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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024(Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm is a perennial plant of the family widely distributed in the subtropical and tropical areas of South America, Oceania, and Asia. Multiple... (Review)
Review
(Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Sm is a perennial plant of the family widely distributed in the subtropical and tropical areas of South America, Oceania, and Asia. Multiple plant parts of have been traditionally used as medicinal sources, each with different clinical uses. These variations may arise from differences among the chemical components and/or accumulations of the active compounds in each part. Therefore, this review summarizes previous studies on the phytochemicals in and reveals the similarities and differences among the chemical constituents of its multiple medicinal parts, including the leaves, rhizomes, fruits, seeds, and flowers. The results contribute to the scientific validation of the traditional understanding that possesses different medicinal properties in each plant part. In addition, this review provides directions for further studies on the phytochemicals of this plant.
Topics: Alpinia; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Humans; Plants, Medicinal
PubMed: 38930910
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122845 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Increasing demand for electrical and electronic equipment results in the generation of a rapidly growing waste stream, known by the acronym WEEE (waste electrical and...
Increasing demand for electrical and electronic equipment results in the generation of a rapidly growing waste stream, known by the acronym WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of green sink-float treatment in sorting plastic polymers typically found in WEEE (PP, ABS, PA6, PS, and PVC). Molasses, a by-product of sugar bio-refining, was added in various concentrations to water to form solutions at different densities. The methodology was initially tested on virgin polymers; later, it was applied to plastics from a WEEE treatment plant. The polymers were characterised through near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS) analyses; the detection of any additives and flame retardants was conducted using the sliding spark technology (SSS2) and scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDX). The results showed that, for plastics from WEEE, the recovery efficiency was 55.85% for PP in a solution of tap water while the remaining part of PP (44.15%) was recovered in a solution of water to which 90% molasses was added. Furthermore, 100% recovery efficiency was obtained for PS and 93.73% for ABS in a solution of tap water with the addition of 10% / molasses. A recovery efficiency of 100% was obtained for PVC and 100% for PA6 in a solution consisting solely of molasses.
PubMed: 38930409
DOI: 10.3390/ma17123041 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Various metabolites, including phytohormones, phytoalexins, and amino acids, take part in the plant immune system. Herein, we analyzed the effects of L-methionine (Met),...
Various metabolites, including phytohormones, phytoalexins, and amino acids, take part in the plant immune system. Herein, we analyzed the effects of L-methionine (Met), a sulfur-containing amino acid, on the plant immune system in tomato. Treatment with low concentrations of Met enhanced the resistance of tomato to a broad range of diseases caused by the hemi-biotrophic bacterial pathogen pv. ) and the necrotrophic fungal pathogen (), although it did not induce the production of any antimicrobial substances against these pathogens in tomato leaf tissues. Analyses of gene expression and phytohormone accumulation indicated that Met treatment alone did not activate the defense signals mediated by salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene. However, the salicylic acid-responsive defense gene and the jasmonic acid-responsive gene were induced more rapidly in Met-treated plants after infection with and , respectively. These findings suggest that low concentrations of Met have a priming effect on the phytohormone-mediated immune system in tomato.
Topics: Solanum lycopersicum; Methionine; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Diseases; Botrytis; Pseudomonas syringae; Cyclopentanes; Plant Growth Regulators; Oxylipins; Plant Immunity; Disease Resistance; Salicylic Acid; Plant Leaves; Plant Proteins; Ethylenes
PubMed: 38928022
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126315 -
Genes Jun 2024The citrus cultivar 'Local Juhong', which has historically been used as a traditional Chinese medicinal material, originated in Yuanjiang County, Hunan Province.Its...
The citrus cultivar 'Local Juhong', which has historically been used as a traditional Chinese medicinal material, originated in Yuanjiang County, Hunan Province.Its parental type and genetic background are indistinct as of yet. Morphological observation shows that 'Local Juhong' has a slight oblateness in fruit shape, a relatively smooth pericarp, a fine and slightly raised oil vacuole, and an inward concave at the blossom end. The tree form and fruit and leaf morphology of 'Local Juhong' are similar to those of 'Huangpi' sour orange. To reveal the genetic background of 'Local Juhong', 21 citrus accessions were evaluated using nuclear and chloroplast SSR markers and whole-genome SNP information. 'Local Juhong' was grouped with mandarins and sub-grouped with 'Miyagawa Wase' and 'Yanxi Wanlu' in a nuclear SSR analysis, which indicated that its pollen parent might be mandarins. It was closely clustered with orange and pummelo in the chloroplast SSR analysis. The genomic sequence similarity rate of 'Local Juhong' with mandarin and pummelo heterozygosity was 70.88%; the main part was the heterozygosity, except for the unknown (19.66%), mandarin (8.73%), and pummelo (3.9%) parts. Thus, 'Local Juhong' may be an F hybrid with pummelo as the female parent and mandarin as the male parent, sharing sisterhood with 'Huangpi' sour orange.
Topics: Citrus; Microsatellite Repeats; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Plants, Medicinal; Genomics; Genome, Plant; Genetic Markers; Phylogeny; Chloroplasts
PubMed: 38927655
DOI: 10.3390/genes15060719 -
Biomedicines May 2024The importance of essential oils and their components in the industrial sector is attributed to their chemical characteristics and their application in the development... (Review)
Review
The importance of essential oils and their components in the industrial sector is attributed to their chemical characteristics and their application in the development of products in the areas of cosmetology, food, and pharmaceuticals. However, the pharmacological properties of this class of natural products have been extensively investigated and indicate their applicability for obtaining new drugs. Therefore, this review discusses the use of these oils as starting materials to synthesize more complex molecules and products with greater commercial value and clinic potential. Furthermore, the antiulcer, cardiovascular, and antidiabetic mechanisms of action are discussed. The main mechanistic aspects of the chemopreventive properties of oils against cancer are also presented. The data highlight essential oils and their derivatives as a strategic chemical group in the search for effective therapeutic agents against various diseases.
PubMed: 38927394
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061185 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024Activated sludge is the centerpiece of biological wastewater treatment, as it facilitates removal of sewage-associated pollutants, fecal bacteria, and pathogens from...
Activated sludge is the centerpiece of biological wastewater treatment, as it facilitates removal of sewage-associated pollutants, fecal bacteria, and pathogens from wastewater through semi-controlled microbial ecology. It has been hypothesized that horizontal gene transfer facilitates the spread of antibiotic resistance genes within the wastewater treatment plant, in part because of the presence of residual antibiotics in sewage. However, there has been surprisingly little evidence to suggest that sewage-associated antibiotics select for resistance at wastewater treatment plants via horizontal gene transfer or otherwise. We addressed the role of sewage-associated antibiotics in promoting antibiotic resistance using lab-scale sequencing batch reactors fed field-collected wastewater, metagenomic sequencing, and our recently developed bioinformatic tool Kairos. Here, we found confirmatory evidence that fluctuating levels of antibiotics in sewage are associated with horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic resistance genes, microbial ecology, and microdiversity-level differences in resistance gene fate in activated sludge.
Topics: Gene Transfer, Horizontal; Sewage; Wastewater; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Water Purification; Metagenomics; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Selection, Genetic
PubMed: 38926391
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49742-8 -
FEMS Microbiology Ecology Jun 2024Differences between arbuscular (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EcM) trees strongly influence forest ecosystem processes, in part through their impact on saprotrophic fungal...
Differences between arbuscular (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EcM) trees strongly influence forest ecosystem processes, in part through their impact on saprotrophic fungal communities. Ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) shrubs likely also impact saprotrophic communities given that they can shape nutrient cycling by slowing decomposition rates and intensifying nitrogen limitation. We investigated the depth distributions of saprotrophic and EcM fungal communities in paired subplots with and without a common understory ErM shrub, mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia L.), across an AM to EcM tree dominance gradient in a temperate forest by analyzing soils from the organic, upper mineral (0-10 cm), and lower mineral (cumulative depth of 30 cm) horizons. The presence of K. latifolia was strongly associated with the taxonomic and functional composition of saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal communities. Saprotrophic richness was consistently lower in the Oa horizon when this ErM shrub species was present. However, in AM tree dominated plots, the presence of the ErM shrub was associated with a higher relative abundance of saprotrophs. Given that EcM trees suppress both the diversity and relative abundance of saprotrophic communities, our results suggest that separate consideration of ErM shrubs and EcM trees may be necessary when assessing the impacts of plant mycorrhizal associations on belowground communities.
PubMed: 38925654
DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae092 -
The Plant Cell Jun 2024SUMO modification is part of the spectrum of Ubiquitin-like (UBL) systems that give rise to proteoform complexity through post-translational modifications (PTMs)....
SUMO modification is part of the spectrum of Ubiquitin-like (UBL) systems that give rise to proteoform complexity through post-translational modifications (PTMs). Proteoforms are essential modifiers of cell signaling for plant adaptation to changing environments. Exploration of the evolutionary emergence of Ubiquitin-like (UBL) systems unveils their origin from prokaryotes where it is linked to the mechanisms that enable sulfur uptake into biomolecules. We explore the emergence of the SUMO machinery across the plant lineage from single-cell to land plants. We reveal the evolutionary point at which plants acquired the ability to form SUMO chains through the emergence of SUMO E4 ligases hinting at its role in facilitating multicellularity. Additionally, we explore the possible mechanism for the neofunctionalization of SUMO proteases through the fusion of conserved catalytic domains with divergent sequences. We highlight the pivotal role of SUMO proteases in plant development and adaptation, offering new insights into target specificity mechanisms of SUMO modification during plant evolution. Correlating the emergence of adaptive traits in the plant lineage with established experimental evidence for SUMO in developmental processes we propose that SUMO modification has evolved to link developmental processes to adaptive functions in land plants.
PubMed: 38923935
DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae192 -
Microscopy Research and Technique Jun 2024The genus Tilia L. belongs to Malvaceae and it is represented by four species in Turkey. These are T. cordata, T. platyphyllos, T. rubra subsp. caucasica, and T....
The genus Tilia L. belongs to Malvaceae and it is represented by four species in Turkey. These are T. cordata, T. platyphyllos, T. rubra subsp. caucasica, and T. tomentosa. Tilia species have medicinal importance, especially to treat colds, flu, and coughs, and are also used as sedatives. Inflorescence with bract is recorded in the pharmacopeia as used parts. This study aimed to investigate the differences in leaf and bract characteristics in distinguishing Tilia species. Leaves and bracts were examined anatomically and micromorphologically under light and scanning electron microscopes (LM and SEM). There is no comparative anatomical and micromorphological study of Tilia species from Turkey. Microscopic examination allows for the observation of stomata types, trichomes, and other anatomical structures. These features can vary among species and can aid in differentiation. Features of bract that is medicinally used part were evaluated to find efficient diagnostic characters. The leaves also possess distinct characteristics, and leaf morphology is already used in the identification key in Flora. The emphasis is on identifying the species of medically used drugs. A diagnostic key was created using LM and SEM based on bract features to differentiate taxa for the first time. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Leaf and bract anatomy of Tilia taxa was studied via LM and SEM. The raw plant material is inflorescence with bract so identification by bract is important for species adulteration. An diagnostic key based on bract features was created for the first time.
PubMed: 38923074
DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24634 -
Journal of Fish Biology Jun 2024Polar cod (Boreogadus saida) is an endemic key species of the Arctic Ocean ecosystem. The ecology of this forage fish is well studied in Arctic shelf habitats where a...
Polar cod (Boreogadus saida) is an endemic key species of the Arctic Ocean ecosystem. The ecology of this forage fish is well studied in Arctic shelf habitats where a large part of its population lives. However, knowledge about its ecology in the central Arctic Ocean (CAO), including its use of the sea-ice habitat, is hitherto very limited. To increase this knowledge, samples were collected at the under-ice surface during several expeditions to the CAO between 2012 and 2020, including the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition. The diet of immature B. saida and the taxonomic composition of their potential prey were analysed, showing that both sympagic and pelagic species were important prey items. Stomach contents included expected prey such as copepods and amphipods. Surprisingly, more rarely observed prey such as appendicularians, chaetognaths, and euphausiids were also found to be important. Comparisons of the fish stomach contents with prey distribution data suggests opportunistic feeding. However, relative prey density and catchability are important factors that determine which type of prey is ingested. Prey that ensures limited energy expenditure on hunting and feeding is often found in the stomach contents even though it is not the dominant species present in the environment. To investigate the importance of prey quality and quantity for the growth of B. saida in this area, we measured energy content of dominant prey species and used a bioenergetic model to quantify the effect of variations in diet on growth rate potential. The modeling results suggest that diet variability was largely explained by stomach fullness and, to a lesser degree, the energetic content of the prey. Our results suggest that under climate change, immature B. saida may be at least equally sensitive to a loss in the number of efficiently hunted prey than to a reduction in the prey's energy content. Consequences for the growth and survival of B. saida will not depend on prey presence alone, but also on prey catchability, digestibility, and energy content.
PubMed: 38922867
DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15836