Identification of the origins of Panax ginseng has been issued in Korea scientifically and economically. We describe a metabolomics approach used for discrimination and prediction of ginseng roots from different origins in Korea. The fresh ginseng roots from six ginseng cooperative associations (Gangwon, Gaeseong, Punggi, Chungbuk, Jeonbuk, and Anseong) were analyzed by UPLC-MS-based approach combined with orthogonal projections to latent structure-discriminant analysis multivariate analysis. The ginsengs from Gangwon and Gaeseong were easily differentiated. We further analyzed the metabolomics results in subgroups. Punggi, Chungbuk, Jeonbuk, and Anseong ginseng could be easily differentiated by the first two orthogonal components. As a validation of the discrimination model, we performed blind prediction tests of sample origins using an external test set. Our model predicted their geographical origins as 99.7% probability. The robust discriminatory power and statistical validity of our method suggest its general applicability for determining the origins of P. ginseng samples.

Flavonoids are widely distributed secondary metabolites in plants that have a variety biological functions, as well as beneficial biological and pharmacological activities. In barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), for example, high levels of saponarin accumulate during primary leaf development. However, the effect of saponarin biosynthetic pathway genes on the accumulation of saponarin in barley is poorly understood. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to examine the saponarin contents and expression levels of saponarin biosynthetic pathway genes [chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), and UDP-Glc:isovitexin 7-O-glucosyltransferase (OGT)] during early seedling developmental and under several abiotic stress conditions. Interestingly, the upregulation of HvCHS, HvCHI, and HvOGT during early development was associated with saponarin accumulation during later stages. In addition, exposure to abiotic stress conditions (e.g., light/dark transition, drought, and low or high temperature) significantly affected the expression of HvCHS and HvCHI but failed to affect either HvOGT expression or saponarin accumulation. These findings suggested that the expression of HvOGT, which encodes an enzyme that catalyzes the final step of saponarin biosynthesis, is required for saponarin accumulation. Taken together, the results of the present study provide a basis for metabolic engineering in barley plants, especially in regards to enhancing the contents of useful secondary metabolites, such as saponarin.

BackgroundTo contribute to the development of novel anti-influenza drugs, we investigated the anti-influenza activity of crude extracts from 118 medicinal plants collected in Myanmar. We discovered that extract from the stems of Jatropha multifida Linn. showed anti-influenza activity. J. multifida has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, and the stem has been reported to possess antimicrobial, antimalarial, and antitumor activities. However, the anti-influenza activity of this extract has not yet been investigated.MethodsWe prepared water (H2O), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-hexane (Hex), and chloroform (CHCl3) extracts from the stems of J. multifida collected in Myanmar, and examined the survival of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells infected with the influenza A (H1N1) virus, and the inhibitory effects of these crude extracts on influenza A viral infection and growth in MDCK cells.ResultsThe H2O extracts from the stems of J. multifida promoted the survival of MDCK cells infected with the influenza A H1N1 virus. The EtOAc and CHCl3 extracts resulted in similar, but weaker, effects. The H2O, EtOAc, and CHCl3 extracts from the stems of J. multifida inhibited influenza A virus H1N1 infection; the H2O extract possessed the strongest inhibitory effect on influenza infection in MDCK cells. The EtOAc, Hex, and CHCl3 extracts all inhibited the growth of influenza A H1N1 virus, and the CHCl3 extract demonstrated the strongest activity in MDCK cells.ConclusionThe H2O or CHCl3 extracts from the stems of J. multifida collected in Myanmar demonstrated the strongest inhibition of influenza A H1N1 viral infection or growth in MDCK cells, respectively. These results indicated that the stems of J. multifida could be regarded as an anti-influenza herbal medicine as well as a potential crude drug source for the development of anti-influenza compounds.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is an important therapeutic target in the regulation of high blood pressure. This study was conducted to investigate the alterations in blood pressure associated with ACE inhibition activity of the polyphenols (1–10), including 3-O-feruloylquinic acid (1), lutonarin (2), saponarin (3), isoorientin (4), orientin (5), isovitexin (6), isoorientin-7-O-[6-sinapoyl]-glucoside (7), isoorientin-7-O-[6-feruloyl]-glucoside (8), isovitexin-7-O-[6-sinapoyl]-glucoside (9), and isovitexin-7-O-[6-feruloyl]-glucoside (10), isolated from barley seedlings (BS). All the isolated polyphenols exhibited comparable IC50 values of ACE inhibition activity (7.3–43.8 µM) with quercetin (25.2 ± 0.2 µM) as a positive control, and their inhibition kinetic models were identified as noncompetitive inhibition. Especially, compound 4 was revealed to be an outstanding ACE inhibitor (IC50 = 7.3 ± 0.1 µM, Ki = 6.6 ± 0.1 µM). Based on the compound structure–activity relationships, the free hydroxyl groups of flavone-moieties and glucose connections at the A ring of the flavone moieties were important factors for inhibition of ACE. The alcohol extract of BS also demonstrated potent ACE inhibition activity (66.5% ± 2.2% at 5000 µg mL−1). The polyphenols from BS had strong inhibitory activity on ACE and this study results suggest that BS can be used as an effective blood pressure regulator through ACE inhibition.

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