Identification and quantification of phenolic compounds of Artemisia herba-alba at three harvest time by HPLC–ESI–Q-TOF–MS

Harvest time optimization for medicinal and aromatic plant secondary metabolites

Plant secondary metabolites (SMs) play a crucial role in shielding plants from pathogens and environmental stressors. These natural products find widespread applications across various industries, including pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, and healthcare. However, the quantity and quality of these compounds in plants can be influenced by factors such as genetics, morphology, plant age, and the seasonal and daily variations. The timing of harvest holds particular significance for medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) as their active compounds peak at a specific moment during the plant growth cycle. Determining the optimal harvest time is essential to ensure the plants meet their intended cultivation goal. In this review, we analyzed how developmental and external factors impact the qualitative and quantitative effectiveness of SMs in MAPs. We examined recent studies on the effects of environmental and developmental factors on SMs of MAPs, compiling relevant data for analysis. The results of this review demonstrate how these factors influence the quantity and quality of plant SMs, underscoring the importance of determining the optimal harvest time (known as the balsamic time) to maximize the utilization of these compounds. Our findings offer crucial insights into the factors affecting SMs, serving as a tool for quality control in MAPs production. Moreover, this review can be a valuable resource for researchers, farmers, and industrial users aiming to optimize plant growth and harvest timing for maximum yield. Overall, our review provides valuable information for devising effective strategies to produce high-quality MAPs products.

Development and Evaluation of Bioconverted Milk with Anti-Microbial Effect against Periodontal Pathogens and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity

To decrease periodontal pathogens and increase the number of beneficial bacteria, probiotics and bioactive compounds made via microbial bioconversion are recently used. In addition, the interest regarding probiotics-mediated bioconversion with popular medicinal plants is increasing. Artemisia herba-alba, a type of wormwood, has recently been attention as a medicinal plant due to its various bioactive compounds. Therefore, we developed bioconverted milk containing A. herba-alba that effectively inhibited periodontal pathogens and α-glucosidase. To select the appropriate lactic acid bacteria for the probiotic candidate strain, 74 strains of lactic acid bacteria were screened. Among them, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SMFM2016-RK was chosen as the probiotic due to its beneficial characteristics such as high acid and bile tolerance, antioxidant activity, and α-glucosidase inhibition. Based on the minimal bactericidal concentration against three periodontal pathogens, the following appropriate concentrations of Artemisia herba-alba extract were added to milk: 5 mg/mL of A. herba-alba ethanol extract and 25 mg/mL of A. herba-alba hot-water extract. Four bioconverted milks (BM), BM1, BM2, BM3, and BM4, were produced by combining L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK alone, L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK and ethanol extract, L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK and hot-water extract, and L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK with both extracts. As a result of antimicrobial activity, BM3 inhibited the growth of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis the most, and BM4 suppressed the growth of Fusobacterium nucleatum the most. In addition, bioconverted milk containing A. herba-alba (BM2, BM3, and BM4) inhibited α-glucosidase more effectively than BM1. The whole genome of L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK was obtained, and 3135 CDS, 67 tRNA, and 16 RNA were predicted. The genome annotation of L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK revealed 11 CDS related to proteolysis and amino acid metabolism and 2 CDS of phenolic acid-metabolizing enzymes. In conclusion, A. herba-alba-added milk bioconverted by L. plantarum SMFM2016-RK displayed both the growth inhibitory effect on periodontal pathogens and the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity; thus, it necessitates to evaluate the effects on the alleviation of periodontal diseases and glycemic control through future animal experiments.

Five Different Artemisia L. Species Ethanol Extracts' Phytochemical Composition and Their Antimicrobial and Nematocide Activity

Among the plants that exhibit significant or established pharmacological activity, the genus Artemisia L. deserves special attention. This genus comprises over 500 species belonging to the largest Asteraceae family. Our study aimed at providing a comprehensive evaluation of the phytochemical composition of the ethanol extracts of five different Artemisia L. species (collected from the southwest of the Russian Federation) and their antimicrobial and nematocide activity as follows: A. annua cv. Novichok., A. dracunculus cv. Smaragd, A. santonica cv. Citral, A. abrotanum cv. Euxin, and A. scoparia cv. Tavrida. The study of the ethanol extracts of the five different Artemisia L. species using the methods of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) allowed establishing their phytochemical profile. The obtained data on the of five different Artemisia L. species ethanol extracts' phytochemical composition were used to predict the antibacterial and antifungal activity against phytopathogenic microorganisms and nematocidal activity against the free-living soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The major compounds found in the composition of the Artemisia L. ethanol extracts were monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, coumarins, and phenolic acids. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the extracts began to manifest at a concentration of 150 µg/mL. The A. dracunculus cv. Smaragd extract had a selective effect against Gram-positive R. iranicus and B. subtilis bacteria, whereas the A. scoparia cv. Tavrida extract had a selective effect against Gram-negative A. tumefaciens and X. arboricola bacteria and A. solani, R. solani and F. graminearum fungi. The A. annua cv. Novichok, A. dracunculus cv. Smaragd, and A. santonica cv. Citral extracts in the concentration range of 31.3-1000 µg/mL caused the death of nematodes. It was established that A. annua cv. Novichok affects the UNC-63 protein, the molecular target of which is the nicotine receptor of the N-subtype.

Identification and Quantitation of the Bioactive Components in Wasted Aralia elata Leaves Extract with Endothelial Protective Activity

Aralia elata, a renowned medicinal plant with a rich history in traditional medicine, has gained attention for its potential therapeutic applications. However, the leaves of this plant have been largely overlooked and discarded due to limited knowledge of their biological activity and chemical composition. To bridge this gap, a comprehensive study was conducted to explore the therapeutic potential of the 70% ethanol extract derived from Aralia elata leaves (LAE) for the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Initially, the cytotoxic effects of LAE on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were assessed, revealing no toxicity within concentrations up to 5 μg/mL. This suggests that LAE could serve as a safe raw material for the development of health supplements and drugs aimed at promoting cardiovascular well-being. Furthermore, the study found that LAE extract demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in HUVECs by modulating the PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. These findings are particularly significant as inflammation plays a crucial role in the progression of CVD. Moreover, LAE extract exhibited the ability to suppress the expression of adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, which are pivotal in leukocyte migration to inflamed blood vessels observed in various pathological conditions. In conjunction with the investigation on therapeutic potential, the study also established an optimal HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS method to identify and confirm the chemical constituents present in 24 samples collected from distinct regions in South Korea. Tentative identification revealed the presence of 14 saponins and nine phenolic compounds, while further analysis using PCA and PLS-DA allowed for the differentiation of samples based on their geographical origins. Notably, specific compounds such as chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, and quercitrin emerged as marker compounds responsible for distinguishing samples from different regions. Overall, by unraveling its endothelial protective activity and identifying key chemical constituents, this research not only offers valuable insights for the development of novel treatments but also underscores the importance of utilizing and preserving natural resources efficiently.

Phytochemical analysis for ten Peruvian Mentheae (Lamiaceae) by liquid chromatography associated with high resolution mass spectrometry

The profile of secondary metabolites in ten members of tribe Mentheae (Nepetoideae, Lamiaceae) from Peru by liquid chromatography associated with high resolution mass spectrometry, is presented. Salvianolic acids and their precursors were found, particularly rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid ester derivatives, as well as a diversity of free and glycosylated flavonoids as main substances. At all, 111 structures were tentatively identified.

Moroccan Endemic Artemisia herba-alba Essential Oil: GC-MS Analysis and Antibacterial and Antifungal Investigation

In Morocco, the endemic Artemisia herba-alba is well known by its traditional uses and health benefits. The search for natural, safe, and effective antibacterial and antifungal agents from plants is in high demand due to microbial and fungal resistance to conventional synthetic antibiotics and antifungal drugs. In this study, the A. herba-alba was collected from the region of Fez-Boulemane during the periods of March, June, and September. Essential oils (EOs) were extracted from the aerial part of the plant by the hydrodistillation method. The chemical constituents were determined using GC-MS as analytical tools. The antimicrobial activities of different oils were tested using the macrodilution method. The results showed the difference in the yields between the three EOs (0.49, 1.74, 1.30% (mL/100 g)), respectively, as well as in their corresponding chemical compositions. The main constituents revealed by GC-MS are higher contents of oxygenated monoterpenes (84.7, 84.4, 81%), such as cis chrysanthenyl acetate (30, 26.7, 27.6%), β-thujone (23.2, 12.9, 15.4%), camphor (9.76, 14.3, 15.8%), chrysanthenone (2.4, 1, 14%), 1,8-cineole (1.5, 11.7, 11.8%), trans β-dihydroterpineol (7.8, 7.2, 6.9%), α-thujone (4.8, 3, 5.4%), and sesquiterpenic davanone (3.9, 1.5, 1.4%), respectively. The three EOs biological activities’ results showed significant antimicrobial effects against four bacteria tested (E. coli, B. subtilis, S. aureus, M. luteus), with the MIC values ranging from 0.1 to 0.03% (v/v), as well as interesting antifungal effects on both wood rot fungi against four fungi examined (G. trabeum, P. placenta, C. puteana, C. versicolor) and molds against three microorganisms tested (A. niger, P. digitatum, P. expansum), with MIC values ranging from 0.2 to 0.03% (v/v) and 0.4 to 0.03% (v/v), respectively. The June and September EO samples showed more potent activities than those collected during March. Our research findings showed quantitative variability in both EO contents and chemical compositions, which could be due to the phenological stages, climatic conditions of growth, and harvesting periods. The potent results of the antimicrobial/antifungal activities were provided by the EOs of June and September and might be correlated to the contribution and synergism effect of all oxygenated monoterpenes. These results support the possible application of A. herba-alba EOs as natural and safe antibacterial agents, and an effective alternative to synthetic drugs, enabling the prevention and treatment of certain pathogenic infections in food and health, and the preservation of wood alteration against fungi.

Can Artemisia herba-alba Be Useful for Managing COVID-19 and Comorbidities?

The focus of this roadmap is to evaluate the possible efficacy of Artemisia herba-alba Asso. (Asteraceae) for the treatment of COVID-19 and some of its symptoms and several comorbidities using a combination of in silico (molecular docking) studies, reported ethnic uses, and pharmacological activity studies of this plant. In this exploratory study, we show that various phytochemicals from Artemisia herba-alba can be useful against COVID-19 (in silico studies) and for its associated comorbidities. COVID-19 is a new disease, so reports of any therapeutic treatments against it (traditional or conventional) are scanty. On the other hand, we demonstrate, using Artemisia herba-alba as an example, that through a proper search and identification of medicinal plant(s) and their phytochemicals identification using secondary data (published reports) on the plant's ethnic uses, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological activities against COVID-19 comorbidities and symptoms coupled with the use of primary data obtained from in silico (molecular docking and molecular dynamics) studies on the binding of the selected plant's phytochemicals (such as: rutin, 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and schaftoside) with various vital components of SARS-CoV-2, it may be possible to rapidly identify plants that are suitable for further research regarding therapeutic use against COVID-19 and its associated symptoms and comorbidities.

Phenolic Composition, Antioxidant Capacity and Antibacterial Activity of White Wormwood (Artemisia herba-alba)

Artemisia herba-alba Asso. (Wormwood) is a wild aromatic herb that is popular for its healing and medicinal effects and has been used in conventional as well as modern medicine. This research aimed at the extraction, identification, and quantification of phenolic compounds in the aerial parts of wormwood using Soxhlet extraction, as well as characterizing their antimicrobial and anitoxidant effects. The phenolic compounds were identified in different extracts by column chromatography, thin layer chromatography (TLC), and high performance liquid chromatography. Five different fractions, two from ethyl acetate extraction and three from ethanolic extraction were obtained and evaluated further. The antimicrobial activity of each fractions was evaluated against two Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-negative microorganisms (Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris) using the disc-diffusion assay and direct TLC bioautography assay. Fraction I inhibited B. cereus and P. vulgaris, Fraction II inhibited B. cereus and E. coli, Fraction III inhibited all, except for P. vulgaris, while Fractions IV and V did not exhibit strong antimicrobial effects. Their antioxidant capabilities were also measured by calculating their ability to scavenge the free radical using DPPH method and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Ethanolic fractions III and V demonstrated excellent antioxidant properties with IC50 values less than 15.0 μg/mL, while other fractions also had IC50 values less than 80.0 μg/mL. These antioxidant effects were highly associated with the number of phenolic hydroxyl group on the phenolics they contained. These extracts demonstrated antimicrobial effects, suggesting the different phenolic compounds in these extracts had specific inhibitory effects on the growth of each bacteria. The results of this study suggested that the A. herba-alba can be a source of phenolic compounds with natural antimicrobial and antioxidant properties which can be used for potential pharmaceutical applications.

Research Advances on Health Effects of Edible Artemisia Species and Some Sesquiterpene Lactones Constituents

The genus Artemisia, often known collectively as "wormwood", has aroused great interest in the scientific community, pharmaceutical and food industries, generating many studies on the most varied aspects of these plants. In this review, the most recent evidence on health effects of edible Artemisia species and some of its constituents are presented and discussed, based on studies published until 2020, available in the Scopus, Web of Sciences and PubMed databases, related to food applications, nutritional and sesquiterpene lactones composition, and their therapeutic effects supported by in vivo and clinical studies. The analysis of more than 300 selected articles highlights the beneficial effect on health and the high clinical relevance of several Artemisia species besides some sesquiterpene lactones constituents and their derivatives. From an integrated perspective, as it includes therapeutic and nutritional properties, without ignoring some adverse effects described in the literature, this review shows the great potential of Artemisia plants and some of their constituents as dietary supplements, functional foods and as the source of new, more efficient, and safe medicines. Despite all the benefits demonstrated, some gaps need to be filled, mainly related to the use of raw Artemisia extracts, such as its standardization and clinical trials on adverse effects and its health care efficacy.

Selective removal of iron(III), lead(II) and copper(II) ions by polar crude phytochemicals recovered from ten South African plants: identification of plant phytochemicals

This work consists of gathering the leaves of ten different South African plants from the local reserve. Black and green tea were sourced commercially. The plants were air dried and polar crude material extracted using deionized water. These crude phytochemicals were used as green chelators to remove metal ions from an aqueous solution. Iron(III), lead(II) and copper(II) ions were competitively removed from an eight metal ion solution with iron(III) being removed at more than 80% followed by lead(II) with greater than 40% removal and copper(II) with removal values of more than 20%. Metal ion removal was shown to be affected by change in pH of the solution, indicating that removal took place via the pH-swing mechanism. As the pH is increased, iron(III) is first removed followed by lead(II) and then copper(II). Iron(III) and lead(II) were selectively removed even at a 10-fold dilution level compared to the other metal ions present. Loading tests showed that iron(III) removal does not change, but for lead(II) and copper(II) there is a noticeable increase in removal with an increase in the amount of crude. The phytochemicals in the crude were identified using Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Some crudes had similar phytochemicals (quercetin) while others had unique compounds. Statement of novelty It is the first time that crude polar phytochemicals from South African plants are used as green chelators. These green chelators selectively remove iron(III), lead(II) and copper(II) from a mix of eight different base metal ions. Iron(III) can be selectively removed at pH as low as 3.00 and, when iron(III) and lead(II) are 10 times more dilute compared to the other metal ions, iron(III) and lead(II) are still selectively removed. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is used to identify some of the phytochemicals present in these plants.