Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ani Petrova, Manol Ognyanov, Nadezhda Petkova, Petko Denev
Summary: Echinacea purpurea is a perennial plant used for treating inflammations in the respiratory system. The study characterized the phytochemicals in its roots and extracts using gravimetric, spectrophotometric, and chromatographic methods. The roots had a low lipid content but high levels of carbohydrates and proteins. Water extraction yielded the highest amount of compounds, mainly protein and fructans, while ethanol and glycerol extracts obtained phenolic components. Polysaccharide-containing complex (PSC) could be efficiently obtained using water extraction, with inulin and proteins as the main constituents. The study showed the potential of Echinacea roots for the production of extracts with different compositions for commercial products.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Laura Micheli, Valentina Maggini, Clara Ciampi, Eugenia Gallo, Patrizia Bogani, Renato Fani, Luisa Pistelli, Carla Ghelardini, Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli, Marinella De Leo, Fabio Firenzuoli
Summary: Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy is a major side effect of anticancer drugs, causing chronic pain and reduced quality of life. Echinacea extracts (EP4-R-E and EP4-R-BU) showed potential in treating oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain. EP4-R-E exerted anti-hyperalgesic effects through the endocannabinoid system with alkamides, while EP4-R-BU exhibited anti-neuropathic properties mainly through chicoric acid. The extracts have therapeutic potential through the activity of alkamides and the protective properties of polyphenols.
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Barbara Goncalves de Oliveira, Luiz Filipe Ferreira Santos, Gerson Antonio Pianetti, Isabela Costa Cesar
Summary: Echinacea purpurea, a traditional medicinal plant used for respiratory and urinary infections, contains caffeic acid derivatives as its main active markers. A validated analytical method has been developed to quantify these derivatives in commercial dried extracts, showing significant variations in content between different samples, emphasizing the need for standardization and control in commercial extracts.
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHIC SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Charles Awortwe, Henrike Bruckmueller, Meike Kaehler, Ingolf Cascorbi
Summary: The study investigated the effects of Echinacea purpurea compounds on the expression and transport activity of ABCB1 and ABCG2 proteins, showing heterogeneous induction by the compounds but no significant inhibition of transporter activity was found.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Zaual Temerdashev, Elena Vinitskaya, Ekaterina Meshcheryakova, Oleg Shpigun
Summary: Echinacea purpurea L. is commonly used in phytotherapy as a water-alcohol extract containing phenylpropanoids with anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and moderate antiproliferative effects. This study aimed to determine phenolic compounds in echinacea extracts obtained by different extraction methods. HPLC-DAD-MS and GC-MS techniques were used to identify and quantify the phenolic compounds. The study found unknown phenolic compounds and monosaccharides in water extracts of echinacea. The effectiveness of various extraction methods and the influence of growing conditions on the phenolic compound content were also studied. The ratio of chicoric to caftaric acids was shown to be an indicator of the quality and authenticity of extracts and preparations based on echinacea.
MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Moench Khawla Omran Mohamed Sharif, Enis Fuat Tufekci, Buket Ustaoglu, Yasemin Celik Altunoglu, Gokhan Zengin, E. J. Llorent-Martinez, Kerim Guney, Mehmet Cengiz Baloglu
Summary: Echinacea purpurea, an important medicinal herb, showed DNA protection, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities in its leaf and flower extracts, with chicoric acid being the most abundant compound. The extracts exhibited promising therapeutic properties, especially in antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis. Further studies at the cellular level are recommended to explore the mechanisms behind these biological activities.
Article
Plant Sciences
Sha Li, Yaqi Qin, Shiqi Jing, Dan Wang, Zhike Zhang, Yonghua Qin, Guibing Hu, Jietang Zhao
Summary: Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated hairy root culture is a useful method for gene function analysis and plant secondary metabolite production. In this study, red litchi hairy roots were successfully obtained by transforming with A. rhizogenes-mediated LcMYB1. Anthocyanin profiling and transcriptome analysis revealed significant changes in metabolites and gene expression associated with flavonoid biosynthesis. Key structural genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis were identified, while genes involved in lignin production were down-regulated, indicating a competition between flavonoids and lignin in the phenylpropanoid pathway. Several transcription factors were also found to play a role in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in litchi hairy roots. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of anthocyanin accumulation in litchi hairy roots regulated by LcMYB1.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Silvia Massa, Riccardo Pagliarello, Alessia Cemmi, Ilaria Di Sarcina, Aureliano Bombarely, Olivia Costantina Demurtas, Gianfranco Diretto, Francesca Paolini, H. Earl Petzold, Mattijs Bliek, Elisabetta Bennici, Antonella Del Fiore, Patrizia De Rossi, Cornelis Spelt, Ronald Koes, Francesca Quattrocchio, Eugenio Benvenuto
Summary: Manipulating gene expression of specific metabolic pathways can lead to the accumulation of valuable molecules and desired traits in plants. In this study, hairy root cultures expressing the transcription factor PhAN4 were used to promote the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in tomato plants. The expression of PhAN4 also demonstrated the ability to counteract oxidative stress caused by high-dose gamma irradiation, which is important for space agriculture applications.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Karen Barrera, Manases Gonzalez-Cortazar, Rogelio Reyes-Perez, Dolores Perez-Garcia, Maribel Herrera-Ruiz, Jesus Arellano-Garcia, Francisco Cruz-Sosa, Pilar Nicasio-Torres
Summary: The Sphaeralcea angustifolia plant is used in Mexican traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and gastrointestinal protection properties. Scopoletin, tomentin, and sphaeralcic acid have been identified as the compounds responsible for the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of this plant. Hairy roots from S. angustifolia were explored for biosynthetic stability and capacity to produce new compounds, and they were found to produce scopoletin, sphaeralcic acid, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol, iso-sphaeralcic acid, and 8-methyl-iso-sphaeralcic acid. The extract from SaTRN7.1 hairy root line showed a gastroprotective effect on an ulcer model in mice induced with ethanol.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anita Sliwinska, Ramona Figat, Anna Zgadzaj, Beata Wilenska, Aleksandra Misicka, Grzegorz Nalecz-Jawecki, Agnieszka Pietrosiuk, Katarzyna Syklowska-Baranek
Summary: In this study, hairy root cultures of the traditional Southeast Asian medicinal plant Polyscias filicifolia were successfully established, and their biosynthetic potential was enhanced through methyl jasmonate elicitation. The hairy root extracts showed significant antigenotoxic and anti-photogenotoxic activities.
Article
Plant Sciences
Dong An, Chun-Hua Wu, Mei Wang, Miao Wang, Guang-Ning Chang, Xiao-Jiao Chang, Mei-Lan Lian
Summary: The co-culture of adventitious roots of Echinacea purpurea and E. pallida using MeJA as an elicitor enhanced metabolite accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activities, with optimum results observed at 25 μM MeJA. The study also found higher levels of bioactive compounds in the co-cultured roots compared to natural plant roots of Echinacea species.
IN VITRO CELLULAR & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY-PLANT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Ravazzolo, Benedetto Ruperti, Marco Frigo, Oriana Bertaiola, Giovanna Pressi, Mario Malagoli, Silvia Quaggiotti
Summary: Purple coneflower is an economically important medicinal plant with various industrial applications. By optimizing the production of chicoric acid in cell culture, methyl jasmonate was found to be an effective elicitor to enhance the content of chicoric acid. Potential molecular markers were identified for the early prediction of chicoric acid content.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fatemeh Ahmadi, Abbas Samadi, Ebrahim Sepehr, Amir Rahimi, Sergey Shabala
Summary: The study aimed to improve the caffeic acid derivatives and alkylamides percentages of Echinacea purpurea root extract in hydroponic culture media by adjusting perlite particle size and NO3-/NH4+ ratios. Results showed that a perlite to peat moss ratio of 50:50 with very fine perlite led to the highest levels of these compounds. This indicates that optimizing hydroponic culture media and nutrient solution has significant effects on E. purpurea chemical compounds.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Xiao-jing Lin, Zheng-shi-yu Lai, Qun Luo, Mei Kong, Min-jian Liang, Hong Wu, Mei Bai
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant activities of cultivated and wild varieties of Echinacea, as well as the relationship between polyphenol accumulation and antioxidant activities. The results showed that E. purpurea L. had the highest contents of polyphenols and caffeic acid derivatives, and exhibited the strongest antioxidant activities. E. purpurea 'White Swan' also had high antioxidant activity and could be used as a substitute for E. purpurea L.
CURRENT MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Izabela Weremczuk-Jezyna, Weronika Gonciarz, Izabela Grzegorczyk-Karolak
Summary: This study evaluates the antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory potential of polyphenolic acid-rich fractions of Dracocephalum moldavica. The diethyl ether fraction showed the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
Review
Microbiology
Hasnat Tariq, Sannia Batool, Saaim Asif, Mohammad Ali, Bilal Haider Abbasi
Summary: Virus-like particles (VLPs) are nanostructures with various applications in therapeutics, immunization, and diagnostics. Recent advancements in biomedical engineering have made commercially available VLP-based vaccines widely used in combating infectious diseases. However, there are production and fabrication challenges that need to be addressed before VLP-based approaches can be widely used. This review provides insights into the characteristics, expression systems, and potential applicability of VLP-based vaccines, emphasizing their potential as ideal candidates to combat emerging virulent pathogens and induce immunity against them.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Muhammad Nadeem, Rijma Khan, Nausheen Shah, Ishrat Rehman Bangash, Bilal Haider Abbasi, Christophe Hano, Chunzhao Liu, Sana Ullah, Syed Salman Hashmi, Akhtar Nadhman, Jonathan Celli
Summary: Nanotechnology has wide applications in health, agriculture, and industry, and the biological approach of synthesizing nanoparticles, particularly iron oxide nanoparticles using microbes, has gained significant attention in biomedical research. However, the issues of cytotoxicity and biodegradability remain as major hurdles for commercialization.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christophe Hano, Bilal Haider Abbasi
Article
Plant Sciences
Masooma Jawad Hussain, Yawar Abbas, Naushaba Nazli, Sara Fatima, Samantha Drouet, Christophe Hano, Bilal Haider Abbasi
Summary: Medicinal plants are crucial for pharmaceutical drugs, but their existence is threatened by overexploitation. Adventitious root and hairy root culture systems provide an alternative method for producing valuable compounds efficiently. This review summarizes the recent global research on these methods and compares their effectiveness. Factors such as culture conditions and inducer concentrations are also discussed.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Gouhar Zaman, Umar Farooq, Muhammad Naeem Bajwa, Hasnain Jan, Muzamil Shah, Riaz Ahmad, Anisa Andleeb, Samantha Drouet, Christophe Hano, Bilal Haider Abbasi
Summary: In this study, commercially viable phytochemicals in callus cultures of Ocimum basilicum were enhanced through the elicitation of in-vitro cultures using yeast extract. Moderate concentration of yeast extract showed positive effects on biomass accumulation and the production of various metabolites, resulting in increased antioxidant activities. This study suggests that yeast extract can act as an efficient elicitor to enhance the production of pharmacologically important compounds in callus cultures of Ocimum basilicum.
PLANT CELL TISSUE AND ORGAN CULTURE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nisar Ahmad, Jan Muhammad, Khalil Khan, Wajid Ali, Hina Fazal, Mohammad Ali, Latif-Ur Rahman, Hayat Khan, Muhammad Nazir Uddin, Bilal Haider Abbasi, Christophe Hano
Summary: Prunella vulgaris is a medicinally important plant that can be used for the development of antimicrobial drugs. This study found that calli cultures of Prunella vulgaris exposed to gold and silver nanoparticles exhibited inhibitory effects against certain microbes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bisma Meer, Anisa Andleeb, Junaid Iqbal, Hajra Ashraf, Kushif Meer, Joham Sarfraz Ali, Samantha Drouet, Sumaira Anjum, Azra Mehmood, Taimoor Khan, Mohammad Ali, Christophe Hano, Bilal Haider Abbasi
Summary: This study successfully synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles using the seed extract of Lepidium sativum through bio-assisted synthesis. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using various spectroscopy and imaging techniques and were tested for various in vitro biological assays. The results showed that the bio-assisted zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited excellent antioxidant, antibacterial, and potential in cancer therapeutics.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Muhammad Naeem Bajwa, Mehnaz Khanum, Gouhar Zaman, Muhammad Asad Ullah, Umar Farooq, Muhammad Waqas, Nisar Ahmad, Christophe Hano, Bilal Haider Abbasi
Summary: White light exposure has a significant impact on enhancing the production of bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and biomass in M. oleifera callus culture. Continuous white light (24 h) resulted in the highest biomass production, total phenolic content, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity. White light exposure also enhanced the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Muhammad Zia, Joham Sarfraz Ali, Saad Hanif, Anila Sajjad, Bilal Haider Abbasi
Summary: This study is the first to report on the efficacy of lupeol as a salt stress mitigating molecule in plants. It found that lupeol can alleviate the adverse effects of salt stress on plant growth and biomass traits. However, when lupeol was applied along with salt stress, the activity of antioxidative enzymes and the concentrations of phenolics and flavonoids decreased.
PLANT CELL TISSUE AND ORGAN CULTURE
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hasnat Tariq, Saaim Asif, Anisa Andleeb, Christophe Hano, Bilal Haider Abbasi
Summary: Flavonoids, a heterogeneous family of plant polyphenolic compounds, have significant bioactivity in anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial activities. However, traditional approaches for their production have limitations. Genetic engineering tools offer promise for exploring and scaling up production of flavonoids by modifying biosynthetic pathways in plants and microbes.
Article
Plant Sciences
Urooj Ali, Muhammad Mustajab Khan, Naveera Khan, Rida tul Haya, Muhammad Usama Asghar, Bilal Haider Abbasi
Summary: This literature review focuses on the significance and applications of secondary metabolites extracted from Chimaphila umbellata, as well as biotechnological approaches to improve its utilization. The plant is home to many industrially and medicinally important phytochemicals, primarily phenolics, sterols, and triterpenoids. The review also discusses the challenges of working with C. umbellata, including its conservation status, in-vitro cultivation issues, and research and development concerns.
PHYTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Muhammad Asad Ullah, Faiza Zareen Gul, Gouhar Zaman, Junaid Iqbal, Samantha Drouet, Duangjai Tungmunnithum, Christophe Hano, Bilal Haider Abbasi
Summary: In vitro shoot culture was used to induce rapid micro-propagation of Ajuga integrifolia, resulting in disease-free plantlets and high yield agitated micro-shoot cultures. The addition of Chitosan and Melatonin in a dose-dependent manner enhanced the accumulation of secondary metabolites and biomass in the micro-shoots.
ACTA PHYSIOLOGIAE PLANTARUM
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Areej Shahbaz, Tehreem Mahmood, Muhammad Uzair Javed, Bilal Haider Abbasi
Summary: Microbes, with their immense metabolic capability, have complex relationships with cancer and can be used as tumor-specific infectious microorganisms in cancer therapy. However, the toxicity of traditional cancer treatments and the rise of drug resistance in tumor cells pose challenges. Alternative strategies that target tumor cells more effectively and selectively are needed. Cancer immunotherapy has greatly advanced the fight against cancer by utilizing tumor-invading immune cells and immune responses. Bacterial and viral cancer therapeutics, as promising immunotherapies, are being developed to overcome the hurdles in cancer treatment.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hajra Ashraf, Bisma Meer, Junaid Iqbal, Joham Sarfraz Ali, Anisa Andleeb, Hira Butt, Muhammad Zia, Azra Mehmood, Muhammad Nadeem, Samantha Drouet, Jean-Philippe Blondeau, Nathalie Giglioli-Guivarc'h, Chunzhao Liu, Christophe Hano, Bilal Haider Abbasi
Summary: The goal of this study was to fabricate ZnO nanoparticles using chemical and biological routes and evaluate their physiochemical behavior and biological potentials. The synthesized nanoparticles were confirmed using spectroscopy and imaging techniques. The nanoparticles showed high antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, antibacterial, and cytotoxicity potential. The green-mediated nanoparticles exhibited superior biological potential compared to the chemically derived nanoparticles. The results suggested that these nanoparticles have promising applications in antimicrobial and cancer therapeutics.
JOURNAL OF NANOSTRUCTURE IN CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
S. Khoso, S. Mehar, I Anam, N. Naheed, F. Saeed, N. Khan, B. H. Abbasi
Summary: The present research focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and biological potential of Foeniculum vulgare mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were synthesized using an extract of Foeniculum vulgare and zinc acetate solution. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using various advanced techniques and found to have antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL AND PLANT SCIENCES-JAPS
(2022)