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Lycium chinense is acknowledged for its substantial nutritional benefits, particularly attributed to the high levels of ascorbic acid (AsA) found in its fruits. The "Mengqi No.1" variety of L. chinense, which is cultivated in Qinghai, is known for its high yield and exceptional quality. We utilized the "Mengqi No.1" variety as experimental materials and combined metabolomic, transcriptomic, and physiological analyses to investigate the metabolites, genes, and enzymes related to AsA metabolism in L. chinense fruits. The results revealed nine differential metabolites associated with AsA metabolism in L. chinense fruits across three stages, including 1D-Myo-Inositol-1,4-Bisphosphate, D-Fructose, L-(+)-Arabinose, I-Inositol, L-Arabinitol, D-Galactose-1-P, lactose, α-D-Glucose, and D-Glucose-6-P. Notably, the contents of D-Glucose-6-P, D-Galactose-1-P, and D-Fructose were increased as the fruit developed. Additionally, fresh weight, longitudinal length, and radial width were increased, while the contents of AsA and DHA were decreased. GalDH and DHAR are critical enzymes for the accumulation of AsA and DHA, exhibiting positive correlation coefficient. Furthermore, PMM1, PMM5, GME2, and GME3 were identified as key regulatory genes in the L-Galactose pathway of AsA synthesis, influencing D-Galactose-1-P, D-Glucose-6-P, α-D-Glucose, and D-Fructose. DHAR1 and DHAR2 are considered key positive regulator genes of AsA and DHA in the AsA-GSH cycle. However, the majority of genes (nine) act as negative regulators of AsA and DHA. These findings provide a foundation for the understanding of the regulatory mechanism of AsA metabolism in L. chinense fruits and offer insights into the utilization of AsA from L. chinense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To breed a Gogi Berry cultivar with high quality and high yield, CBP14639-56, as a Gogi Berry line, was selected from the hybrids(F1) of ‘CBP11542-206 (IT345448)’ and ‘CBP07445-64 (IT258918)’in 2015. The preliminary and the advanced yield were conducted to investigate yield characteristics during 2016 to 2017 and the selected line was named Cheongyang No. 34. The regional yield trials of Cheongyang No. 34 were performed at Cheongyang, Yesan and Geumsan areas during 2018 to 2020. As a result, Cheongyang No. 34 was registered as the new variety, ‘Hwaseon’. The specific characteristics of ‘Hwaseon’ are as follows. The type of tree is half opened shape and leaves are green and round-lanceolate. The observed flowering time is June 18, later than the comparative variety ‘Chengmyeong’. The shape of fruits is red, long oval type and a large fruit species. Self-compatibility rate was 71.7%, which was very high compared to 2.8% of the comparative variety, ‘Cheongmyeong’. The resistance against gall mite (Eriophyes spp.) was stronger. The content of betaine, the indicator component, was similar to the comparative variety, and the dried-fruit yield increased by 41% compared to ‘Cheongmyeong’ in the regional yield trials. The Gogi Berry ‘Hwaseon’ is a Self-compatibility variety that does not require mixing of pollinated varieties, and it is expected to help farmers growing Gogi Berry, who are suffering from low fertilization rates due to the recent decrease pollinating insect such as honeybees due to climate change and a decrease in high-temperature activity (Registration No. 9181). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of Lycium chinense Mill (LCM) extract on obesity and diabetes, using both in vitro and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse models. We found that LCM notably enhanced glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion in NCI-h716 cells from 411.4 ± 10.75 pg/mL to 411.4 ± 10.75 pg/mL compared to NT (78.0 ± 0.67 pg/mL) without causing cytotoxicity, implying the involvement of Protein Kinase A C (PKA C) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in its action mechanism. LCM also decreased lipid droplets and lowered the expression of adipogenic and lipogenic indicators, such as Fatty Acid Synthase (FAS), Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 4 (FABP4), and Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protein 1c (SREBP1c), indicating the suppression of adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation. LCM administration to HFD mice resulted in significant weight loss (41.5 ± 3.3 g) compared to the HFD group (45.1 ± 1.8 g). In addition, improved glucose tolerance and serum lipid profiles demonstrated the ability to counteract obesity-related metabolic issues. Additionally, LCM exhibited hepatoprotective properties by reducing hepatic lipid accumulation and diminishing white adipose tissue mass and adipocyte size, thereby demonstrating its effectiveness against hepatic steatosis and adipocyte hypertrophy. These findings show that LCM can be efficiently used as a natural material to treat obesity and diabetes, providing a new approach for remedial and therapeutic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betaine is a useful compound that has various activities and is the marker compound of Lycium chinense fruit in Korean Pharmacopoeia. we seek to support the stable production of medicinal goji berries, which have significant potential in the pharmaceutical industry due to their high values, and to provide foundational data for consistent quality control. This study's purpose was to examine the correlation among betaine content, environmental variables, and the growth characteristics of L. chinense fruits. The fruits were collected from 25 cultivation sites across South Korea. We investigated five growth characteristics and betaine contents in L. chinense fruits and twelve soil physicochemical properties, and seven meteorological data at cultivation sites. The fruit's growth characteristics included a length of 15.62–26.49 mm, a width of 7.09–11.38 mm, a fresh weight of 0.73–1.62 g, and a sugar content of 11.10–19.62 Brix°. Its betaine content ranged from 0.54% to 0.97%. The betaine content was positively correlated with electrical conductivity (0.327 **), exchangeable potassium (0.314 **), and sodium (0.259 *) and negatively correlated with annual average minimum temperature (−0.256 *) and annual average temperature (−0.242 *). Also, betaine showed a positive correlation with the length of the fruit (0.294 *) and the fresh weight of the fruit (0.238 *). These results can be used to find the best cultivation method and to manage quality control for the highly economical L. chinense fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to find out the matching principle of excitation force and energy consumption of reciprocating vibrating Chinese wolfberry picking device, the energy consumption mechanism of reciprocating vibrating Chinese wolfberry picking device is studied. According to the structural characteristics and operating principle of the picking device, the no-load and load movement and force characteristics of the crank bearing and vibrating component are analyzed, and the theoretical model of energy consumption of the reciprocating vibration picking device is jointly constructed, and the simulation analysis is carried out. The results show that the vibrating component and load mass have a significant influence on torque, the load air resistance phase has a significant effect on torque, and the load air resistance and friction coefficient have no significant influence on torque. Subsequently, by building an AC servo motor torque detection system and a torque sensing detection system, verification experiments are carried out, the maximum torque of the preset system is 1.3 N∙m, the rated power is 400 W, the motor frequency is 20 Hz, the amplitude is 15 mm, and the total mass of the vibrating component is 0.143 kg. Test results show that, the no-load operation, the change trend of detected torque is consistent with simulation, the torque model is verified to be accurate. The maximum torque of simulation and detection are 0.52 N∙m and 0.57 N∙m respectively, and the error between test and simulation is 9.6%. For load operation, the maximum torque of five groups of branch loads of 20 g, 60 g, 100 g, 140 g, 180 g and 220 g are detected to be 0.73 N∙m, 0.74 N∙m, 0.75 N∙m, 0.82 N∙m and 0.83 N∙m, respectively, and the relationship model between load and torque is obtained by fitting. The research results can provide a theoretical basis which can configure a suitable motor in the reciprocating vibration Chinese wolfberry picking device with a certain load limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the importance of Magnesium (Mg) assay for efficacy evaluation of medicinal and edible homologous (MEH), an electrochemical sensor is designed by exploiting the cooperative properties of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). To be specific, the constructed bimetallic MOFs ((FeZr)MOF) are designed by using Zr(IV) and Fe(III) clusters as metal sources, which provide a large platform for AuNPs attachment to design signal probes. Benefitting from the catalytic properties of (FeZr)MOF toward hydroxylamine, electrochemical signal is attained for Mg2+ analysis with the detection limit to be 3 μM (corresponding to 0.072 μg g−1). Relying on DNAzymes as recognition elements, good anti‐jamming is achieved for Mg2+ analysis against the coexisting ions in Puerarin, Chinese wolfberry, hawthorn and dangshen. With the superiority of rapid response, acceptable sensitivity and specificity, the electrochemical sensor provides a useful pattern for assessing the pharmacological effects of MEH substances, pointing to reasonable selection and combination of multiple health function dietary therapy formulas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is heavily altering plant distributions, posing significant challenges to conventional agricultural practices and ecological balance. Meanwhile, mixed species planting emerges as a potent strategy to enhance agricultural resilience, counteract climate change, preserve ecological balance, and provide a solution to economic instability. The MaxEnt model was used to predict the suitable area of Citrus reticulata under five climate scenarios and to explore affecting environmental factors. Litchi chinensis, Punica granatum, and Lycium chinense were selected as mixed species to analyze the spatial distribution and centroid migration trend of potentially suitable areas. The research results show the following: (1) The primary environmental factors impacting C. reticulata distribution are annual precipitation (1000–4000 mm), precipitation of driest quarter over 100 mm, and mean temperature of coldest quarter (12–28 °C). Crucially, the mixed species exhibited similar environmental sensitivities, indicating mutual mixing suitability. (2) Currently, the C. reticulata suitable area is of 240.21 × 104 km2, primarily in South, East, Central, and Southwest China, with potential for expansion to 265.41 × 104 km2 under the 2090s SSP1-2.6 scenario. (3) The geometric center of the moderately-to-highly suitable areas for C. reticulata is located in Hunan Province. Future scenarios show the C. reticulata's centroid migrating northwest, with distances of less than 110 km. Mixed planting trends toward higher latitudes, fluctuating from 6 km to 210 km. (4) Mixed planting area planning: C. reticulata and L. chinensis are suitable for mixed planting in South China. C. reticulata and P. granatum, C. reticulata and L. chinense are suitable for mixed planting in most areas of Central, East, Southwest, and South China. This research presents a new perspective on using mixed design principles for ecological adaptation and the sustainable mixed planting of C. reticulata, in response to China's changing climate. This approach is expected to help the economic fruit tree industry enhance ecological resilience and economic stability in the face of future climate change challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural plants contain numerous chemical compounds that are beneficial to human health. The berries from the Lycium genus are widely consumed and are highly nutritious. Moreover, their chemical constituents have attracted attention for their health-promoting properties. In East Asia, there are three varieties of the Lycium genus (Lycium barbarum L., Lycium chinense Miller, and L. ruthenicum Murray) that possess medicinal value and are commonly used for treating chronic diseases and improving metabolic disorders. These varieties are locally referred to as "red Goji berries" or "black Goji berries" due to their distinct colors, and they differ in their chemical compositions, primarily in terms of carotenoid and anthocyanin content. The pharmacological functions of these berries include anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-exercise fatigue effects. This review aims to analyze previous and recent studies on the active ingredients and pharmacological activities of these Lycium varieties, elucidating their signaling pathways and assessing their impact on the gut microbiota. Furthermore, the potential prospects for using these active ingredients in the treatment of COVID-19 are evaluated. This review explores the potential targets of these Lycium varieties in the treatment of relevant diseases, highlighting their potential value in drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to realize the efficient and high-quality mechanical picking for Chinese wolfberry, firstly, the forced reciprocating vibration picking principle of the Chinese wolfberry branch was studied, and the mechanical model of vibration picking was established based on the simplified cantilever model, and the response analysis and solution of all positions for the branch were carried out. At the same time, the critical mechanical model of fruit detachment under the condition of fruit hanging on branches was established, and the theoretical values of inertia force for each component of the branch were obtained. Secondly, through actual measurement and finite element modeling, the natural frequency and forced vibration response simulation for each component of the branch of Chinese wolfberry terminal branch model were both studied, and the relationship between single-point periodic excitation force and high-quality fruit shedding parameters was obtained. Thirdly, according to the conclusion of the picking model, a test bench with many groups of adjustable parameters was built. Finally, the last branch of fruit-hanging Chinese wolf berry for Ningqi No.1 was taken as the experimental object, a four-level orthogonal experiment was designed with three factors: frequency, amplitude and entrance angle. Meanwhile, the net picking rate, damage rate and false picking rate were taken as the evaluating indicators, referring to the comprehensive scores of the three factors. It was concluded that the primary and secondary relations of factors affecting the picking effect are frequency, amplitude and entrance angle, and the best operation parameters are frequency of 20 Hz, amplitude of 15 mm, and entrance angle of 45°, then, a hand-held vibration picker with setting parameters was trial-produced, and the optimal parameter combination was verified in the Chinese wolfberry planting base of the National Chinese wolfberry Engineering and Technology Research Center. The results showed that the net picking rate of ripe Chinese wolfberry was 96.13%, the damage rate of fruit was 1.13%, and the false picking rate was 3.23%, mechanized picking efficiency was 30.28 kg/h, which is 6.65 times that of manual picking. The experimental results are consistent with the simulation results. The research results can provide an important basis for the creation and operation standards of large-scale Chinese wolfberry vibration harvesting equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycium chinense, a type of medicinal and edible plant, is rich in bioactive compounds beneficial to human health. In order to meet the market requirements for the yield and quality of L. chinense, polyploid induction is usually an effective way to increase plant biomass and improve the content of bioactive components. This study established the most effective tetraploid induction protocol by assessing various preculture durations, colchicine concentrations, and exposure times. The peak tetraploid induction efficacy, 18.2%, was achieved with a 12-day preculture and 24-h exposure to 50 mg L–1 colchicine. Compared to diploids, tetraploids exhibited potentially advantageous characteristics such as larger leaves, more robust stems, and faster growth rates. Physiologically, tetraploids demonstrated increased stomatal size and chloroplast count in stomata but reduced stomatal density. Nutrient analysis revealed a substantial increase in polysaccharides, calcium, iron, and zinc in tetraploid leaves. In addition, seventeen carotenoids were identified in the leaves of L. chinense. Compared to the diploid, lutein, β-carotene, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, and (E/Z)-phytoene exhibited higher levels in tetraploid strains T39 and T1, with T39 demonstrating a greater accumulation than T1. The findings suggest that the generated tetraploids harbor potential for further exploitation and lay the foundation for the selection and breeding of novel genetic resources of Lycium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keloid is a disease in which fibroblasts abnormally proliferate and synthesize excessive amounts of extracellular matrix, including collagen and fibronectin, during the healing process of skin wounds, causing larger scars that exceed the boundaries of the original wound. Currently, surgical excision, cryotherapy, radiation, laser treatment, photodynamic therapy, pressure therapy, silicone gel sheeting, and pharmacotherapy are used alone or in combinations to treat this disease, but the outcomes are usually unsatisfactory. The purpose of this review is to examine whether natural products can help treat keloid disease. I introduce well-established therapeutic targets for this disease and various other emerging therapeutic targets that have been proposed based on the phenotypic difference between keloid-derived fibroblasts (KFs) and normal epidermal fibroblasts (NFs). We then present recent studies on the biological effects of various plant-derived extracts and compounds on KFs and NFs. Associated ex vivo, in vivo, and clinical studies are also presented. Finally, we discuss the mechanisms of action of the plant-derived extracts and compounds, the pros and cons, and the future tasks for natural product-based therapy for keloid disease, as compared with existing other therapies. Extracts of Astragalus membranaceus, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Aneilema keisak, Galla Chinensis, Lycium chinense, Physalis angulate, Allium sepa, and Camellia sinensis appear to modulate cell proliferation, migration, and/or extracellular matrix (ECM) production in KFs, supporting their therapeutic potential. Various phenolic compounds, terpenoids, alkaloids, and other plant-derived compounds could modulate different cell signaling pathways associated with the pathogenesis of keloids. For now, many studies are limited to in vitro experiments; additional research and development are needed to proceed to clinical trials. Many emerging therapeutic targets could accelerate the discovery of plant-derived substances for the prevention and treatment of keloid disease. I hope that this review will bridge past, present, and future research on this subject and provide insight into new therapeutic targets and pharmaceuticals, aiming for effective keloid treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichoderma can promote plant growth under saline stress, but the mechanisms remain to be revealed. In this study, we investigate photosynthetic gas exchange, photosystem II (PSII) performance, nitrogen absorption and accumulation in a medicinal plant wolfberry (Lycium chinense) in saline soil supplemented with Trichoderma biofertilizer (TF). Larger nitrogen and biomass accumulation were found in plants supplemented with TF than with organic fertilizer (OF), suggesting that Trichoderma asperellum promoted plant growth and nitrogen accumulation under saline stress. T. asperellum strengthened root nitrogen (N) absorption according to greater increased root NH4+ and NO3− influxes under supplement with TF than OF, while nitrogen assimilative enzymes such as nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase and glutamine synthetase activities in roots and leaves were also stimulated. Thus, the elevated N accumulation derived from the induction of T. asperellum on nitrogen absorption and assimilation. Greater increased photosynthetic rate (Pn) and photosynthetic N-use efficiency under supplement with TF than OF illustrated that T. asperellum enhanced photosynthetic capacity and N utilization under saline stress. Although increased leaf stomatal conductance contributed to carbon (C) isotope fractionation under TF supplement, leaf 13C abundance was significantly increased by supplement with TF rather than OF, indicating that T. asperellum raised CO2 assimilation to a greater extent, reducing C isotope preference. Trichoderma asperellum optimized electron transport at PSII donor and acceptor sides under saline stress because of lower K and J steps in chlorophyll fluorescence transients under supplement with TF than OF. The amount of PSII active reaction centers was also increased by T. asperellum. Thus, PSII performance was upgraded, consistent with greater heightened delayed chlorophyll fluorescence transients and I1 peak under supplement with TF than OF. In summary, TF acted to increase N nutrient acquisition and photosynthetic C fixation resulting in enhanced wolfberry growth under saline soil stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Goji berry is an important cash crop of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. In the summer of 2019 and 2020, a root rot outbreak appeared in Zhongning County Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The correct identification of the causal agent is very important for prevention and cure of this root rot disease. The rotten root samples of symptomatic trees were dug for strain isolation using tissues separation method. The fungi were identified based on both morphological characteristics and molecular signatures. Five healthy 1‐year‐old goji berry cv. 'Ningqi‐7' seedlings inoculated with F. redolens QT114 showed root rot symptoms and F. redolens was re‐isolated from the rotted roots of inoculated seedlings. This is the first report of F. redolens causing root rot of Chinese wolfberry (L. barbarum L. cv. 'Ningqi‐7'). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betaine is a useful compound that has various activities and is the marker compound of Lycium chinense fruit in Korean Pharmacopoeia. we seek to support the stable production of medicinal goji berries, which have significant potential in the pharmaceutical industry due to their high values, and to provide foundational data for consistent quality control. This study’s purpose was to examine the correlation among betaine content, environmental variables, and the growth characteristics of L. chinense fruits. The fruits were collected from 25 cultivation sites across South Korea. We investigated five growth characteristics and betaine contents in L. chinense fruits and twelve soil physicochemical properties, and seven meteorological data at cultivation sites. The fruit’s growth characteristics included a length of 15.62–26.49 mm, a width of 7.09–11.38 mm, a fresh weight of 0.73–1.62 g, and a sugar content of 11.10–19.62 Brix°. Its betaine content ranged from 0.54% to 0.97%. The betaine content was positively correlated with electrical conductivity (0.327 **), exchangeable potassium (0.314 **), and sodium (0.259 *) and negatively correlated with annual average minimum temperature (−0.256 *) and annual average temperature (−0.242 *). Also, betaine showed a positive correlation with the length of the fruit (0.294 *) and the fresh weight of the fruit (0.238 *). These results can be used to find the best cultivation method and to manage quality control for the highly economical L. chinense fruit.

Background: Wolfberry is rich in carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamins, alkaloids, betaines and other bioactive ingredients. For over 2,000 years, wolfberry has been used in China as a medicinal and edible plant resource. Nevertheless, the content of bioactive ingredients varies by cultivars, resulting in uneven quality across wolfberry cultivars and species. To date, research has revealed little about the underlying molecular mechanism of the metabolism of flavonoids, carotenoids, and other bioactive ingredients in wolfberry. Results: In this context, the transcriptomes of the Lycium barbarum L. cultivar 'Ningqi No. 1' and Lycium chinense Miller were compared during the fruit maturity stage using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencing platform, and subsequently, the changes of the gene expression profiles in two types of wolfberries were analysed. In total, 256,228,924 clean reads were obtained, and 8817 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, then assembled by Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) similarity searches and annotated using Gene Ontology (GO), Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins (KOG), and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). By combining these transcriptome data with data from the PubMed database, 36 DEGs related to the metabolism of bioactive ingredients and implicated in the metabolic pathway of carotenoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, vitamins, etc., were identified. In addition, among the 9 differentially expressed transcription factors, LbAPL, LbPHL11 and LbKAN4 have raised concerns. The protein physicochemical properties, structure prediction and phylogenetic analysis indicated that LbAPL and LbPHL11 may be good candidate genes involved in regulating the flavonoid metabolism pathway in wolfberry. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence for the differences in bioactive ingredient content at the transcription level among different wolfberry species, as well as a research and theoretical basis for the screening, cloning and functional analysis of key genes involved in the metabolism of bioactive ingredients in wolfberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthenopia is a syndrome based on the symptoms of eye discomfort that has become a chronic disease that interferes with and harms people's physical and mental health. Lutein is an internationally recognized "eye nutrient", and studies have shown that it can protect the retina and relieve visual fatigue. In this study, lutein was extracted from marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) and saponified. The purified lutein concentration measured by HPLC was 50.12 mg/100 g. Then, purified lutein was modified to be water-soluble by nanoscale modification and microencapsulation technology. Water-soluble lutein was then mixed with a leaching solution of Chinese wolfberry and chrysanthemum to make a functional beverage. The effects of this beverage on hepatic antioxidant enzymes and the alleviation of visual fatigue in a rat model of diabetes were investigated for 4 weeks. Lutein intake of 0.72 (medium-lutein beverage group) and 1.44 mg/mL (high-lutein beverage group) relieved visual fatigue, ameliorated turbidity symptoms of impaired crystalline lenses, reduced hepatic MDA concentration, increased hepatic GSH concentration, and significantly increased the activities of the hepatic antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, and GR in rats. These data suggest that a lutein-rich beverage is an effective and harmless way to increase the total anti-oxidation capacity of lenses and alleviate visual fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-year field trial was conducted to investigate the effects of partial substitution of chemical fertilizer (CF) by Trichoderma biofertilizer (TF) on nitrogen (N) use efficiency and associated mechanisms in wolfberry (Lycium chinense) in coastal saline land. As with plant biomass and fruit yield, apparent N use efficiency and plant N accumulation were also higher with TF plus 75% CF than 100% CF, indicating that TF substitution promoted plant growth and N uptake. As a reason, TF substitution stabilized soil N supply by mitigating steep deceases in soil NH4+-N and NO3-N concentrations in the second half of growing seasons. TF substitution also increased carbon (C) fixation according to higher photosynthetic rate (Pn) and stable 13C abundance with TF plus 75% CF than 100% CF. Importantly, leaf N accumulation significantly and positively related with Pn, biomass, and fruit yield, and structural equation modeling also confirmed the importance of the causal relation of N accumulation coupled with C fixation for biomass and yield formation. Consequently, physiological and agronomical N use efficiencies were significantly higher with TF plus 75% CF than 100% CF. Overall, partial substitution of CF by TF improved N use efficiency in wolfberry in coastal saline land by stabilizing soil N supply and coupling N accumulation with C fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The study aimed to explore the protein characteristics and expression characteristics of SmCHI2, a key enzyme in eggplant anthocyanin synthesis pathway and provide a theoretical basis for improving eggplant anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway and quality breeding in the future. [Method] The full-length sequence of SmCHI2 gene was obtained from eggplant by homologous cloning. The physical and chemical properties of SmCHI2 protein were predicted by online analysis tools, and protein sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis were performed by ClustalX 1.7, GeneDoc 2.7.0 and Mega 6.0 software. And the expression pattern of SmCHI2 gene was analyzed by qRT-PCR. [Result] The full-length coding sequence of SmCHI2 was 633 bp, encoding 210 amino acids. The physicochemical properties analysis showed that the molecular weight of SmCHI2 protein was 23.98 kDa and the theoretical isoelectric point was 4.81. SmCHI2 protein was a unstable and hydrophilic protein. The secondary and tertiary structure prediction showed that SmCHI2 protein mainly consisted of α-helix, random coil, extended strand and β-turn. Multiple alignment showed that SmCHI2 has the same activity and recognition sites with type Ⅳ CHI protein, including LcCHI (Lycium chinense AIC33515.1), LrCHI (Lycium ruthenicum AQZ26680.1), CaCHI2 (Capsicum annuum XP＿016573438.1) and StCHI3 (Solanum tuberosum XP＿006365329.1), and they were classified into the same branch in phylogenetic tree. The result of subcellular localization showed that SmCHI2 protein was distributed in nucleus, cytomembrane and cytoplasm. Expression analysis showed that SmCHI2 gene was mainly expressed in purple tissues, and the expression level in white peel was significantly lower than that in purple peel. [Conclusion] Type Ⅳ CHI protein SmCHI2 positively regulates the anthocyanin biosynthesis of eggplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geographic origins play a vital role in traditional Chinese medicinal materials. Using the geo-authentic crude drug can improve the curative effect. The main producing areas of Chinese wolfberry are Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, and so on. The geographic origin of Chinese wolfberry can affect its texture, shape, color, smell, nutrients, etc. However, the traditional method for identifying the geographic origin of Chinese wolfberries is still based on human eyes. To efficiently identify Chinese wolfberries from different origins, this paper presents an intelligent identification method for Chinese wolfberries based on color space transformation and texture morphological features. The first step is to prepare the Chinese wolfberry samples and collect the image data. Then the images are preprocessed, and the texture and morphology features of single wolfberry images are extracted. Finally, the random forest algorithm is employed to establish a model of the geographic origin of Chinese wolfberries. The proposed method can accurately predict the origin information of a single wolfberry image and has the advantages of low cost, fast recognition speed, high recognition accuracy, and no damage to the sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to detect adulterants on Lycium Chinense species effectively, a rapid, clean, and nondestructive detection method based on hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology was conducted in a wavelength range of 400.68–1001.60 nm. Industrial sulfur particles were chosen as a dye to prepare three groups of adulterated L. Chinense samples as the research object. The whole L. Chinense was considered the region of interest. First, a multiple scatter correction (MSC) method was used to preprocess spectra data. The competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and linear discriminant analysis approaches were contrasted for optimal extraction of wavelengths characteristic. Then, two models were established: K‐nearest neighbor (KNN) and support vector machine (SVM). Furthermore, the performance accuracies of KNN and SVM models were compared. According to the outcomes, the SVM model built on CARS provided the best classification impact. The accuracy for the prediction set was 98.75%, and the accuracy for the training set was 100%. Also, the kernel parameters c and g of the SVM model were enhanced by genetic algorithm (GA) optimization. The values parameters (c, g) were set at 14.975 and 0.224, respectively, and the results improved by 1.25% at an elapsed time of 1.887 s, with the accuracy reaching 100% on both training and test sets. This study aimed to detect and classify sulfur‐adulterated wolfberries using an improved SVM and HSI. Finally, the results demonstrate that a combination of HSI and the CARS‐GA‐SVM model could be used for the rapid detection of foreign entities' in wolfberry fruits. Practical applications: Dried wolfberry adulteration has a direct link to the overall quality of the fruits, and potentially compromises the health of the fruits consumers. The traditional methods of testing adulterants on Lycium Chinense are arduous, require a lot of time, and are highly impacted by biased elements, necessitating new techniques. HSI technology, on the other hand, is nondestructive, quick/fast, accurate, subjective, reproducible, and pollution‐free. The study findings proved to be recommendable for initiating a feasible mobile system for rapidly detecting adulteration on L. Chinense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) is a major and growing public health problem characterized by decreased bone mineral density and destroyed bone microarchitecture. Previous studies found that Lycium Chinense Mill (LC) has a potent role in inhibiting bone loss. Kukoamine A (KuA), a bioactive compound extract from LC was responsible for the anti-osteoporosis effect. This study aimed to investigate the anti-osteoporosis effect of KuA isolated from LC in treating OP and its potential molecular mechanism. Method: In this study, network pharmacology and molecular docking were investigated firstly to find the active ingredients of LC such as KuA, and the target genes of OP by the TCMSP platform. The LC-OP-potential Target gene network was constructed by the STRING database and network maps were built by Cytoscape software. And then, the anti-osteoporotic effect of KuA in OVX-induced osteoporosis mice and MC3T3-E1 cell lines were investigated and the potential molecular mechanism including inflammation level, cell apoptosis, and oxidative stress was analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), micro-CT, ELISA, RT-PCR, and Western Blotting. Result: A total of 22 active compounds were screened, and we found KuA was identified as the highest active ingredient. Glycogen Phosphorylase (PYGM) was the target gene associated with a maximum number of active ingredients of LC and regulated KuA. In vivo, KuA treatment significantly increased the bone mineral density and improve bone microarchitecture for example increased BV/TV, Tb.N and Tb.Th but reduced Tb.Sp in tibia and lumber 4. Furthermore, KuA increased mRNA expression of osteoblastic differentiation-related genes in OVX mice and protects against OVX-induced cell apoptosis, oxidative stress level and inflammation level. In vitro, KuA significantly improves osteogenic differentiation and mineralization in cells experiment. In addition, KuA also attenuated inflammation levels, cell apoptosis, and oxidative stress level. Conclusion: The results suggest that KuA could protect against the development of OP in osteoblast cells and ovariectomized OP model mice and these found to provide a better understanding of the pharmacological activities of KuA again bone loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To investigate the oviposition preferences of gall midge, Gephyraulus lycantha Jiao & Kolesik (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), females with respect to three different Lycium spp. host plants, and thereby clarify the effect of semiochemicals on host selection. [Methods] Oviposition preferences for three host plants, L. barbarum, L. chinense and L. ruthenicum, were determined in both choice and no-choice experiments. The preference of gravid females for specific volatiles emitted from these three different host plant species was measured in a Y-tube olfactometer under laboratory conditions. Dynamic headspace collection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were used to analyze differences in the composition of volatiles emitted from the three different host plant species. [Results] L. barbarum was the preferred host species with a significantly (P<0.05) higher oviposition selection rate and number of eggs laid on the young flower buds of this species than on L. chinense or L. ruthenicum. The results of Y-tube olfactory experiments showed that females also significantly (P<0.05) preferred volatiles from bud-bearing branches of L. barbarum to those of the other two species. There were significant differences in the volatiles emitted from healthy flower buds of the three Lycium species. Volatile components of L. barbarum and L. chinense were relatively similar in that both contain a higher proportion of esters, whereas L. ruthenicum volatiles were low in esters and high in ketones. [Conclusion] G. lycantha significantly preferred ovipositing on L. barbarum to L. chinense or L. ruthenicum. Differences in the volatiles emitted from flower buds of L. barbarum might be responsible for this preference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes the folk stories of ancient Chinese medicinal herbs as the research object, aiming at depicting the understanding of the relationship between human beings and nature, spiritual beings and immortals in the conceptual world of Chinese people. Morphological research method is adopted to focus on the text of folk stories and relevant cultural significance. Since the Tang Dynasty, the records about medicinal herbs becoming spiritual beings and people becoming immortals after consuming them have been widely spread. Among them, three types of stories are the most representative: one is ginseng transforming into an old man or a boy, the other one is tuckahoe transforming into a child, and the last one is the Chinese wolfberry transforming into a dog. The story of "consuming spiritual beings and becoming immortals" not only reveals the narrative rules of the orderly upgrading from low to high among plants, spiritual beings, human beings, and immortals but also reflects our ancestors' ultimate pursuit of longevity and becoming immortals. Relevant research on this topic could be beneficial to the presentation of the knowledge-generating process of the Chinese ancient folk culture and promote the theoretical construction of Chinese stories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased anthropogenic activities have caused cadmium pollution in Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, which is harmful to human health. This paper investigated aqueous Cd2+ adsorption using biochar of three typical vegetation types in cold and arid areas of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau: (i) Chinese wolfberry (GBB), (ii) highland barley (QBB), and (iii) seabuckthorn (SBB). In order to investigate the effect of pyrolysis temperature on the performance of biochar for cadmium adsorption, three types of biochar were prepared at 350 °C, 500 °C, and 650 °C. The as-prepared biochar was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric (TG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Brauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The results showed that the biochar prepared at 650 °C had the best adsorption capacity. Compared with QBB and SBB, the GBB had a higher Cd2+ adsorption capacity of 19.48 mg/g. Moreover, the effects of biochar dosage, experimental temperature, and biochar preparation temperature on the adsorption of Cd2+ by biochar and the interaction between the factors were investigated using Box–Behnken Design (BBD). As a result, the amount of biochar dosage showed the most obvious influence on Cd2+ adsorption capacity, followed by sample preparation temperature and experimental adsorption temperature. This study paves the way for the design of biochar for Cd2+ adsorption in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Trichoderma asperellum blocked root K + loss in wolfberry under saline stress. • Trichoderma asperellum increased root Na+ exclusion in wolfberry under saline stress. • Trichoderma asperellum protected photosystem II against oxidative stress. The mechanisms how Trichoderma enhances plant salt tolerance remain to be further dissected. Trichoderma asperellum spore powder (TS) was supplemented to saline soil around the stem base of potted wolfberry (Lycium chinense), and the role of Trichoderma asperellum in ameliorating salt tolerance of wolfberry was investigated with emphasis on ionic balance and photosystems II (PSII) activity. Plant dry weight was significantly increased by TS supplement, suggesting that Trichoderma asperellum promoted wolfberry growth in saline soil. As TS supplement elevated leaf and root K +/Na+ by increasing K + content and decreasing Na+ content, Trichoderma asperellum improved ionic balance in wolfberry under saline soil stress, and the mechanism depended on that Trichoderma asperellum raised root Na+ exclusion and blocked root K + loss. Consequentially, oxidative stress was ameliorated by Trichoderma asperellum according to lower leaf lipid peroxidation and H 2 O 2 content in plants with TS supplement. Moreover, PSII was protected against oxidative injury and could maintain higher photochemical efficacy with TS supplement. K and J steps in prompt chlorophyll fluorescence transients were lowered by TS supplement, suggesting that Trichoderma asperellum alleviated salt-induced inhibition on electron transport at both PSII donor and acceptor sides, and consistently, more PSII centers became reactive. In addition, higher delayed chlorophyll fluorescence transients under TS supplement corroborated that Trichoderma asperellum enhanced whole PSII performance. Overall, Trichoderma asperellum helped maintain ionic balance by preventing K + loss and elevating Na+ exclusion in roots and protect PSII by alleviating oxidative stress in wolfberry cultivated in saline soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particulate matters (PMs) from polluted air cause diverse pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, including lung inflammation. While the fruits (Goji) of Lycium trees are commonly consumed as traditional medicine and functional food ingredients, the majority of their roots are discarded as by-products. To enhance the industrial applicability of Lycium roots, we prepared an ethanol extract (named GR30) of L. chinense Miller roots and evaluated its potential protective effects against particulate matter 10 (PM10)-induced inflammation and immune cell death. The GR30 treatment (0–500 μg/mL) significantly attenuated the PM10-induced cell cycle arrest, DNA fragmentation and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in RBL-2H3 basophil cells. GR30 also significantly antagonized the PM10-induced expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-13, and TNF-α) and COX2 expression through downregulation of MAPKs (ERK and JNK) signalling pathway. Oral administration of GR30 (200–400 mg/kg) to PM10 (20 mg/mL)-challenged mice significantly reduced the serum levels of IgE and the expression of TNF-α and Bax in lung tissues, which were elevated by PM10 exposure. These results revealed that the ethanolic extract (GR30) of L. chinense Miller roots exhibited anti-inflammatory and cyto-protective activity against PM10-induced inflammation and basophil cell death, and thus, it would be useful in functional food industries to ameliorate PM-mediated damage to respiratory and immune systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The prevalence of cardiovascular complications in diabetes has become one of the major cause of diabetes related morbidity/mortality. The onset and progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) has been majorly linked to lipid alterations, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. This present study investigated the cardioprotective role of Lycium chinense leaf extract (LCME) in fructose/streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Diabetic animals were orally gavaged with LCME (100 and 400 mg/kg) for five weeks. The results indicated that diabetic rats showed increased blood glucose concentration, serum cardiac function markers (troponin T, creatine kinase-MB, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase) and lipid profile (triglycerides and cholesterol). In addition, the cardiac tissues of diabetic rats showed increased levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL 1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), caspase-3 and malondialdehyde as well as significantly reduced activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase. LCME significantly ameliorated hyperglycemia and markedly decreased serum concentrations of troponin T, creatine kinase-MB, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase, triglycerides and cholesterol. Furthermore, LCME notably suppressed cardiac oxido-inflammatory mediators and boosted cardiac antioxidant defense. Histopathologically, LCME restored cardiac structural alterations and also suppressed the immunohistochemical expression of collagen IV, smooth muscle alpha-actin (α-SMA) and p53, while Bcl2 expression was significantly increased. In conclusion, our result indicated that LCME protected against diabetic cardiomyopathy suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis and fibrosis.

The goji berry (Lycium spp.) belongs to the Solanaceae family. The genus Lycium comprises 87 recognised species and is distributed in arid and semi-arid regions in temperate to subtropical zones in the world. In botanical terms, there are three types of Lycium species known as wolf-berry and commercially grown in the whole world: Lycium barbarum L. (2n = 24), Lycium chinense Miller (n = 12), and Lycium ruthenicum Murray (n = 12). Wolfberry is a herb growing naturally in both the mild and tropical areas of East, Southeast Asia, and Southern Africa. Also known as wolfberry (Lycium spp.), the motherland of wolfberry is China and it can even be grown in the Himalayas, the highest points of Tibet and Mongolia. Recently, in Turkey goji berry became a popular fruit due to its health benefit compounds, especially phenolic compounds (phenolic acids and flavonoids), carotenoids, tocopherol, ascorbic acid and antioxidant properties. The purpose of this study was to conduct a historical assessment of the botanic properties and cultivation of wolfberry plant and to provide information on the types and cultivars grown commonly in Turkey, distribution areas of production, consumption and use as a technologic product, marketing status, benefits for human health, multiplication and production techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Dry eye disease (DED) is a relatively common disorder associated with abnormal tear film and the ocular surface that causes ocular irritation, dryness, visual impairment, and damage to the cornea. DED is not a life-threatening disease but causes discomfort and multifactorial disorders in vision that affect daily life. It has been reported that all traditional medicinal plants exhibit anti-inflammatory effects on several diseases. We hypothesized that the decoction ameliorated ocular irritation and decreased cytokine expression in the cornea. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of DED and discover a therapeutic strategy to reduce corneal inflammation. Material and Methods: We used a DED mouse model with extraorbital lacrimal gland (ELG) excision and treated the mice with a decoction of five traditional medicines: Lycium chinense, Cuscuta chinensis, Senna tora, Ophiopogon japonicus, and Dendrobium nobile for 3 months. The tear osmolarity and the ocular surface staining were evaluated as indicators of DED. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the level of inflammation on the cornea. Results: After treatment with the decoction for three months, epithelial erosions and desquamation were reduced, the intact of corneal endothelium was maintained, and tear osmolarity was restored in the eyes. The IL-1β-associated inflammatory response was reduced in the cornea in the DED model. Conclusions: These data suggested that a mixture of traditional medicines might be a novel therapy to treat DED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) and wolfberry (Lycium chinense) became popular nowadays due to their supposed health benefits. Conventionally grown goji berries are often treated extensively with pesticides that led to high levels of pesticide residues in the imported products in Europe and in the USA. Among the insecticides, neonicotinoid type active ingredients have frequently been found in wolfberry products of Chinese origin, which occasionally exceeded the corresponding official maximum residue limit (MRL) values. In addition to imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, much older and obsolete active ingredients have also been detected, e.g. carbofuran. The negative effects of neonicotinoids on pollinators, particularly bees, led to the ban of 3 neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam), whereas acetamiprid is still in use in Europe. Along with the strict EU regulations, legal violations occurred related to pesticide residues in the imported goji berry products, which led to an increase in the level of official control on imports (2018/941) in the EU. Paradoxically, the corresponding MRL (EC 396/2005) e.g. for acetamiprid has been increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchid-flower-shaped ZnO nanomaterials were successfully synthesized via green synthesis and an eco-friendly approach using an aqueous extract of Lycium chinense fruit as a reducing and capping agent. The synthesized Lycium chinense orchid-flower-shaped ZnO (LC-ZnO/OF) nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized using different analytical methods through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence (PL). The FE-TEM analysis revealed the orchid flower shape of the nanoparticles, and the elemental composition was confirmed via XPS analysis. The photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles was determined by the degrading cationic dye methylene blue (MB) and the anionic dye Eosin Y (EY) under visible light irradiation at (400 w) within 180 min time, where it showed a significant ability to degrade both cationic and anionic dye by almost 50%. The LC-ZnO/OF photocatalyst was also used to check the toxicity level in human cancer cells, where it exhibited remarkable cytotoxicity to the human lung cancer (A549 cell line) and human gastric adenocarcinoma hyperdiploid (AGS cell line). The present investigation suggests that LC-ZnO/OF has the potential photocatalytic ability to degrade toxic dye as well as have anti-cancer effects. These preliminary results suggest that LC-ZnO/OF could have a significant impact on the environmental and biomedical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Significant negative hydrogen isotopic offsets existed between xylem water and its water sources. • The deuterium offset leads to an overestimation of deep soil water utilization. • The dual isotope input data mode with δD corrected had better water source partitioning performance. The stable isotope of water has been widely used to investigate plant water resources with the assumption that root water uptake and plant water transport is a non-isotopic fractionation process. However, recent research revealed that significant isotopic offsets between xylem water and potential water sources, which may result in errors when estimating plant water sources. We test five different input data modes in Bayesian isotope mixing model [only δ18O (M−O), only δD (M−D), δD after subtracting the deviation with respect to the soil water line (SW-excess) from the δD of xylem samples (M−SD), δD and δ18O (M−OD), and δD and δ18O after subtracting the SW-excess from the δD of xylem samples (M−OSD)] to identify sources of water absorbed by Chinese wolfberries (Lycium chinense Miller). The results showed that there was significant difference (p < 0.05) between the M−O and M−D modes. The evaluation indexes (RESE, N, MaxE, MinE, MAPE) performed well in the M−SD, M−O, and M−OSD modes. Furthermore, the M−SD, M−OSD, and M−O had consistent contribution proportions for the three soil layers. In addition, the corrected δD values in the dual and single isotope modes performed better than the original δD in quantifying water source contribution. This study provides critical insights into choosing a suitable method for isotope-based identification of plant water sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis is the property of Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The consumption of fruits, leaves, and roots of Lycium barbarum L. and Lycium chinense (Mill.) species has a long tradition, especially on the Asian continent, due to their health benefits. In recent decades, social and economic factors, along with scientific progress, have stimulated the expansion of the consumption and cultivation of goji plants on a global scale, but mostly in Western countries. The traditional therapeutic properties attributed to goji plants, scientifically demonstrated through clinical and pharmacological studies in vitro and in vivo, are due to a diversified content in antioxidants (polysaccharides, flavonoids, carotenoids, and antioxidant capacity). With the development of technological capabilities for the detection and extraction of biocompounds from plant resources (including from secondary metabolisms), the completeness of research on the beneficial and secondary effects of the use of these species in human nutrition has increased. In most of the published studies, the chemical profile of L. barbarum or L. chinense species was analysed in terms of the therapeutic benefits of the variety, the different plant components subjected to extraction, the prior processing of these components, the method of extraction of active biocompounds, and to some extent, the correlation of this profile with geographical origin. The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive and updated summary on some chemical compounds with therapeutic effects from Lycium spp. plants, addressing the correlation of the phytochemical composition in relation to their cultivation area, in the perspective of identifying and creating new goji varieties with high adaptability to local pedoclimatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An eco-friendly and visual pH indicator was developed based on cotton fabrics dyed with natural Lycium ruthenicum extract (LRE), whose color changed from red to purple, blue and green at pH of 2-10. Three methods for dyeing cotton fabrics with LRE were attempted, namely pre-mordanting, simultaneous mordanting, and post- mordanting methods with different dyeing temperatures, dyeing times and dyebath pH values. The cotton fabrics exhibited the highest K/ S value when they were dyed under a dyebath of pH 6 at 20 ° for 90 min in the case of the simultaneous mordanting method. Meanwhile, the dyed cotton fabrics also showed reversible pH-dependent color changes. The developed flexible pH indicator based on renewable natural materials is suitable for multiple applications in environmental monitoring and smart textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Goji leaves, including Lycium barbarum L. and Lycium chinense Mill. leaves, have been used as traditional Chinese medicine materials for nourishing kidneys and enhancing eyesight but are mostly discarded at present. The nutritional composition of Goji leaves is similar to that of Goji berries even some components are more plentiful in the former, such as flavonoids. This paper firstly reviews the main phytochemicals of Goji leaves. Also, updated information on the biological activities of Goji leaves is narrated. Based on the long use history and existing bioactivity data on Goji leaves, we propose their potential applications in the food industry and encourage further investigation on Goji leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High soil salinity often adversely affects plant physiology and agricultural productivity of almost all crops worldwide, such as the crude drug known as wolfberry. However, the mechanism of this action in wolfberry is not fully understood yet. Results: Here in this study, we studied different mechanisms potentially in Chinese wolfberry (Lycium chinese, LC) and black wolfberry (L. ruthenicum, LR) under salinity stress, by analyzing their transcriptome, metabolome, and hormone changes. The hormone detection analysis revealed that the ABA content was significantly lower in LR than LC under normal condition, and increased sharply under salinity stress in LR but not in LC. The transcriptome analysis showed that the salinity-responsive genes in wolfberry were mainly enriched in MAPK signaling, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, carbon metabolism, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways in LC, while mainly related to carbon metabolism and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum in LR. Metabolome results indicated that LR harbored higher flavone and flavonoid contents than LC under normal condition. However, the flavone and flavonoid contents were hardly changed in LR, but increased substantially in LC when exposed to salinity stress. Conclusions: Our results adds ABA and flavone to mechanism understanding of salinity tolerance in wolfberry. In addition, flavone plays a positive role in resistance to salinity stress in wolfberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root rot disease is a serious infection leading to production loss of Chinese wolfberry (Lycium barbarum). This study tested the potential for two bacterial biological control agents, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HSB1 and FZB42, against five fungal pathogens that frequently cause root rot in Chinese wolfberry. Both HSB1 and FZB42 were found to inhibit fungal mycelial growth, in vitro and in planta , as well as to promote the growth of wolfberry seedlings. In fact, a biocontrol experiment showed efficiency of 100% with at least one treatment involving each biocontrol strain against Fusarium oxysporum. Metagenomic sequencing was used to assess bacterial community shifts in the wolfberry rhizosphere upon introduction of each biocontrol strain. Results showed that HSB1 and FZB42 differentially altered the abundances of different taxa present and positively influenced various functions of inherent wolfberry rhizosphere bacteria. This study highlights the application of biocontrol method in the suppression of fungal pathogens that cause root rot disease in wolfberry, which is useful for agricultural extension agents and commercial growers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

They were determined the physical and chemical properties, antioxidant capacity and mineral content of tropical fruit respectively:: passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), carambola (Averrhoa carambola), sweet pepino (Solanum muricatum), guava (Psidium guajava), goldenberry (Physalis peruviana) and goji berries (Lycium chinense. Fruits were purchased on the market from imports. It was found a wide variability concerning fruits size and weight by species. The fruit size index ranged from 9.24 in goji berries to 75.78 in sweet pepino. The individual fruit weight ranged between 0.45 g in goji berries to 208.7 g in sweet pepino. The highest content of dry matter was found in passion fruit (27.59%) and the lowest value was recorded in sweet pepino (5.93%). Also, in goji berries and goldenberry we found high values of dry matter content. It is found that all analyzed species contain appreciable amounts of polyphenols, ranging from 26 201 mg/l equiv gallic acid in goldenberry fruits and 141.966 mg / l gallic acid equiv in goji berries. The highest values of potassium content was found in goji berries (422.34 mg/100 g fm) while carambola fruit were recorded the lowest values (140 832 mg/100 g fm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese herbal medicines have long been used for the treatment of dysmenorrhea. The treatment experiences of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacies passed down through generations have contributed to a wealth of prescriptions for dysmenorrhea that have achieved significant therapeutic effects in countless Taiwanese women. Therefore, surveying and analyzing these prescriptions may enable us to elucidate the core medication combinations used in TCM prescriptions for dysmenorrhea. In the present study, a field investigation was conducted on various TCM pharmacies in Taiwan. A total of 96 TCM pharmacies were sampled, and 99 prescriptions for dysmenorrhea containing 77 different medicinal materials were collected. Compositae (8%) was the most common botanical source of the medicinal materials, and the predominant TCM property and flavor of the materials were warm (45%) and sweet (73%), respectively. The blood-activating and stasis-dispelling effect (23%) and the qi-tonifying effect (23%) were the most prevalent traditional effects, and the modern pharmacological effects most commonly found in the materials were anti-inflammatory (73%), antitumor (59%), and analgesic (12%) effects. Network analysis of the 77 medicinal materials used in the prescriptions, which was performed using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System, yielded seven core medicinal materials and the corresponding network diagram. The seven core medicinal materials ranked in order of relative frequency of citation (RFC) were Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Dang Gui), Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort (Chuan Qiong), Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch (Di Huang), Paeonia lactiflora Pall (Bai Shao), Hedysarum polybotrys Hand.-Mazz (Hong Qi), Lycium chinense Mill (Gou Qi Zi), and Cinnamomum cassia (L.). J. Presl (Gui Zhi). A total of 58 combinations, each consisting of two to five of the seven medicinal materials and 107 association rules among the materials, were identified. This study provides a record of valuable knowledge on TCM pharmacy prescriptions for dysmenorrhea. The rich medicinal knowledge of TCM pharmacies in Taiwan is worthy of further exploration, and the results of this study can serve as a basis for future pharmacological research and the development of naturally derived medications for dysmenorrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate modeling of wolfberry plant morphology is the basis for theoretical and simulation analyses of the wolfberry picking process. The curved shape of the fruit branches makes it challenging to model Lycium barbarum (wolfberry) plants. This paper establishes a three-dimensional model of the branches under no gravity through field measurements, and then assesses the morphology of the branches under gravity load, fruit load, and branch load using finite element simulation. An orthogonal rotation combination experiment determined the relationship between branch morphology, length, growth angle, and growth mode parameters. The p-values of the prediction model were 0.0001, 0.0067, and 0.0203, respectively. Finally, the bending shape of the actual branches was verified against the branches generated by the prediction model. The experimental results show that the prediction model accurately models the fruit-bearing branches of Lycium barbarum. This paper introduces a method to quickly predict the bending shape of fruit-bearing branches of Lycium barbarum, providing a theoretical basis for rapid modeling of the L. barbarum plant and a simulation analysis for its harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background and objective: Dry eye disease (DED) is a relatively common disorder associated with abnormal tear film and the ocular surface that causes ocular irritation, dryness, visual impairment, and damage to the cornea. DED is not a life-threatening disease but causes discomfort and multifactorial disorders in vision that affect daily life. It has been reported that all traditional medicinal plants exhibit anti-inflammatory effects on several diseases. We hypothesized that the decoction ameliorated ocular irritation and decreased cytokine expression in the cornea. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of DED and discover a therapeutic strategy to reduce corneal inflammation. Material and Methods: We used a DED mouse model with extraorbital lacrimal gland (ELG) excision and treated the mice with a decoction of five traditional medicines: Lycium chinense, Cuscuta chinensis, Senna tora, Ophiopogon japonicus, and Dendrobium nobile for 3 months. The tear osmolarity and the ocular surface staining were evaluated as indicators of DED. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the level of inflammation on the cornea. Results: After treatment with the decoction for three months, epithelial erosions and desquamation were reduced, the intact of corneal endothelium was maintained, and tear osmolarity was restored in the eyes. The IL-1β-associated inflammatory response was reduced in the cornea in the DED model. Conclusions: These data suggested that a mixture of traditional medicines might be a novel therapy to treat DED.

Lycium chinense Mill is a deciduous broad-leaved shrub belonging to the Solanaceae family and, is widely distributed throughout Korea. This plant is native to, or cultivated for various oriental medicinal purposes in, multiple regions of Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan (Lee 1982; Kim et al. 1994). Eleven Puccinia species have been reported to infect Lycium species (Otálora et al. 2018). In May and October 2022, symptoms of rust disease caused by Puccinia sp. were observed on almost all the leaves of about 60 sprawling stems of L. chinense plants on the seashore of Jeju island, Korea (33°14'15.0835″N, 126°30'53.40E). Brownish red (uredinium) or blackish brown (telium) pustules were observed on upper and lower surfaces of infected leaves. These symptoms were observed on about 40 L. chinense plants, barely growing between rocks on the seashore of Ulsan Metropolitan City, and on the about 20 L. chinense plants on a small home garden of Jindo-gun, Korea, in June and October 2023, respectively. Uredinia were amphigenous, individually scattered, but sometimes formed groups of two or three on leaves and sepals, ferruginous, pulverulent, and surrounded by a ruptured epidermis, often developing into blackish telia. Urediniospores were either ellipsoid or ovoid, approximately 29.3-34.9 × 17-24.3 μm, with yellowish walls, 1-2 μm thick. The germ pores were bizonate, and each band contained four pores covered by low papillae. Blackish-brown telia were observed on both leaf surfaces. Teliospores were broadly ellipsoidal, and rounded at the apex and towards the base. They were measured approximately 37.1-53.4 × 25-34.5 μm. The walls were light chestnut-brown and 2-3.7 μm thick, apically up to 5-9 μm thick. The swollen pedicel was persistent, basal, hyaline, smooth, and similar in length to the spores (Fig. 1). These morphological characteristics were similar to those of P. tumidipes , as described by Otálora et al. (2018). The representative specimens were preserved at the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency Herbarium (PQK220531, -230605, and -231026). The fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) and cytochrome oxidase subunit 3(CO3) regions were amplified from the total DNA of the isolates, using the primer pairs ITS5, ITS4, CO3F1, and CO3R1 for phylogenetic analysis (White et al. 1990; Vialle et al. 2009). PCR products were sequenced (Celemics, Seoul, Korea), and deposited in GenBank (Accession numbers are shown in Fig. 2.). The combined ITS2 and CO3 sequences were grouped with those of other isolates of P. tumidipes in the phylogenetic tree (Fig. 2). In November 2022, three pathogenicity tests were conducted using a urediniospore suspension made with the PQK220531 isolate in sterile distilled water. The suspension was smeared onto the upper surface of healthy L. chinense leaves. The three inoculated plants were kept in the dark at saturated moisture levels for 24 hours and placed in an isolated glasshouse together with the three control plants. After two weeks, uredinia of P. tumidipes were observed on the leaves of the inoculated plants, but not on the control plants. Although no spermogonial or aecial stage has been observed in Korea, our study has proven that P. tumidipes is the causal fungus of rust disease in L. chinense . This result is also the first discovery of the New-World P. tumidipes in Asia, showing this fungus is not limitedly distributed in America and suggesting further surveys be done on its exact geographical distribution.

Realizing eco-friendly, long-term, and low-risk aphid control on Lycium barbarum (medicinal cash crop) using a Cynanchum komarovii extracts and eucalyptus oil-loaded microcapsules (EOMCs) formulation compositions is viable. In this study, the aim is to optimize the composition of Cynanchum komarovii extracts and EOMCs formulation for effective control of aphids, the release of EOMCs was controlled by changing the cross-linking degree of the shell to match the aphid control characteristics of Cynanchum komarovii extracts. Four types of polyamines were used as cross-linking agents for the preparation of EOMCs by interfacial polymerization. The bioactivity, wettability, and field application efficacy of Cynanchum komarovii extracts and different EOMCs formulation compositions were evaluated. These EOMCs exhibited an encapsulation efficiency exceeding 85 %. The control efficiency of the formulation compositions of microcapsules with a moderate release rate and Cynanchum komarovii extracts on aphids remained at 62.86 %, while the control efficiency of the combination of microcapsules with the fastest and slowest rates with Cynanchum komarovii extracts was only 48.62 % and 57.11 %, respectively. The formulation compositions of Cynanchum komarovii extracts with all four types of EOMCs were found to be safe for Chinese wolfberry plants. Overall, by selecting appropriate polyamines during fabrication, the release rate can be effectively controlled to achieve sustainable and low-risk aphid control in Lycium barbarum through compounding with selected microcapsules. [Display omitted] • Pest management of Lycium barbarum by combination of botanical pesticides. • Suitable pesticide compounding ensure effective and safe pest management. • Enhancement of the persistence of eucalyptus oil via microencapsulation. • The polyamine structure regulates the crosslinking reaction. • The release rate of polyurea microcapsules was regulated by polyamines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]