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Glehnia littoralis, a medicinal herb employed in traditional practices for alleviating fatigue, cough, and a dry throat, is recognized for its beneficial properties due to a diverse array of active compounds found in its extracts. For example, the G. littoralis roots (Radix Glehniae) mainly contain coumarins and phenolic acids, serving as the primary focus of this study. Despite the widespread use of the tools in various industries and the development of multiple analytical methods for their examination, the edible aerial parts have industrial potential, and there is currently no analytical method available to identify their key components. In this study, a high-performance liquid chromatography method combined with diode array detection (HPLC–DAD) was developed to simultaneously detect 16 phenolic compounds previously reported to be present in the edible aerial parts of G. littoralis. The proposed approach included using gradient elution to change the solvent system from water/acetonitrile to water/methanol. Furthermore, the method validation was conducted, assessing its linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, precision, accuracy, and recovery, all of which demonstrated satisfactory results. Subsequently, the developed method was applied to quantify the phenolic compounds in various G. littoralis samples obtained from different organs, solvent extraction processes, and processing methods. Moreover, the online HPLC-ABTS (2,2ʹ-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay was used to evaluate the antioxidant capacities of individual constituents, identifying four important antioxidants and estimate the overall antioxidant capacity of the G. littoralis extract.

Artemisia species have significant commercial, medical, and economic value and are widely used in the traditional medicine and pharmaceutical industries. Artemisinin, a powerful antimalarial agent, is an important pharmaceutical metabolite that primarily accumulates within the glandular trichomes (GTs) on the leaf surface of Artemisia plants. Trichomes arising from the elongation of epidermal cells can be classified into GTs and non-glandular trichomes (NGTs) based on their morphology. GTs and NGTs are present in Artemisia species, and the relationship between GTs and artemisinin has been extensively studied; however, the correlation between NGTs and artemisinin remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we inferred artemisinin derivatives and trichome characteristics based on the type of species, developmental stage, and leaf age and conducted correlation analyses to investigate the factors influencing artemisinin content across different Artemisia species. Artemisinin and its derivatives exhibited variations in distribution based on species and leaf age, with a decreasing trend observed across most species as the developmental stage progressed. Noticeable differences among Artemisia species were observed in leaf shape, morphology, and trichome distribution. Although the observed data did not evidently differentiate between species, developmental stage, and leaf age groups, principal component analysis revealed that artemisinin was positively associated with the NGTs density, indicating a correlation coefficient of 0.56 (p < 0.0001). Therefore, the number of NGTs may affect the artemisinin content in different Artemisia species.

Fucoxanthin (FX), a primary carotenoid, is associated with the fucoxanthin-chlorophyll a/c binding protein (FCP) complex integrated into the thylakoid membrane (TM) which functions as a light-harvesting complex in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Here, we aimed to elucidate the FX production regulated by different light intensities via the correlation of FX biosynthesis and apoproteins composing of FCP complex. High light (HL) accelerated P. tricornutum growth more than low light (LL). The maximum values of FX content and productivity obtained under LL (1.7 mg g−1 and 2.12 mg L−1 day−1, respectively) were substantially higher than those obtained under HL (0.54 mg g−1 and 0.79 mg L−1 day−1, respectively). Notably, proteome and photosynthetic pigment analyses revealed the enrichment of FCP antennae in the LL culture TM fractions but not the HL culture. Semi-quantification of FCP antenna protein using LC–MS/MS and RNA transcriptome analyses revealed that PtLhcf5 and PtLhcf8 played crucial roles in FCP biosynthesis under LL. P. tricornutum cultured under light transition exhibited FCP formation only in the early growth stage to meet the increased photosynthetic activity requirements under LL. Meanwhile, FCP degradation could be triggered by HL throughout the cultivation period. Therefore, FX production was highly correlated with FCP formation, and LL conditions in the early growth stage were critical for higher FX productivity.

Ligularia fischeri , a leafy edible plant found in damp shady regions, has been used as an herbal medicine and is also consumed as a horticultural crop. In this study, we investigated the physiological and transcriptomic changes, especially those involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, induced by severe drought stress in L. fischeri plants. A distinguishing characteristic of L. fischeri is a color change from green to purple due to anthocyanin biosynthesis. We chromatographically isolated and identified two anthocyanins and two flavones upregulated by drought stress using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses in this plant for the first time. In contrast, all types of caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) and flavonol contents were decreased under drought stress. Further, we performed RNA sequencing to examine the molecular changes in these phenolic compounds at the transcriptome level. In an overview of drought-inducible responses, we identified 2,105 hits for 516 distinct transcripts as drought-responsive genes. Moreover, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with phenylpropanoid biosynthesis accounted for the greatest number of both up- and downregulated DEGs by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis. We identified 24 meaningful DEGs based on the regulation of phenylpropanoid biosynthetic genes. Potential drought-responsive genes included upregulated flavone synthase ( LfFNS , TRINITY DN31661 c0 g1 i1) and anthocyanin 5- O -glucosyltransferase ( LfA5GT1 , TRINITY DN782 c0 g1 i1), which could contribute to the high levels of flavones and anthocyanins under drought stress in L. fischeri . In addition, the downregulated shikimate O -hydroxycinnamolytransferase ( LfHCT , TRINITY DN31661 c0 g1 i1) and hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA quinate/shikimate transferase ( LfHQT4 , TRINITY DN15180 c0 g1 i1) genes led to a reduction in CQAs. Only one or two BLASTP hits for LfHCT were obtained for six different Asteraceae species. It is possible that the HCT gene plays a crucial role in CQAs biosynthesis in these species. These findings expand our knowledge of the response mechanisms to drought stress, particularly regarding the regulation of key phenylpropanoid biosynthetic genes in L. fischeri .

This study aimed to investigate the regulation of fucoxanthin (FX) biosynthesis under various nitrogen conditions to optimize FX productivity in Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Apart from light, nitrogen availability significantly affects the FX production of microalgae; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In batch culture, P. tricornutum was cultivated with normal (NN, 0.882 mM sodium nitrate), limited (LN, 0.22 mM), and high (HN, 8.82 mM) initial nitrogen concentrations in f/2 medium. Microalgal growth and photosynthetic pigment production were examined, and day 5 samples were subjected to fucoxanthin–chlorophyll a/c-binding protein (FCP) proteomic and transcriptomic analyses. The result demonstrated that HN promoted FX productivity by extending the exponential growth phase for higher biomass and FX accumulation stage (P1), showing a continuous increase in FX accumulation on day 6. Augmented FX biosynthesis via the upregulation of carotenogenesis could be primarily attributed to enhanced FCP formation in the thylakoid membrane. Key proteins, such as LHC3/4, LHCF8, LHCF5, and LHCF10, and key genes, such as PtPSY, PtPDS, and PtVDE, were upregulated under nitrogen repletion. Finally, the combination of low light and HN prolonged the P1 stage to day 10, resulting in maximal FX productivity to 9.82 ± 0.56 mg/L/day, demonstrating an effective strategy for enhancing FX production in microalgae cultivation.

Background Wasabi, a Brassicaceae member, is well-known for its unique pungent and hot flavor which is produced from glucosinolate (GSL) degradation. Myrosinase (MYR) is a principle enzyme catalyzing the primary conversion of GSLs to GSL hydrolysis products (GHPs) which is responsible for plant defense system and food quality. Due to the limited information in relation to MYRs present in wasabi ( Wasabia japonica M.), this study aimed to identify the MYR isogenes in W. japonica and analyze their roles in relation to GSL metabolism. Results In results, WjMYRI-1 was abundantly expressed in all organs, whereas WjMYRI-2 showed only trace expression levels. WjMYRII was highly expressed in the aboveground tissues. Interestingly, WjMYRII expression was significantly upregulated by certain abiotic factors, such as methyl jasmonate (more than 40-fold in petioles and 15-fold in leaves) and salt (tenfold in leaves). Young leaves and roots contained 97.89 and 91.17 µmol‧g −1 of GSL, whereas less GSL was produced in mature leaves and petioles (38.36 and 44.79 µmol‧g −1 , respectively). Similar pattern was observed in the accumulation of GHPs in various plant organs. Notably, despite the non-significant changes in GSL production, abiotic factors treated samples enhanced significantly GHP content. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed that WjMYRI-1 expression significantly correlated with GSL accumulation and GHP formation, suggesting the primary role of WjMYRI-1 -encoding putative protein in GSL degradation. In contrast, WjMYRII expression level showed no correlation with GSL or GHP content, suggesting another physiological role of WjMYRII in stress-induced response. Conclusions In conclusions, three potential isogenes ( WjMYRI-1 , WjMYRI-2 , and WjMYRII ) encoding for different MYR isoforms in W. japonica were identified. Our results provided new insights related to MYR and GSL metabolism which are important for the implications of wasabi in agriculture, food and pharmaceutical industry. Particularly, WjMYRI-1 may be primarily responsible for GSL degradation, whereas WjMYRII (clade II) may be involved in other regulatory pathways induced by abiotic factors.

Microalgae have demonstrated biostimulant potential owing to their ability to produce various plant growth-promoting substances, such as amino acids, phytohormones, polysaccharides, and vitamins. Most previous studies have primarily focused on the effects of microalgal biostimulants on plant growth. While biomass extracts are commonly used as biostimulants, research on the use of culture supernatant, a byproduct of microalgal culture, is scarce. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of Chlorella vulgaris culture as a biostimulant and assess its effects on the growth and drought tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana, addressing the gap in current knowledge. Our results demonstrated that the Chlorella cell-free supernatant (CFS) significantly enhanced root growth and shoot development in both seedlings and mature Arabidopsis plants, suggesting the presence of specific growth-promoting compounds in CFS. Notably, CFS appeared to improve drought tolerance in Arabidopsis plants by increasing glucosinolate biosynthesis, inducing stomatal closure, and reducing water loss. Gene expression analysis revealed considerable changes in the expression of drought-responsive genes, such as IAA5, which is involved in auxin signaling, as well as glucosinolate biosynthetic genes, including WRKY63, MYB28, and MYB29. Overall, C. vulgaris culture-derived CFS could serve as a biostimulant alternative to chemical products, enhancing plant growth and drought tolerance.

Kale is a prominent leafy vegetable because of its high content of bioactive compounds and various health benefits. Microalgae have been suggested as a biostimulator that can replace chemical fertilizers by enhancing crop yield and supporting soil carbon sequestration. In this study, the effect of Chlorella vulgaris as a plant biostimulant on the growth and secondary metabolite contents of “Red Russian” kale (Brassica napus var. Pabularia) with green leaves and purple veins has been demonstrated. Three Chlorella treatments were used: CS, C. vulgaris suspension; CB, C. vulgaris biomass; and CFS, filtered C. vulgaris-free supernatant. The plant growth rates, phytochemical contents, and individual glucosinolate and anthocyanin contents were determined. There was no significant difference under the CS and CB treatments, while CFS negatively influenced on kale growth with 37% reduction of dried weight. In contrast, metabolite production differed according to Chlorella treatments. Total contents of chlorophyll and carotenoid were increased by 1.57 and 1.41 folds by CS treatment, whereas total contents of phenol and flavonoids were enhanced by 1.30 and 1.22 folds by CFS treatment. Totally, seven glucosinolates and four anthocyanins were characterized and quantified individually. Notably, CFS treatment increased gluconasturtiin and all anthocyanins the most, 10.28-fold and 5.90-fold, respectively.

The aim of this study was to quantify the abilities of mouse liver parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells with respect to (i) cholesteryl ester (CE) selective uptake from low-density lipoproteins (LDL), oxidized LDL (OxLDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL); and (ii) their free cholesterol efflux to HDL. The preparations of cells were incubated with lipoproteins labelled either in protein with iodine-125 or in CE with 3 H-cholesterol oleate, and lipoprotein-protein and lipoprotein-CE associations were measured. The associations of LDL-protein and LDL-CE with nonparenchymal cells were 5- and 2-fold greater, respectively, than with parenchymal cells. However, in terms of CE-selective uptake (CE association minus protein association) both types of cell were equivalent. Similar results were obtained with OxLDL, but both types of cell showed higher abilities in OxLDL-CE than in LDL-CE selective uptake (on average by 3.4-fold). The association of HDL-protein with nonparenchymal cells was 3× that with parenchymal cells; however, nonparenchymal cells associated 45% less HDL-CE. Contrary to parenchymal cells, nonparenchymal cells did not show HDL-CE selective uptake activity. Thus parenchymal cells selectively take CE from the 3 types of lipoproteins, whereas nonparenchymal cells exert this function only on LDL and OxLDL. Efflux was 3.5-fold more important in nonparenchymal than in parenchymal cells.Key words: LDL, HDL, parenchymal, SR-BI, CD36, selective uptake, cholesterol.

Kale is a prominent leafy vegetable because of its high content of bioactive compounds and various health benefits. Microalgae have been suggested as a biostimulator that can replace chemical fertilizers by enhancing crop yield and supporting soil carbon sequestration. In this study, the effect of Chlorella vulgaris as a plant biostimulant on the growth and secondary metabolite contents of \"Red Russian\" kale (Brassica napus var. Pabularia) with green leaves and purple veins has been demonstrated. Three Chlorella treatments were used: CS, C. vulgaris suspension; CB, C. vulgaris biomass; and CFS, filtered C. vulgaris-free supernatant. The plant growth rates, phytochemical contents, and individual glucosinolate and anthocyanin contents were determined. There was no significant difference under the CS and CB treatments, while CFS negatively influenced on kale growth with 37% reduction of dried weight. In contrast, metabolite production differed according to Chlorella treatments. Total contents of chlorophyll and carotenoid were increased by 1.57 and 1.41 folds by CS treatment, whereas total contents of phenol and flavonoids were enhanced by 1.30 and 1.22 folds by CFS treatment. Totally, seven glucosinolates and four anthocyanins were characterized and quantified individually. Notably, CFS treatment increased gluconasturtiin and all anthocyanins the most, 10.28-fold and 5.90-fold, respectively.