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Simple Summary: The red flour beetle is the most destructive pest of stored grain commodities, including flour, food grains, biscuits, pasta, nuts, cereals, and beans. Warehouse owners mostly use fumigants to control its infestation; however, these fumigants are toxic. The Indo–Pakistan region is rich in certain plant species that have repellent or deterrent effects on insects, and these plants are safer for humans. Among these plants are Mexican tea, long leaf Indian pine, rattan pepper, garden cress, neem, Baccharis teindalensis (a Columbian native herb also found in Pakistan), and marjoram. Hence, in the present study, we determined the toxic effect of these essential oil extracts against red flour beetle. The toxicity and repellent activities of these plant oils were determined through four-arm olfactometer bioassays. Mortality was recorded 1 day, 2 days, and 3 days after oil extract exposure. Data were analyzed using statistical software. Means were compared through LSD at the 5% level of significance. Overall, Mexican tea and Indian native palm oil were effective repellents. This study concludes that Mexican tea and Indian native palm oil can be used as alternative repellents against red flour beetle infestation. Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is the most destructive pest of stored grain commodities. To control the attack of this insect pest, it is important to develop non-hazardous alternatives to replace fumigants. This study examined the fumigant toxicity and repellent activity of seven essential oils (Chinopodium ambrosiodes, Pinus roxburghii, Zanthoxylum armatum, Lepidium sativum, Azadirachta indica, Baccharis teindalensis, and Origanum majorana) against adult T. castaneum under controlled laboratory conditions. The fumigant toxicity and repellent activities of essential oils were tested using five different doses (62.5, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 µg) in vapour-phase fumigation and four-arm olfactometer bioassays, respectively. In vapor-phase fumigation bioassays, mortality data were recorded after 24, 48, and 72 h. The results showed that C. ambrosiodes and P. roxburghii essential oils are potential fumigants against adult T. castaneum. In repellency bioassays, a one-week-old adult population of T. castaneum was used to test the repellency potential of the essential oils. The results indicated that C. ambrosiodes and P. roxburghii had significant repellency potential against T. castaneum. Overall, we conclude that these essential oils have strong repellent and fumigant properties and can be used as potential repellent compounds to deter the insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the article is to investigate the chemical composition of Zanthoxylum armatum roots methanolic extract and to evaluate the polyphenol content and antioxidant potential. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography – Photo Diode Array (HPLC-PDA) techniques were used to characterize chemical composition of methanolic extract of roots. The GC-MS analysis extract resulted in the isolation of thirty-seven phytochemical constituents in methanol extracts. The root extracts were strongly characterized by 1-Propene, 2-nitro-3-(1-cyclooctenyl), (2E,4E)-N-Isobutyldodeca-2,4-dienamide, (+)- Seasmin and Paulowin. The phenolic composition of the root extract quantified by using HPLC revealed Ascorbic acid as most abundant polyphenol, followed by Gallic acid, Chlorogenic acid, Epigallocatechin gallate, Vanillic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid, while Caffeic acid was the recorded as least. In addition, root extract also showed the presence of antioxidant activity (DPPH Free radical scavenging, Metal Chelating and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Activity) and polyphenol content (Total Phenol, Flavonoid, and Tannin Content). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Green synthesis is an easy, safe, and environmentally beneficial nanoparticle creation method. It is a great challenge to simultaneously improve the capping and stabilizing agent carrier separation efficiency of photocatalysts. Herein, Zn-doped Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles with high exposure of 360 nm using a UV/visible spectrophotometer were prepared via a one-step hydrothermal decomposition method. A detailed analysis reveals that the electronic structures were modulated by Zn doping; thus, the responsive wavelength was extended to 600 nm, which effectively improved the visible light absorption of TiO2. We have optimized the different parameters like concentration, time, and temperature. The peak for TiO2 is located at 600 cm-1 in FTIR. A scanning electron microscope revealed that TiO2 has a definite shape and morphology. The synthesized Zn-doped TiO2NPs were applied against various pathogens to study their anti-bacterial potentials. The anti-bacterial activity of Zn-doped TiO2 has shown robust against two gram-ve bacteria (Salmonella and Escherichia coli) and two gram + ve bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus). Synthesized Zn-doped TiO2 has demonstrated strong antifungal efficacy against a variety of fungi. Moreover, doping TiO2 nanoparticles with metal oxide greatly improves their characteristics; as a result, doped metal oxide nanoparticles perform better than doped and un-doped metal oxide nanoparticles. Compared to pure TiO2, Zn-doped TiO2 nanoparticles exhibit considerable applications including antimicrobial treatment and water purification.

Green synthesis is an easy, safe, and environmentally beneficial nanoparticle creation method. It is a great challenge to simultaneously improve the capping and stabilizing agent carrier separation efficiency of photocatalysts. Herein, Zn-doped Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles with high exposure of 360 nm using a UV/visible spectrophotometer were prepared via a one-step hydrothermal decomposition method. A detailed analysis reveals that the electronic structures were modulated by Zn doping; thus, the responsive wavelength was extended to 600 nm, which effectively improved the visible light absorption of TiO2. We have optimized the different parameters like concentration, time, and temperature. The peak for TiO2 is located at 600 cm-1 in FTIR. A scanning electron microscope revealed that TiO2 has a definite shape and morphology. The synthesized Zn-doped TiO2NPs were applied against various pathogens to study their anti-bacterial potentials. The anti-bacterial activity of Zn-doped TiO2 has shown robust against two gram-ve bacteria (Salmonella and Escherichia coli) and two gram + ve bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus). Synthesized Zn-doped TiO2 has demonstrated strong antifungal efficacy against a variety of fungi. Moreover, doping TiO2 nanoparticles with metal oxide greatly improves their characteristics; as a result, doped metal oxide nanoparticles perform better than doped and un-doped metal oxide nanoparticles. Compared to pure TiO2, Zn-doped TiO2 nanoparticles exhibit considerable applications including antimicrobial treatment and water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction and development of plant floral organs, sexual differentiation, and resistance to abiotic stressors are all crucial functions of the MADS-box family genes. Zanthoxylum armatum is a significant spice and medicinal plant, but there is little known about its MADS-box transcription factors, especially those involved in abiotic stress. In the present study, 111 MADS-box genes spread across 27 chromosomes were shown to have entire structural domains. Analysis of gene duplication events revealed 24 pairs of tandem repeats that create gene clusters, suggesting that gene duplication may be one of the drivers driving ZaMADS development. Moreover, the majority of genes had cis-acting regions linked to phytohormones and abiotic challenges, indicating a critical involvement in the response to abiotic stimuli. Based on an analysis of ZaMADS expression patterns in 22 distinct tissues, pepper flowers develop according to the ABCDE model of floral development. Besides, the majority of the ZaMADS genes were highly susceptible to abiotic challenges, with ZaMADS22, ZaMADS25, ZaMADS47, and ZaMADS56 exhibiting notable changes in expression patterns in response to cold temperature and waterlogging conditions. Tobacco cis-conversion experiments demonstrated that ZaMADS47 could enhance the antioxidant enzyme activity, reduce the MDA and H2O2 content, and thus enhance the tolerance of leaves to cold stress. The results of the present study provide a scientific basis for elucidating the functional characteristics of the MADS-box genes in Z. armatum in response to environmental stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apomixis is a common reproductive characteristic of Zanthoxylum plants, and RWP-RKs are plant-specific transcription factors known to regulate embryonic development. However, the genome-wide analysis and function prediction of RWP-RK family genes in Z. armatum are unclear. In this study, 36 ZaRWP-RK transcription factors were identified in the genome of Z. armatum, among which 15 genes belonged to the RKD subfamily and 21 belonged to the NLP subfamily. Duplication events of ZaRWP-RK genes were mainly segmental duplication, and synteny analysis revealed a close phylogenetic relationship between Z. armatum and Arabidopsis. The analysis of cis-elements indicated that ZaRWP-RK genes may be involved in the regulation of the embryonic development of Z. armatum by responding to plant hormones such as abscisic acid, auxin, and gibberellin. Results of a real-time PCR showed that the expression levels of most ZaRWP-RK genes were significantly increased from flowers to young fruits. Protein–protein interaction network analysis further revealed the potential roles of the ZaRWP-RK proteins in apomixis. Collectively, this study is expected to improve our understanding of ZaRWP-RK transcription factors and provide a theoretical basis for future investigations into the ZaRWP-RK genes and their regulatory mechanisms in the apomixis process of Z. armatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important spice species in Rutaceae, the Sichuan pepper (Zanthoxylum armatum) can provide pungent and numbing taste, as well as aroma in its mature fruit. Here we assembled a chromosome-level genome of green prickly ash which was widely cultivated in a major production area including Chongqing and Sichuan province, China. We generated 712 Gb (∼112 × ) PacBio long reads and 511 Gb (∼82 × ) Hi-C data, and yielded an assembly of 99 pseudochromosomes with total size of 5.32 Gb and contig N50 of 796 kb. The genomic analyses and cytogenetic experiments both indicated that the cultivar ‘Zhuye Huajiao’ was a triploid. We identified a Zanthoxylum-specific whole genome duplication event emerging about 24.8 million years ago (Mya). We also detected a transposition burst event (0.3–0.4 Mya) responsible for the large genome size of Z. armatum. Metabolomic analysis of the Zanthoxylum fruits during development stages revealed profiles of 39 volatile aroma compounds and 528 secondary metabolites, from which six types of sanshools were identified. Based on metabolomic and transcriptomic network analysis, we screened candidate genes encoding long chain acyl-CoA synthetase, fatty acid desaturase, branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase involved in sanshool biosynthesis and three genes encoding terpene synthase during fruit development. The multi-omics data provide insights into the evolution of Zanthoxylum and molecular basis of numbing and aroma flavor of Sichuan pepper.

Green nanotechnology has gained attraction in recent years due to the growing awareness of the environmental and health risks associated with traditional methods of nanomaterial synthesis. In the present study, nanocomposite (NCs) of silver and Iron were prepared using Zanthoxylum Armatum seeds aqueous extract which acts as a reducing, stabilizing, and capping agent. The synthesized NCs were characterized using UV/Vis Spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and EDX. The UV/Vis spectroscopy analysis of the NCs revealed the presence of a surface plasmonic resonance band occurring at 420 nm. Examination of the NCs through SEM demonstrated that they exhibited a nearly spherical morphology, with an average particle diameter measuring 54.8 nm. The crystalline nature of these NCs was verified through X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the calculation of crystallite size using the Scherrer-Debye equation yielded a value of 12.6 nm. The adsorption ability of newly synthesized nanocomposites was investigated against Acid Black 234 Dye. The results showed that a 0.5 g of NCs dose at pH 4 removed 99.3% of 10 mg/L of Acid Black 234 Dye within 60 min. Based on the findings of this research, it can be inferred that the that Ag-Fe NCs synthesized from Zanthoxylum Armatum seeds aqueous extract hold significant potential for addressing environmental pollution caused by Acid Black 234 Dye. The NCs were used as adsorbent for the removal of Acid Black 234 dye from the wastewater sample and showed 98% removal of dye from the commercial sample within 60 min. In this context, the research highlights that the environmentally friendly synthesis of Ag-Fe nanocrystals (Ag-Fe NCs) using Zanthoxylum Armatum as a mediator offers an efficient and cost-effective solution for mitigating environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zanthoxylum armatum (Z. armatum) is an economic crop widely planted for both spice and medicinal purposes in Southwest China. Soil is a key environmental condition that affects seedling growth and development, and screening suitable soil types is of great significance for the large-scale cultivation of crops. This study designed growth experiments of Z. armatum seedlings in red soil (RS), yellow soil (YS), acidic purple soil (ACPS), alkaline purple soil (ALPS), and alluvial soil (AS) to screen for more suitable soil types. The growth traits of Z. armatum seedlings and the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), C:N:P stoichiometry, and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) content of different organs were comparatively analyzed. The results showed that the morphological indexes of Z. armatum seedlings cultured in AS were better than those in the other four soils.AS and RS may be beneficial for the culture of Z. armatum seedlings due to higher nutrient levels in three organs. Two-factor ANOVA and PCA analysis showed that C, N, and P and their proportions would affect the uptake and distribution of NSC in various organs of Z. armatum seedlings. These results showed that soil types and plant organs significantly affected the accumulation and distribution of N, P, and NSC in Z. armatum seedlings. These results are conducive to screening soil types suitable for the growth and development of Z. armatum and provide data support for further large-scale cultivation of Z. armatum in suitable areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is the most destructive pest of stored grain commodities. To control the attack of this insect pest, it is important to develop non-hazardous alternatives to replace fumigants. This study examined the fumigant toxicity and repellent activity of seven essential oils (Chinopodium ambrosiodes, Pinus roxburghii, Zanthoxylum armatum, Lepidium sativum, Azadirachta indica, Baccharis teindalensis, and Origanum majorana) against adult T. castaneum under controlled laboratory conditions. The fumigant toxicity and repellent activities of essential oils were tested using five different doses (62.5, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 µg) in vapour-phase fumigation and four-arm olfactometer bioassays, respectively. In vapor-phase fumigation bioassays, mortality data were recorded after 24, 48, and 72 h. The results showed that C. ambrosiodes and P. roxburghii essential oils are potential fumigants against adult T. castaneum. In repellency bioassays, a one-week-old adult population of T. castaneum was used to test the repellency potential of the essential oils. The results indicated that C. ambrosiodes and P. roxburghii had significant repellency potential against T. castaneum. Overall, we conclude that these essential oils have strong repellent and fumigant properties and can be used as potential repellent compounds to deter the insects.

Pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), systemic acquired resistance (SAR) marker genes closely related to plant disease resistance, play an important role in plant defense systems. A PR gene ZaPR4b has been cloned from Zanthoxylum armatum in this study. Sequence analysis showed that ZaPR4b’s ORF is 435 bp in length, encoding 144 amino acid protein and had a Barwin domain, belonged to the class II PR4 family. Bioinformatics analysis showed that ZaPR4b is a stable, hydrophilic secretory protein, which is closely related to PR4b in peach, rubber tree, and cassava. Subcellular localization results showed that ZaPR4 is localized to plasma membrane in tobacco epidermal cells. qPCR results showed that ZaPR4b is highly expressed in the leaves and fruits and slightly expressed in the roots and stem. Furthermore, more, the expression of ZaPR4b was positively correlated with the leaf rust resistance of different resistant varieties. Salicylic acid (SA) induction substantially increased the expression levels of ZaPR4b gene and enhanced its resistance to leaf rust. These findings provide a more definite knowledge on the molecular basis of signal transduction in the response of Z. armatum to leaf rust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Zanthoxylum armatum DC is an important economic plant with medicinal and edible value in China, the genetic diversity and population structure of Z. armatum are still unclear. In this study, 132 individuals of Z. armatum from eight populations in China were analyzed by ISSR molecular markers. The results showed that 128 clear DNA bands were amplified from 12 primers, of which 73.44% were polymorphic. The percentage of polymorphisms in the eight Z. armatum populations was 6.25–44.53%, Nei's gene diversity (H) was 0.025–0.1663, and Shannon's information index (I) was 0.0324–0.2443; The index of gene differentiation (GST) between populations was 0.4803 and gene flow (Nm) was 0.5411. The value of genetic variation within the population was 55% whereas the value of genetic variation among the population was 45%. Both cluster analysis and population genetic structure analysis revealed Z. armatum accessions could be divided into three groups, Mantel test results showed that there was no correlation between genetic relationships and the geographical distance in Z. armatum populations. These data suggested the genetic diversity was low at the species level but high among the populations, and the gene flow was limited in Z. armatum. This study might provide a theoretical basis for collecting and conserving Z. armatum resources and selecting new cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green nanotechnology has gained attraction in recent years due to the growing awareness of the environmental and health risks associated with traditional methods of nanomaterial synthesis. In the present study, nanocomposite (NCs) of silver and Iron were prepared using Zanthoxylum Armatum seeds aqueous extract which acts as a reducing, stabilizing, and capping agent. The synthesized NCs were characterized using UV/Vis Spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and EDX. The UV/Vis spectroscopy analysis of the NCs revealed the presence of a surface plasmonic resonance band occurring at 420 nm. Examination of the NCs through SEM demonstrated that they exhibited a nearly spherical morphology, with an average particle diameter measuring 54.8 nm. The crystalline nature of these NCs was verified through X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the calculation of crystallite size using the Scherrer-Debye equation yielded a value of 12.6 nm. The adsorption ability of newly synthesized nanocomposites was investigated against Acid Black 234 Dye. The results showed that a 0.5 g of NCs dose at pH 4 removed 99.3% of 10 mg/L of Acid Black 234 Dye within 60 min. Based on the findings of this research, it can be inferred that the that Ag-Fe NCs synthesized from Zanthoxylum Armatum seeds aqueous extract hold significant potential for addressing environmental pollution caused by Acid Black 234 Dye. The NCs were used as adsorbent for the removal of Acid Black 234 dye from the wastewater sample and showed 98% removal of dye from the commercial sample within 60 min. In this context, the research highlights that the environmentally friendly synthesis of Ag-Fe nanocrystals (Ag-Fe NCs) using Zanthoxylum Armatum as a mediator offers an efficient and cost-effective solution for mitigating environmental pollution.

PKM2 (Pyruvate kinase M2) is the isoform of pyruvate kinase which is known to catalyse the last step of glycolysis that is responsible for energy production. This specific isoform is known to be highly expressed in certain cancerous conditions. Considering the role of this protein in various cancer conditions, we used PKM2 as a target protein to identify the potential compounds against this target. In this study, we have examined 96 compounds of Zanthoxylum armatum using an array of computational and in silico tools. The compounds were assessed for toxicity then their anticancer potential was predicted. The virtual screening was done with molecular docking followed by a detailed examination using molecular dynamics simulation. The majority of the compounds showed a higher probability of being antineoplastic. Based on toxicity, predicted anticancer potential, binding affinity, and binding site, three compounds (nevadensin, asarinin, and kaempferol) were selected as hit compounds. The binding energy of these compounds with PKM2 ranged from −7.7 to −8.3 kcal/mol and all hit compounds interact at the active site of the protein. The selected hit compounds formed a stable complex with PKM2 when simulated under physiological conditions. The dynamic analysis showed that these compounds remained attached to the active site till the completion of molecular simulation. MM-PBSA analysis showed that nevadensin exhibited a higher affinity towards PKM2 compared to asarinin and kaempferol. These compounds need to be assessed properties in vivo and in vitro to validate their efficacy.

Zanthoxylum armatum is an economically important tree species. However, well-developed prickles on its stems and leaves pose serious challenges in terms of management and harvesting. To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying prickle development, we sequenced different stages of prickle morphological development and transcriptomes of different tissues in the root tips (Gen), leaf buds (Ya), and fruits of Z. armatum. The results revealed that proteins related to cell division and genes related to the growth hormone signaling pathway were highly expressed in the prickle just protrusion (PC1). In addition, a high expression of lignin biosynthesis genes was observed during the developmental onset of lignification (PC2) and prickle lignification (PC3). These findings indicate that phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction are key pathways for the completion of lignification development in the prickle. During prickle development, ZaMYB2 and ZaWRKY3 were significantly upregulated in PC2 and PC3, suggesting their possible involvement in prickle development. Transcriptome and qRT-PCR analyses revealed differential gene expression of zaPAL3, za4CLL1, zaCOMT1, ZaWRKY3, and ZaCCD31 in the Gen, Ya, newly formed fruit (ZaF1), newly oil-spotted fruits (ZaF2), PC1, PC2, and PC3 of Zarmatum. zaCCD31 was highly expressed in leaf buds, whereas Za4CLL1 was highly expressed in root tips. During the lignification of prickles, the relative expression of genes including zaMYB2 increased gradually; however, the relative expression of zaCCD31 decreased during this process. Therefore, we inferred that these genes might be closely related to prickle development. Notably, zaMYB2 was expressed at higher levels in PC2 and PC3 than in PC1 and was not expressed in Gen, Ya, ZaF1, and ZaF2. Therefore, zaMYB2 is a key gene involved in prickle development of Z. armatum that exhibited tissue-specific expression. This study establishes a foundation for future analyses of the molecular mechanism underlying prickle development in Z. armatum.

Chinese pepper rust is a live parasitic fungal disease caused by Coleosporium zanthoxyli, which seriously affects the cultivation and industrial development of Z. armatum. Cultivating and planting resistant cultivars is considered the most economical and environmentally friendly strategy to control this disease. Therefore, the mining of excellent genes for rust resistance and the analysis of the mechanism of rust resistance are the key strategies to achieve the targeted breeding of rust resistance. However, there is no relevant report on pepper rust resistance at present. The aim of the present study was to further explore the resistance mechanism of pepper by screening the rust-resistant germplasm resources in the early stage. Combined with the analysis of plant pathology, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, we found that compared with susceptible cultivar TJ, resistant cultivar YK had 2752 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 1253 up-, and 1499 downregulated) and 321 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs, 133 up- and 188 down-accumulated) after pathogen infection. And the genes and metabolites related to phenylpropanoid metabolism were highly enriched in resistant varieties, which indicated that phenylpropanoid metabolism might mediate the resistance of Z. armatum. This finding was further confirmed by a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, which revealed that the expression levels of core genes involved in phenylpropane metabolism in disease-resistant varieties were high. In addition, the difference in flavonoid and MeJA contents in the leaves between resistant and susceptible varieties further supported the conclusion that the flavonoid pathway and methyl jasmonate may be involved in the formation of Chinese pepper resistance. Our research results not only help to better understand the resistance mechanism of Z. armatum rust but also contribute to the breeding and utilization of resistant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zanthoxylum armatum (Z. armatum) is an economic crop widely planted for both spice and medicinal purposes in Southwest China. Soil is a key environmental condition that affects seedling growth and development, and screening suitable soil types is of great significance for the large-scale cultivation of crops. This study designed growth experiments of Z. armatum seedlings in red soil (RS), yellow soil (YS), acidic purple soil (ACPS), alkaline purple soil (ALPS), and alluvial soil (AS) to screen for more suitable soil types. The growth traits of Z. armatum seedlings and the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), C:N:P stoichiometry, and non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) content of different organs were comparatively analyzed. The results showed that the morphological indexes of Z. armatum seedlings cultured in AS were better than those in the other four soils.AS and RS may be beneficial for the culture of Z. armatum seedlings due to higher nutrient levels in three organs. Two-factor ANOVA and PCA analysis showed that C, N, and P and their proportions would affect the uptake and distribution of NSC in various organs of Z. armatum seedlings. These results showed that soil types and plant organs significantly affected the accumulation and distribution of N, P, and NSC in Z. armatum seedlings. These results are conducive to screening soil types suitable for the growth and development of Z. armatum and provide data support for further large-scale cultivation of Z. armatum in suitable areas.

Zanthoxylum armatum DC. is an economic tree species sensitive to waterlogging. Melatonin can improve the waterlogging tolerance of plants. In this study, we investigated the effects of different waterlogging times (including 0, 1, 2 and 3 d) and melatonin concentration (including 0, 400 and 800 μmol/L) on photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic capabilities and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Z. armatum seedlings under waterlogging stress. Our results showed that waterlogging stress decreased the chlorophyll contents, photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), maximum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Y(II)), effective photochemical quantum yield of PSII (), as well as efficiency of electron transfer (ETR) with the increase of waterlogging time. On the contrary, the intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), photochemical quenching (qP) and nonphotochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ) increased under waterlogging stress. However, melatonin could mitigate waterlogging-induced reductions in photosynthetic capacity. Melatonin improved photosynthesis by enhancing the chlorophyll and carotenoid content and photosynthesis rate. In addition, melatonin promotes stomatal function, electron transport in PSII and photosynthesis efficiency. Melatonin had a concentration-dependent effect on Z. armatum seedlings under waterlogging stress, and the optimum concentration is 400 μmol/L. It indicated that exogenous melatonin application could effectively ameliorate the repression of photosynthesis caused by waterlogging, and thus enhance the seedling tolerance to waterlogging stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study carried out to investigate the bioactive chemical compounds, total polyphenol content and antioxidant potential of different extracts of the Zanthoxylum armatum leaves collected from the Nainital, Uttarakhand. The GC-MS analysis of Z. armtum leaves extract resulted in the isolation of sixty, twelve, twenty-three and nineteen phytochemical constituents in methanol, ethanol, chloroform and water extracts respectively. The leaves extracts were strongly characterised by Heneicosane, Tetratetracontane, Phytol, Fargesin, (+)- Seasmin and Paulowin. Methanol extract showed maximum DPPH (2,2-Di-phenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) Free radical scavenging activity (IC 50 15.63 ± 0.31), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Activity (88.98 ± 3.34 AAE ± SD) and Metal Chelating Activity (IC 50 9.89 ± 0.83). The results showed that the methanolic extract exhibited the highest phenolic content for total phenol content (98.26 ± 0.8 mg of Gallic acid equivalent/g of dry weight), total flavonoid content (61.50 ± 1.62 mg of Quercetin equivalent/g of dry weight) and total tannin content (79.96 ± 0.81 mg of Tannic acid equivalent/g of dry weight). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green prickly ash (Zanthoxylum armatum) has edible and medicinal value and is an economically significant plant in many countries. Z. armatum has many cultivars and varieties with similar phenotypes that are difficult to distinguish via traditional methods. In this study, we utilized oligo-FISH to distinguish five varieties and cultivars of Z. armatum on the basis of three oligonucleotide probes of 5S rDNA, (AG3T3)3, and (GAA)6. Karyotype analysis of the five varieties and cultivars of Z. armatum showed that the Z. armatum 'Tengjiao' karyotype formula was 2n = 2x = 98m with karyotype type 1C and an arm ratio of 4.3237, including two pairs of 5S rDNA signals and five pairs of (GAA)6 signals. The karyotype formula of Z. armatum 'Youkangtengjiao' was 2n = 2x = 128m + 8sm with karyotype type 2B and an arm ratio of 3.5336, including three pairs of 5S rDNA signals and 17 pairs of (GAA)6 signals. The karyotype formula of Z. armatum var. novemfolius was 2n = 2x = 134m + 2sm with karyotype type 1C and an arm ratio of 5.5224, including two pairs of 5S rDNA signals and eight pairs of (GAA)6 signals. The karyotype formula of Z. armatum 'YT-03' was 2n = 2x = 2M + 128m + 4sm + 2st with karyotype type 2C and an arm ratio of 4.1829, including three pairs of 5S rDNA signals and nine pairs of (GAA)6 signals. The karyotype formula of Z. armatum 'YT-06' was 2n = 2x = 126m + 10sm with cytotype 2B and an arm ratio of 3.3011, including three pairs of 5S rDNA signals and two pairs of (GAA)6 signals. The five varieties and cultivars of Z. armatum had (AG3T3)3 signals on all chromosomes. The chromosomal symmetry of Z. armatum 'Tengjiao' was high, whereas the chromosomal symmetry of Z. armatum 'YT-03' was low, with the karyotypes of the five materials showing a trend toward polyploid evolution. The phylogenetic relationship between Z. armatum 'Tengjiao' and Z. armatum var. novemfolius was the closest, while that between Z. armatum 'YT-03' and Z. armatum 'YT-06' was closer than with Z. armatum 'Youkangtengjiao' according to oligo-FISH. The results provided a karyotype profile and a physical map that contributes to the distinction of varieties and cultivars of Z. armatum and provides strategies for distinguishing other cultivated species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphids have been considered as a major pest of cultivated crops and invade a wide range of vegetables, cereals, and fruits. Use of synthetic chemical insecticides are the common aphid management practices in the world. The use of chemical insecticides/pesticides raises many concerns associated with the environment, biodiversity and human health. Therefore, the use of natural products such as essential oils have been tested extensively to assess their insecticidal and repellent activity. In this study different concentrations (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5%) of essential oil (EO) from seeds of Zanthoxylum armatum were tested for their insecticidal and repellent activity for aphids using direct toxicity and repellency method. Results revealed that mortality and repellency were concentrations and exposure time dependent. Mean mortality percentage increased with the increasing concentration and exposure time. 100% mortality was observed in 0.5% concentration after 48 hrs exposure time. However, repellent activity increases with the increasing concentration and decreases with the increasing exposure time. The maximum repellence percentage (96.29%) was achieved in 0.5% oil concentration after 24 hrs of exposure time. Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the essential oil revealed the presence of three major compounds such as Eucalyptol (46.47%), Methyl Cis-Cinnamate (11.13%), and D-Limonene (7.10%) reported as insecticidal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting has been found to effectively reduce the prickly nature of Zanthoxylum armatum seedlings, but the molecular mechanisms are unclear. A comparative transcriptome analysis was performed on stems (JJ) and leaves (JY) of grafted stems (SJ) and leaves (SY) of non-grafted Zanthoxylum armatum seedlings. The authors obtained 3097, 2124, 5995, and 5043 differentially expressed genes from JJ vs. SJ, JY vs. SY, JY vs. JJ, and SY vs. SJ with 17 co-expressed genes. The RNA-seq results were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis. Function annotations showed that many DEGs enriched plant hormone signal transduction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and plant-pathogen interaction. Secondary metabolites associated with stress-related hormones and defense were noticeably up-regulated in grafted plants. However, key enzymes regulating lignin synthesis were slightly down-regulated in grafted plants. Additionally, grafted plants had several noticeable up-regulated stress-response TFs (transcription factors), including NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, CUC1/2), ERF (ethylene response factor), MYB (v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog), bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix), and WRKY. This study generated abundant sequences for elucidating the genetic differences between grafted and non-grafted Z. armatum.

Abstract Background Multiprotein bridging factor 1 (MBF1) is a crucial transcriptional coactivator in animals, plants, and some microorganisms, that plays a necessary role in growth development and stress tolerance. Zanthoxylum armatum is an important perennial plant for the condiments and pharmaceutical industries, whereas the potential information in the genes related to stress resistance remains poorly understood in Z. armatum. Results Herein, six representative species were selected for use in a genome-wide investigation of the MBF1 family, including Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Populus trichocarpa, Citrus sinensis, Ginkgo biloba, and Z. armatum. The results showed that the MBF1 genes could be divided into two groups: Group I contained the MBF1a and MBF1b subfamilies, and group II was independent of the MBF1c subfamily.. Most species have at least two different MBF1 genes, and MBF1c is usually an essential member. The three ZaMBF1 genes were respectively located on ZaChr26, ZaChr32, and ZaChr4 of Zanthoxylum chromosomes. The collinearity were occurred between three ZaMBF1 genes, and ZaMBF1c showed the collinearity between Z. armatum and both P. trichocarpa and C. sinensis. Moreover, many cis-elements associated with abiotic stress and phytohormone pathways were detected in the promoter regions of MBF1 of six representative species. The ERF binding sites were the most abundant targets in the sequences of the ZaMBF1 family, and some transcription factor sites related to floral differentiation were also identified in ZaMBF1c, such as MADS, LFY, Dof, and AP2. ZaMBF1a was observed to be very highly expressed in 25 different samples except in the seeds, and ZaMBF1c may be associated with the male and female floral initiation processes. In addition, expression in all the ZaMBF1 genes could be significantly induced by water-logging, cold stress, ethephon, methyl jasmonate, and salicylic acid treatments, especially in ZaMBF1c. Conclusion The present study carried out a comprehensive bioinformatic investigation related to the MBF1 family in six representative species, and the responsiveness of ZaMBF1 genes to various abiotic stresses and phytohormone inductions was also revealed. This work not only lays a solid foundation to uncover the biological roles of the ZaMBF1 family in Z. armatum, but also provides some broad references for conducting the MBF1 research in other plants.

Various physiological and pathological changes are related to the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroinflammation is a major trigger and exacerbation of neurodegenerative diseases. One of the main symptoms of neuritis is the activation of microglia. Thus, to alleviate the occurrence of neuroinflammatory diseases, an important method is to inhibit the abnormal activation of microglia. This research evaluated the inhibitory effect of trans-ferulic acid (TJZ-1) and methyl ferulate (TJZ-2), isolated from Zanthoxylum armatum, on neuroinflammation, by establishing the human HMC3 microglial cell neuroinflammation model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results showed both compounds significantly inhibited the production and expression of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) contents, and increased the level of anti-inflammatory factor β-endorphin (β-EP). Furthermore, TJZ-1 and TJZ-2 can inhibit LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). It was found that of two ferulic acid derivatives, both had anti-neuroinflammatory effects by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway and regulating the release of inflammatory mediators, such as NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and β-EP. This is the first report that demonstrates that TJZ-1 and TJZ-2 had inhibitory effects on LPS-induced neuroinflammation in human HMC3 microglial cells, which indicates that two ferulic acid derivates from Z. armatum could be used as potential anti-neuroinflammatory agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective While essential oils have many applications in medicine, not many studies have been done in the past to address issues of active targeting, enhancing bioavailability and reducing toxicity at higher concentrations. Herein, we used Fmoc-3F-Phe amino acid hydrogels to address such issues by encapsulating essential oils, Zanthoxylum armatum and Cinnamomum camphora, in its system and allowing sustained-release of these oils onto bacterial assays of E. coli ATCC 25922, P. hauseri NBRC 3851, M. luteus KACC 13377, and B. subtilis ATCC 66333 for probing enhanced antibacterial properties of the oils by prolonging its efficacy through controlled-release mechanism. Results We found that while Zanthoxylum oil showed no particular difference in enhancing the antibacterial property against the three fast growing bacteria, however profound variation was observed against slow growing bacteria B. subtilis. The hydrogel encapsulated oil was able to retain its antibacterial property for a longer time while directly applied oil could not for this bacteria. Even for highly volatile camphor oil, the oil itself failed to show any antibacterial property with direct use, however the hydrogel encapsulated oil was able to show excellent antibacterial property for B. subtilis and M. luteus through prohibition of sublimation via encapsulation.

Zanthoxylum armatum DC. is a plant with many medicinal values which is extensively used in traditional system of medicine for curing various diseases and ailments, including cancer. The aim of the present study is to identify Zanthoxylum armatum collected from different parts of Manipur, India, at molecular level. Molecular markers like internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and other DNA barcoding genes such as matK, rbcL, psbA-trnH and trnL-trnF were targeted to find out the most suitable DNA barcode for identifying this species. Sequences obtained using the five primer pairs—ITS An5 and ITS An4, matK-413f-1 and matK-1227r-1, rbcL-1F and rbcL-724R, psbA-F and trnH-R and trnL-F and trnF-R were submitted to GenBank, NCBI. Amongst the five DNA barcoding targets, one nuclear and four chloroplast genes were successfully amplified by PCR (100%) and sequencing (100%) in all the eight plant samples. Sequence similarity of total ITS region (620 bp) when compared to the reference sequence were found to be between 98.55 and 99.68%. In our study, ITS sequence in combination with DNA barcoding sequences of rbcL, trnH-psbA and trnL-trnF was very successful in identification of Z. armatum and differentiate other species clearly in the phylogeny analysis. Our work shows ITS region to be the most suitable DNA barcode which formed a monophyletic group of the species in the phylogenetic tree analysis. The sequences of the barcoding genes of Z. armatum DC. obtained from this study adds to the already available resources which will be helpful in the future research endeavours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response Regulators (RRs) are crucial regulators in plant development and stress responses, comprising A-type, B-type, C-type, and pseudo- RR subfamilies. However, previous studies have often focused on specific subfamilies, which restricts our understanding of the complete RR gene family. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of 63 RR members from Zanthoxylum armatum , using phylogenetic relationships, motif composition, cis -acting elements, gene duplication and collinearity analyses. Segmental repeats among ZaRR genes enhanced the various environmental adaptabilities of Z. armatum , and the B-type ZaRR exhibited significant collinearity with the RR s in P. trichocarpa and C. sinensis. Cis-element analysis indicated ZaRR s play a significant role in abiotic stress and phytohormone pathways, particularly in light, drought, cold, abscisic acid (ABA) and salicylic acid (SA) responses. Abundant Ethylene Response Factor (ERF) and reproduction-associated binding sites in ZaRR promoters suggested their roles in stress and reproductive processes. A-type ZaRR s were implicated in plant vegetative and reproductive growth, whereas B-type ZaRR s contributed to both growth and stress responses. C-type ZaRRs were associated with plant reproductive growth, whereas pseudo- RRs may function in plant stress responses, such as water logging, cold, and response to ethylene (ETH), SA, and jasmonic acid (JA). Ectopic expression of ZaRR24 , a C-type RR , inhibits growth, induces early flowering, and shortens fruit length in Arabidopsis. ZaRR24 overexpression also affected the expression of A- and B-type RR s, as well as floral meristem and organ identity genes. These findings establish a solid and comprehensive foundation for RR gene research in Z. armatum , and provide a platform for investigating signal transduction in other woody plants. • A total of 63 ZaARR members underwent a genome-wide investigation. • Tandem and segmental duplications driven the ZaARR family expansion. • The four ZaARR subfamilies had diverse roles in plant growth and stress responses. • ZaARR24 inhibited plant growth, A- and B-type ARRs , and floral differentiation genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese pepper rust is a live parasitic fungal disease caused by Coleosporium zanthoxyli, which seriously affects the cultivation and industrial development of Z. armatum. Cultivating and planting resistant cultivars is considered the most economical and environmentally friendly strategy to control this disease. Therefore, the mining of excellent genes for rust resistance and the analysis of the mechanism of rust resistance are the key strategies to achieve the targeted breeding of rust resistance. However, there is no relevant report on pepper rust resistance at present. The aim of the present study was to further explore the resistance mechanism of pepper by screening the rust-resistant germplasm resources in the early stage. Combined with the analysis of plant pathology, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, we found that compared with susceptible cultivar TJ, resistant cultivar YK had 2752 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 1253 up-, and 1499 downregulated) and 321 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs, 133 up- and 188 down-accumulated) after pathogen infection. And the genes and metabolites related to phenylpropanoid metabolism were highly enriched in resistant varieties, which indicated that phenylpropanoid metabolism might mediate the resistance of Z. armatum. This finding was further confirmed by a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, which revealed that the expression levels of core genes involved in phenylpropane metabolism in disease-resistant varieties were high. In addition, the difference in flavonoid and MeJA contents in the leaves between resistant and susceptible varieties further supported the conclusion that the flavonoid pathway and methyl jasmonate may be involved in the formation of Chinese pepper resistance. Our research results not only help to better understand the resistance mechanism of Z. armatum rust but also contribute to the breeding and utilization of resistant varieties.

As a typical dioecious species, Zanthoxylum armatum establishes apomictic reproduction, hence only female trees are cultivated. However, male and hermaphrodite flowers have recently appeared in female plants, resulting in a dramatic yield reduction. To date, the genetic basis underlying sex determination and apomixis in Z. armatum has been largely unknown. Here, we observed abortion of the stamen or carpel prior to primordium initiation, thus corroborating the potential regulation of MADS-box in sex determination. In Z. armatum, a total of 105 MADS-box genes were identified, harboring 86 MIKC-type MADSs with lack of FLC orthologues. Transcriptome analysis revealed candidate MADSs involved in floral organ identity, including ten male-biased MADSs, represented by ZaMADS92/81/75(AP3/PI-like), and twenty-six female-specified, represented by ZaMADS80/49 (STK/AGL11-like) and ZaMADS42 (AG-like). Overexpressing ZaMADS92 resulted in earlier flowering, while ZaMADS80 overexpression triggered precocious fruit set and parthenocarpy as well as dramatic modifications in floral organs. To characterize their regulatory mechanisms, a comprehensive protein-protein interaction network of the represented MADSs was constructed based on yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. Compared with model plants, the protein interaction patterns in Z. armatum exhibited both conservation and divergence. ZaMADS70 (SEP3-like) interacted with ZaMADS42 and ZaMADS48 (AP3-like) but not ZaMADS40 (AP1-like), facilitating the loss of petals in Z. armatum. The ZaMADS92/ZaMADS40 heterodimer could be responsible for accelerating flowering in ZaMADS92-OX lines. Moreover, the interactions between ZaMADS80 and ZaMADS67 (AGL32-like) might contribute to apomixis. This work provides new insight into the molecular mechanisms of MADS-boxes in sex organ identity in Z. armatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zanthoxylum armatum DC., a popular spice, and folklore medicine, is widely distributed throughout the Northeastern region of India and practiced by indigenous tribes as a remedy for digestive and nervous system disorders. The study aimed to assess the neuro-protective potentiality of Zanthoxylum armatum extract through different learning and memory paradigms against scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment. For the isolation of the compounds, coarsely powdered shade-dried fruits were extracted with ethanol by the cold maceration method. In silico studies were performed for the isolated compounds. TLC bioautographic enzyme assay was developed to screen acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition by plant extract using donepezil, a known acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Memory retention activities of ethanolic extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg; p.o.) were determined in-vivo , along with an estimation of whole-brain cholinesterase and antioxidant activity. Chromatographic analysis from chloroform fraction resulted in the isolation of three bio-active phytoconstituents, and structural elucidation identified them as β-sitosterol (ZA-01), Stigmasterol (ZA-02), and Lupeol (ZA-03). In silico molecular docking studies revealed stigmasterol has the minimum binding energy with acetylcholinesterase among all the isolated bioactive. The stability of the protein-ligand complex was found satisfactory after performing molecular dynamics simulation studies. Pre-treatment with extract significantly improved transfer latency in maze tests decreased rat brain acetylcholinesterase activity, and showed antioxidant potentiality against scopolamine-induced memory impairment. The combination of neuroprotective, anticholinesterase, and antioxidant effects shown by Z. armatum extract may be what makes it a nootropic drug. These are good signs for the search for natural nootropics from Z. armatum extract. Even so, more research with extracts and isolated compounds will be needed to make the traditional uses of the plant more scientifically sound. [Display omitted] • Zanthoxylum armatum is evaluated for its potential as neuroprotective agent. • β-sitosterol, Stigmasterol and Lupeol were isolated from the plant extract. • In silico molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed. • TLC bioautography, in vivo animal tests showed good neuroprotective action of Zanthoxylum armatum extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) were fabricated using two approaches, namely microwave irradiation (CuO(M)-NPs) and the green synthesis approach (CuO(G)-NPs). Their phase, purity, and structural parameters were confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Rietveld refinement gave an average crystallite size ranging between 17 and 12 nm. Raman analysis indicated the peak shift toward a lower wavenumber in CuO (G)-NPs, attributed to a decrease in particle size due to the addition of Zanthoxylum armatum plant extract. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) micrographs revealed the morphology with well-defined grain boundaries for CuO(G)-NPs, while diffused grains were observed for CuO (M)-NPs synthesized without the use of plant extract indicating that the plant extract restricted the agglomeration of CuO-NPs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed chemisorbed species on the surface of CuO (G)-NPs, which, in turn, influenced their antimicrobial activity. Although no difference in the optical bandgap of both NPs is noticeable, the absorption intensity was higher for CuO (G)-NPs. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) corroborated XPS findings as it revealed that CuO (G)-NP sample underwent more weight loss as the temperature increased owing to the adsorption of organic moieties. The antimicrobial activity of both samples was also evaluated using different pathogenic bacteria and yeast strains: Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The highest zone of inhibition of 23.0 ± 0.5 mm was observed for B. subtilis. The present study exhibited a swift and low-temperature protocol to enhance the antimicrobial performance of the CuO-NPs. The utilization of Z. armatum has the added advantage that nanotechnology processing industries can use this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting has been found to effectively reduce the prickly nature of Zanthoxylum armatum seedlings, but the molecular mechanisms are unclear. A comparative transcriptome analysis was performed on stems (JJ) and leaves (JY) of grafted stems (SJ) and leaves (SY) of non-grafted Zanthoxylum armatum seedlings. The authors obtained 3097, 2124, 5995, and 5043 differentially expressed genes from JJ vs. SJ, JY vs. SY, JY vs. JJ, and SY vs. SJ with 17 co-expressed genes. The RNA-seq results were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis. Function annotations showed that many DEGs enriched plant hormone signal transduction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and plant-pathogen interaction. Secondary metabolites associated with stress-related hormones and defense were noticeably upregulated in grafted plants. However, key enzymes regulating lignin synthesis were slightly down-regulated in grafted plants. Additionally, grafted plants had several noticeable up-regulated stress-response TFs (transcription factors), including NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, CUC1/2), ERF (ethylene response factor), MYB (v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog), bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix), and WRKY. This study generated abundant sequences for elucidating the genetic differences between grafted and non-grafted Z. armatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiprotein bridging factor 1 (MBF1) is a crucial transcriptional coactivator in animals, plants, and some microorganisms, that plays a necessary role in growth development and stress tolerance. Zanthoxylum armatum is an important perennial plant for the condiments and pharmaceutical industries, whereas the potential information in the genes related to stress resistance remains poorly understood in Z. armatum. Results: Herein, six representative species were selected for use in a genome-wide investigation of the MBF1 family, including Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Populus trichocarpa, Citrus sinensis, Ginkgo biloba, and Z. armatum. The results showed that the MBF1 genes could be divided into two groups: Group I contained the MBF1a and MBF1b subfamilies, and group II was independent of the MBF1c subfamily.. Most species have at least two different MBF1 genes, and MBF1c is usually an essential member. The three ZaMBF1 genes were respectively located on ZaChr26, ZaChr32, and ZaChr4 of Zanthoxylum chromosomes. The collinearity were occurred between three ZaMBF1 genes, and ZaMBF1c showed the collinearity between Z. armatum and both P. trichocarpa and C. sinensis. Moreover, many cis-elements associated with abiotic stress and phytohormone pathways were detected in the promoter regions of MBF1 of six representative species. The ERF binding sites were the most abundant targets in the sequences of the ZaMBF1 family, and some transcription factor sites related to floral differentiation were also identified in ZaMBF1c, such as MADS, LFY, Dof, and AP2. ZaMBF1a was observed to be very highly expressed in 25 different samples except in the seeds, and ZaMBF1c may be associated with the male and female floral initiation processes. In addition, expression in all the ZaMBF1 genes could be significantly induced by water-logging, cold stress, ethephon, methyl jasmonate, and salicylic acid treatments, especially in ZaMBF1c. Conclusion: The present study carried out a comprehensive bioinformatic investigation related to the MBF1 family in six representative species, and the responsiveness of ZaMBF1 genes to various abiotic stresses and phytohormone inductions was also revealed. This work not only lays a solid foundation to uncover the biological roles of the ZaMBF1 family in Z. armatum, but also provides some broad references for conducting the MBF1 research in other plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytic bacteria inhabit all or part of their life cycle within the tissues of healthy plants, without causing any apparent symptoms of disease. They are treasure trove of several hydrolytic enzymes with distinct characteristics. Esterase is one of such enzymes and this study aims to characterize esterase produced by endophytic actinobacteria Cellulomonas fimi DB19 isolated from Zanthoxylum armatum with its capacity to degrade diesel oil. The enzyme was purified with purification fold 8.22 and specific activity 124.72 U/mg with 16.43% recovery. The purified enzyme showed a single protein band on SDS-PAGE having molecular mass of approximately 39 kDa. The Km and Vmax value for p-nitrophenyl acetate were 2.23 mM and 22.04 U/mL, respectively. The enzyme was stable in the pH range 6–9 with its optimal activity at pH 8.0. The enzyme was stable at 40 °C and retained more than 80% activity after incubation for two h. The enzyme activity was positively influenced in the presence of Na+, Ba2+, Ca2+, and negatively by Mn2+, and Mg2+. The EDTA and PMSF inhibited the enzyme activity and retained its activity in the presence of SDS, H2O2, β-mercaptoethanol, and organic solvents. Application of the isolate in degradation of diesel showed that its growth and degradation capacity enhanced in media supplemented with 0.2–4% of diesel oil with maximum at 3% of diesel oil. Furthermore, esterase activity was greater in media containing diesel than control which is suggesting the plausible role of esterase produced by Cellulomonas fimi DB19 in the degradation of diesel oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zanthoxylum armatum is a prominent plant for food industries. Its male flowers often occur in gynogenesis plants; however, the potential mechanism remains poorly understood. Herein, a total of 26 floral sex differentiation stages were observed to select four vital phases to reveal key factors by using RNA-seq, phytohormones and carbohydrates investigation. The results showed that a selective abortion of stamen or pistil primordia could result in the floral sex differentiation in Z. armatum. Carbohydrates might collaborate with cytokinin to effect the male floral differentiation, whereas female floral differentiation was involved in SA, GA1, and ABA biosynthesis and signal transduction pathways. Meanwhile, these endogenous regulators associated with reproductive growth might be integrated into ABCDE model to regulate the floral organ differentiation in Z. armatum. Furthermore, the 21 crucial candidates were identified in co-expression network, which would contribute to uncovering their roles in floral sex differentiation of Z. armatum in further studies. To the best of our knowledge, this study was the first comprehensive investigation to link floral sex differentiation with multi-level endogenous regulatory factors in Z. armatum. It also provided new insights to explore the regulatory mechanism of floral sex differentiation, which would be benefited to cultivate high-yield varieties in Z. armatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth-regulating factors (GRFs) are plant-specific transcription factors that play an important role in plant growth and development. In this study, fifteen GRF gene members containing QLQ and WRC domains were identified in Zanthoxylum armatum. Phylogenetic and collinearity analysis showed that ZaGRFs were closely related to CsGRFs and AtGRFs, and distantly related to OsGRFs. There are a large number of cis-acting elements related to hormone response and stress induction in the GRF gene promoter region of Z. armatum. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that except for ZaGRF7, all the ZaGRFs were highly expressed in young parts with active growth and development, including terminal buds, seeds, and young flowers, suggesting their key roles in Z. armatum growth and development. Eight ZaGRFs were selected to investigate the transcriptional response to auxin, gibberellin and drought treatments. A total of six ZaGRFs in the NAA treatment, four ZaGRFs in the GA3 treatment, and six ZaGRFs in the PEG treatment were induced and significantly up-regulated. Overexpression of ZaGRF6 increased branching and chlorophyll content and delayed senescence of transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana. ZaGRF6 increased the expression of CRF2 and suppressed the expression of ARR4 and CKX1, indicating that ZaGRF6 is involved in cytokinin metabolism and signal transduction. These research results lay a foundation for further analysis of the GRF gene function of Z. armatum and provide candidate genes for growth, development, and stress resistance breeding of Z. armatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: While essential oils have many applications in medicine, not many studies have been done in the past to address issues of active targeting, enhancing bioavailability and reducing toxicity at higher concentrations. Herein, we used Fmoc-3F-Phe amino acid hydrogels to address such issues by encapsulating essential oils, Zanthoxylum armatum and Cinnamomum camphora, in its system and allowing sustained-release of these oils onto bacterial assays of E. coli ATCC 25922, P. hauseri NBRC 3851, M. luteus KACC 13377, and B. subtilis ATCC 66333 for probing enhanced antibacterial properties of the oils by prolonging its efficacy through controlled-release mechanism. Results: We found that while Zanthoxylum oil showed no particular difference in enhancing the antibacterial property against the three fast growing bacteria, however profound variation was observed against slow growing bacteria B. subtilis. The hydrogel encapsulated oil was able to retain its antibacterial property for a longer time while directly applied oil could not for this bacteria. Even for highly volatile camphor oil, the oil itself failed to show any antibacterial property with direct use, however the hydrogel encapsulated oil was able to show excellent antibacterial property for B. subtilis and M. luteus through prohibition of sublimation via encapsulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Zanthoxylum armatum, its peels possessed better special flavour, as well as various bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-tumour. In our chemical investigation on the peels of Z. armatum, two new lignans (1 and 2) and three known lignans (3–5) were isolated by silica gel column chromatography, ODS column and preparative HPLC and their structures were established as zanthlignans A and B (1–2), (-)-asarinin (3), phylligenin (4) and planispine A (5) through various spectroscopic techniques including UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, NMR and CD methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zanthoxylum armatum DC. (Family Rutaceae) is an important species gaining tremendous popularity owing to its multiple uses in diverse medicine systems. The species is harvested from the wild to meet the demand for pharmaceutical and domestic purposes. However, overexploitation of Z. armatum has imposed severe pressure on this species in its natural habitat. Therefore, there is an urgent need of conservation and sustainable utilization of this species. In the present study, population level admixture and genetic variations among 100 individuals collected from 19 distant populations of Z. armatum was investigated using random amplified polymorphic DNA and Inter simple sequence repeats markers. At population level, low genetic diversity (He = 0.298 and 0.346 respectively) was recorded as compared to species level by using both type of markers. Analysis of molecular variance exhibited low among population differences (14 and 11%, respectively) and high intra population variations. The study revealed high genetic differentiation and small gene flow in Z. armatum. Based on the genetic data obtained from this study, we recommend diverse approaches for conservation to efficiently manage this endangered species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on genetic diversity and population genetic structure of Z. armatum from Uttarakhand, a Western Himalayan state of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green Sichuan pepper (Zanthoxylum armatum) is an important economic fruit crop, which is widely planted in the southwest region of China. Recently, a serious disease, namely flower yellowing disease (FYD), broke out, and the virus of green Sichuan pepper nepovirus (GSPNeV) was identified to be highly correlated with the viral symptoms. Meanwhile, green Sichuan pepper idaeovirus (GSPIV) and green Sichuan pepper enamovirus (GSPEV) were also common viruses infecting green pepper. In our research, specific primers were designed according to the reported sequences of the three viruses, and a multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method for the simultaneous detection of GSPNeV, GSPIV, and GSPEV was established. The annealing temperature, extension time, and cycle number affecting the multiplex RT-PCR reaction were adjusted and optimized. Sensitivity analysis showed that the system could detect the three viruses simultaneously from the complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) samples diluted by 10−3. The results of the ten samples detected by the multiplex RT-PCR system were consistent with the results of a single PCR, indicating that the method can be successfully used for rapid detection of field samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fruits of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. were collected from different altitudes (1000–2000 m) and populations (wild and cultivated) from Salyan district, Nepal. The essential oil was extracted by Clevenger apparatus and the components were analyzed through GC-MS. The yield of essential oil obtained from hydro-distillation of fruits ranged from 2.72 to 7.6%. The maximum yield was 7.6% from wild fruits at 1600–1800 m altitude and the minimum was 2.72% from cultivated fruits at 1000–1200 m altitude. This was the highest recorded essential oil yield from Z. armatum fruits. A total of 13 volatile compounds were identified from the essential oil by GC-MS analysis. The major components were linalool, cinnamate (E)methyl, limonene, myrcene, sabinene and terpinen-4-ol, which were present in higher proportion in all the samples. Other components were identified in a very low proportion. The main component linalool occurred in the highest proportion (74.12%) from wild populations at 1600–1800 m altitude and the lowest (44.73%) was from cultivated populations at 1000–1200 m altitude. The highest proportion of linalool was also reported for the first time in this study from Z. armatum fruits. Among the six major components of the essential oil, terpinen-4-ol was present in the lowest proportion. Results of the present study indicated that the altitude and habitat types could affect the essential oil composition in Zanthoxylum armatum fruits.

Abstract Background Zanthoxylum armatum (Z. armatum) is a highly economically important tree that presents a special numbing taste. However, the underlying regulatory mechanism of the numbing taste remains poorly understood. Thus, the elucidation of the key genes associated with numbing taste biosynthesis pathways is critical for providing genetic information on Z. armatumand the breeding of high-quality germplasms of this species. Results Here, de novo transcriptome assembly was performed for the five major organs of Z. armatum, including the roots, stems, leaf buds, mature leaves and fruits. A total of 111,318 unigenes were generated with an average length of 1014 bp. Additionally, a large number of SSRs were obtained to improve our understanding of the phylogeny and genetics of Z. armatum. The organ-specific unigenes of the five major samples were screened and annotated via GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. A total of 53 and 34 unigenes that were exclusively upregulated in fruit samples were identified as candidate unigenes for terpenoid biosynthesis or fatty acid biosynthesis, elongation and degradation pathways, respectively. Moreover, 40 days after fertilization (Fr4 stage) could be an important period for the accumulation of terpenoid compounds during the fruit development and maturation of Z. armatum. The Fr4 stage could be a key point at which the first few steps of the fatty acid biosynthesis process are promoted, and the catalysis of subsequent reactions could be significantly induced at 62 days after fertilization (Fr6 stage). Conclusions The present study realized de novo transcriptome assembly for the five major organs of Z. armatum. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first comprehensive analysis revealing the genes underlying the special numbing taste of Z. armatum. The assembled transcriptome profiles expand the available genetic information on this species and will contribute to gene functional studies, which will aid in the engineering of high-quality cultivars of Z. armatum.

Objective: Oxidative stress causes multidirectional damage including different types of cancers in our body by affecting the normal physiological functions of the cells and tissues. The objective is to study the cytotoxic and antioxidant potential of natural compounds isolated from fruits of Z. armatum DC. Methods: This study was designed to investigate the chemical nature as well as biological effects of natural compounds. The isolated compounds were tested for antioxidant effect in various ways e.g. DPPH free radical inhibition, ferric reducing effect, superoxide dismutase, and catalase evaluation. The cytotoxic effect of isolated compounds was evaluated using HepG2 cancer cells. Results: Chemical investigations on the fruits of Z. armatum DC, led to the isolation of two new compounds characterized as (cis)-2, 8-dimethyl-non-5-en-8-ol-2-olyl benzoate (1), (cis)-2, 10-dimethyl-undec-7-en-10-ol-2-olyl benzoate (2) along with five known compounds such as n-dodecanyl linoleniate (3), n-octacos-10, 20-dienoic acid (4), (cis, cis)-dotriacont-6, 12-dienoic acid (5), lignoceric acid (6), and (cis, cis)-dotriacont-6, 8-dienoic acid (7). Compound 1 shows potent activity against HepG2 cancer cells in comparison 2 and significantly affected the viability of cells till 48 hrs. The highest antioxidant potential among compounds and extracts with respect to DPPH free radical inhibition and the ferric reducing effect was shown by compound 1 followed by 2 and 7 with an EC50 value of 19.44, 20.44 and, 22.46 respectively. Conclusions: The present study indicates that compound (1) showed a significant effect against HepG2 cancer cells as well as antioxidant potential through DPPH and FRAP methods. Compounds 2 and 7 also proved to be useful up to some extent for antioxidant potential.

Various physiological and pathological changes are related to the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroinflammation is a major trigger and exacerbation of neurodegenerative diseases. One of the main symptoms of neuritis is the activation of microglia. Thus, to alleviate the occurrence of neuroinflammatory diseases, an important method is to inhibit the abnormal activation of microglia. This research evaluated the inhibitory effect of trans-ferulic acid (TJZ-1) and methyl ferulate (TJZ-2), isolated from Zanthoxylum armatum, on neuroinflammation, by establishing the human HMC3 microglial cell neuroinflammation model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results showed both compounds significantly inhibited the production and expression of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) contents, and increased the level of anti-inflammatory factor β-endorphin (β-EP). Furthermore, TJZ-1 and TJZ-2 can inhibit LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). It was found that of two ferulic acid derivatives, both had anti-neuroinflammatory effects by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway and regulating the release of inflammatory mediators, such as NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and β-EP. This is the first report that demonstrates that TJZ-1 and TJZ-2 had inhibitory effects on LPS-induced neuroinflammation in human HMC3 microglial cells, which indicates that two ferulic acid derivates from Z. armatum could be used as potential anti-neuroinflammatory agents.