Revealing Medicinal Constituents of Bistorta vivipara Based on Non-Targeted Metabolomics and 16S rDNA Gene Sequencing Technology.

Bistorta vivipara is a medicinal plant with a long history, but there are few studies on the effects of its medicinal components and endophytic bacteria on the accumulation of secondary metabolites. Therefore, in this study, non-targeted metabolomics techniques and 16s rDNA techniques were used to study B. vivipara from different regions. A total of 1290 metabolites and 437 differential metabolites were identified from all samples. Among them, flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and benzopyrans are the main medicinal components of B. vivipara; these have potential anticancer, antiviral, and antioxidant properties, as well as potential applications for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. In addition, irigenin, an important medicinal component, was identified for the first time. The endophytic bacterial communities in the root tissues of B. vivipara from different regions were also different in composition and richness. Hierarchical clustering heat map analysis showed that Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota bacteria significantly affected the accumulation of many medicinal components in the roots of B. vivipara.

Exploring Four Atraphaxis Species: Traditional Medicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Activities.

Atraphaxis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Polygonaceae, with approximately 60 species. Species of Atraphaxis are much-branched woody plants, forming shrubs or shrubby tufts, primarily inhabiting arid zones across the temperate steppe and desert regions of Central Asia, America, and Australia. Atraphaxis species have been used by diverse groups of people all over the world for the treatment of various diseases. However, their biologically active compounds with therapeutic properties have not been investigated well. Studying the biologically active components of Atraphaxis laetevirens, Atraphaxis frutescens, Atraphaxis spinosa L., and Atraphaxis pyrifolia is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it can unveil the therapeutic potential of these plants, aiding in the development of novel medicines or natural remedies for various health conditions. Understanding their bioactive compounds enables scientists to explore their pharmacological properties, potentially leading to the discovery of new drugs or treatments. Additionally, investigating these components contributes to preserving traditional knowledge and validating the historical uses of these plants in ethnomedicine, thus supporting their conservation and sustainable utilization. These herbs have been used as an anti-inflammatory and hypertension remedies since the dawn of time. Moreover, they have been used to treat a variety of gastrointestinal disorders and problems related to skin in traditional Kazakh medicine. Hence, the genus Atraphaxis can be considered as a potential medicinal plant source that is very rich in biologically active compounds that may exhibit great pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antiulcer, hypoglycemic, wound healing, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, and so on. This study aims to provide a collection of publications on the species of Atraphaxis, along with a critical review of the literature data. This review will constitute support for further investigations on the pharmacological activity of these medicinal plant species.

Female biased adult sex ratio in the Bronze Age cemetery of Shahr-i Sokhta (Iran) as an indicator of long distance trade and matrilocality.

OBJECTIVES: This paper starts from the unusual observation of the overrepresentation of females among adults in the cemetery of Bronze Age Shahr-i Sokhta (Seistan, Iran) and explores the post marital residence pattern. By integrating taphonomical (skeletal preservation), anthropological (sex ratio [SR], sexual dimorphism, stress indicators, age at death), archeological (long distance trade indicators, habitation floor area, social role of women), and ancient DNA (heterozygosity levels in X chromosomes) data we test the hypothesis of post marital matrilocality in the site. METHODS: We computed the SR (pelvis-based sex determination) in a random unpublished adult sample from the cemetery of Shahr-i Sokhta and in two samples previously published by other authors. We used comparative data on SR from: a large Supra Regional multi-chronological sample of sites, n = 47, with 8808 adult sexed individuals, from Southern Europe, Egypt, Middle East, Southern Russia; a Regional Bronze Age sample of sites (n = 10) from Bactria Margiana and Indus Valley with 1324 adult sexed individuals. We estimated the heterozygosity levels in X chromosomes compared with the rest of the autosomes on the assumption that in a matrilocal society females should show lower variability than men. RESULTS: Adult SR in a sample (n = 549) from Shahr-i Sokhta is 70.5, the overrepresentation of females is shared with Regional Bronze Age sites from Bactria Margiana (SR = 72.09) and Indus Valley (SR = 67.54). On the contrary, in a larger Supra Regional multi-chronological sample of sites, mean SR ranges between 112.7 (Bronze Age) and 163.1 (Middle Ages). Taphonomical and anthropological indicators do not explain the overrepresentation of female skeletons. Archeological indicators suggest a high social status of women and that the society was devoted to long range trade activities. heterozygosity levels in X chromosomes are in agreement with a matrilocal society. CONCLUSIONS: Indicators suggest that Bronze Age Shahr-ì Sokhta was a matrilocal society and that long distance trade was an important economic factor producing an overrepresentation of adult female skeletons in the cemetery.

Genome assembly and microsatellite marker development using Illumina and PacBio sequencing in Persicaria maackiana (Polygonaceae) from Korea.

BACKGROUND: Persicaria maackiana (Regel) is a potential medicinal plant that exerts anti-diabetic effects. However, the lack of genomic information on P. maackiana hinders research at the molecular level. OBJECTIVE: Herein, we aimed to construct a draft genome assembly and obtain comprehensive genomic information on P. maackiana using high-throughput sequencing tools PacBio Sequel II and Illumina. METHODS: Persicaria maackiana samples from three natural populations in Gaecheon, Gichi, and Uiryeong reservoirs in South Korea were used to generate genomic DNA libraries, perform genome de novo assembly, gene ontology analysis, phylogenetic tree analysis, genotyping, and identify microsatellite markers. RESULTS: The assembled P. maackiana genome yielded 32,179 contigs. Assessment of assembly integrity revealed 1503 (93.12%) complete Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs. A total of 64,712 protein-coding genes were predicted and annotated successfully in the protein database. In the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) orthologs, 13,778 genes were annotated into 18 categories. Genes that activated AMPK were identified in the KEGG pathway. A total of 316,992 microsatellite loci were identified, and primers targeting the flanking regions were developed for 292,059 microsatellite loci. Of these, 150 primer sets were randomly selected for amplification, and 30 of these primer sets were identified as polymorphic. These primers amplified 3-9 alleles. The mean observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.189 and 0.593, respectively. Polymorphism information content values of the markers were 0.361-0.754. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our study provides a valuable resource for future comparative genomics, phylogeny, and population studies of P. maackiana.

Therapeutic Potential of 1,8-Dihydroanthraquinone Derivatives for Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women worldwide. In recent years, significant progress has been made in BC therapy. However, serious side effects resulting from the use of standard chemotherapeutic drugs, as well as the phenomenon of multidrug resistance (MDR), limit the effectiveness of approved therapies. Advanced research in the BC area is necessary to create more effective and safer forms of therapy to improve the outlook for individuals diagnosed with this aggressive neoplasm. For decades, plants and natural products with anticancer properties have been successfully utilized in treating various medical conditions. Anthraquinone derivatives are tricyclic secondary metabolites of natural origin that have been identified in plants, lichens, and fungi. They represent a few botanical families, e.g., Rhamnaceae, Rubiaceae, Fabaceae, Polygonaceae, and others. The review comprehensively covers and analyzes the most recent advances in the anticancer activity of 1,8-dihydroanthraquinone derivatives (emodin, aloe-emodin, hypericin, chrysophanol, rhein, and physcion) applied both individually, or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, in in vitro and in vivo BC models. The application of nanoparticles for in vitro and in vivo evidence in the context of 1,8-dihydroanthraquinone derivatives was also described.

Four new phenolic constituents from the roots of Rumex dentatus L.

Four new phenolic compounds, including two naphthalenes, musizin-8-O-ß-D-(6'-O-malonyl-3''-methoxy)glucopyranoside (1) and 2-acetyl-3-methyl-1,4-naphtho-quinone-8-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2), one chromone, (2'R)-7-hydroxy-2-(2'-hydroxypropyl)-5-methyl acetate chromone (3), and one xanthone, 2,8-dimethyl-3,6-dihydroxyxanthone (4) were isolated from the roots of Rumex dentatus L. (Polygonaceae). In addition, five known including four naphthalenes (5-8) and one chromone (9) were also obtained. Their structures were determined by means of extensive spectroscopic analysis and acidic hydrolysis. Compound 1 showed moderate antifungal activity against Epidermophyton floccosum, with inhibitory rate of 39.539 ± 0.412% at a concentration of 100 µM.

Modulating Effects of the Hydroethanolic Leaf Extract of Persicaria lanigera R. Br. Soják (Polygonaceae) against Acute Inflammation.

Plant species have been used traditionally to treat numerous inflammatory disorders because of their known medicinal properties. This study aimed to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of aqueous ethanolic leaf extract of Persicaria lanigera using acute inflammatory models. The safety profile of the Persicaria lanigera extract was assessed using an acute toxicity model. The anti-inflammatory effect of the Persicaria lanigera leaf extract (100-600 mg·kg-1, p.o.) was studied in carrageenan-induced paw oedema, zymosan-induced knee joint arthritis, and histamine-induced paw oedema in Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 5). It was observed that the Persicaria lanigera leaf extract administered prophylactically significantly inhibited paw oedema from 99.01 ± 12.59 to 59.10 ± 4.94%, 56.08 ± 3.65%, and 48.62 ± 3.27% at 100 mg·kg-1, 300 mg·kg-1, and 600 mg·kg-1, while the standard drug, aspirin, showed 41.84 ± 9.25% in carrageenan-induced paw oedema, respectively. Furthermore, the extract decreased knee joint inflammation significantly from 62.43 ± 5.73% to 32.07 ± 2.98% and 24.33 ± 8.58% at 300 mg·kg-1 and 600 mg·kg-1 in zymosan-induced knee joint inflammation, respectively. In the histamine-induced paw oedema model, the extract significantly inhibited oedema to 61.53 ± 9.17%, 54.21 ± 9.38%, and 54.22 ± 9.37% at the same doses. Aqueous ethanolic leaf extract of Persicaria lanigera is safe and attenuates inflammation in acute inflammation models.

A plastome phylogeny of Rumex (Polygonaceae) illuminates the divergent evolutionary histories of docks and sorrels.

The genus Rumex L. (Polygonaceae) provides a unique system for investigating the evolutionary development of sex determination and molecular rate evolution. Historically, Rumex has been divided, both taxonomically and colloquially into two groups: 'docks' and 'sorrels'. A well-resolved phylogeny can help evaluate a genetic basis for this division. Here we present a plastome phylogeny for 34 species of Rumex, inferred using maximum likelihood criteria. The historical 'docks' (Rumex subgenus Rumex) were resolved as monophyletic. The historical 'sorrels' (Rumex subgenera Acetosa and Acetosella) were resolved together, though not monophyletic due to the inclusion of R. bucephalophorus (Rumex subgenus Platypodium). Emex is supported as its own subgenus within Rumex, instead of resolved as sister taxa. We found remarkably low nucleotide diversity among the docks, consistent with recent diversification in that group, especially as compared to the sorrels. Fossil calibration of the phylogeny suggested that the common ancestor for Rumex (including Emex) has origins in the lower Miocene (22.13 MYA). The sorrels appear to have subsequently diversified at a relatively constant rate. The origin of the docks, however, was placed in the upper Miocene, but with most speciation occurring in the Plio-Pleistocene.

HPLC-DAD-MS3 fingerprints of phenolics of selected Polygonum taxa and their chemometric analysis.

Many Polygonaceae taxa such as Bistorta officinalis, Persicaria amphibia, Persicaria hydropiper, Persicaria lapathifolia, Persicaria maculosa, Persicaria mitis, Polygonum aviculare occur naturally in the entire territory of Poland and are also common in other European countries. Many of these species are also utilised as medicinal plants. In this manuscript we establish the phytochemical profiles of selected taxa from the Polygonaceae focusing on phenolics. Additionally, we try to find chemophenetic markers for the species investigated. Compounds were detected and characterised based on HPLC-DAD-MS data, quantified, and furtherly analysed using multivariate analyses. Chemophenetic markers were identified also considering previous literature.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi activity in the rhizosphere of tree seedlings subjected to residual herbicides / Atividade de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares na rizosfera de mudas de árvores submetidas a herbicidas residuais

Trees occurring on the margins of agricultural areas can mitigate damage from residual herbicides. Rhizospheric microbial activity associated with trees is one of the main remedial capacity indicators. The objective of this study was to evaluate the rhizospheric microbiological activity in tree species subjected to the herbicides atrazine and sulfentrazone via the rhizosphere. The experiment was designed in four blocks and a 6 × 3 factorial scheme. The first factor consisted of six tree species from Brazil and the second of atrazine, sulfentrazone, and water solutions. Four herbicide applications were performed via irrigation. The total dry mass of the plants, mycorrhizal colonization, number of spores, basal respiration of the rhizospheric soil, and survival rate of bioindicator plants after phytoremediation were determined. Trichilia hirta had higher biomass when treated with atrazine and sulfentrazone. Herbicides decreased the microbial activity in Triplaris americana and did not affect the microbiological indicators of Myrsine gardneriana, Schizolobium parahyba, and Toona ciliata. Fewer bioindicator plants survived in soil with Triplaris americana and sulfentrazone. Microbiological indicators were influenced in different ways between species by the presence of herbicides in the rhizosphere.

As árvores que ocorrem nas margens das áreas agrícolas podem mitigar os danos dos herbicidas residuais. A atividade microbiana rizosférica associada às árvores é um dos principais indicadores de capacidade corretiva. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade microbiológica rizosférica em espécies arbóreas submetidas aos herbicidas atrazina e sulfentrazone via rizosfera. O experimento foi estruturado em quatro blocos e esquema fatorial 6 × 3. O primeiro fator consistiu em seis espécies de árvores do Brasil e o segundo em soluções de atrazine, sulfentrazone e água. Quatro aplicações de herbicidas foram realizadas via irrigação. Foram determinados a massa seca total das plantas, colonização micorrízica, número de esporos, respiração basal do solo rizosférico e taxa de sobrevivência de plantas bioindicadoras após fitorremediação. Trichilia hirta apresentou maior biomassa quando tratada com atrazina e sulfentrazone. Os herbicidas diminuíram a atividade microbiana em Triplaris americana e não afetaram os indicadores microbiológicos de Myrsine gardneriana, Schizolobium parahyba e Toona ciliata. Menos plantas bioindicadoras sobreviveram no solo com Triplaris americana e sulfentrazone. Os indicadores microbiológicos foram influenciados de formas distintas entre as espécies pela presença dos herbicidas na rizosfera.

Three first records of stick insects attacking plants (Inseect: Phasmida) in Tibet / Três primeiros registros de insetos-pau atacando plantas (Inseect: Phasmida) no Tibet

Except for a few stick insects that are economically valuable, most species be considered to be forest pests, so it is extremely important to obtain plant host-use information of more stick insects. In this paper, the plant hosts of three species of stick insects were recorded for the first time. We also discovered these stick insects can feed upon the flowers or leaves of plants. Lopaphus unidentatus (Chen & He, 1995) (Phasmida: Lonchodidae) attacked Hypericum choisianum Wall. ex N. Robson, 1973 (Hypericaceae), Leurophasma dolichocercum Bi, 1995 (Phasmida: Aschiphasmatidae) attacked Antenoron filiforme (Thunb.) Roberty & Vautier, 1964 (Polygonaceae) and Megalophasma granulatum Bi, 1995 (Phasmida: Lonchodidae) attacked Debregeasia orientalis C. J. Chen, 1991 (Urticaceae). Finally, we were lucky enough to also obtain photographs of them mating and feeding.

Exceto por alguns insetos-pau que são economicamente valiosos, a maioria das espécies pode ser considerada praga florestal, por isso é extremamente importante obter informações sobre o uso de hospedeiros de plantas de mais insetos-pau. Neste artigo, as plantas hospedeiras de três espécies de bicho-pau foram registradas pela primeira vez. Também descobrimos que esses bichos-pau podem se alimentar de flores ou folhas de plantas. Lopaphus unidentatus (Chen & He, 1995) (Phasmida: Lonchodidae) atacou a parede de Hypericum choisianum. ex N. Robson, 1973 (Hypericaceae), Leurophasma dolichocercum Bi, 1995 (Phasmida: Aschiphasmatidae) atacou Antenoron filiforme (Thunb.) Roberty & Vautier, 1964 (Polygonaceae) e Megalophasma granulatum Bi, 1995 (Phasmida: Lonchodidae orientaled) atacou Chen, 1991 (Urticaceae). Finalmente, tivemos a sorte de também obter fotos deles se acasalando e se alimentando.

Microencapsulation of Phenolic Extract from Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera L.) with Antimutagenic Activity.

This study aimed to microencapsulate the sea grape ethanolic extract by the spray drying process, characterizing the obtained powder, and evaluating its antimutagenicity activity. Microparticles showed a mean size of 6.28 µm and a spherical shape with a smooth surface. The powder had a low moisture content (4.02±0.92 %) and water activity (0.27±0.01), and high solubility (76±3.60 %). Moreover, hygroscopicity (14.75±2.63 g/100 g of powder) and bulk density (0.63±0.03 g/cm3 ) values suggested that this powder can be easily handled at a pilot or industrial scale. In addition, microencapsulation protected the extract against oxidation by ultraviolet light, improved its thermal stability, and its antimutagenicity activity was similar to fresh sea grape extract. In conclusion, the microencapsulation with maltodextrin by spray drying technique is an alternative to protect bioactive compounds from sea grapes against environmental conditions, maintaining their antimutagenic activity.

Pharmacological effects (gastrointestinal, respiratory and vascular) of Calligonum polygonoides: Animal model based studies.

The aim of this study was to analyze gastrointestinal, respiratory and vascular pharmacological effects of 70% hydro-alcoholic extract of Calligonum polygonoides (Cp. Cr) in animal models. All the procedures were carried-out as per previous literature with slight modification where necessary. It was found that Cp. Cr affected significant relaxation of spontaneous and K+ (80 mM) induced contractions. The results showed a corresponding shift of calcium concentration response curves. Similarly Cp. Cr showed relaxant effect on trachea in carbachol (Cch) induced tracheal contractions. Moreover, contractions induced by phenylephrine (1µM) in quarantine rabbit aortic preparations causes Cp. Cr induced relaxation of aortal contractions. Verapamil was used as a standard calcium channel blocker. The findings of this study suggested vasodilator, bronchodilator and spasmolytic effects of Cp. Cr.

Recent advances in the therapeutic potential of emodin for human health.

Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) is a bioactive compound, a natural anthraquinone aglycone, present mainly in herbaceous species of the families Fabaceae, Polygonaceae and Rhamnaceae, with a physiological role in protection against abiotic stress in vegetative tissues. Emodin is mainly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat sore throats, carbuncles, sores, blood stasis, and damp-heat jaundice. Pharmacological research in the last decade has revealed other potential therapeutic applications such as anticancer, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The present study aimed to summarize recent studies on bioavailability, preclinical pharmacological effects with evidence of molecular mechanisms, clinical trials and clinical pitfalls, respectively the therapeutic limitations of emodin. For this purpose, extensive searches were performed using the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google scholar, TRIP database, Springer link, Wiley and SciFinder databases as a search engines. The in vitro and in vivo studies included in this updated review highlighted the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of emodin. Because its bioavailability is low, there are limitations in clinical therapeutic use. In conclusion, for an increase in pharmacotherapeutic efficacy, future studies with carrier molecules to the target, thus opening up new therapeutic perspectives.

Plastome comparison and phylogenomics of Fagopyrum (Polygonaceae): insights into sequence differences between Fagopyrum and its related taxa.

BACKGROUND: Fagopyrum (Polygonaceae) is a small plant lineage comprised of more than fifteen economically and medicinally important species. However, the phylogenetic relationships of the genus are not well explored, and the characteristics of Fagopyrum chloroplast genomes (plastomes) remain poorly understood so far. It restricts the comprehension of species diversity in Fagopyrum. Therefore, a comparative plastome analysis and comprehensive phylogenomic analyses are required to reveal the taxonomic relationship among species of Fagopyrum. RESULTS: In the current study, 12 plastomes were sequenced and assembled from eight species and two varieties of Fagopyrum. In the comparative analysis and phylogenetic analysis, eight previously published plastomes of Fagopyrum were also included. A total of 49 plastomes of other genera in Polygonaceae were retrieved from GenBank and used for comparative analysis with Fagopyrum. The variation of the Fagopyrum plastomes is mainly reflected in the size and boundaries of inverted repeat/single copy (IR/SC) regions. Fagopyrum is a relatively basal taxon in the phylogenomic framework of Polygonaceae comprising a relatively smaller plastome size (158,768-159,985 bp) than another genus of Polygonaceae (158,851-170,232 bp). A few genera of Polygonaceae have nested distribution of the IR/SC boundary variations. Although most species of Fagopyrum show the same IRb/SC boundary with species of Polygonaceae, only a few species show different IRa/SC boundaries. The phylogenomic analyses of Fagopyrum supported the cymosum and urophyllum groups and resolved the systematic position of subclades within the urophyllum group. Moreover, the repeat sequence types and numbers were found different between groups of Fagopyrum. The plastome sequence identity showed significant differences between intra-group and inter-group. CONCLUSIONS: The deletions of intergenic regions cause a short length of Fagopyrum plastomes, which may be the main reason for plastome size diversity in Polygonaceae species. The phylogenomic reconstruction combined with the characteristics comparison of plastomes supports grouping within Fagopyrum. The outcome of these genome resources may facilitate the taxonomy, germplasm resources identification as well as plant breeding of Fagopyrum.

Plastid and mitochondrial phylogenomics reveal correlated substitution rate variation in Koenigia (Polygonoideae, Polygonaceae) and a reduced plastome for Koenigia delicatula including loss of all ndh genes.

Koenigia, a genus proposed by Linnaeus, has a contentious taxonomic history. In particular, relationships among species and the circumscription of the genus relative to Aconogonon remain uncertain. To explore phylogenetic relationships of Koenigia with other members of tribe Persicarieae and to establish the timing of major evolutionary diversification events, genome skimming of organellar sequences was used to assemble plastomes and mitochondrial genes from 15 individuals representing 13 species. Most Persicarieae plastomes exhibit a conserved structure and content relative to other flowering plants. However, Koenigia delicatula has lost functional copies of all ndh genes and the intron from atpF. In addition, the rpl32 gene was relocated in the K. delicatula plastome, which likely occurred via overlapping inversions or differential expansion and contraction of the inverted repeat. The highly supported but conflicting relationships between plastome and mitochondrial trees and among gene trees complicates the circumscription of Koenigia, which could be caused by rapid diversification within a short period. Moreover, the plastome and mitochondrial trees revealed correlated variation in substitution rates among Persicarieae species, suggesting a shared underlying mechanism promoting evolutionary rate variation in both organellar genomes. The divergence of dwarf K. delicatula from other Koenigia species may be associated with the well-known Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 or Early Eocene Climatic Optimum event, while diversification of the core-Koenigia clade associates with the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum and the uplift of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas.

The complete chloroplast genome of Persicaria perfoliata and comparative analysis with four medicinal plants of Polygonaceae.

Polygonaceae is a large family of medicinal herbs that includes many species used as traditional Chinese medicine, such as Per sicaria per foliata. Here, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of P. per foliata using Illumina sequencing technology with the purpose of providing a method to facilitate accurate identification. After being annotated, the complete chloroplast genome of P. per foliata was compared with those of Fagopyrum tataricum, Per sicaria chinensis, Fagopyrum dibotrys, and Fallopia multiflora. The complete chloroplast genome of P. per foliata is 160 730 bp in length, containing a small single-copy region of 12 927 bp, a large single-copy region of 85 433 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat regions of 62 370 bp. A total of 131 genes were annotated, including 8 rRNA genes, 34 tRNA genes, and 84 protein-coding genes. Forty-two simple sequence repeats and 55 repeat sequences were identified. Mutational hotspot analyses indicated that five genes (matK, ndhF, ccsA, cemA, and rpl20) could be selected as candidates for molecular markers. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis showed that all the Polygonaceae species formed a monophyletic clade, and P. per foliata showed the closest relationship with P. chinense. The study provides valuable molecular information to accurately identify P. per foliata and assist in its development and application.

Molecular evidence for natural hybridization between Rumex crispus and R. obtusifolius (Polygonaceae) in Korea.

Interspecific hybridization has been suggested to occur frequently in Rumex (Polygonaceae). Several hypothesized combinations of parental species of hybrids based on their intermediate morphology have been suggested in the genus, but few of them have been phylogenetically tested. We analyzed nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequence data of a putative natural hybrid between Rumex crispus and Rumex obtusifolius from Korea to confirm its hybrid status and to determine the maternal parent. Analysis of the nuclear DNA pgiC region revealed that R. crispus and R. obtusifolius have contributed to the nuclear genome of the putative hybrids. The haplotype distribution pattern inferred from the combined sequence data set of five chloroplast DNA regions (matK, rbcL-accD IGS, trnK-rps16 IGS, ycf6-psbM IGS and psbA-trnH IGS) indicated bidirectional hybridization events between R. crispus and R. obtusifolius. This paper provides the first molecular evidence for interspecific hybridization between R. crispus and R. obtusifolius. In addition, our findings strongly suggested that Korean populations of Rumex japonicus have a hybrid origin, and R. crispus may represent one of the parental taxa.

Indigo Pulverata Levis (Chung-Dae, Persicaria tinctoria) Alleviates Atopic Dermatitis-like Inflammatory Responses In Vivo and In Vitro.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with a type 2 T helper cell (Th2) immune response. The IndigoPulverata Levis extract (CHD) is used in traditional Southeast Asian medicine; however, its beneficial effects on AD remain uninvestigated. Therefore, we investigated the therapeutic effects of CHD in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced BALB/c mice and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α- and interferon gamma (IFN)-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells. We evaluated immune cell infiltration, skin thickness, and the serum IgE and TNF-α levels in DNCB-induced AD mice. Moreover, we measured the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in the mice dorsal skin. We also studied the effect of CHD on the translocation of NF-κB p65 and inflammatory chemokines in HaCaT cells. Our in vivo results revealed that CHD reduced the dermis and epidermis thicknesses and inhibited immune cell infiltration. Furthermore, it suppressed the proinflammatory cytokine expression and MAPK and NF-κB phosphorylations in the skin tissue and decreased serum IgE and TNF-α levels. In vitro results indicated that CHD downregulated inflammatory chemokines and blocked NF-κB p65 translocation. Thus, we deduced that CHD is a potential drug candidate for AD treatment.

Know your enemy: Application of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to invasive species control.

Extreme weather and globalisation leave our climate vulnerable to invasion by alien species, which have negative impacts on the economy, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Rapid and accurate identification is key to the control of invasive alien species. However, visually similar species hinder conservation efforts, for example hybrids within the Japanese Knotweed complex.We applied the novel method of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics (mathematics applied to chemical data) to historic herbarium samples, taking 1580 spectra in total. Samples included five species from within the interbreeding Japanese Knotweed complex (including three varieties of Japanese Knotweed), six hybrids and five species from the wider Polygonaceae family. Spectral data from herbarium specimens were analysed with several chemometric techniques: support vector machines (SVM) for differentiation between plant types, supported by ploidy levels; principal component analysis loadings and spectral biomarkers to explore differences between the highly invasive Reynoutria japonica var. japonica and its non-invasive counterpart Reynoutria japonica var. compacta; hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) to investigate the relationship between plants within the Polygonaceae family, of the Fallopia, Reynoutria, Rumex and Fagopyrum genera.ATR-FTIR spectroscopy coupled with SVM successfully differentiated between plant type, leaf surface and geographical location, even in herbarium samples of varying age. Differences between Reynoutria japonica var. japonica and Reynoutria japonica var. compacta included the presence of two polysaccharides, glucomannan and xyloglucan, at higher concentrations in Reynoutria japonica var. japonica than Reynoutria japonica var. compacta. HCA analysis indicated that potential genetic linkages are sometimes masked by environmental factors; an effect that can either be reduced or encouraged by altering the input parameters. Entering the absorbance values for key wavenumbers, previously highlighted by principal component analysis loadings, favours linkages in the resultant HCA dendrogram corresponding to expected genetic relationships, whilst environmental associations are encouraged using the spectral fingerprint region.The ability to distinguish between closely related interbreeding species and hybrids, based on their spectral signature, raises the possibility of using this approach for determining the origin of Japanese knotweed infestations in legal cases where the clonal nature of plants currently makes this difficult and for the targeted control of species and hybrids. These techniques also provide a new method for supporting biogeographical studies.