Morphological Features of Fruits and Seeds of Some Species of the Genus Crataegus L. of the Flora of Ukraine

The genus Crataegus L. is one of the largest species in the family Rosaceae Juss. The fruits are used as medicinal raw materials ( Crataegus fructus ), as they contain a set of biologically active compounds. The genus is voluminous and taxonomically problematic due to significant variability, hybridization, apomixis, and polyploidy. As a result, it is difficult to determine the species of the genus. Species of the genus have a number of diagnostic features, one of which is a distinct fruit with seeds. The aim of our study was to identify and compare the diagnostic features of the fruits of seven species of the genus Crataegus flora of Ukraine, which are most often used as medicinal raw materials and are the most common in Ukraine – Crataegus laevigata , C. monogyna , C. pentagyna , C. pseudokyrtostyla , C. sanguinea , C. fallacina , and C. rhipidophylla . The study was performed using scanning and digital microscopy, and descriptions were made by standard methods. As a result, we identified features that clearly distinguished the studied species from each other. We identified mature fruits that contain only one pyrene ( C. monogyna , C. pseudokyrtostyla , C. fallacina , and C. rhipidophylla ), and several pyrenes ( C. laevigata , C. pentagyna , and C. sanguinea ) among the studied species of the genus. The studied species are characterized by spherical and ellipsoidal fruits. The predominant color is fulvous/brown with different shades, but almost-black fruits of the species C. pentagyna are well distinguished. Fruits of all studied species of the genus are fleshy, except C. sanguinea , which is floury. The species is characterized mainly by yellow flesh fruits, except C. pentagyna , which has ribbed fruits. The fruits of C. monogyna plants differ from those of other studied species by the spinous-tuberous surface relief. Pyrenes of triangular shape are observed only in C. pentagyna . We suggest that these features can be used as additional diagnostic tools to determine the species of the genus Crataegus flora in Ukraine.

The assessment of dispersal potential of the wax cicada Say. (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea: Flatidae) in the agricultural landscape of the Krasnodar Territory vineyards

Цель исследований заключалась в уточнении перечня кормовых растений восковой (белой, цитрусовой) цикадки ( Metcalfa pruinosa Say.) в агроландшафте виноградников и анализе состояния популяции путем определения гендерной структуры в основных зонах виноградарства Краснодарского края. Исследования проводили в 2015-2020 гг. на промышленных насаждениях винограда, в лесополосах и на другой растительности в агроландшафте виноградников согласно общепринятым методикам. Уточнена гостальная пищевая специализация вредителя, к наиболее заселяемым растениям отнесены Gleditsia triacanthos L., Crataegus laevigata Poir., Rosa majalis Herrm., Prunus spinosa L., Rubus fruticosus L., Prunus armeniaca L., Prunus domestica L., Prunus cerasifera Ehrh., Abutilon theophrasti Medik.; установлено отсутствие сортовых предпочтений M. pruinosa при развитии на растениях винограда. Результаты изучения гендерной структуры популяций M. pruinosa показали преобладание самок над самцами в Анапо-Таманской, Черноморской и Южно-предгорной зонах виноградарства Краснодарского края, что позволяет сделать предположение о том, что потенциал расселения восковой цикадки еще не исчерпан, вид продолжает осваивать данную территорию. The aim of the research was to adjust the list of forage plants of the wax (white, citrus) cicada ( Metcalfa pruinosa Say.) in the agricultural landscape of vineyards and to analyze the population conditions by determining the gender structure in the main viticultural zones of the Krasnodar Territory. The research was carried out in 2015-2020 in industrial grape plantings, forest belts and other vegetation in the agricultural landscape of vineyards according to generally accepted methods. The official nutrition specialization of the pest was adjusted, the most populated plants were Gleditsia triacanthos L., Crataegus laevigata Poir., Rosa majalis Herrm., Prunus spinosa L., Rubus fruticosus L., Prunus armeniaca L., Prunus domestica L., Prunus cerasifera Ehrh., Abutilon theophrasti Medik.; the absence of varietal preferences of M. pruinosa when developing on grape plants was established. Results of the study of the gender structure of M. pruinosa populations showed the predominance of females over males in the Anapa-Taman, Black Sea and South-Piedmont zones of viticulture in the Krasnodar Territory, suggesting the potential for dispersal of the wax cicada has not yet been exhausted, the species continues to develop this territory.

Crataegus laevigata Suppresses LPS-Induced Oxidative Stress during Inflammatory Response in Human Keratinocytes by Regulating the MAPKs/AP-1, NFκB, and NFAT Signaling Pathways

Crataegus laevigata belongs to the family Rosaceae, which has been widely investigated for pharmacological effects on the circulatory and digestive systems. However, there is limited understanding about its anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects on skin. In this study, 70% ethanol C. laevigata berry extract (CLE) was investigated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated keratinocytes. The LPS-induced overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was suppressed by the treatment with CLE. In response to ROS induction, the overexpression of inflammatory regulating signaling molecules including mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)/activator protein-1 (AP-1), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-κB), and nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) were reduced in CLE-treated human keratinocytes. Consequently, CLE significantly suppressed the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory chemokines and interleukins in LPS-stimulated cells. Our results indicated that CLE has protective effects against LPS-induced injury in an in vitro model and is a potential alternative agent for inflammatory treatment.

Fruit and berry plants of forest belts as a factor of species diversity of ornithofauna during the breeding season and autumn migration period

During migration, the availability of food that affects the success of bird movements, the nature and timing of their movements, is critical for many bird species. The relationship between migration routes and the ripening of fruit and berry plants along the route is important. Four types of forest belts were studied: wind-blown maple-ash, latticed maple-linden, dense oak-maple-linden, wind-blown oak-maple-poplar. During the study 43 bird species were identified consuming 9 major fruit and berry plant species: Sambucus nigra, Prunus spinosa, Crataegus laevigata, Rosa canina, Prunus padus, Sorbus aucuparia, Rhamnus cathartica, Morus nigra, Prunus cerasus. The highest average number of birds feeding in forest belts (4.14 ind./km) was registered in oak-maple-linden dense forest belts, while the lowest number (1.48 ind./km) was recorded in wind-blown maple-ash ones. Maple-linden latticed forest belts characterize the best index data of α-diversity of birds. In the summer-autumn diet, succulent fruit are the most important: Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) – 11.8% of the total number of birds observed to feed on this food resource, Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) – 11.3%, Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) – 9.3%, Song thrush (Turdus philomelos) – 7.3%, Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) – 7.1%, Blackbird (Turdus merula) – 5.4%. 42 species of birds were observed to feed on black elderberry. More than half (51.2%) of the species composition of birds feeding on fruit and berry plants were migratory birds. Consequently, juicy berries are an important food during bird migrations.

Assessment of Antioxidants in Selected Plant Rootstocks

The service tree (Sorbus domestica) is a wild fruit tree with immense medicinal and industrial value. This study aimed at determining the four major groups of antioxidants (flavonoids, phenolic acids and aldehydes, catechin and procyanidin) in rootstocks of Crataegus laevigata (genotypes O-LE-14 and O-LE-21), Aronia melanocarpa (genotypes O-LE-14 and O-LE-21), Chaenomeles japonica (genotype O-LE-9) and Cydonia oblonga (BA 29) (genotypes O-LE-14 and O-LE-21). Hyperoside (Quercetin 3-D-galactoside) was the most abundant flavonoid compound, since its average content in the rootstocks of Crataegus laevigata (O-LE-21) was 180.68 ± 0.04 μg·g−1. Dihydrokaempherol was the least frequently found flavonoid compound, with an average concentration of 0.43 ± 0.01 μg·g−1 in all the rootstocks of plants considered in this study. Among the phenolic compounds, the most represented one was protocatechuic acid, with 955.92 ± 10.25 μg·g−1 in the rootstocks of Aronia melanocarpa (O-LE-14). On the other hand, the least represented p-Coumaric acid exhibited the average concentration of 0.34 ± 0.01 μg·g−1 in the plant rootstocks. Epicatechin was the most abundant catechin compound, with a content of 3196.37 ± 50.10 μg·g−1 in the rootstocks of Aronia melanocarpa (O-LE-14). The lowest represented catechin compound was epigallocatechin, with the average concentration of 0.95 ± 0.08 μg·g−1 in the screened plant rootstocks. From the procyanidin compounds, the most abundant one was procyanidin b2 in the rootstocks of Crataegus laevigata (O-LE-14), with a concentration of 5550.40 ± 99.56 μg·g−1. On the contrary, procyanidin a2, with an average concentration of 40.35 ± 1.61 μg·g−1, represented the least frequent procyanidin compound in all the plant rootstocks screened herein.

Advantageous Extraction, Cleanup, and UHPLC-MS/MS Detection of Patulin Mycotoxin in Dietary Supplements and Herbal Blends Containing Hawberry from Crataegus spp.

Patulin (PAT) is a highly genotoxic mycotoxin still found as the common contaminant of various kinds of spoiled fruits and related commodities which are often endorsed as the health-enhancing products. Thus, a fast and convenient liquid-solid extraction followed by a solid-phase cleanup with the MycoSep®228 AflaPat multifunctional column was used for the highly efficient isolation of PAT with an average recovery of 112.7% from commercial dietary supplements and herbal blends formulated with dried hawberry. Analysis of the PAT content was carried out using gradient elution with a Synergi Polar C18 column (150 × 2 mm, 4 μm) and UHPLC system equipped with a mass spectrometer. PAT was detected in all (n=14) commercial single-component dietary supplements formulated with dried hawberry belonging to Crataegus monogyna and/or Crataegus laevigata. Similarly, PAT was detected in 67% of the studied multicomponent commercial herbal blends (n=6) that contained—in addition to hawberry—different amounts of apple, chokeberry, elderberry, hibiscus, or mallow. Moreover, the PAT content was determined in the hawberry collected from the mature wild hawthorn trees belonging to three botanical species, Crataegus monogyna Jacq., Crataegus laevigata (Poiret) DC, and Crataegus rhipidophylla Gand, growing in the recreational forest areas and in the law-protected state national forest park in Poland. In conclusion, to prevent PAT accumulation and reduce the health risk of consumers in globalizing markets, the implementation of improved cultivation/processing practices of hawthorn trees and hawberry as well as increased analytical control related to the presence of PAT in dietary supplements and herbal blends formulated with fresh, dried, or frozen hawberry should be urgently recommended.

Metals content of soil, leaves and wild fruit from Serbia

The concentrations of Zn, Mn, Fe, Pb, Ni, Cu and Cd in soil, leaves and edible wild fruit (Crataegus laevigata L., Cornus mas L. and Prunus spinosa L.) from southeast Serbia were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Metal translocations from soil to fruit were calculated as well as their oral intake and health risk indices. Positive correlations were found among metal concentrations in soil, leaves and fruit.