Introduction: Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is an ornamental flowering plant with numerous traditional medicinal uses. It has been claimed to have anti-spasmodic activities, but only limited studies have been done to support this. The objective of this research was to investigate anti-spasmodic effect of L. japonica flower extract on uterus contractions. Methods: Hydroalcoholic extract was prepared using the maceration technique. In addition, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions were prepared using a solvent in solvent fractionation technique. Essential oils were collected using the hydro-distillation technique. Rat isolated uterus was suspended in an organ bath and contracted with oxytocin, acetylcholine (ACh), KCl, or application of electrical field stimulation (EFS). The relaxant effects of the extract, its fractions, and nifedipine were examined on uterine contrition induced by the above-mentioned stimuli. Results: Nifedipine in a concentration-dependent manner inhibited uterine contraction induced by oxytocin, KCl, ACh, and EFS. L. japonica flower extract also exhibited an inhibitory effect on the isolated rat uterus. Comparison of the hydroalcoholic extract with its chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions showed that the chloroform fraction was the most potent and the ethyl acetate the weakest part of the plant with antispasmodic activity. The relaxant effect of essential oil had close similarities to that of chloroform extract. Conclusion: Lipophilic compounds isolated by the chloroform partition of crude hydroalcoholic extract of L. japonica flower exhibited the most antispasmodic activity. Ethyl acetate partition of the same extract exhibited the least activity. Therefore, it can be concluded that the spasmolytic constituents of L. japonica flower reside in chloroform partitioning. The nonpolar essential oils may also have a contribution.

Background and Objectives: Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica L. ) is a valuable plant from climbing groups with many usages in green space. Thus, its production in short time with better commercial quality is very important. One of the important proceedings in propagation process of plants is improving the speed of rooting and shortening this growth stage. This is happening mostly with the use of various chemical compounds and methods. Today, use of natural materials as an alternative for chemical compounds is concerned in improving rooting of cuttings in ornamental plants that in some cases have observed better and effective influence of this compounds compared with chemicals. Current research was conducted for study of the effect of some natural compounds (organics) in compare with the usual and chemical rooting hormone (IBA) on rooting of Honeysuckle. Also, effect of human hormonal pills on rooting of this plant were studied. Materials and Methods: This experiment based on completely randomized design with 25 treatments in 6 groups of treatment including Indole butyric acid (IBA), aspirin pill, LD pill, natural honey, grape syrup and Arabic gum in 4 concentrations comparing to control (distilled water) in 5 replications with 5 cuttings in each replication was done in Gorgan agricultural research center and horticultural laboratory during 2015-2016 year. Rooting traits including rooting percent, number of primary and secondary root, length of primary root, fresh and dry weight of root and survival percent of honeysuckle cuttings were measured in this experiment. Results: According to obtained results, natural and chemical treatments had significant effect at 1% Level on rooting traits of honeysuckle. In treatments, the best and highest quantity and quality of roots were observed in 1000 mg/l of indole butyric acid and 60% of natural honey. Separate study of other natural and chemical treatment showed that %20 Arabic gum, %20 grape syrup, 0. 5 pill/L aspirin (40 mg/L) and 2 pill/L human LD (0. 36 mg/L) showed the best results in compare with other concentrations and control. Conclusion: Due to the desirable effects of natural compounds such as natural honey on rooting of honeysuckle cuttings, by consideration the economic efficiency, health and effective role of these compounds in organic agriculture, the use of this natural compounds was priority and suggested as an alternative to chemical compound like indole butyric acid. Also, best concentration of other treatments are still usable, because of their significant preference in compare with control and their positive role in accelerating rooting of cuttings.

A begomovirus, tentatively named Tobacco leaf curl Japan virus -JpU (TbLCJV-JpU), was isolated from Lonicera japonica (Honeysuckle) Plants Grown in Utsunomiya showing veinal chlorosis symptoms. The TbLCJV-JpU genome with 2, 761 nt showed a highest identity with TbLCJV-Jp3 and was also close to TbLCJV and as well to TbLCJV-Jp2. The overall nt identity with TbLCJV-Jp3 amounted to 92.94%, while the identities in encoded amino acid (aa) sequence of Coat Protein (CP) and putative products of AC1 and AV2 ORFs were as high as 98.05, 92.54 and 93.96%, respectively. Low sequence identities were observed in the Intergenic Region (IR) of TbLCJV-JpU as compared with TbLCJV, Ageratum yellow vein Taiwan virus-Kochi isolate and Honeysuckle yellow vein virus -Kagoshima isolates. Recombinations were detected in the 5´end (2650 to 2761) and extreme 3´ portion of the genome (220 to 350). Both regions demonstrated high identities with AYVTV-Kochi and HSYVV-Kagoshima. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of isolation of TbLCJV fromL. japonica.

Objective(s): Pharmacological studies showed that the extracts of Jin Yin Hua and its active constituents have lipid lowering, antipyretic, hepatoprotective, cytoprotective, antimicrobial, antibiotic, antioxidative, antiviral, and anti‐ inflammatory effects. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) from Jin Yin Hua against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)‐ induced and hypoxia‐ induced cytotoxicity using neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Materials and Methods: Seven CQAs (C1 to C7) isolated and identified from Jin Yin Hua were used to examine the effects of H2O2‐ induced and hypoxia‐ induced cytotoxicity. We studied C4 and C6 as preventative bioactive compounds of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptotic pathway, and apoptosis‐ related gene expression. Results: C4 and C6 were screened as bioactive compounds to exert a cytoprotective effect against oxidative injury. Pretreatment with C4 and C6, dose‐ dependently attenuated hypoxia‐ induced ROS production and reduced the ratio of GSSG/GStotal. Western blot data revealed that the inhibitory effect of C4 on H2O2‐ induced up and down‐ regulation of Bcl‐ 2, Bax, caspase‐ 3, and cleaved caspase‐ 3. Apoptosis was evaluated by detection of DNA fragmentation using TUNEL assay, and quantified with Annexin V/PI staining. Conclusion: In vitro experiments revealed that both C4 and C6 protect cardiomyocytes from necrosis and apoptosis during H2O2‐ induced injury, via inhibiting the generation of ROS and activation of caspase‐ 3 apoptotic pathway. These results demonstrated that CQAs might be a class of compounds which possess potent myocardial protective activity against the ischemic heart diseases related to oxidative stress.

Lonicera nummulariifolia Jaub. & Spach, is a deciduous shrub growing in Zagros region of Iran as a companion species with oak, especially in Sepidan county, Fars Province, Iran. However, there isn't enough information about its propagation and different aspects of its growth. This study was carried out to develop in vitro culture techniques for rapid and mass propagation of the species. Shoot tips and nodal segments of seedlings were used as explants. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.1 mgl-1 BA was optimum for shoot multiplication. Nodal segments cultured on Driver and Kuniyuki walnut (DKW) medium containing 0.4, 0.7 and 1.0 mgl-1 BA, 30 gl-1 sucrose and solidified with 8.0 gl-1 Difco Bacto agar in comparison with MS medium didn't show any significant differences on measured growth indices. The best procedure for in vitro rooting consisted of two phases: root induction and root development. For root induction the most efficient method was utilization of MS medium (half strength macronutrients) solidified with 8.0 gl-1 Difco Bacto agar, containing 30 gl-1 sucrose and 25.0 mgl-1 IBA in dark conditions for 60 hours. For root development, shoots were transferred from root induction medium to hormone free medium in lighted conditions. Using this method, about 46.7 percent of the shoots rooted. After root development, plantlets were transferred to pots containing a mixture of peat, sand and vermiculite (1:1:1) and transferred to greenhouse.

Lonicera microphylla Willd. ex Roem. & Schultes is recorded here for the first time from Iran. This species, in Iranian plateau, was previously known from Afghanistan and Pakistan. With this record the number of Lonicera species in Iran increases to nine.

Aerial parts of the plant (250 g) were collected during flowering in April 2000 from Tehran province in Iran. The essential oil was obtained by steam distillation of air-dried aerial parts in an all-glass apparatus. The sample oil that was light yellow in color was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and stored under nitrogen in a sealed vial until required. The essential oil was examined by GC and GC/MS. The components of the oil were identified by comparison of their mass spectra to those of a computer library or with authentic compounds and confirmed by comparison of their retention indices, either those of authentic compounds or data published in the literature The essential oil obtained by hydro-distillation from aerial parts of Lonicera heterophyla was examined by GC and GC/MS. Eleven compounds were characterized representing of about 85% of the total components detected. The major components were linalool (61.7%), (E)-ß-ocimene (10.2%), γ-terpinene (7.9%) and p-cumene (7.4%). Other compounds of appreciable amounts are a-terpinene (6.1%), dihydrolinalool (1.8%) and terpinenyl acetate (1.7%). A literature search did not reveal any reference to previous work on the essential oil of this species but immunocytochemical localization of polygalacturonic acid (pectin) and methyl-esterified pectin in the walls of pollen tubes of 20 species of flowering horticultural and crop plants (including Jasminum humile) grown in vitro has been investigated. In addition, a secoiridoid glucoside +AFs-10-cinnamoyloxyoleoside 7-methyl ester +AF0- of Jasminum humile var. revolutum has been reported.