Search Results (20)

Background/Objectives: Sphagneticola trilobata is a phytochemically rich medicinal plant, yet its antioxidant-active fractions and redox-related mechanisms remain incompletely characterized. This study combined metabolite profiling, antioxidant screening, network pharmacology, pharmacokineticprediction, and molecular docking to characterize active flower and leaf fractions and prioritize antioxidant-related targets. Methods: Petroleum ether, methylene chloride, and ethyl acetate fractions of S. trilobata flowers and leaves were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–ESI–MS/MS). The predominant metabolite was isolated and spectroscopically characterized. Antioxidant activity was assessed using 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Metabolites from the most active fractions were investigated by target prediction, protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis, enrichment analysis, SwissADME, and docking. Results: UPLC–ESI–MS/MS tentatively identified 59, 18, and 16 metabolites in the petroleum ether, methylene chloride, and ethyl acetate fractions, respectively, including diterpenes, phenolic acids, flavonoids, fatty acids, triterpenes, and coumarin-related metabolites. Butein was isolated as the predominant metabolite from the ethyl acetate flower fraction, which showed the strongest antioxidant activity, with IC₅₀ values of 5.85 ± 0.14 µg/mL in ABTS and 9.11 ± 0.75 µg/mL in FRAP, followed by the ethyl acetate leaf fraction. Network analysis identified 61 and 82 antioxidant-relevant targets for the flower and leaf ethyl acetate fractions, respectively, with enrichment in inflammation-, apoptosis-, transcription-, hypoxia-, lipid stress-, and kinase-related pathways. Docking suggested fraction-specific compatibility with EGFR/PTGS2/STAT3 for flower metabolites and AKT1/PTGS2 for leaf metabolites. Conclusions: S. trilobata ethyl acetate fractions, particularly the flower fraction, represent promising antioxidant sources with experimentally supported activity and computationally prioritized redox-related hypotheses requiring further validation. Full article

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory condition characterized by progressive deterioration in lung function and persistent symptoms, particularly dyspnea, which can lead to death. Inflammation is important in COPD pathogenesis because it causes persistent inflammatory responses in the respiratory tract. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate H₂O extracts derived from Wedelia (Sphagneticola trilobata) and Sembung Rambat (Mikania micrantha), respectively, as anti-inflammatory agents and to analyze the metabolite profiles contained in the extracts. The results showed that Sembung Rambat H₂O extract demonstrated significant inhibition of IL-2 (100 ± 0.00%), while Wedelia extract inhibited 74.68 ± 7.13% release of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis mainly identified the presence of amino acids, phenolic acids, organic acids, and terpenoids in both extracts. These results suggest the promising potential of Wedelia and Sembung Rambat extracts as herbal therapy for COPD. Full article

Colorectal cancer remains a global health challenge due to its high mortality and therapy resistance. While Wedelia trilobata (L.) (WT) exhibits pharmacological potential, its specific mechanisms against this cancer are not fully understood. We investigated the anticancer effects of W. trilobata leaf ethanol extract and its n-hexane and chloroform fractions on HT-29 cells. The WT extract significantly inhibited proliferation by inducing G1/S phase arrest and downregulating PCNA mRNA. It triggered substantial DNA damage (increased γ-H2AX) and suppressed the mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK) pathway. Notably, the WT extract-induced autophagy-mediated cell death, marked by acidic vesicular organelle formation and increased LC3-II levels. Inhibition of autophagy with N-acetylcysteine and 3-methyladenine partially rescued cell viability, restored p-Akt levels, and reduced LC3-II, indicating that cell death is regulated via the ROS-mediated Akt/mTOR signaling axis. Additionally, autophagic flux was validated using chloroquine, which led to a synergistic accumulation of LC3-II. GC-MS analysis identified 48 and 52 compounds in the n-hexane and chloroform fractions, respectively, including metabolites with known antioxidant and antitumoral properties. These findings demonstrate that W. trilobata induces autophagic cell death through ROS-mediated Akt/mTOR inhibition, supporting its potential as a source of innovative colorectal cancer therapeutics. Full article

Light availability is a primary determinant of plant growth and a key factor influencing the success of alien plant invasions. Although the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) is a known master regulator of abiotic stress responses, its specific role in the shade tolerance and competitive advantage of invasive species remains poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a comparative experiment using the highly invasive Wedelia trilobata and its native congener, Wedelia chinensis. We investigated their eco-physiological responses to normal (100%) and low-light (30%) intensities, coupled with the application of exogenous ABA (A1) and the biosynthesis inhibitor sodium tungstate (S1). Our results showed that low light significantly inhibited the growth and photosynthetic capacity of both species, reducing biomass and net photosynthetic rate P_n. However, exogenous ABA application specifically enhanced the P_n and biomass of the invasive W. trilobata under low-light stress, while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) content and optimizing antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, and CAT). Conversely, the inhibition of endogenous ABA by sodium tungstate exacerbated oxidative damage and photosynthetic decline in both species, with a more pronounced negative impact on W. trilobata. Correlation analysis further revealed that W. trilobata maintains a superior capacity to coordinate stomatal regulation and antioxidant defense through ABA signaling. These findings suggest that the invasive success of W. trilobata in fluctuating light environments is significantly driven by its high sensitivity and efficiency in ABA-mediated physiological plasticity, providing a potential target for managing its spread through hormonal or metabolic interference. Full article

Salinity is one of the most significant environmental factors limiting plant development and productivity. Invasive plants could quickly respond to environmental changes, thus successfully achieving invasion. However, there is limited research on the mechanism of salt responses in invasive plants under different nutritional conditions. This study evaluated and compared the impact of salinity stress and nutrient application on physiological responses in the invasive plant Wedelia trilobata and native plant Wedelia chinensis. Mild salinity stress disrupted the growth of these two plants, significantly reducing their leaf and stem node number under a low nutrient condition. W. trilobata showed notable decreases in height and leaf number with high salinity stress regardless of nutrient levels, whereas it was observed only in the low nutrient state in W. chinensis. The negative effects of high salinity on both species were most evident in nutrient-poor environments. Under low salinity and nutrient stress, W. trilobata’s leaves exhibited increased levels of proline, MDA, CAT, and ABA, with decreased GA and IAA content. A low-salt environment favored W. trilobata’s competitive advantage, and nutrient enrichment appeared to enhance its invasive potential, in which process the plant antioxidant system and endogenous hormones contribute greatly. This study provides a theoretical foundation for predicting suitable growth areas for W. trilobata referring to the salt condition, guiding future strategies for preventing and controlling its invasive spread. Full article

Heat waves (HW) are projected to become more frequent and intense with climate change, potentially enhancing the invasiveness of certain plant species. This study aims to compare the physiological and photosynthetic responses of the invasive Wedelia trilobata and its native congener Wedelia chinensis under simulated heat wave conditions (40.1 °C, derived from local historical data). Results show that W. trilobata maintained higher photosynthetic efficiency, water-use efficiency (WUE), and total biomass under HW, suggesting that its ability to optimize above-ground growth contributes to its success in heat-prone environments. In contrast, W. chinensis focused more on root development and antioxidant protection, exhibiting a decrease in total biomass under heat wave conditions. These results indicate that W. trilobata employs a more effective strategy to cope with heat stress, likely enhancing its competitive advantage in regions affected by heat waves. This study highlights the importance of understanding species-specific responses to extreme climate events and underscores the potential for heat waves to drive ecological shifts, favoring invasive species with higher phenotypic plasticity. Full article

The invasive plant Wedelia trilobata benefits in various aspects, such as nutrient absorption and environmental adaptability, by establishing a close symbiotic relationship with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, our understanding of whether AMF can benefit W. trilobata by influencing its metabolic profile remains limited. In this study, Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was conducted to analyze the metabolites of W. trilobata under AMF inoculation. Metabolomic analysis identified 119 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) between the groups inoculated with AMF and those not inoculated with AMF. Compared to plants with no AMF inoculation, plants inoculated with AMF showed upregulation in the relative expression of 69 metabolites and downregulation in the relative expression of 50 metabolites. AMF significantly increased levels of various primary and secondary metabolites in plants, including amino acids, organic acids, plant hormones, flavonoids, and others, with amino acids being the most abundant among the identified substances. The identified DEMs mapped 53 metabolic pathways, with 7 pathways strongly influenced by AMF, particularly the phenylalanine metabolism pathway. Moreover, we also observed a high colonization level of AMF in the roots of W. trilobata, significantly promoting the shoot growth of this plant. These changes in metabolites and metabolic pathways significantly affect multiple physiological and biochemical processes in plants, such as free radical scavenging, osmotic regulation, cell structure stability, and material synthesis. In summary, AMF reprogrammed the metabolic pathways of W. trilobata, leading to changes in both primary and secondary metabolomes, thereby benefiting the growth of W. trilobata and enhancing its ability to respond to various biotic and abiotic stressors. These findings elucidate the molecular regulatory role of AMF in the invasive plant W. trilobata and provide new insights into the study of its competitive and stress resistance mechanisms. Full article

Drought-induced metabolic dysregulation significantly enhances the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which, in turn, exerts a substantial influence on the oxidation–reduction regulatory status of cells. These ROS, under conditions of drought stress, become highly reactive entities capable of targeting various plant organelles, metabolites, and molecules. Consequently, disruption affects a wide array of metabolic pathways and eventually leads to the demise of the cells. Given this understanding, this study aimed to investigate the effects of different drought stress levels on the growth and development of the invasive weed Wedelia trilobata and its co-responding native counterpart Wedelia chinensis. Both plants evolved their defense mechanisms to increase their antioxidants and hormone contents to detoxify ROS to avoid oxidative damage. Still, the chlorophyll content fluctuated and increased in a polyethylene-glycol-simulated drought. The proline content also rose in the plants, but W. chinensis showed a significant negative correlation between proline and malondialdehyde in different plant parts. Thus, W. trilobata and W. chinensis exhibited diverse or unlike endogenous hormone regulation patterns under drought conditions. Meanwhile, W. trilobata and W. chinensis pointedly increased the content of indole acetic acid and gibberellic acid in a different drought stress environment. A positive correlation was found between endogenous hormones in other plant parts, including in the roots and leaves. Both simulated and natural drought conditions exerted a significant influence on both plant species, with W. trilobata displaying superior adaptation characterized by enhanced growth, bolstered antioxidant defense mechanisms, and heightened hormonal activities. Full article

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most crucial elements for plant growth. However, a deficiency of N affects plant growth and development. Wedelia trilobata is a notorious invasive plant species that exhibits superior tolerance to adapt to environmental stresses. Yet, research on the growth and antioxidant defensive system of invasive Wedelia under low N stress, which could contribute to understanding invasion mechanisms, is still limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate and compare the tolerance capability of invasive and native Wedelia under low and normal N conditions. Native and invasive Wedelia species were grown in normal and low-N conditions using a hydroponic nutrient solution for 8 weeks to assess the photosynthetic parameters, antioxidant activity, and localization of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The growth and biomass of W. trilobata were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than W. chinensis under low N. The leaves of W. trilobata resulted in a significant increase in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll content by 40.2, 56.2, and 46%, respectively, compared with W. chinensis. W. trilobata significantly enhanced antioxidant defense systems through catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase by 18.6%, 20%, and 36.3%, respectively, providing a positive response to oxidative stress caused by low N. The PCA analysis showed that W. trilobata was 95.3% correlated with physiological traits by Dim1 (79.1%) and Dim2 (16.3%). This study provides positive feedback on W. trilobata with respect to its comprehensive invasion mechanism to improve agricultural systems via eco-friendly approaches in N deficit conditions, thereby contributing to the reclamation of barren land. Full article

Weed management is a crucial aspect of sustainable agriculture. In this study, we investigated the allelopathic potential of wedelia (Wedelia trilobata L.) leaf extract as a bioherbicide against purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.). The experiments were carried out through greenhouse experiments using a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications. Five different concentrations were evaluated: C10% (10% wedelia extract concentration), C20% (20% wedelia extract concentration), C40% (40% wedelia extract concentration), C+ (92 mg L⁻¹ of gallic acid), and C− (aquadest). Allelochemicals present in the wedelia leaf extract inhibited plant height, shoot number, leaf number, leaf area, root area, and total root length. The fresh weight, dry weight, and photosynthetic pigments decreased with increasing wedelia leaf extract concentrations. Malondialdehyde contents were highest when C40% was used. Additionally, peroxide activities decreased at the highest wedelia leaf extract concentration, indicating the failure of the plant’s antioxidant defense mechanism. The decrease in growth, photosynthetic pigment, and antioxidant activity indicates that wedelia leaf extract may be able to help control the growth of purple nutsedge. The results of this study could contribute to the development of a new cropping system based on the use of wedelia as a bioherbicide for sustainable agriculture. Full article

At present, many hypotheses have been proposed to explain the mechanism of alien plants’ successful invasion; the resource fluctuations hypothesis indicates that nutrient availability is a main abiotic factor driving the invasion of alien plants. Higher phosphorus utilization and absorption efficiency might be one of the important reasons for alien plants successful invasion. Wedelia trilobata, one of the notorious invasive weeds in China, possesses a strong ability to continue their development under infertile habitats. In this study, firstly, W. trilobata and its native congener, W. chinensis, were grown in various phosphorus forms to test their absorption efficiency of phosphorus. Secondly, the different responses of W. trilobata and W. chinensis to the insoluble phosphorus in three growth stages (at 30, 60, and 150 days cultivation) were also tested. The results showed that the growth rate, root morphology, and phosphorus absorption efficiency of W. trilobata under various insoluble, organic, or low phosphorus conditions were significantly higher than that of W. chinensis. During the short-term cultivation period (30 d), the growth of W. trilobata under insoluble and low phosphorus treatments had no significant difference, and the growth of W. trilobata in insoluble phosphorus treatment also had no significant effect in long-term cultivation (60 and 150 d). However, the growth of W. chinensis in each period under the conditions of insoluble and low phosphorus was significantly inhibited throughout these three growth stages. Therefore, invasive W. trilobata had a higher phosphorus utilization efficiency than its native congener. This study could explain how invasive W. trilobata performs under nutrient-poor habitats, while also providing favorable evidence for the resource fluctuations hypothesis. Full article

In China, Wedelia trilobata (WT) is among the top most invasive plant species. The prediction of its growth, using different efficient methods under different environmental conditions, is the optimal objective of ecological research. For this purpose, Wedelia trilobata and its native plant species Wedelia chinensis (WC) were grown in mixed cultures under different levels of submergence and eutrophication. The multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models were constructed, with different morphological traits as the input in order to predict dry weight as the output for both plant species. Correlation and stepwise regression analysis (SWR) were used to find the best input variables for the ANN and MLR models. Plant height, number of nodes, chlorophyll content, leaf nitrogen, number of leaves, photosynthesis, and stomatal conductance were the input variables for WC. The same variables were used for WT, with the addition of root length. A network with the Levenberg–Marquart learning algorithm, back propagation training algorithm, Sigmoid Axon transfer function, and one hidden layer, with four and six neurons for WC and WT, respectively, was created. The best ANN model for WC (7-4-1) has a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.98, root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.003, and mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.001. On the other hand, the ANN model for WT (8-6-1) has R² 0.98, RMSE 0.018, and MAE 0.004. According to errors and coefficient of determination values, the ANN model was more accurate than the MLR one. According to the sensitivity analysis, plant height and number of nodes are the most important variables that support WT and WC growth under submergence and eutrophication conditions. This study provides us with a new method to control invasive plant species’ spread in different habitats. Full article

In the present study, the binding affinity of 52 bioactive secondary metabolites from Wedelia trilobata towards the anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein (PDB: 2W3L) structure was identified by using in silico molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. The molecular docking results demonstrated that the binding energies of docked compounds with Bcl-2 protein ranged from −5.3 kcal/mol to −10.1 kcal/mol. However, the lowest binding energy (−10.1 kcal/mol) was offered by Friedelin against Bcl-2 protein when compared to other metabolites and the standard drug Obatoclax (−8.4 kcal/mol). The molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the Friedelin-Bcl-2 protein complex was found to be stable throughout the simulation period of 100 ns. Overall, the predicted Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADMET) properties of Friedelin are relatively better than Obatoclax, with the most noticeable differences in many parameters where Friedelin has no AMES toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and skin sensitization. The ADMET profiling of selected compounds supported their in silico drug-likeness properties. Based on the computational analyses, the present study concluded that Friedelin of W. trilobata was found to be the potential inhibitor of the Bcl-2 protein, which merits attention for further in vitro and in vivo studies before clinical trials. Full article

The role of the interactions between endophytes and host plants is unclear in invasive plants from different geographical latitudes. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between endophytic microbes and the functional traits of the invasive plant Wedelia trilobata. We explored the relationship between endophytes and the clonal growth traits of the invasive clonal plant Wedelia trilobata from different geographical latitudes using high-throughput sequencing technology and a common garden-planting experiment. We found that: (1) Different W. trilobata populations had similar endophytic fungi but different endophytic bacteria. However, no latitudinal variation pattern of the overall microbial community was found; (2) plant clonal growth performance (i.e., spacer length) was significantly correlated with endophytic bacterial diversity but not fungal diversity; and (3) the latitudinal variation pattern of the plant clonal growth performance of W. trilobata populations was found in pre-cultivated (i.e., wild) individuals but disappeared in post-cultivated W. trilobata. Our results suggest both environmental adaptability and the endophytic bacterial community are linked to the functional traits of the invasive clonal plant W. trilobata, and these functional traits tend to increase its invasiveness, which may enhance its invasion success. Full article

Nitrogen (N) is the important nutrition that regulatory plant functioning and environmental stability of invasive plant species under flooding (F) conditions. Little information clarifies the role of nitrogen enrichment and flooding on the invasive plant functional traits and competition with native competitors. Plant functional traits play an essential role in the successful growth of plants under different environmental conditions. Therefore, greenhouse pots experiment was conducted with invasive plant species (Wedelia trilobata, WT), and its native competitor (Wedelia chinensis, WC) in monoculture and cocultivation culture, along with flooding and nitrogen enrichment conditions. Considering the impact of flooding (F) and nitrogen (N) on an individual basis, the plant physiological traits of WC were nonsignificant compared to that of WT. However, in the combination of flooding × additional nitrogen (F.N, F.2N), plant physiological traits of WT were comparatively higher than those of WC, especially in cocultivation. In flooding × additional nitrogen (F.N and F.2N), better phenotypic plasticity at different plant traits makes WT more dominant in resource competition over WC. In conclusion, improved functional traits of WT under nitrogen enrichment and flooding conditions enhanced its competitiveness over native competitors. Full article