Aerial Parts Research Articles

Antiurolithiatic activity of Indian medicinal plant: Ocimum kilimandscharicum Gurke (Lamiaceae)

Urolithiasis is the most prevalent condition of the urinary system, characterized by the formation of stones inside the urinary tract. It is urgent to look for a natural urolithiasis therapy due to the serious side effects of conventional medications. Hydro-alcoholic (80% v/v) extract of the aerial parts of Ocimum kilimandscharicum (OK) and its ethyl acetate, chloroform, n-butanol, aqueous, and n-hexane fractions were subjected to in vitro antiurolithiatic screening as well as preliminary screening of phytochemicals. The in vitro antiurolithiatic activity of O. kilimandscharicum was studied using its hydroalcoholic extract (HAEOK). Calcium phosphate test using a colorimetric approach and calcium oxalate assay using a titrimetric model were used to determine the proportion of calcium oxalate crystals that dissolved. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were measured for the extract and fractions of OK. Ethyl acetate fraction (EAFOK) had a greater capacity to suppress crystal formation in both the calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate assays. The percent dissolution of calcium oxalate by HAEOK and EAFOK (31.48 ± 0.920% and 39.21 ± 0.903%) and calcium phosphate crystals by HAEOK and EAFOK (59.03 ± 0.820% and 66.62 ± 0.468%) was determined, respectively. At p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, differences between the results were regarded as significant. Cystone was employed as a standard drug. This study revealed that EAFOK showed significant antiurolithiatic activity. The antiurolithiatic activity of the extract/fraction was attributed to the steroids, triterpenoids, and flavonoid content of OK.

GC/MS chemical profiling and isolation of secondary metabolites from Leontice ewersmannii

GC/MS chemical profiling of the aerial parts of Leontice ewersmannii revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds of which 20 compounds were in n-hexane fraction and 3 compounds in basic DCM fraction. Among the identified compounds alkaloids, fatty acids and their esters, fatty alcohols, hydrocarbons, and sterol were detected. Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of L. ewersmannii led to isolation of 17 compounds including 1-heptacosanol (1), phytol (2), lupenone (3), palmitic acid (4), oleic acid (5), stigmasterol (6), stigmast-7-en-3-ol (7), methyl palmitate (8), methyl linoleate (9), butyl palmitate (10), butyl linoleate (11), dimethyl dodecanedioate (12), methyl cerebronate (13), β-sitosterol (14), β-sitosterol 3-O-β-glucopyranoside (15), sophoridine (16) and camoensine (17). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by 1D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and GC-MS. All methyl esters of fatty acids are possible artifacts during extraction. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of the total extract and different fractions was screened, and they exhibited no inhibition of the growth at the tested concentration ranging from 8 to 200 μg/mL.

Uptake and translocation of pharmaceutically active compounds by olive tree (Olea europaea L.) irrigated with treated municipal wastewater.

The use of treated municipal wastewater (TWW) represents a relevant opportunity for irrigation of agricultural crops in semi-arid regions to counter the increasing water scarcity. Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) are often detected in treated wastewater, posing a risk to humans and the environment. PhACs can accumulate in soils and translocate into different plant tissues, reaching, in some cases, edible organs and entering the food chain. This study evaluated the uptake and translocation processes of 10 PhACs by olive trees irrigated with TWW, investigating their accumulation in different plant organs. The experiment was conducted in southern Italy, in 2-year-old plants irrigated with three different types of water: freshwater (FW), TWW spiked with 10 PhACs at a concentration of 200 µg L-1 (1× TWW), and at a triple dose (3× TWW), from July to October 2021. The concentration of PhACs in soil and plant organs was assessed, collecting samples of root, stem, shoot, leaf, fruit, and kernel at 0 (T0), 50 (T1), and 107 (T2) days of irrigation. PhACs extraction from soil and plant organs was carried out using the QuEChERS method, and their concentrations were determined by high-resolution mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography. Results of uptake factors (UF) showed a different behavior between compounds according to their physicochemical properties, highlighting PhACs accumulation and translocation in different plant organs (also edible part) in 1× TWW and 3× TWW compared to FW. Two PhACs, carbamazepine and fluconazole, showed interactions with the soil-plant system, translocating also in the aerial part of the plant, with a translocation factor (TF) greater than 1, which indicates high root-to-leaf translocation. Findings highlight that only few PhACs among the selected compounds can be uptaken by woody plants and accumulated in edible parts at low concentration. No effects of PhACs exposure on plant growth have been detected. Despite the attention to be paid to the few compounds that translocate into edible organs, these results are promising for adapting wastewater irrigation in crops. Increasing knowledge about PhACs behavior in woody plants can be important for developing optimized wastewater irrigation and soil management strategies to reduce PhACs accumulation and translocation in plants.

Anti-diabetic potential of Chamaerops humilis L. aerial parts: Phenolic compounds with α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activates in-vitro, in-vivo and in-silico studies

Five compounds were isolated from the aerial parts of Chamaerops humilis L. and characterized as tricin-7-rutinoside (1), tricin (2), dihydrotricin (3) diasteroisomer of tricin 4′-O(erythro-β-guaiacyl glyceryl) ether (salcolin A)(4a), tricin-4′-O-(threo-β-guaiacyl glyceryl) ether (salcolin B) (4b) and (-)-(5s, 6s)-5,6-dihydro-3,8,10-trihydroxy-5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-6-hydroxymethyl-2,4-dimethoxy 7H benzo [e] xanthen-7-one (5). Their structures were elucidated by comparing their spectral data with those reported in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, compounds (3-5) were reported here for the first time from Chamaerops humilis. The methanolic extract of Chamaerops humilis (CHME) and the five isolated compounds were studied for its anti-diabetic effect using in vitro α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory assay that showed a significant activity. The toxicological study indicated that CHME was safe up to 5000 mg/kg bw. Two doses were selected for the in vivo study (800 and 1600 mg/kg bw) and orally administered to high fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for 10 consecutive days. The results revealed that the CHME improved the blood glucose levels in a dose dependent manner, the dose 1600 mg/kg showed the best results dependently along the period of the experiment. CHME and the five isolated compounds were evaluated in silico for their anti-diabetic effect. The anti-inflammatory effect of CHME (1600 mg/kg bw) was proved by significant downregulation of expression for interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) genes. In conclusion, CHME and its constituents may be a potential hypoglycemic agent working through the anti-inflammatory and enzyme inhibitory pathways. The docking studies demonstrated that compounds Tricin7-rutinoside and Salcolin isomers had promising binding energies of -9.10 kcal/mol and -8.70 kcal/mol, respectively, against α-amylase. These binding energies were superior to that of acarbose, which had a binding energy of -7.60 kcal/mol. In addition, docking analysis provided promising results for the inhibition of α-glucosidase by Tricin7-rutinoside and Dihydrotricin with binding affinity -7.9 kcal/mol and -7.9 kcal/mol, respectively while the binding affinity of acarbose is -6.40 kcal/mol. Overall, the methanolic extract from Chamaerops humilis exhibited good in silico of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition potential. These findings suggest that these compounds may have potential as anti-diabetic agents, with further research needed to verify their efficacy and safety.

Multidirectional research for the therapeutic potential of Phlomoides molucelloides (Bunge) Salmaki: LC-MS/MS, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and antiproliferative characteristics

Medicinal plants offer natural cures and inspire modern medicine's development. This study examined the antioxidant, enzyme-inhibitory, and antiproliferative activities of various extracts obtained from aerial and root fragments of Phlomoides molucelloides (Bunge) Salmaki. The extracts' overall phenolics, flavonoids, and compounds were defined using colorimetric and LC-MS/MS analyses. The highest total phenolic and flavonoid content was measured in the methanol and infusion extracts of the aerial fragments, with 102.21mg RE/g and 51.33mg GAE/g, respectively. Most compounds were defined as flavonoids, predominantly as apigenin and quercetin glycosides. Methanol, 70% methanol, and infusion extracts from aerial parts had the highest antioxidant activity determined by DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, FRAP, metal chelation, and phosphomolybdenum analyses. Moreover, the methanol extract of the roots had the highest anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-butyrylcholinesterase, and anti-glucosidase activities. The dichloromethane extracts of the roots displayed the highest anti-tyrosinase and anti-amylase activities. The antiproliferative activity of the extracts was investigated against MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and HeLa cell lines. The lowest IC50 value (875.7µg/mL) was computed for the methanol extract of the aerial part on the MCF-7 cell line at the 48th hour. The findings showed that P. molucelloides extracts may offer a promising therapeutic approach due to their rich bioactive content.

The effects of Anchusa azurea methanolic extract on burn wound healing: Histological, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory evaluation

Anchusa azurea one of the medicinal plants that has been traditionally used for treat burn wounds. However, the traditional claim that A.azurea can hasten burn wound healing has not been supported by scientific studies. This experiment used a male Wistar rats model to investigate the activity of A. azurea aerial parts methanolic extract in burn wound healing. To determine their ability to help in healing burn wounds in rat models, the active components of the aerial parts of A. azurea were extracted with 80% methanol, then, 1% and 10% ointments were prepared from the extract, and applied topically. The LCMS chromatography of A. azurea plant extract showed different active ingredients, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, fatty acids, and others. The plant extract's investigated as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and histological effects on the burn wound healing process. The results showed a significant (p-value < 0.025) rate of burn wound healing with 78.6% and 84.8% contraction, respectively using 1% and 10% (w/w) extract ointments after 12 days. These results were corroborated by histological observations such as collagen deposition, re-epithelialization, and repair of the remaining skin tissues without any sign of cutaneous toxicity. The plant extract showed significant (p-value < 0.025) antioxidant effect at the highest tested dose of 500 µg/mL, scavenging 89.78% of the DPPH with an IC50 of 213.6 µg/mL. These results confirmed by histological changes observations of collagen deposition, re-epithelialization, and reformation of remaining skin tissues without any signs of dermal toxicity. The plant extract exhibited significant (p-value < 0.025) level of antioxidant agents, by scavenging 89.78% of the DPPH at 500 µg/mL with IC50 of 213.6 µg/mL. Additionally, all pro-inflammatory cytokines examined, including IL-6 and IL-10, the results exhibited reduction in IL-6 level and increase IL-10 level. The aerial extract of the A. azurea plant revealed a wealth of several significant active ingredients, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, fatty acids, and others, suggesting the potential for anti-inflammatory, burn wound-healing, and antioxidant medications. These findings can open an avenue to find new therapeutics for burn wounds healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Patch-based probabilistic identification of plant roots using convolutional neural networks

Recently, computer vision and artificial intelligence are being used as enabling technologies for plant phenotyping studies, since they allow the analysis of large amounts of data gathered by the sensors. Plant phenotyping studies can be devoted to the evaluation of complex plant traits either on the aerial part of the plant as well as on the underground part, to extract meaningful information about the growth, development, tolerance, or resistance of the plant itself. All plant traits should be evaluated automatically and quantitatively measured in a non-destructive way. This paper describes a novel approach for identifying plant roots from images of the root system architecture using a convolutional neural network (CNN) that operates on small image patches calculating the probability that the center point of the patch is a root pixel. The underlying idea is that the CNN model should embed as much information as possible about the variability of the patches that can show chaotic and heterogeneous backgrounds. Results on a real dataset demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach, as it overcomes the current state of the art.

Validation of the traditional antimicrobial use of the Iranian medicinal plant Thymus daenensis Celak through phytochemical characterization of its bioactive constituents

Thymus daenensis Celak (Lamiaceae family), known as denaian thyme, is an Iranian endemic plant, commonly used for its carminative, expectorant, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Previous studies report the chemical profile of the essential oil of T. daenensis aerial parts, but little is known about its non volatile constituents. Herein, phytochemical and biological investigation of the polar extract of T. daenensis aerial parts to provide further insight into traditional use of this plant has been accomplished. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled to linear ion-trap and orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS/MS) analysis of MeOH extract was performed to guide the isolation of specialized metabolites and successive characterization by NMR analysis. MeOH extract displayed antioxidant activity evaluated by DPPH (EC50 = 48.99 ± 1.47 μg/mL) and TEAC assay (1.37 mg/mL). Successively, the biofilm inhibitory activity of extract and isolated compounds against mature biofilms of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus, and their influence on the metabolism of sessile bacterial cells were evaluated. Two previously unreported thymol derivatives have been identified. The biofilm inhibitory activity of isolated compounds highlighted a promising antimicrobial action for the tested compounds. In particular, vanillic acid, (3S,5R,6R,7E,9S)-megastigm-7-ene-3,5,6,9-tetrol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, thymoquinol-2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and the never reported compound daenol resulted capable of exerting inhibitory activity vs all pathogenic strains. All compounds tested at a concentration of 10 μg/mL inhibited the metabolism of the sessile cells of E. coli at a percentage ranging between 37.7% and 77.39%, and of L. monocytogenes at a percentage ranging between 21.79% and 71.17%.

A new iridoid glycoside and other secondary metabolites from Sideritis dichotoma Huter and their chemotaxonomic significance

The phytochemical studies on the aerial parts of Sideritis dichotoma led to the isolation and identification of a new iridoid glycoside (1), along with four known iridoid glycosides (2-5), three phenylethanoid glycosides (6–8), two flavone glycosides (9 and 10), one neolignan (11) and a megastigmane glycoside (12). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques. Compounds 2, 3 and 12 have never been found in the Sideritis genus before. Furthermore, eleven compounds (1–5, 7–12) were characterized for the first time from S. dichotoma. The chemotaxonomic importance of isolated compounds was discussed. This is the first phytochemical study on the polar constituents of S. dichotoma, an endemic species to Türkiye.

Effect of Carissa macrocarpa (Eckl.) A. DC. aerial parts on some non-communicable diseases: in vitro study and HPLC-QTOF/MS-MS analysis

Carissa species are evergreen plants that have long been employed in treating different diseases by traditional healers in many cultures. Carissa macrocarpa (Eckl.) A. DC. known as Natal plum is characterized by bright red, edible, plum-shaped fruit that tastes like cranberries. The pharmacological studies on Carissa species validated its use in indigenous medicine systems. The evidence-based modulatory potential of C. macrocarpa aerial parts (leaves and stems) on non-communicable diseases and hepato-protective activity is herein evaluated via testing its in vitro activity against key enzymes for metabolic disorders and support it with phytochemical study to identify the key metabolites responsible for the claimed activities. Potent antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays) and anti-inflammatory (iNOS, COX-1 and COX-2) potentials were observed along with significant inhibitory potential against α-amylase and α-glucosidase anti-diabetic enzymes. In addition, the hepato-protective activity (Annexin V apoptosis detection and evaluation of telomerase reverse transcriptase TERT) beside its beneficial effect on the neuropharmacological parameters (acetylcholinesterase and β-amyloid) were also proved. The HPLC-QTOF/MS-MS analysis allowed the identification of 10 fatty acids, 6 phenolics, 6 flavonoids, 4 triterpenoid saponins, and 3 miscellaneous metabolites. These findings support the notion that C. macrocarpa is a medicinal plant with multifactorial therapeutic potentials against some non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, this study supports the claim of traditional healers that Carissa species are promising hepato-protective and anti-diabetic medicines.

Secondary metabolites and essential oil analysis of Clematis simensis with antioxidant and antibacterial activities

Clematis simensis is one of the most commonly used folk medicines in Ethiopia. This study was aimed to investigate the chemical constituents, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the aerial part of Clematis simensis, and analysis of the composition of its essential oil. The phytochemical study led to the isolation of five compounds: 1-tricosanol (1), 1-hexacosanol (2), 2-deoxy-D-ribono-1,4-lactone (3), 5-hydroxylevulinic acid (4), and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside (5). Their chemical structures were determined by a comprehensive analysis of HR-ESI-MS, FT-IR, UV-Vis, and 1D/2D NMR experiments. The chemical compositions of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial part of Clematis semenses were determined by GC-MS, which led to the detection of ten major compounds: (E)-2-nonen-1-ol (38.33%), 4-cyclopentene-1,3-dione (28.69%), cyclofenchene (5.65%), benzene acetaldehyde (4.74%), methyl salicylate (2.77%), salicylaldehyde (2.68%), benzaldehyde (2.60%), α-terpineol (2.10%), eucalyptol (1.21%), and 2,6-dimethylcyclohexanol (1.15%). Compound 4 showed high antioxidant activity (IC50 14.89 μg/mL) but has no antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. According to the antimicrobial parameters, crude extract showed very weak activity at 500 mg/mL, 250 mg/mL, and 125 mg/mL. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the isolation of secondary metabolites from Clematis simensis. KEY WORDS: Clematis simensis, Essential oil, Phytochemical investigation, Biological activities Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2024, 38(4), 1037-1049. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v38i4.18

Enhancing the Sustainability and Hygiene in the Dyeing of Wool Yarns with Prangos ferulacea Aerial Parts Extract in Conjunction with Metal–Biomordant Combinations

Enhancing the Sustainability and Hygiene in the Dyeing of Wool Yarns with Prangos ferulacea Aerial Parts Extract in Conjunction with Metal–Biomordant Combinations

Insight into the nutritional potential and the antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxicity activities of the aerial edible part of halophytic plant Salicornia arabica L

Insight into the nutritional potential and the antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxicity activities of the aerial edible part of halophytic plant Salicornia arabica L

Effects of Aquatic Extracts of Cyperus Rotundus Tubers on the Level of Blood Sugar in Healthy and Diabetic Rats

In this investigation, the effectiveness of aquatic extracts of Cyperus rotundus tubers was examined. The aerial parts of the curly plant (Teucrium polium) and the fruits of the carob plant (Prosopis farcta) help reduce levels of glucose, cholesterol, and blood triglyceride levels of healthy male rats and those with induced diabetes. With alloxan and compared with the effect of insulin. It has been shown that aqueous extracts of saad, jaada, and carob caused the levels of the blood sugar decreasing significantly. In healthy plus rats with diabetes. The results of this study show that the aqueous extract of Saad tubers caused a significant decrease in the lipid and cholesterol content of all but the aquatic extract of carob fruits prompted a notable drop in the quantity of triglycerides only, while the aqueous extract did not change the aerial parts of the increase in the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in rats with diabetes.

Chemical profiling, anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects of the smoke constituents isolated from Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br.

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe use of medicinal plants for central nervous system (CNS)-related ailments, such as epilepsy and anxiety, is prevalent in South Africa. Plants from the Lamiaceae family are commonly used for their therapeutic benefits. Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br. has been reported in ethnobotanical literature to have anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects through the inhalation of pyrolysis products obtained by combustion of the aerial parts. Aim and objectivesTo explore the chemical profiles and CNS activity of the smoke extract and isolated constituents of L. leonurus in zebrafish larvae, through anticonvulsive and anxiolytic activity assays. Materials and methodsThe smoke extract of L. leonurus was obtained through the combustion of the aerial parts of the plant using a custom-built smoke recovery apparatus. The chemical profile of the smoke constituents was determined using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Targeted compounds were subjected to preparative High-Performance Liquid Chromatography for separation before structure elucidation using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The maximum tolerated concentrations, as well as the anxiolytic activity of the smoke extract were determined in five days post fertilisation zebrafish larvae. Reverse-thigmotaxis and locomotor activity of larvae in the light/dark transition assay were used to determine anxiolytic activity. Zebrafish larvae at six days post fertilisation (dpf) were subjected to several concentrations of the smoke constituents of L. leonurus. The baseline locomotor activity of the larvae was tracked for 30 min, prior to addition of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) to induce seizure-like behaviour in the larvae, after which the locomotor activity of the larvae was once again tracked for an additional 30 min. ResultsThe UPLC-MS profiles of the smoke extract revealed the presence of two main compounds, leoleorin A and leoleorin B, which were targeted and isolated. Upon subjection to NMR spectroscopy for structure elucidation, the compounds were confirmed to be labdane diterpenoids. Both leoleorin A and leoleorin B, and the smoke extract displayed suppression of the PTZ induced seizure-like behaviour in zebrafish larvae. Under light and dark conditions, the smoke extract and compounds displayed potential anxiolytic activity at different concentrations. ConclusionOur results suggest that the smoke constituents of L. leonurus may exert anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects which align with the traditional indications and the mode of administration.

Potencial Antifúngico do Extrato de Arnica Brasileira (Lychnopora ericoides) e Alecrim (Rosmarinus officinalis) no Controle de Malassezia furfur capilar

This exploratory study aimed to assess the antifungal potential of Brazilian Arnica (Lychnopora ericoides) and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) extracts against the fungus Malassezia furfur, focusing on their possible application in combating capillary oiliness. Malassezia furfur is a fungus commonly associated with seborrheic dermatitis and other skin disorders, including excessive capillary oiliness. Brazilian Arnica and Rosemary extracts emerge as potential therapeutic agents due to their antifungal and oil-regulating properties. Brazilian Arnica and Rosemary were chosen for their phytotherapeutic properties and the antifungal potential previously observed in related research. Methods included obtaining the extracts through specific procedures, such as collecting and drying the aerial parts of Brazilian Arnica and macerating the Rosemary leaves. Certified strains of Malassezia furfur were used to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the extracts, demonstrating remarkable antifungal activity. The results indicated that Brazilian Arnica and Rosemary extracts exhibited properties that may contribute to controlling sebum production on the scalp. This dual benefit, combining antifungal activity against Malassezia furfur and the ability to control capillary oiliness, suggests that these extracts have potential as ingredients in hair formulations. These results highlight the importance of these extracts as multifunctional therapeutic agents in the treatment of scalp skin disorders. Further research is needed to fully explore their benefits and potential applications in dermatological clinical practice.

Phenotypic Variability in Resistance to Anthracnose, White, Brown, and Blight Leaf Spot in Cassava Germplasm.

Despite fungal diseases affecting the aerial parts of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and causing significant yield losses, there is a lack of comprehensive studies assessing resistance in the species' germplasm. This study aimed to evaluate the phenotypic diversity for resistance to anthracnose disease (CAD), blight leaf spot (BliLS), brown leaf spot (BLS), and white leaf spot (WLS) in cassava germplasm and to identify genotypes suitable for breeding purposes. A total of 837 genotypes were evaluated under field conditions across two production cycles (2021 and 2022). Artificial inoculations were carried out in the field, and data on yield and disease severity were collected using a standardized rating scale. The top 25 cassava genotypes were selected based on a selection index for disease resistance and agronomic traits. High environmental variability resulted in low heritabilities (h2) for CAD, WLS, and BLS (h2 = 0.42, 0.34, 0.29, respectively) and moderate heritability for BliLS (h2 = 0.51). While the range of data for disease resistance was narrow, it was considerably wider for yield traits. Cluster analysis revealed that increased yield traits and disease severity were associated with higher scores of the first and second discriminant functions, respectively. Thus, most clusters comprised genotypes with hybrid characteristics for both traits. Overall, there was a strong correlation among aerial diseases, particularly between BLS and BliLS (r = 0.96), while the correlation between CAD and other diseases ranged from r = 0.53 to 0.58. Yield traits showed no significant correlations with disease resistance. Although the mean selection differential for disease resistance was modest (between -2.31% and -3.61%), selection based on yield traits showed promising results, particularly for fresh root yield (82%), dry root yield (39%), shoot yield (49%), and plant vigor (26%). This study contributes to enhancing genetic gains for resistance to major aerial part diseases and improving yield traits in cassava breeding programs.

Chemical Characterization of the Essential Oil Compositions of Mentha spicata and M. longifolia ssp. cyprica from the Mediterranean Basin and Multivariate Statistical Analyses.

This present study aims to characterize the essential oil compositions of the aerial parts of M. spicata L. and endemic M. longifolia ssp. cyprica (Heinr. Braun) Harley by using GC-FID and GC/MS analyses simultaneously. In addition, it aims to perform multivariate statistical analysis by comparing with the existing literature, emphasizing the literature published within the last two decades, conducted on both species growing within the Mediterranean Basin. The major essential oil components of M. spicata were determined as carvone (67.8%) and limonene (10.6%), while the major compounds of M. longifolia ssp. cyprica essential oil were pulegone (64.8%) and 1,8-cineole (10.0%). As a result of statistical analysis, three clades were determined for M. spicata: a carvone-rich chemotype, a carvone/trans-carveol chemotype, and a pulegone/menthone chemotype, with the present study result belonging to the carvone-rich chemotype. Carvone was a primary determinant of chemotype, along with menthone, pulegone, and trans-carveol. In M. longifolia, the primary determinants of chemotype were identified as pulegone and menthone, with three chemotype clades being pulegone-rich, combined menthone/pulegone, and combined menthone/pulegone with caryophyllene enrichment. The primary determinants of chemotype were menthone, pulegone, and caryophyllene. The present study result belongs to pulegone-rich chemotype.

A Comparison between Bulgarian Tanacetum parthenium Essential Oil from Two Different Locations.

Tanacetum parthenium L. (Asteraceae) is a perennial herbaceous plant with a long-standing historical use in traditional medicine. Recently Tanacetum parthenium L. essential oil has been associated with a promising potential for future applications in the pharmaceutical industry, in the cosmetics industry, and in agriculture. Investigations on the essential oil (EO) have indicated antimicrobial, antioxidant, and repellent activity. The present study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of Bulgarian T. parthenium essential oil from two different regions, to compare the results to those reported previously in the literature, and to point out some of its future applications. The essential oils of the air-dried flowering aerial parts were obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The chemical composition was evaluated using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was established that the oxygenated monoterpenes were the predominant terpene class, followed by the monoterpene hydrocarbons. Significant qualitative and quantitative differences between both samples were revealed. Camphor (50.90%), camphene (16.12%), and bornyl acetate (6.05%) were the major constituents in the feverfew EO from the western Rhodope Mountains, while in the EO from the central Balkan mountains camphor (45.54%), trans-chrysanthenyl acetate (13.87%), and camphene (13.03%) were the most abundant components.

Unveiling the tyrosinase inhibitory potential of phenolics from Centaurium spicatum: Bridging in silico and in vitro perspectives

Phenolics, abundant in plants, constitute a significant portion of phytoconstituents consumed in the human diet. The phytochemical screening of the aerial parts of Centaurium spicatum led to the isolation of five phenolics. The anti-tyrosinase activities of the isolated compounds were assessed through a combination of in vitro experiments and multiple in silico approaches. Docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation techniques were utilized to figure out the binding interactions of the isolated phytochemicals with tyrosinase. The findings from molecular docking analysis revealed that the isolated phenolics were able to bind effectively to tyrosinase and potentially inhibit substrate binding, consequently diminishing the catalytic activity of tyrosinase. Among isolated compounds, cichoric acid displayed the lowest binding energy and the highest extent of polar interactions with the target enzyme. Analysis of MD simulation trajectories indicated that equilibrium was reached within 30 ns for all complexes of tyrosinase with the isolated phenolics. Among the five ligands studied, cichoric acid exhibited the lowest interaction energies, rendering its complex with tyrosinase the most stable. Considering these collective findings, cichoric acid emerges as a promising candidate for the design and development of a potential tyrosinase inhibitor. Furthermore, the in vitro anti-tyrosinase activity assay unveiled significant variations among the isolated compounds. Notably, cichoric acid exhibited the most potent inhibitory effect, as evidenced by the lowest IC50 value (7.92 ± 1.32 µg/ml), followed by isorhamnetin and gentiopicrin. In contrast, sinapic acid demonstrated the least inhibitory activity against tyrosinase, with the highest IC50 value. Moreover, cichoric acid exhibited a mixed inhibition mode against the hydrolysis of l-DOPA catalyzed by tyrosinase, with Ki value of 1.64. Remarkably, these experimental findings align well with the outcomes of docking and MD simulations, underscoring the consistency and reliability of our computational predictions with the actual inhibitory potential observed in vitro.