Abstract
The aim of this work was to test and analyse the bioeffects of Prunus spinosa L. (Rosacaee) fruit ethanol extract on Trichoplax adhaerens Schulze, 1883 (Placozoa) laboratory cultures which—for the first time—were employed as in vivo biological model to assess the bioactivity of a natural extract. The ethanol extract of P. spinosa was administrated during a 46 day experimental period; ultrastructural (by optical, confocal, TEM and SEM microscopy) and morphometric analyses indicated that treated Trichoplax adhaerens showed significant differences in viability, reproductive modalities, body shape and colour with respect to the control group. Finally, P. spinosa bioactive compounds seem to exert profound protective effects on T. adhaerens reproduction and phenotype. Our results may support additional investigations related to other bioactive compounds properties useful for nutraceutical preparations to be used as food supplements.
Highlights
Medicinal plants are the richest and primary sources of natural bioactive compounds used in traditional and modern medicine
The current study investigated, for the first time, the effects of P. spinosa fruit ethanol extract on reproduction, phenotypic plasticity and feeding behaviour of T. adhaerens cultures during a 46 day experimental period
Taking into account that: (1) such a type of reproduction, generally rare in laboratory cultures, occurs when environmental conditions become unfavourable (Thiemann & Ruthmann, 1988; Thiemann & Ruthmann, 1991); (2) budding period was longer in EtOH group; (3) treatment with ethanol caused the death of all EtOH specimens after the end of the experiment; (4) P+EtOH organisms showed a shorter budding period and survived long after the end of the experiment; all these items seem to suggest a protective effect of P. spinosa ethanol extract
Summary
Medicinal plants are the richest and primary sources of natural bioactive compounds used in traditional and modern medicine. For this reason, they are attracting growing interest as constituents of natural products useful in prevention and adjunctive therapies of multiple chronic diseases. They are attracting growing interest as constituents of natural products useful in prevention and adjunctive therapies of multiple chronic diseases One such plant is Prunus spinosa L. Prunus spinosa fruits contain a combination of bioactive phytochemicals and nutrients (proteins 2.86 g/100 g of dry weight and fats 1.98 g/100 g dry weight), which make them a potential source of nutraceuticals (Barros et al, 2010). —due to their unpleasant tart taste—they are not consumed directly as human food, with the only exception of the fruit juice commonly used as flavouring
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