Rapid characterization of non-volatile phenolic compounds reveals the reliable chemical markers for authentication of traditional Chinese medicine Xiang-ru among confusing Elsholtzia species.

The aerial parts of Mosla chinensis Maxim. and Mosla chinensis cv. 'Jiangxiangru' (MCJ) are widely utilized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), known collectively as Xiang-ru. However, due to clinical effectiveness concerns and frequent misidentification, the original plants have increasingly been substituted by various species within the genera Elsholtzia and Mosla. The challenge in distinguishing between these genera arises from their similar morphological and metabolic profiles. To address this issue, our study introduced a rapid method for metabolic characterization, employing high-resolution mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Through detailed biosynthetic and chemometric analyses, we pinpointed five phenolic compounds-salviaflaside, cynaroside, scutellarein-7-O-D-glucoside, rutin, and vicenin-2-among 203 identified compounds, as reliable chemical markers for distinguishing Xiang-ru from closely related Elsholtzia species. This methodology holds promise for broad application in the analysis of plant aerial parts, especially in verifying the authenticity of aromatic traditional medicinal plants. Our findings underscore the importance of non-volatile compounds as dependable chemical markers in the authentication process of aromatic traditional medicinal plants.

DNA barcoding of some medicinally important plant species of Lamiaceae family in India.

Several species of the Lamiaceae family are the primary source of bioactive aromatic oils and secondary metabolites, having broader applications in the cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food, confectionery and liquor industries. Due to the scarcity of raw materials and high costs of this family's economically vital species, its products often adulterated to cater to the market's high demand. The present study provides a DNA based approach for identifying different species of this family. Henceforth, the performance of three already proposed barcode loci (matK, trnH-psbA and trnL) was examined for their PCR amplification and species recognition efficacy on various Lamiaceae species and cultivars using three different approaches such as pairwise genetic distance method, BLASTn and phylogenetic tree based on maximum likelihood (ML) analysis. Results illustrate that among all the DNA barcoding loci, matK locus can accurately and efficiently distinguish all the studied species followed by trnH-psbA and trnL. Present investigation may help diminish the illegal trade and events of adulteration of medicinally important plants species in genus Mentha, Ocimum and Plectranthus. This investigation will also help fulfil the scarcity of sequences of barcode loci of these species in the NCBI database. Apart from providing a molecular level reference for identifying processed herbal products, this technique also offers a convenient method for species identification and germplasm conservation of the Lamiaceae family.

An updated tribal classification of Lamiaceae based on plastome phylogenomics.

BACKGROUND: A robust molecular phylogeny is fundamental for developing a stable classification and providing a solid framework to understand patterns of diversification, historical biogeography, and character evolution. As the sixth largest angiosperm family, Lamiaceae, or the mint family, consitutes a major source of aromatic oil, wood, ornamentals, and culinary and medicinal herbs, making it an exceptionally important group ecologically, ethnobotanically, and floristically. The lack of a reliable phylogenetic framework for this family has thus far hindered broad-scale biogeographic studies and our comprehension of diversification. Although significant progress has been made towards clarifying Lamiaceae relationships during the past three decades, the resolution of a phylogenetic backbone at the tribal level has remained one of the greatest challenges due to limited availability of genetic data. RESULTS: We performed phylogenetic analyses of Lamiaceae to infer relationships at the tribal level using 79 protein-coding plastid genes from 175 accessions representing 170 taxa, 79 genera, and all 12 subfamilies. Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses yielded a more robust phylogenetic hypothesis relative to previous studies and supported the monophyly of all 12 subfamilies, and a classification for 22 tribes, three of which are newly recognized in this study. As a consequence, we propose an updated phylogenetically informed tribal classification for Lamiaceae that is supplemented with a detailed summary of taxonomic history, generic and species diversity, morphology, synapomorphies, and distribution for each subfamily and tribe. CONCLUSIONS: Increased taxon sampling conjoined with phylogenetic analyses based on plastome sequences has provided robust support at both deep and shallow nodes and offers new insights into the phylogenetic relationships among tribes and subfamilies of Lamiaceae. This robust phylogenetic backbone of Lamiaceae will serve as a framework for future studies on mint classification, biogeography, character evolution, and diversification.

Gmelina arborea- an indigenous timber species of India with high medicinal value: A review on its pharmacology, pharmacognosy and phytochemistry.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Gmelina arborea Roxb.ex Smith, a fast-growing deciduous tree belongs to the family Lamiaceae, and is an important plantation species in many tropical areas around the world. The species is naturally distributed in semi-deciduous forests in tropical/subtropical regions of South East Asia. The tree is also an important medicinal plant in the Indian Systems of Medicine. The whole plant is used in medicine. It is astringent, bitter, digestive, cardiotonic, diuretic, laxative and pulmonary and nervine tonic. It improves digestion, memory, helps overcome giddiness and is useful in burning sensation, fever, thirst, emaciation, heart diseases, nervous disorders and piles. The roots are acrid, bitter-sweet in taste, stomachic, tonic, laxative, galactagogue and antihelmintic. The flowers are sweet, refrigerant, bitter, astringent and acrid, and are used in treating leprosy and skin diseases. The fruits are acrid, sour, sweet, refrigerant, bitter, astringent, aphrodisiac, trichogenous, alterant and tonic. Fruits are edible and also used for promoting hair growth and in treating anaemia, leprosy, ulcers, constipation, leucorrhoea and colitis. The leaves are a good fodder also. The major bioactive compounds extracted from different parts of G. arborea are arboreal, verbascoside, tyrosol, iridoids, phenylpropanoid glycoside, premnazole, martynoside, iridoid glycosides, balanophonin, gmelinol, isoarboreol apigenin, umbelliferone etc. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review provides an insight into the medicinal aspects of G. arborea. It provides the latest information on phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and traditional uses of G.arborea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information on G. arborea was gathered from various sources like textbooks, literature, databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley, Springer, Taylor and Francis, Scopus, Inflibnet, Sci-Finder and Google Scholar. RESULTS: Sixty-nine phytochemicals which include lignans, acylated iridoid glycosides, acylated rhamnopyranoses, flavonoids, flavones, flavone glycosides have been isolated. Many of them have been characterized for their pharmacological activity. Several researchers have identified bioactive phytochemicals like luteolin, iridoid alkaloids from the leaves, hentriacontanol and lignans such as arboreol, isoarboreol, arborone, gmelanone, gummadiol from the heartwood, flavon glycosides in roots. The extracts are reported to have wound-healing and antidiarrheal properties. Various studies demonstrated that G.arborea and its constituents possess several pharmacological activities like anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, analgesic, anti-nociceptive, anticancer and wound healing activities. CONCLUSION: G. arborea is a valuable medicinal plant used traditionally in the Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM - Ayurveda and Unani) to treat a wide variety of ailments. These phytochemicals are highly bioactive and exhibit various pharmacological activities. However, pharmacological activities of many compounds which have been identified, are yet to be understood.

Taxonomic study of subfamily Nepetoideae (Lamiaceae) by polynomorphological approach.

The present study is insight into pollen morphology for characterizing species and their utility in the taxonomic separation of certain taxa of subfamily Nepetoideae (Lamiaceae) from Pakistan. The pollen micromorphology of 11 species of the Nepetoideae was analyzed and documented using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for both qualitative and quantitative characteristics. Most species have hexazonocolpate pollen grains but trizonocolpate and tetrazonocolpate pollen with circular and oval amb were also rarely observed in Mentha spicata. The basic pollen shape in most of the studied species was subspheroidal but prolate grains were also observed in M. spicata, S. coccinea, and S. plebeia. The exine sculpturing of Nepetoideae pollen was taxonomically very informative particularly at subfamily level. Observations of exine sculpturing with SEM revealed various types of pollen grains: reticulate, bireticulate, microreticulate, perforate, aerolate, and gammate. The bireticulate type further subdivided into three subtypes based on the number of secondary lumina in each primary lumen and is characterized by varying characteristics of the secondary reticulum and primary muri. A significant variation was observed in colpus surface ornamentation. The maximum polar diameter was found in O. americanum (58 ± 5.8 µm) and the maximum equatorial diameter observed in O. basilicum (50.25 ± 1.37 µm). Pollen features of the studied species were discussed and compared based on the current taxonomical concepts. The results showed that pollen traits of the subfamily Nepetoideae was found significant to classify the taxa. Furthermore, pollen features provide additional evidence to distinguish macromorphologically similar taxa from each other.

Authentication of herbal drug Tukhm-e-balango (Lallemantia royleana Benth.) using microscopic, pharmacognostic, and phytochemical characterization.

The study is aimed to provide a comprehensive account on authentication of herbal drug named as Tukhm-e-balango (Lallemantia royleana Benth.) from the seeds of Ocimum basilicum by using microscopic, pharmacognostic, and phytochemical characterization. The crude medicinal plants and their parts are often adulterated or substituted in market due to improper identification by the consumers while among herbal plant sellers, taxonomic confusion is caused due to morphological similarities of the plant parts and lack of a standard identification system.In microscopy, both herbarium and fresh specimens were studied using qualitative and quantitative morphological characteristics of leaves, seeds, and pollen. For pharmacognosy, solubility, fluorescence, and physicochemical characterizers were analyzed whereas a total phenolic and flavonoids contents was determined in addition to DPPH radical scavenging activity. In current study, microscopic, pharmacognostic, and phytochemical characterization clearly differentiated L. royleana from O. basilicum. The major problem in herbal drug industry is caused due to confusion and controversy of certain synonyms used for more than one or two drugs. Sometimes, under the same common or local name, entirely different taxa are being sold in herbal markets. It is concluded that correct and proper identification of medicinal plants is very crucial to ensure the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines, as many medicinal plants are intentionally or unintentionally adulterated with similar species or varieties. In herbal market, the seeds of L. royleana are adulterated with seeds of O. basilicum due to their similar morphology.

Larvicidal effect of Clinopodium macrostemum essential oil extracted by microwave-assisted hydrodistillation against Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract INTRODUCTION: In the present study, we determined the chemical composition of Clinopodium macrostemum essential oil obtained by microwave-assisted hydrodistillation and its effect on the growth and development of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito larvae. METHODS: The essential oil compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, and bioassays were conducted to evaluate the influence on the developmental stages of early second instar larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus until the emergence of adults, using essential oil concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800mg/L. RESULTS: The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses revealed that the leaf essential oil of C. macrostemum contained 32 compounds and the major chemical compounds identified were linalool (55.4%), nerol (6.4%), caryophyllene (6.25%), menthone (5.8%), geraniol acetate (4.1%), terpineol (3.7%), and pulegone (2.8%). The essential oil yield obtained by microwave-assisted hydrodistillation was 0.8% at 20 min. The treatments showed lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) of 22.49 and 833.35mg/L, respectively, after the final measurement of the total number of dead larvae (second, third, and fourth instars), and LC50 and LC90 of 6.62 and 693.35mg/L, respectively, at the end of the experimental period. The essential oil inhibited the growth and development of the mosquito larvae by 32% (relative growth index = 0.68) at 50mg/L, and up to 47% (relative growth index = 0.53) at 800mg/L. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated the larvicidal effect of C. macrostemum essential oil on Cx. quinquefasciatus, which can be attributed to the oxygenate compounds obtained by the extraction method.

Comparison of Lamiaceae medicinal uses in eastern Morocco and eastern Andalusia and in Ibn al-Baytar's Compendium of Simple Medicaments (13th century CE).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Transmission of traditional knowledge over time and across culturally and historically related territories is an important topic in ethnopharmacology. Here, we contribute to this knowledge by analysing data on medicinal uses in two neighbouring areas of the Western Mediterranean in relation to a historical text that has been scarcely mentioned in historical studies despite its interest. AIM OF THE STUDY: This paper discusses the sharing of popular knowledge on the medicinal uses of plants between eastern Morocco and eastern Andalusia (Spain), focusing on one of the most useful plant families in the Mediterranean area: Lamiaceae. Moreover, we used the classical work of Ibn al-Baytar (13th century CE) The Compendium of Simple Medicaments and Foods as a basis to contrast the possible link of this information, analysing the influence of this historical text on current popular tradition of medicinal plant use in both territories. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For data collection, we performed ethnobotanical field research in the eastern part of Morocco, recording current medicinal uses for the Lamiaceae. In addition, we systematically reviewed the ethnobotanical literature from eastern Andalusia, developing a database. We investigated the possible historical link of the shared uses and included in this database the information from Ibn al-Baytar's Compendium. To compare the similarity and diversity of the data, we used Jaccard's similarity index. RESULTS: Our field work provided ethnobotanical information for 14 Lamiaceae species with 95 medicinal uses, serving to treat 13 different pathological groups. Of the total uses recorded in Morocco, 30.5% were shared by eastern Andalusia and found in Ibn al-Baytar's work. There was a higher similarity when comparing current uses of the geographically close territories of eastern Morocco and eastern Andalucía (64%) than for eastern Morocco and this historical text (43%). On the other hand, coincidences between current uses in eastern Andalusia and the ones related in the Compendium are lower, 28%. CONCLUSIONS: The coincidence of the current ethnobotanical knowledge in the two territories is high for the Lamiaceae. Probably the shared historical background, recent exchanges, information flow, and the influence of the historical herbal texts have influenced this coincidence. In this sense, there is a high plant-use overlap between Ibn al-Baytar's text and both territories: nearly half of the uses currently shared by eastern Morocco and eastern Andalusia were included in the Compendium and are related to this period of Islamic medicine, indicating a high level of preservation in the knowledge of plant usage. The study of 14 species of Lamiaceae suggests that this classical codex, which includes a high number of medicinal plants and uses, constitutes a valuable bibliographical source for comparing ancient and modern applications of plants.

Descriptive study of plant resources in the context of the ethnomedicinal relevance of indigenous flora: A case study from Toli Peer National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: This paper presents the first quantitative ethnobotanical study of the flora in Toli Peer National Park of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Being a remote area, there is a strong dependence by local people on ethnobotanical practices. Thus, we attempted to record the folk uses of the native plants of the area with a view to acknowledging and documenting the ethnobotanical knowledge. The aims of the study were to compile an inventory of the medicinal plants in the study area and to record the methods by which herbal drugs were prepared and administered. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information on the therapeutic properties of medicinal plants was collected from 64 local inhabitants and herbalists using open ended and semi-structured questionnaires over the period Aug 2013-Jul 2014. The data were recorded into a synoptic table comprising an ethnobotanical inventory of plants, the parts used, therapeutic indications and modes of application or administration. Different ethnobotanical indices i.e. relative frequencies of citation (RFC), relative importance (RI), use value (UV) and informant consensus factor (Fic), were calculated for each of the recorded medicinal plants. In addition, a correlation analysis was performed using SPSS ver. 16 to check the level of association between use value and relative frequency of citation. RESULTS: A total of 121 species of medicinal plants belonging to 57 families and 98 genera were recorded. The study area was dominated by herbaceous species (48%) with leaves (41%) as the most exploited plant part. The Lamiaceae and Rosaceae (9% each) were the dominant families in the study area. Among different methods of preparation, the most frequently used method was decoction (26 species) of different plant parts followed by use as juice and powder (24 species each), paste (22 species), chewing (16 species), extract (11 species), infusion (10 species) and poultice (8 species). The maximum Informant consensus factor (Fic) value was for gastro-intestinal, parasitic and hepatobiliary complaints (0.90). Berberis lycium Ajuga bracteosa, Prunella vulgaris, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Desmodium polycarpum, Pinus roxburgii, Albizia lebbeck, Cedrella serrata, Rosa brunonii, Punica granatum, Jasminum mesnyi and Zanthoxylum armatum were the most valuable plants with the highest UV, RFC and relative importance values. The Pearson correlation coefficient between UV and RFC (0.881) reflects a significant positive correlation between the use value and relative frequency of citation. The coefficient of determination indicated that 77% of the variability in UV could be explained in terms of RFC. CONCLUSION: Systematic documentation of the medicinal plants in the Toli Peer National Park shows that the area is rich in plants with ethnomedicinal value and that the inhabitants of the area have significant knowledge about the use of such plants with herbal drugs commonly used to cure infirmities. The results of this study indicate that carrying out subsequent pharmacological and phytochemical investigations in this part of Pakistan could lead to new drug discoveries.

Reassessment of Melittis melissophyllum L. subsp. melissophyllum iridoidic fraction.

The analysis of the polar fraction of Melittis melissophyllum L. subsp. melissophyllum led to the identification of several iridoid glycosides: monomelittoside (1), melittoside (2), harpagide (3), acetyl-harpagide (4) and ajugoside (5). Compounds 3 and 4 are considered marker compounds for the genus and, as well as compounds 1, 2 and 5, were already evidenced in a previous study on the nominal species. It was noteworthy of the presence of allobetonicoside (6) which was never reported for this genus. The isolation of 6 is very relevant because of its allose residue on the structure. Allose has been often found in the species of the subfamily Lamioideae even if it mostly regarded flavonoids considered of chemotaxonomical relevance for some correlated genera of Lamiaceae. Same as allosyl-glycosidic flavonoids, the presence of allosyl-glycosidic iridoids may also be an additional chemosystematic evidence of botanical relationships among Lamiaceae species and genera.

Avaliação "in vitro" do efeito da infusão de Cunila microcephala Benth sobre a atividade da enzima acetilcolinesterase e biomarcadores de estresse oxidativo em eritrócitos de agricultores / Effect of the Cunila microcephala Benth infusion on the activity of Acetilcolinesterase enzyme and on the biomarkers of oxidative stress in farmers erythrocytes

RESUMO Tivemos como objetivo avaliar o efeito da infusão de Cunila microcephala Benth sobre a atividade da enzima acetilcolinesterase (AChE) e marcadores de estresse oxidativo em eritrócitos de agricultores. Foram utilizadas amostras provenientes de 16 trabalhadores rurais expostos a pesticidas agrícolas pelo período mínimo de 5 anos e um grupo controle constituído de 16 indivíduos não expostos a agrotóxicos. As hemácias dos agricultores e o grupo A foram expostos “in vitro” à solução salina (NaCl 0,9%). Os demais grupos foram expostos à infusão de poejo nas concentrações de 0; 5; 10; 25 e 50 g/L (Grupos B; C; D e E, respectivamente). Em seguida, foram realizadas as determinações da atividade da AChE e dos níveis de substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS), proteínas carboniladas (PCs) e glutationa reduzida (GSH). Os resultados mostram que a infusão de poejo 50g/L, aumenta a atividade da enzima AChE e os níveis de GSH. Contudo, os níveis de TBARS e PCs diminuíram após o tratamento com a infusão de poejo 25 e 50 g/L. A infusão de poejo, na concentração de 50 g/L, é capaz de reverter, “in vitro” a inibição da atividade da AChE que ocorre pela exposição a pesticidas, e ainda demonstra um importante potencial antioxidante, tendo em vista que diminuiu danos lipídicos e proteicos e ainda, estimulou a produção do principal antioxidante não enzimático endógeno.

ABSTRACT Evaluating the effect of infusion Cunila microcephala Benth on acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) enzyme and on biomarkers of oxidative stress in farmers erythrocytes. We used samples from 16 rural workers exposed to pesticides for a minimum of five years, and a control group composed of 16 individuals not exposed to pesticides. The erythrocytes of farmers and from group A were exposed “in vitro” the saline solution (NaCl 0,9%). The other groups were exposed to the infusion of “poejo” at concentrations of 0; 5; 10; 25 and 50 g/L (Groups B, C, D and E, respectively). Then, it was realized the analitical determinations of AChE activity and TBARS, PCs and GSH levels. The results showed that “poejo” infusion 50g/L, increased the AChE activity and GSH levels. However, the TBARS e PCs levels decreased after the treatment with “poejo” infusion 25 e 50 g/L. The “poejo” infusion 50 g/L is able to revert “in vitro” the inhibition of AChE activity that occurs by exposure to pesticides and also demonstrates an important antioxidant potential, given that decreased lipid and protein damage and also it stimulated the production of the main non-enzymatic antioxidant endogenous.

[Analysis of varieties and standards of labiatae medicinal plants used in Tibetan medicine].

In this paper, an analysis was made on the varieties and standards of labiatae medicinal plants used in Tibetan medicine. The results showed 71 species of labiatae plants in 21 genera (including varieties) recorded in relevant literatures, involving 44 varieties of medicinal materials. Specifically, seven species (9.9%) were intersected with traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), 19 varieties (43%) were recorded in Chinese medicinal material standards at all levels, and 27 species (38%) were source plants. In Tibetan medicine standards and literatures, there are great differences between Tibetan names and translated Chinese names and among varieties of source plants. Apart from a few of varieties intersected with traditional Chinese medicines had complete standards and regulations in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, most of species only had characters, microscopic, physical and chemical identifications in Standards Issued by Ministry of Health-Tibetan Medicine, Tibetan Medicine Standard and local standards. Therefore, the Tibetan medicinal material variety-source specification and quality standard system shall be promoted on the basis of literatures research, investigations for resources and current applications and modern pharmaceutical studies.

Efeito do extrato etanólico bruto e das frações da Hyptidendron canum (Pohl ex Benth. ) Harley em brânquias de Oreochromis niloticus L / Effect of the crude ethanol extract and fractions of Hyptidendron canum (Pohl ex Benth. ) Harley on the gills of Oreochromis niloticus L

Alguns problemas relacionados à criação intensiva de peixes estão mais evidentes devido ao aumento da aquicultura em todo o mundo, destacando-se os distúrbios nutricionais e o aumento de doenças nos sistemas de produção. Com isso as pesquisas envolvendo produtos derivados de plantas vem ganhando espaço nessa área. A Hyptidendron canum é uma planta utilizada na medicina popular como antimalárica, anti-inflamatória, antiulcerativa e anti-hepatotóxica. Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar os efeitos celulares e teciduais do extrato etanólico bruto e das frações hexano, clorofórmio e acetato de etila da H. canum nas brânquias de Oreochromis niloticus L. Para isso, o extrato etanólico e as frações foram administrados no peixe através da ração. Após 24 horas da ingestão da ração, os peixes foram sacrificados e o segundo arco branquial de cada um foi processado histologicamente e corado com tricômico de Masson e Hematoxilina e Eosina (HE). Pela análise qualitativa das brânquias ao microscópio de luz, observou-se que o extrato bruto e as três frações promoveram, em diferentes intensidades nas lamelas, descamação e destacamento do epitélio respiratório, alteração da curvatura, desorganização do eixo, hiperplasia celular do tecido epitelial interlamelar e vasodilatação nas lamelas e no vaso central do filamento. Os resultados deste experimento mostraram que o extrato etanólico bruto e as três frações de H. canum promoveram processos inflamatórios e/ou lesões sistêmicas, dose dependente para O. niloticus.

Some problems related to intensive fish farming are more evident because of the increased aquaculture worldwide, and we highlight the nutritional disorders and the increase of diseases in the production systems. Thus, research involving plant-derived products has been increasing in this area. The Hyptidendron canum is a plant used in folk medicine as an antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer and antihepatotoxic agent. This study proposes to evaluate the cellular and tissue effects of the crude ethanol extract and the hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions of H. canum on the gills of Oreochromis niloticus L. The ethanol extract and fractions were administered through the feed of the fish. Twenty-four hours later, the fish were sacrificed and their second gill arch dissected. Histological analyses were performed using Masson's trichrome and Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E). The qualitative analysis of the material showed that the crude extract and the three fractions caused varying degrees of peeling and detachment of the lamellar respiratory epithelium, alterations in the curvature and axis of the gill, cell hyperplasia in the interlamellar epithelium and lamellar vasodilation, as well as vasodilation in the central vessel of the filament. The results of this experiment showed that the crude ethanol extract and the three fractions of H. canum promoted inflammation and/or systemic lesions, dose dependent, for O. niloticus.

Evaluation of hemostatic and anti-inflammatory activities of extracts from different Lagochilus species in experimental animals: comparison of different extractives and sources.

Different members of Lagochilus genus have been used in folkloric medicine to treat hemorrhages and inflammation. However, only a few species of them have received scientific attention supporting their efficacy. Here, the hemostatic and antiinflammatory activities of five Lagochilus species were determined and compared by using in vivo assays. The results showed that the extracts of Lagochilus lanatonodus and Lagochilus diacanthophyllus showed better hemostatic activities among five species. The high doses of L. lanatonodus extracts were able to shorten the values of thrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time in a rat model. Moreover, the extracts of L. lanatonodus and L. diacanthophyllus showed strong inhibitory effects on the acute phase of inflammation in both xylene-induced ear edema mouse model and carrageenan-induced paw edema rat model. In parallel, the treatment of these extracts modulated the expressions of those inflammatory parameters, that is, nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2 , inducible nitric oxide synthase, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase. L. lanatonodus and L. diacanthophyllus showed better hemostatic and antiinflammatory activities in several test models: these results therefore supported the folkloric utilization. L. lanatonodus was found to be the most active Lagochilus species.

Levantamento de plantas medicinais cultivadas no município de Solânea, agreste paraibano: reconhecimento e valorização do saber tradicional / A survey of cultivated medicinal plants from Solanea, dry area of Paraiba: recognition and recovery of the traditional knowledge

RESUMO Objetivou-se neste trabalho reconhecer e sistematizar o conhecimento tradicional sobre as espécies medicinais, as indicações terapêuticas, as formas de uso e as técnicas de produção e comercialização de plantas medicinais no agreste nordestino, no município de Solânea, Paraíba. Visitas, entrevistas e amostragem foram realizadas a agricultores familiares da região por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas utilizando a técnica de turnê guiada. Após as visitas foi identificada uma atriz - informante. Foi feito um herbário com as plantas medicinais encontradas, nas quais foram identificadas e categorizadas quanto às indicações terapêuticas de acordo com a Classificação Estatística Internacional de Doenças e Problemas Relacionados à Saúde. Foram verificadas 59 espécies com propriedades medicinais distribuídas em 36 famílias botânicas, com o predomínio da família Lamiaceae. Enfermidades de afecções digestivas foram as mais indicadas. O chá foi o preparado de maior frequência.

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to recognize and to order the traditional knowledge about the medicinal species, the therapeutic indications, the application forms, and the productions and marketing techniques of medicinal plants in the dry area of the northeast, in the city of Solanea, Paraíba. Visits, interviews and sampling were conducted to family farmers in the region through semi-structured interviews using the guided tour technique. A herbarium was built with the medicinal plants found and they were identified and classified regarding their therapeutic indications according to the Diseases International Statistical Classification and the Health Related Problems. 59 species with medicinal properties were identified and distributed in 36 different botanical families, with the Lamiaceae family predominance. The tea preparation was the more frequent one.

Germinação e vigor de sementes de chia (Salvia hispanica L. - Lamiaceae) sob diferentes temperaturas e condições de luz / Germination and vigor of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L. - Lamiaceae) under different temperatures and light conditions

RESUMO A Salvia hispanica, conhecida popularmente como chia, apresenta elevada notabilidade por suas características nutricionais, sendo rica em proteínas, fibras, sais minerais e ácidos graxos, os quais podem ser responsáveis pela diminuição do risco de doenças cardiovasculares. Apesar do crescente consumo, existem poucos estudos em relação à germinação e ao vigor de suas sementes. Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da luz e da temperatura no potencial fisiológico de sementes de chia (Salvia hispanica L.). Para tal, as sementes foram colocadas para germinar nas temperaturas constantes de 20, 25 e 30 ºC na presença e ausência de luz. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: percentagem de germinação, primeira contagem, índice de velocidade de germinação, e comprimento e massa seca das plântulas. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições de 100 sementes. Constatou-se que a germinação das sementes de chia ocorre tanto na presença quanto na ausência de luz. As sementes de chia, sem dormência, germinam melhor na temperatura constante de 20 °C.

ABSTRACT The Salvia hispanica, known as chia, has high notability for its nutritional features, being rich in protein, fiber, minerals and fatty acids, which can be responsible for reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Although the consumption of the seed is increasing, there are few studies about the germination and vigor of the seeds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of light and temperature on the physiologic potentiality of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.). The seeds were sowed on paper at constant temperatures of 20, 25 and 30 ºC in the presence or absence of light. The parameters evaluated were the following: percentage of germination, first count, germination speed index, length, and dry weight of the seedlings. The experimental design used was of complete randomized plots with four replications of 100 seeds. The germination of the chia seeds occurred in the presence or absence of light. The chia seeds, without dormancy, germinated better at the constant temperature of 20 ºC.

Efficient micropropagation of highly economic, medicinal and ornamental plant Lallemantia iberica (Bieb.) Fisch. and C. A. Mey.

Lallemantia iberica (Bieb.) Fisch. and C. A. Mey is high valued annual ornamental and medicinal plant from Lamiaceae family that prefers dry sunny hillsides, roadsides, slopes, and fallow fields over an altitude of 500-2150 m. It bears beautiful white flowers and bloom from April to June each year. This study reports L. iberica micropropagation using cotyledon node explants isolated from 15-day-old in vitro regenerated plantlets. The cotyledon node explants were cultured on MS medium containing 0.50, 1.00 plus 2.00 mg/L BAP, 0.00, 0.01, and 0.02 mg/L NAA. Maximum shoot regeneration was noted on MS medium containing 0.50 mg/L BAP. Well-developed micropropagated shoots were rooted on MS medium containing 1.00 mg/L IBA. The rooted plants were easily hardened in the growth chamber and acclimatised in greenhouse.

Immunomodulatory effects of Ziziphora tenuior L. extract on the dendritic cells.

BACKGROUND: Ziziphora tenuior L. (Kakuti in Persian) is used in traditional medicine for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders as carminative and analgesic plant. The other usages of this plant are included treatment of diarrhea and nausea. Therefore in the present study we evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of the ethanolic extract of this plant on the dendritic cells (DCs). RESULTS: Ziziphora tenuior L. extract significantly (p = 0.002) increased the level of surface expression of CD40 as an important co-stimulatory marker on DCs compared to the control. However this extract did not change CD86 and MHC-II molecules, so it could promote DCs phenotypic maturation. Treatment of DCs with the extract resulted in slightly increased of the production of (IL-12); however, this change was not significant. In addition, the ability of treated DCs to stimulate allogenic T cells proliferation and cytokines secretion was examined in the co-cuture of these cells with T cells in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Z. tenuior L. at the 100 µg/ml concentration inhibited the proliferation of allogenic T cells and also significantly (P < 0.001) increased the level of IL-10. Moreover, the extract at 10-100 µg/ml concentration caused slightly increase in IFN-γ production and decreased IL-4 cytokines but these changes were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicated that Z. tenuior L. extract can modulate immune response by induction of CD40 expression on DCs and cytokine production; whereas it can inhibit T cell stimulating activity of DCs in high concentration. These findings possibly in part explain the traditional use of this plant in treatment of immune-mediated disorders. However future studies are needed.

Identification of two chemotypes of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. through DNA barcodes.

Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. is an important medicinal plant in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Because of differences in the chemical composition, this species has been classified into two major chemotypes, i. e. the patchouliol-type and the pogostone-type; however, no quick and effective method is presently available for the precise identification of these two chemotypes. DNA barcoding, using a standardized DNA fragment, is a promising molecular diagnostic method for species identification. We have established a reliable and quick method for the identification of the P. cablin chemotypes. Of five potential barcodes [rbcL, psbA-trnH, rpoB, ITS (internal transcibed spacer), and ndhJ], tested among 103 samples, ITS was the best candidate, as comparative studies between patchouliol-type and pogostone-type P. cablin revealed that ITS had more variable regions among these five barcodes. We suggest that ITS can serve as the most suitable barcode for differentiating between the chemotypes of P. cablin.

Physiological indexese macro- and micronutrients in plant tissue and essential oil of Mentha piperita L. grown in nutrient solution with variation in N, P, K and Mg levels / Índices fisiológicos, macro e micronutrientes no tecido vegetal e óleo essencial de Mentha piperita L. cultivada em solução nutritiva com variação de N, P, K e Mg.

Mentha piperita L. is an aromatic and medicinal species of the family Lamiaceae, known as mint or peppermint, and its leaves and branches produce essential oil rich in menthol. This study aimed to evaluate physiological indexes, macro- and micronutrients inthe shootsand essential oil of Mentha piperita L. grown in nutrient solution number 2 of Hoagland and Arnon (1950) with different N, P, K and Mg levels. Shoot length, dry mass of the different organs, total dry mass, leaf area, essential oil yield and composition, and macronutrient (N, P, K, Mg, Ca, S) and micronutrient (Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn) contents in the shoot were evaluated. Plants treated with 65%N/50%P/25%K/100%Mg had a tendency towards longer shoot, greaterroot and leaf blade dry masses, higher essential oil yield, higher menthol levels and lower menthone levels. The results showed that Mentha can be grown in nutrient solution by reducing 65% N, 50% P, 25% K and 100% Mg. This solution had better development compared to the other tested treatments. Therefore,we recommendMentha piperita L. to be grown with such nutrient levels.

Mentha piperita L., é uma espécie aromática e medicinal pertencente à família Lamiaceae, conhecida como menta ou hortelã-pimenta que produz em sua parte aérea óleo essencial rico em mentol. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar os índices fisiológicos, macro e micronutrientes na parte aérea e óleo essencial de Mentha piperita L. cultivada em solução nutritiva numero Hoagland e Arnon (1950) com variação dos níveis de N, P, K e Mg. Foram avaliados comprimento da parte aérea, massa seca dos diferentes órgãos e total, área foliar, rendimento e composição do óleo essencial, teor de macronutrientes (N, P, K, Mg, Ca e S), e de micronutrientes (Mn, Cu, Fe e Zn) na parte aérea. As plantas nutridas com 65% de N, 50% de P, 25% de K, e 100% de Mg, apresentaram tendência de maior comprimento de parte aérea e massa seca de raízes e de lâminas foliares; maior rendimento de óleo essencial e, em média, maiores teores de mentol e menores teores de mentona. O resultados permitem concluir que a Mentha pode ser cultivada em solução nutritiva reduzindo-se 65% de N, 50% de P, 25% de K e 100% de Mg. Esta solução apresentou melhor desenvolvimento em relação aos outros tratamentos. Recomenda-se, portanto, o cultivo da Mentha piperita L. com tais níveis de nutrientes.