Chemical Derivatization of Metabolite Mass Profiling of the Recretohalophyte Aeluropus lagopoides Revealing Salt Stress Tolerance Mechanism

Paraphoma chrysanthemicola Affects the Carbohydrate and Lobetyolin Metabolism Regulated by Salicylic Acid in the Soilless Cultivation of Codonopsis pilosula

Paraphoma chrysanthemicola, an endophytic fungus isolated from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula, influences salicylic acid (SA) levels. The interaction mechanism between SA and P. chrysanthemicola within C. pilosula remains elusive. To elucidate this, an experiment was conducted with four treatments: sterile water (CK), P. chrysanthemicola (FG), SA, and a combination of P. chrysanthemicola with salicylic acid (FG+SA). Results indicated that P. chrysanthemicola enhanced plant growth and counteracted the growth inhibition caused by exogenous SA. Physiological analysis showed that P. chrysanthemicola reduced carbohydrate content and enzymatic activity in C. pilosula without affecting total chlorophyll concentration and attenuated the increase in these parameters induced by exogenous SA. Secondary metabolite profiling showed a decrease in soluble proteins and lobetyolin levels in the FG group, whereas SA treatment led to an increase. Both P. chrysanthemicola and SA treatments decreased antioxidase-like activity. Notably, the FG group exhibited higher nitric oxide (NO) levels, and the SA group exhibited higher hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels in the stems. This study elucidated the intricate context of the symbiotic dynamics between the plant species P. chrysanthemicola and C. pilosula, where an antagonistic interaction involving salicylic acid was prominently observed. This antagonism was observed in the equilibrium between carbohydrate metabolism and secondary metabolism. This equilibrium had the potential to engage reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO).

Cytotoxic, apoptotic activities and chemical profiling of dimorphic forms of Egyptian halophyte Cakile maritima scop

Cakile maritima ssp. aegyptiaca (Wild.) Nyman is growing with dimorphic leaf forms (entire or pinnatifid lamina) along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. The cytotoxic activities of dried shoot systems of the two morphological forms were evaluated by testing and comparing the effects of ethanolic and aqueous extracts on the viability of five human cell lines. GC-MS analysis was performed to identify the bioactive and anticancer compounds present in the most active extracts. MTT assay indicated that both aqueous and ethanolic extracts have selective cytotoxic activities against cancer cell lines with no inhibitory activities against normal Wi38 or Vero cell lines. The underlying mechanism of cytotoxicity involved the induction of G2/M phase arrest in targeted cells MCF-7 and HCT-116 associated with inducing apoptosis in both cell lines, as indicated by Annexin-V assay. Apoptosis investigation in MCF-7 and HCT-116 cells treated with ethanolic extracts, was further investigated through RT-PCR, which exhibited elevation of proapoptotic genes of P53, BAX, Capase-3,6,7,8,9, and downregulation of antiapoptotic gene (BCL-2) upon treatment. The GC-MS analysis of ethanolic extracts of pinnatifid and entire forms revealed the existence of 18 and 13 compounds, respectively, with eleven compounds that were detected in pinnatifid form only and seven compounds were identified exclusively in the entire form. Molecular Docking study revealed that the identified compounds exhibited good binding affinity towards BCL-2 inhibition, and this agreed with the suggested apoptotic mechanism. To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first scientific evidence underline the variability in the chemical composition associated with variable anticancer activities of dimorphic forms of C. maritima.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The Jatropha leaf curl Gujarat virus on infection in Jatropha regulates the sugar and tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolic pathways

Jatropha, a popular biodiesel crop, suffers severe losses due to Jatropha leaf curl Gujarat virus (JLCuGV) infection in Gujarat (India). Metabolite profiling can help to understand the plant's innate immune response to geminivirus infection. Our study aims to compare metabolic profiles of an infected and healthy plant to unravel the changes in biochemical pathways on geminivirus infection in Jatropha. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was performed in healthy and infected tissue of Jatropha field plants which were identified to be infected with geminivirus. GC-MS analysis revealed that the metabolites like sugars, polyols, carboxylic acids, fatty acids, polyphenols, and amino acids were regulated on JLCuGV infection. The sugars (glucose, sucrose, and fructose) increased, while carboxylic acids (malic acid, citric acid and quinic acid) and polyols (galactinol, butanetriol, triethylene glycol, myo-inositol, erythritol) decreased remarkably in infected Jatropha tissue. All these metabolic variations indicated that sugar metabolism and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle pathways are regulated as a defense response and a disease development response to geminivirus infection in Jatropha.

Advances in Plant Metabolomics and Its Applications in Stress and Single-Cell Biology

In the past two decades, the post-genomic era envisaged high-throughput technologies, resulting in more species with available genome sequences. In-depth multi-omics approaches have evolved to integrate cellular processes at various levels into a systems biology knowledge base. Metabolomics plays a crucial role in molecular networking to bridge the gaps between genotypes and phenotypes. However, the greater complexity of metabolites with diverse chemical and physical properties has limited the advances in plant metabolomics. For several years, applications of liquid/gas chromatography (LC/GC)-mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) have been constantly developed. Recently, ion mobility spectrometry (IMS)-MS has shown utility in resolving isomeric and isobaric metabolites. Both MS and NMR combined metabolomics significantly increased the identification and quantification of metabolites in an untargeted and targeted manner. Thus, hyphenated metabolomics tools will narrow the gap between the number of metabolite features and the identified metabolites. Metabolites change in response to environmental conditions, including biotic and abiotic stress factors. The spatial distribution of metabolites across different organs, tissues, cells and cellular compartments is a trending research area in metabolomics. Herein, we review recent technological advancements in metabolomics and their applications in understanding plant stress biology and different levels of spatial organization. In addition, we discuss the opportunities and challenges in multiple stress interactions, multi-omics, and single-cell metabolomics.

Defining key metabolic roles in osmotic adjustment and ROS homeostasis in the recretohalophyte Karelinia caspia under salt stress

The recretohalophyte Karelinia caspia is of forage and medical value and can remediate saline soils. We here assess the contribution of primary/secondary metabolism to osmotic adjustment and ROS homeostasis in Karelinia caspia under salt stress using multi-omic approaches. Computerized phenomic assessments, tests for cellular osmotic changes and lipid peroxidation indicated that salt treatment had no detectable physical effect on K. caspia. Metabolomic analysis indicated that amino acids, saccharides, organic acids, polyamine, phenolic acids, and vitamins accumulated significantly with salt treatment. Transcriptomic assessment identified differentially expressed genes closely linked to the changes in above primary/secondary metabolites under salt stress. In particular, shifts in carbohydrate metabolism (TCA cycle, starch and sucrose metabolism, glycolysis) as well as arginine and proline metabolism were observed to maintain a low osmotic potential. Chlorogenic acid/vitamin E biosynthesis was also enhanced, which would aid in ROS scavenging in the response of K. caspia to salt. Overall, our findings define key changes in primary/secondary metabolism that are coordinated to modulate the osmotic balance and ROS homeostasis to contribute to the salt tolerance of K. caspia.

Anticancer, anti-proliferative activity of Avicennia marina plant extracts

Purpose

Medical halophytes plants are potent sources of bioactive secondary metabolite components used against different diseases. Avicenniamarina one of the typical halophytes plant species used in folk medicine to treat smallpox, rheumatism, and ulcer. Despite the richness of A.marina with polyphenolic, flavonoids, terpenoid, and terpene, contents remain poorly investigated against cancer types. Consequently, to explore the function-composition relationship of A.marina hexane leaves crude extract, the current study designed to investigate the cytotoxicity, apoptotic and antiproliferative impacts on the colon (HCT-116), liver (HepG2), and breast (MCF-7) cancer cell lines.

Materials and Methods

Therefore, the cytotoxicity impact screening carried out by Sulforhodamine-B assay. While, the initiation of the apoptosis evaluated by chromatin condensing, early apoptosis, late apoptosis and the formation and appearance of apoptotic bodies. On the other hand, the flow cytometry used to identify the phase of inhibition where the determined IC₅₀ value used. While, the chemical composition of the hexane extract was detected using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry.

Results

Revealed that hexane extract showed a weak induction of apoptosis despite the formation of apoptotic bodies and the high cell inhibitory effect on all tested cell lines with IC₅₀ values (23.7 ± 0.7, 44.9 ± 0.93, 79.55 ± 0.57) μg/ml on HCT-116, HepG2, and MCF-7, respectively. Furthermore, it showed the ability to inhibit cell cycle in G0/G1 for HCT-116, S phase for HepG2, and MCF-7.

Conclusion

In the light of these results, the current study suggests that A.marina leaves hexane extract may be considered as a candidate for further anticancer drug development investigations.

Potential of the Red Alga Dixoniella grisea for the Production of Additives for Lubricants

There is an increasing interest in algae-based raw materials for medical, cosmetic or nutraceutical applications. Additionally, the high diversity of physicochemical properties of the different algal metabolites proposes these substances from microalgae as possible additives in the chemical industry. Among the wide range of natural products from red microalgae, research has mainly focused on extracellular polymers for additive use, while this study also considers the cellular components. The aim of the present study is to analytically characterize the extra- and intracellular molecular composition from the red microalga Dixoniella grisea and to evaluate its potential for being used in the tribological industry. D. grisea samples, fractionated into extracellular polymers (EPS), cells and medium, were examined for their molecular composition. This alga produces a highly viscous polymer, mainly composed of polysaccharides and proteins, being secreted into the culture medium. The EPS and biomass significantly differed in their molecular composition, indicating that they might be used for different bio-additive products. We also show that polysaccharides and proteins were the major chemical compounds in EPS, whereas the content of lipids depended on the separation protocol and the resulting product. Still, they did not represent a major group and were thus classified as a potential valuable side-product. Lyophilized algal fractions obtained from D. grisea were found to be not toxic when EPS were not included. Upon implementation of EPS as a commercial product, further assessment on the environmental toxicity to enchytraeids and other soil organisms is required. Our results provide a possible direction for developing a process to gain an environmentally friendly bio-additive for application in the tribological industry based on a biorefinery approach.

l-Aspartate: An Essential Metabolite for Plant Growth and Stress Acclimation

L-aspartate (Asp) serves as a central building block, in addition to being a constituent of proteins, for many metabolic processes in most organisms, such as biosynthesis of other amino acids, nucleotides, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and glycolysis pathway intermediates, and hormones, which are vital for growth and defense. In animals and humans, lines of data have proved that Asp is indispensable for cell proliferation. However, in plants, despite the extensive study of the Asp family amino acid pathway, little attention has been paid to the function of Asp through the other numerous pathways. This review aims to elucidate the most important aspects of Asp in plants, from biosynthesis to catabolism and the role of Asp and its metabolic derivatives in response to changing environmental conditions. It considers the distribution of Asp in various cell compartments and the change of Asp level, and its significance in the whole plant under various stresses. Moreover, it provides evidence of the interconnection between Asp and phytohormones, which have prominent functions in plant growth, development, and defense. The updated information will help improve our understanding of the physiological role of Asp and Asp-borne metabolic fluxes, supporting the modular operation of these networks.

Improved biorefinery pathways of marine diatoms using a water miscible ionic liquid and its colloidal solution: efficient lipid extraction and in situ synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots for bio-imaging applications

In this study, a water-miscible ‘classic’ ionic liquid (IL), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazoliumacetate ([EMIM][Ac]), has been used for lipid extraction from marine diatoms Thalassiosira lundiana CSIR-CSMCRI 001 by following a non-polar solvent partition method. The composition of lipid was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In total, 91.4 mg g⁻¹ (dry wt) of lipid was produced, out of which the percentage of docosahexaenoic acids (DHA), myristic acid, palmitic acid, and arachidonic acid was 19.6%, 15.1%, 11.2%, and 10.4%, respectively. The IL-inseparable residual waste solution was directly used to generate green fluorescent carbon dots (FCDs) by constructing a colloidal solution with the help of a surface-active IL, choline dioctyl sulfosuccinate ([Cho][AOT]). The stability of colloidal FCDs was examined using FTIR, FT-NMR, and Raman spectroscopy. FCDs were extracted from the colloidal solutions via the demicellization process and characterized using HR-TEM (2 to 5 nm) and PXRD techniques. The optical properties of colloidal FCDs were measured using UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy and showed a wide range of emission (λ_{460 nm} to λ_{590 nm}). Such FCD stabilized colloidal solutions could be effectively used in fluorescence imaging of yeast cells, thus making the biorefinery approach more sustainable.

In this study, a water-miscible ionic liquid (IL), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazoliumacetate ([EMIM][Ac]), has been used for lipid extraction from marine diatoms Thalassiosira lundiana CSIR-CSMCRI 001 by following a non-polar solvent partition method.

Metabolomic variability of four macroalgal species of the genus Lobophora using diverse approaches

Among comparative metabolomic studies used in marine sciences, only few of them are dedicated to macroalgae despite their ecological importance in marine ecosystems. Therefore, experimental data are needed to assess the scopes and limitations of different metabolomic techniques applied to macroalgal models. Species of the genus Lobophora belong to marine brown algae (Family: Dictyotaceae) and are widely distributed, especially in tropical coral reefs. The species richness of this genus has only been unveiled recently and it includes species of diverse morphologies and habitats, with some species interacting with corals. This study aims to assess the potential of different metabolomic fingerprinting approaches in the discrimination of four well known Lobophora species (L. rosacea, L. sonderii, L. obscura and L. monticola). These species present distinct morphologies and are found in various habitats in the New Caledonian lagoon (South-Western Pacific). We compared and combined different untargeted metabolomic techniques: liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and gas chromatography (GC-MS). Metabolomic separations were observed between each Lobophora species, with significant differences according to the techniques used. LC-MS was the best approach for metabotype distinction but a combination of approaches was also useful and allowed identification of chemomarkers for some species. These comparisons provide important data on the use of metabolomic approaches in the Lobophora genus and will pave the way for further studies on the sources of metabolomic variations for this ecologically important macroalgae.

Cell Cycle Arrest in Different Cancer Cell Lines (Liver, Breast, and Colon) Induces Apoptosis under the Influence of the Chemical Content of Aeluropus lagopoides Leaf Extracts

Natural products, especially secondary metabolites produced by plants under stressed conditions, are shown to have different pharmacological impacts from one to another. Aeluropus lagopoides is one of the common halophyte plants that survive under stressed conditions, and has been used for healing wounds and as a painkiller. The bioactivity and the chemical composition of this plant have been poorly investigated. Consequently, the chemical components of A. lagopoides leaves were extracted using hexane (nonpolar), ethyl acetate (semi-polar), and n-butanol (polar) to extract the most extensive variety of metabolites. The cytotoxicity and anticancer impact of extracted secondary metabolites were evaluated against breast (MCF-7), colon (HCT-116), and liver (HepG2) cancer cell lines using a SulphoRhodamine-B (SRB) test. Their mechanisms of action were verified by observing the appearance of apoptotic bodies using the fluorescent microscope, while their antiproliferative impacts were evaluated using a flow cytometer. Results revealed that secondary metabolites extracted using hexane and ethyl acetate had the highest cytotoxicity and thus the greatest anticancer activity effect on HepG2 with IC50 (24.29 ± 0.85 and 11.22 ± 0.679 µg/mL, respectively). On the other hand, flow cytometer results showed that secondary metabolites could inhibit the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase. To ascertain the chemical composition⁻function relationship, the extracts were analyzed using LC-MS/MS. Accordingly, A. lagopoides hexane and ethyl acetate extracts may contain agents with anticancer potential.