Comparative transcriptome and metabolome analyses of four species explore the dynamics of metabolite biosynthesis.

Background: The genus in the Araliaceae family has been used as traditional medicinal plants worldwide and is known to biosynthesize ginsenosides and phytosterols. However, genetic variation between species has influenced their biosynthetic pathways is not fully understood.

Methods: Simultaneous analysis of transcriptomes and metabolomes obtained from adventitious roots of two tetraploid species ( and ) and two diploid species ( and ) revealed the diversity of their metabolites and related gene expression profiles.

Comprehensive comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes from seven species and development of an authentication system based on species-unique single nucleotide polymorphism markers.

Background: species are important herbal medicinal plants in the Araliaceae family. Recently, we reported the complete chloroplast genomes and 45S nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences from seven species, two ( and ) from North America and five ( , , , , and ) from Asia.

Methods: We conducted phylogenetic analysis of these chloroplast sequences with 12 other Araliaceae species and comprehensive comparative analysis among the seven whole chloroplast genomes.

Identification of candidate UDP-glycosyltransferases involved in protopanaxadiol-type ginsenoside biosynthesis in Panax ginseng.

Ginsenosides are dammarane-type or triterpenoidal saponins that contribute to the various pharmacological activities of the medicinal herb Panax ginseng. The putative biosynthetic pathway for ginsenoside biosynthesis is known in P. ginseng, as are some of the transcripts and enzyme-encoding genes.

Rapid amplification of four retrotransposon families promoted speciation and genome size expansion in the genus Panax.

Genome duplication and repeat multiplication contribute to genome evolution in plants. Our previous work identified a recent allotetraploidization event and five high-copy LTR retrotransposon (LTR-RT) families PgDel, PgTat, PgAthila, PgTork, and PgOryco in Panax ginseng. Here, using whole-genome sequences, we quantified major repeats in five Panax species and investigated their role in genome evolution.

Evolution of the Araliaceae family inferred from complete chloroplast genomes and 45S nrDNAs of 10 Panax-related species.

We produced complete sequences and conducted comparative analysis of the maternally inherited chloroplast (cp) genomes and bi-parentally inherited 45S nuclear ribosomal RNA genes (nrDNA) from ten Araliaceae species to elucidate the genetic diversity and evolution in that family. The cp genomes ranged from 155,993 bp to 156,730 bp with 97.1-99.

Authentication Markers for Five Major Panax Species Developed via Comparative Analysis of Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequences.

Ginseng represents a set of high-value medicinal plants of different species: Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng), Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng), Panax notoginseng (Chinese ginseng), Panax japonicus (Bamboo ginseng), and Panax vietnamensis (Vietnamese ginseng). Each species is pharmacologically and economically important, with differences in efficacy and price. Accordingly, an authentication system is needed to combat economically motivated adulteration of Panax products.

CYTOKININ RESPONSE FACTOR2 (CRF2) and CRF3 Regulate Lateral Root Development in Response to Cold Stress in Arabidopsis.

Lateral roots (LRs) are a major determinant of the root system architecture in plants, and developmental plasticity of LR formation is critical for the survival of plants in changing environmental conditions. In Arabidopsis thaliana, genetic pathways have been identified that regulate LR branching in response to numerous environmental cues, including some nutrients, salt, and gravity. However, it is not known how genetic components are involved in the LR adaptation response to cold.

Clinical efficacy of high dose monotherapy of oral dihydroartemisinin in uncomplicated falciparum malaria in viet nam.

The clinical efficacy of the monotherapy involving the administration of a high dose of dihydroartemisinin (DHA 900 mg) for 5 days was compared with that of the combination regimen (DHA 600 mg + mefloquine [MQ] 750 mg) in an open randomized study in 90 patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in the southern part of Viet Nam. Patients were randomly treated with the DHA-5 day monotherapy regimen (300, 300, 100, 100, and 100 mg given at 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h) or the DHA-MQ combination regimen (300 mg DHA at 0 h, then 300 mg DHA plus 750 mg MQ at 24 h). The end points for comparison were the parasite and fever clearance times (PCT and FCT) and recrudescence rates (by day 28 for DHA-5 days and day 42 for DHA-MQ).

Modulation of tumor growth by crossreacting isoantibodies.

Tumor cells transfected with strong antigenic epitopes were able to stimulate humoral response against relevant wild-type tumors. Crossreacting immune sera have been obtained by immunizing C57BL/6 mice with OVA-transfected leukemia EL-4 (subclone E.G7) and OVA-transfected melanoma B16 (subclone MO.