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The Japanese mugwort, Artemisia princeps (yomogi in Japanese), has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Skin care products containing Artemisia princeps extract (APE) are known to improve dry skin symptoms in atopic dermatitis. Atopic dry skin is associated with a marked reduction of skin barrier proteins, such as filaggrin (FLG) and loricrin (LOR). Recently, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), and its downstream transcription factor OVO-like 1 (OVOL1), have been shown to regulate the gene expression of FLG and LOR. The focus of this paper is to evaluate the effects of APE on the AHR/OVOL1/FLG or LOR pathway since they have remained unknown to this point. We first demonstrated that non-cytotoxic concentrations of APE significantly upregulated antioxidant enzymes, NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1 and heme oxygenase 1, in human keratinocytes. Even at these low concentrations, APE induced nuclear translocation of AHR and significantly upregulated CYP1A1 (a specific target gene for AHR activation), FLG, and LOR expression. AHR knockdown downregulated OVOL1 expression. The APE-induced upregulation of FLG and LOR was canceled in keratinocytes with AHR or OVOL1 knockdown. In conclusion, antioxidant APE is a potent phytoextract that upregulates FLG and LOR expression in an AHR/OVOL1-dependent manner and this may underpin the barrier-repairing effects of APE in treating atopic dry skin.

Much research on animal feed has focused on finding alternative feed ingredients that can replace conventional ones (e.g., grains and beans) to reduce feed costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic, as well as nutritional value of spent coffee grounds (SCG) and Japanese mugwort ( Artemisia princeps ) residues (APR) as alternative feed ingredients for ruminants. We also investigated whether pre-fermentation using Lactobacillus spp. was a feasible way to increase the feed value of these by-products. Chemical analyses and an in vitro study were conducted for SCG, APR, and their pre-fermented forms. All the experimental diets for in vitro ruminal fermentation were formulated to contain a similar composition of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and total digestible nutrients at 1x maintenance feed intake based on the dairy National Research Council (NRC). The control diet was composed of ryegrass, corn, soybean meal, whereas the treatments consisted of SCG, SCG fermented with Lactobacillus spp. (FSCG), APR, and its fermented form (FAPR). The treatment diets replaced 100 g/kg dry matter (DM) of the feed ingredients in the control. Costs were lower for the all treatments, except FAPR, than that of the control. After 24-h incubation, the NDF digestibility of the diets containing SCG and its fermented form were significantly lower than those of the other diets ( P < 0.01); pre-fermentation tended to increase NDF digestibility ( P = 0.07), especially for APR. Supplementation of SCG significantly decreased total gas production (ml/g DM) after 24-h fermentation in comparison with the control ( P < 0.05); however, there were no significant differences between the control and the SCG or the APR diets in total gas production, as expressed per Korean Won (KRW). Diets supplemented with SCG or FSCG tended to have a higher total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, expressed as per KRW, compared with the control ( P = 0.06). Conversely, the fermentation process of SCG and APR significantly decreased total gas production and VFA production as expressed per KRW ( P < 0.05). Because of their nutrient composition and relatively lower cost, we concluded that SCG and APR could be used as alternative feed sources, replacing conventional feed ingredients. However, pre-fermentation of agricultural by-products, such as SCG and APR, may be inappropriate for improving their nutritive considering the increase in production costs.

Background Salinity has been a major abiotic stressor that reduce the productivity. Previous studies reported that endophytic bacteria produce plant stress response hormones, antioxidants, and enzymes such as ACC deaminase. Augmentation of these metabolites and enzymes by endophytes mitigates the stress effects of salinity and improves plant growth and productivity. Methods Bacterial endophytes were isolated from Artemisia princeps Pamp, and evaluated for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), siderophore, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase production and the ability to solubilize phosphate in the presence of NaCl (100–400 mM). SAK1 was applied to Glycine max cv . Pungsannamul to investigate salinity stress. Results Our results revealed that with an increase in NaCl concentration, the amount of ABA production in SAK1 increased, whereas IAA levels decreased. Bacterial ABA and JA degrade the reactive oxygen species and protect plants against stressors. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis detected different gibberellins (GAs) and organic acids in SAK1. Interestingly, SAK1 inoculation significantly increased plant growth attributes under normal and salinity stress conditions, whereas a decrease in endogenous jasmonic acid and ABA content in the plants was recorded under salinity stress. IAA and GAs enhance number of root tips and hence improve nutrients uptake in plants. Polyphenolic oxidase and peroxidase were alleviated by elevated SAK1 in G. max plants under stress. ACC deaminase of SAK1 resulted deamination of ACC, up to 330 nmol α-ketobutyrate mg −1  h −1 which could be a major reason of ethylene reduction promoting plant growth. Conclusion SAK1 relieved salinity stress in plants by producing different phytohormones, antioxidants, and ACC deaminase enzyme. SAK1 could be a new addition in batch of plant stress hormone-regulating endophytic bacteria that mitigates the effects of salt stress and promotes plant growth in G. max .

Excessive salinity reduces crop production and negatively impacts agriculture worldwide. We previously isolated endophytic bacterial strains from two halophytic species: Artemisia princeps and Chenopodium ficifolium . We used three bacterial isolates: ART-1 ( Lysinibacillus fusiformis ), ART-10 ( Lysinibacillus sphaericus ), and CAL-8 ( Brevibacterium pityocampae ) to alleviate the impact of salinity stress on rice. The impact of 160 mM NaCl salinity on rice was significantly mitigated following inoculation with these bacterial strains, resulting in increased growth and chlorophyll content. Furthermore, OsNHX1 , OsAPX1 , OsPIN1 and OsCATA expression was increased, but OsSOS expression was decreased. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) revealed reduced K + and Na + levels in shoots of bacteria-inoculated plants, whereas that of Mg 2+ was increased. Bacterial inoculation reduced the content of total flavonoids in rice leaves. Salinized plants inoculated with bacteria showed reduced levels of endogenous salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA) but increased levels of jasmonic acid (JA). In conclusion, the bacterial isolates ART-1, ART-10, and CAL-8 alleviated the adverse effect of salinity on rice growth, which justifies their use as an eco-friendly agricultural practice.

Plant‐derived substances are widely used as cosmeceutical and food materials owing to their beneficial properties that promote human health, such as antioxidant, nutritional supply and regenerative potential. In particular, nanovesicles (NVs) from plants contain various biomolecules, including signal proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolites, that participate in cross‐kingdom communication. In this study, we isolated NVs from Artemisia princeps (APNVs) based on differential centrifugation and further purification via tangential flow filtration (TFF). Evaluation of the effects of these NVs on the cellular proliferation of fibroblasts clearly indicated their anti‐ageing potential for the skin. Specifically, exposure of human dermal fibroblast cells to low concentrations of APNVs (100–200 ng/mL) accelerated cell proliferation over a 7‐day period. Treatment with APNVs decreased the senescence level of dermal fibroblast cells, as evidenced by senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase activity connected with cellular ageing. In the anti‐ageing efficacy assessment, inhibition of MMP‐1 activity in nanovesicle‐treated cells was higher than that induced by the positive control epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG). To validate the inhibitory effect of APNVs on anti‐ageing in human skin, three‐dimensional, reconstituted human keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts were cultured with 1000 ng/mL APNVs. Notably, procollagen type I expression was increased in the culture medium following APNVs treatment. Our collective results suggest that APNVs accelerate type I procollagen production through inhibition of MMP‐1. In view of the significant anti‐ageing potential of APNVs, we recommend their implementation as an active substance in pharmaceutical and functional cosmeceutical products.

The complete genome sequence of a new polerovirus found naturally infecting Artemisia princeps, artemisia virus B (ArtVB), was determined using high-throughput sequencing. The ArtVB genome comprises 6,141 nucleotides and contains six putative open reading frames (ORF0 to ORF5) with a genome structure typical of poleroviruses. A multiple sequence alignment showed that the complete ArtVB genome shares 50.98% nucleotide sequence identity with ixeridium yellow mottle virus 1 (IxYMaV-1, GenBank accession no. KT868949). ArtVB shares the highest amino acid sequence identity in P0 and P3–P5 (21.54%–51.69%) with other known poleroviruses. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that ArtVB should be considered a member of a new species within the genus Polerovirus, family Luteoviridae.

In the present study rhizospheric bacteria were isolated from sand dune-dwelling Artemisia princeps, Chenopodium ficifolium , Oenothera biennis , and Echinochloa crus-galli and evaluated the ability of the bacterial isolates to produce jasmonic acid (JA) and abscisic acid (ABA) under NaCl-induced salt stress. We observed that 7 of 126 bacterial isolates were capable of producing siderophores, gibberellic acid (GA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), phosphate solubilisation, organic acids e.g., quinic acid, succinic acid, acetic acid and butyric acid. A bioassay of the seven selected isolates on rice showed that the isolate AK1 significantly promoted rice growth. Moreover, AK1 produced IAA and ABA in broth spiked with elevated levels of NaCl (100 mM, 200 mM, 300 mM, and 400 mM). The isolate AK1 was further investigated for plant growth promotion and mitigation of NaCl-induced salt stress in soybean grown under 100 mM, 200 mM, and 300 mM stress. Application of AK1 upregulated the expression of GmLAXs, and GmST genes in plants exposed to salt stress as compared to uninoculated plants. Interestingly, the bacteria-treated soybean showed significant increase in growth attributes with or without salinity stress. The endogenous ABA and JA level of inoculated soybean plants declined under elevated salt stress, thus showing an enhanced stress mitigation. A similar ameliorative trend was observed for total proteins, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase activity under saline conditions. The isolate AK1 was identified as Arthrobacter woluwensis AK1 based on its 16S rDNA gene sequencing and subsequent phylogenetic analysis.

Phenolic-rich plant extracts have been demonstrated to improve glycemic control in individuals with prediabetes. However, there is increasing evidence that people with prediabetes are not a homogeneous group but exhibit different glycemic profiles leading to the existence of prediabetes subgroups. Prediabetes subgroups have been identified as: isolated impaired fasting glucose (IFG), isolated impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and combined impaired fasting glucose and glucose intolerance (IFG/IGT). The present review investigates human clinical trials examining the hypoglycemic potential of phenolic-rich plant extracts in prediabetes and prediabetes subgroups. Artemisia princeps Pampanini, soy (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) leaf and Citrus junos Tanaka peel have been demonstrated to improve fasting glycemia and thus may be more useful for individuals with IFG with increasing hepatic insulin resistance. In contrast, white mulberry (Morus alba Linn.) leaf, persimmon (Diospyros kaki) leaf and Acacia. Mearnsii bark were shown to improve postprandial glycemia and hence may be preferably beneficial for individuals with IGT with increasing muscle insulin resistance. Elaeis guineensis leaf was observed to improve both fasting and postprandial glycemic measures depending on the dose. Current evidence remains scarce regarding the impact of the plant extracts on glycemic control in prediabetes subgroups and therefore warrants further study.

Artemisia princeps (family Asteraceae) is a natural product broadly used as an antioxidative, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory agent in East Asia. In the present study, eupatilin, the main constituent of Artemisia princeps, was investigated as an antihyperlipidemic agent. Eupatilin inhibited 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase (HCR), an enzyme that is a therapeutic target for hyperlipidemia, in an ex vivo assay using rat liver. In addition, oral administration of eupatilin significantly lowered the serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) in corn oil-induced and Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemic mice. These results suggest that eupatilin can alleviate hyperlipidemia by inhibiting HCR.

Young leaves of Artemisia princeps Pamp. (Japanese mugwort), already used as a foodstuff in Japan, can be positioned as a functional health food because of remarkably higher contents of chlorogenic acid and total polyphenol compared to common vegetables. To procure young leaves in demand on a year-round basis by hydroponic production in fully artificial light-type plant factories, we investigated whether 24-h photoperiod, known to enhance some beneficial constituents, could improve the growth and chemical constituents of Japanese mugwort plants grown hydroponically in a plant factory condition. As we previously demonstrated that lowering the nutrient solution concentration increased chlorogenic acid and total polyphenol contents of the leaves without reducing the growth, plants were cultivated with a lower concentration of nutrient solution. The results indicated that it is possible to grow Japanese mugwort hydroponically under 24-h photoperiod in a plant factory condition with a nutrient solution concentration as low as 25% of the standard. In addition, under 24-h photoperiod, plant growth was greatly accelerated and chlorogenic acid as well as total polyphenol were increased, suggesting that 24-h photoperiod is highly beneficial for Japanese mugwort production in a fully artificial lighttype plant factory.