Unveiling molecular mechanisms of pigment synthesis in gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) fruits through integrative transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis.

This study conducted a combined transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis in premature and mature developmental stages of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis fruits to identify the molecular mechanisms of pigment synthesis. The transcriptomics data produced high-quality clean data amounting to 46.98 gigabytes, exhibiting a mapping ratio of 86.36% to 91.43%. Transcriptomics analysis successfully identified about 3,914 differentially expressed genes which are associated with pivotal biological processes, including photosynthesis, chlorophyll, biosynthetic processes, and protein-chromophore linkage pathways. Functional diversity was clarified by the Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) classification, which focused mainly on pigment synthesis functions. Pathways analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) revealed critical pathways affecting pigment development. Metabolomics studies were carried out utilizing Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography and mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). About 480 metabolites were detected via metabolomics investigation, the majority of that were significantly involved in pigment synthesis. Cluster and pathway analyses revealed the importance of pathways such as plant secondary metabolite biosynthesis, biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids and plant hormone signal transduction in pigment synthesis. Current research advances our comprehension of the underlying mechanisms at the molecular level governing pigment synthesis in gardenia fruits, furnishing valuable insights for subsequent investigations.

Simultaneous extraction of crocin and geniposide from gardenia fruits (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) by probe-type ultrasound-assisted natural deep eutectic solvents and their inhibition effects on low density lipoprotein oxidation.

The simultaneous extraction of crocin and geniposide from gardenia fruits (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) was performed by integrating natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). Among the eight kinds of NADES screened, choline chloride-1,2-propylene glycol was the most suitable extractant. The probe-type ultrasound-assisted NADES extraction system (pr-UAE-NADES) demonstrated higher extraction efficiency compared with plate-type ultrasound-assisted NADES extraction system (pl-UAE-NADES). Orthogonal experimental design and a modified multi-index synthetic weighted scoring method were adopted to optimize pr-UAE-NADES extraction process. The optimal extraction conditions that had a maximum synthetic weighted score of 29.46 were determined to be 25 °C for extraction temperature, 600 W for ultrasonic power, 20 min for extraction time, and 25% (w/w) for water content in NADES, leading to the maximum yields (7.39 ± 0.20 mg/g and 57.99 ± 0.91 mg/g, respectively) of crocin and geniposide. Thirty-three compounds including iridoids, carotenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and triterpenes in the NADES extract were identified by LC-Q-TOF-MS2 coupled with a feature-based molecular networking workflow. The kinetics evaluation of the conjugated dienes generation on Cu2+-induced low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation via the four-parameter logistic regression model showed that crocin increased the lag time of LDL oxidation in a concentration-dependent manner (15 µg/mL, 30 µg/mL, 45 µg/mL) by 12.66%, 35.44%, and 73.42%, respectively. The quantitative determination for fluorescence properties alteration of the apolipoprotein B-100 exhibited that crocin effectively inhibited the fluorescence quenching of tryptophan residues and the modification of lysine residues caused by reactive aldehydes and malondialdehydes. The pr-UAE-NADES showed significant efficiency toward the simultaneous extraction of crocin and geniposide from gardenia fruits. And this study demonstrates the potential utility of gardenia fruits in developing anti-atherogenic functional food.

Integrated natural deep eutectic solvent and pulse-ultrasonication for efficient extraction of crocins from gardenia fruits (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) and its bioactivities.

This study proposed natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) based pulse-ultrasonication-assisted extraction (P-UAE) for green recovery of crocins from gardenia fruits (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis). Choline chloride-1,2-propylene glycol (ChCl-PG, 1:2.5, mol/mol) with 35 % (v/v) water content was tailor-made to obtain the highest extraction efficiency with high surface tension, polarity, conductivity, pH, and low viscosity, density for affinity-based extraction of crocins. The optimized P-UAE conditions (extraction time 120 s, ultrasonic power 400 W, solvent-to-solid ratio 40 mL g-1, extraction temperature 35 ℃) led to the maximum yield of crocins (36.97 mg g-1 DW). The second-order kinetic model was fitted to the extraction process and the synergistic effect was verified by SEM and FTIR. The crocetin was identified as the main compound by UPLC-Triple-TOF/MS. The antiglycative effect and protective effect on DNA indicated the bioactive activities of crocins. Therefore, the ChCl-PG based P-UAE could serve as a green strategy to effectively extract crocins from gardenia fruits.

Clinicopathological features of phlebosclerotic colitis.

Phlebosclerotic colitis (PC) is a rare chronic ischemic colitis caused by venous reflux disorder. It is also called idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis (IMP) due to unknown etiology. The disease is characterized by sclerosis of mesenteric vein and its branches as well as fibrosis, hyaline degeneration, calcification, thickening of colon wall. CT images show linear calcification in the colon mucosa as well as mesenteric vein and its branches. Endoscopy shows purple-blue mucosa with multiple erosion and ulceration. Microscopically, the colon mucosa shows fibrosis, hyaline degeneration and extensive thickening. The most characteristic lesion is fibrosis and calcification of the vessels especially the veins. Arteries in all layers of colon are also involved, but the injury is significant mild and less. We collected 10 confirmed patients from 2012 to 2019 in our hospital, studied their clinical histories in detail, summarized typical changes of CT images, endoscopic images and pathological sections, and made a detail follow-up. In addition to typical pathological changes, we also found that gardenia or its metabolites may be the pathogenic factor. Probablely, geniposide which is metabolized to genipin by ß-glucosidase of colon flora in proximal colon, results in venous sclerosis. PC is occult onset and irreversible without special symptoms in the early stage, but it will also be stable after removing the pathogenic ingredient. Most of patients may be "cured" by appropriate conservative medication and stopping drinking. Contrary, inappropriate surgery may "trigger" the acute ischemia which results in obstruction rapidly. We hope our colleagues pay attention to the unique lesion and make early diagnosis and treatment.

Ethanol extract of gardenia fruit alleviates renal interstitial fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats.

Gardenia fruit has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. A previous study by the present authors indicated that the ethanol extract of gardenia fruits (EEG) primarily contains eight constituents. In the present study, the potential effects of EEG on unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal interstitial fibrosis were observed in rats. A total of 30 rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=10 each): Sham group, UUO group, and EEG group, which were administered with EEG (200 mg/kg/day) or the same volume of distilled water as a vehicle. UUO were established by ligating left ureter at two points and cut between the ligatures. All rats were sacrificed at 14 days after UUO operation. the present results demonstrated that EEG significantly elevated the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor and E-cadherin induced by UUO (both P<0.05), and reduced levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, transforming growth factor-ß1, connective tissue growth factor and α-smooth muscle actin (all P<0.05). The present findings suggest that EEG is a potential novel renoprotective compound for renal fibrosis through inhibiting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Effect of intake of gardenia fruits and combined exercise of middle-aged obese women on hormones regulating energy metabolism.

PURPOSE: This study is aimed at analyzing how exercise and gardenia affect hormones that regulate energy metabolism by having middle aged, obese women exercise and take gardenia simultaneously. METHODS: This study assigned a total of 35 middle-aged obese women with body fat percentage of more than 35 percent into 9 people of the complex treatment group of intake of gardenia and exercise, 9 people of the exercise group, 9 people of the gardenia group and 8 people of the control group in order to find out the effect of the intake of gardenia fruits and Combined exercise of 8 weeks on the body composition, hormones regulating energy metabolism. This study arranged .08 g per weight of 1 kg of the gardenia fruits to be taken twice a day for 8 weeks after breakfast and dinner through the numerical method of roasting the gardenia fruits on fire. And the exercise program was set to be five times a week for 8 weeks, whereas the aerobic exercise of 60 to 70 minutes was 50 to 60 percent for HRmax; thus, the resistance exercise was set to be 1-RM 50 percent. As for the data analysis, the two-way repeated measures ANOVA was utilized for the analysis of interactive effect between groups and times. RESULTS: Thus, the obtained conclusion is as follows: The %fat and WHR has decreased further in the gardenia+exercise group and the exercise group as compared with the control group. And the visceral fat area has decreased further in the gardenia and exercise group and the gardenia group as compared with the control group (p<.05). In addition, the gardenia+exercise group and the exercise group were found to have a significant improvement effect in all the items of body composition, and the gardenia group has reduced the fat percentage and BMI after the treatment (p<.05). Leptin has decreased further in the gardenia+exercise group and the exercise group as compared with the control group, and the insulin resistance and GLP-1 have decreased in all the treatment groups (p<.05). CONCLUSION: As a result of this study, all the treatment groups were found to have an improvement effect of research variables in general; therefore, the single treatment and complex treatment for the middle-aged obese women were found to have a positive impact on body composition, adjusting factors for energy metabolism. Also, the complex treatment was found to be more positive in terms of change amount. In particular, in the case of visceral fat area that is the major risk factor for metabolic disease of middle-aged obese women, it was found to have decreased further in the complex treatment group than the gardenia group; therefore, the complex treatment was found to be more advantageous.