Introduction pages

Notulae Scientia Biologicae (http://www.notulaebiologicae.ro), Issue 3, Volume 13, 2021: The papers published in this issue represent interesting novelties in different topics of life science. Among the exciting researches or reviews, we invite readers to find news about: Ethnopharmacological utility, traditional knowledge and phytochemistry of Aristolochia species in Assam, India; Pomegranate, fruit of the desert, a functional food, and a healthy diet; Vulvo-vaginal myiasis among rural women in West Bengal, India; Persistence, dissipation and health risk assessment of combi-product profenofos and cypermethrin in/on sapota under sub-tropical agro-climatic conditions in India; Efficacy of different human-elephant conflict prevention and mitigation techniques practiced in West Bengal, India; Diversity and distribution of Asian forest scorpions (Arthropoda, Scorpionidae, Heterometrinae) in Telangana State, India; Moth (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) diversity of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; Secondary metabolites of a marine-derived Penicillium ochrochloron etc.

A review on ethnopharmacological utility, traditional knowledge and phytochemistry of Aristolochia species in Assam, India

Aristolochia L. (Aristolochiaceae) is widely used throughout South-East Asia for the treatment of several diseases. Different species of this genus are known by similar local names in Assam. This review aims to provide up-to-date information on Aristolochia species distributed in Assam, including its traditional uses, phytochemical and pharmacological properties, in exploring future therapeutic and scientific potentials. The information on ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacological aspects were collected by performing literature searches. Assam hosts a total of six species of Aristolochia. The taxonomy and distribution are presented. Traditionally the tubers are used by the local people to treat stomach pain, malaria, dysentery, high blood pressure, body pain, urinary tract infections, headache, impotency etc. It has considerable pharmacological properties including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-fertility, anti-venom, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-pruritic, anti-feedant and toxicological activities. Approximately a total of 200 compounds have been isolated from these species. So far, pharmacological investigations are only done on three Aristolochia species, whereas the other three are simultaneously used for the same purposes. Most of the medicinal properties attributed to these Aristolochia, have not yet been investigated and proven under a scientific study. This highlights the importance of Aristolochia as a valuable candidate for future studies.

Aristolochia Mulunensis (Aristolochiaceae), a New Record and Noteson Taxonomy, Distribution of some Aristolochia Species for Theflora of Vietnam

AristolochiamulunensisY.S. Huang & Yan Liu, an endemic species to Guangxi, China, is newly recordedfor the flora of Vietnam. Notes on distribution of someAristolochia species in Vietnam such as A. petelotii, A. balansae, A. xuanlienensis, A. quangbinhensis, andA. tadungensis are given.Additionally, the morphological characters of capsule and seeds of A. petelotii and A. balansae are firstly described. Keywords Aristolochia,Aristolochia mulunensis, distribution, new record, Vietnam References [1] S.T. Wagner, S. Isnard, N.P. Rowe, M.S. Samain, C. Neinhuis and S. Wanke, Escaping the lianoid habit: evolution of shrub-like growth forms in Aristolochia subgenus Isotrema (Aristolochiaceae), American Journal of Botany, 99 (2012) 1609.[2] T.V. Doand T.D. Nghiem, Taxonomic notes on some Aristolochia species in Vietnam, Taiwania, 62 (2017) 216.[3] O.T. Pham, H.V. Lai, T.T. Nguyen and T.V. Do, Aristolochia chlamydophylla (Aristolochiaceae), a new record for the flora of Vietnam, VNU Journal of Science: Natural Sciences and Technology, 34 (2018) 69.[4] S.M. Hwang, L.M. Kellyand M.G. Gilbert, Aristolochiaceae in Flora of China, volume 5, Missouri Botanical Garden Press Beijing, St. Louis, 2003.[5] Y.S. Huangand Y. Liu, Aristolochia mulunensis (Aristolochiaceae) a new species from limestone areas in Guangxi, China, Annales Botanici Fennici, 50 (2013) 175.[6] H.H. Pham, Aristolochia in An Illustrated Flora of Vietnam, volume 3, Young Publishing House, Ho Chi Minh, 2000 (In Vietnamese).[7] N.T. Ban, Aristolochia in Checklist of Plant species of Vietnam, volume 2, Agriculture Publishing House, Hanoi, 2003 (In Vietnamese)[8] N.T.T. Huong, D.V. Hai, B.H. Quang, N.T. Cuong, N.S. Khang, D.Q. Vuand J.S. Ma, Aristolochia xuanlienensis, a new species of Aristolochiaceae from Vietnam, Phytotaxa, 188 (2014) 176.[9] T.V. Do, T.D. Nghiem, S. Wankeand C. Neinhuis, Aristolochia quangbinhensis (Aristolochiaceae), a new species from central Vietnam, Phytokeys, 33 (2014) 51.[10] T.V. Do, H.T. Luu, S. Wankeand C. Neinhuis, Three new species and three new records of Aristolochia subgenus Siphisia from Vietnam including a key to the Asian species, Systematic Botany, 40 (2015) 671.[11] A. Franchet, Plantarum sinensium ecloge secunda, Journal de Botanique (Morot), 12 (1898) 311. [12] O.C. Schmidt, Aristolochiaceae inDie natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien volume 2, 16B eds. A. Engler & K. Prantl. Leipzig: Engelmann, 1935.

Morphophysiological dormancy, germination, and cryopreservation in Aristolochia contorta seeds

Background and aims – Aristolochia contorta is a valuable medicinal plant, a relict of the Tertiary flora. Little is known about the germination biology of Aristolochia. The specific objectives of the present study were to (1) determine the type of dormancy in seeds of A. contorta, (2) describe the embryo development, and (3) explore the influence of deep freezing of the seeds in liquid nitrogen on their germinability.Methods – Seeds were germinated in Petri dishes in sand previously sterilised at high temperature; germination experiments were carried out at 27±2°C under natural light. All measurements of seeds and embryos were done using light microscopy (LM). For cryopreservation, fresh seeds were placed in aluminium foil bags, immersed into liquid nitrogen (-196°С), and stored for twelve months.Key results – The seeds of Aristolochia contorta have non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy. A variety of embryo forms were revealed for Aristolochia species for the first time. Two cases of polyembryony were noted in A. contorta. The seeds of A. contorta are resistant to cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen.Conclusions – High variability in dormancy depth and the extended germination period of A. contorta seeds can be considered as adaptive strategies for survival in unfavourable conditions and renewal of germination under optimal conditions. Cryopreservation helped maintain the viability of A. contorta seeds but did not lead to the breaking of the dormancy; hence, for successful germination, it is necessary to use methods of breaking dormancy after freezing.

Alpha-Actinin-4 is a Possible Target Protein for Aristolochic Acid I in Human Kidney Cells In Vitro

Aristolochic acid I (AA-I) is a strong nephrotoxin, carcinogen, and mutagen found in plants such as the Aristolochia species. The mechanisms underlying AA-I toxicity in the kidneys are poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to gain insight into the mechanism of AA-I nephrotoxicity by analyzing the uptake, subcellular distribution, and intracellular targets of AA-I in the human kidney cell line HK-2 using immunocytochemistry, immunoprecipitation, and LC-MS/MS. In HK-2 cells incubated with 20[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/mL AA-I for different periods of time (up to 12[Formula: see text]h), AA-I was detected by a specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) against AA-I, both in the cytoplasm and nuclei. Nuclear localization depended on the exposure time. A protein with the molecular weight of 100 kDa was immunoprecipitated with the anti-AA-I MAb from the AA-I-treated cell lysates and was identified by LC-MS/MS as [Formula: see text]-actinin-4 after digestion of the protein, and was confirmed by immunoblotting with a specific anti-[Formula: see text]-actinin-4 MAb. This evidence shows, for the first time, that [Formula: see text]-actinin-4 is a protein targeted by AA-I in kidney cells. Our findings strongly suggest an association between [Formula: see text]-actinin-4 and AA-I nephrotoxic activity.

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ARISTOLOCHIC ACID - I FROM ARISTOLOCHIA INDICA LINN. LEAVES

Aristolochic Acids (AAs) are major components of plants in Aristolochia species. The plant Aristolochia indica Linn. has diverse biological actions such as analgesic, anti-diabetics, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and treatment of malaria and fevers. Here, we report a new and simple isolation method of Aristolochic Acid-Ι (AA-I) from leaves of Aristolochia indica Linn. Defatted leaves of A. indica were extracted with chloroform by soxhlation. AA-I was further isolated from the chloroform extract by partitioning with aqueous sodium bicarbonate. AA-I was purified by repetitive washings with methanol and recrystallization in methanol yielded yellow leaflets. The purity of the isolated compound was ascertained by HPLC analysis. structural elucidation of the isolated compound was done by IR, MS and NMR spectral analysis.