Ajuga Reptans Research Articles

CYP76BK1 orthologs catalyze furan and lactone ring formation in clerodane diterpenoids across the mint family.

The Lamiaceae (mint family) is the largest known source of furanoclerodanes, a subset of clerodane diterpenoids with broad bioactivities including insect antifeedant properties. The Ajugoideae subfamily, in particular, accumulates significant numbers of structurally related furanoclerodanes. The biosynthetic capacity for formation of these diterpenoids is retained across most Lamiaceae subfamilies, including the early-diverging Callicarpoideae which forms a sister clade to the rest of Lamiaceae. VacCYP76BK1, a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase from Vitex agnus-castus, was previously found to catalyze the formation ofthe proposed precursor to furan and lactone-containing labdane diterpenoids. Through transcriptome-guided pathway exploration, we identified orthologs of VacCYP76BK1 in Ajuga reptans and Callicarpa americana. Functional characterization demonstrated that both could catalyze the oxidative cyclization of clerodane backbones to yield a furan ring. Subsequent investigation revealed a total of 10 CYP76BK1 orthologs across six Lamiaceae subfamilies. Through analysis of available chromosome-scale genomes, we identified four CYP76BK1 members as syntelogs within a conserved syntenic block across divergent subfamilies. This suggests an evolutionary lineage that predates the speciation of the Lamiaceae. Functional characterization of the CYP76BK1 orthologs affirmed conservation of function, as all catalyzed furan ring formation. Additionally, some orthologs yielded two novel lactone ring moieties. The presence of the CYP76BK1 orthologs across Lamiaceae subfamilies closely overlaps with the distribution of reported furanoclerodanes. Together, the activities and distribution of the CYP76BK1 orthologs identified here support their central role in furanoclerodane biosynthesis within the Lamiaceae family. Our findings lay the groundwork for biotechnological applications to harness the economic potential of this promising class of compounds.

Morpho-anatomical studies of family lamiaceae species of district Lahore, Punjab: a revision to flora of Pakistan

BackgroundThis study was aimed to determine the taxonomic position and delimitation of fifteen Lamiaceae taxa using leaf epidermal morpho-anatomical features in Lahore. A main objective of the study was also the revision and upgradation of Lamiaceae taxa in the flora of Pakistan, as no details of studied species are found in the flora of Pakistan.MethodsThe examination of significant anatomical parameters, such as epidermal cell shape and size, stomatal types, guard and subsidiary cells shape and size, stomatal cavity size, trichome size and shape, oil droplets, crystals, and secretory cavity characteristics were studied using light microscopic (LM) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) techniques. Among all the studied Lamiaceae species, these anatomical features varied significantly. Principal component analysis and correlation were done to distinguish the species’ similarities.ResultsMost species had pentagonal and hexagonal epidermal cells with straight anticlinal wall thickness. On the adaxial surface, paracytic stomata were found in Ocimum basilicum L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. Diacytic stomata was observed in Ajuga reptans L. and anisocytic stomata in Galeopsis tetrahit L. In the abaxial surface, trichomes were present in five species, i.e., Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. A. reptans, Thymus vulgaris L., M. haplocalyx, and Salvia splendens Ewat. In S. splendens, peltate and glandular trichomes were seen whereas, in other species, trichomes were long, unbranched glandular and had tapering ends. In adaxial side trichomes were present only in M. suaveolens, A. reptans, S. bazyntina, O. basciculum, S. splendens, S. officinalis, S. rosemarinus. In other species, trichomes were absent on the adaxial surface. In abaxial view, M. suaveolens had the largest length of trichomes, and O. basciculum had the smallest. S. splendens L. had the largest trichome width, while T. vulgaris had the smallest.ConclusionHence, according to these findings, morpho-anatomical traits are useful for identifying Lamiaceae taxa. Also, there is a need of upgradation and addition of studied taxa in flora of Pakistan comprehensively.

Comparative Study of the Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activity of Ajuga reptans L. Leaf and Root Extracts

In this work, the phytochemical composition and the biological activity of the ethanolic extracts obtained from Ajuga reptans L. (Lamiaceae) leaves and roots (growing in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland) were compared. The phytochemical composition of the extracts were determined by the high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC–DAD) method. The dominant compounds in both extracts were verbacoside, isoverbacoside, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and rosmarinic acid. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2’-azobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) tests. The Folin–Ciocalteu assay was used to determine the total polyphenolic content. Additionally, enzyme (tyrosinase, collagenase) inhibition tests and metal chelating ability were studied to assess the anti-aging properties of the extracts. Moreover, the A. reptans extracts’ capacity to absorb the whole range of ultraviolet radiation and high-energy visible (HEV) light was evaluated. The skin irritation test (SIT) EpiDerm was applied to evaluate the safety of the bugle extracts. The noteworthy point is that there is a lack of literature on the assessment of A. reptans root extract activity. Our study is the only one that compares the quantitative composition and biological activity of extracts from the root and leaves of A. reptans. The obtained results indicated that both of the extracts exhibit high antioxidant, chelating and photoprotective activity, but the extract from A. reptans roots showed a higher enzyme inhibition effect for mature skin. The A. reptans root extract, similarly to the leaf extract, could be applied as potentially multi-functional, safe and sensitive cosmetic raw materials, especially in anti-aging and anti-pollution cosmetics.

The Complete Genome Sequence of Ajuga reptans (Lamiaceae, Lamiales), Bugleweed.

We present the whole genome sequence of Ajuga reptans. Illumina paired-end reads were assembled by a de novo method followed by a finishing step. The raw and assembled data are publicly available via GenBank: Sequence Read Archive (SRR24502601) and assembled genome (JAUEKW000000000).

Age and Adaptive Changes in Pro-/Antioxidant Metabolism Indicators and Respiration of the Winter-Green Herbaceous Plant Ajuga reptans L. Leaves in Natural Conditions of the Taiga Zone

Age and Adaptive Changes in Pro-/Antioxidant Metabolism Indicators and Respiration of the Winter-Green Herbaceous Plant Ajuga reptans L. Leaves in Natural Conditions of the Taiga Zone

Study on Ajuga reptans extracts as potential cosmetic raw materials

Abstract In the study, the possibility of an application of Ajuga reptans leaf and root extracts in antipollution cosmetics was investigated. The influence of Ajuga extracts on the skin condition was also evaluated. Both leaf and root Ajuga ethanolic extracts were obtained and added to the developed cosmetic formulations. Two types of emulsion W/O and O/W, washing gels and eye serum, containing as an active substance Ajuga extracts were prepared. For the stable formulations physicochemical and user properties were studied. The obtained results show that cosmetic products, containing the Ajuga reptans extracts, positively affect the skin condition: causing an improvement in the degree of skin hydration and elasticity, reducing the skin pores size and skin hyperpigmentation, and reducing the wrinkles depth.

Age and Adaptive Changes in the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Leaves in Winter Green Herbaceous Plant Ajuga reptans L. in the Natural Conditions of the Taiga Zone

The formation and functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus (PSA) is under the general control of the plant organism and constantly changing environmental conditions. The authors studied age-related and adaptive changes in the pigment complex, spectral properties, and the state of photosystem II (PSII) leaves of partial shoots of a summer-winter-green herbaceous perennial Ajuga reptans L. (bugle) in connection with overwintering. Rosette leaves of a new generation appearing in May–June quickly accumulated photosynthetic pigments and formed PSA with a maximal quantum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and actual quantum yield of PSII (ФPSII). In autumn (September–October), the content of chlorophylls was 10 mg/g dry weight, the value of Fv/Fm was 0.8 rel. units, and the level of ФPSII at PAR 130 µmol quanta/(m2 s) was approximately 0.7 rel. units. Overwintered leaves contained half as much photosynthetic pigments, accumulated a significant amount of anthocyanins, and were characterized by low photochemical activity and a high level of de-epoxidation of pigments of the violaxanthin cycle. With the resumption of active vegetation of plants (May), a partial restoration of the pigment pool and the repair of PSA of overwintered leaves were noted, as evidenced by an increase in the quantum yield PSII. The completion of the leaf life cycle was accompanied by a decrease in ФPSII up to 0.5 rel. units and a sharp increase in the thermal dissipation of absorbed excitation energy (NPQ) to 0.9 rel. units. Seasonal changes of spectral properties of leaves and photochemical reflectance indices generally corresponded to the dynamics content pigments and the efficiency of the use of light in photosynthesis. The results obtained indicate a significant transformation of the structural and functional organization of PSA in the ontogeny of overwintering leaves. The genetically fixed property of winter green plants to preserve leaves is based on the ability of their PSA to restore functional activity after the shock impact of overwintering, which is facilitated by a complex of adaptive and protective mechanisms.

Characterisation and localisation of plant metabolites involved in pharmacophagy in the turnip sawfly.

Several herbivorous insects consume certain metabolites from plants for other purposes than nutrition, such as defence. Adults of the turnip sawfly, Athalia rosae take up specific terpenoids, called clerodanoids, from Ajuga reptans. These metabolites are slightly modified by the sawflies and influence their mating behaviour and defence against predators. We characterised these metabolites and investigated their localisation in the insect and the specificity of the uptake and metabolite modification. Therefore, we performed feeding assays with adults and larvae of A. rosae as well as larvae of Spodoptera exigua, followed by chemical analyses. Two main clerodanoid-derived metabolites were detected in the abdomen and thorax but also on the surface of the adults. Small amounts were also found in larvae of the sawfly, while they were not detectable in S. exigua. Our findings provide new insights into the peculiarities of pharmacophagy and specialised metabolism in A. rosae.

Age and Adaptive Changes in the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Leaves in Winter Green Herbaceous Plant Ajuga reptans L. in the Natural Conditions of the Taiga Zone

Age and Adaptive Changes in the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Leaves in Winter Green Herbaceous Plant Ajuga reptans L. in the Natural Conditions of the Taiga Zone

Effect of four plant extracts on the mortality, population growth, and fluctuating asymmetry of Sitophilus oryzae

AbstractManagement of storage pest insects relies heavily on chemical control, and there is a need to develop more sustainable management practices. Here, we evaluated the impact of 2% ethanol plant extracts of Ajuga reptans L., Ajuga pyramidalis L. (both Lamiaceae), Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae), and Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabaceae) plants on mortality, population growth, and developmental stability [measuring fluctuating asymmetry (FA)] of the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a worldwide stored product pest. FA refers to small, random deviations occurring between the left and right sides of bilaterally symmetrical organisms; these deviations increase in response to environmental stress, making FA a reliable method to measure the impact of stress. FA was measured by means of geometric morphometrics, a method that allows for analyzing the whole landmark configuration of the insect, rather than taking single measurements. Extracts of the mentioned plants were used to treat maize (Zea mays L., Poaceae) kernels on which experimental populations of the rice weevil were grown, and we assessed mortality after 24–72 h, population growth after 30–90 days, and developmental stability after 90 days. Screening bioassays showed that S. oryzae adults were most affected by Ajuga extracts; Ajuga spp., especially A. reptans, significantly reduced population growth. In concordance, Ajuga extracts increased FA. The effects of U. dioica and C. sativa extract were less pronounced. None of the extracts significantly affected insect mortality. Overall, it can be concluded that A. reptans and A. pyramidalis are potential sources of bioactive compounds that may be further used for S. oryzae control. The results obtained confirm that variation in body shape asymmetry can be used as an indicator of population disturbance when insects are exposed to different types of stressors.

Local-scale changes in plant community composition following succession of oak- hornbeam forest after grassland abandonment

In this local-scale synecological study, we investigated the changes in plant community composition throughout secondary succession occurring after cessation of agricultural land use (i.e. grassland abandonment). The successional sequence studied had the following pathway: Avenula pubescens (Huds.) Dumort. haypastures → Brachypodium pinnatum (L.) P.Beauv. successional grassland → Cornus sanguinea L. scrubs → late-successional Populus tremula L. forest → late-successional oak-hornbeam (Quercus-Carpinus) forest. The last forest stage was represented by the association Epimedio-Carpinetum betuli (Horvat 1938) Borhidi 1963. Occurrence of plant species throughout secondary succession was mostly stage-specific; only Fragaria vesca L., Ajuga reptans L., Cornus sanguinea, Prunus spinosa L., and Viola hirta L. showed survival ability throughout almost all stages.

In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation and phytochemical analysis of Ajuga reptans L. extracts.

In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation and phytochemical analysis of Ajuga reptans L. extracts.

First report of tobacco streak virus on Echinacea purpurea (Linn.) Moench in China.

Tobacco streak virus (TSV) is a member of the genus Ilarvirus in the family Bromoviridae (Vinodkumar et al. 2017). TSV is transmitted by thrips, seeds, pollen, and mechanical injury and has a broad host range, causing severe damage to several horticultural, oil and food crops including tobacco, sunflower, peanut, cotton, and soybean (Zambrana-Echevarría et al. 2021). TSV is now distributed mainly in the United States (McDaniel et al. 1992; Zambrana-Echevarría et al. 2021), India (Jain et al. 2008), Iran (Hosseini et al. 2012), Australia (Sharman et al. 2009) and Mexico (Silva-Rosales et al. 2013). Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.) is widely grown in China as an important herbal ornamental plant. In June 2020, Echinacea purpurea with the symptoms of necrosis lesions, malformation, and stunting were observed in the field of Haidian district, Beijing, China (40°2'69″ N, 116°28'28″ E) (Supplementary Fig. 1A). Total RNA of leaf tissue extracted using the hot borate method (Liang et al. 2020) was used for high-throughput sequencing on Illumina HiSeq X-10 platform at Biomarker Technologies (Beijing, China). Overall, 23,988,298 reads were generated. The final contigs assembled by Mega-Hit (v1.2.9) and Cap3 (Version Date: 02/10/15) were subjected to BLAST against GenBank using BLASTn and BLASTx algorithms. Of these contigs, 297 shared high nucleotide sequence similarities to the genomic sequence of broad bean wilt virus 2, while 9 contigs showed high nt sequence similarities (95-100%) to the genomic sequence of TSV. To confirm the presence of TSV, 30 randomly selected samples from Haidian district (40°2'69″ N, 116°28'28″ E) were tested by the double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) using a TSV specific monoclonal antibody (Agdia, SAR 25500/0500), where 18 samples were positive. In addition, total RNAs from 4 DAS-ELISA positive plants were extracted for TSV detection by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) using primer pair specific for the coat protein gene of TSV (TSV-CP-F, 5'-ATGAATACTTTGATCCAAGGTCC-3'; TSV-CP-R, 5'-TCAGTCTTGATTCACCAGAAAA-3'). The fragment with the expected size (~700 bp) was amplified in all 4 plants (Supplementary Fig. 1B) and subjected to direct Sanger sequencing. The CP gene of TSV CNB isolate was deposited in GenBank (MZ542767) and shared 100% sequence identity at the nucleotide level with the Gyp isolate infecting Ajuga reptans from Australia (JX463347.1). Furthermore, the local lesion host Chenopodium quinoa was used to purify and propagate TSV by mechanical inoculation with infected leaf sap. A pure culture of the TSV CNB isolate was obtained by single local lesion isolation after 3 serial passages on C. quinoa and back inoculated on E. purpurea seedlings. Systemic symptomology including leaf malformation was observed on E. purpurea three weeks post-inoculation (Supplementary Fig. 2A). The existence of TSV in two symptomatic leaf samples of E. purpurea was further verified by RT-PCR using specific primer pair (TSV-CP-F/R) (Supplementary Fig. 2B). In addition, the purified TSV CNB isolate was also inoculated to Nicotiana tabacum (Supplementary Fig. 2C). As previously reported (More et al. 2017), the Nicotiana tabacum plants infected with TSV developed typical streaks in systemic leaves. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of TSV on E. purpurea in China. This finding will assist further investigation into the epidemiology of diseases caused by TSV in China. Future studies are required to determine the incidence and impact that TSV might have on E. purpurea and other hosts in China.

Curcumin and Teupolioside attenuate signs and symptoms severity associated to hirsutism in PCOS women: a preliminary pilot study.

Hirsutism affects 5-15% of women of reproductive age, with approximately 80% of these women having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The etiopathogenesis of PCOS remains unclear, the clinical characteristics of PCOS include hyperandrogenism, generally manifested as hirsutism and acne, and both these clinical symptoms are treated with oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), topical medications or antiandrogens. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) and Plant sterols, such as a phenylpropanoid glycosides of Ajuga reptans, known as Teupolioside, have attracted considerable attention due to their pharmacological properties. Taking into consideration wide-ranging pharmacological and biological properties and the safety of herbal extracts, we proposed a combination of curcumin and teupolioside to evaluate the anti-androgenic properties in women with PCOS and clinical signs of hyperandrogenism. Six hyperandrogenic PCOS women with a hirsutism score (HS) > 20, according to Ferriman-Gallwey scoring system, were involved in the study. These women were treated with a galenical preparation mixture containing curcumin and teupolioside and clinical features were assessed after 12 weeks. The nutraceutical combination containing curcumin/teopolioside ameliorated clinical manifestations associated to hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS after a 12-weeks treatment. This pilot study suggests that a curcumin/teopolioside nutraceutical combination is beneficial for improving various clinical manifestations associated to abnormal hormonal parameters in PCOS women, as well as signs and symptoms associated to hyperandrogenism.

Impact of Artificial Polyploidization in Ajuga reptans on Content of Selected Biologically Active Glycosides and Phytoecdysone

Polyploidization in plants, which involves doubling or further multiplying of genome, has the potential to improve the constituents that make medicinal plants, like Ajuga reptans, attractive to the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and food production industries; botanical pesticide effects could also be derived. The aim of this study was to determine how artificial polyploidization in A. reptans plants affected the composition and quantity of biologically active substances from the glycoside and phytoecdysone families. Diploids and artificial tetraploids of A. reptans were analyzed. Changes in the contents of trans-teupolioside, trans-verbascoside, and 20-hydroxyecdysone were evident in the aboveground parts of the cultivated plants (e.g., leaves and flowers). The tetraploid lines of Ajuga plants displayed variability in, and increased levels of, trans-teupolioside and trans-verbascoside content. The 20-hydroxecdysone content was slightly higher in tetraploids. These findings indicated that Ajuga tetraploids could be used in breeding programs to enhance the yield of substances with potential medicinal and industrial applications.

Medicinal Importance of Ajuga Species in Iran: Ethnobotanical and Traditional Applications, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Studies

Context: Five species of the genus Ajuga (Lamiaceae) having the common name of "bugle" are found in Iran. In Persian medicine (PM), the genus Ajuga (Kamaphytus) is used for treating jaundice, joint pain, gout, amenorrhea, sciatica, and wound healing. This study aimed to review the ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and biological activities of Ajuga species that grow in Iran to determine their therapeutic potentials and suggest further studies on the healing properties of this genus in Iran. Evidence Acquisition: Electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were comprehensively searched for studies on Ajuga species in Iran, including "Ajuga austro-iranica," "Ajuga chamaecistus," "Ajuga comata" (Syn.: "Ajuga chia," "Ajuga chamaepitys subsp. Chia"), "Ajuga orientalis," and "Ajuga reptans." The search period was from 1966 to February 2021. The related articles were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the current study. Results: Several ethnobotanical and pharmacologic reports have verified the traditional uses of the genus Ajuga for anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, analgesic, anabolic, anti-arthritis, antipyretic, and hepatoprotective activities. Numerous phytochemicals have been identified from Ajuga species involving phytoecdysteroids, neo-clerodane-diterpenes, iridoids, flavonoids, withanolides, phenylethyl glycoside, and essential oils. Conclusions: Due to the beneficial therapeutic effects of Ajuga genus, it can be considered in future clinical studies as a source of natural antioxidants, dietary supplements in the pharmaceutical industry, and stabilizing food against oxidative deterioration.

Phytochemical Characterization of Phenolic Compounds by LC-MS/MS and Biological Activities of Ajuga reptans L., Ajuga salicifolia (L.) Schreber and Ajuga genevensis L. from Turkey

In this study, it was aimed to characterize the phenolic contents of Ajuga reptans L., Ajuga salicifolia (L.) Schreber and Ajuga genevensis L. and to investigate their in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Air dried aerial parts of A. reptans L., A. salicifolia (L.) Schreber, and A. genevensis L. collected from Turkey were extracted with methanol (70%), and the phenolic composition of the crude extracts was analyzed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. To determine the total phenolic content the Folin-Ciocalteu method was used. The radical scavenging activities of the extracts were evaluated by the photometric 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays (TEAC). Furthermore, Ajuga sp. extracts were tested against Escherichia coli NRRL B3008, Staphylococcus areus ATCC 6538, Salmonella thyphimurium ATCC 13311, Bacillus cereus NRRL B-3711, Candida albicans ATCC 90028, Candida tropicalis ATCC 1369, and Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019 using the in vitro broth dilution assay. The LC-MS/MS analyses identified 19 compounds. The amount of total phenolics ranged from 30.0 to 42.2 mg gallic acid equivalent/g in all extracts. According to the results of TEAC assay, the tested extracts were found to have relatively high activity at 1.2-1.5 mM concentrations. Ajuga sp. extracts inhibited all tested microorganisms; however, C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis exhibited relatively more susceptibility (minimum inhibitory concentration: 156.25 µg/mL) compared to the bacteria tested. The antioxidant activities of all extracts were determined for the first time by the TEAK method, and the in vitro antimicrobial activity of A. salicifolia was investigated for the first time against selected strains.

Episodic and guanine-cytosine-biased bursts of intragenomic and interspecific synonymous divergence in Ajugoideae (Lamiaceae) mitogenomes.

Synonymous substitution rates in plant mitochondrial genomes vary by orders of magnitude among species, whereas synonymous rates among genes within a genome are generally consistent. Exceptionally, genes within the Ajuga reptans (Lamiaceae) mitochondrial genome exhibit unprecedented intragenomic heterogeneity in synonymous sequence divergence, but the biological mechanisms underlying this rate variation remain unclear. We tracked the origin and evolutionary trajectory of mitochondrial rate variations by dense sampling in Ajugoideae and found differences in the timing and magnitude of rate acceleration for particular genes. The most divergent genes accelerated earlier, retained a high rate across Ajugoideae, and are generally devoid of RNA editing, whereas moderately diverged genes accelerated later and retained relatively higher RNA editing frequency. The acceleration of mutation rates correlates with increased guanine-cytosine (GC) content, suggesting a key role for GC-biased gene conversion and/or repair after the breakage of ancestral gene clusters.

Study on Ajuga reptans Extract: A Natural Antioxidant in Microencapsulated Powder Form as an Active Ingredient for Nutraceutical or Pharmaceutical Purposes.

The administration of natural antioxidants is considered to be a prevention strategy for chronic diseases and a useful tool for the healthcare system to reduce the administration of expensive and often not effective treatments. The chemical characterization of a methanolic extract (AJ) of Ajuga reptans L. was performed, and its antioxidant activity was evaluated. AJ and the major compounds, characterized by chromatographic techniques as phenylpropanoids and iridoids, were able to reduce the Reactive Oxygen Species levels in cancer cell lines (melanoma, A375, cervical cancer, HeLa, and alveolar adenocarcinoma, A549), stimulated by E. coli lipopolysaccharide. However, a clinical translation of these results encountered a significant limitation represented by the poor water solubility and bioavailability of the extract and compounds. Consequently, a hydro-soluble powder system (AJEP3) was developed by spray-drying encapsulating AJ into a multi-component solid matrix that is based on L-proline and hydroxyethylcellulose as loading and coating agents, and lecithin as solubility enhancer. The technological approach led to a satisfactory process yield (71.5%), encapsulation efficiency (99.9%), and stability. The in vitro water dissolution rate of the bioactive compounds appeared to be improved with respect to the extract, suggesting higher feasibility in the manufacturing and administration; even the in vitro biological activity of the produced multi-component AJEP3 was clearly enhanced.

Fatty acid composition of common bugle herb (Ajuga reptans L.)

Fatty acid composition of common bugle herb (Ajuga reptans L.)