Clinacanthus nutans genetic diversity and its association with anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-bacterial activities.

Clinacanthus nutans (Burm. f.) Lindau has been extensively utilized in Thai folk medicine. However, there has been no prior exploration of its genetic diversity or its correlation with biological activity and phytochemical profiles. Herein, a total of 10 samples of C. nutans were collected from different geographic locations in different environments of Thailand, encompassing Northern, Northeastern, and Central regions. The genetic diversity study using sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers showed that all C. nutans samples were closely related, as indicated by UPGMA cluster analysis. When comparing the biological activities of C. nutans extracts, our findings demonstrated that those sourced from Northern Thailand exhibited the most potent activity in reducing lipopolysaccharide-inducing cell death, as accessed by cell viability assay. Furthermore, they showed remarkable antioxidant and antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of phytochemical profiles revealed consistent chromatography peak patterns across all C. nutans extracts. However, they exhibited varying levels of phenolic contents, as judged by the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, which positively correlated with their observed activities. In conclusion, this study highlights the limited genetic variation within C. nutans population in Thailand. Furthermore, it underscores the association between the biological activity and the total phenolic contents which might be mainly impacted by environmental conditions.

Protective effect of Anoectochilus burmannicus extracts and its active compound, kinsenoside on adipocyte differentiation induced by benzyl butyl phthalate and bisphenol A.

Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and bisphenol-A (BPA) are obesogens that have been reported to be associated with obesity. Inhibition of their adipogenic activity could decrease the risk of obesity-related metabolic disorders. This study hypothesized that Anoectochilus burmannicus ethanolic extract (ABE) which has been previously reported its anti-inflammation property and its known active compound, kinsenoside (Kin) abrogate BBP- and BPA-induced adipogenesis. ABE and Kin markedly suppress both BBP- and BPA-stimulated adipogenesis with different modulations on adipogenic-gene expression including C/EBPα, PPARγ, adiponectin, and leptin in 3T3-L1. BBP induced C/EBPα, adiponectin, and leptin mRNA expressions and slightly increased PPARγ mRNA level, whereas BPA markedly induced PPARγ and adiponectin mRNA levels. ABE significantly decreased the expression of C/EBPα and leptin, but not PPARγ and adiponectin in the BBP-treated cells. In the BPA-treated cells, ABE significantly decreased the mRNA expression of C/EBPα and PPARγ, but not adiponectin and leptin. Interestingly, Kin significantly overcame BBP- and BPA-induced C/EBPα, PPARγ, adiponectin, and leptin expressions. This study first provides evidence to support the health benefits of this plant, especially for people exposed to obesogens. Besides, this finding would encourage the conservation and culture of this orchid for development as an economic plant and healthy food.

Airborne trace elements near a petrochemical industrial complex in Thailand assessed by the lichen Parmotrema tinctorum (Despr. ex Nyl.) Hale.

Several trace elements discharged by the petrochemical industry are toxic to humans and the ecosystem. In this study, we assessed airborne trace elements in the vicinity of the Map Ta Phut petrochemical industrial complex in Thailand by transplanting the lichen Parmotrema tinctorum to eight industrial, two rural, and one clean air sites between October 2013 and June 2014. After 242 days, the concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Ti, V, and Zn in lichens at most industrial sites were higher than those at the rural and the control sites; in particular, As, Cu, Mo, Sb, V, and Zn were significantly higher than at the control site (p < 0.05). Contamination factors (CFs) indicated that Cd, Cu, Mo, and Sb, which have severe health impacts, heavily contaminated at most industrial sites. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that most elements were associated with industry, with lesser contributions from traffic and agriculture. Based on the pollution load indexes (PLIs), two industrial sites were highly polluted, five were moderately polluted, and one had a low pollution level, whereas the pollution load at the rural sites was comparable to background levels. This study reinforces the utility of lichens as cost-effective biomonitors of airborne elements, suitable for use in developing countries, where adequate numbers of air monitoring instruments are unavailable due to financial, technical, and policy constraints.

Strengthening the taxonomic backbone of Thai orchid conservation: genetic fingerprinting and morphometry applied to a species complex in Geodorum.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A well-supported classification is crucial for conservation planning, but intricate species complexes constitute a serious challenge to the preparation of flora accounts. In preparation of the Flora of Thailand account on Geodorum (Orchidaceae), it was decided to use multivariate morphometric analysis and genetic fingerprinting to resolve the intricate G. pulchellum sensu Seidenfaden/G. siamense species complex, with the specific aim of testing the taxonomic soundness of the apparently rare and conservation-requiring G. pulchellum sensu Seidenfaden. Geodorum densiflorum, universally considered distinct from the above species complex, was included as reference. METHODS: Morphometric data and tissue samples for amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis were collected from 17 Geodorum populations in northern and north-eastern Thailand. Principal components analysis was employed to summarize the patterns of phenetic variation. Hierarchical genetic differentiation between populations was explored using Bayesian inference followed by cluster analysis. KEY RESULTS: The taxonomic distinction of G. densiflorum was generally supported. In contrast, G. siamense and G. pulchellum sensu Seidenfaden were poorly separated, especially according to the estimated patterns of inter-population genetic differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: The G. pulchellum sensu Seidenfaden/G. siamense complex should be treated as one variable species (under the name G. siamense), meaning that G. pulchellum sensu Seidenfaden should not be given high independent conservation priority. This study demonstrates that flora accounts can benefit from prior employment of multivariate and Bayesian methods for exploring intricate species complexes, in turn leading to more solid decisions and priorities in a conservation context.

Two mycoheterotrophic orchids from Thailand tropical dipterocarpacean forests associate with a broad diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi.

BACKGROUND: Mycoheterotrophic plants are considered to associate very specifically with fungi. Mycoheterotrophic orchids are mostly associated with ectomycorrhizal fungi in temperate regions, or with saprobes or parasites in tropical regions. Although most mycoheterotrophic orchids occur in the tropics, few studies have been devoted to them, and the main conclusions about their specificity have hitherto been drawn from their association with ectomycorrhizal fungi in temperate regions. RESULTS: We investigated three Asiatic Neottieae species from ectomycorrhizal forests in Thailand. We found that all were associated with ectomycorrhizal fungi, such as Thelephoraceae, Russulaceae and Sebacinales. Based on 13C enrichment of their biomass, they probably received their organic carbon from these fungi, as do mycoheterotrophic Neottieae from temperate regions. Moreover, 13C enrichment suggested that some nearby green orchids received part of their carbon from fungi too. Nevertheless, two of the three orchids presented a unique feature for mycoheterotrophic plants: they were not specifically associated with a narrow clade of fungi. Some orchid individuals were even associated with up to nine different fungi. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that some green and mycoheterotrophic orchids in tropical regions can receive carbon from ectomycorrhizal fungi, and thus from trees. Our results reveal the absence of specificity in two mycoheterotrophic orchid-fungus associations in tropical regions, in contrast to most previous studies of mycoheterotrophic plants, which have been mainly focused on temperate orchids.