Cancer has become the second leading cause of death globally and is a big threat to human health. The development of new anticancer drugs and the elucidation of the signaling pathways of bioactive compounds are still effective strategies to address the current challenges in the clinical treatment of cancer. Dietary compounds are composed of a variety of effective ingredients, which have become an important source for the development of novel candidates for the treatment of cancer. These bioactive ingredients often carry the characteristics of low side effects, multi-target, and economic savings and hence attract more and more scholars’ research interests in them. Dandelion, one of the important medicinal and edible plants, is effective in anticancer, inhibition of bacterial growth, hypoglycemic, and anti-inflammation, as well as antioxidant. Growing evidences from modern pharmacological research demonstrate the notable anticancer effects of dandelion. Bioactive components from dandelion are effective in inhibiting the occurrence and progression of various cancers, such as breast, lung, and liver cancers. Hence, the chemical composition, anticancer activities, and signaling pathways in cancer cells treated with bioactive components from dandelion are summarized in this review. We aim to provide more pharmacological evidence and scientific references for further research and development of dandelion for cancer treatment. Meanwhile, we anticipate that some novel candidates with high efficacy and low toxicity for anticancer might be developed from dandelion in future research on this plant.

Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) is a dual-purpose medicinal and food crop grown for its high contents of functional compounds and abundant nutrients. Although studies have shown the differences of total flavonoid content in Tartary buckwheat at different ploidy levels, the composition of flavonoid and its regulatory mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, the leaf metabolome and transcriptome of diploid and tetraploid accessions of Tartary buckwheat were analyzed to gain insight into the impact of polyploidization on comparative secondary metabolite composition and molecular regulatory mechanism. Based on a widely targeted metabolomics analysis, a total of 792 metabolites were identified, including 127 flavonoids. The accumulation of 127 metabolites and expression of 3871 genes differed significantly between diploid and tetraploid Tartary buckwheat. Integrated metabolomics and transcriptome analysis revealed that chromosome doubling up-regulated the expression of upstream genes in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway to promote the accumulation of flavonoids. The present results contribute to elucidation of the molecular mechanism of phenotypic variation associated with polyploidy in Tartary buckwheat. The findings provide a reference for further studies on phenotypic traits in polyploid Tartary buckwheat, the cloning of crucial regulatory genes, and utilization of genetic engineering technologies in the breeding of Tartary buckwheat.

Polyploid plants grow well, are stress tolerant, and are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds. Thus, they are useful for improving crop quality and yield. In this study, we compared the seed characteristics and metabolite profiles of diploid and tetraploid tartary buckwheat, which was developed via an artificially induced chromosome doubling event. The length, width, area, and thousand-grain weight were greater for the tetraploid seeds than for the diploid seeds. However, the germination rate decreased for the tetraploid seeds. Additionally, there was a gap between the shell and kernel of the tetraploid seeds. Moreover, the water absorption rate was higher for the tetraploid than for the diploid seeds. Chromosome doubling increased the seed total flavonoid content and deepened the seed color. A principal component analysis of the ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry data revealed the clear separation between the diploid and tetraploid samples. An orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis and other multivariate statistical analyses identified 83 differentially abundant compounds, with most of the flavonoid metabolites more abundant in the tetraploid than in the diploid seeds. Research on tartary buckwheat polyploidy may result in enhanced germplasm resources and may clarify the mechanism underlying the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds.

The kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta var. purpurea) produces oval shaped fruits containing a slightly green or mauve outer exocarp and a purple-flesh endocarp with rows of tiny black seeds. The flesh color of the fruit results from a range of anthocyanin compounds, and is an important trait for kiwifruit consumers. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis of the sarcocarp during A. arguta fruit development, de novo assembly and transcriptomic profile analyses were performed. Based on significant Gene Ontology (GO) biological terms, differentially expressed genes were identified in flavonoid biosynthetic and metabolic processes, pigment biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolic processes, and amino acid metabolic processes. The genes closely related to anthocyanin biosynthesis, such as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS), displayed significant up-regulation during fruit development according to the transcriptomic data, which was further confirmed by qRT-PCR. Meanwhile, a series of transcription factor genes were identified among the DEGs. Through a correlation analysis. AaMYB1 was found to be significantly correlated with key genes of anthocyanin biosynthesis, especially with CHS. Through a transient expression assay, AaMYB1 induced anthocyanin accumulation in tobacco leaves. These data provide an important basis for exploring the related mechanisms of sarcocarp anthocyanin biosynthesis in A. arguta. This study will provide a strong foundation for functional studies on A. arguta and will facilitate improved breeding of A. arguta fruit.

Frailty is a geriatric syndrome involving inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic disturbances. Metabolomics can systematically elucidate metabolic pathways and identify actionable biomarkers. This study systematically reviews the progress and evolutionary trends of metabolomics applications in frailty research from 2006 to 2025. Based on 1924 publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, systematic analyses were performed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, SCImago Graphica, and the R package “bibliometrix”, focusing on pathway-level research hotspots and collaboration networks. The United States and China are the leading contributors. Research hotspots have shifted from macro-level biomarkers such as inflammation and protein–energy wasting to specific metabolic pathways including amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and tryptophan degradation. Key metabolites include sphingomyelin, butyrate, and trimethylamine-N-oxide. Emerging frontiers focus on the association between gut microbiota-derived metabolites and frailty phenotypes, as well as intervention strategies targeting these metabolites. This study provides the first systematic overview of global research progress in metabolomics and frailty, establishes a reproducible evaluation framework integrating physiology, nutrition, geriatrics, and computational biology, and identifies butyrate, trimethylamine-N-oxide, and tryptophan metabolites as potential metabolic targets for early identification and intervention.