Characterization of Cyclamen genotypes using morphological descriptors and DNA molecular markers in a multivariate analysis

Morphological and molecular characterization of germplasm is essential for the improvement of cultivated plants efforts. This study investigated the genetic diversity of 32 Cyclamen genotypes comprising 16 C. persicum varieties and 16 Cyclamen species using multivariate analysis for 36 morphological traits (19 quantitative and 17 qualitative) and molecular characterization (SRAP and SCoT markers). The color CIELab parameters were collected via PCE-CSM7 that separately measured the leaves dark and silvery patterns and the flower's slip (region of the petal top), eye (the region of the petal base) and sepal. Genetic diversity was also evaluated using Shannon Wiener (H') and Simpson's (λ) Indices, and Pilou evenness (J) using the library vegan from R software. According to the principal component analysis, the variables that contributed the most were leaf pattern color, leaf abaxial surface color, pedicel coiling, leaf and stem number. The color indicators of Cyclamen leaves showed decreased L* values in darker colored genotypes, whereas increased a* values were noticed in flower eye and lower in slip. Molecular characterization was based on 26 SRAP and 12 SCoT markers that produced clearly repeatable DNA bands and exhibited significant levels of polymorphism. Based on the morphological traits and molecular markers data, the UPGMA method for hierarchical clustering technique was used to generate the dendrograms, and their entanglement was obtained using the Tanglegram algorithm from the dendextend package with the R software. Entanglement analysis (0.30) between dendrograms obtained from the morphological and genetic analysis using SRAP markers showed a high association. Comparison between color measurements of flowers (entanglement=0.45) and leaves (entanglement=0.47) with SCoT analysis revealed differences at species level, discriminating between similar genotypes. Combined phenotypic and molecular analysis improved the comprehensive estimation of real diversity in the investigated Cyclamen genotypes. The findings of the present study are useful for quantifying diversity and genetic variability in Cyclamen breeding and genetic investigations.

Anthocyanins and Carotenoids Characterization in Flowers and Leaves of Cyclamen Genotypes Linked with Bioactivities Using Multivariate Analysis Techniques

The present study was carried out to evaluate and compare in vitro antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)), antimicrobial, anticancer activities, and the individual carotenoids and anthocyanins content of methanol extracts of the Cyclamen genotypes: Persian cyclamen accessions (Cyclamen persicum Mill.), sowbread (C. mirabile Hildebr.), and ivy-leaved cyclamen (C. hederifolium Mill.) aerial parts. The HPLC-PDA analysis revealed the presence of five individual carotenoids (i.e., neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein, β-carotene, and cis-β-carotene) as the main compounds in Cyclamen leaves, and the presence of seven individual anthocycanins (i.e., cyanidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside, peonidin-rutinoside, peonidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside, peonidin 3-O-glucoside, malvidin 3-O-glucoside, malvidin 3,5-di-O-glucoside, and malvidin-rutinoside) in Cyclamen flowers reported, hereby, for the first time. The highest phenolic content was found in the leaves of LC6, C. mirabile (46.32 ± 0.14 mg/g gallic acid equivalents [GAE]), and in the flowers of C. persicum Merengue Magenta (FC15) (58.63 ± 0.17 mg/g GAE), whereas the highest flavonoid content was reported in C. persicum Halios Falbala leaves, namely LC9 (54.90 ± 0.27 mg/g quercetin equivalents [QE]) and in flowers of C. persicum Victora (FC2) (77.87 ± 0.25 mg/g QE). The highest antioxidant activity in DPPH and FRAP assays was reported in C. persicum Dark Violet (LC1) and Victoria (LC2), whereas C. mirabile (LC6) had the highest activity in the TEAC assay. In flowers, high antioxidant activities in DPPH and TEAC were noticed in C. persicum Superserie Red (FC7) and Dark Violet (FC1), respectively, and Halios Falbala (FC9) exhibited the highest activity in the TEAC assay. Additionally, FC9 exhibited the highest antibacterial activity in almost all tested bacteria compared with the leaves extracts. Furthermore, the highest in vitro citotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 cells was noticed in C. hederifolium LC18 (56.71-69.35%) and FC18 (40.07-41.43%), with a lower effect against BJ cells demonstrating selective toxicity. The above findings, highlight the potential use of the Cyclamen flower and leaf extracts as significant anticancer agents along with their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Ex-Vivo and In-Vivo Assessment of Cyclamen europaeum Extract After Nasal Administration

Rhinosinusitis is a prevalent disorder with a severe impact on the health-related quality of life. Saponins of Cyclamen europaeum exert a clinically proven curative effect on rhinosinusitis symptoms when instilled into the nasal cavity, however, more extensive preclinical assessment is required to better characterize the efficacy of this botanical extract. This work evaluates the potential use of a natural freeze-dried extract of C. europaeum given as topical nasal administration. Permeation experiment on porcine nasal mucosa was performed with Franz diffusion cells. Experiments in rabbits were performed to test for any toxicological, hematological, biochemical or histological evidence of systemic action. No theoretical levels of saponins were found in the receptor chamber of Franz diffusion cells. Hematological data did not show significant differences between control and experimental animals (p > 0.05). Histological studies also showed that enhanced secretory activity in response to intranasal administration was not accompanied by any visible signs of injury. An examination of the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, and gastrointestinal organs did not reveal any abnormality. The absence of mucosal permeation of saponins and negligible probability of C. europaeum saponins absorption in the course of a therapeutic application was demonstrated.

Two SERK genes are markers of pluripotency in Cyclamen persicum Mill

The genetic basis of stem cell specification in somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis is still obscure. SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE (SERK) genes are involved in embryogenesis and organogenesis in numerous species. In vitro culture of Cyclamen persicum immature ovules provides a system for investigating stem cell formation and maintenance, because lines forming either organs or embryos or callus without organs/embryos are available for the same cultivar and plant growth regulator conditions. The present aim was to exploit this property of cyclamen cultures to understand the role of SERK(s) in stem cell formation and maintenance in somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis in vitro, in comparison with expression in planta. CpSERK1 and CpSERK2 were isolated from embryogenic callus. CpSERK1 and CpSERK2 levels by RT-PCR showed that expression is high in embryogenic, moderate in organogenic, and null in recalcitrant calli. in situ hybridizations showed that the expression of both genes started in clumps of pluripotent stem cells, from which both pre-embryogenic aggregates and organ meristemoids derived, and continued in their trans-amplifying, meristem-like, derivatives. Expression declined in organ meristemoids, in parallel with a partial loss of meristematization. In mature somatic embryos, and in shoot and root primordia, CpSERK1 and CpSERK2 were expressed in meristems, and similar patterns occurred in zygotic embryo and primary meristems in planta. The results point to SERK1 and SERK2 as markers of pluripotency in cyclamen. It is proposed that the high expression of these genes in the trans-amplifying derivatives of the stem cells maintains a pluripotent condition leading to totipotency and, consequently, somatic embryogenesis.