[Investigation and clarification of traditional measuring units of Tibetan medicine].

Quantity is the key factor to ensure the safety and effectiveness of medicines. It is very important to study and determine the traditional measuring units and their quantity values of Tibetan medicine. Based on the literature records of Tibetan medicine and combined with modern experimental verification and investigation research, this study determined the reference, name, and conversion rate of traditional measuring units of Tibetan medicine. Meanwhile, through large sample sampling and repeated quantification of refe-rence of basic units, its weight and volume were clarified. The modern SI volume and weight unit values corresponding to the traditional volume and weight units of Tibetan medicine were deduced, and the correctness, reliability, and practicability of these determination results were demonstrated. This study also put forward some specific suggestions and reference values for formulating the standards of measuring units of weight and volume of Tibetan medicine. It is of great significance in guiding the processing, production, and clinical treatment of Tibetan medicine, and promoting the standardization and standardized development of Tibetan medicine.

Anti-depressant-like effects of rannasangpei and its active ingredient crocin-1 on chronic unpredictable mild stress mice.

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common neuropsychiatric diseases and it is a global public health problem that leads to disabilities. Currently, there is a growing need to explore novel strategy to cure major depressive disorder due to the limitation of available treatments. Rannasangpei (RSNP) is a traditional Tibetan medicine which acts as a therapeutic agent in various acute or chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. Crocin-1 a coloring ingredient of saffron which exhibited anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we aimed to illustrate whether RSNP and its active ingredient crocin-1 rescue depressive-like phenotypes in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) induced mouse model of depression. Our results showed that peripheral administration of RSNP or crocin-1 ameliorated the depressive-like behaviors in CUMS-treated mice, as demonstrated by the forced swimming test and tail suspension test. Furthermore, RSNP or crocin-1 treatment reduced oxidative stress in the peripheral blood and hippocampus of the CUMS-treated mice. Additionally, the dysregulated immune system response, as demonstrated by the increased expression of the pro-inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6) and the decreased expression of the anti-inflammatory factor-interleukin-10 in the prefrontal cortex and/or hippocampus of CUMS-treated mice, were at least partially restored by RSNP or crocin-1 treatment. RSNP or crocin-1 also restored apoptotic protein marker (Bcl-2 and Bax) levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of the CUMS-treated mice. Moreover, our data indicated that RSNP or crocin-1 increased astrocyte number and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in the hippocampus of CUMS-treated mice after RSNP or crocin-1 administration. Taken together, our study for the first time revealed an anti-depressant effect of RSNP and its active ingredient crocin-1 in a mouse model of depression, with involvement of oxidative stress, inflammatory response and apoptotic pathway.

The protective effects and mechanism of Ruyi Zhenbao Pill, a Tibetan medicinal compound, in a rat model of osteoarthritis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ruyi Zhenbao Pill (RZP) is a prescribed Tibetan formulation for the treatment of white-pulse-disease, yellow-water-disease as well as pain-related disease. RZP is composed of 30 medicinal materials including herbal medicine, animal medicine and mineral medicine. They are widely used in the Tibetan area to treat cerebrovascular disease, hemiplegia, rheumatism, and pain diseases for centuries. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-osteoarthritis function of RZP and to clarify the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The active components in RZP were identified using HPLC methods. Osteoarthritis (OA) animal model was established via intra-articular injection of papain in rat knees. After the administration of RZP (0.45, 0.9 g/kg) for 28 days, the clinical observation was conducted, and pathological changes as well as serum biochemical indexes were detected. Moreover, therapeutic targets and pathways of RZP were discussed. RESULTS: The results showed that RZP could suppress knee joint swelling and arthralgia, thus relieving joint pain and inflammation in OA rats. Microcomputed tomography (µCT)-based physiological imaging and staining pictures confirmed the therapeutic effects of RZP on OA symptoms including knee joint swelling and structural changes with progressive inflammation in OA rats. RZP could promote the synthesis or inhibit the degradation of COLⅡ, attenuate OA-induced OPN up-regulation and thus relieve the OA symptom. Furthermore, RZP (0.45-0.9 g/kg) could all ameliorate the imbalance of biomarkers related to OA such as MMP1, TNF-α, COX2, IL-1ß and iNOS in knee joints or serum. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, RZP could effectively relieve inflammatory reaction induced by OA injury and the formulation could be applied to the treatment of OA therapy.

From tryptamine to the discovery of efficient multi-target directed ligands against cholinesterase-associated neurodegenerative disorders.

A novel class of benzyl-free and benzyl-substituted carbamylated tryptamine derivatives (CDTs) was designed and synthesized to serve as effective building blocks for the development of novel multi-target directed ligands (MTDLs) for the treatment of neurological disorders linked to cholinesterase (ChE) activity. The majority of them endowed butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) with more substantial inhibition potency than acetylcholinesterase (AChE), according to the full study of ChE inhibition. Particularly, hybrids with dibenzyl groups (2b-2f, 2j, 2o, and 2q) showed weak or no neuronal toxicity and hepatotoxicity and single-digit nanomolar inhibitory effects against BuChE. Through molecular docking and kinetic analyses, the potential mechanism of action on BuChE was first investigated. In vitro H2O2-induced HT-22 cells assay demonstrated the favorable neuroprotective potency of 2g, 2h, 2j, 2m, 2o, and 2p. Besides, 2g, 2h, 2j, 2m, 2o, and 2p endowed good antioxidant activities and COX-2 inhibitory effects. This study suggested that this series of hybrids can be applied to treat various ChE-associated neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), as well as promising building blocks for further structure modification to develop efficient MTDLs.

Discovery of pyrrole derivatives as acetylcholinesterase-sparing butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor.

Inspired by the crucial roles of (hetero)aryl rings in cholinesterase inhibitors and the pyrrole ring in new drug discovery, we synthesized 19 pyrrole derivatives and investigated their cholinesterase inhibitory activity. As a result, compounds 3o, 3p, and 3s with a 1,3-diaryl-pyrrole skeleton showed high selectivity toward BChE over AChE with a best IC50 value of 1.71 ± 0.087 µM, which were comparable to donepezil. The pharmaceutical potential of these structures was further predicted and compounds 3o and 3p were proved to meet well with the Lipinsky's five rules. In combination of the inhibition kinetic studies with the results of molecular docking, we concluded that compound 3p inhibited BChE in a mixed competitive mode. This research has proved the potential of the 1,3-diaryl-pyrrole skeleton as a kind of selective BChE inhibitor.

Chloroplast genome of Corydalis impatiens (Pall.) Fisch. ex DC. (Papaveraceae), a Tibetan medical herb.

Corydalis impatiens (Pall.) Fisch. 1821. (Papaveraceae) is a Tibetan medical herb used to reduce pain, treat skin injuries, cure hepatitis, and benefit the circulatory system. In the current study, the chloroplast genome of C. impatiens was sequenced. This complete genome is a circular 197,317 bp sequence consisting of a small single-copy (SSC, 3105 bp) region, a large single-copy (LSC, 89,790 bp) region, and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs, 52,211 bp). This chloroplast genome encodes a total of 127 functional genes, including 81 protein-coding, 38 transfer RNA, and eight ribosomal RNA genes. Furthermore, this chloroplast genome contains six pseudogenes, including a pair of ndhB a pair of ndhD, one ndhC, and one ndhK. The phylogenetic relationship within the genus Corydalis was inferred with the maximum-likelihood method, and the result showed that C. impatiens was most closely related to C. conspersa.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of the medicinal herb Veronica polita Fr. 1819 (Lamiales: Plantaginaceae).

Veronica polita Fr. 1819 (synonym: Veronica didyma Ten. 1981) is a species of annual herb with high medicinal value. It is originally from Southwest Asia, but has been naturalized widely in many regions of the world. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of V. polita was determined to be 150,191 bp long with a typical quadripartite structure, comprising two inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb, 25,465 bp each), a large single-copy (LSC) region (81,847 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC) region (17,414 bp). It encodes a panel of 114 genes (including 79 protein-coding, 31 tRNA, and four rRNA genes) with 18 of them being completely or partially duplicated and 19 of them possessing one or two introns. Phylogenetic analysis supported the tribal-level taxonomy of the family Plantaginaceae, and revealed that V. polita was most closely related to the congener Veronica persica Poir. 1808.

Flavonoids from Rhododendron nivale Hook. f delay aging via modulation of gut microbiota and glutathione metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Rhododendron nivale Hook. f (R.n), one of the four Manna Stash used in Tibetan medicine to delay aging, possesses anti-aging pharmacological activity. However, which R.n ingredients contain anti-aging properties and the underlying mechanisms involved are unclear. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: Based on interactions between gut microbiota and natural medicines and the important role of gut microbiota in anti-aging, the study investigated the hypothesis that R.n possesses anti-aging properties and the interaction of gut microbiota with R.n is responsible for its anti-aging effects. STUDY DESIGN: The primary active ingredients of R.n and their target function and pathway enrichment were explored. An aging mouse model was used to clarify the underlying anti-aging mechanisms of R.n. METHODS: Chromatography, spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic technology, and pharmacology were used to reveal the major active ingredients of ethanol extract residues of R.n (RNEA). The target function and pathway enrichment of these active ingredients were explored. Plasma metabolomics coupled with intestinal flora evaluation and bioinformatics analysis was used to clarify the underlying anti-aging mechanisms of RNEA. RESULTS: Myricetin-3-ß-D-xylopyranoside, hyperin, goospetin-8-methyl ether 3-ß-D-galactoside, and diplomorphanin B were separated and identified from RNEA. The network pharmacology study revealed that the active ingredients' target function and pathway enrichment focused mainly on the glutathione antioxidant system. In a D-galactose-induced mouse model of aging, RNEA was shown to possess suitable anti-aging pharmacological activity, as indicated by the amelioration of memory loss and weakened superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. Plasma metabolomics coupled with intestinal flora examination and bioinformatics analysis revealed that RNEA could regulate the expression of glutathione-related enzymes and ameliorate D-galactose-induced imbalances in methionine, glycine, and serine, and betaine and galactose metabolism. The results showed that RNEA reshaped the disordered intestinal flora and mitigated the D-galactose-mediated decline in glutathione oxidase expression, further confirming that the anti-aging effect of RNEA was closely related to regulation of the glutathione antioxidant system. CONCLUSION: RNEA, consisting of myricetin-3-ß-D-xylopyranoside, hyperin, goospetin-8-methyl ether 3-ß-D-galactoside, and diplomorphanin B, possesses anti-aging activity. The anti-aging effect of RNEA might be due to reshaping intestinal flora homeostasis, increasing the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 in the intestines and liver, enhancing glutathione peroxidase activity, and reinforcing the glutathione antioxidant system.

[Analysis of the principles of Tibetan medicine processing].

Tibetan medicine processing ensures the safety of clinical application of Tibetan medicine. It is of great significance to analyze the principles of Tibetan medicine processing in the development, inheritance, and innovation of Tibetan medicine. However, due to the late start of modern Tibetan medicine research and the disciplinary division, the current research on Tibetan medicine processing focuses on the exploration and collation of traditional techniques and the analysis of the processing mechanism of Tibetan medicine through chemical and pharmacological research, but its principles and traditional theories have been rarely reported. In view of this, after analyzing the concept, essence, theories, purposes, and functions of Tibetan medicine processing through the integration of Tibetan medicine, Tibetan pharmacology, and clinical research of Tibetan medicine, this study proposed that the essence of Tibetan medicine processing was to change the "five sources" composition of medicinal materials through physical, chemical, and biological means, or the comprehensive means, and the theoretical principle of Tibetan medicine processing was to change or transform the positive and adverse effects or the obvious and recessive effects by altering the "five sources" composition of the drug to maximize the positive effect and minimize the adverse effect and the damage to the body, thereby achieving the purposes of toxicity reduction, efficacy enhancement, and drug property harmonization represented by sharpening, softening, nourishing, and reasonable compatibility. This study is expected to provide references for the construction of the theoretical system of Tibetan medicine processing, the inheritance of processing techniques, and innovative research.

[Connotation of Baimai disease and analysis of compatibility and usage of Baimai Ointment: based on Tibetan medicine theory].

Baimai is a complex of structure and function with the characteristics of wide distribution, complex structure, and multi-dimensional functions. Baimai, consisting of the channels in brain, the internal hidden channels connecting the viscera, and the external channels linking the limbs, governs the sensory, motor, and information transmission functions of human. According to Tibetan medicine, Baimai functions via "Long"(Qi) which moves in Baimai. "Long" is rough, light, cold, tiny, hard, and dynamic. The dysfunction of Baimai is manifested as numbness, swelling and pain, stiffness, atrophy, contracture, disability, hyperactivity, etc. The clinical manifestations of Baimai disease are facial paralysis, limb numbness, hemiplegia, contracture and rigidity, pain, opistho-tonos, paralysis, unconsciousness, head tremor, aphasia and tongue stiffness, and other abnormalities in facial consciousness, limb movement, and tactile sensation. Baimai Ointment for external use is used for the treatment of Baimai disease. It is mainly composed of medicinals which are spicy and bitter, warm, soft, mild, heavy, moist, and stable, and thus it is effective for the rough, light, cold, tiny, hard, and dynamic "Long" of Baimai disease. In clinical practice, it is mainly used for musculoskeletal diseases, such as osteoarthritis, scapulohumeral periarthritis, cervical spondylosis, low back pain, myofascitis, and tenosynovitis, nervous system diseases, such as paralysis and shoulder-hand syndrome, and limb stiffness caused by stroke, spastic cerebral palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, and facial neuritis, and limb motor and sensory dysfunction caused by trauma. According to the main symptoms of Baimai disease such as stiffness, rigidity, contraction, numbness, sensory disturbance and pain, clinicians should apply the Baimai Ointment via the inunction treatment of Tibetan medicine and in combination with Huo'ermai therapy and physiotherapy.

Isolation, synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of isoquinoline alkaloids from Corydalis hendersonii Hemsl. against gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Isoquinoline alkaloid displays significant anti-gastric cancer effects due to its unique structure, which is attracting more and more attention for the development of anti-gastric cancer drugs. In this study, we explore the active components against gastric cancer from the Tibetan Medicine Corydalis hendersonii Hemsl, which is rich in isoquinoline alkaloids. 14 compounds including 2 previously undescribed natural products were obtained. Interestingly, an new active compound displays potent anti-gastric cancer activity. After accomplishing the total syntheses of the active compound and its derivatives, the anti-gastric cancer activity of the active compound was further investigated. In vitro experiments revealed that the active compound significantly attenuated the proliferative capacity, caused G2/M phase arrest, inhibited the cell migration and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, the active compound could increase the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, elevate cytochrome c in the cytosol, and activate caspase-9/3, along with inactivating the upstream PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. In addition, the active compound could also cause gastric cancer cell death by inhibiting topoisomerase I activity. More importantly, the anti-gastric cancer activity of the active compound was confirmed in MGC-803 xenograft nude mice in vivo. This work not only promotes the exploitation of Corydalis hendersonii Hemsl., but also provides some experience for discovering new entities from natural sources.

Characterization of the complete plastid genome of of Veronica eriogyne H. Winkl., a Tibetan medicinal herb.

Veronica eriogyne H. Winkl.(Plantaginaceae) is a perennial herb with high medicinal value. To better understand the molecular genetics and evolutionary of V. eriogyne, its complete plastid genome was sequenced and annotated. The assembled chloroplast genome is a circular 151,083 bp sequence, consisting of a 82,302 bp large single copy region (LSC) and a 17,449 bp small single copy region (SSC), which were flanked by a pair of 25,666 bp inverted repeats (IRs). The GC content of the chloroplast genome is 38.03%. Moreover, a total of 134 functional genes were annotated, including 88 protein-coding, 38 tRNA, and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that V. eriogyne has close relationship with V. persica Poi. The current study provides important information for further genetic studies on Plantaginacea.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of the prickly blue poppy Meconopsis horridula Hook. f. & Thomson (Ranunculales: Papaveraceae).

The prickly blue poppy (Meconopsis horridula Hook. f. & Thomson) is a traditional Tibetan medicinal herb with high values. In this study, its chloroplast genome was determined to be 153,761 bp in length with an A + T-biased base composition, and comprises a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (26,030 bp), separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region (83,803 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC) region (17,898 bp). A total of 113 gene species were annotated, with 20 of them being completely or partially duplicated and 18 of them harboring one or two introns. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that M. horridula is closely related to Meconopsis racemosa Maxim.

Manufacture of Multilayered Artificial Cell Membranes through Sequential Bilayer Deposition on Emulsion Templates.

Efforts to manufacture artificial cells that replicate the architectures, processes and behaviours of biological cells are rapidly increasing. Perhaps the most commonly reconstructed cellular structure is the membrane, through the use of unilamellar vesicles as models. However, many cellular membranes, including bacterial double membranes, nuclear envelopes, and organelle membranes, are multilamellar. Due to a lack of technologies available for their controlled construction, multilayered membranes are not part of the repertoire of cell-mimetic motifs used in bottom-up synthetic biology. To address this, we developed emulsion-based technologies that allow cell-sized multilayered vesicles to be produced layer-by-layer, with compositional control over each layer, thus enabling studies that would otherwise remain inaccessible. We discovered that bending rigidities scale with the number of layers and demonstrate inter-bilayer registration between coexisting liquid-liquid domains. These technologies will contribute to the exploitation of multilayered membrane structures, paving the way for incorporating protein complexes that span multiple bilayers.

Molecular Phylogeography and Evolutionary History of the Endemic Species Corydalis hendersonii (Papaveraceae) on the Tibetan Plateau Inferred From Chloroplast DNA and ITS Sequence Variation.

In response to past climatic changes, the species with different habits or adaptive traits likely have experienced very different evolutionary histories, especially for species that restricted to high mountain areas. In order to trace how Quaternary climatic oscillations affected range distributions and intraspecific divergence of such alpine plants on the Tibetan Plateau, here, we investigated maternally inherited chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) markers and biparentally inherited nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA variations and aimed to explore the phylogeographic history of the endemic alpine species Corydalis hendersonii Hemsl. (Papaveraceae). We sequenced four cpDNA fragments (trnS-trnG, trnT-trnL, atpH-atpI, and psbE-petL) and also the nuclear (ITS) region in 368 individuals from 30 populations across the species' range. The network and phylogenetic analysis based on cpDNA variations identified 15 chlorotypes that cluster into three distinct clades. However, our nuclear DNA results demonstrated that there were four genetic/geographical groups within C. hendersonii. Some common and highly divergent cpDNA and ITS haplotypes were distributed in the populations of central and northeastern Tibetan Plateau, and the highest nucleotide diversity and genetic differentiation were detected in the central region. Demographic tests further indicated that the populations of southwestern and western Tibet may have experienced recent range expansion, which most likely occurred during the last glacial maximum (LGM) and continued its expansion after the beginning of the Holocene. These two different groups of this species may have derived from potential refugia that existed in the central and/or northeastern regions of Tibet during recent interglacial periods. In addition, our AMOVA analyses detected high genetic differentiation along with the whole sampling range. Also, distinct phylogeographic structures were detected among populations of C. hendersonii based on both of cpDNA and ITS variation. These findings shed new light on the importance of climatic oscillations during Quaternary and complex local topography as causes of intraspecific diversification and demographic changes within cold-tolerant herbs in the Tibetan Plateau biodiversity hotspot.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of the Musk Larkspur Delphinium brunonianum (Ranunculales: Ranunculaceae).

Musk Larkspur (Delphinium brunonianum) is a perennial herb of the family Ranunculace with medicinal values. In this study, the chloroplast (cp) genome of this herb was determined to be 153,926 bp long with an A + T-biased base composition, and comprises a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (26,559 bp), separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region (84,512 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC) region (16,296 bp). A total of 112 gene species were annotated with 19 of them being completely or partially duplicated. Eighteen gene species harbor one or two introns. Phylogenetic analysis challenged the monophyly of the subfamily Ranunculoideae.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of the Tangut monkshood Aconitum tanguticum (Ranunculales: Ranunculaceae).

The Tangut monkshood (Aconitum tanguticum) is a perennial herb with high medicinal values. Here, its chloroplast genome was assembled from Illumina sequencing reads. The circular genome is 157,114 bp long with an A + T-biased nucleotide composition, and comprises a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (26,255 bp), separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region (87,559 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC) region (17,045 bp). It encodes a total of 112 gene species, with 19 of them being completely or partially duplicated and 18 of them harboring one or two introns. Phylogenetic analysis recovered two major clades of the genus Aconitum.

Amelioration of dry eye syndrome in db/db mice with diabetes mellitus by treatment with Tibetan Medicine Formula Jikan Mingmu Drops.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Jikan Mingmu Drops (JMD), a traditional Tibetan medicine containing six herbs, has been used to treat dry eye syndrome (DES) in individuals with diabetes mellitus. AIM OF STUDY: However, the activity of JMD ameliorates DES with diabetes mellitus has not been previously examined. The aim of the study is to investigate the molecular mechanism of JMD on db/db mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The main chemical constituents of JMD were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. DES was then induced in db/db mice by applying 0.2% benzalkonium chloride to the ocular surface for 7 days. Eye drops containing JMD (0.25, 0.5, or 1 g/mL) or vehicle subsequently were administered three times daily for another 7 days, and the therapeutic effects were evaluated by phenol red thread tear and sodium fluorescein tests. Conjunctival specimens were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin staining and periodic acid-Schiff staining to examine pathological changes and number of goblet cells. ELISA was performed to assess the levels of various inflammatory cytokines. RESULTS: JMD contains hydroxysafflor yellow A, magnoflorine, jatrorrhizine hydrochloride, palmatine hydrochloride, berberine hydrochloride, gallic acid, ellagic acid, tauroursodeoxycholic acid, camphor, isoborneol, borneol, trans-cinnamic acid, and muscone. JMD treatment significantly increased the tear volume, decreased the corneal fluorescein staining score, restored the morphology and structure of conjunctival epithelial cells, and markedly downregulated the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17α, IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α, and vascular endothelial growth factor in the conjunctiva. Further data showed that these protective effects were accompanied by inhibition of inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Amelioration of DES in db/db mice with diabetes mellitus by treatment with Tibetan medicine formula JMD maybe related to its anti-inflammatory effects.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Impatiens alpicola (Balsaminaceae: Impatiens), a rare and endemic Chinese flowering plant.

Impatiens alpicola is a newly recorded rare and endemic flowering plant in China, which has been regarded as threatened due to its narrow distribution and human activity. In this study, its complete chloroplast genome was assembled from the whole genome Illumina sequencing data. The circular genome was 151,366 bp long, containing a large single copy (LSC) region of 82,245 bp and a small single copy (SSC) region of 17,705 bp, which were separated by a pair of 25,708 bp inverted repeat (IR) regions. It encoded a total of 128 genes, including 76 protein-coding genes, 44 tRNA genes and eight rRNA genes. The most of gene species occurred as a single copy, while 18 gene species occurred in double copies. The overall A + T content was 63.1%, while the corresponding values of the LSC, SSC and IR regions were 65.4, 70.6, and 56.9%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that I. alpicola was relatively close to another species (I. piufanensis) belonging to the same genus.