Allium Fistulosum Research Articles

Effect of Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.) green leaf extract on immune response in healthy subjects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Background: Welsh onion belongs to genus allium. Although its medicinal benefit such as cold prevention is well known by tradition, the underlying mechanism and active components have never been elucidated. The recent study revealed that Welsh onion mucus enhances tumor necrosis factor-α and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 production from RAW 264 cells and natural killer (NK) cell activity in murine spleen cells. This mucilage was abundant in the leaf blade of Welsh onion. Thus, we investigated the effect of Welsh onion green leaf extract (GLE) on immune competence in the human clinical trial. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Fifty-five healthy subjects were enrolled after the screening based on NK cell activity, and each sample (placebo, low-dose GLE or high-dose GLE) was supplemented for four weeks. The immune competence activity was evaluated through the primary endpoints that were NK cell activity and the score of immunological vigor (SIV). The SIV was calculated from lymphocyte subset analysis by flow cytometry method.Results: NK cell activity was enhanced in all supplemented groups including placebo, especially, it was significant in both GLE groups. The result of immune score showed that the immunity of high-dose GLE group did not change although it was significantly lowered in placebo group (p<0.01), suggesting that GLE ameliorated the immunity suppression. In addition, when SIV was compared between pre- and post-intake, the ratios of the improved subjects in two GLE groups were higher than that of placebo group while those of the aggravated subjects showed the opposite result. In particular, they were remarkable in high-dose GLE group.Conclusion: These results suggest that the intake of low- or high-dose GLE might positively regulate immune competence.Keywords: welsh onion, immunity, natural killer cell, clinical trial

緑肥用オオムギを間作した露地ネギ圃場のネギおよびオオムギにおけるアザミウマ類（アザミウマ目：アザミウマ科）およびキイカブリダニ（ダニ目：カブリダニ科）の発生消長

緑肥用オオムギを間作した露地ネギ圃場のネギおよびオオムギにおけるアザミウマ類（アザミウマ目：アザミウマ科）およびキイカブリダニ（ダニ目：カブリダニ科）の発生消長

Analysis of benzotriazole influence on some morphological and physiological characteristics of <i>Allium fistulosum</i>

The increase in anthropogenic pressure has led to the need for model experiments to assess the ability of organisms to adapt to xenobiotics. The study of negative effects is usually carried out in laboratories using animals as test objects, while it is more interesting to study tolerance and adaptive capabilities in plant organisms, because, unlike animals, they are not able to leave an area uncomfortable for existence. In order to obtain an objective response in experiments, it is necessary to choose test objects related to species that are ubiquitous in ecosystems, and xenobiotics that are widely used and able to enter the environment. Allium fistulosum L. was used in model experiments and was affected by benzotriazole to study the possibility of developing an adaptive response in plants to anthropogenic pollutants. Plants were preadapted to a toxic dose of benzotriazole at a concentration of 0,1 mg/ml, by exposure to alcohol solutions of benzotriazole at a concentration of 0,0001 mg/ml or 0,001 mg/ml, and the time of preliminary exposure varied from 1 day to 4 days, then test objects germinated in a solution of high concentration. There were three controls, where the seeds were germinated for five days in all three used concentrations of benzotriazole, as well as in a solvent, which was 0,5% isopropyl alcohol. The possibility of adaptive response was assessed using two morphophysiological indicators, these were the germination of seeds and the average root length on the fifth day of the experiment. Experiments have shown that a solution of benzotriazole at a concentration of 0,1 mg/ml inhibits seeds germination and roots growth compared with the control (germination in 0,5% isopropyl alcohol), while at a concentration of 0,0001 mg/ml it stimulates. Exposure to low concentrations reliably creates a preadaptation to the toxic dose, but the responses significantly differ in effectiveness depending on the duration of preadaptation and the concentration of the substance. The greatest effect on the toxic effect of benzotriazole is created by preadaptation in low concentrations over 3 days. Possible preadaptation mechanisms are discussed.

First report of Dickeya fangzhongdai causing soft rot disease of Welsh onion in Taiwan

First report of Dickeya fangzhongdai causing soft rot disease of Welsh onion in Taiwan

WELSH ONION (ALLIUM FISTULOSUM) VARIETY ‘PREMYERA’ FOR CONDITIONS OF THE SOUTH OF WESTERN SIBERIA

The cultivation of perennial onions may increase the availability of green leaves in the early spring period and reduce the problem of vitamin deficiency. Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) is one of the most demanded crops of the perennial onion group both in commercial and household vegetable growing. This is quite low maintenance crop with a number of positive qualities and properties. The factor that constrains the spread of this crop and its most intensive introduction in commercial growing is the lack of varieties adapted to the growing conditions. The plant breeders of the Altai Region have made major efforts for collecting the source material of Welsh onion, studying it further and conducting the selection. As a result, the clones with economically valuable characters were selected from the candidate varieties. In 2016, the candidate variety No. 44 was submitted to the State Variety Testing, it went through the trials successfully, and was included in the State Register of Selection Achievements as Premyera variety. The variety is middle-ripening, the period from the mass regrowth of leaves to the beginning of economic life is 20-28 days. One of its main practical advantages is late formation of flower shoots (4-14 June), which makes it possible to extend the period of economic validity of landings. According to the results of tests, on average for three years, the new variety in marketable yield exceeds the standard Nezhnost with a onetime cleaning per year of sowing by 32.2% and with cuttings in perennial crops by 39.7%.

Microbial basis of Fusarium wilt suppression by Allium cultivation

Crop rotation and intercropping with Allium plants suppresses Fusarium wilt in various crops. However, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have not been fully elucidated. This study was designed to assess the role of microorganisms inhabiting Allium rhizospheres and antifungal compounds produced by Allium roots in Fusarium wilt suppression by Allium cultivation. Suppression of cucumber Fusarium wilt and the pathogen multiplication by Allium (Welsh onion and/or onion)-cultivated soils were eliminated by heat treatment at 60 °C, whereas those by Welsh onion-root extract were lost at 40 °C. The addition of antibacterial antibiotics eliminated the suppressive effect of Welsh onion-cultivated soil on pathogen multiplication, suggesting the contribution of antagonistic gram-negative bacteria to the soil suppressiveness. The Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons revealed that genus Flavobacterium was the predominant group that preferentially accumulated in Allium rhizospheres. Flavobacterium species recovered from the rhizosphere soils of these Allium plants suppressed Fusarium wilt on cucumber seedlings. Furthermore, confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that Flavobacterium isolates inhibited the multiplication of the pathogen in soil. Taken together, we infer that the accumulation of antagonistic Flavobacterium species plays a key role in Fusarium wilt suppression by Allium cultivation.

The complete chloroplast genome of Allium fistulosum

The complete chloroplast genome of Allium fistulosum (Bunching onion) was determined. The length of the complete chloroplast genome is 153,164 bp. The whole chloroplast genome consists of 82,237 bp long single copy (LSC) and 17,907 bp small single copy (SSC) regions, separated by a pair of 26,510 bp inverted repeat (IR) regions. The Allium fistulosum chloroplast genome encodes 114 annotated known unique genes including 80 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes.

Green synthesis of nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots from Allium fistulosum for cell imaging

Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots were synthesised via Allium fistulosum, that exhibit low cytotoxicity and provide good optical stability for cell imaging.

EDIBLE ALLIUM SPECIES: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTH EFFECTS

Since ancient times edible Alliums play an important role in human diet and traditional medicine. The most commonly cultivated Allium species are onion (Allium cepa L), garlic (Allium sativum L), leek (Allium ampeloprasum L.), chive (Allium schoenoprasum L) and Welsh or Japanese bunching onion (Allium fistulosum L.). These species are rich sources of biologically active compounds such as flavonoids, organosulfur compounds and saponins. Numerous studies we reviewed in this paper, confirmed their significant antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and anticancer activities, which makes them an important source of phytonutrients that can contribute to the protection and preservation of human health.

Development of growth media for seedling production in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-based cultivation of Welsh onion

Development of growth media for seedling production in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-based cultivation of Welsh onion

Drill-Fertilizing Cultivation Effects on Welsh Onion Root Growth and Primary Growth

Drill-Fertilizing Cultivation Effects on Welsh Onion Root Growth and Primary Growth

The Occurrence State of Alternaria Leaf Spot and Leaf Blight Diseases of Welsh Onion in Summer and Autumn at Western Area in Shizuoka Prefecture

The Occurrence State of Alternaria Leaf Spot and Leaf Blight Diseases of Welsh Onion in Summer and Autumn at Western Area in Shizuoka Prefecture

Effect of bulb set girth and plant density on production of green bunch onion (Allium cepa L.) under rain-fed conditions at Blue Nile State, Sudan

Effect of bulb set girth and plant density on production of green bunch onion (Allium cepa L.) under rain-fed conditions at Blue Nile State, Sudan

PROSPECTS OF PRODUCTION OF ALLIUM SEEDS SPROUTS FORTIFIED WITH SELENIUM

Sprouts of agricultural crops seeds are considered to be functional food products with high content of antioxidants. Though seeds of Allium species plants are used in some countries as spices the possibilities of appropriate sprouts utilization have never been investigated so far. Evaluation of perennial and A. cepa seeds biofortification with selenium revealed high nutritional value of the resulting sprouts characterized not only by high selenium content exclusively in a form of selenomethyl selenocysteine (a natural anti carcinogen) but also with high levels of antioxidant activity and high polyphenol content. It was demonstrated that among seven studied representatives of Allium species Allium cepa variety Krasnoye krugevo and perennial onion Allium fistulosum give seeds sprouts with the highest levels of selenium (10500-11000 μg/kg d.w.), polyphenols (9.3-10.8 mg-eq GA/g d.w) and the largest values of antioxidant activity (14.7-17.1 mg-eq GA/g d.w.). Utilization of one g of dried seeds sprouts powder, fortified with selenium provides up to 15.7% of the adequate consumption level of selenium exclusively in a form of selenomethyl selenocysteine possessing powerful anti carcinogenic activity.

Extraction, Characterization and Antioxidant Activity in vitro of Proteins from Semen Allii Fistulosi.

Semen Allii Fistulosi (PSAF) is the seed of Allium fistulosum L. of the Liliaceae family. The purpose of this study was to extract, characterize, and evaluate the antioxidant activity in vitro of proteins. Using single factor and orthogonal design, the optimum conditions of extraction were determined to be as follows: extraction time 150 min, pH 8.5, temperature 60 °C, and ratio (v/w, mL/g) of extraction solvent to raw material 35. The isoelectric point of the pH was determined to be about 4.4 and 10.2, by measuring the protein content of PSAF solutions at different pH values. The amino acid composition of PSAF was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the results suggested that the species of amino acids contained in the PSAF was complete. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) analysis showed the molecular weight was mainly between 40 and 55 kDa, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) characterized prevalent protein absorption peaks. PSAF exhibited potent scavenging activities against DPPH assays, via targeting of hydroxyl and superoxide radicals, while chelating Fe2+ activity and demonstrating weak reducing power. This work revealed that PSAF possessed potential antioxidant activity in vitro, suggesting potential for use of PSAF as a natural antioxidant.

Vegetables cultivated with exposure to pure and naturally occurring β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) via irrigation

Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), a potent neurotoxin, has been demonstrated in various food webs. It is alarming as this intensification of BMAA will result in exposure to higher concentrations from a direct cyanobacterial source. As more food items are being identified as a source of BMAA and with the large variations in BMAA content, the aim of the present study was to evaluate BMAA uptake by, and accumulation in, two commonly consumed vegetables, Lactuca sativa and Allium fistulosum. Plants exposed to pure BMAA in controlled laboratory experiments, as well as vegetables naturally irrigated with water containing a BMAA producing cyanobacterial bloom were evaluated during growth and ripening. In the laboratory exposures, free BMAA was detected in both the edible ripe parts of L. sativa and A. fistulosum after 60 days of exposure to a total of 4.5 µg BMAA. However, in the bloom exposure samples no BMAA could be detected in the ripe vegetables of A. fistulosum, Cucurbita pepo, or Brassica rapa chinensis. The study emphasises the need to further screen items for BMAA to understand the human exposure risk as well as the difference between BMAA uptake patterns with free BMAA and that contained in cyanobacterial cells.

Understanding the effect of Pulsed Electric Fields on multilayered solid plant foods: Bunching onions (Allium fistulosum) as a model system

While it is well known that the nature of the applied electric field and the heterogeneity of the tissue can influence the impact of PEF treatment on the plant tissues found in plant-based foods, few studies have investigated the influence of PEF on plant structures that are made up of multiple structurally similar organs. The aim of this study was to understand the effect of pulsed electric fields (PEF), at different electric field strengths (0, 0.3, 0.7 and 1.2 kV/cm) and specific energy (7, 21 and 52 kJ/kg), on a multilayered plant material, with bunching onion bulb tissues being used as a model system. The present study found that carbohydrates leakage was an appropriate index to assess PEF induced damage and that plasmolysis of epidermal cells was a good indicator of plasma membrane integrity after PEF. In addition, electric field strength had a greater impact on the cell integrity than specific energy applied. While other studies have shown that different cell types have different sensitivities to PEF, using plasmolysis as an indicator of cell damage, this study clearly showed that the same PEF treatment conditions had a greater effect on the epidermal cells of the outer scales compared to the inner scales. Hence, while different plant cell types vary in their sensitivities to PEF the spatial location of the same cell type within a complex plant material made up of multiple similar organs, i.e. an onion bulb, can also influence how cells respond to the PEF treatment. Despite PEF induced disruption at the cellular level being detected by carbohydrate leakage, the epidermal cell plasmolysis test and by cryo-scanning electromicroscopy (cryo-SEM), no gross structural changes at the organ level were observed using cryo-SEM or fluorescence microscopy. This study also reports for the first time that PEF treatment can enhance fructan leakage from onion bulbs, which means that PEF treatments have the potential to manipulate the fructan contents of some plant-based foods.

Impact of Pulsed Electric Fields on the Volatile Compounds Produced in Whole Onions (Allium cepa and Allium fistulosum).

The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of pulsed electric field (PEF) processing on the volatile compounds produced in onion cultivars. The changes in the volatile compounds of onions were assessed comparing results observed while measured immediately and 24 h after PEF treatment using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). Significant increases in the concentrations of propanethial S-oxide, propenyl propyl thiosulfinate, 2-methyl-2-pentenal, dipropyl disulfide, propenyl propyl disulfide, methyl propyl disulfide, and methyl propenyl disulfide were observed immediately after PEF treatment. The concentrations of propenyl propyl thiosulfinate, dipropyl disulfide, methyl propyl disulfide, dipropyl trisulfide, methyl propyl trisulfide, and propenyl propyl trisulfide increased after 24 h compared to initial concentrations. It is postulated that these changes are due to PEF-induced cell permeabilisation that facilitates enzyme-substrate reactions after the PEF treatment.

Effects of indigenous and introduced arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of Allium fistulosum under field conditions

ABSTRACTEnhanced phosphorus (P) uptake from the soil and increased plant growth related to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in pot culture, using sterilized soil, are well-known phenomena. However, these enhancements are not widely observed under field conditions because field sterilization is difficult. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of AM fungi on P uptake and the growth of Allium fistulosum in non-fumigated and fumigated fields, under different levels of P availability. Plants were inoculated with the AM fungus Glomus R-10 and grown in fumigated soil. For the uninoculated treatment, a sterilized inoculum was applied directly. The field was fumigated using dazomet. Superphosphate was applied to the field at the rates of 0 (P0) or 500 (P500) kg P2O5 ha−1. The inoculated and uninoculated plants were transplanted into the fields and sampled three times to measure AM fungal colonization, shoot P concentration, and shoot dry weight of the plants. At the transplanting stage, AM fungal colonization was observed in the inoculated plants (>70%) but not in the uninoculated plants. At the third sampling, irrespective of P treatment, AM fungal colonization was observed both in the uninoculated and inoculated plants in the non-fumigated field, and there was no difference in shoot P content and shoot dry weight between the inoculated and uninoculated plants. AM fungal colonization in the fumigated field was higher in the inoculated than uninoculated plants, irrespective of P treatment; shoot P content and shoot dry weight were both higher in the inoculated plants than in the uninoculated plants with P0. These results suggest that the responses of A. fistulosum to AM fungal inoculation under the low-P and fumigated conditions are similar to those observed in sterilized pot culture conditions.

Welsh Onion Root (Allium fistulosum) Restores Ovarian Functions from Letrozole Induced-Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine, metabolic, and systemic disease. It is mainly characterized by hyperandrogenism, oligomenorrhea, and high levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). There is no obvious therapy for PCOS, so patients have received symptomatic therapy. Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) is well-known in Asian countries for its usage in food ingredients and traditional medicines. It is also studied for its many effects. These include activation of immune responses, antihypertensive effects, and antioxidant effects. Using letrozole-induced PCOS rats, we focused on herbal therapy using extract of Allium fistulosum (AF; A. fistulosum) roots to improve ovarian functions. As a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor, letrozole blocks conversion of testosterone to estrogen and subsequently induces PCOS phenomenon. We divided six-week-old female rats into four groups, including control, letrozole, letrozole + AF extract, and temporary letrozole groups. In our study, treatment with AF extract shows a low plasma LH/FSH ratio, and reveals high estrogen levels, ovarian morphology, folliculogenesis-related genes, and aromatase expression under PCOS mimic conditions. We concluded that AF extract administration influenced aromatase production, enhanced the estrogen steroid synthesis, and consequently restored the estrogenic feedback mechanism on the pituitary-ovary system.