Natürliche Mechanismen der Unkrautunterdrückung in ‚Elstar‘-Apfelanlagen

ZusammenfassungIm Rahmen einer Masterarbeit sollte untersucht werden, warum der Baumstreifen in ausgewachsenen Elstar-Anlagen wesentlich weniger Aufwuchs aufweist als bei anderen Apfelsorten auf der gleichen Unterlage am gleichen Standort. Daher wurde die Vegetation in Baumstreifen von ‘Elstar’-Anlagen im Vergleich zu drei anderen Apfelsorten in 150 Vegetationsaufnahmen an drei Terminen in einjährigen Untersuchungen am Campus Klein-Altendorf bonitiert. Daneben wurde die Lichtdurchlässigkeit der Baumkrone mittels 300 Ceptometer- und 100 Schachbrettmessungen der Sonnenflecken im Baumstreifen im Juni und September – nach der Herbizidapplikation im Mai 2019 – ermittelt.Die mit der Schachbrettmethode bzw. mit dem Ceptometer ermittelte Lichteinstrahlung durch die Baumkrone auf den Baumstreifen unter den ‘Elstar’-Apfelbäumen war im September um ca. 35 % bzw. ca. 10 % signifikant geringer als unter Bäumen gleichen Alters der Sorte ‘Golden Delicious’ in der Nachbarreihe auf der gleichen Unterlage M 9.Der Baumstreifen unter ausgewachsenen ‘Gala’- und ‘Braeburn’-Apfelbäumen wies einen statistisch signifikant höheren Bodenbedeckungsgrad mit Beikräutern mit Boniturnoten von 3,8–4,3 im Vergleich zu 1,7–1,9 bei ‘Elstar’ auf (auf der Skala 1–5) – auf zwei nach IP-Richtlinien und einer biologisch bewirtschafteten Fläche, d. h. die Art der Baumstreifenbehandlung (chemisch oder mechanisch) hatte keinen Einfluss auf das Phänomen der Beikrautunterdrückung bei ausgewachsenen ‘Elstar’-Apfelbäumen.Sowohl Kreuzkraut (Senecio spp.) als auch Gänseblümchen (Bellis perennis) traten in den Baumstreifen unter ausgewachsenen ‘Elstar’-Apfelbäumen mit wesentlich geringerer Stetigkeit auf als unter ‘Golden Delicious’ in der benachbarten Reihe. Die in der Literatur beschriebene indirekte Selektion durch langjährige Glyphosatanwendung auf Vogelmiere (Stellaria media) und Kreuzkraut (Seneccio spp.) durch Auskeimen der Samen nach der Herbizidapplikation wurde bestätigt; im vorliegenden Versuch traten jedoch Behaartes Schaumkraut (Cardamine hirsuta) und Rispengräser (Poa spp.) stärker auf.Keimtests in Aussaatschalen – aufgestellt in den Baumstreifen – unter den Apfelbäumen der beiden Apfelsorten ‘Elstar, Michielsen’ und als Vergleich ‘Golden Delicious’ mit einem Licht- (Lepidium sativum) und einem Dunkelkeimer (Borago officinalis) zeigten keinen Unterschied in der Keimrate. Keimtests mit Kressesamen (Lepidium sativum) in mit Falllaub vermischtem Substrat in Aussaatschalen im Gewächshaus zeigten keine keimhemmende und damit keine allelopathische Wirkung des Falllaubes der Sorte ‘Elstar’.Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse der Beikrautunterdrückung im Wiederaufwuchs nach Beikrautbekämpfung stimmen mit denen unter starkwüchsigen ‘Ingrid Marie’ auf M 2 aus der Literatur überein. Diese Wirkung ausgewachsener Apfelbäume der Sorte ‘Elstar, Michielsen’ auf M 9 ist durch die Schattierung dieser wüchsigeren Bäume bedingt und hängt nicht von der Bewirtschaftungsform (IP mit Herbizideinsatz oder Öko mit mechanischer Beikrautbekämpfung), aber eventuell noch von weiteren Faktoren, ab.

Literature review of 10 plants products for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and antiviral properties

The global health pandemic of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) did not have specifically approved medication for the treatment. To maintain the human immunity power by natural remedies is the only way to prevent coronavirus infection. We designed a study protocol by selecting 10 natural plant active constituents that were claimed by traditional and investigational ways to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and antiviral properties. We will analyze these selected 10 plants' active constituents by molecular docking analysis. This article is a literature review of selected 10 plants products including Coffea Arabica, Curcuma longa, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Zizyphus vulgaris, Sisymbrium irio, Borago officinalis, Althaea officinalis, Malva sylvestris, Cordia Latifolia, and Adhatoda vasica for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and antiviral properties.

Evaluation of Borage (Borago officinalis L.) Genotypes for Nutraceutical Value Based on Leaves Fatty Acids Composition

Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a traditional vegetable grown and consumed in some Spanish regions. The objective of this study was to determine the variability and evolution of fatty acid composition in a borage germplasm collection formed by wild types, breeding lines, commercial varieties, and landraces. Fatty acids were analysed in petioles, the commonly edible part of the leaves, and the leaf blades, the by-product of the borage industry, in two growth stages: at the optimal harvest period (120 days after sowing) and at the end of the harvest period (150 days after sowing). The results showed that for each of the eight fatty acids identified, there were significant differences among the twelve borage genotypes depending on the developmental plant stage at sampling date and the part of the leaf analysed, the interaction effect also being statistically significant. The main polyunsaturated fatty acids identified were: linoleic acid (18:2 n6, LA), α-linolenic acid (18:3 n3, ALA), γ-linolenic acid (18:3 n6, GLA), and stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4, n-3), account for approximately 70% of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Blue-flowered genotypes differ from white-flowered genotypes by their high content of ALA and SDA, which can be exploited in borage breeding programs. Petioles from young plants present higher n6 fatty acids, while older plants produce a great amount of n3 fatty acids. Besides, the higher content of ALA in the leaf blades gives them a good dietary potential. All these fatty acids, with multiple health benefits, support the nutraceutical interest of borage leaves (both petioles and leaf blades) for human consumption, animal feeding, medicine, and pharmacy.

In Vivo Histological Study the Potential of Borago officinalis on Spleen and Testis Histo-Architecture on CCL4 Induced Albino Male Mice

History of medicine and plants dates backside to seclude past when herbal treatment was used and be the only answer to all kind of pain and disease. Nowadays, greater prominence is again to use phytotherapy all over the world. Herbal medicine is a traditional or folk medicine that based on the use of plants’ seeds, berries, roots, leaves, barks, flowers and plant extracts for medicinal purposes. This research study focused the line on the potentail of aqueous and methanolic extract of Borago officinalis (Borago; BO) on spleen and testis of albino male mice alone or after interaction between both plant extracts with CCL4 (toxic compound) in comparison to controls group (negative control; without any treatment and positive control; mice treated with CCL4 only). The results indicated the ability of plant extracts to modulate toxic effect resulted from CCL4 treatment.

The effect of Borago officinalis on the signaling pathway of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex, TLR4 and some inflammatory cytokines in type II diabetic patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition in which the lungs become severely inflamed, causing the alveoli to constrict or fill with fluid, which prevents the lungs from functioning properly. This disease becomes more dangerous when it occurs in patients with diabetes. Because of the clinical condition of these patients, it is not possible to treat them with usual medicines. One of the best options for treating these people is to use herbs. Borage (Borago officinalis) is a medicinal herb that, in addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, is also able to control blood sugar. Therefore, in the current study, the effect of borage oil was considered on the signaling pathway of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex, TLR4, and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1? and IL-18) in type II diabetic patients with ARDS. For this purpose, 25 diabetic type II patients with ARDS were divided into three groups by ARDS Berlin Definition. Then, after providing the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, they were treated with 30 mg/day borage oil for seven days. The expression of NLRP3 and TLR4 genes (by Real-time PCR technique) and serum levels of IL-1? and IL-18 (by ELISA test) were evaluated before and after treatment with borage oil through blood samples taken from patients. The results showed that serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1? and IL-18), NLRP3 gene, and TLR4 gene were significantly decreased in diabetic type II patients with mild ARDS by treating with borage oil. IL-1? serum level and TLR4 were significantly decreased in diabetic type II patients with moderate ARDS. But there was not any significant decrease or increase in IL-1?, IL-18, NLRP3 gene, and TLR4 gene in diabetic type II patients with severe ARDS after 7 days of treatment with borage oil. According to the obtained results, borage oil can act as a double-edged blade. Thus, in the early and middle stages of ARDS, borage oil can be effective in reducing the inflammasome pathway of inflammation and also reduce blood sugar levels in these diabetic patients. But in the severe stage of ARDS, it not only does not help to treat the ARDS; it also increases systolic and diastolic blood pressure in diabetic patients.

Where Is the Honey Bee Queen Flying? The Original Case of a Foraging Queen

During a bee fauna survey in the countryside of northern Sardinia, a honey bee queen (Apis mellifera L.) was detected while foraging on a borage (Borago officinalis L.) flower in Uri, Province of Sassari, Italy, most likely during an orientation flight before mating. Morphological details, detectable from photos with the naked eye and stereomicroscopic observations, confirmed that the honey bee queen was sucking nectar from a flower. The enormous development of the abdomen, lack of pollen-collecting structures in the legs and other characteristics such as the typical distally bilobed shape of the mandibles, with long hairs on their outer surface, proved the structural differences between the queen specimen and the other castes of bees. The queen’s proboscis, which is shorter compared to the workers, may have been counterbalanced by the shape and nectar production of the borage flower. This new observation proves that the queen can feed herself under natural conditions, likely to obtain the energy required for flying. Although we cannot exclude disturbing factors that could explain this foraging behaviour of a queen observed for the first time, this note opens a new scenario and discusses this new finding in the context of the available literature on the queen’s behaviour and questions to be answered.

Health-Promoting Properties of Borage Seed Oil Fractionated by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction

Borage (Borago officinalis L.) seed oil is an important source of γ–linolenic acid, which is normally used as a treatment against different pathologies. Since the fractionation of this interesting seed oil has many environmental, economic and biological benefits, two borage fractionation techniques after extraction with CO2 under supercritical conditions have been studied: precipitation in two cyclone separators and countercurrent extraction column. Both techniques have successfully collected free fatty acids in one fraction: (i) two separators set up in series obtained the highest concentration of free fatty acids in separator 2 at 90 bar/40 °C; (ii) when countercurrent extraction column was used, the acidity index of the raffinate stream was independent from the operating conditions (2.6 ± 0.5%). Furthermore, the composition of the fatty acids, as well as their antioxidant and cytotoxic activities, were determined. The profile of the fatty acids obtained by either of these two methods remained unaltered, so that the crude oil exhibited improved antioxidant and cytotoxic properties. All the extracts obtained in the two cyclone separators at the same pressure/temperature conditions displayed high tumouricidal activity against HL 60 promyelocytic leukaemia cells, even if the extracts at 50% concentration from separator 2 presented a lower inhibitory activity (IC50). The extracts from separator 2 at 90 bar/40 °C exhibited the highest anti-proliferative activity at low doses (IC50 of 0.3 μL/mL for the trypan blue exclusion test). To reach the lethal dose—IC50—with the product obtained through countercurrent column fractionation, a concentration of 2 μL/mL of crude borage oil raffinate was required.

Climate Change–Induced Stress Reduce Quantity and Alter Composition of Nectar and Pollen From a Bee-Pollinated Species (Borago officinalis, Boraginaceae)

In temperate ecosystems, elevated temperatures, and drought occur especially during spring and summer, which are crucial periods for flowering, pollination, and reproduction of a majority of temperate plants. While many mechanisms may underlie pollinator decline in the wake of climate change, the interactive effects of temperature and water stress on the quantity and quality of floral nectar and pollen resources remain poorly studied. We investigated the impact of temperature rise (+3 and +6°C) and water stress (soil humidity lower than 15%) on the floral resources produced by the bee-pollinated species Borago officinalis. Nectar volume decreased with both temperature rise and water stress (6.1 ± 0.5 μl per flower under control conditions, 0.8 ± 0.1 μl per flower under high temperature and water stress conditions), resulting in a 60% decrease in the total quantity of nectar sugars (mg) produced per flower. Temperature rise but not water stress also induced a 50% decrease in pollen weight per flower but a 65% increase in pollen polypeptide concentration. Both temperature rise and water stress increased the total amino acid concentration and the essential amino acid percentage in nectar but not in pollen. In both pollen and nectar, the relative percentage of the different amino acids were modified under stresses. We discuss these modifications in floral resources in regards to plant–pollinator interactions and consequences on plant pollination success and on insect nutritional needs.

Evaluation of clinical trials of the plants, which have ethnobotanical uses for skin disorders in Turkey: a review

Background Ethnobotanical studies investigating a large number of traditional herbs and uses have an important role in the discovery of new drugs. Nowadays, some of these traditional herbs are researched directly in the clinical trials. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the 19 plant species that have been identified in the clinical trials among 300 plant species belonging to 79 families with traditional use for skin problems in Turkey. Main body Natural sources are very important to treat diseases for thousands of years. The ethnopharmacological research of natural products ranges from the collection of biogenic samples such as plants to preclinical and clinical studies with the aim of developing drug templates or new drugs. In the ethnopharmacological approach, it is aimed to reach the result based on the traditional and modern knowledge about natural resources. The biggest advantage of this approach is synthesizing new and old information. After the plant or natural compound is determined, other processes work similarly with conventional drugs. Methods Ethnobotanical papers, thesis and projects in Istanbul University Faculty of Pharmacy Department of Pharmaceutical Botany and databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) have been sought and results were synthesized. Results Most of the clinical uses of herbs have been seen similar to their traditional uses. On the other hand, there are some plants on which their clinical uses differ from the traditional uses such as Borago officinalis, Calendula officinalis or Euphorbia peplus. When the frequency of traditional uses of herbs are compared, Plantago species, Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata are the most used taxa in Turkey, secondly, Hypericum perforatum comes. However, Plantago species are not of much interest in clinical trials. It is seen that most of the plants in the clinical research are tried for wound healing occuring due to different origins such as cancer, surgery and injury. Side effects were observed only during the application of Allium cepa, Cydonia oblonga and H. perforatum. Conclusions When clinical trials are evaluated in terms of efficacy and overall results, significant differences and effective results are seen in treatment groups given herbs in comparison with placebo or control groups.