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Kalousi FD, Tsakos M, Nikolaou CN, Georgantopoulos A, Psarra AMG, Tsikou D. Chemical Analysis and Biological Activities of Extracts Isolated from Symbiotic L. japonicus Plants. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:189. [PMID: 38398697 PMCID: PMC10889931 DOI: 10.3390/life14020189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Plants produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites, including compounds with biological activities that could be used for the treatment of human diseases. In the present study, we examined the putative production of bioactive molecules in the legume plant Lotus japonicus, which engages into symbiotic relationships with beneficial soil microorganisms. To monitor the production of secondary metabolites when the plant develops beneficial symbiotic relationships, we performed single and double inoculations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria. Plant extracts from non-inoculated and inoculated plants were chemically characterized and tested for anti-proliferative, apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects on human HEK-293 cells. Both shoot and root extracts from non-inoculated and inoculated plants significantly reduced the HEK-293 cell viability; however, a stronger effect was observed when the root extracts were tested. Shoot and root extracts from Rhizobium-inoculated plants and shoot extracts from AMF-inoculated plants showed apoptotic effects on human cells. Moreover, both shoot and root extracts from AMF-inoculated plants significantly reduced TNFα-induced NF-κB transcriptional activity, denoting anti-inflammatory activity. These results suggest that symbiotic L. japonicus plants are enriched with metabolites that have interesting biological activities and could be further explored for putative future use in the pharmaceutical sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foteini D. Kalousi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Michail Tsakos
- Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Christina N. Nikolaou
- Department of Natural Resources and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos Str., 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Achilleas Georgantopoulos
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Anna-Maria G. Psarra
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Daniela Tsikou
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500 Larissa, Greece
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Wang G, Ren Y, Bai X, Su Y, Han J. Contributions of Beneficial Microorganisms in Soil Remediation and Quality Improvement of Medicinal Plants. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:3200. [PMID: 36501240 PMCID: PMC9740990 DOI: 10.3390/plants11233200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Medicinal plants (MPs) are important resources widely used in the treatment and prevention of diseases and have attracted much attention owing to their significant antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and other activities. However, soil degradation, caused by continuous cropping, excessive chemical fertilizers and pesticide residues and heavy metal contamination, seriously restricts the growth and quality formation of MPs. Microorganisms, as the major biota in soil, play a critical role in the restoration of the land ecosystem. Rhizosphere microecology directly or indirectly affects the growth and development, metabolic regulation and active ingredient accumulation of MPs. Microbial resources, with the advantages of economic efficiency, harmless to environment and non-toxic to organisms, have been recommended as a promising alternative to conventional fertilizers and pesticides. The introduction of beneficial microbes promotes the adaptability of MPs to adversity stress by enhancing soil fertility, inhibiting pathogens and inducing systemic resistance. On the other hand, it can improve the medicinal quality by removing soil pollutants, reducing the absorption and accumulation of harmful substances and regulating the synthesis of secondary metabolites. The ecological and economic benefits of the soil microbiome in agricultural practices are increasingly recognized, but the current understanding of the interaction between soil conditions, root exudates and microbial communities and the mechanism of rhizosphere microecology affecting the secondary metabolism of MPs is still quite limited. More research is needed to investigate the effects of the microbiome on the growth and quality of different medicinal species. Therefore, the present review summarizes the main soil issues in medicinal plant cultivation, the functions of microbes in soil remediation and plant growth promotion and the potential mechanism to further guide the use of microbial resources to promote the ecological cultivation and sustainable development of MPs.
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Wang D, Shi C, Alamgir K, Kwon S, Pan L, Zhu Y, Yang X. Global assessment of the distribution and conservation status of a key medicinal plant (Artemisia annua L.): The roles of climate and anthropogenic activities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 821:153378. [PMID: 35085641 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153378] [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: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As a medicinal plant, Artemisia annua L. is the main source of artemisinin in malaria drugs, but the lack of understanding of its distribution, environmental conditions and protection status limits the mass acquisition of artemisinin. Therefore, we used the ensemble forecast method to model the current and future global distribution areas of A. annua, evaluated the changes in suitable distribution areas on each continent under impacts of human activities and climate change, and its protection status on each continent in the corresponding period. The results showed that the main distribution areas of A. annua were concentrated in mid-latitudes in western and central Europe, southeastern Asia, southeastern North America and southeastern South America. Under the current climate scenario, human modifications have greatly reduced the suitable distribution area of A. annua, which was projected to expand inland with climate change and human socioeconomic impacts of CMIP6 in the future, but the effects of increasing temperature were different in different periods. Among all continents, the suitable distribution area in Europe was the most affected. However, at present and in the future, A. annua needs high priority protection on all continents. Asia and Europe have slightly better protection status scores than other continents, but the protection status scores of all continents are still very low. Our findings can be useful to guide development of protective measures for medicinal plants such as A. annua to further support drug production and disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyu Wang
- Institute of Desertification Studies and Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Chaoyi Shi
- Institute of Desertification Studies and Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Khan Alamgir
- Department of Forestry, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal, Dir Upper, KPK, 25000, Pakistan
| | - SeMyung Kwon
- Dept. of Forest Science, College of Industrial Science, Kongju National University, 54 Daehak-ro, Yesan-eup, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, 32439, R.O.Republic of Korea
| | - Leilei Pan
- Dept. of Forest Science, College of Industrial Science, Kongju National University, 54 Daehak-ro, Yesan-eup, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, 32439, R.O.Republic of Korea
| | - Yuanjun Zhu
- Institute of Desertification Studies and Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China.
| | - Xiaohui Yang
- Institute of Desertification Studies and Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China.
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Todeschini V, Anastasia F, Massa N, Marsano F, Cesaro P, Bona E, Gamalero E, Oddi L, Lingua G. Impact of Phosphatic Nutrition on Growth Parameters and Artemisinin Production in Artemisia annua Plants Inoculated or Not with Funneliformis mosseae. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12040497. [PMID: 35454988 PMCID: PMC9025405 DOI: 10.3390/life12040497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisia annua L. is a medicinal plant appreciated for the production of artemisinin, a molecule used for malaria treatment. However, the natural concentration of artemisinin in planta is low. Plant nutrition, in particular phosphorus, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can affect both plant biomass and secondary metabolite production. In this work, A. annua plants were ino- culated or not with the AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae BEG12 and cultivated for 2 months in controlled conditions at three different phosphatic (P) concentrations (32, 96, and 288 µM). Plant growth parameters, leaf photosynthetic pigment concentrations, artemisinin production, and mineral uptake were evaluated. The different P levels significantly affected the plant shoot growth, AM fungal colonization, and mineral acquisition. High P levels negatively influenced mycorrhizal colonization. The artemisinin concentration was inversely correlated to the P level in the substrate. The fungus mainly affected root growth and nutrient uptake and significantly lowered leaf artemisinin concentration. In conclusion, P nutrition can influence plant biomass production and the lowest phosphate level led to the highest artemisinin concentration, irrespective of the plant mineral uptake. Plant responses to AM fungi can be modulated by cost–benefit ratios of the mutualistic exchange between the partners and soil nutrient availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Todeschini
- Dipartimento di Scienze ed Innovazione Tecnologica, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 15121 Alessandria, Italy; (F.A.); (N.M.); (F.M.); (P.C.); (E.G.); (G.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0131-360210
| | - Flavio Anastasia
- Dipartimento di Scienze ed Innovazione Tecnologica, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 15121 Alessandria, Italy; (F.A.); (N.M.); (F.M.); (P.C.); (E.G.); (G.L.)
| | - Nadia Massa
- Dipartimento di Scienze ed Innovazione Tecnologica, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 15121 Alessandria, Italy; (F.A.); (N.M.); (F.M.); (P.C.); (E.G.); (G.L.)
| | - Francesco Marsano
- Dipartimento di Scienze ed Innovazione Tecnologica, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 15121 Alessandria, Italy; (F.A.); (N.M.); (F.M.); (P.C.); (E.G.); (G.L.)
| | - Patrizia Cesaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze ed Innovazione Tecnologica, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 15121 Alessandria, Italy; (F.A.); (N.M.); (F.M.); (P.C.); (E.G.); (G.L.)
| | - Elisa Bona
- Dipartimento per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile e la Transizione Ecologica, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 13100 Vercelli, Italy;
| | - Elisa Gamalero
- Dipartimento di Scienze ed Innovazione Tecnologica, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 15121 Alessandria, Italy; (F.A.); (N.M.); (F.M.); (P.C.); (E.G.); (G.L.)
| | - Ludovica Oddi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi, Università degli Studi di Torino, 10123 Torino, Italy;
| | - Guido Lingua
- Dipartimento di Scienze ed Innovazione Tecnologica, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 15121 Alessandria, Italy; (F.A.); (N.M.); (F.M.); (P.C.); (E.G.); (G.L.)
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