Quality Control of Psoralea corylifolia L. Based on High-Speed Countercurrent Chromatographic Fingerprinting.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)has played an important role in promoting the health of Chinese people. The TCM Psoralea corylifolia L. has been used in the treatment of various kinds of diseases including enuresis, vitiligo, and calvities. However, therapeutic effects of P. corylifolia L. have often influenced by the quality of plants. So, it is very important to control the quality of P. corylifolia L. In this study, analytical high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully used to fingerprint P. corylifolia L. Samples of P. corylifolia L. were extracted by ultrasonic extraction. n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water at a ratio of 5:5.5:6.5:5 (v/v) was selected as a two-phase solvent system and the condition of HSCCC were optimized in order to good separation. And the method of HSCCC was verified (reproducibility, precision, and stability). HSCCC chromatograms exhibited six common peaks, which were selected as indicator compounds for the quality control of P. corylifolia L. Within 20 types of medicinal materials, chemical components are similar, but the levels of components are quite different in HSCCC fingerprint. The present results demonstrate that the HSCCC method provides a reliable basis for the quality control of P. corylifolia L. and can also be applied to confirm the authenticity of plant materials.

Enhancement in furanocoumarin content and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity in developing seedlings of Psoralea corylifolia L. in response to gamma irradiation of seeds.

Gamma irradiation of seeds is known to be an important factor in stimulating biochemical and physiological processes. The aim of the present study was to investigate phenylpropanoids and associated enzymes responsible for the production of active metabolites. Furanocoumarin content was estimated in seeds of Psoralea corylifolia L. during two successive generations (G(1) and G(2)) where as phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity was measured in leaves at different developmental stages of P. corylifolia L. raised from seeds irradiated with variable doses of gamma rays. Maximum accumulation of psoralen and isopsoralen was observed at 15 and 20 kGy doses during G(1) and G(2) generations, respectively. Psoralen proved to be the dominating metabolite in terms of its concentration, while isopsoralen was accumulated at relatively lower concentrations in successive generations. PAL activity was induced maximally following 15 and 20 kGy in G(1) plants and was preceded by psoralen and isopsoralen accumulation which peaked at the same dose rates in both generations. These effects were transmitted and prevalent in the next generation, that is, G(2) (indirectly irradiated). These long-term changes in plant metabolomics demonstrate genomic instability induced by gamma irradiation. However, no detrimental effects were seen at any irradiation dose in seeds. Furanocoumarin concentrations were also enhanced at 15 and 20 kGy. The present study further points out the persistence of changes in the biosynthesis of coumarin derivatives in the next generation. However, accumulation of these metabolites does not lead to any lethal effects.

Psoralen production in hairy roots and adventitious roots cultures of Psoralea coryfolia.

Psoralea corylifolia is an endangered plant producing various compounds of medical importance. Adventitious roots and hairy roots were induced in cultures prepared from hypocotyl explants. Psoralen content was evaluated in both root types grown either in suspension cultures or on agar solidified medium. Psoralen content was approximately 3 mg g(-1) DW in suspension grown hairy roots being higher than in solid grown hairy roots and in solid and suspension-grown adventitious roots.

[Study on seedling quality of Psoralea corylifolia and influence factors].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of different fertilization, measure of breeding seedling, breeding and sowing density on seedlings of Psoralea corylifolia. METHOD: The combination of field sowing and indoor test was applied. RESULT: All agricultural measures showed positive effect on the growth and development of seedling of P. corylifolia. CONCLUSION: The suitable sewing time should be the first and second ten days in March. The suitable sowing density is 150 kg x hm(-2). The combined of application of organic manure and chemical fertilizer is better than using one of them alone.

Symbiotic functioning, structural adaptation, and subcellular organization of root nodules from Psoralea pinnata (L.) plants grown naturally under wetland and upland conditions in the Cape Fynbos of South Africa.

In the Cape Fynbos of South Africa, Psoralea pinnata (L.) plants occur naturally in both wetland and well-drained soils and yet effectively fix N2 under the two contrasting conditions. In this study, nodule structure and functioning in P. pinnata plants from the two habitats were evaluated using light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), as well as the 15N natural abundance technique. The results showed that, structurally, fully developed P. pinnata nodules were spherical in shape with six components (namely, lenticels, periderm, outer cortex, middle cortex, inner cortex, and a central bacteria-infected medulla region). Morphometric analysis revealed 44 and 84 % increase in cell area and volume of wetland nodules compared to those from upland. The percentage area of nodules occupied by the middle cortex in wetland nodules was twice that of upland nodules. As a result, the size of the medulla region in wetland nodules was significantly reduced compared to upland nodules. Additionally, the average area of medulla occupied by intercellular air spaces in wetland nodules was about five times that of upland nodules (about 431 % increase in wetland over upland nodules). TEM data also showed more bacteroids in symbiosomes of upland nodules when compared to wetland nodules. However, isotopic analysis of above-ground plant parts revealed no differences in symbiotic parameters such as N concentration, ∂15N and %Ndfa between wetland and upland P. pinnata plants. These results suggest that, under limiting O2 conditions especially in wetlands, nodules make structural and functional adjustments to meet the O2 demands of N2-fixing bacteroids.