Mapping the potential distribution of high artemisinin-yielding Artemisia annua L. (Qinghao) in China with a geographic information system

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Artemisia annua </it>L. is an important source for artemisinin, a potent drug for treating malaria. This study aims to map and predict the potential geographic distribution of <it>A. annua </it>L. in China.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The Geographic Information System for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM-GIS) was developed and used to map the potential geographic distribution of <it>A. annua </it>L.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Climatic, edaphic and topographic characteristics of <it>A. annua </it>L. microhabitats in Youyang County were mapped to find distribution patterns. The maps identified that certain habitats in the Chongqing region and some potential regions, especially in Guizhou Province, possess similarity indices of ≥98%. In particular, high quality microhabitats <it>A. annua </it>L. were found in the Wuling mountains region.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study demonstrates a GIS approach to predict potential habitats for <it>A. annua </it>L. TCM-GIS is a powerful tool for assessing bioclimatic suitability for medicinal plants.</p

Identification of Ligularia Herbs Using the Complete Chloroplast Genome as a Super-Barcode

More than 30 Ligularia Cass. (Asteraceae) species have long been used in folk medicine in China. Morphological features and common DNA regions are both not ideal to identify Ligularia species. As some Ligularia species contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are hazardous to human and animal health and are involved in metabolic toxification in the liver, it is important to find a better way to distinguish these species. Here, we report complete chloroplast (CP) genomes of six Ligularia species, L. intermedia, L. jaluensis, L. mongolica, L. hodgsonii, L. veitchiana, and L. fischeri, obtained through high-throughput Illumina sequencing technology. These CP genomes showed typical circular tetramerous structure and their sizes range from 151,118 to 151,253 bp. The GC content of each CP genome is 37.5%. Every CP genome contains 134 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes, and two pseudogenes (ycf1 and rps19). From the mVISTA, there were no potential coding or non-coding regions to distinguish these six Ligularia species, but the maximum likelihood tree of the six Ligularia species and other related species showed that the whole CP genome can be used as a super-barcode to identify these six Ligularia species. This study provides invaluable data for species identification, allowing for future studies on phylogenetic evolution and safe medical applications of Ligularia

Bioactive polysaccharides from lotus as potent food supplements: a review of their preparation, structures, biological features and application prospects

Lotus is a famous plant of the food and medicine continuum for millennia, which possesses unique nutritional and medicinal values. Polysaccharides are the main bioactive component of lotus and have been widely used as health nutritional supplements and therapeutic agents. However, the industrial production and application of lotus polysaccharides (LPs) are hindered by the lack of a deeper understanding of the structure–activity relationship (SAR), structural modification, applications, and safety of LPs. This review comprehensively comments on the extraction and purification methods and structural characteristics of LPs. The SARs, bioactivities, and mechanisms involved are further evaluated. The potential application and safety issues of LPs are discussed. This review provides valuable updated information and inspires deeper insights for the large scale development and application of LPs

Heat stress affects tassel development and reduces the kernel number of summer maize

Maize grain yield is drastically reduced by heat stress (HTS) during anthesis and early grain filling. However, the mechanism of HTS in reproductive organs and kernel numbers remains poorly understood. From 2018 to 2020, two maize varieties (ND372, heat tolerant; and XY335, heat sensitive) and two temperature regimens (HTS, heat stress; and CK, natural control) were evaluated, resulting in four treatments (372CK, 372HTS, 335CK, and 335HTS). HTS was applied from the nine-leaf stage (V9) to the anthesis stage. Various morphological traits and physiological activities of the tassels, anthers, and pollen from the two varieties were evaluated to determine their correlation with kernel count. The results showed that HTS reduced the number of florets, tassel volume, and tassel length, but increased the number of tassel branches. HTS accelerates tassel degradation and reduces pollen weight, quantity, and viability. Deformation and reduction in length and volume due to HTS were observed in both the Nongda 372 (ND372) and Xianyu 335 (XY335) varieties, with the average reductions being 22.9% and 35.2%, respectively. The morphology of the anthers changed more conspicuously in XY335 maize. The number of kernels per spike was reduced in the HTS group compared with the CK group, with the ND372 and XY335 varieties showing reductions of 47.3% and 59.3%, respectively. The main factors underlying the decrease in yield caused by HTS were reductions in pollen quantity and weight, tassel rachis, and branch length. HTS had a greater effect on the anther shape, pollen viability, and phenotype of XY335 than on those of ND372. HTS had a greater impact on anther morphology, pollen viability, and the phenotype of XY335 but had no influence on the appearance or dissemination of pollen from tassel

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Althaea rosea (L.) Cavan. (Malvaceae) and its phylogenetic analysis

Althaea rosea is a medicinal plant traditionally used in anti-inflammation. In this study, we characterized the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of A. rosea to investigate its phylogenetic relationship. The cp genome of A. rosea was 160,189 bp in length with 37.0% overall GC content, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 88,046 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 21,055 bp, which were separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,544 bp. The cp genome contained 128 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on whole cp genome sequences showed that A. rosea is closest to A. officinalis, and Althaea had a close relationship with Gossypium in Malvaceae

High-throughput sequencing of complete chloroplast genome of Yi folk medicine Cyclocodon lancifolius (Roxb.) Kurz

Cyclocodon lancifolius (Roxb.) Kurz is a popular food and traditional folk medicine with highly economic value in China. The complete chloroplast (cp) genome of C. lancifolius was 167,026 bp in length, which contained a large single-copy (LSC) region of 84,648 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 8044 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) region of 37,167 bp. The overall GC content was 38.12%. The genome harbored 24 genes, including 12 protein-coding genes, 8 tRNA genes, and 4 ribosomal RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that C. lancifolius is closely related to the species of Codonopsis minima and Platycodon grandiflorus

Preparation and characterization of floating porous graphite carbon monoliths produced from biomass and its application

Herein, a new floating porous graphite carbon monolith (FCM) was prepared using the graphite powder and peanut shells as the carbon skeleton and using FAC and sepiolite as the swelling agent. The multi-hierarchical porous FCMs were obtained by two-step acid activation method. The effects of the addition of biomass and phosphoric acid on the physical properties and pore structure of the prepared material were investigated. The FCM was combined with codoped titania to develop a new floating photocatalysts. The results showed an increase in the amount of biomass materials during FCM preparation increased the ratio of mesoporous structure in the products. In addition, a high micropore volume ratio and the strongest adsorption effect were achieved by optimizing the phosphoric acid impregnation ratio. After process optimization, the densities of the prepared FCMs ranged between 0.75 and 0.89 g/cm3, and the specific surface area and diameter range of the large pores of the material were 104.5 m2/g and 3-50 μm, respectively. Moreover, the new floating catalysts displayed the excellent photocatalytic properties and recyclability performance

Phylogenetic relationship and characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Laggera crispata, a folk herbal medicine plant in China

Laggera crispata, an herbaceous plant, has been used in Chinese medicines as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-viral. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of L. crispata was first reported. The cp genome of L. crispata is 155522 bp in length, with two inverted repeats (IR) regions of 25042 bp, the large single copy (LSC) region of 84198 bp and the small single copy (SSC) region of 21240 bp. 128 genes were predicted, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that L. crispata is more closely related to Pluchea pteropoda and P. indica with solid bootstrap values belonging to the subfamily Inuleae of Asteraceae