Plant Ferula Research Articles

The effect of cryopreservation on seed germination of the endangered, rare, endemic and medicinal plant Ferula iliensis Krasn. ex Korov

Ecological studies have frequently stressed that the availability of seeds in the soil is important for the recovery of semi-arid rangelands. However, the crucial role of soil seed banks has not been incorporated into rangeland models to understand vegetation states and transitions in semi-arid rangelands. We developed and evaluated a novel model to show that the availability of seeds in the soil seed banks as a function of plant cover can trigger transitions from perennial to annual grasses and from annual grasses to bare soil with increasing grazing pressure. The model indicates that when grazing pressure is low, a high cover of perennial grasses and a large soil seed bank of these grasses may be present, whereas annual grasses with their seeds in the soil appear with increasing grazing. When grazing pressure further increases, vegetation cover and the soil seed bank size decline. We found that the positive feedback between plant cover and the size of the soil seed bank depends on seed traits, i.e., longevity and germination rate. This positive feedback is an alternative explanation for a sudden vegetation changes in rangelands, which are often explained by the positive feedback between plant cover and the infiltration rate of rain into the soil. In contrast to this latter positive feedback, our model can explain shifts in vegetation from perennials to annuals and vice versa on different soil types, which are often seen in semi-arid rangelands. Our model contributes therefore to the understanding of vegetation dynamics for the proper management and possible restoration of degraded semi-arid rangelands.

Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activity of Extracts of Ferula heuffelii Griseb. ex Heuff. and Its Metabolites.

The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of isolates (CHCl3 and MeOH extracts and selected metabolites) obtained from the underground parts of the Balkan endemic plant Ferula heuffelii Griseb. ex Heuff. were assessed. The CHCl3 and MeOH extracts exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity, being more pronounced against Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria, especially against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC=12.5 μg/ml for both extracts) and Micrococcus luteus (MIC=50 and 12.5 μg/ml, resp.). Among the tested metabolites, (6E)-1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,7,11-trimethyl-3-vinyldodeca-6,10-dien-1-one (2) and (2S*,3R*)-2-[(3E)-4,8-dimethylnona-3,7-dien-1-yl]-2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2,3-dimethylfuro[3,2-c]coumarin (4) demonstrated the best antimicrobial activity. Compounds 2 and 4 both strongly inhibited the growth of M. luteus (MIC=11.2 and 5.2 μM, resp.) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC=22.5 and 10.5 μM, resp.) and compound 2 additionally also the growth of Bacillus subtilis (MIC=11.2 μM). The cytotoxic activity of the isolates was tested against three human cancer cell lines, viz., cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa), chronic myelogenous leukemia (K562), and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. The CHCl3 extract exhibited strong cytotoxic activity against all cell lines (IC50 <11.0 μg/ml). All compounds strongly inhibited the growth of the K562 and HeLa cell lines. Compound 4 exhibited also a strong activity against the MCF-7 cell line, comparable to that of cisplatin (IC50 =22.32±1.32 vs. 18.67±0.75μM).

Sesquiterpenoids with Anti-MDR Staphylococcus aureus activities from Ferula ferulioides.

Seven new sesquiterpenoids together with 21 known sesquiterpenoid derivatives were isolated from the medicinal plant Ferula ferulioides (Steud.) Korovin. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses and chemical transformations. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against a panel of bacteria including multidrug-resistant (MDR) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), displaying minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in the range of 0.5-128 mg/l.

Endangered Uyghur Medicinal Plant Ferula Identification through the Second Internal Transcribed Spacer.

The medicinal plant Ferula has been widely used in Asian medicine, especially in Uyghur medicine in Xinjiang, China. Given that various substitutes and closely related species have similar morphological characteristics, Ferula is difficult to distinguish based on morphology alone, thereby causing confusion and threatening the safe use of Ferula. In this study, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences were analyzed and assessed for the accurate identification of two salable Ferula species (Ferula sinkiangensis and Ferula fukangensis) and eight substitutes or closely related species. Results showed that the sequence length of ITS2 ranged from 451 bp to 45 bp, whereas guanine and cytosine contents (GC) were from 53.6% to 56.2%. A total of 77 variation sites were detected, including 63 base mutations and 14 insertion/deletion mutations. The ITS2 sequence correctly identified 100% of the samples at the species level using the basic local alignment search tool 1 and nearest-distance method. Furthermore, neighbor-joining tree successfully identified the genuine plants F. sinkiangensis and F. fukangensis from their succedaneum and closely related species. These results indicated that ITS2 sequence could be used as a valuable barcode to distinguish Uyghur medicine Ferula from counterfeits and closely related species. This study may broaden DNA barcoding application in the Uyghur medicinal plant field.

The states of coenpopulations of endemic, relict and rare species of plant Ferula iliensis and their protection

The states of coenpopulations of endemic, relict and rare species of plant Ferula iliensis and their protection

New antileishmanial sesquiterpene coumarins from Ferula narthex Boiss

Two new sesquiterpene coumarins, fnarthexone (1) and fnarthexol (2), along with three known coumarin derivatives, conferol (3), conferone (4) and umbelliferone (5), were isolated from the plant Ferula narthex Boiss. The structures of the compounds 1–5 were elucidated using modern spectroscopic techniques. The structure of compound 3 was unambiguously deduced by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. Compounds 1–4 were tested for in vitro leishmanicidal activity and promising results were obtained. Conferol (3) was found to be the most potent with IC50 value of 11.51±0.09μg/mL.

Secondary metabolites of Ferula foetida

The plant Ferula foetida Regel (Apiaceae) is broadly distributed in the flora of Central Asia [1]. It is well known in Eastern folk medicine and is still used as an anticonvulsant, expectorant, and antiflatulent for tuberculosis and syphilis and to improve digestion for gastrointestinal diseases in non-traditional medicine to treat various diseases [2–5]. Several S-containing aliphatic compounds, derivatives of thiophene, coumarins, and their derivatives in addition to several terpenes, were isolated from resin obtained from roots of this plant [6–9]. Several S-containing compounds, derivatives of thiophene and disulfides, were isolated earlier from the plant growing in Uzbekistan [8]. We studied the aerial part of F. foetida collected in Bukhar Oblast in the vicinity of Gazli during the generative phase (third year of growth) at the start of growth and during rapid development of leaf clusters, March through May, 2009. Air-dried samples were extracted with EtOH (85%, 6 ) to afford sample 1 (collected in March), yield of total extracted substances 18% of the plant weight; sample 2 (April), 17%; and sample 3 (May), 10%. Components of the dried EtOH extracts from the three samples in addition to juice from the aerial part of F. foetida were studied by GC-MS. According to TLC (hydrocarbons:EtOAc, 2:1), the second and third samples contained coumarin-type compounds whereas the first sample did not. Juice of F. foetida contained according to GC-MS data the principal components 2,3,4,5-tetramethylthiophene and 2-ethylthiopyridine. The extracts also contained 1,3-dimethyltrisulfane, 1,8-cineol (eucalyptol), S-methylmethanethiosulfonate, 2,3,4,5-tetramethylthiophene, (+)-trans-chrysanthenylacetate, (+)-calarene, bulnesol, etc. (Table 1).

Disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential by ferulenol and restoration by propolis extract: Antiapoptotic role of propolis

This paper reports an investigation of the ability of propolis extract (a resinous substance collected by honeybees from various plant sources) to restore the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential induced by ferulenol, a sesquiterpene prenylated coumarin derivative isolated from the plant Ferula vesceritensis . We show that ferulenol was able to induce the permeability transition pore (PTP) opening. This effect is caused by the interaction of the compound with the mitochondrial respiratory chain, more particularly by the fall of membrane potential and the inhibition of complex II. We have previously demonstrated that this inhibition results from a limitation of electron transfers involved in the respiratory chain and initiated by the reduction of ubiquinone. We hypothesized that the protective effect of propolis could be due to a direct action on mitochondrial functions. So we have investigated in vitro the mitochondrial effects of Algerian propolis using rat liver mitochondria, by analysing their effects on membrane potential, mitochondrial respiration and mitochondrial swelling. We show that propolis extract was able to restore the fall of mitochondrial membrane potential. Taken together these data reveal that propolis extract may be an interesting inhibitor of PTP and provide an additional mechanism by which the natural product propolis extract may restore the mitochondrial membrane potential and to prevent apoptotic process.

An unusual sesquiterpene derivative from Ferula kuhistanica.

An unusual new sesquiterpene derivative, kuhistaferone (1), was isolated from the fruits of the Uzbekistan medicinal plant Ferula kuhistanica. The structure of 1 was established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Compound 1 showed moderate cytotoxicity against the human colon tumor cell line HCT116.

Ferula harmonis 'zallouh' and enhancing erectile function in rats: efficacy and toxicity study.

Ferula harmonis, which is locally called 'zallouh' in the Middle East, is used as an aphrodisiac as it is reputed to enhance male sexual behavior, however, there is no scientific verification. In this study, the oil extracted from the seeds of Ferula harmonis was tested for its efficacy in enhancing erectile function and toxicity in male rats. The sexual activities assessed by penile erection index were dose dependent. The ED(50) (12.03 mg/kg) was 880 times less than the LD(50) (10.6 g/kg). However, when doses ranging from 0.05, 0.5 to 2 g/kg were given daily for 28 days, acute and subacute toxicity were observed. There was a decrease in total body weight, hepatomegaly, atrophic testis, significant decrease in hemoglobin and red blood cell count. In addition, there was a significant decrease in cholesterol level. All the above indicate that the crude oil from the plant Ferula harmonis can enhance erectile function, however, it becomes toxic if it is used for a long period of time. Further studies are underway to isolate and identify the active ingredients and their exact mechanisms of action.

Farnesyl hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives from Ferula kuhistanica.

Four new farnesyl hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, kuhistanols E-H (1-4), were isolated from the roots of the Uzbekistan medicinal plant Ferula kuhistanica. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated based on spectroscopic and chemical evidence.

Ionophoretic properties of ferutinin

The influence of the natural terpenoid ferutinin (4-oxy-6-(4-oxybenzoyloxy) dauc-8,9-en), isolated from the plant Ferula tenuisecta, on ion permeability of biological and artificial membranes was investigated. It was shown that ferutinin, in the concentration range 1–50 μM, increases the permeability of thymocytes, mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum, liposomes and bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) for Cat+. Ferutinin establishes a transmembrane potential in BLM equal to the Nernst's potential. The permeability ratio for Na +/Ca 2+ is 0.41. The dependence of BLM conductivity on ferutinin concentration is linear. The stoichiometry of the ferutinin:Ca 2+ complex is 2, assuming the formation of a structure with participation of two terpenoid. molecules and one Ca2+ ion.

Isolation and crystal structure of grilactone, a new guaianolide from Ferula oopoda

The chief constituent of the essential oils from the roots of the plant Ferula oopoda is the sesquiterpene guaianolide, grilactone, whose structure has been determined by an X-ray diffraction study. Crystals are orthorhombic, space group P212121 with four molecules in a cell of dimensions a= 9.90 (2), b= 14.98 (2), c= 8.74 (2)A. The structure was refined by least squares to R 0.079. Grilactone has a cis-anti-cis-configuration at the ring junctions.