Investigation of the in vitro Anticancer Activity of Sorbus aria Extract on Prostate Cancer

Cancer is one of the common diseases observed in our country and worldwide with a high mortality rate. Although cancer has been treated with different applications such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical operation, the exact remedy of this disease has still not been found, yet. The fact that current treatment methods have severe side effects on patients has increased the interest in natural anticancer agents that are accepted easily and considered as safer by society. The aim of this study is to investigate the anticancer activity of whitebeam (Sorbus aria) that grows in the Central Anatolia Region in Turkey, extract on PC-3 human prostate cancer cells in vitro. The anticancer activity of the ethanol extract obtained from whitebeam fruits evaluated using MTT cell proliferation assay. Also, Folin-Ciocalteu assay and CUPRAC method were performed to determine total phenol content and antioxidant capacity of whitebeam fruits, respectively. Whitebeam fruit extract showed strong anticancer activity on prostate cancer in vitro. The obtained ethanol extract is found to be a promising natural anticancer agent in vitro, and our findings need to be verified with in vivo studies and clinical trials.

Speciation by triparental hybridization in genus Sorbus (Rosaceae)

Hybridization associated with polyploidization and apomixis is a frequent mechanism of speciation. Sorbus is a genus with ongoing hybridization resulting in a polyploid complex with different parental lineage. Triparens is the smallest hybridogenous subgenus of Sorbus so far known to comprise only two taxa, S. intermedia and S. × liljeforsii that combine the genomes of three taxa (S. aria agg., S. aucuparia and S. torminalis). To elucidate the origins of S. dacica, S. paxiana and S. tauricola, three new trigenomic candidates formerly believed to be of biparental origin with either S. aria agg. × S. aucuparia or S. aria agg. × S. torminalis lineage we combined data from HPLC and chloroplast DNA analysing additional 33 related taxa as well. We concluded that the ‘torminalis-type’ flavonoid profile and the ‘aucuparia-type’ plastid indicate the participation of both S. torminalis and S. aucuparia resulting in the formation of S. dacica, S. paxiana and S. tauricola. Sorbus aria agg. as the third ancestor and as a necessary link to meet genes of S. torminalis and S. aucuparia in one genome is obvious from morphological features (densely tomentose undersides of leaves). The tetraploid cytotypes and obligate pseudogamy of S. dacica and S. paxiana were determined by flow cytometry and are published here for the first time. The most probable evolutionary scenario for Triparens species is: 1. a diploid sexual S. aucuparia as pollen acceptor hybridized with a tetraploid apomictic taxon from the S. aria agg. producing a triploid apomictic taxon with ‘aucuparia-type’ plastid inherited maternally; 2. during a second crossing event this subgenus Soraria hybrid as maternal progenitor hybridized with the sexual diploid S. torminalis (providing gene(s) of apigenin O-glucuronide synthesis) forming a tetraploid Triparens hybrid with ‘aucuparia-type’ plastid and ‘torminalis-type’ flavonoids.

Phenolics content and antioxidant activity of three Sorbus species

The phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Sorbus aucuparia L., Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz and Sorbus austriaca (Beck) Hedlund leaves and fruit were investigated. The quantification of total phenolics, flavonoids and phenolic acids was performed using the Folin–Ciocalteu, Dowd and Arnow methods, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated using DPPH, TEAC and FRAP methods with Trolox as a standard. Leaves had a higher content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity than the fruits for all species. The highest content of phenolics (76.11 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g plant), flavonoids (15.86 mg rutin equivalents (RE)/g plant) and phenolic acids (44.54 mg caffeic acid equivalents (CAE)/g plant) was determined for S. austriaca leaves. Sorbus austriaca fruit had the highest content of phenolics (13.21 mg GAE/g plant), flavonoids (1.82 mg RE/g plant) and S. aucuparia fruit had the highest content of phenolic acids (9.05 mg CAE/g plant). The antioxidant activity was in the range: DPPH=38.42–274.52 μmol Trolox equivalents (TE)/g plant; TEAC=43.23–403.02 μmol TE/g plant; FRAP=47.13–706.96 μmol TE/g plant. The highest values of antioxidant activity were found for S. austriaca leaf and fruit extracts while the lowest values were determined for S. aucuparia leaves and S. aria fruit. The antioxidant activity was highly correlated with total phenolics and phenolic acids.

Adatok Budapest környéke flórájának ismeretéhez III.

Cikkünk 40 ritka taxon (köztük 7 páfrány) új vagy megerősített adatait tartalmazza Budapest környékéről. Közülük egy faj (Geranium sibiricum) a Budai-hegység, ill. Budapest flórájára, egy (Polystichum setiferum) a Pilis flórájára, kettő (Onosma pseudarenaria, Sorbus aria s. str.) pedig a Visegrádi-hegység flórájára új. További adataink közül kiemeljük az Agrimonia procera, Botrychium lunaria, Epipactis tallosii, Gymnadenia odoratissima és Sorbus ujhelyii új előfordulásait.

The reaction of different Sorbus L. species to low temperatures during thaw in the Orel region

Five Sorbus L. species of different ecological and geographical origin growing in the VNIISPK arboretum were studied. The Institute is located 368 km southwest of Moscow, on the Central Russian upland in the European part of Russia. The studies were carried out in 2014–2016. The reaction of different Sorbus L. species to a three-day thaw +2°C with a subsequent decrease in temperature to –25°C in February and –30°C in March was studied in order to identify adapted species to the climatic conditions of the Orel region for use in ornamental horticulture. As a result of the experiment, we recommend Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz, Sorbus aucuparia L. and Sorbus alnifolia (Siebold. et Zucc.) K. Koch. as adapted species for the Orel region to create sustainable landscape compositions.

Flora y Vegetación de la Zona de Especial Conservación (ZEC) Sierra de Camarolos (Málaga, España)

Español. El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar un catálogo de la flora, de las comunidades vegetales y el estudio del dinamismo sucesional y del paisaje vegetal de la Zona de Especial Conservación (ZEC) Sierra de Camarolos (ES6170012), situada en la provincia de Málaga (Andalucía, España) con una superficie de 8.691 Ha. Presenta macrobioclima de tipo mediterráneo con termotipos meso y supramediterráneo y ombrotipos subhúmedo y húmedo. Está compuesta litológicamente de modo mayoritario por materiales calizo-dolomíticos, arcillosos y margo-yesíferos, con relieve kárstico y ondulado-escarpado y altitudes entre 500 y 1640 m. Se encuentra en la provincia fitogeográfica Bética (región Mediterránea), sector Antequerano, subsector Antequerano (zonas margo-yesíferas) y subsector Torcalense (zonas calizodolomíticas). El catálogo florístico se compone de 879 taxones, destacando la presencia de numerosas especies amenazadas y/o legalmente protegidas a nivel autonómico como Narcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. nevadensis, Narcissus assoanus, Festuca elegans, Amelanchier ovalis, Prunus insititia, P. mahaleb, Sorbus aria, Hieracium texedense, Scrophularia viciosoi, Quercus faginea subsp. alpestris, Sarcocapnos baetica y Saxifraga biternata. Otras especies de interés son nuevas citas a nivel fitogeográfico y/o provincial. Se han catalogado 73 comunidades y asociaciones vegetales, entre las que destacan como novedades sintaxonómicas una nueva subalianza (Fumano hispidulae-Hippocrepidenion bourgaei suball. nova) y 5 nuevas asociaciones: la vegetación rupícola orófila sobre dolomías (Hieracietum baetici-texedensis ass. nova), los cardales verticícolas temporihigrófilos (Eryngio aquifolii-Cynaretum baeticae ass. nova), los majadales basófilos (Thrincio hispidae-Poetum bulbosae ass. nova), los albaidares gipsícolas (Hippocrepido bourgaei-Anthyllidetum cytisoidis ass. nova) y los piornales xeroacánticos supra-mesomediterráneos (Festuco segimonensis-Erinaceetum anthyllidis ass. nova). También se proponen 3 nuevas subasociaciones: espartal termófilo (Thymo gracilis-Stipetum tenacissimae thymetosum capitati subass. nova), vallicares (Gaudinio fragilis-Agrostietum castellanae festucetosum amplae subass. nova) y encinares mesomediterráneos termófilos (Paeonio coriaceae-Quercetum rotundifoliae pistacietosum lentisci subass. nova). El dinamismo sucesional se expresa en 8 series de vegetación. 3 series climatófilas: una mesomediterránea de Quercus rotundifolia, y 2 de Quercus faginea, respectivamente antequerana y torcalense. 3 series edafoxerófilas puntuales: una termófila subrupícola de Olea europaea subsp. sylvestris, otra karsticícola más ombrófila de Pistacia terebinthus y una gipsícola de Pinus halepensis. Existen también una serie edafohigrófila de fresnedas (Fraxinus angustifolia) y otra de adelfar (Nerium oleander). En los frecuentes hábitats rocosos y de gleras se describen 2 geopermaseries: una calcícola caracterizada por Saxifraga biternata, S. reuteriana y S. camposii y otra dolomitícola con Hieracium texedense e H. baeticum y, muy escaso, con Sarcocapnos baetica. Las geopermaseries dulceacuícolas lagunares están caracterizadas por R. peltatus subsp. saniculifolius y subsp. peltatus, Zannichellia palustris y Chara vulgaris subsp. crassicaulis. Finalmente la geopermaserie temporihigrófila de suelos vérticos se caracteriza por Eryngium caespitiferum, Phalaris caerulescens y Festuca ampla. En la ZEC existen 15 grandes unidades de paisaje zonopotencial, caracterizados en gran medida, y en el caso de los bosques, por la presencia de Quercus rotundifolia y Q. faginea, con diferencias entre el paisaje vegetal de los dos subsectores de la ZEC, Torcalense y Antequerano.English. The objective of this work is to catalogue the flora and plant communities and studying the successional dynamism of the vegetation and the landscape of the Special Conservation Zone (ZEC) Sierra de Camarolos (ES6170012) which is located in the province of Malaga (Andalusia, Spain) with an area of 8.691 Ha. The macrobioclimate is Mediterranean with mesomediterranean and supramediterranean thermotypes (vegetation belts) and subhumid-humid ombrotypes. Geologically, dominant rocks are limestone and dolomite, clays and gypsum, with karstic and wavy-steep relief and altitudes between 500 and 1640 m. The ZEC is placed in the Baetica phytogeographical province (Mediterranean Region) included in the Antequerano sector with differentiated areas: Antequerano subsector (clays-gypsum substrates) and Torcalense subsector (limestones and dolomites substrates). The floristic list consists of 879 taxa, emphasizing the presence of numerous threatened and / or legally protected species at the regional level such as Narcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. nevadensis, Narcissus assoanus, Festuca elegans, Amelanchier ovalis, Prunus insititia, P. mahaleb, Sorbus aria, Hieracium texedense, Scrophularia viciosoi, Quercus faginea subsp. alpestris, Sarcocapnos baetica and Saxifraga biternata. Other species of interest are new records at the phytogeographical and/ or provincial level. A total of 73 plant communities and associations have been catalogued, including syntaxonomic novelties as a new suballiance (Fumano hispidulae-Hippocrepidenion bourgaei subal. nova) and 5 new associations: rupicolous vegetation on dolomites (Hieracietum baetici-texedensis ass. nova), tall-herb nitrophilous vegetation on clay temporarily wet soils ((Eryngio aquifolii-Cynaretum baeticae ass. nova), basophyllous pastures (Thrincio hispidae-Poetum bulbosae ass. nova), gypsicolous shrublands (Hippocrepido bourgaei-Anthyllidetum cytisoidis ass. nova) and supra-mesomediterranean cushion shrublands (Festuco segimonensis-Erinaceetum anthyllidis ass. nova). Moreover, 3 new subassociations are proposed: thermophyllous graminoid perennial vegetation (Thymo gracilis-Stipetum tenacissimae thymetosum capitati subass. nova), wet meadows (Gaudinio fragilis-Agrostietum castellanae festucetosum amplae subass. nova) and low mesomediterranean oak forests (Paeonio coriaceae-Quercetum rotundifoliae pistacietosum lentisci subass. nova). Succesional dynamism of plant communities is expressed in 8 vegetation series. 3 series are climatophilous: one mesomediterranean of Quercus rotundifolia and two of Quercus faginea. 3 series are edaphoxerophilous: one thermophilic subrupicolous of Olea europaea subsp. sylvestris, one karstic ombrophile of Pistacia terebinthus and one on gypsum soils of Pinus halepensis. There are also 2 edaphohygrophyllous series: one of Fraxinus angustifolia and another one of Nerium oleander. In the frequent rocky and stony ground habitats, 2 geopermaseries are described: a calcicolous one, characterized by Saxifraga biternata, S. reuteriana and S. camposii and another dolomiticolous one, with Hieracium texedense and H. baeticum and, very scarce, with Sarcocapnos baetica. The freshwater ponds geopermaseries are characterized by Ranunculus peltatus, subsp. saniculifolius and subsp. peltatus, Zannichellia palustris and Chara vulgaris subsp. crassicaulis. Finally, the temporary hygrophilic geopermaserie of clay soils is characterized by Eryngium caespitiferum, Phalaris caerulescens and Festuca ampla. In the ZEC there are 15 large zonopotential landscape units, characterized to a great extent, and in the case of forests, by the presence of Quercus rotundifolia and Q. faginea, with differences between the vegetation landscape of the two subsectors of the ZEC, Torcalense and Antequerano.