Ameliorative Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Allium porrum (Wild Leek) against Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rabbits

The aim of the present study was to investigate the nephroprotective, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects of Allium porrum (leek) in rabbits with cisplatin nephrotoxicity. Forty adult male New Zealand rabbits were divided randomly into four groups (ten rabbits in each group) as follows: Group I: (negative control) (C) received oral daily dose of distilled water for 15 successive days. Groups II: (Leek) (L) received oral daily dose of aqueous leek extract (500mg/kg/day) for 15 successive days. Group III: (positive control) [cisplatin (CP)] received oral daily dose of distilled water for 15 successive days, and subsequently administered single dose of Cisplatin (3.5mg/kg/day) by intraperitoneal injection from day 10 for five days. Groups IV: (Leek and Cisplatin

Evaluation of synergistic medicinal efficacy of four alkaloidic compounds isolated from Iraqi Allium porrum seeds against staphylococcus aureus bacteria

Medicinal plants are necessary benefit natural sources for chemical production of different therapies from secondary metabolism. Allium porrum is considered as one of sources of foods and drugs at the same time. So the current work focused on isolation and characterization of four alkaloids from seeds of this plant. These compounds are 2-piperidinone, 2-pyrrolidinone-4-methyl, adenosine-2-deoxy–N-methyl –N-(triflouro acetyl ) and maymarsine by using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) technique. The medicinal activity was achieved to investigate and evaluate the synergistic action of the mixture of the four alkaloidic compounds towards Staphylococcus aureus pathogen. The concentrations of alkaloidic mixture were prepared with values equal to 50,100,125,150,200,250,300,375,400 and 500 mg/ml and they revealed inhibition zones with diameters represented by 31,31,32,35,35,37,41,43,43and 45 mm. So the mixture of the four alkaloidic compounds can be used as natural therapy to treat various inflammatory caused by this pathogenic bacteria.

Spirostanol Saponins from Flowers of Allium Porrum and Related Compounds Indicating Cytotoxic Activity and Affecting Nitric Oxide Production Inhibitory Effect in Peritoneal Macrophages

Saponins, a diverse group of natural compounds, offer an interesting pool of derivatives with biomedical application. In this study, three structurally related spirostanol saponins were isolated and identified from the leek flowers of Allium porrum L. (garden leek). Two of them were identical with the already known leek plant constituents: aginoside (1) and 6-deoxyaginoside (2). The third one was identified as new component of A. porrum; however, it was found identical with yayoisaponin A (3) obtained earlier from a mutant of elephant garlic Allium ampeloprasun L. It is a derivative of the aginoside (1) with additional glucose in its glycosidic chain, identified by MS and NMR analysis as (2α, 3β, 6β, 25R)-2,6-dihydroxyspirostan-3-yl β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-D-glucopranosyl-(1 → 2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-(1 → 4)-β-D-galactopyranoside, previously reported also under the name alliporin. The leek native saponins were tested together with other known and structurally related saponins (tomatonin and digitonin) and with their related aglycones (agigenin and diosgenin) for in vitro cytotoxicity and for effects on NO production in mouse peritoneal cells. The highest inhibitory effects were exhibited by 6-deoxyaginoside. The obtained toxicity data, however, closely correlated with the suppression of NO production. Therefore, an unambiguous linking of obtained bioactivities of saponins with their expected immunobiological properties remained uncertain.

Dehydrated at Different Conditions and Powdered Leek as a Concentrate of Biologically Active Substances: Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic Compound Profile

This study aimed to analyze the antioxidant activity, phenolic acid profile, color changes, and chemical composition of dried and powdered leek (Allium porrum). Leek was divided into white shaft (WH) and green shaft (GR) and subjected to drying by different methods—convection drying, vacuum drying, and freeze-drying (FD)—at a temperature of 60 °C. A sample freeze-dried at a temperature of 20 °C was used as control. Analyses of the dried leek samples revealed that GR contained a higher amount of ash, protein, fat, fiber, phenolic acids, and flavonoids, and exhibited higher antioxidant capacity compared to WH. The dominant phenolic acid in WH was p-cumaric acid followed by synapic and protocatechuic acids. GR had a several-fold higher content of phenolic acids than WH, with ferulic acid being dominant (about 85% of the total phenolic content). It was also observed that a higher drying temperature resulted in the degradation of phenolic compounds and reduced the antioxidant properties of leek shafts. Most importantly, FD under a temperature of 60 °C caused a similar degree of degradation of biologically active compounds as air drying. An increase in drying temperature was associated with a slight decrease in the lightness of GR, whereas in the case of WH no significant change in this parameter was observed.

Ancient lineages of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provide little plant benefit

Almost all land plants form symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Individual plants usually are colonized by a wide range of phylogenetically diverse AMF species. The impact that different AMF taxa have on plant growth is only partly understood. We screened 44 AMF isolates for their effect on growth promotion and nutrient uptake of leek plants (Allium porrum), including isolates that have not been tested previously. In particular, we aimed to test weather AMF lineages with an ancient evolutionary age differ from relatively recent lineages in their effects on leek plants. The AMF isolates that were tested covered 18 species from all five AMF orders, eight families, and 13 genera. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse. A soil–sand mixture was used as substrate for the leek plants. Plant growth response to inoculation with AMF varied from − 19 to 232% and depended on isolate, species, and family identity. Species from the ancient families Archaeosporaceae and Paraglomeraceae tended to be less beneficial, in terms of stimulation plant growth and nutrient uptake, than species of Glomeraceae, Entrophosporaceae, and Diversisporaceae, which are considered phylogenetically more recent than those ancient families. Root colonization levels also depended on AMF family. This study indicates that plant benefit in the symbiosis between plants and AMF is linked to fungal identity and phylogeny and it shows that there are large differences in effectiveness of different AMF.

Response of the Leek (Allium porrum)-Mycorrhizal Fungus Symbiosis to Cutting Levels, Light Exposure and Seedling Density

This work aims to assess the leek-arbuscular fungus symbiosis response to the effect of cutting and light exposure on the one hand, and the impact of seedling density on this symbiosis on the other hand. Allium Porrum was grown in a container in two different trials. Four species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Glomus hoi, Scutellospora gregaria, Rhizophagus intraradices and Gigaspora margarita were used to constitute the mycorrhizal inoculum. After 150 days of growth and inoculation, a series of cuts were made on the aerial part (0% = zero cut, 50% = half cut, 100% = whole cut). Plants that had undergone these treatments were placed in shade and sun for 30 days. The leek density per bag was varied by the order of 1, 2, 3 and 4 plant (s) by the pocket density test. Results showed that for 0% of cut in the shade, the vesicle occurrence decreases from 83.33% to 52.22%, and from 90% to 25.5% for 50% of cut in the shade. On the other hand, there is a significant increase in intra-root spores for a complete cut compared to other levels of cuts. For extra-root sporulation, under light, cuts have a negative and weak effect (from -11 to -3%) while in the absence of light, cuts have significant positive effects (from +16 to +61%). Regarding seedling density, the best root colonization (90%) and biomass production (14 g) are obtained with three plants per pot, but it is rather with a density of two plants per pot that extra-root sporulation is higher (153 spores/g). Variation in light, cut level and density significantly affects the development of mycorrhizal fungi.