Protective effect of Arum maculatum against dextran sulfate sodium induced colitis in rats.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease of the large intestine that is characterized by diarrhea, bloody stools, abdominal pain and mucosal ulceration. UC is treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids or immunosuppressants, but long-term use of these drugs can cause adverse effects. Arum maculatum is used as a traditional treatment for digestive system disorders, but its use for treatment of UC has not been investigated rigorously. We investigated the possible protective effect of a methanol extract of A. maculatum against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced experimental UC in rats. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract were 32.919 ± 1.125 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 52.045 ± 7.902 µg rutin equivalent (RE)/mg, respectively. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for the extract was 105.76 µg/ml according to the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay. Effects of A. maculatum extract on UC induced by DSS were assessed both macroscopically and histologically. We also investigated effects of A. maculatum extract on malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the oxidative stress index (OSI) in normal rats and rats with UC. We found that treatment with A. maculatum extract protected the colon against DSS induced UC in a dose-dependent manner.

Chemical Characterization and Multidirectional Biological Effects of Different Solvent Extracts of Arum elongatum: in Vitro and in Silico Approaches.

Arum elongatum (Araceae) is widely used traditionally for the treatment of abdominal pain, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, rheumatism and hemorrhoids. This study investigated the antioxidant properties, individual phenolic compounds, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents (HPLC/MS analysis), reducing power and metal chelating effects of four extracts obtained from A. elongatum (ethyl acetate (EA), methanol (MeOH), methanol/water (MeOH/water) and infusion). The inhibitory activity of the extracts were also determined against acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, amylase and glucosidase enzymes. The MeOH/water extracts contained the highest amount of phenolic contents (28.85 mg GAE/g) while the highest total flavonoid content was obtained with MeOH extract (36.77 mg RE/g). MeOH/water demonstrated highest antioxidant activity against DPPH⋅ radical at 38.90 mg Trolox equivalent per gram. The infusion extract was the most active against ABTS+ ⋅ (133.08 mg TE/g). MeOH/water extract showed the highest reducing abilities with the CUPRAC value of 102.22 mg TE/g and the FRAP value of 68.50 mg TE/g. A strong metal chelating effect was observed with MeOH/water extract (35.72 mg EDTAE/g). The PBD values of the extracts ranged from 1.01 to 2.17 mmol TE/g. EA extract displayed the highest inhibitory activity against AChE (2.32 mg GALAE/g), BChE (3.80 mg GALAE/g), α-amylase (0.56 mmol ACAE/g) and α-glucosidase (9.16 mmol ACAE/g) enzymes. Infusion extract was the most active against tyrosinase enzyme with a value of 83.33 mg KAE/g. A total of 28 compounds were identified from the different extracts. The compounds present in the highest concentration were chlorogenic acids, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, isoquercitrin, delphindin 3,5-diglucoside, kaempferol-3-glucoside and hyperoside. The biological activities of A. elongatum extracts could be due to the presence of compounds such as gallic acid, chlorogenic acids, ellagic acid, epicatechin, catechin, kaempferol, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, quercetin, isoquercitrin, and hyperoside. Extracts of A. elongatum showed promising biological activities which warrants further investigations in an endeavor to develop biopharmaceuticals.

Effects of Arum dioscoridis Extract on Hepatic Toxicity Caused by Thioacetamide in Rats.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of Arum dioscoridis (tirsik) plant extract against thioacetamide-induced experimental liver toxicity. METHODS: In this study, 35 male Wistar-Albino rats, of 12-14 weeks old, weighing between 200 and 270 g, were used. Rats were divided into 5 groups of 7 each. The first group was determined as the control group, the second group as the hepatotoxicity group, the third group as the prophylaxis group, the fourth group as the intraperitoneal treatment group, and the fifth group as the oral treatment group. Hepatotoxicity was achieved with a single intraperitoneal dose of 350 mg/kg of thioacetamide (TAA). On the seventh day, the rats were sacrificed under general anesthesia. Their blood was taken and liver enzymes were studied. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathyon peroxi dase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxit dismutase (SOD) enzymes were studied from liver tissues. In addition, liver tissues were evaluated histopathologically. RESULTS: With Arum dioscoridis treatment and prophylaxis, improvements in all parameters and increases in tissue antioxidant levels were detected. CONCLUSION: It was determined that Arum dioscoridis plant extract has prophylactic and therapeutic effects on liver toxicity. In cases of acute liver injury and hepatotoxicity, we suggest the potential application of Arum dioscoridis for effective and inexpensive treatment.

Effects of habitat disturbance on the reproductive ecology of Arum pictum ssp. sagittifolium: from pollination to seedling recruitment.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The loss of natural habitats may strongly affect the fitness of plants that depend on animals for reproduction. However, very little is known regarding the differential effects of habitat disturbance on the distinct phases of the reproductive cycle of plants, especially in non-rewarding species. METHODS: We assessed the effects of habitat disturbance on the entire reproductive cycle of Arum pictum ssp. sagittifolium, a species with deceptive pollination that is endemic to the western Mediterranean Basin. For this, we performed hand-pollination and bagging experiments, evaluated the role of pollinators and dispersers on reproduction, and estimated seedling recruitment in three natural and three disturbed populations (according to their surrounding natural habitat) in Mallorca Island. KEY RESULTS: Pollinators were sphaerocerid flies (mainly Coproica, with ~50 % of visits) and staphylinid beetles, and were required for sexual reproduction. Habitat disturbance differently affected the reproductive phases of A. pictum ssp. sagittifolium. Habitat disturbance had a positive effect on Shannon pollinator diversity (but not on pollinator richness), and total pollinator and Coproica abundance were three times higher in disturbed habitats, where overall seed production was also ~30 % higher in natural habitats. Seed production increased with Coproica abundance, but only in natural habitats. Seed dispersers of A. pictum ssp. sagittifolium were birds, mainly Sylvia atricapilla. Although habitat disturbance did not influence disperser diversity or abundance, the majority of seedlings appeared under adult plants and in natural habitats. CONCLUSIONS: Overall recruitment was higher in natural habitats, but this effect could have been masked by only assessing pollinator and disperser numbers, as processes related to the quality of these interactions might be influencing fitness. Our study highlights the need to study different reproductive phases and their multiple components and processes to properly understand the effects of habitat disturbance on the regeneration of plant populations.

Transcriptomic analysis of deceptively pollinated Arum maculatum (Araceae) reveals association between terpene synthase expression in floral trap chamber and species-specific pollinator attraction.

Deceptive pollination often involves volatile organic compound emissions that mislead insects into performing nonrewarding pollination. Among deceptively pollinated plants, Arum maculatum is particularly well-known for its potent dung-like volatile organic compound emissions and specialized floral chamber, which traps pollinators-mainly Psychoda phalaenoides and Psychoda grisescens-overnight. However, little is known about the genes underlying the production of many Arum maculatum volatile organic compounds, and their influence on variation in pollinator attraction rates. Therefore, we performed de novo transcriptome sequencing of Arum maculatum appendix and male floret tissue collected during anthesis and postanthesis, from 10 natural populations across Europe. These RNA-seq data were paired with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of floral scent composition and pollinator data collected from the same inflorescences. Differential expression analyses revealed candidate transcripts in appendix tissue linked to malodourous volatile organic compounds including indole, p-cresol, and 2-heptanone. In addition, we found that terpene synthase expression in male floret tissue during anthesis significantly covaried with sex- and species-specific attraction of Psychoda phalaenoides and Psychoda grisescens. Taken together, our results provide the first insights into molecular mechanisms underlying pollinator attraction patterns in Arum maculatum and highlight floral chamber sesquiterpene (e.g. bicyclogermacrene) synthases as interesting candidate genes for further study.

Antennae of psychodid and sphaerocerid flies respond to a high variety of floral scent compounds of deceptive Arum maculatum L.

Insect-pollinated plants often release complex mixtures of floral scents to attract their pollinators. Yet scent compounds eliciting physiological or behavioural responses in pollinators have only been identified in few plant species. The sapromyiophilous aroid Arum maculatum releases a highly diverse dung-like scent with overall more than 300 different compounds recorded so far to attract its psychodid and other fly pollinators. The volatiles' role in pollinator attraction is mostly unknown. To identify potential behaviourally active compounds, we recorded electroantennographic responses of four Psychodidae and one Sphaeroceridae species to (1) inflorescence scents of A. maculatum and (2) the scents released by cow dung, likely imitated by the plant species. Here we show that these flies are sensitive to 78 floral volatiles of various chemical classes, 18 of which were also found in cow dung. Our study, which for the first time determined physiologically active compounds in the antennae of Psychoda spp. and Sphaeroceridae, identified various volatiles not known to be biologically active in any floral visitors so far. The obtained results help deciphering the chemical basis that enables A. maculatum and other plants, pollinated by psychodids and sphaerocerids, to attract and deceive their pollinators.

Arum italicum mediated silver nanoparticles: Synthesis and investigation of some biochemical parameters.

The science world advancing day by day contributes to living systems in many areas with the development of nanotechnology. Besides being easily obtained from plants, the advantages it brings increase the importance of nanotechnology. Environmentally friendly, economical, and compatible with plants are just a few of the advantages it brings. Silver metal is one of the most preferred active ingredients in nanoparticle synthesis. Arum italicum is used in the treatment of various diseases in the health sector due to the structures it contains. In our study, nanoparticle synthesis was made by using Ag metal with Arum italicum plant. Then, the antimicrobial, DNA damage prevention and DPPH radical quenching activity of Ag NPs/Ai nanoparticles were investigated. The interaction of the plant with Ag, analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV visible spectrophotometer (UV-vis), scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), Fourier-converted infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) methods has been done. It has been observed that Ag NPs/Ai clusters formed by Arum italicum with Ag have an antibacterial effect against Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli pathogens. However, an antifungal effect hasn't been observed against Candida albicans fungus. Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria exerted a stronger effect than an antibiotic. It is seen that Ag NPs/Ai has a protective and anti-damage effect against DNA damage. The antioxidant effect of Ag NPs/Ai is remarkable when DPPH radical quenching activity is compared to positive control BHA and BHT.

Probiotic Properties of a Spaceflight-induced Mutant Lactobacillus Plant- arum SS18-50 in Mice.

BACKGROUND: Probiotics are a group of bacteria that play a critical role in intestinal microbiota homeostasis and may help adjunctively treat certain diseases like metabolic and immune disorders. OBJECTIVE: We recently generated a space-flight mutated Lactobacillus plantarum SS18-50 with good in vitro probiotic characteristics. In the current research, we designed two in vivo experiments to evaluate whether L. plantarum SS18-50 had the ability to increase beneficial gut bacteria, regulate oxidative status and ameliorate inflammation in mice. METHODS: Experiments I: the ICR mice were gavaged with L. plantarum SS18-50 or its wild type L. plantarum GS18 at 107 or 109 CFU/kg BW daily for one month, during which the body weight was recorded weekly. The feces were collected to determine the abundance of two main beneficial bacterial groups including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium by selective culturing, while the total triglycerides and cholesterols in sera were determined using commercial kits. Experiment II: the mice were gavaged with loperamide hydrochloride (Lop) to develop oxidative stress and inflammation phenotypes. At the same time, the experimental mice were gavaged with L. plantarum SS18-50 or wild type L. plantarum GS18 at 107 or 109 CFU/kg BW daily for one month. At the end of the experiment, oxidative indicators (SOD and MDA) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-17A and IL-10) were measured by commercial kits. RESULTS: Results showed that L. plantarum SS18-50 increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in mice after one month's administration. L. plantarum SS18-50 also showed the anti-oxidant activity by increasing SOD and decreasing MDA and exerted the anti-inflammatory effect by increasing IL-10 and decreasing IL-17A in Lop treated mice. Both the wild type stain and the space mutant had such biomedical effects, but L. plantarum SS18-50 was better in increasing gut beneficial bacteria and oxidative regulation than the wild type (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that L. plantarum SS18-50 has a great potential to serve as a dietary functional probiotic supplement and/or adjunctive treatment strategy.

Antibacterial and cytotoxicity evaluation of Arum hygrophilum Bioss.

OBJECTIVE: Arum hygrophilum Bioss is a plant native to Asia, Europe, and Northern Africa. It is consumed as beverages, spices, or cooked leaves to cure gastrointestinal infections and cancer. This study aims to determine the antibacterial and anticancer effectivenesss of A. hygrophilum Bioss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the well-diffusion method, the antimicrobial activity of the plant's aqueous extract and five other organic extracts were evaluated against bacteria often associated with food poisoning. The assessment of the antiproliferative activity by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was done on five cancerous cell lines and on fibroblasts as a reference cell line. RESULTS: The growth of L. monocytogenes was significantly inhibited by the aqueous and ethanolic extracts. Both extracts had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 62.5 mg/mL. The inhibition caused by the methanolic extract had a MIC of 500 mg/mL. The growth of S. aureus and MRSA were inhibited by the aqueous extract with a MIC of 500 mg/mL, while the inhibition caused by the ethanolic extract had a MIC of 250 mg/mL on MRSA and 500 mg/mL on S.aureus. Both strains of S.aureus were also inhibited by the 3-pentanon extract, while the butanol extract only exhibited a moderate growth inhibition against MRSA. The MTT assay showed that the aqueous extract had not affected the proliferation of cancer cell lines. The cytotoxicity of the ethanolic and methanolic extracts had no concentration-inhibition relationship and the IC50 values were above 800 µg/mL for all extracts. CONCLUSIONS: L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were inhibited by different Arum extracts. The antibacterial activity of Arum hygrophilum Bioss against foodborne pathogens makes it safe to use as a natural food preservative, and as a source for sanitizers and antimicrobials. Further investigation is recommended to determine the cytotoxicity of the plant against additional cancer cell lines.

Degradation of mitochondrial alternative oxidase in the appendices of Arum maculatum.

Cyanide-resistant alternative oxidase (AOX) is a nuclear-encoded quinol oxidase located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Although the quality control of AOX proteins is expected to have a role in elevated respiration in mitochondria, it remains unclear whether thermogenic plants possess molecular mechanisms for the mitochondrial degradation of AOX. To better understand the mechanism of AOX turnover in mitochondria, we performed a series of in organello AOX degradation assays using mitochondria from various stages of the appendices of Arum maculatum. Our analyses clearly indicated that AOX proteins at certain stages in the appendices are degraded at 30°C, which is close to the maximum appendix temperature observed during thermogenesis. Interestingly, such temperature-dependent protease activities were specifically inhibited by E-64, a cysteine protease inhibitor. Moreover, purification and subsequent nano LC-MS/MS analyses of E-64-sensitive and DCG-04-labeled active mitochondrial protease revealed an ∼30 kDa protein with an identical partial peptide sequence to the cysteine protease 1-like protein from Phoenix dactylifera. Our data collectively suggest that AOX is a potential target for temperature-dependent E-64-sensitive cysteine protease in the appendices of A. maculatum. A possible retrograde signalling cascade mediated by specific degradation of AOX proteins and its physiological significance are discussed.

Arum palaestinum poisoning: revenge of the witch.

The Arum palaestinum plant is one of the 26 species of the Arum genus of the Araceae family. This plant species is found through the Mediterranean region, Western Asia, and Europe. The leaves and seeds of the plant contain needle-shaped oxalate crystals that can irritate the affected tissue (skin, oral cavity, or GI tract) upon exposure. Up to this date, there is no available literature supporting the epidemiology or the clinical manifestations of poisoning by this plant. We retrospectively reviewed all Arum palaestinum exposures to children younger than 18 years of age reported to the Israel National Poison Information Center during 2017 from the IPIC computerized data system. We extracted demographic data and clinical data from those digital files. We reviewed the files of 53 patients' files and found slight male predominance (58% vs. 42%), and the age of exposure ranged from 9 month to 15 years. The main site of exposure was at home in most cases (47%) followed by outdoor exposure in 40% of the cases. In 66% of the cases, minor clinical manifestations were reported, mainly erythema and mouth irritation, agitation, and drooling. Asymptomatic patients composed 34% of the cases. In 17% of the cases, patients were recommended to visit an ambulatory facility, and other 15% of the cases were referred to the emergency department. There were no cases of severe poisoning, upper airways compromise, or death.Conclusion: Poisoning by Arum palaestinum is one of the most common pediatric plant poisoning in Israel. Our study supports with clinical data for the first time that this poisoning is self-limited, confined to the affected mucosa, and most likely does not necessitate any intervention. What is Known • A. palaestinum poisoning is one of the most common pediatric plant poisoning in Israel. • The leaves and seeds of the plant contain needle-shaped oxalates crystals. What is New • Pediatric exposure to A. palaestinum usually causes only mild and self-limited poisoning. • Expectant observation is the preferred management of such exposure.

Arum conophalloides Aqueous Extract Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rat; Histopathological, Biochemical, and mir-122 Assessments.

BACKGROUND: Arum conophalloides (A. conophalloides) is a wild edible delicate plant, widely used in traditional medicine. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effects of A. conophalloides extracts on biochemical, molecular, and histopathological changes in the rat. METHODS: Fifty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups (10 each) as follows: G1 or control, received distilled water; G2 and G3, treated with the aqueous extract at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg; G4 and G5, treated with the hydroalcoholic extract at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg. Prior to and at the end of the experiments, the serum levels of biochemistry parameters and the relative expression of miR-122 were assessed. Moreover, the liver and kidney tissues were examined microscopically. RESULTS: Liver and kidney tissues showed normal structure in all groups. There were no significant changes in biochemical indices or the expression of miR-122 in the extract-treated groups at the dose of 200 mg/kg. However, the group that received the aqueous extract at the dose of 400 mg/kg exhibited a significantly lower level of HDL, LDL, ALT, and ALP in comparison to the control. Additionally, miR-122 expression in this group exhibited a 10-fold increase (P=0.009). CONCLUSION: The serum level of hepatocyte-specific miR-122 will be more helpful in detecting hepatic changes in early stages than ALT and AST activity or histopathological evaluations of liver sections. Our findings highlight the potential hepatotoxicity of A. conophalloides aqueous extract in a rat model.

Investigation of the effects of natural compounds isolated from Arum rupicola var. rupicola on glutathione reductase enzyme purified from bovine liver.

Glutathione reductase (GR, E.C. 1.8.1.7), a flavoenzyme, is responsible for recycling of oxidized glutathione disulfide. This study was performed in two main sections. In the first GR was purified from bovine liver by affinity column chromatography and the purification rate and specific activity of the enzyme were calculated as 1832-fold and 141 EU/mg protein, respectively. The subunit molecular weight of the enzyme was determined as 55 kDa by means of SDS-PAGE. The second section isolated natural components of Arum rupicola Boiss. var. rupicola using column chromatography. The isolation protocol for this plant was performed with a series of different-sized columns with hexane-ethyl acetate. According to the thin-layer chromatography plate, seven substances (R1-R7) were isolated. Our study's aim was to find new activators or inhibitors for GR activity. With this aim, all isolated substances were tested for GR activity. R6 showed competitive inhibition, while R4 had noncompetitive inhibition of GR activity. R1 played a role as an activator of GR activity. The inhibitory activity percentage vs. concentration graph was plotted. Values of IC50 for R4 and R6 were calculated as 0.193 mg/mL and 3.98 µg/mL, respectively, from the equation of this graph.

Potent Antitumor Effects of a Combination of Three Nutraceutical Compounds.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is associated with low survival, and the current aggressive therapies result in high morbidity. Nutraceuticals are dietary compounds with few side effects. However, limited antitumor efficacy has restricted their application for cancer therapy. Here, we examine combining nutraceuticals, establishing a combination therapy that is more potent than any singular component, and delineate the mechanism of action. Three formulations were tested: GZ17-S (combined plant extracts from Arum palaestinum, Peganum harmala and Curcuma longa); GZ17-05.00 (16 synthetic components of GZ17-S); and GZ17-6.02 (3 synthetic components of GZ17S; curcumin, harmine and isovanillin). We tested the formulations on HNSCC proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, macrophage viability and infiltration into the tumor and tumor apoptosis. GZ17-6.02, the most effective formulation, significantly reduced in vitro assessments of HNSCC progression. When combined with cisplatin, GZ17-6.02 enhanced anti-proliferative effects. Molecular signaling cascades inhibited by GZ17-6.02 include EGFR, ERK1/2, and AKT, and molecular docking analyses demonstrate GZ17-6.02 components bind at distinct binding sites. GZ17-6.02 significantly inhibited growth of HNSCC cell line, patient-derived xenografts, and murine syngeneic tumors in vivo (P < 0.001). We demonstrate GZ17-6.02 as a highly effective plant extract combination and pave the way for future clinical application in HNSCC.

'Last In-First Out': seasonal variations of non-structural carbohydrates, glucose-6-phosphate and ATP in tubers of two Arum species.

Knowledge on the metabolism of polysaccharide reserves in wild species is still scarce. In natural sites we collected tubers of Arum italicum Mill. and A. maculatum L. - two geophytes with different apparent phenological timing, ecology and chorology - during five stages of the annual cycle in order to understand patterns of reserve accumulation and degradation. Both the entire tuber and its proximal and distal to shoot portion were utilised. Pools of non-structural carbohydrates (glucose, sucrose and starch), glucose-6-phosphate and ATP were analysed as important markers of carbohydrate metabolism. In both species, starch and glucose content of the whole tuber significantly increased from sprouting to the maturation/senescence stages, whereas sucrose showed an opposite trend; ATP and glucose-6-phosphate were almost stable and dropped only at the end of the annual cycle. Considering the two different portions of the tuber, both ATP and glucose-6-phosphate concentrations were higher in proximity to the shoot in all seasonal stages, except the flowering stage. Our findings suggest that seasonal carbon partitioning in the underground organ is driven by phenology and occurs independently of seasonal climate conditions. Moreover, our results show that starch degradation, sustained by elevated ATP and glucose-6-phosphate pools, starts in the peripheral, proximal-to-shoot portion of the tuber, consuming starch accumulated in the previous season, as a 'Last In-First Out' mechanism of carbohydrate storage.

Exogenous induction of thermogenesis in Arum concinnatum by salicylic acid.

Arum concinnatum Schott is a highly thermogenic species, with the temperature of the appendix exceeding ~10.9°C above the ambient temperature during thermogenesis, whereas the rates of respiration of the male florets in intact inflorescences peak at 0.92µmol s-1 g-1, which is the highest rate so far measured among the plants. Here, we attempt the ex situ exogenous induction of thermogenesis in whole inflorescences and in separate appendices of the spadix, and explore the thermogenic patterns under controlled laboratory conditions of light and temperature. Mature but unopened inflorescences and appendices showed thermogenic responses when treated with salicylic acid (SA), but not when treated with distilled water (control). With regard to light conditions, the responses revealed only one significant difference for inflorescences, which concerns the higher maximum temperature in the continuous light treatment compared with continuous dark. Along the ambient temperature gradient, at the lowest temperature edge individuals remained stable close to ambient temperature and to control. These findings suggest that, in general, ex situ exogenous induction of thermogenesis can be achieved in whole inflorescences and in separate appendices of spadix of A. concinnatum using SA. This study also indicates that SA acts independently of light conditions, while exogenous induction of thermogenesis takes place within an ambient temperature range.

Physicochemical properties and combustion behavior of duckweed during wet torrefaction.

Wet torrefaction of duckweed was carried out in the temperature range of 130-250°C to evaluate the effects on physicochemical properties and combustion behavior. The physicochemical properties of duckweed samples were investigated by ultimate analysis, proximate analysis, FTIR, XRD and SEM techniques. It was found that wet torrefaction improved the fuel characteristics of duckweed samples resulting from the increase in fixed carbon content, HHVs and the decrease in nitrogen and sulfur content and atomic ratios of O/C and H/C. It can be seen from the results of FTIR, XRD and SEM analyses that the dehydration, decarboxylation, solid-solid conversion, and condensation polymerization reactions were underwent during wet torrefaction. In addition, the results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in air indicated that wet torrefaction resulted in significant changes on combustion behavior and combustion kinetics parameters. Duckweed samples after wet torrefaction behaved more char-like and gave better combustion characteristics than raw sample.

Floral traits and pollination ecology of European Arum hybrids.

Hybridisation is common in plants and can affect the genetic diversity and ecology of sympatric parental populations. Hybrids may resemble the parental species in their ecology, leading to competition and/or gene introgression; alternatively, they may diverge from the parental phenotypes, possibly leading to the colonisation of new ecological niches and to speciation. Here, we describe inflorescence morphology, ploidy levels, pollinator attractive scents, and pollinator guilds of natural hybrids of Arum italicum and A. maculatum (Araceae) from a site with sympatric parental populations in southern France to determine how these traits affect the hybrid pollination ecology. Hybrids were characterised by inflorescences with a size and a number of flowers more similar to A. italicum than to A. maculatum. In most cases, hybrid stamens were purple, as in A. maculatum, and spadix appendices yellow, as in A. italicum. Hybrid floral scent was closer to that of A. italicum, but shared some compounds with A. maculatum and comprised unique compounds. Also, the pollinator guild of the hybrids was similar to that of A. italicum. Nevertheless, the hybrids attracted a high proportion of individuals of the main pollinator of A. maculatum. We discuss the effects of hybridisation in sympatric parental zones in which hybrids exhibit low levels of reproductive success, the establishment of reproductive barriers between parental species, the role of the composition of floral attractive scents in the differential attraction of pollinators and in the competition between hybrids and their parental species, and the potential of hybridisation to give rise to new independent lineages.

Potential risks associated with traditional herbal medicine use in cancer care: A study of Middle Eastern oncology health care professionals.

BACKGROUND: The authors assessed the use of herbal medicine by Middle Eastern patients with cancer, as reported by their oncology health care professionals (HCPs). Herbal products identified by the study HCPs were evaluated for potential negative effects. METHODS: Oncology HCPs from 16 Middle Eastern countries received a 17-item questionnaire asking them to list 5 herbal products in use by their patients with cancer. A literature search (PubMed, Micromedex, AltMedDex, and the Natural Medicine Comprehensive Database) was conducted to identify safety-related concerns associated with the products listed. RESULTS: A total of 339 HCPs completed the study questionnaire (response rate of 80.3%), identifying 44 herbal and 3 nonherbal nutritional supplements. Safety-related concerns were associated with 29 products, including herb-drug interactions with altered pharmacodynamics (15 herbs), direct toxic effects (18 herbs), and increased in vitro response of cancer cells to chemotherapy (7 herbs). CONCLUSIONS: Herbal medicine use, which is prevalent in Middle Eastern countries, has several potentially negative effects that include direct toxic effects, negative interactions with anticancer drugs, and increased chemosensitivity of cancer cells, requiring a reduction in dose-density. Oncology HCPs working in countries in which herbal medicine use is prevalent need to better understand the implications of this practice. The presence of integrative physicians with training in complementary and traditional medicine can help patients and their HCPs reach an informed decision regarding the safety and effective use of these products.

In vitro and in vivo comparison of the biological activities of two traditionally and widely used Arum species from Jordan: Arum dioscoridis Sibth & Sm. and Arum palaestinum Boiss.

Arum dioscoridis and A. palaestinum (Araceae) are indigenous plant species in Jordan. HPLC-MS analysis of A. dioscoridis revealed the presence of apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, quercetin-3-O-ß-glucoside, vitexin, isoorientin, esculin, and caffeic and ferulic acids. Both Arum spp., influenced gastrointestinal carbohydrate and lipid digestion and absorption. Orlistat inhibited dose dependently and highly substantially pancreatic lipase (PL) in vitro. Similar to orlistat, Arum species aqueous extracts (AEs), apigenin, caffeic acid and esculin exhibited a concentration related PL inhibition. Comparable to acarbose, dual inhibition of α-amylase/α-glucosidase was observed for both Arum species. Like guar gum, A. dioscoridis AE minimised substantially area under 24 h glucose curve. Acute starch-induced postprandial hyperglycaemia in overnight fasting rats was highly significantly (p < 0.001) decreased by A. dioscoridis AE. A. palaestinum could not perform effectively in either starch- or glucose-fed fasting rats. No antiproliferative effects against colorectal cancer cell lines HT29, HCT116 and SW620 were detected for tested Arum spp.