As a class of small non-coding RNAs, microRNA (miRNA) is widely present and plays important regulatory roles in plant growth, development and stress response. Based on the mechanism of miRNAs in plants, we review the identification of miRNAs in some genera of Orchidaceae, the specific functions of several miRNAs and other relevant studies on miRNAs in the last decade, in order to provide a reference for better understanding function and regulatory network of small RNAs in orchids.
MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Orchidaceae/genetics* ; Plants/genetics*

The LEAFY (LFY) homologous gene of Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Sw. was cloned by new primers which were designed based on the conservative region of known sequences of orchid LEAFY gene. Partial LFY homologous gene was cloned by common PCR, then we got the complete LFY homologous gene Den LFY by Tail-PCR. The complete sequence of DenLFY gene was 3 575 bp which contained three exons and two introns. Using BLAST method, comparison analysis among the exon of LFY homologous gene indicted that the DenLFY gene had high identity with orchids LFY homologous, including the related fragment of PhalLFY (84%) in Phalaenopsis hybrid cultivar, LFY homologous gene in Oncidium (90%) and in other orchid (over 80%). Using MP analysis, Dendrobium is found to be the sister to Oncidium and Phalaenopsis. Homologous analysis demonstrated that the C-terminal amino acids were highly conserved. When the exons and introns were separately considered, exons and the sequence of amino acid were good markers for the function research of DenLFY gene. The second intron can be used in authentication research of Dendrobium based on the length polymorphism between Dendrobium moniliforme and Dendrobium officinale.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Dendrobium ; genetics ; Exons ; Introns ; Orchidaceae ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves ; genetics ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Sw., an herb of the Orchidaceae family, has long been used in traditional medicine to strengthen bones, nourish the stomach, and promote the production of bodily fluid. Recently, polysaccharides isolated from Dendrobium have been used in functional foods and nutraceutical products. A traditional method to process Dendrobium is to soak fresh stems in an ethanol solution, which is the most important factor to ensure high yields of aqueous-extractable polysaccharides. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential acute toxicity of D. moniliforme aqueous extract (DMAE), by a single oral dose in Sprague-Dawley rats. The test article was orally administered once by gavage to male and female rats at doses of 0, 2,500, and 5,000 mg/kg body weight (n=5 male and female rats for each dose). Throughout the study period, no treatment-related deaths were observed and no adverse effects were noted in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, serum biochemistry, organ weight, or gross findings at any dose tested. The results show that a single oral administration of DMAE did not induce any toxic effects at a dose below 5,000 mg/kg in rats, and the minimal lethal dose was considered to be over 5,000 mg/kg body weight for both sexes. With respect to cytotoxicity, the cell viability of human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells was less than 50% when the cells were treated with 10 mg/mL aqueous extract for 24 h.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Biochemistry ; Body Weight ; Cell Survival ; Dendrobium* ; Dietary Supplements ; Ethanol ; Female ; Functional Food ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Kidney ; Male ; Medicine, Traditional ; Methods ; Orchidaceae ; Organ Size ; Polysaccharides ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stomach

Fourteen compoumds were isolated from the ethyl acetate portion of the 95% ethanolic extract of Pleione bulbocodioides by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including silica gel, ODS, macroporous adsorbent resin, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative HPLC, of which ten compoumds were phenanthrenes and dihydrophenanthrenes, two compoumds were bibenzyls, one was lignan and a sterol. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data as monbarbatain A(1), 2, 7, 2'-trihy-droxy-4, 4', 7'-trimethoxy-1, 1'- biphenanthrene(2), blestriarene A(3), pleionesin B(4), shanciol H(5), 17-hydroxy-7'-(4'-hy-droxy-3 '-methoxyphenyl)- 4-methoxy-9, 10, 7', 8'-tetrahydrophenanthro[2, 3-b]furan-8'-yl methyl acetate(6), 1-p-hydroxybenzyl-4-methoxy phenanthrene-2, 7-diol(7), 1-p-hydroxybenzyl-4-met-hoxy-9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene-2, 7-diol(8), hircinol(9), coelonin( 10), gigantol(11), batatasin 11 (12), syringaresinol(13) and ergosta4, 6, 8 ( 14) , 22-tetraen-3-one (14). Compounds 1-3, 9, 13 and 14 were isolated from this genus for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis

To establish an HPLC method for determination of dactylorhin A and militarine in Cremastrae Pseudobulbus/Pleiones Pseudobulbus. The analysis was achieved on an Alltech Prevail C18 column (4. 6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) using a mobile phase of acetonitrile (A), water (B) gradient elution in a total run time of 35 min (0 min, 20:80; 30 min, 55:45; 35 min, 55:45) and a diode array detector was set at 224 nm. The flow rate was 0.8 mL x min(-1). The assay displayed good linearity over the concentration range of 0.257-9.95 microg (r = 0.999 8), and 0.128-10.27 microg (r = 0.999 9), respectively. The average recoveries (n = 9) were 94.70% and 102.8% for dactylorhin A and militarine, respectively. The method is accurate, quick, simple and reproducibility. It can be used for the quality control of Pleione bulbocodioides and Pleione yunnanensis.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; Succinates ; analysis

The plants of Bletilla are one of the groups in Orchidaceae with the highest economic value. As the traditional Chinese medicinal material, Bletillae Rhizoma exhibits excellent efficacy in hemostatic, antibiosis, detumescent, anticancer activities and regenerating tissue to heal wound, which has great development potential. However, Bletillae Rhizoma is mainly collected from wild resources. At present, the quantity of wild resources of Bletilla plants has sharply decreased and is far from meeting the needs. Resource appraisal and breeding and cultivation of excellent germplasms of Bletilla plants are important for scientific utilization of the resources of the genus. This paper reviewed the following researches of Chinese Bletilla resources: species and distribution, genetic diversity, active ingredient evaluation, breeding, as well as seeding production and cultivation techniques. Suggestions were also provided in further researches on the resources evaluation, sustainable development and efficient utilization of Chinese Bletilla plants.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Hemostatics ; Orchidaceae ; Plant Breeding ; Plants, Medicinal ; Rhizome

Three different origins of Anoectochilus roburghii were used as experimental materials to study the effect of three different substrate( peat soil-river sand-peanut shell) radio on survival rate,plant height,stem diameter,plant fresh weight,root number,the longest root length,root diameter,and the contents of polysaccharide,flavonoids,and polyphenol. The results showed that when the substrate ratio was 4 ∶2 ∶2,the survival rate of A. roburghii from different origins was the highest,and the plant height,stem diameter,plant fresh weight,the longest root length and root diameter were also the largest. The cultivation substrate had no significant effect on the polysaccharide content of A. roxburghii and A. formosanus. When the substrate ratio was 4 ∶ 2 ∶ 2,the polysaccharide content of A.chapaensis was significantly lower than that of the other two combinations. When the substrate ratio was 4 ∶2 ∶1,the flavonoid content of A. formosanus was higher than that of the other two combinations. When the substrate ratio was 4 ∶2 ∶2,A. formosanus and A. chapaensis had higher polyphenol content.
Flavonoids ; analysis ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Polyphenols ; analysis ; Polysaccharides ; analysis

As the main active ingredient of the orchidaceous herb Bletilla striata, B. striata polysaccharide(BSP) has pharmacological activities such as promoting coagulation, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, promoting wound healing, anti-tumor, and immunomodulation, and is biodegradable and non-toxic. Additionally, it has the material properties of suspension thickening, film-forming adhesion, coating and solubilizing, targeting and slow releasing, effect-enhancing and toxicity-reducing, etc., playing the role of unification of medicines and excipients. Therefore, BSP has a wide application prospect in the fields of drug delivery system and trauma repair. This paper reviews the research progress of BSP application in new drug delivery systems and biomaterials based on the related li-terature in recent years, with the aim of providing reference for the further research and application of BSP.
Biocompatible Materials ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Orchidaceae ; Polysaccharides ; Wound Healing

Traditional Chinese medicine is planted in mountainous areas with suitable natural conditions. The planting area is complex in terrain,and the planting plots are mostly irregularly shaped. It is difficult to accurately calculate the planting area by traditional survey methods. The method of extracting Chinese herbal medicine planting area combined with remote sensing and GIS technology is of great significance for the rational development and utilization of traditional Chinese medicine resources. Taking Bletilla striata planting in Ningshan county of Shaanxi province as an example,the extraction method of planting area of traditional Chinese medicine in county was studied. High-resolution ZY-3 and GF-1 multi-spectral multi-temporal remote sensing images were used as data sources. Through field sampling,samples such as B. striata,cultivated land,forest land,water body,artificial surface,alpine meadow,etc. are collected. The spectral features,texture features and shape features of remotely identifiable objects in different planting areas and cultivated land,vegetable sheds were analyzed,confusing ground objects were eliminated and interpretation marks were establish. The method of visual interpretation is used to realize the extraction of B. striata planting areas,and the B. striata planting area are calculated by combining GIS technology. The results showed that the method of visual interpretation,using high-resolution ZY-3 and GF-1 multi-spectral multi-temporal remote sensing image data extracted the planting area of 403.05 mu. It can effectively extract the B. striata planting area in research region.
Forests ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Orchidaceae ; Remote Sensing Technology

OBJECTIVETo develop an HPLC method for determination of militarine in Rhizoma Bletillae.

METHODAnalysis was carried out on a Symmetry C18 analytical column, and a C18 guard column eluted with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and water (37:63) militarine the detection wavelength was set at 244 nm.

RESULTThe contents of in 12 samples of Rhizoma Bletillae in market were in the ranges of 1.45%-3.32%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, accurate and reproducible, and is suitable for the quality control of Rhizoma Bletillae.