Effects of ecological factors on secondary metabolites and inorganic elements of Scutellaria baicalensis and analysis of geoherblism

This study analyzed the effects of ecological factors on secondary metabolites of Scutellaria baicalensis using two sources:92individual roots of S.baicalensis from all over China,and secondary metabolites,medicinal materials and inorganic element contents obtained from the testing of 92 S.baicalensis rhizosphere soil samples.The study used environmental data from the Genuine Medicinal Material Spatial Analysis Database.Most of the chemical constituents of S.baicalensis were negatively correlated to latitude and positively correlated to temperature;generally,the contents of 21 chemical constituents were higher at low latitudes than that at high latitudes.By gradual regression analysis,it was found that the content of baicalin in S.baicalensis was negatively correlated to latitude and generally the content of inorganic elements in soil was excessively high(excluding Mg and Ca),which has a negative effect on the accumulation of chemical constituents in S.baicalensis.Based on the cluster analysis of 21 constituents,S.baicalensis from different places of origin was divided into two groups,and S.baicalensis was not genuine only in a specific small region.Within the zone from Chifeng,Inner Mongolia to Taibai,Shaanxi is suitable for accumulation of secondary metabolites of S.baicalensis and such a zone represents a suitable distribution and potential genuine producing area.

Deep in shadows:Epigenetic and epigenomic regulations of medicinal plants

Around 60%of the extant plants have medicinal and health-promoting values.Genuine medicinal material(geoherb)is produced in particular geographic regions,that is defined ecological environment and cultivation pipeline.The clinical efficacy of a geoherb is superior to that of the same medicinal plant growing in other regions.The special medicinal features of a plant are determined by its genome,while the proper ecological conditions have major effects on the formation of a geoherb,which is at least partially mediated by the epigenetics.By epigenetics/epigenomics,researchers uncover the complexities of the influence of the environment on the expression of genes that control medicinal plant growth,development,stress responses,and medicinal phytometabolite yield,and put the other"omics layers"in a meaningful biological context.The unique phenotypes of geoherb are closely related to the growth,development,and stress responses of medicinal plants.In addition to the commonly known genetic control,epigenetic machineries,active at the population level,play an essential role in the formation of geoherbs.This contribution gives a comprehensive overview of the epigenetic regulation of medicinal plants,and the associated microbes,and the role of DNA methylation,small non-coding RNA,transposable elements,and histone modifications in the gene expression regulation of geoherbs and relevant microbiota.The epigenetic and epigenomic mechanisms should be highlighted in the study of specific phenotype and indigenousness of geoherbalism.Revealing the correlation between epigenetics and geoherbs could shed light on the quality assessment,authentication,molecular breeding,and sustainable utilization of medicinal plants and the associated microbes.