Centella asiatica is rich in medical and cosmetic properties. While physiological responses of C. asiatica to light have been widely reported, the knowledge of the effects of light on its gene expression is sparse. In this study, we used RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to investigate the expression of the C. asiatica genes in response to monochromatic red and blue light. Most of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under blue light were up-regulated but those under red light were down-regulated. The DEGs encoded for CRY-DASH and UVR3 were among up-regulated genes that play significant roles in responses under blue light. The DEGs involved in the response to photosystem II photodamages and in the biosynthesis of photoprotective xanthophylls were also up-regulated. The expression of flavonoid biosynthetic DEGs under blue light was up-regulated but that under red light was down-regulated. Correspondingly, total flavonoid content under blue light was higher than that under red light. The ABI5, MYB4, and HYH transcription factors appeared as hub nodes in the protein-protein interaction network of the DEGs under blue light while ERF38 was a hub node among the DEGs under red light. In summary, stress-responsive genes were predominantly up-regulated under blue light to respond to stresses that could be induced under high energy light. The information obtained from this study can be useful to better understand the responses of C. asiatica to different light qualities.

Introduction: Kaempferia parviflora or black ginger is abundantly cultivated because its rhizomes contain methoxyflavones that have many pharmacological properties.K. parviflora can be divided into two types, based on morphological characteristics, but differences in their chemical compositions have never been explored.Objectives: This research aims to find chemical markers that can be used to differentiate between the two types of K. parviflora, the red-leaf and green-leaf types, by quantifying the amounts of methoxyflavones.Material and methods: K. parviflora samples were collected from 39 locations in Thailand. Their genetic diversity was assessed by a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) technique to construct the population structure. Their chemical compositions were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detection to determine the methoxyflavone contents. Results:The population structure based on >3,000 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers showed that the samples can be divided into two groups, which were consistent with the classification by leaf margin color (red-leaf and green-leaf types). HPLC analysis revealed 3,5,7,3 0 ,4 0 -pentamethoxyflavone (PMF), 5,7dimethoxyflavone (DMF), 5,7,4 0 -trimethoxyflavone (TMF), 3,5,7-trimethoxyflavone and 3,5,7,4 0 -tetramethoxyflavone as major methoxyflavones that can be used as chemical markers. The red-leaf type showed higher amounts of PMF, TMF and 3,5,7,4 0 -tetramethoxyflavone than the green-leaf type, while the green-leaf type showed higher amounts of DMF and 3,5,7-trimethoxyflavone than the red-leaf type. Conclusion:These results provide another approach to discriminate the two types of K. parviflora using chemical profiles alongside genetic and morphological analyses.Therefore, a specific type of K. parviflora can be selected over the other based on preferences for a certain methoxyflavone.

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Introduction: Bua Bok or Centella asiatica (CA) is an Asian vegetable with antiinflammatory benefits. Asiaticoside, asiatic acid, madecassoside and madecassic have been characterised as major active ingredients with a wide range of pharmacological advantages. In manufacturing processes, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) are used to routinely determine the active compounds in raw materials.Objectives: This research aims to explore anti-inflammatory properties, characterise metabolites and observe the biochemical changes of the inflammatory induced macrophages after pretreatment with the potential extracted fractions.Methods: Bua Bok leaf extracts were prepared. Macrophages were pretreated with non-toxic fractions to determine the anti-inflammatory action. Tentative metabolites of effective fractions were identified by LC-MS. Synchrotron fourier-transform infrared (S-FTIR) microspectroscopy was utilised to observe the biochemical change of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cells after pretreatment with potential fractions.Results: Fractions of ethyl acetate, 30% and 100% ethanol highly increased the nitrile scavenging and suppressed the function of phospholipase A 2 . Fractions of 70% and 100% ethanol strongly decreased nitric oxide production. The comparison of 39 chemical compounds was presented. The change of proteins was improved after pretreatment of macrophages with fraction 70% ethanol. Fraction of 100% ethanol revealed the lipid accumulation was lower than 70% ethanol and diclofenac. Conclusion:While the anti-inflammatory actions of 70% and 100% ethanol were similar. S-FTIR expressed they inhibited inflammatory response with the distinct features of biomolecules. The S-FTIR, LC-MS and biological assay confidently provided the efficient strategies to inform the advantage of herbal extract on cellular organisation instead of a single compound.