Vegetable Extracts Research Articles

A fast and non-invasive imaging procedure to fight red tuna fraud

Recently, a food fraud regarding tuna samples has been detected in Europe. Some batches of tuna treated with illegal adulterants like vegetable extracts, including beetroot, were detected after several cases of food poisoning. This paper proposes a new fast and non-destructive technique based on smartphone imaging which contributes to the fight against tuna fraud. The color of different samples of three species of tuna (Thunnus thynnus, Thunnus albacares and Thunnus obesus) has been analyzed by a colorimetrically characterized smartphone. Descriptive analysis of the samples shows that different species of tuna can be grouped by their color in CIELAB space, and that samples adulterated with beetroot extracts can be detected by the proposed image processing procedure. A logistic regression model was implemented to distinguish between real and fraudulent samples, and its suitability checked by k-folding cross validation (n = 189), achieving a 0.59% false positive rate with a 10% false negative rate.

Electrochemical Determination of Paraquat Using Ordered Mesoporous Carbon (CMK-3) Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

Ordered mesoporous carbon namely, CMK-3 was synthesized by nano casting method, and characterized using various physicochemical and electroanalytical tools like HESEM, HRTEM, BET, etc. Using Cyclic voltammetric (CV) measurements on CMK-3 modified glassy carbon electrode (CMK-3/GCE) in the standard redox couple, [Fe(CN)6]3−/4−, the electrochemical surface area was deduced as 0.081 cm2. The modified electrode was used as an electrocatalyst for the determination of one of the herbicides, paraquat (PQ). The modified electrode shows enhanced sensitivity for the determination of PQ in phosphate buffer solution at pH 9.2 as compared to bare GCE. The concentration dependant CV studies showed a linear variation in sensitivity in the concentration range of 60 μM to 450 μM. The effect of the scan rate shows a linear variation in sensitivity as a function of the square root of scan rate suggesting a diffusion-controlled process during the detection of PQ. Anodic stripping square wave voltammetry (ASSWV) reveals the sensitivity and limit of detection as 9.51 μA μM−1 and 64 nM, respectively. The interfering ability of the other foreign molecules like metal ions, environmental samples, biomolecules, and pesticides was analyzed using CMK-3/GCE. The results revealed that the electrode is able to sense paraquat, with the retention in sensitivity ranges between 91% and 102%. The real-time applicability of the electrode was examined using vegetable and fruit extracts. The analysis revealed that the recovery values were between 102 % – 105 %.

Atmospheric correction of vegetation reflectance with simulation-trained deep learning for ground-based hyperspectral remote sensing

BackgroundVegetation spectral reflectance obtained with hyperspectral imaging (HSI) offer non-invasive means for the non-destructive study of their physiological status. The light intensity at visible and near-infrared wavelengths (VNIR, 0.4–1.0µm) captured by the sensor are composed of mixtures of spectral components that include the vegetation reflectance, atmospheric attenuation, top-of-atmosphere solar irradiance, and sensor artifacts. Common methods for the extraction of spectral reflectance from the at-sensor spectral radiance offer a trade-off between explicit knowledge of atmospheric conditions and concentrations, computational efficiency, and prediction accuracy, and are generally geared towards nadir pointing platforms. Therefore, a method is needed for the accurate extraction of vegetation reflectance from spectral radiance captured by ground-based remote sensors with a side-facing orientation towards the target, and a lack of knowledge of the atmospheric parameters.ResultsWe propose a framework for obtaining the vegetation spectral reflectance from at-sensor spectral radiance, which relies on a time-dependent Encoder-Decoder Convolutional Neural Network trained and tested using simulated spectra generated from radiative transfer modeling. Simulated at-sensor spectral radiance are produced from combining 1440 unique simulated solar angles and atmospheric absorption profiles, and 1000 different spectral reflectance curves of vegetation with various health indicator values, together with sensor artifacts. Creating an ensemble of 10 models, each trained and tested on a separate 10% of the dataset, results in the prediction of the vegetation spectral reflectance with a testing r2 of 98.1% (±0.4). This method produces consistently high performance with accuracies >90% for spectra with resolutions as low as 40 channels in VNIR each with 40 nm full width at half maximum (FWHM) and greater, and remains viable with accuracies >80% down to a resolution of 10 channels with 60 nm FWHM. When applied to real sensor obtained spectral radiance data, the predicted spectral reflectance curves showed general agreement and consistency with those corrected by the Compound Ratio method.ConclusionsWe propose a method that allows for the accurate estimation of the vegetation spectral reflectance from ground-based HSI platforms with sufficient spectral resolution. It is capable of extracting the vegetation spectral reflectance at high accuracy in the absence of knowledge of the exact atmospheric compositions and conditions at time of capture, and the lack of available sensor-measured spectral radiance and their true ground-truth spectral reflectance profiles.

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF EXTRACTS AND FRACTIONS OF BROSIMUM GAUDICHAUDII TRÉCUL AGAINST BACTERIA OF CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Medicinal plants constitute an arsenal of products with different potentials to be explored. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to assess the antimicrobial potential of the ethanolic extract from Brosimum gaudichaudii leaves and fractions against clinically important bacteria. The crude extracts and fractions from the leaves and stem bark were used against Escherichia coli, Klesbsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus strains. The crude extracts and the fractions were obtained by means of maceration in ethanol and chemically characterized. In the results of the phytochemical screening, the presence of a variety of secondary metabolites was verified, such as flavonoids, steroids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins and coumarins. The extracts and their fractions showed inhibitory activity for all three bacteria tested. The inhibition halo varied from 8±0.00 to 14±0.00 mm fir K. pneumoniae, from 8±0.00 to 10±0.00 mm for P. aeruginosa and from 8±0.00 to 9±0.00 mm for S. aureus. Among the fractions tested, the ethyl acetate fraction from both the stem and the leaves presented the best inhibition potential. This indicates that the Brosimum gaudichaudii Trécul vegetable extracts present antimicrobial potential. Such being the case, it is suggested to isolate the metabolites present in this fraction to delimit the main compounds responsible for the antimicrobial action.

Olive and sunflower cakes as suitable substrates for lipase production by Yarrowia spp.: From flasks to bioreactor

Solid state fermentation is a biotechnological process that allows the utilization of agro-industrial by-products as solid substrates for the growth of microorganisms, including filamentous fungi and yeasts, with the simultaneous production of added value compounds, like enzymes. Oil cakes, such as olive and sunflower cakes, are generated during vegetable oil extraction and have received great interest as solid substrates in SSF processes. In the present work, a 50% (w/w) mixture of olive and sunflower cakes was used as substrate in SSF for lipase production by several strains of Y. lipolytica and Y. divulgata. The strain of Y. lipolytica W29 was the best lipase producer under small scale SSF and studies were conducted to address important factors in scaling-up the process. Different bioreactors were used and the effect of aeration and agitation on lipase production was studied. Higher lipase activity was obtained in tray bioreactors, reaching 85 U/g (dry mass of substrates) after 48 h of SSF, while the operation in a horizontal drum bioreactor favored yeast growth, resulting in the highest yeast biomass production and a delay in lipase maximum activity. The scale-up of SSF for lipase production by Y. lipolytica has been successfully performed, showing that SSF is an interesting and eco-friendly bioprocessing strategy for the valorization of by-products from vegetable oil industries.

Phytochemical Investigation of Crude Methanol Extracts of Different Wild Vegetables from the Bhandara District of Maharashtra

Abstract: Background: Wild vegetables are available in different seasons throughout the year in the Bhandara district. It has been used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases including diabetes, immunity booster, cancer, infertility, anemia, jaundice, etc. also use as food. It’s good for humans because of the absence of synthetic chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers that are causing Endo-destructive. a phytochemical screening of five (Bauhinia varigata, Capparis zeylanica, Chenopodium album, Discoria bulbifera and Olax Only a few people know about it, especially those living near forest areas. Some use wild vegetables for animal fodder, and some throw away or burn wild vegetables as useless because unknown about the value of wild vegetables. However, comprehensive information on these wild vegetables is important. Therefore we aimed to provide comprehensive information on wild vegetables' ethnobotanical use, pharmacological activities and phytochemistry. Main body: The study includes imbricate) wild vegetables in methanolic extracts. Very important phytochemicals i.e. bioactive compounds are present in wild vegetables which are used to treat various diseases. Conclusion: the presence in the phytochemical wild vegetables makes them more important. Wild vegetables are used as medicines as well as food by local people in daily life. Wild vegetables are more nutritious for human health than cultivating vegetables containing chemicals.

Analysis of Total Phenol Levels in Moringa Extract (Moringa Oliefera Lamk.) in Vegetable Oil

Vegetable oil extract moringa leaf (Moringa Oleifera Lamk.) is an herbal oil that has the potential as a medicine. The study aimed to determine the content of secondary metabolites through photochemical tests and the total phenol content of Moringa leaf extract in extra virgin olive oil and virgin coconut oil. The extraction method used is hot maceration with various doses of Moringa leaves. The best amount is used by extraction with variations in temperature and heating time. The functional groups of herbal oils were identified using an FTIR spectrophotometer. Phytochemical test results showed that the vegetable oil extract of Moringa leaf contains secondary metabolites in the form of flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, alkaloids, steroids, and tannins. The highest total phenol content in Moringa leaf extract in virgin olive oil at a concentration of 40%, extraction temperature 50°C with a heating time of 2 hours with a total phenol content value of 15.78% GAE (Gallic Acid Equivalent). The results of the FTIR interpretation show that herbal oils have O-H, C-H, C=O, C=C aromatic, C-O, and aliphatic C-H functional groups.

Test of effectiveness Gadung tuber extract (Dioscorea hispida Dennst.) against cacao pod sucker pest (Helopeltis Spp.) in the laboratory

One of the obstacles in cacao cultivation is the presence of cacao pod sucking pest (Helopeltis spp.) which may lead to decrease the production 50-60%. Using vegetable pesticides extracts of gadung tuber (Dioscorea hispida Dennst.) is an alternative for controlling cacao pod sucking pest (Helopeltis spp.). This study aims to obtain an effective concentration of gadung tuber extract to control Helopeltis spp. The research was conducted at the Plant Pest Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Riau University. The study was conducted from September 2021 to November 2021. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments and three replications in order to obtain 15 experimental units. The treatments that given were the concentration of gadung tuber extract 0%, 70%, 80%, 90% and 100%. Observation parameters consist of the initial time of death, lethal time 50, daily mortality, total mortality, temperature and humidity. The results showed that the concentration of 90 g.l-1 water or 9% is an effective concentration for controlling cacao pod sucking pest (Helopeltis spp.) with an initial time of death of 4.66 hours, a lethal time of 50 at 14 hours and total mortality 86.66%.

Ingestion of vegetable salads before rice inhibits the increase in postprandial serum glucose levels in healthy subjects.

This study aims to confirm the "vegetable-first" effect. In addition, because we aimed dietary fiber in vegetable salad, the effect after the ingestion of vegetable salad extract (vegetable salad from which solids have been removed) before carbohydrates on postprandial serum glucose level was also evaluated. A total of 13 healthy men were given meals after one-night of fasting: rice-vegetable salad, vegetable salad-rice, and vegetable salad extract-rice. Blood samples were taken at 0, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120min after the ingestion of the test meal to measure serum glucose levels. Serum glucose levels were significantly lower after 45 and 60min in the vegetable salad-rice group compared to the rice-vegetable salad group. No significant difference was found between the vegetable salad extract-rice group and the vegetable salad-rice/rice-vegetable salad group. The result suggested that it might be important to ingest vegetables to obtain the "vegetable-first" effect.

Efficient food safety analysis for vegetables by a heteropore covalent organic framework derived silicone tube with flow-through purification

A heteropore covalent organic framework incorporated silicone tube (S-tube@PDA@COF) was used as adsorbent to purify the matrices in vegetable extracts. The S-tube@PDA@COF was fabricated by a facile in-situ growth method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and N2 adsorption-desorption. The as-prepared composite exhibited high removal efficiency of phytochromes and recovery (81.13–116.62%) of 15 chemical hazards from 5 representative vegetable samples. This study opens a promising avenue toward the facile synthesis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs)-derived silicone tubes for streamline operation in food sample pretreatment.

Comprehensive analysis of commercial biopesticides using UHPLC and GC-HRMS: Targeted, suspect and unknown component determination

15 commercial biopesticides (CBs), based on vegetable extracts and oils, were characterized. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and gas chromatography (GC) coupled to a hybrid high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analyser, such as quadrupole (Q)-Orbitrap, were used. Both targeted and untargeted (suspect and unknown modes) analyses were carried out. For the targeted analysis, a database was built, encompassing volatile and non-volatile compounds commonly found in vegetable extracts and oils. This database comprised 27 LC-amenable compounds and 31 GC-amenable compounds. 17 targeted compounds were quantified, and 101 compounds were tentatively identified by untargeted analysis. CBs based on essential oils, such as orange oil or cinnamon extract contained the highest number of detected compounds. Monoterpenes (limonene or linalool), and sesquiterpenes (δ-cadinene or γ-elemene) were mainly found. Moreover, some co-formulants such as dibutyl phthalate or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were also detected. The concentration of targeted natural compounds ranged from 2 mg/L (linalool) to 450 g/L (trans-cinnamaldehyde).

Utilization of Various Vegetable Insecticides to Control Grayak Caterpillars (Spodoptera litura) on Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) in Laboratory

The aim of this study was to observe the effect of various vegetable insecticide extracts on controlling armyworm (Spodoptera litura) on soybean plants in the laboratory. The research was conducted at the Plant Protection Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Medan Area, from November 2021 to April 2022, using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) Non Factorial, consisting of 7 treatment levels, namely: N0 = no treatment (control), N1 = Mindi leaf extract concentration 5% (50 m/l water), N2 = Mindi leaf extract 10% (100 ml.l water), N3 = Mindi leaf extract concentration 15% (150 m/l water), N4 Babadotan concentration 5 % (50 ml/l air), N5 = 10% concentration of Babadotan leaf extract (100 ml/lair), N6 = 15% concentration of Babadotan leaf extract (150 ml/lair), with repetition 3. Parameters observed for Armyworm Mortality (%), LC50, LT50, the proportion of the effectiveness of vegetable insecticides on armyworm mortality and the amount of feed consumed. The results showed that the application of vegetable insecticides had a significant and very significant effect on armyworm mortality from 4 days after application to 10 days after application with the highest mortality proportion at a concentration of 15%. The LC50 values of the plant insecticides mindi leaves and babadotan leaves were almost the same, namely 4.69 and 4.48%. The LT 50 value for a concentration of 15% showed that babadotan leaf extract was faster than mindi leaf extract, namely mindi leaves 5.145 days and babadotan leaves 4.633 days. Concentrations of 10 and 15 % of the 2 plant extracts tested showed the same effectiveness on mortality of S. litura caterpillars and higher dissolving concentrations of 5%. The amount of feed consumed was also significantly different with the highest amount of feed in the control treatment (60.75 g) followed by the treatment of mindi leaves and babadotan leaves at concentrations of 15, 10, and 5%.

Philodulcilactobacillus myokoensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a fructophilic, acidophilic, and agar-phobic lactic acid bacterium isolated from fermented vegetable extracts.

Lactic acid bacteria are commonly in the fermentation industry and pose potential positive effects on health. In this study, a new lactic acid bacterium was isolated from fermented vegetable extracts in Myoko, Niigata, Japan. This bacterium is fructophilic, acidophilic, and hard to grow on agar medium. The isolate is Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile, rod-shaped, and catalase-negative. Growth occurred at pH 3.5-5.5, with optimal growth at pH 4.5-5.0. The cells formed colonies on a solid MRS medium with 20% (w/v) sucrose and 0.8% (w/v) gellan gum under anaerobic conditions. The bacterium was able to grow on up to 50% (w/v) sucrose but not on d-glucose. Moreover, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the strain was most closely related to Apilactobacillus ozensis (93.1% sequence similarity). The values of average nucleotide identity, digital DNA-DNA hybridization, average amino acid sequence identity, and amino acid identity of conserved genes were calculated between the isolated strain (type strain is WR16-4T = NBRC 115064T = DSM 112857T) and its phylogenetically closest type strains. The average nucleotide identity values (73.36-78.28%) and DNA-DNA hybridization values (16.3-32.9%) were significantly lower than the threshold values for species boundaries. The average amino acid sequence identity values (53.96-60.88%) were significantly below the threshold boundary of genus demarcation (68%). The amino acid identity of conserved genes values compared to strain WR16-4T were the genera Apilactobacillus, Nicoliella spurrieriana SGEP1_A5T, Acetilactobacillus jinshanensis HSLZ-75T, and Fructilactobacillus were 62.51-63.79%, 62.87%, 62.03%, and 58.00-61.04%, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene and core genome phylogenetic trees suggested that this novel strain was most closely related to the type strain of A. jinshanensis HSLZ-75T. Based on the physiological, morphological, and phenotypical characteristics of strain WR16-4T, we propose its classification as a novel genus, Philodulcilactobacillus myokoensis gen. nov., sp. nov.

Estimation of the Controlled Release of Antioxidants from β-Cyclodextrin/Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) or Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.), Asteraceae, Hydrophilic Extract Complexes through the Fast and Cheap Spectrophotometric Technique.

This is the first study on the modeling of the controlled release of the estimated antioxidants (flavonoids or flavonolignans) from β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)/hydrophilic vegetable extract complexes and the modeling of transdermal pharmaceutical formulations based on these complexes using an overall estimation by the spectrophotometric method. The Korsmeyer-Peppas model was chosen for evaluating the release mechanisms. β-CD/chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L., Asteraceae) ethanolic extract and β-CD/milk thistle (Silybum marianum L., Asteraceae) ethanolic extract complexes were obtained by the co-crystallization method with good recovering yields of 55-76%, slightly lower than for β-CD/silibinin or silymarin complexes (~87%). According to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Karl Fischer water titration (KFT), the thermal stability of complexes is similar to β-CD hydrate while the hydration water content is lower, revealing the formation of molecular inclusion complexes. In the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, β-CD/M. chamomilla flower extract complexes reveal Case II transport mechanisms, while the corresponding complexes with leaf extracts indicate non-Fickian diffusion for the controlled release of antioxidants in ethanol 60 and 96%. The same non-Fickian diffusion was revealed by β-CD/S. marianum extract and β-CD/silibinin complexes. On the contrary, almost all model transdermal pharmaceutical formulations based on β-CD/M. chamomilla extract complexes and all those based on β-CD/S. marianum extract complexes revealed non-Fickian diffusion for the antioxidant release. These results indicate that H-bonding is mainly involved in the diffusion of antioxidants into a β-CD based matrix, while the controlled release of antioxidants in model formulations is mainly due to hydrophobic interactions. Results obtained in this study can be further used for studying the particular antioxidants (namely rutin or silibinin, quantified, for example, by liquid chromatographic techniques) for their transdermal transport and biological effects in innovatively designed pharmaceutical formulations that can be obtained using "green" methods and materials.

The role of quantum-chemical descriptors and sigma-profile overlapping of different co-solvents on tuning ethanolic extraction of soybean oil

Co-solvents can significantly improve ethanol efficiency in vegetable oil extraction, making their use a viable, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative to conventional solvents. The challenge, however, is to understand the complex interactions between the solvents and how this can affect the yield and quality of the extracted oil. In this study, the COnductor-like Screening Model with Segment Activity Coefficient and Hansen solubility parameters were combined and used to optimize soybean oil extraction using ethanol along with seven different co-solvents. In parallel, an experimental approach was carried out to verify the accuracy of the models. Both theoretical and empirical results indicated that the oil extraction yield decreased as the co-solvent polarity increased. The best performance in solubilizing non-polar lipids was observed for the mixture of 10 wt% of p-cymene, a non-polar solvent, with 90 wt% ethanol, reaching a yield of 24.35 g/100 g. According to the thermodynamic analysis, the effects of polarity weigh heavily on the standard entropy, which rules the driving force of mass transfer during the extraction. The interaction mechanisms were carefully investigated employing quantum mechanical calculations, revealing how the differences in chemical potential (μ), hardness (η), and electrophilicity (ω) underlie the macroscopic results and rule the efficiency obtained for different solvent ratios and combinations.

A surface plasmon resonance nanostructure containing graphene and BaTiO3 layers for sensitive defection of organic compounds.

Organic compound-based sensors are used in a variety of significant fields, including medical research, azeotropic calibration, vegetable oil extraction, the shoe industry and geothermal power plants. Here, a high-performance, two-dimensional material-based organic compound sensor has been proposed using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) nanostructure consisting of a BK7 glass prism, Ag, BaTiO3, Ag, graphene and sensing layer. The reflectivity curves of the SPR device have been investigated when the sensing media are Pentane, n-Hexane, n-Heptane and n-Octane. The thickness of the BaTiO3 layer and the number of graphene sheets have been optimized to maximize the sensitivity. The highest sensitivity attained is 220.83 deg/RIU for n-Octane with 45 nm silver/10 nm BaTiO3/8 nm silver and four layers of graphene. We believe that the SPR-based sensors are simple and can replace the spectrometry, chromatography and electrochemical based sensors. The proposed design is extremely effective for diverse applications in biological, industrial and chemical detection because of its simple structure and great performance.

Actividad biológica de los aceites de semillas de Annona muricata y A. cherimola

Vegetable extracts have become important raw materials for food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries because of their biological potential. The objective of this study was toassess the biological activity of vegetable oils (VOs) extracted from Annona muricata and A. cherimola. Antibacterial activity was determined by plaque microdilution. The assessment of hemolytic inhibition and morphological alterations was performed in erythrocyte cultures by spectrophotometry and microscopy, respectively. Neutrophils were used to analyze both cytotoxicity by the trypan blue exclusion method and the effect on gelatinase granule release (MMP9) via zymography. Whereas VOs showed a mild antibacterial activity (900 μL/mL) on five ATCC bacterial strains, they had no effect on multi-resistant bacteria. In addition, VOs inhibited hydrogen peroxide induced hemolysis and did not cause erythrocyte cell abnormalities. Cytotoxicity was not detected in neutrophils and VOs were able to stimulate MMP9 release. These results support their potential use by the food and cosmetic industries due to their antioxidant, non-cytotoxic, and slight antibacterial capacities

Plant extracts from mediterranean vegetation in the cultivation and defence of Plectranthus coleidos and Plectranthus amboinicus

Research objective: This research aims to evaluate the biostimulant potential of some Mediterranean vegetation extracts for the stimulation and defence of some Plectranthus amboinicus and Plectranthus coleidos plants. This is to increase knowledge on these plant extracts that could be used for the formulation of new plant biostimulants. Materials and Methods: The experiments, which started in May 2022, were conducted in the greenhouses of CREA-OF in Pescia (Pt), Tuscany, Italy (43°54′N 10°41′E) on Plectranthus amboinicus and Plectranthus coleidos. The experimental groups were: group control; group with oak macerated; group with myrtus macerated; group with wild fennel macerated; group with lentiscus macerated; group with inula macerated. On January 20, 2023, plant height, leaves number, vegetative weight, roots volume and length, the number of microorganisms in the substrate, plant dead number and pH were determined. Results and Discussion: The experiment showed that the use of plant extracts as biostimulants can significantly improve vegetative and root growth and reduce plant mortality of Plectranthus amboinicus and Plectranthus coleidos. In general, a significant increase in plant height and number of leaves as well as vegetative and root biomass was observed in plants treated with all plant biostimulants, particularly with the treatments of macerated oak, macerated fennel and macerated inula. The treatments with macerated oak and macerated fennel were the best in all two Plectranthus species. Observations conducted on treatments with phytotherapeutic agents demonstrate their effectiveness as stimulants of the plants' self-defence mechanisms. In addition, some preparations appear to act as repellents and substances that make many pests lose their appetite or stimulus to feed. Their activity seems to be determined by the minerals and certain molecules present in the plants used to prepare the macerates. This is why some of these substances have been placed under observation by scientific research to verify their effects. However, the objective difficulty of obtaining reproducible results limits research and experimentation activities in this field and directs them towards the characterisation of the active ingredients that play a primary role in insecticide, fungicide, bactericide or herbicide action. Conclusions: Herbal medicines are always used in aqueous form by performing the treatment with an atomiser or, more rarely, by adding the extract to irrigation water. The extract is obtained by steeping the herbs in water or by preparing an infusion or decoction. The test showed that the use of extracts obtained from plants by macerating Mediterranean shrub species can have biostimulant activity against aromatic succulents such as Plectranthus amboinicus and Plectranthus coleidos. Very interesting aspects especially with regard to the study of new formulations obtained from plants and applicable in organic farming.

Phytochemical and Biological Screening of Catholic Vegetable (Jatropha Tanjorensis) Aqueous Extract in Bali, Taraba State, Nigeria

Jatropha tanjorensis has been used as a medicinal herb in treatment and management of disease because they are relatively safer, more affordable and sometimes offers better therapeutic value than synthetic drugs. The study investigated the phytochemical and biological screening of catholic vegetable (Jatropha tanjorensis) aqueous extract with the objectives of evaluating some secondary metabolites in the plant using standard qualitative methods and ascertaining the antimicrobial effect of Jatropha tanjorensis aqueous leave extract on bacteria of medical importance such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli using the agar well diffusion method. The results revealed that the extract of the leaf of J. tanjorensis contain some important bioactive components (phytochemicals) in a high amount such as saponins followed by flavonoids, alkaloid and tannins in moderate amount whereas phenol, phlobatannins and glycosides are in low amount. It also shows that the extract was active against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, K. pneumonia and S. typhi measuring clear zones of inhibition 30.0mm, 22.0mm, 19.0mm, 18.0mm and 17.0mm respectively. Thus, the exhibition of strong antibacterial activity and phytochemical profiles obtained from the analyses of J. tanjorensis leaf indicated that it might be recommended for human consumption and adequate amount of consumption could contribute greatly towards meeting human nutritional needs for normal body growth and adequate protection and curative measures to common diseases related to the test organisms.

Outlook on Chronic Venous Disease Treatment: Phytochemical Screening, In Vitro Antioxidant Activity and In Silico Studies for Three Vegetal Extracts.

Chronic venous disease is one of the most common vascular diseases; the signs and symptoms are varied and are often neglected in the early stages. Vascular damage is based on proinflammatory, prothrombotic, prooxidant activity and increased expression of several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The aim of this research is preparation and preliminary characterization of three vegetal extracts (Sophorae flos-SE, Ginkgo bilobae folium-GE and Calendulae flos-CE). The obtained dry extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening (FT-ICR-MS, UHPLC-HRMS/MS) and quantitative analysis (UHPLC-HRMS/MS, spectrophotometric methods). Antioxidant activity was evaluated using three methods: FRAP, DPPH and ABTS. More than 30 compounds were found in each extract. The amount of flavones follows the succession: SE > GE > CE; the amount of phenolcarboxylic acids follows: SE > CE > GE; and the amount of polyphenols follows: SE > GE > CE. Results for FRAP method varied as follows: SE > CE > GE; results for the DPPH method followed: SE > GE > CE; and results for ABTS followed: SE > GE > CE. Strong and very strong correlations (appreciated by Pearson coefficient) have been observed between antioxidant activity and the chemical content of extracts. Molecular docking studies revealed the potential of several identified phytochemicals to inhibit the activity of four MMP isoforms. In conclusion, these three extracts have potential in the treatment of chronic venous disease, based on their phytochemical composition.