Introduction In recent years, research on wild edible plant resources has become increasingly popular. The Hassan Nature Reserve is a multiethnic area mainly composed of people belonging to the Han, Hui, and Mongolian groups. The utilization of edible wild plant resources in this area is extremely high. However, with the advancement of urbanization and the development of modern agricultural technology, these resources have been seriously damaged, and related traditional knowledge, such as that related to national medicine, has been lost. Methods Based on a literature study, interviews with village and community organizations, participatory observation, and quantitative evaluation of ethnobotanical resources, wild edible plants in the Gansu–Ningxia–Inner Mongolia junction zone, were investigated. Results The survey results showed that there were 53 species (varieties) of wild edible plants belonging to 24 families in this area. The Compositae and Liliaceae families were the most abundant, with 8 and 7 species, respectively. The young stems and leaves were the most edible parts of the plants, as observed for 17 species, followed by fruits (including young fruits), which were considered the edible part of 16 species. Other edible parts included the roots or rhizomes (bulbs), seeds, whole plants, skins, etc. The edible plants were consumed in two forms: raw and cooked; raw plants, mainly fruit, were typically consumed as snacks. The cooked foods mainly consisted of vegetables, with tender stems and leaves as the main food source. These components were also used as seasoning, in medicinal diets, and as an emergency food source in times of famine. Important (CFSI > 500) wild edible plants used in health care in the region include Mulgedium tataricum (L.) DC., Nostoc commune Vaucher ex Bornet & Flahault, Sonchus arvensis L., Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz., Allium schoenoprasum L., Robinia pseudoacacia L., Hemerocallis citrina Baroni, Elaeagnus angustifolia L., Medicago sativa L., Ulmus pumila L., Stachys sieboldii Miq., and Toona sinensis (Juss.) M. Roem., and these plants had high utilization values and rates locally. Conclusion In summary, the species of wild edible plants and their edible parts, categories, consumption forms and roles in health care in this area are diverse. The utilization of traditional knowledge is rich, and some wild plants have high development value.

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Introduction The Gelao people are a unique minority in Southwest China with a unique culture for the utilization of edible plants, including a large number of medicinal plants. They believe that at least 61 species are edible and have medicinal value. Ethnobotany research can reveal the local knowledge of the Gelao people regarding the traditional use of plants and the relationship between this minority and their living environment to help retain and pass on this traditional knowledge forever. Methods Edible wild plants and their applied ethnic knowledge were investigated in three counties in northern Guizhou. Gelao residents were the main informants, and literature search, village interviews, participatory observation and quantitative ethnobotany evaluation were used. Results A total of 151 species of wild plants in 67 families are collected and eaten by Gelao residents, among which 61 species were considered to have medicinal value, accounting for 40.4% of the total, and 43 were listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. There were 57 plant species with fruits as their edible parts, which are consumed as snacks, followed by 54 species whose young seedlings and leaves are the edible parts, most of which are consumed cold or stir-fried. Other edible parts included roots or rhizomes (bulbs), flowers, whole plants, seeds, fruiting bodies and stems. There were two consumption modes: raw and cooked. Raw foods were mainly consumed as snacks, which mainly comprise fruits. Cooked foods were mainly vegetables consumed cold or stir-fried. Some plants were used as seasonings, infused wines, condiments and grains. The main medicinal functions were nourishing and reducing heatiness. Nourishing plants were mainly “shen” plants and Liliaceae, while plants able to reduce heatiness were mainly Asteraceae. Others functions included anti-hangover, anticancer and insecticidal. There were 38 species of important edible wild plants (CFSI > 500) in northern Guizhou, which had a high utilization rate. Houttuynia cordata Thunb. and Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. were the most representative edible wild plants in this area. The species, edible parts, edible categories, consumption modes and medicinal functions of edible wild plants in this area are diverse, and the traditional knowledge on their uses is rich. However, the number of wild plant species eaten by the informants and their related knowledge were positively correlated with age, which indicates that the rich traditional knowledge in this area is gradually disappearing with urbanization. Conclusions The Gelao have a rich history of consuming wild plants. With the development of the social economy, the traditional knowledge passed from older generations is gradually being lost and its inheritance is facing great risks. This study collects, sorts and spreads this precious traditional knowledge, which is of great value to its protection and inheritance and fully demonstrates the value and importance of our work.

Dendrobium nobile is a traditional Chinese medicine and functional food in China, with anti-aging, immunity-enhancing, glucose-lowering and lipid-lowering health functions. In recent years, the research value of D. nobile has attracted the attention of more and more experts and scholars. Today, phytochemical investigation of the stems of Dendrobium nobile Lindl., led to the isolation of five sesquiterpene glycosides, including dendromoniliside D (1), dendronobiloside A (2), dendronobiloside C (3), dendronobiloside D (4), dendroside G (5) and their α-amylase and α-glycosidase inhibitory activities were also investigated. Among them, dendromoniliside D (1), dendroside G (5) were first isolated from D. nobile. And dendronobiloside A (2) and dendronobiloside C (3) exhibited better inhibitory activity against α-glycosidases, respectively. In the case of α-amylase inhibition, dendroside G (5) has a relatively good effect. These results suggest that sesquiterpene glycosides of D. nobile have potential hypoglycemic activity and deserve further research and development.

IntroductionAltitude, as a comprehensive ecological factor, regulates the growth and development of plants and microbial distribution. Dendrobium nobile (D. nobile) planted in habitats at different elevations in Chishui city, also shows metabolic differences and endophytes diversity. What is the triangular relationship between altitude, endophytes, and metabolites?MethodsIn this study, the diversity and species of endophytic fungi were tested by ITS sequencing and metabolic differences in plants were tested by UPLC–ESI–MS/MS. Elevation regulated the colonization of plant endophytic fungal species and fatty acid metabolites in D. nobile.ResultsThe results indicate that and high altitude was better for the accumulation of fatty acid metabolites. Therefore, the high-altitude characteristic endophytic floras were screened, and the correlation with fatty acid metabolites of plants was built. The colonization of T. rubrigenum, P. Incertae sedis unclassified, Phoma. cf. nebulosa JZG 2008 and Basidiomycota unclassified showed a significantly positive correlation with fatty acid metabolites, especially 18-carbon-chain fatty acids, such as (6Z,9Z,12Z)-octadeca-6,9,12-trienoic acid, 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-12-oxohexadeca-2,4-dienoic acid and Octadec-9-en-12-ynoic acid. What is more fascinating is these fatty acids are the essential substrates of plant hormones.DiscussionConsequently, it was speculated that the D. nobile- colonizing endophytic fungi stimulated or upregulated the synthesis of fatty acid metabolites and even some plant hormones, thus affecting the metabolism and development of D. nobile.

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Introduction: In recent years, research on wild edible plant resources has become a hotspot.Hassan Nature Reserve is a multi-ethnic mixed area mainly composed of Han, Hui and Mongolian. The edible development of wild plant resources in this area is extremely high. However, with the advancement of urbanization and the development of modern agricultural technology, such resources have been seriously damaged, and the related traditional knowledge such as national medicine has been lost.Methods: With the methods of literature study, interview with village and community organizations, participatory observation and quantitative evaluation of ethnobotany, the wild edible plants in hassan region of gansu-ningxia-inner mongolia interchange belt were investigated and studied.Results: The survey results showed that there were 53 species (varieties) of wild edible plants belonging to 24 families in this area, with 8 species and 7 species in Compositae and Liliaceae, respectively, being the most abundant. The young stems and leaves were the most edible parts, with 17 species, followed by the fruits (including young fruits) with 16 species. In addition, the edible parts also included root or rhizome (bulb), seed, whole plant, skin, etc. There were two types of raw food and cooked food, raw food was mainly used as snacks, mainly fruit; The cooked food is mainly vegetables with tender stems and leaves as the main, in addition can also be used as seasoning, medicinal diet, emergency food in the famine years. Important (CFSI>500) wild edible health-care plants in the region include: Mulgedium tataricum (L.) DC., Nostoccommune, Sonchus arvensis L., Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz., Allium schoenoprasum, Robinia pseudoacacia, Hemerocallis citrina Baroni, Elaeagnus angustifolia Linn., Medicago sativa L., Ulmus pumila L., Stachys sieboldii Miq. var. sieboldii, Tooinensis (A. Juss.) Roem. var. sinensis, had high utilization value and utilization rate in the locality.Conclusion: In summary, the species, edible parts, edible categories, edible methods and health care functions of wild edible plants in this area are diverse, and the traditional utilization knowledge is rich, and some wild plants have high development value.

Introduction This study conducted an ethnobotanical survey of wild medicinal plants in the multi-ethnic areas of Gansu–Ningxia–Inner Mongolia intersection zone. Traditional knowledge of medicinal plant use in the region was compiled to identify important medicinal plants currently used for treating relevant diseases and to determine species with potential for development. Methods Key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews, participatory rural appraisal methods, and ethnobotanical quantitative evaluation were used to investigate and study the traditional knowledge of local residents' use of wild medicinal plants in the region. The relative importance of the referenced plants was assessed, as well as the prominent species widely used in medicinal applications. Results The study found that the region has a total of 204 wild medicinal plant resources, belonging to 149 genera of 51 families. Among these resources, a total of 50 commonly used plants were identified (44 of which were herbs, some of which were multi-origin), belonging to 27 families, with the most species found in the Asteraceae family, with 11 species. These herbs are mainly used for preventing and treating colds and nourishing health, followed by treatment of fever, stomach problems, and bleeding. The most frequently used medicinal plant in the region is “Ai”, which includes Artemisia argyi Lévl. et Van. and Artemisia kanashiroi Kitam. All respondents provided information about the use of this medicinal plant to varying degrees, followed by Artemisia annua Linn., Ephedra sinica Stapf, Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz., Sonchus arvensis Linn., Artemisia capillaris Thunb., among others. Conclusion Our investigation gained a wealth of traditional knowledge about the use of wild herbs, using wild herbs, which plays an important role in the lives of local residents. Especially, the herbs and application methods used for treating colds, bleeding, and stomach problems are worthy of further research and development.