Mixed Herbs Research Articles

Molecular quantification of fritillariae cirrhosae bulbus and its adulterants

BackgroundFritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus (FCB) is frequently adulterated with its closely related species due to personal or non-man made factors, leading to alterations in the composition of its constituents and compromising the efficacy of its products.MethodsThe specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were screened by comparing candidate barcodes of Fritillaria and verified by amplification and sequencing. Herb molecular quantification (Herb-Q) was established by detecting specific SNPs, and the methodological validation was performed. Quantitative standard curves were established for FCB mixed with each adulterated species, and the quantitative validity of this method was verified based on external standard substance. In addition, eight commercial Shedan Chuanbei capsules (SDCBs) randomly selected were detected.ResultsFCB and its five adulterants can be distinguished based on the ITS 341 site. The methodological investigation of Herb-Q shows optimal accuracy, and repeatability, which exhibited good linearity with an R2 of 0.9997 (> 0.99). An average bias in quantitative validity was 5.973% between the measured and actual values. Four of eight commercial SDCBs were adulterated with F. ussuriensis or F. thunbergia with adulteration levels ranging from 9 to 15% of the total weight.ConclusionThis study confirmed that Herb-Q can quantitatively detect both the mixed herbs and Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) containing FCB with high reproducibility and accuracy. This method provides technical support for market regulation and helps safeguard patient rights.

Подбор параметров экстракции биоактивных веществ из лекарственных растений с применением молочной сыворотки

Due to its natural chemical composition, whey can have both a positive effect on the human body and cause significant harm to the environment. It is rich in organic substances, which creates an additional organic burden on nature. However, whey has good prospects for the food industry as an extractant for the production of plant extracts and biologically active substances. The present research objective was to select optimal parameters for obtaining flavonoids from plant extracts using an unconventional type of extractant, i.e., whey. The study featured whey as an extractant and mixes of medicinal herbs. The resulting extracts were tested for the content of flavonoid compounds by thin-layer chromatography. The antioxidant activity was assessed using the spectrophotometric method. The extraction variables included temperature, extraction time, material-to-extractant ratio, and composition of herbal mixes. The extraction time ranged from 1 to 5 h at 90 ± 1℃. The maximal antioxidant activity belonged to the samples containing 7.5–12.5 g herbal mix and 450 ml whey. The optimal extraction time was 3 h. The content of flavonoids in the plant extracts was comparable and did not depend on the extraction time. Extraction time proved to be the key parameter to intensify the process of flavonoid extraction from plant raw materials. Therefore, the choice was made according to the shortest time with comparable values of flavonoids and the maximal level of antioxidant activity.

Development of gluten free crackers using water chestnut (Trapa natans) and Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

Baked goods are favored by the public due to their widespread availability, convenience, ready-to-eat nature, and excellent storage capabilities. The study focused on developing high-quality gluten-free crackers by incorporating pearl millet (Bajra) and water chestnut flour which enhances nutritional value and is gluten free, catering to individuals with celiac disease.To Formulate Crackers with Pearl Millet and water chestnut flour. To determine the Sensory quality of the developed product. To Estimate the Proximate composition and cost of the developed product.Pearl millet flour, water chestnut flour, whole wheat flour,salt, jaggery, garlic powder, ajwain, mixed herbs, oil, and baking powder were procured from local grocery stores of Mysore and standard A.O.A.C (2005) methods for Proximate analysis and 9-point hedonic scale was used for sensory analysis.: The sensory evaluation revealed that PMC4 was highly acceptable on par with control. Proximate analysis showed that PMC4 had high phosphorous and calcium content.The study successfully developed superior gluten-free crackers with incorporation of Pearl millet and water chestnut flour. Among all the variations PMC4 was rich in phosphorous and calcium and is gluten free which caters to individuals with celiac disease.

The safety evaluation of Shenze Shugan capsule and mechanism of apoptosis induced by five potentially nephrotoxic components

Ethnopharmacological relevanceShenze Shugan capsule is a prescription of traditional Chinese medicine for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis treatment. It includes Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (RR), Cassiae Semen (CS) and Alismatis Rhizoma(AR), which widely contains rhein, emodin, aurantio-obtusin, alisol A and alisol B 23-monoacetate. Aim of the studyIn this study, we aimed to explore the safety of the medicine, and further elucidate the mechanism of apoptosis induction in HK-2 cells by five components, including rhein, emodin, aurantio-obtusin, alisol A and alisol B 23-monoacetate. Materials and methodsWe investigated the nephrotoxicity of Shenze Shugan capsule, including RR, CS, AR and mixed herbs given for two months in rats. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) in kidney tissues, urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CRE) in serum were detected, and renal pathology analysis was performed. In cell experiments, the apoptotic rate and cell cycle distribution of HK-2 cells were tested by flow cytometry. The levels of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and related protein expression in mitochondrial pathway were measured as well. ResultsWe confirmed that two months of administering high doses(60 times the dose for clinical use in adults) of RR, CS or mixed herbs upregulated the levels of CRE and RUN, inhibited SOD activity, and increased the degree of tubular degeneration and glomerular dilatation, but Shenze Shugan capsule has no significant differences in renal structure or renal function. In addition, we found that five components all concentration-dependently inhibited HK-2 cells proliferation and induced apoptosis, especially aurantio-obtusin as the novel nephrotoxic component. Rhein and emodin significantly induced S/M accumulation, but aurantio-obtusin, alisol A and alisol B 23-monoacetate significantly induced G1/M accumulation in HK-2 cells. Similarly, they could induce Caspase3 activation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax. ConclusionsThrough a two-month subchronic toxicity study in rats, our preliminary determination is that this formulation is safe and reliable for long-term use. Interestingly, the potentially toxic herbs such as RR, CS, AR can reduce toxicity by drug compatibility. When further exploring the mechanism of action of toxic herbs, we found that mitochondrial pathway is involved in the apoptosis of HK -2 cells induced by rhein, emodin, aurantio-obtusin, alisol A and alisol B 23-monoacetate. Our findings provide new ideas for safety studies of Shenze Shugan capsule.

Distribution of Acer negundo L. in the Karasye-Ozersky forest park of Yekaterinburg

The article is devoted to invasions of Acer negundo L. 1753 in the forest park area of Yekaterinburg (Russia) based on population (age and vitality structure) and organismal parameters (morphometric indicators). The purpose of the work was to study the invasion of ashleaved maple in the forest park area of Yekaterinburg; the objectives of the study included the following tasks: establishing the ecological-cenotic location of the maple and studying the biological characteristics of the species during its distribution. The objects of the study were eight maple habitats in the Karasye-Ozersky forest park. In ontogenetic development, one life form is identified - a single-stem tree, two periods are defined - pregenerative and generative, and five ontogenetic states. All habitats are young, i.e. are at the initial stage of introduction, however, there are common features of invasion. Distribution begins from open edges, gradually penetrating under the forest canopy, while having high shade tolerance, seed productivity and growth rate, Acernegundo forms multitiered thickets, displacing and complicating the self-restoration of native flora in the Karasye-Ozersky Forest Park. Despite the wide range of distribution of maple in natural and anthropogenic ecosystems, there is an ecological and phytocenotic confinement to it in the forest park, and it is manifested in its distribution mainly in pine forests of mixed herbs with a tree canopy density of 0.5. The established patterns indicate a pronounced expansion of the species and its significant invasive potential.

The effect of aromatherapy on post-stroke depression: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder affecting about one-third of stroke survivors, significantly hindering recovery and quality of life. PSD also imposes a substantial burden on caregivers and healthcare systems. Aromatherapy has shown promise in alleviating depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. This pilot randomized controlled trial aims to assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of mixed herb aromatherapy in treating PSD. Feasibility outcomes encompass recruitment, intervention adherence, assessment completion and safety assessment. Secondary outcomes include evaluations of depression, anxiety, cognitive function, sleep quality, quality of life, and brain function using EEG and fNIRS. This single-blind pilot randomized controlled trial will be conducted at the Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, enrolling ninety-nine post-stroke patients with PSD. Participants will be randomized into three groups: a Non-Active Control Group receiving standardized rehabilitation therapy, a CBT Group receiving conventional rehabilitation with bi-weekly CBT sessions, and an Aromatherapy Group receiving conventional rehabilitation with daily aromatic inhalation sessions. Interventions will last for four weeks, with efficacy assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and one month post-intervention. Rating scales will be used to measure changes in depression, sleep quality, cognitive function, and quality of life. EEG and fNIRS will specifically be used to measure changes in cerebral cortex activity and their correlations with depression. Feasibility will be evaluated through recruitment, intervention adherence, assessment completion and safety assessment. This pilot study highlights the potential of mixed herb aromatherapy inhalation for treating PSD, addressing limitations of CBT by promoting self-management. While demonstrating feasibility through recruitment, adherence, assessment completion and safety assessment, the study also acknowledges limitations such as unequal intervention times, the lack of physical function data. And the use of culturally relevant plant powders may enhance compliance but limits generalizability. Despite these constraints, the study provides valuable preliminary data and insights into the mechanisms of aromatherapy, encouraging further research and development of effective PSD treatments.

Interdisciplinary research of ash heap sediment near Stepnoye settlement (Chelyabinsk Oblast)

An ash heap is defined as a specific object at an archaeological site, usually in the form of a separate hillock containing a layer of finely-dispersed greyish-yellow or ash-coloured soil. The existing assumptions about the formation and functional pur-pose of ash heaps, as special archaeological objects found near the Bronze Age pastoral settlements, have so far been poorly supported by scientific data. At the ash heap near the Sintashta fortified settlement of Stepnoye, Chelyabinsk Oblast, for the first time, large-scale and comprehensive studies were carried out on the structure of these deposits, their granulometric and geo-chemical composition, in combination with the analysis of plant macroremains, paleoparasites, microbiomorphic and palynologi-cal complexes, indicative bacterial groups, and keratinophilic fungi. Judging by the archaeological materials, it is patently obvi-ous that this was a multifunctional object that developed over many centuries and played different roles at different stages. The results of the conducted analyses showed that the 45 cm thick “ash” horizon in the Stepnoye ash heap contains a significant proportion of a fine sand fraction, and not a silty fraction. An increase in the biophilic elements (predominantly calcium, as well as phosphorus and sulphur), accumulated mainly in the organic matter of faunal origin, was noted in the upper bench of the ash layer. However, the high concentration of phytoliths in the “ashy” deposits indicates that the layer was formed mainly as a result of the accumulation of a large amount of plant organic matter. The absence of charcoal and the scarcity of charred macro-remains indicate that the deposited organic material was not burnt but decomposed naturally. The increased content of sapro-trophic bacteria in the “ashy” layer also supports the natural decomposition of an organic matter. The composition of the phyto-lithic and pollen spectrum of the “ashy” horizon is not typical for the steppe of the south of Western Siberia, since it is dominated by a group of mixed herbs with elements of a ruderal flora, and not by cereals. All the data supports the hypothesis that the ash heap is the result of regular practice of cleaning of the floor and interiors of the buildings of the fortified settlement of Stepnoye. This is evidenced by the increase in the number of keratinophilic fungi, which decompose wool and hair and therefore accumu-late in the occupational layer of the structures. Based on the results of the study, the hypotheses that the Stepnoye ash heap is a place of consolidated ash removal or composting of stable manure were rejected.

Antidiabetic activity evaluation of polyherbal formulation in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

ObjectiveThe main aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of mixed herbs on blood HbA1c, and the liver function tests in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. MethodsThis was a quasi-experimental design where no comparison was made with either placebo or control. We examined the effect of herbs namely, coriander leaves (Coriandrum sativum), bunching onion (Allium fistulosum), curry leaves (Murraya koenigii), and holy basil leave (Ocimum tenuiflorum) among T2DM patients. Fresh herbs were cleaned, freeze-dried, ground, mixed (25 % of each), encapsulated and fed at 4 g/day to T2DM patients for 90 days. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 31, 61, 91 and 121. The effect was assessed on the levels of HbA1c, creatinine, blood urea and liver enzymes i.e., alanine transaminase (ALT) or serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), among the patients. The data were statistically analysed, and the means were regarded as significant at 95 % CI. interval. ResultsBlood HbA1c concentration was highest on Days 0 and 31 and significantly (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01) reduced on Days 61, 91 and 121. The creatinine and urea concentrations were found to increase but not considerable with larger variation among the subjects. The ALT and AST concentrations were found higher (p < 0.001) on Day 60 but started to decline afterwards. The ALP levels were higher on the Days 0 and 31 but started declining from Day 61 onwards. ConclusionThe consumption of mixed herbs was found to be associated with an improvement of HbA1c level among T2DM patients without having any clinically significant change in blood urea, creatinine, and liver enzymes.

Protein Digestibility and Protein Efficiency Ratio of Herbal Rice by Rats Given High Fat Diet

Herbal rice made from white rice by adding a mixture of turmeric, cinnamon and guava leaves during cooking, reducing cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemia. This study was aims to evaluate the protein digestibility and protein efficiency ratio of herbal rice by rats given high fat diet. This study used 28 male Spangue dawley rats aged 12 weeks divided into four treatment groups (7 rats per group). The control group (P0) was given standard diet AIN-76 without high fat diet induction, the treatment group (P1) was containing plain rice flour with high fat diet induction, the treatment group (P2) was containing cooked rice flour 1 bag of mixed herbs with high fat diet induction, and the treatment group (P3) was containing cooked rice flour 2 bags of herbal mixture with high fat diet induction. The results showed that the body weight of each rat treatment group increased during the 28 days of the experiment. The type of ration given had a significant effect (p&lt;0.05) on the value of protein digestibility, but had no significant effect (p&lt;0.05) on the value of the protein efficiency ratio (PER). Result evaluation of body weight, protein digestibility and PER of herbal rice obtained, it can be concluded that herbal rice has better protein quality than plain white rice.

Regulation of microbial community structure, function, and nutrient of apple orchard soil by interplanting red clover

Soil microbial communities are seen to be critical to the maintenance of soil health and quality. Many studies have suggested that soil microbial community composition is affected by different plant species. Based on this theory, we tried to improve the apple orchard soil microorganisms and nutrients by interplanting leguminous forage red clover (RC), meanwhile taking the natural mixed herb (NMH) naturally growing in the orchard as a control. The metagenomic analysis showed that interplanting red clover in the apple orchard markedly improved the soil microbial community composition, especially compared with natural mixed herbs, the abundance ofNitrospiraeandGlomeromycotawas higher. Compared with genus level, there are more unique bacteria species in RC, 84 species were unique to treatment (RC) soil and 43 species were unique to control group (NMH). The activities of glycoside hydrolase and carbohydrate-binding modules in RC were significantly higher than those in NMH, while compared with the control group (NMH), the activity of glycoside hydrolase and carbohydrate binding module in the treatment group (RC) was significantly higher, but the activity of glycosyl transferase was lower. In addition, only 5 of the 15 virulence factors they contain were lower in the RC, while the rest were higher in the control group. Based on the above results, we speculate that intercropping red clover can not only significantly improve soil quality, soil microbial community composition and soil fertility, but also effectively improve land use efficiency and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.

Target screening method for the quantitative determination of 118 pyrrolizidine alkaloids in food supplements, herbal infusions, honey and teas by liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole orbitrap mass spectrometry

An analytical procedure for the screening of 118 pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) was successfully validated and applied to their quantitative determination in food supplements, herbal infusions, honey, and teas. It provides the reliable analyte identification by high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HRMS/MS), the accurate determination of 21 regulated PAs, and broad contamination profiles. 10% of 281 analyzed samples resulted contaminated at levels above the maximum levels (MLs) of European legislation. The contamination of herbal infusions of mixed plants can represent a possible health concern (23%; mean of PA sum above ML). A high number of PAs not included in the regulation was detected in honey and herbal food supplements, but their contribution was only relevant to the overall level in honey. The results indicate the need to continue collecting contamination data in food supplements and infusions of mixed herbs and to expand the PA-pool to be monitored in honey and related products.

50 Water-soluble carbohydrate content in equine pasture: Impact of fertilization, season, and grass species

Horses spend a significant proportion of time grazing to meet their nutritional requirements. However, many domesticated horses now graze on energy-dense pastures designed to support production animals. Excessive consumption of these pastures that often contain significant quantities of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) has been linked to the development of pasture-associated laminitis. Although seasonal changes in pasture WSC content are well documented, the impact of fertilization or grass species composition are less defined. To evaluate the effect of season and fertilization on WSC concentrations, grassland plots were established at SRUC Aberdeen, UK. Six distinct cool-season seed mixtures (Table 1) were sown in triplicate plots (3m x 4m) and split in half to evaluate the effect of fertilizer treatment (285kg/ha of 21–8-11, annual application in March). Samples were collected on ice at set 6-to-8-week intervals (May–October) across 2 consecutive years. The Anthrone method was employed to estimate WSC content of lyophilised and milled samples, expressed as glucose and fructose equivalents [g/kg DM]. Independent t-test analysis (significance set at P < 0.05) revealed that fertilization had no overall effect on the WSC fraction for glucose (t(94) = 1.02, P = 0.99, 95% CI [-7.57, 23.51]) or fructose (t(94) = 1.28, P = 0.78, 95% CI [-4.69, 21.85]). Analysis of variance analysis demonstrated a significant effect of seed mixture (F = 2.56, P = 0.033 for glucose, F = 2.39, P = 0.044 for fructose) and season (glucose: F = 21.88, P = < 0.001, fructose:F = 21.09, P = < 0.001). WSC concentration was highest in samples collected in Spring, while the perennial rye grass mix (5) and a diverse herb mix (4) had the highest and lowest WSC contents across all samples, respectively. These preliminary results suggest that season and grass species composition have a greater effect on WSC concentrations in pasture than fertilizer treatment. Further studies are warranted to estimate the impact of fertilizer on other aspects of grass chemical composition that may have implications for managing pasture for grazing animals.

Characterization of the size and spatiotemporal structure of the cenopopulation Caragana arborescens Lam. in the forest park of Yekaterinburg

The article is devoted to the study of the dimensional and space-time structure of Caragana arborescens Lam. in various ecological and cenotic conditions in the forest park named after. Foresters of Russia in Yekaterinburg on the basis of population and organismal parameters. For the first time, a quantitative characteristic of the manifestation of organismal indicators in each ontogenetic state of the caragana was obtained. Regularities in the manifestation of traits depending on the ontogenetic conditions of plants and forest type, as well as features of changes in traits that occur during the growth of individuals during the life period, are revealed. Features of the average values of the manifestation of traits in ontogenetic states can be associated with the number of individuals of a given state in the corresponding samples, while there is an influence of habitat conditions. A one-way analysis of variance, in which the habitat type of a coenopopulation fragment was a factor, showed a significant effect of the factor for traits of crown height and width. Significant differences in these traits of the habitat of the mixed herb meadow from other habitats and the reduced values of the traits in the forb pine forest are explained by the predominance of medium generative individuals in the first case, and juvenile individuals in the second. The ability of the species to successfully adapt in fragmented and urbanized areas affected by recreational impacts and other forms of pollution and survive in a wide range of environmental conditions has been established.

Effect of Additional Herbal Mix on Feed on Physical Quality of Broiler Meat

Physical characteristics or physical properties of meat include pH, cooking loss , and texture, while organoleptic qualities include color, taste, texture , and aroma. These factors will simultaneously determine the quality of meat in livestock . This study aims to determine the effect of giving a combination of herbs, mineral zinc, expired milk powder , and vitamin C on the physical quality of broiler meat. This research was conducted at the Samata Integrated Farming System (SIFS ), Jalan Veteran Bakung, Samata Village, Gowa Regency . Physical quality testing of meat was carried out at the Laboratory of Animal Products Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar. The research design used in this study was a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments and five replications, each replicat ion consisting of 2 broilers with treatment P0= c ommercial f eed (Control), P1 = commercial feed + 1% herb s , P2= commercial feed + 2% herbs and P3= commercial feed + 3% herbs. Meat sampling was carried out on day 35 for analysis of physical quality including pH value, cooking loss , and meat tenderness. Data analysis used analysis of variance (ANOVA) and continued with Duncan's test. The results showed that the addition of a combination of mixed herbs to broiler feed had a significant effect (P&lt;0.05) on pH but had no significant effect (P&gt;0.05) on cooking loss and meat tenderness. Duncan’s test results showed that the pH value with P0 treatment was significantly different (P&lt;0.05) with P1, P2 , and P3. All the treatments with different percentages of the herbal mix did not show significant differentiation between them.

Focus Web Crawler on Drug Herbs Interaction Patterns

The types of pharmaceutical products include cosmetics and drugs. Some of the pharmaceutical products comprise a mix of drugs and herbs without considering their interaction effects. Drug-herb interactions (DHIs) refer to the interactions between conventional drugs and herb medicines. However, the available information on DHIs are scattered because it has heterogeneous databases and website resources, apart from some of the paid or subscribed databases. Easy access to information on DHIs would allow researchers to explore more. Therefore, this study proposes improvements in the focus web crawler to collect DHIs information from the heterogeneous resources on the Internet, present priority levels of a resource link through anchor text and URLs, and traversing the link with the aid of depth. The improved focused crawler was tested on two algorithms namely the Breadth-First Search (BFS) and PageRank. Information of DHIs crawled 4,744 herbals from the focus web crawler. The accuracy values for Chinese Med Digital Projects and MedlinePlus were 98% for PageRank and 71% for BFS. Additionally, a focused web crawler may gather more relevant web pages in the same amount of time as a wide crawler. Hence, the proposed crawler may successfully gather DHIs on the web in response to the user queries.

Atropine and scopolamine occurrence in spices and fennel infusions

Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are toxic anticholinergic compounds that appear due to accidental contamination of foods with TA-producing plants. Atropine and scopolamine are the most common TAs and their maximum levels in certain foodstuffs have been recently regulated, including food supplements. TAs occurrence in commercial products and the transfer ratio to herbal infusions prepared from contaminated spices are of interest for exposure assessment of consumers. In this study, the occurrence of atropine and scopolamine was investigated in a total of 51 commercial spices of 6 types (ginger, cloves, fennel, cumin, aniseed, coriander) and a mix of spices and herbs (curry) purchased in Portugal (19 samples) and Spain (32 samples) in 2021. Results evidenced that more than half of the samples analysed (67%) were contaminated with one or both analytes. Fennel, cloves and coriander showed the highest concentrations ranging between 5-31 μg/kg, 8–28 μg/kg and 5–45 μg/kg, respectively, for the sum of atropine and scopolamine. On the other hand, the transfer ratio of the target analytes found in four naturally contaminated fennel samples was studied. Infusions were prepared according to International Standard ISO 3103 protocol, and a transfer ratio between 64 and 88% for atropine and between 47 and 57% for scopolamine was found.

Расширение ареала Cotoneaster lucidus Schlecht. в лесопарках г. Екатеринбурга

Shiny cotoneaster (Cotoneaster lucidus Schlecht.) is one of the oldest plants. It originated in Southeast Asia and has many primitive traits. Its survival strategy is fascinating. Its introduction range extends throughout Eurasia. The cotoneaster has been actively introduced to all forest parks and city forests around Yekaterinburg. Its spread was facilitated by the presence of edible, long-preserved fruits on the shoots, which were the food supply for many bird species. The research aims at analyzing the distribution patterns and features of ecological occurrence of Cotoneaster lucidus in the forest parks of Yekaterinburg. There were 15 forest parks surveyed, and in 11 of them it is found in the undergrowth. The studies were carried out on the basis of forest inventory materials. Local habitats were monitored in four forest parks most visited by the population of the city: Sanatorny Forest Park, Uktusskiy Forest Park, Park named after Foresters of Russia, Shartashskaya Forest Park. Optimal environment for cotoneaster growth are mixed herbs pine forests with stand density of 0.7–0.8. Mature stands of the 1st resistance class are also appropriate. The highest occurrence of cotoneaster in the Central Forest Park is 7 % of the total area of the forest park. The density of cotoneaster increases with increasing stand density from 320 to 1,140 individuals. At a density of 0.3–0.5 the number of individuals per unit area decreases, and at 0.1–0.2 cotoneaster disappears completely as a result of increased anthropogenic load and the inflow of light in excessive amounts. High shade tolerance is a bioecological feature of Cotoneaster lucidus. Morphometric parameters of plants in the studied forest parks depend on the density of the tree canopy; the maximum values were found for specimens in the Sanatorny Forest Park, where the distribution of shrubs is rare with a density of the stand of 0.7. A positive correlation of plant height with projection area and crown volume was found. The spatial distribution of individuals varies depending on the forest park and its attendance by people. For instance, in the Shartashsky Forest Park 60.4 % of cotoneasters are located in dense undergrowth, and in the Uktusskiy Forest Park 66.7 % are found in sparse undergrowth. Immature individuals are present in all of the Forest Parks, which indicates successful naturalization and high potential of the species.

Spices Volatilomic Fingerprinting—A Comprehensive Approach to Explore Its Authentication and Bioactive Properties

Volatile organic metabolites (VOMs) present in different spices can provide distinct analytical biosignatures related to organoleptic properties and health benefits. This study aimed to establish the volatilomic fingerprint of six of the most consumed spices all over the world (saffron (Crocus sativus L.), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), black pepper, (Piper nigrum L.), sweet paprika (Capsicum annuum L.), and curry (a mix of different herbs and spices)). Based on headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, this is a powerful strategy to explore and establish the spice’s volatile pattern and unravel the potential health benefits related to the most important VOMs identified in each spice. This comprehensive knowledge will help in the definition of their authenticity, while simultaneously protecting against potential frauds and adulterations. A total of 162 VOMs were identified. Semi-quantitative assessments revealed that terpenoids and sesquiterpenoids amounted to the major volatile class in the investigated spices, except for cinnamon, where carbonyl compounds are the major group. Most of the studied spices comprised key characteristics of aroma and health bioactive compounds, e.g., dihydrojuneol in saffron, cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon, cuminaldehyde in cumin and curry, and caryophyllene in black pepper. The principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) successfully discriminated the investigated spices, being α-cubebene, 3-methyl butanal, β-patchoulene and β-selinene, the most important VOMs (highest VIP’s) that contributed to its discrimination. Moreover, some VOMs have a high influence on the spice’s bioactive potential, helping to prevent certain diseases including cancer, inflammatory-related diseases, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

Screening Rafflesia and Sapria Metabolites Using a Bioinformatics Approach to Assess Their Potential as Drugs

The Rafflesiaceae family consists of three genera of parasitic plants – Rafflesia, Rhizanthes, and Sapria – with purported ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal properties. In this study, the inhibitory properties of 21 characterized metabolites associated with Rafflesia and Sapria were tested against eight proteins linked to human diseases – including seven pathogenic-associated HMGCR, VEGFR2, acetylcholinesterase, NMT, H1N1 neuraminidase, GSK3-β, and estrogen receptor α, and one plant-pathogenic associated Colletotrichum chitin deacetylase. Each metabolite was tested using drug-likeness screening, screening metabolite activity, and molecular docking to eight diseases and microbial physiological processes. Hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions between metabolite ligands and protein residues were characterized. Molecular dynamics were also assessed to analyze the stability of the protein-ligand interaction. Our results indicate that the gallotannins and flavonol phenolics from Rafflesia and Sapria display high inhibitory potential against disease proteins. All metabolite-protein pairs displayed stable fluctuations. However, some compounds disobeyed LRO5 drug-likeness and displayed moderate bioavailability and synthetic accessibility, so an improved drug delivery method is required. All 21 metabolites are available in other popular edible plants (mainly tea and certain berries) and could be used to create artificially mixed metabolite-based medicine to prevent the exploitation and endangerment of wild Rafflesia and Sapria populations. Our activity likelihood screening and molecular docking data indicate that Rafflesia and Sapria metabolites possess considerable potential as anti-cholesterol, respiratory antiviral, wound-healing, and antifungal properties. To protect Rafflesiaceae plants in the wild, metabolites can be assessed from other plant sources and combined as an artificial herbal mix.

Характеристика медоносных угодий и их пожароопасность в Еврейской автономной области

Beekeeping is an essential economy branch. Therefore, it is so important to study the conditions that affect its state. The Jewish Autonomous Region (JAR) is one of the most important melliferous regions of the Far East. The main melliferous species here is the linden. Forest fires are a major negative factor in the growth of linden in the region under study. The research aims at identifying and studying forests, which include linden, suitable for the development of beekeeping in the JAR, and determining the risk of fire hazard in them. The research object is forests with linden in the JAR. Field expedition works were carried out in the period from 2003 to 2018. The review and analysis of the stands was carried out using 287 geobotanical descriptions of the sample plots. On the basis of the author’s map of vegetation of the JAR, locations of forests with the presence of linden were determined. These forests were assigned to four vegetation units. The predominance of plant communities with Amur linden over those with Manchurian linden is shown. In 93 descriptions linden does not occur in the forest, which indicates a possible succession – gradual replacement of linden with other tree species, and complete extinction of linden from the stand in the future. According to the Forest Management Department of the JAR Government and the Geographic Information System “Fires”, 290 forest fires occurred in the region. There is information on 290 fires and 104,770 ha of disturbed area. The largest fire-affected area (50,270 ha) was recorded in 2018 in black birch-oak forests of park type, sometimes with linden (Tilia), larch (Larix), beard lichen-mixed herbs cover and mixed herbs reedgrass meadows. There is a trend towards a decrease in the area and deterioration of the ecological state of the linden forests, and, therefore, the depletion of the region’s melliferous base. In this regard, the linden needs to be protected at both the regional and federal levels. Forests affected by negative naturalanthropogenic factors leading to stand degradation require continuous monitoring and assessment of the state to improve beekeeping as an industry. The results of the study can be used to substantiate recommendations for the protection of linden forests and will be useful to the agencies involved in the development of beekeeping in the region.