Sunflower Extracts Research Articles

Dynamics of germination stimulants dehydrocostus lactone and costunolide in the root exudates and extracts of sunflower

ABSTRACT Orobanche cumana Wallr. (Orobanche cernua Loefl.) causes severe yield losses of confectionary sunflower in China. While germination of O. cumana is stimulated by sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) from host sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Dehydrocostus lactone and costunolide isolated from sunflower root exudates are known as STLs to specifically induce O. cumana germination. Two major confectionary sunflower cultivars, SH363 (highly susceptible to O. cumana) and TH33 (resistant to O. cumana), were planted in China. However, STLs in these two sunflower cultivars has remained unknown. To identify STLs from root and exudates of sunflower for better understanding the role of stimulants in parasitic interaction of sunflower and O. cumana, we tested dehydrocostus lactone (DCL) and costunolide (CL) in root and root exudates of susceptible and resistant sunflower cultivars. The stimulant activity of sunflower root exudate and root extract to germination of O. cumana were also determined. Dehydrocostus lactone and costunolide were identified through ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Both DCL and CL were found in root extracts and root exudates in the whole tested time point from two sunflower cultivars. The concentration of dehydrocostus lactone was higher than that of costunolide at the same tested growth stage of each sunflower cultivar. It was observed that higher quantity of dehydrocostus lactone in susceptible cultivar than resistant cultivar of root and root exudates at later tested developmental stages. However, the amount of CL was no significant difference between SH363 and TH33 at all tested stages. The release amount of DCL from susceptible cultivar is 3.7 folds that of resistant cultivar at 28 DAT. These findings suggested that DCL was the one of the major signal compound in these two sunflower cultivars, and lower dehydrocostus lactone might contribute to the resistance of sunflower TH33 to O. cumana.

Parameter Measurement of Edible Sunflower Exudates and Calibration of Discrete Element Simulation Parameters

To improve the accuracy of the parameters used in discrete element simulation tests in the process of clearing fresh sunflowers, this study took the extracts of fresh sunflower as the research object and used a combination of physical experiments and simulation experiments to calibrate the discrete element simulation parameters. First, the composition of the edible sunflower extract is determined, and then, the physical test method is used to determine the characteristics of the edible sunflower extract material. Based on the results of the physical test as a simulation basis, the Plackett–Burman test is used to screen the significance of the test parameters, and the screening results show that the shear modulus, static friction coefficient, and collision recovery coefficient of sunflower kernels have significant effects on the simulated angle of repose. On the basis of the steepest climbing test, the Box–Behnken test is carried out to obtain the simulated angle of repose and significance. The second-order regression equation of texture parameters is optimized with the actual physical angle of repose (24.68°) as the target value to obtain the optimal parameter combination. Finally, through the two-sample T test, p > 0.05 is obtained, indicating that the simulated angle of repose and the actual physical test angle of repose are not significantly different, and the relative error is 0.923%, which verifies the reliability of the optimal simulation parameter combination. The research results show that the calibrated simulation parameter combination can be used in discrete element simulation tests of the extraction process of sunflower extracts.

Phytotoxic Effects of Selected Herbal Extracts on the Germination, Growth and Metabolism of Mustard and Oilseed Rape

The use of plants that have high allelopathic potential as natural herbicides in the form of aqueous extracts is gaining popularity in environmentally friendly agriculture. Usually, their effect on the germination and growth of weeds is investigated. However, less attention is paid to the effect of the allelopathic compounds from extracts on cultivated plants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of herbal extracts that have allelopathic properties on selected physiological and biochemical processes of two plants of great economic importance—white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) and oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera). The extracts were prepared from mountain arnica (Arnica montana L.), ribwort (Plantago lanceolata L.), hypericum (Hypericum perforatum L.), common milfoil (Achillea millefolium L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and sage (Salvia officinalis L.). The germination of white mustard and oilseed rape was most inhibited by the extracts that were prepared from sage and sunflower. Additionally, in the germinating plants, the sunflower extracts increased the membrane permeability, which indicates membrane injuries. The metabolic changes in the plants were monitored using isothermal calorimetry and FT-Raman spectroscopy. The total heat production, which provided information about the metabolic activity of the white mustard and oilseed rape, was decreased the most by the sage extract but generally all of the tested extracts disturbed the shape of the heat emission curves compared to the water control. The impact of the allelopathic compounds that are present in the herbal extracts on the metabolism of the seedlings was clearly visible on the FT-Raman spectra—in the fatty acids and flavonoids range, confirmed using a cluster analysis. In conclusion, the herbal extracts from medicinal plants that have herbicidal activity could be used as a natural herbicide for weed control, but since they may also have negative impacts on cultivated plants, preliminary tests are advisable to find the extract from the species that has the least negative effect on a protected crop.

Nutritional properties of selected superfood extracts and their potential health benefits.

BackgroundThe term ‘superfoods’ is used to market foods considered to have significant health benefits. ‘Superfoods’ are claimed to prevent diseases as well as improving overall health, though the lack of explicit criteria means that any food can be labelled ‘super’ without support from scientific research. Typically, these ‘superfoods’ are rich in a particular nutrient for example antioxidants or omega-3 fatty acids. The objective of this study was to investigate the nutritional properties of a selection of superfood seeds: flax, chia, hulled sunflower and two types of processed hemp seeds and determine whether they may have potential health benefits.MethodsWe developed a simple aqueous extraction method for ground seeds and analysed their composition by mineral, protein and monosaccharide analyses. Cell viability assays were performed on Caco-2 and IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cells using increasing doses of the prepared extracts.ResultsIncreased cell viability was observed in both cell lines with increasing concentrations of the flax seed, chia seed or hulled sunflower extracts (P < 0.05). Compositional analyses revealed the presence of polysaccharides, proteins and essential minerals in the aqueous extracts and in vitro assays showed sunflower had the highest antioxidant activity. However, differences in extract composition and antioxidant properties could not be directly related to the observed increase in cell viability suggesting that other components in the extracts may be responsible. Future studies will further characterize these extracts and investigate whether they are beneficial for gastrointestinal health.

Allelopathy Weed management and yield improvement in mungbean through allelopathic action of sunflower and bermuda grass (a weed) extract in conjunction with irrigation frequencies

Allelopathy is the effect of one plant species by reducing the germination and growth of the neighbouring plants of another species through releasing chemical compounds. It has been reported by many researchers that weeds are major hazard in reducing crop yield but it can be managed effectively through phytotoxic properties of plants. A field study was conducted at Students Experimental Farm, Agronomy Department, Crop Production Faculty, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Pakistan during spring 2019 and repeated during 2020 to validate the previous results. The research conducted to evaluate the allelopathic potential of sunflower and Bermuda grass extracts under various irrigation levels on weeds density and yield of mungbean cultivar ‘AEM-96’. Split plot design having four replications was managed. The experiment consisted of weed control practices: Weedy check, various levels of sunflower and bermuda grass extracts as sole and in combination with each other, different levels of herbicides as alone and in integration with allelopathic plant extracts as well as hand weeding under three irrigation frequencies (2, 3 and 4 watering applications). The analysis variance of results showed that various levels of sunflower and bermuda grass extracts as sole and in combination with each other, different levels of herbicides as alone and in integration with allelopathic plant extracts as well as hand weeding caused significant suppression of weeds and increased in seed yield as compared to weedy check. The combined treatment Atlantis: 0.1 Ltr ha-1 + Puma Super: 0.156 Ltr ha-1 + Sunflower extract: 15 L ha-1 resulted in less weed density (51.6 m-2) and produced maximum seed yield of 2404.4 kgs ha-1. Bermuda grass extract: 15 Ltr ha-1 integration with low dose of herbicides Atlantis: 0.1 Ltr ha-1+ Puma Super: 0.156 Ltr ha-1 showed weed density of 61.3 m-2 resulted seed yield of 2282.1 kgs ha-1. The application of herbicides treatment Atlantis: 0.2 Ltr ha-1 + Puma Super: 0.312 Ltr ha-1 suppressed weed density of 70.9 m-2 and produced seed yield of 2162.5 kgs ha-1. It is noted that Hand weeding: 30 days after sowing showed weed density of 76.1 m-2 and seed yield 2042.5 kgs ha-1. The combined allelopathic plant applications of Sunflower +Bermuda grass extract each: 15 Ltr ha-1 reduced weed density 80.7 m-2 and obtained seed yield of 1923.2 kgs ha-1. Sole application of sunflower extract: 30 Ltr ha-1 resulted weed density 91.0 m-2 and recorded seed yield of 1804.2 kgs ha-1. Alone allelopathy application of Bermuda grass extract: 30 Ltr ha-1 noticed weed density 103.3 m-2 and produced seed yield of 1684.8 kgs ha-1. The highest weed density 140.9 m-2 and lowest seed yield 1343.1 kgs ha-1 noticed in weedy check treatment where no any application applied for weed reduction. According to irrigation frequencies the 4 watering applications resulted less weed density 82.2 m-2 and obtained maximum seed yield 1996.3 kgs ha-1 followed by 3 watering applications noted weed density 84.5 m-2 and achieved seed yield 1955.5 kgs ha-1. The maximum weed density 86.7 m-2 and lowest seed yield recorded in 2 watering application. The analysis of variance of pooled data revealed that Atlantis: 0.1 Ltr ha-1 + Puma Super: 0.156 Ltr ha-1 + Sunflower extract: 15 Ltr ha-1 integrated treatment under 4 watering applications (15, 30, 45 and 60 DAS) caused significant impact on weed inhabitation and yield enrichment

Extraction of Sunflower Lodging Information Based on UAV Multi-Spectral Remote Sensing and Deep Learning

The rapid and accurate identification of sunflower lodging is important for the assessment of damage to sunflower crops. To develop a fast and accurate method of extraction of information on sunflower lodging, this study improves the inputs to SegNet and U-Net to render them suitable for multi-band image processing. Random forest and two improved deep learning methods are combined with RGB, RGB + NIR, RGB + red-edge, and RGB + NIR + red-edge bands of multi-spectral images captured by a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) to construct 12 models to extract information on sunflower lodging. These models are then combined with the method used to ignore edge-related information to predict sunflower lodging. The results of experiments show that the deep learning methods were superior to the random forest method in terms of the obtained lodging information and accuracy. The predictive accuracy of the model constructed by using a combination of SegNet and RGB + NIR had the highest overall accuracy of 88.23%. Adding NIR to RGB improved the accuracy of extraction of the lodging information whereas adding red-edge reduced it. An overlay analysis of the results for the lodging area shows that the extraction error was mainly caused by the failure of the model to recognize lodging in mixed areas and low-coverage areas. The predictive accuracy of information on sunflower lodging when edge-related information was ignored was about 2% higher than that obtained by using the direct splicing method.

Effects of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) and Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) leaf extracts on the development of Meloidogyne incognita on African indigenous vegetables

The effects of sunn hemp and Mexican sunflower extracts were evaluated on the development of Meloidogyne incognita on two vegetables, Amaranthus cruentus and Solanum macrocarpon in the screenhouse in 2017. Seedlings of each vegetable were inoculated with 3000 eggs of M. incognita per pot. There were five treatments; sunn hemp and Mexican sunflower extracts at 20 and 40 g leaf tissues/L water for each and a non-treated control. The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design in four replications. Data were collected on nematode counts, egg masses, developmental stages and gall-index. Extracts of sunn hemp and Mexican sunflower at 40 g leaf tissues/L water, significantly reduce nematode number, egg mass and gall-index in comparison with plants treated at 20 g leaf tissue/L water and non-treated control plants. Plants treated at lower rate were not different from the non-treated control plants in all parameters measured. The results showed that sunn hemp or Mexican sunflower at 40 g leaf tissue/L could be used in managing nematode pest.

Potency of plant-derived biological nematicides on root-knot disease of tomato, Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Mill

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of plant-derived biological nematicides in the management of root-knot nematode disease of tomato. A piece of land measuring 8 m × 54 m was ploughed and raised beds were the experimental plots. The land was divided into 4 blocks, each block comprising 12 treatments and 4 replicates with a total of 48 experimental plots were fitted into randomized complete block design (RCBD). The experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farms, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria (Longitude 40E and Latitude 8010N) during 2018 planting season. 20 g macerated root gall of Celosia was applied to tomato root rhizosphere (inoculation). The plant-derived biological nematicides that were assessed on root-knot nematode disease of tomato, UC8 cultivar, include the leaf water extract of neem, castor, wild sunflower, cleome, siam weed, phyllanthus, nitta, tobacco, lantana and calotropis, mixed with black soap, at rate of 9:1 v/w. The black soap and distilled water served as adjuvant and solvent respectively, and as the control experiments. The results showed that the root galling and soil population of root-knot nematode were significantly reduced with consequent enhanced growth and yield of tomato in the plots treated with plant-derived biological nematicides, compared with the tomato in the control experiments. The study has demonstrated that the use of plant-derived biological nematicides can be effectively explored in the management of root-knot nematode disease. The application of plant-derived biological nematicides is therefore recommended for sustainable management of root-knot nematode disease in tomato production.

Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Some Legumes Hulls Extract and Its Efficacy on Oil Oxidative Stability.

Synthetic antioxidants have toxigenic effects, there is therefore growing interest in substituting them with natural antioxidants. Attention is being focused on extracting them from agricultural industry residuals to minimize costs. Legume seed hulls could be cheap sources of such natural antioxidants. This study aims to unravel potential free radical scavenging activity, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic and flavonoid contents of some legumes' hulls extracted by different solvents and evaluate their efficacy to enhance sunflower oil stability. Legume hulls extracted by different solvents were evaluated for their antioxidant activity coefficient (AAC), free radical scavenging activity [by 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)], and phenolic and flavonoids contents. The protection factor and induction periods (rancimat test) of the highest activity extracts were evaluated. Sunflower seed hull ethyl acetate extract, lupine seed hull ethanol extract, and mung bean hull petroleum ether extract exhibited stronger DPPH scavenging activity, AAC, and protection factor values than other solvents. Ethyl acetate extracts of sunflower seed hulls showed an antioxidant and scavenging activity close (P>0.05) to that detected for α-tocopherol. Legume hulls may possess strong free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity. The analogous effect between sunflower hull extract and α-tocopherol make it a potential, cheaper substitute of α-tocopherol in food systems. The analogous effect between sunflower hull extract and α-tocopherol give it the potency to allow substitution at a concentration of 0.5% of sunflower hull ethyl acetate or 1% of lupine hull ethanol extract instead of 0.5% α-tocopherol to enhance induction periods and protection factors of sunflower oil.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Plants at Various Growth Stages Subjected to Extraction-Comparison of the Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic Profile.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in the antioxidant activity and phenolic profile of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) extracts obtained from the aerial parts of plants harvested at five growth stages. In vitro assays were used to determine the antioxidant activity, i.e., ABTS•+ and DPPH• scavenging activity, the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the ability to inhibit β-carotene–linoleic acid emulsion oxidation. Phenolic compounds, such as mono- and dicaffeoylquinic acid isomers and caffeic acid hexose, were identified using the LC–TOF–MS/MS technique. The predominant compound during the growth cycle of the plant was 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, whose content was the highest at the mid-flowering stage. The total phenolic content was also the highest in sunflowers at the mid-flowering stage. The main phenolic compound contents were closely correlated with ABTS•+ and DPPH• scavenging activity and FRAP. No significant correlation was found between the total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity in the emulsion system. The highest antiradical activity and FRAP were generally determined in older plants (mid-flowering and late flowering stages). In conclusion, the aerial parts of sunflowers, in particular those harvested at the mid-flowering stage, are a good plant material from which to obtain phenolic compound extracts, albeit mainly of one class (esters of caffeic acid and quinic acid), with high antioxidant activity.

Predicting Pharmacokinetic Profiles of Sunflower’s (Helianthus annuus L.) Active Compounds using in Silico Approach

Introduction: Sunflower (Heliantus annuus L.) widely known as medicinal plant for treating several diseases, such as hypertension, allergy, pain, inflammation, and cancer. It contains various bioactive compounds which some of them were hellianuols. Hellianuols are a sesquiterpene lactones which marked by benzene fused 6- to 8-membered cyclic ether ring structure. To make sure that hellianuols were adequate for development as a new chemical entities, we predicted some pharmacokinetic parameters of several hellianuols compounds (A to L) through in silico approach.Methods: We constructed 3 dimensional structures of hellianuol A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L then generated the SMILE codes of each compound. These codes then used as main material for running pkCSM online tool to predict absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion profile of each compounds.Results: Helianuols predicted to be well absorbed in intestine (90,793% to 95,384% permeability), skin (Log Kp: -2,662 to -3,570), and high permeability against monolayer Caco-2 cell lines (LogPapp: 1,186 to 1,341 ×10-6cm/s). Unfortunately, it had been predicted that hellianuols does not well distributed in the body based on volume of distribution at steady state (VDSS: 0,094 to 0,317) value. But its also predicted that most of hellianuols had a capability to pass through blood-brain barriers (LogBBB: up to 0,389) and penetrated into central nervous system as well. Only hellianuol G, H and K predicted to be metabolized by CYP1A2 inhibitor and only hellianuol A, B, D, E and K metabolized by CYP2C19. Also predicted that hellianuols were excreted in around 0,719 to 1,082 mg/kg/day.Conclusion: Hellianuols contained in leaf aqueous extract of sunflower predicted to be a good new pharmaceutical entities candidate based on its pharmacokinetic profiles.Keywords: Hellianuol, sunflower, pharmacokinetic profie, pkCSM online tool

Effect of different media, temperature, pH on the growth of Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid causing root rot of sesame

Among fungal diseases, stem root rot or charcoal rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid iswidely distributed and highly destructive disease of sesame. Different synthetic media were tested to select suitable media for the growth of M. phaseolina. Among them, oat meal agar, malt dextrose, Elad and Chet medium showed significantly high mycelial growth at 120 hrs. The maximum growth of M. phaseolina was observed at 30, 35 and 40°C which indicates preference towards higher temperatures and also maximum growth recorded at 5 and 7 pH. Extracts of safflower, mustard, sunflower, groundnut, soybean and sesame amended in media have shown more mycelial growth of M. phaseolina while castor stem extract recorded lowest growth.

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential of seeds and flowers crude extracts of sunflower

Abstract Oil-producing crops, including Helianthus annuus L. (H. annuus, Sunflower), have been used for the treatment of different human diseases since ancient times. This study aims to determine the antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential of different polarities of seeds and flower extracts of locally grown H. annuus by well-established bioassays. To achieve the objects, the plant extracts were prepared from both flowers and seeds powder samples individually with methanol solvent by using a Soxhlet extraction method. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential of the flowers and seed extracts were determined by the in vitro diffusion and brine shrimp method (BSL). The results of the antimicrobial potential of both prepared flower and seed extracts of various polarities at different concentrations showed promising potential against the gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains, within the range of inhibition zone 0–20 mm. Among the flower extracts, the highest potential was obtained in water extract and the lowest potential was in butanol extract followed by water > ethyl acetate > hexane > methanol > chloroform > butanol extracts. However, from the seed extracts, the highest potential was obtained in water extract and the lowest potential was in the methanol extract followed by water > hexane > butanol > ethyl acetate > chloroform > methanol extract. On the other hand, the results of cytotoxicity among the flowers extracts against the brine shrimp method where the highest LC50 against brine shrimp nauplii were found to be 31.25 μg/mL in water extract and the lowest LC50 was 1345.86 μg/mL in chloroform extract followed by water > ethyl acetate > hexane > butanol > methanol > chloroform extract. Similarly, different polarities of seed extracts, the highest LC50 against brine shrimp nauplii was shown to be 109.56 μg/mL in butanol extract and the lowest LC50 was 1513.56 μg/mL in ethyl acetate extract followed by butanol > hexane > water > methanol > chloroform > ethyl acetate extract. In conclusion, the results showed that both flowers and seeds extracts at various concentrations have promising potential against the positive and negative bacterial strains and the highest potential water extract could be used as natural broad-spectrum antibiotics as herbal medicine to treat different human infectious diseases.

Efeito alelopático do extrato aquoso de folhas e caule de girassol sobre a germinação de milho e sorgo

The objective of this work was to evaluate the allelopathic effect exerted by aqueous extract of sunflower leaves and stem on corn and sorghum germination. Sunflower is an oilseed species that has important agronomic characteristics. Sunflower has an allelopathic effect on other plant species, inhibiting their growth. Stem and leaves were collected at UFSJ experimental field, Sete Lagoas campus. The test was performed on a Germitest Paper Roll, with 4 repetitions of 25 seeds of BRS - 1060 Hybrid (corn) and BRS - 506 (sorghum). The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2x5 factorial scheme, the mean results were submitted to Tukey test at 5% significance, processed by the SISVAR program. Aqueous extracts obtained from sunflower leaves negatively affected the vigor of corn seeds, observed by the first count test, however, there was no significant difference regarding the final germination of seeds submitted to extracts of sunflower leaves and stem in the different concentrations. For sorghum seeds, it was possible to verify that aqueous extracts of leaves at concentrations above 25% negatively affect seed germination and vigor.

Sunflower oil from enzymatic aqueous extraction process: Maximization of free oil yield and oil characterization

AbstractIn this article, the enzymatic aqueous extraction (EAE) of sunflower seed oil was investigated. The effects of the operational variables (temperature, water seed mass ratio, and enzyme concentration) were evaluated in order to define the conditions that maximize the free oil yield (FOY). It was observed that increasing the amounts of water and enzyme in the extraction medium was disadvantageous to the removal of the oil, and that an increase in temperature provided a higher FOY. Thus, a temperature of 60°C, seed:water ratio of 1:5 (g/g), and enzyme concentration of 1% (v/v) were defined as the conditions for maximum FOY (17.76%). The use of a buffered medium under these conditions increased the FOY to 20.34%. The composition of the oils obtained by the EAE under different experimental conditions was determined and compared with the oil obtained from Soxhlet extraction. The oils under study presented high levels of oleic and linoleic acids, which corresponded to ~90% of the composition of fatty acids. It was also noted that, depending on the extraction conditions, the oils obtained by EAE presented phytosterol and tocopherol contents similar or superior to those of the oil produced by Soxhlet extraction.Practical ApplicationsThe enzymatic aqueous extraction of sunflower oil has the potential to replace the solvent extraction method. The results reported herein show that the composition of the sunflower oil obtained by the enzymatic method was similar to that of the oil extracted by the solvent method. In addition, the enzymatic method uses mild conditions that reduce the energy required for the process and the residues are free of organic solvent.

Phytochemical Screening of Sunflower Leaf (Helianthus annuus) and Anting-Anting (Acalypha indica Linn) Plant Ethanol Extract

Many local plants in Indonesia were used as traditional medicines, such as sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and anting-anting (Acalypha indica Linn) plants. Both of them can be used as an antimalarial, antibacterial, antifungal, analgesic, and antihyperlipidemic. This study aims to provide an overview of the secondary metabolites groups contained in sunflower leaf and anting-anting plants for the testing of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, steroids/triterpenoids, and sesquiterpenoids. This study included the extraction of sunflower leaves and anting-anting plants separately using the maceration method for 24 hours with 80% ethanol solvent. The stirring was aided by a shaker for three hours. Each extract was tested by phytochemicals with reagents. The results of phytochemical tests with reagents showed that 80% ethanol extract of sunflower leaves contained an alkaloid, tannin, steroid, and sesquiterpenoid compounds whereas anting-anting plants contained an alkaloid, flavonoid, and triterpenoid compounds.

Helianthus annuus Seed Extract Affects Weight and Body Composition of Healthy Obese Adults during 12 Weeks of Consumption: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of a sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seed extract, standardized for 40% chlorogenic acids on weight and body composition of obese adults. Fifty subjects were randomly assigned to sunflower extract or isocaloric placebo groups, receiving respectively 500 mg/day of treatment for 12 weeks. At the end of the intervention, a significant decrease in body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and waist circumference was observed, especially for obese female subjects above 30 years. Those changes were associated with modified body composition related to fat mass loss. A decrease in blood cholesterol was also observed, supporting the potential action of sunflower extract on lipid metabolism. It was concluded that consumption of sunflower extract has a beneficial effect on body weight, fat mass, and lipid profile, providing evidence for its use as a natural anti-obesity herbal extract.

Efektivitas Kombinasi Ekstrak Etanol Daun Bunga Matahari dan Tanaman Anting-Anting sebagai Antimalaria Secara In Vivo

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and anting-anting (Acalypha indica Linn), can be studied as efficacious malaria medicinal plants for preventing the development of malaria plasmodium resistance. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the combination of 80% ethanol extract of sunflower leaves and anting-anting as antimalarials. This study included extraction of sunflower leaves and anting-anting plant separately using the maceration method for 24 hours with 80% ethanol. Stirring is aided by a 3 hour shaker and then the obtained extracts were mixed and tested in vivo antimalarial activity against mice test animals. Data of the parasitemia degree was analyzed for the determination of Effective Dose (ED50) using probit analysis then determination of Combination Index (CI) value. The results of the antimalarial activity test on tested mice were ED50 of 1.23 mg/kg human body with a Combination Index (CI) of 0.46 (CI &lt;1) which means synergistic potency.

Effects of Spondias mombin and Aspilia africana Aqueous Extracts on Rats with Monosodium Glutamate-Induced Leiomyoma

Uterine leiomyoma is commonly known as fibroid. Increased use of chemicals is believed to enhance its prevalence and monosodium glutamate is implicated. Fibroid is prevalent among black women with no known drug for its treatment. It is therefore necessary to determine a safer method for fibroid treatment. This work investigated effects of different aqueous extracts of Spondias mombin (hog plum) and Aspilia africana (wild sunflower) leaves on uterus and kidney cells of rats with monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced fibroid. Twenty-eight rats used in this study were divided into four groups of seven rats each and acclimatized. Fibroid was induced on the Positive control, Groups III and IV, after daily ingestion of 750mg/kg body weight of MSG for 28 days. Negative control had no fibroid but the Positive control remained untreated. Groups III and IV were continuously ingested with same dose of MSG for the next 28 days with daily oral treatment using 250mg/kg body weight aqueous extracts of hog plum and wild sunflower, respectively. Histological examinations were performed on the 2nd and 4th weeks, respectively, on two rats from each group for the next 28 days. Results showed degenerated endometrial cells and preserved nephritic tissues after treatment with aqueous extracts of S. mombin leaves. There was mild hyperplasia of endometrial cells after treatment with extract of A. africana in the 2nd week which differed from the 4th week. MSG has nephrotoxic properties and aqueous extract of S. mombin alleviated MSG oxidative powers on rats’ endometrial cells. With continuous ingestion, A. africana aqueous extract better preserved rat’s endometrium from oxidizing action of MSG. These extracts could be used as safer chemotherapy in fibroid management.

Screening of active formulation from combined sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and neem (Azadirachta indica) aqueous extract to control growth of lesser canary grass (Phalaris minor).

Screening of active formulation from combined sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and neem (Azadirachta indica) aqueous extract to control growth of lesser canary grass (Phalaris minor).