Asteraceae Research Articles

Rational search for natural antimicrobial compounds: relevance of sesquiterpene lactones

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most pressing global health challenges, as many pathogens are rapidly evolving to evade existing treatments. Despite this urgent need for new solutions, natural plant-derived compounds remain relatively underexplored in the development of antimicrobial drugs. This report highlights an innovative approach to discovering potent antimicrobial agents through bioguided fractionation of numerous plant species from the rich Argentinean flora. By systematically screening 60 species (over 177 extracts) for antimicrobial activity against representative strains of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, we identified promising bioactive compounds within the Asteraceae family—particularly sesquiterpene lactones from the Xanthium genus. Building on this basis, we synthesized semi-synthetic derivatives by chemically modifying plant sub-extracts, focusing on structures incorporating heteroatoms and/or heterocycles containing oxygen and nitrogen (important for the bioavailability and bioactivity that they are capable of providing). These modifications were evaluated for their potential to enhance antimicrobial efficacy against bacteria and Candida species, including resistant strains. Our findings suggest that tailoring natural metabolites from Xanthium and related Asteraceae species can significantly improve their antimicrobial properties. This strategy offers a promising pathway for the development of novel therapeutic agents to combat bacterial and fungal infections in an era of rising drug resistance.Graphical

Genetic insights into the mineral profiling of twenty-five accessions across three Achillea species

BackgroundAchillea L., a medicinal plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, has a global distribution and has been employed for its therapeutic properties since ancient times. Different species within the Achillea genus are frequently employed to tackle various health concerns. While there has been considerable research conducted on the bioactive compounds found in these plants and their corresponding biological activities, there remains a notable gap in our understanding of their mineral composition. Therefore, the present study aimed to systematically evaluate the mineral profile within and across three Achillea species, namely A. vermicularis, A. wilhelmsii, and A. tenuifolia. The study focused on the analysis of eight minerals, namely Fe, Cd, K, Ca, Pb, Mg, Cu, and P, over a span of two crop years.ResultsBased on the results, the mineral composition varied significantly among the species and accessions. In the study, the K (3.9–4.48%) content in all three examined species was found to be abundant. Comparatively, the Fe content in the A. wilhelmsii (952 mg/kg) and A. vermicularis (1047 mg/kg) species was more than double that of the A. tenuifolia (390 mg/kg) species. The Cu content, on the other hand, demonstrated similar levels across all three species. The highest concentrations of Mg (0.59%), Ca (1.79%), and P (0.62%) were observed in A. wilhelmsii, A. tenuifolia, and A. vermicularis species, respectively. Notably, A. tenuifolia species exhibited the lowest level of Pb, while the A. vermicularis species had the lowest level of Cd. In the studied plants, the minerals were found to have the following concentration order: K > Ca > P > Mg > Fe > Cu > Pb > Cd. The cluster analysis categorized the 25 accessions into three distinct groups, revealing no similarity among accessions within each species. The PCA plot, utilizing the first two PC, validated approximately 46% of the total variance. This confirmation solidified the outcomes derived from the cluster analysis.ConclusionsIn conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the mineral composition of Achillea species, highlighting the variability among species and accessions. The findings contribute to our understanding of the nutritional and therapeutic potential of these plants and can guide future research on their cultivation and utilization in various applications.

PHENOLIC CONTENT AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF COTA PESTALOZZAE BOISS. AERIAL PARTS

Objective: The genus Cota was once considered a subgenus of Anthemis but is now recognized as an independent genus. The species belonging to Cota, including several endemic to Turkey, have been less extensively studied in the literature than other plants in the Asteraceae family. The current study aimed to examine the phenolic content and antibacterial activity of C. pestalozzae Boiss., an endemic species from Turkey. Material and Method: The phenolic content of the methanol extract prepared from the aerial parts of C. pestalozze Boiss. was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. This study calculated the limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) for each detected compound. The antibacterial activity of the extract was also investigated against some Gram (+) and (-) bacteria strains. Result and Discussion: In the current study, chlorogenic acid, 4,5-O-dicaffeoyl quinic acid, 3,5-O-dicaffeoyl quinic acid, rutin, hyperoside and isoquercetin were qualitatively and quantitatively detected in the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of C. pestalozzae Boiss. Extract of the aerial parts exhibited antibacterial activity only against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 (MRSA) with a MIC value of 10000 µg/ml. The research indicates that C. pestalozzae contains phenolic compounds and is effective against Gram (+) bacteria.

Phytochemical Investigation and Biological Evaluation of Disynaphia filifolia: A Novel Source of Tremetone in Asteraceae.

Chemical investigation of Disynaphia filifolia (Hassl.) R.M. King & H. Rob. (Asteraceae) led to the isolation of eight compounds, with tremetone being the major metabolite recovered. Tremetone has been suggested as the toxic compound in Ageratina altissima and Isocoma pluriflora, two species of the Asteraceae family. Although D. filifolia is not classified as a toxic species, tremetone was identified as the major compound in the crude extract of this species, constituting approximately 21% of the total content. Furthermore, 22 compounds were annotated using dereplication techniques, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry, and a molecular networking approach. Antiproliferative assays indicated that tremetone was weakly active against the human tumor cell lines tested, proving to be even more toxic to non-tumor cells compared to tumor cell lines. Moreover, the potential antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the crude extract and fractions of D. filifolia are reported herein.

Two amino acid-sesquiterpene lactone conjugates from chicory roots and their anti-inflammation activity

Cichorium intybus L. is a member of the Cichorium genus within the Asteraceae family; it has been historically utilised for both nutritional and therapeutic purposes across various cultures. Sesquiterpene lactones are recognised as its primary bioactive components. In this study, an amino acid-sesquiterpene lactone conjugate cluster was discovered for the first time in chicory roots. Two of them were then isolated including a new compound, 11β, 13-dihydro-13-prolyl-lactucin (1). Structural determination was achieved through extensive spectroscopic studies. The absolute stereochemistry of compound 1 was deduced by matching its experimental ECD spectrum with the theoretically predicted one. In addition, anti-inflammatory activity test demonstrated that both two compounds showed evident NO production inhibitory effects in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages, the IC50 of compound 1 was 20.14 µM. Furthermore, it downregulated the expression of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6 and COX-2.

Comparative Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Parthenium hysterophorus L. Essential Oil from Two Sites in Garhwal Region, Uttarakhand, India

Parthenium hysterophorus L., commonly known as carrot grass (Gajar ghaas), is an annual plant in the Asteraceae family. This study aimed to examine the biological activity and chemical makeup of essential oils extracted from P. hysterophorus plants collected from Dehradun and Haridwar district, Garhwal region, Uttarakhand, India. The plant material underwent hydro-distillation using a Clevenger apparatus to extract the volatile oils. These essential oils were then analyzed for their chemical constituents using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS analysis identified several major compounds in the essential oils from both districts, including β-cyperone (5.11-12.16%), 1-isopropenyl-4-methyl-1,2-cyclohexanediol (3.0-3.7%), 2,3-bornanediol (1.73-6.13%), isolongifolol (1.32-2.73%), saussurea lactone (0.76-7.81%), and neoclovene oxide (0.97-1.48%). Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and heat map clustering, the differences in biological activity and chemical composition of the oils were visualised. These analyses helped illustrate the differences and similarities in the chemical profiles and biological effects of the oils from the two districts. Both essential oils demonstrated significant allelopathic effects against Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus (wild radish) seeds and showed moderate antifungal activity against Colletotrichum lindemuthianum and Curvularia lunata. These findings indicate that the essential oils from Parthenium hysterophorus L. possess notable allelopathic and antifungal properties, suggesting their potential applications in agriculture.

Self-Inhibition Effects of Litter-Mediated Plant-Phyllosphere Feedback on Seedling Growth in Invasive and Native Congeneric Species.

Plant-phyllosphere feedback (PPF) is an ecological process in which phyllosphere microbiota, originating from plant litter, are transmitted via aerosols and subsequently influence the growth of conspecific or heterospecific plants. However, the cross-species generality of this mechanism and its role in invasive plant success remain to be fully elucidated. This study systematically examined PPF effects using three invasive/native congeneric plant pairs from distinct families (Phytolaccaceae, Asteraceae, and Amaranthaceae) in Jiangxi Province, China. Key findings include the following: (1) Wide conspecific negative feedback across families, with four of six species exhibiting 6.2-12.7% biomass reduction under their own litter treatments (p < 0.05). (2) Comparable feedback intensity between invasive and native species, as indicated by average pairwise indices (invasive I = -0.05 vs. native I = -0.04; p = 0.15). Notably, the invasive species Phytolacca americana uniquely showed a positive biomass response (+7.1%), though underlying mechanisms (phytochemical or microbial) were not investigated. (3) Lack of correlation between PPF strength and plant functional traits or phylogenetic distance, as indicated by Mantel tests (p > 0.8), in contrast to the trait/phylogeny associations commonly observed in soil feedback systems. This study provided the first evidence of PPF universality across multiple plant families-previously documented only within Asteraceae-and highlights the potential microbial-mediated advantages in plant invasions. Future research should integrate spatiotemporal metagenomic and metabolomic approaches to decipher the dynamic pathogen/microbe networks and their phytochemical interactions.

Comparative analysis of complete chloroplast genomes of Cousinia (Asteraceae) species.

The study focused on analyzing the chloroplast genome structure and investigating the phylogenetic relationships among six species of the Cousinia genus. Within the Asteraceae family, the complete chloroplast genome sequences of six Cousinia species, ranging from 152,553 to 152,619 bp. The chloroplast genomes exhibit a characteristic quadripartite structure. The gene order is largely conserved across the genus, with an exception in the small single copy region, where a reverse orientation is observed in comparison to Cousinia thomsonii. A total of 131 genes were annotated, including 87 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes, with 18 genes showing duplication. Notably, 16 genes contain introns, with ycf3 and clpP carrying two introns each. Nucleotide diversity analysis revealed 412 polymorphic sites across 152,892 nucleotides in six Cousinia species. Higher nucleotide polymorphism levels were found in trnE-UUC - rpoB, trnL-UAA - trnF-GAA - ndhJ, rbcL, and ycf1 genomic regions, indicating possible genomic loci for species differentiation. Phylogenetic analysis using complete chloroplast genomes, demonstrated the genus Cousinia's phylogenetic placement within the Cardueae tribe, forming distinct clades that align with its traditional sectional classification. The Arctiinae subtribe, containing Cousinia, forms a monophyletic group with Arctium lappa, while Saussureinae were found to be polyphyletic. The findings suggest that while morphological traits are valuable in taxonomy, they may provide limited resolution compared to the more comprehensive phylogenetic insights obtained from chloroplast genome analysis.

Spider Diversity on Herbaceous Plants in Samsun Province, Türkiye

In this study, spider diversity on herbaceous plants of Samsun province was investigated. Spider specimens were collected between 2015 and 2018 by using sweeping net, aspirators, and tweezer methods, and stored at -20 ˚C and in 96% ethyl alcohol. Most spiders were found on and around the Asteraceae family. Morphological descriptions are based on the spiders of the Palearctic region and nomenclature is based on the world spider catalog. As a result of the identification, from 397 spider samples belonging to 10 families, 12 genera and 15 species were determined. These are; Phylloneta impressa (L. Koch, 1881), Enoplognatha ovata (Clerck, 1757), Heterotheridion nigrovariegatum (Simon, 1873), Oxyopes lineatus Latreille, 1806, Tetragnatha montana Simon, 1874, Tetragnatha extensa (Linnaeus, 1758), Pulchellodromus pulchellus (Lucas, 1846), Evarcha arcuata (Clerck, 1757), Misumena vatia (Clerck, 1757), Runcinia grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837), Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772), Argiope lobata (Pallas, 1772), Neoscona adianta (Walckenaer, 1802), Neoscona byzanthina (Pavesi, 1876), Araneus quadratus Clerck, 1757. In the study, findings represent the first detailed spider records from herbaceous plants in the Samsun province.

Agrobacterium rhizogenes mediated transformation, initiation and multiplication of hairy roots in Spilanthes acmella Murr.

Spilanthes acmella is an important medicinal plant that belongs to the family Asteraceae. Traditionally, this plant has been used for years to cure toothaches, stammering, stomatitis and many other ailments. This plant is an important source of various medicinally important secondary metabolites like phenolics, coumarin, spilanthol, scopoletin, triterpenoids etc. The present study was carried out with the objective to transform this plant with Agrobacterium rhizogenes to initiate the hairy roots formation. This study demonstrated the transformation, initiation and multiplication of hairy roots from nodal segments and leaf explants taken from field grown and in vitro developed S. acmella plants. The hairy roots produced from different explants were white, slender, showed negative geotropism and lateral branching. PCR analysis of hairy root was performed that confirmed the bacterial transformation. Among the field grown and in vitro grown plants, the explants from the in vitro grown plants gave a high percentage of root induction. Nodal segments from in vitro grown plant gave 90% hairy root induction and leaf segments from in vitro grown plants with petiole gave the highest rate of root induction which was 92%. Nodal segments from field grown plants gave 85% and the leaves from field grown plants gave 80% of hairy root induction. This study offers great potential to establish the protocol for hairy root induction which can be used as an alternative source for the continuous production of this plant’s important secondary metabolites and active biocompounds.

A Review of Research on the Utilization of Ligularia Plants Based on their Functional Compositions.

The genus Ligularia belongs to the family Asteraceae, with approximately 150 species worldwide. It is primarily distributed from Europe and the Himalayas to Japan, and it is rich in resources, with many species possessing medicinal value. According to the research reports on the functional compositions, the research progress and resource utilization of this genus were summarized from 2016 to the present. This paper aims to provide some references for the basic research results of the genus to industrialization. In general, after 2016, combined with the work of chemical and active investigation, some varieties have been applied and explored in drugs, cosmetics, food, daily necessities, pesticides, and feed, reflecting great development and value.

Allelopathic Impact of Erigeron canadensis and Erigeron annuus on Major Crop Species

This study investigates the allelopathic potential of two invasive plants from the Asteraceae family, Erigeron canadensis L. and Erigeron annuus (L.) Desf., which are prevalent in Heilongjiang Province, China. We systematically examined the effects of water extracts from these plants at various concentrations (25, 50, 75, and 100 g·L−1) on the germination and seedling growth of three major food crops: wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.), and corn (Zea mays L.). Using the Petri dish method and two-way ANOVA with SPSS27 software, we assessed the interaction effects of species and concentration on these crops. The results revealed differential chemosensory effects between E. canadensis and E. annuus extracts. Specifically, the aqueous extract of E. canadensis at 25 g·L−1 promoted wheat root length, while all other growth indicators showed inhibitory effects. The inhibitory effects on wheat, rice, and maize increased with the concentration of the leaching solution. At 100 g·L−1, E. annuus extract completely inhibited the germination of wheat and rice, with an integrated sensitization effect index of −1. The inhibitory effects of the extracts on seed growth indices were in the order of shoot length &gt; root length &gt; biomass. Wheat was the most affected among the three crops, followed by rice, and maize was the least affected. The allelopathic potential of E. annuus was more substantial than that of E. canadensis.

Charming Chamomile: Unveiling the wonders &amp; uses of this tranquil herb

Chamomile, a member of the daisy family, has been used in traditional and alternative medicine for thousands of years. Its popularity can be attributed to its slow and minimal side effects. Chamomile, derived from the Greek word for "ground apple," was first used by the Ancient Egyptians in the 13th century to treat acute fever. It is also used in magic spells and has been used in Ayurveda. Chamomile is a significant restorative spice native to southern and eastern Europe, with dried blossoms found in various countries. It is also used in traditional home-grown restorative products, such as natural teas and herbal remedies. Chamomile oil is prepared in traditional Persian medicine by boiling watery chamomile in sesame oil, and is used in spice brewing and beer production. In Europe, chamomile is considered a "fix all" and is often used as a tea or tonic. It is also used in beauty care products and perfumery businesses, such as Ormenis multicaulis Braun-Blanq. and Moroccan chamomile. In Germany, it is known as "alleszutraut," meaning it is suitable for anything. Chamomile is generally considered safe for use and is part of some customary, Unani, and homeopathic therapeutic arrangements. Chamomile, a yearly plant, is known for its terpenoids, including αpinene, which are known for their corrosive properties. These terpenoids, along with other essential compounds like αpinene, are essential for the plant's growth and can be used to treat various ailments, including skin irritation and narcotic use.

Annual diversity of honeybee pollen sources in two pumpkin growing landscapes, Machakos County, Kenya

Multi-floral foraging sources for honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) have been threatened by landscape changes and unsustainable farming practices. In East Africa, the biodiversity of forage resources that could support honey bees, especially in agricultural lands, remains least explored. This study investigated pollen diversity for honey bees in Yatta and Masinga Sub-counties in Machakos County, Kenya. Honey bee hives were installed on eight pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne ex Lam) farms (one hive per farm) in two varying landscape vegetation classes (low and medium) based on normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Pollen traps were installed at the hive entrance and pollen pellets were retrieved fortnightly for subsequent identification. Approximately 115 pollen types were identified. The pollen pellets were associated with 63 plant families and 109 plant families in low and medium NDVI classes, respectively. The predominant source of pollen for honey bees in low NDVI class included the plant families Poaceae (5,526 pellets), Asteraceae (3,176 pellets), Combretaceae (1,327 pellets), Acanthaceae (1,122 pellets), Amaranthaceae (960 pellets), Boraginaceae (951 pellets), Typhaceae (889 pellets), Guaduelleae (809 pellets) and Loranthaceae (588 pellets). In medium NDVI, most pollen was sourced from plant family Asteraceae (3,605 pellets), Malvaceae (1,572 pellets), Poaceae (1,538 pellets), Combretaceae (1,468 pellets), Salvadoraceae (1,354 pellets), Solanaceae (1,011 pellets), Asphodelaceae (885 pellets), Fabaceae (882 pellets), Euphorbiaceae (685 pellets) and Myrtaceae (546 pellets). The diversity of pollen types varied between the NDVI classes and across months. Although honey bees sourced diverse pollen required for the dietary balance of the colony, there was variability across landscape types and months.

Assessment of the Variability, Genetic Diversity and Character Associations of Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelve) Based on Qualitative and Quantitative Traits.

Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelve) is one of the most widely cultivated herbaceous perennial flowering plants belonging to the Asteraceae family. Every year, many varieties are being added by the government and private agencies. Therefore, there is a wide range of variation, but very little attention has been given to its improvement. For effective selection, it is necessary to separate genetic variability from total variability, which will help breeders adopt suitable breeding programmes. There is a need for the identification of varieties suitable for growing in different agroclimatic conditions for specific purposes. Fifty genotypes of chrysanthemum were evaluated in a randomized complete block design during the year 2022 (Kharif) to determine genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for different quantitative and qualitative traits. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among genotypes for all the characteristics studied. The results revealed that the magnitude of the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was greater than that of the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits, viz., the number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, duration of flowering, number of flowers per plant, weight of one hundred flowers, yield per plant, flower diameter, total number of ray florets per flower head, petiole length, shelf life and disc diameter, indicating genotype and environment interactions. Highest heritability coupled with genetic advance as a percentage mean was found for all the traits. The characteristics associated with high heritability with high genetic advancement as a percentage of the mean may be used as selection criteria in the genetic improvement of yield. Based on the analysis of genotypic and phenotypic correlations and path coefficients, it is suggested that an ideal Chrysanthemum genotype for achieving higher flower yield per plant should possess the following characteristics: increased plant height, longer petiole length, higher weight of 100 flowers and a greater number of flowers per plant. Therefore, selection based on these attributes would result in genetic advances in flower yield per plant.

Aster tataricus L. f.: a review on the botany, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, pharmacology, toxicology and comprehensive utilization.

Aster tataricus L.f. (A.tataricus), a perennial herb of the genus Aster in the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. It is associated with a spicy, bitter, and warm nature and belongs to the Lung Meridian. The medicinal parts of A.tataricus are flowers, leaves, roots, and rhizomes. A.tataricus was first recorded in Shuo Wen under the alias "Zi Wan" (). Traditionally, it is utilised to clear lung qi, promote fluid flow, calm adverse-rising energy, relieve cough, resolve sputum, and regulate secretions. However, it is worth noting that A.tataricus has certain hepatotoxicity. Modern pharmacology indicates that A.tataricus can be used to treat various diseases, including those of the respiratory and urinary systems. In this review, all available information on A.tataricus was collected via academic databases such as PubMed, SciFinder Scholar, CNKI, iPlant, Google Scholar, Web of Science, GBIF, and Masterpieces of Traditional Chinese Medicine. To date, more than 200 metabolites have been isolated and characterized from A.tataricus, including terpenoids, flavonoids, polypeptides, and others. These compounds demonstrate a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory effects, antitussive and bronchodilatory properties, anticancer activity, antioxidant effects, treatment of osteolytic disorders, management of urinary system diseases, alleviation of acute lung injury, and enhancement of memory. Meanwhile, the different polarity extracts of A.tataricus also exhibit some toxicological characteristics, the astin has a similar structure to that of cyclochloridine, the hepatotoxic metabolite of penicillin; its saponins also have hemolytic effects. However, there are currently few studies on the toxicology of A.tataricus. Further in-depth research is needed to explore the potential mechanisms underlying the toxicity of A.tataricus. The toxicity of A.tataricus can be reduced through compatibility and processing, but this aspect has received little discussion and further research on quality standardization is needed. To ensure the sustainable development of A.tataricus, we have also summarized its artificial cultivation techniques. Shionone and astin are the characteristic components of A.tataricus. Their pharmacological effects have been deeply studied, but the research on other metabolites is relatively scarce. Therefore, this article focuses on botany, artificial cultivation, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, pharmacology, toxicology, and comprehensive utilization of A.tataricus. Discuss the future research prospects and existing problems of A.tataricus, and provide references for further research on A.tataricus and the establishment of quality control standards.

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potential of Native Asteraceae from Northwestern Argentina for Functional Food Applications.

The Argentinean Northwestern (NWA) region is renowned for its rich biodiversity, with a wide variety of wild plant species traditionally used for medicinal, culinary, and aromatic purposes. Plant species from the Asteraceae family are known for their bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties, making them both suitable as functional ingredients for novel food formulations. This study aimed to evaluate four native Asteraceae species from Northwestern Argentina as potential ingredients for developing functional foods: Tagetes minuta, Tagetes terniflora, Chromolaena hookeriana and Tessaria dodoneifolia. The experimental design included drying, maceration, filtration, and extraction by conventional and supercritical fluid methodology. The antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activities, phenolic content, toxicity, and identification of bioactive compounds were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. Results showed that species C. hookeriana and T. dodoneifolia displayed outstanding antioxidant properties, with over 90% radical-scavenging activity, and high phenolic compounds content, exceeding 220mg GAE/100g in conventional extraction and 160mg GAE/100g in supercritical extraction, along with antimicrobial activity in supercritical extracts. In the species C. hookeriana, phenolic compounds were found: rutin, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, quercetin, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid. In the species T. dodoneifolia, in addition to these, naringenin was found, a compound with antioxidant activity of nutritional interest for food design. None of the tested plant species showed toxicity, according to the Artemia salina L. bioassay. This research advances the field of functional foods and opens new perspectives for developing innovative health-promoting products.

Phytochemical studies of Gerbera jamesonii and evaluation of anti-inflammatory potential in formaldehyde-induced arthritis in rats.

In plants, numerous intricate and structurally diverse phytochemicals are found naturally. The adoption of traditional herbal medicines for many ailments in recent years has prompted researchers to look into the medicinal properties of numerous plants. Although the Asteraceae family has a wide range of significant pharmacological benefits, its antioxidant and antibacterial properties are the most significant. The goal of this study was to ascertain the phytochemical profiling and investigation of anti-arthritic pursuits of Gerbera jamesonii. GC-MS analysis was performed to screen the fingerprints of bioactive compounds. The efficacy of ethanol extract against formaldehyde-induced inflammation in rats was assessed in an in vivo investigation using oral doses of 250-, 500- and 800mg/kg. The study lasted for 29days, Hematological and biochemical evaluations were conducted on blood and serum samples. Gerbera jamesonii ethanolic extract (GJE) extract treatment dose dependently decreased the paw inflammation, paw diameter and arthritic score. GJE treatment downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory cytokines. Radiological and histo-pathological assessments revealed that GJE treatment effectively reversed the histological and radiological alterations induced by formaldehyde exposure, demonstrating a significant recovery. In the light of above findings, it is suggested that Gerbera jamesonii might be useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Food plants used in traditional fermented milk products and dishes of the Sakha people

Historically, the Sakha people used plants in large quantities in their daily diet. According to A. Savvin’s list, there are 76 species of wild food plants used, representing 4% of the flora of Yakutia. However, 11 of these species remain unresolved and are exclusively referenced by Yakut names. Based on preliminary assessment, the plant kus tyla from this list has been identified as Lemna trisulca and the Lemnaceae family. A. Savvin’s list indicates that 59 species, representing 42 genera and 23 families, were used by Sakha people in fermented milk products and dishes. The families Rosaceae (7), Polygonaceae (6), Alliaceae (4), Ericaceae (4), and Asteraceae (4) are the most prominent in the dataset. The biomorphological spectrum of these 59 plant species includes 3 tree species, 9 shrubs species, and 3 dwarf shrub species, with the remaining species classified as perennial herbaceous plants. To continue research on food plants, the species list has to be consistent with modern scientific classification. This study identified 15 species, with 4 species reclassified to the level of genera. The identification of certain species, including Saussurea amara, Rheum rhaponticum, and Allium senescens, involved a comparative analysis of data from other sources. Traditionally, the Sakha people prepared diverse fermented milk products and dishes with the addition of plant ingredients, including leaves, roots and berries. Fermented milk soups, such as ас and үөрэ, exhibited the greatest botanical diversity, with up to 35 plant species were used in preparation. The sweet taste of the dishes kyobyuyor, dagda, kyuorchekh was given by the roots and berries of plants.

Deciphering the Anticancer, Antioxidant, Enzyme Inhibition Potentials, and Phytochemical Compositions of Some Endemic Centaurea Species.

Plants have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, providing a variety of biological benefits, including antioxidant and anticancer activity, due to their phytochemical composition. This study investigates the biological activity and chemical composition of Centaurea saligna, Centaurea bingoelensis, and Centaurea pyrrhoblephara, key species of the Asteraceae family, to explore their potential for developing novel therapeutic strategies. Methanol extracts of these species were analyzed for their inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase, AChE, and BuChE enzymes. Their lipophilic components were characterized using GC-MS, phenolic profiles via Orbitrap HPLC-HRMS, and total phenol and flavonoid contents were quantified using established methods. Antioxidant activities were evaluated through DPPH, ABTS, ferric ion reducing, and ferrous ion chelating assays. Cytotoxic effects were assessed on HT-29 colorectal and A549 lung cancer cells through WST-1 analysis, determining IC50 values. In addition, anticancer activity findings were supported by colony survival and cell migration analyses. Apoptotic activity of the applied treatments was observed by AO/EB dual staining, caspase-3 ELISA, and Western blot analysis. Notably, the extracts significantly induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells, evidenced by increased apoptotic indices, cleaved PARP, and p53 expression, with C. pyrrhoblephara exhibiting the strongest proapoptotic activity.