No abstract

Potassium (K+) is one of the most important cations that plays a significant role in plants and constitutes up to 10% of plants’ dry weight. Plants exhibit complex systems of transporters and channels for the distribution of K+ from soil to numerous parts of plants. In this study, we have identified 39 genes encoding putative K+ transport-related genes in Vigna radiata. Chromosomal mapping of these genes indicated an uneven distribution across eight out of 11 chromosomes. Comparative phylogenetic analysis of different plant species, i.e., V. radiata, Glycine max, Cicer arietinum, Oryza sativa, and Arabidopsis thaliana, showed their strong conservation in different plant species. Evolutionary analysis of these genes suggests that gene duplication is a major route of expansion for this family in V. radiata. Comprehensive promoter analysis identified several abiotic stresses related to cis-elements in the promoter regions of these genes, suggesting their role in abiotic stress tolerance. Our additional analyses indicated that abiotic stresses adversely affected the chlorophyll concentration, carotenoids, catalase, total soluble protein concentration, and the activities of superoxide and peroxidase in V. radiata. It also disturbs the ionic balance by decreasing the uptake of K+ content and increasing the uptake of Na+. Expression analysis from high-throughput sequencing data and quantitative real-time PCR experiments revealed that several K+ transport genes were expressed in different tissues (seed, flower, and pod) and in abiotic stress-responsive manners. A highly significant variation of expression was observed for VrHKT (1.1 and 1.2), VrKAT (1 and 2) VrAKT1.1, VrAKT2, VrSKOR, VrKEA5, VrTPK3, and VrKUP/HAK/KT (4, 5, and 8.1) in response to drought, heat or salinity stress. It reflected their potential roles in plant growth, development, or stress adaptations. The present study gives an in-depth understanding of K+ transport system genes in V. radiata and will serve as a basis for a functional analysis of these genes.

In this study, we aimed to determine the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Schisandra chinensis leaf extracts (SCLE) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, an acetic acid-induced mouse model of writhing, and a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced rat model of osteoarthritis (OA). In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, a 100 µg/mL dose of SCLE significantly reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Acetic acid-induced writhing responses in mice that quantitatively determine pain were significantly inhibited by SCLE treatment. In addition, SCLE significantly decreased the MIA-induced elevation in OA symptoms, the expression levels of pro-inflammatory mediators/cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases, and cartilage damage in the serum and joint tissues. Our data demonstrated that SCLE exerts anti-osteoarthritic effects by regulating inflammation and pain and can be a useful therapeutic candidate against OA.

The aerial parts of Agastache rugosa are used as a food material and traditional medicine in Asia. A 50% ethanol extract exhibited potent xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity (IC50 = 32.4 µg/mL). To investigate the major components responsible for this effect, seven known compounds were identified from A. rugosa; among these, salvianolic acid B (2) was isolated from this plant for the first time. Moreover, acacetin (7) exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 0.58 µM, lower than that of allopurinol (IC50 = 4.2 µM), which is commonly used as a XO inhibitor. Comparative activity screening revealed that the C6-bonded monosaccharides (3) or sugars substituted with acetyl or malonyl groups (4–6) are critical for XO inhibition when converted to aglycone (7). The most potent inhibitor (7) in the A. rugosa extract (ARE) exhibited mixed-type inhibition kinetics and reversible inhibition toward XO. Furthermore, the hydrolysis of ARE almost converted to an inhibitor (7), which displayed the highest efficacy; UPLC-qTof MS revealed an increased content, up to five times more compared with that before treatment. This study will contribute to the enhancement in the industrial value of ARE hydrolysates as a functional ingredient and natural drug toward the management of hyperuricemia and treatment of gout.

We studied the activities of Siraitia grosvenorii extracts (SGE) on airway inflammation in a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) stimulated by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as well as in LPS-treated human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B). SGE improved the viability of LPS-incubated BEAS-2B cells and inhibited the expression and production of inflammatory cytokines. SGE also attenuated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling activated by LPS stimulation in BEAS-2B cells. In mice stimulated by CSE and LPS, we observed the infiltration of immune cells into the airway after COPD induction. SGE reduced the number of activated T cells, B cells, and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF), lung tissue, mesenteric lymph node, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, as well as inhibited infiltration into organs and mucus production. The secretion of cytokines in BALF and the expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, mucin 5AC, Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, and Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 in lung tissue were alleviated by SGE. In addition, to investigate the activity of SGE on expectoration, we evaluated phenol red secretions in the trachea of mice. SGE administration showed the effect of improving expectoration through an increase in phenol red secretion. Consequently, SGE attenuates the airway inflammatory response in CSE/LPS-stimulated COPD. These findings indicate that SGE may be a potential herbal candidate for the therapy of COPD.