Phytochemical Analysis and Biological Activities of Ripe Fruits of Mistletoe (Psittacanthus calyculatus).

Psittacanthus calyculatus is a hemiparasitic plant of an arboreal species (e.g., forest, fruit trees). Its foliage has therapeutic potential; however, little is known about its fruits. In this study, the phytochemical profile and biological activities of P. calyculatus fruits hosted by Prosopis laevigata and Quercus deserticola were evaluated. The fruits of P. calyculatus from P. laevigata showed the highest content of total phenols (71.396 ± 0.676 mg GAE/g DW). The highest content of flavonoids and anthocyanins was presented in those from Q. deserticola (14.232 ± 0.772 mg QE/g DW; 2.431 ± 0.020 mg C3GE/g DW). The anthocyanin cyanidin-3-glucoside was detected and quantified via high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) (306.682 ± 11.804 mg C3GE/g DW). Acidified extracts from host P. laevigata showed the highest antioxidant activity via ABTS•+ (2,2'azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazdin-6-sulfonic acid) (214.810 ± 0.0802 mg TE/g DW). Fruit extracts with absolute ethanol from the P. laevigata host showed the highest antihypertensive activity (92 ± 3.054% inhibition of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)). Fruit extracts from both hosts showed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 6.25 mg/mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 12.5 mg/mL against Escherichia coli, Salmonella choleraesuis and Shigella flexneri. Interestingly, a significant host effect was found. P. calyculatus fruits extract could be used therapeutically. However, further confirmation experiments should be carried out.

Ethnobotany, Biological Activities and Phytochemical Compounds of Some Species of the Genus Eryngium (Apiaceae), from the Central-Western Region of Mexico.

There are approximately 250 species of Eryngium L. distributed throughout the world, with North America and South America being centers of diversity on this continent. In the central-western region of Mexico there may be around 28 species of this genus. Some Eryngium species are cultivated as leafy vegetables, ornamental, and medicinal plants. In traditional medicine they are used to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, among others. This review addresses the phytochemistry and biological activities, as well as traditional uses, distribution, and characteristics of the eight species of Eryngium reported as medicinal in the central-western region of Mexico: E. cymosum, E. longifolium, E. fluitans (or mexicanum), E. beecheyanum, E. carlinae, E. comosum, E. heterophyllum, and E. nasturtiifolium. The extracts of the different Eryngium spp. have shown biological activities such as hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, renoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant, among others. E. carlinae is the most studied species, and phytochemical analyses, performed mainly by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), have shown its content of terpenoids, fatty acids, organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, sterols, saccharides, polyalcohols, and aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes. According to the results of this review on Eryngium spp., they constitute a relevant alternative as a source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical, food, and other industries. However, there is a lot of research to be conducted regarding phytochemistry, biological activities, cultivation, and propagation, in those species with few or no reports.

Long-run bacteria-phage coexistence dynamics under natural habitat conditions in an environmental biotechnology system.

Bacterial viruses are widespread and abundant across natural and engineered habitats. They influence ecosystem functioning through interactions with their hosts. Laboratory studies of phage-host pairs have advanced our understanding of phenotypic and genetic diversification in bacteria and phages. However, the dynamics of phage-host interactions have been seldom recorded in complex natural environments. We conducted an observational metagenomic study of the dynamics of interaction between Gordonia and their phages using a three-year data series of samples collected from a full-scale wastewater treatment plant. The aim was to obtain a comprehensive picture of the coevolution dynamics in naturally evolving populations at relatively high time resolution. Coevolution was followed by monitoring changes over time in the CRISPR loci of Gordonia metagenome-assembled genome, and reciprocal changes in the viral genome. Genome-wide analysis indicated low strain variability of Gordonia, and almost clonal conservation of the trailer end of the CRISPR loci. Incorporation of newer spacers gave rise to multiple coexisting bacterial populations. The host population carrying a shorter CRISPR locus that contain only ancestral spacers, which has not acquired newer spacers against the coexisting phages, accounted for more than half of the total host abundance in the majority of samples. Phages genome co-evolved by introducing directional changes, with no preference for mutations within the protospacer and PAM regions. Metagenomic reconstruction of time-resolved variants of host and viral genomes revealed how the complexity at the population level has important consequences for bacteria-phage coexistence.