Plant Parts Research Articles

Heterografting enhances chrysanthemums resistance to Alternaria alternata via jasmonate-mediated increases in trichomes and terpenoids.

Trichomes, specialized hair-like structures in the epidermal cells of the aboveground parts of plants, protect plants from pests and pathogens and produce valuable metabolites. Chrysanthemum morifolium, used in tea products, has ornamental and medicinal value. However, it is susceptible to Alternaria alternata fungal infection, posing a threat to its production and use, resulting in substantial economic losses. Increasing the density of glandular trichomes enhances disease resistance and improves the production of medicinal metabolites in chrysanthemums. Jasmonate (JA), promotes the formation of glandular trichomes in various plants. However, it remains unclear whether glandular trichome in chrysanthemums are regulated by JA. Grafting, a technique to improve plant resistance to biotic stresses, has been insufficiently explored in its impact on glandular trichomes, terpenoids, and disease resistance. In this study, we demonstrated that grafting with Artemisia vulgaris rootstocks improves the resistance of chrysanthemum scions to A. alternata. Heterografted chrysanthemums exhibited higher trichome density and terpenoid content compared to self-grafted counterparts. Transcriptome analysis highlighted the significant role of CmJAZ1-like in disease resistance in heterografted chrysanthemums. Overexpressing CmJAZ1-like lines exhibited sensitivity to A. alternate, characterized by reduced glandular trichome density and limited terpenoids. Conversely, silencing lines exhibited resistance to A. alternata showcasing increased glandular trichome density and abundant terpenoids. Higher JA content was confirmed in heterografted chrysanthemum scions compared to self-grafted ones. Furthermore, we established that JA promotes the development of glandular trichomes and the synthesis of terpenoids while inducing the degradation of CmJAZ1-like proteins in chrysanthemums. These findings suggest that higher JA increases trichome density and terpenoid content, enhancing resistance to A. alternata by regulating CmJAZ1-like in heterografted chrysanthemums.

Is it healthy urban agriculture? Human exposure to potentially toxic elements in urban gardens from Andalusia, Spain.

Different vegetable species and topsoils were collected from different urban gardens of Seville, Cordoba, and Huelva (South Spain) and from two small towns in a mining area (Riotinto), together with topsoil close to the plants. The concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn) was evaluated in edible plant parts and in the soils. The same species were also purchased from Seville local markets and from a peri-urban area (domestic garden in a rural area) and also analyzed. Plant/soil pollution relation was studied and human health risk was assessed by different parameters. Soils of urban gardens from the mining area were more contaminated with As, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn in comparison with other locations, and generally, soils from cities showed higher values of As, Pb, and Zn than the peri-urban ones. The mean concentration of almost all potentially toxic elements was higher in leafy than in fruiting and bulbous species. Arsenic, Cd, and Pb concentrations were below health-based guidance values in all vegetables except Cd in one sample in the peri-urban area. In general, PTEs concentration in vegetables from city urban gardens did not exceed the one found in market vegetables for almost all studied elements, except in lettuce for almost elements. The hazard quotient (HQ) values were lower than the unit for all PTEs in plant species from the studied gardens, as well as the hazard index (HI), indicating that consumption of these vegetables can be considered safe and without risk to human health. Also, cancer risk values for As were below the established limits in all vegetables from the studied urban gardens, including those from the As-contaminated soils in the mining area.

Combined Effect of Biological and Organic Fertilizers on Agrobiochemical Traits of Corn (Zea mays L.) under Wastewater Irrigation

Corn (Zea mays L.) is an important annual grain that is cultivated as a food staple around the world. The current study examined the effect of wastewater and a combination of biological and organic fertilizers on the morphological and phytochemical traits of corn, using a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The first factor was biological and organic fertilizers at seven levels, including the control (no fertilization), bacterial biological fertilizers (NPK) along with iron and zinc Barvar biofertilizers, fungal biofertilizers made from Mycorrhiza and Trichoderma, biochar, a combination of bacterial and fungal biofertilizers, and a combination of bacterial and fungal biofertilizers with biochar. The second factor was irrigation at two levels (conventional irrigation and irrigation with wastewater). The traits studied included the morphological yield, phenols, flavonoids, polyphenols, glomalin, cadmium content in plant parts, and translocation factor (TF). The results disclosed that the best treatment in regard to the morphological traits was related to conventional water + biochar + mycorrhiza + Trichoderma + NPK. The highest phenol and flavonoid content were observed when biochar + mycorrhiza + Trichoderma + NPK treatments were used in both water treatments. Also, the wastewater + biochar + mycorrhiza + Trichoderma + NPK treatment demonstrated the highest total glomalin and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity. The obtained results demonstrate that combined biological and organic fertilizer use on corn plants can effectively alleviate the deleterious effects of cadmium present in wastewater.

Sewage sludge biochar as a sustainable and water-safe substrate additive for extensive green roofs

Article describes the application of nutrient-rich sewage sludge (SS) biochar as an innovative additive to extensive green roof substrate at application rates of 10 (SB10) and 20% (v/v) (SB20) and its long-term impact on discharge quality. In addition to a routine analysis of pH, EC, TSS, and COD in the discharge, concentrations of nutrients (total nitrogen and total phosphorus) and metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn) were used to monitor leaching from the experimental green plots. SS biochar improves the water-holding capacity and air-filled porosity of the developed substrates SB10 and SB20, where the chemical and physical parameters meet the minimum requirements for multi-layer extensive roof substrate. The addition of biochar didn't substantially increase the concentrations of nutrients in discharge compared to the conventional extensive substrate, even after 30 months. Results suggested that biochar tends to release nutrients gradually when leached out by rain and may therefore serve as a source of P and other micronutrients. Although an increase in the concentrations of metals (Cu, Pb, and Zn) in the SB10 and SB20 substrates was observed, no significant differences in metal leaching were found. Metal concentrations in the aboveground parts of Sedum plants indicated that the pyrolysis of SS transforms water-extractable forms of metals into stable forms, thereby significantly reducing their bioavailability to Sedum species and any direct ecotoxicological risk. Based on our results, we assert that SS biochar could be used as a sustainable, valuable and water-safe component of extensive substrates for green roofs.

Morphological characterisation of ethnomedicinally important Kaempferia L. (Zingiberaceae) and its present distribution status in Manipur, North-East India

Kaempferia L., a member of the Zingiberaceae family, is one of the most potent medicinal plants in India and requires proper attention. Our efforts to collect various species of Kaempferia in their natural habitat led to the collection of 30 accessions, including K. galanga, K. marginata, K. parviflora, K. rotunda, and five other unidentified Kaempferia species that are likely natural hybrids with no distinguishing features. It has been found that rhizomes are the most usable portion of the plant, and people in this region use them the most for medical purposes. The present study aimed to describe and evaluate the morphological structures of the plant, incorporating 52 phenotypic descriptors. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis were employed to explore diversity. The majority of the traits tested were highly variable. The elevation range (28704.02%) and plant height (at 648.03 %) had the largest coefficients of variation (CV %), whereas anther length (0.06 %) and corolla shape (0.19 %) had the lowest. Rhizome size has a high positive correlation with the odour of the aerial plant parts, growing, dormant, new shoots sprouting, and flowering seasons. However, it shows negative correlations with elevation, lifespan of the flower, and number of leaves. Principal component analysis (PCA), revealed that the first five components accounted for 89.90 % of the variability, and hierarchical grouping based on accession dissimilarity revealed two significant groupings. It was found that wild K. species populations were genetically diverse, suggesting that this diversity can be used for agronomic and horticultural purposes to isolate and characterise numerous important, well-adapted genotypes with the potential to significantly increase yields. Therefore, it is crucial to conserve the genetic material that is currently available.

Evaluation of propolis hepatotoxicity in male rats

Background: Propolis is a natural resinous combination that honeybees produce from the materials they gather from plant parts, buds, and exudates. Numerous favorable pharmacological qualities have been demonstrated for propolis. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the hepatotoxic effects of ethanolic propolis extract on the liver of male rats. Methods: In this research, 40 male rats were divided randomly into five groups: 1. Control 2. Sham (solvent), and 3. Three experimental groups (ethanolic propolis extract at doses of 50,100 and 200 mg/kg). All materials were administered by oral gavage once daily for 13 consecutive days. On the 14th day, blood sampling was performed to measure serum levels of liver function enzymes and triglycerides. After deep induction of anesthesia, the liver of the rats was removed for histopathological studies. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p <0.05). Results: The data showed that the administration of propolis significantly increased the serum levels of aminotransferases in a dose-dependent manner and decreased triglycerides, accompanied by pathological changes. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the administration of propolis is associated with liver toxicity, and it seems that it should be consumed more carefully. Keywords: Alanine aminotransferase, Aspartate aminotransferase, Propolis, Hepatotoxicity Triglycerides

Allicin and total phenolic content in ramps (Allium tricoccum Ait.) in relation to phenological stage, morphological traits, and harvest location

Ramps (Allium tricoccum Ait., Alliaceae/Amaryllidaceae) are an herbaceous perennial native to the forests of central/eastern North America. Ramps are consumed for their unique onion and garlic flavor. Knowledge of ramp phytochemistry is limited. Here the influence of plant part, phenological stage, morphology, and growing location on allicin and total phenolic content (TPC) in ramps was examined. Ramps were collected from wild populations across six sites in Pennsylvania at seven developmental stages. In spring, when leaves were present, allicin levels were 5 times greater in bulbs than leaves, and TPC in leaves was 4.5 times greater than bulbs. Allicin concentration was influenced by phenology and peaked at flowering in bulbs and at peak stage in leaves. TPC in bulbs and leaves was influenced by phenology and harvest location. TPC concentration was highest in bulbs and leaves at flowering and emergence, respectively. Stem color and leaf number had no influence on the phytochemicals measured.

External Application of Ethno-Veterinary Plants to Treat Bone Fractures in Domestic and Pet Animals of the Villages in Nallamalla Forest Region of Eastern Ghats of AP, India

Bone fractures are resulted due to accidents or violent acts caused by others either willfully or negligently. In some cases, it may be due to falling or due to pathological reasons. The present survey provides information on external application of Ethno veterinary plant medicine for treating bone fractures of domestic animals by the natives of AP region in Nallamalas of Eastern Ghats of India. The therapeutical properties of 65 plant species belonging to 59 genera and 42 families are being used for treating bone fractures. Information on botanical name, vernacular name, family, plant parts used, mode of drug preparation, administration and mode of preparation of poultice are provided. The Information gathered in this study would act as vital data for scientific community.

The impact of dietary guava ( Psidium guajava L.) on some livestock production systems

Abstract Due to the growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance and the potential for a ban on antibiotic growth promoters worldwide, there is an increasing demand to find alternatives to antimicrobials in livestock production. One of these alternatives is herbal extracts or phytobiotics that already are used as dietary supplements to improve the general health conditions. Guava ( Psidium guajava L.) has a long history of nutritional and medicinal properties. All the body parts of guava and the by-products have been applied effectively in livestock systems. The guava plant is a good source of nutrients as it is rich in flavonoids, phenols, tannins, essential oils, lectins, vitamins, fatty acids, etc. All parts of the guava plant including leaves, pulp, and seeds have been used as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheic, anticancer, immuno-stimulant, growth promotor, cough sedative, and hypocholesterolemic. Therefore, this review was planned to focus on the impact of using dietary guava on the different health parameters of some livestock production systems including poultry and rabbits.

An efficient determination of phenolic compounds by HPLC-DAD and their bioactivity assay from aerial parts of Eucalyptus tereticornis plant

An efficient determination of phenolic compounds by HPLC-DAD and their bioactivity assay from aerial parts of Eucalyptus tereticornis plant

Antioxidant and toxicity activities of kayu manis hutan (Cinnamomum iners Reinw. Ex Blume Laureceae) leaf extracts

Cinnamomum iners Reinw. ex Blume Laureceae which is known in Malaysia as “kayu manis” has a wide range of traditional applications for certain plant parts, including the leaves, bark, and stem and it has pharmacological features, including anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity. Unfortunately, there is a lack of reports regarding the antioxidant and toxicity activities of ethanolic C. iners crude leaf extracts. The objective of the study was to determine the total phenolic content and its antioxidant activities of ethanolic C. iners crude leaf extracts from two different age maturity, as well as its toxicity activity. The extracts were tested for total phenolic content and its antioxidant activities in terms of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryllhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging- and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. The toxicity assay was tested using brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality assay. The total phenolic content of the extracts for young and old leaves C. iners resulted in 248.06±12.77 and 351.11±8.62 mg GAE/g dw, respectively. The DPPH radical scavenging showed results for young and old leaf extracts were IC50 of 31.92 µg/mL and 27.62 µg/mL, respectively. Meanwhile, the value of FRAP for young and old leaf extracts were 8.574±0.21 and 9.155±0.36 TEAC mg/g dw, respectively. The ABTS antioxidant activity for the young and old leaf extracts were 305.23±7.02 and 316.86±8.22 Trolox equivalence mg/g dw, respectively. Based on the toxicity assay, both young and old leaf extracts exhibited LC50 at 19.627 and 13.201 mg/mL, respectively. The findings indicate that C. iners leaves crude extracts have exhibited high total phenolic content and antioxidant activity and the extracts were not toxic against brine shrimp. Thus, C. iners leaf extracts could be developed as potential natural antioxidant agents.

Molecular and physiological characterization of AIP1, encoding the acetolactate synthase regulatory subunit in rice

Flooding deprives plants of oxygen and thereby causes severe stress by interfering with energy production, leading to growth retardation. Enzymes and metabolites may help protect plants from waterlogging and hypoxic environmental conditions. Acetolactate synthase (ALS) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), providing the building blocks for proteins and various secondary metabolites. Additionally, under energy-poor conditions, free BCAAs can be used as an alternative energy source by mitochondria through a catabolic enzyme chain reaction. In this study, we characterized ALS-INTERACTING PROTEIN 1 (OsAIP1), which encodes the regulatory subunit of ALS in rice (Oryza sativa). This gene was expressed in all parts of the rice plant, and its expression level was significantly higher in submerged and low-oxygen environments. Rice transformants overexpressing OsAIP1 showed a higher survival rate under hypoxic stress than did non-transgenic control plants under the same conditions. The OsAIP1-overexpressing plants accumulated increased levels of BCAAs, demonstrating that OsAIP1 is an important factor in the hypoxia resistance mechanism. These results suggest that ALS proteins are part of a defense mechanism that improves the tolerance of plants to low-oxygen environments.

Sustainable approach to dye adsorption: hemp-based activated carbon as an effective adsorbent

ABSTRACT In industry, the use of dyes that threaten human health is increasing day by day. RB 19 (Reactive Blue 19, Remazol brilliant blue R), one of the most common dyes that adversely affect natural life, is the subject of this article. In this article, the waste parts of the hemp plant (root, stem and other) were evaluated for use in scientific studies. Hemp wastes were carbonised at 500°C at a heating rate of 10°C/min for 1 hour in the N2 atmosphere. Chemical activation was then carried out with 1:4 potassium hydroxide (KOH) at 800°C under the same conditions. Activated carbon (AC) used as an adsorbent was characterised by elemental analysis (73.3% C, 0.3% H, 0.46% N, 0.02% S and 25.92% O), XRD, SEM, BET and FT-IR analysis. Activated carbon (AC) with 850 μm size, 1858.70 m2/g surface area was obtained by chemical activation of carbonised hemp waste with KOH. SEM images showed that the activated carbon is structurally similar to a honeycomb. Kinetic parameters were analysed with six different equations (Intra Particle Diffusion, Pseudo First, Pseudo Second, Elovich, Avrami, Bangham) and adsorption mechanism with eight different equations (Henry, Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Koble-Corrigan, Flory-Huggins, Harkin-Jura). According to the calculated diffusion coefficient (19.299), it is concluded that diffusion is externally controlled. The Intra-Particle Diffusion constant (75.34) indicated that the outer adsorption layer of activated carbon was thick. When the correlation coefficients of the equations were examined according to the kinetic analysis results, the highest correlation coefficient was observed in the Pseudo-First kinetic model for all temperatures. However, it was determined that it also fits the Bangham and Avrami models. Since Bangham and Avrami models have high regression coefficients (0.96–0.99), it can be said that adsorption also fits these models. Also, the negative Gibbs Free Energy values indicate that adsorption can occur spontaneously and is thermodynamically favourable.

Use of Ethnoveterinary Medicinal Plants to Treat Cattle Diseases by the Oulad Heriz Farmers in the Chaouia Region, Northwest of Morocco

Using medicinal plants for healthcare practices in indigenous communities presents a chance to discover natural remedies. This study aims to provide a detailed account of the ethnoveterinary knowledge of medicinal plants utilized for therapeutic purposes. From December 2020 to December 2021, a field investigation was carried out within the Oulad Heriz tribes. Two hundred local farmers were interviewed using open-ended, semi-structured discussions, free listing and focus groups. A total of one hundred medicinal plants belonging to 87 genera and 33 families were discovered to be employed for ethnoveterinary purposes. Rosmarinus officinalis L. was the most frequently utilized ethnoveterinary plant species in the study area (70 citations). Leaves are shown to be the most commonly employed plant parts (55%). However, digestive disorders were the most often mentioned ailment (33 medicinal plants, 599 citations), and most herbal medicines were made by infusion (46.2%). According to the current investigation findings, local farmers in Oulad Heriz have continuous knowledge of ethnoveterinary plants. This ethnoveterinary medicinal heritage needs to be incorporated with contemporary medicine to use plants and their products as potentially viable medications for various cattle illnesses.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and Milk-Clotting Activity of Aqueous Extracts from Leaves, Stems, and Flowers of Three Tunisian Ecotypes of Spontaneous and Cultivated Onopordum nervosum ssp. platylepis Murb.: A Potential Novel Vegetable Rennet Option

This study aimed to compare the chemical composition of aqueous extracts from different aerial plant parts (leaves, stems, and flowers) of Onopordum nervosum ssp. platylepis growing in different regions (Sousse, Kairouan, and Nabeul) in Tunisia, as well as their antioxidant and milk-clotting properties for both spontaneously grown and cultivated plants. Results showed that phenolic composition varies significantly among ecotypes and plant organs (p < 0.05), with flowers containing the highest amounts of total phenols and flavonoids in both plant types. The flowers from Nabeul (NA) region showed the highest amounts of total phenols and higher phenolic contents compared to leaves and stems, with 44.75 mg GAE/g and 39.79 mg GAE/g in spontaneous and cultivated plants, respectively. However, flowers of spontaneously plants grown in Sousse (SO) showed the highest total flavonoid contents (11.42 mg QE/g). Additionally, the findings indicated that flowers contained higher concentrations of mono- and disaccharides than leaves and stems. The antioxidant activity showed that the radical scavenging activity of O. platylepis aqueous extracts is significantly affected by the organ and genotype (p < 0.05). NA genotype revealed the highest potency in inhibiting free radicals, with flowers having the lowest IC50s values in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) tests, registering 0.13 ± 0.02 and 0.14 ± 0.01 mg/mL, respectively. Milk-clotting activity was limited to flowers of this thistle. Moreover, SO and NA genotypes were identified as the most potent populations to coagulate milk in spontaneous and cultivated plants. The principal component analysis confirms the organ and genotype variability in this thistle, with the first two axes explaining 64.15% of the variance and highlighting a distinct flower group. The obtained results suggest that the domestication of this thistle could be useful for the conservation of biodiversity and the promotion of genotypes with potential technological properties.

Dieldrin accumulation, distribution in plant parts and phytoextraction potential for several plant species and Cucurbita pepo varieties

Dieldrin, an organochlorine pesticide (OCP) widely used for crop protection in the second half of the 20th century till the 70's, is worldwide still present in arable soils. It can be transferred to crops, notably cucurbits, depending on plant species and cultivars. Finding strategies to decrease OCP bioavailability in soil is therefore a main concern. Phytomanagement strategies could provide (i) ready-to-use short term solution for maintaining the production of edible plant parts with dieldrin concentrations below the Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) and (ii) long-term solution for dieldrin phytoextraction reducing progressively its bioavailability in the soil. This field study aimed at determining dieldrin accumulation capacities and allocation pattern in 17 non-Cucurbitaceae species and 10 Cucurbita pepo varieties, and assessing the dieldrin phytoextraction potential of these plant species when grown to maturity in a historically dieldrin-contaminated soil. Out of the non-Cucurbitaceae species, vetiver was the only one able to accumulate significant amounts of dieldrin, which mainly remained in its roots. All C. pepo varieties were able to uptake and translocate high dieldrin amounts into the shoots, leading to the highest phytoextraction potential. Despite the intraspecific variability in dieldrin concentration in zucchini plant parts, mainly in the reproductive organs, the phytoextraction capacity for shoots and fruits was high for all tested varieties (147 to 275 μg dieldrin plant−1, corresponding to 5.6 % of the n-heptane extractable soil dieldrin), even for the one with low fruit dieldrin concentration. Both food safety and phytoextraction could be achieved by selecting productive zucchini varieties displaying low dieldrin concentration in fruits and high one in shoots.

Bioactive compounds, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Attributes of Cordia Sinensis Lam

The aim of this study is to discover the efficacy of various parts of Cordia sinensis plant against some particular pathogens that are recognized to cause diseases and to check antioxidant and bioactive compounds from different parts of plant C. sinensis. Plant extracts were examined by quantification of phytochemical compounds and antimicrobial activity. Phytochemicals and several secondary metabolites were quantified and also qualitatively analyzed in C. sinensis extracts such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, steroids, glycosides, and saponins. Similarly, biochemical primary metabolites like protein, total sugar, and reducing sugar were also estimated in different parts of C. sinensis and these results correlated with antimicrobial activity. This study reveals that acetone extracts of stems, leaves, and roots of the C. sinensis showed excellent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumonia and also against fungal species Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Penicillium notatum.

Endophytic entomopathogenic fungi isolates as growth promoters of the grass Urochloa brizantha

This study evaluated the growth-promoting action of 16 isolates of the entomopathogenic fungal genus Metarhizium spp., representing 14 from the native pastures and two commercial isolates, on the forage grass Urochloa brizantha, via drench application to seeds. Multivariate analysis of plant height, length of the longest leaf and root, and dry and fresh weight of leaves and roots indicated the most promising isolates, five from native pastures (CEPAF_ENT25, CEPAF_ENT26, CEPAF_ENT27, CEPAF_ENT42, and CEPAF_ENT59) and one commercial (IBCB 425), all isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae. Except for isolate CEPAF_ENT59, there was a positive correlation between growth parameters of U. brizantha with the contents of chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids and with the contents of N, P, and Zn in the leaves. Endophytic colonization tests indicated the presence of Metarhizium spp. in all plant parts, most frequently in the stems. Furthermore, the selected isolates of Metarhizium spp. were recovered from the cultivation substrate and positively affected the germination and initial growth of U. brizantha. Thus, the most promising isolates have potential for application to seeds of U. brizantha.

Iron oxide nanoparticle (Fe3O4 NPs) synthesized from B. subtilis reduced arsenic (as) toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant

Arsenic (As) is one of the most important water pollutant of global concern due to its extreme hazard. In the present study, B. subtilis synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) were used for mitigation of harmful metalloid As from the aqueous solution. Initially, the arsenic removal efficiency was tested in a batch culture experiment across various concentrations (5, 10 and 15 ppm) of B. subtilis synthesized Fe3O4 NPs at different pH, time interval and agitation speed. Optimal removal efficiency of As by using B. subtilis synthesized Fe3O4 NPs was observed at pH 7, after 80 min, and with agitation at 200 rpm. Additionally, hydroponic culture experiment was designed to assess B. subtilis synthesized Fe3O4 NPs efficiency in removal of As from As-contaminated water used to irrigate rice plants. Results revealed that B. subtilis synthesized Fe3O4 NPs effectively removed As from the contiminated water and reduced its uptake by the different parts of rice plants (root, shoot and leaf). Furthermore, these B. subtilis synthesized Fe3O4 NPs also reduced the bioaccumulation and enhanced plant tolerance to As, suggesting their potential in mitigating heavy metal toxicity, especially As and promoting plant growth. Thus, this study proposes B. subtilis synthesized Fe3O4 NPs as nano-adsorbents in reducing arsenic toxicity in rice plants.

Chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils of seven Cultivated Apiaceae species

The Apiaceae family contains many species used as food, spice and medicinal purposes. Different parts of plants including seeds could be used to obtain essential (EO) oils from members of the Apiaceae family. In the present study, EOs were components obtained through hydrodistillation from the seeds of anise (Pimpinella anisum), carrot (Daucus carota), celery (Apium graveolens), dill (Anethum graveolens), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and cumin (Cuminum cyminum). EO constituents were determined with Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) and Gas Chromatography/Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) and their antioxidant capacities were determined with the cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) methods. The antimicrobial activity of EOs were tested against four pathogenic bacteria. Phenylpropanoids in anise (94.87%) and fennel (92.52%), oxygenated monoterpenes in dill (67.59%) and coriander (98.96%), monoterpene hydrocarbons in celery (75.42%), mono- (45.42%) and sesquiterpene- (43.25%) hydrocarbons in carrots, monoterpene hydrocarbon (34.30%) and aromatic hydrocarbons (32.92%) in cumin were the major compounds in the EOs. Anethole in anise and fennel, carotol in carrot, limonene in celery, carvone in dill, linalool in coriander, and cumin aldehyde in cumin were predominant compounds in these EOs. The high hydrocarbon content in cumin EO gave high CUPRAC activity (89.07 µmol Trolox g−1), and the moderate monoterpene hydrocarbon and oxygenated monoterpene content in dill EO resulted in higher DPPH activity (9.86 µmol Trolox g−1). The in vitro antibacterial activity of EOs against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli was evaluated using the agar diffusion method and the minimum bactericidal concentration was determined. Coriander, cumin and dill EOs showed inhibitory effect against all tested strains except P. aeruginosa. While fennel and celery EOs were effective against E. coli and B. cereus strains, respectively, anise and carrot EOs did not show any antibacterial effect against the tested bacteria. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) produced four groups based on EO constituents of seven species. The potential adoption of the cultivated Apiaceae species for EO extraction could be beneficial for the wild species that are endangered by over collection and consumption.