Ye Yang

This study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) in coronary heart disease (CHD) through a network pharmacology approach, focusing on identifying key targets and pathways, including those involved in lipid metabolism, metabolism regulation and anti-apoptotic signaling. A multi-target network pharmacology analysis was performed to predict the pharmacoloigical targets and pathways of G-Rh2. Key molecular interactions were validated by molecular docking. In vivo experiments using CHD rat models were conducted to verify and quantify the effects of G-Rh2 on lipid profiles, myocardial pathology, and gut microbiota composition. G-Rh2 significantly ameliorated CHD in rats by reducing serum cholesterol and triglycerides levels, alleviating myocardial fibrosis, suppressing cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and mitigating tissue damage. Mechanistically, G-Rh2 activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, regulated atherosclerosis-associated metabolic pathways (e.g., pentose phosphate and carbon metabolism), and modulated gut microbiota composition by reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria and increasing beneficial microbial populations, thereby enhancing lipid metabolism and energy balance. This study demonstrates that G-Rh2 alleviates CHD through the synergistic activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway, modulation of key metabolic pathways, and restructuring of gut microbiota. These findings underscore the potential of G-Rh2 as a multi-target therapeutic agent for CHD, offering mechanistic insights into its cardioprotective properties and supporting the broader application of G-Rh2 in cardiovascular drug development.

Panax notoginseng ( P. notoginseng ), a medicinal herb rich in bioactive saponins derived from its roots, exhibits diverse pharmacological activities relevant to cardiovascular diseases. Root rot, a devastating soil‐borne disease, threatens the sustainability of P. notoginseng production. Biological control is a green and effective approach for disease control. Herein, we successfully isolated a biocontrol strain, Paenibacillus maysiensis ( P. maysiensis ) LHJ6, from the rhizosphere of healthy P. notoginseng . Pot experiments demonstrated that LHJ6 reduced root rot incidence by 80.0% and the disease index by 75.0%, with significant efficacy observed under field conditions. Whole‐genome sequencing revealed multifaceted mechanisms underlying biological control and plant growth promotion. Genomic analysis revealed a single circular chromosome spanning 6.13 Mb, with 5,886 protein‐coding genes. LHJ6 exerted its potent biocontrol activity against plant pathogens through multiple mechanisms, including rhizosphere colonisation, production of diverse antifungal metabolites, degradation of pathogenic fungal cell walls, siderophore production, nitrogen fixation, and potential induction of systemic resistance in host. These findings offer fundamental insights into the biocontrol mechanisms of P. maysiensis strain LHJ6, providing a foundation for developing sustainable agricultural applications in P. notoginseng cultivation.

Panax notoginseng is an important medicinal plant, and saponins are the primary active components that are the key determinants of pharmaceutical quality. Research has indicated that methyl jasmonate (MeJA) enhances the saponins accumulation in P. notoginseng, but the specific MeJA-responsive transcription factors (TFs) that regulate this process remains unidentified. Given the critical role of MYB TFs in the regulation of plant secondary metabolism, this study aimed to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of the MYB TF family in P. notoginseng under MeJA treatment. Genome-wide screening led to the identification 110 MYB genes, followed by a comprehensive analysis of their phylogenetic relationships, conserved motifs, gene structures, cis-acting elements, chromosomal localization, and collinearity. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses showed that MeJA treatment significantly altered the expression patterns of 84 MYB genes while also promoting saponin accumulation in P. notoginseng leaves. Co-expression network analysis revealed a significant correlation between PnMYB38 and saponin metabolites, highlighting the pivotal regulatory function of this TF. Subcellular localization experiments confirmed nuclear localization of PnMYB38. Yeast one-hybrid, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and dual-luciferase assays demonstrated that PnMYB38 directly and specifically bound to the promoters of key saponin biosynthesis genes (PnSE and PnDS), thereby inducing their expression. This study comprehensively characterized the functional role of PnMYB38 in regulating MeJA-mediated saponin biosynthesis in P. notoginseng, proposed a ‘MeJA-PnMYB38-saponin biosynthesis’ regulatory network that provided novel insights into the transcriptional regulatory mechanism of saponin biosynthesis, and established a foundation for molecular breeding targeting MYB TFs and metabolic engineering.

Coix seed, a traditional medicinal and edible crop, is susceptible to mycotoxin contamination posing potential health risks, yet systematic risk assessments for its dual dietary and medicinal pathways remain limited. Fifty batches were collected from five major production regions in China. UPLC-MS/MS was used to quantify eight mycotoxins in raw materials and decoctions. A Monte Carlo simulation model assessed long-term (20-year) health risks via both pathways, and acceptable daily intake (ADI) levels were derived using a combined margin of exposure (MOE) threshold of 10,000. Results indicated that mycotoxins were present in 94% of samples. Zearalenone (ZEN) was the most frequent, with an occurrence of 82% and concentrations of 52.16~1804.43 μg/kg. Dietary exposure indicated potential risks for ZEN (MOE = 259), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1, MOE = 666), and AFB2 (MOE = 8040). Six mycotoxins transferred to decoctions at rates of 0.70~19.73%, with long-term medicinal use indicating potential ZEN-related risk (MOE = 4880). Multi-mycotoxin co-exposure assessment revealed elevated dietary risk (combined MOE = 181), whereas medicinal exposure within a standard 3-month treatment course remained within acceptable limits. Safety intake thresholds are proposed: ≤30 g/day for ≤130 days (dietary) and ≤30 g/day for ≤2000 days (medicinal). This study establishes a risk assessment framework applicable to herbal materials with both dietary and medicinal applications.

Panax notoginseng-steamed chicken (PNSC) is a common medicinal diet in China. In this study, we conducted comprehensive analysis to determine the effect of PNSC on uterine involution in postpartum mice and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in this process was explored. Results showed that PNSC promoted the recovery of endometrial hyperplasia and uterine index in postpartum mice. In vitro and in vivo experiments indicated that PNSC activated PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, promoted the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), up-regulated the expression of VEGF, and its binding to VEGFR2. Moreover, it increased the expression of PCNA, MMP9, and CyclinD1 in the nucleus. Moreover, it up-regulated the secretion of hormones, such as prolactin (PRL), progesterone (P), as well as the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in mice, and down-regulated the secretion of endothelin-1 hormones (ET-1), thereby promoting uterine involution. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that PNSC can regulate angiogenesis to promote uterine involution by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Introduction: Panax notoginseng, a perennial medicinal plant, suffers from severe continuous cropping obstacles. Chloropicrin (CP) as a soil fumigant can be used to effectively mitigate continuous cropping obstacles. Mulch film application plays a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness of CP soil fumigation. However, the effects of mulch film application on soil microorganisms and quality of P. notoginseng, as well as underlying mechanisms, are unclear.Methods: To investigate the effect of cover thickness on fumigation efficacy following CP treatment, this study compared soil temperature, humidity, CP residue, microbial diversity, and crop parameters under soil covered with films of 0.06 mm (6S) and 0.08 mm (8S) thickness after CP fumigation.Results and discussion: The 6S film showed less degradation, higher transparency, tensile strength, and elongation at break than 8S. Soil temperature (ST) was lower, and soil water content (SWC) higher under 6S mulch film application with CP fumigation (F6S) compared to 8S (F8S). On the 14th day of fumigation, the CP content of F6S treatment was 28.97% higher than that of F8S treatment. F6S increased beneficial microbial phyla and genera such as Bacillus, Sphingomonas, and Mortierella, and reduced harmful Fusarium and Nectriaceae more effectively than F8S. Beneficial bacteria OTUs were significantly correlated with mulch thickness (MT), ST, and SWC. In addition, the F6S maintained the rhizosphere microbial diversity balance and inhibited the accumulation of pathogens (Ilyonectria and Fusarium), leading to a high seedling survival rate. The above changes further promoted the accumulation of biomass and saponins in P. notoginseng. Overall, F6S treatment improved fumigation efficacy and the yield and quality of P. notoginseng, making it a strategic solution to regenerate the soil health, quality, and production of functional root crops facing continuous cropping obstacles.

Difenoconazole, as a systemic triazole fungicide, is a broad-spectrum, highly effective agent that has been widely used for controlling fungal diseases in 46 different crops (or crop categories), including rice, wheat, and corn. Due to the improper use of difenoconazole, concerns about its environmental residues and toxicity to non-target organisms have drawn significant attention from researchers. In response to this issue, this study aimed to isolate microbial strains capable of degrading difenoconazole from the environment. A novel difenoconazole-degrading strain, Acinetobacter sp. A-1, was screened and identified, demonstrating the ability to degrade 62.43% of 50 mg/L difenoconazole within seven days. Further optimization of the degradation conditions was conducted using single-factor experiments and response surface methodology experiments. The results showed that the optimal degradation conditions for strain A-1 were a difenoconazole concentration of 55.71 mg/L, a pH of 6.94, and an inoculation volume of 1.97%, achieving a degradation rate of 79.30%. Finally, strain A-1 was immobilized using sodium alginate, and its stability and bioremediation efficiency were evaluated. The results indicated that the immobilized strain A-1 exhibited high stability and significantly reduced the half-life of difenoconazole in the water–sediment contamination system. In the sterilized water–sediment system, the degradation rate of difenoconazole by the immobilized strain A-1 reached 65.26%. Overall, this study suggests that Acinetobacter sp. A-1 is a promising candidate for difenoconazole degradation, and immobilization technology can effectively enhance its removal efficiency in water–sediment systems.

Difenoconazole, a broad-spectrum systemic fungicide, can effectively prevent and control plant diseases such as rice blast, leaf spot, and black spot caused by Colletotrichum godetiae, Alternaria alternata, and Neopestalotiopsis rosae. However, its residual accumulation in the environment may pose potential toxicity risks to non-target organisms. In this study, a highly efficient DIF-degrading microbial consortium TA01 was enriched from long-term pesticide-contaminated soil by a laboratory-based adaptive evolution strategy. The microbial consortium TA01 was able to degrade 83.87% of 50 mg/L of DIF within 3 days. In addition, three intermediate metabolites were identified using HPLC–MS/MS, and the results indicated that the degradation of DIF by microbial consortium TA01 may involve catalytic reactions such as hydrolysis, dehalogenation, and hydroxylation. High-throughput sequencing results showed that Pantoea, Serratia, Ochrobactrum, and Bacillus were the dominant microbial members involved in the degradation process. Finally, bioremediation capacity experiments showed that inoculation with microbial consortium TA01 was able to accelerate the degradation of DIF in the water–sediment system. The findings of this study not only enrich the microbial resources available for DIF degradation but also offer new potential strategies for in situ remediation of DIF contamination.