cl. etunicatum) improved photosynthesis, activated antioxidant enzymes, regulated cell osmotic state, and enhanced the drought tolerance of C. migao, enabling its growth in fragile ecological environments.

Conservation priorities for woody medicinal plants in an indigenous community in a savanna area of the northern Brazilian Amazon

The pressure for native wood use is a point of great interest for ethnobotanical studies, since these species are indispensable for local communities’ survival in different environmental conditions of the world. In this context, this study aimed to indicate the conservation priorities for useful woody medicinal plants in Darora indigenous community, part of the Makuxi people, which live in the savanna of Roraima State, Northern Brazilian Amazon. Ethnobotanical indexes associated with species ecological data were used, and semi structured interviews conducted among 60 inhabitants (36 men and 24 women) ranging from 18 to 84 years of age. The results indicated that from 33 woody medicinal plants, 24 were also associated with timber use. The conservation priority index indicated that Palicourea rigida, Anadenanthera peregrina, Copaifera pubiflora and Leptolobium nitens are highly prioritized species for local conservation. Our results indicated the need for actions on conservation, beyond ex-situ conservation techniques, such as germplasm bank and cultivation. These actions are necessary to protect the most threatened woody medicinal species which are also used as different timber artifacts by the indigenous population living in the Darora Community.

Prolonged incubation of callus on auxin herbicide 2,4-D displayed significant effect on alkaloid production in callus of the woody medicinal plant Polyalthia bullata

Prolonged incubation of callus on auxin herbicide 2,4-D displayed significant effect on alkaloid production in callus of the woody medicinal plant Polyalthia bullata

Priority conservation of medicinal woody plants from protected forests based on ecological and ethnobotanical data.

The combination of ethnobotanical and ecological knowledge is an important tool in indicating priority species for conservation. We sought to gather ethnobotanical knowledge on the diversity and use of woody medicinal plants in the Chapada Araripe region, assessing the real availability of woody medicinal resources in the Araripe Forests in the cerrado and carrasco areas, and indicate priority species for conservation. A total of 107 species were recorded in the ethnobotanical surveys, classified into 39 families and 83 genera, of which 92 species, 36 families and 70 genera for the cerrado areas, and 47 species, 25 families and 39 genera, for the carrasco areas. 59% were present in the phytosociological surveys for cerrado and 38% for carrascos. Species with high versatility of medicinal use did not necessarily have high local availability, and some were not recorded in the sampling. Thirteen species in cerrados and four in carrascos were indicated as conservation priorities. Use not aligned of species with the reality of the present time can indeed affect the vegetation landscape, and in a future scenario, not taking local measures to conserve protected forest resources, besides increasing the lists of local conservation priorities, can affect economic practices, increasing social and environmental conflicts.

Induction, Multiplication, and Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity of Polyalthia bullata Callus, a Woody Medicinal Plant.

Polyalthia bullata is an endangered medicinal plant species. Hence, establishment of P. bullata callus culture is hoped to assist in mass production of secondary metabolites. Leaf and midrib were explants for callus induction. Both of them were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) and Woody Plant Medium (WPM) containing different types and concentrations of auxins (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), picloram, and dicamba). The callus produced was further multiplied on MS and WPM supplemented with different concentrations of 2,4-D, NAA, picloram, dicamba, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) media. The quantification of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant capacity was further carried out on P. bullata callus, and the results were subjected to correlation analysis. Among the media, the WPM + 16.56 µM picloram (53.33 ± 22.06%) was the best for callus induction while MS + 30 µM dicamba was the best for callus multiplication. The TPC, TFC, and EC50 of DPPH scavenging activity were determined at 0.657 ± 0.07 mg GAE/g FW, 0.491 ± 0.03 mg QE/g, and 85.59 ± 6.09 µg/mL in P. bullata callus, respectively. The positive correlation between DPPH scavenging activity with TPC was determined at r = 0.869, and that of TFC was at r = 0.904. Hence, the P. bullata callus has an ability to accumulate antioxidants. It therefore can be a medium for secondary metabolites production.

Solvent extraction and its effect on phytochemical yield and antioxidant capacity of woody medicinal plant, Polyalthia bullata

Polyalthia bullata is a woody medicinal plant that contains antioxidant compounds. Finding a suitable solvent is important to obtain a high yield of antioxidants in the phenolic, flavonoid, and terpenoid families. In this study, from different solvent extracts, the leaf methanolic extract exhibited the highest total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total terpenoid content (TTC), and total antioxidant activity. For woody parts of stem and roots, methanol was the best solvent for all phytochemicals except for phenolics, which accumulated in the roots and were extracted more efficiently using ethanol. However, the methanolic extracts from both tissues displayed the best antioxidant capacity. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) profiling data showed the presence of antioxidant compounds such as thymol, phytol, and neophytadiene in the leaf; trans-farnesol, n-hexadecanoic acid, and 9-Octadecenamide in the stem; and fatty acid (cis-vaccenic) and its methyl ester (11-Octadecanoic acid, methyl ester and [1,1’-bicyclopropyl]-2-octanoic acid, 2’-hexyl-methyl ester) in the roots. These findings reveal important compounds that are present in different plant parts of P. bullata.

Withania frutescens. L Extract: Phytochemical Characterization and Acute and Repeated Dose 28-Day Oral Toxicity Studies in Mice.

Background Withania frutescens. L (W. frutescens) is a perennial woody medicinal plant belonging to family Solanaceae largely used by the indigenous population to Morocco for the treatment of disease. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the chemical composition, acute, and subacute toxicity of W. frutescens extract in mice. Materials and Methods The phytochemical composition of W. frutescens extract was determined using a gas chromatograph (GC/MS). Acute toxicity study was carried out in mice through oral administration of single doses 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 2000 mg/kg for 14 days. Subacute toxicity was performed with oral administration of repeated doses 500 and 2000 mg/kg/day for 28 days. Biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, and creatinine), as well as histopathological changes potentially occurred in organs, (liver, kidney, and spleen) were evaluated. Results The results of chromatographic analysis showed the richness of W. frutescens extract in interesting phytochemical compounds majorly constituted of bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane, 6,6-dimethyl-2-methylene-(C10H16). Regarding acute toxicity study, the results showed no clinical symptoms occurred in treated mice compared to the control group and no histological changes detected in analyzed organs of treated mice with dose put to 2000 mg/kg nor adverse effect on biochemical parameters. Conclusion The outcome of this work showed no toxic effect of W. frutescens in mice up to dose 2000 mg/kg bodyweight. Therefore, this study could scientifically validate further traditional use with safety in the range of tested doses.

Use Categories and Local Perception of Decline in Plant Populations: a Case Study of Woody Medicinal Plants in Northeastern Brazil

Use Categories and Local Perception of Decline in Plant Populations: a Case Study of Woody Medicinal Plants in Northeastern Brazil