137 research outputs found
Transcription profiles of mitochondrial genes correlate with mitochondrial DNA haplotypes in a natural population of Silene vulgaris
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although rapid changes in copy number and gene order are common within plant mitochondrial genomes, associated patterns of gene transcription are underinvestigated. Previous studies have shown that the gynodioecious plant species <it>Silene vulgaris </it>exhibits high mitochondrial diversity and occasional paternal inheritance of mitochondrial markers. Here we address whether variation in DNA molecular markers is correlated with variation in transcription of mitochondrial genes in <it>S. vulgaris </it>collected from natural populations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We analyzed RFLP variation in two mitochondrial genes, <it>cox1 </it>and <it>atp1</it>, in offspring of ten plants from a natural population of <it>S. vulgaris </it>in Central Europe. We also investigated transcription profiles of the <it>atp1 </it>and <it>cox1 </it>genes. Most DNA haplotypes and transcription profiles were maternally inherited; for these, transcription profiles were associated with specific mitochondrial DNA haplotypes. One individual exhibited a pattern consistent with paternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA; this individual exhibited a transcription profile suggestive of paternal but inconsistent with maternal inheritance. We found no associations between gender and transcript profiles.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Specific transcription profiles of mitochondrial genes were associated with specific mitochondrial DNA haplotypes in a natural population of a gynodioecious species <it>S. vulgaris</it>.</p> <p>Our findings suggest the potential for a causal association between rearrangements in the plant mt genome and transcription product variation.</p
The first initiative of DNA barcoding of ornamental plants from Egypt and potential applications in horticulture industry
Abstract: DNA barcoding relies on short and standardized gene regions to identify species. The agricultural and horticultural applications of barcoding such as for marketplace regulation and copyright protection remain poorly explored. This study examines the effectiveness of the standard plant barcode markers (matK and rbcL) for the identification of plant species in private and public nurseries in northern Egypt. These two markers were sequenced from 225 specimens of 161 species and 62 plant families of horticultural importance. The sequence recovery was similar for rbcL (96.4%) and matK (84%), but the number of specimens assigned correctly to the respective genera and species was lower for rbcL (75% and 29%) than matK (85% and 40%). The combination of rbcL and matK brought the number of correct generic and species assignments to 83.4% and 40%, respectively. Individually, the efficiency of both markers varied among different plant families; for example, all palm specimens (Arecaceae) were correctly assigned to species while only one individual of Asteraceae was correctly assigned to species. Further, barcodes reliably assigned ornamental horticultural and medicinal plants correctly to genus while they showed a lower or no success in assigning these plants to species and cultivars. For future, we recommend the combination of a complementary barcode (e.g. ITS or trnH-psbA) with rbcL + matK to increase the performance of taxa identification. By aiding species identification of horticultural crops and ornamental palms, the analysis of the barcode regions will have large impact on horticultural industry
Malus baccata var. gracilis and Malus toringoides bark polyphenol studies and antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activities
Exploring new sources of polyphenols with biological activities that work against human
diseases is the target of natural product studies. This study determined the polyphenol composition of
the bark of Malus species M. baccata var. gracilis (Rehder) T.C.Ku and M. toringoides (Rehder) Hughes,
using high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) analysis.
The antiproliferative, cytotoxic, antioxidant and antimicrobial applications of these extracts, as well
as the identified phenol, were studied. The HPLC-DAD analysis confirmed three polyphenols in the
extracts out of the 21 screened compounds: protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, and catechin. The major
constituents in M. baccata and M. toringoides were protocatechuic acid, at 3.16 and 7.15 mg 100 dry
weight (DW), respectively, and catechin, at 5.55 and 6.80 mg 100 DW, respectively. M. baccata
and M. toringoides bark extracts showed antioxidant activities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl
(DPPH), -carotene bleaching, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, which were
attributed to the dominance of protocatechuic acid. The highest antiproliferative and cytotoxic e ects
were against Jurkat cells. Against MCF-7 and Hela cells, there was necrotic cell accumulation in the
early apoptotic as well as the late apoptotic phase. The bark extracts showed noticeable antibacterial
e ects against Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli. Protocatechuic acid showed
comparable results to bark extracts. There were antifungal effects against Aspergillus ochraceus, A. niger,
and Candida albicans, and the activities were higher than the commercial reagent. M. baccata and
M. toringoides could be considered as a new source of phenolic acids, including protocatechuic acid
with anticancer, antibacterial antifungal, and antioxidant-promising effects
Seaweed Extracts Enhance Salam Turfgrass Performance during Prolonged Irrigation Intervals and Saline Shock
The negative effects of the ongoing climate change include unusual prolonged droughts and increased salinity pressures on the agricultural lands. Consequently, crops are facing unprecedented environmental pressure, and this calls for more research toward controlling such major stresses. The current study investigates the effects of seaweed extract sprays of Ascophyllum nodosum (5 and 7 mL·L−1; 6 day intervals) on Paspalum vaginatum Salam' during prolonged irrigation intervals (2 and 6 day) and saline growing conditions (1 and 49.7 dS·m−1) for 6 weeks in containers under greenhouse conditions. Control plants showed reduced turf quality, photochemical efficiency, root length and dry weight, total non-structural carbohydrates, and K and Ca compositions. Seaweed extracts increased turf quality, leaf photochemical efficiency, root length and dry weight, total non-structural carbohydrates, K, Ca, and proline in treated plants during prolonged irrigation intervals as well as saline shock conditions. There were also increases in the antioxidant defensive mechanisms such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities and non-enzymatic antioxidants as well as reduced lipid peroxidation. The application of SWE at 7 mL·L−1 showed higher performance in treated plants during prolonged irrigation intervals as well as saline conditions. Our findings imply that several mechanisms including drought tolerance, osmotic adjustment and antioxidant defense system may interact to enhance the performance of plants in the face of environmental stress following SWE treatments
Antiproliferative, antimicrobial, and antifungal activities of polyphenol extracts from Ferocactus species
Polyphenols, obtained from natural resources, may possess important pharmacological
effects. The polyphenolic profiles of the stem extracts of six Ferocactus species (sp.): F. gracilis, F. pottsii,
F. herrerae, F. horridus, F. glaucescens, and F. emoryi, were measured using high-performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC) with diode-array detection (DAD). Additionally, anticancer, antibacterial,
and antifungal activities were examined. Results showed the presence of high to moderate amounts
of polyphenols in the extracts (phenolic acids: Protocatechuic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic
acid, cffeic acid, and vanillic acid; flavonoids: Rutoside and quercitrin). The highest amounts of
3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid were found in F. glaucescens ((132.09 mg 100 dry weight (DW)),
F. pottsii (75.71 mg 100 DW), and F. emoryi (69.14 mg 100 DW) while rutoside content was
highest in F. glaucescens (107.66 mg 100 DW). Maximum antiproliferative activities were observed
against HeLa and Jurkat cancer cells, with F. glaucescens, F. emoryi, and F. pottsii showing the highest
anticancer activity. Most bacteria were sensitive to Ferocactus sp. stem extracts. Escherichia coli and
Staphylococcus aureus were the most sensitive. Excellent antifungal effects were observed against
Aspergillus ochraceus and A. niger. However, Penicillium funiculosum, P. ochrochloron, and Candida
albicans were relatively resistant. This is the first study reporting novel sources of polyphenols in
Ferocactus sp. with anticancer and antimicrobial activities
Polyphenol profile and antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of natural Mentha × piperita and Mentha longifolia opulations in northern Saudi Arabia
New sources of polyphenols with anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties in
arid environments are critical for the development of alternative medicines and natural remedies. This
study explored the polyphenol profiles and biological activities of methanolic leaf extracts from natural
Mentha × piperita and Mentha longifolia populations in northern Saudi Arabia. Chromatographic
analyses identified several polyphenols in M. × piperita including phenolic acids: rosmarinic acid
(1547.6 mg/100 g DW (dry weight)), cryptochlorogenic acid (91.7 mg/100 g DW), and chlorogenic
acid (69.4 mg/100 g DW), as well as flavonoids: naringin (328.8 mg/100 g DW) and cynaroside
(162.8 mg/100 g DW). The major polyphenols in M. longifolia were: rosmarinic acid (781.6 mg/100 g
DW), cryptochlorogenic acid (191.1 mg/100 g DW), p-coumaric acid (113.0 mg/100 g DW), m-coumaric
acid (112.2 mg/100 g DW), and chlorogenic acid (63.8 mg/100 g DW). M. × piperita and M. longifolia
leaf extracts had high antioxidant activities due to the major polyphenols (cynaroside, rosmarinic
and cryptochlorogenic acids). M. × piperita had higher activities against di erent cancer cells than
M. longifolia. Naringin, cryptochlorogenic acid, and rosmarinic acid had the highest activities against
cancer cells. The leaf extracts had antibacterial e ects against most bacteria species (Pseudomonas
aeruginosa was most sensitive), which was attributed to the polyphenols. Antifungal activities were
similarly broad (Aspergillus flavus was most sensitive) and attributed to naringin, cryptochlorogenic
acid, and ca eic acid. Populations of M. × piperita and M. longifolia in Northern Riyadh may be a
valuable source of natural biologically active compounds
Polyphenol content and biological activities of Ruta graveolens L. and Artemisia abrotanum L. in northern Saudi Arabia
Natural populations of Ruta graveolens L. and Artemisia abrotanum L. in northern Saudi
Arabia may be a rich source of natural polyphenols with potential biological activities. Therefore,
tentative high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection was used to analyze the
polyphenol contents of leaf extracts. R. graveolens mainly contained the phenolic acids chlorogenic
acid and p-coumaric acid and the flavonoids rutoside and quercetin, whereas those of A. abrotanum
mainly contained the phenolic acids isochlorogenic acid and rosmarinic acid and the flavonoid
quercetin. Leaf extracts of both species showed antioxidant activities due to the presence of quercetin,
chlorogenic acid, and p-coumaric acid as well as antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities against
cancer cells, which may be attributed to necrotic cell accumulation during the early and late apoptotic
periods. Both species also exhibited antibacterial activity, although the activity was higher in
R. graveolens due to the high contents of quercetin and other polyphenols. Finally, both species
exhibited antifungal activities, which were associated with specific polyphenols. This is the first
study to confirm the richness of polyphenols and wide spectrum of biological activities in natural
populations of R. graveolens and A. abrotanum in northern Saudi Arabia
Saudi Rosmarinus offcinalis and Ocimum basilicum L. polyphenols and biological activities
Investigating the polyphenolic profile of natural Rosmarinus offcinalis and Ocimum basilicum
populations may reveal essential compounds that have biological activities. Natural populations
of R. offcinalis and O. basilicum in Northern Riyadh were investigated by HPLC-DAD analyses.
Several polyphenols, including rosmarinic acid, gentisic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid,
rutoside, and others, out of 38 screened were confirmed. Rosmarinic acid was the major polyphenol
in both of R. offcinalis and O. basilicum. R. offcinalis methanolic leaf extracts contained other
phenols such as gentisic acid while O. basilicum contained also 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and
rutoside as well as others. R. o cinalis showed higher antioxidant activities than O. basilicum using
2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and -carotene
bleaching assays. These higher activities are associated with a higher composition of rosmarinic
acid in leaf extracts. The antioxidant activities of O. basilicum were attributed to identified phenols
of rosmarinic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and rutoside. There were antiproliferative
and cytotoxic activities of leaf extracts, as well as identified polyphenols, against several cancer
cells. These activities were attributed to the accumulation of necrotic and apoptotic cells in treated
cancer cells with leaf extracts as well as identified polyphenols. The antibacterial and antifungal
activities of leaf extracts were mainly attributed to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and rutoside in
O. basilicum and rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid in R. offcinalis. This study proved that R. offcinalis and
O. basilicum natural populations might be considered as promising sources of natural polyphenols
with biological activities
Mammillaria species : polyphenols studies and anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial activities
Discovering new natural resources of polyphenols is the aim of many recent studies in
the field of natural product research. This study tentatively investigated the polyphenols profile
of the stems of seven Mammillaria species (M. rhodantha, M. spinosissima, M. hahniana, M. crucigera,
M. candida, M. albilanata, and M. muehlenpfordtii) using high performance liquid chromatography with
DAD detector (HPLC-DAD) method. Furthermore, the anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial
potentials of these extracts as well as major identified phenols were explored. The HPLC-DAD study
confirmed the availability of six phenolic acids, including gentisic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic
acid, protocatechuic acid, sinapic acid, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The dominant compounds were:
gentisic acid in M. rhodantha and M. spinosissima; chlorogenic acid in M. muehlenpfordtii, M. crucigera,
and M. rhodantha; and caffeic acid in M. rhodantha, M. crucigera, and M. spinosissima. Stems of
Mammillaria sp. showed antiproliferative e ects against HeLa, MCF-7, and Jurkat cells. In HeLa
and MCF-7 cells, the best antiproliferative activities were found in the treatments with M. rhodantha,
M. spinosissima, and M. muehlenpfordtii. The apoptotic assay of M. rhodantha, M. spinosissima,
and M. muehlenpfordtii showed accumulation of necrotic cells in the early and late apoptotic
phase. M. rhodantha, M. spinosissima, and M. muehlenpfordtii showed the highest anti-oxidant
activities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), -carotene bleaching, and ferric reducing
anti-oxidant power (FRAP) assays. M. rhodantha was the best source of antioxidants. Mammillaria sp.
showed moderate anti-bacterial effects against bacteria and the highest effects were found using the
extracts of M. rhodantha, M. spinosissima, M. crucigera and M. muehlenpfordtii against most bacteria.
The anti-bacterial activities were attributed to other phenolic compounds (e.g., chlorogenic acid) than
gentisic acid, which was not active against most bacteria. Mammillaria sp. could be considered to be an
important natural source of phenolic acids with anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-oxidant activities
Bioactivities of Traditional Medicinal Plants in Alexandria
In traditional folklore, medicinal herbs play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of microbial diseases. In the present study, the phenolic profiles of the medicinal plants Asparagus aethiopicus L., Citrullus colocynthis L., Senna alexandrina L., Kalanchoe delagoensis L., Gasteria pillansii L., Cymbopogon citratus, Brassica juncea, and Curcuma longa L. were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector method. The results revealed rich sources of important compounds such as robinin in the fruits and leaves of A. aethiopicus; caffeic acid in the tubers of A. aethiopicus and quercitrin in the leaves of G. pillansii. Further, relatively high antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities were observed in C. colocynthis fruit coat, S. alexandrina pods, and A. aethiopicus leaves, respectively. The relatively higher the bioactivities of plants extracts associated with the phenols in these plants, in particular, the more abundant the phenols. Therefore, it was concluded that the fruit coat of C. colocynthis, pods of S. alexandrina, and leaves of A. aethiopicus might be excellent sources of natural products. These plant extracts also have a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activities that could be used in the pharmaceutical industries and to control diseases
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