Characterization of the transcriptional profiles in common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) under PEG-mediated drought stress

BACKGROUND: Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is an important staple food crop in southwest China, where drought stress is one of the largest limiting factors that lead to decreased crop production. To reveal the molecular mechanism of common buckwheat in response to drought stress, we performed a comprehensive transcriptomics study to evaluate gene expression profiles of common buckwheat during PEG-mediated drought treatment. RESULTS: In total, 45 million clean reads were assembled into 53,404 unigenes with an average length of 749 bp and N50 length of 1296 bp. A total of 1329 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by comparing wellwatered and drought-treated plants, out of which 666 were upregulated and 663 were downregulated. Furthermore, we defined the functional characteristics of DEGs using GO and KEGG classifications. GO enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were significantly overrepresented in four categories, namely, "oxidoreductase activity," "oxidation­reduction process," "xyloglucan:xyloglucosyl transferase activity," and "apoplast." Using KEGG pathway analysis, a large number of annotated genes were overrepresented in terms such as "plant hormone signal transduction," "phenylpropanoid biosynthesis," "photosynthesis," and "carbon metabolism." Conclusions: These results can be further exploited to investigate the molecular mechanism of common buckwheat in response to drought treatment and could supply with valuable molecular sources for abiotic-tolerant elite breeding programs in the future.

Content Determination and Analysis of Flavonoids in Buckwheat from Guizhou Province Content Determination and Analysis of Flavonoids in Buckwheat from Guizhou Province / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for contents determination of rutin,quercetin and total flavonoids in Buck-wheat,and compare the difference of flavone in buckwheat in different varieties and areas. METHODS:HPLC was adopted for content determination of rutin and quercetin:the column was Aglient C18 with mobile phase of methanol-0.4%phosphoric acid(gra-dient elution)at a flow rate of 1 ml/min,detection wavelength was 360 nm,column temperature was 40 ℃,and injection volume was 10 μl;UV spectrophotometry was adopted for content determination of total flavonoids:reference solution was methanol,de-tection wavelength was 360 nm,the standard was rutin. Statistical method was used to analyze the differences among the Fagopy-rum tataricum,F. esculentum and flavonoids of F. tataricum from different areas. RESULTS:The linear range was 0.400 9-16.03 μg for rutin (r=0.999 4) and 0.009 9-0.396 0 μg for quercetin (r=0.999 7),RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were lower than 2%,recoveries were 99.33%-104.00%(RSD=1.32%,n=9) and 96.92%-101.66%(RSD=1.60%,n=9),re-spectively. The linear range of total flavonoids(recovded by rutin)was 4.14-41.4 mg/L(r=0.999 9),RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were lower than 2,and recovery was 96.07%-101.96%(RSD=2.63%,n=9). The content of flavonoids on F. esculentum is significantly higher than in F. tataricum from the same area,and F. tataricum in Bijie area is better than other places. CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,stable,reproducible,and can be used for the contents determination of rutin, quercetin and total flavonoids in F. esculentum. The study can provide theoretical basis for developing and using buckwheat.

Alpha and Beta amylase activity of Fagopyrum esculentum (Buckwheat): A Medicinal Plant

Background and Objectives: Fagopyrum esculentum, common buckwheat popularly known as mithe fapar is one of the staple food crops of the mountain region. Traditionally, it is used to treat constipation and bowel upsets. It is also used by diabetic in different parts of Nepal and India. Due to its high nutritive and medicinal value, medical scientist and researchers are interested in developing this as pharmaceutical plant. In this regard department of biochemistry, College of Applied Education and Health Sciences, C.C.S. University, Meerut, India is working to analyse the biochemical composition and benefits of this plant. So, as a part of a multidimensional project of analyzing various components and their impact on health and diseases, here we are reporting the amylase activity during germination of seed in Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) plant. Methodology: Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) seeds were taken and germinated in dark at room temperature from 0 hours to 192 hours. Biochemical analysis for total amylase, alpha and beta amylase activities was measured by the standard method designed by Bernfeld (1955). Results: The seeds of buckwheat showed high level of amylolytic activity during different stages of germination. At 0 hours, negligible amylase activity was found. The first amylase activity was found at 24 hours and increases up to 96 hours. After 96 hours the total amylase activity starts decreasing and becomes almost negligible at 192 hours. Alpha and Beta –Amylase activity is reported separately. Conclusion: The amylases from the buckwheat showed different level of enzymatic activity during seed germination. Alpha amylase contributed a larger account to total amylase activity. The activity starts increasing and becomes maximum at 96 hours and starts decreasing and becomes lowest at 192 hours suggesting that alpha amylase plays a important role in starch metabolism in developing as well as geminating seeds which can be used for the drug discovery and treatment of several diseases like diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, constipation, bowel upsets, obesity and others.

Rutin- potent natural thrombolytic agent.

Thrombosis, the formation of blood clots, is a cause not only of heart attacks and strokes, but of deep venous throm-bosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism as well. The number one killer of Americans is a blood clot that blocks blood flow to the heart or to the brain and approximately half of all morbidity and mortality in the United States can be attributed to heart attack or stroke. All the blood clot related conditions are life-threatening, and so there is a need for safe, effective and preventive treatment. A natural substance rutin, also called rutoside, is a citrus flavonoid glycoside found in Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat), the leaves and petioles of Rheum species, and Asparagus. This flavonoid compound has shown effective thrombolytic activity (prevents the formation of blood clots) by blocking the enzyme protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) found in all cells involved in blood clotting. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established that rutin is safe and, thus provides a safe and inexpensive drug that could reduce recurrent clots and help save thousands of lives.

Effects of PFEM and SOD on Cerebral Ischemia Followed by Reperfusion in Gerbils / 昆明医科大学学报

By the ligation of gerbils bilateral carotid arteries and then reperfusion, the effects of PFEM and SOD on the stroke index were evaluated after a 45 min cerebral ischemia followed by a 6 hr reperfusion period and on the mortality after a 24 hr reperfusion period. The resulta indicated that both PFEM and SOD could decrease the stroke index and mortality dramatically. We speculated upon the protective effect of PFEM on cerebral damage following ischemia with reperfusion. It might be due to the inhibition of the free radical metabolism.