Search Results (2)

The pan-plastome approach provides a powerful tool for investigating intraspecific divergence and population genetics due to its unique advantages, including single-copy genes, absence of recombination, and moderate nucleotide substitution rates. Adenocaulon himalaicum Edgew. (Asteraceae), a widely distributed medicinal herb in East Asia, remains genomically understudied at the population level, with no comprehensive pan-plastome assembly available to date. Here, we de novo assembled pan-plastome of 87 individuals from 18 populations representing its known distribution range. The pan-plastome exhibited a typical quadripartite structure (152,129 bp to 152,207 bp), containing 113 unique genes, most of which were under purifying selection. Phylogenetic and haplotypes analyses revealed three distinct genetic lineages corresponding to their geographic distribution. Population genetic analyses showed significant differentiation among three genetic groups (AMOVA: 73.43% variation among groups) and a strong isolation-by-distance pattern (IBD: r = 0.469, p = 0.001). The pronounced population structure underscores the imperative for establishing distinct conservation units, with particular emphasis on marginal populations that may harbor unique genetic compositions and potential medicinal properties. Our study presents the first pan-plastome for A. himalaicum, offering new insights into its plastome evolution and population divergence, providing valuable genomic resources to guide future breeding and sustainable utilization of medicinal herbs. Full article

Skin aging induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation increases expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and destroys collagen fibers, as a result accelerating wrinkle formation. Natural products have been received scientific attention as utilized agents against photoaging. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Adenocaulon himalaicum Edgew. extract (AHE) against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced skin damage, and to explain the underlying mechanisms in human dermal fibroblasts and epidermal keratinocytes. AHE effectively protects skin photoaging by preventing collagen degradation through MMP-1 inhibition via the MAPK/AP-1 signaling pathway. AHE significantly increased the expression of skin hydration factors, such as filaggrin, involucrin, loricrin, and caspase-14. To find how AHE possesses a direct impact on cellular activities, we identified neochlorogenic acid as a bioactive component of AHE for the first time. Neochlorogenic acid showed the anti-photoaging effect through ameliorating UVB-induced collagen degradation, reinforcing the skin barrier. Like the AHE-regulating mechanism, neochlorogenic acid modulates the MAPK/AP-1 signaling pathway and skin hydration factors. Taken together, these results suggest that AHE and neochlorogenic acid are well-qualified candidate for enhancing the conditions of photoaged skin. Full article