Raw Plant Research Articles

Characterization of Secondary Metabolites of Leaf Buds from Some Species and Hybrids of Populus by Gas Chromatography Coupled with Mass Detection and Two-Dimensional High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography Methods with Assessment of Their Antioxidant Activity.

Poplars provide medicinal raw plant materials used in pharmacy. Leaf buds are one of the herbal medicinal products collected from poplars, having anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, but there are no quality standards for their production and there is a need to determine their botanical sources. Therefore, the chemical compositions of the leaf buds from four species and varieties of poplars, Populus balsamifera, P. × berolinensis, P. × canadensis 'Marilandica', and P. wilsonii were investigated and compared using gas chromatography coupled with mass detection (GC-MS) and two-dimensional high-performance thin-layer chromatography (2D-HPTLC) in order to search for taxa characterized by a high content of biologically active compounds and with a diverse chemical composition that determines their therapeutic effects. The presence of 163 compounds belonging to the groups of flavonoids, phenolic acids derivatives, glycerides, and sesquiterpenes was revealed. Moreover, the conditions for the separation and identification of biologically active compounds occurring in analyzed leaf buds using 2D-HPTLC were optimized and used for metabolomic profiling of the studied poplars, enabling their fast and simple botanical identification. The total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents of examined extracts were determined and their antioxidant capacities were estimated by spectrophotometric DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Based on the analysis of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity, P. × berolinensis buds were selected as the raw plant material for medicinal purposes with the highest content of active compounds and the strongest antioxidant activity.

Wastewater Phytopurification Monitoring with Congolese Planted Filters, Republic of Congo

The present study aimed to evaluate the purifying power of two Congolese plant filters or emerging macrophytes EP-F (Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam) Hutch) and CA-F (Cyperus alternifolius L.) on wastewater coming from the Total market, the largest national market of Brazzaville in Congo. To do this, we set up an experimental device composed of gravel, fine sand and two plants. These plants were cultivated in an experimental pilot consisting of 8 tanks of 42,000 cm3 of wastewater at treat each one, in addition to 2 tanks used as controls. The purifying performance study of the system after 90 days of treatment showed a significant reduction in physical, organic and mineral pollution. Using the planted filter EP-F (Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam)Hutch), we obtain reduction rates of almost 100% for turbidity and for suspended matter (SM), 75.42% for COD, 76.5% for NH4+ ions, 99.5% for NO3- ions and 99.73% for PO43- ions. In the case of the CA-F (Cyperus alternifolius L) planted filter, we obtain reduction rates of almost 100% for turbidity and SM, 80.94% for COD, 93% for ions. NH4+, 89.11% for NO3- ions and 98.93% for PO43- ions. Furthermore, we also noted an increase in organic and mineral pollutants concentrations in the two plants compared to the raw plants before wastewater passage. This study showed that Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam) Hutch and Cyperus alternifolius L. are effective macrophyte filters to eliminate physical, organic and mineral pollution.

Eucalypt Extracts Prepared by a No-Waste Method and Their 3D-Printed Dosage Forms Show Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Activity.

The pharmaceutical industry usually utilizes either hydrophobic or hydrophilic substances extracted from raw plant materials to prepare a final product. However, the waste products from the plant material still contain biologically active components with the opposite solubility. The aim of this study was to enhance the comprehensive usability of plant materials by developing a new no-waste extraction method for eucalypt leaves and by investigating the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of eucalypt extracts and their 3D-printed dosage forms. The present extraction method enabled us to prepare both hydrophobic soft extracts and hydrophilic (aqueous) dry extracts. We identified a total of 28 terpenes in the hydrophobic soft extract. In the hydrophilic dry extract, a total of 57 substances were identified, and 26 of them were successfully isolated. The eucalypt extracts studied showed significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Corynebacterium diphtheriae gravis, and Corynebacterium diphtheriae mitis. The anti-inflammatory activity of the dry extract was studied using a formalin-induced-edema model in mice. The maximum anti-exudative effect of the dry extract was 61.5% at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Composite gels of polyethylene oxide (PEO) and eucalypt extract were developed, and the key process parameters for semi-solid extrusion (SSE) 3D printing of such gels were verified. The SSE 3D-printed preparations of novel synergistically acting eucalypt extracts could have uses in antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory medicinal applications.

Process design and techno-economic analysis of activated carbon derived from anthracite coal

Activated carbon (AC), renowned for its versatile applications in water treatment, air purification, and industrial processes, is a critical component in environmental remediation and resource recovery strategies. This study encompasses the process modeling of AC production using anthracite coal as a precursor, involving multiple activation stages at different operating conditions, coupled with a detailed techno-economic analysis aimed at assessing the operational feasibility and financial viability of the plant. The economic analysis explores the investigation of economic feasibility by performing a detailed cashflow and sensitivity analysis to identify key parameters influencing the plant's economic performance, including raw material and energy prices, operational and process parameters. Capital and operational costs are meticulously evaluated, encompassing raw material acquisition, labor, energy consumption, and equipment investment. Financial metrics like Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and payout period (POP) are employed, and the results show that AC selling price, raw material cost and plant capacity are the most influential parameters determining the plant's feasibility. The minimum AC production cost of 1.28 $/kg is obtained, corresponding to coal flow rate of 14,550 kg/h. These findings provide valuable insights for stakeholders, policymakers, and investors seeking to engage in activated carbon production from anthracite.

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS AND ANIMAL WELFARE

This article traces the professional historical trajectory of promoting health and well-being through investigations and interventions in environmental health, associated with education for university, intersectoral and interdisciplinary sustainability based on the vitalist philosophy of Samuel Hahnemann and determinations established by the Brazilian Ministry of Health . Scientific initiation activities developed rational skills for thinking aimed at solving local problems regarding sustainability with raw plant extracts and ultra-diluted and energized solutions for animal welfare. In parallel, there was the construction of competence in environmental ethics in line with the concept of environmental health, the new Brazilian code of medical ethics and the concept of one health. We declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Experimental support for a sustainable treatment strategy of acrylic fiber dyeing wastewater

AbstractThe study intended to devise a sustainable treatment scheme for acrylic fiber dyeing process effluents, which significantly differ from other textile plant wastewaters. The necessary experimental support was generated from a set of tests conducted on the wastewater of a plant operation, focused solely on acrylic fiber dyeing. Related experiments involved effluent characterization, biological treatability, and chemical settling/oxidation performed on raw and bio‐treated effluent, as pre‐treatment and/or polishing steps. A total COD level of 910 mg/L with a 70% soluble ratio, low total N and P contents below 10 mg/L, a detergent content of 50 mg/L and a dark/black color of 1150 Pt‐Co unit defined the average properties of the raw plant effluent. Experimental support indicated that activated sludge operation at a sludge age level above 25 d, remained insufficient as it could only provide an effluent with a soluble COD level above 150 mg/L, a biomass escape in the range of 40 to 100 mg/L and with an intense dark color. A similar experimental template, including chemical settling, chemical oxidation by NaOCl and combination of the two processes, was tested as pre‐treatment and a polishing step after biological treatment. Pre‐treatment, although with some benefit to remove toxic and inhibitory compounds, proved to be highly costly, due to excessive chemical usage and sludge generation for a sustainable, cost‐effective approach. The sequence of chemical oxidation and settling steps implemented as a polishing stage was quite effective as it secured complete color removal, a major source of concern for the selected wastewater and also, it reduced COD down to 60 mg/L, a level significantly below the residual COD threshold for biological treatment. This approach, although case‐specific for this study, provided a scientific and general perspective for similar work.

Effective plant virus enrichment using carbon nanotubes and microfluidics

Plant virus detection and identification in crops is a pillar for disease management, import of crop material, production of clean stock plants and basic plant virology studies. In this report, we present a platform for the enrichment and isolation of known or unknown viruses. This platform is based on carbon nanotube arrays inside a microfluidic device that can be a solution for the identification of low titer viruses from plants. Using our microfluidic devices, we achieved enrichment of two economically important viruses, the orthotospovirus, tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV) and the potyvirus, zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV). The carbon nanotube arrays integrated in these microfluidic devices are capable of trapping viruses discriminated by their size; the virus rich arrays can be then analyzed by common downstream techniques including immunoassays, PCR, HTS and electron microscopy. This procedure offers a simple to operate and portable sample preparation device capable of trapping viruses from raw plant extracts while reducing the host contamination.

An Overview of the Versatility of the Parts of the Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.), Its By-Products and Dietary Supplements.

Cynara scolymus, also known as the globe artichoke or artichoke, is grown as a food, mainly in the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, and Egypt, as well as in Asia and South America. It has also been associated with various health benefits and is used in plant-based dietary supplements and herbal infusions. Its edible parts, consisting of the head or capitula, flower, and leaves, have shown various biological activities, including anti-cancer, hepatoprotective and antimicrobial potential. The leaves are mainly used in infusions and extracts for their health-promoting properties, although all their edible parts may also be consumed as fresh, frozen, or canned foods. However, its primary health-promoting activity is associated with its antioxidant potential, which has been linked to its chemical composition, particularly its phenolic compounds (representing 96 mg of gallic acid equivalent per 100 g of raw plant material) and dietary fiber. The main phenolic compounds in the heads and leaves are caffeic acid derivatives, while the flavonoids luteolin and apigenin (both present as glucosides and rutinosides) have also been identified. In addition, heat-treated artichokes (i.e., boiled, steamed or fried), their extracts, and waste from artichoke processing also have antioxidant activity. The present paper reviews the current literature concerning the biological properties of different parts of C. scolymus, its by-products and dietary supplements, as well as their chemical content and toxicity. The literature was obtained by a search of PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, Web of Knowledge, ScienceDirect, and Scopus, with extra papers being identified by manually reviewing the references.

Bioaccessibility of Rosmarinic Acid and Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Co-Compounds in a Simulated Digestion Model-The Influence of the Endogenous Plant Matrix, Dose of Administration and Physicochemical and Biochemical Digestion Environment.

The objective of this study is to determine the effect of endogenous plant matrix components, dose and digestion-related factors on the bioaccessibility of rosmarinic acid and basil co-compounds in in vitro digestion conditions. Different forms of administration, i.e., basil raw plant material, dry extract, and isolated rosmarinic acid at various doses, were applied for the digestion experiment. To evaluate the contribution of biochemical and physicochemical digestion factors, samples were subjected to a full digestion process or treated only with a digestion fluid electrolyte composition without using biochemical components (i.e., digestion enzymes and bile salts), and bioaccessibility was monitored at the gastric and intestinal steps of digestion. The results showed that the components of the endogenous raw plant matrix significantly limited the bioaccessibility of rosmarinic acid and basil co-compounds, especially at the gastric stage of digestion. Physicochemical digestion factors were mainly responsible for the bioaccessibility of basil phytochemicals. Higher doses allowed maintenance of bioaccessibility at a relatively similar level, whereas the most negative changes in bioaccessibility were induced by the lowest doses. In conclusion, the determination of the bioaccessibility of bioactive phytochemicals from basil and factors influencing bioaccessibility may help in better prediction of the pro-health potential of this plant.

Evaluation of the Content of Minerals, B-Group Vitamins, Tocols, and Carotenoids in Raw and In-House Cooked Wild Edible Plants

Notwithstanding the increased interest in wild edible plants, little is known on how some domestic thermal processes can affect their content. The aim of this study was to investigate the amounts of minerals, B1 and B2 vitamins, tocols, and carotenoids in raw, boiled, and steamed wild edible plants, namely, Sonchus asper (L.) Hill s.l., Sonchus oleraceus L., Cichorium intybus L., and Beta vulgaris L. var cicla. All vegetables were confirmed as high sources of lutein (from 6 to 9 mg/100 g) and β-carotene (from 2 to 5 mg/100 g). Quite high amounts of violaxanthin and neoxanthin were found. Alfa-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol were the main tocols, with same contents in raw and processed vegetables (about 2.5 mg/100 g). The most abundant macro element and trace element were, respectively, potassium and iron. B1 and B2 vitamins were found in low amounts in almost all plants, with the exception of thiamine in Beta vulgaris (about 1.6 mg/100 g). Boiling led to a significant loss of minerals (up to 60%) and B-group vitamins (up to 100%), while, among carotenoids, it only affected violaxanthin levels (up to 90%). Steamed vegetables showed only a slight reduction, about 20%, in β-carotene and lutein, with a marked decrease in violaxanthin and neoxanthin. One hundred grams of all fresh and cooked plants can be claimed as a source of vitamin A and E.

Improving feedstock quality control in formaldehyde-based resin and wood-based panel production through near infrared spectroscopy

To assure the quality control of industrial processes, it is important to adopt reproducible and efficient methodologies. Spectroscopic methods, such as near infrared (NIR), are a good option as they are fast and may be used to indirectly estimate multiple physicochemical properties. In this study, NIR spectra of key feedstock samples used in the production of formaldehyde-based resin and wood-based panels, namely urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, sodium hydroxide, and acetic acid, were acquired. Multivariate data analysis was applied to establish the correlation between the spectra and the properties being measured. Quantitative models were then created using partial least squares regression to predict the concentrations of feedstock samples. This study presents quantitative models that were created by combining spectra measured on two probes, which achieved similar prediction results as single-probe based models. The performances of the best models were compared with the reference methods for each of the evaluated samples. For the samples under study, the proposed approach is suitable for routine analysis across multiple equipment configurations using the same quantitative model. NIR spectroscopy combined with chemometric models could be a valuable complement to support in-line raw material monitoring and plant digitalization in the wood panels industry.

Akurasi Data Curah Hujan Satelit Terhadap Data Pengukuran di Daerah Tangkapan Air (DTA) Waduk Sutami

Sutami Reservoir that located in the Brantas River Basin is a multi-purpose reservoir, it’s used to provide of raw water, irrigation, flood control, and power plants, fish farm, and tourism. Rainfall data information is very important in hydrological analysis as the basis for determining operating patterns, water balances, and calculating sediment rates. Rainfall data that is recorded in a row can show us trends or the nature of rain, but in reality it is very difficult to obtain representative rainfall observation data, both in terms of quality and length of observation data, which is quite in accordance with what is required in several locations, it is very difficult due to the absence of rain stations or broken gauges. Therefore, by taking advantage of technological advances, it is necessary to analyze the accuracy of rainfall data via satellite (GPM V6 and TRMM 3B43 V7) as an alternative to using rainfall data to fill data shortages at certain locations. The results of the analysis of the two satellite rainfall data (GPM V6 and TRMM 3B43 V7) are based on the Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) parameters, Root Mean Square Errror (RMSE), Real Error (KR), Correlation Coefficient (R) can be used as an alternative to rainfall data, with satellite rainfall data GPM V6 has better accuracy and performance with average value of NSE 0,8, RMSE 66,46, KR 21,63%, R 0,92.

Determination of polyphenolic compounds in raw plant materials by NMR spectroscopy

Environmental monitoring and assessment of the prospects for extracting biologically active substances (BAS) from various types of plant biomass requires the development of simple and fast methods for measuring their content in raw materials. For this purposes massspectrometry and NMR spectroscopy are widely used. Both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. But NMR spectroscopy is a nondestructive method and requires simple sample preparation. In addition, quantitative studies using NMR spectroscopy do not require authentic standard samples. We have developed various techniques for targeted metabolomic analysis of plant origin samples using NMR spectroscopy, including: determination of anthraquinone derivatives in extracts from roots and rhizomes of Rubia tinctorum L., determination of diosmin in Hyssopus officinalis L., determination glucofrangulin A in extracts from leaves of Rhamnus frangula L.

Mining raw plant transcriptomic data for new cyclopeptide alkaloids.

In recent years, genome and transcriptome mining have dramatically expanded the rate of discovering diverse natural products from bacteria and fungi. In plants, this approach is often more limited due to the lack of available annotated genomes and transcriptomes combined with a less consistent clustering of biosynthetic genes. The recently identified burpitide class of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP) natural products offer a valuable opportunity for bioinformatics-guided discovery in plants due to their short biosynthetic pathways and gene encoded substrates. Using a high-throughput approach to assemble and analyze 700 publicly available raw transcriptomic data sets, we uncover the potential distribution of split burpitide precursor peptides in Streptophyta. Metabolomic analysis of target plants confirms our bioinformatic predictions of new cyclopeptide alkaloids from both known and new sources.

Oral allergy syndrome (OAS)

The pollen-food allergy syndrome, also known as oral allergy syndrome, is characterized by local reactions in the mouth and throat after consuming certain raw plant foods in individuals sensitized to pollen from grass, weeds, and trees. Birch-apple is the prototype of this syndrome, with apple, pear, and plum being the most commonly associated foods. Symptoms are usually limited to the oral cavity but can include systemic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Sensitization to pollen allergens, such as lipid transfer proteins, profilin, and PR-10 proteins, triggers this syndrome. Its prevalence varies by geographic region and the predominant pollen type, affecting between 30% and 60% of food allergies. Diagnosis involves a clinical history, skin tests, and, in ambiguous cases, double-blind, placebo-controlled oral food challenges. Treatment primarily involves avoiding trigger foods.

Ethnobotanically important plants with piscicidal properties used for traditional fishing in Chirang district of Assam, Northeast India

The use of certain plant species in traditional fishing for their piscicidal or stupefying effect is widespread among many fishing communities in northeast India. Plant poisoning is one such traditional method for fishing practised in the Chirang district of Assam in northeast India. This paper identifies six different species of plants (Polygonum hydropiper, Spilanthes paniculate, Parthenium hysterophorus, Alistonia scholaris, Albizia procera, Ageratum conyzoides) belonging to four different families (Asteraceae, Apocynaceae, Fabaceae and Polygonaceae) which are used as natural poison for capturing fishes in the study area. Maximum number of species (50%) was recorded in family Asteraceae while the remaining families recorded one species each. The most common mode of application was in the form of a grounded paste or an aqueous extract while in some cases the raw plant itself were used. All of these plant toxins were reported to probably affect the swimming and respiration of the fish on application. However, detail mechanism of their toxic action needs to be evaluated fully. This study has identified some potent natural piscicidal plants which may be further investigated for widespread application in aquaculture and allied industry.

Open set recognition fault diagnosis framework based on convolutional prototype learning network for nuclear power plants

As an Open Set Recognition (OSR) problem, nuclear power plant fault diagnosis requires not only the correct classification of known faults, but also the effective identification of unknown faults, which cannot be satisfied by most previously developed models. In this study, a novel nuclear power plant OSR fault diagnosis framework based on Convolutional Prototype Learning (CPL) is proposed, in which CPL is used to extract discriminative fault features from raw nuclear power plant data. Besides, two classification methods, One-Class Support Vector Machine (OCSVM) method and Prototype Matching by Distance (PMD) method, are developed to complete the fault diagnosis of open space for the framework. To verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed OSR framework, numerical experiments on 24 OSR tasks with high-dimensional and strong-nonlinear complex nuclear power plant simulation data are conducted, and the OSR performance evaluate by normalized accuracy and Youden's index, feature visualization and convergence rates are analyzed. Results show that compared with adopting traditional Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), the proposed CPL-based framework can significantly boost the OSR diagnostic performance on nuclear power plant fault diagnosis tasks, which benefits from the excellent ability of CPL to extract intra-class compact and inter-class separable feature representation.

MICROSCOPICAL TESTS FOR MELILOTI HERBA

Yellow melilot, Melilotus officinalis, belongs to the Fabaceae family. It is abundantly found in Romania. The microscopic analysis of plant material from herbal tea was carried out in the current study. Microscopic evaluation based on the characteristic features of cells, calcium oxalate crystals, trichomes, fibres, vessels, etc. is useful in the initial identification of herbs, as well as for the detection of adulterants, followed by chemical qualitative and quantitative analysis of the raw plant material.

СРАВНИТЕЛЬНЫЙ МОРФОЛОГО-АНАТОМИЧЕСКИЙ АНАЛИЗ ЦВЕТКОВ ЯБЛОНИ ЯГОДНОЙ И ДОМАШНЕЙ

At the stage of the analysis of scientific literature, the authors revealed the presence of publications characterizing the wide interest of researchers in the new medicinal plant raw apple blossoms of different types and varieties. The data confirming the presence of phenolic substances in the raw materials (coffee, cinnamon, m-coumaric, p-coumaric, ferulic, 4-hydroxybenzoic, salicylic, synaptic, syringic, vanilla and gallic acids) and flavonoid components (apigenin, isoquercitrin, luteolin, quercetin, quercitrin and rutin) were obtained. In the Russian Federation there is a significant stock of both wild and cultivated apple species, among which the domestic apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh.) and the berry apple tree (Malus baccata (L.) Borkh) are of scientific interest. Taking into account the lack of scientific information aimed at standardization of new raw materials, the authors analyzed the external and microscopic signs of apple and berry flowers dried by isothermal drying, as well as frozen. The analysis of external signs was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the OFS.1.5.1.0004.15 Flowers, microdiagnostic analysis was performed according to OFS.1.5.3.0003.15 Technique of microscopic and microchemical research of medicinal plant raw materials and medicinal plant preparations. Morphological features related to the size of flowers and the structure of sepals were revealed during microdiagnostic examination, diagnostic signs common to both species were revealed, as well as specific for each specific species. The general ones include the tortuosity of the epidermis, the type of stomatal apparatus, the presence of essential oil glands, as well as numerous sinuous simple hairs. Also common features are a significant number of calcium oxalate inclusions represented by druses and prismatic crystals. A specific feature of the berry apple tree is the presence of glands on multicellular legs along the edge of the stipule. The results of the work can be displayed in the relevant sections of the regulatory documentation being developed

A Review on Antidiabetic Activity of Indian Medicinal Plant

Diabetes mellitus is one of the common metabolic disorders acquiring around 9.3% of adults worldwide in 2019.Since long back herbal medicines have been the highly esteemed source of medicine therefore, they have become a growing part of modern, high-tech medicine. In view of the above aspects the present review provides profiles of plants (65 species) with hypoglycemic properties, available through literature source from various database with proper categorization according to the parts used, mode of reduction in blood glucose (insulin mimetic or insulin secretagogues activity) and activephytoconstituents having insulin mimetics activity. The treatment of diabetes is mainly based on the long-term use of pharmacological agents, often expensive and causing unpleasant side effects. There is an alarming increase in the number of pharmaceuticals taken in Europe. The aim of this paper is to concisely collect information concerning the few antidiabetic or hypoglycemic raw plant materials that are present in the consciousness of Indian and relatively easily accessible to them on the market and sometimes even grown on Indian plantations.The following raw materials are discussed in this mini-reviewBoerhaavia diffusa Linn. (Nyctaginaceae),Annona squamosa Linn. (Annonaceae),Bougainvillea spectabilis Linn. (Nyctaginaceae),Cassia kleinii Wight & Arn. (Caesalpiniaceae),Coscinium fenestratum Colebr. (Menispermaceae),Ficus hispida Linn. (Moraceae),Murraya koenigii Linn. (Rutaceae),White Mulberry (Morus alba L.), Acacia arabica: (Babhul), Aegle marmelos: (Bengal Quince, Bel or Bilva), Allium cepa: (onion), Allium sativum: (garlic), Aloe vera and Aloe barbadensis, Azadirachta indica: (Neem), Eugenia jambolana: (Indian gooseberry, jamun), Mangifera indica: (Mango), Momordica charantia: (bitter gourd), Ocimum sanctum: (holy basil).