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Kaur N, Somasundram C, Razali Z, Mourad AHI, Hamed F, Ahmed ZFR. Aloe vera/Chitosan-Based Edible Film with Enhanced Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Thermal, and Barrier Properties for Sustainable Food Preservation. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:242. [PMID: 38257041 PMCID: PMC10821446 DOI: 10.3390/polym16020242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Food bioactive packaging has received increasing attention from consumers and the food industry for its potential to reduce food waste and environmental issues. Several materials can be used to produce edible films/coats; however, bio-based, cost-effective, and sustainable coatings have gained a high reputation these days. For instance, Aloe vera gel (AV) is a promising bio-based material for edible coatings and films; therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the film-forming abilities of AV and Chitosan (CH) combination as a potential active food packaging material. The physicochemical and mechanical characteristics of formed films of various combinations were prepared at different concentrations, i.e., CH (0.5% w/v), AV (100%), CH:AV (75:25), and CH:AV (60:40). The results showed significant differences among all the prepared edible films wherein these differences were mainly on account of incorporating AV gel. The rheological and antioxidant properties of the formulations improved with the inclusion of AV gel. The films composed of CH:AV (60:40) positively affected the water solubility, thermal properties, and water vapour permeability of the edible films. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that the films composed of CH:AV, (60:40) were amorphous and had smooth morphology. Further, the edible film solutions were applied to fresh figs (Ficus carica) to investigate their role in preserving fruits during storage. A significant reduction in microbial growth was found in coated fruits after 28 days of cold storage. The films composed of CH and AV showed overall improved results compared to the CH (0.5%, w/v). Therefore, the used formulations (CH:AV, 60:40) can form a sustainable film that has the potential to be utilized for fresh product preservation to maintain its quality and shelf life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navjot Kaur
- Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Chandran Somasundram
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (C.S.); (Z.R.)
- The Center for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Zuliana Razali
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; (C.S.); (Z.R.)
- The Center for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Abdel-Hamid I. Mourad
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Fathalla Hamed
- Department of Physics, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Zienab F. R. Ahmed
- Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates;
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Sage RF, Gilman IS, Smith JAC, Silvera K, Edwards EJ. Atmospheric CO2 decline and the timing of CAM plant evolution. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2023; 132:753-770. [PMID: 37642245 PMCID: PMC10799994 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS CAM photosynthesis is hypothesized to have evolved in atmospheres of low CO2 concentration in recent geological time because of its ability to concentrate CO2 around Rubisco and boost water use efficiency relative to C3 photosynthesis. We assess this hypothesis by compiling estimates of when CAM clades arose using phylogenetic chronograms for 73 CAM clades. We further consider evidence of how atmospheric CO2 affects CAM relative to C3 photosynthesis. RESULTS Where CAM origins can be inferred, strong CAM is estimated to have appeared in the past 30 million years in 46 of 48 examined clades, after atmospheric CO2 had declined from high (near 800 ppm) to lower (<450 ppm) values. In turn, 21 of 25 clades containing CAM species (but where CAM origins are less certain) also arose in the past 30 million years. In these clades, CAM is probably younger than the clade origin. We found evidence for repeated weak CAM evolution during the higher CO2 conditions before 30 million years ago, and possible strong CAM origins in the Crassulaceae during the Cretaceous period prior to atmospheric CO2 decline. Most CAM-specific clades arose in the past 15 million years, in a similar pattern observed for origins of C4 clades. CONCLUSIONS The evidence indicates strong CAM repeatedly evolved in reduced CO2 conditions of the past 30 million years. Weaker CAM can pre-date low CO2 and, in the Crassulaceae, strong CAM may also have arisen in water-limited microsites under relatively high CO2. Experimental evidence from extant CAM species demonstrates that elevated CO2 reduces the importance of nocturnal CO2 fixation by increasing the contribution of C3 photosynthesis to daily carbon gain. Thus, the advantage of strong CAM would be reduced in high CO2, such that its evolution appears less likely and restricted to more extreme environments than possible in low CO2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan F Sage
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Ian S Gilman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - J Andrew C Smith
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Katia Silvera
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Erika J Edwards
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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Pérez-López AV, Lim SD, Cushman JC. Tissue succulence in plants: Carrying water for climate change. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 289:154081. [PMID: 37703768 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2023.154081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Tissue succulence in plants involves the storage of water in one or more organs or tissues to assist in maintaining water potentials on daily or seasonal time scales. This drought-avoidance or drought-resistance strategy allows plants to occupy diverse environments including arid regions, regions with rocky soils, epiphytic habitats, and saline soils. Climate-resilient strategies are of increasing interest in the context of the global climate crisis, which is leading to hotter and drier conditions in many regions throughout the globe. Here, we describe a short history of succulent plants, the basic concepts of tissue succulence, the anatomical diversity of succulent morphologies and associated adaptive traits, the evolutionary, phylogenetic, and biogeographical diversity of succulent plants, extinction risks to succulents due to poaching from their natural environments, and the myriad uses and applications of economically important succulent species and the products derived from them. Lastly, we discuss current prospects for engineering tissue succulence to improve salinity and drought tolerance in crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arely V Pérez-López
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557-0330, USA.
| | - Sung Don Lim
- Department of Plant Life and Resource Science, Sangji University, Gangwon-do, 26339, South Korea.
| | - John C Cushman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557-0330, USA.
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Yin T, Yu Y, Liu Q, Zhu G, Bai L, Zhang W, Jiang Z. 13C-NMR-based MixONat strategy coupled with 2D NMR for rapid dereplication and identification of new secondary metabolites from Aloe vera. J Food Compost Anal 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2022.104975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Hussain A. A phylogenetic perspective of antiviral species of the genus Artemisia (Asteraceae-Anthemideae): A proposal of anti SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) candidate taxa. J Herb Med 2022; 36:100601. [PMID: 36188629 PMCID: PMC9514968 DOI: 10.1016/j.hermed.2022.100601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Different classes of disease-causing viruses are widely distributed universally. Plant-based medicines are anticipated to be effective cures for viral diseases including the COVID-19, instigated by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study displays the phylogenetic perspective of Artemisia and proposes some candidate taxa against different viral diseases, including SARS-CoV-2. Methods Data of Artemisia with antiviral activity were obtained from different published sources and electronic searches. A phylogenetic analysis of the nrDNA ITS sequences of reported antiviral Artemisia species, along with the reference species retrieved from the NCBI GenBank database, was performed using the maximum likelihood (ML) approach. Results In total, 23 Artemisia species have been documented so far with antiviral activity for 17 different types of viral diseases. 17 out of 23 antiviral Artemisia species were included in the ITS phylogeny, which presented the distribution of these antiviral Artemisia species in clades corresponding to different subgenera of the genus Artemisia. In the resultant ML tree, 10 antiviral Artemisia species appeared within the subgenus Artemisia clade, 2 species appeared within the subgenus Absinthium clade, 3 species appeared within the subgenus Dracunculus clade, and 2 species appeared within the subgenus Seriphidium clade. Discussion Artemisia species from different subgenera with antiviral activity are prevalent in the genus, with most antiviral species belonging to the subgenus Artemisia. A detailed analysis of taxa from all subgenera, particularly the subgenus Artemisia, is therefore proposed in order to discover compounds with potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity.
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Key Words
- Antiviral activity
- Artemisia
- Asteraceae
- BVD, Bovine viral diarrhea virus
- COVID-19
- Candidate taxa
- DEN 2, Dengue virus type 2
- FCV, Feline calci virus
- FIV, Feline immunodeficiency virus
- HBV, Hepatitis B virus
- HBeAg, Hepatitis B e-antigen
- HBsAg, Hepatitis B surface antigen
- HCV, Hepatitis C virus
- HHV (HSV), Human alphaherpesvirus (Herpes simplex virus)
- HHV-4 (EBV), Human gammaherpesvirus type 4 (Epstein-Barr virus)
- HIV-, Human immunodeficiency virus
- HeLa, Henrietta Lacks cells
- ITS Phylogeny
- IV, Influenza virus
- JUN V, Junin virus
- MDBK, Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells
- MDCK, Madin-Darby canine kidney cells
- MNV, Murine norovirus
- MTTA, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay
- NDV, Newcastle disease virus
- PV, Polio virus
- SARS CoV2, Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2
- SARS-CoV-2
- SV, Sindbis virus
- VERO, Verda reno cells
- YFV, Yellow fever virus
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Mkala EM, Mutinda ES, Wanga VO, Oulo MA, Oluoch WA, nzei J, Waswa EN, Odago W, Nanjala C, Mwachala G, Hu GW, Wang QF. Modeling impacts of climate change on the potential distribution of three endemic Aloe species critically endangered in East Africa. ECOL INFORM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Mkala EM, Mutinda ES, Wanga VO, Oulo MA, Oluoch WA, nzei J, Waswa EN, Odago W, Nanjala C, Mwachala G, Hu GW, Wang QF. Modeling impacts of climate change on the potential distribution of three endemic Aloe species critically endangered in East Africa. ECOL INFORM 2022; 71:101765. [DOI: https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
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Delatorre-Castillo JP, Delatorre-Herrera J, Lay KS, Arenas-Charlín J, Sepúlveda-Soto I, Cardemil L, Ostria-Gallardo E. Preconditioning to Water Deficit Helps Aloe vera to Overcome Long-Term Drought during the Driest Season of Atacama Desert. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11111523. [PMID: 35684295 PMCID: PMC9183172 DOI: 10.3390/plants11111523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Throughout evolution, plants have developed different strategies of responses and adaptations that allow them to survive in different conditions of abiotic stress. Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. is a succulent CAM plant that can grow in warm, semi-arid, and arid regions. Here, we tested the effects of preconditioning treatments of water availability (100, 50, and 25% of soil field capacity, FC) on the response of A. vera to prolonged drought growing in the hyper-arid core of the Atacama Desert. We studied leaf biomass, biochemical traits, and photosynthetic traits to assess, at different intervals of time, the effects of the preconditioning treatments on the response of A. vera to seven months of water deprivation. As expected, prolonged drought has deleterious effects on plant growth (a decrease of 55–65% in leaf thickness) and photosynthesis (a decrease of 54–62% in Emax). There were differences in the morphophysiological responses to drought depending on the preconditioning treatment, the 50% FC pretreatment being the threshold to better withstand prolonged drought. A diurnal increase in the concentration of malic acid (20–30 mg mg−1) in the points where the dark respiration increased was observed, from which it can be inferred that A. vera switches its C3-CAM metabolism to a CAM idling mode. Strikingly, all A. vera plants stayed alive after seven months without irrigation. Possible mechanisms under an environmental context are discussed. Overall, because of a combination of morphophysiological traits, A. vera has the remarkable capacity to survive under severe and long-term drought, and further holistic research on this plant may serve to produce biotechnological solutions for crop production under the current scenario of climatic emergency.
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Affiliation(s)
- José P. Delatorre-Castillo
- Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Desert Agriculture Area, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1100000, Chile; (J.P.D.-C.); (J.D.-H.); (K.S.L.); (J.A.-C.); (I.S.-S.)
| | - José Delatorre-Herrera
- Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Desert Agriculture Area, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1100000, Chile; (J.P.D.-C.); (J.D.-H.); (K.S.L.); (J.A.-C.); (I.S.-S.)
| | - Kung Sang Lay
- Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Desert Agriculture Area, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1100000, Chile; (J.P.D.-C.); (J.D.-H.); (K.S.L.); (J.A.-C.); (I.S.-S.)
| | - Jorge Arenas-Charlín
- Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Desert Agriculture Area, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1100000, Chile; (J.P.D.-C.); (J.D.-H.); (K.S.L.); (J.A.-C.); (I.S.-S.)
| | - Isabel Sepúlveda-Soto
- Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Desert Agriculture Area, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1100000, Chile; (J.P.D.-C.); (J.D.-H.); (K.S.L.); (J.A.-C.); (I.S.-S.)
| | - Liliana Cardemil
- Plant Molecular Biology Center, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 7800003, Chile;
| | - Enrique Ostria-Gallardo
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Center of Advanced Studies in Arid Zones (CEAZA), La Serena 1710088, Chile
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +56-51-2204378
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Fradera-Soler M, Grace OM, Jørgensen B, Mravec J. Elastic and collapsible: current understanding of cell walls in succulent plants. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:2290-2307. [PMID: 35167681 PMCID: PMC9015807 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Succulent plants represent a large functional group of drought-resistant plants that store water in specialized tissues. Several co-adaptive traits accompany this water-storage capacity to constitute the succulent syndrome. A widely reported anatomical adaptation of cell walls in succulent tissues allows them to fold in a regular fashion during extended drought, thus preventing irreversible damage and permitting reversible volume changes. Although ongoing research on crop and model species continuously reports the importance of cell walls and their dynamics in drought resistance, the cell walls of succulent plants have received relatively little attention to date, despite the potential of succulents as natural capital to mitigate the effects of climate change. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of cell walls in drought-avoiding succulents and their effects on tissue biomechanics, water relations, and photosynthesis. We also highlight the existing knowledge gaps and propose a hypothetical model for regulated cell wall folding in succulent tissues upon dehydration. Future perspectives of methodological development in succulent cell wall characterization, including the latest technological advances in molecular and imaging techniques, are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Fradera-Soler
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK
- Correspondence: or
| | | | | | - Jozef Mravec
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Correspondence: or
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Lu M, Fradera-Soler M, Forest F, Barraclough TG, Grace OM. Evidence linking life-form to a major shift in diversification rate in Crassula. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2022; 109:272-290. [PMID: 34730230 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE Plants have evolved different ecological strategies in response to environmental challenges, and a higher lability of such strategies is more common in plant groups that adapt to various niches. Crassula (Crassulaceae), occurring in varied mesic to xeric habitats, exhibits a remarkable diversity of life-forms. However, whether any particular life-form trait has shaped species diversification in Crassula has remained unexplored. This study aims to investigate diversification patterns within Crassula and identify potential links to its life-form evolution. METHODS A phylogenetic tree of 140 Crassula taxa was reconstructed using plastid and nuclear loci and dated based on the nuclear DNA information only. We reconstructed ancestral life-form characters to estimate the evolutionary trends of ecophysiological change, and subsequently estimated net diversification rates. Multiple diversification models were applied to examine the association between certain life-forms and net diversification rates. RESULTS Our findings confirm a radiation within Crassula in the last 10 million years. A configuration of net diversification rate shifts was detected, which coincides with the emergence of a speciose lineage during the late Miocene. The results of ancestral state reconstruction demonstrate a high lability of life-forms in Crassula, and the trait-dependent diversification analyses revealed that the increased diversification is strongly associated with a compact growth form. CONCLUSIONS Transitions between life-forms in Crassula seem to have driven adaptation and shaped diversification of this genus across various habitats. The diversification patterns we inferred are similar to those observed in other major succulent lineages, with the most-speciose clades originating in the late Miocene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Lu
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berkshire, UK
| | - Marc Fradera-Soler
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Félix Forest
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
| | - Timothy G Barraclough
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berkshire, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Olwen M Grace
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
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Woudstra Y, Viruel J, Fritzsche M, Bleazard T, Mate R, Howard C, Rønsted N, Grace OM. A customised target capture sequencing tool for molecular identification of Aloe vera and relatives. Sci Rep 2021; 11:24347. [PMID: 34934068 PMCID: PMC8692607 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03300-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant molecular identification studies have, until recently, been limited to the use of highly conserved markers from plastid and other organellar genomes, compromising resolution in highly diverse plant clades. Due to their higher evolutionary rates and reduced paralogy, low-copy nuclear genes overcome this limitation but are difficult to sequence with conventional methods and require high-quality input DNA. Aloe vera and its relatives in the Alooideae clade (Asphodelaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae) are of economic interest for food and health products and have horticultural value. However, pressing conservation issues are increasing the need for a molecular identification tool to regulate the trade. With > 600 species and an origin of ± 15 million years ago, this predominantly African succulent plant clade is a diverse and taxonomically complex group for which low-copy nuclear genes would be desirable for accurate species discrimination. Unfortunately, with an average genome size of 16.76 pg, obtaining high coverage sequencing data for these genes would be prohibitively costly and computationally demanding. We used newly generated transcriptome data to design a customised RNA-bait panel targeting 189 low-copy nuclear genes in Alooideae. We demonstrate its efficacy in obtaining high-coverage sequence data for the target loci on Illumina sequencing platforms, including degraded DNA samples from museum specimens, with considerably improved phylogenetic resolution. This customised target capture sequencing protocol has the potential to confidently indicate phylogenetic relationships of Aloe vera and related species, as well as aid molecular identification applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Woudstra
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK.
- Natural History Museum Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Gothersgade 130, 1153, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Juan Viruel
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
| | - Martin Fritzsche
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, UK
| | - Thomas Bleazard
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, UK
| | - Ryan Mate
- National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, UK
| | - Caroline Howard
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Saffron Walden, CB10 1RQ, UK
| | - Nina Rønsted
- Natural History Museum Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Gothersgade 130, 1153, Copenhagen, Denmark
- National Tropical Botanical Garden, 3530 Papalina Road, Kalaheo, HI, 96741, USA
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Geck MS, Lecca D, Marchese G, Casu L, Leonti M. Ethnomedicine and neuropsychopharmacology in Mesoamerica. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 278:114243. [PMID: 34129899 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The burden of disease caused by mental and neurological disorders is increasing globally, to a disproportionate degree in Latin America. In contrast to the many psychoactive plants with a use history in Mesoamerican cultures, the translation to the wider population of knowledge around numerous botanicals used contemporarily by indigenous Mesoamerican societies to treat psychological and neurological disorders did not receive the same attention. MATERIAL AND METHODS We used the previously published Mesoamerican Medicinal Plant Database to extract species and associated botanical drugs used as treatments for illnesses associated with the nervous system by Mesoamerican cultures in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. With the critical use of published pharmacological literature, the cross-culturally most salient genera are systematically reviewed. RESULTS From 2188 plant taxa contained in the database 1324 are used as treatments for illnesses associated with the nervous system. The ethnomedical data was critically confronted with the available biomedical literature for the 58 cross-culturally most salient genera. For a considerable proportion of the frequently used taxa, preclinical data are available, mostly validating ethnomedicinal uses. CONCLUSION This quantitative approach facilitates the prioritization of taxa for future pre-clinical, clinical and treatment outcome studies and gives patients, practitioners, and legislators a fundamental framework of evidence, on which to base decisions regarding phytomedicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias S Geck
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042, Monserrato, CA, Italy; Biovision - Foundation for Ecological Development, Heinrichstrasse 147, 8005, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniele Lecca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042, Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Giorgio Marchese
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology UOS of Cagliari National Research Council of Italy, Pula, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Laura Casu
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042, Monserrato, CA, Italy
| | - Marco Leonti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042, Monserrato, CA, Italy.
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Leverett A, Hurtado Castaño N, Ferguson K, Winter K, Borland AM. Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) supersedes the turgor loss point (TLP) as an important adaptation across a precipitation gradient, in the genus Clusia. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2021; 48:703-716. [PMID: 33663679 DOI: 10.1071/fp20268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
As future climates continue to change, precipitation deficits are expected to become more severe across tropical ecosystems. As a result, it is important that we identify plant physiological traits that act as adaptations to drought, and determine whether these traits act synergistically or independently of each other. In this study, we assessed the role of three leaf-level putative adaptations to drought: crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), the turgor loss point (TLPΨ) and water storage hydrenchyma tissue. Using the genus Clusia as a model, we were able to explore the extent to which these leaf physiological traits co-vary, and also how they contribute to species' distributions across a precipitation gradient in Central and South America. We found that CAM is independent of the TLPΨ and hydrenchyma depth in Clusia. In addition, we provide evidence that constitutive CAM is an adaptation to year-long water deficits, whereas facultative CAM appears to be more important for surviving acute dry seasons. Finally, we find that the other leaf traits tested did not correlate with environmental precipitation, suggesting that the reduced transpirational rates associated with CAM obviate the need to adapt the TLPΨ and hydrenchyma depth in this genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair Leverett
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK; and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, PO Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Republic of Panama; and Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, 1206 West Gregory Drive, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; and Corresponding author.
| | - Natalia Hurtado Castaño
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK; and Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Kate Ferguson
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Klaus Winter
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, PO Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Republic of Panama
| | - Anne M Borland
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
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Pawłowicz K, Ludowicz D, Karaźniewicz-Łada M, Wdowiak K, Cielecka-Piontek J. Analysis of the Composition of Lyophilisates Obtained from Aloe arborescens Gel of Leaves of Different Ages from Controlled Crops. Molecules 2021; 26:3204. [PMID: 34071863 PMCID: PMC8198272 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study is to evaluate the composition of lyophilisates obtained from Aloe arborescens leaf gel at the age of one to four years. The leaves were obtained from controlled crops, which allowed to exclude environmental factors as variables. It was confirmed that the lyophilisates obtained from different years of Aloe arborescens leaf gel varied in chromatographic analyses in terms of aloin A and aloenin A content (high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection HPLC-DAD, high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection HPLC-MS/MS). Similarly, while testing the phenolic acids and the sum of polyphenols content, differences in their levels in leaf gel lyophilisates from plants of individual years were observed (spectrophotometric method UV-VIS). The lyophilisate composition analysis showed that the one-year-old leaves were characterized by the highest content of aloin A and aloenin A. While the content of polyphenols, including phenolic acids, was higher in the leaves of older plants. The antioxidant potential of the tested lyophilisates was assessed simultaneously. Regardless of the research model used (CUPRAC, DPPH, ABTS), an antioxidant effect was noted for Aloe arborescens leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Pawłowicz
- Phytopharm Klęka S.A., Klęka 1, 63-040 Nowe Miasto nad Warta, Poland;
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Święcickiego 4, 60-781 Poznań, Poland; (D.L.); (K.W.)
| | - Dominika Ludowicz
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Święcickiego 4, 60-781 Poznań, Poland; (D.L.); (K.W.)
| | - Marta Karaźniewicz-Łada
- Department of Physical Pharmacy and Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Święcickiego 6, 60-781 Poznań, Poland;
| | - Kamil Wdowiak
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Święcickiego 4, 60-781 Poznań, Poland; (D.L.); (K.W.)
| | - Judyta Cielecka-Piontek
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Święcickiego 4, 60-781 Poznań, Poland; (D.L.); (K.W.)
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Jaiswal SK, Mahajan S, Chakraborty A, Kumar S, Sharma VK. The genome sequence of Aloe vera reveals adaptive evolution of drought tolerance mechanisms. iScience 2021; 24:102079. [PMID: 33644713 PMCID: PMC7889978 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aloe vera is a species from Asphodelaceae family having characteristics like drought resistance and numerous medicinal properties. However, the genetic basis of these phenotypes is yet unknown primarily due to unavailability of its genome sequence. Thus, we report the first Aloe vera genome sequence comprising of 12.93 Gbp and harboring 86,177 protein-coding genes. It is the first genome from Asphodelaceae family and the largest angiosperm genome sequenced and assembled till date. We also report the first genome-wide phylogeny of monocots including Aloe vera to resolve its phylogenetic position. The comprehensive comparative analysis of Aloe vera with other available high-quality monocot genomes revealed adaptive evolution in several genes of drought stress response, CAM pathway, and circadian rhythm and positive selection in DNA damage response genes in Aloe vera. This study provides clues on the genetic basis of evolution of drought stress tolerance capabilities of Aloe vera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubham K. Jaiswal
- MetaBioSys Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Shruti Mahajan
- MetaBioSys Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Abhisek Chakraborty
- MetaBioSys Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- MetaBioSys Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Vineet K. Sharma
- MetaBioSys Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
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Heyduk K. The genetic control of succulent leaf development. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 59:101978. [PMID: 33454545 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2020.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Succulent leaves have long intrigued biologists; much research has been done to define succulence, understand the evolutionary trajectory and implications of leaf succulence, and contextualize the ecological importance of water storage for plants inhabiting dry habitats, particularly those using CAM photosynthesis. Surprisingly little is understood about the molecular regulation of leaf succulence, despite advances in our understanding of the molecular foundation of leaf architecture in model systems. Moreover, leaf succulence is a drought avoidance trait, one that has yet to be fully used for crop improvement. Here, connections between disparate literatures are highlighted: research on the regulation of cell size, the determination of vascular patterning, and water transport between cells have direct implications for our understanding of leaf succulence. Connecting functional genomics of leaf patterning with knowledge of the evolution and ecology of succulent species will guide future research on the determination and maintenance of leaf succulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Heyduk
- University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 1800 East West Rd., Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
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18
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Heyduk K, Grace OM, McKain MR. Life Without Water. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2021; 108:181-183. [PMID: 33620730 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
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Lima A, Batista-Santos P, Veríssimo E, Rebelo P, Ferreira RB. Differential inhibition of gelatinase activity in human colon adenocarcinoma cells by Aloe vera and Aloe arborescens extracts. BMC Complement Med Ther 2020; 20:379. [PMID: 33308217 PMCID: PMC7733245 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-020-03134-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aloe's reported bioactivities (anticancer, anti-inflammatory and wound healing) suggest they might inhibit a subgroup of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) called gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9). The goal of the present study was to compare the MMP inhibitory potential of two Aloe species, A. vera and A. arborescens. METHODS Different types of extraction were tested and specific bioactive compounds were quantified. Cancer cell invasion inhibitory activities were measured in vitro using the wound healing assay in human colon cancer cells (HT29). Effects on gelatinase activities were further assessed by dye-quenched gelatin and gelatin zymography. RESULTS Different types of extraction yielded significantly different levels of bioactivities and of bioactive compounds, which might be due to a greater amount of extractable bioactive compounds such as anthraquinones. Both A. arborescens and A. vera have potential as inhibitory agents in cancer cell proliferation via MMP-9 and MMP-2 enzymatic activity inhibition, being able to reduce colon cancer cell proliferation and migration but A. arborescens showed to be a more effective inhibitor of cancer cell migration than A. vera. CONCLUSION This work opens novel perspectives on the mode of action of Aloe species in cancer cell migration and may provide clues as to why there are so many conflicting results on Aloe's activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lima
- Plants for Health and Nutrition, LEAF (Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food), Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Paula Batista-Santos
- Plants for Health and Nutrition, LEAF (Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food), Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Eduarda Veríssimo
- Plants for Health and Nutrition, LEAF (Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food), Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Rebelo
- Plants for Health and Nutrition, LEAF (Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food), Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Boavida Ferreira
- Plants for Health and Nutrition, LEAF (Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food), Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal
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Bamigboye SO. Evaluating threats and conservation status of South African Aloe. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2020. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.5728.12.11.16614-16619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
South Africa is one of the biodiversity hotspots for Aloe in Africa. This makes it important to evaluate the conservation status and threats to this genus. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) Red List was employed to evaluate these two factors. Results revealed that 44% of all species in this genus are of conservation concern with the majority of them facing threats. This study recommends that more attention such as strengthening the protection of these species and controlling the threats identified in this study should be given to species in this genus in terms of conservation management to reduce their risk of extinction.
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Boucher FC, Quatela AS, Ellis AG, Verboom GA. Diversification rate vs. diversification density: Decoupled consequences of plant height for diversification of Alooideae in time and space. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233597. [PMID: 32453786 PMCID: PMC7250425 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
While biodiversity hotspots are typically identified on the basis of species number per unit area, their exceptional richness is often attributed, either implicitly or explicitly, to high diversification rates. High species concentrations, however, need not reflect rapid diversification, with the diversity of some hotspots accumulating at modest rates over long timespans. Here we explore the relationship between diversification in time vs. diversification in space and develop the concept of diversification density to describe the spatial scale of species accumulation in a clade. We investigate how plant height is associated with both aspects of diversification in Alooideae, a large plant subfamily with its center of diversity in the Greater Cape Floristic Region. We first reconstruct a time-calibrated phylogeny for Alooideae and demonstrate an evolutionary tendency towards reduced plant height. While plant height does not correlate with diversification rate across Alooideae it does so with diversification per unit space: clades of small plants tend to have the highest diversification densities. Furthermore, we find that diversification in time vs. space are uncorrelated. Our results show that diversification rate and density can be decoupled, and suggest that while some biodiversity hotspots might have been generated by high diversification rates, others are the product of high diversification density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian C Boucher
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa.,Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Grenoble, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Quatela
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Allan G Ellis
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa
| | - G Anthony Verboom
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
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Hao DC, Xiao PG. Pharmaceutical resource discovery from traditional medicinal plants: Pharmacophylogeny and pharmacophylogenomics. CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES 2020; 12:104-117. [PMID: 36119793 PMCID: PMC9476761 DOI: 10.1016/j.chmed.2020.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The worldwide botanical and medicinal culture diversity are astonishing and constitute a Pierian spring for innovative drug R&D. Here, the latest awareness and the perspectives of pharmacophylogeny and pharmacophylogenomics, as well as their expanding utility in botanical drug R&D, are systematically summarized and highlighted. Chemotaxonomy is based on the fact that closely related plants contain the same or similar chemical profiles. Correspondingly, it is better to combine morphological characters, DNA markers and chemical markers in the inference of medicinal plant phylogeny. Medicinal plants within the same phylogenetic groups may have the same or similar therapeutic effects, thus forming the core of pharmacophylogeny. Here we systematically review and comment on the versatile applications of pharmacophylogeny in (1) looking for domestic resources of imported drugs, (2) expanding medicinal plant resources, (3) quality control, identification and expansion of herbal medicines, (4) predicting the chemical constituents or active ingredients of herbal medicine and assisting in the identification and determination of chemical constituents, (5) the search for new drugs sorting out, and (6) summarizing and improving herbal medicine experiences, etc. Such studies should be enhanced within the context of deeper investigations of molecular biology and genomics of traditional medicinal plants, phytometabolites and metabolomics, and ethnomedicine-based pharmacological activity, thus enabling the sustainable conservation and utilization of traditional medicinal resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-cheng Hao
- Biotechnology Institute, School of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Pei-gen Xiao
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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Davis SC, Simpson J, Gil-Vega KDC, Niechayev NA, van Tongerlo E, Castano NH, Dever LV, Búrquez A. Undervalued potential of crassulacean acid metabolism for current and future agricultural production. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:6521-6537. [PMID: 31087091 PMCID: PMC6883259 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The potential for crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) to support resilient crops that meet demands for food, fiber, fuel, and pharmaceutical products far exceeds current production levels. This review provides background on five families of plants that express CAM, including examples of many species within these families that have potential agricultural uses. We summarize traditional uses, current developments, management practices, environmental tolerance ranges, and economic values of CAM species with potential commercial applications. The primary benefit of CAM in agriculture is high water use efficiency that allows for reliable crop yields even in drought conditions. Agave species, for example, grow in arid conditions and have been exploited for agricultural products in North and South America for centuries. Yet, there has been very little investment in agricultural improvement for most useful Agave varieties. Other CAM species that are already traded globally include Ananas comosus (pineapple), Aloe spp., Vanilla spp., and Opuntia spp., but there are far more with agronomic uses that are less well known and not yet developed commercially. Recent advances in technology and genomic resources provide tools to understand and realize the tremendous potential for using CAM crops to produce climate-resilient agricultural commodities in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Davis
- Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
- Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - June Simpson
- Department of Genetic Engineering, Cinvestav Unidad Irapuato, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
| | | | - Nicholas A Niechayev
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Evelien van Tongerlo
- Horticulture and Product Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Louisa V Dever
- Department of Functional and Comparative Genomics, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Alberto Búrquez
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad Hermosillo, Sonora, México
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Dafni A, Böck B. Medicinal plants of the Bible-revisited. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2019; 15:57. [PMID: 31775790 PMCID: PMC6882220 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-019-0338-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous lists number from 55 to 176 plant species as "Biblical Medicinal Plants." Modern studies attest that many names on these lists are no longer valid. This situation arose due to old mistranslations and/or mistakes in botanical identification. Many previously recognized Biblical plants are in no way related to the flora of the Bible lands. Accordingly, the list needs revision. METHODS We re-examine the list of possible medicinal plants in the Bible based on new studies in Hebrew Biblical philology and etymology, new studies on the Egyptian and Mesopotamian medicinal use of plants, on ethnobotany and on archaeobotany. RESULTS In our survey, we suggest reducing this list to 45 plant species. Our contribution comprises 20 "newly" suggested Biblical Medicinal Plants. Only five species are mentioned directly as medicinal plants in the Bible: Fig (Ficus carica), Nard (Nardostachys jatamansi), Hyssop (Origanum syriacum), balm of Gilead (Commiphora gileadensis) and Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum). No fewer than 18 medicinal plants are mentioned in old Jewish post-Biblical sources, in addition to those in the Bible. Most of these plants (15) are known also in Egypt and Mesopotamia while three are from Egypt only. Seven of our suggested species are not mentioned in the Bible or in the Jewish post-Biblical literature but were recorded as medicinal plants from Egypt, as well as from Mesopotamia. It is quite logical to assume that they can be included as Biblical Medicinal Plants. CONCLUSIONS All our suggested Biblical Medicinal Plants are known as such in Ancient Egypt and/or Mesopotamia also. Examination of our list shows that all these plants have been in continuous medicinal use in the Middle East down the generations, as well as being used in the Holy Land today. Precisely in King Solomon's words, "That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done. And there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
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Affiliation(s)
- Amots Dafni
- Institute of Evolution and the Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Barbara Böck
- Institute of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (ILC), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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Malakasi P, Bellot S, Dee R, Grace OM. Museomics Clarifies the Classification of Aloidendron (Asphodelaceae), the Iconic African Tree Aloes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1227. [PMID: 31681358 PMCID: PMC6803536 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Arborescent succulent plants are regarded as keystone and indicator species in desert ecosystems due to their large stature and long lifespans. Tree aloes, the genus Aloidendron, are icons of the southern African deserts yet have proved elusive subjects due to the difficulty of obtaining material of known provenance for comparative study. Consequently, evolutionary relationships among representatives of the unusual arborescent life form have remained unclear until now. We used a museomics approach to overcome this challenge. Chloroplast genomes of six Aloidendron species and 12 other members of Asphodelaceae were sequenced from modern living collections and herbarium specimens, including the type specimens of all but two Aloidendron species, the earliest of which was collected 130 years ago. Maximum-likelihood trees estimated from full chloroplast genomes and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region show that Aloidendron sabaeum, from the Arabian Peninsula, is nested within Aloe while the Madagascar endemic Aloestrela suzannae is most closely related to the Somalian Aloidendron eminens. We observed phylogenetic conflicts between the plastid and nuclear topologies, which may be indicative of recurrent hybridisation or incomplete lineage sorting events in Aloe and in Aloidendron. Comparing species ecology in the context provided by our phylogeny suggests that habitat preference to either xeric deserts or humid forests/thickets evolved repeatedly in Aloidendron. Our findings demonstrate the value of botanical collections for the study and classification of taxonomically challenging succulent plants.
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Ahl LI, Mravec J, Jørgensen B, Rudall PJ, Rønsted N, Grace OM. Dynamics of intracellular mannan and cell wall folding in the drought responses of succulent Aloe species. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2019; 42:2458-2471. [PMID: 30980422 PMCID: PMC6851777 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Plants have evolved a multitude of adaptations to survive extreme conditions. Succulent plants have the capacity to tolerate periodically dry environments, due to their ability to retain water in a specialized tissue, termed hydrenchyma. Cell wall polysaccharides are important components of water storage in hydrenchyma cells. However, the role of the cell wall and its polysaccharide composition in relation to drought resistance of succulent plants are unknown. We investigate the drought response of leaf-succulent Aloe (Asphodelaceae) species using a combination of histological microscopy, quantification of water content, and comprehensive microarray polymer profiling. We observed a previously unreported mode of polysaccharide and cell wall structural dynamics triggered by water shortage. Microscopical analysis of the hydrenchyma cell walls revealed highly regular folding patterns indicative of predetermined cell wall mechanics in the remobilization of stored water and the possible role of homogalacturonan in this process. The in situ distribution of mannans in distinct intracellular compartments during drought, for storage, and apparent upregulation of pectins, imparting flexibility to the cell wall, facilitate elaborate cell wall folding during drought stress. We conclude that cell wall polysaccharide composition plays an important role in water storage and drought response in Aloe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Isager Ahl
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen KDK‐1353Denmark
| | - Jozef Mravec
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksberg CDK‐1871Denmark
| | - Bodil Jørgensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of CopenhagenFrederiksberg CDK‐1871Denmark
| | - Paula J. Rudall
- Department of Comparative Plant and Fungal BiologyRoyal Botanic Gardens, KewRichmondTW9 3AEUK
| | - Nina Rønsted
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen KDK‐1353Denmark
| | - Olwen M. Grace
- Department of Comparative Plant and Fungal BiologyRoyal Botanic Gardens, KewRichmondTW9 3AEUK
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Mawalagedera SMUP, Callahan DL, Gaskett AC, Rønsted N, Symonds MRE. Combining Evolutionary Inference and Metabolomics to Identify Plants With Medicinal Potential. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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Ahl LI, Al-Husseini N, Al-Helle S, Staerk D, Grace OM, Willats WGT, Mravec J, Jørgensen B, Rønsted N. Detection of Seasonal Variation in Aloe Polysaccharides Using Carbohydrate Detecting Microarrays. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:512. [PMID: 31139197 PMCID: PMC6527838 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Aloe vera gel is a globally popular natural product used for the treatment of skin conditions. Its useful properties are attributed to the presence of bioactive polysaccharides. Nearly 25% of the 600 species in the genus Aloe are used locally in traditional medicine, indicating that the bioactive components in Aloe vera may be common across the genus Aloe. The complexity of the polysaccharides has hindered development of relevant assays for authentication of Aloe products. Carbohydrate detecting microarrays have recently been suggested as a method for profiling Aloe polysaccharide composition. The aim of this study was to use carbohydrate detecting microarrays to investigate the seasonal variation in the polysaccharide composition of two medicinal and two non-medicinal Aloe species over the course of a year. Microscopy was used to explore where in the cells the bioactive polysaccharides are present and predict their functional role in the cell wall structure. The carbohydrate detecting microarrays analyses showed distinctive differences in the polysaccharide composition between the different species and carbohydrate detecting microarrays therefore has potential as a complementary screening method directly targeting the presence and composition of relevant polysaccharides. The results also show changes in the polysaccharide composition over the year within the investigated species, which may be of importance for commercial growing in optimizing harvest times to obtain higher yield of relevant polysaccharides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Isager Ahl
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Narjes Al-Husseini
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sara Al-Helle
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dan Staerk
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Olwen M. Grace
- Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom
| | - William G. T. Willats
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jozef Mravec
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Bodil Jørgensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Nina Rønsted
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Barkworth ME, Awale AI, Gelle FJ. Dacar Cas/Somali Red Aloe: a new species of Aloe (Asphodelaceae) from Somaliland. PHYTOKEYS 2019; 117:85-97. [PMID: 30783382 PMCID: PMC6377413 DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.117.28226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A new species of Aloe (Asphodelaceae) is described from Somaliland. It differs from other species in forming large clumps and in having sap that is initially yellow but quickly turns bright red and then dark red or reddish-brown, paniculate red-flowered inflorescences and uniformly coloured leaves with red teeth. Its recognition raises the number of species known from the combined area of Somaliland and Somalia s.s. from 31 to 36. A map portraying species density of Aloe by country, as that genus is now interpreted, shows that Aloe has its highest density on islands in the Indian Ocean but that, within Africa, the greatest density is in countries along the eastern highlands. The data also reinforce the importance of field botanists in determining a country's known plant diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E. Barkworth
- Biodiversity Museum, University of Hargeisa, Hargeisa, Somaliland
- Biology Department, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan Utah, 84322, USA
| | - Ahmed Ibrahim Awale
- Biodiversity Museum, University of Hargeisa, Hargeisa, Somaliland
- Candlelight for Environment, Education, and Health, Hargeisa, Somaliland
- Faculty of Environmental Science, College of Applied and Natural Science, University of Hargeisa, Hargeisa, Somaliland
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Pellicer J, Saslis-Lagoudakis CH, Carrió E, Ernst M, Garnatje T, Grace OM, Gras A, Mumbrú M, Vallès J, Vitales D, Rønsted N. A phylogenetic road map to antimalarial Artemisia species. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2018; 225:1-9. [PMID: 29936053 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The discovery of the antimalarial agent artemisinin is considered one of the most significant success stories of ethnopharmacological research in recent times. The isolation of artemisinin was inspired by the use of Artemisia annua in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2015. Antimalarial activity has since been demonstrated for a range of other Artemisia species, suggesting that the genus could provide alternative sources of antimalarial treatments. Given the stunning diversity of the genus (c. 500 species), a prioritisation of taxa to be investigated for their likely antimalarial properties is required. MATERIALS AND METHODS Here we use a phylogenetic approach to explore the potential for identifying species more likely to possess antimalarial properties. Ethnobotanical data from literature reports is recorded for 117 species. Subsequent phylogenetically informed analysis was used to identify lineages in which there is an overrepresentation of species used to treat malarial symptoms, and which could therefore be high priority for further investigation of antimalarial activity. RESULTS We show that these lineages indeed include several species with documented antimalarial activity. To further inform our approach, we use LC-MS/MS analysis to explore artemisinin content in fifteen species from both highlighted and not highlighted lineages. We detected artemisinin in nine species, in eight of them for the first time, doubling the number of Artemisia taxa known to content this molecule. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that artemisinin may be widespread across the genus, providing an accessible local resource outside the distribution area of Artemisia annua.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaume Pellicer
- Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology Department, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE, United Kingdom
| | - C Haris Saslis-Lagoudakis
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen 1353, Denmark
| | - Esperança Carrió
- Laboratori de Botànica - Unitat associada CSIC, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Madeleine Ernst
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen 1353, Denmark
| | - Teresa Garnatje
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB, CSIC-ICUB), Passeig del Migdia sn, 08038 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Olwen M Grace
- Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology Department, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE, United Kingdom
| | - Airy Gras
- Laboratori de Botànica - Unitat associada CSIC, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Màrius Mumbrú
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Joan Vallès
- Laboratori de Botànica - Unitat associada CSIC, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Daniel Vitales
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona (IBB, CSIC-ICUB), Passeig del Migdia sn, 08038 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Nina Rønsted
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen 1353, Denmark.
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Liu D, Palla KJ, Hu R, Moseley RC, Mendoza C, Chen M, Abraham PE, Labbé JL, Kalluri UC, Tschaplinski TJ, Cushman JC, Borland AM, Tuskan GA, Yang X. Perspectives on the basic and applied aspects of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) research. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 274:394-401. [PMID: 30080627 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Due to public concerns about the decreasing supply of blue water and increasing heat and drought stress on plant growth caused by urbanization, increasing human population and climate change, interest in crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), a specialized type of photosynthesis enhancing water-use efficiency (WUE) and drought tolerance, has increased markedly. Significant progress has been achieved in both basic and applied research in CAM plants since the beginning of this century. Here we provide a brief overview of the current status of CAM research, and discuss future needs and opportunities in a wide range of areas including systems biology, synthetic biology, and utilization of CAM crops for human benefit, with a focus on the following aspects: 1) application of genome-editing technology and high-throughput phenotyping to functional genomics research in model CAM species and genetic improvement of CAM crops, 2) challenges for multi-scale metabolic modeling of CAM systems, 3) opportunities and new strategies for CAM pathway engineering to enhance WUE and drought tolerance in C3 (and C4) photosynthesis crops, 4) potential of CAM species as resources for food, feed, natural products, pharmaceuticals and biofuels, and 5) development of CAM crops for ecological and aesthetic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Degao Liu
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422, USA
| | - Kaitlin J Palla
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422, USA; The Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Rongbin Hu
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422, USA
| | - Robert C Moseley
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422, USA; The Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Christopher Mendoza
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Mei Chen
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422, USA; School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, Sichuan 621010, China
| | - Paul E Abraham
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Jessy L Labbé
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422, USA
| | - Udaya C Kalluri
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422, USA
| | | | - John C Cushman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Anne M Borland
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422, USA; School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Gerald A Tuskan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422, USA
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422, USA; The Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
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Khodaei Z, Van Wyk BE, Wink M. Divergence Time Estimation of Aloes and Allies (Xanthorrhoeaceae) Based on Three Marker Genes. DIVERSITY 2018; 10:60. [DOI: 10.3390/d10030060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
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Souza ENF, Williamson EM, Hawkins JA. Which Plants Used in Ethnomedicine Are Characterized? Phylogenetic Patterns in Traditional Use Related to Research Effort. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:834. [PMID: 29973942 PMCID: PMC6019821 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Plants are important resources in healthcare and for producing pharmaceutical drugs. Pharmacological and phytochemical characterization contributes to both the safe use of herbal medicines and the identification of leads for drug development. However, there is no recent assessment of the proportion of plants used in ethnomedicine that are characterized in this way. Further, although it is increasingly apparent that plants used in ethnomedicine belong to preferred phylogenetic lineages, it is not known how this relates to the focusing of research effort. Here we identify species and lineages rich in ethnomedicinal use and develop methods to describe how well they are known pharmacologically and/or phytochemically. We find 50% of plant species of the family Leguminosae used in ethnomedicine in Brazil, a geographical area where plants are an important part of healthcare, have been the focus of either phytochemical screening or testing for biological activity. Plant species which have more use reports are studied significantly more often (p < 0.05). Considering the taxonomic distribution of use, 70% of genera that include species with ethnomedicinal use have been studied, compared to 19% of genera with no reported use. Using a novel phylogenetic framework, we show that lineages with significantly greater numbers of ethnomedicinal species are phylogenetically over-dispersed within the family, highlighting the diversity of species used. "Hotnode clades" contain 16% of species but 46% of ethnomedicinally-used species. The ethnomedicinal species in hotnode clades have more use reports per species (p < 0.05), suggesting they are more frequently used. They are also more likely to be characterized pharmacologically and/or phytochemically. Research focus has followed traditional use by these measures, at least for these Brazilian plants, yet ethnomedicinal species yielding candidate drugs, raising public health concerns and more intensively studied lie outside of the hotnode clades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estevão N. F. Souza
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | | | - Julie A. Hawkins
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
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Chomicki G, Coiro M, Renner SS. Evolution and ecology of plant architecture: integrating insights from the fossil record, extant morphology, developmental genetics and phylogenies. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2017; 120:855-891. [PMID: 29165551 PMCID: PMC5710528 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcx113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In contrast to most animals, plants have an indeterminate body plan, which allows them to add new body parts during their lifetime. A plant's realized modular construction is the result of exogenous constraints and endogenous processes. This review focuses on endogenous processes that shape plant architectures and their evolution. SCOPE The phylogenetic distribution of plant growth forms across the phylogeny implies that body architectures have originated and been lost repeatedly, being shaped by a limited set of genetic pathways. We (1) synthesize concepts of plant architecture, so far captured in 23 models; (2) extend them to the fossil record; (3) summarize what is known about their developmental genetics; (4) use a phylogenetic approach in several groups to infer how plant architecture has changed and by which intermediate steps; and (5) discuss which macroecological factors may constrain the geographic and ecological distribution of plant architectures. CONCLUSIONS Dichotomously branching Paleozoic plants already encompassed a considerable diversity of growth forms, here captured in 12 new architectural models. Plotting the frequency of branching types through time based on an analysis of 58 927 land plant fossils revealed a decrease in dichotomous branching throughout the Devonian and Carboniferous, mirrored by an increase in other branching types including axillary branching. We suggest that the evolution of seed plant megaphyllous leaves enabling axillary branching contributed to the demise of dichotomous architectures. The developmental-genetic bases for key architectural traits underlying sympodial vs. monopodial branching, rhythmic vs. continuous growth, and axillary branching and its localization are becoming well understood, while the molecular basis of dichotomous branching and plagiotropy remains elusive. Three phylogenetic case studies of architecture evolution in conifers, Aloe and monocaulous arborescent vascular plants reveal relationships between architectural models and show that some are labile in given groups, whereas others are widely conserved, apparently shaped by ecological factors, such as intercepted sunlight, temperature, humidity and seasonality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Chomicki
- Systematic Botany and Mycology, Department of Biology, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Mario Coiro
- Institute of Systematic Botany, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Susanne S Renner
- Systematic Botany and Mycology, Department of Biology, University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
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Quezada MP, Salinas C, Gotteland M, Cardemil L. Acemannan and Fructans from Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) Plants as Novel Prebiotics. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2017; 65:10029-10039. [PMID: 29072072 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b04100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The nutraceutical properties of Aloe vera have been attributed to a glucomannan known as acemannan. Recently information has been published about the presence of fructans in Aloe vera but there are no publications about acemannan and fructans as prebiotic compounds. This study investigated in vitro the prebiotic properties of these polysaccharides. Our results demonstrated that fructans from Aloe vera induced bacterial growth better than inulin (commercial FOS). Acemannan stimulated bacterial growth less than fructans, and as much as commercial FOS. Using qPCR to study the bacterial population of human feces fermented in a bioreactor simulating colon conditions, we found that fructans induce an increase in the population of Bifidobacterium spp. Fructans produced greater amounts of short chain fatty acids (SCFA), while the branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) did not increase with these polysaccharides. Acemannan increased significantly acetate concentrations. Therefore, both Aloe vera polysaccharides have prebiotic potentials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Paz Quezada
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile , Las Palmeras, 3425, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile , Av. Independencia, 1027 Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos Salinas
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile , Las Palmeras, 3425, Santiago, Chile
| | - Martin Gotteland
- Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile , Av. Independencia, 1027 Santiago, Chile
| | - Liliana Cardemil
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile , Las Palmeras, 3425, Santiago, Chile
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Abstract
Succulent plants are iconic components of the florae of many terrestrial ecosystems, but despite having caused fascination and prompted investigation for centuries, they still harbour many secrets in terms of physiological function and evolution. Tackling these mysteries is important, as this will not only provide insights into the dynamics and details of the convergent evolution of a major adaptive syndrome, but also inform efforts to conserve endangered biodiversity and utilize the unique physiological characteristics of succulents for biofuel and biomass production. Here I review advances in the phylogeny and organismal biology of succulent plants, and discuss how insights from recent work in the wider fields of plant hydraulics and photosynthetic physiology may relate to succulents. The potential for the exploration of mechanistic relationships between anatomical structure and physiological function to improve our understanding of the constraints that have shaped the evolution of succulence is highlighted. Finally, attention is drawn to how new methodologies and technologies provide exciting opportunities to address the wide range of outstanding questions in succulent plant biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Males
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
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Daru BH, van der Bank M, Bello A, Yessoufou K. Testing the reliability of standard and complementary DNA barcodes for the monocot subfamily Alooideae from South Africa. Genome 2016; 60:337-347. [PMID: 28177838 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2015-0183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Although a standard DNA barcode has been identified for plants, it does not always provide species-level specimen identifications for investigating important ecological questions. In this study, we assessed the species-level discriminatory power of standard (rbcLa + matK) and complementary barcodes (ITS1 and trnH-psbA) within the subfamily Alooideae (Asphodelaceae), a large and recent plant radiation, whose species are important in horticulture yet are threatened. Alooideae has its centre of endemism in southern Africa, with some outlier species occurring elsewhere in Africa and Madagascar. We sampled 360 specimens representing 235 species within all 11 genera of the subfamily. With three distance-based methods, all markers performed poorly for our combined data set, with the highest proportion of correct species-level specimen identifications (30%) found for ITS1. However, when performance was assessed across genera, the discriminatory power varied from 0% for all single markers and combinations in Gasteria to 63% in Haworthiopsis, again for ITS1, suggesting that DNA barcoding success may be related to the evolutionary history of the lineage considered. Although ITS1 could be a good barcode for Haworthiopsis, the generally poor performance of all markers suggests that Alooideae remains a challenge. As species boundaries within Alooideae remain controversial, we call for continued search for suitable markers or the use of genomics approaches to further explore species discrimination in the group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barnabas H Daru
- a Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Harvard University Herbaria, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,b Department of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, 0028 Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Michelle van der Bank
- c African Centre for DNA Barcoding, University of Johannesburg, APK Campus, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Abubakar Bello
- d Bolus Herbarium, Biological Sciences Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa; Department of Biology, Umaru Musa Yarádua University, Katsina, Nigeria
| | - Kowiyou Yessoufou
- e Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, APK Campus, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Cristiano G, Murillo-Amador B, De Lucia B. Propagation Techniques and Agronomic Requirements for the Cultivation of Barbados Aloe ( Aloe vera (L.) Burm. F.)-A Review. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:1410. [PMID: 27721816 PMCID: PMC5033982 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Barbados aloe (Aloe vera (L.) Burm. F.) has traditionally been used for healing in natural medicine. However, aloe is now attracting great interest in the global market due to its bioactive chemicals which are extracted from the leaves and used in industrial preparations for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food products. Aloe originated from tropical and sub-tropical Africa, but it is also now cultivated in warm climatic areas of Asia, Europe, and America. In this review, the most important factors affecting aloe production are described. We focus on propagation techniques, sustainable agronomic practices and efficient post harvesting and processing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cristiano
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroBari, Italy
| | - Bernardo Murillo-Amador
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Instituto Politecnico NacionalLa Paz, Mexico
| | - Barbara De Lucia
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Bari Aldo MoroBari, Italy
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Ernst M, Saslis-Lagoudakis CH, Grace OM, Nilsson N, Simonsen HT, Horn JW, Rønsted N. Evolutionary prediction of medicinal properties in the genus Euphorbia L. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30531. [PMID: 27464466 PMCID: PMC4964329 DOI: 10.1038/srep30531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The current decrease of new drugs brought to the market has fostered renewed interest in plant-based drug discovery. Given the alarming rate of biodiversity loss, systematic methodologies in finding new plant-derived drugs are urgently needed. Medicinal uses of plants were proposed as proxy for bioactivity, and phylogenetic patterns in medicinal plant uses have suggested that phylogeny can be used as predictive tool. However, the common practice of grouping medicinal plant uses into standardised categories may restrict the relevance of phylogenetic predictions. Standardised categories are mostly associated to systems of the human body and only poorly reflect biological responses to the treatment. Here we show that medicinal plant uses interpreted from a perspective of a biological response can reveal different phylogenetic patterns of presumed underlying bioactivity compared to standardised methods of medicinal plant use classification. In the cosmopolitan and pharmaceutically highly relevant genus Euphorbia L., identifying plant uses modulating the inflammatory response highlighted a greater phylogenetic diversity and number of potentially promising species than standardised categories. Our interpretation of medicinal plant uses may therefore allow for a more targeted approach for future phylogeny-guided drug discovery at an early screening stage, which will likely result in higher discovery rates of novel chemistry with functional biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Ernst
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Sølvgade 83S, DK-1307 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - C Haris Saslis-Lagoudakis
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Sølvgade 83S, DK-1307 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Olwen M Grace
- Comparative Plant &Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey TW9 3AB, United Kingdom
| | - Niclas Nilsson
- Skin Research, LEO Pharma A/S, Industriparken 55, DK-2750 Ballerup, Denmark
| | - Henrik Toft Simonsen
- Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - James W Horn
- Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, LS 458, UW-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Dr, Green Bay, WI 54311-7001, USA
| | - Nina Rønsted
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Sølvgade 83S, DK-1307 Copenhagen K, Denmark
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Bjorå CS, Wabuyele E, Grace OM, Nordal I, Newton LE. The uses of Kenyan aloes: an analysis of implications for names, distribution and conservation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2015; 11:82. [PMID: 26607663 PMCID: PMC4658748 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-015-0060-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genus Aloe is renowned for its medicinal and cosmetic properties and long history of use. Sixty-three Aloe species occur in Kenya, of which around 50 % are endemic. Several species of aloes are threatened with extinction and knowledge about their use is of major importance for sound conservation strategies. The main aims of this study were to assess the biocultural value of Aloe in Kenya by documenting local uses of aloes and evaluating how the vernacular names reflect the relative importance in different ethnic groups. METHODS Ethnobotanical and ethnotaxonomical data were collected using field observations and semi-structured interviews. Information was collected by interviewing 63 respondents from nine different ethnic groups, representing different ages, gender and occupations. Statistical analyses were performed using R version 3.1.2. RESULTS A total of 19 species of Aloe were found in the study area, of which 16 were used. On the generic level Aloe was easily distinguished. At species level, the local and scientific delimitation were almost identical for frequently used taxa. Aloe secundiflora, with 57 unique use records was the most important species. The two most frequently mentioned Aloe treatments, were malaria and poultry diseases. In our study area neither age nor gender had a significant influence on the level of knowledge of Aloe use. Finally, no correlation was found between extent of use and people's perception of decrease in local aloe populations. The aloes are highly appreciated and are therefore propagated and transported over large areas when people relocate. CONCLUSION Biocultural value is reflected in the ethnotaxonomy of Aloe in Kenya. Different ethnic groups recognise their most-valued Aloe at the genus level as "the aloe" and add explanatory names for the other species, such as the "spotted aloe" and the "one-legged aloe". Widespread species of Aloe have the highest number of uses. There is no obvious correlation with high use and decrease in abundance of aloes locally, and we found no compelling evidence for local uses causing devastating damage to populations of the 19 species in use, whereas habitat loss and commercial harvesting appear to be of urgent concern for these important plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte S Bjorå
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172, Blindern, 0318, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Emily Wabuyele
- Department of Bioscience, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Plant Sciences, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
| | - Olwen M Grace
- Comparative Plant & Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey, TW9 3AB, UK.
| | - Inger Nordal
- Department of Bioscience, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Leonard E Newton
- Department of Plant Sciences, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
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42
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Hao DC, Xiao PG. Genomics and Evolution in Traditional Medicinal Plants: Road to a Healthier Life. Evol Bioinform Online 2015; 11:197-212. [PMID: 26461812 PMCID: PMC4597484 DOI: 10.4137/ebo.s31326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Medicinal plants have long been utilized in traditional medicine and ethnomedicine worldwide. This review presents a glimpse of the current status of and future trends in medicinal plant genomics, evolution, and phylogeny. These dynamic fields are at the intersection of phytochemistry and plant biology and are concerned with the evolution mechanisms and systematics of medicinal plant genomes, origin and evolution of the plant genotype and metabolic phenotype, interaction between medicinal plant genomes and their environment, the correlation between genomic diversity and metabolite diversity, and so on. Use of the emerging high-end genomic technologies can be expanded from crop plants to traditional medicinal plants, in order to expedite medicinal plant breeding and transform them into living factories of medicinal compounds. The utility of molecular phylogeny and phylogenomics in predicting chemodiversity and bioprospecting is also highlighted within the context of natural-product-based drug discovery and development. Representative case studies of medicinal plant genome, phylogeny, and evolution are summarized to exemplify the expansion of knowledge pedigree and the paradigm shift to the omics-based approaches, which update our awareness about plant genome evolution and enable the molecular breeding of medicinal plants and the sustainable utilization of plant pharmaceutical resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Cheng Hao
- Biotechnology Institute, School of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian, P. R. China
| | - Pei-Gen Xiao
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
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