Quantification and Discrimination of in Vitro Regeneration Swertia nervosa at Different Growth Periods using the UPLC/UV Coupled with Chemometric Method.

BACKGROUND: Swertia nervosa (Wall. ex G. Don) C. B. Clarke, a promising traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of liver disorders, is endangered due to its extensive collection and unsustainable harvesting practices. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to discuss the diversity of metabolites (loganic acid, sweroside, swertiamarin, and gentiopicroside) at different growth stages and organs of Swertia nervosa using the ultra-high-performance LC (UPLC)/UV coupled with chemometric method. METHODS: UPLC data, UV data, and data fusion were treated separately to find more useful information by partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), an unsupervised method, was then employed for validating the results from PLS-DA. RESULTS: Three strategies displayed different chemical information associated with the sample discrimination. UV information mainly contributed to the classification of different organs; UPLC information was prominently responsible for both organs and growth periods; the data fusion did not perform with apparent superiority compared with single data analysis, although it provided useful information to differentiate leaves that could not be recognized by UPLC. The quantification result showed that the content of swertiamarin was the highest compared with the other three metabolites, especially in leaves at the rooted stage (19.57 ± 5.34 mg/g). Therefore, we speculated that interactive transformations occurred among these four metabolites, facilitated by root formation. CONCLUSIONS: This work will contribute to exploitation of bioactive compounds of S. nervosa, as well as its large-scale propagation. HIGHLIGHTS: The roots formation may influence the distribution and accumulation of metabolites.

[Application of remote sensing and GIS in study of suitability distribution of Swertia mussotii, a Tibetan medicine in Sichuan province].

Swertia mussotii is a kind of rare medicinal materials, the relevant researches are mainly concentrated on its medicinal efficacy and medicinal value till now, researches of adaptive distribution by applying remote sensing and GIS are relatively less. This study is to analyze the adaptive distribution of S.mussotii in Sichuan province by applying remote sensing and GIS technology, and provide scientific basis for the protection and development of wild resources, artificial cultivation and adjustment of Chinese medicine industrial distribution in Sichuan province. Based on literature review and ecological factors such as altitude, annual precipitation and annual average temperature, this study extracted ecological factors, overlay analysis in GIS, as well as combining GPS field validation data by means of remote sensing and GIS, discusses the adaptive distribution of SMF sin Sichuan province. ①The area of adaptive distribution of S. mussotii in Sichuan province is 1 543.749 km², mainly in Dege county, Ganzi county, Daofu county, Kangding county, Barkam, Jinchuan county, Xiaojin county, Danba county, Daocheng county, Xiangcheng county, Xinlong county, Aba county, Muli county and other counties and cities, accounts for about 7.25% in total area. ② Combining statistical information and field validation, this study found that S. mussotii adaptive distribution gained by remote sensing and GIS is in conformity with its actual distribution. The study shows that remote sensing and GIS technology are feasible to obtain the S. mussotii adaptive distribution, they can further be applied to studies on adaptive distributions of other rare Chinese medicinal herb.

[Investigation on medicinal plant resources of Swertia in Yunnan province].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the species and distribution of medicinal plants Swertia in Yunnan province, and provide scientific basis for sustainable utilization. METHOD: Field investigation was carried out, specimens were collected, and literature and data were consulted. RESULT: There were 35 species and 2 varieties (including 1 newly recorded species), most of them were used as medicinal plants, and an identification index was established. CONCLUSION: The results provide reliable foundation for comprehensive utilization and in-depth study of Swertia in Yunnan province.

Protocol for in vitro regeneration and marker glycoside assessment in Swertia chirata Buch-Ham.

We have developed a rapid in vitro propagation system, via axillary shoot formation from nodal explants of Swertia chirata Buch Ham. Culture medium supplemented with 2 mg/L. BAP is best for direct shoot regeneration initially formed adventitious buds from axils of the nodal explants after 30 days. The reduced BAP concentration 0.5 mg/L proliferate shoots effectively. Kept the number of hyperhydrated shoots to minimal and induced on an average 22-38 shoots per flask (4.3 cm average length). The regenerated shoots (5- to 6-m long) formed roots very well in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium devoid of any growth regulator and followed by acclimatization of plants in pre-sterilized sand containing 1% Trichoderma viride and Azatobactor chrococcum as bioinoculants. The regenerated plants don't show any genomic alterations. This protocol also outlines procedure of assessment of marker iridoid glycosides (amarogentin and amaroswerin) from callus, roots, multiple shoots, regenerated plants, and mother plant. High propagation frequency, reproducibility of procedure, molecular, and phenotypic and chemical stability ensures the efficiency of the developed protocol.

Variation of active constituents of an important Tibet folk medicine Swertia mussotii Franch. (Gentianaceae) between artificially cultivated and naturally distributed.

Concentrations of seven phytochemical constituents (swertiamarin, mangiferin, swertisin, oleanolic acid, 1,5,8-trihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone, 1,8-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyxanthone and 1,8-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone) of "ZangYinChen" (Swertia mussotii, a herb used in Tibetan folk medicine) were determined and compared in plants collected from naturally distributed high-altitude populations and counterparts that had been artificially cultivated at low altitudes. Levels of mangiferin, the most abundant active compound in this herb, were significantly lower in cultivated samples and showed a negative correlation with altitude. The other constituents were neither positively nor negatively correlated with cultivation at low altitude. Concentrations of all of the constituents varied substantially with growth stage and were highest at the bud stage in the cultivars, but there were no distinct differences between flowering and fruiting stages in this respect.