Supercritical CO2 Plant Extracts Show Antifungal Activities against Crop-Borne Fungi

Fungal infections of cultivated food crops result in extensive losses of crops at the global level, while resistance to antifungal agents continues to grow. Supercritical fluid extraction using CO₂ (SFE-CO₂) has gained attention as an environmentally well-accepted extraction method, as CO₂ is a non-toxic, inert and available solvent, and the extracts obtained are, chemically, of greater or different complexities compared to those of conventional extracts. The SFE-CO₂ extracts of Achillea millefolium, Calendula officinalis, Chamomilla recutita, Helichrysum arenarium, Humulus lupulus, Taraxacum officinale, Juniperus communis, Hypericum perforatum, Nepeta cataria, Crataegus sp. and Sambucus nigra were studied in terms of their compositions and antifungal activities against the wheat- and buckwheat-borne fungi Alternaria alternata, Epicoccum nigrum, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium poae. The C. recutita and H. arenarium extracts were the most efficacious, and these inhibited the growth of most of the fungi by 80% to 100%. Among the fungal species, B. cinerea was the most susceptible to the treatments with the SFE-CO₂ extracts, while Fusarium spp. were the least. This study shows that some of these SFE-CO₂ extracts have promising potential for use as antifungal agents for selected crop-borne fungi.     

Flower Extracts as Multifunctional Dyes in the Cosmetics Industry

Flowers are a natural source of bioactive compounds that not only have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties, but can also be used as natural dyes. For this reason, nowadays plants are widely used to produce natural cosmetics and foods. In these studies, the properties of the water extracts of Papaver rhoeas L., Punica granatum L., Clitoria ternatea L., Carthamus tinctorius L., and Gomphrena globosa L., as bioactive, natural dyes, were investigated. Plant flower extracts were tested for their antioxidant (ABTS and DPPH radical methods) and anti-inflammatory effects by determining the ability to inhibit the activity of lipoxygenase and proteinase. The extracts were tested for their cytotoxic effect on skin cells, using Alamar Blue and Neutral Red tests. The ability to inhibit the activity of enzymes responsible for the destruction of elastin and collagen was also studied. Research has shown that extracts have no toxic effect on skin cells, are a rich source of antioxidants and show the ability to inhibit the activity of elastase and collagenase enzymes. P. rhoeas extract showed the strongest antioxidant properties with IC50 value of 24.8 ± 0.42 µg/mL and 47.5 ± 1.01 µg/mL in ABTS and DPPH tests, respectively. The tested plants are also characterized by an anti-inflammatory property, for which the ability to inhibit lipoxygenase at a level above 80% and proteinase at the level of about 55% was noted. Extracts from P. rhoeas, C. ternatea, and C. tinctorius show the strongest coloring ability and can permanently dye cosmetic products, without significant color changes during the storage of the product.     

Unravelling the Helianthus tuberosus L. (Jerusalem Artichoke,Kiku-Imo) Tuber Proteome by Label-Free Quantitative Proteomics

The present research investigates the tuber proteome of the ‘medicinal’ plant Jerusalem artichoke (abbreviated as JA) (Helianthus tuberosus L.) using a high-throughput proteomics technique. Although JA has been historically known to the Native Americans, it was introduced to Europe in the late 19th century and later spread to Japan (referred to as ‘kiku-imo’) as a folk remedy for diabetes. Genboku Takahashi research group has been working on the cultivation and utilization of kiku-imo tuber as a traditional/alternative medicine in daily life and researched on the lowering of blood sugar level, HbA1c, etc., in human subjects (unpublished data). Understanding the protein components of the tuber may shed light on its healing properties, especially related to diabetes. Using three commercially processed JA tuber products (dried powder and dried chips) we performed total protein extraction on the powdered samples using a label-free quantitate proteomic approach (mass spectrometry) and catalogued for the first time a comprehensive protein list for the JA tuber. A total of 2967 protein groups were identified, statistically analyzed, and further categorized into different protein classes using bioinformatics techniques. We discussed the association of these proteins to health and disease regulatory metabolism. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD030744.     

Validation of a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Photodiode Array Detection Method for the Separation and Quantification of Antioxidant and Skin Anti-Aging Flavonoids from Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Stamen Extract

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., or the so-called sacred lotus, is a useful aquatic plant in the Nelumbonaceae family that has long been used to prepare teas, traditional medicines as well as foods. Many studies reported on the phytochemicals and biological activities of its leaves and seeds. However, to date, only few studies were conducted on its stamen, which is the most important ingredient for herbal medicines, teas and other phytopharmaceutical products. Thus, this present study focuses on the following: (1) the application of high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection for a validated separation and quantification of flavonoids from stamen; (2) the Nelumbo nucifera stamen’s in vitro and in cellulo antioxidant activities; as well as (3) its potential regarding the inhibition of skin aging enzymes for cosmetic applications. The optimal separation of the main flavonoids from the stamen ethanolic extract was effectively achieved using a core-shell column. The results indicated that stamen ethanolic extract has higher concentration of in vitro and in cellulo antioxidant flavonoids than other floral components. Stamen ethanolic extract showed the highest protective effect against reactive oxygen/nitrogen species formation, as confirmed by cellular antioxidant assay using a yeast model. The evaluation of potential skin anti-aging action showed that the stamen extract has higher potential to inhibit tyrosinase and collagenase compared with its whole flower. These current findings are the first report to suggest the possibility to employ N. nucifera stamen ethanolic extract as a tyrosinase and collagenase inhibitor in cosmetic applications, as well as the utility of the current separation method.     

Biomolecules from Plant Wastes Potentially Relevant in the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Co-Occurring Symptomatology

During and following the processing of a plant’s raw material, considerable amounts are wasted, composted, or redistributed in non-alimentary sectors for further use (for example, some forms of plant waste contribute to biofuel, bioethanol, or biomass production). However, many of these forms of waste still consist of critical bioactive compounds used in the food industry or medicine. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders. The primary treatment is based on symptomatology alleviation and controlled dietary management. Thus, this review aimed to describe the possible relevance of molecules residing in plant waste that can be used to manage IBS and co-occurring symptoms. Significant evidence was found that many forms of fruit, vegetable, and medicinal plant waste could be the source of some molecules that could be used to treat or prevent stool consistency and frequency impairments and abdominal pain, these being the main IBS symptoms. While many of these molecules could be recovered from plant waste during or following primary processing, the studies suggested that enriched food could offer efficient valorization and prevent further changes in properties or stability. In this way, root, stem, straw, leaf, fruit, and vegetable pomaces were found to consist of biomolecules that could modulate intestinal permeability, pain perception, and overall gastrointestinal digestive processes.     

矿区植物重金属元素测定的两种前处理方法比较

分别采用酸消解法和干灰化法处理16种矿区植物,并用原子吸收分光光度法测定其中的Mn、Cd、Cr和Zn的含量。结果表明:除Cd外,两种处理方法对Mn、Cr、Zn的测定结果有明显影响。测定植物组织Cd时,两种处理方法都可采用;测定Mn、Cr元素,采用酸消解法较为合适;测定Zn则宜采用干灰化法,并可适当延长木质部分(根、茎)的灰化时间。     

镉与植物活性氧代谢

镉是毒性最强的重金属之一，对人体健康具有潜在危害。研究证实，镉影响植物活性氧代谢，进而导致植物生理功能紊乱。     

Secondary succession and its effects on soil moisture and nutrition in abandoned old-fields of hilly region of Loess Plateau, China

Floristic composition, community structure and soil moisture and nutrient contents in abandoned fields of different ages were analyzed to clarify the regenerative aspects of succession as a tool for vegetation restoration. The results indicated that secondary succession in this region can be interpreted as an auto-succession: there are main changes in species-relative abundance and species turnover. Annual or biennial species (e.g. Artemisia scoparia), acted as pioneers and strongly dominated the early stages. Then, they underwent a progressive decline, while forbs (e.g. Artemisia sacrorum) and grasses (e.g. Xanthium sibiricum) had their peak abundance at intermediate stages. Dwarf shrubs (e.g. Lespedeza dahurica) and short rhizome grass (e.g. Bothriochloa ischaemum) appeared at mid-succession stage and gradually increased in abundance during succession, becoming dominant at late stages. The first axis of detrended correspondence canonical analysis arranged the sites according to their fallow time, indicating a successional sere. The second axis, associated with diverging pathways of regeneration, correlated with topographic factors and soil moisture and nutrition. Structural divergence between plots increased as succession went on, attained the highest at the mid-succession stage, decreased at the late stage.

Soil moisture and available phosphorus content decreased steadily with field age after their abandonment, whereas pools of organic matter, total and available nitrogen, potassium and total phosphorus increased with field age. The pace and direction of recovery of native vegetation and natural soil properties in these abandoned fields resembled classic old-field succession, which is a form of secondary succession that often serves as a template for guiding restoration efforts. Interface between the abandoned field soil and plant system was crucial to the above process. Our current study supported the generally accepted hypothesis in the succession literature.     

青藏铁路纳赤台地区荒漠典型植物四种常量元素特征

分析了青藏铁路纳赤台段荒漠地区的土壤及10种典型植物的常量元素中的K、Ca、Mg、P四种元素的含量。结果表明,（1）K、ca、Mg、P四种元素在区内各种植物中的变异系数分别为0．033、0．418、0．143、0．403,Ca和Mg元素在各种植物中的含量呈正相关;（2）区内所采集到的各种植物之问K、Mg两种元素含量变化不大;（3）随着土壤深度的增加,土壤内四种矿质元素含量呈递减趋势。     

川芎栽培土壤中重金属镉的动态监测

目的：连续多年监测彭州敖平镇川芎药材栽培土壤中重金属镉的含量,分析其对川芎药材中镉含量的影响。方法根据前期研究结果选取敖平镇部分川芎种植地固定采集样品。按照国家标准方法,采取0～20 cm连续根系土柱和川芎药材。采用火焰法对抽样土壤及川芎药材中镉的含量进行检测分析。结果采样区域内土壤中镉含量均符合国家二级土壤环境质量标准;部分土壤中镉的含量呈明显增长趋势。结论川芎种植土壤中镉含量与环境有较高关联,水泥厂粉尘等污染源是土壤中镉含量增加的重要来源。