Biomass and Active Compounds Accumulation of the Medicinal Orchid Pleione bulbocodioides in Response to Light Intensity and Irrigation Frequency.

Pseudobulbs of Pleione species are widely used as traditional medicine in Asian countries, but the mechanism of active compound accumulation remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the accumulation of biomass and three active compounds (dactylorhin A, militarine and batatasin III) of Pleione bulbocodioides in response to different light intensities and irrigation frequencies. We found that single high light (65 % of full sunlight) or drought stress (14-day irrigation interval) increased active compounds accumulation but the combined effect of these two treatments decreased the total content of these three active compounds. This decrease was due to the plants under combined stress having a significantly lower photosynthetic rate, leaf area and longevity, leading to a dramatic decrease in pseudobulb biomass. Among all treatments, the highest total content of active compounds was observed in plants subjected to the high light level with a high water level (3-day irrigation interval), and plants under medium light intensity (30 % of full sunlight) also had considerable content of active compounds accumulation. To balance the quality and quantity of Pleione pseudobulbs during artificial cultivation, 30∼65 % of full sunlight with the avoidance of drought stress is recommended. Our results suggest the accumulation of the three active compounds is significantly influenced by light intensity and irrigation frequency, which may contribute to the artificial cultivation and quality control of medicinal Pleione.

Chemical Constituents of Species in the Genus Pleione (Orchidaceae) and the Implications from Molecular Phylogeny.

Pleiones are popular ornamental orchids and different species of Pleione are long being used as traditional medicine in many Asian countries. However, previous chemical investigations of the genus Pleione are restricted to only a few species. In the present study, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint of Pleione plants was established, which in particular, eight common peaks were confirmed in 16 species/hybrids. Three of the compounds corresponding to the chromatographic peaks were identified by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-tandem-MS). HPLC analysis confirmed the studied taxa shared most of chemical compounds but the content of chemical compounds was significantly different between species. Comparison of hierarchical clustering result with phylogenetic tree revealed that closely related species have higher similarities in chemical constituents. In consideration of low chemical similarity between spring-flowering and autumn-flowering species, we suggest a discrimination of these two groups during medicinal use of the genus Pleione. Species with a large pseudobulb and with high content of a certain compound should be given priority in future artificial cultivation and medicinal cultivar breeding. We hope our findings will contribute to the quality control and promote conservation of such endangered plant group.

Plasmakinetic enucleation of prostate versus 160-W laser photoselective vaporization for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (PKEP) for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) compared with 160-W lithium triboride laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP). From February 2011 to July 2012, a prospective nonrandomized study was performed. One-hundred one patients underwent PKEP, and 110 underwent PVP. No severe intraoperative complications were recorded, and none of the patients in either group required a blood transfusion. Shorter catheterization time (38.14 ± 23.64 h vs 72.54 ± 28.38 h, P< 0.001) and hospitalization (2.32 ± 1.25 days vs 4.07 ± 1.23 days, P< 0.001) were recorded in the PVP group. At 12-month postoperatively, the PKEP group had a maintained and statistically improvement in International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) (4.07 ± 2.07 vs 5.00 ± 2.10; P< 0.001), quality of life (QoL) (1.08 ± 0.72 vs 1.35 ± 0.72; P= 0.007), maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax) (24.75 ± 5.87 ml s-1 vs 22.03 ± 5.04 ml s-1 ; P< 0.001), postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) (14.29 ± 6.97 ml vs 17.00 ± 6.11 ml; P= 0.001), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value (0.78 ± 0.57 ng ml-1 vs 1.27 ± 1.07 ng ml-1 ; P< 0.001). Both PKEP and PVP relieve low urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to BPH with low complication rates. PKEP can completely remove prostatic adenoma while the total amount of tissue removed by PVP is less than that can be removed by PKEP. Based on our study of the follow-up, PKEP provides better postoperative outcomes than PVP.

Characterization of 13 microsatellite loci developed from Meconopsis horridula

Meconopsis horridula is one of the eight most famous flowers in Chinese province of Yunnan. In this study, a modified biotin-streptavidin capture method was used to detect 13 microsatellite markers in the genome of M. horridula. The polymorphism of each locus was assessed in 24 samples collected from four populations. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 7 (mean: 3.2). The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.0833 to 0.9167 and 0.0816 to 0.8050, respectively. Additionally, nine of the 13 microsatellite markers were successfully amplified in three other congeneric species. These polymorphic SSR markers could be useful for studying the population genetics of M. horridula and for assessing genetic variation in this and congenerc species in conservation programs.