A novel method to identify the Chinese herbal medicine Wuzhimaotao by quantification of laticifers

Au, Dawn Tung; Chen, Hubiao; Jiang, Zhi Hong; Zhao, Zhongzhen

doi:10.1002/jemt.20650

Cited by 18 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The same cell organization ( Fig. 4D) can also be visualized by staining dandelion laticifers with Sudan III (Au et al, 2009). As expected from this result, GUS activity, indicated by the blue color, could be detected only in latex from the transgenic line (Fig.…”

Section: Identification and Molecular Characterization Of Enzymes Invmentioning

confidence: 68%

Polyphenoloxidase Silencing Affects Latex Coagulation in Taraxacum Species

et al. 2009

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Latex is the milky sap that is found in many different plants. It is produced by specialized cells known as laticifers and can comprise a mixture of proteins, carbohydrates, oils, secondary metabolites, and rubber that may help to prevent herbivory and protect wound sites against infection. The wound-induced browning of latex suggests that it contains one or more phenoloxidizing enzymes. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the major latex proteins from two dandelion species, Taraxacum officinale and Taraxacum kok-saghyz, and enzymatic studies showing that polyphenoloxidase (PPO) is responsible for latex browning. Electrophoretic analysis and amino-terminal sequencing of the most abundant proteins in the aqueous latex fraction revealed the presence of three PPO-related proteins generated by the proteolytic cleavage of a single precursor (pre-PPO). The laticifer-specific pre-PPO protein contains a transit peptide that can target reporter proteins into chloroplasts when constitutively expressed in dandelion protoplasts, perhaps indicating the presence of structures similar to plastids in laticifers, which lack genuine chloroplasts. Silencing the PPO gene by constitutive RNA interference in transgenic plants reduced PPO activity compared with wild-type controls, allowing T. kok-saghyz RNA interference lines to expel four to five times more latex than controls. Latex fluidity analysis in silenced plants showed a strong correlation between residual PPO activity and the coagulation rate, indicating that laticifer-specific PPO plays a major role in latex coagulation and wound sealing in dandelions. In contrast, very little PPO activity is found in the latex of the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis, suggesting functional divergence of latex proteins during plant evolution.

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Section: Identification and Molecular Characterization Of Enzymes Invmentioning

confidence: 68%

Polyphenoloxidase Silencing Affects Latex Coagulation in Taraxacum Species

et al. 2009

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“…In conclusion, authentication of C. sinensis using microscopy has the advantages of lower sample consumption when compared with chemical methods (Au et al,2009). This is especially important for those expensive herbal medicines.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of microscopy in authentication of valuable Chinese medicine i—Cordyceps sinensis, its counterfeits, and related products

Wang

Yang

et al. 2012

Microscopy Res & Technique

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Light and polarized microscope was applied to authenticate 32 Cordyceps and 6 artificial counterfeits and 8 fermented Cordyceps as well as 7 Cordyceps capsules available in Hong Kong markets. Results showed that transverse sections of stroma and powder of larvae can be used to differentiate C. sinensis from its counterfeits. The fermented Cordyceps are in powder form. Among the eight fermented Cordyceps collected, half of them were pure; three were a mixture of fermented Cordyceps and soya beans; one was a mixture of unknown plant tissues and soya beans. For the seven Cordyceps capsules, the powders of five samples were a mixture of fermented Cordyceps and soya beans; the powders of other two were a mixture of C. sinensis stroma powder and fermented Cordyceps. The study indicated that the microscopy is an unambiguous method that requests fewer sample for the authentication of valuable Chinese medicine-C. sinensis and its related products.

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“…Microscopic quantification which quantifies a stable and unique microscopic feature of CHM to find out its microscopic characteristic constant is an effective method for distinguishing confused CHMs. A method which combines histological and microscopic analyses of laticifers stained orange‐red by Sudan III with “blob” analysis was established to identify the similar species of CHM Wuzhimaotao by quantification (Au et al, 2009). Our work suggests that the fluorescence of certain tissues of some species could also be used as a useful and convenient microscopic feature without staining for quantification.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of powdered Chinese herbal medicines by fluorescence microscopy, Part 1: Fluorescent characteristics of mechanical tissues, conducting tissues, and ergastic substances

Wang

Liang

et al. 2011

Microscopy Res & Technique

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The light microscope has been successfully used in identification of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) for more than a century. However, positive identification is not always possible. Given the popularity of fluorescence microscopy in bioanalysis, researchers dedicated to finding new ways to identify CHMs more effectively are now turning to fluorescence microscopy for authentication purposes. Some studies on distinguishing confused species from the same genus and on exploring distributions of chemicals in tissues of CHMs by fluorescence microscopy have been reported; however, no systematic investigations on fluorescent characteristics of powdered CHMs have been reported. Here, 46 samples of 16 CHMs were investigated. Specifically, the mechanical tissues including stone cells and fibers, the conducting tissues including three types of vessels, and ergastic substances including crystals of calcium oxalate and secretions, in various powdered CHMs were investigated by both light microscope and fluorescence microscope. The results showed many microscopic features emit fluorescence that makes them easily observed, even against complex backgrounds. Under the fluorescence microscope, different microscopic features from the same powdered CHM or some same features from different powdered CHMs emitted the different fluorescence, making this information very helpful for the authentication of CHMs in powder form. Moreover, secretions with unique chemical profiles from different powdered CHMs showed different fluorescent characteristics. Hence, fluorescence microscopy could be a useful additional method for the authentication of powdered CHMs if the fluorescent characteristics of specific CHMs are known.

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A novel method to identify the Chinese herbal medicine Wuzhimaotao by quantification of laticifers

Cited by 18 publications

References 11 publications

Polyphenoloxidase Silencing Affects Latex Coagulation in Taraxacum Species

Polyphenoloxidase Silencing Affects Latex Coagulation in Taraxacum Species

Application of microscopy in authentication of valuable Chinese medicine i—Cordyceps sinensis, its counterfeits, and related products

Identification of powdered Chinese herbal medicines by fluorescence microscopy, Part 1: Fluorescent characteristics of mechanical tissues, conducting tissues, and ergastic substances

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