R2R3-MYB Gene Family in Coptis teeta Wall.: Genome-Wide Identification, Phylogeny, Evolutionary Expansion, and Expression Analyses during Floral Development.

The R2R3-MYB gene family represents a widely distributed class of plant transcription factors. This gene family plays an important role in many aspects of plant growth and development. However, the characterization of R2R3-MYB genes present in the genome of Coptis teeta has not been reported. Here, we describe the bioinformatic identification and characterization of 88 R2R3-MYB genes in this species, and the identification of members of the R2R3-MYB gene family in species within the order Ranales most closely related to Coptis teeta. The CteR2R3-MYB genes were shown to exhibit a higher degree of conservation compared to those of A. thaliana, as evidenced by phylogeny, conserved motifs, gene structure, and replication event analyses. Cis-acting element analysis confirmed the involvement of CteR2R3-MYB genes in a variety of developmental processes, including growth, cell differentiation, and reproduction mediated by hormone synthesis. In addition, through homology comparisons with the equivalent gene family in A. thaliana, protein regulatory network prediction and transcriptome data analysis of floral organs across three time periods of flower development, 17 candidate genes were shown to exhibit biased expression in two floral phenotypes of C. teeta. This suggests their potential involvement in floral development (anther development) in this species.

Benzyl-isoquinoline alkaloids rich extract of Coptis teeta Wall., exhibit potential efficacy in calcium-oxalate and uric-acid linked metabolic disorders.

Coptis teeta Wall., an endangered but valuable medicinal species having various folklore uses in Indian and Chinese Traditional system of medicine. Its distribution is restricted to India, China and Tibet. In India, C. teeta is traditionally used in joint disorders, urinary infections and inflammatory diseases, however the scientific validation is missing. Thus, the present study aims to validate the anti-lithiatic and anti-gout activity of C. teeta rhizome extract (CTME) through in-vitro biological assays. The metabolic fingerprinting of CTME through reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array (RP-HPLC-PDA) showed the presence of five benzyl-isoquinoline alkaloids, namely berberine (2.59%), coptisine (0.746%) jatrorrhizine (0.133%), palmatine (0.03%) and tetrahydropalmatine (0.003%). The anti-gout potency analysed via in-vitro xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibition assay, followed by HPTLC (High performance thin layer chromatography) mediated bio-autographic inhibition of XOD signifies that CTME exhibit strong inhibition of XOD (IC50: 3.014 µg/ml), insignificantly different (p > 0.05) from allopurinol (IC50: 2.47 µg/ml). The XOD bioautographic assay advocates that the efficacy is primarily due to berberine and coptisine alkaloids. The CTME has significant anti-lithiatic activity, and thereby limiting the progression of crystal nidus formation, mediated via inhibition of calcium oxalate crystals nucleation and aggregation. Additionally, the extract also exhibits potential effect on inhibition of oxidative stress associated inflammation, which plays crucial role in alleviating urolithiasis and gouty conditions. Validating the traditional claims of C. teeta will not only confirm its medicinal benefits for targeted pathological conditions but also enhance its industrial demand.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the C2H2-zinc finger transcription factor gene family and screening of candidate genes involved in floral development in Coptis teeta Wall. (Ranunculaceae).

Background: C2H2-zinc finger transcription factors comprise one of the largest and most diverse gene superfamilies and are involved in the transcriptional regulation of flowering. Although a large number of C2H2 zinc-finger proteins (C2H2-ZFPs) have been well characterized in a number of model plant species, little is known about their expression and function in Coptis teeta. C. teeta displays two floral phenotypes (herkogamy phenotypes). It has been proposed that the C2H2-zinc finger transcription factor family may play a crucial role in the formation of floral development and herkogamy observed in C. teeta. As such, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the C2H2-ZFP gene family in C. teeta. Results: The complexity and diversity of C. teeta C2H2 zinc finger proteins were established by evaluation of their physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, exon-intron structure, and conserved motifs. Chromosome localization showed that 95 members of the C2H2 zinc-finger genes were unevenly distributed across the nine chromosomes of C. teeta, and that these genes were replicated in tandem and segmentally and had undergone purifying selection. Analysis of cis-acting regulatory elements revealed a possible involvement of C2H2 zinc-finger proteins in the regulation of phytohormones. Transcriptome data was then used to compare the expression levels of these genes during the growth and development of the two floral phenotypes (F-type and M-type). These data demonstrate that in groups A and B, the expression levels of 23 genes were higher in F-type flowers, while 15 genes showed higher expressions in M-type flowers. qRT-PCR analysis further revealed that the relative expression was highly consistent with the transcriptome data. Conclusion: These data provide a solid basis for further in-depth studies of the C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor gene family in this species and provide preliminary information on which to base further research into the role of the C2H2 ZFPs gene family in floral development in C. teeta.

Indian traditional medicinal plants in ophthalmic diseases.

Objective: Traditional herbal plants have been in use since ancient times to treat ophthalmic conditions; so, the aim of this study is to evaluate some potent Indian traditional medicinal plants used in ophthalmic diseases in order to summarize their potential effect in ophthalmology along with their mechanism of action. Materials and Methods: Databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase were extensively explored. Additionally, relevant textbooks and literatures were consulted to summarize most of the considerable scientific literature for the review. Search term included ophthalmology, glaucoma, cataract, trachoma, conjunctivitis, traditional medicines, Unani drugs, and ayurvedic drugs were used. Around 80 review articles were consulted from the year 1982 to 2021. Results: The traditional medicinal plants are easily available, cost-effective and have no associated side effects in comparison to current conventional treatments. Moreover, these drugs in oppose to modern medicine, have an inherent potential to accelerate the body's own immunity to fight against any infection. A large volume of scientific studies has reported the beneficial effects of traditional drugs in ophthalmology. Conclusion: This review, therefore, describes the potential benefits and uses of some traditional medicinal plants used in ophthalmic diseases.

Bioinformatics analysis of endophytic bacteria related to berberine in the Chinese medicinal plant Coptis teeta Wall.

Endophytic microorganisms absorb nutrients and prevent pathogen damage, supporting healthy plant growth. However, the relationship between endophytic bacteria and berberine synthesis in the medicinal plant Coptis teeta Wall. remains unclear. Herein, we explored the community composition of endophytic bacteria related to berberine in roots, stems, and leaves of wild-type and cultivated C. teeta. Endophytic bacterial communities were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing, and berberine content in roots was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the major phyla, and Mycobacterium, Salmonella, Nocardioides, Burkholderia-Paraburkholderia, and Rhizobium were the dominant genera in root, stem, and leaf tissues. Root berberine content was positively correlated with total N, total P, total K, and available K in rhizosphere soil. In addition, root berberine content was positively correlated with Microbacterium and norank_f_7B-8, whereas soil total K was positively correlated with Microbacterium and Burkholderia-Paraburkholderia in roots. Our results demonstrated a clear correlation between dominant endophytic bacteria and berberine synthesis in C. teeta. The findings are useful for the promotion of berberine production in C. teeta via manipulation of endophytic bacteria.

Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of 10 alkaloids in beagle plasma after the oral administration of the three Coptidis rhizoma extracts.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Coptidis rhizoma (CR) is the dried rhizome of the ranunculaceous plant CR. For decades in China, this plant has been used to treat hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and chronic diarrhea and has been officially included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The present paper presents a review of the pharmacokinetics of CR. AIM OF THE STUDY: The pharmacokinetic studies and differences of 10 alkaloids among Coptis deltoidea C. Y. cheng et Hsiao, Coptis chinensis Franch and Coptis teeta Wall. Are seldom reported. This study is the first to determine corydaline, dehydrocorydaline, tetrahydropalmatine, palmatine, magnoflorine, jatrorrhizine, berberine, worenine, berberrubine, and coptisine, which adopted an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry, simultaneously. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chromatographic separation was performed within 8 min by using an Agilent SB-C18 column (150 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 µm) with gradient mobile phase consisting of 0.3% acetic acid water (v/v) and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Multiple reaction monitoring mode was used to detect the tandem mass spectrum in the positive ionization mode by electrospray ionization source. RESULTS: The method was fully validated to be linear over a wide concentration (r > 0.9916), and the linear concentration range was 0.195-2260 ng/mL. Intra- and interday precisions were below 14.19% and 18.56% for the 10 analytes, respectively. The accuracy ranged from -9.30% to 6.31%. The extraction recovery of the 10 alkaloids and internal standard ranged from 79.76% to 95.37%. Pharmacokinetic comparative study showed that the Cmax and AUC0-∞ values of dehydrocorydaline, tetrahydropalmatine, palmatine, magnoflorine, jatrorrhizine, berberine, worenine, berberrubine, and coptisine increased significantly (p < 0.05), which was different for beagles after oral administration. The results can help determine the mechanism of action and guide clinical application of these three extracts. CONCLUSION: This validated method was successfully applied for the pharmacokinetics study of beagle plasma after oral administration of three CR extract types.

Simultaneous Determination of 6 Alkaloids in Coptis teeta by HPLC / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To develop a method for simultaneous determination of 6 alkaloids in Coptis teeta.METHODS:The determination was performed on XtimateTM C18 with mobile phase consisted of 30 mmol/L ammonium bicarbonate [containing 0.1％ triethylamine and 0.7％ ammonia-acetonitrile (gradient elution)] at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.The detection wavelength was set at 270 nm,the column temperature was 30 ℃,and the sample size was 10 μL.RESULTS:The linear ranges of jateorrhizine,columbamine,epiberberine,coptisine,palmatine hydrochloride and berberine hydrochloride were 0.85-16.96 mg/L (r=0.999 9),1.25-24.96 mg/L(r=0.999 8),2.05-40.96 mg/L(r=0.999 9),3.65-72.96 mg/L(r=0.999 9),2.88-57.60 mg/L(r=0.999 9) and 13.25-264.96 mg/L(r=0.999 9),respectively.RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were all lower than 3.0％.Recoveries were 97.14％-102.14％ (RSD=1.93％,n=6),97.00％-102.00％ (RSD=2.06％,n=6),98.18％-101.82 ％ (RSD=1.79％,n=6),96.15％-101.28％ (RSD=2.06％,n=6),96.88％-101.88％ (RSD=1.87％,n=6),99.31％-103.76％ (RSD=1.89％,n=6),respectively.CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,accurate,stability and reproducible,and can be used for simultaneous determination of 6 alkaloids in Coptis teeta.