Accumulation of valuable secondary metabolites : phenolic acids and flavonoids in different in vitro systems of shoot cultures of the endangered plant species - Eryngium alpinum L

In vitro cultures give the opportunity to perform the phytochemical studies on the protected species without harvesting the plant material from the natural environment. Shoots of Eryngium alpinum L. were multiplied on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium in various systems, namely on the solid media and in two liquid cultures-stationary and agitated, as well as via regeneration from callus. The biomass increments were closely correlated with the number of shoots arising from one explant, which was connected with the supplementation of the culture media with the studied plant growth regulators. The methanolic extracts from shoots grown in the tested systems were subjected to phenolic acids and flavonoids qualitative and quantitative analysis. Biomass from in vitro shoot cultures accumulated from 19.59 to 32.95 times more phenolic acids [the total content ranged from 272.52 to 458.38 mg/100 g dry weight (DW)] and from 3.02 to 4.43 times more flavonoids (the total content ranged from 100.03 to 146.98 mg/100 g DW), depending on the culture system, than the extracts from basal leaves from the intact plant (13.91 and 33.16 mg/100 g DW, respectively). The phenolics present in shoot cultures include seven phenolic acids-3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic, caftaric, caffeic, neochlorogenic, chlorogenic, isochlorogenic, and rosmarinic acids, and three flavonoids-isoquercetin, quercitrin and robinin. The best system for shoot proliferation resulting in the highest biomass growth and phenolic acids and flavonoids accumulation was solid culture on MS medium with BAP, IAA, and $GA_{3}$ (each 1.0 mg/l). The aim of this work was to check the effect of various culture systems (stationary and agitated, on solidified and in liquid media) on the production of phenolic compounds in E. alpinum shoots cultured in vitro

Comparative analysis of phenolic acids and flavonoids in shoot cultures of Eryngium alpinum L. : an endangered and protected species with medicinal value

Phenolic acids and flavonoids, important bioactive compounds of polyphenols, play a significant role in plants; their impact, mainly as antioxidants, on human health have been of great interest in recent years. The genetically uniform shoots of Eryngium alpinum L. cultured in vitro, developed via axillary buds and regenerated from callus tissue, maintained on the media supplemented with various plant growth regulators, were subjected to the phenolic acids and flavonoids quantitative analysis applying HPLC-DAD technique. In vitro cultures give the opportunity to perform the phytochemical studies on the protected species without harvesting the plant material from natural environment. Depending on the hormonal supplementation, the biomass from the shoot cultures accumulated from 11.41 to 25 times more phenolic acids [the total content ranged from 158.66 to 1817.96 mg/100 g of dry weight (DW)] and from 6.8 to 11.8 times more flavonoids (the total content ranged from 29.30 to 51.30 mg/100 g DW) than the shoots from the soil-grown plant. The polyphenols present in the shoot cultures include two phenolic acids: 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic and caffeic, four depsides: caftaric, neochlorogenic, chlorogenic, isochlorogenic, and rosmarinic acids, and flavonoids: aglycone-isoquercetin and glucoside-quercitrin. Most of them (apart from chlorogenic and rosmarinic acids) were detected for the first time in this species cultured in vitro. To our best knowledge, the present report is the first one that discusses establishment of Eryngium alpinum L. in vitro cultures and the shoot and callus biomass capacity to produce two subgroups of polyphenols i.e. phenolic acids and flavonoids

Patterns of Multimorbidity in the Aged Population. Results from the KORA-Age Study

Multimorbidity is a common problem in aged populations with a wide range of individual and societal consequences. The objective of the study was to explore patterns of comorbidity and multimorbidity in an elderly population using different analytical approaches. Data were gathered from the population-based KORA-Age project, which included 4,127 persons aged 65–94 years living in the city of Augsburg and its two surrounding counties in Southern Germany. Information on the presence of 13 chronic conditions was collected in a standardized telephone interview and a self-administered questionnaire. Patterns of comorbidity and multimorbidity were analyzed using prevalence figures, logistic regression models and exploratory tetrachoric factor analysis. The prevalence of multimorbidity (≥2 diseases) was 58.6% in the total sample. Hypertension and diabetes (Odds Ratio [OR] 2.95, 99.58% confidence interval [CI] [2.19–3.96]), as well as hypertension and stroke (OR 2.00, 99.58% CI [1.26–3.16]) most often occurred in combination. This association was independent of age, sex and the presence of other conditions. Using factor analysis, we identified four patterns of multimorbidity: the first pattern includes cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, the second includes joint, liver, lung and eye diseases, the third covers mental and neurologic diseases and the fourth pattern includes gastrointestinal diseases and cancer. 44% of the persons were assigned to at least one of the four multimorbidity patterns; 14% could be assigned to both the cardiovascular/metabolic and the joint/liver/lung/eye pattern. Further common pairs were the mental/neurologic pattern combined with the cardiovascular/metabolic pattern (7.2%) or the joint/liver/lung/eye pattern (5.3%), respectively. Our results confirmed the existence of co-occurrence of certain diseases in elderly persons, which is not caused by chance. Some of the identified patterns of multimorbidity and their overlap may indicate common underlying pathological mechanisms

Qualitätsentwicklung an Ganztagsschulen

Durch die Verlagerung bzw. Stärkung von Entscheidungskompetenzen auf die bzw. der Ebene der Einzelschule wird es ermöglicht, Lösungs-/Gestaltungsansätze zu entwickeln, die auf die jeweiligen Bedürfnisse und Gegebenheiten vor Ort zugeschnitten werden können. Die kritische Auseinandersetzung mit den Erfahrungen anderer, die auf entsprechenden Fortbildungsveranstaltungen kommuniziert werden können, lässt Good-practice-Beispiele entstehen, aus denen sich Anregungen zur Realisierung eigener Vorhaben im Zuge der Ganztagsschulentwicklung ableiten lassen. Der dritte bayerische Ganztagsschulkongress "Qualitätsentwicklung an Ganztagsschulen" am 1. und 2. März 2012 in Forchheim bot den Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmern anhand diverser Vorträge, Workshops und Schulbesuchen die Möglichkeit zu Diskussion und Austausch. Der vorliegende Band dokumentiert die Veranstaltung

Progress in micropropagation of Passifloraspp. to produce medicinal plants: a mini-review

Micropropagation of Passiflora species and its hybrids may play an important role in the production of healthy and disease-free plants which can be a source of medicinal herbal products, nutritional fruits and ornamental flowers. The rapid multiplication of elite plants to obtain pharmacognostic material, containing valuable flavonoid C-glycosides, is possible by usingcontrolled in vitro conditions, constituents of the medium and the interactions of plant growth regulators (1-naphtaleneacetic acid, benzyladenine, gibberellin GA3,kinetin, indole-3-acetyl-L-aspartic acid, indole-3-butyric acid, thidiazuron) and influencing various chemical additives (silver nitrate, coconut water, activated charcoal). Investigations of specific requirements during stages of micropropagation, such as the establishment of primary cultures (including type of explants, age of donor plant), shoot multiplication (by direct and indirect organogenesis and embryogenesis), rooting and acclimatization of regenerated plants are summarized in this review. The following species were recently studied for micropropagation: P. alata, P. caerulea, P. cincinnata, P. edulis, P. foetida, P. setacea, P. suberosa. It seems that for awide range of applications of in vitro clones of Passiflora, interdisciplinary studies including genetic and phytochemical aspects are needed

Twinflower (Linnaea borealis L.) – plant species of potential medicinal properties

Twinflower (Linnaea borealis L.) is a widespread circumboreal plant species belonging to Linnaeaceae family (previously Caprifoliaceae). L. borealis commonly grows in taiga and tundra. In some countries in Europe, including Poland, twinflower is protected as a glacial relict. Chemical composition of this species is not well known, however in folk medicine of Scandinavian countries, L. borealis has a long tradition as a cure for skin diseases and rheumatism. It is suggested that twinflower has potential medicinal properties. The new study on lead secondary metabolites responsible for biological activity are necessary. This short review summarizes very sparse knowledge on twinflower: its biology, distribution, conservation status, chemical constituents, and describes the role of this plant in folk tradition of Scandinavian countries

Micropropagation and Production of Somatic Seeds for Short-Term Storage of the Endangered Species Eryngium alpinum L.

Eryngium alpinum L. is a high-value herb and a source of important compounds that include phenolics, triterpenoid saponins, and essential oils. The present report indicates successful micropropagation of this species. In our study, medium supplemented with BAP 2.0 mg/L, IAA 1.0 mg/L, and GA3 1.0 mg/L was found to be the most suitable for long-term culture and for effective proliferation, irrespective of the passage number. Roots induction, without basal callus formation, was observed when individual microshoots were placed on Murashige & Skoog medium augmented with auxin, and formation was the most advantageous in the presence of NAA alone or when combined with IAA or IBA. The encapsulated propagules were tested for their capability to endure different storage periods under low temperature. Therefore, we developed an efficient method for synseeds production by encapsulation of axillary buds in the sodium alginate matrix, storage for 2, 4, and 6 months, as well as the regeneration process. The maximum regeneration rate of 74% ± 2.72% was observed for axillary buds encapsulated in 4% sodium–alginate complexed with 300 mM calcium chloride after 2 months of storage at low temperature. This is the first report on E. alpinum micropropagation and somatic seeds production

Methyl jasmonate, yeast extract and sucrose stimulate phenolic acids accumulation in Eryngium planum L. shoot cultures

Eryngium planum L. has been reported as a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine in Europe. The tissue cultures may be an alternative source of the biomass rich in desired bioactive compounds. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the biotechnological techniques on the selected phenolic acids accumulation in the agitated shoot cultures of E. planum. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of those compounds in 50% aqueous - methanolic extracts from the biomass were conducted by applying the HPLC method. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA), yeast extract (YE) and sucrose (Suc) stimulated accumulation of the phenolic acids: rosmarinic (RA), chlorogenic (CGA) and caffeic (CA) in in vitro shoot cultures. Cultivation of shoots in liquid MS media supplemented with 1.0 mg L-1 6-benzyladenine and 0.1 mg L-1 indole-3-acetic acid in the presence of 100 µM MeJA for 48h was an optimum condition of elicitation and resulted in approximately 4.5-fold increased content of RA + CGA + CA in plant material compared to the control (19.795 mg g-1 DW, 4.36 mg g-1 DW, respectively). The results provide the first evidence that the selected phenolic acids can be synthesized in elicited shoot cultures of flat sea holly in higher amount than in untreated shoots