Phytochemical profile,enzyme inhibition activity and molecular docking analysis of Feijoa sellowiana O. Berg

Feijoa sellowiana leaves and fruits have been investigated as a source of diverse bioactive metabolites. Extract and eight metabolites isolated from F. sellowiana leaves were evaluated for their enzymatic inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, amylase, tyrosinase, acetylcholinestrerase and butyrylcholinesterase both in vitro and in silico. Feijoa leaves’ extract showed strong antioxidant activity and variable levels of inhibitions against target enzymes with a strong anti-tyrosinase activity (115.85 mg Kojic acid equivalent/g). Additionally, α-tocopherol emerged as a potent inhibitor of AChE and BChE (5.40 & 10.38 mmol galantamine equivalent/g, respectively). Which was further investigated through molecular docking and found to develop key enzymatic interactions in AChE and BChE active sites. Also, primetin showed good anti BChE (11.70 mmol galantamine equivalent/g) and anti-tyrosinase inhibition (90.06 mmol Kojic acid equivalent/g) which was also investigated by molecular docking studies.

Highlights

• Isolation of eight bioactive constituents from Feijoa sellowiana leaves.
• In vitro assays using different enzymatic drug targets were investigated.
• In silico study was performed to define compound interactions with target proteins.
• Feijoa leaf is an excellent source of anti-AChE and antityrosinase bioactives.

     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in Acca sellowiana (Berg) Burret

Acca sellowiana has commercial potential due to the quality and the unique flavor of its fruit. Conservation of natural populations and management of breeding programmes would benefit from the availability of molecular markers that could be used to characterize levels and distribution of genetic variability. Thus, 13 microsatellite markers were developed from an enriched genomic library of A. sellowiana. They were characterized using 40 samples. The expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.513 to 0.913 and from 0.200 to 0.889, respectively. These are the first microsatellite loci characterized from A. sellowiana that will contribute to improve researches on its genetic conservation, characterization and breeding.     

菲油果LEAFY基因的表达模式及启动子克隆

LEAFY(简称LFY)是植物花分生组织特征基因,在植物由营养生长向生殖生长转变过程中起着重要作用,是启动开花的枢纽。菲油果是一种新兴的果树资源,为研究菲油果LFY基因(FsLFY)的表达调控规律,本研究通过实时荧光定量PCR技术研究了FsLFY基因的时空表达模式,并通过染色体步移技术克隆了该基因的启动子序列。荧光定量PCR结果表明,FsLFY基因在菲油果花蕾不同发育阶段以及其他组织器官中均有表达。在花蕾中,小蕾期最高,中蕾期最低;组织器官中,营养枝茎段最高,花瓣最低。FsLFY基因启动子序列长度为2436 bp(GenBank登录号:KF766536),运用PLACE、PlantCARE等在线软件对其序列进行顺式作用元件分析,结果显示该序列不仅含有CAAT-box、TATA-box等核心启动子元件,而且还具有响应水分、光、赤霉素(GA)以及其他功能未知的顺式调控元件,表明FsLFY基因的表达受多种外界环境条件的调控。本研究为阐明菲油果的开花机理,以及通过分子育种手段使菲油果早花早果奠定了理论基础。     

Effect and analysis of phenolic compounds during somatic embryogenesis induction in Feijoa sellowiana Berg

Summary. The effect of phenolic compounds on somatic embryogenesis in Feijoa sellowiana was analysed. The results showed that caffeic acid (140–560 μM) significantly increased somatic embryogenesis induction compared with the control. The presence of phloridzin, even at lower concentrations (11.5 μM), or caffeic acid or phloroglucinol at concentrations greater than 140.0 and 197.5 μM, respectively, inhibited somatic embryo development beyond the globular stage. When somatic embryos were transferred to the germination medium, the highest rates of germination (81.9%) were obtained with embryos induced in the presence of phloroglucinol (79.0 μM). At all concentrations tested, somatic embryos induced in medium containing phloroglucinol germinated at higher rates than those induced in the presence of caffeic acid. Histological and ultrastructural studies showed that somatic embryos were formed in close association with phenolic-rich cells which, in more advanced stages of development, formed a zone isolating the embryo from the maternal tissue. A comparative analysis of total phenolic content indicated that phenolics reached a peak by the third week of culture, independently of the medium used. However, after that period, the amount of phenolic compounds was significantly higher in explants cultured in the presence of phloroglucinol than in those cultured in the control or in caffeic acid-containing medium. Attempts to identify the type of phenolic compounds showed that flavan-3-ols and gallic acid derivatives were mainly produced in phloroglucinol-containing medium, whereas flavanones and dihydroflavonols were also present in medium containing caffeic acid. Flavones were the main phenols detected in the control. The ways in which phenolic compounds may affect somatic embryogenesis are discussed. Correspondence: J. M. Canhoto, Departamento de Botanica, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade de Coimbra, Cal?ada Martim de Freitas, 3001-455 Coimbra, Portugal.