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Dysosma versipellis (Hance) M. Chang is an endemic and endangered Chinese medicinal herb. Podophyllotoxin, a lead compound for the semi-synthesis of clinically useful anticancer compounds, is the main active aryltetralin lignan accumulated in D. versipellis. In this study, morphology and physiology traits in response to podophyllotoxin accumulation and its biosynthetic pathway genes expression were investigated in D. versipellis plants grown at low temperature (4∼6 °C) and greenhouse (25∼30 °C) temperature. Our study found that low temperature significantly increased plant biomass (2.7-fold), chlorophyll, and carotenoid content compared to greenhouse temperature. The mRNA expression analysis of podophyllotoxin pathway genes secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase and pinoresionol lariciresinol reductase expression levels were also up-regulated by low temperature. In addition, plants grown at low temperature markedly increased podophyllotoxin accumulation to 3.49-fold in rhizome of D. versipellis than the greenhouse temperature. These results suggest that plants at low temperature enhance the accumulation of podophyllotoxin in rhizome of D. versipellis by over-expressing podophyllotoxin pathway genes. This study finding could be useful in the producing pharmaceutically important podophyllotoxin without overexploiting this endangered species.

Since ancient times, plants have been the source of traditional medicines for the treatment of various diseases throughout the world. Even today, the majority of purified drugs used clinically derived directly or indirectly from plants and other natural sources. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the oldest form of medicine that has originated in ancient China, is rooted in the ancient philosophy of Taoism and dates back to more than 2500 years. As a holistic medicine, TCM has its theory and methods. TCM practitioners use a combination of different herbal medicines and various mind and body practices, such as acupuncture and tai chi, to treat or prevent health problems. Traditional Chinese medicine-based anticancer therapy is an old system but young in the field of modern medical science. In China, TCM herbals are widely used for cancer therapy and have gained increasing recognition worldwide in the recent years. The TCM-based herbal plants are being pursued by pharmaceutical companies as natural and rich sources for drug discovery. TCM has been recognized as a new source of anticancer drugs and new chemotherapy adjuvant to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and to ameliorate the side effects of cancer chemotherapies. Though TCM has been used since ancient times for preventing and healing disease, the scientific evidence at a molecular level behind the TCM is still mostly unknown, is rarely discussed, and needs to be known widely. Thus, this chapter reviews TCM oncology theory and its approach toward cancer, therapeutic effects, and various anticancer compounds obtained from TCM herbal plants with the hope of providing a better understanding on the role of drugs in the treatment of cancer.

(EC 50 dPPh = 0.071 ± 0.003 mg/ml). both tomato waste extracts influenced cell growth depending on cell line and extract dose. The strongest activity against cancer cells was observed by backa extract in hela cell line (EC 50 hela = 0.51 ± 0.02 mg/ml). The obtained results show that tomato waste could represent a cheap and readily available source of value-added ingredient for functional food and some other health products.

Huanglongbing (HLB) or greening is a devastating phloem-intruding bacterial disease that generates various symptoms in leaves and fruits, threatening the global citrus industry. Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, Candidatus Liberibacter africanus, and Candidatus Liberibacter americanus are the causative agents of HLB in citrus-producing regions around many countries, and these proteobacteria are being vectorized by Diaphorina citri and Triozaerytreae. The lack of HLB-resistant citrus cultivars, the rapid spread of disease, and the fastidious nature of HLB-proteobacteria have made it difficult to mitigate HLB in the citrus field. There are numerous reports on the control of HLB disease using thermotherapy, chemotherapy, plant defense activators, brassinosteroids, and nanoemulsions. However, there is no evidence of such applicability of the methods mentioned above to complete the elimination or suppression of the pathogen to control HLB disease. We aim to provide an overall picture of HLB disease, its distribution, causal organism, pathogenic mechanism, and current and future strategies for combat against citrus Huanglongbing disease. This review may prompt the researchers toward an integrated and environmentally sustainable methodology for the mitigation/elimination of HLB pathogens.