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Iridoids are a class of active compounds that widely exist in the plant kingdom. In recent years, with advances in phytochemical research, many compounds with novel structure and outstanding activity have been identified. Iridoid compounds have been confirmed to mainly exist as the prototype and aglycone and Ι and II metabolites, by biological transformation. These metabolites have been shown to have neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities. This review summarizes the new structures and activities of iridoids identified locally and globally, and explains their pharmacokinetics from the aspects of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion according to the differences in their structures, thus providing a theoretical basis for further rational development and utilization of iridoids and their metabolites.

Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge (Sapindaceae) is a native Chinese plant with promising applications as a biofuel feedstock and a source of novel drugs. Historical records and documents from different periods have mentioned the use of X. sorbifolium and its botanical constituents in treating diseases, highlighting its central role in Chinese and Mongolian traditional medicinal therapies. Phytochemical research has focused on the husks, leaves, trunks, and branches of this herb. A total of 278 chemical compounds have been isolated and divided into 8 categories: triterpenoids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, steroids, phenols, fatty acids, alkaloids, and quinones. Modern pharmacological studies on X. sorbifolium have demonstrated positive effects on learning and memory, as well as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-oxidative properties. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the available research on X. sorbifolium , focusing on the relationship between chemical constituents, traditional uses, and pharmacological effects. We also assess the potential for therapeutic and other applications of this plant in support of further research and development of X. sorbifolium .

is one of the few genera in Crassulaceae that includes both dioecious and hermaphroditic species. However, previous studies have mainly relied on representative individuals or limited plastid fragments, which may not fully resolve evolutionary relationships within the genus, especially lineage divergence associated with sexual-system differentiation. In this study, we analyzed the complete chloroplast genomes of 89 newly sequenced samples representing 35 species. A batch-processing pipeline was used to integrate raw-read processing, automated chloroplast genome assembly and annotation, and downstream comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses. The chloroplast genomes of were highly conserved in overall structure, gene content, and codon usage, while showing moderate sequence variation in several coding genes and intergenic regions. Highly variable regions included the coding genes , and , as well as the intergenic regions -UCU- , -GUG- , and . A rare 108-bp expansion in the intergenic region was detected exclusively in . Phylogenetic analysis supported two major clades broadly corresponding to hermaphroditic and dioecious lineages. However, the placements of , and var. indicate a more complex evolutionary history, potentially involving parallel evolution of sexual systems or transitional lineages. Lineage-specific polymorphisms in , , , and were further identified as candidate chloroplast genome markers associated with maternal lineage divergence and sexual-system evolution. These findings demonstrate that complete chloroplast genome data provide higher resolution for understanding evolutionary relationships within . The identified highly variable regions and lineage-specific polymorphisms offer useful molecular markers for species identification and provide new insights into chloroplast genome evolution and reproductive-trait divergence in .

Plant mitochondrial genomes are difficult to analyze because of their structural dynamism and frequent annotation errors. To address these challenges, we first constructed a high-confidence mitochondrial reference library for Rhodiola by integrating transcriptomic evidence, public sequence resources, and experimental validation. This curated resource defined 30 mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCGs), including corrected exon–intron boundaries and validated 5′-terminal variants in ccmC, ccmFn, and nad9. Leveraging this curated dataset, we developed the RhoMitoAnnotator, which integrates three novel algorithms, EBAnno, REAnno, and NCAnno, to accurately annotate trans-splicing, RNA editing, and non-canonical start/stop codons. Using long-read sequencing guided by the RhoMitoAnnotator, we completed the mitogenomes of R. rosea, R. crenulata, and R. sacra, systematically re-annotated seven publicly available mitogenomes, revealing cross-chromosomal gene arrangement, and widespread structural misannotations. To enable scalable analysis with short-read data, we built Polypods, an integrated pipeline that successfully assembled mitochondrial PCGs from 108 samples across 39 Rhodiola species, and identified variant genes, stop codon-lacking regions in nad6, and internal stop codons in rpl16. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial and chloroplast PCGs showed a lineage pattern consistent with the hypothesis of an evolutionary transition from hermaphroditism to dioecy in Rhodiola, and consistently supported six species as monophyletic lineages. Overall, this study provides a curated mitochondrial gene atlas for Rhodiola and a reference-guided analytical framework for mitochondrial PCG annotation and recovery in this genus, with potential adaptability to other plant lineages after lineage-specific database construction and parameter optimization.

Accurate identification the species composition in mixtures poses a significant challenge, especially in processed mixtures comprising multiple species, such as those found in food and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, we have attempted to utilize shotgun metabarcoding technology to tackle this issue. In this study, the method was initially established using two mock samples of the Mongolian compound preparation Gurigumu-7 (G-7), which was then applied to three pharmaceutical products and 12 hospital-made preparations. A total of 119.72 Gb of raw data sets were obtained through shotgun metagenomic sequencing. By combining ITS2, matK , and rbcL , all the labeled bio-ingredients specified in the G-7 prescription can be detected, although some species may not be detectable in all samples. The prevalent substitution of Akebia quinata can be found in all the pharmaceutical and hospital samples, except for YN02 and YN12. The toxic alternative to Akebia quinata , Aristolochia manshuriensis , was exclusively identified in the YN02 sample. To further confirm this result, we validated it in YN02 using HPLC and real-time PCR with TaqMan probes. The results showed that aristolochic acid A (AAA) was detected in YN02 using HPLC, and the ITS2 sequence of Aristolochia manshuriensis has been validated in YN02 through qPCR and the use of a TaqMan probe. This study confirms that shotgun metabarcoding can effectively identify the biological components in Mongolian medicine compound preparation G-7. It also demonstrates the method’s potential to be utilized as a general identification technique for mixtures containing a variety of plants.

Artemisia argyi and Artemisia indica are edible medicinal plants belonging to the genus Artemisia in the Asteraceae. There are many similarities in their morphology, traditional curative effect, and modern pharmacological treatment. In this study, we built distribution maps of A. argyi and A. indica in China and a phylogenetic tree of common medicinal plants in Asteraceae. Then, we verified the chemical composition changes of A. argyi and A. indica via their metabolome. Traditional efficacy and modern pharmacological action were verified by network pharmacology and in vitro using RAW264.7 cells. The results showed that A. argyi and A. indica are widely distributed in China, and they shared pharmaphylogeny, which provides theoretical support for the mixed use of A. argyi and A. indica in most regions of China. Furthermore, there were both similarities and differences in volatile oil and flavonoid composition between A. argyi and A. indica . The network pharmacology results showed that A. argyi and A. indica had 23 common active compounds and that both had pharmacological effects on chronic gastritis (CG). Molecular docking analyses showed that quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol have strong binding affinities with the target proteins JUN, TP53, AKT1, MAPK3, TNF, MAPK, and IL6. The cell experiment results further demonstrated that A. argyi and A. indica treat CG via the NOD-like receptor pathway. Based on the theory of pharmaphylogeny, this study explored the pharmaphylogeny between A. argyi and A. indica from various perspectives to provide a basis for the substitution of A. argyi and A. indica .

Song, Zhang and Tan 1977, a blood-feeding terrestrial leech, serves as an ecological indicator of habitat quality and potential mammal abundance. Currently, the molecular phylogenetic status of this species remains unclear. In this study, we presented the complete mitochondrial genome of for the first time. The assembled mitochondrial genome of is 15,800bp in length, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes and a control region. The nucleotide base content of mitogenome was 34.7% A, 42.6% T, 10.7% C, and 12.0% G, indicating a notable AT base bias. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that species of clustered into one clade, and was outside the subclade composed of and . These findings will serve as a molecular resource for species identification of and contribute valuable information for various genetic, evolutionary, and molecular ecological studies on members of the Haemadipsidae family.

(Pall.) Rehd. 1908 is a medicinal and ornamental plant of the Adoxaceae family, yet its chloroplast genome had not been previously characterized. The chloroplast genome was sequenced on an Illumina platform, followed by assembly, annotation and comparative analysis through bioinformatic tools. The genome length is 158,347 bp, after annotation, a total of 131 genes were identified. Comparative analyses reveal high similarity to other Adoxaceae species, with notable variations in gene content and boundary regions. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrate that is closely related to and . The addition of the chloroplast genome to the genomic resources of enhances our understanding of its phylogeny, supporting future work in species identification and the conservation of genetic resources.

L. is widely used in traditional Mongolian medicine for the treatment of impetigo, psoriasis, pruritus, fetotoxicity, and diabetes. Therefore, the anti-inflammatory and α-glucosidase-inhibitory activities of four polar extracts (water, n-butanol, ethyl acetate, and petroleum ether extract) were preliminarily evaluated to identify the active extracts. We also investigated the chemical composition of the active extracts by phytochemical analysis. The n-butanol and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited significant ( < 0.05) anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells. None of the tested extracts exhibited cytotoxic effects at the effective concentrations. The ethyl acetate extract significantly inhibited α-glucosidase activity, and the inhibition potency was equivalent to that of acarbose ( > 0.05). The n-Butanol extract presented the second highest inhibitory activity. As the n-butanol and ethyl acetate extracts were found to have potent anti-inflammatory and α-glucosidase-inhibitory activities, we separated and identified 10 compounds from the extracts. Among them, vanillic acid, cistanoside F, echinacoside, arenarioside, verbascoside, isoacteoside, and tricin were isolated from for the first time. Further, 30 compounds from the n-butanol and ethyl acetate extracts of were identified using UHPLC-Q-Exactive. The present study demonstrates for the first time that contains phenylethanoid glycosides. In addition, this novel HPLC method was subsequently used for simultaneous identification of five compounds in the n-butanol and ethyl acetate extracts of . This study provides a chemical basis for further characterization and utilization of which could be a potential source of novel anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory agents.

The complete mitochondrial genome of (basionym: ), sourced from a biodiversity hotspot of China, has been determined and reported in this study. It was 15,236 bp in length and consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and three control regions. The mitogenome was deposited GenBank under the accession number PP165800. and other species within the Glossiphoniidae family were clustered together with high bootstrap values. The mitochondrial genome of provides valuable molecular data for further phylogenetic research on the Glossiphoniidae family.