scholarly journals Bioactive Compounds in Wild Nettle (Urtica dioica L.) Leaves and Stalks: Polyphenols and Pigments upon Seasonal and Habitat Variations

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 190
Author(s):  
Maja Repajić ◽  
Ena Cegledi ◽  
Zoran Zorić ◽  
Sandra Pedisić ◽  
Ivona Elez Garofulić ◽  
...  

This study evaluated the presence of bioactives in wild nettle leaves and stalks during the phenological stage and in the context of natural habitat diversity. Thus, wild nettle samples collected before flowering, during flowering and after flowering from 14 habitats situated in three different regions (continental, mountain and seaside) were analyzed for low molecular weight polyphenols, carotenoids and chlorophylls using UPLC-MS/MS and HPLC analysis, while the ORAC method was performed for the antioxidant capacity measurement. Statistical analysis showed that, when compared to the stalks, nettle leaves contained significantly higher amounts of analyzed compounds which accumulated in the highest yields before flowering (polyphenols) and at the flowering stage (pigments). Moreover, nettle habitat variations greatly influenced the amounts of analyzed bioactives, where samples from the continental area contained higher levels of polyphenols, while seaside region samples were more abundant with pigments. The levels of ORAC followed the same pattern, being higher in leaves samples collected before and during flowering from the continental habitats. Hence, in order to provide the product’s maximum value for consumers’ benefit, a multidisciplinary approach is important for the selection of a plant part as well as its phenological stage with the highest accumulation of bioactive compounds.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. H. Khwajah Mohinudeen ◽  
Saumya Pandey ◽  
Hemalatha Kanniyappan ◽  
Vignesh Muthuvijayan ◽  
Smita Srivastava

AbstractEndophytic fungi with the ability to produce plant based secondary metabolites are a potential alternative for producing the host plant metabolite and to prevent natural plants from extinction. To isolate a high metabolite yielding endophytic strain from plants, hundreds of endophytic strains are screened and tested for product yield separately under axenic state, before shortlisting the potential endophyte, which involves huge time consumption. In this study, strategies for screening and selection of high camptothecin yielding endophytes from their natural habitat were proposed. A correlation was built between the camptothecin yield in the explants and the endophytes isolated from them. In addition, camptothecin yield was compared between the endophytes isolated from young and matured plants. Further, camptothecin producers and non-producers strains were compared for their tolerance toward camptothecin. The study indicates that high camptothecin yielding endophytes were isolated from high yielding explants and younger plants and they were more tolerant to camptothecin in comparison to non-camptothecin yielding endophytes. Thus, choosing a young and high yielding explant for endophyte isolation, and use of camptothecin as a selective agent in the growth medium, can be instrumental in screening and selection of high camptothecin yielding endophytes from nature in relatively less time.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. CECCHIN ◽  
A. FAVARETTO ◽  
S.M. SCHEFFER-BASSO ◽  
C.D. BERTOL ◽  
S.O. CHINI

ABSTRACT This study was conducted in order to verify if the phenological stage and the nitrogen fertilization interfere in the allelopathic activity and in the concentration of potentially allelopathic phenolic compounds of tough lovegrass (Eragrostis plana). The assay consisted of a bifactor 3 (0.100 and 200 kg N ha-1) x 2 (harvested in vegetative and reproductive stages), in a split plot design. The N doses constituted the main plot and the phenological stage during the harvest the subplots, resulting in six treatments. The tough lovegrass plants derived from each of the treatments were subjected to allelopathy bioassays, in which aqueous extracts of the aerial parts were applied to lettuce cypselae (Lactuca sativa) and to phytochemicals tests when ethanolic extracts were used, with subsequent partition with ethyl acetate, followed by a high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. There was nitrogen x phenological stage interaction on biological and chemical attributes. The allelopathic extracts were, in descending order of inhibition of germination, those from plants harvested at the vegetative stage and fertilized with 100 kg N and at the flowering stage with 200 kg N, which showed the highest catechin concentrations. The caffeic, ferulic, p-coumaric and vanillic acids were in a higher concentration in flowered and fertilized plants with 0 or 200 kg N. The management of the nitrogen fertilization and the harvesting age influence the allelopathic activity and the phytochemical composition of tough lovegrass.


2019 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Julien Carlier ◽  
James Moran

Across Europe, Greenways upcycle disused railway infrastructure into non-motorised public infrastructure, often with limited consideration to potential ecological synergies. Pre-development, disused transport corridors become relatively undisturbed and potentially host diverse semi-natural habitats. The study objectives were 1) to produce a highly detailed and accurate dataset using remote sensing with rapid assessment techniques for ground truthing and 2) subsequently examine habitat diversity existing along a proposed Greenway. A 7000 ha study corridor was based on a disused railway proposed as a transfrontier Greenway connecting the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. The study applied a rapid-assessment virtual validation techniquealongside remote sensing and accuracy assessment. Inter-relationship between seminatural habitat diversity and land-use intensification was examined. Remote sensing accuracies of 89% and 99% for a real and linear habitat classification were obtained. Degrees of land-use intensification were observed throughout the corridor, highlighting the importance of maintaining and enhancing remaining semi-natural habitat that exists along the proposed Greenway route. Through understanding the landscape matrix composition and semi-natural habitat diversity, European Greenwayscan achieve multi-functionality for ecosystem conservation, forming integral components of Green Infrastructure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Driss Ousaaid ◽  
Hamada Imtara ◽  
Hassan Laaroussi ◽  
Badiaa Lyoussi ◽  
Ilham Elarabi

Vinegar is a natural product rich in bioactive compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, and organic acids. Several factors affect the quality of vinegars such as apple origin, environmental conditions, production methods, processing, and storage conditions. We investigated the quality of apple vinegars as well as their physicochemical properties and the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of vinegars collected from different areas in Morocco. For physicochemical properties, the outcomes showed the following values: pH (3.18–3.83), electrical conductivity (2.11–2.90), acidity (0.24–5.6), Brix (3.25–6), and density (1.0123–1.0233). The polyphenols content of samples was 68.91 mg AG/100 mL in sample S6 as the minimum value and 147.54 mg AG/100 mL in sample S2 as the maximum value. The best ability to scavenge the DPPH radical was observed in sample S3 (IC50 = 0.45 ± 0.013 µL/mL). Sample S2 showed moderate antibacterial effect against microorganisms tested with MICs ranging from 0.78 µL/mL to 1.125 µL/mL and with a diameter of inhibition ranging from 15.65 mm to 27.65 mm. In addition, a strong correlation was observed between the antibacterial activity of vinegars and physicochemical parameters (pH and total acidity). These outcomes have shown that our vinegar samples are an excellent source of bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant and antibacterial potentials.


Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Sulas ◽  
Giuseppe Campesi ◽  
Giovanna Piluzza ◽  
Giovanni A. Re ◽  
Paola A. Deligios ◽  
...  

Sulla (Sulla coronaria [L.] Medik), a Mediterranean short-lived legume with tolerance to drought-prone environments, requires inoculation outside its natural habitat. Its leaves are appreciated for the bromatological composition and content of bioactive compounds. However, no information is available regarding the distinct effects of inoculation and nitrogen (N) applications on leaf dry matter (DM), fixed N, and bioactive compounds. Sulla leaves were sampled from the vegetative stage to seed set in Sardinia (Italy) during 2013–2014 and leaf DM, N content, and fixed N were determined. Compared to the best performing inoculated treatments, DM yield and fixed N values of the control only represented 8% to 20% and 2% to 9%, respectively. A significant relationship between fixed N and leaf DM yield was established, reaching 30 kg fixed N t–1 at seed set. Significant variations in leaf atom% 15N excess and %Ndfa quantified decreases in leaf N fixation coupled with N application. Moreover, the petiole content of phenolic compounds markedly increased in the uninoculated control, suggesting deeper investigations on the relationship between bioactive compounds and inoculation treatments. Results highlighted substantial variation in DM, N yields, N-fixation ability, and content of bioactive compounds of sulla leaves caused by inoculation and N fertilization.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 258-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Tarko ◽  
A. Duda-Chodak ◽  
M. Kobus

We studied how the selection of the growth medium influences the antioxidant properties and synthesis of bioactive compounds (β-carotene, C-phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, and phycoerythrin) in six selected species of cyanobacteria of Arthrospira genus. For this purpose, cyanobacteria cultures were cultivated on a typical Zarrouk medium and on a cheaper substitute – RM6 medium. Significant differences were observed in the efficiency of synthesis of the studied compounds depending on the strain of cyanobacteria. The quantitative and qualitative composition of Zarrouk medium was more beneficial for β-carotene synthesis in the cells of all strains of cyanobacteria studied. This medium also allowed for the antioxidant potential of the studied strains to be increased. On the other hand, the RM6 medium, deprived of some mineral ingredients, enabled more efficient synthesis of phycobiliproteins in all studied strains except A. platensis SAG 85.79.  


2000 ◽  
Vol 71 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 123-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Muñoz ◽  
M Sauvain ◽  
G Bourdy ◽  
S Arrázola ◽  
J Callapa ◽  
...  

Antioxidants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nerea Jiménez-Moreno ◽  
Francesca Volpe ◽  
Jose Antonio Moler ◽  
Irene Esparza ◽  
Carmen Ancín-Azpilicueta

The use of grape stems for the extraction of bioactive compounds to be used in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries is a promising objective. The aim of this work is to determine the influence of the different extraction conditions (temperature, ethanol concentration, and ratio of sample/solvent) on phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of Mazuelo stem extracts. In general, the ethanol concentration of the extraction solvent was the factor that had the greatest influence on the extraction of different bioactive compounds. The greatest content of total phenolic compounds and the highest antioxidant activity of the extracts were obtained with 50% ethanol and at 40 °C. The most abundant compound found in the different extracts obtained from Mazuelo grape stem was (+)-catechin, but appreciable concentrations of gallic acid, a quercetin derivative, and stilbenes (trans-resveratrol and trans-ε-viniferin) were also extracted. Quercetin and malvidin-3-glucoside showed the highest correlation with the antioxidant capacity of the extracts, while stilbenes did not present such relation. The maximum concentration of gallic acid was extracted with water but the extraction of most of the compounds was maximum on using 50% ethanol. Consequently, the selection of the extraction method to be used will depend on the particular compound to be extracted in greatest quantity.


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