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Stem-leaf saponins from Panax notoginseng (SLSP) comprise numerous PPD-type saponins with diverse pharmacological properties; however, their role in Parkinson's disease (PD), characterized by microglia-mediated neuroinflammation, remains unclear. This study evaluated the effects of SLSP on suppressing microglia-driven neuroinflammation in experimental PD models, including the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPTP)-induced mouse model and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglia. Our findings revealed that SLSP mitigated behavioral impairments and excessive microglial activation in models of PD, including MPTP-treated mice. Additionally, SLSP inhibited the upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) and attenuated the phosphorylation of PI3K, protein kinase B (AKT), nuclear factor-κB (NFκB), and inhibitor of NFκB protein α (IκBα) both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, SLSP suppressed the production of inflammatory markers such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells. Notably, the P2Y2R agonist partially reversed the inhibitory effects of SLSP in LPS-treated BV-2 cells. These results suggest that SLSP inhibit microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in experimental PD models, likely through the P2Y2R/PI3K/AKT/NFκB signaling pathway. These novel findings indicate that SLSP may offer therapeutic potential for PD by attenuating microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragali Radix (AR) and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma (NR) are frequently employed in cardiovascular disease treatment. However, the efficacy of the AR−NR medicine pair (AN) in improving cardiac remodeling and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate AN's cardioprotective effect and potential mechanism on cardiac remodeling using transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice and angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) and fibroblasts in vitro. High-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) characterized 23 main components of AN. AN significantly improved cardiac function in the TAC-induced mice. Furthermore, AN considerably reduced the serum levels of N -terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponin T (CTn-T), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and mitigated inflammatory cell infiltration. Post-AN treatment, TAC-induced heart size approached normal. AN decreased cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and attenuated the upregulation of cardiac hypertrophy marker genes (ANP, BNP , and MYH7) in vivo and in vitro. Concurrently, AN alleviated collagen deposition in TAC-induced mice. AN also reduced the expression of fibrosis-related indicators (COL1A1 and COL3A1) and inhibited the activation of the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (Smad3) pathway. Thus, AN improved TAC-induced cardiac remodeling. Moreover, AN downregulated p-dynamin-related protein (Drp1) (Ser616) expression and upregulated mitogen 2 (MFN-2) and optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) expression in vivo and in vitro , thereby restoring mitochondrial fusion and fission balance. In conclusion, AN improves cardiac remodeling by regulating mitochondrial dynamic balance, providing experimental data for the rational application of Chinese medicine prescriptions with AN as the main component in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agroforestry system provides a new option for P. notoginseng cultivation. However, the effects on soil health and microbial communities are still incomplete when monoculture coniferous forests are converted to P. notoginseng–pine plantations. To assess soil health, samples from five P. notoginseng–pine plantations were collected, including healthy plants and root-diseased plants, as well as plantation control soil. The samples were analyzed for physical, chemical, and biological aspects and soil microbial communities. Our results suggested that P. notoginseng planted under pine forest was more conducive to increased microbial biomass carbon, soil dissolved organic nitrogen, particulate organic nitrogen, and soil enzyme activities compared with uncultivated control soil. A quantitative assessment of soil health demonstrated that the comprehensive soil quality index (SQI) of P. notoginseng-cultivated soil exhibited marked increases of 79.41% and 119.85% in comparison with the control soil. The observed alterations in soil characteristics could be attributed to variations in the soil microbiome. This implies that changes in SQI positively regulate bacterial and fungal abundance in P. notoginseng–pine agroforestry ecosystems mainly through biological properties. This comprehensive SQI assessment helps to guide the cultivation of P. notoginseng under forest and improve soil quality for P. notoginseng–pine agroforestry ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The deep application of controlled-release urea (CRU) offers potential advantages for crops with extended growth periods. However, its effects on P. notoginseng yield and quality, a medicinal plant with a prolonged nutrient acquisition duration, remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we conducted a two-year field plot experiment to investigate the effect of CRU on P. notoginseng with three placement depths (0, 6, and 12 cm denoted as R0, R6, and R12, respectively) at an application dosage of 250 kg N ha-1 with biochar addition (R6B) and 20% N reduction (R6R) based on the R6, with conventional fertilization (250 kg N ha-1, common urea) serving as the control (CK). Results: Our results indicated that yields increased by 27.1–37.6% with R0, R6, R12, and R6B, while remaining stable with R6R compared to CK. Simultaneously, the total saponin content in the roots of R6, R6B, and R6R was improved by 14.3–38.1%, compared to CK. The distribution depth of soil NO3⁻-N and plant roots increased with the depth of CRU application, with a high overlap in time and space, indicating P. notoginseng N uptake peaked when CRU was applied at a depth of 6 cm (R6). Structural equation modeling indicated that soil NO3⁻-N supply in specific microareas directly affected the N uptake and increased total saponin content by increasing root length and surface area, thus boosting yield. Conclusion: This study identifies that the deep application of CRU at a depth of 6 cm has the potential to enhance both yield and quality of P. notoginseng and highlights that the spatial-temporal matching of soil NO₃⁻-N and plant roots was the key to applying CRU to ensure high yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are key regulators of plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Previous studies demonstrated that the role of WRKY TFs play in the disease resistance of Panax notoginseng, the causal agent of root rot disease. However, comprehensive genome-wide analyses of WRKY genes in this species remain scarce. Result: We identified 79 WRKY genes in the P. notoginseng genome, classifing them into three groups based on structural features and phylogenetic relationships: Class I (14 genes), Class II (55 genes), and Class III (10 genes). Of these, 58 PnWRKY genes were mapped to the P. notoginseng chromosomes and showed collinearity with Arabidopsis thaliana, Daucus carota, and three Solanaceae species. Expression analysis revealed that 53 PnWRKY genes were actively transcribed across various tissues, including roots, flowers, stems, rhizomes, and different root parts. Furthermore, PnWRKY genes responded to Cylindrocarpon destructans infection and were induced by jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA). Notably, the ectopic expression of PnWRKY35 in tobacco enhanced resistance to C. destructans, accompanied by increased levels of gibberellins (GA24, GA3, GA8), JA, SA, and brassinolide. KEGG enrichment analysis of 547 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) indicated their involvement pathways related to disease resistance, including the biosynthesis of sesquiterpenes and triterpenes, JA biosynthesis, plant-pathogen interactions and the MAPK signaling pathway. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the WRKY family in P. notoginseng plays a significant role in resistance to root rot disease. PnWRKY genes are responsive to MeJA and SA induction as well as C. destructans infection. Moreover, ectopic expression of PnWRKY35 activates multiple plant disease resistance pathways, increases phytohormone levels, and enhance resistance to C. destructans. These findings provide a foundation for future exploration of the mechanism underlying P. notoginseng resistance to root rot disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin wound healing is a complex physiological process that involves many different cell types and signaling molecules. In traditional Chinese medicine, A. membranaceus and Panax notoginseng are commonly used together for the treatment of wound injury for their significant efficacy. The application of new materials may make A. membranaceus-P. notoginseng (AP) play a better curative effect. In this study, we fabricated a Carboxymethyl chitosan-Sodium alginate hydrogel loaded with the extract of Astragalus membranaceus-P. notoginseng (APCS), which showed favorable stability, biocompatibility, and the ability to rapidly release drugs. Cell culture experiments demonstrated that the APCS hydrogel dramatically increased fibroblast proliferation, migration, and differentiation into myofibroblast. In vivo experiments of wound healing on SD rats showed that APCS hydrogels significantly accelerated skin wound healing, reduced inflammatory response, enhanced the formation of blood vessels, granulation tissues, and collagen fibers, and promoted re-epithelialization at the wound site. Increased expression of catalase, VEGF, and PGP9.5 of wound tissue indicated that APCS hydrogels inhibited oxidative stress and promoted vascular and neuronal regeneration. In summary, the APCS hydrogel displayed great potential as a dressing for achieving satisfactory healing of full-thickness wounds.

IntroductionThe deep application of controlled-release urea (CRU) offers potential advantages for crops with extended growth periods. However, its effects on P. notoginseng yield and quality, a medicinal plant with a prolonged nutrient acquisition duration, remain unclear.MethodsIn this study, we conducted a two-year field plot experiment to investigate the effect of CRU on P. notoginseng with three placement depths (0, 6, and 12 cm denoted as R0, R6, and R12, respectively) at an application dosage of 250 kg N ha-1 with biochar addition (R6B) and 20% N reduction (R6R) based on the R6, with conventional fertilization (250 kg N ha-1, common urea) serving as the control (CK).ResultsOur results indicated that yields increased by 27.1–37.6% with R0, R6, R12, and R6B, while remaining stable with R6R compared to CK. Simultaneously, the total saponin content in the roots of R6, R6B, and R6R was improved by 14.3–38.1%, compared to CK. The distribution depth of soil NO3⁻-N and plant roots increased with the depth of CRU application, with a high overlap in time and space, indicating P. notoginseng N uptake peaked when CRU was applied at a depth of 6 cm (R6). Structural equation modeling indicated that soil NO3⁻-N supply in specific microareas directly affected the N uptake and increased total saponin content by increasing root length and surface area, thus boosting yield.ConclusionThis study identifies that the deep application of CRU at a depth of 6 cm has the potential to enhance both yield and quality of P. notoginseng and highlights that the spatial-temporal matching of soil NO₃⁻-N and plant roots was the key to applying CRU to ensure high yield and quality.

Panax notoginseng flowers, which are the buds of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Sanqi, are widely used in China for their cough-ameliorating properties, with demonstrated therapeutic effects in the treatment of both acute and chronic coughs. However, both the antitussive mechanism and active compound basis of P. notoginseng flowers remain poorly understood. We investigated the antitussive effects of P. notoginseng flowers, identified the bioactive constituents responsible for alleviating cough symptoms, and elucidated the underlying pharmacological mechanisms. We analyzed the major chemical constituents of aqueous extracts of P. notoginseng flowers using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and quantitatively analyzed the key component, 20S-ginsenoside Rh2, using high-performance liquid chromatography. Using a cough reflex model in healthy mice and an ovalbumin-induced, highly sensitive guinea pig cough model, we verified the suppressive effects of P. notoginseng flowers and their saponin constituents on coughing. Furthermore, we explored the mechanisms of action of the key ion channels, NaV1.7 and TRPV1, using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques and molecular docking. Finally, the therapeutic mechanisms of P. notoginseng flowers on pathological cough were revealed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting. The active components of P. notoginseng flowers were primarily protopanaxadiol-type saponins, among which 20S-ginsenoside Rh2 had the highest content (51.46 mg/g). In the mouse model, P. notoginseng flowers exhibited antitussive effects comparable to those of pentoxyverine citrate. Although its main saponin component, 20S-ginsenoside Rh2, showed slightly weaker effects, it still demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition of channel activity. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique and virtual molecular docking showed that Rh2 might exert its effects by directly binding to the NaV1.7 and TRPV1 channels. In the guinea pig model, P. notoginseng flowers and their saponin components not only reduced cough frequency and prolonged the latency period before cough onset, but also significantly inhibited tracheal and pulmonary inflammation and the overexpression of TRPV1. 20S-Ginsenoside Rh2, the major bioactive saponin in P. notoginseng flowers, exhibits potent antitussive effects. The potential mechanism of action of 20S-Ginsenoside Rh2 in the treatment of cough may involve inhibiting NaV1.7 and TRPV1 channel currents through direct binding to core protein active sites and downregulating TRPV1 expression. [Display omitted] • 20S-ginsenoside Rh2 can ameliorate cough. • 20S-ginsenoside Rh2 inhibits NaV1.7 and TRPV1 channel currents. • 20S-ginsenoside Rh2 also reduces cough sensitivity by decreasing TRPV1 overexpression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax ginseng has been highly treasured in Asian countries due to its long history, more types of pharmaceutically active ginsenosides, and prominent pharmacological effects. However, the potential adulteration of P. ginseng with P. quinquefolius or P. notoginseng poses serious health risks to consumers and disrupts market stability within the ginseng industry. To address this challenge, a simple real-time PCR assay for rapid screening of field P. ginseng and a reliable multiplex PCR method for species identification of highly processed ginseng products were respectively established, based on the InDel markers derived from nuclear and mitochondrial intron sequences. The real-time PCR assay, coupled with a simple NaOH-Tris DNA extraction method, facilitates high-throughput screening of field ginseng samples based on the Tm values of PCR products with a single pair of primers. The multiplex PCR assay, targeting the mitochondrial nad1 and nad5 InDel markers, could detect exogenous adulteration of P. quinquefolius or P. notoginseng at a remarkable detection limit of 0.001 ng and successfully identified the original species in various forms of highly processed ginseng products. The results indicate that mitochondrial InDel markers resist DNA degradation better than nuclear ones, making them more suitable for species identification in highly processed ginseng products that contain trace amounts of degraded DNA. The present study provides robust InDel marker-based methods for species identification across the entire ginseng industrial chain, from the ginseng field to final processed products, thereby serving as reliable tools for ensuring the authenticity of P. ginseng products. [Display omitted] • InDel markers for species identification across the entire ginseng industrial chain. • High-throughput field ginseng screening via real-time PCR with one primer pair. • Multiplex PCR can detect adulteration at a remarkable detection limit of 0.001 ng. • The original species of highly processed ginseng products can be reliably identified. • Mitochondrial InDel markers resist DNA degradation better than nuclear InDel markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soilborne root-rot diseases are prevalent in agricultural production, significantly limiting the sustainable cultivation of Panax notoginseng (PN), a renowned medicinal plant in Asia. In this study, a field experiment was conducted to explore the efficacy and mechanisms of a newly designed rain-shelter cultivation method for managing soilborne root-rot diseases in PN. We conducted three treatments that included traditional cultivation (with fertilizer and pesticide), non-rain shelter cultivation (without fertilizer and pesticide), and simple rain-shelter cultivation (without fertilizer and pesticide). After three months of experimentation during the rainy season (July to September 2022), the photosynthetic characteristics, survival rate, root-rot incidence, yield, and saponin contents, including notoginsenoside R 1 , ginsenoside Rd, ginsenoside Re, ginsenoside Rb 1 , ginsenoside Rg 1 , and ginsenoside Rg 2 , of PN, were investigated. In addition, the soil properties and allelochemicals, including p -hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid, p -coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and benzoic acid, and microbial communities were analyzed. The results showed that, compared with non-rain shelter cultivation, simple rain-shelter cultivation significantly promoted photosynthesis and reduced the root-rot incidence of PN (P < 0.05), which was similar to traditional cultivation; moreover, with the exception of ginsenoside Rb 1 , other saponin contents in the roots increased by 6.1–85.8 % under rain-shelter cultivation. In addition, compared with non-rain shelter cultivation, the contents of water, NH 4 +–N, and six allelochemicals in soil all decreased (P < 0.05), and the relative abundance of pathogenic Fusarium decreased by 49.1 %, while beneficial Trichoderma increased by 313.9 % (P < 0.05), alluding to the possible mechanisms of the reduced root-rot incidence of PN under rain-shelter cultivation. In summary, our study clearly showed that simple rain-shelter cultivation is an efficient strategy to control root-rot disease and improve the quality of P. notoginseng. [Display omitted] • Rain-shelter cultivation (RSC) reduces the root-rot incidence of P. notoginseng. • RSC promotes the synthesis of saponins in the roots by inducing water stress. • RSC decreases the relative abundance of pathogenic Fusarium. • RSC increases the relative abundance of beneficial Trichoderma. • The increase in soil microbial diversity contributes to the root-rot suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is a phthalate-based material used as a plasticizer to soften polyvinyl chloride, and classified as an endocrine disruptor with antiandrogen effects. Exposure to DBP induces oxidative stress in rat testes, resulting in testicular toxicity. Black ginseng (BG) exhibits a higher antioxidant activity than white or red ginseng following repeated heat treatment and processing. This study aimed to investigate whether the antioxidant activity of BG might protect against DBP-induced testicular toxicity in juvenile Sprague-Dawley rats. A significant decrease in testicular weight was observed in most groups treated with DBP alone or in combination with BG. However, a significant testicular weight increase was detected after exposure to BG (10 ml/kg) + DBP (500 mg/kg). The epididymal weight was significantly reduced with associated histological changes including irregular arrangement, atrophy of seminiferous tubules and Sertoli cells, and Leydig cell damage following exposure to DBP alone as well as BG (2.5 ml/kg) + DBP (500 mg/kg). However, no marked changes were observed in the shape of seminiferous tubules in control and BG + DBP groups. A significant decrease in serum testosterone levels was found after exposure to DBP, but no marked alterations in the BG + DBP groups. Protein expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor (Nrf2), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1), and, heme oxygenase-1; (HO-1) were significantly higher following DBP treatment, but lowered in the BG + DBP groups. Evidence indicates that BG exerts a protective effect against DBP-induced testicular toxicity in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are one of the largest transcription factor families in plants and play important roles in plant processes, most notably in responding to diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. This article reviews the recent research progresses on WRKY TFs in regulating plant immunity, which includes both positive and negative regulation. WRKY TFs were shown to regulate plant defense against pathogens including fungi, bacteria, oomycetes, and viruses by modulating downstream pathogen resistance genes or interacting with other regulators. Plant signaling pathways or components involved in the regulatory network of WRKY-mediated plant immunity mainly involve the action of phytohormones, MAPKs (Mitogen-activated protein kinases), and other transcription factors. The interaction of WRKY TFs with these factors during pathogen resistance was discussed in this article, which may contribute to understanding the mechanisms of WRKY transcription factors in plant immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life-threatening chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia can increase the risk of bleeding due to a dramatic low platelet count, which may limit or delay treatment schedules in cancer patients. The pressing need for the rapid alleviation of the symptoms of thrombocytopenia has prompted us to search for novel highly effective and safe thrombopoietic agents. Pharmacological investigations have indicated that dencichine can prevent and treat blood loss and increase the number of platelets. On the basis of the neurotoxicity of dencichine, D-dencichine is artificially synthesized in the laboratory. Our initial results showed that D-dencichine had potential to elevate peripheral platelet levels in mice with carboplatin-induced thrombocytopenia. However, the mechanisms of D-dencichine on thrombopoiesis have been poorly understood. In this study, we found that sequential administration of D-dencichine had a distinct ability to elevate numbers of reticulated platelets, and did not alter their clearance. Moreover, we demonstrated that D-dencichine was able to modulate the return of hematopoietic factors to normal levels, including thrombopoietin and IL-6. However, subsequent analysis revealed that D-dencichine treatment had no direct effects on megakaryocytes proliferation, differentiation, and polyploidization. Further in vitro studies, we demonstrated for the first time that D-dencichine significantly stimulated megakaryocyte adhesion, migration, and proplatelet formation in a dose-dependent manner through extracellular regulated protein kinases1/2 (ERK1/2) and v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (AKT) signaling pathways. This study sufficiently characterized the role of the effects of D-dencichine treatment on the regulation of thrombopoiesis and provided a promising avenue for CIT treating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The antifungal properties of essential oils (EOs) and their active constituents have been well documented. Histone acetylation is pivotal in modulating gene expression and influences biological processes in living organisms. Results: This study demonstrated that menthone, the primary component of Mentha haplocalyx EO, exhibited notable antifungal activity against Fusarium proliferatum (EC50 = 6.099 mmol/L). The treatment significantly inhibited hyphal growth, reduced spore germination rates from 31.49 to 4.95%, decreased spore viability from 46.88 to 20.91%, and reduced spore production by a factor of 17.92 compared with the control group while simultaneously enhancing cell membrane permeability. However, the direct relationship between menthone and histone acetylation in inhibiting F. proliferatum remains nebulous. Our RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis identified 7,332 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the control and menthone-treated groups, 3,442 upregulated and 3,880 downregulated, primarily enriched in pathways related to ribosome biogenesis and energy metabolism. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis revealed that menthone inhibited the growth of F. proliferatum by decreasing H3K27ac levels and interfering with the transcription of energy metabolism-related genes. By integrating the RNA-seq data with the ChIP-seq results, we identified 110 DEGs associated with reduced H3K27ac modification primarily associated with ribosome biogenesis. Menthone affected the growth of F. proliferatum by reducing the expression of ribosome biogenesis-related genes (FPRO_06392 , FPRO_01260 , FPRO_10795 , and FPRO_01372). Conclusion: This study elucidated the mechanism by which menthone inhibits F. proliferatum growth from a histone acetylation modification perspective, providing insights into its application as an antifungal agent to prevent root rot in Panax notoginseng. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mitochondria, as the energy factories of cells, are involved in a wide range of vital activities, including cell differentiation, signal transduction, the cell cycle, and apoptosis, while also regulating cell growth. However, current pharmacological treatments for stroke are challenged by issues such as drug resistance and side effects, necessitating the exploration of new therapeutic strategies. Objective: This review aims to summarize the regulatory effects of natural compounds targeting mitochondria on neuronal mitochondrial function and metabolism, providing new perspectives for stroke treatment. Main findings: Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that natural products such as berberine, ginsenosides, and baicalein protect neuronal mitochondrial function and reduce stroke-induced damage through multiple mechanisms. These compounds reduce neuronal apoptosis by modulating the expression of mitochondrial-associated apoptotic proteins. They inhibit the activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), thereby decreasing ROS production and cytochrome C release, which helps preserve mitochondrial function. Additionally, they regulate ferroptosis, mitochondrial fission, and promote mitochondrial autophagy and trafficking, further enhancing neuronal protection. Conclusion: As multi-target chemical agents, natural products offer high efficacy with fewer side effects and present promising potential for innovative stroke therapies. Future research should further investigate the effectiveness and safety of these natural products in clinical applications, advancing their development as a new therapeutic strategy for stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are a class of proteins associated with osmotic regulation and plant tolerance to abiotic stress. However, studies on the LEA gene family in the alpine cold-tolerant herb are still limited, and the phylogenetic evolution and biological functions of its family members remain unclear. In this study, we conducted genome-wide identification, phylogenetic evolution, and abiotic stress response analyses of LEA family genes in Notopterygium species, alpine cold-tolerant medicinal herbs in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and adjacent regions. The gene family identification analysis showed that 23, 20, and 20 LEA genes were identified in three Notopterygium species, N. franchetii, N. incisum, and N. forrestii, respectively. All of these genes can be classified into six LEA subfamilies: LEA_1, LEA_2, LEA_5, LEA_6, DHN (Dehydrin), and SMP (seed maturation protein). The LEA proteins in the three Notopterygium species exhibited significant variations in the number of amino acids, physical and chemical properties, subcellular localization, and secondary structure characteristics, primarily demonstrating high hydrophilicity, different stability, and specific subcellular distribution patterns. Meanwhile, we found that the members of the same LEA subfamily shared similar exon–intron structures and conserved motifs. Interestingly, the chromosome distributions of LEA genes in Notopterygium species were scattered. The results of the collinearity analysis indicate that the expansion of the LEA gene family is primarily driven by gene duplication. A Ka/Ks analysis showed that paralogous gene pairs were under negative selection in Notopterygium species. A promoter cis-acting element analysis showed that most LEA genes possessed multiple cis-elements connected to plant growth and development, stress response, and plant hormone signal transduction. An expression pattern analysis demonstrated the species-specific and tissue-specific expression of NinLEAs. Experiments on abiotic stress responses indicated that the NinLEAs play a crucial role in the response to high-temperature and drought stresses in N. franchetii leaves and roots. These results provide novel insights for further understanding the functions of the LEA gene family in the alpine cold-tolerant Notopterygium species and also offer a scientific basis for in-depth research on the abiotic stress response mechanisms and stress-resistant breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria panax, the primary pathogen that causes ginseng Alternaria leaf blight disease, can lead to a 20–30% reduction in ginseng yield. WD40 repeat-containing proteins are evolutionarily conserved proteins with diverse functions between different organisms. In this study, we characterized the roles of a WD40 repeat-containing protein in A. panax. The deletion of ApWD40a impaired the mycelial growth, reduced the sporulation, and significantly decreased the efficiency in utilizing various carbon sources. The ΔApwd40a mutant showed increased sensitivity to osmotic stress and metal ion stress induced by sorbitol, NaCl, and KCl, but decreased the sensitivity to a cell wall stress factor (SDS) and oxidative stress factors (paraquat and H2O2). Pathogenicity assays performed on detached ginseng leaves and roots revealed that the disruption of ApWD40a significantly decreased the fungal virulence through attenuating melanin and mycotoxin production by A. panax. A comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that ApWD40a was involved in many metabolic and biosynthetic processes, including amino acid metabolism, carbon metabolism, sulfate metabolic pathways, and secondary metabolite pathways. In particular, a significantly upregulated gene that encoded a sulfate permease 2 protein in ΔApwd40a, named ApSulP2, was deleted in the wild-type strain of A. panax. The deletion of ApSulP2 resulted in reduced biomass under sulfate-free conditions, demonstrating that the sulfate transport was impaired. Taken together, our findings highlight that ApWD40a played crucial roles in different biological processes and the pathogenicity of A. panax through modulating the expressions of genes involved in various primary and secondary metabolic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginseng has multi-directional pharmacological properties. Some data suggest that ginseng can enhance physical endurance, which, in turn, leads to protection of the cardiovascular system. However, not all experiments are conclusive. For this reason, the main aim of this research was to perform a meta-analysis and review of studies published between the years 2013 and 2023 concerning the ginseng effect on physical performance in animal and human models. Medline, Pubmed, and ClinicalKey electronic databases were used to analyze data. The search strategy included the following criteria: ginseng and exercise; ginseng supplementation; and ginseng supplements. The results suggest that ginseng supplementation may have a positive effect on CK levels in animal studies. Similar observations were stated in relation to serum lactate and BUN. Furthermore, a human study showed a significant increase in exercise time to exhaustion and VO2 max after supplementation. The review of the literature and conducted meta-analysis identified that ginseng supplementation may have a positive effect on exercise endurance. Due to the fact that most of the current studies were based on animal models, further research on human models is needed to identify the most effective dosage or form of applied ginseng to be a supportive element in CVD management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chinese herbal medicines have been utilized for thousands of years to prevent and treat diseases. Accurate identification is crucial since their medicinal effects vary between species and varieties. Metabolomics is a promising approach to distinguish herbs. However, current metabolomics data analysis and modeling in Chinese herbal medicines are limited by small sample sizes, high dimensionality, and overfitting., Objectives: This study aims to use metabolomics data to develop HerbMet, a high-performance artificial intelligence system for accurately identifying Chinese herbal medicines, particularly those from different species of the same genus., Methods: We propose HerbMet, an AI-based system for accurately identifying Chinese herbal medicines. HerbMet employs a 1D-ResNet architecture to extract discriminative features from input samples and uses a multilayer perceptron for classification. Additionally, we design the double dropout regularization module to alleviate overfitting and improve model's performance., Results: Compared to 10 commonly used machine learning and deep learning methods, HerbMet achieves superior accuracy and robustness, with an accuracy of 0.9571 and an F1-score of 0.9542 for distinguishing seven similar Panax ginseng species. After feature selection by 25 different feature ranking techniques in combination with prior knowledge, we obtained 100% accuracy and an F1-score for discriminating P. ginseng species. Furthermore, HerbMet exhibits acceptable inference speed and computational costs compared to existing approaches on both CPU and GPU., Conclusions: HerbMet surpasses existing solutions for identifying Chinese herbal medicines species. It is simple to use in real-world scenarios, eliminating the need for feature ranking and selection in classical machine learning-based methods., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)