Jinping Li’s research while affiliated with Qinghai Normal University and other places

The Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau, the “Roof of the World” in China, has high altitude, low pressure, thin air, little rain, long sunshine, and snow cover, causing 80–90% more Ultraviolet (UV) reflectance and greater skin UV exposure at high altitudes. Myricaria paniculata, a Tibetan plant growing at 2000–4500 m, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-boosting effects and can protect skin cells from Ultraviolet B (UVB)damage. The protective effects of Myricaria paniculata compounds against UVB-induced HaCat cell damage were explored. Samples were divided into normal, model, and treatment groups (seven compounds). First, the cell viability and apoptosis rates of each group were measured, along with the levels of factors such as Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD). Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking were subsequently performed. This study revealed that the compound enhanced cell survival, inhibited apoptosis, reduced ROS and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and increased SOD activity. It also lowered the levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), and Aspartate protein hydrolase 3 containing cysteine (Caspase-3). An analysis of the intersection between the 218 targets of the seven compounds found in Myricaria paniculata and the 1002 targets associated with skin inflammation revealed 59 common targets, with key targets including TNF and others. GO and KEGG analyses suggested the involvement of metabolic pathways. Seven core targets related to skin inflammation in Myricaria paniculata were identified by molecular docking. In addition, its compounds rhamnetin, rhamnocitrin, ferulic acid and kaempferol have good binding activity with TNF, PTGS2, EGFR and MMP9 targets. The Tibetan medicine Myricaria paniculata had a certain protective effect on UVB-induced HaCat cell damage.

This research explores the impact of environmental changes on the distribution of Clematis tangutica, providing theoretical support for its conservation, development, utilization, and early warning monitoring of potential impacts on the ecological environment and local plant communities. An ensemble model in R was used to simulate the suitable habitats of Clematis tangutica on the Tibetan Plateau, integrating climate, topography, and soil variables. Simulations were conducted under three distinct future climate scenarios. The ensemble model exhibited superior performance, as indicated by a true skill statistic of 0.9203, compared to the individual models. Clematis tangutica primarily occupies the eastern Tibetan Plateau, with optimal habitats predominantly located in western Sichuan Province. Regions of inadequate suitability encompass approximately 69.72% of the total area (equivalent to approximately 1743 thousand square kilometers), while highly suitable areas constitute about 5.48% (equivalent to approximately 137 thousand square kilometers). In the future, as the temperature rises on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, overall precipitation is expected to increase, though regional differences will exist, particularly the SSP245 scenario in the 2050s, the centroid of Clematis tangutica distribution is projected to shift northwest, potentially providing favorable conditions. The distribution pattern of Clematis tangutica is strongly influenced by fluctuations in temperature and elevation, as these factors directly affect the plant’s ability to thrive in specific regions. Changes in these variables may alter its future distribution, particularly under climate change scenarios. There is a tendency for the center of mass of Clematis tangutica to migrate northwest under future climatic conditions.

The orchid family has 200,000 species and 700 genera, and it is found worldwide in the tropics and subtropics. In China, there are 1247 species and subspecies of orchids belonging to the Orchidaceae family. Orchidaceae is one of the most diverse plant families in the world, known for their lush look, remarkable ecological tolerance, and capability for reproduction. It has significant decorative and therapeutic value. In terms of evolution, the orchid family is one of the more complicated groups, but up until now, little has been known about its affinities. This study examined the properties of 19 chloroplast (cp) genomes, of which 11 had previously been published and nine had only recently been revealed. Following that, topics such as analysis of selection pressure, codon usage, amino acid frequencies, repeated sequences, and reverse repeat contraction and expansion are covered. The Orchidaceae share similar cp chromosomal characteristics, and we have conducted a preliminary analysis of their evolutionary connections. The cp genome of this family has a typical tepartite structure and a high degree of consistency across species. Platanthera urceolata with more tandem repeats of the cp genome. Similar cp chromosomal traits can be seen in the orchidaceae. Galearis roborowskyi, Neottianthe cucullata, Neottianthe monophylla, Platanthera urceolata and Ponerorchis compacta are the closest cousins, according to phylogenetic study.

The orchid family has 200,000 species and 700 genera, and it is found worldwide in the tropics and subtropics. In China, there are 1,247 species and subspecies of orchids belonging to the Orchidaceae family. Orchidaceae is one of the most diverse plant families in the world, known for their lush look, remarkable ecological tolerance, and capability for reproduction. It has significant decorative and therapeutic value. In terms of evolution, the orchid family is one of the more complicated groups, but up until now, little has been known about its affinities. This study examined the properties of 19 chloroplast (cp) genomes, of which 11 had previously been published and nine had only recently been revealed.Following that, topics such as analysis of selection pressure, codon usage, amino acid frequencies, repeated sequences, and reverse repeat contraction and expansion are covered. The Orchidaceae share similar cp chromosomal characteristics, and we have conducted a preliminary analysis of their evolutionary connections. Similar cp chromosomal traits can be seen in the orchidaceae. Galearis roborowskyi, Neottianthe cucullata, Neottianthe monophylla, Platanthera urceolata and Ponerorchis compacta are the closest cousins, according to phylogenetic study.

Objective: This study used the UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technique, network pharmacology, and molecular docking technology to elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of Myricaria germanica against rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The UPLC-Q-TOF MS/MS technique and Swiss Target Prediction databases were used to select active compounds for Myricaria germanica and to predict relevant targets, respectively. The targets of rheumatoid arthritis were obtained from the TTD and GeneCards databases. Constructing protein interaction networks utilizing the String database, GO functional enrichment analysis, and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of target genes utilizing the DAVID database, constructing ''component-potential target-pathway'' networks utilizing Cytoscape 3.9.1 software, and finally performing molecular docking utilizing Autodock Vina and other software. Results: Myricaria germanica screened 47 chemical components and 302 component targets, obtaining 4017 disease targets, and 32 intersection targets of chemical component targets and disease targets using the Veen diagram. PPI results demonstrate the greatest impact on TNF, VEGFA, ALB, etc. The GO enrichment analysis of 32 targets associated with rheumatoid arthritis reveals that all of these targets are associated with 129 biological processes, including the process of collagen degeneration and the positive regulation of the RNA polymerase II promoter. KEGG enrichment analysis reveals that 87 signaling pathways are involved in these rheumatoid arthritis-related targets, with the IL-17, Relaxin, and TNF signaling pathways being the most significant. As deduced from the network diagram of ingredient-potential target-pathway, the key ingredients for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in Myricaria germanica are Apigenin, Quillaic Acid, and Isorhamnetin, and the associated targets are MMP9, PTGS2, and TNF, with a binding energy of less than -4.25 kcal/mol. Conclusion: Myricaria germanica may act on potential core targets such as TNF, PTGS2, and MMP9 through key active ingredients such as Apigenin, Quillaic Acid, and Isorhamnetin to regulate signaling pathways such as IL-17, TNF, and Relaxin to exert therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis.

A series of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) were prepared with choline chloride, betaine, and a variety of natural organic acids in order to find new environmentally-friendly green solvents to replace the traditional solvents. The NADESs were employed to extract flavonoids from Potentilla fruticosa L. (PFL) with the help of ultrasound. The eutectic solvent diluted with an appropriate amount of water improved the extraction ability of flavonoids due to the decrease of solution viscosity. The microstructure of the raw sample and the samples subjected to ultrasonic bath in different solutions were observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) to determine the role of the NADESs in the extraction process. The DPPH method and glucose consumption method were used to study the antioxidant and hypoglycemic ability of flavonoid compounds in PFL. Single factor method and response surface methodology (RSM) were designed to analyze the effects of three extraction parameters, including solvent/solid ratio, ultrasonic power, and extraction time, on the extraction yield, antioxidant capacity, and hypoglycemic capacity, and the corresponding second-order polynomial prediction models were established. The optimal extraction conditions for the maximum extraction yield, antioxidant capacity, and hypoglycemic capacity were predicted by RSM, and the reliability of RSM simulation results was verified by a one-off experiment.

Potentilla bifurca is widely distributed in Eurasia, including the Tibetan Plateau. It is a valuable medicinal plant in the Tibetan traditional medicine system, especially for the treatment of diabetes. This study investigated the functional gene profile of Potentilla bifurca at different altitudes by RNA-sequencing technology, including de novo assembly of 222,619 unigenes from 405 million clean reads, 57.64% of which were annotated in Nr, GO, KEGG, Pfam, and Swiss-Prot databases. The most significantly differentially expressed top 50 genes in the high-altitude samples were derived from plants that responded to abiotic stress, such as peroxidase, superoxide dismutase protein, and the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. Pathway analysis revealed that a large number of DEGs encode key enzymes involved in secondary metabolites, including phenylpropane and flavonoids. In addition, a total of 298 potential genomic SSRs were identified in this study, which provides information on the development of functional molecular markers for genetic diversity assessment. In conclusion, this study provides the first comprehensive assessment of the Potentilla bifurca transcriptome. This provides new insights into coping mechanisms for non-model organisms surviving in harsh environments at high altitudes, as well as molecular evidence for the selection of superior medicinal plants.

Gentianopsis paludosa (Hook. f.) Ma (Gentianaceae) is one of the genuine medicinal materials in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Here we report the first chloroplast (cp) genome of G. paludosa using Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. The length of its complete cp genome is 151,568 bp, containing four sub-regions; a large single copy region (LSC) of 82,834 bp and a small single copy region (SSC) of 17,928 bp are separated by a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 25,403bp. The complete cp genome of G. paludosa contains 130 genes, including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the cp genome is 37.8%. The phylogenetic analysis, based on 23 cp genomes, suggested that G. paludosa is closely related to G. grandis (H. Smith) Ma and Swertia species.

Rheum lhasaense (Polygonaceae) is one of the genuine medicinal herbs in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Here we report the first chloroplast (cp) genome of R. lhasaense using Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. The length of its complete cp genome is 161,820 bp, containing four sub-regions. A large single copy region (LSC) of 87,086 bp and a small single copy region (SSC) of 12,814 bp are separated by a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 30,960 bp. The complete cp genome of R. lhasaense contains 130 genes, including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the cp genome is 37.4%. The phylogenetic analysis, based on 28 cp genomes, suggested that R. lhasaense is closely related to R. acuminatum and R. pumilum.