Xylem conductivity of petioles and primary stem tissues at stem terminals of herbaceous plant species1

Nigella sativa, also known as black cumin, an annual herbaceous plant growing especially in Mediterranean countries, has recently gained considerable interest not only for its use as spice and condiment but also for its healthy properties of the fixed and essential oil and its potential as a biofuel. Nigella sativa seeds fixed oil, due to its high content in linoleic acid followed by oleic and palmitic acid, could be beneficial to human health. The objective of this study is to determine the optimum conditions for the solvent extraction of Nigella sativa seeds fixed oil using a three-level, three-factor Box-Behnken design (BBD) under response surface methodology (RSM). The obtained experimental data, fitted by a second-order polynomial equation were analysed by Pareto analysis of variance (ANOVA). From a total of 10 coefficients of the statistical model only 5 are important. The obtained experimental values agreed with the predicted ones.

Download Full-text

Trophic Cascades in Grasslands

10.1093/oso/9780198744511.003.0005 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Brian J. Wilsey

Keyword(s):

Indirect Effects ◽

Prey Species ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Herbaceous Plant ◽

Direct Effects ◽

Temperate Grasslands ◽

Cascading Effect ◽

Top Predators ◽

Invertebrate Predators ◽

Ecology Of Fear

Top predators have effects that can ‘cascade down’ on lower trophic levels. Because of this cascading effect, it matters how many trophic levels are present. Predators are either ‘sit and wait’ or ‘active’. Wolves are top predators in temperate grasslands and can alter species composition of smaller-sized predators, prey, and woody and herbaceous plant species, either through direct effects or indirect effects (‘Ecology of Fear’). In human derived grasslands, invertebrate predators fill a similar ecological role as wolves. Migrating populations of herbivores tend to be more limited by food than non-migratory populations. The phenology and synchrony of births vary among prey species in a way that is consistent with an adaptation to predation. Precocious species have highly synchronous birth dates to satiate predators. Non-precocious species (‘hiders’) have asynchronous births. Results from studies that manipulate both predators and food support the hypothesis that bottom-up and top-down effects interact.

Download Full-text

The phenobs initiative – A standardised protocol for monitoring phenological responses to climate change using herbaceous plant species in botanical gardens

Functional Ecology ◽

10.1111/1365-2435.13747 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Birgit Nordt ◽

Isabell Hensen ◽

Solveig Franziska Bucher ◽

Martin Freiberg ◽

Richard B. Primack ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Plant Species ◽

Herbaceous Plant ◽

Botanical Gardens

Download Full-text

Phytoremediation Potential of Native Herbaceous Plant Species Growing on a Paradigmatic Brownfield Site

Water Air & Soil Pollution ◽

10.1007/s11270-021-05234-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 232 (7) ◽

Author(s):

N. Matanzas ◽

E. Afif ◽

T. E. Díaz ◽

J. R. Gallego

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

Native Species ◽

Low Cost ◽

Plantago Lanceolata ◽

Herbaceous Plant ◽

Plant Interactions ◽

Aerial Parts ◽

Medicago Lupulina ◽

Icp Ms

AbstractPhytomanagement techniques using native species allow the recovery of contaminated soils at low cost and circumvent the ecological risks associated with the use of non-native species. In this context, a paradigmatic brownfield megasite highly contaminated by As and Pb was sampled in order to analyze soil–plant interactions and identify plant species with phytoremediation potential. A survey was first carried out in a 20-ha area to obtain an inventory of species growing spontaneously throughout the site. We then performed another survey in the most polluted sub-area (1 ha) within the site. Pseudototal concentrations of contaminants in the soil, aerial parts of the plants, and roots were measured by ICP-MS. A detailed habitat classification was done, and a specific index of coverage was applied by means of a 1-year quadrat study in various sampling stations. Results converged in the selection of six herbaceous species (Dysphania botrys, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus hispidus, Plantago lanceolata, Trifolium repens, Medicago lupulina). All of these plants are fast-growing, thereby making them suitable for use in phytostabilization strategies. Furthermore, they are all easy to grow and propagate and are generally self-sustaining. All six plants showed accumulation factors below 1, thus revealing them as pseudomethallophytes and excluders. However, L. hispidus and M. lupulina showed translocation capacity and are considered worthy of further study.

Download Full-text

Andrographis paniculata and Its Main Bioactive Ingredient Andrographolide Decrease Alcohol Drinking and Seeking in Rats Through Activation of Nuclear PPARγ Pathway

Alcohol and Alcoholism ◽

10.1093/alcalc/agaa136 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Serena Stopponi ◽

Yannick Fotio ◽

Carlo Cifani ◽

Hongwu Li ◽

Carolina L Haass-Koffler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oral Administration ◽

Alcohol Drinking ◽

Andrographis Paniculata ◽

Peroxisome Proliferator ◽

Herbaceous Plant ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor ◽

Ppar Γ ◽

Treatment Administration ◽

Dried Extract

Abstract Background and aims Andrographis paniculata is an annual herbaceous plant which belongs to the Acanthaceae family. Extracts from this plant have shown hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties, at least in part, through activation of the nuclear receptor Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-gamma (PPAR γ). Recent evidence has demonstrated that activation of PPARγ reduces alcohol drinking and seeking in Marchigian Sardinian (msP) alcohol-preferring rats. Methods The present study evaluated whether A. paniculata reduces alcohol drinking and relapse in msP rats by activating PPARγ. Results Oral administration of an A. paniculata dried extract (0, 15, 150 mg/kg) lowered voluntary alcohol consumption in a dose-dependent manner and achieved ~65% reduction at the dose of 450 mg/kg. Water and food consumption were not affected by the treatment. Administration of Andrographolide (5 and 10 mg/kg), the main active component of A. paniculata, also reduced alcohol drinking. This effect was suppressed by the selective PPARγ antagonist GW9662. Subsequently, we showed that oral administration of A. paniculata (0, 150, 450 mg/kg) prevented yohimbine- but not cues-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking. Conclusions Results point to A. paniculata-mediated PPARγactivation as a possible therapeutic strategy to treat alcohol use disorder.

Download Full-text

Constituents of Chamaecrista diphylla (L.) Greene Leaves with Potent Antioxidant Capacity: A Feature-Based Molecular Network Dereplication Approach

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics13050681 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 681

Author(s):

Paulo Gomes ◽

Luis Quirós-Guerrero ◽

Abraão Muribeca ◽

José Reis ◽

Sônia Pamplona ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Ethanolic Extract ◽

Oxygen Radical ◽

Molecular Network ◽

Antioxidant Compounds ◽

Herbaceous Plant ◽

Network Approach ◽

Feature Based ◽

Promising Source ◽

First Time

Chamaecrista diphylla (L.) Greene (Fabaceae/Caesalpiniaceae) is a herbaceous plant that is widely distributed throughout the Americas. Plants from this genus have been used in traditional medicine as a laxative, to heal wounds, and to treat ulcers, snake and scorpion bites. In the present study, we investigated the chemical composition of Chamaecrista diphylla leaves through a mass spectrometry molecular network approach. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) for the ethanolic extract, enriched fractions and isolated compounds was assessed. Overall, thirty-five compounds were annotated for the first time in C. diphylla. Thirty-two of them were reported for the first time in the genus. The isolated compounds 9, 12, 24 and 33 showed an excellent antioxidant capacity, superior to the extract and enriched fractions. Bond dissociation energy calculations were performed to explain and sustain the antioxidant capacity found. According to our results, the leaves of C. diphylla represent a promising source of potent antioxidant compounds.

Download Full-text

Pro-Apoptotic Activity of Artichoke Leaf Extracts in Human HT-29 and RKO Colon Cancer Cells

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18084166 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 4166

Author(s):

Milena Villarini ◽

Mattia Acito ◽

Raffaella di Vito ◽

Samuele Vannini ◽

Luca Dominici ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Colon Cancer ◽

Chlorogenic Acid ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Herbaceous Plant ◽

Colon Cancer Cells ◽

Leaf Extracts ◽

Caffeoylquinic Acids ◽

Induction Of Apoptosis ◽

Ht 29

(1) Background: Cynara cardunculus L. subsp. scolymus (L.) Hegi, popularly known as artichoke, is an herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Artichoke leaf extracts (ALEs) have been widely used in traditional medicine because of their hepatoprotective, cholagogic, hypoglycaemic, hypolipemic and antibacterial properties. ALEs are also recognized for their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic activities, as well as effect on cell growth of ALEs on human colon cancer HT-29 and RKO cells. HT-29 and RKO cells exhibit a different p53 status: RKO cells express the wild-type protein, whereas HT-29 cells express a p53-R273H contact mutant. (2) Methods: Four different ALEs were obtained by sequential extraction of dried artichoke leaves; ALEs were characterized for their content in chlorogenic acid, cynaropicrin, and caffeoylquinic acids. HT-29 and RKO cells were used for in vitro testing (i.e., cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assessment, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis induction). (3) Results: Two out of the four tested ALEs showed marked effects on cell vitality toward HT-29 and RKO tumour cells. The effect was accompanied by a genotoxic activity exerted at a non-cytotoxic concentrations, by a significant perturbation of cell cycle (i.e., with increase of cells in the sub-G1 phase), and by the induction of apoptosis. (4) Conclusions: ALEs rich in cynaropicrin, caffeoylquinic acids, and chlorogenic acid showed to be capable of affecting HT-29 and RKO colon cancer cells by inducing favourable biological effects: cell cycle perturbation, activation of mitochondrial dependent pathway of apoptosis, and the induction of genotoxic effects probably mediated by the induction of apoptosis. Taken together, these results weigh in favour of a potential cancer chemotherapeutic activity of ALEs.

Download Full-text

Selection and validation of appropriate reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis of flowering stages and different genotypes of Iris germanica L

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-89100-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yinjie Wang ◽

Yongxia Zhang ◽

Qingquan Liu ◽

Haiying Tong ◽

Ting Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reference Genes ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Gene Selection ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Herbaceous Plant ◽

Flower Bud ◽

Perennial Herbaceous Plant ◽

Iris Germanica ◽

Accurate Normalization ◽

Suitable Reference

AbstractIris germanica L. is a perennial herbaceous plant that has been widely cultivated worldwide and is popular for its elegant and vibrantly colorful flowers. Selection of appropriate reference genes is the prerequisite for accurate normalization of target gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR. However, to date, the most suitable reference genes for flowering stages have not been elucidated in I. germanica. In this study, eight candidate reference genes were examined for the normalization of RT-qPCR in three I. germanica cultivars, and their stability were evaluated by four different algorithms (GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and Ref-finder). The results revealed that IgUBC and IgGAPDH were the most stable reference genes in ‘00246’ and ‘Elizabeth’, and IgTUB and IgUBC showed stable expression in ‘2010200’. IgUBC and IgGAPDH were the most stable in all samples, while IgUBQ showed the least stability. Finally, to validate the reliability of the selected reference genes, the expression patterns of IgFT (Flowering Locus T gene) was analyzed and emphasized the importance of appropriate reference gene selection. This work presented the first systematic study of reference genes selection during flower bud development and provided guidance to research of the molecular mechanisms of flowering stages in I. germanica.

Download Full-text