Genus Citrus Research Articles

Comparative Study for Citrus Fruits Phytochemical Screening and In-vitro Antioxidant Activity

Oxidative stress is one of pharmacological & toxicology mechanisms as an important pathological mechanism proposed for many diseases including cancer . Plant components that include antioxidant components are becoming more popular as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants because of their ability to eliminate free-radical intermediates and prevent further oxidation, Citrus genus, which belongs to the Rutaceae family, comprises among of the world's most frequently harvested crops due to its many nutritional and health advantages.
 The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the prepared extract shown the presence of several constituents of citrus peels as Alkaloids, Phenolics , Flavonoids and rutin. Moreover , The result of in-vitro antioxidants activity of both citrus species showed that DPPH radical scavenging activity for peel extract demonstrate dose-dependent inhibition with IC50 was calculated (287.32 ug/ml and 341.89 µg/ml) for pomelo & orange respectively compared to IC50 value of vitamin C which was 260.06 µg/ml as standard antioxidant . in conclusion , study results showed that pomelo peel show higher antioxidant activity compared to orange moreover, citrus peel has significant antioxidant qualities and is a potentially rich source of natural antioxidants, and PPE scavenges DPPH and reactive oxygen radicals very effectively.

Ameliorating effect of Citrus trifoliata L. fruits extract on motor incoordination, neurodegeneration and oxidative stress in Parkinson’s disease model

ABSTRACT Background Citrus trifoliate fruit (also known as Trifoliate orange) is one of the commercially-cultivated Citrus genus of plants belonging to the Rutaceae family. It has been traditionally-utilized in treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. However, the scientific evidence verifying this utilization needs further elucidation. Aim of the study Characterization of the bioactive constituents of C. trifoliata L. fruits extract and evaluating its effect on Parkinson’s disease (PD) model. Material and methods Rats were classified into 5 groups; control, PD, PD-treated by L-dopa/Carpidopa and PD-treated by oral Citrus trifoliata L. fruits extract (50 and 100 mg/kg). Deterioration in brain functions was evaluated through an in vivo open field, grid and catalepsy tests. The study also assessed the striatal neurotransmitters, oxidative stress markers and histopathological changes. Results Citrus trifoliata L. fruit extract has revealed motor improvement comparable to L-dopa and carbidopa. It has also effectively-improved oxidative stress via reduction of striatal malondialdehyde & nitric oxide along with replenishment of the striatal glutathione and superoxide dismutase. The extract caused significant reduction of the striatal myeloperoxidase activity and restoration of dopamine, γ-amino butyric acid (GABA), and acetylcholinesterase. This effect was further confirmed by amelioration of neuronal apoptosis, microgliosis and peri-neuronal vacuolation. Metabolite profiling revealed 40 constituents, with flavonoids representing the main identified class. Conclusion The neuro-protective effect of Citrus trifoliata extract was achieved through the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of its flavonoids, particularly hesperidin and naringin. This neuro-protective effect was evident at the behavioral, histological and neurotransmitter levels.

Response Surface Optimization for the Enhancement of the Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Citrus limon Peel.

Citrus limon is among the species of the genus Citrus that dominates the world market. It is highly nutritious for humans as it contains twice the amount of the suggested daily intake of ascorbic acid and is also a good source of phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and other bioactive compounds. This study aimed to identify the optimal extraction procedures and parameters to obtain the maximum quantity of bioactive components from lemon peel by-products. Various extraction techniques, including stirring, ultrasound, and pulsed electric field, were evaluated, along with factors such as extraction time, temperature, and solvent composition. The results revealed that simple stirring for 150 min at 20 °C proved to be the most effective and practical method. The ideal solvent mixture consisted of 75% ethanol and 25% water, highlighting the crucial role of solvent composition in maximizing extraction efficiency. Among the extracted compounds were phenolics, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids. Under optimum extraction conditions, the extract was found to contain high total phenolic content (TPC) (51.2 mg of gallic acid equivalents, GAE/g dry weight), total flavonoid content (TFC) (7.1 mg of rutin equivalents, RtE/g dry weight), amounts of ascorbic acid (3.7 mg/g dry weight), and total carotenoids content (TCC) (64.9 μg of β-carotene equivalents, CtE/g). Notably, the extracts demonstrated potent antioxidant properties (128.9 μmol of ascorbic acid equivalents, AAE/g; and 30.3 μmol of AAE/g as evidenced by FRAP and DPPH assays, respectively), making it a promising ingredient for functional foods and cosmetics. The study's implications lie in promoting sustainable practices by converting lemon peel into valuable resources and supporting human health and wellness through the consumption of natural antioxidants.

Analysis of Pectin and Essential Oil Citrus L. Lemon Peel

The most well-known group of aromatic flowers is the genus Citrus. One of the most significant fruit crops in the world belongs to this genus and it is widely grown for the market for fresh fruit and processed juice. The phytochemicals were analyzed in the lemon peel essential oil extract. Phenols, terpenoids, saponins, and alkaloids were analyzed in the acetone extract whereas flavonoids, phenols, and saponins were analyzed in the ethanol extract of Lemon peel. The Fusarium was inoculatedin Petridis and sprayed essential oil over the Petridis. One Petridis was free from essential oil. The essential oil free Petridis was observed spreading fungus with multiplication but the growth of fungus was stopped in Petridis which was sprayed with essential oil after three weeks. The pectin was extractedfrom lemon peel and calculated equivalent weight of pectin was 200g. It is found that lemon peel has a big application in medicinal and pharmacological benefits. Pinontoan et al., 2019 reported that essential oil extract of Lemon peel have equal effectiveness against both Trichophyton rubrum and Fusarium. The family Rutaceae is dominated economically by the genus Citrus L.

Establishment of an efficient root mediated genetic transformation method for gene function verification in citrus

Although several methods of citrus genetic transformation have been studied and published, it is still necessary to further improve the efficiency of genetic transformation and increase the varieties used for citrus genetic transformation. Here, we report a simple, rapid and efficient root transformation technique for citrus to facilitate gene function studies. We found that infestation of Agrobacterium rhizogenes into citrus seedlings of five different species could produce stable transgenic roots in a short period after comparing and optimizing the selection of citrus species, bacterium concentration, cutting time and infection method. PCR and fluorescence observations showed a positive root transformation efficiency of approximately 13%-36% in the five tested citrus species. To demonstrate the utility of this method in the functional verification of citrus genes, a bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay was used to prove the interaction between CrCIPK6/9 and CrCBL5/6 in Citrus reticulata. Additionally, the PCR results showed that CrFT-RFP was transferred from the transgenic positive root to the stem in Citrus reticulata. Finally, overexpression of CjCAD from Citrus junos promoted lignin accumulation in transgenic citrus roots. This method could not only be used to study genes in roots but also various genes involved in plant growth and development. Taken together, we demonstrated that this method allows fast study of gene function in a wide range of citrus species, which would facilitate the understanding of novel genes in citrus.

Citrus sinensis Peel Oil Extraction and Evaluation as an Antibacterial and Antifungal Agent.

Throughout the tropical and subtropical climates, the genus Citrus can be found. The current study was conducted to extract the Citrus sinensis peel oil and evaluate its antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic potential. Petroleum ether was used to extract the C. sinensis peel oil through a Soxhlet apparatus. The antimicrobial and antifungal potential was determined via agar well diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were calculated (test bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae; test fungal strains: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Altrnaria alternata). Antiparasitic activity against Leishmaniatropica was determined following standard protocol using amphotericin-B as positive and Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) as a negative control and the percentage inhibition was calculated. The oil extracted was brownish yellow with a tangy smell, water-insoluble, density (0.778 g/cm3) and specific gravity (0.843 g/cm). In antibacterial activity, the diameter of the zone of inhibition was maximum against E. coli (14 mm) and minimum for S. agalactiae (10 mm). While in antifungal activity diameter of the zone of inhibition was maximum against A. flavus (12.5 mm) and minimum for A. alternata (8.6 mm). S. agalactiae exhibited the minimum MIC value (6 mg/mL) and in fungal strains A. alternata exhibited the minimum value (2 mm). Citrus sinensis peel oil displayed antileishmanial efficiency of 60% at 50 μg/mL concentration after 48 h of incubation. C. sinensis peel oil demonstrated antimicrobial capabilities, implying that it could be used as a natural preservative in food or as an effective treatment against a variety of pathogenic organisms. Industries should extract oil from the waste of citrus fruits which will be beneficial from an economic point of view.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of Murraya paniculata sheds light on biosynthesis of floral volatiles

BackgroundMurraya paniculata (L.) Jack, commonly called orange jessamine in the family Rutaceae, is an important ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical regions which is famous for its strong fragrance. Although genome assemblies have been reported for many Rutaceae species, mainly in the genus Citrus, full genomic information has not been reported for M. paniculata, which is a prerequisite for in-depth genetic studies on Murraya and manipulation using genetic engineering techniques. Here, we report a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of M. paniculata and aim to provide insights on the molecular mechanisms of flower volatile biosynthesis.ResultsThe genome assembly with a contig N50 of 18.25 Mb consists of 9 pseudomolecules and has a total length of 216.86 Mb. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that M. paniculata diverged from the common ancestor approximately 25 million years ago and has not undergone any species-specific whole genome duplication events. Genome structural annotation and comparative genomics analysis revealed that there are obvious differences in transposon contents among the genomes of M. paniculata and Citrus species, especially in the upstream regions of genes. Research on the flower volatiles of M. paniculata and C. maxima at three flowering stages revealed significant differences in volatile composition with the flowers of C. maxima lacking benzaldehyde and phenylacetaldehyde. Notably, there are transposons inserted in the upstream region of the phenylacetaldehyde synthase (PAAS) genes Cg1g029630 and Cg1g029640 in C. maxima, but not in the upstream region of three PAAS genes Me2G_2379, Me2G_2381, and Me2G_2382 in M. paniculata. Our results indicated that compared to the low expression levels of PAAS genes in C. maxima, the higher expression levels of the three PAAS genes in M. paniculata are the main factor affecting the phenylacetaldehyde biosynthesis and causing the content difference of phenylacetaldehyde. The phenylacetaldehyde synthetic activities of the enzymes encoded by M. paniculata PAAS genes were validated by in vitro analyses.ConclusionsOur study provides useful genomic resources of M. paniculata for further research on Rutaceae plants, identifies new PAAS genes, and provides insights into how transposons contribute to variations in flower volatiles among Murraya and Citrus plants.

Genetic diversity of the genus Citrus in Tomini Bay coastal areas, Indonesia based on morphological characters

Abstract. Kandowangko NY, Febriyanti. 2023. Genetic diversity of the genus Citrus in Tomini Bay coastal areas, Indonesia based on morphological characters. BIodiversitas 24: 2938-2952. Citrus plants are one of the fruit plants that are widely consumed by the community, both for food, health, and customs. The existence of Citrus plants in the coastal area of Tomini Bay only grows wild and has not been cultivated intensively. Lack of information on the diversity of citrus and the use of Citrus plants that are not balanced with cultivation actions will threaten the existence of these Citrus plants. This research aims to provide information about the morphological characteristics of the genus Citrus in the coastal area of Tomini Bay. The plant materials used were 39 accessions consisting of 7 species. Descriptive methods and diversity index calculations as well as analysis of phenetic consanguinity data were applied in this study. The results showed that all Citrus accessions have morphological diversity ranging from stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds that are influenced by genetic and environmental factors. The diversity index (H’) was equal to 0.8103 which was categorized as low. The 39 Citrus accessions were divided into two main clusters with a similarity index of 64.3%. The findings of this study are expected to be useful in Citrus breeding and conservation programs in the future.

Comparison of Some Fruit Quality Parameters of Selected 12 Mandarin Genotypes from Black Sea Region in Turkey.

Mandarins are mostly preferred specie of Citrus genus, and there has been a continuous rise in consumption and global marketing due to having easy-to-peel, attractive flavor, and fresh consumption advantages. However, most of the existing knowledge on quality traits of citrus fruit comes from research conducted on oranges, which are the main products for the citrus juice manufacturing industry. In recent years, mandarin production in Turkey surpassed orange production and took the first place in citrus production. Mandarins are mostly grown in the Mediterranean and Aegean Regions of Turkey. Due to suitable climatic conditions, they are also grown in the microclimatic condition in Rize province located in the Eastern Black Sea region. In this study, we reported the total phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity, and volatiles of 12 Satsuma mandarin genotypes selected from Rize province of Turkey. Considerable differences in the total phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay), and fruit volatile constituent were found among the 12 selected Satsuma mandarin genotypes. The total phenolic content ranged from 3.50 to 22.53 mg of gallic acid equivalent per 100 g of the fruit sample in the selected mandarin genotypes. The total antioxidant capacity was the highest in genotype HA2 as 60.40%, and followed by IB (59.15%) and TEK3 (58.36%), respectively. A total of 30 aroma volatiles were detected from the juice samples of 12 mandarin genotypes by GC/MS, which comprised six alcohols, three aldehydes (including one monoterpene), three esters, one ketone, and one other volatiles. The main volatile compounds were identified in fruits of all Satsuma mandarin genotypes as α-terpineol (0.6-1.88%), linalool (1.1-3.21%), γ-terpinene (4.41-5.5%), β-myrcene (0.9-1.6%), dl-limonene (79.71-85.12%), α-farnesene (1.1-2.44), and d-germacrene (0.66-1.37%). Limonene accounts for most of the aroma compounds (79.71-85.12%) in fruits of all Satsuma genotypes. The genotypes MP and TEK8 had the highest total phenolic content, and HA2, IB, and TEK 3 had the highest antioxidant capacity. The YU2 genotype was found to contain more aroma compounds than the other genotypes. The genotypes selected on the basis of their high bioactive content could be used to develop new Satsuma mandarin cultivars with high human health promoting contents.

Bioactive Components and Their Activities from Different Parts of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle for Food Development.

Citrus aurantifolia is part of the Rutaceae family and belongs to the genus Citrus. It is widely used in food, the chemical industry, and pharmaceuticals because it has a unique flavor and odor. It is nutrient-rich and is beneficial as an antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and insecticide. Secondary metabolites present in C. aurantifolia are what give rise to biological action. Flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, limonoids, alkaloids, and essential oils are among the secondary metabolites/phytochemicals discovered in C. aurantifolia. Every portion of the plant's C. aurantifolia has a different composition of secondary metabolites. Environmental conditions such as light and temperature affect the oxidative stability of the secondary metabolites from C. aurantifolia. The oxidative stability has been increased by using microencapsulation. The advantages of microencapsulation are control of the release, solubilization, and protection of the bioactive component. Therefore, the chemical makeup and biological functions of the various plant components of C. aurantifolia must be investigated. The aim of this review is to discuss the bioactive components of C. aurantifolia such as essential oils, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic, limonoids, and alkaloids obtained from different parts of the plants and their biological activities such as being antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, an insecticide, and anti-inflammatory. In addition, various extraction techniques of the compounds out of different parts of the plant matrix as well as the microencapsulation of the bioactive components in food are also provided.

InDel and SCoT Markers for Genetic Diversity Analysis in a Citrus Collection from the Western Caucasus.

Citrus collections from extreme growing regions can be an important source of tolerant germplasms for the breeding of cold-tolerant varieties. However, the efficient utilization of these germplasms requires their genetic background information. Thus, efficient marker systems are necessary for the characterization and identification of valuable accessions. In this study, the efficiency of 36 SCoT markers and 60 InDel markers were evaluated as part of the broad citrus collection of the Western Caucasus. The interspecific and intraspecific genetic diversity and genetic structures were analyzed for 172 accessions, including 31 species and sets of the locally derived cultivars. Single markers, such as SCoT18 (0.84), SCoT20 (0.93), SCoT23 (0.87), SCoT31 (0.88), SCoT36 (0.87) и LG 1-4 (0.94), LG 4-3 (0.86), LG 7-11 (0.98), and LG 8-10 (0.83), showed a high discriminating power, indicating the good applicability of these markers to assess intraspecific diversity of the genus Citrus. Overall, SCoT markers showed a higher level of polymorphism than InDel markers. According to analysis of population structure, SCoT and InDel markers showed K = 9 and K = 5 genetic clusters, respectively. The lowest levels of genetic admixtures and diversity were observed among the locally derived satsumas and lemons. The highest level of genetic admixtures was observed in the lime group. Phylogenetic relationships indicated a high level of interspecific genetic diversity but a low level of intraspecific diversity in locally derived satsumas and lemons. The results provide new insight into the origin of citrus germplasms and their distribution in colder regions. Furthermore, they are important for implementing conservation measures, controlling genetic erosion, developing breeding strategies, and improving breeding efficiency.

Stachydrine, a Bioactive Equilibrist for Synephrine, Identified from Four Citrus Chinese Herbs.

Four Chinese herbs from the Citrus genus, namely Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhishi), Aurantii Fructus (Zhiqiao), Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride (Qingpi) and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (Chenpi), are widely used for treating various cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases. Many ingredients have already been identified from these herbs, and their various bioactivities provide some interpretations for the pharmacological functions of these herbs. However, the complex functions of these herbs imply undisclosed cholinergic activity. To discover some ingredients with cholinergic activity and further clarify possible reasons for the complex pharmacological functions presented by these herbs, depending on the extended structure-activity relationships of cholinergic and anti-cholinergic agents, a simple method was established here for quickly discovering possible choline analogs using a specific TLC method, and then stachydrine and choline were first identified from these Citrus herb decoctions based on their NMR and HRMS data. After this, two TLC scanning (TLCS) methods were first established for the quantitative analyses of stachydrine and choline, and the contents of the two ingredients and synephrine in 39 samples were determined using the valid TLCS and HPLC methods, respectively. The results showed that the contents of stachydrine (3.04‱) were 2.4 times greater than those of synephrine (1.25‱) in Zhiqiao and about one-third to two-thirds of those of Zhishi, Qingpi and Chenpi. Simultaneously, the contents of stachydrine, choline and synephrine in these herbs present similar decreasing trends with the delay of harvest time; e.g., those of stachydrine decrease from 5.16‱ (Zhishi) to 3.04‱ (Zhike) and from 1.98‱ (Qingpi) to 1.68‱ (Chenpi). Differently, the contents of synephrine decrease the fastest, while those of stachydrine decrease the slowest. Based on these results, compared with the pharmacological activities and pharmacokinetics reported for stachydrine and synephrine, it is indicated that stachydrine can be considered as a bioactive equilibrist for synephrine, especially in the cardio-cerebrovascular protection from these citrus herbs. Additionally, the results confirmed that stachydrine plays an important role in the pharmacological functions of these citrus herbs, especially in dual-directionally regulating the uterus, and in various beneficial effects on the cardio-cerebrovascular system, kidneys and liver.

MS/MS-based molecular networking for mapping the chemical diversity of the pulp and peel extracts from Citrus japonica Thunb.; in vivo evaluation of their anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer potential

Although inflammation is a beneficial response to harmful triggers, the associated diseases develop the potential for death-threatening conditions. Citrus species are valuable sources of chemical compounds with diverse structural properties that could alleviate damaging inflammation and reduce serious side effects of synthetic drugs. Kumquats are the smallest trees among the citrus family widely distributed in Asia, Europe, and North America, with little cultivation in Africa. The current study aims to conduct comprehensive chemical, anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer studies of Citrus japonica, thus focusing attention on extensive cultivation of these species in Africa to enhance their beneficial uses. A comparative chemical profiling of peel and pulp extracts was performed via HPLC-MS/MS analysis, 164 metabolites were annotated aided by the spectral similarity networks. Around 148 of which were visualized as a species-first documentation. Phenolics were the predominant classes including methoxylated flavonoids, O/C-glycosylated flavones, and flavanones with the less common O- or C-O-triglycosyl methoxylated flavones among the genus Citrus. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory study demonstrated the significant activity of the pulp and peel extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) via reducing paw swelling induced by carrageenan at all-time points and decreasing the formation of TNF-α and IL-1β. Moreover, in ethanol-induced gastric ulcer rat model, the high doses of both extracts significantly improved ulcer indexes and suppressed gastric inflammation by inhibiting myeloperoxidase activity and possessed an antioxidant effect via increasing reduced glutathione, decreasing malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide. Additionally, histopathological investigations confirmed the anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer effects. Considering the two fruit tissues, peels markedly improved inflammatory and gastroprotective properties associated with the high diversity of their flavonoid structures.

Citrus Genus and its Pharmacological Activities: A Review

Background: This review underscores the global distribution of citrus plants, diverse phytochemical composition, pharmacological properties and their uses. Purpose: This paper reviewed the originating of Citrus genus from northeastern and central Australia, island Southeast Asia, near Oceania, and various subtropical and tropical regions in Asia. Paper elaborates the diverse phytochemical composition of citrus species contributes to their therapeutic characteristics. Citrus fruits, widely consumed and rich in nutrients and phytochemicals, have been linked through epidemiological studies to a reduced risk of several diseases. Methods: The role of citrus plants according to their pharmacological activities explained in the paper with their possible mechanism of action. Results: The citrus fruits contain phenolic acids, flavonoids, and coumarins ac chief chemical constituents. Pharmacologically, the citrus genus exhibits a spectrum of activities, including antioxidants, hypoglycaemic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anthelmintic, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, estrogenic, and neuroprotective effects. Conclusions: Citrus plants have been shown in traditional and ethno medicinal literature to be especially beneficial in a variety of diseases.

Citrus Genus and its Pharmacological Activities: A Review

Citrus Genus and its Pharmacological Activities: A Review

Immunomodulatory Activity of the Aqueous Extract of the pith of Citrus limon L. (Rutaceae) Using Cyclophosphamide Induced Myelosuppression

The genus Citrus species have been widely used in the relief of arthritic pain in traditional medicine. Citrus limon pith was one of the constituents of herbal decoctions taking daily for prevention against Coronavirus disease during covid -19 era. This study investigated the immunomodulatory activity of the aqueous extract of the pith of C. limon using cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression and delayed type hypersensitivity reaction in Wistar rats. Thirty-six rats were divided into six groups of six animals each. Three groups served as the control while the remaining three groups were given 150, 300, 600 mg/kg of extract respectively via oral route for 13 days. Groups II to VI were administered cyclophosphamide 30 mg/kg i.p on day 11, 12, and 13. On the 14th day, blood samples were collected for haematological parameters analysis. Delayed type hypersensitivity reaction was carried out using 24 animals divided into four groups of six animals each. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of triterpenoids, flavonoids, and carbohydrates. LD50 was found to be greater than 3000 mg/kg. C. limon extract on cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression showed a statistically significant (P<0.05) increase in the white blood cells (WBC), platelets and lymphocytes counts at all extract doses. In the delayed type of hypersensitivity reaction, percentage increase in inflammation was 24.3%, 31.5% and 43% at extract doses of 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg. The findings of this study have shown that the aqueous extract of the pith of C. limon possessed immunostimulatory activity.

In-vitro evaluation of fungicides and bio-agents against Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc.inciting dry root rot/wilt of acid lime in northern Karnataka

Acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) is one of the four commercially important citrus fruit crop grown in Indiaamong the citrus species. It belongs to the family Rutaceae and genus Citrus aurantifolia (Swingle). Among many soil bornediseases of acid lime, dry root rot/wilt is considered to be a severe disease caused by Fusarium solani which is prevalent innorthern Karnataka. Present investigation was carried out under In vitro condition to know the efficacy of fungicides andbio-agents against F. solani for further evaluation under field condition benefitting the farmer’s. Results revealed that all thetested fungicides significantly inhibited mycelial growth of tested pathogen over untreated control. Among the five systemicfungicides evaluated, Carbendazim 50 WP (98.37%) was superior over all other treatments followed by Propiconazole 25EC (85.68%), Tebuconazole 250 EC (76.88%) and Hexaconazole 5 SC (68.92%). However, the least inhibition of mycelialgrowth was observed in Metalaxyl MZ 68WP (6.72%) at 500, 1000, 1500 ppm. Combi product hexaconazole 5% + captan70% WP was significantly superior (74.55%) over all the other non-systemic fungicides evaluated. The next best treatmentwas found to be captan 50 WP (26.14%) at 1000, 2000, 2500 ppm concentrations. All the four bio-agents evaluatedexhibited antifungal activity against Fusarium solani. It was noticed that, maximum reduction in colony growth wasobserved in Trichoderma harzianum (80.99%) followed by Purpureocillium lilacinum with 77.08 per cent inhibition. Theleast inhibition was observed in Pseudomonas fluorescens (39.82%)

Naringenin and Hesperidin as Promising Alternatives for Prevention and Co-Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer.

Citrus (genus Citrus L.) fruits are essential sources of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties, such as flavonoids. These polyphenolic compounds are divided into subclasses, in which flavanones are the most prominent. Among them, naringenin and hesperidin are emerging compounds with anticancer potential, especially for breast cancer (BC). Several mechanisms have been proposed, including the modulation of epigenetics, estrogen signaling, induction of cell death via regulation of apoptotic signaling pathways, and inhibition of tumor invasion and metastasis. However, this information is sparse in the literature and needs to be brought together to provide an overview of how naringenin and hesperidin can serve as therapeutic tools for drug development and as a successful co-adjuvant strategy against BC. This review detailed such mechanisms in this context and highlighted how naringenin and hesperidin could interfere in BC carcinogenesis and be helpful as potential alternative therapeutic sources for breast cancer treatment.

Comparative chloroplast genome analysis of Citrus (Rutaceae) species: Insights into genomic characterization, phylogenetic relationships, and discrimination of subgenera

Citrus species are fruit trees with great economic value worldwide and have been domesticated and cultivated for several years. Although numerous phylogenetic taxonomy studies have been conducted since the establishment of the genus Citrus, the determination of phylogenetic relationships of Citrus species and the discrimination of Citrus subgenera face some challenges due to species hybridization, polyembryony, and asexual reproduction. In this study, the complete chloroplast genomes of 16 Citrus species were de novo assembled, then several unique characters were identified. For example, infA and rpl22 gene losses occurred in Citrus species; the trnQ-UUG gene may have played a significant role in the evolution of Citrus species; the rpoC1 gene in chloroplast genomes of Citrus species was under positive selection; and several highly variable loci (trnK-UUU–trnQ-UUG, atpF–atpH, trnG-GCC–trnfM-CAU, accD–psaI, petD–rpoA, and rpl32–trnL-UAG) were found in the chloroplast genomes of the Citrus species. These variable loci could serve as potential markers for phylogenetic studies. The genus Citrus was subdivided into seven subgenera based on phylogenetic analyses of the complete chloroplast genomes of Citrus species: Poncirus, Fortunella, Papeda, Citron, Cephalocitrus, Aurantium, and Sinocitrus. This study may help with the identification, taxonomy, use, and evolution of Citrus species.

Spraying alginate oligosaccharide improves photosynthetic performance and sugar accumulation in citrus by regulating antioxidant system and related gene expression.

Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) are functional substances in seaweed extracts that regulate crop quality and stress tolerance. In this paper, the effects of AOS spray application on the antioxidant system, photosynthesis and fruit sugar accumulation in citrus was investigated through a two-year field experiment. The results showed that 8-10 spray cycles of 300-500 mg L-1 AOS (once per 15 days) increased soluble sugar and soluble solid contents by 7.74-15.79% and 9.98-15.35%, respectively, from citrus fruit expansion to harvesting. Compared with the control, the antioxidant enzyme activity and the expression of some related genes in citrus leaves started to increase significantly after the 1st AOS spray application, while the net photosynthetic rate of leaves increased obviously only after the 3rd AOS spray cycle, and the soluble sugar content of AOS-treated leaves increased by 8.43-12.96% at harvest. This suggests that AOS may enhance photosynthesis and sugar accumulation in leaves by antioxidant system regulation. Moreover, analysis of fruit sugar metabolism showed that during the 3rd to 8th AOS spray cycles, AOS treatment increased the activity of enzymes related to sucrose synthesis (SPS, SSs), upregulated the expression of sucrose metabolism (CitSPS1, CitSPS2, SUS) and transport (SUC3, SUC4) genes, and promoted the accumulation of sucrose, glucose and fructose in fruits. Notably, the concentration of soluble sugars in citrus fruits was significantly reduced at all treatments with 40% reduction in leaves of the same branch, but the loss of soluble sugars in AOS-treated fruits (18.18%) was higher than that in the control treatment (14.10%). It showed that there was a positive effect of AOS application on leaf assimilation product transport and fruit sugar accumulation. In summary, AOS application may improve fruit sugar accumulation and quality by regulating the leaf antioxidant system, increasing the photosynthetic rate and assimilate product accumulation, and promoting sugar transfer from leaves to fruits. This study shows the potential application of AOS in the production of citrus fruits for sugar enhancement.