Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infections are endemic in cattle populations worldwide and cause major economic losses. Thus, an effective vaccine is needed against the transmission of BVDV. The glycoprotein Erns is one of the envelope proteins of this virus and shows BVDV-related immunogenicity. Here, we report the use of Panax ginseng as an alternative production platform for the expression of glycoprotein Erns via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analyses showed that pBI121-Erns was stably integrated into the chromosome of transformants. ELISA assay and Western blot analysis confirmed the antigenicity of plant-derived Erns glycoprotein. Immunogenicity was evaluated subcutaneously in deer using a soluble protein extract of dried transgenic ginseng hairy roots. Specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses against BVDV were detected following immunization. These results demonstrated that the Erns glycoprotein could be expressed in ginseng hairy roots and that plant-derived glycoprotein Erns retained its antigenicity and immunogenicity.

As a traditional medicine with extensive history, Ornithogalum caudatum has high nutritional and medicinal value. However, its quality evaluation criteria are insufficient because it is not included in the pharmacopeia. Simultaneously, it is a perennial plant, and the medicinal ingredients change with the growth years. Currently, studies on the synthesis and accumulation of metabolites and elements in O. caudatum during different growth years are unavailable. To address this issue, in this study, the 8 main active substances, metabolism profiles, and 12 trace elements of O. caudatum from different growth years (1, 3, and 5 years old) were analyzed. The main substances of O. caudatum changed significantly in different years of growth. Saponin and sterol contents increased with age; however, the polysaccharide content decreased. For metabolism profiling, ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was performed. Among the three groups, 156 differential metabolites with variable importance in projection values >1.0 and p < 0.05 were identified. Among the differential metabolites, 16 increased with increasing years of growth and have the potential to become age-identified markers. A trace element study showed that the contents of K, Ca, and Mg were higher, and the ratio of Zn/Cu was less than 0.1%. Heavy metal ions in O. caudatum did not increase with age. The results of this study provide a basis to evaluate the edible values of O. caudatum and facilitate further exploitation.

Background: Aging is a multifaceted physiological process characterized by progressive multiorgan dysfunction, oxidative stress, neuronal injury, cognitive impairment, and alterations in gut microbiota composition. Licorice, a widely used traditional medicinal herb, contains diverse bioactive constituents; however, its overall antiaging properties and mechanistic basis in aging models have not been systematically elucidated. Methods: Aging mice model was established using D‐galactose (D‐Gal). Body weight, organ indices, senescence markers, antioxidant activity, neuronal integrity, and behavioral performance were assessed to evaluate the protective role of licorice water (LW) extract. Further, gut microbiota profiling, network pharmacology, and western blotting were employed to investigate further the potential mechanisms underlying the antiaging effects of LW. Results: LW administration significantly improved body weight gain, organ indices, and hippocampal structure in aging mice, increased antioxidant enzyme activity, and decreased the proportion of SA‐β‐Gal‐positive cells. Moreover, LW treatment reshaped gut microbiota composition by lowering the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota (F/B) ratio and increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacterial taxa. Network pharmacology analysis identified 66 licorice‐associated antiaging genes, with quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin, formononetin, and licochalcone A as key active components. The principal molecular targets included AKT1, TP53, ESR1, CASPASE3, and BCL2, while the major enriched pathways involved PI3K–Akt, lipid and atherosclerosis, AGE–RAGE, MAPK, and IL‐17 pathway. Furthermore, Western blot analysis revealed that LW significantly downregulated the expression of p‐PI3K, p‐AKT, and p‐mTOR in brain tissue. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that LW exerts protective antiaging effects in D‐Gal–induced mice by enhancing antioxidant activities, safeguarding neuronal function to improve cognition, restoring gut microbiota balance, and modulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, supporting its promise as a candidate for antiaging interventions.