Microsatellite markers for assessing genetic diversity of the medicinal plant Paris polyphylla var. chinensis (Trilliaceae).

Paris polyphylla var. chinensis is a perennial herb with medicinal properties that is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, this plant has been on the edge of extinction during the last few decades because of excessive deforestation based on the intense ethnopharmaceutical interest. We isolated 12 microsatellite loci from a (CT)(n)-enriched genomic library of P. polyphylla var. chinensis. The polymorphism at each locus was analyzed by screening 30 individuals from a natural population. The number of alleles ranged from 2 to 5. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.000 to 0.467, with a mean of 0.247, and from 0.383 to 0.662 with a mean of 0.537, respectively. Six loci (Pp1, Pp3, Pp6, Pp7, Pp9, and Pp12) were found to significantly deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. This may be due to the small population size, inbreeding or null alleles. Five of the pairwise comparisons (Pp1 and Pp4, Pp2 and Pp5, Pp2 and Pp9, Pp2 and Pp12, Pp11 and Pp12) exhibited significant linkage disequilibrium (P < 0.05). We conclude that these microsatellite markers will be useful for population genetic studies of P. polyphylla var. chinensis.

Polymorphic microsatellite loci for the genetic analysis of Lycoris radiata (Amaryllidaceae) and cross-amplification in other congeneric species.

Lycoris radiata is a perennial herb that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time and has two main medicinal components in its bulb, lycorine and galanthamine. However, the original microsatellite loci have not been developed for any species of Lycoris. Total genomic DNA was extracted from fresh bulbs using a modified CTAB protocol. We isolated 10 microsatellite loci from 21 L. radiata individuals of a natural population from Yellow Mountain in Anhui Province, China. The number of alleles ranged from two to nine. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.238 to 0.952 and from 0.455 to 0.784, respectively. One locus significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and no significant linkage disequilibrium was found between pairs of loci. Cross-species amplification of these microsatellite loci was characterized in additional five species (L. sprengeri, L. anhuiensis, L. albiflora, L. longituba, and L. chinensis) of Lycoris. The results suggest that these microsatellite markers would contribute to the population genetic studies of L. radiata and other related species.

The development of nao li shen and its clinical application.

The traditional Chinese medicine Nao Li Shen (containing ginseng, gastrodia tuber, chuanxiong rhizome and red sage root) is used in craniocerebral injury, cervical spondylosis and cerebrovascular diseases. The preparation, as an orally administered liquid, was tested in Mongolian gerbils and shown to increase tolerance to ischaemia and anoxia. Clinical use of the preparation resulted in improvement in 96% of 202 patients, as judged by right cerebral blood flow, TCD and CT examination. We conclude that Nao Li Shen has a positive curative effect upon craniocerebral injury and sequelae of cerebrovascular diseases.

[Comparison of chemical constituents of essential oils from Elsholtzia splendens and cultivated Mosla chinensis by GC-MS analysis].

Xiangru (Labiatae) is a well-known drug used in Chinese traditional medicine. Chemical constituents of essential oils from Elsholtzia splendens and cultivated Mosla chinensis were compared by GC-MS/DS combination on SE-54 capillary column (30 m x 0.32 mm). Forty-three components were identified in Elsholtzia splendens Nakai ex F.Maekawa. The total content of the components in the essential oil was found to be 90.61%. Among them the major constituents are elsholtzia ketone (80.81%). Fifty components were identified in cultivated Mosla chinensis, with a total content of 93.91% in the essential oil. The major constituents are carvacrol (51.11%), thymol (22.00%), and etc.