Mechanistic insights on the possible protective role of polyphenols extracted from Tamarix aphylla aerial parts against sodium arsenite-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Arsenic exposure is associated with the induction of hepatotoxicity. Current study was aimed to investigate the hepato-protective ability of polyphenolic components of Tamarix aphylla (TA) ethanolic extract against sodium arsenite (SA)-induced liver injury of rats. Significantly higher quantities of phenolic (318.7±2.5 mgg-1GAE) and flavonoid (250.69 ±3.3 mgg-1QE) contents were present. Inhibitory concentration (IC50) exhibited an excellent potential for antioxidant (IC50= 25.99 µg/mL) assay. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) confirmed the existence of myercetin (10.40ppm), sinapic acid (2.131ppm), kaempferol (0.486ppm), caffeic acid (5.094 ppm). Forty-two rats were divided into 7 groups. Group 1 received normal saline (2 mL/kg/day, orally for 21 days), Group 2 received SA (10mg/kg/day for 21 days), and Group 3 received SA alone for 7 days (10mg/kg) and continues with silymarine for 21 days (25mg/kg orally). Group 4, 5, 6 received SA alone for 7 days and continue with TA extract up to 21 days (125mg/kg, 250mg/kg, and 500mg/kg orally) respectively, and Group 7 received TA extract (500mg/kg) for 21 days. SA was administered to all treated groups for 21 days. Treatment with polyphenolic ethanolic extract of TA restored the hepatic indices and oxidative markers in a dose-dependent manner. The upregulation in tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and cyclooxygenase-2 upon SA treatment suggesting inflammation was normalized by the treatment of rats. Above mentioned biochemical findings were supported well with histopathological screening. Present findings suggest that TA polyphenolic ethanolic extract could mitigate the oxidative stress and inflammation induced by SA in liver tissue.

In vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of Tamarix nilotica shoot extracts and fractions.

α-glucosidase inhibitors represent an important class of type 2 antidiabetic drugs and they act by lowering postprandial hyperglycemia. Today, only three synthetic inhibitors exist on the market, and there is a need for novel, natural and more efficient molecules exhibiting this activity. In this study, we investigated the ability of Tamarix nilotica ethanolic and aqueous shoot extracts, as well as methanolic fractions prepared from aqueous crude extracts to inhibit α-glucosidase. Both, 50% ethanol and aqueous extracts inhibited α-glucosidase in a concentration-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 12.5 µg/mL and 24.8 µg/mL, respectively. Importantly, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity observed in the T. nilotica crude extracts was considerably higher than pure acarbose (IC50 = 151.1 µg/mL), the most highly prescribed α-glucosidase inhibitor on the market. When T. nilotica crude extracts were fractionated using methanol, enhanced α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was observed in general, with the highest observed α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in the 30% methanol fraction (IC50 = 5.21 µg/mL). Kinetic studies further revealed a competitive reversible mechanism of inhibition by the plant extract. The phytochemical profiles of 50% ethanol extracts, aqueous extracts, and the methanolic fractions were investigated and compared using a metabolomics approach. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the contents of the crude extracts and fractions and potentially identified the molecules that were most responsible for these observed variations. Higher α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was associated with an enrichment of terpenoids, fatty acids, and flavonoids. Among the identified molecules, active compounds with known α-glucosidase inhibitory activity were detected, including unsaturated fatty acids, triterpenoids, and flavonoid glycosides. These results put forward T. nilotica as a therapeutic plant for type 2 diabetes and a source of α-glucosidase inhibitors.

Amelioration of hyperglycaemia and modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines by Tamarix gallica fractions in alloxan induced diabetic rats.

Present study is engrossed in identification of phyto-constituents from aerial part extracts of Tamarix gallica and appraisal of its anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory potential based upon its folktale use. The methanol and n-hexane fractions of aerial parts were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) respectively. Inhibitory concentration (IC50) showed better results in case of methanolic extract for both in antioxidant (IC50= 15.47 µg/mL) and alpha amylase (IC50=18.75 µg/mL) assays. Significantly higher quantities of phenolic and flavonoid contents were present in methanolic extract. A significant correlation was found to be existed between these contents and IC50 of antioxidant assay. Alloxan induced hyperglycaemia declined along with improvement in lipid profile, C-reactive proteins (CRP), liver function tests (LFTs) and renal function tests (RFTs). Methanolic fraction (500 mg/kg) was also related to significant reduction in levels of inflammatory markers i.e. tumour necrosis factor-alpha, TNF- α (1.28 ± 0.13 g/L) and interleukin-6, IL-6 (98 ± 10.4 pg/L) as observed in diabetic rats. Based upon the above findings, the study suggests that methanolic fraction from aerial parts of the T. gallica has better anti-diabetic profile which might be attributed to its alpha amylase, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.

Experimental, DFT and MD Assessments of Bark Extract of Tamarix aphylla as Corrosion Inhibitor for Carbon Steel Used in Desalination Plants.

This study aimed to examine the extract of barks of Tamarix aphylla as a corrosion inhibitor. The methodology briefly includes plant sample collection, extraction of the corrosion inhibitor, gravimetric analysis, plotting potentiodynamic polarization plots, electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements, optimization of conditions, and preparation of the inhibitor products. The results show that the values of inhibition efficiency (IE%) increased as the concentrations of the inhibitor increased, with a maximum achievable inhibition efficiency of 85.0%. Potentiodynamic polarization (PP) tests revealed that the extract acts as a dual-type inhibitor. The results obtained from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements indicate an increase in polarisation resistance, confirming the inhibitive capacity of the tested inhibitor. The adsorption of the inhibitor on the steel surface follows the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model and involves competitive physio-sorption and chemisorption mechanisms. The EIS technique was utilized to investigate the effect of temperature on corrosion inhibition within the 298-328 K temperature range. Results confirm that the inhibition efficiency (IE%) of the inhibitor decreased slightly as the temperature increased. Lastly, the thermodynamic parameters for the inhibitor were calculated.

Soil C, N, and P distribution as affected by plant communities in the Yellow River Delta, China.

Soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are important soil properties linked to nutrient limitation and plant productivity in terrestrial ecosystems. Up to 90% of the Yellow River Delta (YRD), China has been affected by soil salination due to groundwater overdraft, improper irrigation, land use and land cover change. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of different plant communities on soil quality in a saline-alkaline system of the YRD. We investigated the vertical distribution and seasonal variation of soil C, N, and P, and C:N ratio by choosing four dominant plant communities, namely, alfalfa grassland (AG), Chinese tamarisk (CT), locust forest (LF) and cotton field (CF). The results showed that the concentrations of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in CT and LF were always higher than that in AG and CF, especially in the topsoil layer (p<0.05), then gradually decreased with soil depth increasing (p<0.05). The C:N ratio was generally lower, and the average C:N ratio was higher in LF (11.55±1.99) and CT (11.03±0.47) than in CF (10.05±1.25) and AG (9.11±1.11) (p<0.05). The available phosphorus (AP) was highest in CT in Spring, while it was highest in CF in Summer and Autumn. It is worth noting that the soil AP concentrations were always low, particularly in AG (< 6.29 mg kg-1) and LF (< 4.67 mg kg-1), probably linked to P poorly mobile in the saline-alkaline region. In this study, soil nutrients in natural plant communities are superior to farmland, and are significantly affected by the types of plant community; therefore, we suggest that protection of natural vegetation and development of optimal vegetation are critical to restoring land degradation in the YRD.

Growth, chlorophyll fluorescence and mineral nutrition in the halophyte Tamarix gallica cultivated in combined stress conditions: Arsenic and NaCl.

Trace metal elements can cause various environmental and health issues due to their accumulation and integration in the food chain. In the present study, we determined the major toxic effects of arsenic on physiological behaviour of plants. For this propose, several combinations of high salinity and arsenic (As) concentrations were applied to the halophytic shrub, Tamarix gallica, by growing for three months with an irrigation solution supplemented with different concentrations of As (0, 200, 500 and 800M) with and without 200mM NaCl. The effect of the combined stress conditions on growth, physiological patterns and biochemical parameters were also assessed. The results demonstrated that T. gallica is a tolerant plant regarding arsenic. The photosynthesis apparatus Fo, Fm and Fv fluorescence, as well as Fv/Fm were not affected by As nor by As combined with salt. Likewise, pigment and nutrient (K(+), Ca(2+) and Mg(2+)) contents were not affected either. However, the study results revealed that As adversely and significantly influenced the growth with increasing the concentration of As. Despite shoots growth reduction, the present research demonstrates that T. gallica is able to cope with high external concentrations of As (under 500µM) alone or in combination with NaCl.

Metabolite profiling of polyphenols in the Tunisian plant Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst.

In this study, a detailed investigation on the composition of polyphenols of Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst., consisting of phenolic acids and flavonoids, was carried out. In order to optimize the yield of secondary metabolites, three extraction techniques were compared, including dynamic maceration, ultrasound-assisted extraction and Soxhlet extraction. The latter technique provided the best results in terms of both recovery and selectivity, using ethyl acetate as extraction solvent for 2h. The analysis of T. aphylla polyphenols was performed by means of HPLC-UV/DAD, HPLC-ESI-MS and MS(2), using an ion trap mass analyzer. Phenolic acids and flavonoids were separated on an Ascentis C18 column (250mm×4.6mm I.D., 5µm), with a mobile phase composed of 0.1M formic acid in water and acetonitrile, under gradient elution. The proposed method was fully validated in agreement with ICH guidelines and then applied to the analysis of T. aphylla leaves and stems. A total of 14 phenolic compounds were characterized for the first time in this plant extracts by using UV, MS and MS(2) data. The amount of total phenolics was found to be 993.1±22.5µg/g in the leaves and 113.1±25.8µg/g in the stems, respectively. The most abundant constituents found in the leaves include ellagic acid (211.4±10.8µg/g), quercetin (125.7±4.7µg/g) and gallic acid (120.6±1.2µg/g), whereas those in the stems were ellagic acid (44.4±3.9µg/g), gallic acid (24.3±3.3µg/g) and kaempferol (16.3±1.6µg/g). The developed method can be considered a useful tool for the metabolite profiling of T. aphylla, which represents a potential source of bioactive compounds to be used in phytotherapy.

Overexpression of a heat shock protein (ThHSP18.3) from Tamarix hispida confers stress tolerance to yeast.

It is well known that plant heat shock proteins (HSPs) play important roles both in response to adverse environmental conditions and in various developmental processes. However, among plant HSPs, the functions of tree plant HSPs are poorly characterized. To improve our understanding of tree HSPs, we cloned and characterized an HSP gene (ThHSP18.3) from Tamarix hispida. Sequence alignment reveals that ThHSP18.3 belongs to the class I small heat shock protein family. A transient expression assay showed that ThHSP18.3 protein was targeted to the cell nucleus. Treatment of Tamarix hispida with cold and heat shock highly induced ThHSP18.3 expression in all studied leaves, roots and stems, whereas, treatment of T. hispida with NaCl, NaHCO(3), and PEG induced ThHSP18.3 expression in leaves and decreased its expression in roots and stems. Further, to study the role of ThHSP18.3 in stress tolerance under different stress conditions, we cloned ThHSP18.3 into the pYES2 vector, transformed and expressed the vector in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast cells transformed with an empty pYES2 vector were employed as a control. Compared to the control, yeast cells expressing ThHSP18.3 showed greater tolerance to salt, drought, heavy metals, and both low and high temperatures, indicating that ThHSP18.3 confers tolerance to these stress conditions. These results suggested that ThHSP18.3 is involved in tolerance to a variety of stress conditions in T. hispida.

A novel vacuolar membrane H+-ATPase c subunit gene (ThVHAc1) from Tamarix hispida confers tolerance to several abiotic stresses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Plant vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) plays an important role in response to different adverse environmental conditions. In the present study, we cloned and characterized a V-ATPase c subunit gene (ThVHAc1) from Tamarix hispida. The deduced ThVHAc1 amino acid sequence lacks a signal peptide and ThVHAc1 is a highly hydrophobic protein with four transmembrane regions. A transient expression assay showed that the ThVHAc1-GFP fusion protein is expressed on onion epidermal endomembrane cells. Real-time RT-PCR demonstrated that ThVHAc1 gene expression was induced by NaCl, NaHCO(3), PEG and CdCl(2) stress in T. hispida roots, stems and leaves. Exogenous application of abscisic acid (ABA) also stimulated ThVHAc1 transcript levels in the absence of stress, suggesting that ThVHAc1 is involved in ABA-dependent stress signaling pathway. Furthermore, the transgenic yeast expressing ThVHAc1 increased salt, drought, ultraviolet (UV), oxidative, heavy metal, cold and high temperature tolerance. Our results suggested that the ThVHAc1 gene from T. hispida serves a stress tolerance role in the species.

Arsenic- and mercury-induced phytotoxicity in the Mediterranean shrubs Pistacia lentiscus and Tamarix gallica grown in hydroponic culture.

Hg and As resistance and bioaccumulation were studied in hydroponically grown Pistacia lentiscus and Tamarix gallica plants. Both elements caused growth inhibition in roots and shoots, with mercury showing greater phytotoxicity than arsenic. Accumulation of both elements by plants increased in response to element supply, with the greatest uptake found in T. gallica. Both elements affected P and Mn status in plants, reduced chlorophyll a concentration and increased MDA and thiol levels. These stress indices showed good correlations with As and Hg concentration in plant tissues, especially in the roots. Toxic responses to mercury were more evident than for arsenic, especially in shoot tissues. T. gallica showed higher resistance to both Hg and As than P. lentiscus, as well accumulating more As and Hg.

[Study on secondary metabolic organ of echinacoside in herbs of Cistanche tubulosa].

OBJECTIVE: It could give some theory support of confirming the secondary metabolism organ and regulation of echinacoside in Cistanche tubulosa by searching parasitic growth of C. tubulosa ahd echinacoside variation in different organs of host and parasite. METHOD: The echinacoside content was analyzed by HPLC. The relationship between dry matter accumulation and echinacoside accumulation of C. tubulosa as the well as root diameter of host were comparatively analyzed. RESULT: With the increase of dry matter accumulation of C. tubulosa, echinacoside accumulation increased significantly, and both of them were in significantly positive correlated with the root diameter of host. Echinacoside content in haustorium phloem was 15.53%, higher than that of haustorium xylem, C. tubulosa plant and other organs. CONCLUSION: Haustorium phloem was probably the secondary metabolism organ of echinacoside in C. tubulosa.