Genetic diversity and structure revealed by genomic microsatellite markers in Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., a plant with medicinal potential

 Abstract

Background: Around the world, medicinal plants are utilised for various purposes. Centella asiatica is one of the important medicinal plants widely used in many medicinal systems. Nevertheless, analysis of the genetic diversity would pave the way for its most suitable utilisation.

Methods and results: The present study analyses the genetic diversity and structure of eighty C. asiatica accessions collected from the southern states of India, using ten genomic microsatellite markers. The mean Nei’s gene diversity (0.46) indicates considerable genetic diversity. Analysis of molecular variance (82.48%) exhibited significant genetic variance between samples within the population. The cluster analysis brought out the structure of the analysed populations as three subpopulations based on the genetic differentiation.

Conclusions: The study showed significant intra-population variation, predominant inbreeding and population differentiation in C. asiatica. The findings will help better understanding of the genetic structure and gene pool of the plant.

Full article link: https://rdcu.be/cAvFI

Impact of potential stimulants on asiaticoside and madecassoside levels and expression of triterpenoid-related genes in axenic shoot cultures of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb

Gouri Priya Ranjith, S. Jisha, Achutan Sudarsanan Hemanthakumar, Chinthu V. Saji, Rajesh A. Shenoi, Kallevettankuzhy Krishnannair Sabu

Phytochemistry, Volume 186, 2021, 112735

The triterpenoid saponins, asiaticoside and madecassoside from Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. are known to have a wide range of applications in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The effect of addition of Potential Metabolite Stimulants (PMSs) - casein acid hydrolysate, meat peptone, salicylic acid, copper sulphate, and silver nitrate, on the concentrations of these saponins and transcript levels of associated genes encoding important biosynthetic enzymes, was assessed in axenic shoot cultures of C. asiatica. Among the stimulants, silver nitrate induced asiaticoside content approximately 6-fold increase in madecassoside levels, after three weeks post-treatment with a decrease in biomass compared to its control. Gene expression analysis of essential genes involved in triterpenoid synthesis such as β-amyrin synthase showed an upregulation of approximately 50-fold at the third week of silver nitrate treatment compared to control. These findings suggest that silver nitrate can act as a metabolite stimulant, to enhance the formation of triterpenoids in axenic shoot culture of C. asiatica, which could be utilized in studying the regulation of terpenoid biosynthesis and biotechnological application for the increased production of these bioactive molecules.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112735

Phytochemical profiling and antioxidant activities of different parts of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (Moraceae): A review on current status of knowledge

Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (Jackfruit tree) is one of the most ancient fruits indigenous to Western Ghats of India. They are large edible summer fruits and are good source of nutritional and antioxidant components which hold their potential for nutraceutical development. The present review attempts to document reports on the chemical and pharmacological investigations carried out with jackfruit. Research shows that the fruit contains a huge amount of phytochemicals such as phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, and tannins which exhibit antioxidant properties. Diversity of secondary metabolites present in the jackfruit shows that it is a functionally, nutritionally, and medicinally important fruit. Detailed studies are essential for awareness among people for the proper use of jackfruit as a functional food and utilize the medicinal uses of jackfruit.

Sreeja Devi P S, Neethu S Kumar, K K Sabu. 2021. Phytochemical profiling and antioxidant activities of different parts of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (Moraceae): A review on current status of knowledge. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 7, Article number: 30. Published: 28 January 2021. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-021-00178-7

Genetic resources of Asian Palmyrah palm (Borassus flabellifer L.): A comprehensive review on diversity, characterization and utilization

Asian palmyrah palm (Borassus flabellifer L.) is a multipurpose, economically important tree widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The multifaceted uses (~800 uses) of the tree as food, wood and medicine make it a viable industrial crop. However, the dioecious nature of the tree coupled with long juvenile phase (12–20 years to initiate flowering), long stature and considerable variations in the productivity of male and female trees necessitates the application of new biotechnological tools for crop improvement. This review provides comprehensive information on the extent of genetic diversity of the crop, problems associated with palmyrah cultivation along with its multifaceted application and research gaps to be addressed for the effective utilization and conservation of palmyrah palm genetic resources.

Siju S. and K. K. Sabu. 2021. Genetic resources of Asian Palmyrah palm (Borassus flabellifer L.): A comprehensive review on diversity, characterization and utilization. Plant Genetic Resources. Published online: 08 January 2021. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1479262120000477