Search Results (7)

Pyrola decorata Andres (P. decorata) is a traditional medicinal plant in China. However, its chloroplast genome and the deep evolutionary relationships among its genus remain unexplored. This study identified the samples as P. decorata using morphological observations from Flora of China (FOC) and ITS sequences. It is the first to analyze the complete chloroplast genome of P. decorata using Illumina and Nanopore sequencing technologies, confirming a typical chloroplast dumbbell structure. The chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) of P. decorata is 179,999 bp in length, consisting of a large single copy (LSC) (62.3% of total length (112,150 bp)), a small single copy (SSC) (6.5% of total length (11,701 bp)), and two inverted repeat regions (IRA and IRB) (31.2% combined (28,074 bp × 2)). Functional annotation revealed 128 genes: 77 conserved coding sequences (CDS) genes, 43 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Phylogenetic analysis placed P. decorata, Pyrola atropurpurea (P. atropurpurea), Pyrola rotundifolia (P. rotundifolia), and Chimaphila japonica within Group I, with P. decorata exhibiting the closest chloroplast genomic affinity to P. atropurpurea. These findings integrate morphological and molecular evidence to facilitate further identification, classification, and evolutionary analysis of this genus. Full article

A non-motile, Gram-staining-negative, orange-pigmented bacterium called herbae pc1-10^T was discovered in Tibet in the soil around Pyrola calliantha H. Andres’ roots. The isolate thrived in the temperature range of 10–30 °C (optimal, 25 °C), pH range of 5.0–9.0 (optimum, pH = 6.0), and the NaCl concentration range of 0–1.8% (optimal, 0%). The DNA G+C content of the novel strain was 37.94 mol%. It showed the function of dissolving organophosphorus, acquiring iron from the environment by siderophore and producing indole acetic acid. Moreover, the genome of strain herbae pc1-10^T harbors two antibiotic resistance genes (IND-4 and AdeF) encoding a β-lactamase, and the membrane fusion protein of the multidrug efflux complex AdeFGH; antibiotic-resistance-related proteins were detected using the Shotgun proteomics technology. The OrthoANIu values between strains Chryseobacterium herbae pc1-10^T; Chryseobacterium oleae CT348^T; Chryseobacterium kwangjuense KJ1R5^T; and Chryseobacterium vrystaatense R-23566^T were 90.94%, 82.96%, and 85.19%, respectively. The in silico DDH values between strains herbae pc1-10^T; C. oleae CT348^T; C. kwangjuense KJ1R5^T; and C. vrystaatense R-23566^T were 41.7%, 26.6%, and 29.7%, respectively. Chryseobacterium oleae, Chryseobacterium vrystaatense, and Chryseobacterium kwangjuense, which had 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity scores of 97.80%, 97.52%, and 96.75%, respectively, were its closest phylogenetic relatives. Chryseobacterium herbae sp. nov. is proposed as the designation for the strain herbae pc1-10^T (=GDMCC 1.3255 = JCM 35711), which represented a type species based on genotypic and morphological characteristics. This study provides deep knowledge of a Chryseobacterium herbae characteristic description and urges the need for further genomic studies on microorganisms living in alpine ecosystems, especially around medicinal plants. Full article

Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) emissions can have considerable effects on terrestrial ecosystems, with chronic N deposition leading to changes in plant species composition. The Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR) represents a large point source of N emissions, which has prompted concern for surrounding habitats. The objective of this study was to determine the relative importance of N deposition as a driver of plant species community composition against bioclimatic and soil chemical variables. Further, we sought to identify community thresholds in plant species composition across a N deposition gradient. This assessment was performed for 46 Jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.)-dominant forest sites surrounding the AOSR spanning Alberta and Saskatchewan. In total, 35 environmental variables were evaluated using redundancy analysis (RDA), followed by gradient forest analysis applied to plant species abundance data. Soil chemical variables accounted for just over 26% of the total explainable variation in the dataset, followed by bioclimatic variables (19%) and deposition variables (5%), but joint effects between variables also explained a significant portion of the total variation (p < 0.001). Total deposited nitrogen (TDN), and sulphur (TDS) along with bioclimatic and soil chemical variables, were identified as important variables in gradient forest analysis. A single, definitive threshold across TDN was identified at approximately 5.6 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (while a TDS threshold was found at 14.4 kg S ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). The TDN threshold range was associated primarily with changepoints for several vascular species (Pyrola asarifolia, Pyrola chlorantha, Cornus canadensis, and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and bryophyte and lichen species (Pleurozium schreberi, Vulpicida pinastri, and Dicranum polysetum). These results suggest that across Jack pine-dominant forests surrounding the AOSR, the biodiversity-based empirical critical load of nutrient N is 5.6 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Full article

Pyrola corbieri Levl has been used to strengthen bones and nourish the kidney (the kidney governs the bone and is beneficial to the brain) by the local Miao people in China. However, the functional components and neurotrophic activity have not been reported. A new acidic homogeneous heteropolysaccharide named LTC-1 was obtained and characterized by periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, partial acid hydrolysis, GC–MS spectrometry, methylation analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and its molecular weight was 3239 Da. The content of mannuronic acid (Man A) in LTC-1 was 46%, and the neutral sugar was composed of L-rhamnose (L-Rha), L-arabinose (L-Ara), D-xylose (D-Xyl), D-mannose (D-Man), D-glucose (D-Glc) and D-galactose (D-Gal) with a molar ratio of 1.00:3.63:0.86:1.30:6.97:1.30. The main chain of LTC-1 was composed of Glc, Gal, Man, Man A and the branched chain Ara, Glc, Gal. The terminal residues were composed of Glc and Gal. The main chain and branched chains were linked by (1→5)-linked-Ara, (1→3)-linked-Glc, (1→4)-linked-Glc, (1→6)-linked-Glc, (1→3)-linked-Gal, (1→6)-linked-Gal, (1→3, 6)-linked-Man and ManA. Meanwhile, neurotrophic activity was evaluated through PC12 and primary hippocampal neuronal cell models. LTC-1 exhibited neurotrophic activity in a concentration-dependent manner, which significantly induced the differentiation of PC12 cells, promoted the neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells, enhanced the formation of the web architecture of dendrites, and increased the density of dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons and the expression of PSD-95. These results displayed significant neurotrophic factor-like activity of LTC-1, which suggests that LTC-1 is a potential treatment option for neurodegenerative diseases. Full article

The population structure of endangered species is one of the main criteria for assessing their state in their habitats. Representatives of the Ericaceae family are sensitive to environmental changes, including anthropogenic pressure; thus, they are considered the indicator species in assessing phytocenose stability. The population structure and density of the threatened species green-flowered wintergreen, Pyrola chlorantha Sw., have been described at the southern range margin (south-east of the European part of Russia, Samara Region). The observations were performed here in 2006–2021, and the main parameters of the age and spatial structure of P. chlorantha populations were revealed for the first time. Green-flowered wintergreen populations were studied at monitoring study sites and at temporarily established study plots. A bush part (ramet) was set as a counting unit. In total, 27 sub-populations were surveyed, with 1520 individuals registered. The age structure of populations was characterized using common demographic indicators: the recovery index and the population age index. The age structure of the population was associated with the efficiency of both vegetative and seed reproduction. Generally, the share of pre-generative individuals was 32.3%, generative, 66.9%, and senile, 1.8%. The studied populations were stable due to low anthropogenic impact at the growth sites. Full article

The leaves of Pyrola rotundifolia L. were extracted in the mixed solvent of methanol/acetone/water (2:2:1, v/v/v) and investigated for their phytochemical analysis and biological activity. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined spectrophotometrically. A high content of phenols (208.35 mg GAE/g of dry extract), flavonoids (38.90 mg QE/g of dry extract) and gallotannins (722.91 GAE/g of dry extract) was obtained. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography diode array detector tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–DAD–MS) allowed for the detection of 23 major peaks at 254 nm. The extract was analyzed for its antioxidant capacity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH^•) and 2,2′-azinobis[3-ethylbenzthiazoline]-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS^•+) radical scavenging, metal chelating power and β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching assays. The examined extract showed moderate radical scavenging and chelating activity, and good inhibiting ability of linoleic acid oxidation (EC₅₀ = 0.05 mg/mL) in comparison to standards. The cytotoxic effect in increasing concentration on five types of leukemic cell lines was also investigated using trypan blue vital staining. It was found that the analyzed extract induced the apoptosis of all the tested cell lines. Our findings suggest that the leaves of P. rotundifolia are a source of valuable compounds providing protection against oxidative damage, hence their use in traditional medicine is justified. Full article

Objective: To screen for influenza virus neuraminidase inhibition and to provide a reference for the clinical treatment of influenza using traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). In this study, 421 crude extracts (solubilized with petroleum ether, ethanol, ethyl acetate, and aqueous solvents) were obtained from 113 TCM. The medicine extracts were then reacted with oseltamivir, using 2’-(4-methylumbelliferyl)-α-D-N-acetylneuraminic acid (MUNANA) as the substrate, to determine influenza virus neuraminidase activity using a standard fluorimetric assay. It was found that Chinese medicine extracts from Pyrola calliantha, Cynanchum wilfordii, Balanophora involucrata and Paeonia delavayi significantly inhibited neuraminidase activity at a concentration of 40 μg/mL. Dose-dependent inhibitory assays also revealed significant inhibition. The IC₅₀ range of the TCM extracts for influenza virus neuraminidase was approximately 12.66–34.85 μg/mL, respectively. Some Chinese medicines have clear anti-influenza viral effects that may play an important role in the treatment of influenza through the inhibition of viral neuraminidase. The results of this study demonstrated that plant medicines can serve as a useful source of neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors and further investigation into the pharmacologic activities of these extracts is warranted. Full article