Cool Temperature Enhances Growth, Ferulic Acid and Flavonoid Biosynthesis While Inhibiting Polysaccharide Biosynthesis in Angelica sinensis.

Angelica sinensis, a perennial herb that produces ferulic acid and phthalides for the treatment of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, prefers growing at an altitude of 1800-3000 m. Geographical models have predicted that high altitude, cool temperature and sunshade play determining roles in geo-authentic formation. Although the roles of altitude and light in yield and quality have been investigated, the role of temperature in regulating growth, metabolites biosynthesis and gene expression is still unclear. In this study, growth characteristics, metabolites contents and related genes expression were investigated by exposing A. sinensis to cooler (15 °C) and normal temperatures (22 °C). The results showed that plant biomass, the contents of ferulic acid and flavonoids and the expression levels of genes related to the biosynthesis of ferulic acid (PAL1, 4CLL4, 4CLL9, C3H, HCT, CCOAMT and CCR) and flavonoids (CHS and CHI) were enhanced at 15 °C compared to 22 °C. The contents of ligustilide and volatile oils exhibited slight increases, while polysaccharide contents decreased in response to cooler temperature. Based on gene expression levels, ferulic acid biosynthesis probably depends on the CCOAMT pathway and not the COMT pathway. It can be concluded that cool temperature enhances plant growth, ferulic acid and flavonoid accumulation but inhibits polysaccharide biosynthesis in A. sinensis. These findings authenticate that cool temperature plays a determining role in the formation of geo-authentic and also provide a strong foundation for regulating metabolites production of A. sinensis.

[Regulation of extracellular ATP onchlorophyll content and fluorescence characteristics of Angelica sinensis seedlings under drought and low temperature stress].

As an important signal molecule, extracellular ATP(eATP) can regulate many physiological and biochemical responses to plant stress. In this study, the regulation of extracellular ATP(eATP) on chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Angelica sinensis seedlings were studied under drought and low temperature stress. The results showed that all the chlorophyll content, the actual photochemical efficiency [Y(Ⅱ)], the electron transfer rate(ETR), the photochemical quenching coefficient(qP and qL) of A. sinensis leaves were significantly decreased under drought and low temperature stress, respectively. At the same time, non-photochemical quenching(NPQ and qN) were also all significantly increased, respectively. The application of eATP alleviated the decrease of chlorophyll content, Y(Ⅱ), ETR, qP and qL of A. sinensis leaves under drought and low temperature stress, and eliminated the increase of qN and NPQ. The results indicated that eATP could effectively increase the open ratio of PSⅡ reaction centers, and improve the electron transfer rate and light energy conversion efficiency of PSⅡ of A. sinensis leaves under drought and low temperature stress. It is beneficial to enhance the chlorophyll synthesis and the adaptability of PSⅡ about A. sinensis seedlings to drought and low temperature stress.

[Effect of altitudes on the photosynthate accumulation and distribution pattern of Angelic sinensis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of altitudes on the photosynthate accumulation and distribution pattern of Angelic sinensis in Gansu province and provide theontical for its expanding ecological planting region. METHODS: Used field test to study the photosynthate accumulation and distribution pattern of Angelic sinensis on three different altitudinal gradients from 2 300 m to 2 800 m. RESULTS: Before September 25, total photosynthate accumulation were decreased with the increasing of elevation, which amaunt was 176 g/plant, 166 g/plant and 128 g/plant, respectively. The total photosynthate of low-altitude and middle-altitude were significantly higher than that of high-altitude (P < 0.05). After September 25, middle-altitude was significantly higher than the other two altitudes (P < 0.05), respectively, by 13.9% and 11.1%. The photosynthate accumulation rate existed the altitude effects, there was no significant difference between high-altitude (46.7%) and middle-altitude (43.7%), but they were even significantly higher than that of low-altitude (33.1%). The root distribution proportion (> 30%) existed the difference, that of high-altitude was 10 days earlier than the other two altitudes, and later that of high-altitude (about 54%) was higher than the other two altitudes (49.8% - 50.9%), it laid the foundation for yield formation. Yield of Angelic sinensis was as follows: middle-altitude (28.4 g/ plant), high-altitude (26.6 g/plant) and low-altitude (21.8 g/plant). Yield of Angelic sinensis middle-altitude and high-altitude were higher than that of low-altitude, respectively, by 30.2% and 22.2%, and it had a significant difference (P < 0.05), this result was consistent with the photosynthate accumulation rate. CONCLUSION: Altitudinal gradients affect yield formation of Angelic sinensis by changing the photosynthate distribution pattern and dry matter accumulation rate. So by appropriately increasing altitude, the root distribution proportion and yield are improved, this provides theoretical reference for expanding Angelic sinensis planting ecological region.

Bioactividad de la umbelliprenina, principal componente de las semillas de Angelica sylvestris / Bioactivity of umbelliprenin, the major component found in the seeds of Angelica sylvestris

Se ha evaluado la actividad antibacteriana y antioxidante de la umbelliprenina (1), una cumarina de sesquiterpenil, aislada como el componente principal presente en extractos de n-hexano y diclorometano de semillas de Angelica sylvestris (Apiaceae). También se ha evaluado la toxicidad general de 1 mediante el bioensayo de letalidad de gambas en salmuera (BSL)

Umbelliprenin (1), a sesquiterpenyl coumarin, isolated as the major component present in the n-hexane and dichloromethane extracts of the seeds of Angelica sylvestris (Apiaceae), has been assessed for antibacterial and antioxidant activities. General toxicity of 1 has also been evaluated by the brine shrimp lethality (BSL) bioassay