Allelopathic effect of the methanol extract of the weed species-red sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.) on the growth, phytohormone content and antioxidant activity of the cover crop - white clover (Trifolium repens L.).

Allelopathy is a biological process in which one organism releases biochemicals that affect the growth and development of other organisms. The current investigation sought to determine the allelopathic effect of Rumex acetosella on white clover (Trifolium repens) growth and development by using its shoot extract (lower IC50 value) as a foliar treatment. Here, different concentrations (25, 50, 100, and 200 g/L) of shoot extract from Rumex acetosella were used as treatments. With increasing concentrations of shoot extract, the plant growth parameters, chlorophyll and total protein content of Trifolium repens decreased. On the other hand, ROS, such as O2.- and H2O2, and antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, CAT, and POD, increased with increasing shoot extract concentration. A phytohormonal study indicated that increased treatment concentrations increased ABA and SA levels while JA levels were reduced. For the identification of allelochemicals, liquid‒liquid extraction, thin-layer chromatography, and open-column chromatography were conducted using R. acetosella shoot extracts, followed by a seed bioassay on the separated layer. A lower IC50 value was obtained through GC/MS analysis. gammaSitosterol was identified as the most abundant component. The shoot extract of Rumex acetosella has strong allelochemical properties that may significantly impede the growth and development of Trifolium repens. This approach could help to understand the competitive abilities of this weed species and in further research provide an alternate weed management strategy.

5-fluorouracil and Rumex obtusifolius extract combination trigger A549 cancer cell apoptosis: uncovering PI3K/Akt inhibition by in vitro and in silico approaches.

The continuous increase in cancer rates, failure of conventional chemotherapies to control the disease, and excessive toxicity of chemotherapies clearly demand alternative approaches. Natural products contain many constituents that can act on various bodily targets to induce pharmacodynamic responses. This study aimed to explore the combined anticancer effects of Rumex obtusifolius (RO) extract and the chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on specific molecular targets involved in cancer progression. By focusing on the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and its related components, such as cytokines, growth factors (TNFa, VEGFa), and enzymes (Arginase, NOS, COX-2, MMP-2), this research sought to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of RO extract, both independently and in combination with 5-FU, in non-small lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. The study also investigated the potential interactions of compounds identified by HPLC/MS/MS of RO on PI3K/Akt in the active site pocket through an in silico analysis. The ultimate goal was to identify potent therapeutic combinations that effectively inhibit, prevent or delay cancer development with minimal side effects. The results revealed that the combined treatment of 5-FU and RO demonstrated a significant reduction in TNFa levels, comparable to the effect observed with RO alone. RO modulated the PI3K/Akt pathway, influencing the phosphorylated and total amounts of these proteins during the combined treatment. Notably, COX-2, a key player in inflammatory processes, substantially decreased with the combination treatment. Caspase-3 activity, indicative of apoptosis, increased by 1.8 times in the combined treatment compared to separate treatments. In addition, the in silico analyses explored the binding affinities and interactions of RO's major phytochemicals with intracellular targets, revealing a high affinity for PI3K and Akt. These findings suggest that the combined treatment induces apoptosis in A549 cells by regulating the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Phenolic constituents with potent α-glucosidase inhibitory and cytotoxic activities from Rumex nepalensis var. remotiflorus.

Quantitative analysis of Rumex nepalensis var. remotiflorus revealed that its roots contain rich anthraquinones, which has emodin, chrysophanol, and physcion contents of up to 0.30, 0.67, and 0.98 mg/g, respectively. Further phytochemical study led to the isolation and purification of seven undescribed phenolic constituents, including one flavan derivative with a 13-membered ring, polygorumin A (1), two dianthrone glucosides, polygonumnolides F and G (2, 3), two diphenylmethanones, rumepalens A and B (4, 5), and a pair of epimeric oxanthrone C-glucosides, rumejaposides K and L (6a, 6b) from the roots of R. nepalensis var. remotiflorus. Furthermore, 1 undescribed natural product, 1-ß-D-glucoside-6'-[(2E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-propenoate]-3-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl (19), and 21 known phenolic compounds were obtained from the aforementioned plant for the first time. Their structures were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic data analysis. Notably, compounds 1, 4-5, and 7-9 exhibited inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase with IC50 values ranging from 1.61 ± 0.17 to 32.41 ± 0.87 µM. In addition, the isolated dianthrone, chrysophanol bianthrone (14), showed obvious cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines (HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, and MDA-MB-231) with IC50 values ranging from 3.81 ± 0.17 to 35.15 ± 2.24 µM. In silico target prediction and molecular docking studies demonstrated that the mechanism of the anticancer activity of 14 may be related to the interaction with protein kinase CK2.

Study on the purification mechanism for ammonia nitrogen in micro-polluted rivers by herbaceous plant - Rumex japonicus Houtt.

Water eutrophication caused by nitrogen pollution is an urgent global issue that requires attention. The Qingyi River is a typical micro-polluted river in China. In this study, we took this river as the research object to investigate the nitrogen pollution purification capacity of a herbaceous plant, Rumex japonicus Houtt. (RJH). Compared to nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) and nitrite nitrogen (NO2--N), RJH showed better purification performance on total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), with a highest removal rate of 37.22%, 52.13%, and 100%, respectively. RJH could completely remove ammonia nitrogen and exhibit excellent resistance to pollutant interference when the initial concentration of ammonia nitrogen in the cultivation devices increased from 1 mg/L to 10 mg/L or in the actual river. This indicated the great application potential of RJH in ammonia nitrogen removal from natural micro-polluted rivers. In addition, combined effects of nitrification of roots, absorption of self-growth, stripping, and others contributed to nitrogen removal by RJH. Particularly, the nitrification of roots played a dominant role, accounting for 73.85% ± 8.79%. High-throughput sequencing results indicate that nitrifying bacteria accounted for over 75% of all bacterial species in RJH. Furthermore, RJH showed good growth status and strong adaptability. The correlation coefficients of its relative growth rate with chlorophyll A and the degradation rate of absorption were 0.9677 and 0.9594, respectively. Our research demonstrates that RJH is one of the excellent varieties for ammonia removal. This provides a very promising and sustainable method for purifying micro-polluted rivers.

Phased Assembly of Neo-Sex Chromosomes Reveals Extensive Y Degeneration and Rapid Genome Evolution in Rumex hastatulus.

Y chromosomes are thought to undergo progressive degeneration due to stepwise loss of recombination and subsequent reduction in selection efficiency. However, the timescales and evolutionary forces driving degeneration remain unclear. To investigate the evolution of sex chromosomes on multiple timescales, we generated a high-quality phased genome assembly of the massive older (<10 MYA) and neo (<200,000 yr) sex chromosomes in the XYY cytotype of the dioecious plant Rumex hastatulus and a hermaphroditic outgroup Rumex salicifolius. Our assemblies, supported by fluorescence in situ hybridization, confirmed that the neo-sex chromosomes were formed by two key events: an X-autosome fusion and a reciprocal translocation between the homologous autosome and the Y chromosome. The enormous sex-linked regions of the X (296 Mb) and two Y chromosomes (503 Mb) both evolved from large repeat-rich genomic regions with low recombination; however, the complete loss of recombination on the Y still led to over 30% gene loss and major rearrangements. In the older sex-linked region, there has been a significant increase in transposable element abundance, even into and near genes. In the neo-sex-linked regions, we observed evidence of extensive rearrangements without gene degeneration and loss. Overall, we inferred significant degeneration during the first 10 million years of Y chromosome evolution but not on very short timescales. Our results indicate that even when sex chromosomes emerge from repetitive regions of already-low recombination, the complete loss of recombination on the Y chromosome still leads to a substantial increase in repetitive element content and gene degeneration.

Investigation of Antibiofilm and Antibacterial Properties of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles from Aqueous Extract of Rumex sp.

The decrease in the effectiveness of conventional drugs as a result of the growth of resistance to antibiotics has increased the need for innovative tools to control the infections. At this point, metallic nanoparticles, in particular silver nanoparticles, have appeared as a promising method. In the current study, the extract of Rumex sp. (Labada, dock) leaves was used as a reducing agent for the formation of silver nanoparticles. Unlike similar studies, in this study the synthesis conditions were optimized by changing the extract ratio and silver nitrate concentration. Morphological investigations of synthesized silver nanoparticles showed that spherical homogeneous particles at size under 100 nm had been produced. SEM/EDS and FTIR analyses showed that plant components are involved in the synthesis of nanoparticles. It was also determined that higher extract ratio reduced nanoparticle size. The antimicrobial effects of the synthesized nanoparticles against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were tested, and it was determined that all nanoparticles exhibited activity against both groups. Rumex sp. silver nanoparticles (NPs) were revealed to exhibit antibiofilm activity against three different isolates with moderate and strong biofilm-forming ability. The NPs reduced the biofilm-forming capacity of Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumonaie by 2.66-fold and 3.25-fold, whereas they decreased the Escherichia coli biofilm-forming capacity by 1.25-fold. The investigation of microbial biofilm could play an important role in developing new strategies for treatment options. Our results suggest that Rumex sp. silver NPs may have a high potential for use in the treatment of pathogenic strains.

Synergistic effects of grass competition and insect herbivory on the weed Rumex obtusifolius in an inundative biocontrol approach.

Outcomes of weed biological control projects are highly variable, but a mechanistic understanding of how top-down and bottom-up factors influence the success of weed biological control is often lacking. We grew Rumex obtusifolius, the most prominent native weed in European grasslands, in the presence and absence of competition from the grass Lolium perenne and subjected it to herbivory through targeted inoculation with root-boring Pyropteron spp. To explore whether the interactive effects of competition and inundative biological control were size-dependent, R. obtusifolius was planted covering a large range of plant sizes found in managed grasslands. Overall, competition from the grass sward reduced aboveground biomass and final root mass of R. obtusifolius about 62- and 7.5-fold, respectively, and increased root decay of R. obtusifolius from 14 to 58%. Herbivory alone increased only root decay. However, grass competition significantly enhanced infestation by Pyropteron spp. and, as a consequence, enhanced the impact of herbivory on aboveground biomass and final root mass. The synergistic effect was so strong that R. obtusifolius plants grown from initially smaller roots did no longer develop. Inoculating R. obtusifolius with Pyropteron species in grasslands should be further pursued as a promising inundative biological control strategy in the weed's native range.

Four new phenolic constituents from the roots of Rumex dentatus L.

Four new phenolic compounds, including two naphthalenes, musizin-8-O-ß-D-(6'-O-malonyl-3''-methoxy)glucopyranoside (1) and 2-acetyl-3-methyl-1,4-naphtho-quinone-8-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2), one chromone, (2'R)-7-hydroxy-2-(2'-hydroxypropyl)-5-methyl acetate chromone (3), and one xanthone, 2,8-dimethyl-3,6-dihydroxyxanthone (4) were isolated from the roots of Rumex dentatus L. (Polygonaceae). In addition, five known including four naphthalenes (5-8) and one chromone (9) were also obtained. Their structures were determined by means of extensive spectroscopic analysis and acidic hydrolysis. Compound 1 showed moderate antifungal activity against Epidermophyton floccosum, with inhibitory rate of 39.539 ± 0.412% at a concentration of 100 µM.

Evaluation of α-Glucosidase Inhibition and Antihyperglycemic Activity of Extracts Obtained from Leaves and Flowers of Rumex crispus L.

Among antihyperglycemic drugs used for treating diabetes, α-glucosidase inhibitors generate the least adverse effects. This contribution aimed to evaluate the potential antidiabetic activity of Rumex crispus L. by testing its in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition and in vivo antihyperglycemic effects on rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Better inhibition of α-glucosidase was found with the methanol extract versus the n-hexane and dichloromethane extracts. The methanol extract of the flowers (RCFM) was more effective than that of the leaves (RCHM), with an IC50 of 7.3 ± 0.17 µg/mL for RCFM and 112.0 ± 1.23 µg/mL for RCHM. A bioactive fraction (F89s) also showed good α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 3.8 ± 0.11 µg/mL). In a preliminary study, RCHM and RCFM at 150 mg/kg and F89s at 75 mg/kg after 30 days showed a significant effect on hyperglycemia, reducing glucose levels (82.2, 80.1, and 84.1%, respectively), and improved the lipid, renal, and hepatic profiles of the rats, comparable with the effects of metformin and acarbose. According to the results, the activity of R. crispus L. may be mediated by a diminished rate of disaccharide hydrolysis, associated with the inhibition of α-glucosidase. Thus, R. crispus L. holds promise for the development of auxiliary drugs to treat diabetes mellitus.

Antiangiogenic, Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties of Bidens tripartite Herb, Galium verum Herb and Rumex hydrolapathum Root.

Plants are commonly used in folk medicine. Research indicates that the mechanisms of biological activity of plant extracts may be essential in the treatment of various diseases. In this respect, we decided to test the ethanolic extracts of Bidens tripartita herb (BTH), Galium verum herb (GVH), and Rumicis hydrolapathum root (RHR) on angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties and their total polyphenols content. In vitro studies using endothelial cells were used to see tested extracts' angiogenic/angiostatic and anti-inflammatory properties. The DPPH assay and FRAP analysis were used to detect antioxidant properties of extracts. The Folin-Ciocalteu analysis was used to determine the content of total polyphenols. The results of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was also presented. In vitro study demonstrated that BTH, GVH, and RHR ethanolic extracts significantly increased cell invasiveness, compared with the control group. Increased endothelial proangiogenic invasiveness was accompanied by reduced metalloproteinase inhibitor 1 (TIMP-1) and raised in metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9). Only BTH and GVH significantly reduced cell proliferation, while BTH and RHR facilitated migration. Additionally, tested extracts reduced the production of proangiogenic platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). The most potent anti-inflammatory capacity showed BTH and GVH, reducing proinflammatory interleukin 8 (CXCL8) and interleukin 6 (Il-6), compared to RHR extract that has slightly less inhibited CXCL8 production without affecting IL-6 production. Moreover, we confirmed the antioxidant properties of all examined extracts. The highest activity was characterized by RHR, which has been correlated with the high content of polyphenols. In conclusion, the modifying influence of examined extracts can be promising in disorders with pathogenesis related to angiogenesis, inflammation and free radicals formation. BTH is the best choice among the three tested extracts with its antiangiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Effects of Rumex nervosus leaf powder supplementation on carcasses compositions, small intestine dimensions, breasts color quality, economic feasibility in broiler chickens.

Carcass characteristics, product quality, and the conversion of feed into meat with higher performance and feasibility are important determinants of the profitability and sustainability of any poultry enterprise. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential effect of Rumex nervosus leaf powder (RNLP) on carcass composition, small intestine dimensions, breast color quality, and economic feasibility of Ross broiler chickens. A total of 122 broilers were randomly distributed evenly among 4 treatments (0, 1, 3, and 5 g RNLP/ kg diet, n = 5 replicates per treatment, with 6 broilers per replicate: 3 ♀ and 3 ♂). Performance and economic data were collected in each replicate during the experiment. One male bird from each replication was examined for other criteria on d 34. Results showed that broilers fed 3 g of RNLP had a higher eviscerated carcass weight and dressing percentage (P < 0.05) than the control. The RNLP-fed broilers had higher weights and thicknesses in the duodenum and jejunum of up to 5 g and in the ileum and overall small intestine of up to 3 g. Broilers fed the lowest levels of RNLP had the highest revenue and net gain and the lowest cost-benefit ratio compared with those fed the highest levels of RNLP. The results indicate that the addition of RNLP has a positive effect on carcass processing, the intestinal measurements, and profitability ratios of the broilers. The 1 g RNLP/kg feed is the recommended dose to increase productivity and economic profitability ratios per kilogram of meat.

Can the soil seed bank of Rumex obtusifolius in productive grasslands be explained by management and soil properties?

Rumex obtusifolius is a problematic weed in temperate grasslands worldwide as it decreases yield and nutritional value of forage. Because the species can recruit from the seed bank, we determined the effect of management and soil properties on the soil seed bank of R. obtusifolius in intensively managed, permanent grasslands in Switzerland (CH), Slovenia (SI), and United Kingdom (UK). Following a paired case-control design, soil cores were taken from the topsoil of grassland with a high density of R. obtusifolius plants (cases) and from nearby parcels with very low R. obtusifolius density (controls). Data on grassland management, soil nutrients, pH, soil texture, and density of R. obtusifolius plants were also collected. Seeds in the soil were germinated under optimal conditions in a glasshouse. The number of germinated seeds of R. obtusifolius in case parcels was 866 ±152 m-2 (CH, mean ±SE), 628 ±183 m-2 (SI), and 752 ±183 m-2 (UK), with no significant difference among countries. Densities in individual case parcels ranged from 0 up to approximately 3000 seeds m-2 (each country). Control parcels had significantly fewer seeds, with a mean of 51 ±18, 75 ±52, and 98 ±52 seeds m-2 in CH, SI, and UK, respectively, and a range between 0 and up to 1000 seeds m-2. Across countries, variables explaining variation in the soil seed bank of R. obtusifolius in case parcels were soil pH (negative relation), silt content (negative), land-use intensity (negative), and aboveground R. obtusifolius plant density (positive). Because a large soil seed bank can sustain grassland infestation with R. obtusifolius, management strategies to control the species should target the reduction in the density of mature plants, prevention of the species' seed production and dispersal, as well as the regulation of the soil pH to a range optimal for forage production.

Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Exploring Their Potential of Reducing the Contamination of the In Vitro Culture Media and Inducing the Callus Growth of Rumex nervosus Explants.

Among biological methods, green synthesis of the nanomaterials using plant extracts was shown to be an environmentally friendly, economical, and simple approach. In the current study, the biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was achieved using the leaf extract of Hibiscus tiliaceus, in order to prevent the contamination of the tissue culture media and induce callus growth. The nanostructures of the fabricated AgNPs were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infra-red spectra (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta size, and zeta potential techniques. Our results indicate that The UV-vis spectrum of AgNPs exhibited an absorption band at 415 nm. The FTIR analysis identified the functional groups which could involve in the reduction of silver ions to AgNPs, this was also confirmed by the (hkl) diffraction peaks in the XRD diffractogram. Moreover, the TEM analysis showed a spherical nanoparticle with a size ranging from 21 and 26 nm. Thereafter, the potential antibacterial and antifungal activity of the biogenic AgNPs was evaluated against Bacillus pumilus and Alternaria alternata which were isolated from the in vitro culture media and identified based on 16S rDNA and ITS rDNA sequences, respectively. The results showed that the AgNPs significantly inhibited the growth of Alternaria alternata and Bacillus pumilus at all applied concentrations (5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/L). Compared to the control more fungal radial growth reduction (42.59%,) and bacterial inhibition (98.12%) were registered in the plates containing high doses of AgNPs (40 mg/L). Using Rumex nervosus explants, the biosynthesized AgNPs were tested for their impact to promote callus growth. The obtained results showed a significant effect of AgNPs on callus fresh weight at all applied doses. Moreover, AgNPs treatments showed a polymorphism of 12.5% which was detected by RAPD markers. In summary, the results revealed that AgNPs (40 mg/L) can be effectively added to the in vitro culture media for reducing microbial contamination and improving callus growth while greatly maintaining its genetic stability.

Variance of soil bacterial community and metabolic profile in the rhizosphere vs. non-rhizosphere of native plant Rumex acetosa L. from a Sb/As co-contaminated area in China.

Heavy metals (HMs) contamination poses a serious threat to soil health. However, the rhizosphere effect of native pioneer plants on the soil ecosystem remains unclear. Herein, how the rhizosphere (Rumex acetosa L.) influenced the process of HMs threatening soil micro-ecology was investigated by coupling various fractions of HMs, soil microorganisms and soil metabolism. The rhizosphere effect alleviated the HMs' stress by absorbing and reducing HMs' direct bioavailability, and the accumulation of ammonium nitrogen increased in the rhizosphere soil. Meanwhile, severe HMs contamination covered the rhizosphere effect on the richness, diversity, structure and predicted function pathways of soil bacterial community, but the relative abundance of Gemmatimonadota decreased and Verrucomicrobiota increased. The content of total HMs and physicochemical properties played a more important role than rhizosphere effect in shaping soil bacterial community. Furthermore, As was observed to have a more significant impact compared to Sb. Moreover, plant roots improved the stability of bacterial co-occurrence network, and significantly changed the critical genera. The process influenced bacterial life activity and nutrient cycling in soil, and the conclusion was further supported by the significant difference in metabolic profiles. This study illustrated that in Sb/As co-contaminated area, rhizosphere effect significantly changed soil HMs content and fraction, soil properties, and microbial community and metabolic profiles.

Adsorption of methylene blue from textile industrial wastewater using activated carbon developed from Rumex abyssinicus plant.

Methylene blue (MB) is abundantly found in textile industrial effluent which can cause severe health problems for public and environmental ecology. Therefore, this study aimed to remove MB from textile wastewater using the activated carbon developed from Rumex abyssinicus. The adsorbent was activated using chemical and thermal methods, and then it was characterized by SEM, FTIR, BET, XRD, and pH zero-point charge (pHpzc). The adsorption isotherm and kinetics were also investigated. The experimental design was composed of four factors at three levels (pH (3, 6, and 9), initial MB concentration (100, 150, and 200 mg/L), adsorbent dosage (20, 40, and 60 mg/100 mL), and contact time (20, 40, and 60 min)). The adsorption interaction was evaluated using response surface methodology. The characterization of a Rumex abyssinicus activated carbon was found to have multiple functional groups (FTIR), an amorphous structure (XRD), crack with ups and down morphology (SEM), pHpzc of 5.03 and a high BET-specific surface area of 2522 m2/g. The optimization of MB dye removal was carried out using the Response Surface methodology coupled with the Box Behnken approach. The maximum removal efficiency of 99.9% was recorded at optimum conditions of pH 9, MB concentration of 100 mg/L, the adsorbent dosage of 60 mg/100 mL, and contact time of 60 min. Among the three adsorption isotherm models, the Freundlich isotherm model was the best fit with an experimental value at R2 0.99 showing the adsorption process was heterogeneous and multilayer whereas the kinetics study revealed that pseudo-second-order at R2 0.88. Finally, this adsorption process is quite promising to be used at an industrial level.

Comparing the Above and Below-Ground Chemical Defences of Three Rumex Species Between Their Native and Introduced Provenances.

Compared to their native range, non-native plants often experience reduced levels of herbivory in the introduced range. This may result in reduced pressure to produce chemical defences that act against herbivores. We measured the most abundant secondary metabolites found in Rumex spp., namely oxalates, phenols and tannins. To test this hypothesis, we compared native (UK) and introduced (NZ) provenances of three different Rumex species (R. obtusifolius, R. crispus and R. conglomeratus, Polygonaceae) to assess whether any significant differences existed in their levels of chemical defences in either leaves and roots. All three species have previously been shown to support a lower diversity of insect herbivores and experience less herbivory in the introduced range. We further examined leaf herbivory on plants from both provenances when grown together in a common garden experiment in New Zealand to test whether any differences in damage might be consistent with variation in the quantity of chemical defences. We found that two Rumex species (R. obtusifolius and R. crispus) showed no evidence for a reduction in chemical defences, while a third (R. conglomeratus) showed only limited evidence. The common garden experiment revealed that the leaves analysed had low levels of herbivory (~ 0.5%) with no differences in damage between provenances for any of the three study species. Roots tended to have a higher concentration of tannins than shoots, but again showed no difference between the provenances. As such, the findings of this study provide no evidence for lower plant investments in chemical defences, suggesting that other factors explain the success of Rumex spp. in New Zealand.

Antiulcer Activity of Anthraquinone-Flavonoid Complex of Rumex tianschanicus Losinsk.

The composition of an ethanol extract from the roots of Rumex tianschanicus Losinsk of the Trans-Ili Alatau wild flora was studied in order to determine its antiulcer activity. The phytochemical composition of the anthraquinone-flavonoid complex from (AFC) R. tianschanicus revealed the presence of numerous polyphenolic compounds, the most abundant of which are anthraquinones (1.77%), flavonoids (6.95%), and tannins (13.39%). The use of column chromatography (CC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) in conjunction with UV, IR, NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry data allowed the researchers to isolate and identify the major components of the anthraquinone-flavonoid complex's polyphenol fraction: physcion, chrysophanol, emodin, isorhamnetin, quercetin, and myricetin. The gastroprotective effect of the polyphenolic fraction of the anthraquinone-flavonoid complex (AFC) of R. tianschanicus roots was examined in an experimental model of rat gastric ulcer induced by indomethacin. The preventive and therapeutic effect of the anthraquinone-flavonoid complex at a dose of 100 mg/kg was analyzed using intragastric administration per day for 1 to 10 days, followed by a histological examination of stomach tissues. It has been demonstrated that prophylactic and prolonged use of the AFC R. tianschanicus in laboratory animals resulted in significantly less pronounced hemodynamic and desquamative changes in the epithelium of gastric tissues. The acquired results thus offer fresh insight into the anthraquinone and flavonoid metabolite component composition of R. tianschanicus roots, and they imply that the examined extract can be used to develop herbal medicines with antiulcer activity.

Anti-cancer effect of Rumex obtusifolius in combination with arginase/nitric oxide synthase inhibitors via downregulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and polyamine synthesis.

Cancer continues to be a leading cause of death worldwide, making the development of new treatment methods crucial in the fight against it. With cancer incidence rates increasing worldwide, ongoing research must focus on identifying new and effective ways to prevent and treat the disease. The combination of herbal extracts with chemotherapeutic agents has gained much interest as a novel strategy to combat cancer. Rumex obtusifolius L. is a wild plant known for its medicinal properties and is widely distributed worldwide. Our preclinical evaluations suggested that R. obtusifolius seed extracts possessed cancer-inhibiting properties and we also evaluated the beneficial effects of the arginase inhibitor NG-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine and nitric oxide inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester in the treatment of breast cancer. The current study aimed to combine these observations and evaluate the antioxidant and antitumor properties of R. obtusifolius extracts alone and in combination with the arginase and nitric oxide synthase inhibitors. Metabolic characterization of the plant extract using a liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry advanced system revealed the presence of 240 phenolic compounds many of which possess anticancer properties, according to the literature. In vitro studies revealed a significant cytotoxic effect of the R. obtusifolius extracts on the human colon (HT29) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. Thus, a new treatment approach of combining R. obtusifolius bioactive phytochemicals with the arginase and nitric oxide synthase inhibitors NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and/or NG-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine, respectively, was proposed and could potentially be an effective way to treat breast cancer. Indeed, these combinations showed immunostimulatory, antiproliferative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiangiogenic properties in a rat breast cancer model.

A plastome phylogeny of Rumex (Polygonaceae) illuminates the divergent evolutionary histories of docks and sorrels.

The genus Rumex L. (Polygonaceae) provides a unique system for investigating the evolutionary development of sex determination and molecular rate evolution. Historically, Rumex has been divided, both taxonomically and colloquially into two groups: 'docks' and 'sorrels'. A well-resolved phylogeny can help evaluate a genetic basis for this division. Here we present a plastome phylogeny for 34 species of Rumex, inferred using maximum likelihood criteria. The historical 'docks' (Rumex subgenus Rumex) were resolved as monophyletic. The historical 'sorrels' (Rumex subgenera Acetosa and Acetosella) were resolved together, though not monophyletic due to the inclusion of R. bucephalophorus (Rumex subgenus Platypodium). Emex is supported as its own subgenus within Rumex, instead of resolved as sister taxa. We found remarkably low nucleotide diversity among the docks, consistent with recent diversification in that group, especially as compared to the sorrels. Fossil calibration of the phylogeny suggested that the common ancestor for Rumex (including Emex) has origins in the lower Miocene (22.13 MYA). The sorrels appear to have subsequently diversified at a relatively constant rate. The origin of the docks, however, was placed in the upper Miocene, but with most speciation occurring in the Plio-Pleistocene.

Microbiological and Clinical Effects of a Proanthocyanidin-enriched Extract from Rumex acetosa in Periodontally Healthy Carriers of Porphyromonas gingivalis: a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

Rumex acetosa significantly inhibits the adhesion of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. g.) to eukaryotic host cells in vitro. The objective of this randomized placebo-controlled pilot-trial was to analyze effects of a mouth rinse containing 0.8% (w/w) of a quantified proanthocyanidin-enriched extract from Rumex acetosa (RA1) on microbiological, clinical, and cytological parameters in systemically healthy individuals without history of periodontitis, harboring P. g. intraorally. 35 subjects received a supragingival debridement (SD) followed by mouth rinsing (3 times daily) with either RA1 mouth rinse solution (test) or placebo (control) for 7 days as adjunct to routine oral hygiene. Supragingival biofilm samples were taken at screening visit, baseline (BL), 2, 4, 7 and 14 days after SD. P. g. and 11 other oral microorganisms were detected and quantified by rtPCR. Changes in the oral microbiota composition of one test and one control subject were assessed via high throughput 16S rRNS gene amplicon sequencing. Approximal Plaque Index (API) and the modified Sulcular Bleeding Index (SBI) were assessed at BL, 7- and 14-days following SD. Brush biopsies were taken at BL and 14 d following SD. Intergroup comparisons revealed no significant microbiological, cytological, and clinical differences at any timepoint. However, a significant reduction in SBI at day 14 (p = 0.003) and API at day 7 (p = 0.02) and day 14 (p = 0.009) was found in the test group by intragroup comparison. No severe adverse events were observed. The results indicate that RA1 mouth rinse is safe but does not seem to inhibit colonization of P. g. or improve periodontal health following SD.