Sarcopoterium Research Articles

Analysis of landscape structure changes in Marmara Lake and its surrounding area using remote sensing data

This study investigates temporal changes in the landscape structure of Lake Marmara (Gölmarmara, Manisa, Türkiye), a designated bird sanctuary and registered wetland, over 10 years period using remote sensing techniques. The analysis employed the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) on satellite imagery from 2015 and 2024, processed through the ArcGIS/ArcMap software, to assess landscape metrics within the study area. The Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) was also utilized to evaluate the interactions between the water body, wetlands, and their surroundings. The findings were further supported by surface temperature analysis (STA) and comparative data. NDVI analysis revealed a 39.38% reduction in the Lake Marmara water body, an 11.09% decrease in forested areas, and an 8.28% decline in tree/shrub areas over 10 years. The dominant tree species in the forest vegetation was Pinus brutia, while other prevalent species included Quercus coccifera, Cistus creticus, Pistacia terebinthus, Pistacia lentiscus, Arbutus andrachne, Arbutus unedo, Olea europaea, Erica arborea, Phillyrea latifolia, and Sarcopoterium spinosum. Conversely, residential areas expanded by 21.21%, and agricultural areas increased by 4.11%. NDWI analysis indicated a 14.46% reduction in moderately dry areas and a 41.92% increase in dry areas. Furthermore, surface temperature data showed an increase over the 10 years. This study is expected to contribute significantly to the field by providing insights into sustainable land use and planning strategies. It offers a comprehensive perspective on wetland management and conservation of biological diversity by elucidating the temporal and spatial relationships between wetlands and their environment, considering both ecological and anthropogenic factors.

The effects of shrub encroachment on arthropod communities depend on grazing history

Unsustainable grazing is a major driver of biodiversity loss worldwide. Conservation actions such as grazing exclusion are effective strategies for halting such decline. However, we still know little how the long-term impact of grazing exclusion depends on plant–animal interactions such as those between encroaching unpalatable shrubs and ground arthropods. Here, we assessed how encroaching, unpalatable shrub species (Sarcopoterium spinosum) mediates the effects of grazing exclusion on the recovery of arthropod communities. We used a large-scale, long-term (15–25 years) grazing exclusion experiment complemented with local-scale treatments that consider the presence or absence of shrubs. We found that halting overgrazing supported the recovery of biodiversity in the long-term. Notably, the impacts of shrubs on arthropod diversity vary with grazing history. Shrubs decreased arthropod abundance by three folds, affecting particularly flies, butterflies, hymenopteran, and beetles in protected areas. Yet, shrubs had positive effects on animal diversity, particularly centipedes and millipeds in grazed areas. On the one hand, shrubs may enhance biodiversity recovery in overgrazed systems; on the other hand, shrubs may be detrimental in protected areas, in the absence of grazing. Understanding how plant–animal interactions vary with historical land-use change is key for biodiversity conservation and recovery and for integrated management of agroecosystems.

Polyphenol-enriched extracts of Sarcopoterium spinosum fruits for counteracting lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in an in vitro model of hepatic steatosis

Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach is a Rosaceae shrub employed in the folk medicine in the Eastern Mediterranean basin. The previous few studies have focused on the S. spinosum roots, while the fruits have been poorly investigated. The present study aims to assess the biological properties of S. spinosum fruits collected in Lebanon and subjected to ethanolic, water or boiling water extraction. The extracts were compared for the phenol and flavonoid contents, and for the in vitro radical scavenging ability. The ethanolic extract (SEE) was selected and characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) showing a phenolome rich in tannins (ellagitannins), flavonoids (quercetin derivatives), and triterpenes. The biological activity of SEE was tested on a cellular model of moderate steatosis consisting of lipid-loaded hepatic cells treated with increasing concentrations of SEE (1–25 μg/mL), or with corilagin or quercetin as comparison. In steatotic hepatocytes the SEE was able (i) to ameliorate the hepatosteatosis; (ii) to counteract the excess ROS and lipid peroxidation; (iii) to restore the impaired catalase activity. The results indicate that the ethanolic extract from S. spinosum fruits is endowed with relevant antisteatotic and antioxidant activities and might find application as nutraceutical product.

The presence of native aromatic species in understorey plant communities predicts reduced infestation by olive fruit flies in olive orchards on Lesvos Island

AbstractThe olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) (Rossi) is the most economically important insect pest in many olive cultivation areas worldwide. However, levels of infestation by this pest show remarkable variability, even among orchards in close proximity to one another. While the factors driving this variability remain uncertain, there is evidence that the presence of native plants species can influence pest populations in agro‐ecosystems via various mechanisms, suggesting that variation in the composition of understorey plant communities might plausibly play a role. In this study, we first used field trapping and plant community surveys to explore the effect of the native understorey plants Cistus creticus (Cistaceae), Lavandula stoechas (Lamiaceae), Origanum onites (Lamiaceae) and Sarcopoterium spinosum (Rosaceae) on the abundance of B. oleae across 40 olive orchards on Lesvos Island (Greece). These four plant species are widely spread in many olive orchards. Our results revealed a relationship between the plant community and the intensity of flies captured in McPhail traps, and identified the plant species C. creticus and S. spinosum whose presence was negatively correlated with fly abundance (estimate = −0.047, −0.091, respectively). The subsequent laboratory behavioural experiments revealed that exposure to olfactory cues from C. creticus and S. spinosum reduced fly attraction to odours from the olive host (Olea europaea) by 10%. These results thus reveal a relationship between the infestation levels by B. oleae and the composition of the plant community in olive orchards on Lesvos and suggest a plausible mechanism via which olfactory cues from native aromatic species might influence fly recruitment. More generally, these findings highlight the potentially important role of understorey communities in mediating resistance to B. oleae and other agricultural pests.

Green synthesis of graphene quantum dot- and its electrochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities

The present work reports the synthesis of graphene quantum dots with a green approach. Graphene quantum dots (ssGQDs) were synthesized via Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach. fruit powder extract. The prepared ssGQDs were characterized by UV-Vis Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Malvern Zeta Sizer. The electrochemical activity of ssGQDs was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential puls voltammetry (DPV) methods. The synthesized ssGQDs were used to prepare electrosensor and tested for the electrochemical determination of dopamine. DPV studies showed a low detection limit of 0.107 μM over a wide linear concentration range of 10–800 μM. Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of synthesized ssGQDs were also investigated. The results showed that ssGQDs exhibited different antibacterial activity on Gram (+), Gram (-) bacterial strains and antifungal activity against fungal strains. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging methods were used to examine the antioxidant activity of ssGQDs and were found to be effective.

Determination of the Total Phenolics Content and Antioxidant Activity of Extracts from Parts of Plants from the Greek Island of Crete.

Oxidative damages are responsible for many adverse health effects and food deterioration. The use of antioxidant substances is well renowned, and as such, much emphasis is placed on their use. Since synthetic antioxidants exhibit potential adverse effects, plant-derived antioxidants are a preferable solution. Despite the myriads of plants that exist and the fact that numerous studies have been carried out so far, there are many species that have not been examined so far. Many plants under research exist in Greece. Trying to fill this research gap, the total phenolics content and antioxidant activity of seventy methanolic extracts from parts of Greek plants were evaluated. The total phenolics content was measured by the Folin-Ciocalteau assay. Their antioxidant capacity was calculated by the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging test, the Rancimat method based on conductometric measurements, and the thermoanalytical method DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry). The tested samples were obtained from several parts of fifty-seven Greek plant species belonging to twenty-three different families. Both a remarkably high phenolic content (with gallic acid equivalents varying between 311.6 and 735.5 mg/g of extract) and radical scavenging activity (IC50 values ranged from 7.2 to 39.0 μg/mL) were found in the extract of the aerial parts of Cistus species (C. creticus subsp. creticus, C. creticus subsp. eriocephalus, C. monspeliensis, C. parviflorus and C. salviifolius), Cytinus taxa (C. hypocistis subsp. hypocistis, C. hypocistis subsp. orientalis and C. ruber), and Sarcopoterium spinosum. Furthermore, the sample of Cytinus ruber showed the highest protection factor (PF = 1.276) regarding the Rancimat method, which was similar to that of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (PF = 1.320). The results indicated that these plants are rich in antioxidant compounds, potentiating their use either as food additives to enhance the antioxidant properties of food products, or protect them from oxidation, or as sources for the preparation of food supplements with antioxidant properties.

Effects of Prickly Burnet (Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach.) Control and Sheep Grazing on Hay Yield and Quality on Gökçeada Island, Turkey.

(1) Background: The effects of prickly burnet (Sarcopoterium spinosum) control measures (pulling out, burning and cutting) and grazing on the botanical composition, grazeable dry matter (GDM) yield and nutritional values of rangeland were investigated on Imbros Island (Turkey) in 2010-2013. (2) Methods: The rangeland was grazed by Imbros sheep during the last year of the experiment. About 0.15 ha of rangeland was allocated to each sheep and five sheep were placed in each plot. Grazing was continuous throughout the year. (3) Results: Shrub levels decreased by 50-60% due to pulling out, burning and cutting in the first year and herbaceous species increased. Forbs increased more in the pulled and burnt plots and grasses increased more in the cut plots. In the third year, the shrub level increased to 60-65% and herbaceous species decreased. The decrease in herbaceous species was observed mostly in forbs. Plant cover was mostly (58%) composed of annual species. Development decreased plant cover ratios, but this decrease ceased in the burnt plot in the third year. Grazing also reduced plant cover. Crude protein (CP), NDF, ADF and digestible dry matter (DDM) content did not vary significantly over the experimental period. CP and DDM increased, NDF decreased and ADF did not change in the development plots. Overall, significant differences were not observed in GDM yield and nutritional values due to development efforts (pulling out, burning and cutting). (4) Conclusions: However, cutting is difficult over stony and rough terrain and pulling out creates erosion on sloping surfaces. Therefore, burning is recommended over the entire rangeland and burning or pulling out is recommended over smooth terrain for the temporary control of S. spinosum.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of plants grown in the Mediterranean region

AbstractBackgroundThe main objective of this research was to identify plant species with possible bioactivities based on their total phenol content, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Therefore, different parts of 42 plant species grown in the Mediterranean region were extracted with aqueous ethanol solutions to prepare extracts with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, mainly resulting from their total phenol contents. No detailed laboratory data on the flora of this area exists regarding their total phenol contents and total antioxidant activities.ResultsYields of extraction for each plant material were determined. Extracts were characterized based on their total phenol contents, total antioxidant (both hydrophilic and lipophilic), and antimicrobial activities using Folin–Ciocalteu, Photochemiluminescence, disc diffusion, and microdilution methods, respectively. The extract of Hypericum empetrifolium had the relatively highest total water‐soluble and lipid‐soluble antioxidant activities. Sarcopoterium spinosum extract had relatively high total phenol content. Preliminary screening study was conducted with the disc diffusion method to evaluate the extracts' antimicrobial activities. 26 out of 42 plant species showed significant antimicrobial activities against the growth of microorganisms. Microdilution assays were performed to evaluate the most active plant species with their minimum inhibition concentrations. H. empetrifolium, Pistacia terebinthus, Arbutus unedo, and Cistus parviflorus were the most antimicrobial plant species among those investigated.CONCLUSIONThe new potential sources for the isolation of bioactive natural compounds from specific plant species could be possible with the help of this present screening study. Isolated bioactive natural compounds can be utilized as raw materials in cosmetics, nutraceuticals, food supplements, and pharmaceutical industries.

Integration of the Connectivity Map and Pathway Analysis to Predict Plant Extract's Medicinal Properties-The Study Case of Sarcopoterium spinosum L.

Medicinal properties of plants are usually identified based on knowledge of traditional medicine or using low-throughput screens for specific pharmacological activities. The former is very biased since it requires prior knowledge of plants’ properties, while the latter depends on a specific screening system and will miss medicinal activities not covered by the screen. We sought to enrich our understanding of the biological activities of Sarcopoterium spinosum L. root extract based on transcriptome changes to uncover a plurality of possible pharmacological effects without the need for prior knowledge or functional screening. We integrated Gene Set Enrichment Analysis of the RNAseq data to identify pathways affected by the treatment of cells with the extract and perturbational signatures in the CMAP database to enhance the validity of the results. Activities of signaling pathways were measured using immunoblotting with phospho-specific antibodies. Mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed using JC-1 staining. SARS-CoV-2-induced cell killing was assessed in Vero E6 and A549 cells using an MTT assay. Here, we identified transcriptome changes following exposure of cultured cells to the medicinal plant Sarcopoterium spinosum L. root extract. By integrating algorithms of GSEA and CMAP, we confirmed known anti-cancer activities of the extract and predicted novel biological effects on oxidative phosphorylation and interferon pathways. Experimental validation of these pathways uncovered strong activation of autophagy, including mitophagy, and excellent protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our study shows that gene expression analysis alone is insufficient for predicting biological effects since some of the changes reflect compensatory effects, and additional biochemical tests provide necessary corrections. This study defines the advantages and limitations of transcriptome analysis in predicting the biological and medicinal effects of the Sarcopoterium spinosum L. extract. Such analysis could be used as a general approach for predicting the medicinal properties of plants.

Evaluation of the Antibacterial and Antioxidant properties of the Methanolic extracts of four Medicinal plants selected from Wadi Al-Karak, Jordan related to their Phenolic contents

In this study, the methanolic extracts from four medicinal plants (Sarcopoterium spinosum, Paronychia argentea, Inula viscosa, and Achillea fragrantissima) were tested in vitro for antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The antibacterial properties of these MPEs were assessed using disc diffusion and Serial dilution techniques. The antioxidant properties were evaluated by DPPH and FRAP methods. The total phenolic compounds were measured according to Folin-Ciocalteu method. Differences were found among the tested plants in their antibacterial and antioxidant properties as well as the phenolic content. Among the four plants, I. viscosa revealed the highest antibacterial effects against all bacterial species under examination followed by S. spinosum. Gram-positive bacteria showed higher susceptibility to the MPEs than Gram-negative bacteria. Antioxidant capacity and polyphenolic content investigations revealed that S. spinosum and I. viscosa have the highest antioxidant activities and the highest amount of phenolic compounds. Moreover, a strong positive linear correlation was found between antioxidant activity and total phenolic content. In conclusion, the MPEs of I. viscosa and S. spinosum have been proven to have good antibacterial and antioxidant activities which were highly related to their contents of phenolic compounds. These plant extracts could be interesting sources for natural antibacterial and antioxidant agents.

The impact of geomorphology on groundwater recharge in a semi-arid mountainous area

The impact of geomorphological structures on rainwater infiltration and groundwater recharge in the mountainous terrain of a semi-arid region was studied in the southern part of the Judean Western Mountain Aquifer (WMA) in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The study was conducted in two main typical geomorphological landscape units which include exposed rock outcrops on the hillslope, and human-made agricultural soil terraces in a first-order stream channel. We measured rainwater infiltration through the unsaturated zone in the two geomorphological setups using vadose zone monitoring systems (VMS), that enabled continuous tracking of rainwater percolation and tracer transport through the unsaturated zone with respect to the rain patterns.The results from three years of continuous monitoring of water percolation through the unsaturated zone indicated a quick and intense percolation pattern in the rocky terrain compared to that measured in the deep soil of the terrace. The precipitation patterns, as reflected from the rain distribution and intensities, appeared to have a significant impact on deep water percolation and ultimately on groundwater recharge. In the rocky terrain, rain events of high intensity, even during drought years of low cumulative precipitation, resulted in deep water infiltration, which ultimately turned into groundwater recharge. On the other hand, infiltration through deep soils, as prevailed in terraces, valleys, and high plains, was found to be very limited, subjected to intense evaporation and ultimately result by reduced groundwater recharge. It appears that the value of annual cumulative precipitation is of a lower importance to groundwater recharge while high rain intensity is the most dominant factor responsible for deep water infiltration.Tracer migration patterns in the unsaturated zone revealed that precipitation on the rock outcrops promotes the generation of local runoff that rapidly drains into the subsurface through infiltration hot spots. It has been observed that these hot spots are often marked by prickly burnet shrubs (Sarcopoterium spinosum), which thrive year-round on the water abundancy in the soil pockets beneath the impervious rock on land surface. An important outcome of this study is the suggested strong coupling between geomorphological features and groundwater recharge. Application of variable infiltration functions to the different geomorphological characteristics of each terrain may improve groundwater recharge models. Climate changes in recent years, expected to lead to decreased annual precipitations and increased evaporation in parallel with an increase in rainfall intensities in the semi-arid mountainous areas of the eastern Mediterranean. Yet according to our results, the expected increase in rain intensity may actually result in an increase in groundwater recharge.

Potential Applications of Sarcopoterium Spinosum as Medicinal Plants: Overview and Future Trends

Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) sp., is a common plant in the Mediterranean region. Over the years, S.spinosum has been used as a remedy for many diseases. One of the most known medicinal uses of the S.spinosum is the remedy for type II diabetes. Early studies were more focused on the extraction and characterization of the S.spinosum. Few pentacyclic triterpenoids were identified in S. spinosum such as tormentic acid and ursolic acid. Due to the presence of these triterpenoids, antidiabetic, anticancer, and hepatoprotective properties of the S.spinosum have been investigated in the literature. And these studies revealed the various health benefits of the S.spinosum extract. While gathering the studies for this review it was seen that the effect of isolated triterpenes is preferred rather than crude extract. For this reason, studies carried out with both crude extract and the isolated molecules were summarized. The objective of this work is to provide a starting point for possible health applications for S.spinosum. This review could provide a summary of these studies on Sarcopoterium spinosum’s health benefits and its possible applications.

Impact of wastewater discharge on the plant diversity, community structure and heavy metal pollution of range plants in eastern Saudi Arabia

The main objectives of this study were to determine the floristic composition of the vegetation cover and to find the effects of wastewater pollution on the plant community structure in eastern Saudi Arabia. 28 stands which were distributed among polluted and unpolluted sites, were chosen for this study. A total of 42 plant species were recorded (14 in the polluted and 28 in the unpolluted sites). The recorded plants comprised of 13 perennial plant species and 29 annual plant species. Seven vegetation communities were determined using TWINSPAN and DCA classification and ordination techniques. Three in the polluted sites, two in the unpolluted sites and the remaining two were mixed communities. The (Sarcopoterium spinosum – Pistacia len‐tiscus) community in the polluted sites, had the highest values of soil moisture, salinity, sulphate, calcium and potassium. On the other hand, Juniperus phoenicea – Olea europaea community in the unpolluted site, had the lowest value of organic matter, salinity and magnesium. In respect of genetic diversity, the community of Foeniculum vulgare - Nicotiana glauca in the unpolluted site, was the most diverse, while Ricinus communis - Chrysanthemum coronarium in the polluted sites was the least one. Both soil and wastewater heavy metal analysis indicated that Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu and Ni concentrations in the polluted sites were significantly higher than those in the unpolluted ones. The impact of wastewater discharge led to the appearance of new invasive plant species that may significantly affect plant diversity and community structure in eastern Saudi Arabia. Finally wastewater discharge in open rangelands could adversely affect the growth of plant species in the rangelands and thus adversely affect plant community structure and diversity.

The role of brush encroachment in Mediterranean ecosystems: a review

Abstract Encroachment of woody plants into grasslands and subsequent brush management are among the most prominent changes occurring in arid and semiarid ecosystems over the past century. The reduced number of farms, the abandonment of marginal land and the decline of traditional farming practices have led to encroachment of the woody and shrubby components into grasslands. This phenomenon, specifically in the Mediterranean region, which is followed by a reduction in herbage production, biodiversity and increased fire risk, is generally considered an undesirable process. Sarcopoterium spinosum has had great success in the eastern Mediterranean as a colonizer and dominant bush species on a wide variety of sites and climatic conditions. In the Mediterranean dehesa, the high magnitude and intensity of shrub encroachment effects on pastures and on tree production were shown to be dependent on temporal variation. Accordingly, there are attempts to transform shrublands into grassland-woodland matrices by using different techniques. The main management interventions that are commonly used include grazing, woodcutting, shrub control with herbicides or by mechanical means, amelioration of plant mineral deficits in the soil, and fire. However, the effects of these various treatments on the shrubs under diverse environmental conditions were found to be largely context-specific. As such, the most efficient option for suppressing encroachment of shrubs is combining different interventions. Appropriate management of grazing, periodic control of the shrub component, and occasional soil nutrient amelioration can lead to the development of attractive open woodland with a productive herbaceous understory that provides a wider range of ecological services.

In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Secondary Metabolites Present in Sarcopoterium Spinosum L.

Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) is a medicinal plant traditionally used for the treatment of various diseases including cancer in the Near- and Middle East. The fractions and constituents of the ethanol extract of S. spinosum were screened for in vitro cytotoxic activities on Jurkat (acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia), HeLa (cervical adenocarcinoma), MCF-7 (mammary gland adenocarcinoma), Caco-2 (human colorectal adenocarcinoma), and MDA-MB-231 (mammary gland adenocarcinoma) cell lines using the MTT (3-(dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The ethanol extract was subsequently re-extracted with ethyl acetate and in its sub-fraction obtained by column chromatography three compounds (stachydrine, benzalkonium chloride and rutine) were the first time identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. The most active subfraction showed cytotoxic activity against HeLa, MCF-7, and Caco-2 cell lines. The three compounds mentioned, as standards of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) quality, were studied individually and in combination. Cytotoxic activity observed might be due to the presence of benzalkonium chloride and rutin. Benzalkonium chloride showed the strongest growth suppression effect against HeLa cells (IC50 8.10−7 M) and MCF-7 cells (IC50 5.10−6 M). The mixture of stachydrine and benzalkonium chloride allowed a synergistic cytotoxic effect against all tested cancer and normal cells to be obtained. Anti-cancer activity of the plant extract of S. spinosum remains under-investigated, so this research describes how the three major compounds identified in the ethyl acetate extract can exert a significant dose dependent in vitro cytotoxicity.

Close association between flowering time and aridity gradient for Sarcopoterium spinosum in Israel

The climate gradient in the southeast Mediterranean region offers an opportunity to associate local conditions with adaptive inter-population phenotypic variability. In a common garden experiment, we monitored flowering time and plant biomass in Sarcopoterium spinosum (Rosaceae) representing plant populations along an aridity gradient that in nature differ according to two environmental parameters: elevation and temperature regime. As a significant correlation was found between elevation and the average winter and summer temperatures at the natural sites, elevation was used in the analysis as a proxy for annual temperature regimes. A significant positive correlation was found between flowering day and annual rainfall and elevation, as well as between the aboveground plant biomass and annual rainfall. In addition, a significant negative correlation was found between the flowering day coefficient of variation and the two environmental parameters. Our results show inter-population differentiation in a perennial species, emphasizing the ecological importance of early flowering and trade-offs between growth and reproduction in arid vs. mesic environments.

Single probe diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to assess the effect of sarcopoterium spinosum treatment on the cerebral tissue properties of ApoE knockout mouse.

In this work, diffuse near-infrared light reflectance spectroscopy based on a single optical probe, contains central single collection fiber surrounded by a circular array of illumination fibers, was used to quantify cerebral tissue properties in ApoE knockout mice following Sarcopoterium spinosum treatment. Sarcopoterium spinosum, also known as Thorny burnet, is a Mediterranean plant widely used as a traditional therapy for the treatment of a variety of pathologies, primarily type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). While it's efficacy in the treatment of T2D, and of other components of metabolic syndrome, have already been validated by us, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Sarcopoterium spinosum extract (SSE) on dyslipidemia and vascular functions. We utilized ApoE deficient mice (ApoE-/- , Atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E-deficient), who have a severe impairment in plasma lipoprotein clearance and thus develop alterations in blood lipid profile and are highly susceptible to atherogenic plaque formation. A total of 34 male mice were divided into five groups representing various genetic, dietary, and treatment configurations. Optical measurements were used to assess changes in diffused reflectance spectra, optical properties (absorption and scattering), and cerebral tissue chromophore contents. Specifically, significant improvement in cerebral hemoglobin level was observed in ApoE KO mice, fed an artherogenic diet (ATD), upon SSE treatment. Biochemical and histological analyses of ApoE-/- ATD mice showed elevated body weight and a high level of blood triglycerides, free fatty acids and cholesterol. In contrast, in SSE treated mice improvement was observed, suggesting beneficial effects of SSE. In ApoE-/- ATD mice group a higher levels of deoxyhemoglobin was monitored indicating that the rate of oxygen release to the tissue is low. This was supported by decrease in oxygen saturation. It was also shown a reduction in water content in the brain of ApoE KO. Mice fed with the atherogenic diet demonstrated increased water content as compared to STD-fed ApoE KO mice, while SSE administration reversed the effect of the diet. To our knowledge, no such study has been reported before.

Diversity of Phytophthora Communities across Different Types of Mediterranean Vegetation in a Nature Reserve Area

Research Highlights: Protected natural areas are a reservoir of Phytophthora species and represent the most suitable sites to study their ecology, being less disturbed by human activities than other environments. Background and Objectives: The specific objective of this study was to correlate the diversity and distribution of Phytophthora species with the vegetation in aquatic, riparian and terrestrial habitats within a protected area in Eastern Sicily, Southern Italy. Materials and Methods: Environmental samples (water and soil) were sourced from two streams running through the reserve and six different types of vegetation, including Platano-Salicetum pedicellatae, the Sarcopoterium spinosum community, Myrto communis-Pistacietum lentisci, Pistacio-Quercetum ilicis,Oleo-Quercetum virgilianae and a gallery forest dominated by Nerium oleander (Natura 2000 classification of habitats). Phytophthora species were recovered from samples using leaf baiting and were classified on the basis of morphological characteristics and sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Results: As many as 11 Phytophthora species, within five different ITS clades, were identified, including P. asparagi, P. bilorbang, P. cryptogea, P. gonapodyides, P. lacustris, P. multivora, P. nicotianae, P. oleae, P. parvispora, P. plurivora and P. syringae. No Phytophthora species were found in the Sarcopoterium spinosum comm. Phytophthora asparagi, P. lacustris and P. plurivora were the prevalent species in the other five plant communities, but only P. plurivora was present in all of them. Overall aquatic species from clade 6 (100 out of 228 isolates) were the most common; they were recovered from all five types of vegetation, streams and riparian habitats. Phytophthora populations found in the Platano-Salicetum pedicellatae and Oleo-Quercetum virgilianae show the highest diversity, while no correlation was found with the physicochemical characteristics of the soil. Conclusions: The vegetation type and the aquatic or terrestrial habitat were identified as major environmental factors correlated with the diversity of Phytophthora communities in this reserve.

Analysis of Landscape Structure and Spatıal Connectıvıty in Delta Systems, The Case of Big Meander Delta

Bu çalışmanın amacı Büyük Menderes Deltası Milli Parkı, Bafa Gölü Tabiat Parkı ve yakın çevresinde yer alan delta sistemindeki habitatların tanımlanması, peyzaj desenin analiz edilmesi ve mekansal bağlantılılık bakımından doğrusal habitatların tüm delta sisteminin mekansal bağlantılılığına katkılarının değerlendirilmesidir. Çalışmada, araştırma alanının mekansal özelliklerinin analizini gerçekleştirmek amacıyla kullanılan habitat haritası, 11 Ağustos 2017 tarihli Sentinel-2A uydu görüntüsü ile yardımcı veriler kullanılarak, nesne tabanlı sınıflandırma yöntemi ile elde edilmiştir. Peyzaj deseninin değerlendirilmesi ve mekansal bağlantılılığın ölçülmesinde yedi temel peyzaj metriği hesaplanmıştır. Çalışma alanında hakim habitat tipini Tarla ve Bahçe Tarımı oluşturmaktadır. Akarsular ve Durgun Tatlı Sular mekansal bağlantılığı en yüksek olan habitat tipleri iken, bunu Doğu Quercus Coccifera Garigleri, Sarcopoterium spinosum Friganaları ve Arbutus andrachne Garigleri izlemektedir. Bununla birlikte çalışma sonucunda, delta sistemlerinde akarsu koridorları ve tarla sınırları ile yol kenarlarında bulunan vejetasyon koridorlarının, diğer doğal ve yarı doğal habitatların mekansal bağlantılılığını arttırma potansiyeline sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir.

Sarcopoterium spinosum Inhibited the Development of Non-Alcoholic Steatosis and Steatohepatitis in Mice.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a comorbidity of obesity, which gradually develops from hepatic steatosis into steatohepatitis (NASH) and eventually even into fibrosis or hepatic carcinoma. To date, there has been no specific and effective treatment for NAFLD. Sarcopoterium spinosum extract (SSE) was found to improve insulin sensitivity. Recognizing the intimate link between insulin resistance and NAFLD, the aim of this study was to investigate the effectivity of SSE in the prevention and management of NAFLD at various severities. SSE was given to high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice (steatosis model) or to mice given a Western diet (WD) in the short or long term (NASH prevention or treatment, respectively). SSE reduced body weight accumulation, improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity and prevented the development of hepatic steatosis. SSE also blocked the progression of liver disease toward NASH in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism, inflammation, and antioxidant machinery was regulated by SSE in both models of steatosis and NASH development. However, SSE failed to reverse the hepatic damage in the advanced model of NASH. In summary, SSE might be considered as a botanical supplement for the prevention and treatment of hepatic steatosis, and for slowing the deterioration toward NASH.