Polyphenol profile and pharmaceutical potential of Quercus spp. bark extracts

Targeted profiling of polyphenols in trees may reveal valuable sources of natural compounds with major applications in pharmacology and disease control. The current study targeted the profiling of polyphenols using HPLC-DAD in Quercus robur, Q. macrocarpa and Q. acutissima bark extracts. Free radical scavenging of each extract was investigated using antioxidant assays. Antimicrobial activities against a wide spectrum of bacteria and fungi were explored, as well as anticancer activities against di erent cancer cell lines. The HPLC-DAD analyses revealed the availability of several polyphenols in high amounts, including ellagic acid (in Q. robur) and caffeic acid (in Q. macrocarpa) in all three species. The bioactivity assay revealed high antioxidant activity in Q. robur compared to that of the other species, as well as phenolic standards. The three oak bark extracts showed clear antibacterial activities against most bacteria tested, with the highest antibacterial activities in the extracts of Q. robur. In addition, the three extracts showed higher antibacterial activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Micrococcus flavus, and Escherichia coli compared to that of other bacteria. There were strong antifungal activities against some fungi, such as Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium funiculosum, and Penicillium ochrochloron. There were also noticeable anticancer activities against MCF-7, HeLa, Jurkat, and HT-29 cell lines, with the highest anticancer activity in the extracts of Q. robur. This is the first study that reveals not only novel sources of important polyphenols (e.g., ellagic acid) in Q. robur, Q. macrocarpa and Q. acutissima bark but also their anticancer activities against diverse cancer cell lines

Crosstalk of Multi-Omics Platforms with Plants of Therapeutic Importance

From time immemorial, humans have exploited plants as a source of food and medicines. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 21,000 plants with medicinal value out of 300,000 species available worldwide. The promising modern “multi-omics” platforms and tools have been proven as functional platforms able to endow us with comprehensive knowledge of the proteome, genome, transcriptome, and metabolome of medicinal plant systems so as to reveal the novel connected genetic (gene) pathways, proteins, regulator sequences and secondary metabolite (molecule) biosynthetic pathways of various drug and protein molecules from a variety of plants with therapeutic significance. This review paper endeavors to abridge the contemporary advancements in research areas of multi-omics and the information involved in decoding its prospective relevance to the utilization of plants with medicinal value in the present global scenario. The crosstalk of medicinal plants with genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics approaches will be discussed

Elevation-driven modifications in tissue architecture and physiobiochemical traits of Panicum antidotale Retz. in the Pothohar Plateau, Pakistan

Mountainous ecosystems are experiencing rapid shifts in distribution patterns and community structure due to the impacts of climate change and vegetation dynamics. This study offers a comprehensive insight into the adaptive mechanisms of Panicum antidotale to varying elevations within the Pothohar Plateau, shedding light on its survival strategies in climate-affected regions. The findings reveal that populations at lower elevations exhibit maximum height, leaf area, shoot length, and fresh weight, whereas those at higher elevations display significant decrease in these parameters. Moreover, a significant decline in species density, frequency and cover is evident at high elevation. High-elevation populations demonstrate decreased photosynthetic traits, including chlorophyll, carotenoid, and Na and Ca content. Furthermore, there are notable variations in the antioxidant enzyme activity across elevation gradients. Populations at lower elevations exhibit higher activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase. Across the gradient, there were significant reductions in root and stem radius, sclerenchyma thickness, bulliform cell size, metaxylem vessels, and phloem area. Populations at moderate elevations displayed thicker lamina and epidermis, larger cortical cells, wider xylem vessels, and increased phloem area; however, these traits declined at higher elevations. High-elevation populations showed thicker lamina and epidermis, extensive sclerenchyma, greater cortical cell area, and higher stomatal density. Photosynthetic traits and enzymatic activity were major contributors at moderate elevations while stem and leaf traits were significantly changed at high elevations. Overall, this research contributes significantly to the broader knowledge of plant adaptation in mountainous ecosystems and stresses the importance of considering elevation as a critical factor in ecological studies