Dried Flower Buds Research Articles

Ethnomedicinal and Pharmacological Significance of Syzygium aromaticum (Clove): A Review

Background: Syzygium aromaticum Linn. (clove) is a dried flower bud from the Myrtaceae family, native to Indonesia's Maluku islands. Clove essential oil is recognized for its diverse biological activities, including antiseptic, analgesic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anticancer properties. Its high concentration of bioactive compounds, particularly eugenol, caryophyllene, and eugenol acetate, contributes significantly to these effects, making clove a subject of increasing scientific interest. Methods: This review compiles and analyzes updated information on the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of clove and its primary constituent, eugenol. A systematic literature review was conducted, focusing on peer-reviewed studies that detail the extraction methods, chemical composition, and bioactivity assays of clove essential oil. Results: Clove essential oil contains approximately 16-18% of essential oils, with eugenol constituting 59-88% of its composition. The oil exhibits notable antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, anticancer, antidiabetic, and antiviral properties. Clove has shown efficacy against various pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Helicobacter pylori. Furthermore, eugenol demonstrated significant cytotoxic effects against various cancer cell lines and showed promise in managing metabolic disorders and enhancing immune responses. Conclusion: Clove and eugenol possess extensive therapeutic potential, warranting further investigation to unlock their applications in modern medicine. Despite their benefits, attention to their toxicity and safety profiles is essential for ensuring appropriate usage in therapeutic contexts. This review highlights the need for continued research to validate traditional uses and explore novel applications of clove and its bioactive components.

Seven undescribed compounds from dried flower buds of Ochrocarpus longifolius

Seven unreported compounds were isolated from dried flower buds of Ochrocarpus longifolius in this study, including an alkaloid ochrocaracid A (1), five coumarins ochrocarpins I (2), J (3), K (4), L (5), and M (6), and one styryl-2-pyranone compound iresinoacid (7) and nine known compounds (8–16). All these compounds were found in O. longifolius for the first time. Their structural elucidation was achieved through NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and ECD data. Additionally, a glucose uptake-promoting activity assay revealed that compounds 10 (128.21 μM) and 16 (123.15 μM) increased the glucose uptake capacity of L6 cells by 1.49-fold and 1.48-fold, respectively. These bioactive compounds could be potential candidates for further pharmaceutical applications.

INVESTIGATION OF COMBINED EFFECT OF THREE PLANT POWDERS WITH DIATOMACEOUS EARTH AGAINST CALLOSOBRUCHUS MACULATUS

The study was conducted to investigate the combined effects of various plant powders and Silico-sec, a diatomaceous earth, on Callosobruchus maculatus at the research laboratory of the Department of Crop Pest and Soil Management, the Federal University of Technology, Akure. The study included three replications. The treatments consisted of three (3) plant materials derived from the dry flower buds of Eugenia aromatica, seeds of Piper guineense, and leaves of Nicotiana tabacum and their combination with Silico-sec. In one experiment, 0.4g of each plant material was added to 20 C. maculatus adults (10 couples, aged 1-2 days) in 20g of Ife Brown cowpea seeds, all contained within an air-tight plastic container. Another experiment involved the addition of 0.4g mixtures of Silico-sec and each plant powder (E. aromatica, P. guineense, and N. tabacum) in various ratios (1:5, 5:1, 1:10, 10:1, and 1:1) to the same number of C. maculatus adults in 20g of cowpea seeds, also in separate air-tight plastic containers. All the treatments and their combination were laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) repeated three times. Data were collected at 12, 24, and 48 at p,0hours post-treatment. Oviposition, adult emergence, and seed weight loss were evaluated. The results demonstrated that both the plant powders and Silico-sec were effective in controlling C. maculatus infestation on cowpea by causing significant adult mortality at p< 0.05, reducing oviposition, suppressing F1 adult emergence, and minimizing seed damage. Among single applications, Silico-sec and E. aromatica powder provided the best protection for stored cowpea, yielding the highest adult mortality, lowest oviposition, most suppressed F1 adult emergence, and minimal seed damage. However, the mixture of Silico-sec and P. guineense at ratios of 5:1 and 10:1 offered the best protection, exhibiting significantly higher mortality, lower oviposition rates, suppressed F1 adult emergence, and reduced seed damage compared to other treatments. This study suggests that combination of P. guineense and Silico-sec is particularly effective in controlling cowpea storage pests and could serve as a viable alternative to synthetic insecticides for protecting stored cowpea against C. maculatus.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction, optimization, and purification of total flavonoids from [formula omitted] and analysis of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities

Daphne genkwa (D. genkwa) is the dried flower buds of a Chinese medicinal plant with multiple biological activities. Response surface methodology (RSM) combined with artificial neural network (ANN) techniques were utilized to optimize ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions for D. genkwa. Antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of total flavonoids from D. genkwa (TFDG) were assessed. Optimal conditions involving ultrasonic power of 225 W, 30 min extraction time, 30 mL/g liquid–solid ratio, 60 °C extraction temperature, and 70% ethanol concentration yielded a maximum total flavonoids content (TFC) of 5.41 mg/g. After microporous resin purification, four specific flavonoids in D. genkwa were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The TFDG demonstrated potent antioxidant activity, with a 94% rate of scavenging the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Furthermore, TFDG exhibited pain-alleviating properties in hot plate and acetic acid-induced writhing tests and noteworthy inhibitory effects on xylene-induced ear swelling in mice. The total flavonoids extracted by ultrasound had excellent biological activity. This establishes a foundation for further investigation into the potential medical value of D. genkwa.

Clove essential oil and its major component, eugenol: a comparative study of their in vitro antioxidant and anticancer properties

Syzygium aromaticum L. (clove) is a species native to subtropical countries. Its dried flower buds are rich in essential oils, which have shown insecticidal, anti-inflammatory and anaesthetic effects. This work was aimed to study the differences in antioxidant and anticancer activities between clove essential oil (CEO) and its major component, eugenol. The chemical composition of the CEO was determined by GC-MS. The physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity were determined in CEO and eugenol. Finally, anticancer activities were assayed against seven cell lines. Chemical analysis revealed that 80% of the CEO was eugenol. The density and IR were similar, and the colour was ΔE*>3. CEO had a lower phenolic content, but similar antioxidant activity to eugenol. The anticancer activity of the CEO was greater than that of eugenol in all the cell lines except for HeLa cells. These results suggest that secondary compounds in CEO enhance its antioxidant and ­anticancer activities.

Lonicerae Japonicae Flos with the homology of medicine and food: a review of active ingredients, anticancer mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, quality control, toxicity and applications.

Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (LJF, called Jinyinhua in China), comes from the dried flower buds or flowers to be opened of Lonicera japonica Thunb. in the Lonicera family. It has a long history of medicinal use and has a wide range of application prospects. As modern research advances, an increasing number of scientific experiments have demonstrated the anticancer potential of LJF. However, there is a notable absence of systematic reports detailing the anti-tumor effects of LJF. This review integrates the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with contemporary pharmacological techniques, drawing upon literature from authoritative databases such as PubMed, CNKI, and WanFang to conduct a comprehensive study of LJF. Notably, a total of 507 compounds have been isolated and characterized from the plant to date, which include volatile oils, organic acids, flavonoids, iridoids, triterpenes and triterpenoid saponins. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that LJF extract, along with components such as chlorogenic acid, luteolin, rutin, luteoloside, hyperoside and isochlorogenic acid, exhibits potential anticancer activities. Consequently, we have conducted a comprehensive review and summary of the mechanisms of action and clinical applications of these components. Furthermore, we have detailed the pharmacokinetics, quality control, and toxicity of LJF, while also discussing its prospective applications in the fields of biomedicine and preventive healthcare. It is hoped that these studies will provide valuable reference for the clinical research, development, and application of LJF.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an Effective Indicator for Screening of Quorum Sensing Inhibition by Plant Extracts

Quorum sensing is a well-known mechanism used by many bacteria to control important virulence factors through the production and subsequent response to N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs). Quorum sensing inhibition (QSI), targeting AHL-dependent signalling, has been reported as a strategy for the control of bacterial pathogenicity. Thus, this study aimed at investigating the capability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an indicator to rapidly screen for potential QSI caused by plant extracts based on pigment inhibition. Four ethanolic plant extracts including: dried flower buds of clove (Syzygium aromaticum L), bark of cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia L), leaves of moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam), and Al-Gutub (Tribulus terrestris L) dried fruits were investigated for their QSI ability in comparison with furanone (the known QS inhibitor). Agar well diffusion assay was used, in which the indicator isolate, P. aeruginosa, was inoculated onto Pseudomonas special agar medium containing 8 mm wells to load different concentrations of the plant extracts along with furanone or phosphate buffered saline (negative control). The results showed that furanone was successful in inhibiting the pyocyanin pigment of P. aeruginosa without interfering with the bacterial growth, this verified the ability of this bacterium as a potent QS indicator organism. Importantly, clove extract at different concentrations caused complete inhibition of the pyocyanin pigment with little impact on the bacterial growth. On the use of cinnamon, only the high concentrations showed clear dye inhibition of the indicator organism. Moringa also caused certain degree of dye inhibition but only at high concentrations. Conversely, Al-Gutub neither affected on the pyocyanin production nor on the bacterial viability. In conclusion, P. aeruginosa isolate, pyocyanin producer, was successful in the screening of QS inhibitors. This simple study recommends the use of such isolate without relying on the import of certain strains of Chromobacterium violaceum, Pseudomonas aureofaciens, or Agrobacterium tumefaciens‎‎‎‎‎.

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of a tincture derived from the flowers of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry (clove tincture) for all animal species (FEFANA asbl).

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a tincture from the dried flower bud of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry (clove tincture) when used as a sensory additive in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. The product is a ■■■■■) solution, with a dry matter content of ~ 1.66%. The product contains on average 0.511% phenolic acids (of which 0.0344% were flavonoids), 0.039% eugenol, 0.00019% methyleugenol and 0.00008% estragole. The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the use of clove tincture is very unlikely to be of safety concern for the target species up to the maximum proposed use level of 50 mg clove tincture/kg complete feed for all animal species, except for horses, for which the proposed use level is 200 mg/kg complete feed. The FEEDAP Panel considers that the use in water for drinking alone or in combination with use in feed should not exceed the daily amount that is considered very unlikely to be of safety concern when consumed via feed alone. No safety concern would arise for the consumer and the environment from the use of clove tincture up to the maximum proposed use levels in feed. The additive under assessment should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes, and as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. When handling the additive, exposure of unprotected users to methyleugenol and estragole may occur. Therefore, to reduce the risk, the exposure of the users should be minimised. Since the flower buds of S. aromaticum and their preparations were recognised to flavour food and their function in feed would be essentially the same, no demonstration of efficacy was considered necessary.

DMC triggers MDA-MB-231 cells apoptosis via inhibiting protective autophagy and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway by enhancing ROS level

DMC, a kind of compound derived from the dry flower buds of Cleistocalyx operculatus, has been shown to inhibit the growth of various cancer cells, but research on triple-negative breast cancer cells remains scarce. To explore this issue, MDA-MB-231 cells were selected, and the results showed that DMC has strong proliferation inhibit effects on this kind of cells. The inhibit rate of 30 μM DMC incubated for 24 h was 56.25%, and 40.6% cells were arrested under the G2/M phase. The levels of pro-apoptosis protein Bax and active caspase-3, cleaved PARP and cell cycle related proteins, such as p21 and p27 increased, but apoptosis regulators, like Bcl-2, Cdc 2, Cyclin B1, and LC3 II decreased dramatically. In addition, DMC induced the accumulation of autophagosomes and autophagic substrates, and the combination of DMC with CQ promoted apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells, which suggested that DMC induced apoptosis partly by blocking autophagy flow.Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and its mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR) were also decreased after 30 μM DMC incubating for 24 h. The proteins play a critical role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy modulation. The inhibition of autophagy flow and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway could be reversed after being treated with ROS scavenger NAC. Altogether, the results of the present study suggest that DMC effectively induces apoptosis and growth inhibition in MDA-MB-231 cells through blocking autophagy flow and regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway by increasing ROS level.

Edgeworthia gardneri (Wall.) Meisn. Ethanolic Extract Attenuates Endothelial Activation and Alleviates Cardiac Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Endothelial pro-inflammatory activation is pivotal in cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury pathophysiology. The dried flower bud of Edgeworthia gardneri (Wall.) Meisn. (EG) is a commonly utilized traditional Tibetan medicine. However, its role in regulating endothelium activation and cardiac I/R injury has not been investigated. Herein, we showed that the administration of EG ethanolic extract exhibited a potent therapeutic efficacy in ameliorating cardiac endothelial inflammation (p < 0.05) and thereby protecting against myocardial I/R injury in rats (p < 0.001). In line with the in vivo findings, the EG extract suppressed endothelial pro-inflammatory activation in vitro by downregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (p < 0.05) and diminishing monocytes' firm adhesion to endothelial cells (ECs) (p < 0.01). Mechanistically, we showed that EG extract inhibited the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways to attenuate EC-mediated inflammation (p < 0.05). Collectively, for the first time, this study demonstrated the therapeutic potential of EG ethanolic extract in alleviating I/R-induced inflammation and the resulting cardiac injury through its inhibitory role in regulating endothelium activation.

New daphnane diterpenoidal 1,3,4-oxdiazole derivatives as potential anti-hepatoma agents: Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling studies

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major challenge for human healthy. Daphnane-type diterpenes have attracted increasingly attention due to remarkable pharmaceutical potential including anti-HCC activity. To further develop this class of compounds as inhibitors of HCC, the daphnane diterpenoids 12-O-debenzoyl-Yuanhuacine (YHC) and 12-hydroxydaphnetoxin (YHE) were prepared by a standard chemical transformation from dried flower buds of the Daphne genkwa plant. Subsequently, 22 daphnane diterpenoidal 1,3,4-oxdiazole derivatives were rationally designed and synthesized based on YHC and YHE. The assessment of the target compound's anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity revealed that YHC1 exhibited comparable activity to sorafenib in the Hep3B cell line, while demonstrating higher selectivity. The mechanistic investigation demonstrates that compound YHC1 induces cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, cellular senescence, apoptosis, and elevates cellular reactive oxygen species levels. Moreover, molecular docking and CETSA results confirm the interaction between YHC1 and YAP1 as well as TEAD1. Co-IP experiments further validated that YHC1 can effectively inhibit the binding of YAP1 and TEAD1. In conclusion, YHC1 selectively targets YAP1 and TEAD1, exhibiting its anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects through the inhibition of their interaction.

Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Syzygium aromaticum Plant Against Enterococcus faecalis Isolated from Women with Urinary Tract Infections

Background: Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) is an ancient medicinal plant with a long history of use in traditional medicine. It possesses a diverse array of bioactive compounds and has been employed for centuries in Asian countries, especially India and other developing nations, to address fungal infections affecting the skin, mouth, urinary system, and vaginal tract. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the antibacterial effects of an ethanolic extract derived from the S. aromaticum plant on clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis. This was achieved by conducting an agar diffusion susceptibility test, indicating the presence of an inhibitory zone against the growth of the microorganisms. Methods: In this study, 251 clinical urine samples were collected from women suffering from urinary tract infections (UTIs) aged 17 to 52 years in Baghdad City, Iraq, from September 2021 to January 2022. The samples were examined to determine the occurrence of E. faecalis through morphological identification. This involved employing conventional and differential culture media, performing biochemical tests, and utilizing the Vitek II system. Results: Enterococcus faecalis isolates were found in 35 (16.43%) of 213 samples that showed positive bacterial cultures detected by conventional bacteriological methods and Vitek II. Based on antimicrobial susceptibility test results, 4 concentrations (100, 50, 25, and 12.5 mg/mL) of alcoholic extract of S. aromaticum showed considerable effectiveness against all 35 E. faecalis isolates, where the diameters of the inhibition zones ranged from 21.13 to 7.14 mm; however, no inhibition of zone was seen at concentrations of 6.25 and 3.125 mg/mL. Conclusions: The ethanolic extract obtained from the dried flower buds of clove (S. aromaticum) exhibited significant potential as an antibacterial agent. Furthermore, it suggests the exploitation of this plant as a novel therapeutic alternative for the treatment of UTIs to deal with the problem of drug resistance.

Combined analysis of inorganic elements and flavonoid metabolites reveals the relationship between flower quality and maturity of Sophora japonica L.

Flos Sophorae (FS), or the dried flower buds of Sophora japonica L., is widely used as a food and medicinal material in China. The quality of S. japonica flowers varies with the developmental stages (S1-S5) of the plant. However, the relationship between FS quality and maturity remains unclear. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q TRAP-MS/MS) were used to analyze inorganic elements and flavonoid metabolites, respectively. A combined analysis of the inorganic elements and flavonoid metabolites in FS was conducted to determine the patterns of FS quality formation. Sixteen inorganic elements and 173 flavonoid metabolites that accumulated at different developmental stages were identified. Notably, 54 flavonoid metabolites associated with the amelioration of major human diseases were identified, and Ca, P, K, Fe, and Cu were postulated to influence flavonoid metabolism and synthesis. This study offers a novel perspective and foundation for the further exploration of the rules governing the quality of plant materials.

Effects of Magnoliae Flos on Atopic Dermatitis-Like Inflammation Evaluated via Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase or Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription 1/3 Signalling Pathways

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Skin is the largest organ and plays a pivotal role in protecting the body. Not only does the skin act as a physical barrier against the external environment, but it also has its own immune system. Atopic dermatitis is caused by prolonged excessive inflammatory responses that worsen under imbalanced cutaneous immune system skin conditions. Although the prevalence and burden of atopic dermatitis is increasing, the standard therapeutic agents remain unclear due to the complicated pathophysiology of the condition. The objective of this study is to examine the use of Magnoliae flos, the dried flower bud of Magnolia biondii or related plants. The effects and underlying mechanism of action of aqueous extract of the buds of Magnoliae flos (MF) were evaluated. Immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) stimulated with tumour necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ mixture and NC/Nga mice stimulated with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene were used as atopic dermatitis models, in vitro and in vivo, respectively. The effects of MF were determined by measuring the suppression of pro-inflammatory signalling pathways, such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase or signal transducers and activators of transcription 1/3 and restoring skin barrier molecules. In conclusion, MF is a potential therapeutic alternative for the treatment of atopic dermatitis through repressing inflammatory pathways.

Response Surface Methodology in Optimising the Extraction of Polyphenolic Antioxidants from Flower Buds of Magnolia × soulangeana Soul.-Bod. var. 'Lennei' and Their Detailed Qualitative and Quantitative Profiling.

A response surface methodology (RSM) with a central composite design (CCD) was developed to predict and apply the best ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) conditions, including the extraction time, the composition of aqueous-ethanolic extractants, and the solvent-to-plant-material ratio, for obtaining the highest yields of different types of polyphenolic components from the dried flower buds of Magnolia × soulangeana Soul.-Bod. var. 'Lennei' (MSL). The novel approach in the RSM procedure resulted from the simultaneous optimisation of UAE conditions to obtain extracts with the highest antioxidant and antiradical potential (examined as dependent variables), using appropriate spectrophotometric assays, with Folin-Ciocâlteu and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl reagents, respectively. The use of 66.8% (V/V) ethanol as the extraction solvent during the 55.2 min extraction protocol and the ratio of extractant volume to herbal substance of 46.8 mL/g gave the highest total yield of bioactive antioxidant phenolics in the extract obtained. For this herbal preparation, a qualitative and quantitative analysis was performed using combined chromatographic (LC), spectroscopic (PDA), and tandem mass spectrometric (ESI-QToF-MS/MS) techniques. A detailed phytochemical profiling, conducted for the first time, documented substantial amounts of various polyphenolic antioxidants, especially phenylethanoids and flavonoids, in the MSL flower buds. Their average total content exceeded 30.3 and 36.5 mg/g dry weight, respectively.

A Comprehensive Quality Analysis of Different Colors of Medicinal and Edible Honeysuckle.

Honeysuckle (the dried flower bud or opening flower of Lonicera japonica Thunb.), a medicinal and edible substance, has is greatly popular among consumers for its remarkable health effects, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, due to the influences of processing methods, storage conditions, and other factors, honeysuckles show different colors which can directly reflect the quality and the price on the market. In order to comprehensively compare the quality of different colors, 55 batches of honeysuckle samples were collected and analyzed. Their color parameters, chlorophyll content (chl), total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity (AA), main active compounds, and metabolites were measured. As a result, the initial green-white (GW) samples, a kind of highest-quality honeysuckle, had the smallest a* value, largest h*, chl, TPC, TFC, and AA values, and highest content of chlorogenic acid and cynaroside. There was a significant difference between GW samples and a series of discolored samples. As the color darkened or lightened, the quality gradually decreased. The yellow-brown (YB) samples were of the worst quality and were no longer available for clinical and health purposes. A series of differential metabolites, such as quercetin-7-O-glucoside and secologanoside, could be used as important references to evaluate the quality of differently colored samples. The metabolic profile of honeysuckle provided new insights into the process of color change and laid a foundation for further honeysuckle quality control. The correlation results showed that the a* and h* values significantly affect the abovementioned quality indicators and the 10 main active compounds. In other words, the color difference could directly reflect the quality and clinical efficacy. Multiple regression analysis was carried out using combined L*, a*, and b* values to predict the quality of honeysuckle. This is the first time the quality of different color honeysuckle samples on the post-harvest link has been systematically compared and a demonstration of medicinal and edible substances with different colors has been provided.

Genome-wide analysis of the MADS-box gene family in Lonicera japonica and a proposed floral organ identity model

BackgroundLonicera japonica Thunb. is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Medicinal L. japonica mainly consists of dried flower buds and partially opened flowers, thus flowers are an important quality indicator. MADS-box genes encode transcription factors that regulate flower development. However, little is known about these genes in L. japonica.ResultsIn this study, 48 MADS-box genes were identified in L. japonica, including 20 Type-I genes (8 Mα, 2 Mβ, and 10 Mγ) and 28 Type-II genes (26 MIKCc and 2 MIKC*). The Type-I and Type-II genes differed significantly in gene structure, conserved domains, protein structure, chromosomal distribution, phylogenesis, and expression pattern. Type-I genes had a simpler gene structure, lacked the K domain, had low protein structure conservation, were tandemly distributed on the chromosomes, had more frequent lineage-specific duplications, and were expressed at low levels. In contrast, Type-II genes had a more complex gene structure; contained conserved M, I, K, and C domains; had highly conserved protein structure; and were expressed at high levels throughout the flowering period. Eleven floral homeotic MADS-box genes that are orthologous to the proposed Arabidopsis ABCDE model of floral organ identity determination, were identified in L. japonica. By integrating expression pattern and protein interaction data for these genes, we developed a possible model for floral organ identity determination.ConclusionThis study genome-widely identified and characterized the MADS-box gene family in L. japonica. Eleven floral homeotic MADS-box genes were identified and a possible model for floral organ identity determination was also developed. This study contributes to our understanding of the MADS-box gene family and its possible involvement in floral organ development in L. japonica.

Entomocidal activity of some botanical powders and their mixes against adults of Lasioderma serricorne Fabricius and Stegobium paniceum Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)

The study investigated the lethality of powders made from rice husk ash (RHA), dry flower buds of Eugenia aromatica (L.) Baill. (EAP), and dry seeds of Piper guineense Schumach. (PGP), to adults of Lasioderma serricorne Fabricius and Stegobium paniceum Linnaeus, at 25 ± 2 °C and 65 ± 3% relative humidity. The powders were tested singly, and in binary and ternary combinations at the dosages of 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.1 g/10 g of grain in glass Petri dishes. The constituents of binary and ternary combination of powders were mixed in equal proportions. There was a control involving no powder. Adult mortality of 20 individuals was observed 3, 5 and 7 days post treatment. ANOVA of data indicated significant differences among treatment means. Adult mortality increased with increase in dosage of powders and period of exposure. When applied singly the three insecticidal powders generally showed decreasing lethality to the adults beetles in this order RHA &gt; EAP &gt; PGP with respect to S. paniceum, but EAP &gt; RHA &gt; PGP with respect to L. serricorne. In the binary and ternary combinations of equal proportions the less toxic powders were more enhanced in lethality. The use of the binary and ternary combinations may be favoured for use in mitigating S. paniceum and L. serricorne damage to stored products for reasons of affordability, sustainability and durability which is discussed.

Anti-inflammatory Effect by Cloves Treatment in LPS-induced RAW264.7 Cells

Background: Cloves mean the dried flower bud harvested from a tree of Syzygium aromaticum L. (SA). Objectives: The current study was to identify the anti-inflammatory effects of SA on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (0.2 µg/mL)-treated RAW264.7 cells. Materials and Methods: WST-8 cell proliferation assay kit (WST-8) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays were completed to observe cell proliferation and cytotoxicity effects of SA. Other biochemical analyses analyzed releases of nitric oxide (NO) and the production of dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCF-DA). Besides, inflammation-related factors and Sirt1 were carried out through immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF). Results: LPS exposure not only caused abnormal elevations of both NO and reactive oxygen species (ROS) secretions, but also markedly increased inflammation-related proteins including inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cluster of differentiation (CD) 14, and toll-like receptor (TLR) 4, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). The above-listed alterations were notably attenuated by SA pretreatment in a dose-dependent manner. We further figured out that, SA particularly activated AMPKα/ Sirt1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, SA dramatically inhibited interleukin (IL)-1β production, which was mediated by NLR family Pyrin domain containing (NLRP) 3 mediated inflammasome signaling pathway. Conclusion: SA inhibits LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells via the TRL4/CD14/NF-κB pathway and it can lead to the reduction of IL-1β release by the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome. Such an anti-inflammatory effect was closely related to AMPKα/Sirt1 activation. Taken together, the findings of this study support both the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome and activation of Sirt1 can alleviate inflammation.

Natural products with anticonvulsant potentials from Syzygium aromaticum (Myrtaceae)

Chemical investigation of the methanol crude extract of dried flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum (Myrtaceae) resulted in the isolation of seven known compounds; oleanolic acid (1), lignoceric acid (2), β-sitosterol (3), heneicosanoic acid (4), 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2-methylchromone (5), 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2,8-dimethylchromone (6) and vanillin (7). Their structures were elucidated using one-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and comparison with literature data. The crude extract, and compounds 1-6, revealed significant anticonvulsant activities against seizures induced by picrotoxin, pentylenetetrazole and bicuculline, respectively in mice. Compound 3 produced 100% protection, compound 2, and 5; on the other hand, each offered 83.33%, while the lowest protection came from compounds 1, 4, and 6 (16.66 – 50 00 %). This is the first report on the anticonvulsant activity of these isolated compounds, and the first report on the isolation of compounds 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 from Syzygium aromaticum.