Pipes and Potions: Testing the Efficacy of European Folk Preparation Methods for Anticholinergic Solanaceae Plants

The present article sought to evaluate the efficiency of various folk preparation methods commonly used in Europe for employing anticholinergic Solanaceae plants. The study aimed to uncover which folk methods were effective for the extraction of the anticholinergic tropane alkaloids of these plants, atropine and scopolamine. The folk extractions that were tested sought to simulate the preparation of teas, cold-water infusions, unguents, tinctures, fortified wines, and smoking. All preparation types and a control were then put through an extraction process to see what amount of the alkaloids had been maintained. These extractions were then analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Cold- and hot-water preparations, tinctures, and fortified wines all proved to be effective means of extracting atropine and scopolamine from plant material under conditions seen in folk usage. Smoking and the oil-based unguent, however, yielded no alkaloids, suggesting a lack of efficiency for these preparations, a problem with our methodology, or possible chemical changes and losses associated with the preparation procedure.

Intestinal obstruction due to phytobezoar: A rare case in a 6-year-old Sudanese girl

We here report a rare case of a 6-year-old Sudanese girl diagnosed at laparotomy with phytobezoar (A phytobezoar is a type of bezoar, or trapped mass in the gastrointestinal system, that consists of components of indigestible plant material, such as fibers, skins and seeds) with good outcome.

Improvement of Science Learning Achievement in Animal and Plant Material in My Home Environment in SDN Karanggintung 07

<p><em>This study aims to describe efforts to improve science learning achievement through the use of IT-based learning media (technology science) in grade IV students, to improve science learning achievement through the use of IT-based learning media (Technology Science) in grade IV SDN Karanggintung 07. This research uses based media. IT (Science of Technology) and consists of four stages, namely planning, implementing, observing, and reflecting. The subjects of this study were 18 grade IV students at SDN Karanggintung 07. Data collection techniques used observation sheets and written tests. The results of this study showed A significant increase was seen in the pre-cycle value of students who reached KKM only 50%, after cycle 1 increased to 55.55%, cycle II 66.66% and the peak in cycle III reached 83.33%. Thus the use of IT-based media (Technology Science) can improve the learning achievement of fourth grade students in science subjects animal and tumb God in my neighborhood.</em></p>

Enzymatic and Microwave Pretreatments and Supercritical CO2 Extraction for Improving Extraction Efficiency and Quality of Origanum Vulgare L. spp. hirtum Extracts

The goal of the study was to establish a procedure for improving the efficiency of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction of Origanum vulgare L. spp. hirtum (Greek oregano) and enhancing the quality of obtained extracts. Microwave and enzymatic pretreatments of the plant material were applied prior to the scCO2 extraction. It was determined that the microwave pretreatment with irradiation power 360 W during 2 min accelerated the extraction of lipophilic compounds and provided a twofold higher extraction yield compared to the control. Moreover, this pretreatment also led to an increase in oxygenated monoterpenes content and the most dominant component carvacrol, as well as the extracts’ antioxidant activity. The enzymatic pretreatment caused a significant increase in the extraction yield and the attainment of the extract with the most potent antioxidant properties. Coupling the pretreatments with scCO2 extraction improves the process of obtaining high value lipophilic products of oregano in terms of utilization of the plant material, acceleration of the extraction with the possibility to adjust its selectivity and quality of extracts, and enhancement of biological activity.

Does the Reaction of Inflorescences and Flowers of the Invasive Prunus serotina Ehrh. to Various Herbicides Give Hope for Elimination of This Species from Polish Forests?

The North American Prunus serotina Ehrh. is an invasive neophyte widespread in Polish forests. Due to the negative impact of this species on native vegetation, the most effective methods of its removal from the stands have been searched for. Our research aimed to determine whether herbicides that were applied in spring 2020 influenced morphological features of inflorescences and flowers of P. serotina in the next year of vegetation (i.e., 2021). So far, the effects of herbicides used were analysed in the same year, no later than a few weeks after their application. The experiment was carried out on the research area of 2.7 ha located in the Zielonka Forest near Poznań in Poland (N 52.5330, E 17.1015). The response of 39 P. serotina trees to six different herbicides, containing sulfonylurea derivatives, glyphosate and phenoxy herbicides was investigated. The chemicals were applied directly to the tree, to the holes made in the trunk axis. The plant material included inflorescences from 10 control trees and 29 trees treated with different herbicides. Nine morphological inflorescence and flower features and three ratios were analysed. In total 200 inflorescences and 1000 flowers were measured. Statistically significant differences between inflorescence and flower features collected from trees treated with different herbicides were demonstrated. The largest ranges of values of the studied features were found in inflorescences and flowers collected from the control trees (C-WI, C-DWH). The greatest variability of the studied features was found for C-DWH. Compared to the control trees the reduction in inflorescence size, as well as the smaller number of flowers, were recorded in the trees treated with different herbicides, irrespective of an active substance content. The use of six different herbicides—with different active substance contents to control P. serotina proves to be effective.

Effect of Magnesium Fertilization Systems on Grain Yield Formation by Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during the Grain-Filling Period

The application of magnesium significantly affects the components of the wheat yield and the dry matter partitioning in the grain-filling period (GFP). This hypothesis was tested in 2013, 2014, and 2015. A two-factorial experiment with three rates of magnesium (0, 25, 50 kg ha−1) and four stages of Mg foliar fertilization (without, BBCH 30, 49/50, two-stage) was carried out. Plant material collected at BBCH: 58, 79, 89 was divided into leaves, stems, ears, chaff, and grain. The wheat yield increased by 0.5 and 0.7 t ha−1 in response to the soil and foliar Mg application. The interaction of both systems gave + 0.9 t ha−1. The Mg application affected the grain yield by increasing grain density (GD), wheat biomass at the onset of wheat flowering, durability of leaves in GFP, and share of remobilized dry matter (REQ) in the grain yield. The current photosynthesis accounted for 66% and the REQ for 34%. The soil-applied Mg increased the REQ share in the grain yield to over 50% in 2014 and 2015. The highest yield is possible, but provided a sufficiently high GD, and a balanced share of both assimilate sources in the grain yield during the maturation phase of wheat growth.

Creation of the bank of breeding material of winter rye in vitro

Аn important issue of the selection process is the preservation of the source and obtained material, especially cross-pollinated crops, which significantly lose their viability by inbreeding. Creating a bank of genetic resources using biotechnological methods will effectively solve this problem. The aim of the work was to determine the conditions for the formation of a genetic bank of valuable winter rye materials with changes in temperature and modeling of the nutrient medium for long-term disposal of cloned plants and the use of active collection of original and created forms in the selection process. To deposit the clones, a nutrient medium, which included macro- and microelements according to the Murashige-Skuga medium was used. The nutrient substrate modified with cytokinins and carbohydrates. The clones in culture rooms at a temperature of 6–12 °С and low light intensity (2 kLk) were stored. In the course of research the conditions of creation of an active collection of plants of winter rye with use of temperature restriction and modification of a nutrient medium are defined. A consistent technological scheme for the conversion of plant material into a state of relative anabiosis has been developed. It is proved that the optimal storage temperature for samples is 6 °С. Survival of plants at the specified temperature regime after 12 months of deposition on average by genotypes at the level of 78,2 % was recorded. Modification of the nutrient medium with agar-agar at a concentration of 12,0 g/l increases the proportion of viable clones to 81,3 %, and the introduction into the substrate of an increased concentration of growth regulators, in particular 6-BAP (2,0 mg/l) and sucrose 40,0 g/l and a gradual decrease in temperature to 10 °С prolongs the period of deposition of cloned plants without changing the substrate and the shelf life of breeding material in isolated crops. Using of biotechnological methods for the preservation and reproduction of valuable material intensifies the selection process of obtaining initial samples of winter rye.

Effect of Solid-State Fermentation on the essential oil yield of Curcuma longa residues

The solid waste of Curcuma longa rhizomes generated after its cold juice process making is mostly unused and discarded even though they can contain essential oil. Conventional techniques such as hydrodistillation can be used to extract essential oil, but this generally results in low essential oil yield and inefficient extraction time. Solid-state fermentation as a pretreatment of distillation could improve the yield of essential oil. In this study, we evaluated the effect of solid state fermentation on the yield of extraction of Curcuma longa solid wastes essential oil. The solid-state fermentation was carried out naturally without any addition of inoculum and the extraction was performed by hydrodistillation. Under experimental conditions at room temperature and anaerobically in the dark, the treatment of 7 days of solid state fermentation followed by 2h of hydrodistillation provided the highest yield of 1.21% as compared to non-fermented of 0.35% and of 0.96% relative to the raw plant material representing an increase of 71% and 21% respectively. A

Is It Possible to Produce Certified Hazelnut Plant Material in Sicily? Identification and Recovery of Nebrodi Genetic Resources, in vitro Establishment, and Innovative Sanitation Technique From Apple Mosaic Virus

Eight Sicilian cultivars of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.), namely-Curcia, Nociara Collica, Panottara Collica, Panottara Galati Grande, Parrinara, Panottara Baratta Piccola, Enzo, and Rossa Galvagno, registered into the Italian Cultivar Register of fruit tree species in 2017 were selected from Nebrodi area and established in vitro. The aim of the work was to carry out the sanitation of the cultivars and get virus-free plants from the most important viral pathogen threat, the apple mosaic virus. Virus-free plant material is essential for the production of certified plants from Sicilian hazelnut cultivars, complying the CE (cat. CAC) quality and the technical standards established in 2017 for voluntary certification by the Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (MIPAAF). In this study, we investigated the possibility of establishing in vitro true-to-type and virus-free hazelnut plantlets via the encapsulation technology of apexes. The in vitro shoot proliferation rates were assessed for the different cultivars, sampling periods, temperature treatments, and type of explant used for culture initiation. Viability, regrowth, and conversion rates of both conventional meristem tip culture (MTC) and not conventional (MTC combined with the encapsulation technology) sanitation techniques were evaluated.

The Importance of Reference Materials and Method Validation for Advancing Research on the Health Effects of Dietary Supplements and Other Natural Products

Insufficient assessment of the identity and chemical composition of complex natural products, including botanicals, herbal remedies, and dietary supplements, hinders reproducible research and limits understanding mechanism(s) of action and health outcomes, which in turn impede improvements in clinical practice and advances in public health. This review describes available analytical resources and good methodological practices that support natural product characterization and strengthen the knowledge gained for designing and interpreting safety and efficacy investigations. The practice of validating analytical methods demonstrates that measurements of constituents of interest are reproducible and appropriate for the sample (e.g., plant material, phytochemical extract, and biological specimen). In particular, the utilization of matrix-based reference materials enables researchers to assess the accuracy, precision, and sensitivity of analytical measurements of natural product constituents, including dietary ingredients and their metabolites. Select case studies are presented where the careful application of these resources and practices has enhanced experimental rigor and benefited research on dietary supplement health effects.