Plant Mixtures Research Articles

Effect of intra- and inter-specific plant interactions on the rhizosphere microbiome of a single target plant at different densities.

Root and rhizosphere studies often focus on analyzing single-plant microbiomes, with the literature containing minimum empirical information about the shared rhizosphere microbiome of multiple plants. Here, the rhizosphere of individual plants was analyzed in a microcosm study containing different combinations and densities (1-3 plants, 24 plants, and 48 plants) of cover crops: Medicago sativa, Brassica sp., and Fescue sp. Rhizobacterial beta diversity was reduced by increasing plant density for all plant mixtures. Interestingly, plant density had a significant influence over beta diversity while plant diversity was found to be a less important factor since it did not have a significant change. Regardless of plant neighbor identity or density, a low number of rhizobacteria were strongly associated with each target species. Nonetheless, a few bacterial taxa were shown to have conditional associations such as being enriched within only high plant densities, which may alleviate plant competition between these species. Also, we found evidence of bacterial sharing of nitrogen fixers from alfalfa to fescue. Although rhizosphere bacterial networks had overlapping bacterial modules, the modules showing the largest percentage of the network changed depending on plant neighbor. In summary, this study found that for the most part plants maintained their rhizosphere microbiome despite escalating plant-plant competition.

Soil total carbon as a key factor affects soil biota attributes in plant mixtures over time: A meta-analysis

Studies have determined that soil biota have distinct responses to plant richness. However, the potential mechanisms that regulate soil biota (microbes and fauna) attributes (biomass, activity, and abundance) to plant mixtures over experimental time are still unclear. By conducting 1594 paired observations of the impacts of plant mixture on soil biota attributes and its corresponding potential drivers from 179 studies, we found that plant above- and belowground biomass and total biomass were significantly increased by 35.0%, 52.9%, and 48.6% under plant mixture, respectively. Soil pH decreased significantly by 0.8% with experimental time. The responses of soil microbial attributes were more sensitive than soil fauna abundances under plant mixture over time. On average, soil microbial respiration and microbial biomass increased by 11.6% and 12.1%, respectively, in plant mixtures across all ecosystem types. For soil fauna community, only the abundance of herbivores showed a significant increase of 20.4% to plant mixtures. The response of above- and belowground biomass, total biomass, the ratio of carbon to nitrogen, and pH showed positive relationships with most specific microbial attributes, while mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, and the response of soil total nitrogen and NO3–-N showed negative relationships with them in response to plant mixtures. The abundance of soil fauna was secondarily affected by the changes of soil abiotic properties. Taken together, the response of soil total carbon had a strong effect on soil biota attributes. Changes in belowground biomass and total biomass showed negative relationships with specific soil fauna abundance, while soil total carbon, nitrogen, pH, and soil moisture showed positive relationships with specific soil fauna abundance. However, only herbivore abundance showed significant differences across different ecosystems. Our analysis illustrates the distinct responses of soil biota attributes to plant mixtures and their potential influencing factors, thereby benefiting the sustainability of soil biota biodiversity in the face of plant richness loss.

Development of Mix Design Approach for Mixtures with Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement, RAP, Materials

The high demand for using recycled materials in roadways for sustainability has generated the need to develop new approaches to mix design in order to address and incorporate performance measures. In this regard, the mix design approach should identify methods to assess mixture performance, incorporating, for example, permanent deformation and fatigue cracking, to otherwise limiting volumetric analysis, as identified by the current Superpave approach used by many states. The objectives of this study were to develop such a methodology and identify threshold values for permanent deformation and fatigue cracking for the most common mixtures used in the state of Maryland. The performance testing results for fatigue cracking and permanent deformation are presented herein. Based on these results, initial threshold values were adopted. Furthermore, the experimentation included three distinct populations: plant mixtures; modified plant mixtures; and field mixtures (i.e., behind the paver). The results are presented herein along with relevant considerations about their potential use within quality assurance. The asphalt mixtures included in this study represent common or similar materials and mixtures often used in the northeast region. Thus, the suggested approach and overall testing results may be transferable elsewhere where similar materials and asphalt mixtures are used.

Effects of Intercropped Insectary Plants (Sweet Alyssum, Coriander, and White Mustard) on Elemental Composition and Antioxidant Levels in Broad Bean Plants.

Insectary plants, such as sweet alyssum, coriander, and white mustard, are well known for their traits that attract beneficial insects, allowing them to protect crops from pests. The aim of the study was to analyze the compounds that are important in the antioxidant response, such as malondialdehyde, ascorbic acid, proline, total phenolics, and total flavonoids, as well as the content of elements, including macroelements (K, Mg, Na, Ca, P, and S) and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Mn, and Fe) in broad bean plants. These plants were grown in field conditions as the main protected plant alongside a mixture of three insectary plants at different proportions of the individual components. The soil was analyzed in terms of the above-mentioned elements, as well as in terms of its enzymatic activity (arylsulfatase, β-glucosidase, dehydrogenase, FDA (fluorescein diacetate), and acid phosphatase). The introduction of insectary plant mixtures did not cause major changes in the content of the elements in the soil. The changes in the content of elements in broad bean leaves depended on the type of element and the proportion of individual components in the companion plant mixture. However, a general trend of increasing macronutrient content was observed, influenced by the presence of companion plants. All types of companion plant mixtures used enhanced the activity of FDA, while the mixture with 50% sweet alyssum additionally caused an increase in arylsulfatase activity (more than 2 fold). The companion plants improved the physiological condition of the protected plant, which was reflected in the reduced content of proline and total flavonoids. Considering the response of the protected plant to the proposed intercropped plant mixtures and their effect on broad bean growth, it appears that the most suitable mixtures are those with an equal share of all three plant species or a mixture with a predominance of sweet alyssum.

Drosophila melanogaster "A Potential Model Organism for Evaluating the Phytochemical Effects Of Medicinal Plants"

Ayurveda is one of the most prestigious traditional systems of drugs. It makes use of a mixture of herbs and medicinal plants to treat various diseases. Plants also carry a wide range of phytochemicals such as phenolics, alkaloids, and saponins that may cause harmful health effects. The phytochemical effect of two medicinal plants Vinca rosea and Withania somnifera was studied on model organism Drosophila melanogaster. Withania was extracted using MASE method and Vinca was extracted in water. Drosophila reared on Vinca rosea and W. somnifera diets and compared with the control diet reared flies. Behavioral assays of adult and larvae at Stage 3 were performed to study the effect of these extracts which included courtship, survivorship, crawling, and climbing behavior. The developmental toxicity assay was also conducted to evaluate the effect of extracts on the total life span of Drosophila. Withania root extract and Vinca leaf extract supplementation leads to the developmental delay and several phenotypic anomalies in D. melanogaster. . KEYWORDS :Drosophila melanogaster, MASE method and behavioral assays, phytochemical effect, Vinca rosea, Withania somnifera

Antioxidant, digestive enzyme activity, and anti-inflammatory effect of plant mixture including Scutellaria baicalensis

Antioxidant, digestive enzyme activity, and anti-inflammatory effect of plant mixture including Scutellaria baicalensis

Assessment of the Possibility of Using the Trace Element Status of a Herbal Drug as an Additional Quality Criterion: Chamomile Flowers as a Case Study

INTRODUCTION. Herbal drugs can often be difficult to identify and distinguish from morphologically similar species, especially when fractionated. For the analysis of complex mixtures of herbal origin, it is reasonable to use additional identification methods, including hierarchical clustering of herbal drugs by their trace element content.AIM. This study aimed to assess the possibility of using hierarchical clustering by trace element content for complex biological matrices (plant mixtures), with officinal chamomile species as a case study.MATERIALS AND METHODS. Multiple morphologically similar species grow together with officinal chamomile species that are widely used in medical practice. The study examined the flowers and peduncles of Matricaria recutita L., Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch.Bip., Leucanthemum vulgare Lam., Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch.Bip., and Matricaria suaveolens Buchenau, as well as artificial mixtures of chamomile with adulterant species (as samples non-compliant with pharmacopoeial specifi ca tions). The content of trace elements was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The statistical treatment of the results used Statistica 10 software with a built-in data analysis algorithm for multivariate experiments.RESULTS. Having determined the content of 56 trace elements, the authors plotted a hierarchical cluster tree using cluster analysis methods. M. recutita and M. suaveolens were shown to be the closest to each other in terms of their trace element status, which correlated with their taxonomy. Artificial plant mixtures formed intermediate clusters that were observed between different chamomile species. Moreover, according to the criterion of dissimilarity, the trace element cluster of M. recutita significantly differed from the trace element clusters of all the adulterant species and mixtures containing more than 10% of the adulterant species.CONCLUSIONS. This study demonstrated the possibility of using hierarchical clustering based on the content of trace elements in a biological object to analyse complex systems, including plant mixtures, and identify differences that may have discriminative value for the quality control of herbal drugs.

Interactions with free radicals for infusions obtained from plant mixtures in different weight ratio of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) herbs and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) flowers using EPR method

Introduction: Antioxidants protect against free radicals. The aim of this work is to determine the influence of the composition of the plant raw material on magnitude and kinetics of interactions with free radicals of infusions obtained from a mixture of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) herbs and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) flowers. The composition of a complex plant raw material with strong antioxidative properties was searched. Material and methods: The infusions were prepared from the mixtures of C. scolymus herbs and T. officinale flowers with weight ratio of the ingredients: 1:1, 2:1, and 1:2. Antioxidant properties were examined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and the model DPPH free radicals. Results and discussion: EPR spectra of DPPH free radicals decrease as a result of interactions with the examined plant infusions. The decrease of the EPR spectra was strongest and the weakest for infusions of complex plant raw material with the ratio of ingredients 2:1 and 1:1, respectively. Conclusions: All tested infusions of a mixture of artichoke (C. scolymus) herbs and dandelion (T. officinale) flowers, with ingredient weight ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2, quench free radicals. The character of kinetics of free radical interactions for the tested infusions are similar. An infusion of complex plant raw material with a 2:1 weight ratio of ingredients has the strongest effect on eliminating free radicals. An infusion with a 1:1 weight ratio of ingredients has the weakest ability to quench free radicals.

Assessing the Effects of Guiera senegalensis, Pluchea odorata, and Piliostigma reticulatum Leaf Powder Supplementation on Growth, Immune Response, Digestive Histology, and Survival of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1758) Juveniles before and after Aeromonas hydrophila Infection

The effects of three medicinal plants in the feeds of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were investigated on growth, survival, immunity, and digestive histology at various inclusion levels: (A) Guiera senegalensis at 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8%; (B) Pluchea odorata at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4%; (C) Piliostigma reticulatum at 0, 1, and 2%; and (D) a mixture of the three at 0, 1, and 2%. After 28 days of feeding, fish were infected with Aeromonas hydrophila for 12 days. The results showed that, except for G. senegalensis, the inclusion of the medicinal plants, alone or combined, enhanced the immune response. The diet with 4% P. odorata significantly increased plasma lysozyme and bactericidal activities without affecting feed conversion efficiency or growth. Despite improved immunity, none of the treatments enhanced post-infection survival rates. However, fish fed the 1% mixture showed healthier livers and intestines, with reduced cell swelling and normal lipid deposits, followed by the 2% mixture and the control. These results highlight the potential benefits of incorporating P. odorata and the plant mixture into the diets of Nile tilapia juveniles for enhancing their immune response against A. hydrophila.

Ski slopes as an unrecognized source of human impact on vegetation

Various anthropogenic activities, e.g. construction, soil disturbance, and introducing artificial plant mixtures on newly-created ski slopes after forest clearing are significant interventions in ecosystems. These drastic acts influence the species composition of vegetation cover in the landscape. Although synanthropic species are typically infrequent in mountainous areas, they tend to flourish in disturbed environments; ski slopes are no exception to this pattern. Here we assessed the composition of vascular plants in three distinct ski slope habitats across 30 Slovak ski resorts: the ski lift entrance areas, the ski lift exit areas, and the central areas of the ski slopes. To gain insights into the dynamics of the spreading of synanthropic species on ski slopes, we used selected species traits, synanthropization indices for both flora and vegetation, and considered specific disturbance criteria. The outcomes of our study confirmed that the highest richness of synanthropic species was observed in plots located at the ski lift entrance areas, while the lowest in the central areas of the ski slopes. This difference could be attributed to the proximity of anthropogenically-disturbed zones, which act as propagule sources for synanthropic species into these mountainous habitats. At the same time, elevation also plays an important role in limiting spread of synanthropic plants on ski slopes. The study of synanthropic plant species distribution on ski slopes provides valuable insights into the complex interactions between human activities and the environment.

A Patent-Pending Ointment Containing Extracts of Five Different Plants Showed Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms in Preclinical Studies.

Background/Objectives: The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of a patent-pending ointment containing plant extracts from Eucalyptus globulus, Curcuma longa, Hamamelis virginiana, Echinacea purpurea, and Zingiber officinale were evaluated. Methods: Plant extracts were chemically characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The antinociceptive activity of the ointment was assessed using the hot plate, tail flick, and formalin tests, whereas the anti-inflammatory activity was measured using the acute and chronic TPA-induced ear edema tests. Mechanisms of action were evaluated using inhibitors from signaling pathways related to pain response and by using histological analysis and assessing the expression and activity of pro-inflammatory mediators. Results: The ointment showed antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects like those observed with diclofenac gel (1.16% v/v) and ketoprofen gel (2.5% v/v). The antinociceptive actions of the ointment are mediated by the possible participation of the opiodergic system and the nitric oxide pathway. The anti-inflammatory response was characterized by a decrease in myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and by a reduction in ear swelling and monocyte infiltration in the acute inflammation model. In the chronic model, the mechanism of action relied on a decrease in pro-inflammatory mediators such as COX-2, IL-1β, TNF-α, and MPO. An in-silico study with myristic acid, one of the compounds identified in the ointment's plant mixture, corroborated the in vivo results. Conclusions: The ointment showed antinociceptive activities mediated by the decrease in COX-2 and NO levels, and anti-inflammatory activity due to the reduction in IL-1β and TNFα levels, a reduction in MPO activity, and a decrease in NF-κB and COX-2 expression.

The effect of some vegetable origin oils used in different clove varieties against Meloidogyne incognita

Alternative control methods are needed against plant parasitic nematodes in Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) and Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) plants and one of these methods is the use of plant-based extracts against nematodes. Plant parasitic nematodes cause economic damage in cut flower production areas, so in order to reduce this damage, it is aimed to use different non-synthetic plant-based extracts as an alternative to chemical control methods within the scope of cultural control of nematodes. For this purpose, garlic, thyme, and terminator (70% thyme + 30% different plant mixture formation) were used to determine the resistance against M. incognita in two different clove cultivars, Turbo with standard flower type and Harnet with spray flower type. While the egg pack index was 1.40 ± 0.70 in the Harnet cultivar with garlic application, this rate was 16.00 ± 9.66 in the positive control. While the egg pack index was 1.20 ± 0.42 in the Turbo variety, in which garlic was applied, this value was 3.70 ± 0.48 in the control. When evaluated based on varieties, the egg package index was lower in the Turbo variety with garlic application compared to the Harnet variety.

Effects of dietary supplementation with medicinal plant mixtures and immunostimulants on the immune response, antioxidant capacity, and hepatopancreatic health of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis).

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of tea polyphenols (TP) and medicinal plant mixtures (Astragalus membranaceus + Lonicera japonica, Rheum officinale Bail + Scutellaria baicalensis + Platycladus orientalis) combined with astaxanthin (AST), benzoic acid (BA), and yeast complex on the health status of Eriocheir sinensis. A total of 630 crabs (male crabs: 41.51 ± 1.63 g; female crabs: 47.27 ± 0.79 g) were randomly distributed into seven groups with three replicates (male: female, 1:1). These crabs were fed as follows for 8 weeks: basal diet (M1), M2 (M1 + 100 mg/kg TP), M3 (M1 + 2.0 g/kg A. membranaceus + 20 g/kg L. japonica), M4 (M1 + 2.5 g/kg R. officinale Bail + 1.5 g/kg S. baicalensis + 1.0 g/kg P. orientalis), and M5, M6, M7 (M2, M3 and M4 with 600 mg/kg AST +1.0 g/kg BA + 20 mg/kg yeast complex added, respectively). The results showed that the activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and lysosome (LZM) in the hemolymph were significantly increased in M5, M6, and M7 (P < 0.05), and the highest phagocytosis index (PI) and LZM activity were observed in M7 of female crabs. Moreover, the antioxidant indicators superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) of hepatopancreas were also significantly improved in M5, M6, and M7 (P < 0.05), while the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents showed an opposite trend. Furthermore, a morphological examination also showed the improved histological structure of hepatopancreas in M7, especially as seen in the clear lumens, no vacuolation, and integrity of the basal membrane of the hepatopancreatic tubule. Taken together, these results suggested that 2.5 g/kg R. officinale Bail, 1.5 g/kg S. baicalensis, and 1.0 g/kg P. orientalis in combination with 600 mg/kg AST, 1.0 g/kg BA, and 20 mg/kg yeast complex could improve the non-specific immunity, antioxidant capacity, and hepatopancreatic health of E. sinensis.

Is there an Association between Complementary and Alternative Medicine use and Trust in Physicians in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases?

Generally, patients with chronic rheumatic diseases use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in addition to their conventional treatments to manage their health. Discussing these treatments with their physician is still rare, which might be directly related to patients' trust toward them. The primary objective of this study was to assess the association between patients' trust in their physician and the use of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases. As secondary objectives, to estimate the prevalence of CAM use, and to identify the associated factors with their use and with trust in physicians. This is a cross-sectional study, which included patients with established chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, at the University Hospital Center in Tangier. The questionnaire included demographic and clinical information, use of conventional therapy, complementary and alternative therapy, as well as interpersonal trust in patient-physician relationships using the Trust in Physician Scale (TPS). A regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with CAM use and with trust in physicians. The study included 189 patients. 57.14% of patients reported using complementary medicine at least once, most patients were women (77.78%), mean age was 46.67 ± 13.25 years with an average course of the disease of 11.11 ± 9.23 years. The most frequently used CAM treatments were cupping therapy, massage and the ingestion of a mixture of plants. Mean ± SD Trust in Physician Scale was 47.64 ± 7.2. There was no significant difference between CAM users vs. non-users (48.08 ± 6.9 vs 47.04 ± 7.4; p = 0.35). In uni and multivariate analysis, a low level of education was significantly associated with the use of CAM. However, no statistically significant difference was found with trust in physicians (OR = 1.020, 95% CI (0.978-1.063), p = 0.354). CAM therapy is common in patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases. No statistically significant association was found with trust in physicians, it was rather observed with level of education.

Assessment of Nutritional, Physiochemical, Antioxidant and Sensory Properties of Seasoning Powder Containing Asplenium unilaterale Lam

The current study used Asplenium unilaterale Lam. with a natural alternative to monosodium glutamate (MSG) , along with plant mixtures to develop a seasoning powder. Four formulations (2-8 w/w of A. unilaterale Lam.) were characterized. Furthermore, the nutritional, physiochemical, amino acid profiles, antioxidant, and sensory properties were determined. The ash and carbohydrate content differed significantly among the four seasoning powders containing different concentrations of A. unilaterale Lam. The protein content significantly increased in seasoning powders as the A. unilaterale Lam. content increased.. The developed products had a water activity range of 0.33–0.40, and the color value ranges, L*, a*, and b*, were 60.42–78.38, 1.14–4.53, and 8.49–13.81, respectively. High concentrations of the non-essential amino acids aspartic acid and glutamic acid were observed, causing an umami taste that increased with A. unilaterale Lam. content. The highest antioxidant properties were measured in the sample with added A. unilaterale Lam. content. The sensory scores in taste for Sample D (8 w/w of A. unilaterale Lam.) received the highest scores, but the overall acceptability of the samples did not significantly vary. Therefore, this seasoning powder potentially has flavor and nutritional properties that provide health benefits and could be used as an alternative plant-derived seasoning product.

Iron distribution and speciation in a 3D-printed hybrid food using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence and X-ray absorption spectroscopies

The bioavailability of iron from a food depends on its concentration and chemical form but also on dietary factors and nutrient interactions, which are affected by storage conditions and time. Here we investigated the time-course profile of iron in a hybrid 3D-printed food composed of alternating layers of liver and lentils after 0, 5, 7, 14 and 21 days of storage at 4 °C under oxygen or nitrogen packaging. Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence highlighted major variations in iron distribution in both the animal and plant parts of the food as a function of storage conditions. FeP and FeS positive spatial correlations pointed to iron-associated compounds. X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy showed spectral signatures specific to the animal and plant mixtures, and then highlighted interactions between animal and plant parts during food storage, with a change in iron forms in the plant part.

Natural dye plants in Sındırgı (Balıkesir, Turkey)

Between 2021 and 2023, ethnobotanical research was conducted to investigate the utilization of natural dye plants used in Sındırgı Yağcıbedir carpets, the techniques employed in natural dyeing, and the plant species from which wood materials for weaving are sourced. The primary goal of this research was to identfy the natural dye plants traditionally used by the people of Sındırgı district. Through interviews with local informants, traditional plant names, the plant parts utilized for dye extraction, the colors obtained, and the specific applications of these dyes were documented. The results revealed the usage of 11 plant species belonging to 10 families as sources of dyestuff. However, it was noted that one of these plant species is not of Anatolian origin and is employed in powdered form. Various plant parts such as roots, shoots, cupula, bark, and other above-ground components are employed in the dye extraction process, with one plant mixture identified for mordanting purposes.

In vitro-antibacterial properties of ten medicinal plants against common uropathogenic organisms and toxicity determination using brine shrimp lethality assay

BackgroundIn recent years, antibiotic resistance has emerged as a global health concern in bacterial infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs). Uropathogenic Escherichia coli is the most frequent organism responsible for both simple and complex UTIs. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are frequently associated with complicated UTIs. Sri Lanka has significant resources of medicinal plants used to cure UTIs in Ayurvedic and traditional medicine.MethodsAgar well diffusion and broth microdilution methods were used to determine the antibacterial activity of the methanolic extract of ten medicinal plants against P. aeruginosa ATCC27853, S.aureus ATCC25923, E.coli ATCC25922 and their UTI positive strains extracted from positive culture plates. As a preliminary toxicity assay, the Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay (BSLA) was used to determine its cytotoxicity.ResultsThe methanolic fruits extract of P. emblica demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity against both E. coli ATCC25922 and E. coli UTI-positive strains. B. diffusa roots extract exhibited the highest activity against S. aureus ATCC25923, while T. chebula fruits extract showed the highest activity against the S. aureus UTI-positive strain. T. involucrata roots extract displayed the highest activity against P. aeruginosa ATCC27853, and Z. officinale rhizomes extract showed the highest activity against the P. aeruginosa UTI-positive strain. Moreover, the plant mixture showed the most substantial antibacterial effect against P. aeruginosa ATCC27853. However, the methanolic seed extract of C. melo did not exhibit any antimicrobial effects against the selected organisms. All plant material, including the plant mixture, showed cytotoxicity according to the BSLA.ConclusionAll the methanolic extracts including P. emblica fruits, O. tenuiflorum whole plant, T. chebula fruits, Z. officinale rhizome, T. terrestris roots, T. involucrata roots, A. lanata whole plant. B. diffusa roots and A. falcatus roots showed antimicrobial effects against selected strains except C. melo seed extract. The results of the present study evidently supports the traditional and ayurvedic use of these plants for the treatment of UTIs. This paves the way for another praise for new plant-based therapeutic product development for the treatment of UTIs. However, further toxicity studies are needed for medicinal dose determination.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Determination of Pentacyclic Triterpenoid Concentrations in Additives for Animal Food.

The nutritional composition of food for animal production can be enhanced using olive tree and plant by-products due to their high content of bioactive compounds such as pentacyclic triterpenes. Here, we present a novel application of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for the prediction of the total or individual [maslinic acid (MA), oleanolic acid (OA), and uvaol (UO)] pentacyclic triterpene concentrations in a feed additive obtained from a plant mixture. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity of these types of samples demonstrated the existence of a high antioxidant capacity. The conventional determination methods of pentacyclic triterpene concentration are costly, labor-intensive, and not practical for analyzing several lines within a limited timeframe at the factory level. The optimal regression model developed in our work demonstrated high correlation values for the calibration and validation sets, along with a high residual prediction deviation value. We used 63 samples for the development of the model. The NIRS method can be applied directly to dried powder and makes extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis unnecessary. Our results also demonstrate that NIRS can accurately quantify pentacyclic triterpenes even at low concentrations in food additives. It can be used at the factory level to directly determine the pentacyclic triterpene concentrations in the additive powder at the same time that the powder is produced.

Development and Characterization of Hybrid Burgers Made from Pork and Multi-Ingredient Plant Mixtures and Protected with Lactic Acid Bacteria

Hybrid (meat–plant) products can be a sustainable response to the increased interest in flexitarianism. Their development requires designing appropriate composition and functional properties and ensuring microbiological safety. This study aimed to determine the influence of using various multi-ingredient plant mixtures and pork in different proportions and two recipe variants on the characteristics of baked burgers. Additionally, the impact of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) application on the microbiological quality of raw hybrid/plant burgers was assessed. All products were analyzed in terms of basic chemical composition (NIR spectroscopy) and physicochemical and textural properties (instrumental methods). The raw plant and hybrid burgers met the microbiological requirements. The baked burgers did not significantly differ in terms of their chemical composition, except for the fiber found in plant/hybrid samples. Moreover, the reformulation of burgers had no effect on their cooking yield or water activity. As the content of plant parts increased, the baked burgers were darker (lower L*) and had a more tender texture (lower shear force and penetration force). Overall, the multi-ingredient plant mixtures showed great potential in the development of high-quality hybrid burgers. However, the texture formed can, importantly, determine final consumer acceptance. Therefore, research should be continued, especially in terms of comprehensive textural and sensory analyses.