Chelidonium Majus Research Articles

Exploring Pharmacological Mechanisms, Clinical Trials and Patent Landscapes of Berberine: A Review

Abstract: Traditional Chinese medicine has used berberine (BBR) for a long time. Berberine is a natural compound found in several plants, including Berberis lyceum Royle, Berberis thunbergii DC, Berberis koreana Palib., Berberis vulgaris L., Mahonia aquifolium, Mahonia bealei (Fort.) Carr., and Chelidonium majus L. Berberine is believed to help treat many diseases, such as ovarian and colorectal cancer, high blood pressure, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, heart disorders, depression, viral infections, and inflammatory diseases. However, when taken orally, berberine quickly breaks down in the body, leading to low levels in the bloodstream. This means that its absorption in the intestines is limited, which reduces its effectiveness despite its potential health benefits. The liver is the main organ that processes and uses berberine in both animals and humans, and about 84% of berberine and its byproducts are excreted in the feces. We thoroughly reviewed the available research on berberine from reliable sources like PubMed, ScienceDirect, ClinicalTrials. gov, and Scopus. Our study summarizes the latest findings on the therapeutic benefits of berberine and provides updated information on clinical research and patents. This review covers the various pharmacological effects of berberine, including its use in treating Alzheimer's disease, high blood pressure, neuroprotective effects, anti-arrhythmia, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, cancer, and depression.

Scurvy-Anow forgotten previously widespread disease

From the sea voyages of the fifteenth century often lasting for years with provisions only of fish, salted meat and biscuits reports came of fatal health alterations of the seamen which were characterized by prostration, loss of teeth and bad breath.Reports on comparable endemic illnesses soon came from the Netherlands, North Germany, the Baltic area, France, Lorraine, Geneva, Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Swabia and Russia: the so-called land scurvy. The first medical specification was found in aletter from 1541 by Johann Echt to colleges in the area of Lower Germany, which was published four times. One of the first comprehensive considerations was prepared by the English physician James Lind. Scurvy was also mostly published under many local names, such as Skorbut, Scharbock or Scheurbuik.The pathology of scurvy is dominated by gingival necrosis with loss of teeth, hemorrhages with destruction of the cartilage-bone border especially of the ribs and by subperiosteal hemorrhages of the ribs and long bones.For treatment and prevention of scurvy eating green plants as originally Ficaria verna (lesser celandine, pilewort), Chelidonium majus (great celandine, nipplewort, tetterwort) and Cochlearia officinalis (scurvy grass) proved to be effective. Where green plants were missing decoctions of conifer needles and fresh animal innards were used. When the infantile disease originally named "acute rachitis" in England was diagnosed as scurvy (later Möller-Barlow disease) the treatment of cow's milk for baby food became of great interest.Finally, hexuronic acid, later called ascorbic acid or vitaminC, was found to be adrug that could easily dosed for curing and prevention of scurvy.

Chelerythrine inhibits NR2B NMDA receptor independent of PKC activity

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR), the ligand ion glutamate receptor channels, mediate major excitatory neurotransmission in central nervous system (CNS). They highly express in CNS and involve in multiple physiological processes. Many studies implicated that NMDAR plays a crucial role in number of neurological disorders, including ischemia, dementia, and pain, indicating its potential as a therapeutic target for treatments. Chelerythrine (CHE) is a benzo-phenanthridine alkaloid extracted from Chelidonium majus with many biological activities including anti-inflammatory, anticancer effect, and antidiabetic effect. But the mechanism of CHE is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CHE on the NMDAR. The results demonstrated that CHE effectively suppressed NMDA-induced currents in primary cultured cortical neurons. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we expressed NMDARs in HEK293 cells and found that CHE and some of its structural analogues inhibited NMDAR currents and facilitated the desensitization of GluN2B NMDARs. Notably, these effects were independent of protein kinase C activity, suggesting that the effect of CHE on GluN2B-containing NMDAR may occur through a mechanism of directly interaction with NMDAR. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of CHE on GluN2B NMDARs is pH-dependent. Molecular docking prediction in conjunction with mutagenesis analysis revealed that the M3 α-helical segment of the NMDAR in close proximity to the GluN2B Thr647 amino acid plays an important role in CHE inhibition of GluN2B. This study revealed a novel function of CHE and its structural analogues in inhibiting the NMDARs and promoting GluN2B-mediated desensitization by obstructing the receptor at the channel pore region.

A Review of the Therapeutical Perspective of Phytochemicals in the Treatment of HIV

Abstract: HIV/AIDS is one of the most widespread global diseases. It is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which leads to the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In AIDS patients, the immune system progressively weakens, making them vulnerable to various infections and cancers. The virus can be transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breast milk, where HIV can be found in both free virus particles and infected immune cells. Although drug resistance remains a challenge for HIV/AIDS treatment, researchers are exploring the use of natural substances in the development of anti-HIV drugs. Clinical trials based on plant-derived compounds are currently being conducted. Experimental research suggests that plants may have the potential to treat HIV. However, the identification of active compounds, testing of extracts, and creation of suitable bioassays are all complex processes. Natural product scientists face the challenge of separating these complicated extracts into their active components. Various phytochemicals found in Astragalus membranaceus Bunge, Chelidonium majus L, Combretum molle (R. Br. ex. G. Don.) Engl& Diels, Dittrichiaviscosa (L.) Greuter, Helichrysum populifolium, Hoodia gordonii (Masson) Sweet ex Decne, and Hypericumperf, have been investigated pharmacologically and pharmacokinetically. Further research is needed to optimize formulations and production in accordance with preclinical safety and efficacy studies.

Enhancing Wound Healing: A Comprehensive Review of Sericin and Chelidonium majus L. as Potential Dressings.

Wound healing, a complex physiological process orchestrating intricate cellular and molecular events, seeks to restore tissue integrity. The burgeoning interest in leveraging the therapeutic potential of natural substances for advanced wound dressings is a recent phenomenon. Notably, Sericin, a silk-derived protein, and Chelidonium majus L. (C. majus), a botanical agent, have emerged as compelling candidates, providing a unique combination of natural elements that may revolutionize conventional wound care approaches. Sericin, renowned for its diverse properties, displays unique properties that accelerate the wound healing process. Simultaneously, C. majus, with its diverse pharmacological compounds, shows promise in reducing inflammation and promoting tissue regeneration. As the demand for innovative wound care solutions increases, understanding the therapeutic potential of natural products becomes imperative. This review synthesizes current knowledge on Sericin and C. majus, envisioning their future roles in advancing wound management strategies. The exploration of these natural substances as constituents of wound dressings provides a promising avenue for developing sustainable, effective, and biocompatible materials that could significantly impact the field of wound healing.

Influence of medicinal plants on Blaberus craniifer cockroaches and their parasites, gregarines and nematodes

Cockroaches, especially those living in forest litter and feeding on foliage, have been consuming plants for millions of years. Can secondary metabolites of plants affect the parasite-host system and successfully treat the cockroaches’ parasites gregarines and nematodes? In our experiment, 204 Blaberus craniifer (Blattodea, Blaberidae) cockroaches consumed the standard diet supplemented with medicinal plants in a dose of 10% of the general fodder mass, particularly, plants of the families Acoraceae (Acorus calamus), Papaveraceae (Chelidonium majus), Rosaceae (Potentilla erecta), Juglandaceae (Juglans regia), Fagaceae (Quercus robur), Brassicaceae (Capsella bursa-pastoris), Hypericaceae (Hypericum perforatum), Gentianaceae (Centaurium erythraea), Lamiaceae (Origanum vulgare, Salvia officinalis, Thymus pallasianus), and Asteraceae (Achillea millefolium, Arctium lappa, Artemisia absinthium, Matricaria chamomilla, and Tanacetum vulgare). With age (i.e. gaining body mass), the intensity of infestation of cockroaches with female and male nematodes Cranifera cranifera significantly increased. The multifactor dispersion analysis found no significant effect of the number of parasites (two gregarines, Blabericola cubensis and Protomagalhaensia granulosae, and one nematode, Cranifera cranifera) on the rates of changes in body mass of the cockroaches during the experiment. Also, there was observed no effect of the number of parasites on the rates of cockroaches’ food consumption. The rates of body-mass gain during the experiment were closely associated with the initial body mass of the cockroaches: the larger the cockroach was in the beginning of the experiment, the greater the increase in its body mass later in the experiment. None of the three species of B. craniifer parasites that we studied significantly changed their numbers when subject to 10% dry medicinal plants in the hosts’ fodder, compared to the control group of cockroaches that did not consume the medicinal raw material. Intake of none of the 16 species of medicinal plants we tested led to significant changes in the rates of body-mass gain in the cockroaches. Compared to the control group, the experimental groups of cockroaches had no significant changes in the fodder consumption rates. Our experiment demonstrated that the cockroaches, together with their parasites, are substantially adapted to the influences of secondary metabolites of the 16 medicinal plants that we studied, although, in their natural range they had most likely never encountered any of those plants. Therefore, on the one hand, the considered parasite-host system was observed to be very balanced, the host being minimally harmed, and on the other hand, secondary metabolites of the plants had no significant effect either on the parasites (two species of gregarines and one species of nematodes) or on their hosts even in the highest tested concentrations (10% of the fodder mass).

Cardioprotective effect of chelidonic acid against doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity in rats

Introduction and objectivesThe current study evaluates the effect of chelidonic acid on doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity. Chelidonic acid (CA) is a natural pyran-skeleton heterocyclic compound found in rhizomes of the perennial plant, celandine (Chelidonium majus). MethodsWistar rats were given an intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin (1.25 mg/kg, cumulative dose of 20 mg/kg) four times per week for a duration of four weeks to induce cardiotoxicity. CA treatment (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg orally for four weeks) was started together with doxorubicin. ResultsCA treatment reduced myocardial damage and improved cardiac dysfunction in doxorubicin-treated rats. It improved blood pressure, restored ST wave height and normalized the QTc interval compared to the rats treated only with doxorubicin. Administration of CA for four weeks reduced left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Moreover, CA treatment decreased the level of cardiac markers such as creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and cardiac troponin-T. Masson's trichrome, hematoxylin, and eosin staining of heart tissue revealed that CA attenuated the deleterious effects of doxorubicin and prevented further damage and fibrosis in rats. ConclusionThe study findings confirm that CA treatment can protect the myocardium against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Novel Approaches for the Analysis and Isolation of Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloids in Chelidonium majus

AbstractBenzylisoquinoline alkaloids are the major bioactive components in Chelidonium majus, a plant that has a long usage history for the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments in European and Asian phytomedicine. This study reports on the development and application of a supercritical fluid chromatography technique for the simultaneous qualitative and quantitative determination of seven benzylisoquinoline alkaloids in under six minutes using a Viridis BEH 2-EP column and a modifier comprising methanol with 30% acetonitrile and 20 mM ammonium formate. The method was fully validated according to ICH guidelines showing, e.g., excellent linearity (≥ 0.9997) and maximum deviations for intraday and inter-day precision of 2.99 and 2.76%, respectively. The new supercritical fluid chromatography assay was not only employed for the analysis of several C. majus samples but was also used for the subsequent development of a fast centrifugal partition chromatography technique, whereby five benzylisoquinoline alkaloids could be isolated within approximately 2.5 h, with only two of them, protopine and chelidonine, requiring an additional purification step. To achieve this, a solvent system composed of chloroform/methanol/0.3 M hydrochloric acid was used in descending mode. By injecting 500 mg of crude extract, stylopine (1.93 mg), sanguinarine (0.57 mg), chelidonine (1.29 mg), protopine (1.95 mg), and coptisine (7.13 mg) could be obtained. The purity of compounds was confirmed by supercritical fluid chromatography and MS.

Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defence in Muscle Tissue of Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus Mitchill after in vitro Treatment with Extracts from the Roots and Stems of Chelidonium majus L.

Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defence in Muscle Tissue of Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus Mitchill after in vitro Treatment with Extracts from the Roots and Stems of Chelidonium majus L.

A Hidden Cause of Hypertransaminasemia: Liver Toxicity Caused by Chelidonium Majus L.: Report of Two Cases of Herb-Induced Liver Injury and Literature Review.

In instances where individuals manifest elevated transaminase levels without a clearly discernible cause, a comprehensive patient history proves invaluable in unveiling latent triggers. In this report, we present 2 cases of herb-induced liver injury (HILI) characterized by severe hypertransaminasemia attributed to the consumption of Chelidonium majus L. (also known as greater celandine [GC]), an agent considered an alternative therapeutic remedy. Exploring the occurrence and range of clinical manifestations in HILI linked to Chelidonium majus L., while also investigating the potential triggers and predisposing factors for hepatotoxic reactions post Chelidonium majus L. usage, remains challenging due to the absence of definitive laboratory tests to identify the causative agent. Two case reports were detailed, and a systematic literature review using PubMed was conducted including published literature till March 2023. Moreover, a manual search of reference lists of pertinent articles was performed to identify any additional relevant missed publications. In the first case, a 64-year-old woman presented with jaundice, revealing a 1-month history of using GC capsules to manage gallstones. Diagnostic assessment identified HILI, gallstones, and choledocolithiasis, with transaminase levels exceeding 1000 IU/L. After discontinuing GC and receiving intravenous therapy with amino acids and phospholipids, the patient's condition significantly improved. Subsequently, she underwent endoscopic common bile duct stone removal and cholecystectomy. In the second case, a 66-year-old woman presented with elevated liver function test results discovered incidentally during musculoskeletal pain evaluation. Upon further questioning, the patient disclosed regular consumption of GC tea for "health promotion." Following intravenous therapy using amino acids and phospholipids, her transaminase levels returned to normal. The literature review identified 38 cases of HILI associated with GC preparations, primarily in adult women aged 27-77 years, with a predominant reporting location in Germany. Various forms of GC were used, with treatment durations ranging from 1 week to a year. Discontinuation of GC generally led to recovery in these cases. Chelidonium majus L., a potent herb often used in alternative medicine, has significant hepatotoxic potential, requiring physicians to be vigilant in cases of unexplained liver injury.

Exploring the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Chelidonium majus extracts against oral microorganisms

Chelidonium majus (Papaveraceae) is a widely utilized medicinal plant species known for its various effective biological activities. This study investigated the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of C. majus against oral microorganisms. To assess its biological activities, C. majus fractions were obtained using 80% methanol, n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol (BuOH), and water. Antioxidant assays, including DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging tests, as well as total polyphenol and flavonoid content determination, were conducted. Notably, the EtOAc fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant activity than that of the other fractions, both in terms of DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. Furthermore, it contained the highest contents of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the EtOAc extract (212.00 mg CAE/g, 135.70 mg NE/g). In addition, antimicrobial assays using various antimicrobial tests against oral microorganisms, namely S. mutans, S. gordonii, S. sobrinus, and S. sanguinis, were conducted to investigate the antibacterial effect, revealing that the EtOAc fraction showed the greatest inhibition. Furthermore, LC-MS analysis of the EtOAc fraction identified biologically active compounds, including phenolic compounds such as fisetin, quercetin, and coumaroylimalic acid. Based on these findings, C. majus, with its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, is a promising candidate for improving oral health.

Antiadipogenic activity of homoeopathic preparation of Chelidonium Majus employing3T3-L1 cell line as a model.

Adipocytes are derived from mesenchymal stem cells through the process of adipogenesis. Adipocyte metabolism is abnormal in a range of disorders like obesity, nutritional insufficiency and diabetes. The 3T3-L1 preadipocytes are most often used to create adipocyte models, and they can be differentiated into adipocyte cells under the right conditions. Homeopathic preparation of Chelidonium majus (HPCM) in management of Obesity and T2DM has many evidences in clinical practice.3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells were differentiated into adipocytes by using differentiation cocktail. Cell were treated with HPCM attenuation at the concentration of 0.5%, 1% and 2% for 15 days. Oil O Red Staining was used to assess LD accumulation. In order to determine the lipid content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, cells were dissolved in isopropanol and the absorbance values were measured. Images were captured and analysed using software imageJ.We investigated the action of Homeopathic preparations of Chelidonium majus (HPCM) in obesity using the 3T3-L1 adipogenesis model employing huMSC’s.After differentiation of adipocytes many LDs were formed in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes which can be compared with no lipid droplet in 3T3-L1nondifferentiated cells. Further, area of differentiated adipocytes was mapped and then compared for LD accumulation in control and HPCM for checking its antiadipogenic activity.A significant reduction in accumulation of lipid droplets was seen in 0.5%, 1% and 2% concentration of HPCM as compared to control during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes. Excessive differentiation of cells and high fat accumulation in the adipose tissue are closely linked to obesity. Preadipocyte differentiation inhibitors may have preventive and therapeutic potential as anti-obesity drugs. HPCM has potential to act as an antiadipogenic agent which can be used to combat various diseases like obesity, T2DM and cardiovascular diseases

Integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics reveals the therapeutic mechanism underlying Chelidonium majus L. in the treatment of allergic asthma

BackgroundChelidonium majus is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, and has been reported of the effect in relieving cough and asthma. However, the mechanism of action is still unknown.MethodsAsthmatic SD rats were first sensitized and established through ovalbumin (OVA) motivation. Subsequently, Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Masson’s trichrome (Masson) staining, Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining and inflammatory cytokines assay of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-17 were implemented to evaluate the protective effects of Chelidonium majus on asthma. Then, the effects of Chelidonium majus and their molecular mechanisms of action on asthma were detected based on the integration of transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses.ResultsAfter administration with Chelidonium majus, the histological injuries of inflammation, collagen deposition and mucus secretion in lungs were attenuated and the serum inflammatory cytokines perturbations were also converted. Furthermore, integrated analysis revealed that after Chelidonium majus treatment, 7 different expression genes (DEGs) (Alox15, P4ha1, Pla2g16, Pde3a, Nme1, Entpd8 and Adcy9) and 9 metabolic biomarkers (ADP, Xanthosine, Hypoxanthine, Inosine, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a), phosphatidylserine, Creatine and LysoPC (10:0)) were discovered to be connected with the enrichment metabolic pathways, including Purine metabolism, Arachidonic acid metabolism, Arginine and proline metabolism and Glycerophospholipid metabolism. The obtained metabolic biomarkers and DEGs were mainly related to energy metabolism and inflammation, and may be potential therapeutic targets.ConclusionChelidonium majus relieved OVA-induced asthma in rats by regulating the Alox15, P4ha1, Pla2g16, Pde3a, Nme1, Entpd8 and Adcy9 genes expression to restore the disorders in energy metabolism and inflammation.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence and phylogenetic relationship analysis of Eomecon chionantha, one species unique to China.

Eomecon chionantha Hance, an endemic species in China, has a long medical history in Chinese ethnic minority medicine and is known for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. However, studies of E. chionantha are lacking. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of the E. chionantha chloroplast genome and determined the taxonomic position of E. chionantha in Papaveraceae via phylogenetic analysis. In addition, we determined molecular markers to identify E. chionantha at the molecular level by comparing the chloroplast genomes of E. chionantha and its closely related species. The complete chloroplast genomic information indicated that E. chionantha chloroplast DNA (178,808bp) contains 99 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNAs, and 37 tRNAs. Meanwhile, we were able to identify a total of 54 simple sequence repeats through our analysis. Our findings from the phylogenetic analysis suggest that E. chionantha shares a close relationship with four distinct species, namely Macleaya microcarpa, Coreanomecon hylomeconoides, Hylomecon japonica, and Chelidonium majus. Additionally, using the Kimura two-parameter model, we successfully identified five hypervariable regions (ycf4-cemA, ycf3-trnS-GGA, trnC-GCA-petN, rpl32-trnL-UAG, and psbI-trnS-UGA). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the complete chloroplast genome of E. chionantha, providing a scientific reference for further understanding of E. chionantha from the perspective of the chloroplast genome and establishing a solid foundation for the future identification, taxonomic determination and evolutionary analysis of this species.

Evaluation of the in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity of alkaloids prepared from Chelidonium majus L. using MRSA- infected C. elegans as a model host

Chelidonium majus L. contained alkaloids as its main component, exhibiting various biological activities, particularly antibacterial activity. This study aimed to extract alkaloids from C. majus L. (total alkaloids) and evaluate their antibacterial activity both in vitro and in vivo. Reflux extraction was carried out on C. majus L., and the extract was purified with HPD-600 macroporous resin and 732 cation exchange resin columns. Infection modeling of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was established to investigate the impact of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) on the motility, longevity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of wild-type worms (N2 strain). The effects of total alkaloids on longevity and ROS were further evaluated in infected N2 worms. Additionally, the effect of total alkaloids on the stress resistance of C. elegans and the mechanism of action were investigated. By utilizing CB1370, DR26 and CF1038 transgenic strains of C. elegans to identify whether the antibacterial activity of total alkaloids was dependent on DAF-2/DAF-16 pathway. The results showed that total alkaloids exhibited a significant antibacterial activity against both MRSA and MSSA (MIC 31.25 μg/mL). Compared with MSSA, the MRSA exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect on the movement behavior and development of worms, along with faster pathogenicity and unique virulence factors. Total alkaloids also displayed the ability to extend the lifespan of C. elegans under oxidative stress and heat stress, and reduce the expression of ROS. The antibacterial activity of total alkaloids was primarily dependent on the DAF-2/DAF-16 pathway, and the presence of functional DAF-2 was deemed essential in total alkaloids mediated immune response against MRSA. Moreover, the antibacterial and anti-infection effects of total alkaloids were found to be associated with the daf-16 gene fragment.

Screening of Chelidonium majus isoquinoline alkaloids reveals berberine and chelidonine as selective ligands for the nuclear receptors RORβ and HNF4α, respectively.

The nuclear receptors hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-β (RORβ) are ligand-regulated transcription factors and potential drug targets for metabolic disorders. However, there is a lack of small molecular, selective ligands to explore the therapeutic potential in further detail. Here, we report the discovery of greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) isoquinoline alkaloids as nuclear receptor modulators: Berberine is a selective RORβ inverse agonist and modulated target genes involved in the circadian clock, photoreceptor cell development, and neuronal function. The structurally related chelidonine was identified as a ligand for the constitutively active HNF4α receptor, with nanomolar potency in a cellular reporter gene assay. In human liver cancer cells naturally expressing high levels of HNF4α, chelidonine acted as an inverse agonist and downregulated genes associated with gluconeogenesis and drug metabolism. Both berberine and chelidonine are promising tool compounds to further investigate their target nuclear receptors and for drug discovery.

Evaluation of rheological properties of plant extracts from Mediterranean flora in goat milk

The pastoral area of internal Cilento (Campania, Southern Italy) claims many valuable cheeses and according to the oral tradition, when animal rennet was not available for goat cheeses, some wild plants were used for their curdling properties. The cheese market is in continuous evolution, looking for new cheeses but also linked to the territory and tradition. On the bases of an ethnobotanical investigation, the coagulating properties of water extracts of the wild species Teucrium chamaedrys L., Galium aparine L., Galium verum L., Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., Chelidonium majus L., and Urtica dioica L. were evaluated on goat milk by rheological test with a Formagraph instrument at two doses (60 μl vs. 50 μl per 10 mL goat milk) at 36 °C, and at lab-scale by micro cheesemaking test at 0.5 mL/100 mL goat milk. For all plant extracts, the best Milk Rheological Properties were found at the lowest dose of extract. In the lab-scale test, all plant extracts except C. majus showed interesting clotting behaviour. The results confirmed the pastoral tradition and opened to new perspectives to produce goat cheeses with no-animal rennet using these wild species, linked to the heritage of the geographical area. Further studies will be carried out on the chemical composition, besides the antioxidant capacity and polyphenol content, to attempt explaining the MRPs.

Romanian Wild-Growing Chelidonium majus-An Emerging Approach to a Potential Antimicrobial Engineering Carrier System Based on AuNPs: In Vitro Investigation and Evaluation.

Novel nanotechnology based on herbal products aspires to be a high-performing therapeutic platform. This study reports the development of an original engineering carrier system that jointly combines the pharmacological action of Chelidonium majus and AuNPs, with unique properties that ensure that the limitations imposed by low stability, toxicity, absorption, and targeted and prolonged release can be overcome. The metabolite profile of Romanian wild-grown Chelidonium majus contains a total of seventy-four phytochemicals belonging to eight secondary metabolite categories, including alkaloids, amino acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, fatty acids, sterols, and miscellaneous others. In this study, various techniques (XRD, FTIR, SEM, DLS, and TG/DTG) were employed to investigate his new carrier system's morpho-structural and thermal properties. In vitro assays were conducted to evaluate the antioxidant potential and release profile. The results indicate 99.9% and 94.4% dissolution at different pH values for the CG-AuNPs carrier system and 93.5% and 85.26% for greater celandine at pH 4 and pH 7, respectively. Additionally, three in vitro antioxidant assays indicated an increase in antioxidant potential (flavonoid content 3.8%; FRAP assay 24.6%; and DPPH 24.4%) of the CG-AuNPs carrier system compared to the herb sample. The collective results reflect the system's promising perspective as a new efficient antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory candidate with versatile applications, ranging from target delivery systems, oral inflammation (periodontitis), and anti-age cosmetics to extending the shelf lives of products in the food industry.

Identification of toxic Gelsemium elegans in processed food and honey based on real-time PCR analysis

Gelsemium elegans (GE) is a widely distributed hypertoxic plant that has caused many food poisoning incidents. Its pollen can also be collected by bees to produce toxic honey, posing a great threat to the health and safety of consumers. However, for the complex matrices such as cooked food and honey, it is challenging to perform composition analysis. It is necessary to establish more effective strategies for investigating GE contamination. In this study, the real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis combined with DNA barcode matK was proposed for the identification and detection of GE. Fifteen honey samples along with twenty-eight individuals of GE and the common confusable objects Lonicera japonica, Ficus hirta, Stellera chamaejasme and Chelidonium majus were gathered. Additionally, the food mixtures treated with 20-min boiling and 30-min digestion were prepared. Specific primers were designed, and the detection capability and sensitivity of qPCR in honey and boiled and digested food matrices were tested. The results demonstrated that the matK sequence with sufficient mutation sites was an effective molecular marker for species differentiation. GE and the confusable species could be clearly classified by the fluorescence signal of qPCR assay with a high sensitivity of 0.001 ng/μl. In addition, this method was successfully employed for the detection of deeply processed food materials and honey containing GE plants which even accounted for only 0.1 %. The sequencing-free qPCR approach undoubtedly can serve as a robust support for the quality supervision of honey industry and the prevention and diagnosis of food poisoning.

Expression Analysis of Phenylpropanoid Pathway Genes and Phenylpropanoid Accumulation in Different Organs of Chelidonium majus L.

Objective This study set out to examine the phenylpropanoid pathway gene expression and phenolic compound accumulation in different organs of Chelidonium majus (C. majus). Methods Total RNA was extracted and expression of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis genes was assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in different organs of C. majus. In addition, the phenylpropanoid compounds were analyzed from different organs of C. majus by using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results The results demonstrate the variance in the expression levels of phenylpropanoid pathway genes in the flowers, leaves, stems, and roots of C. majus. CmPAL and CmC4H were expressed at their greatest levels in the stem, while CmCHS and CmCHI were strongly expressed in the leaf, and CmF3H, CmFLS, Cm4CL, and CmDFR were more abundant in the flower. The total phenolic contents in the different organs also varied significantly. The highest value was recorded in the flowers (2152.89 ± 78.71 μg/g dry wt.), which was 54.26 times higher than the lowest values obtained from roots (39.68 ± 0.05 μg/g dry wt.). Except for roots, rutin showed the highest level in all other organs. According to a heat map, the majority of the phenolic compounds were highest in the flower. By using variable importance in projection analysis, the most significant metabolite was found to be chlorogenic acid, which had a positive association with all phenolic chemicals, but it showed a negative correlation with trans-cinnamic acid. Except for trans-cinnamic acid, all other phenolic compounds likewise showed positive correlation with other phenolic compounds. Conclusions This work offers pertinent data on the expression analysis of genes involved in the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway and the presence of phenolic compounds in C. majus. These findings will be helpful for the researcher to understand the relationship between the expression level of phenylpropanoid pathway genes and phenylpropanoid compound accumulation in C. majus.