Impact of Mycorrhizal Fungal Inoculum on the Growth of Fenugreek in Different Soil Samples

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an aromatic plant that yields secondary metabolites, continuously used for the readiness of food and medicines. The current study is conducted to assess the impact of inoculation of mycorrhiza on the growth of Trigonella foenum-graecum in different soil samples. The current study presents two arrangements of treatment in experimental and control pots. Different soil samples were obtained from different areas for experimental and control pots. In experimental pots, mycorrhiza fungi inoculation is introduced. The six pots were filled with each soil sample. Out of the six pots, three were control pots, and three were inoculated pots. In each pot, 6 kg soil was filled. It was observed that there were more leaves in the experimental (inoculated) pots and fewer in the fenugreek (non-inoculated) pots. The fresh and dry weight of the shoots and roots was taken. However, it was examined that the fresh weight of the shoots and roots of the inoculated pots was more compared to the non-inoculated pots. But the difficulty is seen in the clay control pots of clay soil because of the compactness of the clay soil. It was concluded that fenugreek showed more growth in inoculated pots compared to non-inoculated pots. It was also concluded that mycorrhizal fungal showed symbiotic association with fenugreek plants.

Variability in the Chemical Composition of a New Aromatic Plant Artemisia balchanorum in Southern Russia

Lemon wormwood Artemisia balchanorum was recently introduced to southern Russia as a new aromatic plant. Based on biological and chemical characteristics, several populations with dominant citral, linalool, and geraniol production were selected for further development and maintained by seed propagation. Chemical analysis of five outstanding populations at three stages of annual development: vegetative, flower buds, and full flowering, confirmed that the seed populations retain the distinct dynamics of the dominant and minor components during the annual cycle and can be used for the commercial production of citral, linalool, and geraniol. Micropropagation in vitro allows for efficient clonal micropropagation and mass reproduction of elite cultivars and promising forms of A. balchanorum on a commercial scale but cannot serve as a source of direct and efficient production of secondary metabolites.

Morphology, anatomy and micromorphology of the genus Oliveria (Apiaceae)

Oliveria is a little-known, monotypic genus of the family Apiaceae. The only accepted species, O. decumbens, is distributed throughout Mesopotamia. It is an annual, aromatic plant that has been used in traditional medicine since ancient times. The aim of this study was to examine morphological, micromorphological, and anatomical characters of O. decumbens in order to increase the current botanical knowledge of this genus.

Analysis of chemical characteristics, flavonoids, and organoleptics on shallot skin (Allium cepa) kombucha

Shallots (Allium cepa) is an important aromatic plant, with a level of consumerity that is directly proportional to the increase in shallot skin waste. Whereas the skin of shallots contains flavonoids (quercetin) that are 3-5 times higher than the tubers. This research focuses on the use of shallot skin ingredients fermented by Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY) into kombucha drinks. With the aim to explore the influence of long fermentation of shallot skin kombucha on the parameters of the chemical characteristics of pH and Total Titrable Acid (TTA); the presence of flavonoids; and organoleptic flavors, colors, aromas. The result is the length of fermentation affecting the decrease in the pH value, and had a very noticeable effect on the increase in the Total Titrable Acid value. Flavonoids were qualitatively tested by 3 reagents (10% NaOH, AlCl3 1%, H2SO4 judging by discoloration. At show all samples show positive results of flavonoid presence. The length of fermentation for organoleptic assessment has a significant effect on taste and aromas, but has no significant effect on the kombucha color. The recommendation for a good fermentation time with high acceptance is 8 days of fermentation.

Recall and Interviewer Bias in Parental Report of Pediatric Exposure to Aromatic Plant Ingredients in Personal Care Products: Development and Validation of a More Accurate Approach

Lavender and tea tree essential oils are traditionally considered to be mild, gentle, and safe for pediatric populations and are ubiquitous in personal care products. Recent case reports have proposed a potential association between exposure to these ingredients and endocrine disruption, but these reports contain misclassification bias. The purpose of this study is to develop a reliable and valid measurement instrument for the accurate classification of exposure to aromatic plant ingredients in personal care products to be used in epidemiological studies. This study tested the Aromatic Plant Ingredients and Child Health Survey (APICHS) for validity and reliability, contrasting it with the current approach used in clinician’s offices. The APICHS was found to have exceptional sensitivity and specificity (100% and 92.86%, respectively) with a positive predictive value of 97.22%, far exceeding the sensitivity and specificity of the method currently in use. The APICHS is a valid, reliable tool for accurate classification of exposure to aromatic plant ingredients in personal care products and should be used for the avoidance of misclassification.

Analysing Clusters of Consumers Who Use Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Products

The trend towards health and environmental protection has led to an increase in the consumption of medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) products. The market for MAP products is influenced by consumer behaviour and therefore the aim of this study was to identify consumer segments that use MAP products for phytotherapeutic, cosmetic and personal care purposes according to their perceptions, attitudes and consumption habits and possible correlations between consumption of MAP products and interest in a healthy lifestyle and sustainable behaviour. Data collection was performed by administering a questionnaire to Cluj-Napoca residents. The final sample consisted of two groups of MAP consumers: the first with 231 respondents who use these products for phytotherapeutic purposes, the second group—with 297 respondents who use them as cosmetic and personal care products. The collected data were statistically analysed using the k-means clustering model, resulting in two distinct clusters in both consumer groups: cluster 1, the “Curious”, and Cluster 2, the “Knowledgeable”. For the consumers of the second cluster, consumption was positively correlated with healthcare and environmental protection, while they exhibited a growing interest in environmentally certified MAP products. The results obtained contribute to a better understanding of the MAP products consumption behaviour while tackling the practical implications for stakeholders in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry through the development and innovation of products tailored to consumer needs.

Study of the genetic and phenotypic variation among wild and cultivated clary sages provides interesting avenues for breeding programs of a perfume, medicinal and aromatic plant

A road-map of the genetic and phenotypic diversities in both crops and their wild related species can help identifying valuable genetic resources for further crop breeding. The clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.), a perfume, medicinal and aromatic plant, is used for sclareol production and ornamental purposes. Despite its wide use in the field of cosmetics, the phenotypic and genetic diversity of wild and cultivated clary sages remains to be explored. We characterized the genetic and phenotypic variation of a collection of six wild S. sclarea populations from Croatia, sampled along an altitudinal gradient, and, of populations of three S. sclarea cultivars. We showed low level of genetic diversity for the two S. sclarea traditional cultivars used for essential oil production and for ornamental purposes, respectively. In contrast, a recent cultivar resulting from new breeding methods, which involve hybridizations among several genotypes rather than traditional recurrent selection and self-crosses over time, showed high genetic diversity. We also observed a marked phenotypic differentiation for the ornamental clary sage compared with other cultivated and wild clary sages. Instead, the two cultivars used for essential oil production, a traditional and a recent one, respectively, were not phenotypically differentiated from the wild Croatian populations. Our results also featured some wild populations with high sclareol content and early-flowering phenotypes as good candidates for future breeding programs. This study opens up perspectives for basic research aiming at understanding the impact of breeding methods on clary sage evolution, and highlights interesting avenues for clary breeding programs.