Article
Plant Sciences
Diego de Farias Silva, Pedro Henrique Simoes Bezerra, Leonardo Lopes de Sousa Ribeiro, Max Denisson Mauricio Viana, Alyne Almeida de Lima, Geraldo Jose da Silva Neto, Claudener Souza Teixeira, Sonia Salgueiro Machado, Magna Suzana Alexandre Moreira, Plinio Delatorre, Eliane Aparecida Campesatto, Bruno Anderson Matias Rocha
Summary: The study demonstrated that leaf fractions of Costus spiralis have anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects, modulating peripheral nociceptive and inflammatory responses without affecting the central nervous system. They are potential candidates for phytochemical purification, structural and mechanistic studies.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Hanh Nhu Thi Hoang, Hung Quoc Vo, Linh Thuy Thi Tran, Hoai Thi Nguyen, Duc Viet Ho
Summary: Four novel compounds were isolated from Conamomum rubidum, including the first examples of monoterpene-monoterpene-chalcone conjugates in nature and an unprecedented monoterpene-substituted chalcone. These compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities.
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Bruna Natalia Veloso dos Santos, Jessica Coutinho Silva, Wellington Ronildo Clarindo
Summary: In this study, the chromosome number and nuclear DNA content of Marantaceae plants were measured, revealing the genetic characteristics and evolutionary processes of this family. The results showed significant variation in chromosome number and nuclear DNA content among Marantaceae plants, and polyploidy plays an important role in this process.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Seemab Akram, Shahrizim Zulkifly, Shamsul Khamis, Nurul Izza Ab Ghani
Summary: In this study, a comparative analysis was conducted on the partial sequences of the CHS1 gene in Zingiberaceae, Costaceae, and Poaceae. The results showed that the gene is conserved within the Commelinids clade. Further research is needed to investigate the consequences of low polymorphism and mutations, as well as adaptive evolution, in these plant species, along with biochemical and gene expression studies.
PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Min Tang, Jialin Huang, Xiangli Ma, Juan Du, Yufen Bi, Peiwen Guo, Hao Lu, Lei Wang
Summary: This study presents a chromosome-level, near-complete genome assembly of Thalia dealbata, which is an emergent wetland plant with high ornamental and environmental value. The assembly was based on PacBio HiFi reads and Hi-C reads, resulting in a 255.05 Mb assembly with high contig N50 value and BUSCO recovery score. The genome provides valuable resources for further research on wetland plant adaptation and comparative genomics.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Bethania Rosa Lorencone, Lucas Pires Guarnier, Rhanany Alan Calloi Palozi, Paulo Vitor Moreira Romao, Aline Aparecida Macedo Marques, Lislaine Maria Klider, Roosevelt Isaias Carvalho Souza, Ariany Carvalho dos Santos, Cleide Adriane Signor Tirloni, Nadla Soares Cassemiro, Denise Brentan Silva, Jane Manfron Budel, Arquimedes Gasparotto Junior
Summary: This study demonstrates that the extract of Costus spicatus has significant protective effects against the development of atherosclerosis, mainly through its hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects, which can slow down the progression of atherosclerotic disease.
Article
Plant Sciences
Denisa Simonikova, Jana Cizkova, Veronika Zoulova, Pavla Christelova, Eva Hribova
Summary: Bananas are an important staple food crop and trade commodity in tropical and subtropical countries. The most important edible banana clones have originated from crosses between two different purebred varieties, which has led to chromosomal changes that may contribute to lower fertility in these vegetatively propagated clones. This article reviews the development of molecular cytogenetic approaches in studying the genome evolution of edible bananas, including the use of specific cytogenetic probes and comparative karyotype analysis.
Article
Ecology
Matti A. Niissalo, Elliot M. Gardner, Gillian S. Khew, Otakar Sida, Axel Dalberg Poulsen, Jana Leong-Skornickova
Summary: Lowiaceae is a small family of forest herbs in Southeast Asia that is known for its orchid-like flowers with foul-smelling scents. Through genetic analysis, we have discovered the family's closest relation to Strelitziaceae and the presence of two distinct clades based on flower color and odor. Additionally, the distribution of Lowiaceae can be explained by vicariance and gradual dispersal from a shared ancestral range, with evidence of a land bridge and geological barriers influencing species movement and isolation. The lack of long-distance dispersal adaptations in the fruits and seeds of the family may also contribute to their restricted distributions.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Ami Naik, Sherif Babatunde Adeyemi, Bhavin Vyas, Ramar Krishnamurthy
Summary: This study evaluates the antidiabetic effects of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Costus pictus in diabetic rats. The results show that the extracts can decrease blood glucose levels when administered separately, and co-administration with metformin enhances the hypoglycemic activity of metformin.
JOURNAL OF TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ning Fu, Meiyuan Ji, Mathieu Rouard, Hai-Fei Yan, Xue-Jun Ge
Summary: By analyzing plastome sequences of 49 species/subspecies representing all three genera of Musaceae, we improved the phylogenetic resolution of this family and gained new insights into its evolution. Plastome sequences provide valuable resources for population genetics and phylogenetics at lower taxon.
Article
Plant Sciences
Gaetan Droc, Guillaume Martin, Valentin Guignon, Marilyne Summo, Guilhem Sempere, Eloi Durant, Alexandre Soriano, Franc-Christophe Baurens, Alberto Cenci, Catherine Breton, Trushar Shah, Jean-Marc Aury, Xue-Jun Ge, Pat Heslop Harrison, Nabila Yahiaoui, Angelique D'Hont, Mathieu Rouard
Summary: The Banana Genome Hub provides centralized access for genome assemblies, annotations, and various omics resources related to bananas and their relatives. It offers a range of tools and interfaces for comparative analysis, gene search, gene family analysis, and genome structure comparison. It aims to support basic, translational, and applied research in the banana scientific community.
HORTICULTURE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Julia Mendonca Almeida, Caio Cesar Correa Missagia, Maria Alice Santos Alves
Summary: This study investigated the influence of inflorescence display, flower abundance, and neighboring species on nectar robbing by hummingbirds in the tropical ornithophilous herb Heliconia spathocircinata. The results showed that moderate-sized inflorescence displays increased nectar robbing activity, while increased flower abundance and the presence of neighboring plant species reduced nectar robbing frequency. These findings suggest that nectar robbing hummingbirds are attracted to conditions that also attract legitimate visitors, and that spatial aggregation and mixed-species displays may help dilute the negative effects of nectar robbing.
Article
Plant Sciences
Natthavadh Laokor, Weerapong Juntachai
Summary: The study focused on screening and determining the potential anti-fungal activity of A. galanga rhizome extract, which contains (2,6-dimethylphenyl)borate as a major constituent. This extract shows promise in treating Malassezia infections, inhibiting hyphal growth and supporting further pharmaceutical research.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jui-Yi Hsu, Ashish Rao Sathyan, Kai-Cheng Hsu, Liang-Chieh Chen, Cheng-Chung Yen, Hui-Ju Tseng, Kun-Chang Wu, Hui-Kang Liu, Wei-Jan Huang
Summary: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is linked to pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance, with islet amyloid polypeptide aggregation leading to beta-cell death. Certain compounds have been found to inhibit IAPP aggregation, with compounds 4g and 4h showing significant protection against IAPP-induced toxicity in beta-cells.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Juan Chen, Sijin Zeng, Linya Zeng, Khang Sinh Nguyen, Jiawei Yan, Hua Liu, Nianhe Xia
Summary: Previous studies have revealed that the genus Hellenia within the family Costaceae is non-monophyletic. This study further confirms the paraphyly of Hellenia through plastid phylogenomic analyses and morphological analyses. A new genus, Parahellenia, is recognized based on the molecular and morphological evidence.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Katharine M. Loughney, Michael T. Hren, Selena Y. Smith, Janice L. Pappas
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Molly Ng, Selena Y. Smith
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Steven R. Manchester, Dashrath K. Kapgate, Sharadkumar P. Patil, Deepak Ramteke, Kelly K. S. Matsunaga, Selena Y. Smith
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCES
(2020)
Review
Geography, Physical
Nathan D. Sheldon, Selena Y. Smith, Rebekah Stein, Molly Ng
GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGE
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Selena Y. Smith, Daniel H. Chitwood
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rebekah A. Stein, Nathan D. Sheldon, Selena Y. Smith
Summary: The study tested the impact of various climate factors on plant carbon isotope discrimination and found that climate variables are not the main driver of carbon isotope discrimination. It was discovered that the discrimination is intrinsic to each taxon and can quantitatively link phylogenetic relationships and adaptation to climate.
Article
Plant Sciences
Selena Y. Smith, Dashrath K. Kapgate, Shannon Robinson, Rashmi Srivastava, John C. Benedict, Steven R. Manchester
Summary: This study analyzed three different types of fossil fruits and seeds of Zingiberales from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of central India, revealing that two of them belong to the Zingiberaceae family, enriching our understanding of the early diversification and biogeographic spread of Zingiberales.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Kelly K. S. Matsunaga, Selena Y. Smith
Summary: Fossils are crucial for understanding evolutionary history by providing direct evidence of past diversity and distributions. This study on palm fruits demonstrates the accuracy of placing fossils at tribal and subtribal levels with a morphological data set, enhancing our knowledge of fruit structure and evolutionary history in Arecaceae.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Rebekah A. Stein, Nathan D. Sheldon, Selena Y. Smith
Summary: This study explores the relationship between stable carbon isotope values in soil organic matter and climate parameters in modern ecosystems, proposing a potential new paleoprecipitation proxy that can be applied from the Devonian period to the Miocene period. It provides a promising method for extending paleoprecipitation reconstruction in geological records and is calibrated for wetter environments.
PALEOCEANOGRAPHY AND PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Rebekah A. Stein, Nathan D. Sheldon, Selena Y. Smith
Summary: Carbon isotope ecology can be used as a measure of plant water stress, which is influenced by atmospheric-oceanic controls, particularly those related to the Pacific. The study found oscillatory patterns in the carbon isotope discrimination values of Thuja plicata, indicating prolonged stress, while other species did not show clear patterns. These findings provide insight into the impact of Pacific teleconnections on coastal ecosystems and the potential for multiannual climate anomalies.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Keana K. Tang, Selena Y. Smith, Brian A. Atkinson
Summary: Cunoniaceae are important elements of rainforests in the Southern Hemisphere, and many of them have a Gondwanan distribution since the Paleocene. Fossils of Ceratopetalum fruits from Campanian deposits in Washington, USA provide evidence for a dramatic geographical range extension of Ceratopetalum and Cunoniaceae as a whole. These fossils represent the first unequivocal evidence of crown Cunoniaceae from the Cretaceous of North America, indicating a more complicated biogeographical history for this important Gondwanan family.
Article
Electrochemistry
Didier Devaux, Irune Villaluenga, Xi Jiang, Yu Hao Chang, Dilworth Y. Parkinson, Nitash P. Balsara
JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2020)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Swarn Jha, Siddhi Mehta, Yan Chen, Peter Renner, Selvasundarasekar Sam Sankar, Dilworth Parkinson, Subrata Kundu, Hong Liang
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yoon Hwa, Hyo Won Kim, Hao Shen, Dilworth Y. Parkinson, Bryan D. McCloskey, Elton J. Cairns
MATERIALS HORIZONS
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Eongyu Yi, Hao Shen, Stephen Heywood, Judith Alvarado, Dilworth Y. Parkinson, Guoying Chen, Stephen W. Sofie, Marca M. Doeff
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2020)