Tanshinones are abietane-type norditerpenoid quinone natural products found in a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. The copalyl diphosphate synthase of S. miltiorrhiza (SmCPS) is the key enzyme in the first step for transformation of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) into miltiradiene, which has recently been identified as the precursor of tanshinones. Based on previous gene-to-metabolite network, this study examined the influences of various combined elicitors on the expression of SmCPS and production of tanshinones in S. miltiorrhiza hairy root cultures. Combined elicitors were composed of three classes of elicitors, a heavy metal ion (Ag⁺), a polysaccharide (yeast extract, YE), and a plant response-signalling compound (methyl jasmonate, MJ). YE + Ag⁺, Ag⁺ + MJ, YE + MJ, and YE + Ag⁺ + MJ were the combinations we tested. The effect of elicitors on the SmCPS expression level was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and the tanshinones accumulation responses to elicitation were analysed by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) metabolite profiling. Of these combined elicitors, the expression of SmCPS was significantly enhanced by elicitation, especially at 24 h and 36 h. Of four tanshinones detected, the contents of cryptotanshinone and dihydrotanshinone I were enhanced by treatment with YE + Ag⁺, Ag⁺ + MJ, and YE + Ag⁺ + MJ. Our results indicate that appropriate combined elicitors can enhance tanshinones production in hairy root cultures.

Introduction: Piper kadsura is a well-known medicinal plant that belongs to woody liana, possessing high therapeutic and economic value. The market demand of P. kadsura is huge, but its wild resources are scarce and artificial cultivation methods have not been established, which leads to a situation with strong contradiction and imbalance between supply and demand.Methods: In this study, 303 sample of distribution data for P. kadsura in China were collected, 33 environmental variables related to terrain, climate and soil were analyzed and the suitable habitats of P. kadsura during various periods were predicted by MaxEnt model and ArcGIS software, aiming to provide a basis for scientific cultivation and effective utilization of resources.Results: The results indicated that precipitation and temperature were significant factors in the distribution of P. kadsura. The primary environmental variables influencing the potential distribution of P. kadsura were precipitation during the driest quarter (Bio17), annual precipitation (Bio12), mean diurnal range (Bio2), and annual temperature range (Bio7). Among them, precipitation of driest quarter (Bio17) was the most influential environmental variable for the distribution of P. kadsura with the range between 100.68 and 274.48 mm. The current distribution of P. kadsura is mainly located in the coastal areas of eastern and southern China, especially Guangxi, Guangdong, Zhejiang and Fujian, with a total area of 51.74 × 104 km2. Future climate change of global warming will lead to a reduction in the total suitable areas and high suitable areas under various climate scenarios. Especially in the SSP585 scenario, the total suitable area and the highly suitable area will be significantly reduced by 89.26% and 87.95% compared with the present during the 2090s.Discussion: Overall, these findings can provide useful references for the suitable areas’ determination of wild resources, optimization of artificial cultivation and scientific selection of high quality medicinal materials on P. kadsura.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have characteristics such as a large specific surface area, distinct functional sites, and an adjustable pore size. However, the inherent low conductivity of MOFs significantly affects the charge transfer efficiency when they are used for electrocatalytic sensing. Combining MOFs with conductive materials can compensate for these deficiencies. For MOF/metal nanoparticle composites (e.g., composites with gold, silver, platinum, and bimetallic nanoparticles), the high electrical conductivity and catalytic activity of metal nanoparticles are utilized, and MOFs can inhibit the agglomeration of nanoparticles. MOF/carbon-based material composites integrate the high electrical conductivity and large specific surface area of carbon-based materials. MOF/conductive polymer composites offer good flexibility and tunability. MOF/multiple conductive material composites exhibit synergistic effects. Although MOF composites provide an ideal platform for electrocatalytic reactions, current research still suffers from several issues, including a lack of comparative studies, insufficient research on structure–property correlations, limited practical applications, and high synthesis costs. In the future, it is necessary to explore new synthetic pathways and seek; inexpensive alternative raw materials.

Introduction: Hovenia dulcis Thunberg, a multifunctional medicinal plant native to East and Southeast Asia, has been introduced worldwide. However, the environmental factors that determine its habitat and its precise distribution in China remain incompletely characterized.Methods: Therefore, the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model integrated with, ArcGIS was employed to predict the potential distribution of H. dulcis in China, using 479 initial occurrence records (which were spatially filtered to 191 points) and 33 environmental variables (of which 15 were selected for the final analysis). Model performance was assessed via AUC-ROC, with key variables identified through permutation importance and response curves. Future projections were made under SSP126 and SSP585 scenarios for the 2050s and 2090s.Results: The model demonstrated high accuracy (AUC = 0.934). The distribution of H. dulcis was primarily governed by annual precipitation (Bio12), the minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio06), elevation, and the mean diurnal temperature range (Bio02). The optimal ranges for these variables were as follows: annual precipitation of 708.5–2,956.8 mm, a minimum temperature of the coldest month between -4.9 and 8.9 °C, elevation of 273.9–1,019.4 m, and a mean diurnal temperature range of 6.81–10.18 °C. At present, suitable habitats are concentrated in central and southwestern China. Future projections indicate a northward shift and altitudinal increase in suitable areas, with expansions in Beijing, Hebei, and Liaoning, but contractions in Guangxi and Shandong. Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, and Guizhou remain core suitable regions. This northward shift is consistent with preference of H. dulcis for the warm temperatures and adequate humidity, highlighting both its vulnerability and its adaptive potential under global warming.Discussion: H. dulcis is highly sensitive to climatic variables, particularly temperature and precipitation. Our findings provide a scientific basis for developing well-targeted conservation strategies, promoting sustainable utilization, and optimizing cultivation practices for H. dulcis under climate change.