Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy's Extraction, Chemical Characterization and Evaluation of the Potential Effects on Glycaemic Balance in a 3T3-L1 Adipocyte Cell Model.

Convolvulus pluricaulis (CP) is a common Indian herb, largely employed in Ayurvedic medicine and known for its neuroprotective and neuroinflammatory action. Its effectiveness against several pathologic/sub-pathologic conditions is widely accepted, but it is not yet completely chemically characterized. In recent years, several researchers have pointed out the involvement of CP and other Convolvulaceae in lipidic and glucidic metabolism, particularly in the control of hyperlipidaemia and diabetic conditions. In this scenario, the aim of the study was to chemically characterize the medium polarity part of the CP whole plant and its fractions and to shed light on their biological activity in adipocyte differentiation using the 3T3-L1 cell model. Our results demonstrated that the CP extract and fractions could upregulate the adipocyte differentiation through the modulation of the nuclear receptor PPARγ (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ), broadly recognized as a key regulator of adipocyte differentiation, and the glucose transporter GLUT-4, which is fundamental for cellular glucose uptake and for metabolism control. CP also showed the ability to exert an anti-inflammatory effect, downregulating cytokines such as Rantes, MCP-1, KC, eotaxin, and GM-CSF, which are deeply involved in insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Taken together, these data suggest that CP could exert a potential beneficial effect on glycemia and could be employed as an anti-diabetic adjuvant or, in any case, a means to better control glucose homeostasis.

Identification, kinetics and thermodynamic analysis of novel ß-galactosidase from Convolvulus arvensis seeds: An efficient agent for delactosed milk activity.

The ß-galactosidase was extracted and purified from 100 g of C. arvensis seeds using a variety of protein purification procedures such as ammonium sulphate fractionation, gel filtration, and finally chromatography on a cationic ion exchanger. The effects of metal ions, kinetics parameters, and glycoprotein nature were determined, as well as the optimal pH and temperature of the purified enzyme. With a high specific activity (72 units/mg), ß-galactosidase was isolated to a 24-fold apparent electrophoretic homogeneity. The molecular mass of ß-galactosidase was determined as monomeric, which was further confirmed by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF/MS analysis, with a 45 kDa molecular weight. The enzyme has a Km of 0.33 mM and a Vmax of 42 µmol/min Lactose in milk was reduced by 38.5 and 70 % after 4 h of incubation with ß-galactosidase from C. arvensis. The ß-galactosidase thermal inactivation kinetic parameters ΔH°, ΔS°, and ΔG° were calculated, indicating that the enzyme undergoes significant unfolding events during denaturation. Using ß-galactosidase from C. arvensis seeds, lactose hydrolysis in milk up to approx. 50 % was observed. The findings indicate the potential use of C. arvensis seeds for the production of low/delactosed milk for lactose-intolerant population.

Catalytic potential of bio-synthesized silver nanoparticles using Convolvulus arvensis extract for the degradation of environmental pollutants.

Herein, we reported a facile, green and environmental friendlier biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using the Convolvulus arvensis extract. The influences of various physicochemical factors such as the concentration of the plant extract, reaction time, and different pH levels were investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The UV-Visible absorption spectrum of biogenic silver nanoparticles at λmax around ~400 nm suggested the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was employed to confirm the chemical transformation and role of various phyto-reductants in the conversion of Ag+ to Ag0. The surface morphology, topography, and elemental composition were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, respectively. X-ray diffraction corroborated the face-centered cubic crystalline structure. The dynamic light scattering and zeta potential demonstrate the size distribution (90.9 nm) and surface charge (-18.5). Finally, the newly developed C. arvensis based silver nanoparticles were exploited as a catalyst for the catalytic reduction of azo dyes in the presence of NaBH4 as a reducing agent, and reducing the activity of C. arvensis based silver nanoparticles was evaluated by a decrease in optical density using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The nanoparticles developed herein displayed potential efficiency for the degradation of all the tested dye pollutants. Conclusively, plant-based synthesis of nanoparticles provides an environmentally-responsive option for the reduction of highly environmental-polluted organic compounds including toxic azo dyes as compared to chemical and physical methods.

Phytoremediation and absorption isotherms of heavy metal ions by Convolvulus tricolor (CTC).

In recent years, use of plants for remediation of contaminated soils, especially removal of heavy metals, is considered. The current study tends to investigate the removal of lead and nickel ions by the Convolvulus tricolor (CTC), was grown for 30 days in different concentrations of lead and nickel ions. Then concentration of them in soil and different organs of the plant was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. The highest absorbed of them occurred in concentration 0.001N, which highest Pb(2+) accumulation is in the aerial parts of the plant: leaf > stem > root and for Ni(2)+: root > stem > leaf. No ion was observed into the flowers and nickel ion absorption is more of lead ion in different plant organs of CTC. The experimental isotherm data were investigated using isotherms of Langmuir, Freundlich, BET, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich (DRK). The correlation coefficient for all of them is calculated that show the best correlation coefficient for Ni(2+) adsorption is obtained BET model, whereas for Pb(2+) adsorption in root is Freundlich model but for its leaf and stem is BET model. The results show, CTC is suitable for Pb(2+) and Ni(2+) and this technique is in-situ method, simple, and low cost.

Molecular cloning and characterization of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase gene from Convolvulus arvensis L.

5-Enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), the target enzyme for glyphosate inhibition, catalyzes an essential step in the shikimate pathway for aromatic amino acid biosynthesis. The full-length cDNA of 1,751 nucleotides (CaEPSPS, Genbank accession number: EU698030) from Convolvulus arvensis was cloned and characterized. The CaEPSPS encodes a polypeptide of 520 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 55.5 kDa and an isoelectric point of 7.05. The results of homology analysis revealed that CaEPSPS showed highly homologous with EPSPS proteins from other plant species. Tissue expression pattern analysis indicated that CaEPSPS was constitutively expressed in stems, leaves and roots, with lower expression in roots. CaEPSPS expression level could increase significantly with glyphosate treatment, and reached its maximum at 24 h after glyphosate application. We fused CaEPSPS to the CaMV 35S promoter and introduced the chimeric gene into Arabidopsis. The resultant expression of CaEPSPS in transgenic Arabidopsis plants exhibited enhanced tolerance to glyphosate in comparison with control.

Spectroscopic determination of the toxicity, absorption, reduction, and translocation of Cr(VI) in two Magnoliopsida species.

Hexavalent chromium is a contaminant highly mobile in the environment that is toxic for plants at low concentrations. In this work, the physiological response of Convolvulus arvensis and Medicago truncatula plants to Cr(VI) treatments was compared. C. arvensis is a potential Cr hyperaccumulator well adapted to semiarid conditions that biotransform Cr(VI) to the less toxic Cr(III). M. truncatula is a model plant well adapted to semiarid conditions with a well studied genetic response to heavy metal stress. The results demonstrated that C. arvensis is more tolerant to Cr toxicity and has a higher Cr translocation to the leaves. The inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy results showed that C. arvensis plants treated with 10 mg Cr(VI) L(-1) accumulated 1512, 210, and 131 mg Cr kg(-1) in roots, stems, and leaves, respectively. While M. truncatula plants treated with the same Cr(VI) concentration accumulated 1081, 331, and 44 (mg Cr kg(-1)) in roots, stems, and leaves, respectively. Enzymatic assays demonstrated that Cr(VI) decreased ascorbate peroxidase activity and increased catalase activity in M. truncatula, while an opposite response was found in C. arvensis. The x-ray absorption spectroscopy studies showed that both plant species reduced Cr(VI) to the less toxic Cr(III).

Evaluation of the antidepressant-like activity of Convolvulus pluricaulis choisy in the mouse forced swim and tail suspension tests.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the effect of the petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate fractions of the total ethanolic extract of Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy (Family: Convolvulaceae) on depression in mice. MATERIAL/METHODS: The petroleum ether (25, 50 mg/kg), chloroform (25, 50, 100 mg/kg), and ethyl acetate (25, 50, 100 mg/kg) fractions were administered orally for 10 successive days to separate groups of Swiss young male albino mice. The effects of the extracts on the mice's immobility periods were assessed in the forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). The effects of reserpine (2 mg/kg i.p.), sulpiride (50 mg/kg i.p.), prazosin (62.5 microg/kg i.p.), and p-chlorophenylalanine (100 mg/kg i.p.) on the extracts' antidepressant-like effect in TST was also studied. The extracts' antidepressant-like effect was compared with that of imipramine (15 mg/kg p.o.) and fluoxetine (20 mg/kg p.o.) administered for 10 successive days. RESULTS: Only the chloroform fraction in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly reduced the immobility time in both FST and TST. This fraction did not significant effect locomotor activity. Its efficacy was found to be comparable to that of imipramine and fluoxetine administered for 10 successive days. The chloroform fraction reversed reserpine-induced extension of immobility period in FST and TST. Prazosin, sulpiride, and p-chlorophenylalanine significantly attenuated the chloroform fraction-induced antidepressant-like effect in TST. CONCLUSIONS: The chloroform fraction of the total ethanolic extract of Convolvulus pluricaulis elicited a significant antidepressant-like effect in mice by interaction with the adrenergic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic systems.

Biochemical and spectroscopic studies of the response of Convolvulus arvensis L. to chromium(III) and chromium(VI) stress.

The objective of the present study was to determine the oxidative stress caused by hexavalent chromium (Cr[VI]), the chromium (Cr) uptake, and the Cr speciation in Convolvulus arvensis L. plants grown in hydroponics media containing either Cr(VI) or Cr(III). The results demonstrated that C. arvensis plants exposed to Cr(VI) concentrations ranging from 0 to 40 mg/L expressed higher ascorbate peroxidase specific activity in roots than in shoots. On the other hand, catalase activity monitored in plants exposed to 2 mg/L of Cr(VI) for 24 h increased in roots after a few hours of exposure. However, catalase activity in shoots revealed a decrement almost immediately after treatment was initiated. The results from x-ray absorption spectroscopic studies indicated that the oxidation state of the supplied Cr(III) remained the same in plant tissues. The supplied Cr(VI), however, was reduced to the trivalent form in plant tissues. The results of inductively coupled plasma/optical emission spectroscopy demonstrated that after 5 d, the roots of plants exposed to 40 mg/L of Cr(III) or Cr(VI) accumulated approximately 25,000 and 3,500 mg/kg dry weight of Cr, respectively. Nevertheless, shoots concentrated 1,500 and 2,000 mg/kg dry weight of Cr from Cr(III) and Cr(VI), respectively, which indicated that Cr moved faster into C. arvensis plants when supplied as Cr(VI).

Crop-weed competition between sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and Convolvulus arvensis L. in substitutive experiments.

The main characteristics of a substitutive experiment is that the proportions of two species in the mixtures are varied while the overall density of the two species is maintained constant - a replacement series. In our experiments early competition between sunflower and field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) was studied in a replacement studies under glasshouse conditions. Pot experiments were set up with the following treatments: 1, sunflower 100% (6 plants pot(-1)); 2, sunflower 66.6% (4 plants pot(-1)) + C. arvensis 33.3% (2 plants pot(-1)); 3, sunflower 33.3% (2 plants pot(-1)) + C. arvensis 66.6% (4 plants pot(-1)); 4, C. arvensis 100% (6 plants pot(-1)). Sixty eight days after sowing dry weight of shoots and roots were measured and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content was also determined. Dry biomass production of sunflower was almost twice higher as compared to that of C. arvensis without interspecific competition. Dry weight of sunflower and C. arvensis shoots and roots for a plant continuously decreased by reducing their proportion in the mixtures. Higher biomass production of sunflower suggests, that its development is faster at the beginning of vegetation penod, therefore sunflower has better competitive ability in sunflower--C. arvensis mixtures in the early competition as compared to C. arvensis. Shoot:root ratio of plants did not change considerably in mixtures, but generally was ten times higher in sunflower plants, as compared to that of C. arvensis. Shoots generally contained macro elements at higher concentration as compared to those of roots. Total NPK content of sunflower was reduced by 53 and 82% for a pot, as its proportion decreased in the mixtures. More severe reduction in NPK content was observed in case of C. arvensis, which also proves stronger competitive ability of sunflower in the early vegetation.

Bioaccumulation of cadmium, chromium and copper by Convolvulus arvensis L.: impact on plant growth and uptake of nutritional elements.

The remediation of heavy metal-contaminated sites using plants presents a promising alternative to current methodologies. In this study, the potential accumulation of Convolvulus arvensis L. for Cd(II), Cr(VI), and Cu(II) was determined using an agar-based medium. The shoots of C. arvensis plants exposed to 20 mgl(-1) of these heavy metals, demonstrated capability to accumulate more than 3800 mg of Cr, 1500 mg of Cd, and 560 mg of Cu per kg of dry tissue. The outcome of this study and the field data previously reported corroborate that C. arvensis is a suitable candidate for the phytoremediation of Cd(II), Cr(VI), and Cu(II) contaminated soils. Furthermore, the concentration of Cr determined in the dry leaf tissue (2100 mgkg(-1)) indicates that C. arvensis could be considered as a potential Cr-hyperaccumulator plant species.