Exploring the Impact of Onobrychis cornuta and Veratrum lobelianum Extracts on C. elegans: Implications for MAPK Modulation, Germline Development, and Antitumor Properties
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Repository Usage Stats
views
downloads
Citation Stats
Abstract
<jats:p>In an era of increasing interest in the potential health benefits of medicinal foods, the need to assess their safety and potential toxicity remains a critical concern. While these natural remedies have garnered substantial attention for their therapeutic potential, a comprehensive understanding of their effects on living organisms is essential. We examined 316 herbal extracts to determine their potential nematocidal attributes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Approximately 16% of these extracts exhibited the capacity to induce diminished survival rates and larval arrest, establishing a correlation between larval arrest and overall worm viability. Certain extracts led to an unexpected increase in male nematodes, accompanied by a discernible reduction in DAPI-stained bivalent structures and perturbed meiotic advancement, thereby disrupting the conventional developmental processes. Notably, Onobrychis cornuta and Veratrum lobelianum extracts activated a DNA damage checkpoint response via the ATM/ATR and CHK-1 pathways, thus hindering germline development. Our LC–MS analysis revealed jervine in V. lobelianum and nine antitumor compounds in O. cornuta. Interestingly, linoleic acid replicated phenotypes induced by O. cornuta exposure, including an increased level of pCHK-1 foci, apoptosis, and the MAPK pathway. Mutants in the MAPK pathway mitigated the decline in worm survival, underscoring its importance in promoting worm viability. This study reveals complex interactions between herbal extracts and C. elegans processes, shedding light on potential antitumor effects and mechanisms. The findings provide insights into the complex landscape of herbal medicine’s impact on a model organism, offering implications for broader applications.</jats:p>
Type
Department
Description
Provenance
Subjects
Citation
Permalink
Published Version (Please cite this version)
Publication Info
Meng, Qinghao, Nishit Pathak, Xiaojing Ren, Robert P Borris and Hyun-Min Kim (n.d.). Exploring the Impact of Onobrychis cornuta and Veratrum lobelianum Extracts on C. elegans: Implications for MAPK Modulation, Germline Development, and Antitumor Properties. Nutrients, 16(1). pp. 8–8. 10.3390/nu16010008 Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/29543.
This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
Collections
Scholars@Duke
Hyun Min Kim
Hello, I am Hyun M. Kim, an Associate Professor at Duke Kunshan University, where I have been teaching and conducting research since 2022. My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms that maintain genome integrity and germline development, with particular interests in DNA damage repair and epigenetic regulation. I primarily use the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to study how cells respond to genotoxic stress and how these responses are regulated throughout development.
I earned my Ph.D. in Applied Biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology and completed my postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, where I continued my research on DNA repair mechanisms. Prior to joining Duke Kunshan University, I served as an Associate Professor at Tianjin University, working in a highly international academic environment.
In my lab, we investigate the roles of histone demethylases (such as LSD-1 and AMX-1) and employ genome editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9 to study gene–environment interactions during germline development. We also explore how natural products and herbal extracts influence DNA repair pathways and fertility, in collaboration with Professor Borris’s lab.
As an educator, I strive to create a research environment that fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and collaboration. I support students in becoming independent thinkers who are not afraid to ask questions and pursue novel ideas. My lab welcomes students who are passionate about molecular genetics, genome biology, and developmental biology.
Unless otherwise indicated, scholarly articles published by Duke faculty members are made available here with a CC-BY-NC (Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial) license, as enabled by the Duke Open Access Policy. If you wish to use the materials in ways not already permitted under CC-BY-NC, please consult the copyright owner. Other materials are made available here through the author’s grant of a non-exclusive license to make their work openly accessible.