Methyl jasmonate improves selenium tolerance via regulating ROS signalling, hormonal crosstalk and phenylpropanoid pathway in Plantago ovata.

Selenium (Se) toxicity is an emerging contaminant of global concern. It is known to cause oxidative stress, affecting plant growth and yield. Plantago ovata, a major cash crop known for its medicinal properties, is often cultivated in Se-contaminated soil. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) seed priming technique to mitigate Se-induced phytotoxicity. The results demonstrated that Se stress inhibited P. ovata growth, biomass and lowered chlorophyll content in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 1 µM MeJA enhanced the antioxidant defence system via ROS signalling and upregulated key enzymes of phenylpropanoid pathway, PAL (1.9 times) and CHI (5.4 times) in comparison to control. Caffeic acid, Vanillic acid, Chlorogenic acid, Coumaric acid and Luteoloside were the most abundant polyphenols. Enzymatic antioxidants involved in ROS scavenging, such as CAT (up to 1.3 times) and GPOX (up to 1.4 times) were raised, while SOD (by 0.6 times) was reduced. There was an upregulation of growth-inducible hormones, IAA (up to 2.1 fold) and GA (up to 1.5 fold) whereas, the stress-responsive hormones ABA (by 0.6 fold) and SA (by 0.5 fold) were downregulated. The alleviation of Se toxicity was also evident from the decrease in H2O2 and MDA contents under MeJA treatment. These findings suggest that MeJA can effectively improve Se tolerance and nutraceutical value in P. ovata by modulating the phytohormone regulatory network, redox homeostasis and elicits accumulation of polyphenols. Therefore, MeJA seed priming could be an efficient way to enhance stress resilience and sustainable crop production.

A New Glucosyl Flavone with Inhibitory Activity of Cancer Cell Viability and Other Bioactive Constituents from the Traditional Kurdish Plant Plantago loeflingii L.

A new glucosyl flavone, 5,7,2',5'-tetrahydroxyflavone 7-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside, named loeflingiin, together with apigenin 6-C-glucoside (isovitexin), coumarins citropten and isompinellin, triterpenoids betulin and betulinic acid, and a mixture of phytosterols ß-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol were isolated for the first time from the leaves of wild Plantago loeflingii L. (Plantaginaceae) collected in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. The plant is used by local people to treat wounds and as a vulnerary remedy. The structures of isolated compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis. The activities of isovitexin and loeflingiinon the viability of breast (MCF7), ovarian (BG-1), endometrial (Ishikawa), and mesothelioma (IST-MES1) human cancer cells and two normal cell lines were determined with an MTT assay. Notably, the new 7-O-glucosyl flavone showed effects higher than cisplatin against the Ishikawa and IST-MESI cell lines. The significant biological activities exhibited by all the compounds isolated from P. loeflingii provided scientific evidence to support the use of the plant in the Kurdish traditional medicine.

Ultrasound-assisted ethanol/K2HPO4 aqueous two-phase extraction of polysaccharides from Plantago asiatica L. seeds: Process optimization, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant activity.

INTRODUCTION: The seeds of Plantago asiatica L., a folk herb, are rich in polysaccharides that possess antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Polysaccharides with lower molecular weights generally exhibit higher biological activity, so a method to efficiently extract low-molecular-weight polysaccharides from P. asiatica L. seeds (PLPs) is needed. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to establish an efficient method for extracting polysaccharides from P. asiatica L. seeds while preserving their activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Response surface methodology was applied to determine the optimal polysaccharide extraction conditions. Subsequently, the extracted polysaccharides were characterized to determine their monosaccharide composition, physicochemical properties, and molecular weight. Their antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring their ability to scavenge DPPH and ABTS free radicals. RESULTS: An extraction yield of 9.17% was achieved under an ethanol concentration of 18.0% (w/w), a K2HPO4 concentration of 27.8% (w/w), a solvent-to-material ratio of 30:1 (mL/g), an ultrasound power of 203 W, and an extraction time of 39 min. Structural analyses indicated that this method might cause physicochemical changes in the conformation of PLPs and induce the degradation of PLP side chains but not the backbone. The antioxidant assay results showed that the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rates of PLPs were 48.3% and 49.2%, respectively, while in the control group the radical scavenging rates were 35.5% and 37.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The established method for extracting polysaccharides from P. asiatica L. seeds is efficient and reliable. The polysaccharides could be used as an important resource with antioxidant activity.

Antiulcerogenic and antioxidant activities of Plantago ovata ethanolic extract in rats / Atividade antiulcerogênica e antioxidante do extrato etanólico de Plantago ovata em ratos

This study aimed to determine the antiulcerogenic and antioxidant activities of Psyllium (Plantago ovata Forssk) seed ethanolic extract in rats. We assessed the antioxidant potential using free radical scavenging on DPPH, ß-carotene bleaching activity, ferric reducing power, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. In the antiulcerogenic study, pre-treatment with Plantago ovata seeds ethanolic extract (POE) (400 mg/kg b.wt) significantly protected against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats by decreasing the ulcer index value and preserving the integrity of the gastric mucosa. The oxidative stress status in the stomach tissues showed a significant increase in the antioxidant enzyme levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase with a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation during pre-treatment with POE. In conclusion, the POE protects against gastric ulcer due to its antioxidant potential and presence of bioactive molecules.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar as atividades antiulcerogênica e antioxidante das sementes de Psyllium (Plantago ovata Forssk) em ratos. O potencial antioxidante foi avaliado utilizando o método do sequestro do radical livre DPPH, autooxidação do ß-caroteno, poder redutor de ferro e atividade de sequestro do radical hidroxila. No estudo antiulcerogênico, o pré-tratamento com o extrato etanólico das sementes de Plantago ovata (POE) (400 mg/Kg b.wt) reduziu a úlcera gástrica induzida pelo etanol em ratos, diminuindo o valor do índice de úlcera e preservando a integridade da mucosa gástrica. O estudo do estresse oxidativo nos tecidos estomacais mostrou um aumento significativo dos níveis das enzimas antioxidantes superóxido dismutase, catalase e glutationa peroxidase, com uma diminuição significativa da peroxidação lipídica enquanto pré-tratamento com POE. Em conclusão, o POE protege contra úlcera gástrica devido aos seus potenciais antioxidantes e à presença de moléculas bioativas.

Phytochemical profiling, toxicity studies, wound healing, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Musa paradisiaca L. Musaceae (Plantain) stem extract in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The stem of Musa paradisiaca (plantain) has found application in traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes, inflammation, ulcers and wound injuries. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated the phytochemical composition, toxicity profile, wound healing, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of aqueous Musa paradisiaca stem extract (AMPSE) in rats. METHODS: Phytochemical analysis of methanol-MPSE was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Acute toxicity testing was carried out through oral administration of a single dose of AMPSE up to 5 g/kg. Four separate groups of rats were used for the subacute toxicity testing (n = 6). Group 1 served as a normal control and did not receive AMPSE, groups 2-4 received AMPSE daily by gavage for 28 days. In the experiments with excision and incision wounds, the rats were treated with 10 w/w AMPS extract. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of AMPSE were assessed using egg albumin-induced paw oedema and acetic acid-induced writhing methods, respectively. For the subacute, anti-inflammatory and analgesic studies, AMPSE was administered to the experimental rats at doses of 300, 600 and 900 mg/kg body weight. RESULTS: Bioactive compounds identified include ß-sitisterol, n-hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, diethyl sulfate, p-hydroxynorephedrine, phenylephrine, nor-pseudoephedrine, metaraminol, pseudoephedrine and vanillic acid. No signs of toxicity and no deaths were observed in all the groups. For the groups treated with AMPSE for 28 days, a significant reduction in alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, sodium, chloride, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were observed while high density lipoprotein cholesterol, glutathione and superoxide dismutase increased compared to control (p < 0.05). In wound healing experiments, AMPSE showed greater percent wound contraction and wound resistance fracture compared to the povidone-iodine (PI) treated and control groups. Treatment with 900 mg/kg AMPSE resulted in significant (p < 0.05) anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects compared to the control. CONCLUSION: This study shows that AMPSE is not toxic but contains biologically active compounds with hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering and wound-healing effects. Treatment of rats with AMPSE has shown that AMPSE has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, lipid-lowering and wound-healing effects, supporting its therapeutic use in ethnomedicine.

Plantago asiatica L. polysaccharides: Physiochemical properties, structural characteristics, biological activity and application prospects: A review.

Plantago asiatica L. (PAL), a traditional herb, has been used in East Asia for thousands of years. In recent years, polysaccharides extracted from PAL have garnered increased attention due to their outstanding pharmacological and biological properties. Previous research has established that PAL-derived polysaccharides exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antitumor, antimicrobial, immune-regulatory, intestinal health-promoting, antiviral, and other effects. Nevertheless, a comprehensive summary of the research related to Plantago asiatica L. polysaccharides (PALP) has not been reported to date. In this paper, we review the methods for isolation and purification, physiochemical properties, structural features, and biological activities of PALP. To provide a foundation for research and application in the fields of medicine and food, this review also outlines the future development prospects of plantain polysaccharides.

Functionality and mechanistic parametric study of the potential of waste plantain peels and commercial bentonite for soybean oil refining.

The consumption of unrefined vegetable oil poses acute and chronic health issues, yet improper disposal of waste plantain peels is not environmentally sustainable. This research investigates the feasibility, mechanism and thermodynamics of waste plantain peels, and commercial bentonite clay for soybean oil refining. Experiment was carried out using masses (1-4 g) of commercial bentonite clay, and unripe plantain peel ash (UPPA) to degummed and neutralized free fatty acid (FFA) contents in crude soybean oil at varying temperatures (50-120 °C), and time (15-35 min) for treatment of soybean oil. FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, and XRF techniques were applied to characterize the sample. The results established that at optimum 4.0 g dosage, the UPPA (97.73%) was more effective in the removal of FFA from oil at 50 °C and 20 min, while the clay (90%) was more effective in the removal of colour pigment from the vegetable oil 100 °C, and 25 min. The optimum efficiency of Clay-Ash-composite (70:30) in adsorbing pigment from soybean oil corresponds to 80%. The impact of changing viscosities, densities, and acid values on the performance of UPPA, clay, and clay-UPPA composite was investigated. Mechanistic studies confirmed the pseudo-second-order kinetics at 5 × 10-2 g/mg min-1 and 1.87 × 10-1 g/mg min-1, with corresponding adsorption capacity of 30.40 mg/g and 4.91 mg/g, at R2 ≤ 0.9982. The UPPA-driven sorption of FFA occurred as a physisorption and exothermic process (- 620.60 kJ/mol), while colour pigment removal occurred by chemisorption and endothermic process (22.40 kJ/mol). The finding recommends UPPA and composite as economically feasible for refining soybean oil.

Pharmaceutical Assessment of the Impact of the Method of Extraction on the Suitability of Pectin from Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) Peels as a Suspending Agent in Oral Liquid Formulations.

Natural polymers such as pectin have gained increased utilization in pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors because they are affordable, easily accessible, nontoxic, and chemically modifiable, with the potential to be biodegradable and biocompatible. Musa paradisiaca (plantain) peels make up 30-40% of the overall weight of the fruit. The extraction of pectin from these residues can therefore be viewed as a possible waste of wealth. This study, therefore, focused on evaluating the suspending properties of pectin obtained from Musa paradisiaca (plantain) peels (through acid and alkaline extraction) and presented an alternative suspending agent in the pharmaceutical formulation of suspensions. The unripe peels of Musa paradisiaca were acquired and authenticated at the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. Pectin was extracted from the peels using both acid and alkaline extraction processes, respectively, characterized, and evaluated for its phytochemical properties. Different concentrations of the acid and alkaline pectin extracts were employed as a suspending agent in paracetamol suspensions, using acacia gum as a standard. The pectin yields obtained were 4.88% and 7.61% for the acid and alkaline extraction processes, respectively, while phytochemical screening revealed the presence of glycosides, tannins, saponins, and phenols in both extracts. The alkaline pectin extract recorded higher equivalent weight, degree of esterification, ash content, and crude content than the acid pectin extract, while FTIR identified similar functional groups in both acid and alkaline pectin extracts. The test suspensions reported significant differences (P < 0.05) in flow rates, ease of redispersion, sedimentation volumes, and rates compared with acacia gum. Moreover, when the acid and alkaline pectin extracts were compared, significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in sedimentation rates and sedimentation volumes, suggesting that the extraction method may affect suspending properties. Ultimately, the alkaline pectin extract had better suspending properties than the acid pectin extract; however, they both can be used as an alternative to acacia gum as a suspending agent.

Immunosuppressive effect of Plantago major on the innate immunity of Galleria mellonella.

Greater plantain (Plantago major), a medicinal plant species, is used in folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases in many countries of the world. Different studies have shown that the bioactive components contained in the plant have a dual effect. It was also reported that in vivo and in vitro studies showed different results. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of P. major extract on the hemocyte-mediated and humoral immune responses of the invertebrate model organism Galleria mellonella, which is widely used in immune studies. In the evaluation of these effects, total hemocyte count, encapsulation, melanization, phenoloxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, malondialdehyde and total protein parameters were evaluated. The results of the study showed that the total hemocyte count did not change, that the encapsulation responses decreased, that the melanization responses and phenoloxidase activity increased and that the superoxide dismutase activity decreased. As a result, it was determined that high doses of P. major had negative effects on cell-mediated immunity and antioxidant defence and positive effects on melanization. High doses and continuous use of P. major may have negative effects on living things.

Genome assembly of the pioneer species Plantago major L. (Plantaginaceae) provides insight into its global distribution and adaptation to metal-contaminated soil.

Plantago is a major genus belonging to the Plantaginaceae family and is used in herbal medicine, functional food, and pastures. Several Plantago species are also characterized by their global distribution, but the mechanism underpinning this is not known. Here, we present a high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly of Plantago major L., a species of Plantago, by incorporating Oxford Nanopore sequencing and Hi-C technologies. The genome assembly size was approximately 671.27 Mb with a contig N50 length of 31.30 Mb. 31,654 protein-coding genes were identified from the genome. Evolutionary analysis showed that P. major diverged from other Lamiales species at ~62.18 Mya and experienced two rounds of WGD events. Notably, many gene families related to plant acclimation and adaptation expanded. We also found that many polyphenol biosynthesis genes showed high expression patterns in roots. Some amino acid biosynthesis genes, such as those involved in histidine synthesis, were highly induced under metal (Ni) stress that led to the accumulation of corresponding metabolites. These results suggest persuasive arguments for the global distribution of P. major through multiscale analysis. Decoding the P. major genome provides a valuable genomic resource for research on dissecting biological function, molecular evolution, taxonomy, and breeding.

Antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts of Plantago major leaves against Pseudomonas aeruginosa from burn infections.

INTRODUCTION: The use of herbal extracts is increasing because of the increase in bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics. Plantago major is frequently used in traditional medicine because of its medicinal properties. The aim of the current study was to assess the antibacterial efficacy of an ethanolic extract of P. major leaves against Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from burn infections. METHODOLOGY: One hundred and twenty burn samples were collected from hospitalized patients at the Burn Hospital in Duhok city. The bacterium was identified using Gram stain, colony morphology, biochemical tests and selective differential media. Antibacterial activity of P. major leaves was assessed by using an ethanolic extract in serial dilutions of 100, 75, 50, 25, and 10 % and disc diffusion assay. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was also performed by disk diffusion using Muller-Hinton agar medium. RESULTS: Different concentrations of the ethanolic extract of P. major leaves exhibited different zones of inhibition against P. aeruginosa from 9.93 mm to 22.18 mm in diameter. The inhibition zone increased as the concentration of the extract increased. The 100% ethanolic extract had the greatest inhibitory effect, inhibiting bacteria in the zone of 22.18 mm diameter. This bacterium showed a high level of resistance to the antibiotics used. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that herbal extracts could be used as a combination therapy with antibiotics and chemical drugs in the elimination of bacterial growth. Further investigations and future experiments, need to be carried out before recommending use of herbal extracts.

Pectin from plantain peels: Green recovery for transformation into reinforced packaging films.

Plantain peels as agro-waste are generated in the millions of tons per year with no profitable management strategies. On the other hand, the excessive use of plastic packaging threatens the environment and human health. This research aimed to address both problems via a green approach. High-quality pectin was recovered from plantain peels via an enzyme-assisted and ethanol-recycling process. The yield and galacturonic acid (GalA) content of the recovered low methoxy pectin was 12.43% and 25.0%, respectively, when cellulase was added at 50 U per 5 g peel powder, with a significantly higher recovery rate and purity than the pectin products extracted with no cellulase (P ≤ 0.05). The recovered pectin was further integrated and reinforced with beeswax solid-lipid nanoparticles (BSLNs) to fabricate films as a potential alternative packaging material to single-use plastics. The reinforced pectin films showed improved light barrier, water resistance, mechanical, conformational, and morphological properties. This study presents a sustainable strategy to transform plantain peels into pectin products and pectin-based packaging films with broad applications.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of Plantago ovata.

Plantago ovata is cultivated for production of its seed husk (psyllium). When wet, the husk transforms into a mucilage with properties suitable for pharmaceutical industries, utilised in supplements for controlling blood cholesterol levels, and food industries for making gluten-free products. There has been limited success in improving husk quantity and quality through breeding approaches, partly due to the lack of a reference genome. Here we constructed the first chromosome-scale reference assembly of P. ovata using a combination of 5.98 million PacBio and 636.5 million Hi-C reads. We also used corrected PacBio reads to estimate genome size and transcripts to generate gene models. The final assembly covers ~ 500 Mb with 99.3% gene set completeness. A total of 97% of the sequences are anchored to four chromosomes with an N50 of ~ 128.87 Mb. The P. ovata genome contains 61.90% repeats, where 40.04% are long terminal repeats. We identified 41,820 protein-coding genes, 411 non-coding RNAs, 108 ribosomal RNAs, and 1295 transfer RNAs. This genome will provide a resource for plant breeding programs to, for example, reduce agronomic constraints such as seed shattering, increase psyllium yield and quality, and overcome crop disease susceptibility.

Extraction, separation and kinetics of phenylethanosides from Plantago asiatica L. by an innovative extraction technology-deep eutectic solvent-based ultrasound-assisted extraction.

In this paper, the total phenylethanosides (TPS) were extracted efficiently by an innovative extraction technology--deep eutectic solvent-based ultrasound-assisted extraction (DES-UAE) from Plantago asiatica L. Ten diverse types of DESs were synthesized as alternative extraction solutions. The extraction efficiency of DES-3 (constituted by choline chloride and lactic acid) was much higher than those of other DESs. On the basis of single factor tests and Box-Behnken design (BBD), the optimum processing parameters of DES-UAE as follow: DES-3 with molar ratio of 1:3, extraction temperature 51 °C, solid/liquid 22.5 mg/ml, water content 30%, ultrasonic power 65 W, extraction time 23 min. The extraction efficiency of TPS from Plantago asiatica L. was 8.395 mg/ml, which was more superior than those of organic solvents (water, methanol, 50% methanol, ethanol, 50% ethanol). The extraction kinetics experiment results showed that water content had a significant influence upon the extraction efficiency of TPS. At the same time, AB-8 macroporous resin column was used to efficiently isolate TPS from DES extraction with a recovery rate of 88.5%.

Effects of dietary Plantago ovata seed extract administration on growth performance and immune function of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerling exposed to ammonia toxicity.

Medicinal plants are powerful antioxidants which can improve well-being and suppress oxidative stress caused by environmental toxins in aquatic animals. In this regard, the present research was designed to show the potential effects of psyllium (Plantago ovata) seed extract (PSE) on the growth, and immune responses of common carp Cyprinus carpio exposed to acute ammonia toxicity. To perform the study, fish were fed with diets containing 0 (T0), 0.25 (T1), 0.5 (T2), and 1% (T3) PSE for 60 days, and then exposed to ammonia (0.5 mg L-1) for 3 h. The findings showed that fish given the T1 diet outperformed the T3 and control groups in terms of ultimate weight, weight increase, and food conversion ratio. Additionally, the T1 group showed a significantly higher level of total protein and serum lysozyme activity than the other treatment groups. Moreover, the highest serum total immunoglobulin values were recorded in T1 and T2 groups. The results showed that PSE, especially at moderate levels, could successfully upregulate the transcription of immune-related genes (IFN-γ, Hsp70, TNF-ɑ, IL-1ß, IL-10, and IgE) compared to the control group after exposure to ammonia. Furthermore, improving ammonia-induced down regulations of antioxidant-related gene expressions (CYP1A, SOD, and GPX) was observed in fish fed with PSE-included diets compared to the control one. However, PSE-supplemented diets did not affect the mRNA expression level of CAT. Regarding tight junction-associated genes, the higher mRNA expression level of occludin was observed in the T1 group, whereas the downregulation of CLD3 gene occurred in all experimental groups. Conversely, significant upregulation of osmoregulation-associated gene (NKA) was recorded in all experimental groups compared to the control one. Therefore, the administration of PSE (0.25% of the diet) for 60 days is recommended to increase growth performance, improve health, and increase the resistance of common carp to oxidative stress caused by ammonia.

Phytochemicals, Biological Activities, Molecular Mechanisms, and Future Prospects of Plantago asiatica L.

Plantago asiatica L. has been used as a vegetable and nutritious food in Asia for thousands of years. According to recent phytochemical and pharmacological research, the active compositions of the plant contribute to various health benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer. This article reviews the 87 components of the plant and their structures, as well as their biological activities and molecular research progress, in detail. This review provides valuable reference material for further study, production, and application of P. asiatica, as well as its components in functional foods and therapeutic agents.

Psyllium (Plantago ovata Forsk) in frozen banana pulp: Influence on rheological, nutritional and sensory characteristics.

A frozen banana pulp with functional properties was developed and characterized in this work. For this, 0 g, 3 g, 5 g and 7 g of psyllium in 100 g of banana pulp were added. The use of this fiber in industrialized products can contribute to the nutritional enrichment of the products and provide functional benefits already acknowledged, such as lowering LDL cholesterol, lowering blood glucose, increasing satiety and relieving constipation. According to the World Health Organization, vegetable consumption should be increased, as it reduces the risk of chronic diseases. The main purpose of this work was to incorporate psyllium in frozen banana pulp to develop a healthy product. The samples were evaluated through chemical analyses, rheological properties and sensory testing with Check-All-That-Apply questions (CATA). The addition of psyllium had a significant effect not only on the viscosity but also on the sensory and nutritional properties of the frozen banana pulp. This study indicated that the production of frozen banana pulp with psyllium is viable, as it has desirable nutritional and sensory characteristics which can contribute to the maintenance of health.

In vitro elicitation and detection of apigenin, catalpol and gallic acid in hairy root culture of Plantago major L. and assessment of cytotoxicity and anti-bacterial activity of its methanolic extract.

The aim of this study was to establish the hairy root (HR) culture of Plantago major to evaluate the accumulation of apigenin, catalpol and gallic acid after elicitation and investigate the biological activity of its methanolic extraction. The highest transformation frequency was obtained by Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4, 0.5 mg/L 6-Benzylaminopurine in pre-cultivation medium, 150 µM acetosyringone in co-cultivation medium (1/2 MS), and immersion method for inoculation of leaf explants. The production of apigenin, catalpol and gallic acid compounds were significantly affected by treatment of 1.18 mM AgNO3 at 24 h which yielded 4.30, 8.24 and 2.89-fold increase, respectively. The assessment of anti-bacterial activity showed that the methanolic extracts of the HRs elicited with 1.18 mM AgNO3 were significantly active against Proteus vulgaris (PTCC 1182) (MIC = 25 mg/mL and MBC = 25 mg/mL). Furthermore, the MTT assay revealed that the methanolic extracts of the HRs were cytotoxic on the SW-480 cell (IC50=337.56 ± 1.82 µg/mL).

Natural Deep Eutectic Extracts of Propolis, Sideritis scardica, and Plantago major Reveal Potential Antiageing Activity during Yeast Chronological Lifespan.

Nowadays, the environmentally friendly approach to everyday life routines including body supplementation with pharma-, nutraceuticals and dietary supplements gains popularity. This trend is implemented in pharmaceutical as well as cosmetic and antiageing industries by adopting a newly developed green chemistry approach. Following this trend, a new type of solvents has been created, called Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES), which are produced by plant primary metabolites. These solvents are becoming a much better alternative to the already established organic solvents like ethanol and ionic liquids by being nontoxic, biodegradable, and easy to make. An interesting fact about NADES is that they enhance the biological activities of the extracted biological compounds. Here, we present our results that investigate the potential antiageing effect of CiAPD14 as a NADES solvent and three plant extracts with it. The tested NADES extracts are from propolis and two well-known medicinal plants-Sideritis scardica and Plantago major. Together with the solvent, their antiageing properties have been tested during the chronological lifespan of four Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains-a wild type and three chromatin mutants. The chromatin mutants have been previously proven to exhibit characteristics of premature ageing. Our results demonstrate the potential antiageing activity of these NADES extracts, which was exhibited through their ability to confer the premature ageing phenotypes in the mutant cells by ameliorating their cellular growth and cell cycle, as well as by influencing the activity of some stress-responsive genes. Moreover, we have classified their antiageing activity concerning the strength of the observed bioactivities.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Great Plantain (Plantago major L.) in the Treatment of Second-Degree Burn Wounds: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Great plantain (Plantago major L. or P.major) is a medicinal plant that is available all around the world. The whole plant has several bioactive compounds including terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, fatty acids, iridoid glycosides, polysaccharides, and vitamins. Scientific studies have recognized several medical benefits like wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiulcerative, and antioxidative agents. The wound-healing capacity of this plant has been investigated under in vivo and ex vivo conditions. In the current study, we aim to compare the therapeutic effect of the P.major extract with 1% sulfadiazine on the healing of second-degree burn wounds. Method: Second-degree burn victims were included in our study. The investigation and control group, respectively, received P. major ointment 10% and silver sulfadiazine ointment 1%. The bacterial culture from the wound site was taken on days 3, 7, 10, 13, and last day of hospitalization. Patients' subjective complaints were obtained through the visual analog scale (VAS). All patients were treated and evaluated in the hospital. Result: Among the 15 patients, 11 were male, and the mean age was 33.3 years. The average complete healing duration was 11.73 vs. 13 days in the P. major and control group, respectively (P=0.166). On the third day, infection control was similar between the two groups, and on the seventh day, all bacterial cultures were negative. Although there was a significant reduction in pain scores during the recovery time, no significant differences in pain reduction were noted between the two groups (P=0.849). Conclusion: We showed that P.major ointment is a safe and suitable herbal compound in the treatment of second-degree burn wounds that not only has wound-healing properties but also is an analgesic and antimicrobial compound.