scholarly journals Influence of the Post-Harvest Storage Time on the Multi-Biological Potential, Phenolic and Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Content of Comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) Roots Collected from Different European Regions

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1825
Author(s):  
Adriana Trifan ◽  
Gokhan Zengin ◽  
Kouadio Ibrahime Sinan ◽  
Nils Esslinger ◽  
Andreas Grubelnik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Storage Time ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid ◽  
Pharmaceutical Preparations ◽  
Total Phenolic ◽  
European Regions ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Symphytum Officinale ◽  
Biological Potential ◽  
Wide Range

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.) roots are well-known bioactive ingredients included in various cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical preparations. In this study, the influence of the post-harvest storage on the chemico-biological potential of roots collected from different European regions and stored for up to six months was investigated. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total phenolic acid content (TPAC) were spectrophotometrically estimated, whereas the levels of individual phenolic and pyrrolizidine alkaloidal markers were determined by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS/MS, respectively. The changes in the biological potential was tracked via antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP) and anti-enzymatic (cholinesterase, tyrosinase, glucosidase, and amylase) assays. TPC and TPAC varied from 6.48–16.57 mg GAE/g d.w. root and from 2.67–9.03 mg CAE/g, respectively. The concentration of the four phenolics (rosmarinic acid, globoidnan A, globoidnan B, rabdosiin) and six pyrrolizidine alkaloids generally showed maximum values at 1–3 months, after which their levels significantly decreased. With respect to the bioassays, the samples showed a wide range of antioxidant and anti-enzymatic effects; however, a direct storage time–bioactivity relationship was not observed. Similar conclusions were also revealed by the multivariate and correlation analyses. Our study could improve the current knowledge of the shelf-life properties of comfrey-based products and enhance their industrial exploitation.

A Comprehensive Review on C-3 Functionalization of β-Lactams

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reshma Nagpal ◽  
Jitender Bhalla ◽  
Shamsher S. Bari
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Community ◽  
Organometallic Reagent ◽  
Reaction Conditions ◽  
Biological Potential ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Economic Strategies ◽  
Synthetic Utility ◽  
Recent Advancement ◽  
Equivalent Method ◽  
Made In

Background:A lot of advancement has been made in the area of β-lactams in recent times. Most of the research is targeted towards the synthesis of novel β-lactams, their functionalization and exploring their biological potential. The C-3 functionalization of β-lactams has continued to attract considerable interest of the scientific community due to their utility as versatile intermediates in organic synthesis and their therapeutic applications. This has led to the significant increase in efforts towards developing efficient and economic strategies for C-3 functionalized β-lactams.Objective:The present review aims to highlight recent advancement made in C-3 functionalization of β-lactams.Conclusion:To summarize, functionalization of β-lactams at C-3 is an essential aspect of β-lactam chemistry in order to improve/modify its synthetic utility as well as biological potential. The C-3 carbocation equivalent method has emerged as an important and convenient strategy for C-3 functionalization of β-lactam heterocycles which provides a wide range of β-lactams viz. 3-alkylated β-lactams, 3-aryl/heteroarylated β-lactams, 3- alkoxylated β-lactams. On the other hand, base mediated functionalization of β-lactams via carbanion intermediate is another useful approach but their scope is limited by the requirement of stringent reaction conditions. In addition to this, organometallic reagent mediated α-alkylation of 3-halo/3-keto-β-lactams also emerged as interesting methods for the synthesis of functionalized β-lactams having good yields and diastereoselectivities.

scholarly journals Fitness of Herbicide-Resistant Weeds: Current Knowledge and Implications for Management

Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vila-Aiub
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Herbicide Resistance ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Resistance Management ◽  
Fitness Cost ◽  
Plant Fitness ◽  
Resistance Mutations ◽  
Fitness Costs ◽  
Wide Range

Herbicide resistance is the ultimate evidence of the extraordinary capacity of weeds to evolve under stressful conditions. Despite the extraordinary plant fitness advantage endowed by herbicide resistance mutations in agroecosystems under herbicide selection, resistance mutations are predicted to exhibit an adaptation cost (i.e., fitness cost), relative to the susceptible wild-type, in herbicide untreated conditions. Fitness costs associated with herbicide resistance mutations are not universal and their expression depends on the particular mutation, genetic background, dominance of the fitness cost, and environmental conditions. The detrimental effects of herbicide resistance mutations on plant fitness may arise as a direct impact on fitness-related traits and/or coevolution with changes in other life history traits that ultimately may lead to fitness costs under particular ecological conditions. This brings the idea that a “lower adaptive value” of herbicide resistance mutations represents an opportunity for the design of resistance management practices that could minimize the evolution of herbicide resistance. It is evident that the challenge for weed management practices aiming to control, minimize, or even reverse the frequency of resistance mutations in the agricultural landscape is to “create” those agroecological conditions that could expose, exploit, and exacerbate those life history and/or fitness traits affecting the evolution of herbicide resistance mutations. Ideally, resistance management should implement a wide range of cultural practices leading to environmentally mediated fitness costs associated with herbicide resistance mutations.

scholarly journals Transfer of Plasmid DNA to Clinical Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal Pathogens by Using a Unique Bacteriophage

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (7) ◽  
pp. 2481-2488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker Winstel ◽  
Petra Kühner ◽  
Bernhard Krismer ◽  
Andreas Peschel ◽  
Holger Rohde
Keyword(s):  
Plasmid Dna ◽  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Reliable Technique ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Genetic Barriers

ABSTRACTGenetic manipulation of emerging bacterial pathogens, such as coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), is a major hurdle in clinical and basic microbiological research. Strong genetic barriers, such as restriction modification systems or clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), usually interfere with available techniques for DNA transformation and therefore complicate manipulation of CoNS or render it impossible. Thus, current knowledge of pathogenicity and virulence determinants of CoNS is very limited. Here, a rapid, efficient, and highly reliable technique is presented to transfer plasmid DNA essential for genetic engineering to important CoNS pathogens from a uniqueStaphylococcus aureusstrain via a specificS. aureusbacteriophage, Φ187. Even strains refractory to electroporation can be transduced by this technique once donor and recipient strains share similar Φ187 receptor properties. As a proof of principle, this technique was used to delete the alternative transcription factor sigma B (SigB) via allelic replacement in nasal and clinicalStaphylococcus epidermidisisolates at high efficiencies. The described approach will allow the genetic manipulation of a wide range of CoNS pathogens and might inspire research activities to manipulate other important pathogens in a similar fashion.

scholarly journals A Comprehensive Review of the Ethnotraditional Uses and Biological and Pharmacological Potential of the Genus Mimosa

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7463
Author(s):  
Ismat Majeed ◽  
Komal Rizwan ◽  
Ambreen Ashar ◽  
Tahir Rasheed ◽  
Ryszard Amarowicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Web Of Science ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Folk Medicine ◽  
Nutritional Values ◽  
Biological Potential ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
Pharmacological Potential

The Mimosa genus belongs to the Fabaceae family of legumes and consists of about 400 species distributed all over the world. The growth forms of plants belonging to the Mimosa genus range from herbs to trees. Several species of this genus play important roles in folk medicine. In this review, we aimed to present the current knowledge of the ethnogeographical distribution, ethnotraditional uses, nutritional values, pharmaceutical potential, and toxicity of the genus Mimosa to facilitate the exploitation of its therapeutic potential for the treatment of human ailments. The present paper consists of a systematic overview of the scientific literature relating to the genus Mimosa published between 1931 and 2020, which was achieved by consulting various databases (Science Direct, Francis and Taylor, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, SciELO, Web of Science, SciFinder, Wiley, Springer, Google, The Plant Database). More than 160 research articles were included in this review regarding the Mimosa genus. Mimosa species are nutritionally very important and several species are used as feed for different varieties of chickens. Studies regarding their biological potential have shown that species of the Mimosa genus have promising pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, wound-healing, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antinociceptive, antiepileptic, neuropharmacological, toxicological, antiallergic, antihyperurisemic, larvicidal, antiparasitic, molluscicidal, antimutagenic, genotoxic, teratogenic, antispasmolytic, antiviral, and antivenom activities. The findings regarding the genus Mimosa suggest that this genus could be the future of the medicinal industry for the treatment of various diseases, although in the future more research should be carried out to explore its ethnopharmacological, toxicological, and nutritional attributes.

scholarly journals Molecular Subtyping of Blastocystis sp. Isolated from Farmed Animals in Southern Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1656
Author(s):  
Simona Gabrielli ◽  
Marialetizia Palomba ◽  
Federica Furzi ◽  
Emanuele Brianti ◽  
Gabriella Gaglio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Fallow Deer ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
Zoonotic Transmission ◽  
Ssu Rrna ◽  
Molecular Approaches ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Blastocystis Sp

Blastocystis is a common intestinal protist distributed worldwide, infecting humans and a wide range of domestic and wild animals. It exhibits an extensive genetic diversity and, so far, 25 distinct small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) lineages termed subtypes (STs)) have been characterized; among them, 12 have thus far been reported in humans. The aims of the present study were to detect and genetically characterize Blastocystis sp. in synantropic animals to improve our current knowledge on the distribution and zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis STs in Italy. Samples were collected from N = 193 farmed animals and submitted to DNA extraction and PCR amplification of the SSU rRNA. Blastocystis was detected in 60 samples (31.08%) and successfully subtyped. Phylogenetic analysis evidenced that the isolates from fallow deer, goats, and pigs (N = 9) clustered within the ST5; those from pheasants (N = 2) in the ST6; those from chickens (N = 8) in the ST7; those from sheep (N = 6) in the ST10; and those from water buffaloes (N = 9) in the ST14 clade. The comparison between the present isolates from animals and those previously detected in humans in Italy suggested the animal-to-human spillover for ST6 and ST7. The present study represents the widest Blastocystis survey performed thus far in farmed animals in Italy. Further epidemiological studies using molecular approaches are required to determine the occurrence and distribution of Blastocystis STs in other potential animal reservoirs in Italy and to define the pathways of zoonotic transmission.

scholarly journals Recent Development on Plant Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Enzymes and Their Functions in Plant Development and Stress Signaling

Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Adesola J. Tola ◽  
Amal Jaballi ◽  
Hugo Germain ◽  
Tagnon D. Missihoun
Keyword(s):  
Plant Development ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Stress Signaling ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Abiotic And Biotic Stresses ◽  
Aldehyde Dehydrogenases ◽  
Biotic Stresses ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Excessive Accumulation

Abiotic and biotic stresses induce the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which subsequently causes the excessive accumulation of aldehydes in cells. Stress-derived aldehydes are commonly designated as reactive electrophile species (RES) as a result of the presence of an electrophilic α, β-unsaturated carbonyl group. Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) are NAD(P)+-dependent enzymes that metabolize a wide range of endogenous and exogenous aliphatic and aromatic aldehyde molecules by oxidizing them to their corresponding carboxylic acids. The ALDH enzymes are found in nearly all organisms, and plants contain fourteen ALDH protein families. In this review, we performed a critical analysis of the research reports over the last decade on plant ALDHs. Newly discovered roles for these enzymes in metabolism, signaling and development have been highlighted and discussed. We concluded with suggestions for future investigations to exploit the potential of these enzymes in biotechnology and to improve our current knowledge about these enzymes in gene signaling and plant development.

scholarly journals Marine Polysaccharides as a Versatile Biomass for the Construction of Nano Drug Delivery Systems

Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 345
Author(s):  
Ying Sun ◽  
Xiaoli Ma ◽  
Hao Hu
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Drug Delivery System ◽  
Delivery System ◽  
Pharmaceutical Preparations ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Wound Dressings ◽  
Marine Biomass ◽  
Nano Drug Delivery ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Marine Polysaccharide

Marine biomass is a treasure trove of materials. Marine polysaccharides have the characteristics of biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, low cost, and abundance. An enormous variety of polysaccharides can be extracted from marine organisms such as algae, crustaceans, and microorganisms. The most studied marine polysaccharides include chitin, chitosan, alginates, hyaluronic acid, fucoidan, carrageenan, agarose, and Ulva. Marine polysaccharides have a wide range of applications in the field of biomedical materials, such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound dressings, and sensors. The drug delivery system (DDS) can comprehensively control the distribution of drugs in the organism in space, time, and dosage, thereby increasing the utilization efficiency of drugs, reducing costs, and reducing toxic side effects. The nano-drug delivery system (NDDS), due to its small size, can function at the subcellular level in vivo. The marine polysaccharide-based DDS combines the advantages of polysaccharide materials and nanotechnology, and is suitable as a carrier for different pharmaceutical preparations. This review summarizes the advantages and drawbacks of using marine polysaccharides to construct the NDDS and describes the preparation methods and modification strategies of marine polysaccharide-based nanocarriers.

scholarly journals Sporulation in solventogenic and acetogenic clostridia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamou Diallo ◽  
Servé W. M. Kengen ◽  
Ana M. López-Contreras
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Biotechnological Production ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Sporulation Initiation ◽  
Solventogenic Clostridia

AbstractThe Clostridium genus harbors compelling organisms for biotechnological production processes; while acetogenic clostridia can fix C1-compounds to produce acetate and ethanol, solventogenic clostridia can utilize a wide range of carbon sources to produce commercially valuable carboxylic acids, alcohols, and ketones by fermentation. Despite their potential, the conversion by these bacteria of carbohydrates or C1 compounds to alcohols is not cost-effective enough to result in economically viable processes. Engineering solventogenic clostridia by impairing sporulation is one of the investigated approaches to improve solvent productivity. Sporulation is a cell differentiation process triggered in bacteria in response to exposure to environmental stressors. The generated spores are metabolically inactive but resistant to harsh conditions (UV, chemicals, heat, oxygen). In Firmicutes, sporulation has been mainly studied in bacilli and pathogenic clostridia, and our knowledge of sporulation in solvent-producing or acetogenic clostridia is limited. Still, sporulation is an integral part of the cellular physiology of clostridia; thus, understanding the regulation of sporulation and its connection to solvent production may give clues to improve the performance of solventogenic clostridia. This review aims to provide an overview of the triggers, characteristics, and regulatory mechanism of sporulation in solventogenic clostridia. Those are further compared to the current knowledge on sporulation in the industrially relevant acetogenic clostridia. Finally, the potential applications of spores for process improvement are discussed.Key Points• The regulatory network governing sporulation initiation varies in solventogenic clostridia.• Media composition and cell density are the main triggers of sporulation.• Spores can be used to improve the fermentation process.

scholarly journals Potential predictors of severe cardiovascular involvement in Marfan syndrome: the emphasized role of genotype–phenotype correlations in improving risk stratification—a literature review

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Stengl ◽  
Bence Ágg ◽  
Miklós Pólos ◽  
Gábor Mátyás ◽  
Gábor Szabó ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Stratification ◽  
Marfan Syndrome ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Connective Tissue Disorder ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Stratification System ◽  
Genetically Determined ◽  
Aortic Dissections

Abstract Background Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a genetically determined systemic connective tissue disorder, caused by a mutation in the FBN1 gene. In MFS mainly the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and ocular systems are affected. The most dangerous manifestation of MFS is aortic dissection, which needs to be prevented by a prophylactic aortic root replacement. Main body The indication criteria for the prophylactic procedure is currently based on aortic diameter, however aortic dissections below the threshold defined in the guidelines have been reported, highlighting the need for a more accurate risk stratification system to predict the occurrence of aortic complications. The aim of this review is to present the current knowledge on the possible predictors of severe cardiovascular manifestations in MFS patients, demonstrating the wide range of molecular and radiological differences between people with MFS and healthy individuals, and more importantly between MFS patients with and without advanced aortic manifestations. These differences originating from the underlying common molecular pathological processes can be assessed by laboratory (e.g. genetic testing) and imaging techniques to serve as biomarkers of severe aortic involvement. In this review we paid special attention to the rapidly expanding field of genotype–phenotype correlations for aortic features as by collecting and presenting the ever growing number of correlations, future perspectives for risk stratification can be outlined. Conclusions Data on promising biomarkers of severe aortic complications of MFS have been accumulating steadily. However, more unifying studies are required to further evaluate the applicability of the discussed predictors with the aim of improving the risk stratification and therefore the life expectancy and quality of life of MFS patients.

scholarly journals Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy—History and Current Knowledge for Clinical Practice

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2457
Author(s):  
Birgit J. Gerecke ◽  
Rolf Engberding
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Clinical Patient ◽  
Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy ◽  
The Past ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Morphological Variants ◽  
A Current ◽  
Healthy Persons

Noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM) has gained increasing attention over the past twenty years, but in daily clinical practice NCCM is still rarely considered. So far, there are no generally accepted diagnostic criteria and some groups even refuse to acknowledge it as a distinct cardiomyopathy, and grade it as a variant of dilated cardiomyopathy or a morphological trait of different conditions. A wide range of morphological variants have been observed even in healthy persons, suggesting that pathologic remodeling and physiologic adaptation have to be differentiated in cases where this spongy myocardial pattern is encountered. Recent studies have uncovered numerous new pathogenetic and pathophysiologic aspects of this elusive cardiomyopathy, but a current summary and evaluation of clinical patient management are still lacking, especially to avoid mis- and overdiagnosis. Addressing this issue, this article provides an up to date overview of the current knowledge in classification, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestations and diagnostic evaluation, including genetic testing, treatment and prognosis of NCCM.

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