Search Results (6)

Pistacia lentiscus L. has traditionally been employed as a diuretic and stimulant in the treatment of hypertension. Our interest centered on analyzing the chemical profile of the plant’s leaves and its in vitro, in vivo, and in silico antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticoagulant, and antidiabetic effects in order to valorize this species and prepare new high-value products that can be used in the agro-food and pharmaceutical industries. When this species’ essential oil was hydrodistilled and subjected to GC-MS analysis, the results showed that the principal components were germacrene D (17.54%), spathulenol (17.38%), bicyclogermacrene (12.52%), and terpinen-4-ol (9.95%). The extraction of phenolic compounds was carried out by decoction and Soxhlet. The determination of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins of aqueous and organic extracts by spectrophotometric methods demonstrated the richness of this species in phenolic compounds. Chromatographic analysis by HPLC/UV-ESI-MS of the aqueous extract of P. lentiscus revealed the presence of 3,5-di-O-galloyl quinic acid, gallic acid, and 3,4,5-tri-O-galloyl quinic acid specific to this species. The study of antioxidant activity by three methods (DPPH, FRAP, and Total Antioxidant Capacity) revealed that P. lentiscus is a very promising source of natural antioxidants. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and aqueous extract (E₀) was studied by microdilution on the microplate. The results revealed the effectiveness of the aqueous extract compared to the essential oil against Gram-negative bacteria (K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, E. aerogenes, E. cloacae, P. fluorescence, Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., and Y. enterolitica) and candidoses (C. krusei and C. albicans). The measurements of prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of the aqueous extract (E₀) can significantly prolong these tests from concentrations of 2.875 and 5.750 mg/mL, respectively. The antihyperglycemic effect of the aqueous extract (E₀) showed a strong in vitro inhibitory activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase compared to acarbose. Thus, it significantly inhibited postprandial hyperglycemia in Wistar albino rats. The in-silico study of the major compounds of the essential oil and extract (E₀) carried out using PASS, SwissADME, pkCSM, and molecular docking tools confirmed our in vitro and in vivo results. The studied compounds showed a strong ability to be absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and to passively diffuse through the blood-brain barrier, a similarity to drugs, and water solubility. Molecular docking experiments deduced the probable mode of action of the identified compounds on their respective target proteins, such as NADPH oxidase, thrombin, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase. Furthermore, given the demonstrated antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticoagulant, and antidiabetic effects, we can affirm the richness of P. lentiscus in bioactive molecules and its use in traditional medicine as a source of preservative agent. Full article

The Asian chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu, native to China, was first detected in Europe in Italy in 2002. In Portugal it was declared in 2014, and it has since affected the Portuguese chestnut production. The introduction of its natural parasitoid Torymus sinensis Kamijo started through inoculative releases according to the National Action Plan for the Control of Dryocosmus kuriphilus, established by the Direção Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária (DGAV), in 2015. This research was carried out during 2018 and 2019, in five chestnut orchards in the Minho region (Northern Portugal). Between January and March 2018, at each location, three monthly harvests of 100 buds were carried out to determine the infestation level. Between April and June 2018, 240 galls were harvested every two weeks, with the purpose of studying the bioecology of D. kuriphilus. In each sampling site, 160 galls were placed in emergence boxes to follow adults of the D. kuriphilus population, and 80 galls were dissected with a binocular magnifying glass, to count and record the evolution of the larval stages of D. kuriphilus and of the parasitoids. The identification of T. sinensis and native parasitoids was carried out. The parasitism rates and Simpson diversity indices were determined. The percentage of buds infested by D. kuriphilus was high in all studied places, varying between 67% and 80%, regardless of the number of T. sinensis releases made and of the chestnut cultivars present in each orchard. The highest rate of parasitism by T. sinensis was 0.5044% and it was recorded in an orchard where there were two releases of T. sinensis in 2016 and 2017 (Arcos de Valdevez—Rio Cabrão—P1). Considering that the exotic parasitoid has already been released in the region since 2016, its establishment in all the chestnut orchards studied was confirmed, although with very low parasitism rates. The natural parasitism associated with the native parasitoid species of D. kuriphilus was confirmed in this work, recording values between 34% and 51% of the parasitized chestnut galls, with 11 species of native parasitoids having been identified: Eupelmus azureos, Eupelmus uruzonus, Eurytoma brunnivientris, Eurytoma pistaciae, Megastigmus dorsalis, Mesopolobus sp., Ormyrus pomaceus, Sycophila biguttata, Sycophila iracemae, Sycophila variegatta and Torymus flavipes. Full article

Functional foods are considered beneficial to human health due to their high nutritional values. Currently, there is development in research to identify natural functional food sources high in bioactive compounds, such as antioxidants and polyphenols, as they are shown to contribute towards decreasing oxidative stress and maintaining well-being in human health. The objective of the present study was to determine the total antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content of Mediterranean medicinal natural herbs and wild greens, aiming to create a database of medicinal plants for future potential use as functional food ingredients. A total of seventeen selected herbs and wild greens from Lemnos Island (Greece) were purchased between June and July of 2021. Extracts were prepared with an ultrasound water bath at 70 °C for 60 min. The antioxidant capacity was measured with ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and the total polyphenolic content was determined with the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent method. The mean phenolic values ranged from 0.18 to 2282.80 mg of gallic acid/g of sample, whereas Hypericum perfoliatum L. and Hypericum perforatum L., Salvia spp., and Sideritis sp. displayed the highest contents (p < 0.05). Melissa officinalis L., Mentha Spicata, and Thymbra capitata L. obtained the highest total antioxidant capacity values greater than 12.20 mmol/L, with an average range of 0.06 to 30.58 mmol of Fe²⁺/L of extract (p < 0.05). Pistacia lentiscus var. chia, Crataegus azarolus L., and Pancratium Maritimum obtained the lowest contents from both methods. Studies have shown that medicinal plants with total antioxidant values higher than 0.87 mmol/L could be applicable in the fortification of food products (i.e., yogurt). Therefore, this study suggests that most of the above medicinal plants could be a potential source of antioxidants for functional food applications while their use can enhance Mediterranean diet principles. Full article

Physio-biochemical responses of pistachio varieties including Pistacia vera L. ‘Ghazvini’ (GH), P. vera ‘Ghermez-Pesteh’ (GP) and P. atlantica subsp. mutica (M) were assessed under salt stress to understand the common mechanisms of salt tolerance in two popular Pistacia species. In the experiment, half-sib seedlings of the varieties were subjected to high (100 mM) and severe (200 mM) levels of NaCl-induced salinity for 90 days. Growth, physiological, biochemical and ionic parameters in the roots and shoots of plants were measured in the experiment. Salinity markedly declined plant growth, and increased the number of necrotic leaves (NL) and leaf abscission. In terms of physiological responses, salinity reduced the relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI) and the concentrations of photosynthetic pigments, but increased carbohydrates and proline content in the leaves. MSI of the leaves was positively correlated with the concentrations of anthocyanins and carotenoids. Salinity increased sodium content in root and shoot tissues of the plants, and decreased potassium concentration and K/Na ratio. Among the rootstocks, GH had better performance on all parameters. Despite the high concentration of Na⁺ and low K/Na ratio in the shoots, the lowest number of NL was found in GH under both salinity levels. The results indicated that salt tolerance in GH was most likely related to compartmentation of Na⁺ ions. Finally, accumulation of osmolytes and sodium compartmentation were considered to be the most important mechanisms in the salt tolerance of pistachio rootstocks. Full article

The cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is characterized by a very ancient history linked to the wide employment for the technological properties of its wood and for its symbolic value. Although this tree was often considered as a species introduced in Italy, the first genetic studies showed, instead, the presence of an autochthonous population of C. sempervirens in the forest of Fontegreca (Matese massif, Southern Italy), which constitutes the unique autochthonous cypress woodland present in Southwestern and Western Europe. Therefore, investigations were carried out in selected (using geomorphological criteria) areas of the forest, through soil chemical analysis, identification and ¹⁴C dating of soil charcoals. Indeed, we hypothesize that these analyses allow clarifying the history of this woodland characterized by the dominance of the cypress in the forest cover. Areas at medium-low (17–29°) slope gradient on the eastern and southern slopes of the forest were investigated and sampled, following pedological criteria (soil horizons order). Soil morphological and chemical analysis showed humus-rich surface horizons, thin (15–30 cm) and poorly developed (young) soils, overlapping the bedrock limestones. The first soil charcoal analysis data highlighted the presence of a previous landscape characterized by several species (e.g., Pistacia, Ostrya carpinifolia, Juniperus sp. and Pinus sp.) and, probably, by a different forest structure. Ongoing charcoal identification and ¹⁴C dating will likely give a better understanding of both (1) the cypress history and (2) the development of this forest landscape. Full article

Background: Given the increasing request for natural pharmacological molecules, this study assessed the antimicrobial capacity of Pistacia lentiscus L. essential oil (PLL-EO) obtained from the leaves of wild plants growing in North Sardinia (Italy) toward a wide range of periodontal bacteria and Candida, including laboratory and clinical isolates sp., together with its anti-inflammatory activity and safety. Methods: PLL-EO was screened by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. The anti-inflammatory activity was measured by cyclooxygenase (COX-1/2) and lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibition, while the antioxidant capacity was determined electro-chemically and by the MTT assay. The WST-1 assay was used to ascertain cytotoxicity toward four lines of oral cells. Results: According to the concentrations of terpens, PLL-EO is a pharmacologically-active phytocomplex. MICs against periodontal bacteria ranged between 3.13 and 12.5 µg/ml, while against Candida sp. they were between 6.25 and 12.5 µg/mL. Oxidation by COX-1/2 and LOX was inhibited by 80% and 20% µg/mL of the oil, respectively. Antioxidant activity seemed negligible, and no cytotoxicity arose. Conclusions: PLL-EO exhibits a broad-spectrum activity against periodontal bacteria and Candida, with an interesting dual inhibitory capacity toward COX-2 and LOX inflammatory enzymes, and without side effects against oral cells. Full article