Search Results (47)

Background: The absence of disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD)—a neurodegenerative condition with escalating global incidence—represents a critical unmet medical need. Traditionally utilized for both dietary consumption and medicinal preparations, the fruit derived from Rosa roxburghii Tratt demonstrates a remarkably rich profile of biologically active compounds, with flavonoids, triterpenoids, and organic acids representing the predominant classes. Experimental evidence indicates that these compounds elicit robust antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects, making them promising candidates for neurodegenerative disease modulation. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Rosa roxburghii Tratt juice concentrate powder (RRJCP) across the preventive, interventional, and therapeutic stages of PD and to elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: Rosa roxburghii Tratt juice was subjected to rotary evaporation concentration and vacuum freeze-drying to obtain the juice concentrate powder. C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three main groups (prevention, intervention, and treatment), each containing subgroups including a normal control, an MPTP model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose RRCJP groups (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg), and a positive control Madopar group, totaling 18 subgroups. A chronic MPTP-induced PD mouse model was established. Motor function was assessed via the open field test, pole test, and wire hang test. Substantia nigra neuronal morphology was examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The area of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive regions was measured by immunohistochemistry. The levels of oxidative stress indicators in serum were measured using biochemical kits. Network pharmacology was employed to predict core targets, and the expression of PI3K/AKT pathway and apoptosis-related proteins was determined by Western blotting. Results: Compared with the MPTP model group, RRCJP (200 mg/kg) significantly increased the total distance traveled in the open field, shortened the pole climbing time, and improved the wire hang score. It attenuated the morphological disorganization and nuclear pyknosis of substantia nigra neurons, increased the TH-positive area and TH protein expression, reduced serum MDA content, and elevated the activities of SOD and GSH-Px. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was among the core targets. Western blotting results further showed that the juice concentrate powder upregulated the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, and Bcl-2, while downregulating Bax and Cleaved Caspase-3 levels, which was consistent with the network pharmacology prediction. Conclusions: RRCJP exerts neuroprotective effects across the preventive, interventional, and therapeutic stages in PD model mice, the mechanisms of which may be associated with activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, attenuation of oxidative stress, and inhibition of neuronal apoptosis. Full article

Fluoride-induced osteoarthritis (F-OA) is a debilitating manifestation of endemic fluorosis, with limited preventive or therapeutic strategies. Rosa roxburghii juice (RRJ), a traditional medicinal/edible product, has shown protective effects against skeletal fluorosis, yet its active constituents and molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, an integrated strategy combining bioinformatics analysis, network pharmacology, molecular docking and dynamics simulations, limited proteolysis–mass spectrometry (LiP–MS), and in vitro experiments was employed to systematically elucidate the protective mechanisms of RRJ against F-OA. Forty-four core F-OA-associated genes were identified, with TP53 and the p53 signaling pathway emerging as central regulatory hubs. Quercetin, Epicatechin, Emodin, and Ellagic acid were screened as key bioactive components of RRJ and demonstrated strong binding affinity toward core targets, including TP53. Cellular experiments showed that these compounds significantly attenuated sodium fluoride-induced cellular injury. LiP–MS analysis further revealed widespread protein conformational remodeling following treatment, with TP53 exhibiting pronounced structural sensitivity. Mechanistically, these active compounds mitigated fluoride-induced pathological changes by suppressing p53 mRNA expression and restoring proteasome-mediated p53 degradation. This study provides systematic pharmacological evidence supporting Rosa roxburghii fruit as a promising functional food for the prevention and management of skeletal fluorosis and F-OA. Full article

Orchid seed germination is heavily dependent on orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) for nutrient acquisition in the field. Employing OMF to promote the germination and reproductive success of orchids is increasingly recognized as an effective conservation strategy. However, the success of this approach depends on identifying the most compatible fungal partners and integrating them properly into conservation programs. In this study, seeds of Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl., a medicinal terrestrial orchid with Chinese national Level-II protected status, were co-cultured in vitro with 12 fungal strains from diverse sources to test seed preference to fungi and identify germination-promoting fungi. One strain (P2), isolated from host protocorms and identified as Ceratobasidium sp. based on rDNA-ITS phylogeny, showed the highest germination-promoting efficacy in in vitro symbiotic seed germination (SSG) experiments, yielding 41.09 ± 3.04% protocorm formation and 13.83 ± 3.15% seedling development at 60 days after sowing. Both values were significantly higher than those of other fungal treatments and the uninoculated control. Pilot trials of ex vitro and ex situ symbiotic seed germination demonstrated that strain P2 enhanced seedling development despite a low germination percentage caused by seed loss in artificial medium. These findings highlight the strong symbiotic preference of A. roxburghii seeds for strain P2 and demonstrate its potential as a valuable microbial resource for increasing seedling density in large-scale seedling propagation programs. Full article

In the field of water treatment, the development of efficient and environmentally friendly antibacterial materials to combat pathogenic contamination is of great significance. This work aimed to synthesize copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using Rosa roxburghii extract (RRT) and Trichoderma harzianum mycelia-free cell filtrate (MFCF) as reducing agents. It was found that RRT-CuNPs had higher antibacterial ability than MFCF-CuNPs. Therefore, RRT-CuNPs were selected for further study. Through a functionalization modification strategy, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CTS) served as carrier matrices, with RRT-CuNPs as the highly efficient antibacterial active component and montmorillonite (MMT) as a reinforcing filler. The CTS/PVA/MMT/RRT-CuNPs composite gel beads were successfully fabricated via a cross-linking and blending method. For RRT-CuNPs-based gel beads, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) displays that the composite hydrogel particles contain characteristic peaks of PVA, CTS, and MMT. By comparison, it is confirmed that MMT acts as both a reinforcing agent and a molecular structure regulator through interfacial interactions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that MMT and CuNPs are dispersed in the particles. The study illustrates that the optimal initial concentrations of MMT, CTS, and CuNPs added to RRT-CuNPs-based composite gel beads were 4, 30, and 0.5 g/L, respectively. The prepared composite gel beads exhibited significant inhibitory activity towards Gram–positive bacteria (S. aureus) and Gram–negative bacteria (P. aeruginosa and E. coli), acquiring inhibition zone diameters of nearly 21 mm. As the dose of gel beads was 0.3 g/L and the action time was four h, the inhibition rate reached 100% through the plate counting method analysis. In conclusion, RRT-CuNPs-based composite gel beads have excellent antimicrobial activity, showing high potential application in the fields of water treatment. Full article

Physiographic, geographic, and environmental gradients influence the development of plant communities. This study assessed how environmental gradients affect riparian vegetation along the River Panjkora, aiming to find relationships between vegetation and abiotic factors through indicator species analysis. Vegetation was sampled using the quadrat method (1 × 1 m² for herbs, 5 × 5 m² for shrubs, 10 × 10 m² for trees), and soil samples were analyzed for edaphic variables. Indicator species and ordination analyses were performed using PCORD (version 5) and CANOCO (version 4.5) software to understand species diversity. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) identified species patterns and their links to environmental factors. A total of 216 plant species were recorded across seven stations, grouped into five communities. Community 01, Melia azedarach, Punica granatum, and Asparagus racemosus, are affected by Cr, p ≤ 0.03; Fe, p ≤ 0.01; Zn, p ≤ 0.04; and Mg, p = 0.03. On the other hand, Community 02, Populus alba, Debregeasia saeneb, and Youngia japonica, are controlled by Co, p = 0.01; pH, p = 0.03; Cd, p = 0.04; EC, p = 0.03; and TDSs, p = 0.03. The third community, with indicator species Pinus roxburghii, Rydingia limbata, and Cheilanthes pteridioides, is strongly influenced by Cr, p ≤ 0.05; Cu, p ≤ 0.03; TDSs, p = 0.02; and Zn, p = 0.03. Community 04, consisting of Ficus carica, Polygonum plebeium, and Avena sativa, is shaped by Na, p = 0.01; K, p ≤ 0.05; and Fe, p = 0.04. The fifth community, represented by Ficus palmata, Rosa multiflora, and Heliotropium europaeum, is influenced by pH, p ≤ 0.04 and Mn, p = 0.03. DCA displayed maximum gradient lengths of 6.443 (eigenvalue 0.742) on axis 1, 5.222 (0.662) on axis 2, 4.053 (0.600) on axis 3, and 4.791 (0.464) on axis 4. Soil pH, heavy metals (Cr, Fe, Zn, Mg, Co, Cd, Cu, Na, K, and Mn), EC, and TDSs were the main factors shaping community structure. The indicator species analysis is recommended to identify and conserve the rare species and native flora of a particular region. Full article

This study isolated five acid-producing strains (XQ₁ and YZ₁–YZ₄) from naturally fermented pomace of Rosa roxburghii Tratt (RRT) in Guizhou’s karst region. Genetic and phenotypic analyses identified XQ₁, YZ₂, and YZ₄ as Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum), YZ₃ as Weissella cibaria, and YZ₁ as Bacillus licheniformis. A comparative evaluation with commercial strain AC revealed that XQ₁, YZ₂, and YZ₄ exhibited superior acidification (reaching the stationary phase at 40 h) and tolerance to acidic conditions (pH 3.0), ethanol (6% v/v), bile salts (0.3%), and osmotic stress (6.5% NaCl), along with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Their cell-free supernatants (CFSs) showed comparable superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidant capacity (2.54–2.66 FeSO₄·7H₂O eq mmol/L) to AC (2.68), with DPPH radical scavenging exceeding 50%. YZ₃ displayed weaker acid production, tolerance, and limited antimicrobial effects. Safety assessments confirmed non-hemolytic activity and antibiotic susceptibility. In conclusion, the L. plantarum strains XQ₁, YZ₂, and YZ₄ demonstrated strong ensiling potential and remarkable probiotic properties, establishing them as promising indigenous microbial resources for the preservation of RRT pomace and other food products. Full article

Ecosystem functioning and management are primarily concerned with addressing climate change and biodiversity loss, which are closely linked to carbon stock and species diversity. This research aimed to quantify forest understory (shrub and herb) diversity, tree biomass and carbon sequestration in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. Using random sampling methods, data were gathered from six distinct forest communities. The study identified 271 vascular plants from 208 genera and 74 families. A notable positive correlation (r² = 0.085, p < 0.05) was observed between total tree density and total tree basal area (TBA), shrub density (r² = 0.09), tree diversity (D) (r² = 0.58), shrub diversity (r² = 0.81), and tree species richness (SR) (r² = 0.96). Conversely, a negative correlation was found with the concentration of tree dominance (CD) (r² = 0.43). The Quercus leucotrichophora, Rhododendron arboreum and Quercus floribunda (QL-RA-QF) community(higher altitudinal zone) exhibited the highest tree biomass (568.8 Mg ha⁻¹), while the (Pinus roxburghii and Quercus leucotrichophora) PR-QL (N) community (lower altitudinal zone) in the north aspect showed the lowest (265.7 Mg ha⁻¹). Carbon sequestration was highest in the Quercus leucotrichophora, Quercus floribunda and Rhododendron arboreum (QL-QF-RA) (higher altitudinal zone) community (7.48 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and lowest in the PR-QL (S) (middle altitudinal zone) community in the south aspect (5.5 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). The relationships between carbon stock and various functional parameters such as tree density, total basal area of tree and diversity of tree showed significant positive correlations. The findings of the study revealed significant variations in the structural attributes of trees, shrubs and herbs across different forest stands along altitudinal gradients. This current study’s results highlighted the significance of wildlife sanctuaries, which not only aid in wildlife preservation but also provide compelling evidence supporting forest management practices that promote the planting of multiple vegetation layers in landscape restoration as a means to enhance biodiversity and increase resilience to climate change. Further, comprehending the carbon storage mechanisms of these forests will be critical for developing environmental management strategies aimed at alleviating the impacts of climate change in the years to come. Full article

Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is the most destructive pest of stored grain commodities. To control the attack of this insect pest, it is important to develop non-hazardous alternatives to replace fumigants. This study examined the fumigant toxicity and repellent activity of seven essential oils (Chinopodium ambrosiodes, Pinus roxburghii, Zanthoxylum armatum, Lepidium sativum, Azadirachta indica, Baccharis teindalensis, and Origanum majorana) against adult T. castaneum under controlled laboratory conditions. The fumigant toxicity and repellent activities of essential oils were tested using five different doses (62.5, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 µg) in vapour-phase fumigation and four-arm olfactometer bioassays, respectively. In vapor-phase fumigation bioassays, mortality data were recorded after 24, 48, and 72 h. The results showed that C. ambrosiodes and P. roxburghii essential oils are potential fumigants against adult T. castaneum. In repellency bioassays, a one-week-old adult population of T. castaneum was used to test the repellency potential of the essential oils. The results indicated that C. ambrosiodes and P. roxburghii had significant repellency potential against T. castaneum. Overall, we conclude that these essential oils have strong repellent and fumigant properties and can be used as potential repellent compounds to deter the insects. Full article

Rosa roxburghii (R. roxburghii), native to the southwest provinces of China, is a fruit crop of important economic value in Guizhou Province. However, the changes in fruit quality and flavor during R. roxburghii fruit ripening have remained unknown. Here, this study investigated the changes of seven active components and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the ripening of the R. roxburghii fruit at five different ripening stages including 45, 65, 75, 90, and 105 days after anthesis. The results indicated that during the ripening process, the levels of total acid, vitamin C, and soluble sugar significantly increased (p < 0.05), while the levels of total flavonoids, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and soluble tannin significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Additionally, the content of total phenol exhibited a trend of first decreasing significantly and then increasing significantly (p < 0.05). A total of 145 VOCs were detected by HS-SPME-GC-MS at five mature stages, primarily consisting of aldehydes, alcohols, esters, and alkenes. As R. roxburghii matured, both the diversity and total quantity of VOCs in the fruit increased, with a notable rise in the contents of acids, ketones, and alkenes. By calculating the ROAV values of these VOCs, 53 key substances were identified, which included aromas such as fruit, citrus, green, caramel, grass, flower, sweet, soap, wood, and fat notes. The aromas of citrus, caramel, sweet, and wood were predominantly concentrated in the later stages of R. roxburghii fruit ripening. Cluster heatmap analysis revealed distinct distribution patterns of VOCs across five different maturity stages, serving as characteristic chemical fingerprints for each stage. Notably, stages IV and V were primarily characterized by a dominance of alkenes. OPLS-DA analysis categorized the ripening process of R. roxburghii fruit into three segments: the first segment encompassed the initial three stages (I, II, and III), the second segment corresponded to the fourth stage (IV), and the third segment pertained to the fifth stage (V). Following the variable importance in projection (VIP) > 1 criterion, a total of 30 key differential VOCs were identified across the five stages, predominantly comprising ester compounds, which significantly influenced the aroma profiles of R. roxburghii fruit. By integrating the VIP > 1 and ROAV > 1 criteria, 21 differential VOCs were further identified as key contributors to the aroma changes in R. roxburghii fruit during the ripening process. This study provided data on the changes in quality and aroma of R. roxburghii fruit during ripening and laid the foundation for the investigation of the mechanism of compound accumulation during ripening. Full article

The purpose of this study was to explore the inherent links between elemental cycling in Rosa roxburghii Tratt litter and soil, as well as their coupled relationships, within barren soil environments typical of karst rocky desertification regions in Guizhou Province. Ecological stoichiometric methods were used to systematically analyze the nutrient concentrations of C, N, P, and K and their stoichiometry in the litter and soil of Rosa roxburghii, with a focus on the impacts of seasonal variations and rocky desertification regions. High C and K levels and low N and P levels are observed in the litter, whereas the soil has lower concentrations of C, N, P, and K, with nutrient replenishment priorities of N > P > K > C. Strong positive correlations are found among the C/N, C/P, and N/K stoichiometric ratios in both the litter and the soil. Furthermore, nutrient concentrations and stoichiometric ratios vary significantly by season. Seasonal variations influence nutrient concentrations, with notable increases in litter P and K levels and in soil N and P levels in September compared with March. Seasonal variations influence the stoichiometric ratios of C/N, C/P, and N/K in litter and soil, contributing to elemental balance and ecosystem stability. Moreover, significant variations in nutrient contents and stoichiometric ratios are observed across distinct rocky desertification grades. Nonrocky desertified areas present elevated P and K contents in litter, whereas light desertified areas present increased C and N concentrations. Moderately desertified areas presented increased soil P and K concentrations, whereas severely desertified areas presented the highest N levels. These discernible trends in nutrient profiles highlight the synergistic impacts of soil nutrient inadequacy and plant utilization strategies. These findings contribute to a better understanding of element cycling mechanisms in Rosa roxburghii woodland ecosystems, offering valuable information for sustainable forest management practices. Full article

As the most important way to mitigate climate change, forest carbon storage has been the subject of extensive research. A comprehensive study was carried out to investigate the influence of elevation gradients and diameter classes on the forest growth, composition, diversity, and carbon pools of the Bagh Drush Khel Forest area. Research revealed that elevation gradients significantly influenced the composition, diversity, and carbon pools in forests. At lower elevations, Eucalyptus camaldulensis was the dominant species, with Olea ferruginea as a co-dominant species, whereas at higher elevations, Pinus roxburghii was the dominant species with Quercus incana as a co-dominant species. Regeneration was higher at higher elevations with the maximum number of saplings and seedlings of P. roxburghii. Species diversity association with elevation was negative (R² = −0.44; p < 0.05—Shannon Index). Soil organic carbon (SOC association with elevation was non-significant while positive with DBH classes (R² = 0.37; p < 0.05). Overall, carbon pool association with elevation and diameter at breast height (DBH) were negative (R² = −0.73; p < 0.05) and (R² = −0.45; p < 0.05). Litter biomass correlated positively with elevation (R² = 0.25; p < 0.05) and DBH (R² = 0.11; p < 0.05), while deadwood biomass correlated negatively with elevation gradients (R² = −0.25; p < 0.05), and no effect was observed for DBH classes. The highest carbon stock (845.89 t C/ha) was calculated at low elevations, which decreased to (516.27 t C/ha) at high elevations. The overall carbon stock calculated was (2016.41 t C/ha) respectively. A total of six tree species were found at the study site. Future research is essential for forest health monitoring and understanding fine-scale impacts. This study offers a methodological framework for similar investigations in unexplored yet potentially significant forest regions worldwide. Full article

Rosa roxburghii Tratt pomace (RRTP), an underutilized byproduct, is rich in polyphenol compounds. This study aimed to further explore the purification, characterization, anti-inflammatory activities, and underlying molecular mechanisms of free polyphenols (RRTP-FP) and bound polyphenols (RRTP-BP) from RRTP. The results indicated that AB-8 macroporous resin emerged as the preferred choice for subsequent separation and purification. The purities of purified RRTP-FP (P-RRTP-FP) and purified RRTP-BP (P-RRTP-BP) increased by 103.34% and 66.01%, respectively. Quantitative analysis identified epigallocatechin, epicatechin, and ellagic acid as the main phenolic compounds in P-RRTP-FP. In P-RRTP-BP, the primary phenolic compounds were ellagic acid, epicatechin, and gallic acid. In vitro antioxidant assays demonstrated the superior DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of P-RRTP-FP and P-RRTP-BP compared to vitamin C. Treatment with P-RRTP-FP and P-RRTP-BP reduced nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitigated the decline in cellular membrane potential, and significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Additionally, P-RRTP-FP and P-RRTP-BP inhibited the phosphorylation of pertinent proteins in the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. This finding suggests potential utility of RRTP-derived polyphenols as anti-inflammatory agents for managing severe inflammatory conditions. Full article

This study aimed to compare the socio-environmental benefits of one of the most widely planted forest species, i.e., Pinus roxburghii (Sarg., hereafter ‘Pine’ or ‘Pinus’) with naturally regenerated mixed forests in two community forests of Nepal. By analyzing tree rings, we estimate biomass production, carbon accumulation, and growth enhancement in both forest types using regression models, offering insights into sustainable forest management. Pinus forests exhibit instant social benefits through direct economic conversion and a higher rate of carbon sequestration. However, the lack of perpetuated production, due to unimodal stand structures, necessitates anthropogenic interventions for long-term sustainability. Challenges such as the absence of natural regeneration, frequent fires, limited undergrowth, limited species diversity, and likely soil erosion hinder long-term sustainability in Pinus forests. In contrast, natural regenerated mixed forests offer slow carbon sequestration with less opportunity for immediate economic conversion, yet they maintain a proportional age-class distribution and experience minimal fire incidence, abundant regeneration, higher biodiversity, and lower regeneration costs. Although no abrupt environmental disasters were observed through the dendrochronological assessment, a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) was found between age and girth at breast height, biomass, and volume of the forests. This study underscores the crucial role of human intervention beyond conventional management focusing on the protection motive to production-oriented forests in optimizing the socio-economic and environmental benefits of both forest types in the changing socio-environmental challenges through informed management planning. Full article

Rose roxburghii, a horticulturally significant species within the Rosa genus of the Rosaceae family, is renowned for its abundance of secondary metabolites and ascorbate, earning it the title ‘king of vitamin C’. Despite this recognition, the mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis and regulation of triterpenoid compounds in R. roxburghii remain largely unresolved. In this study, we conducted high-performance liquid chromatography profiling across various organs of R. roxburghii, including fruit, root, stem, and leaves, revealing distinct distributions of triterpenoid compounds among different plant parts. Notably, the fruit exhibited the highest total triterpenoid content, followed by root and stem, with leaf containing the lowest levels, with leaf containing the lowest levels. Transcriptomic analysis unveiled preferential expression of members from the cytochrome P450 (CYP) and glycosyltransferase (UGT) families, likely contributing to the higher accumulation of both ascorbate and triterpenoid compounds in the fruits of R. roxburghii compared to other tissues of R. roxburghii. Transcriptomic analysis unveiled a potential gene network implicated in the biosynthesis of both ascorbate and triterpenoid compounds in R. roxburghii. These findings not only deepen our understanding of the metabolic pathways in this species but also have implications for the design of functional foods enriched with ascorbate and triterpenoids in R. roxburghii. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profile, bioactivity, and release mechanism of bound polyphenols (BPs) released from Rosa roxburghii fruit pomace insoluble dietary fiber (RPDF) through solid-state fermentation (SSF) with Aspergillus niger. The results indicated that the amount of BPs released from RPDF through SSF was 17.22 mg GAE/g DW, which was significantly higher than that achieved through alkaline hydrolysis extraction (5.33 mg GAE/g DW). The BPs released through SSF exhibited superior antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities compared to that released through alkaline hydrolysis. Chemical composition analysis revealed that SSF released several main compounds, including ellagic acid, epigallocatechin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, quercetin, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid. Mechanism analysis indicated that the disruption of tight structure, chemical bonds, and hemicellulose was crucial for the release of BPs from RPDF. This study provides valuable information on the potential application of SSF for the efficient release of BPs from RPDF, contributing to the utilization of RPDF as a functional food ingredient. Full article