Background : Momordica charantia L. (M. charantia) is a member of the family Cucurbitaceae, used as a medicine herb in traditional medicine. In this study, we present the sequencing, de novo assembly and analysis of the transcriptome of M. charantia and provide a global description of relationship between putative phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis genes and alteration of phenylpropanoid and flavonoid content during different organs and plantlet of M. charantia. Methods and Results : The transcriptome of M. charantia was constructed by using an Illumina Nexteseq500 sequencing system. Out of 68,073,862 total reads, approximately 88,703 unigenes were identified with a length of 898 bp. Alternatively, transcriptomic data, 10cDNAs (McPAL, McC4H, Mc4CL, McCOMT, McCHS, McCHI, McF3H, McFLS, McDFR and Mc3GT) encoded phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthetic genes. The expression levels and the accumulation of trans-cinnamic acid, benzoic acid, 4-hydroxyvbenzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, catechin hydrate, ferulic acid, and rutin were investigated in different organs and plantlets. Mainly, phenylpropanoids and flavonoids accumulated in leaves and flowers, whereas low levels accumulated in roots. Collectively, these results indicate that the putative McPAL, McC4H, McCOMT, McFLS, and Mc3GT might be key factors for controlling phenylpropanoid and flavonoid contents in M. charantia. Conclusion : In this study, we present the sequencing, de novo assembly and analysis of the transcriptome of M. charantia. We also compared gene expression and compound analysis of phenylpropanoid and flavonoid in different organs and plantlet of M. charantia. These results indicate that McPAL, McC4H, McCOMT, McFLS, and Mc3GT are key regulators of phenylpropanoid and flavonoid accumulation in M. charantia

Background : The genus of Mentha contains more than 25 species and has been used as cuisines, medicines, cosmetics, oral hygiene products, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and flavor enhancing agent. Due to economical value of these species, many studies have identified and isolated the beneficial constituents such as flavonoids, terpenoids, and volatile compounds. In this study, the primary and secondary metabolites were investigated from the aerial parts of nine different Mentha species including peppermint (M. piperita), pennyroyal mint (M. pulegium), spearmint (M. spicata), horse mint (M. longifolia), water mint (M. aquatica), apple mint, pineapple mint (M. suaveolens), and chocolate mint, eau de cologne mint (M x piperita hybrids). Also, we reported the antioxidant properties using extracts of obtained plants. Methods and Results : In total, 67 metabolites were detected using gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS). The difference among nine Mentha spp. by principal components analysis has been investigated. Various phenoilic compounds and carotenoids were characterized quantified in Mentha plants by HPLC. Of these, rosmarinic acid was found to be rich in most of this family. In addition, the highest content of riboflavin were indicated in spearmint. Moreover, the highest antioxidant activities (88.6 % 100 μl/ml in DPPH assay, 76.2% 100 μl/ml in hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity, and 0.076 absorbance in reducing power assay) have been shown in horse mint. Conclusion : We determined the differences in accumulation of primary and secondary metabolites (phenolic compound, carotenoid, and riboflavin) among nine Mentha species. Totally, 67 primary metabolites were identified and compared the difference by principal components analysis. Besides, horse mint has the highest and strongest antioxidant activities compared to others.

Background : Nasturtium officinale L. which is commonly known as watercress is aquatic perennial herb distributed to Europe, Asia, North and South America. It consist of various nutrients and beneficial compounds such as vitamin B and C, provitamin A, folic acid, carotenoids, glucosinolates, and minerals. Recent studies have demonstrated the biological properties that include antidiabets, antiinflammatory, antioxidative, and anticancer. In this study, the effects of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on growth and development, accumulation of phenolic compounds and glucosinolates were investigated in watercress. Methods and Results : Length of shoot and root, and fresh weight of whole plants were measured every weeks (1 to 3 weeks) after sowing. These were significantly affected by different LED lights. Normally, length of shoot and fresh weight of white- and blue-light-radiated watercress were less than those of red-light-radiated watercress. Contents of phenolic compounds and glucosinolates were investigated in watercress under different LEDs treatment by HPLC analysis. Six phenolic compounds including catechin hydrate, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, trans-cinnamic acid, and kaempferol were detected. Also, eight glucosinolates that include four aliphatic glucosinolates (glucoiberin, gluconapoleiferin, glucosiberin, and glucohirsutin), three indolic glucosinolates (4-hydroxyglucobrassicin, glucobrassicin, and 4-methoxyglucobrassicin), and one aromatic glusinolate (gluconasturtiin). Mostly, white light treatment led to the higher production of their compounds than those of red- and blue-radiated. Conclusion : It is concluded that different LED lights have effect on growth rates and secondary metabolites production. Red light caused vigorous growth of shoot and affected their fresh weights. In addition, the accumulation of each compounds was varied depending on light colours and time of harvest.

Background : Tagetes species which belong to Asteraceae show different characteristics including, bloom size, shape, color, plant size, and leaf shape. The color of Tagetes flowers ranging from white to dark orange is due to accumulation of different carotenoids, pathway intermediates, and amount of the same carotenoid. Methods and Results : The carotenoids were monitored in flower extracts from six cultivars of Tagetes that include three T. erecta cultivars, Discovery Orange (DO), Inca Orange (IO), and Inca Yellow (IY), and three T. patula cultivars, including Durango Bee (DB), Durango Yellow (DY), and Safari Red (SR) using HPLC analysis. It showed considerable differences in carotenoid composition depending on cultivars and types of carotenoids. The highest concentration of violaxanthin which represents orange color in plants was showed in IO, whereas the compound was not detected in DB, and DY. Yellow-colored cultivars such as IY, DB, and DY exhibited low levels of lutein. However, others that indicate orange color, DO, IO, and SR showed high levels of lutein. Also, similar pattern was found in the zeaxanthin measurements. α-carotene was significantly accumulated in SR compared to other cultivars. The highest amount of β-carotene was found in SR, followed by IO, IY, DO, DY and DB. Similarly, the highest and lowest amount of 9-cis-β-carotene was showed in SR and DB, respectively. Interestingly, all cultivars except SR in 13-cis-β-carotene showed the same pattern with β-carotene, but no detection indicated in SR. Conclusion : In this study, we determined the differences in carotenoid yields among six Tagetes cultivars. In total, seven carotenoids that include violaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, α -carotene, β-carotene, 9-cis-β-carotene, and 13-cis-β-carotene were detected. Among them, all of the cultivars accumulated primarily lutein. In addition, contents of each carotenoid varied in these flowers depending on cultivars.

Background : Plants live in restricted spaces that are constantly exposed to various environmental stresses. Under these stressful conditions, plants lead to biosynthesize specialized metabolites to adapt to environmental stresses. Here we investigate the effects of cold on the metabolome of tartaty buckwheat, focusing the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. Methods and Results : From the metabolic profiling based on the GC-TOF-MS analysis, we identified the effect of cold on forty-four metabolites, including sugars, amino acids, and organic acids. Most of sugars and sugar derivatives remain nearly unchanged or slightly decreased in the plants grown at 25 ºC, whereas sugar and sugar derivative contents of cold-treated plants significantly increased, excepting galactose. Some of amino acid and amino acid derivatives contents decrease in cold-treated plants, whereas organic acid derived from tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle were increased the cold-treated plants compared with the plants grown at 25 ºC. Particularly, the contents of two anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside, were significantly increased by cold treatment. Proanthocyanidins such as epicatechin and catechin were also significantly affected by cold. The expression of most flavonoid biosynthetic genes were significantly upregulated in cold-treated buckwheat seedling. Among the flavonoid biosynthetic genes, the expression of FtANS was notably upregulated in response to cold. Conclusion : By analyzing both primary metabolites and secondary metabolites of tartary buchwheat without or with cold, we showed that cold play a critical role in the modulation of the primary metabolites and flavonoid synthesis pathway in tartary buchwheat. Particularly, anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin biosynthetic pathways are strongly up-regulated in response to cold.

Background : Tagetes species which belong to Asteraceae show different characteristics including, bloom size, shape, color, plant size, and leaf shape. The color of Tagetes flowers ranging from white to dark orange is due to accumulation of different carotenoids, pathway intermediates, and amount of the same carotenoid. Methods and Results : The carotenoids were monitored in flower extracts from six cultivars of Tagetes that include three T. erecta cultivars, Discovery Orange (DO), Inca Orange (IO), and Inca Yellow (IY), and three T. patula cultivars, including Durango Bee (DB), Durango Yellow (DY), and Safari Red (SR) using HPLC analysis. It showed considerable differences in carotenoid composition depending on cultivars and types of carotenoids. The highest concentration of violaxanthin which represents orange color in plants was showed in IO, whereas the compound was not detected in DB, and DY. Yellow-colored cultivars such as IY, DB, and DY exhibited low levels of lutein. However, others that indicate orange color, DO, IO, and SR showed high levels of lutein. Also, similar pattern was found in the zeaxanthin measurements. α-carotene was significantly accumulated in SR compared to other cultivars. The highest amount of β-carotene was found in SR, followed by IO, IY, DO, DY and DB. Similarly, the highest and lowest amount of 9-cis-β-carotene was showed in SR and DB, respectively. Interestingly, all cultivars except SR in 13-cis-β-carotene showed the same pattern with β-carotene, but no detection indicated in SR. Conclusion : In this study, we determined the differences in carotenoid yields among six Tagetes cultivars. In total, seven carotenoids that include violaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, α -carotene, β-carotene, 9-cis-β-carotene, and 13-cis-β-carotene were detected. Among them, all of the cultivars accumulated primarily lutein. In addition, contents of each carotenoid varied in these flowers depending on cultivars.