The complete chloroplast genome of the halophyte flowering plant Suaeda monoica from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The complete chloroplast genome (plastome) of the annual flowering halophyte herb Suaeda monoica Forssk. ex J. F. Gmel. family (Amaranthaceae) that grows in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was identified for the first time in this study. Suaeda monoica is a medicinal plant species whose taxonomic classification remains controversial. Further, studying the species is useful for current conservation and management efforts. In the current study, the full chloroplast genome S. monoica was reassembled using whole-genome next-generation sequencing and compared with the previously published chloroplast genomes of Suaeda species. The chloroplast genome size of Suaeda monoica was 151,789 bp, with a single large copy of 83,404 bp, a small single copy of 18,007 bp and two inverted repeats regions of 25,189 bp. GC content in the whole genome was 36.4%. The cp genome included 87 genes that coded for proteins, 37 genes coding for tRNA, 8 genes coding for rRNA and one non-coding pseudogene. Five chloroplast genome features were compared between S. monoica and S. japonica, S. glauca, S. salsa, S. malacosperma and S. physophora. Among Suaeda genus and equal to most angiosperms chloroplast genomes, the RSCU values were conservative. Two pseudogenes (accD and ycf1), rpl16 intron and ndhF-rpl32 intergenic spacer, were highlighted as suitable DNA barcodes for different Suaeda species. Phylogenetic analyses show Suaeda cluster into three main groups; one in which S. monoica was closer to S. salsa. The obtained result provided valuable information on the characteristics of the S. monoica chloroplast genome and the phylogenetic relationships.

Chemical Constituents of Halophyte Suaeda glauca and Their Therapeutic Potential for Hair Loss.

Suaeda glauca, a halophyte in the Amaranthaceae family, exhibits remarkable resilience to high salt and alkali stresses despite the absence of salt glands or vesicles in its leaves. While there is growing pharmacological interest in S. glauca, research on its secondary metabolites remains limited. In this study, chemical constituents of the aerial parts of S. glauca were identified using 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments, and its biological activity concerning hair loss was newly reported. Eight compounds, including alkaloids (1~3), flavonoids (4~6), and phenolics (7 and 8), were isolated. The compounds, except the flavonoids, were isolated for the first time from S. glauca. In the HPLC chromatogram, quercetin-3-O-ß-d-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-ß-d-glucoside, and kaempferol were identified as major constituents in the extract of S. glauca. Additionally, the therapeutic potential of the extract of S. glauca and the isolated compounds 1~8 on the expressions of VEGF and IGF-1, as well as the regulation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, were evaluated in human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Among the eight compounds, compound 4 was the most potent in terms of increasing the expression of VEGF and IGF-1 and the regulation of Wnt/ß-catenin. These findings suggest that S. glauca extract and its compounds are potential new candidates for preventing or treating hair loss.

Enhancing tomato plant growth in a saline environment through the eco-friendly synthesis and optimization of nanoparticles derived from halophytic sources.

Using green synthesis methods to produce halophytic nanoparticles presents a promising and cost-effective approach for enhancing plant growth in saline environments, offering agricultural resilience as an alternative to traditional chemical methods. This study focuses on synthesizing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles derived from the halophyte Withania somnifera, showcasing their potential in ameliorating tomato growth under salinity stress. The biosynthesis of ZnO nanoparticles was initially optimized (i.e., salt concentration, the amount of plant extract, pH, and temperature) using a central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM) together with UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) to comprehensively characterize the biosynthesized ZnO NPs. The central composite design (CCD) based response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the biosynthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) by adjusting salt concentration, plant extract, pH, and temperature. The ZnO NPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). FT-IR showed an absorption peak of ZnO between 400 and 600 cm-1, while SEM showed irregular shapes ranging between 1.3 and 6 nm. The data of EDX showed the presence of Zn (77.52%) and O (22.48%) levels, which exhibited the high purity synthesized ZnO under saline conditions. Introducing ZnO nanoparticles to tomato plants resulted in a remarkable 2.3-fold increase in shoot length in T23 (100 mg/L ZnO nanoparticles + 50 mM NaCl). There was an observable increase in foliage at T2 (20 mg L-1 ZnO) and T23 (100 mg L-1 ZnO-NPs + 50 mM NaCl). Tomato plants treated with T2 (20 mg L-1 ZnO) and T23 (100 mg L-1 ZnO-NPs + 50 mM NaCl) improved root elongation compared to the control plant group. Both fresh and dry leaf masses were significantly improved in T1 (10 mg L-1 ZnO) by 7.1-fold and T12 (10 mg L-1 ZnO-NPs + 100 mM NaCl) by 0.8-fold. The concentration of Zn was higher in T12 (10 mg L-1 ZnO NPs + 100 mM NaCl) among all treatments. Our findings prove that utilizing ZnO nanoparticles under saline conditions effectively promotes tomato plants' growth, thereby mitigating the negative impacts of salt stress.

Halophyte Elymus dahuricus colonization regulates microbial community succession by mediating saline-alkaline and biogenic organic matter in bauxite residue.

Alkalinity regulation and nutrient accumulation are critical factors in the construction of plant and microbial communities and soil formation in bauxite residue, and are extremely important for sustainable vegetation restoration in bauxite residue disposal areas. However, the establishment and succession of microbial communities driven by plant colonization-mediated improvements in the physicochemical properties of bauxite residues remain poorly understood. Thus, in this study, we determined the saline-alkali properties and dissolved organic matter (DOM) components under plant growth conditions and explored the microbial community diversity and structure using Illumina high-throughput sequencing. The planting of Elymus dahuricus (E. dahuricus) in the bauxite residue resulted in a significant decrease in total alkalinity (TA), exchangeable Na, and electrical conductivity (EC) as well as the release of more tryptophan-like protein compounds and low-molecular-weight humic substances associated with biological activities into the bauxite residue substrate. Taxonomical analysis revealed an initial-stage bacterial and fungal community dominated by alkaline-tolerant Actinobacteriota, Firmicutes, and Ascomycota, and an increase in the relative abundances of the phyla Bacteroidota, Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Gemmatimonadota. The biological activities of phylum Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and Gemmatimonadota were significantly associated with protein-like and UVA-like humic substances. As eutrophic bacteria, Proteobacteria participate in the transformation of humic substances and can not only utilize small molecules of organic matter and convert them into humic substances but also promote the gradual conversion of humic acids into simple molecular compounds. Our results suggest that plant roots secrete organic matter and microbial metabolites as the main biogenic organic matter that participates in the establishment and succession of the microbial community in bauxite residues. Root length affects bacterial and fungal diversity by mediating the production of protein-like substances.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity on Pakistan origin Launaea nudicaulis (L.) Hook f.: A promising halophyte.

Facultative type of Halophytes is those which can easily grow on both saline and non-saline soil conditions Launaea nudicaulis (L.) Hook f. belongs to family compositae [Asteraceae] is facultative halophyte with great medicinal values. The main objective of this study is to explore anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial potential on different morphological parts of Launaea nudicaulis (L.) Hook f. The results of the antibacterial activity of methanolic extracts of leaves stem and roots of Launaea nudicaulis (L.) Hook f. showed that the potent antibacterial activity observed in all three morphological parts against Staphylococcus aureus. DPPH scavenging activity of extracts of root, stem, leaves against standard i.e., ascorbic acid at different concentrations of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 showed that root extract have more significant activity when compared to the ascorbic acid. Documented potentials of halophytes are elevating its prominence which motivates scientist to further explore with extensive research.

Harnessing the Value of Tripolium pannonicum and Crithmum maritimum Halophyte Biomass through Integrated Green Biorefinery.

Bioactive extracts are often the target fractions in bioprospecting, and halophyte plants could provide a potential source of feedstock for high-value applications as a part of integrated biorefineries. Tripolium pannonicum (Jacq.) Dobrocz. (sea aster) and Crithmum maritimum L. (sea fennel) are edible plants suggested for biosaline halophyte-based agriculture. After food production and harvesting of fresh leaves for food, the inedible plant fractions could be utilized to produce extracts rich in bioactive phytochemicals to maximize feedstock application and increase the economic feasibility of biomass processing to bioenergy. This study analyzed fresh juice and extracts from screw-pressed sea aster and sea fennel for their different phenolic compounds and pigment concentrations. Antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities were also tested in vitro. Extracts from sea aster and sea fennel had phenolic contents up to 45.2 mgGAE/gDM and 64.7 mgGAE/gDM, respectively, and exhibited >70% antioxidant activity in several assays. Ethanol extracts also showed >70% inhibition activity against acetylcholinesterase and >50% inhibition of tyrosinase and α-glucosidase. Therefore, these species can be seen as potential feedstocks for further investigations.

Chemical Characterisation, Antidiabetic, Antibacterial, and In Silico Studies for Different Extracts of Haloxylon stocksii (Boiss.) Benth: A Promising Halophyte.

The objective of the study is to evaluate the chemical characterisation, and biological and in silico potential of Haloxylon stocksii (Boiss.) Benth, an important halophyte commonly used in traditional medicine. The research focuses on the roots and aerial parts of the plant and extracts them using two solvents: methanol and dichloromethane. Chemical characterisation of the extracts was carried out using total phenolic contents quantification, GC-MS analysis, and LC-MS screening. The results exhibited that the aerial parts of the plant have significantly higher total phenolic content than the roots. The GC-MS and LC-MS analysis of the plant extracts revealed the identification of 18 bioactive compounds in each. The biological evaluation was performed using antioxidant, antibacterial, and in vitro antidiabetic assays. The results exhibited that the aerial parts of the plant have higher antioxidant and in vitro antidiabetic activity than the roots. Additionally, the aerial parts of the plant were most effective against Gram-positive bacteria. Molecular docking was done to evaluate the binding affinity (BA) of the bioactive compounds characterised by GC-MS with diabetic enzymes used in the in vitro assay. The results showed that the BA of γ-sitosterol was better than that of acarbose, which is used as a standard in the in vitro assay. Overall, this study suggests that the extract from aerial parts of H. stocksii using methanol as a solvent have better potential as a new medicinal plant and can provide a new aspect to develop more potent medications. The research findings contribute to the scientific data of the medicinal properties of Haloxylon stocksii and provide a basis for further evaluation of its potential as a natural remedy.

Antigenotoxic properties of the halophyte Polygonum maritimum L. highlight its potential to mitigate oxidative stress-related damage.

Long-term exposure to dietary xenobiotics can induce oxidative stress in the gastrointestinal tract, possibly causing DNA damage and contributing to the initiation of carcinogenesis. Halophytes are exposed to constant abiotic stresses, which are believed to promote the accumulation of antioxidant metabolites like polyphenols. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties of the ethanol extract of the aerial part of the halophyte Polygonum maritimum L. (PME), which can represent a dietary source of bioactive compounds with potential to attenuate oxidative stress-related damage. The PME exhibited a high antioxidant potential, revealed by the in vitro capacity to scavenge the free radical DPPH (IC50 = 2.29 ± 0.10 µg/mL) and the improved viability of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae under oxidative stress (p < 0.001, 10 min). An antigenotoxic effect of PME against H2O2-induced oxidative stress was found in S. cerevisiae (p < 0.05) with the dominant deletion assay. In vitro colorimetric assays and LC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis showed that PME is a polyphenol-rich extract composed of catechin, (epi)catechin dimer and trimers, quercetin and myricetin glycosides. Hence, P. maritimum is a source of antioxidant and antigenotoxic metabolites for application in industries that develop products to provide health benefits.

Salt-Tolerant Plants, Halophytes, as Renewable Natural Resources for Cancer Prevention and Treatment: Roles of Phenolics and Flavonoids in Immunomodulation and Suppression of Oxidative Stress towards Cancer Management.

Halophytes and xerophytes, plants with adequate tolerance to high salinity with strong ability to survive in drought ecosystem, have been recognized for their nutritional and medicinal values owing to their comparatively higher productions of secondary metabolites, primarily the phenolics, and the flavonoids, as compared to the normal vegetation in other climatic regions. Given the consistent increases in desertification around the world, which are associated with increasing salinity, high temperature, and water scarcity, the survival of halophytes due to their secondary metabolic contents has prioritized these plant species, which have now become increasingly important for environmental protection, land reclamation, and food and animal-feed security, with their primary utility in traditional societies as sources of drugs. On the medicinal herbs front, because the fight against cancer is still ongoing, there is an urgent need for development of more efficient, safe, and novel chemotherapeutic agents, than those currently available. The current review describes these plants and their secondary-metabolite-based chemical products as promising candidates for developing newer cancer therapeutics. It further discusses the prophylactic roles of these plants, and their constituents in prevention and management of cancers, through an exploration of their phytochemical and pharmacological properties, with a view on immunomodulation. The important roles of various phenolics and structurally diverse flavonoids as major constituents of the halophytes in suppressing oxidative stress, immunomodulation, and anti-cancer effects are the subject matter of this review and these aspects are outlined in details.

Sesquiterpene Lactones with Anti-Inflammatory Activity from the Halophyte Sonchus brachyotus DC.

There were five sesquiterpene lactones, belonging to the eudesmanolide class, isolated from the halophyte Sonchus brachyotus DC. The structures of the compounds were determined using spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR spectra, MS data, and optical rotation values. Compounds 4 and 5 were characterized by the position of p-hydroxyphenylacetyl group in the sugar moiety. In the evaluation of anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages, compound 1, 5α,6ßH-eudesma-3,11(13)-dien-12,6α-olide, potently suppressed the expression of iNOS and COS-2, as well as the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10. Treatment of 1 regulates the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Marine halophyte derived polyphenols inhibit glioma cell growth through mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.

Plants that are pharmacologically significant require intensive phytochemical characterization for bioactive profiling of the compounds, which has enabled their safe use in ayurvedic medicine. The present study is focused on the phytochemical analyses, quantitative estimation and profiling of secondary metabolites of leaf extract, as well as the antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of the potent halophytes such as Avicennia marina, Ceriops tagal, Ipomoea pes-caprae, and Sonneratia apetala. The in vitro antioxidant property was investigated using DPPH, ferric reducing antioxidant capacity (FRAP) assay. Bioactive compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, saponin and alkaloids were quantitatively estimated from the extracts of A.marina, C.tagal, I.pes-capra and S.apetala, which possessed higher phenol content than the other studied halophytes. The extracts at 200 µg/ml revealed higher antioxidant activity than the standard ascorbic acid and it functions as a powerful oxygen free radical scavenger with 77.37%, 75.35% and 72.84% for S.apetala, I.pes-caprae and C.tagal respectively and with least IC50 for I.pes-caprae (11.95 µg/ml) followed by C.tagal (49.94 µg/ml). Cell viability and anti-proliferative activity of different polyphenolic fractions of C.tagal (CT1 and CT2) and I.pes-caprae fraction (IP) against LN229, SNB19 revealed Ipomoea as the promising anti-cytotoxic fraction. IP-derived polyphenols was further subjected to apoptosis, migration assay, ROS and caspase - 3 and - 7 to elucidate its potentiality as a therapeutic drug. IP-polyphenols was found to have higher percentage of inhibition than the CT1 and CT2 polyphenols of C.tagal on comparison with TMZ. All the above-mentioned in-vitro analysis further validated the ability of IP-polyphenols inducing cell death via ROS-mediated caspase dependent pathway. Further, proteomic and phospho-proteomic analysis revealed the potential role of IP-polyphenols in the regulation of cell proliferation through MMK3, p53, p70 S6 kinase and RSK1 proteins involved in mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Our analysis confirmed the promising role of I.pes-caprae derived polyphenols as an anti-metastatic compound against GBM cells.

Halophytes as source of bioactive phenolic compounds and their potential applications.

Halophytes are salt-tolerant plants that inhabit environments in which they are exposed to extreme stress, wherefore they exhibit conserved and divergent metabolic responses different from those of conventional plants. Thus, the synthesis and accumulation of metabolites, especially of those oxidative stress-related such as phenolic compounds, should be investigated. The potential of halophytes as a source of phenolics and their prospective industrial applications are evaluated based on a comprehensive review of the scientific literature on the phenolic compounds of more than forty halophytes and their biological activities. Additionally, an overview of the analytical methodologies adopted for phenolics determination in halophytes is provided. Finally, the prospective uses and beneficial effects of the phenolic preparations from these plants are discussed. Halophytes are complex matrices, exhibiting a wide variety of phenolics in their composition, wherefore the results can be greatly affected depending on the organ plant under analysis and the extraction methodology, especially the extraction solvent used. High-performance liquid chromatography, coupled with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) or mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), are the most used technique. Halophytes biosynthesize phenolics in concentrations that justify the remarkable antioxidant and antimicrobial activities shown, making them ideal sources of bioactive molecules to be employed in a multitude of sectors.

Cytotoxic, apoptotic activities and chemical profiling of dimorphic forms of Egyptian halophyte Cakile maritima scop.

Cakile maritima ssp. aegyptiaca (Wild.) Nyman is growing with dimorphic leaf forms (entire or pinnatifid lamina) along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. The cytotoxic activities of dried shoot systems of the two morphological forms were evaluated by testing and comparing the effects of ethanolic and aqueous extracts on the viability of five human cell lines. GC-MS analysis was performed to identify the bioactive and anticancer compounds present in the most active extracts. MTT assay indicated that both aqueous and ethanolic extracts have selective cytotoxic activities against cancer cell lines with no inhibitory activities against normal Wi38 or Vero cell lines. The underlying mechanism of cytotoxicity involved the induction of G2/M phase arrest in targeted cells MCF-7 and HCT-116 associated with inducing apoptosis in both cell lines, as indicated by Annexin-V assay. Apoptosis investigation in MCF-7 and HCT-116 cells treated with ethanolic extracts, was further investigated through RT-PCR, which exhibited elevation of proapoptotic genes of P53, BAX, Capase-3,6,7,8,9, and downregulation of antiapoptotic gene (BCL-2) upon treatment. The GC-MS analysis of ethanolic extracts of pinnatifid and entire forms revealed the existence of 18 and 13 compounds, respectively, with eleven compounds that were detected in pinnatifid form only and seven compounds were identified exclusively in the entire form. Molecular Docking study revealed that the identified compounds exhibited good binding affinity towards BCL-2 inhibition, and this agreed with the suggested apoptotic mechanism. To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first scientific evidence underline the variability in the chemical composition associated with variable anticancer activities of dimorphic forms of C. maritima.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Evaluation of Halophyte Biopotential as an Unused Natural Resource: The Case of Lobularia maritima.

Halophytes are plant species widely distributed in saline habitats, such as beaches, postindustrial wastelands, irrigated lands, salt flats, and others. Excessive salt level, known to limit plant growth, is not harmful to halophytes, which have developed a variety of defense mechanisms allowing them to colonize harsh environments. Plants under stress are known to respond with several morpho-anatomical adaptations, but also to enhance the production of secondary metabolites to better cope with difficult conditions. Owing to these adaptations, halophytes are an interesting group of undemanding plants with a high potential for application in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, this review aims to present the characteristics of halophytes, describe changes in their gene expression, and discuss their synthesized metabolites of pharmacognostic and pharmacological significance. Lobularia maritima is characterized as a widely spread halophyte that has been shown to exhibit various pharmacological properties in vitro and in vivo. It is concluded that halophytes may become important sources of natural products for the treatment of various ailments and for supplementing the human diet with necessary non-nutrients and minerals. However, extensive studies are needed to deepen the knowledge of their biological potential in vivo, so that they can be introduced to the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Biodesalination using halophytic cyanobacterium Phormidium keutzingianum from brackish to the hypersaline water.

The biodesalination potential at different levels of salinity of Phormidium keutzingianum (P. keutzingianum) was investigated. A wide range of salinity from brackish to hypersaline water was explored in this study to ensure the adaptability of P. keutzingianum in extreme stress conditions. Brackish to hypersaline salt solutions were tested at selected NaCl concentrations 10, 30, 50, and 70 g.L-1. Chloride, pH, nitrate, and phosphate were the main parameters measured throughout the duration of the experiment. Biomass growth estimation revealed that the studied strain is adaptable to all the salinities inoculated. During the first growth phase (till day 20), chloride ion was removed up to 43.52% and 45.69% in 10 and 30 g.L-1 of salinity, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry analysis performed on P. keutzingianum showed the presence of active functional groups at all salinity levels, which resulted in biosorption leading to the bioaccumulation process. Samples for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis supported with electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis (EDS) showed NaCl on samples already on day 0. This ensures the occurrence of the biosorption process. SEM-EDS results on 10th d showed evidence of additional ions deposited on the outer surface of P. keutzingianum. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chloride, phosphorus, and iron were indicated in SEM-EDS analysis proving the occurrence of the biomineralization process. These findings confirmed that P. keutzingianum showed biomass production, biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biomineralization in all salinities; hence, the strain affirms the biodesalination process.

Undescribed glucosylceramide, flavonol triglycoside, and oleanane saponin from the halophyte Agathophora alopecuroides: Promising candidates for stimulating ceramide synthesis.

The phytochemical study of Agathophora alopecuroides (Chenopodiaceae) led to the isolation of previously undescribed glucosylceramide, flavonol triglycoside, and triterpene oleanane saponin, together with eight known compounds. Their structures were elucidated using NMR analysis and HR-MS as (2'R, 12E) N-[(2S, 3S, 4R)-1-(ß-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-3,4-dihydroxy-octadec-2-yl]-2-hydroxytetracos-12-enamide, namely Agathophamide A; isorhamnetin-3-O-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)]-ß-D-galactopyranoside, namely Agathophoroside A; and 3-O-[4'-(ß-D-xylopyranosyl)-ß-D-glucuronopyranosyl]-28-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-olean-12-en-3ß-ol-28-oic acid, namely Solysaponin A. We evaluated the effect of extract and isolates on ceramide levels via the up-regulated expression of the enzyme for ceramide synthesis in HaCaT keratinocytes. Interestingly, the study results revealed that the methanol extract of A. alopecuroides, together with some isolated compounds significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of ceramide synthase-3 by 1.2- to 4.3-fold compared with the control in HaCaT cells. These findings indicate that the halophyte A. alopecuroides is a promising source of candidate compounds that can contribute to ceramide synthesis via the up-regulated expression levels of ceramide synthase-3 in the ceramide synthesis pathway.

Phytochemical Compositions of Some Red Sea Halophyte Plants with Antioxidant and Anticancer Potentials.

The aim of this study was to determine the compositions of carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, fatty acids (FAs), and amino acids (AAs) of four Rea Sea halophytes: Anabasis ehrenbergii, Suaeda aegyptiaca, Suaeda monoica, and Zygophyllum album. The results showed that S. aegyptiaca and S. monoica were rich in gallic acid with 41.72 and 47.48 mg/g, respectively, while A. ehrenbergii was rich in naringenin with 11.88 mg/g. The polysaccharides of the four species were mainly composed of galactose (54.74%) in A. ehrenbergii, mannose (44.15%) in S. aegyptiaca, glucose and ribose (33 and 26%, respectively) in S. monoica, and arabinose and glucose (36.67 and 31.52%, respectively) in Z. album. Glutamic acid and aspartic acid were the major AAs in all halophyte species with 50-63% and 10-22% of the total AAs, respectively. The proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) of the four species was 42.18-55.33%, comprised mainly of linolenic acid (15.54-28.63%) and oleic acid (5.68-22.05%), while palmitic acid (23.94-49.49%) was the most abundant saturated fatty acid (SFA). Phytol and 9,19-cyclolanost-24-en-3ß-ol represented the major unsaponifiable matter (USM) constituents of S. monoica and A. ehrenbergii with proportions 42.44 and 44.11%, respectively. The phenolic fraction of S. aegyptiaca and S. monoica demonstrated noteworthy antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 9.0 and 8.0 µg/mL, respectively, while the FAs fraction of Z. album exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against Huh-7, A-549, and Caco-2 cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 7.4, 10.8, and 11.8 µg/mL, respectively. Our results indicate that these plants may be considered a source of naturally occurring compounds with antioxidant and anticancer effects that could be suitable for future applications.

A Medicinal Halophyte Ipomoea pes-caprae (Linn.) R. Br.: A Review of Its Botany, Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Bioactivity.

Ipomoea pes-caprae (Linn.) R. Br. (Convolvulaceae) is a halophytic plant that favorably grows in tropical and subtropical countries in Asia, America, Africa, and Australia. Even though this plant is considered a pan-tropical plant, I. pes-caprae has been found to occur in inland habitats and coasts of wider areas, such as Spain, Anguilla, South Africa, and Marshall Island, either through a purposeful introduction, accidentally by dispersal, or by spreading due to climate change. The plant parts are used in traditional medicine for treating a wide range of diseases, such as inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders, pain, and hypertension. Previous phytochemical analyses of the plant have revealed pharmacologically active components, such as alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, and flavonoids. These phytoconstituents are responsible for the wide range of biological activities possessed by I. pes-caprae plant parts and extracts. This review arranges the previous reports on the botany, distribution, traditional uses, chemical constituents, and biological activities of I. pes-caprae to facilitate further studies that would lead to the discovery of novel bioactive natural products from this halophyte.

Towards the Pharmacological Validation and Phytochemical Profiling of the Decoction and Maceration of Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lam.-A Traditionally Used Medicinal Halophyte.

Decoctions (leaves and roots) of Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lam. are traditionally used against diabetes in many countries, including Mauritius. This study endeavoured to evaluate the inhibitory potential of leaves, roots, twigs and fruits extracts (decoction and maceration) of B. gymnorhiza against key enzymes relevant to diabetes. Considering complications related to diabetes, other clinical enzymes, namely, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, elastase and pancreatic lipase, were used. Identification of compounds was carried out using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Antioxidant capacities were assessed using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, phosphomolybdenum, metal chelating. The relationship between mode of extraction, plant parts and biological activities was determined using multivariate analysis. Macerated fruits, rich in phytochemicals (phenolic, flavanol, tannin, and triterpenoid), exhibited substantially high antioxidant capacities related to radical scavenging (DPPH: 547.75 ± 10.99 and ABTS: 439.59 ± 19.13 mg TE/g, respectively) and reducing potential (CUPRAC: 956.04 ± 11.90 and FRAP: 577.26 ± 4.55 mg TE/g, respectively). Additionally, the same extract significantly depressed AChE and BChE (3.75 ± 0.03 and 2.19 ± 0.13 mg GALAE/g, respectively), tyrosinase (147.01 ± 0.78 mg KAE/g), elastase (3.14 ± 0.08 mg OE/g) and amylase (1.22 ± 0.01 mmol ACAE/g) enzymatic activities. Phytochemical results confirmed the presence of 119 compounds in all maceration and 163 compounds in all decoction samples. The screening also revealed important compounds in the extracts, namely, quinic acid, brugierol, bruguierol A, epigallocatechin, chlorogenic acid, to name a few. Multivariate analysis reported that the plant parts of B. gymnorhiza greatly influenced the observed biological activities in contrast to the types of extraction methods employed. Docking calculations have supported the findings of the experimental part through the high binding affinity and strong interactions of some compounds against tyrosinase, AChE, BChE and elastase enzymes. The decocted root and leaf of B. gymnorhiza showed low to moderate antidiabetic activity, thereby partially supporting its traditional uses in the management of diabetes. However, the fruit, the most active organ, can be used as a diet supplement to reduce the risk of diabetes complications after evaluating its cytotoxic effects.

Salinity mediated cross-tolerance of arsenic toxicity in the halophyte Salvadora persica L. through metabolomic dynamics and regulation of stomatal movement and photosynthesis.

Arsenic (As) is a highly toxic metalloid adversely affecting the environment, human health, and crop productivity. The present study assessed the synergistic effects of salinity and As on photosynthetic attributes, stomatal regulations, and metabolomics responses of the xero-halophyte Salvadora persica to decipher the As-salinity cross-tolerance mechanisms and to identify the potential metabolites/metabolic pathways involved in cross-tolerance of As with salinity. Salinity and As stress-induced significant stomatal closure in S. persica suggests an adaptive response to decrease water loss through transpiration. NaCl supplementation improved the net photosynthetic rate (by +39%), stomatal conductance (by +190%), water use efficiency (by +55%), photochemical quenching (by +37%), and electron transfer rate (54%) under As stress as compared to solitary As treatment. Our results imply that both stomatal and non-stomatal factors account for a reduction in photosynthesis under high salinity and As stress conditions. A total of 64 metabolites were identified in S. persica under salinity and/or As stress, and up-regulation of various metabolites support early As-salinity stress tolerance in S. persica by improving antioxidative defense and ROS detoxification. The primary metabolites such as polyphenols (caffeic acid, catechin, gallic acid, coumaric acid, rosmarinic acid, and cinnamic acid), amino acids (glutamic acid, cysteine, glycine, lysine, phenylalanine, and tyrosine), citrate cycle intermediates (malic acid, oxalic acid, and α-ketoglutaric acid), and most of the phytohormones accumulated at higher levels under combined treatment of As + NaCl compared to solitary treatment of As. Moreover, exogenous salinity increased glutamate, glycine, and cysteine, which may induce higher synthesis of GSH-PCs in S. persica. The metabolic pathways that were significantly affected in response to salinity and/or As include inositol phosphate metabolism, citrate cycle, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. Our findings indicate that inflections of various metabolites and metabolic pathways facilitate S. persica to withstand and grow optimally even under high salinity and As conditions. Moreover, the addition of salt enhanced the arsenic tolerance proficiency of this halophyte.