A new species of Sedum (Crassulaceae) from Mount Danxia in Guangdong, China.

Sedumjinglanii, a new species of Crassulaceae from Mount Danxia in Guangdong, China, is described and illustrated. Phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nrDNA suggests that the new species belongs to S.sect.Sedum sensu Fu and Ohba (2001) in the "Flora of China", and is sister to a clade comprising S.alfredi and S.emarginatum with high support values (SH-aLRT = 84, UFBS = 95) but is distantly related to S.baileyi. The new species is morphologically similar to S.alfredi but it can be distinguished from the latter in its opposite leaves (vs. alternate leaves), its usually wider leaves (0.4-1.2 cm vs. 0.2-0.6 cm), its usually shorter petals (3.4-4.5 mm vs. 4-6 mm), its shorter nectar scales (0.4-0.5 mm vs. 0.5-1 mm), its shorter carpels (1.5-2.6 mm vs. 4-5 mm), and its shorter styles (0.6-0.9 mm vs. 1-2 mm). The new species can be easily distinguished from S.emarginatum which both have opposite leaves by its short, erect or ascending rhizome (vs. long and prostrate rhizome in the latter), shorter petals (3.4-4.5 mm vs. 6-8 mm) and shorter carpels (1.5-2.6 mm vs. 4-5 mm). It can also be easily distinguished from S.baileyi by its short, erect or ascending rhizome (vs. long and prostrate rhizome) and its shorter style (0.6-0.9 mm vs. 1-1.5 mm).

Discovery of Novel Pterostilbene-Based Derivatives as Potent and Orally Active NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibitors with Inflammatory Activity for Colitis.

Studies have shown that the abnormal activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in a variety of inflammatory-based diseases. In this study, a high content screening model targeting the activation of inflammasome was first established and pterostilbene was discovered as the active scaffold. Based on this finding, total of 50 pterostilbene derivatives were then designed and synthesized. Among them, compound 47 was found to be the best one for inhibiting cell pyroptosis [inhibitory rate (IR) = 73.09% at 10 µM], showing low toxicity and high efficiency [against interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß): half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 0.56 µM]. Further studies showed that compound 47 affected the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasomes by targeting NLRP3. The in vivo biological activity showed that this compound significantly alleviated dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. In general, our study provided a novel lead compound directly targeting the NLRP3 protein, which is worthy of further research and structural optimization.

A new species of Viola (Violaceae) from Guangdong Province, China.

Viola huizhouensis (Violaceae), a new species from Xiangtoushan National Nature Reserve of Guangdong Province in China, is described and illustrated. The new species is most similar to V. guangzhouensis, but it can be easily distinguished by its much stouter rhizome, lack of aerial stem, dense pubescence of the basal pedicel and the whole plant. Our phylogenetic analysis, based on ITS sequences, confirms that the new species belongs to V. sect. Diffusae.