Separation and Quantification of Selected Sapogenins Extracted from Nettle, White Dead-Nettle, Common Soapwort and Washnut

Saponins are an important group of secondary metabolites naturally occurring in plants with important properties like: antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. Moreover, they are widely used in the cosmetic industry and household chemistry. The sapogenins are saponin hydrolyses products, frequently used to facilitate saponin detection. In the present study, an improved methodology for isolation and separation of five sapogenins extracted from nettle (Urtica dioica L.), white dead-nettle (Lamium album L.), common soapwort (Saponaria officinalis L.) and washnut (Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn.) was developed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light-scattering detector (UHPLC-ELSD). Based on quantitative analysis, the highest content of hederagenin (999.1 ± 6.3 µg/g) and oleanolic acid (386.5 ± 27.7 µg/g) was found in washnut extracts. Good recoveries (71% ± 6 up to 99% ± 8) were achieved for four investigated targets, while just 22.2% ± 0.5 was obtained for the fifth one. Moreover, hederagenin and oleanolic acid of whose highest amount was detected in washnut (999.1 ± 6.3 µg/g and 386.5 ± 27.7 µg/g, respectively) were subject to another approach. Consequently, liquid chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (LC/MS) with multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) was used as an additional technique for fast and simultaneous identification of the mentioned targets.

Antioxidant Activity and Bioactive Compounds of Lamium album Flower Extracts Obtained by Supercritical Fluid Extraction

In this research, supercritical CO2 extraction is applied to extract bioactive compounds from Lamium album (white dead nettle, Lamiaceae). Extraction was performed at various temperatures (40, 50, and 60 °C) using methanol as co-solvent at a constant flow rate of CO2, methanol, and pressure. The collected extracts were characterized in terms of antioxidant capacity by using DPPH, ABTS and FRAP in vitro antioxidant activity assays, whereas the Folin–Ciocalteu procedure was employed to estimate the total phenols content (TPC). On the other hand, phenolic compounds in the extracts were quantitated by liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector (UPLC-PDA) and confirmed with a mass detector (TQD). The extracts have shown high TPC ranged between 234.17 to 650.17 mg GAE/g extract. DPPH scavenging of the extracts was estimated and obtained EC50 values ranged from 0.12 to 0.37 mg/mL of solution. The ABTS radical scavenging activity ranged from 43.20 to 44.53 µg TE/g. The FRAP value was found within the range of 19.48 to 44.74 µmol TE/g of extract. Differences between extraction conditions were observed. In this research, 50 °C/250 bar was efficient for the TPC, DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays; moreover, statistically, TPCs and FRAP assay showed significant differences between the conditions at α = 0.05. The identification of phenolic compounds in the obtained extract of Lamium album flowers, using UPLC/PDA, revealed that chrysin, pinostrobin, myricetin, and trans-3-hydroxycinnamic acid were the significant molecules present, which may be responsible for the high content of polyphenols and antioxidant activity. The results obtained indicated that SC-CO2 could be considered an alternative method for extracting bioactive compounds of Lamium album. High antioxidant activity and the presence of various bioactive compounds indicate the potential of this plant from the Lamiaceae family and the possibility of its application in various industries, including agriculture, food technology, or pharmacy.

Comparative Protective Effects of Viola Spathulata, Urtica Dioica, and Lamium Album on Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress in Rat Stroke Model

Background: Pathological conditions, including ischemic stroke, are associated with severe Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress that induces apoptosis and cell death. Herbal medicines are natural treatments with few side effects in such situations. Objectives: In the present study, we examined the probable neuroprotective effects of Viola spathulata, Lamium album, and Urtica dioica on splicing of ER stress mRNA gene marker (X-box Binding Protein-1 [XBP-1]) and Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) activation in the brain of the rat stroke model. Materials & Methods: Sixty male Wistar albino rats (weight: 220-250 g) were selected for this study and divided into two major groups. The first major group comprised the healthy animals that are subdivided into groups number 1 to 5. The second major group comprised the Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO) group subdivided into groups number 6-10. The reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction was performed after pretreatment with different herbal extracts (5, 10 mg/kg), Viola spathulata, and 100 mg/ kg Urtica dioica and Lamium album). The results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance in IBM SPSS v. 22. Results: MCAO-induced ischemia caused a marked increase in XBP-1 splicing in all rats of the MCAO group in comparison to the control groups (P<0.05), and pretreatment with 3 herbal extracts dramatically decreased target gene splicing in the MCAO studied groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: All three herbal extracts of U. dioica, L. album, and V. spathulata had the promising potential to use as a neuroprotective agent by reducing ER stress.

Effect of pollinator size on seed set in Lamium album var. barbatum

Background and aims – Previous researchers have demonstrated that geographic variation in pollinator community composition can generate diversity in the floral traits of animal-pollinated plants. Our study focused on the bumblebee-pollinated white dead-nettle Lamium album var. barbatum. Geographic variation in corolla length of this species is known to be correlated with regional pollinator size. The aim of this study is to clarify whether size-matching between flower and pollinator affects seed set in L. album.Material and methods – In the present study, we investigated two L. album populations on Mount Norikura, central Japan. We determined the pollinator community composition and corolla length during the flowering period of L. album and recorded seed set after a single visit by different pollinator categories.Key results – We observed that the main pollinators of L. album were bumblebee queens and workers. Bumblebee queens visited flowers more frequently than workers during peak flowering. Furthermore, size-matching between flowers and bumblebee queens, but not workers, strongly promoted seed set. These results suggest that L. album flower size is adapted to bumblebee queens, the main pollinator during peak flowering season in our study sites.

Intraspecific convergence of floral size correlates with pollinator size on different mountains: a case study of a bumblebee-pollinated Lamium (Lamiaceae) flowers in Japan

BackgroundGeographic differences in floral size sometimes reflect geographic differences in pollinator size. However, we know little about whether this floral size specialization to the regional pollinator size occurred independently at many places or occurred once and then spread across the distribution range of the plant species.ResultsWe investigated the relationship between the local floral size of flowers and local pollinator size in 12 populations ofLamium albumvar.barbatumon two different mountains in the Japan Alps. Then, using 10 microsatellite markers, we analyzed genetic differentiation among the 12 populations. The results showed that local floral size was correlated with the average size of relevant morphological traits of the local pollinators: floral size was greater in populations visited frequently by the largest flower visitors,Bombus consobrinusqueens, than it was in other populations. We also found that the degree of genetic similarity between populations more closely reflected interpopulation geographic proximity than interpopulation similarity in floral size.ConclusionsAlthough genetic similarity of populations was highly associated with geographic proximity, floral size varied independently of geographic proximity and was associated with local pollinator size. These results suggest that inL. albumvar.barbatum, large floral size evolved independently in populations on different mountains as a convergent adaptation to locally abundant large bumblebee species.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Extract of Lamium album and their Antifungal Properties

Biosynthesis of novel metal nanoparticles (especially silver) using plant derivatives has received increasing attention due to their eco-friendly and potential applications in pharmaceutical and medical fields. In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized by using aqueous extract of Lamium album as a biocompatible and green method. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by Ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) Spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) Analysis. Inhibitory activity of silver nanoparticles on fungal growth was evaluated and inhibition of Candida albicans biofilms formation was measured using XTT assay. Their antioxidant and cytotoxic properties have also been evaluated.The synthesized AgNPs were mostly spherical in shape with an average size of nearly 25.2 nm. The AgNPs were crystalline in nature and have a face-centered cubic structure. The results of zeta potential value for AgNPs were −30 mV indicating the normal stability of the synthesized nanoparticles in colloidal systems. The result of antifungal activities showed that the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles had inhibitory activity against Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. glabrata, C. dubliniensis, C. parapsilosis, Cryptococcus neoformance, Aspergillus flavus, A. clavatus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Pseudallescheria boydii and Exophiala dermatitidis. The nanoparticles inhibited the Candida albicans biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner. The cytotoxicity study of silver nanoparticles was revealed IC50 of 110.75 μg/mL against liver cell lines. The recognized bioactivity confirmed by the synthesized silver nanoparticles directs towards the potential for using as an antioxidant, antifungal, and cytotoxic agent.Keywords: Green synthesis, Antifungal activities, Silver nanoparticles, Lamium album, Biofilm formation.

Intraspecific Convergence of Flower Size Correlates With Pollinator Size on Different Mountains: A Case Study of a Bumblebee-Pollinated Lamium (Lamiaceae) Flowers in Japan

BackgroundGeographic differences in flower size sometimes reflect geographic differences in pollinator size. However, we know little about whether this flower size specialization to the regional pollinator size occurred independently at many places or occurred once and then spread across the distribution range of the flower species. ResultsWe investigated the relationship between the local corolla tube length of flowers and morphological traits of local pollinators in 12 populations of Lamium album var. barbatum on two different mountains in the Japan Alps. Then, using 10 microsatellite markers, we analyzed genetic differentiation among the 12 populations. The results showed that local corolla tube length was correlated with the average size of relevant morphological traits of the local pollinators: corolla tube length was greater in populations visited frequently by the largest flower visitors, Bombus consobrinus queens, than it was in other populations. We also found that the degree of genetic similarity between populations more closely reflected interpopulation geographic proximity than interpopulation similarity in corolla tube length.ConclusionsAlthough genetic similarity of populations was highly associated with geographic proximity, corolla tube length varied independently of geographic proximity and was associated with local pollinator size. These results suggest that in L. album var. barbatum, long corolla tube length evolved independently in populations on different mountains as a convergent adaptation to locally abundant large bumblebee species.

Herbarium – Summer 2021

Introduction. Medicinal plants are perfectly suited to interact with biological macromolecules like proteins and nucleic acids. All sources of natural products such as plants, microorganisms, animals, etc. are therefore biochemical potential. Aim. The goal was to present a typical plant often found in abandoned places, fields, meadows in the Podkarpacie region of Poland. Medicinal plants presented here were collected in Summer 2021 close to the city Jarosław. Material and methods. Plants collected for herbarium, immediately after harvest, are laid out between paper sheets that absorb moisture. Dried plants retain the shape of individual organs and usually also the colors. As the result of our collection, in this article are presented Papaver rhoeas L., Centaurea cyanus L., Capsella bursa – pastoris L., Taraxacum officinalle F.H., Wigg Coll and Lamium album L. Analysis of the literature. The desire to summarize information for future generations and to present the writings of the classical scholars to a wide audience was the major stimulations for presenting a most popular medicinal plants to the reader. The plants most often obtained for pharmaceutical purposes include: chamomile, fennel, St. John’s wort, nettle, mint, dandelion, yarrow, marshmallow, sage, foxglove, lemon balm, dandelion, rosehip, aloe, ginseng, and milk thistle. Conclusion. The history of plants collections is well documented.