Search Results (3)

The genus Pistacia from the Anacardiaceae family contains species of wild flowering plants. The only species that produces edible nuts large enough for commercial sale is P. vera L. (pistachio). Other species, such as P. terebinthus L., P. atlantica L., and P. khinjuk, are used as pistachio rootstocks. Pistacia species include phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, essential oils, and tannins, which are responsible for a number of pharmacological properties. The species most commonly investigated for their anticancer and/or cytotoxic activities against cancer cells in experimental studies include P. lentiscus, P. atlantica subspecies, and P. chinensis subsp. integerrima. However, no review exists that evaluates the phenolic compounds of three other Pistacia species (P. vera L., P. terebinthus L., and P. khinjuk) and their anticancer and cytotoxic effects. Thus, this review aims to thoroughly assess the phenolic compounds that were isolated from these species and investigate any potential anticancer or cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. The findings show that pistacia species and their isolated phenolic compounds (phenolic acids, flavonoids, and essential oils) from different plant parts have anticancer activity against lung, cervical, prostate, gastric, colon, liver, renal, skin, and breast cancer cells. Additionally, certain phenolic compounds from pistacia species have cytotoxic activity; however, the degree of toxicity may vary based on the dosage and duration of use. Further experiments are required to fully understand the possible mechanisms underlying the anticancer and cytotoxic effects of pistacia species and their phenolic compounds on cancer cells. Full article

Pistacia eurycarpa Yalt and Pistacia khinjuk Stocks are two important endemic tree species inhabiting mountainous regions in Iraq. Their cultural, medical, and ecological benefits have captured the interest of this study. Numerous researchers have revealed how and to what extent global climate change alters species’ habitats and distribution. This approach aims to quantify the current and future distribution of these tree species in the region and to provide baseline data on how Pistacia respond to the changing environment. Three socioeconomic pathway scenarios (SSP 126, 245, and 585) in two general circulating models (GCMs), MIROC-ES2L and BCC-CSM2-MR, have been utilized to examine the probable future geographical shift of these species during different time periods (2041–2060, 2061–2080, and 2081–2100). This study used the MaxEnt model and geospatial techniques for: (i) anticipating the present level of distributions and assessing the impact of climate change on these species’ possible future distributions; (ii) estimating the areas of species overlap; and (iii) finding the most significant environmental variables shaping their distributions, according to 11 environmental variables and 161 known localities. The findings revealed that 30 out of 36 modeling results showed range expansion in both the MIROC-ES2L and BCC-CSM2-MR models with 16/18 for P. eurycarpa and 14/18 for P. khinjuk. The overall species range expansions and increase in habitat suitability (mainly in the north and northeast) were related to precipitation during the wettest months, topography, and soil type structure (i.e., Chromic Vertisols, Lithosols, and Calcic Xerosols). These recent discoveries provide priceless new information for forestry management efforts and the conservation plan in Iraq, particularly in the overlapping areas in the mountainous regions and highlands. Geospatial approaches and correlation-based modeling are effective tools for predicting the spatial pattern of tree species in the mountain environment. Full article

In this study, antihypertensive, anticholinesterase, antiurease, antityrosinase and antielastase enzyme inhibition and anticancer activities of in vivo (male and female) and in vitro samples (root, stem and leaf parts) of the Pistacia khinjuk Stocks were investigated comparatively. In this context, in vitro shoot cultures were obtained from germinated mature seeds. Then, the juvenile shoots were proliferated in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1 mg/L 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP). In terms of anticancer activity, the whole of the samples studied was found to have apoptotic effects against MCF-7 (breast cancer) and HT-29 (colon cancer) cell lines. The extracts obtained from in vivo female root parts showed better cytotoxicity than all the other tested extracts on MCF-7 (IC₅₀: 31.86 ± 1.40 µg/mL) and HT-29 cell series (IC₅₀: 59.60 ± 0.69 µg/mL). Even though all the samples showed a strong butyrylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition (BChE) activity, it was detected that none of the samples had shown acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition (AChE). It was also determined that in vivo leaf samples of female trees had the highest BChE activity (Inhibition%: 75.20 ± 1.50). All the samples showed a low-moderate level of urease and tyrosinase enzyme activity, while in vivo samples showed a significant level of the elastase enzyme activities (Inhibition%: 58.72 for female root extracts; 58.25 for female leaf extracts, at 50 µg/mL concentration), and they were more active than the standard oleanolic acid (Inhibition%: 39.46 ± 0.52). The antihypertensive activities as the inhibition of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) of in vivo samples (Inhibition%: 95.88 for female stem extracts; 95.18 for female root extracts) were detected as close to the standard (Inhibition%: 96.64 ± 1.85) used. In general, it can be stated that in vivo samples had higher biological activities compared to in vitro ones. Consequently, according to our results, it was concluded that in vitro stem parts of khinjuk pistachio could also be evaluated as an alternative new antihypertensive, antielastase and anticancer agent source. Full article