American Plants Research Articles

A Fully Validated LC-MS Quantitation Method for Psychoactive Compounds Found in Native South American Plant Species

Psychoactive drugs are compounds that alter the function of the central nervous system, resulting in changes in perception, mood, cognition, and behavior. A subclass of psychoactive drugs, psychedelics, are hallucinogenic drugs that can trigger psychedelic experiences and possible changes in mental perception. The potential use of psychedelics as a therapeutic has led to an increase in clinical research focusing on the treatment of mental disorders including anxiety and depression. There are numerous species belonging to Psychotria and Banisteriopsis which have been reported to contain psychedelic and psychoactive compounds; however, there is a lack of validated analytical methods for raw plant material, which is crucial if these plants are to be commercially cultivated for medicines. This study provides a fully validated method using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) for the following six compounds: tryptamine, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), tetrahydroharmine (THH), harmaline, and harmine. The validated method was used to determine the psychoactive concentrations in Psychotria viridis, Psychotria carthagenensis, Banisteriopsis caapi, and Alicia anisopetala. Validation parameters were established; linearity (R2 = 0.988–0.999), limit of detection (LOD) (0.06–0.11 ng/mL), limit of quantitation (LOQ) (0.18–0.34 ng/mL), accuracy, precision, extraction efficiency (>98%), recovery (74.1–111.6%), and matrix effect (70.6–109%) were all evaluated. All six compounds eluted within nine minutes, with a total analysis time of 20 min including column equilibration. This method establishes a high-throughput method for the robust analysis of psychedelics which may see future use in agricultural research and industry.

Characterization of Odorants in Clustered Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum.

The clustered mountain mint, Pycnanthemum muticum, is a pleasant-smelling, native North American plant. Despite its wide geographical presence across the United States and Canada, little is known about the specific odorants responsible for its pleasing aroma. Herein, 42 odorants were identified in the plant through solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE), gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Subsequent analysis involved determining flavor dilution (FD) factors using aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA), quantitating 14 odorants through stable isotope dilution assays (SIDA), and calculating their odor activity values (OAVs). Several noteworthy odorants with OAV ≥ 1 included pulegone (mint, medicinal; OAV 276), 1-octen-3-one (mushroom; OAV 149), menthofuran (mint, petrol; OAV 139), nonanal (citrus; OAV 21), γ-nonalactone (coconut; OAV 13), 1,8-cineole (eucalyptus; OAV 12), mintlactone (mint, coconut; OAV 12), menthone (mint, fresh; OAV 7.3), α-pinene (pine; OAV 4), and piperitenone (mint; OAV 1.9). The study also determined the stereochemistry of various chiral odorants. An aroma simulation model was developed to validate the identification and quantitative results; upon evaluation using olfactory profile analysis, no significant differences were found between the aroma model and an aqueous infusion of P. muticum (P > 0.05). These findings lay the foundation for future investigations into the diversity of P. muticum selections and can provide valuable insights for studies on plant hybridization for food and flavor applications.

Plants of the USA: recordings on native North American useful species by Alexander von Humboldt

BackgroundThe German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt conducted an expedition through the American continent, alongside Aimé Bonpland, from 1799 to 1804. Before finally returning to Europe, they decided to take a side trip to the USA between May 20 and July 7, 1804. Humboldt’s most detailed account of his time in the USA consists of a manuscript entitled “Plantae des États-Unis” (1804), containing information on useful plants and timber of the country. The aim of this paper is to retrieve, for the first time, ethnobotanical information regarding North American plants and their uses inside this Humboldt’s manuscript as well as to highlight the erasure and invisibilization of North American Indigenous knowledge within historical documents and bibliography, mainly during the nineteenth century.Methods“Plantae des États-Unis” (digitized version and its transcription) was carefully analyzed, and information on plant species mentioned in the manuscript (including botanical and vernacular names, traditional uses, and general observations) was retrieved. Traditional uses were correlated with ethnobotanical data from the Native American Ethnobotany Database and encyclopedic literature on North American plants from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as well as recent pharmacological studies searched in scientific papers.ResultsIn the manuscript are mentioned 28 species distributed in 15 botanical families, with Fagaceae (9 Quercus species) being the most representative. All species are USA natives, except for one undetermined species (only the genus was mentioned, Corylus). Four species were directly mentioned as medicinal (Toxicodendron radicans, Liriodendron tulipifera, Actaea racemosa, and Gillenia stipulata), while other four were described as tanning agents (astringent) (Cornus florida, Diospyros virginiana, Quercus rubra, and Quercus velutina). Two species were described as bitter (Xanthorhiza simplicissima and A. racemosa). Nine Quercus species were described, but five were reported as the most useful oaks for cultivation in Europe (Quercus bicolor, Quercus castanea, Quercus virginiana, Quercus michauxii, and Quercus alba); three of them were used for ship construction (Q. virginiana, Q. michauxii, and Q. alba), two as astringent (Q. rubra and Q. stellata), and one had wood of poor quality (Quercus phellos). One species was described as a yellow dye (Hydrastis canadensis), and the other was mentioned as toxic (Aesculus pavia). Ten species did not have any useful applications listed.ConclusionsAlthough “Plantae des États-Unis” is a brief collection of annotations, these data reveal a historical scenario of outstanding plants with social and economic interest in the USA at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The data highlight a clear process of suppression of the traditional knowledge of Native North American Indigenous peoples in past historical records and literature, due to the lack of acknowledgment by white European settlers and American-born explorers. This ethnobotanical inventory may help us understand the relationship between plants and Native North American Indigenous peoples, as well as European naturalists and settlers, and USA-born people in the past, and reflect on the importance of Indigenous traditional knowledge, bioeconomy, sustainable management, and conservation of biodiversity in the present and future.

Impact of Alcalase Hydrolysis and Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion on the Release of Bioactive Peptides from Erythrina edulis (Chachafruto) Proteins.

Amidst increasing awareness of diet-health relationships, plant-derived bioactive peptides are recognized for their dual nutritional and health benefits. This study investigates bioactive peptides released after Alcalase hydrolysis of protein from chachafruto (Erythrina edulis), a nutrient-rich South American leguminous plant, focusing on their behavior during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Evaluating their ability to scavenge radicals, mitigate oxidative stress, and influence immune response biomarkers, this study underscores the importance of understanding peptide interactions in digestion. The greatest contribution to the antioxidant activity was exerted by the low molecular weight peptides with ORAC values for the <3 kDa fraction of HES, GD-HES, and GID-HES of 0.74 ± 0.03, 0.72 ± 0.004, and 0.56 ± 0.01 (μmol TE/mg protein, respectively). GD-HES and GID-HES exhibited immunomodulatory effects, promoting the release of NO up to 18.52 and 8.58 µM, respectively. The findings of this study highlighted the potential of chachafruto bioactive peptides in functional foods and nutraceuticals, supporting human health through dietary interventions.

The geography of wild American ginseng in North Carolina, USA: a comparative study of four capability analysis methods

Wild American ginseng is the root component of a family of plants called Panax, and it grows mainly in the understory of the eastern deciduous forests in North America. The growing market for wild American ginseng in Asia along with the scarcity of this plant in the wild due to rising illegal harvest have been simultaneously pushing up the price of American ginseng in the market, increasing incentives further for illegal harvest of this soon-to-be-extinct species. This paper studies the geography of wild American ginseng to identify the spatial distribution of the suitable habitat of this plant in the wild and provides advice on what conditions are required and what regions are suitable for cultivating it in farms, introducing an alternative to the wild American ginseng to decrease the harvesting pressure on its wild counterpart. By employing four popular geospatial methods, including the Binary Screening method, the Ordinal Ranking method (both Graduated Screening and Addition-of-Factors methods), and the Weighted Linear Combination method, this paper carries out a capability analysis and mapping for wild American ginseng in North Carolina (NC). After building the models, they are validated by using the data of the known locations of wild American ginseng plants in NC. Developing these models helps in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of where the plant naturally grows and sheds light on how government agencies can more effectively and more efficiently plan for law enforcement activities to better protect this plant from illegal harvest. The general pattern of our results suggests that western NC counties such as Jackson, Haywood, Transylvania, Henderson, Cherokee, and Ash are some of the most suitable geographical areas for wild American ginseng to grow. The results of our model validation analysis, along with the comparison of our models' predictions to the observed occurrences of wild American ginseng in nature, indicate that the Binary Screening method’s predictions align with almost 96% of the reported observations in nature. This suggests that the influential natural factors necessary for wild American ginseng are more of complementary factors to each other than being substitutes, meaning that they all must exist in the environment for it to grow, and it could not be that the lack of one natural factor can be compensated by the abundance of another natural factor.

Erratum: Valorizing staple Native American food plants as a food resilience resource

Erratum: Valorizing staple Native American food plants as a food resilience resource

Untangling Indian Hemp: Identifying Woodlands Bast Fibers in Collections

ABSTRACT Many textiles produced by Native American Woodlands cultures are made from bast (phloem) fibers from North American plants. While bast fibers are easy to identify with microscopy, determining the exact species has long been a challenge. Historically, bast fibers from Native American communities have been referred to as “Indian hemp,” a confusing term at best. This project undertaken as part of an Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) focused on a combined approach by working with both community members and scientists to provide a cultural background for these important fibers as well as useful diagnostic tools for identification. Both macroscopic and microscopic characteristics were examined including color, feel, microfibrillar orientation, crystal species, and cross section analysis. A physical and digital reference collection was created for comparison. Eight fiber samples taken from six historic objects in NMAI’s collection were then examined to test effectiveness of bast fiber identification protocol. Results from this study confirm there continues to be limited success when identifying the exact bast fiber species in historic artifacts because of small sample size and aging characteristics.

CIPLUKAN’S ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS: MECHANISMS UNCOVERED

Background: Ciplukan (Physalis angulata Linn) is a native American plant widely distributed in tropical regions including Indonesia. This herb has been used as a traditional ingredient to treat inflammation as well as other diseases. Ciplukan’s anti-inflammatory effects are thought to be triggered by the active compounds in the various parts of the herb. Objective: This review aims to describe the herb’s anti-inflammatory effects and its mechanisms. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for articles using Boolean operations with keywords related to Physalis angulata and inflammatory components. We included literature in English and Indonesian without limiting the publication time range. Results: Ciplukan has an anti-inflammatory effect by regulating inflammatory mediators, inhibiting immune signaling pathways, and the genes associated with the immune system.

Pesticide Contamination in Native North American Crops, Part I-Development of a Baseline and Comparison of Honey Bee Exposure to Residues in Lowbush Blueberry and Cranberry.

A pesticide exposure baseline for honey bees was compiled for two New England cropping systems, the native North American plant species consisting of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton). More unique pesticide compounds were applied in blueberry than cranberry, but the numbers of pesticides discovered in trapped honey bee pollen were similar between the two crop systems. Not all pesticides found in pollen were the result of the applications reported by growers of either crop. When comparing residues, number of pesticides detected, total concentration, and risk quotient varied between the two crops. Also, blueberry was dominated by fungicides and miticides (varroacides) and cranberry was dominated by insecticides and herbicides. When comparing reported grower applications that were matched with detection in residues, the proportion of pesticide numbers, concentrations, and risk quotients varied by crop system and pesticide class. In most cases, pesticide residue concentrations were of low risk (low risk quotient) to honey bees in these crops. Estimation of decay rates of some of the most common pesticide residues under field conditions could aid growers in selection of less persistent compounds, together with safe application dates, prior to bringing in honey bees for pollination.

Intricate Networks in Nomenclature: Cases of Naming in Arthrocaulon, Arthrocnemum, and Salicornia (Amaranthaceae).

The nomenclatural status and typification of the names Arthrocaulon macrostachyum, Salicornia fruticosa, S. fruticosa var. deflexa, S. fruticosa var. glaucescens, S. fruticosa var. intermedia, S. fruticosa var. humilis, S. fruticosa var. pachystachya, S. fruticulosa, S. glauca, S. lignosa, S. macrostachya var. virescens, S. macrostachya var. glaucescens, S. perennis, S. radicans, S. radicans var. caespitosa, S. sarmentosa, S. sempervirens, and S. virginica, as well as an unnamed β-variety of S. fruticosa proposed by A. Bertoloni, are investigated. Concerning A. macrostachyum, we document that the type indicated in literature (G00177362) is not a holotype, and that lectotypification is necessary. A specimen from G (G00687638) is here designated as a lectotype. On the level of variety, Arthrocnemum fruticosum var. macrostachyum is an earlier legitimate name for Salicornia fruticosa var. pachystachya. Furthermore, Piirainen et al. are incorrect when citing Forsskål's "Salicornia" from Alexandria as "S. virginica Forssk."; it is not a new name and should be cited as S. virginica auct. non L., as published in Forsskål's Flora Aegyptiaco-Arabica. Like with numerous other parallel cases in Flora Aegyptiaco-Arabica, Forsskål's designation of "Salicornia virginica" for an Arabian plant is to be considered a misapplication of the earlier Linnaean name for an American plant. Arthrocnemum glaucum (a nomen illegitimum of Ungern-Sternberg), was listed as type species of Arthrocnemum by the Names in Current Use project; the basionym, Salicornia glauca Delile, is here lectotypified and identified as Arthrocaulon meridionale, published by Ramirez et al. Updated synonymies of Arthrocaulon macrostachyum, A. meridionale, Salicornia fruticosa, and S. perennis are proposed. Salicornia sempervirens is an invalid name according to Art. 36.1a of ICN. No original material was found for S. radicans var. caespitosa. This paper also refer to lecto- or neotypifications on specimens deposited at BM, G, LINN-HS, LY, MPU, NAP, and PAL, and their current taxonomic positions are suggested in a taxonomic part of the paper.

Phytogeographic Considerations on the Flora of Mt. Abu

The Aravallis intersect the State of Rajasthan in a southwest-northeast direction. Mt. Abu on the Aravallis is the highest point in the wide gap between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris, and thus has phytogeographlc significance. The flora of Mt. Abu has been compared with that of other hilly regions of India, and also with the flora of adjacent regions of the dry zones. It is observed that : i. the flora of Mt. Abu has some representation of mountain element belonging to subtropical and temperate regions of India. This element comprises three groups of plants, namely, (a) those occurring in all or most hilly regions of India, such as in Himalayas, Parasnath, Pachmarhi, Western Ghats, Nilgiris, etc. (26 species); (b) plants found in the Himalayas or moist places of northern India, whose southern limit is the Mt. Abu (19 species); and (c) plants found in the Ghats and hills of Deccan Peninsula and whose northern limit of distribution is Mt. Abu 38 species).ii. there are only a few plants of alpine regions in this flora;iii. large number of plants are of wide general distribution;iv. biotic factors are resulting in increase of xerophytic species on this hill.A study ofthe world distribution of the plants of Mt. Abu shows that:i. out of 469 species, 267 are tropical;ii. 80 species are eastern, southeastern, Asian and Australian;iii, 46 species are African-Arabian; andiv. 22 species are American. The American plants are mostly weeds of cultivation.

A short bibliographic review concerning biomethane production from wastewater sludge.

Biomethane production by anaerobic digestion (AD) of sludge from municipal wastewater treatment is a viable practice to valorise the residues of these plants. However, although the relevant literature is abundant, no comprehensive reviews have been recently published on this topic. Detailed information concerning the factors influencing the AD process and values of biomethane production from the sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWWTPs) on the global scale may support technicians and researchers in both the planning and the design steps of an AD process. This study proposes a systematic review and a meta-analysis of the factors that noticeably influence biomethane yield deriving from AD of sludge from MWWTP. The reported values were systematically analysed compared to the main factors driving AD, including publication year, geographical area of each study, type of digested sludge, treatment in the water line of the MWWTP, possible sludge pre-treatments, type of digestion process, hydraulic retention time (HRT) and temperature regime of the AD process. A higher biomethane production was registered in North American plants compared to countries in other continents. Older studies published between 2001 and 2005 reported lower mean values compared to the more recent experiments. A gradient of 'primary sludge' > 'mixed sludge' > 'wastewater activated sludge' was found for the mean biomethane yield in relation to the digested sludge type. The mean biomethane yields for different types of sludge on a global scale are 0.425, 0.296 and 0.176 Nm3 kg VS-1 for primary sludge, mixed sludge and waste activated sludge, respectively. Overall, the study demonstrates: (i) the very large variability of biomethane yields from AD of the residues from MWWTPs (mainly due to the different characteristics of sludge) and (ii) the non-significance of some factors (i.e. treatment in the water line, pre-treatments, type of process, HRT and temperature regime) on energy yields from the AD process.

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, an American plant used as sweetener: Study of its effects on body mass control and glycemia reduction in Wistar male and female rats.

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni water extracts have been used as a natural sweetener and customary medicine by the indigenous inhabitants of South America for several hundred years. This plant was sent to Europe in the 16th century and was described by Peter Jacob Esteve in Spain. Recently the food industry has started to employ S. rebaudiana as sweetener using its glycosides after purification. Advertisement claims that Stevia glycosides is good for controling body mass and reducing glycemia. This study's objective was to evaluate the effect of S. rebaudiana leaf extract on Wistar rats as animal model to prove its effectiveness on body mass control, glycemia reduction, and other biochemical parameters. Three groups were randomly formed with 24 males and 24 females: A blank group without any sweetener, a control group drinking water with 10% glucose, and the test group ingesting a 0.94% water extract of S. rebaudiana. Body mass measurements as well as food and drink consumption were daily performed. The experiment lasted 120 days after the specimens were weaned and got used to eating solid food. Euthanasia was done and blood serum was collected to evaluate the following biochemical parameters: Glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, insulin, glucagon, leptin, ghrelin, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide, GIP. Results indicated that only female rats had statistical differences in body mass gain. No relevant effects either positive or negative were found in the biochemical parameters measured. The crude extracts of S. rebaudiana did not show any relevant changes in biochemical and hormonal profiles, changes nor body mass with respect to the blank and control groups of young and healthy rats in the age range of infancy to youth. According to the results obtained, the therapeutic properties that have been associated to S. rebaudiana consumption especially for body mass control and glycemia reduction, did not occur in young and healthy male and female rats in equivalent age to infants, young children, and youths.

Effects of a Single Dose of Ayahuasca in College Students With Harmful Alcohol Use: A Single-blind, Feasibility, Proof-of-Concept Trial.

Ayahuasca is a South American plant hallucinogen rich in the psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine and β-carbolines (mainly harmine). Preclinical and observational studies suggest that ayahuasca exerts beneficial effects in substance use disorders, but these potentials were never assessed in a clinical trial. Single-center, single-blind, feasibility, proof-of-concept study, assessing the effects of one dose of ayahuasca accompanied by psychological support (without psychotherapy) on the drinking patterns (primary variable) of 11 college students with harmful alcohol consumption. Secondary variables included safety and tolerability, craving, personality, anxiety, impulsivity, self-esteem, and social cognition. Ayahuasca was well tolerated (no serious adverse reactions were observed), while producing significant psychoactive effects. Significant reductions in days per week of alcohol consumption were found between weeks 2 and 3 (2.90 ± 0.28 vs 2.09 ± 0.41; P < 0.05, uncorrected), which were not statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. There were no statistically significant effects for other variables, except for a significant reduction in reaction time in an empathy task. A significant reduction in days of alcohol consumption was observed 2-3 weeks after ayahuasca intake, but this effect did not survive after Bonferroni correction. The lack of significant effects in alcohol use and other variables may be related to the small sample size and mild/moderate alcohol use at baseline. The present study shows the feasibility of our protocol, paving the way for future larger, controlled studies.

Evaluation of the Subchronic Toxicity of Two Extracts of Tusca Leaves (Acacia aroma) on Rats’ Kidneys, Liver, and Stomach

Background: Acacia aroma (A. aroma), or Tusca, is a South American plant frequently used in medicine. We recently reported the antiulcer effect of two Tusca leaf extracts in rats: a 5% infusion and a 10% hydroalcoholic. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity and the in vivo oral subchronic toxicity of these two extracts in rats. Methods: Cytotoxicity was evaluated through cell viability assays using the 50% lethal concentration (LC50) on lung cells, which was calculated for each extract. Oral subchronic toxicity was studied in Wistar rats, and the clinical parameters were determined during a 90-day treatment period. Following the experimental period, biochemical parameters were analyzed, and histopathological analyses of the stomach, liver, and kidneys were performed. Results: The in vitro cytotoxicity was low in both extracts (LC50=966.78±48.34 µg/ml for the 5% infusion and 562.28±28.11 µg/ml for the 10% hydroalcoholic extract). The in vivo clinical, behavioral, and biochemical parameters, body weight, and food intake had no significant differences (P≥0.05) compared to the control group. There were also no histopathological alterations in the analyzed organs. Conclusion: The present study contributes to expanding the knowledge on the safety of the two extracts derived from A. aroma (5% infusion and 10% hydroalcoholic). Therefore, the extracts can possibly be used in the treatment or prevention of gastric diseases in future studies.

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) Extracts Inhibit the Growth of Fungal Isolates Associated with American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.).

American ginseng, a highly valuable crop in North America, is susceptible to various diseases caused by fungal pathogens, including Alternaria spp., Fusarium spp., and Pestalotiopsis spp. The development of alternative control strategies that use botanicals to control fungal pathogens in American ginseng is desired as it provides multiple benefits. In this study, we isolated and identified three fungal isolates, Alternaria panax, Fusarium sporotrichioides, and Pestalotiopsis nanjingensis, from diseased American ginseng plants. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts from the roots and leaves of goldenseal were prepared, and the major alkaloid constituents were assessed via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Next, the antifungal effects of goldenseal extracts were tested against these three fungal pathogens. Goldenseal root ethanolic extracts exhibited the most potent inhibition against fungal growth, while goldenseal root aqueous extracts and leaf ethanolic extracts showed only moderate inhibition. At 2% (m/v) concentration, goldenseal root ethanolic extracts showed an inhibition rate of 86.0%, 94.9%, and 39.1% against A. panax, F. sporotrichioides, and P. nanjingensis, respectively. The effect of goldenseal root ethanolic extracts on the mycelial morphology of fungal isolates was studied via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mycelia of the pathogens treated with the goldenseal root ethanolic extract displayed considerable morphological alterations. This study suggests that goldenseal extracts have the potential to be used as a botanical fungicide to control plant fungal diseases caused by A. panax, F. sporotrichioides, or P. nanjingensis.

Phenotypic and Genotypic Variation of Cultivated Panax quinquefolius.

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is widely used due to its medicinal properties. Ontario is a major producer of cultivated American ginseng, where seeds were originally collected from the wild without any subsequent scientific selection, and thus the crop is potentially very diverse. A collection of 162 American ginseng plants was harvested from a small area in a commercial garden and phenotyped for morphological traits, such as root grade, stem length, and fresh and dry weights of roots, leaves, stems, and seeds. All of the traits showed a range of values, and correlations were observed between root and stem weights, root dry weight and leaf dry weight, as well as root and leaf fresh weights. The plants were also genotyped using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the PW16 locus. SNP analysis revealed 22 groups based on sequence relatedness with some groups showing no SNPs and others being more diverse. The SNP groups correlated with significant differences in some traits, such as stem length and leaf weight. This study provides insights into the genetic and phenotypic diversity of cultivated American ginseng grown under similar environmental conditions, and the relationship between different phenotypes, as well as genotype and phenotype, will aid in future selection programs to develop American ginseng cultivars with desirable agronomic traits.

Zinc nanoparticles mediated by Costus pictus leaf extract to study GC-MS and FTIR analysis

Plants have been used to treat illnesses from the dawn of time, and the term “medicinal plants” has taken on special significance. Because of their pharmacological potency, these plants have continued to be used as a source of medicines and other natural goods worldwide. Costus pictus, Commonly known as flaming costus (Costus igneus Nak), is a South-central American plant recently brought to India. It belongs to the Costaceae family. It is called the “insulin plant” in India because of its alleged anti-diabetic qualities. The methods utilized in this study are GC-MS, FTIR and SEM analysis. The results revealed that GC-MS shows the presence of different compounds: fatty acids, terpenoids, Alkanes, Carboxylic acid and aromatic compounds. The FTIR analysis depicts various functional groups comprising alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, carboxylic acid, aromatic compounds, and halo compounds. SEM analysis depicts the shape and size of nanoparticles, and the size of nanoparticles is 77nm – 113nm. Further research should be done on the characterization of Zn nanoparticles, metabolomics analysis and pharmacological activities.

Assessment of the prospects of growing perennial grasses on landfills

Nineteen species of agricultural plants, recommended for cultivation in arid conditions of the USA, were tested on the dumps of the Ekibastuz coal mine. The most promising was Atriplex gardneri var. aptera - a North American plant that naturally inhabits the steppe regions of the USA. The group of promising species includes Leymus racemosus, Elymus trachycaulus, and Psathirostachys jnceus. Less promising species for biological reclamation include Calamovilfa longifolia, Bouteloua gracilis, Andropogon gerardii, Leymus arenarius, Pascopyrum smithii sv. Rosana, Pascopyrum smithii sv. Rodan, Elymus lanceolatus, Elytrigia intermedia, Agropyron cristatum, Atriplex canescens, Festuca ovina, and Elimus sibiricus. Lowly promising and unpromising species include Panicum virgatum, Agropyron cristatum x A. desertorum, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Bouteloua curtipendula. These plants are either not frost-resistant or cannot tolerate drought on the dumps.

Traditional use, phytoconstituents, and pharmacological effects of Persea americana: A recent review

Persea americana is a native American plant most known as avocado, aguacate, abacate, or palta. It is considered a commercially valuable fruit tree cultivated worldwide for its rich oil content. It has various medicinal properties throughout the plant, including fruits, roots, leaves, and seeds. Conventionally, it has been used to treat malaria, obesity, urinary incontinence, and anemia, and protect against sunlight and skin diseases. However, as avocado is a plant species with worldwide knowledge, it is necessary to constantly review recently published articles, according to the topic of interest. Therefore, the objective of this review is to compile and discuss recent studies (2010–2024) on ethnomedicinal, pharmacological, and chemical information of P. americana. Articles were searched from the following electronic databases: Scopus (n = 62), ScienceDirect (n = 70), and PubMed (n = 194). Regarding the in vivo pharmacological effects, studies suggest potential benefits for diabetes, gastric ulcers, and others, likely due to reduced glucose levels. In vitro studies mainly focused on antioxidant/anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. These findings demonstrate a high diversity of pharmacological activities achievable with P. americana extracts through various administration forms (decoction, juice extract, and infusion) and plant parts. Overall, P. americana shows promise as an effective alternative treatment for various health issues.