Pharmacological effects and mechanisms of Gastrodia elata and its active ingredients in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Gastrodia elata,a traditional Chinese medicine belonging to the Orchidaceae family,contains several major components such as gastrodin,polysaccharides of Gastrodia elata,and parishin.The pharmacological studies conducted on Gastrodia elata have revealed a variety of therapeutic properties,including antihypertensive,hypolipidemic,analgesic,and sedative-hypnotic properties.Thus,in this paper,we summarized the pharmacological effects of Gastrodia elata’s major components,namely gastrodin,polysaccharides of Gastrodia elata,parishin,and different types of Gastrodia elata extracts,on cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis,hypertension,hyperglycemia,myocardial ischemia,myocardial hypoxia,myocarditis,and heart failure.Additionally,we conclude the mechanisms through which these active ingredients exert their therapeutic effects,including antioxidants,anti-inflammatory,and nitric oxide regulation.We provide insights into the therapeutic potential of Gastrodia elata with a detailed review of its pharmacological effects and molecular targets in cardiovascular disease protection and therapy,and can better understand the effect of traditional medicines in cardiovascular disease.

The life of Xuan Zhou, founding father of the Gastrodia elata cultivation and industry in China

Those familiar with Gastrodia elata Blume(Tianma,天麻)in China will most certainly recognise the name of Xuan Zhou(周铉),the first postgraduate student of Professor Zheng-Yi Wu(吴征镒),widely respected professor of botany and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Peng et al.,2013).Xuan Zhou(abbreviated S.Chow in taxonomic citations,also Chou,Hsüan in Wade-Giles transliterations)(Fig.1)was born in Xinzheng,in the central Chinese Province of Henan on 4 May 1926.He graduated from Tongji University in 1951.He took part in and successfully passed the first national post-graduate examination held by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1956 and became a candidate for an Associate Doctor degree(equivalent to MSc)under the tutelage of Prof.Wu.

Correction to:The amelioration of degraded larch(Larix olgensis)soil depends on the proportion of Aralia elata litter in larch-A.elata agroforestry systems

Correction to:J.For.Res.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-022-01526-w The article“The amelioration of degraded larch(Larix olgensis)soil depends on the proportion of Aralia elata litter in larch-A.elata agroforestry systems”,written by Pingzhen Gao·Jiaojun Zhu·Qiaoling Yan·Kai Yang and Jinxin Zhang was originally published Online First without Open Access.

Development Situations and Countermeasures of Gastrodia elata Industry in Zhaotong City

With the rapid development of technology,people's living standards have been greatly improved,and more and more people have started to care more about the theory and health preservation function of TCM.Gastrodia elata,as a precious Chinese herbal medicine,is harmless to human health.Due to the high economic benefits and real benefits for farmers,the G.elata industry has developed rapidly.Zhaotong is the hometown of G.elata f.glauca in China,but the current situation of the G.elata industry lags behind other producing areas.Through field survey and literature review,this paper comprehensively analyzed the development status of the G.elata industry in Zhaotong City.Combined with the natural conditions,policy conditions,and socio-economic conditions of the G.elata industry in Zhaotong City to find countermeasures and recommendations to promote the further development of the G.elata industry in Zhaotong and provide recommendations for the sustainable development of G.elata industry.

药用植物天麻(Gastrodia elata Bl.)的等位酶遗传变异及其变型间的遗传关系

采用超薄平板聚丙烯酰胺等电聚焦电泳,对湖北西部药用植物天麻(Gastrodia elata Bl.)的4种变型进行了等位酶遗传变异的初步分析。在6个酶系统共检测到17个清晰位点和37个等位基因,其中多态位点11个,位点最大等位基因数为4,位点Acp-4和Prx-2的等位基因表现出变型特异性。遗传多样性分析结果表明:天麻在物种水平维持着较高遗传多样性,平均多态位点比率P=56.3%,每位点平均等位基因数A=2.1,平均预期杂合度He=0.222;但其变型水平遗传多样性较低(P=42.2%,A=1.7,He=0.146),其中乌天麻遗传多样性最高,药天麻最低。天麻变型间遗传分化系数(GST)达0.3595,平均基因流(Nm)仅为0.4450,说明天麻变型间遗传分化较大,缺乏基因交流。聚类分析结果表明,天麻居群以变型为单元优先聚类而非地域优先聚类,揭示各天麻变型在遗传上是相对独立的进化显著单元,支持天麻种内变型的划分。红天麻与乌天麻两变型最为近缘,火天麻与药天麻两类群有着较近的遗传关系。

Therapeutic potential of Gastrodia elata Blume for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Several studies have demonstrated that the Chinese herb Gastrodia elata Blume can protect against amyloid beta-peptide （Ap）-induced cell death. To investigate the possible therapeutic effects of Gastrodia elata Blume on Alzheimer＇s disease, we established a rat model of AIzheimer＇s disease by injecting A325-35 into bilateral hippocampi. These rats were intragastrically administered 500 or 1 000 mg/kg Gastrodia elata Blume per day for 52 consecutive days. Morris water maze tests showed that Gastrodia elata Blume treatment significantly improved the spatial memory of Alzheimer＇s disease rats. Congo red staining revealed that Gastrodia elata Blume significantly reduced the number of amyloid deposits in the hippocampus of these rats. Western blot analysis showed that choline acetyltransferase expression in the medial septum and hippocampus was significantly increased by the treatment of Gastrodia elata Blume, while EIIman method showed significant decrease in the activity of acetylcholinesterase in all three regions （prefrontal cortex, medial septum and hippocampus）. These findings suggest that long-term administration of Gastrodia elata Blume has therapeutic potential for Alzheimer＇s disease.

不同菌材对天麻(Gastrodia elata)产量的影响

以速生树种亮叶桦(Betula luminifera Winkler)和响叶杨(Populus adenopoda Maxim)、经济树种核桃(Juglans regia Linn)为菌材,壳斗科菌材白栎(Quercus fabri Hance)为对照,分别设置不同的菌材用量和麻种用量水平,仿野生栽培红杆天麻(Gastrodia elata Bl.f.elat)和乌杆天麻(Gastrodia elata Bl.f.glauca S.Chow),分析不同菌材对天麻产量的影响,筛选出高产的菌材种类、用量和天麻变型及麻种用量的组合,探讨亮叶桦、响叶杨和核桃代替壳斗科植物栽培天麻的可行性。结果表明:不同菌材对红杆天麻和乌杆天麻产量的影响有差异。两种天麻变型对菌材的偏好不同,红杆天麻在白栎和亮叶桦菌材处理下的平均产量高于响叶杨和核桃菌材处理下的产量,而乌杆天麻在亮叶桦和核桃菌材处理下的产量高于响叶杨和白栎菌材处理下的产量。两种天麻变型的最高产量的组合均出现在亮叶桦菌材伴栽的处理中。响叶杨伴栽天麻,效果不及亮叶桦和核桃。4种菌材对天麻的折干率影响不明显。在实际生产中,以亮叶桦、核桃和响叶杨作为替代菌材是完全可行的。从72个处理中筛选出高产的组合,单位面积菌材和麻种用量分别如下:12 kg亮叶桦菌材搭配0.8 kg红杆天麻麻种,12 kg核桃菌材搭配0.6 kg红杆天麻麻种,14 kg响叶杨菌材搭配0.8 kg红杆天麻麻种;14 kg亮叶桦菌材搭配0.6 kg乌杆天麻麻种,12 kg亮叶桦菌材搭配0.6 kg乌杆天麻麻种,10 kg核桃菌材搭配0.8 kg乌杆天麻麻种。

Aralia elata inhibits neurodegeneration by downregulating O-GlcNAcylation of NF-κB in diabetic mice

AIM： To investigate the role of O-GIcNAcylation of nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-KB） in retinal ganglion cell （RGC） death and analysedthe effect of Aralia elata （AE） on neurodegen- eration in diabetic mice. METHODS： C57BL/6mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were fed daily with AE extract or control （CTL） diet at the onset of diabetes mellitus （DM）. Two months af- tar injection of streptozotocin or saline, the degree of cell death and the expression of O-GIcNAc transferase （OGT）, N-acetyl-b-D-glucosaminidase （OGA）, O-GIcNAcylated pro- teins, and O-GIcNAcylation of NF-KB were examined. RESULTS： AE did not affect the metabolic status of diabetic mice. The decrease in the inner retinal thickness （P〈0.001 vs CTL, P〈0.01 vs DM） and increases in RGCs with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling （P〈0.001 vs CTL, P〈0.0001 vs DM）, glial activation, and active caspase-3 （P〈0.0001 vs CTL, P〈0.0001 vs DM） were blocked in diabetic retinas of AE extract-fed mice. Expression levels of protein O-GIcNAcylation and OGT were increased in diabetic retinas （P〈0.0001 vs CTL）, and the level of O-GIcNAcylation of the NF-KB p65 subunit was higher in diabetic retinas than in controls （P〈0.0001 vs CTL）. AE extract downregulated O-GIcNAcylation of NF-KB and prevented neurodegeneration induced by hyperglycemia （P〈0.0001 vs DM）. CONCLUSION： O-GIcNAcylation of NF-KB is concerned in neuronal degeneration and that AE prevents diabetes-in- duced RGC apoptosis via downregulation of NF-KB O-GI- cNAcylation. Hence, O-GIcNAcylation may be a new object for the treatment of DR, and AE may have therapeutic pos- sibility to prevent diabetes-induced neurodegeneration.

Insight into Medicinal Chemistry Behind Traditional Chinese Medicines: p-Hydroxybenzyl Alcohol-Derived Dimers and Trimers from Gastrodia elata

From an aqueous extract of“tian ma”(the steamed and dried rhizomes of Gastrodia elata),ten new compounds gastrodiben-zins A−D(1−4)and gastrotribenzins A−F(5−10),along with known analogues(11−20),having structure features coupling between two and three p-hydroxybenzyl-derived units via carbon-and/or ether-bonds,were isolated and characterized by spectroscopic data analysis.Meanwhile,the new compounds 5a,6a,8a,22,and 23,as well as the known derivatives 13a,14a,15,17−21,24,25,and p-hydroxybenzyl aldehyde were isolated and identified from a refluxed aqueous solution of p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol.Methylation of 5a and 6a in methanol and ethylation of 6a,8a,13a,and 14a in ethanol produced 5 and 6 and 7,8,13,and 14,respectively.using ultra-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution electrospray ioniza-tion mass spectrometry(UPLC-HRESIMS)analysis of the refluxed solutions of p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and the refluxed extracts of the fresh G.elata rhizome and“tian ma”extracts indicated consistent production and variation of the dimeric and trimeric derivatives of p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol upon extracting solvents and refluxing time.In various assays,the dimeric and trimeric derivatives showed more potent activities than p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol itself and gastrodin,which are the main known active constituents of“tian ma”.These results revealed for the first time that the more effective dimers and trimers can be produced through condensation of the co-occurring p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol during processing and decocting of the G.elata rhizomes,demonstrating insights into medicinal chemistry behind application protocols of traditional Chinese medicines.

Defect in Brnym1,a magnesium-dechelatase protein,causes a stay-green phenotype in an EMSmutagenized Chinese cabbage(Brassica campestris L.ssp.pekinensis)line

Leaf color is an important target trait in Chinese cabbage breeding programs.Leaf yellowing may reduce crop commercial and nutritional values.Some plants with the“stay-green”trait maintain leaf greenness during senescence and even after death.Stay-green Chinese cabbage may be a focal point of future breeding projects because it could improve crop quality and yield and prolong shelf life.A new stay-green mutant,non-yellowing mutant 1(nym1),was identified in Chinese cabbage derived from an ethyl methane sulfonate(EMS)-mutagenized population.The mutant had stay-green characteristics and a higher chlorophyll content than the wild-type during leaf senescence.The staygreen trait in the mutant Chinese cabbage was controlled by the recessive gene Brnym1.MutMap and KASP analyses showed that Brnym1(BraA03g050600.3C)encodes an mg-dechelatase(SGR protein),which might be the causal gene of the mutation in Chinese cabbage.A nonsynonymous single nucleotide base substitution(G to A)in the third exon of Brnym1 caused an amino acid substitution from L to F in the highly conserved domain of the magnesiumdechelatase.Ectopic overexpression showed that the BrNYM1 gene of wild-type Chinese cabbage complemented the SGR-defective stay-green mutant nye1-1 of Arabidopsis.The magnesium-dechelatase activity in the nym1 mutant was significantly downregulated compared to that in the wild type.Brnym1 was relatively upregulated in the mutant during late senescence,and BrNYM1 was localized to the chloroplasts.These results indicate that Brnym1(BraA03g050600.3C)is the causal gene of the stay-green mutation and could be of particular significance in the genetic improvement of Chinese cabbage.

Wound healing activity of Delonix elata stem bark extract and its isolated constituent quercetin-3-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-6) glucopyranoside in rats

Delonix elata L.is a Ceasalpinaceae species and is traditionally used in India for treatment of skin diseases,liver diseases and rheumatic problems.However,systematic evaluation of its wound healing activity is lacking.Thus,in the present study,we aimed to assess the wound healing activity of D.elata stem bark extract(DSE) and its isolated constituent quercetin-3-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-6) glucopyranoside(QRPG) in rats.The formulations effects on wound healing were assessed by the wound contraction rate,epithelialization period,tensile strength,content of the hydroxyproline,hexosamine and uronic acid in granulation tissue,histopathological studies and Col 1 α(I) expression level in wound tissue by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) study.The topical application of DSE ointment caused faster epithelialization,significant wound contraction(100%),and better tensile strength(710.5 ± 10.5 g/cm^2),while QRPG showed wound epithelialization with 98.2%contraction,better than that of the control group(78.18%).The biochemical analysis of granulation tissue revealed that DSE and QRPG significantly increased hydroxyproline,hexosamine and uronic acid content.A significant increase in the expression of Col 1 α(I) was observed in the wound tissue of DSE and QRPG treated rats.DSE and QRPG were shown to enhance wound healing by increasing collagen synthesis through upregulation of Col 1 α(I),thus validating ethnomedicinal uses.

Melatonin Receptors Agonistic Activities of Phenols from Gastrodia elata

Gastrodia elata is a famous traditional Chinese herb with medicinal and edible application.In this study,three new polybenzyls,gastropolybenzylols G-I(1-3)were isolated from the EtOAc extract of G.elata.Their structures were identified by extensive spectroscopic analyses involving HRESIMS,UV,IR,1D and 2D NMR.Compound 1 showed agonistic effects on MT1 and MT_(2) receptors with agonistic rates of 55.91±4.84%and 165.13±5.65%at the concentration of 0.5 mM,respectively,and an EC_(50) value of 76.24μM on MT_(2) receptor.

Gastrodin Derivatives from Gastrodia elata

Nine new gastrodin derivatives,including seven p-hydroxybenzyl-modified gastrodin ethers(1-7),6′-O-acetylgastrodin(8),and 4-[α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy]benzyl alcohol(9),together with seven known derivatives,were isolated from an aqueous extract of Gastrodia elata(“tian ma”)rhizomes.Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction.Compounds 1-4,7,10,and 11 were also isolated from a reaction mixture by refluxing gastrodin and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol in H2O.As both gastrodin and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol exist in the plant,the reaction results provide evidence for the production and increase/decrease of potential effective/toxic components when“tian ma”is decocted solely or together with ingredients in Chinese traditional medicine formulations,though the isolates were inactive in the preliminarily cell-based assays at concentrations of 10μM.Moreover,using ultra-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry(UPLC-HRESIMS),4,7,10,and 11,as well as component variations,were detectable in the freshly prepared extracts of different types of samples,including the freeze-dried fresh G.elata rhizomes.

Comparison between Sulfuric Acid-phenol and Sulfuric Acid-anthrone Methods Used for Determination of Polysaccharides in Shoots of Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem.

Sulfuric acid-phenol and sulfuric acid-anthrone methods were used to detect polysaccharide content in shoots of Aralia elata（ Miq.） Seem.,and the conversion factor to glucose was measured with refined polysaccharides. Comprehensive evaluation was carried out by linear relationship,precision,reproducibility,stability and recovery rate. The results showed that the linear relationship between glucose concentration and absorbance was good when glucose concentration was0-40 μg/ml,and the average recovery rate was equal to or higher than 97. 00% with good reproducibility（ RSD 〈 1. 60%,n = 5）. It revealed that the two methods were accurate and reliable,and suitable for the determination of polysaccharide content in the shoots of A. elata. Polysaccharide content detected by sulfuric acid-phenol and sulfuric acid-anthrone methods was 19. 31% and 20. 40% respectively.

Identification of Four Gastrodia elata Bl. Variants with DNA Fingerprints

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the four Gastrodia elata B1. variants at the DNA level. [Method] Primers with good reproducibility, abundant polymorphism and high resolution were selected from the 35 random primers with RAPD marker technology and the amplification results were analyzed. [ Result] By using RAPD technology, DNA fingerprints of four Gastrodia elata B1. variants with abundant polymorphism, good reproducibility and high resolution was successfully constructed; to be specific, each Gastrodia elata B1. variant has its unique fingerprint with primers S29 and S38 ; DNA bands of the Gastrodia elata BI. variants vary significantly, which is contributive to distinguish the four Gastrodia clara B1. variants. [Condusion] This study provided an effective means for the identification and protection of Gastrodia elata germplasms with intraspecific variations.

Impact of Heart Rot of <i>Pericopsis elata</i>(Harms) Van Meeuwen on Yield at Harvest in Production Forests in South-Eastern Cameroon

This study of the impact of heart rot of Pericopsis elata on logging yield was conducted in Libongo, in three logging concessions of the Société d'Exploitation Forestière et Agricole du Cameroun (SEFAC). An inventory of 92 P. elata stumps in four Annual Cutting Areas (AACs) divided among three Forest Management Units (FMUs) distinguished by Minimum Operating Diameter (MOD) revealed that 22 stumps were rotten. Decay was visible on stumps with a diameter of more than 100 cm with a frequency of occurrence of 23.91%, a percentage of abandonment of 55.20% and a yield of 44.79%. The most important economic loss was revealed on 9 abandoned whole logs that cumulated a volume of 145.547 m3. The correlation between the diameter of the stumps and that of the decay gives a coefficient or correlation rate r = 0.31. The MOD for P. elata could be 80 cm and covers the biological risk class. The results indicate that P. elata shows an increasing gradient of decay rate with increasing tree diameter, resulting in a loss of material for larger diameter trees, and consequently a decrease in material yield at processing.

A Study on Seedlings' Density of Aralia elata

Aralia clata is an important economic species in northeast China. The experiments for determung optimum seedlings density were made in the nursery of Experimental Forest Farm of Liaoning Province. Qingyuan County, in 1997. The results of 4 repeating experiments for six densities were analyzed using variance analysis by single factor. Seedling density has great effects on growth of diameter(at foot) and height. The proper seedlings density forAralia elata was determined to be 55–65 stems/m2, or 330000 390000 hm2. Thus density can insure individual seedling’s quality and the maximum productivity of seedlings.

Total Saponins of Aralia elata （Miq.） Seem Leaves （TSAESL） Inhibits Tumor Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis via activating MAPK signaling pathways in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Aim Aralia elata （Miq.） Seem is a medicinal plant with a variety of biological activities. Several trier- pene saponins extracted from the leaves of Aralia elata （Miq.） Seem possess potent cytotoxic activity, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Methods In the present study, we examined the anti-tumor activity of total saponins of Aralia elata （Miq.） Seem leaves （TSAESL） using both in vitro and in vivo experiments, and investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms. Results Briefly, TSAESL significantly inhibited the proliferation of five human cancer cell lines and induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. TSAESL also in- creased the expression level of active caspase-3 and cleaved PARP. In addition, TSAESL dramatically activated the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38 and JNK in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment with the ERK1/2 in- hibitor U0126, p38 inhibitor SB203580, or JNK inhibitor SP600125 prior to TSAESL exposure markedly attenuated TSAESL-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38. In mice bearing MCF-7 xenografl, TSAESL markedly inhib- ited tumor growth without significantly affecting spleen coefficient and hematological parameters. Conclusion These results strongly suggest that TSAESL has anti-tumor effect via activating the MAPK-mediated signaling path- ways.

Geographical distribution of Aralia elata characteristics correlated with topography and forest structure in Heilongjiang and Jilin Provinces,Northeast China

The Araliaceae family consists of numerous species of medical plants of significant value as non-wood forest products.To conserve and culture these plants in natural forest stands is an important undertaking which should be implemented according to the relationship between forest structure and understory population.In this study,thirtyfive plots were established in natural A ralia elata stands.Taller individual and denser populations were found in the northern and in the eastern regions,respectively.Both population densities and individual leaf weight increased along longitude.In contrast,their relationship with elevation and DBH were negative.Along with the altitude gradient,both height and root-collar diameter increased but population density declined.Root-collar diameter and population density decreased with latitude and DBH,respectively.Overall,dominant trees unlikely enforced strong disturbance to the development of understory A.elata populations unless concerning some specific topographic factors.

Characteristics of Infrared Fingerprint of Gastrodia elata Blunme from Sichuan

[Objectives] The infrared fingerprint spectra of Gastrodia elata Blume of different origins and different varieties were studied.[Methods]One-dimensional infrared spectroscopy was used to analyze G. elata of different origins and different varieties. Based on the infrared spectra of 14 batches of G. elata,the common peak ratio and variant peak ratio were calculated,the double index sequences of common peak ratio and variant peak ratio were established to compare the similarities between the samples of G. elata. [Results] Infrared fingerprint spectra of G. elata of different origins and different varieties were obtained,and a total of 14 common peaks were calibrated. The maximum and minimum common peak ratios among the G. elata samples were 100. 00% and 73. 68%,respectively; and the maximum and minimum variant peak ratios were 21. 43% and 0%,respectively. [Conclusions]The combination of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and common peak ratio-variant peak ratio double-index analysis can provide scientific basis for the quality standard research of G. elata.