Callisia Fragrans Research Articles

The role of biofertilizer on the growing efficiency of Callisia fragrans cultivated under open-air hydroponic conditions of the Ararat Valley

Background: Invention of biofertilizers (BFs) is considered to be one of the most important achievements of modern agriculture. Although these microbial bioproducts have not found widespread usage in soilless production, there is an increasing trend of research studies on BFs in hydroponics. Objective: In consideration of the high potential of biofertilizers (BFs) in hydroponics, this study examines the impact of BF on the growth efficiency of the medicinal plant Callisia fragrans (Lindl.) Woodson (C. fragrans) under open-air hydroponic conditions in the Ararat Valley for the first time. Methods: The plants were grown in a mixture of gravel and volcanic red slag. During the vegetation period, chemical fertilizer (CF), BF, as well as their different combinations were supplied to the plants. Plant’s growth and development regularities were studied via biometrical measurements, which were done periodically during the growing process. Physiological (chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids), bio- and pharmacochemical (extractive substances, total amount of flavonoids, anthocyanins) analyses were done in the medicinal raw material. The obtained data were subjected to the statistical evaluation. Results: At the end of the experimental period, the plants nourished with a combination of CF and BF, where the BF was supplied via foliar feeding (FF), as well as the plants given only CF through root application (RA), exhibited 2.9-3.5 times higher fresh overground biomass compared to the plants given BF (FF) alone. The application of BF (FF) with the combination in CF significantly increased the content of chlorophyll b and carotenoids in the leaves of plants compared to the BF (FF) variant. The maximum accumulation of anthocyanins and flavonoids of plants were mostly observed in the plants given the combination of CF and BF through the roots, as well as the ones given BF (FF) alone. Significant difference on the biosynthesis of extractive substances in the medicinal raw material between the variants has not been observed. Conclusion: Summarizing the preliminary results of the experiments, it is becoming obvious, that the application of BFs has great potential in hydroponics in order to enhance growing efficiency of C. fragrans. Keywords: C. fragrans, biofertilizer, chemical fertilizer, bioactive compounds, hydroponics, medicinal raw material

Native Medicinal Plants (Moringa oleifera Lam, Brucea javanica (L.) Merr., Eclipta prostrata (L.), Callisia fragrans (Lindl.) Woodson, and Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith) in An Giang, Vietnam: A Preliminary Investigation for Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatments using in-vitro RD cell cytotoxicity test

Cancer, one of the deadliest diseases worldwide, is projected to affect 30.2 million people by 2040. Among the various cancer types, rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a unique tumor primarily impacting the muscular system of children. The current treatment for RMS has limited efficacy and numerous side effects, emphasizing the need for novel therapeutic approaches. This study investigates the potential treatment of the RMS cell line RD using extracts from five folklore-based medicinal plants in An Giang, Vietnam. The plants—Moringa oleifera Lam, Brucea javanica (L.) Merr., Eclipta prostrata (L.), Callisia fragrans (Lindl.) Woodson, and Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith—were extracted and fractionated using three solvents: ether, ethanol, and water. These fractions underwent phytochemical screening and cytotoxicity testing on the in-vitro RMS cell line RD. The results indicate that the ether fraction of Eclipta prostrata (L.) and the ether and ethanol fractions of Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith exhibit moderate cytotoxic effects on RD cell lines, with IC50 values of 37.08 ± 1.23 µg/mL, 23.15 ± 1.17 µg/mL, and 45.63 ± 2.39 µg/mL, respectively. These findings provide preliminary data for further in-depth research into the anticancer properties of these plants, which are widely grown in the South of Vietnam.

Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Polyphenols from Vietnamese Callisia fragrans Leaves and Antioxidant Activity of the Extract

Vietnamese Callisia fragrans (C. fragrans) has been considered as a valuable traditional plant with various medicinal properties. In this study, polyphenols were extracted from Vietnamese C. fragrans leaves by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction method using ethanol as a cosolvent. The investigation of four factors influencing the total polyphenol content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of the extracts obtained from each single-factor experiment was conducted including ethanol concentration, CO2 flow rate, extraction temperature, and pressure. Besides, the extraction efficiency of the SC-CO2 method under the best extraction conditions, namely ethanol concentration of 14%, CO2 flow rate of 20 g/min, extraction temperature of 45°C, and pressure of 200 bar was compared to that of the Soxhlet extraction (SE) method in terms of the TPC and antioxidant activity of the extracts. The results showed that using SC-CO2 method, the TPC and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration value obtained were of 87.42 ± 1.33 mg/g and 243.83 ± 5.30 μM TE/g, respectively, with much less time and solvent amount required while that obtained using SE method were of 85.34 ± 4.27 mg/g and 236.33 ± 7.66 μM TE/g, respectively. This indicated that SC-CO2 would be suitable for the industrial production of polyphenols with high antioxidant activity of the extracts obtained due to the restrictions of using the SE method and advantages of applying SC-CO2 method. Therefore, SC-CO2 method could be regarded as a potentially upcoming extraction technique which might be employed to replace the conventional SE method.

Accumulation of cadmium in potential hyperaccumulators Chlorophytum comosum and Callisia fragrans and role of organic acids under stress conditions.

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation, antioxidant activity (AOA), chlorophyll fluorescence (F) and organic acid distribution in Chlorophytum comosum and Callisia fragrans plants exposed to artificially added Cd (40, 160 and 320mgkg-1) were examined in pot experiment. At the highest Cd concentration, C. comosum accumulated in roots and the aboveground parts up to 1331 and 1054mg Cdkg-1 DW, and C. fragrans up to 1427 and 1263mg Cdkg-1 DW, respectively, which are quite near at the level of hyperaccumulator. Cd accumulation in both plant species increased significantly with the increment of soil Cd dosage, and the distribution was roots > shoots > stolons. Values of BC showed rising trend indicating an accumulation potential of both species. The root AOA was positively correlated to Cd addition, especially in C. comosum. Higher values of free SA were found in roots with a significant enhancement at concentrations of 40 and 160mgkg-1 Cd. It was observed that citric acid significantly reacted in both species, while fumaric acid only in C. comosum in response to Cd which may contribute to Cd chelation. Our data indicate that both species are suitable for phytoextraction of Cd from contaminated soils which increases their value as ornamentals.

Hoạt tính kháng khuẩn của một số cao chiết thảo dược kháng vi khuẩn gây bệnh ở tôm nuôi

This study was carried out to determine the antimicrobial activity of seven herbal extracts (Ricinus communis L., Hedyotis corymbosa L., Vernonia amygdalina del., Moringa oleifera, Callisia fragrans, Acanthus ilicifolius L. and Wedelia calendulacea (L) Less) which were collected in the Mekong Delta. Antimicrobial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the seven herbal extracts were screened for two common shrimp pathogens (Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio parahaemolyticus). The results showed that (i) seven herbal extracts have different antimicrobial activity; the extract of R. communis showed the highest diameter of the inhibition zone from 17 -18 mm, followed by the extracts of V. amygdalina del., M. oleifera, A. ilicifolius L. and W. calendulacea (L) Less. with the inhibition zone range of 10 - 11 mm. Similarly, the smallest inhibition zone was recorded for the extracts of H. corymbosa L. and C. fragrans) at 7 and 8 mm, respectively; (ii) The results suggested that were also found to be effective at the extract of R. communis L for against V. harveyi, V. parahaemolyticus, with MIC and MBC values were 1.25 mg ml-1 and 2.5 mg ml-1; 2.5 mg ml-1 và 5.0 mg ml-1, respectively.

Immediate hypersensitivity to leaf extracts of Callisia fragrans (inch plant) in a dog

Contact with members of the plant family Commelinaceae, which includes wandering jew (Commelina spp. formerly called Tradescantia spp.) and inch plant (Callisia fragrans), can cause cell-mediated contact dermatitis in dogs. However, reports of canine IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to these plants have not been published. The purpose of this study was to discover whether IgE antibodies specific for extractable components of C. fragrans could be identified in serum from a dog that had anaphylactic shock after exposure to the plant and after skin patch testing with the sap from a leaf of C. fragrans. Separate aqueous extracts of leaves and flowers of C. fragrans were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting. Serum from a dog with no history or symptoms of any allergies showed no specific IgE antibodies against the leaf extract. Serum from a dog with clinical symptoms of delayed, but not immediate hypersensitivity to leaf sap from C. fragrans, showed only minor IgE recognition of a single 65 k component in sap extracted from leaves harvested in summer but not in winter. However, IgE antibodies to a serum dilution of 1:200 specific for several components of the leaf extract were seen in serum from the dog that had anaphylactic shock after exposure to sap. The molecular weights of these molecules were in the range 51 k to 83 k. The bands on the immunoblots did not match with prominently stained protein bands in the gel, but instead identified molecules in a lightly stained area of the gel with diffuse bands. Testing for glycans indicated that the carbohydrate side chains of glycoproteins contributed significantly to the immunoreactivity of the putative allergens. All three dog sera failed to show any immunoreactivity against the extract from the flowers of C. fragrans.