Project description:Eleven new furostanol saponins, typaspidosides B-L (1-11), one new spirostanol saponin, typaspidoside M (12), and five known spirostanol saponins, 25S-atropuroside (13), neoaspidistrin (14), (25S)-pratioside D1 (15), 25S-aspidistrin (16) and 25S-neosibiricoside (17) were isolated from the rhizomes of Aspidistra typica Baill. The structures of the new compounds were established using 1D and 2D NMR (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, HMBC and ROESY) spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometry, and chemical methods. The aglycones of 1-3 (unusual furostanol saponins with opened E ring type), 9 and 10 (the methoxyl substituent at C-23 position) were found, identified from natural products for the first time. Moreover, the anti-HIV activities of the isolated steroidal glycosides were assessed, and compounds 13, 14, 16 and 17 exhibited high active against HIV-1.
Project description:Limestone karsts are renowned for extremely high species richness and endemism. Aspidistra (Asparagaceae) is among the highly diversified genera distributed in karst areas, making it an ideal group for studying the evolutionary mechanisms of karst plants. The taxonomy and identification of Aspidistra species are mainly based on their specialized and diverse floral structures. Aspidistra plants have inconspicuous flowers, and the similarity in vegetative morphology often leads to difficulties in species discrimination. Chloroplast genomes possess variable genetic information and offer the potential for interspecies identification. However, as yet there is little information about the interspecific diversity and evolution of the plastid genomes of Aspidistra. In this study, we reported chloroplast (cp) genomes of seven Aspidistra species (A. crassifila, A. dolichanthera, A. erecta, A. longgangensis, A. minutiflora, A. nankunshanensis, and A. retusa). These seven highly-conserved plastid genomes all have a typical quartile structure and include a total of 113 unique genes, comprising 79 protein-coding genes, 4 rRNA genes and 30 tRNA genes. Additionally, we conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of Aspidistra cp genomes. We identified eight divergent hotspot regions (trnC-GCA-petN, trnE-UUC-psbD, accD-psaI, petA-psbJ, rpl20-rps12, rpl36-rps8, ccsA-ndhD and rps15-ycf1) that serve as potential molecular markers. Our newly generated Aspidistra plastomes enrich the resources of plastid genomes of karst plants, and an investigation into the plastome diversity offers novel perspectives on the taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution of Aspidistra species.
Project description:Abstract Aspidistra Ker Gawl. is one of the the most diverse and fastest-growing genera of angiosperm. Most Aspidistra species have been discovered in a limited area or a single site through morphological comparison. Because of the lack of population studies, morphological variation within species and the boundaries of some species remain unclear. In recent years, combining genetic and morphological markers has become a powerful approach for species delimitation. In this study, we performed population sampling and integrated morphometrics and microsatellite genetic diversity analyses to determine the species diversity of Aspidistra in Taiwan. We identified three species, namely Aspidistraattenuata Hayata; A.daibuensisHayatavar.daibuensis; A.mushaensisHayatavar.mushaensis; and reduced A.longiconnectiva C.T.Lu, K.C.Chuang & J.C.Wang to the variety level, and described a new variety, A.daibuensisHayatavar.longkiauensis. The description, diagnosis, distribution, and photographs of this new variety as well as a key to the known Taiwanese Aspidistra are provided.