Pelargonium graveolens as a source of herbal raw material

Rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.) is one of the most important aromatic plants and is well known for its diverse perfumery uses. Its economic importance is due to presence of fragrance rich essential oil in its foliage. The essential oil is a mixture of various volatile phytochemicals which are mainly terpenes (isoprenoids) in nature. In this study, on the geranium foliage genes related to isoprenoid biosynthesis (DXS, DXR and HMGR) were isolated, cloned and confirmed by sequencing. Further, the first gene of 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, 1-deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (GrDXS), was made full length by using rapid amplification of cDNA ends strategy. GrDXS contained a 2157 bp open reading frame that encoded a polypeptide of 792 amino acids having calculated molecular weight 77.5 kDa. This study is first report on heterologous expression and kinetic characterization of any gene from this economically important plant. Expression analysis of these genes was performed in different tissues as well as at different developmental stages of leaves. In response to external elicitors, such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, light and wounding, all the three genes showed differential expression profiles. Further GrDXS was over expressed in the homologous (rose-scented geranium) as well as in heterologous (Withania somnifera) plant systems through genetic transformation approach. The over-expression of GrDXS led to enhanced secondary metabolites production (i.e. essential oil in rose-scented geranium and withanolides in W. somnifera). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing the expression profile of the three genes related to isoprenoid biosynthesis pathways operated in rose-scented geranium as well as functional characterization study of any gene from rose-scented geranium through a genetic transformation system.

The aim of this study was to characterize the phytocoenoses with a share of Nuphar lutea (L.) Sibth. & Sm. and to evaluate the area of patches of Nupharo-Nymphaeetum albae Tomaszewicz 1977 as well as resources of the yellow water lily that can be used as a source of valuable medicinal raw material. The field investigations were carried out in the summer seasons of 2009–2018, and fifty-eight lakes were included in this study. Nuphar lutea is a very interesting plant species due to considerable concentration of secondary metabolites and their biological activity. Therefore, under conditions of eastern Poland, it can be a valuable raw material for pharmaceutical purposes. The largest Nupharo-Nymphaeetum albae phytocoenoses with N. lutea as the main floristic component are localized especially in retention reservoirs connected with the Wieprz-Krzna Canal and other lakes of a natural character. They are often very shallow basins. Therefore, removal of a biomass, especially in the case of small lakes that overgrow at a very rapid rate, can significantly slow down their shallowing and they will remain and function in the landscape over a longer time. Harvesting the N. lutea leaves can decelerate the process of shallowing of water bodies, especially in the case of retention reservoirs, and may contribute to their better functioning. Collected raw material can be a source of valuable secondary metabolites suitable for the pharmaceutical industry.

The pulp and paper industry is at its peak due to the annual growth in demand for paper products which includes packaging board, hygienic paper products, printing papers and the list is endless. To date, the main source of raw materials for pulp and paper production is wood. However, its use and the use of standard flow charts in pulp and paper production creates environmental problems. For example, deforestation to obtain raw materials leads to a disruption of biogeocenoses, and technology using alkalis and acids are sources of toxic wastewater that pollute the hydrosphere and lithosphere. In order to avoid the above environmental problems, other options for sustainable sources of raw materials can be considered, such as agricultural waste - straw. By its natural origin, straw is a non-woody plant, which will significantly simplify the flow chart of pulp and paper production, on the one hand, and on the other hand, the use of straw in production will help to reduce the risks of early global warming, since most of the straw is burned in the fields. As far as toxic wastewater emissions are concerned, they can be drastically reduced through the biological degradation of straw lignin to produce pure pulp. Biodegradation of lignin can be produced by widespread wood-destroying fungi due to their ability to synthesize lignin-degrading enzymes. Thus, the use of biological agents in pulp and paper production will make it possible to eliminate the use of caustic acids and alkalis.

This study aim to improve the quality of Phyllanthus sp production by increasing the content of secondary metabolites as a bioactive compound. Phyllanthus sp contains various secondary metabolites that enhance immunity and treat diabetes, hypertension, antioxidants, anti-cancer, kidney disorders, and other illnesses. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Phyllanthus sp widely used as a raw material for making herbal medicines. The trade value of Indonesian herbal medicines is estimated to increase in 2022, and the price will reach around the US $ 910 million, so it has very bright business prospects. These relatively limited phytopharmaceutical products constrain the supply of high-quality raw materials under the requirements of the herb medicine industry. Therefore, conducting a depth assessment related to efforts to improve the quality of Phyllanthus sp production by increasing the content of secondary metabolites is necessary. The efforts to enhance the quality of Phyllanthus sp as a source of herbal medicine raw materials can be made through plant breeding such as genetic mutations and in combination with the environmental arrangements of soil water content and solar radiation intensity. The efforts to increase the quality of herbal medicine raw materials are critical to support the development of the herbal medicine industry.

A series of four marker (target) compounds that are common to most geranium extracts and oils was determined. The functionally distinctive markers selected were a ketone (isomenthone), two alcohols (citronellol and geraniol) as well as an ester (citronellyl formate). An analytical method involving GC/MS in the selected ion monitor mode was developed and validated for the quantitative detection of the four marker compounds common to all geranium products. Moreover, the validated analytical method was applied to investigate a series of steam-distilled geranium oils, the n-hexane extracts of the leaf and stem portions of an authenticated Pelargonium graveolens plant, and three commercial pre-workout products containing DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine) supposedly derived from the stem portion of Pelargonium graveolens. All four markers were found present in the geranium oils and extracts. On the other hand, none of the three commercial products purportedly derived from geranium stems contained any of the four geranium marker compounds at a concentration greater than the limit of detection (0.05 – 0.5 µg/mL) of the analytical method.

Globally, there has been an unparalleled growth in the plant-derived medicinally useful formulations, drugs and health care products, with annual growth rates between 10–20% in most of the countries. According to WHO, the international market of herbal products is estimated to be US$ 62 billion which is poised to grow to US$ 5 trillion by the year 2050. This has attracted many large pharmaceutical and consumer product companies worldwide to have herbals/botanicals in their product portfolio. India is no exception to it and has a competitive edge as Indian Traditional drugs/products, have their roots in time tested systems of medicine namely, Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha. Renewed interest in botanical products has resulted into a huge international trade in raw plant material, feeding a range of such industries, including the $20 billion botanical medicine market. Presently between 75 and 85% of the raw materials for the botanical industry are sourced from wild. Due to the increasing public demand for quality botanical products, some companies are now making efforts to acquire at least a portion of their raw material from sustainable and ethical sources, but most invest little in this side of their business. The existing industry practice often promotes poor management of species and few benefits for the collectors and cultivators, and many companies remain distant and unaware of the conditions under which raw materials are sourced. However, there also exist opportunities to create change in this sector. The source and quality of raw materials, storage, post-harvest handling play a pivotal role in guaranteeing the quality and stability of ISM & botanical preparations. In India, in addition to the promotion of cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) by certain government departments and R&D institutes, of late some private herbal drug industries have also started sourcing their requirement of herbal raw material from cultivated sources. The cultivation of MAPs, on the other hand, would not only lead to better control over quality of the end products but will also reduce anthropogenic stress on wild stands. The presentation will illustrate the efforts being made in India in general and at the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM – CSIR) in particular for the sourcing and sustainable supply of raw materials for ISM & Botanical industry.

<p>The self-burning of coal mining residues disposed at environmental conditions have been described in the literature as a phenomenon occurring worldwide. These coal related fires are of significant concern because of the risks to environment and human health due to the emission of harmful gases and particulate matter to atmosphere. Another concern is the degradation of soils and waters in surrounding areas owing to the mobilization and leaching of hazardous elements. The self-burning of coal mining waste deposits may be a very persistent phenomena over decades. The carbon content (combustible fraction) and chemical composition of coal waste materials (and some physical properties) are the most relevant factors that influence intensity and duration of the self-burning process. The comprehensive characterisation of coal waste deposit materials provide information on the self-burning process and above all useful insights about the propensity to ignition and burning and their environmental impacts. The characterization of coal waste materials can contribute to assess their reuse as a secondary source of critical raw materials and carbon based materials.</p><p>The recycling of these materials, from both burning and non-burning coal waste deposits, is in good agreement with recommendations from European Union (EU) pointing out the need for developing sustainable recovery of mining and industrial wastes to mitigate environmental impacts. The EU identifies 26 critical raw materials including inorganic trace elements and natural graphite as a critical raw materials with extremely high level of external dependence, and strongly recommends the development of measures to increase recycling of by-products and residues. In this framework, research has been dedicated to burning or already burned coal mining waste deposits in Portugal and Spain. Non-burning coal mining waste deposits from the same mining areas have also been investigated. These coal waste deposits, resulted from the discharging of coarse mine refuse from mining exploration. They are very heterogeneous and present variable amounts of coal that is the combustible fraction. The comprehensive characterization of mining waste materials as well as the identification of products formed during combustion reveals the potential environmental impact, principally due to the concentration of volatile organic compounds emitted to atmosphere. The combustion process also causes changes in trace elements’ mode of occurrence with some becoming more easily mobilised for surrounding soils and water systems by percolation or deposition of solid atmospheric particles. On the other hand, the mining waste burned materials reveal an enrichment of some trace elements, including critical raw material; and, the production of graphitic structures, including graphene. Therefore the coal wastes mining deposits are an environmental issue, they can be seen as an alternative secondary source of critical raw materials and carbon based materials.</p>

Pelargonium graveolens, rose-scented geranium, is commonly used in the perfume industry. P. graveolens is enriched with essential oils, phenolics, flavonoids, which account for its tremendous biological activities. Laser light treatment and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation can further enhance the phytochemical content in a significant manner. In this study, we aimed to explore the synergistic impact of these two factors on P. graveolens. For this, we used four groups of surface-sterilized seeds: (1) control group1 (non-irradiated; non-colonized group); (2) control group2 (mycorrhizal colonized group); (3) helium-neon (He-Ne) laser-irradiated group; (4) mycorrhizal colonization coupled with He-Ne laser-irradiation group. Treated seeds were growing in artificial soil inculcated with Rhizophagus irregularis MUCL 41833, in a climate-controlled chamber. After 6 weeks, P. graveolens plants were checked for their phytochemical content and antibacterial potential. Laser light application improved the mycorrhizal colonization in P. graveolens plants which subsequently increased biomass accumulation, minerals uptake, and biological value of P. graveolens. The increase in the biological value was evident by the increase in the essential oils production. The concomitant application of laser light and mycorrhizal colonization also boosted the antimicrobial activity of P. graveolens. These results suggest that AMF co-treatment with laser light could be used as a promising approach to enhance the metabolic content and yield of P. graveolens for industrial and pharmaceutical use.

The aims at this study are 1) to analyze the effect of labor, capital, technology and availability of raw materials on production, 2) the influence of labor, capital, technology, availability of raw materials and production on income and 3) the indirect influence of labor, capital, technology and availability of raw materials on income through the production of craftsmen in the leather craft industry. Sample size of this used is about 62 craftsmen in the leather craft. The results show that labor and capital have a positive and significant effect on the production of craftsmen in the leather craft. The firm that use modern technology has higher production than the firm that use traditional technology. The availability of smooth raw materials results in higher production than the substandard ones. Labor, capital and production have a positive and significant effect on the income of craftsmen in the leather craft industry. Using of modern technology generates higher income than traditional technology. The availability of raw materials that smoothly generates higher income than those that have less smooth. Production mediates partially the influence of labor capital, technology and availability of raw materials on the income of craftsmen in the leather craft industry.

Essential oils comprise volatile aromatic compounds responsible for their characteristic fragrance and biological activities. Pelargonium graveolens L'Hér. (Geraniaceae), native to South Africa, is an important aromatic medicinal plant widely used in aromatherapy. GC–MS analysis of its essential oil has identified key marker constituents, including citronellyl formate, geranyl formate, guaia-6,9-diene, geraniol, linalool, and isomenthone, while semi-automated HPTLC further confirmed the presence of linalool and geraniol. Traditionally, the plant has been used to treat wounds, abscesses, fever, colic, urinary disorders, colds, sore throat, haemorrhoids, and gonorrhoea. Owing to its aromatic nature, P. graveolens exhibits sedative, anxiolytic, antidepressant, and calming properties and is effective in relieving premenstrual and menopausal symptoms, circulatory disorders, nausea, tonsillitis, and digestive problems. Due to high demand, it is commercially cultivated, and its oil serves as an economical substitute for rose oil in the fragrance industry. This review highlights its therapeutic significance and future drug discovery potential.

Medicinal plants are source of several valuable drugs known as natural products or secondary metabolites. Only a handful of medicinal plants are cultivated while most of them are still collected from wild. Due to the high demand for these products, over-exploitation resulted in endangering the species, loss of biodiversity, adulteration of plant materials and products, and the effect on ecosystem. Plants and plant products are used in many traditional medicines for several centuries. To meet the demand of raw plant material for direct use or industrial use, agrotechnologies have been developed for several medicinal plants, alternative biotechnologies (micropropagation, production in cell cultures grown in shake flasks and bioreactor, transfer of gene/s in plant and microbes, modification of biosynthetic pathways, etc.) and microbial production system have been attempted. Understanding seed and floral biology, development of agrotechnologies and introduction into new habitat may improve the availability of raw medicinal plant material associated with the improved downstream process can affect high recovery. Similarly, the use of sophisticated detection methods, high throughput screening methods, genomics and proteomics can through light on genes involved, types of biomolecules, and new sources of known drugs. Biotechnological methods (elicitation, immobilization, cloning of selected strains, hairy root cultures, and gene manipulation) including gene editing can help in improvement in the production system. With ever-increasing population and reliability of herbal medicine, demand for medicinal plants continues to increase; hence, domestication of plants along with new technologies is a demand of time to meet the challenge of supply of uniform raw material. This brief overview presents state of research on medicinal plants and their products.

Innovative ceramic pigments from recycled lithium-ion battery cathodes for inkjet applications

Pelargonium graveolens (rose-scented geranium) plants have been used since ancient times in food, cosmetics, perfumery, traditional medicine, and the pharmaceutical industries due to the pleasant fragrance of the essential oil obtained from its leaves. In this study, the essential oil content and components of rose-scented geranium cultivated in two different regions, Kırşehir in Central Anatolia and Adana in the Eastern Mediterranean, were investigated. The essential oil content of the plants from Kırşehir was determined to be 0.70%, while that of the plants from Adana was 0.34%. The main components of the essential oil of geranium cultivated in Kırşehir were citronellol (35.05%), geraniol (8.29%), and citronellyl formate (10.59%). In Adana, the essential oil components were citronellol (29.71%), geraniol (4.31%), and citronellyl formate (16.10%). The study shows that different locations significantly affect the essential oil content and chemical composition of rose-scented geranium.

The market needs will be fragrant citronella oil increases, but it is not worth the production and quality of fragrant Lemongrass oil is produced. The purpose of this study, that is, to figure out the best combination of sources of raw materials and factors of the size of the craftmanship the leaves against the yield and quality of fragrant citronella oil. Research design used was Random Complete Factorial Design, using two combination treatment that is the source of the raw material and the size of the craftmanship leaves. The observed parameters include: color, yield, citronellal, citronellol and geraniol. The results of this study indicate that the color of the resulting eligible SNI 06-3953-1995 that is pale yellow to yellow-brown. Combination treatment of the source of the raw material and the size of the leaf is very different from real craftmanship against yield oil of citronella scented with the highest average on the source of raw material for the village of Wedomartani, craftmanship and size of 0.93% leaves 10 cm that is 0.94%. Chemical content of citronellal shows that the source of the raw material and the size of the different leaf craftmanship not real. Chemical content of citronellol and of the raw materials sources that geraniol very different real, whereas the size of different leaf craftmanship not real. The average content of chemical sitronellol and geraniol at the source of the raw materials of the highest village of Kebonharjo, the content of citronellol 13.11% and geraniol content 34.84%. 
 Key words: raw material sources, treatment, quality of citronella oils

In Santiago de Cuba it is necessary to carry out studies that promote the development of economic, efficient and cost-effective technological processes that encourage the use of waste as a source of suitable raw materials for the production of high added value products such as oils Essentials. Due to the need to identify the appropriate technology for the obtaining of essential oils, in this work the technical and economic evaluation of the project of its obtaining was carried out, in which market, technical and economic studies were carried out. As a result of the work developed, the method of extraction by steam trawl was selected, the teams evaluated were those offered by the company FIGMAY SRL. The environmental effects at each stage of the project proved to be both mitigable and reversible. For the extractors at laboratory, pilot, semi-industrial and industrial scale, the NPV values were $ 772,95; $ 19 506,03; $ 97 168,99 and $ 199 209,84 respectively, the IIR values were 20 %, 40 %, 84 % and 119 % respectively and the investment is recovered in 7 years and 2 months, 3 years and 7 months, 1 year and 8 months, 1 year and 4 months respectively. In the economic evaluation carried out, profitability indicators are positive and favorable for all extractors, so the decision of which to acquire must be based on the availability of raw material in each entity.