Iridoid analysis by different analytical techniques and its role as pharmacologic agents- A review

Iridoids are monoterpenoids classed with a cyclopentanopyran framework and are detected in various plants and certain special animals. In plants, it exists as glycosides, generally bound to glucose. Around six hundred iridoid glycosides are available in fifty-seven families of plants. Iridoids are abundant in dicotyledonous plants belonging to the Diervillaceae, Loganiaceae, Apocynaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Lamiaceae, and Rubiaceae families. Analytical techniques like chromatography, NMR, UPLC, etc., are used for the identification, separation, and estimation of either herbal extracts or formulations of iridoids. Advanced analytical techniques are very useful for precise and accurate quantification of active ingredients that are responsible for therapeutic effects, and they can be achieved by a developed and validated robust analytical method. Iridoids have shown diverse pharmacological properties. Some of the important activities are immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and cardio-protective effects. The other important activities are antimicrobial, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anticancer, choleretic, antispasmodic, and purgative activities attributed to iridoids. There were not many efforts made in the past to gather and review the literature on various aspects of iridoids. This review article has collected a myriad of literature on old and advanced analytical techniques, including method development and validation of methods for quantitative and qualitative analysis of iridoids. The review also emphasizes the role of iridoids in the prevention of various ailments.

Annotated checklist of the flora of Sverdlovsk Region. Part VII: Dicotyledonous plants (Asteraceae, Cichorioideae)

This article for the first time presents a detailed checklist of the flora of dicotyledonous plants (Asteraceae, Cichorioideae) of Sverdlovsk Region, based on the long-term filed research, a critical study of herbarium materials and literature sources. Part VII of the checklist includes 91 species and 6 interspecific hybrids of wild plants. The information on all the species is given on the occurrence in botanical-geographical districts and administrative districts of the region. In the checklist for species bioecological features are indicated (life form according to K. Raunkiaer and I. G. Serebryakov, coenotic groups and ecological groups in relation to moistning), zonal and longitudinal arealogic group, economic significance. As for the alien species, origin, migration thecnique, and level of naturalization achieved in the region are additionally indicated. Species that need protection in the region are noted.

Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus Infection in a Monocotyledonous Weed (Eleusine indica)

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is one of the most important plant viruses belonging to the genus Begomovirus of the family Geminiviridae. To identify natural weed hosts that could act as reservoirs of TYLCV, 100 samples were collected at a TYLCV-affected tomato farm in Iksan from 2013 to 2014. The sample weeds were identified as belonging to 40 species from 18 families. TYLCV was detected in 57 samples belonging to 28 species through polymerase chain reaction using root samples including five species (Eleusine indica, Digitaria ciliaris, Echinochloa crus-galli, Panicum dichotomiflorum, and Setaria faberi) from the family Poaceae. Whitefly Bemisia tabaci-mediated TYLCV transmission from TYLCV-infected E. indica plants to healthy tomatoes was confirmed, and inoculated tomatoes showed typical symptoms, such as leaf curling and yellowing. In addition, TYLCV was detected in leaf and root samples of E. indica plants inoculated by both whitefly-mediated transmission using TYLCV-viruliferous whitefly and agro-inoculation using a TYLCV infectious clone. The majority of mastreviruses infect monocotyledonous plants, but there have also been reports of mastreviruses that can infect dicotyledonous plants, such as the chickpea chlorotic dwarf virus. No exception was reported among begomoviruses known as infecting dicots only. This is the first report of TYLCV as a member of the genus Begomovirus infecting monocotyledonous plants.

Use of pseudo cereals in food production

Pseudo-cereals grains, edible seeds, which belong to dicotyledonous plants, are becoming in demand in the human diet as gluten-free grains with excellent nutritional and nutraceutical value. Quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat are the most important pseudo-cereals. Recently, pseudo-cereals have attracted attention because of their high nutritional value of proteins, and their storage proteins are not toxic to celiac patients. In addition, seeds are an important source of dietary fibre and phenols, which are beneficial to health. Research has shown the suitability of amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat flour as a substitute for grain flour in the production of gluten-free biscuits. The article represents data on the chemical and functional composition of amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat and considers the production possibility of gluten-free biscuits using an experimental mixture design to optimize a ternary mixture of amaranth, quinoa, and buckwheat flour in terms of colour parameters, specific volume and hardness. Nutritional and sensory aspects of the optimized formulation were also assessed. The resulting biscuits based on the flour blend of pseudo-cereals were characterized as a product rich in dietary fibre, a good source of essential amino acids, linolenic acid and minerals, with good sensory acceptability. The data presented testify to the possibility of using the flour blend of amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat as an alternative ingredient for gluten-free biscuits.

The microscopic diagnostic signs of some Fabaceae L. genus representatives. Message ІІ. Plant conducting system

The world plant products market is expanded rapidly and trade in them tends to grow by 15–25 % annually. The number of reports is increased proportionally about accidental contamination or deliberate, economically motivated falsification of plant raw materials. 27 % of the nearly 6.000 herbal preparations that are sold in 37 countries have contained undeclared contaminants, substitutes, or other components, according to the literature. We have conducted a plant conduction system microscopic analysis of the individual members’ genus Clover (Trifoliae L.), Fabaceae L. to identify morphoanatomical characteristics. Clover has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, choleretic, diaphoretic, diuretic, hemostatic, expectorant, astringent properties and is used in many diseases. Aim. The finding common features and those that differ and can be used as diagnostic during studying the conducting system structure of genus Trifolium L. leaves and stems. Materials and methods. Plant material (herb) from Trifolium pratense L., T. incarnatum L., T. repens L. and T. fragiferum L. was harvested during the active flowering period – (May – June) and was dried in a well-ventilated place. Leaves and stems preparations were pre-boiled in 5 % sodium hydroxide water solution and fixed in chloral hydrate solution. Cross-sections were made with a microtome. The BIOLAM LOMO light microscope (Russia) and OLYMPUS SH-21 digital camera were used to record the data about identify the conducting apparatus of the plant’s leaf, petiole, and stem. Results. It has been examined the central vein structure of T. pratense L. and T. fragiferum L. leaves, it was determined that the conductive system is covered with a crystalline coating and there is one closed collateral bundle in the center, which is not typical for dicotyledonous plants. The petioles of T. incarnatum L., T. fragiferum L., and T. repens L. in cross-section are several different shapes. There are kidney-shaped and round. The conducting apparatus T. incarnatum L. and T. repens L. have arranged in a circle, closed and collateral. The leafstalk structure type of T. fragiferum L. is bunchles. It contradicts too the information about the structure conducting system of dicotyledonous plants. The stem’s conducting bundles are collateral and open. Conclusions. We have paid attention to the structural peculiarities of the conductive system of the central vein and petiole of objects for study: Trifolium pratense L., T. incarnatum L., T. repens L., and T. fragiferum L. when searching for differentiating features in some members of the genus Trifoliae L. in pharmacognostic analysis. The Dicotyledonae representatives are not characteristic of the closed type of conductive bundles, which we observed during microscopic examination.

Ecotoxicological assessment of the impact of pavement material on roadside soil pollution

The ecological safety of the use of nepheline sludge in the construction of the lower foundations of pavements is shown. Using electron microscopy and chemical analysis, the area of influence of nepheline sludge used in the construction of road pavements on the roadside soil, which is limited by a distance of 10 m, was determined. Studies have been carried out on ecotoxicity using monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants and soil infusories of the genus Colpoda steinii. results, which confirmed the possibility of using nepheline sludge as a component of pavement in the form of nepheline-crushed stone mixture. Keywords: NEPHELINE SLAM, PAVEMENT MATERIAL, ECOLOGY, TOXICITY, ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY

Wetting of phase-separated droplets on plant vacuole membranes leads to a competition between tonoplast budding and nanotube formation

Seeds of dicotyledonous plants store proteins in dedicated membrane-bounded organelles called protein storage vacuoles (PSVs). Formed during seed development through morphological and functional reconfiguration of lytic vacuoles in embryos [M. Feeney et al., Plant Physiol. 177, 241–254 (2018)], PSVs undergo division during the later stages of seed maturation. Here, we study the biophysical mechanism of PSV morphogenesis in vivo, discovering that micrometer-sized liquid droplets containing storage proteins form within the vacuolar lumen through phase separation and wet the tonoplast (vacuolar membrane). We identify distinct tonoplast shapes that arise in response to membrane wetting by droplets and derive a simple theoretical model that conceptualizes these geometries. Conditions of low membrane spontaneous curvature and moderate contact angle (i.e., wettability) favor droplet-induced membrane budding, thereby likely serving to generate multiple, physically separated PSVs in seeds. In contrast, high membrane spontaneous curvature and strong wettability promote an intricate and previously unreported membrane nanotube network that forms at the droplet interface, allowing molecule exchange between droplets and the vacuolar interior. Furthermore, our model predicts that with decreasing wettability, this nanotube structure transitions to a regime with bud and nanotube coexistence, which we confirmed in vitro. As such, we identify intracellular wetting [J. Agudo-Canalejo et al., Nature 591, 142–146 (2021)] as the mechanism underlying PSV morphogenesis and provide evidence suggesting that interconvertible membrane wetting morphologies play a role in the organization of liquid phases in cells.

Transcript Profiling of MIKCc MADS-Box Genes Reveals Conserved and Novel Roles in Barley Inflorescence Development

MADS-box genes have a wide range of functions in plant reproductive development and grain production. The ABCDE model of floral organ development shows that MADS-box genes are central players in these events in dicotyledonous plants but the applicability of this model remains largely unknown in many grass crops. Here, we show that transcript analysis of all MIKCc MADS-box genes through barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) inflorescence development reveals co-expression groups that can be linked to developmental events. Thirty-four MIKCc MADS-box genes were identified in the barley genome and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) scanning of 22,626 barley varieties revealed that the natural variation in the coding regions of these genes is low and the sequences have been extremely conserved during barley domestication. More detailed transcript analysis showed that MADS-box genes are generally expressed at key inflorescence developmental phases and across various floral organs in barley, as predicted by the ABCDE model. However, expression patterns of some MADS genes, for example HvMADS58 (AGAMOUS subfamily) and HvMADS34 (SEPALLATA subfamily), clearly deviate from predicted patterns. This places them outside the scope of the classical ABCDE model of floral development and demonstrates that the central tenet of antagonism between A- and C-class gene expression in the ABC model of other plants does not occur in barley. Co-expression across three correlation sets showed that specifically grouped members of the barley MIKCc MADS-box genes are likely to be involved in developmental events driving inflorescence meristem initiation, floral meristem identity and floral organ determination. Based on these observations, we propose a potential floral ABCDE working model in barley, where the classic model is generally upheld, but that also provides new insights into the role of MIKCc MADS-box genes in the developing barley inflorescence.

Recent developments and knowledge in pseudocereals including technological aspects

Amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa, and less known, canihua are the most important pseudocereals. Their high nutritional value is well recognized and they are increasingly used for the development of a wide range of starch-based foods, which has been fostered by intensified research data performed in recent years. In addition to health driven motivations, also environmental aspects like the ongoing climate change are an important stimulus to increase agricultural biodiversity again. As pseudocereals are botanically classified as dicotyledonous plants their chemical, physical and processing properties differ significantly from the monocotyledonous cereals. Most important factors that need to be addressed for processing is their smaller seed kernel size, their specific starch structure and granule architecture, their gluten-free protein, but also their dietary fibre and secondary plant metabolites composition. This review gives a condensed overview of the recent developments and gained knowledge with special attention to the technological and food processing aspects of these pseudocereals.

Variation of foliar silicon concentrations in temperate forbs: effects of soil silicon, phylogeny and habitat

Silicon (Si) accumulation is known to alleviate various biotic and abiotic stressors in plants with potential ecological consequences. However, for dicotyledonous plants our understanding of Si variation remains limited. We conducted a comparative experimental study to investigate (1) interspecific variation of foliar Si concentrations across 37 dicotyledonous forbs of temperate grasslands, (2) intraspecific variation in foliar Si concentration in response to soil Si availability, the influence of (3) phylogenetic relatedness, and (4) habitat association to moisture. Foliar Si differed markedly (approx. 70-fold) across the investigated forbs, with some species exhibiting Si accumulation similar to grasses. Foliar Si increased with soil Si availability, but the response varied across species: species with higher Si accumulation capacity showed a stronger response, indicating that they did not actively upregulate Si uptake under low soil Si availability. Foliar Si showed a pronounced phylogenetic signal, i.e., closely related species exhibited more similar foliar Si concentrations than distantly related species. Significant differences in foliar Si concentration within closely related species pairs nevertheless support that active Si uptake and associated high Si concentrations has evolved multiple times in forbs. Foliar Si was not higher in species associated with drier habitats, implying that in dicotyledonous forbs of temperate grasslands high foliar Si is not an adaptive trait to withstand drought. Our results demonstrated considerable inter- and intraspecific variation in foliar Si concentration in temperate forbs. This variation should have pervasive, but so far understudied, ecological consequences for community composition and functioning of temperate grasslands under land-use and climate change.