Substances Of Medicinal Plants Research Articles

Transcriptome and metabolome analysis reveal the dynamic changes and biosynthesis pathways of alkaloids in Sophora alopecuroides L. under drought stress

Sophora lopecuroides L. is a medicinal plant containing a variety of biologically active substances, in which alkaloids are the main active substances, and a variety of alkaloids have been identified in S. alopecuroides. Drought stress can stimulate the accumulation of biologically active substances in medicinal plants. In this respect, the imposition of appropriate degree of drought stress may be an effective way to increase the alkaloid content in S. alopecuroides. However, the changes in the types and abundance of alkaloids in S. alopecuroides under drought stress and the molecular mechanism of regulating alkaloid biosynthesis are still unclear. In this study, the metabolome and transcriptome analysis were conducted to explore the influence of mild (D1), moderate (D2), and severe (D3) drought stress on the types and abundance of alkaloids in S. alopecuroides, and to identify the key regulatory genes in the alkaloid synthesis pathways. The results showed that the total alkaloid content in S. alopecuroides in the D1 and D2 group significantly decreased by 13.49% and 10.40%, respectively compared with that in the control group, but the total alkaloid content in S. alopecuroides in the D3 group significantly increased by 8.16% compared with that in the control group. Sixty-eight alkaloids were identified in S. alopecuroides, with quinolizidine alkaloids being the main type of alkaloids. Of the 25 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), the number of DAMs with increased relative abundance in the D1, D2, and D3 group were 0, 7, and 20, respectively. The relative abundance of 6 DAMs increased in both D2 and D3 group, and 14 DAMs only increased in the D3 group such as methoxyindoleacetic acid, indole, and piperidine. Besides, the biosynthetic pathways of three major types of alkaloids (quinolizidine-, piperidine-, and plumerane-type alkaloids) were illustrated, and key genes (i.e., asd, DapL, PrAOs, DDC, and ALDH) associated with the alkaloid biosynthesis were identified. This study also found that 22 TFs (SaERF1∼SaERF5, SaWRKY1∼SaWRKY3, SabHLH1∼SabHLH3, SaMYB1∼SaMYB6, SabZIP1∼SabZIP5) were positively correlated with the alkaloid biosynthesis. This study deepens our understanding of the molecular mechanism of S. alopecuroides in response to drought stress, and helps to develop biotechnology strategies to manipulate the level of alkaloids in S. alopecuroides.

A literary review on the hydroponic method of growing some medicinal plants

An important component in the daily preparation of nutritious food, as well as in the preservation of products, is spicy-aromatic plants. Essential oils and other physiologically active substances included in their composition excite the activity of the gustatory and digestive organs, cause appetite, enhance digestibility, favorably affect metabolism, the activity of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, and the general condition of a person. In order to obtain renewable raw materials that preserve the group chemical composition and biological activity, this review examines a promising direction of a biotechnological method for obtaining a product — hydroponics. Some advantages of using this method in the cultivation of medicinal plants have been identified. In most hydroponic systems, there is constant access to the roots, which allows you to solve possible problems with pathogens. It was found that if the health of the plant is strengthened, then productivity and yield will increase. And in the field of nutrition, many analyzes have been carried out, which consistently demonstrate a large, often twofold increase in the amount of vitamins and mineral salts. This also applies to the active substances in medicinal plants. The directions of further study are also clearly defined.

Impact of drought stress signals on growth and secondary metabolites (SMs) in medicinal plants

Medicinal plants having diversified phytochemical compounds like secondary plant metabolites (alkaloids, terpenoids, phenols, steroids, flavanoids, tannins, cyanogenic glycosides and glucosinolates, essential oils and aromatic compounds etc) are subject to abiotic stress like drought. Drought, one of the major ecologically limiting factors has significant impact on growth and secondary metabolic process of several medicinal plants. Water stress causes a reduction in plant size, density, reduces plant leaf area, and decrease in whole biomass, and not only alters the plant structurally and anatomically but also leads to fluctuation of their secondary chemical constituents. Secondary plant metabolites (SPMs) are useful to assess the quality and quantity of the therapeutic ingredients and such metabolites synthesized by the plant helps to cope up towards the negative effects of stress for adaptation and defence. A large number of studies manifested from the relevant review that drought influences on SPMs production and accumulation from plant parts like roots, stems, leaves, flower, fruits, seeds etc and causes an increase or decrease in their solute concentration by up to 50%. Studies showed that a medicinal plant produces different concentration of a particular metabolite grown under stress and non-stress environment. Generally, drought stress accumulates a higher concentration of active phytochemicals like alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids etc whereas concentration of phenols, flavanoids and saponins etc decreases under drought. In most cases as a whole, it may have to be concluding from comparative analysis that medicinal plants grown under drought exhibits higher content of secondary plant products than grown under optimal conditions. In addition, all secondary products may not increase in equal proportions under stress and it depends on the intensity of the drought as well as species of medicinal plants. Thus, moderate drought stress significantly enhanced the quality as well as quantity of secondary active substances in medicinal plants. However, for better understanding indepth further research is utmost essential at molecular level using new techniques viz. Proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomes and genomics etc.

Examination of Spectral Properties of Medicinal Plant Leaves Grown in Different Lighting Conditions Based on Mint Cultivation.

Cultivation in controlled environmental conditions can provide good quality medicinal herbs with consistent properties. A sensing system that can determine the contents of medicinal substances in plants using spectral characteristics of leaves would be a valuable tool. Viability of such sensing approach for mint had to be confirmed experimentally, as no data correlating contents of medicinal substances with spectral characteristics of leaves are available, to the best of authors’ knowledge. In the first stage, presented in this paper, the influence of lighting on mint (Mentha rotundifolia) grown on a small hydroponic plantation was studied. Spectral characteristics of leaves were recorded by a spectrophotometer and colorimetric analysis was used to investigate the relationship between these characteristics and the spectrum of lighting. Dry mass yield was measured to test its dependence on the lighting. Dependence of chromaticity of leaves on the spectrum of light used in the cultivation was confirmed. Averaged spectra of leaves are distinguishable using a spectrophotometer and—in most cases—by a human observer. A partial correlation is observed between dry mass yield and the spectrum of lighting. Obtained results justify further research into the correlation between lighting and the contents of biological substances in medicinal plants using spectral characteristics of leaves.

Investigation of the impact of a balanced diet according to the method of alfitherapy on the human body

In the late 1980s – early 1990s, General A.V. Shcherbakov and Professor I.V. Pronin, who participated in the creation of the Russian Rescue Corps, developed a new method for saving all living things during disasters, dangerous climatic conditions, deadly situations, using the latest developments of Professor I.V. Pronin, which have no analogues in the world and named it "Medicine of support in extreme situations". For civilians, this system, based on the intersection of microbiology, algology and herbal medicine, became known as Alphitherapy. Initially, the method was intended for special forces operating in rescue operations during man-made disasters, as well as disasters caused by natural disasters. Alphitherapy is a method of balanced nutrition of plant origin with biologically active substances of medicinal plants, algae, microorganisms due to a combination of essential oils and active substances in high concentrations. The composition of a balanced diet according to the method of alfitherapy includes a living bactericidal environment, which many times exceeds the therapeutic capabilities of drugs of chemical origin. Purpose of work – investigation of the effect of accelerating regenerative processes and a healing effect as a result of the use of a balanced diet according to the method of alfitherapy. It has been established that a course of balanced nutrition according to the method of alfitherapy has antibacterial, antiviral and antimetastatic effects, making it possible in some cases to dispense with operations or surgical intervention. In the process of completing a course of balanced nutrition in a period from several days to three months, many types of damaged tissues and organs are regenerated, blood vessels are restored and the blood supply to the brain is enhanced, the liver and other organs are cleared of toxins, isotopes (radiation) and heavy metals at the intracellular and intercellular levels. It is possible to restore the cognitive, speech and motor functions lost as a result of strokes due to the complete regeneration of the damaged vessels of the brain.

FEATURES OF ALKALOID ACCUMULATION IN MEDICINAL PLANTS DUE TO GROWING CONDITIONS AND AGE CHARACTERISTICS

Nowadays biologically active substances in medicinal plants of Kalmykia are poorly studied. Thus biochemical properties of medicinal plants of the arid territories of the North-Western Caspian region have been studied for the first time. Study of intraspecific variability allowed to determine the influence of growing conditions on the accumulation of biologically active substances and microelements in medicinal plants, that grow in Kalmykia. In this regard, as the alkaloid, flavonoid and tannin content has been shown, approaches of application of known medicinal plants and searching for new raw materials should be reconsidered. This work is a part of comprehensive resource investigation focused on the research in the aim to find rational application of plant growing in Caspian and Volga regions. On the natural forage lands of Kalmykia, alkaloid-bearing plants can be found; they are poisonous to animals, and their number and abundance are directly dependent on anthropogenic pressure. Anabasis, harmalа and ephedra, that grow on the Caspian lowland, contain all groups of studied substances: alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and extractives. The conducted research shows that alkaloid plants might be used as medicinal plant raw materials. In Anabasis, the total alkaloid content reaches 1.26% in summer and 1.44% in autumn. Percentage of peganin in Harmala grass, stem and root, is about 4.04%, 0.31% and 0.21% respectively while the total amount of alkaloids in harmala exceeds 5.0%. Tannin content is quite high in Anabasis and harmala, as the presence of tannins is a characteristic feature of ephemera. The composition of plant extractives includes all water-soluble biologically active substances: carbohydrates, vitamins, flavonoids, etc., content of the chemicals is high in both Anabasis and harmal. Accumulation occurs even regardless of the season, place of growth in the whole plant.

Detection of biologically active substances in medicinal plants used for correction of rats in pesticides

Detection of biologically active substances in medicinal plants used for correction of rats in pesticides

Использование биологически активных веществ лекарственных растений Сибири в функциональных напитках на основе молочной сыворотки

The use of infusions and extracts from domestic plant materials is a promising direction in the development of functional beverages since they contain a wide range of substances of various pharmacological properties. Drinks fortified with physiologically active natural components maintain a certain level of this content in human body. They can have a healing or prophylactic effect. However, there is a lack of technologies for the effective production of biologically active substances from plant materials. Moreover, the development of cultivated botanical medicinal plant species remains quite poor. The present study features the qualitative and quantitative composition of biologically active substances of medicinal plants that are endemics of Siberia. They are Rhodiola rosea (Rhodiola rosea L.) and maral root (Rhaponticum carthamoides). The paper introduces a method for increasing their biosynthetic activity. An experiment helped to select a composition of the nutrient medium for the cultivation of callus cultures of Rhodiola rosea (Rhodiola rosea L.) and maral root (Rhaponticum carthamoides) in vitro, which contributed to an increase in the biosynthesis of biologically active substances. For callus cultures of Rhodiola Rosea (line R.r-1k) the following composition was used: mineral base – MS; sucrose – 30 g; inositol – 100 mg; thiamine – 1.0 mg; pyridoxine – 1.0 mg; Ca-panthetonate – 10 mg; kinetin – 0.05 g; naphthyl acetic acid – 0.1 g; 2.4-D – 0.5. For callus cultures of maral root (line R.c -2k): mineral base – SH; sucrose – 30 g; inositol – 100 mg; thiamine – 5.0 mg; pyridoxine – 0.5 mg; nicotinic acid – 5.0 mg; kinetin – 0.1 g; indoleacetic acid – 1.0 g. The authors developed a technology for the production of functional whey-based tonic drink fortified with extract of carotenoids isolated from the fruits of mountain ash and the extract of biologically active substances Rhodiola rosea and maral root. The presence of biologically active substances in the plant and medicinal raw materials gives the drink antioxidant and bactericidal properties, as well as helps to raise the overall state of the organizm and strengthen the immune system.

Accumulation and biosynthetic of curcuminoids and terpenoids in turmeric rhizome in different development periods

The dynamic accumulation rule of active substances in medicinal plants is of great value not only for medicinal material production and application,but also for the genetic mechanism study on the formation of medicinal ingredients,especially vital to guide medicinal material collection as well as experiment material selection and candidate gene screening in the analysis of biosynthesis pathway. This study investigated the accumulation of curcumins and terpenoids,and the biosynthesis of these metabolites,which are the active metabolites in Curcuma longa,a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. Rhizoma of C. longa from leaf growing period,rhizome swelling period and dry matter accumulating period were used as experimental materials,to analyze the changes of metabolites and biosynthesis in the three periods by comparative transcriptome and metabolomes analysis.The results indicated that terpenoids accumulation and biosynthesis mainly occurred in leaf growing period,while curcumin accumulation and biosynthesis mainly occurred in dry matter accumulating period. Therefore,we suggested that turmeric rhizomes in leaf growth period were suitable for terpenoids biosynthetic pathway characterization,and rhizome in accumulation of dry matter period was suitable for curcuminoid biosynthesis pathway characterization. This study provides references for medicinal materialproduction and application,as well as biopathway analysis of active compounds for C. longa.

Acute toxicity determination of summer savory liquid extract

Topicality. The investigation of toxicity class is an important step in pharmacological studies of potential drugs that is based on using biologically active substances of medicinal plants for establishing of their safety. Aim . To study the acute toxicity of a new herbal substance –the liquid extract of the herb of Summer Savory. Materials and methods . The extract was obtained by sequential extraction of the plant’s herb with 70 %, 50 % and 30 % ethanol, followed by pooling and concentrating the recovered extracts. The acute toxicity was studied with using 48 white rats of both sexes weighing 190-220 g. The extract at doses 500 mg/kg, 1500 mg/kg and 5000 mg/kg (in terms of its dry residue) was used in the experiment. After the administration of extract the animals were observed daily for 14 days. Results and discussion . After intragastric administration of liquid extract to rats of both sexes at a maximum dose of 5000 mg/kg the death or features of intoxication have not been recorded. Thus, the LD 50 value of the investigated extract is outside the dose of 5000 mg/kg. It indicates a high degree of its safety and prospects for further pharmacological studies. Conclusions. The obtained results shows the absence of any toxic effect of the investigated extract at doses of 500-5000 mg/kg and allow to attribute it to at least to V class of toxicity – practically harmless substances.

Research progress of genetic engineering on medicinal plants

The application of genetic engineering technology in modern agriculture shows its outstanding role in dealing with food shortage. Traditional medicinal plant cultivation and collection have also faced with challenges, such as lack of resources, deterioration of environment, germplasm of recession and a series of problems. Genetic engineering can be used to improve the disease resistance, insect resistance, herbicides resistant ability of medicinal plant, also can improve the medicinal plant yield and increase the content of active substances in medicinal plants. Thus, the potent biotechnology can play an important role in protection and large area planting of medicinal plants. In the development of medicinal plant genetic engineering, the safety of transgenic medicinal plants should also be paid attention to. A set of scientific safety evaluation and judgment standard which is suitable for transgenic medicinal plants should be established based on the recognition of the particularity of medicinal plants.

The effects of biologically active substances in medicinal plants on the metabolic activity of neutrophils

Neutrophils are the typical effector cells of the innate immune response because they are the first leukocytes to be recruited to an inflammatory site where they engulf invading microorganisms and destroy them by multiple oxidative and non-oxidative mechanisms. The destructive potential of neutrophils requires the tight control of their recruitment into tissue compartments and the production of inflammatory mediators such as reactive oxygen species. These oxidants can be highly toxic not only for infectious agents but also for neighbouring host tissues resulting in various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Thus, a significant attention in medicine is paid to approaches designed to modulate the metabolic activity of neutrophils. Synthetic steroid and non-steroid compounds with adverse side effects are commonly used for this purpose. The effects of natural substances which can modulate the metabolic activity of neutrophils and which simultaneously would not exert any significant unfavourable side effects have recently been investigated. Suitable candidates for this purpose might be compounds contained in herbs. These include especially polysaccharides and polyphenols, but also terpenes. The aim of the present paper is to summarize contemporary knowledge on the effects of compounds from herbs on the metabolic activity of mammalian neutrophils.

Active substances in medicinal plants with application in stomatology

The purpose of this work was to present chemical structure and basic characteristics of some active substances in medical plants which are used in stomatology. Considering their chemical content and pharmacological effects, all active substances of herbal origin are divided in four groups tannins, flavonoids, aetheric oils and the group of herbal species which show immunostimulating effect. Tannins are active substances of medical plants whose function are primarily based on precipitation of proteins and are used for disinfection of skin and oral mucose as well as for haemostatic purposes. Flavonoids are herbal pigments. They work as diuretics, and in dentistry they could be used as antiinflammatory agents. Essential oils are part of herbal species and are used as korigens of taste and smell. For their antiseptic and disinfective effects, essential oils are used in dentistry as preparations like toothpastes, mouth wash and chewing-gums. Immunostimulators of herbal origin are especially interesting in the decreasing immunity treatment for their slight toxic characteristics.

Phenolic Substances in Medicinal Plants

Compositions of phenolic substances were studied in the leaves of 21 species of medicinal plants. Flavonoid levels varied from 1.94 to 5.42%, whereas total amounts of monomeric polyphenols and hydroxybenzoic acids were estimated as 0.27 to 0.57%; hydroxycinnamic acids and their esters with quinic acid, 0.09 to 0.18%. Condensed and polymerized polyphenols were detected in amounts of 0.41 to 1.20%. Qualitative compositions of flavonoids in leaves of the seven plants studied were presented. The developed analytical procedures may be useful for plant polyphenol studies and as a basis for hemotaxonomy.

Effect of Biologically Active Substances on the Antioxidant Activity of Phytopreparations

Preparations containing complexes of biologically active substances extracted from medicinal plants act upon various systems of the organism, including the antioxidant protection system. For this reason, phytopreparations can be used both for the prophylaxis and for the complex therapy of free-radical pathologies. The antioxidant activity of phytopreparations is determined by the features of their chemical structures and by the content of biologically active substances. Therefore, it is necessary to study how the qualitative and quantitative composition and the interaction between various biologically active substances of medicinal plants influence the antioxidant activity of phytopreparations. Previously [1] we estimated the antioxidant activity of tinctures and balsams. This study is devoted to the antioxidant properties of individual biologically active compounds and aqueous tinctures from raw plant materials. Based on these data, we established relationships between the level of antioxidant activity of phytopreparations and the content of various biologically active substances belonging to various chemical groups.

Rapid monitoring of biologically-active substances in medicinal plants by tandem mass spectrometry — the identification of lignans in Oenanthe aquatica Lam

Rapid monitoring of biologically-active substances in medicinal plants by tandem mass spectrometry — the identification of lignans in Oenanthe aquatica Lam