Lonicera caerulea L. as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds for the Enrichment of Fermented Milk Product

Lonicera caerulea L., also known as honeysuckle berries, are rich in biologically active compounds, which makes them a valuable raw material for the development of functional foods. The objects of the research were three honeysuckle cultivars (‘Zoluška’, ‘Siņaja Ptica’, ‘Goluboje Vereteno’), four genotypes (No 2A; No 3; No 5; No 8) and kefir, enriched with various amounts (3–10%) of fruit puree. Physical and chemical analyses to determine the qualitative indicators of raw materials and products were performed. The degree of liking of kefir was assessed using sensory analysis: hedonic and line scales. The results obtained showed that among the cultivars the highest content of anthocyanins (1103.5 mg·100 g−1), total phenols (693.3 mg·100 g−1), flavonoids (753.9 mg·100 g−1), and tannins (1.6 mg·100 g−1), were found in ‘Siņaja Ptica’ berries, while among the genotypes, berries of No 8 had the highest concentration of the aforesaid compounds. Both samples also showed the highest antiradical activity: ABTS+• on average by 71.7% and DPPH− by 43.7%. According to the sensory evaluation, kefir with 10% honeysuckle puree was rated the highest. Honeysuckle berries could be used as a promising source of natural anti-oxidants in future research aimed at developing different new products that could meet consumer expectations.

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) and Kamchatka Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea var. Kamtschatica) Extract Effects on Technological Properties, Sensory Quality, and Lipid Oxidation of Raw-Cooked Meat Product (Frankfurters)

Oxidation is one of the most prevalent factors responsible for meat product deterioration. Due to their potential health risks, commonly used synthetic antioxidants are beginning to be frowned upon by customers. The industry is searching for a natural replacement. In our study, we incorporated blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) and Kamchatka honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea var. Kamtschatica) extracts into raw-cooked meat products (frankfurters) as natural antioxidants. We observed that both extracts at concentrations of 3 mL·kg−1 were able to significantly (α = 0.05) postpone lipid oxidation in our samples, with results comparable to vitamin C (0.5 mg·kg−1) addition. Moreover, we did not observe negative effects of the extracts on the product’s color, pH, or textural properties. Negative results were reported in the sensory evaluation of honeysuckle addition samples. This could have been caused by the natural strong and bitter taste of honeysuckle, which was transferred to the extracts and, subsequently, into the meat product.

Improvement of clonal micropropagation technique of promising Lonicera caerulea L. cultivars

The work is focused on enhancement of in vitro propagation technique of valuable Lonicera caerulea L. cultivars. The impact of some nutrient medium components at main cultivation stages of the genus Lonicera L. representatives was studied. Some cultivars showed the positive effect of substituting sucrose for glucose in the medium at the multiplication stage (Diana (30 or 40 g L−1), Moskovskaya 23 (20 g L−1) and Yugana (40 g L−1)). When studying the influence of different auxin types on honeysuckle rhizogenesis, Solovey and Yugana preferred addition of 1.0 mg L−1 IBA into the medium. During the research of influence of different auxin concentrations on L. caerulea rooting the increased number of rooted microshoots of Goluboy Desert was demonstrated with the increasing of IAA concentration (from 0.5 to 3.0 mg L−1). Meanwhile, Diana and Yugana better rooted on the medium containing 1.0 mg L−1 IAA but Zolushka reached its highest rooting percentage on the medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L−1 IAA. The assessment of second-year plants undergone the whole cycle of clonal micropropagation was carried out 85% of these plants began to bear fruits.

Anti-Sarcopenic Obesity Effects of Lonicera caerulea Extract in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice

Sarcopenic obesity is a combination of sarcopenia and obesity. Although several herbal extracts showed improvement on sarcopenia and obesity, respectively, there are few studies on sarcopenic obesity. Lonicera caerulea (honeysuckle berry, HB) can ameliorate metabolic disorders including obesity. However, its effects on sarcopenic obesity have not been reported yet. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether HB extract might have any beneficial effects on sarcopenic obesity in high-fat diet-induced mice. Forty-eight mice were classified into six groups and treated for eight weeks: (1) NC, normal diet control; (2) HC, high-fat diet control; (3) PC, high-fat diet with orlistat; (4) HB100, high-fat diet with HB extract at 100 mg/kg; (5) HB200, high-fat diet with HB extract at 200 mg/kg; and (6) HB400, high-fat diet with HB extract at 400 mg/kg. Body weight, fat accumulation, muscle mass, muscle strength, and mRNA expression of muscle atrophy were monitored. Compared with the HC group, HB administration showed anti-obesity properties. It reduced body weight gain and modulated serum biochemical parameters and tissue antioxidant enzymes. HB also increased muscle strength and muscle mass of hind legs. In addition, it decreased mRNA expression levels of Atrogin1 and MuRF1 as markers of muscle atrophy but increased PGC1α and SIRT1 as markers of muscle growth. These results suggest that HB might be effective in preventing sarcopenia associated with obesity.

Euro-Siberian plant species on the western borders of their natural ranges in Nizhegorod region

It was investigation on distribution of seven Euro-Siberian plant species on the western borders of their natural ranges in Nizhegorod region. Amygdalus nana L., Cotoneaster melanocarpus Fisch. ex Blytt., Crataegus sanguinea Pall.,Spiraea crenata L. are on the north-west borders. Abies sibirica Ledeb., Larix sibirica Ledeb. et Lonicera caerulea L. are onthe south-west borders. It was ascertained, that Crataegus sanguinea, Larix sibirica et Lonicera caerulea enlarged its rangesat naturalization from cultivation and tinning of forests. Crataegus sanguinea moved on taiga and Larix sibirica moved onforest-steppe. This is analogous their ranges in Siberia. The ranges of Abies sibirica, Amygdalus nana, Cotoneaster melanocarpus and Spiraea crenata remained the same even under the conditions of cultivation. It was supposed, that the reasonof these differences is greater ecological tolerance of first third species. Anthropogenic factors promote reach their natural borders. Moreover, anthropogenic factors can create favorable phytocenotic conditions, but don´t can create favorablephysiographic conditions for others.

Heterogeneity of the population of Lonicera caerulea L. in the tectonically active zone (Altai Mountains, Kurai ridge)

Depending on specific combinations of geoenvironmental factors, the micropopulations of the bluehoneysuckle in the valley of the Kuraika River (Gorny Altai) produced fruits of increased or decreased size and seednumber. The observed 3-fold higher accumulation of biologically active phenols in fruits, accompanied by the respectivedecreased accumulation in leaves, and narrower ratios of certain polyphenol classes in leaves and fruits are considered tobe the plant response to the stressing impact of environmental factors, resulting from the active tectonic processes in thestudied area of the Russian Altai.

Identification of R2R3-MYB gene family reveal candidate genes for anthocyanin biosynthesis in Lonicera caerulea fruit based on RNA-seq data

BACKGROUND: R2R3-MYB transcription factor (TF) family plays important roles in various biological processes in many plants, especially in the regulation of plant flavonoid accumulation. The fruit of Lonicera caerulea contains abundant anthocyanin. OBJECTIVE: The R2R3-MYB TF family was systematically analyzed according to the RNA-seq data, and the R2R3-MYB candidate genes that were involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in the fruit of Lonicera caerulea were screened. METHODS: The R2R3-MYB TFs in Lonicera caerulea were identified, and the physical and chemical properties, protein conserved sequence alignment and motifs of each R2R3-MYB TFs were analyzed using bioinformatics methods. The expression levels of these genes and anthocyanin levels in different tissues and different developmental stages of fruit were determined by RT-qPCR and pH shift method. RESULTS: A total of 59 genes encoding R2R3-MYB TFs in Lonicera caerulea were identified and clustered into 20 subgroups (C1 to C20) based on the relationship to AtR2R3-MYBs. Expression profiles showed that the expression of CL6086 and CL552 in fruit were higher than other tissues, and upregulated in the veraison fruit compared to the green ripe fruit. As the expression of the two genes was concurrent with the anthocyanin content, and showed high correlation with anthocyanin biosynthetic structural genes, they were considered as closely related to anthocyanin biosynthesis in the fruit. CONCLUSION: The results provide a systematic analysis of LcR2R3-MYBs, and the foundation for further molecular mechanisms research of anthocyanin biosynthesis regulated by R2R3-MYB in the fruit of Lonicera caerulea.