Genomics and resequencing of Fagopyrum dibotrys from different geographic regions reveals species evolution and genetic diversity.

Fagopyrum dibotrys, belonging to the family Polygonaceae and genus Fagopyrum, is used in traditional Chinese medicine and is rich in beneficial components, such as flavonoids. As its abundant medicinal value has become increasingly recognized, its excessive development poses a considerable challenge to wild germplasm resources, necessitating artificial cultivation and domestication. Considering these factors, a high-quality genome of F. dibotrys was assembled and the evolutionary relationships within Caryophyllales were compared, based on which 58 individual samples of F. dibotrys were re-sequenced. We found that the samples could be categorized into three purebred populations and regions distributed at distinct elevations. Our varieties were cultivated from the parental populations of the subpopulation in central Yunnan. F. dibotrys is speculated to have originated in the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau region, and that its combination with flavonoids can protect plants against ultraviolet radiation; this infers a subpopulation with a high accumulation of flavonoids. This study assembled a high-quality genome and provided a theoretical foundation for the future introduction, domestication, and development of cultivated varieties of F. dibotrys.

Lymph-Node-Targeted Drug Delivery for Effective Immunomodulation to Prolong the Long-Term Survival After Heart Transplantation.

The chronic rejection responses and side effects of the systematic administration of immunosuppressants are the main obstacles to heart allograft and patient survival. The development of xenotransplantation also urgently requires more efficient immune regulation strategies. Herein, it is demonstrated that lymph-node (LN)-targeted drug delivery can realize LN-specific immunomodulation with attenuated immune suppression on distant peripheral immune organs to effectively prolong long-term survival after heart transplantation in a chronic murine heart transplantation model. A chemokine C-C motif ligand 21 (CCL21) specific aptamer for LN targeting is decorated onto the surface of the hybrid nanoparticular delivery vector mainly composed of CaCO3 /CaP/heparin. The targeting delivery system can dramatically enhance accumulation of the loaded immunosuppressant, fingolimod hydrochloride (FTY720), in draining lymph nodes (dLNs) for inducing powerful immune suppression. By promoting the generation of endogenous regulatory T cells (Tregs ) and decreasing the proportion of effector T cells (Teffs ) in dLNs after heart transplantation, the LN-targeting strategy can effectively regulate local immune responses instead of systemic immunity, which reduces the incidence of long-term complications. This study provides an efficient strategy to improve the survival rate after organ transplantation by precise and localized immunoregulation with minimized side effects of immunosuppression.

[Identification of radix et rhizoma clematidis and its adulterants using DNA barcoding].

This study provides the candidate sequences in the identification of Radix et Rhizoma Clematidis and its adulterants using DNA barcoding. We amplified and sequenced the region psbA-trnH, with the data of 284 sequences from GenBank, the differential intra- and inter-specific divergences, genetic distance, barcoding gap were used to evaluate five barcodes, and the identification efficiency was assessed using BLAST1 and Nearest Distance methods. The results showed that psbA-trnH barcodes performed high identification efficiency and inter-specific divergences among the five different DNA barcodes. Analysis of the barcoding gap and NJ tree showed psbA-trnH was superior to other barcodes. Based on the identification and PCR amplification efficiency, psbA-trnH can be the ideal barcode to identify Radix et Rhizoma Clematidis and its adulterants accurately.

[Molecular identification in genus of Lilium based on DNA barcoding].

To establish a new method for identifying genus of Lilium by DNA barcoding technology, ITS, ITS2, psbA-trnH, matK and rbcL sequences were analyzed in term of variation of inter- and intra-species, barcoding gap, neighbor-joining tree to distinguish genus of Lilium based on 978 sequences from experimental and GenBank database, and identification efficiency was evaluated by Nearest distance and BLAST1 methods. The results showed that DNA barcoding could identify different species in genus of Lilium. ITS sequence performed higher identification efficiency, and had significant difference between intra- and inter-species. And NJ tree could also divide species into different clades. Results indicate that DNA barcoding can identify genus of Lilium accurately. ITS sequence can be the optimal barcode to identify species of Lilium.

Sulfur fumigation, a better or worse choice in preservation of Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Sulfur fumigation (SF) in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a highly efficient and important traditional preservation method in China. This method has generated a great deal of concern and has been disputed in the last few years because of its uncertain safety. SF can alter the quality of TCMs by damaging the bioactive compounds, changing chemical profiles, and generating detrimental exogenous materials. However, SF is still widely used in the herbal medicinal industry because of its various benefits, such as its pesticidal and anti-bacterial effects, easy operation, and low-cost. This review contains the current situation, chemical mechanism and reactions during SF, the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic research, and the influence of quality caused by SF. In addition, a quantification-operation sulfur fumigation device (QOSFD), which can maintain the quality of TCMs by controlling the SF processing parameters, has been designed and introduced. The key technologies of this device involve controlling the O(2) content and the temperature of SO(2) as well as the quantification of sulfur in SF. This device can reduce the possibility of reaction between bioactive compounds and sulfur/sulfurous acid, as well as control the limitation of SO(2) residues. The QOSFD is regarded as a promising preservation technique in the field of TCM, medicinal materials, agriculture, and fruit industry.

[Identification of gentianae macrophyllae radix using the ITS2 barcodes].

DNA barcoding is a rapidly developing frontier technology in the world and will be useful in promoting the quality control and standardization of traditional Chinese medicine. Until now, many studies concerning DNA barcoding have focused on leaf samples but rarely on Chinese herbal medicine. There are three issues involved in DNA barcoding for traditional Chinese medicinal materials: (1) the extraction methods for total DNA of the rhizomes of the medicinal materials; (2) intra-specific variation among samples from different places of origin; (3) accuracy and stability of this method. In this study, Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix was used to verify the stability and accuracy of DNA barcoding technology. Five regions (ITS2, psbA-trnH, matK, rbcL, and ITS) were tested for their ability to identify 86 samples of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix and their adulterants. After improving the DNA extraction method, genomic DNA from all samples was successfully obtained. To evaluate each barcode's utility for species authentication, PCR amplification efficiency, genetic divergence, and species authentication were assessed. Among all tested regions only ITS2 locus showed 100% of PCR amplification and identification efficiencies. Based on the established method, we successfully identified two samples of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix bought in pharmacy to the original species.