In Vitro Antineoplastic and Antiviral Activity and In Vivo Toxicity of Geum urbanum L. Extracts

This study evaluated the in vitro antineoplastic and antiviral potential and in vivo toxicity of twelve extracts with different polarity obtained from the herbaceous perennial plant Geum urbanum L. (Rosaceae). In vitro cytotoxicity was determined by ISO 10993-5/2009 on bladder cancer, (T-24 and BC-3C), liver carcinoma (HEP-G2) and normal embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cell lines. The antineoplastic activity was elucidated through assays of cell clonogenicity, apoptosis induction, nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NFκB p65) activation and total glutathione levels. Neutral red uptake study was applied for antiviral activity. The most promising G. urbanum extract was analyzed by UHPLC–HRMS. The acute in vivo toxicity analysis was carried out following OEDC 423. The ethyl acetate extract of aerial parts (EtOAc-AP) exhibited the strongest antineoplastic activity on bladder cancer cell lines (IC50 = 21.33–25.28 µg/mL) by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting NFκB p65 and cell clonogenicity. EtOAc and n-butanol extracts showed moderate antiviral activity against human adenovirus type 5 and human simplex virus type I. Seventy four secondary metabolites (gallic and ellagic acid derivatives, phenolic acids, flavonoids, etc.) were identified in EtOAc-AP by UHPLC–HRMS. This extract induced no signs of acute toxicity in liver and kidney specimens of H-albino mice in doses up to 210 mg/kg. In conclusion, our study contributes substantially to the detailed pharmacological characterization of G. urbanum, thus helping the development of health-promoting phytopreparations.

Avens Root (Geum Urbanum L.) Extract Discovered by Target-Based Screening Exhibits Antidiabetic Activity in the Hen’s Egg Test Model and Drosophila melanogaster

Medicinal plant extracts are becoming increasingly important as an alternative for traditional drugs against diabetes mellitus (DM). For this reason, we initialized a target-based screening of 111 root extracts from an open access plant extract library (PECKISH) by ascertaining their in-vitro inhibitory efficacy on α-glucosidase. The two most active extracts Geum urbanum L. (roseroot) and Rhodiola rosea L. (avens root) were further tested for their antidiabetic activities in terms of their impact on different regulatory key points of glucose homeostasis. To this end, various enzyme- and cell culture-based in-vitro assays were employed including the determination of sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1) activity in Caco-2 monolayers by Ussing chambers and of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation in a GFP-reporter cell line. Subsequently, the antidiabetic potential of the root extracts were further evaluated in in-vivo models, namely hen’s eggs test and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Avens root extract was found to be a more potent inhibitor of the enzymes α-glucosidase and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) than roseroot extract. Most importantly, only avens root extract exhibited antidiabetic activity in the two in-vivo models eliciting a reduced blood glucose level in the in-ovo model and a decline of the triglyceride level in a dietary starch-induced D. melanogaster obesity model. Analyses of the polyphenolic composition of the avens root extract by HPLC revealed a high content of ellagic acid and its derivatives as well as ellagitannins such as pedunculagin, stenophyllanin, stachyurin, casuarinin and gemin A. In conclusion, avens root extract represents a promising medicinal plant that should be considered in further in-vivo studies on hyperglycemia in laboratory rodents and humans.

Redox-modulation, Suppression of “Oncogenic” Superoxide and Induction of Apoptosis in Burkitt’s Lymphoma Cells Using Geum urbanum L. Extracts

Burkitt’s lymphoma is a highly aggressive type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, linked to the Epstein-Barr virus, which induces oxidative stress and DNA damage in the infected cells. We investigated the cytotoxicity and redox-modulating ability of ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and n-butanol (n-BuOH) extracts from Geum urbanum L. roots and aerial parts on Burkitt`s lymphoma cells (BLC), to elucidate their impact on oxidative stress and cell survival. BLC Raji was treated with EtOAc and n-BuOH extracts to analyze: cell viability; induction of apoptosis; hydroperoxides and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) by 2’,7’-dichlorodihydrofluorescein assay; superoxide by dihydroethidium assay; total antioxidant capacity by TAC assay. All extracts suppressed cell growth and induce apoptosis. n-BuOH extracts possessed higher cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic activity compared to EtOAc. The fractions decreased the hydroperoxides and RNS levels. There was no correlation between the DCF fluorescence in the treated cells and their viability (R = -0.3722; p > 0.05). Root extracts decreased the superoxide level, while the leaf extracts did not. There was a good correlation between the dihydroethidium fluorescence in the treated cells and their viability (R = 0.9843; p < 0.01). All extracts increased the TAC of BLC. G. urbanum extracts serve as redox-modulators and anti-inflammatory compounds, decreasing the intracellular level of “oncogenic” superoxide and cell proliferation.

Conservation of Non-Pest Whiteflies and Natural Enemies of the Cabbage Whitefly Aleyrodes proletella on Perennial Plants for Use in Non-Crop Habitats

Aleyrodes proletella causes severe economic damage to several Brassica crops. Its naturally occurring enemies often immigrate late in the season or appear in low numbers on cabbage. This field study aims to permanently increase the local abundance of A. proletella’s natural enemies by providing the non-pest whitefly Aleyrodes lonicerae as an alternative and overwintering host/prey. Therefore, the population dynamics of natural enemies on different perennial herbaceous plants pre-infested with A. lonicerae were determined at two field locations over two winter periods. Most A. lonicerae colonized (on average 166.22 puparia per m²) and overwintered (342.19 adults per m²) on wood avens Geum urbanum. Furthermore, the abundance of A. proletella main parasitoid Encarsia tricolor (28.50 parasitized puparia per m²) and spiders (12.13 per m²) was 3–74 times and 3–14 times higher, respectively, on G. urbanum compared to the other experimental plants. Conclusively, G. urbanum pre-infested with A. lonicerae permanently promoted natural enemies of A. proletella by serving as shelter, reproduction, and overwintering habitat. A potential implementation of G. urbanum in conservation biological control strategies (e.g., tailored flower strips, hedgerows) against A. proletella are discussed and suggestions for future research are given.

The Traditional Knowledge About Herbal Use In Veterinary Medicine At The Balkan Peninsula

Background. The traditional knowledge about herbal use in veterinary medicine in Serbs is voluminous. However, that wealth is threatened to oblivion because new times give modern methods of treatment. Hence, the aim of this report was to present the collected data about folk methods of treatment and nutrition by the help of available plants related to the animals in Serbs what could be applied in up to date veterinary pharmacy. Methods. The questionnaire of 28 questions was prepared regarding the breeding, nutrition and medical treatment of domestic animals as well as the herbal list of medicinal plants to use. The study is based on the ”Show-and-Tell Technique” from the groups people without veterinary or medical education, with preference to people living in the remote settlements without resident veterinary services. Results. Interviewed persons were in the age range of 30-90 years. Plant interviewee were asked to show the plant species in a fresh or dried condition (for adequate identification). The 1120 filled inquiry sheets were analysed. Ninety two herbs were presented, of whom the most frequent noted were Carlina acaulis, Asteraceae (6 times) and Geum urbanum, Rosaceae (5 times). The most frequent treated diseases were of digestive (47%) and pulmonary system (25%), skin (hair, hoof) (8%) and urinary system (7%). Among “other” cathegory answers like “generaly good for helath” are included. Conclusion. It is still open question for the scientific branches of veterinary pharmacology to find out active ingredients, mechanism of action and application of some plants in the scope of veterinary pharmacology, phytochemistry and phytopharmacology. In that way the listed herbs in this work, which are still not in use nowadays, could be recognized as commercially available.

Insight into the Secondary Metabolites of Geum urbanum L. and Geum rivale L. Seeds (Rosaceae)

The present study aimed at the identification and quantitation of phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and further characteristic substances in the seeds of Geum urbanum L. and Geum rivale L. For this purpose, individual components of extracts recovered with MeOH, CH2Cl2, and by cold-pressing, respectively, were characterized by HPLC-DAD/ESI-MSn and GC/MS and compared with reference compounds. For both Geum species, phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids and gallic acid derivatives, and triterpenes, such as saponins and their aglycones, were detected. Surprisingly, both Geum species revealed the presence of derivatives of the triterpenoid aglycons asiatic acid and madecassic acid, which were characterized for the first time in the genus Geum. Furthermore, the fatty acids of both species were characterized by GC–MS after derivatization. Both species showed a promising fatty-acid profile in terms of nutritional properties because of high proportions of unsaturated fatty acids. Linoleic acid and linolenic acid were most abundant, among other compounds such as palmitic acid and stearic acid. In summary, the present study demonstrates the seeds of G. urbanum and G. rivale to be a valuable source of unsaturated fatty acids and bioactive phenolics, which might be exploited for nutritional and cosmetic products and for phytotherapeutic purposes.

Evaluation of Phytotoxicity of Bimetallic Ag/Au Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Geum urbanum L.

The growing production and wider application of metal nanoparticles gives rise to many concerns about their release to natural ecosystems. It is very important to be aware of the harmful impact of nanoparticles on living organisms, including plants. Therefore, it is of vital significance to explore the impact of metal nanoparticles on plants. This work assessed the phytotoxicity of bimetallic Ag/Au nanoparticles and Geum urbanum L. extract. The obtained bimetallic Ag/Au nanoparticles were characterized by UV–vis spectrophotometry (UV–vis), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The microscopic studies enabled the determination of the size of the obtained nanoparticles, which was 50 nm. The wide range of concentrations evaluated in the course of the study made it possible to observe changes in selected plants (seeds of Lepidium sativum, Linum flavum, Zea mays, Solanum lycopersicum var. Cerasiforme and Salvia hispanica-Chia) caused by a stress factor. The studies showed that the solution of Ag/Au nanoparticles was most toxic to flax (IC50 = 9.83 × 10–6/9.25 × 10–6 mg/ml), and least toxic to lupine (IC50 = 1.23 × 10–3/1.16 × 10–3 mg/ml). Moreover, we studied the toxicity of Geum urbanum extract. The extracts diluted to 0.00875 mg/ml stimulated the growth of lupine, flax and garden cress; extracts diluted to 0.175 mg/ml stimulated the growth of Chia and tomatoes; and extracts diluted to 0.00875 mg/ml stimulated the growth of corn. G. urbanum extract was most toxic to lupine (IC50 = 0.374 mg/ml), and least toxic to corn (IC50 = 4.635 mg/ml).