Gas exchange of Rhodiola sachalinensis transplanted from different habitats in Changbai Mountain

Rhodiola sachalinensis growing in the different habitats, Xiaotianchi plot (altitude 1800 m), Tree line plot (altitude 2000 m) and Tianwenfeng plot (altitude 2325 m), of Changbai Moutain (northern slop) were transplanted to Harbin Experimental Forest Farm for measuring its characteristic of gas exchange. The study results indicated that the growth state and gas exchange characteristics ofRh. sachalinensis growing in different habitats varied markedly. The plants transplanted from Tianwenfeng plot had the highest values in net photosynthesis rate (Pn) and transpiration rate (Tr), those transplanted from Tree line plot shows the second, and those transplanted rom Xiaotianchi plot had the lowest values. The variance existed in transplanted plants was the same as shown in the field. From the result it can be extrapolated that the difference of Pn and Tr existed inRh. sachalinensis transplanted from different habitats is depend not only on the environmental factors, but on the variance of physiological characteristic of plant itself.

Diurnal change of gas exchange of Rhodiola sachalinensis transplanted from different habitats in Changbai Mountain

Rhodiola sachalinensis growing in the different habitats, such as Xiaotianchi plot (altitude 1800 m), Tree line plot (altitude 2000 m) and Tianwenfeng plot (altitude 2325 m) of Changbai Mountain (northern slop) were transplanted to Harbin Experimental Farm for determining its gas exchange. The study results indicated that the diurnal changes of gas exchange ofRh. sachalinensis transplanted from different habitats were still different though the morphological appearance of the newly sprouted above-ground part had become more similar. For net photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs) and apparent quantum yield (AQY), the diumal change curves ofRh. sachalinensis transplanted from the three plots were similar, but the data value were different. For the dark respiration rate (Rd), transpiration rate (Tr) and water use efficiency (WUE), diurnal change curves of the three plots were obviously different.

Reviewing Threats to Wild Rhodiola sachalinensis,A Medicinally Valuable yet Vulnerable Species

Occurring in China,DPR Korea,Japan,and Russian Federation and classified in the Red List of Chinese Flora as a vulnerable species,Rhodiola sachalinensis Boriss.is used increasingly in cosmetics,dietary supplements,and Traditional Chinese Medicines(TCMs).The aim of this study was to evaluate the(i)conservation status,harvesting and trade levels of R.sachalinensis,(ii)current state of experimental and commercial farming,and(iii)evidence of substitution or interchangeable use of R.sachalinensis with other Rhodiola species.We assessed data from multiple disciplines and languages including studies on R.sachalinensis biology and ecology,information on impacts of wild harvest,management measures,and current levels of cultivation.Our assessment shows that while R.sachalinensis is increasingly produced by cultivation,wild populations are decreasing and face multiple threats.These include(a)habitat loss including due to oil and gas infrastructure development on Sakhalin island,(b)climate change impacts on alpine ecosystems,and(c)overexploitation of wild plants to satisfy the growing commercial demand.Assessments of the conservation status of R.sachalinensis should commence in each Range State,as well as resource assessments and monitoring of harvesting and trade of wild R.sachalinensis.Even with increased reliance on cultivation,biodiversity conservation,and genetic diversity in wild populations are relevant to future use of this species.

Extraction and Purification of Depigmenting Agents from Chinese Plants

Depigmenting agents were solvent-extracted and purified by preparative and analytical HPLC from three Chinese plants; Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat（ Xizang Caijuhua）, Rhodiola sachalinensis, and Terminalia chebula Retzius. Four fractions obtained from the ethyl ether layer of C. m. Rama and two fractions from the ethyl acetate layer of Rhodiola salientness show depigmenting effects. At 8 200, the ethyl acetate layers of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat, Rhodiola sachalinensis and the methanol extract of Terminalia chebula Retzius, can inhibit the melanin production of mouse B16 melanoma cells by 92%, 60% and 90%, respectively, whereas 46% inhibition was observed by commercially available depigmenting agents（arbutin）. These results show the potential of these three Chinese plants as a novel resource for depigmenting agents in the cosmetic industry.

Effect of the regimen of Gaoshan Hongjingtian on the mechanism of poly（ADP-ribose） polymerase regulation of nuclear factor kappa B in the experimental diabetic retinopathy

Background Poly（ADP-ribose） polymerase （PARP） plays an important role in the death of retinal capillary cells in diabetic retinopathy （DR） partly via its regulation of nuclear factor kappa B （NF-κB）. The current study investigated the effect of the regimen of Gaoshan Hongjingtian （RG） on the mechanism of PARP regulation of NF-κB, and demonstrated the possible impact of the RG and Gaoshan Hongjingtian （Rhodiola sachalinensis, RS） on diabetic retinopathy. Methods Wistar rats were made diabetic by administering streptozotocin. They were then assigned to three groups at random. After 2 months, the three groups of these diabetic rats were treated with RS or RG, or untreated. Analyses of expression levels of PARP, NF-κB, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1） in the retinas of rats in different groups were performed by Western blotting and immunohistochemical assays, and mRNA levels of NF-κB and ICAM-1 were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction （PCR）. In addition, the basement membranes of capillaries in the rats＇ retinas were observed using electron microscopy, and diabetes-induced capillary degeneration （ghost pericytes and acellular capillaries） were quantitated. Results From the third month after the injection of streptozotocin, the diabetic rats were given daily RG, RS or tap water separately. The diabetic rats failed to gain weight compared with normal age-matched rats, whereas their glycated hemoglobin levels were significantly increased. After 5 months, the mRNA levels of NF-KB and ICAM-1 and the protein expression of PARP, NF-κB, and ICAM-1 were significantly increased in the retinas of diabetic rats in the untreated group compared with the nondiabetic controls. After 8 months, the number of degenerated retinal capillaries （ghost pericytes and acellular capillaries） was significantly increased in the diabetic rats in the untreated group compared with normal age-matched rats. RG and RS inhibited diabetes-induced over-expression of PARP, NF-KB, and ICAM-1 in the retinas of diabetic rats at the end of 5-month diabetic duration. Treatment using RG and RS significantly inhibited increases in the number of acellular capillaries and pericyte ghosts and suppressed the basement membrane thickening in the retinas of rats with diabetes for 8 months compared with the control diabetic rats. Conclusions These results indicate that PARP plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. RS and RG may have acted on the mechanism of PARP regulation of NF-κB, which suppressed the expression of NF-KB and ICAM-1, and led to the inhibition of retinal capillary degeneration.