Genetic and Chemical Diversity of Commercial Japanese Valerian.

In order to investigate the relationship between the chemical composition of essential oils and haplotypes of the psbA-trnH intergenic spacer region of chloroplast DNA (psbA-trnH) in Valerianae Fauriei Radix (Japanese Valerian; JV), we analyzed the DNA sequence and GC-MS metabolome of JV from Japanese markets and of herbal specimens from related species. DNA analysis revealed that JV products from Japan consisted of three haplotypes, namely AH-1, -2 and -5 reported in our previous study. The GC-MS metabolome revealed five chemotypes (J1, J2, C, K and O), of which J1, J2 and C were detected in the JV products from Japan. Chemotypes J1 and J2, with kessyl glycol diacetate (KGD) as the main volatile component, were found in the products of Japanese origin whereas chemotype C, with 1-O-acetyl-2,10-bisaboladiene-1,6-diol (ABD), was found in the products of Chinese and Korean origin. The haplotypes were correlated with the chemotypes: haplotype AH-1 for chemotype J1, AH-2 for chemotype J2 and AH-5 for chemotype C, suggesting that the chemical diversity of JV is not attributed to the environmental factors rather to the genetic factors. Since KGD and ABD were reported to have sedative effects and nerve growth factor (NGF)-potentiating effects, respectively, understanding the chemotypes and selecting an appropriate one would be important for the application of JV. The psbA-trnH haplotypes could be useful DNA markers for the quality control and standardization of JV.

Identification of Valeriana fauriei and other Eurasian medicinal valerian by DNA polymorphisms in psbA-trnH intergenic spacer sequences in chloroplast DNA.

In order to differentiate among Valeriana fauriei Briq. and other Eurasian medicinal valerian (V. dioica L., V. hardwickii Wall., V. jatamansi Jones, and V. officinalis L.), we attempted to establish DNA markers. DNA sequences for the psbA-trnH intergenic spacer region of chloroplast DNA (psbA-trnH) and 18S ribosomal RNA, internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), 5.8S ribosomal RNA, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), and 28S ribosomal RNA of nuclear DNA in V. fauriei and other Eurasian medicinal valerian were compared. Using partial sequences of psbA-trnH (nucleotide positions 1-75 from the 5' end of the intergenic spacer region), V. fauriei and other Eurasian medicinal valerian could be correctly identified to the species level. In addition, the partial sequences of psbA-trnH in V. fauriei contained five different haplotypes, and it was possible to distinguish the origins of valerian from Japan and Eurasia (China and Korea). On the other hand, individuals had heterogeneous sequences of ITS1 and ITS2, making it impossible to use direct sequencing and DNA markers of ITS1 and ITS2 to distinguish species and origins of V. fauriei and other Eurasian medicinal valerian.

Methyl jasmonate-induced enhancement of expression activity of Am-FaPS-1, a putative farnesyl diphosphate synthase gene from Aquilaria microcarpa.

A cDNA clone, designated Am-FaPS-1 (1310 bp), was isolated from callus culture derived from the leaf tissues of Aquilaria microcarpa. This gene contains an open reading frame encoding the protein of 342 amino acid residues with high homology to farnesyl diphosphate synthase from various plant sources. An appreciable increase in the transcriptional level of Am-FaPS-1 was reproducibly observed by the exposure of the cell culture to methyl jasmonate. The expression activity of the gene was also elevated when the cells were treated with yeast extract and Ca(2+)-ionophore A23187. These results suggest that Am-FaPS-1 and its translate play roles in methyl jasmonate- and yeast extract-induced responses of A. microcarpa, and Ca(2+) functions as an important messenger molecule in these processes. This set of the results would support our hypothesis that the activation of Ca(2+)-cascade evoked by the elevation of cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration is an essential early event in methyl jasmonate-induced responses of higher plant cells.