Dracocephalum tanguticum (Maxim) is rich in various chemical constituents and is widely used in traditional Zang medicine. Endophytes play a direct or indirect role in the biosynthesis of active compounds and plant growth. However, little is known about the characteristics of endophytes and polyphenolic compounds in the various organs of D. tanguticum. In this study, high-throughput sequencing and polyphenol-targeted metabolomics were employed to analyze endophytic community diversity and assembly processes, polyphenolic compound content, and their correlations. The results showed that the endophytic compositions of the leaf and stem organs were similar, and significantly different from that in the root organs; however, the endophytic diversity did not differ significantly across the various organs. Actinobacteriota and Pseudomonadota were the dominant bacterial phyla, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the dominant fungal phyla in the various organs, while the dominant endophytic genera were significantly different. The endophytic community assembly was influenced mainly by stochastic processes in the various organs. A total of 75 polyphenolic compounds were identified, and the contents of the polyphenolic compounds in the various organs of D. tanguticum differed significantly. The correlation analysis revealed varying degrees of positive and negative correlation between endophytes and polyphenolic compounds. These findings clarify the characteristics of the endophytes and polyphenolic compounds, and lay a theoretical foundation for the identification and application functional microbiomes in the D. tanguticum.

Abstract Although Lilium bulbs have been extensively studied for their phytochemical composition and pharmacological activities, the in vivo bioactivities of Lilium flowers from different species and developmental stages remain poorly understood. In this study, the anti-inflammatory activities of fully bloomed flowers from three Lilium species were first evaluated using a zebrafish inflammation model, followed by a comparative assessment of different developmental stages of Lilium lancifolium. Among the three species, L. lancifolium showed the most pronounced suppression of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and proinflammatory cytokines, accompanied by increased interleukin-10. Within L. lancifolium, green buds showed the strongest effects on ROS and NO reduction, together with selective cytokine modulation, whereas full-bloom flowers exhibited broader regulatory effects on inflammatory mediators. Gene expression analyses suggested that full-bloom flowers may exert dose-dependent regulatory effects on inflammation-related pathways, with higher doses generally associated with the downregulation of genes related to nuclear factor kappa B, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and apoptosis-associated signalling. These findings suggest that green buds may exert stronger effects on oxidative stress-related indicators, whereas full-bloom flowers may show broader regulatory effects on inflammatory mediators. Overall, this study provides comparative in vivo evidence and preliminary molecular support for the functional potential of Lilium flowers in nutraceutical and cosmeceutical applications.

ABSTRACT This study presents a comparative assessment of the effects of various drying treatments on the physicochemical properties and flavor quality of Chaenomeles speciosa ( C. speciosa ). In a systematic comparison, a detailed comparison was conducted among samples treated with hot‐air drying (HAD) at 100°C, vacuum freeze‐drying (VFD), and vacuum drying (VD) across a range of temperatures (60°C–120°C). Results showed that VFD and VD effectively inhibited sample browning. VD at 80°C (VD‐80) better preserved total sugars and organic acids (TSOA) compared to other drying methods. Moreover, VD‐80 significantly increased both total phenolic content (TPC) and superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), and notably enhanced the content of catechin, the primary phenolic component. In terms of flavor, VD‐treated samples developed a predominant aldehydic and floral‐like aroma, contributing to a favorable sensory profile. Overall, VD‐80 effectively maintains the visual quality of C. speciosa while enhancing its antioxidant properties, offering a practical industrial processing method that balances product quality with bioactive retention.

BACKGROUND:Lilium lancifolium bulbs are edible-medicinal resources rich in polysaccharides, proteins, polyphenols, and saponins, but fresh bulbs are prone to browning, nutrient loss, and microbial contamination. Blanching combined with drying is a key postharvest strategy for maintaining quality. This study evaluated steam and hot-water blanching followed by hot-air drying to determine their effects on color, polyphenols, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity. RESULTS:Blanching markedly reduced browning, with steam for 15 min and hot water for 2 min showing the best color protection. Treatments enhanced polyphenol retention, reducing losses of regaloside A and promoting accumulation of regaloside E. Antioxidant capacity was highest after 6 min of hot-water blanching, while 10 min of steam blanching produced the strongest antiproliferative effect with good selectivity (selectivity index = 5.08). Multi-criteria decision analysis identified hot-water blanching for 6 min (B6-D) as optimal and steam blanching for 10 min (S10-D) as secondary. CONCLUSION:Blanching-drying synergy effectively improved color stability, preserved key phenolics, and enhanced bioactivity in L. lancifolium bulbs. Hot-water blanching for 6 min followed by drying is recommended as the optimal method, providing a scientific basis for high-quality processing and functional product development. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Anisodus luridus, a medicinal plant, is abundant in tropane alkaloids (e.g., hyoscyamine and scopolamine) within its roots. This species exhibits higher biomass and alkaloid content compared to traditional medicinal plants such as Atropa belladonna and Datura stramonium. Given the significant bioactivity of natural tropane alkaloids and the plant's commercial potential, this study optimized their extraction process using response surface methodology. The optimal conditions were determined as 78% ethanol concentration, 68 °C extraction temperature, and 20 min extraction time. The actual tropane alkaloid yield (6.211 mg/g) closely aligned with the predicted value (6.194 mg/g), validating the model's accuracy. Furthermore, a UPLC-PDA-based quantitative method was developed for analyzing chemical components of Anisodus luridus and subsequently applied to construct its UPLC fingerprint for quality assessment. The method demonstrated linearity for hyoscyamine in the range of 20.00-2000.00 μg/mL, scopolamine from 2.00 to 256.00 μg/mL, and anisodamine 1 and 2 in the ranges of 1.08-69.12 and 0.92-58.88 μg/mL, respectively. Average relative recoveries for these compounds were 98.91, 99.73, 100.05, and 97.01%, respectively. The alkaloid content in the tested batch samples ranged from 3.2044 to 22.0037 mg/g with significant differences. Based on experimental data and practical production requirements, the alkaloid content in medicinal materials meeting regulatory standards should not be lower than 0.05%. Additionally, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution scoring prediction indicated that the relative closeness of the August harvest to the optimal scheme was 0.882, the highest score recorded. This suggests that early August may be the most suitable period for harvesting to ensure optimal medicinal quality. These findings provide crucial references for the quality evaluation and industrial application of this plant.

Skin whitening agents have attracted increasing interest not only for their esthetic appeal but also for their potential therapeutic applications in managing hyperpigmentation-related skin disorders. The Lilium genus, well-known for its ornamental, medicinal, and edible properties, contains a diverse array of bioactive compounds with numerous pharmacological effects. Despite the increasing interest in their cosmetic applications, the melanin-inhibiting potential of Lilium flowers remains underexplored. This study analyzed the phytochemical profiles of three Lilium species and assessed their ability to inhibit melanin synthesis. Lilium lancifolium Thunb. exhibited the highest overall content of identified phytochemicals-including phenolics, carotenoids, and vitamin E-and demonstrated superior efficacy in inhibiting melanin formation. Key phytochemical components, including regaloside C, regaloside A, lutein, alpha-tocopherol, and alpha-tocotrienol, were identified as the most significant melanin-inhibiting agents. This study not only highlights the potential value of Lilium flowers in skin whitening but also offers valuable insights for the comprehensive utilization of Lilium. As a sustainable source of bioactive compounds, Lilium flowers hold great promise for applications in daily chemicals, functional food ingredients, and pharmaceuticals.

Gymnadenia conopsea has high economic value and can be used as a medicinal and ornamental plant. Owing to its low natural reproduction rate and overexploitation, the risk of extinction of this plant is gradually increasing. Endophytic fungi play crucial roles in host growth and development; however, the characteristics of the endophytic fungal community in various tissues of G. conopsea have not been fully characterized. Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology was employed to sequence the fungal ITS (A non-coding DNA sequence located between the 18S rRNA gene and the 5.8S rRNA gene within the ribosomal RNA gene cluster) region, thereby characterizing the community structure and assembly processes of endophytic fungi in roots, stems, leaves, and fruits. A total of 7,371 OTUs were obtained from all the samples and were dominated by Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. The richness indices of various tissues were significantly different, whereas the diversity indices were not significantly different. The composition of the dominant genera differed; overall, the compositions of the endophytic fungal communities were similar among the leaf, stem, and fruit tissues. The relative abundances of Ceratobasidium, Cadophora, and Mortierella were significantly higher in root tissues than in other tissues, G. conopsea roots should be prioritized as the material for isolating growth-promoting endophytic fungi. Cooccurrence network analysis revealed that endophytic fungi in different tissues presented typical modular structures and the network was mainly positive. The assembly processes in different tissues were affected mainly by deterministic factors. The proportions of pathotrophs, saprotrophs, and symbiotrophs were different among various tissues, and the proportion of pathotrophs was greater than those of saprotrophs and symbiotrophs. In conclusion, tissue type affects the composition of endophytic fungi. Furthermore, by dissecting the composition and functions of the fungal community associated with G. conopsea, this study aims to provide a reference for exploring the interaction mechanisms between endophytic fungi and G. conopsea.

Fermentation is a vital food processing technique that can modify the structure and function of bioactive compounds. This study explored the transformation of polyphenols in Lilium lancifolium bulbs during enzymatic hydrolysis and acetic acid bacterial fermentation. Polyphenol profiles were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and antioxidant activity was evaluated using a zebrafish model. Enzymatic hydrolysis promoted the release of regaloside-type polyphenols while reducing p-Coumaric acid. Fermentation led to a fluctuating but overall 7.17-fold increase in total polyphenols after 14 days, and resulted in the emergence of three new compounds-regaloside B, E, and H. The fermented extracts enhanced antioxidant capacity, improving survival rates and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and cell death in AAPH-treated zebrafish embryos. These results demonstrate that fermentation combined with enzymatic hydrolysis improves the polyphenol composition and bioactivity of L. lancifolium, offering a promising strategy for developing functional lily based food products.

Lilium lancifolium Thunb., a traditional medicinal and edible plant widely distributed in East Asia, is rich in bioactive compounds including polysaccharides, phenolics, terpenes, saponins, sterols, and alkaloids. This study investigated the dynamic changes in phytochemical composition and anti-pigmentation potential of L. lancifolium flowers across three developmental stages. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to identify the major bioactive compounds, including regaloside A, regaloside C, lutein, zeaxanthin, and α-tocopherol. The green bud stage, which contained the highest concentration of phytochemicals (44.25 ± 2.22 mg/g DW), exhibited the strongest pigmentation-inhibitory effect in a zebrafish embryo-based whitening model, reducing tyrosinase activity and melanin content to 73.74 % and 54.85 % of the control, respectively. Correlation analyses revealed that regaloside C, β-cryptoxanthin and β-tocopherol had strong negative correlations with tyrosinase activity and melanin content. These findings highlight that L. lancifolium flowers, as medicinal and edible dual-purpose flowers and agricultural byproducts, can serve as an excellent source of natural bioactive compounds and natural anti-pigmentation agents. These phenolics hold promise for application in functional foods, dietary supplements, and natural skincare products aimed at pigmentation regulation and skin health.

This study investigated the antioxidant capacity and molecular mechanisms of lily bulb polyphenols using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos subjected to AAPH-induced oxidative stress. Two extraction methods-cold (CE) and hot (HE) water extraction-were compared. HE exhibited significantly higher total phenolic content (31 ± 4 %, p < 0.05) and polyphenol abundance (9.8 ± 0.6-fold increase, p < 0.05), particularly regaloside A and p-coumaric acid, than CE. Heat-assisted extraction of lily bulbs liberated more polyphenols (both in terms of content and variety), which translated into measurably greater antioxidant protection in vivo. In vivo assays revealed that both extracts improved embryo survival, restored SOD activity, and reduced ROS accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and cell death, with HE demonstrating superior efficacy. Mechanistically, regaloside A and p-coumaric acid reversed AAPH-induced dysregulation of key oxidative stress-related genes. Specifically, they downregulated keap1a, rela, erk2, and p38 expression while restoring nrf2, sod1, and sod2 levels, indicating modulation of Nrf2, NF-κB, and MAPK pathways. The data support the hypothesis that heating increases polyphenol yield and that lily polyphenols exert antioxidant effects via the stated pathways. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for developing lily-based antioxidant ingredients for functional foods.

In recent years, the biological activity of plant polysaccharides has received increasing attention. Polysaccharides, as one of the main components of lilies, have pharmacological effects in regulating immunity, anti-tumor, antioxidant, antibacterial, and hypoglycemic effects. To systematically analyze the structural characteristics of the polysaccharide, the polysaccharide LP-1 was prepared from Lilium lancifolium bulbs by water extraction and ethanol precipitation, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. Structural characterizations show that the weight-average relative molecular weight of LP-1 is 5.3 kDa. LP-1 consists of mannose and glucose at a molar ratio of 1.4:1. Its primary structure is Glc p -α-D-(1 → {4)-β-D-Glc p -(1 → 4)-β-D-2- O -acetyl-Man p -(1 → [4)-β-D-Glc p -(1 → 4)-β-D-Glc p -(1 → 4)-β-D-Man p -(1 → 4)-β-D-Man p -(1 → 4)-β-D-Man p -(1 → 4)-β-D-Man p -(1] 2 } 2 → 4)-α-D-Glc p. Acetylation occurs at the O -2 site of mannose. Acetyl substitution degree is 8.21%. The results of structure elucidation showed that LP-1 was a low-molecular weight linear O -acetylated glucomannan. The results of oxidative stress experiments indicate that LP-1 exerts antioxidant effects on HUVEC by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, thereby improving endothelial cell damage induced by H 2 O 2 , and has the potential to be developed as an antioxidant drug. Graphical Abstract

Lily bulbs are susceptible to deterioration during storage if improperly handled. To resolve this problem, it is necessary to investigate suitable processing techniques. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of steaming, blanching and microwave pretreatment on freeze-dried lily bulbs in terms of color, phenolic content and bioactivity. Results showed that appropriate steaming and blanching pretreatment could contribute to product characteristics similar to those of freeze-dried lily bulbs, with the maximum L* value reduced by only 7.57% and 0.55% respectively. Thermal pretreatment affected the retention, degradation and transformation of polyphenol, especially for regalosides. The polyphenol was closely associated with the browning of lily bulbs. Thermal processing caused the decline of regaloside A and the increase of regaloside B, which were the major phenolic monomers that can effectively inhibit the browning of lily bulbs. The antioxidant activity of freeze-dried lily pretreated with blanching for 6 min was the highest (4.39 ± 0.32 μmol TE/g DW), with an improvement of nearly 25.39% compared to that of untreated freeze-dried lily. Thus, the combination of freeze-dried with steaming or blanching pretreatment could be proposed as a sustainable strategy to improve the quality of lily bulbs for industrial application.

The chemical constituents of Dracocephalum tanguticum were investigated using normal-and reverse-phase silica gel column chromatography, RP-HPLC, and other separation techniques, combined with experimental methods such as NMR, UV, IR, MS, and ORD, as well as comparison with reported literature data. From the ethanol extract of D. tanguticum, 10 compounds were isolated and identified: dracotangusion C(1),(1R,4S,5S,10R)-(+)-germacrone-1(10)-4-diepoxide(2), 1β,4β,5β-trihydroxy-7(11),9-germacradien-8-one(3), curcumadione(4), β-sitosterol(5), lilacoside(6), diosmetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(7), diosmin(8), luteolin-7-O-glucoside(9), and luteolin(10). Among these, compound 1 is a novel sesquiterpenoid, while compounds 2-4 represent the first isolation of sesquiterpenoid components from this genus. By measuring the release of NO in the culture medium of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages, it was found that at an administration concentration of 20 μmol·L~(-1), all 10 compounds significantly inhibited the LPS-induced release of NO(P &lt; 0.01), exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects.

Lily bulbs (Lilium lancifolium Thunb.) are rich in phytochemicals and have many potential biological activities which could be deep-processed for food or medicine purposes. This study investigated the effects of microwaves combined with hot-air drying on phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities in lily bulbs. The results showed that six characteristic phytochemicals were identified in lily bulbs. They also showed that with an increase in microwave power and treatment time, regaloside A, regaloside B, regaloside E, and chlorogenic acid increased dramatically in lily bulbs. The 900 W (2 min) and the 500 W (5 min) groups could significantly suppress the browning of lily bulbs, with total color difference values of 28.97 ± 4.05 and 28.58 ± 3.31, respectively, and increase the content of detected phytochemicals. The highest oxygen radical absorbance activity was found in the 500 W, 5 min group, a 1.6-fold increase as compared with the control (57.16 ± 1.07 μmol TE/g DW), which was significantly relevant to the group's phytochemical composition. Microwaves enhanced the phytochemicals and antioxidant capacity of lily bulbs, which could be an efficient and environmentally friendly strategy for improving the nutrition quality of lily bulbs during dehydration processing.

This study compared the effects of hot air drying (HAD) and vacuum drying (VD) on the physicochemical qualities of lily (Lilium lancifolium Thunb.) bulbs. The results showed that VD treatment effectively reduced the browning of lily scales with a total color difference (& UDelta;E) 42-73% lower than those of HAD group. Two drying treatments enhanced the total phenolic content (TPC) of the lily bulbs effectively. TPC increased with rising drying temperatures, and under isothermal conditions, the TPC of VD group was 1.1-1.6-fold higher than that of HAD group. Five typical phenolic compounds were identified in lily bulbs. As the predominant phenolic fraction, regaloside A of VD group was 51-291% above HAD group. Regaloside B was temperature sensitive and would be destroyed by high temperature. In parallel, VD treatment elevated the antioxidant activity overall, which could be contributed by phenolics and some Maillard reaction products. Furthermore, drying significantly improved the antiproliferative activity of lily bulbs, with samples treated with 120 degrees C HAD and 60 degrees C VD exhibiting the strongest antiproliferative capacity. The present investigation demonstrated that VD treatment effectively improved the physicochemical quality of lily bulbs and would provide a theoretical basis for optimizing drying conditions to obtain higher-quality lily bulbs.

Four evergreen broadleaf Rhododendron spp. (Rhododendrons), namely, Rhododendron aganniphum, R. nyingchiense, R. wardii, and R. triflorum, occur in harsh subalpine habitats in the southwest Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), China. Considering that the four Rhododendrons cannot escape their unique environment, they must evolve a set of adaptations to survive, but the information is lacking. To uncover their physiological adaptation characteristics, in the present study, we monitored their physiological characteristics by determination of their seasonal variation in antioxidant enzyme activity, osmotic adjustment substrates, and carbohydrate contents, and their pigment content and photosynthetic efficiency. The results showed that superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) activities and proline content of four Rhododendrons had a significant difference in autumn and were insignificant in summer. Specifically, R. aganniphum had the maximum protective enzyme activity and proline content in winter as well as chl a, b, and car contents. The values of maximal quantum yield (Fv/Fm), photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII), and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of four Rhododendrons were significantly higher in summer than in other seasons. The lower qP indicated the four Rhododendrons were susceptible to photoinhibition. Overall, the four Rhododendrons had similar physical characteristics in subalpine habitats. The parameters of the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII), the actual quantum yield of PSII, the non-photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching, and chlorophyll a content increased in summer. Meanwhile, the protective enzyme activity and total soluble sugar content, proline content, and carotenoid content increased in spring, autumn, and winter. These results suggested that the four Rhododendrons can adapt to subalpine habitats by heat dissipation to avoid the damage of excessive radiation during the warm season while scavenging reactive oxygen and increasing the intracellular fluid concentration to avoid damage caused by chilling temperatures during the cold seasons. These findings would provide a reference for the conservation and application of these valuable ornamental evergreen broadleaf Rhododendrons, and enrich theory of plant eco-physiology in the high altitudes of the QTP.

One galactose- and arabinose-rich polysaccharide isolated from Sambucus adnata was named SPS-1, which had an average molecular weight 138.52 kDa, and was composed of L-rhamnose, D-glucuronic acid, D-galacturonic acid, D-galactose, and L-arabinose in a molar ratio of 0.6:0.4:0.1:4.9:4.0. The primary structure of SPS-1 was further analyzed through methylation and NMR spectroscopy. The results showed that SPS-1 had the structural characteristics of AG-II pectin. The immunoactivity test showed that SPS-1 activated the phosphorylation of MAPKs-related proteins and further elevated the expression levels of related nuclear transcription factors (IκBα and NF-κB p65) in the cells through the TLR2 and MyD88/TRAF6-dependent pathway, thereby significantly enhancing the phagocytosis of macrophages and stimulating the secretion of NO, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, which activated the RAW264.7 cells. Therefore, SPS-1, acting as an immunomodulator, is a potential drug for immunological diseases.

Background As a valuable medicinal plant, Rhodiola has a very long history of folk medicine used as an important adaptogen, tonic, and hemostatic. However, our knowledge of the chloroplast genome level of Rhodiola is limited. This drawback has limited studies on the identification, evolution, genetic diversity and other relevant studies on Rhodiola. Results Six Rhodiola complete chloroplast genomes were determined and compared to another Rhodiola cp genome at the genome scale. The results revealed a cp genome with a typical quadripartite and circular structure that ranged in size from 150,771 to 151,891 base pairs. High similarity of genome organization, gene number, gene order, and GC content were found among the chloroplast genomes of Rhodiola. 186 (R. wallichiana) to 200 (R. gelida) SSRs and 144 pairs of repeats were detected in the 6 Rhodiola cp genomes. Thirteen mutational hotspots for genome divergence were determined and could be used as candidate markers for phylogenetic analyses and Rhodiola species identification. The phylogenetic relationships inferred by members of Rhodiola cluster into two clades: dioecious and hermaphrodite. Our findings are helpful for understanding Rhodiola's taxonomic, phylogenetic, and evolutionary relationships. Conclusions Comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes of Rhodiola facilitates medicinal resource conservation, phylogenetic reconstruction and biogeographical research of Rhodiola.

谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(glutathione-S-transferase,GST)是参与谷胱甘肽催化反应的关键酶,在生物解毒、应激耐受和次级代谢等多个方面发挥生物学功能.本研究以藏药喜马拉雅紫茉莉为材料,基于前期转录组数据,从cDNA中克隆出谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)基因MhGSTL3,该基因开放阅读框(ORF)全长717bp,编码238个氨基酸.利用多种生物信息学分析方法对该基因预测和分析,结果显示,该基因编码蛋白的相对分子质量为27.08kDa,理论等电点pI值为5.21,推测该蛋白为稳定的弱酸性亲水型蛋白,不含信号肽,不存在跨膜结构;通过多序列比对,发现该蛋白具有两个GST家族典型的保守活性位点;系统进化分析表明,与该蛋白同源性最高的是欧洲栓皮栎.利用实时荧光定量PCR检测得出MhGSTL3在花中表达量最高,果中最低;低温胁迫时该基因在根和叶中的表达量均升高,根中升高显著.该研究首次从喜马拉雅紫茉莉中克隆出了MhGSTL3的cDNA全长,并揭示了MhGSTL3在不同组织及温度下的差异表达,为今后对MhGSTL3基因分子机制的探究提供理论参考.

在第四次全国中药资源普查试点之西藏自治区察隅县的植物野外调查中,发现了西藏新记录种—锯叶石莲(Sinocrassula indica var.serrata(Raymond-Hamet)S.H.Fu).本研究描述了锯叶石莲的形态特征,并提供了野外植物照片.此次发现锯叶石莲的花期与生长环境与记载中不同,因此予以报道.凭证保存于西藏高原生态研究所植物标本室(XZE).