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This present work describes the possible advantages of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) blending with ball-milled glutinous starch (BMGS) on the modification of release and penetration of model water-soluble active ingredient, lidocaine hydrochloride, from the blended matrix. The 20–67% CMC mass containing CMC-BMGS matrices were fabricated by casting the aqueous dispersion of CMC-BMGS onto the tray and oven-dried. BMGS and CMC were compatible as revealed by SEM and ATR-FTIR. Irrespective of the CMC mass, all CMC-BMGS matrices showed comparable matrix mass, thickness, moisture content, moisture absorption as well as mechanical and mucoadhesive properties. The surface pH of CMC-BMGS tended to increase with the CMC mass. Depends on CMC mass, matrix properties, release, and penetration rates were modulated significantly. CMC had shown a substantial role in the swelling and erosion behaviors of BMGS films, and thus modulated the release and penetration significantly. The release and penetration mechanisms of active ingredient from the CMC-BMGS matrices were Fickian diffusion-controlled, with rates of release and penetration ranging from 2.05 ± 0.21 to 7.55 ± 1.08%/min½, and from 3.48 ± 0.28 to 8.04 ± 0.64 μg/cm2/min½, respectively. The capability of CMC-BMGS matrices as mucoadhesive delivery systems to provide sustained delivery of water-soluble active ingredients was disclosed.

This study investigated whether ethylene is involved in the stem-bending mechanism of three different snapdragon cultivars ‘Asrit Red’, ‘Asrit Yellow’, and ‘Merryred Pink’, by treating their cut stems with an ethylene-releasing compound (ethephon), an ethylene-action inhibitor [silver thiosulfate (STS)], and distilled water (as the control). Ethephon completely prevented stem bending in all cultivars, whereas STS exhibited a higher bending rate compared with the control. The bending rates were influenced by several factors, such as the degree of stem curvature, relative shoot elongation, ethylene production, and lignin content, indicating their involvement in the stem-bending mechanism of the cultivars. The analysis of the expression of genes involved in the ethylene and lignin biosynthetic pathways also supported the importance of lignin and ethylene in the stem-bending mechanism. Taken together, as ethephon completely prevented stem bending of the three snapdragon cultivars, this study suggested that ethylene acts as a negative regulator of the stem-bending mechanism of snapdragon cultivars, and the information will be valuable for the prevention of stem bending in other commercially important ornamental flowers.

The generation of transgenic floricultural crops for flower color modification requires a transgene that enhances anthocyanin accumulation and a flower-specific promoter with stable expression throughout flowering stage. Here, the anthocyanin regulatory R2R3-MYB transcription factor (TF) RsMYB1 was placed under the control of the stable flower-specific promoter (InMYB1) to enhance anthocyanin accumulation in Petunia hybrida cv. Mirage Rose. RsMYB1 overexpression with the flower-specific promoter enhanced anthocyanin accumulation only in floral tissues via the upregulation of key anthocyanin biosynthetic genes. The target gene introgression to another Petunia hybrida cv. White Hawaiian lacking anthocyanins also changed the flower color from white to intense pink in the F1 hybrids by upregulating the biosynthetic genes. Target gene inheritance in the F2 hybrids also produced diverse flower colors, redder than those of non-inheritance F2 hybrids. RsMYB1 overexpression using the flower-specific promoter (InMYB1) enhanced anthocyanin levels in the petals of transgenic Petunia and its related hybrids. Thus, this system can be used as a promising tool for intensifying the flower color of other commercially important floricultural crops. In addition, the obtained F2MW11 and F2MW12 lines are potential commercial cultivars for the floriculture and landscape industries due to its attractive flower color pattern.

The fabrication and characterization of ball-milling modified glutinous rice starch (MGRS):chitosan (CS) composite films were demonstrated. Effect of CS ratios (2:1, 1:1, 1:2 MGRS:CS) on the film properties was investigated. Lidocaine hydrochloride was used as a model hydrophilic drug. ATR-FTIR confirmed hydrogen bond formation between MGRS and CS. XRD indicated an amorphous state of all fabricated films. The uniform and comparable thickness, weight, and drug contents of all fabricated films were obtained. The presence of CS did not affect the mucoadhesiveness of MGRS films. The increase in tensile strength and decreases in elongation and folding endurance were observed with 1:2 MGRS:CS films. The film swelling and drug release decreased with the CS ratio. Drug permeation across porcine mucosa indicated the enhancement effect of CS, whereby the permeation flux of 1:2 MGRS:CS composite increased by 3 folds. In conclusion, the MGRS:CS composite could be useful for buccal delivery of hydrophilic drug.

Flower senescence in three carnation cultivars (‘Koba Kabana,’ ‘Purple Sky,’ and ‘Lufa’) was associated with increased ethylene production in floral tissues (petals and gynoecia). Treatment with silver nanoparticles (NAg) significantly reduced ethylene production in petals and gynoecia and significantly delayed petal senescence compared with that in control (untreated) flowers, as indicated by higher relative fresh weight. Gene expression analyses performed on petals and gynoecia from initial flower opening through senescence indicated that the expression levels of ethylene biosynthesis genes (ACS1 and ACO1) and a petal senescence-related gene (CP1) were significantly higher in control flowers than in NAg-treated flowers. In contrast, the expression level of the petal senescence inhibitor gene CPi was more upregulated in NAg-treated flowers than in control flowers. The expression levels of EIL1/2, ERS2, and EBF1 were significantly higher in control flowers, in which ethylene was highly produced, than in NAg-treated flowers, whereas the expression levels of CTR1 and ETR1 were lower. This indicates that EIL1/2, ERS2, and EBF1 positively regulate and CTR1 and ETR1 negatively regulate the ethylene signal transduction pathway in carnations. In addition, NAg can inhibit the expression of these positive regulator genes in carnations. Therefore, this study suggests that NAg is helpful in significantly repressing ethylene production and delaying petal senescence in carnations via the suppression of ethylene biosynthesis genes, a petal senescence-related gene, and genes positively regulating ethylene signaling in petals and gynoecia.

This study aimed to investigate physicochemical properties and potential application as a mucoadhesive polymer of Thai glutinous rice starch modified by planetary ball milling. XRD and ATR-FTIR results indicated a reduction in crystallinity of starch after ball milling. Different ball milling times, ranging from 5 to 45 min, resulted in modified glutinous rice starch (MGRS) with different levels of crystallinity loss, and therefore varying degrees of cold water solubility, swelling capacity, and gelatinized dispersion viscosity. Investigation of mucoadhesive properties using Texture Analyzer with porcine mucosa demonstrated that MGRS tablets exhibited greater mucoadhesive abilities compared to hydroxypropyl methylcellulose tablets, but weaker than those of sodium carboxymethylcellulose tablets. Tablets made of 15-min-milled MGRS had comparable tableting, swelling and mucoadhesiveness, but lower erosion compared to 45-min-milled MGRS. Conclusively, ball milling treatment could successfully induce the mucoadhesive properties of Thai glutinous rice starch and expand its application as mucoadhesive polymer.

Hosta species endemic to Korea are currently suffering from infection with Hosta virus X (HVX), and it has been difficult to produce virus-free plants when using infected plants as a source of material for in vitro and vegetative propagation in continuous production processes. Genetic variation in in vitro-regenerated plants has also been detected in some Hosta cultivars. Therefore, we aimed to develop an in vitro propagation method for the production of virus-free and genetically stable plants. First, we collected Hosta capitata showing symptoms of viral infection and confirmed the presence of an HVX virus gene using reverse transcription (RT)–PCR, followed by optimization of the sterilization of in vivo bulbs. Meristems derived from sterilized bulbs were cultured in media containing different concentrations of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) with either benzyl aminopurine (BA) or thidiazuron (TDZ). The combination of 0.1 mg/l NAA and 3.0 mg/l BA generated the highest number of shoots per explant, and these shoots had a higher fresh weight. The addition of nano-silver (NAg) particles to the regeneration medium distinctly stimulated plant growth. According to the results of RAPD analysis, the meristem-derived plants were genetically stable compared with donor plants grown in a greenhouse, and absence of the HVX gene was also observed, indicating freedom from HVX infection. Therefore, they would be highly valuable for use in the landscape industry. We expect that the method proposed in this study will also prove helpful for generating virus-free, genetically stable plants in the commercial production of other Hosta species.