Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of extracts and α-pyrones isolated from Cantinoa stricta.

This study evaluated the composition and the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of the crude extracts and two isolated compounds, anamarine (ANA) and 10-epi-olguine (eOL), obtained from the leaves of Cantinoa stricta (Lamiaceae). Crude ethanolic extract (EEt) and dichloromethane extract (DCM), selected based on NMR data, were submitted to pharmacological tests in male Swiss mice. The oral administration of EEt and DCM significantly reduced the second phase of formalin-induced nociception (60%), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mechanical hyperalgesia (90%), and carrageenan (Cg)-induced edema (25%). ANA and eOL, the major compounds in EEt and DCM extracts, administered orally or locally (in the paw), also reduced the LPS-induced mechanical hyperalgesia (Oral ID50 1.9 and 3.9 mg/kg; Local ID50 93.4 and 677.3 ng, respectively) without changing the thermal acute nociception or the motor performance of the animals. Local administration of ANA and eOL also reduced Cg-induced edema (40 and 23%, respectively). These isolated compounds did not change the mechanical hyperalgesia induced by tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, prostaglandin E2, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, or forskolin but reversed the hyperalgesia induced by dopamine, epinephrine, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The hyperalgesia induced by epinephrine was reversed in male but not in female mice, in which this response is not dependent on protein kinase C (PKC). These results suggest that C. stricta extracts possess antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity which is related to the presence of ANA and eOL. Differently from the known analgesics, these substances seem to exert their action mainly interfering with the sympathetic component of pain, possibly with PKC.

Efficacy of Lamium album as a natural fungicide: impact on seed germination, ergosterol, and mycotoxins in Fusarium culmorum-infected wheat seedlings.

Fusarium culmorum is a major wheat pathogen, and its secondary metabolites (mycotoxins) cause damage to plants, animals, and human health. In the era of sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly methods of prevention and control are constantly needed. The use of plant extracts as biocontrol agents has gained popularity as they are a source of active substances that play a crucial role in fighting against phytopathogens. This study evaluated the impact of Lamium album on wheat seed germination and seedling growth. In a pot experiment, the effect of L. album on wheat seedlings artificially inoculated with F. culmorum was evaluated by measuring seedling growth parameters, and by using chromatographic methods, ergosterol and mycotoxins levels were analyzed. The results showed that the phytotoxic effect of L. album flower extracts on wheat seed germination and seedling growth was concentration dependent. The radicle length was also reduced compared to the control; however, L. album did not significantly affect the dry weight of the radicle. A slight phytotoxic effect on seed germination was observed, but antifungal effects on artificially infected wheat seedlings were also confirmed with the reduction of ergosterol level and mycotoxins accumulation in the roots and leaves after 21 days of inoculation. F. culmorum DNA was identified in the control samples only. Overall, this study is a successful in planta study showing L. album flower extract protection of wheat against the pathogen responsible for Fusarium crown and root rot. Further research is essential to study the effects of L. album extracts on key regulatory genes for mycotoxin biosynthetic pathways.

Chemical composition, antimicrobial activity, and antioxidant capacity of Micromeria flagellaris Baker and M. madagascariensis Baker: Two endemic species from Madagascar as sources of essential oils.

Background: The aerial parts of Micromeria madagascariensis Baker and M. flagellaris Baker are used by the population of the Vakinankaratra and Itasy regions (Madagascar) to treat breathing difficulty, fever and/or headache, wounds, and sores. Purpose: This work aimed to characterise plant materials from M. madagascariensis and M. flagellaris to report i) chemical composition, ii) antimicrobial properties, and iii) antioxidant capacity of the essential oils extracted from the aerial parts of these species. Materials and methods: The essential oils from M. madagascariensis (MMO) and M. flagellaris (MFO) were obtained by hydrodistillation. Their chemical composition was quantified using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). MMO and MFO were also tested against 7 microbial strains using the disk diffusion method and their antioxidant capacity was assessed using the DPPH scavenging assay. Results: Hydrodistillation yielded 0.26% MMO and 0.29% MFO (w/w) in relation to the fresh weight. Twenty-seven compounds were identified by GC-MS in MMO extract against 36 in MFO one. The main compounds in MMO were pulegone (24.67%), trans-menthone (24.67%), eucalyptol (8.12%), ß-caryophyllene (4.98%), α-guanene (4.47), iso-menthone (3.85%), iso-pulegone (3.34%), azulene (3.28%) and 2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexenone (2.82%). The main compounds in the MFO were eudesma-4,11-dien-2-ol (13.88%), δ-guanene (6.62%), pulegone (6.40%), cyperone (5.56%), 4-epi-dehydrobietinol acetate (5.39%), eucalyptol (5.12%), trans-menthone (4.67%), limonene (3.77%) and sabinene (2.29%). Regarding the chemotaxonomy, M. flagellaris was very different from M. madagascariensis and both species also differed from the other Micromeria species, as confirmed by multivariate statistical analysis. Both MMO and MFO exerted activities against a large microbial spectrum; the antimicrobial activity of MMO was higher than MFO one against S. pneumoniae and C. albicans due to the presence of pulegone as the main component. MFO showed an excellent scavenging capacity with an SC50 value of 2.17 ± 0.03 µg/mL. Conclusion: The biological properties of the essential oils extracted from the selected species may explain their therapeutic value showing that Malagasy Micromeria species may be very important as new natural sources of bioactive compounds. This study may promote the effectiveness and quality of Malagasy Micromeria species, contributing to sustainable development and commercial valorisation of traditional preparations based on natural local resources.

Chloroplast genome of Ocimum basilicum var. purpurascens Bentham 1830 (Lamiaceae).

Ocimum basilicum var. purpurascens Bentham 1830 (Red Rubin Basil) is an aromatic herb belonging to the family Lamiaceae and is known for its medicinal uses. It is commonly used in traditional medicine to treat cardiovascular diseases and obesity. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifungal, and anti-spasmodic properties. In our recent study, we assembled the chloroplast genome sequence of O. basilicum var. purpurascens using Illumina paired-end sequencing technology. The assembled chloroplast genome was 152,407 base pairs (bp), inclusive of a large single-copy (LSC) region accounting for 83,409 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region spanning 17,604 bp. Two inverted repeats (IRs) interspersed these regions, each 25,697 bp long. The chloroplast genome harbored 132 genes, comprising 88 protein-coding genes, 36 transfer RNA (tRNA), and eight rRNA genes. Among these, nine genes encompassed a single intron, two presented with two introns, with the remaining devoid of any introns. The overall GC content of the chloroplast genome was determined to be 38%. The GC content in the LSC, SSC, and IR regions was 35.9%, 31.6%, and 43.1%, respectively. Our phylogenetic exploration of the chloroplast genomes elucidated that O. basilicum var. purpurascens exhibits close genetic affinity with O. basilicum var. basilicum and other constituents of the Ocimum genus within the Lamiaceae family.

Therapeutic Potential and Mechanisms of Rosmarinic Acid and the Extracts of Lamiaceae Plants for the Treatment of Fibrosis of Various Organs.

Fibrosis, which causes structural hardening and functional degeneration in various organs, is characterized by the excessive production and accumulation of connective tissue containing collagen, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), etc. In traditional medicine, extracts of medicinal plants or herbal prescriptions have been used to treat various fibrotic diseases. The purpose of this narrative review is to discuss the antifibrotic effects of rosmarinic acid (RA) and plant extracts that contain RA, as observed in various experimental models. RA, as well as the extracts of Glechoma hederacea, Melissa officinalis, Elsholtzia ciliata, Lycopus lucidus, Ocimum basilicum, Prunella vulgaris, Salvia rosmarinus (Rosmarinus officinalis), Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Perilla frutescens, have been shown to attenuate fibrosis of the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, and abdomen in experimental animal models. Their antifibrotic effects were associated with the attenuation of oxidative stress, inflammation, cell activation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and fibrogenic gene expression. RA treatment activated peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) while suppressing the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) and Wnt signaling pathways. Interestingly, most plants that are reported to contain RA and exhibit antifibrotic activity belong to the family Lamiaceae. This suggests that RA is an active ingredient for the antifibrotic effect of Lamiaceae plants and that these plants are a useful source of RA. In conclusion, accumulating scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of RA and Lamiaceae plant extracts in alleviating fibrosis and maintaining the structural architecture and normal functions of various organs under pathological conditions.

The complete chloroplast genome of Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. (Lamiaceae).

Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. 1858 is a Lamiaceae plant. It is mainly found in southern China. It is an excellent medicinal plant. The complete chloroplast genome of O. aristatus is 152,155 bp in length, with an average depth of 287×, and the GC content was 37.86%, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 83,098 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,665 bp, and an inverted repeats (IRs) region of 25,696 bp make up the genome's typical tetragonal shape. In addition, the genome consisted of 128 genes, including 85 protein-coding genes, 35 transfer RNA (tRNA), and eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. A monophyletic group was established by O. aristatus and 13 plants from five genera of Lamiaceae, according to the phylogenetic tree. In contrast, an isolated monophyletic group was formed by the alien plant Cinnamomum aromaticum. The ML tree bootstrap value was relatively high, and O. aristatus was most closely related to Ocimum tenuiflorum and Ocimum basilicum. This study can help with species identification and phylogenetic analysis within O. aristatus and Lamiaceae species.

Phenolic Content Analysis of Two Species Belonging to the Lamiaceae Family: Antioxidant, Anticholinergic, and Antibacterial Activities.

The Lamiaceae family are utilized as ornamental, medicinal, and food supplements throughout the world. The current study focuses on a comparative analysis of the phenolic compositions and bioactivities (including antioxidant, anticholinergic, and antibacterial activities) of ethanolic extracts derived from the aerial parts of the two species (Lavandula stoechas L. and Thymus sipyleus Boiss). The presence of phenolic compounds and phytochemicals in the plant extracts was identified using the LC-MS/MS technique. The LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that vanillic acid (125,596.66 µg/L) was the most abundant phytochemical in L. stoechas. Kaempferol (8550.52 µg/L) was the most abundant substance in Thymus sipyleus. The assessment of the antioxidant efficacy of the species extracts was conducted using the DPPH (2.2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate), ABTS (2.2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), Fe3+-Fe2+ reducing, and CUPRAC (Cu2+-Cu+ reducing) assays. The anticholinergic activity of the samples was determined using the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition assay. The results of antioxidant activity were higher in the T. sipyleus than in the L. stoechas ethanol extracts. The extracts of L. stoechas exhibited radical scavenging activity ranging from 15 to 18%, while T. sipyleus had activity effects ranging from 34% to 38%. The AChE inhibition potential for L. stoechas and T. sipyleus extracts as IC50 values were 0.221 ± 0.01 mg/mL and 0.067 ± 0.02 mg/mL, respectively. The antibacterial effects of the ethanolic extracts of these species against pathogenic bacteria isolates were determined using the MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) method. These findings indicated that the extracts from L. stoechas and T. sipyleus possess the potential to be natural antioxidants in the realm of food preservation. Additionally, their antioxidant, anticholinergic, and antimicrobial properties suggest potential therapeutic utility in the management of certain diseases.

Micrometer insights into Nepeta genus: Pollen micromorphology unveiled.

This study provides a comprehensive pollen micromorphology within the Nepeta genus, revealing intricate details about the pollen grains' structure and characteristics. The findings shed light on the evolutionary and taxonomical aspects of this plant genus, offering valuable insights for botanists and researchers studying Nepeta species. The pollen grains of 18 Nepeta species were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM) in Northern Pakistan. At the microscale, pollen quantitative measurements, qualitative traits, and diverse sculpturing patterns were reported and compared. Significant differences in pollen size, shape, ornamentation, and sculpturing patterns were discovered among the Nepeta species. Our data show that exine sculpturing is quite diverse, with most species exhibiting a reticulate perforate pollen pattern. Nepeta connata, Nepeta discolor, Nepeta elliptica, revealed a distinct bireticulate perforate exine stratification. Hexazonocolpate pollen is the most common. Furthermore, the surface membrane attributes of the colpus varied greatly, ranging from rough, scabrate, psilate, to sinuate patterns. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to discover the key factors influencing pollen diversity. PCA results showed that polar and equatorial diameters, colpi size, and exine thickness were the most influential pollen features between Nepeta species. This study adds to our understanding of pollen morphology in the Nepeta genus, offering information on the vast range of characteristics found in this economically important group. The extensive characterization of pollen features provides useful insights for the categorization and differentiation of Nepeta species, adding to the Lamiaceae micromorphology.

Multiomics analyses of two Leonurus species illuminate leonurine biosynthesis and its evolution.

The Lamiaceae family is renowned for its terpenoid-based medicinal components, but Leonurus, which has traditional medicinal uses, stands out for its alkaloid-rich composition. Leonurine, the principal active compound found in Leonurus, has demonstrated promising effects in reducing blood lipids and treating strokes. However, the biosynthetic pathway of leonurine remains largely unexplored. Here, we present the chromosome-level genome sequence assemblies of Leonurus japonicus, known for its high leonurine production, and Leonurus sibiricus, characterized by very limited leonurine production. By integrating genomics, RNA sequencing, metabolomics, and enzyme activity assay data, we constructed the leonurine biosynthesis pathway and identified the arginine decarboxylase (ADC), uridine diphosphate glucosyltransferase (UGT), and serine carboxypeptidase-like (SCPL) acyltransferase enzymes that catalyze key reactions in this pathway. Further analyses revealed that the UGT-SCPL gene cluster evolved by gene duplication in the ancestor of Leonurus and neofunctionalization of SCPL in L. japonicus, which contributed to the accumulation of leonurine specifically in L. japonicus. Collectively, our comprehensive study illuminates leonurine biosynthesis and its evolution in Leonurus.

Assessing the Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and enzyme Inhibitory Effects of Pentapleura subulifera and Cyclotrichium glabrescens Extracts.

The Lamiaceae family, encompassing diverse plant species, holds significant value in food, medicine, and cosmetics. Within this family, Pentapleura subulifera and Cyclotrichium glabrescens, relatively unexplored species, were investigated for their chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and enzyme-inhibiting effects. The chemical composition of hexane, methanolic, and aqueous extracts from P. subulifera and C. glabrescens were analyzed using LC-ESI-MS/MS and the non-polar hexane fraction was investigated via GC-MS. The antioxidant potential of the extracts was determined through radical scavenging, reducing power and metal chelating assays. Additionally, inhibitory activity against six enzymes - acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, amylase, and glucosidase - was examined. The aqueous extract of P. subulifera and the methanolic extract of C. glabrescens exhibited elevated phenolic content at 129.47 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 55.97 mg GAE/g, respectively. Chemical profiling of the constituents of the two plant species resulted in the identification of a total of twenty compounds. The majority of which belonged to flavonoids and quinic acid derivatives, primarily concentrated in the methanol and aqueous extracts. Among all antioxidant assays, the aqueous extracts of P. subulifera demonstrated superior antioxidant activity, with the highest recorded activity of 404.93 mg trolox equivalent (TE)/g in the cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) test. Meanwhile, the hexane extract of C. glabrescens exhibited the highest AChE inhibitory activity at 2.71 mg galanthamine equivalent (GALAE)/g, followed by the methanol extract of P. subulifera at 2.41 mg GALAE/g. These findings unequivocally establish the notable antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activity of P. subulifera and C. glabrescens extracts, underscoring their potential as a source of valuable natural antioxidants.

Diverse terpenoid glycosides with in vitro cytotoxicity from Glechoma longituba.

Terpenoids are the largest class of all known natural products, possessing structural diversity and numerous biological activities. Ten previously undescribed terpenoid glycosides, glechlongsides A-J (1-10), were isolated from the ethanol extract of the whole plant of Glechoma longituba, including diterpenoid glycoside and pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin. The structures of these compounds were characterized by extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR as well as HRESIMS spectra. In addition, glechlongsides F-I (6-9) exhibited weak cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines BGC-823, Be1, HCT-8, A2780, and A549 with IC50 values ranging from 3.77 to 30.95 µM, respectively.

Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of a methanol extract from Stachys brachyclada de Noé ex Coss. leaves.

Stachys brachyclada de Noé ex Coss. (Lamiaceae) is a quite rare medicinal plant endemic to the Mediterranean basin. In this study, seven secondary metabolites from a methanol extract of its leaves have been isolated and identified by a combination of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR experiments and ESIMS analysis). They include one ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (1), three acylated flavone glycosides (2-4), one diapigenin derivative (5) and two flavone aglycones (6-7). Stachysetin (5) was found the major compound of the extract (74.0 mg/g of dry matter). Moreover, the produced extract showed the ability in inhibiting the α-glucosidase enzyme (IC50 = 13.7 µg/mL), in quenching the radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (EC50 = 74.6 µg/mL), and in reducing the intracellular oxidative stress level in Human Dermal Fibroblast (64% inhibition at 50 µg/mL).

Yield and Composition of the Essential Oil of Clinopodium nepeta subsp. spruneri as Affected by Harvest Season and Cultivation Method, i.e., Outdoor, Greenhouse and In Vitro Culture.

Clinopodium nepeta subsp. spruneri is an aromatic herb with a mint-oregano flavor, used in Mediterranean regions in traditional medicine. The aerial parts of the plant are rich in essential oil that has antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties as well as insecticidal activity. The aim of our work was to determine the yield and composition of the essential oil of the plant, in relation to the harvest season and cultivation method, i.e., outdoor, greenhouse and in vitro culture, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as an analytical tool. Essential oil yield fluctuated similarly in outdoor and greenhouse plants during the year (0.9-2.6%), with higher percentages (2.1-2.6%) in the hottest periods June-October (flowering stage) and April (vegetative stage), and was similar to the yield in in vitro plants (1.7%). More compounds were identified in the oil of outdoor and greenhouse plants (35) compared to that of in vitro plants (21), while the main compounds were the same, i.e., pulegone (13.0-32.0%, highest in February-April, 15.0% in vitro), piperitenone oxide (3.8-31.8%, lowest in February, 34.2% in vitro), piperitone epoxide (4.6-16.4%, highest in February, 15.5% in vitro), D-limonene (2.1-8.8%, lowest in February, 10.0% in vitro), isomenthone (2.3-23.0%, highest in February, 4.6% in vitro), germacrene D (1.9-6.5% highest in December-April, 2.9% in vitro) and dicyclogermacrene (2.1-5.3%, highest in December-April, 5.2% in vitro). Therefore, greenhouse and in vitro cultures were equally efficient in yielding essential oil and its constituents as outdoor cultivation, while in outdoor and greenhouse cultivations, the harvest season, mainly due to the prevailing ambient temperatures, affected the essential oil yield and its percentage composition.

Antioxidant Activity of Medicinal Herbs and Spices from Plants of the Lamiaceae, Apiaceae and Asteraceae Families: Chemometric Interpretation of the Data.

Plant products, especially medicinal herbs and spices, have been used for centuries as a remedy to support human health and improve the flavor of food. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify plant species distinguished by their high content of phenolic compounds and high antioxidant activity using advanced multivariate statistical techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA). To realize the purpose of the study, the total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoids (FC) content, antioxidant activity (TAC) and Fe(II) ion chelating capacity (FIC) of medicinal herbs and spices from plants belonging to three botanical families, Lamiaceae, Apiaceae and Asteraceae were determined. The interpretation of the obtained data revealed that the studied samples are localized in the PCA and HCA plots according to their TPC, FC, TAC and FIC values. Chemometric analysis confirmed that medicinal herbs and spices from plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family are richer sources of phenolic compounds and exhibit stronger antioxidant activity than those raw materials from plants in the Apiaceae family. In addition, no significant differences were found in terms of TPC, FC, TAC and FIC values between medicinal herbs and spices from the same plant species, i.e., oregano (Origanum vulgare), common thyme (Thymus vulgaris), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), caraway (Carum carvi) and lovage (Levisticum officinale). A close relationship between antioxidant properties and contents of phenolic compounds was also confirmed.

Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Properties of the Subfamily Nepetoideae (Lamiaceae) in Inflammatory Diseases.

Nepetoideae is the most diverse subfamily of Lamiaceae, and some species are well known for their culinary and medicinal uses. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the therapeutic properties of the species of this group regarding inflammatory illnesses. This study aims to collect information on traditional uses through ethnobotanical, pharmacological, and phytochemical information of the subfamily Nepetoideae related to inflammatory diseases. UNAM electronic resources were used to obtain the information. The analysis of the most relevant literature was compiled and organised in tables. From this, about 106 species of the subfamily are traditionally recognised to alleviate chronic pain associated with inflammation. Pharmacological studies have been carried out in vitro and in vivo on approximately 308 species belonging to the genera Salvia, Ocimum, Thymus, Mentha, Origanum, Lavandula, and Melissa. Phytochemical and pharmacological evaluations have been performed and mostly prepared as essential oil or high polarity extracts, whose secondary metabolites are mainly of a phenolic nature. Other interesting and explored metabolites are diterpenes from the abietane, clerodane, and kaurane type; however, they have only been described in some species of the genera Salvia and Isodon. This review reveals that the Nepetoideae subfamily is an important source for therapeutics of the inflammatory process.

Chemical Composition of Salvia fruticosa Mill. Essential Oil and Its Protective Effects on Both Photosynthetic Damage and Oxidative Stress in Conocephalum conicum L. Induced by Environmental Heavy Metal Concentrations.

The genus Salvia L., belonging to the Lamiaceae family, contains more than 900 species distributed in various parts of the world. It is a genus containing aromatic plants used both in the culinary field and above all in the cosmetic area to produce several perfumes. Salvia fruticosa Mill., notoriously known as Greek Salvia, is a plant used since ancient times in traditional medicine, but today cultivated and used in various parts of Europe and Africa. Polar and apolar extracts of this plant confirmed the presence of several metabolites such as abietane and labdane diterpenoids, triterpenoids, steroids, and some flavonoids, causing interesting properties such as sedative, carminative, and antiseptic, while its essential oils (EOs) are mainly characterized by compounds such as 1,8-cineole and camphor. The aim of this work concerns the chemical analysis by GC and GC-MS, and the investigation of the biological properties, of the EO of S. fruticosa plants collected in eastern Sicily. The gas-chromatographic analysis confirmed the presence of 1,8-cineole (17.38%) and camphor (12.81%), but at the same time, also moderate amounts of α-terpineol (6.74%), ß-myrcene (9.07%), camphene (8.66%), ß-pinene (6.55%), and α-pinene (6.45%). To study the protective effect of EOs from S. fruticosa (both the total mixture and the individual compounds) on possible damage induced by heavy metals, an in vitro system was used in which a model organism, the liverwort Conocephalum conicum, was subjected to the effect of a mix of heavy metals (HM) prepared using values of concentrations actually measured in one of the most polluted watercourses of the Campania region, the Regi Lagni. Finally, the antioxidant response and the photosynthetic damage were examined. The exogenous application of the EO yields a resumption of the oxidative stress induced by HM, as demonstrated by the reduction in the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) content and by the increased activity of antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Furthermore, plants treated with HMs and EO showed a higher Fv/Fm (maximal quantum efficiency of PSII in the dark) with respect to HMs-only treated ones. These results clearly indicate the protective capacity of the EO of S. fruticosa against oxidative stress, which is achieved at least in part by modulating the redox state through the antioxidant pathway and on photosynthetic damage.

Climate Change Dependence in Ex Situ Conservation of Wild Medicinal Plants in Crete, Greece.

Over 80% of the global population addresses their primary healthcare needs using traditional medicine based on medicinal plants. Consequently, there's a rising demand for these plants for both household and industrial use at local, regional, national, and international levels. However, wild harvesting has negatively impacted natural ecosystems. Cultivating medicinal species has been proposed as a conservation strategy to alleviate this pressure. Yet, in this age of global climate change concerns, smallholder farmers' views on the benefits of such cultivation clash with the uncertainties of climate change impacts, amplifying their anxieties. In this context, the climate change dependence of ex situ cultivation of ten wild medicinal taxa with significant ethnopharmacological interest in Crete, Greece, were studied, projecting their potential habitat suitability under various future climate scenarios. The results demonstrated species-specific effects. Based on the potential cultivation area gains and losses, these effects can be categorized into three groups. We also outlined the spatial patterns of these gains and losses, offering valuable insights for regional management strategies benefiting individual practitioners.

Mitigation of Benzene-Induced Haematotoxicity in Sprague Dawley Rats through Plant-Extract-Loaded Silica Nanobeads.

Benzene, a potent carcinogen, is known to cause acute myeloid leukaemia. While chemotherapy is commonly used for cancer treatment, its side effects have prompted scientists to explore natural products that can mitigate the haematotoxic effects induced by chemicals. One area of interest is nano-theragnostics, which aims to enhance the therapeutic potential of natural products. This study aimed to enhance the effects of methanolic extracts from Ocimum basilicum, Rosemarinus officinalis, and Thymus vulgaris by loading them onto silica nanobeads (SNBs) for targeted delivery to mitigate the benzene-induced haematotoxic effects. The SNBs, 48 nm in diameter, were prepared using a chemical method and were then loaded with the plant extracts. The plant-extract-loaded SNBs were then coated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The modified SNBs were characterized using various techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The developed plant-extract-loaded and CMC-modified SNBs were administered intravenously to benzene-exposed rats, and haematological and histopathological profiling was conducted. Rats exposed to benzene showed increased liver and spleen weight, which was mitigated by the plant-extract-loaded SNBs. The differential white blood cell (WBC) count was higher in rats with benzene-induced haematotoxicity, but this count decreased significantly in rats treated with plant-extract-loaded SNBs. Additionally, blast cells observed in benzene-exposed rats were not found in rats treated with plant-extract-loaded SNBs. The SNBs facilitated targeted drug delivery of the three selected medicinal herbs at low doses. These results suggest that SNBs have promising potential as targeted drug delivery agents to mitigate haematotoxic effects induced by benzene in rats.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Plectranthus hadiensis (Lamiaceae) and phylogenetic analysis.

Plants of the genus Plectranthus are used for the treatment of digestive problems, skin diseases, and allergies, with a wide variety of uses. Here, the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Plectranthus hadiensis (Benth. ex E.Mey) Codd. 1788 was assembled and characterized for the first time. The full length of the chloroplast genome is 152,484 bp, consisting of a small single-copy region of 17,686 bp, a large single-copy region of 83,380 bp, and a pair of inverted repeats of 51,418 bp. The overall GC content is 37.73%. The chloroplast genome contains 131 unique genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 36 transfer RNA genes, and eight ribosomal RNA genes. Phylogenetic tree construction based on the complete chloroplast genome sequences of 25 species (23 Nepetoideae, two Ajugoideae) of the Lamiaceae family showed that P. hadiensis exhibited the closest relationship with Isodon.

Subchronic toxicity of Sideritis scardica, Lamiaceae on male Wistar rats.

INTRODUCTION: Sideritisscardica, Lamiaceae, is a plant with anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, digestive, and antimicrobial properties that is widely used in folk medicine throughout the Balkan Peninsula. The name derives from the Greek word 'sideros', meaning iron, and it is believed that the plant was also used by soldiers to heal wounds caused by cutting weapons.