Circadian rhythm response and its effect on photosynthetic characteristics of the Lhcb family genes in tea plant.

BACKGROUND: The circadian clock, also known as the circadian rhythm, is responsible for predicting daily and seasonal changes in the environment, and adjusting various physiological and developmental processes to the appropriate times during plant growth and development. The circadian clock controls the expression of the Lhcb gene, which encodes the chlorophyll a/b binding protein. However, the roles of the Lhcb gene in tea plant remain unclear. RESULTS: In this study, a total of 16 CsLhcb genes were identified based on the tea plant genome, which were distributed on 8 chromosomes of the tea plant. The promoter regions of CsLhcb genes have a variety of cis-acting elements including hormonal, abiotic stress responses and light response elements. The CsLhcb family genes are involved in the light response process in tea plant. The photosynthetic parameter of tea leaves showed rhythmic changes during the two photoperiod periods (48 h). Stomata are basically open during the day and closed at night. Real-time quantitative PCR results showed that most of the CsLhcb family genes were highly expressed during the day, but were less expressed at night. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that CsLhcb genes were involved in the circadian clock process of tea plant, it also provided potential references for further understanding of the function of CsLhcb gene family in tea plant.

CbMYB108 integrates the regulation of diterpene biosynthesis and trichome development in Conyza blinii against UV-B.

Plants synthesize abundant terpenes through glandular trichomes (GTs), thereby protecting themselves from environmental stresses and increasing the economic value in some medicinal plants. However, the potential mechanisms for simultaneously regulating terpenes synthesis and GTs development remain unclear. Here, we showed that terpenes in Conyza blinii could be synthesized through capitate GTs. By treating with appropriate intensity of UV-B, the density of capitate GTs and diterpene content can be increased. Through analyzing corresponding transcriptome, we identified a MYB transcription factor CbMYB108 as a positive regulator of both diterpene synthesis and capitate GT density. Transiently overexpressing/silencing CbMYB108 on C. blinii leaves could increase diterpene synthesis and capitate GT density. Further verification showed that CbMYB108 upregulated CbDXS and CbGGPPS expression in diterpene synthesis pathway. Moreover, CbMYB108 could also upregulated the expression of CbTTG1, key WD40 protein confirmed in this study to promote GT development, rather than through interaction between CbMYB108 and CbTTG1 proteins. Thus, results showed that the UV-B-induced CbMYB108 owned dual-function of simultaneously improving diterpene synthesis and GT development. Our research lays a theoretical foundation for cultivating C. blinii with high terpene content, and broadens the understanding of the integrated mechanism on terpene synthesis and GT development in plants.

Hydroxyl-rich ferrofluid for efficient liquid phase microextraction of cinnamic acid derivatives in traditional Chinese medicine.

In this study, a hydroxyl-rich ferrofluid was prepared by dispersing silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles into a methyltrioctylammonium chloride-glycerol deep eutectic solvent and then employed in the preconcentration of trace-level of cinnamic acid derivatives (caffeic acid, p-hydroxycinnamic acid, ferulic acid, and cinnamic acid) in traditional Chinese medicine prior to high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The structures of the synthesized materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The experimental parameters affecting the extraction performance, such as deep eutectic solvent composition, dosage of ferrofluid, pH of aqueous sample solution, salt concentration, extraction time, type, and volume of desorption solvent, were studied and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the enrichment factors of four cinnamic acid derivatives were in the range of 107-114. Low detection limits (0.2-0.9 ng/mL), good precisions (relative standard deviations 1.2%-9.5%), and satisfactory recoveries (96.0%-104.7%) were achieved. Subsequently, the possible microextraction mechanism of the proposed method was explored and elucidated. It showed that the prepared ferrofluid is easily dispersed in the aqueous sample and achieved recovery after the extraction. The developed approach is a simple, convenient, and efficient method for preconcentration and determination of cinnamic acid derivatives in complex matrices.

Integrated Network Pharmacology and In-silico Approaches to Decipher the Pharmacological Mechanism of Dioscorea septemloba Thunb in Treating Gout and Its Complications.

BACKGROUND: Dioscorea septemloba Thunb. (DST) has demonstrated therapeutic potential in the treatment of gout and its associated complications. However, the underlying mechanisms of DST's pharmacological activity remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the pharmacological substances and network regulatory mechanisms of DST in treating gout and its complications using network pharmacology. METHODS: According to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS) data and Lipinski's rule of five, 24 bioactive phytochemicals from DST were identified. The targets of gout were retrieved from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), GeneCards, and DisGeNET databases, followed by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway (KEGG pathway) enrichment analysis. The Cytoscape network analysis was used to identify the primary pathological pathways and key targets. Finally, LeDock was used for molecular docking to verify the active components of DST and their core target proteins. RESULTS: DST contains several core active ingredients, such as tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine- 2,5-dione, diosgenin, beta-sitosterol, dioscorol B, montroumarin and 9,10-dihydro-5,7- dimethoxy-3,4-phenanthrenediol. Moreover, these active components were found to strongly bind to the key targets for treating gout and its complications, including HSP90AA1, STAT3, PTGS2, PPARG, MTOR, HIF1A, MMP9, ESR1, and TLR4. As a result, DST alleviates gout and its complications by inhibiting xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) to reduce uric acid levels and regulating the HIF-1α, EZH2/STAT3, and COX-2/PPAR-γ pathways to reduce inflammation. Additionally, it also plays an analgesic role by regulating the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway and calcium ion signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: This study has provided insights into the underlying mechanisms of DST in the treatment of gout and its complications, which could serve as a scientific foundation for its clinical translation.

A new biphenanthrene with cytotoxic activity from Liparis nervosa (Thunb.) Lindl.

2,7,2'-Trihydroxy-3,4,4'7'-tetramethoxy-1,1'-biphenanthrene (1), a previously undescribed biphenanthrene, and five known phenanthrenes, i.e. 2,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-9,10-dihydroxyphenanthrene (2), 2,4-dihydroxy -7-methoxy-9,10-dihydroxyphenanthrene (3), 7-hydroxy-2-methoxy-phenanthrene-1,4-dione (4), 7-hydroxy-2-methoxy-9,10-dihydro-phenanthrene-1,4-dione (5), and 4,4',7,7'-tetrahydroxy-2,2'-dimethoxy-9,9',10,10'-tetrahydro-1,1'-biphenanthrene (6) were isolated from the whole plant (stems, leaves, roots and fruits) of Liparis nervosa (Thunb.) Lindl., which is a medicinal plant of the genus Liparis in the Orchidaceae family. The structures of isolates were identified using spectroscopic methods, including NMR and mass spectrometry. Additionally, the cytotoxic potency of all the isolates against human lung cancer A549 cell line was evaluated by an MTT assay. All the isolated compounds showed cytotoxic activities with IC50 values in the range of 10.20 ± 0.81 to 42.41 ± 2.34 µM. The obtained data highlight the importance of L. nervosa as a source of natural lead compounds for cancer therapy.

[Theory and application of pulse diagnosis at Renying and Cunkou regions].

Renying and Cunkou pulse diagnostic method is one of the important parts of the pulse diagnosis in Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor) and has been controversial since its proposal. This article takes WANG Shu-he's diagnostic operation as the evidence, and is in reference of the statement, "Cun region (the region ahead of Guan region of Cunkou) determines the human life, that on the left hand refers to Renying, while on the right hand is Qikou". The pulse conditions on the left and right hands represent yin and yang. If Renying pulse on the left is greater, the diseases are in yang meridians, while if Cunkou pulse on the right is bustling, the diseases are in yin meridians. By comparing the pulse condition and strength, as well as the pulse beating (rapid and urgent) between Guan region and region ahead of Guan on the same side, the conditions of three yang and three yin meridians are detected. In treatment, based on the records of Renying and Cunkou pulse diagnosis in Huangdi Neijing, the principles are proposed for reinforcing and reducing methods on hand and foot meridians of yin and yang. Five-shu points and yuan-source points are taken as the main acupoints in acupuncture treatment. During treatment, the changes in pulse conditions should be emphasized specifically and those at Renying and Cunkou regions are the criteria for judging qi arrival and qi regulation.

Efficacy and safety of the compound Chinese herb medicine mouthwash on oral ulcer model in rats.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of a mouthwash containing a novel compound Chinese herbal medicine (artemisia capillaris, chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, angelica dahurica and asarum sieboldii) on oral ulcers and analyze sub chronic oral toxicity in rats. For efficacy study, mouthwash was administered on the ulcer area twice daily. Compared with the control group, healing time in the test group was shorter and the ulcer area was smaller. Histological analysis showed less inflammatory cell infiltration in the test group. For sub chronic oral toxicity, mouthwash was administered by oral gavage for 93 consecutive days. There were no significant differences in body weight, food consumption or organ coefficients between the test and control groups. Some parameters of haematology and serum chemistry were statistically different but within normal physiological ranges. No obvious abnormalities were found in the necropsies and histopathological observations. In conclusion, the compound Chinese herbal medicine mouthwash promoted oral ulcer healing in rats with no obvious sub chronic toxicity, providing a potential alternative therapeutic strategy for oral ulcers.

Analysis of 21 Patients With Alcoholic Marchiafava-Bignami Disease in Chongqing, China.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and prognosis of patients with alcoholic Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD), a rare neurological disorder commonly associated with chronic alcoholism, in Chongqing, China. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 21 alcoholic MBD patients treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing University between 2012 and 2022. RESULTS: The study included 21 patients with alcoholic MBD who had a mean age of 59 ± 9.86 years and an average drinking history of 35.48 ± 8.65 years. Acute onset was observed in 14 (66.7%) patients. The primary clinical signs observed were psychiatric disorders (66.7%), altered consciousness (61.9%), cognitive disorders (61.9%), and seizures (42.9%). Magnetic resonance imaging revealed long T1 and long T2 signal changes in the corpus callosum, with lesions predominantly found in the genu (76.2%) and splenium (71.4%) of the corpus callosum. The poor prognosis group demonstrated an increased incidence of altered consciousness (100% vs 50%, P = 0.044), pyramidal signs (80% vs 18.8%, P = 0.011), and pneumonia (100% vs 31.3%, P = 0.007). Patients with a longer drinking history (45.0 ± 10.0 years vs 32.69 ± 5.99 years, p = 0.008) and a lower thiamine dose (p = 0.035) had a poorer prognosis at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified altered consciousness, pyramidal signs, and pneumonia as predictors of a poor prognosis in patients with alcoholic MBD. A longer duration of alcohol consumption and inadequate thiamine supplementation were associated with a poorer prognosis.

Advances in understanding the mechanism of resistance to anthracnose and induced defence response in tea plants.

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is susceptible to anthracnose disease that causes considerable crop loss and affects the yield and quality of tea. Multiple Colletotrichum spp. are the causative agents of this disease, which spreads quickly in warm and humid climates. During plant-pathogen interactions, resistant cultivars defend themselves against the hemibiotrophic pathogen by activating defence signalling pathways, whereas the pathogen suppresses plant defences in susceptible varieties. Various fungicides have been used to control this disease on susceptible plants, but these fungicide residues are dangerous to human health and cause fungicide resistance in pathogens. The problem-solving approaches to date are the development of resistant cultivars and ecofriendly biocontrol strategies to achieve sustainable tea cultivation and production. Understanding the infection stages of Colletotrichum, tea plant resistance mechanisms, and induced plant defence against Colletotrichum is essential to support sustainable disease management practices in the field. This review therefore summarizes the current knowledge of the identified causative agent of tea plant anthracnose, the infection strategies and pathogenicity of C. gloeosporioides, anthracnose disease resistance mechanisms, and the caffeine-induced defence response against Colletotrichum infection. The information reported in this review will advance our understanding of host-pathogen interactions and eventually help us to develop new disease control strategies.

Application of instantaneous nebulization dispersive liquid-phase microextraction combined with HPLC for the determination of chalcone and isoflavone in traditional Chinese medicines.

A simple and rapid instantaneous nebulization dispersive liquid-phase microextraction method was developed, and combined with high-performance liquid chromatography for determination of the contents of seven analytes in traditional Chinese medicines. In this study, using the sprinkler device to achieve instantaneous synchronous dispersion and extraction, only one spray can rapidly achieve the concentration and enrichment of seven kinds of chalcone and isoflavones. The key factors affecting the extraction efficiency were optimized including the type and volume of extractant, the pH and salt concentration of the sample phase, and the number of dispersion. Under the optimal conditions, the enrichment factor of the target analytes ranged from 103.1 to 180.9, with good linearity and correlation coefficients above 0.9970. The limits of detection ranged from 0.02 to 0.15 ng/mL, with good accuracy (recoveries 91.1 to 108.9%) and precision (relative standard deviations 1.5-7.1%). This method has short extraction time (2 s), low organic solvent consumption and high enrichment effect, so it has a wide application prospects.

Yiwei decoction promotes apoptosis of gastric cancer cells through spleen-derived exosomes.

Yiwei decoction (YWD) is a formula of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that is clinically effective for the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer recurrence and metastasis. According to the theory of TCM, YWD tonifies the body and strengthens the body's resistance to gastric cancer recurrence and metastasis potentially via the immune regulation of the spleen. The aims of the present study were to investigate whether YWD-treated spleen-derived exosomes in rats inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells, to elucidate the anticancer effects of YWD, and to provide evidence supporting the use of YWD as a new clinical treatment for gastric cancer. Spleen-derived exosomes were obtained by ultracentrifugation and identified by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and western blot analysis. The location of the exosomes in tumor cells was then determined by immunofluorescence staining. After tumor cells were treated with different concentrations of exosomes, the effect of exosomes on cell proliferation was determined by cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) and colony formation assays. Tumor cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Particle analysis and western blot analysis identified the material extracted from spleen tissue supernatant as exosomes. Immunofluorescence staining showed that spleen-derived exosomes were taken up by HGC-27 cells, and the CCK8 assay confirmed that the relative tumor inhibition rate of YWD-treated spleen-derived exosomes in the 30 µg/mL reached 70.78% compared to control exosomes in the 30 µg/mL (p < 0.05). Compared to control exosomes in the 30 µg/mL, the colony formation assay indicated that YWD-treated spleen-derived exosomes in the 30 µg/mL colonies have decreased by 99.03% (p < 0.01). Moreover, flow cytometry analysis showed that treatment with YWD-treated exosomes in the 30 µg/mL increased the apoptosis rate to 43.27%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group in the 30 µg/mL (25.91%) (p < 0.05). In conclusion, spleen-derived exosomes from YWD-treated animals inhibit the proliferation of HGC-27 cells via inducing apoptosis, suggesting that spleen-derived exosomes are involved in mediating the antitumor effect of YWD. These results demonstrated a novel exosome-mediated anticancer effect of YWD as a TCM formula, thereby supporting the use of YWD-treated exosomes as a new approach for the clinical treatment of gastric cancer.

Hypoglycemic mechanisms of Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide in db/db mice via regulation of glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway and alteration of gut microbiota.

Polygonatum rhizoma polysaccharide (PP) is a main ingredient of Polygonatum rhizoma , which is both food and traditional herbal medicine. In this study, we aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of PP and the underlying mechanisms in db/db mice. Our finding showed that PP significantly ameliorates diabetic symptoms by reducing glucose levels in blood and urine and increasing insulin and leptin abundance in the serum. Histopathological examination revealed that PP improved the pathological state and increased hepatic glycogen storage in liver. Additionally, RT-qPCR results indicated that PP significantly down-regulated the expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1. Furthermore, 16s rRNA sequencing results demonstrated that PP intervention resulted in an increase in beneficial bacteria genus and a reduction in harmful genus. Redundancy analysis revealed the correlation between intestinal flora and clinical factors. Taken together, these results suggest that PP has a significant hypoglycemic effect on type 2 diabetes (T2D) through up-regulating serum insulin and leptin, as well as hepatic glycogen storage, and down-regulating hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 expression, as well as modulating gut microbiota composition. In conclusion, this study investigated the mechanisms of PP in the treatment of diabetes in db/db mice. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the positive and negative correlations between gut microbiota and clinical factors, such as oxidative stress injury in liver and glucose related indicators in the blood.

Fu-Zheng-Tong-Luo formula promotes autophagy and alleviates idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by controlling the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Fu-Zheng-Tong-Luo (FZTL) formula is a Chinese herbal prescription which is used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We previously reported that the FZTL formula could improve IPF injury in rats; however, the mechanism remains unelucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY: To elucidate the effects and mechanisms of the FZTL formula on IPF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis rat model and transforming growth factor-ß-induced lung fibroblast model were used. Histological changes and fibrosis formation were detected in the rat model after treatment with the FZTL formula. Furthermore, the effects of the FZTL formula on autophagy and lung fibroblast activation were determined. Moreover, the mechanism of FZTL was explored using transcriptomics analysis. RESULTS: We observed that FZTL alleviated IPF injury in rats and inhibited inflammatory responses and fibrosis formation in rats. Moreover, it promoted autophagy and inhibited lung fibroblast activation in vitro. Transcriptomics analysis revealed that FZTL regulates the Janus kinase 2 (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of the transcription 3 (STAT) signaling pathway. The JAK2/STAT3 signaling activator interleukin 6 inhibited the anti-fibroblast activation effect of the FZTL formula. Combined treatment with the JAK2 inhibitor (AZD1480) and autophagy inhibitor (3-methyladenine) did not enhance the antifibrotic effect of FZTL. CONCLUSIONS: The FZTL formula can inhibit IPF injury and lung fibroblast activation. Its effects are mediated via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. The FZTL formula may be a potential complementary therapy for pulmonary fibrosis.

Illness anxiety, infertility stress, resilience and thyroid-stimulating hormone among infertile people undergoing ART treatment in China.

OBJECTIVE: Infertile people undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment in China may experience severe infertility-related stress and illness anxiety (IA). However, little relevant research has been conducted until now. DESIGN: This study investigated the IA of 340 infertile people undergoing ART treatment, including 43 males, 292 females and 5 who preferred not to answer, in 2 tertiary general public hospitals in Wen Zhou, China. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood samples for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were obtained from 107 women to explore the relationship between IA and TSH. The questionnaire contained the Mandarin version of the Fertility Problem Inventory, the Resilient Trait Scale for Chinese Adults and the Whiteley Index, measuring infertility stress, resilience and IA, respectively. RESULTS: An incidence rate of 44.1% of IA among infertile people undergoing ART treatment in China was determined, and 30.2% of men and 46.6% of women had severe IA (χ2 = 4.05, p < 0.05). The risk of severe IA in women was around twice that in men (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.01-4.01). Women's IA level was significantly associated with their TSH level (ß = 0.27, p < 0.01). Resilience played a moderating role in the relationship between parenthood importance and illness anxiety. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted the importance and urgency of providing holistic care for illness anxiety of infertile people undergoing ART treatment in China, especially women. The findings of this study indicated that mind-body therapies and resilience empowerment workshops could be conducive to infertile people's holistic health.

Association of lung-intestinal microecology and lung cancer therapy.

In recent years, the incidence of lung cancer is increasing. Lung cancer has become one of the most malignant tumors with the highest incidence in the world, which seriously affects people's health. The most important cause of death of lung cancer is metastasis. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the mechanism of lung cancer progression and metastasis. This review article discusses the physiological functions, pathological states and disorders of the lung and intestine based on the concepts of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and analyzes the etiology and mechanisms of lung cancer formation from the perspective of TCM. From the theory of "the exterior and interior of the lung and gastrointestinal tract", the theory of "the lung-intestinal axis" and the progression and metastasis of lung cancer, we proposed e "lung-gut co-treatment" therapy for lung cancer. This study provides ideas for studying the mechanism of lung cancer and the comprehensive alternative treatment for lung cancer patients.

Effects of leaf-spreading on the volatile aroma components of green tea under red light of different intensities.

Spreading is an indispensable process in the aroma formation of green tea. The application of exogenous red-light spreading in tea processing has been verified to significantly improve the aroma of green tea, and endow tea with freshness, sweet flavor, and mellow taste. However, there were no previous studies investigating the effects of spreading with different red-light intensities on the aroma components of green tea. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the relationship between the aroma component and spreading with different red-light intensities (300 µmol∙m-2∙s-1, 150 µmol∙m-2∙s-1 and 75 µmol∙m-2∙s-1). As a result, a total of ninety-one volatile components were identified in this study. The orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model clearly distinguished the volatile components of green tea between different red-light intensities and obtained thirty-three differential volatile compounds. Combined with odor activity value (OAV > 1) analysis revealed that eleven volatile components were the key volatile compounds of green tea under different light conditions. Among them, 3-methyl-butanal, (E)-nerolidol, and linalool were the sources of chestnut-like aroma in green tea and were significantly accumulated under medium (MRL) and low intensity (LRL) red light. The results of the present study provided a theoretical basis that could guide green tea processing with red-light intensities to increase the aroma quality components of green tea.

Flavonoids from the Roots of Sophora flavescens and Their Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Antiproliferative Activities.

The phytochemical investigation of the roots of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Sophora flavescens led to the isolation of two novel prenylflavonoids with an unusual cyclohexyl substituent instead of the common aromatic ring B, named 4',4'-dimethoxy-sophvein (17) and sophvein-4'-one (18), and 34 known compounds (1-16, 19-36). The structures of these chemical compounds were determined by spectroscopic techniques, including 1D-, 2D-NMR, and HRESIMS data. Furthermore, evaluations of nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells indicated that some compounds exhibited obvious inhibition effects, with IC50 ranged from 4.6 ± 1.1 to 14.4 ± 0.4 µM. Moreover, additional research demonstrated that some compounds inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells, with an IC50 ranging from 0.46 ± 0.1 to 48.6 ± 0.8 µM. These results suggest that flavonoid derivatives from the roots of S. flavescens can be used as a latent source of antiproliferative or anti-inflammatory agents.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of PIN-FORMED (PIN) and PIN-LIKES (PILS) gene family reveals their role in adventitious root development in tea nodal cutting (Camellia Sinensis).

Auxin affects all aspects of plant growth and development, including morphogenesis and adaptive responses. Auxin transmembrane transport is promoted by PIN formation (PIN) and a structurally similar PIN-like (PILS) gene family, which jointly controls the directional transport of the auxin between plant cells, and the accumulation of intracellular auxin. At present, there is no study investigating the roles of CslPIN and CslPILS gene family in root development in the tea plant (Camellia sinensis). In this study, 8 CslPIN and 10 CslPILS genes were identified in the tea plant, and their evolutionary relationships, physical and chemical properties, conserved motifs, cis-acting elements, chromosome location, collinearity, and expression characteristics were analyzed. The mechanism of CslPIN and CslPILS in the formation of tea adventitious roots (ARs) was studied by the AR induction system. Through functional verification, the regulation of CslPIN3 gene on root growth and development of tea plant was studied by over-expression of CslPIN3 in Arabidopsis thaliana and in situ hybridization in Camellia sinensis. The results confirmed CslPIN3 was involved in the regulation of root growth and development as well as auxin accumulation. This study provides a better insight into the regulatory mechanism of CslPIN and CslPILS gene family on the formation of AR in tea plant.

Genome-wide identification of RNA editing sites in chloroplast transcripts and multiple organellar RNA editing factors in tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.): Insights into the albinism mechanism of tea leaves.

RNA editing is a post-transcriptional modification process, the chloroplast genes of which are involved in the process of chloroplast development in plant. However, the RNA editing sites of chloroplast genes remains unknown. In this study, we identified 39 RNA editing sites in 18 chloroplast genes from chloroplast genome of C. sinensis. Furthermore, the feature, structures and specificity of RNA editing sites were systematic analyzed. The differential editing efficiency were examined at 11 RNA editing sites among C. sinensis var. sinensis 'Huabai 1', 'Baiye 1' and 'Longjing 43'. Meanwhile, we identified 10 C. sinensis MORFs from five subgroups and performed comparative analyses of chromosome locations, duplication model and expression profiles. Expression analysis showed that the expression level of CsMORF9.2 was down-regulated significantly in 'Huabai 1' albino tea cultivar. This study provides a foundation for further reveal in the role of chloroplast RNA editing in albinism process of tea leaves.

Two new iridoid glycosides from Hedyotis diffusa.

Two new iridoid glycosides, named productasperulosidic acid butyl ester (1) and E-6-O-3-hydroxy-p-methoxycinnamoyl scandoside methyl ester (2), along with nine known ones (3-11), were isolated from Hedyotis diffusa Willd. The structures of them were elucidated by extensive 1D, 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectral data. Compounds 1-11 showed no significant cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells.