Adonis Aestivalis Research Articles

Enhancing astaxanthin accumulation through the expression of the plant-derived astaxanthin biosynthetic pathway in Dunaliella salina

Dunaliella salina, a microalga that thrives under high-saline conditions, is notable for its high β-carotene content and the absence of a polysaccharide cell wall. These unique characteristics render it a prime candidate as a cellular platform for astaxanthin production. In this study, our initial tests in an E. coli revealed that β-ring-4-dehydrogenase (CBFD) and 4-hydroxy-β-ring-4-dehydrogenase (HBFD) genes from Adonis aestivalis outperformed β-carotene hydroxylase (BCH) and β-carotene ketolase (BKT) from Haematococcus pluvialis counterparts by two-fold in terms of astaxanthin biosynthesis efficiency. Subsequently, we utilized electroporation to integrate either the BKT gene or the CBFD and HBFD genes into the genome of D. salina. In comparison to wild-type D. salina, strains transformed with BKT or CBFD and HBFD exhibited inhibited growth, underwent color changes to shades of red and yellow, and saw a nearly 50% decline in cell density. HPLC analysis confirmed astaxanthin synthesis in engineered D. salina strains, with CBFD + HBFD-D. salina yielding 134.88 ± 9.12 μg/g of dry cell weight (DCW), significantly higher than BKT-D. salina (83.58 ± 2.40 μg/g). This represents the largest amount of astaxanthin extracted from transgenic D. salina, as reported to date. These findings have significant implications, opening up new avenues for the development of specialized D. salina-based microcell factories for efficient astaxanthin production.

Plant cultural indicators of forest resources from the Himalayan high mountains: implications for improving agricultural resilience, subsistence, and forest restoration

AimBiocultural legacy practices are intricately tied to forestry resources, ethnic identity, and social cohesiveness. This study aims to determine the plant cultural values of forest resources and identify plant cultural indicators in each ethnic group, which can aid in long-term natural resource management plans in the current debate on socio-environmental and ecological transitions.MethodsSemi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations were employed to collect data for a comprehensive and systematic ethnobotanical survey from February 2018 to October 2022.ResultsA total of 330 informants reported 154 plant species from 65 families. Asteraceae was the most prominent botanical family, with herbaceous plant groups outnumbering trees and shrubs. The Gujjar and Pahari groups exhibited the highest level of overlap, followed by significant overlaps between the Gujjar and Kashmiri communities. The close affinity observed between the Gujjar and Pahari groups suggests the horizontal pattern of local plant knowledge between these communities, influenced by their sociocultural interactions and intermarriages. Notably, the Pahari community displayed a rich understanding of medicinal plants and shared unique uses for the reported taxa. This study affirms that both ecological factors and sociocultural influences have played significant roles in shaping local plant knowledge. A total of 31 plant species have been identified as plant cultural markers among all four ethnic groups. We observed a positive correlation between plant cultural values and plant use with the Gujjar and Kashmiri ethnic groups. Artemisia absinthium reported the highest use value of (0.57) with use reports of (189). Adonis aestivalis, Cynoglossum nervosum, Geum elatum, Geranium himalayense, Juncus inflexus, Oxalis acetosella, Polygonatum biflorum, and Salvia hians from the Himalayan region are among the plant taxa whose ethnomedicinal applications are described here for the first time.ConclusionOur data show that local and indigenous forest knowledge and practices could significantly contribute to forest conservation and ecological transition. This may happen if stakeholders generate clear frameworks and biocultural conservation strategies aimed at both dynamically preserve natural habitats and ways of traditional management of local natural resources.

Adonis aestivalis

This datasheet on Adonis aestivalis covers Identity, Hosts/Species Affected, Further Information.

Using Karapet’yants Comparative Analysis in Chromatography

Karapet’yants comparative analysis is applied to anthocyanin retention using the example of an extract of Adonis aestivalis petals. The attribution of anthocyanin peaks according to the comparative analysis is confirmed by the parameters of the mass spectra. A set of purple maize anthocyanins is used as a reference sample.

Aestivalosides A–L, twelve pregnane glycosides from the seeds of Adonis aestivalis

Eight adonilide (14,20α-epoxy-3β,20-dihydroxy-14β-pregn-5-en-18-oic acid γ-lactone) glycosides, named aestivalosides A–H, and four glycosides of the adonilide derivatives, named aestivalosides I–L, were isolated from the MeOH extract of seeds of Adonis aestivalis. Aestivalosides A–L were previously undescribed compounds, and were structurally characterized using spectroscopic techniques, including two-dimensional NMR, and chemical methods.

Introduction of Adonis aestivalis as a new source of effective cytotoxic cardiac glycoside

Cardiac glycosides are used for treatment of irregular heartbeats, cardiac arrhythmia and congestive heart failures. In this research, digitoxin as a cardiac glycoside was identified and isolated for the first time in the world from Adonis aestivalis and investigated for its cytotoxic activity against cervical cancer cell (HeLa) lines and human lymphocytes by MTT test. Digitoxin extracted from the aerial parts of the plant collected from west of Iran and purified by column and thin layer chromatographic techniques. The structure of isolated cardiac glycoside was identified by IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR methods and so the presence of digitoxin was established. The half maximal inhibitory concentration values for cervical cancer and lymphocyte cells were obtained to be 5.62 and 412.94 μg/mL. The results of this study introduced the new resource of digitoxin which has considerable cytotoxic effects against HeLa cancer cells but did not damage normal human lymphocyte cells.

Diversity of agrocoenoses in the Lublin region, Poland

The Lublin region, one of the main agricultural regions in Poland, has very favorable conditions for agricultural production but the development of the agricultural sector has been very slow there. This is due, among other factors, to the extensive farming used on large areas and the fragmentation of fields with numerous fragments of natural ecosystems. In Lublin Province, cereals comprise the highest proportion of the crop structure, especially wheat, but farmers also often cultivate maize, oilseed rape, sugar beet, and legumes for consumption. The biological diversity of agricultural areas is enhanced by growing traditional plant species and varieties. Crop species are accompanied by segetal weeds, sometimes very expansive, sometimes rare and endangered by extinction. In recent years, the following have been the dominant weed species in the region’s crop fields: <em>Galium aparine</em>, <em>Convolvulus arvensis</em>, <em>Papaver rhoeas</em>, <em>Viola arvensis</em>, and <em>Veronica persica</em>. However, there are several locations of occurrence of <em>Muscari comosum</em> (a strictly protected species) and the following unique species: <em>Adonis aestivalis</em>, <em>Anthemis tinctoria</em>, <em>Caucalis platycarpos</em>, <em>Galium tricornutum</em>, and <em>Thymelaea passerina</em>. In Lublin Province, there are many organic farms which contribute to the significant diversity of agricultural plant communities. In this review, we also indicate the biocoenotic role of weeds and their importance in the proper maintenance of agroecosystems and ecosystem services.

Alien plant species (ephemerophytes) in Romensko-Poltavsky Geobotanical District, Ukraine

Abstract This paper presents the results of research on ephemerophytes of the alien portion of the flora of the Romensko-Poltavsky Geobotanical District (north-eastern Ukraine). It is a detailed study of this group of plants, conducted for the first time in the Ukraine. The checklist of alien vascular plants contains 345 species, of which 27 species are ephemerophytes (or 8%): Adonis aestivalis, A. annua, Papaver albiflorum, Urtica cannabina, Gypsophila perfoliata, Atriplex micrantha, Chenopodium × preissmannii, Ch. × thellungii, Rumex longifolius, Sisymbrium polymorphum, Euphorbia humifusa, Malus sylvestris, Onobrychis viciifolia, Astrodaucus orientalis, Datura tatula, Solanum schultesii, Lindernia procumbens, Melampyrum cristatum, Helianthus annuus, Petasites spurius, Xanthium ripicola × Xanthium albinum, Echinochloa tzvelevii, Panicum capillare, Panicum capillare L. subsp. barvipulvinatum, Phalaris canariensis, Setaria ×ambigua, Sorghum halepense. The basis of this work is original data of the author obtained during field studies, and a critical study of the literature, archival, cartographic materials and herbarium collections, and the use of classical methods of botanical classification. Complex research of this group of plants was conducted and as a result of these investigations the following characteristics were established: a predominance of kenophytes of Mediterranean origin in this group, species of arid areas, cosmopolitan species with a diffuse type of space structure, therophytes, herbaceous monocarpic plants, mesotrophes, heliophytes and xeromesophytes, with an insignificant degree of impact on native plant communities and with a limited distribution within the study region. The combination of these results indicates that ephemerophytes comprise a temporary, unstable component of the flora of this region of the Ukraine. The paper provides maps of the distribution of these 27 species.

Landscape complexity has limited effects on the genetic structure of two arable plant species, Adonis aestivalis and Consolida regalis

SummaryThe agricultural landscape of central Europe has changed dramatically in recent decades due to intensified cultivation, bringing many of its characteristic species to the brink of extinction. We investigated whether landscape structure affects the genetic structure and diversity of remnant populations of the two arable plant species Adonis aestivalis and Consolida regalis. We used dominant amplified fragment length polymorphism markers (AFLPs) and compared populations from six regions of 5 km² in central Germany. These regions represent two different classes of landscape structural complexity: intensively used, homogeneous landscapes (>95% of area covered by arable land with low extent of field margins) or heterogeneous regions (<60% of area covered by arable land with large extent of field margins). Contrary to expectations, within‐population diversity levels did not significantly differ between homogeneous and heterogeneous landscapes. No significant isolation‐by‐distance was found for either species, regardless of landscape structure, and genetic structures may still mirror more continuous conditions before large‐scale restructuring commenced in Germany's arable landscapes from the 1950s onwards. These results suggest that current landscape complexity, as such, is not as important for local‐level genetic structure for the species studied. Thus, homogenised and intensively used landscapes may also be important for the conservation of arable plant diversity and should not be neglected.

Zbiorowiska segetalne Kotliny Szczercowskiej (Widawskiej) [Segetal communities of the Szczercowska (Widawska) Depression

In floristic and phytosociological investigations on the cultivated fields of the Szczercowska (Widawska) Depression, in the period 1967-1971, 7 associations and 3 communities as well as numerous taxonomic lower units such as subassociations, variants and facies were distinguished. Vascular plants were represented by 258 species occurring as weeds on arable fields. Among them were some interesting and rare members of the segetal flora: <i>Adonis flammeus, Adonis aestivalis, Anagallis coerulea, Linaria elatine, Vicia grandiflora, Illecebrum verticillatum, Anthoxanthum aristatum, Herniaria hirsuta</i> and others.

ChemInform Abstract: New Cardenolides from the Seeds of Adonis aestivalis

Abstractisolation, structure determination and cytotoxic activity of a new cardenolide (Ia), two new glycosides of (Ia) and a new strophanthidin hexaglycoside (II)

Plant communities in arable fields of the Skierbieszów Landscape Park

Floristic research on segetal communities was carried out in 2000 on arable fields in the Skierbieszów Landscape Park and its protected zone. Three communities of segetal weeds in cereal crops, and two communities of segetal weeds in root crops were separated in the arable fields of the Skierbieszów Landscape Park. The community <i>Vicietum tetraspermae typicum</i> commonly occurred in cereal crops on brown soils developed from loess soils. The community <i>Echinochloo-Setarietum</i>, which belongs to root crops, was noted in the same habitat. The greatest richness of species was found in <i>Consolido-Brometum</i> and <i>Lamio Veronicetum politae</i>, with the average of 25 species in one record. Both communities were abundant in rare segetal species which are considered to be endangered in our country: <i>Adonis aestivalis</i>, <i>Euphorbia exigua</i>, <i>Lathyrus tuberosus</i>, <i>Muscari comosum</i>, <i>Thlaspi perfoliatum</i>, <i>Veronica polita</i>, <i>Agrostemma githago</i>.

Histopathological Study of Acute Toxicity of Adonis Aestivalis (Summer Pheasant’s Eye) in Rabbits

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute toxicity of the hydroalcolic extract obtained from flowers and leaves of A. aestivalis in New Zealand White rabbits. In this study Sixteen New Zealand White rabbits (weighing 1700- 2200 g) were tested for 14 days. The animals were randomly divided into 2 groups (treatment and control) which every group contained 8 rabbits. A. aestivalis (summer pheasant’s eye) was collected over multiple years, under different growing conditions, and at various stages of maturity, dried, and administered to rabbits to evaluate the toxicity of A. aestivalis. On microscopic examination, Severe hemorrhage, myocardial degeneration and necrosis in cardiac cells, severe congestion and swelling of hepatocytes in liver, spread interstitial alveolar edema, congestion of pulmonary arteries, medial hyperplasia and emphysema in lungs, PVC (pre-vascular cuffing), chromatolysis, neurophagy and focal gliosis in brain, severe swelling of tubular endothelial cells, congestion of glomeruli, hyaline casts and severe tubular necrosis in kidney, papillary hyperplasia of mucus layer, and mucous secretions into the intestine lumen were observed. No pathological were found in other organs as well. Although Adonis spp. contain cardiac glycosides, cardiac lesions have not previously been described in laboratory animals associated with consumption of adonis, and this is the first report of adonis toxicosis in Iran. Effectively, these results demonstrate the presence of acute toxicity due to ip treatment with A. aestivalis for 14 days in New Zealand White rabbits. However, other toxicological studies are necessary to evaluate the total.

New Cardenolides from the Seeds of <i>Adonis aestivalis</i>

Chemical investigation of the seeds of Adonis aestivalis has led to the isolation of a new cardenolide (3β,5α,14β,17β-tetrahydroxycard-20,22-enolide) (1), two new glycosides (2, 3) of 1, and a new strophanthidin hexaglycoside (4), together with a known compound, strophanthidin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5). The structures of 1-4 were determined by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic analysis and the results of hydrolytic cleavage. The isolated compounds (1-5) were examined for their cytotoxic activity against neoplastic HSC-2, HSC-3, HSC-4, and HL-60 cells, as well as HGF, HPLF, and HPC normal cell lines. Compounds 2, 4, and 5 were found to display selective cytotoxicity toward malignant tumor cell lines. Although the morphological observations of HL-60 and HSC-2 cell deaths by 2, 4, and 5 revealed changes characteristic of apoptosis, neither DNA degradation nor activation of caspase-3 was observed. Our findings demonstrated that 2, 4, and 5 may trigger caspase-3-independent apoptotic cell death in HL-60 and HSC-2 cells.

Elucidation of the Pathway to Astaxanthin in the Flowers of Adonis aestivalis

A few species in the genus Adonis are the only land plants known to produce the valuable red ketocarotenoid astaxanthin in abundance. Here, we ascertain the pathway that leads from the β-rings of β-carotene, a carotenoid ubiquitous in plants, to the 3-hydroxy-4-keto-β-rings of astaxanthin (3,3'-dihydroxy-β,β-carotene-4,4'-dione) in the blood-red flowers of Adonis aestivalis, an ornamental and medicinal plant commonly known as summer pheasant's eye. Two gene products were found to catalyze three distinct reactions, with the first and third reactions of the pathway catalyzed by the same enzyme. The pathway commences with the activation of the number 4 carbon of a β-ring in a reaction catalyzed by a carotenoid β-ring 4-dehydrogenase (CBFD), continues with the further dehydrogenation of this carbon to yield a carbonyl in a reaction catalyzed by a carotenoid 4-hydroxy-β-ring 4-dehydrogenase, and concludes with the addition of an hydroxyl group at the number 3 carbon in a reaction catalyzed by the erstwhile CBFD enzyme. The A. aestivalis pathway is both portable and robust, functioning efficiently in a simple bacterial host. Our elucidation of the pathway to astaxanthin in A. aestivalis provides enabling technology for development of a biological production process and reveals the evolutionary origin of this unusual plant pathway, one unrelated to and distinctly different from those used by bacteria, green algae, and fungi to synthesize astaxanthin.

Evaluation of the toxicity of Adonis aestivalis in sheep

To determine the toxicity of Adonis aestivalis (adonis) in sheep, adult Suffolk ewes were administered 1 per cent bodyweight adonis via surgically placed rumen cannulas in an acute, high-dose toxicity...

Carotenoids and Their Fatty Acid Esters in the Petals of Adonis aestivalis

Carotenoids and their fatty acid esters were investigated in the petals of Adonis aestivalis by UV-VIS, (1)H-NMR, FAB-MS, and CD spectrometry. (3S,3'S)-astaxanthin (diester: 72.2%, monoester: 13.8%, free: 1.4%) and (3S)-adonirubin (monoester: 13.8%, free: 0.3%) were identified as the major components. The fatty acids esterified with astaxanthin and adonirubin were assigned as C18:0, C18:1, C16:0, C16:1, C14:0, C12:0, and C10:0 from the FAB-MS spectral data.

Environment and Economy of the Early Medieval Settlement in Žatec

Environment and Economy of the Early Medieval Settlement in Žatec

Rare and endangered segetal weed species in the Silesian Upland (s Poland) recorded in the last twenty years

The paper presents a list of the rarest endangered segetal weeds recorded in the Silesian Upland during the previous two decades (1989-2009) with threat categories as well as their distribution concentration map. In the area researched, fifty red-listed taxa (i.e. species, subspecies, and forma) considered to be endangered on a regional and/or national scale were recorded. Thirty-five of them constitute the group of the rarest species (up to 20 localities in the studied area). Lythrum hyssopifolia (included in the Polish Red Data Book of Plants), Adonis aestivalis, Anagallis foemina, A. arvensis fo. azurea, Filago arvensis, Fumaria parviflora, F. rostellata, F. schleicheri, Kickxia elatine, Misopates orontium, Saxifraga tridacylites are among the most interesting segetal weed species noted in the study area. Archaeophytes are the most dominant; however, there is also a remarkable group of apophytes. One species, i.e. Portulaca oleracea is a_kenophyte, while Fumaria parviflora has the status of an ephemerophyte in Polish flora. In the northern part of the Silesian Upland (mesoregions the Tarnowskie Gory Ridge and the Chelm) and in the north-eastern part (the Jaworzno Hills) the concentration of the analyzed species localities corresponds to the presence of calcium-rich rendzina soils as well as to the traditional agricultural methods still commonly applied in that area. A decrease in the number of stands of a vast majority of calcicolous weeds including the character species of the Caucalidion lappulae alliance was observed. Moreover, the analysis of relationship between some environmental factors and the endangered species by using CCA was tested...

Development of an Adonis aestivalis expressed sequence tag population as a resource for genes of the carotenoid pathway

Expressed sequence tag (EST) libraries are a powerful tool for gene discovery in plants with genomes that are not fully sequenced. Adonis aestivalis (Ranunculaceae) is unusual among higher plants in that it accumulates large amounts of the valuable red ketocarotenoid astaxanthin in the flower petals, in addition to other carotenoids, and should therefore be a rich source of transcripts involved in carotenoid biosynthesis. To create a resource for gene discovery and increase our understanding of ketocarotenoid biosynthesis in plants, we sequenced 4189 cloned cDNAs from the floral tissues of A. aestivalis. The EST collection was annotated using sequence homology searches comparing the A. aestivalis ESTs with reference databases. ESTs involved in carotenoid biosynthesis were identified based on sequence homology to published sequences and by functional prediction using InterProScan. This study identified expressed transcripts for most of the known genes involved in the carotenoid pathway. Using an Escherichia coli functional expression system, two candidate transcripts from the A. aestivalis cDNA library were functionally characterized and identified as a novel beta-carotene 3-hydroxylase (CrtH2) and a beta-carotene monooxygenase. The expanded use of this EST collection combined with the E. coli expression system as presented here will greatly facilitate the cloning and characterization of candidate genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis in plants.