Traditional varieties and wild pear from Serbia: A link among antioxidant, antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities of fruit peel and flesh

This study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of methanolic extracts of peel, flesh and mixed peel, and flesh, as well as the cytotoxic activity of mixed peel and flesh extracts obtained from fruits of six traditional pear varieties (Vidovaca, Lubenicarka, Karamanka, Jeribasma, Loncara and Takisa), one commercial variety (Williams Bartlett) and a wild pear (Pyrus communis) from Serbia. The tested extracts showed strong antioxidant activity regarding the prevention of ?-carotene bleaching and high ?-glucosidase inhibition, and no significant cytotoxic potential, with the exception of the Williams Bartlett and Pyrus communis extracts. Overall, the most potent fruit part was shown to be the peel. The most active variety in all of the applied antioxidant and antidiabetic assays was Takisa, while the wild pear, P. communis, was the most effective in inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. In conclusion, several methanolic extracts of pear fruit are promising candidates for further studies regarding the prevention and treatment of pathological conditions associated with the effects of oxidative stress, such as diabetes and even colorectal cancer.

Lichenicolous fungi on Verrucaria s. lat. in Ukraine with the description of Zwackhiomyces khodosovtsevii sp. nov. and a key to the lichenicolous fungi on Verrucaria s. lat.

A revision of lichenicolous fungi on Verrucaria s. lat. in Ukraine is provided. As a result, 12 species of lichenicolous fungi on Verrucaria s. lat. are reported from Ukraine. Among them, Zwackhiomyces khodosovtsevii on Verrucaria cf. nigrescens is described as new to science and Lichenopeltella coppinsii on V. muralis, Stigmidium marinum on V. mucosa as well as S. rivulorum on V. dolosa, are newly reported to Ukraine. Ten species are reported from xerotic terrestrial habitats mainly from Southern Ukraine. Only Stigmidium marinum and S. rivulorum were found in a marine and freshwater habitat respectively. Toninia subfuscae should be removed from the Ukrainian list of lichenicolous fungi due to misidentification. Didymosphaeria geminella is considered as a new synonym for Polycoccum dzieduszyckii. A worldwide key for lichenicolous fungi on Verrucaria s. lat. is provided.

New records and noteworthy data of plants, algae and fungi in SE Europe and adjacent regions, 5

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: saprotrophic fungi Psathyrella typhae, Stropharia halophila, mosses Bryum klingraeffii and Buxbaumia viridis, liverwort Scapania gymnostomophila, fern Matteuccia struthiopteris, monocots Galanthus nivalis, Listera ovata, and Ophrys apifera, and dicots Astragalus dasyanthus and Paeonia officinalis subsp. banatica.

Alterations in the root proteomes of Brassica napus cultivars under salt stress

Soil salinization is an important environmental problem affecting agricultural production worldwide. Seed germination is a critical process, and seedling establishment under saline conditions can be achieved by successful germination. In the present study, comparative proteomics combined with physiological analyses were used to investigate the protein alterations in germinating Brassica napus cultivars (Caravel and Sary) under NaCl stress. Seed germination declined with the increasing NaCl concentration. However, Caravel exhibited better performance in terms of seed germination and seedling growth under salinity stress. Therefore, Caravel was found to be more tolerant to salinity than Sary. The root proteins were extracted from B. napus cultivars germinating on a plant growth medium with or without 100 mM NaCl for seven days. After the root proteins had been separated by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis, the differentially accumulated proteins were identified using MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. The comparative proteomics analysis revealed 12 and 27 statistically significant proteins accumulated in the NaCl-treated roots of Caravel and Sary, respectively. The identified proteins were mostly involved in protein metabolism, stress defense, cytoskeleton and cell wall metabolism, and energy metabolism. The salt-sensitive cultivar Sary displayed an elevated accumulation of proteins involved in antioxidant defense and the protein catabolic process such as superoxide dismutase [Fe], L-ascorbate peroxidase 1, and different components of the proteasome system. On the other hand, the levels of molecular chaperones including 20 kDa chaperonin, chaperonin CPN60, heat shock cognate protein HSC70, and heat shock 70 kDa protein 1 were higher in Caravel than Sary under salt stress. These findings will provide the possible mechanisms which contribute to salt tolerance and may serve as the basis for improving salinity tolerance in rapeseed.

A new species of Centaurea L. subgen. Cyanus Mill. (Asteraceae) from Turkey

Here we describe Centaurea hekimhanensis, a new species found in Hekimhan (Turkey, Malatya Province). This Centaurea grows on the stony-gravel mountain slopes of Yamada? and is morphologically similar to C. reuteriana, C. bourgaei, and C. pichleri in terms of their flowering lateral stem at the base of the rosette, but differs regarding the shape of the stem and rosette leaves, and the size of the rosette leaves and median appendages; the achene ornamentation is irregularly sulcate. The chromosome number of the new species is 2n = 20.

Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Salvia virgata mericarps

The phytochemical contents of Salvia virgata mericarps and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of its ethanol extract were studied for the first time. S. virgata mericarps were collected in the province of Trabzon, Turkey. Chemical analyses were performed using chromatographic methods. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant potential were measured using Folin-Ciocalteu, Al(NO3)3, and DPPH radical scavenging activity methods, respectively. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the microdilution method for all the tested bacterial and fungal strains, with the exception of Mycobacterium tuberculosis for which the resazurin microtiter plate method was applied. The mericarps were rich in glutamic acid (3934 mg/100 g), potassium (12578.8 ?g/g), calcium (12092.0 ?g/g), and dietary fibers (35.565 g/100 g). The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 2.50 ?g GAE/mg extract and 0.34 ?g QE/mg extract, respectively. The most effective DPPH free radical scavenging activity determined for the highest applied concentration was 92.44%. The ethanol extract obtained from the mericarps was found to be as effective as the reference drug ampicillin (MIC value = 125 ?g/mL) against the nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. In conclusion, S. virgata mericarps provide good nutritional value with low amounts of carbohydrates and high dietary fibers, amino acids, minerals and total phenolic and flavonoid contents and medicinal properties.

New desmid records from two high mountain lakes in Camlıhemşin/Rize (Turkey)

The benthic algal flora of Avusor Great Lake and Ko?d?z? Great Lake in Rize was investigated on 21 August 2019. A total of 37 desmid taxa belonging to the genera Actinotaenium (2), Closterium (6), Cosmarium (12), Euastrum (4), Micrasterias (3), Penium (1), Staurastrum (8) and Staurodesmus (1) were assessed as new records for Turkey. In this paper, the morphotaxonomy, ecology, and distribution of each species is discussed in detail.

The formation of integuments, megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis in Dendrobium catenatum, with special discussions on embryo sac types and section techniques

The formation of integuments, megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis in Dendrobium catenatum, an economically important orchid, are observed. After pollination, mitotic cell divisions of the placental epidermis result in the formation of a branching system of outgrowths. The tip of each branch consists of an archesporial cell derived from the differentiation of the terminal subepidermal nucellar cell. It differentiates directly into a megasporocyte. The first division of the meiosis of the megasporocyte produces a dyad approximately equal in size, in which the micropylar cell promptly degenerates. The second meiotic division of the remaining dyad cell results in the formation of two megaspores of unequal size. The larger chalazal cell becomes functional and eventually develops into a mature megagametophyte. The development of the megagametophyte conforms to the Monosporic Polygonum type. The final arrangement of the mature embryo sac conforms to a sevencelled/ eight-nucleate structure. The mature ovule is bitegmic, tenuinucellate and has an anatropous orientation. In the present study, we also discuss the differences between three main types of embryo sac development and the improvement of section techniques.

The effect of salicylic acid and calcium chloride on lipid peroxidation and the scavenging ability on radical of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) under salt stress

Salinity exerts harmful morphological, physiological, and metabolic effects on plants. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of salicylic acid (SA 0, 0.75 and 1.5 mM) and calcium chloride (CaCl2 0, 50 and 100 mM), singly or in combination, on different morphological and physiological characteristics of chickpeas exposed to salt stress (0, 25 and 75 mM NaCl). The results showed that the addition of SA or Ca alone improved plant behaviour in the presence of NaCl. Also, the shoot and root length, dry weight, chlorophyll and carotenoids decreased under salinity, while malondialdehyde (MDA), the inhibition of DPPH radical, anthocyanine, and proline increased. However, the use of SA and Ca combined increased the shoot and root length and the dry weight, ameliorated the chlorophyll, carotenoids, and reducing sugars, and significantly reduced MDA and the inhibition of DPPH radical in the plants. These studies imply that SA and Ca caused a tolerance to NaCl which may be related to the regulation of antioxidative responses. It may also be suggested that a concentration of 1.5 mM salicylic acid and a concentration of 100 mM calcium are the most suitable concentrations to improve the physiological parameters of chickpeas under salinity conditions. Hence, by regulating the antioxidant system, SA and Ca play this role.

Phenolic profile and biological potential of wild blackberry (Rubus discolor) fruits

The berries of Rubus discolor are considered a rich source of phytochemicals which could play an important role in the prevention of prevalent contemporary chronic diseases. Thus, the goal of the presented study was to determine the profile of phenolic acids and anthocyanins of aqueous and ethanol extracts of R. discolor fruit, and their free radical scavenging, antiproliferative, antidiabetic and antimicrobial activities. LC-MS/MS analyses confirmed the presence of 11 phenolic acids with protocatechuic and gallic acids being the major compounds. Additionally, cyanidin- glucoside/galactoside was the most abundant among the five identified anthocyanins. The ethanol extract was more efficient in scavenging free radicals than the aqueous extract. The absence of antiproliferative activity was observed for both extracts. However, they inhibited carbohydrate hydrolysing digestive enzymes associated with type-2 diabetes. Furthermore, the obtained results for ?-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 values 44.52 and 80.72 ?g/mL, for the aqueous and ethanol extracts, respectively) indicate significantly higher activity than the positive control, GlucobayR (233.38 ?g/mL). The ethanol extract was more effective against all of the examined bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter cloacae) than the aqueous extract. On the contrary, the aqueous extract showed better antifungal properties, particularly against Trihoderma viride and Penicillium verrucosum var. cyclopium. The quantified phenolics and presented bioactivities of R. discolor fruit extracts candidate them as a potential source of bioactive compounds which might be used in the food, pharmacy and cosmetic industries.