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Kalanchoe delagoensis Eckl. & J.Zeyh. (Crassulaceae, mother-of-millions) is a plant endemic to Madagascar which was introduced to, and became invasive in, Australia. The stem-boring weevil Osphilia tenuipes Fairmaire (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) is a natural enemy of K. delagoensis in Madagascar. A laboratory culture of this insect was established from field collections in the south of Madagascar, and its potential as a biocontrol agent for Australia was assessed under natural field conditions in Madagascar. The host range of O. tenuipes (open and closed multiple-choice tests, and a multi-generational trial) was examined with seven Kalanchoe spp. and one Echeveria sp. These trials demonstrated that O. tenuipes was oligophagous. However, oviposition and development of immature stages through to adults were recorded on two species of interest for Australia, Kalanchoe spathulata DC. and Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poelln (Crassulaceae). The multi-generational trials showed that O. tenuipes completed five generations on K. spathulata and K. blossfeldiana. Emergence and survival of adults on controls (K. delagoensis) and the three species tested were significantly different. Osphilia tenuipes adult weights were not significantly different (for species and generations). Adult survival after 30 days was significantly higheron K. delagoensis compared to K. blossfeldiana and K. spathulata. The weevil significantly reduced the numbers of phyllodes and bulbils and overall plant biomass of K. delagoensis. It was evident that O. tenuipes is a damaging, oligophagous insect with significant promise as a potential biocontrol agent for K. delagoensis in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the leaves of K. tomentosa were macerated with hexane, chloroform, and methanol, respectively. The phytochemical profiles of hexane and chloroform extracts were unveiled using GC/MS, whereas the chemical composition of the methanol extract was analyzed using UPLC/MS/MS. The antibacterial activity of extracts was determined against gram-positive and gram-negative strains through the minimal inhibitory concentration assay, and in silico studies were implemented to analyze the interaction of phytoconstituents with bacterial peptides. The antioxidant property of extracts was assessed by evaluating their capacity to scavenge DPPH, ABTS, and H2O2 radicals. The toxicity of the extracts was recorded against Artemia salina nauplii and Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes. Results demonstrate that the hexane and chloroform extracts contain phytosterols, triterpenes, and fatty acids, whereas the methanol extract possesses glycosidic derivatives of quercetin and kaempferol together with sesquiterpene lactones. The antibacterial performance of extracts against the cultured strains was appraised as weak due to their MIC90 values (>500 μg/mL). As antioxidants, treatment with extracts executed high and moderate antioxidant activities within the range of 50–300 μg/mL. Extracts did not decrease the viability of A. salina, but they exerted a high toxic effect against C. elegans during exposure to treatment. Through in silico modeling, it was recorded that the flavonoids contained in the methanol extract can hamper the interaction of the NAM/NAG peptide, which is of great interest since it determines the formation of the peptide wall of gram-positive bacteria. This study reports for the first time the biological activities and phytochemical content of extracts from K. tomentosa and proposes a possible antibacterial mechanism of glycosidic derivatives of flavonoids against gram-positive bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Phedimus latiovalifolius (Y.N.Lee) D.C.Son & H.J.Kim is exclusively distributed in the high mountains in the Korean Peninsula, mainly along the Baekdudaegan mountain range. Despite its morphological and distributional distinction from other Phedimus Raf. species, its taxonomic identity and phylogenetic relationship with congeneric species remain unclear. This study employs genotyping-by-sequencing-derived genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms to establish the monophyly of P. latiovalifolius and its relationship with closely related species. Genetic diversity and population differentiation of P. latiovalifolius are also assessed to provide baseline genetic information for future conservation and management strategies. Our phylogenetic analyses robustly demonstrate the monophyletic nature of P. latiovalifolius, with P. aizoon (L.) ‘t Hart identified as its closest sister lineage. There is no genetic evidence supporting a hybrid origin of P. latiovalifolius from P. aizoon involving either P. ellacombeanus (Praeger) ‘t Hart or P. kamtschaticus (Fisch.) ‘t Hart. Population genetic analyses reveal two major groups within P. latiovalifolius. A higher genetic variation is observed in P. ellacombeanus than in the congeneric species. Notably, most of the genetic variation exists within P. latiovalifolius populations. Given its distribution and the potential role of Baekdudaegan as an East Asian Pleistocene refugia, P. latiovalifolius could be considered rare and endemic, persisting in the refugium across glacial/interglacial cycles.

Phedimus latiovalifolius (Y.N.Lee) D.C.Son & H.J.Kim is exclusively distributed in the high mountains in the Korean Peninsula, mainly along the Baekdudaegan mountain range. Despite its morphological and distributional distinction from other Phedimus Raf. species, its taxonomic identity and phylogenetic relationship with congeneric species remain unclear. This study employs genotyping-by-sequencing-derived genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms to establish the monophyly of P. latiovalifolius and its relationship with closely related species. Genetic diversity and population differentiation of P. latiovalifolius are also assessed to provide baseline genetic information for future conservation and management strategies. Our phylogenetic analyses robustly demonstrate the monophyletic nature of P. latiovalifolius, with P. aizoon (L.) ‘t Hart identified as its closest sister lineage. There is no genetic evidence supporting a hybrid origin of P. latiovalifolius from P. aizoon involving either P. ellacombeanus (Praeger) ‘t Hart or P. kamtschaticus (Fisch.) ‘t Hart. Population genetic analyses reveal two major groups within P. latiovalifolius. A higher genetic variation is observed in P. ellacombeanus than in the congeneric species. Notably, most of the genetic variation exists within P. latiovalifolius populations. Given its distribution and the potential role of Baekdudaegan as an East Asian Pleistocene refugia, P. latiovalifolius could be considered rare and endemic, persisting in the refugium across glacial/interglacial cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water-soluble part of the EtOH extract of Rhodiola rosea L. [Sedum roseum (L.) Scop., Crassulaceae] contained 15 compounds including six new glycosides 1–6. UV and NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data and chemical transformations determined the structures of the new compounds as hydroquinone 1-O-(6′-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (rhodirosin I, 1), hydroquinone 1-O-(6′-O-α-Larabinofuranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (rhodirosin J, 2), tyrosol 1-O-(6′-O-α-L-arabinofuranosyl)-β-Dglucopyranoside (rhodirosin K, 3), tyrosol 1-O-(2′-O-acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (rhodirosin L, 4), tyrosol 1-O-(2′,6′-di-O-acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (rhodirosin M, 5), and rosiridol 1-O-(2′,6′-di-O-acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (rhodirosin N, 6). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic neophytes are among the most harmful invasive species worldwide. Here we report the finding of the semi-aquatic invasive plant Crassula helmsii, naturalized in a freshwater reservoir that provides water to the large city of A Coruña, NW Spain. To better understand the extent and potential environmental correlates of C. helmsii invasion, we recorded the presence and frequency of C. helmsii in its emerged and floating mat forms at twelve sampling sites along the reservoir margins, and characterized the soil characteristics, plant community and environmental factors. Crassula helmsii is dispersed by fragmentation of the stems, potentially aided through shredding by local fauna such as the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii. We hypothesize that this could be a case of an invasional meltdown, when multiple invasive species facilitate one another and have synergistic effects on native ecosystems. The emerged form of C. helmsii was found in ten out of twelve sites with a mean cover value of 9.8 ± 10.4% (mean ± SD). We found no correlation between frequency of the emerged form of C. helmsii and abundance of Procambarus clarkii, but frequency of the emerged form of C. helmsii increased with higher soil nitrogen and vascular plant richness. We outline emergency actions for management of C. helmsii at this stage of the invasion, focusing on containment and avoiding spread to nearby water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic compounds of the genus Rhodiola (Crassulaceae) are the subject of numerous studies. Still, most data are dedicated to analyzing roots and rhizomes and, therefore, the metabolites of above-ground organs have been understudied. Rhodiola algida (Ledeb.) Fisch. & C.A. Mey. is a rare and under-investigated species of the genus growing in Altai-Sayan region. As a result of chromatographic separation of the metabolites of R. algida flower extract, 16 known compounds, including gallic acid, herbacetin glycosides, gossypetine, hibiscetin, quercetin, and kaempferol, as well as four new flavonoids (I–IV), were identified. The data of UV, NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and chemical transformations demonstrated that the new compounds were herbacetin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-8-O-(2′′′-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucuronopyranoside (rhodiolgin A, I), herbacetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-8-O-(2′′′-O-acetyl)-α-L-arabinopyranoside (rhodiolgin B, II), herbacetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-8-O-(4'''-O-acetyl)-α-L-arabinopyranoside (rhodiolgin C, III), and herbacetin 8-O-(4''-O-acetyl)-β-D-xylopyranoside (rhodiolgin D, IV). The use of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry allowed the identification of 96 metabolites in R. algida; herbacetin and gossypetin glycosides were the dominant compounds. The qualitative composition and quantitative content of groups and individual compounds in various organs of R. algida were significantly different, indicating an organ-specific feature of the accumulation of phenolic compounds in the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has been carried out in some characteristic areas of Azerbaijan in recent years. The results of the chorological analyses showed that species of the Crassulacea in Irano-Turanian province, are distributed in two or three territories of this province. The results of phenologicalobservations and morphometric parameters indicate that all species have successfully passed through all stages of development. The sequence of seasonal changes in the same community is repeated from year to year, but the timing of the phases and individual details are different. As a result of the study of phenological features, the plants with the earliest start of vegetation,as well as early flowering and fruiting were identified. P. stolonifer, and S. acre are the plants with the earliest beginning of vegetation, as well as early flowering and fruiting. Fruits of plantsof the Crassulaceae genus ripen in July. 1 species of hare cabbage (Sedum acre) is found onlyin the Lesser Caucasus, two species (S. hispanicum, S. pentapetalum Boriss.) are foundthroughout Azerbaijan, 6 species (Prometheum pilosum, Phedimus spurius, Sedum gracile, S. pallidum, S.annum, Petrosedum subulatum) in the territory of the Greater and LesserCaucasus, Nakhichevan (Diabar), Lankaran, one species (Phedimus stoloniferum) of the Greater Caucasus, the Lesser Caucasus, Lankaran, one species (Sedum tenellum) in the territory of theGreater Caucasus, the Lesser Caucasus, Lankaran, one species (Sedum album) in the Lesser Caucasus, in Nakhichevan, 1 species (Prometheum sempervivoides) distributed in the regions of Nakhichevan, Lesser Caucasus, Lankaran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims The quartz fields of the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) are arid and island-like special habitats, hosting ~142 habitat-specialized plant species, of which 81 % are local endemics, characterized by a rapid turnover of species between and among sites. We use several phylogenetic community metrics: (1) to examine species diversity and phylogenetic structure within and among quartz fields; (2) to investigate whether quartz field specialists are evolutionarily drawn from local species pools, whereas the alternative hypothesis posits that there is no significant evolutionary connection between quartz field specialists and the local species pools; and (3) to determine whether there is an association between certain traits and the presence of species in quartz fields. Methods We sampled and developed dated phylogenies for six species-rich angiosperm families (Aizoaceae, Asteraceae, Crassulaceae, Cyperaceae, Fabaceae and Santalaceae) represented in the quartz field floras of southern Africa. Specifically, we focused on the flora of three quartz field regions in South Africa (Knersvlakte, Little Karoo and Overberg) and their surrounding species pools to address our research questions by scoring traits associated with harsh environments. Key Results We found that the Overberg and Little Karoo had the highest level of species overlap for families Aizoaceae and Fabaceae, whereas the Knersvlakte and the Overberg had the highest species overlap for families Asteraceae, Crassulaceae and Santalaceae. Although our phylogenetic community structure and trait analyses showed no clear patterns, relatively low pairwise phylogenetic distances between specialists and their local species pools for Aizoaceae suggest that quartz species could be drawn evolutionarily from their surrounding areas. We also found that families Aizoaceae and Crassulaceae in Knersvlakte and Little Karoo were phylogenetically even. Conclusions Despite their proximity to one another within the GCFR, the studied areas differ in their species pools and the phylogenetic structure of their specialists. Our work provides further justification for increased conservation focus on these unique habitats under future scenarios of global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedum is the largest succulent genus in Crassulaceae. Because of predominant maternal inheritance, little recombination, and slow evolution, plastomes can serve as powerful super barcodes for inter- or intra-species phylogenetic analyses. While previous research has focused on plastomes between Sedum species, intra-species studies are scarce. Here, we sequenced plastomes from three Sedum species (Sedum alfredii, Sedum plumbizincicola, and Sedum japonicum) to understand their evolutionary relationships and plastome structural evolution. Our analyses revealed minimal size and GC content variation across species. However, gene distribution at IR boundaries, repeat structures, and codon usage patterns showed diversity at both inter-specific and intra-specific levels. Notably, an rps19 gene expansion and a bias toward A/T-ending codons were observed. Codon aversion motifs also varied, potentially serving as markers for future studies. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the non-monophyly of Sedum and divided the Acre clade into two groups. Individuals from the same species clustered together, with strong support for the relationships between S. alfredii, S. tricarpum, and S. plumbizincicola. Additionally, S. japonicum clearly affiliates with the Acre clade. This study provides valuable insights into both intra-specific and intra-generic plastome variation in Sedum, as well as overall plastome evolution within the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plastid organelle is vital for photosynthesis and energy production. Advances in sequencing technology have enabled the exploration of plastomic resources, offering insights into plant evolution, diversity, and conservation. As an important group of horticultural ornamentals in the Crassulaceae family, Sempervivum plants are known for their unique rosette-like structures and reproduction through offsets. Despite their popularity, the classification status of Sempervivum remains uncertain, with only a single plastome sequence currently available. Furthermore, codon usage bias (CUB) is a widespread phenomenon of the unbalanced usage of synonymous codons in the coding sequence (CDS). However, due to the limited available plastid data, there has been no research that focused on the CUB analysis among Sempervivum until now. To address these gaps, we sequenced and released the plastomes of seven species and one subspecies from Sempervivum, revealing several consistent patterns. These included a shared 110 bp extension of the rps19 gene, 14 hypervariable regions (HVRs) with distinct nucleotide diversity (π: 0.01173 to 0.02702), and evidence of selective pressures shaping codon usage. Notably, phylogenetic analysis robustly divided the monophyletic clade into two sections: Jovibarba and Sempervivum. In conclusion, this comprehensive plastomic resource provides valuable insights into Sempervivum evolution and offers potential molecular markers for DNA barcoding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Kalanchoideae is one of three subfamilies within Crassulaceae and contains four genera. Despite previous efforts, the phylogeny of Kalanchoideae remains inadequately resolved with persistent issues including low support, unstructured topologies and polytomies. This study aimed to address two central objectives: (1) resolving the pending phylogenetic questions within Kalanchoideae by using organelle-scale 'barcodes' (plastomes) and nuclear data; and (2) investigating interspecific diversity patterns among Kalanchoideae plastomes. Methods To explore the plastome evolution in Kalanchoideae, we newly sequenced 38 plastomes representing all four constituent genera (Adromischus , Cotyledon , Kalanchoe and Tylecodon). We performed comparative analyses of plastomic features, including GC and gene contents, gene distributions at the IR (inverted repeat) boundaries, nucleotide divergence, plastomic tRNA (pttRNA) structures and codon aversions. Additionally, phylogenetic inferences were inferred using both the plastomic dataset (79 genes) and nuclear dataset (1054 genes). Key Results Significant heterogeneities were observed in plastome lengths among Kalanchoideae, strongly correlated with LSC (large single copy) lengths. Informative diversities existed in the gene content at SSC/IRa (small single copy/inverted repeat a), with unique patterns individually identified in Adromischus leucophyllus and one major Kalanchoe clade. The ycf1 gene was assessed as a shared hypervariable region among all four genera, containing nine lineage-specific indels. Three pttRNAs exhibited unique structures specific to Kalanchoideae and the genera Adromischus and Kalanchoe. Moreover, 24 coding sequences revealed a total of 41 lineage-specific unused codons across all four constituent genera. The phyloplastomic inferences clearly depicted internal branching patterns in Kalanchoideae. Most notably, by both plastid- and nuclear-based phylogenies, our research offers the first evidence that Kalanchoe section Eukalanchoe is not monophyletic. Conclusions This study conducted comprehensive analyses on 38 newly reported Kalanchoideae plastomes. Importantly, our results not only reconstructed well-resolved phylogenies within Kalanchoideae, but also identified highly informative unique markers at the subfamily, genus and species levels. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of the evolutionary history of Kalanchoideae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first field observations of caddisfly (Trichoptera) larvae using an invasive alien aquatic plant, Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne, in case construction. In samples from invaded ponds across the UK and Belgium, we have recorded the presence of C. helmsii fragments in cases from Limnephiluslunatus Curtis, 1834, Limnephilus marmoratus Curtis, 1834, Limnephilus flavicornis (Fabricius, 1787) (Limnephilidae), Triaenodes bicolor (Curtis, 1834), and Oecetis furva (Rambur, 1842) (Leptoceridae). Fragmentation of C. helmsii in case creation and augmentation may produce vegetative propagules, thus facilitating further dispersal of this invasive macrophyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Unpredictable rainfall frequently results in excess moisture, which is detrimental to the landscape because it interferes with the genetic, morphological, and physiological processes of plants, even though the majority of urban landscapes frequently experience moisture shortages. A study was conducted to analyze the effects of a 36-day waterlogging phase and a subsequent 12-day recovery period on the morpho-physiological responses of 17 Crassulaceae species with the goal of identifying those which were more tolerant of the conditions. Results revealed that waterlogging stress has an impact on all morpho-physiological parameters. Sensitive materials (S7, Hylotelephium telephium ‘Purple Emperor’ and S15, S. sexangulare) showed severe ornamental quality damage, mortality, decreases in total dry biomass, root-shoot ratio, and chlorophyll content, as well as higher MDA concentrations. Lower reductions in these parameters, along with improved antioxidant enzyme activities and greater recovery capabilities after drainage, were observed in the most tolerant materials S2 (H. spectabile ‘Brilliant’), S3 (H. spectabile ‘Carl’), and S5 (H. telephium ‘Autumn Joy’). Furthermore, with the exception of early death materials (S7 and S15), all materials showed varying intensities of adventitious root formation in response to waterlogging. The 17 species were divided into 4 clusters based on the comprehensive evaluation value. The first group included S1-S3, S5-S6, S8-S12, which were waterlogged tolerant with the highest values (0.63–0.82). S14 belongs to the intermediate waterlogging tolerant. S4, S13, S16, and S17 were clustered into the low waterlogging-tolerant group. S7 and S15 were the most susceptible to waterlogging. The survival and success of Crassulaceae species (especially, the first and second cluster), throughout this prolonged period of waterlogging (36 days) and recovery were attributed to a combination of physiological and morphological responses, indicating that they are an appealing species for the creation of rain gardens or obstructed drainage locations.

Based on literature research, specimen identification and field investigation, we systematically cleared up the early researches of Sedum L. and conducted an overview for the species diversity of Sedum in Guangxi. There are 17 species were confirmed, among which six species were newly recorded. The research brief histories of Sedum taxonomy in Guangxi were summarized, information for S. polytrichoides Hemsl. was revised. Six newly recorded species of Sedum were reported here, which were S. leblancae Hamet., S. lipingense R. B. Zhang, D. Tan & R. X. Wei, S. lungtsuanense S. H. Fu, S. makinoi Maxim., S. subtile Miq., S. tosaense Makino, and the morphological feature diagnosis and color photographs for these newly recorded species were provided. The species diversity and the potential utilization of Sedum in Guangxi were discussed, and key for species and the distribution of each taxa in Guangxi were provided. This study provides background information for the subsequent research and utilization of this genus.

This article reflects on the conventional open pollination breeding method of the genus Hylotelephium. Six-year-old seedlings were evaluated and compared with the mother plants for 3 years. A total of 1 063 seedlings were evaluated (54 in the H. ‘Red Cauli’, 90 descendants in the H. ‘Xenox’, 919 descendants in the H. ‘Purple Emperor’). This study deals with six evaluated characters of vegetative parts of plants (habit, height and width of plants, length and width of leaves and the colour of the upper side of the leaves). The most significant phenotypic variability was confirmed for habit, plant height, leaf colour in summer and leaf length in population H. ‘Xenox’ and for spring colouration of lower leaves in population H. ‘Red Cauli’. The highest degree of variability was found for plant height, where the monitored populations split into a total of seven different sizes. On the contrary, the lowest degree of variability was demonstrated for the length and width of leaves, where all populations showed shorter and narrower leaves compared to the mother plants, with minimal differences.

In this work, the leaves of K. tomentosa were macerated with hexane, chloroform, and methanol, respectively. The phytochemical profiles of hexane and chloroform extracts were unveiled using GC/MS, whereas the chemical composition of the methanol extract was analyzed using UPLC/MS/MS. The antibacterial activity of extracts was determined against gram-positive and gram-negative strains through the minimal inhibitory concentration assay, and in silico studies were implemented to analyze the interaction of phytoconstituents with bacterial peptides. The antioxidant property of extracts was assessed by evaluating their capacity to scavenge DPPH, ABTS, and H2O2 radicals. The toxicity of the extracts was recorded against Artemia salina nauplii and Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes. Results demonstrate that the hexane and chloroform extracts contain phytosterols, triterpenes, and fatty acids, whereas the methanol extract possesses glycosidic derivatives of quercetin and kaempferol together with sesquiterpene lactones. The antibacterial performance of extracts against the cultured strains was appraised as weak due to their MIC90 values (>500 μg/mL). As antioxidants, treatment with extracts executed high and moderate antioxidant activities within the range of 50–300 μg/mL. Extracts did not decrease the viability of A. salina, but they exerted a high toxic effect against C. elegans during exposure to treatment. Through in silico modeling, it was recorded that the flavonoids contained in the methanol extract can hamper the interaction of the NAM/NAG peptide, which is of great interest since it determines the formation of the peptide wall of gram-positive bacteria. This study reports for the first time the biological activities and phytochemical content of extracts from K. tomentosa and proposes a possible antibacterial mechanism of glycosidic derivatives of flavonoids against gram-positive bacteria.

Unpredictable rainfall frequently results in excess moisture, which is detrimental to the landscape because it interferes with the genetic, morphological, and physiological processes of plants, even though the majority of urban landscapes frequently experience moisture shortages. A study was conducted to analyze the effects of a 36-day waterlogging phase and a subsequent 12-day recovery period on the morpho-physiological responses of 17 Crassulaceae species with the goal of identifying those which were more tolerant of the conditions. Results revealed that waterlogging stress has an impact on all morpho-physiological parameters. Sensitive materials (S7, Hylotelephium telephium 'Purple Emperor' and S15, S. sexangulare) showed severe ornamental quality damage, mortality, decreases in total dry biomass, root-shoot ratio, and chlorophyll content, as well as higher MDA concentrations. Lower reductions in these parameters, along with improved antioxidant enzyme activities and greater recovery capabilities after drainage, were observed in the most tolerant materials S2 (H. spectabile 'Brilliant'), S3 (H. spectabile 'Carl'), and S5 (H. telephium 'Autumn Joy'). Furthermore, with the exception of early death materials (S7 and S15), all materials showed varying intensities of adventitious root formation in response to waterlogging. The 17 species were divided into 4 clusters based on the comprehensive evaluation value. The first group included S1-S3, S5-S6, S8-S12, which were waterlogged tolerant with the highest values (0.63–0.82). S14 belongs to the intermediate waterlogging tolerant. S4, S13, S16, and S17 were clustered into the low waterlogging-tolerant group. S7 and S15 were the most susceptible to waterlogging. The survival and success of Crassulaceae species (especially, the first and second cluster), throughout this prolonged period of waterlogging (36 days) and recovery were attributed to a combination of physiological and morphological responses, indicating that they are an appealing species for the creation of rain gardens or obstructed drainage locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The designation of type material is a crucial step in taxonomy. It enables the establishment of a strong morphological reference for plant species description and identification. In the current work, we investigated the MUSE -preserved collections to trace back the original study material employed by Francesco Facchini to describe Sempervivum dolomiticum Facchini. This chasmophyte is an Italian endemic occurring in the eastern Dolomites. A lectotype and an isotype have been designated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the results of the first detection of callose within the ovules of the representatives of the family Crassulaceae are presented. This study was carried out on three species of the genus Sedum. Data analysis showed differences in the callose deposition pattern between Sedum hispanicum and Sedum ser. Rupestria species during megasporogenesis. Callose was present mostly in the transversal walls of dyads and tetrads in S. hispanicum. Furthermore, a complete loss of callose from the cell walls of the linear tetrad and a gradual and simultaneous deposition of callose within the nucellus of S. hispanicum were observed. The findings of this study showed the presence of hypostase with callose in the ovules of S. hispanicum, which is not common in other angiosperms. The remaining species tested in this study—Sedum sediforme and Sedum rupestre—showed a typical, well-known callose deposition pattern for plants with the monospore type of megasporogenesis and the Polygonum type of embryo sac. The functional megaspore (FM) in all studied species was located most chalazally. FM is a mononuclear cell, which wall is callose-free in the chalazal pole. The study presents the causes of different patterns of callose deposition within Sedum and their relationship with the systematic position of the study species. Moreover, embryological studies present an argument for excluding callose as a substance that forms an electron-dense material near the plasmodesmata in megaspores of S. hispanicum. This research expands the knowledge about the embryological processes of succulent plants from the family Crassulaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sempervivum tectorum L. (common houseleek) (Crassulaceae) has been traditionally used since ancient times for the treatment of various medical conditions, including ear and bladder infections of bacterial origin. The main aim of the current study is to investigate the antibacterial activity of S. tectorum leaf extracts using high-performance thin-layer chromatography–direct bioautography (HPTLC–DB) combined with chemometrics. This work presents a novel approach for the investigation of the antibacterial activity of S. tectorum leaf extracts on four Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus lysodeikticus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) using HPTLC–DB bioassays. Gram-negative bacterial strains showed higher sensitivity in comparison with Gram-positive bacterial ones, due to the fact that numerous bands that represent active compounds are observed on biochromatograms. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed the discrimination between Gram-positive and Gram-negative biochromatograms by highlighting the main markers responsible for the separation. The proposed technique represents a fast and efficient way to separate and identify compounds with antibacterial activity in complex natural matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on literature research, specimen identification and field investigation, we systematically cleared up the early researches of Sedum L. and conducted an overview for the species diversity of Sedum in Guangxi. There are 17 species were confirmed, among which six species were newly recorded. The research brief histories of Sedum taxonomy in Guangxi were summarized, information for S. polytrichoides Hemsl. was revised. Six newly recorded species of Sedum were reported here, which were S. leblancae Hamet., S. lipingense R. B. Zhang, D. Tan & R. X. Wei, S. lungtsuanense S. H. Fu, S. makinoi Maxim., S. subtile Miq., S. tosaense Makino, and the morphological feature diagnosis and color photographs for these newly recorded species were provided. The species diversity and the potential utilization of Sedum in Guangxi were discussed, and key for species and the distribution of each taxa in Guangxi were provided. This study provides background information for the subsequent research and utilization of this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crassulaceae is a mid‐sized family of angiosperms, most species of which are herbaceous succulents, usually with 5‐merous flowers and one or two whorls of stamens. Although previous phylogenetic studies revealed seven major "clades" in Crassulaceae and greatly improved our understanding of the evolutionary history of the family, relationships among major clades are still contentious. In addition, the biogeographic origin and evolution of important morphological characters delimiting infrafamilial taxa have not been subject to formal biogeographic and character evolution analyses based on a well‐supported phylogeny backbone. In this study, we used plastomic data of 52 species, representing all major clades revealed in previous studies to reconstruct a robust phylogeny of Crassulaceae, based on which we unraveled the spatiotemporal framework of diversification of the family. We found that the family may originate in southern Africa and then dispersed to the Mediterranean, from there to eastern Asia, Macaronesia, and North America. The crown age of Crassulaceae was dated at ca. 63.93 million years ago, shortly after the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K‐Pg) boundary. We also traced the evolution of six important morphological characters previously used to delimit infrafamilial taxa and demonstrated widespread parallel and convergent evolution of both vegetative (life form and phyllotaxis) and floral characters (number of stamen whorls, petals free or fused, and flower merism). Our results provide a robust backbone phylogeny as a foundation for further investigations, and also some important new insights into biogeography and evolution of the family Crassulaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper expands the list of alien species of Crassulaceae that escaped from cultivation in Algeria and mainland North Africa, as a result of the discovery of two new alien species in the Skikda region (northeastern Algeria) in 2021 and 2023. Aeonium haworthii was recorded in a semi-natural habitat, the maritime cliff of the Stora region, and seems completely naturalized in this locality. Crassula ovata was recorded in an urban environment, where it colonizes balconies and roofs; at present, this species is considered to be a casual. These results are supported by field photos of both species, a distribution map and an updated list of alien Crassulaceae species reported so far from mainland North Africa (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of appropriate plants and growth strategies is a key factor in improving the efficiency and universal applicability of phytoremediation. Sedum lineare grows rapidly and tolerates multiple adversities. The effects of inoculation of Acinetobacter sp. phosphate solubilizing bacteria P-1 and application of phosphate rock (PR) as additives on the remediation efficiency of As-contaminated soil by S. lineare were investigated. Compared with the control, both the single treatment and the combination of inoculation with strain P-1 and application of PR improved the biomass by 30.7–395.5%, chlorophyll content by 48.1–134.8%, total protein content by 12.5–92.4% and total As accumulation by 45.1–177.5%, and reduced the As-induced oxidative damage. Inoculation with strain P-1 increased the activities of superoxide dismutases and catalases of S. lineare under As stress, decreased the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in plant tissues and promoted the accumulation of As in roots. In contrast, simultaneous application of PR decreased As concentration in S. lineare tissues, attenuated As-induced lipid peroxidation and improved As transport to shoots. In addition, the combined application showed the best performance in improving resistance and biomass, which significantly increased root length by 149.1%, shoot length by 33%, fresh weight by 395.5% and total arsenic accumulation by 159.2%, but decreased the malondialdehyde content by 89.1%. Our results indicate that the combined application of strain P-1 and PR with S. lineare is a promising bioremediation strategy to accelerate phytoremediation of As-contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a cytopathic effect inhibition assay, a standardized Rhodiola rosea root and rhizome extract, also known as roseroot extract (SHR-5), exerted distinct anti-influenza A virus activity against HK/68 (H3N2) (IC50 of 2.8 µg/mL) without being cytotoxic. For fast and efficient isolation and identification of the extract's bioactive constituents, a high-performance countercurrent chromatographic separation method was developed. It resulted in a three-stage gradient elution program using a mobile phase solvent system composed of ethyl acetate/n-butanol/water (1 : 4 : 5 → 2 : 3 : 5 → 3 : 2 : 5) in the reversed-phase mode. The elaborated high-performance countercurrent chromatographic method allowed for fractionation of the complex roseroot extract in a single chromatographic step in a way that only one additional orthogonal isolation/purification step per fraction yielded 12 isolated constituents. They cover a broad polarity range and belong to different structural classes, namely, the phenylethanoid tyrosol and its glucoside salidroside, the cinnamyl alcohol glycosides rosavin, rosarin, and rosin as well as gallic acid, the cyanogenic glucoside lotaustralin, the monoterpene glucosides rosiridin and kenposide A, and the flavonoids tricin, tricin-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and rhodiosin. The most promising anti-influenza activities were determined for rhodiosin, tricin, and tricin-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside with IC50 values of 7.9, 13, and 15 µM, respectively. The herein established high-performance countercurrent chromatographic protocol enables fast and scalable access to major as well as minor roseroot constituents. This is of particular relevance for extract standardization, quality control, and further in-depth pharmacological investigations of the metabolites of this popular traditional herbal remedy.

Rhodiola rosea L. is a vulnerable species in the Altai Republic (AR) and Russia in general. For the first time on the territory of AR, studies of the adaptive capabilities of the species and genetic differentiation using ISSR markers were carried out in seven cenopopulations (CP) of R. rosea in 2018 and 2020. The research was founded on the notion of conducting a comparative analysis of the morphogenetic structure of Rhodiola rosea populations in various ecological and geographical conditions of AR. The aim of this work is to evaluate the variability of morphometric traits of sexually mature living female R. rosea plants and to conduct a comparative analysis of genetic variability in cenopopulations (CP) both under undisturbed conditions and under stressful conditions of anthropogenic impact (grazing). Of the 8 primers used, HB12 turned out to be the most informative. The percentage of polymorphic loci in the populations between 0 and 88%. Two populations, located in favorable conditions at relatively low absolute altitudes (2000 m above sea level) (masl) in the undisturbed habitats of the Katun and Altai reserves of AR, were characterized by higher polymorphism. The share of polymorphic loci reached 80%. According to the analysis of statistical data, the highest values of morphometric parameters of the aerial parts of R. rosea plants and the highest potential seed productivity were also recorded in these habitats. Representatives of two high-mountain CPs (2400–2500 masl) in the Sailyugemsky National Park (SNP) were characterized by the lowest genetic polymorphism. Their genetic structure is the most homogeneous, since we have not found polymorphic loci. Due to spatial isolation, these individuals are reliably genetically differentiated. In addition, individuals of one type were subjected to stressful anthropogenic impact (grazing). Therefore, the smallest sizes and lowest potential seed productivity were recorded. Our research shows that alpine populations of R. rosea in AR, under conditions of anthropogenic stress, need protection for their gene pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants have been historically significant for treating common human diseases in Mexico. Although some ethnobotanical research exists, limited ethnomedicinal data has documented medicinal plants employed for eye health. This review focuses on ethnomedicinal information and preclinical and clinical studies regarding medicinal plants used in Mexico for treating symptoms associated with eye conditions. An electronic database search was conducted by consulting scientific articles, books about Mexican herbal medicine, and academic theses. This work recorded 69 plant species belonging to 26 plant families, especially plants from the Crassulaceae family, which are used as remedies for irritation and infections in the eye. Eight of these medicinal plants have been the subject of preclinical studies using ocular models, and one medicinal plant has been tested in clinical trials. The evidence of pharmacological effects indicates the promising therapeutic potential of these medicinal plants for developing new treatments for eye conditions. However, toxicological studies are necessary to ensure safe application to the eye, particularly as traditional medicine continues to be relied upon worldwide. In addition, this review highlights the need to perform ethnobotanical and phytochemical studies in Mexico regarding the medicinal flora used as remedies for eye conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CRASSULACEAE (orpine or stonecrop family) is a morphologically diverse and systematically complex Angiosperm family with a cosmopolitan distribution. A detailed description of the range of pollen morphological variation within the family has been presented, to resolve the taxonomic confusion between members of this family. palynological investigation of 19 species representing nine genera of Crassulaceae were studied using both light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The aim of the present study was to find out the taxonomic significance of palyno-morphological characteristics in family Crassulaceae. A comparative pollen analysis was accomplished based on pollen size, shape, polar and equatorial views, polar and equatorial diameter ratio (P/E ratio), aperture characters and exine features. Generally, the pollen grains were found to be monad, isopolar, radially symmetric, prolate-spheroidal, subprolate or prolate in equatorial view, triangular, tetragonal, or pentagonal in polar view. There are three different types of apertures encountered in the examined species. These types ranged from tricolporate, tetra- and penta- colporate pollen grains. Clear variation of tectum sculpture pattern was also observed, mostly rugulate/foveolate and rarely striate. According to tectum sculpturing pattern, three major pollen types were recognized: Crassula type, Echeveria type and Kalanchoe type. Based on the overall characteristics of pollen grains, some combinations of pollen morphological characters can reliably delimitate genera, while others are unique to some species. Additionally, based on qualitative pollen morphological characters, an identification key for main pollen types was provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedum kamtschaticum Fischer, of the Crassulaceae family, is a perennial and medicinal plant used in Asian folk medicine to alleviate inflammatory disease and improve blood circulation. As part of our ongoing exploration into natural products, seeking to identifying bioactive compounds, we characterized, identified, and isolated an unreported bioactive compound, prenylhydroquinone glycoside (1), which we named kirinchoside from S. kamtschaticum leaves. Using high-resolution (HR)-ESIMS, NMR spectroscopic data, and enzymatic hydrolysis, followed by LC–MS analysis, we determined the structure of this isolated compound. Despite a previous report on the planar structure of compound 1 (kirinchoside), the absolute configuration of 1 had not been verified. We investigated the effects of kirinchoside on hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) accumulation, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression. We observed that treatment with 5 μM kirinchoside suppressed p-tau levels by 16.9% in amyloid β (Aβ)1–42-treated SH-SY5Y cells, compared to the negative control. These findings indicate that kirinchoside, an unreported prenylhydroquinone glycoside found in S. kamtschaticum leaves, could be a candidate preventive agent against AD via inhibition of p-tau accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between ornamental succulents and the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) is poorly known. Morpho-anatomical modifications induced by M. incognita to roots of Echeveria cimette and Pachyphytum compactum (Crassulaceae) were analyzed. The affected roots of both taxa showed: numerous galls with egg masses, hyperplastic reactions, cell suberization, disorganized vascular tissues, and development of multinucleated giant cells. Although both hosts were shown to be susceptible, certain characteristics evidenced plant defense reactions. In E. cimette, in those zones of the gall cortex that had great accumulation of tannins no females or egg masses were observed and this compound would be playing a role of a natural defense barrier. Suberized cells surrounding the egg masses could limit the movement of hatched juveniles. In P. compactum, the presence of branched roots with excessive atypical short extensions was noticeable. They were highly suberized and would act as a barrier preventing the loss of water and solutes; they might also be related to a defense mechanism, since they had tannins. Root cell studies of E. cimette and P. compactum parasitized by M. incognita are described for the first time. These results show the importance of commercializing ornamental plants with an adequate sanitary control to avoid the dispersal of this polyphagous nematode. Vegetative propagation of succulents is highlighted, since when they are affected by nematodes, the cuttings can be used as a resource for the conservation of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of the genus Kalanchoe have a long history of therapeutic use in ethnomedicine linked to their remarkable healing properties. Several species have chemical and anatomical similarities, often leading to confusion when they are used in folk medicine. This review aims to provide an overview and discussion of the reported traditional uses, botanical aspects, chemical constituents, and pharmacological potential of the Kalanchoe species. Published scientific materials were collected from the PubMed and SciFinder databases without restriction regarding the year of publication through April 2023. Ethnopharmacological knowledge suggests that these species have been used to treat infections, inflammation, injuries, and other disorders. Typically, all parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes either as crude extract or juice. Botanical evaluation can clarify species differentiation and can enable correct identification and validation of the scientific data. Flavonoids are the most common classes of secondary metabolites identified from Kalanchoe species and can be correlated with some biological studies (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial potential). This review summarizes several topics related to the Kalanchoe genus, supporting future studies regarding other unexplored research areas. The need to conduct further studies to confirm the popular uses and biological activities of bioactive compounds is also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the leaves of Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi were consecutively macerated with hexane, chloroform, and methanol. These extracts were used to assess the bioactivities of the plant. The antimicrobial activity was tested against a panel of Gram-positive and -negative pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains using the microdilution method. The cytotoxicity of K. fedtschenkoi extracts was investigated using human-derived macrophage THP-1 cells through the MTT assay. Finally, the anti-inflammatory activity of extracts was studied using the same cell line by measuring the secretion of IL-10 and IL-6. The phytoconstituents of hexane and chloroform extracts were evaluated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to study the phytochemical content of methanol extract. The total flavonoid content (TFC) of methanol extract is also reported. The chemical composition of K. fedtschenkoi extracts was evaluated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results revealed that the chloroform extract inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 150 μ g/mL. At the same concentration, methanol extract inhibited the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Regarding their cytotoxicity, the three extracts were highly cytotoxic against the tested cell line at IC50 < 3 μ g/mL. In addition, the chloroform extract significantly stimulated the secretion of IL-10 at 50 μ g/mL (p < 0.01). GC/MS analyses revealed that hexane and chloroform extracts contain fatty acids, sterols, vitamin E, and triterpenes. The HPLC analysis demonstrated that methanol extract was constituted by quercetin and kaempferol derivatives. This is the first report in which the bioactivities and chemical profiles of K. fedtschenkoi are assessed for non-polar and polar extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the plant species used for green roof are limited. In order to further expand the plant species used for green roof, it is particularly important to explore the adaptability of different plant species. In this study, 6 species of Crassulaceae (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (K. blossfeldiana), Sedum lineare (S. lineare), Hylotelephium erythrostictum (H. erythrostictum), Phedimus aizoon (P. aizoon), Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea) and Sedum sarmentosum (S. sarmentosum)) were selected and planted on the stainless-steel planting rack on the roof with a substrate thickness of 15 cm. After normal maintenance and management for 1-month, continuous water deficit treatment was carried out. The physiological properties were measured at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 days, respectively. The results showed that: (1) The 6 species of Crassulaceae grew normally and well within 0-20 days. At 30 days, K. blossfeldiana had the most severe wilting rate (53%) and S. lineare had the least wilting rate (14%), but still maintained basic ornamental value. After 40 days of water deficit treatment, all the plants lost their ornamental value. (2) Among the 6 species under different water deficit treatment times, S. lineare and P. aizoon ranked between 1-3 in the 0-20 days when the water deficit degree was mild, and still ranked first and second in the 30-40 days when the water deficit was severe, with the best performance throughout the whole process, which could adapt to extensive green roof and did not need too much management. S. sarmentosum and K. blossfeldiana ranked 4-6 in the membership function under 40-day water deficit stress, with the worst performance. They are not suitable for extensive green roof and need careful management. In addition, considering the ornamental effect and ecological benefits of green roof, except K. blossfeldiana and S. sarmentosum, the other four plant species are suitable for the application of extensive green roof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedum bulbiferum is a traditional medicinal plant in China, with few reports on its chloroplast genome. In this study, the chloroplast genome of Sedum bulbiferum was characterized, and its phylogenetic position among other closely related species was studied. The results showed that the full length of the chloroplast genome was 150,074 bp, containing a large single-copy (LSC) region and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 81,730 and 16,726 bp, respectively, as well as two inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 25,809 bp like other plants. A total of 128 genes were found, including 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Sedum bulbiferum is closely related to Sedum emarginatum, Sedum alfredii, Sedum tricarpum, Sedum plumbizincicola, and Sedum sarmentosum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal tolerance and accumulation potential are the two characteristics most important for plant use in phytoremediation technologies. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to characterize the tolerance of Hylotelephium maximum from coastal drift line vegetation against the biogenous heavy metals Cu, Zn, and Mn and its metal accumulation potential in controlled conditions. Plants were propagated vegetatively and cultivated in an automated greenhouse in a vegetative state (Experiment 1; Cu, Zn, and Mn) and in flowering-inducing conditions (Experiment 2; Mn gradient). In Experiment 1, total shoot biomass was negatively affected only by Mn at 1.0 g L−1, but root growth was significantly inhibited by all metals at this concentration. Plants accumulated 250 mg kg−1 Cu, 3200 mg kg−1 Zn, and >11,000 mg kg Mn−1 in their leaves. In Experiment 2, only new shoot growth was significantly suppressed at 0.5 g L−1 Mn. At the highest concentrations, shoot biomass progressively declined at the level of inhibition of flower and stem growth. Visual toxicity symptoms of Mn appeared 2 weeks after full treatment on leaves of 2.0 g L−1 treated plants as black dots along the main veins and spread over the leaf surface with time. The maximum Mn accumulation capacity was reached in leaves (15,000 mg kg−1), together with a high translocation factor and bioconcentration factor. The obtained results suggest that the particular accession of H. maximum has very good potential for practical phytoremediation purposes.

The chloroplast (cp) genome sequence is determined and analyzed for Orostachys minuta for the first time. The cp genome was 150,369 bp in length, containing a large single-copy (LSC) of 82,795 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) of 16,854 bp, which were separated by a pair of 25,360 bp inverted repeats (IRs). The overall G + C content of the O. minuta cp genome amounted to 37.7%. In total, 113 unique genes were annotated, consisting of 79 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 30 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and four ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs). Among these genes, 18 contained one or two introns. A maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis based on 33 taxa showed that O. minuta formed a clade with O. japonica. This study will provide a baseline as well as valuable molecular phylogenomic information for various future studies to determine the taxonomic position and phylogenetic relationships of the genus Orostachys.

Sedum matsuense, a new species from the Matsu Islands, is described. This species is only found in Peigan Island and Dongju Island. Previously, this species has been misidentified as S. lineare. However, they can be easily distinguished by phyllotaxy (alternate vs. 3-or 4-verticillate) and leaf shape (linear-lanceolate to oblanceolate, apex acute vs. linear, apex subacute). The phylogenetic analysis also indicates that S. matsuense is distantly related to S. lineare and to the other resembling species. In this paper, to aid in identification, we provide descriptions, photographs, and line drawings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Echeveria subrigida extracts have biological activities of human health importance. However, the in vivo effects on glucose levels and chronic toxicity are unknown. Objectives: To analyse the in vivo hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effects (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg b.w.) and chronic toxicity (1000 mg/kg b.w. for 270 days) of the hydroalcoholic extract of E. subrigida (HE-Es) in BALB/c mice. Materials and Methods: The HE-Es was analysed by HPLC. Glucose levels were measured to establish the effects on glycemia. Different parameters were registered in the toxicity assay: e.g., feed consumption, appearance/behaviour, biochemical and haematological parameters and liver and kidney histologies. Results: Quercetin-3-O-β-glucoside and isorhamnetin-3-O-β-glucoside were the main flavonoids in the HE-Es. Glycemia was reduced by the HE-Es (200 mg/kg b.w., 49.1%) and glibenclamide (10 mg/kg b.w., 52%) treatments. Comparing the antihyperglycemic activities, similar reductions were found between HE-Es (100 mg/kg b.w., 29.32%; 200 mg/kg, 28.99%) and acarbose (10 mg/kg b.w., 19.87%) treatments. On the other hand, the HE-Es was innocuous in mice (LD50 > 1000 mg/kg b.w.), and the results suggested that HE-Es had adaptogenic, and immunostimulant activities. The hepatic and renal histologies were normal; however, male mice showed level zero steatosis that disappeared in the HE-Es satellite after treatment withdrawal. Conclusion: This study reports for the first time the in vivo effects on blood glucose levels of HE-Es and chronic toxicity of a Crassulaceae plant, supporting the antidiabetic potential and safety of HE-Es. Future studies must corroborate the effects of HE-Es in humans, allowing its use in high-value formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the monophyly of Phedimus has been strongly demonstrated, the species relationships among approximately 20 species of Phedimus have been difficult to determine because of the uniformity of their floral characteristics and extreme variation of their vegetative characters, often accompanied by high polyploid and aneuploid series and diverse habitats. In this study, we assembled 15 complete chloroplast genomes of Phedimus species from East Asia and generated a plastome-based backbone phylogeny of the subgenus Aizoon. As a proxy for nuclear phylogeny, we reconstructed the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (nrDNA ITS) phylogeny independently. The 15 plastomes of subg. Aizoon were highly conserved in structure and organization; hence, the complete plastome phylogeny fully resolved the species relationships with strong support. We found that P. aizoon and P. kamtschaticus were polyphyletic and morphologically distinct or ambiguous species, and they most likely evolved from the two species complex. The crown age of subg. Aizoon was estimated to be 27 Ma, suggesting its origin to be in the late Oligocene; however, the major lineages were diversified during the Miocene. The two Korean endemics, P. takesimensis and P. zokuriensis, were inferred to have originated recently during the Pleistocene, whereas the other endemic, P. latiovalifolium, originated in the late Miocene. Several mutation hotspots and seven positively selected chloroplast genes were identified in the subg. Aizoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Selected plant extracts had activity against MDR Staphylococcus aureus mastitis isolates. • Kalanchoe gunniae was antibacterial with low cytotoxicity (selectivity index 25). • K. gunniae inhibited biofilm development but could not eradicate pre-formed biofilm. • K. gunniae had anti-quorum sensing activity and is a candidate for future studies. Mastitis is a painful inflammatory condition, commonly resulting from infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and other pathogens. In this study, antimicrobial, anti-biofilm and anti-quorum sensing activities of selected plants were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus isolates from clinical cases of bovine mastitis. Acetone and ethanol extracts of 15 plants were initially screened for their antimicrobial activities against the commercially available reference strain S. aureus ATCC 29213. Maytenus undata, Maurocenia frangula, Kalanchoe gunniae and Bryophyllum pinnatum had good activities and extracts were tested against six multi-drug resistant S. aureus strains isolated from clinical bovine mastitis cases. The four plants were further analysed for cytotoxicity and anti-quorum sensing activities. Two of the plants with good results were assessed further for anti-biofilm activity. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the extracts against S. aureus isolates ranged from 0.02 to 0.63 mg/mL. Kalanchoe gunniae extracts were the least cytotoxic with extremely promising selectivity index (SI) values ranging from 12 to 25. Significant inhibition of biofilm development against S. aureus mastitis isolates was observed, but extracts were not able to eradicate pre-formed biofilms. Kalanchoe gunniae extracts had the best anti-quorum sensing activity with minimum quorum sensing inhibition concentration (MQSIC) and MIC values of 0.04 mg/mL and 0.63 mg/mL respectively against Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472. Therefore, K. gunniae holds potential for development of a preventative treatment against bovine mastitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Kalanchoe Adans. (Crassulaceae) is native to Madagascar and comprises 145 species, being naturalized in the tropics and cultivated worldwide. In addition to having ornamental value, several Kalanchoe species are commonly used in popular medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, wounds, gastric ulcers, and other diseases. The great importance of the genus is reflected on its acknowledgment by traditional and alternative health systems and organizations, as well as on the growing number of papers reporting pharmacological properties of extracts and isolated compounds from Kalanchoe. Among these properties, we highlight anti-inflammatory, antitumor, wound healing, antiulcer, and muscle relaxing properties. These activities are attributed mostly to flavonoids and bufadienolides, the main secondary metabolites reported in Kalanchoe extracts. While bufadienolides are generally related to cytotoxic and muscle relaxing activities, flavonoids are commonly reported as anti-inflammatory and wound healing agents. This review provides up to date information and perspectives on bioactive compounds from the Kalanchoe genus that are potentially useful for the development of new drugs. It includes not only a discussion on the advantages of the Kalanchoe species as source of bioactive compounds, but also the gaps, opportunities, and challenges to translate the acquired knowledge into innovation for drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new flavonol glycoside (1), together with one known flavonol glycoside (2) and 16 known megastigmanes (3–18) were isolated from the whole plant of Sedum sarmentosum Bunge. Their structures were established by spectroscopic data (1D, 2D NMR, and HR-ESI-MS) and comparison with the literature. Among them, compounds 8 and 10–12 were reported from the Crassulaceae family for the first time. Anti-inflammatory effects of the isolated compounds were evaluated in terms of inhibition of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 8 and 16 could inhibit NO production with IC50 values of 47.93 ± 3.43 μM and 47.11 ± 3.63 μM. Compounds 4 and 6 showed an inhibitory effect on IL-6 production with IC50 values of 34.37 ± 4.84 μM and 38.26 ± 3.32 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new flavonoids (1 and 2) were isolated from the extract of flowers of Rhodiola rosea L. [Sedum roseum (L.) Scop., Crassulaceae]. Their structures were established as hibiscetin 3-O-(3″-O-malonyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside-8-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside (rhodirosin G, 1) and hibiscetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-8-O-(2″-O-malonyl)-β-D-glucuronopyranoside (rhodirosin H, 2) using UV, IR, and NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Their antiradical activity was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims The most species-rich and ecologically diverse plant radiation on the Canary Islands is the Aeonium alliance (Crassulaceae). In island radiations like this, speciation can take place either within islands or following dispersal between islands. Aiming at quantifying intra- and inter-island speciation events in the evolution of Aeonium , and exploring their consequences, we hypothesized that (1) intra-island diversification resulted in stronger ecological divergence of sister lineages, and that (2) taxa on islands with a longer history of habitation by Aeonium show stronger ecological differentiation and produce fewer natural hybrids. Methods We studied the biogeographical and ecological setting of diversification processes in Aeonium with a fully sampled and dated phylogeny inferred using a ddRADseq approach. Ancestral areas and biogeographical events were reconstructed in BioGeoBEARS. Eleven morphological characters and three habitat characteristics were taken into account to quantify the morphological and ecological divergence between sister lineages. A co-occurrence matrix of all Aeonium taxa is presented to assess the spatial separation of taxa on each island. Key Results We found intra- and inter-island diversification events in almost equal numbers. In lineages that diversified within single islands, morphological and ecological divergence was more pronounced than in lineages derived from inter-island diversification, but only the difference in morphological divergence was significant. Those islands with the longest history of habitation by Aeonium had the lowest percentages of co-occurring and hybridizing taxon pairs compared with islands where Aeonium arrived later. Conclusions Our findings illustrate the importance of both inter- and intra-island speciation, the latter of which is potentially sympatric speciation. Speciation on the same island entailed significantly higher levels of morphological divergence compared with inter-island speciation, but ecological divergence was not significantly different. Longer periods of shared island habitation resulted in the evolution of a higher degree of spatial separation and stronger reproductive barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedum is a large genus belonging to the Crassulaceae family. Some members of the genus are medically vital. This study investigated the anatomical characteristics of Sedum acre L., Sedum album L., and Sedum pallidum M. Bieb. distributed in Turkey. In the light of the findings obtained, the internal structure features distinguishing the species from each other are revealed. In the cross-sections taken by hand, it is determined that the species' roots are in the secondary structure. Large intercellular spaces are identified in the cortex of the S. album root. The cuticle layer is present on the epidermis of the stem cross-section and the alkaloids were found in the cortex of the stem. Both the upper and bottom surfaces of the leaves have anisocytic stomata, which may be seen on both sides of the leaf. In the cross section of the S. acre leaf, the vascular bundles are not scattered, unlike the S. album and S. pallidum, and are in regular rows in the center. The statistical results obtained reveal that some anatomical characters may be necessary for distinguishing these three species. Characteristics such as stem epidermis size, stem cuticle thickness, the diameter of the stem cortex parenchyma cell, stoma size on the lower and upper surface of the leaf can be considered to be of diagnostic importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedum jinglanii, a new species of Crassulaceae from Mount Danxia in Guangdong, China, is described and illustrated. Phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nrDNA suggests that the new species belongs to S. sect. Sedum sensu Fu and Ohba (2001) in the "Flora of China", and is sister to a clade comprising S. afredi and S. emarginatum with high support values (SH-aLRT = 84, UFBS = 95) but is distantly related to S. baileyi. The new species is morphologically similar to S. alfredi but it can be distinguished from the latter in its opposite leaves (vs. alternate leaves), its usually wider leaves (0.4-1.2 cm vs. 0.2-0.6 cm), its usually shorter petals (3.4-4.5 mm vs. 4-6 mm), its shorter nectar scales (0.4-0.5 mm vs. 0.5-1 mm), its shorter carpels (1.5-2.6 mm vs. 4-5 mm), and its shorter styles (0.6-0.9 mm vs. 1-2 mm). The new species can be easily distinguished from S. emarginatum which both have opposite leaves by its short, erect or ascending rhizome (vs. long and prostrate rhizome in the latter), shorter petals (3.4-4.5 mm vs. 6-8 mm) and shorter carpels (1.5-2.6 mm vs. 4-5 mm). It can also be easily distinguished from S. baileyi by its short, erect or ascending rhizome (vs. long and prostrate rhizome) and its shorter style (0.6-0.9 mm vs. 1-1.5 mm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crassulaceae acid metabolism (MAC or CAM) generally takes place in plants that live in arid areas with little water availability. These plants are characterized by being succulent, having a waxy cuticle and carrying out photosynthesis in the stems. In this work several aspects of its metabolism in cacti in vitro and ex vitro are addressed. The variation of the pH was analyzed every hour during a day and it was observed that Opuntia ficus-indica in vitro under continuous light present a C3 behavior. The study of the stomata made it possible to relate the parallelocytic type with the Cactoideae subfamily, and the opuntoid type with the Pereskioideae and Opuntioideae subfamilies in cacti grown in vitro. Further, a stimulation in the stomatal opening was observed in O. ficus-indica and P. sacharosa with indoleacetic acid, only at high concentrations (100 and 1000 µM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]