Search Results (898)

Medicinal plants represent a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential antidiabetic activity, while the efficacy of plant extracts depends on both plant matrix and extraction conditions. This study aimed to systematically compare selected medicinal plants and extraction solvents to evaluate their impact on extracts’ in vitro α-amylase inhibitory activity, total polyphenol content (TPC), antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial properties. Extracts of sage (Salvia officinalis), blueberry leaf (Vaccinium myrtillus), nettle (Urtica dioica), wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), and green and roasted coffee (Coffea arabica) were prepared using different solvent systems (50% (v/v) ethanol, propylene glycol, glycerol, and water), as well as a traditional aqueous infusion protocol. Extraction solvent strongly affected bioactivity: ethanol extracts showed the highest α-amylase inhibition, particularly in sage extract (79.60%) and blueberry leaf (57.71%). No significant correlation with TPC was observed (r = 0.229, p = 0.108), but aqueous ethanol yielded the highest TPC, with blueberry leaf being richest (64.16 ± 0.82 mg GAE/g), followed by roasted coffee (49.36 ± 0.83 mg GAE/g). Ethanol extracts demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Overall, sage and blueberry leaves showed the most promising multifunctional activity, highlighting their potential for further investigation as functional food ingredients. Full article

Invasive alien plants seriously threaten native plant biodiversity and agricultural production. The development of environmentally friendly agriculture requires sustainable weed control techniques to manage these invasive alien weeds. This study evaluated the allelopathic effects of ethanol extract from Artemisia frigida against five invasive alien plants (Ageratum conyzoides, Bidens pilosa, Ipomoea purpurea, Eclipta prostrata, and Amaranthus retroflexus). The main components in the extract were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and we assessed their allelopathic effects on seed germination of the five species. The results showed that the ethanol extract of A. frigida completely inhibited seed germination of all five invasive plants at 5 g·L⁻¹. Thirteen components were identified, among which 4-ethyloctanoic acid, cis-jasmone, and p-anisic acid exhibited significant inhibitory effects. Notably, 4-ethyloctanoic acid demonstrated broad-spectrum herbicidal activity. At 50 mg·L⁻¹, it completely inhibited B. pilosa growth and had the strongest inhibitory effects on A. conyzoides and E. prostrata. This compound disrupted redox homeostasis and induced oxidative stress by modulating antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). These findings indicate that 4-ethyloctanoic acid is the main allelochemical with herbicidal potential in A. frigida, providing a theoretical basis for developing novel herbicides and environmentally friendly control techniques for invasive alien plants. Full article

Medicinal plants have long served as a primary source of bioactive compounds with essential therapeutic applications. Recent advances in functional genomics and plant biotechnology now enable precise manipulation of metabolic pathways to enhance the production of specialized metabolites with medicinal value. However, an integrative understanding of how genomic discovery can be linked with pathway engineering, scalable production systems, and healthcare applications remains insufficiently developed. This knowledge gap limits the effective translation of molecular insights into the sustainable production of medicinally important compounds. The novelty of this review lies in its integrated framework linking functional genomic discovery with pathway engineering, synthetic biology, artificial intelligence-assisted prediction, and scalable production systems for medicinal plant-derived therapeutics. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge approaches in medicinal plant research, emphasizing high-throughput RNA sequencing, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, synthetic biology, and metabolic engineering for optimizing the production of key bioactive compounds, including artemisinin, cannabinoids, ginsenosides, and taxol. It further examines how these tools collectively support metabolite discovery, pathway elucidation, yield improvement, and biotechnological production in major medicinal plant systems. We explore the application of genomic and biotechnological approaches in plants such as Artemisia annua, Cannabis sativa, Panax ginseng, and Taxus baccata to enhance metabolite yields and promote sustainable production. The review highlights case studies that demonstrate how genetic modification, metabolic engineering, and synthetic pathway design have been successfully employed to increase the synthesis of key medicinal compounds. Moreover, we discuss the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict gene–metabolite relationships, support personalized phytochemical therapies, and facilitate sustainable, large-scale production. Finally, the review addresses the implications of these innovations for the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare, and agriculture, while also highlighting sustainable and scalable directions for future medicinal plant biotechnology. Full article

Nowadays, the global demand for medicinal plants, including A. absinthium L. (wormwood), has increased considerably, leading to significant pressure on their wild populations and the biodiversity of ecosystems. Consequently, the rates of exploitation may exceed those of natural regeneration. This destructive process can be reduced by cultivating plants with the desired secondary metabolites by transferring them from their natural habitats. The present study investigates phytochemistry and the potential antioxidative/prooxidant activity of low-thujone A. absinthium plants. The chemical composition of wormwood extracts and essential oils (EOs) was determined by HPLC/DAD/TOF and GC/MS techniques, respectively. Trans-Sabinyl acetate (59.6 ± 10.1%) predominated in the wormwood EOs, while the content of toxic trans-thujone was negligible (1.2 ± 0.5%). Eighteen acids, such as fumaric, ascorbic, succinic, quinic, malic, gallic, benzoic, (neo/iso)chlorogenic, (di)ferulic, caffeic, etc., were found in 50% methanolic wormwood extracts. Additionally, (epi)catechin, astragalin, diosmetin, piceatannol-3’-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside-7-O-glucoside, hesperidin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, baicalin, 5,7,3′-trihydroxy-3,6,4′,5′-tetramethoxyflavone and rutin were tentatively identified in the extracts. Total phenolic content was found 412.82 ± 11.10 mg/L (of gallic acid equivalent) in A. absinthium methanolic extracts. Using conventional spectroscopic methods, the antioxidant activity (DPPH radicals scavenging) was determined to be 0.83 ± 0.06 mmol/L (TROLOX equivalent) in the wormwood essential oil. ABTS^●+ and DPPH^● scavenging activity means, 3.485 ± 0.07 (TROLOX, mmol/L) and 6.48 ± 0.25 (TROLOX, mmol/L) were revealed for A. absinthium methanolic extracts. Less commonly used methods, electrochemical tests showed the presence of oxidizable compounds with characteristic E_pa values of 0.38 and 0.61 V. Moreover, hydrogen peroxide scavenging tests were performed. The largest quantity of peroxide (31.86 ± 0.1 μmol/L) was formed in the wormwood boiling infusions (at pH = 7.2). As the presence of toxic and neurotoxic thujone isomers is undesirable, therefore, the search for low- or thujone-free plants from natural populations that exhibit biological activity (i.e., antioxidant/prooxidant) is of great importance. Full article

Artemisia indica Willd. is widely used in traditional medicine and dietary practices. Phytochemical analysis of Artemisia indica Willd. aqueous extract (AAE) by HPLC–ESI–MS/MS identified isochlorogenic acid C (ICAC) as a major constituent. Angiotensin II (Ang II) disrupts renal tubular epithelial cell homeostasis and contributes to renal injury. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of AAE and ICAC in Ang II-stimulated NRK52E cells. Both AAE and ICAC significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial dysfunction, and proinflammatory cytokine release. Mechanistic analyses showed that AAE inhibited Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R)-mediated NF-κB activation and suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, thereby alleviating inflammatory responses and pyroptosis. In addition, AAE and ICAC restored sodium homeostasis by reactivating neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated gene 4-like (Nedd4-2), promoting epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) ubiquitination and reducing its apical membrane accumulation. Molecular docking suggested that ICAC interacts with the extracellular domain of α-ENaC, supporting its regulatory role. Overall, AAE and ICAC protect renal tubular epithelial cells against Ang II-induced injury by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and dysregulated sodium transport, highlighting their potential as plant-derived therapeutic agents for hypertension-associated renal dysfunction. Full article

To explore the regulatory mechanisms of different vegetation types on soil crust grain-size characteristics in sandy lands, this study focused on five typical plant species (Haloxylon ammodendron, Artemisia ordosica, Nitraria tangutorum, Agriophyllum squarrosum, and Phragmites australis) in an artificial vegetation restoration area on the northeastern edge of the Ulan Buh Desert. Using laser granulometry and graphical methods, we systematically determined the soil particle size composition and parameters of the crust (Layer A) and sub-crust (Layer B) layers, and analyzed their correlations with plant morphological parameters (crown width, plant height, basal diameter). The results showed that (1) different vegetation types significantly increased the content of soil fine particulate matter (silt and clay), with fine sand accounting for 42.85% and silt accounting for 23.64%; (2) there are significant differences in the impact of different vegetation types on particle size parameters. The average particle size of soil crust under Phragmites australis is the smallest (1.91), and the sorting is the worst (standard deviation 2.01). Under the vegetation type of Nitraria tangutorum, the average particle size of the soil crust layer is the largest (5.25), and the fractal dimension is the highest (2.46). (3) The crown width, plant height, and basal diameter of vegetation are negatively correlated with mean particle size, kurtosis, and fractal dimension (r= −0.62 to −0.45), and positively correlated with standard deviation and skewness (r = 0.51 to 0.68). (4) The frequency curve indicates that vegetation types broaden the distribution range of soil particles, and Phragmites australis and Artemisia ordosica exhibit bimodal characteristics. This study reveals the impact of vegetation restoration on soil grain size parameters in arid regions. These findings provide actionable strategies for optimizing vegetation configuration in actual desert restoration projects, notably proposing a “herbs first, shrubs follow” approach that can be directly applied to enhance restoration efficiency. Full article

The popularity of herbal remedies is on the rise, but this often comes at the expense of general knowledge about non-native species. The frequency and versatility of the use of medicinal plants does not depend on their origin, while the use of species with proven efficacy is much more intensive. The most abundant plant families, according used taxa and use records, are Asteraceae, Rosaceae and Lamiaceae. The greatest consensus is on the choice of taxa suitable for the treatment of bloating/flatulence and diarrhea, most commonly treated with Carum carvi L. fruit tea and dried or fresh berries of Vaccinium myrtillus L., respectively. The most popular species for treatment of digestive disorders are Artemisia absinthium L. and Matricaria chamomilla L. The use of different taxa for the treatment of digestive disorders in Lithuania varies considerably for a number of reasons, one of which is the uneven distribution of medicinal plant species in the study areas. Full article

Cadmium contamination threatens safe vegetable production in arable soils. This study evaluated whether soil-applied selenium (Se) could reduce Cd accumulation in Artemisia selengensis while keeping Se enrichment within a practical safety range. A field plot experiment was sampled at 75, 110, and 150 d, and two pot experiments were conducted under normal and elevated Cd backgrounds. Six sodium selenite rates (0.5–8.0 mg kg⁻¹; Se1–Se6) plus a control were applied. In the field experiment, Se5–Se6 (6.5–8.0 mg kg⁻¹) reduced stem Cd by 33.0–39.3% at 75 d and 34.3–36.5% at 110 d, but the reduction declined to 24.8% at 150 d. Se application increased tissue Se (leaf > stem > rhizome), while stem total Se remained within the dry-weight reference window under 12Se–Se (0.5–2.0 mg kg⁻¹). Se5–Se6 also increased soil pH and reduced bioavailable Cd by 8.8–10.2%, whereas stem Cd reduction under an elevated Cd background was limited and non-significant. Overall, 0.5–2.0 mg kg⁻¹ (Se1–Se2) provided a practical window for Cd mitigation, while 6.5–8.0 mg kg⁻¹ (Se5–Se6) increased the risk of excessive Se accumulation in edible tissues. Full article

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading global pathogen of acute lower respiratory tract infection, posing significant risks to infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised patients. Artemisia argyi Levl.et Vant Extract (AALE) and its active components have a variety of pharmacological effects, but their anti-RSV potential remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-RSV activity of AALE and parthenolide and its underlying mechanisms. Methods: Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to determine the anti-RSV activities of AALE and parthenolide. Time-of-addition assay and phase of action analysis were used to explore the effect of drugs on the viral replication cycle. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRCR), immunofluorescence (IF) and Western blot (WB) were used to investigate the effects of AALE and parthenolide on RSV-F gene and protein and on RIG-I/TLR-3 pathway related molecules in vitro. In vivo antiviral efficacy was verified by hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining for lung histopathology, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) quantification of RSV-F, RIG-I, TLR-3, IRF3, IL-6, and IFN-β gene expression in lung tissues, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serum IL-6 and IFN-β levels. Results: AALE exhibited the strongest anti-RSV activity among the extracts (SI = 27.6), while parthenolide was the most potent monomeric compound (SI = 8.19). In vitro, both AALE and parthenolide were effective in the co-treatment and post-treatment models, reducing RSV-F gene and F protein levels in infected cells. Furthermore, they alleviated RSV infection by regulating RIG-I and TLR-3 pathway-related genes and proteins. In vivo, AALE and parthenolide suppressed lung index and RSV proliferation, attenuated lung injury, and down-regulated RIG-I, TLR-3, IRF3, IL-6, and IFN-β expression in the lungs of RSV-infected mice. Conclusions: AALE and its component parthenolide can inhibit the invasion and replication of RSV, making it a potential candidate for the treatment of RSV-related diseases. Full article

Background: The Democratic Republic of the Congo accounts for approximately 12–13% of the global malaria burden. While international guidelines oppose the use of Artemisia annua infusions due to risks of sub-therapeutic dosing and resistance selection, the plant remains widely used in resource-limited regions. This study evaluates the clinical acceptability and perceptions of healthcare providers regarding the integration of Artemisia annua tea into formal malaria control in the Maniema province. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 337 healthcare professionals in the Kalima health district using the KoboCollect digital platform. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify the primary socio-professional determinants of clinical acceptability. Results: The overall clinical acceptability of Artemisia annua integration was 81.0%, with 82.8% of providers perceiving the preparation as effective. Rural residency was the strongest predictor of adherence (AOR = 6.847; p = 0.003), reflecting a pragmatic response to frequent ACT stockouts and high treatment costs. Despite high acceptability, 49.0% of providers identified the lack of clinical evidence as a major barrier, and 91.4% demanded formal training on standardized dosage and biological mechanisms. Conclusions: A significant “policy–practice gap” exists between international guidelines and field realities in the DRC. Healthcare providers demonstrate high readiness for integration but emphasize the absolute necessity of galenic standardization to mitigate resistance risks. To address these concerns, a complementary genomic investigation is currently underway in the same study area, comparing PfKelch13 mutation prevalence among Artemisia tea users versus ACT-treated patients. This molecular surveillance will provide essential evidence to define safety parameters for future phytopharmaceutical integration. Full article

Leucomisine is a major component of renewable plant raw material Artemisia leucodes Schrenk, a sesquiterpene γ-lactone exhibiting antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antiparasitic, and hepatoprotective activities. However, the use of leucomisine in pharmaceuticals is limited by its insufficient bioavailability associated with low aqueous solubility. Therefore, the effect of solid-state synthesis based on leucomisine using the methods of “solvent removal”, “simple mixing”, and “mixture heating”, with disodium glycyrrhizinate as a carrier, on the aqueous solubility of leucomisine was investigated. It was established that the synthesized solid dispersions exhibit increased solubility (7–19-fold) and dissolution rate (36–100-fold) of leucomisine released from the carrier. The most pronounced stimulation of the dissolution process was observed for samples obtained using the “simple mixing” method. Based on physicochemical studies (visible-range spectrophotometry, microcrystalloscopy, investigation of optical properties of solutions, and X-Ray phase analysis), it was determined that the enhancement of solubility is attributed to the loss of crystalline state, micronization, and the solubilization process of leucomisine by the carrier, as well as to the formation of a colloidal solution of leucomisine stabilized by disodium glycyrrhizinate. Full article

This study evaluates the biological effectiveness of camel compound feeds produced using an optimized drying–grinding–extrusion technology and enriched with Artemisia lerchiana (wormwood). Building on a previously published process optimization study, the present work focuses on the effects of the developed feeds on milk productivity and quality in lactating camels. Eighteen lactating dromedary camels were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (n = 6): a control diet without wormwood and experimental diets containing 10% and 15% wormwood (dry matter basis). The feeding trial lasted 45 days, including a 15-day adaptation period and a 30-day measurement period. Milk yield was recorded daily, and milk composition was analyzed weekly. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way and repeated-measures ANOVA (p < 0.05). Wormwood supplementation resulted in higher milk yield and significantly increased milk fat and protein content, with the strongest effects observed at the 15% inclusion level. No adverse effects on lactose content, physicochemical properties, or milk hygienic quality were detected. The results confirm that combining extrusion-based processing with phytogenic supplementation is an effective strategy for improving camel milk productivity. Full article

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is a globally distributed necrotrophic fungal pathogen capable of infecting a wide range of crops. While conventional chemical fungicides offer effective control, their long-term use leads to increased fungicide resistance and poses risks to the environment and human health due to pesticide residues, underscoring the urgent need to develop novel fungicides. Artemisinin, first identified in Artemisia annua, is renowned for its antimalarial activity. Here, we demonstrate that artemisinin exhibites effective antifungal activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum with an EC₅₀ value of 0.1 mg/mL. Treatment with artemisinin caused the mycelia surface to collapse and shrivel, accompanied by enhanced membrane permeability. Pretreating Brassica napus and Arabidopsis leaves with artemisinin increased resistance to S. sclerotiorum infection. Proteomic analysis revealed that artemisinin treatment markedly downregulated the expression of key functional proteins in S. sclerotiorum, including enzymes involved in oxalic acid biosynthesis, cell wall-associated proteins, and secreted proteins. In conclusion, artemisinin exhibits notable inhibitory effects against S. sclerotiorum and may hold potential for development as a novel fungicide. Full article

Methanol (MeOH) is widely used in industry and is highly toxic when ingested. In this work, a new micro-conductometric transducer is functionalized with magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles capped with Artemisia Herba Alba (AHA) extract. The resulting AHA-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, crystallized in the cubic spinel phase, exhibit an average crystallite size of 6 nm. These nanoparticles were homogeneously dispersed within an electrodeposited chitosan film on interdigitated electrodes for conductometric measurements. The gas-sensing behavior of the films was evaluated at room temperature toward methanol, ethanol, and acetone vapors. For methanol, the sensor shows response times (t_Res) ranging from 9 to 12 s depending on the analyte concentration, with a detection limit of 600 ppm in the gas phase. The methanol sensor presents a sensitivity 30 times lower for acetone and 3.7 times lower for ethanol. The sensor exhibited stable detection sensitivity over two months, under intermittent storage at 4 °C. Methanol was detected in the headspace of commercial product samples, in good agreement with the producer’s value. Full article

This experiment investigated the effects of dietary Artemisia ordosica Krasch. (AOK) supplementation on the n3-polyunsaturated fatty acid (n3-PUFA) profile of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SADT) in Arbas cashmere goats and explored the underlying transcriptional mechanisms. Forty healthy, weaned kids (120 ± 10 days of age; similar body weight) were randomly allocated to two groups (n = 20): a control group (CON, basal diet) and an AOK group (AOK, basal diet with 3% of the roughage replaced by AOK). The feeding trial spanned 104 days, consisting of a 14-day adaptation period and 90 days of data acquisition. Compared with the CON group, AOK significantly reduced the content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and n6-polyunsaturated fatty acids (n6-PUFAs)/n3-PUFAs (n6/n3). In contrast, the levels of n3-PUFAs in the SADT of cashmere goats increased markedly (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, AOK exhibited significantly higher activities of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) (p = 0.027), adenylyl cyclase 2 (ADCY2) (p = 0.010), adenylyl cyclase 5 (ADCY5) (p = 0.046), cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) (p = 0.013), solute carrier family 27 member 4 (SLC27A4) (p = 0.021), and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) (p = 0.040), along with significantly lower activities of fatty acid synthase (FAS) (p = 0.002), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) (p = 0.048), and stearoyl-coa desaturase (SCD) (p = 0.026) in SADT. Compared with the CON group, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p = 0.032), catalase (CAT) (p = 0.010), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) (p = 0.029), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p = 0.002) were significantly increased in the AOK group. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that AOK supplementation downregulated mRNA levels of ADCY2, ADCY5, LPL, FAS, SCD, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), stearoyl-CoA desaturase 2 (SCD2), glycogen synthase 1 (GYS1), acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1), solute carrier family 27 member 2 (SLC27A2), erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 4 (ERBB4), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B (CPT1B) (p < 0.05). It also markedly induced acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) (p < 0.01) in SADT. Genes significantly enriched in the adenosine-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway included LPL, SCD1, CPT1B, and GYS1 (p = 0.010). Genes significantly enriched in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-akt (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway included GYS1 and ERBB4 (p = 0.015). CPT1B, ADCY2, and GYS1 were identified as the genes significantly enriched in the insulin resistance signaling pathway (p = 0.048). LPL was the only gene significantly enriched in the cholesterol metabolism pathway (p = 0.049). Genes showing a tendency toward significant enrichment in the peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway included ACSL4, CPT1B, SCD1, and LPL (p = 0.051). These interconnected cascades improve insulin sensitivity, stimulate triglyceride (TG) hydrolysis, and modulate n3-PUFA levels. Supplementation with AOK enhances n3-PUFA content by accelerating TG breakdown while simultaneously restraining FA oxidation in SADT. Consequently, AOK supplementation can be effectively used to enhance the nutritional value of cashmere goat meat through improved n3-PUFA deposition in SADT. Full article