Search Results (44)

Background: Reducing postprandial blood glucose (PBG) is a crucial strategy for treating diabetes and minimizing the risk of complications. Developing efficient and safe α-glycosidase inhibitors from natural products to lower PBG has attracted much attention. Silphium perfoliatum L. (SP), a traditional herbal medicine of North American Indigenous tribes, has efficacy of treating metabolic diseases, but its hypoglycemic activity and bioactive components have not been fully studied. Methods: In vitro α-glucosidase inhibition and in vivo sucrose/maltose/starch tolerance assays were performed to assess the hypoglycemic effects of SP extracts, and UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS/MS analysis was used to tentatively identify its chemical structure composition. In vitro enzyme inhibition and molecular docking were used to verify the effective ingredients. Results: In vitro hypoglycemic activities of four extracts of SP (SP-10/SP-40/SP-60/SP-C) showed that SP-10 exhibited strong α-glucosidase (sucrase and maltase) inhibitory effects with IC₅₀ of 67.81 μg/mL and 62.99 μg/mL, respectively. Carbohydrate tolerance assays demonstrated that SP-10 could significantly reduce the PBG levels of diabetic mice, with a significant hypoglycemic effect at a dosage of 20 mg/kg. A total of 26 constituents, including 11 caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) and 15 flavonol glycosides, were tentatively identified by mainly analyzing secondary MS fragmentation. Moreover, three CQAs rich in SP-10, namely chlorogenic acid (CGA), neochlorogenic acid (NCGA), and cryptochlorogenic acid (CCGA), may be the main hypoglycemic substances, as evidenced by their inhibitory effects on sucrase and maltase. Conclusions: The α-glucosidase inhibitory effects of SP extract both in vitro and in vivo and its active ingredients were systematically studied for the first time. Results indicated that SP extract, rich in CQAs, had significant hypoglycemic activity, supporting the considerable potential of SP as hypoglycemic functional food or cost-effective therapeutic agents for diabetes treatment. Full article

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of different lactic acid bacteria additives (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum or Lentilactobacillus buchneri) on the fermentation quality, chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, bacterial community structure, and predictive function of S. perfoliatum silage feed. Fresh S. perfoliatum was wilted overnight, then its moisture content was adjusted between 65 and 70%. The experiment was performed in three groups as follows: (1) the control group (CK group), which lacked a Lactobacillus preparation; (2) the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) group (LP group), which was inoculated with L. plantarum at 5 × 10⁶ cfu/g FW; and (3) the Lentilactobacillus buchneri (L. buchneri) group (LB group), which was inoculated with L. buchneri at 5 × 10⁶ cfu/g FW. The results showed that L. plantarum significantly reduced pH and increased lactic acid (LA) content in S. perfoliatum silage compared with the control. L. buchneri, on the other hand, excelled in reducing ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) content and significantly increased acetic acid (AA) content. At 60 days of fermentation, the CP content was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the LP and LB groups than in the CK group (19.29 vs. 15.53 and 15.87). At 60 days of fermentation, the ivCPD was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the LB group than in the CK and LP groups (57.80 vs. 54.77 and 55.77). The 60-day silage process completely altered the bacterial community of S. perfoliatum silage. In the fresh samples, the dominant genera were Weissella_A and Pantoea_A. Weissella_A and Pantoea_A were gradually replaced by Lentilactobacillus and Lactiplantibacillus after S. perfoliatum ensiling. After 45 days of fermentation, L. buchneri became the dominant strain in CK, LP and LB groups. Inoculation with L. plantarum altered the succession of the bacterial community from 7 to 15 days of fermentation of S. perfoliatum. In contrast, inoculation with L. buchneri affected the succession of the bacterial community from 30 to 60 days of S. perfoliatum fermentation. In S. perfoliatum silage aged 7 to 60 days, the amino acid metabolic pathway in the LB group remained upregulated. The experimental results revealed that inoculation with L. buchneri had a stronger effect on S. perfoliatum silage than inoculation with L. plantarum. Thus, L. buchneri should be selected as an additive for S. perfoliatum silage fermentation in practical production. Full article

In recent years, land degradation has become a major challenge for human society, with negative impacts on the natural habitat, the economy, and human well-being. A variety of anthropogenic and natural factors are exacerbating the processes of land degradation in the era of climate change. Land restoration is an important and proactive strategy to combat this negative situation. Among the many approaches, the use of vegetation plays a central role in restoring soil health, preventing erosion, promoting biodiversity, and improving water retention. Therefore, the identification of new plant species that have the properties to contribute to land restoration is a necessity today. The plant proposed in this conceptual review for land restoration is the cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.). After a brief presentation of the agronomy, adaptability, and multiple uses of this plant species, its potential to provide important ecosystem services useful for land restoration to combat land degradation is herein emphasized. Recent studies have shown that this plant has great potential for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, Hg, and Co), especially in post-mining areas where pollution exceeds ecological limits. Most studies have shown that the accumulation of heavy metals is higher at the lamina stage. There is also some evidence that the cup plant thrives in flood-prone areas and contributes to their restoration. Cup plant cultivation can also reduce greenhouse gasses and increase the organic carbon content of the soil. Another method of land restoration related to the establishment of the cup plant in a given area is the suppression of weeds, particularly the prevention of the invasion of exotic weed species. Further research under different soil–climatic conditions is needed to investigate cup plant cultivation as a promising strategy for land restoration in a time when the climate is constantly changing. Full article

The study evaluates the accuracy of two FvCB model sub-models (I and II) in estimating the maximum electron transport rate for CO₂ assimilation (J_A-max) by comparing estimated values with observed maximum electron transport rates (J_f-max) in four C₃ species: Triticum aestivum L., Silphium perfoliatum L., Lolium perenne L., and Trifolium pratense L. Significant discrepancies were found between J_A-max estimates from sub-model I and observed J_f-max values for T. aestivum, S. perfoliatum, and T. pratense (p < 0.05), with sub-model I overestimating J_A-max for T. aestivum. Sub-model II consistently produced higher J_A-max estimates than sub-model I. This study highlights limitations in the FvCB sub-models, particularly their tendency to overestimate J_A-max when accounting for electron consumption by photorespiration (J_O), nitrate reduction (J_Nit), and the Mehler reaction (J_MAP). An alternative empirical model provided more accurate J_f-max estimates, suggesting the need for improved approaches to model photosynthetic electron transport. These findings have important implications for crop yield prediction, ecological modeling, and climate change adaptation strategies, emphasizing the need for more accurate estimation methods in plant physiology research. Full article

Peroxiredoxin (Prx) plays a role in maintaining the balance of intracellular reactive oxygen species. The peroxidase SiPrx gene from the Tianshan Snow Lotus (Saussurea involucrata) has been proved to significantly enhance the stress resistance of plants. In this study, the SiPrx gene was expressed heterogeneously in high-quality herbage Silphium perfoliatum L. (SP). After treatment with NaCl, the transgenic SP only exhibited partial leaf wilting, whereas the wild-type (WT) plants were on the brink of death. Simultaneously, physiological and biochemical assays indicated that under high-salt conditions, the content of malondialdehyde in the transgenic plants was significantly lower than that in the WT plants, while the activity of antioxidant enzymes was significantly higher than that in the WT plants. The expression of the SiPrx gene has been shown to significantly enhance the salt stress resistance of transgenic SP. Furthermore, after treatment at −10 °C for 48 h, the leaves of transgenic plants were able to maintain a certain morphological structure, whereas the WT plants were completely wilted. Physiological and biochemical index measurements indicated that all indicators in the transgenic plants were significantly better than those in the WT plants. Based on these findings, this study plans to overexpress the SiPrx gene extracted from Saussurea involucrata in Comfrey using the Agrobacterium-mediated method and then study its effects on the stress resistance of transgenic SP. The research results indicate that the SiPrx gene shows significant application potential in enhancing the cold resistance and salt tolerance of SP. This study provides a certain research basis and scientific evidence for the mining of stress resistance genes in Saussurea involucrata and the cultivation of new varieties of SP. Full article

Pollinator declines and expectations for more sustainable agriculture, including pasture-based enterprises, bring attention to strategies to enhance the habitat value of grazing lands. We evaluated native warm-season grass (NWSG) pastures with (FORB) and without (CONT) interseeded native forbs in 2021–2023. An analysis was conducted using R with the significance set at p ≤ 0.05. The grass appeared to be weakened predominantly by grazing management practices. Forb density and mass had an inverse relationship in seasons two and three. Total forage mass declined in response to increased grazing days and weakened stands. The forage nutritive compositions differed, with more stable, season-long crude protein and lower fiber concentrations in late-season FORB, which supported higher bodyweight gains and season-long average daily gain. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta; BESU), lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata; LCOR), and showy ticktrefoil (Desmodium canadensis; STTF) were the most abundant forbs, and BESU, LCOR, and purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea; PURC) produced long flowering windows. Cattle grazed STTF, cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum; CUPP), and oxeye sunflower (Helopsis helianthoides) the most. Under continuous stocking, a blend of BESU, LCOR, PURC, STTF, and CUPP produced acceptable cattle gains and provided pollinator resources, suggesting that this model may be a viable means to enhance the sustainability of pastures. Full article

The agricultural production of maize (Zea mays L.) increases the risk of water erosion. Perennial crops like cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) offer a sustainable alternative to produce biomass for biogas plants. The assessment of soil conservation measures requires calibrated soil erosion models that spatially identify soil erosion processes. These support decision-making by farmers and policymakers. Input parameters for the physically based soil erosion model EROSION 3D for cup plant cultivation were established in a field study. Rainfall simulation experiments were conducted to determine the model input parameter’s skinfactor and surface roughness. The results showed a reduction of soil erosion and higher infiltration rates for cup plant resulting in higher skinfactors of 11.5 in June and 0.75 post-harvest (cup plant) compared to 1.2 in June and 0.21 post-harvest (maize). With the extended parameter catalogue of EROSION 3D for cup plant cultivation model simulations were conducted for a rainfall event in June (64 mm). The sediment budget would have been reduced by 92.6% through the growth of cup plant in comparison to conventionally grown maize. Perennial cup plant can, therefore, contribute to achieving the targets outlined in the European Green Deal by reducing soil erosion and enhancing soil health. Full article

Silphium perfoliatum, an energy crop with a high fiber content but low concentrations of fermentable carbohydrates, presents challenges for complete fermentation in biogas production. To overcome this, a bioeconomic approach proposes the use of the fibers for paper and board production, which requires high-quality silage with minimal butyric acid, which affects the marketability of the fibers. This study aims to optimize the silaging process of Silphium perfoliatum by investigating the effects of harvest date, bacterial cultures and additives on fermentation results. Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of three harvest dates on fermentation acid composition, with a focus on increasing lactic acid production to inhibit butyric acid formation. Results indicate that an early harvest date (early September) is critical for achieving stable fermentation and minimizing ensiling losses. The addition of sugar-rich additives, such as syrup, was found to be essential, especially for later harvest dates. Despite these interventions, a late harvest (early November) consistently resulted in suboptimal fermentation. The results suggest that optimizing harvest timing and incorporating appropriate additives are key strategies for producing high quality silage and ensuring the suitability of Silphium perfoliatum fibers for industrial applications. Full article

In this experiment, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus buchneri were added individually or in combination to Silphium perfoliatum L. (SP) silage to investigate the effects of different fermentation types of lactobacilli on the fermentation quality, in vitro digestibility, and aerobic stability of SP-silage, with a view to providing a certain scientific basis and technical support for obtaining high-quality SP-silage in production. The experiment comprised a non-additive group (control), an L. plantarum group (LP), an L. buchneri group (LB), and an L. plantarum and L. buchneri mixed treatment group (LPLB). Samples were taken after 60 days of fermentation and analyzed for the fermentation quality, in vitro digestibility, and aerobic stability of the SP-silage. The results showed that the addition of LP, LB, and LPLB significantly reduced the pH and proportion of ammonia nitrogen to total nitrogen and significantly increased the lactic acid, in vitro dry matter digestibility, and in vitro crude protein digestibility in the SP-silage (p < 0.05). Compared to the control group, the dry matter and crude protein contents of the LB and LPLB groups were significantly increased, while the neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber contents were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). The SP-silage supplemented with LPLB had the highest dry matter and crude protein contents. The gross and digestible energies of the SP-silage in the LB and LPLB groups were significantly higher than those in the control and LP groups (p < 0.05). The aerobic stability of the SP-silage was significantly reduced by 24.14% in the LP group and increased by 58.62% and 34.48% in the LB and LPLB groups, respectively, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). It was shown that adding a combination of LP and LB resulted in the best fermentation quality, nutritional value, and in vitro digestibility of the SP-silage. LB was effective in improving the aerobic stability of SP-silage. Full article

The cup plant shows promise for biomass production and has significant potential for increasing biodiversity. This species primarily grows in habitats with high soil humidity. Precipitation deficits are common throughout Poland, especially in the central regions, necessitating crop irrigation. To design and manage resource-efficient irrigation for the cup plant, estimating water requirements and rainfall deficits is essential. This research aims to calculate water requirements, rainfall deficits, and irrigation demand and to assess their temporal and spatial variations for cup plants energy plantations from 1981 to 2020. The study, conducted using the Blaney–Criddle method, focused on the growing season (1 April–30 September) across four provinces in central Poland: Kuyavian–Pomeranian (18°01′ E, 53°08′ N), Greater Poland (16°50′ E, 52°25′ N), Masovian (20°59′ E, 52°09′ N), and Lodz (19°24′ E, 51°44′ N). The research revealed varying values of water requirements depending on the province, ranging from 445.9 mm in Lodz province to 465.2 mm in Kuyavian–Pomeranian province. The magnitude of water requirements also significantly depended on the month of the growing season, with the highest value occurring in July (from 103.6 mm in Lodz province to 108.9 mm in Kuyavian–Pomeranian province). Over the forty-year period, a notable upward trend in water requirements was observed across all provinces, ranging from 6.7 mm per decade to 12.5 mm per decade. On average, rainfall deficits during the growing season amounted to 125 mm in normal years, 237 mm in medium dry years, and 316 mm in very dry years. These findings are crucial for efficient irrigation management in central Poland, which, in line with sustainable agricultural development, will enable the maximization of yields of this plant while simultaneously conserving water resources. Full article

Perennial grains have been proposed as a soil-healthy alternative to annual grains. Intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium), whose seed is currently sold under the trade name Kernza^®, and silflower (Silphium integrifolium), which is in the early stages of domestication at The Land Institute in Central Kansas, lack characterization for their deficiency symptoms. This has complicated attempts to assess the causes of visible stress on plants in the field and the greenhouse. By growing Th. intermedium and S. integrifolium in a set of hydroponic solutions, each containing all but one selected nutrient—including nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and manganese—we were able to assess the effects of twelve different nutrient deficiencies across the two species. Visible symptoms were described and documented via photographs. The effects of the deficiencies on height, leaf biomass, root biomass, gas exchange and photosynthesis (silflower), and resin production (silflower) were measured. Calcium, nitrogen, and potassium were found to alter growth responses in intermediate wheatgrass; in silflower, growth, resin production, and photosynthetic traits were affected by many nutrient deficient treatments. Our results suggest that further work addressing how symptoms might look at the time of flowering, seed production, and in the field at different concentrations of key nutrients would help ongoing plant-breeding efforts. Full article

Insect pollinators are in population decline due to environmental and chemical stressors. Including native forbs in pastures could benefit grazers and pollinators; however, their forage and flowering characteristics are not fully documented. The objectives of our research were to evaluate 12 native forbs for persistence, forage mass, nutrient composition, and flowering patterns under repeated defoliation. Twelve species were planted in a small-plot experiment in 2018. Response variables were measured from 2020 to 2022. Annual (partridge pea, PPEA, Chamaecrista fasciculata) and biennial (black-eyed Susan, BESU, Rudbeckia hirta) species established high (p < 0.05) plant populations during the first season; however, the PPEA declined (p < 0.05) in forage mass during 2021. Tall species (Maximilian sunflower, MSUN, Helianthus maximiliani; cup plant, CUPP, Silphium perfoliatum) increased in forage mass, produced high-quality forage, and flowered during early fall. Lanceleaf coreopsis (LCOR, Coreopsis lanceolata) produced consistent (p > 0.05) forage mass and flowered in spring. The purple coneflower (PURC, Echinacea purpurea), Illinois bundleflower (ILBF, Desmanthus illinoensis), and oxeye sunflower (OSUN, Helopsis helianthoides) produced high-quality, consistent (p > 0.05) forage mass and flowered mid-season. Interseeding the BESU, ILBF, PPEA, LCOR, PURC, OSUN, and MSUN or CUPP would produce high-quality forage and floral resources throughout summer. Full article

For higher sustainability in biomass production the use of new perennial species can lead to sustainable progress in the energy production and manufacturing industry. During the last decades, two different species of Silphium were discussed for biomass production. However, some questions regarding their cultivation and different uses are still to be answered. In this study, two accessions of Silphium perfoliatum L. and Silphium integrifolium Michx. were investigated during the year of establishment, and the first generative year for the phenotypic characteristics and suitability for cultivation, under Central European field conditions. Intra- and interspecific comparisons were made with special attention to their growth kinetics. While cup plant (S. perfoliatum) is well known as a potential biomass crop in Europe, silflower (S. integrifolium) is still unknown. In intraspecific comparison, S. integrifolium shows a more uniform development than S perfoliatum. In parallel, the development of S. perfoliatum accessions is temporally shifted, so that the S. perfoliatum accessions differ in the length of their phases of generative growth and onset of senescence in comparison to S. integrifolium. To make these results applicable, an improvement proposal was made to the existing BBCH scale for S. perfoliatum. In addition, an adaptation was conducted on S. integrifolium. Full article

The purpose of this research is to capitalise on the potential of non-traditional plant species in the Republic of Moldova from the families Asteraceae (cup plant Silphium perfoliatum; cardoon Cynara cardunculus), Fabaceae (fodder galega Galega orientalis, sand sainfoin Onobrychis arenaria), Hydrophylaceae (phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia), Malvaceae (curly mallow Malva crispa; Virginia mallow Sida hermaphrodita) and Poaceae (perennial sorghum Sorghum almum, pearl millet Pennisetum glaucum). The study presents the research results on the seed properties (dimensional parameters, structure, friability, apparent specific mass, mass of 1000 seeds) and on the phytomass quality of the above-mentioned plants. The obtained results demonstrate that the criterion of dimensional proportionality K_dp, proposed in this paper, effectively reflects the structure of the seeds; the seeds of new crops (except phacelia) have high friability (angle of repose α ≤ 33° and angle of static friction on steel α₁ ≤ 27.8°, on wood α₁ = 34.7°, on enamelled surface α₁ = 30°). The natural fodder from the researched species is characterised by a crude protein content of 9.0–23.4%, dry matter digestibility of 56.0–66.5%, digestible energy load of 11.16–12.95 MJ kg⁻¹, metabolizable energy of 9.16–10.63 MJ kg⁻¹, net energy for lactation of 5.18–6.76 MJ kg⁻¹, and relative feed value RFV = 74–129. The biochemical biomethane potential from studied vegetal substrates is 297–353 l kg⁻¹ VS. Full article

Heavy metals like cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), resulting from anthropogenic activities, are elements with high persistence in nature, being able to accumulate in soils, water, and plants with significant impact to human and animal health. This study investigates the phytoremediation capacity of Silphium perfoliatum L. as a specific heavy metal hyperaccumulator and the effects of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb on some physiological and biochemical indices by growing plants under floating hydroponic systems in nutrient solutions under the presence of heavy metals. One-year-old plants of S. perfoliatum grown for 20 days in Hoagland solution with the addition of (ppm) Cu-400, Zn-1200, Cd-20, Pb-400, and Cu+Zn+Cd+Pb (400/1200/20/400) were investigated with respect to the control. The level of phytoremediation, manifested by the ability of heavy metal absorption and accumulation, was assessed. In addition, the impact of stress on the proline content, photosynthetic pigments, and enzymatic activity, as being key components of metabolism, was determined. The obtained results revealed a good absorption and selective accumulation capacity of S. perfoliatum plants for the studied heavy metals. Therefore, Cu and Zn mainly accumulate in the stems, Cd in the roots and stems, while Pb mainly accumulates in the roots. The proline tended to increase under stress conditions, depending on the pollutant and its concentration, with higher values in leaves and stems under the associated stress of the four metals and individually for Pb and Cd. In addition, the enzymatic activity recorded different values depending on the plant organ, its type, and the metal concentration on its substrate. The obtained results indicate a strong correlation between the metal type, concentration, and the mechanisms of absorption/accumulation of S. perfoliatum species, as well as the specific reactions of metabolic response. Full article