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In this study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze the chemical components of the essential oil extracted from the fruits of Aipinia oxyhylla Miq. (AOEO) by steam distillation. To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of AOEO against Listeria monocytogenes, the inhibitory zone diameter, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined by means of filter paper and micro-double dilution methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed to observe the effect of AOEO on bacterial morphology. The antibacterial mechanism was investigated by measuring the growth curve, the change of electrical conductivity, the leakage of intracellular macromolecules, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA). The results showed that a total of 45 chemical components were identified in AOEO, mainly including terpenes, aromatic hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing derivatives. Among them, valencene, nootkatone, 2,6,10,10-tetramethylbicyclo[7.2.0]undeca-1,6-diene, (2S,4aR,8aR)-4a,8-dimethyl-2-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,8a-octahydronaphthalene, (2R,8R,8aS)-8,8a-dimethyl-2-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalene and p-cymene were predominant. AOEO significantly inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes with an inhibitory zone diameter of 14.20 mm. The MIC and MBC were 0.195 and 0.781 mg/mL, respectively. The growth curve showed that the antimicrobial activity of AOEO was concentration-dependent. SEM and TEM showed that AOEO destroyed the morphological structure of L. monocytogenes and changed the permeability of the cell membrane, thereby causing the leakage of a large number of electrolytes and macromolecular contents (nucleic acids and proteins) out of the cells. The dynamic balance of the SOD system was also destroyed by the oil while inducing the generation of a large number of free radicals, thus resulting in increased levels of lipid oxidation and MDA content in the cells. Therefore, AOEO inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes and causes cell apoptosis by causing a series of cellular changes. This could be due to the synergistic action of multiple components and multiple targets of AOEO. Terpenes, aromatic hydrocarbons and ketones were tentatively identified as the major antibacterial substances of AOEO. This study provides a scientific theoretical basis for the development and utilization of Aipinia oxyhylla Miq. as a natural bacteriostatic agent in the food industry.

Alcoholic beverages are widely consumed around the world. However, excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to human health, which can cause a series of health problems. Herbals with antioxidant activity as antialcoholic agents have a long history in Asia. In this study, we made a Noni complex beverage (NCB) using Noni and nine other plant materials, which has a potential antialcoholic effect. The total flavonoid content (TFC) and total phenolic content (TPC) were analyzed, and then the antioxidant activities in vitro and antialcoholic effects in vivo were assessed. The results showed that NCB contains TFC of 0.543 ± 0.001 mg/mL and TPC of 1.685 ± 0.029 mg/mL, with significant antioxidant activity in vitro. Furthermore, NCB also showed a good antialcoholic effect in mice. Whether before or after alcohol intake, the consumption of NCB could significantly extend the drunken latency time, shorten the sobriety time, and decrease the blood alcohol concentration compared with the model group. Analysis of the antialcoholic mechanism demonstrated that NCB can remarkably increase the activity of superoxide dismutase, improve glutathione level, and reduce malondialdehyde content, thereby combating oxidative stress caused by alcohol, maintaining the stability of the intracellular antioxidant defense system, and alleviating liver damage; In addition, NCB can upregulate the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase and accelerate alcohol metabolism, thus decreasing the blood alcohol concentration, shortening the sobriety time, and lowering the risk of liver damage caused by alcohol. Taken together, NCB has the potential to be developed as an important natural antialcoholic functional beverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a commonly used medicinal plant, the flavonoid metabolites of Blumea balsamifera and their association with genes are still elusive. In this study, the total flavonoid content (TFC), flavonoid metabolites and biosynthetic gene expression patterns of B. balsamifera after application of exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) were scrutinized. The different concentrations of exogenous MeJA increased the TFC of B. balsamifera leaves after 48 h of exposure, and there was a positive correlation between TFC and the elicitor concentration. A total of 48 flavonoid metabolites, falling into 10 structural classes, were identified, among which flavones and flavanones were predominant. After screening candidate genes by transcriptome mining, the comprehensive analysis of gene expression level and TFC suggested that FLS and MYB may be key genes that regulate the TFC in B. balsamifera leaves under exogenous MeJA treatment. This study lays a foundation for elucidating flavonoids of B. balsamifera, and navigates the breeding of flavonoid-rich B. balsamifera varieties., (© 2024 Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.)

Introduction: Blumea balsamifera L. (Ainaxiang) DC. is a perennial herb of the compositae family. It is also the primary source of natural borneol. Endo-borneol, the principal medical active element in B. balsamifera , is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic; enhances medicine absorption; refreshes; and is used as a spice and in cosmetic. Industrialization of B. balsamifera is limited by its low L-borneol concentration. Thus, understanding the accumulation pattern of the secondary metabolite endo-borneol and its synthesis process in secondary metabolism is critical for increasing B. balsamifera active ingredient content and cultivation efficiency., Methods: In this work, B. balsamifera was treated with varying concentrations (1.00 and 10.00 mmol/L) of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) as an exogenous foliar activator. The physiological parameters and L-borneol concentration were then assessed. Transcriptome sequencing of B. balsamifera -induced leaves was used to identify key genes for monoterpene synthesis., Results: The treatment effect of 1 mmol/L MeJA was the best, and the leaves of all three leaf positions accumulated the highest L-borneol after 120 h, correspondingly 3.043 mg·g -1 FW, 3.346 mg·g -1 FW, and 2.044 mg·g -1 FW, with significant differences from the control. The main assembly produced 509,285 transcripts with min and max lengths of 201 and 23,172, respectively. DEG analysis employing volcano blots revealed 593, 224, 612, 2,405, 1,353, and 921 upregulated genes and 4, 123, 573, 1,745, 766, and 763 downregulated genes in the treatments D1_1vsCK, D1_10vsCK, D2_1vsCK, D2_10vsCK, D5_1vsCK, and D5_10vsCK. Interestingly, when exposed to MeJA treatments, the MEP pathway's unigenes express themselves more than those of the MVA route. Finally, when treated with 1 mmol/L, the genes DXR , DXS , and GPS showed increased expression over time. At the same time, a 10 mmol/L therapy resulted in elevated levels of ispH and GGPS ., Discussion: Our preliminary research indicates that exogenous phytohormones can raise the level of L borneol in B. balsamifera (L.) DC when given in the appropriate amounts. The most significant discovery made while analyzing the effects of different hormones and concentrations on B. balsamifera (L.) DC was the effect of 1 mmol/L MeJA treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Guan, Lin, Wan, Yu, Chen, Xie, Yuan, Soaud, Abd Elhamid, Heakel, Wang and El-Sappah.)

Methods to improve the bioactive component content of cultivated licorice have become the bottleneck of industrial licorice extraction for pharmaceutical use. To evaluate the effects of genotype, environment and their interaction on major bioactive components, we analyzed the five bioactive components: liquiritin (LQ), liquiritigenin (LQG), glycyrrhizin (GL), isoliquiritin (ILQ) and isoliquiritigenin (ILQG) of four diverse licorice varieties grown in four distinct environments in northern China during 2010-11. Analysis of variance showed that environmental and genotypic effects were significant (p<0.01) for all five bioactive components. Additionally, their interaction was significant (p<0.05) for GL in the 2-year study period. LQ and ILQ were mainly affected by genetic factors and have great potential for genetic improvement, whereas LQG and ILQG were mainly affected by environmental factors. GL was similarly affected by environmental and genetic factors. Biplot of the principal component analysis showed that for quality breeding, G2 (WNT-1) and G3 (JX-1) are two relatively preferable genotypes, and E2 (Chifeng) location is suitable for accumulation of the bioactive components of these two genotypes. Stepwise regression analysis showed that sunshine and rainfall are the dominant environmental factors for licorice bioactive component accumulation; increased duration of sunshine is advantageous to GL accumulation whereas declining rainfall is conducive to LQG and ILQG accumulation. These results provide a theoretical basis for initiating licorice breeding programs with increased bioactive components and improved quality.

Methods to improve the bioactive component content of cultivated licorice have become the bottleneck of industrial licorice extraction for pharmaceutical use. To evaluate the effects of genotype, environment and their interaction on major bioactive components, we analyzed the five bioactive components: liquiritin (LQ), liquiritigenin (LQG), glycyrrhizin (GL), isoliquiritin (ILQ) and isoliquiritigenin (ILQG) of four diverse licorice varieties grown in four distinct environments in northern China during 2010-11. Analysis of variance showed that environmental and genotypic effects were significant (P<0.01) for all five bioactive components. Additionally, their interaction was significant (P<0.05) for GL in the 2-year study period. LQ and ILQ were mainly affected by genetic factors and have great potential for genetic improvement, whereas LQG and ILQG were mainly affected by environmental factors. GL was similarly affected by environmental and genetic factors. Biplot of the principal component analysis showed that for quality breeding, G2 (WNT-1) and G3 (JX-1) are two relatively preferable genotypes, and E2 (Chifeng) location is suitable for accumulation of the bioactive components of these two genotypes. Stepwise regression analysis showed that sunshine and rainfall are the dominant environmental factors for licorice bioactive component accumulation; increased duration of sunshine is advantageous to GL accumulation whereas declining rainfall is conducive to LQG and ILQG accumulation. These results provide a theoretical basis for initiating licorice breeding programs with increased bioactive components and improved quality.

A rabies virus (RABV) was isolated from a dog in Anhui Province, China, in 2008. The virus was designated DRV-AH08. Its entire genome was sequenced and found to be closely related to RABV recently isolated in China and other Asian countries (homology of 87 to 98%) but distantly related to RABV in the "cosmopolitan" group (homology of 84 to 85%) in the clade I of RABV.

Objective: To study on the effect of different processing methods on the contents of seven major constituents in wild and cultivated Paeonia lactiflora, gallic acid, catechin, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, pentagalloylglucose, benzoic acid and paeonol, in order to provide reference basis for different efficacy and formation mechanism of Paeonia Radix Rubra and Paeonia Radix Alba., Method: Wild and cultivated P. lactiflora were dealt with by four processing methods, direct drying, drying after boiling, drying after decorticating and boiling, and drying after boiling and decorticating. HPLC was use to simultaneously determine the contents of seven chemical constituents., Result: Wild P. lactiflora showed notable higher content of paeoniflorin and catechin than cultivated P. lactiflora, whereas cultivated P. lactiflora showed higher content of albiflorin than wild P. lactiflora. Both of them were less affected by process methods in above three constituents. Drying after boiling, drying after decorticating and boiling, and drying after boiling and decorticating methods reduced the content of benzoic acid and paeonol to trace in both wild and cultivated P. lactiflora. Clustering analysis results showed that all processing methods assembled wild and cultivated P. lactiflora in 2 groups., Conclusion: The content differences of Paeonia Radix Rubra and Paeonia Radix Alba are mainly caused by their own differences and less affected by processing methods.

Objective: The main aim of the research was to evaluate genetic variability and interrelationships of mainly quantitative traits in 2-year population, and provide a basis for high-yield breeding of Glycyrrhiza uralensis., Method: Four genotype G. uralensis population were transplanting in four different environment using complete randomized block design with three replication, and the 10 quantitative traits, including plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), tiller number (TN), taproot length (TRL), root length (RL), root diameter (RD), diameter of 20 cm below the root head (D20), taperingness (TR), lateral root number (LRN) and root fresh weight (RFW) were measured in field., Result: The difference among population for all evaluated traits were significant (P<0.05) through Duncan's multiple range tests, and the coefficient of variation of RFW and LRN were above 25%. The analysis of variance was used to evaluate the traits of four populations across to four different environment Genotype, environment and their interaction effect were significant (P<0.05) or highly significant (P<0.01) for mainly evaluated traits. Simple correlation between traits showed that PH, SD, LRN, RL, RD and D20 had highly significant (P<0.01) and positive correlation with RFW. Results of the path coefficient analyses showed that D20 had the greatest positive direct effect on RFW, followed by the traits of PH and RL., Conclusion: Selection for increased D20, RL and PH would be the best indirect selection traits for increasing root yield. Meanwhile, ample genetic variability exists in the G. uralensis 2-year population, it could be used for breeding improvement of root yield.

Objective: The aim of this study was to optimize the testing methods for seed quality, and to provide a basis for establishing seed testing rules and quality grading standard of Glycyrrhiza uralensis., Method: Referring to the International Seed Testing Rules made by ISTA and Rules for agricultural seed testing (GB/T 3543-1995) issued by China, the seed quality of G. uralensis from different collection areas was measured., Result and Conclusion: The seed testing methods for quality items of G. uralensis, including sampling, purity analysis, verification of genuineness, weight of 1 000 seeds, percentage germination, moisture content and seed viability of G. uralensis had been initially established.