Extraction, purification, structural characteristics, biological activities, and applications of polysaccharides from the genus Lilium: A review.

The genus Lilium (Lilium) has been widely used in East Asia for over 2000 years due to its rich nutritional and medicinal value, serving as both food and medicinal ingredient. Polysaccharides, as one of the most important bioactive components in Lilium, offer various health benefits. Recently, polysaccharides from Lilium plants have garnered significant attention from researchers due to their diverse biological properties including immunomodulatory, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-aging and anti-radiation effects. However, the limited comprehensive understanding of polysaccharides from Lilium plants has hindered their development and utilization. This review focuses on the extraction, purification, structural characteristics, biological activities, structure-activity relationships, applications, and relevant bibliometrics of polysaccharides from Lilium plants. Additionally, it delves into the potential development and future research directions. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive understanding of polysaccharides from Lilium plants and to serve as a basis for further research and development as therapeutic agents and multifunctional biomaterials.

[Genetic background of lily germplasm resources based on SSR markers].

To study the genetic background of lily (Lilium spp.) germplasm resources, and accurately evaluate and select excellent germplasm for genetic improvement of lily, we analyzed the genetic background of 62 lily germplasm accessions from 11 provinces of China by using simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular markers. The results showed that 15 out of 83 pairs of lily SSR primers were polymorphic. A total of 157 allelic loci were amplified, with the number of alleles per locus ranging from 5 to 19 and the average number of effective alleles per locus being 4.162 8. The average observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity were 0.228 2 and 0.694 1, respectively. The average polymorphic information content was 0.678 8. The average Nei's diversity index and Shannon's information index were 0.694 1 and 1.594 9, respectively, indicating that the tested lily germplasm had high genetic diversity. The 62 germplasm accessions were classified into 5 groups by the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) and into 3 groups by the principal component analysis. The two analyses revealed a geographic correlation among different groups. The majority of lily germplasm accessions from the same source tended to cluster together. The population structure analysis classified the lily accessions into 4 populations and 1 mixed population. The above results provide a theoretical basis and genetic resources for the precise identification and breeding of lily germplasm resources.

Key anti-freeze genes and pathways of Lanzhou lily (Lilium davidii, var. unicolor) during the seedling stage.

Temperature is one of the most important environmental factors for plant growth, as low-temperature freezing damage seriously affects the yield and distribution of plants. The Lanzhou lily (Lilium davidii, var. unicolor) is a famous ornamental plant with high ornamental value. Using an Illumina HiSeq transcriptome sequencing platform, sequencing was conducted on Lanzhou lilies exposed to two different temperature conditions: a normal temperature treatment at 20°C (A) and a cold treatment at -4°C (C). After being treated for 24 hours, a total of 5848 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 3478 significantly up regulated genes and 2370 significantly down regulated genes, accounting for 10.27% of the total number of DEGs. Quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR) analysis showed that the expression trends of 10 randomly selected DEGs coincided with the results of high-throughput sequencing. In addition, genes responding to low-temperature stress were analyzed using the interaction regulatory network method. The anti-freeze pathway of Lanzhou lily was found to involve the photosynthetic and metabolic pathways, and the key freezing resistance genes were the OLEO3 gene, 9 CBF family genes, and C2H2 transcription factor c117817_g1 (ZFP). This lays the foundation for revealing the underlying mechanism of the molecular anti-freeze mechanism in Lanzhou lily.

Identification and Expression Analysis of Putative Sugar Transporter Gene Family during Bulb Formation in Lilies.

Sugar transporters play important roles in plant growth and development, flowering and fruiting, as well as responses to adverse abiotic and biotic environmental conditions. Lilies (Lilium spp.) are some of the most representative ornamental bulbous flowers. Sugar metabolism is critical for bulb formation in lilies; therefore, clarifying the amount and expression pattern of sugar transporters is essential for further analyzing their roles in bulb formation. In this study, based on the transcriptome data of the Lilium Oriental hybrid 'Sorbonne' and Lilium × formolongi, a total of 69 and 41 sugar transporters were identified in 'Sorbonne' and Lilium × formolongi, respectively, by performing bioinformatics analysis. Through phylogenetic analysis, monosaccharide transporters (MSTs) can be divided into seven subfamilies, sucrose transporters (SUTs) can be divided into three subgroups, and sugars will eventually be exported transporters (SWEETs) can be divided into four clades. According to an analysis of conserved motifs, 20, 14, and 12 conserved motifs were predicted in MSTs, SUTs, and SWEETs, respectively. A conserved domain analysis showed that MSTs and SUTs contained a single domain, whereas most of the SWEETs harbored two MtN3/saliva domains, also known as a PQ-loop repeat. The LohINT1, which was predicted to have a smaller number of transmembrane structural domains, was cloned and analyzed for subcellular localization. It was found that the LohINT1 protein is mainly localized in the cell membrane. In addition, the expression analysis indicated that 22 LohMSTs, 1 LohSUTs, and 5 LohSWEETs were upregulated in 'Sorbonne' 1 day after scale detachment treatment, suggesting that they may regulate the initiation of the bulblet. A total of 10 LflMSTs, 1 LflSUTs, and 6 LflSWEETs were upregulated 4~6 months after sowing, which corresponds to the juvenile-to-adult transition phase of Lilium × formolongi, suggesting that they may also play a role in the accompanying bulb swelling process. Combined with quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis, LohSTP8 and LohSTP12 were significantly overexpressed during the extremely early stage of bulblet initiation, and LflERD6.3 was significantly overexpressed during the growth of the underground bulblet, suggesting that they may be key sugar transporters in the formation of lily bulbs, which needs further functional verification.

LiNAC100 contributes to linalool biosynthesis by directly regulating LiLiS in Lilium 'Siberia'.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The transcription factor LiNAC100 has a novel function of regulating floral fragrance by directly regulating linalool synthase gene LiLiS. Lilium 'Siberia', an Oriental hybrid, is renowned as both a cut flower and garden plant, prized for its color and fragrance. The fragrance comprises volatile organic compounds (VOCs), primarily monoterpenes found in the plant. While the primary terpene synthases in Lilium 'Siberia' were identified, the transcriptional regulation of these terpene synthase (TPS) genes remains unclear. Thus, understanding the regulatory mechanisms of monoterpene biosynthesis is crucial for breeding flower fragrance, thereby improving ornamental and commercial values. In this study, we isolated a nuclear-localized LiNAC100 transcription factor from Lilium 'Siberia'. The virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of LiNAC100 was found to down-regulate the expression of linalool synthase gene (LiLiS) and significantly inhibit linalool synthesis. Conversely, transient overexpression of LiNAC100 produced opposite effects. Additionally, yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays confirmed that LiNAC100 directly activates LiLiS expression. Our findings reveal that LiNAC100 plays a key role in monoterpene biosynthesis in Lilium 'Siberia', promoting linalool synthesis through the activation of LiLiS expression. These results offer insights into the molecular mechanisms of terpene biosynthesis in Lilium 'Siberia' and open avenues for biotechnological enhancement of floral scent.

Lily (Lilium spp.) LhERF4 negatively affects anthocyanin biosynthesis by suppressing LhMYBSPLATTER transcription.

Anthocyanins are among the main pigments involved in the colouration of Asiatic hybrid lily (Lilium spp.). Ethylene, a plant ripening hormone, plays an important role in promoting plant maturation and anthocyanin biosynthesis. However, whether and how ethylene regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis in lily tepals have not been characterized. Using yeast one-hybrid screening, we previously identified an APETALA2 (AP2)/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERF) named LhERF4 as a potential inhibitor of LhMYBSPLATTER-mediated negative regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in lily. Here, transcript and protein analysis of LhERF4, a transcriptional repressor, revealed that LhERF4 directly binds to the promoter of LhMYBSPLATTER. In addition, overexpression of LhERF4 in lily tepals negatively regulates the expression of key structural genes and the total anthocyanin content by suppressing the LhMYBSPLATTER gene. Moreover, the LhERF4 gene inhibits anthocyanin biosynthesis in response to ethylene, affecting anthocyanin accumulation and pigmentation in lily tepals. Collectively, our findings will advance and elucidate a novel regulatory network of anthocyanin biosynthesis in lily, and this research provides new insight into colouration regulation.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Coexpression Networks and Hub Genes Involved in Papillae Development in Lilium auratum.

Lilium is a genus of important ornamental plants with many colouring pattern variations. Lilium auratum is the parent of Oriental hybrid lilies. A typical feature of L. auratum is the presence of red-orange special raised spots named papillae on the interior tepals. Unlike the usual raised spots, the papillae are slightly rounded or connected into sheets and usually have hairy tips. To elucidate the potential genes regulating papillae development in L. auratum, we performed high-throughput sequencing of its tepals at different stages. Genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway were significantly enriched during the colouration of the papillae, and CHS, F3H, F3'H, FLS, DFR, ANS, and UFGT were significantly upregulated. To identify the key genes involved in the papillae development of L. auratum, we performed weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) and further analysed four modules. In total, 51, 24, 1, and 6 hub genes were identified in four WGCNA modules, MEbrown, MEyellow, MEpurple, and MEred, respectively. Then, the coexpression networks were constructed, and important genes involved in trichome development and coexpressed with anthocyanin biosynthesis genes, such as TT8, TTG1, and GEM, were identified. These results indicated that the papillae are essentially trichomes that accumulate anthocyanins. Finally, we randomly selected 12 hub genes for qRT-PCR analysis to verify the accuracy of our RNA-Seq analysis. Our results provide new insights into the papillae development in L. auratum flowers.

Two New Isospirostanol-Type Saponins from the Bulbs of Lilium Brownii and Their Anti-Hepatocarcinogenic Activity.

Bulbs of Lilium brownii, commonly known as "Bai-he" in China, serve both edible and medicinal purposes in clinical practice. In this study, two new isospirostanol-type saponins were isolated from L. brownii, and their structures were identified by spectroscopic method, and absolute configurations were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of spectral data obtained from combined acid hydrolysis. Two compounds were finally identified as 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-ß-D-glucopyranoside]-(22R,25R)-5α-spirosolane-3ß-ol (1) and 3-O-{α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-ß-D-glucopyranoside}-(22R,25R)-5α-spirosolane-3ß-ol (2), respectively. Further, we found that compound 2 significantly suppressed the proliferation of SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells with IC50 values of 26.3±1.08 µM and 30.9±1.59 µM, whereas compound 1 didn't inhibit both of the two hepatocellular carcinoma. Subsequently, compound 2 effectively decreased the levels of interleukin-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-α and the expression of Bcl-2, and increased the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 proteins. Which indicated that the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effect of compound 2 involves reducing the level of inflammation and inducing apoptosis.

Extraction, structural characterization and immunoactivity of glucomannan type polysaccahrides from Lilium brownii var. viridulum Baker.

Homogeneous polysaccharide (LBP) was extracted and purified from the bulblets of Lilium brownii var. viridulum Baker with a molecular weight of 312 kDa. The monosaccharides are composed of mannose and glucose, and the corresponding molar ratios are 0.582 and 0.418, respectively. FT-IR, LC-MS, NMR, GC-MS and HPAEC were used to analyze the functional groups, glycosidic linkages and chemical structure of LBP, which was a 1-4-linked glucomannan and contained a dodecasaccharide repeating units of →4)-ß-D-Manp-(1 â†’ 4)-ß-D-Manp-(1 â†’ 4)-ß-D-Manp-(1 â†’ 4)-ß-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ 4)-ß-D-Manp-(1 â†’ 4)-ß-D-Manp-(1 â†’ 4)-ß-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ 4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ 4)-ß-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ 4)-ß-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ 4)-ß-D-Manp-(1 â†’ 4)-ß-D-Manp-(1 â†’ . In vitro experimental results showed that LBP had noble biocompatibility, and a low dose of 5 µg/mL LBP significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of TNF-α, iNOS, IL-6, IL-1ß and Toll-like receptors family (TLRs) in RAW 264.7 cells. In conclusion, LBP played an important role in immunomodulation, and further studies on the specific immunomodulatory mechanisms of LBP on RAW 264.7 cells are still needed.

Ferric reduction oxidase in Lilium pumilum affects plant saline-alkaline tolerance by regulating ROS homeostasis.

Ferric reduction oxidase (FRO) plays important roles in biotic and abiotic stress. However, the function of ferric reduction oxidase from Lilium pumilum in response to NaHCO3 is unknown. Here we report the functional characterization of ferric reduction oxidase 7 in Lilium pumilum (LpFRO7) in stresses. Under NaHCO3 stress, the LpFRO7 overexpression lines exhibited lower accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), higher activities in antioxidant enzyme (CAT, SOD and POD) and ferrite reductase, resulting in improved tolerance compared to the wild type (WT). In order to determine the functional network of LpFRO7, it was confirmed by EMSA assays, Yeast one-hybrid assays and Dual luciferase reporter assays that LpbHLH115 transcription factor can bind to the promoter of LpFRO7. Yeast two-hybrid assays, BiFC, and LCI assays were performed to prove that LpFRO7 can interact with LpTrx. Combining these findings, we concluded that LpFRO7 affects plant saline-alkaline tolerance by regulating ROS homeostasis.

The antidepressive mechanism of Longya Lilium combined with Fluoxetine in mice with depression-like behaviors.

Traditional Chinese medicine is one of the most commonly used complementary and alternative medicine therapies for depression. Integrated Chinese-western therapies have been extensively applied in numerous diseases due to their superior efficiency in individual treatment. We used the meta-analysis, network pharmacology, and bioinformatics studies to identify the putative role of Longya Lilium combined with Fluoxetine in depression. Depression-like behaviors were mimicked in mice after exposure to the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The underlying potential mechanism of this combination therapy was further explored based on in vitro and in vivo experiments to analyze the expression of COX-2, PGE2, and IL-22, activation of microglial cells, and neuron viability and apoptosis in the hippocampus. The antidepressant effect was noted for the combination of Longya Lilium with Fluoxetine in mice compared to a single treatment. COX-2 was mainly expressed in hippocampal CA1 areas. Longya Lilium combined with Fluoxetine reduced the expression of COX-2 and thus alleviated depression-like behavior and neuroinflammation in mice. A decrease of COX-2 curtailed BV-2 microglial cell activation, inflammation, and neuron apoptosis by blunting the PGE2/IL-22 axis. Therefore, a combination of Longya Lilium with Fluoxetine inactivates the COX-2/PGE2/IL-22 axis, consequently relieving the neuroinflammatory response and the resultant depression.

Screening and validation of optimal miRNA reference genes in different developing stages and tissues of Lilium henryi Baker.

Dynamic miRNA detection using the qRT-PCR technique requires appropriate reference genes to ensure data reliability. Previous studies have screened internal reference genes in plants during embryonic development and various stress treatment, involving relatively few tissues and organs. There is no relevant miRNA study in Lilium henryi Baker and limited research on the optimal miRNA reference genes in lilies, such as 5S, 18S, U6 and Actin. Twelve genes were selected as candidate reference genes whose expression stability was analyzed in petals at different developmental stages and other tissues using various algorithms, such as geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and Delta CT. The results revealed that the optimal combination of reference genes for Lilium henryi Baker petals at different developmental stages was osa-miR166m and osa-miR166a-3p, while that for different tissues of Lilium henryi Baker was osa-miR166g-3p and osa-miR166a-3p.Four important genes related to growth and development regulation, namely, osa-miR156a, osa-miR395b, osa-miR396a-3p, and osa-miR396a-5p, were selected for validation. The findings of the present study could contribute to future investigations onmiRNA expression and the related functions in Lilium henryi Baker while providing important references for the normalization of the miRNA expression in other varieties of lily.

Lily LlHSFC2 coordinates with HSFAs to balance heat stress response and improve thermotolerance.

Heat stress transcription factors (HSFs) are core regulators of plant heat stress response. Much research has focused on class A and B HSFs, leaving those of class C relatively understudied. Here, we reported a lily (Lilium longiflorum) heat-inducible HSFC2 homology involved in thermotolerance. LlHSFC2 was located in the nucleus and cytoplasm and exhibited a repression ability by binding heat stress element. Overexpression of LlHSFC2 in Arabidopsis, tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana), and lily, all increased the thermotolerance. Conversely, silencing of LlHSFC2 in lily reduced its thermotolerance. LlHSFC2 could interact with itself, or interact with LlHSFA1, LlHSFA2, LlHSFA3A, and LlHSFA3B of lily, AtHSFA1e and AtHSFA2 of Arabidopsis, and NbHSFA2 of tobacco. LlHSFC2 interacted with HSFAs to accelerate their transactivation ability and act as a transcriptional coactivator. Notably, compared with the separate LlHSFA3A overexpression, co-overexpression of LlHSFC2/LlHSFA3A further enhanced thermotolerance of transgenic plants. In addition, after suffering HS, the homologous interaction of LlHSFC2 was repressed, but its heterologous interaction with the heat-inducible HSFAs was promoted, enabling it to exert its co-activation effect for thermotolerance establishment and maintenance. Taken together, we identified that LlHSFC2 plays an active role in the general balance and maintenance of heat stress response by cooperating with HSFAs, and provided an important candidate for the enhanced thermotolerance breeding of crops and horticulture plants.

Nano effect fluorescence visual sensor based on Au-AgNCs: A novel strategy to identify the origin and growth year of Lilium bulbs.

In this study, we developed a cost-effective fluorescence visual sensor strategy based on gold and silver nanocluster (Au-AgNCs) for the rapid identification of the origins and growth years of Lilium bulbs (LB). Au-AgNCs combined with catechins in LB produce aggregation-induced emission (AIE). The catechin content in LB of different origins and growth years varied, resulting in different fluorescence color responses of the sensor system. Furthermore, the RGB values of the fluorescent color were extracted, and the discriminant effect of visual visualisation was verified using the data-driven soft independent modelling of class analogy (DD-SIMCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) models. The results showed that the accuracy of DD-SIMCA for identifying LB origins and PLSDA for growth year identification was 100%. These results indicated that the established strategy could accurately identify the quality of LB, which has great potential for application in the rapid and visual identification of other foods.

Four new steroidal glycosides from Lilium lancifolium Thunb. and their antitumor activity.

Four new steroidal glycosides (1-4), including two steroidal saponins named lililancifoloside B and C (1-2), one pregnane glycoside named lililancifoloside D (3), and one C22-steroidal lactone glycoside named lililancifoloside E (4), together with five known ones (5-9), were isolated from the bulbs of Lilium lancifolium Thunb. By using spectroscopic analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR, and HR-ESI-MS, the structures of 1-4 were elucidated. All isolates were tested for their cytotoxic potential against the MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, HepG2, and A549 cell lines. Compound 6 distinguished out among them, IC50 values of 3.31, 5.23, 1.78, and 1.49 µM against the four cell lines, respectively. Other compounds such as compound 3, 5, and 9 have also shown specific cytotoxic activity. Next, studies showed that compound 6 might cause HepG2 cells to undergo a cell cycle arrest during the G2/M phase and apoptosis.

Cloning and Functional Characterization of 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate cytidylyltransferase (LiMCT) Gene in Oriental Lily (Lilium 'Sorbonne').

2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-phosphate cytidylyltransferase (MCT) is a key enzyme in the MEP pathway of monoterpene synthesis, catalyzing the generation of 4- (5'-pyrophosphate cytidine)-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol from 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate. We used homologous cloning strategy to clone gene, LiMCT, in the MEP pathway that may be involved in the regulation of floral fragrance synthesis in the Lilium oriental hybrid 'Sorbonne.' The full-length ORF sequence was 837 bp, encoding 278 amino acids. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the relative molecular weight of LiMCT protein is 68.56 kD and the isoelectric point (pI) is 5.12. The expression pattern of LiMCT gene was found to be consistent with the accumulation sites and emission patterns of floral fragrance monoterpenes in transcriptome data (unpublished). Subcellular localization indicated that the LiMCT protein is located in chloroplasts, which is consistent with the location of MEP pathway genes functioning in plastids to produce isoprene precursors. Overexpression of LiMCT in Arabidopsis thaliana affected the expression levels of MEP and MVA pathway genes, suggesting that overexpression of the LiMCT in A. thaliana affected the metabolic flow of C5 precursors of two different terpene synthesis pathways. The expression of the monoterpene synthase AtTPS14 was elevated nearly fourfold in transgenic A. thaliana compared with the control, and the levels of carotenoids and chlorophylls, the end products of the MEP pathway, were significantly increased in the leaves at full bloom, indicating that LiMCT plays an important role in regulating monoterpene synthesis and in the synthesis of other isoprene-like precursors in transgenic A. thaliana flowers. However, the specific mechanism of LiMCT in promoting the accumulation of isoprene products of the MEP pathway and the biosynthesis of floral monoterpene volatile components needs further investigation.

Chemical characterization of the crude extract of Sauromatum venosum (voodoo lily) and docking study with 12-O-acetylingol 8-tiglate for cytotoxicity testing in SaOS2 (osteoblastic osteosarcoma cells).

The current study was carried out to investigate the anticancer potential of Sauromatum venosum (SV) tuber by gas chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) analysis of ethanolic (eSV), hydroalcoholic (hSV), and aqueous extracts (wSV), and in silico study were performed to investigate the main targets of 12-O-acetylingol 8-tiglate by computational docking. The GC-HRMS analysis of three plant samples was carried out on a system equipped with a high-resolution mass spectrometer. The major compounds were identified in all crude extracts. Computation docking analysis was performed for the prediction of the main target of the cancer proliferation of active compound of the Sauromatum venosum tuber extract in cancer therapy. A total of 45 phytocompounds were detected including diterpenoids, esters of fatty acid, hydrocarbons, and alkanes in the tuber of SV. Among all the crude samples tested, eSV showed the lowest IC50 value treated with SaOS2 cells. 12-O-acetylingol 8-tiglate is one of the phytocompounds identified in eSV extract and has been found to exhibit cytotoxic effects against various cancer cells, as reported in the research. It shows the optimum binding affinity with - 8.59 kcal/mol binding energy with a molecular target protein TNF-α (PDB ID: 7PKA). The observed interactions strongly support the anticancer activity of 12-O-acetylingol 8-tiglate and its role in the medicinal efficacy of the plant. These findings highlight the potential of the compound as a valuable source for the development of a therapeutic agent aimed at combating cancer. However, it is important to note that additional in vitro and in vivo studies are required to validate these findings and establish the therapeutic potential.

Comparative analysis of foliar epidermal anatomical traits and their taxonomic relevance in Lilium pumilum, L. brownii, and L. davidi.

The anatomical traits of plant species are essential for taxonomic analyses and evolutionary evaluations. Clarifying the anatomical characteristics of the foliar epidermis in three distinct Lilium species L. pumilum Delile, L. brownii F.E.Br. ex Miellez and L. davidii Duch. ex Elwes were studied in this article. The objective is to assess the taxonomic relevance of these characteristics and their potential as indicators of species divergence within the genus Lilium. Plant samples were gathered in Gansu, China, from numerous populations of each species that represented a range of climatic and ecological factors. A microscopic analysis employing thin slices and peel mounts was done to assess the stomatal density and dimensions. Significant interpopulation differences in stomatal features were found in the results, offering potential opportunities for taxonomic discrimination. The species differ in qualitative and quantitative characters to differentiate the three species. The links between the observed anatomical characteristics and species classification within the Lilium genus were clarified for the three studied species. In the end, this research advances knowledge of Lilium taxonomy, aids in conservation efforts, and deepens awareness of the general patterns of plant variety. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Epidermal Traits Aid Taxonomy: Cell shape, arrangement, and structures aid Lilium Identification. Cuticle Reveals Taxonomic Clues: Thickness, composition, and structure inform classification. Micromorphology for Species ID: Cell shape, wax, and striations differentiate Lilium species.

Fine structure and hypoglycemic effect of a galactoglucan from the bulbs of Lanzhou lily.

The present research aimed to further identify the fine structure, morphology, and thermal behaviors of a galactoglucan BHP-2 derived from Lanzhou lily bulbs through partial acid hydrolysis, methylation, 2D NMR (1H1H COSY, HSQC, and HMBC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). Additionally, the study assessed the potential in vitro hypoglycemic effect of BHP-2 by examining its inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase and α-amylase. The results indicated that the main backbone composition of BHP-2 consisted of →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, →3)-ß-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ and →6)-ß-D-Galp-(1→, while the side chain composition predominantly featured →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, →3,5)-α-L-Araf-(1 â†’ and →3)-ß-D-Galp-(1→, attached to the C-2 and/or C-3 positions of →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→. Terminal residues consisted of α-D-Glcp-(1 â†’ and ß-L-Araf-(1→. BHP-2 exhibited excellent thermal stability, with a microscopic surface characterized by tightly packed sheets and numerous spiral depressions, which might contribute to its remarkable in vitro hypoglycemic effect. BHP-2 showed competitive inhibition of α-amylase and mixed non-competitive inhibition of α-glucosidase, with respective IC50 values of 0.31 and 0.18 mg/mL, closely resembling to those of acarbose (0.27 and 0.12 mg/mL). These findings suggested that BHP-2 had potential as an additive for glycemic intervention.

Extraction, purification, characteristics, bioactivities, prospects, and toxicity of Lilium spp. polysaccharides.

The genus Lilium has been widely used worldwide as a food and medicinal ingredient in East Asia for over 2000 years due to its higher nutritional and medicinal value. Polysaccharide is the most important bioactive ingredient in Lilium spp. and has various health benefits. Recently, Lilium spp. polysaccharides (LSPs) have attracted significant attention from industries and researchers due to their various biological properties, such as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antitumor, antibacterial, hypoglycaemic, and anti-radiation. However, the development and utilization of LSP-based functional biomaterials and medicines are limited by a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the structure-activity relationships (SARs), industrial applications, and safety of LSPs. This review provides an inclusive overview of the extraction, purification, structural features, bioactivities, and mechanisms of LSPs. SARs, applications, toxicities, and influences of structural modifications on bioactivities are also highlighted, and the potential development and future study direction are scrutinized. This article aims to offer a complete understanding of LSPs and provide a foundation for further research and application of LSPs as therapeutic agents and multifunctional biomaterials.