Six compounds were isolated from the stems of Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels by repeated sillica gel column chromatography. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basic of physicochemical and spectroscopic data. Among them, 8-geranyloxypsolaren (3) and 2-methoxy-1-(3-methyl-buten-1-yl)-9H-carbazole-3-carbaldehyde (6) were isolated for the first time from this plant. These compounds were screened for cytotoxicity in human cervical cancer (Hela), leukemia (K562), lung cancer (A549), non-small lung carcinoma (H1299) and liver cancer (SMMC-7721). Within the series of cytotoxic tests, compounds 4–6 displayed potent cytotoxic activity against H1299 and SMMC-7721, with the IC₅₀ values of 6.19 to 26.84 μg/mL.

Introduction: Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz., a critical traditional medicinal plant in Northeast China, faces challenges of habitat degradation and unstable quality in cultivated populations.Methods: This study systematically analyzed the key environmental drivers of its distribution and quality formation in Liaoning Province through an integrative framework combining the Maximum Entropy model (MaxEnt), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and geodetector analysis.Results: July precipitation (Prec7), temperature seasonality (Bio4), May solar radiation (Srad5), March maximum temperature (Tmax3), and March minimum temperature (Tmin3) were core variables influencing distribution patterns. The quality of cultivated populations was primarily regulated by February mean temperature (Tmean2) and May precipitation (Prec5), while that of wild populations were predominantly affected by January mean temperature (Tmean1). By overlaying ecological suitability zones, quality partitions, and existing planting areas, Chaoyang, Huludao, Jinzhou, Liaoyang, and Dandong were identified as ideal regions combining ecological adaptability and quality advantages.Discussion: The study revealed that precipitation and temperature are key factors affecting both distribution and quality. Geodetector analysis confirmed significant interactions among environmental variables influencing both distribution and quality. The multi-model framework established in this study provides a scientific basis for precision cultivation zoning and wild resource conservation of medicinal plants. The identified high-quality planting regions can promote the sustainable development of the D. dasycarpus industry, and the methodological approach provides a reference for similar studies.

To explore the characteristics of inorganic elements in Erodium stephanianum. The content of elements such as Li, B, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Br, Rb, Sr, Ba, La, Ce and Rb in ten E. stephanianum samples were determined by means of ICP/MS. The results were used for the development of element distribution diagram. The principal component analysis of SPSS and Q-type cluster analysis were applied for the study of characteristic elements in E. stephanianum. Five principal components which accounted for over 91% of the total variance were extracted from the original data. The analysis results showed that Al, Ti, V, Fe, La, Ce, Li, Ga and Ba may be the characteristic elements in E. stephanianum; The results of Q-type cluster analysis showed that the samples could be clustered reasonably into two groups, and the elemental distribution characteristics were related to the ecology and origins of E. stephanianum. The principal component analysis and Q-type cluster analysis could be used in data processing in inorganic elements.

Introduction: As a traditional Chinese medicine abundant in sesquiterpenoids, Atractylodes chinensis has various pharmacological activities. Nevertheless, the synthesis and metabolism mechanisms of its sesquiterpenoids under drought stress are still not fully elucidated. Methods: Therefore, this study investigated changes in sesquiterpenoid component contents, gene expression profiles, and metabolite accumulation of A. chinensis under drought stress. Results: Results showed that the moderate drought stress (MDS) significantly increased the contents of atractylodin, β-eudesmol, and atractylenolide I. Compared with the control group (CK), 10,528, 9,755, and 10,562 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the light drought stress (LDS), MDS, and severe drought stress (SDS) groups, respectively. These DEGs are involved in plant–pathogen interaction, plant hormone signal transduction, plant MAPK signal transduction, and starch and sucrose metabolism. Metabolic analysis detected 2,101, 2,112, and 2,144 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in the LDS, MDS, and SDS groups, including atractylodin, β-eudesmol, and atractylenolide I. These DAMs are primarily enriched in three pathways: “ABC transporters”, “D-amino acid metabolism”, and “aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis”. Furthermore, we screened and characterized the expression patterns of DEGs and accumulation levels of DAMs involved in the sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis pathway. Notably, the genes TRINITY_DN12874_c1_g1 , TRINITY_DN114406_c0_g1 , TRINITY_DN2331_c0_g2 , TRINITY_DN7401_c0_g1 , TRINITY_DN11676_c0_g1 , along with the compound Germacra-1(10),4,11(13)-trien-12-ol, are speculated to be key genes and critical metabolite responding to drought stress, respectively. Discussion: These findings enhance our understanding of the mechanisms by which drought stress modulates the sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis pathways in A. chinensis .

Introduction: Gentiana scabra Bunge, a primary botanical source of the traditional Chinese medicine Gentianae Radix et Rhizoma . The quality of G. scabra varies under different habitats, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Methods: In this study, comparative analyses of UPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomics and RNA-seq-based transcriptomics were integrated to reveal differences in metabolite accumulation among G. scabra grown in three habitats: wild shrublands, wild meadows, and cultivated farmlands. Results: A total of 1824 metabolites and 93076 Unigenes were identified across G. scabra from the three habitats. Specifically, 309 differential metabolites (DMs) and 645 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected between the wild meadow group (YC) and wild shrubland group (YG), while 348 DMs and 605 DEGs were observed between the cultivated farmland group (ZP) and wild meadow group (YC).A total of 510 DMs and 917 DEGs were identified between the cultivated farmland group (ZP) and wild shrubland group (YG), which reveals differences in metabolite accumulation of G. scabra among the three habitats. Integrated analysis further identified genes associated with the quality formation of G. scabra medicinal materials, and these genes play crucial roles in the accumulation of metabolic compounds in G. scabra . Genes such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase ( HMGR ), diphosphomevalonate decarboxylase ( MVD ), and isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase ( IDI ) may be involved in regulating terpenoid backbone biosynthesis. Discussion: DMs were mainly enriched in “metabolic pathways” and “environmental information processing”, which may be attributed to the effects of environmental factors in the growing habitats of G. scabra . The expression levels of four genes, namely HSFF, SCPL-I, LOC107801770 , and CYP71D55 , can serve as candidate genes for distinguishing G. scabra from the three habitats. This study provides a theoretical basis for future molecular breeding and “simulative habitat cultivation” of G. scabra .

As a member of Rutaceae family, Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz. represents a prominent medicinal plant and economically valuable crop in traditional Chinese medicine, and is renowned for its therapeutic efficacy in treating dermatological conditions. The pharmacological activity of this species primarily stems from quinoline alkaloids and limonoids, which predominantly accumulate in the taproots. These bioactive compounds serve as critical determinants of both medicinal quality and crop yield. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms governing their dynamic accumulation patterns in D. dasycarpus taproots remain uncertain, and the fundamental biochemical basis underlying this process has yet to be elucidated. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses were carried out to investigate metabolites and gene expression during the development of D. dasycarpus taproots. The differentially accumulated secondary metabolites (DAMs) mainly included quinoline alkaloids and limonoids, and the accumulation of total alkaloids and total limonoids primarily occurred during 2- and 4-year-old. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are related to Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis, Phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, Tryptophan metabolism, Terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, Sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis, which had a close relationship with the accumulation of quinoline alkaloids and limonoids. Furthermore, we identified that some CYP450s, acetyltransferase, isomerase, 2-ODDs and others may play an important role in the process of producing quinoline alkaloids and limonoids. These results elucidated the molecular mechanisms and metabolic changes underlying the dynamic accumulation process occurring in the taproots of D. dasycarpus. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the planting and harvesting of D. dasycarpus.