Cnicus Research Articles

مطالعه اثر سطوح مختلف شوری و پرایمینگ بذر بر جوانه زنی و خصوصیات گیاهچه دو گونه دارویی خانواده مرکبان

شوری منابع آب و زمین های کشاورزی یکی مهمترین فاکتورهای محدودکننده تولید و تهدیدی برای تولید پایدار محصولات زراعی در ایران محسوب می‏شود. به منظور بررسی تأثیر آنتی اکسیدان های مختلف و سطوح مختلف شوری بر خصوصیات مربوط به جوانه زنی و گیاهچه ای دو گونه دارویی خار مقدس (Cnicus benedictus L.) و کاسنی (Cichorium intybus L.) مطالعه ای بصورت دو آزمایش جداگانه فاکتوریل بر پایه طرح کاملا تصادفی در چهار تکرار در سال 1388 در آزمایشگاه گیاهان ویژه دانشکده کشاورزی دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد انجام گرفت. فاکتور اول مورد مطالعه برای هر گیاه شامل نوع ماده پیش تیمار (آنتی اکسیدان) درچهار سطح (آب مقطر (شاهد)، اسید آسکوربیک با غلظت 40 میلی مولار، اسید جیبرلیک با غلظت 75 میلی گرم بر لیتر و اسید سالسیلیک با غلظت 5/1 میلی مولار) و فاکتور دوم، پنج سطح مختلف شوری برحسب هدایت الکتریکی ناشی از افزودن NaCl (شاهد، 5، 10، 15 و 20 دسی زیمنس بر متر) بود. براساس نتایج حاصله پیش تیمار با اسید سالسیلیک باعث بهبود خصوصیات جوانه زنی و گیاهچه ای گونه خار مقدس تحت شرایط شوری شد، ولی در مورد گونه کاسنی این بهبود در پیش تیمار با اسید جیبرلیک رخ داد. هر دو گونه مورد آزمایش در مرحله جوانه زنی تحمل مناسبی نسبت به شوری نشان دادند و در تیمار 20 دسی زیمنس بر متر حدود 60 درصد شاهد جوانه زنی داشتند. بررسی ارتباط بین سرعت جوانه زنی و طول ساقه چه و ریشه چه نشان داد که همبستگی بالایی بین این صفات بخصوص در گونه کاسنی وجود دارد. بطور کلی می توان چنین بیان کرد که برای بهبود جوانه زنی تحت شرایط شوری پیش تیمار با اسید سالسیلیک در گونه خار مقدس و اسید جیبرلیک برای گونه کاسنی قابل توجیه است.

Characterisation of phenolics in Flor-Essence--a compound herbal product and its contributing herbs.

Commercially available herbal mixture FE, a proprietary natural health product manufactured by Flora Manufacturing and Distributing Ltd (Flora), is a unique North American traditional herbal product. FE is a chemically complex mixture of eight herbs and has not been subjected to phytochemical analysis. To develop analytical methods to undertake detailed phytochemical analyses of FE, and its eight contributing herbs, including burdock (Arctium lappa L.), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.), Turkish rhubarb (Rheum palmatum L.), slippery elm Muhl. (Ulmus rubra), watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus L.) and kelp (Laminaria digitata Lmx.). The identification was undertaken by a combination of reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation-mass selective detection (RP-HPLC-DAD-APCI-MSD) analysis and phenolics metabolomic library matching. New separation methods facilitated the identification of 43 markers in the individual herbs which constitute FE. Sixteen markers could be identified in FE originating from four contributing herbs including four caffeoyl quinic acids, three dicaffeoyl quinic acids and two caffeic acid derivatives from A. lappa, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, luteolin, five apigenin glycosides and apigenin from R. acetocella and N. officinale and sissostrin from T. pretense. A validated method for quantitative determination of three markers is reported with good intraday, interday and interoperator repeatability using a reliable alcohol based extraction technique. FE and its contributing herbs predominantly contain phenolics. This methodology can be applied to further develop full-scale validation of this product.

An Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration

An evidence-base d systematic review including written and statistical analysis of scientific literature, expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetics/dynamics, interactions, ad- verse effects, toxicology, and dosing.

Physiological host range of Ceratapion basicorne, a prospective biological control agent of Centaurea solstitialis (Asteraceae)

Ceratapion basicorne (Coleoptera: Apionidae) is a weevil native to Europe and western Asia that is being evaluated as a prospective classical biological control agent of Centaurea solstitialis (yellow starthistle) in the United States. Host plant specificity of the insect was evaluated in no-choice oviposition experiments. Feeding on leaf tissue by adult females was highly correlated to oviposition rate, both of which occurred primarily on plants in the tribe Cardueae, and especially those in the monophyletic subtribe Centaureinae. The highest rates of larval development occurred on Ce. solstitialis and Centaurea cyanus (bachelor’s button, garden cornflower), and there was significant development on Centaurea melitensis (Napa starthistle, tocalote), Cnicus benedictus (blessed thistle), Carthamus tinctorius (safflower), and Crupina vulgaris (common crupina). All the plants that supported some larval development are within a monophyletic clade within the Centaureinae. No native North American plants appear to be at risk of significant damage by this insect. Additional testing of safflower and bachelor’s button under choice conditions should complement these results to help determine the degree to which these plants are at risk.

Herbicides for Weed Control in Blessed Thistle (Silybum Marianum)

Blessed thistle is an important medicinal crop in Europe and recently has become more significant in North America. A limiting factor in blessed thistle production is weed interference. Field experiments were conducted near Plovdiv, Bulgaria, to study the effect of selected herbicides on weed control, crop productivity, and crop quality. Seed yields of blessed thistle were increased with metribuzin alone at 0.5 kg ai/ha, pendimethalin alone 1.32 kg ai/ha, pendimethalin at 1.32 kg ai/ha plus metribuzin at 0.5 kg ai/ha, trifluralin at 0.84 kg ai/ha plus linuron at 1.0 kg ai/ha, and in the hand-weeded control compared to the nonweeded control (nontreated check). Pendimethalin and metribuzin were safe both alone and in combination for weed control in blessed thistle. Bentazon at 0.96 kg ai/ha inhibited blessed thistle development and reduced seed yields compared to the untreated check. Generally, weed control increased the content of silymarin and decreased the amount of seed oil. Overall, seeds contained 0.26 to 0.36% taxifolin, 0.69 to 0.99% silydianin plus silycristin, 1.31 to 1.78% silybin, and 0.27 to 0.39 % isosilybin.

Cytotoxicity of six South African medicinal plant extracts used in the treatment of cancer

Aqueous extracts prepared from six South African medicinal plants, with cancer-related ethnobotanical uses, were tested for their cytotoxic ability in vitro against three human cancer cell lines: DU-145 prostate cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells and a non-malignant breast cell line, MCF-12A. The plants studied were: Bidens pilosa, Centella asiatica, Cnicus benedictus, Dicoma capensis, Hypoxis hemerocallidea and Sutherlandia frutescens. Of these plants, only D. capensis exhibited pronounced cytotoxic effects in two of the cell lines tested: MCF-7 and MCF-12A.

Assessment of risk of attack to safflower by Ceratapion basicorne (Coleoptera: Apionidae), a prospective biological control agent of Centaurea solstitialis (Asteraceae)

Ceratapion basicorne (Coleoptera: Apionidae) is a prospective biological control agent of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis, Asteraceae: Cardueae), which is an important invasive alien weed in the western United States. Previous studies have shown that it is possible for this insect to oviposit on and complete development on saZower (Carthamus tinctorius) under no-choice laboratory conditions; however, it has never been reported as a pest of saZower. Field experiments were conducted at three sites in eastern Turkey during 3 years to evaluate the risk of attack on saZower by this insect in its native range. At two sites where C. basicorne was the only apionid observed, no saZower plants were attacked despite high attack rates on yellow starthistle test plants (48–98% of plants infested). At a third site, where C. basicorne and three other species in the same genus; C. scalptum, C. orientale, and C. onopordi were present, 8–26% of saZower plants were infested, but none of the insects reared from saZower during 3 years were C. basicorne. Other authors have reported rearing C. basicorne from Weld-collected plants of only Ce. solstitialis, Ce. cyanus, Ce. depressa, and Cnicus benedictus. Our results indicate that C. basicorne does not attack saZower under Weld conditions and that its introduction would not pose a risk to this crop. Published by Elsevier Inc.

CHANGES OF GERMINATION ABILITY OF SOME FATTY OIL CONTAINING MEDICINAL PLANT SEEDS DURING STORAGE IN GENEBANK

Storage of propagation material of several medicinal plants in the frame of a gene bank project was done at the Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of SZI University, Budapest. In the present work, we studied the changes in germination ability of some fatty oil containing seeds (Carthamus tinctorius L., Cnicus benedictus L., Borago officinalis L. and Oenothera erythrosepala BORB.) during 5 years period of storage. The cooled condition (4 oC) caused significantly higher germination in the course of middle term storage of Borago officinalis L. and Carthamus tinctorius L. seeds. The year of harvest resulted in differences in the level of the germination ability too, which is demonstrated by the example of Carthamus tinctorius L. and Cnicus benedictus L.

Evaluation of supercritical plant extracts on volatile and non volatile biologically active lipophil components

Authors dealt more than ten years with the analysis of supercritical extracts. For extraction (SFE) carbon dioxide was used as supercritical solvent. Fractionation of extracts was carried out by releasing the separations pressure at two stages. The extracts were collected as separate samples successively in time.
 The traditional extractions were carried out with steam distillation or by using n-hexane and ethanol in Soxhlet apparatus. For the analysis of volatile compounds GC, GC-MS; of non volatile compounds TLC-densitometry and spectroscopic methods were used.
 The following general characteristics were established comparing the composition of steam distillated oils with that of volatile SFE fractions. The SFE fractions were richer in monoterpene-esters and poorer in alcohols than the essential oils prepared by traditional way (clary sage, lavandel). Regarding the distributi,n of the monoterpene and sesquiterpene compounds, the SFE fractions contained sesquiterpene hydrocarbon in higher percentage than the distillated oils (e.g. 13-caryophyllene in Salvia fruticosa, (3-caryophyllene, y­muurolene, y-cadinene in Ochnum basilicum). Further the proportion of sesquiterpenes increased in SFE fractions collected successively in time.Significant difference was remarkable in respect of the optical rotationability of lovage oil and SFE fraction which was probably caused by the different ratio between the two ligustilid enantiomers. It was verified in some cases that a part of mono- and sesquiterpenes were present originally in a bounded form (glycosides) in plants. Therefore they appeared in essential oil fractions only after previous acidic treatment (Thymus, Origanum species). During the supercritical extraction the azulenogene sesquiterpene lactones did not transform to azulenes (in chamomile, yarrow), but the non volatile SFE fractions of some Asteraceae plant contained sesquiterpene--lacton of unchanged structure in high quantity (e.g. cnicin in blessed thistle, parthenolide in feverfew). Authors obtained also SFE fractions which were rich in triterpenoids and phytosterols (marigold, common dandelion).

Analysis and action of cnicin

Cnicin, a sesquiterpenlactone of germacranolide-type, reacts with polynitroaromatic compounds in alkaline medium to form intensely coloured products of the Meisenheimer complex-type. A propenide complex results from the addition of excess picrate (Baljet reagent), which is stable enough for photometric cnicin determination. Dried leaves of Cnicus benedictus L. (Blessed Thistle, Asteraceae) contain up to 2.5% of cnicin and commercial herbs between 0.2-0.7%. Shoots and flowering heads are almost free from this bitter substance. Storage of dried plant material leads to high losses due to the instability of cnicin. The approximate acute toxicity (ALD50) for mice, orally administered, is 1.6-3.2 mmol cnicin/kg body weight. Cnicin shows an antiinflammatory activity in the rat paw edema screen which is nearly equivalent to that of indomethacin. Intraperitoneal application of cnicin results in a strong irritation of tissue. In the writhing-test, cnicin causes abdominal pain in mice with an ED50 of 6.2 µmol/kg body weight.

Isorhamnetin 7-glucoside from cnicus wallichi

Isorhamnetin 7-glucoside was characterized from Cnicus wallichi. This is the first report of this glycoside in the Compositae and the second in nature.

Notes on the Flora of Jordan 13. New and Noteworthy Dicotyledonous Plants

The species recorded in this paper have recently been collected from Jordan. Some of them are recorded for the first time, such as: Hormuzakia aggregata, Atriplex semibaccata, Filago gallica, Lactuca viminea, Alyssum desertorum, Sterigmostemum sulphureum, Prunus ursina, Symrnium connatum and Valerianella echinata. The others have been collected from new localities, confirming their presence (as they were previously doubtfully or rarely recorded). These are: Achillea membranacea, Bufonia ephedrina, Capparis parviflora, Cnicus benedictus, Daucus jordanicus, Euclidium syriacum, Linum album, Smyrniopsis cachroides and goegea purpurea. Specimens of the species mentioned have been deposited at the herbarium Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan (AMM). Some duplicates have been sent to Kew (K) and Reading University (RNG) herbaria. Distribution of taxa in Jordan is shown in the maps 1-3. This project is supported by the University of Jordan.

The blessed thistle

Journal Article The blessed thistle Get access James Britten James Britten Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Notes and Queries, Volume s5-II, Issue 38, 19 September 1874, Page 239, https://doi.org/10.1093/nq/s5-II.38.239a Published: 19 September 1874

The blessed thistle

The blessed thistle Get access E. L. Blenkinsopp E. L. Blenkinsopp Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Notes and Queries, Volume s5-II, Issue 31, 1 August 1874, Page 95, https://doi.org/10.1093/nq/s5-II.31.95g Published: 01 August 1874

The blessed thistle

The blessed thistle