Phytochemical Analysis Reveals an Antioxidant Defense Response in Lonicera Japonica To Cadmium-Induced Oxidative Stress

Cadmium (Cd), though potentially beneficial at lower levels to some plant species, at higher levels is a toxic metal that is detrimental to plant growth and development. Cadmium is also a carcinogen to humans and other contaminated plant consumers, affecting the kidneys and reducing bone strength. In this study we investigated responses of growth, chlorophyll content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and antioxidant responses to Cd2+ in honeysuckle leaves (Lonicera japonica Thunb.), a potential cadmium hyperaccumulator. Results indicated that plant height, dry weight, leaf area, and chlorophyll content increased when honeysuckle was exposed to 10 or 30 mg/kg Cd2+ (low concentration). However, in response to 150 or 200 mg/kg Cd2+ (high concentration) these growth parameters and chlorophyll content significantly decreased relative to untreated control plant groups. Higher levels of superoxide radical (O2.−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were observed in high concentration Cd2+ groups. The activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), and glutathione reductase (GR) were enhanced with exposure to increasing levels of Cd2+. Additionally, the AsA-GSH cycle was activated for the removal of H2O2 in honeysuckle in response to elevated Cd2+. The Pearson correlation analysis, a redundancy analysis (RDA), and a permutation test indicated that proline and APX were dominant antioxidants for removing O2.− and H2O2. The antioxidants GSH and NPTs also increased as the concentration of Cd2+ increased.

Anthecological features of Lonicera japonica Thunb. in the environments of Southern Uzbekistan

Background. Identification of spectacular ornamental perennial lianas for urban landscaping in southern cities is important for modern urban greening programs. The aim of this work was to study flowering peculiarities of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.).Materials and methods. The target material was honeysuckle plants growing in the environments of Southern Uzbekistan. Observations were conducted in 2019–2020 using conventional approaches.Results and conclusion. The inflorescence of L. japonica is an open dibotryoid, with flowers arranged along the lateral axes of the first order. Flowers are bisexual, zygomorphic. Blossoming of flowers in inflorescences occurs acropetally. The flowering period is almost 150–170 days (starts in April and lasts until the end of August). Dichogamy in the form of proterandry is observed in honeysuckle flowers. The male flowering phase comes the first. It starts 1.5–2.0 hours after the opening of the corolla and ends with the drying of the stamens. The corolla turns yellow 36 hours after the blooming of the flower and the stamens begin to dry out. This is the female phase. Over the next 84 hours, the pistil begins to dry out slowly, but the corolla of the flower lasts up to 96 hours. The duration of the female flowering phase is 60 hours. L. japonica is of considerable interest for vertical landscaping of urban communities. Plants remain ornamental for a long time. Studying this species as an essential oil plant is promising, since it contains a significant amount of germacrene D.

Effect of the Fermentation Broth of the Mixture of Pueraria lobata, Lonicera japonica, and Crataegus pinnatifida by Lactobacillus rhamnosus 217-1 on Liver Health and Intestinal Flora in Mice With Alcoholic Liver Disease Induced by Liquor

In this work, we discovered a new fermentation broth that can prevent and regulate alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and intestinal flora, which fermented the mixture of Pueraria lobata, Lonicera japonica, and Crataegus pinnatifida by Lactobacillus rhamnosus 217-1. The contents of polyphenols, puerarin, total isoflavones, and amino acids were significantly increased. Animal experiments showed that the fermentation broth could improve the liver indexes of ALD mice model, increase the activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione in liver tissue, and reduce the level of malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, the fermentation broth can reduce the levels of serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS), inflammatory factors interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Importantly, intestinal flora analysis showed that the fermentation broth could increase the abundance of Lactobacillales and reduce the production of Gram-negative bacteria, thereby reducing the abnormal increase in bacterial diversity caused by alcohol. In conclusion, we may have discovered a new functional food raw material with great application potential. The above findings indicate that the fermentation broth can actively regulate the intestinal flora and improve liver inflammation. The underlying mechanism might be that the fermentation broth could enhance intestinal permeability and reduce the inflammatory signals and LPS transmitted through the gut-liver axis, thereby reducing the oxidative stress and inflammation of the liver caused by alcohol.