The ABC transporter SmABCG1 mediates tanshinones export from the peridermic cells of Salvia miltiorrhiza root.

Plants have mechanisms to transport secondary metabolites from where they are biosynthesized to the sites where they function, or to sites such as the vacuole for detoxification. However, current research has mainly focused on metabolite biosynthesis and regulation, and little is known about their transport. Tanshinone, a class diterpenoid with medicinal properties, is biosynthesized in the periderm of Salvia miltiorrhiza roots.

The methyl jasmonate-responsive transcription factor SmERF106 promotes tanshinone accumulation in Salvia miltiorrhiza.

Understanding the regulatory biosynthesis mechanisms of active compounds in herbs is vital for the preservation and sustainable use of natural medicine resources. Diterpenoids, which play a key role in plant growth and resistance, also serve as practical products for humans. Tanshinone, a class of abietane-type diterpenes unique to the Salvia genus, such as Salvia miltiorrhiza, is an excellent model for studying diterpenoids.

Seasonal variation of antioxidant bioactive compounds in southern highbush blueberry leaves and non-destructive quality prediction in situ by a portable near-infrared spectrometer.

Blueberry leaves (BBL) are a natural source with strong antioxidant activity, but bioactive compounds and their seasonal variation remain vague. Here, two major classes of compounds including four caffeoylquinic acids and eight flavonoids were identified in two southern highbush cultivars ("Lanmei" #1 and "Jewel") grown in China. Major bioactive compounds were discovered using an online HPLC post-column derivatization system and determined as neochlorogenic acid (NeoCA), chlorogenic acid (CA), rutin, hyperoside, and isoquercitrin.

Structural characteristics of steamed Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharide and its bioactivity on colitis via improving the intestinal barrier and modifying the gut microbiota.

Steamed Polygonatum cyrtonema has been commonly used clinically for its gaining effect, whose main active ingredient is a polysaccharide. A water-soluble polysaccharide named PSP-W-1 was isolated from steamed Polygonatum cyrtonema. PSP-W-1 was characterized as a galactan having a backbone consisting predominately of 1,4-β-linked Galp branched at the C-6 position by T-β-linked Galp with a molecular weight of 14.

Identification of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors from Celery Seeds Using Affinity Ultrafiltration-Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Celery seeds have been used as an effective dietary supplement to manage hyperuricemia and diminish gout recurrence. Xanthine oxidase (XOD), the critical enzyme responsible for uric acid production, represents the most promising target for anti-hyperuricemia in clinical practice. In this study, we aimed to establish a method based on affinity ultrafiltration-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UF-LC-MS) to directly and rapidly identify the bioactive compounds contributing to the XOD-inhibitory effects of celery seed crude extracts.

Skin health properties of flower extracts and tyrosinase inhibitors and free radical scavengers identified by HPLC post-column bioactivity assays.

Skin health is a major concern across the world. The Pall. flower (PLPF) is well-known in China as an edible ornamental flower, that has been traditionally prescribed for the treatment of irregular menstruation and dysmenorrhea.

Review on the genus Polygonatum polysaccharides: Extraction, purification, structural characteristics and bioactivities.

The genus Polygonatum is gaining increasing attention from nutrition experts as well as health-conscious consumers because of its excellent performance in providing nutrients. Among these plants, Polygonatum sibiricum and Polygonatum odoratum have been selected for inclusion in China's Medicinal Food Directory due to their high safety profile. Polysaccharides are considered the main functional component and one of the main active ingredients of the plant.

The Chrysanthemum nankingense Genome Provides Insights into the Evolution and Diversification of Chrysanthemum Flowers and Medicinal Traits.

The Asteraceae (Compositae), a large plant family of approximately 24 000-35 000 species, accounts for ∼10% of all angiosperm species and contributes a lot to plant diversity. The most representative members of the Asteraceae are the economically important chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum L.) that diversified through reticulate evolution.

Bitterness and antibacterial activities of constituents from Evodia rutaecarpa.

Background: Bitter herbs are important in Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Electronic Tongue (e-Tongue) is an instrument that can be trained to evaluate bitterness of bitter herbs and their constituents. The aim of this research was to evaluate bitterness of limonoids and alkaloids from Evodia rutaecarpa to demonstrate that they are main bitter material basic of E. rutaecarpa.

Three new tetranorditerpenes from aerial parts of acerola cherry (Malpighia emarginata).

Acerola cherry is a world famous fruit which contains abundant antioxidants such as vitamin C, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolics. However, studies concerning bioactivity components from aerial parts of acerola (Malpighia emarginata) are scarce. In view of this, we have examined the constituents of aerial parts of acerola, and three new tetranorditerpenes acerolanins A-C (1-3) with a rare 2H-benz[e]inden-2-one substructure were isolated.

Norfriedelins A-C with acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity from acerola tree (Malpighia emarginata).

Three novel norfriedelanes, A-C (1-3), were isolated from the branches and roots of Malpighia emarginata . Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by 1D and 2D NMR techniques and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Norfriedelin A (possessing an α-oxo-β-lactone group) and norfriedelin B (with a keto-lactone group) showed acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effects with the IC50 values of 10.

Polygalasaponin G promotes neurite outgrowth of cultured neuron on myelin.

Myelin contains many axonal outgrowth inhibitory components which contribute to regeneration failure after neuronal injury in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). In an attempt to develop small molecular agents to promote axonal outgrowth, we screened a compound library purified from traditional Chinese herbs, and found a small molecular compound polygalasaponin G (PS-G), extracted from Polygala japonica, which has a potent neurotrophic activity on PC12 cells and cultured cortical neurons. We reported, to our knowledge for the first time, that PS-G could promote neurite outgrowth of neurons cultured on the myelin substrates and inhibit the activation of RhoA.

Antitumor activities of extracts and compounds from the roots of Daphne tangutica Maxim.

The antitumor activities of the crude extracts of Daphne tangutica Maxim. (Thymelaeaceae) and some compounds were investigated in vivo for the first time. The eight tested samples exhibited inhibition in mice transplanted with sarcoma S180.

A new bisxanthone from Hypericum japonicum.

A new bisxanthone, named jacarelhyperols D (1), was isolated from the whole plant of Hypericum japonicum. Its chemical structure was elucidated as 6-[1',5',6'-trihydroxy-2''-(alpha-hydroxy-alpha-methyl)ethyl-3'',4''-dihydrofuran (2'',3'',3',4') xanthone-3''-oxyl]-1,3,5-trihydroxy-xanthone on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.

A new cerebroside from Polygala japonica.

The isolation of a new cerebroside, 1-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3S,4R,11E)-2-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxypalmitoylamino]-11-octadecene-1,3,4-triol (polygalacerebroside) (1), from the aerial part of Polygala japonica is reported.

Saponins from Polygala japonica and their effects on a forced swimming test in mice.

Five new triterpenoid saponins, polygalasaponins E (1), F (2), G (3), H (4), and J (5), along with eight known ones (6-13), were isolated from the aerial parts of Polygala japonica. Their structures were established by chemical and spectroscopic means. Forced swimming tests on mice showed that saponins 1 and 4 significantly reduce the immobility status by 58.

Lignans from bark of Larix olgensis var. koreana.

Six new lignans (2-7) were isolated from the bark of Larix olgensis var. koreana, and their structures were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic data. Seven known lignans were also obtained and identified as (+)-lariciresinol 9'-p-coumarate (1), (+)-lariciresinol, (-)-secoisolariciresinol, (+)-isolariciresinol, vladinol D, sesquipinsapol B, and ehletianol C.

[Studies on the chemical constituents in roots of Daphne odora var. atrocaulis].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from Daphne odora var. atrocaulis.

Method: The chemical constituents were isolated and repeatedly purified by silica gel column chromatography and the structures were elucidated by the NMR spectra and physicochemical properties.

[DNA microarray analysis of protective mechanism of buyang huanwu decoction on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats].

Objective: To analyse the effects of buyang huanwu decoction (BYHWT) on differentially expressed genes during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats with DNA microarray.

Method: cDNA microarray chips containing 512 cDNAs were made by Biostar Genechip Inc. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with an filament.

[Studies on chemical constituents in bulbs of Bolbostemma paniculatum].

Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents of the bulbs of Bolbostemma panicultum.

Method: The compounds were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel, C18, Sephadex LH-20 separately and their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic technologies.

Result: Eight compounds were isolated and identified as maltol(I), emodin(II), cucurbitacin B(III), cucurbitacin E(IV), stigmasta-7, 22, 25-triene-3-ol(V), stigmasta-7, 22, 25-triene-3-nonadecanoic acid ester(VI), stigmasta-7, 22, 25-triene-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(VII), stigmasta-7, 22, 25-triene-3-O-beta-D-(6'-palmitoyl) glucopyranoside(VIII).

Two new iridoids from Patrinia scabra.

From the roots of Patrinia scabra two new iridoids, 3-methylbutyric acid 7-hydroxy-7-hydroxymethyl-4-(3-methyl-butyryloxymethyl)-6-oxo-1,6,7,7a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-1-yl ester (1) and 6-hydroxy-7-methylhexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-3-one (2) have been isolated. Their structures were determined by means of NMR spectra and X-ray crystallographic analysis.

A new flavan from Daphne odora var. atrocaulis.

The isolation of a new flavan, 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-8-ethoxycarbonylflavan (1), from the root of Daphne odora var. atrocaulis is reported.

New triterpenoid saponins from bulbs of Bolbostemma paniculatum.

Nine new triterpenoid saponins were isolated from the bulbs of Bolbostemma paniculatum (Maxim.) Franquet (Cucurbitaceae): 7beta,18,20,26-tetrahydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24 E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(3-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,18,20,26-tetrahydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(4-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,18,20,26-tetrahydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-(6-acetyl)glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(3-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(4-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-8-formyl-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3-O-alpha-L-(3-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 7beta,20,26-trihydroxy-8-formyl-(20S)-dammar-24E-en-3- O-alpha-L-(4-acetyl)arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 6'-O-palmitoyltubeimoside I. In addition, four known triterpenoid saponins: tubeimoside I, tubeimoside II, tubeimoside III and tubeimoside IV were isolated.