Iron nano-complexes and iron chelate improve biological activities of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of some essential oils in experimentally immunosuppressed mice infected with Cryptosporidium parvum

Cryptosporidiosis is a serious intestinal disease affecting mal-nourished children and immunocompromised individuals with severe fatal diarrhea. Our present work was done to evaluate the possible curative effects of different essential oils (Mint, Thyme, Chamomile and Basil) on Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) in vivo compared with nitazoxanide (NTZ). Seventy immunosuppressed white Albino male mice were allocated in 7 groups as follows: group I infected and not treated (Positive control), group II (GII) treated with NTZ, group III (GIII) treated with Mint essential oil, group IV (GIV) treated with Thyme essential oil, group V (GV) treated with Chamomile essential oil, group VI (GVI) treated with Basil essential oil and group VII (GVII) naïve not infected mice (Negative control). Evaluation was done using parasitological, histopatholgical, serological as well as biochemical methods. All study groups revealed significant reduction (P value < 0.01) in the mean number of C. parvum oocysts in stool. Results of GII were the best with 87.7% reduction in the oocysts count followed by GIII (77.9%), GIV (74.7%), GVI (68.2%) and lastly GV (67.2%). Improvement of the histopathological damage in the small intestine was shown in treated groups. All treated mice showed significant upregulation in the interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels, significant reduction in the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels (P value < 0.0001). It is concluded that Mint, Thyme, Chamomile and Basil oils showed promising anti-cryptosporidial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions.

Foliar Application of Nano, Chelated, and Conventional Iron Forms Enhanced Growth, Nutritional Status, Fruiting Aspects, and Fruit Quality of Washington Navel Orange Trees (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck)

Iron (Fe) is required for most metabolic processes, including DNA synthesis, respiration, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll biosynthesis; however, Fe deficiency is common in arid regions, necessitating additional research to determine the most efficient form of absorbance. Nano-fertilizers have characteristics that are not found in their traditional equivalents. This research was implemented on Washington navel orange trees (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) to investigate the effect of three iron forms-nano (Fe-NPs), sulfate (FeSO₄), and chelated (Fe-chelated)-as a foliar spray on the growth, fruiting aspects, and nutritional status of these trees compared to control. The highest values of the tested parameters were reported when the highest Fe-NPs level and the highest Fe-chelated (EDTA) rate were used. Results obtained here showed that the spraying of the Washington navel orange trees grown under similar environmental conditions and horticulture practices adopted in the current experiment with Fe-NPs (nanoform) and/or Fe-chelated (EDTA) at 0.1% is a beneficial application for enhancing vegetative growth, flower set, tree nutritional status, and fruit production and quality. Application of Fe-NPs and Fe-chelated (EDTA, 0.1%) increased yield by 32.0% and 25% and total soluble solids (TSS) by 18.5% and 17.0%, respectively, compared with control. Spraying Washington navel orange trees with nano and chelated iron could be considered a significant way to improve vegetative growth, fruit production, quality, and nutritional status while also being environmentally preferred in the arid regions.

Responses of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants to Engineered Nanoparticles

Medicinal and aromatic plants have been used by mankind since ancient times. This is primarily due to their healing effects associated with their specific secondary metabolites (some of which are also used as drugs in modern medicine), or their structures, served as a basis for the development of new effective synthetic drugs. One way to increase the production of these secondary metabolites is to use nanoparticles that act as elicitors. However, depending on the specific particle size, composition, concentration, and route of application, nanoparticles may have several other benefits on medicinal and aromatic plants (e.g., increased plant growth, improved photosynthesis, and overall performance). On the other hand, particularly at applications of high concentrations, they are able to damage plants mechanically, adversely affect morphological and biochemical characteristics of plants, and show cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the beneficial and adverse effects of metal-, metalloid-, and carbon-based nanoparticles on the germination, growth, and biochemical characteristics of a wide range of medicinal and aromatic plants, including the corresponding mechanisms of action. The positive impact of nanopriming and application of nanosized fertilizers on medicinal and aromatic plants is emphasized. Special attention is paid to the effects of various nanoparticles on the production of valuable secondary metabolites in these plants cultivated in hydroponic systems, soil, hairy root, or in vitro cultures. The beneficial impact of nanoparticles on the alleviation of abiotic stresses in medicinal and aromatic plants is also discussed.

Winter Cultivation and Nano Fertilizers Improve Yield Components and Antioxidant Traits of Dragon's Head (Lallemantia iberica (M.B.) Fischer & Meyer)

Balangu (Lallemantia sp.) is a medicinal herb with a variety of applications, all parts of which have economic uses, including leaf for extraction of essential oils, as a vegetable and potherb, seed for extraction of mucilage and edible or industrial oil. To investigate the effect of cultivation season and standard chemical and nano fertilizers (n) on the yield components and antioxidant properties of Dragon’s head, a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design was conducted with 12 treatments and three replications. Experimental treatments consisted of two seasons (spring and winter cultivation) and six levels of fertilizer (control, NPK-s, NPK-n, Fe-chelated-n, NPK-n + Fe-chelated-n, NPK-s + NPK-n + Fe-chelated-n). The traits included grain yield per plant, essential oil percentage and yield, mucilage percentage and yield, antioxidant properties in the seeds and leaves, including total phenols and flavonoids content, DPPH radical scavenging, and nitric oxide and superoxide radical scavenging. The results showed that winter cultivation had a noticeable advantage over spring cultivation across all of the traits. The highest grain yield per plant was obtained in winter cultivation using NPK-n + Fe-chelated-n fertilizer treatment. The highest essential oil percentage was in NPK-n + Fe-chelated-n. The highest mucilage percentage was observed in NPK-s + NPK-n + Fe-chelated-n fertilizer treatment, which was not statistically different to NPK-n + Fe-chelated-n treatment. The combined effects of winter cultivation and NPK-n + Fe-chelated-n fertilizers resulted in improving antioxidant activity traits. Overall, the results indicated that the combination of winter cultivation and NPK-n + Fe-chelated-n fertilizers are the most appropriate treatment to acquire highest qualitative and quantitative yield of Dragon’s head, in the Azerbaijan region (Iran).