Schisandra henryi a species with high medicinal potential and pharmacological activities of dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans

Schisandra henryi C.B. Clarke (family Schisandraceae), is a species endemic to China Yunnan Province. S. henryi is a little known plant in Europe and the United States. Few studies on the chemical composition of S. henryi, mainly by scientists from Chinese institutions, showed the presence of compounds belonging to lignans, triterpenoids and nortriprenoids. Recently, research by the team of the Department of Pharmaceutical Botany of the Jagiellonian University Medical College has highlighted the great potential of this species. Phytochemical, biological and biotechnological researches are conducted. The analysis of the chemical composition showed the presence of compounds from the group of dibenzylcyclooctadiene, aryltetraline and dibenzylbutane lignans as well as polyphenols - phenolic acids and flavonoids. An innovative aspect of the scientific work is in particular biotechnological research focusing on proposing biomass from in vitro cultures of S. henryi as a source for obtaining extracts and biologically active compounds, alternative to the hard-to-reach material collected from natural sites. The aim of the study was to review the scientific literature on research on S. henryi, with particular emphasis on its botanical, ecological and chemical characteristics, and biological properties of extracts and isolated compounds. In addition, the potential of biotechnological research conducted on in vitro cultures of S. henryi focusing on understanding their metabolic profile was signaled. The paper also presents a detailed characterization of dibenzocyclotadiene lignans specific for the Schisandraceae family. They are the subject of numerous scientific studies that confirm their valuable pharmacological properties. Particularly noteworthy are their hepatoprotective and hepatoregenerating properties, as well as: anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticancer, antiviral, antioxidant, cardioprotective, antiosteoporotic and supporting the treatment of intestinal dysfunction

FROM HARVESTING TO DISTILLATION – EFFECT OF ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES ON THE YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF RHODODENDRON TOMENTOSUM (LEDUM PALUSTRE) ESSENTIAL OIL

Abstract: Rhododendron tomentosum possesses the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial properties, determined by the chemical composition of its essential oil. The effects of place (Miszewko, Lubichowo) and time of harvesting (June, November) as well as drying (air-drying, oven-drying, freeze-drying) and isolation (in Deryng, Clevenger and Likens-Nickerson apparatus) procedures on the yield and quality of R. tomentosum essential oil were studied. Ledol (8.1-14.4%), palustrol (6.9-13.0%) and γ-terpineol (8.5-9.1%) predominated in the plants collected from Miszewko, while γ-terpineol (11.8-22.2%), p-cymene (5.3-12.6%) and geranyl acetate (5.7-7.5%) prevailed in the biomass from Lubichowo. The shoots produced more volatiles in the flowering phase than in the end of the vegetation. Oven-drying at 30ºC with controlled air flow was suggested as the quick dehydration method. Hydrodistillation in Deryng and Clevenger apparatus resulted in comparatively high essential oil yield (about 1%). All studied drying and distillation methods did not influence significantly the general profile of R. tomentosum essential oil

Electrodes criticality: the impact of CRMs in the leachate electrochemical oxidation

Landfill leachate possesses high concentrations of ammonia, micropollutants, and heavy metals, and are characterised for low biodegradability. For this reason, conventional treatment technologies may result ineffective for complete pollutant removal. Electrochemical oxidation allows most of the of recalcitrant pollutants to be oxidised effectively within an easy operational and acceptable retention time, without the need to provide additional chemicals, and without producing waste materials. The mineralisation efficiency and electrode durability depend on the nature of the electrode material. The conventionally adopted anodes can contain critical raw materials (CRMs), and are subject to extreme corrosion conditions. CRM-free electrodes, such as carbon and graphite-based, exhibit a lower efficiency, and are subject to faster deactivation, or, as for lead-dioxide-based electrodes, can constitute a hazard due to the release into the effluent of the coating corrosion products. In this study, the relationship between electrode type, CRM content, and the removal efficiencies of organic compounds and ammonium-nitrogen (N-NH4) was investigated. Material criticality was estimated by the supply risk with economic importance indexes reported in the 2017 EU CRM List. The COD and N-NH4 removal efficiencies were obtained from a literature analysis of 25 publications. The results show that, while single and multi-oxide-coated electrodes may contain low amounts of CRM, but with limited efficiency, boron-doped diamonds (BDD) may constitute the best compromise in terms of a reduced content of CRM and a high mineralisation efficiency

Biotechnological strategies for controlled accumulation of flavones in hairy root culture of Scutellaria lateriflora L.

Abstract Accumulation of medicinally important flavones and acteoside was evaluated in Scutellaria lateriflora hairy root cultures subjected to different experimental strategies – feeding with precursors of phenolics biosynthesis (phenylalanine, cinnamic acid, and sodium cinnamate), addition of elicitors (chitosan, jasmonic acid) and Amberlite XAD-4 and XAD-7 resins and permeabilization with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methanol. The production profile of S. lateriflora cultures changed under the influence of the applied strategies. Hairy roots of S. lateriflora were found to be a rich source of wogonoside or wogonin, depending on the treatment used. The addition of sodium cinnamate (1.0 mg/L) was the most effective approach to provide high production of flavonoids, especially wogonoside (4.41% dry weight /DW/; 566.78 mg/L). Permeabilization with DMSO (2 µg/ml for 12 h) or methanol (30% for 12 h) resulted in high biosynthesis of wogonin (299.77 mg/L and 274.03 mg/L, respectively). The obtained results provide new insight into the selection of the optimal growth conditions for the production of in vitro biomass with a significant level of flavone accumulation. The data may be valuable for designing large-scale cultivation systems of hairy roots of S. lateriflora with high productivity of bioactive compounds – wogonin or wogonoside

The Impact of <i>Nigella sativa</i> Essential Oil on T Cells in Women with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Background: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disease mediated by T cells. It is characterized by the presence of thyroid autoantibodies in the serum, such as anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TG-Ab). The essential oil extracted from Nigella sativa seeds is rich in bioactive substances, such as thymoquinone and cymene. Methods: Therefore, we examined the effect of essential oil from Nigella sativa (NSEO) on T cells from HT patients, especially their proliferation capacity, ability to produce cytokines, and susceptibility to apoptosis. Results: The lowest ethanol (EtOH) dilution (1:10) of NSEO significantly inhibited the proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from HT patients and healthy women by affecting the percentage of dividing cells and the number of cell divisions. In addition, 1:10 and 1:50 NSEO dilutions induced cell death. Different dilutions of NSEO also reduced the concentration of IL-17A and IL-10. In healthy women, the level of IL-4 and IL-2 significantly increased in the presence of 1:10 and 1:50 NSEO dilutions. NSEO did not influence the concentration of IL-6 and IFN-γ. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that NSEO has a strong immunomodulatory effect on the lymphocytes of HT patients