Chenopodiaceae Research Articles

Application of microscopy and spectroscopy in investigating anti-cancer potential of Achyranthes aspera L. leaves.

The genus Achyranthes belong to the family Amaranthaceae which constitutes an important group of herbs and shrubs with immense medicinal value. The present research work was conducted to investigate the anticancer potential of Achyranthes aspera L. leaves by focusing on the antioxidant, aniproliferative and antimitotic activities of leaf extracts. Plant extraction was carried out by soxhelt method with different solvents. Phytochemical characterization of the plants extracts using chemical methods identified the presence of cardiac glycosides, saponins, coumarins, proteins, tannins, flavonoids and triterpenes. Alkaloid was present in methanolic and ethanolic extract. High performance liquid chromatography showed presence of different concentration of myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol in different extracts with the highest concentration of myricetin (84.53 μg/mL) in n-butanolic extract. The extracts were then tested for antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay by spectrophotometric method. In DPPH radical scavenging assay, antioxidant activity of A. aspera ranged between 79.78 ± 0.034% and 58.63 ± 0.069%. Highest antioxidant activity was observed for methanolic extract and lowest for acetone. Antimitotic activity was determined by using Allium cepa assay in which microscopic investigation was carried out to observe normal and abnormal phases of mitosis. In this assay, n-butanolic extract had highest antimitotic activity with minimum mitotic index at 2 mg/mL (57 ± 0.0351%). The plant extracts also caused chromosomal and mitotic aberrations which were clearly observed under 40× and 100× magnification of compound microscope. Antiproliferative activity was determined by using yeast cell model in which light microscope with hemocytometer was used for cell counting. In case of Antiproliferative activity, the ethyl acetate extract of A. aspera had highest antiproliferative activity with lowest cell viability (22.14 ± 0.076%) at highest extract concentration (2 mg/mL) while methanol extract of A. aspera had highest antiproliferative activity with lower cell viability (24.24 ± 0.057%) at lowest extract concentration (0.25 mg/mL). The results of the study indicated that the leaves extract of A. aspera have strong potential to be used as a source of anti-cancer agent. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Achyranthes aspera L. leaves have various phytochemicals which contribute to its medicinal properties Various extracts of the leaves of A. aspera L. possess antioxidant, antimitotic and antiproliferative potential The results of the study indicated that the leaves extract of A. aspera have strong potential to be used as a source of anti-cancer agent.

Chemical Constituents of Halophyte Suaeda glauca and Their Therapeutic Potential for Hair Loss.

Suaeda glauca, a halophyte in the Amaranthaceae family, exhibits remarkable resilience to high salt and alkali stresses despite the absence of salt glands or vesicles in its leaves. While there is growing pharmacological interest in S. glauca, research on its secondary metabolites remains limited. In this study, chemical constituents of the aerial parts of S. glauca were identified using 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments, and its biological activity concerning hair loss was newly reported. Eight compounds, including alkaloids (1~3), flavonoids (4~6), and phenolics (7 and 8), were isolated. The compounds, except the flavonoids, were isolated for the first time from S. glauca. In the HPLC chromatogram, quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-d-glucoside, and kaempferol were identified as major constituents in the extract of S. glauca. Additionally, the therapeutic potential of the extract of S. glauca and the isolated compounds 1~8 on the expressions of VEGF and IGF-1, as well as the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, were evaluated in human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Among the eight compounds, compound 4 was the most potent in terms of increasing the expression of VEGF and IGF-1 and the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin. These findings suggest that S. glauca extract and its compounds are potential new candidates for preventing or treating hair loss.

The amount of antioxidants in honey has a strong relationship with the plants selected by honey bees

As one of the main sources of natural antioxidants, flowering plants play a role in the prevention and treatment of many diseases directly and indirectly. Honey is considered as an important nutrient in the supply of natural antioxidants, the amount of which is directly dependent on the plant origin and geographical location of the bee feeding place. The existence of valuable communities of native and endemic plant species has turned Alborz, Zagros and Azerbaijan into the most important hubs of honey production in Iran. In this study, we collected samples of honey from more than 90 regions in Alborz, Zagros and Azerbaijan during the years 2020 to 2021. We evaluated the samples using melissopalynology method and measuring the amount of antioxidant activity. The rise of antioxidant activity in honey is dependent on the abundance of some plant families as well botanical origins. The abundance of plant families Rosaceae, Amaranthaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae showed a higher influence on the amount of antioxidants in honey than other plant families. Also, the abundance of plant families Rosaceae and Fabaceae increased with increasing altitude. In general, the amount of antioxidant activity of honey samples shows a different percentage under the influence of ecological and geographical changes.

The complete chloroplast genome of the halophyte flowering plant Suaeda monoica from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The complete chloroplast genome (plastome) of the annual flowering halophyte herb Suaeda monoica Forssk. ex J. F. Gmel. family (Amaranthaceae) that grows in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was identified for the first time in this study. Suaeda monoica is a medicinal plant species whose taxonomic classification remains controversial. Further, studying the species is useful for current conservation and management efforts. In the current study, the full chloroplast genome S. monoica was reassembled using whole-genome next-generation sequencing and compared with the previously published chloroplast genomes of Suaeda species. The chloroplast genome size of Suaeda monoica was 151,789bp, with a single large copy of 83,404bp, a small single copy of 18,007bp and two inverted repeats regions of 25,189bp. GC content in the whole genome was 36.4%. The cp genome included 87 genes that coded for proteins, 37 genes coding for tRNA, 8 genes coding for rRNA and one non-coding pseudogene. Five chloroplast genome features were compared between S. monoica and S. japonica, S. glauca, S. salsa, S. malacosperma and S. physophora. Among Suaeda genus and equal to most angiosperms chloroplast genomes, the RSCU values were conservative. Two pseudogenes (accD and ycf1), rpl16 intron and ndhF-rpl32 intergenic spacer, were highlighted as suitable DNA barcodes for different Suaeda species. Phylogenetic analyses show Suaeda cluster into three main groups; one in which S. monoica was closer to S. salsa. The obtained result provided valuable information on the characteristics of the S. monoica chloroplast genome and the phylogenetic relationships.

Investigation of bioactive components responsible for the antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities of Caroxylon volkensii by LC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis and molecular docking.

Caroxylon volkensii is a wild desert plant of the family Amaranthaceae. This study represents the first report of the metabolomic profiling of C. volkensii by liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS). The dereplication study of its secondary metabolites led to the characterization of 66 known compounds. These compounds include catecholamines, tyramine derivatives, phenolic acids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, and others. A new tyramine derivative, alongside other known compounds, was reported for the first time in the Amaranthaceae family. The new derivative and the first-reported compounds were putatively identified through MS/MS fragmentation data. Given the notorious taxonomical challenges within the genus Salsola, to which C. volkensii previously belonged, our study could offer a valuable insight into its chemical fingerprint and phylogenetic relationship to different Salsola species. The antibacterial potential of C. volkensii methanolic extract (CVM) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was screened. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CVM ranged from 32 to 256 μg mL-1. The anti-quorum sensing potential of CVM resulted in a decrease in the percentage of strong and moderate biofilm-forming isolates from 47.83% to 17.39%. It revealed a concentration-dependent inhibitory activity on violacein formation by Chromobacterium violaceum. Moreover, CVM exhibited an in vivo protective potential against the killing capacity of P. aeruginosa isolates. A molecular docking study revealed that the quorum-sensing inhibitory effect of CVM can be attributed to the binding of tyramine conjugates, ethyl-p-digallate, and isorhamnetin to the transcriptional global activator LasR.

Investigation of Anthelmintic Potential of Two Leafy Vegetables from the Amaranthaceae Family

Objective: The present study investigates the anthelmintic potential of Amaranthus viridis Linn. and Amaranthus tricolor Linn. (Amaranthaceae) leafy vegetables from the Pune district, traditionally used as vermicides. Materials and Methods:The ethyl acetate, acetone and ethanol leaf extracts of both plants were subjected to preliminary investigations for thephytochemical elements. The anthelmintic activity of these extracts was tested against fully-grown Eisenia fetida earthworms.Ethyl acetate extract of A. viridis L. and acetone extract of Amaranthus tricolor L. showed the presence of all phytochemicals.Doses of 10–30 mg/ml were used in bioassay. Time of paralysis and death of earthworms was observed. Results: All extractsexhibited considerable dose-dependent activity against the reference drug, showing maximum activity at 30 mg/mL in bothplants. The most promising activity was exhibited by the ethyl acetate extract of the A. viridis L. (P (min.) = 4, D (min.) =5), followed by the acetone extract of the A. tricolor L. (P (min.) = 6, D (min.) = 13). Albendazole (20 mg/ml) and normalsaline were applied as a standard drug and control, respectively. High concentrations of alkaloids, tannins, and phenolicphytochemicals might be responsible for the exceptional activity. Conclusion: The present work scientifically validates thetraditional use and concludes that ethyl acetate and acetone extracts may be further processed to isolate the compoundsresponsible for said activity. One-way ANOVA with a significance level of 5% was used to validate the data (n = 3, p < 0.05).

Dynamic of self-regeneration of vegetation cover of coal mine dumps of different ages on the steppe zone of Tuva (Russia)

The article discusses the results of studying the natural vegetation restoration of different-age dumps of the Kaa-Khem coal deposit in the Republic of Tyva (Russia). Flora and vegetation, geographical and ecological spectra, ecological and cenotic groups, plant life forms of reclaimed dumps are analyzed. It was revealed that the basis of the vegetation cover of the dry steppes in the study area is the steppe type of vegetation. The flora of vascular plants is dominated by the Poaceae, Asteraceae and Chenopodiaceae families; The geographical spectrum consists of groups of species with Eurasian and Asian ranges; the ecological spectrum is dominated by xerophytes; weed species dominate at the initial stage of restoration, the number of zonal steppe plants gradually increases, but the proportion of weeds is high; herbaceous polycarpics predominate in the biomorphological structure. Vegetation restoration on coal mine dumps in the steppe zone of Tuva is characterized by a delay in the pioneer stage, significant adventization of communities on 20-50-year-old dumps. Communities of different age dumps are at one of the advanced stages of succession, quite far from the terminal level. The purpose of the study is to study the vegetation cover during self–healing of different-age dumps of the Kaa-Khemsky coal mine.

Secondary metabolites biosynthesized by spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) and the in vitro culture: A review

Spinach belongs to the taxonomic family Amaranthaceae. It is an annual, fast-growing leafy vegetable considered to havehigh nutritional value. Its international production according to FAO estimates was 14 million tons, with China being thefirst producer (85%), followed by the United States (2.6%), Japan (2.2%) and Turkey (1.6%); while, in Mexico, in 2020 it was49,313 tons (+27.3% compared to 2019) obtained from 2,853 ha harvested (+16.6%), so the national average yield was 17.3ton/ha ( +9.2%). The main phytochemical constituents of spinach predominantly associated with the quality of spinach aretotal flavonoids, total phenolics and total carotenoids, due to their antioxidant activity (Bergquist, 2006). Its valuablemedicinal properties include anticancer, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, anticancer, antibacterial,hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, and suppressors of the Central Nervous System. The present work is a review on theorigin, medicinal properties, agronomic profile, profile of biosynthesized primary and secondary metabolites, in vitro cultureof Spinacea oleracea and data on the phytochemical composition of the secondary metabolites of spinach detected byanalytical techniques

Morphological and Elemental Analysis of Cyathulaprostrata (L.) Blume using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

Cyathulaprostrata (L.) Blume. is a herb or under shrubs belongs to the family Amaranthaceae. It grows in loamy and sandy soils. It is commonly called small prickly chaff flower or pastures weed. It is used as a medicinal plant as well as food. The present study includes the morphological and elemental analysis of Cyathulaprostrata (L.) Blume. Cyathulaprostrata (L.) Blume consist of opposite, petiolate and entire leaves, with very small hermaphrodite flowers with bracts and bracteoles. The inflorescence is a raceme or a spike. The perianth of perfect flowers are scarious and five lobed. It has five stamens with filaments connate at the base. It has two celled anthers, obovoid and one celled ovary with a solitary ovule, simple style with capitulate stigma. The fruit is a membranous utricle enclosed in a perianth. The elemental composition of Cyathulaprostrata (L.) Blume. Leaves have been determined by using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Elements such as Ca2+, Fe2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Na2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Cr2+, Pb2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Ag2+ were determined. The result of analysis showed that calcium has the highest concentration, which helps to build bones and keeps them healthy and also helps in blood clotting, muscle contraction, heart beat etc. The plant also contains other essential elements like iron, magnesium, manganese etc. The toxic metals like lead and cadmium also present in trace amount. The purpose of this study is to analyze the morphology, pharmacological potential and composition of elements in Cyathulaprostrata (L.)Blume.

Divergent germination responses to fire-related cues of Suaeda glauca dimorphic seeds under salinity stress

Suaeda glauca is an annual herb in the family Amaranthaceae that produces dimorphic seeds (soft brown seeds and hard black seeds) on the same plant under natural conditions. Experiments were conducted to determine the salinity-alleviating effect of fire-related cues. Germination of both black and brown seeds was inhibited with an increase in salinity. Brown seeds had a higher germination percentage than black seeds in all conditions. Heat shock, smoke and their interaction had some effect in alleviating the salinity effect in brown seeds at 100-300 mM NaCl. This study provides valuable information to the understanding of the germination biology of Suaeda glauca.

Research on medicinal uses and chemical composition of Chenopodium botrys

Medicinal plants have been used by humans for many years in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Chenopodium botrys species has been used as a medicinal plant since the past in human history. The genus Chenopodium, which belongs to the Chenopodiaceae family, is widely grown in Western Asia, Europe and North America. It is used medically in the treatment of inflammatory disorders, diabetes, gastric and parasitic ulcers, bacterial, fungal and viral diseases. Traditionally, it is also used in the treatment of various conditions such as cough, abdominal pain and congestion among the people. In addition, according to studies conducted in recent years, it has been determined that essential oil has healing properties for wounds.

Floristic composition of sand massifs in the western part of the Sub Ural plateau

Currently, on the territory of Kazakhstan, one of the topical issues is the study of the current state of ecosystems. The aim of the study is a biomorphological, geographical and ecological analysis of thesand massifs flora inthe western part of the Sub Ural plateau. 137 species of vascular plants belonging to 99 genera and 35 families were registered in the Karagash and Akkum sand massifs. Most of the flora (70; 50.4%) is occupied by species belonging to the Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae and Chenopodiaceae families. The predominant in the flora are rhizomatous species: Calamagrostis epigeios, Carex colchica, Helichrysum arenarium, Leymus racemosus, Scirpoides holoschoenus, etc.The presence of adventitious species in the flora indicates high anthropogenic pressure, unfavorable growing conditions and habitat disturbance. The predominance of xerophytes is associated with the adaptation of psammophytesand steppe species to growing in arid climates. The chorological analysis showed the predominance of the wide-ranging Eurasian and Ancient Mediterranean species.There is a need to protect meadow and psammophytic mixed-grass-stipa grass and juniper communities. They belong to plant species distribution area of which is currently being intensively reduced, so it is necessary to organize comprehensive measures to protect their growing environment. Information about the species composition of plants, their biological and ecological features, which in the future will become the basis for the organization of monitoring work, are of great practical importance.

Revealing the intricate microcosm: Advancing invasive species pollen analysis through scanning microscopy of ultra sculpture.

Micromorphological visualization of plant surface peculiarities provides valuable characters for the precise identification of plant species. Invasive alien species, introduced outside their native range, pose significant ecological, and health challenges. This study focuses on micromorphological investigations of selected invasive plant species belonging to the families Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Moraceae, Crassulaceae, Cannabaceae, Fabaceae, Commelinaceae, and Oxalidaceae. The study employs scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze the species micromorphology of pollen structure in depth to characterize the sculpturing patterns. Additionally, the study examines the pollen characteristics of these invasive plants, including shape, size, and fertility, along with exine sculpturing. The maximum polar diameter was observed for Senna tora (41.2 μm). The spines in Achillea fragrantissima were measured to have dimensions of approximately 1.91 μm in length and 2.11 μm in width. The findings shed light on the allergy-causing potential of these invasive species, providing crucial information for accurate identification and effective management strategies to safeguard the indigenous flora of the region. The study contributes to the knowledge base for botanists, taxonomists, policy makers, climate experts, and biodiversity specialists. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Integrating SEM to analyze the pollen of invasive species. Unveiling pollen micromorphology of invasive species. Exploring the microscopic realm of invasive pollen to accurately identify the species.

Salt-tolerance mechanisms in quinoa: Is glycinebetaine the missing piece of the puzzle?

Salinization of arable land has been progressively increasing, which, along with the effects of climate change, poses a serious risk to food production. Quinoa is a halophyte species that grows and is productive in highly saline soils. This study addresses the mechanisms of response and adaptation to high salinity. We show that the differential distribution of sodium in plants depends on the variety, observing that varieties such as Pandela Rosada limit the passage transit of sodium to the aerial part of the plant, a mechanism that seems to be regulated by sodium transporters such as HKT1s or SOS1. Like other halophytes of the Amaranthaceae family, quinoa plants have salt glands (bladder cells), which have been reported to play an important role in salt tolerance. However, our study shows that the contribution of bladder glands to salt accumulation is rather low. The 1H-NMR metabolome study of quinoa subjected to salt stress showed important modifications in the contents of amino acids, sugars, organic acids, and quaternary ammonium compounds (glycinebetaine). The compound with a higher presence was glycinebetaine, which makes up 6% of the leaf dry matter under saline conditions. Our findings suggest that glycinebetaine can act as an osmolyte and/or osmoprotectant, facilitating plant development under high saline ambient.

Comparative Analysis of Six Chloroplast Genomes in Chenopodium and Its Related Genera (Amaranthaceae): New Insights into Phylogenetic Relationships and the Development of Species-Specific Molecular Markers.

Species within the genus Chenopodium hold significant research interest due to their nutritional richness and salt tolerance. However, the morphological similarities among closely related species and a dearth of genomic resources have impeded their comprehensive study and utilization. In the present research, we conduct the sequencing and assembly of chloroplast (cp) genomes from six Chenopodium and related species, five of which were sequenced for the first time. These genomes ranged in length from 151,850 to 152,215 base pairs, showcased typical quadripartite structures, and encoded 85 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 1 pseudogene, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Compared with the previously published sequences of related species, these cp genomes are relatively conservative, but there are also some interspecific differences, such as inversion and IR region contraction. We discerned 929 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and a series of highly variable regions across 16 related species, predominantly situated in the intergenic spacer (IGS) region and introns. The phylogenetic evaluations revealed that Chenopodium is more closely related to genera such as Atriplex, Beta, Dysphania, and Oxybase than to other members of the Amaranthaceae family. These lineages shared a common ancestor approximately 60.80 million years ago, after which they diverged into distinct genera. Based on InDels and SNPs between species, we designed 12 pairs of primers for species identification, and experiments confirmed that they could completely distinguish 10 related species.

Unraveling Compositional Study, Chemometric Analysis, and Cell-Based Antioxidant Potential of Selective High Nutraceutical Value Amaranth Cultivars Using a GC-MS and NMR-Based Metabolomics Approach.

Amaranthus (family Amaranthaceae) is a potentially nutritious pseudocereal also known as a functional food owing to its high nutritional quality grains especially rich in essential amino acids. Emerging study, however, unambiguously indicates that apart from essential nutrients like protein, other phytochemicals present in amaranth seeds provide excellent health benefits. Squalene is one such phytonutrient found in Amaranthus seeds, which is also its largest vegetal source. In this research work, GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy-based metabolomics have been utilized for the compositional analysis of Amaranthus seeds coupled with a multivariate data set. Investigation of nonpolar and polar seed extracts of six different cultivars of amaranth identified 47 primary and secondary metabolites. One-way ANOVA showed significant quantitative metabolic variations in different cultivars of amaranth. Multivariate principal component analysis of both the GC-MS and NMR analyzed data broadly classified in two groups showed significant variations in the polar (lysine, arginine, GABA, and myoinositol) and nonpolar (squalene, tryptophan, and alkylated phenols, which are potential nutraceutical agents) metabolites. The squalene content estimated using HPLC varied significantly (1.61 to 4.72 mg g-1 seed dry weight) among six different cultivars. Positive correlations were found among the cellular antioxidant activity and squalene content. Cultivar AM-3 having the maximum squalene content showed the highest antioxidant activity evaluated on the cellular level over human embryonic kidney cells, clearly revealing potent intercellular reactive oxygen species scavenging capacity and strong membrane lipid peroxidation inhibition potential. Oxidative stress markers such as MDA, SOD, GSH, and CAT levels in cells further corroborated the research work. The study also indicated high concentrations of lysine (80.49 mg g-1 dry seeds) in AM-2, squalene (0.47% by weight) in AM-3, and 2,4-di-tert-butyl phenol (18.64% peak area) and myoinositol (79.07 mg g-1 dry seeds) in AM-5. This novel comparative metabolomic study successfully profiles the nutrient composition of amaranth cultivars and provides the opportunity for the development of nutraceuticals and natural antioxidants from this functional food.

Introduction and adaptation of quinoa (<i>Chenopodium quinoa</i> Willd.) cultivars in Krasnodar region of Russia

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a cultivated plant of the Amaranthaceae family of Peruvian origin with high nutritional value. The Krasnodar region of Russia is a region with favorable climatic conditions for growing quinoa. The studies were carried out on the basis of Quinoa Center LLC, located in the Novokubansky district of the Krasnodar Territory. Four quinoa varieties were used as research material: Blanca de Juli, White Peru, Salcedo, the local variety Seva (included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2017) served as the standard. Various morphological parameters of plants were assessed and phenological observations were carried out.The results showed statistically significant differences between varieties in plant productivity. The White Peru variety responded positively to the new conditions and was introduced without irrigation. The productivity of the panicle was on average 100 g, for the standard variety Seva - 70 g. In the dynamics of the ontogenetic development cycle of four quinoa varieties, it was established that the optimal sowing time in the conditions of the Krasnodar Territory is May. The tested varieties were also assessed for grain quality. In the conditions of the Krasnodar region they showed good results, thanks to selection for white grain and panicle uniformity. However, not all of them can be adapted, since they need constant watering and for late-ripening varieties autumn rains negatively affect their yield. The local early ripening variety Seva is of interest to Peru. In Peru, the main problem reducing production is low yield caused by frost in the Puno Peru region. The Seva variety reaches phenological phases: the beginning of panicle formation (R6), panicle formation (R7), flowering (R8) and full panicle ripening, physiological maturity (R12) and due to its early ripening it avoids frost. Therefore, the Seva variety can be recommended for sowing in the Puno-Peru region, since it has a gene pool that provides cold resistance but this requires detailed study. In general, to optimize the introduction of quinoa in Russia further research on adaptability in the Krasnodar region is necessary.

Enzymatic Properties of Red Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Leaf, Root Pulp, and Peel.

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris</i> L.) is botanically classified as a herbaceous biennial belonging to the Chenopodiaceae family and has several varieties with bulb colors ranging from yellow to red. Peroxidases are widely occurring in organisms including microorganisms, plants, and animals, and have been involved in various physiological and biochemical functions. The study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of enzyme extracts from red beet leaves, root pulp, and peel. The enzyme extraction involved the homogenization of the sample and filtrate in cold acetone and then the filtrate was homogenized in 0.1M sodium acetate buffer, pH 7. The protein content was determined using the Lowry assay using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a standard protein. Then, enzymatic activity was determined by peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and catalase assays. The patent for biological activity of enzymes was obtained from the Office of Career Development, Haramaya University. The antioxidant activities of the enzyme extract were conducted by using DPPH and hydrogen peroxide free radical scavenging activities. The result indicated that the Enzymatic activity of crude enzyme extract of red beet leaf, root pulp and peel indicated that significantly the highest total soluble protein (16.68 mg/ml), peroxidase activity (PODA, 111.50 U/ml), polyphenol oxidase activity (PPOA, 170.90 U/ml), polyphenol oxidase specific activity (PPOspa, 10.25 U/mg), catalase activity (CATA, 180.50 U/ml) and catalase specific activity (CATspa, 10.82 U/mg), were recorded for red beet leaf enzyme extract. The antioxidant activity of the enzyme extracts demonstrated that significantly higher DPPH radical scavenging activity of leaf extract (59.16) and peel extract (61.92) were recorded. The Pearson correlation coefficient of enzyme activity parameters and free radical scavenging activities presented that protein content was significantly and positively correlated with CATA, PPOA, and PPOspa. Catalase- specific activity (CATspa) was significant and positively correlated only with HPSA. Peroxidase-specific activity (PODspa) was significant and positively correlated with PODA and DPPH. Based on the plot for principal component PC2 vs. PC1 for D statistics DPPH, PODA, and PODspa have close PC1 and PC2 scores (with vector angle < 90° showing similar/correlated effects. In this study, B. vulgaris</i> has shown promising peroxidase enzyme activity. Beetroot peel contained higher antioxidant compounds thus promising a more intense utilization of the peels in food and nutraceuticals.

Ethnobotanical study of traditional forage plants in the Gansu–Ningxia–Inner Mongolia junction zone: conservation and sustainable utilization for animal husbandry

IntroductionThis study aims to safeguard the ethnobotanical knowledge pertaining to traditional forage plants within the ethnically diverse Gansu–Ningxia–Inner Mongolia junction zone. It seeks to establish a foundation for the sustainable utilization of these traditional resources for animal husbandry.MethodsA combination of literature research, village interviews, participatory observation, and ethnobotanical quantitative evaluation methods was employed to investigate and study the traditional knowledge of wild forage plants used by local residents in the study area.ResultsLocal residents provided information on 73 forage plants, which were identified as 116 distinct wild forage plant species. These plants belong to 22 families and play an active role in the lives of the local inhabitants. Notably, the families Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Asteraceae are prominent, comprising the most abundant and widely utilized wild forage plants. Bing Cao (collectively referring to plants of the Agropyron, Leymus, and Psammochloa), Suo Cao (collectively referring to plants of the genus Stipa), and Ku Cai (encompassing Lactuca tatarica (L.) C.A.Mey. and Ixeris polycephala Cass.) emerge as the most representative and vital wild forage plants for animal husbandry. Additionally, plants within the Astragalus (referred to collectively as NiaoZi by local residents) in the Fabaceae family, as well as plants from the Amaranthaceae family, exhibit notable significance.ConclusionAnimal husbandry assumes a pivotal role in the local agricultural economy, and the 116 wild forage plants investigated hold substantial importance in its development. Among these, 59 and 103 plant resources display high developmental potential, making them prospective candidates for high-quality cultivated forage grasses. Additionally, extensive grazing practices have resulted in significant ecological degradation within this already fragile ecosystem. The cultivation of forage grasses and the practice of pen-based animal husbandry may emerge as crucial strategies for sustainable development in this area.

Identification of Reference Genes for Precise Expression Analysis during Germination in Chenopodium quinoa Seeds under Salt Stress.

Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (quinoa), a member of the Amaranthaceae family, is an allotetraploid annual plant, endemic to South America. The plant of C. quinoa presents significant ecological plasticity with exceptional adaptability to several environmental stresses, including salinity. The resilience of quinoa to several abiotic stresses, as well as its nutritional attributes, have led to significant shifts in quinoa cultivation worldwide over the past century. This work first defines germination sensu stricto in quinoa where the breakage of the pericarp and the testa is followed by endosperm rupture (ER). Transcriptomic changes in early seed germination stages lead to unstable expression levels in commonly used reference genes that are typically stable in vegetative tissues. Noteworthy, no suitable reference genes have been previously identified specifically for quinoa seed germination under salt stress conditions. This work aims to identify these genes as a prerequisite step for normalizing qPCR data. To this end, germinating seeds from UDEC2 and UDEC4 accessions, with different tolerance to salt, have been analyzed under conditions of absence (0 mM NaCl) and in the presence (250 mM NaCl) of sodium chloride. Based on the relevant literature, six candidate reference genes, Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), Monensin sensitivity1 (MON1), Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB), Actin-7 (ACT7), Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (UBC), and 18S ribosomal RNA (18S), were selected and assessed for stability using the RefFinder Tool encompassing the statistical algorithms geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and ΔCt in the evaluation. The data presented support the suitability of CqACT7 and CqUBC as reference genes for normalizing gene expression during seed germination under salinity stress. These recommended reference genes can be valuable tools for consistent qPCR studies on quinoa seeds.