Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor, Sodium Butyrate-Induced Metabolic Modulation in Platycodon grandiflorus Roots Enhances Anti-Melanogenic Properties.

While the status of histone acetylation is a critical regulator of chromatin's structure with a significant impact on plant physiology, our understanding of epigenetic regulation in the biosynthesis of active compounds in plants is limited. In this study, Platycodon grandiflorus was treated with sodium butyrate (NaB), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, to investigate the influence of histone acetylation on secondary metabolism. Its treatment with NaB increased the acetylation of histone H3 at lysine 9, 14, and 27 and enhanced the anti-melanogenic properties of P. grandiflorus roots. Through transcriptome and differentially expressed gene analyses, we found that NaB influenced the expression of genes that were involved in both primary and secondary metabolic pathways. In addition, NaB treatment caused the accumulation of polyphenolic compounds, including dihydroquercetin, gallic acid, and 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid. The NaB-induced transcriptional activation of genes in the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway influenced the anti-melanogenic properties of P. grandiflorus roots. Overall, these findings suggest the potential of an epigenomic approach to enhance the medicinal qualities of medicinal plants.

UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS-Based Metabolite Profiling, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Different Organ Extracts of Abeliophyllum distichum.

Plant extracts have gained more attention as natural therapeutic agents against inflammation characterized by an overproduction of several inflammatory mediators such as reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai is generally known for its ornamental value, recent pharmacological research has demonstrated its potential therapeutic properties. Thus, to further evaluate the applicability of A. distichum in the food, cosmetic, and medical industries, we identified the phytochemicals in three organ extracts (fruits: AF, branches: AB, leaves: AL) of A. distichum and determined their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Using UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS, a total of 19 compounds, including dendromoniliside D, forsythoside B, isoacteoside, isomucronulatol 7-O-Glucoside, plantamajoside, and wighteone were identified in the A. distichum organ extracts. AB exhibited a strong reducing power, an oxygen radical antioxidant capacity, and radical scavenging values compared with other samples, whereas AL exhibited the best anti-inflammatory properties. Gene expression, western blot, and molecular docking analyses suggested that the anti-inflammatory effect of AL was mediated by its ability to suppress lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of reactive oxygen species and/or inhibit LPS-stimulated activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2) in RAW264.7 cells. Collectively, these results indicate that AL is a potential source of phytochemicals that could be used to treat inflammation-associated diseases.