Sambucus Nigra Research Articles

Utilization of Molecular Simulation Applications for Stability Testing of Anthocyanin Compounds in Black Elderberry

Recently, many studies on the molecular activity of compounds have been carried out using simulations through computer programs or in silico simulations. Anthocyanins are one of the compounds that are often used as food coloring agents and can function as antioxidants to prevent blockage of blood vessels, as an anti-cancer that can prevent the development of cancer cells and tumors and have anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of the research is to determine the stability of anthocyanins using molecular simulations and determine the best mixing sequence of ingredients to produce the most stable anthocyanin mixture. Based on the results of the simulations carried out, it can be proven that the final 3 sets (the modeled compound belonging to namely AP and AZ followed by a number based on the simulation order) selected are AP17, AP18, and AZ17. The AP17 set had the lowest potential energy at the end of molecular dynamics simulations, but molecular visualization showed structural instability indicated by the formation of gaps in the molecular conformation. The AP18 set had the second lowest potential energy at the end of molecular dynamics simulations and molecular visualization showed molecular conformation that tended to be stable during molecular simulations with no change in structure. The AZ17 set had the highest potential energy of the final 3 sets selected and molecular visualization showed a gap in the conformation at the beginning of the simulation, but over time the gap became denser, indicating that the molecule became more stable over time. Based on the research results, the AP18 set was chosen because it has relatively low potential energy and it can be proven that the structure visualization of this set tends to be more stable over time during molecular dynamics simulations.

Determination of quality indicators of sugar fortified with a by-product of elderberry processing

Granulated and pressed beet sugar consists of 99.61–99.7 % sucrose, which is a source of energy for the body. However, this product does not contain other vital nutrients. The object of the study is the method of non-waste processing of elderberry fruits. Wild-growing fruits of black elder Sambucus nigra L were used as the subject of the study. Pre-cleaned elder fruits were frozen at a temperature of –18±2 °C, and after defrosting they were subjected to osmotic dehydration. For this, a 70 % sugar solution with a temperature of 50±5 °C was used (hydromodule 1). The duration of osmosis was 1 hour. The derivative product formed as a result of osmotic dehydration of elderberries (elderberry syrup) was used to enrich granulated sugar in an amount of 10 % by weight of sugar. After thorough mixing with the solution, the sugar was dried in a laboratory vacuum dryer. Anthocyanin dyes contained in the elderberries gave the sugar a bright pink color. The resulting product had a characteristic smell and taste of elderberry. The composition of sugar was studied by high-performance liquid chromatography. It was found that sugar enriched with an elderberry derivative contains 0.03±0.02 mg/100 g of vitamin C and 0.28±0.02 % flavonoids. This gives it certain antioxidant properties. In addition to sucrose, glucose (0.20±0.02) and fructose (0.27±0.02) were found in the product by the polarimetric method. Analysis of the amino acid spectrum of enriched sugar showed the presence of 18 amino acids (total amount of 5.547 mg/100 g), including all essential ones. The most found in enriched sugar, mg/100g: tyrosine (0.93), alanine (0.79), phenylalanine (0.752) and leucine (0.749). The results obtained indicate an increase in the biological value and additional functional properties of fortified sugar

Mercury distribution in plants and soils from the former mining area of Abbadia San Salvatore (Tuscany, Central Italy)

The distribution of heavy metals in plants (Castanea sativa, Sambucus nigra, Verbascum thapsus, Popolus spp., Salix spp., Acer pseudoplatanus, Robinia pseudoacacia) growing in soils from active and abandoned mining areas is of scientific significance as it allows to recognize their ability to survive in a hostile environment and provide useful indications for phytoremediation operations. In this work, soils from the former Hg-mining area of Abbadia San Salvatore (Tuscany, Central Italy) were analyzed for total, leached Hg, % of organic and inorganic-related Hg. The dehydrogenase enzyme activity (DHA) was also measured with the aim to evaluate the status of the soil, being characterized by high Hg contents (up to 1068 mg kg−1). Eventually, the concentration of Hg in the different parts of the plants growing on these soils was also determined. Most studied soils were dominated by inorganic Hg (up to 92%) while the DHA concentrations were < 151 µg TPF g−1 day−1, suggesting that the presence of Hg is not significantly affecting the enzymatic soil activity. This is also supported by the bioaccumulation factor (BF), being predominantly characterized by values < 1. Sambucus nigra and Verbascum thapsus had the highest Hg contents (39.42 and 54.54 mg kg−1, respectively). The plant leaves appear to be the main pathways of Hg uptake, as also observed in other mining areas, e.g., Almadèn (Spain), indicating that particulate-Hg and Hg0 are the main forms entering the plant system, the latter derived by the GEM emitted by both the edifices hosting the roasting furnaces and the soils themselves.

Sambucus nigra agglutinin as a supporter of docetaxel treatment in metastatic prostate cancer

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been the first treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Although 90% of patients initially respond to ADT, the disease inevitably progresses to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Docetaxel was reported to provide significant benefit over other chemotherapeutics in prolonging survival in CRPC. Recently, other chemotherapeutics have been used in cases where docetaxel is insufficient or the patient develops resistance, but yet their efficacy is limited. For this reason, it is necessary to develop docetaxel-based therapy, reduce toxicity, increase treatment efficiency. It has been shown that the non-toxic plant lectin Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) drives ovarian cancer cells to the apoptotic pathway. Increased sialic acid levels in prostate cancer have suggested that SNA lectin, which binds to glycan sialic acid residues, may also have an activating effect on the apoptotic pathway for prostate cancer. In order to evaluate this, docetaxel and SNA were applied to DU-145 cells alone and in combination. Arterwards XTT cytotoxicity test, RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, gene expression analysis by real time PCR method were performed. In our study, SNA alone did not show any effect on prostate cancer cells whereas it increased the efficacy of docetaxel. Furthermore, our study showed for the first time that SNA + docetaxel has a synergistic effect on the increase in Bim and decrease in Drp1expressions. Based on the data obtained from the current study, it is thought that the use of the SNA + docetaxel combination in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer will increase the treatment efficacy.

Ethnobotanical Investigation of Plants Used for Respiratory Tract Infections in Pirot District (Southeastern Serbia)

IntroductionIt is important to evaluate alternative respiratory infection treatments using herbal medicines, whose efficacy and safety have been shown in pharmacological and clinical studies. The study aimed to provide a review that will help screen plants used for respiratory infections that deserve further investigation and eventually develop an effective antiviral agent. MethodsThe Pirot District (Serbia) population was surveyed using a semistructured questionnaire to determine how many individuals were familiar with the useful properties of plants against respiratory infections. The surveyed population included 531 individuals from 152 villages, with 1 221 reports on the use of plants against respiratory infections. The most reported taxa are systematised by the most frequent application with the informants’ calculated consensus factor. ResultsPlants reported for the treatment of respiratory infections (65 plant taxa) were distributed among 31 families, of which the most important were Lamiaceae (14 species) and Rosaceae (10 species), and the most abundant were Lamiaceae (433 reports) and Compositae (274 reports). The most used plant taxa were Thymus spp., Matricaria chamomilla, and Sambucus nigra. The primary indications for use were the common cold (640 reports), cough (330 reports), sore throat (80 reports), and bronchitis (67 reports). Discussion/ConclusionsThe use of 21 plant taxa in respiratory disorders has not been reported in other ethnobotanical studies in the Balkans. The presented data may be a good starting point for further phytopharmacological research in the quest for suitable drugs against viral respiratory tract infections.

Dependence of some physiological indicators of generative and vegetative organs of Sambucus nigra on habitat conditions

We carried out studies on water deficiency of Sambucus nigra L. (black elderberry) plant leaves extract and fruit juice, relative turgidity, sucrose content in fruits, chlorophyll content in the leaves, as well as gas exchange rates in the leaves, in particular, the changes in the concentrations of oxygen released during photosynthesis by leaves and carbon dioxide released during leaf respiration depending on habitat conditions (altitude of the habitat, position of slopes, average annual precipitation). Taking into account the difference in climatic conditions and the generality of some indicators, Vanadzor (1326–1600 m above sea level) and Stepanavan (1400–1830 m above sea level) regions of Lori Province, "Dilijan" National Park, Lake Parz, and the forest areas adjacent to the city of Dilijan (1240–1612 m above sea level) in Tavush Province in Armenia were chosen as the research sites. The test samples were taken from eight different test sites in Lori and Tavush provinces. Tavush Province is more humid than Lori Province. The highest rate of water deficiency in the leaves of the studied plants was recorded in S. nigra f. laciniata (L.) Zabel., and the lowest in S. nigra in Vanadzor forest. It can be assumed that the index of water deficiency in the leaves may depend on the position of the slopes of the test sites and the value of the filtration coefficient of the soil types. On the north-facing slope at the height of 1341 m above sea level and on the south-facing slope at the height of 1830 m above sea level, the values of water deficiency of the leaves are almost the same. Such data allows us to assume that the degree of water deficiency in the leaves is also affected by the filtration coefficient of habitat soil types. In two points that have north-facing positions, the water deficiency of leaves at the height of 1341 m above sea level is 2.14 times more than at the height of 1328 m above sea level. At 1328 m above sea level the filtration coefficient is small and the plant absorbs a lot of water. Based on the data we received we obtained rankings of plants according to the different criteria of the experimental plants: water deficiency in leaves tissues, relative turgidity, the sum of chlorophylls in the leaves, the sucrose content in the fruits, percentage of oxygen released as a result of photosynthesis, percentage of carbon dioxide released as a result of respiration. We found a certain dependence between the indicators of the water regime and the height above sea level of the researched habitats. We also found out that the water regime is influenced by certain microclimatic conditions such as the position of the slopes, whether they are north or south facing, as well as the average annual precipitation. Knowing the physiological processes taking place in the vegetative and generative organs of the S. nigra plant is important from the point of view of evaluating the intensity of growth and development of the generative organs. We consider that the results of the study will be applicable in the process of plant selection based on the indicators of the physiological processes taking place in the plant organism.

Cytotoxicity of poly-guanidine in medulloblastoma cell lines.

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common pediatric brain tumor. The therapy frequently causes serious side effects, and new selective therapies are needed. MB expresses hyper sialylation, a possible target for selective therapy.The cytotoxic efficacy of a poly guanidine conjugate (GuaDex) incubated with medulloblastoma cell cultures (DAOY and MB-LU-181) was investigated. The cells were incubated with 0.05-8µM GuaDex from 15min to 72h. A fluorometric cytotoxicity assay (FMCA) measured the cytotoxicity. Labeled GuaDex was used to study tumor cell interaction. FITC-label Sambucus nigra confirmed high expression of sialic acid (Sia). Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to visualize the cell F-actin and microtubules. The cell interactions were studied by confocal and fluorescence microscopy. Annexin-V assay was used to detect apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis was done by DNA content determination. A wound-healing migration assay determined the effects on the migratory ability of DAOY cells after GuaDex treatment.IC50 for GuaDex was 223.4 -281.1nM. FMCA showed potent growth inhibition on DAOY and MB-LU-181 cells at 5 uM GuaDex after 4h of incubation. GuaDex treatment induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest.S. nigraFITC-label lectin confirmed high expression of Sia on DAOY medulloblastoma cells. The GuaDex treatment polymerized the cytoskeleton (actin filaments and microtubules) and bound to DNA, inducing condensation. The Annexin V assay results were negative. Cell migration was inhibited at 0.5µM GuaDex concentration after 24h of incubation.GuaDex showed potent cytotoxicity and invasion-inhibitory effects on medulloblastoma cells at low micromolar concentrations. GuaDex efficacy was significant and warrants further studies.

Spray drying to produce novel phytochemical-rich ingredients from juice and pomace of American elderberry

The cultivation and commercialization of American elderberries (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis), rich in acylated anthocyanins, is nascent. In this study, American elderberry juice and pomace extract were spray dried using soy protein isolate (SPI) or tapioca starch (TS) as carriers to develop functional food ingredients. Physicochemical, morphological, and bioactive properties were analyzed, and an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion model was used to study polyphenol bioaccessibility. An efficient spray drying process (solids recovery >60%) was established. Elderberry particles produced with SPI had higher solubility (60%–64%), lower porosity (69%–70%), and better flowability (22% Carr index, 1.29 Hausner ratio). Spray dried particles produced with tapioca starch showed significantly higher total polyphenol content (42–49 mg gallic acid equivalent/g sample), proanthocyanidin content (0.76–2.86 mg proanthocyanidin-B2/g sample), and anthocyanins (7.86–33.80 mg/g sample) for both elderberry juice and pomace extract, compared to SPI-derived ones. Particles of encapsulated elderberry juice or pomace extract with SPI had higher bioaccessibility compared to non-encapsulated elderberry juice or TS-derived particles. Overall, spray drying American elderberry juice and pomace extract is an effective and sustainable strategy to create novel ingredients for multiple food applications. These findings offer an industry-friendly technological solution to develop value-added ingredients for the emerging American elderberry market.

Prevalence of Chronic Pruritus in Elderly Black and White Inpatients: A Comparative Population Study.

Black and geriatric patients were reported in small scale studies to have more intense chronic pruritus (CP). Studies comparing itch across geriatric racial groups are lacking. To compare the prevalence of CP in Black and White inpatients ≥ 65 years old as well as the top primary diagnoses of these populations. We used data from the National Inpatient Sample from 2016-2019 to analyze CP prevalence and ICD10-CM to identify diseases. The top five primary diagnoses were calculated for a subpopulation with CP. Sample characteristics were described, and the data was pooled and analyzed using IBM SPSS® Complex Sample modules. Among hospitalized Black inpatients ≥ 65 years old, the prevalence of CP was 0.26% while in the White cohort it was 0.22%. The top five primary diagnoses in the Black population with itch were sepsis (4.2%); hypertensive heart and chronic kidney disease (CKD) with heart failure (HF) and stage 1-4 CKD, or unspecified CKD (4.1%); acute kidney failure (4.0%); hypertensive heart and CKD with HF with stage 5 CKD, or end-stage renal disease (2.1%); and hypertensive heart disease with HF (1.7%). The top five primary diagnoses in the White population were sepsis (4.25%); acute kidney failure (3.0%); hypertensive heart and CKD with HF and stage 1-4 CKD, or unspecified CKD (2.5%); cellulitis of left lower limb (1.9%); and unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee (1.9%). Geriatric hospitalized Black patients demonstrated a higher prevalence of chronic itch compared with the White cohort, which may be related to the higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease in different stages of severity in this population.

Characteristics of Unripened Cow Milk Curd Cheese Enriched with Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) Industry By-Products.

The aim of this study was to apply raspberry (Ras), blueberry (Blu) and elderberry (Eld) industry by-products (BIB) for unripened cow milk curd cheese (U-CC) enrichment. Firstly, antimicrobial properties of the BIBs were tested, and the effects of the immobilization in agar technology on BIB properties were evaluated. Further, non-immobilized (NI) and agar-immobilized (AI) BIBs were applied for U-CC enrichment, and their influence on U-CC parameters were analyzed. It was established that the tested BIBs possess desirable antimicrobial (raspberry BIB inhibited 7 out of 10 tested pathogens) and antioxidant activities (the highest total phenolic compounds (TPC) content was displayed by NI elderberry BIB 143.6 mg GAE/100 g). The addition of BIBs to U-CC increased TPC content and DPPH- (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl)-radical scavenging activity of the U-CC (the highest TPC content was found in C-RaNI 184.5 mg/100 g, and strong positive correlation between TPC and DPPH- of the U-CC was found, r = 0.658). The predominant fatty acid group in U-CC was saturated fatty acids (SFA); however, the lowest content of SFA was unfolded in C-EldAI samples (in comparison with C, on average, by 1.6 times lower). The highest biogenic amine content was attained in C-EldAI (104.1 mg/kg). In total, 43 volatile compounds (VC) were identified in U-CC, and, in all cases, a broader spectrum of VCs was observed in U-CC enriched with BIBs. After 10 days of storage, the highest enterobacteria number was in C-BluNI (1.88 log10 CFU/g). All U-CC showed similar overall acceptability (on average, 8.34 points); however, the highest intensity of the emotion "happy" was expressed by testing C-EldNI. Finally, the BIBs are prospective ingredients for U-CC enrichment in a sustainable manner and improved nutritional traits.

Chemical Characterization, Bioactivity and Toxicity of European Flora Plant Extracts in Search for Potential Natural Origin Preservatives.

Consumer demand for natural and healthier products has led to an increasing interest in the bioactive and therapeutic properties of plant extracts. In this study, we evaluated the phenolic compounds profile, bioactivities, and toxicities of plant extracts from eight European flora species, including Calendula officinalis L., Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull, Hippophae rhamnoides L., Juglans regia L., Mentha cervina L., Rubus idaeus L., Sambucus nigra L., and Vitis vinifera L. The aim was to identify potential preservatives of natural origin. Phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS. Caffeic acid derivatives, ellagitannins, flavonols, and flavones were the major phenolic compounds identified. The total phenolic content varied from 16.0 ± 0.2 (V. vinifera) to 123 ± 2 mg/g (H. rhamnoides) of dry extract. All extracts showed antioxidant potential and exhibited activity against some of the microorganisms tested. S. nigra showed the highest activity in the inhibition of oxidative hemolysis (OxHLIA) assay and H. rhamnoides, notably, had the lowest IC50 values in TBARS and DPPH assays, as well as the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. Regarding in vitro cytotoxicity, in tumor and non-tumor cell lines, although some extracts revealed toxicity against normal cells, it was found that the samples C. vulgaris, V. vinifera and R. idaeus might be used against tumor cells since the active concentration is much lower than the one causing toxicity. In vivo acute toxicity tests using Artemia franciscana suggest low toxicity for most extracts, with LC50 > 400 mg/L. These results showed the potential of the studied extracts as natural preservatives, given their richness in compounds with bioactive properties, highlight their potential value to the production chain.

Synthesis of Neuraminidase-Resistant Sialyllactose Mimetics from N-Acyl Mannosamines using Metabolically Engineered Escherichia coli.

Herein, we describe the efficient gram-scale synthesis of α2,3- and α2,6-sialyllactose oligosaccharides as well as mimetics from N-acyl mannosamines and lactose in metabolically engineered bacterial cells grown at high cell density. We designed new Escherichia coli strains co-expressing sialic acid synthase and N-acylneuraminate cytidylyltransferase from Campylobacter jejuni together with the α2,3-sialyltransferase from Neisseria meningitidis or the α2,6-sialyltransferase from Photobacterium sp. JT-ISH-224. Using their mannose transporter, these new strains actively internalized N-acetylmannosamine (ManNAc) and its N-propanoyl (N-Prop), N-butanoyl (N-But) and N-phenylacetyl (N-PhAc) analogs and converted them into the corresponding sialylated oligosaccharides, with overall yields between 10 % and 39 % (200-700 mg.L-1 of culture). The three α2,6-sialyllactose analogs showed similar binding affinity for Sambucus nigra SNA-I lectin as for the natural oligosaccharide. They also proved to be stable competitive inhibitors of Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase. These N-acyl sialosides therefore hold promise for the development of anti-adhesion therapy against influenza viral infections.

Sugar in the hospitality industry

This study is designed to reveal the role of sugar in the hospitality industry. The purpose of the study is to analyze the range of sugar used in restaurant technologies and develop recommendations for its expansion and application, the creation of a gastronomic brand based on sugar. The subject of the study was the fruits of wild plants: viburnum (Viburnum opulus), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), elderberry (Sambucus nigra), mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) and fortified sugar. It is proposed to enrich sugar with a derivative product of processing wild fruits by the method of osmotic dehydration (sugar solution). It is expedient to use this technology in craft industries. An analytical review of literary sources was carried out, on the basis of which directions for the use of various types of sugar in restaurant technologies were formulated. It has been established that the high cost of imported sugars contributes to an increase in the cost of products with their use. The methodological basis for creating a gastronomic brand was the improvement of approaches to the cultural branding of Ukraine in the international arena by planning the development of "gastronomic tourism" not only as a tourist attraction, but also as a tool for implementing the strategy of public diplomacy. The gastronomic brand "Noble Sugar" was developed on the basis of local raw materials. Directions for the use of fortified sugar in the production of many foods and drinks have been developed, which can be attributed to gastronomic innovations. The presented products are unique and have no analogues in the hospitality industry

Different susceptibility of two Botrytis cinerea strains to supercritical CO2 plant extracts

Botrytis cinerea is an airborne plant pathogen with a necrotrophic lifestyle. As a generalist, B. cinerea has no host specificity and infects over 500 plant species. There are many studies about phenotypic and genotypic diversity of B. cinerea strains from different regions of the world. Two different morphological strains of B. cinerea were previously isolated also in Slovenia from buckwheat. The morphological diversity of B. cinerea is also reflected in different susceptibility to plant extracts. We tested the susceptibility of two B. cinerea strains derived from buckwheat grain to eleven extracts of plant species Humulus lupulus, Nepeta cataria, Taraxacum officinale, Achillea millefolium, Calendula officinalis, Chamomilla recutita, Helichrysum arenarium, Hypericum perforatum, Juniperus communis, Sambucus nigra and Crataegus sp. obtained by supercritical fluid extraction using CO2 (SFE-CO2). The resistance profiles showed that strain II of B. cinerea was generally susceptible to the action of these SFE-CO2 extracts, whereas strain I was more resistant. The concentration-dependent antifungal activity of the extract of chamomile and sandy everlasting indicates their possible use as a fungicide for both strains of B. cinerea.

Distribution of Species and Life Forms of the Genus Sambucus L. in Lori and Tavush Marzes of Armenia

Key words: vegetation, life forms, biometric indicators, forest, natural ecosystems, biological diversity The territory for our research belongs to the Ijevan floristic region, covers the basins of the Aghstev and Debed rivers. The purpose of the work is to identify the distribution areas, life forms of some species of the genus Sambucus nigra L. in the forest ecosystem of the Lori and Tavush marzes. The features of the distribution areas of species and life forms (trees, shrubs, herbs) of the genus Sambucus L. under the conditions of altitudinal zonality of these areas are determined. In the undergrowth of the surrounding forests of Vanadzor and Stepanavan, shrubs (up to 6 m) trees of the species Sambucus nigra L. It should be noted that the Black Elderberry outside the fores is represented only by trees and in the undergrowth – by shrubs. On the outskirts of the city of Vanadzor, at the foot of the forest, unpretentious shrub S.nigra. laciniata L. Zabel. grows. In Tavush Marz, particularly in the vicinity of Dilijan and Lake Parz Lich, all life forms are found. S. nigra L. and S. ebulus L. species are common in the vicinity of the city of Dilijan and the Dilijan National Park. Representatives of the Sambucus nigra L. species are found in the undergrowth of the mixed forest. Sambucus ebulus L. is found in clear thickets, in open, well-lit areas. Elderberry species grow almost everywhere, but are especially fruitful in full sun. There are approximately 25-40 individuals in the population. Due to the differences in climatic conditions in Lori and Tavush marzes, the stages of the growing season take place in different time periods.

High potential for foliar water uptake in early stages of leaf development of three woody angiosperms.

Foliar water uptake (FWU) is a widespread mechanism that may help plants cope with drought stress in a wide range of ecosystems. FWU can be affected by various leaf traits, which change during leaf development. We exposed cut and dehydrated leaves to rainwater and measured FWU, changes in leaf water potential after 19 h of FWU (ΔΨ), minimum leaf conductance (gmin ), and leaf wettability (abaxial and adaxial) of leaves of Acer platanoides, Fagus sylvatica, and Sambucus nigra at three developmental stages: unfolding (2-5-day-old), young (1.5-week-old) and mature leaves (8-week-old). FWU and gmin were higher in younger leaves. ΔΨ corresponded to FWU and gmin in all cases but mature leaves of F. sylvatica, where ΔΨ was highest. Most leaves were highly wettable, and at least one leaf surface (adaxial or abaxial) showed a decrease in wettability from unfolding to mature leaves. Young leaves of all studied species showed FWU (unfolding leaves: 14.8 ± 1.1 μmol m-2 s-1 ), which may improve plant water status and thus counterbalance spring transpirational losses due to high gmin . The high wettability of young leaves probably supported FWU. We observed particularly high FWU and respective high ΔΨ in older leaves of F. sylvatica, possibly aided by trichomes.

Triple Inhibitor Mechanism of Antiretroviral from Sambucus nigra Phytochemical through Screening Docking

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has a higher infectious nature than HIV-2 because of the genetic drift mechanism. Several HIV-1 strains such as A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, &amp; J were obtained from Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, and America. Endemic cases of HIV-1 are often found and HIV-2 is very rare, therefore the development of antiretroviral drugs is currently focused on treating HIV-1 infection5. Research on HIV-1 vaccines is still in the research phase and some patients are only taking antiretrovirals to survive. Sambucus nigra L. is used by the community for traditional medicine such as influenza A, B, C and SARS-CoV-2 infectious diseases. There are no research reports related to the potential of Sambucus nigra L. as an antiretroviral in the treatment of HIV-1 infection and the specific molecular mechanisms that explain it, therefore this research is important for the discovery of alternative antiretroviral drugs from natural materials. The in silico method used in this study consists of Sambucus nigra L. compounds retrieval, HIV-1 protein preparation, molecular docking, and 3D visualization. Sambucus nigra L. can have inhibitory activity on three enzymes of HIV-1 such as protease (PR), reverse transcriptase (RT), integrase (INT) through naringenin and Cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside compounds. Both compounds have more negative binding energy, form stable binding interactions in the target domain, and trigger inhibitory activity.

BIOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF TRADITIONAL ROMANIAN FERMENTED DRINKS - SOCATA AND BORȘ - A REVIEW

Fermented beverages are products that involve biochemical changes during the microaerophilic processes under the action of microorganisms and their secreted enzymes. Food fermentations include four main processes: lactic fermentation, alcoholic fermentation, acetic fermentation (which is an aerobic process) and alkaline fermentation. In this paper we aim to review the studies carried out on two Romanian traditional non-dairy fermented beverages which have not benefited of the attention they deserve, such as elderflower (Sambucus nigra) fermented drink (socata) and sour liquid soup seasoning (borș). These drinks are derived from a sweetened infusion of elder flowers (socata) and wheat bran (borș) that are fermented by consortia of microorganisms. Socata was shown to be fermented by consortia of yeast and lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Borș is produced by fermentation with heterofermentative LAB. These traditional fermented beverages are characterized as a source of probiotics. Previous research has demonstrated that both are a rich source of bioactive/antioxidant flavonoids and phenolic acids, minerals and vitamins. Several techniques are used for the determination of the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity, such as the determination of individual phenolic compounds using HPLC, determination of total phenolic content using Folin- Ciocalteu reagent, determination of ABTS and DPPH radical cation scavenging activity, determination of ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay.

Anti-Inflammatory and Protective Effects of Water Extract and Bioferment from Sambucus nigra Fruit in LPS-Induced Human Skin Fibroblasts.

In this study, an attempt was made to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and protective effects of the Sambucus nigra fruit extract and its ferment obtained by fermentation with kombucha tea fungus. For this purpose, fermented and non-fermented extracts were compared in terms of their chemical composition by the HPLC/ESI-MS chromatographic method. The antioxidant activity of the tested samples was assessed using DPPH and ABTS assays. Cytotoxicity was also determined using Alamar Blue and Neutral Red tests to assess the viability and metabolism of fibroblast and keratinocyte skin cells. Potential anti-aging properties were determined by their ability to inhibit the activity of the metalloproteinases collagenase and elastase. Tests showed that the extract and the ferment have antioxidant properties and stimulate the proliferation of both cell types. The study also assessed the anti-inflammatory activity of the extract and ferment by monitoring levels of the pro-inflammatory interleukins IL-6, IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory IL-10 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated fibroblast cells. The results indicate that both the S. nigra extract and its kombucha ferment can be effective in preventing free-radical-induced cell damage and have positive effects on skin cell health.

Human Health Risk Assessment to the Consumption of Medicinal Plants with Melliferous Potential from the Romanian South-Eastern Region.

This study presents the impact on human health by consuming medicinal herbs with high melliferous potential (HMPs) from botanical areas with different pollution levels. First, the bioaccumulation of the plants' parts has been determined. The study assessed the potential health risks associated with the ingestion of various mineral species (macroelements-K, Ca, Mg, Na; microelements-Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and one trace element Cd) from three types of HMPs (Sambucus nigra (SnL), Hypericum perforatum (Hp), and Tilia tomentosa (Tt)). The average concentrations of these elements were not similar even in the same type of HMPs. Nevertheless, all samples contained detectable levels of the studied elements. The average concentrations of the studied elements were very low (significantly lower than the legal limit set by the WHO). The study's findings indicated that the potential health risks associated with ingesting the elements in HMPs were within acceptable limits for children and adults. The hazard quotient (HQ) for Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Cd and the hazard index (HI) for the minerals from HMPs were significantly lower than the acceptable limit (HQ and HI = 1). Similarly, the carcinogenic risk for chemical substances (Riskccs) were lower than or close to the acceptable limit (1 × 10-4).