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Leea indica (Burm. f.) Merr. (Vitaceae) is used for the treatment of wounds in traditional medicine practiced in Sri Lanka. The current study is carried out to investigate its wound healing potential in terms of in vitro cell migration and proangiogenic activity. The scratch wound assay (SWA) guided fractionation of dichloromethane extract of L. indica led to the isolation of a rare phytosterol, stigmast-5-en-3β,7α,22α-triol (1), betulin (2), lupeol (3), and β-sitosterol (4) all of which showed enhanced cell migration in SWA and significant proangiogenic response in chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The identities of compounds 1–4 were established by the analysis of NMR spectroscopic data and comparison with those reported. This is the first report of the occurrence of compounds 1 and 2 in L. indica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using various chromatographic separations, six glycoside derivatives (1–6), including one new ent-labdane glucoside named cayratioside (1), were isolated from the methanol extract of Cayratia geniculata stems and leaves. Their structures were elucidated by detailed analysis of the 1D, 2D NMR, and HRESIQTOF mass spectra. The inhibitory effect of 1–6 on LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells was also evaluated. Among isolated compounds, 1 exhibited moderate activity with an IC50 value of 59.65 ± 1.85 µM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of well-preserved fossil Vitis L. seeds from the Gelasian stage in Italy has provided a unique opportunity to investigate the systematics of fossilized Vitis species. Through seed image analyses and elliptical Fourier transforms of fossil Vitis seeds from the sites Buronzo−Gifflenga and Castelletto Cervo II, we pointed out a strong relationship to the group of extant Eurasian Vitis species. However, classification analyses highlighted challenges in accurately assigning the fossil grape seeds to specific modern species. Morphological comparisons with modern Vitis species revealed striking similarities between the fossil seeds and V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris, as well as several other wild species from Asia. This close morphological resemblance suggests the existence of a population of V. vinifera sensu lato in Northen Italy during the Gelasian. These findings contributed to our understanding of the evolution and the complex interplay between ancient and modern Vitis species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical study of Yua thomsonii aerial parts led to the isolation of seven phenolic glycosides, including three new compounds, namely yuaphenosides A−C (1 − 3). The structural elucidation was confirmed by a detailed analysis of the 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-QTOF mass spectra. Compounds 4 − 7 were isolated from Y. thomsonii for the first time. Among the isolated compounds, yuaphenoside A (1) and piceatannol-3′- O - β -D-glucopyranoside (6) exhibited significant inhibitory effect on LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells. Moderate effect was observed for yuaphenoside B (2), saccharumoside B (4), piceid (5), and piceatannol-4′- O - β -D-glucopyranoside (7); whereas weak activity was found for yuaphenoside C (3). [Display omitted] • Seven phenolic glycosides were isolated from Yua thomsonii. • Three new compounds, yuaphenosides A−C (1–3), were elucidated. • Compounds 4–7 were isolated from Y. thomsonii for the first time. • 1 and 6 exhibited significant inhibition on LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Rafflesia are rare holoparasitic plants. In the Philippines, all but one species are found only on single islands. This study aimed to better understand the factors contributing to this distributional pattern. Specifically, we sought to determine whether narrow environmental tolerances of host and/or parasite species might explain their island endemicity. Methods: We used Maxent species distribution modeling to identify areas with suitable habitat for R. lagascae, R. lobata, and R. speciosa and their Tetrastigma host species. These analyses were carried out for current climate conditions and two future climate change scenarios. Results: Although species distribution models indicated suitable environmental conditions for the Tetrastigma host species in many parts of the Philippines, considerably fewer areas were inferred to have suitable conditions for the three Rafflesia species. Some of these areas are on islands from which they have not been reported. All three species will face significant threats as a result of climate change. Conclusions: Our results suggest that limited inter‐island dispersibility and/or specific environmental requirements are likely responsible for the current pattern of island endemicity of the three Rafflesia species, rather than environmental requirements of their Tetrastigma host species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The domestic grape germination eco-physiology is a little studied aspect since reproduction occurs predominantly agamically, despite the sexual reproduction remains the main form for the selection of new cultivars. In this study, two international cultivars grown all over the world -Chardonnay and Syrah- were chosen as models of the domestic grape for the experiments in the ecophysiology of germination. The experimental design consisted of chemical, mechanical pre-treatments and combination of them as the bird ingestion pre-treatment that simulates the transit through the digestive tract of birds. Furthermore, seeds were submitted to different periods of cold stratification - 0, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days - to simulate the winter effect. Seeds were placed to germinate at different incubation temperatures, to find the optimal germination protocol. The results showed that domestic grapes retain the need for cold stratification, and the best germination temperature is represented by the fluctuating temperature that simulates spring conditions. Our results help to understand what the best germination conditions of domestic grapes are and offer a contribution to extend the knowledge on how the process of domestication may have affected the biology of Vitis vinifera L. subsp. vinifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to determine the component composition and quantitative content of flavonoids, including catechins, in the leaves, shoots and fruits of Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch.) for further standardization of raw materials and establishing antioxidant activity of their water-ethanol extracts. Materials and methods. The leaves, shoots of Parthenocissus quinquefolia were collected during the phase of mass flowering in July 2020 and fruits were collected during full ripeness (September-October 2020) in Lisnyky village of Obukhiv district of Kyiv Oblast (Ukraine). Determination of the component composition and quantitative content of flavonoids, including catechins, was carried out by the method of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on an Agilent Technologies 1200 liquid chromatograph. Identification and quantitative analysis were carried out using standard solutions of flavonoids (rutin, quercetin-3-β-glycoside, naringin, neohesperidin, quercetin, naringenin, kaempferol, luteolin, apigenin) and catechins (pyrocatechin, catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate and halocatechin). Antioxidant activity was determined by the spectrophotometric method at 347 nm by the ability to inhibit the autooxidation of adrenaline in vitro. Results. As a result of the study, 9 phenolic compounds were identified: rutin, quercetin, quercetin-3-β-glycoside, naringin, epicatechin, catechin, gallocatechin, epicatechin gallate. It was determined that rutin, quercetin, epicatechin, and catechin predominate in the leaves, shoots, and fruits of Virginia creeper. It was established that the extracts of leaves with shoots and fruits of Virginia creeper show a pronounced antioxidant activity due to their ability to inhibit autooxidation of adrenaline in vitro. Conclusions. The high content of rutin, quercetin, epicatechin and catechin in the leaves, shoots and fruits of Virginia creeper has scientific interest, due to discovered compounds have a valuable pharmacological effect. The obtained results can be used for the standardization of raw materials of Virginia creeper, and differences in the quantitative content of halocatechin in different types of raw materials, as well as the presence of naringin in leaves and shoots and luteolin in the fruits of Virginia creeper as diagnostic features of this species raw material. The results of the study of antioxidant activity confirm the prospects of using this raw material for the creation of new drugs with antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cissus oliveri (Engl.) Gilg ex Engl. is among the plant species of the family Vitaceae widely used in traditional medicine for management of different ailments. This study aimed at assessing the phytochemicals of C. oliveri parts in order to provide scientific validation for its use as a therapeutic agent. Qualitative analysis of water and ethanolic extracts was conducted by using standard methods and the results revealed that all the parts possess alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and tannins. Similarly, glycosides and saponins were only present in leaf and root. Quantitative analysis performed by gravimetric and spectrophotometric methods showed that all parts contain alkaloids, phenol, and tannins in large quantities. The largest amount was found in leaf for alkaloids (6.47 ± 0.41 mg/g DW) and phenols (4.85 ± 0.90 mg/g DW) compared to stem and root. Alkaloid content was higher in root than in stem (P < 0.01), whereas phenol content was the same in root and stem (p > 0.05). Further, there was no significant difference in tannins content among all the plant parts assessed. The presence and quantities of active phytochemicals in C. oliveri call for further investigations on the bioactivities of the extracts and isolated chemical constituents for potential pharmacological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Previous experimental studies have shown that poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans; Anacardicaceae) responds to elevated CO2 with increased leaf production, water‐use efficiency, and toxicity (allergenic urushiol). However, long‐term field data suggest no increase in poison ivy abundance over time. Using herbarium specimens, we examined whether poison ivy and other species shifted leaf traits under natural conditions with increasing atmospheric CO2 (pCO2) over the past century. Methods: We measured stomatal density, leaf area, leaf N, leaf C:N, leaf carbon isotope discrimination (Δleaf), and intrinsic water‐use efficiency (iWUE) from 327 specimens collected from 1838 to 2020 across Pennsylvania. We compared poison ivy's responses to two evolutionarily related tree species, Toxicodendron vernix and Rhus typhina (Anacardiacae) and one ecological analog, Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Vitaceae), a common co‐occurring liana. Results: Stomatal density significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in poison ivy and the ecologically similar liana P. quinquefolia over the past century, but did not change in the related trees T. vernix and R. typhina. None of these species showed significant trends in changes in leaf N or C:N. Surprisingly, in poison ivy, but not the other species, Δleaf increased with increased pCO2, corresponding to significant declines in iWUE over time. Conclusions: In contrast to the results of short‐term experimental studies, iWUE decreased in poison ivy over the last century. Trait responses to pCO2 varied by species. Herbarium specimens suggest that realized long‐term plant physiological responses to increased CO2 may not be reflected in short‐term experimental growth studies, highlighting the value of collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitis heyneana Schult. (family Vitaceae) is locally known as 'Wild Grapes'. It has long been used traditionally as a remedy for irregular menstruation, furuncle, bronchitis, and arthritis-related diseases. Antioxidant and xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activities have not been reported in this species. Therefore, the present study aim to investigate the antioxidant and XO inhibitory activities of the plant. Phytochemical screening of the ethanol stem extract was carried out using standard method. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method. The XO inhibitory activity was evaluated using standard procedure. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of carbohydrates, essential oils, amino acids, triterpenoids, saponins, coumarins, flavonoids, and tannins. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 21.90 ± 0.17 μg/mL, followed by chloroform fraction (IC50 = 35.92 ± 0.28 μg/mL), petroleum ether fraction (IC50 = 52.22 ± 0.20 μg/mL), and aqueous fraction (IC50 = 143.37 ± 1.12 μg/mL). The plant extract exhibited significant XO inhibitory activity with the ethyl acetate fraction showing the highest activity (IC50 = 11.28 ± 0.41 μg/mL) followed by the aqueous fraction (IC50 = 17.51 ± 0.38 μg/mL), chloroform fraction (IC50 = 35.75 ± 0.19 μg/mL), and the petroleum ether fraction (IC50 = 130.20 ± 0.24 μg/mL). These results suggest the potential use of V. heyneana stems in the management of gout as well as an antioxidant to eliminate free radicals and reduce the oxidative stress associated with gout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of well-preserved fossil Vitis L. seeds from the Gelasian stage in Italy has provided a unique opportunity to investigate the systematics of fossilized Vitis species. Through seed image analyses and elliptical Fourier transforms of fossil Vitis seeds from the sites Buronzo−Gifflenga and Castelletto Cervo II, we pointed out a strong relationship to the group of extant Eurasian Vitis species. However, classification analyses highlighted challenges in accurately assigning the fossil grape seeds to specific modern species. Morphological comparisons with modern Vitis species revealed striking similarities between the fossil seeds and V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris, as well as several other wild species from Asia. This close morphological resemblance suggests the existence of a population of V. vinifera sensu lato in Northen Italy during the Gelasian. These findings contributed to our understanding of the evolution and the complex interplay between ancient and modern Vitis species.

Abstract The domestic grape germination eco-physiology is a little studied aspect since reproduction occurs predominantly agamically, despite the sexual reproduction remains the main form for the selection of new cultivars. In this study, two international cultivars grown all over the world -Chardonnay and Syrahwere chosen as models of the domestic grape for the experiments in the eco-physiology of germination. The experimental design consisted of chemical, mechanical pre-treatments and combination of them as the bird ingestion pre-treatment that simulates the transit through the digestive tract of birds. Furthermore, seeds were submitted to different periods of cold stratification - 0, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days - to simulate the winter effect. Seeds were placed to germinate at different incubation temperatures, to find the optimal germination protocol. The results showed that domestic grapes retain the need for cold stratification, and the best germination temperature is represented by the fluctuating temperature that simulates spring conditions. Our results help to understand what the best germination conditions of domestic grapes are and offer a contribution to extend the knowledge on how the process of domestication may have affected the biology of Vitis vinifera L. subsp. vinifera.

The vascular system of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) flower is a channel for transporting water and nutrients to the ovary. It plays an important role in the development of the ovary and fertilization through pollination. However, the vascular bundles in the flower are so tiny that they are difficult to sample and observe by traditional slicing techniques. In this study, 'Summer Black' grape flowers were selected as the test materials, and the tissue samples were treated by the optical clearing technique. After simple compaction, the structure and development of the vasculature were observed by common microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and laser confocal microscopy. The results showed that the transparency effects of 3% NaOH and a saturated trichloroacetaldehyde composite agreed well with the observations of the vascular structure and the developmental process of the flower in different periods. Moreover, the samples after optical clearing could be reconstructed in 3D, which helped us know more about its development and function. According to these observations, the vasculature of the 'Summer Black' flower can be divided into ovule vascular bundles, peripheral vascular bundles and central vascular bundles. The peripheral vascular bundles were composed of the first-order vascular bundles and the inferior vascular bundles which branched from the superior vascular bundles. These bundles branched in different directions with no discernible pattern. The two different branching methods were as follows. First, the inferior vascular bundle was directly connected to a superior vascular bundle. Secondly, some of the superior vascular bundles bent in different ways, forming the inferior vascular bundle connecting the superior vascular bundles by a metamorphosed vessel with a triangular shape. In a comparison of the developmental changes in various periods, the growth of vascular bundles at each period was directly proportional to the growth of the flower. Laser confocal scanning was used to explore the three-dimensional morphology of the peripheral vascular bundle and showed that the peripheral vascular bundle of grapes was not completely parallel to the flower's epidermal cells. As a result, the optical clearing technique was convenient and authentic compared with the traditional slicing operation for tiny flower organs. With these advantages according to the observations, this study provides a feasible technique and useful information for the study of vascular bundle development in grape flower organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Here, we present a high‐quality chromosome‐scale genome assembly (2.19 Gb) and annotation of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum, a perennial herbaceous liana native to subtropical China with diverse medicinal applications. Approximately 73% of the genome was comprised of transposable elements (TEs), of which long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR‐RTs) were a predominant group (69% of the genome). The genome size increase of T. hemsleyanum (relative to Vitis species) was mostly due to the proliferation of LTR‐RTs. Of the different modes of gene duplication identified, transposed duplication (TRD) and dispersed duplication (DSD) were the predominant ones. Genes, particularly those involved in the phenylpropanoid–flavonoid (PF) pathway and those associated with therapeutic properties and environmental stress resistance, were significantly amplified through recent tandem duplications. We dated the divergence of two intraspecific lineages in Southwest (SW) versus Central‐South‐East (CSE) China to the late Miocene (approximately 5.2 million years ago). Of those, the former showed more upregulated genes and metabolites. Based on resequencing data of 38 individuals representing both lineages, we identified various candidate genes related to 'response to stimulus' and 'biosynthetic process', including ThFLS11, which is putatively involved in flavonoid accumulation. Overall, this study provides abundant genomic resources for future evolutionary, ecological, and functional genomics studies in T. hemsleyanum and related species. Significance Statement: We constructed a high‐quality genome for a medicinal plant species from East Asia, Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (Vitaceae). Moreover, we analyzed its genomic characteristics and genes involved in the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids and flavonoids and those associated with therapeutic properties and environmental stress resistance. Our results provide abundant resources for future evolutionary, ecological, and functional genomics studies in T. hemsleyanum and related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: The preservation of plant tissues in ethanol is conventionally viewed as problematic. Here, we show that leaf preservation in ethanol combined with proteinase digestion can provide high‐quality DNA extracts. Additionally, as a pretreatment, ethanol can facilitate DNA extraction for recalcitrant samples. Methods: DNA was isolated from leaves preserved with 96% ethanol or from silica‐desiccated leaf samples and herbarium fragments that were pretreated with ethanol. DNA was extracted from herbarium tissues using a special ethanol pretreatment protocol, and these extracts were compared with those obtained using the standard cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method. Results: DNA extracted from tissue preserved in, or pretreated with, ethanol was less fragmented than DNA from tissues without pretreatment. Adding proteinase digestion to the lysis step increased the amount of DNA obtained from the ethanol‐pretreated tissues. The combination of the ethanol pretreatment with liquid nitrogen freezing and a sorbitol wash prior to cell lysis greatly improved the quality and yield of DNA from the herbarium tissue samples. Discussion: This study critically reevaluates the consequences of ethanol for plant tissue preservation and expands the utility of pretreatment methods for molecular and phylogenomic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus is profoundly associated with various detrimental outcomes including sexual dysfunction and infertility in males. On the other hand, a medicinal plant namely Vitis gracilis Wall (Vitaceae) has been used as a traditional medicine to enhance vitality. This present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of V. gracilis leaf decoction against diabetes-induced sexual dysfunction and testicle histopathology in adult male mice. The experiment was composed of five different groups namely the control (non-diabetic) group, the diabetes group (without any treatments), and the diabetes treated with V.gracilis decoction at the doses of 25, 50, and 100 g/ L, respectively. In addition, the phytochemical constituents of leaf decoction were determined by using Ultra performance-liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (UPLC-MS). Our data demonstrated that, despite failing to improve blood glucose profile and body weight, V.gracilis leaf decoction sustained intense sexual behaviors including face and genital kissing, genital licking, and mount toward estrous females. Moreover, lower doses of decoction (25 and 50 g/ L) attenuated the diabetes-induced reduction of testis weight and precluded malondialdehyde accumulation in the testicle tissue. The decoction at the lower doses also ameliorated histopathological alterations in the testis, particularly the wall thickness of tubulus seminiferous and the number of necrotic cells. V. gracilis decoction also improved hematological values including hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count and hematocrit (HTC) level. In addition, UPLC-MS analysis revealed a total of 26 phytochemical compounds with seven predominant substances. In conclusion, leaf decoction of V. gracilis, particularly at lower doses but not at a higher dose, exerted a protective effect on sexual vitality, testicle tissue, and hematological value under diabetic condition. The beneficial effects of V.gracilis decoction might be associated with its various bioactive compounds. Therefore, V. gracilis leaves may be a future candidate as a potent natural drug for male sexual vitality and testicle protection against diabetes.

Abstract Premise The preservation of plant tissues in ethanol is conventionally viewed as problematic. Here, we show that leaf preservation in ethanol combined with proteinase digestion can provide high‐quality DNA extracts. Additionally, as a pretreatment, ethanol can facilitate DNA extraction for recalcitrant samples. Methods DNA was isolated from leaves preserved with 96% ethanol or from silica‐desiccated leaf samples and herbarium fragments that were pretreated with ethanol. DNA was extracted from herbarium tissues using a special ethanol pretreatment protocol, and these extracts were compared with those obtained using the standard cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method. Results DNA extracted from tissue preserved in, or pretreated with, ethanol was less fragmented than DNA from tissues without pretreatment. Adding proteinase digestion to the lysis step increased the amount of DNA obtained from the ethanol‐pretreated tissues. The combination of the ethanol pretreatment with liquid nitrogen freezing and a sorbitol wash prior to cell lysis greatly improved the quality and yield of DNA from the herbarium tissue samples. Discussion This study critically reevaluates the consequences of ethanol for plant tissue preservation and expands the utility of pretreatment methods for molecular and phylogenomic studies.

Background and Aims Although plastid genes are widely used in phylogenetic studies, signals of positive selection have been scarcely investigated in the grape family. The plastomes from 91 accessions of Vitaceae were examined to understand the extent to which positive selection is present and to identify which genes are involved. Moreover, the changes through time of genes under episodic positive selection were investigated and the hypothesis of an adaptive process following the Cretaceous–Palaeogene (K/Pg) transition about 66 million years ago was tested. Methods Different codon-substitution models were used to assess pervasive and episodic positive selection events on 70 candidate plastid genes. Divergence times between lineages were estimated and stochastic character mapping analysis was used to simulate variation over time of the genes found to be under episodic positive selection. Key Results A total of 20 plastid genes (29 %) showed positive selection. Among them, 14 genes showed pervasive signatures of positive selection and nine genes showed episodic signatures of positive selection. In particular, four of the nine genes (psbK , rpl20 , rpoB , rps11) exhibited a similar pattern showing an increase in the rate of variation close to the K/Pg transition. Conclusion Multiple analyses have shown that the grape family has experienced ancient and recent positive selection events and that the targeted genes are involved in essential functions such as photosynthesis, self-replication and metabolism. Our results are consistent with the idea that the K/Pg transition has favoured an increased rate of change in some genes. Intense environmental perturbations have influenced the rapid diversification of certain lineages, and new mutations arising on some plastid genes may have been fixed by natural selection over the course of many generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virginia creeper (or five-leaved ivy; Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is one of the most popular and widely grown climbers worldwide. In September 2021, Virginia creeper leaves with typical rust symptom were found in an arboretum in Korea, with severe damage. Globally, there is no record of a rust disease on Virginia creeper. Using morphological investigation and molecular phylogenetic inferences, the rust agent was identified as Neophysopella vitis, which is a rust pathogen of other Parthenocissus spp. including Boston ivy (P. tricuspidata). Given that the two ivy plants, Virginia creeper and Boston ivy, have common habitats, especially on buildings and walls, throughout Korea, and that N. vitis is a ubiquitous rust species affecting Boston ivy in Korea, it is speculated that the host range of N. vitis may recently have expanded from Boston ivy to Virginia creeper. The present study reports a globally new rust disease on Virginia creeper, which could be a major threat to the ornamental creeper.

Alcohol-related liver damage is the most prevalent chronic liver disease, which creates a heavy public health burden worldwide. The leaves of Ampelopsis grossedentata have been considered a popular tea and traditional herbal medicine in China for more than one thousand years, and possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, hepatoprotective, and antiviral activities. We explored the protective effects of Ampelopsis grossedentata extract (AGE) against chronic alcohol-induced hepatic injury (alcoholic liver disease, ALD), aiming to elucidate its underlying mechanisms. Firstly, UPLC-Q/TOF-MS analysis and network pharmacology were used to identify the constituents and elucidate the potential mechanisms of AGE against ALD. Secondly, C57BL/6 mice were pair-fed the Lieber-DeCarli diet containing either isocaloric maltodextrin or ethanol, AGE (150 and 300 mg/kg/d) and silymarin (200 mg/kg) were administered to chronic ethanol-fed mice for 7 weeks to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects. Serum biochemical parameters were determined, hepatic and ileum sections were used for histologic examination, and levels of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress in the liver were examined. The potential molecular mechanisms of AGE in improving ALD were demonstrated by RNA-seq, Western blotting analysis, and immunofluorescence staining. Ten main constituents of AGE were identified using UPLC-Q/TOF-MS and 274 potential ALD-related targets were identified. The enriched KEGG pathways included Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, and necroptosis. Moreover, in vivo experimental studies demonstrated that AGE significantly reduced serum aminotransferase levels and improved pathological abnormalities after chronic ethanol intake. Meanwhile, AGE improved ALD in mice by down-regulating oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, AGE notably repaired damaged intestinal epithelial barrier and suppressed the production of gut-derived lipopolysaccharide by elevating intestinal tight junction protein expression. Subsequent RNA-seq and experimental validation indicated that AGE inhibited NF-κB nuclear translocation, suppressed IκB-α, RIPK3 and MLKL phosphorylation and alleviated hepatic necroptosis in mice. In this study, we have demonstrated for the first time that AGE protects against alcoholic liver disease by regulating the gut-liver axis and inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB/MLKL-mediated necroptosis pathway. Therefore, our present work provides important experimental evidence for AGE as a promising candidate for protection against ALD. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how the intrinsic ability of populations and species to meet shifting selective demands shapes evolutionary patterns over both short and long timescales is a major question in biology. One major axis of evolutionary flexibility can be measured by phenotypic integration and modularity. The strength, scale, and structure of integration may constrain or catalyze evolution in the face of new selective pressures. We analyze a dataset of seven leaf measurements across Vitaceae to examine how correlations in trait divergence are linked to transitions between freezing and nonfreezing habitats. We assess this by applying a custom algorithm to compare the timing of habitat shifts to changes in the structure of evolutionary trait correlation at discrete points along a phylogeny. We also explore these patterns in relation to lineage diversification rates to understand how and whether patterns in the evolvability of complex multivariate phenotypes are linked to higher-level macroevolutionary dynamics. We found that shifts in the structure, but not the overall strength, of phylogenetic integration of leaves precipitate colonization of freezing climates. Lineages that underwent associated shifts in leaf trait integration and subsequent movement into freezing habitats also displayed lower turnover and higher net diversification, suggesting a link among shifting vectors of selection, internal constraint, and lineage persistence in the face of changing environments., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Leea indica (Burm. f.) Merr. (Vitaceae) is used for the treatment of wounds in traditional medicine practiced in Sri Lanka. The current study is carried out to investigate its wound healing potential in terms of in vitro cell migration and proangiogenic activity. The scratch wound assay (SWA) guided fractionation of dichloromethane extract of L. indica led to the isolation of a rare phytosterol, stigmast-5-en-3 β ,7 α ,22 α -triol ( 1 ), betulin ( 2 ), lupeol ( 3 ), and β -sitosterol ( 4 ) all of which showed enhanced cell migration in SWA and significant proangiogenic response in chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The identities of compounds 1 - 4 were established by the analysis of NMR spectroscopic data and comparison with those reported. This is the first report of the occurrence of compounds 1 and 2 in L. indica .

Background and Aims Condensed tannins, responsible for berry and wine astringency, may have been selected during grapevine domestication. This work examines the phylogenetic distribution of condensed tannins throughout the Vitaceae phylogenetic tree. Methods Green berries and mature leaves of representative true-to-type members of the Vitaceae were collected before 'véraison', freeze-dried and pulverized, and condensed tannins were measured following depolymerization by nucleophilic addition of 2-mercaptoethanol to the C4 of the flavan-3-ol units in an organic acidic medium. Reaction products were separated and quantified by ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography/diode array detection/mass spectrometry. Key Results and Conclusions The original ability to incorporate epigallocatechin (EGC) into grapevine condensed tannins was lost independently in both the American and Eurasian/Asian branches of the Vitaceae, with exceptional cases of reversion to the ancestral EGC phenotype. This is particularly true in the genus Vitis , where we now find two radically distinct groups differing with respect to EGC content. While Vitis species from Asia are void of EGC, 50 % of the New World Vitis harbour EGC. Interestingly, the presence of EGC is tightly coupled with the degree of leaf margin serration. Noticeably, the rare Asian EGC-forming species are phylogenetically close to Vitis vinifera , the only remnant representative of Vitis in Eurasia. Both the wild ancestral V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris as well as the domesticated V. vinifera subsp. sativa can accumulate EGC and activate galloylation biosynthesis that compete for photoassimilates and reductive power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Presbistus Kirby, 1896, Presbistus vitivorus sp. nov., is described from Cambodia based on both sexes, nymphs, and eggs. Male genitalia and vomer are described and figured. Illustrations of adults, nymphs, specimens in situ, host plants, a distribution map and records on biology and breeding in captivity are provided. The host plants of the species belong to the family Vitaceae. The genus Presbistus and the family Aschiphasmatidae are recorded from Cambodia for the first time. The species diversity and the distribution of the genus are discussed, and it is shown that the genus is restricted to Sundaland. A nomenclature for the morphology of the dissected vomer is proposed and tries to homologize the previously used terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Downy mildew species in the genus Plasmopara are obligate biotrophic pathogens responsible for destructive diseases of economically important cultivated and ornamental plants. During September 2020 and 2021, a downy mildew was observed on porcelain berry (Ampelopsis grandulosa var. brevipedunculata) in different locations in MD, USA. A total of thirteen samples were collected from an equal number of diseased plants. Phylogenetic analyses of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 (cox2) and large subunit ribosomal RNA (nc LSU rDNA) gene regions indicated that they constituted an unknown species here described as Plasmopara ampelopsidis sp. nov. Concurrently, a second species on wild Vitis species was also found, among historical downy mildew specimens used in previous studies, and it is here described as Plasmopara carveri. These newly described species are closely related to Plasmopara viticola and Plasmopara muralis. Although molecular phylogenetic analyses strongly support the segregation of these species, diagnostic morphological characters for each species were not observed. Therefore, a list of specific substitutions in the cox2 region as diagnostic characters is provided. It remains unclear if these new species represent a threat to the grapevine industry, but it seems advisable to closely monitor the presence of the two species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three glycosylated stilbenes (1–3), two anthraquinones (4, 5), one lignan (6), five tannins (7–11), two amino acids (12, 13), and one auronol (14) were isolated from the root of Ampelopsis japonica. All compounds, except for 4, 6, and 11 were obtained from this species for the first time. Compounds 6–9 could notably inhibit ROS generations in HaCaT keratinocyte cells with IC50 values of 5.28, 4.83, 0.87, and 1.66 μM, respectively. Compounds 8–10 showed potent DPPH free radical scavenging effects with IC50 values of 14.37, 16.08, and 12.11 μM, individually. In anti-melanogenesis assay, only 8 and 9 could decrease 7.93% and 11.66% melanin contents induced by α-MSH in B16F10 melanoma cells at 40 μM and moderately inhibit tyrosinase activities. By far, galloylhamameloses 8 and 9 were found to exhibit both antioxidant and anti-melanogenesis properties that could be further developed as cosmeceutical agents for skin disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carignan is a black grape cultivar widely planted throughout the western Mediterranean Basin. The grape faces significant viticultural hazards such as soil salinization, which affects about 6% of the world's total land area. The search for salt tolerance genotypes to be introduced in crossbreeding programs and obtaining new cultivars is a key factor. The seed germination and salt tolerance of Carignan were studied from different coastal vineyards across the Mediterranean Basin, and as well as whether the distance from the sea affected germination and salt tolerance. Carignan seeds, independently of the temperature and distance from the sea, germinated more than 50% under 125 mM NaCl concentrations. Seed recovery was elevated, including the capacity of gemination after high salt exposure (500 mM NaCl). The results on germination behavior related to the distance from the sea showed that all tested vineyards, except for the one farthest from the sea, had similar germination responses. The optimum germination condition to select salt-tolerant accessions is alternating temperatures 25/10 °C and 125 mM NaCl. Thanks to the ability of the Carignan to germinate in a saline substrate and their capacity for recovery, it could be useful to crossbreeding programs, for integrating as rootstock selection or for the improvement of cultivars through sexual reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape processing generates large amounts of by-products, including seeds rich in hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that subjecting grape seeds to a single ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with aqueous ethanolic solutions yields both flavan-3-ols and tocochromanols in the final extract. Notably, the water content in ethanol significantly influences the extractability of tocochromanols more than flavan-3-ols. Solid-to-solvent ratios of 1:50 to 1:2 were tested for both analytical and industrial applications. A sustainable analytical approach for recovering flavan-3-ols and tocochromanols using 60% and 96.4% ethanol extractions was validated and employed to profile nineteen genotypes of lesser-studied interspecific grape crosses (Vitis spp.). Different genotypes showed a wide range of concentrations of tocopherols (1.6–6.3 mg/100 g), tocotrienols (1.0–17.4 mg/100 g), and flavan-3-ols (861–9994 mg/100 g). This indicated that the genetic background and maturity of the plant material are crucial factors from an industrial perspective due to the initial concentration of bioactive compounds. Finally, the study also discussed the fundamental aspects of hydrophobic antioxidant extractability from the lipid matrix with aqueous ethanol solutions and the limitations of the workflow, such as the non-extractable tocochromanols and their esters and the losses of these lipophilic antioxidants during extraction. [Display omitted] • Seeds of grape crosses (Vitis spp.) consist of diverse phytochemical profiles. • Sustainable water-ethanol methods for phytochemical extraction were proposed. • Tocochromanols are co-extractable during the flavan-3-ols recovery from grape seeds. • Solid-to-solvent ratios 1:50 and 1:2 tested for analytical and industry applications. • The presence of non-extractable and bound tocochromanols in grape seeds was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaves in plants with spiral phyllotaxy exhibit directional asymmetries, such that all the leaves originating from a meristem of a particular chirality are similarly asymmetric relative to each other. Models of auxin flux capable of recapitulating spiral phyllotaxis predict handed auxin asymmetries in initiating leaf primordia with empirically verifiable effects on superficially bilaterally symmetric leaves. Here, we extend a similar analysis of leaf asymmetry to decussate and distichous phyllotaxy. We found that our simulation models of these two patterns predicted mirrored asymmetries in auxin distribution in leaf primordia pairs. To empirically verify the morphological consequences of asymmetric auxin distribution, we analysed the morphology of a tomato sister-of-pin-formed1a (sopin1a) mutant, entire-2, in which spiral phyllotaxy consistently transitions to a decussate state. Shifts in the displacement of leaflets on the left and right sides of entire-2 leaf pairs mirror each other, corroborating predicted model results. We then analyse the shape of more than 800 common ivy (Hedera helix) and more than 3000 grapevine (Vitis and Ampelopsis spp.) leaf pairs and find statistical enrichment of predicted mirrored asymmetries. Our results demonstrate that left-right auxin asymmetries in models of decussate and distichous phyllotaxy successfully predict mirrored asymmetric leaf morphologies in superficially symmetric leaves.This article is part of the themed issue 'Provocative questions in left-right asymmetry'.

The family Vitaceae has a wide distribution, occurring in temperate, subtropical, and tropical climates. Vine members of the family thrive in different types of vegetation. Currently, the family includes five recognized tribes: Ampelopsideae, Cisseae, Cayratieae, Parthenocisseae, and Viteae. This study describes the pollen morphology of representatives of Ampelopsideae, Cayratieae, and Parthenocisseae. The other tribes are not described because they have been the subject of previous studies. The aim was to assess the relationships among the five tribes using multivariate analysis and to reconstruct the evolution of pollen characters using existing phylogenetic hypotheses. Specimens representing the three tribes were obtained from herbaria, treated by the acetolysis method, measured, photographed, and described using light and scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that pollen grains are medium (25–50 µm) in size, isopolar, tricolporate, and subprolate to prolate. Ornamentation varies between species. Multivariate analysis was based on quantitative characters, of which pollen diameters, apocolpium side, and polar area index were the most significant. Tracing of pollen characters showed that size, shape, and ornamentation are an evolutionary trend within the family. This investigation expands the palynological knowledge on representatives of Vitaceae tribes, contributing to future palynotaxonomic and evolutionary studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ampelopsis cantoniensis is called "Che day" in Vietnam and has been used as a traditional treatment for inflammatory diseases. Methods: Plant material and hydroalcoholic extract were processed and analyzed for their physicochemical characteristics. A method using HPLC was validated to quantify ampelopsin. Hydroalcoholic extract was spray dried and the powder obtained was characterized in terms of its physicochemical parameters and potential for antiulcerogenic activity. Results: The analytical method proved to be selective, linear, accurate, sensitive. A. cantoniensiss pray dried extract (ACP) was obtained using colloidal silicon dioxide as adjuvant and was shown to possess 25.94 % ampelopsisn. It showed significant antiulcer activity in a model of an indomethacin-induced gastric lesion in rats and also produced a gastroprotective effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Cissus L. in Malesia is revised, with key to the species given. A total of 23 species is recognized and described herein, including two introduced species, C. quadrangularis L. and C. verticillata (L.) Nicolson & Jarvis. Included are brief taxonomic discussions, description of general taxonomic characters, geographical distribution, ecology and habitats, vernacular names (if known) and other notes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch) (Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae), is a destructive pest for global viticulture. With the grafting of the susceptible cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera L., Vitaceae) on top of tolerant Vitis spp. rootstock, root infestation no longer causes vine death. These tolerant rootstock vines are hybrids of American species that are often highly susceptible to leaf infestation. Though leaf infestation is normally rarely seen on V. vinifera, some commercial vineyards have been showing high intensities of leaf galls for many years. In this study, two possible factors are investigated to explain these anomalies: (1) intra‐specific differences in phylloxera host plant specialization, and (2) improved environmental settings for infestation due to temperature increase. To study the former, a phylloxera biotyping assay was conducted after whole‐plant (both root and leaf) infestations, and for the latter, a temperature increase simulation was performed with potted plants in climate chambers. Both assays also contained a phylloxera control biotype C, obtained from an American rootstock hybrid (Vitis berlandieri Planch. × Vitis riparia Michx.). The biotyping assay showed that field‐sampled populations from V. vinifera leaf galls had innate advantages to infest the leaves of this host plant species compared to those of the American rootstock hybrid. This is therefore the first study to categorize a phylloxera population as biotype G, using controlled experimental conditions with biological pest control. At moderate temperatures (22 °C), infestation was similar as in the biotyping assay, but at higher temperatures (27 °C), biotype G seems to lose its comparative advantage to infest V. vinifera leaves. Specifically, at higher temperatures, insect performance in terms of leaf gall intensity, development, and egg‐laying of both biotype G and C is improved on American rootstock hybrids and worsened on V. vinifera compared to infestations at moderate temperatures. We discuss possible explanations for these findings and how these experimental results may be extrapolated to field settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cayratia Juss. sect. Cayratia Suesseng. in Malesia is revised, with key to the species given. A total of 19 species are recognized and described herein, including one new C. ranauensis Latiff sp. nov., two new records for Malesia, C. emarginata C. L. Li ex Trias-Blasi & J. Parn. and C. lanceolata (C. L. Li) J. Wen & Z. D. Chen. Included here are brief taxonomic discussions, description of general taxonomic characters, distribution, habitats and ecology, vernacular names and other notes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Causonis (Vitaceae) is widely distributed in the tropical, sub‐tropical and temperate regions from Asia to Australia. The genus was established by Rafinesque in 1830 but included under Cayratia by Gagnepain in 1911. Generic status of Causonis was restored in 2013, but circumscription of the genus and its species remained poorly understood. Here, we sample 92 accessions of Causonis to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships within the genus using four chloroplast loci (atpB‐rbcL, trnC‐petN, trnH‐psbA, trnL‐F) and three nuclear loci (AS1, At103, ITS). Both the chloroplast and nuclear data support the monophyly of Causonis, and relationships among major clades of the genus are well‐supported based on the chloroplast data. The first diverged clade consists of two species both endemic to Australasia. Evolutionary trends of eight morphological characters are tested through ancestral character state reconstruction using the chloroplast dataset. We recognize 16 species and 4 varieties in Causonis, including two new species: C. australasica sp. nov. and C. glauca sp. nov. We herein make 10 new combinations for eight species and two varieties. The widespread Causonis japonica is also redefined based on morphological and molecular evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitis shizishanensis (Vitaceae), a new species from Hubei, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to V. flexuosa and V. bryoniifolia, but differs in leaf lobing and pubescence. It can be easily distinguished from the two species based on its glabrous or with very sparse arachnoid tomentum on the abaxial mature leaf surface, and its unlobed to 3-7 lobed leaves. A detailed description, along with photographs for the new species, and a table for morphological comparisons with similar Vitis species, are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the decreasing cost and availability of many newly developed bioinformatics pipelines, next‐generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized plant systematics in recent years. Genome skimming has been widely used to obtain high‐copy fractions of the genomes, including plastomes, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA). In this study, through simulations, we evaluated the optimal (minimum) sequencing depth and performance for recovering single‐copy nuclear genes (SCNs) from genome skimming data, by subsampling genome resequencing data and generating 10 data sets with different sequencing coverage in silico. We tested the performance of four data sets (plastome, nrDNA, mtDNA, and SCNs) obtained from genome skimming based on phylogenetic analyses of the Vitis clade at the genus level and Vitaceae at the family level, respectively. Our results showed that optimal minimum sequencing depth for high‐quality SCNs assembly via genome skimming was about 10× coverage. Without the steps of synthesizing baits and enrichment experiments, coupled with incredibly low sequencing costs, we showcase that deep genome skimming (DGS) is as effective for capturing large data sets of SCNs as the widely used Hyb‐Seq approach, in addition to capturing plastomes, mtDNA, and entire nrDNA repeats. DGS may serve as an efficient and economical alternative and may be superior to the popular target enrichment/Hyb‐Seq approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CYP75 gene family plays an important role in flavonoid biosynthesis in plants. Little is known about the evolution of the gene family within the grape family. Here, we extracted the CYP75 genes from transcriptome data of 15 grape species and 36 representative genomes from other plants to explore the evolutionary history of the CYP75 gene family in Vitaceae. The structure of the CYP75 protein sequences is highly conserved with the variation mainly occurring in the N terminal and the middle region. The evolutionary analyses suggested classifying the CYP75 gene family into three groups in Vitaceae, namely Vitaceae A1, Vitaceae A2 and Vitaceae B. The Vitaceae A1 and A2 belong to the CYP75A subfamily and the Vitaceae B belongs to the CYP75B subfamily. Within the Vitaceae A1, most Vitaceae taxa present only one copy of the CYP75A protein sequence except for Vitis vinifera with a high number of sequences, which might have originated through recent gene duplications after its split from the other species. Vitaceae A2 contain only CYP75A sequences from Vitaceae sister to one from Camellia sinensis, probably representing a relict lineage. The CYP75B proteins were found to be dominated in Vitaceae and other angiosperms. Our results provide important insights into understanding the evolutionary history of the CYP75 gene family in Vitaceae and other angiosperms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyphostemma calcarium Rabarij & L.M.Lu, sp. nov., is herein described as a new species found on limestone outcrops in northern Madagascar. Its diagnostic morphological characteristics were compared to the species occurring in the Ankarana Special Reserve. We present detailed descriptions, illustrations, distribution map, and a preliminary conservation assessment of the species. An identification key to all known species of Cyphostemma from the Ankarana Special Reserve is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the recognition of Vitis adenoclada Hand.-Mazz. from southern China. The species was not recognized in the Flora Reipublicae Ropularis Sinicicae and Flora of China treatments. Recent field studies and examination of herbarium collections including the type material suggest that Vitis adenoclada is morphologically similar to V. heyneana, in their densely arachnoid tomentose abaxial leaves, yet it can be easily distinguished from the latter by its red-purple glandular hairs on the young branches (vs. glandular hairs absent in V. heyneana) and inflorescences usually subtended by a tendril at the base (vs. only occasionally with a tendril in V. heyneana). Vitis adenoclada may be a species of hybrid origin, with the highly tomentose Vitis heyneana as one of the parental species, and likely the glandular-hair bearing V. davidii as the other parental species. Vitis adenoclada is recorded from southern China in Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan and Zhejiang provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A revision of Tetrastigma (Miq.) Planch. sect. Tetrastigma with key to species is given. A total of 37 species are recognized in this section and described, including one new species, T. subglobosum Latiff et Wan Nuur Fatiha sp. nov. Two species, T. amboinense (Miq.) Planch. is reassigned to Cayratia grandifolia (Warb.) Merr. & Perry and T. dichrothrix (Miq.) Suesseng. to Cayratia geniculata (Miq.) Gagnep., hence excluded and T. simplicifolia (Merr.) J. Wen & Boggan is reduced to T. dichotomum (Blume) Planch. Their synonyms, notes on distribution, habitats and ecology, vernacular names (if known) and taxonomic notes and relationships are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We aimed at reporting the chemical constituents and antimicrobial activities of Leea aequata L., a traditional folk medicine used in Myanmar for the treatment of wounds and skin diseases. A new neolignan, (7S,8R)-9′-O-acetylcedrusin (1), a new lactam, (3S,4S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxypiperidin-2-one (2), along with 21 known compounds, including five lignans (3–7), four flavonoid glycosides (8–11), and others (12–23), were isolated from the ethanoic extract of the aerial parts of L. aequata. The structures of the new compounds were determined by NMR, MS, and ECD spectra. For all the antimicrobial tests of the 23 compounds, only 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester (17) showed weak inhibitory activities against Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica. Graphical Abstract

The aerial parts of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (APTH) have been used as a functional tea in China. The purpose of the current study was to identify the bioactive constituents with inhibitory activity against soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which are jointly considered potential therapeutic targets for vascular system diseases. In the present study, 39 compounds (1–39) were isolated from the APTH. Among them, compounds 8, 10, 12, 16, 17, 19, and 32 displayed potential activities, with IC50 values ranging from 4.5 to 9.5 µM, respectively, and all in non-competitive inhibition mode. Compounds 5, 10, 12, 19, and 32 displayed potent iNOS inhibitory effects, with IC50 values ranging from 15.6 to 47.3 µM. The results obtained in this work contribute to a better understanding of the pharmacological activities of T. hemsleyanum and its potential application as a functional food.

Key message: The transcriptomes of wild and cultivated grapes consists of similar expressed genes but distinct wiring of co-expressed modules associated with environmental conditions. Grapevine is an important fruit crop worldwide, with high economic value and widespread distribution. Commercial production is based on Vitis vinifera, and, to a lesser extent, on hybrids with American grapes, such as V. labrusca. Wild grape relatives are important sources of resistance against biotic and abiotic factors; however, their global gene expression patterns remain poorly characterized. We associated genome-wide transcript profiling to phenotypic analyses to investigate the responses of cultivated and wild vines to vineyard conditions. The expressed genes in the Vitis reference transcriptome are largely shared by wild grapes, V. labrusca hybrids and vinifera cultivars. In contrast, significant differential regulation between wild and vinifera genotypes represents 80% of gene expression variation, regardless of the environment. In wild grapes, genes associated to regulatory processes are downregulated, whereas those involved in metabolic pathways are upregulated, in comparison to vinifera. Photosynthesis-related ontologies are overrepresented in the induced genes, in agreement with higher contents of chlorophyll in wild grapes. Co-regulated gene network analyses provide evidence of more complex transcriptome organization in vinifera. In wild grapes, genes involved in signaling pathways of stress-related hormones are overrepresented in modules associated with the environment. Consensus network analyses revealed high preservation within co-regulated gene modules between cultivated and wild grapes, but divergent relationships among the expression clusters. In conclusion, the distinct phenotypes of wild and cultivated grapes are underlain by differences in gene expression, but also by distinct higher-order organization of the transcriptome and contrasting association of co-expressed gene clusters with the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: As a leaf expands, its shape dynamically changes. Previously, we documented an allometric relationship between vein and blade area in grapevine leaves. Larger leaves have a smaller ratio of primary and secondary vein area relative to blade area compared to smaller leaves. We sought to use allometry as an indicator of leaf size and plasticity. Methods: We measured the ratio of vein‐to‐blade area from the same 208 vines across four growing seasons (2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017). Matching leaves by vine and node, we analyzed the correlation between the size and shape of grapevine leaves as repeated measures with climate variables across years. Results: The proportion of leaf area occupied by vein and blade exponentially decreased and increased, respectively, during leaf expansion making their ratio a stronger indicator of leaf size than area itself. Total precipitation and leaf wetness hours of the previous year but not the current showed strong negative correlations with vein‐to‐blade ratio, whereas maximum air temperature from the previous year was positively correlated. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that vein‐to‐blade ratio is a strong allometric indicator of leaf size and plasticity in grapevines measured across years. Grapevine leaf primordia are initiated in buds the year before they emerge, and we found that total precipitation and maximum air temperature of the previous growing season exerted the largest statistically significant effects on leaf morphology. Vein‐to‐blade ratio is a promising allometric indicator of relationships between leaf morphology and climate, the robustness of which should be explored further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the palyno‐morphological features of species of family Vitaceae from Pakistan. A total of nine species, belonging to four genera were collected, pressed, identified, and then analyzed microscopically. Both quantitative and qualitative characters of the pollen grains were recorded including polar and equatorial diameter, P/E ratio, number of colpi and pores, exine thickness and shapes of the pollen in both polar and equatorial view, and exine sculpturing using Leica microscope fitted with camera Meiji Infinity 1 and then analyzed statistically using software IBM SPSS Statistics 20. The results of the present study demonstrated the variations in polar and equatorial diameter, exine thickness, P/E ratio, pollen shape, and exine sculpturing of the studied species and highlighted the significance of pollen morphology as an identification tool. The present study may contribute to better understand the classification at genus level, which will support the future phylogenetic characterization of the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical study on the aerial parts of Yua thomsonii resulted in the isolation of 11 secondary metabolites, including a new caffeoyl quinic acid derivative, 3- O - trans -caffeoyl-4- O -acetylquinic acid methyl ester ( 1 ), a new dihydrobenzofuran neolignan, 3,5-dimethoxy-4-(1″,3″-dihydroxy-2″-propyloxyl)-4',7-epoxy-8,5'-neolignan-4,9,9'-triol ( 3 ) and nine known compounds, methyl 4- O -coumaroylquinate ( 2 ), (7 S *,8 S *)-3-methoxy-3',7-epoxy-8,4'-oxyneolignan-4,9,9'-triol ( 4 ), kompasinol A ( 5 ), lyoniresinol ( 6 ), schizandriside ( 7 ), (-)-isolariciresinol 3a- O - β -D-xylopyranoside ( 8 ), lyoniside ( 9 ), vitexin ( 10 ) and luteolin 4'- O - β -glucopyranoside ( 11 ). Their structures were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESI mass spectra. The absolute configurations of 1 and 3 were deduced by electronic circular dichroism spectroscopy. Compounds 1 , 3 , 5 and 6 exhibited nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory effects, with IC 50 values ranging from 12.18 to 29.45 µM. However, compounds 1 , 3 , 6 and 8 were non-cytotoxic towards HepG2 and MCF-7 carcinoma cells.

Background: Ampelopsideae J. Wen & Z.L. Nie is a small-sized tribe of Vitaceae Juss., including ca. 47 species from four genera showing a disjunct distribution worldwide across all the continents except Antarctica. There are numerous species from the tribe that are commonly used as medicinal plants with immune-modulating, antimicrobial, and anti-hypertensive properties. The tribe is usually recognized into three clades, i.e., Ampelopsis Michx., Nekemias Raf., and the Southern Hemisphere clade. However, the relationships of the three clades differ greatly between the nuclear and the plastid topologies. There has been limited exploration of the chloroplast phylogenetic relationships within Ampelopsideae, and studies on the chloroplast genome structure of this tribe are only available for a few individuals. In this study, we aimed to investigate the evolutionary characteristics of plastid genomes of the tribe, including their genome structure and evolutionary insights., Results: We sequenced, assembled, and annotated plastid genomes of 36 species from the tribe and related taxa in the family. Three main clades were recognized within Ampelopsideae, corresponding to Ampelopsis, Nekemias, and the Southern Hemisphere lineage, respectively, and all with 100% bootstrap supports. The genome sequences and content of the tribe are highly conserved. However, comparative analyses suggested that the plastomes of Nekemias demonstrate a contraction in the large single copy region and an expansion in the inverted repeat region, and possess a high number of forward and palindromic repeat sequences distinct from both Ampelopsis and the Southern Hemisphere taxa., Conclusions: Our results highlighted plastome variations in genome length, expansion or contraction of the inverted repeat region, codon usage bias, and repeat sequences, are corresponding to the three lineages of the tribe, which probably faced with different environmental selection pressures and evolutionary history. This study provides valuable insights into understanding the evolutionary patterns of plastid genomes within the Ampelopsideae of Vitaceae., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In the present study, qualitative phytochemical screening and evaluation of antioxidant activity of various solvent extracts of Cayratia pedata fruit were analyzed. The powdered fruit samples were subjected for the extraction by using different solvents such as petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and hot water. The extracts were subjected to quantification of total phenolics, tannin and flavonoids. The in vitro antioxidant assay such as DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, superoxide radical scavenging assay, phosphomolybdenum, Reducing power assay and GC-MS analysis were done. Among the different extracts of C. pedata fruit were studied, the ethyl acetate extract of C. pedata fruit depicted the maximum amount of phenolics (312.82 mg GAE/g extract), tannin (298.01 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoids (222.03 mg RE/g extract). Highest percentage of DPPH (IC50: 14.47 µg/mL), ABTS (56631.94 µM TE/g extract), FRAP (822.6 mM Fe (II)/mg extract), Superoxide (68.72%) and phosphomolybdenum radical scavenging activity (86.6 mg AAE/g extract) were recorded in the ethyl acetate extract of C. pedata fruit. GC-MS analysis confirmed the presence of different phytochemicals in each fruit extracts of C. pedata of which 10 major phytoconstituents were identified. The present study provides evidence that ethyl acetate extract of C. pedata fruit possesses excellent in vitro antioxidant activity, which can be a potential source of natural antioxidants, should be further exploited for its use in clinical medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]