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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has evolved to tolerate almost all known β-lactam antibiotics, and been exhibiting resistance to vancomycin. Developing new drugs against the MRSA infection are urgently needed. Natural resource is enriched with antimicrobial molecules. Here, we report an extract from leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus (ECPL), a species of tree native to China and being traditionally cultivated as medicinal plant, which shows a broad spectrum of bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects at MIC 50 15.99 ± 0.55 μg/ml against methicillin-susceptible and -resistant S. aureus. The ECPL suppresses bacterial expression of FtsZ at both transcriptional and protein levels, inhibits its GTPase activity, blocks the assembly dynamics of FtsZ, and disrupts the formation of Z-ring. The bacteria cells fail to divide, enlarge initially, and lyse eventually. In mouse model, the ECPL facilitates skin wound healing with MRSA infection as effective as vancomycin. Our study unveils the potential of identifying novel molecule in ECPL for development of new class of antibiotic against both methicillin-susceptible and -resistant S. aureus , and support domestication of the C. paliurus growing from wild to cultivated, and further scale up the cultivation into industrialized farm for sustainable harvest for pharmaceutic interest. [Display omitted] • An extract from Cyclocarya paliurus (ECPL) leaves shows anti-MRSA activity. • The ECPL suppresses bacterial FtsZ at transcriptional and protein levels and eliminates the GTPase enzyme activity. • Bacteria abort Z-ring formation , fail to divide, and die. • This effect bypasses known resistance machineries and shows a potential for new antibiotic development. • Domesticating and scaling up the cultivation will guaranty sustainable harvest for the pharmaceutic interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Phenotypic plasticity exhibited in ginkgo growth and metabolite traits. • Low temperature is considered to be the key factor restricting ginkgo growth. • High quality areas of ginkgo cultivation would shift northward and upward. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) is an ancient medicinal tree species that is widely cultivated in China for its leaves which possess pharmacologically active metabolites. Knowledge about the effects of climate change on ginkgo leaf yield (biomass) and quality (target metabolites concentration) remains unknown. Here, we first examined the extent of several phenotypic traits (growth: leaf area and weight, main branch basal diameter and length; metabolites: concentration of flavonoids, ginkgolides, and polyprenols) variation of genetically homogeneous ginkgo clones (including gender differences) along climatic gradients. Second, we used univariate and bivariate modeling techniques to quantify the impact of several essential climatic factors on the performance of the studied phenotypic traits. Finally, we predicted the growth potential of the studied traits and delineated their suitable production areas under current and future climate conditions. Results showed that the studied 4 growth and 12 metabolites traits varied significantly (P < 0.05) among the 17 assessed diverse growing environments, while female trees consistently outperformed male trees for growth traits, but not for metabolites. Climate variables related to sub-zero temperature were considered to be the most key factor restricting the distribution of ginkgo (growth potential); however, they promoted the biosynthesis of some defense compounds (e.g., flavonoids). Future projections under the RCP8.5 scenario indicated that the area suitable for ginkgo growth (leaf area) would increase by mid-century as well the high-yield, high-quality areas of ginkgo cultivation would shift northward and upward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The metabolic profiling in Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. leaves were examined. • Dynamic changes of metabolites between different leaf samples were revealed. • Several discriminatory secondary metabolites accounted for the blue pigments. • Several discriminatory free amino acids contributed to the formation of pigment. • A hypothesis of the seasonal differences of blue pigments was presented. Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. leaf is a valuable source of natural pigment to dye food, hair, and clothing for a thousand of years in China. However, the seasonal differences of blue hue of pigments have not been fully demonstrated. In this research, V. bracteatum Thunb. leaves were collected from eight months for metabolite analysis. The global metabolic profile in leaves was examined to distinguish the differential metabolites and monitor the dynamic changes. This research revealed that several discriminatory secondary metabolites were monotropein derivatives, flavonoid glycosides and chlorogenic acid isomers by LCMS-untargeted approach. The changes of monotropein derivatives and dimers occurred in a season-dependent manner which almost showed higher abundances in spring. Meanwhile, several free amino acids changed dramatically by HPLC-targeted measurement. Particularly, Ala, Glu, and Asp caused a positive impact on blue color. Ser, Arg, and His were negatively correlated with the color. This research provided the first evidence that the seasonal differences of blue pigment are ascribed to the systemic changes of monotropein derivatives and free amino acids in V. bracteatum Thunb. leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]