Artemisia Sieberi Research Articles

Levels of Expression of Hsp70 and iNOS and Effect of Artemisia Sieberi (A. herba-alba) on Activity of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid (HPT) Axis in Diabetic Rats

This work was carried out to evaluate levels of expression of the Heat Shock Protein 70 (Hsp70) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) biomarkers in extracts of Artemisia sieberi (A. herba-alba) and their impacts on the activity of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis in diabetic rats. 50 rats were separated into five experimental groups: a normal control group, a positive control group treated with dilute A. herba alba (AHE) oil extract, a diabetic non-treated group, a diabetic group treated with AHA extract, and a diabetic group treated with Metformin. Results: Orally administered 8.1 mg/kg body weight (BW) of dilute AHA oil and 14.2 mg/kg BW of Metformin were administered for 6 weeks. Serum triiodothyronine (T3) levels decreased significantly in diabetic rats and increased significantly in the rats treated with the dilute AHA oil. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in thyroid gland Hsp70 expression between the diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Metformin and dilute AHA oil treatments significantly increased the expression of Hsp70 in the thyroid gland. The results also demonstrated that diabetes significantly increased the rate of iNOS expression in the thyroid gland. Treatment with Metformin and dilute AHA oil significantly reduced the expression of iNOS in the thyroid gland. These results suggest that dilute AHA oil plays a role in the peripheral regulation of thyroid function and provide empirical evidence that it contributes to the stimulation or improvement of thyroid function.

The effects of Artemisia Sieberi, Achillea Fragrantissima, and Olea Europaea leaves on the performance and physiological parameters in heat-stressed broiler chickens.

High temperatures have detrimental effects on the performance and physiology of broiler chickens. Medicinal plants have various biological activities and may enhance the heat resistance of chickens during heat waves. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the potential roles of using specific local medicinal plants to alleviate the negative impacts of heat stress (HS) in broilers. In this study, 180 day-old chicks were used to investigate the effects of HS and dietary indigenous medicinal plants on growth performance, antioxidant biomarkers, and intestinal health. The chicks were assigned to six groups (18 pens with 10 chicks per pen) with three replicates each. In the first group, the chicks were kept under thermoneutral conditions (CON) and fed a basal diet. The other five groups were exposed to recurrent heat stress and fed a basal diet (T1, HS group) or supplemented with Artemisia Sieberi (1.25 g/kg of feed; T2), Achillea Fragrantissima (15 g/kg of feed; T3), Olea europaea (10 g/kg of feed; T4), and all the previous additives (all-in-one) combined at the same dose levels mentioned above (T5). At 21 days of age, the chicks from each group were exposed to two phases of heat stress: phase 1 from days 21 to 34 (34 ± 1°C) followed by phase 2 from days 35 to 39 (37 ± 1°C). The results indicate that HS significantly increased rectal temperature and respiration rate in broiler chickens. Feed intake and body weight gain were improved in all supplemented groups, while the feed conversion ratio was decreased in response to the dietary inclusion of medicinal plants. Additionally, glutathione peroxidase and immunoglobulin G levels were increased in the T3, T4, and T5 groups compared to the other groups. HS induced significant upregulated in the mRNA levels of heat shock protein 70 and interleukin-8, while the mRNA of occludin was decreased. The T3, T4, and T5 showed significantly decreased expression of hepatic HSP70 and ileum IL-8 genes and increased ileum mRNA occludin levels relative to the CON and T1 groups. In conclusion, supplementation with these plants enhances growth performance and maintains intestinal health sustaining the productivity of broiler chickens under HS conditions.

The Effect of Artemisia sieberi (Dermeneh Dashti) Plant Extract on the Expression of Genes Involved in the Apoptosis Signaling Pathway in the HT_29 Cell Line

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in humans. The influence of natural plant compounds is widely acknowledged today. Artemisia sieberi has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Objectives: The aim of the forthcoming study is to investigate the impact of Artemisia sieberi plant extract on the expression of key genes within the apoptosis signaling pathway of the HT-29 cell line. Methods: In this study, RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis were conducted subsequent to the culturing and treatment of HT-29 cancer cells with plains herb extract. A real-time PCR test utilizing specific primers for Bax and Bcl-2 was then performed using the Rotor-Gene Q machine. Additionally, an MTT assay was conducted to assess the toxicity of the Artemisia sieberi extract. Results: The test revealed that as the concentration of the studied extract increased, cell viability decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The calculated IC50 value for the plains herb extract was found to be 0.44 µg/mL. Furthermore, the levels of Bax and Bcl-2 genes in cells treated with the plains herb extract were determined to be 1.48 and 0.45, respectively, indicating an increase in the expression of these two genes. Conclusions: Given the low toxicity of the Artemisia sieberi extract observed in the MTT test and its potential to increase the expression of apoptosis-inducing genes in intestinal cells, it appears that Artemisia sieberi extract could be employed as a therapeutic supplement for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers.

Chemical diversity of the essential oils of Artemisia sieberi in Iran

Artemisia sieberi is widely distributed in the desert and semi-desert regions of Iran. We collected samples from different parts of Iran and proceeded to extract and analyse their essential oils using hydrodistillation and GC-MS, respectively. Among seventy-two compounds identified within the oils, the hydrocarbon and oxygenated monoterpenoids, trans-thujone (0.0–22.9%), cis-thujane (0.0–47.3%), 1, 8-cineole (0.7–37.1%), camphor (0.0–46.4%), santolinyl acetate (0–33.8%) and cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (0.0–16.4%) and the sesquiterpenoid, davanone (0.0–59.6%), were reported as the predominant components from the 17-accession. The above-mentioned GC-MS analytical results in conjunction with chemometric calculations, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA), suggested 6 chemical groups of A. sieberi collected from the Northern to the Southern parts of Iran. The chemical classification of EOs were based on the sum of concentration of terpenoids with distinct C-skeletons, but not individual constituents. These distinct groups include the species predominant in, I: thujane, II: davanone, III: davanone and bornane, IV: p-menthane, V: bornane and VI: irregular monoterpenoids. The trace or less distributed phytochemicals are also suggested to divide the A. sieberi into two main group of sesquiterpene and monoterpene producers.

Green synthesis of silver chloride nanoparticles derived from Artemisia sieberi extract (AgClNPs-ASE) induces cell cycle arrest and triggers apoptosis in human breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer cells

In recent years, metallic nanoparticles have attracted tremendous attention in nanomedicine. Here, we report green synthesis and determination of silver chloride nanoparticles synthesized using Artemisia sieberi extract (AgClNPs-ASE) and its anticancer properties against human breast cancer cells. Numerous techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectra, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectra (SEM–EDS), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis determined the morphology characteristics and size of the obtained nanoparticles. Cytotoxic properties of AgClNPs-ASE were carried out toward human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and nontumorigenic HEK293 cells. AgClNPs-ASE revealed better efficacy toward breast cancer cells and was relatively less cytotoxic to nontumorigenic cells. Induction of apoptosis was further revealed by Hoechst 33258 dye and dual acridine orange and ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining and in cells along with upregulation of caspase-8 and 9 proteins. AgClNPs-ASE could trigger the apoptosis by upregulation of early (1.93%) and late (58.86%) apoptosis followed by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐Annexin‐V/PI staining and enhanced cell cycle population (sub-G1). AgClNPs-ASE significantly increased NO production in cancer cells. Moreover, qRT-PCR study showed that AgClNPs-ASE treated cells induce increased expression of the LncRNA GAS5 gene. These findings suggest the remarkable apoptosis in cancer cells triggered by AgClNPs-ASE in vitro.

Assessing the effect of Artemisia sieberi extracts on surface roughness and candida growth of digitally processed denture acrylic materials.

Denture stomatitis, frequently encountered, is generally addressed symptomatically, with limited exploration of preventive approaches involving antifungal medicinal plants. This study assessed the impact of Artemisia sieberi extracts on the candida growth of conventional and digitally processed acrylic materials. Thirty acrylic resin discs (3 mm thickness × 10 mm diameter) were prepared by conventional or CAD/CAM technology (milling and 3D printing). The resin discs were exposed to simulated brushing, thermocycling, and immersion in Artemisia sieberi extract for 8 hours. The surface roughness of the discs was assessed at baseline and after immersion in Artemisia sieberi extract. Candida growth was quantified through colony-forming units (CFU/mL). Data was analyzed using SPSS v.22 (α⩽ 0.05). Irrespective of the material type, the post-immersion surface roughness was significantly higher compared to pre-immersion values (p< 0.05). Candida growth was significantly higher in conventional acrylic materials than digitally fabricated acrylics (p< 0.05). At × 3, Ra and CFU were found to be moderately positive and non-significantly correlated (R= 0.664, p= 0.149). At × 4, Ra and CFU were found to be weak positive and non-significantly correlated (R= 0.344, p= 0.503). Artemisia sieberi extracts had a notable impact on digitally fabricated denture acrylics, reducing candida albicans growth compared to conventional heat-cured acrylic. This suggests a potential role for these extracts in improving denture hygiene and preventing denture stomatitis, particularly in the context of digitally fabricated dentures.

Citotoxicidade e atividades anticoccidianas do extrato da folha de Artemisia sieberi: um estudo in vitro

ABSTRACT For centuries, medicinal plants with abundant supplies of phytochemicals that are physiologically active have been used in traditional medicine. Numerous of these contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities that help lower the risk of numerous diseases. The illness coccidiosis affects many animals and results in huge monetary losses. Drug-resistant strains of Eimeria spp. have emerged because of drug addiction and usage. Therefore, Artemisia sieberi (Asteraceae family) leaves methanolic extract (ASLE) was assessed for its Phytochemical components, in vitro cytotoxicity, and anticoccidial activity. Using infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), the components of ASLE were detected. Additionally, different extract concentrations were tested for their anticancer activities when applied to breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) and lung cancer cell lines (A549). ASLE was prepared and tested in vitro as anticoccidial using the oocyst of Eimeria papillate. Fifteen different functional groups were found to be present in ASLE using (FT-IR). Also, quantitative results showed phenolics and flavonoids of 235.5±2.7 and 47.89 ± 0.3 respectively in ASLE. Moreover, ASLE showed significant cytotoxicity against cancer cells. The LC50 of ASLE was obtained at 98.6± 1.8μg/mL for the A549 and 253.9±4.4μg/mL for the MCF-7 cell lines. At 96 h, significant inhibition of process sporulation for E. papillata oocysts was observed when exposed to ASLE (300mg/mL) and formalin 5%, while amprolium, DettolTM, and phenol showed different levels of inhibition. Our findings demonstrated the presence of anticoccidial in ASLE, which encourages the performance of multiple in vivo investigations to find an effective treatment.

Isochlorogenic Acid Glucosides from the Arabian Medicinal Plant Artemisia sieberi and Their Antimicrobial Activities.

A phytochemical investigation of the stems of the Arabian plant Artemisia sieberi afforded three new isochlorogenic acid derivatives, namely isochlorogenic acid A-3'-O-β-glucopyranoside (1), isochlorogenic acid A-3'-O-β-glucopyranoside methyl ester (2), and isochlorogenic acid C-3'-O-β-glucopyranoside (3), obtained along with thirteen known secondary metabolites belonging to distinct structural classes. The structures of the new metabolites were elucidated by modern spectroscopic techniues based on high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-ESIMS) and 1D/2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). All isolated compounds were tested for their potential antimicrobial activity against four different bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), in addition to a fungal strain (Candida tropicalis), The results were expressed as the diameter of the clear zone (in millimetres) around each well. Compounds 1 and 3 (isochlorogenic acid A-3'-O-β-glucopyranoside and isochlorogenic acid C-3'-O-β-glucopyranoside, respectively) displayed remarkable antifungal effect and potent antibacterial activities against B. subtilis and S. aureus, respectively. 3α,4α-10β-trihydroxy-8α-acetyloxyguaian-12,6α-olide (6) and angelicoidenol 2-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (9) emerged as interesting dual antibacterial (selective on P. aeruginosa)/antifungal agents.

Silver Nanoparticles of Artemisia sieberi Extracts: Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activities.

Artemisia sieberi (mugwort) is a member of the daisy family Asteraceae and is widely propagated in Saudi Arabia. A. sieberi has historical medical importance in traditional societies. The current study aimed to assess the antibacterial and antifungal characteristics of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of A. sieberi. In addition, the study investigated the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from the A. sieberi extract. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts and AgNPs were prepared from the shoots of A. sieberi. The characteristics of AgNPs were assessed by UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The antibacterial experiments were performed against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The fungal species used were Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei, Candida famata, Candida rhodotorula, and Candida albicans. The antibacterial and antifungal characteristics were evaluated by measuring the diameter of growing organisms in Petri dishes treated with different concentrations of either extracts or AgNPs compared to the untreated controls. Furthermore, TEM imaging was used to investigate any ultrastructure changes in the microbes treated with crude extracts and AgNO3. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts significantly decreased the growth of E. coli, S. aureus, and B. subtilis (p < 0.001), while P. aeruginosa was not affected. Unlike crude extracts, AgNPs had more substantial antibacterial effects against all species. In addition, the mycelial growth of C. famata was reduced by the treatment of both extracts. C. krusei mycelial growth was decreased by the aqueous extract, while the growth of C. parapsilosis was affected by the ethanolic extract and AgNPs (p < 0.001). None of the treatments affected the growth of C. albicans or C. rhodotorula. TEM analysis showed cellular ultrastructure changes in the treated S. aureus and C. famata compared to the control. The biosynthesized AgNPs and extracts of A. sieberi have a potential antimicrobial characteristic against pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains and nullified resistance behavior.

Artemisia sieberi Besser essential oil inhibits the growth and migration of breast cancer cells via induction of S-phase arrest, caspase-independent cell death and downregulation of ERK

Ethnopharmacological relevanceArtemisia sieberi Besser is a medicinal herb that has been traditionally used across the Middle East for the treatment of cancer. Further pharmacological studies on its extracts revealed that they possess cytotoxic activity against certain cancer cells, however, there were no studies conducted on the anticancer potential of Artemisia sieberi essential oil (ASEO). Aim of the studyTo evaluate the anticancer potential of ASEO, elucidate the oil's mode of action for the first time and investigate its chemical composition. Materials and methodsArtemisia sieberi was collected from Hail, Saudi Arabia, and its essential oil was obtained via hydrodistillation. The oil's activity against HCT116, HepG2, A549 and MCF-7 cells was assessed using SRB assay, while its anti-metastatic potential was assessed via a migration assay. Cell-cycle analysis and apoptosis assay were conducted via flow cytometry, while protein expression levels were investigated using Western blotting. The oil's chemical constituents were identified using GCMS. ResultsASEO exerted its highest cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 with an IC50 value of 38.7 μg/ml. Further studies showed that the oil inhibited MCF-7 cells' migration, induced S-phase arrest and apoptosis. Western blot analysis showed no change in the expression level of caspase-3 after treatment, indicating the induction of caspase-independent apoptosis-like cell death in MCF-7. Treatment of MCF-7 with the oil resulted in downregulation of the protein expression levels of total ERK and its downstream target, LC3, indicating that any potential activation of the ERK signalling pathway during the cancer cells' growth would be inhibited. Finally, GCMS analysis identified the oil's major components as cis-crysanthenyl acetate (48.56%), davanone (10.28%), 1,8-cineole (6.81%) and caryophyllene diepoxide (5.34%), whereby it is suggested that these compounds might be responsible for the oil's bioactivity. ConclusionASEO possessed in vitro anticancer activity and modulated the ERK signalling pathway. This is the first study to explore the anticancer potential of ASEO in detail and reflects the significance of investigating essential oils from medicinal plants that have been traditionally used against cancer. This work might pave the way for further in vivo studies that could result in developing the oil into a natural effective anticancer treatment.

Phytochemicals Identification and Bioactive Compounds Estimation of Artemisia Species Grown in Saudia Arabia

Artemisia species are very important medicinal plants, particularly in the Middle East and in developing countries. Their products have been used in traditional and medicine contemporary for the treating of infectious ulcers, gangrenous ulcers, inflammations, and malaria. Artemisinin derived from Artemisia species has been used as a drug in many countries for malaria disease treatment. Hence, this study aimed to identify and evaluate the bioactive compounds of three species of Artemisia (Artemisia judaica, Artemisia monosperma, and Artemisia sieberi) growing in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, several analytical techniques, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), UV-Visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), with reference standards, were used. The GC-MS analysis of the artemisia species revealed many bioactive constituents associated with plant secondary metabolites; some of these identified phytochemical components have biological activity. A. Judaica showed the highest number of bioactive compounds, followed by A. sieberi and A. monosperma. Further, the total phenol, total flavonoid, total tannin, terpenoids, and TCA were estimated. Furthermore, biomolecules such gallic acid, tannin acid, quercetin, and artemisinin in different artemisia species were quantified using HPLC with the reference standard. The amount of artemisinin in the leaf extract of these species (A. sieberi, A. Judaica, and A. monosperma) was found to be about 3.01, 2.5, and 1.9 mg/g DW, respectively. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of the samples was estimated. The obtained results have shown that these species possessed high antioxidant activity, and the scavenging of the DPPH radical and hydrogen peroxide were found to be raised with the increase in the plant extract concentration. This reflects the number of bioactive compounds in these species. The findings of this research support and justify the utilization of Artemisia species in folk medicine in the Middle East.

Optimization of in vitro and in vivo antifungal effects of trehalose coating included Artemisia sieberi essential oil on mulberry (Morus alba var. nigra) fruits using the hybrid RSM-GRA method.

Mulberry is prone to microbial contamination due to mechanical damage during the harvesting. This study aimed to determine, and optimize fruit microbial loads, and in vitro and in vivo antifungal effects of trehalose coating including Artemisia sieberi essential oil on mulberry fruits using hybrid RSM-GRA. Among all treatments, dropping height of 1.2m, storage regimes of 3days, and concentration of 1%, resulted in a pH of 3.188, a moisture content of 89.193%, a dry matter content of 10.807%, a total soluble solids (TSS) of 8.537°brix, an radial growth of fungus (RGF) of 1.193cm for purple mulberry fruit, and dropping height of 0.6m, storage regimes of 2days, and concentration of 1% for black mulberry fruit, leading to a pH of 3.182, a moisture content of 84.80%, a dry matter content of 15.230%, a TSS of 9.690°brix, an RGF of 1.460cm were the best conditions for mulberry fruit.

The effect of dietary inclusion of Artemisia sieberi leaves on growth performance, feeding behaviors, ruminal fermentation, feed digestibility, and blood hemato-biochemical profile of growing male lambs.

The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of replacing alfalfa hay with Artemisia sieberi leaves (ASL) on growth performance, feeding behaviors, total tract feed digestibility, ruminal fermentation as well as blood cells, and biochemical parameters. A total of 21 Kermani male lambs (average body weight (BW) of 25.2 ± 0.9kg) were randomly divided into three groups and offered the following treatments: (1) basal diet (65% concentrate and 35% alfalfa hay as forage source), (2) ASL inclusion at 25% of forage source (8.75% of TMR, ASL25), and (3) ASL addition at 50% of forage source (17.5% of TMR, ASL50). The experiment lasted for 64days, including 14days of adaptation and 50days of data collection. Dietary ASL inclusion decreased lambs' feed consumption (6.7 and 2.8% reduction in ASL25 and ASL50, respectively, p < 0.05) without affecting water intake, final BW, daily weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. Moreover, feeding behaviors, including time spent for eating, ruminating, and chewing activities, were uninfluenced by the dietary ASL addition on days 25 and 50 of the experiment. Based on the data provided, the substitution of alfalfa hay with ASL resulted in an increase in the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and neutral detergent fiber (p < 0.05). In addition, the ruminal fluid of ASL-fed lambs had a lower molar proportion of acetate and a higher proportion of propionate compared to that of the control animals (p < 0.05), whereas other volatile fatty acids (VFA) and total VFA were not different between the experimental groups. Blood hematocrit, hemoglobin, red cells, white cells, and their differentiation, platelets, glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, triglyceride, calcium, phosphorus, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase, urea, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde remained unchanged when ASL was included in the diet. Regardless of the slight decrease in dry matter intake, the lack of adverse effects of dietary ASL addition on growth performance, feeding behaviors, rumen fermentation, and blood hemato-biochemical parameters, along with positive impacts of ASL on propionate production and total tract feed digestibility, suggest that Artemisia sieberi leaves can be considered as a potential alternative feed resource for small ruminants.

First report of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’ related strain (16SrII‐C) associated with Convolvulus virgatus witches'‐broom disease in Iran

Convolvulus virgatus (Convolvulaceae) is a perennial shrub which grows mainly in desert and shrubland biomes in Iran, the Arabian Peninsula and Pakistan (Wood et al., 2015). In a 2020 survey for phytoplasma diseases, witches'-broom disease of C. virgatus (WBDCV) was observed in the Roodan area (Hormozgan province, Iran). The main symptoms of WBDCV were flower and stem proliferation, shortened internodes, little leaf, severe witches'-broom, yellowing, reddening, plant sterility and decline (Figs. 1, 2). Total DNA was extracted from leaves and leaf petioles of five symptom-bearing and five symptomless C. virgatus plants using a CTAB-based method. DNA samples were tested for the presence of phytoplasmas by direct-PCR using primer pair P1/P7 (Lee et al., 1998) and nested PCR using primer pairs P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2 (Gundersen & Lee, 1996). The expected amplicons of c. 1,800 bp and 1,250 bp were obtained in direct and nested-PCR respectively, from all diseased plants but not symptomless ones. Two R16F2n/R16R2 amplicons were randomly selected and cloned into Escherichia coli DH5α cells using the PCR TA Cloning Kit (SinaClon, Cat. No.:CL5841, Iran) and three plasmid DNAs from recombinant colonies were sequenced. The obtained sequences were identical, and a consensus sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. ON361565). BLASTn analysis of the obtained sequence showed the highest sequence identity (98.7-99.9 %) with phytoplasmas related to ‘Ca. P. aurantifolia’ (16SrII group). Phylogenetic analysis with MEGA11 software using the neighbour-joining method Fig. 3 revealed that the WBDCV phytoplasma clustered within the ‘Ca. P. aurantifolia’ (16SrII) group clade, closest to the strains of subgroup 16SrII-C. In Iran, phytoplasma strains belonging to 16SrII-C subgroup have been reported previously in Bushehr, Fars (adjacent to Hormozgan province) and Yazd provinces in several plant species including Daucus carota, Medicago sativa, Prunus dulcis, Vicia faba (Siampour et al., 2019), Alhagi maurorum and Artemisia sieberi (Esmaeilzadeh-Hosseini & Salehi, 2021); however, this is the first report of a ‘Ca. P. aurantifolia’-related strain in C. virgatus associated with WBDCV in Iran and most probably, in the world. The authors would like to thank the head of the Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Centre, Shiraz, Iran, for support and encouragement.

Ecological Niche Modelling and Potential Distribution of Artemisia sieberi in the Iranian Steppe Vegetation

Artemisia sieberi Besser occurs in many parts of the Irano-Turanian floristic region, which is mostly distributed throughout the Iranian plateau, especially in Iran. This study aimed to identify the effect of the soil and topography variables on A. sieberi distribution. We used canopy cover data to fit models using generalized additive models (GAMs). The results showed that the response pattern of A. sieberi along with the gradient of soil clay, soil saturation moisture, soil nitrogen and soil acidity followed the monotonic increase model, and its canopy cover percentage augmented by increasing the values of the factors. Conversely, the A. sieberi canopy cover percentage decreased by increasing the amount of soil sand, bare soil and the geographic aspect. The A. sieberi responses are in contrast to the niche theory. The relationship between the species response pattern and the gradients of soil silt, soil salinity, lime percentage, organic carbon, altitude, land slope, litter, gravel percentage, stone percentage, mean annual precipitation and mean annual temperature followed a unimodal model (consistent with the niche theory). The optimal growth limits for these factors were 32%, 1.75 ds/m, 35%, 1.3%, 2000 m, 43%, 10%, 32%, 250 mm and 15 °C, respectively. Our results highlight that environmental factors, such as soil texture, amount of soil lime, mean annual precipitation, altitude and land slope, had quantifiable effects on the performance of A. sieberi. Our findings could provide useful information for improvement, restoration and conservation programs. However, a further comprehension of the species–environment relationship is needed to predict the effects of climate change on the species habitat.

Antifungal Activities of Pure and ZnO-Encapsulated Essential Oil of Zataria multiflora on Alternaria solani as the Pathogenic Agent of Tomato Early Blight Disease.

The utilization of plant essential oils (EOs) and nanomaterials due to their safety compared with synthetic chemicals has been considered in the management of plant diseases. In this study, the inhibitory effects of Zataria multiflora, Nepeta haussknechtii, Artemisia sieberi, and Citrus aurantifolia EOs in pure and Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanocapsulated formulations were evaluated on the mycelial growth of Alternaria solani to find a suitable alternative for synthetic chemicals. The crystal structure and morphological properties of the fabricated nanomaterials were assessed via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses. The textural features of the prepared nanoparticles were investigated with Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, and the presence of elements in the samples was studied with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) technique. The mycelial growth inhibitory (MGI) was performed in the laboratory by mixing with potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium at concentrations of 100, 300, 600, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 ppm. Based on the results, major differences were monitored between different concentrations. At the highest studied concentration, the inhibition of Z. multiflora EO was 100%, which was 43.20, 42.37, and 21.19% for N. haussknechtii, A. sieberi, and C. aurantifolia, respectively, and the inhibition of their nanocapsules was 100, 51.32, 55.23, and 26.58%, respectively. In the greenhouse study, Z. multiflora EO and its nanocapsule (ZnO-ZmEO) were compared with the ZnO and chlorothalonil fungicide based on the highest inhibitory of Z. multiflora in vitro. The highest antifungal effect was related to the ZnO-ZmEO by 53.33%. Therefore, the ZnO-ZmEO formulation can be recommended as a biofungicide for managing and controlling tomato early blight disease after further research.

Artemisia sieberi dominated landscapes of Northeastern Iran host great diversity in lichen and annual plant species

In this study, we aim to evaluate the diversity of vascular plants and lichens coexisting in Artemisia sieberi dominated landscapes of northern Iran. Specifically, we wanted to unveil to what extent Artemisia plant cover and soil features affected species diversity and composition of annuals and lichens growing beneath them, and if annual plants and lichen species were associated at fine spatial scales. The study area was located in Artemisia steppes in North-Eastern Iran. Therefore, four localities dominated by Artemisia sieberi in Golestan National Park and Alagol wetland were selected. We quantified plant and lichen species cover in 5 plots in each location, including 25 subplots and five soil samples to characterize edaphic heterogeneity. Data were analyzed using GLM, NMDS, PERMANOVA, and Mantel Tests. We recorded 19 lichen species, three moss species, and 21 annual plant species in the four localities. Alagol and Alikhani had the most similar lichen compositions and Almeh showed great differences with other sites. However, Bagh and Almeh had the most similar and the most different annual species composition comparing the rest locations, respectively. Location explained 50% and 30% of the variance in lichens and annuals species composition, respectively. Soil chemical properties had no significant influences on lichens and annuals parameters except for Mg content in lichen evenness and clay content on total plant cover. We found a highly significant relationship between the lichen composition and annual plant species composition on fine scale (Mantel r: 0.13; p = 0.0003). The cover of Artemisia explained significant but tiny fractions of lichen species composition (1%) and annual plant species composition (2%) at subplot level. Artemisia steppes of northeastern Iran are not homogeneous habitats and shelter high diversity in lichen and annual plant species. Site location conditions may explain the differences among lichens and annuals compositions.

Gastro-protective effect of Artemisia Sieberi essential oil against ethanol-induced ulcer in rats as revealed via biochemical, histopathological and metabolomics analysis

Context Gastric ulcer is regarded as one of the main clinical ailments with high morbidity and mortality rates. Materials and methods Gastro-protective effect of Artemisia sieberi essential oil (AS-EO) in ethanol-induced rats was evaluated via biochemical, histopathological and large-scale metabolomics analyses. Glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), prostaglandin (PGE2) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) alongside with histopathological examination of gastric mucosa were analysed. Metabolites profiling coupled to Global Natural Products Social molecular networking platform (GNPS) and multivariate data analyses to reveal for changes in rats metabolome with treatments and involved action mechanisms. Results Pre-treatment with 100 and 200 mg/kg of AS-EO in EtOH-treated rats restored all parameters towards normal status compared to disease model. AS-EO alleviated the histological and pathological damage of gastric tissue caused by ethanol. Metabolites profiling revealed an increase in uracil, cholesterol and fatty acids/fatty acyl amides levels in ulcer rats and restored to normal levels post AS-EO intervention. These results indicated the efficacy of AS-EO in a dose-dependent manner, and to exert protective effects in ulcer rat model by targeting several metabolic pathways viz. lipid, energy, and nucleotide metabolisms. Conclusion AS-EO adds to the known uses of genus Artemisia as anti-ulcerogenic agent by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses associated with an ulcer. Several novel biomarkers for ulcer progression in rats were identified and have yet to be confirmed in human models.

Comparison of the effects of herbal compounds and chemical drugs for control of coccidiosis in broiler chickens

Coccidiosis is the most important intestinal parasitic disease of broiler chickens in poultry industry. Because of the increasing resistance to anticoccidial agents and presence of their residues in meat and eggs, it is necessary to find safe and new anticoccidial compounds. This study was conducted to compare the effects of two herbal compounds, including Artemisia sieberi and Curcuma longa, and their mix with a chemical anticoccidial drug on broilers’ performance during a mixed coccidian challenge. A total of 216, one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into six groups. Different herbal extracts and one chemical anticoccidial agent were used in each group. Five groups were infected with a mixture of Eimeria sporulated oocysts at the age of 21 days with crop gavage. Body weight and feed intake were measured then feed conversion ratio was calculated on a weekly basis. Mortality was recorded when occurred throughout the experimental period. Oocysts excretions and lesion scores were investigated weekly up to three weeks after infection. Eimeria-challenged birds had a reduction in growth parameters compared to the uninfected birds (P&lt;0.001); the best performance values were recorded for the groups treated with a mix of two herbal extracts and amprolium ethopabate (P&lt;0.05). The groups treated with herbal extracts had a significantly reduced oocyst excretion per gram of faeces compared to the positive control group. Lesion score of the amprolium ethopabate group was better than those of the other groups. As a conclusion, herbal extracts, especially a mix of them, could be effective in controlling coccidiosis and its complications.

Effective Inhibition of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis by Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesized with Artemisia sieberi Leaf Extract.

Aspergillus fumigatus is one of the most common fungal pathogens that can cause a diversity of diseases ranging from invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and aspergilloma to allergic syndromes. In this study, we investigated the antifungal effect of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized with Artemisia sieberi leaf extract (AS-AgNPs) against A. fumigatus in vitro and in vivo. The biosynthesized AS-AgNPs were characterized by imaging (transmission electron microscopy (TEM)), UV−VIS spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The microdilution method showed the antifungal activity of AS-AgNPs against A. fumigatus, with an MIC of 128 µg/mL. AS-AgNPs significantly inhibited the growth of hyphae in all directions, as imaged by SEM. Additionally, TEM on biofilm revealed invaginations of the cell membrane, a change in the vacuolar system, and the presence of multilamellar bodies within vacuoles. Interestingly, AS-AgNPs displayed low cytotoxicity on the A549 human lung cell line in vitro. Treatment of an invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) mouse model with AS-AgNPs demonstrated the potency of AS-AgNPs to significantly reduce lung tissue damage and to suppress the elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-17 (IL-17). The therapeutic potential of AS-AgNPs was found to be due to their direct action to suppress the fungal burden and gliotoxin production in the lungs. In addition, AS-AgNPs reduced the oxidative stress in the lungs by increasing the enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Thus, our data indicate the biosynthesized AS-AgNPs as a novel antifungal alternative treatment against aspergillosis.