Explore the vast range of titles available.

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua is valued both as a precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb and as a prime example of a plant that bridges medicinal and culinary applications. Renowned for its significant medicinal and edible qualities, this botanical exemplifies a unique convergence of therapeutic and nutritional benefits. However, the primary rhizome of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua development is difficult to germinate into seedlings in the same year. The germination of primary rhizome buds of P. cyrtonema can be promoted by treatment with exogenous hormone 6-BA, but the related regulatory mechanism is not clear. In this study, we found that the cytokinin oxidase (CKX) plays a key role in the germination of primary rhizome buds of P. cyrtonema . PcCKX1,2,3 promoted the expression of dormancy positively regulated genes, and repressed the expression of dormancy negatively regulated genes, which in turn inhibited Arabidopsis seed germination, and PcCKX2 was the major gene. PcCKX1,2,3 promoted the expression of dormant positively regulated genes such as sweet potato IbZEP, IbNCED3, IbDOG1, IbABI5, IbCKX3 , and IbCKX7, which in turn delayed the sprouting of sweet potato rhizomes, and that PcCKX2 played a major role. We further screened three MYB transcription factors significantly associated with PcCKX1,2,3 . Yeast one-hybrid, Dual-LUC, and EMSA experiments showed that PcMYB4, PcKUA1, and PcCSA all bind to and repress the expression of elements of the PcCKX1,2,3 promoter. Heterologous transformation of Arabidopsis experiments showed that PcMYB4, PcKUA1 , and PcCSA repressed the expression of dormancy-associated genes such as DOG1 , NCED3 , ABI5 , CKX3 , and CKX7 , which, in turn, facilitated Arabidopsis seed germination. Taken together, we found that PcMYBs are involved in the transcriptional regulation of PcCKXs to promote the germination of primary rhizome buds of P. cyrtonema . The results of this study lay the foundation for analyzing the molecular mechanism of primary rhizome bud germination in P. cyrtonema .

Oxidative damage plays a critical role in the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD). In our study, an ancient Chinese kidney-tonifying formula, which consists of Cistanche , Epimedii, and Polygonatum cirrhifolium , was investigated to protect MES23.5 dopaminergic neurons against hydrogen peroxide- (H sub(2) O sub(2) -) induced oxidative damage. The damage effects of H sub(2) O sub(2) on MES23.5 cells and the protective effects of KTF against oxidative stress were evaluated using MTT assay, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunocytochemistry (ICC), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunoblotting. The results showed that cell viability was dramatically decreased after a 12 h exposure to 150 mu M H sub(2) O sub(2) . TEM observation found that the H sub(2) O sub(2) -treated MES23.5 cells presented cellular organelle damage. However, when cells were incubated with KTF (3.125, 6.25, and 12.5 mu g/ml) for 24 h after H sub(2) O sub(2) exposure, a significant protective effect against H sub(2) O sub(2) -induced damage was observed in MES23.5 cells. Using ICC, we found that KTF inhibited the reduction of the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) induced by H sub(2) O sub(2) , upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of HO-1, CAT, and GPx-1, and downregulated the expression of caspase 3. These results indicated that KTF may provide neuron protection against H sub(2) O sub(2) -induced cell damage through ameliorating oxidative stress, and our findings provide a new potential strategy for the prevention and treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Background Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua , a valuable medicinal and edible plant in China, has been increasingly cultivated to produce nutritional and health products to meet market demand. However, the absence of the mitochondrial genome hinders the research of evolutionary analysis, artificial cultivation, and medicinal resource development. This study aimed to systematically characterize the mitochondrial genome of P. cyrtonema and perform a preliminary bioinformatic analysis. Result In this study, the mitochondrial genome of P. cyrtonema was assembled and annotated by combining Illumina reads with long-read Oxford Nanopore Technologies, which formed a complex non-circular structure covering 664,991 bp in length, with 33 protein-coding genes, 20 tRNAs, and 3 rRNAs. Overall, a total of 194 simple repeats, 24 tandem repeats, and 294 dispersed repeats were identified, and 599 RNA editing sites were predicted, all of which were C-to-T types. In particular, 29 homologous fragments between the chloroplast and mitochondrial genome were detected and accounted for 2.4% of the mitochondrial genome. In addition, codon usage analysis, nucleotide diversity analysis, and Ka/Ks analysis suggested a slower rate of evolution and a relatively conserved structure of the mitochondrial genome. Phylogenetic relationships based on 33 species demonstrated that P. cyrtonema was most closely related to Polygonatum sibiricum . Conclusion Our results provide comprehensive information on the mitochondrial genome of P. cyrtonema , and demonstrate the availability of mitochondrial genome-based taxonomic classification for Polygonatum Mill.. Moreover, it offers a valuable foundation for future research in the cultivation and pharmacological development within Polygonatum species.

Polygonatum cyrtonema is a valuable medicinal and edible plant whose sustainable utilization is challenged by wild resource depletion and germplasm degradation. This study established a multi-site provenance trial across three heterogeneous garden environments in Zhejiang Province, China, to evaluate 11 geographically diverse provenances. We systematically measured growth traits (plant height, stem diameter, leaf morphology) and medicinal components (polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids, total phenolics), and applied combined ANOVA, correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis to quantify provenance variation patterns and environmental drivers. Results revealed highly significant differences (P < 0.01) among provenances, sites, and their interactions for all traits. Substantial phenotypic (PCV: 7.41%–46.89%) and genotypic (GCV: 5.99%–44.92%) coefficients of variation were observed, with particularly high variation in polysaccharides and key growth traits, coupled with substantial provenance repeatability (0.63–0.99), indicated strong potential for selective breeding. Correlation analysis showed significant positive associations between growth traits and key medicinal components. Geo-climatic analysis identified distinct environmental drivers: saponin content increased with altitude and temperature, while flavonoid accumulation was promoted in drier conditions. Based on principal component analysis (cumulative contribution: 85.20%), Songyang (3.34) and Yunhe (2.98) provenances achieved the highest comprehensive evaluation scores. Cluster analysis further classified the provenances into three groups, with Songyang and Yunhe forming a distinct cluster characterized by superior growth and medicinal compound accumulation. These provenances are recommended as elite materials for breeding programs. This study provides a scientific basis for the selective breeding of P. cyrtonema and holds significant practical implications for enhancing the quality and efficiency of the understory economy and promoting the sustainable use of medicinal plant resources.

Polygonatum rhizome is a traditional Chinese medicine of the same origin as food and medicine, and it has high economic value and social benefits. To screen the excellent germplasm resources of Polygonatum kingianum (P. kingianum) and clarify the nutritional and medicinal value of the rhizome of P. kingianum, we used widely targeted metabolomics to analyze the traits and metabolomics of rhizomes of different germplasms of P. kingianum from different growth years. The results showed that different germplasms and growth years of P. kingianum were rich in different nutritional and medicinal components. Among them, Polygonatum kingianum ‘Linyun 1′ rhizome (PWR) was richer in amino acids and derivatives, alkaloids, and phenolic acids, while Polygonatum kingianum rhizome (PRR) was richer in flavonoids, organic acids, and phenolic acids. Most of the differential compounds were mainly enriched in PRR when the growth year was one, and PWR had a greater variety and higher content of differential compounds in the third year, which also reflected the advantages of Polygonatum kingianum ‘Linyun 1′ (P. kingianum ‘Linyun 1′) as an excellent new variety of P. kingianum. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathway analysis showed that in P. kingianum with the same age and different germplasms, the significantly enriched metabolic pathway was more active in biosynthesis in PWR. In the same germplasm of P. kingianum from different years, the metabolites involved in PRR were mainly the highest in one-year-old P. kingianum (PR-1) or three-year-old P. kingianum (PR-3), and the metabolites involved in PWR were mainly the highest in three-year-old P. kingianum ‘Linyun 1′ (PW-3). The above results showed that the three-year-old PWR had more advantages based on chemical substances. Therefore, this study provided a new theoretical reference for the development of P. kingianum products and the breeding of new varieties.

Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides (PSPs) are used to improve immunity, alleviate dryness, promote the secretion of fluids, and quench thirst. However, the PSP biosynthetic pathway is largely unknown. Understanding the genetic background will help delineate that pathway at the molecular level so that researchers can develop better conservation strategies. After comparing the PSP contents among several different P. sibiricum germplasms, we selected two groups with the largest contrasts in contents and subjected them to HiSeq2500 transcriptome sequencing to identify the candidate genes involved in PSP biosynthesis. In all, 20 kinds of enzyme-encoding genes were related to PSP biosynthesis. The polysaccharide content was positively correlated with the expression patterns of β-fructofuranosidase (sacA), fructokinase (scrK), UDP-glucose 4-epimerase (GALE), Mannose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase (GMPP), and UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase (UGDH), but negatively correlated with the expression of Hexokinase (HK). Through qRT-PCR validation and comprehensive analysis, we determined that sacA, HK, and GMPP are key genes for enzymes within the PSP metabolic pathway in P. sibiricum. Our results provide a public transcriptome dataset for this species and an outline of pathways for the production of polysaccharides in medicinal plants. They also present more information about the PSP biosynthesis pathway at the molecular level in P. sibiricum and lay the foundation for subsequent research of gene functions.

Flavonoids, a class of phenolic compounds, are one of the main functional components and have a wide range of molecular structures and biological activities in Polygonatum. A few of them, including homoisoflavonoids, chalcones, isoflavones, and flavones, were identified in Polygonatum and displayed a wide range of powerful biological activities, such as anti-cancer, anti-viral, and blood sugar regulation. However, few studies have systematically been published on the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway in Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua. Therefore, in the present study, a combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis was performed on the leaf, stem, rhizome, and root tissues of P. cyrtonema to uncover the synthesis pathway of flavonoids and to identify key regulatory genes. Flavonoid-targeted metabolomics detected a total of 65 active substances from four different tissues, among which 49 substances were first study to identify in Polygonatum, and 38 substances were flavonoids. A total of 19 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) (five flavonols, three flavones, two dihydrochalcones, two flavanones, one flavanol, five phenylpropanoids, and one coumarin) were finally screened by KEGG enrichment analysis. Transcriptome analysis indicated that a total of 222 unigenes encoding 28 enzymes were annotated into three flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, which were “phenylpropanoid biosynthesis”, “flavonoid biosynthesis”, and “flavone and flavonol biosynthesis”. The combined analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome revealed that 37 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding 11 enzymes (C4H, PAL, 4CL, CHS, CHI, F3H, DFR, LAR, ANR, FNS, FLS) and 19 DAMs were more likely to be regulated in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. The expression of 11 DEGs was validated by qRT-PCR, resulting in good agreement with the RNA-Seq. Our studies provide a theoretical basis for further elucidating the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway in Polygonatum.

Liver cancer remains a smajor cause of mortality worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for novel natural therapeutics. Polygonatum kingianum var. grandifolium (PK) and Polygonatum sibiricum Redouté (PS) are rice in terpenoids, yet their anti-liver cancer mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study used metabolism, network analysis, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations to investigate their therapeutic potential. Metabolomic analysis identified nine differential terpenoid metabolites, with Maslinic acid and Alphitolic acid being species-specific. Network analysis revealed 23 liver cancer-related targets, including five key proteins: HMGCR, PTGS2, ESR1, PPARG, and PGR. Functional enrichment analysis identified 126 GO terms and 11 KEGG pathways ( P  < 0.05). Molecular docking suggested strong binding affinities between core compounds and targets, while molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability of maslinic acid and alphitolic acid with their respective targets. This study enhances the pharmacological understanding of Polygonatum species and offers promising insights for the development of novel liver cancer treatments.

Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce is a well-known traditional medicinal plant, with rhizomes as the principal medicinal tissue and polysaccharides as its key bioactive components. To conduct a systematic investigation of the polysaccharide biosynthetic pathway and screen key genes involved in the polysaccharide biosynthesis of different growth years and growth stages in P. odoratum, this study performed transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses on P. odoratum rhizomes of different growth years and growth stages. This study revealed that most saccharides, which serve as precursors for polysaccharide biosynthesis in P. odoratum rhizomes, exhibited higher levels in two-year-old P. odoratum than in three-year-old. Co-expression analysis revealed that PosacA3 showed a high positive correlation with sucrose, D-fructose, and D-glucose, while PoGT16 exhibited a high negative correlation with sucrose, D-fructose, and D-glucose. PoGT6 and PoGT32 displayed a positive correlation with D-glucose and sucrose, respectively, suggesting that these genes may be key regulators involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis in P. odoratum. Compared with two-year-old and three-year-old P. odoratum rhizomes harvested in July and September from Shaodong City, Hunan Province, China, when steroidal saponins and soluble sugars are required as medicinal components, two-year-old P. odoratum can be harvested in July or September. When alkaloids and amino acids and derivatives are the core extraction targets, both two-year-old and three-year-old P. odoratum are recommended to be harvested in September. This study furnishes a theoretical reference for the rational harvesting and utilization of P. odoratum, and lays a foundation for further elucidating its polysaccharide biosynthetic mechanism.

Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce is a well-known traditional Chinese herb belonging to the Polygonatum . However, the understanding of the genetic diversity of this species at the molecular level is limited due to the lack of transcriptomic and genomic information. In this study, 37,387 unigenes were assembled based on the transcriptome sequencing of the rhizome of Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce., and 11,021 single- sequence repeats (SSR) motifs, mainly consisting of single-nucleotide repeats (44.44%), dinucleotides (31.06%), and trinucleotides (22.59%), were identified. Based on these SSR motifs, 9,987 primer pairs of SSR markers were designed and 68 SSR markers were randomly selected for verification, of which 21 SSR markers showed polymorphisms among the 24 Polygonatum odoratum germplasms. Ninety-four alleles were detected: the observed alleles ranged from 2 to 11, the effective alleles varied from 1.086 8 to 4.916 8, the Shannon diversity index was 0.173 2~1.749 7, and the polymorphism information content PIC ranged from 0.076 7 to 0.803 9. Based on our analysis of genetic diversity (SSR genotypes) and population structure, we divided the 24 germplasm resources into two groups, indicating that the germplasm with similar geographical origins can be grouped together. In addition, the primers ‘YZ14’ and ‘YZ47’ could effectively distinguished the related species: Polygonatum kingianum Coll.et Hemsl., Polygonatum sibiricum Red., Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua, Polygonatum zanlanscianense Pamp. and Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce. This is the first study in which a dataset of expressed sequence tag (EST)-SSR markers is constructed for the Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce, and these newly developed EST-SSR markers provided a very efficient tool for genetic relationship analysis, species identification and marker-assisted selection breeding of Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce.