Eryngial: An α,ß-Unsaturated Fatty Aldehyde as the Major Phytotoxin in Spiny Coriander (Eryngium foetidum L.) Essential Oil.

Weed species many times possess allelochemicals as a part of their survival strategy. These metabolites can be potential targets in search of natural phytotoxins. This study aims to evaluate the phytotoxic ability of fatty aldehyde-rich essential oil from spiny coriander (Eryngium foetidum) leaves, also known as fitweed or spiritweed and to further identify the active phytotoxins. This oil dose-dependently inhibited the wheatgrass coleoptile and radicle growth in multiple bioassays with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) 30.6-56.7 µg/mL, while exhibiting a less pronounced effect on the germination (IC50 181.8 µg/mL). The phytotoxicity assessment of two oil constituents identified eryngial (trans-2-dodecenal), exclusively major fatty aldehydic constituent as the potent growth inhibitor with IC50 in the range 20.8-36.2 µg/mL during an early phase of wheatgrass emergence. Eryngial-inspired screening of eleven saturated fatty aldehydes and alcohols did not find a significantly higher phytotoxic potency. In an open vessel, eryngial as the supplementation in agar medium, dose-dependently inhibited the growth of pre-germinated seeds of one monocot (bermudagrass) and one dicot (green amaranth) weed species with IC50 in the range 23.8-65.4 µg/mL. The current study identified eryngial, an α,ß-unsaturated fatty aldehyde of coriander origin to be a promising phytotoxic candidate for weed control.

Eryngium billardieri extract affects cardiac gene expression of master regulators of cardiomyaopathy in rats with high fatdiet-induced insulin resistance.

BACKGROUND: For years, numerous studies have focused on identifying approaches to increase insulin sensitivity by modifying the signaling factors. In the present study, we examined the effects of Eryngium billardieri extract, as an anti-diabetic herbal medication, on the heart mRNA level of Akt serine/threonine kinase (Akt), mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and Forkhead box o1 (Foxo1) in rats with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance (IR). We also assessed the anti-diabetic effects of E. billardieri extract in rats with insulin resistance. METHODS: Twenty-seven male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. Nine rats were fed a normal diet (control group), and 18 rats were fed an HFD for 13 weeks (HFD group). To confirm the induction of insulin resistance, the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Then rats with IR were randomly divided into the following groups: the HFD group, which continued an HFD, and the group treated with E. billardieri extract, which received the extract at a concentration of 50 mg/kg for 30 days. On the 30th day, the animals were sacrificed and serum samples were collected for biochemistry analyses. Furthermore, the expression of Akt, mTOR, PPARγ, and Foxo1 was measured in heart tissue using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. RESULTS: Real-time PCR analyses revealed that an HFD can significantly decrease the expression level of Akt, mTOR, and PPARγ in the heart tissue. However, an HFD significantly increased the expression level of Foxo1 in the HFD group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, our data showed that the administration of E. billardieri extract significantly enhanced the mRNA levels of Akt, PPARγ, and mTOR in the heart tissue compared to the HFD group (P < 0.05), while it significantly decreased the Foxo1 mRNA levels (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Given that Akt, mTOR, PPARγ, and Foxo1 are critical factors in insulin resistance, the present study suggests that E. billardieri could probably be used as an alternative treatment for IR as a major feature of metabolic syndrome.

Antioxidant effects of silver nanoparticles obtained by green synthesis from the aqueous extract of Eryngium carlinae on the brain mitochondria of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia that affects practically all tissues and organs, being the brain one of most susceptible, due to overproduction of reactive oxygen species induced by diabetes. Eryngium carlinae is a plant used in traditional Mexican medicine to treat diabetes, which has already been experimentally shown have hypoglycemic, antioxidant and hypolipidemic properties. The green synthesis of nanoparticles is a technique that combines plant extracts with metallic nanoparticles, so that the nanoparticles reduce the absorption and distribution time of drugs or compounds, increasing their effectiveness. In this work, the antioxidant effects and mitochondrial function in the brain were evaluated, as well as the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect in serum of both the aqueous extract of the aerial part of E. carlinae, as well as its combination with silver nanoparticles of green synthesis. Administration with both, extract and the combination significantly decreased the production of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and restored the activity of superoxide dismutase 2, glutathione peroxidase, and electron transport chain complexes in brain, while that the extract-nanoparticle combination decreased blood glucose and triglyceride levels. The results obtained suggest that both treatments have oxidative activity and restore mitochondrial function in the brain of diabetic rats.

Anti-hyperglycemic effects of Eryngium billardierei F. Delaroche extract on insulin-resistance HepG2 cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance as a major problem is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study investigated the effect of Eryngium billardierei on insulin-resistance induced HepG2 cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: MTT method was used to evaluate the viability of HepG2 cells treated with various doses of E. billardierei extract. An insulin-resistance model was established in HepG2 cells. Next, MTT assay and Acridine orange staining were performed to investigate the viability of cells in the vicinity of different concentrations of insulin, pioglitazone, and E. billardierei extract in an insulin-resistance media. The glucose uptake test was performed to select the optimal insulin concentration. Expression levels of IR, G6Pase, and PEPCK genes were assessed by real-time RT-PCR. According to obtained data, E. billardierei at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mg/mL show no toxicity on cells. Furthermore, based on MTT assay and glucose uptake test 10-5 mol/L insulin was chosen as the model group to induce insulin-resistance in HepG2 cells for gene expression analysis. Finally, 1 mg/mL E. billardierei not only induced no cytotoxicity but also showed an increase in the expression of IR as well as a reduction in G6Pase and PEPCK level compared to the control and model groups. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained data indicated that 1 mg/mL E. billardierei might have an anti-insulin resistance effect on insulin-resistance HepG2 cells in vitro and could be a promising candidate with anti-hyperglycemic properties for diabetes treatments.

Ethanol Extract of Eryngium Foetidum Leaves Induces Mitochondrial Associated Apoptosis via ROS Generation in Human Gastric Cancer Cells.

Background: Eryngium foetidum has long been used as a food ingredient and folk medicine in tropical regions. The anticancer activity of EF extract and the mechanisms remains unclear. Herein, we prepared four solvent extracts of EF leaves, detected the cytotoxic effects, and explored the potential mechanism by which these extracts induce cell death. Methods: The anticancer activity of the EF extracts was measured by MTT, CCK-8 and BrdU assays. The cell cycle was evaluated by flow cytometry and western blot. Apoptotic events were investigated with Hoechst, Annexin V/PI assays and western blot. The mitochondrial membrane potential was monitored using JC-1 staining, and ROS production was assessed with immunofluorescence. Results: The ethanol extract of EF leaves exhibited the strongest cytotoxic effect against SGC-7901 cells. The EFE extract significantly inhibited the SGC-7901 cells viability, arrested the cell cycle, increased the numbers of apoptotic cells, caused the loss of MMP, increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and led to cytochrome c release, and triggered ROS production. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated for the first time that EFE extract induces mitochondrial associated apoptosis via ROS generation in SGC-7901 cells. Thus, EFE extract could be identified as a potential edible phytotherapy for the treatment of human gastric cancer.

Effect of Elicitation with (+)-Usnic Acid on Accumulation of Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids in Agitated Microshoots of Eryngium alpinum L.

The present work was aimed at studying the potential of elicitation on the accumulation of phenolic compounds in in vitro shoot cultures of Eryngium alpinum L., a protected plant from the Apiaceae family. The study examined the influence of (+)-usnic acid on the biomass growth as well as on the biosynthesis of the desired flavonoids and phenolic acids in the cultured microshoots. The phenolic compound content was determined by HPLC-DAD. The flavonoid of the highest concentration was isoquercetin, and the phenolic acids of the highest amount were rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, both in the non-elicited and elicited biomass. Isoquercetin accumulation was efficiently increased by a longer elicitation with a lower concentration of lichenic compound (107.17 ± 4.67 mg/100 g DW) or a shorter elicitation with a higher concentration of acid (127.54 ± 11.34 and 108.37 ± 12.1 mg/100 g DW). Rosmarinic acid production generally remained high in all elicited and non-elicited microshoots. The highest content of this acid was recorded at 24 h of elicitation with 3.125 µM usnic acid (512.69 ± 4.89 mg/100 g DW). The process of elicitation with (+)-usnic acid, a well-known lichenic compound with allelopathic nature, may therefore be an effective technique of enhancing phenolic compound accumulation in alpine eryngo microshoot biomass.

Antimicrobial and Light-Enhanced Antimicrobial Activities, Cytotoxicity and Chemical Variability of All Tunisian Eryngium Species.

This study was performed on all Eryngium species growing in Tunisia in order to evaluate their intra and interspecies variabilities and to investigate their biological activities. These species are used in traditional medicine, and literature about the phytochemical investigations of most of them is scarce. Antimicrobial and light-enhanced activities were tested against multiresistant microorganisms and extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing bacteria (ESBL). All studied species showed antimicrobial effect with several MIC values lower than 70 µg/ml. Tested Eryngium species have proven to be a promising source of photoactive compounds, while light-enhanced activity offers an alternative for the inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms which is currently subjected to a great interest. This is the first report of this activity in genus Eryngium. A significant improvement of antimicrobial activity with UV irradiation was observed, mainly for E. dichotomum, E. ilicifolium and E. triquetrum. Cytotoxicity, studied for the first time for the most species, was evaluated against cancer (J774) and non-cancer (WI38) human cell lines. Chemical composition of volatile compounds presented in the most active crude extracts (petroleum ether extracts) of the aerial parts was investigated using GC/MS analysis and was submitted to statistical analyses. It revealed their high content of bioactive phytochemicals, particularly oxygenated sesquiterpenes like spathulenol, ledol and α-bisabolol but also hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes such as ß-bisabolene and copaene, as well as polyacetylene derivatives such as falcarinol. Statistical analyses permitted to evaluate the interrelations between all Tunisian Eryngium species.

Study of a complex secondary metabolites with potent anti-radical activity by two dimensional TLC/HPLC coupled to electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and bioautography.

The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to electrospray ionization (ESI) octopole orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) was developed to separate secondary metabolites belonging to different groups of compounds with a wide range of polarity, i.e. phenolic acids, flavonoids, sesquiterpenes and others present in minute amounts, in a single run. Moreover, application of ESI-TOF-MS with a simple in source type of fragmentation and high mass accuracy measurements (around 2 ppm) in both positive and negative ionization modes with different and optimized fragmentor voltages, enabled the identification of each single compound based on proposed fragmentation patterns. In this way a total number of 14 compounds in methanolic and water-methanolic (1:1, v/v) extract from fruits of Eryngium amethystinum and 6 compounds in extract from fruits of E. planum have been identified for the first time. Additionally, two dimensional thin layer chromatography/high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray-ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TLC/HPLC/ESI-TOF-MS) system was developed for identification of compounds with the highest anti-radical activity revealed in TLC-DPPH bioauthographic test. This on-line procedure enables significant improvement in terms of efficiency and faster structural analysis of the potential antioxidant natural compounds directly in the plant extracts screened for bioactivity tests. This effect - directed analysis (EDA) method enables separation, identification and preliminary screening of plant extracts for anti-radical properties and can be easily adopted for other bioactivities.

Quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of glycerophospholipid molecular species in the two halophyte seed oils: Eryngium maritimum and Cakile maritima.

Future applications of lipids in clinical cohort studies demand detailed glycerophospholipid molecule information and the application of high-throughput lipidomics platforms. In the present work, a novel sensitive technique with high mass resolution and accuracy was applied to accomplish phospholipid analysis. Nanospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to separate and quantify the glycerophospholipid classes as well as molecular species in two halophyte seed oils from Cakile maritima and Eryngium maritimum. Precursor or neutral loss scans of their polar head groups allowed the detection of molecular species within particular glycerophospholipid classes. Phosphatidylcholine was found to be the most abundant glycerophospholipid in both seed oils whereas phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidic acid were less abundant. Phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylglycerol were minor glycerophospholipids. Several molecular species within each class were detected and the main molecular species (C36:4, C36:3, C36:2, 34:2 and C34:1) were quantitatively different between the two halophytes and the different glycerophospholipids.

Methyl jasmonate, yeast extract and sucrose stimulate phenolic acids accumulation in Eryngium planum L. shoot cultures.

Eryngium planum L. has been reported as a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine in Europe. The tissue cultures may be an alternative source of the biomass rich in desired bioactive compounds. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the biotechnological techniques on the selected phenolic acids accumulation in the agitated shoot cultures of E. planum. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of those compounds in 50% aqueous - methanolic extracts from the biomass were conducted by applying the HPLC method. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA), yeast extract (YE) and sucrose (Suc) stimulated accumulation of the phenolic acids: rosmarinic (RA), chlorogenic (CGA) and caffeic (CA) in in vitro shoot cultures. Cultivation of shoots in liquid MS media supplemented with 1.0 mg L(-1) 6-benzyladenine and 0.1 mg L(-1) indole-3-acetic acid in the presence of 100 µM MeJA for 48h was an optimum condition of elicitation and resulted in approximately 4.5-fold increased content of RA + CGA + CA in plant material compared to the control (19.795 mg g(-1) DW, 4.36 mg g(-1) DW, respectively). The results provide the first evidence that the selected phenolic acids can be synthesized in elicited shoot cultures of flat sea holly in higher amount than in untreated shoots.

Together but different: co-occurring dune plant species differ in their water- and nitrogen-use strategies.

Stress factors may severely constrain the range of plant physiological responses in harsh environments. Convergence of traits is expected in coastal dunes because of environmental filtering imposed by severe abiotic factors. However, the wide range of morphological and phenological traits exhibited by coexisting dune species suggests considerable variation in functional traits. We hypothesized that the constraints imposed by structural traits ought to translate into physiological differences. Five dominant species with different morphological traits, but coexisting in a homogeneous dune area in Northwest Spain, were selected for study. Soil characteristics and leaf functional traits were measured in April, June and November 2008. Integrated water-use efficiency (assessed by C isotope discrimination) and N acquisition and use strategies (estimated by N isotope composition) varied significantly among species and the differences changed over time. Species differences in specific leaf area, relative water content, leaf N and C:N ratio, also varied over time. The species differed in stomatal density but not in soil characteristics, with the exception of pH. Species differences in functional traits related to the use of resources suggest species niche segregation. Species-specific temporal effects on the use of these resources support temporal niche differentiation. Somewhat in contrast to the findings of previous studies on harsh environments, this study revealed a considerable level of functional diversity and complexity, suggesting that dune plant species have evolved species-specific strategies to survive by partitioning growth-limiting resources.

Composition and antiviral activity of the essential oils of Eryngium alpinum and E. amethystinum.

The chemical compositions of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts of Croatian Eryngium alpinum L. and E. amethystinum L. were characterized by GC-FID and GC/MS analyses. The main components identified were the sesquiterpene ß-caryophyllene (19.7%) in the oil of E. amethystinum and the oxygenated sesquiterpene caryophyllene oxide (21.6%) in the oil of E. alpinum. Overall, 32 and 35 constituents were detected in the essential oils of the aerial parts of E. alpinum and E. amethystinum, respectively, representing 92.4 and 93.1% of the total oil compositions. The essential oils of both Eryngium species were proved to reduce the number of lesions in the local host Chenopodium quinoa infected with cucumber mosaic virus and an associated satellite. This is the first investigation of antiphytoviral activity of essential oils of Eryngium species.

Secondary metabolites from Eryngium species.

From the seed and leaf extracts of Eryngium species, two new compounds were isolated, along with an aliphatic ketone and several known terpenoids reported from a member of Umbelliferae for the first time. Their structures were elucidated by chemical methods and spectroscopic analysis.