Project description:1. Three beta-fructofuranosidases were separated by chromatography on a DEAE-cellulose column from the soluble protein extracted from dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber) roots. 2. One enzyme, which acted on sucrose, was characterized as an invertase, with a K(m) of 2.00x10(-2)m and pH optimum of 7.5. 3. The other two enzymes are hydrolases (A and B), which act on the inulin series of oligosaccharides [general formula glucose-fructose-(fructose)(n)]. They both have a pH optimum of 4.0 and K(m) of 1.54x10(-2)m but differ in their chromatographic behaviour on DEAE-cellulose. Neither of the hydrolases is inhibited by sucrose. 4. The physiological role of these three hydrolytic enzymes is discussed.

| S-EPMC1178413 | biostudies-other

Urbanization alters plastic responses in the common dandelion Taraxacum officinale.

Project description:Urban environments expose species to contrasting selection pressures relative to rural areas due to altered microclimatic conditions, habitat fragmentation, and changes in species interactions. To improve our understanding on how urbanization impacts selection through biotic interactions, we assessed differences in plant defense and tolerance, dispersal, and flowering phenology of a common plant species (Taraxacum officinale) along an urbanization gradient and their reaction norms in response to a biotic stressor (i.e., herbivory). We raised plants from 45 lines collected along an urbanization gradient under common garden conditions and assessed the impact of herbivory on plant growth (i.e., aboveground biomass), dispersal capacity (i.e., seed morphology), and plant phenology (i.e., early seed production) by exposing half of our plants to two events of herbivory (i.e., grazing by locusts). Independent from their genetic background, all plants consistently increased their resistance to herbivores by which the second exposure to locusts resulted in lower levels of damage suffered. Herbivory had consistent effects on seed pappus length, with seeds showing a longer pappus (and, hence, increased dispersal capacities) regardless of urbanization level. Aboveground plant biomass was neither affected by urbanization nor herbivore presence. In contrast to consistent responses in plant defenses and pappus length, plant fitness did vary between lines. Urban lines had a reduced early seed production following herbivory while rural and suburban lines did not show any plastic response. Our results show that herbivory affects plant phenotypes but more importantly that differences in herbivory reaction norms exist between urban and rural populations.

| S-EPMC7244812 | biostudies-literature

Hysteresis of heavy metals uptake induced in Taraxacum officinale by thiuram.

Project description:Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) yields active substances frequently used in herbal medicinal preparations. Its plantations are exposed to fungal plagues which pose a threat to herbal crops. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long time effects of a fungicide thiuram on dandelion growth and photosynthesis. Additionally, the manganese, iron, copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead uptake and transport were also investigated. Plants were cultivated under greenhouse conditions by the pot method in a universal flowering soil. The elements content in soil and plants were determined by the HR-CS FAAS spectrometer. Thiuram concentrations were established by the HPLC. Those analyses showed that almost 80% of thiuram decomposed within two weeks of its application. The photosynthesis indicators suggested, that plants were in good conditions and the fungicide supplementation facilitated plant growth. The latter could be prompted by thiuram acting as a sulfur rich chemical micro fertilizer. The hypothesis, that thiuram significantly affects heavy metals interactions in dandelion was proved by the one-way analysis of variance. Notable, metals uptake did not completely recover after fungicide decomposition for all investigated elements except iron We suggest to define this chemically induced, time-dependent heavy metals migrations in the soil-plant system as hysteresis of heavy metals uptake.

| S-EPMC8505632 | biostudies-literature

The Physiological Effects of Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale) in Type 2 Diabetes.

Project description:The tremendous rise in the economic burden of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has prompted a search for alternative and less expensive medicines. Dandelion offers a compelling profile of bioactive components with potential anti-diabetic properties. The Taraxacum genus from the Asteraceae family is found in the temperate zone of the Northern hemisphere. It is available in several areas around the world. In many countries, it is used as food and in some countries as therapeutics for the control and treatment of T2D. The anti-diabetic properties of dandelion are attributed to bioactive chemical components; these include chicoric acid, taraxasterol (TS), chlorogenic acid, and sesquiterpene lactones. Studies have outlined the useful pharmacological profile of dandelion for the treatment of an array of diseases, although little attention has been paid to the effects of its bioactive components on T2D to date. This review recapitulates previous work on dandelion and its potential for the treatment and prevention of T2D, highlighting its anti-diabetic properties, the structures of its chemical components, and their potential mechanisms of action in T2D. Although initial research appears promising, data on the cellular impact of dandelion are limited, necessitating further work on clonal β-cell lines (INS-1E), α-cell lines, and human skeletal cell lines for better identification of the active components that could be of use in the control and treatment of T2D. In fact, extensive in-vitro, in-vivo, and clinical research is required to investigate further the pharmacological, physiological, and biochemical mechanisms underlying the effects of dandelion-derived compounds on T2D.

| S-EPMC5553762 | biostudies-other

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of the <i>Taraxacum officinale</i> F.H.Wigg (Asteraceae).

Project description:Taraxacum officinale is a distributed weedy plant used as a traditional medicinal herb belonging to the family Asteraceae. The complete chloroplast genome of T. officinale was generated by de novo assembly with whole genome sequence data. The chloroplast genome was 151?324?bp in length, which consisted of a large single copy region of 83 895?bp and a short single copy region of 18?549?bp separated by a pair of inverted repeat regions of 24?440?bp. The chloroplast genome contained 79 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNA genes and four rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that T. officinale was closely related to Lactuca sativa.

| S-EPMC7800007 | biostudies-literature

Taraxacum officinale cultivar:A34

Project description:Taraxacum officinale cultivar:A34 Raw sequence reads

| PRJNA301484 | ENA