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ABSTRACT: Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae) root, generally called Danshen, is an important herb in Chinese medicine widely used for treatment of various diseases. Phenolic acids in S. miltiorrhiza, as important effective compounds, have become a new research focus in plant secondary metabolism in recent years. This review summarizes the recent advances in the regulation of water-soluble phenolic acid biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza via regulators at molecular level, such as the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene (PAL), cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase gene (C4H), 4-coumarate-CoA ligase gene (4CL), tyrosine aminotransferase gene (TAT), 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate reductase gene (HPPR), 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvated dioxygenase gene (HPPD), hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:hydroxyphenyllactate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase-like gene (RAS-like), and v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog 4 gene (MYB4), and production of anthocyanin pigmentation 1 gene (AtPAP1), and via regulators at cell level, such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, abscisic acid, polyamines, metal ions, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ultraviolet-B radiation, and yeast elicitor.
Applied biochemistry and biotechnology 05/2013; · 1.94 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study investigated the induction and in vitro alkaloid yield of calluses and protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) from Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Berit (Araceae). We planned to use this material in future studies related to the mass production of medicinally
valuable compounds and regulation of alkaloid metabolism. Different combinations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D),
6-benzyladenine (6-BA), kinetin (Kin), and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) were used to induce callus and PLB formation from
P. ternata tuber explants. The results showed that three physiologically distinct calluses were induced by different combinations of
2,4-D, 6-BA, and Kin used in this study. The calluses differed in color, texture, differentiation status, and alkaloid content.
The alkaloid content of the three calli types ranged from 0.0175% to 0.0293%. In comparison, the alkaloid content of field-grown
tubers was 0.0072%. Many reports have indicated that 2,4-D suppresses the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites; however,
our results show that 2,4-D promoted alkaloid production in Pinellia calluses. The combination of NAA + 6-BA induced PLB formation. The PLB alkaloid content of 0.0321% was 1.1 to 1.8 times higher
than the alkaloid content of the calluses and 4.5 times higher than the field-grown tubers. In conclusion, the induction of
calluses and PLBs with alkaloid content greater than that of field-grown tubers indicates the potential use of these tissue
culture materials for bioprocessing alkaloids from P. ternata and for the study of alkaloid metabolism.
Keywords
Alkaloids-Callus-
Pinellia ternata
-Protocorm-like bodies
In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant 04/2012; 46(3):239-245. · 1.50 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Highly differentiated tissue masses known as protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) have been commonly used for plant regeneration.
In this study the potential use of PLBs for studying alkaloid metabolism in the Chinese medicinal herb Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit. was investigated. Tuber, leaf, and petiole explants of P. ternata were incubated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) (1962) basal medium containing different combinations of α-naphthaleneacetic acid
(NAA) and 6-benzyladenine (BA). It was observed that 0.5mg/L NAA and 1.0mg/L BA induced the highest frequency of undifferentiated
PLBs from tuber explants; whereas, a combination of 0.2mg/L NAA and 1.0mg/L BA was best suited for inducing undifferentiated
PLBs from leaf and petiole explants. When these PLBs were subcultured on solid MS medium containing 0.6 or 1.2mg/L abscisic
acid (ABA), ABA promoted proliferation of PLBs, but inhibited their germination. To elicit alkaloid biosynthesis, suspension
cultures of PLBs were established in half-strength MS (1/2 MS) liquid medium supplemented with 0.6mg/L ABA. Water extracts
of PLBs collected from suspension cultures contained guanosine and inosine, two important alkaloids of P. ternata. Levels of guanosine concentrations were tenfold higher in tuber-derived PLBs compared to those in field-grown tubers; whereas,
those of inosine were slightly lower in PLBs compared to those from field-grown tubers.
Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture 04/2012; 100(1):83-89. · 3.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To study the function of ABA and fluridone on the contents of penolic acids and two key synthetases (PAL and TAT).
Conducted 4 different concentrations in the hairy root of Salvia miltiorrhiza after culturing 18 days and treated with fluridone. One day later, harvested the hairy root and measured the activity of PAL and TAT; Treatment for 6 days, gathered and determined the contents of phenolic acids.
In certain concentration of ABA, lower ABA could induced the production of growth and higher ABA inhibitor the growth in hairy roots of S. miltiorrhiza; ABA induced the accumulation of caffeic acid considerably, and the effect on the contents of coffee acid show positive correlation; As for the RA and LAB, the low dosage of ABA simulated the production and higher ABA inhibited the production of them; the ABA biosynthetic inhibitor fluridone can decreases ABA's the effect; The different of ABA activated the activity of PAL and TAT, but the impact were discriminating, when treatment with ABA and fluridone, the inducing were declined.
ABA induced the accumulation of.
Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica 03/2012; 37(6):754-9.
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ABSTRACT: Tanshinones, a group of active ingredients in Salvia miltiorrhiza, are derived from at least two biosynthetic pathways, which are the mevalonate (MVA) pathway in the cytosol and the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway in the plastids. Abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (MJ) are two well-known plant hormones induced by water stress. In this study, effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG), ABA and MJ on tanshinone production in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots were investigated, and the role of MJ in PEG- and ABA-induced tanshinone production was further elucidated. The results showed that tanshinone production was significantly enhanced by treatments with PEG, ABA and MJ. The mRNA levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl co-enzyme A reductase (HMGR), 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) and 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS), as well as the enzyme activities of HMGR and DXS were stimulated by all three treatments. PEG and ABA triggered MJ accumulation. Effects of PEG and ABA on tanshinone production were completely abolished by the ABA biosynthesis inhibitor [tungstate (TUN)] and the MJ biosynthesis inhibitor [ibuprofen (IBU)], while effects of MJ were almost unaffected by TUN. In addition, MJ-induced tanshinone production was completely abolished by the MEP pathway inhibitor [fosmidomycin (FOS)], but was just partially arrested by the MVA pathway inhibitor [mevinolin (MEV)]. In conclusion, a signal transduction model was proposed that exogenous applications of PEG and ABA triggered endogenous MJ accumulation by activating ABA signaling pathway to stimulate tanshinone production, while exogenous MJ could directly induce tanshinone production mainly via the MEP pathway in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots.
Physiologia Plantarum 02/2012; 146(2):173-83. · 3.11 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Plants of the genus Salvia produce various types of phenolic compounds and tanshinones which are effective for treatment of coronary heart disease. Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. castanea Diels f. tomentosa Stib are two important members of the genus. In this study, metabolic profiles and cDNA-AFLP analysis of four samples were employed to identify novel genes potentially involved in phenolic compounds and tanshinones biosynthesis, including the red roots from the two species and two tanshinone-free roots from S. miltiorrhiza. The results showed that the red roots of S. castanea Diels f. tomentosa Stib produced high contents of rosmarinic acid (21.77 mg/g) and tanshinone IIA (12.60 mg/g), but low content of salvianolic acid B (1.45 mg/g). The red roots of S. miltiorrhiza produced high content of salvianolic acid B (18.69 mg/g), while tanshinones accumulation in this sample was much less than that in S. castanea Diels f. tomentosa Stib. Tanshinones were not detected in the two tanshinone-free samples, which produced high contents of phenolic compounds. A cDNA-AFLP analysis with 128 primer pairs revealed that 2300 transcript derived fragments (TDFs) were differentially expressed among the four samples. About 323 TDFs were sequenced, of which 78 TDFs were annotated with known functions through BLASTX searching the Genbank database and 14 annotated TDFs were assigned into secondary metabolic pathways through searching the KEGGPATHWAY database. The quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that the expression of 9 TDFs was positively correlated with accumulation of phenolic compounds and tanshinones. These TDFs additionally showed coordinated transcriptional response with 6 previously-identified genes involved in biosynthesis of tanshinones and phenolic compounds in S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots treated with yeast extract. The sequence data in the present work not only provided us candidate genes involved in phenolic compounds and tanshinones biosynthesis but also gave us further insight into secondary metabolism in Salvia.
PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(1):e29678. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Salvia miltiorrhiza has been widely used in the treatment of coronary heart disease. Tanshinones, a group of diterpenoids are the main active ingredients in S. miltiorrhiza. Two biosynthetic pathways were involved in tanshinone biosynthesis in plants: the mevalonate (MVA) pathway in the cytosol and the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway in the plastids. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) is the rate-limiting enzyme of the MVA pathway. The 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS) and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) are the key enzymes of the MEP pathway. In this study, to reveal roles of the MVA and the MEP pathways in cell growth and tanshinone production of S. miltiorrhiza hairy roots, specific inhibitors of the two pathways were used to perturb metabolic flux. The results showed that the MVA pathway inhibitor (mevinolin, MEV) was more powerful to inhibit the hairy root growth than the MEP pathway inhibitor (fosmidomycin, FOS). Both MEV and FOS could significantly inhibit tanshinone production, and FOS was more powerful than MEV. An inhibitor (D, L-glyceraldehyde, DLG) of IPP translocation strengthened the inhibitory effects of MEV and FOS on cell growth and tanshinone production. Application of MEV resulted in a significant increase of expression and activity of HMGR at 6 h, and a sharp decrease at 24 h. FOS treatment resulted in a significant increase of DXR and DXS expression and DXS activity at 6 h, and a sharp decrease at 24 h. Our results suggested that the MVA pathway played a major role in cell growth, while the MEP pathway was the main source of tanshinone biosynthesis. Both cell growth and tanshinone production could partially depend on the crosstalk between the two pathways. The inhibitor-mediated changes of tanshinone production were reflected in transcript and protein levels of genes of the MVA and MEP pathways.
PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(11):e46797. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To observe the effects of a biotic elicitor fungal hyphae extract, an abiotic elicitor methyl jasmonate and their synergistic action on the accumulation of phenolic acids and tanshinones in Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy root.
Different elicitors were added to S. miltiorrhiza hairy root, which was subcultured for 21 days, the dry weight and contents of phenolic acids and tanshinones were determined at different harvest-time.
S. miltiorrhiza hairy root growth was significantly inhibited by all three treatments and the accumulation of cryptotanshinone and dihydrotanshinone were promoted by each elicition. As for the accumulation of phenolic acids, there were differences between fungal elicitor and methyl jasmonate treatments, they were promoted by methyl jasmonate while inhibited in a certain extent by fungal hyphae extract.
Fungal elicitor, methyl jasmonate and their synergistic action have significant influence on accumulation of components in S. miltiorrhiza hairy root, and the effect varies between phenolic acids and tanshinones. There is no correlation between production of water-soluble ingredients and fat-soluble components on the whole under three different treatments.
Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica 05/2011; 36(10):1269-74.
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ABSTRACT: This study investigated the role of the protein kinase MEK1/2 in the regulation of ascorbate and glutathione content by jasmonic acid in Agropyron cristatum leaves. The results showed that JA induced increases in the transcript levels and activities of APX, GR, MDHAR, DHAR, GalLDH and γ-ECS, the contents of AsA, GSH, total ascorbate and total glutathione, and the ratios of AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG, and reduced the E(GSSG/2GSH). The increases, except for the transcript level and activity of γ-ECS and the reduction in E(GSSG/2GSH,) were all suppressed by pre-treatment with the MEK1/2 inhibitors PD98059 and U0126. The results of western blot analyses showed that JA induced increases in the phosphorylation level of MEK1/2. Our results suggest that JA could induce the activation of MEK1/2 by increasing the phosphorylation level, which, in turn, resulted in the up-regulation of ascorbate and glutathione content in A. cristatum leaves.
Journal of plant physiology 10/2010; 168(5):514-8. · 2.50 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To establish HPLC chromatographic fingerprints to control the quality of Chinese herbal medicine. In this study, fingerprints were established based on HPLC-DAD chromatographs. And with these fingerprints, content variations of three important active components catalpol, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and acteoside in Rehmannia rhizome were analyzed during processing, as well as changes of the fingerprints. Fingerprints comparing with the standard prepared Rehmannia fingerprints which came from the mean of prepared ones randomly chosen for standard was done to seek optimal processing time. The results indicated that catalpol decreased quickly as braising prolonged and almost vanished in the end. While the active component of 5-HMF increased linearly throughout the process of braising. And the content of acteoside did not show obvious change. Similarity to standard prepared Rehmannia reached summit after braising for 26 hours. So 26 hours could be considered to be the optimum time for braising prepared Rehmannia. Chromatographic fingerprint is convenient for revealing changes of constituents and for accurately controlling quality during processing prepared Rahmannia.
Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica 10/2010; 35(19):2556-60.
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ABSTRACT: The present work investigated the effects of salicylic acid (SA) on the accumulation of phenolic compounds and the activities of PAL, TAT, SOD, CAT and POD enzymes in the Salvia miltiorrhiza cell culture. When SA is applied to the cell culture, phenolic compounds will increase and PAL, TAT, SOD, CAT, and POD enzymes will become more active. The accumulations of phenolic compounds and the PAL activity were stimulated 8h after the treatment with SA. The TAT activity was stimulated after 48 h. The resulting antioxidative enzymes' activities were greatly improved. SA elicitation on the phenolic acid accumulation was depended upon the application dosage and the time-duration. The suitable SA concentration for eliciting phenolic compound accumulations was 6.25-22.5mg/L. The elicitation effect of SA on phenolic compound accumulations correlated with the PAL activity, but not with the TAT activity. This indicates that PAL may be the key enzyme for the biosynthesis of salvianolic acid B and caffeic acid. The raised PAL activity leads to the improvement of the quantity of phenolic compounds. This could be of particular significance by using plant cell culture systems for biotechnological production of plant secondary metabolites such as salvianolic acid B and caffeic acid.
Journal of biotechnology 07/2010; 148(2-3):99-104. · 2.88 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate the varieties of entophytes in different parts of Pinellia ternata.
The solidified plates were applied for the isolation of the endophytes, and three methods were used for the identification of endophytic fungi.
Eighty four strains of the entophytes were isolated from the P. ternata collected from 3 habitations. Endophytic fungi were morphologically identified belonging to 15 genera, 4 families.
It indicated that the entophytes in P. ternata were diversity and rich, and there were some differences at quantity and species in different organs of P. ternata.
Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica 09/2009; 34(18):2305-7.
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ABSTRACT: It is reported that salvianolic acid B, a bioactive phenolic compound contained in the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza, exhibits a much stronger activity in free radical scavenging and antioxidance than those of vitamin E. When a conventional refluxing method is adopted to extract salvianolic acid B from the root, in which the materials are subjected to higher temperature and longer time, the yield of this phenolic compound is lower due to the possibility of its hydrolysis to tanshinol. However, a higher extraction yield can be achieved over a shorter time period and lower temperature when an ultrasound-assisted extraction method is used. This paper investigated the parameters influencing the extraction of salvianolic acid B. Factors such as extraction time, frequency of the ultrasound, the ratio of solvent to material, and types of extraction solvent were examined. A comparison was also conducted between conventional refluxing and ultrasound-assisted extraction. Results showed that the optimal parameters to extract salvianolic acid B from the root of S. miltiorrhiza were as follows: ultrasonic frequency: 45 Hz; solvent: 60% aqueous ethanol; extraction temperature: 30 degrees C; extraction time duration: 25 min.; ratio of solvent to material: 20:1 (v/w, ml/g). Under these conditions, the yield of salvianolic acid B was 5.17 mg/g (33.93 mg/g) higher than those with conventional refluxing method (28.76 mg/g), indicating that the efficiency and the yield of ultrasound-assisted extraction method are higher than reflux method, and the hydrolysis of salvianolic acid B to tanshinol is effectively avoided.
Ultrasonics Sonochemistry 06/2009; 17(1):61-5. · 3.57 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge is one of the most important and popular plant of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), but Salvia castanea Diels f. tomentosa Stib and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge f. alb have also been reported to have the same therapeutic effects as S. miltiorrhiza. To better distinguish between these species, the phytochemical profiles of three Salvia species were investigated by liquid chromatography. All the Salvia species were good sources of tanshinones, with the contents of phenolics being high in S. miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alb, but not in S. castanea Diels f. tomentosa Stib. These results pave the way for a better phytotherapy exploitation of these plants.
Fitoterapia 04/2009; 80(5):274-8. · 1.85 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: By the method of HPLC, and with indigo and indirubin as indicative constituents, this paper determined the effective constituents contents in indigowoad roots and leaves collected from different regions. The results showed that the total content of effective constituents in indigowoad root was the highest (16.27 mg x kg(-1)) from Hanyin of Shaanxi Province, followed by Longde of Ningxia Autonomous Region (15.67 mg x kg(-1)), Bozhou of Anhui Province (14.90 mg x kg(-1)), and Linquan of Anhui Province and Jiamusi of Heilongjiang Province (13.97 mg x kg(-1)), and that in indigowoad leaf had the same order, with the values being 698.32, 683.68, 680.11, 654.19 and 642.23 mg x kg(-1), respectively. The HPLC chromatograms of leaf samples collected from different regions were differed, not only in the test constituents, but also in the other constituents manifested as various peaks in the chromatogram. It was suggested that besides meteorological factors, the selection of geo-authentic region should be also involved in the cultivation of Isatis indigotica.
Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology / Zhongguo sheng tai xue xue hui, Zhongguo ke xue yuan Shenyang ying yong sheng tai yan jiu suo zhu ban 10/2006; 17(9):1613-8.
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ABSTRACT: Water is a key factor influencing the yield and quality of crops. Plants mainly adapt to water deficits by biochemical changes and osmotic adjustment (OA). Research on drought tolerance of field crops has been done intensively, but there is little work to be done in medical plants. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of several thousand years. TCM is playing an important role in daily life in China and applied widely in clinical experience on the globe. More and more wild medical plants are cultivated and introduced. It is known that ecological and environmental conditions are vital to cultivation and efficient component accumulation of medical plants. This study is concerned about biochemical changes of three genotypes of Radix Astragali during water deficient periods and we evaluated the relative ability of their drought tolerance on the above basis. We analyzed the effect of soil water deficits on antioxidant enzymes activity and osmoregulation substances in R. Astragali leaves of three genotypes collected on day 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 after onset of water deprivation. Under water deficient conditions, biochemical changes include protecting enzyme system, for instance superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD). Osmoregulation matters include proline (Pro) and soluble sugar. Antioxidant enzyme activities and Pro, and soluble sugar content correlated between water deficient degree and time course. Antioxidant enzyme activities increased before 20 days, then decreased at the end of experiment. Proline content increased gradually, and soluble sugar content reached the highest on day 20. The order of the ability of drought tolerance in three genotypes of R. Astragali is Mongolia>Wild>Hebei by using index of drought tolerance. The research results are instructive for cultivation and introduction of R. Astragali under different conditions of water status.
Colloids and Surfaces B Biointerfaces 04/2006; 49(1):60-5. · 3.46 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: With locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), the main tree species in afforestation, as test material, this paper studied the characteristics of its water physiological ecology and productivity under four habitats, i. e. , sunny, shady, semi-sunny and semi-shady hillsides, in the North Shaanxi gully areas of Loess Plateau. The mean water content in 0 - 500 cm soil layer was 8.87% (shady), 8.06% (semi-shady), 7.62% (semi-sunny), and 6.96% (sunny), respectively. There was a significant discrepancy between shady, semi-shady, semi-sunny and sunnyhilisides (a 0.01), and the difference between shady, semi-shady and semi-sunny, as well as between semi-sunny and sunny hillsides was also significant (a 0.05) . Remarkable relationships were found between leaf RWC, locus WSD and soil water content (SWC) . The leaf RWC and locust water potential under sunny hillside were lower, but those under shady hillside were higher. The daily mean transpiration was in order of shady (4.07 microg x cm(-2) x s(-1)) > semi-shady (3.89 microg x cm(-2) x s(-1)) > semi-sunny (3.05 microg x cm(-2) x s(-1)) > sunny (2.70 microg x cm(-2)s(-1)) hillside. The remarkable difference of transpiration appeared at 11:00 and 13:00, and there existed a remarkable relationship between transpiration and light intensity, RH and soil water content. All of these resulted in a diversity of locust biomass under different habitats, the highest under shady hillside, and the lowest under sunny hillside, and the differences between different habitats were all significant. It could be concluded that soil water content was the main factor affecting locust growth.
Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology / Zhongguo sheng tai xue xue hui, Zhongguo ke xue yuan Shenyang ying yong sheng tai yan jiu suo zhu ban 07/2005; 16(7):1205-12.
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ABSTRACT: This paper deals with the relationships between water and productivity of seabuckthorn in different habitats of the Loess Plateau in north Shaanxi. The typical habitats were classified with hilltop, sunny, shady, semi-shady and semi-sunny hillside. The results showed that values of transpiration of five kinds of habitats were different, and transpiration of semi-shady was relatively stronger in the morning while others were weaker. With the variation of directions of sunshine, transpiration of shady and sunny was declining and meanwhile transpiration of hill-top was steady. transpiration of semi-shady reached the peak in 12:00. In the afternoon, these values of transpiration all reduced in different extents except seabuckthorn of shady, especially semi-shady. The mean transpiration of 5 habitats was ordered in semi-shade > shade > semi-sunny > hilltop > sunny. There were remarkable difference between diffuse resistance and transpiration, and same relationship was found between relative humidity and transpiration. But this relationship was not found between light intensity and transpiration. Different habitats had different productivities, and productivity of seabuckthorn in shade habitat was higher than those in other habitats.
Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology / Zhongguo sheng tai xue xue hui, Zhongguo ke xue yuan Shenyang ying yong sheng tai yan jiu suo zhu ban 03/2004; 15(2):195-200.
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ABSTRACT: Bupleurum chinense DC. is a plant with high medicinal value. Its roots have been used in Chinese medicine for at least 2000 years. Environmental stress has been used as a strategy to optimize yield of important compounds in other crops. The objective of this pot study was to investigate the combined effects of fertilizer and water-stress on total saikosaponin a (SSa) and saikosaponin d (SSd) yield from B. chinense. The 2 × 3 factoral design included two levels of water-stress and three fertilizer amounts. The results showed that mild water-stress significantly increased the SSa and SSd content in B. chinense roots, but decreased root biomass. Total SSa and SSd yield were lower in the water-stressed treatment compared to the well-watered treatment. There was significant interaction between the water and fertilizer treatments and the negative effect of water-stress on total SSa and SSd yield could be partly mitigated through the application of N and P fertilizer. In conclusion, results from this study show that the application of proper amounts of fertilizer are important for medicinal plant production in semi-arid and arid regions, and that it is possible to increase total SSa and SSd yield through the combined use of fertilizer and properly timed exposure to water-stress.
Industrial Crops and Products.
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ABSTRACT: Dried roots of Bupleurum spp. have been used medicinally in China for over 2000 years. The roots, which are called Bupleuri Radix, are used in at least 66% of the formulations/prescriptions in traditional Chinese medicine and Kampo medicine. Demand for Bupleuri Radix is increasing and B. chinense is one of the most important Bupleurum spp. in China. We conducted a 2-year pot experiment to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer on biomass production and root saikosaponin a (SSa) and saikosaponin d (SSd) content of B. chinense. The experiment included seven combinations of N and P fertilizer. The results showed that medium levels of N and P fertilizer significantly increased the biomass and SSa content of B. chinense roots, but had no significant effect on root SSd content. The application of moderate amounts of N or P fertilizer increased total SSa and SSd yield significantly compared to the unfertilized control, but the greatest increase in total SSa and SSd yield occurred when N and P were applied together. This suggests that N and P have a synergistic effect on B. chinense growth and saikosaponin production. When high amounts of N and P fertilizer were used total SSa and SSd yields declined. This implied that there was a nutrient supply threshold for the biosynthesis of saikosaponins. Total SSa and SSd yields were greater in treatments which received only P fertilizer compared to treatments that received only N fertilizer. Our results reinforce the importance of soil testing and the application of recommended amounts N and P fertilizers for the cultivation of B. chinense.
Industrial Crops and Products.
