ABSTRACT
Precise, species-level identification of plants in foods and dietary supplements is difficult. While the use of DNA barcoding regions (short regions of DNA with diagnostic utility) has been effective for many inquiries, it is not always a robust approach for closely related species, especially in highly processed products. The use of fully sequenced chloroplast genomes, as an alternative to short diagnostic barcoding regions, has demonstrated utility for closely related species. The U.âS. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also developed species-specific DNA-based assays targeting plant species of interest by utilizing chloroplast genome sequences. Here, we introduce a repository of complete chloroplast genome sequences called GenomeTrakrCP, which will be publicly available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Target species for inclusion are plants found in foods and dietary supplements, toxin producers, common contaminants and adulterants, and their close relatives. Publicly available data will include annotated assemblies, raw sequencing data, and voucher information with each NCBI accession associated with an authenticated reference herbarium specimen. To date, 40 complete chloroplast genomes have been deposited in GenomeTrakrCP (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA325670/), and this will be expanded in the future.
Subject(s)
Databases, Nucleic Acid/standards , Genome, Chloroplast/genetics , Plants/classification , DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic , DNA, Chloroplast/chemistry , DNA, Chloroplast/genetics , Molecular Sequence Annotation , Plant Leaves/classification , Plant Leaves/genetics , Plants/genetics , Reference Standards , Species Specificity , United States , United States Food and Drug AdministrationABSTRACT
The objective of the present study was to determine whether concentrations of different isoflavones (puerarin, genistein, genistin, daidzein, and daidzin) in shoots and roots of five selected soybean genotypes would respond the same or differently to red (650 nm peak transmittance) and far-red (750 nm peak transmittance) light treatments given under controlled environments. Levels of isoflavones (mg g(-1) dry weight biomass) present in seeds, control roots, and shoots and 10 day light-treated seedlings (light, dark, red, and far-red wavelengths) of soybean (Glycine max) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis in comparison with known isoflavone standards. Seeds of the five soybean genotypes studied consistently stored most of their isoflavones as glucosyl conjugates (e.g., daidzin, genistin, and puerarin). For the five soybean genotypes, isoflavone levels were lower in the seeds as compared with roots plus shoots of control, time zero (first true leaf stage) seedlings. Following 10 days of the respective light treatments, we found that (i) isoflavone levels were enhanced in dark-grown plants over light-grown plants for three of the five genotypes (a new finding) and the reverse occurred for a single genotype (a typical response of legumes) and (ii) generally, far-red end of day (EOD) light treatment enhanced total isoflavone levels in roots plus shoots over red EOD light treatment. Results from the present study show that phytochrome does appear to play a role in regulating isoflavone levels in developing soybean seedlings and that this influence by red/far-red-mediated phytochrome reactions is strongly dependent on the genotypes selected for study.
Subject(s)
Genotype , Glycine max/chemistry , Glycine max/genetics , Isoflavones/analysis , Light , Phytochrome/physiology , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Plant Roots/chemistry , Seedlings/chemistry , Seeds/chemistry , Time FactorsABSTRACT
A bioassay-guided investigation of Gustavia hexapetala led to the isolation of a new cancer cell growth inhibitor designated gustastatin (1) and four previously known cancer cell growth inhibitors that included betulinic acid (2). The structures were assigned on the basis of analyses of HRMS combined with 1D and 2D NMR data. The structure of portentol (5) was confirmed by an X-ray crystal structure determination.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/isolation & purification , Lecythidaceae/chemistry , Oleanolic Acid/analogs & derivatives , Phenols/chemistry , Phenols/isolation & purification , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology , Brazil , Crystallography, X-Ray , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor , Leukemia P388 , Mice , Molecular Structure , Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular , Oleanolic Acid/chemistry , Oleanolic Acid/isolation & purification , Oleanolic Acid/pharmacology , Pentacyclic Triterpenes , Phenols/pharmacology , Trees , Triterpenes/chemistry , Triterpenes/isolation & purification , Triterpenes/pharmacology , Betulinic AcidABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: In this study, our working hypothesis was that continuous light and fungal elicitation treatment of legume seedlings would lead to enhanced levels of isoflavonoids and soluble proteins. RESULTS: Based on short-term light and dark treatments, isoflavonoid (genistein, genistin, daidzein, and daidzin) and soluble protein concentrations were significantly upregulated in the "light" environment compared to the "dark" environment for all edible legume species (kudzu vine, soybean, garbanzo bean, fava bean, mung bean, adzuki bean) that were tested. Kudzu seedlings showed the highest levels of both isoflavonoids and soluble proteins after light-elicited upregulation compared to the other legumes analyzed. All legumes showed less up-regulation of isoflavonoid synthesis when treated with Phytophtora sojae fungal elicitor. Oligosaccharide fungal elicitor caused no such upregulation. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this study show that edible legume seedlings have enhanced levels of isoflavonoids and soluble proteins when they are grown in the light compared to the conventional practice of growing such seedlings in the dark. This will clearly result in significant improvement in their nutritive and medicinal value.
Subject(s)
Dietary Proteins/metabolism , Fabaceae/chemistry , Fabaceae/metabolism , Isoflavones/metabolism , Light , Plant Proteins/metabolism , Antigens, Fungal/therapeutic use , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Edible Grain/chemistry , Edible Grain/metabolism , Humans , Nutritive Value , Seeds/metabolism , Up-RegulationABSTRACT
Herbal remedies have always been used by Jamaicans for treating a variety of illnesses. However, although many of these medicinal herbs contain beneficial bioactive ingredients, not all of them are safe! Some have toxic components while others, if taken inappropriately, can harm the body's organs and even mask the symptoms of more serious conditions. The authors propose integrating these "alternative" medicinal practices into the healthcare delivery system, beginning with a systematic testing of the remedies used, so that their bioactive ingredients can be identified and dosages standardized
Subject(s)
Humans , Medicine, Traditional , Jamaica , Medical Assistance , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Plants, Medicinal/drug effects , Plants, Medicinal/toxicity , Materia Medica , West Indies , Caribbean Region , Herbal MedicineABSTRACT
Herbal remedies have always been used by Jamaicans for treating a variety of illnesses. However, although many of these medicinal herbs contain beneficial bioactive ingredients, not all of them are safe! Some have toxic components while others, if taken inappropriately, can harm the body's organs and even mask the symptoms of more serious conditions. The authors propose integrating these "alternative" medicinal practices into the healthcare delivery system, beginning with a systematic testing of the remedies used, so that their bioactive ingredients can be identified and dosages standardized
