A Brief Analysis of Ranunculaceae Family Resources Based on Yu Tuo Ben Cao

[Objectives]To facilitate the rational use and timely protection of the Tibetan medicinal plant resources to count and reorganize Tibetan medicines recorded in Yu Tuo Ben Cao.[Methods]Based on literature research and data analysis,this paper analyzed the plant genera,and their habitat characteristics and the main types of diseases.[Results]Yu Tuo Ben Cao contains 191 kinds of botanicals,of which Ranunculaceae has the largest number of 11 genera and 25 species,with a wide distribution of habitats and 5 categories,and the main therapeutic efficacy covers 16 fields.[Conclusions]As a part of Yu Tuo Ben Cao,Tibetan medicines of Ranunculaceae have great research value because of their variety,large number,wide distribution,and diverse uses.

Investigation and analysis of vascular plant resources and diversity in Wuyi Mountain,Fujian Province

Wuyi Mountain,located in the north of Fujian Province,China,is renowned for its abundant medicinal plant resources.In July 2014,the 8th(second team)of Shenyang Pharmaceutical University’s Chinese Medicine Resources Scientific Expedition Team conducted field investigation in the area.Through specimen collection and extensive literature review,the team identified and analyzed 223 vascular plant species from 175 genera and 85 families.The most dominant families were Compositae and Rosaceae,and perennial herbs were the predominant species,accounting for 44.39%of the total species identified.Notably,we documented five precious and rare medicinal plants unique to Wuyi Mountain.This study updates the database of plant resources and diversity in the region,providing a valuable reference for future studies.Finally,we put forward some suggestions to enhance the conservation and sustainable utilization of Wuyi Mountain’s plant resources.

Analysis of plant resources and diversity in Balluk Mountain, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Balluk Mountain is located between the Tianshan Mountains and the Altai Mountains in Xinjiang Province.Influenced by the humid air and diverse landforms of Lake Alacuri,the unique climate of Mount Baluk nourishes excellent pastures and supports numerous wildlife,making it rich in plant resources.The 9th Shenyang Pharmaceutical University Chinese Medicine Resources Scientific Expedition Team conducted field investigations,literature reviews,and specimen identification to study the plant resources and diversity of Balluk Mountain in Xinjiang Province.A total of 235 species of medicinal plants belonging to 59 families and 159 genera were collected during the period from July to August 2015 in this area.The dominant families observed were Asteraceae,Caryophyllaceae,Lamiaceae,Ranunculaceae,Rosaceae and Umbelliferae,with 35,11,14,12,27,and 13 species respectively.These families account for over 47.4%of the total species collected,though comprising only 10.2%of the total number of families.At the genus level,Artemisia was found to be the most dominant genus with eight species,contributing to 0.63%of the total genera,while representing 3.4%of the total species abundance.Overall,this study provides an updated analysis of the plant resources and diversity in Balluk Mountain.Several species have been identified to possess significant medicinal properties and hold potential for various research fields,including natural product chemistry and drug development.The study also offers practical and meaningful suggestions for strengthening the protection and utilization of plant resources in the area.By implementing these suggestions,we can better preserve the plant diversity in Balluk Mountain and ensure the sustainable use of these valuable resources.

Analysis of plant resources and diversity in the southeast area of Taihang Mountains

Taihang Mountains are situated between Shanxi Province and the North China Plain,spanning Beijing,Hebei,Shanxi,and Henan provinces and cities.The mountains extend from northeast to southwest for over 400 km,naturally deviding the second step from the third one in China.The southeastern area of Taihang Mountains specifically refers to Changzhi City and Jincheng Administrative Region of Shanxi Province.Given Shanxi Province’s robust development plans for the southeast area of Taihang Mountains,the medicinal plant resources in this area will be affected.Therefore,it is imperative and urgent to conduct a comprehensive investigation and study on the medicinal plant resources in the southeast area of Taihang Mountains.By means of field investigation,literature review,and specimen identification,the plant resources and diversity of two counties in the southeast of Taihang Mountains were evaluated.The findings revealed 234 plants species across 172 genera in 70 families,primarily comprising angiosperms.The families with more species included Compositae,Leguminosae,Rosaceae,Labiatae,Ranunculaceae.Among the genera,those with more species were Cynanchum,Selaginella,Clematis,Thalictrum,and Rhamnus.A total of 114 medicinal plants were identified,constituting 48.72%of the total.Regarding medicinal parts,the concentration is in roots and rhizomes,followed by whole plants and fruits.On the basis of investigation and study,some suggestions on the development,utilization,and protection of medicinal plant resources in southeast Taihang Mountains were made.These suggestions provide valuable insights for the study on medicinal plant resources and vegetation in the southeast of Taihang Mountains,serving as a scientific basis for the protection and sustainable utilization of wild medicinal plant resources.

Analysis of plant resources and diversity in Shennongjia Area of Hubei Province,China

Shennongjia Area is located in northwest of Hubei Province with Shennongding,the highest peak(3105.4 m above sea level)in central China.The unique geographical location and complex terrain of this region make it rich in plant resources.After field investigation,th literature review,and specimen identification,the 7 Shenyang Pharmaceutical University Chinese Medicine Resources Scientific Expedition Team studied the plant resources and diversity of Shennongjia Area.454 species of vascular plants belonging to 106 families and 275 genera were collected from July to August in 2013.The dominant families are Lamiaceae,Ranunculaceae,Rosaceae,and Asteraceae,with 20,21,37 and 48 species respectively.At the genus level,Rubus is the dominant one with 11 species.3 species of national first-class protective plants,13 species of“Huan yang yao”and 36 species of“Qi yao”were collected.In all,our research has updated the plant recources and diversity in Shennongjia Area.Furthermore,by putting forward practical and meaningful suggestions on strengthening the protection and utilization of plant resources in Shennongjia Area,our research will help to protect the diverse ecosystem there.

Virtual Power Plants for Grid Resilience: A Concise Overview of Research and Applications

The power grid is undergoing a transformation from synchronous generators(SGs) toward inverter-based resources(IBRs). The stochasticity, asynchronicity, and limited-inertia characteristics of IBRs bring about challenges to grid resilience. Virtual power plants(VPPs) are emerging technologies to improve the grid resilience and advance the transformation. By judiciously aggregating geographically distributed energy resources(DERs) as individual electrical entities, VPPs can provide capacity and ancillary services to grid operations and participate in electricity wholesale markets. This paper aims to provide a concise overview of the concept and development of VPPs and the latest progresses in VPP operation, with the focus on VPP scheduling and control. Based on this overview, we identify a few potential challenges in VPP operation and discuss the opportunities of integrating the multi-agent system(MAS)-based strategy into the VPP operation to enhance its scalability, performance and resilience.

Influence of Topography on the Distribution and Structure of Woody Plants in the Senegalese Sahel (Sandy Ferlo)

This study describes the floristic composition and structure of a woody stand in the Senegalese Sahel, paying particular attention to the edaphic factors of its floristic composition. A stratified inventory considering the different relief units was adopted. Woody vegetation was surveyed using a dendrometric approach. The results obtained show that the flora is dominated by a few species adapted to drought, such as Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del., Calotropis procera Ait. and Boscia senegalensis (Pers.). The distribution of this flora and the structure of the ligneous plants are linked to the topography. In the lowlands, the flora is more diversified and the ligneous plants reach their optimum level of development compared with the higher relief areas. In the lowlands, there are a few woody species which, in the past, were indicative of better climatic conditions. These are Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC.), Commiphora africana (A. Rich.), Feretia apodanthera Del., Loeseneriella africana (A. Smith), Mitragyna inermis (Willd.) and Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich). It is important that their reintroduction into reforestation projects takes account of their edaphic preference.

A Special Issue:“Key Technologies of Virtual Power Plant and Distributed Energy Resources”for Global Energy Interconnection

The increasing penetration of renewable and distributed energy resources(DERs)is transforming the power grid into a new type of clean and low-carbon power system.However,the uncertainty and volatility of DERs have also brought severe challenges to the secure and reliable operation of the power systems.In order to successfully integrate renewable DERs,virtual power plant(VPP)has emerged as a new technique for coordinating demand-side DERs,which has drawn significant attention from industry and academia.

Unveiling the adaptation strategies of woody plants in remnant forest patches to spatiotemporal urban expansion through leaf trait networks

Background:With the expansion of urban areas,the remnants of forested areas play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity in urban environments.This study aimed to explore the impact of spatiotemporal urban expansion on the networks of leaf traits in woody plants within remnant forest patches,thereby enhancing our understanding of plant adaptive strategies and contributing to the conservation of urban biodiversity.Methods:Our study examined woody plants within 120 sample plots across 15 remnant forest patches in Guiyang,China.We constructed leaf trait networks (LTNs) based on 26 anatomical,structural,and compositional leaf traits and assessed the effects of the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban expansion on these LTNs.Results and conclusions:Our results indicate that shrubs within these patches have greater average path lengths and diameters than trees.With increasing urban expansion intensity,we observed a rise in the edge density of the LTN-shrubs.Additionally,modularity within the networks of shrubs decreased as road density and urban expansion intensity increased,and increases in the average path length and average clustering coefficient for shrubs were observed with a rise in the composite terrain complexity index.Notably,patches subjected to‘leapfrog’expansion exhibited greater average patch length and diameter than those experiencing edge growth.Stomatal traits were found to have high degree centrality within these networks,signifying their substantial contribution to multiple functions.In urban remnant forests,shrubs bolster their resilience to variable environmental pressures by augmenting the complexity of their leaf trait networks.

Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used for Treating Urinary Tract Infections in N’Djamena (Chad)

Introduction: Infection disease is a real publique health problem. The rise of resistance for modern antibiotic in infections treatment imposed us order alternatives. The study objective was to contribute in the knowledge of medicinal plants uses in urinary infections treatment in N’Djamena (Chad) in view for amelioration the traditional medicine in future. Methodology: The study was conducted in the city of N’Djamena in the Republic of Chad that interviewed 60 traditherapists on using 11 plants for urinary tract infections treatment. The methodology of this study consisted of the knowledge of medicinal plants that used by traditherapists, and the plants identification was done in the laboratory of IRED at Farcha. Results: A total of 60 traditherapists was interrogated on the plants used in the treatment of urinary tract infections among the population of N’Djamena. The majority of traditherapists interrogated in this study were male with the rate of 61.67% against female with the rate of 38.33%. The age range of traditherapists was between 20 to 80 years, 25 (41.67%) from the age range between 30 - 50 years and 35 (58.33%) in age range from 50 to 70 years. For the origin of their knowledge, the study showed that 72% of traditherapists inherited the knowledge from their family, while 15% inherited from the family and from training. The ethnic groups of the traditherapists were Sara (16%), Maraba (12%) and Massa (11%). According to the results, 18.33% were illiterates, 49% attended primary school and 33.34% the secondary school. Our study found that 11 species of plants belonging to 11 families were used in the treatment of urinary tract infection and the Ziziphus spina-christi was the most represented. According to traditherapists the Ziziphus spina-christi, Cassia obovata and Euphorbia hirta were the most frequent plants used in the urinary tract infections treatment. The parts of plants used in the treatment were leaves and bark, grained leaves and entire plants with the proportion of 50%, 16.67 and 15% respectively. Conclusion: This study revealed that the medicinal plants are variously used in the treatment of infection urinary tract in the city of N’Djamena.

Nature’s Pharmacy under Siege: Investigating Antibiotic Resistance Pattern in Endophytic Bacteria of Medicinal Plants

Antibiotic resistance poses a significant global health threat, necessitating a thorough understanding of its prevalence in various ecological contexts. Medicinal plants, renowned for their therapeutic properties, host endophytic bacteria that produce bioactive compounds. Understanding antibiotic resistance dynamics in these bacteria is vital for human health and antibiotic efficacy preservation. In this study, we investigated antibiotic resistance profiles in endophytic bacteria from five medicinal plants: Thankuni, Neem, Aparajita, Joba, and Snake plant. We isolated and characterized 113 endophytic bacteria, with varying resistance patterns observed against multiple antibiotics. Notably, 53 strains were multidrug-resistant (MDR), with 14 exhibiting extensive drug resistance (XDR). Thankuni-associated bacteria displayed 44% MDR and 11% XDR, while Neem-associated bacteria showed higher resistance (60% MDR, 13% XDR). Aparajita-associated bacteria had lower resistance (22% MDR, 6% XDR), whereas Joba-associated bacteria exhibited substantial resistance (54% MDR, 14% XDR). Snake plant-associated bacteria showed 7% MDR and 4% XDR. Genus-specific distribution revealed Bacillus (47%), Staphylococcus (21%), and Klebsiella (11%) as major contributors to MDR. Our findings highlight diverse drug resistance patterns among plant-associated bacteria and underscore the complexity of antibiotic resistance dynamics in diverse plant environments. Identification of XDR strains emphasizes the severity of the antibiotic resistance problem, warranting further investigation into contributing factors.

Hypoglycaemiac Medicinal Plants Used by Diabetics at CNHU-HKM

Introduction: Diabetes is a major public health problem. Medicinal plants are frequently used either combine with industrial treatment or exclusively, in Africa and particularly in Benin. Our study aims to identify the different medicinal plants used by diabetic patients at the CNHU-HKM. Method: we carried out a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study. It took place at the University Clinic of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition of CNHU-HKM over a of 3 months period from 20th of June to 16th of September, 2022, over diabetic followed-up. Results: One hundred and seventy-three (173) patients were gathered using an anonymous inquiry form. In the study population, the age of the patients varied between 31 and 75 years with an average age of 59 +/− 1.43 years, women represented 59% with a sex ratio (male/female) of 0.69. Sixty-five (65) or 37.6% of the population had used medicinal plants. Among given reasons for using medicinal plants were, mainly the positiveness on a third party. Data analysis outcome twenty-nine species of plants belonging to twenty (20) botanical families, the most represented being the Annonaceae and Fabaceae. The most used species are Phyllanthus amarus (hlenwé in fon), Mangifera indica (mangatin in fon), Momordica charantia (gninsikin in fon), Combretum micranthum (kinkéliba in fon), and Picralima nitida (ayorkpè in fon). Most used parts of the plants are the leaves. The recipes are prepared mainly by infusion and are administered exclusively by mouth. Most of the patients who used the hypoglycaemic medicinal plants were satisfied and no adverse effects were reported by them. Conclusion: Hypoglycaemic medicinal plants could be subjected to pharmacognosy and marketed due to their richness in active components, after further toxicological studies.

Strategies and prospects for melatonin to alleviate abiotic stress in horticultural plants

Melatonin is a conserved pleiotropic molecule in animals and plants.Melatonin is involved in many development processes and stress responses;thus,exploring its function in plants,particularly in horticultural plants,has become a rapidly developing field.Many studies have revealed that phytomelatonin acts as a plant biostimulant and increase its tolerance to various abiotic stressors,including extreme temperature,drought,osmotic disturbance,heavy metals,and ultraviolet(UV).Melatonin appears to have roles in the scavenging of reactive oxygen species(ROS)and other free radicals,affecting the primary and secondary metabolism of plants,regulating the transcripts of stress-related enzymes and transcription factors,and crosstalk with other hormones under different environmental conditions.This pleiotropy makes phytomelatonin an attractive regulator to improve resistance to abiotic stress in plants.The recent discovery of the potential phytomelatonin receptor CAND2/PMTR1 and the proposition of putative models related to the phytomelatonin signaling pathways makes phytomelatonin a new plant hormone.Based on relevant studies from our laboratory,this review summarizes the phytomelatonin biosynthetic and metabolic pathways in plants and the latest research progress on phytomelatonin in abiotic stress of horticultural plants.This study will provide a reference for elucidating the regulatory mechanism of phytomelatonin affecting the resistance to abiotic stress in plants.

Ethics of Human Resources Management in the Cameroonian Health System, Medical Nomadism and the Ineffectiveness of the Fight against High Blood Pressure

Context/objectives: The fight against Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is a long-term undertaking, which requires available, motivated and well-managed human resources (HR). The administrative management of skills on both qualitative and quantitative levels is one of the essential functions of a health system. To better implement policies of fight against High Blood Pressure (HBP) and other chronic diseases, it is important to establish strategies to retain health personnel. This loyalty requires favorable working conditions and consideration of the contribution-reward couple. Good working conditions are likely to reduce the phenomenon of medical nomadism;conversely, poor HR management can contribute to their exodus towards exotic “green pastures”, thus leading to an additional crisis in the Cameroonian health system. The fight against HBP is a complex, multifaceted and multifactorial reality that requires appropriate management model for all types of resources mainly HR. The main objective of this research is to show the impact of poor management of human resources in Cameroon health system on medical nomadism and the ineffectiveness of the fight against High Blood Pressure. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive survey among five hundred (500) health facilities in the center region of Cameroon has been conducted. A stratified probabilistic technique has been used, and the number of health facilities to be surveyed has been determined using the “sample size estimation table” of Depelteau. The physical questionnaires have been printed and then distributed to data collectors. After data collection, the latter were grouped during processing in Excel sheets. The Chi-square test was used for data with a qualitative value and that of Kolmogorov-Sminorf for data with a quantitative value to assess the normality and reliability of data. The Crochach’s Alpha reliability test allowed us to have a summary of the means and variances and then to search for intragroup correlations between variables. Descriptive analysis was possible with the XLSTAT 2016 software. Results: 43.60% of Health Facilities (HF) managers were unqualified. 82.20% of HF managers have staff in a situation of professional insecurity. They are mainly contractual (49.00), decision-making agents (24.40%), casual agents (08.80). The proportion of unstable personnel is average of 22.00% and very unstable, 12.00%.

Physiology of medicinal and aromatic plants under drought stress

Drought poses a significant challenge,restricting the productivity of medicinal and aromatic plants.The strain induced by drought can impede vital processes like respiration and photosynthesis,affecting various aspects of plants’growth and metabolism.In response to this adversity,medicinal plants employ mechanisms such as morphological and structural adjustments,modulation of drought-resistant genes,and augmented synthesis of secondary metabolites and osmotic regulatory substances to alleviate the stress.Extreme water scarcity can lead to leaf wilting and may ultimately result in plant death.The cultivation and management of medicinal plants under stress conditions often differ from those of other crops.This is because the main goal with medicinal plants is not only to increase the yield of the above-ground parts but also to enhance the production of active ingredients such as essential oils.To elucidate these mechanisms of drought resistance in medicinal and aromatic plants,the current review provides a summary of recent literature encompassing studies on the morphology,physiology,and biochemistry of medicinal and aromatic plants under drought conditions.

Vasorelaxant effects of biochemical constituents of various medicinal plants and their benefits in diab

Endothelial function plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular health,and dysfunction in this context diminishes vasorelaxation concomitant with endothelial activity.The nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway,prostacyclin-cyclic adenosine monophosphate pathway,inhibition of phosphodiesterase,and the opening of potassium channels,coupled with the reduction of calcium levels in the cell,constitute critical mechanisms governing vasorelaxation.Cardiovascular disease stands as a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality among individuals with diabetes,with adults afflicted by diabetes exhibiting a heightened cardiovascular risk compared to their non-diabetic counterparts.A plethora of medicinal plants,characterized by potent pharmacological effects and minimal side effects,holds promise in addressing these concerns.In this review,we delineate various medicinal plants and their respective biochemical constituents,showcasing concurrent vasorelaxant and anti-diabetic activities.

A simple and efficient CRISPR/Cas9 system permits ultra-multiplex genome editing in plants

The development and maturation of the CRISPR/Cas genome editing system provides a valuable tool for plant functional genomics and genetic improvement.Currently available genome-editing tools have a limited number of targets,restricting their application in genetic research.In this study,we developed a novel CRISPR/Cas9 plant ultra-multiplex genome editing system consisting of two template vectors,eight donor vectors,four destination vectors,and one primer-design software package.By combining the advantages of Golden Gate cloning to assemble multiple repetitive fragments and Gateway recombination to assemble large fragments and by changing the structure of the amplicons used to assemble sg RNA expression cassettes,the plant ultra-multiplex genome editing system can assemble a single binary vector targeting more than 40 genomic loci.A rice knockout vector containing 49 sg RNA expression cassettes was assembled and a high co-editing efficiency was observed.This plant ultra-multiplex genome editing system advances synthetic biology and plant genetic engineering.

Spatial and Temporal Distribution Characteristics of Solar Energy Resources in Tibet

The Tibet Plateau is one of the regions with the richest solar energy resources in the world.In the process of achieving carbon neutrality in China,the development and utilization of solar energy resources in the region will play an important role.In this study,the gridded solar resource data with 1km resolution in Tibet were obtained by spatial correction and downscaling of SMARTS model.On this basis,the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of solar energy resources in the region in the past 30 years(1991–2020)are finely evaluated,and the annual global horizontal radiation resource is calculated.The results show that:1)The average annual global horizontal radiation amount in Tibet is 1816 kWh/m^(2).More than 60%of the area belongs to the“Most abundant”(GHI≥1750 kWh/m^(2))area of China’s solar energy resources category A,and nearly 40%belongs to the“Quite abundant”(1400≤GHI<1750)area of China’s solar energy resource category B.2)In space,the solar energy resources in Tibet increased gradually from north to south and from east to west.Lhasa,Central and Eastern Shigatse,Shannan,and Southwestern Ali are the most abundant cities,with a maximum annual radiation level of 2189 kWh/m2.3)In terms of time,the total horizontal radiation in Tibet was the highest in May and the lowest in December.74%of the total area belongs to the“Very stable”(R_(w)≥0.47)area of solar resource stability category A,and 26%belongs to the“stable”(0.36≤R_(w)<0.47)area of solar resource stability category B.Solar energy resources in the region show the characteristics of both strong and stable.Average solar energy resources in the region have shown a fluctuating downward trend over the past 30 years,with an average decline of about 12.86(kWh/m2)per decade.4)In terms of solar radiation resources reaching the earth’s surface,the theoretical total amount of annual horizontal radiation in Tibet is about 240.07 billion tons of standard coal or 222.91 billion kilowatts on average.

Advances in DNA methylation and its role in cytoplasmic male sterility in higher plants

The impact of epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation on plant phenotypes has expanded the possibilities for crop development.DNA methylation plays a part in the regulation of both the chromatin structure and gene expression,and the enzyme involved,DNA methyltransferase,executes the methylation process within the plant genome.By regulating crucial biological pathways,epigenetic changes actively contribute to the creation of the phenotype.Therefore,epigenome editing may assist in overcoming some of the drawbacks of genome editing,which can have minor off-target consequences and merely facilitate the loss of a gene’s function.These drawbacks include gene knockout,which can have such off-target effects.This review provides examples of several molecular characteristics of DNA methylation,as well as some plant physiological processes that are impacted by these epigenetic changes in the plants.We also discuss how DNA alterations might be used to improve crops and meet the demands of sustainable and environmentally-friendly farming.

Enhancing transboundary natural tourism resources governance:unveiling the spatial pattern and its influencing factors

Tourism resources that span provincial boundaries in China play a pivotal role in regional development,yet effective governance poses persistent challenges.This study addresses this issue by constructing a comprehensive database of transboundary natural tourism resources(TNTR)through amalgamation of diverse data sources.Utilizing the Getis-Ord Gi^(*),kernel density estimation,and geographical detectors,we scrutinize the spatial patterns of TNTR,focusing on both named and unnamed entities,while exploring the influencing factors.Our findings reveal 7883 identified TNTR in China,with mountain tourism resources emerging as the predominant type.Among provinces,Hunan boasts the highest count,while Shanghai exhibits the lowest.Southern China demonstrates a pronounced clustering trend in TNTR distribution,with the spatial arrangement of biological landscapes appearing more random compared to geological and water landscapes.Western China,characterized by intricate terrain,exhibits fewer TNTR,concurrently unveiling a significant presence of unnamed natural tourism resources.Crucially,administrative segmentation influences TNTR development,generating disparities in regional goals,developmental stages and intensities,and management approaches.In response to these variations,we advocate for strengthening the naming of the unnamed transboundary tourism resources,constructing a geographic database of TNTR for government and establishing a collaborative management mechanism based on TNTR database.Our research contributes to elucidating the intricate landscape of TNTR,offering insights for tailored governance strategies in the realm of cross-provincial tourism resource management.