Evaluation of indigenous plants’ extracts for mosquitocidal activity against different stages of Culex quinquefasciatus say (Diptera: Culicidae)

Being vector of West Nile Virus and falariasis the control of Culex quinquefasciatus is likely to be essential. Synthetic insecticide treatment is looking most effective for vectors mosquito control. However, these products are toxic to the environment and non-target organisms. Consequently, ecofriendly control of vectors mosquito is needed. In this regard botanical insecticide is looking more fruitful. Therefore, the present research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of methanolic extract and various fractions, including, n-hexane, ethyl-acetate, chloroform, and aqueous fraction, obtained from methanolic extract of Ailanthus altissima, Artemisia scoparia, and Justicia adhatoda using separating funnel against larval, pupal, and adult stages of Culex quinquefasciatus. The larvae and pupae of Culex quinquefasciatus were exposed to various concentrations (31.25-1000 ppm) of methanolic extract and its fractions for 24 hours of exposure period. For knock-down bioassay (filter paper impregnation bioassay) different concentration of the methanolic extract and its various fractions (i.e. 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 and 1mg/mL) were applied for 1 hour exposure period. The results were statistically analysed using standard deviation, probit analysis, and linear regression. The R2 values of larvae, pupae, and adult range from 0.4 to 0.99. The values of LC50 (concentration causing 50% mortality) for late 3rd instar larvae after 24 hours exposure period range from 93-1856.7 ppm, while LC90 values range from 424 -7635.5ppm. The values of LC50for pupae range form 1326.7-6818.4ppm and and values of LC90 range from 3667.3-17427.9ppm, respectively. The KDT50 range from 0.30 to 2.8% and KDT90 values range from1.2 to 110.8%, respectively. In conclusion, Justicia adhatoda may be effective for controlling populations of vector mosquito.

A fat-promoting plant extract from Artemisia scoparia exerts geroprotective effects on C. elegans health & lifespan

Like other biological processes, aging is not random, but subject to molecular control. Natural products that act on conserved metabolic pathways may provide entry points to extend animal lifespan and promote healthy aging. Here, we show that a botanical extract from Artemisia scoparia (SCO), which promotes fat storage and metabolic resiliency in mice, exerts pro-longevity effects on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, even when administered in mid-adulthood. SCO-treated worms exhibit significantly higher levels of fat compared to controls but live up to 40% longer, with signs of improved stress resistance in late age. Molecularly, SCO links elevated fat to enhanced longevity and stress resistance via activation of the transcription factor DAF-16/FOXO and upregulation of DAF-16-targeted Δ9 desaturases, lifespan-extending metabolic enzymes that oversee the biosynthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids. These findings identify SCO as a natural product that can modify fat regulation for longevity benefit and add to growing evidence indicating that elevated fat can be pro-longevity in some circumstances.

Santamarine Shows Anti-Photoaging Properties via Inhibition of MAPK/AP-1 and Stimulation of TGF-β/Smad Signaling in UVA-Irradiated HDFs

Chronic UVA exposure results in elevated reactive oxygen species in skin which leads to photoaging characterized as upregulated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and loss of collagen. Therefore, natural antioxidants are hailed as promising agents to be utilized against photoaging. In the current study, reynosin and santamarine, two known sesquiterpene lactones isolated from Artemisia scoparia, were analyzed for their anti-photoaging properties in UVA-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Results showed that UVA irradiation (8 J/cm2) upregulated the MMP-1 secretion and expression, and suppressed collagen production, which were significantly reverted by santamarine treatment (10 µM). Although both reynosin and santamarine exhibited ROS scavenging abilities, reynosin failed to significantly diminish UVA-stimulated MMP-1 release. UVA-irradiated HDFs showed increased collagen production when treated with santamarine. As a mechanism to suppress MMP-1, santamarine significantly suppressed the UVA-induced phosphorylation of p38 and JNK and nuclear translocation of p-c-Fos and p-c-Jun. Santamarine promoted collagen I production via relieving the UVA-induced suppression on TGF-β and its downstream activator Smad2/3 complex. Antioxidant properties of santamarine were also shown to arise from stimulating Nrf2-dependent expression of antioxidant enzymes SOD-1 and HO-1 in UVA-irradiated HDFs. In conclusion, santamarine was found to be a promising natural antioxidant with anti-photoaging properties against UVA-induced damages in HDFs.

Effects of intercropping on growth, elemental composition and antioxidant activity of Artemisia scoparia and Raphanus sativus under lead supply

Artemisia species and radish demonstrate intensive allelopathic properties and high ability to hyperaccumulate heavy metals, but their interaction has not been studied up to date. In a pot experiment, the relationship between wormwood (A. scoparia L.) and radish grown individually or intercropped, without and with Pb(NO3)2 supply, was investigated. The intercropping had significant effects in both species, as a consequence of metal allelopathy. Radish showed decrease of root biomass (1.75- fold), Fe, Mn and Zn content (2-fold), Cu level (5.4-fold), and a 1.59-fold Pb increase in the leaves. In wormwood, a 1.75-fold increase of root biomass, as well as a 7.2- and 2.8-fold increase of root and leaf Fe content, respectively, were recorded. A. scoparia, the most Pb tolerant out of the 11 Artemisia species investigated, accumulated 6.6 and 9.9 times more Pb in leaves and roots respectively, compared to radish, under Pb supply which encouraged the growth of both plants. The intercropping under Pb supply induced a three-fold decrease of radish root biomass and 7.8-fold decrease of Pb content. Changes in plant antioxidant activity were recorded only under Pb supply and were not related to radish-wormwood interaction: the leaf phenolics content and antioxidant activity displayed 1.4- and 2- fold increases, respectively, in radish, and 1.4- and 1.6-fold decreases in wormwood. Synchronous changes in elemental composition of wormwood and radish in intercropping conditions, without or under Pb supply, suggest the significance of this phenomenon in plants interaction and arise high prospects of A. scoparia utilization to tackle weeds and soil Pb pollution