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Background: In recent years, the incidence of depression, recognized as a serious psychological disorder, has escalated rapidly. Rehmannia glutinosa DC. (Scrophulariaceae; Rehmanniae Radix, Crude drug) and Lilium lancifolium Thunb. (Liliaceae; Lilii bulbus, Crude drug) constitute a classic anti-depressant combination, exhibiting pharmacological effects that include anti-depressive, anti-anxiety, and anti-inflammatory properties. Current clinical studies have demonstrated that Baihe Dihuang Decoction, a traditional Chinese herbal compound, is effective in treating depression. However, the majority of scholars have predominantly examined Rehmannia glutinos a and Lilium in isolation, and a comprehensive elucidation of their principal active metabolites and pharmacological mechanisms remains lacking. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted as of 29 September 2024, utilizing databases such as PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang Data, Baidu Scholar, and Google Scholar. Additionally, classical texts on Chinese herbal medicine, the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, as well as doctoral and master's theses, were included in the collected materials. The search employed specific terms including " R. glutinosa ," " Lilium ," "Baihe Dihuang decoction," "application of Baihe Dihuang decoction," "pathogenesis of depression," and "pharmacological action and mechanism of depression. Results: This paper reviewed the traditional applications and dosages of the R. glutinosa-Lilium as documented in Chinese medical classics, thereby establishing a foundation for the contemporary development and clinical application of the classical formula Baihe Dihuang Decoction. Additionally, recent years have seen a comprehensive review of the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of R. glutinosa-Lilium and its principal metabolites in the context of depression. Conclusion: This paper has reviewed the active metabolites of R. glutinosa-Lilium and demonstrated its efficacy in the treatment of depression, as well as its role in modulating the underlying mechanisms of the disorder. The findings aim to serve as a reference for further research into the mechanisms of depression, its clinical applications, and the development of novel therapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal teas are used in South Africa as digestives to lower glycaemia and for other indications. However, the chemical composition of the infusions and their effect on enzymes related to metabolic syndrome is poorly known. The composition of infusions and methanol extracts of B. saligna (Scrophulariaceae), Lippia javanica, L. scaberrima, and Phyla dulcis (Verbenaceae) was assessed and the effect of the infusions and extract was determined towards α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and pancreatic lipase. The commercial herbal products were extracted separately with MeOH or hot water to obtain the extract/infusion for comparative studies. Total phenolic, total flavonoid and antioxidant capacity were assessed. The fingerprints of the MeOH extracts and infusions were compared by HPLD-DAD. The extract constituents were tentatively identified by HPLC-MS/MS and NMR analyses. From the extracts/infusions, 57 compounds were identified, including iridoids, phenylpropanoid glycosides, flavonoids, and caffeic acid derivatives, among others. The MeOH extracts and infusions showed strong inhibition towards α-glucosidase with IC50 in the range of 0.13–0.84 µg/mL for the phenolic-enriched infusion extract (PEI) and 0.47–0.50 µg/mL for the MeOH extracts, respectively. The P. dulcis PEI showed higher inhibition towards α-glucosidase, and the MeOH extract of L. scaberrima was better than the PEI. At 100 µg/mL, the PEI from the four herbal teas reduces the activity of α-amylase by 23.03–28.61%, with L. javanica as the most active tea. Three of the species are high in phenylpropanoid glycosides, while P. dulcis contains rosmarinic acid. Some 26 compounds were identified in the infusion from B. saligna, 28 from L. scaberrima, and 21 from P. dulcis. Four of them are common in all the teas, namely decaffeoylverbascoside, verbascoside, isoverbascoside, and tuberonic acid hexoside. Ten compounds occur in two of the teas and seventeen, fifteen, and eleven compounds were detected only in B. saligna, L. scaberrima, and P. dulcis, respectively. Most of the compounds are reported for the first time from the crude drug infusions. The results give some support for the traditional use of herbal teas as digestives and/or indications for diabetes. The chemical fingerprints set the basis for quality control of the crude drugs, based on the main constituents and differential compounds occurring in the samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThree new cyclopentanoid monoterpenes, neopiscrocins A–C (1–3), together with 14 known compounds (4–17), were isolated from the roots of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora. The structres of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic data. All compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against six human tumor cell lines (PC9, PANC1, HCT-116, Hep-G2, BGC-823, and MCF-7), hepatoprotective activity and anti-inflammatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scrophularia L., a genus of the Scrophulariaceae, is a group of important medicinal plants used for eliminating heat and detoxifying. East Asia has an abundance of potentially medicinal Scrophularia species, and it serves as a secondary diversity center of the genus. However, the genomic resources available for germplasm identification and pharmaceutical exploration of East Asian Scrophularia are insufficient, hindering its commercial and industrial development. Additionally, the interspecific relationships of most East Asian Scrophularia species remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we sequenced the leaves of 25 East Asian species of the genus Scrophularia, assembled and annotated the complete chloroplast genomes, and subsequently performed comparative and phylogenetic analyses on these genomes. Results and discussion: The conserved plastome length of these 25 species ranged from 151,582 bp to 153,239 bp, containing a total of 132 coding genes, including 18 duplicated genes and 114 unique genes. Through genome alignment of these 25 species, 38-53 repeated sequences and 7 shared SSRs were identified, along with regions with high nucleotide polymorphism (Pi), which could potentially serve as molecular markers for species identification. The genome structure, gene content, and arrangement showed conservation, while variations were observed in the IR boundary regions and IGS. Phylogenetic inferences based on whole plastomes or on coding sequences (CDS) only yielded congruent results. We categorized the 25 East Asian Scrophularia species into six distinct clades and further explored their interspecies relationships using morphological characteristics, such as flower color, the relative position of stamens and corolla, and plant height. This could lay a genetic basis for future resource development of Scrophularia in East Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of traditional medicinal herbs has gained popularity as a viable alternative approach for addressing microbial infections or infectious structures. In this study, Verbascum detersile, Verbascum eskisehirensis, and Verbascum gypsicola endemic species belonging to the Scrophulariaceae family, spreading in Eskişehir and its surroundings, were collected from natural habitats and evaluated in terms of antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. In biological activity studies, different concentrations of three plant extracts showed various antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities on selected standard microorganism cultures (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 14990, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Candida albicans ATCC 90028, and Candida krusei ATCC 6258). It was observed that the selected three endemic Verbascum extracts had a minimum inhibitory and minimum biofilm eradication concentration value of 1250 µg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new iridoid glycosides, piasezkiiosides A (1) and B (2), were isolated from aqueous extract of the whole plant of Rehmannia piasezkii. Their structures were established from the spectroscopic data, chemical transformation, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 exhibited weak hepatoprotective activity against APAP-induced HepG2 cell damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new undescribed compounds, jiofuran acid A (1) and 8′-hydroxyl episesaminone (2), together with seven known compounds (3 – 9) were isolated from the fresh roots of Zhongsheng No.1 Rehmannia glutinosa. Their structures were established by spectroscopic techniques (HR-ESI-MS, 1D NMR, 2D NMR), and absolute configurations were resolved by comparing their experimental and calculated ECD spectra. Bioassay results demonstrated compounds 1 – 3 exhibited the obvious anti-pulmonary fibrosis activity. [Display omitted] • Two new lignans were isolated from the fresh roots of Zhongsheng No.1 Rehmannia glutinosa. • All the isolated compounds were evaluated in vitro for their anti-pulmonary fibrosis activity. • Compounds 1 – 3 exhibited the obvious anti-pulmonary fibrosis activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The introduction history, extent of naturalization and drivers of invasion success was assessed for Myoporum in South Africa. • We confirm the presence of M. insulare, M. laetum and M. montanum in the country (listed in decreasing order of range size). • Myoporum species are at a relatively early phase of expansion in South Africa, indicating a substantial invasion debt. • Myoporum insulare is naturalizing and invading most rapidly. Myoporum is a genus of trees and shrubs native to the Northern Hemisphere that has been introduced to many parts of the world, mainly for ornamental purposes. We assessed the introduction history, distribution, and extent of naturalization/invasion for Myoporum species in South Africa. Information was collated to determine key events associated with the introduction, establishment, and naturalization of Myoporum in South Africa. Data were collated to determine the current distribution of the genus in South Africa. Twenty sites in the Western Cape were sampled to determine correlates of naturalization. Myoporum was first recorded in South Africa in 1934. Three species were confirmed to be present in South Africa: M. insulare, M. laetum and M. montanum (37 %, 25 % and 24 % of all iNaturalist records respectively). Most records are from the Western Cape (91 %) and small parts of the Eastern Cape; isolated populations occur in Gauteng and the Northern Cape. We could not confirm the presence M. petiolatum, M. tenuifolium or M. tetrandrum. Field surveys revealed widespread naturalization of M. insulare (46 % of all Research Grade observations in iNaturalist); this species was categorized code D1 in the introduction-naturalization-invasion continuum. Myoporum laetum (C3) and M. montanum (C2) are also widely naturalized but over smaller areas. Naturalized populations comprised predominantly juvenile M. insulare plants occurring in highly disturbed (transformed) habitats. Formal risk analyses for all Myoporum species in South Africa are needed as the basis for re-evaluation of their status in national legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verbascum and Rhabdotosperma are members of the family Scrophulariaceae. The first genus comprises approximately 360 species from almost all parts of the world, while the second contains a total of 8 species from tropical Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Since 1977, the relationships between Verbascum and Rhabdotosperma continue to be contested. The present study aims to present the phylogenetic relationships and status among Verbascum species in the Arabian Peninsula. For phylogenetic analyses, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference were performed. In total, 236 DNA sequences from 59 specimens of Arabian Verbascum were analysed. The phylogenetic analysis of one nuclear (ITS) and three chloroplastic (rbcL, matK, trnL) markers confirmed the monophyly of Verbascum, including the genus Rhabdotosperma. In addition to presenting novel phylogenetic relationships among the different Verbascum species in the Arabian Peninsula, our study reduced the species count of Arabian Verbascum to 16. Moreover, the phylogenetic analysis strongly supports the reinstatement of the genus Rhabdotosperma into Verbascum based on the Bayesian and maximum parsimony analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The roots of Verbascum sinaiticum have been used traditionally for the management of wound in different regions of Ethiopia. Despite the presence of several claims and in vitro studies regarding its role in wound healing, no scientific studies have been conducted so far. Therefore, this study aims to scientifically evaluate the wound healing activities of the crude extract and solvent fractions of the roots of Verbascum sinaiticum in Swiss albino mice. Methods: The dried root powder of Verbascum sinaiticum was extracted using 80% methanol by maceration technique. This was then fractionated with chloroform, ethyl acetate, and water. These extracts were formulated as ointment at 5% and 10% concentration by using simple base. Acute dermal toxicity was performed on mice. The wound healing potential was evaluated using excision, incision, and burn wound models. Results: In excision wound, 10% and 5% of crude extract ointment provided a significant (P< 0.001) percentage of contraction starting from day 4 and day 6 onwards respectively. Moreover, the rate of epithelialization was significantly (P< 0.001) improved in 10% crude extract. In burn wound, 10% and 5% crude extract showed significant (P< 0.001) wound contraction starting from day 4 and 8 onwards respectively. In both excision and burn wounds, a moderate concentration of fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition was observed on the 10% crude extract. The 5% and 10% aqueous and ethyl acetate fractions produced a significant (P< 0.001) percentage of wound contraction and shortening of epithelialization at different time points compared to simple ointment. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that the 80% methanolic crude extract, aqueous and ethyl acetate fractions of Verbascum sinaiticum root have wound healing potential which assimilates its traditional use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new iridoid glycosides (1–4), rehmaglutosides L–O, were isolated from the air-dried roots of Rehmannia glutinosa. Their structures were established from the spectroscopic data obtained and by chemical evidence. The known mellittoside (5) and ajugol (6) were also obtained in the current investigation, and the structure of mellittoside was unequivocally defined using X-ray diffraction data. Compounds 1–6 were tested for their cytotoxicity against five human tumor cell lines and proliferation effects on Lactobacillus Reuteri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal teas are used in South Africa as digestives to lower glycaemia and for other indications. However, the chemical composition of the infusions and their effect on enzymes related to metabolic syndrome is poorly known. The composition of infusions and methanol extracts of B. saligna (Scrophulariaceae), Lippia javanica, L. scaberrima, and Phyla dulcis (Verbenaceae) was assessed and the effect of the infusions and extract was determined towards α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and pancreatic lipase. The commercial herbal products were extracted separately with MeOH or hot water to obtain the extract/infusion for comparative studies. Total phenolic, total flavonoid and antioxidant capacity were assessed. The fingerprints of the MeOH extracts and infusions were compared by HPLD-DAD. The extract constituents were tentatively identified by HPLC-MS/MS and NMR analyses. From the extracts/infusions, 57 compounds were identified, including iridoids, phenylpropanoid glycosides, flavonoids, and caffeic acid derivatives, among others. The MeOH extracts and infusions showed strong inhibition towards α-glucosidase with IC50 in the range of 0.13–0.84 µg/mL for the phenolic-enriched infusion extract (PEI) and 0.47–0.50 µg/mL for the MeOH extracts, respectively. The P. dulcis PEI showed higher inhibition towards α-glucosidase, and the MeOH extract of L. scaberrima was better than the PEI. At 100 µg/mL, the PEI from the four herbal teas reduces the activity of α-amylase by 23.03–28.61%, with L. javanica as the most active tea. Three of the species are high in phenylpropanoid glycosides, while P. dulcis contains rosmarinic acid. Some 26 compounds were identified in the infusion from B. saligna, 28 from L. scaberrima, and 21 from P. dulcis. Four of them are common in all the teas, namely decaffeoylverbascoside, verbascoside, isoverbascoside, and tuberonic acid hexoside. Ten compounds occur in two of the teas and seventeen, fifteen, and eleven compounds were detected only in B. saligna, L. scaberrima, and P. dulcis, respectively. Most of the compounds are reported for the first time from the crude drug infusions. The results give some support for the traditional use of herbal teas as digestives and/or indications for diabetes. The chemical fingerprints set the basis for quality control of the crude drugs, based on the main constituents and differential compounds occurring in the samples.

Seven new pentasaccharides (1–7), rehmaglupentasaccharides A-G, were isolated from the air-dried roots of Rehmannia glutinosa. Their structures were established from the spectroscopic data obtained and by chemical evidence. The known verbascose (8) and stachyose (9) were also obtained in the current investigation, and the structure of stachyose was unequivocally defined using X-ray diffraction data. Compounds 1–9 were tested for their cytotoxicity against five human tumor cell lines, influence on dopamine receptor activation, and proliferation effects against Lactobacillus reuteri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species viz. Molothrognathus manisaensissp. nov., collected from litter and soil under Verbascum sp. (Scrophulariaceae), Inula viscosa (Asteraceae), Quercus coccifera and Q. infectoria (Fagaceae), and the unknown male of Neognathus ozkaniAkyol & Koç, 2012, collected from litter and soil under Olea europaea (Oleaceae) in Manisa province, Türkiye, are described and illustrated. A key to the species of Molothrognathus from Türkiye is updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, comprises c. 2000 species whose evolutionary relationships at the tribal level have proven difficult to resolve, hindering our ability to understand their origin and diversification.We designed a specific probe kit for Scrophulariaceae, targeting 849 nuclear loci and obtaining plastid regions as by‐products. We sampled c. 87% of the genera described in the family and use the nuclear dataset to estimate evolutionary relationships, timing of diversification, and biogeographic patterns.Ten tribes, including two new tribes, Androyeae and Camptolomeae, are supported, and the phylogenetic positions of Androya, Camptoloma, and Phygelius are unveiled. Our study reveals a major diversification at c. 60 million yr ago in some Gondwanan landmasses, where two different lineages diversified, one of which gave rise to nearly 81% of extant species. A Southern African origin is estimated for most modern‐day tribes, with two exceptions, the American Leucophylleae, and the mainly Australian Myoporeae. The rapid mid‐Eocene diversification is aligned with geographic expansion within southern Africa in most tribes, followed by range expansion to tropical Africa and multiple dispersals out of Africa.Our robust phylogeny provides a framework for future studies aimed at understanding the role of macroevolutionary patterns and processes that generated Scrophulariaceae diversity. This article is part of the Special Collection 'Global plant diversity and distribution'. See https://www.newphytologist.org/global-plant-diversity for more details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Because of the scarcity, high cost, and severe side effects of current medications, it is necessary to discover novel, safe, and affordable anti-diabetic drugs. The current study was conducted to evaluate the antidiabetic activities of Verbascum sinaiticum Benth leaves in mice.Methods: Leaf coarse powder was extracted with 80% methanol and then fractionated with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and distilled water. The glucose-lowering effects of V. sinaiticum at 100, 200, and 400mg/kg were then studied. Glibenclamide was used as a positive control at a dose of 5 mg/kg. For oral glucose tolerance tests and hypoglycemia tests, Tween 2% was used as a negative control, while citrate buffer was used as a negative control for antihyperglycemic investigations. The results from the study were evaluated using one-way ANOVA, and then Tukey's post hoc multiple comparison test was performed.Results: Blood glucose levels were significantly reduced by the V. sinaiticum 80% methanol extract at 400 mg/kg (p< 0.05). The blood glucose levels were significantly lowered by the aqueous residue at 400 mg/kg (p< 0.05) and the ethyl acetate fractions at 200 mg/kg (p< 0.01) and 400 mg/kg (p< 0.001); however, none of the fraction extracts resulted in hypoglycemic shock in healthy mice. Higher glucose tolerance was seen in orally glucose-loaded mice after exposure to 80% methanol extracts at 200 and 400 mg/kg (p< 0.05), the aqueous residual fraction at 200 mg/kg (p< 0.01), and the ethyl acetate fraction at 200 and 400 mg/kg (p< 0.05). The ethyl acetate fraction at 200 and 400 mg/kg (p< 0.01), the 80% methanol extract at 400 mg/kg (p< 0.05) and the aqueous residue at 400 mg/kg (p 0.01) significantly lowered blood glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that the 80% methanol extract and solvent fractions of V. sinaiticum Benth leaves are endowed with antidiabetic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: In 1879, Dr. William Beal buried 20 glass bottles filled with seeds and sand at a single site at Michigan State University. The goal of the experiment was to understand seed longevity in the soil, a topic of general importance in ecology, restoration, conservation, and agriculture, by periodically assaying germinability of these seeds over 100 years. The interval between germination assays has been extended and the experiment will now end after 221 years, in 2100. Methods: We dug up the 16th bottle in April 2021 and attempted to germinate the 141‐year‐old seeds it contained. We grew germinants to maturity and identified these to species by vegetative and reproductive phenotypes. For the first time in the history of this experiment, genomic DNA was sequenced to confirm species identities. Results: Twenty seeds germinated over the 244‐day assay. Eight germinated in the first 11 days. All 20 belonged to the Verbascum genus: Nineteen were V. blattaria according to phenotype and ITS2 genotype; and one had a hybrid V. blattaria × V. thapsus phenotype and ITS2 genotype. In total, 20/50 (40%) of the original Verbascum seeds in the bottle germinated in year 141. Conclusions: While most species in the Beal experiment lost all seed viability in the first 60 years, a high percentage of Verbascum seeds can still germinate after 141 years in the soil. Long‐term experiments such as this one are rare and invaluable for studying seed viability in natural soil conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The recently established Linderniaceae, separated from the traditionally defined Scrophulariaceae, is a taxonomically complicated family. Although previous phylogenetic studies based on a few short DNA markers have made great contributions to the taxonomy of Linderniaceae, limited sampling and low resolution of the phylogenetic tree have failed to resolve controversies between some generic circumscriptions. The plastid genome exhibits a powerful ability to solve phylogenetic relationships ranging from shallow to deep taxonomic levels. To date, no plastid phylogenomic studies have been carried out in Linderniaceae. Methods: In this study, we newly sequenced 26 plastid genomes of Linderniaceae, including eight genera and 25 species, to explore the phylogenetic relationships and genome evolution of the family through plastid phylogenomic and comparative genomic analyses. Results: The plastid genome size of Linderniaceae ranged from 152,386 bp to 154,402 bp, exhibiting a typical quartile structure. All plastomes encoded 114 unique genes, comprising 80 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The inverted repeat regions were more conserved compared with the single-copy regions. A total of 1803 microsatellites and 1909 long sequence repeats were identified, and five hypervariable regions (petN-psbM, rps16-trnQ, rpl32-trnL, rpl32, and ycf1) were screened out. Most protein-coding genes were relatively conserved, with only the ycf2 gene found under positive selection in a few species. Phylogenomic analyses confirmed that Linderniaceae was a distinctive lineage and revealed that the presently circumscribed Vandellia and Torenia were non-monophyletic. Discussion: Comparative analyses showed the Linderniaceae plastomes were highly conservative in terms of structure, gene order, and gene content. Combining morphological and molecular evidence, we supported the newly established Yamazakia separating from Vandellia and the monotypic Picria as a separate genus. These findings provide further evidence to recognize the phylogenetic relationships among Linderniaceae and new insights into the evolution of the plastid genomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic relationships of Scrophulariaceae s. l.(sensu lato)and the closely related groups were explored with 129 plastid genomes representing 107 genera. Plastome sequences were downloaded from the GenBank. Based on coding sequences(CDS), phylogenetic trees were reconstructed using maximum likelihood(ML)and Bayesian inference(BI)approaches. The ML and BI analyses shared the same topology and the main clades were consistently recovered with high support. Of the 129 total nodes, 123 were supported by ML bootstrap value ≥70%. The result were as follows:(1)Scrophulariaceae s. l. was confirmed as polyphyletic. Fifty-one species with representatives of 37 genera from the Scrophulariaceae s.l. were assigned to seven families. These were Orobanchaceae, Paulowniaceae, Wightiaceae, Mazaceae, Linderniaceae, Scrophulariaceae s. s.(sensu stricto), and Plantaginaceae.(2)Scrophulariaceae s.s. was a monophyletic group. In addition to the recognition of eight genera(including Bontia, Calamphoreus, Diocirea, Eremophila, Glycocystis, Leucophyllum, Scrophularia and Verbascum)comprised primarily of former members of Scrophulariaceae s.l., Buddleja which was originally placed in Loganiaceae, and Myoporum, traditionally placed in the Myoporaceae had been demonstrated to belong to this clade.(3)The Lamiales was monophyletic. Fourteen well-supported monophyletic clades were obtained corresponding to each family(Wightiaceae and Pedaliaceae for which only one species had been contained were not included). The relationships among the families were well resolved. Oleaceae formed a well-supported clade that was distinct from core Lamiales. Within the core Lamiales, four clades(Gesneriaceae, Plantaginaceae, Scrophulariaceae, and Linderniaceae)diverged before the remaining families grouping in two sister clades. Within one clade, two moderately to highly supported subclades were recovered. Lentibulariaceae was resolved as sister group to Acanthaceae, and Pedaliaceae was sister to Verbenaceae + Bignoniaceae. The other clade contained six families, with Lamiaceae, Mazaceae, Wightiaceae + Phrymaceae, and Paulowniaceae successively sister to Orobanchaceae. The results of our analyses indicate that the traditional Scrophulariaceae are an unnatural assemblage of plants distributed throughout the phylogenentic tree of Lamiales. Phylogenomics analyses based on plastid organelle have shown good potential for phylogenetic inference in Scrophulariaceae, more taxonomic sampling are needed to enhance our understanding of phylogenetic relationships of Scrophulariaceae in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new species Castilleja eggeri (Orobanchaceae) is described, compared and illustrated. The species is distinguished by its reduced number of 1–5 flowers per inflorescence, decumbent stems and dissected leaves. It is distributed in a narrow and very humid area of cloud forest in the mountains of central Veracruz in eastern Mexico. It is compared with Castilleja moranensis, morphologically the most similar species. Conservation assessment classifies the species as critically endangered (CR). Also, a key and distribution map of Castilleja taxa in the state of Veracruz are provided. This species is added to the endemisms of Castilleja in Mexico, where one third of the total diversity of the genus in the Americas is found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new species of Scrophularia was discovered among the screes and stony slopes of the Alakır Valley (Antalya) located in the Western Taurus. The most remarkable morphological feature of the species is its flowers without staminodes. With this feature, the species is unique among the representatives of the "Canina" clade in Türkiye. The new species is closely related to S. floribunda endemic to Türkiye and East Aegean Islands (Greece) according to our phylogenetic analyses based on the nuclear ITS and chloroplast trnL-F regions. Apart from its corollas without staminodes, the new species differs from its morphologically similar species by having densely glandular inflorescence (incl. calyxes), relatively small corollas, corolla lobes with a narrow white border, and very long filaments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verbascum scamandri Murb. known as "Kazdağı Mullein" is an endemic species in Türkiye and is classified as an endangered (EN) species. The aim of this study is to establish an efficient callus culture for V. scamandri and analyze the amounts of verbascoside, luteolin, and aucubin metabolites of calli samples. Leaf explants were cultured on MS medium with cytokinin (BAP, Kin, 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 mg/L) and auxin (NAA, 2,4-D, 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1 mg/L), 1 g/L PVP, 3% sucrose, and 0.7% agar for callus induction. Callus tissue in MS with 2 mg/L Kin, 0.5 mg/L Kin+0.5 mg/L 2,4-D, 2 mg/L Kin+0.5 mg/L 2,4-D, and 3 mg/L Kin+0.5 mg/L 2,4-D was proliferated in MS basal medium containing PGR at the same concentrations and combinations as the callus induction media. Verbascoside, luteolin, and aucubin were quantified in leaf samples of the in vivo collected plants, leaf samples of in vitro growing plants, and calli using HPLC-DAD. According to the results, the verbascoside content in the leaf of collected plants was 7.03 mg/g, luteolin was 0.66 mg/g, and aucubin was 2.99 mg/g. The leaf of in vitro plants had 1.62 mg/g verbascoside, 0.18 mg/g luteolin, and 1.32 mg/g aucubin. Whereas, the maximum content of secondary metabolites in the callus samples was observed 13.77 mg/g verbascoside in MS medium with 2 mg/L Kin, 0.51 mg/g luteolin in MS medium with 2 mg/L Kin+0.5 mg/L 2,4-D, and 9.32 mg/g aucubin in 0.5 mg/L Kin+0.5 mg/L 2,4-D.

Fruit and seed macro- and micromorphological analyses were carried out of 18 Plantago species representing two subgenera (Euplantago and Psyllium), and 18 taxa representing nine genera related to Scrophulariaceae sensu lato (s.l.) were investigated by light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The main aim of this study was by studying the fruit and seed morphological characters to investigate the phenetic relationships among Plantago species, as well as between certain taxa of Plantaginaceae sensu lato (s.l.) formerly assigned to the family Scrophulariaceae. The phenetic analysis of fruit and seed morphological characters of all studied taxa produced a phenogram that showed two main series: the first comprising the Plantago species [Plantaginaceae sensu sricto (s.str.)] and the second including the studied Scrophulariaceae taxa. The resulting phenogram supported the retaining of the studied Scrophulariaceae taxa within the family Scrophulariaceae s.l. and Plantago in a distinct monogeneric family Plantaginaceae s.str., and was incompatible with the new circumscription of Planataginaceae s.l. Moreover, the present findings were in line to a certain extent with Shipunov’s infrageneric classification of Plantago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verbascum globiferum Hub.-Mor. and V. lysiosepalum Hub.-Mor. are endemic to Turkey which is a center of endemism for Verbascum species. This study gives the anatomical, palynological and seed micromorphological features of V. globiferum and V. lysiosepalum which grow in Diyarbakır. The xylem elements occupy a large area in the root cross-sections of the species. In stem cross-sections, the upper part of the epidermis cells is surrounded by a separate cuticle layer and the pith region covers a large area. In the leaves, the main vein is shapped as collateral bundle. Pollen grains are tricolporatetricolpate, oblate-spheroidal, and exine ornamentation is reticulate. Seeds are brown and oblong-ovate to prismatic and alveolate. The seed coat ornamentation is irregular with polygonal cells, with densely, distinct vesicles. The capsules are pubescent, covered with stellate and branched hairy or glandular hairs. The seed displayed that substantial taxonomic understanding can be acquired from examining the seed characteristics of Verbascum, particularly at the species level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tolumnia immaculata Distant, 1900 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae) is redescribed based on the study of primary types and additional specimens from India and Sri Lanka. This species is found to not be congeneric with the rest of Tolumnia Stål, 1868, including the type species. This verifies the original opinion of BREDDIN(1909), which was subsequently rejected by DISTANT (1918) but without argumentation. As a result, the monotypic genus Mormoschema Breddin, 1909, stat. restit., is removed from synonymy with Tolumnia, and the combination Mormoschema immaculatum (Distant, 1900) is restituted. The male and female genitalia of Mormoschema immaculatum are described in detail. The tribal placement of Mormoschema is discussed; the genus is excluded from Cappaeini and transferred to Eysarcorini. Buddleja asiatica and Scrophularia sp. (Scrophulariaceae) are recorded as feeding plants for M. immaculatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Species of the genus Buddleja in Asia are mainly distributed in the Sino-Himalayan region and form a challenging taxonomic group, with extensive hybridization and polyploidization. A phylogenetic approach to unravelling the history of reticulation in this lineage will deepen our understanding of the speciation in biodiversity hotspots. Methods For this study, we obtained 80 accessions representing all the species in the Asian Buddleja clade, and the ploidy level of each taxon was determined by flow cytometry analyses. Whole plastid genomes, nuclear ribosomal DNA, single nucleotide polymorphisms and a large number of low-copy nuclear genes assembled from genome skimming data were used to investigate the reticulate evolutionary history of Asian Buddleja. Complex cytonuclear conflicts were detected through a comparison of plastid and species trees. Gene tree incongruence was also analysed to detect any reticulate events in the history of this lineage. Key Results Six hybridization events were detected, which are able to explain the cytonuclear conflict in Asian Buddleja. Furthermore, PhyloNet analysis combining species ploidy data indicated several allopolyploid speciation events. A strongly supported species tree inferred from a large number of low-copy nuclear genes not only corrected some earlier misinterpretations, but also indicated that there are many Asian Buddleja species that have been lumped mistakenly. Divergent time estimation shows two periods of rapid diversification (8–10 and 0–3 Mya) in the Asian Buddleja clade, which might coincide with the final uplift of the Hengduan Mountains and Quaternary climate fluctuations, respectively. Conclusions This study presents a well-supported phylogenetic backbone for the Asian Buddleja species, elucidates their complex and reticulate evolutionary history and suggests that tectonic activity, climate fluctuations, polyploidization and hybridization together promoted the diversification of this lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scrophularia ningpoensis, a perennial medicinal plant from the Scrophulariaceae family, is the original species of Scrophulariae Radix (SR) in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. This medicine is usually deliberately substituted or accidentally contaminated with other closely related species including S. kakudensis, S. buergeriana, and S. yoshimurae. Given the ambiguous identification of germplasm and complex evolutionary relationships within the genus, the complete chloroplast genomes of the four mentioned Scrophularia species were sequenced and characterized. Comparative genomic studies revealed a high degree of conservation in genomic structure, gene arrangement, and content within the species, with the entire chloroplast genome spanning 153,016–153,631 bp in full length, encoding 132 genes, including 80 protein-coding genes, 4 rRNA genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 18 duplicated genes. We identified 8 highly variable plastid regions and 39–44 SSRs as potential molecular markers for further species identification in the genus. The consistent and robust phylogenetic relationships of S. ningpoensis and its common adulterants were firstly established using a total of 28 plastid genomes from the Scrophulariaceae family. In the monophyletic group, S. kakudensis was determined to be the earliest diverging species, succeeded by S. ningpoensis. Meanwhile, S. yoshimurae and S. buergeriana were clustered together as sister clades. Our research manifestly illustrates the efficacy of plastid genomes in identifying S. ningpoensis and its counterfeits and will also contribute to a deeper understanding of the evolutionary processes within Scrophularia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the nomenclatural revision of the genus Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae) in Iran, we noted that seven names are still untypified. Thus, we have carried out a nomenclatural investigation which led to the designation of seven lectotypes for V. cheiranthifolium var. asperulum, V. flavidum, V. macrocarpum, V. sinuatum var. adenosepalum, V. straussii, V. suwarowianum var. pseudopersicum and V. szovitsianum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, two iridoid glucosides aucubin (1) and ajugol (2), and two phenyl ethanoids, verbascoside (3) and poliumoside (4) were isolated from the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Verbascum speciosum and used to study about their anticancer activity for the first time. The structures of all compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic data (IR, 1D and 2D NMR, LC‐TOF/MS). Antiproliferative activities of Aucubun (1) and Verbascoside (3) were tested against A‐549 (human colon cancer), MDA‐MD‐453 (human breast cancer) and 3T3‐L1 (mouse fibroblast)cell lines by XTT assay. In addition, the anticarcer mechanism of action of aucubin (1) was investigated on MDA‐MB‐453 cells for the first time. XTT result showed that both applied compounds exhibited antiproliferative effect at different dose ranges depending on the cancer type, as well as selectivity between cancer and healty cell lines. Flow cytometry analyzes revealed that aucubin (1) exerts its cytotoxic effect in MDA‐MB‐453 cells by directing cells to early apoptosis and inhibiting the P13K/AKT signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

This article contributes new data on the distribution of the native vascular flora in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It includes new records and confirmations for some rare taxa of the genus Verbascum. Verbascum sinuatum is a new species for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the presence of three other taxa (V. baldaccii, V. niveum subsp. visianianum and V. orientale) is confirmed. Special attention is paid to the conservation categories of the taxa. Three taxa are assessed as threatened, and one taxon has a Data Deficient status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new iridoid glycosides, named 3′-O-benzoyl-dolichocymboside D (1) and dolichocymboside E (2), along with ten known glycosides (3–12), were isolated from the ethanol extract of the whole plants of Odontites vulgaris Moench. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectra and by comparison with those reported in the literature. This is the first report on compounds 11 and 12 isolated from the family Scrophulariaceae, and compounds 8–10 were isolated from the genus Odontites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the disintegration of the traditionally circumscribed Scrophulariaceae, the phylogenetic placements of most genera formerly placed in that family have been resolved. However, the familial placement of the monotypic genus Mimulicalyx has not been included in any published molecular phylogenetic study. Here, we adopt a two-step approach to resolve the phylogenetic placement of Mimulicalyx using three datasets: (1) a 71 619 bp plastome alignment of Lamiales; (2) a dataset of six plastid DNA regions (atpB, matK, ndhF, rbcL, rps16 and trnL-trnF) for Phrymaceae; and (3) a dataset of the nuclear ribosomal internal and external transcribed spacer regions (nrITS, ETS) for Phrymaceae. Our analyses reveal that Mimulicalyx is a member of the tribe Mimuleae in Phrymaceae. Generic level phylogenetic relationships within Phrymaceae are further discussed, and a dichotomous key to the 15 genera currently recognized is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verbascum ali-nihatii A. Duran sp. nova (Scrophulariaceae) is described from the Sadağı Canyon (Bursa Province) in western Anatolia, Turkey. It is morphologically similar to V. levanticum but differs from it by having taller stems and different basal leaves, corolla, filament, capsule and indumentum. SEM photographs of pollen and seed features are provided. Following IUCN criteria and categories, the new species is assessed as Endangered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buddleja sessilifolia is a plant species with extremely small populations (PSESP) in southwest China. The trial of transplantation failed in our Buddleja outdoor garden, and only succeeded in the flowerpots of greenhouse. In this study, we conducted metagenomic analyses on microbial diversity in bulk soil from wild habitat of B. sessilifolia, the Buddleja garden and the B. sessilifolia pots of greenhouse, and meanwhile analyzed soil physicochemical properties. We aimed to uncover the related soil factors which may influence the transplantation of B. sessilifolia. Our results showed the bulk soil from the wild habitat of B. sessilifolia and the B. sessilifolia pots had significantly richer total potassium content than that from the Buddleja garden. Bacterial order Rhizobiales and archaeal class Nitrososphaeria showed a higher diversity in both the wild habitat and the pot than the garden. Furthermore, soil total potassium content was the most correlated to bacterial community structure of the bulk soil, while soil total nitrogen content and total phosphorus content were most important to archaeal and fungal community structures. We accordingly inferred that B. sessilifolia had a high demand on potassium and microbial Rhizobiales and Nitrososphaeria in soil for its survival. Our findings will contribute to the ex-situ conservation of B. sessilifolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The taxonomic treatment and geographical distribution of Scrophularia bulgarica (≡ S. variegata var. bulgarica, Scrophulariaceae), a rare and enigmatic taxon in the Bulgarian flora, and application of its name have been revisited. A revised species description and comparison with its closest and nomenclaturally related taxa, S. rupestris and S. heterophylla subsp. laciniata, are given. For the last three decades in the Bulgarian flora, S. heterophylla subsp. laciniata has been considered within the circumscription of S. bulgarica and therefore its presence in Bulgaria was neglected. On the other hand, S. bulgarica is newly reported for Serbia, hitherto erroneously identified as S. laciniata. Citation: Stoyanov S., Marinov Y., Apostolova-Stoyanova N., Ranđelović V. & Vukojičić S. 2022: Taxonomic review of Scrophularia sect. Tomiophyllum in Bulgaria and Serbia: the case of Scrophularia bulgarica. – Willdenowia 52: 303–312. Version of record first published online on 28 November 2022 ahead of inclusion in December 2022 issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance, Scrophularia striata Boiss belongs to Scrophulariaceae family and grows in western parts of Iran. S. striata phytochemical and pharmacological data were compiled in this review. Scopus database searched for the term “Scrophularia striata” up to 1st September 2022. Various S. striata formulations were studied for antibacterial, antioxidant, insecticidal, and immunomodulatory properties in recent research, regarding reports on its ethnopharmacological applications. Several studies were published on the chemical composition of S. striata's different extracts. While many pharmacological and animal evaluations on antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic activities were done, and most assessments were centralized on wound healing and angiogenesis evaluations. While pharmacological and animal studies on antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic properties were conducted, most of the research focused on wound healing and angiogenesis. This aspect focused on clinical practice and allied studies. On the other side, comprehensive studies on the toxicity, teratogenicity, and clinical effectiveness of S. striata, on the other hand, are lacking.

The genus Eremophila (family Scrophulariaceae) consists of approximately 200 species that are widely distributed in the semi-arid and arid regions of Australia. Multiple Eremophila spp. are used as traditional medicines by the First Australians in the areas in which they grow. They are used for their antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and cardiac properties. Many species of this genus are beneficial against several diseases and ailments. The antibacterial properties of the genus have been relatively well studied, with several important compounds identified and their mechanisms studied. In particular, Eremophila spp. are rich in terpenoids, and the antimicrobial bioactivities of many of these compounds have already been confirmed. The therapeutic properties of Eremophila spp. preparations and purified compounds have received substantially less attention, and much study is required to validate the traditional uses and to highlight species that warrant further investigation as drug leads. The aim of this study is to review and summarise the research into the medicinal properties, therapeutic mechanisms, and phytochemistry of Eremophila spp., with the aim of focussing future studies into the therapeutic potential of this important genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gratioleae are the most species-rich tribe of Plantaginaceae in the tropics, spanning c. 30 genera and > 300 species, with a wide range of morphological variation and ecological strategies. As a first effort towards a phylogenetic classification of Gratioleae we generated a new phylogenetic hypothesis with improved taxa sampling, based on one nuclear and three plastid markers, using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference approaches, and performed ancestral state reconstructions of ten morphological characters of flowers. The paraphyly of Stemodia s.l. was corroborated with members being retrieved in four clades; Bacopa , Conobea , Leucospora and Schistophragma are non-monophyletic. As actions towards recognizing only monophyletic genera in Gratioleae, we propose Stemodia s.s. as a monophyletic and morphological cohesive group, describe Umbraria as a new genus to accommodate two species segregated from Stemodia , transfer Stemodia vandelliodes to Darcya , merge Conobea with Bacopa and re-establish the names Chodaphyton ericifolium and Geochorda glechomoides. Traits used to define Stemodia s.l. are plesiomorphic in the tribe; the flower type (composed of seven floral characters) constitutes a good diagnostic set of traits for almost all genera in the tribe. Our study sheds light on the urgent need to reassess generic circumscriptions towards a unified classification in Gratioleae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to authenticate the genomic information of Barleriacristata L., B. lupulina Lindl., B. repens Nees, B. siamensis Craib, and B. strigosa Willd, cp genomes were investigated. They revealed a general structure with a total size of 151,997–152,324 bp. The genomes encoded a total of 131 genes, including 86 CDS, 37 tRNA, and 8 rRNA genes. Other details found were as follows: different numbers and types of SSRs; identical gene content, which is adjacent to the border regions, except for B. strigosa, that revealed a shorter ndhF gene sequence and lacked the ycf1 gene; slightly different genetic distance values, which can be used for species identification; three distinct gaps of nucleotide variations between the species located at the intergenic spacer regions of the LSC and CDS of the SSC; three effective molecular markers derived from divergent hotspot regions, including the ccsA-ndhD, ndhA-ndhH-rps15, and ycf1. The genetic relationships derived from the cp genome and the CDS phylogenetic trees of Barleria and the 13 genera in Acanthaceae and different families, Scrophulariaceae and Phrymaceae, showed similar results. The six Barleria species as monophyletic groups with inner and outer outgroups were found to have perfect discrimination. These results have helped to authenticate the five Barleria species and the six genera in Acanthaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Scrophularia incisa complex is a group of closely related desert and steppe subshrubs that includes S. incisa, S. kiriloviana and S. dentata, which are the only S. sect. Caninae components found in Northwest China. Based on earlier molecular evidence, the species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships within this complex remain poorly resolved. Here, we characterized seven complete chloroplast genomes encompassing the representatives of the three taxa in the complex and one closely related species, S. integrifolia, as well as three other species of Scrophularia. Comparative genomic analyses indicated that the genomic structure, gene order and content were highly conserved among these eleven plastomes. Highly variable plastid regions and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified. The robust and consistent phylogenetic relationships of the S. incisa complex were firstly constructed based on a total of 26 plastid genomes from Scrophulariaceae. Within the monophyletic complex, a S. kiriloviana individual from Pamirs Plateau was identified as the earliest diverging clade, followed by S. dentata from Tibet, while the remaining individuals of S. kiriloviana from the Tianshan Mountains and S. incisa from Qinghai–Gansu were clustered into sister clades. Our results evidently demonstrate the capability of plastid genomes to improve phylogenetic resolution and species delimitation, particularly among closely related species, and will promote the understanding of plastome evolution in Scrophularia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new ionones and ionone glycosides (1–4) were isolated from the whole plant of Rehmannia piasezkii Maxim. Their planar structures as well as absolute configuration were confirmed via spectroscopic analysis, ECD calculation, and X-ray crystallography. Compounds 1–4 were tested for their cytotoxicity against five human tumor cell lines and ability to inhibit LPS-activated NO production in the BV2 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of an ongoing project on Rehmannia species, three new pyridine alkaloides (glutinosines A − C), and one new iridoid analogue (rehmaglutin E), were isolated from the leaves of Rehmannia glutinosa. The structures of the new compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis and electronic circular dichroism calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous temperate plants and animals on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) are hypothesized to have differentiated due to vicariant allopatric speciation associated with the geologic uplifts. However, this hypothesis has rarely been tested through a phylogeographic study of relative species in a broader geographic context, including the QTP, Tianshan Mountains, Mongolian Plateau, and surrounding regions. To understand the speciation and diversification process of plants across this wide area, phylogeographic analysis were examined from Scrophularia incisa and two other closely relative species comprising S. kiriloviana and S. dentata. Thirty-two populations of the three close relatives were genotyped using chloroplast DNA fragments and nuclear microsatellite loci to assess population structure and diversity, supplemented by phylogenetic dating, ancestral area reconstructions and species distribution modelings, as well as niche identity tests. Our chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) phylogeny showed that this monophyletic group of desert and steppe semi-shrub is derived from a Middle Pliocene ancestor of the Central Asia. Lineages in Central Asia vs. China diverged through climate/tectonicinduced vicariance during Middle Pliocene. Genetic and ENM data in conjunction with niche differentiation analyses support that the divergence of S. incisa, S. dentata and S. kiriloviana in China lineage proceeded through allopatric speciation, might triggered by early Pleistocene climate change of increase of aridification and enlargement of deserts, while subsequent climate-induced cycles of range contractions/expansions enhanced the geographical isolation and habit fragmentation of these taxa. These findings highlight the importance of the Plio-Pleistocene climate change in shaping genetic diversity and driving speciation in temperate steppes and deserts of Northwestern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leucophyllum frutescens (Scrophulariaceae) is a medicinal plant of Mexican traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to analyse the volatile components from the leaves and flowers by GC/MS and to assess their anti-aging activity for the first time. A total of 30 compounds were identified where 1-octen-3-ol (73.56%) and D-limonene (11.12%) represented the major ingredients in the leaves, while n-heneicosane (32.30%) and dehydroepingaione (15.15%) were the major components in the flowers. In vitro anti-aging activity was measured via assessing collagenase and elastase inhibition. Essential oils from the leaves and flowers showed potential collagenase inhibitory activity with IC50 of 55.7 and 47.4 µg/mL. However, the oils from the leaves and flowers showed moderate anti-elastase activity with IC50 of 60.8 and 97.7 µg/mL. Therefore, the oil of Leucophyllum frutescens could afford a promising natural anti-aging drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new eremophilanolide, serratifolide F (1), and six known compounds were isolated from the fresh roots of Rehmannia glutinosa. Their structures were characterized by analysis of NMR, CD, HRESIMS, and comparison of the data in previous literatures. The protective effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated damage on normal rat kidney tubule epithelioid (NRK-52e) cells of the compounds were evaluated using MTT assay and real time cellular analysis (RTCA). The results showed that compound 3 exhibited renoprotective activity with EC50 value of 45.1 µM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]