Search Results (6)

This study investigates the bioactive compound profiles of 12 wild edible plant species from the Amaranthaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Lamiaceae, Malvaceae, Polygonaceae, and Urticaceae families, consumed as aromatic and medicinal vegetables by local communities and forming part of the natural vegetation of Mount Ergan. The plants were collected and analyzed for their anthocyanin, organic acid, and sugar contents, using advanced liquid chromatography techniques. Statistically significant differences were observed between species for each compound analyzed, highlighting their diverse phytochemical profiles. Malva neglecta, Brassica nigra, and Taraxacum phaleratum exhibited the highest anthocyanin contents, suggesting their strong potential as natural antioxidant sources. Organic acid levels were notably elevated in Polygonum cognatum, T. phaleratum, Urtica dioica, and M. neglecta, which positions these species as promising candidates for use as natural acid regulators in food and pharmaceutical formulations. In terms of sugar content, Chenopodium album, Mentha longifolia, and T. phaleratum had the lowest levels, while M. neglecta, Cirsium arvense, P. cognatum, and Tragopogon buphthalmoides showed significantly higher concentrations, indicating potential applications in the development of natural sweeteners. This study’s findings provide valuable insights into the phytochemical diversity of these wild plant species, emphasizing their potential utility in health nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. This study emphasizes the significance of investigating underexploited plant species for their bioactive chemicals and illustrates their potential contribution to the development of sustainable, natural product-based solutions for diverse industrial uses. Full article

Nitrophilous communities dominated by Glebionis coronaria and Glebionis discolor in the European Mediterranean area were studied. The nomenclature was corrected according to the current taxonomy, following the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICPN). The statistical analysis revealed six new associations and one subassociation, with four in Spain, one in Greece, and one in Italy. Additionally, a subassociation of high relevance due to its endemic character was identified. These grasslands exhibit requirements for organic matter and other edaphic nutrients that are closer to those of Malva neglecta communities than to those of Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum. We confirmed the published syntaxon with the rank of Resedo albae-Glebionenion coronariae suballiance and its subordination to the Malvion neglectae alliance, and we established the type association for this suballiance. Sisimbrietalia officinalis J. Tüxen in Lohmeyer et al. 1962 em. Rivas-Martínez, Báscones, T. E. Díaz, Fernández-González & Loidi 1991. Stellarietea mediae Tüxen, Lohmeyer & Preising ex von Rochow 1951. Full article

Leaves and aerial parts of Malva neglecta Wallr. have been traditionally used in Anatolia for the treatment of pain, inflammation, hemorrhoids, renal stones, constipation, and infertility. This study investigated the effects of M. neglecta leaves in a rat endometriosis model. The dried plant material was extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol, successively. Experimental endometriosis was surgically induced in six-week-old female, non-pregnant, Wistar albino rats by autotransplant of endometrial tissue to the abdominal wall. After twenty-eight days, rats were evaluated for a second laparotomy. Endometrial foci areas were assessed, and intraabdominal adhesions were scored. Rats were divided into five groups as control, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous extracts, as well as reference. At the end of the treatment, all rats were sacrificed and endometriotic foci areas and intraabdominal adhesions were re-evaluated and compared with the previous findings. Moreover, peritoneal fluid was collected to detect tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and cDNA synthesis, and a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was done. The phytochemical content of the most active extract was determined using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Both endometrial volume and adhesion score decreased significantly in the group treated with methanol extract. In addition, significant decreases were observed in TNF-α, VEGF, and IL-6 levels in animals administered methanol extract. HPLC results showed that the activity caused by the methanol extract of M. neglecta was due to the polyphenols. Taken together, these novel findings indicate that M. neglecta may be a promising alternative for the treatment of endometriosis. Full article

Wild edible plants have been used since antiquity as folk medicine and as preservatives in foods. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant activities, phenolic compounds, and hormone contents of 12 species of edible wild plants belonging to 9 families, which are consumed as vegetables by the local people at Ergan Mountain in Erzincan in Turkey. Polygonum cognatum and Malva neglecta were determined to have more antioxidant enzyme activity, more phenolic compounds, and higher hormone content than the other species. The highest catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) values for P. cognatum were determined as 45.12, 94.83, 36.76, and 1218.35 EU g⁻¹, respectively. The highest superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (AxPOD) content for M. neglecta were determined as 97.53 EU g⁻¹ and 81.93 EU g⁻¹, respectively. P. cognatum is the species in which the highest levels of the hormones indolacetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA), salicylic acid (SA), cytokinin, zeatin and jasmonic acid were detected. The highest levels of caftaric acid (CA), catechin (CAE), ferulic acid (FA), malvidin-3-o-glucoside (MG), myricetin (MYR), rutin (RT), trans-coumaric acid (TPCA), tyrosol (TY), and vanilic acid (VA) compounds were found in M. neglecta. It was determined that Falcaria vulgaris species had the highest levels of ferulic acid (FA) and quercetin (QUE) phenolics. The results show that edible wild vegetables consumed and studied by the people of the region are an important source of natural antioxidants. The possibilities of using these wild plants as functional foods should be investigated. Full article

This study addresses the unique functional features of duckweed via comparison of Lemna gibba grown under controlled conditions of 50 versus 1000 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ and of a L. minor population in a local pond with a nearby population of the biennial weed Malva neglecta. Principal component analysis of foliar pigment composition revealed that Malva was similar to fast-growing annuals, while Lemna was similar to slow-growing evergreens. Overall, Lemna exhibited traits reminiscent of those of its close relatives in the family Araceae, with a remarkable ability to acclimate to both deep shade and full sunlight. Specific features contributing to duckweed’s shade tolerance included a foliar pigment composition indicative of large peripheral light-harvesting complexes. Conversely, features contributing to duckweed’s tolerance of high light included the ability to convert a large fraction of the xanthophyll cycle pool to zeaxanthin and dissipate a large fraction of absorbed light non-photochemically. Overall, duckweed exhibited a combination of traits of fast-growing annuals and slow-growing evergreens with foliar pigment features that represented an exaggerated version of that of terrestrial perennials combined with an unusually high growth rate. Duckweed’s ability to thrive under a wide range of light intensities can support success in a dynamic light environment with periodic cycles of rapid expansion. Full article

This study addresses the effects of gamma irradiation (1, 5 and 8 kGy) on color, organic acids, total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of dwarf mallow (Malva neglecta Wallr.). Organic acids were analyzed by ultra fast liquid chromatography (UFLC) coupled to a photodiode array (PDA) detector. Total phenolics and flavonoids were measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. The antioxidant activity was evaluated based on the DPPH^• scavenging activity, reducing power, β-carotene bleaching inhibition and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation inhibition. Analyses were performed in the non-irradiated and irradiated plant material, as well as in decoctions obtained from the same samples. The total amounts of organic acids and phenolics recorded in decocted extracts were always higher than those found in the plant material or hydromethanolic extracts, respectively. The DPPH^• scavenging activity and reducing power were also higher in decocted extracts. The assayed irradiation doses affected differently the organic acids profile. The levels of total phenolics and flavonoids were lower in the hydromethanolic extracts prepared from samples irradiated at 1 kGy (dose that induced color changes) and in decocted extracts prepared from those irradiated at 8 kGy. The last samples also showed a lower antioxidant activity. In turn, irradiation at 5 kGy favored the amounts of total phenolics and flavonoids. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of the effects of irradiation in indicators of dwarf mallow quality, and highlighted the decoctions for its antioxidant properties. Full article