Aromatic profiles and enantiomeric distributions of volatile compounds during the ripening of Dendropanax dentiger honey.

Dendropanax dentiger honey (DDH) is a specialty herbal honey from China. Previous research on DDH has mostly focused on its composition and potential chemical markers, no studies have been conducted on the changes in aroma characteristics and chiral odorants during its maturation. Therefore, the present study aims to address the missing parts. The proportions and total concentrations of 185 volatile compounds identified in different classes varied with DDHs ripening. Fourteen common odor-active compounds were identified by odor activity values (OAVs) and GC-olfactometry (GC-O) analysis. The aroma profiles of DDHs were observed to vary at different ripening stages, although the dominant aroma characteristic was "fruity" aroma, which became more pronounced with increasing maturity. The enantiomeric contents and distributions of 7 volatile enantiomers were related to specific physicochemical indicators and the maturity of DDHs, among which the enantiomers of linalool oxide A may be a potential indicator to identify its maturity. Furthermore, precise quantification and OAVs calculation showed that the enantiomer (2S, 5S)-linalool oxide A presented the highest concentration (8.83-27.39 ng/mL) and only the enantiomer R-linalool (OAVs: 5.56-6.14) was an important contributor to the aroma profiles of DDHs at different stages of maturity. These results provided a new research idea for quality control and identification of DDHs at different maturity stages.

Identification of the botanical origins of honey based on nanoliter electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

The botanical origins of honey are important for the quality control and commercialization of honey. In this research, we established a nanoliter electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (Nano-ESI-MS) method to identify Castanopsis honey (CH), Eurya honey (EH), Dendropanax dentiger honey (DH), and Triadica cochinchinensis honey (TH). In total, 38 compounds were identified based on the collision-induced dissociation experiments by Nano-ESI-MS with 16 differential compounds and 7 quantified as potential differential markers. These four types of honey were distinguished from each other by their mass spectrometry data combined with multivariate analysis with three out of the 7 differential markers, i.e., phenethylamine, tricoumaroyl spermidine, and (+/-)-abscisic acid, identified as potential markers for CH, EH, and DH, respectively. Both the qualitative and quantitative results derived from Nano-ESI-MS were further verified by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. Our studies provided the significant potential of the Nano-ESI-MS method in the identification of the botanical origins of different kinds of honey.

Comparative authentication of Semiliquidambar cathayensis and its substituted species via macroscopic and microscopic features.

Objective: Ban Fenghe recorded in the Quality Standard of Yao Medicine of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Volume 1) is derived from the dried stems and leaves of Semiliquidambar cathayensis. It is usually confused with medicinal herbs from Pterospermum heterophyllum and Dendropanax dentiger. However, they are very different in chemical composition, and should not be used as the same drug. To ensure their safety and efficacy, a method based on macroscopic and microscopic characteristics was developed to distinguish them. Methods: A total of 14 batches of Ban Fenghe samples from three species were collected from different producing areas in China. The macroscopic characteristics were examined by observing external traits. The tissue structures of transverse sections of stems and leaves, the leaf epidermis, and the powder were observed microscopically. Results: The branchlets and leaf surfaces of S. cathayensis and P. heterophyllum were hairy, especially the lower leaf surfaces of P. heterophyllum were densely covered with hairs, but those of D. dentiger were hairless. The pericyclic fibers of S. cathayensis stems were intermittently distributed in a circular shape and accompanied by stone cells, whereas those of P. heterophyllum and D. dentiger were bundled without stone cells. So stone cells and hairs were present in S. cathayensis powder, stone cells were not found in P. heterophyllum and D. dentiger powder, and hairs were not present in D. dentiger powder. The distribution sites, sizes and types of secretory tissues of these three species were also different in transverse sections of stems and leaves. Stomata on the lower epidermis of S. cathayensis leaves were paracytic, whereas those of P. heterophyllum and D. dentiger were anomocytic. Conclusion: Ban Fenghe drugs derived from S. cathayensis could readily be distinguished from those of P. heterophyllum and D. dentiger by macroscopic and microscopic features.

Comparative authentication of Semiliquidambar cathayensis and its substituted species via macroscopic and microscopic features / 中草药·英文版

Objective: Ban Fenghe recorded in the Quality Standard of Yao Medicine of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Volume 1) is derived from the dried stems and leaves of Semiliquidambar cathayensis. It is usually confused with medicinal herbs from Pterospermum heterophyllum and Dendropanax dentiger. However, they are very different in chemical composition, and should not be used as the same drug. To ensure their safety and efficacy, a method based on macroscopic and microscopic characteristics was developed to distinguish them. Methods: A total of 14 batches of Ban Fenghe samples from three species were collected from different producing areas in China. The macroscopic characteristics were examined by observing external traits. The tissue structures of transverse sections of stems and leaves, the leaf epidermis, and the powder were observed microscopically. Results: The branchlets and leaf surfaces of S. cathayensis and P. heterophyllum were hairy, especially the lower leaf surfaces of P. heterophyllum were densely covered with hairs, but those of D. dentiger were hairless. The pericyclic fibers of S. cathayensis stems were intermittently distributed in a circular shape and accompanied by stone cells, whereas those of P. heterophyllum and D. dentiger were bundled without stone cells. So stone cells and hairs were present in S. cathayensis powder, stone cells were not found in P. heterophyllum and D. dentiger powder, and hairs were not present in D. dentiger powder. The distribution sites, sizes and types of secretory tissues of these three species were also different in transverse sections of stems and leaves. Stomata on the lower epidermis of S. cathayensis leaves were paracytic, whereas those of P. heterophyllum and D. dentiger were anomocytic. Conclusion: Ban Fenghe drugs derived from S. cathayensis could readily be distinguished from those of P. heterophyllum and D. dentiger by macroscopic and microscopic features.

Anti-inflammatory effect of phenylpropanoids from Dendropanax dentiger in TNF-α-induced MH7A cells via inhibition of NF-κB, Akt and JNK signaling pathways.

The root of Dendropanax dentiger (Harms) Merr. has been used for centuries as an empirical treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China without scientific validation. In our recent study, nineteen phenylpropanoids (1-19) with cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory activities from the ethanol extract of D. dentiger roots, indicated to have a potential anti-RA effect. This study, evaluated the anti-RA effect of 19 phenylpropanoids on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α induced inflammation in MH7A cells and clarified their underlying mechanisms. As a result, 16 compounds remarkably suppressed nitric oxide (NO) production at a concentration of 40 µM in TNF-α-induced MH7A cells. Among them, pinoresinol (12) and dendrocoumarin A (1) were the most effective substances, which showed significant inhibitory effect on NO production, with IC50 values of 6.25 ± 0.42 and 7.87 ± 0.67 µM, respectively. Furthermore, pinoresinol and dendrocoumarin A remarkably decreased the levels of interleukin (IL)-2, 6, 8, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), as well as prominently reduced the phosphorylation protein levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65, I-kappa-B-alpha (IkBα), protein kinase B (Akt), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) by Western blot analysis. Taken together, our findings suggest that pinoresinol and dendrocoumarin A may offer new and safe anti-RA candidates by inhibiting NF-kB, Akt and JNK signaling pathways.

Dendropanax dentiger (Harms) Merr. root and its major constituents exert therapeutic effect on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The root of Dendropanax dentiger (Harms) Merr. is a pivotal folk Chinese medicine against rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with no scientific validation. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was conducted to explore the anti-RA effect of the D. dentiger extract on complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats and identified its major bio-constituents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dendropanax dentiger roots extracts (127.5, 255.0 and 510.0 mg/kg, once daily) were orally at day 7 post-administration adjuvant and lasting for 22 days. The therapeutic effects of D. dentiger roots extract on AIA rats were investigated by body weight growth, arthritis score, thymus and spleen indices, and histopathological analysis. Moreover, the levels of rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) were also evaluated. Finally, the major constituents were isolated and identified from D. dentiger roots extract with COX-2 inhibitory and antioxidant activities. RESULTS: Dendropanax dentiger roots extract remarkably alleviated the histological lesions of knee joint, increased body weight growth, decreased arthritis score, and reduced thymus and spleen indices in model rats. In parallel, the levels of RF, CRP, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-17, COX-2, 5-LOX and MMP-2 were observably downregulated, while the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were prominently upregulated in D. dentiger roots extract-treated rats. Meanwhile, 14 compounds were isolated and identified from D. dentiger roots extract, and four phenol derivatives (1, 4, 6 and 7) exhibited remarkable COX-2 inhibitory and antioxidant activities. CONCLUSIONS: Dendropanax dentiger roots extract possessed persuasive anti-RA effect may be partly responsible for phenol derivatives via modulation of inflammatory biomarkers, and supports the traditional folk use of D. dentiger in China.

Bioassay-guided isolation of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory and antioxidant phenylpropanoid derivatives from the roots of Dendropanax dentiger.

The root of Dendropanax dentiger (Harms) Merr. is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used to treat inflammation-related diseases with little scientific validation. In this study, a bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation of D. dentiger led to the isolation of 19 phenylpropanoid derivatives including one new compound (1) and 18 known ones (2-19). Their structures were elucidated by NMR and HRMS as well as comparison with literature data. The ability of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition and antioxidant of all isolated compounds were measured in vitro. Chlorogenic acid derivatives (14-19) exhibited outstanding COX-2 inhibitory (IC50 = 5.1-93.4 µM) and antioxidant (IC50 = 13.2-31.9 µM) activities. Moreover, the tight structure-activities relationships were proposed. This is the first report on the COX-2 inhibitory activity of phenylpropanoids and D. dentiger.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of the evergreen plant Dendropanax dentiger (Araliaceae).

The complete chloroplast genome of the evergreen plant Dendropanax dentiger (Araliaceae) has been reconstructed from the whole-genome Illumina sequencing data. The circular genome is 156,687 bp in size, and comprises a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,880 bp each, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 86,680 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,247 bp. The chloroplast genome contains 134 genes, including 89 protein-coding genes (81 PCG species), eight ribosomal RNA genes (four rRNA species), and 37 transfer RNA genes (30 tRNA species). Out of these genes, 16 harbor a single intron, and two contain a couple of introns. The overall A + T content of the whole genome is 62.0%, while the corresponding values of the LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 63.8%, 68.0% and 56.9%, respectively.