Corosolic acid delivered by exosomes from Eriobotrya japonica decreased pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and invasion by inducing SAT1-mediated ferroptosis.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we investigated whether Exo regulate the proliferation and invasion of PC. METHODS: In this study, we isolated the Eriobotrya japonica Exo using Ultra-high speed centrifugal method. Mass spectrum were used for Exo active components analysis. PC (Capan-1 and Bxpc-3) cells proliferation, migration, and apoptosis were detected using CCK8, ethynyldeoxyuridine, transwell, wound healing, and flow cytometry analyses. We also constructed a lung metastatic mouse model and subcutaneous tumor model to illustrate the regulation effect of Exo or active components. Proteomics were used to reveal the regulatory mechanism responsible for the observed effects. RESULTS: We isolated Eriobotrya japonica Exo and found that Exo treatment significantly suppressed cell migration and proliferation in both in vivo and in vitro using Capan-1. Mass spectrum for Exo active components analysis found that Exo contains high amounts of corosolic acid (CRA). The further study found that CRA treatment inhibit the proliferation, migration, and increased cell death of both Capan-1 and Bxpc-3 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In vivo experiments confirmed that CRA inhibited pulmonary metastasis by decreasing the number of metastatic foci. Cell proteomics analysis showed that CRA treatment induced spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase 1 (SAT1)-dependent ferroptosis. Treatment with the ferroptosis suppressor ferrostatin-1 significantly reversed CRA-induced cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: The data suggested that corosolic acid delivered by exosomes from Eriobotrya japonica decreased pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and invasion by inducing SAT1-mediated ferroptosis.

Multi-omics analysis provides new insights into the changes of important nutrients and fructose metabolism in loquat bud sport mutant.

Bud sport is a common and stable somatic variation in perennial fruit trees, and often leads to significant modification of fruit traits and affects the breeding value. To investigate the impact of bud sport on the main metabolites in the fruit of white-fleshed loquat, we conducted a multi-omics analysis of loquat fruits at different developmental stages of a white-fleshed bud sport mutant of Dongting loquat (TBW) and its wild type (TBY). The findings from the detection of main fruit quality indices and metabolites suggested that bud sport resulted in a reduction in the accumulation of carotenoids, fructose, titratable acid and terpenoids at the mature stage of TBW, while leading to the accumulation of flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids and lipids. The comparably low content of titratable acid further enhances the balanced and pleasent taste profile of TBW. Expression patterns of differentially expressed genes involved in fructose metabolism exhibited a significant increase in the expression level of S6PDH (EVM0006243, EVM0044405) prior to fruit maturation. The comparison of protein sequences and promoter region of S6PDH between TBY and TBW revealed no structural variations that would impact gene function or expression, indicating that transcription factors may be responsible for the rapid up-regulation of S6PDH before maturation. Furthermore, correlation analysis helped to construct a comprehensive regulatory network of fructose metabolism in loquat, including 23 transcription factors, six structural genes, and nine saccharides. Based on the regulatory network and existing studies, it could be inferred that transcription factors such as ERF, NAC, MYB, GRAS, and bZIP may promote fructose accumulation in loquat flesh by positively regulating S6PDH. These findings improve our understanding of the nutritional value and breeding potential of white-fleshed loquat bud sport mutant, as well as serve as a foundation for exploring the genes and transcription factors that regulate fructose metabolism in loquat.

First Report of Leaf Spot on Eriobotrya japonica Caused by Alternaria alternata in Southwest Korea.

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is a crop cultivated in Southwest Korea, covering an area of 101 ha and yielding 120 tons at harvest (KASS, 2024). Due to its high-income potential, the cultivation area is gradually expanding. In May 2023, 30% of leaf brown spots were observed on all three trees in the Suncheonman National Garden, Suncheon (3488'57.97" N, 12750'92.83" E). As the disease progressed, the brown spot gradually enlarged, turning greyish-ivory inside and forming concentric circles. Three leaf lesions from each tree were cut into 5 x 5 mm pieces, surface-sterilized with 70% ethanol for 1 min, and washed in sterile water three times to isolate the pathogen potentially responsible for these symptoms. The samples obtained were subsequently cultured on 1.5% water agar and then incubated in the dark at 25℃. A total of nine isolates were obtained, with three isolates from each of the three trees through single-spore isolation, namely SYP-1202-1 to 3, SYP-1202-4 to 6, and SYP-1202-7 to 9. The colonies reached 90 mm in diameter after 10 days on potato dextrose agar (PDA), initially dark green, and turned sooty gray after 2 weeks. The hyphae grown on a 0.6% KCl medium for 3 days produced long chains containing three to twelve conidia. The conidia were ellipsoidal or obpyriform in shape and light brown. The conidiophores were straight or curved, measuring 12.1-75.3 x 1.6-4.8 µm (n = 100). The primary and secondary conidia measured length × width of 19.1-60.6 × 6.1-14.4 µm and 8.4-27.8 × 3.5-9.5 µm (n = 100), respectively. The conidia had 1 to 7 transverse and 0 to 3 vertical septa. The morphology of the nine isolates was identical and consistent with Alternaria species (van der Waals et al., 2011; Woudenberg et al., 2015). For molecular identification, ITS (OR844500 to OR844508), GAPDH (OR866383 to OR866391), TEF1 (OR866392 to OR866400), RPB2 (OR866401 to OR866409), Alt a1 (OR866410 to OR866418), endoPG (OR866419 to OR866427), and OPA10-2 (OR866428 to OR866436) sequences from SYP-1202-1 to 9 showed a 100% (515 bp/515 bp), 100% (579/579), 100% (240/240), 100% (753/753), 95.1% (449/472), 100% (448/448), and 100% (634/634) identity with that of type strain A. alternata CBS 115152 (KP124348, KP124202, KP125124, KP124816, KP123896, KP124049, and KP124658, respectively). A pathogenicity test was conducted on three 5-year-old E. japonica cultivar Daebang trees in pots. The surface of the five leaves per tree was sterilized with 70% ethanol for 1 min. Before inoculation, the leaves were wounded with sterile needles and sprayed with the conidial suspension (1×106 conidia/ml) produced from a 1-week-old culture grown on PDA. In contrast, control leaves were sprayed with sterile distilled water. The inoculated leaves were wrapped with black plastic bags and kept at 100% relative humidity for two days. At seven days post-inoculation, symptoms were observed on the wounded leaves, whereas the nonwounded and control leaves did not exhibit any symptoms. The experiment was performed three times in the greenhouse. For each experiment, pathogens were reisolated from the two symptomatic leaves per plant. The identity of the reisolated pathogens was then confirmed via analysis of ITS and RPB2 genes, thereby confirming adherence to Koch's postulates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of E. japonica being infected by A. alternata in Korea. This report provides important information to support effective disease control strategies for E. japonica in orchards in southern Korea.

Cardioprotective study of Eriobotrya japonica leaf extracts against carbon tetrachloride induced toxicity in rats.

The Rosaceae family includes the evergreen subtropical tree known as Eriobotrya japonica Lindl (loquat). To test the effect of several E. japonica leaf extracts on shielding the heart from carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) cytotoxic effects, we employed carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), a highly toxic chemical, to cause cardiotoxicity in rats. The heart function enzymes that were examined were lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Creatine Kinase. When compared to both the hazardous and normal groups, it was discovered that the protective dose of ethyl acetate extract (200 mg/Kg) and aqueous extract (100 and 200 mg/Kg) lowered the cardiac indicators. Total protein, malondialdehyde (MDA), and non-protein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) indicators were used to assess myocardial oxidative stress. Rats pretreated with ethyl acetate (200 mg/Kg) and aqueous extract (100 and 200 mg/Kg) showed higher levels of total protein than the control group. When compared to the silymarin group, all of the loquat leaf extracts examined in this study increased the amount of the MDA enzyme. The data also demonstrated that, when compared to the results from the normal group, aqueous extract (100 and 200 mg/Kg) enhanced the amount of NP-SH. The histopathology showed that administration of all loquat leaf extracts at doses of (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg) before CCl4 intoxication greatly reduced the modifications that were exhibited by CCl4 and preserved cardiac muscles that were very equivalent to those of normal control. Based on the aforementioned data, we deduced that loquat leaf aqueous extract provided the highest protection for heart tissue against the effects of CCl4 intoxication. Through chemical examination of the methanolic extract, four flavonoids were extracted and identified. Their structures were found to be kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside 1, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside 2, quercetin-3,7 di-O-glycerides 3, and roseoside 4.

Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Phenolic Extracts of Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. Fruits and Leaves.

Increasing interest in new sources of secondary metabolites as biologically active substances has resulted in an advanced study of many plant species. Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. = Rhaphiolepis bibas (Lour.) Galasso & Banfi, Rosaceae family), an evergreen, subtropical fruit tree, native to China and Japan, but cultivated in southern countries of Europe, is a species commonly used in folk medicine and may be an excellent source of bioactive compounds. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the profile of the phenolic constituents of E. japonica fruits and leaves originating from Tuscany (Italy), as well as their in vitro antioxidant and chemopreventive activities on human cancer cell lines breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2 and HT-29), and glioblastoma (U87MG). Results revealed that the extract of leaves displayed higher antioxidant and anticancer potential than the fruit extract and contained 25 individual phenolic compounds that have been characterized and quantified by the UPLC-PDA-MS method. The antiproliferative activity was correlated with the content of polyphenolic compounds indicating that both fruits and leaves are a good source of antioxidants and may be exploited as nutraceuticals enriching food or as components for the cosmetic/pharmaceutical industry.

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Biosynthesized by Eriobotrya japonica Leaf Extract: Characterization, Insecticidal and Antibacterial Properties.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have gained significant attention in nanotechnology due to their unique properties and potential applications in various fields, including insecticidal and antibacterial activities. The ZnO-NPs were biosynthesized by Eriobotrya japonica leaf extract and characterized by various techniques such as UV-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential analysis. The results of SEM revealed that NPs were irregular and spherical-shaped, with a diameter between 5 and 27 nm. Meanwhile, DLS supported that the measured size distributions were 202.8 and 94.7 nm at 11.1° and 90.0°, respectively, which supported the polydisperse nature of NPs, and the corresponding zeta potential was -20.4 mV. The insecticidal activity of the produced ZnO-NPs was determined against the adult stage of coleopteran pests, Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus) (Curculionidae) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Tenebrionidae). The LC50 values of ZnO-NPs against adults of S. oryzae and T. castaneum at 24 h of exposure were 7125.35 and 5642.65 µg/mL, respectively, whereas the LC90 values were 121,824.56 and 66,825.76 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the biosynthesized nanoparticles exhibited antibacterial activity against three potato bacterial pathogens, and the size of the inhibition zone was concentration-dependent. The data showed that the inhibition zone size increased with an increase in the concentration of nanoparticles for all bacterial isolates tested. The highest inhibition zone was observed for Ralstonia solanacearum at a concentration of 5 µg/mL, followed by Pectobacterium atrosepticum and P. carotovorum. Eventually, ZnO-NPs could be successfully used as an influential agent in pest management programs against stored-product pests and potato bacterial diseases.

Dried Loquat Fruit Extract Containing Chlorogenic Acid Prevents Depressive-like Behaviors Induced by Repeated Corticosteroid Injections in Mice.

Eriobotrya japonica (loquat tree) has been used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory ailments, inflammation, and skin diseases; however, its potential antidepressant-like effects have not been extensively investigated. In this study, we evaluated the antidepressant-like effects of E. japonica fruit extract (EJFE) in a mouse model of corticosterone (CORT)-induced depression. An HPLC analysis revealed that chlorogenic acid (CGA) is the major compound in EJFE. Male ICR mice (5weeks-old) were injected with CORT (40 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) once daily for 21 days to induce depressive-like behaviors. Various behavioral tests, including the open field test, rotarod test, elevated plus maze (EPM), passive avoidance test (PAT), tail suspension test (TST), and forced swim test (FST), were conducted 1 h after the oral administration of EJFE at different doses (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg) and CGA (30 mg/kg). High-dose EJFE and CGA significantly alleviated CORT-induced depressive-like behaviors, as indicated by the reduced immobility times in the TST and FST. A decrease in the step-through latency time in the PAT, without an effect on locomotor activity, suggested an improvement in cognitive function. Moreover, EJFE- and CGA-treated mice exhibited significantly reduced anxiety-like behaviors in the EPM. Our results imply the promising potential of EJFE containing CGA as a therapeutic candidate for depression.

Cacopsylla fuscicella Sp. Nov. (Hemiptera, Psyllidae), a New Loquat Pest in China.

Psylloidea, commonly known as jumping plant-lice, have a phloem-sucking habit and strong specificity to their host plants. Within the Psyllidae family, the genus Cacopsylla Ossiannilsson, 1970 stands out as being the most diverse, with three species feeding on the genus Eriobotrya Lindl. In this study, a new psyllid species, Cacopsylla fuscicella sp. nov., was described from China. It is a pest of Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. and has been cultivated as a commercial fruit tree for years. Illustrations of habitus, morphological structures, and its damage to loquat were also provided. The complete mitochondrial genome of C. fuscicella sp. nov. was sequenced and annotated. The phylogenetic tree inferred from the maximum likelihood analyses confirmed C. fuscicella sp. nov. as a member of the genus Cacopsylla. Genetic distances were generated to assess comparative genetic distances within Psyllinae.

The effect of addition Eriobotrya japonica L. marmalade on physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of probiotic yogurts.

This study investigated the effects of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica L.) marmalade (LM) supplementation in probiotic yogurt during a 21 days storage period. In addition, the viability of Bifidobacterium and its effect on yogurt quality were investigated. Four types of yogurt, including plain yogurt (LM0) and yogurts with 5%, 10%, and 15% LM, were prepared. On days 1, 7, 14, and 21 of storage, physicochemical properties, microbial growth, and textural and sensory properties were investigated. The addition of LM to yogurt significantly affected the total dry matter, fat, pH, titratable acidity, syneresis, water holding capacity, and color parameters (L*, a*, b*). The addition of LM caused a decrease in L* (from 87.52 to 81.78) and an increase in a* values (from -35.42 to -30.14). Yogurts containing 10 and 15% LM demonstrated lower syneresis than control samples during storage. During storage, the pH of yogurts continuously decreased (P < 0.01). The viability of Bifidobacterium in yogurt was not affected by the LM addition. During storage, the viable count of Bifidobacterium ssp. decreased in all yogurt types. Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus decreased more than Streptococcus thermophilus did during storage. In all yogurt samples, coliform bacteria stayed below detectable concentrations. When a general evaluation was made by considering the physicochemical quality, sensory, and textural properties of all yogurt samples, it was revealed that LM-added yogurts can be produced and stored for 21 days.

Loquat fruit peel extract regulates lipid metabolism and liver oxidative stress in mice: In vivo and in silico approaches.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In Moroccan traditional medicine, fresh or dried loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.) fruit peels infused in water and taken for 45 days are used as natural remedies against hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia and cardiovascular diseases. This is the first experimental study approving the folk medicinal use of loquat fruit peels originated from eastern Morocco. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aims to investigate the effect of loquat fruit peel extract on lipid metabolism and liver oxidative status in mice as well as to predict the possible mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out using high fat/fructose diet-induced hyperlipidemic mice model treated with the loquat peel extract for 45 days at two doses (100 and 200 mg/kg/day) in comparison to fenofibrate drug. The plasma, tissue, fecal and biliary lipids and blood glucose were analyzed using enzymatic methods. The liver oxidative status was evaluated and the polyphenol profiling was conducted using the HPLC-DAD method. Possible mechanisms involved in the observed pharmacological effects were predicted by in silico method. RESULTS: The extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg possessed higher effect than at 100 mg/kg. It significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), LDL-cholesterol, atherogenic index, LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and plasma glucose (-36%, -45%, -45%, -82%, -87%, 58%, respectively), while the HDL-cholesterol was increased (+172%). Moreover, the extract reduced TC and TG in the liver and adipose tissue by increasing their excretion in bile and fecal matter. It prevented the liver oxidative stress and decreased body weight and organ relative mass. The extract appears to be nontoxic (LD50 > 5000 mg/kg) and contains five polyphenols including ferulic acid (32.74 ± 0.71 mg/g), caffeic acid (21.48 ± 0.32 mg/g), 5-O-Caffeoylquinic acid (112.15 ± 1.86 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (42.05 ± 0.92 mg/g) and quercetin (32.69 ± 0.68 mg/g). These phenolics and/or their circulating metabolites presented differential interaction capacities with the potential enzymes and transcription factors implicated in lipid homeostasis such as HMG-CoA reductase, lipoprotein lipase, fatty acid synthase, Cyp7a1, ABCG, PPARs, RXR, FXR and RAR. CONCLUSION: Our findings justify the traditional use of loquat fruit peels and suggest that their aqueous extract could be used as substrate to produce phytotherapeutic drugs or dietary supplements to prevent hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and related cardiovascular diseases.

Exogenous Nitric Oxide-Induced Postharvest Gray Spot Disease Resistance in Loquat Fruit and Its Possible Mechanism of Action.

The effectiveness of nitric oxide (NO) for control of grey spot rot cause by Pestalotiopsis eriobotryfolia in harvested loquat fruit and its probable mechanisms have been investigated. The results showed that NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) did not evidently inhibit mycelial growth and spore germination of P. eriobotryfolia, but resulted in a low disease incidence and small lesion diameter. SNP resulted in a higher hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) level in the early stage after inoculation and a lower H2O2 level in the latter period by regulating the activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and catalase. At the same time, SNP enhanced the activities of chitinase, ß-1,3-glucanase, phenylalanine ammonialyase, polyphenoloxidase, and total phenolic content in loquat fruit. However, SNP treatment inhibited the activities of cell wall-modifying enzymes and the modification of cell wall components. Our results suggested that NO treatment might have potential in reducing grey spot rot of postharvest loquat fruit.

Postharvest Biology and Technology of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.).

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) fruit is a rich source of carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolics, sugars, and organic acids. Although it is classified as a non-climacteric fruit, susceptibility to mechanical and physical bruising causes its rapid deterioration by moisture loss and postharvest decay caused by pathogens. Anthracnose, canker, and purple spot are the most prevalent postharvest diseases of loquat fruit. Cold storage has been used for quality management of loquat fruit, but the susceptibility of some cultivars to chilling injury (CI) consequently leads to browning and other disorders. Various techniques, including cold storage, controlled atmosphere storage, hypobaric storage, modified atmosphere packaging, low-temperature conditioning, heat treatment, edible coatings, and postharvest chemical application, have been tested to extend shelf life, mitigate chilling injury, and quality preservation. This review comprehensively focuses on the recent advances in the postharvest physiology and technology of loquat fruit, such as harvest maturity, fruit ripening physiology, postharvest storage techniques, and physiological disorders and diseases.

Effects of Three Essential Oil Fumigation Treatments on the Postharvest Control of Botrytis cinerea and Their Efficacy as Preservatives of Cherry Tomatoes.

Cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are becoming increasingly popular due to their nutrition and delicious flavor. However, cherry tomatoes are highly perishable and susceptible to various pathogenic microorganisms after harvest, such as Botrytis cinerea. In the pretest experiment, we screened out three kinds of plant essential oils (EOs) (Torreya grandis oil, Eriobotrya japonica oil, and Citrus medica oil) that have strong fungicidal activity on B. cinerea from cherry tomatoes. To further evaluate the postharvest preservation application prospect of these three oils for cherry tomatoes, the oils were extracted from different parts of three plants by hydrodistillation, and their chemical constituents were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main representative components of T. grandis oil, E. japonica oil, and C. medica oil were δ-cadinene (11.76%), transnerolidol (9.70%), and 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin (23.22%), respectively. These three EOs effectively inhibited the mycelial growth of B. cinerea in vitro, with EC50 values of 81.672, 144.046, and 221.500 µl/liter, respectively. Compared with the blank control and other oil treatments, the T. grandis oil (at a concentration of 200 µl/liter) fumigation treatment was more effective at inhibiting the growth rate of the pathogen. In addition, the phenolic content and phenylalanine ammonia lyase, ß-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, and peroxidase activities of tomatoes significantly increased on the seventh day due to the T. grandis oil treatment. The present study shows that these three oils with high extraction rates have preservation potential for cherry tomatoes. Among these three EOs, T. grandis oil can be used to further develop preservative products as a fumigant.

Comprehensive evaluation of the quality of Eriobotrya japonica leaves from different producing areas based on entropy weight TOPSIS method / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To comprehensively evaluate the quality of Eriobotrya japonica leaves from different producing areas. METHODS The contents of alcohol-soluble extracts were determined by hot-dipping method using 30 batches of E. japonica leaves from different producing areas as samples. The contents of total flavonoids and total triterpene acids were determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The contents of five kinds of triterpenic acids （euscaphic acid，crataegolic acid，corosolic acid，oleanolic acid and ursolic acid） were determined by HPLC. The quality of E. japonica leaves from different producing areas was comprehensively evaluated by using entropy weight technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution （TOPSIS）. The bivariate correlation analysis of E. japonica leaves was conducted by SPSS 22.0 software in terms of weight， comprehensive evaluation value， the content of alcohol-soluble extract， the contents of total flavonoids， total triterpene acids and five triterpenic acids. RESULTS The contents of alcohol-soluble extract in 30 batches of E. japonica leaves were （24.56±0.08）%-（34.85±0.13）%； the contents of total flavonoids were （4.69±0.11）-（14.23±0.27） mg/g； the contents of total triterpene acid were （27.58±0.59）- （63.95±1.27） mg/g； the contents of euscaphic acid， crataegolic acid， corosolic acid， oleanolic acid and ursolic acid were （0.728± 0.011）-（6.064±0.063）， （0.526±0.013）-（3.245±0.022）， （1.222±0.025）-（8.807±0.094）， （0.856±0.021）-（2.931±0.075）， （4.704±0.087）-（11.806±0.283） mg/g， respectively. The analysis result of entropy weight TOPSIS method showed that the top three samples with comprehensive evaluation values （No.Kjcx-5） were S14 （Huotian Town， Yunxiao County， Zhangzhou，Fujian）， S19 （Qinnan District， Qinzhou， Guangxi） and S29 （Guoyang County， Bozhou， Anhui）. Comprehensive evaluation 0596-2559522。E-mail：jxrcwxp@163.com of E. japonica leaves was positively correlated with the contents of five kinds of triterpenic acids， such as euscaphic acid， crataegolic acid， corosolic acid， oleanolic acid and ursolic acid （P＜0.01）. The weight of E. japonica leaves was positively correlated with the comprehensive evaluation value （P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS The qualities of E. japonica leaves from different producing areas are very different. Among them， the qualities of E. japonica leaves from Huotian Town， Yunxiao County， Zhangzhou of Fujian， Qinzhou Qinnan District of Guangxi， and Bozhou Guoyang County of Anhui are relatively better. The weight of E. japonica leaves is positively correlated with their quality.

First Report of Colletotrichum siamense Causing Anthracnose on Eriobotrya japonica in China.

Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. is a subtropical evergreen tree with economic and medicinal value. In 2021-2022, leaf-spot symptoms were observed on the leaves of E. japonica in Nanchang city, Jiangxi Province, China (28°68'N, 115°95'E). The disease incidence was 30% (20 diseased plants/60 surveyed plants). Symptoms included brown spots that gradually turned dark brown. The lesions were ca. 3-8 mm, and coalescing into irregular or round large lesions. Black acervuli were observed within the lesions. The margin of the diseased tissues was cut and surface sterilized in 75% ethanol for 10 s and 0.1% (v/v) mercuric chloride for 1 min, followed by three rinses in sterile water. Thirteen single spore isolates were purified and deposited in the Mycological Herbarium of Jiangxi Agricultural University. After 7 days, the colonies were grey-white with dense aerial mycelium. Conidia were uni-celled, hyaline and cylindrical. The sizes of the conidia were 12.6 to 17.5 × 4.2 to 6.5 µm. Appressoria were oval to irregular in shape and dark brown in color. These characteristics were consistent with descriptions of Colletotrichum siamense Prihastuti, L. Cai & K.D. Hyde (Weir et al. 2012; Rodríguez-Palafox et al. 2021). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), calmodulin (CAL), and actin (ACT) genes were amplified and sequenced (Diao et al. 2017). The sequences were submitted to GenBank with accession numbers ON631874, ON642546, ON642547 and ON642548, respectively. BLASTn searches confirmed high identity (>99%) with the type-strain of C. siamense (MH863513, KC297007, JX009702, JX009549). The concatenated sequences were used to construct a phylogenetic tree. The present isolate JXCS1 formed a single clade with the C. siamense. For pathogenicity, the leaves of two-year-old seedlings (cv. Dawuxing) were inoculated with 10 µL of spore suspension (1×106 conidia/mL). Leaves inoculated with sterile distilled water served as controls. Each treatment was replicated three times. Five days post-inoculation, water-soaked lesions appeared on the leaves, lesions gradually expanded into large round necrotic spots. No symptoms were observed on the control plants. C. siamense was reisolated from all inoculated samples, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. siamense causing anthracnose on E. japonica in China. The results further expand the range of plants that can be infected by C. siamense. This disease may decrease the value of plants and proper management strategies should be applied.

Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Potential Gene Regulatory Networks Under Cold Stress of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.).

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. ) is one of the most economically important evergreen fruit crops in China, while it often suffered the injury of cold stress in winter and earlier spring, and the annual yield loss of loquat fruits caused by cold or freezing stress was immeasurable. However, knowledge about the physiological response and molecular mechanism under cold stress is still limited. To investigate the potential regulation mechanism pre- and post-cold stress in loquat and the changes in physiological indicators, a comparative transcriptome analysis was performed against a cold-resistant cv. "Huoju" and a cold-sensitive cv. "Ninghaibai". The results of physiological indicators related to cold resistance indicated that rachis was most sensitive to cold stress and was considered as the representative organ to directly evaluate cold resistance of loquat based on subordinate function analysis. Here, we compared the transcriptome profiles of rachis pre- and under cold stress in "Huoju" and "Ninghaibai". A total of 4,347 and 3,513 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in "Ninghaibai" and "Huoju", among which 223 and 166 were newly identified genes, respectively, most of them were functionally enriched in plant hormone signal transduction (Huoju: 142; Ninghaibai: 200), and there were higher plant hormone content and related DEG expression levels in "Huoju" than that of "Ninghaibai". Moreover, a total of 3,309 differentially expressed transcription factors (DETFs) were identified, and some DEGs and DETFs were screened to be subjected to co-expression network analysis based on the gene expression profile data. Some candidate DEGs, including UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT), glycosyltransferase (GT), sugar phosphate/phosphate translocator (SPT), sugar transport protein (STP), proline-rich receptor-like protein kinase (PERK), and peroxidise (POD), were significantly affected by cold stress, and the expression level of these genes obtained from real-time quantitative RT-PCR was consistent with the pattern of transcriptome profile, which suggested that these genes might play the vital roles in cold resistance of loquat. Our results provide an invaluable resource for the identification of specific genes and TFs and help to clarify gene transcription during the cold stress response of loquat.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of Eriobotrya japonica leaves: A summary.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. has been included in "The Plant List" (http://www.theplantlist.org) and is the most widely researched species in its genus. E. japonica is a subtropical evergreen fruit tree belonging to the Rosaceae family. Its dried leaves are widely used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine to treat coughing caused by pulmonary inflammation, dyspnea due to asthma and cough, nausea caused by stomach disorders, restlessness, and thirst. Furthermore, it is used to treat stomach ache, ulcers, chronic bronchitis, cancer, and diabetes mellitus in Japanese folk medicine. However, no systematic reports on E. japonica leaves have been published before. AIM OF THE STUDY: This review summarizes the available information on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and quality control of various extracts and phytoconstituents of E. japonica leaves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant publications between 1931 and 2022 were considered. Chinese and English studies on E. japonica leaves were collected from databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier, ACS Publications, Springer, and CNKI (Chinese). The traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and quality control of E. japonica leaves were reviewed. RESULTS: Briefly, 164 compounds, including triterpenes, flavonoids, sesquiterpene glycosides, megastigmane derivatives, phenylpropanoids, and organic acids, have been identified from E. japonica leaves, in addition to 169 volatile oils. More than half of these compounds have not yet been reported to have pharmacological activities. Triterpenes and flavonoids are the most important bioactive compounds responsible for pharmacological activities, such as antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. Other beneficial physiological effects such as antioxidant, hepatoprotective, bronchodilatory, antitussive, and expectorant effects and tracheal smooth muscle relaxation, protection against myocardial ischemia injury, and improved cognitive activities have also been reported. High doses of E. japonica leaf extracts have been used in laboratory animals, and no side effects or toxicity-symptoms have been observed. CONCLUSIONS: The pharmacological activities of E. japonica leaves support their use in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. However, several aspects, such as the bioavailability, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, and structure-activity relationships of the pure compounds isolated from E. japonica leaves, have not been studied yet and warrant further studies.

Stilbocrea banihashemiana sp. nov. a New Fungal Pathogen Causing Stem Cankers and Twig Dieback of Fruit Trees.

Stem cankers and twig dieback were the most serious disease of fig (Ficus carica) and loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) noticed in a survey of fruit tree orchards in the Fars Province, Iran. Isolates of Bionectriaceae were consistently recovered from symptomatic fig and loquat trees. Phylogenetic analyses of multiple nuclear loci, internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) of rDNA, RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (rpb2), and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1), combined with morphological observations, revealed that isolates could be referred to a still unknown taxon, which was formally described as Stilbocrea banihashemiana sp. nov. Phylogenetically, isolates from fig and loquat trees clustered in a well-supported monophyletic group within the Stilbocrea clade of Bionectriaceae, closely related to S. walteri. Stilbocrea banihashemiana sp. nov. was characterized by the lack of stilbella-like asexual structure in both natural substrates and pure cultures and produced two morphologically distinct types of conidia, globose and cylindrical, formed on short and long simple phialides. In pathogenicity tests, S. banihashemiana sp. nov. induced stem cankers in both fig and loquat, wood discoloration in fig and twig dieback in loquat. Pathogenicity tests also showed that the potential host range of this novel pathogen includes other economically relevant horticultural trees.

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb) Lindl.): Evaluation of nutritional value, polyphenol composition, antidiabetic effect, and toxicity of leaf aqueous extract.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.) is an evergreen tree native to China, which is introduced in many Mediterranean countries. As in many ancient medical systems, loquat leaves have been used in Moroccan traditional medicine to treat diabetes and its complications. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to determine the nutritional and polyphenol composition and to evaluate the in vivo antidiabetic, and antihyperlipidemic properties and oral toxicity of a leaf aqueous extract (LLE) derived from loquat grown in Morocco. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Energy value and fiber, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, total carbohydrate, sugar, lipid, and protein contents were determined according to international methods committee guidelines. Polyphenol profiling was carried out using the HPLC-DAD method. Mice fed a high-fat and high-glucose (HFG) diet for 10 weeks were used as a model to assess the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of a daily administration of LLE at three different doses (150, 200, 250 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day), in comparison with metformin (50 mg/kg BW/day) and pravastatin (20 mg/kg BW/day). The oral toxicity was determined following OECD 425 Guideline. RESULTS: Loquat leaves were found to be rich in fiber, minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and sodium), and vitamins (B2, B6, and B12) and lower in energy, sugar, and fat. Ten different phenolic compounds were characterized. Naringenin, procyanidin C1, epicatechin, and rutin were the more abundant compounds in LLE. The administration of the LLE dose-dependently ameliorated hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and hyperlipidemia in HFG diet-fed mice. The median lethal dose of LLE was higher than 5000 mg/kg BW. CONCLUSIONS: Loquat leaves are a potential source of micronutrients and polyphenols with beneficial effects on diabetes and its complications.

Increasing Taxa Sampling Provides New Insights on the Phylogenetic Relationship Between Eriobotrya and Rhaphiolepis.

Eriobotrya (Rosaceae) is an economically important genus with around 30 species. It is widely distributed in tropical and warm temperate regions of Asia, with most of its species in China, Myanmar, and Vietnam. However, Eriobotrya is often confused with the smaller genus Rhaphiolepis, and the phylogenetic relationships between the two genera are controversial. Here we present phylogenetic analyses of 38 newly generated Eriobotrya and Rhaphiolepis nrDNA together with 16 sequences of nrDNA and 28 sequences of ITS obtained from GenBank, representing 28 species of Eriobotrya and 12 species of Rhaphiolepis, in order to reconstruct highly supported relationships for the two genera. Contrary to previous research based on limited sampling, our results highlight the monophyly of Eriobotrya as well as Rhaphiolepis. The topology recovered here is consistent with key morphological synapomorphies such as the persistent sepals in Eriobotrya. Our findings show that increased sampling of taxa can provide a more robust phylogeny through reducing phylogenetic error and increasing overall phylogenetic accuracy.